For all the moms of boys...I can't resist~enjoy!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Friday Farmgirls at Heart~MO MATERS/Pickles!
This farm girl in the berg~ha! is planning some projects when it gets a little cooler. I have a baby quilt, tee-shirt dresses for little girls, swim shorts (REPLACEMENT for ME), crochet work and some more curtains to do for the back hallway door which has a window I am going to get going! It's too hot to do the blankets and such right now and too pretty to stay inside all the time. There'll be time for that when it's frigid outside!!
Click on that button to read what the other Farm Girls at Heart are up to this week~I gotta go peel and chop tomatoes! Thanks for stopping by and you can join us too! HUGS!
Everyday Life~Tips For Staying Cool (AND KOOL)
Boy it's hot all over! Here, and probably where you live. I don't remember it being this hot EVER! Is your AC handling it or are you sweltering in this heat inside your home? When we lived down south, we could count on the air conditioning only keeping our home about twenty degrees cooler than the outside heat~sometimes, this was miserable! An 80 degree house? Yeah, I've lived with that too!
I was thinking that in this heat we need to discuss some tips for staying comfortable and safe in temps like we're having. What are you doing at your place? HOW HOT is it there?
Tips:
1. Cook at night OR prepare and eat cool foods OR use a crock pot or grill to keep the heat totally out of the house. Cool foods include foods like salads, fruit, cereal~anything you don't have to cook on the stove or oven. Use the micro wave to keep massive heat out. It's possible to cook this way~we always cook our baked potatoes, rice and tea this way which is much faster than the stove. Crock pots make good meat and casseroles. The slow cooking certainly is less heat than that stove! Lastly, cooking at night during the coolest part of the day will make the activity less miserable. Be sure and thoroughly cool food and store in the fridge to prevent spoilage. NO ONE wants to get sick! Fruit smoothies are a cool way to keep hydrated and sound nutrition. I'll take a banana strawberry one, pleazzzzzzzzzzzzzze!
2. Keep the windows and doors of the side of your home with the hot sun covered. Evaluate your window coverings and your windows. Are they like mine were in that ole home we used to own that needed to be replaced because the air flow moved freely? It's inexpensive to use shades as window treatments, but if you don't want to go to this expense, what about hanging a thick blanket to cover the area? I know it's not attractive, but your comfort is worth this trade for the sake of function! I have shades in this home, and the east side of our home gets some hefty sun, so that shade stays down until the sun moves on around later in the day. In fact, I am keeping all my shades down for the most part until dusk. It keeps my home cooler this way!
3. Did you check the air flow around your doors? Are they weather stripped? If not, consider doing this. If you can't do it right now, you can also tack a blanket up which is totally dysfunctional with people coming and going, but it CAN work if you work it to stay cooler. I have made under door "draft dodgers" which are tubes that fit up tight next to the door the width of the door to keep air from flowing. I did mine in solid black and just plain tubes, but you can make yours as fancy as you'd like. Basically it's a tube the width of the door and no wider than about 4-6 inches filled with anything from beans (didn't do this as I disliked the idea that they could draw bugs), sand, or rocks. I chose rocks!
4. Get out of that hot house and go to a water source for the day~swim or water play at a pool or park. Just be sure to take and apply loads of sun screen!
5. Visit the library or go shopping (not buying~LOL) Head out to SEE what you can see in public places that have air!
6. Drink lots of W A T E R !! Notice I did not say liquids. Nothing hydrates better than water in proper amounts!
7. Keep those fans rolling~ceiling and floor fans! Whatever you have, turn them on and keep them blowing.
8. Shut off rooms that are not necessary. We've done this several times when were were living tightly on a budget where it was too costly to heat/cool the entire home, but the added benefit was that the areas we did were better cooled or heated. Less space to keep cool will be cooler. Create a zone for being cool where you can be comfortable. I have a mudroom without air, and you can bet that we keep the door shut between our air conditioned space at it! Amazing how hot that space stays!
9. Do you have an upstairs? We do, and it's much hotter during the day, so I do what I need to early in the day keeping fans on and then sleep there at night. Scheduling activities inside our homes will help us stay cooler.
10. Sit outside in the mornings and evenings. This will make the inside feel literally cooler even if it isn't! Remember to sit in shade though to prevent becoming overheated while doing this. Take a cool drink to stay hydrated and refreshed.
11. Do you have a way to make pops or even frozen yogurt or ice cream? Consider purchasing these items OR the way to fix them. Recently we learned that we love frozen yogurt which was super easy~we threw them into the freezer and whooola! It's pretty good! I am hoping to have a Hawaiian shaved ice machine soon in my house. I love slushes and I am going to make my own! You can grind ice with your blender for a frozen treat too!
What are you doing to combat the heat? Stay KOOL(NO tips for this one, b/c you ARE, already!
I was thinking that in this heat we need to discuss some tips for staying comfortable and safe in temps like we're having. What are you doing at your place? HOW HOT is it there?
Tips:
1. Cook at night OR prepare and eat cool foods OR use a crock pot or grill to keep the heat totally out of the house. Cool foods include foods like salads, fruit, cereal~anything you don't have to cook on the stove or oven. Use the micro wave to keep massive heat out. It's possible to cook this way~we always cook our baked potatoes, rice and tea this way which is much faster than the stove. Crock pots make good meat and casseroles. The slow cooking certainly is less heat than that stove! Lastly, cooking at night during the coolest part of the day will make the activity less miserable. Be sure and thoroughly cool food and store in the fridge to prevent spoilage. NO ONE wants to get sick! Fruit smoothies are a cool way to keep hydrated and sound nutrition. I'll take a banana strawberry one, pleazzzzzzzzzzzzzze!
2. Keep the windows and doors of the side of your home with the hot sun covered. Evaluate your window coverings and your windows. Are they like mine were in that ole home we used to own that needed to be replaced because the air flow moved freely? It's inexpensive to use shades as window treatments, but if you don't want to go to this expense, what about hanging a thick blanket to cover the area? I know it's not attractive, but your comfort is worth this trade for the sake of function! I have shades in this home, and the east side of our home gets some hefty sun, so that shade stays down until the sun moves on around later in the day. In fact, I am keeping all my shades down for the most part until dusk. It keeps my home cooler this way!
3. Did you check the air flow around your doors? Are they weather stripped? If not, consider doing this. If you can't do it right now, you can also tack a blanket up which is totally dysfunctional with people coming and going, but it CAN work if you work it to stay cooler. I have made under door "draft dodgers" which are tubes that fit up tight next to the door the width of the door to keep air from flowing. I did mine in solid black and just plain tubes, but you can make yours as fancy as you'd like. Basically it's a tube the width of the door and no wider than about 4-6 inches filled with anything from beans (didn't do this as I disliked the idea that they could draw bugs), sand, or rocks. I chose rocks!
4. Get out of that hot house and go to a water source for the day~swim or water play at a pool or park. Just be sure to take and apply loads of sun screen!
5. Visit the library or go shopping (not buying~LOL) Head out to SEE what you can see in public places that have air!
6. Drink lots of W A T E R !! Notice I did not say liquids. Nothing hydrates better than water in proper amounts!
7. Keep those fans rolling~ceiling and floor fans! Whatever you have, turn them on and keep them blowing.
8. Shut off rooms that are not necessary. We've done this several times when were were living tightly on a budget where it was too costly to heat/cool the entire home, but the added benefit was that the areas we did were better cooled or heated. Less space to keep cool will be cooler. Create a zone for being cool where you can be comfortable. I have a mudroom without air, and you can bet that we keep the door shut between our air conditioned space at it! Amazing how hot that space stays!
9. Do you have an upstairs? We do, and it's much hotter during the day, so I do what I need to early in the day keeping fans on and then sleep there at night. Scheduling activities inside our homes will help us stay cooler.
10. Sit outside in the mornings and evenings. This will make the inside feel literally cooler even if it isn't! Remember to sit in shade though to prevent becoming overheated while doing this. Take a cool drink to stay hydrated and refreshed.
11. Do you have a way to make pops or even frozen yogurt or ice cream? Consider purchasing these items OR the way to fix them. Recently we learned that we love frozen yogurt which was super easy~we threw them into the freezer and whooola! It's pretty good! I am hoping to have a Hawaiian shaved ice machine soon in my house. I love slushes and I am going to make my own! You can grind ice with your blender for a frozen treat too!
What are you doing to combat the heat? Stay KOOL(NO tips for this one, b/c you ARE, already!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
FREE: Parent Resources from A W A N A
You can trust AWANA to offer good sound parent advice regarding our kids and their spiritual walk. AWANA, which is an acronym based on II Tim 2:15 stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed~meaning that as we follow Christ, we will not need feel shame or sorrow when we stand before Him as the verse further says STUDY to show they self approved unto God~giving us the mandate for a high regard for the Word of God, the Bible.
Here's that link AWANA(dot)ORG!
Here's that link AWANA(dot)ORG!
Curriculum STRUGGLES: Can WORRY Be a Good Thing?
Are you looking at next year, THIS coming year's curriculum choices for your child? I have so much of what we need to accomplish nailed down already, but there are some areas we need to focus on for more strength in our educations.
I worry. Do you? With just a few short years left~this mom of high schoolers finds herself going into year 10 knowing I don't have long and every minute counts towards completing the goal of a well rounded Christian education. I fully acknowledge that worry can become something VERY negative in our lives! Worry doesn't have to be bad, it can be positive~ I know that everyone isn't college track, but I didn't want nor do I want now for my kids to be disadvantaged in a possible desire and goal in their own lives because I didn't do something we needed to do so they could pursue it! THIS IS HUGE for me! I have no interior confidence other than what God shows me sometimes and I worry continuing to question my own methods and resources.
Does it have to be this way, and does WORRY serve any positive purpose in my life other than make me miserable? I am not sure that moms should be so concerned with their child's education that worry can take hold and become that negative force. I know God does have our backs, so to speak, that He is the ultimate giver of all those good things anyway, so why worry! But then I know that our personal choices can lends to many consequences both good and bad~kwim? When thinking if my concerns and worry serve any purpose, one thing is certain, I am taking this VERY seriously! My kid's education is important TO ME! I care and this urges me, pushes me, propels me to continue to find methods and ways of working with them to give them the best I can educationally. You see, we moms who aren't rocket scientist who just love our kids and want the best for them sometimes feel and know we are unprepared~like I am guessing that pro-teacher mom may not struggle! I am no professional when it comes to teaching, but I do desire to be the best teacher I can become with God's help~it's His help that sustains me anyway!
I think my concern for the choices we make can be seen as something positive as well as the negative it CAN become if I allow this to overtake our progress and process. I can't afford to spin my wheels this way! But positives such as providing the desire and a good healthy fear of failure to do a good job are good reasons to be so concerned and allow myself the act of continuing to worry. Some people say worry is sin. It doesn't have to be sinful IF it helps me do what I need to do~
With all said, I am researching writing and science resources~oh boy! It's a vast world of differing designs. Confusing too! I do appreciate the TOS weekly newsletter, The Homeschool Minute that came out today, which if you haven't done so you can sign up for it FREE here! This week they discuss writing and Ruth Beechick offers wonderful sage advice that writing is a culmination of communication and thinking! OK, sounds great! I am in! You can read The Homeschool Minute here! .
I am going to keep looking until the Lord gives me a peace over where we need to go in these areas this year and in the years to come! I know that peace comes from Him~
Thou wilt keep him (or her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (continually) on Thee (Him/God!)
Thanks for listening!
I worry. Do you? With just a few short years left~this mom of high schoolers finds herself going into year 10 knowing I don't have long and every minute counts towards completing the goal of a well rounded Christian education. I fully acknowledge that worry can become something VERY negative in our lives! Worry doesn't have to be bad, it can be positive~ I know that everyone isn't college track, but I didn't want nor do I want now for my kids to be disadvantaged in a possible desire and goal in their own lives because I didn't do something we needed to do so they could pursue it! THIS IS HUGE for me! I have no interior confidence other than what God shows me sometimes and I worry continuing to question my own methods and resources.
Does it have to be this way, and does WORRY serve any positive purpose in my life other than make me miserable? I am not sure that moms should be so concerned with their child's education that worry can take hold and become that negative force. I know God does have our backs, so to speak, that He is the ultimate giver of all those good things anyway, so why worry! But then I know that our personal choices can lends to many consequences both good and bad~kwim? When thinking if my concerns and worry serve any purpose, one thing is certain, I am taking this VERY seriously! My kid's education is important TO ME! I care and this urges me, pushes me, propels me to continue to find methods and ways of working with them to give them the best I can educationally. You see, we moms who aren't rocket scientist who just love our kids and want the best for them sometimes feel and know we are unprepared~like I am guessing that pro-teacher mom may not struggle! I am no professional when it comes to teaching, but I do desire to be the best teacher I can become with God's help~it's His help that sustains me anyway!
I think my concern for the choices we make can be seen as something positive as well as the negative it CAN become if I allow this to overtake our progress and process. I can't afford to spin my wheels this way! But positives such as providing the desire and a good healthy fear of failure to do a good job are good reasons to be so concerned and allow myself the act of continuing to worry. Some people say worry is sin. It doesn't have to be sinful IF it helps me do what I need to do~
With all said, I am researching writing and science resources~oh boy! It's a vast world of differing designs. Confusing too! I do appreciate the TOS weekly newsletter, The Homeschool Minute that came out today, which if you haven't done so you can sign up for it FREE here! This week they discuss writing and Ruth Beechick offers wonderful sage advice that writing is a culmination of communication and thinking! OK, sounds great! I am in! You can read The Homeschool Minute here! .
I am going to keep looking until the Lord gives me a peace over where we need to go in these areas this year and in the years to come! I know that peace comes from Him~
Thou wilt keep him (or her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (continually) on Thee (Him/God!)
Thanks for listening!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
FREE: Math/Science With Me (Elementary Sci and Math for Kids on Web)
Thanking HSTreasure Trove for Math With Me and Science With Me!
FREE: This WEEK ONLY~Ken Ham's Already Gone Video Download
In 2009 we were blessed to visit Creation Museum and meet Ken Ham. That particular day he was doing a book signing for his latest book, Already Gone along with co-writer, Britt Beemer. What a neat thing to meet them, and I got a signed copy of this book.
As the mother of teens I am ever more concerned that young people who seem to come from 'normal' christian families leaving their 'roots' of faith behind once they reach the age of choice. I don't think I'm alone either in my concern. Anyone who is attempting to rear their child for Christ needs to see what the research shows as Mr. Ham and Mr. Beemer have put together the numbers and some reasons that they see the trends along with strategy for making a difference in the lives of our young people. Parents, teachers, church leaders and anyone concerned with the moral fiber of our world needs to read Already Gone and also watch this download.
You can't imagine how excited I am to see this FREE video download from Answers in Genesis/! Go check it out yourself.
Ages 15 and up~
This is a pretty big file, and it's taking me 7 min to download~HTH ;-))
As the mother of teens I am ever more concerned that young people who seem to come from 'normal' christian families leaving their 'roots' of faith behind once they reach the age of choice. I don't think I'm alone either in my concern. Anyone who is attempting to rear their child for Christ needs to see what the research shows as Mr. Ham and Mr. Beemer have put together the numbers and some reasons that they see the trends along with strategy for making a difference in the lives of our young people. Parents, teachers, church leaders and anyone concerned with the moral fiber of our world needs to read Already Gone and also watch this download.
You can't imagine how excited I am to see this FREE video download from Answers in Genesis/! Go check it out yourself.
If you are concerned with the growing trends of young people leaving the church~
...this DVD shows how to win back our families, our churches, and our world!
Available until 8/10! You can sign up for email freebies from AIG too!Ages 15 and up~
This is a pretty big file, and it's taking me 7 min to download~HTH ;-))
Monday, August 2, 2010
GiveAway: Expressionary Stationary!
GiveAway ends 8/4 so head on over to Expressionary on Facebook!~
GiveAway: Heart of the Matter Online Homeschool Conference
Pix O Sphere is sponsoring the conference and hosting a chance for a FREE TICKET IN~(ENDS 8/9)
I'd like to go because I would enjoy hearing some of the speakers lined up~you would too! Come see my Pix-O-Sphere Profile and join in the fun by joining Pix-O-Sphere, the newest family friendly online photo hosting site!!
HOW TO ENTER:
Click on the Pix-O-Sphere words and enter by:
Blog about them being a sponsor.
Include the link to this giveaway AND to the HOTMOnline Conference site.
Tell your readers why you want to attend the 2010 HOTM Conference.
Join Pix-O-Sphere, it's FREE!
Set up your profile photo.
Add your Pix-O-Sphere profile URL to your blog post. (http://pixosphere.com/profile/YOUR MEMBER NAME)
I'd like to go because I would enjoy hearing some of the speakers lined up~you would too! Come see my Pix-O-Sphere Profile and join in the fun by joining Pix-O-Sphere, the newest family friendly online photo hosting site!!
HOW TO ENTER:
Click on the Pix-O-Sphere words and enter by:
Blog about them being a sponsor.
Include the link to this giveaway AND to the HOTMOnline Conference site.
Tell your readers why you want to attend the 2010 HOTM Conference.
Join Pix-O-Sphere, it's FREE!
Set up your profile photo.
Add your Pix-O-Sphere profile URL to your blog post. (http://pixosphere.com/profile/YOUR MEMBER NAME)
GiveAway: Film: Letters To God (Family Friendly~3 Given Away!)
Marine Corps Nomads is hosting! (ENDS 8/13)
BEX for Charleston, SC Needs YOUR Vote
BEX=Believing in Extreme Change is a grass roots effort to help the crime and drop out rate with kids in Charelston, SC. Pepsi is offering a contest for votes of support for a worthy cause. Watch and vote, PLZ!
Blog Hop~NOT Back to School: Curriculum Choices AND $aving MONEY!
I have already posted about our intended curriculum for this year, but I did want to share with you my secrets for finding curriculum inexpensively. I know there are homeschoolers who share that they spend little money on homeschooling curriculum. I have never been that fortunate, but I do like a bargain when I find one, like I am guessing you do too. I have come up with some ways of finding the best prices for curriculum and actual places to look for it for less.
Tips For Curriculum Deals
1. KNOW curriculum pricing. If you don't know what something will generally sell for then we can't figure out IF we got a deal.
2. Search for the item in your search engine and read leading sales sites for homeschooling curriculum pricing like ebay, amazon, TOS Store and google the name of the product you want to purchase.
3. Create a list so you can compare apples to apples and be sure to include any additional charges like shipping, etc...
4. Note any time constraints such as dates of a sale and time ending. Oh how sad to have found the least expensive price and found that the sale price has expired.
5. What about warranties? If there is one, make a note.
6. Compare the features of the product offered. Sometimes there are additional resources needed and one vendor may include them in a packaged price while others offer items individually.
7. Read reviews (several) about a vendor. If using ebay, look at the feedback numbers and READ those comments. People don't post them because they are happy and we need to understand why a person is not before we risk our money.
8. When deciding on a product, consider IF this product will accomplish the intended goal for your child within the year~I'd compare it to state testing requirements IF your child is college track. NOTE: IF you refrain from college prep this is certainly your option, but it's my OWN personal belief that children trust parent home educators to prepare them adequately for life and to give a child the option of university work if at all possible is a very very very good thing and almost needful in our world. If a child grows up and wants to blow off college, fine~but it won't be because this mama didn't do my part! (I know there are differing opinions on this in our community, so please understand that I affirm your personal choices~I am discussing mine.)
On a side note: Will this product serve more than one child? Is it allowed by the vendor? Some don't allow multi child use while others care less. Can it be used again for younger children? Note these features in your list. They will count when deciding actual costs for function of your potential purchase.
9. Read product reviews and read several. All reviews are not equal. All reviewers are different and what works for each of us is going to be different. I whole heartedly affirm review read, my goodness, I WRITE THEM, but my little tip IS THIS~to try and figure out a balanced viewpoint regarding a product. When I read reviewers I look at what else they have to say on their site such as non-product posts to see if that reviewer is somewhat *like* me. I know this would be difficult, but for instance: I have high schoolers. I can review a preschool or elementary product as someone who has done the job, but can a mom of those ages tell a mom of high schoolers about, lets say...a chemistry course??~UNLESS they have a degree in that field or related field??~YES, they can! But I find that to read several reviews will bring more balance into what I need to know and gives me a more solid sense of the product. Note these in that sheet when you are comparing price. ALL products are not the same and we can make choices based on what we feel is best! Putting it down makes huge sense!
NOTE: This leads me to discussing doing curriculum reviews which is a wonderful way of checking out FIRST HAND curriculum that may or may not fit our families. As part of the TOS Crew I've been blessed to touch and use many things to try with my kids! For the MOST part we have loved what we have tried, so it's a great thing to do!! BTW~a little plug for CREW: There will be announcements next year in the spring sometime for a new crew~think on it! It's loads of fun and you get free stuff to try out with your kids to see what will really work with your children. Go read the Crew's reviews HERE!! You won't go wrong reading many opinions concerning a product! (Check back often on the Crew's blog too b/c there are weekly GiveAways/Contests, AND our Blog Cruise where you can gain OUR INSIGHTS as a collective about various topics!)
10. TALK to your homeschool gal friends about the products you are considering. WHO do you know who is using the product you are looking at using? What do they say and will they let you look, touch, feel it? What does she say about it?
11. If at ALL possible, get hands on with the product or at the very least check out some samples. Look at several samples if available.
12. Swap if you can.
Homeschool Classifieds (DOT) COM
Vegsource (DOT) COM
FREE Homeschool Tools_No Chat (Yahoo Groups)
You can trade curriculum or in some instances give it away or request it. Try it out! Makes sense to me!
13. I want to encourage all of us to bathe what we teach in prayer and our needs for curriculum. God is a provider of all things good; we can bring this to Him!
Thanks for stopping by~check out my sidebars for some cool web stuff AND the giveAway/Freebie tab! Leave me a shout out and I will follow you in return!
Blessings~
Sunday, August 1, 2010
FREE: Classical Audio Books (WHAT A FIND!)
Sometimes there is something FREE that just makes ME want to sing~Oh dear Crewmate THANK YOU for posting THIS for us to enjoy! Go ck out her blog Clothesline Musings!!!
FREE: Wii Educational Games on the Web
Homeschooling in Nova Scotia, Canada has shared links~one at the click of the blog name and one HERE!!
GiveAway: Bryers Ice Cream Bars (oh yeah!)
Reviews and Reflections is sharing her ice cream bars! Leave her a comment!
Blog Hop~NOT Back to School (Heart of the Matter)
I am sooo N O T ready for school to begin~but this week has me thinking even HARDER about this year! I have just a few things on my *WISH* list left to purchase and items I am going to sell. We have a general plan and aim~2010-11 IS going to be our best year YET!Join me each week as I get ready for the NOT Back to School blog hop from Heart of the Matter!
The schedule looks like this~
- Monday, Aug 2 – Friday, Aug 6: Curriculum Week
- Monday, Aug 9 – Friday, Aug 13: School Room Week
- Monday, Aug 16 – Friday, Aug 20: Student Photo Week
- Monday, Aug 23 – Friday, Aug 27: Day-in-the-Life Week
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