New Year's Resolution......Plan Your Work, and Work Your Plan (Link up)

Hi all!
  I'm taking a tip from my husband for my New Year's Resolution this year.  He is a master at time management, and he is always saying....."Plan your work, and work you plan."  So that is exactly what I plan to do this upcoming year.

  I'm going to fill in my calendar, make lists, set (reachable) goals, and work them through to completion! I've got so many things that I want to learn like, cake decorating, sewing, more advanced crochet projects, along with ideas for repurposing items.  I have all these creative thoughts, but I never take the time to do them.  This year, however, I intend to do it!  I don't think by any means that I will master all (or any, for that matter) of these things, but I am determined to give them all a fair trial, and share them on this blog.

  In order to do that though, I have got to get my household duties in order and running on a tight (but manageable) schedule.  My house stays pretty much company ready at all times, but I feel like I'm running around in circles most of the time trying to keep up. Thanks to www.Flylady.org, I will have be able to get my house running much more smoothly. If you haven't checked her site out, you really should!  It is a great site to help you manage your household duties.  By using Flylady, I'll be able to keep my house in tip top shape, and have time to work on my crafts.

  So this year, with inspiration from my husband, I'm going to plan my work and work my plan!  I'm hoping for a fun, productive, and efficient New Year!

  What's your New Year Resolution?  Do you have a household, homeschooling, blogging, or just life in general, tip that you would like to share for the upcoming year? I would love to hear it!  Please join the link below, and tell me what you have planned for 2011.  Don't forget to add the link to your blog so others can join in on the fun!

Happy Planning!
Jennifer


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How do you homeschool?

Hi all,

  Today I thought I would discuss how we homeschool.  We have been homeschooling our DD since the beginning.  She entered the 4th grade this year.  We homeschool year 'round.  Our school year goes from 9/1 - 8/31, taking small breaks throughout the year.  I have found this works better for us, rather than one big break.
    We have been using the A Beka Book program.  For those of you who are not familiar with this curriculum, it is Christian based.  You can purchase whole grade curriculums, or just the subjects you would like.  I like this program because it has all of the lesson plans laid out for me.  I know exactly what I need to cover each day.

  It has worked well for us.  She did exceptionally well with her testing at the end of 3rd grade.  Which gave me the confidence that I was not failing in my job as her teacher. :)  (Do any of you worry about that at times?)  I do have to say, that we find it a bit monotonous, so I usually try to supplement our learning through extra books from the library, or things found on the internet to liven it up a bit.

 I have to admit that using the A Beka Book curriculum has been my safety net in this whole adventure.  I think I would be overwhelmed (more like terrified) trying to use some of the other methods out there that don't use curriculums.  I admire those with the confidence to do this!    

 Which gets to the real reason why I'm writing this post.  I'm curious to hear about some of the other great methods out there.  I would love to hear how you homeschool!  What has worked for you?  What do you and your children look forward to learning?  Do you have a great project you would like to share? How about a great book?  My DD (9) LOVES to read series type books.  Do you have some suggestions you would like to share? How about pictures of your classroom?  Or, great supplements?  What do you do to make your day run smoothly?   I would love to hear anything pertaining to homeschooling.

  Please join the linky below with your post on a homeschooling topic!  Don't forget to add a link on your blog back here so that others can join in as well.  If your not a blogger, that's ok, just jump in on the comments below.  I can't wait to hear from you!

Happy Schooling!
Jennifer

Making Friends Monday!--Come on and Join in!

Hi all!
  I thought I would invite you to a Monday Blog Hop hosted by...Living on Love & Cents.  Here's the button..



Come join in, it will be fun!

Have fun, and can't wait to meet you all, :)
Jennifer

  Here are the instructions...

The rules are super simple but VERY important!

1. Follow the Making Friends Monday  Hosts (Listed as # 1-4) They WILL follow you Back! You MUST LEAVE A COMMENT so we can follow you back!

2. Grab our Making Friends Monday button and include it in a post on your blog.
3. Link up to THAT post.
4. Start hopping and remember following back is appreciated!

Help spread the word and get more followers:
-Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!
- Your blog visitors can add their blog to your list and it will show up on all lists!

**Don't forget to follow the rules so you have a chance to be the "Spotlight Blog of the Week"! 

If you have any giveaways ending THIS WEEK go link up HERE. Take a minute to enter some too!

What do you Repurpose?

  Hello,
  Do any of you like to repurpose?  I love to find new ways to use something.  Here are some of my favorites:

1. You know the plastic mesh bags that oranges come in?  Fold them up, and they become great pot scrubbers!

2.  I use grocery store bags for my small bathroom garbage cans.

3.  The square empty tissue boxes become storage for all my grocery store bags.  I just fill one box up, and keep it under each bathroom sink for easy access when emptying my garbage cans.

4.  The heavy duty cereal boxes that you get from warehouse stores are great to keep my paperback cookbooks in. The picture I posted shows my DD's coloring books. See how to do this here.  Even the less sturdy boxes could be used for lighter magazines.

5.  Empty jars with screw tops are great for keeping some of your wall paint in for quick touch ups.

  I read about a few other things that I want to do, but it requires some time to make them.  So, I'll have to save those for another post.  ;)

  What do you like to repurpose? Please share! :)  Add a link below to your blog to share your tips, and be sure to link back here for others to see and play along.

Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer

P.S. Raising Homemakers in having a link up for any household tips, so be sure to check it out.

My typical day....

  Hello!
  A fellow blogger...50s Housewife, is hosting a linky on her blog titled, "A Housewife's Life-August."

She asked us to share a day of our life.  I thought that could be fun, so here goes.  My day started at 5:30am.  I don't know why I'm waking up almost the exact same time every morning so early lately, but I'm just going with it.  I came downstairs to fix a cup of coffee.  Poured too much creamer in it, but too tired to care.

I went back upstairs into the office and got on the computer.  I caught up on all my emails, and read some blogs.  It was so quite, until.....dogs started barking at 6:15 wanting to go out.  I let the dogs out, then went ahead and got showered and dressed.

  Then I made the bed, and emptied the dishwasher.  DD woke up, and I told her to get dressed while I got bagels ready, per her request. After breakfast, it was up into the playroom/classroom to start school.  Between back and forth teaching, while she does her independent work, I vacuumed family room, cleaned up coffee cups, and breakfast dishes,  put clean comforter back on bed that I washed yesterday, emptied all the garbage cans, and got the big garbage can ready to take to the street, completed 2 loads of laundry (washed, dried, put away, and wrinkle removal).  Yes, I said wrinkle removal...you'll have to see what I mean by that on my next post. ;)  Then lunch, clean the kitchen from lunch, let the dogs out again, and short break before we went back to finish up school.

  Ok, once school is done, it's free time which usually means catching up with DH and hearing about how his day went, then getting on the computer again checking emails, and/or working on a post for my blog.  Today I added some Girls Summer 3T clothes on ebay to sell. :) DD likes to watch some TV, read a book she picked out from the library, or play a video game.

  Shortly after that, it's time to figure out what to fix for dinner. I've really got to look more into getting a menu plan together.  Today, I did remember to set out a chicken to bake in the oven tonight.  I love getting dinner ready to eat by 5:30-6:00, so that by the time we eat, and clean the kitchen it's still pretty early.

  Then dogs go out one last time, DD and I usually go up and snuggle up for a movie before bed.  Once DD is tucked in DH and I usually watch something together before bed.  Then we start it all again the next day.


  I just love being a stay at home mom!  I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  It's the most fulfilling job I've ever had.

  Well, don't forget to go over to 50s Housewife to share your day!


Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer