Growing_up_Bargsley

Have you been searching for the PERFECT chocolate chip cookie recipe? Well look NO FURTHER!! I have been making chocolate chip cookies for years now and these are sure to be a crowd pleaser! (Even passing the judgment of the toughest cookie critics I know!) Trust me when I say that they are memorable. I still have people that tasted these cookies as a child (now adults) that tell me that these are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies they have ever had. (Seriously, thanks y'all. That's the best compliment ever!) I have kept this recipe a closely guarded secret and said I would ONLY share with my kids when the time came, but I cannot deny this recipe, to those who live far from me, the opportunity to have some of my BEST EVER chocolate chip cookies right in their own home. So grab you kids, your spouse, and your friends and hop on into the kitchen and whip up a batch (or two) of these babies. They won't last long! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

Jason has been dying to try smoked Chex mix for some time and I finally remembered to get all the ingredients this past weekend to make it. It was so easy, and delicious, that this is now our go-to recipe for Chex mix. It definitely did not disappoint. Here's how we did it!

Our homestead is growing by 8 little feet! We surprised the kids and went on a little road trip to pick up our newest additions to our homestead. Not only will this pair help us become more sustainable in our meat production, but they are super cute too! Oh and our next morning fiasco will definitely show how it's never dull around our home, even at 7AM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

How do you feed ALL those people on one income?! Well... good question. We break down our tips and tricks on how we feed our family of 6 on one income for $300 per month. We these this how-to and a well laid plan, you can bring the cost of your monthly grocery bill down and have more money in your pocket! “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” ― Dave Ramsey --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

This is our 3rd year homeschooling and we absolutely LOVE it. If you're in the market for a new (core) curriculum or are on the fence about purchasing, this is the video for you. Take a peek inside these curricula and find out why we chose Master Books and Math-U-See for our family. *I know choosing a curriculum is hard and overwhelming (especially if you're new to homeschooling), but do not be afraid to get your feet wet and see how each child responds.* Want to know more about these? Here's the links: MASTER BOOKS FOUNDATIONS IN PHONICS: https://www.masterbooks.com/homeschool-curriculum/grade-level/1st-grade/foundations-phonics LANGUAGE LESSONS FOR A LIVING EDUCATION 3: https://www.masterbooks.com/homeschool-curriculum/grade-level/3rd-grade/language-lessons-for-a-living-education-3 ADVENTURES IN CREATION: https://www.masterbooks.com/catalog/product/view/id/3701 AMERICA'S STORY 1: https://www.masterbooks.com/homeschool-curriculum/grade-level/3rd-grade/americas-story-vol-1-set WRITING STRANDS INTERMEDIATE 1: https://www.masterbooks.com/catalog/product/view/id/3169 WORLD'S STORY 1: https://www.masterbooks.com/homeschool-curriculum/grade-level/7th-grade/the-worlds-story-1-set INTRO INTO ASTRONOMY: https://www.masterbooks.com/catalog/product/view/id/1340 MATH-U-SEE **Here is some info for parents on approach, placement test, resources and demo video: https://mathusee.com/parents/ ** PRIMER: https://store.demmelearning.com/math-u-see/general-math/primer BETA: https://store.demmelearning.com/math-u-see/general-math/beta ZETA: https://store.demmelearning.com/math-u-see/general-math/zeta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

We bought our home a little over a year ago and we knew the bones were good, but it definitely needed updating in areas... one major place was the kitchen. We looked at replacing our cabinets, but they are solid and in good condition. (Plus we didn't want to fork out thousands) After much research and discussion, we decided to give them a face life by painting them. Here is how we did it all in 4 days total! Here's the Primer we use: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Zinsser-Bulls-Eye-1-2-3-Interior-Exterior-Multi-Purpose-Water-Based-Wall-and-Ceiling-Primer-Actual-Net-Contents-128-fl-oz/3439970 Here's the paint we used: https://www.lowes.com/pd/HGTV-HOME-by-Sherwin-Williams-Showcase-Ultra-White-Base-A-Semi-Gloss-Tintable-Interior-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-124-fl-oz/1000404485 Here's the handles we went with: https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-3-in-Center-to-Center-Aged-Bronze-Arch-Handle-Cabinet-Door-Pull/3031602 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

One of our favorite things to make with our goats milk is a Mexican caramel called cajeta. When you hear your husband say "It is the best caramel I've ever had", you know you have made something that is a keeper! You do not need to have raw goats milk to make this. You can use store bought goats milk, so anyone can make this! See how we make our cajeta and what everyone thinks about it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

Every year we have a tradition to make a flag cake on the Fourth of July. Over the years as we had more and more children, I opted for simpler versions of flag cakes. This "icebox" version of a flag cake is by far the easiest cake I've ever made and it is fun for all ages to create. Our youngest and oldest help create it, but everyone wants a slice in the end... I know I'm going to have to make one more since this one didn't make it past dinner tonight! Simple, affordable ingredients with minimal actual prep time. Trust me, this is a hit at any summer cookout! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com PayPal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

If anyone knows our family, they know that we LOVE our chickens. When we moved from the Atlanta area to East Tennessee area the very first homestead venture was chickens. We were clueless as to what they needed, lingo and the countless options that were out in the world. In this video we break down basics of raising chickens and things to consider when you decide to go on the adventure of having your own backyard chickens... Oh and we let you in on some things we have learned over the years that came purely from experience. _____________________________________________________________ Want to support our channel? Follow us in Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com PayPal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

The Fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays. We absolutely love our country and the life we live. We know that we are blessed to have had our founding fathers of our great country to have the foresight to create our Constitution, Bill of Rights and to see the need to declare our independence. We had a blast (literally and figuratively) with family visiting from out of town and enjoying America's birthday. Homemade ice cream, BBQ, swimming, and fireworks consumed our night. Our kiddos may have had dirty feet and faces, but the laughter that filled the air made the night perfect! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram at growing_up_bargsley PayPal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

Years ago when Jason and I started dating, I was thrown into the world of a proud Texan. Little did I know that, I, a girl from a Georgia, would learn how to cook a entire NEW way... TexMex. After lots of trial and error, this recipe is one of our favorites (Jason always says I could go hotter with the sauce, but we have kids and I don't want to melt their faces off!) Also tamales use to take ALL DAY. I would often start them the previous day, because it was A LOT of work. Now my Instant Pot saves the day by cutting the time down to a fraction! Our instant pot: https://store.instantpot.com/products/instant-pot-ip-duo80 Our Kitchenaid mixer: https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/tilt-head-stand-mixers/p.classic-series-4.5-quart-tilt-head-stand-mixer.k45ssob.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Paypal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

Vintage skills are a thing of the past... literally and figuratively. We are over saturated with technology in our every day lives that we often forget foundational skills. Today I'm sharing TOP TEN vintage skills that are a MUST for every homeschooler (or parent) to teach their children. Why vintage skills? Because even though they are a thing of the past, we need to continue to teach them so they do not disappear altogether. And that is the sad reality we are facing these days with everything we could possibly need literally at our fingertips. Even if you're a veteran homeschooler or just a parent looking to enrich your child's life, these TEN skills are essential to having a well-rounded life. Who knows, you might even impress a few people with your newfound knowledge! Happy Homeschooling! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Want to support our channel? Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley

We're celebrating Jason's 34th birthday today! The girls and I baked him a Jackie's Cake to enjoy this evening and we MAY have had a TINY (but funny) mishap. (Don't worry, the cake was not harmed in the mishap) I had never heard of a Jackie's Cake before I met Jason many moons ago. It is a cherished family recipe that has been passed down and around, making it's appearance at more than one birthday throughout the year. It is by far the richest (& easiest) chocolate cake I have ever made. Even the pickiest of eaters in our family enjoy it. If you're in a quick pinch and need a cake or a super rich dessert, then THIS is your cake. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Paypal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

We got hatching eggs off the internet and we set out to hatch them... but something went wrong. In fact, everything went wrong today. It isn't always rainbows and sunshine when raising animals, but you persevere through it all. Why? Because in the end, the rewards are more than worth it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Paypal: https://paypal.me/growingupbargsley?locale.x=en_US

We recently purchased the Tuttle Twin book collection and boy, let me tell you how excited (& happy) we were to receive them. This book series was recommended to me by a friend and I'm beyond thankful that I purchased them for our homeschooling year. If you're looking into teaching your children (homeschooling or not) about civics and econ at an age appropriate level, then this series is defiantly for you! These colorful books keep the attention of my busybodies and they are eager to read more at the end of each book. Each book is based on either an essay or a book, which is mentioned in the back of each book, so you, the parent or guardian can read in greater detail about what your children are learning. I highly recommend this set to anyone! *** We have NOT been sponsored by Tuttle Twins. We wanted to share our personal, honest review of them to other parents and homeschoolers out there*** So now for the peek inside.... Happy Homeschoolling --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley

Tragedy struck last night when our beloved Dolly (our oldest chicken) was attacked. It is a pretty bad wound and we were almost certain that she needed to be put down last night. But after talking back and forth and really evaluating he wounds, we thought we should give her a chance at life. In no way would we keep her alive if we felt like she was suffering and had no chance of any quality of life. This old girl has been through the wringer... she's survived a pit bull attack, opossum attack, multiple raccoon attacks, and even had a metal gate fall on top of her after Jimbo, our buck Nigerian Dwarf goat, knocked it completely out of the post in the barn. Yeah, so we HAD to give her a fighting chance. **since this video we have consulted our vet and friends who also have chickens and we are currently following their advice** Fingers crossed and prayers said... We sure hope she makes a full recovery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

If you saw our last video, then you saw our sweet Dolly had been attacked by something. We still haven't caught the culprit, but I'm not going to allow my flock to be picked off one by one. So I gave up my garden to save our beloved chickens... Oh and it's time to get those yummy Mollie's Delicious apples off our tree! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

We absolutely LOVE using unit studies in our homeschooling routine. What is a unit study? In this video you'll find out what a unit study is and how to plan a successful one. The possibilities and options are endless! Help cultivate the love of learning in your home and you might be surprised to find that you have helped create a life-longer learner in your child. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

This is the BEST caramel apple butter I have ever had. No joke. My kids (and nieces and nephews) eat it by the spoonful. I often make these as Christmas gifts to give to family and friends, and well, let's just say it is ALWAYS a favorite. One Christmas , I had family members trying to sneak other family member's jar home with them because it is THAT GOOD. (It was all in good fun!) In this video, I'll walk you through how to create this yummy caramel goodness from the beginning and to the end (canning properly). Ingredients: 3 lbs peeled and cored apples 1/2 cup or water or apple juice 2 cups white sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground ginger 21 soft caramels canning jars & lids/rings ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

Today I'm sharing my FIVE tips for a successful homeschooling year. Many people are choosing to home school this year because of uncertainties that surround our every day lives and the ever-changing health and safety guidelines within the society. These are tips that fellow veteran homeschoolers shared with me when we began our HS journey... and let me tell you, they were a LIFE SAVER! I was clueless and overwhelmed when I first began exploring the homeschooling world. Giving and allowing myself and my children grace and patience was definitely a must, but it was also a learning opportunity for myself. Then a few tips were shared with me and our education journey changed for the better! These simple tips helped me (looking back) more than I realized in the beginning. *Even if you are a veteran homeschooler, these simple tips will set you up for success at any stage of your education journey. Don't overthink it. It's easier than you realize. Anyone can do this. Take things slow. You got this! Happy Homeschooling! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support out channel? Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

Growing up I never knew how to make flour tortillas. We lived in small town Georgia and Mexican cuisine was not as available as it is now with many chain restaurants and entrepreneurs. When I married a Texan, well... let's just say that is when I was introduced to true Mexican cuisine and realized that I had to learn how to make many new meals. (I was clueless back then and I'm still learning!) But I can say I've come a long way on my cooking journey. And these simple flour tortillas are by far the EASIEST and TASTIEST tortillas I have ever made. The kids often like to help roll them out while I or Jason man the iron skillet. So I hope you enjoy this quick and easy tortilla recipe :)

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Please speak to your doctor before taking anything. This is what our family does and while it may work for us, it might not for you. * Ever year around Aug/Sept I go into holistic supplement making overload. No joke. With our youngest son's medical complexities, we have found that going a holistic approach works best for him. So I thought I'd share with you all on how we make our all natural, organic, whole foods cough drops and immune system boosters. It just takes 3 simple ingredients and less than 30 mins from start to finish. And as a mom to littles, I never have to worry about calling poison control if my child consumes one too many of these, because they are made with REAL FOODS. No artificial coloring, no chemicals, no pharmaceuticals. Just REAL food with REAL result. Yes, food can be medicine too! *I shot this live on our social media, so please forgive some of the notification sound you might hear* _______________________________________ Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us growingupbargsley@gmail.com

So floating around in the BBQ world right now is smoked queso. Yes, you heard right... smoked queso. We decided we would try it out and see if it was a win or a bust...Let me tell you, it was a complete success with my picky eaters! watch as we break it down for you and show you what all we put in our's (this is totally customize-able to your liking). *Even if you do not have a smoker, this can be done on a charcoal grill as well* We have a PitBoss Austin XL and used competition blend pellets for the queso. This made a TON! (even for our large family) This would be a perfect dish for a party and I know that we will be making this come football season. More about our smoker: https://pitboss-grills.com/Shop-Pit-Boss/Grills/wood-pellet/austin-xl-wood-pellet-grill-walmart-exclusive How we make our garlic pizzas sauce: https://youtu.be/9aakTB7p-Jg --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com

Our family absolutely loves playing tourist and hoping over into the next county over and visiting the Dixie Stampede (the name has since changed to Dolly's Stampede). It is truly an experience our kids have NEVER forgotten. For the longest time, our youngest daughter (2/3 yrs old at the time) thought that every American flag was called "Stampede". It is a cute memory we still laugh about today. If you have never been, Dixie Stampede is a dinner theater show that is based in the Antebellum/Civil War era. While you eat, you watch amazing riders do tricks and competitions with horses, pigs, and more. Oh and it is the "north" side vs the "south" side (seating). That's where the competition part comes in. You get to eat the most delicious home-cooked style meal- Cornish hen roasted, biscuit, potatoes, corn on the cob, drinks out of mason jars, apple turnovers for dessert, and the BEST creamy vegetable soup you'll ever pop in your mouth. Seriously, my kids, even the pickiest ones, fight over this soup. And I think part of the best experience is that you eat with your hands. Yup. NO SILVERWARE- A kid's DREAM! So you sup that soup straight out of the bowl. (Although if you ask my dad who is from MI, he will tell you that the North side gets silverware...which is a running joke in our home) While we absolutely LOVE this meal, it can be rather costly for our large family to attend. (I'll let you look up the ticket prices for yourself.) My kids always beg to go for the soup! So I bought the mix in the gift shop and it was nearly $10/bag and we needed several bags to fill the bellies of our large family. In the end, the prepackage powdered soup mix just did not do the REAL DEAL justice. So after visiting several more times with friends and family and asking workers countless questions, I finally uncovered ingredient by ingredient what makes the REAL DEAL the REAL DEAL. So I hope that this copycat recipe of Dixie Stampede creamy vegetable soup hits the spot in your soul that craves this comfort food. And may your belly (and wallet) be full!

Today I'm sharing with you my super easy elderberry recipe. Right before school starts back up, I often am flooded with request for info on where to buy, how to make, and the best brands of elderberry syrup on the market. Let's face it, cold and flu season is inevitable and all we want is to survive the season well. As a mom of a medically complex child, I strive to provide all natural alternatives as often as I can. This recipe is super quick, easy, and tasty! {If you are not familiar with elderberry, please research the benefits of it all the ingredients used in this syrup. Each ingredient is specifically chosen for a heath/wellness reason} ** DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. I am not your doctor. Please speak to your physician before trying a new supplement, remedy, or all natural solution. This video just shows what we do for our family, and what may be best for my family, might not be for yours.** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to support our family? Email us at growingupbargsley@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @growing_up_bargsley