Author: Wendy

Homeschool Product Review: Lord Heritage

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Greetings, homeschool mamas! Today’s review is just for you. I have the pleasure of bringing you HomeSchool Office from Lord Heritage. HomeSchool Office is a planning system for the homeschool, but it’s so much more than that, too. Based on the biblical principles of planning and orderliness, Lord Heritage has created a unique online planner. The website is riddled with scripture throughout, which is a wonderful reminder as to why you’re creating these plans.

When you set up an account, the first thing you do is set up your children’s homeschooling team. This is particularly helpful if you do some of your classes out of the home with other teachers. We don’t, so my “team” section was pretty empty; all I included there was the local ESD (Education Service District – this is who we report to that we intend to homeschool, not the local school).

The other sections are based around the acronym P.O.W.E.R. [Read more…]

Crochet Spring Wreath

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Crocheted Spring Wreath | Ladybug Daydreams

I was recently inspired and challenged by the lovely people over at Patience Brewster to create a “non-Christmas wreath.” (For any who don’t know, Patience is a designer and creator of handmade Christmas ornaments.) Because I’d recently seen something like this on one of the other blogs I read, it was already in my mind a bit, so I accepted the challenge.

Other than the idea, this post is not sponsored in any way. I purchased all of the materials with my own money and created my wreath in my spare time. I was not compensated for my time or costs at all.

The first thing I did (after I had my materials, of course) was to crochet the piece to cover the wreath base (which I got for about $5 from JoAnn’s). I chose purple because it seemed like a nice springtime color that would make a lovely base for my wreath. To do this, I crocheted a “scarf” using all single crochet stitches that was 20 stitches wide and 150 rows long. This process alone took me a few days because it wasn’t the only thing I had going on. When I’d finished crocheting this piece, I sewed it onto the wreath base. See this post from Repeat Crafter Me for a picture tutorial on how that works. [Read more…]

Picture of the Week: Bugs!

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This picture is actually a few weeks old. I’ve had some phone trouble lately, including the inability to get pictures off of the SD card until I could get a new phone, which happened earlier this week. So I hope you like this picture that Will took back in January.

bugs

It’s no secret that my kids like bugs. They are, after all, boys. Outside our house the other day, there was a box elder bug (commonly called “stinkbugs”), and the kids got Small Fry to hold it. Will went out there with them and got this series of pictures of him. I love how intently he’s looking at the creature. Ah, the innocence of young children. 🙂

Blessings,

ladybug-signature-3 copy

Homeschool Curriculum Review: Great Parents Academy

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I knew that our current web-based math subscription was due to expire soon, so when I learned that there was a new one available for review, I looked over it with my kids, and we decided to give it a try. Boy are we glad we did!

GPA LEARN has developed a wonderful math curriculum for elementary age student (grades K-5) called GPALOVEMATH. We’ve had the pleasure of using this program (I received a one-year subscription) for the past seven weeks or so.

Because Seahawk was working through a workbook during this time, this review will focus primarily on Munchkin and his use of the program. I will note, however, that just recently Seahawk has joined the GPA party. [Read more…]

Book Review and #Giveaway: Texas K9 Unit Series

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 giveaway graphic

I recently joined FlyBy Promotions as a reviewer, and my first review for them is this one. And better yet, they’ve given me a copy of a book to give away to one of you! I’m super excited to host my first giveaway, and I can’t wait to announce the winner of this giveaway later this week. But first, the review.

I didn’t actually review the book that I’m giving away, but I did read a book of the same genre by the same author. For the purposes of this review, I was given a copy of Texas K-9 Unit Series of e-books. This set is available for $11.99 on Amazon. I received a single PDF which included: Tracking Justice by Shirlee McCoy, Detection Mission by Margaret Daley, and Guard Duty by Sharon Dunn. Because of the time limitation for this review, I’ve only had a chance to read Tracking Justice thus far, so that’s what I’ll be reviewing today.

Summary of Tracking Justice

When  young Brady Billows is discovered missing in the middle of the night, his (single) mother, Eva, does what any mom would do: she calls the police. When the detective who shows up on her door at 2 a.m. is the handsome Austin Black (and his bloodhound, Justice), Eva knows she’s in trouble. Can she walk the line between allowing Austin to be the father-figure she knows Brady needs while still protecting him from disappointment when Austin leaves after the case is solved? And just as importantly, can she learn to trust Austin herself? Can she give him her heart? Or will she be the one responsible for Austin’s departure after the case? [Read more…]

Weekly Meal Plan: March 15

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meal plan 3.15

Hello! I’ve got a book review and giveaway (my first!) for you tomorrow, so I’m posting our meal plan on Sunday again this week.

We did okay at eating in last week. We ended up going out a couple of times – and then remembered why we eat at home. (Hint: it’s all about the money!) The chicken and wild rice soup didn’t end up happening; I didn’t look at the recipe early enough that day to allow proper time to cook the soup, so we just had roasted chicken and pasta with Parmesan cheese that night instead. Other than that, we did pretty well on our meal plan 🙂

Here’s what’s on the docket this week: [Read more…]

Book Review: Still Life by Christa Parrish

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Summary

Ada is born into a strict sect of “Christianity” named for her father, the self-proclaimed prophet. In this environment, women are treated as second-class citizens, never to use technology of any sort without the immediate supervision of their husband, father, or older brother (in that order). Her only access to the outside world is in the form of her employment at the sect’s farmstore, where she works as a cashier. Her world spins out of control when Julian Goetz, world-famous photographer, comes to her store, on assignment to document life in the sect. She hears – senses – a voice telling her to meet Julian out by a tree just a few days after they meet. She doesn’t know who (or what) it is, but she obeys. Funny thing is, Julian heard the same voice and met Ada at the tree. Neither knowing why, but both knowing that they must, they leave together and marry.

Katherine Walker is a woman in a bad marriage. She has two teenage boys, and they’re all that’s keeping her with her husband. But she’s not faithful to him. During a business trip, she learns that her flight home has been overbooked. She strikes up a conversation with a young man in the airport and learns that he’s trying desperately to get home to his wife for her birthday. He’s been bumped; she hasn’t. In order to gain an extra night with her lover, she offers the young man her seat. That man is Julian Goetz. [Read more…]

Homeschool Curriculum Review: The Critical Thinking Co.

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Critical thinking

Seahawk is really strong in math. He always has been. So sometimes it’s hard to find things that keep him interested and challenged; the basic grade level math program doesn’t normally do it. So when I heard about The Critical Thinking Co. through the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I started looking at some of their books. When I found out that Pattern Explorer was one of the offerings, I knew that would be just right for Seahawk. He’s always loved searching for patterns, but I’ve never had an easy time finding challenging pattern activities for him (red, green, yellow, red, green, yellow just isn’t difficult for a 5th grader). Pattern Explorer turned out to be just the thing. [Read more…]

Crock Pot Spaghetti ~ Recipe

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 easy crock pot spaghetti sauce | Ladybug Daydreams

On last week’s menu plan post, I was asked about my crock pot spaghetti, so I decided to do a post about it. It’s really very simple, and I hope the recipe isn’t disappointing to you guys. I only cook the sauce in the crock pot, not everything, but I gotta tell you: it sure makes our house smell wonderful to come into on Sunday afternoons after church. We love this tradition!

 I hope you like this recipe as much as we do. [Read more…]