Homeschooling 
My oldest is 14 now, and his handwriting still looks like it was scribbled out by a chimpanzee (sorry to all you chimps out there). Watching him write reminds me of what young Zorro must have looked like in school, slashing his pen across the paper. If it weren't so sad, it would be comical. We weren't nearly as rigorous about handwriting skills when he was younger—and it definitely shows. Thankfully, we learned we needed to be more disciplined with his younger brothers and their penmanship is quite good. It all started when we combined copywork with our Bible memory goals. Copywork, put simply, is copying by ...Read More
Archives for 2018
Foods Low-Carb Lemon Blueberry Scones (paleo option)
I've found the longer (and more consistently) I keep my carbs low, the less of a sweet tooth I have. But sometimes, it's nice to sit down with a cup of coffee (or hot tea in my case) and a tasty little treat and feel...normal. And these low-carb lemon blueberry scones really fill that void. Looking for gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. The scones aren't too sweet. Along with the blueberries, I use just a touch of a monk-fruit based sweetener—just enough to make these slightly-sweet, but oh-so delicious. Not familiar with ...Read More
5 Tips to Help Your Left-Handed Child with Handwriting
I'm right-handed. So is my husband. This was why we weren't sure what to do when our second born decided to make our life difficult and be a left-handed child. And to make matters more complicated, our identical twins don't write with the same hand either: one is left-handed and the other is right-handed. So, in this article I'm going to give a dummy's right-handed parent's guide to helping your left-handed child learn how to write. If your lefty is learning to write, this will save both of you a number of headaches later on. Did you know babies can begin to show a hand preference around 7 months old? ...Read More
9 Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils
One of the things I love most about Google is not so much answers it provides but the insight about the questions people ask—and in this case the questions about essential oils people are asking. I compiled the most often asked questions about essential oils Google users are asking —and some of the most frequent questions I'm getting via email. Ready? Let's check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about essential oils... Learn more about my favorite essential oils in this post. If you’re just getting started with essential oils, you should read A Skeptics Guide to Essential Oils. I ...Read More
Essential Oils for Dogs – What You Need to Know
If you use and love essential oils and you love your pooch, you may have wondered whether you can use essential oils for dogs. The answer is a qualified yes—but there are some things you need to know first. Since dogs metabolize essential oils differently than we human folk do, we have to be cautious. But with a few safety guidelines and some quick tips, you'll be on your way to oiling up your pups in no time! Learn more about my favorite essential oils in this post. There are a number of essential oils that are safe for dogs, and there are some essential oils that are very bad for dogs. In this post we'll ...Read More
Practical Tools and Tips to make Bible Memory Easy!
"Mom, my brain is full of too many verses." My 7-year-old daughter told me this recently when she was feeling frustrated about memorizing a particularly difficult Bible verse. And what was my response? "That's impossible, sweetheart. There's no such thing." My words were full of compassion, and I understood her frustration so we took a break and came back to the Scripture later. But I meant what I said. It's impossible for a Christian to fill her brain with "too many verses." Few of us would argue the importance of Bible memory. It's a discipline most Christians know we should be doing, but if we're honest, ...Read More
7 Popular Homeschool Freebies You Don’t Want to Miss
When we were new homeschool parents, even though we were excited about all the freedom and flexibility homeschooling would give us, we quietly lamented the additional cost. If we were sending our kids to the local public school, at least our tax dollars would essentially cover their education. But not so with homeschooling. The good news is there are some great freebies you can take advantage of as a homeschooler. They'll help keep your kids engaged and looking forward to what comes next! Homeschool Freebies 1. Teachers Pay Teachers This website is a treasure trove for homeschool parents. Here you’ll find over ...Read More
5 Essential Things You NEED to Know About Organic Produce
You've always heard you should eat your fruits and veggies, and most of us know there are some fruits and vegetables that give you more bang for your bucks (nutritionally speaking). But is it really worth bothering with organic produce? Is it worth the extra cost? A new study from Stanford has had people claiming organic foods aren't any more nutritious and don't give any health benefits you can't receive from non-organic foods. So, are we being duped into paying higher prices for something that's just not worth it? I live on a budget, so I don't want to spend 25% more on the apples my kids ravenously devour ...Read More
