There's nothing like a fresh bowl of yogurt!  Our family loves it and I've been making it long enough to recommend it to others.  We eat a heaping portion of yogurt weekly which began taking up a heaping portion of my grocery budget each week.  In 2011, we began intentionally making frugal decisions and looking for ways to cut our budget to meet some financial goals we had set for ourselves.  I began to rethink my grocery spending habits and came across a blog called the Grocery Shrink. Angela proposed growing your pantry and shrinking your grocery bill. So we tried many of her good options, even some that people may view as extreme, and are still trying new ones. As she says, "You can do anything for a short period of time." As I gave myself the challenge of buying groceries for about $50 a week, spending $10 on yogurt seemed too high! 

My name is Raven Neivel, and I'm the author of Everyday Joys.  This blog has been a thought in my mind for well over a year before its final debut.  God has given me a desire to see women living abundant, free, joyful lives in the roles He has called us to as wives, mothers, and homemakers.  In my journey to learn what it means to live life God's way, I have been so blessed by women who have come alongside me and offered encouragement that only women can give.  Whether personally or through this blog, my desire is to give the same kind of encouragement.

At a recent conference, I attended an optional workshop specifically designed for the leading ladies to share a few of  their favorite things.  A simple idea and almost one that seemed insignificant, but intriguing, none-the-less. I was so glad I went to hear these ladies share simple things that made a profound impact on their lives and their ability to do what they do better.  I walked away with a number of "tips" to go home and look up or try out for myself and was amazed at the difference a little "discovery" can make in one's day. 

So it is my hope that you also will find something useful among my favorite things that bring a little everyday joy and fun to my life.  My interests are wide and varied and so I like the freedom that "favorite things" allows in topics of discussion. But the common thread is what ties all women together - our love for God, our families, and our homes.  These favorite things are gathered from multiple trial and error processes resulting in one that works for us.  My favorite things are often not original with me but rather a conglomeration of ideas/things gathered from personal research and other resources. Maybe you will grab an idea that is new to you or remember something you've heard before but forgotten. Isn't that the fun in sharing!  We all need help and encouragement to do what we do better as unto the Lord.  I'd love to hear from you as well, so feel free to send me an email through the contact page.