Misc Stuff That Happened Here

Ha ha, nice title.  I could have called it something else, but that really is what this is! 

 

I guess it is kind of a link round up too, but some of them are mine...so it is not really one in the truest sense...

 

So here I go.

 

I made some more of these fire disks the other day.

 

My wood burning stove is awesome, and we love these for starting the morning fire!  I made a little over 200 of them and didn't give any away this time so I have LOTS for my pyro tendencies!

I made my very favorite combo of my A to Z bread yet! 

These are banana walnut muffins and they were so good!  All my boys (even the big picky one) gobbled them up and they were gone in a day - all 24 of them!

 

My baby is learning math. 

Sometimes that is tricky to find something that he will sit for as he is really wiggly.  This website is awesome!

There are quizzes they can take (35 questions each) and it self grades them for you with the option to print.

I don't know why they are such a hit, but he loves them!  Yay!

My bigger boys are really liking this page too for their writing.  We have it tacked up by the computer so they can read it as they write.

In October DH and I reached the milestone of 15 years married!  Crazy as it seems we are no longer "young marrieds"...or young for that matter!

So, because we were on a no spending money budget (moving sucks) I made him this gift.

In it there are 52 sticks that we can draw out each time we go on date night.  We try to set aside Friday night each week to make the effort to just have him and I together. 

I had to be really creative because the nearest place with entertainment is half an hour away.  We don't want to make that trip each week because gas is so crazy expensive.  SO...I tried to make most of them totally free and at home.  There are 14 temple dates, a couple shooting range dates (it is right across the street), quite a few at home ones, and just a couple ones we have to go into town for.

Last weekend we drew the stick to each spend $10 at the grocery store (there is one just 10 min away) and make a meal out of whatever we picked.

We would have never done something like this living in a city as it seemed a little silly and not very fun as adults. 

WRONG!

It was probably our best date so far.  We loved it.

So, lesson learned.  Something simple and not extravagant can be just as fun as the really well thought out super expensive dates.  Took me long enough to learn.

That wraps up my list for this week.  How about you...find something this week you want to share?  I would love to hear about it.

Cheers

Links and Lists

Totally random things today! 

Here are a couple things I loved this week...

• This video.  I am "girl challenged".  I am pretty physically incapable of being a girly girl, but this looks doable to even me!

• I am pretty much in love with any type of roll cake.  This one looks too yummy!
• Ok, this list looks great.  I only scrolled through a couple, but the prospect is great!  We are going to try to do totally homemade Christmas gifts this year, with everyone only getting 3 total.  We hope this helps us become closer to each other and remember Christ more. 
• I would love to have a shawl be one of my gifts.  I have pretty much always wanted on.  DH said if I picked a pattern he would make me on.  I am thinking this one might be my favorite so far...
• Next week for Thanksgiving, I am making this pie!
• These Tamales are so incredible sounding.  (with a couple changes of course)  I think I may make them as soon as I move...
• Want a teepee?  I do.  Here are plans to making one...
• Not sure I am brave enough to do this...but I would like to!
• Scroll a ways down and see the numbered children.  I want a photo like this of all the grandkids in our family.  We have 11 now and it would be so fun for my kids to have their cousins in a photo like this!  (and hey - my parents would like it too I am sure!)  If we did the other side of the family there would be even more!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Cheers

Links and Lists

Life here is a little nuts (who's isn't right?!) and I feel a little stressed out. 

So, although I have not posted as regularly as I was, I still love you all and hope you will forgive me the next few weeks or so.

Until then, here is what I have been loving this week:

• Food is big in my life.  You know that right?!  I have to admit that when I read this post I giggled...then I thought, "Hey, I need one of those!"
• I follow a blog.  It is always filled with profound insights and things to really make me think.  This post really hit me this morning.  I have been going through a really difficult time lately and this was just what I needed this morning.
• For my baby this year in school, we do a daily notebook and call it his "calendar journal".  I love it.  Next year I think that I will switch it up with this one...it is all in cursive!
• I can not be the only one who thinks that photo above is so awesome, right?!  I am going to take my boys and go eyebombing!
• Everyone needs a superhero cape right?  This is a great tute that I came across and WILL use for my boys. 
• Controversial topic?  Check.  Beautifully written post?  Check.  Pinned for later reference and shared on Facebook?  Check.  If you missed it...check it right here.
• One of the biggest concerns that people bring to me when they find out I homeschool is, "How are you going to socialize your children?"  This is a beautiful post all about one Mom's answer.
• I have amazing friends.  Yes, I know many of you, (in person or online) and most of you just downright amaze me.  I know a few who are raising autistic children.  When I came across this post, I admit I worried I was that person who said one or more of these things.  Click over.  It will educate you and will help you understand.  I promise.  I hope that I have never said any of these things, but you never know...my memory is going and I may have.  If I did, I know better now. 

And just because it fits my life right now...

Enjoy your week.

Cheers

Links and Lists - Back to School

We all know that no matter how you school, it is the time right now to start gearing up for another year of it.

 

Today I thought I would share my favorite resources that homeschoolers and public schoolers could enjoy for supplemental in different subjects.

Starfall is a great place for emerging readers to start. 

Zac Browser is amazing.  It is a web browser that was developed with autistic children in mind, but it gives all children a safe place to browse the internet.

The Ultimate List of Online Music Activties is a large list of music enrichment things to access.

Have you ever had your child ask you about something and they want to learn more?  "Mom, what is paper made of?"  and your simple answer of trees is just not good enough...This is a list of Unit studies that will make answering those questions a bit easier.

And if unit studies are not your thing, Teacher Tube has videos.

And if you don't want videos, a virtual field trip might be the answer.

OR you might want an app to enhance your stuff.  I personally LOVE my iPad for that.  There are so many interesting apps you can download, even for free!

Sometimes you need to help with handwriting.  This cool tool lets you type in word and choose the way you want it to work.  It then generates a sheet for your child to trace.

If you have a high schooler (and *gasp* that is me as my son is doing Grades 8 and 9 this year...Where did my baby go??!) there might be some extra reading you want them to do.  This list is an excellent resource.

Pinterest is taking the teacher world, and pretty much every world, by storm.  I have boards on pretty much everything.  (Please follow me...I would love to connect there as well, or if you need an invite, let me know and I will pass one on.)  Here is an idea I am going to adapt for lots of things.  I can do this for meal planning, farm planning, garden planning, school planning and so much more!  What a great idea.

I would love to know your favorite places/links to visit for school helps.  Pass them on in the comments or feel free to email me!  I hope that back to school is less stressful, and more exciting this year than any year previous!

Cheers

Summer Links and Lists

This post is also appearing on Latter-Day Homeschooling today.

Are you having a great summer?!

I am.

My boys are busy working on their summer fun chart, interspersed with some other activities. 

I thought that for this links and lists I would give you some fun activities, that cost little or no money, to do with your kids.  These are great for the last min "Mom, I am sooooo bored.  What can I do?!" times in your children's lives!

Enjoy.

• Kids love being monsters right?  Just mine...I am sure it is not!  This is a great idea for those monsters to have big monster feet.  Walk in the sand or puddles.  Leave big monster feet prints behind.
• For my son's birthday this year he got a bow.  Since then my boys have been really excited about bows and shooting them, and even making them.  Here is a simple bow your (older) kids could make.
• Have you seen the baked cotton balls making their rounds?  My boys really want to try them, and we will as soon as it is not so stinkin hot out and I can turn my oven on!  They are practically free though so good fun.
• Are you lucky enough to have a sandbox?  If you are, my boys are jealous because they want to turn a sandbox into one of these mud boxes.  They think this would be so much fun.  (and I think girls like getting dirty just as much as boys do...at least I did!)
• I just picked up a pack of shower caps (12 for a dollar) for this fun activity.  Super fun with lots of kids or just two.
• If you have a few kids at your house and they are all bored, this would be super fast and easy to put together and I think it could keep them busy for a while.  I did a popcorn fight once and it was FOREVER to pop enough popcorn for a 20 min fight...worth it, but this activity seems a little less work to me.
• How about chalk?  Do you have some?  Water balloons?  I am sure you have both.  If you do, this activity looks like lots of fun.
• If you used paper plates, you could do this little man tea party on the super cheap.  My boys are obsessed with moustaches so this is right up their alley.  (Yes, even the big one!)
• And because I secretly long for the simple days of the pioneers, this whistle is right up our alley too.  I think if kids had a little patience it would be a very rewarding activity.
• Right now we live in a rental and spray painting our lawn is kind of forbidden...but as soon as we aren't, this is going to happen here.  What fun!
• OK, we did this last month and my boys had a blast.  I had to make a rule that no hands were involved for the big boys because they were just wrestling, but as soon as the hands were taken out of the equation, this was a BIG hit here. 
• Last year the biggest hit of all was our shaving cream war.  Serious fun here.  Cheap, but not free.
• Here are a couple other ideas that I had featured on my summer camp series on my blog this summer.

Have an awesome summer!

Cheers

Links and Lists

Last week I have my nephew here, and in the process learned that to a 13 year old that didn't grow up in my house...we eat weird!!  It was an interesting discovery for me.

I assumed we were totally normal......just kidding! 

In honor of being weird, and eclectic in my tastes, here is a totally random list of things that caught my fancy this week.

Maybe I should warn you that I love food.  Didn't know that yet?!  I pin many a recipe and eat most of them.  I will admit that I do have a couple I haven't tried yet, but they are few.  So for the first few links, they are food.

• Any kind of tostada makes me happy.  This one looks amazing!  Mexican food is totally yummy and we do eat lots of it around here.
• Tex-Mex? Again, we love it!  Add in Quinoa and I am totally a happy camper!  Plus, the recipe is from Macheesmo, and if you haven't been to his blog yet, check out this recipe and stick around for a bit.
• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  At least I have heard that before.  So, that gives me excuse to eat it more than once a day!  We have eaten breakfast for dinner more than once and things like this are so yummy you have to have them for more than just breakfast!

• And if you are spending time in the kitchen, it is so much fun to have a child or two in there with you.  The photo above is of the Raspberries that my son and his cousin picked last week.  Look different?  That's because he made jam out of all of them.  All by himself.  This post goes right along with that, it is about creating confident kids, in and out of the kitchen.  It was a wonderful read.
• I am going to see if I can get my DH to make me one of these for the winter coming up.  Winter comes early here in Canada so he better hurry.  :)
• For school this year, we are going to do this unit study.  The boys are pretty excited because I missed the boat on one they wanted to take this summer.  Sometimes summer can get expensive so we didn't do the online one they wanted. 
• And last but not least, canning season is here.  This is something I am going to make soon.

Have a wonderful summer!
Cheers

Summer Camp - Summer Fun Chart

To kick off this series of Summer Camp ideas, I thought I would start with something my boys love.  I really hope that you are all like me.  I hope that when summer comes, you try to find things to keep your kids occupied because they need to have something to do each day!

My boys love looking forward to summer though because that means that I make up our summer fun chart. 

For the past few years I have been printing out a list of activities, putting it in a cheap frame (think dollar store) and each time they do one, they cross it off with dry erase markers.  The beauty of having it in a frame is that I can just wipe it off.  Easy Peasy.

This year I thought I would get fancy and make all of you (who want one) a printable list as well.  Just click the photo for a larger one to print out.

Coming up these next few weeks, I have some wonderful guest posts.  These ladies have some really cool ideas for you to try out.  I will be posting summer camp ideas every Monday and Thursday.   Come check them out, and...

Enjoy summer!

Some of these things are just links to a photo, or an idea on Etsy and I figured I could totally do it (without buying them) I hope you will also find them useful.

Make a Catch a Ball             Learn How to Embroider (this is a link for 100 Stitches)
Learn How to Quill            Make a Tin Can Mug
Fishing Tackle Bracelets (for a more "manly" version leave off the beads)
Yarn Dolls                        Salad Spinner Art
Yarn Book Worm               Play Tent (with a hula hoop) and here is another one
Family Dolls (Nesting)          Monster Pillows
Take Close Up Photos (then make a simple book out of them)
Monster Page Corner Bookmarks
Marshmallow Popper           Monster Dolls
Baked Marbles                    Province/State String Art
Bag of Toy Soldiers             Make a Fork Ring
Make Tie Tacks/Earrings out of the end of a spent bullet casing
Make a Giant Flower            Make a Flower Press
Make Rock Candy                Make Rubber band Guns
Tiny Bubbles with straws        Bath Boats with Ice Cubes
Catapult with Popsicle Sticks  Frozen Treasure Dig
Water Hose Gun                   PVC Sprinkler
Flour Tag                            Glitter Balloons
Clay                                   Sumo Wrestle with Cushions
Drums out of Cans                   Fabric Bowls
PVC Periscope                     Superhero Masks
Jellybean Bracelets               Make a Jellyfish in a Bottle
Lip Straws                           Redneck Waterbed
Tape Ball                             Laser Tag with Balloons
Shaving Cream War               Popcorn War
Bubble Wrap Hopscotch         Pudding Painting

Cheers

Links and Lists

Bryce Canyon, UT

While away I didn't have regular Internet and because of that had some massive pile up in email, google reader, pinterest and facebook reading.  Some of it I just couldn't do or read.  (sorry)  But those I did get to read were fabulous!

Maybe you already have taken the time to read or see these things, or have already made and done them...but just in case you missed it...here are some of my favorite things that I had piled up:

1. If you remember our foray into homemade toothpaste...you might remember I am looking for things to use.  This one popped up on my reader and it looks like I might like it a lot.  I will be making it soon.  (and putting it in a pump like this looks like such a good idea!)
2. A while back I found hemp hearts in Costco.  My oldest and DH love them on pretty much everything, but I am struggling on what to put them on.  These look like they would fit the bill...chocolate makes everything taste good right?!
3. Have you seen the Sean Rapier skit?  The one that he starts his stand up with all the things we say as we start our talks in Sacrament meeting?  You haven't?  I didn't either until I read MMM's post from the other day.  Here it is in case you missed it too. Watch it, you will be glad you did.
4. Ok, we all know I love preparedness.  You didn't know?  Sorry...I love preparedness stuff.  One of my greatest passions is food storage.  This encompasses so very much.  Sometimes when we actually have a food storage...we don't have a place to put it.  For this reason, this little booklet was something I pinned right away when I saw it!
5. I am not a big fan of sweet potatoes, but they are growing on me.  I have a few dishes I like with them in it.  I am going to try these out, but fry them...because everything tastes better fried.  :)
6. I love photography...have a whole board on pinterest (even if it is one of my smallest ones) devoted to ideas and tips.  This looks like an awesome way to send out your Christmas card without the missive that seems to accompany it.  Love it!
7. Coming soon I am posting a fun series...well, I think it is fun.  It is going to be called "Summer Camp".  I have guest posters and a couple giveaways and some printables.  Yay!  This is one of the things I wanted to include but didn't quite make the cut.

Well, that was a bit longer than usual, but I hope you found something you didn't see before, or could use.

Cheers

Links and Lists - Vacation Edition

I am still on break, but here is a list of travel activities.  We are coming up on travel season and I have been trying really hard to accumulate enough entertainment for my boys as we travel.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

(These ones I ran off and laminated, that way we could reuse them over and over)

• If you live in the States, or are travelling though the US, here is a great licence plate game.
• I love the ABC game midway down the page.  Many trips as a child were spent playing the ABC game! 
• I ran off a couple of our favorite board games.  My personal favorite is the Yahtzee game (which I laminated) and the snakes and ladders game.  We are so excited to use them.

(These ones are just misc ones that I think will be fun)

• This popsicle stick loom is pretty cool.
• I think these jelly bean bracelets will keep the boys busy.  Treat and craft all in one! (thinking it might be fun with fruit snacks too)
• This is a HUGE list of stuff for mostly younger kids, but still fun.

I also have a couple packing lists here on this post if you want to have your kids pack their own things.

Cheers

Links and Lists

How cool would this herb garden be?!

Welcome to another Wednesday!  Seriously love the middle of the week when I am halfway through.  I don't know why, just is true. 

We had a busy week that just passed.  I had my first mammogram, my niece was baptized and then my Dad was made bishop of our ward.  (in order of happening, not importance!)  While I was going about my week, I made sure to keep track of the things I loved this week...here are 5.

1. Natural Antibiotics.  I love the idea of using naturals wherever possible.  I understand that we need modern medicine, and I am so thankful for it, but I like to do whatever I can first.
2. Here is a "Map" of the book of Mosiah.  I bookmarked it for when we actually reach it.  I love how creative some people are and are willing to share with us all.
3. Speaking of scripture study (we were right?!)  Here is another aid.  Studying the Godhead is one of my favorite topics and this one is amazing.
4. This recipe is all in another language, but the photos are beautiful and really, who doesn't know how to make Cinnamon rolls?  (if you don't, please don't be offended.  I intend on doing a tute soon...)  I think this would also be amazing as a braid.
5. Dehydrating eggs.  I want to do it.  BUT first I want chickens...lots of chickens that give me so many eggs I have to dehydrate them to keep up!  This is a great post about it, and I like that the eggs are not cooked first...now to get a fruit roll up liner for my dehydrator...

Have a wonderful week.

Cheers

Menu Plan Monday

As always, I didn't include the side dishes.  I just included the main part of the meal.  Add salads, fruit platters, fruit shakes, yogurt, Flat breads and all the fixins where appropriate. 

Monday:
Breakfast - Coconut Pancakes
Lunch - Corn Bread
Dinner - Avocado Eggs Benedict

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Lunch - Scrambled Eggs on toast, top with sauteed spinach and cheese - broil, dip in marinara sauce
Dinner - Mexican Chicken Chowder

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Pancakes w/ Banana, Walnuts and Peanut Butter
Lunch - Tuna Melts
Dinner - Sloppy Joes

Thursday:
Breakfast - Oatmeal with Kiwi and Banana
Lunch - Green Onion Cakes
Dinner - BLT Avocado Melts

Friday:
Breakfast - Toast w/ Cottage Cheese and Tomatoes
Lunch - L/O
Dinner - Pasta w/ Stroganoff

Saturday:
Breakfast - Pull apart Pumpkin French Toast
Dinner - Taco Salad

Sunday:
Breakfast - Breakfast Bruchetta (cream cheese base, scrambled eggs, tomatoes)
Lunch - Grilled Cheese
Dinner - Perogie Bake (sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, mix with perogies top with cheese.  After baked top with french fried onions)

Cheers

Links and Lists

• Because I love gardening...this little pack of stuff is right up my alley.  Too bad my big boys are too old for some of it.  I think I will sneak some in anyway!
• And to add to that...currclick's freebie is a lapbook on plants.  These are great even if you don't homeschool like us.  It gets you little learning activities to do with your kids (or grands) that sometimes you wouldn't have thought of. 
• And totally different topic (because that is how I roll), this post was interesting.  How to treat foot/hand fungus naturally.  I have never actually had any foot fungus, nor have my children, but I am sure someday we might.  Never hurts to know what to do right?!
• This phrase really struck me.  I am sure that it can be used in so many ways, not just crafting!
• So, I need food.  Seriously, have you never met me?!  I think in food.  This one really made my mouth water.
• I want chickens so bad.  This woman's book also sounds awesome...maybe I want that too!
• I am out to pick 365 Dandelions today just for this jelly.  We are super excited to try it out!

Cheers

Links and Lists

This is one of the newest members of my family!

• I am totally doing a trellis this year.  My garden spot is so small (think 3' X 6') and I only have two pots.  I think a trellis will be great so I can grow a few more things.  (and it is the urban farm challenge this week!)
• Mmmmm, I think I will have this for lunch today!
• This fish looks like something I could make.  What a fun baby show gift...
• I already do this, but I have had so many questions and she answers many of them really well.  I thought it might be handy to direct you that way. 
• I don't totally understand the whole post (as I don't have bees yet) but I love the idea.  I am hoping to get hives soon.

How about you?  What have been your favorite things this week?

Cheers

Links and Lists

Source

My sister in law and I were talking the other day and she said to me, "Jaime, you pin the most random things!  First you are pinning clothes, then food, then aquaponics then preparedness stuff.  It is so random."

So, I figured that you might like to see one day of me pinning.  For the sake of keeping it short, these are the first 5 things I pinned today.  (some from my google reader, and some from pinterest)

• Top Ten Easy DIY Foods from Macheesmo.  All ten are things I have done and they really are easy.
• The Mother-of-all-Spring Cleaning Lists.  I especially got a kick out of her line where she tells you to download it, print it off, and then hand it to your husband.  DH laughed but he should be worried!
• This post tells you all about Slow Cooker to Dutch Oven Conversion.  I never even thought about the fact that you could do this!  Duh.  I am excited to try out some converting.
• Is it wrong that I giggled as I read the Top 10 Rookie Food Storage Mistakes?!  I loved reading my own words to people as I read the post.  I 100% agree with all the top 10 they have on there.  (and I especially liked that they DIDN'T have a generator as an alternate heat/cooking source...)
• I loved the idea of charcoal in a terracotta pot for table top smores!  (you have to scroll a bit)  I am totally trying this in the summer...

Cheers

Book Talk Tuesday - Links and Lists Edition

These are some links that have caused me some really deep thinking this week.  I want to share them with you.  Please note:

***I hesitated even publishing this one, but have felt strongly that I need to.  I really feel like I need to share.  Please do not take offence, I struggled  with my wording and agonized with the words I have here.  Please read and know I do not mean to pick on anyone at all.  I love and appreciate all of you and am just trying to follow prompings I have recieved.***

I have read the "Hunger Games" and I know what is contained in the book.  I did read all three of the books. It sickens and distresses me each and every day. I felt like I was sneaking something dirty each time I opened the book. I am a 30 (ish) year old woman, yet I felt like a teen sneaking something past her parents.

I should have realized that this was a prompting from the Holy Ghost. I was doing something I was not supposed to do. Something that was in direct opposition of the Holy Ghost. It has taken me a while to get over what has happened and I am still a little sick inside when I think about the fact I didn’t figure it out sooner. (Satan is so very sneaky and persuasive)

The movie has been so incredibly popular. I want to fit in and see it, but have recieved that prompting that it will be damaging spiritually for me. THIS time I will follow that prompting, no matter how odd I am because I know it is the right thing to do.

What a blessing personal revelation is. This whole series has taught me a lesson, the hard way, but a lesson none the less.

Sad that I had to be so old to learn it, but learn it I did.  After writing a post about some personal inspiration, I came to the conclusion that I would not recommend the books or watch the movie when it came out, and I would also spread the word to whoever asked about how I feel. 
This has led to some people taking offence to my stance.  This is not my intention.  I am just trying to follow our prophet's council to "continue to oppose evil wherever it is found."  (President Monson in the March 30, 2012 morning session of General Conference) 

As such, instead of rewriting something, I thought I would point you to some posts that I have loved this week.  Written by some wonderful women who say it much better than I.  Again, if you don't feel the same way, I respect your opinion, but as a person who deeply regrets a decision to read these books, I felt I had to share these posts. 

I still love and respect the people who have chosen to love these books.  I don't feel any different to these people, I am not judging them for their reading of the books or watching of the movie.  Just like all of you, I also heard President Uchtdorf's talk, and I loved his bumper sticker, "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you."  I am not judging those who read or chose to watch,  I just don't agree with the values in the book and as such wanted to share these links. 

• Misfit Cygnet - Weighing in on the Hunger Games  (the one that deeply impacted me when she wrote it here)
• Mormon Soprano - Why Hunger Games Frightens Me
• J&M Ranch - Babylon and Visa's and the Hunger Games
• Old Fashioned Motherhood - Why is Violence OK?
• The Courthouse Ramblings - Taking a Stand
• ...and because this fits so well, Chocolate on my Cranium - A Summer Cottage in Babylon 

(there is a little visual on J&M Ranch's post above that fits right with Cocoa's post...it is now my
wall paper!)
I also pinned this video last week that is very well said.  I agree with pretty much everything she says.  Having read some of the "recommended books" though, that is NOT something I agree with all the way.



Cheers

ps.  I have tried to be kind, and respect that everyone has a different opinion.  Please also try to be kind in the comments and not disparage each other or me.  Thank you so much.  I love each comment and they all help me learn and grow, but if things get unkind I would hate to close comments. 

Links I am Loving

This week I am doing this a tiny bit different...not that I am lazy, but I am lazy and don't want to post photos of everything!  :)  I am just linking and you can go check them out if you want to see more.

1.  I have a friend that is seriously talented in the crochet dept.  She crochets some fun stuff.  I ordered a "headband" with a flower on it, and a braided headband.  They are such fun and they don't give my poor head a headache.  If you want to check some out, this is one of her Facebook albums.

2.  I am loving this super idea when you freeze leftover (or on purpose leftovers) lasagna.

3.  This tee shirt is super cute, but the HAT in the top photo kills me.  I would love to have the whole outfit for my boys!  (or heck - me!)

4.  Caleb Warnock wrote a great book...but he also has a fun blog with tips on it.  Scroll down a bit and explore.  He has many great ideas for preparedness.

5.  My friend Carrie posted about some of the Christmas Gifts she made this past Christmas.  Her first idea of swirled ornaments is so awesome.  I love the first one the best.

6.  Just for my friend Holly, these "Nachos" look so wonderful.  Yes I am going to buy Endive today to try them out, because I do pin some outrageous looking food...but we do eat it!  :)

7.  Lastly, I needed to look it up, because Kefir is not something I am familiar with...but these scones look so yummy so I needed to know what it is!

Have anything you are loving this week?  Pass it on if you do...I love new ideas.

Cheers

Survival in a Loaf Pan

This post is one I wrote for Latter-Day Homeschooling.

OK.  Dh and I have a little obsession with outdoor things.

We love to be prepared, and in the process of becoming prepared, we tend to do things like make and use survival kits.

This one is one of our favorites in it's simplicity and also in the completeness of including a little of everything.

Here is a list of the contents (and what you can use them for):

Sling Shot ("hunting" small game for eating, a little bit of protection)
Flashlight
Safety Pins (repair or holding things together)
Compass
Fish Hooks (fishing or repair - make shift sewing implements)
Matches
Pepto
Ground Sheet (emergency shelter, poncho, ground cover to sleep on)
Emergency Blanket
Nylon Rope
Flint & Steel (fire making)
Snare Wire (for catching small game, emergency "rope")
Multi Tool
Mirror (signaling)
Fishing line (wrapped on a bobbin from a sewing machine)
Pencil & Tape (with the tape wrapped around the end of the pencil)
Knife
Bungee Cords
Loaf Pan (for everything to fit into)
Bandana (to wrap and carry the loaf pan in)

As you can see, you probably want to learn some skills before you HAVE to rely on something like this. 

Here are a couple links that you might enjoy:

Knife Safety Discussion
Snaring
Fishing
Tarp Shelters
My post with a pile of "scouting" links.  All broken down into areas of study.

What is your favorite thing to do for survival preparing?  I would love to know how your family is preparing yourself in survival.  Have fun!

Cheers

Links and Lists - Misc Edition

I like themes, but I just couldn't think of a way to tie all of these things together, and I really wanted to tell you about them all.  So here is the Misc edition.

1.  Have you ever heard of "Zac Browser"?  It was made especially as a safe place for autistic children to have to "surf the net".  I was talking to some friends a couple weekends ago and they had mentioned it to me.  I downloaded it and now my baby can go on the Internet and he feels so big.  He is LOVING it.  Best of all?  It's free!

2.  To go along with his new independence, these same friends also had one of these:

The keyboard comes with big, colorful keys that are easy to press.  The mouse fits easily in small hands.  (and has a super fun little frog inside with lights each time you move it)  Well worth the $20 you pay at WalMart.

3.  I mentioned a few times how we had no snow?  Well, my DH and oldest went on winter camp and we had a system move through that in two days dropped all our winter snow in one fell swoop!  It is beautiful.

4.  While in the education store the other day I picked up a couple fun baking soda toys.  My baby loves his little rocket.

You fill the bottom with vinegar and the little hole in the rocket has some soda.

Stick them together and shake 3 times and it "explodes" by popping a couple inches in the air.

5.  Sewing is fun for me.  Fabric is REALLY expensive.  I am not a stellar shopper by any stretch, but my friend told me about this really nice little web site with cheap fabric. 

6.  I bought myself some spring the other day.  It is beautiful sitting on my counter reminding me of our Father's beautiful creations.

7.  Speaking of our Father's creations.  I really should travel more.  The things I see out my window as I drive are amazing.  We also spotted the Northern Lights all the way down here, but my camera didn't like them, just me!

How about you?  What have been your favorite things this week?  Have you found something totally new or wonderful that you want to share?

I am off to celebrate the leap day with my kiddies, do something fun with your loved ones today, it only happens once every 4 years!

Cheers

Links and Lists - Sickkies

Last night I had the dubious blessing of sitting in the ER with my poor son.  He seems to get croup (sp?) fairly easily.  When it gets bad, we are in the ER for steroids and drugs of assorted varieties.  So, in honor of the sick season, I thought I would share some of the recipes I have been collecting for my season of sick!

1.  These "herbsicles" were on my list yesterday, but the tea got slurped up so quick I didn't have any left to freeze.  We shall try again today! 

2&3.  I would love to make my own "Vicks".  We go through a fair amount of it here, and if I could have a rub that was easy to make and full of stuff I actually knew about...

Well, here are two recipes.  Here and Here.

4.  When my boys were younger they really liked cough syrup...NOT!  These little suckers would have really come in handy.  I love that they look like a treat, but will help your poor little one feel a bit better.

5.  This is a YouTube video that will not let me embed, so you will have to go over and check it out.  In it is how to make a homemade cough syrup.  Looks interesting.  I am not sure if I am brave enough to make it, so let me know if you do, or if you make some different stuff your family uses!

So, keep well and warm (it is -37C today with the windchill here). 

Cheers

Links and Lists: Aquaponics

Have you ever seen something and thought - "Hey, I really need to do that!"?

When we went on our Disney World vacation we found such a moment.  When touring the greenhouse there, we just had that little "ding" in our minds.  They grow much of their food hydroponically, with lots of it ending up aquaponically produced.  Since the tour we took, we have been searching out more information and educating ourselves to this really cool way of growing your own food.

Today I am sharing some of my favorite links related to that.

This sort of set up just really makes me want one of my own!  The top photo is from a site you have to sign in on...so I don't have a link.  It is super cool though.  I love the idea of using the blue water barrels for your whole system.

The next one is a very brief article on the basics of Aquaponics.

I would just LOVE a system that I could just tuck in somewhere like this one:

Here is a wonderful video on how one man is making his hydroponics and aquaponics work for him.

 

This whole site talks about your own "Backyard Aquaponics".  There is so much information on the site, it is worth checking out.

If you want to check a bit more that I have pinned, this is my pintrest board.

Cheers