Friday, March 15, 2024

Weekend Links ll March 15, 2024

 













This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

My favorite meal this week was Crockpot Lentil Soup.  Hubby doesn't love this one so on a night he had plans, we did too.  Crockpot Lentil Soup it is!  I love the rustic earthy taste of this one and cooked in beef broth makes it incredible.  Great way to stretch a family meal and so good!

What I'm Reading:

My currently reading list is out of control.  Seriously... OUT OF CONTROL.  But one of the books I've been reading is the Christian Heroes: Then and Now biographies.  Currently I'm reading Amy Carmichael's story.  I love reading how ordinary people have been used in extraordinary ways... and sharing these stories with my kiddos.

What I'm Doing:

This week we took a field trip to a town about a hour south of us.  We went to see the ABT studio company perform on a local college campus.  We haven't spent much time in this college town so find a fun spot for lunch was a treat.  And my 16 year old ballerina was enthralled with actually getting to watch the company perform.  It was definitely worth the trip.

What I'm Enjoying:

Ballet field trips...
Items checked off the "house" list...
Decluttering...
Great read alouds...
Days out with the kids...

What are you up to?
 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Ocean Anatomy Activity Book {Review}


Written as a companion to Julia Rothman's popular Anatomy series, this Ocean Anatomy Activity Book includes:
  • shell observation sheets
  • "how to draw" pages for sealife
  • word searches
  • poetry templates
  • crossword puzzles 
  • and more!
There is such a variety of activities in this book, it would be hard to list them all!

This activity book is illustrated in the same style as the original Ocean Anatomy book and would make a great educational addition to any home.  It would be a wonderful companion to any homeschool nature study or as part of an ocean unit study.  It would appeal to those upper elementary or middle school years, and would be a great item for any child wanting to learn more about ocean life.  We loved it and can't wait to use more of the book.  

*Disclaimer: I recieved a free e-copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

 

Monday, March 11, 2024

10 Non-Candy Items to Fill Your Easter Eggs

*This post was originally published on 4/7/14.  Enjoy!

 Easter's coming up quick, quick, quick.  Here I am thinking it's great that Easter is so late this year, giving me extra time to think and plan.  But wait!  It's now the second week of April and Easter's almost here.  So if you're looking for an alternative to the standard candy filled egg hunt, here are some ideas to help get you started:


Money--This one's my favorite.  A few rolls of quarters, dimes, and nickels and the kids will love hunting for some change. 

Trail Mix--You can pick up some ready made mix or make your own.  I love making a mix of cranberries, white chocolate, and pumpkin seeds.

Stickers--The Dollar Tree carries a huge variety of stickers from seasonal to character.  And they make a great filler for Easter eggs.

Cheddar Bunnies--My little ones love goldfish and cheddar bunnies are a fun seasonal treat.  Plus they're not loaded with sugar.

Legos--My eight year old is obsessed with Legos and they make a great addition to an egg hunt.

Balloons-- Punch balloons, water balloons, party balloons... they're all great ideas for filling Easter eggs.

Bracelets--My daughter loves getting little bracelets, rings and jewels so they make a fun addition to Easter egg hunting.

Playdoh--Homemade playdoh or small containers... what a fun idea!

Bubbles--Dollar Tree carries small containers of wedding bubbles that fill perfectly in an Easter egg.

Cars--Again, dollar store has a great selection for little boys. 

Really I'm probably going to pick up a variety of all of these for Easter this year.  We have a variety of ages and genders and it should be fun to see the surprised looks on their faces.

What are your favorite Non-Candy Items for Filling Easter Eggs?

Friday, March 8, 2024

Weekend Links ll March 8, 2024












This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

My favorite meal this week was our lettuce wraps.  Oh, this is a "stuff yourself silly" recipe that pleases even our pickiest eater.  Since lettuce wraps can be so messy, we've actually turned this dinner into more of a salad or bowl just be layering the ingredients.  That way no one gets too frustrated to enjoy dinner.  But the sauce is so yummy with just the right balance of sweet and salty.  And it's light and fresh for a refreshing meal.

What I'm Reading:

I just finished The Hiding Place on Monday.  I knew the story of Corrie ten Boom and in fact, read the YWAM Christian Heroes: Then and Now biography with my 7th grader this past fall.  It's hard to be in Christian circles and not know something about the Ten Booms.  However, this was the first time I've ever read The Hiding Place and it was so powerful.  It's amazing to hear all that this family went through and accomplished during the Nazi occupation in Holland.  I can't wait to share this one with my 10th grader.

What I'm Doing:

This week was a bit of a breather for us.  We didn't have much on the calendar other than school and that was a good things since the rest of the month is going to be busy.  We did, however, have roofers at our house at the end of the week.  It will be nice to have that taken care of for insurance purposes, but it did make for an interesting schooling situation.

What I'm Enjoying:

A break in the rainy weather...
 Homemade lettuce wraps...
Field Trip planning...
Women's Bible Study...
Sunflower seedlings...

What are you up to?
 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The Quest for the Guardians: The Dreamkeeper Saga #4 {Review}


Back from the Somnium Realm, Lily is reunited with her family.  However, their moment of peace is brief as shrouds begin invading the waking world.  Confused as to how they've come to be here, Lily and her family go in search of the Guardians to help them defeat the shrouds and restore order.  They travel the world in search of answers, along with Sprock how is battling his own inner guilt.  Will the shrouds prove too much for them to conquer?  Will Sprock ever find the peace he's looking for?  And will Pax break through the barrier to help them?

Faith, purpose, forgiveness, mercy... all these themes run throughout the Dreamkeeper Saga.  And Quest for the Guardians is no exception.  I love that these books are highly engaging for a variety of ages.  From parents all the way down to elementary.  Butler writes her books in such a way that they challenge the reader to think deeper about theological issues, while still keeping the action going.  As we go deeper into this series, the author continues to being the salvation story to life.  If your family is a fan of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, you will LOVE this series.  It has all the elements you could ever want... a battle between good and evil, cheering on the underdog, superhuman feats as characters rise to the challenge, and magical realms waiting to be discovered.  We cannot recommend this one highly enough.

 *Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

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