Tuesday Talks: Music teaching CDs "O Sing a New Psalm" and "Songs of the Remnant"

"O Sing a New Psalm" is the first of two instructional music CDs that teach families and church congregations how to sing in four-part harmony.

These are wonderful CDs which my family has enjoyed very much! There are 50 tracks on each CD, ten songs. The first ten are the songs sung in full harmony. Tracks 11-20 are just the soprano parts, tracks 21-30 are the alto parts, 31-40 the tenors, and 41-50 the bass parts. It's laid out quite well, and so easy to learn with!

My family loves singing and we have thoroughly enjoyed singing these Psalms in harmony. They are even easy enough for the littlest of our family to be able to pick up a tough part!

There is also an accompanying songbook for those who like to read the music when learning. This is exceptional for family worship time!

We have really loved these CDs and recommend them highly!

You can purchase them from The Genevan Foundation, or Vision Forum Ministries.

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Tutorial: Sewing a tag blanket!

My baby brother loves to rub tags. Whenever we give him a stuffed animal, he immediately goes for the tag and he's been known to reach inside clothes to find the tags! So, I made him a "taggie" blanket like this one:
It's very easy to make and it makes a great gift! I made up this pattern as I went, but I think it turned out pretty cute, don't you?

So anyway, here's how I did it.

Step 1:
We're making this for hugging and playing with, not for covering with so you can make it pretty small. I used one yard of fabric for two blankets. This is a charming polka-dot flannel. :)

Before you start, you'll want to wash and iron your fabric.

First, I folded it twice and cut across the seams to get four same size pieces of fabric.

Step 2:
Next, I took some satin blanket binding and measured it around the fabric loosely, you want some extra when you cut it, just in case.

Step 3:
Now, since we're putting tags in-between the fabric pieces I cut down the crease of the blanket binding so I could use it for both sides of the blanket.
Step 4:
Take one piece of blanket binding and one piece of your fabric and line them up for sewing. I wanted a pretty skinny edge so I let a lot hang off, you can adjust it to fit your preferences. Sew all the way down to the corner.I didn't use pins for this particular project, I prefer to "eyeball it" by pulling it tight to see if it's straight. Feel free to use pins if you'd like.Step 5:
When you get to the end stop and spread out the fabric and binding. I'm going to show you how I fold the corners.Bunch up the fabric and turn it so it lays straight across the next edge.
Like so:
Sew straight up the seam to hold it in place.Step 6:
Continue sewing and doing the corners just like that until you reach the end. Then, just fold the remaining binding under and sew it like the other corners. Cut the excess off.Step 7:
Voila!
Now make another one just like that for the other side.

Step 8:
Set out your tags and place them around the edging in the proper places and work out the spacing until you're happy. I used various types of ribbon and ric-rac for the "tags," you only need two inches or so of each kind.Step 9:
Once you're happy with the placement of the tags, turn both sides of the blanket inward (good sides together) and pin the tags in place. You'll want the loop of the tags facing inward.
Leave a little space (about 5 inches) un-pinned so that you can turn it right side out before you sew, just to check and makes sure everything looks right. This is where you'll need to adjust things like how far the tags stick out, making sure they're all flush.

Step 10:
Flip it back to it's inside-out state and sew right about where you placed your pins. Watch the seam that you made when you attached the binding to make sure your binding is the right width and your seam is straight. Don't forget to leave a space open for turning it right-side out!

Step 11:
Flip it right side out. To close the open edge, fold the fabric and binding inward so that it lines up with the rest of the blanket. Sew straight across (adding any extra tags in) and continue to sew a line all the way around the edge to finish it!

It's done!

You want to be careful ironing it, because satin binding and some types of ribbon will melt very easily. ;)

I hope this has been informative! I'm not the best at sewing, and I usually make up my own techniques, but I love it!

I'd love to hear about your sewing projects, leave a comment!

Tuesday Talks: Knifty Knitting

It is Tuesday Talks once more here at Stay-At-Home Daughters!



As always, we would love for you to participate by leaving your link in the Mr. Linky below!

I am reviewing the Knifty Knitters by Provo Craft.



These are the neatest little looms! I have made several little hats with the round looms and I am currently working on a pretty blue scarf on the long purple loom.

The incredible, lightweight looms are perfect for any age! My little sister Jessica (who is 10), is in the middle of a project right now as well. I have found that I can knit a project much quicker than traditional knitting (with needles), and that the projects are things that you can actually use!

There are several books and looms that you can purchase for very little.

I was impressed greatly by this particular book:


It has lots of patterns in it- I am going to try the hooded chick blanket in there next!

I know that you will love using this! If you would like to know more about it, Provo Craft has a site filled with info and patterns.

Help us make "Tuesday Talks" a success! Leave your link below!



~*~Courtney~*~

The Service Of The Lord

The Service Of The Lord





I love being in the service of the Lord.

I may not be a missionary, a Bible study leader, or a prophet.

but, I love being in the service of the Lord.

My ministry consists of my home and neighbors,

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

I may not be a minister to the poor or the mentally distressed,

but I love being in the service of the Lord.

I love to encourage others as they walk along the same path.

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

I thrive from moments spent in His loving word,

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

Wherever He places me, I shall go, joyfully pondering each monent along the way.

And, I love being in the service of the Lord.

--Ellie Arnatt

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."



~*~Courtney~*~

Open Discussion: Managing Finances

I thought today would be a great day for an open discussion! I'm always interested in learning more about budgeting and managing money and I'd like to hear what our readers have to say about this. So, here are a few questions to get you started.

How were you taught to manage your finances wisely?
What are some ways a daughter can help her family in this area?
Does your family live frugally?
What are some ways a stay at home daughter can earn money from home?

I'd love to hear some of your experiences and thoughts on this matter! Later we'll chime in with our thoughts, but we'd like to give our readers a headstart! Leave a comment!

Also, if you have a topic you'd like discussed or a question, click in the sidebar and email us!

A Few Brief Thoughts on Hospitality

Many people I have come into contact with believe that the best place for a women to use her talents is out on the mission field. What they don't realize is how effective a girl can be in sharing the gospel from her home! This is why hospitality is so important for a stay at home daughter, as well as a stay at home wife and mother.

Being hospitable is not just the outward actions of entertaining guests and strangers, but it's also a matter of the heart. The home reflects the actions and attitudes of it's inhabitants. If you are cross and unfriendly, no one will find your home warm or inviting! If your house is God-centered, your home will be warm and comfortable to outsiders. This is one of the best ways a young girl can minister to the lost! It's also an indispensable tool for discipleship. Your home is not a place to hide away and block out the world. If you act like someone is imposing on your time or space, you will have lost your opportunity!

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging." 1 Peter 4:9

I've had many wonderful chats with friends and neighbors about our lifestyle and such at various parties and gatherings. If you are shy, or nervous about answering difficult questions the best way to become more at ease is to practice! Don't worry about what others think of you. Simply speak from your heart and rely on the Lord.

When done with the whole heart, homemaking is an art form! Cooking, cleaning, and decorating either for guests, or just your family can be a pleasure if you choose to see it as such! Sometimes, hospitality is simply helping with these things rather than actually interacting with the guests.

Hospitality is not always done from the home. The ministry of your home can also be doing things like cooking for invalids or new mothers or helping at your church. It's not necessary to be confined to your house, just as long as your family is centered from your home, which is centered on God.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

Do you have anything to add? Leave your thoughts in a comment below!

Image from Allposters.com

Tuesday Talks: Princess Ka'Iulani

Today I'm reviewing "Princess Ka'iulani: Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People. I love biographies and this is an exceptional one!! Princess Ka'iulani is such a wonderful example of a true princess.

Toward the beginning of the book, the author explains a little about the hawaiian language and it really helped me to understand how to pronounce the names in the book. It's written so well that it's easy for one to never realize that they aren't reading a non-fiction book at all!!

I highly recommend this book. It's an excellent resource about a wonderful Christian princess.

You can purchase it from our Astore, Vision Forum Ministries, or a bookshop near you.

Do you have a review? Help make Tuesday Talks a success!! Leave your link below.

Information and rules on Tuesday Talks can be found in the sidebar.

Happy Birthday Flibby!

Today is Flibby's birthday!

I have known Flibby for several years now, and look up to her as a great example of Godly daughterhood. She is always serving others and ministering to people- I can't wait to see how God uses her this coming year!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. "

Happy Birthday Flibby!
~*~Courtney~*~

Fruits of The Spirit: Joy

It is my turn to write on a fruit of the spirit! Last month, Flibby reviewed love. You can read that posting here.

Galations 5:22-23 reads as follows: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

~Joy comes from the Lord, as we can see all through scripture. It tells us of how we are filled with joy because Christ has saved us, or how we are filled with joy with the thought of Him, or sharing with others His blessings- clearly, joy comes and is given from the Lord.

~He is freely ready to give it to us, if we only ask! One of the things that I have been working on lately is finding God's joy in the simplest of things, for I often find that by overlooking those little things, I miss the bigger picture.

Psalm 16:11- "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

~ One of the sources of joy comes from knowing what is right and rejoicing in it. Jesus has told us in John 14:6-

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

~ We should be joyful and rejoicing in the Lord and the path that He has given us.

~We should also be joyful in praising the Lord and telling others about Him and His works, because the Bible says:

Psalm 95:1- "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation."

Psalm 98:4- "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;"

Psalm 107:22 -"Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy."

Psalm 126:3-"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

A fun way to dig through the scriptures is to get a notebook and write down every verse that has the word "joy" in it or references being joyful. You will memorize lots of verses, and find more insights through the scriptures, even in passages you have read over and over again!

Joy is one of the most precious gift that God has given us. I highly encourage you to find and show joy every day!

Many blessings!

~*~Courtney~*~

Tuesday Talks! The Reverse Edition

Today is a very special Tuesday Talks! You get to ask about a book, movie, or music that you would like to know more about, and others can come by your blog and give their opinion!

For me today, I would like to know if anyone can recommend a movie version of "Emma" by Jane Austen.

Last weekend, my family enjoyed watching the A and E movie version of "Pride and Prejudice" together. We really liked it, and we also like the "Pride and Prejudice" movie with Kiera Knightley.

We were not as impressed with the "Sense and Sensibility" by Emma Thompson however, so if you have a good recommendation for another version, I would love to hear that too! :)

Now, it's your turn! Help us make "Tuesday Talks" a success!! Leave your link below!

~*~Courtney~*~

We've been tagged!

~Poppy

My dear mother over at Where The Kudzu Grows has tagged Flibby and I to participate in a very fun looking meme!

Okay, I'll go first!

~I've flown all the way across the country to visit all the best theme parks in California. The highlight of the trip was riding a 255 ft. tall roller coaster.

~I can do a Cockney accent, and am quite often known to talk that way for an entire day :)

~I ate raw oysters for my 13th birthday.

~Flibby and I have met, talked to, and had our picture made with Charmian Carr. If you don't know who that is, she played Liesl in The Sound of Music!

~I am a complete perfectionist and I always pay very close attention to detail.

~When I was about 5 years old I was deathly afraid of 'The Tin Man' from 'The Wizard of Oz'.

~Before I started piano lessons, I took voice lessons for 2 years and I sang at many recitals. I also sang 'The Lords Prayer' at a wedding when I was 10.

Okay Flibby, it's your turn!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Flibby

Here are a few little known facts about me:

~When I was 11 years old I traveled with my Nana all the way to Greece! We visited the site of the first Olympic games, saw all the major cities, and cruised to all the islands. It was the trip of a lifetime and I stopped to pet every stray cat.

~I've ridden the "Tower of Terror" at DisneyWorld 13 times in one day.

~I remember the first time I ever cleaned up anything by myself, the first time I lost a tooth and the first time I ate an ice cream cone without getting it all over my face. My earliest memory was from age 2.

~I've stood on the stage at "The Grand Ole Opry" and met a few of "The Radio City Rockettes"

~Poppy and I have met Susan Egan, one of my favorite Broadway stars who originated the role of "Belle" in "Beauty and the Beast" on Broadway and voiced a few characters in Disney movies.

~When I was little, I thought my dad was the coolest guy EVER. I still think so.

~Between the ages of 10 and 15, I was incredibly shy. I wouldn't even talk to a cashier to pay for something or answer the phone. My mom would find stuff for me to do that forced me to talk to strangers until was cured of my shyness.

Now, we tag:
My cousin Dory over at Seedlings to Sunflowers
Smokestack at Progress of Pilgrims
Southern Belle at Wisdoms Way of Learning

Being Productive during your Single Years

Today I thought I'd share some ways that a single girl can live a fulfilled and productive life at home!

Sometimes it's easy to be unproductive or fall into slothfulness. I struggle with this from time to time. My natural self is lazy at heart and it takes a lot to conquer this fault! Some things I do to get motivated, particularly in the morning during chores and school are:

• Do your quiet time - When you start your morning with quiet time, the whole day goes better. It's much easier to be pleasant and productive when you have had your morning Bible reading and prayer time. Asking the Lord for help being productive is so very important.
• Get dressed - This may seem very obvious, but when you are homeschooled and don't leave the house as much, it's convenient to stay in your pajamas all day! It makes me feel much better and much more productive if I'm dressed and matched, with shoes, jewelry and makeup. It's truly amazing what this does to one's disposition.
• Put on some music - Music helps everyone feel peppy and happy! Singing is so much fun when working and Snow White was right, whistling while you work helps too!
• Wear an apron - Whenever I wear an apron I feel so much more feminine and productive. It's amazing what a little piece of cloth can do. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Plus, it's harder to get your clothes dirty! ;)
• Just get to work - When all else fails and you just aren't feeling very productive, just start working. Chances are, once you are in the middle of the chore it will be easier to get motivated to finish!
• Find a quiet place - When doing schoolwork, it's essential to find a quiet place to work. It's near impossible to be productive when so many distracting things are going on around you. I usually go outside, in my room, and I've even been known to do my schoolwork in my closet! Anywhere that you can concentrate.

Just remember:

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

Another thing I'd like to discuss, along the same lines, are some things other than schoolwork a girl can work on, particularly after high school graduation. These are things like:

• Homemaking Skills - It's very important for a girl to use this time in her life to learn the things that she, Lord willing, will need in the future as a wife, mother, and homekeeper. These include cooking, cleaning, all kinds of needlework and sewing skills, gardening, canning, making gifts, shopping, managing money and other various life skills.
• Helping your younger siblings with their schoolwork - This can be a great help to your mother, as well as a blessing to your siblings. It's also wonderful practice for you if you one day have the privilege of becoming a homeschooling mother!
• Reading and Writing - After graduation, this is the best way to further your education on your own. All you really need to be thoroughly educated are good books and a willing mind. Writing is a wonderful way to express yourself and what you've learned. You can write on a blog, which is the easiest way to publish your thoughts, or you can be adventurous and submit an article to a magazine or a popular website. This allows you to share your talent and passion with many others.
• Investing your time in your family and your church - This is perhaps the most important area of a girl's life. What a wonderful way to spend your single years! Instead of focusing on yourself, share your energies and talents with those around you. Doing for others is extremely rewarding and lots of fun!
• Journaling - I quite enjoy journaling. There's no pressure for me to write exceptionally well or collect my thoughts. I simply write what's on my mind or what's happened during the day. It's very nice to have that recorded for later use. I can come back years from now and see exactly what day this happened, or what I was thinking about when I was thirteen. I've kept a multitude of journals over the years and it's really a fun activity!
• Running a Home Business - This is a great way to start saving for your future. I run a very small graphic design business from my home computer and I'm also going to start teaching piano lessons to beginners. Just take some time to think about your strengths and use this time at home to expand those skills or learn some new skills that could one day be marketable. You can be such a blessing to others by running a home business. These are skills that can help you be a helpmeet to your future husband as well.
• Have fun! - This is a wonderful season of your life! Play with your family, get together with friends, socialize at church and use these years without the responsibility of a family of your own to the fullest. Never take any of it for granted. The Lord has been so good to me! I have no reason at all to be anything but thrilled.

May the Lord bless you during your years as a stay at home daughter!

--Flibby

Tuesday Talks: "Home Comforts" by Cheryl Mendelson

Today I'm going to review a wonderful book that is quite a valuable resource for keepers at home and stay at home daughters. It's called, "Home Comforts" by Cheryl Mendelson.

This book is more of a reference book and isn't exactly meant to be read from cover to cover. It's filled with 884 pages of practical tips on the keeping of the home.

Here is the book's description:

The classic bestselling resource for every American home. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the dining room table, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, watering plants, removing stains -- Home Comforts addresses the meanings as well as the methods of hands -- on housekeeping to help you manage everyday chores, find creative solutions to modern domestic dilemmas, and enhance the experience of life at home.

Further topics include: Making up a bed with hospital corners, Expert recommendations for safe food storage, Reading care labels (and sometimes carefully disregarding them), Keeping your home free of dust mites and other allergens, Home safety and security, A summary of laws applicable to the home, including privacy, accident liability, contracts, and domestic employees and more in this practical, good-humored, historic, philosophical, even romantic, guidebook to the art of household management.

The general chapters are:

-Food
-Cloth (includes ways to get tough stains out of various fabrics)
-Cleanliness
-Daily Life (with chapters like "fireplaces","images and recordings", and "pets")
-Sleep (with ways to make beds and care for different types of bedding)
-Safe Shelter (ways to make your home safe and hazard-free)
-Formalities

I refer to this book quite often and re-read chapters from time to time. I believe it's a must have for any young woman! It's also a great book for a hope chest! I highly recommend it.

You can buy it from our Astore or your local bookstore.

--Flibby

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