But modesty is still just as important during summer. So how do you dress modestly, stay cool, and also still be cute? Here are some tips I’ve learned through the years for dressing modestly during summer as well as some of my favorite places to shop!

How To Dress Modestly During Summer

Here are  few practical tips to help you dress modestly this summer. Summer modesty guidelines and practice will look differently in each household. So talk to your husband or father about how they can help you dress modestly this summer because gals – sometimes it’s hard!

1) Find Some Good Shorts

Good shorts are essential to me during Summer because other than Church I pretty much live in shorts!! I don’t want to be legalistic {or impost legalistic standards upon you}, so each household needs to decide what their standard is. Personally I have just drawn the line at knee length {you can read more about my personal modesty guidelines}.

According to The Modesty Survey, 64.5% of men said “It is immodest for a girl to expose her legs up to mid-thigh.” This means that over half of the men around us struggle when we expose our legs at mid thigh. This has convicted me that for the sake of not causing my brothers in Christ to stumble {1 Corinthians 8:13}, that I will simply wear knee length shorts…there’s really no harm in that small sacrifice! {Again I am just sharing what I personally feel convicted about}.

Hubby and I at Pearl Harbor on our Honeymoon

2) Find a Good Swim Suit

Ack! Finding a modest bathing suit is essential to summertime but it.is.so.hard.to.do! I will suggest a few swim suit companies below but ultimately, just be wise, discerning, and prayerful when picking out a suit…and get a man’s opinion on it before you take the tags off {such as your husband or father}!!

3) Make Wise Choices

Really the summer is the perfect excuse to “forget” about modesty for a few months and wear what is hip, cool, and not care. But be set apart this summer girls. Be bold for Christ and show the world that there is something different about you! Don’t give in to the temptation to look trendy at the sake of glorifying God with your body {1 Corinthians 6:19}

I urge you to spend some time in prayer and discussion with your husbands {or fathers if you are unmarried} and really dig into what Scripture has to say on modesty. Think about what is really at the HEART of modesty and pray that God molds you into a beautiful modest woman. I urge you to dive into The Modesty Survey and find out what over 1600 Christian men think about modesty {find out more information about the survey here}

Modest Summer Fashion Guide

Are you on the hunt for modest clothing this summer? I actually find most of my modest clothing cheap in normal stores and thrift shops, but certain things like modest cami’s and bathing suits I get online.

1) Apricot Apparel

I have tried every cami under the sun and they all are either to low to begin with or by the end of the day they droop down. But my hands down favorite cami I have ever found is from Apricot Apparel. I stumbled upon their site onr day and now my sister’s and I do a new order from them each season! On my next order I intent to try some of their other laying shirts too!

The cami is my very best friend. A whole new world of cute shirts opens up to you when you can add a camisole to your outfit! Suddenly dresses and shirts that were highly immodest become the perfect summer modest outfit!

A favorite dress that would be too low cut without my favorite Apricot Apparel cami!

2) Mod Bod

My sister’s have a few of their layering shirts that I would love to get but my favorite thing from them is their perfect tank!  I wear it under shirts and it’s the perfect thing to wear under most dresses! I have it in white, black, pink, and brown.

3) Lime Ricki

For the past several years, Lime Ricki has been my go to place to buy bathing suits! My sister’s and I were actually able to find bathing suits that were high enough and not too expensive! Yay!

While it seems that a few of their swim suits this year might be a little too low cut for me, I’m actually thrilled with this year’s line up of suits!! I’m having a hard time deciding what to order. I really like the Coral Zulu, Cinch-Neck Hibiscus, One Shoulder Mini Dot, and Ruffle Hibiscus {I think this is my favorite but I’m debating whether it will be modest enough :\}. And I of course pair these tops with long shorts or skorts.

My Sister’s and I in Lime Ricki Bathing Suits

4) Mikarose

I love Mikarose clothing!! They have so many adorable shirts and dresses that really are modest! I love that most of their clothing doesn’t require a cami – they are truly modest! And their quality is really high, I can tell the clothing will last for a long time {that’s really important when spending money on modest clothing}! This lace shirt I got last year is actually on clearance right now. I’m really in love with this Julia dress right now…it would be perfect for this summer ;)

5) DownEast Basics

I think I start drooling every time their catalog comes in the mail. I think their dresses are my favorite thing – especially this honeydew dress! Many of their tops seem very modest also although I only own 2 of their dresses and a jacket. I actually did a review of one of their dresses last year! Mind you….I was 21 weeks pregnant with twins in this photo – so not my best photo LOL!

6) Divinita Sole

I think Divinita Sole might just be among my favorite modest swim suits I’ve ever seen! But I haven’t actually tried them yet. It seems that you have to buy the top and and bottom together and since I cover the bottoms with shorts anyway, I don’t need matching bottoms. So I have yet to try them out although I’m thinking about calling them to see if I can purchase just the top :) They have some really super cute and modest swimsuit tops!!

7) Novae Clothing

I have always loved Novae clothing but haven’t ordered from them…yet! I love their dresses especially and just about died when I found this skirt…actually it’s a skirt and dress EXTENDER! I HATE when you find a super cute dress or skirt and it’s too short :( But this dress extender is brilliant. It’s super cute and could make so many dresses and skirts an option! I really need one!!

These are just some of my favorite modest clothing companies! But I’m always on the hunt for more. Do you know of any?

The post Modest Fashion Guide: Summer Edition appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

Photo by khrawlings

Any discussion of Biblical hospitality, must first naturally start with the Bible. Yesterday we dove into the Old Testament to find out what it has to say on hospitality and now today we will find out how the early Church in the New Testament practiced and modeled hospitality.

While Biblical hospitality is not a high priority for most modern western churches, it was vital to the growth, stability, and daily life if the early Church!

“Hospitality is becoming an almost forgotten Christian virtue in our style of life today, particularly in big cities with their rampant crime on the streets, their locked-in apartments and all their affluent, urban and bourgeois devices which attempt to create privacy in our homes and our lives. In the New Testament, however, hospitality was a distinctive mark of Christians and Christian communities.” ~ Hospitality Commands, pg 6

Hospitality in the New Testament

The Greek word for hospitality that is used in the New Testament is philoxenia which literally means “Love for Strangers“. Each time we are commanded to practice hospitality, God is literally commanding us to have and show love for others!

Love is a central theme of the Bible. We are to Love God {Deuteronomy 10:12}, Love our neighbors {Luke 10:27}, and Love strangers {Philippians 2:3-4}. And at the root of hospitality is love. By practicing hospitality we are showing love for those in God’s Church, love for strangers, neighbors, and unbelievers, and most of all, love for God by obeying his commands.

“The Christian practice of hospitality was not viewed simply as a means of overcoming a practical problem. Theological statements by different authors in the New Testament show that it was frequently viewed as the concrete expression of Christian love.” ~ Hospitality Commands, pg 16

Serving those in the Church

We have a clear call from Paul to serve those within our Church and practice hospitality.

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” ~ Romans 12:13

Practically, this serving and contributing to the needs of the saints can take on many different forms. It can mean bringing a meal to a family who just had a baby. It can mean inviting new people at Church to your home for dinner. It can mean donating money and time to the Church’s emergency fund. Later in this series we will get into practical ways we can serve through hospitality.

Serving Unbelievers & Strangers

While one component of hospitality is serving those in the Church, another aspect is serving unbelievers and strangers! As Abraham found out, you should never neglect to show hospitality because you never know who you are serving! Here is a clear command to practice hospitality to strangers

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” ~ Hebrews 13:2

Image courtesy of [digidreamgrafix] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Serve Without Complaining

God surly knows our hearts! He wants us to serve Him with joy and humility. He is not merely concerned with our external actions but also the state of our hearts. He knows that we can tend to act selfishly or serve while complaining. So he issued this command:

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” ~ 1 Peter 4:9

We must be careful to not complain when extending hospitality when you think about the cost of food and extending hospitality, when a guest is late or doesn’t show up, or when hospitality isn’t extended back to you like you think it should! 

The Early Church

As we see, God commanded that the New Testament believers practice hospitality. This was not just a “gift” for certain people to use. He expected each church and each believer to live it out. The famous church historian, Adolf Harnack, wrote:

“During the early centuries of Christianity it was the Roman church more than any other which was distinguished by the generosity with which it practiced this virtue [hospitality]…A living interest in the collective church of Christ throbbed with peculiar vigor throughout the Roman church…and the practice of hospitality was one of its manifestations.” ~ Hospitality Commands, pg 7

The early Church took those commandments to heart and really lived it out! But somewhere along the line -amidst smart phones and cable TV – we became a reclusive and private society. Amidst affluence and abundance we  became prideful about our homes and let our fear of man {and man’s judgement on our houses, decor, & food} override our Biblical command to practice hospitality.

In Our Own Lives

So how can we take this principle of hospitality that we see practiced in the New Testament and apply it to our own lives in a culture so far removed of that of the early Church? By focusing on brotherly, Christian love. When we have and show love to those around us – we are extending Biblical Hospitality.

“Hospitality is a practical way to love others. Therefore, a person practicing Biblical hospitality should also be a loving person. This element separates Biblical hospitality from social entertaining or even distinguishes between the hospitality of a believer and an unbeliever. Believers can uniquely display God’s love as they extend hospitality. Entertaining focuses on having a beautiful table decor or preparing gourmet food. Biblical hospitality is a demonstration of love. Food and other elements are merely tools used to express our love for people. Our motivation for being hospitable women is a response to God’s work in our lives. Hospitality is one way we can tangibly demonstrate our love for God.” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 50

For Further Study

The Bible has much more to say on the subject of hospitality then I could ever hope to cover! I highly recommend these two books to help you on your journey towards Biblical hospitality: Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch and Practicing Hospitality by Pat Ennis & Lisa Tatlock.

Read more in this series:

• Biblical Hospitality Defined: The Art of Serving Others
• Hospitality Through the Bible: Old Testament
• Hospitality Through the Bible: New Testament {You are here}
• More to come! See all posts in the Joy of Hospitality series HERE!

The post Hospitality through the Bible: New Testament appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

Photo from Elin B

Hospitality is a very foreign concept in our modern North American society. We are exchanging deep conversations for 140 character tweets. Conversations are becoming more shallow and we are becoming increasingly individualistic.

The days of sitting on the porch with iced tea and good conversation has been replaced with watching TV and frittering away hours on Facebook. I am no stranger to technology {and think it can be very helpful and useful for many things} but our modern society has shied away from opening our homes to serve those around us. 

It wasn’t like this in the Ancient Near Eastern culture of the Old Testament. Hospitality was woven into the fabric of that society. It was a common and expected part of Jewish living and was an important part of serving in the Old Testament.

Hospitality in the Old Testament

The Old Testament culture is very different from ours. As people traveled through the land {and often through very dry desert areas} there were no McDonald’s or Starbuck’s to stop at when they got tired or thirsty.

When their feet were caked with mud and dried dust, they had no where to turn expect to houses they passed. Travelers often relied on the kindness of strangers for survival and they took the call of serving strangers seriously!

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” ~ Leviticus 19:33–34

In no uncertain terms, God commanded the Israelite’s to care for and love the strangers and travelers among them! Maybe they didn’t understand why God would issue this strong calling but all they knew was that God commanded it…and they should obey!

“For the people of God in the Old Testament the duty of hospitality came right from the center of who God was. I am the Lord your God who made a home for you and brought you there with all my might and all my soul. Therefore, you shall love the stranger as yourself. You shall be holy as I am holy (Leviticus 19:1). Your values shall mirror my values.” ~ Strategic Hospitality from Desiring God Blog

Learning From the Father of Our Faith

Abraham, the man called righteous because of his faith {James 2:23}, was a great example of hospitality that we can follow! Often the focus of this scene from Genesis 18:1-16 is that of Sarah who is promised to bear a son. While that is a profitable teaching from this passage, something else is illustrated as well: Abraham’s willing and eager heart to extend hospitality to these three men {who turn out to be angels & the Lord}.

*Note: I recently heard a fantastic sermon on this scene that really describes Abraham’s willingness to serve. I highly recommend you listen to it as Pastor Phil Layton can describe it much more effectively than I can. You can here the message HERE {and in fact, he is currently going through a fantastic series on Genesis right now}.*

A few things to notice from this passage:

Abraham Ran

“When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth” ~ Genesis 18:2b

This was an unusual thing for a middle eastern man of that time. He “girded his loins” and RAN to greet these strangers approaching their homestead. Abraham and Sarah were old by this point and in fact Sarah was past menopause. It’s would have been very unusual to see an old grey haired man pull up his robe and literally run to greet strangers on the road – but that is exactly what Abraham did! He was eager to share hospitality with these strangers!

Abraham Called Them Lord

Calling someone Lord was a sign of respect. Abraham was a wealthy man and yet he called himself a servant to these strangers and ran to wash their feet – a humbling act of service! To wash someone’s feet was to make yourself lower in status to that person {which is one reason it was so shocking that Jesus would wash the apostles feet {John 13:1-17}.

“O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree” ~ Genesis 18:3-4

Photo by paukrus

Abraham’s Hospitality Was Generous

“And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them.” ~Genesis 18:6-8

Originally, Abraham simply promised them a little water for their feet and some rest in the shade {Genesis 18:3-4}. But instead he was incredibly generous and treated these strangers as if they were kings!

Abraham rushed to Sarah and asked her to get out the fine flour and make enough fine cake to feed a dozen men let alone 3. He took their prized fattened calf and made a meal that was fit for a special occasion and not fitting for 3 travelers simply passing by.

But Abraham was generous with his time, energy, and possessions and together Abraham and Sarah showered love and affection on these strangers! Of course we find out later that these men were in fact Angels and one was even Christ Himself {Genesis 18:1,10 – the term LORD used in these verses is the highly personal name of God Himself – Yahweh – unlike the generic term “lord” that is used in verse 3 which simply signifies a higher position in society}. That is why the New Testament commands:

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” ~ Hebrews 13:2

In Our Own Lives

So how does the Old Testament pattern of hospitality affect our own lives? The Old Testament’s emphasis on hospitality and having a serving heart spill over in the New Testament and the early church’s emphasis on hospitality {but come back tomorrow for a discussion of hospitality in the New Testament}. But it also teaches us a powerful lesson:

“We look back and remember that we owe our life to an act of God’s hospitality. We were once strangers and aliens in the Egypt of sin and death. But God came to us in the Passover of his Son’s cross (1 Corinthians 5:7) and made us alive (Ephesians 2:5) and brought us out through the Red Sea of conversion.” ~ Strategic Hospitality from Desiring God Blog

God remains the same throughout history. Hospitality was a strong commandment and expectation of the Jews in the Old Testament. This strongly informed the New Testament and serves as a powerful reminder for ourselves. Come back tomorrow as we will jump into what hospitality looks like in the New Testament and early church!

Read more in this series:

• Biblical Hospitality Defined: The Art of Serving Others
• Hospitality Through the Bible: Old Testament {You are here}
• Hospitality Through the Bible: New Testament
• More to come! See all posts in the Joy of Hospitality series HERE!

The post Hospitality Through the Bible: Old Testament appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

Today is the first part in a new series I am excited and passionate about bringing to you on hospitality. Come with me on a journey to The Joy of Hospitality as we discover this lost art of Biblically serving others! You can find all the posts in the series HERE.

Hospitality: What comes to mind? Do you picture a beautiful house complete with a gourmet meal, friends around the dinner table, and polite chit chat? Hospitality can be this, but it’s really much more.

Hospitality can look like:

• Inviting a non-Christian family out to pizza after the soccer game.
• Sharing a picnik at the park with the single mom down the street.
• Inviting that new couple at church over for Sunday brunch.

Hospitality can come in many forms but the ultimate purpose is this: To honor and obey God by serving those around us. As Christians we are called to practice Biblical Hospitality…and practice it with joy!

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice’ (1 Sam 15:22). The words of John 14:15, 21-24 clearly identify that the primary evidence that individuals are Christians is their choice to obey their Father’s commands….I learned that to please my heavenly Father I need to respond to all of his instructions with an obedient spirit and not just pick those that appeal to me – and that includes my response to what his Word teaches about hospitality.” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 22

Hospitality – A Biblical Command

Why should we be concerned about hospitality and practicing it? Because God commands that we practice hospitality – and we should obey!

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” ~ Romans 12:13

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” ~ Hebrews 13:2

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” ~ 1 Peter 4:9 -

“First Peter 4:9 builds on the instructions to practice hospitality and reminds me that my attitude is of utmost important – I am to practice hospitality without complaining! This verse challenges me to conduct a heart search to discern what my attitude is and whether I am approaching this opportunity to minister enthusiastically (Colossians 3:23).” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 23

Later this week I will go more in depth into what hospitality actually looked like practiced in both the Old Testament and the New. We will dive into Biblical examples and how we can learn from people such as Abraham & Sarah, Lot, Gideon, and more!

So What Does Hospitality Look Like?

So now we know that Biblical Hospitality is commanded {and we will delve into that more} but what exactly does that look like? As I showed above, Biblical Hospitality can take on many different forms.

The ultimate purpose of hospitality is to minister to those around us – both believers and unbelievers. Our hospitality is a form of ministry and is a way that we show love, care, concern, and how we can serve others!

“Hospitality from a Biblical perspective is to recognize that God is more interested in caring relationships than the mold behind the shower curtain…It need not matter if we live in a single-room apartment or a split-level ranch, the only real requirement is allowing God to use our lives and our possessions…Our homes and our lives are indeed the most powerful combination of ministry to our world.” ~ Hospitality with Confidence, Pg 9

Hospitality is not about showing off your house, your decorating skills, or your cooking abilities. It is not just having friends over to play games {although that can be an element of it}. It is not about you or your possessions - Hospitality is about God and how he uses you and your possessions to serve those you come into contact with – both friends and strangers, both believers and unbelievers.

Anyone – even the single gal in a dorm room – can show hospitality to those around them. It doesn’t take fancy china or expensive food. Hospitality is about investing in other’s lives and learning how you can best serve those around you.

We could have a revolution within our churches of believers reaching out into our unbelieving neighborhoods and inviting families over, new people to the church quickly getting plugged into church life, and Christians really genuinely caring and serving for one another – through the Biblical art of hospitality!

I am excited you are on this journey with me! We are going to begin tomorrow by diving into what God has to say and teach on Hospitality in the Old Testament tomorrow.

Read more in this series:

• Biblical Hospitality Defined: The Art of Serving Others {You are here}
• Hospitality Through the Bible: Old Testament
• Hospitality Through the Bible: New Testament
• More to come! See all posts in the Joy of Hospitality series HERE!

The post Biblical Hospitality Defined: The Art of Serving Others appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

As I watch my own sweet boys turn into actual babies {and not just newborns}, this video from the new Johnson & Johnson campaign “For All You Love” is a beautiful reminder.

It’s Out Of Love

It’s all out of love that I spent three months sick, then later on two whole months on bedrest only to have a not-so-fun trip to the hospital. But after all of that…I got to bring home two amazing and precious babies!

Nothing has taught me how to be selfless like getting up in the middle of the night {for the 3rd time} to respond to another cry. To change another diaper. To do another feeding! My husband thinks that if he was the one primarily responsible for our babes, then he couldn’t do it.

But my time, attention, and work doesn’t matter one bit when I look into their smiling faces! This is what being a mother is all about! And I wouldn’t have it any other way!

As part of this campaign, recognizing their commitment to the health and well-being of moms and kids worldwide, J&J is also planning to donate $25K this Mother’s Day to Save the Children®: http://www.savethechildren.org

ADDITIONAL INFO: In celebration of Mother’s Day this year, JOHNSON’S® Baby has established JOHNSON’S® Baby CARES Care Cards, a digital e-card platform encouraging moms to share positive messages of encouragement with other moms across the country, while simultaneously supporting Save the Children®.  You can help, too!  Simply pick and share a card filled with messages of reassurance for a Mom in your life on Facebook at http://www.johnsonsbabycares.com. For every card sent, shared or liked, JOHNSON’S®  Baby will donate $1.00 to Save the Children® (up to $150,000) to benefit early childhood education programs that foster education and reassurance for new moms. These cards will not only spread encouragement to Moms throughout the country but will also provide Moms in need with the skills and knowledge to successfully support their child’s growth.

Disclosure: This post was written for The Motherhood and J&J. All opinions and thoughts are my own. 

The post For All You Love appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

About Bum Genius Freetime All in One

Up until now I have mostly stayed away from all in one diapers. They are generally much more expensive and I’ve heard that drying time can be a pain.So I stuck with my normal pocket diapers. That is, until I got a recommendation form Coleen from Sweet Little Blessings.

Coleen is a super mom of 13 kids and owns and runs one of my favorite cloth diaper stores, Sweet Little Blessings. A while ago she recommended that I try Bottombumpers all in one and I took her up on that recommendation. Well I ended up loving the bottombumpers so when she suggested I try the Bum Genius Freetime diapers, I couldn’t say no!

Plus I have been wanting to get the Albert Bum Genius forever because it’s so stinkin cute! So I got two Albert and two Mirror blue.

Why I love my new Freetime diapers!

If you have ever used the Bum Genius 4.0 pocket diapers then you know what great quality the Bum Genius line is! I have 4 of their 4.0 diaper and thought they were my favorite! Until I tried out the Freetime diapers.

What’s different about the Freetime diapers is that they are an All in One diaper – they don’t require any stuffing, snapping, or preparation! They are ready to use right out of the diaper or off the clothes line. Then when you are done, you throw them right in the washer! I was concerned that they would take forever to dry but because of how they are designed, they don’t take any longer than my other diapers!

With two increasingly active babies, my time is so precious! So anything that can help cut down on my time is fabulous {such as not having to stuff diapers}! I love having four of these in my stash because it means I don’t have to stuff and put away my clean diapers right away, I always have a couple diapers that are ready to go.

The only thing is that these are not my favorite overnight diaper. They did fine, but I still find that my Bum Genius 4.0 pocket diapers with the normal and newborn insert work beautifully to keep them dry all night! But all in all I am super happy with my freetime diapers and LOVE having them in my stash!

About Sweet Little Blessings

I got my Bum Genius Freetime diapers as well as my BottomBumper diapers from Sweet Little Blessings and I have been so impressed! They really carry anything I need for my little ones including every kind of cloth diaper I could want, wet bags, accessories, swim diapers, detergent, and more!! PSSST….they also have an awesome clearance section!

I also love how FAST Sweet Little Blessings ships! There is nothing worse than falling in love with some diapers, ordering them, and having to wait weeks to get them!! Usually your order goes out within 24 hours!

ALSO I am so excited to share that they are offering Young Wife’s Guide readers 10% OFF your order through 5/18/13 {Plus you can get free shipping on orders over $40}!! Just use coupon code: 10OFF at checkout.

What I’m Going to Get With My 10% Off

Using coupon codes smartly is really the key to finding great deals on cloth diapers! I think most of my stash was built with using coupon codes. So here’s what I would order from Sweet Little Blessings with my 10% coupon plus FREE shipping!

I am totally interested in trying the Grovia diaper system and using this coupon code is the perfect time to try it out! You can get 2 shells plus 4 snap in liners with this awesome Grovia bundle for only $66.00. Because you can use the covers over again without washing, this is like getting 4 diapers. So with 10% off, you get the bundle for $59.40 AND free shipping…for essentially FOUR diapers!

Coleen also recommends {And I highly trust her recommendation!} SoftBums {which I love!!}, Bottombumpers {Some of my favorite diapers for newborns}, Best Bottoms, Kickernappies, and Tiny Tush Elite! I’m thinking of trying out some of these new diapers with my 10% off!

I’m curious, what is your favorite brand or type of cloth diaper?

The post Easy To Use Cloth Diapers: Bum Genius Freetime All in One appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

This month I am praising the Lord for his timing and his plans because for the first time, I will be celebrating mother’s day as a MOTHER! I still can’t believe it sometimes. But as my sweet little blessings are 4 months old…it starts to sink in.

That I’m a mother. I’m responsible for these little boys. I will be their school teacher until they go off to college one day. I am the one they spend their days with. With eager hearts and curious minds they will watch my while I work. They will study how it is that I interact with the world. And they will learn…from me.

It all seems overwhelming sometimes. The respectability of raising children in the Lord. And that’s when I’m so gently reminded that it’s not all about me. Oh, I need to make sure that I am living God’s standards and always trying to grow in my walk…but ultimately my children – and myself – are in God’s perfect hands complete with His perfect will and His perfect time. Oh what a blessing that is!

I pray that you stay encouraged today Mamas – God HAS a perfect plan and you and your babes are right where you should be….in His loving embrace and plan!

A Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway

We want to bless a mama this week with this awesome giveaway! You are doing a hard – and incredibly important job – so stay encouraged!!

Blessing Giveaway includes:

• Thirty One pink Organizing Utility Tote donated by  Thirty One – Jenifer Metzger
• Woman to Woman Magazine Winter 2012 issue and Spring 2013 issue donated by Woman to Woman Ministries
• $25 gift certificate to Shutterfly.com {not pictured}
• Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer
• Body Image Lies Women Believe by Shelley Hitz donated by Shelley Hitz
• Mended: Pieces of a Life Made Whole by Angie Smith
• “7″ by Jen Hatmaker
• The Love Dare for Parents {advanced copy}
• 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son by Vicki Courtney
• 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney
• Redeeming Childbirth {author signed} donated by Angie Toplin
• Mom in the Mirror donated by Emily Wierenga
• Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
• Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae
• Desires of My Heart by donated by Heather Bixler
• Island Orchid jar candle
• Pink 20oz tumbler cup
• 3 piece Sweet Pea body wash and lotion set from Bath & Body Works
• 3.5 oz Godiva milk chocolate bar
• 3 Tinted vanilla bean lips balms {cherry, sugar plum, peaches and cream} donated by Apple Valley Natural Soap
• 2 hand crocheted flower rings from Handmade with Immense Love
• Bottle of Lavendar oil from Young Living Essential Oil donated by Jen Stead
• Homemaking 101 DVD donated by Jennifer Ross
• $50 gift certificate to Designs by Tahra donated by Tahra West
• Blessed Mother necklace by Rusted Chain {not pictured}
• $15 Starbucks gift card {not pictured}

Free Gifts for Everyone

God the Father – Four Week Mini Bible Study (The Holy Trinity Parenting Study) donated by Heather Bixler.  Free on Kindle download from May 6th – May 10th.  Click HERE to download from Amazon.

How Do I Get It All Done? …and Still Have Time To Enjoy It? donated by Beth Cranford.  Free PDF download.  To get the download please email Jenifer at jenifer@w2wministries.org.

Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway Rules:

No purchase necessary.  Must be 18 to enter.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US citizens only.  This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated by Facebook. By entering this giveaway, you agree to release Facebook, Woman to Woman Ministries and all participating blogs of all liability.  Contest ends at 12:01am EST on Sunday, May 12, 2013. Winner is randomly chosen by Rafflecopter and will be emailed on May 12, 2013.

The post Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway {Worth $435} appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

This deal ends TONIGHT at 11:59PM EST so don’t miss out. This will be the one and only time this deal will be offered. Get your bundle HERE. Scroll down to see the Father’s Day present…guys, you WILL want this! ;)

The Best Mother’s Day Present

Want to get your wife or mother an amazing present this year but finances are tight? TODAY only you can get this fabulous bundle deal which includes access to a library of 97 eBooks and eCourses {normally $640!!} on homemaking, cooking, marriage, fitness and more! PLUS over $140 in homemaking FREEBIES!

It’s the ultimate gift for every mother as there is something for everyone included whether your wife is interested in cooking, baking, making ice cream, fitness, spiritual growth, homeschooling and more!

Here are a few of my favorite items from the bundle that I know your wife will love! Check out the complete list of what is included in the library for even more eBooks & eCourses that your wife will enjoy!

Just Making Ice Cream Cookbook

This is such a fun cookbook just in time for Summer! I have been making my own ice cream for years, but not like this! Each recipe is naturally sweetened and contains healthy yummy ingredients. This is the perfect accessory for summer that won’t leave your family stuffed with sugar and chemicals.

This cookbook contains over 70 recipes and lots of easy to follow instructions so that even the novice ice cream maker can jump in and make delicious frozen treats. I literally just drool over this cookbook and can’t decide what to make next!!

I seriously am in love with this cookbook! I learned so much reading through this book including how to make ice cream inexpensively that is actualy GOOD for you!! Talk about a win win. I wish I had this cookbook years ago.

Husbands, do you want fresh, wonderful, yummy ice cream all summer long? Then get your wife this book!! PSSSST you can even learn to make icecream without an ice cream maker!! 

42 Days to Fit

As a new mama who still has some baby weight to lose, I was so excited to start looking through this book. I love that it is written by three moms who have been there before. They know how hard it is to fit excercise into our crazy schedules and actually get into shape between homeschooling, taking kids to swim practice, making dinner, and all the other things we do each day. I love their practical hands on advice and experience!

The book is broken down into easy weekly meal plan and excercise challenges with printable tracking sheets included. I love the 42 day challenge format because it’s broken up into easy managable pieces that even the busiest mom can fit into her schedule. Busy mamas who want to get it…THIS book is for you!

Embracing Beauty

I had the privelage of meeting Trina in person this year at a confernce and let me tell you, her fun and witty personality shines through this book! Trina shares her journey to embracing beauty in the season of motherhood. Every chapter is crammed with practical inspiration and tips for defining your style, choosing clothes and accessories that work for you, and combining it all into a look that will bring joy to your day, and bless those around you. There is so much packed into this book! I highly recommend it for every mother! 

I love this quote from the book, it really hits home for me as a new mama!

“Perhaps the most neglected part of a mommy’s wardrobe is her bras. Once we enter motherhood what was once ornamental and pretty low-maintenance becomes utilitarian and a daily challenge to keep under control. They swell, bulge, and grow out of anything they fit, all while gaining a nasty attitude and extreme sensitivity. Oh, and they leak. What’s up with that?! Suddenly, instead of an asset, we have a liability hanging off our chest, waiting for the next chance to embarrass us. Sisters, this ought not so to be.” ~ Embracing Beauty by Trina Holden

3 Month Free Membership to List PlanIt

Okay, every wife and mama should be lining up to get this subscription! My year subscription to List PlanIt  just expired so this comes at the perfect time!! They have lists, worksheets, and printables for everything you could ever want!! 

They have printables on homeschooling, cleaning, organizing, packing, blogging, and SO much more! It’s really the homemaker’s best friend and you wife will LOVE you for getting her this 3 month subscription which is included for FREE in the bundle! {You will also get a FREE three month subscription to Plan To Eat which is another homemaking essential!!}

Husbands, this bundle is the perfect gift for your wives, they will love it and the FREEBIES included! But wait…there’s stuff in it for YOU too! Read on below…

The Best Father’s Day Present

Okay ladies, what is the one thing that your husbands want this year {and every day}?? I’m just gonna say it…Great Sex! But as we all know, that doesn’t always happen. We may go days, weeks, months or even years with little to no sex or at least not very good sex.

This year, give your husband the promise of great sex {because after all…he IS a father because of it ;)}. So this father’s day, give him something fun! Included in the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle are TWO resources to really help you spice things up in your marriage!

31 Days to Great Sex

After a rough pregnancy, 2 months of bedrest, THEN a C section and recovery…our intimate life has been a bit derailed. But now that I have {mostly} recovered and our twins are sleeping through the night {Praise the Lord!} we have decided it’s time to get back on track!

So we are going through this fabulous book by Sheila of To Love, Honor, and Vacuum and it has really helped us so far. I know most of us don’t have a lot of time and intimacy problems can be deeply rooted and hard to work through! So Sheila takes you through a 31 day journey towards better sex! Trust us, your husband will love you for getting this for him {plus you get some awesome homemaking books too}! 

“Billions of people have had sex. I don’t know how many have truly made love.”

“Satan’s big marriage strategy: get people to have sex before they’re married. Then get them to stop once they’re married!” ~ Sheila Gregoir, 31 Days to Great Sex

Rekindling Romance eKit

Following that excellent book to help you work through problems and get on a better track is our very own eKit written by my husband and I! Sometimes coming up with fun gift and date ideas that won’t break the bank can be hard!! So we have come up with 7 free or very cheap ideas aong with 30 pages of printables!

Included in the kit are some fun things like a cutomizable CD cover so you can make a mixed CD for your love. Or some sweet cards that you fill out of “10 Things I Love About You”. But this is our personal favorite - A stip newlywed game - designed to test your knowlege of your partner, draw you closer together, have some fun, and get naked and spice things up ;) This kit is obviously for married couples only…

Present these two resources to your hubby for father’s day and we know he will thank us!! Maybe throw in some candles to the deal and have a wonderful father’s day! PLUS you then get these two great eBooks AND access to the other 95 eBooks & eCourses AND over $140 in homemaking bonuses! 

This deal ends TONIGHT

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. For only $29.97 you can get a present for your husband or wife AND something for yourself that would normally cost over $640 {plus the $140 freebies}!!! But hurry! This bundle lasts until TONIGHT {Saturday May 4th at 11:59 pm EST} ONLY! After tonight the bundle will never be offered again! BUY YOUR BUNDLE HERE!

I LOVE my bundle so far and my husband is excited for the marriage books that come with it {there are actually 5 marriage books in all} plus he is so excited for me and all the great homemaking books I’m getting. Plus I think he’s excited about the ice cream! ;) So get instant access to this full library RIGHT NOW before this deal is gone forever. I’m actually buying another one just for the freebies!!

Enter to WIN your own bundle

We are so excited to be giving away FIVE of The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle!!! Enter via the rafflecoptor form below. If you are reading this on your email you might need to click over to enter}.

Do you want to buy this bundle before the sale is over but also hope you might win?? If you purchase a bundle and then win a copy from us, we will refund you! So what are you waiting for, enter the giveaway below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post The Ultimate Mother & Father’s Day presents {Ends TONIGHT} appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

I am on a quest and a journey right now towards making sure my family is eating healthy. I have been discovering what it means to eat a truly healthy diet and cook yummy nutricious meals for my family!

Here are some tips I’ve learned along this journey as well as some resources to help get you started!

Tips to a Healthy Kitchen

1)  Throw out all your packaged Foods

Packages foods are usually the most processed. They most likely contain fillers and chemicals that are unhealthy and even dangerous!

Learn to avoid things such as artificial food coloring, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, preservatives and more! Here’s a handy guide on 7 things to avoid when shopping.

Throw out all the processed, packaged junk and learn to make things from scratch. For example, did you know it’s MUCH cheaper {and healthier and super easy} to buy a bag of dried beans and cook them yourself  rather than buying canned!?

2) Learn to Read Food Labels

This is key to having a healthier kitchen! Many items that are labeled “healthy” or “natural” or “low fat” are actually the opposite!

It can be overwhelming to know where to start and what to look for when reading labels so here is a great explanation for how to read food labels.

3) Experiment in the Kitchen

If you are used to a highly processed diet then switching to a healthy diet may leave you stumped!

I never grew up eating many vegetables and even as an adult I have never really cared for them. But when I realized I really needed to get more in our diet, I decided to experiment with how to make the best tasting vegetables and this has led to many of our favorite recipes!

Start experimenting with new foods and I’m sure you will discover new favorites along the way!

I am learning how to make sourdough from scratch and I know it will be a new family favorite!

4) Connect with other Homemakers

Learn from others around you. Ask how your friends and ladies at church make certain dishes and be ready to share your secrets as well!

Homemakers shouldn’t be in competition with each other! Rather we should be learning and growing together for the sake of our families and for God’s glory!

Join us on Facebook to connect with other homemakers and have discussions centered around how to raise our families for God’s glory!

5) Do your research!

I didn’t truly know what eating healthy was until one day I stumbled across the 100 Days of Real Food blog. My eyes were opened and for 2 1/2 years now I have been researching what it means to really eat a healthy diet!

Here are some great websites to help you on your journey:

• 100 Days of Real Food
• Keeper of the Home
• My Humble Kitchen
• The Nourishing Home
• The Humbled Homemaker
• Creating Naturally
• Weston A. Price Foundation

Those websites provide some great knowledge when you are starting out and if you want to dig even deeper {and broaden your recipe base} then here are some fantastic eBook resources you should check out!

Cookbooks

Crock On by Stacy Makes Cents

A semi-whole foods slow cooker cookbook – packed with a ton of yummy recipes!

20 Minute Meals by Intentional By Grace

Do you need simple, nutritious meals for your family without having to resort to pre-packaged, processed foods or carry-out? Leigh Anne shows you how to do it – and in under 20 minutes!

Real Food Real Easy by various authors

The book is a collaborative eCookbook with more than 70 real food recipes - This book can potentially be all a real food newbie needs (minus the cost of food!) to feed their family in the early days of converting to real food.

Simply Summer by Modern Alternative Mama

Fresh, seasonal summer recipes — exactly what you need when you want to enjoy summer’s bounty. The recipes are light and delicious.

Just Making Ice cream by Just Making Noise 

An awesome book packed full of ice cream  recipes that don’t need a fancy ice cream maker and are made out of nutritious ingredients!

Seasonal Meal Plans by My Humble Kitchen

I LOVE Diana’s menu plans!! I have done a few week so eating in our household off her menu plans and she has some amazing recipes! This eBook of 4 weekly menu plans is awesome :)

Cooking from Scratch Cookbooks

Restocking the Pantry by Nourishing Joy

Make Your Favorite Condiments at Home (Without Sacrificing The Store-Bought Flavor You Love)

Wholesome Mixes by Little Natural Cottage

Learn how to prepare, store, and even give as gifts your own healthy, homemade make-ahead recipes!

Books on Cooking Tips

Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking by Money Saving Mom

Step-by-Step Instructions for Learning How to Cook for the Freezer

Do the Funky Kitchen by Heavenly Homemakers

Get your kitchen organized and functional (get it? funky…functional) once and for all! Learn to organize and clean your kitchen in easy steps!

The Curative Kitchen by Handy Pantry

A comprehensive food and nutrition resource and step-by-step healthy eating guide

The post Getting Real in My Kitchen appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.

She is shown as a non-lazy woman who works with willing hands, she brings healthy and nutritious food for her household from afar, she gets up when it’s still dark out to prepare meals, her husband loves her and her children call her blessed! {Proverbs 31: 10-31}

Image courtesy of [marin] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But this Mama is also industrious and works from home!! Is this okay for a Christian mama to work from home when your goal is to be staying home and being a homemaker?

Working From Home – Is It Right For You?

The Proverbs 31 woman works hard for her family but also brings income into her family! She makes business decisions and is business savvy enough to buy and sell real estate {Proverbs 31: 16}, plants a garden {Proverbs 31:16}, is wise to discern that her products are profitable {Proverbs 31:18}, and she buys and sells with the merchants {Proverbs 31: 24}.

Is working from home right for you? Are you excited about the idea of bringing in some extra income to help pay off debt, save for a house, or have more money to buy healthy food? Is it okay to be a stay at home and try and work from home?

I think it depends.

It depends on you. Do you have a house full of little kids and you can barely keep your head above water between laundry, dishes, poopy diapers, cooking, cleaning and the 800 other things you do each day? Then working from home may not be right for you….at this time!

Everyone’s situation is different so no one can say if you should work from home or not…but answer this for yourself: Can you still do your duties as a wife and mother FIRST and then have time for work? Will your house and family suffer while you spend hours each day on your business? Then this might not be for you!

As a Christian Mama, remember that your first priority is to your family. {And remember, mama’s who have to work…I feel for you and don’t think any less of you. You do what you have to do for your family ! I’m talking to the busy mama who really can’t fit another activity into her day}.

So with that said, I think working from home can be an excellent option for some women. I started my business  when I was working full time outside the home. Then we moved and I got pregnant and I started working from home. Now I have cut back my hours and work part time from home while my twins sleep. This works well for me now but it IS hard work! I am busy from the moment I get up in the morning until the minute my husband gets home. But it’s worth it to us at this point :)

Tips for Working From Home

Working from home is hard work! You have to learn how to juggle your family and your business and that usually takes a steep learning curve. Plus there is the small question of WHAT you will do from home.

Here are some excellent resources to help you get started on working from home:

Websites

• Staying at home with your kids when you can barely afford it by The Humbled Homemaker
• 25 Income Earning Ideas from Money Saving Mom
• Becoming a Work At Home Mom {Series} by Money Saving Mom {This is a great series, I highly recommend you go through all the posts in it}
• 7 Must Read Books for Work at Home Moms by Money Saving Mom
• The Blessings of Being a Work at Home Mom by Money Saving Mom

Blog posts and articles are wonderful resources but they often only give you a taste of what you need to know. To really dig into details you often need great books to give you what you need. I highly recommend the following books on working from home and blogging!

Books

The Bootstrap VA by Lisa 

Lisa is a virtual assistant extrodainer and in her resource packed book she tells you step by step how to become a VA, keep clients, and do a fantastic job! Being a VA is a GREAT way to start making money from home and so many bloggers are looking for VA’s. It’s a great job for stay-at-home moms because you can work only a couple hours a week around your schedule.

I’m not a VA but I am the community social media manager at Keeper of the Home. It’s a fun job where I get to ineract with the community at KOTH the hours are flexible. Get The Bookstrap VA today if you are interested in being a virtual assistant!

How To Grow Your Blog & Manage Your Home by Jacinda

While this eBook is not a comprehensive guide to blogging, it does offer a great beginning step for anyone interested in blogging but doesn’t know where to start. Some resources available on blogging are so comlicated that the beginnger feels so overwhelmed!

If you are wanting to learn what it means to be a blogger who also serves her home, then this book is for you!

Have Your Cake & Eat It Too by Mandi

While this might look like a cookbook at first glance, it is NOT! It’s a comprehensive resource on time management and productivity when working from home. She gives you the tools to manage your house & your business without going insane!

I just recently got this book and I love the practical advice and encouragement she gives! She has a passion and a dream and wants to share how she juggles that AND being a stay at home mom! I love this eBook and highly recommend it for anyone thinking about working from home or trying to figure out how to better juggle everything.

Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging by Rachel

In the world of blogging there is always something more you can do! More social media platforms to join, more writing to do, more commenting and connecting to do! As a blogger it can seem like you have to do all of this!! But Rachel shares in her nearly 150 page book that you don’t {and can’t} do it all!

She gives practical tips and advice on how to grow your blog even if you only have a few hours a week to do it. Learn how to do better blogging with less time online! A lesson that all bloggers need to learn I think, including me!!

Your Blogging Business: Tax, Talk, and Tips From a Bookkeeper Turned Blogger by Nikki

When I first started making a little bit of money from my business I realized that I was going to have to figure out taxes uuug!! And even those I knew who owned small businesses didn’t know how to handle taxes from money made online.

That’s when my friend Nikki released Your Blogging Business and all my questioned were answered! If you are a blogger then this is a MUST READ book for you and even if you own a small business {especially online} then this is a valuable resource as well! Nikki walks you through everything you need to know to run your small business!

The post Being an Industrious Proverbs 31 Woman {working from home} appeared first on Young Wife's Guide.