I have a 12-year-old son. He's on the cusp of being old enough to begin engaging in social media and setting up accounts on services like Facebook (legally kids need to be 13 prior to creating an account of Facebook). While I've read copious articles and arguments from Christian parents who plan to prohibit their kids from using Facebook, I don't see too many Christian parents advocating that their kids should use Facebook and other social networks. Let me me be the voice in the void. I won't ban my kids from Facebook. In fact, I want my kids to be involved in social media. Wipe the flabbergasted look off your ...Read More
Homeschooling How to Plan Your Own Unit Study
Is your child really interested in a particular topic, but you can’t find a curriculum that covers it at the level that you would like? Or at all? One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is that you have the opportunity to customize your child’s education. This includes exploring topics that aren’t normally explored or exploring them in a different way. However, it can be challenging, especially if you are new to home education, to branch out into developing your own unit studies. Hopefully this article will help to make the process a bit easier for you to navigate. Step 1: Decide on a Topic You might ...Read More
Foods Homemade Grain-Free Graham Crackers (with a sugar-free option!)
When I saw these healthy dark-chocolate marshmallows Raia made, I just knew they were begging for a homemade, grain-free graham crackers partner. Because... s'mores. Right? Yes. Of course I'm right. These homemade, grain-free graham crackers might make the best (and healthiest) s'mores you've ever had. Looking for more gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. Grain-free graham crackers for a healthy snack or treat! Our new house has 2.5 glorious acres of land—which might not seem like a lot to some of you, but to a girl who's ...Read More
Diluting Essential Oils: A Common Sense Guide
Everyone who uses essential oils needs to learn about properly diluting essential oils. Even me. "Oh, you don't need to dilute that oil," I flippantly remarked. Somebody needs to wash my mouth out with soap after that one. I had suggested my husband use some lavender oil. It's known to be a mild oil that's not "hot." All the online articles I read had led me astray, though. It turns out, we most definitely should have diluted that oil. What followed was not a pleasant experience for my husband. Thankfully, there was no lasting damage, just some temporary discomfort. I hope our screw-up and the ensuing research ...Read More
Slow Cooker Balsamic Glazed Beef Petite Tenders
This slow cooker balsamic glazed beef petite tenders recipe is absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious. The whole family loved it. It's super easy to make and perfect for busy days (thank goodness for slow cookers!). It's perfect for using up those odd pieces of beef in the freezer, too! I looked at the meat, confused. Beef petite tenders? What in the world do I do with this? I've never even heard of this cut of meat! You see, I was trying to finish clearing out the little remaining meat we had in our freezer. I was getting ready for the next delivery of meat. This was one of the last remaining cuts of meat that I had ...Read More
7 Ways to Use Wikki Stix for Early Learning
Everyone loves Wikki Stix! All of my kids – aged 12, 7, and twin 5 year olds all love these wax covered sticks of yarn. Ok, I admit it, even I love Wikki Stix. I love them both as a parent and I secretly enjoying playing with them myself. The first time I was exposed to Wikki Stix was a few years ago at a restaurant. In lieu of giving kids the standard menu/coloring page and 3 crayons to keep them busy, they gave them a mini-pack of Wikki Stix. Brilliant! These thing kept the kids (and me) enamored until our food came. 7 Fun, Educational Ways to Use Wikki Stix After my first experience with Wikki Stix, I had to ...Read More
{DIY} 43¢ Foaming Hand Soap
I love foaming hand soap. I like it because it's fun. Who can resist rubbing their hands in those fun bubbles? My kids love washing their hands when they have foaming soap — and we all know how important it is to encourage our kids with those good habits. So if always keeping a healthy supply of foaming hand soap on hand will encourage healthy habits, sign me up! My twins can empty out half a bottle of foam soap between the two of them in one trip to the bathroom! Yikes. That can get expensive when you're paying $3-$4 a bottle! But that brings me to another reason I love this soap. It's super cheap when you make ...Read More
The Frugal Moms Guide to Saving Money on Essential Oils
My baby brother (who happens to be a mere 8ish inches taller than me, but he'll forever be my baby brother) gave me a call recently. It started something like this... "Hey, Sister Brain." (I'm not really sure why he calls me this, but he has for a long time.) "Hey, Daniel. How's it going?" "Great! Since you're the essential-oil guru, I thought I'd ask you a question." "Ummm, well I'm not so sure I'd call myself a guru, but shoot." "I was thinking about picking up some cheap essential oils at Walmart and wanted to know what the very best diffuser is I can buy." Screeeeech. Halt. Stop the bus. You see, my brother ...Read More
