Have you ever shopped Gazelle.com? Well, We are shopping for electronics on Gazelle this week and you should too!
This is where we have found all of our new Iphones for the past couple of years.
Instant Pot Green Beans
If you ever find yourself in need of seasonal relief read on about how I combat the symptoms of this wonderful season…
It’s Fall!
That means, cool air, beautiful colors, my favorite cozy clothes… and if you are like me it also means.. headaches, itchy eyes, ear aches, scratchy throat… etc.
For awhile it just became routine that once the wind started up, I would need antibiotics for ear infections and congestion.. almost annually. Definitely puts a damper on the wonder of the season.
But, now that I have young living oils available to me… I haven’t been on antibiotics for my seasonal issues in about 4 years!!! seriously!!
Here’s how I use my favorite oils for my most useful purpose!! Read More
Seasonal relief with out medication…
Help With Dinner Time For Back To School Days!
Summer went by soooo quickly this year! It’s so crazy that it’s September already!
I know a lot of kids are back to school already, I’m avoiding it a little bit longer over here. 😉 But, the schedules are already filling up for fall time!
Most of us are looking for help with dinner time for these back to school days.
And these are the crazy days I’m so thankful to have dinner packed away in the freezer. I mean seriously, with piano lessons and Lego class (my guy is super excited about that one), homeschooling, and chasing around our 1-year-old. Rushing us all off to Awana classes and MomStrong Bible Study… The last thing I can do is spend loads of time prepping and cooking dinner every single night!!!
So, in case dinner time is crazy for you too, I thought I’d share how we use our membership with Once A Month Meals to help!
I love love love using my Instant Pot with my freezer meals.. guys, you don’t even have to remember to thaw your dinner!!!!! If you use your crock pot as much as I use to, you know that it’s a super bummer when you forget to get out your meat or whatever for your crock pot to be able to cook it all day long for you…. so in comes the joy of the Instant pot! Seriously, from the freezer.. some of my meals are as quick as 20 minutes from freezer to table! I’m not even kidding! This has been a game. changer. over. here. 🙂
So, Here’s what I do.
Strawberry Chicken Salad
We love eating this Strawberry Chicken Salad all summer long! A little crusty bread is all you need for a complete, refreshing meal!
If you are anything like us, you have been filling these “last days of summer” with as much sun and fun as you possibly can. Or perhaps you are amoung the many who have already started school and all sorts of busy activities. Either way, You should add this refreshing salad to your regular menu, especially while the days are still so warm!
Instant Pot Iced Tea
Does your family like iced tea?
Probably the easiest recipe to share with you.
Instant pot iced tea
I make this Instant Pot Iced Tea about once a week, especially in the summer. The whole family loves it!
Here’s what I do:
5 bags – we like just plain old black tea.. usually grab the Organic Black Tea at walmart!
A whole lot of water
Sweetener of choice – or two 🙂
That’s all!
Fill up your instant pot with cold or room temperature filtered water. I usually fill up to the Max line. Plop those tea bags in (removing the paper tags)
Close lid and seal. Set to 3 minutes.
This will take a while to heat up, since it’s a lot of water.. I would say about 20 minutes or so.
Once the 3 minutes are up, Manually Release the Pressure.
Fish out the tea bags. Here’s a time saving tip: Tie the tea bags all together and then they are easier to spoon out of the tea.
I let it just set there for awhile to cool a bit.
Now you can sweeten it. If you sweeten it while it is still a bit warm the sugar will dissolve really easily.
I usually take half of it out and then put regular sugar in Mr. Love’s half and our Sugar free natural Sweetener in the other half.
I found these super cute glass jars at Walmart for 3 whole bucks 🙂 and they fit perfectly in the fridge!
What ever container you wish to use is fine, your tea is now ready for the fridge! It really is great tasting tea. If black tea isn’t your thing you can follow this same recipe for green tea.. really any kind you like! 🙂
Instructions
- Fill up the IP liner to the max line with water
- Add the tea bags. Place lid and set for 3 minutes (making sure valve is set to seal)
- When it's come to pressure and cooked for the 3 minutes you can manually release the pressure. fish out the tea bags and discard. I usually leave the lid off and allow it to start to cool.
- After it has cooled a little, I take out a portion of the tea out and add my own sweetener to this pitcher (usually about a 4 of a cup of my home made sweet blend) I mix in the cup of regular sugar to the tea remaining in the IP.
- allow this to continue to cool. Then I transfer the rest into a bottle or pitcher. Store in the fridge and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
You can change the strength of your tea by adding less or more tea bags.
Make whatever kind of tea you'd like by choosing different flavors of tea bags.
And of course customize your desired level of sweetness.
Love and Scribbles
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Truth for A Mama, From a Fellow Mama In The Trenches
Thoughts from a fellow Mom in the trenches
One of my hopes with starting this blog was to encourage other moms out there… I had dreams of encouraging and inspiring.. But, then, I found myself hesitating to speak on anything involving the heart of motherhood or family, because I’m here in the middle of it too. I stop myself from saying anything because, “who am I?” How could I help anyone when I’m neck-deep in the trenches.
Truth is
I don’t feel equipped or strong or wise and sometimes (most days) I don’ t feel right for the job in front me.
I see a friend struggling or she tells me she doesn’t know how to keep on going or what to do with a situation.. I want to tell her truth, I want to fill her with life-giving words. Truth is.. I do know the TRUTH!! And it IS exciting, thrilling, and absolutely life-giving!!!
Truth is
The Lord has not turned His face from us, He has appointed you and me to this far-reaching, Intensely important role of MOM!! And you know what? He knew exactly what He was doing. And He doesn’t just shove us into this and leave us (like the hospital does when they send you home with a day old babe and say good luck)
Truth is
He really has equipped us with all that we need and His power is available to us. Hebrews 13:21 says that God will “Equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ” He is aware that it is daunting and that everyday we feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure….
But that is exactly why he sent his bravest, toughest, soldiers for the job. He knows everyday is a battle, a battle for the hearts of our children, for their protection, their training.
I know these things in my heart. but I still stop before saying them to my friends the majority of the time. I don’really believe them for myself or at least I temporarily forget them. I start to think things like “how dare I speak so boldly when I’m honestly cowering in front of my calling at this very moment.
Even now, you might be tempted to envision me sitting at beautiful desk, in a beautiful peaceful home writing all this to you. Maybe you see my kids playing so quietly with everything in it’s place. Truth is, I’m sitting in the dark, hiding in my room, typing this into my phone because it takes to long to locate my laptop. I can hear chaos in the living room, I left them with sheets and chairs to build forts and ran in here for just a break from the noise. My dishes are piled high in the sink, mostly because I tried to do way to much this morning and didn’t even finish the dishes from last night. I ruined an entire pot of yogurt that my husband was looking forward to and I’m leaving to attend an out of town conference tomorrow and the house is a complete mess. I haven’t packed or even figured out how to get the boys to sitters and all those details.
(updated to say: Turns out I can’t just copy and paste things from my phone notes on to here…. or I don’t know how to, so now you can picture me sitting with my laptop retyping this furiously, while my kids are eating way to many gold fish and watching tv so that I can finish this, before I lose my nerve to share it.)
So, Here’s the thing I’m trying to learn… I cannot wait for my life, and situation and calling to get figured out. My friends can’t wait around for me to perfect all this before helping them. If I do we all drown.
Instead, When a friend so bravely shares her struggles or concerns. I can and should speak love, peace, and truth to her. In doing so, I’m not saying to her, ” see how I’ve figured this all out? ” But I can say I feel you, I hear you.. ” I can “preach” a little truth to myself in the process!
Christ’s truth for us is in fact true… Even when we forget it. Did you know that? He doesn’t change with the winds (Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, [yes} and forever (to the ages). )
He doesn’t rely on us for his identity or his power. BUT, He sure does long for us to rely on Him for ours!!!
Mommas in the trenches. Let’s do this hard thing! We aren’t alone in any stretch of the imagination.
YOU are loved, and Amazing, even (and maybe especially) when you don’t feel like it!!!!
~ In the trenches with you,
Deanna Grace
Know any Mamas in the trenches? Would you share this with them? Maybe add an encouraging “we can do this” word for her!
Hey even if all you can do is cry together.. it sure it better than crying alone! 🙂
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Here’s How We Prepare For Overnight Babysitters, Download Our Free Printables To Help You Too!
Preparing for overnight babysitters can be a daunting task but, although we don’t get to do so very often, I find that it helps if I’m as prepared and organized as I can be. Maybe some of the things I did this week will help you too!
Instant Pot Sugar Free Cheesecake Recipe
Are you ready? We are going to make Sugar Free Cheesecake, in our Instant Pot! Oh yeah!
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Instant Pot Sugar Free Cheesecake
This cheesecake is so creamy and even Mr. Love said he wouldn’t have known it was sugar-free if I hadn’t told him! 🙂
And this guy LOVES it too… 
we may or may not have had this for breakfast a couple times this week 🙂
For this recipe you’ll need:
the “magic” Instant Pot ( I have a 6 qrt and 8 qrt DUO)
mixing bowl with hand mixer or a stand mixer. Of course if you want a workout you could just use a mixing bowl and whisk/spoon and get to stirring 🙂
No Bake Pecan Crust
want a crust for your Instant Pot cheesecake that doesn’t need an oven? During the summer we try really hard to NEVER turn on the oven.. and that’s where this No Bake Pecan Crust shines!