Quick Links To Some of My Favorite Things I’ve Shared on IG

Once upon a time I worked retail and I loved it. Not because of commission checks (that all were reinvested into the store I worked at anyway) but because on my very first day of work my boss said to me “Go play!”. And that is what I did, I spent 90% of my shift playing dress up with new friends. I didn’t look at price tags or care if the item I was finding for them was just put on the shelf or had been on clearance so long we might as well have given it away. All I wanted to do was find the best thing for each one of them. I have never stopped doing that, you should see me “work” at stores I don’t even work at!

Well with the wonderful world of Instagram, Facebook and blogging  y’all kind of do get to see me at work. Some links I share are affiliate links (these are at no extra cost to you) and other are links that give me nothing but the pleasure of sharing. But as always, I’m only sharing things I like.

Please feel free to poke around on my minimalist blog for reviews and musings or onto my Instagram account if your more of a quick look and see kind of person.

Enjoy the growing list.

• Homeschooling with Horses Fun-Schooling Journal
• Bible Virtues & Values Fun-Schooling Journal
• Math Lessons for a Living Education
• My Little Pony Mug
• R.A.R. Mug
• A Tale of Two Beasts
• Dyslexia Games

 

 

 

 

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Bella Learning For Me

There as some things that I’ve wanted to learn how to do or about for almost 20 years now. Things that since my hands are full with teaching my own children I thought I wouldn’t have time to study till they were at least teenagers.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve woven some of what I want to learn into our daily lessons, nature study and most things history are favorites of mine along with social studies and geography. But there is more that I’ve wanted to learn and especially in the early years and sleepless nights of babies I all but gave up. But since we have discovered fun-schooling I’ve been taking a little more time for my own lessons.

It’s amazing how much more my own children want to sit and work on learning when they see mama doing it. When they hear me passionate about a new subject and narrating to them or drawing doodles about the subject. All those things they are getting to do in their journals.

This post does contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you and only to things I enjoy.

I’d like to say we have been doing this for a while, but really I didn’t get somewhat serious about my mom-school time until I sat down to do Dyslexia Games with them. And then today, yes just today a lazy Saturday morning with no place to go and nothing to do and no fun fiction to read I dug into one of the other books on my shelf.

This is a book that begs for me to take notes, to do copy work, to look up how to say phrases and study history and cook food. This book asks for its very own “unit study” of delight directed learning… for ME. What is the name of this magical book that is inspiring me to put together a basket just for me? La Bella Lingua and while I would love to give you a full review, I’m only a few pages into the second chapter so I cannot yet.

So now I am looking at what I can put in my Bella Basket, besides the book and google. Today I asked google “how do you say ‘fart’ in Italian” because I have a 10 year old boy and he wanted in on my searching for Italian words.

• This isn’t a mom journal so if your teenager is all things Italian like I am, this could be a good one for them too. I really like the Steampunk cover because it reminds me of Leonardo De Vinci. High School Journal with Steampunk cover. PDF or this one would be nice too, I really like how the spelling pages are set up. I can imagine writing the Italian word on one side and the translation on the other.
• Under the Tuscan Sun. Do not be fooled by the movie, the book is wonderful and just wonderful! But don’t blame me if you want to eat all the Pine Nuts after reading it too.
• The about book has plenty of recipes to keep me busy in the kitchen but I wouldn’t mind adding a book by Giada to my collection. (My daughter loves watcher her food network show as much as I do.)
• The Poetry of Michelangelo an Annotated Translation. I bought this book in my early 20’s, it’s still a favorite of mine!
• Renaissance Coloring Book. Generally I’m all about the impressionists but as I delve into more things Italian I cannot help but be drawn to the artists of the Renaissance
• Kids Animated History with Pipo. My husband and I actually have been watching this via Amazon Prime.
• YouTube Learn Italian. This gal is really fast, but so far I enjoy her the most.
• I’m always on the hunt for more games to play, and card games happen to be a favorite. I’m excited to try this one.
• And of course, movies like this one to inspire you to keep you wanting to study till you can buy the tickets to travel. This one with English subtitles is a favorite as well, when the main actor received his Oscar I cried for joy with him. To this day its the only Oscars I’ve enjoyed and I’m so happy its one that I watched.

Why I Pre-Read

I’m a lover of books and I remember that summer that found that love. I was 12 years old and my grandmother introduced me to historical fiction. I was hooked! I read every single book I could get my hand on in that genre.

Fast forward to the spring just before my 14th birthday, and no Christian bookstore in the town I was vacationing to help me with the fact that I read my entire vacation book on the place! I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I popped into a local bookstore and spent my vacation money on a book that didn’t have a smutty cover but looked like the genre I read.

This post does contain affiliate links, but only to things I enjoy and at no extra cost to you.

I received quite an education from that book, part of which has stayed with me to this day. Pre-read my kids books! Fortunately my kids are not as avid readers as I am, yet. So I have some time to review a wide variety now.

Most recent pre-read was Graceling.  My local library has this listed as a Young Adult book along with an advanced 5th level. Young adult YES, 5th level. Nope! I would rate this book as PG13 for sexual content, and I’m not exactly thrilled with the premarital sex or the anti marriage agenda. The book also alluded to sexual abuse as well. But beyond that, the story was a fun engaging story, well written and delightful. I’m more likely to suggest to my child that they read it in there early adult years or beyond. And yes, I am going to read the rest in the series because I’m not a 5th grade level and I want to know what happens next.

In the mean time Jenny Phillips has a very conservative reading list that will assist me while I work through other books that have been suggested, and I continue my own search for what is expectable for my family.

 

Review: Kathleen The Celtic Knot

It wasn’t till I finished the last page that I noticed that Kathleen The Celtic Knot was an American Girl book. It also happens to be the first American Girl book I have ever read and I am looking forward to reading more of this Girls of Many Lands Series.

I picked this little book up pre St Patrick’s day as part of my goal to pre-read more books for my kids. This is just the sort of book I would have loved as a 12 year old and while the library has it listed as a 5th Level Advanced Reader, because of maturity of some content I will wait until my little ones are 12+.

Reading this book, I felt transported to 1937 Ireland and could easily imagine my like was Kathleen’s. I learned much about the culture, history and even Gaelic. The book includes a glossary that I reference often after I discovered it and clarified some unknown words or terms; and it includes a brief history of “current” Ireland with some color photos.

I’m expecting that some Step Dancing and having embroidery kits on hand for Celtic Knots will take the simple pleasure of this book to the next level. Oh, and maybe a loaf of Irish Soda bread too.

A Living Geography That Takes Your Family Around The World

Seriously I have nothing but the best things to say about Around The World Stories. Yesterday (St Patrick’s Day) we listed to 3 stories from Ireland. Then today at lunch (left over baked potatoes) we listed to the last story, The Potato Fairy. You should have seen the extra happy faces when I pulled out the coloring pages that the folk at Around The World Stories included with the story.

Since we first started listing they have upped their game with their Make It Interactive section that is included with each story. It has everything I would want to take the story to the next level with the ease of clicking on a link. No Pinterest searching needed…but if I did want to take it further, well they have Pinterest Boards too.

These stories not only teach us about other countries and cultures, but they are full of moral choices and inspiring characters. Characters and stories my children ask to hear again and again.

Well, the one story was not going to cut it today and while they requested to listen to the Ireland stories all over again. We had nothing on the agenda so I suggested one of the new Asian Stories from China instead. China was met with more giggles, and requests for another. Since we were not focusing on “lessons” today I let them listen to a Denmark story as well that included a trip to Lego land. Not to shabby for a Sunday afternoon.

Fun- Schooling in Survival Mode

I’m not going to lie, I did not take my advice this past year and I spent most of it in survival mode. Hopefully, my suggestions will save others and myself future stress and drama and bring fun back into our days even when it feels like I’m drowning.

Keep it simple! No really, that is it…keep it simple! It’s not rocket science, it’s survival. What HAS to be done? For us that is Bible, Language Arts and Math. I know, some days it feel hard to do just those. Don’t try to add more than what your really NEED to do.

I have this great little 90 day book that helps me. Sarah’s Secret 90 Day Pocket Planner “The easiest way to live your dreams and get out of survival mode.”  It asks you, mama to look at 4 important things or 4 necessary things each day. For each of that it will be different and from day-to-day it will change too. Let’s remember that we are not only their teachers, we are their moms. Most likely we are also the cook, maid, consoler, driver, social director, wife, friend…and so much more.  But even while we DO IT ALL…we don’t have to do it all, all the time.

For Bible, it can be as little as YouVersion verse of the day and Amazon Music Hymns or Psalty’s. My oldest does copy work and we pray. We pray our praise and our needs and lift up others.

For everything else the Fun-Schooling Core Journals like this one that covers a whole year or my sons Minecraft Journal is perfect for when I am pushed to my limit. It covers ALL subjects he needs except for math. (And while in survival mode, Khan math and other apps work pretty great. Once he is reading more independently his normal math is perfect for self-directed learning as well.)

With my little two, we read books. They also play learning games on their kindle or have more story time with Epic.

Does that sound too basic or simple? It really isn’t. Now personally I believe, while in survival mode, it is important I would even say necessary for me to make positive connections with my kids. For me that is going to be lots of snuggling while reading books, watching shows and listing to audio stories.

Audio stories tend to be a favorite for all of us, because they like it when mama breaks out the treats and doodle or coloring or some other type of art pages and sits at the table with them and DO side by side while we listen. We have a collection of audio books that appeal to my oldest and I more than the younger too. But it’s the Around The World Stories that engage all of us the most. (I don’t let us binge listen to these, we have to wait at least till the next day or even a whole week. We treat them like an old fashion radio show and it really builds our relationship with the characters and what we are learning about. You can read more about our love of these stories here.)

Playing games is another fun way of learning and creating positive moments in the survival of the season. Hedbanz is one that we like playing during meal time and Bean Boozeled gets all the happy endorphins going. Hit the Habitat Trail covers all things science and Brain Quest Smart Game give us a bit of learning in all the subjects. And did you know that you can play a game instead of “doing a lesson” and you have still done “a lesson”?  Yep, that is fun-schooling!

Also getting outside with them! Even if all I do is sit and sip tea in the sun while that run about it makes a difference. Getting that Vitamin D naturally, or in a supplement (The kids and I LOVE this one) and other nutritional supplements is needed when in survival. I can’t begin to explain how LOW I was feeling this past year as I let my eating get out of control (sugar is NOT my friend) and didn’t have my vitamins. Proper nutrition, rest and movement make a difference when you are wanting to thrive not just survive.

 

 

Review: Unhurried Grace for a Moms Heart

Right away I knew that I was going to be blessed by this devotional. After all, it is written by one of my favorite authors who’s homeschooling book is on my MUST READ list. I’ve not been disappointed!

Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart: 31 Days in God’s Word is the first devotional that I’ve read that I can honestly see the fruit of reading it over and over again, many times in a year or over the course of my motherhood journey. Durenda has a natural way of mentoring via the written word (or even via her podcast at http://www.durendawilson.com) that is brilliant. Combining this gifting with the Word of God, allows the Holy Spirit to speak new and fresh and to YOUR heart with each chapter.

Each chapter includes a section for you to write out your thoughts to God and a place to jot down what you hear Him saying back to you. I personally am using a blank journal for this part because I have a digital copy. Even if I didn’t using the journal allows me the room to write out the section of scripture that speaks to me, and write what I’m hearing that day. This will allow me to also come back to this devotional more than once and read it “new”. This journal is alive with the Word who is always speaking to us, it is a devotional that clearly can and should be revisited lots on this mom journey.

Also included at the end of each chapter are a few questions you can ask yourself, just ONE of the special ways God used Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart: 31 Days in God’s Word to speak to me was in the chapter titled “God’s Wisdom or Mans?” and the question at the end. It was along the lines of “what does God want my day to look like”.

When reflecting on the question, it had me thinking about an issue that had been bothering me. We do not have a set schedule (road schooling family here) but I know what our days should include. I’ve studied and wrote on this before but that morning it was crystal clear what He was saying to me about my days.

1. Study Gods Word & build a strong relationship with Him
2. Independent work & helping hands (to cultivate work ethic)
3. Family Learning with beautiful stories, exploration & games
4. Independent exploration of gifting’s, talents & interests.
5. One on one time & meaningful conversations

Too often I still get bogged down about all there is to do and keeping up with everyone else. But God created us each unique and that unigueness needs to transfer into our homeschool life as well. How we do school is not often going to look like anyone else that doesn’t make us better or worse, it simply means we are walking in OUR calling.

I’m not going to share with you all that God has been speaking to me as I’ve unhurried my way through this devotional but I will tell you that there has been growth. He had been comforting and ministering to me right were I am at in each page of this book.