FREE Ornament from Clayful Memories - Special Offer!

I'm super excited about our home business highlights this week because this is when you get to hear about some really great deals! All of the moms we've introduced so far each have a final word to share about their business, along with special offers for YOU!


First up is PJ Charnock with Clayful Memories. Check out THIS post to learn about PJ's beautiful custom ceramics! Last week in her interview PJ shared how she started Clayful Memories and gave us wise advice about balancing a home business with being a stay-at-home mom. Today PJ has a special offer for readers of this blog!

Facing Frustrations in Your Home Business

 I’m the administrator of “From Heart and Home,” a Facebook group where stay-at-home moms can advertise their home businesses. I recently posted a question there asking, “What do you find most frustrating about running your home business?” Some of the frustrations that our members shared were:

• Constantly being interrupted
• Figuring out how to do taxes
• Not being taken seriously by friends and family
• People saying they are going to order and then not following through

The most common frustration was something along the lines of, “Investing time in potential customers who never end up ordering, or who end up ordering from someone else.” In other words: wasted time.

Nobody likes wasting their time. We want to know that what we are doing has value and will help us accomplish our goals. When you invest time and effort in a potential customer who never actually buys, you feel like you just wasted resources that could have served you better elsewhere. So, what should you do when you seem to constantly be wasting your time, effort, and knowledge on people who are never going to buy your product?

New Thanksgiving Printables!

Introducing our new printables! Check out our Etsy shop The Pack Place to instantly download these fun and educational Thanksgiving Memory and Activity Packs!

Printable Thanksgiving Activity Pack

Your child will love celebrating Thanksgiving with these fun and educational pages! Assemble a Thanksgiving countdown, share notes of gratefulness with friends, cook a traditional Thanksgiving dish, and more! 8.5x11 Pages

This 9 page packet includes:

• Coloring Pages
• Thanksgiving Countdown
• Handprint Turkey Page
• Memory Verses on Thankfulness
• Thankful Chain
• A History of Thanksgiving
• A Traditional Thanksgiving Recipe

Talking Business with Kylie Johnson of Usborne Books & More

Last week we featured Kylie Johnson's home business with Usborne Books & More. Today Kylie is going to share some of her family's favorite books and where you can order some GREAT Christmas gifts!

Hi, Kylie! Thanks for sharing your morning with us!
1. Tell us about yourself!
I am the wife of my best friend Jeff. We have 4 precious princesses ages 14, 5, 4 1/2, and 2. We are a homeschooling family and live on a very mini farm.

2. What drove you to pursue a home business?
I started looking at a home business as a way to make a little bit of extra money to help cover the cost of some extras we liked to be able to do.

3. Why did you decide to work with Usborne Books in particular?
I looked at several companies but kept coming back to Usborne. For me it was my love of books and the fact I knew I could use them in our homeschool. It was also a company I knew about from past experiences.

4. What kinds of books does Usborne offer?
Usborne Books & More offers books for all ages. From baby board books to books even my 14 year old reads and rereads! We offer picture books, learning to read readers, chapter books on all levels, fiction and non-fiction. We also have a wide variety of activity books that includes coloring from beginner to adult. Sticker books, wipe clean (using dry erase market or crayon) books. Some of our interactive books include the Shine-a-Light series, lift flap books, touch and feel, and look to find books.

5. What's your favorite book from Usborne?
My 2 year old ( like her sisters before her) loves the That's Not My series. My 14 year old likes the encyclopedia books and is rereading (for the second or third time!) one of the chapter book series for teens. My toddlers really like to use their flashlights with the Shine-a-Light books. These are just a few if our favorites at the moment.

6. My kids love Usborne's "Big Book of Big Trains." It's full of fun facts and beautiful fold-out pages. What other do your kids love?
The "Big Book of" books are great books. We have the train one you mentioned too, We also like the hardback first reader non-fiction series. They have beautiful pictures and easy to comprehend text. The encyclopedia books are a great educational resource as well.

7. More and more parents are following the gift-giving guide "Something they want. Something they need. Something to wear. Something to read." Usborne is a great place to find a book to check off that list. What are your favorite books to give as gifts?
For the baby toddler age I love the That's Not My series. For older toddler and preschool I like our lift flap books. I love to give some of the Beginner's series I mentioned before. For older readers I like to give our chapter books. The activity books also make good gifts. When I give a Shine a Light book I like to include a mini flashlight with it.

That's a really cute idea!

8. So, how can my readers place an order?
To place an order your readers can go to my website or they message, email, text me and I can help them.

9. Do you have a Facebook page where we can stay up-to-date on your business?
I do have a Facebook page that I am working to keep updated: Kylie Johnson-Usborne Books & More Consultant.

Thanks so much, Kylie!

I'm impressed by the quality and variety of books Usborne offers. The activity books would make especially good stocking stuffers! If you're looking for a gift to satisfy that "something to read" need, get in touch with Kylie on her Facebook page or at jkfamilybusiness@yahoo.com!

P.S. Keep checking back here at the Beautiful Chaos blog - Kylie's got some other great businesses you want to know about!

[Disclosure: This post is part of a series that received compensation, but the opinions I expressed are my own! We love Usborne books in our house and you will, too!]

Are you a stay-at-home mom with a home business you'd like to see featured on the Beautiful Chaos blog? Send me a message at servingfromhome@gmail.com! And don't forget to subscribe!

Training Evangelistic Kids Tip #2: Door Knocking

My main focus as a mother is to set my children on a path toward Heaven. It turn, I want them to be beacons of light, leading hearts around them to Christ. This year my husband and I determined to emphasize the importance of personal evangelism in our home. Our highest goal as parents is to train our children in the ways of the Lord and equip them to teach others the Gospel. In this series of Training Evangelistic Kids we’ll share some ideas we’ve used to begin raising children who are comfortable sharing their faith. We certainly aren’t experts in this area. We’re learning as we go, and we’d love to hear your ideas as well!

T.E.K. Tip #2: Door Knocking

I know there are those who argue that door knocking is ineffective these days, but we see it as a great training opportunity. While it’s true that we don’t always get much response from the community, we go door knocking partly because of the impact it has on our children (and us!).

Two monkeys with Papa, two in the stroller, one
in the baby carrier, and one in the oven

When there is a door knocking campaign, we go as a family because:

1.      It gives reality to the concept of lost souls. Instead of a vague idea of there being “people” in the world who are lost, door knocking gives us a chance to put faces of souls in front of our children. An unbeliever is no longer simply “someone out there,” but “Ms. Brenda on 1^st Street.” Giving our kids a concrete picture of just how many lost souls there are in our community helps give them motivation and drive for evangelism.

2.      It gives our kids a job in the Kingdom. Kids love to have jobs. They want to feel useful and involved. Taking them door knocking gives them a specific job they can do to help bring others to Christ. When you give someone a job, it gives them a sense of personal responsibility (a vital quality for effective evangelism).

3.      Our children need to see us purposefully evangelizing. Often we wait to evangelize until the opportunity presents itself. But there is great value in purposefully setting aside time to go into the community to share Christ. Modeling intentional evangelism teaches our kids to take the initiative to go forth instead of just waiting for an opportunity to show up.

4.      It gets our kids comfortable with varied responses to the Gospel. When you take your kids door knocking you train them from a young age to be comfortable approaching people with the Gospel. Sometimes the response is positive. Sometimes not so much. People are not always going to be receptive, and it’s good for your kids to see your response to that. When we get to a house where someone tells us, “Don’t waste your time, I’m not interested,” we smile, wish them a nice day, and cheerfully move on to the next house. Door knocking teaches our kids perseverance and courage regardless of reception.

5.      It creates a strong family bond. When we knock doors together we are on a joint mission, which strengthens our ties as a family. We have a lot of fun talking as we walk from house to house, getting fresh air and exercise, and experiencing the joy of sharing the Gospel together. Evangelizing as a family gives our little army a united purpose, which our brave young soldiers thrive on.

We love the opportunities that come from door knocking, but it’s important to remember a few things when taking kids along.

1.      Kids do better when they know what to expect. Before heading out, brief them on what door knocking involves and why you are doing it. Explain the goal of your door knocking campaign in simple terms such as, “We’re passing out invitations to our VBS” or “We want to ask our neighbors to study the Bible with us.” Whatever your specific goal for door knocking, make sure your kids understand why you are going and how the process works.

2.      Teach them courtesy. Before heading out on your mission, talk to your kids about manners. Remind them to stay off of people’s lawns, ask before approaching pets, and look people in the eye when they’re speaking. Especially during morning hours (but any time of day, really), teach your children to approach doors quietly and respectfully so as not to disturb residents. There is no better way to ensure a grumpy reception than to walk up to someone’s door loudly on a Saturday morning. Goofing off and horse play should be reined in until after the work is done. This is a training experience, so they’re not going to be perfect. Be prepared to hear things from your little creatures like:

“There’s a gun behind us, Papa!”

“It looks like they live in a junk yard!”

“Someone needs to MAKE him listen to the Truth.”

“I’m tired of walking. I don’t like this anymore.”

Not that I have any experience with any of these…

3.      Teach them some ice breakers. Kids are great ice breakers in and of themselves. Most people smile and relax when they see that you have kids with you. But it’s a great idea to model and teach your kids some other ways of making people comfortable when you approach their door. If they are out gardening, compliment them on their beautiful flower beds. If they have a pet that greets you at the door, give your spiel and then stick around a few minutes to talk about what a great dog they have. These moments of interaction are as important as dropping off a flyer. It puts a face with the information, creates a connection, and makes people more comfortable attending your event because they are already acquainted with someone there.

4.      Be aware of your kids’ limits. Little ones do not have the endurance of an adult. They will get tired of walking faster, their tummies will rumble sooner, and they can get dehydrated quickly. Make sure that you bring plenty of water and snacks and that you take breaks when needed. Don’t push them so far that they dread the next door knocking.

Monkey1's purposeful stride

The innocence of children is a great tool for getting people interested in the Gospel while you’re door knocking. The worth of door knocking is also found in using it to train your children that there are those who will listen and those who will not; we take the Gospel everywhere, regardless.

Got a tip for training evangelistic kids? Share in the comments! And don't forget to subscribe to the Beautiful Chaos blog!

Talking Business with Heather Russell of Young Living

Today I am joined by stay-at-home mom Heather Russell, an essential oils distributor working with Young Living. Heather is going to share a little bit about essential oils and how they can support your family's health and wellness.

Good morning, Heather! I’m so glad you’ve joined us today on the Beautiful Chaos blog. I’m excited to share your product with my readers because I know from personal experience how beneficial essential oils are to my family’s wellbeing, especially this time of year with the flu season looming.

Heather with her five cuties

1. To get started, tell us a little about your background and your sweet family.

I’m wife to an amazing man who works hard to preach the Gospel, and mom to five extremely energetic kids under the age of nine. My husband and I met somewhat later in life than it seems most people do, and have definitely dealt with several challenges in our marriage all at once that most people seem to spread out over a lifetime. In ten years we have had five children, struggled with losing a parent to Alzheimer's disease, handled the challenges of responsibility for ailing grandparents and ultimately their end of life arrangements, personal illness that hindered ability to work and led to serious financial difficulties, and the near loss of a child at birth. But we've also experienced many blessings that others never have the chance to receive: the kindness of loving friends who never let us go without or expected anything in return, knowledge about health and wellness in all areas that came directly from our own struggles and desperate search for answers, greater empathy for those in pain, gratitude for the small things, a deeper faith, and a strong family unit. We spend our time now just trying to share our blessings with those still caught in struggles of all kinds.

2. What led you to discovering the benefits of essential oils?

When I began having children I began to question the status quo health advice more and more. There are so many things with safety warnings and I wanted nothing more than the health and safety of my babies. I also found myself being more and more sensitive to chemicals during pregnancy, to the point that my husband had to do most of the housework because I couldn't handle the cleaning products. A friend hosted an informal class at my house during a gathering we were already having, and gave me a bottle of Thieves or lavender, I don't remember which now. I was skeptical, but I took it and also bought a bottle of lavender. I started using the two as my friend suggested and was completely floored. My husband was a much harder sell, but we did our research and began using more and more oils, and the effects were undeniable.

3. What sets Young Living apart from other companies in the industry?

Young Living never compromises quality for the bottom line. We don't just assume that a supplier is above board; every detail of every source of every product is stringently vetted. We are committed to growing as many of our own ingredients as possible, and until we can grow something ourselves we hold suppliers to higher standards than any regulatory system in the world. Nothing sold by Young Living is created in a laboratory, and nothing that wasn't created by God touches our plants. Fields are weeded by hand, essential oils and herbal waters are used to control pests, etc. At the same time, the consumer is not just a number; we are just as much a part of the company as the owners and ranking officials, and are treated as such.

4. How has being a Young Living distributor benefited your family?

Since we started using Young Living wellness products in conjunction with good eating habits, we are rarely sick. Even when we do come down with something our immune systems are so strong that we don't stay down long. The rare occasions when one of us has needed a doctor have been emergency situations only. The research we have done learning about how essential oils work with the body has given us so much confidence when it comes to maintaining our health, and really increased our faith in God as Designer and Provider. Because my husband is a preacher and I am a stay-at-home mom, financial peace in our old age is a real worry, but building a home business with Young Living gives us a way to provide for ourselves in our old age.

5. What are your favorite essential oils and why?

Everyone asks this question and I can never answer it! There are so many that I love that it is hard to choose. There are a few that we use on a daily basis, though. I keep a huge stash of Thieves, Peppermint, and Lavender because we use those for so many different situations. I was just telling someone the other day that lavender is the first oil my babies learn to ask for by name. It is right up there with mommy kisses for their peace and comfort!

6. This time of year, lots of people struggle with staying healthy, both mentally and physically. What oils would you recommend to:

Support a healthy immune system

Thieves and Frankincense are at the top of my list here.

Uplift and encourage

My personal favorites are citrus oils; they are just so happy! I like to mix them up with heavier scents, too, to create diffuser blends that suit my mood.

Capture the scents of the season

Think pumpkin pie and you know my favorite holiday scents! Clove, cinnamon, orange, any evergreen oils - mix and match to your heart's content! If you like a more savory holiday experience, sage, thyme, and rosemary make great additions to diffuser blends.

Calm children

I have had really great success with Peace and Calming, Lemon, and Valor.

Ease tension

Peppermint and wintergreen are really good for tense muscles at the end of a long day. There are also blends like Deep Relief and M-Grain that drive deep down into muscle tissue and relax areas that are difficult to address.

7. What products does Young Living offer besides essential oils?

Supplements for every body system as well as general supplements; over the counter items approved for minor complaints; household cleaners; personal care products for men, women, and children; healthy snack items; Einkorn flour and products containing it; recipe books, kitchen items, and accessories designed for oily applications; diffusers; makeup; baby products; I’m sure there is something I’m forgetting. I spend about a third of my household budget (groceries, household, and personal care) through Young Living.

8. What’s your best advice for someone just entering the oily world? Where should they start?

Get a starter kit. The premium kit costs right at half value and includes a diffuser and oils for every application. It comes with basic information about the oils included and how to use them, so you don't have to start with guesswork. Plus, once you've bought a kit, you are a wholesale customer instead of retail, which means you save 24% off everything you order after that and have access to monthly promotions and a special rewards program, even a shipping subscription that could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.

9. As a distributor for Young Living, what kind of support do you personally give the members of your downline?

I actually don't like to think of our team as upline or downline. We're all in this together to hopefully help each other. When you join my team you will get a welcome email from me with my personal contact information and suggestions for further resources, including my own social media groups that I use for education. I also send out a monthly newsletter. I try to stay in contact with my team at least monthly, but I am a busy mom so I don't always keep up as well as I’d like. I’m available by text, email, or social media to answer questions or share my experience. I am not able to travel much right now with small children at home, but I’m available for long distance meetings through the internet, just contact me to set up a time. My main concern is to help you, so let me know whatever you need and I'll do my best to make it happen.

10. Where can my readers get more information and/or place an order?

The Young Living website has basic information about every product we sell, as well as a link to create your customer account. To purchase your kit head over to www.youngliving.com, select the menu option to become a member, and follow the instructions on the link. If you choose to join my team, enter my member number in the sponsor field (that number is 1381837). You can also check out www.seedtoseal.com for more information about the company and our vision. You can look up my public Facebook group, Living Naturally, or my Instagram page @wordworkerlivingnaturally, for regular posts about Young Living products.

Thanks, Heather! I’m so grateful you’ve taken the time to share the wonders of essential oils with us today. They are a blessing to my family, and I know they can be a blessing to my readers!

To read more about Heather's work with Young Living click HERE!

[Disclosure: This post is part of a series that received compensation, but all opinions I expressed are my own]

Are you a stay-at-home mom with a home business? Contact me at servingfromhome@gmail.com to have your product featured on the Beautiful Chaos blog!

Talking Business with PJ Charnock of Clayful Memories

Today we are chatting with stay-at-home mom and fellow preacher's wife PJ Charnock. Last week we introduced Clayful Memories, PJ's custom ceramics business. Now we get to hear a little more about the mom behind the business and how she creates such beautiful pieces of art.

1. Hey, PJ! Thanks so much for joining us on the Beautiful Chaos blog. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

My name is PJ and I’m married to Robert. We have 3 little red-headed boys named Eli, Noah, and August.

Home Business Boundaries

For most stay-at-home moms, the main purpose of starting a small business is to supplement their household income while remaining available to care for their families. Yet, all too often we lose sight of the fact that we are stay-at-home moms with home based businesses so that we don’t neglect our families. If you are going to make a home business work while raising a family, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. 

What’s your “why” for your home business?  Most SAHMs begin their “career” living on only their husband’s income, which makes it difficult to make ends meet. Many women turn their hobbies into something that will make a little extra cash without taking away too much time and energy from their families. But without a concrete statement of purpose, home businesses can quickly take over your life. I encourage you to take some time to sit down with your husband and discuss the goals each of you has for your business. Together, set some expectations and boundaries to keep your business in its proper place.

Home Business Series: The Pearly Peacock MODEST CLOTHING Line!

Today I am thrilled to introduce The Pearly Peacock! Stay-at-home mom Emily Hayes is committed to bringing us fashionable clothing that promotes Christian values - and her stuff is ADORABLE!

[Disclosure: This post is part of a series that received compensation, but the opinions I express cannot be bought :)]

Yep, you can be modest without sacrificing style! Emily not only provides cute, affordable clothes but also shares tips on how to make almost any item of clothing modest.

Home Business Series: Usborne Books & More!

Today’s home business is one I know moms are gonna love! We’re introducing stay-at-home mom Kylie Johnson and her fabulous business of bringing you fun, creative, and educational books through Usborne Books & More!

[Disclosure: This post received compensation, but the views expressed are my own.]

Many of my readers are homeschooling moms who are always looking for educational books for their kids. Usborne Books & More makes learning fun! From babies to teens Usborne Books & More has something for everyone!

From board books to encyclopedia books, from learning-to-read books to fast-paced chapter books for teens, Usborne has got you covered! They’ve got TONS of activity books; everything from coloring books to volcano kits! What mom of a six-year-old doesn’t need a volcano kit?!

Home Business Series: Young Living Essential Oils

This week we’re introducing businesses owned by stay-at-home moms. Today’s special business is run by Heather Russell, a fellow preacher's wife and distributor for Young Living Essential Oils.

[Disclosure: This post received compensation, but all views expressed are my own.]

I know from personal experience the countless benefits essential oils offer and I’m excited to share them with you today! I was introduced to oils four years ago when I came down with shingles. Girl, that was the most painful experience ever – worse than giving birth! It hurt to even feel the air around me touch my skin.

Someone recommended EOs and I was willing to try anything. The first drop of oil brought immediate relief. Supported by frankincense and Young Living’s Valor blend, I saw light at the end of an excruciatingly painful tunnel. The oils eased my muscles, gave my body a break so my immune system could focus on healing, and supported restorative sleep. I got my life back, and I’m sold!

Training Evangelistic Kids #1: Kiddie "Business" Cards

My main focus as a mother is to set my children on a path toward Heaven. In turn, I want them to be beacons of light, leading hearts around them to Christ. This year my husband and I determined to emphasize the importance of personal evangelism in our home. Our highest goal as parents is to train our children in the ways of the Lord and equip them to teach others the Gospel. In this series of Training Evangelistic Kids we’ll share some ideas we’ve used to begin raising children who are comfortable sharing their faith. We certainly aren’t experts in this area. We’re learning as we go, and we’d love to hear your ideas as well!

T.E.K. Tip #1: Kiddie “Business” Cards

One of my favorite ways of teaching our children to be evangelistic is to let them carry their very own “business cards.” I got this idea from my sister-in-law. Several years ago she posted a picture of the business cards that their family hands out to invite people to worship. She talked about how much her kids love handing these out to waitresses and cashiers, and I thought it was a fantastic idea!

Home Business Series: Clayful Memories!

I absolutely love highlighting businesses owned by stay-at-home moms. I know how much heart goes into their work, and I love helping these dedicated women fulfill their goal of staying home with their kids.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing Clayful Memories, a business owned by my friend PJ! I am so excited to share her work with you. I love personalized anything, but I find ceramics especially endearing. I hope you love what you discover here as much as I do!

Before You Start Your Home Business

       You have a product you love and you want to share your passion with others. You could use a little extra income and you are excited about the idea of turning your hobby into a business. That’s great! But before you begin investing your time, money, and heart in a new venture it will benefit you to answer a few preliminary questions. Taking the time to thoughtfully answer these questions can help make the difference between creating a business and creating chaos.

Preparing Our Daughters for a Culture of Porn

When I was a teenager (not so very long ago), the epidemic of Internet pornography was just beginning to be recognized. By the time I got married, most of my peers knew that the majority of guys our age had a problem with porn. We might not have understood the impact it would have on our future marriages, but we were somewhat prepared for the likelihood of marrying a man with a history of porn use.

Our parents were not as aware of the problem. They didn’t understand how easily erotic material could be accessed, or how quickly curiosity leads to addiction. Studies were not yet out on the addictive nature of porn or the compounding issue of screen addiction. We didn’t have the science on how early exposure traumatizes the brain and damages emotional development. Often times, the first conversation parents had with their boys about pornography took place only after they discovered inappropriate material on their computers.

It wasn’t that parents were neglectful. They just didn’t know. With all the education out there today, I see Christian parents being proactive; taking precautions like installing filtering software, becoming more tech savvy so they are aware of danger zones, and beginning the conversation with their boys from a very young age. I hear more talk about how to end porn addiction, and more discussions on preparing our daughters to address the issue of pornography in relationships before committing themselves to a man for life. That is wonderful!

But while we are busy protecting our boys, Satan is busy at work. In our zeal to protect the hearts and minds of our young men, let’s not overlook a rapidly growing issue among our youth: Female porn addiction.