It's New Year's EVE!!!

Where or where did the time go? So after the Christmas holiday, apparently I have been in a whirlwind not realizing just how close we were to the end of the year. Well, as you know... we are here! We are at the end of the 2011 road and I couldn't be happier.  


I love new beginnings, well almost - I love the New Year... a chance to get it right and do things new for the next year. I am excited about the possibilities of what 2012 will bring for my family and myself. Life is good so I can't complain - I know 2012 will just be even BETTER!

With that said - I wish you and yours a Happy and Safe New Years. Here is a printable I found at Paperandpigtailsparty.com that I know you will love. Enjoy and God bless you all! See you next year 


Get your printable HERE


By the way - I find teaching moments in EVERYTHING I do with my family. Here is a cute little worksheet you can download and have your little ones fill out or even just verbally discuss to put in their file for memories of 2012 from thirtyhandmadedays.com. Enjoy!

Snowflakes at Christmas Time

So with the cold weather we've been having in San Diego - the family and I took the opportunity to escape to the mountains and play in the snow.

We had an awesome time and enjoyed playing in the snow and truly having that winter experience. As I watched my kiddos play in the snow I really took the time to reflect on what we've been through this year and just how awesome God is. I have a wonderful family and because of His blessings, I am able to escape to the snow during the midweek just at a moments notice.  I love snowflakes at Christmas times and 2 years ago, I wasn't able to do so because I was a slave to my job and the time off was not allowed. The freedom and time I have with the family is priceless and even if I ever had to go back to corporate - I will make sure that I value every moment I have with my family and you should too.


With that said, we came back home and I was able to instantly create a lesson plan that helped my 2nd/3rd grader grasp the concepts of seasons, weather, snow and the various snowflakes.


Here's what we did...
We made paper snowflakes using this template I found from Yarn Owl. We then went over the various types of snowflakes that there are...here's a quick study . And finally we discussed our day in the snow, recapped on the type of snow, seasons and weather patterns as well as the water cycle and completed this worksheet from our National Geographic Guide (the books are amazing as well).


Next week will finalize our winter session with a nice journal and picture book of her snow day. See how easy it is? Our children can learn anywhere and any place. They soak up the information and more hands on it is, the more they retain. We will make it a yearly tradition for snowflakes at Christmas time,


I would love to hear about your daily learning activities. Comment below and share. Until next time - keep loving the family!

Free Thanksgiving printable party package

Many of us are getting prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday. I've been posting on facebook various things I am thankful for and will start Monday with my Random Acts of Kindness.

The girls and I are also working on the first thanksgiving history lessons and favorite recipes - so stay tune.

Today I share with you the wonderful printable package for your THANKSGIVING DECOR! It's so cute and free so get to decorating! Enjoy and don't forget to send us pictures of your spread and decor.

Free Thanksgiving printable party package Thanks Dimpleprints for sharing!

Homeschool Preschool - why or why not?

As my 3 year old gets older and turning the curve to being a 4 year old - which she considers a "big girl" - she keeps referring to her school. She keeps implying that she'll be ready to go to "big girl" school and when I tell her she already does work and homework at home...she says..."No mom, not school at home..I want to go to school at school". You get the jest of the conversation....

So here are my thoughts: even at the ripe age of 3 she's learning daily. She's counting, coloring, learning her shapes, colors, learning how to be  better listener, speaker as well as following directions. (we'll as best as an active 3 year old can). Recently we are working on the alphabet and spelling of her name as well as her writing skills. She is in school as far as I am concerned. Now officially, my oldest didn't go into preschool until she was 4 and the only reason we sent her is she had been the only child who hung around adults for so long she needed the social interaction of her peers. Even in her dance classes, she was placed with other kids due to her level so I felt it was instrumental that she get "socialized" - and preschool did just that.  With this second child however, and now that we are homeschooling the oldest, I am not sure if I see the need for preschool - in the traditional sense. Miss L (the 3year old) attends Sunday school frequently with children her age, has cousins whom she plays with her age (Miss J -my now 7 year old - didn't), attends dance classes, has play dates and playground buddies all the time. She isn't shy and really really has no qualms with making friends. So I'm thinking, homeschooling preschool at the age 4 will still be done. I'll place a little more focus on social activities for her where it's in a more "teacher" setting other than myself... but I think we are good. My question really lies with kindergarten....But I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I've got 2 years...


So what are your thoughts?  Will you or Do you already homeschool your preschooler or kindergartner? Why or why not? I would love to hear from you and your experiences as well as thoughts.

Extreme Couponing 101

Couponing 101 - How to coupon the right way and the sites I use

Many viewers of my facebook fan page and this site have asked me how they can get started couponing. Besides gathering coupons from your mail, the sunday paper, and the internet... you need to know what to do with the coupons once you have them. This quick video will show you some of the website I used when first starting and how to match them up with the sales from various stores.

Let me know if the video help you out any and any other couponing questions I can answer for you. Enjoy and Happy Couponing

DIY CRAFTS and Homeschooling

DIY CRAFTS and Homeschooling


Since we have transition into homeschooling, I have found my need for more do-it-yourself (DIY) crafts. I am constantly on the look out for more crafts for our art time as well as projects, and DIY gifts. I love them because it let's my creative juices flow all while engaging the kiddos. Plus 9/10 times I am creating the projects with items I have around the home. The freedom of a DIY craft also allows room for error - which is actually none. I can create whatever I want, however I want, even if it doesn't look like the picture. The picture serves as an idea creator, and a buster for me, not the absolute blueprint so I can tweek and change things as I so desire...even if it's by accident.


With that said, I would love to see pictures of the art work and projects you and your family have created. Send us a picture with some background on the project, how it came about, etc. and we'll post it here for you. Thanks in advance for sharing and don't forget to check out our facebook fan page for more delightful homeschooling tips, shopping and couponing tips, and much more for the benefit of your family.


Below is a picture of what I call my "Designer Pumpkin", I wish I could have my home designed in all white, with accents of black and another color... but hubby's not going for it with 2 young children...so I put my wish into my pumpkin. It's stylish and quite un-ordinary...which I LOVE! Enjoy and thanks in advance for showing us yours.

Toilet Paper Pumpkin - DYI Arts and Crafts

As you get to know me on this blog you will begin to understand that I am a very determined person. Once I get something in my mind and I am convinced that I want to - need to - do something. Come what may ...I am going to do it.  


Now with that said, I am not big on halloween but I LOVE the fall season and since homeschooling I have found many ways to merge the two. Today I am sharing with you my latest craft fixation. The Toilet Paper Pumpkin. This craft serves 3 purposes for me...#1 I put all those toilet paper rolls to use (you would not believe how much tissue my family goes thru) #2 Helps me satisfy my need to decorate for the fall season #3 serves as an art project and lesson on how pumpkins grow etc. for my homeschooling children. Pretty cool huh?


Here is the tutorial for the TOILET PAPER PUMPKIN. Thanks Frugal Girls for sharing! I'll be taking pictures and posting ours next week. ;-) If any one does this craft, feel free to share your results here on our facebook page. Happy Crafting!

It's SOOOO Cute!!!

Our first Day!

We belong to an awesome Charter School called THE LEARNING CHOICE. They have 4 different locations - La Mesa, Chula Vista, Scripps Ranch and Temecula. It is through them that we do our homeschool, get our curriculum and even have the ability for Miss. J to go on campus 1 day a week and get learning with other homeschool children. The Learning Choice has been great to us and we love them!  


About a week we had our welcome back to school picnic day! Dad had to work but the girls and I went and had a blast! check out the pictures. 

Thank you TLC! We had a blast. And if anyone wants to find out more about the school, don't hesitate to check out their website or call at 619-656-4220

Weekend treat: Hairblog

Ok... so like the title of this blog states: This is not your average homeschool (nor traditional blog for that matter), I like to cover everything that goes on in our lives. With that said, I save the really "mom" stuff for the weekends... so this post is strictly about me! 

From Chris Rocks' movie GOOD HAIR -
little girl getting a relaxer (please never do this to your kid)

I have been debating for quite some time the next direction I wanted to take with my hair. With the background decent of African American, White, Indian and Irish...my hair is not one dimensional. I am a mixed breed and if there is any indication of that..its in my hair, I have 3c, 4a, 4b type of hair - all in one head. One day one part of it can be extremely kinky, the other curly, the other straight as a whistle, and the other part just full of tangles... so I've always been on the quest for the "right" thing for me and my hair. For years I have been getting a relaxer - perm. What is that?  well... A relaxer is a type of lotion or cream generally used by people with afro textured hair, which makes hair less curly and also easier to straighten by chemically "relaxing" the natural curls. The active agent is usually a strong alkali, although some formulations are based on ammonium thioglycolate instead. (wikepedia)


Now, my hair can take a lot. I've put it through some changes and it always manages to come out on top but with the coming of age and having to do 2 other heads of hair, I knew the time for playing games with my hair was over. I was sick and tired of wasting hours of my day in the hair salon to put on the "creamy crack", and I couldn't get my hair to grow past a certain length. So... I put in some braids, sew in a weave (sorry...I like length) and was on the quest to grow out the relaxer and be all natural.


Yeah. About that... natural works great for my girls. I know exactly how to style, what to use, and the dos and donts. With my hair however, the transition phase of growing my relaxer out was not ideal. Actually I hated it! I thought before that my hair was unmanageable but that transition phase was NO JOKE. I loved the curls of my natural hair, but it was breaking off right at the point of where the perm was ending and the new growth began, and that's not cool. It took hours to wash and comb out, and even then I felt I just wasn't getting "through". I was tired and I knew I could not wear braids, weaves or even wigs for the rest of this process. I couldn't because its just not me. So I began my journey of searching and researching for the perfect solution for me.


After tons of research by both professionals, consumers, scientists  - I did a lot of interviewing, placing calls and outweighing the pros and cons. I found this out : The keratin treatment wasn't as harsh as the brazilian treatment nor a perm which has chemicals such as  such as sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide, or chemicals you'll find in curling perms like ammonium thioglycolate. The perm and its chemicals were stripping my hair down to nothing - no protein - no elasticity  - just a mere straight strand barely hanging on.  I also leaned that unlike a relaxer that stays on your hair permanently, the keratin treatment will eventually wear off - so if I didn't like it in 2-3 months I was free of it or I could repeat the process until all the perm had grown out but this was my solution to managing my hair while in transition. Now... this is not a process that will get your hair bone straight and I am ok with that. I like my natural curls - I just want to be able to manage them better.


With the keratin treatment, hair is straightened with the active ingredient keratin, a protein very like one of the components of human hair. Keratin works to "naturally" straighten the hair. Fans of the treatment claim that it actually strengthens the hair since keratin is so similar to hair's natural protein and over the course of treatments it will naturally get straighter and straighter. Furthermore, I like the treatments because they don't damage your hair like the relaxers or the Japanese straightening treatments. Instead, the added conditioning layer is protecting your hair for at least 6 weeks to 4 months, depending on your hair type, how often you wash your hair and the products you use. So far I love it and have yet to see anything but healthy, flowing hair that's smooth and frizz free.


For more information and research check out this info or you can contact the wonderful stylist at Shear Envy, who did my once unmanageable hair, at (619) 334-8448 www.shearenvysalonboutique.com.

One of the pictures before getting the treatment... has a little girl but if you look closer a lot of different textures going on in one head of hair and thick at the roots = 

unmanageable

This is combed out after braids...yikes! looks like a tumbleweed....now I really need the keratin treatment

 Finally , a healthy grade of hair...after the keratin treatment. and only 1.5 inch of perm to grow and cut off after previously cutting 3inches off.

Creative Science : Making lemons out of lemondae

Things are progressing very fast here with our homeschooling. So fast I can barely keep up with all the blogging, facebook updates and pictures. I am overdue. This week I will be posting some of the activities we have been doing over the past 2 weeks. Enjoy and share your idea/comments.... with that said...on to the lemonade!

I woke up to my little one (the preschooler) asking me to make lemonade for her. She literally woke me up with a bag of lemons. So with one eye open I said ok just to get her out of the room so I could steal 5 more minutes of sleep. But as that sleep never came, I began to think of our daily schedule and how science was on the to-do-list for the 2nd grader. And then a light bulb went off...




I was going to incorporate making lemonade into a science project. That way the 2nd grader still received her science lesson and the pre-k diva got her lemonade out of me all in 1 squirt. So... I did a bunch of research and decided to go with the science experiment of making lemonade and lemonade soda. The lesson involved learning about acids and bases, and through baking soda seeing how the 2 intermixed.


We founded the basis of this experiment from this site...http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/lemonade.html and we were on our way.

Little Miss L - Tasting a little bit of the lemon to make sure its just right..

Miss 2nd grade J squeezing her lemons to make the lemonade. She learned a lot about acid and bases that day

The final result after adding baking soda - the base. A nice bubbling surprise that needed Lots and Lots of sugar to taste good.

The First 3 Weeks of HOMESCHOOLING

            Well, we have made it to the 3rd week of our official homeschool and things are going really well. Miss J is doing awesome in her studies. She is surpassing her 2nd grade curriculum and embracing the 3rd grade material with such a jest for knowledge it's contagious. Even the little one - Missy Le - is what we'll call her ...is loving her preschool curriculum. She has all her colors down back and can visually recognize her numbers from 1-5 and is even beginning to write them all out. I'm a proud mother... 

Now... here's the DON'T JUDGE ME moment of  it all. I had to go into survival mode after the 1st week. The excitement and newness wore off. 

The reality of it all and how much work it is trying to running businesses from home, teach 2 children under the age of 8, maintain the house - keeping it clean, and stalked with food from couponing, and finding the time to pop alone....is draining! Yes I admit it... some days I am wiped out and even serve fast food for dinners, I'm taking showers at 11am - trying to sneak one in, it gets so busy some time. AND I found a new place to hide...my walk in closet. I hide there, say a long prayer, shed a tear or 2 or even sneak 5 seconds of sleep. Then I come out - and ta da! All is well (at least for the next 15 minutes). So with that said - I'm adjusting. 

I love spending more time with the family, I love seeing the girls really grow and thrive in their work but I am frequently reminded just how much I am sacrificing for the girls - for my family overall... and at the end of day....that's what keeps me going and I know I will be fine.