The Happy Housewife (Full Feed)

Are You A Multitasking Mom?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:30:17 GMT

Disclosure: I’m partnering with VTech to spread the word about their awesome cordless phone. All opinions and phone bills are my own.

I talk on the phone a lot. It’s how I stay connected with my family, friends, and most of my work involves phone calls. One of the things I love about talking on the phone is that as a mom you can do a bunch of other things while you are on the phone.

Now I know that people say multitasking is a myth, but everyone knows you can change a diaper, take out the trash, unload the dishwasher, make dinner, wipe noses, fold laundry, and mop a floor while you are on the phone.

In fact, if I couldn’t do those things I wouldn’t have time to talk to people because there is just too much that needs to get done each day around here.

Last week I received a VTech CS6859 cordless phone to try. I was excited because our current cordless phone no longer keeps a charge. If it isn’t on the charging station for most of the day and night you don’t have a phone.

I love the VTech CS6859′s sleek design and the fact it can be mounted on the wall. I plan on mounting it as soon as my kitchen is finished. It also has a base speakerphone which is awesome because my kids NEVER remember to return the phone to the base. And if I’m being honest, I rarely remember to do that either!

It also has caller ID which is a must in my house. Apparently when we moved we were given the number of some guy who hasn’t paid a bill in his entire life so our phone rings all day! With caller ID I can screen calls and don’t need to talk to people looking for the guy who use to have our number.

It also has an ECO mode which reserves energy making the battery last longer, and in my house with nine people we need it!

The signal is very clear even on the speakerphone which is a big plus for me since the phone is in the kitchen where I spend most of my day.

The phone is also reasonably priced at only $40 at Walmart and is expandable for up to 5 handsets.

Phones are one of those things that you don’t really think about until yours doesn’t work well anymore. The VTech CS6859 is a great phone for my active family.

You can win a VTech CS6859 phone for your family by entering my giveaway! Just leave a comment sharing what you are most likely to multitask when you are on the phone. For me it is definitely dishes!

Giveaway ends June 22, 2013.

Comments

I definitely talk on the phone while doing dishes and laundry. ... by Christie P
Mostly making meals and snacks…people just seem to like to ... by Kristy B
When I am gabbing on the phone, I am probably also ... by Lisa- The Domestic Life Stylist
I'm usually on the computer – working, paying bills, looking ... by Tamora
usually something on the computer! by Amy P
Plus 5 more...

Fun with Eric Carle

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:49 GMT

Next week is Eric Carle’s birthday and we want to acknowledge that here at The Happy Housewife. Last week, we shared The Very Hungry Caterpillar Worksheets for your preschool to kindergarten aged children. Today I have a roundup of links that will give you more information about Eric Carle as well as activity ideas.

Eric Carle FAQ - Have you ever wondered these things about Eric Carle: Which comes first, the story or the pictures? What’s his favorite color? Why does the butterfly come out of a cocoon, not a chrysalis? All these questions and more are answered on this page.

Eric Carle’s Collage Making Instructions – A printable sheet of instructions to help you and your kids make collages like Eric Carle.

Coloring Pages – Pring coloring pages to go along with Very Hungry Caterpillar, Seahorse, and Very Busy Spider.

Book List - A list of all the books by Eric Carle along with their cover images, the year published, and languages it is available in.

Printables – Printable worksheets from Eric Carl, such as mazes and matching.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activity Booklet – A booklet written for teachers that includes lesson plans and activities.

Eric Carle Activity Pages – Printable coloring and activity pages from Random House Kids.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Kinderblogger has a roundup of links to activities (mostly printables) centered around The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The Grouchy Ladybug Activities – This page includes instructions and links for an number of activities related to The Grouchy Ladybug.

Eric Carle Tissue Collage – Learn how to make a tissue paper collage.

Time Management for Families eBook Bundle of the Week

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:41:46 GMT

This week’s Time Management for Families eBook Bundle is packed full of tools to help you make the most of the 24 hours you are given each day.

Grab all 5 eBooks for only $7.40 (almost 60% savings!) and treat yourself to some great go-to resources for creating schedules and routines, the importance of rest, strategies to help you be on time and more!

Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews

Tell Your Time: How To Manage Your Schedule So You Can Live Free outlines Amy’s straightforward, step-by-step approach to controlling your schedule and ensuring the important things don’t fall through the cracks. It’s short and to the point with no fluff or filler. This little ebook will help you accomplish not only what’s on your to-do list today, but what’s on your to-do list for life.

Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Daniele Evans

In a culture where many of us are simply moving too fast and pausing less often for a break, for time off or for intentional rest, Daniele offers a better way. Honoring the Rhythm of Rest will encourage and equip you to understand the meaning of true rest; to ask of yourself ,”Am I living intense, or intentional?”; to counteract the myth of doing it all; to consider 3 intentional ways to practice rest; and to journey back from burnout!

28 Days to Timeliness by Davonne Parks

Two years ago, Davonne began working on becoming more timely, and she decided then that if she could ever figure out how to be on time, she’d write a book about it. Throughout her journey, she discovered what makes some people late, tips and tricks other people use to be on time and how to enjoy freedom and spontaneity within boundaries as she made significant progress in her own life. In 28 Days to Timeliness, she shares 28 short, easy-to-read segments that take just a few minutes to go over each day with a practical course of action to help you be on time.

Creating a Schedule That Works by Marlene Griffith

In Creating a Schedule That Works, Marlene offers you the tools to help you create and implement a schedule that works for you and your life. Her simple, straight-forward approach shows you how to break your day into bite-sized pieces by scheduling four blocks of time in your day to help you meet the demands of your day-to-day life.

The Homemaker’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy Roberts

With plenty of charts, printables, examples and links, The Homemaker’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule includes step-by-step instructions for creating the perfect homemaking schedule as well as a bonus section on creating the perfect homeschooling schedule. Amy shows you how to work with your unique family dynamics, how to make a schedule stick, how to delegate chores and more!

Purchase all of these Time Management for Families eBooks bundled together here.

Comments

I usually talk on the phone when I am loading the dishwasher. by Kathy

A Day at the Beach, Even in the Midwest

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:18 GMT

by contributing writer Tabitha

I grew up in southern California where the beach was just a very short drive away. It even seemed overkill that every single party, activity, and outing seemed to be at one of the many beaches close to my home. I think I took it for granted. So, now what?

There are many great things to learn about the beach, but for the majority of us, a picturesque oceanfront coastline is not accessible. So, when it comes to the end of our unit study about the ocean (or lakes, or water) or when we want to have that summer themed homeschooling party, what’s a family to do?

How can we have a day at the beach, even in the Midwest?

Travel

You can always make it a travel destination. Hawaii, California, and Florida are all great family vacations. Although it can be pricey, it’s still doable and would make great memories. There are even some great deals to be found, especially off season.

Local

Many of us live near lakes, rivers, ponds or streams. While a lot smaller in size than the ocean, it is a lot of fun to find a local water source and imagine the larger when experiencing the smaller.

Some of the benefits include shorter travel time, learning local plant and animal life, and fewer crowds. This can also be a learning opportunity in conservation. However, don’t forget water safety no matter how shallow the water.

Man Made

There are wonderful water parks in many states throughout the country. We live near one ourselves, and while there isn’t a great deal to learn there about real beaches or biology, you can learn a lot about physics on different rides and attractions, as well as just have a great family day.

Another option is your local swimming pool or splash pad. This would also belong in the same theme of learning more about the actual water than about the plants, animals and ecosystems that exist at the beach (especially if this is an indoor pool or water park!)

Your Home

Some of the fun activities we’ve done as a family include sprinklers in the back yard, making our own model beach (ok, it was a mud puddle), or watching movies that involved lots of beach time and surfing. (Lilo and Stitch comes to mind.)

Other ideas my children have had include making artwork of the beach, building sand castles in the backyard, watching Shark Week on the television (now we don’t want to go to the beach anymore), or visiting an aquarium.

Whatever you choose to do to have a beach memory with your family, be safe, keep it fun, and always, always, always, learn together.

Cleaning the Toilet with Scotch-Brite

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:38 GMT

Can we just be honest for a second? Does anyone really like cleaning the toilet? I do not. Since I have three boys, cleaning toilets is a frequent chore around my house.

This summer I’m working with Scotch-Brite to share with you some of their awesome cleaning products. I figured I would start with my least favorite thing to clean, toilets!

Let’s start with the bowl, because in a house with three boys this is actually the cleanest part of the toilet. I love the Scotch-Brite toilet bowl brush for a few reasons.

First it comes with a holder. Personally, I prefer to have a toilet brush next to every toilet. It makes for easy cleaning and you don’t have to carry a wet and dripping brush that just came out of your toilet through your house. But if you don’t have room for a brush in every bathroom, the holder allows you to carry the brush without dripping toilet water on the floor.

Second it has bristles. Whoever thought you could clean the toilet with a sponge did not live with my family. We need nice bristles that point in all sorts of directions to thoroughly clean around the bowl and under the rim. The Scotch-Brite toilet bowl brush has nice firm bristles that can get to all those hard to reach places.

Do you know how nervous I was taking a picture over the toilet? Seriously, I’ve dropped my phone in the toilet twice in the past 3 years!

Oh, and for those little boys with really bad aim, Scotch-Brite makes a great grout cleaning tool that works great around the base of the toilet!

So here’s a few toilet cleaning tips and a giveaway for you.

Toilet Cleaning Tips

Once a day quickly brush the toilet bowl. This should be easy to remember because your brush is right next to the toilet. I know everyone goes in there at least once a day. You don’t even have to use any cleaner. A quick swish with the brush will keep it cleaner longer.
Once a day have the people who miss the toilet bowl the most (aka the boys) wipe down the seat. You can have them use a baby wipe, a cleaner wipe, or a paper towel. But daily wiping makes a huge difference.

Giveaway

How do you keep your toilets clean? Share your tip in the comments and you’ll be entered to win a Scotch-Brite prize pack! Your tips could be featured on the Scotch-Brite webpage!

Giveaway ends June 24, 2013.

I’m working with Scotch-Brite to promote their cleaning products. All opinions and messy toilets are my own.

Comments

I use a brush and comet to scrub and cleaner wipes to wipe. by Amy P
I try to clean it weekly. That's my great tip…I need more ... by rachel
I have found that applying baking soda in, on and around the ... by andrea gregg
My tip to keeping toilets clean is a every other day scrub with ... by Heather R
When my 4 boys were all living at home I wiped down the toilet ... by Sue D
Plus 5 more...

The ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:05:08 GMT

I’m excited to be teaming up with my friends Jamerill, Jenn, Tricia, and Stacie to bring you the ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party.

If you are a blogger this is a great way to share your content, increase your followers, and have your pins repinned! If you are NOT a blogger this is a great party to find the BEST homeschool ideas, resources, projects, and more!

Here’s how it works.

This linky will start every Friday at midnight and will remain open all week.

Choose one or all of the following:

Link up your main Pinterest account {personal profile}
Link up to 3 of your top homeschool Pinterest pins
Link up 1 of your top homeschool boards

PLEASE do the following:

Please PIN this post! It’ll help spread the word about this new party!
Follow others who are linking up in the party on Pinterest.
PIN at least 5 pins from this list {of course you can pin more!}

What will you receive?

You will receive new Pinterest followers.
Your pins will be repinned and shared by a large homeschool audience.
Find new and exciting homeschool content!
Weekly you have a chance to have your pin featured in the following weeks link-up. Each week I’ll pick 3-5 pins to highlight.

There were lots of great boards last week, but here are two of my favorites!

Art pinboard from All Boy Homeschool.

Everything Homeschool pinboard from The Chaos and the Clutter.

Now it’s time for you to link up your Pinterest boards! I can’t wait to see them all!

Free and Fun Family Activities in Your Local Area 6/14 – 6/16

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:19:35 GMT

Each week I’ll post links with fun and inexpensive (or free) things to do in your local area.

Local Activities

Atlanta, Georgia (Metro area)
Buffalo and surrounding areas, NY
Chicago, IL (West)
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, GA, Fort Benning, GA & Phenix City, AL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
East Valley-Phoenix Area, AZ
Fort Worth, TX
Hagerstown, Maryland
Harrisburg & West Shore, PA
Houston, TX (North)
Houston, TX
LaGrange, Westpoint, Hogansville, Pine Mountain, Warm Springs, GA
Lebanon, PA
Madison, WI
Memphis, TN (East Memphis)
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
North Shore MA, NH seacoast and southern ME
Northeast Ohio
Omaha, NE
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA & Portland, OR (Northwest)
Syracuse, NY
Wichita Falls, TX

If you are a blogger who posts a local round-up of family activities, then feel free to fill out this form to be considered for future posts.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Worksheets: Free Printables

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:19 GMT

by contributing writer Lauren

Enjoy this month’s printable set based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle! This packet is geared towards Preschool – Early Kindergarten, focusing on beginning sounds, scissor skills, simple addition, and matching.

In this 4-page printable set, you’ll find:

Caterpillar Matching – Match each item in the left-hand column with its match in the row
Scissor Skills – Use scissors to match each item
Caterpillar Simple Addition – Follow the pear path, where each equation builds on the next; uses simple addition
Caterpillar Writing Practice – Determine the beginning sound of each picture; includes handwriting

Visit Mama’s Learning Corner for The Very Hungry Caterpillar Match Game.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Printables
Hungry Caterpillar Printables June 2013.pdf

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More Worksheets from Lauren

My Sleep Number Bed Experience

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:13 GMT

I’m not sure how many of you know this, but in 2006 I had surgery to remove two ruptured discs from my lower back. I slipped on ice in a parking lot and spent seven months is constant pain before they figured out I had ruptured two discs.

After my back surgery I was cured immediately from my disc pain, but I still suffered from a sore back. My orthopedic surgeon said I had arthritis in my back and would probably experience lower back pain for the rest of my life.

One thing that would always trigger my pain was sleeping on a “bad bed.” I became very picky about where I could sleep because sleeping on the wrong mattress could mean I would wake up unable to stand up straight.

Last year in the middle of our move I was contacted by the folks at Sleep Number and asked if I wanted to try one of their beds. Since I consider myself a bed snob I was interested, but I wasn’t sure I would like a mattress filled with air.

My journey started with a trip to the Sleep Number Store. If you live near a mall or a shopping center I’m sure you’ve walked by one of their stores. If you are thinking about buying a Sleep Number bed, do not skip this step!

I was greeted at the store by a lovely sales lady who proceeded to explain all the different types of beds and technology available. This was all interesting, but the best part of visiting the store is trying out the beds. This is why you cannot skip this step. A few years ago I stayed in a hotel with a Sleep Number bed, but because I didn’t understand how to find my number I did not have a good night sleep.

The folks at the store will explain exactly how you find the right number, and also help you figure out what bed is best for your needs. We ended up with the m9 bed which is part of their memory foam series.

Here’s what’s great about this bed.

Dual Settings

You like a firmer mattress but your spouse likes a softer mattress. No problem, each side is fully adjustable to your preferences.

Uses Regular Sheets

While they do sell sheets at the store you can use your regular sheets on this bed. Since you are spending a decent amount of money on a mattress it is nice to know you can save by using sheets you already own.

Temperature Balancing Sleep Surface

This is a huge deal. If you are a “hot” sleeper then some memory foam can make you even hotter when you sleep. Not with the m9 temperature balance technology. Temperature balancing sleep surface is designed to absorb excess heat that can disrupt sleep.

Dual Remotes

Let’s be honest, who likes to share the remote control?

A Great Night’s Sleep

I’ve made almost everyone who has stayed at my house sleep in this bed. I wanted people young and old to try out the m9. My daughter came home from college with a sore neck (cheap dorm mattresses). After a few nights in the bed her neck pain was completely gone.

The only complaint we’ve received is that the bed is too high for my husband’s 90 year old grandmother. This can be easily remedied by removing the risers and letting the bed sit on the floor.

Now, I realize that I talk often about saving money and finding ways to cut costs. I do not think you should cut costs when it comes to sleep. Most nights I find myself coming up short on sleep, so I want to make sure that the sleep I do get is the best possible.

If I wake up with a sore back or general aches and pains from sleeping on a bad bed my productivity for the day will be terrible. We’ve always invested in good mattresses for our family because we know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep.

If you have been thinking about a Sleep Number Bed visit your local store. The sales people are very helpful, and not too sales-y. I highly recommend trying the m9. I would also sign up for their mailing list. They are always running great specials so why pay full price when you can shop the sales?

Sleep Number gave me the m9 to review for this post. All opinions and sleep numbers are my own.

Comments

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7568706048/hD2A08B2C/ by Mary
I am happy for you that you like your bed. My husband & I ... by Sara
I was skeptical, not sure I'd like it either…went to store. ... by Wendy M
Thanks, really appreciate this review. I have arthritis and ... by Natalie
We LOVE our sleep number bed! Our queen adjusts the head and ... by Karen

Overcoming Perfectionism to Get Stuff Done

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:59 GMT

The following is a guest post from Casey Slide.

Last week I found myself with a few extra minutes, so I thought I’d use the time wisely and clean the spare bathroom. I gathered my supplies, put my hair up in a ponytail, and checked on the napping baby to make sure he wasn’t stirring. All systems go – or so I thought.

As I walked into the bathroom, I took a quick survey of all that needed to be done, and realized I just didn’t have enough time or energy to get the job done perfectly. So rather than dig in and find my strength, I bailed.

It wasn’t that I was procrastinating, and it wasn’t that I was incapable. Somehow, though, I’d instantly determined that the job couldn’t be done to my standards, and it would therefore be a wasted effort.

I admit it: I am a perfectionist. And because of that, far too many things in my life go undone.

Overcoming Perfectionism

I’m not alone. Too many women are hindered by their perfectionism, especially when it comes to keeping a home, which many of us believe defines who we are as women, moms, and spouses.

If our house isn’t tiptop, we must not be either. And ironically, it’s the idea of being the absolute best at taking care of our homes, our children, and our work that can keep us from accomplishing those very things.

So how can a perfectionist get past the idea of being perfect and simply get something done?

1. Get Real

Whenever I’m on the verge of freaking out because something isn’t perfect, I stop, take a deep breath, and order myself to get real. I zoom out from the task I’m performing, and get a scope of the big picture instead of obsessing over that one thing I could be doing better.

If you’ve tackled a task – whether it’s cleaning the bathroom, cooking a meal, or donating old clothes to Goodwill – simply pat yourself on the back. It’s done, you did it, and that’s enough.

2. Understand the “Why” Behind Your Actions

In addition to having a mantra like “get real,” it’s helpful to ask yourself the reason you’re doing something. Is this job going to have a profound effect on you and your loved ones? Is it about keeping up appearances, like having a perfectly manicured lawn? Or is it for your own self-satisfaction like, for instance, warming yourself with a quilt you made by hand?

Having a grasp on why you’re anxious about getting motivated can be the best motivation of all.

3. Decide Which Things Do Need to Be Perfect

Sometimes it really does feel good to complete a task to the best of your abilities. It’s good for you to feel both a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Perfectionists, though, take on too much of a burden by insisting that everything be mistake proof.

Instead, pick the one or two tasks most important to you. Focus on perfecting those skills, and then lighten up about the rest, accepting that they simply can’t be perfect. Without that self-imposed responsibility, you can approach them much more casually.

4. Prioritize

After you’ve decided what needs to be perfect in order to feel a sense of balance in your life, take the time to put everything else in order. Talk to your spouse and your children for their take on what matters most to them, and write out a list ranking your priorities.

Once you have a structure for allocating your energy, you can spend less time thinking about all those responsibilities lingering down the road and simply focus on what’s coming up next.

5. Set Time Limits

When you make that list of priorities, designate in advance how long you plan to spend on each task. When it’s in black and white, it’s easier to restrain yourself from spending a ridiculous amount of time on that tiny aspect of a task that stands no chance of improving.

Download a chore chart from the Web if you need help organizing, and, most importantly, stick to your time limits. Your chore chart can be helpful with the kids as well, if you happen to have passed down that perfectionist gene.

6. Don’t Overschedule

Are you a Yes Girl? Perfectionism takes many forms, and the inability to say no to any potential commitment gets me every time. Can you serve on three committees at both of your kids’ schools? Sure. Can you bring a homemade dessert to the bake sale and a main dish to the teacher appreciation luncheon? Of course.

This kind of attitude can stretch you so thin, and ratchet up your stress level so high, you’re likely to snap. The simplest advice is, learn to say no. Don’t be mean, just be honest. Practice it, and then practice it some more, until you free yourself from commitment addiction and feel the power of your own life again.

7. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

In my mind, just about every mom appears to be the perfect mother – except me. That perfect mother gets everything done on time, her house is immaculate, and her kids are always on their best behavior. My house, on the other hand, looks like a tornado just twisted through it, dinner was overcooked, and my kids are throwing tantrums yet again.

When you feel like this, see number one above, and get real. How do you know those other moms don’t have help cleaning or taking care of their kids? Nobody is perfect, and if you could be a fly on the wall of that perfect mother’s home, you’d see that. Every mom struggles trying to be all things to all people. Tackle your own tasks, take care of your own kids, and stop worrying about what others are doing or thinking.

8. Seek Help

The saying is true: It takes a village to raise kids. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help before depression sets in. Offer to assist friends with errands, and they can do the same for you. Babysit for each other while you devote time to your projects. There’s power in numbers and in feeling the strength of a solid support network.

Consider hiring a housekeeper even once a month if it’s in your budget. Or if it’s cooking that nightly dinner that overwhelms you, start a sandwich night or weekly pizza party. Trust me, the kids are going to be just fine with that.

9. Realize It’s Not All or Nothing

Anything worth doing takes time. If you’re redecorating a room and you’re not getting it “perfect,” remind yourself that accomplishing tasks is not do-or-die. It’s okay to do something partway and then finish it later.

Often, taking that break can help put things in perspective and give you fresh ideas you wouldn’t have thought of before because you were frustrated or overwhelmed. Take a step back, flip through a magazine, go for a run, and reassess. And if you happen to abandon your project completely, accept that it’s for a reason and that life goes on.

Final Word

The first step to not feeling stifled by your own intentions is to give yourself a break and take some credit for what you do every day. Appreciating your accomplishments can help put things in perspective and get you to put one foot in front of the other instead of trying to jump straight to the finish line.

Make lists, plan ahead, and just breathe from time to time, and you’re going to be checking off more tasks than you ever thought you could.

How do you overcome perfectionism and procrastination?

Casey Slide is a stay-at-home mom and writer for the popular personal finance blog, Money Crashers. She writes about topics related to budgeting, lifestyle, and green living.

I’m Speaking in Philadelphia!

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:58 GMT

Do you live in the Philadelphia area? If so, please join me at the Teach Them Diligently Marketplace in a few weeks.

I’m pretty excited, okay – I’m really, really excited because I’ll be speaking at the Marketplace on some of my favorite topics.

If you are thinking about homeschooling, already homeschooling, or maybe your children are homeschooling you don’t want to miss it. Not only will there be great sessions from Ken Ham, Hal and Melanie Young, and Carol Barnier you can also shop the curriculum centers and find the best prices on books you need for next year.

Want to learn how to Be a Yes Mom? I’ll be sharing how I stopped being a supermom and started being a “yes mom” at 1:10pm. Need help fitting meals into your already busy homeschool schedule? I’ll be sharing my secrets to getting dinner on the table without losing your mind or your wallet at 4:40pm. Got average kids? I do, so I’ll be sharing ideas and practical tips for homeschooling the child who will never win a spelling bee or ace the SAT at 8:10pm.

The best part? It will only cost you $15. Seriously. When was the last time you paid $15 to go to a homeschool convention? With your $15 you’ll receive a $10 off coupon for any purchase of $100 or more in the Marketplace. This is a deal you can’t pass up!

If you don’t live in the Philadelphia area don’t worry, there are eight other locations across the US. You can find all the Marketplace locations here.

I hope to see you in Philadelphia! If you’ll be there send me an email and let me know so we can meet!

Learn more and register for the Philadelphia Marketplace here.

Comments

Just FYI – if you(or anyone) are spending the night in ... by Mindi
Sounds great…..I really need some inspiration. by Dido
What?!?!? You need to change your vacation dates. by Toni Anderson
No way – you will be exactly 14 minutes from my house on the ... by Mindi

Chili’s Free Flatbread Giveaway

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:13:53 GMT

Join the Chili’s free email club today and get a coupon for a free full-size flatbread, plus you’ll receive via email exclusive offers and updates! These delicious and crispy flatbreads come in three flavors: Chipotle Chicken, Margherita, and California Grilled Chicken. Try one today!

Scrabble, Connect 4, Twister Game Coupons

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:19 GMT

Games make great birthday gifts so stock your birthday closet with these great game coupons.

Save $3.00 on Twister, Operation, Scrabble, or Connect 4.

Even if you don’t have any birthdays coming up, surprise your kids with these great games and have a family game night!

Easy Caprese Salad

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:31 GMT

by contributing writer SnoWhite

A simple pasta salad with fresh garden taste is sure to be a hit at any potluck or summer BBQ!

Easy Caprese Salad

Ingredients

16 ounces pasta, small shape preferred
4-6 ounces fresh mozzarella balls
8 ounces fresh cherry tomatoes
3-4 basil leaves
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1/8 cup sugar
1 teaspoon minced onion
pinch of minced garlic
salt and pepper

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain and cool completely.
Slice cherry tomatoes in half, lengthwise.
Cut 3-4 basil leaves into small pieces.
In a large bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar, minced garlic, minced onion, and sugar.
Stir in the pasta.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Toss in cherry tomato halves, chopped basil leaves and fresh mozzarella balls.
Stir well.
Serve right away, or chill until ready to serve.

http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/easy-caprese-salad/

More recipes from SnoWhite

Find more delicious meal ideas at the The Happy Housewife Recipe Index.

Comments

Sounds yummy! I saw a great tip on the Rachael Ray show for ... by Jacque

What We Ate With Mickey: Free Kindle Download

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:53:51 GMT

Planning a trip to Disney World anytime soon or in the future? If so, you need to check out this eBook!

Disney vacations are known to be quite expensive, but you can actually get some great deals with a little planning and research! Food is one of the main factors of any vacation that the cost adds up quickly including a trip to Disney. Thankfully, ASlobComesClean.com has released all of her research and proof that you can have a variety of meal options on the Quick Service Plan in her ebook, What We Ate With Mickey (Everything Our Family of Five Ate On Disney’s Quick Service Dining Plan)! (Note: the Quick Service Plan is one of the cheaper options and is often included for free with stays at the value resorts!)

This eBook is a pictorial food diary of their 6 night/7 day Walt Disney World trip where you can see for yourself what an average family of five ate during their entire trip. She’s also included their thoughts on the food, how they sort-of-randomly-sort-of-not-randomly chose where they’d eat each day, and tips for a trip to Disney.

Today only, What We Ate with Mickey, is FREE on Amazon Kindle!

If you don’t have a Kindle, then you can still download these free eBooks to your smart phone or computer. All you need to do is download one of Amazon’s free reading apps.

Remember that Amazon prices fluctuate constantly, so verify the price before purchasing.

All You Magazine: $1 off Printable Coupon + Now Sold in More Stores

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:36:56 GMT

All You Magazine is a fantastic resource for recipes, home management tips, frugal living suggestions, and of course, lots of manufacturer coupons! More than enough to pay for each month’s copy!

Previously, you could only purchase the All You Magazine in stores at Walmart, but now they’ve expanded to a variety of stores based on the state! Check out where All You Magazines are sold in your area here.

Plus, print a coupon for $1 off your next in-store purchase here.

If you already know you love this magazine, then save some expense and hassle by clicking here to order a subscription to All You Magazine for only $1.67 an issue!

Summer School: Twitter Chat

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:00:16 GMT

School’s out for summer! Well for most of my kids it is. We wrapped things up last week and are now enjoying sleeping in, lazy days by the pool, and the occasional dinner of popcorn and smoothies.

Whether you school all year or take a summer break we’ll be talking about all the options on our Twitter chat today. It’s our last chat before I take a break for the summer so you don’t want to miss it!

This Week

Topic: Summer Fun

Date: June 12, 2013

Time: 3:00-3:30 pm EST

Hashtag: #homeschool

You can find downloadable transcripts of all the homeschool twitter chats here.

10 Household Items That Make Great Toys

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:58 GMT

by contributing writer Kristen

Have you ever attended a child’s birthday party where the child is more interested in the box and the wrapping paper than the actual toy they received? Through my years of experience as a babysitter, nanny, and now a mom, I have found that kids have almost more fun when they play pretend with items found around the house rather than expensive toys.

Encouraging your kids to play with items around the house saves money, cuts down on clutter, and teaches them to be resourceful.

10 Household Items that Make Great Toys

1. Flashlights

Flashlights make great toys! They can be used to play explorer, detective, camping, and other games associated with imaginary play. If your kids are looking for an activity, hand them a few flashlights and help them come up with a scenario for playtime. Flashlights are items that most people have around the house anyway. For some reason, kids love using real items when they play.

2. Laundry Baskets

Laundry baskets can be incorporated into play in a variety of ways. With some imagination included, they can be turned into boats, cars, pirate ships or trains. Kids can also turn them into beds for their stuffed animals or dolls. You can also play a game of basketball and try to toss balls or stuffed animals into your laundry baskets! I am sure there are many more games that kids can play with laundry baskets.

3. Plastic Containers with Lids

When my toddler visits his grandparents house, he usually spends most of his time playing in Grandma’s Tupperware drawer. He loves stacking all the different sized containers and matching them up with the lids. A drawer of plastic containers can entertain a small child for hours! These also make great bath or sand toys! The only downside of turning plastic containers into toys is that you will need wash them all before using them again for food storage.

4. Old Remote Controls and Cell Phones

Little kids love pressing buttons and being able to use items like the ones mom and dad have. When you are done with an old remote control or cell phone, take the batteries out and let your kids play with them! You may find that they prefer these old electronics over their plastic toy versions.

5. Pillows and Blankets

Looking for a fun activity on a rainy day? Let your kids take out pillows and blankets and instruct them to build a fort! Then all you have to do is watch their imaginations run wild!

6. Masking Tape

Masking tape might just entertain your kids for hours! They can make tape balls, race tracks, and create much more! You may want to stick with tape that will come off easily. Giving your kids masking tape should be a supervised activity.

7. Old Clothes

Old clothes can be saved and used for dress up! Use some of your old clothes and make a Dress Up Box. Make sure to include hats, old costume jewelry, and other accessories as well! If you sew, you can try to re-purpose some of your old items to fit your kids. I promise that they will have just as fun wearing these old items as they would wearing a store bought costume!

8. Pots and Pans

Pots and pans are such a classic children’s toy that I had to include this on the list. Kids have hours of fun playing with pots and pans. They make all sorts of fun sounds! And don’t even get me started on how fun the lids are! Playing with pots and pans is a great sensory activity for little kids. Bigger kids can also use pots and pans to play kitchen.

9. Old Food Containers

Old food containers, such as an empty cardboard cereal box or an old milk jug can make great toys! Kids love putting things into different containers. Also, old food boxes can be used to stock a child’s play kitchen. You can create crafts with many of these items, and you may be surprised the other things your kids come up with! The best part about these food containers, is that you can just recycle them after your kids get tired of playing with them.

10. Cardboard Boxes

Spending a day playing in a cardboard box should be a rite of passage for any person going through childhood. Kids like to crawl in them, make forts and tunnels, turn them into cars, boats, doll houses, and play kitchens. They can use them to play hide and seek, use them to play games, make costumes out of them, and more! If you purchase something that has a large cardboard box, keep it out for a few days and let your kids play in it. They will have so much fun!

I am sure there are many other items around the house that your kids use as toys. I think you will be surprised once you realize how few toys your kids actually need. Using regular household items as toys is a great way to encourage creativity!

More projects from Kristen

Picnic Pack

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:10 GMT

by contributing writer Dawn

The first time I took my kids on a picnic, they thought it was the greatest thing ever. They enjoyed it so much and our park system was so nice, that we soon found ourselves picnicking most every weekend. After a few weeks I realized we could leave a lot sooner if I just kept a picnic pack stocked and ready to go.

Picnics are a great way to get out of the house for warm weather fun without breaking the bank. Keeping your picnic pack stocked and ready also helps when you find yourself out at mealtimes or needing a snack when you are out and on the go!

When the weather starts warming, I pull out our picnic pack. We love to have things ready to go when the mood strikes us to grab our lunch and head to a park. A lot of these things are handy for a family with children and fit nicely in a small lidded tub to keep in the trunk.

The bonus to picnics is that we don’t have to worry about our toddlers being too loud in a restaurant and we know if we packed our food, that there will be something yummy for them to eat. I try to keep easy-to-pack food at all times in my pantry and refrigerator. We throw a few things in our small cooler and we are all ready to go.

Picnic Pack Supplies

Old blanket

An old blanket comes in handy for many reasons. My kids often get cold in the car and snuggle up in it. We also use it on park days if we want to sit under a tree.

Plastic tablecloth

My kids are messy eaters and a fuzzy-backed, plastic tablecloth works great for easy cleanup on picnics. When on the ground or on a picnic table, it gives us a clean surface to put our food on and makes it a little more special.

Reusable plates, cups, napkins, utensils

Though I loathe plastic, I bought a colorful plastic set for our picnic basket years ago and we still use it. It is better to me than disposables. I hate plastic-ware too and bought a cheap set of metal utensils with fat plastic handles on them. Try thrift stores for an even cheaper option!

Paper towels or rags and a couple of old towels

Kids are just messy. Though I don’t use paper towels at home, I do keep them in my car. Old towels help for the days someone falls in the lake at a park or you get stuck out in the rain.

Bug spray and sunscreen

We live in the south and summers are brutal. We arm ourselves with protection and avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Floppy hats

My youngest is very fair-skinned so floppy hats are part of the wardrobe. We leave one in the car so we always have it available. A bonus to hat wearing is that my kids are easy to find on a crowded playground.

Small first aid kit and hand sanitizer

Hopefully the first aid kit won’t be needed, but if it is, you want to have it.

Bottled water for cleanups

We don’t like to drink bottled water on a regular basis but I do keep some handy for emergencies and cleanups. Did I mention my kids are messy eaters?

Swim bag with beach towels and swimsuits

We are close to several nice state parks with swimming facilities and have several friends who invite us to swim in their personal pools. We keep the swim bag ready for impromptu swimming trips.

Bubbles, Frisbee or other yard games

Sometimes the playground is super crowded or if we have Dad with us, he’ll want to throw the Frisbee. We keep one in our picnic pack so we are always ready to play.

Paleo & Primal eBook Bundle of the Week

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:02:52 GMT

This week’s Paleo & Primal eBook Bundle is packed full of recipes, tips and inspiration to start and maintain a paleo or primal lifestyle.

Grab all 5 eBooks for only $7.40 (more than 85% savings!) and treat yourself to some great go-to resources that are the perfect companion for a paleo or primal lifestyle! Whether you are just beginning or need additional recipes to add to your existing rotation, this week’s collection will be inspiring and practical as it contains more than 200 recipes and some amazing and inspirational personal stories from those who have transformed their health through a paleo diet including tips for eating out without cheating.

The Paleo Miracle by Joe Salama

In The Paleo Miracle, Joe shares a compilation of stories from people who have undergone a miraculous transformation in their health thanks to the paleo diet. The people featured in this ebook have eliminated or dramatically improved their symptoms of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, ADHD, Crohn’s, and many others — and in most cases have become completely medication-free — by eating real food. And in the process, they’ve learned that when your body is healthy inside, it will automatically look healthier on the outside to — losing body fat in the process!

The Paleo Snack Recipe Book by Suzanne Crawt

For those times when you need a snack, Suz’s Paleo Snack Recipe Book has more than 75 paleo-compliant snack recipes to help you stick to a paleo diet when hunger strikes! Each recipe includes a full-color photo and step-by-step instructions, with plenty of ideas that don’t require any cooking!

Eating Out and Traveling on the Paleo Diet by Aglaée Jacobs

In Eating Out and Traveling on the Paleo Diet, Aglaée shares tips and tools to help you avoid non-paleo ingredients away from home, so you can feel at your best at all times. You’ll find dozens of meal ideas, snack lists and recipes you can prepare on the road, as well as information about cross-contamination, the use of fasting as a tool while traveling, a paleo-friendly dessert guide and tips for explaining your food preferences in social settings, as well as various printables to help you simplify your travel diet.

Toadally Primal Smoothies by Primal Toad

In Toadally Primal Smoothies, Todd Dosenberry (aka the Primal Toad) shares more than 150 paleo and primal smoothie recipes, complete with substitution ideas and nutrition information! Discover tasty flavors like coconut egg nog and vanilla almond cappuccino and more.

Paleo Ice Cream by Ben Hirshberg

With 31 delicious, healthy and nutrient dense ice cream flavors, Paleo Ice Cream is your guilt-free ice cream handbook. Armed with a love of ice cream, Ben tested and created each flavor combination by replacing the problematic ingredients and chemicals found in conventional ice cream with healthier paleo-friendly options so that you can enjoy your dessert without feeling like you’re cheating!

Purchase all of these Paleo & Primal eBooks bundled together here.

Natural Mothering eBook Bundle

Toni Anderson — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:41 +0000

I’ve got another HUGE eBook Bundle for you! This time it’s all about Natural Mothering including the following topics:

Natural Fertility and Pregnancy
Natural Baby and Toddler Care
Natural Health and Healing
Teaching Our Children
Help for Busy Moms
Non-Toxic and Natural Living

The eBook bundle includes 40 eBooks and free products and coupon codes for mothering products that will help you in your natural lifestyle, all for only $29.97! This amounts to each eBook costing only 75¢ without including any of the free products you can also receive!

Plus, the organizers have gathered a big list of eBooks, eCourses and other resources that are completely free including my own eBook, The Happy Housewife’s Guide to Dealing with Picky Eaters! See all the details and exact eBooks included below…

Have you ever wished motherhood came with a manual?

Whether motherhood makes you feel overwhelmed or whether you feel like you’ve found your stride as a mother, we are here to help you be the best mother to your children that you can be. We can also help you deal with infertility and prepare you for giving birth confidently and joyfully.

We’ve got the resources you need to help your kids be healthier, to raise your children to be polite, caring people, to live more eco-friendly, and to make your home non-toxic.

For 1 week only, get a downloadable package of 35+ e-books specifically designed to encourage and equip mothers to nurture their families (and themselves!) naturally for just $29.97. Since these books together are worth more than $525, this is nearly a 95% discount!

There are also more than a dozen coupon codes and FREE products worth nearly $200 included to help you on your natural living journey!

These e-books reflect the work of 32 well-known Ph.D.’s, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, natural health professionals, authors, and bloggers who are passionate about motherhood and caring for mothers.

This is an intelligent, joy-filled collection that will inspire any mother to feed her beautiful babe well, feel confident in making difficult mothering decisions, and celebrate motherhood (even when it seems overwhelming).

The eBooks

Want to meet the authors? Click here to read each author’s bio.

Natural Fertility and Pregnancy

Unbound Birth by Jennifer Yarbrough of Unbound Birth ($2.99)
Fearless Birth by Kristen Burgess of Natural Birth and Baby Care ($17)
Nourishing Foods for Labor and Childbirth (article reprint) by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($2.99)
My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy of Simply Designs ($9.99)
Fertilise Yourself by Natalie Kringoudis of Melbourne Natural Fertility ($19.95)
Eat Your Way to Parenthood by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)
Protecting Your Fertility: The Dangers of Conventional Pest Control and Natural Safe Alternatives by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)
The Awful Truth About Cleaning Products and Fertility Revealed by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)

Natural Baby and Toddler Care

Breastfeeding Simply by Pinky McKay, ICBLC of PinkyMcKay.com ($25)
First Bites by Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green ($9.99)
Breast to Bib by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama ($8.95)
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Creative Ways to Calm Your Baby by Justyn Lang of Creative Christian Mama ($6.99)
EC Simplified: Infant Potty Training Made Easy by Andrea Olson of Go Diaper Free ($30)
oh, crap. potty training by Jamie Glowacki of oh crap. potty training ($15)

Natural Health and Healing

Therapeutic Parenting for Children Who Are Healing from Trauma by Tova Krause Grindlay, CPC of Parent and Family Coaching ($4.99)
Herbal Nurturing by Michele Augur of Frugal Granola ($8.95)
Herbal Remedies for Children During the Cold and Flu Season by Rosalee de la Forêt of Herbal Remedies Advice ($20)
Mother’s Little Herbal Helper and Home Remedies by Natalie Vickery of The Family Herbalist ($12.50)
Questions to Ask Your Dentist by Will and Susan Revak of OraWellness ($29)
Tips and Tricks to Remineralize and Repair Your Teeth by Ramiel Nagel of CureToothDecay.com ($12.95)
The Thinking Parent’s Guide to Vaccines by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($2.99)
Finding Balance with Attachment Parenting by Andrea Olson of AndreaOlson.com ($17)
Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler of NatashaMetzler.com ($4.99)
The Curative Kitchen (updated version) by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D. of SusanSmithJones.com ($19.95)
Rebuild From Depression: A Nutrient Guide, The Digital Abridged Version by Amanda Rose, Ph.D. of Traditional Foods ($12.95)

Teaching Our Children

Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen plus 1 month access to select Real Food Kids eCourse videos by Wardeh Harmon of GNOWFGLINS & Jami Delgado of Eat Nourishing ($30)
Kids in Training: Life lessons that will help lead to productive, responsible and grateful kids! by Rebecca Dulgarian of Blue Cricket Designs ($7.95)
Life According to Me by Stephanie Dulgarian of Somewhat Simple ($5.95)
The Family Dinner Project by Rebecca Dulgarian & Stephanie Dulgarian ($9.95)
Easy Peasy Chores: Homeschool Edition by Alina Joy Dubois of The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)
Teaching Kids to Clean by Dana White of A Slob Comes Clean ($5)

Help for Busy Moms

Real {Fast} Food by Trina Holden of TrinaHolden.com ($6)
Crock On by Stacy Myers of Stacy Makes Cents ($5)
Creative Ways to Make Family Holiday Memories by Kit Singleton of Raising Small Souls ($25)

Non-Toxic and Natural Living

Natural Beauty Recipes by Katie of WellnessMama ($10)
Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie Langford of Keeper of the Home ($12.95)
Restocking the Pantry by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($9.99)
Accidentally Green by Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green ($2.99)
Clean, Naturally! by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($4.99)

The Bonus Resources

Once you have completed payment for the e-book bundle, you will get access not only to the books, but to FREE products and coupon codes for mothering products that will support you in your natural, non-toxic lifestyle.

These special bonus offers include:

Get a FREE luxuriously soft pantyliner from Lunapads and a $5 coupon for your next visit. Lunapads are smart, sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual pads and pantyliners. Join the LunaRevolution and discover why thousands worldwide feel better about their periods! ($17 value. Standard shipping applies. US addresses only.)

Get 10% off any order from Granola Babies, THE go-to shop for everything babywearing and natural-living related. Granola Babies supports mothers around the globe in their mothering journey by providing sustainable hand-selected products, natural and holistic resources, and creating a village of community. (Standard shipping applies.)

Get “2 Months for $2″ ! Enjoy a two-month Membership to Fit2B Studio for only two dollars, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are “tummy safe” and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs), which affects many women postpartum. ($19.98 value.)

Download a $6 coupon for 7 Sources Oil from Flora Health to use the next time you shop! Flora’s newest product, 7 Sources, is a non-GMO, sustainably-sourced fatty-acid product with EPA and DHA, which are essential during pregnancy and nursing and support cognitive function at any time of life! (Value: $6. Good in-store only. US stores only.)

Get 25% off any cami or nursing tank at Deborah & Co., a women’s fashion shop for women who want fashion without compromise. You can choose from a number of camisoles, layering shells, tees, and nursing tanks, all of which are excellent for nursing moms or any woman who just wants to be both classy and modest. (Worldwide shipping.)

Get $30 off the very popular Online Childbirth Education Program from Birth Boot Camp. You CAN have an amazing birth! The 10-class Birth Boot Camp online video childbirth education program will prepare you for a life-changing birth experience and specializes in educating couples together. You may also choose to receive the FREE Pregnancy Nutrition Report. (Good online or with participating live-class instructors.)

Get THREE bonuses from Professional Parenting Canada and Attachment Parenting Canada:

1. Get the 440-page international bestseller, “Discipline Without Distress: 135 Tools for Raising Caring, Responsible Children without time-out, spanking, punishment, or bribery” (an actual paper book!) by Judy Arnall for only $10! Offered by (Value $24.99. Standard shipping applies.)

2. Get a FREE 1-hour webinar on “The Parenting Information Maze: How to Choose the Right Advice for YOUR Family.” (Value: $25)

3. Get a FREE download of the first 4 chapters of the e-book that should be in every parent’s library: “The Parenting Information Maze: How to Choose the Right Advice for YOUR Family.” (Value: $9.95)

Get the audiobook of Pinky McKay’s “Breastfeeding Simply” read by Pinky McKay for FREE! This way you can read the e-book OR listen to the audiobook – whatever is convenient for you.

The audiobook is in mp3 format. Available for immediate download. (Value: $25)

Get “A Practical Guide to Children’s Health (Abridged Version)” by Kate Tietje at Modern Alternative Mama PLUS a coupon code for 50% off the full version. There are so many confusing messages today about how to keep kids healthy. Parents just want some straight information on natural health! “A Practical Guide to Children’s Health” offers research on many common questions so that parents can make the decisions for themselves. (Value: $7.95)

Receive 10% off any order from OraWellness. OraWellness offers tools and educational products to help you take control of your oral health using organic ingredients and inexpensive natural solutions. (Standard shipping applies.)

Get a FREE Comfrey Salve with any purchase from the Creative Christian Mama Store. ($3.50 value. Standard shipping applies.)

Get 2 FREE sets of Baby’s First Year Month-by-Month Printables (1 set with butterflies for girls and 1 set with ties for boys) from The Humbled Homemaker. Each set contains 12 printables to mark each month of Baby’s first year. ($16 value.)

A Few FREE eBooks and eCourses – no purchase required!

Because we are SO absolutely passionate about getting excellent natural living resources into the hands of every mother (and want-to-be moms and soon-to-be moms!) we’ve compiled a number of e-books that are FREE just for signing up for updates.

There is no purchase required ~ see list below!

(And as a gesture of paying-it-forward, please tell your friends about this amazing sale!)

Tell your friends on Pinterest:
Tell your friends on Facebook:

Simple & Natural Green Cleaning Guide from A Delightful Home

How to Be a Natural Mama from Mama Natural

Secrets of a Successful Homeschooling Mom from Simple Homeschool

Beautiful Babies mini-ecourse from Food Renegade

Real Food Nutrition for Kids mini-ecourse from Food Renegade

The Chemicals in Us from Non-Toxic Kids

Dealing with Picky Eaters from The Happy Housewife

How Do I Get My Kids to Cooperate? from Raising Small Souls

It’s Not About Money from Stacy Makes Cents

Delightful Customizable Chore Charts and other printables from Somewhat Simple

Traditional Foods Kitchen Toolkit (4 digital books, 1 video) from Traditional Foods

Whole Food Family Favorites Cookbook from Nourishing Joy

First Bites Baby Food Timeline and Simple and Healthy Homemade Baby Food Recipe printable from Accidentally Green

Trust Birth (mp3) from Natural Birth and Baby Care

How to Make Kombucha from Modern Alternative Mama

More Than Numbers from Trina Holden

How to Create the Healthy Baby of Your Dreams: The 11 Pillars to Optimum Fertility (CD) from Gabriela Rosa

Taste of Herbs: Secrets of Herbalism Revealed Through Your Sense of Taste from Methow Valley Herbs

Guide to In-Season Produce from Creative Christian Mama

The Fine Print

This Bundle contains digital downloads in ZIP and PDF formats, so there is no shipping involved. You will receive your unique download link immediately after download. Please note that this Bundle is provided as is: no refunds, no exchanges, and no late sales will be provided.

While you must purchase the Bundle by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 17, you have until June 30, 2013 to download the books and redeem the bonuses. It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase by June 30, 2013. After that date, the books will no longer be available for download.

With proof of purchase, we can renew download links until June 30. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, deadlines to redeem your bonuses, and reading the books on your eReader device.

Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase. You may purchase multiple bundles in order to redeem a bonus offer more than once.

For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.

All bonus offers are the sole responsibility of the bonus sponsors to provide and are subject to availability.

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Fall in love with economics - really! From the creators of Visual Latin, Economics for Everybody is a funny, clever, profound, and instructive video curriculum that explains what everyone is talking about. Great for homeschoolers, families, and churches. Learn more at EconomicsforEverybody.com

10 Fun Beach Lessons

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:19 GMT

by contributing writer Stef

Enjoying a trip to the beach this summer? Don’t forget these 10 Fun Beach Lessons!

Sand Volcanoes - One Perfect Day shows off a little water lava fun.
Salt Water Egg Experiment - Brilliant Beginnings Preschool shows off some salt water learning.
Letter of the Week – O - Educating Laytons shares ocean crafts, activities, and printables.
Sea Urchins - The Crafty Classroom recreates these sea friends with toothpicks.
The Science of Waves and Beaches - The Homeschool Scientist gets dirty creating waves.
Animal Notebooking Pages - The Notebooking Fairy offers a free printable to learn more about all those wonderful salty animals.
Oceans Preschool Pack - Homeschool Creations created a cute preschool pack for learning about the ocean.
Beach Collage - Kids Nature Spot shares a fun way to keep all those beach treasures together.
Summer Water Fun - The Homeschool Classroom shares a few water lesson ideas.
Oceans Pinterest Board - The Happy Housewife has pinned great ocean fun.

Comments

Thanks for sharing! We've got oceans week coming up soon at the ... by Lindsey Whitney

50% off From Garbage to Gourmet eBook

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:19:41 GMT

We alerted you last week that you could get a free 20 page sample of From Garbage to Gourmet and now you can buy the entire eBook for 50% off!

Today through June 12th, From Garbage to Gourmet from Grocery University is on sale for only $4.99 (reg. $9.99) – no coupon code needed. This informative 119 page eBook features “over 80 recipes and creative ideas for using things like broccoli stalks, potato peels, carrot ends, herb stems, corn cobs, and more. Things that most people throw away without thinking about it, but can be used to make incredibly delicious food!”

Purchase this eBook today and get started on your own journey to prevent food waste and create delicious food out of things you normally throw away!

The ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 04:01:39 GMT

I’m excited to be teaming up with my friends Jamerill, Jenn, Tricia, and Stacie to bring you the ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party.

Here’s how it works.

This linky will start every Friday at midnight and will remain open all week.

Choose one or all of the following:

Link up your main Pinterest account {personal profile}
Link up to 3 of your top homeschool Pinterest pins
Link up 1 of your top homeschool boards

PLEASE do the following:

Please PIN this post! It’ll help spread the word about this new party!
Follow others who are linking up in the party on Pinterest.
PIN at least 5 pins from this list {of course you can pin more!}

What will you receive?

You will receive new Pinterest followers.
Your pins will be repinned and shared by a large homeschool audience.
Find new and exciting homeschool content!
Weekly you have a chance to have your pin featured in the following weeks link-up. Each week I’ll pick 3-5 pins to highlight.

You have to check out Sunny Mama’s Nature Study board. It has over 200 pins! It is definitely worth following, especially for those of us who live in places where it is finally getting warm enough to go outside.

And if you want some fun language arts ideas for summer check out Michelle’s Language Arts Board! Another board with over 200 pins you’re sure to find fun activities, books, and worksheets for your kids.

Now it’s time for you to link up your Pinterest boards! I can’t wait to see them all!

Loading InLinkz …

Comments

Thank you so much for featuring our Nature Study board. by sunnymama
This is great! Thank you! by Leah Mastilock

Free and Fun Family Activities in Your Local Area 6/7 – 6/9

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:20:00 GMT

Each week I’ll post links with fun and inexpensive (or free) things to do in your local area.

Local Activities

Atlanta, Georgia (Metro area)
Buffalo and surrounding areas, NY
Chicago, IL (West)
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, GA, Fort Benning, GA & Phenix City, AL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
East Valley-Phoenix Area, AZ
Fort Worth, TX
Hagerstown, Maryland
Harrisburg & West Shore, PA
Houston, TX (North)
Houston, TX
LaGrange, Westpoint, Hogansville, Pine Mountain, Warm Springs, GA
Lebanon, PA
Madison, WI
Memphis, TN (East Memphis)
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
North Shore MA, NH seacoast and southern ME
Northeast Ohio
Omaha, NE
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA & Portland, OR (Northwest)
Syracuse, NY
Wichita Falls, TX

If you are a blogger who posts a local round-up of family activities, then feel free to fill out this form to be considered for future posts.

40 Delicious Strawberry Recipes

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:00:35 GMT

by contributing writer Kristia

Strawberry season is here! Take advantage of this short season and head to a u-pick strawberry patch for the freshest berries at really great prices.

40 Delicious Strawberry Recipes

1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries - The Gluten Free Homemaker
2. Chocolate Strawberry Pecan Sushi Roll  - Madame Deals
3. Fresh Strawberry Pie  - Kansas City Mamas
4. Grilled Strawberry Cheesecake Towers  - Rachael Ray
5. Gluten, Egg & Dairy Free Strawberry Pie  - I Am That Lady
6. Homemade Strawberry Lemonade  - Fabulously Frugal
7. Honey Ginger Strawberry Ice Cream  - A Kitchen Addiction
8. Lemon Berry Cheesecake Bars  - Saving Dollars & Sense
9. Lemon Strawberry Sorbet  - Kosher on a Budget
10. Meyer Lemon Strawberry Pie  - Hoosier Homemade
11. Mini Strawberry Cheesecake Desserts  - Bargain Blessings

12. Strawberry Banana Sorbet  - The Happy Housewife
13. No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar  - Cravings of a Lunatic
14. Nutella Filled Strawberries   – A Thrifty Mom
15. Strawberry Apple Fruity Loose Tea  - Little House Living
16. Strawberry Bread  - Chaos is Bliss
17. Strawberry Cheesecake Popsicles – Domestic Fits
18. Strawberry Cheesecake Streusel Muffins – Living Beyond Measure
19. Strawberry Cobbler  - Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures
20. Strawberry Cream Pound Cake  - The Sensible Mom
21. Strawberries and Cream Scones  - Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
22. Strawberry Crumb Bars  - My Litter

23. Strawberry Brunch Soufflé  - The Happy Housewife
24. Strawberry Donuts  - Mom Advice
25. Strawberry Freezer Jam  - My Litter
26. Strawberry Fruit Pops  - Passion for Savings
27. Strawberry Ice Cream Brownie Cupcakes  - Jelly Pin
28. Strawberry Ice Cream Soda  - All She Cooks
29. Strawberry Pie  - Passionate Penny Pincher
30. Strawberry Pizza  - Madame Deals

31. Strawberry Salsa – The Happy Housewife
32. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp  - Family Balance Sheet
33. Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam  - Give Me Neither
34. Strawberry Rhubarb Topping  - Gluten Free Homemaker
35. Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing - Pocket Change Gourmet
36. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes  - Hoosier Homemade
37. Strawberry Sorbet  - $5 Dinners
38. Strawberry Spinach Salad  - Premeditated Leftovers
39. Strawberry & Watermelon Smoothie  - Coupon Closet
40. Two Ingredient Strawberry Sorbet  - Blessings Overflowing

Strawberry Tips:

How to Freeze Strawberries - A Thrifty Mom
The Secret to Naturally Preserving Strawberries at Blessed Beyond a Doubt.

What’s your favorite strawberry recipe?

More recipes from Kristia

Comments

By: Liz & Doug @ PocketChangeGourmet.com by Liz & Doug @ PocketChangeGourmet.com
What a great round up! Thanks for sharing my pie! ... by Liz@HoosierHomemade
This is is a seriously spectacular round up. Thanks for ... by Kim Beaulieu
You're welcome, Ann-Marie! Your bread sounds delicious. by Kristia
What a fabulous list! Literally heading to the strawberry patch ... by Ann-Marie

Pool Fun! #RaiseaCone

Toni Anderson — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:48:08 +0000

When I was house hunting in Maryland I had a few “must haves” on my list. One thing that wasn’t on my list was a pool. I mean really, who needs a pool in Maryland when you can only swim four months of the year?

Well wouldn’t you know, the house we ended up buying had a pool!

Since we moved into our house in December, our kids have been anxiously awaiting summer. In fact I’ve never seen my kids so excited for a season until this year.

The pool is now ready for summer and rain or shine the kids want to be in it! Some of my best childhood memories are when my brother, sister, and I would swim all day and into the evening. We would eat dinner outside and then get back to our swimming. (After the required 30 minutes of rest, as dictated by one of my grandmothers and then passed down to my mother, of course.) On special nights we’d get a cold treat after dinner which made the day even better!

Now that we have a pool and about one hundred nights of summer to enjoy, I’m looking forward to creating the same awesome memories with my kids.

Since I’m trying to be a yes mom and make the most of our summer, I’m letting the kids swim as much as possible. It’s better than television and they always sleep in a little later the next day. Can you blame me?

I also keep a secret (or not so secret from my big kids) stash of treats to surprise them on extra special nights.

This week we surprised them with Nestle Drumsticks.

I remember these nutty cones from when I was a kid and thought it would be fun to surprise my kids with a Nestle Drumstick during their evening swim.

Combining two of their favorite things- swimming and ice cream guarantees some happy kids.

Would you like to win a lifetime supply of Nestle Drumstick cones (for real folks!)? Submit a photo raising your cone for summer to the Raise a Cone for Summer website and you could win! You have until June 21st to submit your photo, so don’t delay!

Oh and before I get back to my poolside spot, have you ever wondered why they named an ice cream cone after a chicken? I always did! Well, when the Drumstick was invented in 1928 one of the wives thought it looked just like a friend chicken leg, and the rest is ice cream history!

Don’t forget to submit your Raise a Cone for Summer photo for a chance to win a lifetime supply of Nestle Drumstick cones!

I’ve partnered with Nestle to promote their Raise a Cone for Summer campaign. All opinions and ice cream eating children are my own.

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Military Mates Discount at Outback Steakhouse

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:00:41 GMT

Outback Steakhouse is one of my favorite places to go out to eat, and they have a gluten-free menu, which my friend Linda loves.

From now until July 4, 2013, Outback is honoring our nation’s heroes with 10% off the entire check for active and retired military when they come in for lunch or dinner.

Sounds like a good reason to take a break from cooking!

Finding Time to Homeschool

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:00:37 GMT

by contributing writer Tabitha

Being a parent is busy. There is always something that needs to be done immediately, if not sooner. There are household chores, children that need your attention, and spouses that also need your time. There are friends and family that need to be contacted and usually church obligations or other responsibilities to groups you may belong to.

There are also financial considerations whether they be managing your home finances or working outside the home. All this adds up to not enough time for everything.

Homeschooling, or home education, also takes a lot of time. Whether you are an unschooler, a school-at-home parent or anywhere in between with differing levels of activity with and around your children, the result is the same, your time is taken ensuring each of your children has the best education you can give them.

It is worth it. We know that.

However, how is it possible to fit it into the already overly full life of a parent?

Make Time

Make the time for what is important. Here are a few ways to do that:

Schedule what’s important.
Clear the schedule of what isn’t important.
Do fewer non-essential tasks.
Take less time per task.

For some this can mean using a co-op because it takes less time preparing lessons that someone else will teach. For others it means skipping the co-op because it takes too much time between travel, classes, getting ready and getting settled down afterwards.

Combine

This is easier than you think. Rather than distracting the children while taking care of the home, spend quality time with your children WHILE cleaning and doing other household tasks. Here’s how that looks for me:

Holding my baby while correcting geometry with my oldest
Talking about Latin while doing laundry (yes, the child is folding laundry, too.) and
Helping another make bread while she’s asking questions about history

Delegate

This can’t be overstated. Each of my children can help any of my other children or me at any time, and it makes everyone’s day go better. Whether it is finding the right page of a book, turning on the computer and finding the right disk for a brother, or holding the baby so I can help with math, we’re all in this together.

My husband helps by taking over some things that didn’t get done during the day. Friends/family can be great teachers and mentors, or that co-op class might be just the right tool for someone struggling.

Relegate

Some things aren’t top priority. To relegate means to move to a lower position or get rid of entirely. Sometimes, things that I thought were important just aren’t. Here’s a few examples:

Taking care of too many things takes away time from our homeschooling, so we get rid of them.
Having too many different curriculum options makes choosing difficult, so we donate them to others.
Some chores don’t need done every day, so we do them less often.
Sometimes a field trip was more important than having the dishes done right away.
Sometimes reading a book together was more important than getting out of pajamas.

When it’s really important, we find a way.

Comments

Hi Sunnie! Welcome to homeschooling! I think you will love it. ... by Tabitha Valencic
Thanks for the post, this was a good one. We are homeschooling ... by Sunnie

Homesteading eBook Bundle of the Week

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:55:47 GMT

This week’s Homesteading eBook Bundle is packed full of how-to information for creating a self-sufficient lifestyle and preparing for the future.

Grab all 5 eBooks for only $7.40 (more than 85% savings!) and treat yourself to some great go-to resources for saving money, being self-sufficient, and living a more sustainable lifestyle including real food storage, emergency preparation, repurposing old clothes and rediscovering the lost skills of past generations.

Pioneering Today by Melissa K. Norris

In Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way, Melissa offers a practical and easy guide to cooking from scratch, gardening and preserving your own food. Learn to decrease your grocery and energy bills, improve your family’s health (with over 40 delicious recipes!) and reduce your time in the kitchen without sacrificing taste and nutrition. Whether you live in the middle of the asphalt jungle or on the side of a mountain, you can start your homesteading journey today and discover a simpler life!

Your Custom Homestead by Jill Winger

Homesteading doesn’t only happen when you live on hundreds of acres with the perfect red barn and white picket fence, and in Your Custom Homestead, Jill takes you through a 21-day process to discover your motivations for homesteading, define what homesteading means and actually begin a homesteading lifestyle that will perfectly fit your unique situation.

Real Food Storage: How-To and Recipes by KerryAnn Foster

In Real Food Storage, KerryAnn shares her family’s story of living off their food storage during 11 months of unemployment. Geared toward traditional and real foodies, this preparedness ebook shows you how to store real and traditional foods as food insurance for your family, with more than 200 recipes that can be made from your stockpile. In addition, you’ll find an online resources guide to help you save money on bulk purchases plus a master spreadsheet to help you plan and track your food storage plan.

Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose by The Frugal Girl

In Reuse, Refresh and Repurpose, The Frugal Girl offers 20 useful ideas to help you get the most out of your clothes. This practical guide includes step-by-step photos and instructions to help you make old clothes look new or turn them into something entirely new altogether. And the best part is many of the ideas don’t require any cutting or sewing; there’s something for everyone!

Getting Prepared by Robin Egerton and Angela England

Getting Prepared is a beginner’s manual to help prepare you for life’s unexpected happenings. Find step-by-step guidance for prioritizing your preparations, creating a 72-hour emergency kit, preparing for a month of survival with your family, including your family in emergency preparations and more. If you’ve thought about trying to get better prepared and develop an emergency plan, but aren’t sure where to start, this is the book for you!

Purchase all of these Homesteading eBooks bundled together here.

From Garbage to Gourmet eBook: Free 20 Page Sample

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:41:33 GMT

Carrie, from Grocery University, is giving away a 20 page sample of her amazing eBook resource, From Garbage to Gourmet!

Most families throw away 25% of the food they buy every single week. That means that for every $100 you spend at the grocery store, you likely throw $25 of it away. It’s not just bread heels and moldy leftovers. There’s a whole host of edible things that we automatically throw away, but that can be used to make delicious food!

From Garbage to Gourmet features over 80 recipes and creative ideas for using things like broccoli stalks, potato peels, carrot ends, herb stems, corn cobs, and more in dishes that are more than throw it all in a soup or casserole and be done! Recipes include:

Asian Broccoli Slaw
Poor Man’s Apple Cider
Corn Cob Chowder
Chocolate Cheesecake Bites
Magic Hot Fudge Cake
Creamy Avocado Bacon Dressing
Chocolate Dessert Wontons

This full color magazine-style eBook also includes hundreds of strategies to help you prevent food waste and create delicious food out of things you normally throw away. Learn how to keep berries from molding, what to do with the rest of a can of tomato paste, options for using wilted or frozen celery, preserving cheese so it doesn’t spoil and more!

This week, you can get a FREE 20 page sample of From Garbage to Gourmet, and starting June 10th, you can grab it for 50% off at only $4.99! So check out the free sample today, so you can be ready to get it for half off starting Monday!

Get your free sample of From Garbage to Gourmet here.

Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:00:04 GMT

by contributing writer Andrea Green

These Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars are served as an after school snack at least once a month in my house. The Greek yogurt bakes up almost like a dense cheesecake topping over a sweet oatmeal crust. Since it is made with whole food ingredients, I can make it for my girls and feel no guilt over serving a sweet treat.

This recipe is a great example of how cooking with whole food ingredients doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste. If your pantry doesn’t include white whole wheat flour, can I please encourage you to pick up a small bag? It is lighter than whole wheat flour, so it is easier to substitute for all purpose flour in recipes without weighing a recipe down. Of course, if you don’t have white whole wheat flour and still want to make this recipe, all purpose flour works great.

I usually use frozen blueberries. It’s hard to find good blueberries where I live, so I just pick up a big frozen bag of organic blueberries at Costco. If you have access to good, fresh berries, they would be excellent in these bars.

By the way, while this recipe is more of a dessert cookie bar, if you look at the ingredients, it is not unlike a coffee cake. At least that is what I tell myself when I serve it for breakfast!

Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

Crust:

1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Filling:

1 1/3 cup blueberries (frozen ok)
3/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325.
Lightly grease an 11 x 7 inch baking pan.
Combine flour, oats, 1/2 cup maple syrup, salt and baking soda in a bowl and whisk together.
Drizzle butter and lemon juice over mixture and stir.
Press crust into bottom of pan.
Combine blueberries, Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons flour, vanilla, lemon rind, and egg white. Stir well.
Spread on top of crust.
Bake at 325 for 40 minute or until edges are golden. Cool on wire rack before serving.
Store in refrigerator.

http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/blueberry-lemon-oatmeal-bars/

More recipes from Andrea

Find more delicious recipes at the The Happy Housewife Recipe Index.

Comments

I am making this next month for breakfast. I agree with the ... by Felicia
Hi Linda, Thanks for your suggestion to check the package ... by Andrea
The recipe looks delicious. However, if I remember correctly, ... by Linda

June Organized in 365: Organizing the Garage and Cars

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:14:07 GMT

Last year we went through 365 tips to organize and simplify your home one day at a time, which you can see the entire list of ideas here. With all of these fantastic organization tips to keep your house out of chaos, we decided to highlight some of the best to focus on each month in 2013.

It’s that time of the year when your garage and cars are getting a big workout! Scooters and bikes are coming in and out of the garage all day, and your cars are running to swim lessons, sports games, friends’ houses, and the never-ending list of errands. Find some easy tips and ideas for keeping your garage and cars organized and cleaned out in the June Organized in 365 project:

Organize Outdoor Toys in the Garage
Organize Scooters and Bikes in the Garage
Organize the Garage with an Extra Dresser
Organize Sports Equipment in the Garage
Organize the Garage by Creating Zones
How to Simply Store Leftover Paint (Tip: Once you’ve organized your paint, do NOT store it in the garage! Find a climate controlled environment to store paint.)
Organize Your Car’s Trunk Space
Organize Coats, Backpacks, and Bags in the Car
On the Go Storage for the Car

If you are just tuning in, then be sure to see the 2013 January, February, March, April. and May organized goals as well.

For more ideas to help you simplify and organize one day at a time, visit the Organized in 365 Archives.

Comments

Sorry about that! The link has been fixed. Here it is: ... by Toni Anderson
I'd really like to see the whole list! The link didn't work. ... by Ailene
Thanks so much for linking up to my garage overhaul. It's ... by Mara

Montessori: Twitter Chat

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:33:49 GMT

Interested in learning more about the Montessori method of homeschooling? I am! I’m excited to have Leann cohost today as we learn more about this hands on approach to learning. Join us today at 3pm ET for our chat.

This Week

Topic: Montessori

Cohost: Leann from Hands on Homeschooler

Date: June 5, 2013

Time: 3:00-3:30 pm EST

Hashtag: #homeschool

You can find downloadable transcripts of all the homeschool twitter chats here.

How to Make a Shrug from a T-Shirt

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:00:09 GMT

by contributing writer Jackie

Have you seen all of the cute little shrugs that people are making out of T-shirts? I knew I wanted to make one, but I decided to create an even simpler version than the tutorials I was finding. What I came up with literally took 10 minutes to make.

How to Make a Shrug from a T-Shirt

Supplies Needed

T-Shirt (see notes below)
Scissors
Ruler
Rotary Cutter & Mat (optional)
Sewing Machine
Thread
Pins

I chose a T-shirt that was fairly thick with not a lot of stretch compared to some of the T-shirts in my closet. Because of this fact this large sized T-shirt was a little snug on me so my daughter is the one wearing the shrug in the first picture.

I think a good rule of thumb would be to pick a T-shirt that is at least one size larger than you normally wear if it doesn’t have a lot of stretch.

If you choose a T-shirt that has a more stretch you should be able to use a T-shirt that is your size.

Instructions

1. Lay out the T-shirt so that the hem (the bottom of the T-shirt) is even and the T-shirt is fairly smooth.

2. Place the ruler across the T-shirt just below the sleeves.

3. Using scissors or a rotary cutter cut off the top of the T-shirt.

4. Turn the T-shirt wrong side out.

5. Place a pin 6 inches from the right side and another pin 6 inches from the left side of the T-shirt.

6. Add a few more pins in between to hold the fabric together.

7. Sew from the first pin to the last pin using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and the end.

8. Turn the T-shirt right side out.

9. Give the fabric at the 6 inch openings a little tug so the edges curl under.

10. Put your arms through the openings so that the fabric is at your back.

Here is what the shrug looks like from the back.

This was such a fun project I think I am going to have to make some more in different colors.

More projects from Jackie

Comments

You are only using the bottom half of the T-shirt. After you ... by Jackie @ Blessings Overflowing
Thanks, Dawn! Please let me know if you do try this method. I ... by Jackie @ Blessings Overflowing
I don't get this are you sewing the top or bottom half? or is ... by mary
This is what I've been looking for! Cannot wait to try it! by Dawn

God’s Little Explorers Preschool Curriculum Sale

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:04:05 GMT

Journeying through the Bible with a new letter and theme each week with your preschooler in this complete 28 week curriculum, God’s Little Explorers: A-Z Adventures in God’s Word and World for Preschoolers from MotherhoodOnADime.com!

There are four main parts to the program:

Bible Adventure: This is the time to read the Bible story, sing any recommended songs, and do a related craft or project.

Theme Adventure: During this time, we explore the theme with crafts, science projects, cooking projects, and so forth.

ABC & 123: This time specifically introduces an alphabet letter. We also explore colors, shapes, and numbers during the year.

Life Skills: Preparing a preschooler for life is much more than teaching them the ABCs! Each week, we review various self-help skills, learn to complete chores correctly, practice manners, and do a service project.

Through June 9, 2013 at 10 PM CT, you can save $4 on your purchase of God’s Little Explorers by using the code: SAVE4 at check-out! This makes this 192 page curriculum geared for 3-4 year olds (but easily adapted for 2 and 5 year old as well!) only $10 for 28 weeks of 4-day/week curriculum plans!

Purchase the God’s Little Explorers Preschool Curriculum here.

Comments

Megan, you need to contact the company about that. We were just ... by Toni Anderson
I purchased this curriculum download a few days ago from my ... by Megan Honeycutt

Preschool Beach Fun at Home

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:00:03 GMT

by contributing writer Colleen Kessler

There is so much to imagine at the beach, and with summer coming, why not have some preschool beach fun at home with a beach theme for a week coming up? It’s really not that hard to do, and your preschoolers will love you for it. Sand, tools, and surf–the beach was made for little ones!

No beach nearby? No problem. Simply gather a few supplies, and you can make your own beach experience at home!

Beach Supplies

Sand
Shells {from a trip to the beach or a craft store}
Spoons or small shovels
Small containers or buckets
Plastic fish
Arts and crafts supplies
Books

So, what do you do now that you’ve gathered all of these materials?

Make a Sensory Bin

Create a small sensory bin by filling a plastic lidded box one-fourth full of sand, and putting in some shells, plastic fish and other animals, and some small containers and scoops or shovels.

Kids love digging in the sand, and the sensory excitement of having a table-top sandbox can buy you some precious time to make dinner or have a cup of coffee and recharge.

Story & Craft Time

Read aloud some beach-themed books. I found this fun list of picture books by searching “beach activities for preschoolers.” This book list for The Sea unit study also has some good books.

Use whatever story you choose to inspire a fun ocean craft. I’ve gathered lots of craft and activity ideas over on my Beach Theme Pinterest board.

photo credit: mtsofan via photopin cc

Science Activity

How about a fun science demonstration? Years ago I worked on a book about coral reef animals and every child I tried out the activities on was fascinated by coral. It looks like a plant, feels like ceramic or hardened clay, and is really the hardened homes of thousands of tiny animals called polyps.

Polyps reproduce by budding, and while you don’t need to go into the anatomy and physiology with your preschoolers, you can explain that by budding, or building on top of each other, they grow and create amazing underwater structures.

Try this budding activity from my book, Survival on the Reef, with your little ones. They’ll love seeing the pretty crystals growing in their own home.

Get Outside

Whatever you do with your little ones, try to take them to a beach if you can. A lake, ocean, or even a stream with sand in its bed can give them a fabulous sensory experience. And it’s so important to get kids outside and exploring all the different parts of God’s world.

What are some of your great ideas for incorporating a beach theme into your homeschool? Leave them in the comments and I’ll check them out. Have some posts of your own for me to pin to my board? Leave those too.

Free Online Homeschooling Workshops: Approaches To Christian Homeschooling

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:46:45 GMT

Kerry, from How to Homeschool My Child, is in the middle of a 7 week series of free online homeschooling workshops covering different Approaches to Christian Homeschooling!

The following workshops are coming up:

June 6 – Principle / Biblical Worldview Approach
June 13 – Unschooling / Resource Rich Environment Approach
June 20 – Christian Leadership Approach

Hear Kerry Beck use Christian principles for selecting the right approach for your child. We will discuss how Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unit Studies, Principle and Leadership Approaches have advantages in different subjects at different stages of your child’s development. And best of all, we will share how you can give your kids Christian & character education with each approach.

The live workshops are free to attend. All you have to do is register using the link below and you’ll receive links to the weekly online workshops. All workshops are at 4pm ET.

Teaching Kids to Clean (Teach Your Children Basic Cleaning Skills): 99¢ Kindle Download

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:26:22 GMT

Take time this summer to teach your kids how to clean – how to really clean! Cleaning skills are important life skills that every child needs to know fully before going out on their own in life!

My friend, Nony from ASlobComesClean.com, has released a new eBook perfect to help you do just that, Teaching Kids to Clean (Teach Your Children Basic Cleaning Skills) on sale for only 99¢ (reg. $4.99)!

This e-book contains advice and tools to help you teach your children to clean. Whatever your schedule, whatever the state of your home, you can use these checklists, charts, and ideas as resources to help you in your job as a parent who strives to prepare kids for life.

Based on her experiences teaching her own kids to clean, she shares advice, “lesson plans,” supply lists, age-appropriate task lists, and printables to help you teach your kids the skills necessary for big cleaning tasks. The tasks include laundry, bathroom cleaning, dusting, vacuuming and mopping.

Purchase your copy of Teaching Kids to Clean here.

If you don’t have a Kindle, then you can still download these eBooks to your smart phone or computer. All you need to do is download one of Amazon’s free reading apps.

Remember that Amazon prices fluctuate constantly, so verify the price before purchasing.

The ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 04:01:23 GMT

I’m excited to be teaming up with my friends Jamerill, Jenn, Tricia, and Stacie to bring you the ULTIMATE Homeschool Pinterest Party.

Here’s how it works.

This linky will start every Friday at midnight and will remain open all week.

Choose one or all of the following:

Link up your main Pinterest account {personal profile}
Link up to 3 of your top homeschool Pinterest pins
Link up 1 of your top homeschool boards

PLEASE do the following:

Please PIN this post! It’ll help spread the word about this new party!
Follow others who are linking up in the party on Pinterest.

PIN at least 5 pins from this list {of course you can pin more!}

What will you receive?

You will receive new Pinterest followers.
Your pins will be repinned and shared by a large homeschool audience.
Find new and exciting homeschool content!
Weekly you have a chance to have your pin featured in the following weeks link-up. Each week I’ll pick 3-5 pins to highlight.

Summer means lots and lots of bugs in my yard, why not turn those pests into some fun science lessons and crafts! Here’s my bug inspiration board.

Now it’s time for you to link up your Pinterest boards! I can’t wait to see them all!

Free and Fun Family Activities in Your Local Area 5/31 – 6/2

Fri, 31 May 2013 16:27:08 GMT

Each week I’ll post links with fun and inexpensive (or free) things to do in your local area.

Local Activities

Atlanta, Georgia (Metro area)
Buffalo and surrounding areas, NY
Chicago, IL (West)
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, GA, Fort Benning, GA & Phenix City, AL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
East Valley-Phoenix Area, AZ
Fort Worth, TX
Hagerstown, Maryland
Harrisburg & West Shore, PA
Houston, TX (North)
Houston, TX
LaGrange, Westpoint, Hogansville, Pine Mountain, Warm Springs, GA
Lebanon, PA
Madison, WI
Memphis, TN (East Memphis)
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
North Shore MA, NH seacoast and southern ME
Northeast Ohio
Omaha, NE
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA & Portland, OR (Northwest)
Syracuse, NY
Wichita Falls, TX

If you are a blogger who posts a local round-up of family activities, then feel free to fill out this form to be considered for future posts.

Bank of America: Free Museum Admission this Weekend

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:11:48 GMT

This weekend, June 1 and 2, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders can get free access to more than 150 participating museums in 94 cities to continue their Museums on Us program.

Not only can you receive one free general admission this weekend, but you can also get free admission every first full weekend of each month! You can see the full list of participating museums here.

Photo ID and a valid Bank of America/Merrill Lynch credit or debit card must be presented at the time of visit. One free general admission limited to each cardholder at a participating institution, excluding fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of each month. Not to be combined with other offers.

How to Manage Your Mouth: A 30 Day Wholesome Talk Challenge

Toni Anderson — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:00:22 +0000

My good friend Connie Hughes of Smockity Frocks has written a new eBook about controlling your tongue. How to Manage Your Mouth is a 30 day challenge, complete with scriptures for each day to help you focus on changing your speaking habits.

Based on the scripture in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen,” this challenge will move you, day by day, away from negative habits and toward speech that is more encouraging and uplifting to those you interact with daily.

The eBook is available on Kindle and can be read on your computer, tablet, or smartphone using Amazon’s free reading apps.

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Multi-Level Learning

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:00:25 GMT

by contributing writer Tabitha

One of the most challenging things about homeschooling a large family is the many different ages, stages, and levels at which your children are learning. This month we are working on driver’s training and potty training at the same time. Don’t mix those up.

There are many things that just can’t be learned together. Math is incremental. What one son is learning in advanced algebra just isn’t going to make sense to the younger brother learning his times tables. Other examples include writing (essays vs. alphabet), reading (novels vs. board books), and many themes in history or current events that aren’t appropriate for younger kids.

The wonderful thing about homeschooling is that there are many things that do work for multi-level learning. The main two that we use in our family are science and history.

Science

We walk out our door and experience what we call science. Even with the best curriculum you can’t get the same excitement as being in the middle of it. Science is great because you can test what you learn and see that it is true!

Science fairs, children’s museums, science museums, or even a walk through the park can show everyone some science, and each different level from baby to adult can see something different. And when we keep our learning open to all levels, we also usually involve different learning styles.

For example, my 5 year old runs up with an acorn. The high schooler who has ~~suffered through~~ passed AP biology can think of all the science behind germination and the exact species name in Latin, which the 8^th grader can translate. The 1 year old wants to put it in her mouth. The 5 year old wants to know what kind of plant will grow. The 6 year old knows the squirrels will save it to eat.

The 7^th grader draws the tree. The 8 and 10 year old Cub Scouts identify the tree it came from, as well as the poison ivy growing nearby. The three year old tells us a story about a princess who found an acorn. While most of those are related to science, we can all recognize this acorn according to our own experiences in learning.

History

We love stories at any age. We get drawn in to movies with a great plot. We listen to each other’s tales of what happened over the weekend. What is history but the biggest story of all? We simplify for the younger, and apply more analysis for the older. I expect more interest from my high schooler than from my toddler, but we read, experience, and talk together. We remember what we are interested in.

An example of this is our recent experience learning about the war of 1812 and “The Star Spangled Banner.” My oldest two remembered a great deal from hearing the story before. My 10 year old had a hard time remembering anything about the story just hours later. However, when he found the story, on his own, in his own book, he retained more and was able to retell the main ideas.

My family loves multimedia learning. We have a lot of movies and computer games. The visuals and graphics help us remember what we’ve learned and add more interest. Over the years we’ve collected some great movies about historic times, and I am constantly amazed at what my children retain from these resources, even from a young age.

Field Trips

Even better for family learning (or learning at all different levels) is when you can go experience something for yourself. Seeing a hippo in a book is nothing compared to standing next to one when it splashes water on you.

Your 7^th grader remembers that he breathes air and has hair (and is a mammal) when you see him that close. Your 3 year old knows that hippos are big. The high schooler remembers that hippos are dangerous and cause more deaths than many other African animals and wonders why on Earth he’s standing that close.

We recently returned from a family trip where we got to visit sites that recreated the early 1800s and the way of life at that time. While we’ve studied the time period with books and even movies, there’s nothing like hearing a blacksmith hammer real steel or sitting on a hard wooden school bench trying to balance a slate on your lap. We sat in a horse-drawn carriage (and felt every bump!) and got to eat bread baked in a brick oven.

I love seeing my family learn together, so I try to find the opportunities that allow us this chance. Whether learning alongside one another or learning from each other, there are some times when we all learn better together, at our own level!

Science: Homeschool Twitter Chat

Wed, 29 May 2013 16:10:40 GMT

Do you struggle with incorporating science into your homeschool lessons? Would you like to move away from textbooks and make science come alive for your kids? Join us today as we chat with Marci from The Homeschool Scientist (and one of our awesome writers) all about science.

Follow HSScientist and #homeschool to join the chat!

This Week

Topic: Science

Cohost: Marci from The Homeschool Scientist

Date: May 29

Time: 3:00-3:30 pm ET

Hashtag: #homeschool

You can find downloadable transcripts of all the homeschool twitter chats here.

Blackberry Cobbler

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:00:49 GMT

by contributing writer Brandy Ferguson

Since we had this blackberry cobbler for Saturday morning breakfast, you could easily call it a breakfast cake. Yes, you could get away with that!

Or served as the perfect timeless, heirloom dessert, this sweet cobbler warms the soul.

Top with your favorite vanilla ice cream while hot. Heavenly!

Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup (or 6 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, divided
2 cups fresh blackberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
Place 2 Tablespoons butter in glass baking dish, then set in oven to melt butter.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 cup of the sugar.
Then whisk in milk.
Melt 4 Tablespoons butter in microwave, then mix into batter.
Remove pan from oven and pour batter into melted butter.
Place blackberries evenly into batter, then sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar over the cobbler.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes or until tops are starting to turn golden brown and edges are bubbly.

http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/blackberry-cobbler/

More recipes from Brandy

Find more delicious desserts at the The Happy Housewife Recipe Index.

Comments

Never mind, just saw previous answer.thanks by KELLY
Was also wondering what size dish you used? Sounds delicious by KELLY
I used a 7×11, but an 8×8 would work, too! by Brandy Ferguson
What size baking dish? Thanks! by Jennifer H

Answer Surveys Earn Amazon Gift Cards

Wed, 29 May 2013 12:15:50 GMT

There are numerous “survey” companies on the web that offer rewards (in the form of gift cards) to those who take time to answer a few questions. I’m hesitant to promote many of them because I don’t have the time to do it myself, or I have tried it and in my opinion, it just isn’t worth it.

In March I met Sima Vasa at a blog event. She reached out to me on Twitter and wanted to talk about her company (which does surveys). Given how I usually feel about them I was hesitant, but I decided to meet with her anyway.

When I met her I instantly liked her! She understood blogging and understood moms! After working in Corporate America for nearly 15 years and during her second pregnancy, Sima realized she had to change things in her life to get what she wanted. She wanted to be with her kids and family more, create a company that respected and valued all kinds of people, and be on the leading of edge of consumer research. With that in mind, Sima co-founded Paradigm Sample in 2008.

Sima has accomplished the goal of being with her family and starting something very new and real. And now she wants other women to benefit from her success by participating in a new and cool ways to have their opinions heard and be rewarded for their feedback. Depending how much time a person has, they complete as many surveys as they want to receive points that leads to tangible rewards by the way of Amazon giftcodes.

I love it when people are passionate about what they do whether it is teaching Sunday school, homeschooling their children, or creating companies. I’ve signed up for Paradigm Sample and taken several surveys. It’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes per survey.

We all love to share our opinion, so why not get rewarded for doing it? You can learn more and sign up here.

Comments

Sarah, can you try it again or maybe use a different browser. ... by Toni Anderson
Link didn't work code SURVEY-030792 by Sarah

Summer eBook Bundle of the Week

Toni Anderson — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:03:26 +0000

This week’s Summer eBook Bundle is packed full of inspiration for delicious food, fun activities and more to help you make this the best summer yet!

Grab all 5 eBooks for only $7.40 (almost 85% savings!) and treat yourself to some great go-to resources for tips for planning a summer of fun without losing your sanity, daily activities for kids of all ages, recipes to help you make the most of the food that’s in-season, tips and recipes for eating well on-the-go, and dozens of delicious homemade ice cream recipes that you can make with or without an ice cream maker!

The Summer Survival Guide by Jessica Fisher

Summertime, though rich in possibilities, can be a challenge for parents, especially when there are bored children about! Jessica’s Summer Survival Guide is filled with inspiring ideas and practical suggestions for making the most of the summer as a family, including 37 customizable planning pages, calendars, and worksheets for kids, 100+ family-friendly book and movie suggestions, inspiration for home management during the summer months, 16 summertime learning themes with related crafts and activities, and more.

2013 Summer Survival Calendar by Susan Heid

Susan’s 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four-month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31, with clickable links so you can easily view project directions or supplies needed. It’s the perfect way to keep kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days!

Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn Beard

Just Making Ice Cream is more than just a recipe book! In this ebook, Marillyn offers practical ice cream-making tips such as choosing an ice cream maker, how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker and the basic principles of delicious homemade ice cream. You’ll also find more than 30 ice cream & gelato recipes, 9 cultured milk recipes, 10 sherbet recipes and 10 sorbet recipes that will keep you busy taste-testing all summer long!

Simply Summer by Kate Tietje

Simply Summer is the perfect summer cookbook! You’ll find plenty of fresh, seasonal summer recipes — exactly what you need when you want to enjoy summer’s bounty — including grilled, marinated meats, fresh salads, fruit and even wonderful desserts! Many of Kate’s selections are allergen-free and GAPS-friendly to help families with allergies and dietary restrictions find recipes to enjoy as well.

Simply Scheduled: On the Go by Tammie Nelson

Feeding your family healthy food during the busy summer months can be a challenge, and Tammie’s Simply Scheduled: On the Go is your guidebook to creating easy, affordable menus away from home. With over 80 pages of charts, lists, menus and recipes, including printable recipe cards and pre-planned menus, this ebook will help you plan for camping trips, barbecues, picnics and road trips so that you can enjoy your summer without stressing about food choices or the grocery budget.

Purchase all of these Summer eBooks bundled together here.

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Save Money with Homemade Body Care Products

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:55 GMT

by contributing writer Dawn

Over the years, I have become more and more sensitive to products that contain chemicals. Immediately upon entering a room with candles, air fresheners, or laundry detergent, my head begins to hurt, my eyes burn, and my throat gets dry and scratchy.

As I sought out ways to combat my allergies, I found that organic products were expensive. I soon realized I would not be able to afford the products I desperately needed that would not make me ill. It turns out that making body care products are a huge savings even if you don’t have allergies and sensitivities!

With the rise of Pinterest, there are no shortage of recipes for body care replacements. I have an entire board devoted to homemade bath and beauty care recipes! Quick and easy replacements for everyday items use only a few basic ingredients. Many things I make are created with items I already have in my kitchen!

Body Wash

Making body wash are is a simple way to cut costs on body care products. With a few simple ingredients and a short amount of time, body wash can be created for personal use or gifts!

Lotions and Body Butter

The very first homemade lotion I used was simply extra virgin coconut oil. I use it after showering while I am getting dressed. A little goes a long way. Allow to soak in before you dress to prevent soiling your clothing. For your hands, try this lavender hand cream.

Sugar Scrub

A sugar scrub is merely sugar, a carrier oil and essential oils. Try this sugar scrub.

Shave Oil

Use straight coconut oil to shave with. After showering, towel off, only gently patting the legs dry. Then slather on coconut oil and shave regularly. Put on a little more coconut oil once finished and allow to soak in before dressing.

Body Sprays

Body sprays are super easy, too. Mixing witch hazel with distilled water, and your favorite essential oils you can have whatever scent you desire!

Deodorant

Simple deodorants can be made from a mixture of coconut oil and baking soda or arrowroot powder. Essential oils are a nice touch for those used to scented products.

Shampoo/Conditioner

Ten years before “no poo” became a hot topic on blogs, the book Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey, had many of us with spiral locks throwing away the shampoo. Recently with the rage of going “’poo free,” I have tried baking soda in place of shampoo and the results are amazing! I only do it about once a week.

Hot Oil Treatments

My favorite hot oil treatment is equal parts extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil with about ten drops of lavender essential oil.

Air Fresheners

Air fresheners aren’t a body product, but they are needed in the bathroom! A cup of distilled water and essential oils in a spray bottle are all you need to keep your bathroom smelling fresh. Scenting a small bowl of baking soda with essential oils is another good option.

Facial Cleansers and Toner

The oil cleansing method is not only great for your skin, but it is super frugal too! My oldest son is prone to teenage hormonal acne. By using the oil-cleansing method twice a day, we keep it under control. We dab on a little raw apple cider vinegar as toner and follow with extra virgin coconut oil to complete his routine.

Comments

Rayna, it is good to hear others are making their own products. ... by Dawn
It's like you got into my bathroom! by Rayna
There are a ton of recipes linked on my homemade bath and ... by Dawn
TJ, I have found that the deodorant works very well. It is not ... by Dawn
How do you make the body wash? by Patty
Does the deodorant actually work well? by TJ

How to Make an Easel

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:10 GMT

by contributing writer Lana (like banana)

My kids and I were painting using oil pastels. We had art projects all over the kitchen and dining room tables. My husband walked in and said “Hey, I can make you an easel if that would help you.” He didn’t have to ask twice. So he taught me how to make an easel.

How to Make an Easel

Supplies Needed

A 6 Foot 1” x 2” select pine wood
Small Piece of 7/16 threaded rod (steel rod)
4 7/16 washers
2 7/16 cap nuts
2 small eye bolts/screws
1 piece of small chain or rope
1 piece of 14” x 14” board (We used 1/8” underlayment but any thin piece of board would work.)
Hack Saw (for cutting the metal rod)
Miter Saw (or the friendly people at your hardware might cut them for you.)
Drill
7/16 Drill Bit
2 all purpose screws
10 small finished nails

Instructions

1. Cut the 6 Foot 1”x2” into 3 – 18” pieces and 1 – 14” piece.
These boards will be used for the tri-pod stand. On two of the 18″ pieces you want to cut angles to make them into a V shape. The middle tri-pod piece has the corners cut off. Look at the photo to understand more clearly.

2. Cut threaded rod to approximately 2 3/4″ – 3″

3. Drill a 7/16″ hole in all three 18″ pieces approximately 1″ from the top using your 7/16″ drill bit.

4. Attach 1 cap nut to the one end of the threaded rod then thread the washers in this order, one washer on, then one outer tri-pod leg, another washer, middle tri-pod leg, another washer, then the other outer tri-pod leg, last washer and the last cap nut.

5. Attach the 14″ board, spaced evenly across the two outer tri-pod leg boards approximately 3″ from the bottom to make a rim or pencil holder.

6. Attach the 14″x14″ flat board evenly to the two tri-pod. Secure the flat board with finished nails to the outer tri-pod boards.

7. Screw the 1 eye bolt into the middle tri-pod leg 3 inches from the bottom and the 2nd eyebolt into the back of the rim.

8. Attach chain onto both eye bolts.

What a fun project that any art student (or Mom) would love!

Don’t you love when a project gives birth to another project? That is our life.

More projects from Lana

June Holidays and Fun Days

Mon, 27 May 2013 13:00:22 GMT

by contributing writer Stef

If you’re throwing end of the year homeschool parties, hitting the pool, or pressing through the summer on schedule, set aside some quality time to enjoy a few fun days.

June happens to be one of the “lighter” months without many holidays so carve out some memory making opportunities! Turn on the sprinklers, make homemade ice-cream, picnic outside, watch the sun set, and catch some fireflies!

June Holidays and Fun Days

June 14 – Flag Day

How is flag day different than July 4th? Flag Day is the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official US flag in 1777. You can create many flag crafts (keep them for July 4th), or learn about Betsy Ross.

June 16 – Father’s Day

Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” in our home quite like barbeque brisket. The dad in your home might not be a fan of brisket, so get with your kids and plan some of dad’s favorite meals. Forget the tie and have fun cooking together for the special dad in your home. Don’t forget to call a father-in-law or another special dad who made an impact on your life!

June 18 – International Picnic Day

Pack some kid essentials on your picnic: sun block, bug jar, zip lock bags (for treasures), binoculars (bird watching), wipes, and a picnic scavenger hunt.

June 21 – Summer Begins

Enjoy summer crafts from The Happy Housewife Pinterest Boards! Birds, Bugs, Butterflies, Oceans, or Science Activities.

Whatever you’re doing this June, enjoy the moments to the fullest!

Free Summer Reading Bingo Printable with Reading Lists for Grades 1-6

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:39:57 GMT

I’ve got a great resource to share with you to help encourage your children to continue reading this summer!

Meet Penny has released Free Summer Reading Bingo Printables with suggested reading lists for grades 1-6:

Need a way to entice your student to read this summer? Play a game of BINGO! Agree on a reward for any completed row, column, or diagonal and then a super treat if they finish the entire card.

Each list is balanced with a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I also tried to include classics that would interest boys and girls.

Choose from the following list of free printables to meet your family’s needs:

Summer Reading Bingo for 1st – 2nd grades
Summer Reading Bingo for 3rd – 4th grades
Summer Reading Bingo for 5th – 6th grades
Summer Reading Bingo – Blank to make your own!

Check out the reading list suggestions and print the bingo cards here!

Comments

Thanks for sharing! My son loves Bingo so I bet this will be a ... by Piper
Thank you so much for your kindness, friendship, and support. by Tabitha Philen

Free and Fun Family Activities in Your Local Area 5/24 – 5/27

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:00:44 GMT

Each week I’ll post links with fun and inexpensive (or free) things to do in your local area.

Memorial Day Activities

Digital Storyteller, Sarah Hill will be hosting a virtual tour of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center that will be narrated by witnesses, victims’ families and veterans.

Huge list of Free Memorial Day Freebies & Deals (primarily for military members and families, but there are some public offers as well!)

Local Activities

Atlanta, Georgia (Metro area)
Buffalo and surrounding areas, NY
Chicago, IL (West)
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, GA, Fort Benning, GA & Phenix City, AL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
East Valley-Phoenix Area, AZ
Fort Worth, TX
Hagerstown, Maryland
Harrisburg & West Shore, PA
Houston, TX (North)
Houston, TX
LaGrange, Westpoint, Hogansville, Pine Mountain, Warm Springs, GA
Lebanon, PA
Madison, WI
Memphis, TN (East Memphis)
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Murfreesboro, TN
North Shore MA, NH seacoast and southern ME
Northeast Ohio
Omaha, NE
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA & Portland, OR (Northwest)
Syracuse, NY
Wichita Falls, TX

If you are a blogger who posts a local round-up of family activities, then feel free to fill out this form to be considered for future posts.

Free Pillsbury Newsletter with up to $250 Annual Coupon Savings

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:32:26 GMT

Sign up for a free newsletter from Pillsbury and get access to free product samples, up to $250 coupon savings every year, and great recipe ideas!

Plus, sign up now and get a limited time offer for an exclusive FREE download of Pillsbury’s all-time best recipes! Link will be in your first Pillsbury email.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:45 GMT

The following is a guest post from Jordon, The Prairie Princess.

A little over a year ago we bought an older home. Older homes have charm, character, and projects. One of the remodeling projects we wanted to do was kitchen cabinet refacing.

New cabinets can be expensive and our budget was not up for taking that on, so we decided to give them a makeover ourselves. That’s right, you can reface your cabinets by yourself, save money, and have a little fun creating what you want!

Hey, with the money you are saving you can spend a little on some new kitchen decor….my husband was so excited about that!

There are many ways to do kitchen cabinet refacing, depending on what look you are trying to achieve. We had fun doing ours, and love the outcome! Here’s how to do it the way we did.

Preparation

1. Browse the internet and magazines to finds inspiration. We also did a little research on some DIY/home makeover websites to learn a few pointers. Doing this can really save you time during the process and help you avoid mistakes.

2. Designate an area for you to do your work on the cabinet doors, such as a garage, basement, back patio, spare room, etc. with good ventilation.

The Makeover

Preparing the Doors

1. Remove all of the cabinet doors. Clean them to remove any dirt and grease. Let dry.

2. Use wood filler to fill in any holes or nicks. We put new hardware and hinges on, so make sure to putty over the old holes.

3. Sand the entire surface and dried wood filler with 150-grit sandpaper so it is smooth. Sanding gives something for the paint to adhere to.

4. Wipe down with a tack cloth.

The New Look

We wanted a bead board look so we used bead board paintable wallpaper.

5. Measure each cabinet, cut the wallpaper to fit where you wanted it on the cabinet and then use wallpaper paste to put it on. Make sure to work out any bubbles.

6. Cut trim pieces to frame the wallpaper. We used a 1 1/4 inch wood lathe and then glued and nailed (with nail gun) it at 1 1/2 inches away from the edge to create a nice frame.

7. Fill in the nail holes with wood putty, then sand down and wipe with a tack cloth.

Painting

Time to paint. I just used a regular interior semi-gloss paint.

8. Put on the first coat and let it dry.

9. Use a tack cloth to wipe any dust that may have settled and put on your second coat. Repeat if you need more coats. Check for drips, if they dry you will have to sand them down so you do not see it.

10. After the last coat of paint is dry, use the tack cloth again and then apply polyurethane. Repeat about 2 or 3 times, using nice even strokes and again checking for drips.

11. Put on your new hardware and hinges and hang the doors back up.

Take a step back and admirer your work!

Benefits of Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Costs about half as much as replacing cabinets.
Takes less time and money.
It’s less hassle than tearing out cabinets.
You can create your own style.
You can still use your kitchen while refacing.
It’s a green kitchen remodeling solution because you’re not adding to the landfill.

My name is Jordon, also known as The Prairie Princess. I am an amusing innovative housewife and a mother of two. I want to inspire people to find simple pleasures from the past while enjoying the modern amenities today. Homemade and simple can go with cellphones and Starbucks.

Comments

Looks nice! We live in a manufactured home and I've wanted to ... by Becky L
Thank You! You will have fun doing it, and I am sure they will ... by Jordon
Thank you so much for this! It looks fantastic! My kitchen ... by Becca

The 2013 Confident Mom Summer Survival Calendar

Toni Anderson — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:01:27 +0000

I’m a huge advocate for being prepared for the upcoming summer months to avoid my kids zoning out in front of the TV or video games when the “newness” of summer wears off! Here’s a great way to get prepared…

The Confident Mom has released a brand new Summer Survival Calendar packed with adventure! It’s filled with budget-friendly, creative, and fun-filled activities that families can enjoy together!

The 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31. The calendar comes in a digital PDF download so you have it instantly, and most activities include a clickable link so you can easily view directions or supplies needed. The activities are mainly targeted for ages 3-12, but every family and child is different. The Summer Survival Calendar keeps kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days—and moms will find it to be a lifesaver when kids exhibit symptoms of the “boredom blues.”

The Confident Mom has also released a 10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide to help you define your summer activities and goals and develop a plan of action, as well as it contains a variety of organizational checklists including:

Summer Goals worksheet
Ideas for Summer Fun checklist
10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide
Your Best Summer Ever Audio Workshop
Quiet Time Activities worksheet
Important Summer Dates checklist
Standard Operating Procedures worksheet
Weekly Menu Planner/Grocery List
Summer Weekly Planner
Be Summer Organized checklist

There are several ways to buy these items including some bundle ideas that will help you save!

2013 Summer Survival Calendar = $5
10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide/Audio Workshop = $3
Bundle #1: 2013 Summer Survival Calendar + 10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide/Audio Workshop = $7
Big Bundle #2: 2013 Summer Survival Calendar + 2012/2011/2010 Summer Survival Calendars + 10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide/Audio Workshop = $10

See more information and purchase your 2013 Summer Survival Calendar from The Confident Mom here.

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Comments

Margaret, we don't sell the product here. We were only letting ... by Toni Anderson
Purchased this over a week ago. (May 30, I believe, two weeks ... by Margaret

Staycation on a Budget: Enjoy Your City

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:58 GMT

Yesterday I shared with you some of my favorite things to do in Annapolis, Maryland. Today I’ve partnered with over 80 bloggers to share even more great things to do in cities all across the United States!

Check out the posts below for your favorite city!

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles
Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin
Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe
Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season
Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann’s Entitled Life
Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady
Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry
Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet
Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon “High”
Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains
Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything
Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!
Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist
Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network
Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom
Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae
Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving
Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents
Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead
Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy
Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas
Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense
Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither
Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom
Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing
Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com
St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget
Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom
Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati
Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton
Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters
NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners
Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living
South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds
Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors
Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday
Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings
Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal
Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings
Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project
Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors
Reno, Nevada – Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog
Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com
San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats
San Diego, California :: Life as MOM
Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW
Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas
Washington, DC :: Kidventurous
Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana
Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money
Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss
St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine
Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple
Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife
Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt
Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises
Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin’ in…
Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling
Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me
Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All
Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things
Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton
Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny
Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters
Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl
Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap
East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey
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Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:33 GMT

by contributing writer Kristia

Strawberries in salsa? Yep! This fresh and tasty salsa goes well with the crunchy homemade cinnamon tortilla chips or you can serve it over grilled chicken, fish, or pork.

Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Ingredients

1 lb strawberries, cleaned & chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 red or yellow pepper, chopped
juice of one lime
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
pinch of salt
4-6 (8 inch) tortillas or 1 tortilla per person
melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Combine the strawberries, onion, pepper, lime juice, parsley and salt together in a bowl.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Place tortillas on a baking sheet.
Brush the top side with the melted butter.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the tortillas.
Cut the tortillas into eighths. A pizza cutter works well.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crispy. Keep a close eye. They will burn fast.

http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/strawberry-salsa-with-cinnamon-tortilla-chips/

More recipes from Kristia

Find more delicious recipe ideas at the The Happy Housewife Recipe Index.

Comments

Looks very tasty. I'll have to try it by Alex

How to Be Gluten Free: Free Kindle Download

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:02:54 GMT

My wonderful friend (and editor here on The Happy Housewife!), Linda from The Gluten-Free Homemaker, is offering her brand new eBook FREE as a Kindle download today!

How to Be Gluten Free was written to give hope, encouragement, and practical steps for anyone living a Gluten-Free lifestyle for any reason! In the 10 chapters included in this eBook, there are “ten steps to take in the process of living gluten-free, starting with the most basic but very important step of facing emotions. Giving up food is a grieving process for many, and acknowledging that is the first step to handling it successfully. The remaining steps are more practical in nature and help people learn what they need to know to successfully buy and prepare gluten-free food, supplements, and personal care products as well as eat out safely, and connect with others.”

Linda has also included a couple of gluten-free recipes in the Appendix to get you started.

Download your free copy of How to Be Gluten Free today!

If you don’t have a Kindle, then you can still download these free eBooks to your smart phone or computer. All you need to do is download one of Amazon’s free reading apps.

Remember that Amazon prices fluctuate constantly, so verify the price before purchasing.

Sponsor Spotlight May 2013

Toni Anderson — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:42:39 +0000

I’m so thankful for the wonderful businesses that we partner with each month to bring you helpful resources that cover historical literacy curriculum to weekly household planners to teaching kids God’s Great Rescue Plan and more! I’d love it if you showed them some love by clicking over and seeing what they have to offer.

The Confident Mom

The 2013 Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner will keep busy moms from all walks of life motivated and on track with all their to-do items day after day, week after week, all year long. This weekly planner breaks down household tasks into manageable daily and weekly bite size pieces, utilizing smaller increments of time to keep the tasks from becoming too large and overwhelming.

BrimWood Press

Tools for Young Historians (TfYH) is a line of teaching products dedicated to developing historical literacy in children. We build historical literacy in 5th to 8th graders through teaching three fundamentals or critical concepts rarely taught through other curriculums.

These critical concepts entail; teaching children the language historians use for time, developing an awareness and understanding of worldviews and learning the flow of history. TfYH also provides two valuable tools that no young historian should be without. These tools are a history binder organizer and Historical Fact Sheets.

All of our products are designed to complement and augment any classically based curriculum or unit study products currently available to homeschooling families.

eMeals

eMeals is a simple system to solve your dinner time dilemma with easy meals based on delicious recipes and a consistent grocery budget. You’ll receive weekly meal plans based on your preferred grocery store sales and specific meal plan type (regular, gluten-free, low fat etc.) with 7 days of easy to follow dinner recipes and a corresponding grocery list.

Motivated Moms

While the Motivated Mom’s planner will not do your chores for you, it will help you stay organized and following the planner does keep your housework managable. There are no big cleaning projects because you do a little bit every day. I hang my planner on the fridge and assign the kids chores from the planner too. It is easy for everyone to see what is expected of them, and they can check off the job when they are finished. Many of you requested the Motivated Moms planner in app form and I’m excited to tell you it is now available! And, it’s a great deal at $7.99. You can also try the app for two weeks before you buy it!

A Slob Comes Clean

Nony has created a lifestyle of changing your habits to create a calm and clean environment in your home with her eBook, 28 Days to Hope for Your Home. It includes:

Twenty-eight days of specific instructions to help you develop four basic (but essential) home management habits.
Insights into why these concepts seem foreign to you.
Practical tips to keep you from giving up.
Bonus sections with realistic strategies for laundry management, meal prep, and decluttering.
More than 45 pages of all new, exclusive content!

What’s in the Bible?

The Bible Made Easy! Buck Denver and his friends take your children through the WHOLE Bible. Perfect viewing for the entire family – laugh and learn together. In his first new project since VeggieTales, Phil Vischer has set out to teach kids (and parents!) the story of the Bible – God’s great rescue plan! We know the stories of Moses, Noah, David, and Jesus, but in this groundbreaking new series, we learn how they all fit together to tell one big, redemptive story. Vischer’s signature wit shines through with his all-new cast of characters, fast-paced flash animation, and catchy tunes. This is one journey through the Bible you won’t want to miss!

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License:	CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Date:	May 20, 2013

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