It has been so long since I have written a post and so much has happened. Last year was crazy and their were times when I didn't think I would survive literally and figuratively. We moved out of our rental property after someone shot up our living room windows, we moved our whole family into … Continue reading New Year, New Adventure!
When did patriotism become a bad word? I remember when the World Trade Center was attacked in 2001. I was a freshman in college and I remember watching the news footage that morning being absolutely petrified. The days following this horrific event showed American's coming together in a way they had never come together before. … Continue reading What Happened to Patriotism?
I know it's July and with this beautiful summer weather Christmas seems eons away. In reality though Christmas isn't all that far away and before you know it the local radio stations will be playing our favorite Christmas songs around the clock. While Christmas is a time for joy for many people it can bring … Continue reading Let’s Talk Christmas
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash This is the first time I have attempted to homeschool during a pregnancy and I can tell you that it has been quite the challenge. During my first trimester I was plagued with severe nausea and fatigue which made it difficult getting through the day upright. At night I usually had a … Continue reading Homeschooling While Pregnant
Life truly is an adventure and you never know what could happen to send your life's journey down a new path. At the end of April I discovered that I was pregnant. This was an exciting discovery as we had always wanted more children but I have had issues with fertility since my youngest was … Continue reading Special Announcement
Over the years I have encountered a strange phenomenon among men and women my age and that is an unnatural fear of leftovers. I happen to be really good at saving money on my food budget and when people ask me the secret to my success they are usually appalled that I make my family … Continue reading Are You Afraid of Leftovers?
I wanted to see what questions Google was being asked about homeschool so I turned to the Google search engine and typed in how to homeschool and the first thing that popped up for me was how to homeschool for free. When I first began my homeschool journey years ago the financial burden was something … Continue reading Commonly Googled: How to homeschool for free…
Did you know that you can order prescription glasses online? I just learned it was possible about a week ago. I had received a new prescription from my eye doctor and when I went to pick out my glasses I discovered a very long line. I didn't have enough time that day to wait so … Continue reading Ordering Prescription Glasses Online
Today I took my monthly run to Costco to pick up my bulk items like toilet paper, paper towel and other random household items where buying in bulk makes financial sense. Over the past year I have learned what to buy and what not to buy at Costco and this has helped me avoid the … Continue reading Grocery Budget and the Bulk Store
It was recently made public that a number of parents including two very well known actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman used their position and power to manipulate the college admission process. Now I believe that parents should invest in their children's education but this is going to extremes. What bothers me most about this … Continue reading Hollywood College Admission Drama
I know we are a ways off from the start of theĀ new school year but this is the time of year that I begin to plan. I gather my curriculum catalogs together along with my trusty notebook so that I can plan out what materials I need for next year and where our journey … Continue reading Planning 2019-2020 School Year
My oldest is almost 13 years old and he is a crazy, funny, unique individual but recently the terrible teen disease has begun to plague him. If you have a child between the ages of 11-13 who is exhibiting the following symptoms your child might also have this obnoxious disease. Moodiness Suddenly knows everything under … Continue reading The Terrible Teen Stage
It's never too early to start home education, in fact, the best thing you can do for your little ones is to begin their education early. Even if you intend to enroll your children in a traditional brick and mortar institution you should still start them off with old fashioned home education. Many parents engage … Continue reading It’s Never Too Early!
We are about to do one of the craziest things we have ever done in our entire lives. We are in the process of packing up our life in the Midwest and moving to our property in southern Tennessee. This past weekend we spent a few days visiting our property and mapping out our ideas … Continue reading Introducing Blackberry Ridge
Have you ever had one of those days where you have your day planned out and then something happens and everything gets flipped upside down? Well, I have those days quite a bit, I feel like I am always on the go and sometimes this creates issues with my homeschool routine. Luckily over the years … Continue reading Homeschooling on the Run!
A couple of weeks ago my cousin lost her fight with cancer leaving behind her husband, her son, daughter-in-law and her unborn grandchild. It's never easy when someone we love passes away but it is more difficult when they pass away so young and with so much life to experience. But, I know that her … Continue reading In Remembrance
As a homeschooling family we do a ton of reading and I am always on the hunt for books that will not only inspire literacy but a love for reading as well. I don't want my kids to just be able to read I want them to adore reading as much as I do. Recently, … Continue reading We Love Amelia Bedelia!
Puberty stinks literally and figuratively! It all started back around Christmas time my husband and I noticed that an odd odor was coming from our oldest child who had just turned twelve. We purchased him his own supply of deodorant and explained the importance of personal hygiene. We expected the odor to go away but … Continue reading Puberty Stinks!
Are you interested in not only running your own business but bringing in part time or full time income into your household? If the answer is yes I would like to invite you to join my Avon team. One of the reasons that I really enjoy running my Avon business is that I can grow … Continue reading Are You Interested In Running Your Own Business?
I am happy to say that we survived the polar vortex that swept through Northwest Ohio this past week. Today was a balmy 4 degrees and we are preparing for tropical weather on Sunday and Monday as temps are projected to rise into the upper 40's and 50's. After experiencing temperatures that dipped to -39 … Continue reading We Survived the Polar Vortex
Many women like to argue that abortion is their right because they have the right to do what they want with their own bodies. Some argue that abortions are necessary to help women who have been victims of rape and incest. Others think that it is some sort of rite of passage and that all … Continue reading A Homeschooling Mom’s Stance on Abortion
I love to learn new kitchen skills and I have been wanting to make cheese forever and finally found a simple recipe to start with. I was watching YouTube and one of the channels I subscribe to "Living Traditions Homestead" had a video on how to make farm cheese with three ingredients. In this video … Continue reading I Made Cheese!
Last night Northwest Ohio was gifted several inches of fresh snow and my kids were itching to try out their new sleds they received at Christmas time. This afternoon with the sun shining above we set out to our local metro park to test out the sleds. We weren't the only ones inspired to try … Continue reading The One Thing They Forgot…
There is nothing more comforting than the smell of freshly baked bread oh wait there is... eating freshly baked bread. Over the years I have tried so many different bread recipes and I have also created my own because bread is pretty simple it's simply flour, yeast, sugar, salt and oil. You can play around … Continue reading My Favorite Bread Recipe
I can't believe that we had 50 degree weather in Northwest Ohio in January but that is what we were blessed with today. I'm not complaining I am enjoying our unseasonably warm weather because I know that snow is soon to come. Anyways we were enjoying this lovely weather when the clouds began to move … Continue reading Mother Nature Gave Us A Pop Quiz
Hello, I wanted to take a few minutes and share a few of my favorite Avon products. If you were not aware, one of the ways I bring income into my home as a stay at home mom is selling Avon. I know that a lot of people have a poor image of multi-level marketing … Continue reading My Favorite Avon Products
Recently, we started using a new math curriculum and after using it for a little over two months I decided to give it a review. Before I continue with my review I do want to state that I am not being sponsored by CTC Math and this is a completely unbiased review. For the past … Continue reading Math: A Review of CTC Math
When my husband and I first got married almost 13 years ago I did not know a thing about budgeting or meal planning. This lead to us spending an exorbitant amount of money on groceries every week and put us deeply into debt. It took hitting rock bottom for me to realize that I needed … Continue reading You CAN Cook!
When I first began my homeschool journey with my oldest son we continued a practice from his public school days which involved reading for 20 mins a day. It sounds like a great way to inspire literacy but I quickly began to realize that by forcing my kids to read 20 mins a day I … Continue reading Reading Shouldn’t Be A Chore
I can't believe that the time has come to say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019.Ā We have plans for a big move near the end of 2019 so we will be working steadily on making this happen as smoothly as possible. We were hoping to make this move last year but life got … Continue reading Saying Goodbye to 2018
The following blog post was written by my Mom (let's call her Hectic Eclectic Grandmama). She has inspired me my entire life and I hope you will be inspired to kick off the New Year in an organized fashion. Getting Ready for the New Year With 2018 winding down it's time to get my journaling … Continue reading Getting Ready For The New Year
It's a little past 8 pm on Christmas day and the festivities are winding down. It's been a hectic few days but we had fun celebrating this special holiday with our friends and family. My house is a mess, the dishwasher is ready to run for its third time today and I am feeling immensely … Continue reading Merry Christmas
Ugh, the dreaded socialization question. While I enjoy talking about homeschooling the one question I abhor is whether or not I socialize my kids. The answer to this question is always a polite yes and I explain how we are engaged in community activities and that we attend church where the kids belong to … Continue reading Are they socialized?
This time of year can be stressful for families as Christmas alone can create a bit of a financial burden. Even families like my own who keep things simple and work with a tight budget can feel that pinch. Every year my husband receives a bonus the second week of December and we use this … Continue reading Christmas Shopping on a Budget
I know that I have mentioned this before but one way to get kids excited about learning is to incorporate food. I love getting my kids in the kitchen because there are so many learning opportunities available. Reading, writing, and arithmetic can all be taught while preparing fun meals and/or baking scrumptious desserts. I have … Continue reading Cookie School
Recently, my kids took one of their favorite past times and turned it into a money making business. They played around with a slime recipe until they found one that made a slime that wasn't too slimy and not too rubbery. One of the issues they discovered is that while slime is fun to … Continue reading My kids are in the slime business
It is a family tradition in our house to read both The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love both of these stories and I am very proud to have both books in my personal library. These are two books that in my opinion should be … Continue reading The Grinch v.s Ebeneezer Scrooge
We have all heard the old adage that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". I remember rolling my eyes when my mom used to announce this fact every morning.Ā While I may not have fully appreciated this when I was a child my mom was right and breakfast is definitely the most … Continue reading Best way to start the day!
A radio station in Northwest Ohio recently yanked "Baby, It's Cold Outside" a song written in the 1940s that has become a popular Christmas classic because it supposedly promotes rape culture. If you haven't heard this song it is a romantic skit involving a couple enjoying some time alone and the hour is getting late … Continue reading Baby, It’s Crazy Outside!
Let me set the scene we are at a birthday party with a group of family members and everyone is having a good time. There is a gorgeous cake on the table, laughter in the air and kids of all ages are running around enjoying themselves. I see my youngest two playing with friends and … Continue reading The Homeschooler and the Interloper
Christmas should be a time of joy, happiness, and celebration but all too often it is a time of stress, financial burden, and chaos. Years ago I recognized that Christmas had become too stressful and I was losing my Christmas Spirit earlier and earlier every year. I decided to reevaluate what Christmas meant to me … Continue reading Keeping Christmas Spirit
It's almost midnight and I am finishing up with my meal prep for tomorrow. I try to get as many things knocked out the night before so I can enjoy the holiday with my family. My cranberry sauce is chilling in the fridge, hashbrown casserole is ready to go and the pumpkin pie is cooling … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
So you may or may not have realized it yet but I am a major bibliophile (I know that sounds dirty but it just means that I love books and I hoard them). Next to my husband and kids my two greatest loves are coffee and books. When I find a place that combines both … Continue reading Bookstore Adventures
I am a wife, mother, homeschooler, blogger and a Beauty Boss. One of the ways I contribute to my household financially is through income I make through Avon. I love being an Avon Independent Sales Representative for so many reasons. Avon has allowed me to build my own business while working from home, it has … Continue reading How I Earn Income From Home
I know that there are a lot of people out there who do not like the flavor of cranberry sauce but I am not one of them. Thanksgiving dinner in my house is not complete without the cranberry sauce. Not only do we enjoy it with the main meal but I like to keep it … Continue reading Homemade Cranberry Sauce
If your kids are anything like mine you have heard them proclaim a fun or adventurous day as the "best day ever". Today I was the one proclaiming today as the best day ever and it truly was. This morning we woke up early, bundled up with hats and gloves and headed to Downtown Toledo … Continue reading Best Day Ever!
Hello everyone I am back to share another holiday recipe that would make a perfect accompaniment for this year's Thanksgiving Dinner. One way you can keep your budget on track for Thanksgiving dinner is to make your rolls from scratch. I know that the grocery store offers a ton of ready to go options but … Continue reading Maple Dinner Rolls
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday recipes. This particular recipe is one of my favorites because not only does it taste great but it is also very affordable and so simple to make. Sometimes I will make this the night before Thanksgiving and reheat it in my … Continue reading Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
The countdown to Thanksgiving has officially begun and there are only 8 days left! I love the holidays and I enjoy spending time with friends and family but it can get pretty stressful too. Let's face it Thanksgiving dinner can be a headache especially if you are the one hosting the event. If your finances … Continue reading $40 Thanksgiving Dinner
November 6th was an important day in our household as well as in many households across the nation as we marched to the polls to have our voices heard. I truly love election day and I take my responsibility as a voter very seriously. It is important to not only participate in elections but also … Continue reading Raising Political Kids
This month we have really delved into the Halloween spirit and we have been learning about all things spooky and mysterious. Today we spent some time in 1692 Salem Massachusetts visiting one of the most infamous times in American History; the Salem Witch Trials. While this is a fascinating story shrouded in mystery, perfect for … Continue reading Salem Witch Trials & Due Process
Life in the United States has become fraught with political, racial and sexual tension. You can't turn on the television or open a paper without being inundated with all of the anger and animosity being played out all across the country. It's scary for me as an adult to witness all this turmoil and its … Continue reading The World Is A Scary Place
If you have ever had the pleasure of owning a dog at some point in time you have watched that dog begin the impossible task of chasing its tail until it collapses into exhaustion. I have a dog that spends a great deal of time chasing her tail and I always find myself wondering what … Continue reading Chasing My Tail
A simple fact in life is good parents homeschool their children. Those who do not engage in homeschooling are neglecting their children's education. Some of you who are reading this are already getting upset but before you start throwing things at me let me explain. I am a full-time homeschooler this means that my kids … Continue reading Good Parents Homeschool!
I am seriously in love with my Instant Pot. I have been wanting one for the longest time but as a frugal mama, on a budget, the cost has kept me from running out and grabbing one. That is until a few weeks ago when I had enough money left in my grocery budget to … Continue reading My Love Affair With the Instant Pot
I often encounter those who are skeptical that homeschooling is a legitimate form of education. One of the concerns that are often brought up is that my kids won't have a well-rounded education in science because we do not have access to a science lab for experiments. This is really funny to me because when … Continue reading Fun Fall Science Lab
I can't believe that its already the middle of October! Halloween is only 21 days away and we are working hard to fit in a ton of fun and spooktacular activities. This morning we ventured to Blue Creek Metropark in Northwest Ohio for a nature scavenger hunt where we also hunted for leaves. We really … Continue reading Fun, Free and Spooktacular!
Baa Baa Black Bat Have you any bugs? Yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full. One for the bird One for the cat One for the little spider who lives down the lane. *Original written by Rudyard Kipling *Adaptation written byThe Derryberry Kids š This time of year I like to pile the kids in … Continue reading Baa Baa Black Bat
Fall is fully underway here in Northwest Ohio. The colors are beginning to change and while our days are still warm the temps are falling at night allowing for restful sleep. Fall is really my favorite time of year and we are only 30 days away to one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.Ā We love … Continue reading Happy October
Hello, today I wanted to share how I am introducing my kids to Business 101. One of the benefits of homeschooling is that I am able to incorporate real-life experiences into our daily lessons. Recently I joined Avon as an Independent Sales Representative and this has been such a great experience. When you are an … Continue reading Homeschooling: Business 101
I recently had a young woman in her early twenties confess that she didn't know what time it was because she couldn't read a "dialogue" clock. At first I was stumped by this statement then I realized that she meant an analog clock. I was honestly a little shocked that someone in their early twenties … Continue reading A Dialogue clock???
I can't believe that summer is almost officially over. I am definitely looking forward to cooler weather, fall leaves, and fall fun but I still can't help but wonder what happened to summer. I feel like the past few months have been so stressful and hectic that I haven't had any time to truly enjoy … Continue reading Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall
I feel like there is a conspiracy preventing me from getting a good nights rest or even a small cat nap. I really doubt I have had more than 10 hours of sleep over the past week and it is beginning to catch up with me. It all started last week when my youngest son … Continue reading I Miss Sleep!!!
I recently stumbled across an advertisement for a fun program that is meant to teach children their multiplication tables effortlessly.Ā The program is called Times Tales and I will include a link below if you want to investigate this product further.Ā Before I continue with my personal opinion of this product I will state that I … Continue reading I Love Times Tales!!!
Today was a beautiful day and we took advantage of the warm weather to take a little excursion. Just down the road from us, there is a hidden gem known as the 577 Foundation. I had read about it in the local newspaper and was intrigued by the broad spectrum of activities they offered. Even … Continue reading A Beautiful Day
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A fun way to announce baby's gender!
Since our last presidential election in 2016 we have heard a number of politicians and media personalities discussing whether or not we should continue using the electoral college in our elections. Now it seems that discussion has turned to action as a number of democrats have gathered together to submit a measure to congress that … Continue reading The Importance of the Electoral College