Guess what! Our site is having it’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! We are so excited.
Here are some of the stats for our site:
Last July when we started we had about 30 free downloads, zero newsletter subscribers, and got about 30 hits a week. We had about 15 articles and a whopping three products.
Since our […]
Our friends, the Becks have put together a FREE Report and workshop that will teach you how to improve your child’s education. Get ready for the upcoming school year! If you would like to read more about it, Click Here!
To celebrate our One Year Anniversary for our site, we are offering a contest. I want to see the clutter! We are giving away a copy of : For Packrats Only How to Clean Up, Clear Out and Dejunk Your Life Forever by Don Aslet for the worst clutter story or picture. Why? Well, if […]
When we suddenly started homeschooling in 2000, one of my main concerns was for my daughter to have friends. She had been in a school from age 3 through 5th grade. I knew the transition home might be hard on my social butterfly. For this reason, I decided to start a book club here in our […]
Blueberry Season is here! Tomorrow I am going blueberry picking with my younger three children and father-in-law. I am very excited about it. If you are new to blueberries, there are a few things to know. They freeze beautifully. Do not wash them before you freeze them. Lay them in a single layer on a […]
I started with the 30 Day Gourmet Recipe, then adjusted it because I wanted it “chunky”, not to be so fine. Here is the way I make it:
To make 12 cups
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (I mill my own and use Hard White Wheat), if you purchase it, try an all purpose flou like King […]
Granola Bars (From 30 Day Gourmet Cooking Manual)
For 16 Bars
1/3 cup oil (I use Olive)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 T honey
1 t Vanilla
1 egg
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 t Cinnamon
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 cups crisp rice cereal ( I use the cheap Aldi’s brand with fine results)
1 cup chopped nuts
Optional: […]
I received this from a family friend. - Malia
Dear Family and friends, As many of you know I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 ½ years ago. After a whirlwind of meetings with doctors, tests and body scans; I was given a treatment plan. The plan began with four months of chemotherapy, followed by a […]
Save Money, Your Health and the Planet by Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, The Veggie Queen™
http://www.theveggiequeen.com or http://www.pressurecookingonline.com
I have a premise that if you can boil water, you can probably eat well, especially if you go back to basics. Starting with whole, unadulterated, foods such as beans, grains, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, vegetables and fruit which […]
I get many questions about how to get children to eat a variety of foods happilly. Well, several years ago we decided to tackle this common problem in our house, so we asked some friends how they managed to get their children to eat what was served to them so happilly. the solution is quite […]
For Saint Patrick’s Day every year I plan a green dinner. Of course, we all must wear green that day. Some ideas for a green dinner include a nice leafy salad, mashed potatoes dyed green, pistachio pudding or green jello, chicken or pasta with a green colored sauce. What about green colored milk or juice?
I […]
What are some of your favorite time saving tips?
My friend, Christine Gates sent me the following, and of course, I had to share with you.
Malia - I have a moneysaving idea…when using a roller and cleaning it…get to where it is running very thin on the paint…maybe been washing it 5 minutes or so…then put all of these rollers in your washing machine. […]
If you are looking for a way to totally immerse your child in the sounds and symbols of the English language than All About Letters All Year Long will be a treat for you! Lynda Coats, the author, has completed the hard work for you. She has created a phonetically sound master list of all […]
I have a premise that if you can boil water, you can probably eat well, especially if you go back to basics. Starting with whole, unadulterated, foods such as beans, grains, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, vegetables and fruit which come from the earth’s abundance provides a good jumping off point for good eating.
Beans and other Luscious […]
Recipe
Many of my students want to learn how to make hummus which is incredibly easy. And kids love to dip vegetables into it. You can use canned beans if you like but it’s a good recipe to use when you are first cooking beans. It doesn’t matter how your beans look and they can be […]
You may remember my recent post regarding being afraid of your pressure cooker. After that post went to the site, I was contacted by Jill Nussinow, The Veggie Queen! She has created a DVD that teaches pressure cooking. I immediately requested a copy and watched it together with my daughters today.
Now, at […]
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts […]
And God said, “Let there be light in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years… Genesis 1:14
If you do not have a calendar you absolutely love and utilize to its fullest potential, today is the day to […]
Homemaker. That is my title. It seems like such a humble word when I fill it out on a medical form or legal paperwork. Or what about this one: Domestic Engineer. With a job title like that, I could presumably demand a salary making $30,000-$500,000 per year depending upon whose calculations […]
Your employer is required to withhold federal income (FIT) and FICA taxes from your salary or wages. FICA taxes include payments for Social Security and Medicare.
For 2008, your employer withholds Social Security at the rate of 7.65% of your first $102,200 of income. For Medicare, the withholding rate is 1.45% of your income, regardless of […]
When you invest in stocks, bonds and other capital assets, you may also owe capital gains taxes on the profits from the sale of those investments.
Generally, if you sell an asset at a higher price than what you paid, you earn a capital gain. If you sell at a lower price than what you paid, […]
For the 12 months ended September 30th, 2006, the IRS received nearly 133.9 million individual income tax returns with tax payments of over $1.236 trillion from individuals, according to the Internal Revenue Service Data Book 2006.
Of the 132.2 million individual returns filed in the 2005 calendar year, IRS revenue agents examined, or audited, 1,283,950 returns. […]
The IRS requires most of us to file a federal income tax return every year. In general, the federal tax agency bases its filing requirements for a given tax year on how much income you earn for a given tax filing status.
The five tax filing statuses are single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head […]
After trying these for two months now, I am ready to give my stamp of approval to some vitamins I started taking in February.
After experimenting with some products from the Beeyoutiful Company, I decided to try their SuperMom vitamins. I am kind of a skeptic when it comes to these things, so I kept my […]
I just finished listening to the Audio mp3 called: Cherry Pie: Recipe for a Successful Christian Homeschool by Tammy Cardwell. In this audio workshop, Tammy shares her experiences and wisdom gained in her 17+ years of Homeschooling. She shares information about keeping priorities, protecting your marriage, birth order, serving in your church, and determining your purposes […]
I just finished reading a precious children’s book called: Where the Jewels Are. This book, perfect for girls ages 6-11 is about a Princess on a journey to a far away land to find the perfect jewel. On her journey she discovers that jewels can be found in any land if you only know what […]
Psst! A Secret to Scheduling Success!
by Cindy Rushton
The Ultimate Homeschool Expo
Want to know one of my biggest secrets to homeschooling the easy way? Want to know one of my biggest secrets to scheduling success? This one secret can make your daily schedule finally fit. It can end your scheduling frustrations forever.
I am not a “schedule […]
Easy Record-Keeping for the Reluctant Homeschool Mom!
By Cindy Rushton
The Ultimate Homeschool Expo
Record-keeping! Does your hair stand up when you think of record-keeping? Do you begin to grind your teeth? Did you feel like skipping this article just because it seems impossible for “EASY” and “Record-keeping” to ever go together??
Relax. I know that there […]
50+ Ideas for Taking Care of Mom!
By Cindy Rushton
The Ultimate Homeschool Expo
Tired? Weary? Need some fresh ideas for taking care of mom? Feeling that push and pull on you as you balance all of the many demands in your life? Are you great about taking care of others, yet not quite so good about taking […]
I just received my copy of a DVD that taught Basic Cake Decorating. This DVD was made by a homemaker and owner of www.teachinggoodthings.com. She spends about an hour going through all kinds of cake decorating skills, tips, and hints to help you learn quickly and easily how to decorate your own cakes […]
Watch this neat video from You Tube.
Grocery Shopping List Power — Step 1 In Saving Grocery Money
By Colleen Langenfeld
A grocery shopping list can be the front line tool you use in saving money on your grocery budget each month.
There are several more sophisticated ways to save grocery money, but none is easier or faster to implement than the lowly grocery shopping […]
For science this year we are primarilly using Jeannie Fulbright’s Zoology (Flying Creatures of the 5th Day), but occasionally we take a break and do soem experiments. This one came from our McWiz Kids kit. We basically had some insulated wire, a small lightbulb and a battery. The girls got to discover all the ways […]
Isn’t this fun?
Here are some pictures of David Making Manwich. He was so proud to make dinner for the family! Yes, we really believe in delegation. David was two years old when we took these pictures in January 2008.
I am so excited! With my husband’s blessing I am going to develop an online Homemaking911 class. I have a million ideas of what to include in this class.
I get many questions from readers, and that will be a large part of what we cover, but I NEED YOUR INPUT! Please share with me any […]
Knowledge Box Knews is offering a free gift to Homemaking911 readers. Here is a link:
http://www.knowledgeboxcentral.com/hopr.html
Adding FUN to Your Homeschool
If you are like me, each year of homeschooling, I find myself looking around,
remembering that last year, I said I was going to make “next year” more fun. So,
where’s the “fun?” Maybe next year?
Well, it doesn’t […]
From my friend, Lori Orr:
What if an unexpected illness or injury causes you to cancel or interrupt your trip
and you lose prepaid trip costs? What if while traveling in a foreign country you
have a medical emergency or lose your passport? How about arriving with no
luggage?
If you are like most people you cannot afford to let […]
Easter is just around the corner. While the bunnies and eggs are cute, do not let Easter go by without sharing with your children The Easter Story.
1. Purchase or make some “Resurrection Eggs” to discuss with your family. We purchased these at a Christian Book Store a few years ago. Each year […]
As you know, I promised in your newsletter sign ups that occasionally I would share reviews and special promotions from other Christian Publishers. I just finished reading a terrific book by Cynthia Carrier of www.valuesdrivenfamily.com. With the release of her new book, I thought it would be a perfect time to invite you to see […]
He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
Proverbs 12:11
Gardening Day -
Malia
Play Place Outside for safety
Grass Cutting
Trim Bushes
Weed Flower beds
Weed Garden
Water Garden
Fertilizing
Planting
Garage –Straighten and sweep
Gardening Day – Children
Porch, deck, walls
Weeding
Vehicles - trash, stuff, vac
Toy and Trash pickup
Bird Feeder Refill
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Colossians 1:29
For the past year I have really suffered from being low energy. In January, I discussed this with a friend. I shared with her my concern with low energy and she told me […]
Gardening Day - Malia
Play Place Outside for safety
Grass Cutting
Trim Bushes
Weed Flower beds
Weed Garden
Water Garden
Fertilizing
Planting
Garage –Straighten and sweep
Gardening Day – Children
Porch, deck, walls
Weeding
Vehicles - trash, stuff, vac
Toy and Trash pickup
Bird Feeder Refill
For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’”
1 Kings 17:14
In a large mixing bowl, sift together:
6 cups flour
3 tablespoons baking powder.
1 tablespoon salt.
Measure self-rising flour like regular flour.
Keep all […]
When I prepared this talk for Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY it was with much prayer and careful consideration. This workshop was part of a larger day called, “Spa for the Soul.” Each speaker was to tie their talk to a typical spa treatment. When I was given the list of choices, I knew […]
Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.
1 Chronicles 12:40
Great dinner […]
Excerpts from Homeschooling with the Trivium e-letter.
Some people suggest reading Dante, Chaucer, and Beowulf in the second grade. I didn’t read these until high school. What do you recommend? C.S.
I have your book Teaching the Trivium but I do not seem to be able to find any mention of your position on reading the Iliad/Odyssey. […]
We just updated our schedules because we eliminated David’s naps, and we had to account for all that time.
David’s Routine (Age 2- no naps, up at 6:00 a.m.)
With Mom
With Christina - Grooming, learing independent skills
Movie or Room Time
With Sarah - Large motor skills games
With Anne Mary-small motor skills/table games
Preschool with Mom -letters, colors, numbers, books, […]
Here is Anne Mary’s schedule , but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide to let the girls sleep in a little because they are sick or were just up late the night before, I can adjust any part of this to make the day go smoothly. Routine is in half […]
Here is Sarah’s schedule, but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide to let the girls sleep in a little because they are sick or were just up late the night before, I can adjust any part of this to make the day go smoothly. Routine is in half hour increments […]
We just updated our schedules because we eliminated David’s naps, and we had to account for all that time. Sarah is 9, Anne Mary is 7, David is 2. You can also see their individual routines as well.
Here are our schedules, but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide […]
He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9
The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared […]
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
Valentine’s Day can be simple and delightful. For Valentine’s Day 2008, we started the day making homemade pancakes from freshly milled wheat. This is always a special treat.
Then, for lunch the […]
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41
Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 1 Samuel 28:22
Baking bread it a […]
Birds continue to visit our yard for their snacks, and now in addition to the suet we have been putting out, we have been scattering seeds on the snow and putting them in the feeder outside my bedroom window. This morning there were doves happily cooing and snacking on the layer of […]
She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
Proverbs 31:15
Your initial investment for homemade baby food should be very small. You will need:
8 ice cube trays
Freezer Quality storage containers or Freezer bags.
A Blender (if you do not have one, it is not absolutely essential)
If you […]
Brand New To Homeschooling in Kentucky?
Information you may want to know:
The Home For His Glory Email list. This list serves over 700 families and generates a lot of email. If you sign up, I suggest you ask for it in digest form to reduce your emails to two emails a day that contain up to […]
As a local Support Group Leader, I get many phone calls and emails similar to the one I paraphrased below. See the edited letter (for privacy) and my response.
Hi Malia,
You don’t know me but I feel like I know you, just because of your
postings and most recently, your article in the Old Schoolhouse. You
seem like […]
The Well Educated Mind Literature Study
Saxon Algebra 2
Bible
Government (Independent Study)
Internship - Media Arts
Computer- Webpage design and optimization
Mission Trip - Appalachia
English 101 (College/High School dual credit)
Learning Literature Throught Language Arts-British Literature
Beautiful Feet: Medieval Times
Bible
French II (C’est A Toi Level 2)*
Apologia Chemistry
Internship - Media Arts Keely’s Filmworks
Business Intrernship-State Farm Insurance
Saxon Algebra I*
Mission Trip - Romania
Computer skills: Word, Excel**, powerpoint, research
Learning Literature Throught Language Arts-American Literature
Beautiful Feet - Ancient
Bible
French I (C’est A’ Toi Level 1)*
Apologia Biology
Drama
Chorus*
Saxon Algebra I/2
Speech (Sound Speech)*
Worldview/Apologetics (Anchors Away)*
Mission Trip-Boston World View Eyes
Business Internship - State Farm Insurance
Learning Literature Through Language Arts - Grey
Beautiful Feet American History
Bible
Apologia Physical Science
Drama**
P.E. (softball, swimming)
Voice/Guitar**
Advanced Math Independent **
Mission Trip- Navajo Indian Ranch
Saxon Math 5/4
Apology Zoology (Fulbright)
States and Capitals Geography
McGuffey Reader 4
Presidents Facts and Order
Shirley Grammar
ASCI Spelling 4
A Reason for Handwriting T
Bible
Mavis Beacon
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Saxon Math 3
ASCI Spelling 3
Apologia Botany (Fulbright)
A Reason for Handwriting “T”
McGuffey’s 3rd Reader
Shirley Grammar
Story of the World Volume 4
Bible
Mavis Beacon Typing
McGuffey’s Second Reader
Math-U-See (for K-2)
Story of the World Volume 3
Story of the World Activity Book
Science: Our Father’s World 2
ASCI Spelling 2
A Reason for Handwriting T
Bible
Mavis Beacon
The Story of the Orchestra
The Complete Book of Spanish
Math-U-See for 1st-2nd grade
Our Father’s World (Christian Liberty Science)
McGuffey’s First Reader
Story of the World Volume 2 and activity guide
A Reason for Handwriting Book B
ASCI Spelling 1
The Bible
Math-U-See book for 1st-2nd grade
Our Father’s World (Christian Liberty Science)
McGuffey’s Primer
Story of the World, Volume 1 and activity guide
A Reason For Writing Book A
The Bible
Go for a walk around the neighborhood
Library: Check out a movie or marriage enhancing book, or a clean joke book to share
Bike ride in the park
Invite another couple (or several!) for a weekly Bible study
Pack a Picnic
Ask for restaurant gift cards for your next occasion and save them for date nights. If you eat dinner at […]
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Do you have a pressure cooker looming in the pantry under layers of dust? Afraid you will cause an explosion if you break that thing out and actually use it? Fear no more. For the past couple of weeks […]
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
Readers share: How does your family keep CHRIST […]
“Let your rules be consistent and your consequences simple. If you have to write down your consequences in order to remember them, they are too complicated. If they last for days on end, and no one can remember what exactly the consequences are, or why you are having them in the first place, they are […]
Question: Help! My daughter is a sweet pre-teen who loves the Lord. She does well on her school work and is generally very well liked by others. But lately she has been unbearable at home. She shows no respect to me, she yells, rolls her eyes, stomps, screams, and is very unkind to her siblings. Her room […]
It is not cheap going out to eat, and at times it is hardly affordable. That is why I spend so much energy teaching moms about freezer cooking and meal planning. But if you have a little extra money and would like to have a special meal out, one way it make it affordable is […]
Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the NATIONS “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
The Lord has clearly done great things for us. We have been given […]
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
Nehemiah 13:22
Once again, cleaning is in the air. Before you grab your boxes and […]
Finding ways to give your time as a family can be a real blessing. It allows you to give freely of your time without dividing your family and encourages good stewardship in your children.
Some of these things can be as simple as baking bread or making a meal. Find out if your parish does […]
Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire,
to give them light on the road which they should travel.
Nehemiah 9:12
Play history and literature CD’s (or cassettes) when your children are in the vehicle. Many are available at your local library. My favorites: Little House on the […]
Sarah wanted a special hairstyle for her Keepers of the Home Christmas Tea Party. He searched the internet and could not find any cute styles, then Christina reminded us of a hairstyle she had used once, so we decided to try it on Sarah. Since it turned out quite lovely, we decided to photgraph step […]
These are pictures from our co-op. We cover the materials in Fulbright’s book: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day at home. Then, get together with friends to do the experiements and fun projects. These are pictures from the day we made suet and homemade bird feeders. We were meeting at my friend, Debbie’s house.
I have some precious friends that are passing along all their boy clothes to our son, David. Last night, I was going through the 2Ts to find some warm clothes for him and found these adorable coveralls. They are padded and warm, so they would be perfect for sleeping.
After I snapped him all up in […]
I just finished reading a sweet book called: The Pastor’s Assignment by Rebekah Wilson. This was a precious book. I know it will be one my daughters love. The plot of the book was simple and easy to follow, but it carried a depth of insight.
The stories told about the Nickel family as they go […]
First, let me say that I did not catch the play on words in this book title until it was pointed out to me by my teenage daughter, but this book is about going all the way in your marriage.
The book I just finished was Going All The Way by Craig Groeschel. The jacket cover says: […]
Around Thanksgiving or Christmas you can get turkey at a great price, so even if you do not have leftover turkey, you may want to buy extra for freezer or bulk cooking later. Here in Louisville, I have found it for 69 cents, and have heard of prices as low as 39 cents in other […]
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:13
We just got back from another trip with our children. My husband had a week of training in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since we homeschool we had the freedom to join him there. We had to […]
Each year around the first week of December, I call a few friends and let them know I can keep *all* their children for a day. I make a list of five or six dates that I will keep my calendar open, and call each one and let her choose a date. On that day, […]
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.’ Proverbs 31:30
What does it mean to fear the LORD? Here in our house we joke and paraphrase the Bible by saying: “The fear of mother is the beginning of all wisdom.” But really, I do want my […]
Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the NATIONS “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
The Lord has clearly done great things for us. We have been given […]
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Proverbs 29:15
It’s Friday again. I can tell that I have been less than intentional with my child training this month (with the six scheduled speaking engagements, the home school mom’s retreat and surgery, I was not as vigilant as […]
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” - 1 Peter 5:8-9
This was the Bible Gateway verse of the day. I […]
Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
Psalm 84:3
I must say that today I love my home management binder. If you have been to one of our workshops, you may […]
I received the following email from my mother:
Dear Duncan and Malia,
I know that having us there on holidays takes some planning and I thank you for all you do. Hopefully, the time spent with Grandma and Granddad will become part of the “good old days” for the kids. And for us (Grandma and Granddad) they […]
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62
When we face trials of many kinds our hope can come from so many places: From the people of this world, from the banker, from the doctor.
Let us stop and pause when our trials, big and small come. Let us go back […]
Check linens for matching sets.
Get out and make air mattresses.
Determine sleeping arrangements.
Help children “giving up” their beds get their necessities out of their rooms before guests arrive.
Lay out towels and wash clothes for guests.
Check toilet paper supplies.
Check other bathroom supplies (soap, shampoo).
Pick up a couple of extra toothbrushes.
Plan menu.
Shop for food needed (including […]
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew an steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
How many times have I prayed this prayer, yet fallen right back into those things that cause me to have an impure heart and wavering spirit? The only way I know how to keep a steadfast spirit, a spirit […]