About Me
- Alexandra
- A homeschooling mother of one teenager and a little. In 2001, I resigned from my 13 year position as a case manager to homeschool my oldest who was a preschooler at the time, and later a daughter who came along in 2005. This is by far the hardest job I've ever loved. My husband of nearly 20 years supports us as a fire fighter and EMT.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Free Vintage September Blackboard Calendars
From a 1915 teacher magazine that I found at Google Books. Click on image to enlarge. This is in public domain and free to use. See here for years which have a common starting weekday and equal number of days for the year 2010.
Oops! This one is not the correct one. September begins on a Wednesday this year. I'll post another soon. This calendar is not from 1915. Too bad because this is a sweet one.
Update: Here is the correct 1915 September calendar - good for 2010.
And a blank one for a schedule:
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Handwriting Worksheet Generators
This is so handy! My daughter needs to trace all her letters right now. With the worksheet generator, I was able to make a worksheet tonight with the traceable letters of her name on each line, giving her lots of practice. There are many choices for fonts, and the option for traceable and non traceable lines. Allows short sentences, letters, and words.
Click here.
Here's another one which offers a cursive font.
Click here.
Here's another one which offers a cursive font.
Magic Milkshakes at Home

These are so delicious! I can't eat them because I'm dieting, but I always take a spoonful before serving it to my daughter, the chocolate monster.
- 1-1/2 to 2 cups ice water
- 1-1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 to 1-1/2 trays of ice cubes, as much as you can spare
- 2 tablespoons corn oil plus a 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification purposes
Schoolaid Health Curriculum
We've been using a health curriculum published by SchoolAid since early elementary. Schoolaid is a conservative non-profit Christian publisher(Conservative Mennonite/Amish). They also publish the Climbing to Good English curriculum. The series, grades three through eight, dedicates itself to teaching Christian principles in basic health knowledge, affording a practical foundation for healthy living. Physiology, nutrition, home economics, safety, first aid, and manners are covered in a straight forward way. The early books were very helpful in learning good hygiene and household safety. I talk to my son about these things(in one ear and out the other), but it really sunk in after he studied this book series. The first two in the series are workbooks, and the remaining two are textbooks. This series is very practical! Most everything learned is useful for everyday living.
Free printable food and hygiene coloring pages for younger children.
Free printable food and hygiene coloring pages for younger children.
Free Early Learning Online Printables: Farm Animal Worksheets
These are so cute! I'm collecting farm animal themed (her favorite) worksheets for my daughter this year. Printable worksheets here.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Free Baltimore Catechism Ebooks(19th Century Editions)
For my Catholic readers and homeschoolers:
Baltimore Catechism books one - four at Project Gutenberg:
Baltimore Catechism, No. 1
Baltimore Catechism, No. 2
Baltimore Catechism, No. 3
Baltimore Catechism, No. 4
An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine
Also see:
Divine grace:a series of instructions arranged according to the Baltimore catechism; an aid to teachers and preachers, (Google Books)by Edmund John Wirth, 1903.
Free to read online and/or download.
Baltimore Catechism books one - four at Project Gutenberg:
Baltimore Catechism, No. 1
Baltimore Catechism, No. 2
Baltimore Catechism, No. 3
Baltimore Catechism, No. 4
An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine
Also see:
Divine grace:a series of instructions arranged according to the Baltimore catechism; an aid to teachers and preachers, (Google Books)by Edmund John Wirth, 1903.
Free to read online and/or download.
The Best Gift is Love: Meditations by the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"No one can make a better friend than Jesus- because His love is so humble and so tender..."
"Talk to God. Just let Jesus pray in you."
"Naturally our joy will be complete if we remain in His love- for His love is personal, intimate, real, living delicate, faithful love..."
Quote source: The Best Gift is Love: Meditations by Mother Teresa
HT to Esther.
"Talk to God. Just let Jesus pray in you."
"Naturally our joy will be complete if we remain in His love- for His love is personal, intimate, real, living delicate, faithful love..."
Quote source: The Best Gift is Love: Meditations by Mother Teresa
HT to Esther.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Christian Character Building Activity, Craft, and Coloring Books
These remind me of Rod & Staff preschool books.
Little Helper Books for Children From the website:
Little Helper Books help children:
* Learn the Bible
* Learn character
* Learn respect
* Learn manners
* Learn about animals
Little Helper Books for Children From the website:
Little Helper Books help children:
* Learn the Bible
* Learn character
* Learn respect
* Learn manners
* Learn about animals
Free Children's Animal Sewing Card Printouts
This blogger includes a tutorial as well. How generous! See here.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What's My Style Quiz
Your style is Mediterranean-Inspired.
Vibrant, yet tranquil. Rustic textures and soothing colors echo the sea and sky. An ornate space inspired by nature. Tuscan and Mediterranean stylings.
Picture quiz here at HGTV.
Vibrant, yet tranquil. Rustic textures and soothing colors echo the sea and sky. An ornate space inspired by nature. Tuscan and Mediterranean stylings.
Picture quiz here at HGTV.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A Leg Up: Ten Thousand Villages
Some things on my wish list:
Kaisa Storage Basket: 22Lx15Wx12H inches, Made in Bangladesh, $28.00. And the larger one for $38.00.
"Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture. textiles, serveware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries....
Founded in 1946, the company has grown from the trunk of founder Edna Ruth Byler's car to a network of more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. The company encourages artisan partners to use environmentally friendly processes, sustainable natural resources and recycled materials to ensure each product offered has been crafted responsibly. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee."
Shop the Pakistani artisans. They are having a terrible time with flooding, and desperately need the business.
Also see the St. Mary's Mahila Shikshan Kendra Artisan items, Dominican Sisters in India.
Kaisa Storage Basket: 22Lx15Wx12H inches, Made in Bangladesh, $28.00. And the larger one for $38.00.
"Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture. textiles, serveware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries....
Founded in 1946, the company has grown from the trunk of founder Edna Ruth Byler's car to a network of more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. The company encourages artisan partners to use environmentally friendly processes, sustainable natural resources and recycled materials to ensure each product offered has been crafted responsibly. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee."
Shop the Pakistani artisans. They are having a terrible time with flooding, and desperately need the business.
Also see the St. Mary's Mahila Shikshan Kendra Artisan items, Dominican Sisters in India.
Our New(Old) Thrifty Dining Room Table and Chairs
We nixed the idea of building our own table after we saw this set(pictured) at a thrift. It fit perfectly with our new Rustic Modern decorating theme. The top is laminate so I never have to worry about water damage. The seats are pleather and very easy to wipe clean. It was a breeze to clean up after the children today. The floor is painted concrete, which we still need to finish. It had been carpeted and was very difficult to keep clean.
I wanted a modern retro feel, but the prices for this style were wild! Check out this Bauhaus inspired piece - over $4000.00! We spent $75.00 for our four piece set at a non-profit charity thrift.
This style is a total departure from my usual thrifted(shabby)French Country preference, but much more practical with children, especially children who learn at home. Inspiration images gathered from Google Images:
I wanted a modern retro feel, but the prices for this style were wild! Check out this Bauhaus inspired piece - over $4000.00! We spent $75.00 for our four piece set at a non-profit charity thrift.This style is a total departure from my usual thrifted(shabby)French Country preference, but much more practical with children, especially children who learn at home. Inspiration images gathered from Google Images:
Friday, August 20, 2010
Carrots and Carrot Tops
A few funny looking carrots from our garden. A little fragrant sage came up with them. The carrot tops make good salad/vegetable greens. We had the greens in some stir fry last night - a good source of vitamin K. They can be bitter, but ours was not.
I haven't tried this, but you can make tea from the green carrot tops.
I haven't tried this, but you can make tea from the green carrot tops.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Some Kindergarten Plans
My daughter is beginning Kindergarten this coming September. It's amazing how much more relaxed I am homeschooling the second child. She made the cutoff by barely a month. So as required by state law, I've begun filing our homeschool status this year for my daughter. She's teaching herself most things, so I've had to teach very little formally. All the toys she has picked out since she was able to express herself have been learning toys and books. We have several sets of tangrams, building toys, counting beads and blocks, linkers, wooden shapes and letters, etc. She likes those wooden Melissa & Doug
toys. We've got the pattern set pictured here. Not only can you make the patterns and learn your shapes, but the shapes are good for sorting colors and shapes, counting, and building stuff.
She voluntarily works through the Starfall.com learning program. She enjoyed the free online version so much that we bought the cd-rom.
So it seems she has chosen a hands-on Montessori-esque learning approach paired with computer learning. My son was very different in Kindergarten. He only liked worksheets, books, coloring, and computer learning. He never took to manipulatives or hands-on learning. In fact, he loathed hands-on learning. We had to skip this and go directly to traditional learning via textbooks, workbooks, and reading which he still enjoys today.
She voluntarily works through the Starfall.com learning program. She enjoyed the free online version so much that we bought the cd-rom.
So it seems she has chosen a hands-on Montessori-esque learning approach paired with computer learning. My son was very different in Kindergarten. He only liked worksheets, books, coloring, and computer learning. He never took to manipulatives or hands-on learning. In fact, he loathed hands-on learning. We had to skip this and go directly to traditional learning via textbooks, workbooks, and reading which he still enjoys today.
Thrift Store Finds
Children's clothing was 10% off today at the VFW Thrift Store. I found very new looking(some with tags) long sleeved shirts, skorts, dresses, bathing suits, and night clothes. I paid a little over $35.00 for twenty items(pictured). About half the items will fit my daughter now and/or in the cooler months, the rest are larger sizes stored away for later.
I also stopped by Walmart for their $2.00 children's clothing sale table. They had some cute colorful cotton skorts and matching tops that I got for next summer, a very good and frugal shopping day. My feet are killing me though.
I also stopped by Walmart for their $2.00 children's clothing sale table. They had some cute colorful cotton skorts and matching tops that I got for next summer, a very good and frugal shopping day. My feet are killing me though.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Preschool/Kindergarten Fun: DIY Magnetic Fishing
A jar, a stick, and a magnet. See this homemade fun here.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Feast of the Assumption
The Assumption of the Mother of God was recognized on Sunday, and is observed by Catholics, Anglicans, and most Orthodox(as The Dormition).
"...what Christ did for us is of first importance, but we see in Our Lady the first-fruits of what is of first importance. She was the first to have received the grace of the redemption through her Immaculate Conception and her suffering with Christ at the foot of his Cross, and she was the first to receive the fullness of the grace of the Resurrection through her glorification in Heaven, which is what we are celebrating today...the Son of God, in the most literal sense, came into this world through Mary, through her very body. He was Pure Spirit for all eternity, yet going through Mary, He entered this world as man. The Word became flesh, in and through Our Lady." Read more here.
The Assumption in classical art: Titian, Poussin, Rubens, Correggio, El Greco, etc.
Prayers for the Lord's blessings to all my readers. May God grant you peace.
"...what Christ did for us is of first importance, but we see in Our Lady the first-fruits of what is of first importance. She was the first to have received the grace of the redemption through her Immaculate Conception and her suffering with Christ at the foot of his Cross, and she was the first to receive the fullness of the grace of the Resurrection through her glorification in Heaven, which is what we are celebrating today...the Son of God, in the most literal sense, came into this world through Mary, through her very body. He was Pure Spirit for all eternity, yet going through Mary, He entered this world as man. The Word became flesh, in and through Our Lady." Read more here.
The Assumption in classical art: Titian, Poussin, Rubens, Correggio, El Greco, etc.
Prayers for the Lord's blessings to all my readers. May God grant you peace.
DIY Ladder Bookshelves
Just one of a few ideas. See here. The shelves on the metal ladders would need to be secured. Perhaps some liquid nails would do the trick.
Image from link.
Image from link.
Labels:
Frugal Crafts,
Frugal Living Tips
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A is for Angler
Preschool or early Kindergarten letter "A" writing worksheet. Free for personal use only. I created the worksheet with an image from a public domain children's primer. Help your self to a printable copy.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Best Mommy in the World Is?
The time we invest in our child(ren) is eternal.
Don't hold back. Throw yourselves into your work.
Confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
A very touching and uplifting post for all mommas at Leslie's blog. Go see it for a smile.
Don't hold back. Throw yourselves into your work.
Confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
A very touching and uplifting post for all mommas at Leslie's blog. Go see it for a smile.
B is for Butterfly
A preschool or early Kindergarten letter B handwriting worksheet. I made this myself with a vintage picture for a public domain Primer. Help yourself. Click here.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Make a Children's Sewing Kit Tutorial
Monday, August 09, 2010
Double Duty Dining Table
A table cloth and some old sheets sewn together make this playhouse under the table.
Repeating Calendars
Calendars never really go out of date. Eventually the days repeat themselves, and you can use a vintage or antique calendar again. See which years can be used again for 2010 and 2011. I've found a few vintage public domain images of children's school(blackboard) calendars by month. I'll post them as the months come up, and any others that I find for the entire year.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Hot Car? Make Crayons.
This(melted crayons) has happened by accident on my car seat more than once. Giggle. Clever idea using a mold and summer car heat. See here.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Consider the Lilies of the Field
Pictured - a lily from my garden.
HT to Concord Pastor
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Our parish is staffed by Redemptorists the founder of which is Saint Alphonsus Liguori (September 27, 1696 – August 1, 1787). His feast day was August first.
"In 1723, after a long process of discernment, he abandoned his legal career and, despite his father's strong opposition (and reluctant consent), began his seminary studies in preparation for the priesthood in the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1726, at the age of 30. He lived his first years as a priest with the homeless and marginalized youth of Naples. He founded the "Evening Chapels." Run by the young people themselves, these chapels were centers of prayer and piety, preaching, community, social activities, and education. At the time of his death, there were 72 of these chapels with over 10,000 active participants. His sermons were very effective at converting those who were alienated from their faith.
Alphonsus' greatest contribution to the Church was in the area of moral theological reflection with his Moral Theology. This work was born of Alphonsus' pastoral experience, his ability to respond to the practical questions posed by the faithful and from his contact with their everyday problems. He opposed sterile legalism and strict rigorism - according to Alphonsus, those were paths closed to the Gospel because 'such rigor has never been taught nor practiced by the Church'. His system of moral theology is noted for its prudence, avoiding both laxism and excessive rigor. He is credited with the position of Aequiprobablism, which avoided Jansenist rigorism as well as laxism and simple probablism." Read more here.
The Redemptorists' Mission:
"The Redemptorists are essentially and by their specific vocation a missionary society. According to their rule they are 'to strive to imitate the virtues and examples of Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, consecrating themselves especially to the preaching of the word of God to the poor'. They take the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and by the vows of poverty they are bound to refuse all ecclesiastical dignities outside of the congregation. To these vows they add the vow and oath of perseverance to live in the congregation until death. Their labours consist principally in missions, retreats, and similar exercises. In order to render these labours most effective, all their sermons and instructions should be solid, simple, and persuasive." Read more here.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
I'm Modern Rustic

I just found out what decorating style I am - Modern Rustic. I've been redecorating the house, making it more child friendly and mom friendly(easier to clean!), and while I was searching for rustic table ideas, I came upon the Modern Rustic name on a few interior design blogs. So I've moved from French Country to Modern Rustic. Pictured here are a few examples of Modern Rustic items that caught my eye on the web; all would be simple for us to translate into our own DIY furniture project.
We are working on a dining room table design using beam-like wood. I'm leaning toward the table with the two pedestal legs - no curves or trestles to dust, and no legs to wrestle around with the vacuum.
The form is important, but also the materials. Modern Rustic often uses reclaimed or salvaged wood in the furniture construction.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Look North Tonight for a Possible Light Show in the Sky
"Stargazers looking to the sky late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning could see northern lights, or aurorae. According to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the potential light show started Sunday, when the sun's surface erupted and hurled tons of ionized atoms -- or plasma -- into space." Read more here.
This is not unusual for those living near the poles, but to see it from the East Coast would be a treat.
"When the Sun’s ejected coronal material reaches Earth’s magnetic field it interacts with it, and might create a geomagnetic storm. The solar particles collide with the nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the atmosphere, causing them to emit light – this effect is called Northern Lights or Aurora (Borealis at the North Pole, Australis at the South Pole). These lights can usually be seen only close to the Earth’s magnetic poles, but in case of a geomagnetic storm, they can also be seen further from them." Read more here.
This is not unusual for those living near the poles, but to see it from the East Coast would be a treat.
"When the Sun’s ejected coronal material reaches Earth’s magnetic field it interacts with it, and might create a geomagnetic storm. The solar particles collide with the nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the atmosphere, causing them to emit light – this effect is called Northern Lights or Aurora (Borealis at the North Pole, Australis at the South Pole). These lights can usually be seen only close to the Earth’s magnetic poles, but in case of a geomagnetic storm, they can also be seen further from them." Read more here.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Feeling Better
I feel recharged this week after some rest. I'm still painting floors, so I might be a little scarce here.
Savvy Shoppers Can Mine Tax-free Weekends
"Maximize savings
Over the years, many shoppers have learned how to work the holiday to save the most.
This year, opportunities to parlay the tax-free weekend into bigger savings could be especially lucrative. Retailers, still digging themselves out from the recession, are anxious to make the most of back-to-school sales. Drugstore chains, department stores and the super stores such as Wal-Mart and Target are aggressively competing for the $21 billion that shoppers are expected to spend on back-to-school this year."
Savings in North Carolina:
"Now - nine years after the first holiday in North Carolina - they know that how much you rack up in savings depends largely on what you buy. But even for those who don't plan to buy big-ticket items such as computers, the weekend can pay off in other ways. The tax-free holidays begin Friday in both North and South Carolina.
With a 8.25 percent tax rate in Mecklenburg County (5.75 percent N.C. tax and 2.5 percent local), basic school supplies don't garner much of a savings. In Mecklenburg, spend $40 on pencils, notebooks and folders and you'll save $3.30.
Outfit your child with new clothes and shoes, and the savings are juicier. The average family will spend $261.65 on clothes and shoes, according to this year's National Retail Federation back-to-school survey. The savings on those purchases, if made during the tax-free weekend, will be $21.59.
And if you were to buy, say, a new Mac laptop computer for $1,199, your savings are more substantial: $98.92."
Read more here.
2010 State Sales Tax Holidays
Over the years, many shoppers have learned how to work the holiday to save the most.
This year, opportunities to parlay the tax-free weekend into bigger savings could be especially lucrative. Retailers, still digging themselves out from the recession, are anxious to make the most of back-to-school sales. Drugstore chains, department stores and the super stores such as Wal-Mart and Target are aggressively competing for the $21 billion that shoppers are expected to spend on back-to-school this year."
Savings in North Carolina:
"Now - nine years after the first holiday in North Carolina - they know that how much you rack up in savings depends largely on what you buy. But even for those who don't plan to buy big-ticket items such as computers, the weekend can pay off in other ways. The tax-free holidays begin Friday in both North and South Carolina.
With a 8.25 percent tax rate in Mecklenburg County (5.75 percent N.C. tax and 2.5 percent local), basic school supplies don't garner much of a savings. In Mecklenburg, spend $40 on pencils, notebooks and folders and you'll save $3.30.
Outfit your child with new clothes and shoes, and the savings are juicier. The average family will spend $261.65 on clothes and shoes, according to this year's National Retail Federation back-to-school survey. The savings on those purchases, if made during the tax-free weekend, will be $21.59.
And if you were to buy, say, a new Mac laptop computer for $1,199, your savings are more substantial: $98.92."
Read more here.
2010 State Sales Tax Holidays
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