I love Florida. Maybe it’s because the first time I ever laid eyes on the ocean (and became completely enamored) was on Florida’s sunny coast. The ocean is my happy place. But for whatever reason, my life is firmly planted in the Midwest (about as land-locked as a girl can get). So–I dream of vacation…And…
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5 Reasons Homeschool Moms Need Teacher Workdays
Years ago I taught 2nd grade in a public school. And while I loved teaching my students–I sure did love my teacher work days! These are days carved out on the calendar for teachers to get work done–without students! Sometimes they’re called Professional Days or Inservice Days–but regardless of what you call these special work days…Homeschool…
Does God Hear Me?
Recently, I had the most interesting conversation…A new friend, curious about raising teenagers, asked, “How exactly does one survive that? All the worries about drinking, drugs, sex, friends–you name it…” And I laughed (while pointing to my glass of wine)–but then dead serious, I explained that prayer is everything when raising teens. That is how you…
5 Reasons You Need a Romantic Getaway
Here’s the scoop–if you’re married with kids, you need a couple’s getaway! I know this is entirely easier said than done when you have little people–and the littler they are, the harder it is to leave! But you need this! So get ready to call grandma and pack your bags–I’ve got 5 reasons you need a…
3 Amazing Apps for Preschoolers That You Won’t Feel Guilty About
Often I get asked how I keep my littles (4 year old twins) busy while I’m homeschooling my daughter in high school and first grade son. (Honestly, it sounds harder than it actually is…twins have a way of entertaining each other!) But even if you’re not a homeschool mom, I’m guessing sometimes you could use…
21 Kitchen Essentials — Classics for Every Home Cook
When I got married at age 20, I had zero clues about cooking. It was bad. I was burning frozen pizza and putting entire pot roasts down the garbage disposal (which to my horror, came back up through the drain in our laundry room)! Thankfully, I’ve come a long way the last 21 years! And…
5 Tips to Create a Pinterest Strategy
When I started blogging a year ago—I had zero clues about Pinterest (or blogging for that matter)! But it didn’t take me long to discover, I not only needed to get a clue about Pinterest—I needed a strategy for using it effectively! Truth be told, I still find Pinterest to be a bit of an…
Homeschool Sick Days
Well, Sweet Friends—cold and flu season is having a party over at my house. I’m currently drowning in a sea of Kleenex…Besides me, five of my six kids have also succumbed to this yuck. And if a houseful of sick people doesn’t derail homeschool plans, I just don’t know what does. It’s easy to get…
Homeschool 9th Grade Curriculum Picks!
Though I’ve homeschooled for 15 years–this is my first time homeschooling 9th grade! My two oldest children opted for public high school, but this 3rd child of mine–she’s all in! She loves the freedom and independence homeschooling allows…and has no interest in the dramatic antics she’s heard all about from her older siblings. So here…
My Homeschool Curriculum 1st Grade Choices
I’m so excited to get started with my shiny new 1st grade curriculum! I don’t homeschool year-round (Sweet Friends, I need a break from formal lessons!! Summer is my absolute favorite. Summer is life to me–and isn’t all of life learning? Maybe I’m technically an unschooler in the summer…). Anyway, for me, it’s back-to-school time–at…
Easy Family Recipes — make every day special
These days I don’t always have much time for cooking (maybe it’s not so much the cooking, but the clean-up)! As a homeschool mom, I feel like I am.always.in.the.kitchen! So when I do take the time to make something for my family (beyond peanut butter and grilled cheese), I want it to be something they…
Homeschooling Will Save My Child (one of many myths)
So excited to be part of an important series–Homeschool Myths: Busted–Exposing the Truth Behind Homeschool Myths! Myself and other members of the Homeschool Blogging Connection Team are tackling a wide range of homeschool myths in this series, with the hope of offering encouragement and support. And while–yes, there are many misconceptions about homeschooling out…
Why I Love Teaching Textbooks (and how it just got better!)
(FYI…Teaching Textbooks provided me with their updated curriculum–version 3.0 for review…I was already using and loving Teaching Textbooks 2.0! As always–this post reflects my personal experiences and is 100% my opinion!) Excited to share with you why I love Teaching Textbooks, and give you an update and review of the newest version! My Switch to…
2018 Homeschool Moms Conference {ONLINE}
Thanks Registration for the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference is now closed! It was a huge success–please join us next year! Earlier this year I was super honored to speak at my local homeschool conference! (And I was a complete nervous wreck and wanted to puke for about a week leading up to the event…) But…
Free Homeschool Planner — a Long-Range View
I love seeing the BIG picture! When I sit down to chart out our plans for the school year–I always start with long-range planning. Over my 14 years homeschooling, I’ve established an important planning routine. It basically goes something like this…Choose my curriculum, start locating books and resources, identify goals, and finally–plot it all out…
