Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Redeeming Childbirth Book Giveaway!!!


Did you read my review on Redeeming Childbirth yet?  If not, go read it and get familiar with this fantastic book. : )

Angie Tolpin has kindly offered to giveaway a signed copy of Redeemed Childbirth today to one of my readers!  Enter the giveaway below through the Rafflecopter form (subscribers will have to click through to enter on the blog).  Have fun!

*Disclaimer - Angie Tolpin sent me an e-version of this book for the purpose of the review.  I wasn't compensated in any other way.  Thank you Angie, it truly has been a blessing!  This post also contains affiliate links, you can read my entire policy here

Monday, April 29, 2013

Redeeming Childbirth :: A Book Review



Today I want to share with you to my *new* favorite pregnancy/childbirth book : Redeeming Childbirth by Angie Tolpin.

This book has become my favorite pregnancy book because of the huge amount of encouragement through out it's pages.  I have read a ton of pregnancy/childbirth books (here are some of my favorites) and for the most part they are alike and tell you how big your baby is now and what happens during pregnancy, labor and birth, etc.  This book though encourages you to grow in your relationship with the Lord while going through the life changing experience of pregnancy/childbirth.

Pregnancy and birth is just something you don't ever forget, it is imprinted on your heart.  I remember the overflowing joy of finding out a new blessing was coming, feeling the first hiccup or kick, hearing the baby's heart beat for the very first time, growing close to the day you are to deliver and meeting your precious baby for the very first time.  Pregnancy is a precious growing time for both yourself and your baby.

A lot of people (I know I have at times) focus on the negatives of pregnancy: morning sickness, sleepless nights, backaches, outgrowing clothes, tiredness, overwhelmed with household tasks, etc. Though these are all extremely true (more so for others), this book encourages you to draw closer to the Lord during these trying times and rest in His presence.

I wish there had been such a book when I was expecting our first baby. I would have benefited so much for the encouragement within it. This book is written to help redeem your childbirth, help you grow spiritually with the Lord, your family and your growing baby.  I ended up reading this book slowly, I'd read a little and think on it and read a little again.  It is so full of wisdom, I'm sure I'll be picking it back up next time I'm expecting.



I would have no problems recommending Redeeming Childbirth to anyone having a baby!

Be on the look out for an exciting giveaway coming soon!!

You can connect with Angie online on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or subscribe to her email list.



*Disclaimer - Angie Tolpin sent me an e-version of this book for the purpose of the review.  I wasn't compensated in any other way.  Thank you Angie, it truly has been a blessing!  This post also contains affiliate links, you can read my entire policy here

Friday, April 26, 2013

The May Flexi Of The Month Is Out!

Lilla Rose has released the new May FOTM early.  Just in time for Mother's day!  Order now to give your mother a special gift!  If early wasn't good enough you can get 10% off the May, April & super popular February FOTMs!





I'm running a special too over on Homemaker's Challenge - BUY 3 and GET 1 FREE! You have to order through my link to get this special!



Sunday, April 14, 2013

The ABCs of Housekeeping

I follow Jenni @ Live Called and about 2 weeks ago she posted this meme.  I've been wanting to join in since reading her answers but hadn't had a chance until now.  After you read my answers copy the questions and post it on your blog with your own answers.  You can link up and join Jenni here.
 
Aprons – Yes or No? 
Yes & No, it depends on what I'm making (i.e. fried foods) and what I am already wearing.  I do love pretty aprons!

Bathrooms – How many do you have? 
1 - and for now I'm happy we only have one so I don't have more to keep clean. : )  Bathrooms are not my favorite area to clean. 

Clothesline – Do you have one? 
Yes!  I love it especially for hanging cloth diapers.  Lately I rarely put clothes on it due to my husband's allergies and asthma.

Dusting – How often?
Depends on the time of year, but normally around once a week

Everyday – One housekeeping task you do everyday?
Whole house tidy.  I like to go to each room each morning and do a quick pick up.  Toys, clutter, clothes, etc all get picked up and put away at this time.

Family – Does your family help with household chores? 
My 2 1/2 year old son loves to wash the bathtub and help when I clean the bathroom.  He also helps unload the dishwasher.  My 1 year old loves to 'try' to help load the dishwasher but that's more of a playtime in the water. : )  My husband helps me keep up with the dishes when he is able to. 

Garbage Disposal – Do you have one?
No, currently we live in a old home, built probably well before garbage disposals were designed. :) 

Home Management Notebook – Do you use one? What’s in it?
Yes & no, I have one but I have gotten out of the routine of using it.  You can read what's in my binder here.

Ironing – Love it or hate it? 
I only iron when sewing so I guess I love it, because I love sewing! :)

Junk Drawer – Where is it?
I lost 2 drawers when I decided I wanted a dishwasher added in the kitchen, and one of those was the junk drawer.  I still don't have a junk drawer but I do get a small pile in the corner of the kitchen counter, thankfully because it is on the counter I don't allow it to stay a pile very long. :)

Kitchen – Design and decor? 
I've never been good with designs and decor so my kitchen is pretty simple.  It's yellow with a few plaques that say Faith, Hope, Love in yellow, red and green.  My old dream kitchen used to be blue and green with white - it just sounds so clean and bright in my head. :) 

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
Finding new ways to become more efficient in my calling as homemaker.  

Mopping – How often does it get done?
About once a week or when something gets spilled. :) 

Natural Cleaning Products– Do you use them?
Yes!  That's all I ever use.  I love these products and then homemade cleaners from this book.

Overwhelmed – What part of homemaking stresses you out the most?
Deep cleaning - I am not always able to get the deep cleaning done and that stresses me out. :)  But, at least the regular cleaning gets done. :)

Pets – Do you have any mess-making critters in the house?
Yes, we have one small dog inside (mostly) and then 2 outside kittens.

Quiet – What do you enjoy doing when you get a quiet moment?
Mostly read.  Read my bible, read a current book, read articles.... 

Recipes – How do you organize them? 
Oh, right now they are a mess.  I have my favorite cookbook and then I have a binder full of all the printed off recipes I've collected.  One day I have to find a way to organize them to make it efficient and easy to find what I'm looking for.

Style of House – What kind of home do you live in?  
We have a 3 bedroom 1 bathroom little farm house. :)

Tablecloth – Do you use one on a regular basis? 
No, with a toddler tablecloths get too dirty and add extra laundry. 

Under the Kitchen Sink – What do you have under there? 
It's sort of messy right now but I have some vases, dishwasher detergent, vinegar and some other cleaning things.

Vacuuming – How many times a week does it get done? 
With only 1 room in the house with carpet it only gets done about twice a week.

Washing Clothes – How many loads do you do a week? 
I wash at least one load a day due to cloth diapering.

X’s – Do you keep a to-do list and cross the tasks off? 
Yes!  I must have a to-do list.  The satisfaction of crossing tasks off a list keep me going!!  Recently in an attempt to reduce my waste of papers I am trying an app on my iPhone called Any.Do, so far I love it!

Yard Work – Who does what? 
For the most part my husband keeps up the yard work.  Gardening has become a family event as 2 boys love getting in the dirt! :)

ZZZ’s – What is your last housekeeping task of the day? 
Normally putting a load of diapers in the washer before going to bed. :)

Now, head over to Jenni's blog and read her answers and the other ones linked up.



Live Called
*Disclaimer - this post contains affiliate links

Friday, April 12, 2013

Kissed by the Moon Store Spotlight

At the beginning of last month I ran a giveaway for the #NewFluff event, well, due to business and some unforeseen events I didn't get to post a sponsor spotlight before the event began and ended. : (  So, today I'm going to introduce you to one wonderful online store full of cloth diaper supplies and a ton of other baby related items.


Kissed by the Moon is a family ran online business helping parents cloth diaper their babies and buy all needed supplies at one place.  KBTM sells everything from cloth diapers in every style, to soap, to diaper bags, to baby toys to baby carries.  KBTM also has a rental program!! :)


Tami at Kissed by the Moon sent me some Crow Mountain Craft soap in lavender to try out.  The soap smelled so good when the package arrived!  Crow Mountain Craft soap is "cold process soap made with only the highest quality ingredients and essential oils.  Our soaps are made in small batches in my home. Each slice is handcut and weighs from 4.5-5oz."  Crow Mountain Craft soaps specializes in soaps to help wash your wool covers.  They have Lano Loafs, Liquid Wool Wash, Lanolin Mist, and a bunch of other items.


The bars of soap have this cute stamp stating "handmade" with a tree on one corner.  The colors in the bar I got are so beautiful and add a little special color to your bathroom. The soaps wash well and leave your hands feeling clean but not dry and stripped from all oils.  They lather well and last a long time.  I'm still working on my first bar of soap.

I always got quick responses to my questions and customer service was always accommodating and helpful.  

Some of the other products I love from Kissed by the Moon along with many others:


This Swaddlebess Simplex 2.0 is soooo cute!


Ergo Baby carriers are my absolute favorite carriers for when my babies get about 3 months.

My boys would love the cars on this Tots Bots Easy Fit One Size Diaper.

Like I said at the beginning of this post Kissed by the Moon donated a $25.00 gift certificate to the #NewFluff event that was in March.  

You can connect with Kissed by the Moon by following them on:


Be sure to check out there sales/clearance section to score some great deals on diapers and accessories monthly.

* Disclaimer - I received a sample of the bar of soap mentioned above to write this review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions written here are 100% honest and my own.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

New Items at Lilla Rose

Today Lilla Rose has come out with 2 new products!!

The Cat's Meow flexi clip and the Elegant Flower bobby pins.


You can order them here as well as view the different sizes.


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

March Reads

I'm happy to have added several more books to my "finished" list this last month.  I have been enjoying reading more lately and learning so many new things as well as being encouraged by them.

Early to Rise
If you are wanted to make a change in your schedule to get up earlier this book was a great read to help motivate you to rise earlier.  I wasn't able to do the entire challenge well as I've got little ones who still sort of mess up our sleeping schedule but the points in the book were excellent and helpful.

Breast to Bib
If you are about to wean your little one or interested in learning more about it, this book was really great with explaining everything.  My baby started solids quite awhile ago but I still found this book very interesting and loved the information shared in it.

Herbal Nurturing
I loved all the recipes and instructions in this book.  I'm looking forward to using some of them soon!

Crunchy Betty's Food on your Face
This book is packed full with recipes for improving and helping your complexion.  I really enjoyed reading it and the depth of information.  Of course like any book I don't agree with every detail but the majority was great!

Healthy Snacks to Go
The snacks in this book are healthy and easy, just like it says.  We've enjoyed several of the recipes already!

On Becoming a Writer
I'm still reading this book but it's fun to learn more about something I love.  So far I've really enjoyed it.

 
Loving the Little Years
I've got 2 little boys 2 and under so I'm in the beginning of the "little years".  I have read such great reviews of this book so I decided to get a copy and give it a try. So far I have LOVED it. So much I can relate with and the points made are excellent.
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert
I read this book in like 1 day!  It's such easy read and fun information (for me!).  It is sooo full of everything you'd need to cloth diaper.  If you are considering beginning cloth diapering or quitting you should read this new ebook!

I also finished reading Naturally Knocked Up and almost done with Redeeming Childbirth from last months list.  Redeeming Childbirth has so much information in it it's hard to read fast. : )

What have you been reading lately?  Have you read any of the above books?


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Are You Stessed Momma? | 6 Ways To Become Less Stressed

Buy at Art.com

I know it's been a bit quiet around here lately, I've been pretty busy with my homemaking and caring for my family.  Often I get stressed about the things that need to get done, but I have found ways to put the stress behind.  Motherhood and being a homemaker is often a busy and time consuming occupation.

Dishes pile high 

Laundry baskets overflow

Little tummies empty quickly

Crumbs collect on the floors

Your energy goes away at amazing speeds

Add in many other things and then it starts all over again tomorrow

Things and seasons change.  You just now get used to winter and have figured out how to entertain your two little ones, then spring comes and you now need to figure out how to fit in letting them play outside, But, you can't just let them out alone.  It's busy and it's easy to fall head first into the stress of it.

Stress is bad for everyone but for a mother it's easy for your stress to be let out in your children or husband.  Here are several ways I let go and clear my head of the stress.

Pray - give your worries and cares to Jesus.  You might be washing the dishes or changing a diaper but a quick prayer to the Father will help ease some of that stress in your mind

Read Scriptures - There are an amazing amount of scriptures to encourage a worn/weary heart in the bible and just getting a few into your day can make a huge difference. Post sticky notes around your house if you are not able to get to personal devotions everyday to help encourage yourself.  Just a small reminder that the Lord is there can make a stressful situation much less stressful.

Read a book - even if it's reading a book about bears or cars to your boys.  I find reading any type of book relaxing.  Sometimes it's just a quick few paragraphs in one of the many books I'm in the middle of reading or a children's book out loud.  I often like to try to read from an encouraging book or something that will lift me up. 

Take a walk -put your babies in a stroller and go out for a short walk.  It's great exercise and I always find it relaxing and rejuvenating. :)

Have your babies help you do housework - one of the easiest ways for me to get something done and watch my babies at the same time is to have them help me do something.  I can fold laundry on the bed while they clean something in the same room, for me that's normally picking up toys. My two year old can fold small towels and put his own clothes in his drawer.  Give your little ones wash cloths and tackle the dirty bathroom together.  Let the littles work on the tub while you clean the toilet, floor and sink.  Be sure to use safe and non-toxic cleaners, especially when allowing children to help you as the others can be very harmful to their more sensitive bodies.

Lower your expectations - Children grow at alarmingly fast speeds and you want them to remember having a blast!  Their memories shouldn't be of momma always stressed about having the perfect house.  It's okay if the dinner dishes don't get done every single night, the laundry isn't folded right away, the bathroom needed to be cleaned a few days ago or dinner is simple.  Have fun with them, spend time outside playing in the dirt, sit and read what feels like 100 books to them one afternoon, go to the park and just waste the afternoon, let them sit in the tub extra long because they love playing in there, just have fun! Your babies will grow and you'll have all the time in the world to have the spotless house you didn't have then they were little! :)


I often fail at doing these things but when I stop and realize the stress I have or I've placed on my family I strive to do one, several or all of these things.

When the stress builds in your home what do you do?  Would you add something to this list?


* Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links

Monday, April 1, 2013

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