Posted in Kitchen

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Can I Have Some More, Please?

Decadent Hot Cocoa

 Hot cocoa is a winter drink that is not only comforting, but can create a wonderful setting for sharing memories with your family. A cup of cocoa gathered around the table while listening to an audio, cuddling on the sofa for a read aloud, or making breakfast a special time is some simple examples of the Hot Cocoa Effect. Our family really enjoys hot cocoa moments, so whenever we our headed out on an RV trip during I am sure to pack ingredients for hot cocoa. So over the past couple of weeks when I was checking my convenience inventory and found that I was running low it was time to re-stock. However, with my long To Do list and health issues on the forefront I decided to purchase this item in those little convenience packets. What a terrible costly mistake I made! Firstly, the cocoa tasted a bit like cardboard or something. Secondly, the cost per serving was astronomical compared with homemade. This is a mistake I won’t make again, especially since cocoa is SO easy to make. I have TWO tried and true recipes for hot cocoa; one instant (great for on the go) and one that is made stove top, for an absolutely decadent and rich cup of cocoa. Both of the recipes are ones you will want to make regularly and once you drink them, you will NOT want to go back to those pre-packaged types.

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Posted in Thoughts Comments or Concerns

Happy Thanksgiving!

The next few days I will be taking off from the computer and blogging. What will my family be doing during that time? For starters, we are working a hockey tournament, so I am only taking time off from the computer. Secondly, we are stealing bits of time and having wonderful family time! We will be playing games such as Dictionary Dabble, Clue, Scrabble, Connect Four, & Uno. Oh and we will be enjoying Christmas movies in the evenings! So there is a lot of family fun going on this week! I will be back on Monday with a GREAT line-up and a new E-zine that has one of the most scrumptious recipes for leftover turkey! You will WANT to have leftovers just to make this dish!

So, enjoy this time and share your abundant blessings with your family and friends! I will see you next week!!!

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Posted in Organization

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Keep It Together Girl!

Organized Closets for Christmas

Closet organization can be one of the most rewarding organizational tasks that we perform within our homes. Not only can it be one of the most rewarding, but it truly  helps us to de-clutter our lives in a way that other daily tasks don’t. When you de-clutter a closet do you notice how different you feel when you enter the closet? The very first time you have to look for something in that closet, there is just something different about how you see things. You think to yourself how much better you function when things are organized. You promise yourself that you won’t allow it to get out of control again. You make every effort to do that, yet somehow over time, the closet becomes…well let’s just say some habits may return. The fact remains that you can set some check points in place to help keep up on a regular basis. Now, is the perfect time of year to get this started with one simple method that can keep you on the path to an organized closet, while incorporating those wonderful new items that may be in need of a place in your closets over the next few weeks.

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Posted in Kitchen

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Can I Have Some More, Please?

Thanksgiving Breakfast

One breakfast we like in our home is pancakes. The simple fact for me, is that they are so quick & convenient, as well as a frugal meal. But my kids like pancakes because…well I don’t know why they like them, quite frankly. Do I need to know that information? Maybe not. Knowing they like them (especially with chocolate) is enough for me to make them frequently. This week plan a day for a little extra special breakfast. If your children are home from school on break, this is a perfect time to treat them to a breakfast that is fun and delicious! Today’s treat is for Thanksgiving Pancakes. Perhaps you might want to use this recipe for Thanksgiving Day Breakfast. It sets the stage for the day ahead, and will easily sustain the hungries until the main meal is served!

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Posted in Homeschool

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

School Days!

Thanksgiving Fridge Magnets for Narration

Many families use a holiday week for a break and to engage in some great traditions! Although in times past, the week of Thanksgiving was used for relaxing and preparing for the day of turkey. We have recently talked about different types of traditions that families participate in. I actually emailed a bunch of you to ask what specific types of traditions make the holiday FUN and meaningful for Mom. Some of your answers truly surprised me! One thing that resonated through was a lack of activities for kids that were meaningful. After a few emails of clarification, I got a better idea of what that meant.

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Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Simply Frugal

Frugal Wrapping Ideas

Recently, I was speaking about handmade Christmas gifts that really make the grade so to speak. I know there are times when we get and give those gifts and think, Ok that was nice, but they just don’t have that extra pizzazz, ya know? However, one of the things I brought up was that it isn’t just the gift. If you are including handmade gifts this year, that may not themselves be personal, such as pot holders, gifts in a jar, flavored oils & vinegars, and other gifts you may make multiples of, you can make each of those gifts intimately personal for each recipient with little time and money!

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Posted in Family

This week I have had a lot of unusal posts…but this one HAS to be shared! Here is what happened when I ventured out late this evening with Eric.

Ok this is so funny…but it probably isn’t as funny as if we had caught it on camera.

Eric stays up with me tonight because I knew I was going to make a late night Wal Mart run for some things for Fresh Gear for the tournament. We get our shopping done and I decide to treat him to a late night Wendy’s run for some drinks. We get there, and sound like a bunch of drunks because I am muttering “What if they have a limited nighttime menu?” and Eric is going “What do you care…we are only getting drinks. Like they are going to say, hey sorry lady we only serve regular coke after midnight…and you have to have it with ice.”

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Posted in Thoughts Comments or Concerns

My sincerest apologies to all of you who have emailed about the November issue of Her Simple Walk E-Zine and this week’s Journey to Simlicity E-zine. I had been working on them in segments as I am able. However, when I went in this evening to finish them up and send them to all of you, I found that they are missing. I am not certain what is going on yet, but I submitted a help “ticket” and am hoping to discover the source of this.  However, if there is no method of recovering the information, I will have to start them both from scratch.

I am packing and preparing for our family to work a tournament and we leave Friday. Right now, I should be in bed, but I have been trying to resolve this tonight if possible. However, I now must wait to hear back from the help department. This means I will be unable to get to these until next week some time. My sincerest apologies for the inconvenience to all of you! Know that I will do all that I can to get these re-written and in your Iinboxes ASAP.

In addition, the Simple Journey Bookstore is in disrepair again. I am working as best I can to repair the links and formatting to making your shopping with us a pleasant and user friendly experience. Thanks for your patience and understanding through our trials!

These are my thoughts.

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Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

I Can’t Live Simply Until…

Why is Life Not Getting Simpler?

A few people have asked how to know if they are on the path to acquiring a more simple life. Since this is generally subjective and case specific, I often have to reply by asking some questions. Have you ever tried to change certain aspects of your lifestyle to accomplish something and then asked yourself if you have accomplished your goal? Hmmmm…

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Posted in Organization

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Keep It Together Girl!

Organize Your Make-up

Organizing your make-up can be easy, but it can also be complex, depending on what you have available in your bathroom for storage. Many have a shallow and narrow drawer in which they have to store their make-up. Some may just throw it in the drawer. Others may have several drawers in the bathroom vanity to separate make-up from hair brushes, hair accessories, etc. Still other bathrooms don’t have any drawers, but are equipped with a closet only. You can see how this can affect how to organize your make-up in an efficient way. But it isn’t just the organization we need to deal with. We also need to consider the forethought of how to keep up with the organization and the periodic cleaning of the space. PHEW! What seemed so simple became complex very quickly. Here’s an idea that is adaptable, quick, easy, and best of all…it’s FREE!

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Posted in Kitchen

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Can I Have Some More, Please?

Steaming Fresh Produce

Over the last few months I have been asked about the new steamer zip style bags for steaming fresh produce in the microwave. Is it safe? Is it efficient? Is it cost effective? I have also been asked about similar questions in regards to the line of frozen produce that steams in the microwave in its own packaging. Here are the conclusions, thus far.

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Posted in Thoughts Comments or Concerns

Friends, I am so thankful for all the prayers I received over the last several days; both on the Internet & and in emails!!! Your wonderful prayers have been working! Testimony abounds my friends!

After 15 years of dealing with compounding health issues for me, Thomas and I had both been frustrated of not getting answers, issues not only not getting better, but nothing was ever getting cured. On top of all this, things were getting worse! Each time I would go to the DR I was being labeled with some other health issue. How could this be when I kept following “the plan” and receiving meds? A few months ago, it came to a crossroad that I needed to DO something that was going to make a change! We began seeing that at my age not only should I not be experiencing so many seemingly correctable health issues, but ones that were unable to be corrected with meds. With each new cocktail I was given, it would help cover up symptoms and within three months old issues would creep in and NEW issues would pop-up! I often wondered if I was becoming a hypochondriac! Seriously! Ho wouldn’t when her medical chart was beginning to look like a medical textbook? With all this now, we wondered what my future would look like medically.

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Posted in Thoughts Comments or Concerns

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Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

I Can’t Live Simply Until…

A Simple Thanksgiving Plan

I have been posting lots of ways you can simplify your life overall, and especially help to keep those simple living concepts you have been incorporating over the last few months in place with the onset of the upcoming holidays that may push you into older poor habits filled with chaos. Your holiday festivities do NOT have to be stressful, even if you have a houseful of guests coming! You may be hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a large crowd. Your family may have been invited to have Thanksgiving dinner elsewhere, but have the stress of bringing some side dishes. You may be like our family, and working through the holiday away from home. Your family may be traveling to visit with family. Whatever your situation, it CAN remain a simple and relaxing!

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Posted in Organization

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Keep It Together Girl!

Organize Your Linen Closet

I don’t know what happens at your house, but here at the Valeska Chateau, the linen closet can be a challenge to keep organized. I have always organized the shelves by item type, i.e. table cloths, sheets, towels, etc. There is nothing wrong with organizing your linens if it works for you, but with a family it can wreak havoc, to say the least. Once your children become old enough to train for certain tasks, it is almost as though it is their job to be helpful and disorganize the linen closet at the same time, thus causing mom an internal conflict as to whether or not to praise or chastise. It’s one of those little things that God has put in place for Mother’s as a training tool, I think. There are other ways to manage your linen closet, that will allow for optimal usage and the least amount of mom anxiety.

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Posted in Thoughts Comments or Concerns

I just found out that Journey to Simplicity has been nominated for BEST ENCOURAGER (click here) over at the 2008 Homeschool Blog Awards! How exciting!!! I am not only surprised, but I am SO honored right now to be nominated for such a great category!!!

PLEASE, vote for the Journey to Simplicity by CLICKING HERE NOW.

Check out the rest of the categories and vote for your fave blogs! My favorite part of the HS Blog Awards, is finding NEW blogs every year! Be on the look out for my new faves!!!

REMEMBER to Vote for Journey to Simplicity for Best Encourager!

Be Blessed and HAVE FUN!

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Posted in Kitchen

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Can I Have Some More, Please?

What to do With All those Apples of Autumn

So many of you have been posting about visiting apple orchards recently. Honestly, when I see your photos, I can smell them through my computer. Really, I can! It is something I truly miss living down here. I have seen a LOT of apple recipes in my days. I have seen a LOT of ways to preserve apples in my journeys as well, but I have never seen how to freeze them for pie filling!

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Posted in Homeschool

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

School Days!

Achieving an Awesome Art Curriculum

Art curriculum is one of the easiest things that you can create for absolutely nothing. For those who have not ever tried their hand at teaching art without a curriculum, this may seem impossible, but I assure you it couldn’t be more simple or frugal. Well, honestly, you can create a Free awesome art curriculum that includes a wide variety of art, crafts, tutorials, history, and lessons in very little time.

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Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Simply Frugal

Bring on the Turkey!

With Thanksgiving approaching quickly it is time to assess your turkey needs. There are a few helpful tips that can keep your Thanksgiving meal budget in line and help you trim the food budget after the meal without making your family tired of looking at turkey to the point they hope that you are going to serve mac and cheese only next year for Thanksgiving!

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Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

I Can’t Live Simply Until…

Are You Ready for the Coming Holiday Seasons?

I use a plan every year to help me prepare for the holiday seasons, which start with Thanksgiving and end with New Years. I have used two plans for this over the years depending on what I believe I can realistically accomplish, our schedule, and where I have placed my boundaries. You CAN have a simple holiday season with a bit of planning and clear resolve. Here’s how:

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