Monday, December 31, 2012
Early Elementary New Year's Day Worksheet Freebie
The first worksheet needs a comma added after "Greece"in the fourth paragraph. I'm using these with a first grade student, and we'll expand upon this information with books, including a discussion about luck from a Christian perspective.
Also see vintage children's text: Yule-tide in Many Lands, free to read online or download here.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Free Printable Vintage Bookmarks
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Frugal Body Exfoliators
I could never use body exfoliaters because they were too rough on my skin. Now that I'm older, my skin is thicker, and it does not renew itself as readily. I was having problems with dry skin where I'd have some flaky areas on my arms. Moisturizers did not help; then I tried exfoliating again and my skin became really soft! My hands look better too.
Here's what I discovered:
As Asian exfoliating washcloth. I got the extra rough one, and it's more like a towel because it is long and can be used to scrub across your back with two hands. I add a strong soap on the towel, Palmolive clear dish soap, if you can believe it. I have oily skin and this works wonders. It washes out easily and can be hung to dry on a shower caddy.
Cure Series Japanese Exfoliating Bath Towel from OHE - Super Hard Weave - Blue, 120cm
The second exfoliating tool I found useful for keeping my skin extra clear was a facial brush. It was stiff on the first use, but now it is soft. I use a gentle castile soap on my face(Dr. Bronners or an organic African black soap). My facial skin looks years younger and the blemishes have cleared.
Bass Brushes Facial Cleansing Brush
Both items should last a good long time. Check the reviews out on these items.
Here's what I discovered:
As Asian exfoliating washcloth. I got the extra rough one, and it's more like a towel because it is long and can be used to scrub across your back with two hands. I add a strong soap on the towel, Palmolive clear dish soap, if you can believe it. I have oily skin and this works wonders. It washes out easily and can be hung to dry on a shower caddy.
Cure Series Japanese Exfoliating Bath Towel from OHE - Super Hard Weave - Blue, 120cm
The second exfoliating tool I found useful for keeping my skin extra clear was a facial brush. It was stiff on the first use, but now it is soft. I use a gentle castile soap on my face(Dr. Bronners or an organic African black soap). My facial skin looks years younger and the blemishes have cleared.
Bass Brushes Facial Cleansing Brush
Both items should last a good long time. Check the reviews out on these items.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Free DIY Picasa Flashcards and Worksheets
With some tweaking, Google's free Picasa makes some really nice flashcards and worksheets. I made some flashcards by using images, faded by using "pencil sketch" and the "fill light" applications, then added it to "collage". Each finished picture was copied (clicked on file), and then the original amended with the new word. If you repeat this six times, you can get an entire collage sheet of printable flashcards. Worksheets are made using the full page. Use shift dash for answer lines. I did the regular short dash for the worksheet below, and the answer lines were a little too high. Font size can be adjusted easily and so can written sections which can be moved and centered manually. The Picasa text on picture application is very user friendly.
I love being able to add any picture that I like and customizing worksheets, copywork pages, and story starters. I used free coloring pages for these. Not my first choice, but SpongeBob really makes her eager to learn, so I go with it. She loves snails, and I guess Gary the Snail speaks to her. Anyway, this is a super inexpensive way to customize your own educational items.
I incorporated many of the sight words and sound out words that she is currently learning with the CLE Learning to Read Program. The ease of learning and smiles I got with these homemade worksheets and flashcards was wonderful. She did them eagerly in lightening time. I plan to make more to supplement her Pathway Readers and Bob Books.
ClipArtEtc has hundreds of vintage free clipart which you can used for backgrounds.
Freebie: sight word list
I love being able to add any picture that I like and customizing worksheets, copywork pages, and story starters. I used free coloring pages for these. Not my first choice, but SpongeBob really makes her eager to learn, so I go with it. She loves snails, and I guess Gary the Snail speaks to her. Anyway, this is a super inexpensive way to customize your own educational items.
I incorporated many of the sight words and sound out words that she is currently learning with the CLE Learning to Read Program. The ease of learning and smiles I got with these homemade worksheets and flashcards was wonderful. She did them eagerly in lightening time. I plan to make more to supplement her Pathway Readers and Bob Books.
ClipArtEtc has hundreds of vintage free clipart which you can used for backgrounds.
Freebie: sight word list
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Free Early Reading Educational Games
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Extremely Inexpensive Garage Organization
It took half the day, but we cleared out our garage recently, decluttering 15 years of accumulation, and freeing up a lot of space in the process. We took everything out, swept the floors, and then did some extreme purging. We filled up our vehicle and donated all the stuff to a local thrift store which takes hardware type items.
For an efficient bare budget garden tool organization, we used this method:
We used leftover wood from other projects, and we already had nails and screws, so it cost us no additional money. Sometimes you can find long pieces of wood for free(with permission) in the trash bins at the end of the lumber aisles. These long thin pallet type scrap wood is easy to come by at big box stores.
We were able to hang bulkier items like the electric clippers and the weed wacker from hooks screwed in under a high shelf. I put all the hand tools and tinier items in a giant rubbermaid container with smaller containers from the dollar store inside to organize the "smalls". It's all contained in one, and simple to clean and move around.
There are no more hiding places for overwintering palmettos bugs and spiders! The floor is clear to sweep and occasionally spray down with soapy water.
For an efficient bare budget garden tool organization, we used this method:
We used leftover wood from other projects, and we already had nails and screws, so it cost us no additional money. Sometimes you can find long pieces of wood for free(with permission) in the trash bins at the end of the lumber aisles. These long thin pallet type scrap wood is easy to come by at big box stores.
We were able to hang bulkier items like the electric clippers and the weed wacker from hooks screwed in under a high shelf. I put all the hand tools and tinier items in a giant rubbermaid container with smaller containers from the dollar store inside to organize the "smalls". It's all contained in one, and simple to clean and move around.
There are no more hiding places for overwintering palmettos bugs and spiders! The floor is clear to sweep and occasionally spray down with soapy water.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Coffee Filter Cut-out Snowflakes
A bag of coffee filters from the dollar store go a long way! These make the easiest snowflakes - no rounding off the ends. More here.
Children's Viking Ship Cut-out
We are using this as an ornament on our Christmas tree this year because everyone needs a viking ship on their tree. ;)
DIY Disposable Stick Branch Christmas Tree
The branches can be held in place with large rocks in a bucket. We took our rocks from the garden.
Here's a pretty one that has been painted white:
Saturday, December 08, 2012
Make an Easy Sparkly Cat Ornament - Free Cat Outline
Use this outline as a template for a glittery cat ornament. I plan to cut it out on black paper, glue to recycled cardboard, and cover with glitter. I'll add a pretty pink bow and hang it on the tree with my pet's name on it.
Friday, December 07, 2012
Some Simple Vintage Christmas Designs for Drawing, Cuttings, Etc.
From The Kindergarten-primary Magazine, 1914
Free Pearl Harbor Day Educational Printables for Children
Activity ranger book from the World War II Pacific National Monument(USS Arizona). PDF here for younger children and for older children here(answers could be looked up on Google).
Pearl Harbor Day printable here.
Monday, December 03, 2012
Poor Grammar in Modern Educational Items
It is getting more and more difficult to find educational freebies(and paid) that use proper grammar. I am not a gifted grammarian. In fact, I often have to look things up. Going through my son's Rod & Staff English with him for eight years helped a lot! Mostly, I am punctuation challenged. So if I notice mistakes, it's moderately obvious. Anyway, I was browsing a teacher authored curriculum site for first grade freebies when I came across some really nice packets for language arts. It was disappointing to see run-on sentences and incorrect grammar(colloquialisms) such as confusing "was"and "were" - "If I was a cat" instead of " If I were cat" . You can never be a cat, so "were" is correct." I feel badly for the children whose teachers are purchasing these items.I wonder if the parent's notice?! What's weirder is the perfect feedback from almost a hundred buyers. I guess if Justin Bieber says it in a song, it's okay?Educational items offered by individuals, even if they are certified teachers, should be reviewed thoroughly before purchase. If you are poor at proof reading, I'd avoid these and go for professionally edited curriculum. There can still be mistakes, but they correct them upon notice, and errors are less frequent. While content is very important, it is also crucial that children are challenged with learning proper English.
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Saturday, December 01, 2012
DIY Modern Lumber Furniture
We seem to making a lot of lumber furniture these days! The more pieces we make, the more we like it. As furniture wears out, we are replacing it with homemade lumber furniture. I liken the style to be somewhere between IKEA style pine and rustic pallet furniture. You certainly can't beat the price! Rough pine lumber is very inexpensive.
Here's what we've made so far. I hope this inspires someone to try this for themselves. It takes very little skill. We are complete amateurs, and yes, it is not fine carpentry work, but we weren't going for this, nor did we expect this.
My daughter's bed with room for storage underneath.
Tall table...we are using this as a kitchen island now.
Young children's pallet book shelf
Cat ladder and sleeping box
Pallet/scrap wood toy shelf
Entertainment center or bookshelves
Platform bed and DIY mattress
Sectional sofa
Not lumber, but free - stump side table/stool
Free standing kitchen(full pictures will come later...we are still putting on the final touches.)
12/9/12: Okay, here is the rough unfinished version of our DIY kitchen:
My husband recently made a child sized computer table with bench for my daughter which I'll add here later.
Here's what we've made so far. I hope this inspires someone to try this for themselves. It takes very little skill. We are complete amateurs, and yes, it is not fine carpentry work, but we weren't going for this, nor did we expect this.
My daughter's bed with room for storage underneath.
Tall table...we are using this as a kitchen island now.
Young children's pallet book shelf
Cat ladder and sleeping boxPallet/scrap wood toy shelf
Entertainment center or bookshelves
Platform bed and DIY mattress
Sectional sofa
Not lumber, but free - stump side table/stool
Free standing kitchen(full pictures will come later...we are still putting on the final touches.)
12/9/12: Okay, here is the rough unfinished version of our DIY kitchen:
My husband recently made a child sized computer table with bench for my daughter which I'll add here later.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Dollar Store DIY Bookends
These are items from the dollar store: two acrylic picture frames and cut plastic animals. She spray painted them with Krylon paint in rubbed bronze. Tutorial here.
DIY Plastic Bag Storage
It's a coffee can! Great idea. Paint can and cut a hole in the lid. I plan to use this for plastic grocery bags which we recycle as garbage bags. I think it will work if I tie each bags together, so that they come out the hole to detach without getting lost in the can. I could tie each one by a handle and roll together inside the can. I think this will make a more compact storage option than what we currently have which is a cardboard box with bags thrown in..
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Huge Collection of Children's Educational Videos
She has over 1000 children's videos listed on her Pinterest page here! There are read-alongs, music, and educational videos. I didn't see any math, mostly English and language arts. I only got past the second page though, so there may be some math videos there somewhere. I'll be adding some of these to my YouTube educational channel. What a great resource to supplement learning.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Cooking a Turkey in a Tabletop Halogen Convection Oven
I cooked a 13 pound turkey in my Secura halogen convection oven(see Reducing Energy Useage in the Kitchen) for the first time last night. It came out moist and juicy. I think 13 pounds might be the limit for this oven. It just fit. The cook time was on the low side, 3 hours at 400 degrees, but still within the recommended range for an unstuffed turkey of this size. With this oven, you do have to flip it over at the halfway mark to make sure both sides get cooked evenly.
I referred to this YouTube video before I tried cooking the turkey. She has a different brand than I have, a Nuwave oven, but it is similar
to my Secura.
Clean up was very easy...just dump the cooled grease away in the garbage, and clean the glass bowl and wire shelf in the sink . The meat just slid off the bone, so I had the carcass cleaned off in no time. I froze the meat in separate baggies for future meals. I figure I'll keep doing this while the turkey prices are low.
Clean up was very easy...just dump the cooled grease away in the garbage, and clean the glass bowl and wire shelf in the sink . The meat just slid off the bone, so I had the carcass cleaned off in no time. I froze the meat in separate baggies for future meals. I figure I'll keep doing this while the turkey prices are low.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
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