Foods 
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
Homeschooling 11 Ways to Simplify Your Homeschool Day
Homeschooling laws differ from state to state. While some states do require certain subjects to be taught during specific years, there are others that leave it up to the parents. If you live in one of those states like we do, that leaves a lot of leeway for subjects, topics, and approaches to your homeschool day. And if you're like me, all the choices out there can get overwhelming. I know during our first couple of years, I was just so excited to do everything, that we almost did nothing. We did the basics—math, science, reading/phonics, spelling, etc.—we packed it all in to every day. I soon realized that while my ...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
Pete’s Dragon: A Christian Parent’s Discussion Guide
Go north, go north with wings on your feet North with the wind, where the three rivers meet Look all around you and see Deep in the forest, there dragons will be. Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis remarked about how in his youth he developed an intense obsession with "northernness"—the mysterious northern lands of Britain and Scandinavia and their dark Norse myths that represented for him the embodiment of an unreachable, imaginary land. He recalls how, at certain points in his life, he would be shot through with “the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing” for another world. This is far more than just an escape into ...Read More
Helping Your Kids Know God’s Word: What’s Handwriting Got to Do with It?
In some circles, handwriting practice and good penmanship are lost arts. Modern core curricula, for instance, have removed cursive altogether from public schools. Public education questions aside, what does handwriting have to do with your child's spiritual maturity? How is good handwriting connected to your child's spiritual growth and knowledge of the Word? Surprisingly, there are many connections... 1. Writing out the Scriptures reminds our kids that each and every word in the Bible is inspired. God himself wrote the Ten Commandments, etching them in stone with his finger (Exodus 24:12; 31:18; 34:1; ...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
