Oh the irony! Tis the season of giving pt. 1

This week, I received these two brochures in the same delivery. The irony was too much for my eyes [heart] to bear.  If you can't tell what they are, they are two very different catalogues.  One is for luxury dolls and accessories, the other is a gift catalog for a humanitarian organization.

So, don't get me wrong.  I'm not bashing those who own one of these overly priced dolls.  Who doesn't enjoy seeing the joy on their child's face when they get a gift that they realllly like and which of us does not like buying things for our kids?!  Besides, we ALL spend our excess in different ways. No judging here.

Anyway, I was curious what the price of one doll in our country could buy for those in need just to put things into perspective.....so I began comparing and here's what I got:


1 doll w/ book            =               1 small business loan for  a woman 
                                                                                or 
                                                        1 goat and 2 small chickens (16 c of fresh              
                                                           milk per day and fresh eggs


1 doll stroller              =                 $250 of necessities  for homeless or           
                                                         needy families in the USA


1 sparkle doll dress   =                hope for sexually exploited girls (safe    
                                                        shelter, counseling, food, vocational 
                                                        training, etc. 


1 puffy doll jacket & shoes   =   $350 worth of medical supplies overseas



I hope this was as profound to you as it was me?!  

May we never stop blessing, loving and giving to our own children and families, but may we also NEVER never forget those who are hurting, suffering and who go without on a daily basis. 

Tis the season of giving!

                                                       
                                                      

Our 2013-2014 Curriculum

Yes, it's mid December, we are slowly beginning our Christmas break and I'm posting about our curriculum...but I haven't posted our curriculum choices for the year and I wanted to do that before the year is gone : (

I really enjoy seeing what other homeschool families choose to use in their studies, so I thought this post may be of interest to some?!  I've also chatted with several friends recently who are considering educating their children at home and don't know where to start. So, I'm giving them my two cents. 

You can probably tell from our choices that our style is very eclectic with a mix of approaches - classical, Charlotte Mason, and even some unschooling thrown in the mix.  I'm all about taking it a year at a time, even a semester at a time (heck, one day at a time) to see what works best for us.

Here's where we're at:

"Tot" School

• Letter of the Week Curriculum (when she's up for it)
• a LOT of puzzles (she loves them)
• manipulatives (counting bears, lacing, patterns)
• much playing, Playdoh, baking and fun

K-4

• Phonics/Numbers: Abeka ABC-123
• History: Abeka History (with big sister)
• Bible: Awana Program and our own studies
• Reading: Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Kindergarten, story time at library
• Spanish: Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1
• much playing, baking and fun

1st Grade 

• History: Abeka History
• Reading: Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read 1st Grade and loads of books from our local library and reading programs
• Math: Math-U-See Alpha (and a supplemental workbook with time/money from Target $1 bin)
• Phonics: Abeka Letters and Sounds 1 Language 1/ Hooked on Phonics
• Literature: Classical Literature Units
• Bible: Awana Program and our own studies
• Spanish: Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1
• Spelling: Abeka Spelling and Poetry
• Science: various topical studies from our library ("Science Projects" workbook from Target $1 bin. Love those bins).
• Art: for now- whatever art projects interest us
• much playing, baking and fun 

Some things I'm considering adding some other items for the spring semester:
Grapevine Bible Studies and Road Trip USA.

This is what we are doing this year - thus far.  However, I'm all about adjusting if something doesn't seem like a good fit or appropriate for their level. That's one of the beauties of homeschooling : )

I would enjoy hearing what curriculum you use for homeschooling if you have a minute?!

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Ever had Pineapple Upside Down Cake? Well, you may or may not remember this recipe, but I do.  When I was little, my grandmother made this yummy dessert for most holidays and gatherings, at which  I would enjoy scraping off the pineapple and brown sugar topping (and the cherry when no one was looking).

I have since found another cake that is the cousin of that recipe.  The Cranberry Upside Down Cake. It is so easy peasy to make and is quite healthy for you.  OK, OK, maybe the second part isn't true.  In fact, far from it!  Regardless, this is my go to dessert for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties.  

The clash between sweet brown sugar and tart cranberries is quite pleasing to the palette : ) Not to mention that the cranberries are perfectly in season for the holidays.

Here's what you need to do to make it happen.

Ingredients:

1 box of cake mix (yellow or golden butter) and eggs/butter

1 bag of fresh cranberries (rinsed and dried)

1/2-3/4 c of brown sugar

1 stick of butter

Step 1:  In a cake pan, add slices/pats of butter then sprinkle the brown sugar and add the bag of cranberries.


Step 2:  Heat in the oven until the butter is melted - about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven.


Step 3:  Prepare the cake mix according to the box.

Step 4:  Pour the cake mix over the mixture in the cake pan.  Bake according to box instructions.


Step 5:  Take out of the oven, allow to cool.  Use a butter knife to loosen cake from the edge of the pan.

Step 6: Place a cookie sheet (with wax paper) or a large pretty platter on top of the pan and flip.  Hence - the upside down part.  ; )

Enjoy!!

10 things I want our daughters to know

1. No one will ever be capable of loving you like the One who created you. 

   

2. You are amazingly beautiful and unique inside and out. You are fearfully and 

    wonderfully made. 

3. Be globally minded. The U.S. is only one country of many, but be thankful 

     for your freedom.

4. There is a great big world out there with a lot of people and a lot of needs. 

     Have compassion. Serve.

5. You were created with a purpose!  Find out what it is and live it fully.

6. We are far from perfect, but we promise to do our best to love you, guide 

    you and point you towards the One who gave you to us in the first place.

7. People (including us) will let you down - just look up!

8. Dating... sure, you can make that decision when you are 18.  We aren't 

    bluffing.

9. Your worth will never be summed up in your dress size, your IQ, the 

    amount of friends on your Facebook page or your future career path and

    salary.

10. Our doors and hearts will always always be open to you.

We are eternally grateful for these four precious gifts!

Our 2013 Advent Activities

Last year's "Christmas Tree Ball"

The Christmas season is upon us and Advent begins tomorrow.  I love this season for sooooo many reasons. First of all, celebrating my King.  The birth of my Savior, the greatest gift!  

There are many other reasons why I love this season, as well.  The snow, all things peppermint, giving, Christmas music, family traditions, etc.  Finally, the overall cheerfulness of people (observe this, it really is different).

In order to maximize fun and help our children realize the full meaning of the season, we have planned some specific activities for Advent 2013. Check them out:

1. Have our 3rd annual Christmas Tree Ball (dress up "fancy" and decorate our tree)
2. Watch Little House on the Prairie: Christmas at Plum Creek
3. Read The Crippled Lamb
4. Make a gingerbread house (thank you Ms. Janet)
5. Make paper snowflakes
6. Watch Frosty the Snowman
7. Candlelit bubble bath
8. Fill Operation Christmas Child boxes
9. Drink hot chocolate and marshmallows
10. Watch The King Is Born 
11. Make cottonball snowmen
12. Read Truth in the Tinsel
13. Bake/decorate Christmas cookies
14. Christmas around the world activities
15. Attend a Christmas open house party for children at our local library
16. Make candles (Advent candles)
17. Take homemade gifts to our elderly neighbors
18. Minivan Express night
19. Make Christmas cards for friends and family
20. Wrap gifts
21. Act out the Nativity at home
22. Attend a Christmas service at church
23. Make a birthday cake for Jesus
24. Read Luke 1-2 (The Christmas Story)
25. Merry Christmas!!!

What activities do you have planned that may not be on our list?

Sweet(er) deals...while in your pajamas

Ok, so I admit. I can't do the Black Friday shuffle.  It's not good for my nerves ; ) My husband, however, occasionally enjoys the thrill of getting up early and treasure hunting for deals.

I tend to lean towards the convenience of online shopping and several sites that make the deals EVEN SWEETER.  Let me show you how.

Sadly, I dropped my Nikon camera right on the lens and broke it : (

So, that put me in the market for a new lens to capture holiday memories.  I thought, what better time to replace my lens than Black Friday?!  I was happy to find it for a good deal on Amazon.

Here is the breakdown of my purchase:

• Amazon $99 Nikon Nikkor Zoom Lens  with free shipping
• Searched through Ebates and received 8% cash back on my Amazon purchase
• Used $5 Amazon gift card from Swagbucks 
• $33 cash back credit from from Discover card
• 5% cash back using my Discover card

The final outcome - approximately $50 for my brand new lens.  Woo hoo!

So, the moral of this story is.... if you are like me and don't want to face the crowds, but are looking to get the best deals during the holidays, maximize the already amazing Black Friday online deals by also using:

SWAGBUCKS (free digital dollars for searching)
EBATES  (earn free rebates for shopping your favorite stores AND $50 for referring 2 friends and most stores offer double cash back today!)

In case you are in the market, here are my camera and lens.  I highly recommend both. 

 

Happy Saving and Earning!

*Disclaimer: links in this post may contain my referral links to products.

Get your groove on, momma!

Oh, the ever changing tide of motherhood.  The long sleep deprived nights seem endless until you blink and your child is weaned or moved into a toddler bed.

Teething, toddler tantrums, crawling, potty training.  It seems like there's always a milestone.  Always a new challenge or routine to get into.

It's constantly about getting into a groove.  When you get into one, it seems like your family is running like a well oiled machine.

Until...you are blessed with possibly another little life and that groove changes, yet again.

Add 1 or 2+ children and it seems like you are constantly finding your groove. 

In raising children, I have really tried to be intentional about enjoying all of the seasons.  Not wishing one away because it is too challenging.  Sadly, it WILL go away all too quickly without even wishing. 

Having nursed all of our children (2 of which would have NOTHING to do with a bottle), this made leaving babies home with daddy a bit of a challenge.  Now that everyone is weaned and growing like little weeds everyday, it's easier for me to get out alone.  

Last night, in fact, I went to my favorite coffee shop to work on some projects while my husband took the girls with him on a few errands.  I nervously asked, "is that going to work OK"?  To which he responded, "I've got this. We're good."

I gave him a perplexed look and said, "wow, we are really in a groove right now, aren't we"?!

My personality would of course have me thinking...

so now what?