Growing Together

I've moved!

2011-01-29T13:09:00.003-05:00

Hello, world. We've moved this blog to www.chrisworthy.com. Please update your links and blogrolls and join me at the new location. Thanks!

this moment

2010-12-10T07:44:00.001-05:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

(Taken this morning. Photo credit to my wonderful husband.)

power tools (uhn, uhn, uhn)

2010-12-09T16:11:00.001-05:00

(That was my Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor grunt.)

Husky Tools sent us this super cool 13-piece Powertek Precision Screwdriver Set. Honestly, I thought I would have my husband reviewing this one, but it turns out to be a bit more up my alley.

Why I now own the screwdriver:

In the past, when I required the use of a screwdriver, I would dig through my husband’s tools to borrow one. He loves his tools. Sometimes I “borrow” for lengthy periods of time.
I make things! This screwdriver had tiny little bits in all sorts of shapes (crosses, lines, etc. – har, har, I know they are Phillips and flat head) which are small enough for craft projects. (I think they will also be useful for eyeglass repair, which happens too often around here.)
Because said screwdriver is tiny, it won’t fit the bill as much for my husband’s day-to-day uses. (He points out that the bits aren’t magnetized, which would be a plus for him when working with tiny parts. My hands are smaller so I don’t think it’s an issue with me.)

This screwdriver runs on two AAA batteries and seems quite powerful enough for me. Husky also has a great guarantee on their products.

If you need to buy a few more gifts this year, check out the Husky products under $20 at Home Depot. Some of them are big, manly screwdriver and rachet sets, but the Powertek suits me just fine.

I received a screwdriver set for review. Opinions are my own.

words of the month

2010-12-06T08:17:00.001-05:00

December words are out in the world. I’ve linked to a few stories below. My story on the Poor Clares is in the winter issue of Sandlapper, but not yet online.

Enjoy!

What’s News and Recall Roundup
Holiday things to do in the Midlands (SC)
Staying under budget this Christmas season – with thanks to Jenny at Southern Savers for being part of the story.
Checking the list…
Kids’ holiday fashion
Battling SAD (seasonal affective disorder)

this moment

2010-12-03T07:56:00.001-05:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

cleaning (or please save me from the books)

2010-11-29T07:56:00.001-05:00

Math U See Manipulatives (includes plastic case)

I have a 158 piece set of MUS manipulatives for sale. I did buy these used and we have used them, but they are made of sturdy plastic and should continue in good shape through many more students. Because this is more than one set, I am going to list them individually below. $30, plus shipping and delivery confirmation

(Type: quantity included)
Blocks
One (Green Units): 24
Two: 4
Three: 4
Five: 4
Six: 4
Seven: 4
Eight: 4
Nine:4
Ten: 20
Hundred: 4
Algebra/Decimal Inserts
Red blocks: 20
Red inserts: 8
Green inserts: 2
Blue inserts: 24
Grey inserts: 24

BJU Algebra 1 for Christian Schools, Second Edition -- I have the Student book (hardback) and the Teacher's Edition, Book 1 (this is wire, spiral bound with a hard back cover). Both of these are in very good condition. I do not have book 2 of the teacher's edition, but you should be able to find that used. We have chosen to go with "chalkdust" (sort of) after finding that we need DVDs.
Here is a link to the student book: http://www.bjupress.com/product/235846?path=1504
And the two-volume teacher set: http://www.bjupress.com/product/123133?path=1504&spot=1
I am asking $12 for this set, plus media mail shipping and delivery confirmation. Books are in great condition, but I am discounting because you will still need to buy book 2 of the TE.

Earth Science for Every Kid (VanCleave)
The Young Naturalist (Usborne)
$8 for both, plus media mail shipping and delivery confirmation. The VanCleave book has been used repeatedly and shows it, but it is still in very usable condition. The only writing is a name inside the front cover. The Usborne book is in very good condition.

History Odyssey, Ancients, Level Two study guide -- like new condition. This comes three-hole punched with color covers for inserting in a binder. (I did not put this in a binder, so one is not included.)
Price is $15 plus media mail shipping and delivery confirmation.

Mary, Bloody Mary
The Phantom Tollbooth (has a tear on the edge of the cover, book is fine)
Catherine, Called Birdy
Shadow of a Bull
The Door in the Wall (Readable but written in)
$9 for all, plus media mail shipping and delivery confirmation.

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, new edition $12

Prentice Hall Science Explorer $8 for all
Animals (2005)
Earth's Waters (2005)

Sonlight Language Arts 6 with student activity sheets (2007 --old style): $8

Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse $2.50

Christian fiction:
Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure
The Quest for Thunder Mountain (Tales from Terrestria)
The Isle of Dragons (Tales from Terrestria)
$9 for all, plus media mail shipping and delivery confirmation, paid via paypal. These are in excellent condition.

another giveaway coming soon

2010-11-29T07:54:00.001-05:00

Soon, I will be doing another review and giveaway for CSN Stores, purveyors of pretty much everything -- sling backpacks, snow booties for dogs (no joke) and the coolest Lego sets ever made (I want this). And today is Cyber Monday, don’t forget, if you are still working on that Christmas shopping list…

(On another note, this is my first post using the updated Windows Live Writer. It’s very, very nice. Thank you, Bill Gates.)

homeschoolers, black friday is early for you

2010-11-24T07:57:00.001-05:00

I’ve met some wonderful people through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. They have terrific resources for homeschooling and their Black Friday sale is already underway. They also have a terrific subscription package that includes a planner (look for a couple of my recipes in the 2011 Schoolhouse Planner!), a tote and all sorts of goodies. Some freebies are also available. Enjoy!

hot stuff (the cocoa)

2010-11-24T07:13:00.001-05:00

If you are still buying hot cocoa mix in those little foil-lined packets, I am about to change your life. Run, don’t walk, to Alton Brown’s Hot Cocoa recipe. Make a double batch. Trust me on this. Store it in an airtight container and scoop out 3 T. per steaming hot cup of water (or milk!) as needed.

Winter’s coming, people. Be ready.

curious vicarious volcano

2010-11-23T09:05:00.001-05:00

I always wanted one of these, but I thought $15 for a plastic form and some sandy plaster (that I could get from Hobby Lobby for $2) was stupid. At Goodwill last week, I saw a complete, unused kit for $1.25. Score! All my earth building dreams fulfilled:

The boy had fun, too. I am hoping for some seismic activity and ash clouds today. (OK, so it’s baking soda and vinegar. Whatever.)

the everyday

2010-11-22T09:18:00.001-05:00

I don’t update my phone enough. It probably has something to do with the fact that it’s only sort of a phone and more like a little computer that can be “bricked” (this is bad) if I screw up. In any event, I always find that my phone photos are a true glimpse at the norm around here.

Behold, I get extra dorky when we’re almost there:

I was amused by the giant cow at Whole Foods:

I am fortunate enough to see this every day:

I stopped in the middle of the road to take this. It was perfectly safe because I didn’t encounter another human being for miles. I also didn’t have cell service. It was both liberating and unnerving. Mountain roads always make me think some suicidal deer is about to take both of us out.

The boy got cold weather camping gear:

The girl got college mail:

And somewhere in the middle of it all, there was a bounce house:

this moment

2010-11-19T07:33:00.001-05:00

(Scroll down for giveaways below…)

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

(One more thing: Dog lovers, you really need to check out this post. Funniest thing I have read in a long, long time.)

hey lady, it’s the last gasp before winter

2010-11-18T08:49:00.001-05:00

(Giveaways below…)

You know it’s the end of fall here when we get the ladybug invasion. Some (my husband, for one) think they are a bit, um, odiferous, but I think it’s kind of pleasant to sit in the sun with ladybugs flying all around. No word on whether or not they were flagrantly violating the rules with little tiny skateboards.

prematurity awareness day

2010-11-17T07:25:00.001-05:00

(Grocery giveaways below… Please scroll down and enter.)

(Great information below, but there are some sick little ones in this video. FYI.)

I have been privileged to help tell the stories of several families whose babies were born far too soon. The March of Dimes has made dramatic steps in saving these babies. (Surfactant, which helps tiny underdeveloped lungs inflate, is probably the single greatest advancement in saving the lives of preemies. Babies as young as 23 weeks gestation have a chance at survival now.) However, there is much to be done. Our state got a big fat F on the prematurity report card issued by MOD last year.

Please watch the video, click over to the March of Dimes’ site and learn more about this. If you are pregnant, know the signs of preterm labor!

grocery giveaway #2

2010-11-17T07:23:00.001-05:00

Mrs. White, Random.org says you won!

Mrs. White said...

I'd love to win this! Thank you!!
Blessings
Mrs. White

Another giveaway for you today – This gift pack was sent to me by Progresso and MyBlogSpark and they are offering an identical pack to one of my readers. I would love to tell you how much I enjoyed this soup, but my teenager took both varieties, Chicken Gumbo and Tomato Parmesan, for lunch at school. Sigh. In any event, we are big Progresso fans here, and I keep plenty of it stocked in my pantry. The girl loves it and it makes for a hearty school lunch, especially during the winter. These low sodium varieties are a welcome addition here, because one of my biggest concerns with non-homemade food is the often high sodium content. These were devoured with no complaints about the reduction in salt, so I take that as a ringing endorsement.

The gift pack includes two cans of low sodium soup, a super (souper?) cool soup mug and an exercise ball and pump.

If you would like to give these a try, please leave a comment below by noon on Nov. 23. Random.org will select a winner on or about that date.

Progresso and MyBlogSpark provided these items for review, but my opinions are my own.

best walt disney world character meal

2010-11-16T08:05:00.001-05:00

(Tired of Disney posts yet? :) )

I realize there are other opinions on this, but it’s hard to beat the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom. We have dined there many times and always find the food delicious and the atmosphere less hectic than some of the other table service restaurants. And the company? Well, you can’t resist Pooh, of course.

For the detail oriented among you – breakfast on Sept. 12 included puffed French toast, eggs, grits, fruit, an omelet station, various breads and pastries, a peach casserole and much more. The coffee was actually not bad either. (Yucky coffee is an infamous and rare WDW weakness.) Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger were patient with guests of all ages and the 8:20 a.m. reservation time meant we were finishing up just in time for the park’s 9 a.m. opening. We walked right on Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise. Awesome.

grocery giveaway #1

2010-11-16T07:39:00.001-05:00

Leslie, random.org says you’re the winner! Enjoy!

Post Grad said...

I would love to win. Mashed potatoes are definitely a quick, easy staple.
Thanks for doing the giveaway!
:)
-Leslie
carykhepburn{at}yahoo{dot}com

(Click on my banner above and then scroll down for grocery giveaway #2.)

Want to win some cool kitchen gadgets? Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark sent me this set, including a silicon hot pad, a mixing spoon (dishwasher safe) and a lovely bamboo bowl – as well as two packages of instant mashed potatoes – and they would like to send the same gift set to one of my readers. OK, I only ever buy instant potatoes for making potato bread, so I am probably not the best person to ask about them from the perspective of making and eating them according to packages directions. I do like that each box contains two packs of potatoes, so if you are making bread and just using a cup or so at a time, this is the way to go. My teenager did make a beeline for the roasted garlic variety and we ended up making it right away. No, they don’t taste like homemade (think butter and whole fat, local milk – good, not good for you), but they were pretty tasty. I bet garlic potato bread would be good, too.

If you would like to give these a try, please leave a comment below by noon on Nov. 20. Random.org will select a winner on or about that date.

In the meantime, if you would like a coupon for this product, click here.

Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark provided these items for review, but my opinions are my own.

i care, I really do

2010-11-09T16:05:00.001-05:00

Big, huge, overdue diatribe of a post over at Basically Green. It includes info on screenings for an upcoming documentary.

words (my own, thankyouverymuch)

2010-11-08T12:10:00.001-05:00

Boy howdy, writers of the world are getting their vicarious revenge today over the Cooks Source alleged plagiarism brouhaha. (Not that I advocate revenge, of course. But I do have a fondness for copyright laws.) Google it, if you haven’t heard. Anyone who has ever had their intellectual property misappropriated will find it interesting.

Anyhoo.. I wrote these words all by my lonesome. And I am super excited to have my photos used with an upcoming story. I will post as soon as it’s out. My photography is indeed a work in progress, but it’s fun to see it in print.

I do a lot of work on custom publications.I rarely post any of it here because it is typically for a specific audience. Custom work is different and sometimes challenging (in a good way). I love working with the folks in Easley, S.C. They are a kind bunch and always easy to work with – and here’s their Chamber of Commerce’s annual guide.
I just found out that WNC Parent stories are linked on the Asheville Citizen-Times’ site. (OK, so I was Googling my name to see if someone had pilfered my work. Cooks Source inspired me.) By the way the Cit-Times owns WNC Parent, so it’s all good – no theft at all. :)
This was a lot of fun – Learn about volunteering with your children. It’s never too young to plant seeds of gratitude.
Happy parents?
How to keep your child out of the ER (but it’s never a sure thing…)
This sweet family might have lost their little girl but for the quick work of medical professionals and the mom’s willingness to trust her instincts.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. The March of Dimes saves lives, no doubt about it. When I was in law school (not THAT long ago), the gold standard for fetal viability was 28 weeks. Babies are now surviving as early as 23 weeks. Miraculous. Having said that, it’s best to let them bake as long as possible, so know those warning signs of premature labor, people.
And here’s the story of a little one, born at 25 weeks, who is now thriving.

Thanks for your support!

winner, winner, chicken dinner

2010-10-25T13:35:00.001-04:00

OK, Liz – Since I couldn’t contact the first winner, round two with random.org says you get the cart!

Liz said...

Love the cart! It would also be great for craft supplies and all kinds of other uses!

October 23, 2010 9:30 PM

it’s still just barely october

2010-10-21T08:10:00.001-04:00

So I will link up to some stories running this month. Where did the month go? I remember saying around the first of the month, “If I can just make it to the end of October, then I can rest.” Still counting on that, but rest is relative, you know?

Columbia (SC) area peeps: There are some Halloween doings taking place. Don’t miss out.
Your kids can go trick-or-treating for UNICEF
Kids grow up (you don’t say?)
Do you have have mommy guilt?
It’s breast cancer awareness month – be aware.
Heading to the South Carolina State Fair? Here’s the scoop.
If you can get behind the paywall, read about a young mom’s battle against breast cancer.

I will add other that are online. Enjoy.

the least among you

2010-10-21T07:39:00.001-04:00

Breaking news here in my corner of cyberspace: I think the days of “Christian movies” are behind us. Now, we have mainstream movies that are Christian. Big difference – and a much bigger audience.

I received a DVD of “The Least Among You” and I was taken aback by the cast: Louis Gossett, Jr. (“MAY-YO-NAISE!” – remember that?), Lauren Holly and William Devane (who shares a birthday with my husband). The movie features a solid performance by Cedric Sanders as Richard Kelly. I think Lauren Holly might steal the show here though. Her performance was heartfelt and dead on point.

“The Least Among You” is based on a true story. I haven’t researched the background here, so I don’t know how much creative license is taken, but the story is quite powerful. In the 1960s, Richard Kelly gets a chance at probation instead of jail, by attending seminary – an all-white seminary. Personal prejudices, money, politics and power struggles all come into play as we see Richard, and those around him, changed.

“We are all called to act on our faith, not our fear,” Samuel (Gossett, Jr.) says. This movie shows that faith in action.

I think the audience for this movie is broader than Christian films of the past that were perhaps pigeon-holed due to theme. Bringing an undiluted message that isn’t prohibitively heavy-handed remains the challenge of Christian movies as they gain a wider audience. The key – and I think this film hits a homerun with it – is telling a good story first. This is an evangelistic tool, no doubt, but your non-Christian friends can find something here on which to hang their hat. Who doesn’t love Lou Gossett? This is a nice addition to the trend I am starting to see unfold. Support this movie and others like it by voting with your pocketbook.

Parents, please note that the Christian point of view doesn’t mean this is a movie for kids. The themes are for middle school and older, in my opinion. There’s a word or two you might not want littles to hear, but more importantly, kids need to be old enough to understand the context of this story. It’s a good one, but enjoy it for at-home date night or with the teens.

“The Least Among You” is available on DVD.

I was provided a copy of the DVD for review. My opinions are my own.

for you they signed

2010-10-19T07:40:00.001-04:00

This week, we are knee deep in the Declaration of Independence. Oh my, what a great place to be. As enrichment to our study, we are reading about some of the signers (particularly those from our state) in “For You They Signed” by Marilyn Boyer. The book includes short biographies of each signer, some of whom I guarantee you have never heard of before. I love the concept of this book. It is decidedly Christian, so know that in advance, and in fact, Boyer suggests that families can use it as a devotional. Whether for personal reading or as a history supplement, the book is a treasure trove of information. I consider this a starting point to the discussion of these men, however. The biographies don’t claim to be in-depth – that’s not the purpose of this book. Since we are using this in our history class, I never want to gloss over the warts of these very human individuals, though their place in history is undeniably important. This was a time when the compatibility of Christianity and slave ownership wasn’t questioned – at least not publicly – and I think it is important to present a balanced view of these men. They were, after all, merely human.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful family resource. It is appropriate for elementary and older and can be a wonderful addition to your homeschool history studies.

New Leaf Publishing provided me with a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

want one? win a workbox/storage cart

2010-10-18T07:14:00.001-04:00

We tried plastic shoeboxes for Sue Patrick’s Workbox System last year. Meh. Too messy for my taste and we don’t stick to the workbox plan anyway. CSN Stores sells pretty much everything, from Legos to console tables and since I had been seeking something a little more compact and more attractive, CSN sent us this drawer cart to review. The cart is perfect for homeschooling. It is not incredibly sturdy and even though it has casters, we don’t roll it. However, it is plenty strong enough to hold Nolan’s massive books – that algebra book is heavy, I tell you. Even the shallow drawers hold a great deal, but the bottom two are quite deep. We added a plastic bin to the top for works in progress.

The cart does require assembly. I wouldn’t know much about that because the boy put it together by himself in about 10 minutes. Admittedly, at the ripe old age of 12, he is probably handier than I am.

By the way, I priced this item on a number of sites and CSN had the lowest price, even with shipping. I have been very pleased with their prompt service and fast shipping.

And now for the cool part --- Homeschoolers, want to win one of your own? (Actually, you don’t have to be a homeschooler to win, but I think this item lends itself well to school stuff.) CSN will send one of my readers their very own cart. Leave a comment below by noon on Oct. 25 to enter. No hoops to jump through – One comment will be randomly chosen.

CSN provided me with this item for review and is also providing the item for the giveaway. My opinions are my own.

the mysterious islands – enter to win at hotm

2010-10-15T08:05:00.001-04:00

I have a review of “The Mysterious Islands” running today at Heart of the Matter. Click on over and enter to win your very own copy. It is definitely not just for homeschooling families.

red

2010-10-15T07:54:00.001-04:00

Oh this was a lot of fun. If you remember Bruce Willis in the original “Die Hard,” I am happy to report that he is back. (I just looked it up – “Die Hard” was 22 years ago. Sigh.)

My husband and I attended a screening of “Red” last night. The cast is incredible: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise Parker, Richard Dreyfuss and a short but sweet appearance by Ernest Borgnine (he’s 94!). I suspect this movie will be vastly underappreciated by anyone younger than 40, but for our demographic it is bound to be a hit. I have reached the ripe old age that allows me to fully appreciate the notion of “grandpa” sticking it to the young whippersnappers who think they know it all. Without spoiling it, the REDs (Retired Extremely Dangerous) have become targets due to their past work in the CIA. The story becomes a life or death road trip as they try to get to the bottom of who wants them silenced and why. And it’s an awfully fun ride.

Despite the fact that a couple of people brought their kids last night, this is not for the littles. It is rated PG-13 and has some foul language (but unlike some other PG-13 movies of late, it isn’t replete with vulgarities) and there is a lot (a LOT) of mostly bloodless violence. This is based on a graphic novel (I haven’t read it) and I suspect that might lead some parents to think it’s a kid-friendly movie. It’s not, but then again, I don’t think most graphic novels have very much in common with the comic books from 30 years ago. Make it a date night sans kids.

Edited to add: Helen Mirren is drop dead gorgeous and she is 65 years old. I just read a wire story in my local paper in which she refers to Bruce Willis as a geezer. Love that! Geezers rule.

plenty

2010-10-12T07:58:00.001-04:00

Crazy good apple crop at the nearby orchard (Sky Top) this year.

I know wooly worms are supposed to be harbingers of a cold winter, but how exactly does one assess the relative wooliness of said worm? Next year, I need to bring a chart.

You are never too old to feed a goat, apparently.

I am going to attempt to freeze apple pie filling. Yikes.

disney’s polynesian resort

2010-09-30T07:44:00.001-04:00

Our favorite hotel – no question about it. It is indeed over the top expensive, but there are ways around that. We had a PIN code for this trip. (Sign up for Disney’s emails, etc., and they occasionally email or snail mail discount codes. Forty percent off rack rate? Yeah baby.) How do I love thee, Polynesian? Let me count the ways.

It’s a tropical paradise, truly. I know it’s in Florida and by definition, a tropical paradise, but the Poly is beautifully themed. If you have never stayed at a Disney-owned hotel, trust me, it is worth the price. The magic never ends, as they say.* The lobby is breathtaking. Click to enlarge this photo to see my kids downstairs – we were upstairs. And that, folks, is the magic of having older kids with cell phones. This was the first vacation that didn’t leave me in constant fear of abduction.

The boy at the top of the volcano pool slide:

And at the bottom:

I picked up a hot guy at the pool. It’s Florida; it happens.

In addition to the hotel’s theme, I can highly recommend the Poly because of its location, the fact that it’s on the monorail loop and because the rooms are huge, relatively speaking. We spend the vast majority of our Disney time at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The monorail runs right up to the Great Ceremonial House (hotel’s main building) and provides unmatched ease of access to MK. (I know there is a walking path from the Contemporary to MK, but in my opinion, the Contemporary can’t compare to the Poly.) We stayed in the Tahiti building and I highly recommend it. We have stayed there before and couldn’t be happier with the location. It’s far enough away from the luau and the volcano pool to avoid the noise associated with both, but very convenient to everything. It is also quite close to the Ticket and Transportation Center, which has a direct monorail to Epcot. Awesome.

From the Poly’s beaches, you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant and (even better) the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. White sand beaches, hammocks, palm trees AND fireworks? A little taste of heaven on earth.

*If I had to choose between staying off-site and staying home, obviously I would be happy to hold up at the Kissimmee Motel or some such place. But if you can, stay on Disney property.

this moment

2010-09-24T08:24:00.001-04:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

At Epcot:

what a thrill

2010-09-23T07:46:00.001-04:00

The boys likes thrill rides now.

I can do this one. It’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Get a Fastpass if the line is too long. Or go in September, when the line is awesome.)

I love this one. It’s Expedition Everest. It is lovely in the early morning light, especially when the stand-by line is 5 minutes. All. Morning.

I tried to convince my husband to let me decorate the house with Tibetan prayer flags (and somehow not insult my beliefs or theirs in the process). I don’t think he’s buying it. But they are gorgeous, no?

septemberish words

2010-09-20T08:18:00.001-04:00

I am late in posting some September links, but here you go. Get ‘em while they’re hot.

Palmetto Parent:

Breast-feeding and going back to work
Let Thanksgiving be your (my) dialect
Exercising during and after pregnancy
U S C – Goooo Cocks! Tailgating with the families of the Gamecocks’ football coaches (We’re number 12 in the country this week.)

If you live in the Upstate of South Carolina, I also have a local breast-feeding story, a preview of the new Spartanburg Day School and another column running. It’s behind a pay wall online – sorry about that.

In WNC Parent, you can read my take on the New York Magazine story about why parents hate parenting.

and we’re back…

2010-09-20T07:17:00.001-04:00

A wonderful time was had by all. Photos – lots of them – to come.

this moment

2010-09-03T07:32:00.001-04:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

(A few more favorites are in the post below.)

beauty

2010-09-01T15:21:00.001-04:00

Today I went to a very beautiful place.

I may or may not have taken 307 photos.

and there was light (and it smelled good)

2010-08-30T18:49:00.001-04:00

We made beeswax candles this weekend. I am all set for a romantic evening and/or power outage.

The wax is from a local beekeeper. We also filtered it ourselves (not this weekend). That was an exercise in patience, for sure. If you know an easy way to filter wax (and really, anything would be easier than any of the methods I tried), please let me know.

In any event, enough time had passed since the trauma of the filtering. I was ready to do this, thinking there must be a catch. There isn’t. I got the metal votive molds and wicks from A.C. Moore, using a 40 percent off coupon. (I didn’t want to invest much in case this was a bust.) I melted the wax in a double boiler, placed the wick in the mold and poured in the wax. At this point, I freaked out thinking that maybe I should have sprayed the mold with Pam or something. I then realized, well, it’s wax.

Our candles are all natural, nothing but beeswax. They have a faint scent of honey.

Candle-making inspiration here.

pen nerds, unite

2010-08-26T08:05:00.001-04:00

We received some Frixion erasable pens and highlighters to try out. I am a bit of a pen nerd. These work really well – surprisingly well, actually. The boy demonstrates (video taken via Blackberry, hence the low light):

These have been on sale lately in the school supply section at Publix. Visit http://bit.ly/bpBjYt to download a $1.00 coupon. I found a three-pack of highlighters at Walgreens for $1.05. Less than $.02 per highlighter? I’ll take that.

Pilot and SheSpeaks sent us products to review. Opinions are my own.

this moment

2010-08-20T08:57:00.001-04:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

First day of school…

the youngest

2010-08-19T07:16:00.001-04:00

The boy turned 12 while he was at Boy Scout Camp. Dad was there, too, but that means both of my children celebrated their birthdays away from home this year. That’s what happens when you have summer birthdays, I suppose. We celebrated when he came home and like his sister, he requested Molten Chocolate Lava Cake and fresh whipped cream in lieu of the traditional cake. My husband has a birthday next month and he has already requested the same thing.

this moment

2010-08-13T07:40:00.001-04:00

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

The butterflies will flutter by far too soon.

and now it’s a food blog…

2010-08-12T07:43:00.001-04:00

Those peppers I showed you ended up in the freezer. I washed all the bells, cored them and cut them in strips. I spread them on cookie sheets and tray froze (?) them, before bagging them for the deep freeze. They went from field to freezer in just a few hours. I am looking for a feasible alternative to freezer bags. I want to avoid plastic, but I also want my food to be safely stored through the winter. I am open to suggestions.

The hot peppers went straight in the bag. I didn’t even wash them. I will use them in salsa and such, so as I pull them out one by one I will rinse them well and just cut them up for use then. I have done this many times before with great results.

The okra was a bit of a pain, but it will be worth it. I am probably the only one who will eat it. More for me. I rinsed the okra well and trimmed the stem end. This involves cutting off the stem but not opening up the seed pod. This skill is easily mastered after the first 150 pieces or so. (No joke.) I blanched the okra and cooled it in an ice bath, following these instructions. I bagged it and will enjoy its southern yumminess this winter (or sooner).

know thy farmer

2010-08-11T07:27:00.001-04:00

I love that we live in an area where we can still buy direct from the farm. It’s not the easiest thing in the world, but it is worth it. I recently trekked out to Barefoot Organic Farm and came home with 42 pounds of tomatoes (mostly Romas), four pounds of okra, eight pounds of peppers (bell – mostly red, some purple and green, and Hungarian Wax), as well as four dozen fresh-from-the-free-range-chicken eggs. Farmer Kathy raises chickens and turkeys as meat birds. I haven’t bought those, but if you eat meat and you are local, give her a try. Her birds live out in the fresh air and sunshine, eating bugs and such the way God intended. They are not the grotesque, sickly birds from Food, Inc. I can’t think about those poor birds…

Anyway, back to the veggies:

I picked a peck of peppers just beyond that barn. Maybe it wasn’t a peck. If you zoom in, you can actually see one of the egg layers scratching around back there. Cool.

Future site of the okra field:

homemade granola

2010-08-10T06:41:00.001-04:00

Yum. Seriously. This is what I have been munching on for breakfast recently. I adapted this recipe from The Kitchen Sink Recipes where you will find many more delicious treats.

3 1/2 cups of oats

1/4 cup of sweetener (I have used brown sugar, organic cane sugar, molasses, maple syrup and/or honey)

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil (don’t be grossed out – it’s good for you and your granola will not taste like olives)

I always add flax seed, 1/2 cup or so. I pulse it a few times in a coffee grinder (not the one we use for coffee). You can also crush it a little with a mortar and pestle or whiz it in the food processor. Don’t fully grind it. Just break it open so the good omega fatty acids can be absorbed by your body rather than, ahem, just passing through.

I always add cinnamon and ginger and a dash of sea salt. If you can get those from cute Ikea spice jars, all the better.

I also add a combination of other things depending on what I have on hand. Add according to your taste. You may need to adjust the sweetener and oil depending on what you add (more dry goods may require a little more oil). I have added up to 1/2 cup each of unsweetened coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower kernels and/or chopped pecans. Sometimes I add a little vanilla. You can’t mess this up (unless you burn it!) so put in what appeals to you. I spread this in a foil-lined pan and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Stir and bake for an additional 6 – 10 minutes. Watch it closely. It will burn if you aren’t careful.

After cooking, you could certainly add some dried fruit. I don’t, but only because I have these babies in the freezer:

This baby loves blueberries more than almost anything.

vintage treats

2010-08-09T16:30:00.001-04:00

As part of Heather’s Vintage Swap, sweet Chris (love her name, by the way) sent this to my doorstep today:

It is filled with delightful treats!

savoring (and saving) summer

2010-08-09T06:52:00.001-04:00

My canner has been getting a workout lately – peach jam, blueberry jam, peach chutney, tomato sauce (20 pints!) and green tomato relish.

Green tomato relish just tastes like summer.

I don’t recommend canning on a hot plate, but I have a ceramic cooktop – no canners allowed. Contrary to what I have read online, this hot plate has no trouble heating the water to boiling and maintaining that temperature. I bought this one for $10 (?) or so several years ago and it works like a charm. This is a pint canner. My quart canner is simply too large for this, but I am holding on to it for when I get my snazzy gas cooktop (several house projects and years from now).

Are you canning this season?

getting ready

2010-08-07T16:18:00.001-04:00

The first day of regular school (as opposed to occasional school we do in the summer) is Aug. 16. I have much to do. Some tips on some of the resources we are this year:

As we enter U.S. history, we are using America: The Last Best Hope. There is a corresponding web site – the Roadmap – that is available by subscription. I had heard from others that you could only buy a subscription to the site if you bought the book from them. Too bad for me, because I had already bought a used copy of the book. I called Houghton Mifflin and asked and they were more than happy to sign me right up. No problems at all.
We are also anxiously awaiting our free DVDs of The Story of Us from the History Channel. Kudos to the History Channel for inviting homeschools to participate in the DVD giveaway.
We are doing Algebra 1 this year (and yes, I mean “we”) and we are using the cheap equivalent of Chalkdust. I bought the Larson Algebra book used (dirt cheap) and got the Dana Moseley DVDs from Amazon. Many hundreds of dollars worth of math for less than $50. The book and set cover Algebra 1 and 2.
I think I posted this one already, but to supplement our science we are are using Hakim’s The Story of Science. I think it will be an interesting look at what lead to many discoveries.
I downloaded the free version of Homeschool Tracker. So far, so good. I will have to see if it works well for us once we are in daily lessons.
Nolan is taking physical science through the Virtual Homeschool Group this year. The awesome Debra will be teaching the class one day per week and we are so excited. The other days will be done in our regular homeschool mode. If you aren’t familiar with VHSG, do check it out. (It’s free!)
Also free, because free is my favorite – Microsoft Dreamspark available through the Homeschool Buyers’ Co-op. My husband, the computer genius, tells me the software Nolan can use through this program is the same stuff developers use. This is a terrific program – Microsoft is trying to encourage the next generation of developers to get started and build their skills early. Nolan is very keen on anything electronic. He did a short HTML course last year and loved it so I think this will be a huge asset – and free.

if you use workboxes…

2010-08-07T16:17:00.001-04:00

After my very pleasant experience with CSN stores, I will soon be reviewing another product that is distinctly homeschool related. I hope to follow that with a giveaway of that same item. You won’t want to miss this one – especially if you use workboxes in your homeschool. (Hint. Hint.) CSN stocks pretty much anything you could want – no joke. They have math manipulatives, recessed lighting, bird baths (including a heated bird bath for winter – wish I had outlets in a convenient spot or anywhere outside), and Amy Butler (!) travel bags made from organic cotton. (I just found those and I really love Amy Butler fabric.) I keep comparing their prices and find them to be very reasonable, often the best deal with free shipping.

inching along

2010-08-03T12:36:00.001-04:00

Can you identify that worm? It’s very odd and loves purple coneflowers.

Anywho, it’s time for the monthly link-o-rama. Thank you for indulging me as I promote the work that pays me, as opposed to the work that doesn’t pay me. ;)

Tips for getting the kids ready to go back to school. Because it’s coming faster than you think.
A delightful preschool program: Epworth Early Intervention Center.
The SC Volunteer Guardian ad Litem program needs you! (If you aren’t in SC, check with your state’s CASA program.) (Also, here.)
I would really like to ask God what He was thinking when he made certain animals. Bats, for instance. (Also, here.)
Did you know that today’s children make up the first generation of Americans who will (probably) have a shorter life expectancy than their parents? BlueCross BlueShield is trying to help pediatricians change that. (Also, here.)
If you are in Upstate SC and can pick up a print copy (or have access to the paywall site at www.greenvilleonline.com), I have stories in the August issue of Upstate Parent as well. I had the distinct privilege of profiling a retiring principal who absolutely gets it right. Read about Brodie Bricker here.

foodies welcome (bring your own dinner)

2010-07-28T17:21:00.001-04:00

As I type this, it is 5:10 p.m., we have no dinner and I can’t go to the grocery store (as planned) because we are in the midst of another thunderstorm. So, I decided to post pictures of food while I wait for the storm to pass. It was either that or start eating jam right out of the jar. After a brief deliberation, I decided to go for the blog.

I have been canning like a crazy person and I have banned commercial cereal from my house, resulting in the perfection of my homemade granola. Recipe to come. (That has nothing to do with these pictures. I am food focused at the moment.)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the farmer’s market is open! (I wish I could go there now and get something for dinner…) Hit your local market and stock up while produce is in season. I am going to try my hand at freezing eggplant this year so I can have my low-fat-not-eggplant-parmesan whenever I want, which is often. Visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation for SAFE ways to preserve the harvest. I am all about avoiding botulism toxin.

i can be centerfield

2010-07-13T18:39:00.001-04:00

Our city has what is arguably the most beautiful minor league ballpark in the country – from the entrance made from old mill brick to the “little” green monster in left field. While I love watching the Braves at Turner Field, nothing is quite like a minor league game. The players are working hard at something they love and just trying every day to catch a break. The fans generally aren’t rowdy (but I hear $1 beer night is a different atmosphere), parking and getting in and out are a piece of cake and it doesn’t break the bank to go and enjoy America’s game.

silky sheets

2010-07-13T16:40:00.001-04:00

I mentioned a while ago that CSN Stores had contacted me about reviewing their online shopping. I am in the midst of a bedroom redo (more to come on that – and you can tell me how close I came to my inspiration room) and I looked for something from CSN that would add to the new do. I landed on these 600-thread count sheets and I am happy to report that they are silky smooth and wash beautifully. They are 100 percent cotton so they wrinkle like nobody’s business but they have shown very little, if any, shrinkage and the quality seems to be excellent. CSN has almost anything, really, and I found their prices to be quite fair. Shipping is free on almost everything – and my sheets were delivered earlier than the projected delivery date. It was a flawless experience and I will definitely shop at CSN in the future. You will get a peek at the sheets once I get the walls painted! Coming soon… Until then, there is a cool feature on CSN’s site. The CEO’s home is featured in the July issue of Better Homes and Gardens. I am a sucker for BHG.

Though CSN did supply a review product at no charge, my opinions are my own.

despicable me

2010-07-09T11:42:00.001-04:00

If I had minions in my office…

I need minions – an army of them. I could finally clean off my desk and defrost the freezer. Dr. Gru (Steve Carell) already has his. :)

We attended a screening of “Despicable Me” last night and though it had a slow start (and was predictable), it was fun. I think the amount of laughter it creates is inversely proportional to age (my 11-year-old was cackling and a little girl in the theater was laughing so hard I thought she might hyperventilate), but parents, you won’t be covering your child’s ears or wishing for that hour and a half of your life back. (I’m talking to you, Shark Boy and Lava Girl.) There were actually a couple of times when I suspected people were staring at me, I laughed so hard. (I don’t want to give anything away, but read all signs. :) )

I’m a fan of “The Office,” so I found that I was picturing Michael Scott doing a funny voice, which makes it even more fun, I think. (FYI, Mindy Kaling – Kelly from the Office – has a small part as well.) Steve Carell brings a sweetness to Dr. Gru that makes him, well, not despicable, even when he tries to be. Agnes (Elsie Fisher) all but steals the show as the youngest orphan and Julie Andrews (Gru’s mom) is Julie Andrews. Who doesn’t love her?

Overall, everyone in my family enjoyed different parts of the movie, but we all laughed and had fun.

Spoilerish content alert for parents of wee littles: There were a couple of uses of “Oh, poop,” one “He’s gonna kick your butt,” and a couple of instances that were rude but not awful (a minion sits on a copier to copy his rear end, kids make a crayon drawing of Gru sitting on a potty). Just stuff to know, but it did pass my cleanliness test. YMMV. It is PG for rude humor and mild action. The movie is in 3-D, which bothered me a bit during a rollercoaster scene, but I am weird that way.

new words

2010-07-08T08:13:00.001-04:00

I have lots of new words out in the world. I hope you will read and enjoy.

Homeschoolers, how about adding MORE to your school day? Now, take back that thing you just said about me and head over to Heart of the Matter to read my thoughts on doing just that.

You can plan your child’s birthday on a budget.

If you need a birthday location, supplies, etc. and you are in the Midlands of South Carolina, please check out the birthday guide. I worked hard on it, really.

Hey, I love my husband, but that’s no surprise.

If you live in Columbia, S.C. or have even visited – you must know about Cromer’s, guaranteed worst in town.

In the Upstate of South Carolina, please pick a copy of Upstate Parent, available in Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, Anderson and Oconee counties – pretty much all of the Upstate, hence the name. Lots of good stuff for July, including the birthday guide. I can’t post links here because the stories are listed on greenvilleonline, which is now behind a paywall. If you have access, go to “news,” then “parent” for current stories. Gracias.

We are off to a screening of Despicable Me tonight. I will have a review up tomorrow. I already know I need my own minions. That’s what missing from my life --- minions.

(I will update with a link to WNC Parent stuff as well. I am tired of fist fighting my Internet connection at the moment.)

same bat time, same bat channel

2010-07-02T15:02:00.001-04:00

I have bats in my attic. A bat man (as opposed to Batman) is evicting them today. This makes me deliriously happy.

That is all.

what I think heaven will be like, minus the soccer (har, har – I kid, mostly)

2010-06-21T15:55:00.001-04:00

the last airbender

2010-06-17T14:30:00.001-04:00

My son watched “Avatar: The Last Airbender” on Nickelodeon. Did your kids watch it? It was a captivating story, so I was kind of geeked out when I found out it would be a live action movie. Then I found out M. Night was making it and I really geeked out. And I actually thought I was going to see it back last year when we all loaded up in the car and went to see “Avatar.” True story. I was 20 minutes into the movie before I stopped saying “Where is Aang?” Thus, I sealed my dorkiness for all eternity.

Anywho… The actual Aang movie is coming. I received a press release today noting that the release date has been moved up to July 1. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the month. Go see the trailer here. That other movie was really good, too. ;)

site ch-ch-ch changes are coming, really

2010-06-16T09:09:00.001-04:00

I swear, the switch to the new site really is coming. Almost there.

It’s a crazy week, so here’s a hail of bullets for you:

I think I will kick off the new site with a couple of giveaways for bibliophiles. Maybe that will have the added benefit of saving me from the sure demise of books collapsing on top of me.
I can’t choose the right blue for the master bedroom walls. There is some talk about me being blue-green colorblind (it’s a lie), so we will see how this turns out.
Like several of my blog friends, I was contacted by CSN stores about reviewing one of their products. That will be coming soon. They sell, well, pretty much everything as near as I can tell, including recessed lighting, floor steamers (I covet), kitchen knives, Lego sets, bamboo flooring, tons of organic cotton stuff… I wonder if they have anything that caps gushing oil wells?
Oh, yes, I almost forgot (read: blocked from memory), we had house guests. Bats. In my attic. If only I had a belfry.
My eldest is competing in the National Forensic League tournament in Kansas City this week. She didn’t make it to finals, but you can still watch some very talented kids live (I think) online starting tomorrow afternoon.

I hope your summer is off to a glorious start!

because it’s june

2010-06-09T08:32:00.001-04:00

And because I know you don’t want to read about election results and oil spills today, or any day, here are some stories I have running this month. They are petroleum-free. (New site coming soon…)

The BMW Charity Pro-Am is history, but you can read about the charities it benefits:

http://www.sandlapper.org/magazine/a_round_of_golf/

Melinda Claudepierre (who sings like an angel, by the way), has invented a gorgeous wallet for you Dave Ramsey users out there:

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100601/PARENT03/306010031/One-mom-finds-her-entrepreneurial-spirit-at-home

Growing Together:

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100601/PARENT03/306010030/Home-schooling-my-son-has-taught-me-a-few-things-about-how-I-view-the-world

and here:

http://www.ipubviewer.com/publication/?i=39154&p=17

Getting your kids in the game – and in a healthy lifestyle: http://www.ipubviewer.com/publication/?i=39154&p=15

Don’t overreact, but do learn about these lesser known pediatric conditions: http://www.ipubviewer.com/publication/?i=39154

the virtual packing has begun

2010-06-07T07:27:00.002-04:00

Tech support (my wonderful husband) helped me with a few final site thingys (it’s a highly technical term) this weekend. I have some tinkering to finish and then this blog will move to www.chrisworthy.com. Writers have to brand, you know? I hope you will meet me there soon. I will post here when the deed is done.

(Currently, my domain name redirects here, so if you reach it that way you are ahead of the game.)

Now, go get in the pool, people. It’s summer!

phone dump

2010-05-29T15:51:00.001-04:00

I really need to take the pictures off my Blackberry more often…

Snapped at the post office, because it looks so much like the Bud dog, right down to the tippy head.

This photo was taken at Sears. This is the model we ended up buying. Dear High Efficiency Washer, where have you been all my life?

This is the boy having fun (yes, really) on the ropes course at Adventure Base 100, the Boy Scouts’ traveling 100th Anniversary exhibit.

lobster network

2010-05-15T14:13:00.001-04:00

Lobster Network is free and it’s run by a homeschooling family. That should be enough to get your interest but if not, how about this? It is a virtual (web-based) file cabinet/storage closet/pantry/garage for well, pretty much anything. While the goal is to make it a way to reach out to your cyber neighbors to lend and borrow whatever you can think of (Homeschool books? Anyone?) it is also useful for tracking your own widgets, higgymafloppers and whozits. I am hoping to get my act together enough to use it as my virtual card catalog for the ridiculous number of books we have around here. It can be used to catalogue your assets (for your homeowner’s insurance), to manage the trades of outgrown swim team gear, taps shoes and scout uniforms for your group, or … anything.

Why is it called Lobster Network?

You can join or set up communities with whom you can share stuff or you can keep this all to yourself. You control the flow of information. Watch a video tutorial for details. You can also buy and sell, using the site as a virtual marketplace.

My favorite part about Lobster Network is that it is family-friendly. While you can list pretty much anything on the site, you do have to agree to a code of conduct that prohibits not only the usual prohibited things (items that are illegal or stolen) but also items that are objectionable or for mature audiences. Super cool.

We were asked to review the site as part of the TOS Crew. Membership is free and I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

cerebellum a.p. test prep

2010-05-15T13:35:00.001-04:00

A timely product for us, for sure -- as part of the TOS Crew we were asked to review Cerebellum Corporation’s Light Speed Video Learning product for Advanced Placement test prep. We were sent the History of the U.S. It just so happens that my eldest is taking the AP U.S. History test this week. And while I can’t tell you if this really helped her test score, I can tell you that if you love the Standard Deviants, you will love this. It is fast (very fast) and funny. It is by no means a substitute for regular, year-long AP prep or a study guide book, but it is a great supplement and is perfect for shaking things up when you just can’t look at the Barron’s book for ONE MORE MINUTE.

While the video portion of the DVD is much like typical Standard Deviants fare, the DVD also includes a digital workbook with printable quizzes and more. If you have a visual learner at your house, I just can’t say enough about what a help this is. You can watch video samples online to see what I mean.

AP prep DVDs are also offered for Chemistry (shudder), U.S. Government and English Language. The list price for each is $14.98, but as of this writing, they are on sale for $11.24 each --- and if it helps at toward raising that AP score, it is well worth the cost and far cheaper than three hours of college credit.

We were given a copy of the DVD for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

andrea carter and the trouble with treasure

2010-05-15T13:21:00.001-04:00

Again, another resource I’d never heard of… and this one is wonderful. As part of the TOS Crew, we were asked to review Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure by Susan K. Marlow. The book is part of the Circle C Adventures series. While the book and the series center around a young girl named Andi Carter, don’t write this off as a series for girls only. In Trouble with Treasure there is enough peril and suspense to keep both genders entertained.

Marlow does a wonderful job of weaving in her own Christian values without being heavy-handed at all. Andi prays and draws strength from a verse she remembers, but it is a natural part of her life (Hey! Like real life!) and never feels forced.

I don’t want to give too much away, but there is a good bit of danger and intrigue in this book, though nothing at all inappropriate or too suspenseful for the target audience of ages 9 – 14. To draw on the book’s themes to enhance your homeschool, you can download a free study guide that includes discussion questions, vocabulary and interesting information about rattlesnakes, gold mining and more – which may are may not be included in the book. Ahem. (OK, they are, but don’t spoil it for your kids.)

If you are a lapbooker, A Journey Through Learning has lapbooks available for purchase that correspond with Circle C Adventures.

Autographed books can be ordered directly through Marlow’s site for $8 each, plus $2 shipping, or for $7.99 from Kregel Publications. You can also download a free preview of the book.

We were given a copy of the book for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

a professional first

2010-05-13T16:18:00.001-04:00

Yes, this is probably the first and last time I have a story out about someone during the same time they appear in Maxim. Definitely a first, but I have to say, Danica was a delightful interview – bright, passionate about math education and very grounded despite her youth as a child star. She can out-math anybody, I’m convinced.

My story (not Maxim’s) is also running in Palmetto Parent.

disney’s beach club resort

2010-05-12T11:24:00.001-04:00

People of Earth, I am editing to add that there is a super room-only discount available right now. I found out about it over at www.intercot.com. (Look under Discussions, then Accommodations. There is a sticky at the top.) My husband priced out several hotels with this rate and found an unheard of deal at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Edited once again to add that no, we are not actually going to AKL, but there is a super deal. Carry on….

Here’s the promised tour, much belated, PW-style. The Beach Club is considered a deluxe resort (as opposed to value and moderate resorts). This was my first time at BC. It was freakishly cold for Florida (or ANYWHERE) when I went in February, so I didn’t get to experience some of the things that make this resort a favorite for many, like the sandy bottomed pool or long walks on the beach.

I have stayed at several deluxe WDW resorts (Polynesian is by far my favorite) and I highly recommend choosing one if it’s in the budget. If the choice is stay somewhere else or don’t go, then please stay somewhere else. (My vote for a moderate resort is Port Orleans Riverside.)

Pros for the Beach Club: sizable rooms, two queen beds and a day bed, in-room fridge and “getting ready” room which is critical if there are multiple people trying to get to the Magic Kingdom at once. This resort has lovely grounds and pools and that awesome beach, which I imagine would be great when the temperature is above 45 degrees. The biggest feature for BC for me is location, location, location. (See below.) I found the hotel to be super clean and quiet, which are my biggest requirements for any hotel. Mousekeeping was excellent and the decor was really light and happy and beach-like, which is appropriate. (In stark contrast to the Poly, which is super dark, and the only bad thing I can say about that hotel.)

See, I told you this was PW-style. Note the long-sleeved sweater. In Florida. I also wore long underwear and wool socks.

What’s wrong with this picture? (Hint: I am thinking that lifeguard would sink like a stone in all that gear.)

Just beyond the shivering sea gulls and the lake, that’s the Boardwalk. I walked (sprinted) over there early the next morning for a cinnamon roll. The Boardwalk is easily accessible by a path that runs just left of the picture below – it leads to food (Cat Cora’s new restaurant, among others), entertainment and more. Said path also leads to the World Showcase entrance to Epcot. Yes, people, you can walk to Epcot. One caveat: I was told that you can only enter Epcot at that location after World Showcase is open, which is typically 11 a.m. on days that Future World (main entrance) opens at 9 a.m. Therefore, I would only use this for afternoon visits or treks from the park to the hotel. This is still a major plus.

You can also catch a ferry to Disney’s Studios here. I did not do this, but having taken the ferry ride in the past I would guess the travel time is equivalent to a bus ride. But more fun.

(That’s the Dolphin hotel below.)

There is also a lovely solarium (below) that I only discovered as I was hustling out to catch a plane.

Cons: I did not try the resort’s table service restaurants, but I found the quick service locations to be lacking. And by lacking, I mean I had the worst food I have ever consumed on Disney property. If I had it to do over again, I would jaunt over to the Boardwalk for something better, like cinnamon rolls at every meal. By contrast – and I know others will disagree – quick service at the Polynesian is terrific and I found the same to be true at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Quick service at Grand Floridian (I haven’t stayed there) and Contemporary are adequate, but still above the lunch and breakfast I had at Beach Club. YMMV. Keep in mind that I generally find the quality and selection of food on WDW property to be at a far higher standard that typical vacation fare. As as vegetarian, I never go hungry or even sacrifice (except on the rare occasion that I end up with a Mickey mac and cheese kid’s meal). And to be fair, I did not try the “real” restaurants at the hotel.

One more con, sorta: I was far (really far) from anything, including an elevator, during my stay. I should have looked at the resort map at check-in and requested something more convenient.

It was fun to experience the Beach Club and I would definitely try it again in warmer weather.

have you da wing?

2010-05-10T07:58:00.001-04:00

What my children watched yesterday:

happy mother’s day

2010-05-09T10:45:00.001-04:00

Here’s a recent look at my progeny. One of them was about to leave for the prom.

And it occurred to me that I never posted a photo from the big end-of-the-year gala put on by the poor unsocialized homeschoolers in our co-op. (Sorry for the weird crop. I only post my own kiddos here.)

To this day, I regret not buying the life-sized, three-dimensional models of Jake and Elwood Blues our neighbors sold at a yard sale. What were we thinking?

lesson planet

2010-04-29T07:42:00.001-04:00

As part of the TOS Crew (our year is winding down, by the way), we were asked to review Lesson Planet. The site is a compilation of links to lesson plans, worksheets and much more in a searchable system. The links are to more than 225,000 plans and worksheets which have been reviewed by teachers.

While I think this is a terrific resource for classroom teachers and homeschool families teaching several children or a co-op class, it didn’t really help us enough here in our one student homeschool to justify the cost. My favorite part of Lesson Planet is the monthly calendar with something interesting (like Shakespeare’s birthday) included daily, with links to applicable lessons. Very cool, but not a critical thing for us. The links are all redirects to outside sites – Lesson Planet essentially does the searching and weeding out for you, something that would without a doubt be worth the cost if I were teaching in a classroom or had multiple students. For those of you homeschooling several, you should check out the homeschooling guide. It holds a wealth of interesting information.

The good news is that you can decide for yourself. Lesson Planet offers a 10-day free trail. After the free trial, membership is $39.95 per year.

Also check out a You Tube video here, for more details about the site.

We were given a free trial of the site for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

it’s pretty easy to be green, actually

2010-04-23T09:07:00.001-04:00

Under the category of “where did those follow up posts go?” I now present more of the belated Disney info from, um, February.

I think even the Disney folks were stunned at the response to the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day volunteer promotion. The goal was to give 1 million volunteers a free day at a Disney park in return for their community efforts. This was to be a 2010 promotion. All tickets were spoken for by March. Hope you got yours – if not, you can still volunteer (but not for a park ticket, just for the joy of giving back – you heard me). The big kick-off included some neat people like the Jamitors, Ty Pennington, Mickey Mouse (yes, he’s real), the world’s largest canned food structure (not a person, but cool) and MOST importantly, Kermit and Sweetums. (More from Kermit tomorrow, I promise.)

For you Disney geeks out there, this was the actual Kermit. Steve Whitmire, who took over after the death of Jim Henson, was present and helping Kermit fulfill his duties. No word on Sweetums.

psa of the day (and possibly the decade)

2010-04-22T07:46:00.001-04:00

writers have to write

2010-04-20T07:27:00.001-04:00

We watched this Sunday. It has been called the most accurate adaptation of Anne’s diary ever made. I agree. That also makes it joyful, funny, hopeful, gut-wrenching, frightening and sickening on many levels. Having visited the building that housed Anne’s secret annex, my thoughts have turned to one thing since watching this movie (see below, if you want). For a time at least, you can watch the film online. Don’t miss it.

“Only the dead have seen the end of war.” Do you know that quote? I think (I hope) we can prove it untrue.

Spoiler Alert (yes, I know you know the story…)

I have always associated the secret annex with the safety and hope found in that difficult time of hiding. It was a surreal pocket of near normality within a world that was far from normal. However, this adaptation goes just beyond Anne’s last diary entry, to the betrayal and the violation of their sacred space. I presume the ending scenes are based on Anne’s father’s accounts of what happened that night, as he was the only survivor of the eight who hid. (Maybe it’s just creative license, I don’t know.) In any event, for the first time, we see the bubble of protection penetrated and with it, the terror that must have stayed with Anne until she died of typhus. There was no more rest, no more writing, no more escape. It is harrowing to watch but important to remember.

beeyoutiful

2010-04-07T16:39:00.001-04:00

Mmmmmm…Beeyoutiful sent us a Milk and Honey Facial Bar to review as part of the TOS Crew. The bar is rock hard, which is a good thing. I have used a number of natural soaps that practically dissolve upon contact with water, making them a terrible value. This soap is long lasting and made from non-scary stuff. (See the ingredient list below. Don’t fear the lye – all soap is made from lye. That’s what creates the saponification process. I did not make that up.) The soap is mild and my children are using it with great success (including the one with super sensitive skin). (I want to use it, but I am on fire at the moment due to the high pollen count. I need to live in a bubble.)

Beeyoutiful sells a variety of natural products including books, supplements (many with BEE products, hence the name), essential oils, skin and hair products and more. Their catalog even includes an awesome tutorial on bread baking. Beeyoutiful states its mission as “to do good to all men.” Can’t argue with that – and their soap is a step in that direction.

Milk and Honey Facial Bar Ingredients: Raw Goat Milk, Distilled Water, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Vegetable Oil, Sodium Hydroxide (lye), Raw Honey, Bee Pollen, Bee Propolis, Beeswax, Sweet Orange Essential Oil

the travels of wiglington and wenks

2010-04-07T16:36:00.001-04:00

The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks is an online game -- a virtual world -- based on books by John Bittleston.We were asked to review the site as part of the TOS Crew. My son loved W&W, which surprised me. When I saw the interface, I thought it might be too kiddie (my word) for him, especially given his love of complex games, but this site is actually deceptively complex. The exploration aspects and the hunt for historical figures enthralled him immediately. There is an educational aspect to the context of the game, but we just considered it fun.

On the very positive side, my son did recognize historical figures and would shout out to me about the context of the person’s role in history. That’s always OK in my book. He is on the upper level of the age 7 – 14 target audience of this site, so playing W&W may spawn a list of history questions from wee littles. (That’s a good thing!)

Because I knew other homeschoolers would also be reviewing this site as part of the TOS Crew, we exchanged user names with several of them, giving my son instant playmates in the virtual world. He was not allowed to interact with others that I had not approved. It is my understanding that the makers of W&W are working on improving chat features. Currently, I would recommend the use of this product under direct parental supervision and even so, parents should consider the age and maturity of their child before allowing them to sign on. I would also recommend that you read about the experiences of others on the site. W&W states that vulgarities are not allowed, but it appears that they are not filtered out. Players who violate this are either blocked by moderators or reported by others after the fact. As they say, it’s better to close the barn door than to try and get the cows back in (or something like that… I live in suburbia so I fail at the colloquialisms).

Until the chat feature is filtered or otherwise made to be more child-friendly, I believe removing it would only enhance the playing experience for children. Because I feel strongly about Internet safety, this is my son’s first experience with a virtual world. Maybe other sites also have similar problems with profanity, but I simply don’t know the answer to that. You must judge your child’s maturity and your level of comfort with this. As much as I my son has enjoyed it, he won’t be allowed to use it without direct supervision. If you can work this out to your comfort level, the site is a lot of fun.

WW is a product of Wiglington and Wenks Worldwide Pte Ltd (http://www.wiglingtonworldwide.com). Use of the site is free. A paid membership is available which opens up more of the world and provides greater interactivity. Memberships are $5.99 per month, with discounts available for longer terms.

We were given a one-month membership to the site. My opinions are my own.

no time to say hello, good-bye, i’m late, i’m late, i’m late

2010-04-06T12:04:00.001-04:00

I’m late in posting links to online stories for April. In my defense, there was that celebration of the resurrection of the Savior and all. Hope yours was wonderful.

Oh, and summer came – not spring. We skipped that. It’s not snowing, so who cares?

Here you go, for your reading pleasure:

Fun tips for health and fitness. Really. No, really.
Going green one step at a time.
Mammograms. More specifically, my mammogram. TMI alert.
South Carolina Girl Scout cookies are safe. (As in, they are not recalled. I can’t speak to the fat and calories.)
The state’s gluten-free family picnic is coming….
Seek and Snap, benefitting Let There Be Mom, is THIS WEEKEND.
Have mercy. I had kind of forgotten about this story. I wrote it quite a while ago. Don’t be afraid, but do be informed about lesser known pediatric conditions.
Here’s my tip on purging clutter from your home: don’t buy as much stuff.

I think there are more, but I will need to seek out links. I know you wait with bated breath. ;)

Coming in May, my interview with Danica McKellar (aka, Winnie Cooper). Smart girl, that Winnie.

family mint

2010-03-31T17:06:00.001-04:00

Hooray for financial literacy! I know so many adults who are living out of envelopes as they struggle to gain control of spending. While that is admirable, I think they would all say it would be easier if they had been given an appreciation of the value of a dollar as kids.

Family Mint can be a big step in that direction. The site is free! You, the parent, become the banker. (Presumably, you will be a benevolent banker like George Bailey. Don’t be Mr. Potter. He’s mean.) You run your own family bank, treating deposits and withdrawals as real money. You can use Family Mint’s system for allowance, chore money, etc., or simply as a teaching tool. Accounts can be set up for each child with an automatic allowance system. Children can save for specific goals and easily track and monitor their money with a very child-friendly interface.

The beauty of this is that you set the rules for your bank (just like the real world – Ha! I’m kidding, kind of). If your children earn money or allowance from you, you can use Family Mint to track that and allow them to keep up with their “deposits.” They cash out when a goal is met (or according to whatever parameters you set). Children can also use this to keep up with a real piggy bank. I can also see using this just as a homeschool unit on money and the banking system, without real money entering into the equation.

I think Family Mint is a tremendous resource for parents, whether they homeschool or not. The work is done for you – I recommend you give it a try and use it as a teachable moment in your family. It’s much easier to learn money lessons when you are a child than when you are an adult with a mortgage, taxes and a credit rating to protect.

Can I get an amen on that? :)

Sound too good to be true? Read Family Mint’s FAQs for more info:

FREE: Why is FamilyMint free? How do you plan to make money?

We are committed to providing a version that is free to ensure that all families have access to the tools necessary to bring up financially savvy children and make parent’s lives easier.

We will be introducing a Pro version in the near future that will carry a monthly or annual fee. Our goal is to keep the base product free and charge for value added features.

SIMPLE: How long will it take me to set up my family?

Most families can get started in as little as 10 minutes. This includes setting up the children’s profiles and creating a starting set of goal accounts.

SECURE: Is my data safe? Are my children protected?

FamilyMint takes security seriously and our number one desire is to keep your kids and their information private and safe. All of your family’s information is accessible only by you. You will never have outsiders sending unsolicited messages to your children.

I was asked to review Family Mint as part of the TOS Crew. The site is free for anyone. My opinions are my own.

the art of conversation

2010-03-29T11:57:00.001-04:00

People who haven’t known my family for very long might assume that my son is quiet around strangers because he is an isolated, unsocialized homeschooler.

You know that isn’t the case.

I have found that homeschooling has actually taught my boy the art of conversation in some very unexpected ways.

(Read more at Heart of the Matter Online…)

seventh generation giveaway

2010-03-24T16:37:00.001-04:00

Good, eco-friendly stuff. Get yours here… seventh generation giveaway

sure signs

2010-03-22T08:59:00.001-04:00

google on main sky shot

2010-03-21T14:20:00.001-04:00

google on main sky shot
Originally uploaded by amywoodtv

Our city is pretty cool, yes?

sweet mail call

2010-03-20T19:29:00.001-04:00

Rachel has a new hobby and I was the beneficiary. Through a friend, she sent me two bars of luscious vegan soap. Below is Sweet Addiction. Salted Caramel and Chocolate went straight to the shower, so no photo. The soaps are as incredible as they sound, but they are not for sale (yet).

And how about this incredible Vintage Swap package from Mindy? (Thanks again to Heather for her hard work in setting up the swap. Have you seen Heather’s blog? Run, don’t walk – she is terrific.) Mindy sent my favorites:

::Gorgeous old sheet music

:: A sweet zippered pouch she made just for me (with goodies, including homemade lip balm which ended up in the clutches of my teenager)

::Lovely fabrics

::And a vintage linen tablecloth that will soon (hopefully) be pillows.

history channel dvd

2010-03-18T07:31:00.001-04:00

Homeschoolers, if you receive the History Channel’s Educator’s Guide, then you probably saw the story about the upcoming Story of Us series, which begins April 25. I haven’t seen it yet (unfortunately, no media sneak peek) but it looks good. Run, don’t walk, to the History Channel’s web site to request a free DVD of the series for your homeschool. Hooray for the History Channel who explicitly states that the offer is available to homeschools!

Many thanks to Sheri for letting me know about this.

artistic pursuits

2010-03-15T19:10:00.001-04:00

Let’s be clear up front. I can’t draw stick people. However, I do have a child who loves to draw and who would prefer to submit all his writing assignments as graphic novels. For him, Artistic Pursuits is a terrific program. As part of the TOS Crew, we were sent Artistic Pursuits Junior High, Book Two. (The boy has art as a co-op class and had already covered the lessons in book one.) We purchased a variety of supplies used in the program: pastels, special pastel paper, kneaded erasers and more. But oh, it was worth it. The boy is learning from this, for sure. The only problem we have in implementing it is his desire to do everything perfectly the first time. (This is not limited to art and is an ongoing issue for us.) The lessons challenge him and he can’t execute each piece as it is shown in the book. He is too quick to see that as a failure rather than part of the learning process. Ugh. We are working on that.

Artistic Pursuits is written to the student, so it’s OK that it isn’t my strongest subject. Each lesson (in our book, at least) incorporates lessons in art history and art appreciation, as well as the craft itself.

View sample pages and included lessons online. (Book Two includes: Unit 1 Hue and Intensity, Unit 2 Primary and Secondary, Unit 3 Monochrome, Unit 4 Complementary Pairs, Unit 5 Neutrals, Unit 6 Warm, Analogous Colors, Unit 7 Cool, Analogous Colors, Unit 8 Color Applications, Composition, Unit 9 Balance in Color, Unit 10 Parallel Rhythm, Unit 11 Converging Rhythm, Unit 12 Space with Little Depth, Unit 13 Depth, Unit 14 Viewpoint, High, Unit 15 Viewpoint, Low, Unit 16 Emphasis, Evaluation Sheet, Bibliography.)

Junior High books are $42.95 each, plus supplies.

We received a book for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own

seasons of faith books

2010-03-15T09:57:00.001-04:00

I know I sound like a broken record, but once again, I was not familiar with Children’s Bible Hour radio shows. However, several of the programs have been adapted to a beautifully illustrated series called Seasons of Faith. The “seasons” range from the baby steps of newly discovered faith to finding strength through great trials. Each book also includes a story CD – perfect for car trips.

The books present real world scenarios that most elementary-aged children could understand. Discussion questions are available to further explore the topics. I encourage you to look at the questions since the books might cause children to have questions of their own. The “winter” book in the series, Braving the Storm, may be too much for kids who worry or empathize easily. The book deals with economic and family stresses. For children who are in a difficult situation, however, it could be a terrific resource.

All in all, I think the series is very well done and has broad appeal for boys and girls. Do check them out and watch a video of the production process – it gives a preview of how the books were created as well as the beautiful art work that was chosen. The books (including a CD!) are $10 each.

We received books for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

history odyssey

2010-03-15T09:24:00.001-04:00

I love products that keep me from reinventing the homeschool wheel. History Odyssey from Pandia Press does just that. As part of the TOS Crew, we received History Odyssey Ancients, Level Two for review. This is a schedule/course outline/lesson plan/study guide all in one. The course is a step-by-step method for using a variety of resources (Kingfisher, historical fiction, Evan-Moor History Pockets, etc.) throughout the school year. (While maps and lessons are included in the product, keep in mind that it is a study guide that utilizes a list of required books. It is not a history spine.)

Ancients, Level Two includes 87 lessons and each is a complete breakdown of what is required – teacher prep is minimal. The study guide includes map and timeline work, writing assignments, research, outlining and more. A self-directed student could implement much of this with little supervision. The guide is designed for the logic stage, approximately grades five through eight.

As a history geek, I can tell you that I found this to be appropriately thorough for this grade level. The course is also secular, which differentiates it from many on the homeschool market. It is truly a complete course study guide that can save countless hours of planning time.

History Odyssey is available in three levels for first grade through high school, with ancients through modern times for levels one and two and ancients and middle ages for level three.

Links are available on the Pandia Press site for ordering print editions of the study guides. E-book versions are also available for download. Extensive samples are also available for download.

E-books are $28.99 - $33.99, depending upon the level chosen.

We received a book for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

beehive reader, all about reading level 2

2010-03-15T09:12:00.001-04:00

This is another early reader hit from All About Reading. This book, What Am I?, correlates with All About Spelling, Level 2. It features sweet, simple stories – age appropriate for emerging readers. As with the first Beehive Reader, the illustrations are the biggest selling point for me. Once again, the illustrations make me want to crawl inside the book.

Have a look:

You do not have to use All About Spelling to appreciate this book. It can fit in nicely with your homeschool curriculum of choice or as a fun-to-read book even if you are not homeschooling. We were provided a review copy as part of the TOS Crew. Alas, the book is not available for order until April 1, but check the All About Reading site then for more information.

We received a book for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

homeschool in the woods – maps

2010-03-15T09:07:00.001-04:00

I kind of geeked out over the Olde World Style Maps from Homeschool in the Woods. I am still geeking out a little whenever I look at them, actually. As part of the TOS Crew, we we sent a download of world and U.S. maps. They are gorgeous. The maps are beautifully drawn and just a terrific homeschool resource for all ages and grades.

I printed several of the maps on white paper, but I am seriously considering printing the rest on ivory linen. (I really do love maps.) The design is definitely old world, but with really neat detailing. The packs include labeled and blank designs – perfect for quizzes!

The world map set includes more than 130 maps plus notebooking pages. The United States map set includes more than 180 maps and even more notebooking pages. Have a look at free samples online and while you’re there, look at the other downloads including a free Jamestown settlement replica.

Downloads are $18.95 each ($19.95 each for CDs) or $28.95 for a combo pak which includes both sets ($29.95 on CD). Both – download or CD – are pdf documents.

We received a free download for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

tales from terrestria

2010-03-15T09:03:00.001-04:00

Once again, a review has introduced me to a book series with which I was unfamiliar. As part of the TOS Crew, we were asked to review two books from the Tales from Terrestria series by evangelist Ed Dunlop. This is a stand-alone series that is a companion to the Terrestria Chronicles. We were sent books one and four, The Quest for Thunder Mountain and The Isle of Dragons.

After reviewing the books, I would gauge them at late elementary – middle school level. They are well written with classically crafted stories. I was put off a bit by the layout style, as there are virtually no margins on the pages. It made it difficult for me to read. I don’t know why this layout type was chosen, but it is nonstandard and I found it distracting.

On to the books…I do hope my son will be willing to read these at some point. The genre doesn’t particularly appeal to him, but again, that is personal preference. Know up front that the stories are allegories and while I love allegories and these stories are well written, the message is too thinly veiled for my taste. With King Emmanuel, the Mountains of Difficulty and such in the first book, I found myself wanting to have to think about the allegory aspect a little more – when it is so plainly stated, it does lose some effect. I found it more effectively presented in book four. (This aspect may increase the books’ appeal for children however.)

Having said that, I do believe the books can be used as evangelical tools, especially for young people who will pick up an adventure story but have not been introduced to the Bible. In writing this review, I just realized why this style seemed familiar. When I was elementary/early middle school age, I remember a series of comic books from our school library (I went to a Christian school) that were written almost as the graphic novel version of Gospel tracts. The stories were designed to be relevant but the allegories were thin (or not hidden at all) by design. That may be the case here. In any event, do consider these for the adventure story lover in your household or neighborhood. The stories can certainly open the door for a deeper conversation and on their own, supply a solid explanation of Biblical principles.

Tales from Terrestria, as well as Ed Dunlop’s other books, are available online at Free e-books and coloring pages are also available. Books are $7.99 each.

We received two books for review. I was not compensated. My opinions are my own.

danger, will robinson

2010-03-12T07:44:00.001-05:00

Warning, warning. I am in the beginning stages of moving this blog to a different platform. It will remain at www.chrisworthy.com, so if you reach the site that way, you are A-OK. If you get this through Google reader of some other format, I will let you know in advance of the change. Consider this is pre-warning warning. This will probably take me eight years to do, so hang tight.

uncool

2010-03-10T13:52:00.001-05:00

Dear Lady in High Heels,

I saw you hurrying to your car. I immediately had two thoughts about you. First, what a cute skirt. Second, I could never move that quickly in those shoes. Then I saw you and your lunch jump into your SUV parked in a handicap spot. I thought something else about you then.

sharing the past

2010-03-10T07:31:00.001-05:00

The most awesome Heather once again hosted a vintage swap. Here’s a peek at what I sent:

Everything in the box, except the yellow cabbage rose appliqué fabric, came from Mrs. M’s stash. If I live to be 100 (and here’s hoping), I will not reach the end of Mrs. M’s stash. I suspect she would be very happy to know that I have used and enjoyed it so much and bits and pieces of it have traveled all over the world to be enjoyed by others. (That’s a reminder that I need to restock my Etsy shop.) I wonder if Mr. M. ever questioned her zeal for beautiful, timeless fabrics. I hope he was as understanding as my husband when she added to the stash.

You did well, Mrs. M. Very well.

seek and snap (and more)

2010-03-09T20:09:00.001-05:00

This is for my Upstate, South Carolina friends – Just a heads-up that Let There Be Mom is holding a digital scavenger hunt April 10 in downtown Greenville. The event (in addition to being a lot of fun) raises money for LTBM and awareness of their services for families that might need their help.

AND THIS WEEKEND – March 13, is the Peacock Strides for Babies in honor of Emily “Peacock” Ware, who died of SIDS last year. The event raises money for SIDS research.

schoolhouse expo

2010-03-09T20:04:00.001-05:00

Hey Homeschoolers, The Old Schoolhouse is hosting an online conference in May. If you register before March 31, the cost is $19.99 (that’s a $5 discount). Click over and check out the freebies that come with registration.

The speakers are going to be very interesting:

From TOS:

Susan Wise Bauer shows you a simple, eight-step, systematic process for producing good writers.

Todd Wilson explains how being REAL can be life changing with his usual wit and humor.

Amanda Bennett, unit study author extraordinaire, will help you better understand unit studies.

Diana Waring reveals how discovering your child's learning styles, learning modalities, and learning intellect will help you adapt your teaching strategies and choose curriculum wisely.

Andrew Pudewa, one of our readers' favorite homeschool speakers, discusses the four core language arts and how to teach each in the proper way!

Sue Patrick provides insight on implementing the Workbox System.

Mark Hamby will help you deal with sibling rivalry, marital conflict, and holding on to the wrong things.

Heather Laurie discusses special needs homeschooling.

Lee Binz of HomeScholar explains how to organize a high school transcript.

Davis Carman explains how the family is the best way to defend the Christian faith.

Karen “Spunky Homeschool” Braun tackles how to use the Internet and electronics responsibly in an era when many want to chat and twitter their time away.

As part of the TOS Crew, I get to “attend” (virtually) this conference at no charge, but my opinions are my own.

what’s that spell…

2010-03-08T08:56:00.001-05:00

Apologies for the harsh light in the photo – it was dark out, so this was the best I could do. And do I have one picture without a dog nose in it? Probably not.

If you are the mom of a Boy Scout, you probably know about the historical merit badges offered this year for the BSA centennial. Semaphore is one of the choices –and you will need flags for that. My husband (who taught my son’s troop how to do semaphore) cut dowels for the handles. Do not stress about the flags! Hobby Lobby sells solid color bandannas that are the perfect size and are already hemmed. Cut each on the diagonal and sew right sides together. Press the seam to the red side and trim to square. (I found that the different colors were not exactly the same, less than a quarter inch off.) Attach ties to the red side (see photo). I used white ribbon for two flags and natural-colored cording for the other two (because I ran out of ribbon). I triple-stitched the ties because the flags were designed to be used by boys and thus will endure great tribulation.

In the event of an emergency, we can signal the neighbors for help.

graphics toolbox

2010-03-08T08:38:00.001-05:00

Please head over to the TOS Crew blog for reviews from other crew members on Graphics Toolbox. We were unable to review this product from Great Software Tools because of a computer compatibility issue, but I hear wonderful things about it.

Graphics Toolbox is a graphics software program that fellow homeschoolers are using for a wide variety of interests, including school and home businesses. For homeschoolers, think mini-offices, notebooking, lapbooking, timelines and more. Students of all ages can learn to use the program (at their own level) to create projects, art for PowerPoint presentations and more. I know my kinesthetic boy would love to use this.

Bloggers: Several folks are using this for blog headers and buttons as well. It is worth checking out, especially since you can try it free for 30 days. If you have any questions about compatibility with your operating system, contact Graphics Toolbox and they will be able to answer your questions.

visitors from outer space

2010-03-05T10:56:00.001-05:00

We waited in the cold for our visitors to arrive. Right on cue, at 6:51 p.m., the International Space Station was visible in the twilight sky. Safe travels, gentlemen. You are welcome here anytime.

i write words

2010-03-02T14:43:00.001-05:00

More of my hard work is online for your reading pleasure. If it indeed is not pleasurable, please don’t tell me.

homeschool library builder

2010-03-01T07:36:00.001-05:00

Are you familiar with this site? I have explored it pretty thoroughly and I became a member (it’s free), though I haven’t ordered yet. We were asked to review Homeschool Library Builder for the TOS Crew. It is essentially an online used books store for homeschooling families. Books are available for preschoolers through adult, with search categories by age, genre, curriculum and more. The prices are reasonable. The site is Christian-run, so the inclusion of a number of more difficult to locate books -- biographies of missionaries, for instance – make this a unique resource.

The site also includes links to a wide variety of homeschooling resources. This is a great stop for families who are just beginning their homeschooling journey. By the way, membership in the site helps you earn book points with each purchase.

And really, you can’t have too many books.

I wasn’t provided anything for this review – just the same access to the web site that is available to anyone. My opinions are my own.

look there – around my neck

2010-02-23T17:49:00.001-05:00

Amy Butler fabric from Sew, Mama, Sew
Vintage suiting fabric, lightweight wool blend
Tape measure
Sewing machine
20 minutes

I love that fabric. It’s the little things, people.

the plan, or what I still need to buy for seventh grade

2010-02-22T08:46:00.001-05:00

Have mercy. Is it the end of February already? Here’s a look at our plan for next year. We keep going for a couple of days per week during the summer, so this really picks up as soon as we finish our sixth grade materials.

Suggestions are welcome. ;)

Math: Math U See Algebra 1*

Science: Prentice Hall Science Explorer (Chemical Building Blocks, From Bacteria to Plants, Weather, more if needed). We are also going to do Hakim’s The Story of Science series, beginning with Aristotle Leads the Way. This is a history of science and scientific thought which I think will be cool.

English:

IEW’s Fix It Grammar (I just got this and I think it’s going to be great.)
IEW’s Windows to the World (literary analysis)*
Write with the Best Vol. 2. (This is a half-year at most, so I will need something after. I am considering a higher level IEW course, but I am not sure yet.)
A slew of historical fiction will once again be on the agenda. The novels will track with history studies.

History: Continue with MOH 3, and then on to The Story of US (Hakim) (This requires complete lesson planning on my part, but I really think the boy is going to like this series.)

Spanish: Continue with co-op classes and Rosetta Stone, if the library continues to let us use it online. If we lose our RS license (a likely occurrence), we will move on to the new online resource offered by our local library.

Art/Music: Both are taught in co-op classes. We are also beginning Artistic Pursuits’ middle school program at home and the boy will start guitar lessons soon. We also do a composer study that tracks (via date) with history.

PE: We hope to continue the YMCA’s homeschool PE class and we do health here at home.

Computer Apps: Nolan is in the midst of a semester of keyboarding and I am planning to create a semester course in computer apps. This will free him up to move right in to computer science in high school.

*Still need to buy

about a mouse

2010-02-19T09:17:00.001-05:00

Either you get the appeal of Walt Disney World or you don’t. I am convinced there is no middle ground. No other company on the planet does things “the Disney way,” by definition. In fact, the Disney Institute actually teaches companies from around the world how to provide meaningful service that keeps customers coming back.

And we keep coming back.

I was fortunate to be able to attend a press event at WDW last week and I will share the details in a few upcoming posts. The Cliff Notes version is that innovation continues, with unmatched attention to detail and a firm grasp of what appeals to children, their parents and grandparents.

The Magic Kingdom is undergoing its biggest expansion in history, with a variety of interactive attractions coming. Below is a rendering of Belle’s village (Belle!!), which will be part of the expansion. The village will include several restaurants as well, including a Gaston-themed spot, which presumably will use antlers in all of the decorating.

Guests will be able to participate in a surprise party for Princess Aurora (that’s Sleeping Beauty, of course) and will learn to be a Royal Knight or dance with Cinderella. (Pause to sing the Stephen Curtis Chapman song. You know you want to. When you are done crying, read on.)

For every parent who has ever said, “Please, can we skip Dumbo?” I have great news. The attraction will soon be doubled in size and have a covered queue and activities to pass the time in line. Prayers have been answered from across the land.

Have you traveled via the Disney Cruise Line? We haven’t, but I hear wonderful things. In addition to amazing expansions, the new Disney Dream is going to boast the AquaDuck (points for the name). I get the heebie jeebies just watching an animation of this thing, for I am not a dare devil. OK, on some things maybe, but not things that involve water or enclosed spaces. But I would pay money to see my son and husband on this. Check it out online.

I am, however, a geek. Pictures below are from last week’s event at the newly themed ESPN Wide World of Sports. It was my first visit to the complex and it is all kinds of great. The athletic facilities are impressive and the new ESPN theme is going to make athletes who are competing there feel like they are on Sportscenter. And they might be. It truly is becoming THE place for youth sports and many, many adults, including the Atlanta Braves (Go Braves!), are finding the facilities to be top-notch.

Chip and Dale – Chip has the chocolate chip nose (above). Never be confused again. It’s just another public service I provide. You are welcome.

Pluto! Minnie! Mickey didn’t come to my table. I made up for it by eating Cracker Jack.

More to come….

Heart of the Matter’s Online Homeschooling Conference, Feb. 22–25

2010-02-15T08:21:00.001-05:00

Winners!!! Random.org chose:

Jennifer said...

These speakers look interesting, especially that last title. I'd like to know everything! :)

Loving learning at Home said...

Thanks for this wonderful opportunity. I would love to win a ticket. I was just looking at the site and wondering if I could fit this in the budget. Hopefully now I won't have to. LOL

Want a ticket? I have two to give away. (Find conference details here!) Leave a comment below. If more than two of you want a ticket, I will do a random drawing. The catch? I have to give HOTM the winners’ info TODAY! Drawing (if needed) will be late this afternoon. If you comment, please be sure I can contact you. I will need to give HOTM your name and email address.

The conference is online (live) next week, but the ticket will allow you to download mp3s of the sessions later. This can be a real source of encouragement and information.

Here’s the line up:

Belinda Bullard, founder of A Blessed Heritage - How Will I Be Remembered? A Mom for all Seasons
Cindy Carrier, founder of Values Drive Family Ministry - Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers, OH MY!: Successfully Integrating Little Ones into Your Homeschool
Sheila Carroll, founder of Living Books Curriculum - Planning for Learning--Homeschool Planning the Charlotte Mason Way
Maggie Hogan, founder of Bright Ideas Press - 7 Highly Effective Habits of Happy Homeschool Moms
Kris, author of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers - Adding Spark to Your Homeschool with Hands-on Learning
Katie Kubesh, co-founder of In the Hands of a Child - Beginning Lapbooking
Diane Lockman, author of Trivium Mastery and The Classical Scholar - Reading Aloud: The Key to Language Development
Carolyn Morrison & Jennifer Leonhard, authors of Guilt Free Homeschooling - Taking the Mystery Out of Learning Styles
Jim Mueller, founder of Bite Sized Physics - Bite-Size Physics
Dari Mullins, co-author of Galloping the Globe and Cantering the Country - I'm Homeschooling, but I'm NOT HAPPY
Jay Ryan, author of Classical Astronomy and Signs and Seasons - Topic TBA
Natalie Wickham, author of Pajama School - Everything Your Child Needs to Know and How to Teach it to Them

If you want to buy a ticket, they are $12.95 each and available through HOTM.