Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool

Organize your life on the go or at home with Clipix

2012-02-24T17:00:00.001-06:00

Organization is the key to staying afloat in this busy world filled with demands of motherhood, relationships, marriage and a work life. clipix is an online site that helps you group interesting websites, pictures, books, articles and ideas into categories that make it easy to refer back to or share with others. They even have an iPad app to make organizing easy on the go when you’re not at your home or desktop.

Homeschooling can be a full-time endeavor of 24/7 one-on-one with your kiddos. In the midst of this, I tend to have grand ideas of what I want to teach my children, crafts and activities I think would be fun. However, when the time comes, I tend to forget where I saw the idea.

You have your day planned out and then wham! Along comes an interruption. Clipix allows you to upload pictures, spreadsheets and documents from your own computer to group into one Clip. Mark it as viewable only by you for privacy. You can easily drag the Clipix button to your bookmark bar to make it easy to immediately Clip a link while surfing the net.

Share your boards with anyone you like with their “syncboards” or keep them private, visit the Clipix community, search other Clipix. Like and reclip others’ clips. You decide who sees your Clipix. Make your Clipix private or available to Friends or everyone. One of my favorite features is that if the article or site you want to clip doesn’t have an image it’s no problem. You can type in your own title as your thumbnail. And, you can create multi-board by dragging boards into each other to combine them.

Grouping pictures by date or special occasion

I take tons of pictures. Sometimes I even file them off in an organized manner. Usually finding one involves my remembering the year or month it occurred and uncovering a disc, flash drive or photo album where it is filed. This takes time. With Clipix.com, I can file pictures on each child’s board and even include pics of things each child is interested in. This makes a personalized photo album record of each of their lives,but it remains private. It’s also a great place to include pictures of art work that’s too bulky to keep but you want a documented memory of it.

It looks like this:

Other ways to use Clipix include:

Planning birthday parties, holidays, vacations or gift ideas.

Here’s a screen shot of my boards so far. Check back in a month, and I'm sure they will have grown:

Clipix and forget it till the time comes when I need to pull it up. What will your Clipix boards look like?

Here's a video to give you an even better idea of what it's all about:

Visit Clipix and sign up today. Once you get started, you’ll fall in love. Please comment below how you plan to use Clipix and join me in the fun way to organize your life.

Promoted Post

Matters of Life and Death

2012-02-21T08:53:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke up to the news that the mother of a friend I have known from childhood, lost her battle with cancer. In the last few days, I also got the news that a neighbor and church friend lost her dad. All this makes me think of matter of life and death.

The mother of my friend lived through struggles. Her husband left her when her children were in elementary or middle school. She had to move into a townhome to raise the 3 kids. The kids were my friends. I remember the heartache. But, I also remember this woman's laugh.

I have always thought that when I'm gone, I don't want people to mourn my passing. However, this has made me realize that when I'm gone, the thing I want people to miss most is my laugh. More importantly - I want my laugh to bring joy to those around me now, while I'm still living.

I don't want my children to remember that I kept a harsh schedule.
I don't want my children to remember me on my not-so-happy days
I don't want my children to remember me scowling or screaming or upset.
I don't want my children to remember that I worked all day long.

I want my children to remember my laugh.

I want them to remember my laugh because it is a reflection of the joy Christ has put in my life. I want them to reach out and grab hold of this joy.

I want them to know they brought happiness to my heart - Just because I was allowed the privilege of carrying them in my womb, birthing them and holding them in my arms.

I want them to know they filled my mouth and my heart with laughter.

I don't want this laugh to be remembered as a mocking laugh as if I am superior in some way. But rather, a welcoming laugh - One that warms the soul of all who hear it. Not, a cackle or a devious laugh - But, one that fills the air with an uplifting welcome mat of praise - Praise to the one who gave me the ability and reason to laugh.

Have you laughed today?

12 Reasons to Homeschool - What's Yours?

2012-02-08T09:26:00.001-06:00

I saw this article today:

12 Most Compelling Reasons to Homeschool

I thoroughly enjoyed it and the concept behind it. In the process of exploring the article, it made me start to think: Why do I homeschool?

If you haven't asked yourself this question, you've - no doubt - been asked it from a stranger. I will never forget the dropped jaw look on one asker's face when I responded that I homeschool because of Socialization.

Yes, sometimes it's a little fun to offer a shocking answer just to see the response. However, there is truth to my reply. I do firmly believe that homeschooling is the only environment where I can properly socialize my children. I do not personally see any socializing benefit in plopping 30 same-age students into a classroom. I do, however, see the benefit in crowd and lesson control in this classroom scenario.

But, socialization to me goes beyond just relating to your peers.

I often hear how homeschooled children are way too sheltered, and how will they ever learn to make it in the "real world"? This question is so funny to me. They are already in the "real world". It is the group of 30 children sitting behind a desk among only children their own age (some even only among same age and same gender) who are not learning how to function in the real world. Not even a jury of your peers provides for this much in similarity.

Homeschooled children, on the other hand, interact with all aged people. And, this is what inspired me to homeschool long before my children were even ever conceived. My husband and I sat through a business meeting with a woman, who happened to bring along her 8 year old daughter. This little girl is the one who inspired me to homeschool. She sat poised and happy throughout the entire meeting - not squirming or complaining or pulling out a handheld electronic game. She even - *gasp* - interacted with us (the adults). At the end of the meeting, I commented on how well this child handled conversation with adults. Since the meeting was with a woman who worked part-time at a private Christian school, I had assumed her daughter also attended this school. Wrong! To my amazement, the girl was homeschooled.

The reasons behind why I homeschool may differ from my favorite benefits that come from homeschooling. While I homeschool for socialization reasons (among which also include laying an adequate Christian foundation for my children), I find additional benefits in homeschooling as well. For starters, my favorite benefit is the flexibility it allows me to not only be able to pick up and go at a moment's notice; but also to interject any and all learning tools.

What are your reasons to homeschool? And what is your favorite benefit from homeschooling?

Learn to Sew and Cake Decorate at JoAnns

2012-02-06T09:33:00.000-06:00

Buttons fall off.
Socks get holes in them.
Shirts get torn.

And, these are just the beginnings of how knowing basic sewing or crafting skills come in handy.

I saw this email in my inbox this morning from JoAnns Fabric & Craft Stores. I see these emails quite frequently, so I wasn't surprised to see it. However, I have always wanted to have my children take part in what they offer. I just never have signed them up. So, I thought - perhaps, you'd like to see what JoAnns Stores has to offer too.

Here's the link to their Kids' Studio classes!

Your child (age 5 and up) can learn to sew a cute little felt robot-looking doll. It's very cute and possibly well worth the cost of the class.

Children ages 8 and up can learn much more. There are pillows to sew, quilting to learn, knitting, basic sewing skills as well as cake decorating can be learned at JoAnns.

Even if you're a skilled seamstress, sometimes the days just run away from us in terms of time. Before you know it, the child is 10, 13, 18 and never learned the basics of sewing. And, depending on the temperament of the child, the patience level required to teach hands-on skills like these may be something you just don't naturally enjoy. After all, homeschooling your child does not necessarily mean you naturally have the skills of Laura Ingalls Wilder from Little House on the Prairie in every regard. And, if you do happen to come by these skills naturally - My hat's off to you with utmost respect. The rest of us might enjoy a class or summer camp at JoAnns.

Just thought I'd share!

Just the Facts: Why I Love Writing for Factoidz.com

2012-01-31T16:25:00.001-06:00

This year marks my third year of writing online. It all started when I was scooped up as a homeschooling expert to cover local stories. And then, through it all, I also discovered Factoidz.com.

At Factoidz.com, I was able to write on any topic I felt comfortable. The community of writers and editors were very inviting and welcoming.

I have written about a number of topics ranging from my experience with a Neti Pot to facts about Japan to health concerns in children (like does my child have diabetes?) to facts about Japan to what your child needs to know before babysitting. I have discovered that I really like writing about holidays (like Ground Hogs Day) and how they help kids learn.

I have now been ranked an expert #1 in parenting and family time, #2 on childhood obesity, and #3 in child safety.

If you are interested in joining a team of warm, welcoming writers - It's very easy to apply. Click here and go through the process of applying. Oh, and if you wouldn't mind, please use my link so you can be my affiliate. If it doesn't ask - My number is: 4S3744.

When I Look In The Mirror - My Mother Looks Back!

2012-01-25T13:07:00.003-06:00

Lately I've been noticing that when I look in the mirror, the reflection that looks back resembles more of my mom than the face I'm used to seeing. This is probably a natural part of aging, or perhaps my coming into a maturity I did not have before. I have noticed this especially around my eyes.

I realize this is probably a natural progression to aging - That you begin to look more like images you have of your parent(s). (Not that they were truly as old as we remember them to be).

When I was younger, there were plenty of years spent where I would have resisted the notion that I was anything like my mom. However, in recent years, I have come to enjoy it.

These eyes that belong to my mom share a lot of love in my life. Though, there were moments when her eyes shed a disapproving look upon me - She often reminds me that I once told her she didn't yell at me with her voice, but rather, with her eyes. What I meant was that the loving look that was naturally befitting to her face would change when she showed disapproval. I did not like this, because I wanted her approval.

There is something special about a person's eyes. The Bible says that the eyes are a window to our soul. I think this is true.

My youngest daughter will turn my face toward her with her little hands. When I am crabby, she wants to make sure I am not angry at her. My response to her has always been, "Look into my eyes. Do you see love there?" So, now when she turns my head toward hers, she will announce: "Mommy, I see love in your eyes."

My mother's eyes display her emotions. And, now I see it in my eyes as well. Though once rebelling against the notion, this is something I am now finding to actually enjoy.

My mother's eyes have shined on me a lot of love.

They have seen me through many middle-of-the-night scares when I would nearly stop breathing because of severe tonsilitis and allergies.

They have guided me through youthful foolishness.

Her eyes cried in prayers for my protection for years.

They have let me look into them to see a portion of who she is

It was a magical moment when her eyes and my eyes gazed upon what would be my wedding dress.
Both of us knew, by one single look, that this dress was the one as tears gushed out of our eyes at the exact same moment.

They had the joy of being one of the first to see each of my children after they were born.

They carefully surveyed cross-stitch patterns to make wonderful pieces of art.

Several years ago, we almost lost my mom. As she woke up from surgery, she had trouble focusing on the objects that surrounded her. We would later discover that the oxygen level used caused damage to her eyes, so she would have blind spots. But, I will never forget her looking at me that day and describing how she saw me. I was a figure that was outlined by my long hair streaming down my face.

As I gazed at her, all I wanted was for my mom to keep on living to see me through more of my, and my children's lives.
She did.

And, now I look into the mirror and see the shape and contour of the eyes that seem to belong on my mother. But, they are now mine.

I will proudly wear my eyes and hope that my eyes will encourage and guide those who look into them..... Like my mother's eyes did for me.

I'm One Of The Top 100 Homeschooling Blogs - Well Almost!

2012-01-19T16:51:00.002-06:00

To my amazement, and complete delight, I logged onto Facebook today to see another blogger posting that she had surprisingly made the list of Top 100 Homeschooling Blogs. Just for the fun of it, I clicked on the link. OK, I'll admit it - I was deep down inside hoping I would be surprised too. Well, guess what? I was!

Only, I didn't quite make the top 100. But, I was mentioned as "Other Great homeschooling blogs to check out!" Not bad. I'll take that. So, I guess that puts me at the top 102 homeschool blogs? Either way, I'm on the same page as the others!

If you want to take a look, it is listed on the Teacher Certification (Top Teaching) Blog!

Cool Colorful Lava Lamp Science Experiment

2012-01-19T15:54:00.003-06:00

I ran across this craft idea from Family Fun today as I was researching President's Day information. How I ended up on lava lamps, when I started out with Presidents is only a series of steps I could perform. Nonetheless, here it is.

According to their video (which follows), all you need is a jar (or more than one if you're making several colors), water, oil, salt (they state that it needs to be Kosher - I'm not sure why, I guess that's part of the science of it all. Or perhaps, you can log some religious studies hours while you're at it) and food coloring.

Follow the video, and then figure out the science behind the project:

And, you can learn more about the science of how lava lamps work, here - more on lava lamps at How Stuff Works.

Just a Picture to Brighten your Day

2012-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:00

As I sit here and type, I realize my early morning quiet time is almost ready to come to an abrupt halt. I hear someone is awake besides me. Though I am in the process of many projects and hoping at least one of them takes off to propel my family out of debt this year, my money-making portion of my day is soon to be put on hold. When the children come out of their rooms, it's time to put on my mommy and teacher hat and put down the writing pen.

So, I thought you might enjoy just a happy little picture to brighten your day:

This is how I was greeted on New Year's Day. The kids decided to make their famous "big breakfast". My 5 year old donned her apron and hat and went to town serving us. She loves to help, and it made me smile.

As I look at the photo, I can't help but think of her as a server announcing: "Welcome to 2012, I will be your server!"

Solve your Express Script worries with Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-01-13T23:01:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Where do you go to get your prescriptions filled? If you have trusted Walgreens pharmacists and enjoyed their knowledgeable pharmacists along with their convenient 24-hour drive-through services, you’ll want to listen up! This could change the way you get your prescriptions filled.

Check the back of your insurance prescription card. Do you see the words: “Express Script” listed? If so, you are affected.

Are you a member of the military and receive your prescriptions through Tricare? You are affected.

Here’s how the relationship between Walgreens and Express Script works:

Express Script steps in as a “middleman” between pharmacies and employers when it comes time to fill a prescription. Recently, Express Script has pulled the rug out from underneath their Walgreens pharmacy providers. These changes have allowed Express Script to continue to profit at a rate more than two times the average – and, faster than the provider of this service, causing an in-balance to this health care system. Walgreens has been undergoing contract negotiation talks to remedy this problem, but have faced an unwilling-to-budge Express Script.

The result is that Walgreens customers who are part of the Express Script system are forced to go out of their way to get their prescriptions filled without any savings to them.

Here’s the brief history:

Walgreens has been unsuccessfully negotiating with Express Script for the past year to come up with a new contract that would allow them to continue as a member of its pharmacy provider network.

As of January 1, 2012; Walgreens nationwide (and Duane Reade pharmacies in New York City area) is no longer a part of Express Script’s pharmacy provider network.

What has Walgreens done for their customers?

Walgreens has made every effort to keep your prices low without prescription service interruption.

Without Walgreens’ services, prices may go up (because Walgreens offers less expensive generic drug refills) and the way you receive your 3-month supply of medication would become a hassle (receiving three 30-day refills as opposed to one bulk 90-day supply).

During contract negotiations, Walgreens offered to hold rates for military members of Tricare and other customers. This was not met with a positive reaction from Express Script who insists on being able to define terms such as what drugs constitute a brand or generic drug. Express Script also wanted to slash Walgreens reimbursement rates to levels far below the industry average.

Walgreens wants to ease your burden. What is Walgreens offering you as a solution to this Express Script's mess?

Walgreens is offering a special savings plan to help minimize your disruption in receiving the trusted services you are accustomed to:

For the month of January, Walgreens is offering an annual membership for its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club – Individuals can join for $5 and a family for $10 (this is quite a savings off the normal $20 individual and $35 family rate). The family membership includes everyone in your immediate family including a spouse, and dependents 22 years of age and younger, including pets.

This covers:

More than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications (more than 400 generics are available) for a three-month supply at less than $1 a week.
Savings on flu shots
Pet prescriptions
Nebulizers
Diabetic supplies
Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens and Nice! Brand products and photofinishing services.

Prescription Savings Club membership is risk free – If you don’t save more than the cost of your membership during the first year, you’ll be refunded the difference.

Stay informed of changes in your prescription coverage by following Walgreens on Facebook and Walgreens on Twitter.

I Did It! I Published An E-Book on Amazon Kindle

2012-01-11T10:12:00.000-06:00

Whew! I did it! I actually published my first e-book on Amazon through their KDP Amazon program. It's no small feat to attempt to write a book (albeit more of a pocket guide) while attempting to keep up with other online writing, eBay selling, helping with my hubby's performances and tending to homeschooling and caring for 3 amazing children. But, I did it!

I was given advice that How-To books about a subject a person has experience in sell the best. So, I went to town writing about my experience with eBay. I have tons of experience over the past 10 years. Not only has eBay changed several times over in their approach and layout, but I have changed as I learned with each and every encounter I had.

I met some amazing people through eBay. I have also encountered some grumps and those who gave me the creeps. Overall, it has been a learning experience that has brought in some money to pay down debt. It has also been a nice way to hand off clothing and toys which the kids have outgrown. And, it has been a money-saving place to find curriculum (though one of eBay's changes over the years has made selling teacher's guides to be not one of the benefits).

I don't want to turn a blog post into a sales pitch, so this is purely optional. But, if you are curious about my e-book, you can download it for free (today only) here!

If you do, I hope you like it because something happened to me that I didn't expect. In all the excitement of publishing the book and getting it out there for readers to have access to it, once it was done I had what I call is writer's remorse. This is the overwhelming feeling of "ugh! What have I done? What if someone buys it, and they absolutely hate it?" It's a dreadful feeling.

So, I hope you enjoy it. However at the free download, how can you go wrong - right?

Falling Behind Resolutions So Soon? 2012 Is Already Flying By

2012-01-10T08:43:00.001-06:00

Where did the last 3 years go? My youngest is supposed to still be in diapers toddling around. Who stole these days from me? I woke up this morning to January 10. January 10? It has already been 10 days since the start of 2012. My husband hurriedly got out of bed and announced he was going to get his hair cut, followed by, "It's been 5 weeks since I last had it cut." What? Seems like he was just walking out the door prior to Christmas with his last cut. Where have these days gone?

My girls started back to school yesterday (at their choosing). My son will start back today. Of course, for a homeschooling mom, starting back to school doesn't mean a break. It means back to work.... To work at teaching.

So 10 days ago, I set some goals. And, I've already fallen behind... This is why I don't make the New Year resolutions. To me, a promise is a serious matter. So, I set goals that I hope to attain but do not promise to do so.

Among these goals were a closer spiritual walk. Sadly to say, this came as a prompted goal when I saw a friend post a similar desire on her Facebook status. I thought - *gulp* - why did that one not occur to me? So, I included it. Truly, I want a closer spiritual walk with my Lord Jesus. And, sadly I've become a bit numb in recent years due to church politics, people who call themselves Christians letting me down, and whatnot. So, I add it to my goals for 2012. Put the pain aside, and slip into the arms of quiet time with my Savior. So far, this has included an effort to get back into reading the Word (Bible).

Another goal was to blog more. Honestly, I want to blog every weekday morning. OK, so I've blogged - what? 2 days this new year? I don't even know what the count is. But, I do know it's lacking far behind my goal.

I have managed to spend some more time with my children. And, I did get my first two e-books published. I even have my very own Author's Page. Published yesterday on Amazon, and my books will be made free tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday. After the initial excitement of realizing my works were available for sale, I am now in panic mode wondering if I am just under the illusion that I can actually write something people will want to pay to read.... Writer's remorse? Regardless, if you download my works, I hope you find them enjoyable and useful. And, if you do, will you write a review on Amazon?

Here's the links if you're interested:

Free on January 11 - eBay Seller's Secrets (20 essential household items)
Free on January 12 - How to repair, repurpose children's clothing

I am about to head toward fulfilling some more of my goals set 10 days ago. Where does the time go?

The Flexibility Of Homeschooling and a Walk Around the Lake

2012-01-06T10:06:00.000-06:00

I think one of the things I enjoy most about homeschooling is the flexibility it allows. For instance, today it is unseasonably warm where I live. So, this means I can pack up the kids and head to the park. We'll get in some PE if nothing else. But, our trips to the park always include so much more.

For mommy - The park involves a walk around the large lake. I need the exercise, and it prepares me for sittng at the playground while they play later. But, these walks provide so much more than exercise.

While we walk, we talk. We talk about anyting that comes up. In our talks we have uncovered topics that range from "Oh, look at that leaf" to "the beautiful sunset our God chose to paint the sky with" to "the art of animation programs, and how to turn a ripple on the lake, and blowing blades of grass into a picture on a computer screen that moves".

We have talked about philosophy, science, politics, cute things the children say, photography, math, engineering, technology, and the like. You name it, it has probably come up in our walks around that lake.

Of course, we also talk about fairness, and how not to change the rules in a game of "I'll race you to that bench".

The flexibility to pick up and go is what got us there. The flexibility to incorporate schooling into real life, and not the other way around, is where my children embrace learning that sticks. From time to time, they will bring up our conversations, and have a full understanding of what we discussed. Or, they might ask questions about something they didn't quite grasp at the time.

This is how my family learns best - Through the flexibility of homeschooling.

Testing

2012-01-02T10:05:00.001-06:00

This is merely a test blog post to make sure they are posting onto Facebook.

Welcoming The New Year

2012-01-02T09:28:00.000-06:00

This year, when December 31 rolled around, I found myself just ME AND THE 3.....3 kiddos that is. My hubby is a musical performer (he plays saxophone, guitar and vocals in a solo act). He had 3 jobs booked on New Year's Eve, starting at 2:00 in the afternoon and working his way to midnight. This left me with the kids to celebrate the new year together, without him.

As sad as this sounds, I've become used to giving up, or postponing, holidays and special events due to his career choice. It doesn't bother me in the least. The kids usually roll with it too. So, there we were on New Year's Eve 2012.

How did we spend it?

We tried to build our 2nd gingerbread house of the year. This one was a post-Christmas freebie, and not one I will buy even though it is a top name brand one. I won't mention the name, but she is a popular maker of cookies. When the icing didn't stick well, we gave up and decorated the pieces of the house as if they were individual cookies. Then, we discovered that they were too hard to actually bite into. So, we set it all aside and moved on to more fun.
We mixed up some sugar cookies. When they came out of the oven, we decorated them as our 2012 cookie designs (see above picture).
We played a Cranium game called Conga. By the way, if you want a fun family game (this is the one). We had a blast wading our way through this game for our very first time.
We put some pizza in the oven and gobbled it down when it was ready.
We pulled our party poppers at midnight and hopped and hollered while watching the neighborhood sky light up with fireworks like the 4th of July.
Daddy called at midnight....We missed his call since we were outside celebrating for just a moment....So, I called him back. He had just finished his last gig.
I talked with the kids about what they enjoyed most about 2011 and what they hoped 2012 would bring.... We then, thanked God and prayed for the new year.

If my new year celebration sounds boring or uneventful, that's because I wanted it to be a quiet evening home enjoying my little family. The days of big party crowds are in my past. Though, if someone would have told me (when in my 20's) how I would be celebrating New Year's Eve 2012, I'm not sure I would have believed them. But, you know what? I much prefer my little non-eventful New Year's Eve.

And, my goals for 2012? I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, because a promise to me is a serious matter that I never want to break. However, I do make plans and set goals. I'll share with you some of my 2012 goals, if you like:

A deeper spiritual relationship with Jesus
Make a dent in our debt
Attempt to blog more (This is going to be a difficult challenge, but I hope to attempt to post something almost daily)
More time with my kids and hubby
Lose my writer's belly and hips (get healthy)
Plan some awesome summer vacations (my parents have paid for a beach house in Isle of Palms this year for our family, and we hope to go on tour again - John booking gigs in one of our favorite states - Wisconsin )
Publish my e-books
Enjoy life more (Less serious, more laughter)

Want More Time To Your Day? LG DoublePlay

2011-12-17T02:01:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wish I had more time in my day. Between homeschooling, freelance writing gigs, and just plain cleaning the house every day - Anything that saves me time and allows me to stay connected to friends and clients is welcome. If I have no other contact with a human being over the age of elementary school every day, I consider my social networking sites a healthy outlet - Not to mention how often I have to log on just to share my work.

Imagine what it would be like to multi-task, like surfing the web while catching up on Facebook and emailing in a breeze. Some days just call for a text a minute (that's quite a few by the end of the day), and sometimes a phone call to a friend is just necessary therapy to propel me through the day.

I have run across something that I am very excited about. Have you heard of it? LG DoublePlay™ is a time-saver that allows all this, plus it has a dual touch screen and split QWERTY keyboard (yes, QWERTY is here to stay and easier than ever to use).

Here's what a typical day in my life looks like: After I wake up early to get some writing done, if the weather is nice, we head off to the park and to run errands. If not, there's other options. However, I cannot tell you the number of times I have been at the park and wish I had my camera, or the ability to take photos and immediately share them with others while the rest of my "to-do" list flies through my head.

This LGDoublePlay allows you to take pictures with the built-in 5.0 megapixel camera. Not only that, it has an LED flash and a 720p Video camera, which amazingly allows you to film your little darling learning to swing herself for the very first time, and quickly upload it to your social networking sites while multitasking other details of your life. Fantastic!

You will be amazed at the time you save.

Do you stay connected with numerous text messages and Skype? Now, you can enjoy these communication tools while enjoying Cloud Text and Group Text, which allow you to upload from a PC or tablet, and to group chat with others. In addition to these time-saving social functions, LG DoublePlay offers Android 2.3 Gingerbread (no, we're not talking little edible houses). However, this feature does allow you up to 9 touchscreen shortcuts along with 7 home screens all in one-touch navigation (which is useful when juggling a toddler, and might allow you the time you need to actually finish that Gingerbread house kit).

Check out the LG DoublePlay for yourself. It is available only through T-Mobile. It won't be long before your fingers will be enjoying it's 3.5 inch and 2.0 inch dual touchscreen as you share your excitement.

Leave a comment below telling how you think the LG DoublePlay would change the way you text and interact with your social networks.

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? Can Santa Dance the Hora, I mean Can Can?

2011-12-14T19:54:00.003-06:00

As a homeschooler, we tend to study history and uncover the truth behind every day traditions. Perhaps this rings most true this time of year.

I was raised in a Christian household. It wasn't Catholic. It wasn't Presbyterian. It wasn't Lutheran. It wasn't Baptist. It wasn't Methodist. It wasn't Pentecostal. It wasn't Assemblies of God. It wasn't Church of Christ. It was Christian. We used to joke amongst ourselves that we were the world's largest non-denomination denomination. Simply called, Christian.

Within this upbringing, we celebrated Christmas. We celebrated it as Christ's birthday. It was a grand celebration, second only to Easter. We put up the tree, lights and decorations, sung carols, gave each other gifts. And, yes, my family even did the whole Santa thing - kit and kaboodle (to which I was not devastated or ever questioned my parents' truthfulness when I found out the Santa truth).

When I became a parent myself, my husband and I discussed whether to play up Santa Claus to our kids. When my oldest was a baby, we came to the decision that we would give him gifts on Christmas morning, but we would not make up a big story about the elves, the reindeer, and on and on. We would merely give him gifts on Christmas morning. If he asked, we would be honest and tell him where they came from. This was one of the toughest decisions about celebrating Christmas....So we thought.

In recent years, we have encountered not only Christians who believe Santa is evil, but Christians who do not celebrate Christmas.

Of course, I knew Santa was never the true meaning of Christmas (though there was a real St. Nicholas). But, there are those who will argue vehemently that the true meaning of Christmas isn't even Christ's birthday. True, no one knows the exact date of Jesus' birth. And, I was taught growing up that the wise men really weren't at the manger scene. But, what's wrong with celebrating Jesus' birth? I mean these same people celebrate their own birthday. And, if they did not know this date, a day would have to be chosen. So, apparently the problem lies in the date of December 25 being associated previously with pagan celebrations. These Christmas naysayers argue that Christmas is nothing more than a pagan festival that has been created and sugar coated to deceive Christians. While, others say that it was originally designed by the Catholic church to redeem the day. Is that so wrong? To some, the answer is a vehement yes, and they will also point to scripture to prove how wrong you are to think otherwise. At stake are symbols and traditions that surround the Christmas tree, the yule log, and other traditions that I have always believed were rooted in Christianity, not paganism. But, have recently become confused.

In recent years, especially since the birth of my youngest (our miracle baby, born on the Sabbath of Rosh Hashanah) I have begun to question what I really believe. The awe that surrounded my youngest child's life and entrance into this world stunned me. I began looking seriously into Jewish customs, and Old Testament feasts. Did they have meaning that I had not been taught?

You see I hold dear to my Christian faith and its Judeo-Christian roots. I have a deep love for God's chosen people. Most of all, I want to please my maker and obey what He commands.

I'm still searching to find what the truth is.

In my search, I have encountered some very loving people and some not-so-lovely ones. I have discovered that to follow the letter of the law is difficult. I have found unloving people who call themselves Christians, quick to jump down the throats of those who seek Judeo-Christian links in how they work out their faith. And, I have seen unloving folks who make comment after comment on people's Facebook posts regarding festivals and Jewish laws and traditions. It reminds me of the Pharisees and those who seek to create foolish arguments instead of seeking after love. Both camps have unloving people who speak in the name of love. Both camps, fortunately, also have lovely people who offer grace and understanding to those seeking after the truth (like me).

So, with all these thoughts swirling around in my head like sugar plums (pardon the Christmas-based reference), my children and I went to a house nearby ours tonight to watch a light display. They have put 70,000 LED lights to music. When you pull up to the house, you can tune your radio station to 89.7 and listen to a music accompaniment to the lights. One of the songs we enjoyed was called The Christmas Can Can by a group called Straight No Chaser. My children and I found relief in the humor behind it, and I thought you might like some levity as well. When we returned home, I found the song on Youtube. Enjoy:

A Positive Note on Homeschool Socialization

2011-12-09T09:00:00.002-06:00

I admit it. I'm a proud mom of 3 kids, whom in my opinion, are amazing. So, my opinion may be slightly slanted in their favor. However, something I observed last night sparked a thought that just maybe it happened the way it did because they are homeschooled.

Here's how the story goes:

My two girls take dance lessons from a teacher I absolutely adore. This woman knows how to keep the songs clean, cheap make up off of the girls' faces, and offer encouragement to make dancing fun while providing proper instruction. In all the times I have known this dance teacher (my oldest began dancing at age 2 and is now almost 10), I have never seen her lose her cool even when a student pushes and tests her limits. She remains upbeat and positive. Last night, something happened.

My two girls are in a class with four other girls, making up 3 sets of sisters. The idea is that they will present a "sister dance" at the recital. My girls are 4 1/2 years apart in age and have been homeschooled all of their lives. The other two pair of sisters are slightly closer in age (roughly 3 years difference in age). One set of sisters attends public school. I believe the other set attends a private school. So, we have a wide representation of educational means.

For ease of understanding, we will call them:

Sister pair A
Sister pair B
And my children - Sister pair C

The dance teacher was giving instruction, to which I noticed the little sister in Sister Pair A was not paying much attention. I then, looked up to see Sister Pair B's 'lil sis had been crying. The crying sister soon began to poke at her older sis. This went on to the point that while they were dancing, little sis would pull away and refuse to even hold hands with her big sister.

I dismissed it as just a little sibling dispute until my attention was drawn to my two girls. Every step they danced was in complete unison (I'm not exaggerating). They turned at the same time, and connected in perfect harmony and rhythm. They smiled and laughed as if they thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. This was a familiar sight to me because they dance together at home all the time.

After the class was over, the teacher commented to me about how my girls were the only ones who listened to her with complete attention, and they were the only two who were in harmony with each other without forced requests.

I thanked her, but inside I couldn't help but wonder.... Does this have anything to do with the fact that they are together 24/7 and have become good friends - not just sisters? They do not leave each other to go off to a separate classroom every day. They are together to build a relationship, from sun up to sun down.

It was just another notch I added to my opinion that socialization in homeschooling is superb and relationship and family building.

Through homeschooling, my kids are not separated simply because of their age difference.
Through homeschooling, my kids learn to work together and build each other up instead of competing ruthlessly with each other. Yes, this sometimes comes after an argument. But, the point is that they are given the chance to disagree and work it out and are encouraged to see the good in the other.
Through homeschooling, my kids get to know each other and deal with conflicts day in and day out.

To me, this is true socialization at its best.

2011-12-01T07:49:00.001-06:00

Today's featured homeschool entrepreneur is Patsy Brekke. Patsy owns and operates a writing tutorial service called Writing Foundations where she is "taking the mystery and misery out of learning to write." Her story is inspiring! Please read the "long version" to receive the full impact of what she does and who she is!

Find her listed on the Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool Business Directory Page. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Her name is Patsy Brekke, but just about everybody calls her Ms. B. She is a business owner and homeschooling mother to three children: Josiah (18), Zoe (15), and Anna (12).

Here's what she has to say:

How long have you been homeschooling? The decision to homeschool was made when I was pregnant with my first child. Friends from church homeschooled, and my husband and I were super impressed with their family relationships and lifestyle. I was an award-winning teacher in the San Diego City Schools at the time, but my greatest heart's desire was to be a stay at home mom. Thus, when my son was born, off we went. I have been homeschooling for 18 years!

What made you start up writing tutorial service?

The short version:

Shortly after the birth of my third child, I needed to go back to work. I bumped into the teacher-training videos from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and Writing Foundations was born from there.

The long version:

Unfortunately, shortly after the birth of my third child, my marriage fell apart. I was devastated, but with no-fault divorce laws, there was very little I could do about it. I had just begun formally homeschooling kindergarten with the oldest. At that time I prayed that the Lord would show me what to do - I vowed to follow whatever He brought along, trusting that He loved the kids even more than I did. I laid the kids, so to speak, and homeschooling, on the altar before the Lord. In the interim, I started a tutoring service for any subject from my home as my youngest was still too young to even attend preschool. Eventually, I decided to offer a self-designed week long writing workshop at my church. A homeschooling mom found one of my flyers and called to ask if I was using the Institute for Excellence in Writing, which I had not yet heard of. I told her that I wasn't, and she said, "Well, I have all the teacher-training videos; would you like to take a look at them?" Then she added, "I'll be in your neighborhood this afternoon. I'll drop them off."

The minute I plugged in the first video, I was hooked. I remember praying, “Lord, this is the wheel I've been trying to reinvent!” That winter the kids and I enjoyed our last few months with me as a stay at home mom. We snuggled in bed together and watched Mr. Pudewa through all 9 units, just waiting for every one of his silly jokes. I took copious notes and started dreaming of all the possibilities.

On my way to an inner healing conference that spring, I once again lifted the kids up to the Lord and asked Him to show me what to do. In the most miraculous way, I felt like He directly asked me, "What do YOU want to do?" I burst out crying so hard, I had to pull over.

"Oh, You KNOW what I want to do!" I cried. "I want to homeschool them!"

The divorce was still in process, so I was still home with the kids, waiting for things to fall into place for the next school year. In June of that year, I was able to meet Mr. Pudewa at a local homeschooling conference. I shared my situation with him, and he loaded me up with materials, direction, and great advice, “Write your own lesson plans, and start teaching classes to other homeschooling students.”

Because my kids were so young, I wasn't very familiar with the local homeschooling community yet – especially at the teenage level, so finding a connection was my next challenge. The state homeschooling handbook clearly forbid soliciting among its group listings, and I had no desire to violate those terms. “But,” I prayed, “Lord, how do I tell them that this is what I have to offer?” I thought they must have some venue for it, so I decided to randomly call one of the group leaders and just ask about how/where to share my info. I left a message with the contact person, and the next day she called me back. She shared a bit about her co-op organization, a tutorial service for homeschooled teens in the metro area. Then she asked about me. I told her what I had to offer, and when I finished, there was silence on the other side. After a few seconds, she gravely responded, “You are the one we have been praying for. We have one language arts position yet to fill, and you are the one.”

At that moment, Writing Foundations was born. The co-op administrators adopted my whole family; they helped me set up child care for my kids while I was teaching, and from then on have provided business advice and support the whole way through. Writing Foundations classes have multiplied from three groups in 2001 to fifteen classes in 2011 via multiple co-ops and as far away as Shanghai via a webinar setting. I tell the Lord that as long as I have to work, I am so grateful that He has given me my "dream job".

How do you manage?

Lots of prayer is number 1! When the kids were younger, I taught only 8 classes per semester. That left 3 week days at home together, which we strictly guarded. As soon as they were able to, the kids also started taking co-op classes. The kids learned very early to keep track of their work and self-management skills. Workboxes, spreadsheets, and checklists have been a wonderful part of that. Saturdays are our "tie up loose ends/finish that chapter day".

I work very hard to not compare myself to any other homeschool moms, and just do the best at what I was called to do - at what I was blessed to do. If at any time through this journey I could have quit teaching Writing Foundations classes and just be home with my kids, though, I would have in an instant. However, I will never give back the lessons and the growth that we as a family have learned and gained.

Do you want to be featured and be part of the homeschool business directory? Find out how!

Stand Up For Family Comedy Videos From American Family Insurance

2011-11-23T03:01:00.002-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Family Insurance for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My husband and I love to sit down and watch a comedian who makes us all laugh. However, finding family-friendly presentations are few and far between. That is, until now. American Family Insurance presents Stand Up For Family.
Stand Up For Family has gathered some of the funniest comedians together to present a show about family, kids, mommas, marriage, teens, Old School grandmas, and growing up. In the videos from AmFam, you will see hilarious comedians such as Rodney Perry, who talks about "Poppin'"; Tony Roberts who light-heartedly shares why "Family Is Everything"; Mark Viera explains why he's "Not Leaving My Wife"; and Donnell Rawlings who tells a story of bullies and growing up in, "Let Me Ride Your Bike".
One of my favorite videos, from the AmFam's Stand Up For Family clips, was hosted by Bill Bellamy who was talking about the charm that street lights used to hold as being an unspoken reminder to get home before dark. This reminded me of when I was little. I lived in a small town where there was a curfew of 10:00 p.m. I still remember hearing the announcement on the TV that alerted all parents to find their children and get them inside. If we were outside when that announcement came on, we would race to get through that front door. Somehow, my family had their own little alarm system for curfew and bedtime. There was a show called "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (MTM Productions). When the show went off, the letters, "MTM", would pop up on the screen and a little cat would meow. To us, that meant bedtime. Still today, when I see those letters, "MTM" and hear a cat meow, I feel like I need to hurry off to bed.
I appreciate American Family's efforts in presenting family-friendly comedy that can be enjoyed as a family without the worry of unwholesome garbage having to be explained or bleeped out. What do you think? Is good clean entertainment important to you? Do you appreciate a company that makes an effort to deliver a funny show so you can spend your time kicking back and enjoying it with your kids in the room? I know I do.

Our New History Curriculum: A Patriot's A To Z of America Things Every Good American Should Know

2011-11-22T13:55:00.000-06:00

When I was asked to review a book about America, I agreed. I received the book and read what it was about and started to get excited when I noticed that the author, Edward P. Moser, also wrote speeches for George H. W. Bush as well as for Jay Leno's Tonight Show. This piqued my interest, as I cracked open the cover. It was when I began to read the chapters that I became immersed into every word I was soaking in. And, I wanted to know more.

As I read about Clara Barton, the Apollo Moon Mission, and the Manhattan Project; I knew this book was to become my new history curriculum for my kids. The author took 60 historical events and filled over 250 pages, breaking each event down alphabetically and by bite-size chapters. The small chapters give you enough information to make you want to delve deeper into a full-fledged study of each event. It is not presented in a dry, boring manner. The author is a master at summarizing the facts and leaving readers on the edge of their seats wanting more. He covers important segments of history that even you, the adult, may have missed in your studies growing up and interesting facts you may not have known before.

For instance, did you know that Clara Barton was so shy as a kid that she often couldn't even eat? Did you know where the Manhattan Project was conducted? Did you know how computers came to be? You will find the answers to these and so much more inside the covers of this book that could be turned into a year-long history curriculum.

The book is available at Amazon.com, Turnerpublishing.com, and Barnes & Noble!

This review is 100% my opinion, and I received nothing as payment other than a review copy of the book.

Review of Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress Reading Program for Ages 3-13

2011-11-22T11:50:00.001-06:00

It's happening! My newly-turned 5 year old is learning to read. She is not officially Kindergarten age yet, but has been asking to learn to read. So, I began using the "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons" book. It was going very well, and I plan to continue using it. We are on lesson #46, and she is reading lots of words and deciphering letter sounds. Then, I got an invitation from homeschool.com to review Reading Eggs. I was not paid for this review other than receiving a free trial access to the Reading Eggs Program.

Reading Eggs is an online program filled with over 500 learning lessons, complete with games that teach Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension. I asked my daughter if she wanted to test it out. She enthusiastically agreed.

Find Out How You Can Try It for 14 Days FREE!

I was thrilled to watch her interact with these cute online characters as she sounded out letters and found words. However, to my complete amazement, what excited me the most was when she reached the end of the lesson and rambled off the words in a storybook which was on the screen. The program allows for the story to be read to your child, while your child reads along. She wanted nothing to do with the help. She turned off the sound and wanted to tackle it herself. And, she did a great job! I was floored. She then, continued through several more lessons. At the end of each set of 10, I received a progress report in my inbox. The progress reports were complete, telling me what letters and words she had learned and how she did.

The program is quite impressive as it combines all the essential elements to learning to read and write with fun animated characters and games that a child can understand and conquer. The lessons progress. You can choose to start at age/grade level, or have your child take a placement test. I started my learning-to-read 5 year old at the beginning, which she found very easy. I imagine it was easy because these lessons are geared toward the pre-schooler. After she had finished 30 lessons, they began to become more challenging.

Even more excited is that the Reading Eggs program now has launched their "Reading Eggspress" program for older kids. So, my 4th grader got to get in on the review as well. The Reading Eggspress takes reading to a higher skill level with challenging vocabulary words and more, still presented in a fun manner. My 4th grader took the placement test to begin, and placed at a 4.2 level. So, she is right on par with where she should be and will most likely improve as she learns more.

I would definitely recommend Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress to anyone who has a child learning to read, struggling with vocabulary, or just wanting to keep learning.

Vote Now: Puppies vs. Babies Contest

2011-11-17T21:01:00.002-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Two of the cutest things in the world are puppies and babies. Look at a picture of a cute little baby, or an adorable snuggly puppy and your heart melts. However, which one is the cutest? You decide in the Puppies vs. Babies online contest! Vote now. The contest ends on November 23 when one lucky winner will receive a grand prize of $5,000.
Proud parents plaster the internet with pictures of their newborn baby wonders. Equally, those who are dog lovers pretend to be doggy parents of their adorable little "man's best friend". Be honest, how many times have you looked at a picture of a dog with a face only a mother could love and thought to yourself, "That's one ugly hound?" One look at a cold puppy nose for me, and I can feel the allergy attack taking hold.
Meanwhile, there are baby photos like this one that could have won this contest, had I only known to enter on time. OK, maybe she's not the cutest, but she's certainly the most beautiful. It's too late for my baby's mug to be a winner, but someone will walk away in happy triumph. Will it be a baby or a pup?
Are you a dog lover, or a baby lover? In day to day life, it's ok to choose both. However, for the sake of the contest, you'll have to choose just one. Take a look at the contest entries. Who is the cutest? Puppies vs. Babies - Do the babies win? Or, is it going to the dogs? Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog saying which one (baby or pup) you think is the cutest.

Real Moms Love To Eat Book Review

2011-11-14T07:51:00.002-06:00

I'm ready to love food again. I'm ready to have a love affair with my food like I've never encountered before, and Beth Aldrich's new book, Real Moms Love To Eat, is going to take me there. It's not just another diet book. I was sold when I read the description of the book. However, when I read that the author studied under well-known experts (such as Dr. Oz), I couldn't wait to read more.

Let me start by saying that I have always loved food, and it wasn't until I hit my 30's that I started hating what food was doing to me. I remember standing, swimsuit clad, in a line of sophomores and junior high school girls waiting to be weighed for the swim team. Oh, this wasn't any swim team - It was a synchronized swimming team. So, it adds to the beauty of the routines if we all are somewhat in sync with our weight. As the instructor went down the line, I kept hearing her tell girls to lose weight. She came to me, stopped, and shooed me away telling me that I needed to gain a few pounds. Fast forward to college years. When many were gaining their famous "Freshman 15" (the extra 15 pounds of weight that is thought to be gained the first year away at college, I was monitoring my weight by crashing for a week with only veggies when I would go up a few pounds. This worked great!

Fast forward once more...Three full-term pregnancies and years of living has turned my tiny waistline that fit into a gorgeous wedding dress years ago, into one I'm not so pleased with. However, now my week of only veggies eating doesn't do the trick. And, I cringe at the thought of ever having to stand in a line to be weighed ever again. I want to do something about this, but I don't do well on starvation diets anymore. And, I don't think they are healthy. So, I've decided to enjoy my food again and follow the advice found in Real Moms Love To Eat.

Real Moms Love To Eat is a new book, by Beth Aldrich, that is set for release in January. January! How perfect is that! This is the time when everyone is re-evaluating their lives and making new resolutions for change. Well, I got a sneak peek at something that I hope will change the way I look at food. I got to review a pre-release digital copy of this book. In exchange for the digital copy. I agreed to tell you my 100% honest opinion of what is between the covers of this book.

Real Moms Love To Eat is a new book set to be released in January, but you can pre-order your copy and be entered for a chance to win amazing prizes here.

Let me start with, "I loved it!" And, I can't wait to get started. I'm ready to go out and buy my dark chocolate, which is a requirement of week 1, and get going on a new attitude with food. The book walks you through a 10-part plan, offers a 21-day menu, and discusses food in a way that will make you feel like you're talking with a friend. It is an easy read, packed with over 300 pages of valuable (life-saving) information. You'll even learn helpful trivia, such as how to eat a pomegranate.

If you're still not convinced, explore Beth Aldrich's website, and join her and Social Moms in a Twitter party on Thursday, November 17 for a chance to win more prizes. I plan on being there, and I can't wait to discover how this book will change my life, my health, my attitude toward my newly-formed enemy of food, and my waistline.

I was gifted from Restoring Essence Nutrition, LLC-owner of Real Moms Love to Eat, a free digital copy of the book, “Real Moms Love to Eat” and an entry into the prize drawing on January 3,2012, for participating in this virtual tour and writing about this book pre-order contest.

Heaven Is For Real For Kids Book Review

2011-11-14T07:14:00.000-06:00

I first heard about the book, Heaven Is For Real, from my husband's aunt. She called to heartily recommend it. She had recently lost her son (my husband's cousin) and was searching for hope. She found it in between the covers of the paperback, full version, of Heaven Is For Real. However, it wasn't until I had the opportunity to review it that I got a glimpse inside. I discovered there was also a release of this book for children. This piqued my interest. And, it only got better as I began to read.

The story is an account of a real boy who went into the hospital and didn't leave until he had died, experienced amazing sights and sounds, and then (much to the delight of his awaiting, praying parents) was returned to his body lying on his hospital bed - Fully alive with insights into a spiritual world his parents had not yet encountered.

Colton, at the age of 4, began to tell of all he had seen and heard while in heaven. Instead of dismissing his account, his dad (who is a minister) began to search scripture to align what Colton what describing. He discovered that there were Biblical scriptures to back up every claim his young child was insisting he had encountered.

From this, the book was born - The full version. After the full version was released, Colton (now much older) agreed to a version for kids. He was careful to oversee all of the illustrations in the book to ensure they were true to what he had seen.

It offers a glimpse into a world that very few come back to tell about. I found the book to be an inspirational read, and a helpful book in helping children understand that there's more to this life than what we currently see. For those who believe in heaven, the book brings encouragement and hope. For those who do not believe in this form of afterlife, the book creates an amazing discussion tool. Whether you are a believer or not, this book is written to relieve fear, and express the main point that "Jesus really, really loves children."

The book is an easy read for an elementary student or above, and a nicely illustrated book for a parent to read to a preschooler.

I had the chance to review the hardcover version of Heaven Is For Real for Kids from Todd & Sonja Burpo, as told by their son Colton. I received the book from the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review. I received nothing additional. The above review is 100% my opinion.