89.5K
Downloads
194
Episodes
***TOP 1.5 % Global Podcast*** Are you a busy mom who wants more time for what matters most, but you have no idea where to start simplifying your life? Do you wish you could nourish your family with healthy homemade food but are too overwhelmed and end up going through the drive thru......again? Are you concerned about the toxins in your home and food but don’t know how to find simple, natural options to support your family’s health? I am so excited you are here! This podcast will teach you how to live an simpler life, make your own natural products, simple ways to garden, cook from scratch, and preserve your food to save money and reduce the items you have to buy at the store to become more self-reliant and creating an income on your homestead! Hey, I’m Monica, I’m a wife, mom of 5 kids, grandma, nurse and daughter of the King! I was overwhelmed with my full schedule and knew I wanted to create more time for my family by simplifying my life. I started small by swapping toxic products for more natural ones, cooking simple healthy meals from scratch, and creating simple systems without the stress and overwhelm! And I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you! So grab that cup of coffee, get cozy on the porch swing…..and let’s chat! Website: Claimingsimplicity.com Join our Community of Christian Moms https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/ Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Episodes
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Do You Like to be in Control? How to Have More Patience in the Season of Waiting
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Hello
Surrendering and giving control to God can mean different things to different people. However, here are some general steps that may help you surrender and give control to God:
- Develop faith: Having faith in God is the first step towards surrendering to Him. Read the Bible, pray, meditate, and cultivate a sense of trust and confidence in God.
- Let go of attachments: Identify any attachments or desires that are holding you back from surrendering to God. These could be material possessions, relationships, or even certain beliefs that are limiting your spiritual growth.
- Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment and observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This can help you let go of negative thoughts and surrender to God's will.
- Practice surrender in small ways: Start by surrendering small aspects of your life to God. For example, you could surrender a decision about what to wear or what to eat to God. This will help you build trust and gradually surrender bigger aspects of your life.
- Surrender your ego: The ego is the part of us that wants to control everything and often gets in the way of surrendering to God. Practice letting go of your ego and acknowledging that you are not in control of everything.
- Seek guidance: Seek guidance from spiritual leaders or mentors who can help you on your journey of surrendering to God.
Remember that surrendering to God is a continuous process, and it may take time to fully let go and trust in God's plan. Keep practicing and cultivating your faith, and trust that God will guide you on your path.
Please rate and review this podcast on apple podcast or wherever you listen and you will be entered into a drawing for $25 amazon gift cards to celebrate 100 episodes! I appreciate you listening!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Happy Monday Friend!!
If you have been enjoying learning about living a simpler life on this podcast, please take 30 seconds and leave a rating and review and let me know what you are loving about this podcast because that is how more people can learn about this podcast! Thank you so much!!!!!
There are so many benefits to living a simpler life and after living the chaotic life for many years, I can’t even imagine going back to that. I never have guilt that I am unable to attend events and activities because now my schedule is flexible and I don’t have to miss out on anything and there is just an everyday enjoyment to life because my focus is on the things that matter to me and that I value. I want you to have this pure joy every day as well so here are 6 benefits you will enjoy when you slow down and live with more intention.
- By simplifying your life, you can eliminate many of the things that cause you stress, such as clutter, excess possessions, and a hectic schedule. This can help you feel calmer and more relaxed. How would you like to reduce some of your stress?
- Simplifying your life can also free up more time for the things that really matter, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies and interests, and spending time doing things you enjoy. Who wouldn’t enjoy spending time your way.
- Living a simpler life often means spending less money on things you don't really need, which can result in significant financial savings over time and I’m sure you are looking to save money right now since groceries and regular expenses keep increasing.
- When you have fewer distractions in your life, you may find it easier to focus on what's important and make decisions with more clarity and purpose.
- You may have more time to prepare healthy meals, exercise, and get enough rest when you simplify which will help with overall better health.
- Living a simpler life often means consuming less and producing less waste, which can have positive environmental impact.
Getting started on a simpler life can be a gradual process, but here are some tips to help you begin:
- Declutter: Start by getting rid of things you no longer need or use. This can help you create more physical space and mental clarity. Donate, sell, or recycle items that are still in good condition and focus on keeping the things that are truely important and meaningful to you.
- Streamline and Simplify your schedule: Take a look at your daily schedule and see if there are any activities or commitments you can cut back on or eliminate altogether. Prioritize the things that bring you joy and fulfillment, and let go of the rest. Focus on saying "no" to commitments and activities that don't align with your values or goals so you can make sure you are doing things that are important to you.
- Practice mindfulness and take time to be present and fully engaged in the moment. This can help you appreciate the simple things in life and reduce stress and anxiety.
- Reduce screen time and digital distractions: Limit your use of technology and social media to help you disconnect. Focus on being present in the moment and engaging with the people and activities around you
- Practice gratitude: Take time to appreciate and be thankful for the things you have in life. This can help you find contentment and satisfaction with a simpler lifestyle. Explore living with less and finding joy in the simple things in life.
Simplifying your life is a process and it won't happen overnight. Start with small steps and be gentle with yourself as you make changes. Over time, you may find that living a simpler life brings greater joy and fulfillment to your daily life.
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
xoxo,
Monica
Friday Apr 07, 2023
Friday Apr 07, 2023
Here is a quick bonus episode!
I boiled 3 dozen eggs last night so I can make deviled eggs for Easter because we love deviled eggs even for a snack if they don’t all get eaten on Sunday and I remembered how many of my friends have trouble with getting their boiled eggs to peel easily and how long it took me to learn this simple way to make them, so here is a quick bonus episode so you can enjoy boiled eggs not only at Easter, but every day! It is such a good snack and we always have a bowl in our fridge and you can too!
First, bring plain water to a rolling boil.
Next, lower them carefully into the boiling water and try to be as gentle as possible so they dont crack and boil.
Lastly, drain hot water off of the eggs and run cold water on them and then put a bunch of ice over them. Let them sit and cool for at least ½ hour and then refrigerate.
Enjoy easily peeling them when you are ready! If you have ever had trouble with eggs not peeling well, you are going to be so excited to see how simple this is and well it works!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Happy Easter!
Monica
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Hello!
I can’t believe it is Easter this weekend! I hope you are able to celebrate the joy of Jesus' resurrection!
When it is cold outside, we like to bake an extra amount and then freeze items for when our schedules are full and we are extra busy. This works out great to always have food that is nutrient dense and keeps up from spending extra money at the store for convenience items.
When the prices in the store are rising, there is hope that you can save money and reduce expenses! Making your own bread is so much cheaper, healthier, and simpler than you may think. I now make sourdough on a regular basis, but even regular homemade bread doesn’t have all the harmful ingredients in them that a loaf of store bought bread has.
I always wondered if it would make sense to take the time to make my own bread as a busy mom when my family enjoys that walmart sandwich bread for a buck. And then I read the ingredients! So many benefits to making your own bread. Once I made it a few times, I then had a schedule down and we do buy bread every once in a great while, but for the most part, we always have fresh bread on hand or in the freezer.
I think so many people think that making bread is hard. It is so simple that you will wish you started making it yourself years ago. Sourdough bread only consists of 3 ingredients which are water, flour, and starter! I really enjoy making sourdough and when I first started making it, I bought a starter from king arthur and that is where I order my flour as well as from azure standard. Make sure you are using a high quality flour when making your sourdough. That may be the reason yours is not turning out, so try some good flour before you give up.
Make this one change for 6 months and see how you like it! I don’t think you will ever go back to buying ibread from the store!!!!!
Have a Blessed Easter Day!
Monica
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Happy Monday!
We have been on this crazy journey the last month and there is so much peace knowing and trusting in God's plan. I know you can find this incredible peace as well even as a busy overwhelmed mom.
Here are 5 simple and practical tips that can help you have more peace Trusting God and knowing He is in control.
- Spend time in quiet reflection, prayer, or meditation to connect with God and seek His guidance every single day. There sure is a difference in a day that starts out in prayer and being with the Lord and one that is rushed and out of control because it didn’t start with Him. This can help you build a deeper relationship with God and develop a sense of peace and trust in His plan.
- Reading and studying the Bible can help you understand God's character, His promises, and His plan for your life. This can help you develop a greater sense of trust and peace in God's control.
- Practice gratitude can be life changing. Focus on the blessings in your life and express gratitude for them. This can help shift your perspective to a more positive one, and help you trust that God is in control and working for your good.
- Let go of worry and anxiety which can be hard: Worry and anxiety can be a barrier to trusting in God's control. Practice mindfulness, and when you feel anxious, focus on surrendering your worries to God and trusting that He will take care of you. I heard someone say that worrying is worshiping the problem~isn’t that the truth!
- And Last, serning others is so important. Serving others can help you shift your focus away from yourself and onto helping others. This can help you develop a deeper sense of purpose and peace, and help you trust that God is using you to make a positive impact in the world.
Remember that developing peace and trust in God's control is a lifelong journey, and it may take time and practice. Keep seeking God's guidance and working to strengthen your faith and trust in Him.
I love hearing from you!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
xoxo,
Monica
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Hello
Easter and Holidays can get expensive if you let them, but I have some money saving tips and tricks to reduce expenses, so you can cut costs without sacrificing the fun. You can have an elegant budget friendly celebration without breaking the bank!
We usually host most holidays and it usually includes about 20-30 people, so not too crazy, but it does cost quite a bit of money and takes time to prepare all the food for that amount of people. If we aren’t careful we could easily overspend and can have a ridiculous amount of food that could go to waste, so you really need to think about the main portion of the meal first.
Make sure and ask for help. Many times each family will bring a dish to share, so that is another way to help with the cost to save money and also give you less to prepare, so that you have more time. You want to enjoy your time with family, so the less you have to do, the better!
Plan ahead! Start planning early and create a budget for expenses. This will help you avoid overspending and impulse purchases. Ideally, you would put this in the budget at the beginning of the year, but if this was missed, try to look at future holidays and put them in the budget now, so it doesn’t sneak up on you. If you have the items for your meal, you can watch for sales on those items and try to do your shopping at least a few weeks prior to the holiday because many times as you get closer to it, more people are shopping and sometimes they run out of items and also, you can watch for sales.
Next, reduce decorations or DIY decor because most people won't even notice and you could spend alot of time and money on something that really isn’t necessary. If you feel that you need to decorate, try to find something after the holiday to get on clearance that you can use year after year. I used to decorate as a young mom because I thought I had to, but now I realize what a waste of money and time it is and I would rather put my money towards something more meaningful. Now if you enjoy decorating, then plan your budget accordingly….it just isn’t something I value. I think of how many kids could be fed with that amount or what I could do for those in need with that money, but we all have different values and that is ok!
Reduce gift giving. Think about what this celebration is about. It is not about gifts or the Easter Bunny-it is all about Jesus, so keep the focus there. Some simple gift ideas would be some Christian books about Easter or something they may need.
With the seasons changing here, I do like to get an outfit for each kid as many times they grow out of their summer clothes from the season before, but I tend to stay away from too much candy. We do a small easter basket each year, but we have reused the same Easter baskets since they were young.
We do a large Easter Egg Hunt for all the kids, grandkids and cousins. I have small eggs that I fill for the younger kids and larger eggs for the older kids and that seems to work really well here and then we just reuse the eggs year to year. Also, you don’t have to get expensive candy. The kids just have so much fun finding the eggs! Our focus is more on our relationships with family than material items, so think about that this holiday season as well.
Most of all- keep it simple! Holidays are to enjoy time with people you love and not about perfection, so simplicity is key to reducing overwhelm.
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Monica
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Hey there!
This has been an interesting week and I decided I will go back to 1 episode per week unless I have some extra time each week to put out 2 probably for the next few months anyway.
If you haven’t listened in the last few weeks, God put it on my heart last month to put our house up for sale which makes no sense to us at all, so knowing that we need to be obedient, within a few weeks, we put our home up for sale and it sold within a couple days. I am a planner and at this time we don’t know where we are going to live because there is nothing available that we are looking for and we want to make sure we stay debt free and if we build, it probably won’t be done this year because most of the builders around here are already booked up, so we are trusting that God will make it obvious as He already has His plan for us and God’s plan is always perfect.
It has been 2 weeks now and waiting is so so hard sometimes. We do have a couple options, but God is saying to have patience and wait. We did rent 2 storage units, bought a 24’ enclosed trailer and plan to have a storage container delivered to our cabin because we have lived on our 10 acres for 10 years and have accumulated many items-especially having a little homestead. Our goats will go to our son and daughter in laws house and the chickens will be split up to a variety of places, so we are planning as much as we can at this time, but moving from this home will be very hard because we have put so much work into our place to make it just how we want it and we will most likely be starting from scratch again. I will keep you all up on this journey because I believe God has something for us that He wants the whole world to know about and I can’t wait to share it with you when I know more!
Today I want to talk to you about 5 tips to help you reduce your grocery bill by growing your own vegetable garden as a beginner gardener. If you have never planted a garden and you don’t know how to save seeds, you can still save money growing your own vegetables this year! Listen to episode 25 to learn more about seeds if you would like to save even more! Depending on where you are in the country, you might still be able to start seeds if you want to!
First, figure out where you are planning to have your garden and how much space you will have. If you are growing food in pots, then you will be a little limited as to what you can grow.If you have space, I recommend starting raspberry bushes or strawberry plants, because they will grow and you will yield more each year. Many people are happy to give away shoots from their raspberry plants and runners from their strawberry plants in the spring, so ask around or look on craigslist or marketplace so you don’t have to spend money. You won’t get much fruit the first year, but the second year you should be very pleased! If you have some extra money, plant a few fruit trees as well for your future.
Second, many times you can go to smaller greenhouses and they have smaller plants, but their prices for 1 plant is usually cheaper than buying whatever it produces at the store and each plant will produce multiple vegetables. Right now I’m thinking about peppers. It cost me almost $2 just for 1 pepper the other day in the store, but you can usually find pepper plants for less than that and it will produce several peppers. Just to compare-when you buy a packet of seeds, it is usually less than $2 as well and then each seed is a plant that produces several peppers, so you can see how planting seeds is even cheaper than buying a plant that is already started, but it is much more convenient to buy the plants than start seeds, so whatever works best for you-you will save so much money planting them yourself as long as you take care of them!
Third, you will be able to save money because you can preserve food for most of the year and then you won’t have to buy food in the off season because that can really get expensive when you buy food when it is out of season-here anyway when we can really only grow food about 4 months of the year. The bonus to learning how to can and preserve food is that it tastes amazing,knowing you grew it and that you can do it, and the huge amount of money you will save! You can do this - I want to help you start growing your own food because not only is it more nutritious, but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment. I can’t even tell you how much you will enjoy this process!
Fourth, If you are not able to grow your own food, you can buy from a farmers market or look for people giving produce away. Many people grow more food than they need and so they are many times looking for people to give it away to, so keep your ears open and learn to preserve the food so that when you are able to grow your own food, you know what to do with it. Just preserving food for the year will also save money even if you can’t grow it yourself right now and that is a huge step forward in your journey.
Fifth, have fun with it and don’t get discouraged. If you are a beginner gardener and some of of your produce doesn’t do well, use that information as a learning experience for the next year. We all have different soils and weather, and each year seems to be a little different, so don’t get frustrated. I have been gardening for quite a few years, but I still learn new information each and every year and there are so many different ways to grow food, so if something doesn’t work one year, try something else the next year.
As you probably already know, I like to keep everything streamlined and simple, so I know you do not need to complicate gardening either. Start small so you don’t overwhelm yourself! Get a few plants that you want to try and get started! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions and I would be happy to help in any way I can! I will keep you updated on my new garden this year as it will be a new adventure for me with new territory starting from scratch with clay and rocks, so I don’t know what will grow this year and what won’t, but I am going to give it a try!
If you haven’t already, go to claimingsimplicity.com and sign up to get my recipes and simplifying tips that I will be sending out!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Have a super week!
Monica
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Hey Friend
I love to be doing something as I am very active and mutlitpassionate, so I really have to intentionally makes choices as to what takes up my time. I see you trying to do it all and feeling proud of yourself for getting so many things done, but sometimes it is like a busy badge of honor and can be very harmful to your health and relationships all around you and you can really only sustain this for a short time before you hit burnout. You want to have meaning and purpose in your life, but your busyness is taking that away from you.
I was at a christian leadership conference last month and Ally Worthington, who is a speaker, author, business coach, and podcaster was there and she has a book called Breaking Busy and even though I have not read it, it might be a place to start for you. I took a few of my tips from her, but most of what I want to teach you today is how I TRY to live each and every day.
We each have a different level of limits and you need to be aware of your limits or you will get burnt out quickly. Don’t ever compare yourself to someone else and what they are doing. They may be in a different season than you and oh my gosh do we have alot of seasons throughout our lives as moms! I mean seriously…having teenagers that can take care of themselves is way different than having babies and toddlers that need help with all their daily needs.
At our conference Ally talked about making the right list-don’t make a to do list, make a DONT DO list. I love this so much, because so many times we are thinking of all that we need to do, but if we eliminate the things we don’t like to do, then we will have less stress. If you want your life to be about what you are meant to do, then you need to stop doing what you think you SHOULD be doing.
Ally said to ask yourself these 2 questions. First, What is sucking the life out of you right now? And Second, Does this activity get you closer to reaching your goals?
Ask these 2 questions for every single activity you are doing right now. After analyzing all your activities, write down every activity that you are saying yes to that you think you “should” be doing, but in reality should be on your DON’T DO list! Get that list started!
Something I used to do was volunteer at my kid’s school. Sometimes when you work from home, you feel like you should do that, but honestly, that was exhausting for me and I didn’t enjoy it at all! Every once in a while was fine, but I did not enjoy it on a regular basis, so that is something I would have put on my DON’T DO list years ago.
Another tip for future things that come up to protect your time and happiness after you have your don’t do list is the 10-10-10 analysis where you ask yourself when making a decision, how will you feel about the decision 10 minutes from now, 10months from now, and in 10 years.
And my favorite tip from Ally was to say, thank you for thinking of me, but unfortunately in this season of my life, I’m over capacity, but thanks for asking me! Isn’t that awesome?
Right now I live my life so intentionally that I don’t have alot of things I would take off my plate, but if you are feeling stressed out trying to do too many things, the don’t do list would be a fabulous place to start for you! Everyday decisions and daily habits will break the busyness patterns if you simply start small.
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Love ya!
Monica
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Hey there!
I know you are probably thinking about just growing seeds right now or possibly even planting your garden depending on where you are in the world, but I just wanted to give you this tip to save money so you can get started preserving your own food on a lower budget.
Over the years, I have gathered a large amount of canning jars, but when I first started preserving food, I couldn’t afford to buy jars. Thankfully I knew several people who canned in the past and they were happy to get rid of their jars as they didn’t preserve their food anymore, I would find them at garage sales and thrift stores too, but you have to make sure to feel the glass rim to make sure there aren’t any chips or they may not seal.
I started gathering my jars before the pandemic, so it was a little easier then, but when I started making kombucha last year, I needed large gallon glass jars and I got all of those jars for free and if you are looking for gallon jars, you could get as many as you want for free. At first, I went and bought a gallon jar of pickles from the store because that was actually cheaper than ordering a plain jar-of course my family couldn’t eat those pickles because they have been so spoiled with our homemade crispy dill pickles, but the chickens enjoyed them! My husband then found many jars from restaurants that were super happy to have someone take them off their hands, so if you are looking for jars, start there and you may find more than you dreamed of.
If you know anyone that buys Aldi alfredo or spaghetti sauce, those jars have measurement on the outside of them, so even though I don’t use them to preserve food, they do come in handy when making my own sour cream, mayonnaise and items like that.
Another things I like to do in the off season is get my lids. There is no reason why you have to wait until canning season to get your lids because most stores do supply them year round. It will be less likely that you have any shortage and when you want to can, you will hopefully have everything you need already ready!
I have not tried the reusable lids, but I have heard that people are enjoying them as well, so if you have the extra money and are just getting started, you may want to invest in them as it could also save you hundreds of dollars over the years and reduce expenses in the long run…..depending on how much you preserve.
If you know anyone else that wants to learn how to save money, reduce expenses, and grow their own food, please share this podcast with them! Thanks for being here and if there are any specific topics you want to learn about, please go to my website at claimingsimplicity.com and send me a message! I would love to hear from you!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
Blessings friend! See ya next time!
Monica
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Hey there
I’m guessing that you most likely have chaos in so many areas of your life, so I want to give you simple tips you can quickly add more peace and less stress into your life. We are all so busy and I know you don’t need another thing to do, but I do want you to think about how easy a few of these things are to do to simplify and have a calmer home.
I do think having too much stuff can weigh you down mentally, so I want to give you a few tips if you struggle keeping your house stress free as much as possible.
First…..the Kitchen area Because this ends up being a drop off location for so many things, one of the simplest habits you can incoorporate is to get in the habit of tossing the mail that you do not need as you bring it in the door and make an area for the items that you need to do something with. When I grab the mail, I look through it and throw the junk mail in the garbage immediately and then put the other where it needs to go. If you are like me-out of sight, out of mind, so I have a cute basket on the wall of the items I need to do something with, so that I do not forget to do them. Also, make sure your dishes are done daily and keep your counters as clean as possible. Look at fridge-can you simplify? Are you wasting alot of food because it is so full? Put all the food that is going to expire into the front of the fridge and start making meals from those items.
Last-Living Room: Especially if this is where people enter-less looks so much cleaner. Look at everything that is in this room. Can you relocate some of these things in a different area. Basket works really well to put items in at the end of the day. Can you clean up this area in a few minutes before going to bed and if not, you may want to eliminate some of the items
I don’t want to give you too much to start out with because I know you are a busy mom, so tackle these 3 first and you will be on your way to a more calmer home!
Website:
Join our Community of Christian Moms ->
https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/
Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/
See ya next time!
Monica