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Showing posts from 2016

Five Minute Friday: Crave

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Some friends of mine from the Homeschool Review Crew like to participate in the Five Minute Friday link up hosted by Heading Home.  The idea is to set a timer and write for 5 minutes. This week's word is "Crave". ************Start******************* The first thing I think of when I hear "crave" is food.  Food cravings. Craving is not just wanting but has the connotation of needing. When I can tell I am getting dehydrated I don't say that I crave water.  I say I need water.  But when I say someting like "I am craving Chex Mix" it is not just meeting a need such as hunger but meeting some type of psychological need? I've heard it said that craving specific foods may indicate that your body needs something that is in those foods. I don't know if that is true or not but I know that when I say I crave something it is more than just an intense "want".  I don't just want the Chex Mix.  I can't be sure that I need the Chex

Personalized Name Meaning Gifts from CrossTimber {Review}

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Christmas is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to be thinking about a special personalized gift for the loved ones on your list! Members of the Homeschool Review Crew have had the opportunity to choose from a variety of name meaning gifts including a Personalized Framed Plaque with Name Meaning and Bible Verse from CrossTimber . I want to share my experience with all of you. Before I could order, I had to choose. I was torn. We were given the opportunity to review ONE gift. How was I going to choose? I could not make up my mind. I started by emailing John at CrossTimber.  I shared with him that I was having a difficult time making up my mind. I have four daughters so I didn't want to pick one of them and not pick the others so I went in a different direction. I gave John my husband's name and my name. A couple's name plaque would be nice! My niece had gotten married only a few weeks before so I asked about her name and her new husband. Maybe I wo

George: Give me your attention!

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I am generally too wordy for a wordless post but I'll keep the words to a minimum! I present to you the lonely cat who demands attention.  Want to work?  Better give him attention first.  He's going to hold the computer hostage until you give him what he wants. Happy Mid-Week!

Internet Accountabilty from Accountable2You {Review}

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Today I want to tell you about a program that I wish I had years ago when my girls were just entering their teenage years.  As they began to be more independent with their school work and using the computer , I would have loved a program that created an atmosphere of building trust. Something that wouldn't necessary restrict their internet use so much that they felt constrained or couldn't do what they needed but one in which they knew mom would know what they've been viewing. Something that I could use to teach them responsibility for their actions and keep them accountable. Through the Homeschool Review Crew I have found that program.   Accountable2You is an internet accountability software application that you can install on your computer, iPad, KindleFire, or smart phone.  They offer 4 different plans: Individual Plan , Family Plan , Group Plan , and even a Small Business Plan . I chose the Family Plan. This program provides accountability but does not fil

Elementary Spanish from Middlebury Interactive Languages ~ a Crew Review

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If you are a long time reader of my blog, you might remember that Turtlegirl had the opportunity to use and review Middlebury Interactive Languages in the past.  She studied the 1st semester of High School French 1 during in her junior year and then we had the opportunity to take semester 2 in her senior year. Supergirl was a tiny bit jealous. She wanted her own online interactive course like her twin. This time around she got have her own course. But she didn't want French. If you know her, you know what her favorite language is! It should be no surprise that she picked Elementary Spanish 1 grades K-2 . Unlike the Middle School and High School courses which are sold as Semester 1, Semester 2, or Both, this level of Spanish is only available under the Both option and includes the full year of course work. Like the Middle School and High School courses Middlebury Interactive Languages offers options for With Teacher Support and Without Teacher Support.  Homeschool Review

My life is so much richer because of the Homeschool Review Crew!

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Once upon a time I was part of two "sister" email groups for home schooling. One of my friends from the group discovered this brand new "thing".  It was a group of bloggers who used homeschool curriculum and wrote reviews. That friend convinced another friend to join.  The 2nd friend talked to me all the time about the Crew.  She'd tell me about all these great products she got to try.  Not just home school products either but products for her! I let her talk me into joining the crew.  Best thing I ever did! So in June 2010 I became a crew member. I loved being part of the crew so much that I reapplied every single year since then.  Until fall of 2015 when I stepped up to be a Crew Leader! Why do I love the crew so much?   I would not have been able to give my children the depth and breadth of an education without the crew.  Computer Programing.  Logic.  Art.  Music.  Even Physical Fitness and Health.  How about an Animation Kit?  an Online Filmmakers Co

Freezer Cooking Made Easy with MyFreezEasy! {Review}

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I love to cook. I enjoy getting creative in the kitchen. But sometimes I am too tired and lately my family has been too busy. We were eating take out and frozen pizza way too often.  Many evenings I am just too worn out to stand and chop onions or brown hamburger even to make something as simple as sloppy joes or tacos. Just when I was reaching the breaking point wondering if I would ever serve my family a real home cooked dinner again, the Homeschool Review Crew had the opportunity to review MyFreezEasy .  Erin Chase rescued my family from fast food and frozen pizza with her MyFreezEasy.com Family Meal Plan Subscription . I had heard of Erin Chase before. I'd even seen mention of something about $5 Dinners but really didn't know anything about her or what she offers.  MyFreezEasy is her newest offering and I am in love! One complaint that I hear frequently about making meals ahead and freezing them is that the food often tastes overcooked. It's like eating reh

Five Minute Friday ~ Mail

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I am trying something brand new!  A friend of mine from the Homeschool Review Crew participates in a link up called Five Minute Friday.   The link up isn't new at all but it is fairly new to me and I've never joined in before.  The idea is that you write for minutes about a one word prompt.  This week's word is Mail!  Go! When I think of "mail" I suddenly hear Steve's voice singing "Mail Time!" I don't remember the words exactly and I'm refusing to go find it on Youtube. In this world of technology when almost everything is digital it is even more exciting to get a piece of real mail. I don't remember the last time I got a letter in the mail. I mean I got birthday cards for my birthday but a letter?  I don't know. These days "Mail Time" means packages. Around here it's usually a box from Amazon or another vendor with a review product for the Homeschool Review Crew. I love getting packages. The girls would g

Turtlegirl Morphs into a Cougar

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Well actually she became a freshman Coug!  This post is almost 2 months overdue so you'll just have to pretend that it is still mid-August and she just left . . . instead of the reality that is is early October and her mid-terms will be happening soon! This is more of a photo essay: Tailorbear needed to be distracted the weekend we were leaving and she didn't want to be home with her two sisters.  I love this picture of  two sisters saying good-bye! All loaded up and ready to go! I know it doesn't look like much.  She packed the bare minimum that she thought she needed.  Turns out she was too minimalistic though.  We had to send a HUGE box of forgotten items later. (And no she didn't need the toilet paper so we ended up bringing that back home with us!) Here she is keeping comfortable on the long long drive! On Move-In Day the University has volunteers with carts to help unload your vehicle. We were grateful for the cart and the elevator.  She lives

The Spousal Interview

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 A friend posted on facebook some questions to ask your spouse (or girlfriend/boyfriend).  I decided that since today was my birthday, I wanted Honeybear to indulge me and answer these questions. The rules are WITHOUT any prompting, ask your husband/ wife/ girlfriend/ boyfriend these questions and write down EXACTLY what they say. It's great and funny. The outcome can be hilarious... What is something I always say to you? Stop doing that I wish I could protest and say something like I never say that. What makes me happy? Diet Dr. Pepper Hmm I was hoping for something more profound but I guess he's right. What makes me sad? No Sanctuary He means when I complain about not having a place in the house I can go that is clean and peaceful. How old am I? 47? No but since that is younger, I'll take it! How tall am I? 5'4" What's my favorite thing to do? Swear at the computer Um no. (Do I really do it so much that it appears to be m

Beric The Briton ~ History Brought to Life {Crew Review}

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Do you love action? What about adventure? Do you like history?  Have you heard of Heirloom Audio Productions ? Heirloom Audio brings history to life with their radio theater adaptations of G.A. Henty novels. The latest adventure, Beric The Briton , has become a well loved CD here at my house! About Heirloom Audio Productions Heirloom Audio produces radio theater quality dramas. Each production is based on a G.A. Henty novel. These are not Henty novels read aloud. It isn't an audiobook; it is cinema for your ears.  These adaptations bring history to life by combining sound effects, music, and talented actors to voice the characters. Beric The Briton This is the story of a young chieftain named Beric who has an adventure that takes him to Rome during the reign of Nero in the time frame of Rome burning. Beric learns of Christus and the Christian faith.  He trains as a gladiator, fights a lion, serves Nero and becomes a Christian. Disk 1 of the 2 disk set, takes pl

It's Getting REAL!

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In just a few short days, Turtlegirl will be moving to her residence hall on campus on the other side of the state. I've been in denial for most of her senior year that she would go away to college. It's not that I am not thrilled for her.  I am!  I think she made a great choice for a school based on her interests and what she wants to study.  I think living on campus has huge benefits.  This is an exciting time for her. We've been gathering/collecting items over the summer and now we've started putting them all together.  Seeing all her stuff is a reminder that it's getting real.  She really is on the cusp of a new adventure. ** I wrote this several days ago but never posted it.  It is even more real tonight and the pile is much bigger!

Some Random Thoughts about Our Summer {So Far}

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When I think of summer I think of June, July, and August  Here we are nearly half way through August and I'm sitting here wondering why 2/3 of summer is gone. This has not been like the summers we've enjoyed in the past.  We've not had many sunny beautiful days though we've had a few perfect days where it is not too hot.  We've had only a couple of days where it was truly hot.  I'm not really complaining though.  I don't do well with the heat any more. So here are some Random Thoughts or Random Things that have happened. 1.  Turtlegirl graduated from High School.  I did actually manage to write about our second high school graduation. 2.  BooBear turned 21.  I now have a daughter old enough to drink. We went to Red Robin for her birthday and she ordered a Raspberry Margarita.  Grandma and I had Skinny Margaritas. I had mine on the rocks. 3.  Technically in Spring (so in early May) we had to replace the transmission in our van.  We prayed and de