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Showing posts from 2015

Random Five on Friday: December 11th Edition

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I know I’ve been super quiet on my blog for December and then wham I post on Thursday and Friday!  I have posts planned for Saturday and Sunday too.  I plan to post the Letter E and the Letter F so I will be caught up with the Blogging through the Alphabet link. Wow I haven’t done a Random Five on Friday since November 20th! 1. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was just the six of us. Tailorbear baked a pumpkin pie and an apple pie.  I made a Trim Healthy Mama S style No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake. I need to tweak the recipe I created a bit and maybe I can share it in time for Christmas baking. Tailorbear also took care of cooking the turkey. It was wonderful to have someone else do so much of the cooking! 2. We played games on Thanksgiving Day.  That is our tradition and we played more games on Friday and on Saturday! We were really into Scattergories and Trivial Pursuit. We also played several games of Apples to Apples which is always fun with Supergirl as she just

D is for Daughters: My Daughters

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I missed the letter D (and E and F but those will post!) in the Blogging Through the Alphabet link up hosted by Cristi and Meg . Daughters.  That starts with D and I have four of them. I am biased because I am their mother but I have four amazing, wonderful, and beautiful daughters. Each one different from the other but all special to me. Talented in different ways but each possessing something that sets them apart. Each one is so different in personality from her sisters that it can be so hard to believe that they are all related. I see so much of me and at the same time so much of my husband in each of them. Sometimes, I joke that each of them inherited all of my traits and all of her father’s bad traits. Each of my daughters have the ability to make me smile, to make me laugh and to make my heart swell to bursting with pride. Sometimes I look at them and I see the little girls they were and then I blink and I realized that they aren’t little anymore. I still hurt

My Love Affair with Coconut Oil

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This week’s letter is C.  Join me as I join Cristi and Meg and I blog about My Love Affair with C oconut Oil. Many years ago a friend of mine introduced me to coconut oil. I confess I was not keen on it. I am not fond of coconut flavored anything so why on earth would I want to use coconut oil!!!???  Now of course coconut oil is all the rage.  And for good reason. I’m not going to extol the virtues of coconut oil but instead I am going to share a few of the ways we use coconut oil and how I’ve gone from a “seriously? coconut oil?”  to a “Yes, seriously, coconut oil. Try it!” perspective. Coconut Oil is a great substitute for butter. Yes, for me it took some getting used to but coconut oil as a butter substitute is a hit here. Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are quite yummy during Orthodox Christian fasting seasons such as Advent and Great Lent and my girls love them spread with coconut oil. No, I confess coconut oil as a spread is not as yummy as cream cheese on a bagel but it works. Tur

Random 5 on Friday ~ November 20th Edition

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It’s been a busy couple of weeks around here! 1. A weekend or to ago Boobear and I had girly time again. On Saturday, we deep conditioned our hair with coconut oil and then later on Saturday she did henna on our roots. My hair seemed to really love the extra attention! 2.  It is concert and recital time for Boobear again! Last week we attended her choral concert on Tuesday night and her keyboarding student recital on Thursday night. I’m looing forward to attending the “Sounds of Christmas” choral concert in December. 3.  Turtlegirl took the SAT and has started hearing from universities in response to her SAT scores. She finds that very encouraging. I’m proud of how hard she is working and studying.  Honeybear, Turtlegirl, and I attended an informational/recruiting dinner for Turtlegirl’s first choice college.  She was able to speak with someone from the Honor’s College and with someone from the Arts and Sciences college and discussed Earth Science/ Geology major options.  4. Yeste

2015 Schoolhouse Review Crew Blue Ribbon Winners!

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It is that time of year again! The time the Schoolhouse Review Crew team members get to vote on their favorite products, resources, and curriculum from the 2015 Crew Year.  We had some amazing vendors this year! I’ll be sharing both the official winner and if I had a different choice, I’ll share that too! I’m only including some of the winners in my post. You can visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew to see the full list of winners! Favorite Reading Curriculum: Reading Kingdom . ~ This was Supergirl’s choice! She loves Reading Kingdom! Favorite Writing Curriculum: Institute for Excellence in Writing .  This is my favorite!  I love IEW. Favorite Spelling Program: Institute for Excellence in Writing: Phonetic Zoo .  We did not review a spelling program this year but I have heard such excellent things about Phonetic Zoo! Favorite Grammar Program: Institute for Excellence in Writing: Fix-It! Grammar .  This was part of the Deluxe Combo that some reviewers received.  I reviewed Fix-It! Gra

The Perfect Study for Advent~ Birth of Jesus Bible Study

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This is my final review for the 2015 Schoolhouse Review Crew year! For this last review I’m sharing the perfect study for preparing for Christmas: The Birth of Jesus: Multi-Level from GrapeVine Studies . I have heard of different “draw through the Bible” programs and honestly, none of them really appealed to me because I can’t draw.  Rather than focus on the content I should I be learning or teaching, I am worried about if I am going to get the picture right. GrapeVine Studies different. Their tagline is Stick Figure Through the Bible. Stick Figures! Hey I can do that! Let me tell you w hy I am excited about this study! Not Denomination Specific! ~ This is huge for me as an Eastern Orthodox Christian. GrapeVine Studies provides a platform for a teacher directed approach to doctrine. This allows   the teacher to address specific doctrines when they come up in the lessons. A list of Goals for Teachers ~ My favorite of their goals for teachers?  To learn alongside the students. A

B is for Books ~ of Course

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This week it is the Letter B. My friends Cristi and Meg are co-hosting Blogging Through The Alphabet. Of course with the letter B, I have to blog about books! I have not been reading nearly as much these past couple of months as I was earlier this year. Advent is starting for New Calendar Orthodox and I plan to read more during the Nativity Fast. So what am I reading? I have about 9 books on my Goodreads currently reading shelf but I am only going to list the ones that I am more actively reading. By that I mean that I have actually picked up and read at least a few pages in the last couple of weeks. I did borrow Immortal Reign from the Kindle Owner’s Library and I started it. I think I am on Chapter 2. If you didn’t catch my blog post from earlier in the week you can read my thoughts about Immortal Plague which is the first book of the series. I also am still working through The Sorcerer's Stone , the first book in the Harry Potter series. My goal in 2016 is to re-read t

Practical Critical Thinking for High School {Crew Review}

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The Critical Thinking Co. has been a part of my homeschool since Boobear, now a college junior, was a preschooler. Having loved every single product that I have ever purchased or reviewed, I knew I wanted to try Practical Critical Thinking for grades 9-12+ with Tailorbear. We also received the Teacher’s Manual . The Critical Thinking Co. Just as their company name implies this is publisher focuses on materials that builds and develops critical thinking skills. What is Critical Thinking? Critical Thinking is the ability to identify and evaluate evidence in order to make a decision. If you would like to know more about critical thinking you can read these articles and advice from The Critical Thinking Co. This family run business began with John Baker in 1958 as a math and textbook company. Today, under the guidance of his son, Michael Baker, the company offers over 200 titles! They are dedicated to helping children and families. Did you know that they donate two or more product

My Thoughts about Immortal Plague by Aiden James

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Since taking on more responsibilities with the Crew, my reading has slowed down. Oh I've still been reading just more blogs and less books but I've been reading at least a few pages every day from at least one book on my currently reading list. Since I just finished reading this book this morning, I decided I needed to blog about it while it was fresh in my mind. So what book did I just finish?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  It's the first book in a series.  There are seven books listed for this series. What is the series? Oh that would help wouldn't it? It's by Aiden James: The Judas Chronicles.  Yes, it's about that Judas. The one from the Bible who betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.  I just finished reading Immortal Plague and I was relieved to discover that book two Immortal Reign (formally called Reign of Coins ) is available as part of the Kindle Owner's Library. This is not a Christian Fiction novel.  The theology is wrong and yet th

Random Five on Friday ~ November 6th Edition

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Yes, yes I know it is Saturday. I’m back to my old habits of posting Friday’s post on Saturday but I have good excuse.  No really.  I wanted to include a picture so I had to wait until I could get Boobear to email me the pictures I wanted! See, it’s her fault. So here’s this week’s Random Five thoughts! 1.  A "conversation" I overheard between George, the cat, and Supergirl, the human.  She was getting ready to feed him and he was pestering her. "Meow. Meow." "You have to wait Georgie.  Waiting is hard. I know."   She is a little parrot mimicking what she hears. I just hope that it starting to sink in. She hates waiting. Waiting is very hard for her but I think knowing she isn't the only one who has wait sometimes really helps. Even if it is just the cat. 2. Supergirl had a special Halloween treat. She got to with BooBear up to Boo's campus and participate in "Countdown to Candy" and then go trick or treating at the residence halls! 

A is for Adventure

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A is for Adventure. It’s also for Alphabet Blogging. This week my friends Cristi and Meg have started a fresh new round of blogging through the alphabet. So without further ado (see another A word!) here’s my A is for Adventure or Let the Adventure Begin! post! It’s completely and totally official.  The Adventure has begun!  What adventure? I’ve actually mentioned it a couple of times when I talked about How Much I Love the Crew and hinted here and there. I should say a new adventure has begun! This reviewing gig with the Schoolhouse Review Crew actually began sometime in 2009 when Debra started reviewing for the crew and would tell me all about the products she was using. And in the spring of 2010 she convinced me that I needed to be a part of this amazing group of ladies. In June of 2010 I came on board and wow! I have lost count of the different vendors and products I have been blessed to review over the years. I think I’ve written over over 200 reviews for the Crew. I reall

The Nutcracker ~ Stories in Music {Crew Review}

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Until a few years ago, whenever I heard the word Nutcracker or heard the music, especially the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, I would think of a certain department store Christmas commercial. I had never seen the ballet performed or truly listened to the music. That changed when we were gifted tickets to a professional performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. It was beautiful and it the story and the music have become a favorite of Supergirl. Because she loves the Nutcracker I knew we would want to add The Nutcracker from the Stories in Music collection to our small collection of CDs from Maestro Classics . About the Story and the Music The Nutcracker ballet is based on a fairytale by E.T.A Hoffman. He was a German writer, composer, and painter. He was born in 1776 in a city in Prussia which is now a city a in Russia!  He died in 1822 in Berlin, Germany. The composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, wrote many famous ballets such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty in addition to the Christma

Four Reasons Why I Love the Crew

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I love the Homeschool Review Crew and since I am now a Crew Leader and we’re accepting applications I decided I wanted to share with you some of the reasons I love the crew.   1.  Curriculum!  Being a reviewer for the review crew means I get curriculum in exchange for my honest review. I've had the opportunity to review some amazing products such as Teaching Writing Structure and Style from IEW or the First Grade program with all the manipulatives from Touch Math. I love that I have been able to provide such a rich and varied course of study for my daughters. I’ve found treasures that I never would have thought I needed.    2.  Improving my writing ~ being a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew gave me the opportunity to improve my writing and my blogging.  I've learning about Keywords and Evergreen posts and developing my own style.   3.  Making friends! ~ One of the requirements of the crew is belonging to the private forum. While we are not required to participat

Three Incredible IEW Resources for your Homeschool {Crew Review}

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It’s no secret that I love Institute for Excellence in Writing . Through IEW I have gained confidence in my own ability to write and in my ability to teach writing to my daughters. IEW put together a set of resources for members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. They included Teaching with Games Set , Timeline of Classics , and A Word Write Now .  These items are not sold together but IEW gave me all three resources to use and review.   Teaching with Games Set Let’s talk about the DVD first. One of the things I love about IEW DVDs is the classical music that plays in the background when you view the menu. Is it wrong to confess that I left the DVD on menu mode for a while when I was home alone just to listen to the music? The DVD contains three discs: 2 DVDs and 1 CD_ROM.   Disc One covers Matching Card Games and “No-Prep” Games.  Disc Two includes Question Games, Math Facts Games, and “Make As You Teach” Games. The appendix is also available on Disc 2.  On Disc three you’ll find the

Random Five on Friday ~ October 23rd

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I feel like I haven’t done one of these in a really long time! I’ve been so crazy busy with the Crew and home schooling and well life really. 1. I’ve really been enjoying getting one book a month from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library but I’ve been so crazy that I still haven’t finished the book I checked out in September. According to my Kindle Fire I am about 50% of the way through the book. I’m reading Immortal Plague by Aiden James.  It’s very interesting but even though I am half way through it I still haven’t decided how I feel about it. I think I might have to blog about it when I finish it. 2. Speaking of books I also started re-reading the Harry Potter series. Having read through them all once and seen the movies several times it is really different reading them again knowing how the whole thing turns out. I’m still on book one, The Sorcerer's Stone. I’m enjoying all the little things in the book that never made it into the movie. I think my reading goal for 2016 will

Three More All Natural Products from Koru Naturals {Crew Review}

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Earlier this year I had the opportunity to review Koru Naturals . We loved the Emu Oil and the shampoo and conditioner so the girls and I were excited to try Skin Clear Cream , Manuka Honey Propolis Soap , and Argan Oil and Sandalwood Hair Tonic . Everyone assigned to this review received the cream and the soap. We had a variety to choose from for a third product. It was so hard to decide!! About Koru Naturals The name, Koru, comes from the Maori word for loop. It is the shape of the new unfurling fern frond and symbolizes new life, growth, strength, and peace. Koru Naturals imports products from New Zealand. Koru asks that all of their suppliers to certify that the products are never tested on animals. For more information about the history of Koru Naturals or for more information on the brands they carry visit Koru Naturals. Argan Oil and Sandalwood Hair Tonic This hair tonic will nurture your dry hair, tame frizzy hair and add luster so hair isn’t so dull looking. It’s a ble