Naturally inspired living for homemakers
It’s a rare day that goes by in our home when we don’t make a fruit smoothie. Call us addicted. It’s a wonderful addiction to have! Since I have 3 little ones and a husband that rely on me to help them get in maximum nutrition with each and every bite they take, I frequently …
Making Healthy Smoothies With Your Fresh Summer Greens (at Simple Organic)Read More
Written by Anne Elliot, Contributing Writer I’m not much of a gardener, but over the last few years, I’m been attempting a little bit more each summer. It started three summers ago when I planted just a few things in a small bed in the back yard. A friend of mine had been gardening for …
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 …
Do you ever feel that some of the duties of motherhood are not quite what you expected? Or that many of the mundane and trivial tasks are not what you thought you were signing up for? This weekend I was reading “The Mission of Motherhood” by Sally Clarkson and one chapter in particular just hit …
Imagine with me for a moment: a crisp night, crackling fire, blankets, loved ones all around enjoying hot beverages and warm, fresh out of the oven, banana bread. Are you drooling yet? I was too until I looked at the thermometer and remembered it was over 100°F outside! I know it’s Summer right now and …
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 …
I made this recipe accidentally the other day, when I realized I had blended too many strawberries and didn’t want them to go to waste. It was a hot, hot day so popsicles sounded like the perfect fix, and they were! Most ice-cream style popsicle recipes are incredibly simple. Blended fruit, mixed with a creamy …
Strawberry Coconut Cream Popsicles (Dairy-Free Indulgence for Summer Days)Read More
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 …
That is my challenge right now, and perhaps it’s yours, too! Yesterday we went to a berry u-pick farm, where we picked about 20 lbs of raspberries and bought another 10 lb flat. On our way out of the farm, we noticed a sign at the farm across the street, “$1 Jam Strawberries”. I’ve never …
I adore my new home. It’s large, beautiful and perfectly suited to our family. The only downside? Leaving behind my beloved 12 x 28 ft, perfectly sunny garden that I have loved on and built up for the past 3 years. The challenge for me in our new backyard is that the landlords weren’t really …
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 …
Guest Post by Rene of Budget Saving Mom Pests are something that organic gardeners have to deal with. However, there are ways to deal naturally with pests so that you are still able to limit your exposure to chemicals that are not good for you or your family. We have a huge garden that provides …
While many exercises are considered to be safe during pregnancy, some are a lot more beneficial than others. Exercises that are especially important for the expectant mother are those that will help support Mom’s changing body pre- and postpartum and increase strength and flexibility to the muscles needed during labor. With increased joint laxity during …
Guest Post Written by Michele When I was pregnant with my son, we chose not to do regular ultrasounds and other prenatal testing. This choice was met by surprise from many women, who assumed that an ultrasound/testing was essential for their information, “peace of mind,” and bonding with their unborn baby. I am not writing this to offend, but …
Guest Post by Leah Hoffmaster There are few things in life more precious than a sleeping baby. One of my favorite things to do during my children’s infancy was to lay them on my chest and allow my beating heart and warm embrace to soothe them into a peaceful slumber. Oh, how often I would …
The lucky winner of this fantastic eCourse is: Hannah O. Registration for the Naturally Knocked Up eCourse will be continuing only until July 16th, so if you’re thinking of signing up, do so quickly! Did you miss the first post and want to know more about what this course is all about? Read my overview …
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 …
Guest Post Written by Kimberly Racic Hi, I’m Kimberly and I’m behind a project called Fertility Flower. Stephanie asked me to prepare a primer on fertility charting using the Sympto-Thermal method and I was happy to oblige. First off, let me say that charting is really, really easy. Once you get the fundamentals down, it …
Charting Primer: Using the Sympto-Thermal Method to Predict OvulationRead More
Guest Post Written by Nicole Bennett My first experience with swiss chard was about a year and a half ago. That Martha Stewart, I thought, she always has the strangest ingredients in her recipes. Shortly after that, however, I subscribed our family to a local farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and little did I know …
Loving My CSA: Learning to Eat a Variety of Seasonal ProduceRead More
At long last, I’m excited to announce the winners! I’m so sorry for the delay, to all those who have been anxiously waiting to find out who won. I’m a little behind in my work. Let’s just say that this is Reason #17 I shouldn’t run a huge week of giveaways a week before I …
Written by Beth Corcoran, Contributing Writer If you reside in a cooler climate, you probably can enjoy being outdoors all day long. But I live in the middle of Oklahoma, where temperatures frequently are miserable, and it can even be dangerous to play outside in the middle of the day. For that reason, my kids …
Written by Sharon Kaufman, Contributing Writer The Theme of the Book One of my summer reads has been a small book that I’ve found to be most encouraging – Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and her three daughters. The premise of the book is founded on the text in Ephesians 5:15-16, which says, “Look …
