The Philosopher's Wife

Wordless Wednesday: Vintage Dr. Pepper Signs

2013-05-21T22:03:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-15T10:19:00.004-04:00

Photo credit goes to the hubby for this cute little fish.

Share your own family friendly Wordless Wednesday post! I love followers and comments, as do all bloggers. (Just something to keep in mind.)

Teaching Time for Toddlers: Chore Charts

2013-05-14T10:04:00.001-04:00

All Amazon links are my affiliate links.

Chore charts.

There are two type of people in the world: those who like lists and those who don't.

Even though I don't use them often enough, I do like having lists and personal chore charts. They present a clear goal and there is something satisfying about crossing off items as I go through the day.

Now that Catherine is getting older I think she's ready for a chore chart of sorts. But where do I start?

A quick search on Pinterest brings up lots of results for making your own and printables.

There are also lots of pre-made options. Melissa & Doug have a decent looking Magnetic Responsibility Chart. Although the Board Dudes Magnetic Dry Erase Rewards Chore Chart would probably have more staying power--i.e. would work for older kids as well as toddlers. I also really love these Chore Magnets.

Of course, just figuring out what type of chart I want to use is just the beginning. The hard part is deciding what belongs on the chart! Does simply getting dressed count as a chore that can be checked off? I mean, sure, there are those days where that seems like a victory, but do I really want that to be considered a daily accomplishment to be lauded?

One of the aspects of the Montessori method that I really do like is the fact that they expect children to help in the home and do age appropriate chores. (Rebecca has a great post called Chores With Children the Montessori Way.) Michelle at Homeschool Your Boys has an awesome list of chores that you can expect your 2 and 3 year olds to do. (Here's a link to all of the age appropriate lists that she has.)

I think for now I am going to go a little "ghetto" and use Google Docs, I mean, Drive, a sleeve protector, and a dry erase marker . . . or stickers on a piece of paper.

Do you use chore charts for your toddlers? What is on your charts?

Feel free to share your own toddler posts! All I ask is that it is somehow toddler related. I'd really love if you followed this blog somehow. Be sure to check out some of the other linked up posts. Oh, and don't forget, all bloggers LOVE comments!

What I've Been Reading This Week

2013-05-11T11:32:00.001-04:00

Here are some of the articles that I've read this week that I thought were particularly thought provoking, or worthy of mention.

Even More Terrible Things Are Happening to the American Girl Brand Than You Thought
This just makes me sad. I am a proud "Mama" to Samantha. I loved all of the "original" stories. It sounds like Mattel has sold out. Sad.

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Explains Why He Hates Fat Chicks
Wow. This guy needs a reality check . . . or something like that. I've never shopped at A&F, but I have picked up a few items from the thrift store here and there.

What A Week Of Groceries Looks Like Around the World
This is super fascinating!

Have American Parents Got It All Backwards?
Interesting perspective.

A Nation of Wimps
This is along the same lines as the above, basically, is a parent's concern for their child actually doing more harm than good? (To be perfectly honest, I skimmed some of this article due to length.)

Americans Warned: Home-Schoolers Stripped of Rights
I find it a little terrifying that the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated that homeschooling is not a "fundamental human right". I also find it odd that Russia is the freest nation in which to homeschool.

Tests Say Most Store Honey Isn't Honey
Yet another article that makes me want to be a "crunchy health nut". (You can read more about that in last Friday's post.)

Catholic, Gay, and Feeling Just Fine
This guy has seems to have a great handle on his Faith and provides a some much needed perspective.

Homeschooler Uprising in America?
Of course there's an uprising! As a K-12 homeschooled adult I find this to be a "Well, duh." article.

It's Real, It's Legal, and It's Happening in America: Infant Infanticide
This article isn't anything new, but it is seriously heartbreaking. Love this quote: "What could be more schizophrenic than deciding someone’s worth solely on the basis of subjective opinion?"

Pro-Life Without God
Yes! Love this: "most arguments against abortion do not require the existence of a god."

Crocheted Amigurumi Giraffe

2013-05-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

Isn't this little guy cute? I'm really happy how this Amigurumi Giraffe turned out!

I used some 100% cotton yarn from my stash instead of traditional giraffe colors. I followed the pattern from (this is my affiliate link!) Easy Crochet Critters. I really love this little booklet and highly recommend it.

The pattern is shockingly easy to follow, just make sure that you have something to use as a stitch marker. I did not stuff the giraffe as firmly as I should have--so that is something to keep in mind for next time. I also have yet to add eyes. I just can't quite decide where to place them. The model giraffe's eyes in the book seem too far apart, but putting them closer together doesn't seem right either. I guess for now my poor little giraffe will just be blind.

(If you like this project you might also want to check out the Amigurumi Elephant I made a while ago!)

I love sharing my projects at various parties, including these.

WIPS

2013-05-08T12:34:00.001-04:00

This week I've been working on my bin of unfinished projects. I finished off a couple of hats and an amigurumi giraffe. (I made an elephant a while back, and I will share pictures of my finished giraffe very soon! UPDATE: Check out the giraffe here!) I also have been making some Houndstooth Pot Holders.

On the queue for today is a silvery infinity scarf and an amigurumi bird. The scarf is very similar to this one that I made previously. I am using a super soft bamboo yarn. I love that there is a thin strand of metallic thread running through the yarn. It gives it a subtle sparkle. The bird is from (this is my affiliate link) Easy Crochet Critters. I am using some left-over off white Simply Soft yarn.

I will be sharing this post at the following:

Frontier Dreams with Nicole

Work In Progress with Tami

Yarn Along with Ginny

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-07T22:28:00.001-04:00

Just a little something I whipped together.

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7 Quick Takes

2013-05-03T11:43:00.000-04:00

Today is scary article linking day!

1. I am by no means "crunchy". I am also by no means a "health nut". But I have to say, the more I read and learn the more the more I find myself leaning towards those lifestyles.

2. I've never been big fan of Chicken McNuggets, but did you know that only half of the nugget is actually meat? (Read more here.) Or that Aunt Jemima Blueberry Pancakes actually have no blueberries! (See here.)

3. Kraft recently was big proponent in getting previously banned (toxic) meat preservatives re-instated. (Here's that story.)

4. As my daily entries in My Fitness Pal so cruelly show me, just one can of my beloved Dr. Pepper puts me well over my recommended sugar consumption for the day. (And don't even get me started on how terrible diet pop is for you!)

5. This article, which gives me concerns about Johnson & Johnson has been floating around Facebook the past couple of days.

6. Oh, and don't forget that Monsanto's BT Corn is a registered pesticide! I hadn't heard a whole lot about Monsanto until after I saw this post on Facebook.

7. Good grief, even the "safe" and "green" light bulbs are a threat! (Here's that story.)

Visit Jen for more Quick Takes.

WIPS

2013-05-01T13:03:00.002-04:00

All Amazon links are my affiliate links.

Works In Progress

I finally finished my Chevron Afghan! Here's a teaser picture, but once the sun is out and the porch railing is dry I will put together a full post with some full sized pictures. I'm really happy with it.

Since I wasn't able to dig up any more of the Big Lots charm packs I decided to make the ones that I do have into a doll quilt. Catherine is pretty excited about it, which just absolutely melts my heart. (I know that she'll love it for about five minutes and then move onto the next greatest thing, but for now I love to hear her asking, "Is this for me? Is it for MY dolly?")

I am using it as a practice run for using the free motion presser foot. I've never used one before and it certainly takes some getting used to! I do have a question though, for any one experienced using one of these, I'm having a really difficult time getting the stitch to look right on the back side (bottom), what do I need to do? I've played with the tension quite a bit, but that hasn't seemed to make it better.

Now that I've finished the Chevron Afghan it's time to tackle my bucket of half or mostly finished crochet projects.

I will be sharing this post at the following:

Frontier Dreams with Nicole

Work In Progress with Tami

Yarn Along with Ginny

PS: I've set myself a blogging goal to have 5,000 Facebook "likes" before July! Click here if you'd like to help me achieve this goal. Thanks so much.

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-01T09:03:00.001-04:00

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7 Quick Takes

2013-04-26T20:46:00.003-04:00

1. Are you a small business owner? Do you like selling your arts and crafts online? Do you have an Etsy shop? Do you like shopping on Ebay? Then you really need to go HERE and tell Congress "No!" on the internet sales tax. (This is the link that I received from Ebay.) It only takes a minute and could really help small businesses.

2. I really loved this article about "Dating for Moms". Seriously, this is a must read for all Moms (and Dads too).

3. The above article has nothing to do with romantic dating.

4. THIS "Doctor Pepper Shaker" shirt just gave me a good laugh.

5. I also appreciated this article about "10 Great Ways to be an Un-Happy Mom".

6. I've made it a "blogging goal" to have 5,000 Facebook followers by July. I'm "only" about 700 away from this giant milestone. (Hint. Hint. Nudge. Nudge. You can follow me HERE.)

7. Did you read the "Dating for Moms" article? What are your thoughts? In a nutshell, I felt like it hit the nail on the head.

Well, that's it for today. Nothing super original or earth shattering to share with you today, dear reader. For more Quick Takes (many, if not most, will be more interesting than mine) go HERE.

Thanks for visiting!

PS: I love comments.
PPS: I seriously love comments.

Wordless Wednesday

2013-04-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

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Blueberry Ice Cream Topping

2013-04-23T16:39:00.000-04:00

This was one of those "I'll throw it together and see what happens" recipes. I think that it turned out fairly well. Personally, I would have preferred it to be a little bit sweeter, but my hubby liked it just as it was.

1 cup of blueberries
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of sugar

Cook over low heat for about 10-15 minutes.

Great Accessory Deals on Amazon

2013-04-20T10:02:00.001-04:00

While browsing Amazon I can across the following deals. Hurry, prices change quickly and often on Amazon. Also, while shipping is free, it does look like a lot of them come from overseas, so it might take awhile.

The links are my affiliate links. I really do appreciate and thank you for your support.

7 Quick Takes

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

My sweet two year old is very talkative. Here are some of the things that I've heard recently:

1. " I don't think I like ostriches so much." There's no context for this one. She just said it out of the blue.

2. "I'm playing the jump out of the boat game!" The couch was the boat.

3. Me: "No, you can't have candy now. Maybe one piece after lunch." Catherine, after a brief pause to think: "I don't like that one bit."

4. While I'm washing dishes: "Watch out for the rats, Mommy!" She saw Ratatouille over Easter.

5. "Mommy! Mommy! There are dinosaurs in the kitchen!" If only they did dishes . . .

6. "Can we sing the Happy Birthday Cake song?"

7. To wrap things up, my personal favorite (I was washing dishes and she was playing in the living room): "Don't worry Mommy, I won't fall!" Yep, I stopped washing dishes immediately and we had a long talk about standing on the arms of desk chairs.

What are some of the funny/crazy/bizarre things your kids have said?

Click for more Quick Takes

Blue Earrings

2013-04-18T18:01:00.000-04:00

I've been a bit negligent in sharing my crafts lately. Life has been busy (isn't it always?) but that certainly hasn't meant that I haven't done any crafting!

I don't believe that I've shared these pretty blue earring before today. What do you think of them? The round blue beads were thrifted (like these) and the square glass beads were in a giant box of beads that I got on clearance at Michael's.

Wordless Wednesday

2013-04-17T08:38:00.001-04:00

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Comfy Sack Giveaway (Ends 5/8)

2013-04-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

What's big, comfy, and could be yours? A Comfy Sack, of course! If you've ever seen or sat on a Comfy Sack in real life, you already know how awesome they are and you can just skip down to the bottom to enter to win one! If you haven't you must read a little about this awesome prize before entering to win one!

Comfy Sack large bean bag chairs are available in multiple shapes and sizes. The sack and the lounger are two of the most popular. The main difference between the Lounger and Sack is the shape. The Sack is round and the Lounger is oval.

Comfy Sack Facts:

All Comfy Sack covers are machine washable.
Shipping is always free to 48 states.
Each sack comes with a three year warranty on all seams and zippers on both the cover and liner.
90% of orders are shipped 2-4 days so you get your sack fast!

The bean bag Lounger is perfect if your looking to use a bean bag chair in place of a couch. You can sit on it or lay on it lengthwise like a chaise. The most popular loungers are the 7.5 ft lounger and the 6 ft lounger, however smaller ones are perfect for teenagers bedrooms. Tina, of Baby Costcutters placed her lounger in her fourteen year old son’s room. He uses it to kick back and play video games on! You can read her full review by clicking here. The bean bag Sack is the ultimate product for someone looking to add a comfy chair to their house! The sack creates the perfect little place to flop into after a long day. It's round shape creates an ultra comfortable 'pod' that you sink into for ultimate comfort. Skye, of Real Mom Reviews was sent a 5-foot sack that she used to replace her living rooms recliner! You can read her full review by clicking here.

Win It:

Comfy Sacks has offered one super lucky reader a 5 foot lounger or 5 foot sack.

Giveaway is open to US only. Ends on May 8, 2013 at 11:59PM EST. Rules can be found here. Please email Real Mom Reviews with any questions. The Philosopher's Wife: Giveaways Galore did not recieve any compensation for this post and is not responsible for prize shipment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Barron's Test Prep

2013-04-12T04:00:00.000-04:00

The following is a sponsored post, written by me, on behalf of Barron's.

Higher Education is becoming increasingly more important. A college education is almost a mandatory prerequisite for a competitive career. Additionally, getting into the college that best suits your wants needs can be difficult--and so much relies on your test scores.

Barron's Test Prep is here to help you maximize your scores those tests, which can directly affect in which programs you are accepted.

They offer test prep assistance for: PSAT, ACT, SAT, GMAT, and the GRE.

While looking over all that Barron's Test Prep has to offer, something that struck me was that they customize to what you need. When you need to maximize your score it is imperative that you don't waste time on something that you already know and understand, but you focus on your weaknesses. I also love that they offer so many online programs, this makes Barron's super accessible--you can access it via your smart phone, tablet, laptop, or even your old fashioned desktop computer. With the short sessions that they offer, you could be prepping for your test while riding the bus or waiting in line on your phone. This accessibly and versatility makes Barron's a great fit for someone with a busy lifestyle.

Pricing is competitive. Some parts of the program are even available for free (for example check out the Basic Account for the GRE); however, for a more complete prepping course the paid options offer much more assistance.

The website is very nicely laid out and easy to navigate.

I remember studying for the SAT, many years ago, with a book from Barron's. (My mom probably still has the book in the basement.) While my personal experience with them doesn't go too far back, they've been around for over 65 years, that alone shows that they have a proven track record.

If you are looking to maximize your test score, then check out Barron's.

You can connect with Barron's Test Prep on Facebook and on Twitter.

WIPS

2013-04-10T09:39:00.002-04:00

All of my crafting came to a stand-still the past two weeks for Holy Week and Easter Week; however, now that things have returned to normal I've been back at it!

I am making reversible fabric headbands. I'm really excited about these! I stumbled across some really cute fat quarters at my Wal-Mart. (Please, tell me that I'm not the only one who buys fabric from Wal-Mart!) My local store is pretty unorganized and the craft section has been getting downsized, so I was pretty happy. I've already cut the pieces from these two fabrics:

Oddly enough, the thing that I simply couldn't get my hands on was the elastic for the headbands. My Wal-Mart was supposed to carry it, and they even had place on the wall for it, but it was all out--or at least not in the craft aisle (we often find things very strangely shelved at this particular store). Micheal's didn't have any in stock either. My closest Hobby Lobby is quite a hike and Joanne's, while closer, still isn't very convenient. I ended up ordering some from Amazon (this one, but the price has since gone up). Here is the elusive elastic, displayed on one of the many before-mentioned fat quarters.

I've also added a couple of rows to my Chevron Afghan. I'm on the last skeins, so it is almost finished!

I will be sharing this post at the following:

Frontier Dreams with Nicole

Work In Progress with Tami

Yarn Along with Ginny

Yard Sale Find: "Sweet Tart" Bracelet

2013-04-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

After Mass on Sunday we went yard-sale-ing! The weather here was lovely and we came home with a few new-to-us-items. One of my favorite finds is this bracelet that I picked up for fifty cents!

It is "supposed" to be a necklace, but I think it works so much better as a bracelet. What do you think?

The beads remind me of Chewy Sweet Tarts. Of course, I don't think that is a bad thing.

Photo Source

7 Quick Takes

2013-04-05T10:22:00.004-04:00

Today's Quick Takes are going to be really quick. Catherine and I are still on Easter vacation. This week we visited the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Here are seven pictures of our trip:

This is memorial that is at the top of the hill.

Catherine is posing next to the reproduction in the Visitor's Center.

The museum buildings are quite unique.

I just thought that this sign was funny. It must be pretty bad though, if they had to invest in signage.

Catherine really wanted to see what was behind those locked doors.

I find it fascinating the things that catch a two year old's attention.

It's hard to see, but I am laying prone, just like the Wright brothers, with Catherine on my back.

For more Quick Takes visit Jen!

Wordless Wednesday

2013-04-02T18:56:00.004-04:00

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7 Quick Takes

2013-03-22T09:33:00.001-04:00

I have a cold. A nasty, mean, won't-go-away cold. I don't like it.
This list of Embarrassingly Bad Book Covers is hilarious. I think two of them tie for my "favorite": Huck Finn and Turn of the Screw. I mean, seriously, what where they thinking?!?!? Did they even read the back page synopsis? Which is your "favorite"?
Can you sign this petition? Basically a German homeschooling family was persecuted (i.e., jailed) in Germany for homeschooling and where granted asylum in the US and now the US is thinking of sending them back. This petition needs 100,000 signatures for Obama to look at it.
I was able to put an adorable French Braid in Catherine's hair this week. Her hair has been long and thick enough to do it for awhile, but getting her to sit still that long is near impossible. Once I charge the camera batteries I will share a picture. (I somehow managed to kill the batteries to our awesome camera and my point and shoot within a couple hours of one another. Very inconvenient.)
My goodness, sitting at the computer is exhausting today.
Does anyone have any great I'm-sick-and-just-want-to-watch-Netflix-and-keep-the-toddler-out-of-trouble recommendations?
I'm going to be lame, and make this my seventh Quick Take: go visit Jen's blog for more!

It's Time to Mingle!

2013-03-21T08:06:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited to be a guest host today for: It's Time to Mingle!

Hosted by Blue Skies Ahead, Happy Go Lucky, I Heart Crafty Things, and Keeping Up With Kristi.

This week's guest host is Rachel from The Philosopher's Wife

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot.

We are always looking for co-hosts to join the party each week and post the party on their blog. Sign up HERE if you are interested in Co-Hosting! Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week.

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We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other!

I know that I've discovered some truly awesome blogs through this party, and I hope that you will too!