Homesteading

If you have been following me for very long, you know that my family is diving into homesteading.  In truth, we have been inching towards it for about 15 years.  However, we have never owned our own land and the homes we have lived in have had very little land.  But, we started a small garden, learned to can our own foods, cook/bake from scratch, learned about natural remedies for our health...the list goes on.

In the past year, we also added livestock...again, not having any land of our own.  We have 50+ goats (for meat), 2 great pyrenees pups that will soon be guarding the goats (currently on another friend's land), did a large scale garden (again, on a friend's land), and also have a cow (once again, on another friend's land).  And we just added a set of bunnies (to breed) to our backyard. Boy, that was a mouthful to type!  

The general idea is that you sometimes have to think outside the box.  Our goal is to own our own land soon, with many acres.  We will then move all of our livestock and gardening onto that land.  Little by little, we are turning our home into a homestead.  We may be doing it all a tad backwards, but this way, we won't have to do it all at once.  We have a lot of what we need, we just need the land to go with it.

We also do some gardening where we live.  I have a windowsill herb garden, use a tower garden to grow certain things year-round indoors, and we have a few fruit trees in containers, as well as some flowers and other herbs outside.

Since we are fairly new to the livestock aspect of homesteading, we have found some great homesteaders to follow.  One of our favorites is Homesteaders of America.  They put together so much information from all areas of homesteading.  It's pretty much a one-stop shop for your homesteading needs.  My guys have learned so much through them about livestock, I have learned even more about canning and preserving foods.  Trust me, it's one to check out for sure!

No matter where you live, if you have a heart to homestead, start looking around and gathering resources.  Chances are you will find your own little community to join efforts with.  It's such an amazing feeling to know that you are able to provide so much not only for your family, but for others too.  

Happy Homesteading!

As a busy homemaker, homesteading mom and wife, it can be hard to find time to "just be".  Our days are filled with grocery shopping, housework, keeping things organized around the home, keeping the schedule straight for the family, making meals from scratch...the list seems endless.  So what can we, as moms, do when our days seem so overwhelming and we just have a hard time functioning and keeping up?

First and foremost, start your day with God.  This can be a prayer or meditation as you start your day.  It may be a quite study time as you have your first cup of coffee.  Whatever it is, always start your day with God.

Make a list of things that you need to get done.  Prioritize your list and choose your top 3 that HAVE to be done.  This helps clear your mind and free some space to help you manage your day.

But what if you have done these things and you still feel overwhelmed?  That's when I like to do a quick little mind reset using the Aroma Reset.  It's a branch of the Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT) that is super quick and very beneficial.  I keep a roller bottle with the Memory Release Blend of oils in it, ready to use at a moments notice.  When I feel overwhelmed or super stressed out, I grab the bottle and roll it on my wrists and the back of my neck.  I take a moment to breath it in and relax.  Seriously, it only takes about 60 seconds and my brain resets and I am able to better accomplish the task at hand.

Need to know more about this quick reset?  I offer a 30-minute one-on-one coaching call where I not only walk you through this reset, I also walk you through an extended version (also super quick to use!) so that you have the tools you need to do these techniques throughout your day as needed.  This session also includes a sample of the memory release blend that you can carry along with you and use as needed.

Trust me, your whole family will benefit from you taking a minute here and there throughout your day to reset your mind and let go of the stress and overwhelm.

If you want to know more about the Aroma Freedom Technique and how it works, check out these related blog posts:
The Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT)

#deepbreath
#inhalepeace
#exhaledoubt
#regainclarity

I have a new fun project that I just can't get enough of...ok, maybe it's more than just one new project.  I've been busy making aprons.  It all started with a cute little egg gathering apron, then I found an adorable harvest apron.  I shared pictures of them because I LOVE the fabrics and how they all came together.  Then that lead to making yet another cute apron!

One of my goals with homesteading is to find practical things to use around the home.  I find it a big bonus when it's something I can be crafty with.

First, let's talk about this adorable egg gathering apron.  What a neat idea!  It has pockets for up to a dozen eggs.  Perfect for daily gathering of fresh eggs.  After sharing a few that I made, I was commissioned to make a toddler size apron.  How fun!!  Instead of making an apron that would quickly be outgrown, I opted to make a grow-with-me apron.  It fits toddler-child sizes and is a great way to let your littles help you with egg gathering.  No more smashed eggs in little toddler pant pockets (yes, this is why I was asked to make a toddler size!).

Shown here are the 2 different sizes.  The smaller one folds up so that the toddler size has just the top row of pockets.  What a fun mommy and me gift set!

Next up, the super fun harvest apron.  I can't get enough of this one!  There are SOOOO many cute fabric options.  I have been told that they also work great for egg gathering, which makes this one perfect for any homestead mom!  This multi-purpose apron can be used for gardening and egg gathering.  How neat is that?!

I have made so many adorable fabric combos with this one.  I basically want to keep one of each of them.  But, I have limited myself to just 2.  After all, if one gets dirty, I need time to get it all washed up and ready to use again without having to do without one for the next days' harvest.

The latest edition to my apron making is a full apron with a bib.  It even has pockets on each side!  Sadly, I don't have as good of a picture to share with this one.  I was on a bit of a time crunch so I considered myself lucky to even snap a pic.  This particular one is custom made and a plus size.  It comes in all sizes from adult small all the way up to a 3xl.  Super cute!

If you would like to custom order an apron, please send me a message!  Message Amanda

If you would like to make your own, I'll share some links below.  I did make some adjustments on the egg gathering apron, but there are several great patterns you can use.  

I've been married for 23 years.  When I was pregnant with our first, we moved across a few states and I haven't worked outside the home since.  That was right at 22 years ago this summer.  Our oldest was born that November.  Being a stay-at-home mom is what I always wanted to be.  Before my husband and I were married, we agreed that once we had kids I would stay home with them.  It hasn't always been easy.  We don't have extra finances for vacations, nights out...or anything really.  But it's a decision we have made and would make all over again.  I've had people frown upon me for not having a job, for choosing to homeschool, for working hard to homestead even though there isn't much money to be made in it (yet!).  My point is...I'm never going to please everyone.  The ONLY ones who matter are God and my family.

I'm a firm believer that God designed me to be a wife and mother.  To provide a loving home for my family.  I was blessed to be able to raise my own children and homeschool them for the past few years.  But I'm realizing that it's hard not to buy into the worldly thoughts and views about needing to have a bigger purpose in life.

Once all 3 of my kids started hitting the teenage years (yes, I had 3 teens at once and LOVED it!), I realized that it was time for me to get to know myself again.  I knew that once they all left home I would struggle to know my place.  I have loved being a mom.  It's hard to think of who/what I will be when the last one leaves the home.  So I started doing some trainings, coaching, courses, etc to help me on my journey.  Ultimately, I want to help other moms.  I want them to see the light at the end of the tunnel on those long, hard days with littles and know it's all going to be worth it in the end.  I want them to know and understand the importance of taking their kids to church services even though they feel they don't get a thing out of it because they are tending to the kids.  I want them to see that even in that situation, they are a great example not only to their kids, but to the congregation.  I want moms to know that the "job" they have as a stay-at-home mom is the most important job they could ever have.  Most importantly, I want them to see and know their worth in the eyes of God.  So I began my coaching journey with all of this in mind.  It has had it's ebb and flow.  My focus has changed along the way, but every time it's been about helping moms.

And where am I now on this journey?  Homesteading, cultivating a holistic lifestyle for my family and sharing our journey with others.  I've been learning more and more over the past 10 years about natural health & wellness, herbalism, decluttering the home, gardening, raising livestock, cooking from scratch, and all sorts of homestead related things.  So you'd think that with my kids getting older and not needing me as much that I'm all set and ready to go, right?

WRONG

My oldest is 21 years old and I have been blessed to still have him at home as a working member of our family (he's our main gardener!).  My daughter is 19 and just got married, so she is officially out of the house and on her own.  My youngest is now 16 years old and working on a horse ranch, learning every single thing he can.

Reality really hit me when wedding plans stopped, wedding company all left, my guys were all out working, and I was left home along.  Who am I?  What am I doing with my life?  Am I more than just the one my guys come home to?  The one who cooks and cleans, does the laundry, keeps schedules straight, runs errands?  Surely there's got to be more than that right?  Should I go out and get a job so that I can 1) contribute to our finances and 2) have a worth/value in this world?

STOP right there...read #2 again.  That right there is the worldly view creeping into my head.  Yes, we have talked about me getting a job outside the home.  But all 3 of my guys agree that I am best at home.  And I agree!  THEY understand my value as a wife and mom.  THEY get that if I were to work outside the home there is no one who can replace me.  THEY KNOW MY WORTH.  So, why don't I?

Now, back to the part about me being a life coach for moms and wanting them to understand their value and wondering where my place is now that my kids are all growing up...Here, right in my home, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, tending to the needs of others.  THIS is where I belong.  Why?  Because it's what I want...it doesn't matter what the world says.  And, yes, I can still help contribute to the finances in so many other ways.  Like the woman in Proverbs 31, I work with my hands, I sell goods, I am not afraid for I have prepared my household.

My worth is in God, in being here for my family, and in helping other moms on their journey. 💜

As we get our gardens planted for the season, it's always nice to incorporate pretty flowers to add some landscape appeal.  But, did you know that certain flowers can also benefit your fruit and vegetable gardens?

Bee Balm is a perennial herbaceous plant native to North America. It is also commonly referred to as wild bergamot or Oswego tea. Bee balm is prized for its vibrant, showy flowers that come in various shades of pink, red, purple, and white, depending on the cultivar.

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region but is cultivated worldwide for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers. Lavender is known for its distinctive scent, soothing properties, and ornamental value in gardens.