I just adore Greece and it's hard to pick just one photo to share (and honestly, I haven't even gone through 10% of our photos yet, this was just what I grabbed really fast for something to put in this weekend's post).

This is Santorini Island, Greece. It is as picturesque as I imagined it to be. Getting through the hordes of tourists with a stroller? Not so easy. But it's breathtaking, nonetheless!

This is the town Fira on Santorini. The top photo is of the town Oia.

Earlier this week, we were in Athens, exploring the fascinating National Archaeological Museum, as well as visiting the Acropolis. First, however, Caden showed us how he could kick some five-headed Greek monster's tush, courtesy of a street mural in downtown Athens.

The astounding Acropolis.

My little Greek philosophers, in front of the Parthenon (and silly me was so busy trying to pose them while Ry took the photo that I didn't even notice the lady in the background).

We rented a four-wheeler one day, for tooling around Naxos, the island we're currently staying on. The water behind Abbie in this picture is actually a brilliant turquoise, but our new camera editing software is giving me hassles (anyone know how to use Adobe Lightroom?) and so the color is dulled, as are the other photos a bit.

Let me tell you... there is nothing dull about the colors here in Greece, particularly of the sky and sea! They are so incredibly beautiful I could just stare out at them all day long.

This church, right at the port of Naxos, caught my eye as the sun set. Truly, you don't have to look hard to find beauty in this place. It will be with full but sad hearts that we leave Greece in a few days.

Links I loved this week:

one thing your daughter doesn't need you to say @ chatting at the sky. Thoughtful and right on. My daughter isn't a teenager yet, but this is advice I want to remember.

6 Ways to Avoid Using Paper and Plastic in Your Home @ A Delightful Home. Our family uses all of these ways, except one (but it's so easy that I don't know why we don't). Any guesses which one it is?

Strawberries & Cream Popsicles (Dairy Free) @ The Coconut Mama. These are very simple, and really similar to a strawberry coconut cream popsicle recipe of my own, except that these ones will inspire you with their prettiness. :)

Stressed out: The danger of obsessive nutrition @ thank your body. I think it's good to be reminded to step back and stop stressing about all of the nitty-gritty particulars of nutrition and what we eat. Yes, we want to eat real food and nourish our bodies, but ultimately (and this is where I would disagree slightly with the end of this post), our health is in God's hands, not ours, and we can simply delight in the good things He gives to us, like fresh spring asparagus, or the first summer strawberries, or golden-yolked eggs from a farmer, and appreciate them for the gifts that they are, not for this or that nutrient or anti-oxidant. Food ought to be enjoyed.

A Mom's Guide To A "Geek To Chic" Summer @ Inspired to Action.

God's Help Through Loss @ (in)courage

How to Make Homemade Calamine Lotion @ Everyday Roots. I tend to just use a simple clay-and-water combination (ie. hydrated clay), but this calamine lotion recipe sounds particularly soothing, and not difficult at all to make.

Build-a-salad bar for kids and how my five-year-old made dinner @ Simple Bites. I firmly believe that getting kids involved in the kitchen is the best way to set them up with healthy eating habits for life.

This week...

This is our second week in Greece, which will be almost over by the time you read this post. After 5 days on the mainland, we're been spending 1 week on Naxos Island, in the Cyclades group of islands.

Just touristy enough to have lots of fun options for food and activities and cheap accommodation, but slow and easy-going enough to be a really pleasant respite, we're enjoying Greek-island living here on Naxos. We also managed a one-day tour to Santorini, which is a place I've always wanted to visit, and it didn't disappoint. I'll definitely be sad to leave Greece in a few days. It is truly a lovely place, with warm and friendly people, incredible food, breathtaking sites, fascinating history, and a slower pace that I could get used to.

What I'm reading: I hadn't been reading much (except a few snippets of my hubby's copy of the 4-Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss when I was bored on a bus), just because I've been very exhausted lately and trying to use any downtime to grab cat naps rather than read. However, I just bought Love Does, which has been on my wish-list for quite some time and I'm looking forward to reading that on our next ferry and train ride.

What I'm doing: A mixture of getting out and enjoying the sites, smells, sounds and souvlaki of Greece, while alternatively caring for four sick kids. Our poor kiddos have been battling a nasty virus, one after the other, for the past two weeks.

What I've been making: Tzatziki, with greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh garlic, and cucumbers (you're supposed to shred them, but I rarely have a shredder in our rental apartments so I just peel and dice them finely). Combined with whole-wheat pita bread, this is such a simple and fantastic lunch on a hot day.

What I've been eating: Way. too. much. baklava. Thanks goodness we're leaving Greece to head to Italy next week (seriously... did I really just write that? How on earth is switching to Italian food going to help me in the slightest? The pastry and honey must be getting to my head.)

What have you been reading lately? I'm in need of some further inspiration, in particular, I'm looking for good fiction. Any suggestions?

Disclosure: This post includes an affiliate link.

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

By Natalie, Contributing Writer

We talk a lot on Keeper of the Home about how to be good stewards of the bodies God gave us by feeding them real food that nourishes. But how zealous are we in feeding our spirits with real food? 

Real Food vs. Junk Food

The Creator made us as integrated whole human beings with bodies, minds, and spirits, and He graciously provided us with all we need to be healthy. For our spirits He gives us direct access to His objective words through His gift of the Bible.

We don't have to figure out life for ourselves and come up with as many different opinions as there are people in the world. God already has it figured out for us. Since He's pretty wise, we can trust Him.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. (John 6:27)

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

The Word of God is the only REAL food for our soul. It comes directly from the source. It is organic. It is pure. "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times." (Proverbs 30:5)

But we like junk food, don't we?

The greasy, artificial colors and flavors are of the enemy and his lies. Junk food is cheap and readily available everywhere we turn. It's on our TVs, in our books and magazines, on our computers, in the malls, on the billboards, in our schools, and on our radios. And we're silly, sinful little Wemmicks. We crave it.

Junk food appeals to all our senses, and it temporarily satisfies us. But the fix soon wears off, and we end up reaping the short term consequences of sluggishness, heartaches, distraction, and self-focus—as well as the long term consequences of bitterness, sorrow, and lack of purpose in life. It's never worth it, but still, we struggle with its alluring temptation.

The only truly satisfying food for our spirits is the Lord, Himself. Just like we need to adjust our taste for wholesome foods, we need to adjust our spiritual cravings as well. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8) "The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord!" (Psalm 22:26)

Supplements

God's Word is our meat and potatoes. But we can also benefit from supplements that help fill in the cracks of our understanding and wisdom. God has provided us with one another—the body of Christ—to encourage, comfort, and build us up in strength. I like to think of books, music, visual media, and blogs as supplements, too.

What kind of supplements are you taking in?

Are they merely fillers? Artificial and shallow? Or do they augment what God is teaching you through His Word? Do they encourage you to admire and pursue temporary pleasures and the stroking of your vanity— or do they spur you on to running hard after God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Medicines

When life goes sour—and it does—what do you turn to to alleviate your suffering? Do you trust man-made, quick fixes and your own sensibilities to guide you toward restored spiritual health? Or do you turn to the Master Physician to heal your spirit? He knows exactly what you need. And when you need it.

He doesn't always work on our time table because He has a greater purpose in mind that will ultimately work for our good—and His glory. Sometimes He has to perform major heart surgery to bring us into a deeper sense of wholeness and spiritual health. His goal is our joy and peace. He knows that will only be achieved when we have surrendered everything to Him.

Milk vs. Meat

Mama's milk is the perfect food—for a baby. But would that same child be healthy and strong if, at age 10, he was still relying on milk alone to meet his nutritional needs?

"But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" (I Corinthians 3:1-2)

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

As we build our relationship with Christ, spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer, immersing ourselves in Truth, embracing grace, and striving to walk in obedience, we will GROW strong and healthy!

Our character will develop. God will start smoothing out some of those rough edges. Our love and concern for others will increase. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and faithfulness will be evident in varying degrees.

Milk has its role in your life, but don't spend a lifetime living on it.

May God give us the power, discipline, and self-control to pursue the wholesome goodness and realness of Himself. Only then will we be able to fulfill the purpose for which He created us: to turn around and feed others—and to bring Him glory.

What do you do to help keep your family spiritually well fed?

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

By Diana, Contributing Writer

A great kitchen garden begins with herbs.

Fresh herbs add flavor and freshness to a dish – they add color and vibrance.  Fresh herbs can turn the ordinary into something spectacular - like this eggplant bechamel.

Besides their wonderful flavoring to dishes, one of my favorite things about fresh herbs is how incredibly easy they are to grow at home.  Even if you've never started a garden before, or lack the space, growing herbs will make you feel like a master gardener!

That's because most herbs are perennial.

That means they come back year after year with absolutely no effort on your part. Some herbs can actually be invasive, like mint, so you'll want to make sure to plant them in an area that you don't mind them taking off.

Some of my favorite herbal perennials to grow are chamomile, mint, chives, lavender, dill, oregano, thyme, marjoram, sage, tarragon, and sorrel.  I have most of these growing in and around my edible landscaping at home; however, I plan on transplanting some of them to containers on my patio this year.

That's another great thing about herbs: you can plant them in ground or in containers.  If you plan on drying herbs to perserve, like chamomile, I'd suggest finding a good place for them in ground where you don't mind them expanding year after year.

If this will be your first year planting herbs, one tip to save you money on your herb garden is to take stem cuttings from established plants and propagate them at home.

That's right, you can simply snip a stem and plant it.  There's no need to pay for a plant when one stem will take off right away!

As you can see, growing herbs is simple.  As an encouragement, don't feel like you need to grow every single herb that there is.  Start with a few of your favorites, then expand your herb garden year after year.

5 Beautiful Herb Gardens to Inspire You

fivecentnickel.com

The Vintage Wren 

Camille Styles

miss stitch a wish

Savor the Taste of Oregon

Do you grow herbs?  Please share with us your favorite herbs to grow.

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

By Kresha, Contributing Writer

The summer holidays are just about to be upon us in North America and with them come summer barbecues. Oh, goodness, I love summer.... ::sigh::

With Memorial Day in the U.S. and Victoria Day in Canada just around the corner, summer picnics, pool parties, and backyard barbecues will soon be in full swing.

But as conscientious mothers and homemakers, there is a niggling question:

In striving to feed our families healthy, nourishing whole foods, we often focus on the big food items: the meat, the dairy, the properly prepared grains. However, what about the little things?

You may have the most delicious grass-fed steak burger on a sprouted or sourdough bun, but what about the ketchup and mustard? And what about the barbecue sauce for your grilled chicken or the relish on your child's hot dog?

Often, the store-bought versions of these condiments are laden with high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified ingredients, and preservatives. Even the organic ones sometimes have hidden ingredients, not to mention being expensive.

Thus, today, I offer a whole-food take on four of the classics: ketchup, mustard, sweet pickle relish, and barbecue sauce. (If you'd like a mayonnaise as well, Stacy posted a lovely one a few days ago.)

I created these versions to be as similar to the store-bought versions as possible, specifically keeping in mind kids who may be picky about foods they don't recognize. Serve them in restaurant-style squeeze bottles or in empty condiment containers (like the mustard you just finished), and the kids won't even know they're healthy.

These recipes were originally published in Restocking the Pantry: Easy-to-Make Condiments to Help You Save Money and Nourish Your Family. See the deal we have on this month specifically for Keeper of the Home readers at the end of this post!

Easy Peasy Ketchup

Makes approximately 3 cups

1 1/2 cups tomato paste (learn how to make tomato paste from scratch)
3/4 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses (optional)
½ cup water
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 clove of garlic, finely grated
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Place all ingredients in a large saucepan and stir together with a whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat and bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.

Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. You may serve the ketchup immediately or store in the refrigerator for 1-2 months.

French's-Style Mustard

Makes 1 1/2 cups

1/2 cup dry mustard powder
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup white distilled vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 clove of garlic, finely grated
1 pinch smoked paprika
1 tsp. cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Whisk everything except the cornstarch together in a small saucepan until smooth. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring often.

About 1 minute before you want to remove the mustard from the heat, stir the cornstarch together with 1 teaspoon of cold water. Then, while whisking, pour the cornstarch into the simmering mustard. Let cook for 1 minute to thicken.

Remove from heat and let stand 1 minute to set. Pour into the serving container to cool.

Sweet Pickle Relish

Makes approximately 1 quart

1 1/4 lbs fresh pickling cucumbers, scrubbed
1 onion
3 tablespoons pickling salt or coarse Kosher salt (do not use regular salt, as the additives will change the color of the relish)
Ice cubes or ice chips
2/3 cup white distilled vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup evaporated cane juice, coconut sugar, or honey
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1/3 teaspoon celery seeds
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 pinch ground allspice
1 pinch ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon turmeric

Coarsely chop the cucumbers and onion in a food processor or food grinder and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle in the pickling salt and stir so that the salt is well distributed. Place a tea towel directly on the surface of the cucumber and onions, then cover the towel with ice and let sit for 2-3 hours. Discard the ice and rinse the cucumber and onion mixture thoroughly.

In a large saucepan, bring the vinegar, sugar, and spices to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the mixture has reduced slightly, then stir in the cucumber-onion mixture. Stir well, spoon into jars, and let cool. The relish can be served immediately, but it achieves the best flavor after 2-3 days. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 months.

Bold and Smoky Barbecue Sauce

1 onion, coarsely chopped
2-3 tablespoons water
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (more to taste)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons pure liquid smoke
2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil, melted
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Place the onion in a blender with the water and blend until slushy. An immersible blender makes this especially easy. Strain mixture through a cheesecloth, squeezing it until you obtain 1/2 cup juice.

Whisk ketchup, onion juice, and other wet ingredients in a medium bowl, omitting oil. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add in garlic and spices and cook until fragrant. Whisk in wet ingredient mixture and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the mixture thickens, about 20-30 minutes. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Let's Celebrate Summer with a Deal Just for Keeper of the Home Readers!

To celebrate the coming of summer, get "Restocking the Pantry" for half-price! That's just $4.99 for 57 recipes that will nourish your family. Click here to get the book and use coupon code "KOTHSUMMER". Good through May 31.

Have you ever made your own condiments? Are there any more unusual condiments you wish you could make at home?

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

Johanna dancing at Palamidi Fortress in Nafplio, Greece. She is determined to dance her way across Europe's greatest castles, in her pink dress, of course. 

Links I loved this week:

You matter @ Simple Mom

The Cost of Being A Stay-At Home Mom @ Growing Home

So God Made a Mother @ A Holy Experience

Top 5 Herbs To Grow For Cooking & Medicinal Use @ Food Renegade

Free Vacation Bible School Curriculums: The Armor of God & The Fruit of the Spirit @ Money Saving Mom

Making the Switch from Nonstick @ The Marathon Mom

The Power of My Words in Relationships @ Visionary Womanhood

When Mom Has a Young Man in the Making @ The Better Mom

The ancient theatre at Epidavros... considered the best preserved in all of Greece. It's a marvel of technology, how you can hear everything that is said from the center of the stage, all the way to the top row of seats. 

This week...

Earlier this week, we arrived in Greece. I have wanted to come here most of my life, and so far, it has not disappointed! This week we're on the mainland. We arrived in Patras, spent 3 nights in Nafplio (and visited the theatre of Epidavros, as pictured above, as well as Mycenae, the site of the ancient runs of the Myceneans). We're currently in Athens for two days, and then we'll spend one week on Naxos island. We have one day to spend somewhere between the island and our ferry to Italy-- any suggestions?

It's so hard to put into words just what makes me love it here so much, but here are a few things:

• groves of orange, lemon and olive trees, everywhere.
• old men driving down narrow, crooked, cobble stone streets on motorcycles.
• ancient Byzantine churches, with domes of perfection, which lift up my gaze.
• pink, red, purple and white bougainvillea flowers, climbing over trellises, across fences, down drainpipes, over doorways, trailing off of patios
• tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, feta cheese, olive oil and vinegar.
• this curious group of people, who can yell into their cell phone in the middle of a public place, having an argument with an unseen participant, and then be so warm and friendly to us, or even turn around and coo at my baby as if nothing happened.
• baklava. pasty + nuts + honey. need I say any more?
• the aquamarine sea.
• castles on cliffs, castles on hills, castles on tiny islands.
• ruins on cliffs, ruins on hills, ruins in valleys, ruins randomly everywhere.
• delicious meat on a stick. is souvlaki not one of the greatest inventions ever?
• taking my kids to a hospital (they're fine now, just so you know) in a city that is supposedly the oldest city in all of Europe, and perhaps, in the entire world. my brain can't even fathom it (the city's name is Argos, and it has been continuously inhabited for about 7000 years, or so I've read).
• walking to the port to buy ferry tickets and stumbling on a market where I could smell the fresh fish and see the olives floating in barrels
• white washed buildings. what is it about them that we love so much?

Am I the only one who loves Greek food? Did you notice how many times it came up in my list? :)

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

By Kelly, Contributing Writer

Hosting a simple, yet elegant afternoon tea party is a delightful way to celebrate the special women in our lives whether it’s honoring our moms on Mother’s Day, hosting a bridal or baby shower, or just sharing a fun afternoon with good friends.

Simply dress up your table with some pretty linens and fresh flowers. And don’t be shy about borrowing extra china or serving platters from friends. Personally, I love the eclectic look of mismatched dishes and platters.

Keep the menu simple, yet elegant. A selection of assorted finger sandwiches pair nicely with tea. Lemon Dill Cucumber Tea Sandwiches (see recipe below), as well as egg salad and chicken salad are all traditional favorites. Another classic pairing with tea is biscuits or scones served with homemade jam and clotted cream.

For dessert, consider serving dainty treats such as little Lemondrop Cupcakes, Thumbprint Cookies, or Raw Cookie Dough Bites.

And of course, the most important part of any tea party is the tea! Set up a traditional tea service with teapots, cups and saucers, and a nice selection of tempting teas. Traditional favorites such as English Breakfast, Darjeeling and Green Tea are all delicious. For a special touch, consider creating your own unique tea blends such as Rosy Black, Lemon Tisane, or other Health-Boosting Herbal Teas.

Afternoon tea is all about simple pleasures – a time to sip tea, relax and enjoy a memorable afternoon together. It truly is a wonderful way to honor and appreciate the special women in our lives!

Lemon Dill Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

(serves 3-4)

4 oz. cultured cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh dill (or 1/2 tsp dried dill weed)
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1 tsp. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 English cucumber, peeled and sliced thinly
6 slices of your favorite wholesome bread

1) In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, blend together the cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Then, season to taste with salt and pepper.

2) Cut crusts off the bread (reserve for making breadcrumbs or another use). Spread a generous layer of the cream cheese mixture on each slice of bread.

3) Layer the cucumber slices among three of the bread slices. Add a few sprigs of fresh dill, if desired. Top with the remaining three bread slices. Slice into quarters on the diagonal and serve. (Or cut sandwiches into pretty shapes, using a favorite cookie cutter.)

Have you hosted an afternoon tea party? What are your favorite tips and treats for making it a memorable affair?

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

1. Plant a picking garden (I recently came across this idea on - where else - Pinterest... and I am in love with the idea, thus it wins the number one spot on my list!)
2. Stone soup (container + water + dirt and rocks, etc.) served with mud pies, of course!
3. Picnics
4. Tag
5. DIY sprinkler out of a pop bottle
6. Paint - the fence, rocks, paper taped to the house, themselves...
7. Finger painting and feet painting
8. Cloud watching
9. Camping
10. Help tend the compost
11. Raise backyard chickens
12. Nature scavenger hunt
13. Draw what you see - a leaf, the clouds, your house, your foot, the grass...
14. Listen to music; lay in the sun
15. Popsicles (these blueberry-yogurt ones look amazing - but go for the full-fat dairy!)
16. Trampoline
17. Soccer
18. Sandbox
19. Watering plants
20. Fairy garden
21. Build a fort
22. Tea party
23. Bug catching
24. Sidewalk chalk (lots of DIY recipes on Pinterest!)
25. Bug races
26. Catch fireflies
27. Low balance beam
28. Identify plants in a book
29. Hopscotch
30. Reading
31. Stacking tower
32. Set up an obstacle course
33. Dirt pile. Not to be confused with a sand pile, of course. There is a definite difference - just ask my four-year-old son.
34. Swingset, jungle gym, etc.
35. Bonfire with roasted hotdogs and marshmallows (the moderately healthy versions, of course...)
36. Drive-in theatre - hang a sheet and project a movie onto it when it’s dark
37. Parents play too - if you join your kids in any of these activities, I guarantee you'll make their day.
38. Stargazing
39. Reading nook
40. Make and hang a birdfeeder, then watch for birds while in your reading nook
41. Make and bury a time capsule
42. Spread out a big blanket and take indoor toys outside
43. BBQ and eat it outside
44. Have breakfast outside in your pajamas
45. Gather a bucket, hose, and sponges and wash your bikes (dump trucks, balls, deck, etc.)
46. Water table or wading pool play
47. Create a nature table to display special nature treasures you find
48. Croquet or Bocce ball
49. Badminton or T-ball
50. Catch
51. Horseshoes
52. Create a map of your yard
53. The quintessential science project: the vinegar and baking soda volcano
54. Backyard bowling (use items around the house like cereal boxes, spaghetti jars, etc)
55. Play dough
56. Backyard Olympics
57. Paint a white sheet hung on the fence as a canvas
58. DIY bubbles
59. Play with scissors
60. Pizza on the grill
61. Ice cube paint
62. Go garage sailing; then enjoy your new find in the backyard.
63. Read them a chapter book while lying on a blanket.
64. Water fight
65. Make and eat watermelon cookies (slice the watermelon and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes)
66. Water balloon pinata
67. Pool noodle race track
68. DIY zip line for toys
69. Make a water wall
70. Wading pool with water and plastic balls
71. Throw paint-filled eggs at a canvas
72. Bury some treasure and mark it on your kids' map for them to find the next day
73. "Badminton" with balloons and rackets made from paper plates and popsicle sticks

Still want more ideas?

There are tons of Pinterest boards that you can follow; just type "backyard activities" in the search bar. You might wanna grab an iced coffee and a comfy chair first, though. Don't say I didn't warn you. 

I've begun collecting ideas on my Summer Bucket List Pinterest board. If you're a homesteading family, then check out this great list of 22 Activities for the Country Toddler or Preschooler.

What's on your Backyard Bucket List?

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

Written by Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer

Today I'm going to share my favorite mayonnaise recipe and give you the details on how I make it.

It's not complicated, but it does take a little patience.

The first time I made mayonnaise it was a complete flop. I rushed it, and well, I never actually got mayonnaise.

Since then I've tried a few different methods and have settled on the one that works best for me. If you've attempted to make mayonnaise before and it didn't work, I encourage you to give this method a try.

Many people use a food processor to make mayonnaise, or even a stick blender, but I've had trouble with both. (My sister tells me her food processor works beautifully for mayonnaise. She makes a delicious looking garlic and lemon mayonnaise. Maybe it's just me!).

In fact, since I know many, many people use a food processor to make mayonnaise, I thought I'd try it again when preparing for this post. I got frustrated when it kept splashing out the sides:

So, I went back to my tried and true method: the handheld mixer.

I like using a handheld mixer to make mayonnaise because I have more control over the speed. The other bonus is that it doesn't get too hot. Excess heat ruins the mayonnaise making process. This is one reason some high-power blenders don't work well for mayonnaise: they generate too much heat.

If you have success with food-processors, blenders, or other appliances, then by all means, carry on. And if you don't have a handheld mixer, give it a shot in one of the other kitchen appliances. (They work really well for plenty of people.)

Why make mayonnaise?

It is awfully hard to find good mayonnaise at the store; most use undesirable oils, like soy or canola, and have other additives. Making it yourself allows you full control over the ingredients.

Plus, it tastes really good.

How to Make Mayonnaise.

The following recipe is adapted from Everyday Paleo. It turns a beautiful yellow color due to the mustard. It's so flavorful! It's an excellent addition to sandwiches.

Ingredients

2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups olive oil, light olive oil, sunflower oil, or walnut oil (or a mixture of these)

Method

Add the eggs yolks, vinegar, mustard, sea salt, and cayenne pepper to a large bowl (if using a hand mixer) or your food processor. Blend together for about ten seconds.

(See! I told you I started out in my food processor!)

With the mixer running on the lowest setting, add the oil slowly. Just a little drip at a time.

When the cup is very full, it can be hard to control how much oil is poured out, so I sometimes use a measuring spoon to drizzle the oil in slowly.

This is the part where you must be patient. Maybe even read a book while you are standing there!

When the mixture begins to emulsify, or thicken, you can begin to add the oil a little more quickly, but still be very careful. Don't dump all of the oil in at once.

This whole process will take close to 20 minutes. But it's worth it!

This recipe makes a little over 2 cups of mayonnaise. Keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks.

In Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon suggests adding a tablespoon of whey to the mayonnaise and leaving it out for several hours. She states that it will then keep for up to 6 months. I have not tried this. Anyone else? Ours never lasts that long since we use it to make salad dressing, as well as egg and chicken salad.

Do you make your own mayonnaise? If so, which kitchen appliance do you use?

This post is sponsored by Plan To Eat. Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together.

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

By Stacy Myers, Contributing Writer

I’m coming out of the cleaning closet. Are you ready for this? Much to my mother’s dismay, I do not do spring cleaning.

Yes, I know – your eyes are bugging out of your head. I see all these posts all over the internet about 10 Easy Steps to Spring Cleaning Your Home or Spring Cleaning Your Home Using Only Vinegar and One Towel! I’m keepin’ it real, y’all…I just send those posts directly to my trash folder. Booya.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…my goal in our home is to make sure we don’t live in a dump hole. At this stage of my life, with two little children and a messy dog, good enough has become good enough for me. When I’m 93, I won’t look back and say “Well honey, I sure do wish I had spring cleaned our house in 2013…I really missed out.”

Sometimes I’m getting 45 minutes of sleep at night. So I’ll be honest: The last thing on my mind is getting down on my hands and knees to clean the corners of the bathroom using a Q-tip or moving all the furniture out so that I can vacuum behind it.

In all stages of life, I’m trying to learn to give thanks – even when I’m cleaning up pee-pee off the bathroom floor or answering “why” 5.6 million times per day.

Some days are harder than others – some days my “spring cleaning” consists of mopping up milk after every meal. Some days I want to pull my hair out – but then I change my mind because I really don’t want to clean that up either. I’d rather spend my time playing with my babies and cooking – hanging laundry out to dry and gathering eggs with my daughter.

I am not the perfect mom. Considering I just yelled at my 3.5 year old because she spilled an entire cup of water all over the floor, I feel like a failure most of the time. But, I refuse to feel like a failure because I don’t spring clean…what mom needs more Mommy Guilt? Let’s kick it out. Bye-bye, Mommy Guilt!

Now, all that was not to say that we live in a pigsty. Yes, I do feel like I fight a losing battle with dust bunnies and grass all over the kitchen floor. Sometimes my daughter brings me handfuls of dust bunnies and says “Here, Mama.” Then she just goes back to her playing. Dust – it’s a fact of life.

I do my best to keep our home maintained instead of doing a deep clean once per year. To me, it makes more sense to make sure things are picked up regularly than to live in a big dump and just clean periodically. I’m the type of person that would become SO overwhelmed at a project that large that I just wouldn’t do it – I’d move instead.

So, what’s my secret and how do I live in a non-dump hole without Spring cleaning? I’ll tell you – lists. I use cleaning lists. They’ve saved my sanity on multiple occasions. Not only can I get things done this way, but when the husband comes home and wants to know what we did that day, I can actually tell him – instead of scratching my head and saying “Uhhhhh, eat?”

The first list I use is a free printable from Clean Mama called “31 Days to a Clean Home.” Her general idea is that if we get just a little bit done each day, then everything stays clean…well, as clean as you can get with two kids and a messy dog.

I don’t do something every day because life happens. But, I figure if I work myself through the list and start over regularly, the house is still getting cleaned. Bye, bye, dump hole.

I also use a weekly schedule. This is my MAIN list. If I get everything done on the list that day, then I move to the 31 Days list.

This is a printable from Tip Junkie called “Week at a Glance Cleaning Check List.” Barry (my husband) personalized this for me using Photoshop and I put it in a vintage frame. As I get things done, I cross them off with a dry-erase marker, and then I can start over the next week. Marking stuff off just makes me happy.

So, that’s my secret. No big revelation, huh? Also, as I clean I’m teaching Annie (3.5 years) to do the same…so that as she grows older, cleaning the house with me will become part of her chores.

Disclaimer: If you Spring clean, that’s cool. I don’t hate you. My Mama spring cleans, and she’s my best friend. I’m not pointing fingers…because when I do, there are three more pointing back at me.

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.

Colorful buildings lining the Old Town Square in downtown Prague, Czech Republic.

Links I loved this week:

Intention in the Morning @ Clover Lane. I often forget this, too. Such a necessary reminder for all of us mamas.

Teaching girls to respect their bodies (and each other) @ a Delightful Home

Patience on the Journey of Motherhood Holds Great Rewards! @ (in)courage. For every mom that is struggling right now with the season that you're in, read this and press on towards the rewards of mothering, the ones that we can't see or feel yet, but await us nonetheless.

You are mighty, because you mother {A Mother's Day video} @ Lisa-Jo Baker. Watch this!

How to Choose a CSA {Green in 365} @ Live Renewed. CSAs are such a great alternative for those who don't want to or aren't able to garden, but still want to support local farmers and enjoy the freshest, seasonal produce.

planting time @ SouleMama. Oh, how I miss my garden this year. I crave being in the dirt, to run my fingers through cakey black soil, to poke holes to be filled with seeds. To wait with bated breath each morning as I check on them, to see if new life has sprouted up like a miracle that catches me by surprise every spring.

4 Steps to Take When You're Not Ready for Change @ A Holy Experience

Last chance to grab your eBook bundle! Sale ends tonight!

Edit: This sale has ended now-- hopefully we'll do it again next year! :)

I've told you plenty about The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle all week, so I won't get into the details too much right now. The main things you need to know are this:

• 97 eBooks and eResources, all geared towards inspiring and equipping homemakers in their various roles.
• $640 value PLUS $140 in bonus offers, all for just $29.97!
• Sale ends tonight, Saturday May 4th, at 11:59 pm EST.
• This is a one-time only sale, and there will be no late sales offered. Once it's finished, you won't see this particular bundle back again.

Catch all of the details, including each and every phenomenal eBook included, as well as the breakdown of bonus offers, in this post.

If you already know you want the bundle and just needed the reminder, you can get yours now.

This week...

The buildings in the Old Town Square don't mean that much to our kids... they prefer to chase brilliant bubbles from this entrepreneurial young man.

What I'm reading: Nothing. I've got a big list of books I can't wait to read, but at the moment, life has been a little hectic. Now that our massive eBook bundle sale is almost over, I'm eager to take a bit of time off and spend it relaxing and reading!

What I'm doing: Staying up way too late in our Prague apartment, finishing up with blog work, doing trip planning, and packing up to head to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic tomorrow morning, and then on to the Greece mainland this coming week.

What I've been making: Yogurt and kefir. Except not really "making" them, but mostly just pouring them into a bowl or cup and thoroughly enjoying. Since arriving in Europe just over two weeks ago, I've been delighted at the high quality yogurts and kefir available in almost any store I shop at.

What I'm enjoying: Today I took my 5 and 3 year olds out for our last day in Prague (while my husband stayed home with our sick 8 year old and 1 year old). My favorite part of the day was the last half hour before we went home, when we ducked into a little cafe near our rental apartment, called The Gingerbread Museum. The kids each chose a delicately decorated gingerbread cookie from the myriad options. Even better than the ones you can eat, though, are the incredible pieces of art and decor they've made out of gingerbread and colored icing-- a map of historical Prague on the wall (my fave), chandeliers, flowers and scrolls along the wall, a pillar colored in a winding rainbow of colorful hearts. So captivating!

What have you been enjoying with your children lately?

We love our sponsors:

• Plan to Eat: Plan To Eat was born from our desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together. PlanToEat.com.