2015 Homemaking Ministries Online Conference

I stumbled across this conference one day before it began and thought the price looked extremely affordable for what was included so I decided to join.  The cost is $34.95 for 12 video sessions with several bonuses as well.

Well, let me tell you, I just finished watching today's 4 sessions and I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a way to get your homemaking back under control and really just encouragement from other's who have been where you are!  Today's sessions were on bringing the focus back to why homemaking is important.  Here is a sneak peak of my favorite session from today.

Recovering Biblical Homemaking - Session #2 Sneak Peek! from Jami Balmet on Vimeo.

This conference is for you IF:

• You want to dive deeper into your greater purpose in cleaning toilets and doing laundry
• You want to create a Gospel-Centered home but don't know where to start
• You need some encouragement that what you do MATTERS
• You need practical tips and advice for managing your home
• You feel burnt-out and overwhelmed within your role as a homemaker
• You've lost that joy and spark in your homemaking and so desperately want to get it back...

The great thing is all the sessions are there for you to go to at any time if you can't make them live. Go to Homemaking Ministries Online Conference 2015 to find out more about signing up.  (affiliate link)

Let's Get Organized! Review of Simplified Organization

I've recently been going through Mystie Winckler's Simplified Organization Course. I paid for this course myself because I had seen some of Mystie's YouTube Videos and liked what she had to offer there. I am an affiliate now because I love the course so much! I only become an affiliate of products that I use myself and put into place in my home. So, the links here are my affiliate links.

Simplified Organization is a wonderful ecourse available to you at any time of the day or night. I would highly recommend that you decide on a time that you will complete the course each day. However, I don't think this is a course you will ever actually complete because I find myself going back through the different modules all the time! It's more of a resource course that you can continually reach for on your computer shelf. That's another beauty of the course is that it's a one time purchase and always there for you. You will also receive any updates that may be added. There are forms, mp3's, videos, and many more resources available for you.

The course is set up in 6 modules that each contain a lesson, action step, habit plan, blueprint project, and tool guide:

Module 1: DECIDE
Lesson: Live a Story
Action Steps: Attitude
Habit Plan: Gratitude
Blueprint Project: Brain Dump
Tool Guide: Calendar

Module 2: DECLUTTER

Lesson: Grow in Focus
Action Steps: Health
Habit Plan: EHAP
Blueprint Project: Basic Routines
Tool Guide: Command Center

Module 3: DEFINE
Lesson: See Your Vocation
Action Steps: Paradigm
Habit Plan: Ubiquitous Capture
Blueprint Project: Vocation Statements
Tool Guide: Management System

Module 4: DESIGN
Lesson: Plan in Intervals
Action Steps: Energy
Habit Plan: Weekly Review
Blueprint Project: Intervals
Tool Guide: Weekly Time Budget
Tool Guide: Binder

Module 5: DO
Lesson: Wobble in Balance
Action Steps: Iterations
Habit Plan: Morning Review
Blueprint Project: Process
Tool Guide: Daily Index Card

Module 6: DEVELOP

Lesson: Practice Serving
Action Steps: Serving
Habit Plan: Smile
Blueprint Project: Someday/Maybe List
Tool Guide: Timers and Alarms

I love this course and would highly recommend it to all who are looking for practical steps, encouragement, and inspiration to put plans in place to help your organizational efforts. This program will change the way you think of organizing or at least it did for me! If you are looking for a quick fix, this is not the course for you and really quick fixes don't last for the long haul.

Mystie has also created a sort of bonus course called Work The Plan that will only be available for a short time as well. Again, I purchased this one too and will let you know what I think but so far it's been worth every penny.

Here is a favorite quote that I think sums up Mystie's teaching philosophy regarding organizing our chaos:

"If we truly want to be effective, our planning needs to be about being prepared and ready not about being in control because of course we aren't in control - God is! ...and that's what matters, following the path of faithfulness wherever that path winds and twists."

Here is my current weekly plan list.  You can download it by clicking on the image to tweak for your own needs.  I am still tweaking it constantly!  I know I want to add a section for writing out a memory verse each week as well but for now here is what I have.

Check out Simplified Organization for more details!

Ring in the New Year with eMeals

Was one of your goals to eat healthier in 2015?  If so, then be sure to check out all the options available now from eMeals including Clean Eating, Paleo, Portion Control, Vegetarian and more.  They are constantly adding new options to aid you in menu planning.

Here's a tip on staying healthy this year:

Slow and Steady Wins The Race—If you’re trying to lose weight, there are plenty of diet plans, weight-loss products and miracle foods that promise to deliver quick and easy results. How do you know if a diet or product is too good to be true? Watch out for these three signs:

• Promises weight loss of more than 1 pound per week: Weight loss of ½ to 1 pound per week is a practical goal and is best for your health. Setting a goal of losing weight more quickly will be hard to achieve, leaving you feeling defeated. Set yourself up for success by starting with an attainable goal.

• Claims to change the way the body works: No one food, magical combination of foods, or supplement can change your genetic code or change the way the body processes food. Any diet that promises to “melt away fat” or cause your body to become a “fat-burning machine” is definitely too good to be true.

• Advertises “no need to exercise:” Diet plans that promise you’ll lose weight quickly without exercise may sound appealing, but they’re taking the focus off living an overall healthy lifestyle. Exercise is a valuable tool in helping you achieve your weight-loss goals, plus it’s also good for your heart, can help maintain bone mass, and help prevent chronic diseases.  For more great tips, check out this article.

Here's to a great 2015!  

Chicken Broccoli Pasta

Interview with Me at Homemaking Organized

Recently, I had the chance to "sit down" over email with Kemi at Homemaking Organized for a series she's doing called Homeschoolers At Home Tuesdays.  Kemi is a fellow crew mate for the new Schoolhouse Review Crew that will be starting back in January.  It was fun to sit down and share a little bit about how and why we do what we do.

You can read my interview here and find out about some other wonderful ladies here.  It is so fun and motivational for me to read about others and their households as well!

Weekly Wrap Up 26 & 27

Sometimes, it's a bi-weekly wrap up.  This would be one of those.  :)

In my life this week…

Spring has sprung!!  YAY!!

Update on Jonathan:  This was week 3 in the cast so he was able to remove it (so stinky!!) and stretch his hand.  He said it feels a little stiff and tingly but overall well.  We go Monday for the official x-ray and hopefully the release for back to normal!

On our way home from our Costco trip, we heard a loud sound that sounded like a tire busting.  Hubby got out and saw nothing. We made it home safe and sound.  The next morning, we see this.  God is so good - glad that didn't happen on the side of the busy highway!

I'm still reading Smart Money Smart Kids.  This week, we have the opportunity to ask Rachel and Dave questions and right now I'm drawing a blank!!

In our homeschool this week…

Stephen and Sarah only have about 7 weeks of school left before summer break!  Jonathan will be going through the summer.  We are planning to take a spring break week at the end of April. We have our anniversary and a 16th birthday to celebrate so that's a perfect week to do it!  

We are in full swing with reviews as well!  So, you should see some fun reviews coming up.  As always, several of them came at the perfect time and were items I would have never even knew that I needed until they were in our hands.

Here is a video of math in our homeschool.

Weigh In

For the first time in 15 years at least, I am in Onederland!!! Onederland is a Biggest Loser phrase that I loved.  Now, to stay there!!

As happy as I am to achieve that goal, I hold this truth in my heart from Made To Crave.

I’m cooking…

Linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal,  Collage Friday, and Weekly Wrap-Up!.

Review - Motivated Moms Ebook

Motivated Moms is the weapon we choose to tackle our house cleaning schedule!  I have used the Motivated Moms Ebooks for several years and it does a wonderful job of breaking the chore of housekeeping down into bite size chunks.  

As a homeschool mom of 3 busy children, housework is sometimes left in the dust - literally! If you show up uninvited to our home, you will likely find some things out of place. Our home is lived in and I'm really okay with that.  I like knowing that house cleaning is being accomplished and that's where Motivated Moms saves the day (or year!).

On each of the planners, chores are broken down for you on a daily basis. You don't need to keep track of what needs to be done or when to do it.  The planner does all of that for you!   The printable version is available in many different varieties.  A touch of color is also a new feature this year!

Full-Sized Chore Planner

• These planner pages include all daily and weekly chores on 1 page
• You can choose planners with or without scheduled Bible readings (plans allow you to read the Bible in a year)
• You can choose between color and black/white

Full-Sized Page Per Day Planner

• These planner pages have one day of chores per day, a box for menu plan, lines for appointments, and a notes section) 
• You can choose with or without scheduled Bible readings
• You can choose color or black/white

Also available are half-sized planners that have the exact same options as the full-sized planner but only use half a sheet of paper.
How We Use the Motivated Moms Ebook Planner
We have found that you can normally complete the chores within an hour especially if you delegate like I do!  Saturdays are my planning days so I print out the sheet for the week and start delegating.  I just write the child's name beside the chore I'd like for them to do that day.  We usually complete a lot of the daily chores before school and the chores listed each day are completed in the afternoon.  You can see here where I simply added who I wanted to do what.  Simple and fast!  Chores are often hard to get done but this makes it work so much easier for us.  I chose the version with a touch of color this time.  I still like the simplicity but the pop of color is a great touch! 

I love the Ebook versions because I am a hand written paper planner kinda gal. 

The Ebook versions can be purchased and downloaded to your computer through paypal for $8 each. (must have Adobe Reader or other pdf reader)

If you like digital chore checklists best, then Motivated Moms also has apps available for iPhone/iPad/iPod and Android.  You can pay 99¢ for one month or $7.99 for one year.

My thoughts

You know what I think I love the most about this planner? The simplicity. It simply has what needs to be done. Household chores can be done quickly and effeciently.  It also has lots of different versions available suiting the needs of every household.  The price is very reasonable as well!  

Click the banner below to see other reviews of the Motivated Moms Ebooks and Apps.  You can also find Motivated Moms on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway - Coupon for FREE Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash

Winter is so ROUGH on my skin!  I normally have very dry skin to begin with but these cold temperatures we've been having around here have my skin extremely dry so I can't wait to give the new Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash a try! Once I've tried it out for a while, I'll report back and let you know my thoughts.

The new body wash is infused with lotion and gives your skin a daily boost of vitamins.  I'm trying the Kiwi Vitamin Boost with Vitamin Complex Amazing B.

Vitamin fact:  Vitamin B is a natural humectant that helps draw in moisture and keep your skin hydrated.

The Dial brand has provided me with 2 coupons for a FREE bottle of 11.75oz or larger Vitamin Boost Body Wash to giveaway.  This time, I'm going to give them away to my Youtube Channel Subscribers. So, be sure to subscribe if you haven't already for your chance to win!  Giveaway begins at 12:00am 02/06/14 and ends at 12:00am 02/12/14.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer:  The Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own!

Review: Tupperware in 2013

I admit it.  I didn't even know that Tupperware still existed!!  I still have some in my home from years ago so I know it is some quality made stuff!  My salt and pepper shakers are a prime example of this.  I've had them for at least 10 years and they get daily use and are still going strong!  And they are still available on their website for sale!

Recently, a fellow My Father's World friend, Jackie, asked if I wanted to review one of their products and I jumped at the chance.  

She sent me a new catalog.  The first thing that caught my attention were the new bold colors available.  This ain't your grandma's tupperware!!  It's gorgeous! 

She also sent me a Fridge Stackables Set in the color of sheer carribean.  

It is designed to hold sandwich fixings such as lunch meat, cheese, sliced tomatoes, etc.  It can also be used to store hot dogs and salad fixings.  It retails for $19.99 but is currently available for 35% off making it only $11.99 plus shipping and handling.  

The stackable design really saves space and keeps everything together in one place. The bottom of the middle and first containers are the tops for the middle and bottom containers.  The seal is great on these and we had no problems with anything spoiling in them before their due time.  To be honest though, sandwich fixings go pretty fast around here to begin with!

If you haven't check out Tupperware in a while, you might be surprised at what you find.  You can browse around Jackie's Tupperware site to learn about this product and many more.

**Disclaimer:  I received a free product for my review. The opinions here are my honest and true evaluation.  I would not recommend something that I would not use myself.