Heather's Homemade Haven: handy homemades

handy homemades

crafty creations....frugal fashion....budget busters.... gifts worth giving....

Can I be honest? I don't waste my time on pointless, tedious crafts. One of the greatest things we have to learn when bringing balance to our life is prioritizing. I have much more important things to do than to make something that takes up hours of my time that I don't really need or will rarely use. I just have too many other things that are more important that deserve my time and attention. Now, I will admit that when I first joined Pinterest, I got a little off track and attempted a few useless projects. That quickly ended, though! When done wisely, however, we can create meaningful gifts, help out the family finances and create an inviting home. Most of the decor in my house, I've made. One of the greatest compliments I've ever received was from a friend of mine who came to a party I had at my home. She said, "Heather, I just don't want to leave. You're home is so cozy." Our home isn't big, it isn't decorated to the "T." It's just us. It tells who we are as a family and invites you into our life. My daughter is getting to that age where clothes matter. I've learned how to re-purpose clothes to create new outfits for her because our family budget doesn't allow for a new wardrobe every few months. Making gifts for people is something that I began several years ago. I would just prefer giving a sentimental, heart felt gift as opposed to something bought. It's great on the budget, as well! I will add that I also keep my eye out for great, gift-giving clearance items so not everything I give is handmade. My sister and I talk everyday. On Valentine's she was telling me that one of the mom's of a child in my nephew's daycare class had made these way over the top gifts that made all the other moms feel like failures. Our goal should never be to out do other women. The point is not to be some craft queen nor should we spend our time doing things to feel validated. The purpose for this section, in my life, rose from a desire to save money and to share my heart with others through my home and the gifts that I give. Hopefully, these "handy homemades" will give you some useful (aka "handy") ideas!

Crafty Creations (things I've made for my home)

Frugal Fashion (things I've made for my daughter and me)

Gifts Worth Giving (things I've made to give as gifts)

Budget Busters (recipes for all kinds of homemade stuff...trust me when I say that they save tons of money!)

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This blog is not an “I have everything together” blog. Far from it; my house isn’t always spotless (dishes are dirty and laundry isn’t folded as I sit here), I’m not always patient with my kids, I don’t fill their lunchboxes with adorably cutout food and life is not always blissful. This blog is about choosing to make my home a haven, a safe place, for my family. You won’t find me blogging about making my own flour. You won’t learn how to extreme coupon. You probably won’t discover anything that amazing from this simple blog about my corner of the world. What I pray you find is encouragement and wisdom from a wife and mom who was clueless when she took on those roles, but has grown and learned, even through the failures, over these past 16 years. I do not know everything and I am an expert on nothing. I love my Jesus, I’m head over hills about my husband and I treasure my three precious children. I’ve grown to love simple. I’ve learned to live beyond the opinions and expectations of others. As a woman, I’ve have come to understand that the health of my relationships is determined by my own personal health; mental, emotional, spiritual. As a wife, I’ve grown to realize the power of prayer and the waste of nagging. I’ve come to appreciate the reality of everyday love rather than some Hollywood lie. As a mom, I don’t feel guilty anymore about all the things I could have or should have done better, but can accept that God knew what He was doing when He gave me my children, His grace covers my failures and I can honestly say that I do the best I know how. While I believe it is necessary to grow in wisdom and to always be teachable so that I can continuously grow as a wife, mom and woman, I can accept who I am now. Perfection is a trap, one that I’ve chosen to release myself from. Life is a day at a time journey. Nothing should be taken for granted, for everyday, even the most mundane, is nothing short of a blessing. Life should be lived loving my Savior not striving to gain the approval of others. Life should be lived realistically and with proper perspective rather than unrealistic expectations of myself or those around me. This blog is named Homemade Haven because it’s about finding the balance of the extremes; being so over the top organized and planned that I miss what matters and being so chaotic and strung out that I’m not able to enjoy what matters. At the end of the day, I want my family cared for and for them to lay their heads down knowing they are loved. A Haven truly is homemade, it does not just happen. It takes effort and time, but it should be the priority of our lives as women. Whether we work or stay home, whether we are single or married, mothers or not; our home should be our haven. My prayer for you is that this blog provides practical tools, wisdom and encouragement so that your home and relationships can become your safe place, your solitude, your delight.

Heather has been married to her high school sweetheart and best friend, Tim Noel, for 16 years. They have three children; Eli, Abbi and Evan. Through serving at their home church in lay ministry, God called Tim and Heather to the ministry 13 years ago. For seven years, they served in student ministry where Heather’s burden for teen girls and young women grew, leading her to develop Heart of Beauty. Tim and Heather are currently in Searcy, Arkansas where Tim is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. Heather is actively involved in their ministry through teaching a young women’s small group and women's growth groups. Her greatest call in the ministry is being her husband’s encourager and prayer warrior. Heather’s passion is to help women deal with past hurts & present struggles so that they are free to experience the love God has for them. To better minister to the women God brings into her life, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Christian Counseling in 2010. She has taught workshops on implementing Reasonable Measures in churches, how to lead a women’s ministry in the local church and teen purity based on her Bible study, Heart of Beauty. Watching old movies, curling up with a good book, drinking cream and sugar with a little coffee, playing board games with her crazy crew and trying new recipes; these are a few of her favorite things.