The "Art" of Home-Making Mondays ~ Inspiration #6

“We are to make a plan for the day, pray over that plan, and then proceed with that plan. When we are willing to regard the unexpected as God's intervention, we can flex with the new plan, recognizing it as God's plan.” 

~ Elizabeth George

"A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps."

~ Proverbs 16:9

Romantic Homemaking Series ~ Breathing Beauty into Your Home Life

“I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.”

~ Jani Ortlund

While the world may preach that homemaking is mundane, burdensome and rewardless, my feelings fall in quite the opposite direction.  I see beauty in all our common duties, I desire to elevate each task to loveliness and to see each part of our work as holy. With that being said, I would like to devote a dainty little series to romantic homemaking. I will be sharing inspiring resources, some sweet simple projects and articles to promote pretty but practical homemaking (this has been the purpose of this blog in general but I hope to take it a step further this month!). I'm hoping this will breathe an old fashioned love into your homemaking world. There are some things I have shared in the past which identify with my desires for this series and I have included them all here under one post. I will continue to add here as I publish them. As February symbolizes a month of love in our culture, I thought this would be a perfect time to talk of a love for homemaking -- unapologetic romantic homemaking. 

"Romantic: Pertaining to romance, or resembling it; wild; fanciful; extravagant; as a romantic taste; romantic notions; romantic expectations; romantic zeal.

~ Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary

Gentle Homemaking Inspiration Series

This series hopes to motivate and renew the mind.

My List of Most Beloved and Beautiful Homemaking Books

A good book can inspire you to put fresh energy into your home.

The Inspired Home "Junk" Journal

A beautiful place to store all your romantic homemaking encouragement.

Holy Homemaking

The true story of what homemaking accomplishes.

DIY Vanilla Rose Room Spray

Use the power of aroma to transform your home.

Embellish Ordinary Kitchen Linens with Lace

Yes, make it all pretty!

Easy Custom-Made Chocolates

What is more romantic than chocolate?

No Sew "Snip and Rip" DIY Dinner Napkins

There is something so luxurious about using cloth napkins at the dinner table!

"Pink Windex" aka Rose Petal Windows and Glass Spray

What is more pretty than pink cleaning products?

There are labels to make a complete rose-inspired housecleaning routine!

Easy "Vanilla Rose" Bath & Body DIY Recipes

Make some lovely gifts for those you love and prepare a special spa day for them!

Titus 2 Homemaking Lessons Inspired by Jane Austen

I think the title says it all.

Wash Day Collection of Inspiration

Make every task beautiful.

Titus 2 Homemaking Encouragement Inspired by Louisa May Alcott

And yet another obvious title.

Ironing Inspiration ~ The Classic Homemaking Collection

We can make even the unlovliest work lovely.

Period Movies for the Romantic Hearted and Sentimental Soul

And after a long productive day, brew yourself a cup of coffee and tea and enjoy...

"Nowhere is Christianity more beautifully displayed, than in the home. It changes the home of wickedness, strife, and contention — into a peaceful and delightful Eden. It converts the home of the wicked — into a palace. It drives away discontentment, uneasiness, fear, and darkness — and showers contentment, peace, and sunlight into every heart."

~ Charles E. Orr (1844 - 1913)

"A pleasant atmosphere in the home creates a beautiful background for happy memories. Because I want the warm atmosphere and the good memories it fosters, I plan for it. I plan the meals, including how I set the dinner table and make it beautiful. I plan for order in the home, for the housework, for the laundry, and for the upkeep of our clothing so that life is calmer. I plan surprises, too, so that life at home is fun. If all the planning sounds like a lot of effort, remember that no work of art is slapdashed together. Artistry calls for planning and design, and so does the work of art called "Home".

~ Elizabeth George, Beautiful in God's Eyes

Do let me know if this is something that interests you...

Happily homemaking,

 ♡ JES

Oatmeal Banana Chip Breakfast Blender Muffins ~ Printable Mix-in-Jar Recipe Kit

I am one of those humans which wakes up with a sweet tooth. This can be a bad thing unless harnessed in the right direction. You see, I am also a human who feels strongly about being proactive with their health (especially in these uncertain times). Because of it, I get excited when I have a recipe that is both good for the body and satisfying to the senses. I believe these little muffins do just that! This is also a great “use it up” recipe for those overripe bananas and your bulk supply of pantry oats.

This recipe is made up of (heart healthy) oats, overripe bananas (waste not want not), a tad coconut sugar (low glycemic and natural), coconut oil (feeds that lovely brain of yours), Greek yogurt (a pinch of protein) and a splash of chocolate chips (I use the Lily’s brand which are stevia sweetened AND you don’t taste the stevia -- you can even find them at Walmart!).

Simply place the following ingredients in your blender in the order below:

- 2 large overripe bananas

- 2 large eggs

- 1 c. plain Greek yogurt 

- 1/4 c. coconut oil

- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

- 2 c. oats

- 1/4 c. coconut sugar* (or sweetener of your choice)

- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 

- 1/2 tsp. baking soda

- 1/8 tsp. sea salt (or pink salt)

Blend everything together until smooth (scrape down sides with spatula if necessary). 

Manually stir in 1/2 c. chocolate chips (or your choice of nuts, seeds and/or dried fruits) with a wooden spoon. 

Pour batter evenly into a greased muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes or until the muffin is set (and/or if a toothpick placed in center comes out clean). Let muffins cool in pan for 10 minutes or so before serving.

* I think the batter is plenty sweet but feel free to increase the coconut sugar if you need a dramatically sweeter muffin.

With that being said, whenever I have a recipe that fits the criteria of sweet and healthy, then I love adapting them into convenient mixes in my pantry. This is also a fun way to build your pantry in the winter months when there isn’t much to put up.

To prepare the mix, we have a printable "kit" to make it convenient which has labels and convenient directions. You will find it HERE.

In a quart jar place the following:

-- 2 c. oats

-- 1/4 c. coconut sugar (you can probably switch out to any sweetener of choice)

-- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

-- 1/2 tsp. baking soda

-- 1/8 tsp. salt

Shake well. Your mix is ready to add to your pantry shelf!

 

To prepare the muffins, follow the directions shared on the printable (paste round label on jar lid and paste hexagon label on front of jar side). One gives instructions on filling the jar. The other label shares how to prepare the mix.

I've been storing my muffins in a thrifted cookie jar which makes it feel nice and cozy!

I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you end up making it, please let me know! 🤎

(I kept my burnt batch in the cookie jar for this picture so you know it happens to everyone!)

Again, you will find the printable recipe kit here!

For other Make-Your-Own-Mix recipes, visit here!

Happy homemaking! 🤎

The "Art" of Home-Making Mondays ~ Inspiration #5

“BLESSINGS on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace.

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place; 

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled,

For the hand that rocks the cradle,

Is the hand that rules the world.”

~ William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)

Dear homemaker, your influence is of the uttermost importance, your work is absolutely vital... you are essential. “For the hand that rocks the cradle, Is the hand that rules the world.” With love, JES

(painting titled "Cradle Song" by Enoch Wood Perry)