The Nutcracker and the Four Realms- plus my yummy Candied Pecans recipe!
Holidays are coming! When I think of the Holidays and family classics, The Nutcracker always comes to mind. But this year, it will be coming to us in a whole new way! We are excited about seeing Disney's The Nutcracker And The Four Realms starring Kiera Knightley,...
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Productivity When You Are Stress-Frozen
There are lots of ways to reduce stress in your life, and that is probably a terrific starting point, but this article is not about that. These are my personal strategies to get moving when you feel stress-frozen. I always suggest beginning with prayer and some time...
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On Aging Parents
Several years ago at a homeschool conference I was giving a talk about Chaos to Order, and ways to handle all the responsibilities of being a godly wife, mother and home educator when someone raised a hand and queried, " What advice do you have for someone who is...
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Creed 2 Coming to Theaters for Thanksgiving 2019
Ok, Guilty. When Creed was coming to theaters, Duncan and I serial watched ALL the Rocky Movies. We watched one per night every night until we finally saw Creed at the theater. This may surprise you a bit because I am generally into much family friendly movies, but in...
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Smallfoot Movie
With the Smallfoot movie, a family movie about a big adventure, I am reminded of our own family's dream. We started talking earlier this year about going to Europe as a family. I was raised in an army family, so travel was normal. My mom took the opportunity of living...
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Dog Days $50 giveaway!
Vet bills, allergies, shots, pet sitters, food expenses. In a time when we all complain that we lack time and often complain about not enough money, why are we so driven to have pets? Logically speaking, there is no reason to take on another pet and another...
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Our Greyhound Bus Nightmare
When we booked our December vacation we discussed the many options for getting to our destination. We could have flown. We could have driven. We decided to take a Greyhound bus. With five children going with us, the airfare was going to be a significant expense, and...
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Movie: Forever My Girl Releasing January 19th, 2018
Our first date was a movie, followed by dinner. I remember the evening so vividly. We went to see the movie: Child's Play (AKA Chuckie) and I had the audacity to laugh through most of it. It was meant to be scary, but the quality of the movie was so poor that I...
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HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY – Favorite Family Movies!
At the beginning of the holiday season, which for our family is generally around Thanksgiving, we start gathering together all the Christmas CDs, Audio books, movies, and books, and usher in the lovely time of year we call the Christmas season. Some of our favorites...
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What I Learned from an OCD Person’s Book
I am not a clinician, but a few chapters into this book and you will find yourself reading it incredulously. This author, if she is not clinically OCD, she is awfully close. Her relationship with stuff and her extreme drive to declutter it, as well as to be attached...
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Goodbye Christopher Robin
I flat love Winnie the Pooh. I love reading the books to my young children. I love the movies. These books can take an ordinary day and turn it into something extraordinarily magical and precious. These stories helped my own children develop their imaginations and...
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Homemaking Essentials- The Things Every Homemaker Should Know
How to make a budget - If this is something brand new to you, start with a simple budget like this: Dave Ramsey Simple Budget. Most people take a few months before they have this process down. Start right away and budget in time to look it over each week or month and...
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How to Teach Teens To Manage Time Wisely
Get our FREE PDF: Nine Tips to Teach Your Teen to Manage Time Wisely! Here's the deal: Teens are young people who are transitioning from being under out constant watch and control into total freedom. This is a shaky time for everyone. We, as parents have to sit back...
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Master List of Science Curriculum for Home Schools
This resource was developed to go along with our FREE class, 7 Days to Your Best Homeschool Year Ever. We use: Apologia- We use this for Elementary through High school Astronomy- See review Botany Astrology Zoology 1,2,3 General Science Biology Biology 2, Marine...
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Master List of Language Arts Curriculum for Home Educators
This resource was developed to go along with our curriculum, 7 Days to Your Best Homeschool Year Ever. We use: Logic of English- Comprehensive spelling/reading/grammar program from age 4-adult (for intervention) - Have found this especially helpful for dyslexia and...
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Master List of Math Curriculum for Home Educators
This resource was developed to go along with our curriculum, 7 Days to Your Best Homeschool Year Ever. Saxon Math (We use this for third grade- Advanced Math (Pre-trig and Pre-calc). This is our favorite math. Math-U-See (We use this for course level work K-2,...
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Master List of Online Classes for Homeschoolers
This resource was developed to go along with our curriculum, 7 Days to Your Best Homeschool Year Ever. One I love: Schoolhouseteachers.com (hundreds of classes, all ages, baby to adult, tons of included resources) one low price for all the classes your family wants to...
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WIN! Kwik Sticks Now for sale at Toys R US
Kwik Sticks are sincerely one of my favorite art supplies for my own children, and now a go-to gift for children of the appropriate ages. These beautiful paints come in 12 tubes that look similar to markers sticks. But they don’t work like regular markers! These are a...
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Review: Logic of English Foundations A
Last year I had the l the pleasure of reviewing Logic of English's program Essentials with my son, David. You can see that review here. Through this program he has continued to make significant progress, in spite of his dysgraphia. This made me curious. What if I'd...
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Quick Slow-Carb Breakfast
My sweet friend, and fellow homeschool mom made an instagram picture with some yummy breakfast quiches so I decided it was brilliant and decided to make my own slow-carb version using only veggies and eggs. These were quick and easy to make, and if I couple...
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The Perfectly Imperfect Tea Party
ME: "I can't do it. My house is too messy. My dishes don't match. I don't have enough cloth napkins that match. The pretty paper napkins I have don't match the dishes I have. I can't use paper plates. What if no one else likes the tea I have? What if they are...
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FREE Kindle Books on Budgets and Money Management
Why You Should Register for your Baby at Amazon
Ok, I admit it- it seems new-fangled and impersonal to create a baby registry online. Here's why I am BEGGING you to do it anyway. A lovely friend of mine recently had a beautiful baby shower. And of course, she registered for the things she wanted and needed for the...
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Reading Challenge Update
At the beginning of the year I committed to read 52 books. I know I read a fair amount, but I often have several books going at once, and some books never get finished. But this challenge had helped me stick with just one book through completion (for the most part)...
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Why I Use the FREE Cozi App PLUS a Paper Calendar
Once a week I sit down with my calendar and sync it up with my calendar app, Cozi. My paper calendar is my place where I think. I have it with me most of the time when I am home, and sometimes when I am out of the house as well. I brainstorm there, take notes, make...
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