Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 57

May 1, 2014

On Joyful Motherhood

The days are long, but the years are short.

It was one of those moments that makes your heart hurt. I was taking another silly Buzzfeed quiz and I needed to choose the word that best described me. I chose happy because, well, I feel like a happy person. {Most people might even describe me as a happy person.} But my 9-year-old was sitting beside me and she let out something between a scoff and a giggle, like, “Really, Mom? Let’s be honest…” I am sure she could tell by the look on my face how much that moment hurt, but it wasn’t her I was upset with; it was myself.

I’ve been thinking a lot about joyful motherhood since Jackson was born, in the midst of postpartum depression, after Sean’s accident, and as I got my tattoos. And especially since what will henceforth be known as the Buzzfeed incident.

***

My mom has always taught me not to speak badly about my husband to other people, and that’s advice I’ve taken to heart. I might share our struggles with my closest friends in a private setting — or sometimes on the blog with his permission after we’ve worked through them — but I never bad mouth him or complain just to complain.

And I try to apply that rule to parenting too.

It feels good to commiserate, but feelings tends to grow when you feed them with words. When we focus too much energy or attention on the hard moments of motherhood, they can easily overwhelm the good moments

It’s good to share our struggles and be real, to ask for advice and to provide encouragement for other moms who are struggling, but we have to be sure that we don’t settle in a place where the struggles are the focus, where we’re caught up in one-upping one another or complaining because it’s easy.

***

On Joyful Motherhood

Lately there’s been a video circulating Facebook that looks like a video interview for the world’s hardest job. It doesn’t take long to see where the video is going, and while I love the sweet sentiment of it, something about the overall message sat wrong with me the first time I watched it.

It took hearing other people’s thoughts for me to really hone in on my issue. It wasn’t that moms — and not dads — were the focus of the video; it was, after all, a Mother’s Day commercial.

Instead, it was that the entire video focused on how hard motherhood is. And there’s no doubt that being a parent is hard work — physically and emotionally. But there are plenty of jobs that are actually physically more difficult than motherhood. And, honestly, if you’re not getting any rest or time to yourself (and you don’t have multiples under, say, 3 years old), it may be time to reevaluate and make some changes. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have time or energy for your own passions and pursuits just because you’re a mother!

But more than that, motherhood is also an amazing journey with moments that make you laugh until you cry and make your heart swell until it feels like it will burst.

Honestly, I think we do a disservice to our children and to people who aren’t yet parents when we call it the hardest job in the world or just focus on the hard parts.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for being honest, and being a parent is hard work, but I want to focus on how much joy these kids of mine bring me, not on making sure they know how hard I work for them. And I think we need to do a better job about sharing that joy with other people as well.

***

It’s almost like there’s this desire to scare non-parents, and I’m just not sure why.

Case in point: We took Jackson to Target after his first pediatrician appointment at just a few days old, and the women in front of us at checkout turned around and made a remark that is all too common. “Enjoy it now while he’s little because you just wait.” I wish I could say that she was just making conversation or joking, but it was clear from the look on her face that she wasn’t.

I couldn’t help by responding that he was my 5th, and she turned away to complain to the cashier about her kids instead (“Two step children and one I gave birth to so I can’t give her back”). I wish I’d been bold enough to say something more to her. But when it was my turn to check out with the young cashier, I made sure to at least tell her how much I love being a mom.

***

On Joyful Motherhood

Is joyful motherhood easy?

No, of course not. There are dirty diapers and spilled milk and hormones and endless loads of laundry and backtalk and bickering. And some days it’s just plain exhausting.

Is it worth striving for?

Yes. A million times yes.

When we strive to be joyful in the midst of the diapers, milk, hormones, laundry, backtalk and bickering, we show our kids that we don’t just love them because we have to but that we actually like and enjoy them too. We teach them to control their emotions and choose joy, even when it’s not easy. And, honestly, we enjoy it more too.

To be clear, while I have talked about the value of faking it until you make it, I am not talking about faking it just for Facebook or your church or the stranger you pass in the grocery store. I’m talking about CHOOSING to focus on the beauty of imperfection, the good parts of motherhood and each moment in light of eternity.

There is no doubt that this comes easier for some people than others — whether because of personality, circumstances or a little bit of both — but it’s a worthy goal for all of us.

***

This month’s Life Your Way Monthly topic is joyful motherhood. Join us on Facebook as we talk about motherhood all month long, with inspiring quotes, encouragement and opportunities to ask questions and share your own stories.

Joyful motherhood is a daily — sometimes hourly — choice, and none of us will do it perfectly. But we can work together to make motherhood a celebration, to encourage one another to find the joy in the everyday moments and to lift each other up when we’re struggling under the weight of it all!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

On Joyful Motherhood

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Published on May 01, 2014 08:30

Dear Readers… + Desktop Calendar {May 2014}

To download the image above to use as your desktop wallpaper, simply click the image (or this link: May 2014 Desktop Calendar) and choose Save Link As… Then, open the picture, right click and choose Set as desktop background.

Dear Readers…

It’s been a weird couple of weeks around here. Between the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle and this week’s Mother’s Day giveaways, I haven’t been writing a ton of regular posts. Which has worked out well since we’re on vacation in the Outer Banks this week.

But we’ll be back on track next week, and my post ideas folder is overflowing with drafts that I can’t wait to finish and share with you!

This month the Life Your Way Monthly group on Facebook will be focusing on joyful motherhood. I’ll be sharing more about the inspiration for that theme later today, but I’d love to have you join us for inspiration, encouragement and conversation all month long. {Confession: I’m not very good at this whole social media thing, but I’m trying to do better about being consistent and meeting you all there because I love hearing from you and not just throwing my thoughts out into the internet!}

As always, thank you for being part of the Life Your Way community and for taking the time to comment on posts, send me emails and share the site with your friends and family — I wouldn’t want to do any of this without you!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Dear Readers… + Desktop Calendar {May 2014}

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Published on May 01, 2014 04:40

April 30, 2014

Giveaway: DiVOGA Cork Collection from OfficeMax

Today I’m sharing the third of our Mother’s Day gift ideas and giveaways:

Whether you’re looking to update a full office or just looking for a way to dress up your bill-paying station, the DiVOGA Cork Collection is a cute and trendy line of office products in a basic color that matches any decor. This collection offers a pop of texture, and the matte finish gives a soothing feel to each piece! Because cork is a natural element, each one is unique.

The limited-edition DiVOGA Cork Collection is part of the fashion-focused DiVOGA line of workplace and home office accessories available exclusively at OfficeMax. From file folders and notebooks to coordinating desktop organizers and tote bags, DiVOGA offers great solutions to help create a contemporary and clutter-free workspace!

Enter to Win

This week, OfficeMax is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a set of DiVOGA Cork Collection products for your office:

tote bag
magazine file
journal
tablet case
cellphone case
compartment tray
padfolio
pencil cube
document wallet

To enter, fill out the form below:

The giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, 5/7. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well. Unfortunately, due to the international laws governing sweepstakes and lotteries, we’re only able to offer these giveaways to U.S. residents 18 years and older.

Giveaway: DiVOGA Cork Collection from OfficeMax

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Published on April 30, 2014 05:58

April 29, 2014

Giveaway: SodaStream Source Starter Kit

This week I’m sharing four Mother’s Day gift ideas and giveaways. Here’s the second:

Sodastream soda makers aren’t new, but this new sleek designs is!

SodaStream partnered with designer Yves Behar to re-examine every element of the SodaStream soda maker, including the user interface, the design and material selection, the bottle, and the overall consumer experience. The result is the new “Source,” an elegantly-designed soda maker that combines beauty, functionality and efficiency. The sleek carbonating bottle locks into place using the new, patent-pending “snap-n-lock” mechanism for easy bottle insertion and removal. The entire top surface of the soda maker is responsive to touch, and the strength of carbonation is visible through the LED display, providing instant visual feedback.

Sodastream Source Like all SodaStream models, the Source lets you prepare great-tasting, fresh, fizzy beverages precisely to your taste – with no bottles, cans, electricity…and no clean-up.

Whether you want to make soda as a treat or carbonated water to help you increase your water intake each day, the Source is simple, convenient and powered by a reusable CO2 canister so that there’s less waste all around.

And you can choose from three levels of fizziness to get the carbonation you want every time.

Note: Our family does not use artificial sweeteners because we don’t believe the health risks are worth any potential benefits. {Okay, I may occasionally sneak a Diet Pepsi if we’re out and that’s all that available, but for our kids, never.} Unfortunately, a lot of the SodaStream flavors are made with sucralose, BUT you can find most flavors with regular sugar (they’re marked as “cane sugar” on the front) as well.

You can also add fruit essence, a squeeze of a lemon, a bit of fruit juice or even a splash of apple cider vinegar for flavored water or make your own flavored simple syrup for homemade soda.

Enter to Win

This week, Sodastream is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a soda maker of their own!

To enter, fill out the form below:

Giveaway: SodaStream Source Starter Kit

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Published on April 29, 2014 06:12

April 28, 2014

Giveaway: JJ Heller’s I Dream of You + The Golden Feather (2 Winners!)

bookcd This week I’ll have four Mother’s Day gift ideas and giveaways for you! Here’s the first:

JJ Heller is one of my favorite artists, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of her new lullaby album and bedtime story.

Each of JJ’s albums has featured one or two lullabies, and so she and Dave spent last year writing and recording a collection of original lullabies for listeners of all ages. These songs are full of truth, hope and love, and the I Dream of You album is being released tomorrow on iTunes!

They also spent the latter half of 2013 carefully crafting a children’s bedtime story, The Golden Feather, with gifted illustrator Luke Flowers. Your children will love this sweet story and hunting for the hidden bunny on each page!

This would make a great Mother’s Day gift. Pair it with a stuffed bunny for a new mom or mom-to-be or with the beautiful necklace available on JJ’s site for moms with older kids!

Be sure to follow JJ on Instagram and Facebook because she’s really too much fun!

Enter to Win

This week, JJ & Dave are giving TWO lucky Life Your Way readers each a copy of I Dream of You and The Golden Feather!

To enter, fill out the form below:

Giveaway: JJ Heller’s I Dream of You + The Golden Feather (2 Winners!)

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Published on April 28, 2014 09:00

April 26, 2014

Weekend Reading: April 26, 2014

6 Months Old

Have you gotten your Ultimate Homemaking Bundle yet? Hurry and grab yours before it ends! You’ll get 82 ebooks, courses and printable sets plus more than $200 in bonuses plus an additional set of bonuses just for Life Your Way readers. Read more here.

Little man turned 6 months old this week — on my 32nd birthday! — and he is so. much. fun. right now. (Well, most of the time; he did spend a lot of Thursday grumpy and inconsolable.) This whole sitting up thing makes him look so big, and we’re all getting a kick out of it, so I couldn’t choose just one picture for this week’s post!

Today we’re on our way to the beach to spend a week with my parents, my sister and her boyfriend, and I’m so looking forward to relaxing on the deck of the beach house, playing board games late at night and exploring the Outer Banks with our girls!

Although I’ll be on vacation, we’ve got a great group of Mother’s Day giveaways next week, so be sure to watch for those.

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading and what I’m pinning to see the other posts that make me stop and think (or, you know, drool…). You’ll find new posts all week long!

Intentional Parenting

Setting the stage for our kids to confide in us | Rage Against the Minivan

What To Say to Your Kids When Their Friends Get Everything They Want | We Are THAT Family

Yellowberry: Meet the Teen Titan Who Is Taking On The Youth Bra Industry | Lingerie Talk

Letting Go

Embracing the crazy | The Art of Simple

Stones in my pockets. | K. Elizabeth Fleck

Passion & Purpose

Trapped by linkbait | Seth’s Blog

Why You Don’t Have A Time Management Problem | Productive Flourishing

How To Live a Life That Is Uniquely Yours | Dumb Little Man

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Reading: April 26, 2014

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Published on April 26, 2014 05:01

April 25, 2014

7 Small Appliances I Can Replace with My Blendtec

I get a lot of offers to review various products. Honestly, I turn a lot of them down and I accept the ones that I think would be genuinely useful or interesting to Life Your Way readers, even if I don’t plan to keep the review item.

But when I got an email from Blendtec about reviewing their newest machine, the Blendtec Designer 725, I’m pretty sure I squealed and did a happy dance. Because, seriously, a Blendtec!

My oldest has been spending a ton of time in the kitchen lately, and she was as excited as I was about the prospect of this machine. I was at a doctor’s appointment with Jackson on the day it arrived and I came out to this string of texts from her:

Blendtec Blender

This blender is really a blender on steroids and delivers commercial-quality power and speed at home. And it’s super easy to clean, which really makes all of the difference. Well done, Blendtec!

What I really love about this blender, though, is that it can replace so many other small appliances to make more room in our kitchen and make it easier for me to make a variety of staples and special treats. Here are just a few:

1. Blenders

Whether you have a regular blender, a smoothie maker, a milk shake machine or an immersion blender, the Blendtec can replace all of them…and do a better, faster job!

The first time we made smoothies in our five-sided WildSide+ jar, my oldest said, “Hey, it really can make a smoothie in 30 seconds!”

We’ve been blending frozen fruit and ice cubes ever since, and even though the jar doesn’t quite make enough smoothie for all 6 of us (we like big smoothies!), it’s no big deal to quickly blend a second batch.

Yep, you can blend soups, milk shakes, smoothies and ice crushes quickly and completely with a single machine.

2. Ice Cream Maker

Making ice cream in a blender is a little bit different:

You can blend fruits and veggies for a creamy, healthy treat (I made this almond ice cream for my birthday treat!), but you can also make traditional ice cream by mixing the “cream”, freezing it in an ice cube tray and then blending the frozen cubes!

Marillyn’s ebook, Just Making Ice Cream, has a ton of great recipes plus tips for making delicious ice cream every time using this method, and I’m excited to start working my way through her flavor combinations.

3. Coffee Grinder

I usually buy ground coffee because I don’t have a reliable coffee grinder, but I’m excited to try grinding my own in small, fresh batches now. I am loving the great flavors from Phoenix Community Coffee (I can taste the caramel as I type this!), and I just might buy the whole beans next time!

Carrot Juice in the Blendtec

4. Juicer

I haven’t really jumped into the juicing trend because we already spend a ton on produce each week and I just can’t imagine blending up $5 of fruit and veggies for a couple glasses of juice and then throwing away all that pulp. (Caveat: I know plenty of people who love juicing, including my mom, but it’s just not something I’ve wanted to get into!)

However, the Blendtec makes whole juice by blending the produce and water into a thick juice instead, and that’s definitely something I’d like to explore more as a special treat. I’ll admit that I couldn’t get past the texture of the ginger-lemon-carrot juice I made, even if it did taste good, but we’ll try softer fruits and veggies next!

Brownie Batter in a Blendtec

5. Hand or Stand Mixer

I don’t have a hand mixer, and I probably won’t give up my stand mixer, but I could. I’ve made waffle and brownie batter in the Blendtec already, and I love how quick and easy it is.

6. Food Processor

The Blendtec can’t quite replace all of the features of my food processor (like the grating blade), but for dips and salsa, it works perfectly. We can’t get enough of this great salsa, and now I can make a full batch at once rather than having to do it a little bit at a time in the food processor.

You can also make mayonnaise and homemade “laraballs”.

7. Grain Mill

I’ve been using the fact that I don’t have a grain mill and don’t want to invest in one as my excuse for not trying my hand at grinding my own grain, but unfortunately I’ll have to find a new excuse because, yep, the Blendtec can do that too!

8. Toaster

Wait…what?

I’m just kidding; I just wanted to see if you were paying attention!

There are a few other appliances the Blendtec can’t replace — waffle irons, dehydrators, crock pots, to name a few — but if you replace a few of the others, you’ll have more room for the rest!

What is the most-loved small appliance in your kitchen?

7 Small Appliances I Can Replace with My Blendtec

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Published on April 25, 2014 10:45

April 24, 2014

Make Your Own Washable Paint from Chalk {A Guest Post from My 8 Year Old}

How to Make Homemade Chalk Paint

My 6- and 8-year-old daughters began experimenting with making their own chalk paint yesterday using little stubs of chalk that were too hard to color with. My husband “suggested” that I might want to have them move the experiment outside next time, but they had a ton of fun making paint — more fun than they actually did painting with it, truthfully — and the mess was relatively easy to clean up!

My sweet 8-year-old was just SURE that I needed to share this tutorial on my blog, so I asked her to write it up for you. Please welcome Dylan to the blog:

I like making my own paint because then I can choose the color! My favorite colors are pink, blue, red, and light green. Make your favorite colors!

How to Make Homemade Chalk Paint

This is how you make your own paint.

Materials needed to make it:

chalk (the colors you want)
water
a jar or a bowl
something you can stir it with
paint brush

Instructions:

Put the chalk in the bowl or jar.

Put some water in it.

Then start crushing it until it looks smooth. (If it doesn’t look like enough water, add a little bit more until it looks like enough.)

Test the colors that you make.

Then start painting!

What experiments have your kids come up with on their own?

Comments Let us know what colors you make! by DylanI think that probably would work. Hi Magnus! by DylanHola! Thank you. I can't wait to come to Florida and see you! by DylanWow Dylan, you actually make blogging seem too easy! I love how ... by DanisaThanks for sharing, Dylan! What a creative idea, I can't wait ... by ErikaDylan, I love the pink color you chose here. We always have ... by Shaina OlmansonRelated StoriesA Simple Easter Weekend Tradition Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Websites, Printables & Activities {Mom’s Idea Book}

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Published on April 24, 2014 09:54

Why You Should Let the AKC Help You Find Your Next Family Dog

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Kennel Club for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

For years, my husband said no, absolutely not, no way, no how to a puppy. But after watching our girls bond with the cat that had started as a stray and become a member of the family, we began to talk about the benefits of an indoor pet — like a puppy, due to cat allergies — once again.

For Sean, there was only one possibility he’d even consider: a purebred Siberian Husky.

He’d grown up with a Husky named Aspen who, amazingly, just passed away last year at 17 years old, and he’s always loved Huskies.

That’s the thing about purebred puppies — while there certainly are variations in personality, you pretty much know what you’re getting with each of the breeds.

And with Huskies, that means a playful, good-natured, energetic, loving, intelligent, talkative dog.

Boy does that our describe our Bella. She has an incredible amount of energy and we wouldn’t be able to manage her if Sean wasn’t home to take her outside to play and for long walks (imagine what the past 5 weeks have been like since his injury!). And she’s so, so smart, understanding a variety of commands and conversational language.

But what’s really amazing is that because we understood the Husky’s natural tendency to be a runner, we were able to combat that by keeping her with us 24/7 in the early weeks, on the advice of our breeder. She’s so well bonded to our family that not only does she consider Sean hers (and hers alone), but we can take her outside at our house and she will respect the borders of our yard and not run away, which is pretty much unheard of for a Husky.

A purebred dog can be a wonderful addition to your family because they’re predictable and purpose-bred so that you can choose one with a personality that fits your family and lifestyle.

Choosing breeders who are American Kennel Club members gives you additional confidence that your breeder is responsible, passionate and an expert about your breed.

That said, not every breeder is equal. To help you find the best, the AKC provides a list of questions that you should consider asking before purchasing a puppy from an AKC breeder:

Can you see the puppy’s parents? What are their personalities like?

Is the house/kennel clean? Odor-free? Do all of the dogs look healthy?

Does the breeder appear to genuinely care for the puppies and their adult dogs? How do the dogs respond to the breeder — with affection or with fear?

Is the breeder willing to share the pros and cons of the breed? Can they provide records for vet care and health screenings?

Are the responsive to your questions? Do they seem genuinely helpful and concerned that the puppy is a good fit for your family, or just interested in making he sale?

Do they have official AKC papers for you to register your puppy?

If you prefer to adopt from a shelter, be sure to ask these questions:

Why is this dog in a shelter? Was he surrendered by the previous owner, is it a stray, or a rescue? Why did the owner surrender him? If he was a stray, where was he found and in what condition? Is the dog from the local area? Is the dog here because of an animal cruelty charge against its previous owner?

What was the health condition of the dog when he was brought to the shelter?

Has this dog been adopted out before? How long has the dog been in the shelter?

What veterinary care has the dog received since arriving at the shelter and can they provide copies of the records?

Is the dog housebroken?

Does the dog get along well with kids or other pets and how does he act around strangers?

Does the dog have suitable good manners that you could take away his food bowl while eating or remove his toy while playing? What training and socialization has the dog received since entering the shelter?

Can he walk calmly on a leash in public or does he need more training?

Does this dog require any special medical care, ongoing treatment, dietary restrictions, or additional socialization?

Will the shelter take this dog back if it doesn’t work out for your family?

The AKC also offers the AKC Rescue Network for families looking to adopt an adult rescue rather than a puppy.

Although there are times that having a Siberian Husky makes me wonder what we were thinking — oh, the hair — I love that our kids will grow up with such a fun, loving companion, and I love to watch them play and cuddle with her!

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Published on April 24, 2014 07:15

April 23, 2014

Get the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle for 95% off. Plus $200+ in bonuses. PLUS a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

By popular demand, 100+ homemaking bloggers are bringing back The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, and it’s better than ever!

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is a complete library of great eBooks on homemaking—a truly valuable knowledge base you’ll use for many years to come.

Unlike a library, though, you don’t have to spend years building it up. The Ultimate Bundles team has done the hard work for you, searching the web to find the very best eBooks from top homemaking authors and combining them into one essential collection that you can buy in one simple purchase.

Act now to get this incredible collection at a once-in-a-lifetime price:

Bought separately, these ebooks cost a total of $698 (not including $200+ in bonuses!). But you can have all of them for just $29.97!

Or, for just an extra $10, you not only get the full set of PDF files, but also a bonus set of Kindle editions, perfectly formatted for easy Kindle reading.

But it gets better! I’m also offering several bonuses just for Life Your Way readers:

bonus

Forward your order receipt to bonus@yourway.net to redeem your bonuses. See the complete terms & conditions for the Kindle giveaway here.

Here’s what you need to know about the sale:

When? 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday, April 23 until 11:59 p.m. EDT Monday, April 28

What? 78 eBooks, 2 eCourses, 2 audio files, and 2 printable packs PLUS over $200 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!

Where? Purchase the bundle here.

How much? Well now, that’s the best part. The entire package is worth nearly $900, and it’s selling for less than $30. Sweet deal, right?

What’s in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?

This huge wealth of information and guidance will be right there on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or Kindle, whenever you need it.

But it will only be available for six days. So grab yours before it’s gone!

Homemaking

DIY Natural Household Cleaners: How To Make Your Own Cleaners…Naturally by Matt & Betsy @ DIY Natural ($9.99)
Filling Hearts While Cleaning Homes: Five Minute Devotions for Families by Jenn Thorson & Lindsey Stomberg ($8.00)
Hospitality: The Duty of the Christian Home by Kathy @ Teaching Good Things ($4.97)
How to Build a Strong Christian Home by June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($4.99)
Life Your Way Printables Download Pack by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($7.00)
Sewing School 101: Simple Tips to Get You Stitching by Nicole @ Gidget Goes Home ($11.99)
Taming the Laundry Monster by Angi @ SchneiderPeeps ($3.99)
The Best of Visionary Womanhood: Volume Two by Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood ($4.99)
The Homemaker’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy @ Raising Arrows ($4.99)

Food

Bliss Balls for Beginners: 21 Recipes to Get You Started by Luschka @ Keeper of the Kitchen ($3.50)
Dairy Free 101 by Becky @ For This Season ($5.00)
Just Making Ice Cream: Over 70 Delicious Recipes Made with Nourishing Ingredients – 2nd edition by Marillyn @ Just Making Noise ($12.00)
Happy Mom, Healthy Family Meal Planning Workshop + Cookbook by Lisa @ WellGroundedLife ($29.00)
Meal Planning Made Easy by Kelly @ The Nourishing Home ($6.99)
No Cook Freezer Meals by Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness ($5.99)
Simplified Dinners by Mystie @ Simplified Pantry Cooking ($12.99)
The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking by K.M. @ KMLogan.com ($2.99)
The Healthy Lunch Box: Sandwich-Free Secrets to Packing a Real Food Lunch by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($9.95)
The Sweeter Side of Candida: Desserts for the Holidays, Special Occasions, & Everyday Sweet Treats by Paula Miller & Sarah Ives ($14.95)
{Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals & Snacks by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)
Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home ($18.97)
Simple Cooking to Save You Money by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($4.97)
The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies by Various Authors ($9.97)

Motherhood

Discipleship & Discipline: Practical Parenting Help for the Desperate Mom eCourse by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae ($17.99)
Pieces of Mommy: Putting Yourself Back Together by Sarah @ SarahStrausbaugh.com ($7.99)
Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood by Jamie @ Steady Mom ($9.55)
The Cherished Home: Protecting What’s Important by Mary @ The Encouraging Home ($14.99)
The Pursuit of Motherhood by Various Authors ($7.99)
Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood by Kayse @ KaysePratt.com ($4.99)

Marriage

31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley @ LIFE by Ashley Pichea ($7.99)
Dear Wife: Letters from a Help Meet by Misty @ Beautiful Ashes ($2.99)
Intentional Marriage: The Art of Loving Your Husband (A 31 Day Devotional) by Crystal @ Serving Joyfully ($3.99)
The Ultimate Marriage Vow: 21 Days of a Life-Long Commitment by Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)
To Love, Honor and Vacuum Audio Download by Sheila @ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($2.99)

Faith

A Heart Prepared: A Simple & Effective Scripture Memory System by Jami @ Young Wife’s Guide ($9.95)
How To Manage Your Mouth: A 30 Day Wholesome Talk Challenge by Connie @ Smockity Frocks ($5.97)
Restoring the Lost Petal: A Journey Through the Loss and Restoration of Sexual Purity by Danielle @ More Than Four Walls ($8.99)
Set Apart: Becoming a Woman of Virtue in a Modern World by Various Authors ($3.99)
The Homesteading Wife’s Christian Devotional: Finding Biblical Truths on the Farm by Susie @ Our Simple Farm ($3.99)

Faith {For Kids}

Be Thankful: Cultivating Year-Round Thankfulness by Amanda @ The Pelsers ($7.99)
Character Badges by Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog ($9.99)
God Gifted Virtues by Sara @ Your Thriving Family ($8.95)
Learning to Speak Life: Fruit of the Spirit Family Devotional by Michael & Carlie @ Learning to Speak Life ($9.99)
The ABC’s for Godly Boys/The ABC’s for Godly Girls by Lindsey @ The Road To 31 ($19.98)
The Warrior Weekend: Helping Dads Raise Boys to Be Godly Men by Patrick & Ruth @ For the Family ($4.99)

Health & Wellness

Healing With God’s Earthly Gifts: Natural and Herbal Remedies by Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)
My Simple Healthy Life: A Minimalist Approach to Herbal Remedies, Beauty & Natural Cleaning by Tammie @ Simple. Healthy. Tasty. ($5.95)
Simple Natural Health: Wellness Made Easy by Nina @ Shalom Mama ($10.00)

Holidays & Special Events

100 Days of a New Year 2014 eBook by Jennifer @ ListPlanIt.com ($8.00)
Christmas Printables for Kids by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($2.50)
Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year by Daniel & Haley @ Carrots for Michaelmas ($7.99)
More Than a Holiday: A 25-Day Christmas Devotional for the Whole Family by Scott and Sarah @ Simple Life Abundant Life ($7.95)
More Than Candy: A 25-Day Christmas Countdown that Counts by Sarah Mae @ SarahMae.com ($4.99)

Self-Care

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom ($4.99)
Equipped: Because You’ve Been Made to Live On Purpose by Elisa @ More to Be ($6.99)
Live for Him: A Grace-Filled Look at Planning by Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace ($2.99)
The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight: Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years by Heidi @ The Busy Mom ($10.00)
Your Retreat: A Guide to Giving Yourself a Personal Planning Day by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker

Working from Home & Blogging

Blog Planner 2014 by Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life ($4.99)
Blog at Home Mom: Balancing Blogging and Motherhood by Christin @ Joyful Mothering ($4.99)
FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom’s Guide to Passion, Purpose, and Profits by Alyssa @ AlyssaAvant.com ($4.99)
Monkey See, Monkey Do: A Tutorial to Using PicMonkey with Professional Results by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($8.00)
The Blog Planning Kit: A System to Maximize Your Blogging Efforts by Kat @ How They Blog ($15.00)

Homeschooling

101 Independent Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers by MaryEllen @ Imperfect Homemaker ($4.99)
1777 New England Primer Cursive/Manuscript Printable Alphabet Sets by Jacinda @ Growing Home ($5.98)
A Simple Homeschool Planner by Tsh @ The Art of Simple ($4.00)
The Charlotte Mason Way Explained by Dollie @ Teachers of Good Things ($7.99)
The Preschool Journey by Angela @ Teaching Mama ($6.99)
Weekly Homeschool Planner by Jolanthe @ Homeschool Creations ($20.00)
You Can Read by Carisa @ 1+1+1=1 ($10.00)
Write Through the Bible: Exodus 20 (KJV, Manuscript) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)

Financial Stewardship

5 Days to Budget Breakthrough: Change Your Money – Change Your Life by Kimberlee @ The Peaceful Mom ($5.95)
76 Free Things to Do with Kids: A Real Mom’s Guide by Shannon @ Growing Slower ($5.97)
Advanced Penny Pinching: Stockpile – Strategize – Save by Tabitha @ Meet Penny ($3.99)
Cash Flow Your College: Knowledge in Your Head Without Getting in the Red by Kayla @ Renown and Crowned ($2.99)
Christian Wealth Building by Michael @ MichaelPink.com ($77.00)
It’s Me or the Coupons: How a Busy Mom Can Win the Grocery Budget Battle by Beth @ Eat Better Spend Less ($10.00)

Pregnancy & Babies

Baby Ready: Preparing For and Adapting to Life with Baby by Monica @ Happy and Blessed Home ($7.99)
Breastfeeding Twins, Triplets and More! by Jennifer @ Growing Up Triplets ($10.00)
Cloth Diapers: A How-To Handbook on the Basics of Cloth Diapering by Rachel @ Intentionally Simple ($5.99)
The Breastfeeding Lifeline: A Guide to Navigating the Newborn Days by the authors at Breastfeeding Place: Anjanette Barr, Michelle Ferguson, Jennifer Fountain, Trisha Gilkerson, Sarah Harkins, Shary Lopez, Kristen Smith, and Rhiana Wackenhuth. ($5.95)
The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($4.99)
Topical Devotions for Pregnancy: 13 Devotions to Nourish Your Soul by Becky @ Purposeful Homemaking ($3.99)

What are the Ultimate Homemaking Bonus Offers?

In addition to all the amazing eResources, this bundle includes the best bonus offers it’s ever had. These deals are worth over six times the price of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. So you’re up on the deal right away!

DaySpring—A FREE 10-pack of Premium Greeting Cards. ($20.00 Value. Standard shipping applies.)
HopeInk—$15 HopeInk store credit to be used towards anything + a FREE 8×10 Art Print with order. ($39.00 Value. Standard shipping applies.)
Redeeming Beauty Mineral Makeup—3 FREE eyeshadows of your choice from Redeeming Beauty. ($16.47 Value. Standard shipping applies – only ships to US and Canada.)
Marie-Madeline Studio—A $15 store credit for anything in Marie-Madeline Studio’s online store. ($15.00 value. Standard shipping applies.)
Once a Month Meals—A FREE One Month Pro Membership from Once a Month Meals. ($16.00 Value. No shipping required.)
Dizolve—FREE 64-load pack of Dizolve Laundry Strips for you PLUS a Free 64-load pack of Dizolve Laundry Strips for food banks. ($25.98 value. Standard shipping [$3] applies. Only ships in the US.)
TrilLight Health—Get a FREE 2 oz. bottle of a liquid health formula OR $15 store credit from Trilight Health. ($15.00 Value. Standard shipping rates apply.)
ListPlanIt—Free 3-month membership OR 3 free ePlanners from ListPlanIt. ($15.00 value. No shipping required.)
Bulk Herb Store—Instant download of the instructional video Making Herbs Simple Volume 2 for FREE from Bulk Herb Store. (up to a $15.00 Value. No shipping required.)
Fit2B™ Studio—FREE 2-Month Online Fitness Membership at Fit2B™ Studio. (up to a $20.00 Value. No shipping required.)

Remember, this bundle is available for 6 days only, from 8 a.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, April 23 to 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, April 28th.

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. For more information, read the fine print and get the answers to frequently asked questions from Ultimate Bundles.

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Published on April 23, 2014 05:01

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