Holiday Shopping With Small Businesses

Holiday Shopping With Small Businesses
Tis the season!  By this time of year shopping for gifts seems to be in full swing.  That's why I was super excited when I was invited to join a One Stop MultiShop vendor event.  There are so many goodies in this group, you won't want to miss out!
So, let me take a moment to introduce some of the vendors who are involved.  There will be a few more joining us, so be sure to check out the group (linked above).

Kacie Schunk  is with KlaySmith Handmade. She is a wife, dog mom, and preschool teacher from Ohio. Kaci makes clay earrings. Her clay earrings are light weight with a variety of different styles, colors, and shapes. 

Miranda Schwarzen owns
Simply Stitched WI
! She makes handmade headwraps in a variety of patterns and textures. Miranda lives in Wisconsin with her 
boyfriend and their dog, Charlee.  
Megan Taylor is our host for the event.  She and her husband live in Guam.  She is a full time Nurse Practioner and collagen enthusiast who enjoys getting to know people, understanding their needs, and figuring out how she can help them feel better.  Her dream is to quit Nurse Practioning full time and one day open up a clinic with free services. She shares  collagen-based skin care products and results that assist with a wide range of needs.

Kelly Watson is a Zyia Stylist. She's a wife, dog momma, and dental hygienist from Pennsylvania. 
Zyia is for everyBODY! Short, tall, big booty, blessed in the chest, new momma, or expecting, Zia has something you can feel comfortable in!

Amanda Rog (that's me!) with Lavender & Coffee, sells custom mug designs and accessories.  L & C has gift sets available to help make your gift complete.  My husband designs most of our mugs.  He's an amazing artists who does logos, illustrations, and book covers.  Our daughter (who is 15 years old) also has some designs available, she definitely takes after her dad!  I offer some crochet accessories to make the mugs a little more fun and personal.  

As I said above, these are just a few of the amazing talented vendors in our event.  Be sure you check out our One Stop MultiShop.  New posts will be made during the dates listed below.  Of course, you are welcome to shop at any time!
November 25th – 30th
December 3rd – 8th
December 15th – New Years
There is also a cash giveaway for each set of dates that can be used with any of the vendors!

Happy Shopping!


Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)

Chore Charts For Teens

Chore Charts For Teens
Having a well-managed home can be tricky and I certainly haven't mastered it yet.  However, I have found a few things over the years that have worked well for me and my family. One of them is chore charts.  I've tried several different ones, different variations, mom bucks, you name it, I've probably tried it. lol

Even with 3 teens in the house we use chore charts daily.  Since I have 3 kids I give them chores Mon-Sat and divide them accordingly.  I usually take Sundays for myself so that I can keep up and also be sure they know what I expect.  This also teaches them that I don't ask them to do anything that I'm not willing to do myself.  Of course, like many moms, I tend to do my fair share (or more than at times) on all of the other days of the week as well.  

Now, onto the different charts.  First off, we have the pet chart. Other than the bunnies that they each have and care for on their own, we have a cat and a dog.  They take turns feeding the cat and making sure she has water as well as cleaning out her litter box.  For the dog, they make sure she has food and water. Nothing big, just general daily pet care.  When it comes to bathing the pets we all chip in and do it when it needs to be done.

Bathroom chores, my least favorite. lol  As soon as the kids were old enough I left their bathroom in their hands.  It's up to them to do the daily maintenance and the general cleaning.  The bathroom is basically split into 3 parts and each week they move a marker on the board to let them know who has what chore for that week.  Any time they want a friend to come over, it's up to them to be sure their bathroom is presentable.  It helps establish that extra little bit of responsibility.

As for the rest of the household chores let me start by saying that I'm a bit of a control freak.  Therefore I am the main one who does the laundry.  However, I do have them sort the clothes and fold the towels time to time.  Once their clothes are sorted out it's up to them to hang them and fold them properly to put them away.  This is where separate laundry baskets come in quite handy!  

On our daily chore chart we have a rotation for setting the dinner table, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming the floors, etc.  We  even have a rotation for who fills our diffusers each night before bed time!  Yes, the more we can rotate and share the chores, the better!

I'm working on putting together a printable chore chart similar to the ones we use.  If you'd like to have one just sign up for my email list and I'll send it your way once it's ready.

If you would like to be a part of a community of moms who are working together to find their balance in life, join this group and get even more support!

Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)

DIY Pumpkin Spice Creamer

Tis the season for all things pumpkin spice! I have been a lover of this season for a long time.  I love all things pumpkin spice!  However, the healthier I get the harder it is to find anything I can enjoy. So I found a recipe that I can make myself and enjoy without my body paying for it later. 


First, let me tell you that I absolutely LOVE my Vitality oils. They are approved for ingestion and a little goes a long way, making them a perfect match for all of your culinary needs. If you don’t have your kitchen stocked with Vitality Oils yet, let me know and I’ll be happy help you out! 


Now for the best part of this post, Pumpkin Spice Creamer! This is the perfect coffee creamer to kick off the fall season.  It's made with vitality essential oils to give your body extra immune support.  Not to mention that they make it taste amazing!


If you need the perfect mug to compliment your pumpkin spice coffee?  Check out our custom made mugs at Lavender & Coffee.  We welcome new design ideas, so feel free to browse our mugs and contact us with any new suggestions.  We also have a Winter Spice Mug gift set available that has a sample to use for some good pumpkin spiced coffee!



 Spiced Pumpkin Creamer


Ingredients

Instructions
Add all ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth.  Store in airtight container.  Keep refrigerated.  Shake well before using.



This post contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a small commission on purchases made through these links. I assure you that I only recommend products and companies that I trust and would purchase from personally. Thanks for reading! Our full disclosure policy isn’t too exciting but you can find it here. 

Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)

How To Have Balance In Life As A Work From Home, Homeschool Mom

Finding the right balance in life can be quite tricky, especially for stay at home moms who wear many hats.  But there is hope!  You may have seen the "life balance wheel" that has different areas in life that you rate to see where you are off balance.  This helps you determine what areas need more focus so that you can bring them back into balance.

I find this tool very helpful, but in itself it won't tell you how to bring those areas back into balance (more on this later).  I have narrowed the areas down a bit and found what I consider to be the main areas many moms find themselves to be off-balance in.  They are: personal growth, relationships, health, self care, business, and finance.  Everything in your life will likely fit into one of these categories.  

Now, what do you do once you have determined what areas you need to work on?  You hone in on the specific area that needs help and focus on bringing it back into balance.  You make a plan, keeping in mind that you want to maintain balance where you already have it.  This can all seem a bit overwhelming, right?  That's why I'm super excited about my upcoming course to help busy, stressed, overwhelmed moms bring their life of chaos back into balance! Yes, there is hope and I'm here to help you!

If you can relate to this and would like help finding balance in your life, join my email list to stay updated on the course and for weekly encouragement.

If you would like to be a part of a community of moms who are working together to find their balance in life, join this group.  It's so much easier to handle the daily chaos of life when you feel supported by others who share in your struggles and also celebrate your wins along with you!

Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)

Fall Means Coffee, Crochet, And Mug Rugs

Fall Means Coffee, Crochet, And Mug Rugs
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the falling leaves and their vibrant colors.  I also like the idea of being nice and cozy in a warm blanket, cuddled up with a good book or doing come crochet while enjoying a hot cup of coffee.  I finally found a way to bring my love of fall all together in one place.  What's better than a custom designed coffee mug with a cozy looking mug rug to go with it?  

My family and I recently started designing and printing mugs.  My husband and daughter are both amazing artists.  Couple that with our love of mugs and voila!  You have a mug printing business that brings it all together. You can see our designs here.  If you don't see what you are after, feel free to send us a message.  We are always up for new ideas!

With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to create mug packages for gift sets.  I came across these adorable mug rugs from Annie's Craft Store and just had to give them a try!  These Rustic Mug Rugs make the perfect addition to any mug gift set. Don't you agree?

I decided to make a sample of each of the 6 patterns.  I sized them down by using a smaller hook size and a weight 3 cotton yarn because I wanted a smaller size to go with my package.  The finished size of these is roughly 4 1/2 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches long, excluding the fringe.  I also cut the fringe about 1 inch shorter to compensate for the smaller size of the rug.  

They are super soft, very flexible, and have such a nice texture.  I love all of the variety!  If you are looking for a unique gift for a loved one this holiday season or enjoy a little treat for yourself, please visit our online shop and choose your package.  

Be sure you stop by my YouTube channel to get a closer look at our Winter Spice Mug Set!

Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)

 
Read Older Updates Read Newer Updates