Homeschool ABC Collab: D is for Discounts

 There are so many discounts available for teachers and many extend to homeschoolers as well.  From Lakeshore Learning, Jo-ann's and Michael's to Barnes & Noble, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Disneyland.

Join us in this new youtube collab exploring and celebrating the ABC's of your homeschool.

This video gives you the information you need to join us. Any other questions, let me know.
Homeschool ABC Collab Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVcpEeZ3c

Homeschool ABC Collab Letter D playlist:

My Education Discount site:
http://www.myeducationdiscount.com

Six Flags Read to Succeed:
https://feedback.sixflags.com/rts/default.aspx

Monterey Bay Aquarium Homeschool Days:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/education/home-school-days

Every Kid in a Park:
https://www.everykidinapark.gov

Homeschool ABC's Collab- Letter E is for... will be posted on Tuesday February 7, 2017.  Come back with your links to be added to the playlist.

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
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Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Music Attribution:

Country Cue 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

February Holidays and Homeschool Ideas

Looking for ways to add some fun to your homeschool?  Here are just a few of the holidays and fun days you can celebrate this month:

2. Groundhog Day
*Make these cute cupcakes for snack.
*Watch the news to see if Phil see's his shadow.
*Read a groundhog book and make a stick puppet.

5. Nutella Day
*"Bake" our favorite: nutella cheesecake.

6. Doodle Day
*Show competency with a drawing.
*Create some fingerprint art with doodles.

8. Boy Scout Day
*Take a nature walk and identify native plants.
*Plan a community service project.
*Start a camping pinterest board.

12. Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
*Make an Abraham Lincoln mask.
*Create a log cabin snack.

14. Valentine's Day
*Make a special breakfast.
*Sew felt cookies.
*Invite friends to decorate Valentines.

16. Almond Day
*Make Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters.
*Learn about sprouting nuts and seeds.

17. Random Acts of Kindness Day
*Take the 26 Intentional Acts of Kindness Challenge.

20. Love your Pet Day
*Research a new family pet.
*Shop for a new treat on a budget.
*Write a paragraph about an interesting fact about your pet.
*Read to your pet.

22. George Washington's Birthday
*Complete a George Washington crossword puzzle.
*Read a Who Was George Washington? book.

26. Tell a Fairytale Day
*Make over a fairy tale with an alternative ending.
*Compare/contrast two versions of a favorite fairy tale.
*Write a letter to your favorite fairy tale character.

27. Strawberry Day
*Freeze some healthy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt.

What days are you celebrating this month?

Weekend Links

Blackeyed Peas Jicama Caviar Salad

DIY Spice Rack with Test Tubes

Mudroom Organization

DIY Wood Shelves

Strawberries n Cream Blender Baked Donuts

This Week:

What I Made: Lydia and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen this week.  A LOT of time... we made squash muffins, cinnamon loaf, play dough, and even refilled the humming bird feeder.  We've really been enjoying watching our humming birds.

What I'm Reading:  You probably noticed from this week's posts that I finished up a lot of books this week.  I finished up In the Shadow of Denali and Escape from Mr. Limoncello's Library.  Two totally different books, but both really good.  Check out this month's Bookmarks post to see all the books we've been reading this month.

What I'm Doing: I'm working on decluttering again.  I really broke down on my system last year, but hoping to do better this year.  So I'm starting in the kitchen and PURGING.  Selling what I can and donating what I can't.

What I'm Watching:  We finally watched the first episode of This Is Us this week.  I loved it.  Wow!  Totally different from everything else on TV and really enjoying it.

What I'm Enjoying: our humming bird feeder... ABC collab series... decluttering... being a homebody... reading classic literature with my 4th grader... 

What are you up to?

2017 January Bookmarks

*Bookmarks is an online book club hosted at Creative2xmom. Here we discuss the books we've read in the past month as well as the suggested reading. Our suggested reading for January was The Husband's Secret by Laine Moriarty.

These are the books I read this month:

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan-- Esperanza has always lived a blessed life with her parents and grandmother.  The daughter of a wealthy landowner in Mexico, she's lived with servants, comfort and money.  Till one day her father is killed by bandits, and she and her mother must flee to America in order to stay together.  Once in California she learns what life is like as a migrant worker.  Here she  must chose to either rebuild or fight the system that is feeding her.  An interesting look at the Dust Bowl era.  I picked up this book for my 4th grade daughter and found I couldn't put it down.

The Kindness Challenge by Shaunti Feldhahn-- See my review here.

In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse-- See my review here.

What We Read with the Kids:

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder-- We love the Little House on the Prairie series but it's been years since we've read through them.  This year we're starting over to share them with our Kindergartener.  Farmer Boy follows the childhood of Almanzo who will grow up to be Laura's husband.  There are many adventures and misadventures that will sure to delight your children.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library-- This was a one of the selections from Barnes and Noble's summer reading program this past summer.  My 4th grade daughter picked it out and read it in November and I read it this past weekend.  It's so good.  I was in awe at how Grabenstein could weave so many wonderful works of literature into one fantastic book.  I loved it as much as she did.

Our suggested reading for January was The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriary-- Cecilia Fitzpatrick lives a busy wife.  With three daughters, a successful husband, and a thriving business, Cecilia seems to have it all.  Until one day she discovers a mysterious letter only to be opened in the event of her husband's death.  Tess O'Leary comes face to face with her own frail marriage when she discovers that her husband, Will, has secretly fallen in love with her cousin and best friend, Felicity.  Fleeing the city for some time to heal, she reconnects with an old flame and questions her future.  Rachel Crowley, the elderly school secretary, lives a sad life, remember her 17 year old daughter who was murdered years before.  As her desperation grows, she narrows in on Connor Whitby and struggles to control her desire for revenge.  This book was a page turner.  Although we quickly know who the murderer is, the tragic details unfold slowly and left me questioning my own moral code.  I continue to be astonished at the depth of which Moriarty can create both a mystery and study in human nature.

So what are your bookmarks this month?

Tell us in the comments about the books you're chewing on. Or link up a review from your own blog. Let's share the books we're finding, good and bad. And give us your thoughts on The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty.

Authentic Homeschooling Collab

What is authentic homeschooling?  How do you stay true to yourself and your kids in your homeschool?  Having so many options can often leave us homeschoolers feeling pressured and worn out.  How can we balance doing our best with being authentically ourselves?

Playlist for Authentic Homeschool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAmVF...

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
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FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

In the Shadow of Denali {Review}

John and Cassidy Ivanoff work in the beautiful Curry Hotel, built along the Alaskan railroad in the shadow of Mt. McKinley.  Father and daughter, both are happy to have found work together and live a relativity quiet life.  Having lost Cassidy's mother years ago, they have a solid relationship built on trust and honesty.

But when Allan Brennan arrives to work as John's assistant, the past comes back to haunt him.  Years prior, Allan's father died in an expedition led by John.  Henry Brennan's death has been shrouded in mystery for years, with his business partner blaming Ivanoff, and Ivanoff wondering what went wrong himself.  Can Allan overcome his anger and hurt in order to work with John?  And can John, Allan, and Cassidy uncover the details of Henry Bennan's death before someone else dies In the Shadow of Denali?

Let's talk good points:  The characters' internal conflicts were well developed.  Cassidy wrestles with falling for a man who hates her father.  John Ivanoff wrestles with what part he played in Henry Brennan's death, and Allan Brennan wrestles with his anger toward Ivanoff versus his growing respect for the man.  These are all valid situations and not clear cut.  Each of these characters' internal wrestlings were accurate and honest.  The setting for this novel is also intriguing (1920's Alaska) and the main draw was the added historic details.

Cons: While the arrival of Henry Brennan's business partner did complicate the story line, the ending was predictable.  Despite complicated emotions, the good versus evil characters were clearly defined and obvious from the beginning.  This books wraps up well and I was slightly disappointed as it's book 1 in the series.  I was hoping for more of a cliff hanger ending.

In the end, while the story line was somewhat predictable, I did enjoy the characters and setting enough to continue reading the series.  If you love historical fiction, you will definitely enjoy this book.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Lemon Sparkle Playdough

 

 January always makes me think of fresh things.  A new year, new goals, new beginnings... and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh lemon scent?  So while the weather outside is frightful, we're in the kitchen making lemon play dough with just enough sparkle to celebrate the new year!

Lemon Sparkle Playdough

2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 c. water

25-30 drops yellow food coloring
10 drops lemon essential oil
glitter of your choice

1. Mix first 5 ingredients together in a medium pan.

2. Heat on stove over medium heat, stirring until thickened.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

4. Knead in food coloring and lemon oil, until the color and scent you desire.

5. Knead in glitter.

6. Store in an airtight container.

Homeschool ABC Collab: C is for Mid-Year Curriculum Review

 C is for our Mid-Year Curriculum Review.  Here's what we think of everything we've used so far this year: Evan-Moor, Rod & Staff, Confessions of a Homeschooler, Spectrum, Sadler-Oxford, Beautiful Feet, Explode the Code and more.

Join us in this new youtube collab exploring and celebrating the ABC's of your homeschool.

This video gives you the information you need to join us. Any other questions, let me know.
Homeschool ABC Collab Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVcpEeZ3c

Homeschool ABC's Collab - Letter C is for....
playlist:


Homeschool ABC's Collab- Letter D is for... will be posted on Tuesday January 31, 2016.  Come back with your links to be added to the playlist.

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on http://twitter.com/creative2xmom
pin it http://www.pinterest.com/creative2xmom

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Music Attribution:

Country Cue 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

The Kindness Challenge {Review}

Written by Shaunti Feldhahn, the Kindness Challenge dares its reader to find more kindness in each day.  Every day we're bombarded with negative news, mud slinging in politics, sarcastic comebacks, and "looking out for Number #1" attitudes.  But are we really happy?  More money, more toys, more vacations... and yet divorces, depression, and loneliness are all on the rise.  Can something as small as a little kindness really turn the tide?  Feldhahn asserts that it can.

The Kindness Challenge is laid out in three parts.  Part One lays the foundation for displaying kindness: the who, what, and why.  This section of the book presents the three main ingredients of the challenge: eliminating negativity, pouring praising, and small acts of kindness.  Part Two takes those three ingredients into account and explores each one in greater depth.  What does "eliminating negativity" look like in relationship to your co-workers?  How do you praise people in a genuine way?  And what are some unique acts of kindness that aren't cheesy?  Part Three contains three unique 30 Day plans for showing kindness to someone in your life.  Of the three 30 Day plans, one is for husbands, one for wives, and a third plan for showing kindness to anyone outside the first two categories.  I actually really like that because marriage represents its own special challenges and deserves its own road map.

So for 30 days, I've taken the challenge with two people in my life.  Unbeknownst to them, I've been working on the three prong approach in my relationships: nixing negativity, finding ways to praise, and serving simple acts of kindness.  I wanted to know if 30 days could really make that big of a difference.  And you know what I found out?  30 days didn't make a difference.

My relationships started to change within a week.

Less than a week and this challenge was already changing the relationships in my life.

I was shocked.  It's not that these relationships were bad.  They just needed a little attention.  And boy did they blossom with just a little bit of time.  I'm finding myself much happier, satisfied, and optimistic about what the future holds for me with these two individuals.  And it really took a minimal investment on my part.  The surprising thing was that the more I gave, the more I wanted to give because as I gave the relationship became more rewarding and fruitful.

When I first started Feldhahn's book, I thought I'd pick up a few tips.  Maybe complete a challenge or two.  But I never expected how life changing it would be.  Now I find myself looking for relationships and opportunities to practice kindness.  It's like my eyes have been opened to a world of possibilities.  It's what Feldhahn would call "Kindness Blindness."  I thought I was a kind person before this challenge, but now I see that kindness is so much deeper than I ever realized.

The Kindness Challenge has certainly changed my life and I'm sure to find myself reading this book over and over again.

*Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

25 Things Every Person Should Do for Themselves At Least Once a Year

1. Count Your Blessings--Taking time to count your blessings will remind you of all you have to be thankful for.  A bright outlook to start the day is priceless

2. Reflect on Your Friendships--Reflect on what you've want the most out of your friendships.  Then devise a plan to give that very thing in your friendships in the new year.

3. Purge--Purge your home.  Get rid of anything that you haven't used in a year.  The classic excuse is that you don't want to have to re-purchase something you purged.  But in truth, your already paying to store those items you aren't using.

4. Prioritize--Know your priorities.  List all the commitments in your life, prioritize and let go of the things that just don't line up with your vision.

5. Visit a new city-- Seeing new places and visiting new cities gives you a better sense of the world as a whole.  Whether a few hours away or a plane ride around the world, discover new places, people, and new adventures.

6. Learn to cook something new-- New year, new foods.  Learn to cook that favorite dish you always go out for, discover a new favorite dessert, or makeover your menu with a healthy twist.

7. Do something adventurous-- What speaks adventure to your soul?  Skydiving?  Road trip?  The Great Outdoors?  Seek out some adventure in your day to day life.

8.  Visit your hometown--Return to your roots.  Wander the streets you knew as a child and rediscover old treasures.  Remember the good times and gratefully return to the wonderful town you currently live in.

9. Do something extravagantly kind for someone else-- A friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, ... we all crave a little kindness in our lives.  But take this one beyond the random act of kindness, make a sacrifice, and give extravagantly for someone else.

10. Get in touch with an old friend-- Old friends are gold, as the saying goes.  They know us inside and out, and love us just the same.  Take the time to invest in those old friendships and remember what made you friends in the first place.

11. Go on a spending fast-- Challenge yourself to not spend unnecessarily for a month.  Pay your bills, of course, but put a freeze on all non-essentials.  This will give you space to consider your purchases and where you're spending your money.

12. Go to a live performance-- Whether a concert, play, or school production, experience culture beyond a screen.  Get caught up in the music and atmosphere that only a live production can provide.

13. Clean your closet-- Get rid of anything you haven't worn in a year. If you haven't worn it in the past year, you're simply storing it.  Is there anything worn, ripped or simply not your style?  Get rid of that as well.

14. Memorize some new Scripture-- Challenge yourself to a piece of Scripture each month.  Memorize the books of the Bible for easy reference.  Commit to key passages that represent the gospel.  Or find larger chunks of scripture that challenge your brain.

15. Forgive yourself for something you've been holding on to-- We all hold on to past mistakes.  Some of us hold on to them too long.  And the longer we hold on, the harder it is to let go.  But it's time to let go.  And if you can't, find someone to help you put it in perspective.

16. Adopt a new healthy habit-- January is traditionally the time to start eating healthier.  But any time of year is a great time to develop a healthy habit.  Start working out, eating healthier, doing yoga, cutting down on sugar... each small healthy step leads to a healthier lifestyle.

17. Find a place to serve in the church-- We all have gifts to share with others.  Find a place to use those gifts, whether it's serving meals, teaching kids, or playing on the worship team.  Don't attend church?  There are many organizations in the community what for you to share your gift.

18. Re-read a book that encouraged you in the past-- It's no secret that we love to read in this family and there's so many good books out there.  Sometimes we find a book that absolutely changes the way we view life.  Why not pick up that book again and see if there's more growth there for you?

19. Make a new friend-- Life is not meant to be lived alone.  Make a new friend in your current season of life.  Maybe another parent in Little League or another young married couple from church.

20. Read the biography of an early church leader-- Speaking of encouragement, reading about early leaders can challenge and deepen the way we look at ministry and relationships, encouraging us in how the Lord is moving today.

21. Do something that scares you-- Are you afraid of heights?  Friendships?  Cooking?  Find one thing that scares you and overcome it.  Nothing will make you feel more empowered or confident.  And it will deepen the way you look at life and others.

22. Buy a new pair of shoes-- I'm not talking about the fancy boots (although if you have the money, certainly treat yourself).  Rather purchase a new pair of tennis shoes for workouts, walking or vacations.  A new pair of tennis shoes will provide better support for your knees and back in the coming year.

23. Go to one really nice dinner-- That restaurant you've always wanted to try?  Now's the time.  Dress up, go hungry, invite some friends, and for one night, savor dinner.  Slow down and talk.  And by all means, order dessert.

24. Buy flowers-- Nothing dresses up a room like fresh flowers.  Bring the outdoors in with a vibrant bouquet of fresh flowers, any time of year.

25. Unplug for a day (at least)-- No iPad, no laptop, no phone... can you do it?  Unplug from your online "friendships" and plug into your real life.  What do you notice?  Who will you talk to?  How will you listen?

What would you add to this list?

What will you do for yourself in the next year?

Weekend Links

Seafood Sweet Potato Risotto

3 Things I'm Doing to Keep Life Calm

Stay Healthy in Cold and Flu Season

Mardi Gras Mermaid Wreath

How to Build a Shiplap for $100

This Week:

What I Made: I had some peanut butter cookie dough in the freezer from the holidays and we had to break it out. 

What I'm Reading:  I'm on the wait list for February's Bookmarks' selection so in the meantime, I'm reading a Christian mystery book set in the wilds of Alaska.  It's been a page turner for sure.

What I'm Doing:  Things have definitely slowed down after the holidays.  So we're working in the yard, decluttering, and doing lots of fun hands-on projects for homeschool.  And this weekend is baseball tryouts for the new season!  Yeah!  It's just around the corner.

What I'm Watching:  My husband and I just finished binge watching all the seasons of King of Queens.  It took us quite awhile and the last couple of episodes were emotional.  But it was so good.  Now we're in binge watching slump!

What I'm Enjoying: The 30-Day Kindness Challenge... sunshine... bullet journaling (maybe?)... lots of salads... a few cookies ... ;-)

What are you up to?

Speed Cleaning My House After the Weekend

Looking for some mid-week inspiration?  Come speed clean with me.  From the kitchen to the dinning room to the living room and the laundry, let’s get it done!  Join me in my first speed cleaning video as we recover from the weekend.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on http://twitter.com/creative2xmom

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Music Attribution:

Pop Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

Ashland, Or's Caldera Brewery

On our last trip to Ashland, Or, my husband and I found ourselves driving through the countryside and savoring our last morning away.  As we wound our way back toward town, we realized we were hungry, but in the mood to try something new.  My husband, being the beer connoisseur that he is, wanted to see if we could find Caldera Brewery.  We'd heard about it, but hadn't found it in our travels yet.  So it became our morning mission.

Located off the #14 exit on I-5 in southern Oregon, Caldera is hidden behind several hotels.  Honestly, if we hadn't used Google Maps, we may not have found it. But once we were seated inside, we realized it sits perfectly on a hill to look over some beautiful scenery opposite the freeway.  We opted for indoor seating as it was a bit chilly, but the patio seating was spacious and clean.    

This location houses the brewery with 45 beers on tap.  My husband was in heaven.  The waitress suggested their sampler.  With 5 beers to sample, he was quite happy with his choice and felt like he had a good taste of everything.  For his lunch, he ordered Black Bean Quinoa Burger.  Topped with guacamole and roasted red peppers, this burger held together well and was flavorful.  Black bean burgers can be tricky.  Cook them too long and they're dry.  But this one was cooked just right.  Paired with a Lemon Caesar Salad (other sides available), it was the perfect light lunch. 

I opted for Caldera's home brewed Ginger Ale.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I love ginger ale, so I gave it a try.  Wow!  Light, refreshing, with a little bite... this ginger ale was amazing!  For lunch, I ordered the Rogue Valley Salad.  Organic mixed greens topped with candied hazelnuts, Rogue Valley blue cheese, seasonal fruit (mine had strawberries and blackberries) and dressed with Mogli Balsamic Vinaigrette, this salad was light, refreshing, and so filling.  The portion was very generous and there was flavor in every bite.  The only thing that gave me pause was the vinaigrette.  I'm not a beer drinker and I was nervous about ruining the salad.  But I couldn't have been more wrong.  The Mogli Balsamic is both sweet and rich without being overpowering.  A perfect compliment to the flavors in this salad.

Since we've visited Caldera, they've opened a second location in Ashland's downtown district.  Although the menu is slightly smaller, there are still 20 beers on tap and a beautiful variety of items to please any palate.  I honestly can't wait to return to Caldera.  They have so many dishes we are anxious to taste.  We will definitely be visiting again.

Other favorite Ashland restaurants:

     Ashland's Agave

     Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery

Homeschool ABC Collab: B is for Buying Books

B is for our favorite places to buy books and curriculum... from Amazon to Ebay to Facebook to the Dollar Tree... there are so many deals to be found.  Here are some of our favorite places to find steals and deals.

Join us in this new youtube collab exploring and celebrating the ABC's of your homeschool.

This video gives you the information you need to join us. Any other questions, let me know.
Homeschool ABC Collab Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVcpEeZ3c

Homeschool ABC's Collab - Letter B is for....
playlist:

Homeschool ABC's Collab- Letter C is for... will be posted on Tuesday January 24, 2016.  Come back with your links to be added to the playlist.

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on http://twitter.com/creative2xmom
pin it http://www.pinterest.com/creative2xmom

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Music Attribution:

Country Cue 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

Weekend Links

Healthy Habits Chart

Sweet Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

When Enough is Really Enough

Chicken Fajita Lunch Bowls

This Week:

What I Made:  I've been working on helping the kids be more independent in the kitchen.  So we baked some bread, and they helped with dinner several nights.

What I'm Reading:  Oh, I got a review book about Alaska.  :-)  You know we love Alaska after traveling there several times.  Great mystery/romance.

What I'm Doing:  Reading, nursing sick kids, planning a fun geology unit, catching up on household chores, baking muffins...

What I'm Watching:  We started watching our Wednesday night lineup again this week...

Goldbergs, Speechless and Modern Family

What I'm Enjoying:  snow... a break in the rain... teaching my kids to cook... 

What are you up to?

Surprising the Kids with a Disneyland Trip

On New Year's Eve, the kids opened their Christmas gifts from Grandma.  After all the presents were opened, she sent them on a scavenger hunt for their last gift.  They never would have guessed that they'd be going to Disneyland!

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on http://twitter.com/creative2xmom

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

Music Attribution:

Jingle Bells by Jingle Punks is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Happy Little Elves by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

Homeschool ABC Collab: A is for Abeka Science

A is for Abeka Science... we love our Abeka Science... especially for the upper elementary grades.  This is our review.  What do you think of Abeka Science?

Join us in this new youtube collab exploring and celebrating the ABC's of your homeschool.

This video gives you the information you need to join us. Any other questions, let me know.
Homeschool ABC Collab Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVcpEeZ3c

Homeschool ABC's Collab - Letter A is for....
playlist:

Homeschool ABC's Collab- Letter B is for... will be posted on Tuesday January 17, 2016.  Come back with your links to be added to the playlist.

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
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Country Cue 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

The Weekly Wrap: Saying Goodbye to Grandma

 This was a crazy busy week.  Between cutting tracks in the snow, to getting back to school, to attending a family funeral... ugh... 2017 is off to a hectic start.

C O N N E C T
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Music Attribution:

Happy Little Elves by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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For Mimi by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

2016 in Review!

 2016 was Incredible!  Camping, fishing, dance, spending time with family and kids growing way too fast.  Looking back makes me both sad and excited to see where the future will take us.

C O N N E C T
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Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

One Second Every Day {December 2016}

December was crazy busy... birthday party, dance recital, baking, planning, wrapping, and celebrating.  December had it all.  And we were there to soak up every minute, despite being hit by the nastiest colds.

C O N N E C T
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Music Attribution:

Happy Little Elves by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

2017 Read Aloud List

We love our read aloud time in the evenings.  Every night the kids snuggle on the couch with Mom or Dad, and listen to a chapter book that takes them to far away places.  It's a time that we all love to wind down together and enjoy!

This year we decided to read through the Little House series again.  Lydia and Josiah read Little House in the Big Woods last fall, and we realized that Josiah's never heard these stories before.  So they're at the top of our read aloud list.  Other than that, I tried to fill in our year with classic tales and people to admire.

I hope this list inspires you!

Farmer Boy

Little House on the Prairie

On the Banks of Plum Creek

By the Shores of Silver Lake

The Long Winter

Little Town on the Prairie

These Happy Golden Years

The First Four Years

Helen Keller

Black Stallion

One and Only Ivan

Heidi

The Indian in the Cupboard

The Weekly Wrap: Wrapping up 2016!

 Christmas break is rolling on... kids are testing out their roller-skates and we're visiting with friends.  Noah attends Distance Camp for swim, and we visit Grandma for "Christmas."

C O N N E C T
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Music Attribution:

All Good In The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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We Wish You a Merry Xmas by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Happy Little Elves by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

2017 Bookmarks List

Yeah, I've been working on hard on this year Bookmarks List and I'm hoping you'll enjoy it as well.  It has a little bit of several categories from fiction to biography, parenting to historical fiction, Christian living to memoir.

I tried to start out the year with a strong fiction piece,

and finish December with a fun read.

January--The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

February--The Magnolia Story

March--A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

April--Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

May--Atlas Girl

June--Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas

July--Paris for One (and Other Stories)

August--Loving Your Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk

September--The Happiness Project

October--Anne of Green Gables

November--To Love, Honor, and Vacuum

December--Circling the Sun

What books will you embrace this year?