If you want to learn something, one of the best ways is to learn from someone who has actually done it.

Do you want to learn to get your budget under control, cut your expenses drastically, simplify your life, and live both frugally and generously? My dear friend, Crystal Paine, is just the person to ask. Her story speaks for itself.

She and her husband began their marriage on a penny-pinching, rice and beans budget of as little as $650-900 (total!) some months, while he went through law school, without going into debt at all. They've dealt with multiple moves, job loss, starting up new businesses and having 3 young children during those years, all the while keeping Crystal at home full-time. They have built up two successful businesses, saved up and bought their vehicles and then their house with CASH (yes, cash!), and are committed to continuing to live frugally so that they can give generously.

Today, her new book The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life and Save Thousands a Year hits bookstores and I am thrilled to be giving away 5 copies to my readers!

My Thoughts on The Money Saving Mom's Budget

When my own copy of the book arrived just before Christmas, I was eager to read it and found that there were many parts of the book that I didn't want to put down. I had initially wondered whether I would learn anything new or be personally inspired by the book, as my husband and I have similar views as the Paine's do on money and budgeting, we aren't in debt, and frugality is something that I love to practice and share about.

However, I found the book inspiring and helpful to read, no matter where you are at in your financial journey.

You see, Crystal doesn't think that having your finances in order is just about having a budget, cutting up your credit cards, and finding ways to trim your spending. Her approach is very holistic and that's what I loved about this book.

The first two chapters were an unexpected breath of fresh air, and focused on goal-setting and simple, clutter-free living. Her premise is that you need to set goals so that you know exactly where you're going and how you're going to get there, and that streamlining your life and eliminating the clutter (physical and mental) is key to being able to achieve those financial goals.

She's right. It's not enough just to say that you want to spend less or that you want to get debt-free, but not change anything about your overall lifestyle in order to accomplish those desires. If you're still living exactly the same lifestyle that got you into that place of financial struggle, then doesn't it make perfect sense to address the bigger picture and not just the money issues?

Although our family is debt-free, with a healthy amount of savings, and we budget our money every month, I was still reminded of things that we could improve on. Her chapter on goal-setting was the most impactful for me. If I can see one major weakness in how we run our finances, it's that we aren't specific or aggressive enough with setting meaningful goals for our income, our savings, or our giving. Crystal and Jesse have done some tremendous things through their careful money-management and I can see how we could steward our money more effectively by being even more intentional with it.

What You Can Expect to Learn From This Book?

• How and why to set financial goals, and practical, down-to-earth suggestions on how to move towards achieving those goals
• How to simplify and de-clutter your life and why it makes a difference financially
• How to budget your time (in order to help you achieve your goals)
• How to budget your money in a step-by-step manner, why it makes sense to use cash, and how to find money you didn't know that you had!
• How to get rid of your debt and go completely plastic-free
• How to cut down on your grocery expenses drastically, both with coupons and without
• How to reduce expenses in most other areas of your life (clothing, household needs, recreation and entertainment, etc.)
• How to cultivate contentment, no matter what your circumstances are, and live more generously

The one area in which I would suggest that this book may not be helpful for some of my readers is when it comes to the chapters on saving on groceries and household goods through couponing.

Now, I am not against using coupons at all. I use them myself sometimes and write a weekly post with Natural and Organic Coupons and Deals for Crystal's blog, Money Saving Mom. I even started up a deals blog a year and a half ago, with a focus on saving money on more natural, healthy living which included couponing as a way to save (although the blog is now under new ownership). Coupons can be a helpful tool when used carefully, in the context of a "real food" budget.

That said, I think that for those who really desire to focus on eating real, whole, and traditional foods and to keep their homes free of toxins by using simple and natural cleaning and beauty products, you may not gain as much from these two chapters. There is a third chapter that focuses on twenty-five ways to lower your grocery bill without using coupons, and I would agree with (and practice myself) many of these suggestions.

A Worthwhile Read

If you are in the midst of serious financial struggles, OR if you want to learn to steward your money more carefully and work towards meeting your financial goals, I think that you will be encouraged by this book and find its suggestions practical and helpful.

Some of Crystal's suggestions may be downright hard and she doesn't try to sugar-coat what it takes to be in control of your money (rather than letting it control you). She is straight-forward and honest and one of the hardest working women I personally know. She isn't advocating quick and easy solutions, but rather a lifestyle of intentionality and conscientious stewardship of the resources that you've been given. She acknowledges that it takes discipline and often sacrifice, but that the rewards of financial peace are worth it. 

An amazing bonus is that ALL of the profits from the sale of this book will be going towards an organization that is dear to my heart, Compassion International. I travelled to the Philippines with Compassion International this past spring, and was blown away by the impact of the work that they are doing in the lives of impoverished children and families, as they meet physical needs, offer hope and transformation, and share the Gospel all over the world.

Would You Like to Win a Copy of The Money Saving Mom's Budget? I Have 5 to Give Away!

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me why you would love to win The Money Saving Mom's Budget, or share one of your financial goals for 2012.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email.

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway ends Friday, January 13, 2012.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book for the purpose of review.  This post contains affiliate links to Amazon, where I receive a small commission of sales, which helps to support this site. 

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• Healthy Snack to Go eBook: Review and a Giveaway
• The how-to of the Savvy Spending Challenge!
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I'm a big believer in using herbs to naturally and gently treat many health concerns, as well as to nourish the body with additional nutrients.

The easiest form of herbs for most amateurs is usually dry herbs, made into simple teas, poultices, baths and that sort of thing. However, the most effective form of herbs is usually a tincture, which is a powerful liquid extract made from either a single herb or a combinations of herbs. Tinctures are absorbed better and faster, and tend to provide superior results.

Although it is possible to learn to make your own tinctures, it is a somewhat complicated process and I personally choose to purchase mine from reputable herbal companies instead. This month I was delighted to be asked to conduct a review of herbal tinctures from TriLight Health, who have been specializing in high-quality liquid herbal products for over 20 years.

What makes TriLight Health unique is that they offer a wide array of products that are safe for pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. Since this represents such a large portion of my readership, I and the other reviewers chose to focus on products that would appeal to moms in those seasons of life!

My Own Reviews

I tried several products, one as part of the review, and then others that I simply wanted for our family.

Original Herbal Minerals

My review product. I have found it hard to be diligent with my pregnancy tea this 4th time around, as I am so much busier than I have ever been before. Having an herbal mineral supplement offers the same benefits in a convenient package. My midwife had wanted me on some minerals specifically for the pregnancy-related headaches I was frequently experiencing, as well as to possibly alleviate some muscle and joint soreness. I do think that it's helping, as both issues have decreased over the past month.

Tri-Iron

Intrigued by doing the review, I opted to try this instead of the Floradix Liquid Iron that I usually take. I feel great using this liquid iron, and feel that it works at least equally as well. My midwife (who is also a naturopathic doctor) looked at both the mineral and iron formulas and was happy with me taking both of them (they are also approved by Shonda Parker, a well know and respected midwife). I like that I can take a smaller amount than the Floradix, because it is more concentrated, and I personally like the flavor better. I've chosen to continue with both the Tri-Iron and the Herbal Minerals for the remainder of this pregnancy.

N R G

An herbal energy booster, but one that is actually pregnancy/nursing safe! My midwife agreed that it was safe, provided it wasn't being overused, so I only use it on days when I'm really dragging and need a boost. It doesn't give you that "I've-just-had-3-shots-of-espresso" kind of energy jolt, but in my experience, a general feeling of well-being, slightly increased energy, and more mental alertness.

Snooze-EZ

Although I haven't had as many issues with sleep this pregnancy as with my last, I've still had the odd night where I felt I needed something gentle to help me sleep well. What I love about using a herbal sleep supplement, as opposed to something like melatonin, is that they both work to help me get to sleep, but the melatonin often causes me to wake up somewhere between 2-4 am. With the Snooze-EZ, I haven't experienced that. It doesn't make me as dramatically sleepy as melatonin, but it has really helped me on some nights when I was struggling to sleep.

NR Glow

I actually went for this because the write-up mentioned that it has been helpful for some children with eczema, which has been a particularly stubborn struggle for our youngest daughter. However, I confess to probably not using it faithfully enough to see any real results, and she also had a temporary allergic flare-up during the time she has been taking it, because I accidentally bought a probiotic that I thought was dairy-free and turned out to have dairy in it (oops). NR Glow is really meant more for boosting children's immunity, and I give it to all of my children on occasion now that the weather is cooler, and they all take it straight off the spoon and without issue, so I guess it must taste good!

From Alaina, a mom of 2 who is currently pregnant with her 3rd...

Original Herbal Minerals

The product that I tried from Trilight is called Liquid Light Original Herbal Minerals. The product is pregancy safe and I am using it during my pregnancy. I have been using this product hoping that the extra vitamins and minerals that naturally occur in the herbs will help benefit my body and my baby while I am pregnant. I think that the product is a good one for me as a pregnant woman in particular because it is often difficult to eat as well as I want to during pregnancy. Therefore its nice to have a product as an extra boost of some vitamins and minerals.

I have found however that the product tastes quite sweet (although it contains no sugar or sweeteners which is a good thing) and so for me that was the only downside (Stephanie's note: The sweetness is because it is a glycerin-based tincture). However for some people this might be a plus. I do not normally eat sugar or sweeteners so perhaps it tastes extra sweet to me for that reason. The product recommends two ways of taking it- in water or straight. Taking it in water was therefore essential for my taste buds instead of the option of taking it straight. This solved most of the "too sweet" taste and allowed me to be able to take the product.

I think that I would consider purchasing this product because of the extra insurance it provides during pregnancy of the needed vitamins and minerals. Also, the other lines of products that Trilight offers look to be quite good l and I would consider looking into some of their other remedies as well.

From Stacy, of A Delightful Home and also one of the amazing writers here at Keeper of the Home...

Snooze-EZ

Snooze-EZ can be taken for insomnia, general sleep issues, and also short-term periods of anxiety or restlessness. It contains Scullcap, German Chamomile, Passion Flower, Valerian, Oatstraw and Linden Flower. It is to be taken about 30 minutes before bedtime.

We found the taste of this tincture to be a little unpleasant, but certainly bearable. I used it undiluted and gave it to my daughter in a little water.

I personally found Snooze-EZ to work well. In fact, one evening after laying in bed with an anxious, racing mind, I got up and took some Snooze-EZ and was asleep within a few minutes. My only concern is that the recommended dosage is 1/2 a teaspoon to 150 lbs, so I have to do a little math to figure out the correct dosage for myself and my child.

From Kate, of Modern Alternative Mama and another one of our fabulous writers...

N R G

I tried the N R G formula to increase energy. I have a 2-month-old baby who is, of course, still waking up a couple times a night -- and a toddler and preschooler who are very active. Extra rest isn't easy to come by! I hoped that this product would help my energy levels so that I could keep up with my older children and my responsibilities.

The product was sweet and very easy to take. It was a little strong, and I occasionally needed some water after, but it tasted good. My children were always begging for some too, although I didn't give it to them. The dose on the bottle was 1 tsp., twice a day, but noted that "heating may occur" and you might need to cut back. For this reason I decided to just take a tsp. in the mornings, and not repeat in the evening. The last thing I needed was extra energy at bedtime.

For a few days I felt it was helping, because I did have more energy. I stopped taking it for a couple days then started again, but didn't notice any difference. I can't honestly say if it helped. I realized too late that energy wasn't my real issue. I was mildly deficient in certain minerals that were causing minor problems for me (which I'll blog about in the next few weeks), and that wasn't helped by this formula. It may have been helped by a different formula, and I wish I'd tried the liquid light minerals instead. Oh well.

At this time, it's not a product I would buy, but that's largely because I think it is not something that *I* currently need. I strongly believe in herbal medicine, however, and like Trilight products, and would consider purchasing the formula that I think would benefit me more.

From Beth, of Stewardship Not Convenience, and yes, she writes here, too...

B-Dry

I chose to try Trilight's B-Dry bedwetting formula. I have struggled to find a good solution for my son who is a very heavy sleeper and a bed wetter. I was pleasantly surprised by their quick shipping and good service. I received my order in just a couple of days.

After using B-Dry for a few weeks now, we have noticed a decrease in my son's bedwetting. He still does it but not as much. In fact, my son reminds me to give him his B-Dry if I forget because he feels like it is helping him.

My only complaint is that my son finds the flavor of the syrup to be too spicy because it tastes like concentrated chai. But after we figured to dilute it with some water, he has been happily taking it. Overall, I have been happy with the product we tried and we will keep using it since we are seeing it work.

From Renee, a good real-life friend of mine, with 4 young children...

B-Dry

When Stephanie asked me to review an item from Trilight, I was thrilled! Almost immediately I decided that I would like to try the B-Dry formula for our 7 year old. After struggling with bed wetting since she was potty trained, I needed some extra help. We had tried conventional doctors, rounds of antibiotics, homeopathic tablets, other natural remedies, praying together about it, and all the normal suggestions of 'no water before bedtime' or 'wake them up before bed'. Nothing had worked and I was eager to try this remedy.

Trilight was very generous, giving us a large bottle to use. We faithfully used the B-Dry formula for over a month. The formula is in a sweet glycerin base that was easy for our daughter to swallow. Rarely missing a dose we waited a week, then two praying it would start working. But I am so sad to say that after 4 weeks it has not changed a thing. The daily bedwetting has not waned a bit. The website suggests using the product for up to 3 months until desired results are achieved, so we are contemplating whether or not to continue using this formula. We were thankful for the chance to try the product, and are still hoping for good results as we finish the bottle.

I have $100 worth of TriLight Health herbal products to give away!

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Visit the TriLight Health website and tell me which which product(s) you would choose if you won.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. "Like" TriLight Health on Facebook.

4. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

**Note that TriLight Health is not actually able to sell in Canada at this point. For the sake of this one-time giveaway, Canadians are welcome to enter and win, but unless you had friends/family in the US, you wouldn't actually be able to purchase from them otherwise.**

Giveaway has now ended. Winners to be announced shortly!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by TriLight Health. Each reviewer received one bottle of their choice of liquid herbal product. Each review is the genuine opinion of that particular mama, and none of the reviews were influenced by anyone else.

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One thing that really stands out to me about women (and maybe just people in general, but I notice it strongly in myself and my own gender) is that we crave control.

We want things to go our way. In our time. According to our desires.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

When I was younger, I used to naively think that this meant we could get the things that we wanted if we just did our best to serve and love God. The right husband, the perfect children and family, stable finances, a lovely home, a peaceful life.

The older I get and the more life experiences I walk through, I realize that the point of this verse is far more about delighting in the Lord and having our wills conformed to His, rather than having our every whim fulfilled. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee you that life will not go the way that you or I desire. There will be pain, loss, frustration, disappointment, confusion, difficulty, trials, heartache- the results of living in a sin-saturated, broken world as broken people.

What does it mean to truly delight in the Lord and submit our wills and desires to Him fully?

This is a question that Heather Bixler struggled with herself, and as she walked her own journey of learning to pry her fingers open from the things that she desired, and allow the Lord to show her what it meant to delight herself in Him alone, she realized that she needed to share it with others.

The fruit of her journey has been the 47-page ebook devotional, Desires of My Heart, based on Psalm 37:4. It's not as much a Bible study as it is an exploration of these issues (control, pride, humility, fear, faith, brokenness, intimacy with God), how they affect of us, testimonies of faith from other women, and encouragement to examine your own heart and learn to say "yes" to what the Lord has for you, as you drink deep of the peace and joy that comes from delighting solely in Him.

Get Your Own Copy for $0.99!

To keep it affordable and accessible to anyone, Heather has generously kept the price at a mere $0.99 (regular $2.99)! At that price, anyone can pick up a copy of this to use for their morning or evening devotions, or simply something that you read slowly as you allow God to work in your heart.

It is available in PDF ebook, Kindle and Nook formats. You can purchase it here.

*And just a note that if you happen to win the book, you'll receive a refund for your purchase of the book, so don't let that stop you from getting it if you're interested!*

Enter to Win a Copy Plus a Hand-Stamped Necklace!

She is also giving away two copies of  the Desires of My Heart ebook for my readers, and each copy will include a beautiful hand-stamped necklace with a cross and the words Psalm 37:4 (value $30).

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me why you'd like to win this ebook, or if you're willing to get a bit more personal, an area where you struggle with really trusting in the Lord and giving up control.

2. Follow Desires of My Heart on Facebook or Twitter.

3. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

4. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway has now ended.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review. This post was generously sponsored by Heather Bixler and the book Desires of my Heart.

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*Giveaway has now ended*

Ever read a recipe book that had you drooling from practically the first page?

Considering that summer is promising to stay hot for a while longer, when I first read Just Making Ice Cream, I could hardly resist jumping up from a cozy table in the coffee shop where I do some of my blogging so that I could stick my ice cream maker in the freezer.

I love all manner of savory food. There probably isn't a style of food that I don't love (Italian, Thai, Greek, Japanese, Indian...). But I'm also a sucker for two sweet treats, namely dark chocolate and ice cream. So when I started reading recipe names like Salty Caramel Pecan, Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Lemon Cherry Swirl Cheesecake and Yum Rum Raisin, I was a goner.

The ebook's author, Mare Beard, lists some might fine reasons why it's infinitely better to make, rather than buy, your ice cream:

1. It's more frugal.
2. Use healthier and natural ingredients. {A huge reason in my books!}
3. Ability to make it allergen-free.
4. For taste and quality.
5. Because it's environmentally healthy {no packaging, right?}
6. Avoid hidden ingredients
7. You are in control of your food.
8. Choose your style, favorite flavors, and be creative!
9. Great activity for family and friends.
10. Have an ice cream party!

This 113 page ebook includes a wonderful section on the ingredients used for ice cream, different types of makers, ice cream making methods, tips and techniques, and then moves on to 63 ice cream, gelato and sorbet recipes, as well as some toppings and fun extras.

Our family can't wait to try some of her scrumptious sounding recipes, especially with this late summer heat that we're enjoying. Sounds like a perfect way to cool off on a hot day.

Would you like to win one of 2 copies of Just Making Ice Cream ($12 value each)?

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me your top reasons for wanting to make your own ice cream. And if you want, your favorite flavors. So we can all drool together.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us onFacebook and Twitter here).

4. Visit Mare over at her blog, Just Making Noise, and say hi in a comment!

Giveaway has now ended.

Note that if you go to purchase a copy, you can change the suggested donation to $10 or $11, if that's what you can afford. If you'd like to donate more, you can do that as well.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review. I am not an affiliate of the book, but all proceeds will be going towards the Rancho Oasis for Youth in the Honduras.

All images property of Mare Beard.

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Update: Giveaway has now ended. Thanks, all!

I have to let you know, I'm a bit of a natural soap junkie.

Underneath my bathroom cupboard are baskets, literally full of various kinds of handmade soaps-- ones with oatmeal for scrubbing, with essential oils, with herbs, for oily skin, for sensitive skin, shampoo bars, regular body bars, soap that cleans your bathroom all by itself (just kidding on that one- don't I wish?). You name it, I'm pretty sure we have it.

With all of those soaps, you would think that it would be hard to impress me. Yet, Apple Valley Natural Soap has done just that. Why?

1. Their pure, gentle soaps are as nice as any other high-quality natural soap, but their prices are among the most reasonable I've seen.
2. They are a Christian family run business (with 10 children, who also help out!), committed to treating their customers well (like $6 standard shipping on every order), and to giving back to the community (10% of their profits go toward the local Christian crisis pregnancy center that their family is involved with).
3. They have these fantastic Shampoo and Body Bars, which are the ultimate 2 in 1. More on these in a minute.
4. Their bars are large and extra-hard because of a long curing time. What this means for you is that they don't get soft and mushy in the shower, and they last an extra long time, making them an even better deal!
5. All ingredients are pure, simple and natural, without any dyes, preservatives, chemicals, or detergents. Something that I can feel good about using on our family, while caring for the environment at the same time.

My Newfound Love for Shampoo Bars

We've been trying out a selection of bars for several months now. My favorite bars are hands down the Shampoo and Body Bars. My husband and I each took one with us to the Philippines (which was handy, because it meant we had one less thing to pack, rather than shampoo as well as soap) and I was so happy with how the bars didn't dry out our hair or skin, despite the fact that we were showering at least once or twice a day.

I've been using a shampoo bar for about 3 months now and I'm quite happy with it. I had been doing the no poo' method (using only baking soda) for several years, but my hair began to dry out and have some breakage issues. I felt that it needed a rest, so I went back to a natural shampoo instead. When I got these bars to review, I hoped that perhaps they could replace the expensive shampoo.

There was a short adjustment period (about 2 weeks, which is common with most shampoo switches- from shampoo to baking soda, etc.) during which my hair was a bit extra-oily. After that, though, it evened out and I found my hair as clean as it had been with baking soda, but minus the dryness that had developed. I still use just a small amount of conditioner some days (not always) for a little extra softness, but it isn't truly necessary.

My Personal Apple Valley Recommendations:

• Latte Brunette Shampoo and Body Bar (special oils and triple-strength coffee that specifically help to keep brunette hair beautiful)
• Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo and Body Bar (very fresh smelling and anti-bacterial)
• MAN Shampoo and Body Bar (nice scent for guys- and I haven't tried their MAN 2.0 version, but that one works as a shaving lather as well, and I love that 3 in 1 concept!)
• Economy Bars (body bars only, but this is a great value for high-quality soap-- I could see buying these for my family on a regular basis at only $3.50 each)

Just for My Readers

There are a few deals that you can take advantage of right now:

FREE Lip Balm or Sample Bar: If you place an order of $20 or greater (not including tax/shipping) and indicate that you came from Keeper of the Home in the exit survey, you will receive a FREE lip balm ($2.50 value) OR a sample sized bar of their choice ($1.95 value). Note that if you want the balm, be sure to mention it in the notes to seller, otherwise the sample bar will automatically be selected for you.

• Orders over $40 (product value) receive a FREE Limited Edition Lemon Marigold bar while supplies last.
• The All Natural Bug Repellent is on clearance for $5.95!
• Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo/Body bar is the "Bar of the Month" and has a special discount price of $4.50 this month only.

And now for the giveaway... three readers will get to select any two bars of their choice from the website!

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Visit the Apple Valley website and tell me which soap(s) you would want to win!

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us onFacebook and Twitter here).

4. Get a bonus entry by liking Apple Valley Natural Soap on Facebook or for signing up for their monthly blog newsletters (which automatically enters you for a giveaway every month).

Giveaway has now ended. Thank you!

Disclaimer: This giveaway was generously sponsored by Apple Valley Natural Soap, and I received some soaps for the purpose of review. I honestly do love these soaps and all opinions expressed in this post are mine (who else's would they be?).

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By reading the ingredient list on most skincare products, you would think that it's necessary to have a degree in chemistry and your own in-home lab if you ever wanted to create your own. Sunscreen in particular seems daunting to me and I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to begin if I wanted to make one of my own.

That's why Renee Harris' (of MadeOn hard lotion bars) new ebook, My Buttered Life, somewhat flabbergasted but mostly just delighted me.

I've already tried making hard lotion bars myself, as well as lip balms. I couldn't believe how simple it was to make really fantastic lotion and even my 6 year old still talks about how easy and fun it was. With only 3 ingredients, how could it be anything but simple?

But surely, products like sunscreen, soothing after-sun lotions, bug repellant and tan enhancers must be more complicated, right? Except that they're not.

When I took my first read through My Buttered Life, I couldn't believe that everything could be made with just 5 ingredients or less. Even better for the most frugal among us, most of the recipes use overlapping ingredients, so there is definitely an increased cost-effectiveness with the ingredients you do buy.

Here are the recipes included in this 20 page ebook:

• Foot Protector Bar
• Full Body Conditioner (a light, whipped lotion, meant for thirsty summer skin)
• Sunscreen
• Bug Repellant Bar
• Tan Enhancer (offering some sun protection while allowing you to carefully build a tan)

At the end, Renee breaks down the costs of the ingredients and shares her favorite places for buying them. If you'd rather not source most of it out yourself, you can purchase DIY kits from her website, which come with the three basic oils- beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter. You can also opt to add in zinc oxide if you plan on making sunscreen. The only other potential ingredients you would need are a few essential oils (only small amounts are used, so these go very far) and one recipe includes sesame oil.

Seeing as most natural sunscreens and other summer skin products are extremely expensive (not to mention the fact that you still need to wade through ingredient lists, safe product comparisons, etc.), I love the idea of simply making my own and knowing exactly what is going on our family's skin.

Do I have you itching to try making your own yet? Well, I have an excellent giveaway for you today!

A grand prize of one DIY Lotion Kit plus My Buttered Life ebook, and another 5 copies of the My Buttered Life ebook!

Here's how to get entered:

(Please leave each entry as a separate comment)

1. Tell me which summer skin recipe you most want to make from My Buttered Life.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (you can follow Keeper of the Home on Facebook or Twitter).

4. Grab an extra entry by signing up for MadeOn's email newsletter list.

Giveaway has now ended. Thanks, everyone!

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links, as I am a proud affiliate of MadeOn Skin Care Products. When you purchase through one of my links (which you are absolutely not obligated to do), you help to support this site, so thank you! I only promote products that I believe in myself, and I don't know where my dry hands would be without these amazing hard lotion bars.

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Several months ago I talked about the importance of water filtration. I shared the portable water filtration system that our family uses and loves, the Berkey Light.

Much as I love my large counter-top filter, and it is light and portable enough to use for emergencies or even to bring camping if I wanted to, there are times when it simply isn't helpful or practical. Like travelling somewhere with a questionable water supply, or a hiking trip, or even a full day summer outing where you will want to refill water bottles and not have to lug around a huge jug of pre-filtered water.

This is the Sport Berkey Water Bottle that I have been trying out from LPC Survival, one of this blog's fantastic sponsors and a retailer of Berkey Water Filters.

I know, first thought is that it's plastic and I don't love that fact any more than many of you do. It is BPA-free, though, and the website states that it does not leach plasticizers into the water. I haven't noticed any plastic taste in the water at all, and since I am a stainless steel gal, you would think that if it was in there, I would notice it.

What makes these bottles really unique is not whether they're plastic or BPA-free, but rather the fact that they have a built-in, heavy duty water filtration element. It is a miniature version of the filter elements used in the larger Berkeys.

We have a Berkey Light filtration system in our kitchen, and we love, love, love it. The water tastes pure and fresh, but without the minerals being stripped from it. I feel good giving this water to my kids, the science behind these filters gets a thumbs-up from me, and guests regularly comment on what clean tasting water it is.

The same filters in my larger system are exactly the same as the smaller filter used in the sport bottle. Here's what the website says about the power of these little filters:

The Sport Berkey Portable Water Purifier Eliminates or Reduces up to 99.9% of:

Unpleasant taste and odors, cloudiness, silt, sediment and chlorine.

Toxic chemicals: Trihalomethanes, VOCs, detergents, pesticides, etc.

Harmful microscopic pathogens: Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E-coli 99.99999% and other pathogenic bacteria.

Heavy metals: Aluminum, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, and Mercury.

Radiologicals: Radon 222

How Does it Work?

Basically, you just fill it up with water. Any water- from a kitchen tap, from a water fountain, even from a mountain stream (because yes, the filter can handle bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.).

As you suck up the water through the straw, it goes through the filter and you get only fresh, clean tasting water.

Just like the larger filter elements, these smaller ones can be used over and over again for years, and washed with a dish scrub pad when they begin to show sediment on the outside or the filter speed slows down.

The bottles have an easy-to-use flip top that covers the straw (which is attached to the filter). When you first see and feel the bottle, it seems a bit bizarre to have the filter dangling like it is, but once the bottle is full of water you don't really notice that it's there anymore. I've also been able to carry the bottle in my purse and haven't noticed any leaking issues to this point, a definite plus for me.

Aside from regular use as a water bottle, they are also an idea thing to have on hand for emergencies when a larger system would be impractical. Although I am not willing to test it out for the sake of product review (bloggers do have their limits, you know!) the idea is that with such a thorough filtration system you could feasibly use water in any survival situation, dirty, contaminated, etc. and expect to be as well-protected as possible rather than putting yourself or your family at risk by drinking unsanitary water (which, by the way, is a major cause of much of the disease and death in developing nations or during natural disasters).

Would You Like to Win Your Own Sport Berkey Water Bottle?

I have 2 bottles ($49.98 value) to give away to each of two winners! Here's how to get entered:

(Please leave each entry as a separate comment)

1. Check out how the Berkey filters work and tell me why you'd like to win these Sport Berkey bottles!

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media, or follow LPC Survival on Facebook, Twitter or on their blog.

Giveaway is now close. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: This giveaway was generously sponsored by LPC Survival, retailers of Berkey Water Filters and other survival products. I also received Sport Berkey bottles for the purpose of review.

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During the past 14 months, our family has gone on the GAPS diet twice. The first time we had excellent success, but I gave up too early because we were in a hectic season of life and I feared that I couldn't keep up with the demands of the extra kitchen time.

The second time, the biggest challenge I was experiencing was a lack of interest in the meals that I was making. It seemed that my kid's and husband's eating preferences had changed in the 8-9 months in the interim.

Meals that had gone over well the first time were flopping this time around. Everyone seemed bored and frustrated with the food, myself included. I don't know exactly why the difference, but it was evident and honestly, it was discouraging.

We could all handle eating foods we didn't really like for a short period of time, but we had only done 6 weeks and were aiming for 6 months, and I simply didn't see how to continue with things as they were.

What I Really Needed

Shortly after making the decision to stop the diet, a friend and I discussed it (as she had also been doing the diet) and she asked whether I had bought any cookbooks written specifically for those on GAPS. I hadn't, but now looking back I wish I had looked into finding some better resources.

I realized that I was functioning without a solid repertoire of meals that my family really enjoyed, and with little more than my own creativity for coming up with new ones (and there is good reason this isn't a food/recipe only blog!), it's no wonder I got stuck and frustrated.

What I really needed was some solid resources, full of fresh, new recipes that I hadn't tried yet or had to come up with myself, to carry us through and keep eating interesting and enjoyable.

Against the Grain: Delicious Recipes for the Whole Food and Grain-Free Diet

This ebook written by our very own Kate Tietje (also of the blog Modern Alternative Mama) was written for this very purpose. Here's what she says in the book's introduction:

My immediate frustration was with the lack of ideas and options out there. I found so many gluten-free recipes that were not grain-free. These weren’t doable. Those gluten-free grains still contain a lot of starch and can prevent the body from healing (more on that later). The next thing I encountered was the sheer boredom in the options we had. Did I want to serve baked chicken and steamed broccoli or vegetable soup for every meal? No, not really. And I don’t think most others do either!

I think it’s a big reason why people give up on the grain-free diet so quickly – they’re bored! They don’t want to just eat fresh or steamed veggies with plain meats or soups, but they don’t know what else they can eat.

I think she hit it on the head. We were bored! We needed more ideas to keep us going!

That's what Against the Grain is primarily about... broadening the eating horizons of those who want to remain grain free.

Note that not all of the recipes fit in with a GAPS diet perfectly (some include potatoes or beans or dairy that are not on the diet, for example) but most do work for GAPS or could easily be adapted.

What the Book Includes

Here are some of the main-dish recipes included:

• Spicy Lime-Marinated Beef Strips
• Sausage and Peppers with Spaghetti Squash
• Salisbury Steak
• Fresh Herb Burgers
• Beef Stir-Fry
• Beef Tips with Portobello Mushrooms
• Garlic-Rubbed Pork Chops
• Tomato-Cream Sauce with Chicken and Zucchini
• Blackened Fish
• Chicken in Sundried Tomato-Cream Sauce

Not to mention lots of soups, side dishes and some desserts as well! Kate has also included some helpful information on the why's and how's of eating grain free and tips for making it work for you.

Though we're eating grains again at this point and therefore haven't tried out many of the recipes, they've been well received by the book's taste testers and the look simple and yummy and definitely child-friendly as well.

Whenever we decide to get back on the GAPS bandwagon, this ebook will be one of the invaluable resources in my arsenal against grain-free boredom.

Want to win your own copy of Against the Grain: Delicious Recipes for the Whole Food and Grain-Free Diet?

I have 5 copies to give away! Here's how to get entered:

(Please leave each entry as a separate comment)

1. Check out what the book is all about and tell me why you'd like to win it!

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find Keeper of the Home on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway ends Monday, May 30. 2011.

Disclosure: I've received a copy of the book to review. I am also an affiliate of this ebook, and if you decide to purchase a copy through my links, I'll receive a small kickback. You aren't obligated to use to these links, but when you do it helps to support this site, so thank you!

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My favorite Lilla Rose clip, Scrollwork Stoneset.

I guess it's giveaway week around here, because I have a giveaway for you today, one more coming up this Monday, and did you catch the Cultures for Health giveaway on Monday?

I usually stick to products that are specifically natural, healthy, related to going green or some such thing. Every once in a while, though, it's fun to do something that's just pure girly.

I'll confess to being skeptical when I first agreed to try out the hair clips from Lilla Rose. I have thin, fine, slippery hair and nothing really holds it better than anything else that I've tried. I'm also not one to spend much money on accessories for my hair or on jewelry. My expectation was that they would be just another so-so clip with a pretty design that I wouldn't be willing to fork out money for.

You guessed it... I was totally wrong. (It's good and humbling for me to announce that to thousands of people every once in a while.)

Etched Lily with Amethyst (I got this in extra-small, with matching lily earrings)

I love my Lilla Rose clips! I've only had them for about 2 weeks, and I have been wearing them almost non-stop. Here's what's unique and awesome about them:

1. They are flexible, which helps them to adapt to how much hair you have, the style that you're doing, and I think it's also part of why they hold hair better than other non-flexible clips.
2. The stick is attached to the clip front. I've had those cute hair holders that have a soft leather front and then a stick that goes through two holes to hold it on your hair. Except that then I lost the stick. Shoot. There's no chance of losing either piece of the clip and it also helps you to maneuver it better because it's all connected.
3. The stick has little grooves in it to help grip more or less tightly depending on the style and your hair thickness. Again, I think this helps to hold it more firmly.
4. They actually stay in my hair. In one place. All day. Without falling or slipping. (Yes, I'm still in shock)

I tried an extra-small and a medium. My hair is just above shoulder length, and I have lots of hair but it's thin and fine. I use the extra-small to do a half-up style, and the medium can do either my ponytail (on the tightest setting- I could probably use a small for a slightly tighter fit) and it is the perfect size for any up-do's. My 6- year old daughter tried a mini for her hair (similar in texture to mine) and it makes a great ponytail or up-do for her, although her hair slips a bit when we tried a half-up, just because it's so fine.

For those who have the opposite hair issues (curly, thick, too much hair, out of control hair), there are large, extra-large and mega flexi clips sizes. This helpful sizing guide shows you which size will suit your hair and the styles that you like to wear it in.

The simplest clip that I saw and one that I really like.

My only request with the Lilla Rose clips would be more with simple, plain designs. I'm not a fancy gal, especially when it comes to what I put in my hair, and so I did have to look carefully to find the ones that were the least decorative to suit my taste. That said, I know that many women prefer far fancier and prettier things, and so you may just love the design selection.

(For those who are curious and have similar taste to me, I ended up choosing the Contemporary Flower, Scrollwork Stoneset in Wood and Etched Lily with Amethyst, and I also really liked the Antiqued Silver Band.)

My awesome Ad Manager, Kate, also tried some clips and here's what she had to say:

"The Lilla Rose clips are beautiful. I used a small to put up my daughter's hair, and it stays better than most clips -- at least until she pulls on it! I love that the two parts of the clip are stuck together so you can't lose them. And this, despite my daughter's best efforts! (She loves the clips so much she insisted on carrying them around the house a lot.) I had thought that there was only one style but many sizes, but I was wrong. There are many styles, and there will be one that suits you!"

A mini clip, this was my daughter's choice and she adores it!

Clips range in price from about $12 (extra-small) up to $24 (for the extra-large, elaborate designs). I probably wouldn't have been willing to pay that much without having tried them, but now that I've used them and realized just how much I like them, I don't think the cost would be a barrier for me anymore. I'm honestly using my medium clip 2-5 days per week and it's just so sturdy and handy that I think I would pay to replace it if I lost it.

Would you like to win some Lilla Rose clips?

I will be choosing two winners, and they will each get their choice of any 2 clips. Here's how to get entered:

1. Visit the Lilla Rose site and tell me which clip(s) you would love to win!

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Follow Lilla Rose on Facebook or Twitter.

4. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find Keeper of the Home on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway has now ended.

Disclosure: This giveaway is generously sponsored by Lilla Rose. I was provided with clips and earrings to sample, so that I could be surprised by how awesome they are. :) My opinions, as always, are my own.

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Many of us know the health benefits of eating cultured and fermented foods, but buying pre-made yogurt, kefir, sourdough breads, kombucha and the like can cost a pretty penny.

Did you know that these health-boosting cultured foods can be easily and cheaply prepared at home using starter cultures?

I cringe when I go to buy a $3.99 or $4.99 tub of organic, whole milk yogurt, a mere 750 ml (or about 3 cups). Not even enough for one breakfast in our home. Yet I can buy a gallon of certified raw milk for $8-$10 and make my own yogurt, a whopping 5x that amount (15 cups /4 quarts worth or the equivalent of 5 large yogurt containers). Less than half the price, for higher quality yogurt in which I know every single ingredient (no additives, no sugar, no thickener, no dried milk powder, etc.).

Same goes for kombucha, a fermented drink full of beneficial bacteria and helpful for detoxifying. During my recent cleanse, I wanted to drink a few cups each day but was without a starter culture at that point. I had to fork out almost $4 per bottle at my health food store! Now that I've got a starter culture again, I've brewed up a batch that is the equivalent of about 4 bottles ($15 worth) for a total cost of less than $1.

Rehydrating a new kombucha starter and brewing a batch in a mason jar

The beauty of make-it-yourself cultured foods

Not only are cultured and fermented foods extremely nourishing and excellent for the digestive system, but when you learn to do it yourself, they can be among the cheapest of the truly healthful foods that you eat.

Additionally, when you buy these foods it is much harder to know the quality that you are getting. For example, finding pickles or sauerkraut that are truly raw and fermented is extremely challenging, but why would I buy an organic, pasteurized version from the health food store when for us the main purpose is getting those lacto-fermented foods into our diet? Some things simply can't be bought, but should be homemade with care.

Easier than you think

I used to be daunted by the thought of preparing my own cultured foods. Happily, it's a far simpler process to make most foods than you might think!

The first thing I conquered was yogurt making, something that I think really anybody can learn to do. Next was brewing kombucha, which takes a little bit of patience but not a whole lot of skill. Kefir was about as easy as it gets. Sourdough had a slightly bigger learning curve, but with a bit of practice it just became part of my routine. Then on to lacto-fermented veggies and condiments, creme fraiche, water kefir and more...

Can you pour some milk into a jar? Strain it out, put it back in the jar and stick it in the fridge? Then you can make kefir. And even some varieties of yogurt!

A jar of kefir, culturing away on the counter.

Where do I get my starter cultures?

The absolutely cheapest way to get your starter cultures is from a friend, a neighbor, a family member or some kindly real foodie off of Craigslist or Facebook who lives in your area. If you know someone else who does this, ask if they wouldn't mind sharing. Chances are, they'll say yes.

Sometimes you can also buy then inexpensively from local people that you might learn about through your local Weston Price chapter, through Craigslist, a health food store or the like.

Why I love Cultures for Health

For those who don't know anyone who will share their starter wealth or can't find a place to buy them locally, allow me to introduce you to Cultures for Health.

This online shop carries almost any starter you can think of... kefir (milk and water), yogurt (multiple varieties), sourdough (again, multiple varieties including gluten-free), kombucha, buttermilk, sour cream, cultured veggie starter, coconut kefir starter (as per the Body Ecology Diet), as well as cheese making supplies and starters. I personally use or have used their sourdough, brown rice sourdough, dairy and water kefir, kombucha and Villi yogurt starters.

Their prices are reasonable and they have a lot of different culture varieties to choose from that are just wonderful. Shipping is only $3.99, which might even be less than the cost of gas to go get a starter, depending how far you have to go.

Another reason to consider buying from a site like Cultures for Health rather than getting them from someone you don't really know is the quality of the starters. Cultures are simple to use, and yet they can be a bit finicky at the same time. If someone hasn't cared for their culture well, or has used it with less-than-ideal ingredients, or with the wrong utensils (metal spoons instead of wooden or plastic, etc.), it may not work as well for you.

These issues may not make or break the efficacy of a starter, but over time they can weaken it. Knowing how your starter was cared for helps to ensure more predictable results for you. Plus, the instruction and support that you receive when you buy your cultures is just so helpful, especially if you're unsure of what you're doing!

Would you like to win a starter pack to get going?

Cultures for Health has generously offered one winner their choice of 3 different prize packages.

Option 1- Yogurt Making Package

Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, Cotton Bag for Making Yogurt Cheese and two varieties of Yogurt Starter (winner's choice) (retail value: $68+ including shipping)

Option 2- Cheese Making Package

30 Minute Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit, Hard Cheese Kit and Home Cheese Making Book (retail value: $76 including shipping)

Option 3- Sourdough Package

Sourdough Starter (winner's choice), Wild Bread Sourdough Book, Wood Handled Dough Scraper, Pastry Brush, Bread Keeper Bag, Basic Thermometer, Digital Scale (retail value: $78 including shipping)

Note- you can't enter by leaving a comment (although you are still welcome to comment for any other reason, including to say which package you think you'd most want to win!)

Giveaway has now ended.

Disclaimer: I received starter cultures for the purpose of review from Cultures for Health. All opinions stated in this post are mine, and I have happily purchased and used their cultures in my own kitchen. I am also a proud affiliate for Cultures for Health, and I earn a small kickback when you make a purchase through my links. You aren't obligated to use these links in any way, but when you do so, it helps to support this site, so thank you!

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