BIG UPDATE! Boss Babe or Biblical Woman? Why I’m Choosing God’s Way

Well Sweet Mamas…

God is just so, so good.

I once more find myself humbled and awe-inspired by God’s Almighty Grace, Power, and Goodness. While I can’t share all the details quite yet, I have some exciting preliminary news to share with you all, my lovely readers; and I hope it encourages and inspires you, as it encouraged and inspired me, to stay strong and steadfast in your Faith and Surrender to the Lord.

Long story short: I am in talks currently working out terms for an amazing partnership opportunity here on the blog and on my socials…it’s basically my dream partnership (so, if you’ve been following me, you probably can guess who I’m partnering with…but if you do guess, let the legal record show that I did not spill the proverbial beans!)

I still can’t quite believe I’m even saying words like “legal.” When I started this blog, my main goal was to spread the Gospel and support other Christian ives and mamas who wanted to reconnect to a more traditional, Biblical way of running their homes and families. But I also always had hopes to grow this into an actual, sustainable business that I could use to support and strengthen my family’s financial safety net. 

Of course, I am and will remain a dedicated stay at home mom and homemaker first. But let’s not forget that the Proverbs 31 woman was a businesswoman too, y’all! Serving my family and God with business savvy is a Biblical calling, just as creating a beautiful, God-honoring home is.

Being a Boss Babe and a Biblical Woman are not mutually exclusive concepts: they are one in the same, as long as everything you do, you do in honor of the Lord and in accordance with Christ-like living and Christian values. 

And besides…who am I to turn my back on the path God has set out for me? It was Him who inspired me to start this blog, and it was Him who guided me in every decision I’ve made since. I prayed on it, and it’s clear that this new opportunity is exactly where God is calling me to be.

Mamas, this is proof that if you keep your Faith in God, if you pray to him and live in service to Him, He will reward you. He will reward you with happiness and with prosperity; he will reward you physically and financially. I am simply overwhelmed by God’s goodness!

Now, there will be some slight changes as I adjust to accommodate the new responsibilities I’ll be taking on with this partnership. Mainly, I’m going to be posting on here every other week instead of every week, to make more time for these new adventures and to follow the new path God has set out for me. But don’t worry Mamas, I’ll still be posting on the socials regularly, and I promise, what we’re losing in blog posts we’re gaining in benefit: you’ll see, that all of our shared sacrifices will have been worth it when I can reveal more!! 

Stay blessed, sweet Mamas and thank you for helping me get here!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6c1ddb_fd852fa5214f4ac4a3fd9c66090b67a7/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Share your prayers and blessings - and your new beginnings! - with the Home Sweet Holleigh community! Comment below or engage on social media! Find me on Instagram and TikTok at @homesweetholleigh

remember to always find meaning in the little things

we are on the precipice of a great, new beginning

your sacrifices shall result in reward

let God in

Choose a Cheerful Heart even in Trying Times: Living with Joy When the World Presses In

Hi sweet mamas! Today, I want to talk about something that’s a little raw, real, and something us Christians are striving for all the time, but which often feels harder to access than we'd like to admit:

JOY

Now, you may be asking yourself: Holleigh, I already feel joy! I feel happy in my everyday life! I've got it all together! I smile, I laugh...life is good!

Life is good...right?

But then, when we zoom out and start to take in the noise all around us, that joy starts to collapse. People on social media scream about all the bad things happening in the world, calling Christians bad people, criticizing our government, saying that if we don’t jump on the woke bandwagon, we are the literal scum of the earth. 

Ouch. Goodbye Joy.

I don’t know about you, but that can be real quick to steal my joy. Sharing my life online, I’m constantly subject to all the countless opinions of people that I don’t know. I know this is the trade off that comes by pursuing my God-Given calling to minister His Word on public online forums, but it still gets to me sometimes...It’s exhausting, mama! 

But when the world is testing you, when things have got you down, what is it that we’re still called to do? 

Find joy.

Real joy. The kind that only comes from the Lord. The peace that surpasses all understanding. Nothing in this life will fix you or heal you. Hobby Lobby may be a close second, mamas! But truly, God is the one who gives us the joy. There’s a song I remember singing as a kid in Sunday School that went like this:

“I got the joy, joy, joy, jy down in my heart… to stay. And I’m so happy… I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.”

Really, we understand it best as kids! It's only when the crashing worldly realities we confront as adults that start to make us doubt it. We need to access to simple, pure faith of childhood. When we have God in our lives, when we accept Him as our Savior, the joy and peace we feel is quite literally our inheritance! Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength! This is what’s entitled to us when we become children of God.

So then, how do we claim this joy? 

Surround yourself with fellow believers. Pray all the time. Go to church. Read your Bible. And really practice it. Consume positive Christian content. Don't engage with or consume demonic pop culture or toxic fake news. When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, stop for a couple minutes and breathe in and breathe out. Pray. Ask God to take the stress from you and focus on joy.

So Mamas...What brings you joy? For me it’s Hobby Lobby, Jesus, baking bread, creating floral arrangements from clippings from my garden, embroidering Bible verses into the insides of my children's clothing...just any little thing that can make me feel grounded to God and His Word and His Earth and His Light and His Love and My Hands and His Hands.

And my beautiful family of course!

I think about those things when the news is overwhelming, or people criticize me, or I just feel plain run down! Remember that you control how you feel.

Will you stew in negativity? Or will you grab a coffee, run out to Hobby Lobby, and worship God through it all?

DIY “Joy of the Lord” Scripture Frame

Inspired by Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

This craft becomes a visual reminder in your home when the noise of the world feels overwhelming.

What You’ll Need

• A simple wood or white frame (5x7 or 8x10 works beautifully)

• Neutral cardstock or watercolor paper

• Floral clippings (real or faux)

• Mod Podge or craft glue

• Gold paint pen or black calligraphy pen

• Optional: twine, ribbon, or linen fabric backing

• Optional: pressed flowers (you can press your own from the garden!)

You can all these supplies at Hobby Lobby!

Step 1: Create Your Background

If using fresh flowers from your garden:

1. Press them inside a heavy book for 5–7 days.

2. Once dried, arrange them softly in one corner of your cardstock.

If using faux florals:

• Trim small pieces and lay them in a gentle arch or border shape.

Keep it simple and peaceful — think soft, not busy.

Step 2: Write the Scripture

In the center of the page, hand-letter:

“The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

If hand-lettering feels intimidating:

• Lightly pencil the words first.

• Trace over with a paint pen or marker.

• Or print the verse in a soft serif font and glue it onto the page.

Let this be imperfect. Handmade is holy, mama.

Step 3: Secure Your Florals

• Lightly glue your pressed flowers into place.

• Let dry completely before placing inside the frame.

• Optional: Add a small twine bow at the top for a farmhouse touch.

  
  

Step 4: Pray Over It

Before hanging it:

Pause.Breathe in.Breathe out.

Pray something simple:

“Lord, when my joy feels stolen, remind me that You are my strength. Let this

home be filled with Your peace.”

Why This Matters

When social media feels loud…When criticism feels personal…When the world feels upside down…

We anchor ourselves.

Not in culture. Not in headlines. Not in opinions.

But in truth.

Joy isn’t the absence of chaos. It’s the presence of Christ in the middle of it.

And sometimes reclaiming it looks as simple as:

• Glue on your fingers

• Flowers from your yard

• A verse written in shaky handwriting

• And a whispered prayer

• 
  

That’s worship too, sweet mama!

Share your prayers and blessings - and your New Year's Goals!- with the Home Sweet Holleigh community! Comment below or engage on social media! Find me on Instagram and TikTok at @homesweetholleigh

Check out all the supplies you need for this DIY project at Hobby Lobby!

Gray Barnwood Open Frame

Succulent Cardstock Paper Pack

Monochromatic Dried Pressed Flower Set

Chrome Dual Tip Paint Marker

remember to always find meaning in the little things

and

surround yourself with only God's Good Messages

and

reject worldly corruption

and

fight through the noise

Blessed Botanicals: Growing and Using Herbs with a Thankful Heart

Sweet Mamas, lately, I’ve realized something about myself:

I am completely obsessed with herbs.

Not in a trendy, aesthetic way (though yes, they’re beautiful), but in a deeply grounding, soul-settling way. There’s something about stepping into the garden, brushing my fingers over rosemary or basil, and breathing in that fresh, earthy scent that immediately slows my heart, connects me to the Lord, and re-centers my spirit.

And the more I’ve leaned into this love of herbs, the more I’ve realized: this isn’t just a hobby. It’s a form of gratitude. A way of honoring God through cultivation, care, and mindful use of what He’s given us.

Herbs appear all throughout Scripture, usually quietly and practically, like most of God’s greatest gifts. From the very beginning, God designed the earth to produce and invited humanity to tend it. Herbs were part of that design. They were used for food, healing, anointing, worship, and daily life.

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth.” (Psalm 104:14)

In Genesis, plants are given as provision.

In Exodus, herbs and spices are part of sacred anointing oils.

In the Gospels, herbs are present at meals, in gardens, and even in burial preparations.

Herbs remind us that God cares deeply about the details of our daily living.

On Growing and Cultivating Herbs:

With all this in the mind and o the heart, suddenly growing and using herbs becomes profoundly humbling. You can’t rush them. You can’t force them. You can only plant, water, wait, and trust.

Sound familiar?

When I tend my herb garden, I’m reminded that growth, whether it be the growth of plants and or the growth of faith, is God’s work. I can show up faithfully, but the miracle is always His.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)

My herb garden has become a quiet place of prayer. A space where I’m reminded that small, consistent faithfulness yields beautiful fruit over time.

On Cooking with Herbs:

Using homegrown herbs in cooking has transformed the way I approach meals. What once felt like a chore now feels intentional…almost sacred. Chopping fresh herbs reminds me that every meal is a gift, that every chance to nourish my family is provision, and that my table is holy, sacred ground.

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

When I cook with herbs I’ve grown myself, gratitude naturally follows. Gratitude for the soil, the sun, the water, the hands that helped, the mouths that will be fed. Even the simplest meals become offerings of thanks.

On Herbs and Homemaking:

Herbs aren’t showy. They’re never the main event. They work quietly in the background, enhancing, strengthening, and supporting.

That feels a lot like Christian motherhood.

Much of what we do as mothers and homemakers is unseen: preparing meals, caring for bodies, creating rhythms, nurturing growth…

But Scripture reminds us that God honors this kind of faithfulness:

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:27)

Tending herbs has reminded me that small, daily acts of care matter deeply to God.

Nothing cultivated with love is wasted.

A Thankful Heart Changes Everything

Herbs have taught me to slow down. To notice. To thank God not just for the big blessings, but for the quiet ones growing right outside my door.

A thankful heart transforms routine into worship. It turns gardening into prayer, cooking into communion, and homemaking into ministry.

So yes…just as I’m obsessed with cows, I’m obsessed with herbs. But more than that, I’m grateful for what they’ve taught me about God’s provision, patience, and presence.

DIY TUTORIAL: How to Make a Miniature Herb Garden

(Perfect for kitchens, windowsills, and busy mamas)

What You’ll Need

• Small containers (3–6 inches wide) (such as ceramic pots, teacups, or mason jars with drainage)

• Potting soil (not garden dirt - this matters!)

• Herb seeds or starter plants

• Small tray or plate (to catch water)

• Sunlight (a windowsill works wonders)

  
  

Optional but sweet:

• Plant markers

• A small watering can

• A prayerful heart

  
  

Step 1: Choose Your Herbs Wisely

For a miniature garden, pick herbs that stay manageable:

Great beginner herbs:

• Basil

• Thyme

• Rosemary

• Parsley

• Chives

• Mint (mint grows fast—give it its own pot)

Tip: Start with 2–4 herbs so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Step 2: Prepare Your Containers

• Make sure each pot has drainage holes

• Add a small layer of pebbles at the bottom if drainage is questionable

• Fill with potting soil, leaving about ½ inch at the top

  
  

As you do this, take a moment to thank God for soil, seed, and growth; nothing is accidental in His creation.

Step 3: Plant Your Herbs

If using starter plants:

• Gently loosen the roots

• Place in the center

• Fill in around with soil

• Press lightly (don’t pack too tight)

If using seeds:

• Sprinkle lightly on top of soil

• Cover with a thin layer of soil

• Water gently

  
  

  “A seed must be planted before it can grow.”(A truth for plants—and faith.)

  
  

Step 4: Water Gently & Faithfully

• Water until soil is moist, not soggy

• Let excess water drain out

• Water again only when the top inch of soil feels dry

  
  

Consistency matters more than quantity...just like with spiritual growth.

Step 5: Give Them Light

• Place near a sunny window (6–8 hours of light)

• Rotate pots every few days so they grow evenly

  
  

If sunlight is limited, a small grow light works beautifully.

Step 6: Harvest With Care

Once herbs are established:

• Snip from the top (never more than ⅓ of the plant)

• Use clean scissors

• Harvest often—this actually encourages growth!

  
  

As you harvest, pause in gratitude:

“He provides food for those who fear Him.” (Psalm 111:5)

Where to Keep a Mini Herb Garden

• Kitchen windowsill (my favorite!)

• Coffee bar

• Open shelf with good light

• Laundry room window

• Dining nook

  
  

Let it live where you’ll see it often—reminders of God’s provision are meant to be visible.

A Faith-Filled Perspective

A miniature herb garden is a gentle lesson in trust:

• You plant.

• You tend.

• God grows.

  
  

Even something small can nourish a family and cultivate gratitude in the heart.

You don’t need acres of land to steward God’s creation...you can start with just a few pots, a little soil, and a willing heart. Sometimes the smallest gardens grow the deepest thankfulness.

Share your prayers and blessings - and your New Year's Goals!- with the Home Sweet Holleigh community! Comment below or engage on social media! Find me on Instagram and TikTok at @homesweetholleigh

Check out these adorable plant marker signs from Hobby Lobby!

Thyme Distressed Metal Garden Pick

remember to always find meaning in the little things

and

cultivate meaning in the herbs

and

maintain a thankful heart do not be ungrateful for all that you have