April 19, 2013

25 Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil Uses

By Rachel, Contributing Writer Today we're talking about an essential oil that you've probably heard of before or have even seen in recipes for homemade cleaners here at Keeper of the Home: tea tree oil. Tea tree has such a diversity of usefulness that's both practical and convenient that you'll never want to live without it again! And the good news is that it is very inexpensive in comparison to other essential oils. photo credit What is Tea Tree Oil? Tea tree oil, also known as Melaleuca alternifoliais, is an [...]

Filed Under: Baby Steps, Healthy Living, Living healthy, Natural living, Natural Remedies, Non-toxic cleaning Tagged With: , , , , , 103 Comments
March 6, 2013

5 Easy Breakfast Ideas {and a Mini Quiche Tutorial}

5 East Breakfast Ideas

  By Rachel, Contributing Writer If you are like me, weekday mornings are very busy. You're getting the backpacks packed, the curriculum prepared on homeschooling days, the water bottles filled and lunch boxes ready to go... and the very thought of breakfast puts me even more behind. So I love the thought of easy breakfasts. Who doesn't?? Here is a rundown of some of our favorite fast and easy breakfast ideas: 1. Smoothies These are our number one favorite! Smoothies are fast and easy and not messy [...]

Filed Under: Healthy kids, Healthy Living, In the kitchen, Living healthy, Menu Planning, Nutrition, Raising healthy eaters, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , 15 Comments
February 6, 2013

5 Ways to Get More Fruits & Veggies into your Diet

5 Ways to add more Friuts & Veggies into your diet COVER

              Written by Rachel, contributing writer Are you working to ditch processed foods and put more real food on the table? This month we're running a series called Real Food Made Simple: A Beginner's Guide to Eating Better. Our goal is to answer the questions you might have and make the transition a whole lot easier! We all want a healthy family, right? Some of us deal with picky eaters, and when it comes to getting little ones (and [...]

Filed Under: Baby Steps, Children, Healthy kids, In the kitchen, Living healthy, Nutrition, Raising healthy eaters, Real Food, Real, whole food, Realfoodmadesimple Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 12 Comments
January 11, 2013

How to Read Food Labels

How to Read food labels

                        Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer Are you working to ditch processed foods and put more real food on the table? This month we're running a series called Real Food Made Simple: A Beginner's Guide to Eating Better. Our goal is to answer the questions you might have and make the transition a whole lot easier! When it comes to reading food labels, you may be wondering where to start. And I have definitely [...]

Filed Under: Baby Steps, Healthy kids, Living healthy, Nutrition, Raising healthy eaters, Real Food, Real, whole food, Realfoodmadesimple Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , 30 Comments
December 14, 2012

Holiday Lattes in the Crock Pot {with Free Printables!}

Holiday-Lattes in the Crock Pot at KeeperoftheHome.org

By Rachel, Contributing Writer There is something about this time of the year that makes us love having a hot beverage treat to warm our hands and indulge our taste buds. I think Starbucks and McDonald's may be the ones responsible for that craze, but who knows the amount of sugar and artificial ingredients that are in those! If you are really curious, take a look into this research! The favorites seem to be the gingerbread latte, eggnog latte, peppermint mocha and then the pumpkin spice latte. These [...]

Filed Under: Do it yourself, Frugality, Holidays, Homemade, Recipes, Seasonal eating Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , 22 Comments
November 9, 2012

Real Food Substitutions and No-Bake Cookie Dough Balls {a perfect holiday treat}

No Bake Cookie Dough Balls

Written by Rachel Marie, Contributing Writer I'm always on the look out for natural alternatives and healthy recipes, and I'm sure you are, too--especially if you read Keeper of the Home frequently. With all the gluten intolerances, food allergies and reduced sugar guidelines so many readers face today, I'm glad to be able to make quick substitutions like these: You can also substitute 1 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon of pure powdered stevia. (Not truvia or another similar brand; those are equal substitutions and often have fillers in [...]

Filed Under: Holidays, Real Food, Recipes, Seasonal eating Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 22 Comments
October 12, 2012

Jump into Fall with over 30 Pumpkin Ideas

Jump into Fall with 30+ Pumpkin Ideas

Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer Y'all, you know I don't really say that in real life but there is just something about this time of year that brings out that southern greeting. It's Fall Y'all and that means pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! Pumpkins are used in recipes, for decorations and soon to be carved into silly faces, for themed crafts and learning activities and so much more, you literally can get overwhelmed if you search pumpkin on Pinterest. This post will give you a rundown on [...]

Filed Under: Children, Real Food, Seasonal eating Tagged With: , , , , , 14 Comments
September 4, 2012

Day in the Life: Rachel (Busy Mom of a 3 and 5 year old)

Victory Logo

Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer I am 30. This might be young to some while older to others, and even though age isn't significant in motherhood, at 30 this year has been the hardest year of my life. Although I would like to give you my "ideal" scenario day, this is my life... for now and sometimes the day that I think would be better if x, y, and z, I know the Lord is preparing my heart for something beyond my dreams! God can do anything, you know—far more than you [...]

Filed Under: Getting organized, Home Educating, Homemaking, Our family Tagged With: , , , 24 Comments