Naturally Comfy Home

Product Photography Tip

2011-02-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

As an online seller, one of the most difficult things is getting good photos of the things you are selling. It's also one of the most important things, because one can't just stop in your store and pick up and examine your item. So they need to be able to see it well in the photograph. One of the things that I have had trouble with is that my photos turn out too dark. Did I mention what a total photography dweeb I am? I just know how to aim and push the button. I have learned a thing or two in the last couple of years. But for now I am going to give you a tip about exposure compensation. I take my pictures in the daytime in my laundry room because there is a window on each side of the (very small) room, so plenty of natural light. Even though it is very light in my chosen spot I was still getting a grey background when I was actually shooting on white posterboard. Anyway I have been playing around with my camera menu and decided to try adjusting the exposure compensation. The difference this makes is pretty amazing. (If you are a photography guru who just happened to be stopping by my blog please ignore my ignorance.) So on my camera (which is nothing fancy) at the bottom of the screen there is a little 0.0. That is where I can adjust exposure compensation. Mine is usually 0.0 which doesn't give me the brightest photos. All you need to do is play around with where it looks good. Take a few pictures at different levels and see where it looks the most normal. I notice that some things I am photographing need a different setting than others even in the same place with the same background. Below is the difference I get when adjusting my exposure compensation. I also use Picnik to edit my photos. Although these photos have not been edited . Another place I have found great product photography articles is Handmadeology.com So there you have it. You don't have to be a pro to get better pictures. It's a matter of trying different things and a little work. You can be a complete photography dweeb and get brighter pictures.

A New Sewing Machine

2011-02-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

I am back to sewing. A couple of weeks ago I posted that my sewing machine broke. Well, I got a brand new sewing machine. It's my first ever that I actually got new and for myself. It's not expensive or fancy, but it does more than any previous machine I have had. I haven't got to use it as much as I've wanted to yet, but I did manage to get a couple of these writslets sewn and in my Etsy shop.
The weather has also warmed up around here a bit, so it's got me thinking of spring and gardening. I am going to work on some new projects in line with spring and gardening. Of course, I'll share them when I get them ready.

Finally Friday!

2011-02-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

It's finally Friday. It has been a long, icy week here in Indy. And apparently it's not getting better anytime soon. My sewing machine also broke this week, so I will be resorting to using an I don't know how old machine that was given to me years ago. It has one stitch. Straight. No zippers, no button holes. So I guess I will just sew some things that require no special stitches until I get a new machine, hopefully in the next two weeks.
I also wanted to let you know about a giveaway I'm sponsoring over on Facebook. I am giving away this cute little wristlet. There are other sponsors giving away some goodies too. Just go to the first photo in her first album to find the entry requirements. I will have these wristlets in various sizes in my Etsy shop after I get a new machine.

2011-01-27T08:46:00.000-08:00

'Shades of Purple (ish) HMET treasury chain game' by NaturallyComfy

Great shades of purple from the Handmadeology team.

Amethyst & Quartz S... VagabondCarniv... $21.00	Reusable Fabric Gif... VZWraps $7.00	pair of miniature n... JDWolfePottery $30.00	Earrings-Amethyst, ... tuscanroad $26.00
Snowman Lumpy Folk ... BentWhimsStudi... $22.00	Though Cold Winds B... PepperGlenn $68.00	Romantic Rosy Ameth... Jewelrybynala $21.00	You're so Tweet... SweetSpotCardS... $8.00
Orange Purple Bold ... RockStoneTreas... $38.00	Crazy about you ...... divinalocura $25.00	Cosmetics Wristlet ... KnitzyBlonde $22.00	Purple and White St... TUTreasures $4.50
Purple dyed Turquoi... ZaftigDelights $24.00	Sweet Rolls - Handm... nobakecakes $9.00	Bird's Nest kee... OneClayBead $34.00	Handmade Glass Irid... artisanconnexi... $10.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

2011-01-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

This recipe is my attempt to make Chili's cajun chicken pasta. Everone in my family loves it. And it's pretty easy which is a plus for me. This is not an exact amount on the chicken and the pasta. You can adjust the amount for larger or smaller family. This is what I use to feed 4 of us.

Ingredients
4 -6 pieces of boneless chicken breast (I use the skinless, boneless frozen breasts)
16 oz. box of penne rigate pasta
cajun seasoning ( I use McCormick)
some olive oil and butter (or whatever oil you prefer to cook the chicken)

Ingredients for the sauce
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups of grated parmesan cheese

Thaw the chicken and cut it in bite size strips. Add about a Tablespoon of butter and a little pour of olive oil to a large frying pan. When that is melted and hot (careful not to let the butter get scorched), add the chicken. Sprinkle on some of the cajun seasoning. Cook on about medium till it's done all the way through. As the chicken is cooking, get your pasta water on to boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. I use most of the box of pasta, you can use however much you need for your family size.
As the chicken and pasta water are going, start a medium saucepan for the sauce. I turn it on low and put the 1/2 cup of butter in to start melting. When the butter is melted I add the heavy cream, whisking it in slowly, then when the butter and the cream are getting hot I slowly add the parmesan cheese, whisking it until it's blended well. I tun the heat up to about medium until it is blended and hot,stirring frequently, then remove from heat. It will thicken some after removing from heat.
When the pasta, sauce and chicken are all cooked and pasta strained, add the sauce to the pan of pasta, mix it in well. ( If you used less pasta you may need to adjust the amount of sauce) You can always divide the sauce recipe in half if you are cooking for just 2. Then put the pasta on a plate, add some chicken to the top of the pasta and sprinkle a little cajun seasoning on top.
We usually have some garlic toast with it.

Cute Duct Tape Bows Tutorial

2011-01-25T07:22:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to show you how to make duct tape bows. Actually my son is the duct tape artist. So he agreed to share how he makes these cute little bows that could be used for lots of crafty things. In this tutorial he used a hair pin to finish it. These are not to be used for babies as they could be a choking hazard. He has given them to his teenage sister and her friends.
Here's how you do it.

First cut a piece of duct tape 2 inches long. Making sure to cut it straight so that you won't have sticky tape sticking out anywhere. Ben uses my old cheapy cutting mat that I discarded to cut it on and an exacto knife. You will also need to cut a small strip for the middle of your bow approximately 1/2 cm wide and 1 inch long.

You now have a 2" X 2" piece of duct tape

Fold the piece of tape in half

Now fold each side down to the first fold

After each side is folded down you have what looks like a bow

Now you are ready for the little strip you cut for the middle

Wrap this piece tightly around the middle of the bow

Your bow is finished

If you'd like you can turn it over and put in a hairpin in the back. These could be used for all kinds of crafts besides hair bows.

Are We There Yet?

2011-01-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

No not yet. I actually have nothing against snow. Unlike most grown ups, I kinda like snow. But here it is, only January and I'm am so looking forward to spring and summer. I am looking forward to sun, gardening, summer produce, being able to go out without wearing 5 layers of clothing. I know you are longing for it too. So today I'm putting up pictures to help us all get through until strawberry pickin' time. What are you looking forward to this summer?

Dusting Off The Old Blog

2011-01-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a long time since I updated this blog. I have taken some time to re-evaluate, regroup, refresh, re whatever. I spent the summer learning how to grow a garden. It was challenging and enjoyable and I'll be doing it again this spring/summer.
I have renewed my determination to have a successful Etsy shop/craft business. On that note I have been busy making things for my shop and probably a venture into the craft show world. Since it's so cold and I am trying to get a good bit of items into my shop I have been working on lots of fleece hats and scarves. I have had a lot of fleece sitting around here and love working with fleece. (I am all about the comfort) So I will leave you with a few pictures of what I have been working on and I will be updating again soon.

Brown and Gold Flower Burst Set

Black and Red Round Drawstring Bag

Shades of Brown Striped Fleece Scarf

Homeschool Etsy Team (SHE)

2009-12-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

This Friday's feature is focused on one of my Etsy teams. The SHEteam is Schooling at Home Etsians. This is a great, supportive and active team of families with homeschooling and Etsy shop ownership in common. The SHEteam blog has information on team shops. You can find the latest Sheteam treasury here. The SHEteam has also been featured in this online article.
Here are just a few of the shops and items available from the SHEteam taken from the latest team treasury. So, check out the SHEteam.

Ancientgamecupboard ElegantRoseBoutique

MapleHillFarm

emptynestegg

Winter Fun Ideas

2009-12-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

It appears that winter is here already. It's freezing and windy here today. So I thought I'd blog about some fun things to do in the winter. Sometimes in the winter, boredom sets in and can make kids whiny. "What can I do?" I hear it a lot in the colder months. And when you homeschool, you are likely to hear it more because you are with your kids more. Anyway, I have been digging around the internet to find some ideas. Here are some links I came up with.
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/winter/#

Paper Snowflakes

http://www.papersnowflakes.com/patterns.htm

This one has some fun stuff to do in the winter. I like the idea of a popcorn, hot chocolate and game night.

http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/free-fun-winter-activities/

Making pine cone bird feeders is a fun thing to do in the winter. Apparently using peanut butter on the pine cones is not a good idea. I've seen some people saying it chokes the birds and can kill them. Here's a better, healthier for the birds, way to do it.

http://www.enviro-explorers.com/pinecone_web_page/pineconefeederindex.html

This Frosty the Cheeseball recipe looks fun and tasty.
http://www.parentsconnect.com/dishes/frosty_the_cheese_ball.jhtml?sem=SEO_SSP_Y

Winter Crafts
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/winter/index.html

What are your favorite things to do with the kids in the winter?

Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

2009-12-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

This recipe for chicken tetrazzini is one of our family favorites and comes from my mom's 40 year old Betty Crocker cookbook. It's a great recipe for using leftover chicken or turkey. We usually have some garlic bread along with it. Enjoy.

Chicken Tetrazzini

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup whipping cream (half n half also works well)
2 Tablespoons sherry ( I use water)
1 package (7 ounces) spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (3 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained (I leave these out and it's fine)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 350*F. Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour and seasonings. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and cream. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in wine, spaghetti, chicken and mushrooms. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes or until bubbly.
6 servings.

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

2009-12-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

So, what's new? Well, I am still working on getting our scarves finished from the Joy's Hope scarf along. I am really easily distracted by other things to work on. Things like this cute little buttercup bag, now available in my Etsy shop. And I'm working on some more, in the large and small sizes.
I have also been learning how to cook venison. We have about 40 pounds of it in the freezer. So far, it hasn't been too bad.
I am still felting sweaters. I haven't actually made anything with them yet. But I went thrifting on Saturday and got a big pile of sweaters for 50% off. So hopefully I'll have some felted stuff made soon. Anyway that's what I'm working on lately. I'll be posting a yummy recipe tomorrow, so stop back by for that. See you soon.

Muppets Cover of Bohemian Rhapsody

2009-11-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

This is my new favorite music video. The Muppets got together to do a cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. I'm not going to tell you about it, you can just watch it. Love it!

Gift Set Winner

2009-11-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

We have a winner of the NaturallyComfy gift set giveaway. Congratulations to Heidi! She chose this gift set from my shop. There is still one of these sets available. Check out my other sets also.

Get Out That Sewing Machine

2009-11-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

For the next few weeks I am going to be following along with the scarf along project with Julie over at Joy's Hope. I thought I'd mention it here for those of you that would like to follow along too. So, come on and try it. Here are the blog posts she's put up so far about the scarf along. This is actually week 2 starting. So hurry on over to catch up. When week 2 is up later I'll update my post, or you can just look for it over there.

Pre scarf along http://www.joyshope.com/2009/11/hey-you.html

Week one http://www.joyshope.com/2009/11/scarf-along-week-one.html

Feature Friday

2009-11-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

So, recently I joined the SheTeam on etsy for homeschooling Etsians. One of my team members, Suzanne, has the cutest knitted animals I have ever seen. I just had to share her shop. Well, shops. There are two. One is downinthemeadow
The other is littlemeadowbabies
This is my favorite one. Her animals look so great photographed in the grass.

Here are some other beautiful things from her shop.

To find more great SheTeam shops on Etsy just search for sheteam in the Etsy search box.

Pumpkin Bread

2009-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Fall is a great time to do some baking. This recipe is one of our family favorites. It is from my old Pillsbury Kitchens Family Cookbook. The flavor of quick breads improve with time, so it will taste even better the day after it's baked. It never lasts more than a day or two here though.

Pumpkin Bread

15 or 16 oz. can (2 cups) pumpkin
3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Heat oven to 350*F. Grease (not oil) and flour bottoms only of two 9x5 or 8x4 inch loaf pans. In large bowl, blend first five ingredients. Beat 1 minute at medium speed. Add remaining ingredients; blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 1 minute at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350*F for 60 to 75 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely.

*You may need to cover with foil if it starts getting too brown.

Felting Wool?

2009-11-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Is there such a thing as CADD? Crafting Attention Deficit Disorder. If there is, I surely have it. As soon as I've made a few of something I am wandering off to do something new (to me). The latest thing I am going to try is wool felting. I have been reading and I've been to the thrift store and found some nice old wool sweaters to try it with. I like the idea of upcycling stuff and trying a new craft. I'm still not clear about the right terms. Is it felting or fulling? I don't know and I guess it doesn't really matter. So, I am going to try felting these old sweaters and making something really cool out of them. We'll see how that goes. If I make anything that is showable, I will post some pictures.

Before I go, I want to leave some links. This one has some nice projects for felted wool.
http://www.woolcrafting.com/using-felted-wool.html
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/28190/how-to-make-a-machine-embroidered-felted-wool-tote

Natural Flu Prevention

2009-11-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

The topic of H1N1 vaccination is hot right now. It seems that lots of people are not sure or have decided not to get it. And I've heard some information that says the flu shot can be ineffective at preventing the flu. So, I have been reading up on some natural flu prevention strategies for our family and thought I'd share some of them with you.

Of course, most of you know about vitamin C, covering coughs and sneezes, proper hand washing and staying home if you're sick. But did you know that vitamin D deficiency is thought to be a reason we get so many colds and flu in the winter? And that supplementing with vitamin D could be a good flu preventive? Here's a video explaining a little about that.
Another thing we are doing this winter is using elderberry. It has been shown to prevent the flu virus from invading cells and replicating. Here and here are some links with information for elderberries.
If you do end up getting sick the homeopathic medicine Oscillococcinum is a popular choice for a lot of people. It is supposed to be taken at the first sign of illness and is said to reduce the duration and severity of flu symptoms.
There are too many things to mention in this article or it would be a mile long. But I will link you to some things so that you can find some information yourself. Two books that are very helpful in finding natural remedies for various diseases are Prescription for Natural Cures and Prescription for Nutritional Healing. They can usually be found in a public library or at Amazon or another bookstore.
A good place to look for vitamins and herbs and such is www.vitacost.com Their prices are low and shipping is one set price.
So, if you've decided against the H1N1 vaccine and even if you haven't these are some things you could try. I am not giving medical advice here. These are just some things we are doing this winter. And you should always do some reading and research things for yourself. So, take care and wash those hands.

Gift Set Giveaway

2009-10-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

This month Naturally Comfy will be giving away one of these gift sets. This giveaway is for Naturally Comfy newsletter subscribers. All you have to do to enter is sign up for the Naturally Comfy Newsletter. That's easy enough! The winner will be drawn Friday, November 13, 2009. The winner will pick the set of their choice.

Riley Festival Fun

2009-10-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

We spent two days last weekend at a local craft festival. The Riley festival, named for James Whitcomb Riley, is one of our family's favorite things to do in the fall. Riley was the Hoosier Poet who grew up in the town of Greenfield. My kids always save up their money to spend there, although they never spend much. We just enjoy looking around and sampling the food. We usually find a few things we can't live without. The kids also love playing games. We did find a member of TheInCrowdTeam (the Etsy Indiana Street Team) with a booth there. TwoSeaSideBabes has great hats that seemed to be selling well. My granddaughter got her face painted both days we went.

I think my 12 year old has outgrown it, she didn't get hers painted this time. She did like the chili cheese fries though. They were so messy to eat, but great.

We had a worry session on the first day. The wee one kept hearing that this or that car would be towed if not moved and was worried sick that our car would be towed away.

Her mom, my daughter, had to call the friend whose parking lot we were in to reassure her the car was parked legally and was safe.

The second day granddaughter got to get her shape balloon she was so looking forward to.

And wee ones little brother had his own kind of fun. He spent the day in his stroller taking his socks off. He probably didn't even notice all the ladies that kept walking by and mentioning how cold his feet must be. It was chilly and windy but his feet were as warm as toast.

I will leave you with some quotes by James Whitcomb Riley and a bit of trivia.

Continuous, unflagging effort, persistence and determination will win. Let not the man be discouraged who has these.
James Whitcomb Riley

When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.
James Whitcomb Riley

When you awaken some morning and hear that somebody or other has been discovered, you can put it down as a fact that he discovered himself years ago - since that time he has been toiling, working, and striving to make himself worthy of general discovery.
James Whitcomb Riley

Ever wonder where Little Orphan Annie or Raggedy Ann came from? Take a look.

Back to Blogging

2009-10-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well, school is underway and so is fall. We have spent the month of September getting our school year started and trying to get into a routine again. Now that it's going I can hopefully get back to more regular blogging. I have been working on some fall things for my Etsy shop. I just listed a couple today and will have more later this week.
Don't forget to sign up for the Naturally Comfy Newsletter here. I am planning a giveaway or two in the next few weeks for my newsletter subscribers.
See you next time.

Best Apple Pie Recipe

2009-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about fall is picking apples. We visited the orchard on Saturday and got about a bushel of apples. Those apples will be applesauce, pies, crisps, fried apples and I'm hoping some apple butter. My grandson,who is 19 months, was so excited about this apple tree made of wood with holes cut out for their faces. How funny is that?

I am going to give you all the best apple pie recipe. It is from my 30 year old Pillsbury Kitchens Family Cookbook and it's the best recipe I've ever used. So here goes. Just to let you know, I usually use the streusel topping on my pies instead of a top crust but you can do it either way. And of course, it's always better if you use homemade crust but you can use an already made one. I also personally prefer butter to margarine for baking.

Ingredients
9" pie crust
6 cups peeled, sliced apples
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of salt
1 Tablespoon of butter or margarine

Heat oven to 425*F. Prepare pastry. In large bowl, combine apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt; toss lightly to mix. Turn into pastry-lined pie pan. Dot with margarine or butter. Cover with top crust (cut slits for escape of steam); seal and flute edge. Bake at 425*F for 40 to 45 minutes or until juice begins to bubble through slits in crust.
(If you are using the streusel topping leave out the 1 Tablespoon of butter)

Streusel Topping
3/4 cup Flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine

In small bowl, combine all ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit filling. Bake as directed with the recipe. Cover topping with foil last 10 minutes of baking time if the top browns too quickly.

Here is my pie.

Enjoy your pies. See ya next time.

Naturally Comfy News

2009-09-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

What's the latest at Naturally Comfy? I have been trying to improve things in my Etsy shop. Things like pictures, tags, etc. I have also been working on some sleeping masks for the shop.
I am also working on some more small rag quilts. And I will be adding some fall and winter items soon.
I am also signing willing victims up for my Naturally Comfy newsletter. There's a link on the right column up at the top. I will be sending out monthly newsletters that will let you know about sales, (some will be exclusive, newsletter subscriber sales). I will also let you know what's new and what will be coming soon. Included will also be contest and giveaway information.

So, that's what's going on. I will be posting soon about my venture with making some CPSIA tracking labels for my kid's stuff. So, stick around for that, it should be interesting. See you soon.

Homeschool Thursday

2009-09-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, we started school this week. We have started out slow, only doing a couple of subjects. Next week we will get more going on. This week though we took our first field trip of the new school year. We went to the zoo. It was a great day, sunny but not too hot. We had a nice time and got some cute pictures. We were able to get a look at the 3 week old giraffe outside with the other giraffes. See the baby over there?

Here's the daddy. Isn't he cute?

We visited the dog shark area, where you can touch the sharks. The kids love that!

The polar bear is one of our favorites too.

We also took in the dolphin show, but I can never get good pictures in there.
We didn't get to all the animals this trip. Next time I guess. I think our next field trip will be the beginning of October. Stay tuned, I'll be posting about it.

What is That?

2009-08-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

In the spring, I usually buy flowers to plant in my flower bed in front of the house. This spring I never did do it. So, of course, weeds have taken it over.
We have taken a weed eater to it once. Then a few weeks ago our neighbor was looking at the weeds and told my husband he wanted some when they were bigger. He said it makes good salsa. I thought it was weird but hey, who am I to judge. Then last week a friend came by and asked where I got the plants out front. She was talking about the same plants.
Strange that everybody is so interested in those weeds. I didn't get them from anywhere they are just there. Thinking back I have actually battled these "weeds" for years. I pull them out all summer trying to keep my flowers free of weeds. She said they are tomatillos, pronounced [toh-MAH-tee-YO]. Wow! I have a crop of tomatillos in my front flower bed.
Apparently, they are good for making salsas and other Mexican dishes. Now,if they grow and mature enough before it gets cold we will have lots of tomatillos. They are still pretty small, remember we did hack them down once already. I have no idea where they came from or how they got here, but here they are. Hopefully, we can enjoy them and share them with the friends and neighbors who recognized them before we got the weed whacker out again.
Here are some recipes for using tomatillos.
And some more interesting tomatillo sites.
http://www.mariquita.com/images/photogallery/vegetablesatoz/tomatillo/tomatillophotoessay.html
http://www.baileyfarmsinc.com/recipeList.asp?PRODUCT=55

Gearing Up For School

2009-08-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted anything new. I have been trying to get things more organized and cleaned out around home before we start school for this year. We will be starting school the week of the 31st. We are usually earlier than that, but I need some organization before we start. We have parted with a ton of stuff this week and hopefully next week will be just as productive. We have a small house and it is just too full.
This school year I am already planning some field trips. We didn't do many last year and I want this year to be a little more exciting and fun. Our first official field trip will be the zoo. And it will actually be our second day of school. What a great way to start the school year.
So anyway, after we get things underway for school I'm hoping to have more time for blogging more often and regularly and also for my etsy shop. And of course I'll be sharing pictures of our field trips. So check back and I'll see you soon.

Don't Look Now, Here Comes the 80's

2009-08-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! Here is one of the latest junior styles. Look familiar? They will if you are old enough to remember the 80's. That's right. The 80's is making a comeback. That's what I've heard anyway. I'm wondering if it's just some of the clothes or other 80's fads and fashions too. I'm thinking slouch socks, jelly shoes, leg warmers, parachute pants, overalls, big hair, well you get the idea. Back in the 80's when really big hair was popular my hair was so smooth and straight I couldn't make it big to save my life. My hair laughed at perms and curling irons. Over the years, for whatever reason, my hair has become curly and can be frizzy if not kept under control. Now, my hair laughs at my flat iron. So, I'm thinking if 80s hair does come back, either my hair will rebel and turn straight again (I wouldn't mind) or I am going to be really hip now. Although, now I'm too mature(read old)to care if I'm hip or not. The 80s was fun when it was the 80s, but having looked back on some of the fashion and music, I'm thinking it might be better if the 80s stay back there in the 80s.
Do you remember the wedding of Charles and Di? Or how about the launch of MTV, Michael Jackson's hair on fire, ALF, the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Chernobyl, The Exxon Valdez oil spill, the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War.
Take a stroll down memory lane and look at more of the history of the 80s here.
I know some of you may be thinking "gag me with a spoon", some may be thinking "radical!" Whatever you're thinking, you may want to take your bad self out and stock up on hairspray and get out your Flashdance clothes and just wait it out.
Like it or not, the 80's may be back for awhile.

"I Want Chicken and Chi Chi's"

2009-07-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I just wanted to post my favorite TV commercial at the moment. I hope you enjoy it too.

A Sale and a Treasury

2009-07-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend I made a new treasury on Etsy. It features members of the INCrowdTeam. It's all Hoosiers. Come and take a look at Artsy Hoosiers. It will expire Tuesday 10:33 pm.
I also wanted to mention that everything in my shop is on sale through Friday. Everything is 10% off.

Homeschool Discounts

2009-07-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Thursday. Time for some more how to homeschool information. It's getting close to the time when public schools will be getting back in session. That means school supply sales are approaching. Who doesn't like to save money? Nobody? I thought so. Anyway as homeschoolers we always take advantage of back to school sales on school supplies. You can find crayons, pencils, paper, folders, glue, erasers, scissors, calculators and anything else you might need at really cheap prices. The stores around here (Indy) have got all their supplies out and ready. Stocking up now when it's all plentiful and cheap usually means we don't have to buy any more of it for the whole school year.

In addition to school supply sales, homeschoolers can take advantage of teacher discounts at lots of bookstores and office supply stores. Barnes and Noble, Borders, Staples and lots more offer discounts for teachers including homeschool teachers. You may have to have proof that you are a homeschooler. Here is a great list of places to look for discounts.
We always have fun getting our school stuff for the year. It's even more fun for me when it's discounted. I hope you all have fun getting ready for school too.

Roller Skating Evian Babies

2009-07-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

I am going to be really busy this week without much time to post. But that doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Hope you enjoy this video. Ever seen a baby rolller skating?

Homeschool Hiatus

2009-07-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

The how to get started homeschooling posts will be on hold for a couple of weeks. But will be back shortly.

Websites for WAHMs

2009-07-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today I want to link wahms to some great sites and blogs. http://www.wahm.com/ is a great site for moms who are working at home. Some of the great things you'll find are slowcooker recipes, work at home job listings, business opportunities, message boards, advice, scam alerts for those business opportunities that sound too good to be true. Here are some other sites that you might find useful.

http://blog.wahm.com/

http://www.sparkplugging.com/wahm/25-wahm-blogs-were-reading/

http://www.dswahms.com/

http://www.wahmsthatblog.com/index.php

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/wahms/

http://wahmsnetwork.com/

http://www.thriftywahm.com/

Feel free to comment and post a link to a site that you've found helpful for WAHMs.

Week in Review

2009-07-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

What a week! This week we found the owners of this girl who wandered onto our street. Her name was Karma. The posts from Tuesday are here and here.

We also spent a couple of days in the creek. My kids love messing around in the creek water.

This is what I love about the creek...I just have to remember not to drink a lot of tea before we go.

We also did a "photo shoot" for my new gypsy rag tote and I got it listed on Etsy. And while we were at it I retook a couple of pictures for my bug keeper.

Yesterday, I made a new treasury with spa/ bath and body things. Do you ever do a spa evening at home? This treasury has some great stuff for doing just that. Take a look at these great shops with spa stuff.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=68497

Well, that's my week in review. Of course I left out the boring stuff like laundry and dishes, but I'm sure you don't mind.

Have a great weekend!

How To Get Started Homeschooling

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

This Thursday I want to give you links for some really great educational websites. So, here we go.

http://www.letteroftheweek.com/

http://www.time4learning.com/

http://www.fiarhq.com/

http://www.schoolexpress.com/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

http://www.abcteach.com/

http://www.andya.org/

http://www.multiplication.com/

http://www.aplusmath.com/

http://www.learningpage.com/

http://www.sciencewithme.com/

http://www.starfall.com/

http://www.321know.com/

http://www.discoveryschool.com/

http://www.efieldtrips.org/

http://www.brainpop.com/

http://www.msnucleus.org/

http://www.knowitall.org/

http://www.historyforkids.org/

http://www.teachertube.com/

www.wartoft.nu/software/seterra/

www.gardenofpraise.com/art.htm

These are some of the best educational sites on the internet. This is by no means all of them. Enjoy looking through these this week.

Update on the Dog

2009-06-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

The more I thought about the dog the more I thought someone was probably missing her. She had on a good collar and was not skinny or neglected looking.
We took the dog to a vet around the corner and they scanned her and she was chipped. They found the owners who had been looking for her for 2 days. We were so glad to have a happy ending for her.

The Running of the Pitbulls

2009-06-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Last Friday there were a couple of dogs running loose in our neighborhood. One was a huge Great Dane. My kids were nervous about them because they were big. I called animal control but they never could catch them. It turns out the Great Dane belonged to somebody a couple of streets over and they got her back in. But on Monday the other dog was still running around and our neighbor and my son went looking for her owner. No one claims to own her or know where she might be from. The neighbor was going to call animal control, but my kids wanted to try harder to find the owner first, so we have her on a cable in our front yard. We are going to put up some flyers and call some local vets. I think she may have been abandoned. She is a very sweet dog. If we didn't already have a dog we would keep her, but we can't afford another one.

These kinds of dogs are frequently mistreated and it's almost impossible to find them homes. Hopefully we can find someone for her.

How To Get Started Homeschooling

2009-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today's homeschool how-to post is dealing with daily schedules. You really have to schedule your days for your own convenience. You can't do someone elses schedule. It's an individual thing. It is helpful to look at how other homeschoolers schedule their day and when they teach this or that, but then make your own schedule. For families that are also keeping up with babies and toddlers it can be a challenge. Some homeschooling families wait until baby/toddler naptime to do the subjects that require more time or concentration. Some also put together a special box of toys that the toddler can only play with during lessons for the older child.

Lots of homeschool families do the basics in the morning and then projects in the afternoon. There really are no rules. You can tailor your day to suit you and your kids. You may get a great sounding schedule figured out and start on it but then figure out that it is not going to work after all. That's ok. It might take some tweaking and rearranging to get your schedule working for you. I have given some links below so that you can look at some example schedules. Take some time to look at what others do to get some ideas. For homeschoolers, other homeschoolers are really our best source of information and help because they are doing the same thing. There are lots of homeschool websites and books out there. Next week, I would like to link you to some great homeschool sites for all kinds of homeschool needs. So, check back next Thursday for some great links.

Here are some schedules of what other homeschoolers do. And some helpful things to use for planning.

http://hubpages.com/hub/homeschoolschedules

http://homeschooling.about.com/od/scheduling/a/dailyschedule.htm

http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/daily/

http://www.chartjungle.com/schedules.html

Raising Teenagers

2009-06-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

So, you are raising a teen? It can be a difficult period of time for you as the parent but also for the teen. There is one thing that I have to keep reminding myself. This growing person is still the same person that a few years ago brought me dandelion bouquets and was always yelling "Mom, watch this!" So they are getting older and acting different and sometimes we don't recognise that this is still the same kid.

I also have to remind myself that teens still need their parents. They want to spend time with you. They need your positive influence when there is so much negative everywhere. They may not be playing Barbies or cars and trucks anymore but recreation with parents is important still. They need our time. Some things that come to mind that you could do with your teen are taking a walk/hike, going swimming, seeing a movie, just talking, riding bikes. There are lots of things you could do, but talking and more important, listening are in the top two. A friend and fellow homeschooler has a really cool way of talking with her kids. Of course we need face to face conversation, but sometimes kids have things to say that they may not feel bold enough to say to your face. She has her kids write in a shared journal. They write to her and then she responds. Or she writes to them and they respond. And it goes back and forth that way. That's not to say the entries are always something they wouldn't want to say face to face, but it's just a neat way to communicate on a personal and private level especially if there are other kids in the house. Teens don't always want their siblings in all their business. So for those of you raising teens that is just a tip of the iceberg of information out there. If you need support or help don't assume it's hopeless just do a little searching. It's out there.

Here are some links for great ideas for parenting adolescents.

http://www.parenting-ed.org/handout3/Specific%20Concerns%20and%20Problems/peer%20pressure.htm

http://www.hvmhc.org/Files/Five%20Basics%20of%20Parenting%20Adolescents.pdf

http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/teen/36523.html

Lightning Safety

2009-06-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

This short and sweet sluggish Monday post is a stormy one. Lightning is an awe-inspiring force of nature. We saw some beautiful, amazing lightning on our way home from dinner over the weekend. But lightning can also be deadly. So far, this year 15 people have been killed by lightning. At least one of those was a little boy here in Indiana. This is National Lightning Safety week. Do you know enough about lightning to protect yourself and the ones you love? So, lightning never strikes the same place twice? It's a myth. Rubber tires on your car protect you from lightning? That is also a myth. Look here for more lightning myths. It pays to know some lightning facts and safety precautions. People who are struck by lightning and live often suffer a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Here are some of those survivor stories. http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/survivors.htm

Teach your kids lightning safety too. Here is a page for kids. Since it is summer and we know that means storms that include lightning, it would be smart to learn how to stay safe and keep our families safe. So use this week to get educated about lightning.

Photo credit

Photographer: C. Clark

Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

How to Get Started Homeschooling

2009-06-18T05:42:00.001-07:00

This Thursday's homeschool how-to post will help you figure out what you need to teach.

What you will need to teach may be set out by your state homeschooling requirements. In some states you are required to teach a "standard" curriculum. That would consist of reading, writing, math, English, American History, the history of your state and maybe civics or health. For the most part you can cover the basic material in a few hours a day. The great thing about homeschooling is that after the basics, you can really get into subjects that interest your child. For example, your child can spend lots of time reading about subjects that he is into. Or maybe spend the day at the museum or library. You can stay up late to look at the stars if astronomy is an interest. Last August, my kids and I and another family that homeschools drove out to a country road at 1:00 AM to watch the Perseid meteor shower.

But as far as the basics, here are some resources for what to teach. Most of these books can be found at your public library.

This series of books tell you what your _ grader needs to know.

http://www.exodusbooks.com/author.aspx?id=152

The Well Trained Mind tells what to teach using the classical method.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/

Worldbook gives an outline of what to teach on their website.

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum

As kids get older there are all kinds of learning opportunities out there. They can volunteer at zoos or museums. Try searching for volunteer opportunities in your state.

Now that you know what to teach you may be wondering when am I going to teach. Next Thursday I will post about daily schedules.

Here are some more homeschool websites.

http://www.homeschooling-freedom.com/homeschooling-curriculum.html

http://www.homeschoollearning.com/resources.shtml

Strawberry Pickin'

2009-06-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

Since my Mondays are sluggish, as usual, my post today, is short and sweet and red and juicy. We went to a nearby farm and picked strawberries. We are a little late in the season though and there weren't many left. The ones that were left were really small. These (below) are ones we picked today. They are small but they taste just fine.

Some things I like to make with strawberries are yogurt smoothies, strawberry pie, chocolate dipped strawberries, and of course strawberry shortcake. Here are some links for all kinds of delicious strawberry recipes.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/strawberry/index.html

http://www.strawberry-recipes.com/

http://www.pickyourown.com/recipe_strawberry.html

Fresh, in season fruit is one of the best things about summer. Enjoy some for dessert tonight.

I can't take credit for this beautiful fruit bowl. I found it in the creative commons section of Flickr. This picture ( and I believe the fruit bowl) belongs to Lori.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Lightning Bugs

2009-06-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, it just wasn't summer yet until we could go out and catch some lightning bugs. We would dig through the kitchen to find a jar or something with a lid, have mom poke holes in the top and we were off. So in honor of that fun summer tradition, I thought I'd post 10 amazing facts about lightning bugs/fireflies that you may or may not know.

Lightning bugs are actually nocturnal beetles

Most fireflies have wings, which separates them from other luminescent insects of the same family, we know them as glowworms
There are 2,000 firefly species
Fireflies have dedicated light organs, they take in oxygen and combine it with luciferin to produce light with almost no heat
Firefly light flashes flash in patterns unique to each species
The blinking pattern helps the firefly find a potential mate
The light may also be a defense mechanism to let predators know that they taste terrible
Female fireflies deposit their eggs in the ground, there the larvae develop into adults
Underground larvae feed on worms and slugs by injecting them with numbing fluid
Adult fireflies usually eat nectar and pollen, but sometimes don't eat at all.

Here are some websites with lightning bug/firefly information.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/insect/firefly.htm

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/firefly.html

http://www.backyardnature.net/lightbug.htm

I will also be adding this handmade bug keeper to my Etsy shop later today. Have fun with a kid you know. Go out and catch some lightning bugs together. Now you can awe them with your great knowledge of lightning bugs.

How To Get Started Homeschooling

2009-06-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

This Thursday's post on beginning homeschooling focuses on the cost of homeschooling, curriculum concerns and homeschool methods, and record keeping.

The cost of homeschooling is dependant on the curriculum and materials you choose and the activities you take part in. You could spend a few thousand dollars a year to homeschool, if you choose a fancy curriculum with all the bells and whistles. On the other hand, you could put together a curriculum with local library materials and a few purchased items for a very inexpensive school year. A lot of homeschoolers go for somewhere in between.
The kind of curriculum you choose will be determined by how much you can or want to spend and also the method that you choose. That's right, there are several homeschool methods to choose from. New homeschoolers may try out a few before finding one that's comfortable. Take a look here at some of the methods used. http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/methods/Methods.htm

I recommend doing an internet or library search on these different methods of homeschooling.

Some new homeschoolers have gone out and purchased an expensive packaged curriculum and found out that it didn't really fit. Just because one is more expensive doesn't mean it will be better for your homeschool. In another post I will look at some curriculum choices by subject.

Record keeping will be something that has to be done. You will want to keep an attendance record. What records you need to keep will depend partly on your state regulations. Here are some things you will need to record...

What you have done- Keeps track of progress and is a precautionary measure in case there are any questions or complications.

Some sort of records will be needed to document the student’s work and for placement purposes should you ever need to put your child back into a group classroom situation.

As the homeschooling parent, you are responsible for keeping adequate records. You should keep a listing of the curriculum you use.You will want to keep a record of the activities done each week; this can be in the form of daily or weekly lesson plans or a journal.
Keep all tests, projects, and lab reports. Most families keep a portfolio that contains a sampling of the student’s work, including writing assignments. A simple way to collect this information is to have a file drawer, file crate, or file box for each student, with a folder for each subject.
Most families have a way to keep track of progress (grading system), whether with formal grades or informal evaluations of goals and objectives.

You can get record keeping materials at teacher supply stores or find them on the internet to be printed. I would recommend a purchased lesson plan book to keep track of what you've done.

Here are some more links to help you. There are lots of topics on these links. Spend some time exploring them.

http://www.homeschoolingresourcecenter.org/pages/HRC-GettingStarted.php#Record-Keeping

http://donnayoung.org/index.htm

http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/index.html

Featured Etsy Seller, AdornShoppe

2009-06-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

My Wednesdays will now feature an Etsy seller. Whenever possible, I will be featuring newer shops. Nice shops that are just starting out. This week I am featuring AdornShoppe. She has adorable hair bows, barrettes and hair clips. And who can resist this sweet little springtime dress.

When I asked about doing a feature on my blog, Chantel from AdornShoppe offered some specials for NaturallyComfy blog readers.

If any of your readers purchase anything from my shop (Till next Wednesday at midnight) they will receive a coupon code for 10 - 60 % off of a future purchase.

In addition, ONE reader who makes a purchase will receive a coupon for a free item of their choice. No limits on what the item is.

ALL readers will also receive free shipping.

When checking out at AdornShoppe just put NaturallyComfy blog reader in the message to seller box.

AdornShoppe will be adding lots of new items in the coming days including dresses, bows, hats, t-shirts and other fun goodies. So stop in and take advantage of these great deals.

Tiny Dancers

2009-06-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Mondays are my sluggish days, so it's short and sweet today. On Saturday we attended my granddaughter's dance recital. She will be 5 in July and has been taking dance for 3 years. She did such a great job.(am I biased?) Nah she is good. I am such a proud Granny.

I also made my second Etsy treasury over the weekend. It's a backyard barbecue theme. Check out my treasury and these cool Etsy shops.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=63006
So there you have it, my sluggish Monday post. At least there are beautiful pictures to look at. Have a great Monday!

Heeeere's Conan

2009-06-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

It's time once again for a fun Friday post. This week, because of the end of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, I have looked around the internet and come up with some quotes from Jay Leno. He was on The Tonight Show for 17 years and in that time made some really funny remarks. Here are just a few of many.

The reason there are two senators for each state is so that one can be the designated driver. --Jay Leno

I went into a McDonald's yesterday and said, "I'd like some fries." The girl at the counter said, "Would you like some fries with that?"

Politics is just show business for ugly people.

The crime problem in New York is getting really serious. The other day the Statue of Liberty had both hands up.

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.

You can't stay mad at somebody who makes you laugh.

You're not famous until my mother has heard of you.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Teach a man to create an artificial shortage of fish and he will eat steak.

"CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts: regular, premium and unleaded." -

"If Arnold is elected, you know who I'd feel sorry for? The people on death row. Imagine, you're about to be executed, the governor calls, you think it's your reprieve, and you hear 'Hasta la vista, baby.'" -

As Jay leaves and Conan O'Brien takes over I have to leave you with a quote from the Year 3,000 bit on the Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien. In the year 3000 "Youtube, Twitter and Facebook will merge to form one super, time wasting website called YouTwitFace."
So it's out with the old and in with the new. Or, well, I guess that would be out and back in with the old X 2. Anyway, everybody have a fun Friday today!

How to Get Started Homeschooling

2009-06-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had a few people ask me how to go about starting to homeschool. So I decided to devote my Thursday blog posts to homeschooling information for beginning or even pre beginning homeschoolers. For the parent contemplating it, it can be a little unnerving. It doesn't have to be. Arm yourself with the right information and you'll be an old pro in no time.
The first thing you need to do is find out the laws and requirements for homeschooling in your state. Here is a link to the Indiana Department of Education. It has requirements for Indiana homeschooling. Another site for Indiana is here. For those of you in different states look here for your state. Also look at this link http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp and find your state then click the Legal Analysis link.
The next thing is to read, then read and then read some more. Look at your local library. There are lots of books on homeschooling.

Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
First Year of Homeschooling Your Child by Linda Dobson
The Homeschooling Book of Answers : The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices by Linda Dobson

There are many more books on the subject, just have a look around the library or book store. I will leave you with a couple more links to check out. http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/Indiana.htm
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/083198.htm

There is a lot of information in all of these links. Read through it to get an idea of the legalities and homeschooling basics. Next Thursday I will be posting about the cost of homeschooling, general curriculum concerns and record keeping.

I Am Featured

2009-06-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Today I found out my shop is being featured on http://www.vegansamples.blogspot.com/. I was totally and pleasantly surprised. She is featuring my little ladybug rag bag.
I just wanted to blog a little shout out to say thank you.

The Ants Go Marching...

2009-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

This week has brought an epic battle with ants. They have been coming in all over the house. I have used a product called Terro to kill them off. It works great. But recently discovered in my flower bed that's right in front of the house is an enormous anthill. When you think of ant hills you may think of this.

But the one under my hostas is sci-fi worthy.

All of that under the plant is ant hill.

I didn't want to use the poison outside for fear of poisoning the stray kitties around here. So, I went online to look for natural ant killers. One site that I found said that saccharin was originally used as ant killer. (good thing we are not ants) So, we sprinkled a bunch of SweetNLow around the anthill. Now we are waiting to see if it works. For us homeschoolers this will double as a science experiment. I will update later whether it was successful or not. While looking at the Terro website for this article I see that they have Terro for outside ants. If our science experiment doesn't work I will be looking for that.

This week I have also been able to get a couple of bags finished for my Etsy shop. These rag quilt bags are so cute. My daughter and I both use them. This one is ladybugs which is a favorite of mine.

This little trinket pouch is pretty and feminine. It has a vintage look. I don't know how old the fabric actually is because I got it from my Aunt, but it looks vintage. I love that old fashioned look. I will be adding this one to my shop later today.

Misunderstood Song Lyrics

2009-05-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

In order to make this Friday fun I thought I'd blog about songs that we thought we knew the lyrics to. That is, until (after singing them loudly perhaps for years) we found out we didn't. So, here are a few misunderstood song lyrics that I found on the internet and from personal experience.

Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze is a classic misheard lyric, "Scuse me while I kiss this guy"

Real lyrics, "Scuse me while I kiss the sky"

Carly Simon's Your So Vain, "I had some dreams there were clowns in my coffee"

Real lyrics, "I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee"

Credence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising, "There's a bathroom on the right"

Real lyrics, "There's a bad moon on the rise"

Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, "It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not"

Real lyrics, "It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not"

Greenday's Time of Your Life, "Another turnip boy, a Ford stuck in the road"

Real lyrics, "Another turning point a fork stuck in the road"

Outkast's Hey Ya, "Shake it like a polar bear ninja"

Real lyrics, "Shake it like a Polaroid picture"

And my personal favorite, Cheap Trick's The Dream Police, "The dream police they come to pee in my bed"

Real lyrics, "The dream police they come to me in my bed"

There are many more that could be included, but those are some of my favorites. To find more of your favorite misunderstood lyrics you can look at

http://www.kissthisguy.com/funny.php.

A Treasury and an Award

2009-05-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

This week I managed to snag my very first Etsy treasury! It was really fun to make. I thought it would be harder to get one, but I got it on my first try. It seems that it may be an addictive activity so I will probably be doing another one soon.
Yesterday when I logged onto my blog I was surprised to see that http://athomewithsewsuzanne.blogspot.com/ had chosen me to receive the lovely blog award. How exciting is that? So I am passing on the love to 15 other blogs. First, the blog award rules are...
1. Accept the award.
2. Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, along with his or her blog link.
3. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
Please take a look at my 15 choices..

http://www.tootsiegrace.blogspot.com/
http://www.heatherscent.blogspot.com/
http://www.jennifermagnesi.blogspot.com/
http://www.kimscountrykitchen.blogspot.com/
http://www.ournameisblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.shabbynchic.blogspot.com/
http://www.artsycrafter.blogspot.com/
http://www.trudette.blogspot.com/
http://www.lisa-handmadeinisrael.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsetsy2222.blogspot.com/
http://www.audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/
http://www.kiddlebug.blogspot.com/
http://www.totallytutorials.blogspot.com/
http://www.lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com/
http://bellissimasblog.blogspot.com/

Summer Reading

2009-05-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

School's out, or will be shortly. Parents, whether homeschooling or not are looking for ways to keep kids busy during the summer months. After the novelty of not having school wears off the kids are bored. One great thing about summer break is that there is alot of time to do things that are fun and relaxing. A great way to beat boredom in the summer and keep kids learning is reading.

Reading during the summer can be more fun if there are incentives involved. Most public libraries offer free summer reading programs. Reading books earns small, fun prizes. There are other reading programs to enjoy as well. For the budding philanthropist, here is a reading for a cause program from Scholastic worth checking into. Bookseller Barnes and Noble also has a great reading incentive program for summer readers.
If you are wondering what to read, these reading lists may give you some ideas. Other fun ideas for summer including kid friendly and safe blogging can be found at http://www.readingrockets.org/article/23428
So, grab a book and keep those reading and learning skills sharp this summer!

Mom, Do I Have Any Clean Underwear?!

2009-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

If this is a familiar question at your house, you are not alone. You would think if you are at home all the time being domestic and homeschooling your kids things would get done. But that is the challenge for a lot of us. Disorganization and a lack of schedule robs us of time.

When we are running around disorganized, we are stressed and then we get even less done. One thing that can help is to prioritize the things we need to do in a day. Write a list of what has to be done and put it in order of importance. It also helps to have a routine or schedule to get things done.

Routines and a good schedule are even more important if you are working at home too. To help unstress and get things done Flylady is the best site for getting yourself in order. It still takes work, but it is an amazing system for getting some peace in your life.

Here are some more helpful tips for WAHMs. http://tinyurl.com/cgvw2p

Armed with some good organization and coping skills you won't have to hear the dreaded "Honey, where are my clean work clothes" at 5:30 AM. (At least maybe not as often)

What have you found most helpful for getting things accomplished at home?

Gentlemen and Ladies Start Your Engines

2009-05-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is May and around these parts it is all about the racing. http://www.indy500.com/From the big cheesy grin of Helio to the serious face of Danica, these people are big around Indy this month. I visited the track in my younger days. These days though, hearing about the racing makes me think of summer. We are moving from cool springtime to hot summertime. Everything summer seems to start with the Indy 500.
This month the ferns that come up every spring have grown to about 45" tall.

I started out with 3 little ferns a few years ago and they have turned into a huge monsterish bunch of ferns. Baby birds are everywhere trying to learn to fly before the cats catch up with them.
By race weekend the pools will open up and everyone will be flocking to them to cool off. School will be out and bored kids will be looking for things to do. Here are some ideas.

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/summer/summer.htm
http://www.homeschool.com/articles/101ThingsToDoThisSummer/default.asp
My kids still like to catch bugs. I am going to try making some bug keepers. Look for them in my etsy shop later this month (hopefully). http://www.naturallycomfy.etsy.com/
I will be busy trying to fill up my shop and keep my kids learning this summer.
So, since we are racing on into summer, I would love to hear what you will be doing this summer.