Google+
Holiday Crafts & Recipes! Embroidery Tutorials Recipes for Desserts & Sweet Treats Dinners & Sides Tea and Coffeetime recipes! Like Joyous Notions on Facebook! Connect with Us! Contact Us! Home Join Our Blog Hops!
Shop Joyous Home!
The Homemakers's Resource Guide on Joyous Notions

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Pecans..

A friend of mine just mentioned to me the other day that she and her family were getting lots of Pecans. My absolute favorite nut! Besides baking with them, we like to mix raw pecans with egg whites, spices and sugar before roasting them for an extra yummy snack. We published one of our recipes for them in this past Holiday issue of Seasons At Home. Try them!

~Spicy Pecans~

In a small bowl whisk 1 egg white until foamy with no clear liquid remaining. Add:
1/2 tsp. Real Salt (sea salt)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. chili powder
4 Tbsp. sugar
Pour over 2 1/2 cups raw pecan halves and stir well to coat. Spread evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Enjoy your New Year's Eve!
Blessings, ~*~Jessica~*~

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

January Membership Block


The January membership block! I took this after sunset so I'll get a better pic tomorrow. I wanted to post it, I thought it turned out pretty. I had fun putting this together. The Y seams give you a good workout and if you haven't learned them from the August block you will from this one!
Our membership site is being worked on this week, the new block and site will be up and functioning again on Monday the 5th. : )

This is the 6th block in our membership! We are halfway through them! You can join anytime and work on these blocks as you have time. We have a private forum for support until August 2009.


Blessings, Theresa

New Year's Snacks

A very belated and Merry Christmas to all of our readers! Due to some sickness that made it's way around our whole family (and that's a lot of sick people), we disappeared for a while to get some rest and get well. We did get well and had a lovely Christmas, and we hope you did too!
Now that we are all healthy and well, we are going to do our New Year's posting instead! Anyone who knows us, knows that we love to entertain. We did this recipe last year, Fried Pasta. Very seldom do we fry anything, but this is a good exception and so yummy!

This is very easy to make, and makes a great party appetizer or just a fun snack for the family. The only thing you have to do to the pasta before you fry it is boil it. Not until it's completely cooked, just until it's tender. I cooked about 8 cups of dry bow tie pasta. Heat about 4 quarts of vegetable (or corn) oil to 370 degrees. The frying part of this recipe is not little child friendly. I kicked everybody out of the kitchen when I fried it.
A deep pot is absolutely necessary, the oil tends to boil up the sides and out of the pot when the pasta is added, so use caution when placing the pasta in the hot oil. 370 degrees is hot! Add the pasta in small batches (gently, don't drop it in) and fry until the pasta turns light brown. Remove the pasta with a slotted spoon. You have to work fast, once the pasta starts to brown it does so very quickly!

I was surprised that it took so long for the pasta to start to brown though, about 5-6 minutes. After all of the pasta has been fried (and is still slightly warm), add spices and cheese, whatever you want. I added about a cup and a half of Parmesan cheese and then garlic, pepper and thyme. All done! I'm thinking about trying some Ranch dressing mix next time.. how about a spicy variation?


Our family's plan for this New Year's Eve is simple: stay home and make some fun food, just with us. Leave us a comment and tell us what your New Year's plans are! Leave a link if you have posted holiday recipes on your blog :)

Many blessings on your new year,

~*~Jessica~*~

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas Ornaments

We have been busy this week doing things for Christmas! We have a few special traditions that we do every year, one of them is exchanging ornaments with each other. We have done this for a few years now, so our tree is looking very full! Each name is written on a piece of paper and put in a bowl. Each child draws a name, and that's the person he or she gives an ornament to.

Every year we pull out the boxes of Christmas goodies and rummage through our ever growing collection of memories. It's funny to see how much all of them can remember about certain ornaments. Even five year old Jadon can remember which ornament he gave to me last year! Yesterday, we made some "hand" ornaments with the kids.
We have done these before, but there are a few more children in the brood now! So, all of the younger littles got their hands done. The last time we did these, we did them on paper with paint, and stamped their hands on to the paper, with a little verse written next to them. We then had the paper laminated to keep it from tearing. On the back we always write who's hand it is, and their age.

This time we traced their hands on pieces of felt, cut them out and then glued them on to another piece of felt. So simple, but they will always love to see year after year how big their hands have gotten!
We are in the middle of making some quilted ornaments, check back this week to see what we did! What Christmas traditions does your family have? Leave a comment and tell us!
~*~Jessica~*~

Courage with Moderation

At this time of year, more hearts seem to be open to listen to the message of the gospel. Although we need to use every opportunity given by the Lord to spread God's love everyday, this is a time where there may be a chance to act in love toward someone who would never otherwise receive the message. Christmas is the chance to share the birth of Christ. Let us pray for quiet "hearing" hearts, presenting ourselves to the Lord in humbleness as He works every good thing for His purpose.

I was reminded in this great read that people cause more damage than good among God's people, among people looking in at us, and just in general, get in the way of the Lord working because they strive to stress their own voice, instead of hearing the voice of the Lord.
A.W. Tozer pastored from 1929 to 1967. His intellectual, biblical insight amazes me. The reminder was "Courage with Moderation." This excerpt was taken from "God Tells the Man Who Cares."

"The inability of even the most devout souls to show forth the Christian virtues in equal proportion and without admixture of unChristlike qualities has been the source of heartache to many of God's believing people. The virtues before us, courage and moderation, when held in correct proportion, make for a well-balanced life and one of great usefulness in the the kingdom of God. Where one is missing or present in only minute degree, the result is a life out of balance and powers wasted.

Almost any sincere writing, if examined closely, will be found to be autobiographic. We know best what we have ourselves experienced." ..Briefly, I have seldom been called a coward, even by my most cordial enemies, but my want of moderation has sometimes caused grief to my dearest friends. An extreme disposition is not easy to tame, and the temptation to bring severe, immoderate methods to the aid of the Lord is not one easily resisted." {my note: How often do we think we are running to 'aid' our Lord in His Work, when our tone and disposition is completely without moderation and our thoughts are not taken wholly before God before opening our mouths? Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.}

He continues.."There is a ministerial immunity accorded a man of God which may lead a 'Son of Thunder' into extravagant and irresponsible language unless he uses heroic measures to bring his nature under the sway of the Spirit of Love. This I have sometimes failed to do, and always to my own real sorrow. Here again the contrast between the ways of God and the ways of man is seen. Apart from such wisdom as painful experience may give, we are prone to try to secure our ends by direct attack, to rush the field and win by assault. Of Christ it was said, (Matthew 12:19-20: "He shall not strive, nor cry, nor any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till He send forth judgment into victory." {Amen} He achieved His tremendous purposes without undue physical exertion and altogether without violence. His whole life was marked by moderation; yet He was of all men the most utterly courageous. He could send back word to Herod who had threatened Him, "Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I will be perfected." Luke 13:32 There is no sign of contempt, no extravagance of word or act. He had courage with moderation."

A.W. Tozer (I highly recommend any book written by him!)
As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, let your humble, inner light shine forth. Glory to God in the Highest, Theresa

Sunday, November 30, 2008

About Us


Joyous Home LLC. is owned and run by the Powers family. The Joyous Home family team is John and Theresa, and their 10 children ~ Jessica (25), Michael (23), John Jr. (17), Zach (15), Madison (14), Jordan (13), Zoe (11), Jadon (9), Zusanah (6) Evangeline (4).

The Powers family publishes a print magazine (Seasons At Home Magazine), an online magazine (Joyous Home Journal) and another online home economic lesson newsletter for mothers and daughters (The Tea Times). These are all wonderful publications filled with articles and projects created to encourage families and to provide simple inspiration not just for the homemaking mother, but for the whole family!


Theresa and Jessica run the majority of the business with the men away during the day. Every day brings lot of homeschooling, housekeeping and lots of new projects, sewing (especially quilting!) and busy children mixed in between! They have long enjoyed homemaking and learning together, and love even more being able to produce publications filled with the home arts they love and do everyday.

Dad enjoys his job of provider/business coordinator and incorporating his woodworking into projects for the magazine.

Lots of children means lots of learning and working hands! In addition to homeschooling, all of the children enjoy learning new things to help out with the business.

Older boys John Jr., Zach and Jordan love learning "techy" skills to help the family business, and are quick learners! They are responsible for all of the video tutorials used for Joyous Home's memberships and seminars. The boys make lots and lots of home videos, dabble in creating special effects and animations.

Little ladies Madison, Zoe and Zusanah (with Evangeline right behind them!) are the homemakers in training, and are wonderful helpers. The girls look foward to each issue of the the magazine as they have their own special part to play doing the teas and projects.

Right now you can visit us on our website, browse our store at:
And of course, you can always visit us right here on our blog, Joyous Notions!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Joyous Notion's Giveaways!

Monthly giveaways coming again soon! Check back again...

The 12 Days of Christmas is current upcoming seasonal giveaway~ Come to our blog starting December 1st going through the 12th!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Joyous Notion's Giveaways

~Welcome to our giveaways page!~

Each month we will be giving away three issues of our most current magazine of Seasons At Home! Each winner will receive one issue : ) The current issue is the Summer '09. Entering to win is simple, and the best news is you can earn more than one entry! Do you already subscribe to our magazine? Enter to win for a friend! If you win a magazine, just give us the name of the person you would like to bless. Can you enter for each giveaway every month? Of course!

Here's how it works: At the beginning of every month we will do a blog post titled "(current month) Magazine Giveaway", entry comments must be posted to this blog post. ~The comment link can be found at the top on the left sidebar on the blog~

You will get one entry for each of these:

1. One entry just for leaving your name (First name and last name initial or full name)

2. One entry for tweeting the giveaway on your Twitter page (you must leave a link in the comment to your Twitter page for us verify)

3. One entry for blogging about the giveaway (again leave a link in the comment to your blog for us to verify)

4. You may grab one of the graphics below to link to us from your sidebar. (Again, leave a link in the comment for us to verify!)

Open to U.S. residents only, one entry per household.
Graphics: If the linking graphic has remained on your blog/website from previous giveaway entries, just leave a comment saying that you still have us linked with a graphic, and leave a link to your blog/website for us to verify!

Each entry must be posted in separate comments! So for example, if you do all four of the above once, you are posting four comments. You may only post your name entry ONCE in a comment. You may enter a total of 7 times. For example, you can tweet about it 6 times and leave a link to where you have placed a graphic, or you can blog 3 times - enter your name once - and tweet 3 times. It's up to you on the combination, each counts for one entry, but your name comment can only be once and again, a total of 7 entries per person, per month.
WINNERS: We will announce the winner on the last day of the month. You must leave your email in the comment OR email us your email address. (We do not use your email address for anything other than to contact you for the drawing) You must respond within 5 days of the announcement or we will redo the drawing. If you don't give an email, we will pick a new winner.
Email Jessica your email if you'd like: swtjes@msn.com

SPAM: We will not tolerate the spamming of other's sites. Please post about the magazine on your own site, please! Do not spam another's blog with a comment and send us the link. We do not want people unhappy with you or us. We will be very strict and have to remove you completely from the giveaway if this rule is broken. Thank you for respecting the no spam rule!

Linking graphics! If you want to link us with a graphic, just copy the HTML code out of the scrollbox beneath the graphic and paste it into your sidebar!










If you have any trouble or questions email Jessica at swtjes@msn.com. Many blessings to you!

See entire terms and conditions for Joyous Home, LLC giveaways and contests HERE.


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Link To Us

Would you like to link to us with a graphic? We have many requests for linking grapics to our websites and are very appreciative to the those who do link us!
Copy the HTML in the scrollbox below each graphic for the one you would like to use and paste into your sidebar, header or footer of your blog or website. You may leave us a link under the comment section to where you linked us if you like!
Our blog:





























Our membership and conference site (links to Seasons At Home Magazine website):



















Our magazine (links to Joyous Home):





















Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...