About Denise

Denise is a wife and homeschooling mom who resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She and her family live a simple and fulfilling life on nine acres in a 100 year old farmhouse. Days are never dull with three boys and a constant home improvement project in the works.
Denise loves Jesus, who has set her heart free to find beauty in the midst of the mundane. As a result of her past experiences, Denise has a passion to encourage moms and women to find their true identity in the Lord. You can find Denise writing at her blog Denise In Bloom

10 Fun Snowman Winter Activities and Treats

January 18, 2013 By Denise

January is the perfect time to come up with some fun snowman winter activities and treats to keep the kids engaged and occupied. I have gathered up 10 recipes, activities, and goodies to keep your kids busy for a while, and having a good time as we wait for spring to arrive.

Good news…only one of the 10 ideas require any snow! I hope you will enjoy engaging, reading, and playing with your children, and embracing this special time before the busy warmer seasons hit us once again.

*Each of the ideas has a link below it which leads to the orignal source, and will give you all the details for supplies and ingredients and instructions. Be inspired this winter!

1.) Gather up your leftover Christmas lights and some supplies from around the house and make these charming milk jug snowman lights.

Glowing Milk Jug Snowmen from Stuff by Ash

2.) This is a cute snowman craft using marshmallows. A great indoor activity to keep little hands busy.

Marshmallow Snowman Kids Art from Happy Home Fairy

3.) The traditional snowball cookies are perfect for this time of year. Why not whip up a batch of these and surprise the kids.

Snowball Cookies from Finding Home.

4. ) I like surprising my kids with fun snacks. So how about a bagel snowman?

Fun Food Snowman Kids Snack from In Lieu of Preschool

5.) I created fall paint pictures with my kids using Q-tips, which was one of my kid’s favorite projects. Now we can’t wait to make this simple winter version.

Q-tip Winter Painting

6.) How about frying up some tortillas snowflakes sprinkled with powdered sugar? Yum!

Snowflake Tortilla Treats from Happy Clippings.

7.) Who wouldn’t love a snowman pizza to warm up the tummy?

Snowman Kids Pizza from Delia Creates.

8.) I love this yarn snowman craft! Perfect for having out during January and February.

Snowman Craft From Parent Magazine

9.) These look like so much fun, especially for the older kids. Colored ice balls to put in the snow. Be sure to click over for the instructions!

Colored Ice Balls from Hurrayic.

10.) Winter is a great time for lots of extra reading time, and here is a round up of 6 books to read to your kids on snow and winter.

Collection of 6 Recommended Snow Books From The Speech House.

There’s lots of fun to be had after the holidays. Winter is a great time of year to settle in and make some out-of-the-box snowman fun stuff. Most of all take some time out to make memories with your kids. They love special things done for them, and it’s a way we as moms can serve our family.

Denise from Denise In Bloom

16 Comments | Filed Under: Fun For Kids

Giving Up Our Perfect Plans To Find Peace On Earth

December 21, 2012 By Denise

I had plans. Perfect plans (so I thought) to start my holiday decorating and have a very productive day. We had just gotten our living room back to order after some renovation projects had finished. I was ready to start cleaning, organizing, and getting my house back to normal.

The gingerbread kits that we had purchased the day before, were at the foremost of my little guy’s minds. They wanted to decorate gingerbread houses! “Oh please mommy can we make them today?” “Can we?”

I pondered for a few minutes, but without a doubt knew I needed to give up on perfect. Perfect ideas and perfect plans that really aren’t always the best, but just goals of my own making. I decided to drop all my expectations of the day and spend time making gingerbread houses with the kids. It was pouring rain outside and in reality was a perfect day for doing something fun with the boys. My 16-year-old had finished his early morning classes, and even he wanted to join in on the fun. This was a moment that needed to be seized!

We made a mess, with frosting and sugar-coated fingers…

We were sticky and messy. We had coconut and candy beads all over the place.

The kids then played in tree boxes. Twin boxes for twin boys.

I loved watching my kids play and use their imagination.

They waddled around the room being robots!

Meanwhile, my teenager got in on the act and finished one of the houses adorned with a layered chocolate shingle roof. The younger ones had given up by now, and were on sugar overload.

After we were finished and I recovered cleaning up remnants of the candy creations, we had fun admiring our work. It turned out to be one of the best days I have had in a long time. Delighting in my kids and enjoying special memories, laughter, and stickiness together.

All because I decided that day to give up on perfect!

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:20-22

Maybe you are like me, and make plans and your “perfect” idea of how you want Christmas festivities to play out in the next few days. I have to remind myself to breathe and relax in the moments of this holiday week ahead. I have to leave room in my schedule to throw caution to wind if necessary, and embrace the best that Christmas has to offer. May we all learn to give up perfect plans to find peace on earth.

Merry Christmas!

Denise at Denise In Bloom

6 Comments | Filed Under: Fun For Kids

12 Easy Ideas For A Handmade Thanksgiving

November 13, 2012 By Denise

In preparation for Thanksgiving this month, I was having fun collecting ideas for a handmade Thanksgiving in our home. I couldn’t wait to share all this goodness with you!

I love to create projects with my kids and bake up some fun treats. This time of year naturally beckons us to nest, cook, and create. I hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving ideas and are inspired to bless your home and family in new ways this season.

( Be sure to click on the title under each photo to find the original post for lists of ingredients, recipes, and complete instructions!)

Thanksgiving Wall Tree

Wouldn’t this be a great project to do with your kids? Adding new leaves of written thanks each day for the rest of this month?

Leaf Turkey

I love this quick and easy craft to make with little ones.

Fall Polka Dot Tree

This is a fun project I recently did with my kids using Q-tips and paint. Any age will love this art.

Leaf Lantern

What about making leaf lanterns for the Thanksgiving table? A great way to get the kids involved in the decorating.

Fall Leaf Bunting

I can’t wait to make this fall bunting project with my kids. A beautiful craft for everyone to enjoy!

Give Thanks Pumpkin Tutorial

This is a beautiful decorating project to create for your Thanksgiving home, and you can use it year after year.

Give Thanks Mantle

I love the simplicity and elegance of this Thanksgiving mantle. So inspiring!

Pumpkin Jar Pies

I am anxious to try these pies for our family. How fun for everyone to have their own individual pie in a jar!

Chocolate Turkey Fondue

Anything dipped in chocolate has to be a winner. This is a great snack for kids to dip and eat!

Five Sweet Thanksgiving Treats For Kids

These five sweet treats will be a big hit on any Thanksgiving table!

Overnight Crockpot Apple Butter

I just made this recipe a few weeks ago and it is wonderful! How about serving this on pancakes or biscuits for Thanksgiving morning?

Pumpkin Nutella Smoothie

I couldn’t resist showing you this recipe. Pumpkin and Nutella in the same smoothie has to be good!

I hope you have a blessed time creating, crafting, and nesting this month. Most of all may you find time to reflect on gratitude and love on those around you!
Denise from Denise In Bloom

7 Comments | Filed Under: Homemaking

Finding Fresh Perspective & Better Mom Monday’s Link-up!

October 1, 2012 By Denise

I see a mess of Legos taking over every surface of my house, they crunch beneath my feet and I mumble under my breath, but God sees moments of fun and imagination and hours of play time delight that He created us for.

I see shoes all scattered by the back door, and I get frustrated putting them away repeatedly, but God sees beautiful feet He created to walk this earth and spread the good news.

I see kids who don’t always obey or listen to me, and I think “are they ever learning?” but God sees their potential and He says they are precious in His sight.

I see grimy hands and dirt under the fingernails, but God sees tools crafted by the master, that can be used to give to the poor, help build, and extend the love of Christ in tangible ways.

I see the past mistakes I have made with my kids, and beat myself up about them, but God forgives me, and takes me as I am and sweeps me up as His precious daughter.

I see my big to do list, and my task-oriented mind stays busy being mom, but God is searching and asking for my quiet heart that needs to rest at times.

I see expectations of others, and I get overwhelmed, but God says “you are good enough for me just as you are.”

I see my undone laundry and piles of things to do, but God says “sit for a while and let’s talk, come rest in me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I see unpaid bills and financial strain but God knows He will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.

I see my doubts and fears about my children creep in silently, but God reassures me of His perfect love that can cast out all fear.

Its all about the perspective, isn’t it?

Oh that I would remember to keep seeing life from God’s view and perspective!

How are you viewing life today?

Blessings,

Denise at Denise In Bloom
This post is part of this month’s series:

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