Small Town

Written by Fermin Washington

Being from a small town meant that when I moved I had no idea what to do about home security. I had a big dog and I figured that was enough, that is, until one of my neighbors’ houses got broken into. I just didn’t imagine I was so vulnerable but you know, when something like that happens it really forces you to think about things. I went to www.homesecuritysystem.com and got a home alarm and actually had all the locks changed since the previous owner was, in a word, sketchy. I feel better now about being here along and I actually want to buy expensive stuff to decorate. You know, there’s nothing like owning your own home and really being part of the process and that’s what I’m in the middle of right now. I love that this place is mine and that I’m the one responsible for taking care of it and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Owning your own home is the most amazing feeling ever!

Excellent ideas

We were looking for a floor mat for the science lab and it struck me that if I shopped through the industrial sector I might find a higher quality floor mat with some anti-slip stuff for fall protection, too and that's exactly what I found. Now, if something toxic happens to spill we're not in danger when we're trying to get to safety. And even if it's just water on the floor, we won't have to worry about slipping and spilling something toxic. I was thinking we would all need some rubber soled shoes or something, but it just didn't seem practical, the kids enjoy doing science experiments all the time and I can't imagine trying to monitor what shoes they wear when they head into the science lab, I mean... can you imagine? Anyway, what have you done in your house to create a safe space for science? It's only really chemistry that's been causing such a dilemma I mean, we had a few chemical uses in physics but not nearly like we're having this yeah and the entire family has been enjoying it, too. That's another cool thing about homeschooling, it's just so much fun.man, i wish I could go back in time because I definitely would have wanted to be a homeschooler when I was a kid. I guess it's never too late, is it?

That special blankie

Oh don't you just love it when your friends are expecting new babies? I just love watching their bellies grow and sharing every moment of pregnancy, it's such an amazing time and I always make a habit of knitting them a crib blanket or buying a special organic baby blanket for every one of them. I always make a point to get only the best with the hopes that my blanket will be the one they cling to when they're toddlers. I was lucky with my friend Kathryn, the blanket I got her was a jewel toned organic cotton blanket with a matching beanie. I even got a teeny little doll blanket that goes with it. When I was a kid, I loved having doll-sized things to match my own belongings. Little Chloe Luna is only a year old right now, it's too soon to say if she has any special attachment to the blanket or not, but every time I go visit her I make sure to snuggle with that blanket and bring her little presents and stuff. We'll see if it works, I guess I'll let you know in a few years ;)

Making ends meet

One thing all families can probably universally agree with is that it's important to keep a budget and make sure that everyone's needs are taken care of. I'm not sure what your situation is, but if you're like many Americans, you've had your ups and downs, right? I know we have.  I'm a spreadsheet fanatic, so I really like to document where our money goes every month and where it comes from. I can't stand it when a creditor calls and wants you to run down all your expenses with them so they can "prove" to you that you really CAN make a payment agreement. It doesn't take rocket science to know that it's difficult to raise a family on a small budget, right? For many people, the key to financial well-being is to Stop Collection Calls because all that stress makes life way more difficult. Whether the solution lies in a consolidation loan, lower interest rates or even just paying off everyone a teeny bit at a time, it's just nice to know that there IS a solution and you don't have to put up with all the nastiness and stress that these guys like to put out there.

Best advice ever

I'm about to share with you the number one best homeschooling tip ever .  When my oldest was about 8 months old, we joined a local homeschool support group in the city where we lived, it was the AV Rose Rock Inclusive Homeschool Support Group, it was a chapter of the nationwide Rose Rock group of inclusive homeschool support groups, started by Bonnie Carter and Kim... shoot, what was Kim's last name... I don't remember. Either way, it was one of a chain of support groups that welcomed families of all faiths, homeschooling styles and whatever else. We had a family drop out once because she read our guidelines and realized that we'd welcome a same-sex couple and just thought that was far beyond her comfort level.. That's why we defined the term inclusive before we started, right. We wouldn't have WANTED the presence of someone who was judgmental, or otherwise believed that diversity could hurt their children. We specifically invited everyone and believe that everyone has value.

Anyway, it was in this group that I decided I wanted to get to know these homeschool moms better, so I asked a few if I could come over for a visit to see what they do at their house. The very first place I visited was a woman named Lisa who had 3 children. We were house-hunting at the time and she advised me to go for hard wood floors because you can always put rugs over top of it and clean them without having your floors ruined.  best.advice.ever.

Keeping everyone dressed

One awesome thing about traveling (other than the fact that the kids have been able to tour a million museums and meet awesome people all over the country) has been the shopping. We've seen outlet malls, we got to spend some time in the Los Angeles Fashion District (cute pink hoodie for a steal), we got to check out the Epic Threadz company, they travel the world shopping for handmade items and then bring them all back to the US to resell and every piece has a story. Every item on the rack was made by someone they remember. Imagine living in some third world country and making your beaded jewelry and having some American come and buy it all in one day, it would feel like winning the lottery, right? I love supporting individuals but as a mom sometimes, we just need to focus on supporting our own kids. And our husbands, that's why I like shopping online from major retailers. I was able to get some hoodies and mens t shirts for such a bargain. The cool thing about shopping online is that you know you're probably getting a great deal because they don't have to worry about a sales staff, most of the work is automated. You don't have to finance the staffing of a person that folds clothes all day, re-shelving things, and stuff like that. Anyway, keeping everyone dressed is a constant dilemma, might as well make it fun, right?

Here's a story

So a few years ago at the county fair, my husband bought himself an RC helicopter. he played with it all the time, he loved it and it was his favorite toy. Grown men don't often get to indulge in playing with toys so this was definitely a treat. Well, one day we were gone and the kids decided they wanted to play with it, too. They crashed it into the irrigation canal and it broke. It's been broken ever since, sitting in a box in our closet and he looks at it all the time, wanting it to be repaired. But the silly thing is that the cosmetic damage was easy to repair, it's one little soldered connection inside where some wire needs to be reattached to a circuitboard. Can you imagine letting your favorite toy sit undisturbed and unplayed with for like 4 years just because of one $25 repair. It's $25 if he replaces his soldering gun- I think that's what we paid but nevermind that, we have a friend with a computer repair shop who soldered things all day long. I'm sure that if he wanted to, he could walk in and use HIS soldering gun instead of buying one, then the repair would be virtually free.

Anyway- it just dawned on me that it wouldn't happen with the kids' stuff, it would be repaired or given away or thrown away much faster than that. Why would an adult- who has the means to make it work for himself- choose to let his toy sit dusty and unplayed for so long?  Who knows? I just know that whenever I need a cheap (or free) gift for him all I need to do is get that helicopter fixed and he'll be so happy.

Getting a taste of Broadway with Mary Poppins

Guest post written by Donna Singer

I'd never seen a Broadway play actually on Broadway until our recent trip to New York this summer. I had seen Broadway plays while they were on tour across the country and stopped near us, but I've always heard that they can't do nearly as much with the plays while they're on tour as they can when they're actually on Broadway. So I was definitely ready to actually see a play on Broadway in New York.
While I was looking online to get some more info on it, I saw some info about a waterproof hearing aid. I showed it to my husband and he actually went to go and get fitted with one. I never thought that he would admit to needing one!
We really loved the play! It was so neat, especially during the chimney sweep scene. I'm curious if they could have pulled that off on a national tour. If it comes on tour right near us, we'll just have to go and see it again! It was just so much fun and kind of makes me wish I was a kid again.

Taking Care of Pops

I just love the idea of allowing Pops to stay in his own home as he ages. I was excited to find a nj senior care company that specializes in in home care. I think the best sort of new jersey elder care allows patients to stay in their own homes because it's so much more dignified and I can't imagine being taken away from my home just because I'm aging. In a perfect world (my perfect world anyhow) families would live in communities, taking care of each other and I'm hoping the visiting nurse acts like family, so Pops feels more like he's visiting with someone rather than like someone is coming over to take care of him. I wish we had found something like this several years ago, it seems like the perfect solution. They check over the meds, they help with hygiene and all sorts of other things, to help make life easier for Pops.

So have you ever used an elder care service? What sort did you go with? I think our culture has strange practices for aging, like when Aunt Rita was 94 and she went into the hospital for something simple, they ended up wanting to give her surgery. I was so happy when she said "No thanks" and just went on about her life. She lived another 3 years after that and died at home in her sleep. She told her daughter that next time she's not feeling well, tell her to suck it up because "I'll be damned if I'm going to die in some hospital bed somewhere."

Gotta love her, I hope I'm just as fiery at that age!

Pinching pennies

If you or your spouse works at a place that requires scrubs, then you should totally check out this link for a website called Blue Sky Scrubs at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ because they are an online scrub store that has an amazingly huge selection and also great prices. It's no surprise really that a web based business would be able to offer the best prices and selection, but when you compare like on an item by item basis, it becomes suddenly the most exciting thing int he world to shop for scrubs. I just LOVE the simple layout of the site and how easy it is to browse through the color swatch tabs. I can't do it on my husband's computer because his color is a little off and everything looked a little greener than it's supposed to be. But on my computer, I love to see the full range of beautiful colors they have and so many different prints and fabrics and sizes. They even have scrubs for kids. You know, in case you're like Doogie Howser's mom or something. Anyway, be sure to take a peek and see what they've got. You're SURE to save some money and I dont' know about you but shopping online is so much MORE FUN than actually going somewhere, right? For me it is, anyhow. I'm not much of a shopper. 

Putting the HOME back in homeschool

Have you ever walked into a homeschooler's house and you get that sinking, crappy feeling that you're back in school again? Charts on the wall with gold stars ensure that kids are being taught to follow someone else's reward system rather than their own inner guidance... lesson plans that ensure that the specific target points of knowledge are being communicated and stressed, even if it's in spite of true understanding or enthusiasm. That used to impress me, but I don't think a homeschooling mom's job is to recreated the (failing) classrooms of the world. Life is joyful and learning is fun and there's no reason a home should be anything but a home.

It hit me when we were shopping to decorate my daughter's room. The rest of the world was shopping for school supplies, but that was the farthest thing from my mind, I just wanted to create a beautiful environment she'd be comfortable in. She's picky and I know it's important to HER that things be in order, so we set off with hot cocoa, our snuggies and started shopping online. She wanted everything she saw on this site, but we settled for a beautiful pegasus vanity and a trundle mattress that she can use when friends come over and some matching floral lamp shades to bring it all together.

Girl History

One thing we love about visiting the SCA re-enactments is the opportunity to check out the clothing and jewelry that was popular during that time. We like learning about the textiles, dyes and patterns they used. We've never tried to make any, but we do appreciate it. Maybe because we're girls. My daughters definitely want to have authentic medieval outfits, but the amount of work that goes into them is just maddening. Jewelry is a different story, though. There are some great historical jewelry reproductions. Especially if you're looking for Celtic designs. Celtic jewelry is beautiful and easy to find, too (especially since I just gave you a link to click on!) I absolutely love the Celtic knot patterns and I might even want one in tattoo form eventually.

I had to look up the term "Claddagh ring" and I'm so glad I did.  According to Wikipedia:

The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II, though elements of the design date to the late Roman period.

Isn't that sweet? I love the idea that jewelry can have its own story. You should seriously check out some of the beauitful designs, they have something for everyone, for sure. And learning about traditional and historic clothing and jewelry automatically teaches lessons about materials, livestock and farming practices of the day and helps to get an understanding of the lifestyle in the time period, instead of just memorizing dates and names. I was never interested in war history and when I was a kid, that's all history was; memorizing dates and names of winners of wars. BORING. This is one reason we homeschool, to learn what life was like back then, not about the wars.

Remove It

Now is definitely the time to get rid of those nasty old appliances. You might want to call a service like Appliance Removal Chicago because they specialize in coming right out to your house and hauling away whatever it is that you want removed, as long as it's an appliance. So maybe you have an old dryer on your back porch, or an old washing machine or an old refrigerator or an old oven or an old freezer. Whatever it is, they can take it away for you. I mean, what else would you do with an old appliance, right?

Well, not so fast... I once saw the most adorable planter made out of an old dresser and I keep thinking it would be kinda cool to use an old washer as a planter. You could plant rosemary in it, or some other hanging-basket type of plant, like petunias, because they would spill over the top like too many soap suds. Hey, that would actually be kinda cute, to have a line of washers back-to-back like a little dividing wall, with flowers growing inside of them and maybe a row of pots in front of it. Anyway, it would be tacky but sometimes that's cute. I'd rather have that than a stack of nasty old machines on the porch collecting dust and spider webs.

All shapes and sizes

We all know that people come in all shapes and sizes, right? Actually, they come in under ten pounds and as soon as they get here they just grow and grow. Some grow more than others. Sure, there are averages but there will always be  few people who thrive at levels above or below that average. That's where averages come from. It's necessary to have two extremes. So it's a good thing there are Big and Tall Clothing stores, as well as clothes for women's plus sixes. Next thing we know they'll be making a children's store that specializes in oversized kids. Not that it matters what their size is, UNLESS they're unhealthy. Then it matters because they deserve to be healthy. A lot of kids these days don't have a choice. There is a general lack-of-knowledge when it comes to the importance of whole, natural foods for health.  Some people eat nothing but processed foods. We choose to eat only whole and natural foods, but that's our choice. Mine, actually.  My kids get to make their own decisions, but they generally choose healthy foods, with a little more candy than I enjoy. Lately I have no craving for sweets at all. I think that means I am officially old or something.  I don't know, maybe it's because I just don't eat refined or processed foods much. I guess I start each day with a cup of coffee that's made with refined sugar. I should find a substitute I like. Maybe stevia. I wouldn't mind switching from coffee to tea, if I had  badass tea collection. Maybe I'll do that one day. Anyway, life is good. have a nice day.


 

Wear one out

Hey homeschoolers, wanna get your hands on some great Christian T Shirts? I know what you're saying; "A T shirt isn't capable of accepting Jesus as its savior." But lighten up, I just mean that there are some awesome shirts out there with Christian sayings, quotes and graphics. If you decide to visit their site, be sure to check out the top selling funny shirts.One cool thing about this site is that so many of the shirts are able to be customized. When you see the designs, it's kind of funny to see that each shirt says "Your words here" I collect quotes, though, so I'm always thinking of which words would go on a T shirt and I bet they might sell more if they display them with actual words instead of making the consumer think of their own. Oh well, they must have an artist on staff because the designs are fresh, modern,(yet traditional - nothing trashy) AND they're well-drawn. So basically you go for the art of the T shirt and you have to then choose your favorite quote or saying to be printed with the art. It's really a unique idea and the shirts are beautiful.  I'm sure they would make great gifts, too. 

Home Economics

I took home economics in High School and it wasn't an economics course at all. We learned how to cook and clean and sew. Not that I can even sew a simple set of kitchen curtains today, it's not because I didn't learn how, it's just because I wasn't interested at the time.  Either way, that's not economics. Economics is managing money. Maybe they were trying to teach us that it's cheaper to bake from scratch or to sew things instead of buy them.... but we didn't really ever learn how to juggle bills, how to make a family budget or how to save money eating out. That's the kind of economics I find useful as a mom and homemaker. We redecorated our kitchen once fore like $30, they didn't teach us THAT in high school, right? I mean, you can't buy one single kitchen decor item for that much, it's ridiculous.

I don't know about you, but one reason we homeschool is because I want to be sure that the kids have real-life skills that they can use and one way we do that is by including them in decisions. See, in life, you really CAN have everything you want, as long as you work out a method to get it, right? Actually I shouldn't say that because every plan I make seems to fail but I still end up getting what I want. Life is good. The world is a good place and people want to help your dreams come true. That's why we homeschool. You don't need to have an average set of knowledge in every topic in order to be successful. A better approach is to be an expert in your favorite things and homeschooling allows us to raise kids who have time to pursue their passions and become experts in their field, without the time-wasting, mind-numbing, soul-crushing focus on mediocrity. so what about you? Did you take Home Ec in school? Do you think they missed the mark, or did you learn valuable homemaking skills? How does your homeschool differ from the experience you had as a child?

Dressing up

A lot of families are dealing with weight issues, because modern technology has replaced some of the more laborious tasks of generations passed. Laundry and dish-washing used to be time-consuming tasks but now we just use the machines, and we can all agree that life is easier this way. Unfortunately, the foods we eat have also been replaced by franken-food, stuff that's made entirely in factories and all the enzymes and nutrients that nature would have us consuming aren't in our diets anymore. So there are many reasons people nowadays are just plain fatter than they used to be. It's a fact of life, but it can be avoided.

Thank goodness for plus size fashion stores, specialty clothing shops that only sell plus size clothing. It's an industry that's been growing in popularity because people want to look good no matter what their size is and most clothing stores don't order a lot of the larger sizes because they're a little harder to sell. People who wear plus sizes prefer a specialty store because the clothes fit better and look better.Anyway, if you're wearing pus sizes, please share about your shoopping habits in the comment section. Maybe you've had luck with Sears or another surprising place, maybe there's a website you're in love with for shopping, if not you should check out the links above because Jessica London is like the queen of plus size clothes. Seriously, check them out.

Cute in any size

I know a lot of people in the area have trouble shopping and even though we're not in the market for plus size clothing, I do notice a lot of plus sized residents in town and do we even have a store that specifically sells  plus size women's clothing?  I have no idea.  I can see how frustrating it would be to go shopping for plus size clothes and have to sift through an entire store just to see what they happened to order in your size.  My size is pretty standard and average, I take for granted that some people have a harder time finding things. Plus, clothes that aren't specifically made for a heavier frame might end up not being sturdy enough or flattering on a larger body. 

Take formal dresses for example. Sometimes the styles and cuts are made to emphasize the features of a smaller body, so even if you manage to find one in the right size it won't be flattering. That's why I like to see shops that specialize in plus size formal dresses because then the consumer knows they're getting something that's designed with their body in mind, so they won't have to sorry about feeling unattractive or frumpy or anything. Anyway, you should check out the store I'm linking to, they also have swimwear and bras (that would be a nightmare)  and plenty of other items made just for supersized gals who don't want to skimp on style. Enjoy :)

Big Bro Hooks Me Up

Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

Man it’s nice being able to use my brother’s cabin in the winter. It’s only about 2 hours outside the city and having a place to go to get out of the hustle and bustle is absolutely essential for me and this makes it a lot less expensive all in all. He bought the place about ten years back and he’s told me before what a money pit it ended up being. He had to put a lot of money in to get it fixed up right and he even went to shopelectricityRatesTEXAS.com last year to get those electricity bills down because they were killing him. My favorite time to use it is in the winter when it gets kind of chilly out and I can start a fire and my wife and I can watch movies and drink wine. It’s so great and cozy and when it’s like that outside it’s all I can do to even open the door for more firewood! I love my brother and I really appreciate his generosity with this house of his.

Cleaning with Kids

Learning to maintain a house is important for boys and girls. Sure, for big messes and deep cleaning it's probably smarter to call http://www.thesteamteam.com/  or something, but for every day maintenance it's just smarter to crank up the music and embrace the task of cleaning as an act of love. This is so much smarter than making it a chore or punishment because those methods only teach children that cleaning is an undesirable activity. Since we've been cleaning with joy in our hearts, the kids are so much more eager to help tidy up. I can't imagine why we ever thought it was wise to associate cleaning with negativity. 


Sure, there are some tasks that require professional help, like fire and flood damage austin for example. And national air duct cleaning austin is another one, I mean can you imagine asking your 7 yr old to clean the air ducts? I know my daughter would be climbing through them with a wash cloth.  I'm not sure how the professionals do it, but I think it would be smart to seal them all off and then just vacuum through them with a powerful sucking device. I know that if you don't clean them regularly, the dust builds up and can cause a fire. It also reduces the air quality in your home because germs, bacteria and mold spores can live in there.  In our house, it could be woodpeckers or field mice. WHo knows? Either way, I know it's important for home maintenance, that's for sure. 

Hey medi-folk

I know that if you're working and homeschooling you probably can use all the money-saving ideas you can get, right? Especially when they're simple and easy. So go check out http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ and see what they have going on there. you won't believe the prices first of all, and then you'll be blown away by the selection. They have like a million different things to choose from for uniform scrubs and lab coats and medical uniforms for people who work at doctors offices, hospitals, clinics, labs and places like that. It's really cool when you can have a lot of different pieces to choose from for your work wardrobe because by the time you're done mixing and matching you can end up with hundreds of different outfits from just using different color combinations and if you add in a few patterned pieces, then you're styling. 

Survivor Not Really Reality Anymore

Contribution by Terrance Kirby

"Survivor" is under way for another season of entertainment. There is now a new twist in the game called DirectTV packages with popular programming. The show needs to quit bringing back the past characters and give the new players a chance to play the game.
The producers this season are taking it easy on the players by supplying a ton of supplies at the camp sites. On the next Survivor they will probably have huts and dinner waiting. Players always had to compete and win the supplies to make their campsite more comfortable. Well hopefully, some of the new players like Kristina and the farmer can make the show more entertaining to watch and less of soap opera.

Keeping it Clean

Boys are such a mess. Austin and Mason came by to play with my kids and now I'm in the market for a serious power washing company
Austin made such a mess, he managed to get something stuck in the air vent. I mean, who has air duct cleaning tools austin just lying around, right? I should have his mom do it, but the company I found is just so phenomenal. They even do natural odor removal austin, which is going to be an amazing resource if those skunks decide to come back this year. My dogs just don't leave them alone. so what has your greatest cleaning challenge been?

Kids need good storage solutions too

Guest post written by Ameila Bridges

When I went to babysit my sister's kids at their home about a week ago I was amazed by the lack of storage that she has for them. But then again she's doing the best she can as a single mom. So I thought that I would do something nice for her and figure out how to incorporate storage into the design of their rooms.

I love looking at home design and craft blogs online with myCLEARWIRELESSINTERNET so I actually had some great resources to go to for that. It's really cool how some people incorporate storage into kids rooms and I found this one great example that included cubbies.

So I did my research and found out that you can get some unfinished plain cubbies at about any hardware store easily. I'm going to help them paint the cubbies to match their rooms, which I think will be something fun for the kids to do. Plus, it will give her a little break to rest and enjoy some time to herself on time off from work.

Is there a future doctor in your house?

Encouraging our children to follow their dreams is one of the most valuable ways we can be effective parents. One of my daughters was planning to be a medical doctor for a while, she was very excited and in my excitement, I made a few fatal mistakes:

I announced it on Facebook, telling everyone in our family and circle of friends that she was planning to become a doctor. Like any 15 yr old girl really wants to be locked into a lifelong career choice? She can't even decide what color hair she wants, why would I latch onto a career decision?  It would have been smarter for me to buy her a set of medical scrubs so she could just get used to the way it felt to look and dress like a medical person, right?  Even just getting her a nursing uniform for a halloween costume would have been more effective. The scrub store has lab coats and kid sized scrubs, too- so I'm thinking it might have been wiser to allow her to embrace the decision instead of turning it into a high-pressure thing. Oh well, live and learn. I'm sure by the time our youngest is this age we'll have it all figured out, right?

Studying Hawaii

If you're working with the group of kids who are planning a trip to Hawaii, then you might be interested in these unit study resources;

*The Hawaii Tourism Authority 1801 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814, (808) 943-3500. They also have a website. You can contact them for travel brochures and to book group tours, if you choose. When you arrive, stop in and sign the guest book.


*Hawaii foreclosures are down, so real estate there is starting to move up again. If you plan to invest in a timeshare or vacation house, now is the time to get started with that research


*Plan fun activities. There are a million free and cheap things to do in Hawaii. All you have to do is research and be open-minded. And don't forget to visit Pearl Harbor.