Christmas Cards And Gifting At 30%off Fabulous! Ends Today!

{one of the beautiful examples of Christmas Cards available}

Tiny Prints Sitewide Sale: 30% off everything----HURRY!! Before it's to late!

Time: Friday 12/12 through Sunday 12/14 at 11:59pm PT
Promo code:SW30SALE

{I love their cards, so aesthetic to the eye}

If you haven't ordered your Christmas cards or gifts yet, it's not too late.
Check out the sitewide sale on Tiny Prints going on right now - 30% off everything. It's the best remaining sitewide sale of the season, so don't miss it.
When you go to Tiny Prints and place your order, just use the promo code SW30SALE and you'll save 30% on your purchase.

{I love this one, so sweet!}

Please click on links here to order, consider helping our homeschooling family out financially.

Thank you and God Bless you this holiday season

 

7 Layer Cookie Bars #FoodieFriday

My mom made these delious 7 layer cookie bars every year and they were one of my favorite memories of Christmas. This will be our first holiday season without her and sad as it seems, I think she would want us to carry on her traditions. So I searched for the recipe and wanted to share it with you.
These bars are so yummy, the Eagle Brand sweet and condensed milk is what helps to make these so good.

Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars

Rated: Submitted By: EAGLE BRAND® Photo By: footballgrl16 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes Ready In: 35 Minutes Servings: 24

"Chips of chocolate and butterscotch are a doubly delicious addition to these lovely layered cookie bars."

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch-flavored chips 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut 1 cup chopped nuts

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for glass baking pan). In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan.
2.	Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with remaining ingredients; press down firmly with fork.
3.	Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2014 Allrecipes.com Enjoy them with your family and share with friends.

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Doggie Treats For Your Furbabies #pets

Those of us that have furbabies understand the love we share for our pets, we want to take care of them just like our children. We buy doggie treats weekly for our 2 pug/schnauzer mix doggies and it gets rather expensive. You don't know what is in those treats, artificial chemicals, sugars, fats and assorted fillers that they just don't need to be eating. So I started looking for recipes to make our own

pet treats, starting first with our dogs. I am still working on some cat treats. 

Most recipes you find are very simple to make, they keep in a air tight container rather well and our dogs love them. I like to add some coconut oil one a day to their treats also as a supplement, it gives their coat a nice shine, helps with digestion and aids in their all around health and wellness. 

Here is a very easy recipe you can follow that I found on Pinterest: 

These can be easily wrapped up for holiday gift giving also, put in a cute little jar with a ribbon and you have a perfect gift for your favorite friend. Enjoy! 

Groovy Idea for Your Homeschoolers #Christmas lists #Stem #homeschool

Homeschooling is groovier with a lab in a box, perfect gift idea for your homeschooling kids or grand-kids. Because children are natural engineers, Groovy Lab in a Box blends Scientific Inquiry and the Engineering Design Process, which allows children to create ingenious inventions, enhance critical problem solving skills and have FUN! 

Everything is including in the box, I love that idea so I don't have to round up a bunch of extra stuff. 

How does this work you ask? 
Select your preferred subscription plan.  Choose from “Join Now” or “Gift It” plan options.  The “Join Now” plans automatically renew based on the subscription package while “Gift It” plans are non-recurring.  All subscription plans enjoy free shipping within the United States.  Your subscription includes a monthly delivery of Groovy Lab in a Box science inquiries, engineering design challenges, and access to “Beyond…in a Box”; the member’s only web-based learning section on the website.

What is in each box.......everything you need, all sorts of fun stuff, and lots lots more!!
as a homeschooling mom I am just in love with our box each month!! Order yours today HERE

Santa Bread, Warm Yummy Golden Goodness

Golden Delicious Santa Bread!

I saw this recipe on a facebook post and thought is was super cute and easy to make for a holiday get together. I like the Quick Tip below, but some of you might be avid bread makers. Enjoy! 

Ingredients:
4 to 4-1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 eggs
2 raisins
2 egg yolks
2 to 3 drops red food coloring

**Quick Tip: Instead of stirring up homemade dough, start with 2 loaves of purchased frozen bread dough and turn them onto a lightly floured surface. Take a small portion of one loaf and add it to the other loaf, making it slightly larger. Then begin shaping the Santa with the dough following the previous instructions.**

Instructions:
You will need a large bowl.

Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
Heat the milk, water and butter to 120°-130° in a small saucepan.
Add to dry ingredients. You need to beat just until moistened.
Beat in the eggs until smooth.
Stir the remaining flour in to form a stiff dough.
Turn onto a floured surface.
Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.
Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface.
Divide into two portions, one slightly larger than the other.
Shape the larger portion into an elongated triangle with rounded corners for Santa’s head and hat.
Divide the smaller portion in two halves.
Shape and flatten one half into a beard.
Using scissors or a pizza cutter, cut into strips to within 1 in. of top.
Position on Santa’s face. Now twist and curl strips if desired.
Use the remaining dough for the mustache, nose, hat pom-pom and brim. Shape a portion of dough into a mustache.
Flatten and cut the ends into small strips with scissors.
Place above beard.
Place a small ball above mustache for nose.
Fold the tip of hat over and add another ball for pom-pom.
Roll out a narrow piece of dough to create a hat brim; position it under the hat.
With a scissors, cut two slits for the eyes and after that insert raisins into the slits.
In separate small bowls, beat each egg yolk.
Add red food coloring to one yolk; carefully brush over the hat, the nose and the cheeks.
Brush the plain yolk over the remaining dough.
Cover loosely with foil. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
Uncover; bake 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Source: tasteofhome.com

You Are More Blessed Than...

If you have ever suffered loss, you will be thankful for the small things, you will love deeper and longer for each day is precious. "..

We take so many things for granted anymore, take some time today to say thanks for the blessings you have been bestowed. Teach your children to be grateful with the little things in life... teach kindness by practicing kindness & gratitude.

 

 

 

31 Days of Halloween To Do List For Your Family #fun #homeschool #family

October is such a fun month, the weather is cooler, the leaves are changing, the colors are painted across the sky in a fabulous canvas of jewel toned hues by our Creator himself. I love October, especially since I was born in the month of October (just a little bias) and my youngest blessing of a daughter was also born this month.
Halloween also closes out our month with fun and festivities, whether you celebrate a "Fall or Autumn" harvest type of holiday or go all out with the scary, ghosts and goblins theme. We just go with the flow here at our house and celebrate the season with what God has blessed us with all year long. Some years I have done a Harvest non-secular type of theme and some years I have gone all out spooky, witches and booger theme. I have just always taught our children the history of the holiday and let them enjoy the festivities of the day. There is no right or wrong here, whatever your family believes is right for your family and it is not my place to judge, there are many ways to celebrate.

Here is a really cute 31 days of Halloween (I know we are way into October but we can save for next year too)

To print this list Go HERE http://kraftycardsetc.com/2013/09/31-days-of-halloween-printable/

A Pretty Long List #goodstuff #lovelists

~~I Love Lists ~~

Now I can tell you that I have used many of these websites and they are fantastic, but it is just a list, make sure you check them out yourself. I can not tell you that I have been to all of them and they are all ok, so just be careful to be safe. I am a lover of lists, especially lists of websites that make my life easier or my homeschool run smoother, how about you? I am selfishly saving this here for myself if the truth be known.....lol , I want to check out more of those links.
If you find one website that is particularly helpful, share it with me in the comments, I love hearing from my readers!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Resources and Help #domesticviolence #awareness

Do you know someone that is in an abusive relationship right now, or is that person You!  Here are some resources that can help. Please report abuse, who else will speak up for her?

Domestic Violence Resources For Women: 

National Domestic Violence Hotline:Toll Free: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
Toll Free: (800) 787-3224 (TTY)
www.thehotline.org

National Network to End Domestic ViolencePhone: (202) 543-5566
www.nnedv.org

American Psychiatric Association (APA)Toll Free: (888) 35-PSYCH (77924)
Phone: (703) 907-7300
www.healthyminds.org

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Phone: (303) 839-1852
Phone: (202) 745-1211 ext. 143
www.ncadv.org

The National Center for Victims of CrimePhone: (202) 467-8700
www.ncvc.org

Futures without Violence
Phone: (415) 678-5500
www.futureswithoutviolence.org

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Toll Free: (800) 537-2238
www.nrcdv.org

The Battered Women’s Justice Project
Toll Free: (800) 903-0111 ext. 1
Phone: (612) 824-8768
www.bwjp.org

National Battered Women’s Law Project 
Phone: (212) 741-9480

WomensHealth.govToll Free: (800) 994-9662
www.womenshealth.gov

National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental HealthPhone: (312) 726-7020
www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
Toll Free: (866) 331-9474
www.loveisrespect.org

Safe Place
Phone: (512) 267-SAFE (7233)
www.safeplace.org

Break the CyclePhone: (310) 286-3383
www.breakthecycle.org

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)Toll Free: (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org

Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Toll Free: (800) 313-1310
www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/features/detail/790/

A Women’s Guide to Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation
Toll Free: (800) 993-3869
www.recoveryconnection.org/alcohol-drug-rehab-for-women

Teen Domestic Violence Resources 

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
Toll Free: (866) 331-9474
www.loveisrespect.org

Break the Cycle
Toll Free: (888) 988-TEEN
www.breakthecycle.org

Love is Not Abusewww.loveisnotabuse.com

Teen Outreach ProgramToll Free: (800) 300-1080
www.teenrelationships.org

Maryland’s Peoples Law Library
www.peoples-law.org 

Safe YouthToll Free: (866) 723-3968

KidsHealthwww.kidshealth.org 

SeeItAndStopIt.Orgwww.seeitandstopit.org

WomensLaw.Orgwww.womenslaw.org

Another page with some great resources : Here 

Warning Signs if you think you or a loved one is in an unhealthy relationship 

Please, Please seek help before you are just a statistic on a page

National Play-Doh Day-- Happy Squishy Learning Fun #learning #play #homeschooling

Yes, that's right Play-Doh has it's own National Day of the year, I have to admit that I never knew this and had to do some research for myself first.
Play Doh has been one of our favorite play and educational tools for years, from early in our children's lives they have been exposed to the squishy, moldable fun stuff.  I myself will confess joy and laughter to the delightful smell when you open that little yellow container ...lol, there is just something magical about the stuff.

Here are some historical points to share with your homeschoolers: 

National Play Doh Day is observed on September 16, 2014. Play-Doh is a modeling compound used by young children for art and craft projects at home and in school. Composed of flour, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil, the product was first manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s.

When a classroom of children began using the wallpaper cleaner as a modeling compound, the product was reworked and marketed to Cincinnati schools in the mid-1950s. Play-Doh was demonstrated at an educational convention in 1956 and prominent department stores opened retail accounts.


Advertisements promoting Play-Doh on influential children's television shows in 1957 furthered the product's sales. Since its launch on the toy market in the mid-1950s, Play-Doh has generated a considerable amount of ancillary merchandise such as The Fun Factory. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association named Play-Doh in its "Century of Toys List". (With material from: Wikipedia)

You can make your own Play Dough , many recipes are online in all types of scents and colors. 

The basic recipe I like uses baby oil to make the dough super soft and pliable, here is that recipe I found on another blog - www.notjustcute.com who posted this awesome card on Pinterest. 

If you are looking for flavors, scents and added colors-- Koolaid and Jello powders make great additives that are washable. Pumpkin spice is awesome! 

Here is another site with some fantastic links to tons of Play Doh recipes http://nurturestore.co.uk/play-dough-recipe-flavours 

What can you do with Play-Doh ? Just put your kids at the table and let them play....well yes, but there are so many more educational options for the moldable creations. Challenge your kids to do these fun ideas.....

Homeschooling Ideas to Challenge Kids with Play-Doh 

• Mold ABC's out of dough
• Mold their name, their sibling's names, pets names etc.
• Make funny faces with hair
• Make a clock with the hands set the the correct time (use a paper plate)
• Using printable Play- Doh mats, create fun ( many printable mats free online- just search)
• Make their favorite animal
• Mold and count out balls in 5's and 10's ,25's 50's 100's 
• Make pattern kabobs with different colors 
• Molding and making basic shapes out of dough
• Shape first letter of the color of the dough used
• Create farm animals , jungle animals etc and talk about habitats
• Create emotions on white paper plates and talk about feelings
• Mold models of Earth and other planets
• Mold phases of the moon
• Create a healthy meal example (on a paper plate)
• Make a volcano 
• Make an addition equation with dough molded out (then check with subtraction)
• Use playdoh to make a Plant and Flower, label the parts of both
• Make a skeletal form and label the bones
• Roll out dough and imprint with objects found around the house, see if sibling can guess the object.
• Make a brain out of Play doh
• Make other body parts or organs out of dough (be creative)
• Make gourmet foods, sushi etc 

There is so much more you can come up with to spark your homeschoolers minds, using Play doh with Lego's is another way to teach subjects. Adding some extra zing to your lessons helps to bring the love of learning and fire for more into your child's heart. Praying for you today! 

Find some great Play doh deals on Amazon via widget above (clicking helps to support our blog and family-thank you in advance)

Building a Better Student with Dom Testa-- Spell Check #education #learningtools

One of my co-workers at the radio station said something interesting to me this week. He said, “Spell check made me into a good speller.”

At first I thought he was kidding, but no. He told me that he was horrible at spelling when he was younger, but through the years spell check taught him. And it stuck. Today his computer and phone rarely need to correct him.

I walked away and thought about the significance of this observation. At their core people seem to scowl at technology in terms of education and all-around learning. 

In fact, almost daily we hear someone lament that “kids ain’t learnin’ nothin’ with them darned screens in their face all day.”

But is that true?

Try doing an online search using these five words: How technology helps students learn.

You’ll discover a vast archive of stories, studies, and stats that show how devices - even the frightening phone or the terrifying tablet - can open up a world of information to students who perhaps never found education . . . well, interesting.

Our non-profit foundation, The Big Brain Club, provides all sorts of services and resources to schools, but we always try to make technological donations an important part of the equation. Why? Because teachers tell us that gadgets often help them to connect with students who otherwise would sit in the back of the room with their arms crossed.

It will be argued, of course, that some kids will try to sneak over to the games instead of the lesson, but that’s not a generational thing; it’s human nature. And it shouldn't detract from the positive effects that lurk at our fingertips. 

What, we throw out the entire system because a few people corrupt it?

Voltaire taught us that perfect is the enemy of good. Well, electronic tools can be harnessed for good. Lots of good.

Instead of crusading to get phones and tablets out of the hands of students, let’s search for more ways to make each gadget an accessory to education. If, over time, spell check can help a grown man - who we normally view as stuck in his old habits - to become more proficient with language skills, then imagine what other devices can do if unleashed upon minds that are more naturally open to learning.

I spell that S-u-c-c-e-s-s.

Dom Testa is an author, speaker, morning radio show host, and has kept a ficus tree alive for twenty-four years. He’s also the founder and president of The Big Brain Club, a non-profit student-development foundation. His new book, Smart Is Cool, is now available. More info at www.DomTesta.com.

Forever In Our Hearts, We Are Forever Changed #Sept11 #America

Today is an important day to teach your children about America and what happened on September 11, 2001. This day in history has changed many things in our era. How do you teach what you heard, what you felt and how America stood still and just watched in horror as the twin towers just fell like dust. I remember I was at home watching TV, my son was at school, my middle daughter was just a year old. My husband had been gravely ill and in and out of the hospital and we were more focused on that at the time. Life has changed for us since then so much, it is hard to imagine.
Today we will study America on 9-11-01 since my 2 girls are old enough now to understand the complexity of terrorism and evil now.

Some links to use are

• http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks
• http://www.911memorial.org/
• http://www.notebookingnook.com/freebie-911-never-forget-notebooking-pages/
• http://heartofthematteronline.com/911-10-years-later-a-unit-study/ 
• http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/09/11/chronology.attack/index.html
• http://timeline.national911memorial.org/#/Explore/2
• http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/
• https://www.teachervision.com/us-history/current-events/71110.html
• https://www.teachervision.com/us-history/tragedy/6807.html?detoured=1 (more links on this page)
• http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-lesson-plans/911-2/

United We Stand ~ You Are Forever In Our Hearts 

Dedicated to those lost in the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks 

Post by Kristy Sinsara.