If you've ever wondered about what age kids can start helping with certain chores, this list of chores for children will help you out. Chores. Ugh. No one likes them, but they have to be done. Otherwise the house would be in disarray and chaos would ensue. Okay...so chaos ensues in my house daily—even with a plan—but it does help to have a list of chores for me and chores for children to know where we need to work. There is such an age difference between our oldest and second child that sometimes things get dumped on our 10-year-old. So this year, I'm going about our chores in a different way. Dividing the ...Read More
Homeschooling The Secret to Vibrant Gluten-Free Play-Dough Colors
With Valentine's Day right around the corner you might be attempting to make vibrant gluten-free play-dough colors in red, pink, and purple. And you'll probably discover just how hard these colors can be to create without them looking like washed-out pink and grey. I have a secret for you. It's super easy to create vibrant gluten-free play-dough. And you can make it by recycling a common household item. Not only is it insanely easy, but it works every time! The trick is crayons! Yes, in addition to your gel food coloring, add crayons for vibrant gluten-free play dough. And if you're anything like me, you have ...Read More
50 Ways to Show Kindness to Your Neighbor This Valentine’s Day
The week of Valentine's Day is Random Acts of Kindness Week. Because our culture associates Valentine's Day with love, it affords us a perfect time to show kindness to our neighbors. As Christians, we believe followers of Christ should lead the way in showing kindness. Scripture tells us to put on kindness (Colossians 3:12) because one of the chief marks of Christian love is kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4). Better yet, our random acts of kindness can serve as an arrow to the gospel. God's kindness is meant to lead people to repentance (Romans 2:4). Showing kindness allows us to talk about the One who has ...Read More
Foods Paleo, Slow-Cooker Cabbage Rolls
If you're looking for good-old fashioned down-home comfort food, cabbage rolls are a classic. It really isn't that hard to remake the classic version into Paleo, Slow-Cooker Cabbage Rolls. This makes the cabbage rolls both healthy, and easy for the busy mom to throw in the slow-cooker. Traditional vs. Paleo Cabbage Rolls What's different between these cabbage rolls and the ones my mom made growing up? Not much! Rice has been substituted for riced cauliflower. Instead of a heavy grain-laden meal, these cabbage rolls are packed with nourishing veggies—tomatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower. Instead of sauteing your ...Read More
8 Ways to Spiritually Detox Your Family
Detox is a hot topic these days, isn't it? As scientific research continues to reveal the mind-blowing amount of toxins in our environment, many people want to do everything within our power to limit those agents that are so harmful to our bodies. So we detox our homes. We detox our cleaning supplies. We detox our bodies. Our pets. Our environment. Even our wardrobes. (Don't believe me? Google it!) As powerful as physical detox can be, I'm a believer that there's another kind of detox that's at least as critical, and in fact even more so. Spiritual detox. As human beings, we are so much ...Read More
Teach Your Kids to Cook Real Food!
At 12 weeks pregnant, I've been dealing with hyperemesis (severe all-day sickness) for 6 weeks now. And if the pattern of my other pregnancies continues, it will continue until the bitter end. It's no fun. Meal time is especially no fun. It's an especially strange state of being when you're simultaneously hungry and thirsty as well as nauseated and completely repulsed by food. It doesn't make cooking a very grand experience. I'm thankful for a husband who helps out in the kitchen and my oldest son who is excited to learn to cook and put some of his new-found talents to the test. Teaching My Sons to Cook My son ...Read More
Easy, Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
One sure-fire way I've found to get my kids to eat more veggies is to add cheese. Cheese and vegetables. Vegetables and cheese. This easy, cheesy vegetable chowder recipe is no exception! Packed with vegetables, this chowder nourishes the body and makes the taste-buds happy. It's a win-win for moms and kiddos. I've included directions for our favorite version of this recipe, but you can certainly swap out the vegetables for others that are your family's favorites. About the Chicken Broth While you can just buy a box of the pre-made broth from the store, I'd urge you to consider making your own bone broth (I ...Read More
Homeschooling with Legos
Legos are possibly the most known toy in the world. Every kid seems to have them and they provide hours of creative entertainment. It just makes sense to take advantage of them as learning tools! Homeschooling with Legos is a not only a wonderful marriage of learning and fun, it is also very easy to do. What Kids Learn by Building with Legos Building blocks are an obvious win for open-ended toys in your home. Open-ended toys are those that spark imagination and can be used in so many more ways than the average modern toy. That creative energy and imagination are part of the reason why Legos are so loved! Kids ...Read More
