Keeper of the Home » Living Simply

Making Mom’s Health A Priority

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:00:53 +0000

Guest Post by Leah

When my children wake up in the morning, I sometimes chuckle to myself as I’m reminded of some old horse races I used to watch as a child. The whistle blows, the announcer proclaims, “And she’s OFF!”, and the remainder of the race is spent simply trying to keep up with what’s going on, and preparing for what’s to come around the next bend.

While doing my best to nourish precious little bodies, minds, and spirits each day, there are occasions when I can’t help but feel like I’m in a race of my own: a race to check off my to-do’s and compile my will-do’s before the day ends.

It is easy to become so absorbed by the responsibilities of being a joyful wife, mother, and homemaker that we neglect to adequately tend to our own personal health and well being. Often times, we may just dismiss the warning signs of stress as they appear, or even allow them to go unrecognized until physical symptoms begin to develop.

Did you know that too much stress can lead to digestive issues, depression, insomnia, and even skin conditions such as eczema? The list goes on and on, and let’s not forget the ill-effects it has on our family as well!

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I will be the first to admit that I have frequently failed in the “cheerful disposition” department, especially after receiving an unpleasant health diagnosis last fall. Since this time, I have been on a mission to intentionally rebuild my body as the temple God created it to be, and renew my spirit within.

It has been a process requiring time and considerable effort, but the results have been well worth it. Most days, I can honestly say that I am feeling healthier, more joyful, and more at peace than ever before. Each step towards your own good health is a blessing, both to you and your entire family as well, and it’s much easier than you may think!

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Start by making a list of goals for yourself.

Divide these goals into 3 groups: physical, personal, and spiritual. Write down everything that comes to mind, and then start to number each category in the order of importance. Once you have everything laid out in front of you, you can begin to make a workable plan.

The next step is to look at your current routine and search for areas where you can squeeze in some personal time, even if it’s only five minutes. It’s easiest to try to establish one new habit at a time before moving to the next. Be patient, and start with the most important ones first!

Here are a few of the habits that continue to work for me:

Waking up at least an hour or so before my children. This has been the single most effective strategy I’ve found to nurture my craving for personal and spiritual growth. In the quiet morning hours I can journal and read uninterrupted, shower, and gear up for my day. Recently, I’ve also started using a great program called PraiseMoves which incorporates stretching, gentle exercise, and scripture meditation all in one, and I simply adore it. You can read my full review of PraiseMoves and enter a giveaway here.

Dedicating five minutes or so to myself in between my daily activities. This has been a simple way to focus on a few basic recurring needs, such as having a glass of water, or taking my vitamins.

Playing “copycat” when spending time with the kids. This is a great way to fit in some exercise. If they are running and jumping around, why not join them for a few minutes of fun? When they get thirsty, join them for a drink!

Designating a home spa time for myself once a week during my children’s nap time. This consists of taking a nice, relaxing bath, reading a good book, and then fussing over my hair and skin a bit more than usual. I find this regular time of self-pampering works wonders in my mood and disposition. I highly recommend that you try it!

Work on eliminating stress.

Besides exercise, another very helpful stress-reducing technique is called diaphragmatic breathing. The name may sound a bit daunting, but with a bit of practice, you will be filling your lungs with more oxygen than you have since you were a child, and letting go of loads of tension in the process! Here is a video tutorial to help you get started.

Meditating on God’s word is an extremely valuable tool in maintaining a more peaceful spirit as well. Find verses that are most helpful to you, especially ones that focus on His wonderful qualities. After all, our true identity is based on Him alone!

Enlist a few helpful allies.

If you don’t have a set schedule to follow each day, consider setting a timer to go off periodically as a reminder to stop and take a short break. Pray, have a cup of tea, and get refreshed! You may benefit from asking a friend to check with you weekly and hold you accountable. I personally do much better when I have someone else helping to keep me straight.

Another thing that I find helpful is to post little reminder notes throughout the house, and place scripture verses to meditate in practical locations such as beside the toilet or above the kitchen sink.

Above all, don’t forget that we can do ALL things through Him who gives us strength.

The important thing to remember is to trust him for the timing. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, so neither should we expect it of ourselves! Take the time to relax and care for your body and spirit today. Your family will thank you for it, and you’ll be on your way to feeling better than ever!

What are some of your ideas for putting better health into action?

Leah enjoys a simple life as wife and home schooling mama to 4- ages 9,3,2, and 1! Through the Lord’s strength and amazing grace she has overcome a past of drug addiction, approval addiction, and atheism, and now knows her true identity as a child of the King! Challenged by personal hardship, Leah started her blog, Dance And Be Glad, to share her heart and testimony of the power of God to bring joy, health, and healing back into our homes.

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What Makes You a Steady Mom?

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:24 +0000

What makes you a steady mom?

This is the question that Jamie of the blog, Steady Mom, is asking this summer. This wonderful series is taking a look at a wide variety of moms, with different circumstances and family situations, and exploring what helps other moms to cope with the challenges of everyday life!

I love Jamie's blog, as it always helps to bring me back to feeling more grounded and focused on what's important as a mom. She's even written a book on that very topic, called Steady Days which I reviewed last year and still find myself going back to often (the short chapters make for good bathroom reading, in those precious 2-3 minutes of "private" time!).

Here are the questions that Jamie had for me:

What is one important, practical step you take that helps you maintain a steady rhythm in your home and how does it make a difference to your days? (For me, taking my showers at night helps to get our mornings off on the right foot.)

What is a personality weakness that motherhood has made more obvious to you and how have you tried to overcome that weakness for the sake of your children?

We all have those days--where all our good plans and intentions crumble around us, the children are miserable, and we are exhausted. On a really rough day, what techniques do you use to try and turn the mood around and redeem the day in your home?

You have three young children, aim to cook and grow whole foods, just started a new blog on top of your other one, and just moved to a new house. What does being a steady mom look like when you're in a survival, just trying to get by period of life?

If you want to read my answers, you'll have to visit her blog and find out What Makes Me a Steady Mom!

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Keeping the Home Fires Burning While Mama’s Sick

Beekeeping: A Matter of the Heart

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:00:35 +0000

Guest Post by Kate Ferry

A few years ago, the Ferry family experienced a traumatic death. We lost all our girls. During the winter, approximately 50,000 honeybees vanished from my backyard. They went into hibernation after Halloween and never woke up. I don’t know where they went, but come spring, there was no one home in either of my hives.

As the air began to warm and the flowers started turning their faces to the sun, the hives remained dark and empty. No one was home. Come the beginning of March, my worst fears were confirmed when the lids were lifted and not a soul was home. No droning hum. No fluttering wings on my hands. My girls were gone.

Honeybees have been a part of my life for many years now. I have a fondness for their company and I admire their lifestyle and work ethic. I devour honey and relish in the bi-annual collection of the blonde liquid. Their disappearing act and careless state of affairs that the hive was left in left me reeling. Questions kept running through my head and doubts clouded my mind…

Where did they go? Why were dead bee carcasses left in the hive and not carried out with all the waste honeybees unload daily? Why were the honeycombs still laden with amber food? Why did they vanish?

And, the question that stung the most…

What could I have done?

Low and behold the answers are still unknown. It appears that my hit was a case of Colony Collapse Disorder. CCD has been dotting headlines and major publications and news channels for the past few years. It is a mysterious enemy and is killing honeybees and destroying hives at an apocalyptic rate.

The beekeepers are helpless. It is a phenomenon of survival of the fittest. The bees are losing the war at a rate that will eventually devastate our food supply and the pollinated crops so many of us love.

My life as a beekeeper has been in a holding pattern until this year. I missed my girls. I missed the cyclical predictability of their season. I missed their comforting drone and buzz that fills my ears when inspecting the hives.

But, the list of excuses has been long and complicated for why these miraculous creatures have not come back into my life. The money hasn’t been there to start up the expensive hives from start. The time wasn’t there the summer after my daughter Beckett was born in August 2008. Sleep and eating on a semi-regular basis were higher priorities. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Truth be told, the nagging excuse that really kept the ship at bay was my conscience and dreadful fear. I didn’t want to lose another hive. I didn’t want to be disappointed and heartbroken. And, I didn’t want to let my girls down.

In April, I decided to take a deep breath and pulled my shoulders up straight. The order was placed for two boxes of bees and the arrival date was set for the first week for May. As soon as I got the phone call that the bees had arrived, I set about like a maniacal pregnant women counting down the days until the baby pops. I began prepping their house and cleaning out old hive boxes. The pollen patties that had been stored were set to thaw on the counter. The pot was bubbling on the stove and sugar syrup was under way. I wanted to open every door for the girls and give them every opportunity to survive and prosper.

A few days later, Beckett and I drove down to Burlington, Washington (about 30 miles away) and picked up the two boxes of honeybees. They are Italian – I call them my Italian lovelies. The trip home was filled with a monotonous, soothing drone intermixed with a toddler babbling “bees cute”.

The weeks before our fated trip to pick up the bees had been a personal struggle to find where to place the hives and how to provide the best protection for them. My first option was my mother’s home. She lives about 5 minutes from us and her property is 40-acres mixed with open fields and dense forests. The pollen sources available are varied and uniquely well rounded; there are snarled blackberry brambles, massive locust trees that touch the sky, gnarly old apple trees and dandelions as far as the eye can see. It is a wonderful home for honeybees.

My second option was the most obvious, our home and property. We are blessed to have a good size lot and the room to house a handful of hives if we wanted. One of my greatest joys with honeybees is the predictable rhythm of watching the bees go about their daily business.

Our home is also a honeybee’s paradise; we are surrounded by hundreds of acres of raspberry fields. But, the scientific evidence that points to the use of pesticides and other contaminants as a major contributor to their unexplainable death is overwhelming. Raspberries are notoriously one of the most chemical laden foods grown and our home is at the epicenter of this death trap. My mom’s house is a sanctuary in the country that offers enough pollen sources to keep the bees distracted and satisfied. I cannot observe them in my garden or watch their daily interactions, but I have loosely draped them with a safety net of sorts.

But, now the bees had arrived and their home was ready. The boxes of bees were filled to the gills with buzzing insects. The queen was carefully removed, placed safely inside the hive and the bees were dumped in. With a solid thump and shake, the bees fell into the hive like a cascade of sticky marbles – one unit of buzzing dervishes. The syrup feeder was filled. The pollen patty was smushed onto the frames. And, the hives’ lids went back on.

As their buzzing bodies were placed into their new homes, I said a prayer.

I pray that my bees live and flourish in my care and my yard.

I pray that they prosper on their staple diet of pollen and honey.

I pray that I am able to enjoy and deliver the golden nectar to my pantry and my fellow bee devotees.

I pray that my beekeeping fosters in Beckett a magical and wondrous respect for the honeybee.

I pray that my bees prepare for winter with steadfast determination and weather the storm with ease and grace.

I pray that my bees live and flourish.

Amen.

And, onward we go.

Here’s to a terrific, beautifully successful beekeeping season!

Any beekeepers (or future/hopeful beekeepers) out there? I would love to hear about your experience with your bees!

Written by Kate Ferry. Visit her blog at www.sacredbee.net to follow the Ferry family's effort to buy organic and local, reduce their waste and eliminate artificial and harmful products from their home.**

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Get Outdoors and Get in That Sunshine!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:00:01 +0000

Guest Post by Kait Curran Palmer

Summer is upon most of the Northern Hemisphere at this point--minus the cloud-covered and still-chilly Pacific Northwest--but for the rest of you lovely people you are kicking off your flip flops and getting to have a grand ole time basking in the warmth of long and sun-filled days.

No bitterness here as I sit wearing flannels and a fleece.

None at all...

Seattle drudgery aside, as the kids are out of school and it is the season for “fun in the sun,” I thought I would share some of my favorite outdoor activities with you.

I have to admit I’m a huge Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) fan, and not just because my husband works there. When the CEO Sally Jewel was asked who REI’s competitors are, she replied, “First I define competitors as things that keep people indoors, or keep people from enjoying lifelong outdoor activities. So, competitors include the couch, computers, television, certainly video games […] How many of us grew up camping, participating in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, playing in the woods, building a tree fort, or digging a swimming pool in the backyard?”

I think she makes a great point, and issues a challenge for us to get off our hineys and take a hike.

Now, I understand not everyone may be a Backpacker Jane willing to forgo toilet paper in favor of leaves whilst chewing a twig of a walnut tree, but I do think everyone has it in them to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy the Great Outdoors during the summer months.

One if by Land

Eat dinner on the patio. Experiment with making a kite from paper and sticks then go try to fly it. Pack up a picnic and find a local trail or park to hike around in. If you’re the kind who’s always looking for an opportunity to learn (or teach), check out a local plant/bird/bug guide book from the library and have a competition to see who can spot the most species.

Get out your bike and take a spin with your kids. Build a cardboard fort in your backyard and have a camp out--with or without the kids! Go berry picking and eat the sun-warmed fruit right off the bush (if its pesticide free, of course). The point is to get OUT.

I know for me that when I’m sitting at my desk at work, I’m ready and willing to lace up my boots and hit a trail after work. Come 5:30, though, propping my feet up and watching a movie sounds so much more appealing than lacing up my trail runners. I’ve gotten to where I will call my husband and tell him I want to go on a hike after work, so please make me go even when I gripe and say I don’t want to. He usually has to put up with my begrudging and complaining, but by the time I’m in the middle of the dappled green woods listening to a small creek run downhill, I wonder how a movie ever sounded good compared to this.

If you’re bored to death with your neighborhood park and wondering where else to go, here are a few online resources to search for things to do:

http://www.rei.com/family-adventure

or for an interactive map of family-friendly activities

...by Sea (or lake, or river, or pond…)

Most places are at least semi-near a body of water. Whether it’s an ocean to surf in, a bay to kayak, a lake to canoe or a creek to fish, water and summer just go hand in hand. If you live near the ocean, explore tide pools at low tide. Take a fishing pole and drop a line in a river, listening to the quiet music of nature.

Renting a paddle boat is usually pretty inexpensive and a great way to explore the shores of a lake while still keeping your kids safe and dry. If you want a team-building exercise (or marital-fight-inducer, either way you look at it), try a tandem kayak. Guaranteed to test your mettle and force you to work together...but at least you’re outside, right?

While there aren’t as many online resources for water activities, Google is always a good way to find what’s near you.

http://waterplayusa.com/

Volunteer

No matter where you may live there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in a field that interests you. Grab a trash bag and join a trail cleanup, offer to walk dogs at a local shelter, help plant native species in an estuary...point is there are lots of options. We are charged to be good stewards of the environment and caretakers of God’s magnificent creation. Spending a few hours picking up trash in a river valley is a way to show your kids a concrete example of that stewardship.

http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://www.serve.gov/

I found it hard to find one overarching website for Canada, but it seems there are a lot of province-based websites dedicated to volunteerism. Try a search in your specific area to learn how you can volunteer.

Now that you are armed with the resources to find things to do in the long school-less days ahead, get out there and have some fun!

What are your favorite things to do outdoors? How do you motivate yourself when you know you need to get outside and do something?

Kait Curran Palmer has far too much outdoor equipment in her closet but tries to make good use of it by getting out-of-doors with her Mountain Man husband and precocious dog. When she is not romping around outside she is usually reading or writing about finding the adventures in an everyday life at Your Morning Cup.

The quote from Sally Jewell was taken from http://ethix.org/2009/01/01/when-customers-and-shareholders-align/

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Enjoying the Blessings of Today

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:00:08 +0000

Guest Post by Amy

It seems that I have learned so much about myself and my walk with God since becoming a mom!

One day I was watching my son, Joshua, eat some crackers. (He absolutely loves crackers!) When he started eating the ones that I gave him, I noticed that he wasn't even really enjoying them. He was shoving them in his mouth as quick as he could so he could get more!

When he got more, he still had his eyes on the ones that he didn't have while he was eating the ones in front of him. He wasn't able to enjoy what he was already given, because he was too busy looking forward to what he was going to eat next.

I sat there thinking about how silly he was being, and then it dawned on me that I often do the same thing! I don't necessarily do this with food, but I do this with every day activities and with life in general. God showed me the other day that I am often too busy or pre-occupied to enjoy what’s going on in the moment.

It's easy for me to get lost in laundry, dishes and the day-to-day routine of life. I often find myself "dreaming" about the days when my children are bigger, and I’ll have a little more time to pursue some of the dreams that are in my heart.

For example, I hope to someday write a devotional. Right now I have my blog that I update 1-2 times a week. That’s all I seem to be able to do without letting my responsibilities as a wife and mother slide.

It seems as though there are a lot of women out there who are able to pack in so many activities during the day and still stay on track. I don’t seem to be one of those women! No matter how much I try, I don’t seem to be able to juggle many “extra” things before God taps me on the shoulder to point out that my priorities are out of balance again.

Consequently, I often find myself dreaming about the day when I’m able to spend more time doing what I’m unable to find time for now. I know that there's nothing wrong with thinking about my future, but I often find myself unable to enjoy what's going on now, because I'm wishing for the future to come. If I’m not careful, I can sometimes find resentment building up in my heart when I start to feel like I’m the only one whose dreams are being put on hold. (Ouch! That sounds terrible, I know!)

Image by Pink Sherbet Photography

Focusing on the Present, Not the Future

God has been gently reminding me that I sometimes neglect to enjoy the blessings that He has already placed in my life! The future will come, but I don’t want to get there and realize that I didn’t enjoy one of the most important parts…raising my children!

I love my children, and I consider them wonderful gifts from God! My son will be 4 in just a couple of weeks, and my daughter is almost 9 months old! Yes, my family has many challenging days along with all of the good ones, but I've been praying that God shows me how to enjoy my life and family no matter what kind of day we’re having.

I tend to be such a planner that I often think more about the future than the present. I’m starting to make a point to step back and watch my children play. I’m purposefully paying more attention to the little things that make my children unique.

For example, my son and I were in a department store the other day, and I found him dancing to the music playing over the store intercom! The people around us were smiling and chuckling a little. The more they stared, the more he danced! Normally, I would have let that moment pass by while I was thinking about all of the things I needed to get done before we went home. Instead, I stopped to admire the cute little entertainer that God has given me.

I am learning to take my frustrations, worries, fears, anger, and overwhelmed feelings to God on a regular basis so I can be a better wife and mother. I thank God for showing me how to pay attention and recognize the blessings that I have each and every day - even if it's hidden in the "routine" of daily life!

Are you enjoying and purposefully noticing the “little things” that encompass the season of life you’re in today?

Amy and her husband of 6 years live in PA with their 3-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter. She has a growing passion to help women discover who they are in Christ and find freedom in becoming who God has created them to be. While growing up, Amy thought Christianity was all about following impossible rules and looking like she had it all together on Sunday mornings. She has since realized that following Jesus is all about her relationship with Him, not trying to be perfect or putting on an "act" around everyone else. In her blog, “My Purpose In Him”, Amy shares her journey in becoming the wife, mother, and follower of Jesus that she is created to be.

Image by TheraHealthNetwork.com

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The Lesson of the Pickles

Beth Corcoran — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:00:01 +0000

Written by Beth Corcoran, Contributing Writer

As I am writing this, I am currently working on my third batch of pickles. I’ve been buying cucumbers from the farmer’s market and making all kinds of pickles, although garlic dill is definitely my family’s favorite. Pickles are just such a tangy and refreshing treat!

This is my first summer to try canning, drying, and freezing enough food to put away for the rest of the year. Last summer, I did some canning, but nothing more than a handful of jars.

So a few weeks ago, I bought a big boiling water canner, eagerly anticipating all the lovely jars full of a bountiful harvest. To me, jars full of all different colors of food are like artwork on the shelves of my pantry. But, alas, when I finally got around to using the water canner, I read the fine print. Apparently you aren’t supposed to use it on a glass cooktop, which, of course, is what I have at my home.

In my effort to improvise, I ended up boiling the water for the canner on the gas grill on my back patio. I have four kids of my own, and then two foster sons, so with six kids in my house, I don’t have much time to do any canning while the kids are awake. So, I found myself getting around to boiling the water on my grill at eleven o’clock at night.

As I was sitting out there in the dark waiting for the pot to boil (which it finally did after about an hour), I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and had June bugs crawling all over my feet. The warm thoughts of my lovely jars making artwork on the shelves of my pantry quickly faded. The thrill of being a good steward and providing healthy food for my family year round disappeared. I became cranky. Afterall, it was late—even my husband was in bed at this point—and I was hot and being eaten by bugs!

But it was there in the dark and humidity that God taught me a valuable lesson through those jars of pickles.

Pickles can be sweet and crisp and delightful for those who partake, but only with that valuable (although time consuming) step of processing the jars. Without processing the jars, any impurities that are left inside will putrefy the pickles and leave a stinky and poisonous result.

The same is true in our hearts.

How often have we cried out for mercy, wondering how long the Lord will let us go through a trying time in our life? I know. I’m there now. I’ve been there for a little over a year now—always asking God to intervene and rescue me. But just like my pickles, I need the heat of suffering in my life for the proper amount of time—the time that God deems necessary.

Suffering and trials in our lives gets rid of those impurities in our hearts—those impurities that cause the disease of sin to spread through our lives if left unattended. If we want to have our lives be a sweet aroma to the Lord and be refreshment to others, we must accept the trials that God allows us to experience. And most importantly, suffering produces endurance in our lives, much like processing my jars gives them a long shelf life.

"knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:3-4

Photo credit: z5

Oh, how I want my life to be refreshing to others—especially my children! But I must be refined. I must allow the heat and the pain because my heart is full of dirt. I must admit that many days, my words are more like the stinky pickles—hurtful to others. But the hard times in life clean that out and refine us when we turn to the Lord.

I started making pickles with a heavy and complaining heart, but just as always, the Lord was faithful to encourage me with something as simple as a few jars of pickles. I think it is so neat how God does that—how physical things around us mirror a much deeper reality in our hearts. And I hope, too, that what God showed me that night can be an encouragement in your life as you wait for the water to boil as you can your food this summer.

How has the Lord used difficult times and painful trials in your life to refine you and cause you to turn to Him?

I am the mother of four children (wait- make that six as of recently!)—two girls and two boys, ages 7, 6, 5, and 2 ½. While not homeschooling or chauffeuring the kids to their activities, I enjoy all kinds of craft projects and learning how to be a better steward of all that the Lord has given me. My blog is stewardshipnotconvenience.blogspot.com.

Top photo credit: biskuit

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Simplicity and Freedom

Emily McClements — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:00:54 +0000

Written by Emily McClements, Contributing Writer

It’s been a little over a year that I have really been pursuing this “frugally green” lifestyle. I still feel very new to it, there is so much I still want to learn about, changes I want to make, and areas that I want to grow in.

But, in other ways, it feels like I have always been on this journey. Now, it’s sometimes hard for me to remember what it was like to wash my hair with conventional shampoo and conditioner, or to use paper towels for cleaning and paper napkins at every meal.

As I reflect on the changes I have made, I realize just how far I have come in a relatively short amount of time. But one of the biggest changes in my life is something that is unseen, imperceptible to those who view my life from the outside looking in. That change is the freedom I have found in pursuing a simpler, more natural, “greener” lifestyle.

Freedom from Materialism

I used to be someone who liked to have nice things, and thought that it mattered. The idea that we are what we have – the kind of car we drive, the size of the house we live in, the clothes and shoes we wear, and even the handbag we carry - is so pervasive in our culture, that we almost don’t realize that it’s there.

In this materialistic culture, our things define us. As I pursue simplicity in my life, I am changing the way that I define my own life and the lives of others.

Instead of looking at the nice things I have, I am trying to define my life by the way that I am loving others, being a good steward of the earth, and glorifying God with my life. Instead of being defined by what I have, I have found freedom in choosing to be defined by what I do.

Freedom from Advertising

I used to be one of those girls who was always looking for the next best thing. I would flip through magazines or watch TV and want to try all the things I would see ads for. The new hair product that would tame my frizzy hair, the newest shoes or purse or jewelry of the season that would make me look well dressed and pulled together, or the latest gadget or product for my home.

I wasted a lot of time, effort and money on things that I thought would make my life better, make me more attractive, make my home more organized.

Some of the freedom from advertising I have found comes from not allowing as much into our home - we watch much less TV than we used to, and I have canceled all of my magazine subscriptions. But, the freedom from advertising I have found has also come from the changes I have made in the products that I use.

Since I started no ‘pooing, I no longer have the need for all different types of hair products. Making my own cleaning products keeps me from wanting to try the newest cleaners that promise to make my bathroom sparkle.

Because I have simplified my life and my home, I just no longer have the desire to find the next best thing. Advertising does not have the pull over me that it used to. Instead of believing the advertisements, I have found freedom in choosing simple products that I know are good for my family and our environment.

Image by JustSomeDust

Freedom from Keeping Up with the Joneses

I also used to be one of those girls that thought that everyone cared what I was wearing, how I looked, and how I acted all the time. I am definitely a people pleaser, and I always wanted to make sure that people liked me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still care whether people like me or not, I really don’t want anyone to dislike me, but I have learned how much the world does not revolve around me. And at the same time, I am learning how the actions I take, and choices I make, have an impact outside of myself and my little world.

Now more than caring what others think of me, I am trying to care more about the impact that my actions and choices have on other people and on the world around me. I strive to make choices that are based on my values and view of the world, and not based on what others say is valuable, or what others’ view of me might be. Instead of keeping up with the Joneses, I have found freedom in being conscious of the effects of my actions.

Freedom from Stuff

I used to have stuff just for the sake of having stuff, and we as a family still have more stuff than we really need. Of course, there are basic things we need to live, but don’t we all really have much more than enough stuff? Doesn’t having too much stuff just mean that we need more stuff - to use or enjoy, or organize and store, the stuff?

As we have moved toward living more simply, we have learned that we don’t need all of the stuff that we thought we did. I am always trying to move items from our home into the giveaway and garage sale boxes in our basement. And having less stuff frees me to pursue relationships and other things that I enjoy doing.

I loved Stephanie’s post about learning to live with less, where she says, "Stuff requires time and effort that I'd rather spend elsewhere." Instead of having too much stuff, I have found freedom in learning to be content with what I already have.

While pursuing a simpler lifestyle, my paradigm has shifted in how I live my life, what is important to me, and what I spend my time and energy on. Now, I am free to pursue more ways of simpler living, more ways of being green and frugal.

As my wonderful father always says, “The best things in life are not things at all.” The freedom that is found in simple living allows us to focus on those things (that aren’t really things) that are most important to us in our lives.

How have you found freedom in living simply?

Emily is a blessed wife and mama to two little ones. She is passionate about caring for God’s creation and people by being a good steward of the resources He has provided. As part of her journey towards living more “frugally green” she blogs about the things she is learning and the changes she is making at Live Renewed.

Photo by misskelly

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simplicity in a busy season

Simplifying Babyhood: Top Items for Baby’s First Year and Beyond

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:00:59 +0000

Today I'm sharing over at Simple Mom, with my own top items for baby's first year and beyond for keeping babyhood simple:

Last summer I was blessed with my third baby. It was a truly beautiful time, as I found it so much easier to relax, follow my mothering instincts and care for my baby in a simpler way than I did with the birth of my first two children.

This relaxed approach wove its way not only into my interactions with my baby, but also into the way that I began to view baby paraphernalia. Store displays, pregnancy magazines and mothering websites would have us believe that with a new baby must come a load of stuff to care for all of their specific needs.

I have found this just isn’t true. Less has been more for us this time around, and I expect it will continue to be should our family be blessed again.

Read the entire post here.

Image by CharlotteSpeaks

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Video Blog: How to Wash Your Face Using the Oil Cleansing Method

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:00:49 +0000

Back by popular demand, my second vlog! This time it's on how to use the Oil Cleansing Method for keeping your face beautiful and clear!

I'll show you how I mix up the oils that I use, in what ratio I use them, and then give a bit of a demo of the actual washing process:

Want to learn more about the Oil Cleansing Method?

The Oil Cleansing Method- Some great, basic information on the method and why/how it works.

How to Clean Your Face Naturally @ Simple Mom

Oil Cleansing Method @ Sorta Crunchy

What do you use to clean your face? Any other Oil Cleansing gals out there?

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Cleansing and Detoxing: A Few Simple Ways to Do It

Video Blog: Making My Own Shampoo and Conditioner (Using the No ‘Poo Method)

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:00:29 +0000

One of the themes at Keeper of the Home this month has been making your own beauty supplies. Beth has showed us how to make our own soap, and Angela gave us a plethora of simple options for making beauty supplies like facial moisturizer, body scrub, even hairspray and more!

As for me, I'm breaking out of my comfortable little mold. I happen to enjoy "hiding" behind my writing and my computer. It's tidy and safe and it has a delete button. :)

Behold, I give you my first ever vlog... Using the No Shampoo Method. Let me show and tell all about how I use baking soda and apple cider vinegar to clean and condition my hair!

Want to learn more about going "no shampoo"?

How to Clean Your Hair Without Shampoo @ Simple Mom

No 'Poo Update @ Keeper of the Home

Shampoo Free @Babyslime

Shampoo Free- Why and How @Sorta Crunchy

For those who also do "no shampoo", how is it going for you and how do you make it work for your hair? Anyone out there making other types of homemade shampoo?

Our Sponsors:

Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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