Simple Farmhouse Life

Living responsibly with our finances does not mean total deprivation. While there are many voices telling us how to achieve our financial goals, Jill of Frugal Friends Podcast teaches that choices about money are not black and white, but will vary from person to person based on our values. The notion of values-based spending gives you freedom to use your money on the things that matter most to you. Join us to hear Jill’s refreshing perspective on all things spending and saving!In this episode, we cover: Looking beyond budgeting and embracing values-based spending Practical tips for evaluating your own personal values The top five reasons for impulse spending and how to interrupt the pattern How you can challenge yourself to put an end to impulse purchases Why having unlimited resources is not actually ideal How the content you consume impacts your spending habits Landing in the “radical middle” between extreme finance messaging Mindset shifts and practical strategies for saving money on groceries amidst ever-increasing costs Ideas for navigating Christmas gifts while trying to save money View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!ABOUT JILLJill Sirianni is a licensed clinical social worker and co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast. She’s experienced in doing a lot with a little—from starting small businesses to full-time RVing—all of it was leveraged to pay off $60,000 of debt and cash flow her masters degree. Helping others is her highest value and integrating her mental health perspective with personal finance is how she supports others to identify, and live out of, what they value most. When she’s not meeting with clients or podcasting, you can find her in the garden or hosting friends in her home. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband Eric.RESOURCES MENTIONEDListen to Jill & Jen’s previous appearance on Simple Farmhouse LifePre-order the book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke by Jill Sirianni & Jen SmithCONNECTJill Sirianni of Frugal Friends Podcast | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

As mothers, we are often sold lies about what our lives will look like while raising children. Unfortunately, many of these voices paint motherhood in a negative light. At the beginning of her motherhood journey, Meg was quick to recognize these lies and embrace a different outlook instead. This conversation is incredibly encouraging for any mother who is ready to embrace her current season of motherhood with all its blessings and challenges. Meg urges us to lean into our personalities and strengths as mothers and stop comparing ourselves to what others are doing. What will it take for your unique family to flourish? Listen in to take your next step!In this episode, we cover: Overturning the narrative that your life is over when you become a mother How to find your own unique inspiration in motherhood without falling prey to comparison Being honest with yourself about your season of life and embracing flexibility Assessing what mental blocks are hindering you from getting things done How Meg and her family have traveled the world together even while raising young kids The beauty of allowing your personality as a mother to influence your family’s daily rhythm Embracing your strengths and delegating your weaknesses in building community Talking through the logistics of finding and growing friendships as a mom The problem with perfectionism in health, homeschooling, diet, etc. Weighing your values when it comes to deciding where to make compromises The importance of sifting through the mass of conflicting information and finding what works for you View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!ABOUT MEGMeg is a past nutrition counselor with a passion for taking the “complicated” out of healthy living and adventure. She currently is a momma to four littles and loves to share with other mom’s how to flourish in motherhood! CONNECTMeg Thompson of Flourishing Motherhood | Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Pinterest | FacebookLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Join me for another casual chat where I answer some of the questions you guys sent in! Everything from a behind the scenes peek at my content business to diapering and feeding babies… these questions run the gamut. If you’d like me to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast, visit http://bit.ly/SFLquestions.In this episode, we cover: What I love about our vintage stove and some regrets Our non-traditional approach to health insurance for our large self-employed family Do I consider myself a working mom or a stay-at-home mom? Would I use antibiotics for strep throat? How to move past feelings of overwhelm in your business and move the needle forward Do I ever wake up in the morning with no motivation to get started on the day? A peek behind the scenes of how I create my homemaking YouTube videos Where I splurge on home decor for the biggest impact and where I save money Why I don’t use cloth diapers anymore and what I do instead My approach to transitioning my babies onto solid foods Do I save and store baby items in between babies? Keeping our kids safe while using a wood stove to heat our home How often do my children help with chores? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!RESOURCES MENTIONEDListen to my chat with Leslie Burris about our vintage stovesSamaritan Ministries My Q&A episode on how we handle illness and medicine in our familyMy latest video on our summer menu (frying sage leaves in butter)TWOPAGES Custom CurtainsToups and Co OrganicsPurely Parsons radiant facial serumCONNECTLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Lisa Lizotte, a passionate advocate for decluttering and simplicity, shares her transformative journey from chaos to minimalism. She discusses how to maintain an orderly home while juggling the demands of motherhood and business. Lisa emphasizes the importance of recognizing your home's natural flow, letting go of perfectionism, and ditching checklists in favor of personalized habits. She provides practical strategies for quick resets at home and warns against signs of overwhelm, encouraging listeners to create more margin in their lives.

Family entrepreneurship is such a unique and enriching way of life, but it is not without its challenges. Brad and Starla Walker of Abby’s Elderberry joined me on the podcast last year to share about the amazing benefits of elderberries, and today we are taking a look behind the scenes at what it is like to run a family farm business from home as a family of ten. How do they involve their children in the family business without burning the kids out? How do they divide responsibilities between home and the business? How does Starla manage a full plate as a mother of eight? Why is family business so impactful in the community? Join us for this inspiring conversation about what is possible when you link arms and take a risk.In this episode, we cover: How Abby’s Elderberry got started and where the family business stands now Creative ways Brad and Starla’s children participate in the family business What boundaries the family has established to separate work and family time Challenges of running a business from home with a growing family How do you involve kids in the family business without making them resent it? Biggest lessons learned from beginning a family business as busy parents You don’t have to be an expert in something to get started Managing a full home and busy business as a mother of eight The difference it makes to take your role seriously as a homemaker The impact of a meaningful family business for future generations View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!ABOUT BRAD & STARLABrad & Starla Walker have 8 kids and live on their 15 acre homestead in Southern Indiana, just outside of Louisville, KY. There they garden, raise livestock, homeschool their children, and operate their family business, Abby’s Elderberry. They have personally experienced the benefits of elderberry for years and jumped at the opportunity to take ownership of Abby’s in late 2022. Since that time, they have shipped their products to all 50 states, 4 Canadian provinces and are launching with a national distributor in September ‘24. RESOURCESSitewide discount of 15% (elderberry syrups, teas, tinctures, organic berries, DIY syrup kits) with promo code FARMHOUSE at AbbysElderberry.comCONNECTBrad & Starla Walker of Abby’s Elderberry | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you are in the early years of motherhood, everything can feel so overwhelming. Your kids are all young and you are still trying to find confident footing as a mom. I hear from young mothers quite often who want to learn new homemaking skills, but they feel like they are already drowning in motherhood. In this episode, I am sharing my advice for mothers in those little years, and I’m also talking about my approach to parenting in the teen years, and my hopes and dreams for my children’s adult years. Join me for this chat as I answer a variety of questions from my listeners!In this episode, I cover: An update on my strategy for baby sleep as a mom of eight My hopes for the future of my family as my kids get older A sample week in the life of my blogging business Our strategy for raising capable and delightful teenagers The one downside to having a home birth Do I regret becoming an online influencer? My opinion on which season of parenting is the most difficult View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!CONNECTLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you have ever wanted to sit down with a seasoned mom and ask your biggest motherhood questions, I hope this conversation with Abbie will bless you! As a mother of ten, her perspective on raising kids has grown throughout the years as she has encountered challenges and rejoiced in victories. We chat about how to build an in-person community around you, dangerous modern parenting narratives, comparison, convenience, and more. We hope this episode fills you with encouragement as you walk out this noble calling of motherhood!In this episode, we cover: Our unique perspective on the “motherhood is hard” narrative What real in-person community gives you that internet relationships can’t The benefits of having a mentor in motherhood and how to find one How to recognize the gifts and challenges of your unique circumstance Is the easy way always the better way? The countercultural way we prioritize quality time together in our large families Laying the groundwork for raising delightful teenagers The point of biblical parenting is not what you think Why it’s dangerous to exclude dads from the parenting narrative View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.comABOUT ABBIEAbbie is a happy wife, homeschooling mama to ten rad kids, bestselling author, blogger, fitness instructor, and recent pickleball enthusiast. Abbie is the author of the bestselling M Is for Mama and has a passion for sharing scriptural wisdom combined with her own lessons learned through the challenges as a mama of ten. She is here to help shift perspectives on the hardships of motherhood and of life, in general, all while reminding women of their God-given beauty and purpose. But most importantly, she’s a Bible-believing Christian who desires to know God and make Him known. Her new book is Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad, and she loves encouraging women to dig deep in the everyday trials of motherhood for the treasures of joy and growth that are there in abundance if we’re only willing to look. She, her husband Shaun, and their double handful of children live in the Piney Woods of East Texas.RESOURCESM is for Mama by Abbie HalberstadtHard is Not the Same Thing as Bad by Abbie HalberstadtM is for Mama PodcastAbbie on the Ellen Fisher PodcastCONNECTAbbie Halberstadt of M is for Mama | Website | Instagram | FacebookLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

The impact of social media consumption cannot be overstated. After struggling with her own technology boundaries for years, Sandy finally decided to leave all social media platforms completely, but she thought she was alone in this battle. It didn’t take long for her to realize that there were countless other women experiencing the same negative effects of living overconnected. If you have been feeling a stirring to radically change your relationship with the internet, this conversation will give you the courage you need to take the next step. In this episode, we cover: How Sandy got started creating content on the internet and why she ultimately left social media completely A look at how the internet has changed over the years Addressing the biggest fears and inconveniences of leaving social media Examining the addictive power of social media A theory of why life feels like it is passing us by faster and faster What constant consumption does to our brains Coming out on the other side of social media addiction Changing your relationship with social media as an online business owner How technology is changing adolescence View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!ABOUT SANDYSandy Cooper is an award-winning author of three books, a podcaster, and a professionally certified home chef. She has been a wife to Jon for over 30 years and is mom to three kids ages 17 to 25 and a 9-month-old son in Heaven. She has been helping frazzled moms find peace since 2008 at thescooponbalance.com and is the co-founder of Writing Off Social, where she helps female Christian writers grow their audience without social media. She podcasts weekly at The Balanced MomCast and Writing Off Social: The Podcast from her home office in Florida, where she lives with her family. RESOURCESThe Balanced MomCast PodcastWriting Off SocialFree Quiz: Is it Time for You to Break Up with Social Media? CONNECTSandy Cooper of The Scoop on Balance | Website | Substack | Email: thescooponbalance@gmail.comLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

I am sitting down to answer more of your questions in today’s episode! Do we ever use antibiotics? How do I get my babies to sleep through the night? How do we manage toys with eight kids? Join me for this look behind the curtain of our life right now! If you’d like to submit a question for a future Q&A episode, visit bit.ly/SFLquestions.In this episode, we cover: Examples of when we use natural remedies and when we use pharmaceuticals My laid back approach to sleep training for night time and nap times How I handle not having a vent hood in our busy kitchen The strategies that allow us to have minimal toys in our large family How I keep our home tidy even though I am not naturally organized My babywearing recommendations from newborn through toddler years Why I don’t bathe my kids every day and what we do about chlorine pools Do we avoid GMOs for health reasons or political reasons? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.comCONNECTLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

There is no doubt that homemakers gain many valuable skills as they continue to grow in their role. If you have thought about using your kitchen skills to generate an income for your family, this episode is for you! Lily and Ellen share the story of how they started a home bakery that has continued to grow and become quite profitable for their families. We also talk through the ins and outs of making decisions in your small business. How do you know when it’s time to grow and when it’s time to scale back? May you be inspired by this chat with three busy moms, homemakers, homesteaders, and entrepreneurs!In this episode, we cover: How to navigate the timing of baking large batches of breads and pastries for a microbakery Tips for making a microbakery profitable and worth your time Learning from your mistakes and letting go of business ideas that don’t work The importance of marketing your products effectively Outfitting your microbakery without going into debt Walking through the layout of the baking and selling space Navigating local regulations of commercial kitchens and cottage bakeries Step-by-step process of prepping and baking dough Making your small business work for you as a busy mom Thinking through tough decisions when growing your business The value in creating an experience for your customers Why microbakeries may have more success than large-scale bakeries View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!ABOUT LILY & ELLENLily and Ellen are two sisters who own a small bakery on their family farm. They spend their days raising their children, running their bakery and caring for their homestead.CONNECTLily & Ellen of The Flour Barn | Website | Blog | Instagram | Facebook | PinterestLisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | PinterestDo you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.