I am a homeschooling mom of five (ages 6 - 20) and co-owner of Trigger Memory Systems, producer and marketer of non-traditional learning materials. This blog is an outlet for my various passions; several of which are creative homeschooling, frugality and decorating (frugally, of course. You just never know what you're going to find! So come browse and enjoy and don't hesitate to share your thoughts and ideas! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:54:00 -0500 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:54:00 -0500 Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes Are your kids great spellers? I have some that are and some that aren’t, but those that are, come by it naturally. Spelling is one of those subject areas I seem to find myself skipping more often than I should. I purchased AVKO spelling and my kids really liked it. The problem was that I never got around to quizzing them. Since AVKO is a “start at the beginning” program, I was working with my 9 and 11 year old on the same list. First, when one child was available, the other was working and, two, one child was much quicker than the other. I kept reading about SpellQuizzer spelling software on different blogs and forums and decided to give their 30 day free trial a whirl. The website had a list of frequently misspelled words by grade level so I imported those and let my kids try the program. They LOVED it! In fact they regularly asked if they could “play” SpellQuizzer. Um…sure! lol Since I was just getting an idea of how the program worked, I never got as far as trying to make my own lists. However, I was thrilled to be asked to do an actual review of the program, recently. To do the review I had to re-download the program to make sure I had the latest version. The download process was simple and easy to follow. After download, you’ll find a SpellQuizzer icon on your desktop. Simply click the icon to start the program. Now, you may be caught off guard when the program starts as there are no instructions. You’ll simply see a screen with options for “Quiz me on a list”, “Create a spelling list”, “Edit spelling lists”, “import spelling lists”, ”Export spelling lists”,and “Help”. And, really, it’s so simple instructions are unnecessary. First, click “Quiz me on a list”. You’ll find the program is loaded with several grade level sample lists. Click on one and then click “OK”. The program immediately starts quizzing the student. For the Grade 1 sample list, you’ll hear “Cat. The cat played with the ball of yarn.” In the box provided, your child will type the word cat and then either press “enter” or click the “check spelling” button on the screen. If the answer is correct, the program reads the next word. If the answer is incorrect, a small screen shows the child how they spelled the word and how it should be spelled. Click the “OK” box and continue with the quiz. When the quiz is finished, a small screen appears telling you how many errors you made. Click “OK”. You will then be asked if you want to retry the word you missed. Click “Yes”. Try the missed words again. When finished, a box tells you that you’ve correctly spelled the word and another asks if you want to start over. Click “No” and you’re done. A sentence showing “5 of 20 words” displays over the spelling screen as your child works through the test so they always know how many words they have left. The whole process is simple and intuitive. For my free trial I imported all the frequently misspelled word lists from the SpellQuizzer website. My 6th grader quickly worked through them all, even the “college and above” list! The import process is very simple. I just saved each list to my computer then, in the SpellQuizzer program, clicked the “Import spelling list” box. A screen asks me where to import the file from, I choose the file, check the box for that file in the import box and check “OK”. That’s it. The list will now be available in my “Quiz me” list. One thing I had not tried with my free trial, was creating my own list. I was a little concerned about setting up the microphone, but that proved to be simple as well. I had a microphone headset I use with our Rosetta Stone software so I just used that. If you don’t have a microphone, you can buy one for around $10. I plugged in the headset and clicked the “Create a spelling list” icon. First, a box appears asking you to name the list. Since I use AVKO I named they by the book and day. For instance the 7th day list in Book 1, I named AVKO 1.7. A screen will appear with the cursor in a “word to add” box. Type the word. If the word is case sensitive (August, Joe, Mr. Wood) there is a box to check. Then, under the sentence “click Start button to begin recording”, click “Start”. Say the word and a sentence using the word, then click “Stop”. To hear how it sounds, click the “Play Back” button. If it sounds good, click “Add Word” and the word is in your new list. My recordings were a bit crackly, but perfectly acceptable. I’m not sure if that’s because of the cheapie microphone, or what. At the bottom of the screen is a box to “Adjust Audio and Recording Levels”. When I first recorded there was silence when I hit the “Play Back” button. Oh dear. But I checked the “Adjust Audio” button and got a screen that allowed me to increase the Master Volume, Wave Volume, and Microphone. I moved the Master Volume and Microphone sliders to the top and it worked fine. (I don’t have a clue what Wave Volume is) Once your list is all in, click the “OK” button at the bottom and the list will be in your “Quiz Me” options. If you accidentally click the “OK” button instead of the “Add Word” button (like I did the first word I tried to add) you can easily fix it. Go to the “Edit spelling lists” icon, find the list you were working on, and keep going. If you don’t have, or don’t want to use a microphone, you can still use the software by typing in “reminder phrases”. For example, for the word “dog” you might put “ours is named Sam”. While I like the idea of this, I’m not sure how well it would really work in practice. Microphones are inexpensive and well worth purchasing to let the program work well. The program has some really nifty features. The lists in the “Quiz Me” section can be sorted by either name or by date created which makes it nice if you want to quickly find the last list you entered. You can also export lists that you have created. That means if you are part of a co-op and create a list based on your lessons, you can export that list and email it to your members, who can then import it to their own SpellQuizzer software. The SpellQuizzer spelling program website also has a lot of resources to take advantage of. There are several lists available on the site including holiday lists, religious themed lists, seasons, months and days, and much more. You’ll also find video demonstrations showing how each part of the program works, in case you have any problems. The only thing “missing”, in my opinion, is a way to record scores or see progress. My kids are good about honestly telling me how they did, but if you had a problem child, that could be an issue. Still, you could have your child show you the screen with their score when they finish and again, once they’ve fixed the misspelled words. I really like this software and my kids love it. I can just upload my lists when I have time and assign them to the kids to complete. They can move ahead at their own pace. The program can be used by all your children and, in my opinion, is well worth the $29.95 price. If you’d like the software available on up to 5 PC’s (and includes a CD), you can purchase the Family Pack License for $49.95. If you need help with fitting in spelling quizzes, be sure and check out the free trial, for sure! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/706893/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/706893/ When you decorate with yard sale decor, patience is required. For instance, we really needed some kind of side table next to a chair in the living room, but I didn't really want an traditional end table. I found a couple of old suitcases I had, put a tray on top and it served the purpose. Still, it was definitely a bit too low. That's where the patience came in. We just lived with it this way. Unfortunately, I've had minimal time to hit any yard sales this year. However, some neighbors were holding one just down the street and I decided to make a quick stop on my way to town. Yay! I found this. It was kind of funny, because I just stuck it in the house until I had time to mess with it. Several family members asked who the suitcase was for. (I think they were worried it was for them!) lol Now my end table is the perfect height. Not only that, I can store stuff inside! :-) Good deal for $5.00, right? What about you? Did you find any Weekend Wonders? If so, be sure and share them at Econobusters! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/705555/ Mon, 6 Jul 2009 13:01:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/705555/ June was so busy it didn't really feel like much of a break at all. Today we sat down and made a summer wish list. Seems like quite a bit to fit in eight weeks, but I'm thinking we can do it. At least it'll help me make sure we're having some fun, as I tend to get overly focused on work. I'm looking forward to seeing if we can get it all checked off! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/704236/ Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/704236/ Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest Maps has generously let us share the below, very helpful, article. 5 Must-Have, No-Cost Resources for Homeschooling This past year has not been an easy one for many Americans, that’s for sure.  With businesses downsizing and laying off staff, many loyal employees find themselves out of work.  With the bursting of the real estate bubble, many hard-working homeowners find themselves in a house they can no longer afford to keep and yet can neither afford to sell.  We live in hard times, but often it is these very hard times that generate the most creative thinking.  As they say… Necessity is the mother of invention.  I believe that was first spoken by Plato.  Or you could say... “Invention is the mother of necessity.”  Thorstein Veblen, the author of that quote, was a U.S. economist and social philosopher who lived during the latter portion of the 19th century until the Great Depression.  He lived in times not unlike our own.  Swift change can cause turmoil. So, if invention and creativity is spurred on by necessity or difficulty (and vice versa), then now is a great time to look for and use no-cost resources that will serve us well during this economic downturn. There are many of you who cannot afford homeschooling curriculum this year.  Does that mean that you should put your children into public school?  No, what it means is that it is time to get creative, even inventive, when it comes to our children’s education. And this is your place to start.  I am going to share with you my top 5 “must-have” homeschooling resources that won’t cost you a dime.  Bookmark each of these sites and refer to them often as you prepare and teach your children during this upcoming school year. Top 5 Must-Have No-Cost Homeschooling Resources (These are not listed in any particular order because they are all good!  Bookmark or sign up for them all!) Jim Erskine’s Freebie of the Day - http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/.  If you are not aware of this site, then I am excited to share it with you.  Jim works with homeschool publishers to provide you with 1 freebie each day.  The link to the freebie is only active for 24 hours, so you have to act fast, but these are quality offerings and not just filler junk.  Trust me, I have participated in this program and we have given away a full U.S. geography curriculum on one occasion and another full ebook on another occasion.  Other publishers are doing the same thing.  So sign up using the “Join List” tab at the top of the page. The Old Schoolhouse’s Teacher Toolbox - http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/E_News/index.php#teacherstoolbox.  Most of you are probably aware of their Freebie Friday newsletter (if you are not, then sign up for that one as well).  But the Teacher Toolbox newsletter is a lesser known treasure. The Teacher's Toolbox is a great way to inject something extra into your teaching plans especially when you are homeschooling on a shoestring. The Homeschool Mom Unit Studies - http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/schoolroom/unitstudies.php.  Actually, the entire Homeschool Mom site is a gem and you should spend some time there getting familiarized with it and find out what it has to offer.  But I specifically highlighted the unit study page because unit studies are a great way to homeschool your children especially if you are working with limited funds.  You can teach them all the same topic but at varying levels.  You can often utilize library books and online information resources – all for free. Donna Young Printables and Resources - http://donnayoung.org/index.htm.  Yes, this site is a treasure trove of lessons, planners and forms.  There is a form for everything you could ever need.  I especially like her diplomas!  If you are looking for a specific form, a planner or a lesson for a certain subject, make sure that you check here!  Donna Young has so many useful forms and resources that you will think you have hit the jackpot. Homeschooling ABCs Free 5 Day MiniClass – http://www.homeschoolingabcs.com.  Sometimes when you are throwing it all together yourself and not using pre-made curriculum, you can start to wonder if you are on the right track.  Worry no longer… sign up for the free 5 day mini-class at the site above and receive information on: Ø What to Teach and When Ø 4 Steps to Homeschooling Success Ø Homeschooling on a Dime Ø Getting the Help You Need Ø Planning and Scheduling There you go – 5 “Must-Have” No-Cost Resources for Homeschooling.  Take advantage of them.  Let them be the fuel that starts your creative engine and keeps it going strong.  My hope and prayer for you is that you have NOT been hit hard by this financial mess our country has found itself in.  But if you have been, then look for the silver lining amongst the gray clouds.  As Patti Handy says, “Don’t let a good financial crisis go to waste.” (www.teenscashcoach.com) Warmly, Terri Johnson Bramley BooksTM, a division of Knowledge Quest, Inc. www.KnowledgeQuestMaps.com 1.877.697.8611 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/704222/ Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/704222/ Check out this post on our sister blog and let me know your thoughts. I thought it was pretty intersting. http://pjsallday.com/?p=91 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/699037/ Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/699037/ One down, four to go! lol Brad graduated today, magna cum laude, from Eastern Washington University. He received an award for Outstanding Senior in the Criminal Justice Program. There were a LOT of kids. And we were FAAAR away. <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/redmom6/grad2.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/redmom6/grad5.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="525" /></p> And two weeks ago, he got married! <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs031.snc1/4304_1156970157121_1013750293_30458143_6545178_n.jpg" alt="" width="402" height="604" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">A good month! :-)</p> http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/698845/ Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/698845/ I didn't "technically" go yard saling this weekend. We were too busy getting ready for our trip to Florida. Paige and I are at the hotel in Spokane now, and get on our flight at 6am. YAY! We'll be meeting Paul, Gena and the rest of the Suarez family, along with our Marketing Director, Michelle, for meetings. Then we get to attend the FPEA Homeschool Convention. Oh! And Paige and I have one day for sightseeing! Can't wait to tell you about it. So....back to the yard saling that I didn't have time for...we did stop by one sale on our way home from church and I snagged two Cub Scout shirts with scarves and one with a cap. My boys already have shirts, but these will be a real blessing to someone. (I'm a Den Leader) I got them for $1 each. This is probably over $50 retail! Don't forget to share your Weekend Wonder over at Econobusters.com! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/690359/ Mon, 18 May 2009 22:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/690359/ I've had a terrible time finding a dress for my daughter to wear for my son's wedding. First, there are no dresses in this town. Second, anytime I could get away for a shopping trip, she had ballgames. This weekend she had a game and we stopped at the ONE store I hadn't tried (I'd looked for me, but not her). Believe it or not, we found a dress in the perfect colors that she loved. Unfortunately, it cost more than mine did, but we went ahead and got it. As for my "weekend wonder" this week, we were able to find a pair of ballet flat type shoes in new condition at a consignment store that will work perfectly with the dress for $5.99 instead of the $15-$30 we would have paid. Not a SUPER bargain (ie: yard sale or thrift store prices) but still better than buying new. Better yet (and I can't call this a yard sale/thrifted wonder) was how we got a shrug. She really needed a little shrug to wear with the dress. Would you believe they were actually selling them for up to $79, where we bought the dress??!! NUTSO! We did find something suitable at Walmart for much less, but they only had brown and coral and neither would do. When I got home, I ran over to my neighbor's for some knitting help before I could take a bath and hop in my jammies. She's teaching me to knit and I had a quick question on my project. Well...I had Paige walk over with me and we showed her the dress and commented about the price of shrugs. My neighbor then offered to knit one "real quick" as she had an extra skein of black. (I'm actually working on one as my first project, but I'm guessing it'll be weeks before I'm done) Would you believe she brought it over this evening, LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER and it's perfect. It used one small skein of year ($2.49)! I guess I should have taken a moment to straighten it out first. lol It's really not lopsided, like that.  It'll look lovely with the dress which is black and white, with pink accents. (same colors as the wedding) I also got a couple tops for my daughter  and a top and pajama bottoms for my son and several books to go with our Sea and Space study next year. Do you have any Weekend Wonders to share? If so, be sure and share them with Molly over at Econobusters. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/687731/ Mon, 11 May 2009 01:33:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/687731/ Believe it or not, if you sign up at ArtsCow.com you will receive 1200 free prints. 600 4X6 prints and 600 5X7 prints. I even read the fine print and it stipulates that you can only use 100 4X6 and 5- 5X7 credits per month. OK, I can do that. That will be a HUGE help printing out that backlog of photos I've got on my computer. (I want to give each child an album when they leave home and try to have actual prints of major events and family members at different ages). I then thought that the "gimmick" must be in the shipping rates, but no, they're right on the site and perfectly reasonable. They looked to be about $5.99 for 100 prints. I can do that! They also have some good deals on photo books so you might check those out while you're there as well. So if you have a bunch of pictures you're needing to get printed out, check HERE first! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/660751/ Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:36:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/660751/ If you subscribe to Netflix, be sure to check it for videos related to your studies. We've found some real jewels. I was recently considering purchasing some Drive Thru History videos but thought to check Netflix. Believe it or not, they have three of them for rent, including one we needed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/655640/ Sat, 7 Feb 2009 13:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/655640/ Get a download of The 7 Secrets of Highly Effective People HERE. (I have no idea how long this is good for) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/655144/ Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/655144/ Favorite comment from The Office: "I need to have Youtube come down and film this!" I know that probably shouldn't have made me laugh as hard as it did. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/654166/ Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/654166/   A Facebook friend recently let me know about Pandora.com internet radio. I LOVE this site. You simply type in the name of an artist you like and it will start playing songs that are musically similar. THEN, you can click the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" on each song it plays to further fine-tune and allow it find your likes. I started out by entering "Jack Johnson" and have been pleased with almost all the songs that have been pulled. This is a fun and FREE way to hear new music and find songs you might like. (I can't wait to add "Todd Agnew" and "Creedence Clearwater" stations to see what I get for them) New music works for me! To see more Works for Me Wednesday tips visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/654164/ Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:23:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/654164/ I recently canceled my Grocery Game subscription because I found a site that I like even better and, believe it or not, this site is FREE. I waited quite awhile to make sure it was just as good as The Grocery Game, and really prefer. The site is Savvy Shopper Deals. The best part of the site is the Shopping Wizard (find it in the blue bar at the top). Click on the Wizard and use the dropdown to set your options. I usually choose "All Categories", "Albertsons"  "40%" and "all ranks". However, if you were looking for a specific item, you could choose "all stores" and use the keyword to put in the name of the item. Now, click the "+" symbol for each item you may want to buy and it will add it to your Organizer. When you're all done click "Organizer" at the top (blue bar again). Then, click "Print LIst" in the smaller blue bar. Not only will it print out all your items, categorized by department, it will give you a nice list of all the coupons you need to pull at the end. Besides being free, I prefer this over TGG because it updates when ads come out. TGG switched over on Sunday, only allowing me three days to get my groceries before the next ad came out. When town is 20 miles away, this is often a hassle. I try to make one trip a week, when possible. They also have a nice Coupon Index. You can put in the name of a product and it will let you know if there are any coupons available for it and what insert they are in. So, while The Grocery Game is great, Savvy Shopper Deals is even better, in my opinion. Give it a try and see what you think. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/653390/ Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:36:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/653390/ We're very proud of Brad and haven't updated about him in some time. He spent this last summer fighting fire for the DNR around Spokane, WA and was promoted to Engine Leader. He really enjoys this work, though it seems it's not an "undangerous" as I was initially led to believe. Here are some pics from this summer.   Apparently, they DO have time to stop and pose during work. lol (Most of these were taken with camera phones, so aren't high quality)       I thought this was a neat picture, with the light shining down like that.     When Brad got his evaluation he had great marks and a comment that he was their first interview choice, from 41 applicants!   Brad is now back at Eastern WA State Uiversity, finishing up his Criminal Justice degree, but seriously considering a switch to fire. He got hired on at the Cheney volunteer fire department and is getting paid to complete the rest of his fire training.   Last week, Brad applied to the cadet program, which would allow him to work with the police department. They usually like to hire students with two years of school left, so the fact that Brad only had one, was somewhat of a detriment. We weren't sure how much it would count against him. The department had four slots and forty applicants.   Brad made it! He should be starting work this week. He had planned to finish school in March, but will now take extra classes and take the last quarter, since he has to be in school to participate in the cadet program. That way he'll get a whole year of experience. His supervisor said he wanted to help him build a great portfolio and make sure he got a job upon graduation.   Congrats, Brad!!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/613321/ Sat, 1 Nov 2008 22:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/613321/   This Saturday you can get into any Smithsonian affiliated museum at no charge. Simply go HERE to find a participating museum in your area (there were several in my area and we're pretty rural). Then click on the "Admission Card" tab to print out your free pass. Free field trips Work For Me! To see more Works for Me Wednesday tips visit Shannon HERE.   And, from earlier posts this week, see how to keep the family from dumping stuff on your dining table HERE. And my loose shoe solution HERE. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/594562/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/594562/ I have a good friend with impeccable taste. It's always so fun to visit her house and just soak in the serenity and beauty. One of the things she does, is to always have a fully set dining table, with her pretty dishes out, and seasonal decor. In fact, she cracked me up because they are just building a new house and moving. She was not even close to moved in, with boxes everywhere, but had set up her dining table. You gotta love it! As she said, "Priorities!" lol   When I was at Walmart last week I found a tablecloth, napkins and napkin holders that I really liked and thought, "why not?" I'd purchased gold chargers on sale after Christmas last year and by everyday dishes matched just fine. (I have a large set with plenty left for everyday use) So I set up a "pretty" table that I plan to leave set.  I really enjoy walking in and seeing it each time I come in the door.     But the real added bonus?? NO ONE LEAVES PILES OF STUFF ON THE TABLE ANYMORE!! That was normally, the first place "stuff" would get dropped when someone came in the door. What a lovely solution to an annoying problem.   And we did use the table for Kevin's birthday. Brad will be home on Monday, for two days, and I think we'll use the dining table then as well. Gee...we might actually start using this room now! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592967/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592967/  We are using Mystery of History this year and the kids are loving it. I also purchased Illuminations (currently in beta testing) to go with it. I'm not using many of the components of that program but love the scheduled read-alouds, Family Study Guides, Graphic Organizers and Netflix movie suggestions to go with the lessons.   So far this year we've read:   Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechick. I almost didn't get this book because it sounded a bit dry and studious. I'm SOO glad I did. It was great! It really helped me with the who's who in the Bible.     The Secret of the Scribe is a great book about a slave that escapes death and disguises herself as a boy to earn a living as a scribe in Ur. Exciting and full of good info on early Sumeria.   And this week we will be finishing up The Golden Goblet. This story is kind of a detective story that takes place in Egypt. Again, lots of references to the culture we've been learning about. This book is a real page turner. The main character, Ranofer, is involved in many difficult situations that make for good, "What would you do?" discussions.    We've also watched: -Greatest Places: IMAX -Noah's Ark -Dinosaur -Project Dinosaur (recommended) -The Mysteries of Egypt: IMAX -Great Pyramids of Egypt -Mummies   Below, the kids are excavating fossils from "dinosaur eggs". They were then able to put their skeletons together. I also have pictures of our Cuneiform tablets and Brayden's Zigurrat, but seem to have misplaced them. I'll try and find them and get them up shortly.    I'm really pleased to have a curriculum that we are all (me included!) enjoying so much! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592966/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592966/ Do you have this problem?     This really makes me nuts. You see, we have a lovely entry off the front door, with plenty of space inside for shoes, but NO ONE uses the front door. Seriously.   We also have a mudroom off the back door, with a basket reserved just for shoes. Guess what? No one uses the back door, either.   Everyone uses the side door that comes directly into our dining room. I HATE the messy pile of shoes that is always outside the door and have been trying to come up with a viable solution for some time. Well, yesterday I was walking to the store and our little gift shop had this wheelbarrow display case sitting out front for $35. They'd bought it to use as a display for the store, but it didn't work for them. (It still had the $149 price tag still on it)   What a perfect place to put shoes. It was cute as could be but the color, a pretty springy green, really clashed with the house. Still, don't those shoes look ever so much better on their shelves?     Today, I painted the doors on the house and went through my odball paints to find something to paint the little cart with. I showed dh my choice and he was confused because it didn't match the house. I mean, I have all this house paint, why wouldn't I just paint it with that? Honestly, I TRIED to explain that I didn't want it to "match" but rather, wanted it to "coordinate". I think he thought I was nuts.   Nonetheless, I think it turned out lovely. In fact, I think I might even use this color on the porch floor. (If I can figure out what color it is) Up until now, we were thinking the dark chocolate that is on the trim. But is shows dirt and dust terribly. What do you think?     Oh! I plan to reserve the top shelf for seasonal decor to make the shoes even less noticeable. Next trip to the store I'll grab some pumpkins to put up top.   You know, if you compare the pic before the cart and door were painted and the pic after they are painted ... isn't it amazing what a difference a few coats of paint and the right colors make? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592965/ Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592965/ Kevin turned 19 on the 16th and joined us for dinner with his girlfriend, Bethany.     This was taken post-dinner, hence the plateless chargers. And that Christmas hotpad was covered up during the meal. I promise. ROFL   Opening gifts...   ....see, when you hit "adult land" you get "fun" gifts like towels and sheets!     Actually, we did get him a DVD player as well. But he was most impressed by this...     Wanna see a close-up? (We find this amusing because Kevin is hard to get to smile or show a lot of emotion, so this is way out there for him)     And just what is this amazing gift? An Alien ID card that Paige found when we visited Seattle and insisted I get it for Kevin. (It cost a whole $2.95) I guess I need not worry about him being too grown up yet. ;-) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592963/ Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom/592963/