Is There A Bathroom On This Ship?

Native American Animal Mask Craft

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:55:00 +0000

This is a fun, easy, and inexpensive craft to make if you're studying Native Americans ... a storyteller animal mask from The Kids' Multicultural Art Book: Art & Craft Experiences from Around the World by Alexandra M. Terzian. My kids chose to make a bird and have been having a wonderful time acting out stories.

Make It Yourself: Gift Bow

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:41:00 +0000

One of my almost teen's friends had a birthday last month, so I decided that was the perfect opportunity to try my hand at making a gift bow. I used the method found on this tutorial. Because I chose to use a piece of leftover wrapping paper so the bow would match really well, I had to adjust the lengths given in the tutorial since my paper wasn't large enough. It made things a little more difficult with shorter lengths, but I was very pleased with the end result and his friend raved about the bow as much as the gift. I'm not very crafty by any means, but these directions aren't terribly complicated at all. This is a really fun way to upcycle magazines and wrapping paper!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - February 10, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:52:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I have been so busy I haven't even known what day it is most of the week! The week brought undesirable things in the mail, some rain that interrupted my oldest's riding lesson so he had an additional lesson which threw my lesson plans all askew, an unexpected errand that ate up quite a bit of time again throwing my lesson plans all out of sorts, I've had to clean up really nasty cat vomit, and our well water purification system is on the fritz again leaving me having to hand wash dishes (using the dishwasher when the system isn't working correctly leaves a thick residue on everything).

In our homeschool this week...

We've chased horses in the rain (ended up a muddy mess and I think my kindergartner managed to also find every pile of horse poop!), my kindergartner did a scavenger hunt at co-op, and my oldest has moved into South America with his geography lessons.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

One freebie site I've used a lot is Learning Page.

I am inspired by...

How a simple bouquet of wildflowers picked from my yard and sitting in a vase on my kitchen windowsill can lift my spirits.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Taekwon-do lessons plus demo team practice, riding lessons, church, and homeschool co-op.

My favorite thing this week was...

As un-fun (yes, I just totally made that a word!) as it was being out in the rain and ending up covered in mud, watching the horses run, especially the big, beautiful belgian draft horse, was breathtaking ... magical beauty right before my eyes.

What's working/not working for us...

Working - My almost teen and I have been having some great discussions lately during all our time in the car on the way to one place or another. We've talked about the Republican candidates, a fair tax system, billboards, and a wide variety of other things we'd never cover in a formal curriculum.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I'm just dumbfounded how thoughtless and insensitive some people can be, especially when it involves hurting a child's feelings.

Things I'm working on...

I've been trying to (yet again) sort Legos, K'Nex, Playmobil, etc. into storage bins. My kindergartner has destroyed it all almost as fast as I've organized. I've also been trying to continue decluttering to find donations for an upcoming free yard sale.

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version), Eldest by Christopher Paolini, and Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies by Sloane Miller.

I'm cooking...

The only thing I managed to contribute this week to our meals was potato leek soup and cornbread.

I'm grateful for...

The Ken Ham Foundations DVD series/class at church. My oldest and I are covering the exact same topics in Apologia General Science right now. He's told me how much he's enjoying the class, so I'm very thankful we're able to experience it together.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - February 3, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:57:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I/we adopted the foster cat. I suppose I knew all along that's what would happen. Unfortunately it wasn't as easy of a process as one would think. A lot of the required information I provided when I took him out of the shelter for foster care was lost from their computer. The shelter employee assisting me jumped all over me about that. I still haven't figured out how that was my fault. Then, information the person in charge of the animals in foster care had discussed with me and put in the computer was nowhere to be found. I was made to feel I was lying about the entire conversation I had with her. I was grilled as to why I went from fostering to adoption. Really! It was over two hours of a massive headache for me. I knew (from previous experience) a lot of the shelter employees needed an attitude adjustment, but this brought that to light even more. I see more and more why the public does not like to deal with them. My almost teen and I were thinking of applying to volunteer there, but I honestly don't believe I could tolerate their rudeness on a regular basis. It would be toxic. I have started exploring other organizations we could work with instead.

In our homeschool this week...

It's very much been a week of just trying to get everyone to accomplish their work for the week and find a good rhythm for working weekly horseback riding lessons (a much lengthier lesson than we were accustomed to previously, although I am not complaining about that one bit) into our homeschool lessons.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Astronomy Picture of the Day ... very cool site!

I am inspired by...

Taking the time to read again ... books on my "to read" list that aren't part of a review for any of the publishers I often work with. I've been staying up way to late at night to do so, but I have really been enjoying this simple treat.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Taekwon-do, riding lesson, church, homeschool co-op.

My favorite thing this week was...

I was finally able to see the homeschool library available to co-op members. There is no time limit concerning how long you keep the materials ... some people keep what they've checked out over a year or more! I found a couple of pieces of curricula I can use with my kindergartner, so that will save me some $$$. Yay!

What's working/not working for us...

Not working - The clashes I continue to have with my almost teen over his lessons. He's hormonal, I'm hormonal ... aughhhhhhhhhhh! The stress is overwhelming me again.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I am wondering when I am going to snap out of my lack of desire to do any baking. I love to bake! There are so many things I'd love to have to eat, but I cannot get motivated to get myself into the kitchen.

Things I'm working on...

I'm still continuing to declutter. This week I went through a huge pile of old homeschool work and tossed what I no longer needed to keep into the recycling bin (after saving a few items I wanted to keep). I've been reorganizing other papers I've kept for lessons and getting them sorted appropriately into my filing cabinet. I've also been going through as much stuff around the house as possible gathering up items to donate to a free yard sale coming up soon.

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version) and Eldest by Christopher Paolini.

I'm cooking...

I have been super busy this week, so my spouse has done all the cooking.

I'm grateful for...

Even though my kindergartner is too small for riding lessons just yet, he is still having a great time being around the horses every week and has made fast friends with the goat also living on the property. They were quite a pair this week.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer (Review)

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

Title: Love Out Loud: 365 Devotions for Loving God, Loving Yourself, and Loving Others
Author: Joyce Meyer
Format: Hardcover (384 pages)
Publish Date: 11/2/2011
List Price: $16.99 U.S./$18.50 Canada
ISBN: 9780446538473
Publisher: Faith Words

Synopsis: Many Christians get mixed up about what love really is. They know they should love God and others, but don't understand that loving yourself is one-third of God's equation. Instead, they mistakenly think of it as being selfish or egotistical. In Love Out Loud, these daily devotionals will help you walk through the process of learning to love God with your whole heart, which will then help you love yourself in a balanced, healthy way. And as you do, you will be able to really love others the way God does. It's a winning combination that will fulfill you for the rest of your life!

About the author: Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers, with her TV and radio broadcast, Enjoying Everyday Life, airing on nearly 450 television networks and 400 radio stations worldwide, including ABC Family Channel, Trinity Broadcast Network, Daystar, and the Word Network. Her bestselling books include Battlefield of the Mind, Look Great, Feel Great, The Confident Woman, Never Give Up! and Power Thoughts. Joyce holds conferences approximately 15 times each year, worldwide, speaking to thousands.

Joyce Meyer's new devotional, Love Out Loud, is a huge hit with me! The 5" x 7" size doesn't take up a lot of space and makes it easy to tuck into a purse, backpack, or other carrying bag when you're away from home. Each devotional has a corresponding date, but no year is printed on the page ... perfect for revisiting over and over! A related verse of Scripture starts you off, you then move into a short devotional, then you finish up with a "Love God Today" thought (these range from profound thoughts to short prayers to questions for you to ponder further). This year-long devotional book is great for men and women alike, ages teen and up, and tackles subjects such as staying calm in troubled times, thanking God, powerful and effective prayers, grief and mourning, wisdom, unforgiveness, enjoying life, and much more.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - January 27, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:53:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I failed at quitting church. As happy as I was with the decision, my kindergartner literally crying because he wanted to go back broke my heart. So ... back we went. I do love my Sunday School class (a small class of anywhere from 9-12 people each week), so I don't have a problem with it at all. For service, we chose to sit in the balcony to remove ourselves from all the people who have been so hurtful. Just for God to have a little more fun with me, I discovered the new series of Sunday night classes started this past weekend as well. The Foundations 12-part DVD series by Ken Ham is one of the classes, and I really felt led to attend. I informed my almost teen he was also attending. :) We both loved it. Now please don't misunderstand ... I'm still extremely unhappy, but I am trying to go with the flow at this point, pay no attention to the hurtful people, and allow my kindergartner to continue to have a good time and blossom.

In our homeschool this week...

My almost teen started horseback riding lessons again, and I am thrilled for him! He was invited to check out an opportunity to work with a group that rescues horses. Basically the rescuers give riding, etc. lessons to the kids in the group ... in exchange, the kids return the favor one day a month by giving horse rides to kids from a local support group (sorry to be so vague, just trying to respect the privacy of all involved), plus they do other necessary work pertaining to the horses. It's a win/win!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb. 17-20. My boys and I look forward to it every year! It's a wonderful way to do a fun nature study.

I am inspired by...

How well I've been sleeping this week. Maybe the foster cat trying to share my pillow isn't such a bad thing! I'm feeling more refreshed each morning, rising earlier, and getting more accomplished.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Taekwon-do lessons and riding lessons.

My favorite thing this week was...

The big laugh my kindergartner and I shared over an incident that happening during my almost teen's riding lesson. My little guy had gathered up a pile of leaves making a "collection." The other horses were roaming free on the property, came over to our picnic blanket, and a couple of them ate his leaves!

What's working/not working for us...

Working - We're currently exploring collage for our art lessons. Both kiddos have been having a great time.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I am pondering whether or not to attend our state homeschool convention this year. It's incredibly expensive to go if we stay for the entire thing ... hotel & parking costs, kennel fees for all our animals, etc. ... so I am toying with the idea of going only one day and taking the entire day to wander around the vendor hall (it's massive!). The fee is steep (in my opinion) for doing that only, but I would really like the opportunity to look at many more curriculum options than just the few that come as vendors to a nearby free convention. With the high school years approaching faster than I'd like to admit (fall of 2013), I am trying to get a game plan formed.

Things I'm working on...

This week I have desperately been trying to catch up on laundry. I let it slide a wee bit too long ... now I'm paying the price.

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version) and Eldest by Christopher Paolini. I finished The Throne Of Fire by Rick Riordan and enjoyed perusing the Green Market Baking Book by Laura C. Martin.

I'm cooking...

Roasted asparagus, roast potatoes, homemade pizzas, popcorn cooked in coconut oil (YUM!).

I'm grateful for...

The kids and I made an impromptu stop at a yard sale this past weekend. I found several things on my yard sale wish list, plus my oldest found a computer game he's been wanting for a long time. Everything we purchased came out to about 14¢ per item - my kind of yard sale!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Spontaneous Happiness winners

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Congratulations to entrants #58 Bee, #101 deanna, and #144 Donna - each will receive a copy of Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil. Many thanks to all who participated!!

Apple Oatmeal Dog Biscuits

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Here's a quick and easy dog biscuit my canine children love.

1 1/2 cups organic white whole wheat flour

1 cup organic rolled oats

1/2 tsp. organic ground cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup water

1 organic Granny Smith apple (cored, peeled, and finely diced)

Combine all ingredients and mix well into a dough. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and flatten slightly between the palms of your hands. Place on a baking stone; bake at 350 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes (may take more or less time based on thickness). Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - January 20, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:56:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I became a mom again ... a foster mom ... to a cat. It was totally unplanned, but I'm feeling really good about the spur of the moment decision. It all started out with an innocent trip to the humane society's yard sale. After we'd purchased our new treasures, we headed inside to visit with the animals. My tween was absolutely drawn to a sweetheart orange tabby. His information said he's 9 years old. I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to have been a part of someone's life or family for 9 years and then be dumped at the shelter. I say "dumped" because his information stated the reason he was brought in was because he didn't get along with the other household cat - not a case of someone losing their job or home. He was a big love bug, but it was obvious he was coming down with an upper respiratory infection. This humane society is not a no kill shelter. I knew his fate would be being moved to isolation (where he would not be given meds) and then euthanasia. My heart wept for him. My tween was begging to adopt him, but dad made it clear that was a big NO. Instead, we ~~got roped into~~ agreed to foster him with the intent of finding him a forever home. Now we're (hubby and I) debating adopting him. We fear he would be passed over as undesirable due to his "advanced" age (never mind he has plenty of years left) - everyone wants a kitten. He's a great, mellow cat - loves to be loved, loves belly rubs, and loves to "talk". We're giving him meds for his URI (fostering or adopting him was the only way the shelter would give them to him), and he's making good progress so far with kicking it. Unfortunately, he thinks my pillow is a perfect place to sleep (while I'm also using it for sleep).

In our homeschool this week...

There's been a lot of focus on the foster cat and not a lot of focus on homeschool lessons. Of course taking care of him is a lesson in itself.....

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

I personally think it's great to build up your home library as much as possible through yard sales, thrift stores, library book sales, etc. I got away from doing so just because it felt like we were drowning in books, but this homeschool year has been a difficult and frustrating one for us using the public library. Our county public library system continues to be hit with budget cuts, they're understaffed, and items returned on time aren't being checked in on time (we've had to argue a lot of fines we didn't owe this homeschool year). It's also been increasingly difficult to obtain the specific materials I'd intended to use. There are definitely a lot more homeschoolers using our library system than ever before. I will be back to building up our home library again.

I am inspired by...

The calm feeling I have in the midst of some recent big decisions (see last week's THMJ).

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Taekwon-do lesson, a taekwon-do testing for my tween (moved up to high yellow belt), a yard sale to benefit the humane society, and homeschool co-op where my tween made oyster mats and my kindergartner participated in an archaeology dig by "excavating" chocolate chips from a cookie.

My favorite thing this week was...

Manatees in one of the canals here. Magical.

What's working/not working for us...

Working - My kindergartner is having a wonderful time doing step-by-step drawings in various issues of Big Backyard magazine.

Questions/thoughts I have...

If I had a nickel for every time I've stepped on a Lego over the past 12 years, I wonder how rich I'd be?

Things I'm working on...

I'm still working on a general declutter and reorganization around the house. I have also been cutting up outgrown/old clothing to use for making quilts and pet blankets.

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version) and The Throne Of Fire by Rick Riordan. I finished Paper Angels by Billy Coffey (I'm working on the review) - it's a must read!

I'm cooking...

Instant refried bean mix, banana chocolate chip muffins, potato leek soup ... I think those were my main contributions this past week.

I'm grateful for...

A nice stack of homeschool materials and books given to me by an acquaintance. To top it off, the same day my spouse brought home a big stack of homeschool materials and books given to him by one of his clients who is no longer homeschooling. Yay!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Manatees in the canal

Moose (drawn by my kindergartner)

Our sweet foster cat

Squash Patties

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Oh so simple ..... oh so good!

1 cup organic white whole wheat flour

1 tsp. Rapadura (organic whole cane sugar made by Rapunzel)

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup organic plain rice milk

1 T. organic ground flaxseed meal + 3 T. water

1/4 cup organic extra virgin coconut oil

3 cups grated organic yellow summer squash

Dash of organic black pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Drop by heaping tablespoons into prepared skillet of hot organic extra virgin coconut oil. Cook over medium heat until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels before serving.

Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil, MD (Review w/ Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:53:00 +0000

***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Title: Spontaneous Happiness
Author: Andrew Weil, MD
Format: Hardcover (288 pages)
Publish Date: 11/8/2011
List Price: $27.99 U.S./$29.99 Canada
ISBN: 9780316129442
Publisher: Little, Brown And Company

Overview: Everyone wants to be happy. But what does that really mean? Increasingly, scientific evidence shows us that true satisfaction and well-being come only from within. Dr. Andrew Weil has proven that the best way to maintain optimum physical health is to draw on both conventional and alternative medicine. Now, in Spontaneous Happiness, he gives us the foundation for attaining and sustaining optimum emotional health. Dr. Weil offers an array of scientifically proven strategies from Eastern and Western psychology to counteract low mood and enhance contentment, comfort, resilience, serenity, and emotional balance. Lastly, Dr. Weil presents and eight-week program that can be customized according to specific needs, with short- and long-term advice on nutrition, exercise, supplements, environment, lifestyle, and much more.

About the author: Andrew Weil, MD, is the author of twelve previous books, including Spontaneous Healing, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, and Healthy Aging. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, he is a professor of public health and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona as well as director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

We've all heard the saying "it's the little things" ... well, that's quite true! So many people worry about taking care of their physical well-being, but forget their emotional well-bring is just as important. In Spontaneous Happiness, Dr. Weil covers an array of topics such as the effects of alcohol and caffeine, anti-anxiety drugs, the importance of touch, how sound and noise affect us, having animal companions, being forgiving, laughter, gratitude, and compassion. The 8-week program for optimum emotional well-being is much like his 8 Weeks to Optimum Health (if you are familiar with that book) in its approach. You'll answer questions about different aspects of your health and lifestyle and implement strategies for taking better care of your mind, body, and spirit - no mumbo jumbo nonsense, just good, practical advice for taking control of your own health.

Hachette Book Group is generously offering THREE of my readers the opportunity to receive a copy of Spontaneous Happiness! Entrants must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the United States or Canada (no P.O. boxes and Canadian winners must also provide a telephone # for shipping). Entries will be accepted through 11:59pm EST on January 24, 2011. The winners will be selected using random.org on January 25, 2011 and notified via email. Each winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email with his/her shipping information, or another winner will be selected. Hachette Book Group will ship directly to the winners. Please note: Hachette Book Group winners are subject to ONE copy of this title per household. If any winner should win this same title in more than one giveaway, he/she will receive only one copy from Hachette Book Group.

Mandatory entry: This must be completed before any other entry. Leave a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy of Spontaneous Happiness - it's that simple! Please include your email address as part of your comment(s) if it is not available via your blog profile.

Bonus entries: You may do any of the following for ONE additional entry EACH. Please leave a separate comment for each.

* Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect.
* Follow @aussiemamma on Twitter. (Please include your username as part of your comment.)
* Follow my blog via Networked Blogs.
* "Like" Is There A Bathroom On This Ship? on Facebook.
* "Like" Little, Brown and Company on Facebook.
* Follow @littlebrown and @DrWeil on Twitter. (Please include your username as part of your comment.)

I was supplied with a complimentary copy of this title in order to provide an honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, and I was not required to write a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Make It Yourself: Mail Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:56:00 +0000

Our previous mail system was not working at all, so this is another quick, easy, and inexpensive organizer I made during our winter holiday homeschool break. I took 3 identical cereal boxes, flattened them, and cut them differing heights using a tabletop rotary cutter. I then taped the bottoms back together so they would retain their shape, attached them together using double-sided sticky squares, covered all exposed sides with cardstock I had on hand, and made a little decorative embellishment for the front out of coordinating cardstock and a sticker. I chose to leave the inside of each "compartment" as is because it doesn't show when full with mail (and quite honestly because the natural color doesn't bother me). It's working wonderfully for us!

Review - Vegan Holiday Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Title: Vegan Holiday Kitchen: More than 200 Delicious Festive Recipes for Special Occasions

Author: Nava Atlas

Format: Hardcover (320 pages)

Publish Date: November 2011

List Price: $24.95 U.S./$29.95 Canada

ISBN: 9781402780059

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

From the book jacket: With more than 200 mouthwatering recipes, vegans can at last celebrate the holidays with gusto and enjoy every course of the meal - from appetizers to desserts. What's more, these lovingly crafted dishes will satisfy everyone who loves great food, no matter what their culinary preferences. There's no reason to wait for a special occasion to enjoy these recipes - they're healthy and uncomplicated enough for everyday fare. You'll also find that many of the recipes in this collection are gluten-, soy-, and nut-free - or can be made so without sacrificing the flavor. Delicious!

About the author: Nava Atlas is both the author and illustrator of many well-known vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including Vegan Express, Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons, The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet. Her first book was Vegetariana, now considered a classic in its field.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen is a great go-to resource for all the holidays throughout the year as well as special occasions or just because you want to enjoy a fabulous meal. Broken down into six specific chapters covering Thanksgiving, Christmas/the holiday season, Jewish holidays, Easter, Independence Day/summer, and brunches/appetizers/potluck dishes, there are a multitude of recipes to appeal to vegans and non-vegans alike.

I was absolutely drawn to the Walnut-Apple Stuffing recipe to have as part of my family's New Year's meal (even though it appears in the book in the Thanksgiving section - there's no reason you can't enjoy all the recipes in Vegan Holiday Kitchen any time you wish!). As I read through the recipe, I found myself imagining how phenomenal it would taste based on the ingredients ... I was not disappointed!

Isn't it beautiful???

Each recipe is labeled in bold whether it is gluten-free, nut-free, and/or soy-free with additional modification information for making it so if necessary. I really appreciate when a cookbook goes the extra mile in thoughtful little ways like this to make it easier for people with food allergies. The recipes also do not call for a lot of unusual or expensive ingredients making it an excellent choice for vegans as well as those on a budget, families seeking to incorporate more healthy meatless meals into their menus, or non-vegans preparing dishes for their vegan friends and family members. With tasty dishes such as Sweet Potato-Poppy Seed Coleslaw, Smashed Potatoes with Mushroom Gravy, Cashew Chocolate Mousse Pie, Hot Artichoke and White Bean Spread, Roasted Root Vegetable Salad, Seven-Vegetable Couscous, Summer Squash Provencal, Strawberry Snack Cake, and Cold Avocado and Green Pea Soup, this is a recipe collection you'll find yourself reaching for over and over.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - January 13, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:16:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I quit church again. Sad, but true. We thought the one we had been attending since last September was going to be the one (especially since it's full of homeschoolers), but it turned out to be like all the others ... people were really nice at first, then no one would speak to us as usual. By "us" I mean my tween and myself. My spouse and kindergartner never have this problem. I realized I absolutely cannot allow the two of us to continue to feel such hurt to the point it causes us to turn our backs on God for good. Yes, it's that bad. I have literally seen kids from the youth refuse to shake my son's hand or turn their backs on him. Not one of them would speak to him on the Legoland field trip last week. There have been many times in his Sunday School and in youth when the kids have needed to partner up for a project and no one would be his partner. It's hurtful. It's heartbreaking. It's ridiculous for "Christians" to act this way. It's just as bad for me. Every church we go to is this way. This kind of nonsense has no place in God's house. I started thinking I might be overly sensitive, but a dear friend in another state (a beautiful, wonderful, amazing woman of God I've known since childhood) is going through the exact same thing ... so much so that all you have to do is change names and locations and our stories are identical. Identical! My decision didn't come lightly. I stumbled upon an online article that really got the wheels in my head turning. My spouse felt deeply moved by the article as well. I do want to eventually write about it all here on the blog, but don't know when I'll have the time to do so. (For those curious about the article, it's HERE. If you are unable to read all six points because you get a message you have to be a subscriber, try the link again another day. That has been working for me. It's the very last line of #6 that I found very powerful.)

In our homeschool this week...

My kindergartner made this adorable snowy owls craft. My tween has started his Native American studies ... our history topic for the remainder of the homeschool year.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

There are lots of great FREE worksheets available at tlsbooks.com

I am inspired by...

My friend Cristina. Reading her No School Today?: A Home Spun Comic Strip Collection was exactly what I recently needed to remind me we're doing just fine.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Taekwon-do lessons plus my kids joined the demo team so they had a practice session for that and a very cool archaeology talk by a guy from the Florida Public Archaeology Network.

My favorite thing this week was...

Watching my tween at the demo team session. I think a bit of reorganization is going on with the team, so the instructor is determining who is going to be doing what. My tween made the cut as a "flyer" meaning he will be jumping over team members while doing specific kicks to break boards. Once he realized this, the look on his face was priceless.

What's working/not working for us...

I had a list of themes I intended to cover with my kindergartner this homeschool year, but I've let that go and am very much going with his interest-led learning at this point. It's working very well for us.

Questions/thoughts I have...

This is for anyone who's into scrapbooking and the like ... Is there a swiveling craft blade/knife that is compatible with the Coluzzle templates? That entire line was discontinued, but I still use mine for a variety of projects and don't have any more replacement blades.

Things I'm working on...

I've been doing a general declutter as I've had time. My paper recycling bin has been filling up fast!

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version) and Paper Angels by Billy Coffey.

I'm cooking...

Brown rice in veggie broth, squash patties, roasted asparagus, and roast potatoes

I'm grateful for...

A delightful conversation I had with one of the other taekwon-do moms earlier this week. She is a native of the Phillipines, so she was excited to learn I cook with coconut oil and use it for other things. She told me all the homemade things she uses for skin and hair care plus how she makes coconut milk (a bit different from the method I use, so that was great knowledge to acquire).

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Mama's boy...

Snowy Owls craft

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:49:00 +0000

My kindergartner and I were reading through the December/January 2012 issue of Big Backyard magazine and came across an adorable craft called Snowy Owl Pals. He was so excited to make this, and it now graces the cocktail table in our family room. It turned out so cute ... truly a wonderful homeschool science/art project for younger children.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - January 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

In my life this week...

My spouse was home for three days because of the holiday weekend, so I seized the opportunity to get some things accomplished around the house and yard. I decluttered and reorganized most of our kitchen and spent over five hours cleaning up part of our garden plus trimming trees and hauling the cuttings to the road for yard waste pickup. While I did all that work, the males of my household sat around watching movies or passed the time playing frisbee. I just may demand they start adressing me as She-Ra!

In our homeschool this week...

We cracked open the books again on Wednesday and immediately followed that with a very cool field trip Thursday.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Know what works for your family and do it. If you need to stay up later than the average family and sleep later in the mornings due to odd working hours, do it. If you need to school weekends and take a couple of days off during the week due to an unconventional work schedule, do it. If you want to do school on the weekends now and then to get ahead or afford your family the ability to take a vacation later on, do it.

I am inspired by...

The new year ... so many ideas and plans swirling in my head!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

For our very awesome field trip yesterday, we went to Legoland Florida (thanks to special educator pricing - no way we could or would have ever dreamed of paying regular admission for our family of four). I had read a lot of negative reviews online from recent visitors, but we had a wonderful day. The park wasn't too crowded, we didn't have to stand in line a long time for any of the rides, I rode a roller coaster (three of them, several times) for the first time in many years, and my kiddos were absolutely on cloud nine.

My favorite thing this week was...

The glee on my boys' faces going to a theme park for the first time. I don't consider Sea World a theme park, and we've never been to Disney or Universal even though they're a short drive away. It's just never been of interest to us, but with two Lego crazed boys, Legoland was a must.

What's working/not working for us...

Working - My 7th grader continues to be extremely pleased with the books I've requested he read this year. Apparently I made excellent choices as far as he is concerned.

Questions/thoughts I have...

Anyone else not have all their Christmas decor down and put away yet? Surely I am not the only one!

Things I'm working on...

The aforementioned kitchen and outdoor work, plus I've been cutting up several pairs of outgrown jeans so I can eventually make a denim rag quilt. (I had several people ask about the projects I mentioned on last week's HMJ. Here you go ... pantry organizers, memory jar, and Christmas jar.)

I'm reading...

The book of Genesis (Amplified version) and Paper Angels by Billy Coffey.

I'm cooking...

I don't remember! I know I contributed here and there, but have no clue at the moment what I made.

I'm grateful for...

Snuggly warm blankets this week with our temperatures dipping due to a cold front.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Random Legoland pics.....

Wordless Wednesday - Slow Cooker Veggie Soup

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:14:00 +0000

(Hubby's slow cooker veggie soup - navy, great northern, red kidney, and lima beans, red and brown lentils, peas, corn, tomato juice, and a variety of spices.)

Make It Yourself: Pantry Organizers

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

In an effort to tame the chaos that comes with living in a house full of males, I was inspired last week to make some pantry organizers. I did have a designated kitchen drawer for holding quick snacks for the kids (organic fruit strips, Kashi cereal bars, and so on), but it was in a constant state of disarray. My spouse also uses a lot of the Simply Organic mixes, and those are forever scattered about in a disheveled heap.

Enter in the miracle of cracker boxes and some cardstock! I carefully opened the bottom flaps on the boxes so they could be completely flattened (top flaps were already open as these were boxes I had saved for reuse). I then used a rotary desktop-style cutter to trim them evenly, taped the bottom/top closed again so the box would retain its shape, and spruced them up with a bit of cardstock I had on hand. I chose to cover the fronts of mine only as the sides and backs are not visible how I have them placed in my pantry. This also freed up some room for me as these boxes are slightly larger, and therefore hold more, than the original boxes for some of these items (such as the fruit strips and cereal bars) - no need to take up more room than necessary storing a bunch of boxes (because I stock up when they're on sale) when I can condense most of it into these new organizers.

Memory Jar

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:41:00 +0000

Another fun new idea for my family this year is a Memory Jar. I hope we have a ton of great memories to reflect on this year, so I used a large quart mason jar for this project. A simple tag of cardstock on the front along with a circle of cardstock on the top is how I chose to decorate mine.

Anyone in the family can write down a memory with corresponding date on a slip of paper, fold it in half, then add it to the jar. On New Year's Eve this year, we'll sit down together and take turns reading all the memories inside. To make it easy for all of us to add a memory, I transformed a lidded plastic food container into a paper storage tub. Again, I used cardstock I already had on hand to decorate the container. The paper slips are all cut in a uniform size and shape (using a Coluzzle rectangular template) out of scrap cardstock. I have over 200 slips ready and waiting for memories to be added.

Christmas Jar

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:04:00 +0000

A wonderful project my family is doing this year is a Christmas Jar. I've never read the book behind this inspiration, Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright, but the concept is simple ..... toss in your spare change during the year and anonymously give it to a needy recipient 2-3 weeks before Christmas. It could be someone who has lost their job, a single mom struggling to make ends meet, a family overwhelmed by medical bills ..... I truly believe everyone who makes a Christmas Jar will know in his/her heart the exact person or family who will be blessed the most when the time comes.

For our jar I used a quart-size mason jar, attached a simple, decorative tag, and finished the top off with a seasonal sticker on a circle of cardstock. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. The overall purpose is far more important. Visit Christmas Jars: The True Stories for additional inspiration.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:55:00 +0000

I actually made something I pinned on Pinterest! It's fun to pin away, but taking the time to follow through with the inspiration is another story.

I thought these vegan chocolate peanut butter cups would be a perfect treat for Christmas Eve. I added 1/2 tsp. organic extra virgin coconut oil to the chocolate to reach a more desirable (for me) consistency. The "nooch" added to the peanut butter truly did make this taste like the filling from the brand-name non-organic version of this treat. That alone was seriously so good I could have just eaten a whole bowlful of it without even bringing chocolate into the picture!

Mine didn't turn out as pretty as the original poster's, but I know I didn't let them set up as long as I should have (I gave in to the pleas of my youngest child who was overwhelmingly excited about me surprising everyone with this goodie). I also used a spoon for transferring the ingredients into the muffin liners. Next time - and yes, I will be making these again and again - I will try reusing a mustard bottle or similar bottle for squirting the chocolate into the muffin liners. I envision they will turn out a lot more beautiful that way.

These are so incredibly fantastic! They also count as recipe #26 in my 2011 Recipe Challenge.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 30, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:37:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I have been getting some organization tasks completed around the house, was able to re-watch some movies while I worked on sit down tasks (Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Julie & Julia, The Holiday, and Inkheart), took my birthday boy to lunch and made him a cake, and got a virus on my computer. Yeah, that last one was no fun at all. I also allowed myself to get my feelings hurt. I shouldn't have, but I did. My spouse and I decided not to do Christmas gifts this year for ourselves, but our boys insisted on a couple of small things they wanted to get their dad plus a couple of small things for his stocking. The problem is, no one extended that same thoughtfulness to me. Oh well. I just have to suck it up and move on.

In our homeschool this week...

We've been on break all week!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Jo-Ann is having teacher appreciation days Jan. 7-8. All teachers (which very much includes homeschoolers - just a FYI if you don't already have a Jo-Ann teacher discount card) get 20% off purchases instead of the regular 15%.

I am inspired by...

Pinterest. I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I got a lot of things accomplished this week due to Pinterest inspiration.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

I had to get out in the Christmas Eve Eve (or Christmas Adam if you prefer) madness to get a few groceries, we took our birthday boy to lunch at our fave Irish restaurant, and we surprisingly had taekwon-do lessons this week.

My favorite thing this week was...

Squeals of delight over Christmas and birthday presents ... then the feuding, arguing, and battling began. Gotta love boys.

What's working/not working for us...

Not working - My tween is behind in some subjects due to all his retaliation this school year. Now bear in mind, he is behind as far as what I wanted him to have accomplished by this point. I have been having to re-do my upcoming weekly lesson plans as a result. The reason I consider this a "not working" is because I really didn't want to spend my holiday break having to do that. LOL

Questions/thoughts I have...

I generally try not to take a spring break because it helps us get our school year finished that much faster, but I am thinking we will need one. I must find out when the public school spring break is because I do NOT want to take ours at the same time.

Things I'm working on...

Our household notebook for next year is ready to go, my personal notebook is well underway, plus I've been making all sorts of things this week ... a Christmas jar, a 2012 memory jar, new allowance jars for my boys, wish slips for the whole family (slips of paper with wishes written on them - we'll toss them in the air at midnight on New Year's), a new catnip toy for the cat, chore charts for my boys, a mail organizer (out of cereal boxes) because the system we were using was not working for us at all, and storage boxes for the pantry (out of cracker boxes).

I'm reading...

Nothing this week - too much else to do!

I'm cooking...

Brownies, chocolate peanut butter cups, potato leek soup, french bread, orange french toast, blueberry pancakes and plain pancakes, apple cinnamon dog treats, and a birthday cake.

I'm grateful for...

The surprise of having taekwon-do classes this week. Most of the students didn't attend due to the holiday, so it gave everyone who did show up the opportunity for more one on one time with the instructors.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Because I just watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader again, this is really heavy on my heart and in my mind right now ..... You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are. ~Aslan

Make It Yourself: Toner

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:08:00 +0000

I've tried plenty of homemade "beauty" recipes over the years, but have always shied away from making a toner. I honestly don't know why.

Regular readers know I've been very open and honest about my ~~nightmare~~ struggle with perimenopausal hormonal acne. I would not wish it upon anyone. No purchased product I've ever tried has cleared it up completely. I've had promising success with a couple of products, but the acne has always flared up again with a vengeance. Also as the result of stress and hormonal wackiness, I had a quite sizable facial cyst form near my cheek a couple of months ago.

For over a month now I have been using a homemade toner and am pleased to report it has delivered fantastic results. Seriously, really fantastic ... as in I am giddy with delight. I simply combined 1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar (I specifically used Bragg's) with 3/4 cup purified water. I've been using this concoction once a day with the following results ... the acne on one side of my face is completely cleared up, the acne on my chin and other side of my face has diminished greatly, and the facial cyst (which was quite puffed up) is nearly entirely gone. As an unexpected bonus, my skin is so soft and smooth I have not had to exfoliate at all.

If you've ever looked into the cost of natural/organic skin care products, you know they are not inexpensive. I am able to purchase for $4.99 a 32oz. container (glass bottle) of Bragg's organic apple cider at one of my local natural foods markets. My home has a private well with the water being dispensed through an indoor purifier, so the water is technically free and the associated electricity cost associated with pumping this tiny amount of water is nil. Do the math and you'll find this toner costs me less than 32¢ to make per 8oz. jar (and the jar of course is one I have reused). What a bargain and it's simple to boot!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 23, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:40:00 +0000

In my life this week...

I ended up with a sinus infection for a few days, so I was unable to go back to my optometrist on the one day he could squeeze me into his schedule. He gave me more trial contacts (different brands) to see if I could find one that worked for my one eye that isn't happy with contacts for astigmatism. None of them worked. What has been working is wearing my old prescription for that eye and the new prescription for my other eye. With all these sets of contacts though, I was bound to get them messed up at some point and sure enough I did. A couple of days ago I had a headache and was dizzy and loopy headed all day. I was convinced my sinus infection was back in full force. Turns out I'd had the wrong contacts in the wrong eyes all day. I think I have everything straightened now, but I'm honestly not sure. Still no chance of me getting back to the optometrist until later next week due to his packed schedule.

In our homeschool this week...

My tween had to finish up a couple of subjects this week and loudly protested the entire time. I didn't back down, which did not make me popular.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

One of my favorite art resources for elementary level is Discovering Great Artists by MaryAnn F. Kohl.

I am inspired by...

Thinking of the rapidly approaching new year and fresh starts. Clean slate, new opportunity to tackle my house and ~~hopefully~~ finally get the the chaos tamed and organized.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Church and taekwon-do (story of my life, huh?). Two parties for the kiddos this week as well (youth at church, which my tween did not allow me to attend, and a tkd party). In addition we took one day and went to the zoo to wish all the animals Merry Christmas (plus it was the baby alpaca's first birthday), then went to drop off a donation at the humane society.

My favorite thing this week was...

Our animal-filled day was glorious. The kids were able to see one of their favorite zookeepers (she's behind the scenes, so it's a treat to see her). That turned into some special behind the scenes time with some of the animals not on exhibit (opossum, sand boa, kookaburra, crow, and iguana). My tween has worked with them all (with the exception of the crow) before as part of his zookeeper classes, so he was happy to see them again and my kindergartner was on cloud nine. At the humane society we passed out ping pong ball toys to all the cats, saw all the dogs, took one of the cats in the socialization room to play, and kept watch on a kitten being adopted while paperwork was being done. I had a few times where I nearly broke down in tears - wish I could adopt them all - but seeing the joy we brought to the cats through the toys and seeing a lot of people there intending to adopt warmed my heart.

What's working/not working for us...

This mama had grand plans to kick back and spend a couple of days doing nothing but watching movie after movie after movie. Instead, we have been on the go or I've been busy in the kitchen baking and making other goodies. I did manage to watch Christmas Vacation this week though. Love that movie!

Questions/thoughts I have...

None.

Things I'm working on...

I'm almost finished with my household/financial notebook for next year.

I'm reading...

No time to read!

I'm cooking...

This week has been a blur of fudge, gingerbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, a mountain of turkey and cheese finger sandwiches, and all sorts of other things I don't remember!

I'm grateful for...

New opportunities that have my kids very excited. It means a more hectic schedule for me, but so what.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

Wordless Wednesday - Male Jaguar

noreply@blogger.com (flmom) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:57:00 +0000