How To Cook A FULL SIZE Turkey In Your Crock Pot !

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023e.renee94 1 Comment

Today’s post, will hopefully, inform you on “how to cook a full size turkey in your crock pot”. My favorite way to cook a “turkey breast has always been in the crock pot, but this past week I went a step further, I cooked a 15lb turkey in my regular size crock pot! Today I’m going to show you exactly HOW I DID THIS. Please note that you can also cook a turkey breast (without disassembling!) with this same method. For those who love the white meat, this is a great option!

*This is my all time favorite crock pot shown above . I have had this, 4 in 1, Ninja crock pot, for 7 years and it is AMAZING! Unfortunately , I couldn’t find this product anymore to share a link, but I did find a 5 star, 12 in 1 , Ninja instant pot/ slow cooker, which I have linked in its place. If it is anything like my Ninja then you will LOVE it! # Christmas idea!

Why Should I Cook A Full Size Turkey In A Crock pot?

A couple reasons I would consider cooking a turkey in a crock pot instead of the oven, are …

To save oven space for cooking casseroles etc.
To prevent leaving the oven on overnight or while away
For the juicy turkey it produces!

How To Cook A Full Size Turkey In The Crock Pot

Preparation

If you have dealt with cleaning game in any way, then this step should be a breeze!

You are going to begin by thawing your entire turkey per the instructions on the turkey packaging. (This usually takes a few days!)

Next, you are going to “quarter” your thawed turkey . This just means you will disassemble each section of the turkey. Similar to how you would do your rotisserie chicken before serving it.

Before you quarter your turkey, you will want to lay your thawed turkey on a cutting board. (I like to lay a towel under my board to keep juice from spreading).

Then you will remove any internal organs or bags.

Quartering

You could begin at any part of the turkey, but I began by cutting along the back bone on each side.

I then cut around each leg joint, once cut to the bone you can twist until disconnected. Finish by cutting off any remaining skin attaching the leg to the body. The same process is used for all bones attached. You should not have to cut through any bones with a knife.

Remove each section one by one then go back and make sure you didn’t miss any meat.

Once your done you should have all of the meat (on bone) in sections, with the biggest part of the turkey carcass out of the way and ready to be discarded. This is the key to fitting that turkey into the crock pot.

quartered turkey in crock pot — **This 15lb turkey** (**pictured above) fit easily in my crock pot once quartered!**

Ready For The Crock!

Stack your turkey sections into your crock pot.

You are now ready to season or marinade as you wish!

I cooked my turkey on low for twice the time listed on the turkeys package.The packaging recommended baking for 3-3.5 hrs for my 15lb turkey. Therefore, I cooked the turkey in my crock pot for a total of 5hrs on low and 1hr on high for a total of 6hrs. It was well done after 6 hrs but next time, I will probably cook it a little longer or overnight.

Every hour I dip[ed the broth over any meat that was not fully covered. You can also turn any meat that isn’t covered, in rotation.

After The Turkey Cooks

This step is crucial for a super moist, crock pot turkey. You will want to debone & skin your turkey. ( The skin will not have a crisp texture as with baking).

Clean your crock pot broth by using a slotted spoon to remove any skin pieces etc.

Now you can add your meat (no skin or bone) back into your clean broth. Hopefully, you have enough broth to cover all of your meat. If not, you could add some melted butter.

Turn your crock pot on warm or low, depending on your crock pots heat, and let the meat soak up its broth for a good hour or more.

Time To Serve!

Now your ready to serve your “very juicy” turkey! I personally like to serve my turkey right out of the crock pot with a set of tongs, but you could remove it from the broth into a dish if you like.

What About The Left Overs?

I do recommend placing the turkey back into the broth inside a covered or sealed container or pan before storing leftovers. Turkey kept like this, taste AMAZING reheated!

Cooking Alternatives

Cooking A Turkey Breast In The Crock Pot

If your family prefers white meat or you don’t need that much, you can cook a TURKEY BREAST this same way by skipping the quartering process. Just try to purchase a turkey that will fit into your crock pot.

What If My Lid Won’t Close?

That’s ok! You can take aluminum foil and tightly clamp it around the edge of your crock pot lid and the edge of your crock pot. you shouldn’t be able to see any cracks for air to enter.

How long Should I Cook It?

Personally I always Cook my whole turkey breast over night in the crock pot (a good 8hrs). Be sure to keep the last steps I listed for best results. (debone and putting back into broth)

Frequently Asked Questions On “How To Cook A Full Time Turkey”

What Seasonings Do I Use?

To be honest, the only “seasoning” or “flavoring” I ever used is butter. A LOT of butter lol… try to stuff/line the butter underneath the skin as much as possible then rub butter lol over the outside! I love the taste of a buttery turkey!

In Closing

I’m curious how you cook your turkey or how you plan to this Thanksgiving. Feel free to share in the comments below!

If you have any questions about “how to cook your turkey in a crock pot” please contact be via contact form on my home page and as always please Like Subscribe and Share! Happy Thanksgiving Planning!

10 Ways To Simplify Your Life As A Mom

September 8, 2023September 8, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

1. Stay Organized

Staying organized, even at a basic level, can simplify your housework tremendously! The number one way to stay organized is to give everything a home. (Labels help as a reminder to yourself & to your family where that home is). Giving everything a home makes it easier to put things away & save time of looking for lost items.

2. Always Declutter

Decluttering is halfway done once you have given everything a home ! ⬆️ You will often find that when you have to much stuff, items don’t have a “home” at all. This is a sign that you may have more inventory than your space allows for. I encourage you to reguarly keep a donation bag going. This helps the clutter stay down so much! Some people think this is over kill…. but have you ever thought about how many items we bring into our home on a weekly basis? Why is it that so much less is usually being rotated out? Eventually, these items began to pile up in our closets, cabinets, drawers, and floors. Ladies, it’s time to declutter! And if you’re feeling a little wasteful, it may be time cut back on how much you are bringing in too! A good rule of thumb, when shopping, is to ask yourself “ do I really need this item?” If yes, then ask yourself if you will actually use it? Lastly, where will it belong in your home? Sometimes the answers to these questions will help us prevent “impulse” purchases.

3. Make a morning routine

Morning routines don’t have to be super strict (although they can be). A morning routine is simply an orderly pattern of events that happen on most mornings to make your day go smoother. Having A morning routine puts your brain on auto pilot, accomplishing some of the most important things first thing in the morning. It also sets a routine for your family, they know what to expect and can comply without confusion. A morning routine is a great way to start of your day! Morning routines can be flexible and can even begin at a different time each morning if needed.

4. Make a bedtime routine

A bedtime routine has the same benefits as the morning routine. Bedtime may or may not be a very happy time for your children. Having A routine really helps skip the unhappiness of “bedtime” with little children. They begin to know exactly what to expect when “bedtime” comes and the fight becomes less. Bedtime routine also enables the children to be more independent with certain bedtime responsibilities, since they know exactly what’s expected next. Older family members can also jump in easily. Here’s a little tip- I like to add something relaxing/ calming to do with my children as part of bedtime routine. This helps calm and wind them down making it easier for them to fall asleep.

5. Stay stocked on household necessities & food staples!

Staying stocked up on your everyday grocery and household items is a must! Constant runs to the store for things like “an egg” before dinner can be finished, “toilet paper” before friends comes over, or “kids Tylenol” at midnight, these hectic runs can be everything BUT smooth in our lives. Staying stocked up (even just a little extra) can save a lot of stress, time, and chaos!

6. Keep a running grocery list

Keeping a running grocery list will not only keep you from “running out” of items unexpectedly but it can save time by cutting down on the grocery trips per week. Sitting down and making a grocery list right before your trip is fine, if you have an amazing memory, but if you’re like me and often forget items, then I encourage you to keep a running grocery list! Anytime you think of an item you need to restock, write it down! Then at the end of the week, when you’re ready to grocery shop, you can sit down and finish that list like you usually would without missing a thing.

7. Do basic Meal planning

Does meal planning over whelm you? It doesn’t have too! Some people love extensive meal planning techniques and that’s great if that’s your thing. But If this overwhelms you, don’t just through out meal planning all together. There is a simpler way that can still give you some of the benefits without all the extras. Simply grab you a piece of paper, your planner, and a pen. Decide how many meals you need to cook that week. Now it’s time to glance through those cabinets and fridge and see what you got. Make a mental or physical note of anything in particular that you would like to use up before it goes to waste. Sit down and began writing down ideas using the foods you just seen. Consider exactly how busy you will be that week when choosing what meals to prepare. As you write each meal down, write the “needed” ingredients for that meal on your shopping list. That’s it! Now, if you’re worried about what day to cook which meal, stop stressing! Those can be swapped at any point in time. I like to use erasable pens (pencil would also work) so I can easily erase and swap meals as my week goes on. You could also slide your meal plan in a protective sheet and use a dry erase/ wet erase marker or a dry erase board.

8. Pre cook meats

Precooking meats in bulk can littlerly save you a ton of time and make dinner preparation 10 times easier! Imagine having your meat all cooked nearly everytime you began dinner? Wow! That’s what you can do for yourself by pre cooking meat and you can do it soo easily! My favorite way to pre cook meat in bulk is in my instant pot. It’s so quick and easy! I then freeze it in meal size portions to easily thaw and use for meals.

9. Have a “town day”

Setting one designated town day is one of my favorite ways to cut down on the craziness and keep a smoother flow going in our home. Running to town constantly and unexpectedly can really disrupt the daily flow of your day. Having one main “town day” can help the rest of the week run smoother. How does this help? First of all, it’s more efficient to do all your errands while already in town. Secondly, you can plan for less housework on this day and really focus on accomplishing the “away from home” duties. You can also plan dinner accordingly on town days. This frees up the rest of the week for a more “normal” schedule.

10. Use a daily planner

Planners may not be for everybody but using a daily planner really helps me stay on top of things! I’m able to jot down things on my to do list, mark dates on my calendar, tuck important papers in the back to file later, keep my running shopping list at my finger tips, and so much more! All do all of this in my little, compact, Sue Hooley planner! (Linked below)

I hope these 10 tips help you simplify your life even more in the future! I would love to hear about ways you simplify your life in the comments below!

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How to exercise with little ones

August 12, 2023August 12, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

Today I wanted to write a post, giving some tips on how to exercise with little ones.

I have been on a journey to become healthier lately. Exercising has always been on my “need to do” list but never became a priority until recently. Now, exercising is a staple on my Sue Hooley planner and is neatly planned on my Caliber app schedule.

Part of making exercise a priority has included my attempt to effectively fit exercise into my schedule, with little ones, (and without a baby sitter). Here’s how!

1. Include them

One of the best ways I have found to exercise with little ones, is to do an exercise that includes them.

This could be walking, swimming, biking, playing tag etc. I often walk for cardio and I have found my kids love this time to ride their bikes during my walks. This keeps them entertained while giving us both some cardio and fresh air!

I also have made good use of my sit and stand double stroller during walks with my little ones when they were smaller.

2. When trying to exercise with little ones…. Entertain them first

Sometimes, you can get your kids going with a game or activity within your visual area of working out. Once they are having a blast, let them know you’re going to work out while they continue to enjoy the fun!

Some of my favorite ways to entertain my children while exercising outdoors is bike riding, chalk, bubbles, wiffle ball, plastic parachutes, frisbees , etc.

As far as indoors, some of my favorite ways to entertain my little ones while I exercise (and keep them out of trouble lol) is book reading, Legos, play-dough, puzzles etc. I like to dig out a toy that is usually put up and only pulled out for special times. This way, it keeps their attention much longer and keeps the pieces from being lost. Another option might be to call grandma for some special chat time.

I also like to work out indoors while my little ones are finishing up lunch or enjoying a special snack. This keeps them in my sight and out of trouble.

3. Exercise while the kids are asleep

This is one of the simplest solutions and I realize it may not always work. Getting up before or staying up after the kids are fast asleep can seem ideal for a workout. Just don’t plan to rely on this option only and be sure to keep the other two options in mind for when this doesn’t work!

4. Multi task

Another tip for making time to exercise with little ones to care for, is to multi task when doing it. This obviously will not work for all types of exercise. Sometimes choosing an exercise that works best with children or one that can be multi tasked,may make or break your exercise routine as a Mama.

Personally, I have found the easiest cardio to multitask with, is walking. During my walks, I will often pray or catch up on long distance phone calls. Sometimes, I will listen to an audio book or just use the time to relax my mind. Doing these things help me “fit” exercise into my schedule much easier!

Once I began showing up for myself, I realized I actually do have time for exercise if I really want to, even as a Mom! The fact is, most of us will find time to do something if we will really prioritize it.

I encourage you today to take care of yourself and fit some type of exercise into your life too! And if your a mom, hopefully these tips will help you know how to exercise with little ones a little better. Taking care of ourselves enables us to take better care of our families. ❤️

I am an exercise “failie” that has been over two months now without missing any of my exercise schedule and yes I’m a mom trying to exercise with little ones! I also live a very busy full time RV life, we homeschool , and usually have plans every single evening with our ministry. My point? You can exercise too!

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Happy Homemaking,

Erica

How to deal with my period when “Aunt Flow” comes to town

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

How to deal with my period

“Aunt flow came to town!”…. Anyone ever heard that expression from your mama or gramma lol? If not, it just means that it’s “that time of month”. You know, that one day you dread that suddenly makes your housewife and motherly duties 10 times harder?

Maybe that’s not the case for you but for many ladies, periods are hard, especially combined with daily responsibilities.

Today, I want to discuss a few ways I have found to deal with my period and make that week go a little smoother .

When I was growing up, I met some young girls with the mentality that their period gave them a “right” or an excuse for their moodiness, mean remarks, and bad attitudes. Unfortunately, I have seen some adult women who live with this same concept. I want to begin this post by saying I do not believe in this mentality.

While it’s true that our cycles do bring unwanted moodiness and discomfort, this does not give us the right to take it out on everyone else, our family included.

Hopefully, the humorous GIF above does not describe how your husband feels when you are on your period, lol. If so, I get it, we’ve all been there, but let’s CHANGE this!

I encourage you not to fall into this “excuse” trap but I do encourage you to give yourself some grace in a few other ways by learning how to better deal with your period. Here are a few tips to help make your cycle easier and to give yourself some grace!

Tips to deal with your period and give yourself some grace!

1. Use some form of pain control

There are many forms of pain control available. There are even natural options like herbal teas to choose from. Sometimes simply using one to help you feel better and can help your mood.

2. Get extra sleep

It is proven fact that a woman needs more sleep during her cycle than other time. Plan to get a little more sleep if you need it!

3. Track

Tracking your period has so many benefits and it can even help you prepare to “plan” for your period!

4. Reschedule extra house work

Postpone extra housework until after the heaviest or hardest days of your cycle. I promise, it can wait a couple more days. 😜

5. Plan major family activities

Try to pre-plan special family activities like zoo trips or hiking around your cycle . Using a tracking app can help with this! You will enjoy it more and so will your family when they are not wondering, “what’s wrong with mom?” 🤔 Of course, this won’t always work but sometimes it can.

6. Prepare for cravings

Stock up on and prep healthy snacks that you love to reduce cravings and to keep yourself from reaching for more unhealthy options.

7. Change to a natural birth control

If your cycle or hormones are not normal after taking birth control, consider a natural birth control. “Natural Cycles” is an actual birth control app with no side effects from pills, it doubles as a tracker & I have learned so much about my cycle by using it! And yes, from my experience, it works when used right.

8. Talk to your doctor

If your cycle is not normal, consider talking to your doctor to make sure everything is as should be and to get medical advice.

9. Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is so important during your monthly cycle. It can help flush your system quicker and keep water retention at bay!

10. Go on light walks

Light walks don’t sound very appealing at the peak of my period, but the truth is, it can actually reduce cramps, help flush your system quicker, and even give you a boost of much needed energy.

11. Help with heavy flow

If you have problems with heavy flow, I would suggest trying “soft cups” which is a disposable version of a “menstrual disc”. These paired with a thin pad are amazing for heavy flow! The biggest benefit I have found between the minstrel disc that I use and tampons (besides the allergy reaction decrease), is the fact that you cannot feel the disc at all! Also, the disc do have other benefits for married ladies, in the ability to be used and reduce mess during relations.

12. Get the right panties!

This may sound weird but in my experience, the right underwear can be a game changer! I have found that high waisted compression underwear will hold pads in place while reducing bloat. They even hold that monthly pooch in and make you feel a tad better bout yourself 😜. Don’t worry it’s just for a few day. 🤗

13. Prevent dirty sheets

Don’t you just hate when your period causes extra laundry? Using these soft fabric crib mats have decreased this issue dramatically in my home. These crib mats are so soft, it’s hard to believe they are waterproof! We actually keep 4-5 of them on hand for many different things. I have them under my children’s car seats, we use them during potty training to protect mattresses, I throw these over pillows when my children are puking, and…. I use them on my own sheets to protect them during my cycle. If you don’t have a set of these, you NEED them! They are a necessity in our home.

14. Consider maintaining

If you are on a weight loss journey and feel stressed every-time your cycle comes, then I encourage you to try to just “maintain” during your cycle. Maintenance on a diet can be a lot easier with handling cravings and less exercise.

15. Skip weighing

If you are negatively effected by the scale number, then I suggest to try skipping a few days of weighing and just focus on healthy snacks, staying hydrated, and making healthy decisions. The scale is almost guaranteed to fluctuate up before and during your cycle. This is medically proven and it’s completely normal. As long as you’re making semi- healthy decisions during this time, the scale should go back to normal within a few days after your cycle.

I hope these tips help you deal with your period and make your Homemaking experience a little better!

How to manage long hair

June 16, 2023June 16, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

shallow focus photography of woman in white mini dress near tress — Photo by Ika and Lukas on Pexels.com

Long hair or hair in general has always been a very normal topic among my lady friends & family. Questions like, “How do I get my hair to grow?” “ How did you fix your hair today” “How often do you wash your hair?” “What hairspray do you use?” And the biggie from Walmart strangers… 😂 “when did you last cut your hair?” are all very common questions.

My guess is, I’m not the only one exchanging these questions with my friends. So today, I wanted to briefly hit on this topic of how to manage long hair and other questions. I invite you to come along, at the end, I would love to hear some of your hair suggestions in the comments below!

How to manage long hair

Do you ever struggle with how to manage long hair? long hair is a blessing from the Lord, but managing it can have its obstacles at times. That’s why it’s great to take in all the knowledge you can from friends and other sources . It’s amazing what the right shampoo or habit can do for your hair! One little change could literally change your weekly struggle.

Common struggles associated with long hair

First, let’s list a few common struggles and questions associated with long hair, then we will go on with tips to deal with these topics.

Dry & oily hair
Hair growth
Unhealthy hair
Dealing with tangles

I would say the most common questions I hear all revolve around these 4 topics. These 4 topics are what I want to focus on today as we discuss how to manage long hair and other questions.

Dealing with dry or oily hair

Oily hair

First of all, if you wash your hair everyday or just once a month, and that is working perfect for you, then keep at it!!

Every one of our hair is different. God has made us unique and so is our hair. You may find someone with similar hair type that can give you tons of tips and tricks but when it comes down to it, you still have to define the details for yourself and what’s best for you and your hair.

If what you are doing is not working, try something new!

For those who are younger (preteen/teen) it is natural for you to have oily hair. This is part of puberty. If you need to wash your hair nearly everyday as a young lady, do not fret, this may very well change as you approach later in womanhood.

In the meantime, there are a few tricks you can do to help.

1. Wash your hair less

https://www.functionofbeauty.com/blog/new/oily-hair-treatment/ explains it like this …

“Here’s what happens: You wake up with an oily scalp, so you wash your hair to fix it. In the process, though, you strip your hair of its natural sebum. Your body’s response is to replace it with more oil, which can sometimes lead to an overproduction of sebum. The result is a never-ending cycle that leaves you with nothing but oily hair.”

This seems so contradictory but washing your hair a little less may help! It may also take a little time for your hair to adjust so be patient. That doesn’t mean you will join the once a week club just yet, but test going one day longer at a time and see if it helps!

2. Consider your shampoo & conditioner

Sometimes changing your shampoo brand can change the oiliness of your hair!

Switching shampoos or conditioners to ones specifically made for dry hair or products that contain natural oils such as Coconut oil.

Also, if you have oily hair, make sure you are conditioning your ends only, or at least half way down your hair. Never condition your scalp if you fight oily hair.

Lastly, make sure you are running all the shampoo & conditioners out of your hair well. Leftover products can result in a oily like texture to your hair and can be mistaken as “oily hair”

Once your hair is washed, dry, and untangled, try your best to keep your hands out of it and brush it less often to keep from spreading unnecessary oils from your scalp through your hair.

Dry hair

1. Wash your hair less

On the other hand, if you deal with dry hair, as contradictory as it may sound, washing your hair less can also benefit you by allowing the natural oils to get deep into your hair and nourish it.

2. Change products & condition

As mentioned before, sometimes changing your shampoo brand can change the oiliness of your hair!

Try using a shampoo made for dry hair, or at least one that includes ingredients such as natural oils for nourishment. Also, make sure you are purchasing a good hydrating conditioner and use it liberally and regularly!

3. Add oil treatments

In addition to your wash routine, you can add over the counter oil treatments or homemade oil treatments. (100% coconut oil & a plastic shower cap can do wonders!)

4. Brush your hair

Lastly, after your hair is washed & untangled, practice running a brush through it to help distribute the oils from your scalp through the hair.

Fighting with hair growth

I couldn’t write a post about how to manage long hair without addressing the big question of “why won’t my hair grow?”

To the Rupunzels of the world, this question doesn’t make much sense, but to some of us, hair growth is a real issue.

Before we move on, I want to state a forgotten fact. And that is that long hair in the biblical term is “as long as it will grow” or “to it’s fullest extent”. Scripture will tell us that Long hair is a woman’s glory that God Himself hath given to her.

With that fact in mind, when you allow your hair to grow to its fullest extent, in God’s eyes, you indeed have long hair! If your hair is to it’s fullest extent, don’t let the length of other ladies’ hair discourage you or make you feel inadequate or less beautiful.

With that said, I wrote an entire post on the hair growth process, that you can link to here or at the end of this post. Understanding the hair growth process and what can disrupt it may really help you understand why your hair may not be growing fast as you would like and likewise, give you ideas to better improve the health of your hair.

Unhealthy hair

If you read my post on the hair growth process then you realize that many factors can indirectly effect the growth process of your hair . In the same manner, many of these same things can effect the health of your hair.

If you are struggling with healthy hair, I suggest to take a look at your lifestyle and overall health first. Ask yourself questions like this….

Am I expecting?
Am I lacking vitamins?
Am I dehydrated ?
Have I recently came through a tough illness this year?

As explained in the “hair growth process” answers to questions like these, may lead you to the reasons for your healthy hair.

Another factor of unhealthy hair

Another factor of unhealthy hair can be the direct care process of our hair.

When I notice hair breakage, thinning, dullness etc. I like to consider anything I may be doing different to my hair care process. If nothing has changes, I consider everything else about my hair care process just to make sure I am not causing the state of my unhealthy hair directly.

Some things to consider and ask yourself about the direct care of your hair are…

How is my hair products affecting my hair
How harsh are the combs or brushes I am using?
Am I using too much heat on my hair?
Do I wear my hair in a certain style to often, causing worn spots or breakage?
Am I using hair products best for my type of hair?

I hope the answers to these questions lead you to a solution to unhealthy hair or help you prevent it in the future!

Dealing with tangles

Tangled hair is the worst! Here a just few tips to deal with tangles.

Use conditioner!
Comb out tangled hair AFTER you wash and condition your hair
Comb hair while wet with a “shower” wide tooth comb or with your fingers before combing out the fine tangles
Try “picking” your hair from the bottom up (in small sections) instead of brushing or combing downward.
Use a spray detangler or conditioner for in between combs.
Sleep with hair braided or clipped on top of head to prevent night tangles
Sleep with silk pillow case to help with night tangles
Comb hair everyday if possible for easily tangled hair
Stay away from strong hair sprays and gels (mousse is a lighter option.)
Prevent hair from dryness using conditioner and oils (dry hair encourages tangling)

I hope this post has given you some tips on how to manage your long hair!

Don’t forget to check out my post on the Hair Growth Process!

If you are not subscribed to my blog, then you can do that here directly below.

A look at “The Scope Of Motherhood”

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

The scope of Motherhood is a masterpiece written by one of the top hero’s in my life, my Mother.

I asked my Mom to write a post for Mother’s day and was so excited when I received this here post! I cannot wait to share it with you! What I love most about my Mother is how she lives what she teaches & teaches what she lives. As her daughter, I can vouch that everything below is a reflect of her actions & character. I am so grateful to have the Mother I have. I hope you enjoy this post on the scope of Motherhood as much as I have and leave feeling encouraged as a Mother this Mother’s day!

The SCOPE Of Motherhood

Happy Mother’s Day!! I have a lot of emotions around Mother’s Day! As a mother of two Wonderful Christian Girls, I am so blessed!!
As a daughter of a Godly Mother that has gone on to her reward, I feel a yearning toward Heaven like never before. God is good!!

My mother and many other Godly women taught me a lot about being a mother. Did I always just take the advice straight like it was? No, sometimes we learn as we go and then we look back and say “Okay Mom, now I understand.” Lesson learned! Mom would say often, you’ll understand when you have kids. And Yes, she was right. I had the feeling I needed to apologize many times for my actions as
a child. 🫣 But along the road, she taught me many things on raising kids. With trial and error on my part, I have learned a few things that I want to share with you.

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”
Proverbs 14:1

God expects us to do our best in building our home in a Godly manner.

Here are just a few things I would like to point out that God gave me while praying about this scripture.

The “Scope of Motherhood” is what I would like to call it!

*Image pieced together specifically for the purpose of illustrating this post.*

STABILITY is the first letter in the scope of Motherhood

First, let’s look at Stability.

Stability means: to be stable, steadiness or firmness in standing or position. Children need stability in their lives. In all reality, kids love stability. It’s a safe zone for them when the world is rocking and reeling. They need parents that are stable in their walk with God, stable in their beliefs, including convictions and rules for the family. “Live what they speak.” Beliefs and standards that don’t change every time the wind blows. Having a daily walk with God gives us stability in our homes. Stability blends with our next topic consistency.

Next is CONSISTENCY

What is consistency? Consistency means standing together and staying/agreeing together when applying rules and convictions that they have established. There is nothing more confusing to a child than parents that work against each other. One parents says it’s okay; the other says it’s not.
Or telling a child they can’t do something, and then just shrug your shoulders at them when they do it anyway.

That teaches them that rules don’t matter. Teaching them that rules change according to what mood we are in. The child is always guessing what the rules are. Then again, do rules even matter? Learning the “Do what you want” mentality that is destroying our country.

The O in the SCOPE of Motherhood stands for OVERKILL

Thirdly is Overkill.. doing something to the extreme until it does more damage than good. I watched as a young mother corrected her child gently, then the child asked her: “Am I bad?” First of all, correction is Biblical and it needs to be done with love and care so the child will learn to do right. What I saw next was a mother that was trying to “make up” for the correction that she had just given. Trying to win her child’s love and make sure the child wasn’t sad. Overkill Alert
🚨 !! The child walked away knowing that mommy was sorry for correcting him.
The child had no remorse for the wrong he had done. It didn’t change the child! Correct a child, explaining to them why what they did was wrong. Don’t try to “make up” for having to correct them. They need to learn the lesson that “we reap what we sow.”Our goal with correction is to teach a child right from wrong and that there is consequences for poor conduct and wrong actions. All of us would like to see our children happy all of the time. However, correction and discipline creates temporary sadness, tears, and pain. Avoiding correction and discipline just to keep our children happy contributes to developing a generation that only seeks happiness with no regard to others. Pleasing self, whatever it costs.

The P stands for PATIENCE

Patience: The ability to wait long for the results or change needed. For some of us, one of the hardest things to have is Patience. Kids are good at helping us to develop this character trait. And in return we have to teach them to develop patience. Each child will be alike in some ways, and so very different in other ways. About the time you think you have parenting figured out, your child will throw you a curve ball. Through lots of prayer and patience, you will learn how your child thinks and how each situation will need to be handled. Leaning heavily on God in difficult situations, and utilizing prayer and patience will give the best results. Along the way, you will be setting the example for your child of how to deal with hard situations when they arise in their lives.

Last but not least is the E for EXPERIENCE

Last but not least is “Experience.” Experience is time spent in doing a job, or time in having a responsibility. Having done something before for a period of time. I am far from being an Expert at “Building my house.” In fact I’m still learning from my own experience and from raising my children. Through trial and error, I have seen what works and what doesn’t work for my home. Often I have looked to other Godly women for advice. The Bible tells us for the older women to teach the younger. As a young mother, don’t throw out advice from older Godly women, but listen and take heed to their saying. Yes, times have changed.
The world is a different place than when I was little girl. Parents and kids face more challenges than ever before.
However some things never change. We live in a fast paced world, everything at our fingertips. Raising a family and building a Godly home is something that takes time. Through much prayer and utilizing the experience of Godly mothers, grandmothers, pastors’ wives, and other motherly figures, we can raise a generation that can stand on their own with a determination to serve God with all their hearts!
Prayer is the most important key to building a home. It’s the mortar that keeps the bricks together.

Praying that God will help us to be wise in each of these areas as we build our
homes.
Praying often for wisdom on how to raise a Godly generation of children.
Praying that what we do will have a ripple effect on our children, our
grandchildren and generations to come.
Praying for your children and your spouse.
Praying for others that have influence on your family.
Don’t take for granted that someone else will teach your children the ways of walking with God and good morals of life. Take responsibility for teaching them the truth, the Bible, and how to walk faithfully before God with a servants hearts!!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

About the Author

Some of you may know my Mother, Patrina Stidham. She is a former pastor’s wife/ now evangelist wife. My Mom is good at about anything she puts her hands to, crafting , sewing, cake decorating, writing, you name it! But above all that, she’s even better at being a Godly Mother. ❤️ Keep your eyes and ears open and you may see them in your area sometime!

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Simple Peanut butter cookies with low carb option!

April 19, 2023April 26, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

These super simple peanut butter cookies are SO easy & SO good!

With only 3 ingredients, that you probably have on hand.. you can whip up a batch of these in a matter of no time. Be sure to make extra of these simple peanut butter cookies for later! (PS they freeze well too!)

Did I mention the low carb option? Yes! Yes! Whoop! You can eat REAL peanut butter cookies, LOW CARB by substituting only one ingredient! They taste very similar to the original recipe with just a tad different texture (they are a bit softer) and a tad different taste. But seriously, my husband who detest all low carb foods 😂, he even likes them!

Now that you’re excited (or at least I am)😂. Let’s make some simple peanut butter cookies!

You will need

1 cup peanut butter (I use great value creamy)
1 large egg
1 cup brown sugar

Substitute for low carb simple peanut butter cookies

Stevia brown sugar (you will use the Stevia 100 percent brown sugar substitute to replace your regular brown sugar. (Substitute in equal amounts.) All other ingredients remain the same.

How to make super simple peanut butter cookies

Dump ingredients in bowl (starting with egg to avoid losing egg shells)
Mix together with whisk, fork, or spoon until combined.
Scoop onto pre-greased or lined panned with heaping teaspoon full or roll each heaping teaspoon into a smooth ball for neater looking cookie. Should yield approximately 19 cookies.
Mash with flat side of fork twice crisscrossed, to make the well known “peanut butter cookie” markings
Bake! I bake my cookies around 400 until edges are starting to golden. (Usually 15min or so) BUT I have a RV oven with no top burners. Therefore, my cooking time and temperature may be MUCH different than yours! I would suggest starting at a temperature of 375 and watch for golden edges. If there not getting any where after 10min, consider increasing temperature. Don’t leave the cookies for long! They may get done much quicker in a regular household oven probably closer to 8-10min! Don’t forget to write down your oven time & temp for future references.
Allow cookies to cool on pan for 10min then carefully move to a cookie sheet for quicker cooling or leave on pan until completely cool. These cookies will break VERY easy while warm. Use a very thin spatula to move them and if one breaks, let cool longer.

NOTE- I like the taste of these cookies best cooled at room temperature.

Comment

I’d love to hear if you make these simple peanut butter cookies and how long it took your oven and at what temperature. Also, let me know if you tried the low carb version and what you think.

Nutrition Value

Yield- 19 cookies

Serving size- 1 cookie

Calories- 80 calories per cookie

Net carbs- 3.5 net carbs per cookie

In case you want to make different size cookies or your batch turns out different than mine, here is the “total calories & net carbs”!

Calories for ENTIRE batch of batter- 1,518

Net Carbs for ENTIRE batch of batter- 64.5

* Simply divide the total amount of calories (or net carbs) by the amount of cookies in your batch for the exact nutrition of your cookie!

Love this recipe? Consider subscribing to my blog! You will receive alerts to more post like this! Plus access to a entire page of FREE Printables (Adding new one regularly!)😜

How much I saved at Pigeon Forge using my tips! Results!

April 19, 2023April 21, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

Are you ready to hear how much I saved at Pigeon Forge using my own tips?!

Last month, I wrote a post on “How to save money at Pigeon Forge”. This is a follow up post using my own tips! If you have not read my original post, you may wish to head over there then come back once you have read (or at least read afterwards) to fully understand.

Exactly how much did I save at Pigeon Forge using my own tips?

First of all, I want to say that everyone budgets for vacation in a different way. With that in mind, a set amount that I “saved” may or may not look like a lot to you. This is why it’s important to note a few important details of our vacation first, to give you the most accurate idea of our savings.

Please keep this in mind as I try to give the clearest idea possible on how much I saved at Pigeon Forge using my own tips.

You will need to carefully consider the details of our vacation that I include to comprehend the savings.

Some details to note here

We were on a 5 day/ 6 night trip
We are a family of 4. Two being young children
We had previous plans to be attend an event for 2 of the 5 days. We still ate as on vacation but we did not have time for extra activities during these 2 days that would otherwise possibly cost money.
We used many of the tips in my previous post to save money, including planning out our stay although we left some flexibility for spontaneity.
We own an RV. Therefore, we had the option to stay in a RV park. Staying in a RV park, still cost a nightly rate like a hotel but can have its advantages. (in Pigeon Forge this nightly rate is often just as much as a hotel)
Due to staying at a RV park, we did not have breakfast provided. We chose to eat breakfast from our normal groceries or skip and do a early lunch instead. Therefore, our vacation was based on 2 meals a day.

On to our savings!

I’m going to break down how much we saved at Pigeon Forge into categories to relay a better understanding. The categories will be…

Lodging
Dining
Family fun activities
Other digital savings (cash apps etc)

How much I saved at Pigeon Forge on lodging?

I was just about to click the check button for a 5 night stay at our RV park when I decided to Google promos for that specific park. What do you know? There was a HUGE discount! I got a whopping 20% off our entire stay which added up to being about a $100 savings!

With just those 2 tips utilized, I saved a total of $250 on lodging at Pigeon Forge.

We also saved money in lodging by price matching. By doing this, I know for a fact that we chose a cheaper option RV park, and yes, it was nice! No, it didn’t have all the bells and whistles as some, but it reached our expectations and was a great option for our trip. There may come a time we want to try out a higher end RV park and that’s fine too. 😊 One nearby campground we considered staying at would have cost us about $150 more for our stay!

How much did I save on dining at Pigeon Forge?

Dining and vacation is a big deal to us. My husband’s favorite part of the week is eating at the many different restaurants lol. So, this is an area we “plan” to splurge on. (All within the budget of course) 😜. It is also a area I look for some serious savings on!

1. We ended up eating 4 very “nice” dining meals

2. Five fast food meals

3. Had one “cook out”

We saved money at Pigeon Forge in this area by…

Using Coupons (about $5 worth)
Paying attention to prices before ordering (no exact amount that I can list)
Taking advantage of certain day specials at some restaurants (about $10 worth)
Drinking water at times instead of soda (at least $10 worth) note-this is a opportunity to save a lot more than that!
Having a cook out (about $30)
Focusing and budgeting for one “nice meal” per day. Then eating one less expensive meal as our second. (This saved us about $20 a day in the budget for total saving of about $100)
Eating breakfast at the RV (or hotel) (since most people probably do this, I will not include an amount)

This adds up to a total of $155 of savings on just the actual amounts that can be figured. This is NOT counting the savings from tips that I couldn’t really add in such as setting a vacation budget in general and planning.

How much money I saved on the “family fun category”

We saved money in this area by…

Using coupons ($8)
Planning within our budget (I can’t list an amount but this saved us more than the amounts I can list!
Choosing a select amount of “expensive” fun things to do. (We chose 3 things that involved pricey “tickets”. The rest we filled in with visiting, sight seeing, and less expensive things to do.)
Adding in FREE or cheap fun things (we spent a entire evening at Cades Cove and even seen a bear! It cost us nothing but the gas to get there. This evening filled with anything in town could have easily cost us around $75 or more and wouldn’t have lasted near as long.)
Checking and comparing online ticket prices (I can’t remember my savings here)
Using homeschool discounts ($19)

We saved well over $100 on family fun activities by using the tips listed above

How much I saved with extra cash back apps etc.

Fetch & upside ($3)
Credit card cash back (about $23)

I saved more then $25 in this category

Now for a total on how much I saved at Pigeon Forge!

The truth is, the top savers of my tips can’t be shown in numbers. Budgeting & planning will save you tons! Not to mention other tips I didn’t utilize well or forgot to mention.

With that said, just the numbers shown above that can be added, I saved a total of $530!

If you are interested in how to save money at Pigeon Forge, or any vacation, check out my post linked here on “Saving Money At Pigeon Forge On Vacation”

I’d also love to here how you save money on vacation. Please leave in the comments below if you have any tips!

Can I love homeschool when I don’t always like it?

April 14, 2023April 13, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

“School Books” by Krzysztof%20Puszczy%u0144ski/ CC0 1.0

Can I love homeschool when I don’t always like it? This may seem like an odd question but let’s be real. I don’t know about you, but my family’s homeschool days are NOT always perfect. They do not fit into the fairy tale land of perfect school schedules and no whining. And for some reason, my child thinks I’m still “mom” whether I am teaching or not. And that’s because I am! 😂

Being Mom + teacher is just one of the many factors that makes homeschool a bit of a challenge at times. But, I am not here today to tell you how to fix all of your homeschool obstacles. To be honest, I could a use a few tips myself! My intentions are not to fix your problems but to encourage you as a homeschooling Mother to keep going on!

But what about those days when I really just don’t like homeschool?

Those are the days I want to encourage you through. Oftentimes, homeschool is just plain hard. It can be a challenge for you, your child, and even the younger siblings. It takes a lot of creativity, flexibility, love, patience, determination and prayers.

Homeschool is not a bed of roses for everyone, but never forget that it is a blessing.

Can I love homeschool when I don’t always like it ?

I bring you back to my question. Can I love homeschool when I don’t always like it?

Yes! Let me illustrate it like this. Do you like washing dishes, folding laundry, scrubbing toilets, changing diapers, picking up toys or cleaning up puke? Maybe a couple yes’s but probably not 100%, right? But if I was to ask if you love being a wife & mother… of course you do! Without one waver, yes!

My point? Just because homeschool consist of bad days or tasks we do not enjoy should not determine if we love or despise homeschooling. Just as dreading cleaning up puke and scrubbing toilets does not determine your love of homemaking or motherhood.

Just because you had a bad week doesn’t mean you should quit or give up! If you have already reached the point of giving up, I encourage you to step back and take the situation into perspective.

Ask yourself why you started homeschool in the first place. Think upon the alternative of homeschool for your child. Remember the advantages your child has by having you as their “one on one” tutor. And most of all thank God for the privilege you have to homeschool your own child! Homesschool is like anything else in life. Sometimes it’s hard, but hard is not always bad.

Now, I ask once again, do you still love homeschool?

I hope so! If you’re not convinced, I encourage you to read my post on why should I homeschool. Also, if you are struggling with homeschool, consider reaching out for advice or help from family or friends. Maybe try a different homeschool approach, schedule, curriculum, or routine. Also, feel free to check out my other homeschool post linked below such as Is there benefits to a four day homeschool week.

Is there benefits to loving homeschool?

Embracing a love for homeschool and realizing what a privilege it is can be enough to get you through those hard weeks!

Loving homeschool can even rub off on your children. When you make a positive mindset change, your kids will notice and often follow in your path.

If quitting is an option, the hard days will always seem hard. When quitting is not a option, you will learn to deal with the hard days the best you can and prepare to make tomorrow better.

If you believe homeschool is for your family, then I encourage you to love homeschool for the sake of your children and for the sake of your sanity!

Get your FREE homeschool printable by subscribing to my blog!

LINKS

Why should I homeschool?
Benefits to a four day homeschool week

20 homeschool tips to rescue the remaining of the school year

Entertain your littles with these trigger activities while the older ones school!

Can Jesus Fit Inside Your Heart?

April 7, 2023April 7, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

Can Jesus fit inside your heart?

Those that have been with me awhile may remember my son’s response last year when I asked him this question. ” Why did Jesus die on the cross?” His reply was so simple, yet sweet… “So Jesus can get inside of my heart”. His simple answer rolled in my mind over and over . “Could Jesus fit inside my heart?”

My mind goes back to a illustration I once used in Sunday school. I had this huge vase of full of random items. I had a pitcher of water that I began to pour into the item filled vase. I told the girls to let me know when the vase was full of water.

As the water approached the top nearly spilling onto the table, the girls screeched for me to stop.

I wish you could have seen their amazement when I then informed them that the vase was NOT full of water.

What’s in your heart? Are you sure Jesus can fit inside?

I carefully began to stick my hands into the water pulling out one item out at a time. As I withdrawal a item I talked to them about things that may have creeped into their heart.. bitterness and hurts, things that happen out of their control that can leave extra stuff in our hearts if not tended to.

I talked to them about love for hobbies and money, anything that is taking first place before God.

As I removed the last item from the vase, the girls stared in astonishment at the “half full” vase of water.

I ask you once again, can Jesus fit inside of your heart?

If not, it might be time to do some decluttering- not of the house this time, but of the soul.

This is the week we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior! The Savior who died for you. God forbid we fill our hearts so full of the things of this world that we leave no room for Him.

We serve a loving & merciful God, yet a just and jealous God. He will not take second place. Are you willing to set the things of this world aside? Can Jesus “fit inside your heart”?

The Deception Of A Carnal Mind

The hurting blame their brother
The bitter blame the church
The angry blame their pastor Forgetting those they’ve hurt
In the end, the problem lies ,
only in your hand
As you stand before
the throne of God
Each trembling will stand
The problems we blamed on others The issues pushed aside
Brought before the one true Judge with nothing left to hide
The blame I carried, oh so long, Now appears so small
Not worth the sentence I face
Not worth losing all
Next time, a seed of evil,
plants inside your mind
Root it out and get it gone,
Leave no trace behind
There’s nothing worth
missing heaven,
Nothing worth your soul
Nothing worth
your child’s small heart
you influence and mold
Nothing worth eternity,
in agony and pain
The torments of your choices, driving you insane
There’s nothing worth
your last chance,
Trade it not away
Run from every trick and trap,
for you that Satan’s made.
Every time, a carnal thought
enters in your head
Remember, it’s not worth it,
And look to God instead!
-Erica R.W

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:6 KJV

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:8,10

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Easter activities we are doing this year

April 1, 2023April 1, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

Can you believe tomorrow is Palm Sunday? That means Easter Sunday is just one week away!

Since having children, I’ve tried my best to implement the “reason for the season” in all of our holidays. That’s right…did you know the word “holiday” stands for “Holy Day”? So in a sense , if it isn’t a “Holy Day” then it’s not really a “holiday”. But that’s just a extra tidbit for you to think upon lol. On to the Easter activities we are doing this year!

What activities am I doing with my kids for Easter this year?

My children are pretty young, therefore, I haven’t had many years experience to add in activities that point to the true meaning of Easter. That’s why I am so excited about the Easter activities we are doing this year!

As Easter has been approaching, I often look for opportunities to discuss the Biblical Easter story and the true meaning of Christ resurrection. I want my children to know exactly why we celebrate Christ resurrection on this day.

I have intentionally waited until the week before Easter to do these Easter activities, in hopes to connect Easter Day with the truth that the activities point to.

Now onto the few simple Easter activities I have chosen for Psalm week this year!

The first of the Easter activities we are doing this year is to make resurrection rolls

The first Easter activities we plan to do this week is to make resurrection rolls!

I am so excited to make resurrection rolls with my kids and see the awe on there faces when they open the gooey rolls to find their marshmallow gone! Just as Christ was wrapped in the clothes and placed in a tomb, we will wrap the marshmallows in dough to be put in the oven. once baked the rolls can be enjoyed but only after the children discover the marshmallow they placed inside is now gone! This may seem simple, but to a child, the amazement factor is worth it. If you have never seen the resurrection rolls check out the link below!

The second Easter activity is to tell and read the Easter story in more than one way!

The second Easter activity for children that I plan to do this week is to read & tell the Easter story. Again, this may seem simple but if I can make the story come to life they will never forget it. We have already discussed the resurrection leading up to this holiday, but this week, I want to focus on the details of the entire story a little extra. Here are a few ways I like to tell the story.

My children LOVE the Bernstein Bears. I purchased a Bernstein Bear Easter Story Book from Walmart to read them a few times this week. ❤️
We will listen to the Easter story on my dramatized Gideon bible app. (My kids love listening to the Gideon app! They are currently working through the entire New Testament)
I also loved Tiphanie’s idea to tell the Easter story while using little toy figures to illustrate. Letting the children place the toy Jesus in the tomb and on Easter morning making the tomb empty really expresses the story in a fun way! I haven’t found a toy Jesus figure but I thought about printing & laminating some characters to do this with. It would pair great with the resurrection garden. Don’t know what a resurrection garden is? Read more on Mew Mercies about that too! (also linked below.)
We travel full time but if we were home we would be attending our local annual Easter play! If we get the chance at any churches we are near we will continue this tradition of the Easter story
I personally can’t wait to attend sight and sound theater this summer for our 10th anniversary! I am soon excited. With this in mind, did you know you can watch a live recording of their professional play “Jesus”? The Easter story will be FREE for a limited (April 7-9) this Easter weekend for those interested!

The third of the Easter Activities we are doing is to plan a Resurrection scavenger hunt

The third Easter activity I plan to do with my this year is a resurrection scavenger hunt. I have done these before with our past children’s group at church and I just love them!

What’s special about this scavenger hunt is the fact that each item points to the resurrection story. Then at the end this activity provides, once again, the opportunity to tell the Easter story with the found items. Turn this hunt into a race for older kids then Let them keep one of the items as a reminder of its meaning. This is not only great for your children but also for homeschool groups, Sunday school classes, Easter parties, sleep overs, and church kids night. Keep reading to see how to receive your own FREE printable scavenger hunt.

Do you love this scavenger hunt idea? Great! Because I’ve created a FREE printable (plus a instruction page) for my subscribers and it is a “no reading required” activity!

Are you not a subscriber? We can fix that, just subscribe below and you will have access to all of my FREE Printable’s! Don’t forget to confirm in your email and add me to your contact list to insure to post alerts are delivered to you and not to your spam.

Do your children know the true meaning of Easter? What do you plan to do this year to reaffirm that? Please share in the comments below!

Links

Keeping Easter all about Christ part 1 (by NEW MERCIES)

Sight and sound

Resurrection Rolls

Saving money on spring break at Pigeon Forge!

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

Do you need some tips on saving money at Pigeon Forge wherever you take spring break at this year? Then keep reading!

Here are my best, tried and true tips for saving money at Pigeon Forge! I love going to Pigeon Forge and we usually go every year but let’s be real. Pigeon Forge, TN is one of the most expensive places that you can spend vacation at. That’s right, Pigeon Forge https://championtraveler.com states that the average family of four will spend $5,609 on a 7 day trip to Pigeon Forge! Whaaaaaatttt?!

Okay, yall, I’m no pro but I can tell you that we have NEVER spent near this much during our yearly 6day trips here. But I can easily see how one could if they are not using some strategies to save money at Pigeon Forge. If you don’t know where to start to save money at Pigeon forge or on vacation in general, then keep reading for my 21 tips plus stick around for some inexpensive or FREE things to do near Pigeon Forge.

10 Tips to save money while In Pigeon Forge

Plan your trip. Most of these tips will only work if you plan your trip. If you like some spontaneity, then plan for it too 😂. I usually budget for a extra 100 dollars for spontaneous plans and thanks to my lodging coupon, this expense is already planned for. Even with planning, you may find a evening with extra time or see a new place you want to go. When you plan your trip, make sure to set a vacation budget. Talk to your spouse and consider what you would like your vacation to look like. Then compare that to your finances and agree on a reasonable budget that fits into your families life. Once the budget is set, stick to it! Sticking to your budget can save more than anything on this list.
Once your budget is set, talk to your children about what your vacation will look like. Find out what they are looking forward to most and be sure to implement some of their desires into the plan. If the kids know that 1 meal a day will be eaten ‘out’ from the start, it can help prevent disappointment and urges to spend unplanned money when it’s time to eat the other meals at the “cabin”. Same concept goes for all vacation spendings.
Price match the place you are staying.This may take some time but you can save so much by doing this!
If you are going with another family. Consider staying in one larger place and splitting the cost. It may be cheeper in the long run. Especially if this gives you aces to cook some meals.
Consider cooking part of your meals through out the week. find Crock pot meals and things that are minimal work and cleanup. If you are in a group, split the meal prep duties and cost.
When eating out, pay attention to menu prices before committing, also ask about specials, family meals or non menu items. We went to a diner for ice cream in Pigeon Forge and the cheapest ice cream on the menu was like 5-6 dollars. I asked the waitress if they had any other options for my children. Come to find out, they didn’t list the basic one scoop Sundays for only 3 dollars which was exactly what they wanted anyway.
Another way to save on dining is to purchase gift card at discount in advance for places like Golden Corral, steak N’ shake, Cracker Barrel etc. Sams Club often sells bulk gift card at discounted rates and Dollar General often runs their gift card on sale.
Save gifted gift cards from holidays for vacation!
Check for online coupon codes before reserving ANYTHING. This goes for early tickets and even lodging. I did quick Google search this year only moments before reserving and found a $100 off of our RV park! I was so happy lol.
Make a list of the most expensive things you would like to do, then carefully choose one or two . Keep the remaining list on hand for future trips back.
Fill in the other time with less expensive and FREE activities (I’ll share some of our favorites at the end)
Give your kids and yourself a set amount of “spending money’. Don’t expect yourself not to bye anything. Unless you are really committed at least. Setting a spending allowance will help you spend your money wisely and save money that would have been nothing but spontaneous purchases. If your kids want more spending money let them find ways to earn it ahead of time. As far as that, if they are old enough they could earn all of their spending money.
When your trip is planned you will have time to compare online ticket prices with actual ticket before adding in your promo codes. Make sure to print any online tickets before hand if applicable.
For those tickets you do not buy online, be sure to check the store and restaurant lobbies for brochures w/ coupons and coupon books.
You can also ask desk workers about coupons or specials they are running
Skip tons of souvenirs and take pictures instead! You can print these later for a fraction of a souvenir price. And the memory that the photo shares will last way longer then a magnet or water globe.
Pack meals, snacks, and drinks for the trip to and from Pigeon Forge to save money for when you’re actually there.
Check museum sites such as (Titantic, Alkatraz, Aquarium) for homeschool discounts. Be sure to bring required material to receive these discounts.
Ask about AAA discounts
If you have a credit card that has cash rewards, consider saving all cash rewards for vacation!
Make use of money saving apps! You can cash in rewards for gift card to use on vacation with apps like with FETCH! You can also save on gas and restaurant expenses just by using apps. Saving 20% on your entire McDonald’s order is worth having the app to me. Remember that a little goes a long way. If you would be interested in a post on money saving apps, let me know in the comments below!

Inexpensive or free things to do in or near Pigeon Forge

Drive for a scenic view up the mountain
Walk the trails along the Smoky Mountain State Park
Walk the river trail near the Smoky Mountain Knife Works
Visit the Smoky Mountain Knife Works
Visit the Christmas Shop
Ride the Trolley
Get a inexpensive treat at the Apple Barn gift shop after you look around
Walk around the shops near the OLD MILL
See the iron smith at work on some days near the Old Mill
Feed the bears at the 3 Bears Gift Shop
Visit Cades Cove for some historic sites, great views, and possibly a bear sighting!

What’s your favorite cheap or inexpensive thing to do here and how do you save money at Pigeon Forge ? Please share in the comments & Don’t forget to subscribe for post updates and special content!

Why I don’t usually purchase these 21 items

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

I’d say we all have items we omit from our regular grocery list to save money. I find it interesting the different things that people choose not to bye. So, I thought I would share some of my own today. Here is a list of 21 items of which I do not usually purchase or include in our regular grocery list. Please stick around and let me know in the comments what items you do not purchase, I would love to hear!

Now, onto my list of 21 things I don’t usually purchase!

Paper towels (because rags work great)
Dryer sheets &
Fabric softener (dryer balls replaced my dryer sheets & my fabric softener!)
Individual snacks (we mostly by the bigger packaging and split into baggies. This saves ton of money and I can control other portions according to the person)
Pajamas for my son (may sound strange but he sleeps in cotton “comfy” pants & casual T-shirts that double has travel clothes)
Gallons of water for bottles (we are done with bottles now but my filtering pitcher still replaces TONS of bottles of water a week!) *huge $ saver here!
Soda Pop (we just don’t need the extra sugar nor the extra expense)
Laundry Stain remover (Original Dawn is my go to & that tiny bottle last forever!)
Snack cakes (again, we don’t need the extra sugar nor expense)
Smell good body wash (we purchase a cheap ‘3 in 1″ man’s wash for the whole family. It’s inexpensive, easier on my skin allergies, & reduces the clutter to 1bottle. Ps I do purchase special shampoo for my hair)
Shaving cream (a squirt of conditioner works amazing! & last way longer!)
Personal meals (make your own w/leftovers & meal prep containers. You will save boo-koos!)
Juice (flavored water is much better on my kids teeth and cheaper)
Everything name brand (when I say “everything” I mean that I do not bye everything name brand, not that I don’t bye “some” things name brand. In other words, don’t knock it (generic items) till you try it.
Pre bottled sports drinks (big containers of powder mix for Gatorade is so much cheaper guys!)
Disposable razors (I’ve had my Venus razor for over 10 yrs. It’s disposable heads last so much longer and shave so much better then disposable razors. It may be an expense up front but it saves in the long run!)
Disposable Double AA batteries (I’ve been trying my best to switch to RECHARGEABLE batteries, why wouldn’t I?
Music CD’s (Online music saves me money & space, use a radio app or music downloads to keep from using up tons of data with music videos)
Big Macs & Frappe’s ! ( I love both of these! But did you know you can usually use the McDonald’s app rewards to get both for FREE ?
Mini trash bags (these look nice but tying a grocery bag snuggly can keep the neet look while illuminating a expense)
Furniture polish (personally a damp microfiber rag works great for my dusting needs but I also don’t own much “real” wood)

Exceptions to these items I don’t usually purchase!

I would not be honest if I didn’t tell you that there are indeed exceptions to these items I don’t usually purchase. That’s why I said “usually” . The fact is, these items are not regularly on my grocery list but I do, on occasion, purchase many if not all of them.

For example, we do not “usually” purchase juice in our home. With that said, I do keep some juice concentrate in my freezer for health issues that may arise.

Another example would be disposable AA batteries. Although we try to use our stash of rechargeable batteries, I do keep a few disposable AA’s tucked away for emergencies when we “forget” to recharge batteries or we are running low.

And even though we don’t keep snack cake and pop rotation regular in our fridge and cabinets, we do purchase limited amounts of these items for travel days!

the fact is, limiting these items still saves money. You don’t have to give something up to see results.

In Closing

Are you not convinced that limiting or illuminating certain items from your grocery list can save you money? Maybe you just don’t see how a couple items can make much of a difference. Then you need to check out my post on “Decluttering your grocery budget”. It may change your perspective!
I hope this list has inspired you to consider cutting a few unneeded items from your life

don’t forget to subscribe for regular post updates and special content like free printables !

Happy Homemaking

-Erica

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations

February 17, 2023April 4, 2023e.renee94 Leave a comment

If you have been married any time at all, you probably have faced the battle of how to deal with unfulfilled expectations within your home.

With Valentine’s Day just behind us, I thought it would be a great time to confront this topic of unfulfilled expectations, the damage they can cause, and how to avoid them.

The truth is, the money market has made a feast of holidays and special occasions. These special holidays can come with a lot of pressure and a large price . I’m not bashing holidays nor traditions, but we really shouldn’t let the pressure of those around us determine what we must do for our families, even when it comes down to holidays and traditions. I mean really, just because you didn’t have this years, new outfit for the elf on the shelf’s best friend… doesn’t mean your Christmas was in vain! In fact, I prefer the shepherd anyway lol . But that’s a fact for another day. 😜

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations

Who and where are some of these unfulfilled expectations coming from of which are pressuring our families and homes?

A few areas that unfulfilled expectations come from are…

social media & the web
friends & family
ourselves & our past

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations from social media & the web

Many of our “unrealistic ideas” come from social media or the web. This is really kind of sad. Why, you may ask? Because, the fact is, we are overwhelming ourselves, our families, and our homes with expectations birthed from people we don’t even know! We think they have it all together and really, we just see the highlights of many peoples lives. We then expect our life to look like this “perfect fairytale” made up of little clips of some strangers “few” special moments. Why is it that our homes must have the latest style for us to feel a sense of joy, our kids the best Pinterest birthday party to be happy… (or is it for us to be happy?) and our poor husbands must practically preform a ridiculous check list of social media inspired honey do’s before they meet the qualifications of a “good” husband? Whatever happened to God’s qualifications of a peaceful home and Godly spouse? My suggestion? Drop the fairy tale idea, acknowledge you are human, (as is whoever you have been following after online).Then consider limiting your time from such powerful/negative influences and replacing them with something positive and actually productive such as the standards of a spouse found in Ephesians 5:22-33 or the foundations of homemaking in Proverbs 31.

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations from friends & family

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations caused by friends and family can be quite tricky. Sometimes friends and family don’t even realize the pressure they are putting on you while other times they may feel like their expectations are justified by your well being and their love for you. We must realize that we have our own family and own decisions to make according to God’s direction. We cannot base the expectations of what our home should be or how it should operate by what our friends or family expect. With that said, we must be cautious and loving when we go against the grind of friends and family. You can do what’s right the wrong way or you can do what’s right the right way! If your gonna do it right, why not do it all the way right? Always remeber that a “friend loveth at all times” … Proverbs 17:17 (even when we disagree) and a proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” that’s still true even with friends & family.

How to deal with unfulfilled expectations from ourselves

The last area I want to discuss is how to deal with unfulfilled expectations that we have placed on ourselves . These expectations may have originated from the previous points above (things we have seen on the web or by ideas family & friends may have birthed) . Or they may have been made by our raising, how our childhood was orchestrated, or how we always imagined the perfect home to be. As ladies, we are often our highest critic. More times than not, we find ourselves criticizing everything about ourselves to no avail and with no mercy. “My house is never clean, my kids won’t listen, my clothes don’t fit, I just can’t, can’t, can’t, CAN’T!!” Anybody relate, or do I stand here alone? The truth is, we are human and we must rely on God to help us be the wife, mom, and homemaker that we should be. We cannot dwell on such negative thinking of ourselves and we cannot set expectations that are unreasonable.

…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

In closing

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How To Cook Dry Red Beans QUICK, In your Instant pot/ Pressure Cooker

October 19, 2021February 10, 2023e.renee94 1 Comment

How To Cook Dry Red Beans And Why Should I?

If you cook with beans very often dry beans are your cheapest option.

one lb of red beans will make approximately 5cups of cooked bean for about $1.42

currently, at my location, a 15.5 can of red beans at Walmarts value price will get you about 9oz of beans for .69

the comparison

$2.75 for about 5 cups of canned beans

verses $1.42 for 5 cups cooked from dry.

Ok, I realize that isn’t enough savings to pros-wade most of you. So, here are my other reasons.

-You can control sodium intake

-You can cook them how you like them

-You know what’s in them

-Many will agree, they just taste better

Cooking dry beans isn’t near as hard as you may have it worked up to be! Keep reading for my QUICK pressure power cooker, AKA “instant pot” version.

You will need

1lb bag of dry red beans

4 cups water

seasoning of choice (optional)pressure Cooker

Directions

•Wash and rinse beans in water, removing

any bad beans or stones. Drain.

•Add beans to empty pressure cooker

•Cover with any desired seasonings or

leave out. (I used 1 chicken bullion cube)

•Cover with approximately 4 cups of water •Close vent and lock lid

•Cook on 20 lbs pressure for 30min

Results

This should result in approximately 5cups of cooked but somewhat firm red beans with very little juice.

Drain juice and add to desired meal

Store remaining beans in airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze in freezer bags for future meals.

Note-

If you are interested in more instant pot or Dry bean Recipes please leave in comments below!

Disclaimer

This does not make soup. This recipe is intended to cook dry red beans for additives to recipes & meals.

Great Ways To Use Red Beans

-Chili (my favorite!)

-Taco topping

-Enchilada protein stuffer

-Add to most Mexican recipes or

casseroles!

-Bean dip

-Add to cheese dips

-Homemade humus recipes

-Amazing in Jumbo lei

-Red beans & rice

Grow Where You Are Planted

This past week I had a red bean that didn’t get washed good down my kitchen sink drain. A few evenings later, I allowed some dishes to dry overnight and when I went to put them away the next day, behold, I had a red bean plant sprouting from my sink!

I found this quite funny, so I removed it and put it in some water and to my amazement, within a week, it had doubled its size!

Now any gardener would tell you a sink drain is not the ideal place for a plant to blossom… but this plant didn’t care, it was willing to bloom and prosper wherever it was planted, as long as the water was present.

If you are currently planted in a place that seems impossible to blossom in? Remember, when God (our living water) is present with you, you can prosper anywhere!

He will supply your needs and give you strength beyond all measure.

It’s time we check our words, change our mindset, follow God’s word and become willing to grow in every situation.

If we are willing to grow now, whatever the situation may be , the time will come that we will be transplanted to “better” places. We will never lack the nutrients we need to grow when we are in God’s will. He always provides.

As one dear sister said so well,

“You Are Fit For The Task!

Because of Him.”

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When you feel like a failure, inadequate , unable, or unworthy as a mother or wife, remember the key to your success is always Jesus.

Turn to Him and He will not fail you. It’s in Jesus you will find more then your heart ever desired. If your desires are toward Him, He will truly give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (KJV)

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 146:5 (KJV)

Happy [is he] that [hath] the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope [is] in the LORD his God:

Are You Fighting Discontentment ?

Wikipedia-

Contentment is an emotional state of satisfaction that can be seen as a mental state, maybe drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking, contentment could be a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a milder and more tentative form of happiness.[1]

Ask yourself these questions.

-Are you in God’s will?

-Is there anything between you and God that could be breaking your relationship with God given contentment?

-Are you trusting in God or man with your problems ?

-Does your conversation promote contentment

-Are your thoughts dwelling on the things of God ?

-Recognizing the problem is the first step to getting it fixed. But you must not stop there!

If you are constantly feeling down, depressed, unsettled, sad, and discontent, or wanting realize that you are living way below your privilege as a a Child Of God.

Satan wants to attack your mind and have you constantly intertaining a defeated spirit. Don’t fall for his tricks. Fight for your peace of mind, you do not have to continually live with a defeated mindset.

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)

But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s fight For Contentment!

You have the victory through Jesus! Now it is time to fight for it and claim it through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ!

As Christians, we know that true contentment only comes from God.

But do notice, in these verses that our contentment is contingent on our actions.

We MUST do our part and THEN God will always fulfill His promises.

(Note- all of these verses have a contingent underlined.)

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalm 146:5 (KJV)

Happy [is he] that [hath] the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope [is] in the LORD his God:

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In Closing

If you are content your family is more likely to be content . If you are discontent often times, so are they.

No one wants to dwell with a discontent woman or person as far as that goes.

Pro 21:9 (KJV) — It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

On the other hand, a woman that is content brings blessings upon herself and her home.

Have you ever wondered how the proverbs 31 lady seems to accomplish so much ?

Contentment makes responsibilities enjoyable and for filling, whereas discontentment makes each task at had a dreaded chore.

Notice highlighted, the blessings and benefits the proverbs 31 lady experiences through her contentment.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

True contentment is a special gift from God. Let us take advantage of it , live in it, be a example of it to our children, and reap the benefits as a family.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (KJV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.

Learn To Be Content.

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like, subscribe & share

and leave questions or suggestions In comments below!

God bless!

A SIMPLER LIFE

Other Post You May Like https://www.asimplerlife.net/post/best-things-to-freeze & how to cook/prep/freeze chicken in pressure Cooker.

struggling to stay in your grocery budget?

https://www.asimplerlife.net/post/how-to-declutter-lower-you-re-grocery-budget

Dinner Tips For A Simpler Preparation!

https://www.asimplerlife.net/post/7x-dinner-tips

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In Closing

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The SCOPE Of Motherhood

The “Scope of Motherhood” is what I would like to call it!

STABILITY is the first letter in the scope of Motherhood

Next is CONSISTENCY

The O in the SCOPE of Motherhood stands for OVERKILL

The P stands for PATIENCE

Last but not least is the E for EXPERIENCE

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You will need

Substitute for low carb simple peanut butter cookies

How to make super simple peanut butter cookies

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Nutrition Value

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Exactly how much did I save at Pigeon Forge using my own tips?

Some details to note here

On to our savings!

How much I saved at Pigeon Forge on lodging?

With just those 2 tips utilized, I saved a total of $250 on lodging at Pigeon Forge.

How much did I save on dining at Pigeon Forge?

We saved money at Pigeon Forge in this area by…

This adds up to a total of $155 of savings on just the actual amounts that can be figured. This is NOT counting the savings from tips that I couldn’t really add in such as setting a vacation budget in general and planning.

How much money I saved on the “family fun category”

We saved money in this area by…

We saved well over $100 on family fun activities by using the tips listed above

How much I saved with extra cash back apps etc.

I saved more then $25 in this category

Now for a total on how much I saved at Pigeon Forge!

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But what about those days when I really just don’t like homeschool?

Can I love homeschool when I don’t always like it ?

Now, I ask once again, do you still love homeschool?

Is there benefits to loving homeschool?

Get your FREE homeschool printable by subscribing to my blog!

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LINKS

Can Jesus fit inside your heart?

What’s in your heart? Are you sure Jesus can fit inside?

I ask you once again, can Jesus fit inside of your heart?

The Deception Of A Carnal Mind

What activities am I doing with my kids for Easter this year?

The first of the Easter activities we are doing this year is to make resurrection rolls