Little Okie Homestead

My plan was to start off March with a bang and make sure that I'm making good habits  instead of the bad one's I've been stuck in again! I have several things I'm working on but March was going to be my "On Plan 99% of Time" month for Trim Healthy Mama . I wanted to meal plan, prep and maybe even get some meals put in the freezer so I could pull them out on busy days but then this happened... Snow days here in OK are different then CO because they don't care for the roads the same way CO does with magcloride and it's warmer here so the snow first turns to ice and then it gets covered up with snow as the temperature drops. So with all that said...no grocery shopping today :(  My hope is that I can get out tomorrow late morning and hit the stores before the crowd. I won't be going to church because I'm not going to drive that far but the grocery store will be a must. Plus if I can hit the grocery store during regular church times then the...

So contrary to common beliefs bacon grease can actually be really good for you and it adds AMAZING flavor to many dishes. The secret is learning the right time to cook, flavor, eat bacon grease. I'm still learning this but I will share with you how I do it as I learn more. I normally cook all our bacon at the beginning of the week and then heat it up in the pan each morning before I cook our eggs. That way I can use the healthy bacon grease to fry or scramble my eggs. The one thing I will tell you right now...if you do this make sure you have no bread or other carbohydrate foods with it! This is very important! You must wait at least 3 hours before you eat anything with a high carb content! For now I will just teach you how to make it in the over so you can save the healthy grease and use it later.  First get your stoneware baking sheet and make sure that has sides.  If you don't have a stoneware baking sheet make sure to line your metal one with heavy duty aluminum foil....

There are many ways we can save money just by spending our money wisely. I have found a few ways to help with spending less on my laundry. First is the  SmartKlean Laundry Ball ! When doing some research on the no poo method I found  Ashley's Green Life  blog. I'm not a big  save the Earth  kind of person because I feel like I do a pretty good job on limiting my carbon footprint if we ever find out that it does really matter but I do  LOVE  to save money which is why I was looking into no poo in the first place. Who knew the other wonderful money savers I would find...like that  SmartKlean Laundry Ball ! I wasn't sure that I really believed the that it would work but I decided to look and see if I could find it somewhere else for less than $45. I was lucky enough to find it on Amazon for $19 (I haven't seen it that price since). For $19 I was willing to take the risk to see if it would actually work. Here's a video of how it works and it'...

Bad habits are setting in again! When I wrote my post on how I accomplish Peaceful Mornings  I was actually following through with my good intentions. I was going to bed at a regular time. I was starting to not relay on coffee to get me through my mornings. I was enjoying my time as a homemaker almost every moment because I was taking care of myself. I was getting enough sleep. I was waking up naturally and I wasn't still sleepy. We were doing school regularly. My house was cleaner because I had the energy to get everything done daily.  I'm a natural night owl. I can stay up until early am hours and still be wide awake. But in order to function the next day I have to be able to sleep in. Well having Hubby rising early for work and two boys who wake up with the sun, sleeping in isn't an option. So then my days drag on, the boys fight more because I'm not fully on top of things, school doesn't get done, dirty dishes pile up because I'm too tired to put them in ...

There are so many wonderful ways to use On Guard. It is constantly diffusing in my house  through the winter months or any time I hear there is a nasty cold going around. I use it on our feet every morning and every night. We also use the On Guard toothpaste. I use a mixture of coconut oil and On Guard every morning as part of my oil pulling to repair some damaged teeth. If there is one oil that I recommend every one have it would be On Guard! Every one hates being sick and if you use it regularly it will keep the environmental threats away! But don't take my word for it. Read the article below for many more ideas on how to use it! Every thing I do is in  bold ! On Guard Blend ®  by Robert James 52 Top uses for On Guard antimicrobial blend of essential oils. 1. Mix with a tblsp of water, gargle for 1 minute then swallow at the on-set of a sore throat. 2. Put 5 drops Oregano and 5 drops On Guard in a capsule and take 3 times daily at the on set of immune symp...

We have officially started the work on our property! I'm so excited! We hadn't been back out there since we decided which one we wanted to buy before Thanksgiving! We have SO many ideas, plans, goals, lists for this property that it seems overwhelming when looking at it all. We have to start somewhere and clearing land in freezing temperatures is as good as any. Hubby works a construction job that keeps him home on cold days, snowy days, and here in OK icy days. During these winter months he doesn't get weekends off he gets whichever days are cold which means that we can only work on our property during those cold days. Finally we had a cold day here that wasn't too cold and we were bored so we figured we would head out and talk through our plans again and make sure that we were clear on where we wanted the house so we could plan where we want the well and septic to go. Of course we can only say where we would like them to go. We have to get a company or two out...

Spaghetti squash is something that I have tried cooking before and no matter what I do it always seems to come out wrong or taste AWFUL! So of course when I started  Trim Healthy Mama  I was finding that spaghetti squash is a good alternative to pasta. I'm not someone though that can fully replace pasta and meat sauce with spaghetti squash. So the recipe search began. I started  pinning  away lots of THM friendly recipes and then ran across two spaghetti squash recipes that I pinned quickly. I HAD to try the Buffalo Spaghetti Squash recipe ASAP! I mean who could see this picture and not try it!  Thank you  Gal On A Mission for this recipe and photo Luckily I was in Colorado visiting with my dad which is where I get my love for buffalo chicken wings so it was a must try before I went back home. It was a hit! And oh it was oh so filling too! There was plenty of leftovers for days to follow. If I were to make it again I would cut the hot sauce d...

So I started No Poo again. I loved it when I started it last year but when we started spending the summer at the water park I didn't know what to do so I was washing and my hair started getting greasy again so I gave up for the time . Well it's time to get started again. I loved the way my hair felt and it was the healthiest I've ever seen my hair. But also it saves my family money and what homemaker doesn't try to save every penny she can? So this time I started doing a little more research. First I turned to Pinterest  and started pinning away anything that looked like it had good information. I was also looking for other ways to No Poo than just the normal Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar way. I found some great resources to help me get started. I spent all of one morning reading and reading and reading. Luckily Hubby was home and helping with the boys because I was in a Do Not Disturb mode. My plan was to be doing research over the last 9 months so that w...

Parenting is  HARD . It's hard work every day. It requires you to be present at every moment. It requires you to teach, set an example and have patience you never thought imaginable. Parenting takes practice. It takes trial and error. It takes making mistakes and making changes. Parenting means giving grace and mercy even in the toughest of situations. It means having understanding. It means talking, sharing, and getting dirty. Parenting is hugs, kisses and cuddles. It is giving love unconditionally. It is giving your life over to someone else. It is a growing heart throughout the years beyond anything you could imagine. Parenting is the greatest gift we get to experience every day! Parenting is living in the moment and enjoying the gift given from up above. It is the best example of how God loves us. It is understanding the grace that God gives us every day. Today choose to live in the moment and enjoy your children! Enjoy the parenting role you were given! ...

Everyone knows that homeschooling requires patience. Of course so does almost every aspect of parenting. To me it doesn't require any more patience than every day parenting. However, it does require extra work that most parents don't experience. Today is an extra hard day. The boys woke up earlier than normal. We haven't done any "real school" for about a week because Hubby was home. Plus Goose bit his lip pretty bad so every time he touches it he starts screaming. ( Behind the Scenes: Goose won't stop crying because he's over tired and hurting so I had to go crawl in bed with him to get him to calm down and go to sleep. And I had to encourage Monkey to stay in bed to so they could both get some much needed sleep before we attempted the rest of school and lunch.) So today is requiring some extra patience but also LOTS of flexibility. I would say patience and flexibility are the two main parts of homeschooling that I need to remember. Honestly be...

I decided to Google "What is a Homemaker?" before I wrote this post and I was brokenhearted by what found online.  Urban Dictionary  was the worst. The awful things that are said about being at home raising children is downright awful. I remember being a small child and wanting to be a mom when I grew up. I remember being told that wasn't a career choice so I had to choose something else. I chose teacher. It was the closest thing to a mom I could pick. So I joined Future Teachers of America club in high school along with other groups that allowed me to work with younger children and get a feel for teaching. Then after high school I headed to college and preceded to waste money on an education that I only used for two years of teaching. Then I became a nanny and then a mom and haven't looked back. Why? I HAVE MY DREAM JOB! How many people in the workforce can actually say they wake up every morning and head off to their dream job? I don't think it would be...

At least most of the time! I'm a night owl by nature. I really dislike mornings. I'm grateful that I get to have them each day but I really don't like seeing them arrive so early. Truthfully I normally see them come because I stay up so late. Being a mom means that even though I was up until after midnight and I want to sleep in I will always have little one's coming in and waking me up with request for food and entertainment. So I decided it was time to give up my late nights late mornings. I couldn't allow my kids to get up and watch an hour or more of cartoons just so I could get some extra zzzz's. I needed to be a better mom and I needed to be a better wife. So it was time for some changes but where to begin? I began with  this blog  and her ideas to have a peaceful morning and then adapted them to my house. First thing I had to do was stop staying up so late. I needed a way to get myself in bed at a decent time. So at  Pam's  suggestion headed ...

A few Sundays ago at church the pastor asked us... See he was referencing Romans 12:6-11 "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to  prophesy , speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is  serving others , serve them well. If you are a  teacher , teach well. If your gift is to  encourage others , be encouraging. If it is  giving , give generously. If God has given you  leadership  ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for  showing kindness to others , do it gladly. Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them . Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and  serve the Lord enthusiastically. "  (bold added) God has given me different gifts just like he has for each o...

Hubby is having trouble sleeping so it's time to do some  doTerra Essential Oil  experiments on him! We have tired... Bergamot in the diffuser Balance and Cedarwood  on the bottom of his feet Lavender on bottom of his feet Bergamot and Lavender in the diffuser Frankincense and Balance on the bottom of his feet Serenity and Balance in the diffuser So far nothing has seemed to make a big enough difference that he's staying asleep all night. We thought that maybe being cold had an issue so we bought a new blanket for our bed. I made sure to dust and vacuum everything I could to make sure it isn't allergy related. So what's next? I've done a little research and I have my next month's order from doTerra ready. So more combinations are on the horizon. Ylang Ylang Vetiver Marjoram Roman Chamomile Helichrysum Patchouli These oils are suppose to be a great sleep aid in the right combination.. I'm really hoping we have it figured out bef...

Breakfast has so many options! Donuts, cinnamon rolls, cereal, eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes...Oh I'm getting hungry! But in a house with a hubby that has to leave early and kids begging to eat at my feet what do I cook every morning? Well cereal won't cut it in my house. The boys think it's a special treat when we they get cereal. It's like a holiday! So what do I cook? Anything with eggs normally. Our family favorite is  Dippin' Eggs ! Two eggs over-easy with one to two pieces of bacon and for the hubby and kids a piece of homemade bread...for the dipping! I also make scrambled eggs with sauteed veggies. Zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper, carrots, onion...etc! Whatever veggies you like. Of course you have to make sure that they don't have too many carbs because you have to stay below 10 grams but that's pretty easy with these ideas if you stay away from breads. I also fry all my eggs in butter! Yes butter! It gives them such a better flavor and the ...

Since we have moved away from my parents I have started looking for fun ways to include them in our lives even from a distance. Today we made these long distance hug Valentine gifts to mail to them. My plan was to make them Monday and get them in the mail but since we were in Colorado on an unplanned trip we had to make them a little later. But they are in the mailbox waiting to get picked up. Supplies: Construction Paper Glue Ribbon Scissors Markers Art Supplies We started with tracing hands and cutting them out. Then we moved on to coloring, glitter gluing and adding pompoms. After that we made a little Valentine note and added it to the middle of the ribbon. We glued both hands onto the end of the ribbon and let it all dry. (I added tape for extra measure on the hands. Once they were dry we put them in an envelope and put them in the mailbox. I'm sure Grandma and Popa will love them when they arrive! If it's not spoiled by them reading this firs...

Giveaway Time! It's Valentine's Week so let's try my very first giveaway! Getting everything in order for Monkey's birthday week next month! Hoping to have some great giveaways to share with you! Starting today enter to win the lucky little one in your life one of these adorable handmade Pom Pom Hats! Aren't my boys so cute! Monkey isn't too much into modeling for Mommy anymore but I got one good one! Also for the sweet little girl in your life enter to win one of these hand crocheted dresses. Wear over a onesie and tights for winter or just add a diaper cover for the spring and fall. The way the dress is made it will grow into many different outfits. I really need a little girl to join my family so I can enjoy all the cute options these adorable dresses offer. Forgiven Hooks  is my own handmade crochet shop on Etsy! I always offer FREE SHIPPING and CUSTOM ORDERS! I always offer quality products and in a decent amount of time. Found a pattern you like...

Building confidence in a child is not easy task in a world that tears it down. Pride is honored. Putting others down is consider to be ok. So when you have a child that is on the other end of the spectrum and is the one that prideful children are hurting and putting them down how do you build confidence? I've struggle with this for Monkey. He has a very tender and kind heart. He almost always puts others first. He wants to be with others on a regular basis even after he is repeatedly heartbroken from them. He loves unconditionally. He cares so deeply. God has given him a very compassionate heart. Because of that he is hurt often. Before we moved he was taking teakwondo. It was great to watch his confidence grow. Both his physical and emotional confidence made leaps and bounds. He felt stronger. He was challenged and saw himself overcome struggles. But teakwondo is expensive and with our move to another state it wasn't something that we could continue while living so far fr...

Have you heard of  Trim Healthy Mama ? I hadn't either until just a few months ago. But I knew I was going to be ordering the book and it worked out that I was able to ask for it as a Christmas gift instead of purchasing it myself. When I first saw it I was very intimidated! It's a HUGE book! But once you dive in you see why...it's packed full of information but written in a way that is easy to read. I think if they would have taken out much of the "conversation" then the book would have been fewer pages however it would have been really difficult to read. So I want to start right away even though I have to read first so I searched for and overview of the plan. And I found  one ! This gave me a little idea. I have also been talking to a good friend that has taken me under her wing to help me through the journey of this parenting, homeschooling, country living that I'm trying to figure out. What she has said has followed right along side what I'm learn...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY! Today is Hubby's birthday but of course we planned for him to be at work today so we celebrated yesterday. Monkey and Goose started the morning with cuddling in bed with us, which is every morning when they wake up before us. Then I made a surprise homemade biscuits and sausage gravy! Hubby's favorite. To stay on  THM plan  I made scrambled eggs with some of the sausage and some cheese and I was even able to add some gravy on top to give it a little different flavor. This was important because I knew I would be eating cake later that day which is not on plan. We headed to church and Hubby got some quiet time and watched a movie that we wouldn't have enjoyed. We had pizza for lunch because it is one of Hubby's favorite. Normally for dinner I make his mom's Mexican Casserole however after searching at least 5 stores for the right ingredients we had to choose another dinner option and change up the tradition now that we no longer live i...