Successful Homemakers

Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches

French Dip Sandwiches are one of those dishes that are messy but oh so worth it! The delicious, tender beef, smothered with cheese, in a chewy bun, dipped into rich beef broth . . . YUM! The other day, I saw a video on Facebook (isn't that where much of our recipe inspiration comes from these days?!) showing a recipe for French Dip Sandwiches made in the Crock Pot. Except the recipe was simply adding two cans of stock and soup to a roast and cooking it. I'm more of a "from scratch" type of cook and try to avoid those type of recipes if I can. This is not to say that I don't enjoy those types ...

5 Simple Yet Satisfying Snacks- These five snacks are easy to make and satisfy a snack need.

This post was sponsored by Weight Watchers International, Inc. as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. When you want a snack, you usually want to get it quickly. Not some long, drawn-out kitchen time. Something satisfying yet simple to create. With summer coming soon, everyone will be looking for simple snacks that don't require a lot of kitchen time. These ideas are perfect- filling, yet easy to make. That's what this post is all about. Satisfying yet simple snacks. This past year has been a difficult one, to say the ...

5 Ways You Can Help A Grieving Mama Celebrate Special Days

This will be my second Mother's Day celebrated without one of my children. Our 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, was killed in a car crash May 1, 2017. I became a grieving Mama that day. It's been a very long year for our me and our family. Mother's Day, 2017, came merely 13 days after Natalie's death. It was our first holiday to try to "celebrate." We were all still in a state of numb, so we didn't expect too much of ourselves. We just knew that we didn't want to sit at home, staring at each other, with nothing to do. At my daughters' suggestion, we went to a place they had visited just ...

It's Not Worth It- Don't Drive Distracted

Our precious 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, was killed almost one year ago in a completely preventable car crash that involved distracted driving. While there was more to this particular crash than simply being distracted, being distracted could have been a factor. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. I want to share with you a paper that my 14-year-old daughter, Mary, wrote for her college dual enrollment class on texting while driving. She had wanted to focus on distracted driving, but statistics for such a broad topic are not readily available. Texting is usually seen as the ...

One Big But Simple Step for Quality Sleep -- Quality sleep is so crucial to our health and wellness. A quality mattress goes a long way to ensuring quality sleep!

Quality sleep -- what does this mean for you? Getting enough of it is super important for your health and wellness. What's holding you back from getting the quality sleep you need? You’ve heard it said, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” Perhaps not the best use of grammar, but I think we can agree there is some truth there. Maybe you’ve personally experienced another truth about Mama’s happiness; If Mama ain’t rested . . . Mama ain’t happy! You know it. You’ve been there. Too many nights of too little sleep. You’re barking at the children instead of communicating, ...

5 Easy Ways to Fill Your Home With God’s Word

God's words set my heart free! But they also helped me to turn that guilt into creativity. I realized that while I may not have a 1-hour chunk of time to set aside for un-distracted devotions, I could still fill my home with God’s Word. A huge thank you to Bridget, Misty, and Rosilind for today's guest post! Read on for simple tips to fill your home with God's Word and invite His peace and presence into your lives on a daily basis. 4 Easy Ways to Fill Your Home With God’s Word 1. Play worship music. Grab your favorite worship CD, DVD, or YouTube playlist and fill your ...

7 Cost Increases to Prepare For Before Retirement

Retirement is something we all need to prepare for and plan out. We also tend to stress over this more than nearly any other future event. We ask ourselves questions like, "Will I have enough money? What will happen if I outlive my money? What will the economy be like? Will I have Social Security? How dependent will I be on someone else? Will I live at home or in a nursing facility?" These are a handful of the many questions that will need our time, attention, and serious reflection. In the meantime, there are 7 things we can almost guarantee will increase in cost that needs preparation ...

You may not be vegan, or even vegetarian, but these 5 quick & easy dinner ideas can still satisfy a hungry family when you’re pressed for time in getting dinner on the table! The plant-based meals will please every palate! Thanks to Evelyne McNamara of The Vegan Reset for sharing this post! 5 Quick & Easy Dinners Confession time. I hate making menus. Not because it’s that difficult or time-consuming. I hate it because everyone in my family has completely different foods that they don’t like or are tired of. There’s only a handful of dishes they all agree on and I don’t want ...

Easy Tips to Get and Stay Organized in Under 10 Minutes Per Day!

These easy steps to get and stay organized in under 10 minutes are a cinch to add to your routine. Who loves to come home to a clean and well organized house? I know that I do! I know a few things about getting and staying organized. And I will let you in on a secret: I like to clean my house the day before I leave for a trip so I can come home to a clean and organized house! Special thanks to Megin of VMG206.com for this guest post!! Easy Steps to Get and Stay Organized in Under 10 Minutes I love clearing the clutter from my home, mind and life. I truly feel it is a huge way that I ...

5 Ways to Build an Emergency Fund with Very Little Money

Building an emergency fund doesn’t have to feel like a wishful thought. Nor does trying to save your money have to feel hopeless. A huge thank you to Micah Klug of Home Faith Family for this guest post! As a child, my parents stressed the importance of saving money. They would always say, “There will be rainy days ahead, be prepared and save your pennies.” And they were right, pennies do add up over time. For some reason, we think that we need to have a ridiculously huge amount in the bank before we can do anything (start a family, buy a home, go to college – the list can go on ...

9 Tips to Rock Homeschooling and Housekeeping at the Same Time

By Laurie Bostwick Leave a Comment

Homeschooling and housekeeping don’t have to be at odds with each other! Remember when you pictured your homeschooling journey? The children would be filled with smiles and wonder as you expanded their minds with math facts, history lessons, and science experiments. Your home would sparkle because after all homeschooling your children would take no time…

Make these Garlic Herb Cheese Bombs with only 5 ingredients and a little time!

Mouth-watering Garlic Herb Cheese Bombs

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These mouthwatering garlic herb cheese bombs are super easy to make and require only 5 simple ingredients. They would be great served with Spaghetti & Meatballs! Mouthwatering Garlic Herb Cheese Bombs Servings: 12 rolls Ingredients Needed: – 12 frozen ready-to-bake dinner roll dough balls – 3 Mozzarella cheese sticks – 4 diced garlic cloves –…

Sweet and Savory Strawberry Recipes

By Laurie Bostwick Leave a Comment

Freshly picked strawberries are a treat in and of themselves. Even the sweet scent of a strawberry field is enough to make your mouth water. The juicy strawberry is a popular fruit in many recipes from pies and cheesecakes to dips and smoothies. Strawberries are a versatile fruit and can be used in various ways when…

Winter Travel Preparations You Need to Make

Winter travel preparations done ahead of time can make the difference between arriving safely at your destination and being stranded on the side of the road. These preparations are simple to do, but oh so important! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FallForPennzoil #CollectiveBias…

Hearty Beef & Bean Chili Bar

Make hosting your next get together a breeze with this hearty beef and bean chili bar! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WasteNoPaste #CollectiveBias As the weather becomes more fall-like, like many others, I find myself cooking more comfort food. I also crave…

My Top 12 Homemaking Hacks to Make Your Life Easier

Homemaking is my passion! I realize that not all feel this way, so I love to share tips and tricks with my readers. Here are my top 12 homemaking hacks. These tips, shortcuts, and techniques all help to save me time in the kitchen. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its…

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Make Your Own Recipe Binder

Use these printables to create your own recipe binder. You can create a custom recipe binder for a child moving out on their own, as a gift for a new member of your family, or just to organize all of those recipes that you’ve printed and tried! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias,…

Gift Basket for the New Sewing Enthusiast

Do you have a new sewing enthusiast on your gift list? Maybe that sewing enthusiast is you? Here’s a great gift basket idea to give them a great start into the world of sewing. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StickItToLint #CollectiveBias Growing up, my…

Easy DIY Purse Organization

Purse organization is possible! You don’t have to dump the entire contents of your purse out to find that hair bob that your daughter needs! Special thanks to Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser for sponsoring this post on DIY purse organization! All opinions are mine alone. #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Walgreens #CollectiveBias Ever since my youngest outgrew the…

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7 Cost Increases to Prepare For Before Retirement

Retirement is something we all need to prepare for and plan out. We also tend to stress over this more than nearly any other future event. We ask ourselves questions like, “Will I have enough money? What will happen if I outlive my money? What will the economy be like? Will I have Social Security?…

5 Ways to Build an Emergency Fund with Very Little Money

5 Easy Ways to Save in the Kitchen

These tips will save you time and money in the kitchen. Both of these are so very important to homemakers. Frugality is my middle name, and saving time means I have more time with my family. Win-win! 1. Use quality trash bags. In the name of frugality, I once tried cheap trash bags, and…

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Start a New Day After Thanksgiving Tradition

This year, start a new day AFTER Thanksgiving tradition. It’s the perfect day to slow down and enjoy a day of rest in the very busy holiday season. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HonestSimpleTurkey #CollectiveBias The holiday season is upon us. In our…

8 Ideas for St Patrick’s Day party fun!

While our family is not Irish, we do love a good reason to host a party! A St Patrick’s Day party is quite fun for the Irish at heart! I know there is great religious significance to March 17th, but for this post, I’m going to focus on the party aspect of this day….

Get Christmas Ready {and No Bake Chewy Granola Bar recipe} ~ Successful Homemakers

Get Christmas Ready {and No Bake Chewy Granola Bars recipe!}

One of our favorite things to do is decorate for Christmas while enjoying snacks. I’d like to share with you my easy no-bake chewy granola bars recipe. Easily mix up a batch to share after school, during the holidays, or any time you want a quick snack! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias,…

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Your low carb diet doesn't mean that you can't have crispy chicken tenders! Give these tenders a try the next time you're craving fried chicken!

Low Carb Crispy Chicken Tenders

These low carb crispy chicken tenders are so easy to make and yummy to eat! Just because you are eating a low carb diet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy crispy chicken tenders. These chicken tenders fit perfectly into your low carb diet. The bonus is that they are easy to make! Low Carb Crispy Chicken…

Homemade Corned Beef in the Instant Pot

Homemade corned beef is a cinch to make. Just 10 days in the brining solution and 90 minutes in your Instant Pot! We raise a small herd of South Poll cows for beef. We have a freezer full of beef, most times. However, every year when St Patrick’s Day rolls around, I find myself…

Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meatballs from Scratch is super simple to create! In about 45 minutes, you can turn ground beef into meatballs and tomato sauce into spaghetti sauce! No jarred or frozen items! Make your own just as easily as grabbing the convenience foods!

Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce & Meatballs from Scratch

While I like to take advantage of prepared foods, my preference is to make foods from scratch as much as possible. Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meatballs from scratch is so very simple to make! In my search for spaghetti sauce and meatballs, most recipes that I have found call for jarred spaghetti sauce and frozen…

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Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches

5 Satisfying Yet Simple Snacks

5 Ways You Can Help a Grieving Mama Celebrate Special Days

It’s Not Worth It- Don’t Drive Distracted

One Big Yet Simple Step for Quality Sleep

5 Easy Ways to Fill Your Home With God’s Word

7 Cost Increases to Prepare For Before Retirement

5 Quick & Easy Dinners for Busy Days

Easy Steps to Get and Stay Organized in Under 10 Minutes

5 Ways to Build an Emergency Fund with Very Little Money

9 Tips to Rock Homeschooling and Housekeeping at the Same Time

Mouth-watering Garlic Herb Cheese Bombs

Sweet and Savory Strawberry Recipes

Winter Travel Preparations You Need to Make

Hearty Beef & Bean Chili Bar

My Top 12 Homemaking Hacks to Make Your Life Easier

Make Your Own Recipe Binder

Gift Basket for the New Sewing Enthusiast

Easy DIY Purse Organization

7 Cost Increases to Prepare For Before Retirement

5 Ways to Build an Emergency Fund with Very Little Money

5 Easy Ways to Save in the Kitchen

Start a New Day After Thanksgiving Tradition

8 Ideas for St Patrick’s Day party fun!

Get Christmas Ready {and No Bake Chewy Granola Bars recipe!}

Low Carb Crispy Chicken Tenders

Homemade Corned Beef in the Instant Pot

Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce & Meatballs from Scratch