Indulging my Healthy Homemaker

Once upon a time I was a mommy blogger who wrote about homemakery things. I'm still a mommy blogger, I just write less and less about homemakery things.

Over the years, as I delved into my homemaking interests and passions - gardening, soapmaking, green living, etc. I wrote about those things, quite a bit.

I also used to write more frequently about vegan eating and health. Plant-based eating is one of our core food values and we have experienced excellent health over the years. (I think the two are related.)

It's been well over five years since any of us have seen a doctor due to sickness or injury, and there are no prescriptions in our family. I honestly can't remember our last "sick" visit and I finally stopped doing well child visits three years ago because what's the point? Well child says it all. Our dental history is a similar story, though I am taking the kids for a teeth cleaning this fall because that seems to be what good parents do.

(We have nothing against medicine or the "health" care system, but we believe and live like diet and lifestyle are the foundations of healthcare, not the medical system.)

I have a heart to help others experience the freedom of good health and I used to write more about that because it's really important to me.

However, I learned something a few years ago about my writing. I write at the edge of my growth curve. Which means if homemaking and health aren't at the edge of my personal growth curve I don't feel drawn to write about them. Unless I have something I really need to express.

This is why I could never be a niche blogger and why I have made peace with being a memoirist blogger, a lifestyle writer. Making peace with who I am here means giving myself complete freedom to write my heart out at FIMBY. And then working with Damien to build income-earning writing, instead of pressuring myself to be an amazing mompreneur blogger - which doesn't feel like such a good fit right now.

But sometimes I miss those heady days of Pinterest-worthy homemaking posts. (At the time of my healthy homemaking post hey-dey there was no Pinterest to even pin to!)

My soapmaking posts, for example, are some of the most popular content on my blog. They have brought thousands and thousands (tens of thousands?) of people to FIMBY. I'm so pleased when some of those soapmakers stay for the story, and write me e-mails telling me as much. Sometimes I think it's a bit sad that I don't write that content anymore.

If you've been reading FIMBY for a while you will have noticed the not-so-subtle shifts in my writing. Lengthening posts, lots of introspective, and posts about personal change, moving, and adventure instead of cooking, gardening, and homemaking.

And yet, I am that woman also. I am the homemaker who crafts her own soap. I am the health-conscious student who is learning more about using therapeutic essential oils. I am the "weird" mom who mixes tinctures and salves and chews up poultices in a pinch.

I am the person who has planned the menu and managed the kitchen around real foods, for years. I am the cook who can rock gluten-free, vegan, and whole-food - all in one meal. I am the homemaker who "went green" and is teaching those principles to her kids. I am the mom who is passionate about natural birth and delivered two of my babies at home.

Although my writing energies have shifted, decidedly, (for this season) into freedom homeschooling, personal growth, and adventure I am still that other women also. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Like you've all affirmed in my last post, I can be all that (and more!)

Next week I'm indulging the health-conscious homemaker part of myself here on the blog. I'm going to do that by sharing with you some ideas and resources I'm using in my own life.

I'm also going to be talking about the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle.

I've sometimes been on the fence about bundles in the past. Regular readers know my history with this. I'm not on the fence with this bundle. It's amazing and well worth its price for almost any homemaker (the resources are definitely geared to women though) interested in healthy living.

This bundle has ebooks (which are the usual fare), but it also has coffee table conversations - interactive online conferences (I'm so excited about this), and "real product" bonuses.

It's really an amazing product for the price.

Next week, all week, I will be bringing you "the FIMBY best of the bundle". It's a huge bundle of e-resources and there are only so many things I can share from it. So I'm picking and choosing my favorites, based on the things I believe in and practice.

For example, I won't be highlighting the animal-based real food cookbooks, of which there are a few in here. If you identify with the Nourishing Traditions movement, you'll like those ebooks. But if you, like me, build your diet around plants there's books for that also. Yippee.

And as a bonus to this already amazing bundle there are some very cool features. The download is a breeze, the customer support is awesome, there is a 15 day risk-free money back guarantee. You cannot go wrong with this bundle.

I'll be upfront. I'm psyched about this bundle, big time. Next week I get to talk about what healthy living and homemaking looks like in this season, as we prepare for our big adventure, and bring you an amazing resource.

« Change ~ Being Rooted ~ Personal Growth
(the ultimate) Healthy Homemaker Series ~ in the kitchen »
  • Z is for Zen

    Z is for Zen on Nov. 1, 2013, 1:12 a.m.

    Hey Renee! I'm so glad you've evolved your writing style even if its not about delicious homemaking so much anymore - I really love your introspective writing.

    I would love to see the post about writing at the edge of your growth curve but the link isn't working for me. What an incredible observation - I think maybe that what's I do also and I've struggled with that. Just naming it helps me, so thank you!

    reply

    • renee

      renee on Nov. 2, 2013, 1:08 p.m.

      Thank you. I find this kind of writing satisfying and necessary for where I'm at but it's not numbers "lucrative" the way how-to niche blogging is (smile).

      I fixed that link. Sorry about that.

      reply

      • Z is for Zen

        Z is for Zen on Nov. 5, 2013, 7:56 p.m.

        So interesting that its not as numbers lucrative... I guess I could see that. I wonder then if numbers isn't truly representative of those "reached" in a deeper way? Perhaps more representative of numbers of people skimming? Doesn't really matter (for me!) I guess, not my role to analyze your stats (ha ha!) but just curious. And I'm curious because yours is quite literally one of only maybe 3 blogs that I keep coming back for homeschooling nourishment. I absolutely LOVE your writing and so look forward to it. It is one blog that I make time to read in its entirety and don't feel the need to skim. I guess it resonates strongly with where I'm at myself with the added bonus of your ability to put things down on "paper" so clearly and eloquently. Love it. And thanks for the fixed link I'm going to check it out now. :)

         

        reply

  • christyb

    christyb on Nov. 2, 2013, 2:52 a.m.

    The only reason the children and I go to the Dr. one a year (for them to say, "Wow, you all look great!") is so I don't feel like the $12,000 we spend a year, out of pocket, for health insurance is completely wasted.  (That's a high deductable plan, and the only thing we get "for free" is yearly checkups.)  But I certainly shouldn't start on insurance rants, because we can blessedly afford it without too much trouble, and many others are much worse off.  My husband, like many men, hasn't been in in years.

    But I want to say your blog is fresh air amongst many other blogs out there, Renee.  I appreciate your thoughts and photos so much.  Thank you.

    reply

  • Trace

    Trace on Nov. 2, 2013, 6:16 p.m.

    Renee, I just read today's newsletter, and it reminded me of a question I have for you (that kind of ties into this post).

    I'm curious as to when your kids started sewing? I can't remember whether you've addressed that before. I have a very eager 6-year old, but I don't sew. I'm wondering when and how to start her off. I'd actually love to learn with her!

    Thanks!

     

    reply

    • renee

      renee on Nov. 3, 2013, 1:02 a.m.

      Trace, kids started sewing around age 5 (I think). 

      I have a whole page of creative resource posts here. I also have some creativity and crafting FAQ on this page.I  think it's a fabulous you want to learn sewing with your girl. I didn't follow any books per se, to teach my kids, I'm sure there are a lot out there now. You might look into this book: My First Sewing Machine Book: Learn To Sew: Kids I bought McNicol's other book, My First Sewing Machine: Fashion School for Brienne this fall.

      I'm not a big sewist. But my girls are. (smile)

      Recently on Facebook someone asked:

      Renee, when did your kids start to use the machine? Did you make them learn the basics of hand sewing first?

      To which I responded:

      They've been using the machine since they were probably six or seven. Maybe 5? I don't exactly remember. We had to put big books under the foot pedal so they could reach it! Celine has been our most enthusiastic sewist, but Brienne loves fashion and is currently taking on a fashion project so she realized she's got to do more sewing. (She's been a hot glue gun sewist till now!) Did I make them learn hand sewing first? No, but hand sewing is more portable and easy to pick up so they've practiced it quite a bit. Celine now does itty bitty sewing projects, beautiful handmade dolls, that require small intricate stitches so she does most of her sewing by hand.

      Hope that helps some!

      reply

      • Trace

        Trace on Nov. 3, 2013, 1:23 p.m.

        Oh, yes, this is very helpful! Looking forward to reading through your links. And someone is definitely getting a sewing basket (full of supplies) for Christmas!

        reply

  • Michelle

    Michelle on Nov. 2, 2013, 10:36 p.m.

    I'm looking forward to what's coming.  I feel like I've read circles around healthy living and, while we'vemade some huge progress, I feel at a loss right now of what my goals are and where to go from here. :)  Thanks so much for sharing!

    reply

  • Nicole

    Nicole on Feb. 20, 2014, 5:42 p.m.

    Thanks for sharing more about your vegan lifestyle. I absolutely adore homemakers and their crafty ways. I'll have to allot more time to complete the many projects I start in the future.

    reply

You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.

If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.