Going form Small Garden to a BIG One + MORE

Last year we had a smaller garden for the first time in a long time. It went pretty well and we had lots of fun with it! Toward the end of the summer my husband had stopped by his grandparents house and noticed their HUGE garden that had been left unused. He gets the awesome idea to take over the garden this year and they agreed. YIKES! We're going from our little garden to a GIANT garden! This gardening newbie is nervous!

This past year I also got my first taste of canning. That was quite the experience! My mother in law has canned fruits and veggies and sauces for years and we've enjoyed them! Now with this gigantic garden happening this year I have a feeling I'll be doing a LOT more canning!

Wayne and I will be doing plenty of research this winter for the gardening part but I'm glad to have a tool already on hand for when all of those awesome plants start producing fruits and veggies for my family.

I'm super excited to get the Simply Canning: Survival Guide for Safe Home Canning ebook from the DIY bundle! I don't know much at all about the world of canning and this book is going to be coming in handy this year!

Here's a little bit more about the book from Simply Canning 

Do you know the most important information for safely home canning? Do you have the assurance that you won't poison your children?

Simply Canning the book... will lead you step by step through the most important safety information for both Pressure Canning and Water bath Canning.

This book also includes canning directions for most basic foods, plus some fun stuff too.  Learn how to can tomatoes, green beans, meat and fruit.  Then have fun and create jam and jelly, marmelade and fruit butters.  Jars with dandelion and corn cob jelly make great gifts. 

Here's a look at the other home and garden books that are included in the 76 ebooks and courses that are a part of the DIY Bundle sale.

Something Great for Us Busy Moms!

There aren't enough hours in the day, right? With work, helping the kids with their schoolwork, preparing meals, cleaning up after everyone and putting yet another load of laundry on, there’s very little time for sleep – let alone DIY and crafting!


But do you look at that bare wall in the den and that tatty tablecloth on the kitchen table, and just wish you had a few hours to do something about them? Or do you browse through those wonderful crafting successes on Pinterest and think to yourself that “one day” you’ll have a few more minutes to yourself so that you too can create something incredible?
You’re not alone – there’s a huge community of people out there who are feeling just as frustrated as you are!

Thankfully though, there’s an exciting new product to help you quickly and easily get into (or back into) the creative projects you’ve been desperate to start. It’s called The Ultimate DIY Bundle, and it’s a collection of carefully curated DIY and crafting eBooks and eCourses from the world’s leading authors and bloggers in the industry.
For the crazy low price of just $34.95, you get access to a carefully curated library of over 76 eBooks and eCourses. And let me reassure you that this really is great value: the Ultimate Bundles team (who produced the resource) has spent MONTHS seeking out the most respected experts in the industry and asking them to contribute their premium-quality eBooks and eCourses. These really are the best of the best when it comes to DIY and crafting advice and information.
Topics in the bundle include:

• Home decor
• Furniture painting
• Photography
• Chalk pastels
• Handmade gifts
• Homemade skincare products
• Cake decorating
• Photography and photo-editing
• Paint colors and interior design
• …and a whole lot more (76 eBooks and eCourses in total) – to help you be inspired or get started with your next DIY or crafting project!

There’s no need to worry about information overload though: The Ultimate DIY Bundle comes with a complete guide to getting started, so that you can know exactly which resource to use for your specific crafting or DIY project and jump straight into it with confidence!






Hurry though! The Ultimate DIY Bundle will only be on sale for 6 days – from 8am EST on Wednesday, January 21 until 11.59pm EST on Monday, January 26.
You can buy with complete confidence because you’re covered by the Ultimate Bundles 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you have a full 30 days to enjoy all the eBooks and eCourses in the bundle, and if you don’t think they provided enough value, you’ll get a full refund.
Not only that, but The Ultimate DIY Bundle comes with 4 awesome bonuses, worth over $118. That’s 3x the price of the bundle alone! These include…
A free $15 Store Credit PLUS 8×10 Art Print from Hope Ink ($43 Value), a free online class from Craftsy (up to $60 Value), free $15 store credit to Fawnsberg.com, and a free sewing pattern PLUS a Premium Video Class from UpCraft Club ($19.99 Value).

So, don’t miss your chance to grab The Ultimate DIY Bundle, and get 76 incredible eBooks and eCourses for just $34.95. All you need to do is take action by midnight on Monday, January 26!
This amazing deal ends in just…



Pick up your copy right now, before it’s too late. Or, lear

I have included affiliate links in this post. Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions about the bundle.

Lush Decor $200 Gift Card GIVEAWAY!

Good morning and happy Monday! I hope you had a blessed weekend! Today I have something exciting to share with you all. I was contacted by Lush Decor last week with the offer to run a giveaway for you all! After taking a look at their site I thought surely you all would love the chance to get some great items for your home for free!

Here's a little bit of information about Lush Decor.

Lush Décor is all about Inspired Living


Jenny Zhu, our CEO founded the company because she aspired to create affordable fashion that can be enjoyed through all the phases of your life. We offer a wide range of designs and workmanship to help you create your own “look” and lifestyle

Lush Decor offers great bedding sets, curtains and shower curtains for both adults and kids. I had a lot of fun browsing their site and choosing my favorites! Be sure to enter below for your chance to win a $200 gift code to LushDecor.com. 










a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: This post includes affiliate links, these do not effect the cost to you, only blesses my family with a small portion.

Story Hour: "Jessica's Box"

This is a new series for you! I will show you a great book along with a variety of activities. These may include Bible verses, art projects and discussion questions or a combination of these. I'm not sure how often I will post these but be on the lookout for more Story Hour posts! 

The other day my son asked me to watch a movie with him while the girls were off playing. So we watched on we've both seen before but we got into a discussion about some of the things we saw happening. One of the girls in the movie had lied to try to impress new "friends." Hunter pointed it out to me and we talked about it.

Throughout the movie the girls mom keeps reminding her that she doesn't need to impress anyone and only needs to be herself.The more I think about it the more it makes me realize how easy it is to think we aren't good enough. Ads, TV shows, movies,friends and family just to name a few, all have an ideal of the person we should be. 

We got a great new book to add to our collection this week and as I read it to the kiddos I really enjoyed it! "Jessica's Box" is about this very thing, being yourself! 

Jessica is getting ready to go to school for the first time and is very nervous. The first day she brings something special to her in the box and is heartbroken when she gets laughed at upon revealing it to her classmates. 

The second day she tries bringing a treat for her classmates. They gobble them up without a single "Thank you!" and again she's sad to not have made any friends. 

Finally after trying to impress the kids with other things she gives up only to be surprised at what happens next and realize she didn't need to bring all of those things to make friends. She just needed to be herself and people would love her just the way she was. 

After reading the book, pull out your Bible and look up a few verses with your kiddos. 

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Luke 16:15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.

Proverbs 21:2 A person may think his own way is right but the Lord weighs the heart. 

Discussion Questions:

1.How do you think Jessica felt when the kids laughed at 

her? How would you feel? 

2. What would you put into the box and why?

3. Have you ever tried to impress someone? What did you 

do and how did things go?

Activity Ideas

1. Have children draw a picture of themselves OR grab bigger paper and trace your kiddo to have them decorate! 

2. On the paper have them write (or help them if younger) part of 1 Samuel 16:7.

3. Write "People look on the outward appearance at the top

4. Draw a heart close to where ours is and near it write "but the Lord looks at the heart." 

Want to find out more about books like "Jessica's Box" and other amazing books? Join me Monday at 9pm for a Facebook party where you can win FREE books!

Photo from Art and Soul Preschool

Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker Launch and Giveaway!

Today I have a wonderful ebook to share with you from my good friend Kristen over at Smithspirations! Check it out and enter to win one of the amazing prizes! 


As homemakers, we can easily get overwhelmed, discouraged, or a little weary with our never ending to do lists. I know that there have been many days when I've made it till bedtime, but feel so utterly drained that I wonder how I'll survive the next day. It's normal to get tired with a job that you never leave and that never ends. But we don't have to stay discouraged or weary. There is hope in the Lord! I want to share a new resource with you today that's just been released, and it's perfect for every Christian homemaker who could use a little boost of strength from time to time. It's called Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker: A Devotional Guide for Your Homemaking Journey.  In this 100+ page digital resource, author Kristen Smith of Smithspirations offers insight, hope, and encouragement with beautiful printable Scripture cards and journal pages, as well as devotional sections that cover many areas of homemaking. Homemakers fulfill many roles, and that's why Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker offers thirteen sections of encouragement, each featuring one major area of homemaking. You'll find sections for

• General Homemaking
• Caring for Yourself
• Health & Wellness
• Food & Cooking
• Pregnancy & Babies
• Motherhood & Parenting
• Marriage
• The Homemaker's Faith
• Faith for Children
• Homeschooling
• Finances
• Working from Home
• Special Events

For thirteen areas of homemaking, you'll find

• 4 decorative printable Scripture cards
• 1 printable journal page
• 1 devotional guide featuring reflections and questions to consider

This practical resource can be used in a number of ways, making it really flexible and useful to the mom who may only have a few moments to herself daily. Numerous ideas are suggested in the introduction, but you may come up with your own way to use Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker's printable Scripture cards!

Celebrate the Launch of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker with a Huge Giveaway!

Because we're so excited about the release of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker , we've gathered together an incredible giveaway set that is going to knock someone's socks right off! These products are perfect for busy homemakers and are sure to bless you in your home! Even better, there are two prize packages, so you're odds of winning are even greater! Both packages are worth well over $100, making these really incredible sets.

Prize Package 1:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• A 15 mL bottle of Citrus Fresh essential oil blend from Young Living distributor Sara Elizabeth
• A 15 mL bottle of lavender essential oil from Simply Aroma distributor Rachel Ramey
• A travel-size Norwex Envirocloth from consultant Rachel Ramey
• A Mialisia Silver Dream necklace from Mialisia designer Pam Maynard
• Write Through the Bible: Psalms 1, 23, and 121 paperback by Luke & Trisha Gilkerson
• A Bath & Beauty Gift Set from Southern Vines Soap Co.
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Prize Package 2:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• 15 mL bottles of lavender, peppermint, and On Guard essential oils from doTERRA distributor Stephanie Calderone
• A $50 Tupperware surprise pack from Tupperware consultant Olivia Douglass
• An inspirational handmade necklace featuring your choice of background design and wording from That's Sew Taylor.
• Secrets of the Apple Tree and mini flashlight from Usborne Books Consultant Jacqueline Forrer
• A bath & body gift set from Mountain Creek Gifts
• A 3 Pack of Virtuous Lips natural lip balm
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below! This giveaway lasts until the January 31 at midnight. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: This post includes affiliate links. These do not effect prices to you in any way, only blesses my family with a small portion.

2015 Outreach Challenge

My husband got a few albums he's been wanting for Christmas off of iTunes. Both by a group called Southern Raised. We were listening to these this weekend and one really stuck out to me. Southern Raised "A Soul Going Somewhere."

 

 

As I listened I thought about so many people that I know who aren't saved and those whom I've been called to encourage in their spiritual lives.

 

"A soul going somewhere don't you see them passing by?

A soul going somewhere on this road that we call life.

Tell them of a better way there's more to life than what they say."

 

So often we are afraid to talk to friends, family, acquaintances or even strangers about God and what He's done for us. Instead of thinking about what they'll think of us. Why don't we think of them this way?

 

At some point in our lives, someone saw us as a soul going somewhere. They weren't afraid to tell us of God's love and the danger of not accepting His amazing gift.

 

I have a challenge for you as we start this new year.

 

1. Pray: Ask that God will give you opportunities to share with those around you. Believe me, He may use you in ways you never imagined and you will often feel unqualified but as I've been reminded many times over the past few years God equips the called, not the other way around. He will give you the words to say!

 

2. Look for chances to arise and take them! Don't be afraid of what they'll think or say. More than likely they'll be thankful that you cared enough about them to put yourself out there and share a very important part of your life.

 

3. Pray some more! Chances are that once you've talked to someone once, it will come up again! It may be a while before it does but you've planted seeds and they will need watering eventually.

 

4. Don't give up! A few years ago when my husband was in a deep depression he had men from our church contacting, visiting and praying for him. He got annoyed at times but now is quite thankful that they were persistent in their efforts! I have a friend who I've been encouraging to go to church for quite a while now. She finally went yesterday and then thanked me for not giving up on her. That doesn't mean to continually pester someone but keep praying for them and encouraging them when chances arise!

 

That's my challenge to you! After all everyone around you is a "Soul Going Somewhere" and it's our job to share God's love with them and once they've accepted that to encourage our brothers and sisters!

 

I'd love to hear from you and how things are going with those you've reached out to! I'd also love to pray  for you. To share how you've been using this challenge and what's been happening hop on over to the 2015 Outreach Challenge group on Facebook. There you will find support, encouragement and ideas to get you started and keep things going. I can't wait to "see" you there!

 

Note: I'm not affiliated with Southern Raised nor was I asked to share their video/song. I just felt led to do so!