Hope in the Face of Discouragement

By on February 22, 2008 in faith & womanhood

I wrote this note to someone very near and dear to my heart this morning who is struggling with depression, and wanted to share it with you, in hopes that it might edify us all.

Dear Friend,

I wanted to share with you a verse that has greatly encouraged my soul when I have gone through bouts of depression, lacking joy and purposefulness. Sometimes I just wake up in the morning and feel this overwhelming weight of discouragement. I don’t want to get up and face the challenges of the day. Or when challenges come my way with fussy babies, disasters in the kitchen, financial worries, etc. No matter what they be, this verse has been a source of great encouragement to my soul.

Ps. 42:5
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.”

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Make it Yourself – Homemade Salad Dressings

By on February 21, 2008 in recipes & kitchen tips

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(Oops…I spelled Caesar wrong on my label! Hope nobody notices)

I must admit, I was way behind on making my own dressings…over the last few weeks we have been using balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dressing, because the frig was bare of any dressings at all. This is a good alternative if you don’t have any on hand…but then I wanted to post on the topic of dressings today in continuation of the Make it Yourself section of the Natural Living on A Budget series, so I rushed down into the kitchen and threw my favorite recipes together! That’s the truth. Just for you! Save on your food budget by making your own yummy dressings! Store bought dressings are steeply priced and often have added unnecessary preservatives and lots of sugar.

Today…Teriyaki Marinade, Ranch, Italian, Ceasar & Poppyseed Dressings!

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Homemade Sauerkraut

By on February 21, 2008 in recipes & kitchen tips

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This is the season for cabbage! And cabbage gallore! I have been receiving a large head of cabbage each week in my produce bin, and thus the need to be used. My sister-in-law Autumn suggested we get together and make sauerkraut yesterday. I honestly would not have thought of the idea! Thanks dear SIL! It is oh so easy! Continue Reading →

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Loving Ziplocs – tips & tricks

By on February 19, 2008 in frugal & simple

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I am finally figuring out the routine of reusing my Ziploc bags! I have been reusing them for a long time, but was never able to clean them very thoroughly, and it took time to clean, and they always seemed to pile up in my sink and collect nasty remains from dishes, making it more difficult to clean, and the process repeats itself…but all that has finally changed! Here are my recent findings… Continue Reading →

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Mastering the Art of Herbs & Spices

By on February 18, 2008 in recipes & kitchen tips

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In my quest to learn to be able to excel still more in combining herbs and spices in my cooking for the best overall flavor and variety, I have wanted to explore more in detail this fine art. My question has always been: what combines well with this spice? What spice would go well with this meat, vegetable, etc? And the list goes on. I recently came across this list of herbs and their uses and wanted to share it with you. I am printing this out and taping it inside my spice cupboard. I hope it helps you out as well! Let’s explore more thoroughly the joys of creating dishes without so much dependency on a recipe!

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The power of womanhood

By on February 18, 2008 in faith & womanhood

mother.JPG“To a certain extent, woman is the conservator of her nation’s welfare. Her virtue, if firm and uncorrupted will stand sentinel over that empire.”

-Female Piety, John Angell James (1800′s)

“No free communities ever existed without morals, and…morals are the work of woman. Consequently, whatever affects the condition of women, their habits and their opinions, has great political importance in my eyes.”

-Democracy in America (1831)

If you have not yet realized the power of your influence not only in your sphere of influence (whether home, church, community) but also for the overall good of the nation, now is the time to take it seriously. No matter your age, whether young or old, single or married. Our nation is in dire need of its godly women who fear the Lord to step forward and make an impact for good!

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Knowing what you eat

By on February 18, 2008 in health & nutrition

I thought this recent news report about the largest recalling in US History of ground beef (135 million pounds) just goes to show the importance of knowing where your food is coming from. Watch the video: it’s just a little disturbing! This is another convincing measure for me to buy locally and know my farmers.

Julie Deardorff says:

“Yet, as the largest beef recall in history shows, most of us have no idea where–or from whom–our food is coming. And because we’re disconnected from the process and the environment, we no longer eat intuitively or instinctively.”

Read the whole story here.

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Encouraging Posts from the Week

By on February 16, 2008 in news & giveaways

young-girl-reading-1776-print-i10082626.jpegHere are some enjoyable posts that have encouraged me this past week. These are some of my favorite blogs, by the way!

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The Scoop on Coupons -Counting the Cost

By on February 15, 2008 in frugal & simple

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Things to consider when deciding if it is worthwhile to be a couponing queen!

We all have to use our own wisdom and judgment in the area of frugality…but I think the overall issue to consider, is this taking more time than actually saving money? Can I make these products more frugally and nutritiously on my own?

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Make it Yourself – Mayonnaise & Bread Crumbs

By on February 15, 2008 in recipes & kitchen tips

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In continuing my natural living on a budget series, I would like to turn the focus towards making things yourself! You can save a lot of money here and will be eating more nutritious food at the same time. You can find these products on sale with great coupons, but the thing I like to consider is: what is more healthy and nutritious for you? What kind of additives or preservatives does that have? While taking these questions into consideration, but wanting to be frugal and staying within our food budget, I have been exploring the realm of making condiments myself. We’ll be discussing making your own salad dressings, dairy products, and all sorts of mixes from scratch! You will realize how simple this process truly is…once you schedule a little time in each week to refill your supply. I try to re-supply every Friday morning as needed.

Today…Homemade Mayonnaise & Bread Crumbs!
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