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Your Kids Can Bowl Free All Summer

Who doesn’t love bowling?! Well, I don’t. I mean I like it. It’s fun and all. But love it? Not really.

But if you love or even just like bowling, here’s a great offer for you while the kids are home from school for the summer.

It’s fun and it’s free.

It’s called Kids Bowl Free.

Here’s the deal:

Sign up at the official Kids Bowl Free website. You will be directed to select the alley of your choice where you can sign up as many as six children per functioning email address.

You will receive a voucher via email every week for two free games a day for each child you enroll. Print it and go bowl.

If you want the whole family to bowl, up to four adults can join all summer long with a family pass for $24.95. If you jump on this pass by midnight on Father’s Day and use the code dad15, you get 15% off. Cool beans.

Most centers still require shoe rental fees, so check out the site to see what your local center’s rules are. Or buy your own. (Amazon affiliate link. Check out the plaid bowlers. If I had those, my bowl-o-meter might go from like to love!)

Simple. Fun. Free-ish. Go do it.

So what’s in it for me? This is not an affiliate program, so…nothing…unless you buy those sweet plaid bowling shoes from Amazon. I just thought your kids might like some simple, affordable, active, screen-free fun…at a place with a snack bar.

All this talk about bowling makes me want pizza.

I know. Random.

Do you know of any other free family activities for the summer? Please share!

Natural Mothering Super Deal

Are you getting tired of these mega-ebook bundle sales yet? Yes? No? I started thinking this was overkill with the last one, and wasn’t going to participate in this one.

BUT…then I saw a book I had already been considering, a few of my favorites (like Crock On), and a handful of others that would be great for other people I know…and, well, I thought maybe you would find some treasures that would benefit you as well.

Please, though, before you hit the “buy now” button, please read my post “When a Good Deal Isn’t” to make sure you’re buying for the right reasons and not throwing your money into a bottomless, money-hungry, back-biting pit of financial despair. (Yes, I said “please” twice in one sentence on purpose! Your simplified, financially responsible life is more important to me than my commission!)

If you do make a (carefully thought-out) purchase, please know that I am an affiliate for this bundle and will therefore receive a commission. My homeschooling fund thanks you heartily. 🙂

Finally, please note that I certainly do not agree with everything in these ebooks. In fact, there are a few philosophies in direct opposition to how we raise our family. So, again, I hemmed and hawed about presenting this to you. Still hemming and hawing. Listen, I do what works best for my family which is ~~hardly ever~~ not always according to a book…except the Bible. Good book, that one. If anything you read in the ebooks or freebies goes against your faith or the advice of older wiser parents (I don’t highly value parental advice from someone who has never gone through the teen years and successfully raised a few kids to adulthood.), disregard it!

I’m not doing a very good job of selling this bundle, am I? Let me turn the reins over to guest blogger Kresha of Nourishing Joy!

Have you ever wished motherhood came with a manual?

Whether motherhood makes you feel overwhelmed or whether you feel like you’ve found your stride as a mother, we are here to help you be the best mother to your children that you can be. We can also help you deal with infertility and prepare you for giving birth confidently and joyfully.

We’ve got the resources you need to help your kids be healthier, to raise your children to be polite, caring people, to live more eco-friendly, and to make your home non-toxic.

For 1 week only, get a downloadable package of 35+ e-books specifically designed to encourage and equip mothers to nurture their families (and themselves!) naturally for just $29.97. Since these books together are worth more than $525, this is nearly a 95% discount!

There are also more than a dozen coupon codes and FREE products worth nearly $200 included to help you on your natural living journey!

These e-books reflect the work of 32 well-known Ph.D.’s, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, natural health professionals, authors, and bloggers who are passionate about motherhood and caring for mothers.

This is an intelligent, joy-filled collection that will inspire any mother to feed her beautiful babe well, feel confident in making difficult mothering decisions, and celebrate motherhood (even when it seems overwhelming).

The eBooks

Want to meet the authors? Click here to read each author’s bio.

Natural Fertility and Pregnancy

Unbound Birth by Jennifer Yarbrough of Unbound Birth ($2.99)
Fearless Birth by Kristen Burgess of Natural Birth and Baby Care ($17)
Nourishing Foods for Labor and Childbirth (article reprint) by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($2.99)
My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy of Simply Designs ($9.99)
Fertilise Yourself by Natalie Kringoudis of Melbourne Natural Fertility ($19.95)
Eat Your Way to Parenthood by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)
Protecting Your Fertility: The Dangers of Conventional Pest Control and Natural Safe Alternatives by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)
The Awful Truth About Cleaning Products and Fertility Revealed by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)

Natural Baby and Toddler Care
Breastfeeding Simply by Pinky McKay, ICBLC of PinkyMcKay.com ($25)
First Bites by Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green ($9.99)
Breast to Bib by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama ($8.95)
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Creative Ways to Calm Your Baby by Justyn Lang of Creative Christian Mama ($6.99)
EC Simplified: Infant Potty Training Made Easy by Andrea Olson, MA of Go Diaper Free ($30)
oh, crap. potty training by Jamie Glowacki of oh crap. potty training ($15)

Natural Health and Healing
Therapeutic Parenting for Children Who Are Healing from Trauma by Tova Krause Grindlay, CPC of Parent and Family Coaching ($4.99)
Herbal Nurturing by Michele Augur of Frugal Granola ($8.95)
Herbal Remedies for Children During the Cold and Flu Season by Rosalee de la Forêt of Herbal Remedies Advice ($20)
Mother’s Little Herbal Helper and Home Remedies by Natalie Vickery of The Family Herbalist ($12.50)
Questions to Ask Your Dentist by Will and Susan Revak of OraWellness ($29)
Tips and Tricks to Remineralize and Repair Your Teeth by Ramiel Nagel of CureToothDecay.com ($12.95)
The Thinking Parent’s Guide to Vaccines by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($2.99)
Finding Balance with Attachment Parenting by Andrea Olson, MA of AndreaOlson.com ($17)
Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler of NatashaMetzler.com ($4.99)
The Curative Kitchen (updated version) by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D. of SusanSmithJones.com ($19.95)
Rebuild From Depression: A Nutrient Guide, The Digital Abridged Version by Amanda Rose, Ph.D. of Traditional Foods ($12.95)

Teaching Our Children
Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen plus 1 month access to select Real Food Kids eCourse videos by Wardeh Harmon of GNOWFGLINS & Jami Delgado of Eat Nourishing ($30)
Kids in Training: Life lessons that will help lead to productive, responsible and grateful kids! by Rebecca Dulgarian of Blue Cricket Designs ($7.95)
Life According to Me by Stephanie Dulgarian of Somewhat Simple ($5.95)
The Family Dinner Project by Rebecca Dulgarian & Stephanie Dulgarian ($9.95)
Easy Peasy Chores: Homeschool Edition by Alina Joy Dubois of The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)
Teaching Kids to Clean by Dana White of A Slob Comes Clean ($5)

Help for Busy Moms
Real {Fast} Food by Trina Holden of TrinaHolden.com ($6)
Crock On by Stacy Myers of Stacy Makes Cents ($5)
Creative Ways to Make Family Holiday Memories by Kit Singleton of Raising Small Souls ($25)

Non-Toxic and Natural Living
Natural Beauty Recipes by Katie of WellnessMama ($10)
Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie Langford of Keeper of the Home ($12.95)
Restocking the Pantry by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($9.99)
Accidentally Green by Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green ($2.99)
Clean, Naturally! by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($4.99)

The Bonus Resources

Once you have completed payment for the e-book bundle, you will get access not only to the books, but to FREE products and coupon codes for mothering products that will support you in your natural, non-toxic lifestyle.

These special bonus offers include:

Get a FREE luxuriously soft pantyliner from Lunapads and a $5 coupon for your next visit. Lunapads are smart, sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual pads and pantyliners. Join the LunaRevolution and discover why thousands worldwide feel better about their periods! ($17 value. Standard shipping applies. US addresses only.)

Get 10% off any order from Granola Babies, THE go-to shop for everything babywearing and natural-living related. Granola Babies supports mothers around the globe in their mothering journey by providing sustainable hand-selected products, natural and holistic resources, and creating a village of community. (Standard shipping applies.)

Get “2 Months for $2” ! Enjoy a two-month Membership to Fit2B Studio for only two dollars, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are “tummy safe” and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs), which affects many women postpartum. ($19.98 value.)

Download a $6 coupon for 7 Sources Oil from Flora Health to use the next time you shop! Flora’s newest product, 7 Sources, is a non-GMO, sustainably-sourced fatty-acid product with EPA and DHA, which are essential during pregnancy and nursing and support cognitive function at any time of life! (Value: $6. Good in-store only. US stores only.)

Get 25% off any cami or nursing tank at Deborah & Co., a women’s fashion shop for women who want fashion without compromise. You can choose from a number of camisoles, layering shells, tees, and nursing tanks, all of which are excellent for nursing moms or any woman who just wants to be both classy and modest. (Worldwide shipping.)

Get $30 off the very popular Online Childbirth Education Program from Birth Boot Camp. You CAN have an amazing birth! The 10-class Birth Boot Camp online video childbirth education program will prepare you for a life-changing birth experience and specializes in educating couples together. You may also choose to receive the FREE Pregnancy Nutrition Report. (Good online or with participating live-class instructors.)

Get THREE bonuses from Professional Parenting Canada and Attachment Parenting Canada:

1. Get the 440-page international bestseller, “Discipline Without Distress: 135 Tools for Raising Caring, Responsible Children without time-out, spanking, punishment, or bribery” (an actual paper book!) by Judy Arnall for only $10! Offered by (Value $24.99. Standard shipping applies.)

2. Get a FREE 1-hour webinar on “The Parenting Information Maze: How to Choose the Right Advice for YOUR Family.” (Value: $25)

3. Get a FREE download of the first 4 chapters of the e-book that should be in every parent’s library: “The Parenting Information Maze: How to Choose the Right Advice for YOUR Family.” (Value: $9.95)

Get the audiobook of Pinky McKay’s “Breastfeeding Simply” read by Pinky McKay for FREE! This way you can read the e-book OR listen to the audiobook – whatever is convenient for you.

The audiobook is in mp3 format. Available for immediate download. (Value: $25)

Get “A Practical Guide to Children’s Health (Abridged Version)” by Kate Tietje at Modern Alternative Mama PLUS a coupon code for 50% off the full version. There are so many confusing messages today about how to keep kids healthy. Parents just want some straight information on natural health! “A Practical Guide to Children’s Health” offers research on many common questions so that parents can make the decisions for themselves. (Value: $7.95)

Receive 10% off any order from OraWellness. OraWellness offers tools and educational products to help you take control of your oral health using organic ingredients and inexpensive natural solutions. (Standard shipping applies.)

Get a FREE Comfrey Salve with any purchase from the Creative Christian Mama Store. ($3.50 value. Standard shipping applies.)

Get 2 FREE sets of Baby’s First Year Month-by-Month Printables (1 set with butterflies for girls and 1 set with ties for boys) from The Humbled Homemaker. Each set contains 12 printables to mark each month of Baby’s first year. ($16 value.)

A Few FREE eBooks and eCourses – no purchase required!

Because we are SO absolutely passionate about getting excellent natural living resources into the hands of every mother (and want-to-be moms and soon-to-be moms!) we’ve compiled a number of e-books that are FREE just for signing up for updates.

There is no purchase required – just click here to get your freebies!

(And as a gesture of paying-it-forward, please tell your friends about this amazing sale!)

Tell your friends on Pinterest:
Tell your friends on Facebook:

The Fine Print

This Bundle contains digital downloads in ZIP and PDF formats, so there is no shipping involved. You will receive your unique download link immediately after download. Please note that this Bundle is provided as is: no refunds, no exchanges, and no late sales will be provided.

While you must purchase the Bundle by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 17, you have until June 30, 2013 to download the books and redeem the bonuses. It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase by June 30, 2013. After that date, the books will no longer be available for download.

With proof of purchase, we can renew download links until June 30. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.

Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase. You may purchase multiple bundles in order to redeem a bonus offer more than once.

For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.

All bonus offers are the sole responsibility of the bonus sponsors to provide and are subject to availability.

When a Good Deal Isn’t

We’ve all been there. It’s a deal too good to pass up. Sure, you don’t neeeeeed another jacket/outfit/book/purse/project/cat/boardgame/ebook, but it’s just so functional/chic/educational/cute/darling/pathetic/fun/helpful that it’s too good to pass up.

Is it really?

How do you know if something is really too good to pass up? The following seven introspective questions will help you decide that for yourself.

As an example I will use the current Ultimate Bundle, which is all the rage on the blogosphere. How do you know if it’s worth it to spend $29.97 on $1034 worth of ebooks and bonuses? Wowzers, Lady, that sounds too good to pass up. I know…but is it really?

To find out if you should jump on a good deal or tell it to pound sand, ask yourself these seven questions:

1. Will you use it?

If you have 50 unread ebooks waiting around for you, and you really don’t read ebooks or haven’t tapped in to the last three amazing offers you jumped on, what makes you think this one will be any better? Be honest with yourself. (I bought because I can garner further tips to share with you and my children, and because some will make great gifts.)

2. Will it be clutter?

Is there a place for what you want to buy? Yes, the ebooks are electronic and won’t take up any actual shelf space, but they can become electronic clutter. If you are not going to use them or give them away, they will sit on your device or “cloud” taking up space. (I will explain how to organize ebooks in an upcoming post.)

3. Is it in the budget?

If you’re dipping into the food budget for money to spend on the next great deal, you should shell out $5 for From Debtor to Better and learn how to manage your money. Anything that causes you to overspend is not a good deal, even if it’s “only” 31 cents a book.

4. Can you make money off of it or use it as a gift…and will you?

If you intend to give away many of the ebooks for wedding showers, baby showers, Mother’s Day, birthdays, or Christmas, that’s great! If you want to use them as giveaways on your blog or even sell them, that’s terrific. BUT–and that’s a big but–will you? You know your track record. Are your somedays piling up so high that it would take your great grandchildren to finish up the list? If so, don’t add another someday to the pile.

5. Do you need it?

I’m not saying you’re not allowed to buy anything except oxygen, a couple hydrogens, and some food. But ask yourself if each purchase will benefit your family in both the short term and the long run. In the case of the ebook bundle, if you are actively trying to learn to be a healthier mama or a better home manager, this is a fantastic purchase. If you don’t give a rat’s patootie about homemaking, why are you even reading my blog?

6. Will it trump your family?

Don’t bring anything into your life that will rob your family of time together, space, and money. In the case of the ultimate ebook collection, if you are a disciplined reader and read for half an hour in the morning and at night while the kids are in bed, great! If you want it as a research resource for when you need it in the future, that’s super savvy of you! Go for it! If you find yourself neglecting your duties and family while staring at your Kindle, not so great.

7. Do you have one just like it?

How many ebooks about losing weight, eating real foods, or surviving pregnancy do you need? How many church dresses does your preschooler need? How many pairs of shoes do you need? How many purses do you need? How many toys does your dog need? How much stuff do you need? Get it? Good.

But, Christy, it’s just too good to pass up.

Is it more important to you to spend money on yet another _______, and have to store another ________, and have to take care of another ________, than to save that space, money, and time for your family?

I don’t intend to make you feel guilty every time you spend money, but you should be aware and conscientious. Every time money goes out of your home and stuff comes into your home because of a deal too good to pass up, you are increasing the amount of time your spouse or you spend working to earn the money, and increasing the amount of time you or your spouse spends cleaning, maintaining, storing, or otherwise managing more stuff.

If you don’t need it, have no space for it, can’t afford it, don’t have time to manage it, won’t use, or it will distract you, than it is not a good deal. Period.

In the case of the ultimate ebook collection, I earn a nice commission off every purchase, money I use to fund my homeschool. Naturally, I like it when someone buys through my link, ‘cuz that means I can buy math books! BUT–and that’s an even bigger but than the last one--I don’t want anyone buying just because it’s a good deal, because if you don’t have the space, time, or money, then a good deal simply isn’t. Plus spending money on something that will only result in physical (or electronic) clutter and financial complexity goes against everything I stand for here at The Simple Homemaker!

So…if you’ve read this and with a good conscience can buy that jacket/outfit/book/purse/project/ cat/boardgame or super awesome ebook collection, then go for it! (And do use my ebook collection link if you don’t mind.) But if not, please walk away and be content with what you have, because chances are you have enough. After all, to quote Mary Poppins, who is practically perfect in every way and therefore must know, “Enough is as good as a feast.”

$600 Homemaking E-bundle for $29.97

I’ve got an amazing deal for you today. I don’t want to waste your time on words, so I’ll keep it short and sweet…or at least short.

More than 75 bloggers and authors have combined 97 ebooks and ecourses to create the homemaking bundle of all homemaking bundles. It is valued at over $600, but it will only cost you $29.97! Me too, ‘cuz I already bought it. Grin.

The topics include mothering, organizing, cleaning, cooking, kitchen tips, homeschooling, faith building, decorating, pregnancy, baby care, frugal living, health, fitness, financial tools, work-from-home resources…whew! I think there’s more, but my fingers are out of breath, so just check it all out below.

Ten companies are also offering over $140 in bonus offers. Cool beans, eh?

Enough from me. Check it out down below. (The books and products I owned before this sale are marked with ***. The books I’m really psyched about reading are marked with +++. Do I want all these books? No way. I’ve got a life! But the price for the bundle is far better than the price of just the books I want. The rest would make great Mother’s Day gifts! Also, please note that I do get a commission from each sale. Read more about that at the bottom.)

What’s Included in the Sale?

When you purchase The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection, you receive instant access to all of the 97 eBooks and eCourses listed below.

PLUS over $140 of FREE Bonuses

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. “They” tell me there will be no late sales offered.

PLUS, You will receive FREE Bonuses from these companies…

+++ A FREE Two-Month Membership to Fit2B Studio, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are tummy safe and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs). ($19.98 value. No shipping restrictions.) +++ Very exciting!

A $15 store credit to TruKid. With products like their award-winning sun care, they are dedicated to providing all natural skin and hair care for kids, babies, and now pets. ($15.00 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)

*** Your choice of incredible natural products like sea salt and clay for FREE. Choose from the Redmond Trading Earthpaste Bundle ($24.90 value) or the Facial Mud Bundle ($26.90 value). (Standard shipping applies. Continental US only.) *** Love these products!

*** Your choice of a FREE heirloom sourdough starter or FREE yogurt starter from Cultures for Health, the leading supplier of starter cultures and supplies for making cultured and fermented foods ($12.95 value. US & CAN addresses only. Standard shipping applies.) *** Longtime fans!

Your choice of: a FREE 3-Month Subscription (for new accounts) or 30% off a One Year Subscription. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)

A FREE Culinary Herbs Assorted Seed Pack Check just in time for spring planting from www.wheatgrasskits.com, a living whole foods company. ($11.95 value. Standard shipping applies to all US states and territories- no international shipping for seeds.)

+++ Get $10 off Union28’s original “my husband rocks” tee. Their marriage apparel lets you celebrate your spouse in style. ($10.00 value. Standard shipping rates apply. International shipping available, but free shipping only available within USA.)

A $10 store credit plus 1 FREE lip balm from Bee All Natural. Their whole body products nourish and heal, and are made using only the highest quality, food grade, organic ingredients. ($13.49 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)

A FREE 2 oz. bottle of your choice of liquid herbal formula from TriLight Health. They specialize in fast acting, great tasting natural herbal remedies. ($12.95 value or more. Standard shipping applies, within the USA only.)

Your choice of 3 FREE ePlanners OR a 3-Month FREE Membership to ListPlanIt, whose mobile lists will help to organize your life. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)

The fine print:

Bonus Offers

Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase.
For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19th, 2013 (2 weeks from the last day of this sale).

General

It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase within the 1-month download time-frame. With proof of purchase, we can renew download links up until August 1st, 2013. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.
Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available. However, we would invite you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure that you get your bundle right away!

Particularly for those wanting to read these ebooks on their mobile devices (iPhones or iPads, Android, Kindle, etc.) you will want to learn more about the file types, how to download them correctly, and how to transfer them to your device.

This post includes affiliate links, and I make a portion of the sale of each ebook bundle. As usual, all proceeds from The Simple Homemaker go to support my obsession with homeschooling and raising great kids! But you know I don’t promote things I don’t believe in. Hey, I bought the bundle, and my money and I are not easily parted…just ask my kids. So there ya go!

Homemaker, Do You Need Help?

This post contains affiliate links. Even if you are not interested in this amazing deal, please spread the word–it really helps us out as we try to homeschool seven kids on the money I earn through this blog. You people rock!

I can’t count the number of times I’ve wished I had someone by my side teaching me what I needed to know to run my home better, raise my children with more wisdom, simplify, tackle dirty dishes and dirtier diapers with grace, feed my children better, budget, be a better wife to my squeeze. I basically wanted an Alice (Brady Bunch) combined with Aunt Bea (Andy Griffith Show) combined with June cleaver (Leave It to Beaver) combined with the Proverbs 31 woman (Bible, obviously), and it wouldn’t hurt to have a little bit of Laura Petrie (Dick Van Dyke Show) mixed in there, too, if only for her sassy hair and cute PJs. Let’s call her Aunt Jaurice 31.

While I do have wonderful women in my life, I don’t have an Aunt Jaurice 31 on hand every moment to answer my incessant questions, particularly in the evening when all is quiet (ha ha–little joke there) and I can ~~over-analyze~~ ponder my day.

This, homemakers, this offer is an amazing substitute for Aunt Laurice 31…except it doesn’t bake pie or do dishes or banter sarcastically with the kids or rock babies when you’re in the shower–remember showers?

By popular demand, 100+ homemaking bloggers are bringing back The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, and it’s better than ever–it really is!

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is a complete library of great eBooks on homemaking—a truly valuable knowledge base you’ll use for many years to come. Unlike a library, though, you don’t have to spend years building it up. The Ultimate Bundles team has done the hard work for you, searching the web to find “the very best eBooks from top homemaking authors” and combining them into one essential collection that you can buy in one simple purchase.

(If these are “the very best books,” you may wonder why my ebook isn’t in there. Wink wink. They asked me to contribute, but I don’t like selling my ebook at full price and then turning around and dropping it down to pennies. It doesn’t seem fair to my original buyers. Therefore, I committed to waiting six months before including my book in any bundles.)

Hurry scurry to get the ultimate eBook collection on homemaking at a once-in-a-lifetime price.

If you don’t have an Aunt Jaurice 31, you may well not find a more comprehensive set of homemaking resources anywhere — and certainly not at this price. Bought separately, they’d cost a total of $698 (not including $200+ in bonuses). But you can have all of them for just $29.97. If an extra $10 is in the budget, you not only get the full set of PDF files, but also a bonus set of Kindle editions, perfectly formatted for easy Kindle reading, due to popular request. I believe it’s the best deal on homemaking eBooks anywhere on the web. It will only be available for six days; grab yours before it’s gone! Ends Monday!

In this bundle, you will find 80+ eResources aimed to grow you in all aspects of homemaking, including:

Homemaking
Motherhood
Marriage
Food (recipes!)
Self-care
Faith (for you & for your kids)
Work-from-home & blogging
Pregnancy & babies
Health & wellness
Homeschooling
Holidays & special events
Financial stewardship

See the full list of 80+ eBooks, audio files, eCourses & printable packs included in the sale.

We’ve also included $200 of freebies from our 10 awesome partners!

In addition to all the amazing eResources, this bundle includes the best bonus offers it’s ever had, including:

A free 10-pack of greeting cards from Dayspring
3 free eye shadows from Redeeming Beauty Minerals
Free art print plus $15 store credit to Hope Ink
$15 store credit for fabric & patterns from Marie-Madeline Studio
Sixty-four loads of eco-friendly laundry detergent from Dizolve (This pays for the bundle!)

As well as five more incredible offers from:

These deals are worth over six times the price of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. So you’re up on the deal right away! Learn more about the bonus offers.

This huge wealth of information and guidance will be right there on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or Kindle, whenever you need it.

Here’s what you need to know about the sale:

When? 8 a.m. EST Wednesday, April 23 until 11:59 p.m. EST Monday, April 28
What? 78 eBooks, 2 eCourses, 2 audio files, and 2 printable packs PLUS over $200 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!
Where? Purchase the bundle here.
How much? Well now, that’s the best part. The entire package is worth nearly $900, and it’s selling for less than $30. Sweet deal, right?

Want to learn more? Read about what this amazing bundle offers—or just buy it now! Remember, this bundle is available for 6 days only, from 8 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, April 23 to 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday, April 28th. Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions about the bundle.

How to Wash a Pillow the Simple Way

I recently read an article in All You Magazine (prime bathroom literature, my friends) which claimed that after two years, 1/10 of the weight of your pillow is made up of dust mites and their waste…as in itty bitty little dust mite poo.

That’s kinda gross.

I have had the same pillow for, hmmm, let’s round down to 10 years, so if every two years 1/10 of the weight is replaced by mites and mite-poo, and I’ve had mine for 10 years, that 10 divided by 2 times 1/10 equals…ewwww…50%.

Even with my faulty math, that almost makes me want to buy a new pillow.

But I love my buggy, pooey pillow.

Lucky for me, the article was kind enough to explain how to wash a pillow, a bit of information I am kind enough to pass on to you, in case you, too, love your buggy, pooey pillow.

How to Wash a Pillow

Check the washing instructions. Most pillows are machine-washable. (If mine says it is not machine washable, I wash it in the machine anyway. Yes, even feather pillows…but you most certainly did not hear that from me. The only exception in my home is very old pillows that will not survive the process, or those, like my son’s with more holes than casing due to a few too many pillow fights.)
Wash two normal-sized pillows or one jumbo pillow at a time to keep your machine balanced. You don’t want it doing a fox-trot across the floor.
Set your machine to the longest, hottest cycle.
Use liquid detergent, since, supposedly, powder detergent leaves a residue. I can’t imagine why someone who’s been sleeping on a pound of dust mite poo would care too much about a little detergent residue, but, I guess dust mite poo is “all-natural,” so, there ya go.
Run the pillows through the rinse cycle twice.
Toss the pillows in the dryer with a couple tennis balls or dryer balls to fluff them up and speed up the drying process.
Dry your pillows completely at medium-high or high heat until dry. It may take several cycles. Check the pillows between each cycle, and consider letting your dryer rest for half an hour between cycles so it doesn’t burn out. Yup, it happens. Boo.
Be sure the pillows are completely dry by squeezing them with your hands to feel for moisture. Optionally, squeeze them with a paper towel. If any moisture shows up, pop those babies back in the dryer. It is not unusual for the drying process to take 3-4 hours.
Use an allergen pillow case from here on out to prevent a reinfestation of mites and their poo.

I think I said the word “poo” far too much in this post.

Check out the comment section for some helpful questions and answers.

Do you have any tips for how to wash a pillow?

Also, I am happy to tackle any other obscure homemaking tasks you’d like demystified. I warn you, I don’t “homemake” by the rules, but I’m happy to answer questions…the simple way.

A Widow in Need and a Handcrafted Soap Giveaway ($25 Value)

Please read: To help a fellow mother who was recently widowed, I am joining with other bloggers who are introducing you to Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soap. Because we live on the road full-time, I have not been able to receive a sample of the soap to review personally. The following information is based on reviews done by other bloggers who have tried the soap and know Mae personally, and a bit is based on personal research.

To enter the giveaway, please scroll down past the review.

To read Mae’s story written by one of her close friends, please scroll down past the giveaway.

Reader, Meet Mae’s Soap!

I have an on-again, off-again relationship with handmade soap. When I have it, I use it and I love it. When I run out, I don’t use it, and I’m bummed…but not so bummed that I stop using soap, so you can still stand downwind of me. I love handmade soap. I love the colors, the smells, the textures, and the ingredients.

I also love that it doesn’t have a lot of nasties in it. I don’t totally wig out over nasties in our soap (because wigging out over anything is not part of my simple philosophy), but when I have the option, I go nasty-free. It makes me happy, and I like to be happy. So there you go.

I just learned about Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soaps that have no nasties. What I found interesting is that Mae uses real tallow in her soap. My knowledge of tallow is limited to candle making in the Little House books, so I did a little research at a site called beeftallow.com. (There is now officially a website for everything.)

Wow! Tallow rocks the soap-making world! Tallow soap lasts longer than a regular bar of soap, is non-allergenic, doesn’t get slimy in the shower, and moisturizes the skin. Tallow has a number of other benefits as well, but hey, did you read the part about not getting slimy in the shower? What more could you ask for!

Mae uses other gentle, pure ingredients as well. To ensure a more luxurious lather from her soaps, Mae adds coconut oil. Olive oil is soothing for the skin, so, naturally, Mae has popped that in there, too! Lightly scented with essential oils, Mae’s soaps reportedly leave you smelling fresh, but you won’t knock anyone out with an overwhelming aroma when you waft past them.

And look how pretty!

Want some? Yup, so do I.

Reader, Win Mae’s Soap!

You can win one of six $25-gift certificates to select your favorites from Mae’s Natural Handcrafted Soap. Enter the Rafflecopter below (if it isn’t there, just click the link).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reader, Meet Mae!

This review and giveaway is on behalf of a dear friend and sister in Christ who unexpectedly lost her beloved husband in February of this year. He left Mae and a young son behind, reeling from their loss.

Mae’s husband had been out of work for a year, living off of a small military pension. The family, understandably, had to cut back on expenses – one of which was their life insurance policies. His sudden death now leaves Mae and their son with very little income (less than a couple hundred dollars a month). Because of different personal situations, she is currently ineligible for benefits like Social Security. Mae homeschools their son, and, thanks to The Home School Foundation, she will receive a grant to cover homeschooling supplies and curriculum. She is asking the Lord to provide for her son and herself through her small businesses, one of which is making soaps and other body products.

As you can see, the situation is dire for this sweet widow and her son, but we know that God is able to do more than we could ever think, or ask (Eph. 3:20), and we hope that you will consider joining up with us to help our dear friend by supporting her business.

We’re asking you, dear readers, to seriously consider the call of James 1:27—to care for widows and orphans and consider Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soaps for your next soap purchase.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1: 27

Anyone who knows Mae is touched by her. She is an incredibly godly woman, who acts as a Titus 2 mentor to those who know her. She is loved dearly and we want to do all we can to support her during this incredibly difficult time! Please pass this on by sharing this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.

A big thank you to all the bloggers participating:
Ann @ DuctTapeandDenim.com
Anne @ Authentic Simplicity
Tara @ Everyday Ramblings of My Life
Jill @ Jill’s Home Remedies
Sara Elizabeth @ A Mama’s Story
Gail @ The Imperfect Housewife
Renee @ I Am The Clay
Del @ Devote & Seek
Jill @ Blessed Beyond a Doubt
Rebecca @ Rebecca’s Ramblings
Hilary @ Accidentally Green
Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm
Susan @ Learning and Yearning
Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker
Justyn @ Creative Christian Mama
Chelsea Rebecca @ For Unmarried Christian Women
Chelsea Rebecca @ Hearts for Home
Paula @ Whole Intentions
Amy @ A Heart Surrendered Blog
Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation
Dana @ Clan Chris Dean
Kristen @ Smithspirations
Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog
Alicia @ Walking In Faith
Stephani @ The Cheapskate Cook
Amber @ Homemaker by Choice
Marci @ Thankful Homemaker
Katie Sullivan @ Brighton Park Blog
Anjanette @ Raising the Barrs
Pam @ Mom Does Reviews
Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage
Stacy @ Something Whimsical
Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood
Paula @ Beautiful Life of Joy
Rachel @ Of Love and Beauty
Reagan @ The Arsenal
Kelly @ Generation Cedar
Kelly @ Practical Savings
Stacy Karen @ A Delightful Home
Kristen @ Five in Tow
Diana @ A Little Bit of Spain
Elizabeth @ Yes They Are All Ours
Jacque @ Deep Roots at Home
Karrilee @ Abiding Love, Abounding Grace
Karrilee@ Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee
Shawnee @ The Apronista
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Janine @ True Aim Education
Kathryn @ Singing Through the Rain
Alicia @ Fun Reviews and Giveaways
Deborah @ A Delightful Glow
Stephanie @ The King’s Bookworm
Christy @ The Simple Homemaker
June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Shadedlily @ With Them
Joy @ Artful Homemaking

Do you know of any other free family activities for the summer? Please share!

The eBooks

The Bonus Resources

A Few FREE eBooks and eCourses – no purchase required!

The Fine Print

This Bundle contains digital downloads in ZIP and PDF formats, so there is no shipping involved. You will receive your unique download link immediately after download. Please note that this Bundle is provided as is: no refunds, no exchanges, and no late sales will be provided.

While you must purchase the Bundle by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 17, you have until June 30, 2013 to download the books and redeem the bonuses. It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase by June 30, 2013. After that date, the books will no longer be available for download.

With proof of purchase, we can renew download links until June 30. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.

Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase. You may purchase multiple bundles in order to redeem a bonus offer more than once.

For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.

All bonus offers are the sole responsibility of the bonus sponsors to provide and are subject to availability.

What’s Included in the Sale?

PLUS over $140 of FREE Bonuses

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

Educational Children’s Resources

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Pregnancy & Baby Care

Holidays & Special Events

Spiritual Growth

Marriage & Romance

Motherhood

Health & Fitness

Beauty

Working from Home & Blogging

Ecourses