I love the idea of cleaning with less chemicals…And as Chief Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Window Washer, and Countertop Wiper (AKA: Mom)–I get exposed to a lot of them! So, I’ve been searching and experimenting with different natural cleaning brands for a while now. But nothing has really stood out to me–plus they tend to get…
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The Best Curriculum for Kindergarten
Kindergarten…so full of possibilities! For many it’s the beginning of their “official,” journey into the world of homeschooling! If that’s you–welcome!! Along with all the excitement of starting something so monumental, comes a lot of pressure! You are homeschooling because you feel it’s the best choice for your child and your family…You want to do…
How to Pray — A Simple Prayer Structure
My prayer life has gone through ebbs and flows over the years. Somewhere along the way, someone shared a simple outline for personal prayer with me called ACTS. And while there’s no one right way to pray—I’ve found this strategy really helpful. My hope is that if you want to learn how to pray, or…
Top 12 Favorite Homeschool Curriculums
After 14 years of homeschooling–I’ve tried a lot of curriculums! Homeschoolers have so many great curriculum choices available…Which is awesome, BUT–it can be totally overwhelming! Don’t let the multitude of homeschool curriculums scare you into analysis paralysis! Here’s the thing–there is no one perfect curriculum! We all have different needs and preferences. However, I do…
Teaching Music to Celebrate the Holidays
One of my favorite things about homeschooling is celebrating (and learning about) the holidays with my kids! There’s good food to make, stories to read, art projects and crafts to make–but there’s also great music to share! I love music–however, this is one of my weakest subjects when it comes to teaching my kids! That…
Tips for Teaching Your Left Handed Child Handwriting
All the boys in my house are lefties…My hubby, my teenage son, and my kindergarten son. It makes for some elbow bumping at the dinner table–but that’s nothing compared to the struggle with handwriting! Teaching my left-handed children fine-motor skills (specifically handwriting) has been one of the more challenging tasks for this right-handed momma! I’ve…
Easy Panang Curry
I discovered and fell in love with Thai food about 10 years ago (before that—was I really living though?)—curry is life. In particular, I discovered my most favorite food in all the world—Panang Curry. I know—this does not exactly sound like something you can recreate at home. But I love this dish so much, I…
St. Patrick’s Day Copywork and Activity Packet {FREEBIE}
Somebody pinch me! Suddenly we’re seeing green–in the best way possible! I don’t know about you, but getting to March is such a relief to me–bring on all the joy of St Patrick’s Day and Spring Break! My husband is part Irish–and my kids have always loved getting into the spirit of the holiday! I’ve…
Spelling Practice — Mix it Up!
Getting our kids to practice spelling words—sometimes it feels like pulling teeth. We know spelling practice has to happen, but it doesn’t have to be busy work! I’m sharing 4 strategies to spice up your spelling routine! A Note About Spelling Programs…My Personal Favorite: Before we jump into the 4 strategies, I have to tell…
20 Marriage Tips After 20 Years
Last summer my husband (Jason) and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! And now I’ve officially been married half my life! We tied the knot just one month after my 20th birthday…wow! I felt very grown-up back in 1997—totally ready to take on the world with my new hubby! And I guess you could say…
How to Start Homeschooling Midyear — Emergency Homeschooling
A little over a year ago, a neighbor approached me–full of concern for a friend, who was wondering how to start homeschooling midyear. Second semester was well underway–but her friend found herself in crisis-mode and in search of alternative educational choices for her daughter in high school. The friend was facing a divorce–which involved moving….
Kid Activities — Are the Sacrifices Worth It?
The last snowflakes just fell on this year’s Nutcracker ballet. It was beautiful—truly lovely. I wish I could just watch and enjoy the show—but instead I sit with shoulders tense, holding my program in a death grip and barely breathing. My eyes following my fourteen year-old daughter’s every move. Partly because I know the hours…
New Blogger to Do List Before Publishing a Blog Post
Before publishing a blog post there’s a number of things that are going through your head. Then…you hit the publish button AND the bottom drops out. You realize that 10 different things still hadn’t been done. You know who you are (me!). I’ll walk you through some of the key learnings I’ve had blogging and…
Why I Homeschool — 14 Years of Benefits
I colored inside the lines all my life…Deciding to homeschool was one of the first decisions that really took me off the beaten path. At first, I was terrified of what others would think—I spent a lot of time trying to justify why I homeschool (mostly to myself). Not necessarily because anyone was point-blank asking…
Preparing for Twins — What You Really Need!
Discovering I was pregnant with twins was truly the biggest surprise of my life! After the initial shock wore off, I began working through the logistics. I had lots of questions, like… “How will this work…Where will they sleep? Can we all fit into our vehicle?” (We already had 4 kids…so we didn’t have a…
