Homemaking Organized Blog

Archive for September, 2011

Well fall is certainly in the air. We’ve had 40 degree weather in the AM around here. I wore a jacket to day {{{Gasp!!}}} and my mom has been turning on the heat…but that’s another issue.

This past Daddy day (what Peanut call’s daddy’s day off), after an early day in the homeschool room we headed out to pull down the tomato plants, cucumbers and beans and prepare for fall gardening. We piled up rich dirt in the yard and washed out pots for the next planting.

So what do we plant. Well I have my thoughts on Swiss Chard. I haven’t thought much beyond that. I’m supposed to be getting some Egyptian Walking Onions in the mail soon so I have to figure out where I want them to do their walking too.

But I digress because this is all about great link finds on the internet.

This week, in my search for what to do with my bunch of basil harvested when the tomato plants came down I landed upon this site called Life on the Balcony by Fern (I know another lady by the name of Fern too!). It’s a site all about container gardening in an apartment situation. While we’re not in an apartment we do container garden on a small balcony (neater, less buggy). Fern’s blog is award winning, offers practical tips to you can apply today (provided you have a few gardening implements on hand) and she is coming out with a small space container gardening book in 2012!!

So my Friday Link Love pick for the week is Life on the Balcony:

And some personal picks from the site are

• A great simple idea for growing some Kale at Life on the Balcony.
• 3 Ways to preserve your basil.(I picked number one)

This post is late. Yes it is. But better late than never.

Did you know that September is Family Prepardness month? I was reminded by a nice library poster this morning.

This is the month to get your emergency plans in order. Even though this post is late our preparedness is not. Just earlier this month we attended our umpteenth CPR and First Aid class. We have to renew ever two years as Foster Parents. They keep changing things so this is good.  It also reminds us to update our first aid kits which is a good place to start.

• When was the last time you updated your First Aid kit?
• Made an emergency exit plan(you know in case of fire)
• Updated your emergency contacts?
• Thought about what you would grab if you had 15 minutes to vacate the premises?

Better late than never.

Related articles

• Disaster Preparedness on a Budget (savings.com)

Honey this post is detailed, thorough and my hats off to Kathy at Kathy’s Chatz for posting it on Ask Anna’s blog.

Now even though this post is about cleaning the dryer initially Kathy takes her dryer apart to make sure things are hunky dory. My dryer is not in need of dimantling (that I know of) and if I did have something go wrong with it I would yell , “Hey honey??!!!”" but just in case I was feeling extra DIY-ish the inspirational pictures of workbench and toolbox (I DO need one of those) would have me feeling comfortable tackling this task.

So without further ado..

Cleaning Your Dryer:  In a guest post from Kathy Chatz on Ask Anna Kathy shows how to get your dryer sparkly again.

Sheila Walsh is excited to announce her new series for little girls and she is celebrating Gabby’s arrival with a fun KINDLE Giveaway and an Angel FB party on October 4th!

Meet Gabby for yourself here. Help Sheila introduce Gabby – be sure to check out her video trailer promotion here!

In Gabby, God’s Little Angel, Gigi fans will fall in love with Gabby and learn about God’s love and provision and a little about His invisible creation, the angels.

Read what people are saying here.

Enter today – Sheila and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have put together an “Angel” prize package worth over $150.00!

One lucky winner will receive:

• A brand new KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• Gabby, God’s Little Angel

But wait! There’s more …

On October 4th join Sheila at her Author Page on FB for the Gabby, God’s Little Angel Party! She will announce the winner of the KINDLE, host a chat and give away a ton of fun products from the Gigi and Gabby line! RSVP today and then be sure to stop by on October 4th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).

 

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she’s giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh…romantic.

Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews – Library Journal said, “A well-written historical series debut…”. Read more reviews hereand read my own review here.

Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest –

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn’s Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn’s Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don’t worry if you haven’t read the book yet – you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She’ll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

Are you finding homeschooling difficult? Getting stressed? Overburdened? Ready to throw in the towel? Before you do read this newsletter message from Gena at the Old Schoolhouse Magazine The Uncomplicated Homeschooler

Free samples are great for popping in purses and travel bags. You can carry along a one use size of your favorite product or a new product to try and be ready for most any emergency. Free samples of baby products have saved many a catastrophe. Searching for the place to find good product samples?

Find new free samples and some old favorites at My Savings. These include international samples.

Some current samples include…

• Braggs
• Free Jolly Time Popcorn sample
• Crest 3D Whitestrips

 

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored blog post.

 

Fairer Than Morning, a Book Review

The Book: Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann’s dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker’s apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann’s compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann’s father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

The Author: Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocated so often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. With the help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University, where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as a schoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. She lives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches in children’s ministry.

My Thoughts:

I jumped at the chance to review Fairer Than Morning by author Rosslyn Elliott for Litfuse because…

a) I like to read.

b) It was based on a real family

c) It is a Christian book

d) It is historical.

And not in that order.

Having read my share of Christian fiction books I had not yet heard of author Rosslyn Elliot nor this title and maybe that’s because she was new on the scene. Go figure. But that has changed. Rosslyn Elliot will surely make her mark with Christian readers with this great historical read.

Showing the power of forgiveness and how God can heal a crippled soul.

Fairer Than Morning is a great read. Full of details that have you picturing a Dicken’s novel (as one reviewer put it) the fact that it is based on a historical family makes it that much more.

The story of an indentured slave helping out in the underground railroad is not one that I would generally pull off the shelf (too close to home) but I’m glad I did choose to read it.

I found myself not wanting to put the book down and pouting when it ended all too soon.  I’m hoping it is a series.

I don’t like to give too much away about books. If you read the synopsis above and the first chapter below you can get a feel for if Fairer Than Morning is a read for you as it was for me. And now off to give my Mother the book who has been patiently waiting.

You can read the opening scene of Fairer Than Morning here on Rosslyn’s website.

 

 

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My daughter LOVES craft kits. I suppose I fed that love years ago with a craft kit subscription. Well Kid’s Activities Blog is holding a Green Kids Craft Kit Subscription giveaway.

“Well what are these Green Kids Craft Kits anyway!” you ask.

Each Green Craft Kit is…

• kid-friendly, earth-friendly, and safe
• You receive 3 different craft kits once a month – that’s a lot of sustainable crafting!
• Each kit includes everything needed to complete the craft (you just supply glue, markers, and/or scissors)
• Every month will feature unique, multicultural crafts to enrich and entertain your creative child
• Great gifts for eco-conscious parents
• Customize your kits to reflect the holidays and cultures that you wish to celebrate

“What kinds of crafts will my child receive?”…

Some examples are

• canvas puppets
• worry dolls
• lizard puzzle
• airplane
• train whistle
• owl mask

and so on.

I tell you craft kits are FABULOUS gifts for busy kids and ultra busy parents. I’ve gone through my share of craft kits and when you find a good one they are worth every penny! They keep your busy child busy at something they can usually do with minimal input from you (so get that laptop out and start posting) and your child is being creative. Craft kit’s have inspired my peanut to some great things. Her grandmother currently holds the copyright to all photos and details so sorry about that. But back to Green Craft Kit. Go, shoo! Enter the giveaway busy mom!

 

Ends Monday September 12th (I think).

 

With first grade well under way I had to come up with a homeschool schedule that would fit in all the new subjects (Science, Spelling, and Handwriting) while allowing Mommy (that’s me) time to breathe (Well that’s what it felt like.) and take care of regular household chores as well as whatever.

Back in the day (last year) the nice kindergarten homeschool schedule allowed me to get much done in the day along with kindergarten class and running an errand or two. Now I have to be smart about my time, organized and scheduled.

So I came up with a schedule (along with the help of Bob Jones) that seems to work well and allow for breaks.

So here is our 2011 First Grade Homeschool daily schedule…

9:00 – Breakfast (I’ve already been up and seen to a few things)

10:00 – Math

10:30 – Break

11:00 – English and Phonics

12:00 – Lunch / Break

1:00 -  Science

1:30 – Spelling

2:00 – School day ends

Free time, Outdoors, Gardening, errands etc.

Now I won’t say it works perfectly every day. Some days we get started late, there are worksheets to complete between each class and so forth but if I with the breaks and knowing that AT LEAST by 3pm we should be finished with the school day that keeps me happy.

Last Year (Kindergarten)

Our Schedule looked like this….

Wake up (you know pray, workout etc)

Dwadle (surf, blab on the phone, snuggle Peanut who was groggy)

Breakfast (pull something together)

Make beds

Start school (By the time school started we were actually organized believe it or not but we took so long to get there. School was only about an hour and 45 minutes too.)

Barrel through (it was three classes, Heritage Studies, Math, and English Skills) be done by the latest 1pm

Play time!

 

This year I knew I would have to be much more organized in work and in home. I take this homeschooling stuff seriously (now that they mailed some tests along with the package). Some steps I’ve been taking that help to keep things together.

Meal Planning – I waffle on this so bad because I really like to cook and experiment AND I like to do it at the drop of a hat. My experimenting now has to be planned. You can find out more about meal planning on the main site.

Work – Knowing that I don’t have all day to write and play around with new planner templates means stuff is getting done slower and in a time slot (like now). I have to make myself okay with that. Peanut’s education is first.

Me Time – I get up earlier and have added in a quick workout and some work time. I go to bed earlier and have some time with the Lord before heading for bed.

Housework -  Except for beds and laundry anything else I want to do has to be done after school.

Errands – Errands are run before school unless hubby is around and can take over the schooling (Wednesday). Trying to do them after means I’m rushing and I actually don’t like being out and about in high traffic. I prefer the lull of the morning. It means school on those days is moved down an hour or so. The beauty of homeschooling.

Friends – I’m so sorry but my friends like to call during the day so I haven’t been answering the phone and have been apologizing profusely. Hey there’s still evenings and weekends.

 

Do you have a homeschool schedule? Tell me about it.