Joy's of Homemaking- Homestead Blessings 9 DVD set Review and Giveaway!

*THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED*

This review brings me great pleasure as it is about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. I love being a homemaker. In today's society woman are taught if you have the job of keeping a home it is demeaning and inadequate. A woman's place should be in the workforce right alongside a man. I am hear to tell you, that the job of a homemaker is vitally important. It is what makes families thrive. Today it is a lost art.

Most woman today were never taught the basic skills of homemaking. There is a new generation of young ladies who are not being taught either. I believe that at the heart of every woman is the desire to care and nurture her family and home. When women as wives and mothers take our job as homemakers serious, it brings a sense of peace and order to the whole family. We should take great joy in being a blessing to those we love through the simple act of homemaking.


Franklin Springs Family Media has released a set of DVD's featuring the West Ladies. A Mother and 3 daughters who became homesteaders to escape the hustle and bustle of modern society. Since their journey to becoming homesteaders, the West ladies have perfected the art of homemaking. With the Homestead Blessings DVD's the West ladies will teach you the art of bread making, candle making, sewing, cooking, gardening, canning, soap making, growing your own herbs, and making wonderful dairy creations.

Here is the overview as to what each DVD contains in this series and my opinions of the contents.....

The Art of Bread Making

In this DVD the West ladies will teach you bread baking basics. You will learn everything from making your own fresh whole wheat bread, to making a sourdough starter, to making cornbread and cinnamon rolls. This personally was one of my favorites as I have recently started making my own fresh baked bread. I can't wait to try out all the recipes from this DVD, they look amazing!
(* If you insert these DVD's into your CD rom you can print the recipes for home use.*)

Here is a clip from The Art of Bread Making:

The Art of Candle Making

It use to be families had to make their own candles out of necessity. Today with electricity we no longer have need for this. However, making your own candles can be a rewarding, fun filled hobby that the whole family can enjoy. The West ladies will teach you how to make your own dipped stick candles, twisted candles, glow lamps and more! Everyone loves the soft ambiance of candles, making your own can not only save you money but create a beautiful atmosphere in your home.

The Art of Canning

I love canning! There is nothing like seeing a row of home canned vegetables and fruits sitting on a shelf. They are simply beautiful.
I can't even describe the sense of accomplishment I feel in knowing I have preserved our summer garden for my family to enjoy all winter long. This year we opted out of our garden due to having our home for sale and I sorely miss it! I will have to catch a few good farm sales to gather some produce for canning. Anyway... if you haven't tried canning you will be amazed at how simple it really is. With this DVD you will learn everything you need to know about canning. You will learn what equipment is needed, helpful hints for safety and how to can all sorts of great foods.

The Art of Cooking

With the right ingredients and a good recipe cooking can be a lot of fun. I have been cooking since the age of 8. As a teenager my love for cooking developed even more. You could often times find me in the kitchen trying out a new recipe. Now as a wife and mother, my love for cooking carries on and I love blessing my family with a good meal. This DVD will give you a few new recipes to try that are sure to delight your taste buds. I know I sure got hungry watching it!
Check out this clip for a sneak peak....

The Art of Gardening

My husband and I have planted a vegetable garden many times in our 11 years of marriage. It is one of those projects that brings the whole family satisfaction. The West ladies have a champion garden and will teach you some tips and tricks to keeping your garden bug free (naturally). They will teach you about composting, how to plant a container garden, and more! Whether you have a 10 acre farm or a tiny apartment balcony, you can enjoy the benefits of gardening and harvesting your own fruits and vegetables.


The Art of Dairy Delights

I was excited for this DVD, the West ladies show how to make your own yogurt (Which I will also be demonstrating later in this event), yummy herb butters, and cheeses. Making your own dairy products is a great economical way to save your family money while reaping greater health. My children got a kick out of seeing the West girls milk their cow and also are now begging to make their own homemade ice cream!


The Art of Herbs
The use of herbs in the kitchen as well as medicinal purposes is an age old tradition. Whether you grow a large herb garden or a small container herb garden, there is so much you can make with fresh herbs! The West ladies show you how to make your own mint ice tea, herb vinegars, herb butters, etc. They also show you haw to properly care for our herbs, when to harvest, how to store and give many ideas on how to use your herbs throughout the year.

The Art of Sewing
The Art of Sewing was another of my top favorites in the Homestead Blessings series. It inspired me to take on a small sewing project that I will share with you here soon. The West ladies covered everything in this DVD from upcycling to make old things new again to sewing your own peasant top and layered skirt. Although I have been sewing for years, I still consider myself to be at a beginning level. I appreciated the tips given in this DVD and am excited to try more of the projects.

Watch this trailer to see more:

The Art of Soap Making

Last but not least, the Art of Soap making will teach you how to make some beautiful and fragrant homemade soaps for home use as well as gift giving. With all the toxic ingredients in beauty products today, making your own soap ensures only the healthiest ingredients are touching your family's skin. One of my favorite soaps made on this DVD is the Coffee soap! Coffee soap is great in the kitchen because it will remove pesky odors such as onions and garlic from your hands. Brilliant!

Each DVD in the Homestead Blessing collection is absolutely wonderful. My children and I thoroughly enjoyed watching each one and were sad when we came to the end. By the end of the series you feel as though the West ladies are your friends. I loved watching their interaction with each other and am thoroughly amazed at the talent possessed by this family! They have inspired me to seek out new homemaking skills as well as improve upon the ones I have. I highly recommend this series for every woman. Whether you are a city gal, a suburban mama, or country girl, I know you will enjoy watching the West ladies. They teach us the roots we have forgotten and the blessing of being a homemaker. Remember that being a mother and wife is a hard 24/7 job, but it can fulfill us and bless us. We don't have to be like the world and do what they do to be fulfilled.

BUY IT: You can purchase Homestead Blessing DVD's directly from Franklin Springs Family Media. Click here. Franklin Springs Family Media also offers a wide selection of other fantastic God honoring family films your family will love! Be sure to check out their complete library of fims here.

WIN IT: Franklin Springs Family Media is giving one lucky Happily Domestic reader the Homestead Blessings 9 DVD set! $135.00 Value.

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Giveaway ends Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.(MST). Winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will also be announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
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Thank you to Franklin Springs Family Media who provided me with the DVD's for review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received to conduct this review and giveaway.
*THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED*