We Homeschool Wednesday - Art Journaling

  Ok, I have come across the neatest pin on Pinterest about Art Journaling, which led me to the Thistle Dew Blog!  Lots of great stuff people!  If you visit her blog and click on the Art Journaling icon on the right of the page, she gives you lots of instructions and tips on how to get your child started with their own Journal.  She has a journaling guide for each month of the year - this makes your life and my life much easier - and I will even share a link where you can find the blank journals that you will need.


  Thistle Dew Blog:  http://thistledewblog.com/category/art-journaling/


  I think you are going to love this, I know I am excited to start Art Journaling at our house.  I have been looking at the page for January and it starts by asking your child to create a title page for this month and even encourages them to create a border and to take great care with layout and lettering.  I think this is a great way to spark an artistic interest in your child and it doesn't leave them to just figure it out on their own.  She throws in lots of fun activities, great poetry, encourages nature walks, and even works in Scripture that pertains to the journaling of each month.  I love everything about this!


  I wanted to add a picture of the page that leads you through January, but wasn't able to do that.  Although, you now have a great reason to visit the Thistle Dew Blog!


  If you are wondering where to find a blank journal for this wonderful endeavor, go to Miller Pads and Paper and you will want the blank journal, find it here for only $7.50:   http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/Large-Bare-Book-Plus-4851.htm


  Miller Pads and Paper is a homeschooling family that serves other homeschoolers.  I encourage you to visit their website often.


  Hope you are as excited about this as I am!  Happy Journaling!


 

Crockpotting with Whole Foods

  In honor of my post yesterday and the need to use my crock pot more, I am sharing my favorite source for crock pot recipes on this Tasty Tuesday.  These recipes are designed for large families, but you can cut them in half or cut down on your time in the kitchen by eating leftovers the next day!  Most of these recipes are made with whole foods so no yucky processed foods if you are trying to avoid them.


  http://largefamilyslowcooker.blogspot.com/




  I sure hope these keep you out of the kitchen and smack dab in the middle of something else you'd rather be doing!  Me, I'm going to go do something with my kiddos........right after I throw that load of laundry in the dryer.  Now go dust off your crock pot!

It's a New Year

  My first post on the first Monday of the New Year with my new Blog name!  Woohoo!  Since this is "Wife and Mommy" Monday, I want to talk about the things that I want to do this year to make me better in those roles.  It seems as though lately that time is just getting away from me, no matter how hard I try to make my life simpler, things often seem so chaotic.  So, as you can imagine, prioritizing is on the top of my list! 


  I love a simple life and I think that I will forever be attempting to stay on top of this.  In the New Year I would love to be better at meal planning and I would love to use my crockpot more.  Meal planning makes me feel a bit more frugal.  We only grocery shop twice a month, other than the occasional gallon of milk or other small necessity, so planning ahead really is helpful but I am not always good at planning ahead.  I have meal planned before and it works very well for me, but I don't do it often enough.  I also don't use my crockpot often enough.  It makes life so much easier......WHAT AM I THINKING!  I have so many pins on Pinterest for crockpot meals, I am fixing to put those bad boys to good use.


  Other things that I would like to do this year......I would like to be healthier, start an exercise routine, and I would love to go on more dates with my husband.  I would love to be softer and more gentle with my children.  I would also love to spend more time in prayer and reading my Bible.  I want to sit at the feet of Jesus, draw near to Him, and patiently listen for His voice.  Lord, please let this be THAT year!


  I would like to wish you all the best on all of your endeavors in the coming year, I hope each one is fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams!  Live a little, step out of your box, but always hold close the ones you love!


  HAPPY NEW YEAR!


   

We Homeschool Wednesday - Artist Studies

  This school year I wanted to do something that we have not done before.  I wanted us to do a series of studies on great artists.  Renoir, Da Vinci, Monet!  At a recent seminar I went to, they had a great selection of story books about some of these artists with vivid illustrations of a few of their paintings.




  These are lovely stories and they are a great doorway to getting your child excited about art.  Along with these great books, I have also found several awesome activities to go along with them.  I will post the links below.

  This first link will show you how to paint using watercolors, glue, and salt.  At first glance it may seem like it is for the very young, but my oldest is 12 and I really think that all of my children would enjoy doing this!
1)  http://www.sweethappylife.com/2012/activities/preschool-activities/painting-with-watercolors-glue-and-salt/

  This link contains some wonderful coloring pages of the artists paintings.
2)  http://www.funnycoloring.com/painter-cassatt.htm

  Loving this link to a craft based on Monet's famous painting, "Bridge over a pond of water lilies".
3)  http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/CraftArtistMonet.html

  And of course, saving the best for last!  I love this one!  To give your child an idea of what is was like for Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the great cathedral, this one is a must.
4)  http://educationcreateshumanimagination.tumblr.com/post/22842913829/paint-like-michelangelo-what-a-great-idea


  Don't forget that you can also google each artist and look at pictures of their beautiful paintings!  So, drag out your dusty old box of craft supplies and have some fun!

After too long away - I'm back with a Tasty Tuesday

  So happy to be back y'all!  These last several weeks have been filled with ending our summer, starting our school year, and lots of things in between.  We have had a wonderful bounty from our garden, things have been frozen and canned(my mom is a great canner).  We have been on the exciting journey of purchasing land for a future home.  And Finally, we have started our school year with an excitement that I hope sets the pace for the days to come.

  I have lots of things to share in the coming weeks, but of course today is all about the food!  Since we talk a lot about kids and homeschooling, it is obvious that when I plan recipes, they must be kid friendly and healthy.  And, I have a house full of little grazers!  They are constantly looking for food.  With that in mind, this recipe is just perfect for the grazing child in any home.  It uses fresh or frozen fruit and not much else, I am loving it already!  It does take a little time, but well worth it. 

  Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups:
   http://www.loveumadly.com/2012/04/100-pure-love-for-100-real-fruit-snacks/


  So if you have time, make some healthy snacks for your little ones, and we'll talk again soon!

Tasty Tuesday - Gluten Free Lemon Bars

  Okay, Okay!  Going Gluten Free is hard.  I knew that I would have to approach it slowly and I knew that I could not just go to my pantry and throw away all things gluten.  I decided that when I run out of an item containing gluten, I would just replace it with a gluten free item(or something like that). 

  My mom found a book called the Wheat Belly Cookbook and it has some great tips and recipes in it.  Especially if you are just starting on the gluten free journey.

  With gluten-free items becoming more and more available at your local market, it is easy to buy a lot of processed and pre-made foods that are still not good for you.  The Wheat Belly Cookbook talks about the importance of staying away from these items and using flours such as Almond flour and Coconut flour.  When you use the potato starch, tapioca starch, and rice flours to cook with, you are getting a lot of unhealthy carbs.  They have a lot of wonderful recipes, using almond and coconut flour, in the book and I have found many recipes on Pinterest. 

  I am trying lots of new things, some are yummy......some are not!  To get you off to a good start, I am going to share with you one of the yummiest gluten-free recipes I've made so far.  It's for lemon bars!

  http://therealslimsunny.blogspot.com/2012/03/lemon-bars.html

  Now, I must also make a confession:  I followed the bar recipe to the letter, but I did make my own icing.  Powdered sugar is gluten free(woo hoo)!  I am not usually a measurer so I will tell you what I put in it.  Lemon juice and zest, powdered sugar, a little butter, and a little coconut milk.  End result = delicious!

  My husband even enjoyed these.  There is hope!!

 

 

 

Raising Grateful Children

  I have always said that one of the hardest things to teach children is how to be nice to others, even when others are not always nice to them.  I pray that my children will always be kind, thoughtful, merciful, and hospitable toward others.  I also pray that they will always be grateful!

  Today I want to share a link with you called "Raising Grateful Children".  Just a few pointers to help us on our mommy journey!

http://awesomelyawake.com/how-to-raise-grateful-children/

  1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks(be grateful): for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.