Summer Homeschool Fun

Summer fun at the strawberry patch, Duluth Aquarium and our "First train ride", on the Duluth Zephyr. Subscribe and like our YouTube channel to get updates on our Large family home-school frugal living with our backyard chickens.

https://youtu.be/JuzlPKS0bxY

About Me....Youtube

Check out my about me on Youtube.. Subscribe and sign up to my channel to receive weekly videos of our crazy busy life.

https://youtu.be/tjgEKfXWZPI

Minnesota's largest candy store!

New YouTube Channel

I have my first video up on YouTube. Click the link below to follow my channel.
Morning coffee with the ladies (my hens).... Fun at the Oliver Kelly Farm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_2g2Wiyjm0




https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwTiXaJ6gS51ezGVOvzB_1Q

Frugal Drinking Glasses

Nothing fancy here... large family frugal living..Canning jars make great drinking glasses!!🤗

Doterra "HOT MESS"

My go to stress, anxiety, irritated days. "HOT MESS"  20 drops of Balance and 5 drops of citrus bliss in a 10 ml roller bottle topped with fractionated coconut oil. Roll on either (or all😄) back of neck, temples, wrists and bottoms of feet.  Amazing I use multiple times a day.

www.mydoterra.com/angelwingsoils

Trim Health Mama Version of Blueberry Crumb Bars

This is the recipe we use for Trim Healthy Mama Blueberry Crumb Bars, courtesy of Joy Filled eats.
Blessings, Michelle

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Crumb Bars

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 5 mins

Total Time

1 hr 20 mins

 

These Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Crumb Bars are the perfect combination of cheesecake and crumb cake. They have a crisp crust topped with cheesecake, blueberries, and sweet golden crumbs.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 20 bars

Calories: 211 kcal

Author: Taryn

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 tsp coconut flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 tsp water

Crumb Topping:

• 1 1/3 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 tsp coconut flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet or my sweetener
• 1 tbsp water

Cheesecake Filling:

• 16 oz cream cheese
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet or my sweetener
• zest of one lemon
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 10 oz frozen blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Put crust ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until crumbs form. Dumb into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Press out into a thin bottom crust. Bake for 10 minutes.
3. Next, put the crumb topping ingredients in the food processor. Pulse until crumbs form. Dump into a spare bowl and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, put the cream cheese in the food processor (no need to wash the bowl). Process until smooth. Next, add the sweetener and pulse until well combined. Add the other ingredients and pulse until smooth.
5. Remove the crust from the oven. Pour on the cream cheese filling. Sprinkle on the blueberries. Scatter on the crumb topping.
6. Bake for 55-65 minutes until the center only jiggles slightly. You may need to cover the top with foil for the last twenty minutes so the crumbs don't burn.
7. Store in the refrigerator.

https://joyfilledeats.com/lemon-blueberry-cheesecake-crumb-bars/

Teaching Independence and Confidence

One of the joys of homeschooling is seeing your children learn to be independent and have confidence to just go in the kitchen and make something. As soon as my children show interest in the kitchen I let them help me until they become able to make things on their own. My 16 year old has been baking since she was 8 and loves to make things from scratch. So what does she do when we have an over abundance of blueberries well make coffee cake of course.

Blessings,
Michelle

"BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE"

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a Bundt pan well with cooking spray.
2. Make the streusel topping: Mix 1 brown cup sugar, 2/3 cup flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter or margarine; topping mixture will be crumbly. Set aside.
3. For the cake: Beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine in large bowl until creamy; add 1 cup white sugar, and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
4. Spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Cover with berries, and add remaining batter by tablespoons. Cover with streusel topping.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 55 to 60 minutes, until deep golden brown. Remove pan to wire rack to cool. Invert onto a plate after cake has cooled, and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Standardized Testing....

I love this post from "Currclick"... After just completing standardized testing with my kids, I find that the questions they ask on these tests are just irrelevant to life.  Having a foundation of Faith in God is where we start and encompass the rest as we give our children skills of compassion, love, kindness and more. A standardized norm test cannot give any of this information. This is why we love homeschooling we can instill these qualities in our children.

Blessings Michelle

Learning To Make Homemade Laundry Soap

The joys of large family living and being frugal is teaching your children how to make laundry soap. Yesterday we made 10 gallons of laundry detergent this will last our family about 3 to 4 months for a cost of $3.75 total. It's amazing with minimal effort how much money you can save by just living a little more simply.

Here is the recipe: Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

Blessings,
Michelle

I'm Back

I thought I would update on the last post back in November. I lost that baby on December 14 at the age of 47 it is not surprising, however still the heartache of another loss can really take a toll on someone to say a 6 week old baby is a ball of cells is wrong my baby was already formed which I think is the hardest part is seeing that tiny baby gone. The lord has his own plans on timing and reasons so now he has 14 of my babies in heaven with my mom and I am lucky to be able to keep 8 here on earth. Since that time we have been busy homeschooling doing fun activities as a family and we welcomed my second grandson into the world on January 29, 2018. We are so very blessed to have this life we live. The lord guides us in every direction and we are so very blessed by him.

Blessings,
Michelle

Menopause or Pregnant??

At the age of 47, my last child was born 4 years ago making the total number of children to 8, in live births, 12 miscarriages and 1 still birth and four of those miscarriages were since my last baby. So for the past year and a half I have been having menopause symptoms, you know the hot flashes, sweats, mood swings etc. so to even entertain the thought about having another was well it's pretty much not going to happen with my age and menopause symptoms in full swing. Well guess what, I just found out I am not to old at the age of 47 to become pregnant naturally!!! I am currently 5 weeks 2 days pregnant, I will have an ultrasound in a week and a half to check the viability of this pregnancy. To say I was surprised was an understatement.  Having only 1 ovary since the birth of my second child at the age of 24, I had always thought getting pregnant may be a little more difficult since half my ovarian reserve was gone.  Never underestimate the power of the good Lord and his plans.  Whether this baby stays or it goes on to be with the lord, either way it is a miracle that I even conceived.  I will update again on the pregnancy and the viability after my ultrasound on the 11th.

  

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Visit my Etsy Shop...

 You should check out this Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/angelwingssoap