Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Inspiration for Blogging and Writing

One thing, I do as a writer is carry notebooks with me whenever I go. I buy pretty ones, cheap ones, big Writing notebooknotebooks and little notebooks. They are all over – just where I need one. I keep them in my car, purse, on the nightstand, desk and everywhere else I may happen to be inspired by life and need to write that thought before it disappears with the day. I have decorative journal bound books for quotes, article lists, books I’d like to read, and books that I have read. I even have a notebook for topics I’d like to research when we make our family trips to the library.

Rarely am I away from a notebook or piece of paper, but when I am occasionally stranded from writing utensils I use memory tricks to remind me until I get home. For instance, one day while sitting at a doctor’s appointment watching a commercial of a woman leave and entering her house over and over while she smelled the “fresh” scent of whatever they were selling I was inspired to write an article on the house being a home to live in- not a launching and landing place. The first image that came to my mind was an airplane. Okay, I can remember that, landing place-airplane. On the way home, I passed by the neighbor’s trashcan sitting at the curb filled with pizza boxes and additional pizza boxes stack next to the can. It was then that I was inspired to write the Deluxe Edition article “Instead of Pizza Delivery, Save time and money by making dinner yourself.” So I then imaged an airplane carrying pizza boxes, money and clocks. When I arrived home I wrote down the articles titles I wanted to write.

Some days inspiration flows easily. Something happens and I sit down right that moment and write about it. Other days I want to write, but nothing comes to mind. That is when I pull out my notebooks. I have thousands of ideas written in there collected over the years just waiting to be written.

As a writer I look at life through different eyes. I see trials as possibilities to provide future strengths, and as I Notebooknear the end of each trial I see those experiences as ideas to help someone else who may be going through similar situations. I see joyful experiences as a way of uplifting those who are having a hard time and need to be reminded how good life really is. I see the experiences I have with the children as a thread that ties me to millions of mothers going through what I am, but they only know we share these experiences if I write about them. I’ve written about everything from my mistakes in buying my kids the wrong kinds of underwear (7 sizes too big) to why I wear jewelry and everything in between. I’ve been writing online for eleven years and have enjoyed every moment of it.

What Can I Write About?

So many people think their lives wouldn’t be interesting to others. Is it interesting to you, your family and friends? I like the book “Writer Mama” by Christina Katz. She suggests making a list of 50 things you know how to do. Then write about them.

Read other blogs. You are sure to find some inspiration on things you have to say too. Write about them.

Take a beautiful picture and write about why you like it.

Write about each child. Write about their births.

Do you have a passion for candle-making, politics, homemaking, homeschool, cross-stitch? Write about it.

Take pictures and teach us how to do what you do.

Write book reviews on books that you learned from or were inspired from. Write about the ones you didn’t like and why.

Share with us your menus, recipes, mealtime routines.

How do you run your household?

What historic person inspires you today?

Finally, join a blog carnival if you need inspiration each week. There are blog carnivals on every subject imaginable. If you can’t find one to fit your topic, start one!

Share your story, your life, your positive and sometimes your negative. Quick note on the negative, we all need to vent every now and then, just be careful how much and how often. Inspire and teach us through your writing. The more you do, the better you get and the more comfortable you become in your writing “hat”.




Shiloah Baker is a mom of seven, pregnant with #8, married to the man she's madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a The Homemaking Cottage and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes and reads. Join us at The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition for 897 ways to improve your home and family! http://www.homemaking-cottage.com/ And don’t forget to join our ezine for free ideas. Free Homemaking Newsletter


Reprints of this article are permitted as long as it includes this byline.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

We Want to Know You: Blog

By Shiloah Baker

My words fly up
my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts
never to heaven go.
—Shakespeare


Over the years I have met some amazing women- women who changed my life through their example or their mentoring me. When they moved away we lost touch because they were doers and not writers. How many times I wished those women would write-write their thoughts, their experiences and share their knowledge. Oh, the things we could learn!

Many people say, “I’m too busy to write- too busy living life.” To that I respond that there are many people who could use your mentorship through your example and writing about it. Writing about life, the ups and downs and how you learned from your experiences is a form of journal writing. How are our children to really know us if we don’t write?

The amazing thing about writing online is you never know who you will touch and how far reaching your words really are. Sometimes you’ll get some wonderful feedback in person or online, or sometimes people quietly read and take in what you share and allow it to enrich their life.

While I love to share my feelings in person with friends and those I meet, I feel that writing online is my way of sharing my thoughts and opinions in an unthreatening manner. I can also give unsolicited advice and people can read and take it if they want or move on to the next article.

To those who are currently writing on a blog or elsewhere, don’t hide your light under a bushel. How many blogs have I been to that I fell in love with the content and feel of the blog? The answer is many. When I like someone’s writings, I want to get to “know” them better and am taken aback when after sharing such a wealth of information they hide who they are and don’t give us an insight into their real lives. Sure there are some weirdos out there, but don’t let the fear of them keep us from getting to know you. Your writings have credibility when we know you are a real person. If you touch our lives with your writing, please further touch our lives with a glimpse into yours.

Everyone who loves life and family has something to offer. Everyone. I especially love reading from those who are passionate about life, Christ, family, hobbies, reading, writing, etc. and not necessarily in that order. It’s easy to begin a blog and share with the world. Take a chance today to touch someone or teach us through your writing.


Shiloah Baker is a mom of seven, pregnant with #8, married to the man she's madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a The Homemaking Cottage and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes and reads. Join us at The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition for 897 ways to improve your home and family! http://www.homemaking-cottage.com/ And don’t forget to join our ezine for free ideas. Free Homemaking Newsletter


Reprints of this article are permitted as long as it includes this byline.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

How the Environment in the Home Affects Children

By Shiloah Baker

“Children are affected from the beginning by what they see and hear within the walls of their home. Their environment creates their taste.” –Arthur Henry King 

From the first day I learned that I was going to be a mother, I began collecting books, toys and things that I knew would benefit my child. I read every resource manual I could get my hands on. Like most women, I want the best for my child. I quickly learned that in addition to providing shelter, clothes, food and love, that the environment in the home is an important key to raising a well adjusted child.

Creating an Environment for Learning

Years later when I decided to homeschool my children I was introduced to the Thomas Creating an Environment for LearningJefferson Education or a Leadership Education. One of the suggestions was to build a library of classic books. I had maybe a small bookshelf full at that time and not surprisingly my kids weren’t big readers. I took the advice to heart and over the next four years I gathered and built a large “brain” storage of books for our home. We have over eight bookshelves now spilling over with fun, classic and educational books. More importantly, my children have caught on to this passion for reading good, wholesome literature-literature that educates. Not a day goes by that I don’t see the children pouring through books, rifling through the bookshelves or reading in a corner. We have a large bookshelf outside of my bedroom door which is at the end of a long hallway. When a child is waiting to speak with me, she naturally chooses a book, sits by my door and takes a little adventure with words on the pages. What joy it brings me to see the difference having a library of books in your home can make.

“Every single item is of relevance to our education and to the education of our children.”–Arthur Henry King

How many times have you noticed your baby would rather play with empty boxes or magazines than her own baby toys? Children always want to help mommy bake cookies and can’t wait to learn how to make their first peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Children have a natural curiosity and we should allow them to explore and learn within the safety of our home.

Children learn naturally through their own environment. Why should a small child fill out a worksheet on how to match socks, when they can learn that same skill only using all their senses: the smell of the laundry detergent used, the visual senses of colors and patterns, touching the various textures of socks and occasionally tasting the texture of socks. I have many fond memories of sock folding growing up and trying the over-sized ones on my hands and sliding around the bare floors with them on my feet. The natural learning experiences within the home are powerful.

I’ve made it a mission to keep the majority of commercialized toys out of our home. They do not foster learning like a set of plain building blocks or a life-like baby doll with clothes and cloth diapers. Even though they wanted them and got them for birthdays, my children have never treasured commercialized toys (such as Barbie dolls, Bratz, etc.). After the initial excitement wears off, I find those toys lying around unused with little to no interest. We have never had that happen with puzzles, wooden beads, blocks, or art supplies- the basics for foundational and explorative learning.


Organization and Structure

I used to cringe when I heard those words, but now as a mother of many I feel excited and inspired when I see them. After being a mother for nearly fourteen years I have learned that children, some more so than others, thrive when there is structure and organization in the home. We have seven children, two children with autism and two others with various disabilities. When things become chaotic in our home, not only do our family pets react (i.e. birds chirp frantically) but the children react to it too. Every family has a rhythm whether they realize it or not. The question is- is it conducive to teaching and does it promote family time?

I love reading Steven and Teri Maxwell who have written a couple of books on this subject. They successfully homeschooled and raised eight children and now write about how they did it- it involved scheduling, structure and organization. “God has given us a powerful example and analogy of scheduling in the natural world. Everything that He has created, from atoms to the universe, has a periodic cycle. There is a timetable God has applied to each part of His creation. This is easily seen in the weather. Year by year, each season comes at its ‘scheduled’ time bringing with it predictable changes.” (1) If God uses scheduling, I believe it is an example to us that using a family schedule is something we should do too.
While it is unnecessary and too constricting to schedule all of your time, coming up with a family schedule/rhythm for each day gives the home an organized environment while giving peace to each family member so they each can know what to expect in their daily routine. This is especially important if you have children or adults in the home with disabilities. Eliminate the disordered feeling and house clutter by prayerfully creating your own unique family rhythm complete with chore time.

Keeping a Morally Clean Environment in the Home is Imperative

"Parents now are concerned about the moral and spiritual diseases. These can have terrible complications when standards and values are abandoned. We must all take protective measures.” -Boyd K. Packer

Memories from books and the pictures in the books teach, mold and shape a person. Just as we should fill our homes with uplifting and wholesome books, we should be equally as careful about not bringing anything contrary to that in the home. I heard it once said that if a young boy were to view pornography in his own home he will be a customer for life. Is it worth it to allow anything pornographic in your home? Never. Aside from the fact that it is morally wrong, the risk is too great.

Regarding music-while I am fairly careful about lyrics to the new music, it is easy for things to slip by our notice from time to time. I find that I feel inspiration often to continually sift through the music my family and I listen to. We are all aware of the powerful effects of music on our moods. Music teaches and depending on the words and the beat it can teach negative or positive things. By my vigilantly reviewing music, talking with the kids about their feelings on the songs and reading the lyrics online my family is learning to do the same. Even though you may not always listen to the lyrics, your subconscious mind does and then records it. I think I would rather know what my subconscious mind is recording by paying close attention to what I or my children listen to.

Television needs a filter like the computer. We don’t watch regular TV because the morals portrayed on everyday television, especially the commercials, are not in line with ours. Instead we rent Netflix and buy the movies we enjoy the most. We carefully screen the reviews and ratings before watching and buying movies.

Raising children is anything but easy; but it is so worth it. Each child comes to our home with his/her own unique personalities. I find it fascinating to see how for the most part, children naturally pick up many qualities of their parents, whether it be the habits they pick up, facial expressions or one or a combination of both parent’s temperaments. I have three sisters and while we don’t look exactly alike anyone can tell we are sisters when they listen to us talk or see our mannerisms. It is an art to take into consideration all the differences of personalities in the family and apply the perfect mix of teaching, religion, and love. Children can’t help but to be influenced by the home environment especially when the parents care so much about making it a positive one.



Works Cited

1. Maxwell, Steven and Teri. Managers of Their Homes. s.l. : Communications Concepts, Inc., 1998.


Shiloah Baker is a mom of seven, pregnant with #8, married to the man she's madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a The Homemaking Cottage and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes and reads. Join us at The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition for 897 ways to improve your home and family! http://www.homemaking-cottage.com/ And don’t forget to join our ezine for free ideas. Free Homemaking Newsletter




Reprints of this article are permitted as long as it includes this byline.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

10 Reasons Why you Need the Deluxe Edition of The Homemaking Cottage

By Shiloah Baker

The Homemaking Cottage is an Homemaking-Cottageonline website with the purpose of inspiring women in the home. Through thousands of articles in dozens of categories, you are sure to find what you are looking for on The Homemaking Cottage.

Everyday women like you are the authors and contributors to this online learning center. We aren’t Hollywood movie stars with one child trying to teach you; we’re women from all backgrounds sharing what we’ve learned along the way.

The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition founded in 2002 is our exclusive online subscription allowing access to hundreds more articles, recipes, crafts than what is available on the main website. Homemaking is a challenging occupation at times-yet nothing is so crucial to the survival of our culture and traditions. Join us in creating a cozy environment where family and friends can feel comfortable and welcome under your roof.


Here are ten reasons every women needs to join the Deluxe Edition of the Homemaking Cottage:

1. Instead of a home and garden magazine subscription that is filled with ads and short fillers with a few articles of interest sandwiched in between, you can have full access to 1001 articles with original content every day.

2. Have you ever wanted to learn a new homemaking skill? We welcome requests for articles on any homemaking subject from our Deluxe Edition subscribers.

3. Feeling alone in your role as mother, wife or homemaker? We know exactly how you feel as we have gone through it too. We offer many articles to rejuvenate and rekindle the fire within you to keep you going and remind you how worthwhile your role really is.

4. Tried and true recipes make your job easier in the kitchen. You don’t have to search for hours through the cookbooks looking for a meal that the family will actually like. Instead, login to our Deluxe Edition and find meal ideas galore that are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

5. Need tips to keep the romance alive in your marriage? What about parenting advice from every day women, wives and mothers who learn through personal experience? We have all that and more!

6. Seasoned or experienced homemakers who already know the basics can find new inspiration and projects in the Deluxe Edition.

7. Not born with the organizing gene? That is okay, we are here to help with tips on organizing all aspects of your home, life and family.

8. Are you a crafty mama always searching for new ideas? We have original crafts exclusive to our website to enjoy and give away as gifts.

9. We are the original online homemaking magazine, easily accessible, easy to search and featuring over a thousand ideas.

10. The Deluxe Edition is jam packed with money saving tips, thrifty ideas, directions for re-purposing everyday items, and much more. Every woman, even those on a tight budget can afford $3 a month to learn to save hundreds of dollars of family income. A Deluxe Edition subscription is family money well spent!

Don’t miss out any longer! Subscribe today! See what hundreds of women worldwide have enjoyed. Hours of research and love await you at The Homemaking-Cottage Deluxe Edition. Discover how The Homemaking-Cottage Deluxe Edition is the right fit for today’s homemaker!

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Finding Satisfaction in Being a Housewife

For centuries the womans’s role has been in the home looking to the environment and nurturing the children among various other responsibilities. With the dawn of the women’s rights movement women have been blessed to move into the workforce and go outside of the home to care for their families financially if need be. Women today are blessed to have the opportunity to get a higher education and high paying professional jobs.

Women who choose to stay home to care for their home and family sometimes feel that they miss out on the glamour of the working world. Instead of a raise in salary for a job well done, they get smiley toothless grins, hugs, and have to clean baby bottoms. Not helping matters for support and encouragement for women at home seeing the stereotypical housewife portrayed in the media in two extremes, one as a desperate woman unhappy with her role and always on the prowl for adventure or second portrayed to the other extreme as a depressed-looking woman in sweats eating bon-bons and watching soap operas all day.

To the women coming home from the workplace, for whatever reason and who are having a hard time adjusting to the sometimes mundane responsibilities daily home life brings, I promise it does become joyful. To the women who have been housewives for some time and are looking for new ways to change things up and add a little spark to their lives, there are ways to do this and I hope to touch on some here.

A positive attitude is the place to start.
Record in your journal or notebook five to ten positive reasons you chose to be a housewife. Follow that by five to ten talents you have and ten talents you wish to develop. Finally, record five to ten reasons you are blessed to be a housewife. Remember that every situation is made better with a positive attitude. “Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” (Francesca Reigler) Remember there is no perfect, ideal job or situation. It is what we make of it. If you are unhappy with the idea of staying home start today by concentrating on reasons you like being at home. You’ll be surprised how many reasons you can come up with! More importantly you’ll find your attitude adjusting to the positive aspects your role is and its ideal place in the home.

Find a mentor, someone who can teach you new homemaking skills.
Find a woman who loves her role in the home and who has turned her passion into an art. Most of my first ten years as a homemaker were spent learning from mentors. I learned how to make French bread with herbed butter, how to cook hundreds of meals, how to clean things the proper way and new ways to organized my cabinets. I learned creative date nights to surprise my husband with. I learned tips on teaching my children to stay on the gospel path. When monsters lurked in closets, my mentors shared how to chase them away so the child could sleep better. My mentors taught me natural home remedies or ways to treat fevers and colds. More importantly, they taught me how to prevent them. Without other women with a large variety of experiences and stories just when I needed them, my homemaking journey would have been more difficult and definitely more boring!

Get online for inspiration and new ideas. There are hundreds of websites that teach women important skills from saving money on your grocery bill to how to knit. With the internet as a tool for the modern day housewife you can learn from mentors online as well as local women. Many blogs contain bright, color pictures of delicious meals they cook to craft projects they create. The Homemaking Cottage contains over three thousand articles, recipes, crafts all with the purpose of improving and enhancing the home and family.

Here is list of nine things to change up and add a little fun to your routine:

1. Learn new organization skills and re-organize items in your home in a new way.

2. Call a girlfriend for a tea party with the kids. The kids will enjoy time out and you will enjoy the adult conversation, say nothing about how much fun it is to put together a tea party!

3. Plan a date night with your husband once a week. It gives you and your spouse something to look forward to.

4. Have a competition. Call a friend and see who can get the most done in the next half an hour.

5. Organize 10 new activities for your kids during the next 10 days. The Homemaking Cottage has the perfect ebook for this called 100 Days of Summer which contains 101 unique and super fun activities to entertain the children with.

6. Start a hobby. After your scheduled chores do your hobby!

7. Plan an adult get together at your home. Plan all the details. Give yourself at least two weeks to spend time on it every day. It will give you something to plan and look forward to.

8. Get involved! Volunteer for the community, in your child's school, or church functions.

9. Begin an exercise program. Staying home gives you more time to exercise so take an opportunity to go on walks with a friend and push the kids in the stroller, take a Zumba or spin class.


If the desperation for a change comes remember that while the grass may look greener on the other side, it is twice as big and there’s more to mow as in many life situations.

Is there satisfaction in staying home? My answer is an emphatic “Yes!” While I too experience burnout or boredom from time to time, overall I know that my staying home to nurture the children and care for the home blesses me daily. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing my child cuddle in the blanket I made for her with my hands, or my family satisfied and bellies full after a nourishing meal that I cooked and served for their benefit. It feels emotionally good to accomplish things and nothing compares to caring for the home and family as a housewife.


 Shiloah Baker is a mom of seven, married to the man she's madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a The Homemaking Cottage and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes and reads. Join us at The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition for 897 ways to improve your home and family! http://www.homemaking-cottage.com/ And don’t forget to join our ezine for free ideas. Free Homemaking Newsletter


Reprints of this article are permitted as long as it includes this byline.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

10 Ways to Stay Motivated to Exercise and Lose Weight

By Shiloah Baker

This month I am coming up on the anniversary of my one year transformation. After giving birth to seven children and a thousand excuses for being overweight, I lost almost fifty pounds and went from a size 18/20 to a size eight. I’m not done yet, but I’ve kept going and stayed motivated. I am often asked for my secrets to keeping myself motivated.

The first thing to any weight loss program is to completely and totally commit 100%. You have to willing to do what it takes, otherwise your journey not last and your goals will not happen.

Here are my suggestions for staying motivated:

1) Take an honest look at your body in a mirror. What do you want to change that you can change by losing weight? Take a notebook and write it down. That’s the first thing I did when I started my journey. I used to have terrible rashes and skin problems. When I tried to scratch the itchy skin on my stomach, it wouldn’t hold still. It made me so frustrated that I decided right then and there that was it; I had it with being overweight and miserable. I knew I could change it. I knew I could get rid of the fat, and I knew I could get well. That morning I got up and worked out and haven’t stopped.

2) Get rid of ALL negativity. Do not ever use words like “I can’t”, “I’m tired”, “It hurts.” Your body is obedient to your words. You will quit. You will defeat yourself with your words.

The book "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman explains how much of the time we don't actually get rid of negative emotions, mostly because we don't know how, and we just stuff them inside while trying to forget about them. They don't just leave; the negative feelings stay inside our bodies on a cellular level and wreck havoc. Negative emotions that we experience can cause weight, health and even Lose Weightfinancial problems. (Ever heard of shopping therapy?). Karol teaches you HOW to get rid of these negative emotions and get rid of the emotions that cause the health and weight problems.

Excess weight is usually the symptom of buried negative feelings including, but not limited to:

• Using food as a substitute for affection
• Inability to admit to self or others what you desire
• Inability to express true feelings
• Seeking love
• Protecting the body
• Trying to fulfill the self
• Stuffed feelings
• Feelings of insecurity

(From the book "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman)

3) Get rid of the guilt for spending time away from: (you name it) the job, the kids, the husband, and the “should be doings”. A wise friend pointed out to me that you will always take those two hours away even if you are at home, it’s only natural. If you need it, you will take it. You’ll get lost in a book, talk on the phone, play on the computer, watch a movie but you won’t feel guilty. The difference in taking this time away at the gym is you are getting healthy and have complete time away to zone out without interruptions at home. Once the guilt is gone, you can leave your house and be excited about what you are going to do!

4) Know there will be pain and it will be tough sometimes, but remember how great you will look if you keep going! Pain means the muscles are being used. Pain means you will see results. Of course, there is bad pain too, but I’m talking about the pain that makes most people quit. Everyone gets it when they start new things or push themselves a little harder. The best part of pushing past this point is that when you’ve built the muscles you need you’ll get to the point where you think you’re going to feel pain, but you realize you don’t feel pain, you just feel good! Really good! Energized good! A Physicians Assistant that I know once said, "Running is cocaine for the soul". I am in complete agreement! Oh, and don’t forget to ice after working out. It will help you heal faster and feel less pain.

5) Change it up...don't always go to the gym. Play tennis with friends or family, go running in your neighborhood, do a strip tease aerobics or belly dancing video. (My hubby loves that I learned those.) Take spin classes; add new weights to your training. I'll take my kids to the track and my six year old autistic daughter will run two laps with me and then another kid changes places when she's tired.

6) Every time I lose a little or reach milestones (take your inches) I reward myself with small things. When I went 300 miles I bought new shoes. I bought an iPod and then I bought some outfits to wear to the gym. I recently bought a pink water bottle. It's part of my lifestyle now, so I need things for it.

7) Music is essential. I tried listening to classical music or books on tape while working out and bottom line --it doesn't do it for me. It is exciting and energizing to listen to fun motivating music that makes you want to shake your butt. That has been ESSENTIAL for me. I am always changing it up too so it's fresh and I don't get bored. I share music tips on my blog. http://www.hotmamasweightloss.com/ I also have compiled a separate list. Keep an eye out for that article.

8) Visualize. I get running magazines and in a recent issue I read that if you visualize your run before you do it, your body will fire off the muscles you will use thinking you are actually doing it. It not only gets your body prepped, but your mind as well. The morning of a run, I imagine myself running the route I mapped out. I then feel excited and motivated to do it.

9) Only compete against yourself. Write down every night what you did that day. You can see the progress, no matter how small. Progress is progress. Every day that you do not do something to make yourself stronger, you move backwards, with the exception of recovery days. We all need those. Everyone is at a different level. If other women are doing more, more power to them. Don’t allow yourself to feel intimidated by them or competitive. That is a recipe for disaster and a sure way to quitting before your goal. Be inspired by those who inspire, but if you feel those intimidation or competitive feelings creep in get rid of them before they do damage. You are your own person. You know where you've been in your life and what you can do right now. Keep going!

10) Read everything you can get your hands on (or computer screen on) about losing weight with diet and exercise. Find blogs that uplift and motivate you. Subscribe to sports and running magazines. Sign up for weight loss or exercise ezines that send inspiration, motivation or new exercise tips. Reading about weight loss on a regular basis keeps it fresh in your mind.

One final thought. Get to know people at the gym or friends who want to join you in your journey. There is nothing more energizing that seeing familiar faces and chatting with people who have a common goal. Also, take a before picture no matter how humiliating you think it will be. That will motivate you when you feel like you haven’t progressed. When I get to feeling down I’ll just pull out the old pictures and realize how far I’ve come. You can do it too!




Shiloah BakerShiloah Baker is a thirty something mom of seven, married to the man she's madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a homemaking business online (The Homemaking Cottage http://www.homemaking-cottage.com) and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes, blogs, and reads. See more weight loss tips at her blog Hot Mamas: Losing Weight and Feeling Great http://www.hotmamasweightloss.com

You may reprint this article as long as the byline stays in place.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

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Recent Deluxe Edition Updates!



The price of ThingsThe Price of Things
By Raejean Roberts

I love getting new stuff; new clothes, new scrapbook supplies, new things for the house, even groceries. There is a certain thrill of bringing home a bag of new treasures! Once I’m home, I take the treasures out of the bag, admire them again and
put them away.

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Summertime CookbookCreate a Summertime Cookbook

By Lori Nawyn

This summer while you’re creating something yummy for the backyard barbecue, family reunion, or picnic in the park, compile all your favorite summertime recipes and plan your own cookbook. Summer family fun time is great....


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Other Deluxe Articles:


Celery au Gratin by Shiloah Baker
German Cucumber Salad by Shiloah Baker
Creamy Cucumbers by Shiloah Baker
Tangy Fiesta Cauliflower by Shiloah Baker
Pork Chops with Sauerkraut by Shiloah Baker
Cherry Sauce for Pork Roast by Shiloah Baker


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"The Homemaking Cottage has been one of my favorite "simple pleasures" in my very busy life with my five children, a place to renew my mind and spirit for the rewarding but tough job of motherhood and homemaking. The wealth of information found in the Deluxe Edition is astounding. No matter what I am needing or in the mood for, I find. The articles are well-written with valuable, quality information.

Whether I need help organizing, meal planning, celebrating, or finding inspiration and advice when motherhood pushes you to the limits, I have found a trusted resource in the Homemaking Cottage."

Elisa, Owner, Undercover Mama - Make ANY shirt a nursing shirt! www.undercovermama.com


"I was quite excited as this sounded like just my cup of tea! I'm an avid magazine reader and this siteHomemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition was like have all the back issues of a great homemaking magazine at my fingertips. More than a magazine subscription, it was a subscription to not only what is written this year, but to all that has ever been written! It was a pleasurable week pouring through the many articles, but there were so many more I never even got to read.


There is a lot to this website and a subscription is quite a bargain at $36, about what you would pay for a premium magazine. But remember...you get to read ALL the information written for the site. User receive 24 hour a day access to the over 891 original articles/recipes/crafts and 20% off anything in the website store.

I spent most of my time in the Self Reliance section. This is a current interest of mine as my husband has asked me to help him get our family more prepared for emergency situations. The articles I read were not only informative, but practical. Plenty of wisdom to help me get started."

-Jill Pettis of Praiseworthy Things blog


"The Homemaking Cottage bills itself as "a gathering place where homemakers share ideas for keeping home and family", and you will find more ideas here than you may be able to use in a lifetime, and a lot of support and encouragement as well from fellow homemakers! There are articles from women just like you and me, who come from all kinds of backgrounds, from stay at home moms to working moms and moms who work from home, homeschooling moms too! That makes it really easy to connect with women who are dealing with some of the same struggles you may be facing, and finding practical and easy suggestions and solutions for making your home a haven for your family.

In addition to being resourceful, the layout of the website is lovely and easy to navigate. All of the articles are divided into eleven subject headings, the links to which you can easily find in the right side bar. A few of my favorites, and the ones I frequented were, Family, Fair Lady and Holidays. I think overall, Family was probably my favorite, I got a lot of wonderful ideas for planning some fun evenings together with my family!

You can access many of the articles and resources I've referred to just by visiting, but to access all that this wonderful website has to offer, you'll need to register for access to the deluxe addition! The cost for a one year subscription is just $36.00, that's just ten cents a day to have all of these wonderful resources right at your fingertips! You might think that you could find similar articles and inspiration on your own, and perhaps you could, but just think of the time you'll save by having all of this information already categorized, organized and just a click away! You might be able to save a little money by doing it yourself, but what you won't save is time. However, if money is tight, as I know it is for so many families right now, they offer other subscription packages as well, which will provide you will a wealth of resources and ideas for living well on a limited budget."

-Kimberly Lottman of Life in the Little Nest


Since I first came across your site. I saw how much information that I could use from your site, and your Deluxe Edition seems to hold so much more that I am interested in learning from.

-Shelley Beth Stevenson

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