Tomorrow evening is our last of eight childbirth classes. I was thinking about that today (and, honestly, about how glad I am that we’ll be done – we drive an hour each way to get to class every week!) and how I’ve never really shared (with anyone, I don’t think) why my husband and I decided to spend the time and money and get a comprehensive childbirth education.

Sometimes I find it difficult to share on the topic of pregnancy and birth and why we’ve chosen the route we’ve chosen. No matter how good the intentions or how carefully the words are chosen, it always comes off a little too “I’m doing things right and you’re wrong if you’re doing it differently”. But, to not share would be a big mistake I think. This is a huge part of my life. These are researched, thoughtful, prayed over decisions – and if sharing the decisions we’ve come to helps someone else in making their decisions (whether they’re the same decisions as ours or not!), then I think it’s worth it.

So with that in mind, here are the major reasons we decided to do childbirth classes.

We’ve never had a baby before!

To us, it seemed like a logical idea to take classes given our total lack of experience when it comes to all things pregnancy, childbirth, and kids. I mean, my husband is a doctor – and even he recognized that we had a huge gap in our knowledge and understanding of things. We’re two youngest children. Our experience before now with pregnancy and babies is pretty limited.

We prepare for and research any major life event. So why wouldn’t we do the same for this?

We research everything, and I happen to like being prepared. We couldn’t imagine going through this phase of life without doing our due diligence.

Our midwife suggested taking childbirth classes.

We spent a huge amount of time selecting care providers for this process. We’re planning a homebirth with an incredibly skilled and experienced midwife. We’ve also been receiving co-care from a fabulous OB/GYN (and, get this, both providers actually know, like, respect, and trust one another). So when this midwife that we fully trust and respect with this process told us that she recommends that all first-time parents take a childbirth class, we listened to her recommendation.

We grew up in mainstream America. And that means we need to seriously reframe how we view pregnancy, childbirth, and kids.

Frankly, Americans have a very negative perspective on pregnancy, childbirth, and kids. Pregnancy is seen as a medical condition to be managed. Childbirth is the worst, most inconvenient thing in the world that could ever happen to you. Kids certainly aren’t seen as the blessings the Bible tells us they are.

My husband and I feel differently about all of the above. But because we’ve grown up in a culture with all those attitudes, the messages still got into our heads and have affected this experience. So that means we needed to reprogram ourselves. The education we chose has helped us to do just that.

We’ve chosen to take an alternative route with this pregnancy (largely staying out of the healthcare system), which means we need to take more responsibility for this natural life event.

I’m not getting prenatal care like the majority of pregnant women get prenatal care in this country. Because of that, we’ve absorbed a lot more responsibility – and that includes knowing more than the basics.

I don’t have a history of being super confident in my body. So in order for me to boost my self-esteem and feel confident that my body was made to do this, I needed more information.

When it comes to my body, my first instinct isn’t how powerful it is or how fearfully and wonderfully made I am. There are a lot of reasons for that (and that’s a whole other post). The way I’ve combated the natural instinct I have to think my body is broken and incapable, is to equip myself with knowledge. Because knowledge is power.

In case you’re wondering, the childbirth education we chose is called BirthWorks. It’s an 8-week course (that was the length of our course, anyways) that is incredibly comprehensive, but does focus on the fact that birth is an instinctive, natural process. We feel like we got an incredible education (I mean, we learned about everything from medical pain relief options, to C-sections, to trusting your body with the birth process, to writing a birth plan, and so, so much more). And as a bonus, our teacher happened to be the author of the workbook they use for the course!

In the end, taking childbirth classes was really the last piece in the puzzle for me when it comes to preparing myself for a positive birth experience. I know I’m educated. I know my body is capable of this monumental event. I have an incredible support team (my midwife, my OB/GYN, and my husband), all of whom continually reflect back to me that I’m strong and able to handle this. And most importantly (and this is the most comforting thing to me), I know that my life and our baby’s life is in the hands of the Father.

What about you? Did you take any childbirth classes? Why or why not?

Image Credits: Black Photo Studio, BirthWorks

It’s time for the next monthly update on how we’re doing with our 2013 financial plan. In case you missed it, here’s where I laid out all of our financial goals for the year. So let’s talk about how we did in April!

Debt Payoff

• Pay off our car loan - Done! We accomplished this in January.
• Pay off the smallest student loan we have - Done! We accomplished this in February.
• Pay off all of my student loans - No real change here (just paid the minimum due). We’re looking to take this on seriously beginning in July.

Savings

• Fully fund our general savings account for our current adventure - We made progress on this in April. I’m happy to announce that if things continue as they are, this should be fully funded and crossed off by the end of June! And in case you missed it, here’s “our current adventure” that we’re saving for!
• Get our emergency fund up to two months worth of income - No real change here (just deposited the standard amount we do every month). We’ll take this up at the end of the year, most likely.
• Set up a retirement account - Haven’t done this yet. I don’t see us doing this until the end of the year either.

Other Financial Goals

• Live off of one income - We’re getting closer to this! But we’re not there yet. That’s one reason our next goal (beginning in July) to attack is paying off my student loans. We need to free up that monthly payment amount in order to get really close to this goal.
• Buy life insurance - Haven’t done this yet. We need to do this before September though!
• Create wills - Haven’t done this yet. Another thing we need to do before September!
• Close three credit accounts we never use and that have no balance - Done! We accomplished this in March.

April was really an anticlimactic month. We didn’t get to strike off any of these goals, but we did make progress on the one we’re currently working on (fully funding our general savings account). But because we’ve had a really productive beginning of the year, we didn’t get discouraged. We’ve seen how God has been faithful so far this year, and so we have no worries that He’ll be faithful during the rest of this year.

This update is coming later (halfway through May!) than previous updates, so I can give you a sneak peek at how May is going. It’s going really, really well. I think I’ll have some encouraging news to share in my May update.

So tell me – how was April for you?

It’s always been my desire (based on my experience of having my mom stay home with me for many years, and a desire God placed on my heart many years ago) to stay at home with my kids (the first one is on the way!). I’ve really come to claim the home as my domain. I enjoy being at home and taking care of my home. I know our family is better off (for us, that means less stressed and more organized) because of the effort I put into creating an inviting, relaxing, well-run home life. I certainly feel like I’ve been called to a stay-at-home mom life.

But the funny thing is that it’s also very obvious to me that I’ve been called to be a working mom. It’s been necessary for me to contribute to the family finances since my husband and I got married, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Plus, I’ve been given (and I’ve cultivated) marketable skills and talents – and wouldn’t it be a total waste of potential if I didn’t use them?

That was a fork in the road that I reached in 2009. It didn’t feel right to be working outside the home anymore (even though my husband and I didn’t have kids yet, I knew I needed to start laying the groundwork for when we did), but not contributing to the family finances wasn’t an option either. So I struck out on my own and began working from home. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but it’s the absolute best thing I could have ever done for my family.

Over the last several years, I’ve received so many emails from stay-at-home moms who are desperate to find a way to earn an income from home. My heart breaks every time I read one of those emails because I can just hear the sadness in their voices. Wanting to be at home with your kids, and not being able to, must be so incredibly frustrating. This is a cause – helping women who want to stay at home with their kids and still earn an income be able to do just that – I want to put my full weight behind.

Let me be really, really clear. If you want to earn an income from home, you absolutely can. Most of the women I’ve encountered just want to earn a part-time income, so that’s what I’m focusing on in this post, but just keep in mind that a full-time income at home is totally possible too!

So let’s get into some home business ideas. You’ll likely notice that most of these are things you’re probably already doing as a stay-at-home mom! It’s just about refining them and turning them into products and services.

1. Offer your services as a cook and prepare healthy meals for other families.

People are busier than ever these days. And one of the first things that goes out the window when you’re extra busy is meal planning and preparation. That’s where you come in! Offer your services as a cook, take on a few families as clients, and make some homemade, affordable, healthy meals for them weekly. Make sure to take things like allergies and whether or not there’s a law where you live about selling food made in your own home into consideration.

2. Become a nanny, host a very small daycare in your home, or regularly babysit.

Not everyone wants to, or is currently able to, stay home with their kids. And if you ask them, they’ll tell you that finding a good childcare provider is frustrating and expensive. Once people find a childcare provider they like, they’ll do almost anything to keep them. If your home is (or can be) set up to safely host multiple children, think about offering childcare services. Remember to look into things like insurance and acquiring any needed licenses and such before opening up shop.

3. Help plan events like weddings, birthday parties, and community events.

Offer to take some of the details – like making phone calls, checking out venues, doing research on the best pricing, seating charts, etc – off the event planner’s plate, and charge a project or hourly rate for your help.

4. Do some online or in-home tutoring.

Are you a homeschooling mom? Do you have a teaching degree you’re not using? Are you college-educated? There’s a market for you as a tutor! I’d suggest keeping things local (you’ll have a lot better success), but there are certainly online tutoring services you could join. Tap your personal network and let people know you’re available.

5. Be an at-home administrative assistant for a local small business.

Here’s the thing about small businesses – they don’t often have the budget or space to hire full-time employees. So a lot of times, you’ll find not enough people doing too many tasks. Reach out to small businesses in your area and see how you could help them from home. Could you input data? Could you scan files into a program? What about making phone calls? Find and fill their needs.

6. Write and sell eBooks on Amazon.

You’re an expert on something. Identify what that is, and then write about it. The keys to creating an eBook that sells are finding a problem that you can solve, writing something different (or taking a different stance on a topic), and over-delivering in terms of helpfulness and content. Then, find someone to edit the eBook for you, have the eBook formatted and have a great cover image made, get it up on Amazon, and then tell everyone about it!

7. Make and sell beauty or health products.

A lot of stay-at-home moms make their own beauty products and herbal remedies. Consider selling those things online (like on Etsy) or in-person at community events like local markets. Make sure you know the laws in your state about selling such items.

8. Go to garage sales on the weekends, buy some hidden treasures, and then turn around and sell your finds.

My husband and I are big fans of American Pickers. One person’s two-dollar piece of trash can be another person’s twenty-dollar treasure! Spend your weekends going to garage sales and hunting for great buys, and then turn around and sell those items online (like on eBay or Craigslist).

9. Be a personal travel planner.

If you can hunt down a deal, love details, and are great at Internet research, you could plan vacations for your friends and family!

10. Make and sell furniture and crafts.

If you’re a handyman or you’re crafty, sell your creations online!

The best advice I can give you if you’re looking to earn money from home is to take a look at your interests, hobbies, and skills and figure out how you can capitalize on those. Also, evaluate what you’re already doing – like cooking for your family and taking care of your kids – and see if you could be doing those things for someone else.

Before I wrap things up, there are a few more tips I want to give you:

• If you can’t afford to create a website right now, at least set up a Facebook page. You need to have some sort of online presence people can go to in order to find out more about your products or services. When you’re ready for a website, I recommend Namecheap for domain names, Bluehost for hosting, WordPress to power your site, and StudioPress to make your website look snazzy.
• Get and distribute cheap business cards. If you hand someone something, they’re more likely to remember you and the conversation they had with you. Plus, it makes you look professional.
• When it comes to marketing your new products or services, your first customers or clients will almost always come from your already-existing network (friends, family, coworkers, members of groups you’re in, etc). So focus on those people first, and then focus on other marketing methods.
• If you provide a great service or have a great product, it’ll market itself for you. Just focus on providing a superior service or offering an amazing product.

I’ll turn it over to you now. Do you work at home? How have you turned your hobbies and interests into a small business? What other home business ideas do you have for stay-at-home moms?

Image Credit: antanask

It’s that wonderful time of year when fresh strawberries are just starting to be spotted in the grocery stores. Soon, I’ll be able to head out to a local farm and pick a bunch of my own to store in the freezer – but for now, I’ll settle for the ones that make their way to my local store from California.

In all honesty, I’m not much of a fruit person. I’ll take vegetables over fruit any day of the week. But for some reason (it’s not a mystery – hello pregnancy!), I’ve been craving strawberries lately. And what better way to enjoy them than in some fresh, homemade ice cream?

This recipe is super easy and has no refined sugar in it. Of course, you’ll need an ice cream maker for it (and to make life easy on yourself and so you can enjoy homemade ice cream whenever, just store your bowl in the freezer all the time). But I’ll just assume you have one of those. And if you don’t, please get one. Homemade ice cream is leaps and bounds better than store-bought ice cream, is so easy to make, and can be easily customized however you like!

Enjoy!

Oh. My. Goodness. I am so excited to share this with all of you. I’ve been keeping this a secret for weeks (you have no idea how hard it was to not spill the beans!). But it’s finally here – what I like to call “The Homemaking Event of the Year” – The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle!

For only six days (from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013), 75+ well-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere (me included!) have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses. The value? $600+. But you’ll only pay $29.97. And that $29.97 also includes $140+ in bonus offers from companies I know you’ll love (I love them all!).

I really believe that you won’t find a more comprehensive collection of homemaking resources anywhere on the Internet (and definitely not in this price range and including the bonuses!). I’ve read a good majority of these eBooks, I know a lot of these bloggers and authors, and I was totally thrilled to get my bundle!

And psst – this would make a fabulous Mother’s Day gift (especially considering all the free bonuses!).

Don’t forget! This sale is only available from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure to grab your bundle right away!

What eBooks and eCourses Are Included in the Sale?

This library of homemaking helps includes the following topics – Beauty, Budgeting (Finance and Time), Educational Children’s Resources, Health and Fitness, Holidays and Special Events, Home and Property (Cleaning, Organizing, and Decor), In the Kitchen (Recipes and Cooking), Marriage and Romance, Motherhood, Pregnancy and Baby Care, Spiritual Growth, and Working from Home and Blogging.

Here are all the eBooks and eCourses you’ll get instant access to:

Click the image to see all of the eBooks and eCourses included in The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle Sale.

Beauty

• Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae at SarahMae.com ($4.99)
• The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide by Kristy at Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
• Simple Scrubs to Make and Give by Stacy at A Delightful Home ($3.99)
• The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley at The No Brainer Wardrobe ($7.99)
• Embracing Beauty by Trina at Trina Holden ($9.00)
• Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose by Kristen at The Frugal Girl ($3.99)

Budgeting (Finance and Time)

• From Debtor to Better by Barry at From Debtor to Better ($10.00)
• Tell Your Time by Amy at Blogging with Amy ($2.99)
• The Homemaker’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy at Raising Arrows ($4.99)
• Your Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne at Authentic Simplicity ($7.99)
• Finding Financial Freedom by Kelly at Generation Cedar ($5.97)
• Become a Frugalista in 30 Days by Susan at The Confident Mom ($3.99)

Educational Children’s Resources

• Princess Training by Richele at Under the Golden Apple Tree ($3.99)
• Armor of God by Richele at Under the Golden Apple Tree ($2.50)
• My Bedtime Learning Book by Richele at Under the Golden Apple Tree ($1.00)
• Think Outside the Classroom by Kelly at Generation Cedar ($6.97)
• Raising Rock Stars – Kindergarten Bundle by Carisa at 1+1+1=1 ($10.00)
• The ABC’s For Godly Boys Curriculum by Lindsey at Road to 31 ($8.00)
• The ABC’s For Godly Girls Curriculum by Lindsey at Road to 31 ($8.00)
• K4 Curriculum by Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler ($15.00)
• Write Through the Bible (Print) by Trisha at Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)
• Write Through the Bible (Cursive) by Trisha at Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)
• Balcony Girls (Books 1 & 2) by Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer ($19.90)
• The Dig for Kids: Luke (Volumes 1 and 2) by Patrick, Husband of Ruth at The Better Mom ($9.98)
• Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life by Ryan at Resound School of Music ($6.99)
• Learning in Love: The Preschool Years by Renee at FIMBY ($7.99)
• Homeschooling from the Heart by Renee at FIMBY ($7.99)

Health and Fitness

• 100 Pound Loser by Jessica at Muthering Heights ($4.99)
• Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Danielle at Domestic Serenity ($2.99)
• 42 Days to Fit by Brandy at The Marathon Mom ($4.99)
• Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie at Keeper of the Home ($12.95)
• Personal ePlanner by Jennifer at ListPlanIt ($5.00)
• Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms by Lisa at WellGrounded Life ($59.00)

Holidays and Special Events

• Festive Traditions by Jill at Modern Alternative Kitchen ($5.00)
• Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar by Kristy at Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
• Flourishing Spring by Michele at Frugal Granola ($5.95)
• The Family Camping Handbook by Katie at Kitchen Stewardship ($6.95)
• Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda at Oh, Amanda! ($7.99)
• Plan a Fabulous Party by Mary at Giving Up on Perfect ($4.99)
• iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide by Alli at Alli Worthington ($9.97)

Home and Property (Cleaning, Organizing, and Decor)

• 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae at SarahMae.com ($4.99)
• Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works by Kayse at Kayse Pratt ($3.99)
• Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks by Becky at Clean Mama ($10.00)
• Simple Living by Lorilee at Loving Simple Living ($2.99)
• NOT a DIY Diva by Melissa at The Inspired Room ($3.99)
• One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh at Simple Mom ($5.00)
• 28 Days to Hope for Your Home by Dana at A Slob Comes Clean ($4.99)
• Organizing Life as MOM by Jessica at Life as Mom ($9.00)
• Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed Homemaker by Jenni at Live Called ($4.99)
• 10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa at LisaWoodruff.net ($5.00)
• Handmade Walls by Jamin and Ashley at The Handmade Home ($9.95)
• Easy Peasy Chores by Alina Joy at The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)

In the Kitchen (Recipes and Cooking)

• Crock On by Stacy at Stacy Makes Cents ($5.00)
• Real Food, Real Easy by Various Bloggers at The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
• Wholesome Mixes by Kristy at Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
• 20-Minute Meals by Leigh Ann at Intentional by Grace ($4.99)
• Restocking the Pantry by Kresha at Nourishing Joy ($9.99)
• Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking by Crystal at Money Saving Mom ($3.99)
• Simply Summer by Kate at Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)
• Do the Funky Kitchen by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers ($4.95)
• Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen, plus 1 month access to select Real Food Kids eCourse videos, by Wardeh at GNOWFGLINS and Jami at Eat Nourishing ($20.00)
• Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget: A Month of Meals from My Humble Kitchen to Yours by Diana at My Humble Kitchen ($4.99)
• Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn at Just Making Noise ($12.00)
• The Curative Kitchen by Susan at Handy Pantry ($20.00)
• Grocery University by Carrie at Colorado Bargains ($19.95)
• You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)

Marriage and Romance

• Rekindling Romance by Jason and Jami at A Biblical Marriage ($4.99)
• The Good Wife’s Guide by Darlene at Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)
• 31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley at Ashley Pichea ($4.99)
• 31 Days to Great Sex by Sheila at To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($4.99)
• Entangled by Amy at Amy J. Bennett ($4.99)

Motherhood

• The Heart of Simplicity by Various Authors at The Heart of Simplicity ($9.99)
• True Christian Motherhood by June at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($7.00)
• Hula Hoop Girl by September at One September Day ($3.99)
• Devotions, Advice & Renewal for When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly at Generation Cedar ($4.97)
• Mindset for Moms by Jamie at Steady Mom ($4.99)
• From Cube to Farm by Heather at From Cube to Farm ($2.99)
• 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions by Various Authors at 4 Moms, 35+ Kids Parenting E-book ($5.99)
• That Works for Me! by Kristen at We are THAT Family ($6.99)

Pregnancy and Baby Care

• First Bites by Hilary at Accidentally Green ($9.99)
• Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin at The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
• Stress-Free Baby Shower by Sara at Your Thriving Family ($4.00)
• Unbound Birth by Jenny at The Southern Institute ($2.99)
• My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy at Simply Designs ($9.99)
• My Buttered Life Baby Edition by Renee at MadeOn Hard Lotion ($5.00)
• The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel at The Minimalist Mom ($5.00)
• Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide by Angie at Redeeming Childbirth ($3.99)

Spiritual Growth

• Pursuit of Proverbs 31 by Amy at Amy Bayliss ($3.99)
• The Best of Visionary Womanhood by Natalie at Visionary Womanhood ($5.99)
• God’s Word in My Heart: A Scripture Learning Guide with Memory Verses (All 4 Versions) by Jenn at The Purposeful Mom ($15.96)
• Kept by Lara and Katie at Quench Bible ($4.99)
• Love Like Him by Lara and Katie at Quench Bible ($2.99)

Working from Home and Blogging

• Your Blogging Business: Tax, Talk and Tips by Nikki at Christian Mommy Blogger ($12.00)
• The Bootstrap VA by Lisa at The Home Life {and Me} ($12.99)
• How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home by Jacinda at Growing Home ($4.99)
• How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by Mandi at Life Your Way ($12.00)
• Simple Blogging by Rachel at Small Notebook ($8.00)

Don’t forget! This sale is only available from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure to grab your bundle right away!

What Bonuses Are Included in the Sale?

Honestly, I think the bonuses alone are worth the bundle purchase price! This is a super affordable opportunity to get (and try!) products I know you’ll use and love, for only the cost of shipping (and, in some cases, entirely free!).

Here are all the free bonuses included in the sale:

• Free two-month membership to Fit2B Studio, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are tummy safe and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs). I’m a big fan of Fit2B Studio! ($19.98 value. No shipping restrictions.)
• $15 store credit to TruKid, where they are dedicated to providing all-natural (and award-winning) skin and hair care for kids, babies, and pets. ($15.00 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)
• Your choice of one bundle of products from Redmond Trading. You can choose from an Earthpaste Bundle (I love Earthpaste!) or a Facial Mud Bundle. ($24.90-$26.90 value. Standard shipping applies. Continental US only.)
• Your choice of a free heirloom sourdough starter or a free yogurt starter from Cultures for Health, the leading supplier of starter cultures and supplies for making cultured and fermented foods. ($12.95 value. US and Canada addresses only. Standard shipping applies.)
• Your choice of a free three-month subscription (for new accounts) or 30% off a one-year subscription to Plan to Eat, an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)
• A free Culinary Herb Assorted Seed Pack from WheatgrassKits.com (just in time for spring planting!), a living whole foods company. ($11.95 value. Standard shipping applies to all US states and territories. No international shipping for seeds.)
• $10 off Union 28′s original “My Husband Rocks” t-shirt. Their marriage apparel lets you celebrate your spouse in style. ($10.00 value. Standard shipping rates apply. International shipping available, but free shipping only available within the USA.)
• $10 store credit (plus one free lip balm) to Bee All Natural. Their whole body products nourish and heal and are made using only the highest quality, food grade, organic ingredients. ($13.49 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)
• Free 2 oz. bottle of your choice of liquid herbal formula from TriLight Health. They specialize in fast-acting, great-tasting natural herbal remedies. ($12.95 value or more. Standard shipping applies within the USA only.)
• Your choice of three free ePlanners or a 3-month free membership to ListPlanIt, whose mobile lists will help to organize your life. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)

Don’t forget! This sale is only available from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure to grab your bundle right away!

All the Fine Print

There are a few things I want to make sure you’re aware of.

Here’s some general info:

• It is your responsibility to download and backup your purchase within the one-month download timeframe. When you provide a proof of purchase, your download links can be renewed until August 1, 2013 – but after then, those coordinating the sale will no longer have access to the files and they won’t be able to provide any new download links. So moral of the story is this – download everything as soon as you purchase it, and then save it somewhere safe.
  
• Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available.
• You’re invited to read the FAQs page for the sale to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.

Here’s some info about the bonus offers:

• Each bonus offer can be redeemed only once per bundle purchase.
• For each bonus offer, transaction numbers and/or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
• All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
• All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19, 2013 (two weeks from the last day of the bundle sale).

So What Are You Waiting for?

Grab your bundle before the sale is over! And don’t forget to redeem your free bonuses (the sooner, the better)!

Don’t forget! This sale is only available from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure to grab your bundle right away!

If you purchase a bundle, let me know in the comments. We can chat about what items we’re most excited about!

Happy Friday to you! Since it’s Friday, here’s a round-up of Amazon deals in the following categories: Beauty, Books and eBooks, Grocery, Health and Personal Care, and Home and Kitchen.

Before I share this week’s deals, here are a few things to remember:

• These are the prices as of the date and time this post goes live (and I’m in the United States – these deals may not be available in your country). Amazon changes product pricing and sells out of things quickly (really quickly). If you see something you like, better jump on it fast!
• My goal isn’t to post every single Amazon deal. I just want to share a round-up of some good ones you may be interested in!
• Though all the deals I post here are for regular Amazon customers (no special membership or use of Subscribe & Save needed), I can’t recommend the Amazon Prime program enough. The $79/year cost is a drop in the bucket to the amount of money and time I’ve saved. Get free two-day shipping on millions of items, unlimited instant streaming of tons of movies and TV shows, and more. I really think the cost is worth it. There are also Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as an “Add-on Item”, that means it ships with orders that include $25 or more of items shipped by Amazon (excluding gift cards – but that $25 number can just be all add-on items, if you’d like). Here’s more information about that. But really, it boils down to this – as long as you have an order of $25 or more, all your add-on items will ship out. No big deal, and I’ve never had any problems with this.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as a “Warehouse Deal”, that means it’s a great deal on a returned, warehouse-damaged, used, or refurbished item that didn’t meet Amazon’s standards for regular sale. Here’s more information about that. Most of the time, the ones I post are just open boxes, so not a big deal. After you click the link to view one of these items on Amazon, make sure to click “More Buying Choices” on the right side of the page to see the warehouse deal for the item. Warehouse deals are extremely limited, so again, if you see something you want – grab it immediately.

Let’s get to the deals!

Beauty

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Pink Blossom, 0.15-Ounce (Pack of 2)

• Original Price: $13.98
• Sale Price: $8.99 - Save 36%!
• *Add-on Item*

ROYAL NAILS ANTI UV GLOVES FOR UV LIGHT/LAMP NAIL DRYER ONLY NAIL EXPOSED

• Original Price: $24.99
• Sale Price: $5.95 - Save 76%!
• *Add-on Item*

Yardley English Lavender Bar Soap, 2 Count

• Original Price: $5.99
• Sale Price: $2.49 - Save 58%!
• *Add-on Item*

Books and eBooks

The Official SAT Study Guide with DVD [Paperback]

• Original Price: $31.99
• Sale Price: $19.97 - Save 38%!

Quilts from the House of Tula Pink: 20 Fabric Projects to Make, Use and Love [Paperback]

• Original Price: $24.99
• Sale Price: $13.99 - Save 44%!

Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals: Over 280 Incredible Supper Solutions [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $19.95
• Sale Price: $3.99 – Save 80%!

God Said So! 31 Bible Truths Every Kid Should Know [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $3.99

Grocery

Love Grown Foods Oat Clusters and Love, Simply Oats, 12-Ounce (Pack of 3)

• Original Price: $8.58
• *Add-on Item*
• *Warehouse Deal*

Health and Personal Care

Lansinoh 20435 Breastmilk Storage Bags, 25-Count Boxes

• Original Price: $29.96
• Sale Price: $13.67 - Save 54%!

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal

• Original Price: $81.95
• Sale Price: $31.75 - Save 61%!

Seventh Generation Natural Dishwasher Detergent Pacs, Free & Clear

• Original Price: $12.27
• Sale Price: $5.19 - Save 58%!

Home and Kitchen

Cuisinart TOB-40 Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

• Original Price: $145.00
• Sale Price: $79.95 – Save 45%!

Misto Gourmet Olive Oil Sprayer

• Original Price: $15.99
• Sale Price: $9.75 - Save 39%!

Lollipop sticks 100 count 6 inch

• Original Price: $4.99
• Sale Price: $3.70 - Save 26%!

Some Quick Announcements

Whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, this week’s collection includes a variety of gardening tips for everyone! Learn how to garden without a big budget or a lot of space, discover tips for organic gardening and preserving your harvest, and get organized with custom printables. But don’t wait because this bundle is on sale for 75% off this week only!

Did you see my announcement yesterday? A pretty awesome thing is happening next week! Click here to learn more about it.

This is just a quick heads-up to you all that next week a massively awesome eBook bundle (complete with tons of bonuses from awesome companies!) will be available to purchase. I wanted to take a second and mention it now so you guys don’t miss it next week.

The sale will only last six days (from 9:00am EST on April 29, 2013 – 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2013), and it includes 97 popular eBooks and eCourses from well-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere (me included!). The topics of the eBooks and eCourses are: Beauty, Budgeting (Finance and Time), Educational Children’s Resources, Health and Fitness, Holidays and Special Events, Home and Property (Cleaning, Organizing, and Decor), In the Kitchen (Recipes and Cooking), Marriage and Romance, Motherhood, Pregnancy and Baby Care, Spiritual Growth, and Working from Home and Blogging.

We’re talking a $600+ value for only $29.97. Not to mention the $140 in bonuses from companies I know you guys will love. It’s kind of a no-brainer deal, and this would make a fabulous Mother’s Day present!

More details to come on Monday. So keep your eyes peeled!

Happy Friday to you! Since it’s Friday, here’s a round-up of Amazon deals in the following categories: Beauty, Books and eBooks, Grocery, Health and Personal Care, and Home and Kitchen.

Before I share this week’s deals, here are a few things to remember:

• These are the prices as of the date and time this post goes live (and I’m in the United States – these deals may not be available in your country). Amazon changes product pricing and sells out of things quickly (really quickly). If you see something you like, better jump on it fast!
• My goal isn’t to post every single Amazon deal. I just want to share a round-up of some good ones you may be interested in!
• Though all the deals I post here are for regular Amazon customers (no special membership or use of Subscribe & Save needed), I can’t recommend the Amazon Prime program enough. The $79/year cost is a drop in the bucket to the amount of money and time I’ve saved. Get free two-day shipping on millions of items, unlimited instant streaming of tons of movies and TV shows, and more. I really think the cost is worth it. There are also Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as an “Add-on Item”, that means it ships with orders that include $25 or more of items shipped by Amazon (excluding gift cards – but that $25 number can just be all add-on items, if you’d like). Here’s more information about that. But really, it boils down to this – as long as you have an order of $25 or more, all your add-on items will ship out. No big deal, and I’ve never had any problems with this.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as a “Warehouse Deal”, that means it’s a great deal on a returned, warehouse-damaged, used, or refurbished item that didn’t meet Amazon’s standards for regular sale. Here’s more information about that. Most of the time, the ones I post are just open boxes, so not a big deal. After you click the link to view one of these items on Amazon, make sure to click “More Buying Choices” on the right side of the page to see the warehouse deal for the item. Warehouse deals are extremely limited, so again, if you see something you want – grab it immediately.

Let’s get to the deals!

Beauty

African Shea Butter Cream (100% Pure & Raw, Gold) 8 Oz.

• Original Price: $10.99
• Sale Price: $6.60 - Save 40%!
• *Add-on Item*

ecoTOOLS Make-Up Kabuki Brush Set

• Original Price: $14.99
• Sale Price: $8.90 - Save 41%!
• *Add-on Item*

Yardley Lemon Verbena with Shea Butter Bar Soap, 4.25 Ounce

• Original Price: $5.99
• Sale Price: $1.57 - Save 74%!
• *Add-on Item*

Books and eBooks

The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set [Box Set] [Paperback]

• Original Price: $62.99
• Sale Price: $37.64 - Save 40%!

Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living [Paperback]

• Original Price: $22.99
• Sale Price: $13.33 - Save 42%!

The Dig for Kids: Luke Vol. 1 [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $4.99
• Sale Price: $0.99 - Save 80%!

The Dig for Kids: Luke Vol. 2 [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $4.99
• Sale Price: $0.99 - Save 80%!

Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $19.99
• Sale Price: $1.99 - Save 90%!

Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 770 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $1.99
• Sale Price: $1.50 - Save 25%!

Grocery

Terra Sweet Potato Chips

• Original Price: $35.37
• Sale Price: $23.46 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks, Roasted Wasabi, 0.35-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)

• Original Price: $15.29
• Sale Price: $10.14 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Udi’s Cranberry Granola, 13-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

• Original Price: $28.61
• Sale Price: $18.98 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Health and Personal Care

Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil

• Original Price: $19.95
• Sale Price: $11.99 - Save 40%!

Now Foods, Peppermint Oil

• Original Price: $11.99
• Sale Price: $8.95 - Save 25%!

PURELL Sanitizing Hand Wipes Individually Wrapped 100-ct. Box

• Original Price: $9.99
• Sale Price: $5.74 - Save 43%!

Home and Kitchen

Brother CS6000i Feature-Rich Sewing Machine With 60 Built-In Stitches, 7 styles of 1-Step Auto-Size Buttonholes, Quilting Table, and Hard Cover

• Original Price: $449.00
• Sale Price: $152.09 - Save 66%!

EatSmart Precision Pro – Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scale w/ Extra Large LCD and 11 Lb. Capacity

• Original Price: $44.95
• Sale Price: $25.00 - Save 44%!

Cheesecloth Commercial Grade 3 SqYrd 27 SqFt

• Original Price: $9.99
• Sale Price: $5.95 - Save 40%!

Some Quick Announcements

Is simple living just a pipe dream in today’s fast-paced, always-on, more-is-better culture? With this week’s collection, you’ll discover the secrets to living simply from five authors who are living intentionally and inspiring others to do the same! But don’t wait because this bundle is on sale for 90% off this week only.

Folks – I really, really enjoyed Accidentally Green: How and Why One Family Began Making Healthy Changes That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment. Reading this eBook is like listening to a friend honestly share her struggles, realizations, and solutions over coffee. At its core, it’s a storybook with lessons on how to live a healthier life at the end of each chapter.

I think what I loved the most about Accidentally Green is that it’s real. I am Hilary, and she is me. And I realized that to be true when I read this paragraph at the beginning of the eBook:

“In the end, every change and choice boils down to stewardship. Am I being a good steward of what the Lord has blessed me with? I’m so thankful for His gifts of my family, a healthy body, and an abundant Earth. What am I doing each day to take care of these treasures? When I look at my decisions in light of this perspective, making changes – no matter how small or big they might be – cease feeling like they’re uncomfortable or difficult. They’re simply necessary.” - Accidentally Green

Living a healthy lifestyle is a journey, not a destination. In the eBook, we get to hear about Hilary’s journey (it’s so helpful to hear about someone else’s lifestyle revolution when you’re facing one of your own) and the changes she made, and then we’re prompted to examine our own lives and figure out what small changes (because small changes add up to big changes) we can make. I found Hilary’s story to be relatable and encouraging, and I’m grateful for the “Things to Think About” section at the end of each chapter (I often found myself really contemplating the questions, and even looking up more information online).

The very best pieces of writing inspire you to act in some way. Hilary’s eBook did that for me. I’ve pin-pointed some healthy living changes my family can make going forward.

Is this eBook right for you? Hilary herself says, “For people who have been making healthy, green, and responsible choices for decades, this book may seem too simplistic.” But I think that the rest of us – those who either have no idea how or why to start making healthier decisions, and those who are on the journey and making small changes – could really benefit from Hilary’s been there, done that advice.

To snag a copy of Accidentally Green: How and Why One Family Began Making Healthy Changes That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment (available as a PDF, and in Kindle and Nook formats) head on over to Hilary’s website. Make sure you check out her blog too, and give her a shout on Twitter or Facebook.

So, let’s chat and celebrate successes. What are some healthy living changes you’ve made in the past year?

Hilary Kimes Bernstein provided me with a copy of Accidentally Green: How and Why One Family Began Making Healthy Changes That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment to review. Beyond the free product I evaluated in order to complete this review, I was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own. For more information on my disclosure policy, click here.

Happy Friday to you! Since it’s Friday, here’s a round-up of Amazon deals in the following categories: Beauty, Books and eBooks, Grocery, Health and Personal Care, and Home and Kitchen.

Before I share this week’s deals, here are a few things to remember:

• These are the prices as of the date and time this post goes live (and I’m in the United States – these deals may not be available in your country). Amazon changes product pricing and sells out of things quickly (really quickly). If you see something you like, better jump on it fast!
• My goal isn’t to post every single Amazon deal. I just want to share a round-up of some good ones you may be interested in!
• Though all the deals I post here are for regular Amazon customers (no special membership or use of Subscribe & Save needed), I can’t recommend the Amazon Prime program enough. The $79/year cost is a drop in the bucket to the amount of money and time I’ve saved. Get free two-day shipping on millions of items, unlimited instant streaming of tons of movies and TV shows, and more. I really think the cost is worth it. There are also Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as an “Add-on Item”, that means it ships with orders that include $25 or more of items shipped by Amazon (excluding gift cards – but that $25 number can just be all add-on items, if you’d like). Here’s more information about that. But really, it boils down to this – as long as you have an order of $25 or more, all your add-on items will ship out. No big deal, and I’ve never had any problems with this.
• If an item is marked below and on Amazon as a “Warehouse Deal”, that means it’s a great deal on a returned, warehouse-damaged, used, or refurbished item that didn’t meet Amazon’s standards for regular sale. Here’s more information about that. Most of the time, the ones I post are just open boxes, so not a big deal. After you click the link to view one of these items on Amazon, make sure to click “More Buying Choices” on the right side of the page to see the warehouse deal for the item. Warehouse deals are extremely limited, so again, if you see something you want – grab it immediately.

Let’s get to the deals!

Beauty

Burt’s Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm Tube, .15-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 4)

• Original Price: $11.96
• Sale Price: $8.25 - Save 31%!
• *Add-on Item*

Now Foods Castor Oil

• Original Price: $11.40
• Sale Price: $7.19 - Save 37%!
• *Add-on Item*

Books and eBooks

Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle [Paperback]

• Original Price: $39.95
• Sale Price: $22.69 - Save 43%!

The ESV Study Bible [Hardcover]

• Original Price: $49.99
• Sale Price: $28.22 - Save 44%!

Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $13.99
• Sale Price: $1.99 - Save 86%!

The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $1.99

Know Your Bible: All 66 Books Explained and Applied (VALUE BOOKS) [Kindle Edition]

• Original Price: $1.49
• Sale Price: $0.79 - Save 47%!

Grocery

Ka-Me Bamboo Skewers, 100 Stick Units (Pack of 12)

• Original Price: $21.91
• Sale Price: $14.53 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Nature’s Path Organic Toaster Pastries, Frosted Berry Strawberry, 12-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

• Original Price: $34.32
• Sale Price: $22.76 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Back To Nature California Almonds, Unroasted & Unsalted, 11-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 3)

• Original Price: $16.50
• Sale Price: $10.94 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies

• Original Price: $23.40
• Sale Price: $15.52 - Save 34%!
• *Warehouse Deal*

Health and Personal Care

Top 6 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Basic Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set- 6/10 ml (Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Tea Tree)

• Original Price: $69.95
• Sale Price: $19.90 - Save 72%!

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap, 12.5-Ounce Bottles (Case of 6)

• Original Price: $31.84
• Sale Price: $23.52 - Save 26%!

D-Mannose

• Original Price: $38.94
• Sale Price: $18.16 - Save 53%!

Home and Kitchen

Set of 6 BPA-Free 16-Ounce Capacity Reusable To Go Travel Mugs with Grip (Now Compactly & Safely Packaged)

• Original Price: $59.99
• Sale Price: $17.49 - Save 71%!

Commercial Chalkboard Contact Paper, Black, 18 Inches x 6 Feet

• Original Price: $8.49
• Sale Price: $3.25 - Save 62%!

Some Quick Announcements

Pregnancy, childbirth, and welcoming a new baby can be overwhelming, but this week’s bundle is a collection of resources to help you make informed decisions about each. With a bent toward natural living, this collection includes real food recipes for pregnancy and beyond, plus tips for breastfeeding, natural birth, and simple living with a baby. This week only, get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40 (a savings of more than 80%)!