Little Wife in the Woods

How to Support Your Little One’s Immune System This Winter

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The winter months of sickness after sickness can be stressful with babies and toddlers! While sickness is apart of life it is important to learn how to support your little’s immune system. Learn all about how in this blog post!

how to support your littles immune system

*First off, we are not medical professionals. We’re moms of littles, just like you! We care deeply about the health and wellness of our families and believe that natural medicine is the best way to do this while also taking advantage of modern medicine when necessary. If this is your view come join us for more natural wellness tips here on the blog when you subscribe to our email list or on Instagram @littlewifeinthewoods!

Sickness and Littles During the Winter Months

Sickness and babies during any season is no fun but it seems like the last few winters have brought a lot of illness to homes with littles. (Or is it just me?) A lot of things probably contributes to this such as sugar poisoning from the holidays and lack of vitamin D which we will get into in a bit. As a young mom this is a hard thing to go through watching your baby, or toddler, fight sickness for an entire season.

Though there are plenty of things we can do to try to prevent sickness and boost up their little immune systems I think it is also very important to realize that sickness is apart of life. We cannot evade every germ and illness, though as mothers we hate seeing them sick! Germ exposure and even occasional sickness are a natural, normal part of life and even help build the immune system of our children. Of course it is hard to see them sick or under the weather but it is important to realize that we cannot fight every germ. Every sickness we walk through with them also helps to build our toolbox.

If you are going through a season of sickness with your little (maybe you are even pretty unhealthy yourself this season) I hope you find encouragement here that you are not doing anything wrong. You can even be doing all the extra preventative things and still have sick babies. This does not mean you are failing. It’s winter. Babies are germ magnets. It’s completely normal to have extra sickness this time of year with littles. You’re doing an awesome job!

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Reasons for Extra Sickness During the Winter Season

There are plenty of reasons why we tend to see more sickness in our children this time of the year. We will not deal with all of them but we will give you three reasons and what you can do about it!

Sugar Poisoning from the Holidays

This is a big one for toddlers, especially those two year olds who have not had as much sugar up to this point in their lives. Children consume up to five times more sugar during the holiday season. Many children consume around the equivalent of three whole cups of sugar around Halloween alone. Add in Thanksgiving and Christmas and it’s no wonder children are so sick by January. Even those of us who try to limit sugar intake for our children will find it difficult around the holidays and though they may not be consuming as much as other children they are still getting way more than their bodies are accustomed to.

So what can we do about it?

If you are reading this at the time of posting you know that the holidays have already past. We cannot go back and fix our mistakes from the holidays but we can try our best next year! Another thing we can do is stop the damage where it’s at. Your kids probably still have leftover candy filled with sugar, dyes, etc. Start by eliminating this asap. You may find that you have a cranky toddler for a few weeks from all the sugar withdrawals but it is well worth it. You may even notice some behavior changes after a week or two as their little minds begin to clear up from the sugar fog they’ve been in since October.

Lack of Nourishing Foods

Along with eliminating a lot of sweets and candy we need to be replacing the sugar with nourishing foods. Think about it. You’ve been busy, running around, trying to do life during the holidays. Anyone else eat way more takeout and fast food the past two months? Convenience meals? I feel you girl!

Adding those nutritional meals back into the daily routine is a major step in they right direction. Protein, fruits, vegetables. And don’t be surprised if your once “not picky” eater of a toddler now is only eating two or three bites at meal time. This is another symptom of the sugar high they have been on. It may take some work but over the next couple weeks (with lots of consistency and persuasion) you will start to see that appetite for actual food pick back up.

Learn more about How to Start Cooking From Scratch here!

Lack of Vitamin D

Lack of vitamin D is another big reason we see our kiddos getting so sick this time of year. We tend to keep them indoors more because hey it’s cold out there! (Guilty!!) Even when we do go out we tend to bundle them up in so many layers that the vitamin D does not have a chance to absorb well.

So what can we do?

Five to ten minutes. 5-10 minutes a day outside in the sun with minimal layers will do wonders!! (I know this is not possible everywhere. Use your own discretion.) Try taking your little outside to sit in the sun for just five minutes every day with loose clothing. This is enough time to absorb more than they’re getting indoors!

Warmest day. This is my personal favorite. Choose the warmest day of the week (even if it’s still only 30!) and make plans for outside time. Even bundled up- any time outside is better than no time outside.

Blinds up. Curtains open. Let as much light in as possible. If you have a newborn or young baby let them sleep in the sunlight by a window! Get them exposed to sunlight often.

Supplement/Diet. Eating lots of foods high in vitamin D during the winter time helps to supplement that lack. If you feel like you or your littles are suffering from lack of vitamin D you may even want to start supplementing until you can get outside more often.

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Supporting a Newborn’s Immune System

Anna and I have both had the “privilege” of spending the newborn season during the winter months of all of our children (three total). This can be scary, especially as a first time mom! Here are a few quick tips for you…

  • Breastfeed!! We know everyone isn’t able or does not feel led to breastfeed their baby. It is definitely a lot of work but so worth it!! There are many reasons why but a main one being that baby is getting TONS of immune support via breastmilk. The science behind this is amazing and I highly encourage you to research this if you are on the fence about giving it a try.
  • Donor milk. Sounds weird but hear me out. If you can’t breastfeed, don’t want to breastfeed, or for whatever reason choose not to breastfeed why not find a donor mama? At least during the newborn season.
  • Try pumping. Breastfeeding not working out/not your thing? Maybe at least try pumping for those extra vitamins your newborn needs. Even one or two bottles of your breastmilk a day could make a huge difference!
  • Baby wearing. This is a great way to stop germs from every reaching your baby. If you are wearing him/her constantly it cuts down the amount of people touching all over them.
  • No touch/no kissing rule. Get serious about your boundaries. A “cold”, “allergies”, or “tickle in the throat” can be serious for a newborn. You would think people would have enough common sense to know this but they don’t. No one had to hold your baby. You do not have to let anyone touch your baby. A respectful “No.” is a complete sentence.

Extra Ways to Boost Your Littles Immune System During the Winter

Even though you will likely experience a sickness or two regardless of your efforts they are still well worth it! I personally (Tori) have noticed a big difference from last year to this year and my efforts paying off. Trying this list of things may help you totally avoid those germs or at least make the sickness a little easier on your family than others…

  • Gut health. About 70% of the immune system lives in the gut. That’s a great reason to get your whole family on a quality probiotic during the winter months. (Whatever brand you choose make sure it is not absorbed in the upper intestine or it will not do you any good.)
  • Elderberry. The immune benefits of elderberry are just about unmatched in the world of natural immune boosters! Plus it tastes great so the kiddos love to take their medicine. Elderberry tincture from Earthley has been amazing for us this year and the girls love taking it! (It’s safe for 6 months plus, pregnant, and nursing mamas!)
  • Zinc and Vitamin C. Other supplements to add to the list this winter are zinc and vitamin C. You can also find a toddler multivitamin that supplies kiddos with what they need!

Happy winter, mamas!! We hope these tips keep you and your littles surviving and thriving the next few months. Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list so you don’t miss out on more tips for moms of little from moms of littles!

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New Year Goal Inspiration for Homemakers

main post pic

Happy New Year! This is one of my favorite times of the year. A time to review, set aside all the past, and look forward to the future. It gives me a new vigor and zest for life!

Although nothing truly changes except the calendar year, I love setting new goals. Even if the goals are never reached it gives me such inspiration knowing what direction I’m headed. Having goals keeps me on track and going in that direction.

As a homemaker and stay at home mom of two (soon to be three) under three goals essential to my calling. Without goals, projects, and plans I could easily fall into the negative mentality that women “loose themselves” in motherhood and that staying home with your children is far from aspirational. This is false!

Keeping myself creative and learning new skills, reaching for goals, and achieving new heights as a homemaker and mama is far from boring.

This list of past and present goals I hope will help you find some inspiration for a few homemaker goals of your own this year. Let’s fill the comments with even more! What are your goals this year as a homemaker?

1. Saving Money; being more resourceful.

I think this is every good homemaker’s goal, whether they are being intentional with it or not. As stay at home moms and wives we know that we do not add much monetary value in what we earn but in what we save! The cost of childcare, cleaning, etc., all add up to make us worth more than we would be monetarily in the workforce. However, are we intentional with our daily decisions to save and be resourceful? If not, this might be a good goal for you to try to achieve this year!

2. Wasting less; being more frugal.

Along with saving money you, like me, might find “wasting less” on your goal list this year. I used to be really good at this but two young children later, I often find myself more likely to throw those leftovers away or just buy a new “one” (whatever it may be). As part of my goal to waste less I will be sharing lots of zero waste recipes and tips this year that you will not want to miss so make sure you are on our email list!

3. Cooking From Scratch More.

This also could fit in the “saving money” category as well as a great health goal! As a homemaker you probably already find yourself cooking from scratch quite often, if not the majority of the time. Perhaps you have found yourself in a slump with it all- making the same meals, being bored or uninterested in cooking, or using more boxed, processed foods. We all get there! Let the New Year rekindle your desire to find new inspiration in your kitchen again. Be sure to stick around here on the blog for more from scratch recipes and be on the lookout for our new printable meal plans coming this year!

4. Bread Making.

This is your year! If you have had your eye on sourdough for the past couple years but have not had courage to try let this be your year. This goal is great if you are looking to save your family money this year with from scratch bread, plus it ads a new skill to your homemaker toolbox. You do not need much to start- just a jar, unbleached flour, and water. (Get my recipe for a from scratch sourdough starter with simple, day-by-day instructions here!)

If you are looking to learn this skill go grab a copy of my mini e-book, The Beginner’s Guide to Simple Sourdough, to learn all about how to make and maintain a starter without all the hassle and stress. My method was designed for busy homemakers and mamas who want to learn the art but do not have time or energy to do it! This guide cuts through all the nitty gritty, sciency information and gets you started simply.

5. Reading more.

If I am being honest this has landed on my New Year goal list for probably five years in a row, and I am not getting any closer to achieving the goal! I often find myself so busy, caught up in the daily grind that I do not make the time to read like I should. Reading my Bible daily is about the extent of my achievement (if that somedays!). I have found the past couple years that if I set a very reachable goal in this area I’m far more likely to achieve it. It may sound laughable but my goal this year is one book a quarter. That will be four more books than I probably would have read without having this goal!

Great Reads for Homemakers to Add to Your List This Year!

6. Growing your own food.

This is a great goal no matter where you live or what season of life you are in. You don’t need acres of property and hours of time to go a tomato plant on your back patio. You can even grow an amazing herb garden from your apartment balcony! Whatever your capacity in this season try growing something. This also aligns with the goals of cooking from scratch more and saving money!

You can learn how to preserve your harvest in this post!

7. Enjoy the Sunshine.

As homemakers it is easy for us to get so busy inside that we forget to take time outside. Time in nature and vitamin D from the sun are proven to boost our immune systems, moods, and provide nutrients to our bodies. We need that time outside as homemakers for refresh our energy and keep us healthy!

One of my favorite goals for enjoying the sun and getting outside is the 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge. There are a lot of different ways to break it down but the basic idea is to spend 1,000 hours outdoors in a year. This averages to around 2.5-3 hours daily. Since I have very young children who LOVE to be outside and outside (as long as the weather isn’t cold!) is my most happy place this is a very achievable goal! I would say in the summer months we probably average around 4–5 hours outside per day.

Maybe this sounds like a lot for you in your current season. You may want to just try spending 30 minutes or one hour outside daily this year. Whatever the goal I highly encourage you to set aside some time to enjoy the fresh air! It is a true game changer!

8. Prioritize your health.

A sick, low energy you means a messy house, less food from scratch, and wasting a lot more. It took me a while to realize this but being a better homemaker is not about spinning my wheels trying to get all the things done while my health goes down the drain. The old saying, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.” is very true especially in the area of homemaking and motherhood. That is why taking care of my body, getting my rest, and eating well are some of the top priorities when it comes to personal goals. Having low energy levels is not just a symptom of motherhood. Being cranky 24/7 is not a homemaker right of passage. These and other things are indicators of health issues, rest issues, and/or dietary issues. A few great ways to do this…

  • Prioritize your gut health! Did you know that the majority of your immune system lives in the gut? By making a few simple changes such as adding a quality probiotic you can be sick less and have more energy to complete your goals this year!
  • Eliminate toxins and hormone disruptors. This may sound complicated but it really is as simple as swapping out bad products with good ones. Start simple with the things you use every day- hairspray, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. and make better choices. You do not have to break the bank by doing it all at once. Just pick a few things and as you start to need them buy the best version you can afford!
  • Move your body every day! It does not have to be hard, involved exercises, daily trips to the gym, or hours of workout programs. Just make it your goal to do something and start somewhere!

This year make your health a priority. If not for you do it for your family! They’ll thank you later!

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9. Support Small Business More

This is a big homemaker downfall of mine. When I need something I often find the quickest, cheapest way to get the thing before I forget and then move on with my day. Often this looks like a quick trip on my phone to amazon or Walmart and we call it done. This has its place in the homemaking world for sure but I am also looking to be more intentional with my spending this year. This includes shopping from small businesses whenever possible.

Well there you have it! These are a few of my homemaking goals this year and years past. I hope you found some inspiration for your own home and life! Let us know in the comments what your homemaker goals are!

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Easy Sourdough Christmas Tree Bread with Pesto and Parmesan

This sourdough Christmas tree bread recipe is festive and delicious! Swirls of pesto and parmesan cheese, soft and chewy sourdough bread, and marinara to dip it in. Get all the details and the printable recipe in this post!

sourdough Christmas tree bread

Sourdough Christmas Tree Bread

This is the cutest idea for a Christmas party or a family Christmas snack to munch on. I decided to do the pesto and Parmesan cheese because it gave it a more realistic vibe- the green and then the cheese made it look like sprigs from branches. However you could stuff this with anything. Cinnamon roll style, cranberry and herb, get creative! Tag us on Instagram @littlewifeinthewoods so we can see what you come up with!

Sourdough Style

Sure, you could probably make this bread with regular yeast. I haven’t tried personally but I’d say if you substitute around 2 tsp active yeast, 1 cup warm water, and use a bit less flour you will achieve a similar result- although lacking in the flavor department because you can’t beat sourdough!

dehydrated sourdough starter

That’s why I’m here to tell you about my dehydrated sourdough starter! If you don’t do sourdough now is the time! You can purchase a packet of my dehydrated sourdough starter over on Etsy and be making a loaf of bread in just three days after you get it in the mail.

Or learn to make your own sourdough starter from scratch here in this blog post and grab my Beginner’s Guide to Sourdough with all the information you need to get started!

Getting the Perfect Shape for Sourdough Christmas Tree Bread

Shaping your sourdough Christmas tree bread is easier than it looks! You are simply twisting and turning your dough into a tree. Here are some step by step directions for you!

1. Roll the dough into an oval, or almost egg shape on a heavily floured surface.

2. Using a bench scraper or a pizza cutter cut up at a slight angle. You should have around five or six sections and one odd triangle shape at the bottom. Red lines are indicators for step 3.

3. The top two sections are your topper or “star”. The rest are your limbs. You will cut each section into halves after you apply the pesto and parmesan cheese. See picture above; red lines are where you should cut in half.

The halves will be twisted into one single limb giving you around four to five limbs total.

4. The bottom, triangular section is your tree stump. Simply fold into thirds after stuffing.

Shaping the Topper of Your Tree

This is where I would personally like to get fancier and I may try this Christmas! My star turned out to be more of a blob but I think with the proper shaping you could get a more realistically shaped one.

Some ideas I have had are to twist the top two sections into more of a circle. Perhaps rolling the top sections out more would allow you enough dough to make an actual star shape! If the topper sounds too complex you could absolutely just make them into limbs following the same steps above. Whatever you do make sure you stuff the topper with lots of pesto and parm!

Making This Sourdough Christmas Tree Bread Recipe Beyond the Holiday Season

The flavors of this recipe can be enjoyed all year long without the festive flare. Pesto Parmesan sourdough bread began in the form of this artisan style recipe and it never disappoints! All the same delicious taste and texture. You can get the recipe here in this blog post to try after Christmas and into the New Year. And don’t forget! The New Year is the perfect time to start your own sourdough journey or to be more intentional about cooking from scratch. Make sure to subscribe to the email list for more from scratch recipes every week!

pesto parm bread
pesto parm sourdough christmas tree bread

Pesto Parmesan Sourdough Christmas Tree Bread

A delicious bread in the festive shape of a Christmas tree with swirling limbs stuffed with pesto and parmesan cheese!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 8 minutes
Fermentation Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, bread, Pizza, Side Dish, Snack
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sourdough starter active and bubbly
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp herbs rosemary, basil, or Italian blend
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 4 oz shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Combine sourdough starter and warm water in a large mixing bowl (or bowl of stand mixer). Allow to dissolve about five minutes. Stir.
  • Add honey, salt, baking powder, and 2 cups flour. Add flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough is nice and firm, pulling away from the sides of the bowl. (Mine took about 3 ¼ cups.)
  • Allow dough to rise for about one hour then ferment in the refrigerator overnight or on the countertop for about 8 hours.
  • After fermentation place dough on a well floured surface. Roll out in a egg shape by rolling folding the dough into thirds and shaping into a oval loaf. Then roll flat, rolling the bottom thinner than the top to make it an egg shape surface. See Picture.
    bread dough
  • Cut five strips at an upwards angle using a pizza cutter or bench scraper. Giving you four "branches", a topper, and a triangular shape at the bottom.
    sourdough bread dough
  • Apply pesto and parmesan cheese everywhere then cut the branches in halves (red lines in the previous picture indicate where you should cut into halves).
  • Shape the topper. Twist the two pieces you divided to form one individual branch. Fold the triangle at he bottom into thirds to form a stem. SEE NOTE.
    christmas tree bread
  • Allow to rise 30 minutes.
  • Bake at 350℉ for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce for best results.

Notes

For more detailed info on shaping your tree go check out the blog post section about shaping. 
Keyword christmas bread, christmas recipe, christmas tree bread, easy sourdough recipe, pesto parmesan bread, sourdough bread recipe, sourdough recipe
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The Best Sugar Cookie Dough Recipe for Kids

This is the perfect edible sugar cookie dough recipe for kids! A great consistency for playing and shaping as well as a tasty treat for the whole family after they bake. Enjoy this completely safe, from scratch sugar cookie recipe with your little this season!

sugar cookie

A Kid Friendly Sugar Cookie Dough

Over the years I have tried several sugar cookie recipes that are deemed “kid friendly” however some just lacked in the right consistency for playing or they were so firm that when you baked them they lacked in the taste department. My goal was to make a great cookie dough for kids to play with that also tasted great when baked! Here’s what I discovered….

Cream cheese. Cream cheese is the “secret sauce” of this recipe! It binds the dough together and thickens it without compromising on a moist and chewy cookie!

Less sugar. It is also somewhat important to me to limit the sugar where possible when it comes to the kids, the holidays, and winter sickness. I’m not a troll about it but I do care. So this recipe has less sugar than most but not to the point of tastelessness- it’s definitely sweet!

No eggs. It’s debatable…raw eggs in cookie dough and the safe consumption rules. When it comes to our kids we can never be too careful so this recipe is eggless.

Flour. The flour is the one ingredient standing between a crunchy, stiff cookie and a soft, chewy one. Too much flour will absolutely ruin a good sugar cookie. Too little will leave the dough too sticky for the kids. It took a bit of playing with things to get this recipe ratio just right.

child making sugar cookies

Making it Fun for the Whole Family

My kiddo is a nice, fresh two years old. I wanted to make fun Christmas cookies, but I also dreaded the mess. That is why I decided to keep it super simple. No fun, crazy sprinkles or icing (maybe next year!) just the simple, fun play of shaping the cookies and sneaking a bite of dough every now and then! This made it more fun for both of us.

I also taped down some parchment paper for her to play with the dough on. I would not have minded her just using the table surface but there is a crack and I didn’t feel like scrubbing cookie dough out of it for a week! Make sure you have a stress-free (for you!), safe environment for them to enjoy making their cookies on.

If you have bigger kids it might be fun to get more festive with things like icing, candy, sprinkles to decorate your sugar cookies. They can even help clean up when they’re done!

For babies and the one year old they will LOVE squishing the dough around in their hands! Or just eating it all like my youngest did. Either way, this is a completely enjoyable recipe for the whole family!

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If you have kids the holiday season equals sick season! That’s why I am so excited to share my friends Earthley Wellness with you! My family has been using them for a while now and we love their 100% natural products for things like immune boost, cold symptoms, fevers, headaches, and so much more. If you are looking for a natural remedy they probably have it! My favorite to keep on hand is their Feel Better Fast tincture for fever, cold, headaches, plus immune support. Use my link and the code LITTLEWIFE10 to get 10% off your first order!

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Baking Your Sugar Cookies

Baking these sugar cookies is super simple. Your main objective will be to not over-bake them. Depending on how thin/thick your kids roll them out you might need to adjust the bake time a bit. Ours only took about five minutes. You want to pull them out slightly doughy in the center for that nice, soft sugar cookie texture. If you like a crunchier cookie you can always bake them a bit longer.

Click here to get our recipe for Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies!

*Note: Since little kids will roll them out differently every time you may find it best to bake some of the thicker cookies on a separate sheet or roll the dough out for them.

sugar cookies

Sugar Cookie Dough Recipe for Kids

The funnest edible "play dough" for kids that also tastes great baked! This eggless play dough recipe is perfect for toddlers who want to grow their baking skills. Then enjoy soft, chewy sugar cookies made by your little ones!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp butter softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ⅓ cup cane sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2½-3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Combine butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add baking soda, salt, and 2 cups all-purpose flour. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is firm and thick. (Do not exceed 3 cups.)
  • Roll dough out on a floured surface and allow children to eat and make fun shapes with the dough.
  • When the kids are done playing bake the cookies at 350℉ approximately 5 minutes. (Time will depend on thickness of the dough and could vary if you let the children roll the dough out- see post for more details.)
  • Optional: Sprinkle warm cookies with cane sugar or allow to cool 20-30 minutes and decorate with icing and sprinkles.
Keyword cookies, easy sugar cookies, edible cookie dough, edible cookie dough for kids, edible playdough, eggless cookie dough, eggless sugar cookies, sugar cookie recipe, sugar cookies
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Holiday Activities With Littles: How to Navigate Socially With Toddlers

I never knew until I became a mom just how tricky learning to navigate the holiday season can be. To be honest, it can suck the life and joy out of this wonderful season if you let it. Here are some helpful tips for navigating all the parties, family gatherings, and social events….

Capacity and Boundaries During the Holiday Season

We are not all created equal. AND THAT IS OKAY! Just because you see a mom out there with four kids and she’s doing all the things this season does not make you a bad or inadequate mom because you can’t handle that. We’re all different. Some of us thrive off the energy of the hustle and bustle- and we can do it all with that baby strapped to our hip! Others of us find it exhausting to go to that family gathering or social event all while trying to keep children happy and behaved.

Or maybe it’s certain social events that have you stressed out. An awkward family event you are just not sure you want your children to be exposed to. A Christmas party you know is going to be more exhausting than the fun is worth. That social gathering where you know entering is going to be begging to hold your newborn and upset when you say a polite, “no”.

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Give the gift of life this season! 
My friends over at Seven Weeks Coffee Co. are saving lives with every purchase we make with them. They support and donate 10% of every order to pro life causes such as birth centers, prenatal care, and ultrasounds for those in need! If you are pro-life and a coffee drinker why not be both all at the same time? Plus, their coffee is directly sourced from farmers and completely toxin free! Use my link below and code TORI10 to get 10% off your first order!

Click here to Shop!

That is where boundaries come in. Acknowledge them. Express them. And don’t budge on them. Here’s what we mean…

If you have restrictions for your children regarding food, certain family members having access to them, naps, others holding the baby, whatever your nonnegotiables are, have a conversation with your spouse before the event. Make sure you’re both on the same page so that they can support you in them or sometimes even offer a different perspective. Then you won’t feel alone while trying to wrangle your children because each of you knows what’s expected of the other. Frustration with your spouse is usually rooted in assuming the other knew something that was never communicated to them. This goes both ways.

Don’t budge on your boundaries with people or situations you are uncomfortable with.

Realize your “no” is enough. You can say “No.” You don’t have to go to every holiday event. You don’t have to let everyone hold your baby. You don’t have to be pulled into the consumerism obsessed society. You don’t have to be so busy that you can’t enjoy your family. You can say no. It’s ok to say, “I’m sorry, I’m not in a season where I can do that right now.” And that’s it, that’s enough. No further explanation is needed. So, just in case you needed permission to say no, there it is.

Learn Where You Can Be Flexible

Learning what things are nonnegotiable for your family and what things it’s ok to relax on will help you enjoy the Christmas season so much more. Maybe nobody will die if we don’t make it home by 8p.m. for bedtime, or maybe they will? Maybe we can skip a nap, or maybe that’s not an option for your child because they really need it (maybe you really need it.). Maybe they can have some sugar this time, or maybe they’ll be really sick if they do? Only you know what things are ok to let slide. Figure out what works for your family. If you try to keep up with it all, you’ll go crazy and miss any joy you could’ve had.

Prioritizing who is most important in your social circles will help you in deciding when and where to be flexible. My (Tori’s) husband’s family lives in Africa as missionaries so when they are in town for the holidays we will be as flexible as we can be to accommodate them and the fact that they don’t get every Christmas with us. On the opposite side of the scale some social events will be put on the back burner because we’re just too busy.

Keeping Your Littles Well This Holiday Season

This is sick season. Mainly because of the lack of sunlight frombeing stuck inside, and all of the sugar that comes with this time of year.

You’re gonna want to support your littles bodies extra. Some ways you can do this are by giving them elderberry syrup, a good probiotic, a quality vitamin C, and nutritious food. Adding these things daily can help keep your little one’s immune system strong to help fight off all the germs they’ll be exposed to this season.

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Newborn and Baby Tips

I’m not gonna lie, this is a hard season to navigate. We both have had newborn babies for the holidays and this can be so fun! It can also be exhausting.

My biggest tip is to get your rest. If your baby is a newborn that means you’re still in your postpartum era. Your body needs to heal and social events are not your priority right now.

Baby wearing. If you want your newborn or baby close to you without a big fight on your hands, baby wearing is the way to go!! Chances are they fall asleep in there and you are able to enjoy the time with family without having to explain this very common sense boundary.

Make sure your boundaries are VERY clear. Sometimes all you have to do is let people around you know what the boundaries are. I truly believe most people are not just trying to be belligerent, they probably just do not know what the boundaries are. If you don’t want people to touch simply say, “There are a lot of germs going around right now. Please don’t touch her hands or face.”

Breastfeeding. This can be tricky to navigate if you are breastfeeding your baby. Some social situations are completely fine with you nursing publicly while covered. Other places you will find it very awkward and uncomfortable for yourself or others. I find that the car is my safe place in all social situations where there is not a designated place I feel comfortable in. I keep a nursing cover out there at all times. You may find that nursing is the perfect excuse to get away and chill for a minute!

Toddler Tips

Toddlers, while in different ways, can be just as tricky in social situations! They want to touch everything, maybe you have a picky eater, or one that needs that nap. Here’s a few helpful tips I’ve learned…

Bring what you know they need. Whether it’s a snack you know they will eat, a sound machine for naps, or a few toys to keep them busy being prepared for what you can be is so helpful.

Leave early. There is nothing wrong with cutting out early if your toddler is starting to go downhill quickly!

Touching things. I work on this constantly so that when we’re at sometime else’s home I can say a simple “no touch” and get quick obedience. However, new environments often test the skills we train for in new ways. In these situations I like to distract them with something they can touch (a toy we brought, things the host has placed out for them to play with, etc.). This usually works great!

We hope these tips help you this holiday season! If you still find yourself feeling stressed just remember to relax- it will all be over before you know it. Remember the true reason for this Season is not about us but the Prince of Peace Who can give you all the peace you need this season- even in the most stressful situations.

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The Best Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

This delicious and easy to make cranberry chocolate chip cookies are filled with the sweet fruity taste of dried cranberries and decadent chunks of dark chocolate. Perfect for parties, large batch baking, or filling up the freezer for a quick and easy dessert! Guaranteed to be the recipe you can’t go wrong with!

cranberry chocolate chip cookies
cranberry chocolate chip cookies
christmas cookie ingredients

The Key to the Best Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

There are TONS of cookie recipes all over the internet these days! Everyone claims to have the “best” or the “softest” and many other words to describe why their cookie is number one. I have to say in most cases, the best cookie is the one I’m eating- they’re all delicious!

This tip is specifically for this recipe and that is chilling the dough. Sounds super simple! However, for this recipe it is the key. I will be honest, I skip over this step on pretty much all cookie recipes I find online. You can with this one but I have found that the best results happen with adding this very inconvenient and somewhat annoying step.

So the key to getting the best cranberry chocolate chip cookies is chilling the dough overnight in the refrigerator. If you are short on time you can chill the dough in the freezer for about an hour instead. The reason for this step and its necessity is that it helps all the butter to incorporate with the other ingredients. If you choose not to chill the dough you will have a GREAT tasting cookie but it will be a bit less fluffy and very flat. This is great if you prefer a crunchier taste.

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Making Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthier

I realize this is a cookie recipe and more than likely if you are here you probably are not looking for a healthy version! However, I always like to offer options in my recipes for a bit of a healthier option. I will not say that using this method will make these cookies “healthy”, it may just make them better for those with dietary issues. Here are some tips for making cranberry chocolate chip cookies healthier…

  • These cookies do call for lots of sugar. I personally prefer using organic cane sugar. It is still sugar but it is a bit less processed and a more natural option. The recipe also calls for a good bit of brown sugar. If you want a healthier option you could use the same amount of brown coconut sugar instead or make your own brown sugar using maple syrup and cane sugar.
  • Using organic cranberries sourced from a place you can trust is another way to make a more healthy, natural version of this recipe. I use Thrive Market- my one stop grocery store for all things quality, non-toxic ingredients! They have everything from snacks to pantry staples and beyond. Get $60 in FREE groceries when you use my link!
  • Zero added sugar (or lower sugar count) dark chocolate is another great way to help these cookies be a bit friendlier to the body. There is plenty of sugar in the cookie itself that when you add a low sugar or zero sugar chocolate it actually creates a beautifully balanced taste.

Ingredient List for Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

As always I like to provide a little grocery list in addition to the ingredient list found in the recipe card. To make it simple you can copy and paste the list below to your notes app or screenshot this section of the post.

  • white sugar (or organic cane sugar)
  • brown sugar (or brown coconut sugar)
  • eggs- 2 large
  • butter- 2 sticks or 1 cup
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • all-purpose flour
  • 1 bar dark chocolate
  • cranberries- about 1/2-3/4 cup depending on preference
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Freezing Cookie Dough

The most efficient method for freezing cookie dough is to freeze them in individual, pre-shaped cookies that are ready to pop on a pan and into the oven. This method is perfect for individual or small family snacking. Larger families may find it easier to bulk freeze the dough since you will need more cookies at a time.

To individually freeze pre-shaped cookies, line a baking sheet with parchment, shape balls or rounds of cookie dough, place them on the baking sheet and allow to freeze overnight or until solid. Remove the cookies from the baking sheet after freezing and place them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer back for storage. To bake simply place cookie dough pieces on a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

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cranberry chocolate chip cookies

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cookies

Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Decadent dark chocolate chunks and delicious dried cranberries in a soft, chewy cookie that will melt in your mouth.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time (optional) 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 24 -30 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup white or cane sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar or brown coconut sugar
  • 2 sticks salted butter softened
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 bar dark chocolate hand chopped into chunks
  • ½-¾ cup organic dried cranberries

Instructions
 

  • Cream together softened butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add eggs one at a time.
  • Add salt, baking powder, baking soda, and 2 cups of flour. Continue adding ½ cup of flour at a time until the dough is thick and holds shape well.
  • Add hand chopped chocolate bar (chunks) and ½-¾ cup of cranberries to the dough. You may need to hand mix them into the batter because of the thickness.
  • OPTIONAL (for best results): Allow the dough to chill in the refrigerator overnight or in the freezer for one-two hours.
  • Arrange the dough on a greased baking sheet and bake for 325℉ for 8-10 minutes or until the tops start to turn golden brown.
Keyword chocolate chunk cookie, christmas cookie recipe, christmas cookies, cookie, cookie recipe, cranberry cookies, cranberry dessert, dark chocolate cookie, dried cranberry, easy cookies, festive cookies, holiday baking recipes, quick cookie recipe
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Finding Joy in a Simple Christmas Mindset

In a world of consumerism and a culture that says Christmas is all about things we are here to tell you there is joy in a simple Christmas. The simple, minimal pleasures of Christmases past remind us that the size of the gifts does not matter. It’s the laughter we share, the memories we make, and the Reason for the season that makes all the difference!

Blog graphic

The Biggest Question: What am I Teaching My Children About Christmas?

As we now have families of our own, it’s caused us to question everything we do. Knowing it is our example they are following. The Christmas season is no exception to these considerations. Of course, we’ll tell them Christmas is about Jesus, but in what ways will we show them? If we say Christmas is about Jesus, but it feels like it’s all about the presents, have I really portrayed a Christ-centered Christmas? That is where our desire for a more minimal Christmas began. Taking a step back from the consumer mindset and finding value in the things that really matter. We’re not saying if you’re an extravagant Christmas doer, you’re wrong. This is just how we feel The Lord nudging our hearts.

A Minimal Mindset Teaches Sacrificial Giving

Are my children understanding that it is better to give than to receive? A way you can implement this is to allot some of your Christmas budget for your little kids to pick a gift out for their siblings. As they are older and can earn money, you can have them pay for the gift themselves or at least a part of it. Even better than purchasing a gift would be to have them make something. They can bake them cookies, draw them a picture, or build them something. The heart in these projects is much greater than the expense of a store bought gift. These gifts cost time. The most valuable resource.

A way to teach this is to have your children pick out a toy that they enjoy (not just one that sits in the closet) and donate it to your local church for families in need. To demonstrate how The Lord honors sacrificial giving, you can replace or upgrade that gift with their “something you want” gift category. The goal is to teach your babies that The Lord will always honor doing what is right. Until they get to the age they can understand to do right just for the sake of doing right, knowing that He sees all.

Keeping the “Big Man” out of it.

We’re sure this will ruffle some feathers, but we don’t do Santa. In fact, we think Santa is very wrong. If for no other reason than it’s lying to your children. We all know how The Lord feels about lying, so I don’t think we really need to go further right now. If you’re looking to lean into a more minimalistic Christmas, that’ll be difficult if your children are looking at their presents as a measure of their goodness and what they’re entitled to.

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Give the gift of life this season!
My friends over at Seven Weeks Coffee Co. are saving lives with every purchase we make with them. They support and donate 10% of every order to pro life causes such as birth centers, prenatal care, and ultrasounds for those in need! If you are pro-life and a coffee drinker why not be both all at the same time? Plus, their coffee is directly sourced from farmers and completely toxin free! Use my link below and code TORI10 to get 10% off your first order!

Click here to Shop

A Simple Christmas Does Not Have to Mean Boring

We have “amped” Christmas up so much with our consumer culture that often when we think of scaling things down we equate it with boredom. However, maybe what is minimal in today’s world is actually just what “normal” is. The small gifts that spark so much joy, the time spent together, the food we share. These things are only boring when we have allowed ourselves to embrace the stuff, the chaos, and the money pit that is the Christmas of our culture.

Practical Ways to Incorporate a Minimal Mindset into your Simple Christmas this Season

We would be lying if we weren’t thrilled to give our little Christmas gifts. This post is not at all encouraging you not to give gifts or even to be stingy and grinchy in your giving. After all, Christmas is all about giving!

If we have not made it clear so far our motive behind a more minimal and simple mindset when it comes to Christmas is to teach our children it is not about all the toys, the big expensive presents, or the things the world says we all need at this time of year.

Here are some fun ways to give amazing gifts while still having a balanced approach…

The Five Gift Rule

The five gift rule is where you give a gift out of each of these categories:

  • Something to do
  • Something to wear
  • Something to read
  • Something you want
  • Something you need

Some gift givers also like to add another category called “something special.” Which involves giving a gift of more sentimental value or importance.

My favorite of these is something to do. I enjoy experience gifts. Some ideas for this might be a family day trip somewhere local, an outside toy for the kids to share as a combined gift, or even tickets to a family attraction. It’s the gift of making memories.

There are a few ideas behind this gifting strategy. One is being more intentional. Having a set amount of gifts to give causes one to put more thought into what the receiver might enjoy the most. Another idea is that it takes the stress out of Christmas shopping. Since you’re giving out of each category, it narrows down the options and makes it a little easier.

Simple Decor

If you’re on a tight budget or just want to be less of a consumer and more of a reuser, check thrift stores for Christmas decor. Often, you can find some adorable vintage decor for cheap. You’ll probably have to search through a lot of ugly things to find it, but it’s in there. Keep digging.

Homemade Gifts

Can we please bring this back as a tradition! I adore homemade gifts, specifically the edible kind. Home grown and canned goods, from scratch breads and butter. All hand packaged with curled ribbons. It screams Christmas to me. I love it! Aren’t a baker? How about something sewn or crocheted? Something carved or crafted? The possibilities go on, but the point is the thought and heart that go into it.

Pictures

I used to think it seemed selfish to gift someone a picture of yourself or your family. As I’ve gotten older, I understand that family, grandparents especially, treasure nothing more than their loved ones and value those pictures greatly. You can even add to the minimal mindset and thrift the frames or have your children personalize them.

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Our Approach on Limiting Others

While we have chosen the more minimalistic approach for our home, I never limit the grandparents or other family in the items they gift. The only limits we place there are the standards and convictions we have set for our home. Things like our views on magic or electronics, and any characters we wouldn’t support. There are plenty of things we choose to set ourselves apart from out of a biblical stance, so the things that are optional I try not to limit. Spoiling grandchildren is a right of passage.

How Will You Continue to Keep Christmas Simple in the Future?

If every year you are trying to “wow” your children with all the gifts and gadgets you are eventually going to run out of stuff. I saw a Facebook post of a mom with teens who was desperately searching for ideas among friends on what to buy for her children this year. They have everything- the video games, the cell phones, ATVs, name brand clothing. There seems like there is nothing left to really knock their socks off this year.

Sadly, this is what our culture has become.

This approach to Christmas eventually leaves the giver and the receiver with less and less joy over giving during the holidays. It just does not spark our excitement like it used to. A minimal mindset is just the opposite. It realizes that the season is more about the simple than the extravagant. It does not mean you are giving your children less- you are giving them more than stuff!

Maybe you have been on this consumer Christmas track for a while now. You have a fine year old or maybe even a pre-teen. It’s never too late to take a step back! We challenge you to give yourself this Christmas. Give your time, give your presence- not just presents.

[jetpack-related-posts]

Simple and Cozy Christmas Decor Ideas for Small Spaces

cozy christmas decor ideas for small spaces

Get all the cozy Christmas decor ideas in this post! These few simple, budget friendly ideas will turn your small spaces into your favorite places this holiday season. Keep reading to see how we use little spaces to turn our home into a place of peace and beauty!

Cozy Christmas Decor in our Small Home

I’m definitely no expert decorator! I actually dislike the area of decorating in homemaking because I just feel like I’m not very good at it. Christmas over the years has especially been a pain point (my husband always does the tree because I just can’t do it as good as he can- he had a better natural eye for it!).

This year I have been bit by the Christmas bug. Maybe it’s the fact that the past two years I’ve had a newborn and have been too preoccupied to care. Maybe I just haven’t felt “Christmas-y” like I do this year. Whatever the reason, the urge to decorate is strong!!

Over the years the one thing that I have learned about my decorating style is I love functionality and cozy. If I can get a cross between the two I am beyond thrilled! This is especially true in our small, 900 sq. ft. home.

So while I’m in the spirit of decorating I thought I’d share all my small space inspo for cozy, functional Christmas decor Let’s hear your ideas in the comments, you probably have some I never even thought of!

Adding Cozy Christmas Decor Touches to Your Small Space Kitchen

The kitchen is the centerpiece of my home. If you know anything about this blog you know we do food from scratch just about every meal. That means I’m here a lot! Some days it seems like if I’m not cooking the food I’m cleaning up the food. And I love it!

Click here to read about How to Create a From Scratch Kitchen for the Holiday Season.

This year I decided to en corporate more cozy Christmas touches in the kitchen- it’s my favorite place in the house after all!

Kitchen Window Decor

I usually do a bit of Christmas decor at my kitchen window but it’s honestly never been my favorite. It usually just looks like a cluttered mixture of “leftover” Christmas decorations I had to put somewhere. I spend a lot of time at that kitchen sink (we don’t have a dishwasher). Too much time to not enjoy the scenery in front of me.

Christmas village
Christmas village

I honestly had no idea where to even begin. It took an afternoon in Hobby Lobby to come up with an idea and even then I was not sure it would work. So much confidence I kept the receipts and packaging for all the supplies!

But it was better than I even imagined! And so simple!!

My idea came when I saw these simple, but pretty ceramic village houses. I didn’t have a clue where to put them- they had to go where little hands couldn’t reach! Then I decided to paint a little scene with all the cute little pine trees. Then I saw the fairy lights and my vision was coming to life! (Of course this little woodsy village would need some snow too!)

What you need:

Cozy Touches in Functional Spaces

By functional spaces- I mean my baking cabinet!! This little space is visited on the regular but nothing like during the Christmas season. I use the term “functional spaces” because this might look different from mine. Maybe you don’t bake. But maybe you host and your dish cabinet is frequently visited. Maybe your most functional as pace is a countertop where you prep all the food or a kitchen island.

Wherever it is can I encourage you to think outside the box? What can you do to spark a little joy into yourself when you open up that cabinet this holiday season? It doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t have to take up loads of space. Just try to make it beautiful! My cozy little touch was adding simple touches of wrapping paper to the bottom of the baking cabinet.

christmas cabinet decor

Handmade Wreaths for Kitchen Cabinets

This might look different for you based on the set up of your kitchen and personal taste but I think adding some little handmade (or store bought) wreaths to kitchen cabinets is a great way to add a little touch of Christmas in the kitchen!

I have two corner cabinets that face my main entrance door and I thought wreaths would look best there. However you could add as many or as little wherever you like! They’re so timeless and cozy.

Make the Most of Your Outdoor Spaces

This is a little trick I have learned (one of the few!) for small space decorating. Since my husband and I can’t handle too much going on inside our little home I like to carry my creative urges outside. Greenery over the door, wreaths on the windows, lights, and whatever else you love!

This year I think I finally found my “style” or the look I’m going for but I have not collected all the pieces for it. I might not get the dream look completed until next Christmas but at least I have a goal I’m shooting for!

I’ve also been experimenting with live greenery this year and I’m loving it. You just can’t beat the look of the real deal!

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Dual Purpose Cozy Christmas Decor Hack

There is nothing I love more than functional decor except functional decor with a duel purpose!

This blanket ladder stocking hanger hack is just that. If you are in a small home you know the limited space saga of trying to find a place to hang stockings (unless you’re blessed enough to have a fireplace!). One year we even decided to hang then on our curtain rod. It worked but I didn’t love it.

So this year I’m using our blanket ladder to hang the stocking up as well as all our cozy Christmas decor blankets.

Pillows and Blankets

I’ve already mentioned the blankets but pillows and throws 100% count as decor in a small home situation! Make the most out of it by finding (or making) pillows you love. Get blankets that match your tree theme and decor vibe. You definitely can’t get cozier than that!!

I’ll even add linens, bedspreads, and decorative shower curtains to this list. You’re using them anyways so they won’t take up any extra space like typical decor would. The fun of decorating small spaces is to find the minimal, everyday things and just jazz them up a bit!

Finding Joy and Contentment in Your Small Home This Christmas

We all have areas we could be discontent with. Whether you live in a large home or a small one. The key to joy this season is finding contentment and loving well the home you have with what you have. We cannot all afford to make our Christmas decor dreams come to life this year. That’s okay! At the end of the day it is not about the lights, the decor, or even the cozy tone we all want to set. Christmas is so much more than things that we only get out once a year.

As homemakers (makers of the home) we set the tone with our attitudes and actions- not the pretty lights or our great (or not so great) decorating skills. If you find yourself in that small home this year wishing for this and wishing for that can I encourage you to be grateful! This little home holds so much more than just a tree this holiday season. It holds love, it holds a family. It holds a gift that is so much greater than anything we will receive this Christmas. So cherish it, make it beautiful inside and out, and be thankful.

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How to Prepare Your From Scratch Kitchen for the Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us! Is your from scratch kitchen ready for all your shenanigans this holiday season? Here is my list of must-dos before all the fun begins!

from scratch kitchen holiday season

A From Scratch Kitchen This Holiday Season

If you are new around here, welcome! I’m Tori- mom of two littles (another on the way!), homemaker, and lover of all things from scratch. As we head into the holiday season I am here to share all my favorite from scratch baked goods, handmade gift and decor ideas, and meal inspiration!

If you are new to from scratch cooking or need some inspiration this holiday season make sure you subscribe to my email list! We never sell your information, no spammy content, or over emailing. Just quick notifications bout new posts and recipes.

Our holiday season revolves around all the food- which means the kitchen is the headquarters of the season. That is why I like to get ahead of the holidays by a few weeks and get things prepared for the madness. If you have never tried this in your from scratch kitchen try borrowing my strategy!

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Have you heard of my friends over at Earthley Wellness? They are dedicated to providing 100% natural products for the whole family! They have everything you need from hormone support, vitamins and mineral supplements, herbal remedies for colds, fevers, headaches, and so much more. I have been using their products in our home for nearly a year now and we love them! Go check them out and save 10% when you use my link below and the code LITTLEWIFE10 at checkout!

Click here to Shop!

Getting Your From Scratch Kitchen Ready

1. Clean out your refrigerator.

As the holidays start to happen we all know one of the m most chaotic places in the home is the kitchen. Leftovers, ingredients, regular food- everything ends up getting packed in there. So to begin the kitchen preparation I like to clean out and organize my refrigerator and freezer. Throw away everything that is out of date, stuff I know I just will not actually use (that random sauce I bought for a random meal!).

After throwing away things and getting stuff out I like to do a thorough surface wipe down. This just assures me that the things I am storing or baking for others will be kept in a clean space.

The last step is organizing all the spaces. I may be a bit over-strategic but I like to leave a shelf open for ingredients- things like butter, milk, eggs, etc. The next for prepping food- cookie dough, fermenting sourdough, etc. Then another shelf for leftovers and current meals that are being thawed or planned for the weeks in between the festivities. Keeping all these areas specific and organized keeps me from loosing track of things and inventory.

2. Organize your from scratch kitchen baking goods and take inventory.

Before all the madness of the season I also like to organize and take some inventory on my shelves. Things like sugar, flour, baking soda, etc. that are constantly being used during all the holiday baking. I take the time to clean out these shelves while I’m at it. Just a simple wipe down.

I also take this time to save some money and buy in bulk for my from scratch kitchen. Things that I know I will use like flour, butter, eggs, sugar, etc. One way I restock my from scratch staples is by shopping with Thrive Market! Stock up healthier options without compromising taste and quality. Thrive offers thousands of products from hundreds of companies all at affordable prices that ship right to your door. Get $60 in FREE groceries this holiday season when you use my link!

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3. Season cast iron and wooden utensils.

This is a great time to prep all your cookware. Personally I use mostly cast iron and wooden utensils in my from scratch kitchen. These require some extra care but they are well worth the investment. I season my cast iron with organic coconut oil on low heat in the oven over several hours. Depending on the shape of the cast iron I will repeat the process several times.

The wooden utensils and cutting boards I clean well with homemade citrus vinegar. After they have dried completely I seal them with organic coconut oil as well.

4. Clean the oven and stovetop.

Depending on the last time you cleaned your oven deeply you may want to skip this step but I find it the perfect time to do a chore I otherwise put off. Making food in a clean oven just gives me peace of mind that my food is being made in a clean environment.

5. Clean out the microwave.

Some of you may be a step or two above me on the crunchy scale. If you are, ignore my microwave tip! With two very young children I am just not at the season of warming everything in the oven and on the stovetop. I also soften all my butter in the microwave currently so I like to make sure it is clean and ready to get splattered with more butter!

6. Deep clean everywhere else.

Countertops, cabinets, and floors. All the places get a good and thorough wipe down. I like to clean and sanitize the places that have been neglected or that I know will be used like the counters.

I do this at specific times of the year- after new year, sometime in the spring, etc. I have also found that if you just do the things as they need them they do not get as dirty. This just keeps the flow going smoothly in the kitchen.

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Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.

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7. Take inventory on from scratch kitchen bake ware.

Usually this is unnecessary but I like to take the time to check stock on mixing bowls, measuring cups, potholders, and all the bakeware. I would rather check on these things and make purchases before I find out I need them. Other things like cupcake liners, gift boxes, and ribbons for wrapping baked good gifts are another thing that I like to purchase before the rush of everything.

sugar cookies

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How to Enjoy Motherhood: 8 Things to Try in Those Not So Enjoyable Moments

This post is a part two of the post How to Enjoy Motherhood in the Little Years. In that post we discussed practical tips for how to enjoy all the different aspects of life with little people. In this post we will dive into practical ways you can adjust your mindset and routine when motherhood is less than enjoyable.

enjoying motherhood main image

*We are Tori and Anna- moms in the trenches with three babies between us under the age of three. We are not professionals. We are not seasoned mothers. We’re just young moms going through birth, postpartum, and these little years with you, giving our fresh perspective on motherhood as we enjoy the journey ourselves.

1. Adjust Your Mindset for Enjoying Motherhood

Mindset is everything. Don’t think, “Oh no, I have to stop and feed the baby,” think, “I get to stop and feed my baby.” When I (Anna) plan to go out and run errands, I actually plan and alot places for making those little pit stops to care for my baby. It becomes something I look forward to. A chance to pause and rest for a few moments before heading to the next task. If you treat your children like an inconvenience, even accidentally, they will pick up in it. Children feed off of your emotions. They will reflect your attitude back at you.

My little one doesn’t sleep well, and pretty much never has no matter what I’ve tried. He is almost a year old and has never slept without waking multiple times a night. I could choose to be bitter about this and complain, but I chose a different perspective. I chose to see it as “extra” time with him. The years go fast even when the nights are long, so I’ll be grateful for all the nights pacing with a restless baby.

2. Choose to Enjoy the Pace of Motherhood

We discussed this a bit in our previous post (if you haven’t read that yet we highly suggest you read that post as well!). If you are an on the go kind of person it can be hard to just enjoy slowing down at the pace of babies and young children. Even if your personality more laid back it can be aggravating that it takes twice as long (or longer) just to get out the door, get to bed, clean your house, etc.

“The more you fight against the season you’re in the less joy you will find in it.”

Embrace the slower pace, the night wakings, the sticky messes and you’ll find beauty in the hard places.

Anna

Embrace the fact that it is going to take you five times longer to do anything you did before having babies. It’s ok, in fact I believe it should be celebrated. I truly believe God designed this pace for mothers. When you embrace it, you will learn how to enjoy it. You will stay stressed and become bitter with your children if you have the mindset that they’re constantly slowing you down.

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Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.

Click Here to Shop

3. Don’t Expect Everything Out of Yourself

We’re all in different seasons. Know what your capacity is for your season. Don’t overload yourself with optional tasks, and end up so stressed out over them that you can’t serve your family well. Learn how to say, “No, I can’t do that right now.”

More tasks are optional than you think. It may not be your season to cook for all of the church dinners, volunteer for nursery, do bus route, go to prayer, be at every ladies meeting, and show up to every birthday party, and football game, all while training littles, managing a home and being there for your husband. It isn’t possible, and you will run yourself into the ground trying to be something for everyone.

Prioritize. For us, this looks like my walk with The Lord, my husbands needs, our child’s needs, and the health of our home (spiritual, physical and emotional), and then church and the ministries at church we are responsible for. This isn’t an excuse to get out of things. When run properly, your home should run cohesively with your local church. You’ll have to learn your balance between ministry and home life. Everyone’s is a little different, but this isn’t an excuse to avoid responsibilities. The Lord expects service in your home and in His house. You just need to learn to operate where He expects you to be and not in others’ expectations.

It’s about serving in a way where each area gets the best of you, not the rest of you.

Anna

4. Keep Your Focus and Priorities Right

This piggy backs off the last point…

Juggling priorities as a wife and mother can be overwhelming. We are creatures of constant motion! When things start to get off balance when it comes to my priorities I generally find my children less enjoyable. They can be doing the same things they always do but when my priorities get out of whack I find their presence interrupting and annoying. Off balance or just slacking in areas does not bring out the best mom in me. I need to constantly check myself to be sure I have my priorities right and that I am able to fulfill them.

Of course my children are one of my top priorities. However, when other things are slacking or being ignored I often find myself trying to get by with the bare minimum as a mom instead of making advancements. This is not fair to my children, nor is it any way to truly enjoy the gift of motherhood.

So how do you overcome this balancing act of priorities? I am still learning! This is what I’ve learned works for me so far…

Keep God first. This is hard with littles constantly demanding to be first place over everything in life. And they definitely should be close to the top of that list! However, I find that when I put God first all the other things find a place in a smoothness I could never create on my own without Him.

Make a list of your top ten priorities in the season you are in right now. Arrange them in order of importance (some things will be close or intertwined in importance but do your best to be honest and realistic). I’m my case the top four to five on the list are truly the most important things. When life gets crazy, as long as I am striving to keep those five plates spinning we call it a win.

Be ready to pivot. Some days things on the priority list have to shift and that has to be okay. It does not mean you failed if some things had to take a backseat. Motherhood is constantly pivoting and regrouping.

5. Remember You Are in a Season

Whatever is not so enjoyable about motherhood right now will quickly be gone. Maybe that helps give you some relief. Maybe that makes you realize that it is not as big of a deal as it seems.

Let me be clear- some seasons of motherhood are not enjoyable. Enjoying motherhood is not about pretending those seasons do not exist but choosing to find joy in the midst of those seasons. It is refusing to focus on the unenjoyable moments and letting them cloud out the beauty in every day, ordinary motherhood.

Tori

It is not wrong of you to feel like motherhood is not enjoyable when you are going through the postpartum blues, or a tough stage of training a toddler, or sickness with a baby. These are hard and they are definitely not enjoyable! But they do pass! And we cannot let these things rob us of the joy and blessing of being a mother.

So whatever hard season you are in right now shift your mindset by remembering- it’s just a season.

6. Take a Deep Breath

Sometimes motherhood is less enjoyable, not because of anything my children are doing, or a specific season but because I am overwhelmed. Maybe lots of things are going on in my mind or I have a lot to get done and just can’t get it together. Regardless of the reason, when I’m being snappy or short with my children I find that going to a quiet place just for a few seconds to take a deep breath grounds me. It brings me back into focus. I breathe a short prayer as well many times. Then I go about my tasks without viewing my children as a constant annoyance.

If I am very overwhelmed, days on end, with minimal relief or I have been experiencing a very difficult season I try to take a few hours to be alone with nothing to do but relax during nap time.

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Have you heard of my friends over at Earthley Wellness? They are dedicated to providing 100% natural products for the whole family! They have everything you need from hormone support, vitamins and mineral supplements, herbal remedies for colds, fevers, headaches, and so much more. I have been using their products in our home for nearly a year now and we love them! Go check them out and save 10% when you use my link below and the code HELLONATURAL at checkout!

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7. Ask for Help

It does not make you a bad mother to ask for help. Repeat it with me. It does not make you a bad mother to ask for help.

It doesn’t mean you’re unqualified or incapable of being a mother if you ask for help. Everyone needs help with something at some point in their lives. It would be a disservice to your family for you to struggle along, needing help, but not be willing to ask for it. They’ll learn many of their behaviors from you, especially the traits they carry into adulthood. Would you want your child to desperately need help but never ask for it because they thought it’d make them look weak? They’ll learn first from you.

8. Just be Thankful

No matter how rough your season of motherhood is it could always we worse. If you have healthy babies you have more than some mamas do. To have this blessing of motherhood at all is such a gift!

When I find myself in a low place and find motherhood more of a burden than a blessing -and we all do at times- what helps me most is to stop and just be thankful.

Tori

Wherever you’re at remember you used to pray for the things you have now! Those little people are gifts, blessings to cherish and enjoy.

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