Messes Make Memories: Guest Post!

Today, I'm guest posting over at The Purposeful Mom.  Here's a small bit of what I'm sharing.  

A small kitchen, a hot oven, a dangerously powerful mixer…not exactly the place for a small child, right?  Actually, it’s exactly the place!  

Baking with your children is something that can not only bring joy to all of you, but also teaches children skills like measuring, counting, the science of where their food comes from, how to follow directions, clean-up skills, and helpfulness.



Continue Reading over on The Purposeful Mom's website!

Wordless Wednesday #4

Inspired Holiday Bundle

{This post contains affiliate links} 

The holidays are quickly approaching and with many ways to celebrate between October and December, you might start feeling a little stressed and uninterested.

   

 Do not let this holiday season slip by! Make each moment special and gather the inspiration you need from the Inspired Holiday Bundle - 25 products for holiday inspiration at only $25. You save over $125!

Personally, I can't wait to read some of the e-books in this bundle!  This was put together by a group of ladies I greatly admire and who do great work.

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Natural Skincare and Pampering Giveaway!

I am super excited to announce the first Candle in the Night Giveaway!  I have rounded up over $140 worth of fantastic products for one lucky reader!  Some of these products, I've tried; others, you'll get the first opportunity to try out.

I have not been paid for this giveaway nor have I received free products to conduct it.  

Here are the amazing products you'll receive if you're the winner!

Although I haven't tried these out, they look amazing!  

I have tried these soaps and my FAVORITE is the Honey Oatmeal!  It makes my entire bathroom smell amazing and I'll never go back to Bath and Body Works.  The owners happen to be friends of mine and I'm the one who makes the Soap savers!

These are small samples, but if you've been wanting to try out Cowgirl Dirt samples, this is a great opportunity!

These nail polishes look just beautiful!  And all-natural nail polish??  Yes please!!

The owner of Naked Garden Soaps is so sweet!  She sent along a couple extras for me to try out and I can't wait!  I'll let you know how I like them when I get a chance!

These products look just beautiful.  Although I haven't tried them out, I can tell the quality is outstanding!

I got a chance to try L'BRI products at an open house the other night and I fell in love!  I signed up to buy this set (which is much larger than it looks!) and then also signed up to host a party.  By hosting, I received this free set to give to one of you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wordless Wednesday #3

Enjoy this post?  Keep in touch for more!

  

Would you like to receive the daily planner page I use to help me stay organized

absolutely FREE??  Just sign up below and I'll send you a link in the next couple days!!

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I often link up with these lovely bloggers...

    

      

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We loooooove going to the pumpkin patch!  I wish it was open more than just one month because we'd be there so much more!  I just want to share a little bit about what we do at our pumpkin patch and I'd love to hear about your favorite patch and your favorite activities there in the comments!

The animals:  These are the best part!  Pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits, baby goats, a couple of donkeys...it's pretty amazing!  And most of them, you can feed or pet.  The kids love it!

E checking out the peacock.  

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Where is God in the Suffering?

This past Tuesday was pregnancy and child loss awareness day and having a couple friends who have lost pregnancies lately and one friend who lost her six week old not long ago, my heart has been heavy for them.  How heartbreaking it must be to lose a little one.

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Fabulous Fall Fridays #8: Fall Deals

I'm a big fan of change in the house.  I LOVE moving furniture around.  I enjoy re-decorating.  I'd change paint colors every year if I had the chance.  Unfortunately, all this is either really hard work, non-feasible, or expensive.  So I change little things.  This week, I took advantage of the fall deals going on at JoAnn.  All their fall inspirations line was 60% off.  I've had my eye on some of these things since they first came out, but refused to pay full price.  This past week, I got them super cheap!

My piano looked great last Friday.  This week, my fall leaf garland has gone crumbly and I'm ready for something new.  The sparkle pumpkins will find a new place along with the popcorn candles and the fall leaf frame.  My new color scheme was inspired by this Give Thanks mantle.  I'm saving "Thanksgiving" stuff until November, but I loved the simple brown and white.  I'm adding a tad bit of green as well since I found some things at JoAnn that I really liked!  I'll be adding a few more things later, but here's how it looks now!

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Wordless Wednesday #2

Presto Bread Slicing Guide Review

I've been making my own bread now on and off for several years and I always have used the slice-it-as-we-eat-it method.  It's worked out fine, but when I began making bread more frequently, I decided I would really rather have a bread slicing guide.  I didn't really shop around (I knew I'd seen them in thrift stores), I just decided I'd pick up the next one I saw.  I ended up with the Presto Bread Slicing Guide.  

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M is Two! A Fishy-Themed Birthday Party

Well, M turned two at the beginning of August and it's mid-October.  How's that for blog-turnaround?  At least it's FINALLY getting posted!  I wanted to share with you M's party.  Under the Sea theme (without the mermaids).  M loves fishies and I thought this party would be a blast...and it was!!

The jellyfish decorations were my FAVORITE!!  For the food, we had fruit (not ocean themed), goldfish, life savers, Swedish Fish, Peachy-O's, blue jello (in a fish bowl!), and little clams made from Ritz crackers, cheese, ham, and a little onion for the pearl.  The clams were my favorite of the foods!  We also had hot dogs.  :)  

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Like a Child

I want to share with you a testimony today of hearing God's voice.

When I was in my first year of college, I wanted so badly to hear from God.  I had been close to God since I was a child, but I really wanted Him to speak directly to me.  I'd been studying the Word a lot and I knew that He still spoke with people.  I'd heard testimony after testimony of it.  So why not me?  I'd felt His presence many times, but I wanted something more.

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Fabulous Fall Fridays #7: Fall Leaf Garland

Remember this picture?

Yeah...I was almost happy with how my piano looked.  Almost.  The problem was that space in front where the burlap was just open.  It was...too much burlap and not enough...something.  I looked at several ideas.  I thought about a book leaf garland, but decided I didn't have time to cut out a bunch of book pages.  I thought about dyeing some burlap and making a pennant that said "FALL", but...well...I might do that later.  :)  Anyway, here's what I came up with!  

And I LOVE it!!!

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6 Ways to Save Money During Pregnancy

Having a baby is expensive.  There are hospital bills, check-up costs, all the things the baby needs, and when you throw in all the things Mom needs during the pregnancy, it can be outrageous!  So here are six easy ways to save money during pregnancy!

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Wordless Wednesday #1

I've always loved other people's Wordless Wednesday posts, but haven't ever done my own.  Well, I'm beginning today!  Each Wednesday, I'll share a photo from the previous week.  It may be something I just snapped on my phone or a photo I worked really hard to get.  Either way, it'll be wordless (after this initial post) and something I love.  Happy Wednesday, Friends!

Fabulous Fall Fridays #6: The Mumpkin

This is by far my favorite project yet.  Why?  It's just a Mum and a Pumpkin.  But together, you get the Mumpkin.  And since my daughter's nickname is Mum and we often call her our little Mumpkin, when I saw this for the first time over at the Circa Dee blog, I knew this HAD to make it into the Fabulous Fall Friday posts.  So...I give you...The Mumpkin.

(And yes, I know today isn't Friday...I really, really tried to have this up on Friday, but I couldn't find my fall ribbon and had to pick some up at Hobby Lobby today.)

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Let's Get Real

There are a lot of moms out there who blog and have Pinterest-worthy homes.  I'm not one of them.  You could blame it on the fact that I have two toddlers, or the fact that I'm pregnant, or the fact that I spend a lot of time doing things like blogging or helping with church activities or singing in choir or...whatever!  But here's the truth...that's just me.  I didn't have a Pinterest-worthy home before I had children or a Pinterest-worthy dorm room or a Pinterest-worthy bedroom as a kid.  It's just not who I am.  I have to really WORK to keep things clean.  And honestly, I have many, many other things that I'd rather be doing and frankly, that are more important to me.

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