Go get your Vicks coupon

Vocalpoint has a new Be the First promotion for the new Vicks Nature Fusion Cold & Flu that's flavored with natural honey instead of artificial flavors.

It's also free of alcohol, artificial dyes, AND gluten!

Hop over to Vocalpoint and request your $4 off coupon before they're gone!

Swiffer 360 Duster Review

Redesigned for high quality results and "HD clean," the new Swiffer Duster does not disappoint. 

Starting off on the wrong foot:
I didn't expect to like the new Duster any more than I liked the old one. Years ago, when Swiffer first introduced its Duster line, I was impressed with what the ads claimed and bought one immediately. I've always hated dusting and thought this would make it an easy. But the old Duster didn't capture as much of the dust as it claimed it would. I could see it floating around in the air, and it aggravated my allergies. The handle was too flimsy and caused the dust to "fling" off. To top it off, it wasn't economical because it would take two or more of the disposable covers to do my entire house, and the duster pads tore and snagged on everything. So I went back to my rag and spray ways and didn't look back.

Vocalpoint sent me the new and improved Swiffer 360 Duster and, surprisingly, I have great things to say about it. 

A change of heart:

First of all, 360 refers to degrees, as in, it cleans in every direction at one time. This is wonderful for all the wood slat blinds I have in my house. Those things normally take me forever to clean, but now they're a breeze. There are thousands of deep-cleaning fibers in the fluffy new 360 Duster that help reduce allergens.

Ergonomic handle is still lightweight and sort of cheap feeling, but still an improvement on the old design. And it's pretty big: my fingers don't touch my palm while holding it, but that may be saying something about my short, stubby fingers. The prongs that hold the duster pad still give a little - if they didn't it would snap - but not so much that it flings dust.

Lastly, I was able to use one duster pad to clean my whole house. (Disclaimer: I live in a dollhouse-sized home, and I'm not talking about Barbie's mansion, either.) And it really does capture nearly all the dust. I still saw a few dust motes in the air, but nothing like the old Duster. It snagged one time on a sharp edge!

Overall I like the new Swiffer 360 Duster. The company has made drastic improvements and not only does it work better, but the price isn't that bad.  The best part of all is that my hands didn't have to get all lemony and greasy, although I do miss the gleam on the furniture and the scent that screams loud and proud that it's so fresh, so clean.

More info:

Starter Kit MSRP: $4.99 ($4.47 at Walmart.com)

6-pack Refill MSRP: unlisted ($7.97 at Walmart.com)

All Swiffer products come with a money-back guarantee. 

Swiffer products have the Good Housekeeping Seal

Swiffer on Facebook

Get a coupon for $1 off a Starter Kit

I received this sample and coupons to try out for free because I'm a member of Vocalpoint. If you're not a member, you should be! It's a great way to sample products and provide your honest feedback.

All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by anyone. View my full disclosure here.

Fall Give Me 20 Reading Challenge

Every year our homeschool participates in Pizza Hut's Book It! reading incentive program for children in K-6 grades. Did you know there is a program for pre-school aged children as well? There's no free pizza involved (bummer!), but it's still pretty cool in its own right.

The Give Me 20 Reading Challenge is all about encouraging parents to form a habit of reading to their pre-schoolers for just 20 minutes a day. According to R.E.D. Zone, "children who are read to on a regular basis show more interest in books, have a higher vocabulary, and learn to read more easily..." We all want that. Plus they'll give away some good prizes :)

The Challenge runs from October 24-December 16, 2011 and prize winners will be announced December 27.

From the R.E.D. Zone:
The Fall 2011 Give Me Twenty Reading Challenge kicks off on Monday, October 24th and runs through December 16th.  Join and establish a habit of daily reading for your preschool aged children that will likely continue into elementary school.  Read just 20 minutes per day at least five days per week for the eight weeks.  On top of establishing that daily habit, you also have a chance to win one of 50 prize packages - a Snowmen at Night hardcover book and a Snowman Building Kit!  Hurry, the challenge registration deadline is October 24, 2011. Sign up today!

Dental Insurance Giveaway

With over 9% of the US out of work, and many employers not offering benefits like dental insurance due to the high costs involved, there are a lot of un- and under- insured people out there. My family included. Head over here to read a review of DentalPlans.com and enter to win a 15-month dental plan!

Giveaway is hosted by Happenings of the Harper Household blog, and is not affiliated with me.
 

Downy Unstopables Review

I received a sample of Downy Unstopables In-wash Scent Booster "Fresh" scent from Vocalpoint to review and report back on. If you've never heard of Vocalpoint, you really should check them out. I've been a member for years, and they send great samples and coupons.

About the product:

Downy Unstopables are available in two fragrances: Fresh and Lush.
Squeeze and Sniff bottle design makes laundry duty much more pleasurable!
The beads are poured directly into the washer at the beginning of the cycle.
It's safe for all colors, fabrics, and loads.
Works great for towels and sweaty active wear.
High-efficiency (he) machine compatible.
Downy claims the scent will last for up to 30 days. It's only been about a week since I used it, but so far it's going strong.
Downy Unstopables can be used in conjunction with your favorite fabric softener.
The cost is about $7.99, depending on where you shop.
You can find it at retail stores nationwide.

My experience:

Our house is tiny. I have one little storage cabinet (the cheap particle board kind from Wal*Mart) at the end of my short hallway, and it's stuffed full of bed linens and towels. Anything retrieved from inside the cabinet has that smell: the sitting-a-while, musty, dusty smell. Drives me crazy and really irritates my allergies.

But my family also has various sensitive skin issues, including eczema, and I suffer from migraines, perfumes being one of my triggers. All of this prevents me from using most detergents, any fabric softeners, or the fresh-smelling static sheets, much to my disappointment.

I wasn't even going to attempt to try out this sample, but I'm glad I took a chance. The load of towels came out smelling just as fresh as the label implies. So far no one in the house has had any skin irritation and the scent doesn't trigger my migraines. But I'm still a little leery of using it on clothing.

Final Verdict: 

The price is a little high for me, but I'll purchase as long as I can combine a coupon with a sale. Thankfully, P&G is good about offering coupons for all their products, and drugstores frequently put items like this on sale, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Overall, I give Downy Unstopables a 4 out of 5. The price is steep for the type of product it is, but it works fabulously, and I highly recommend it.

I received a free sample from Vocalpoint in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own. View my full disclosure policy here.

WonderMaps Bundle Giveaway Over at Homeschool Giveaways

Head on over to Homeschool Giveaways, where Bright Ideas Press is offering up a sweet package to one winner (I hope it's me!): WonderMaps, Gifted Children at Home, AND an audio download of your choice. Drawing on 9-30-2011. Good luck!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Birthday Bash {freebies & giveaways!}

Head over to The Old Schoolhouse magazine's Birthday Bash to learn more about their upcoming plans and their new blog, Homeschooling with Heart. TOS is hosting a Blog Hop and webinar, and yes, there will be freebies and giveaways!

They are also offering a free gift just for visiting their new blog, Homeschooling with Heart. It's a $46 value. Enjoy!

Meal Dilemma

They just won't stop interrupting my homeschooling and life. 

They creep up on me twice a day, everyday, and fill me with dread. And there's no getting out of it. 

 Ugh. Grrr. The times of day when I have to think about what to feed my clan.

"What's for lunch?" "What's for dinner?" "I'm sta-a-a-rving." 

It can't be just me. There have to be other homeschool moms out there who don't plan breakfasts. 

Or lunches. 

And sometimes not even dinners. 

See, I enjoy vacuuming, laundry, dusting, even cleaning toilets and showers. But I dislike loathe cooking. 

I am pretty good at the culinary arts, if I do say so myself. And I definitely enjoy it when I get to try new things and change it up. I have plenty of fun and delicious recipes in my repertoire that never get used. 

It's hard to develop a passion for preparing plain-jane lunches and suppers for a meat-and-potatoes kinda family.

every. single. day.

But that's where I am. I'm [trying to be] content there and work around it.

Sometimes I get revved up and exciting about "conquering" my meal dilemma. I seek out new recipes that I just know my family will eat. I make up menus. I excitedly present my new masterpieces to my family.

Only to be bitterly disappointed when plates get scraped into the trash, and I hear, "Um, I'm just not hungry." 

Followed shortly by, "Can I make a sandwich?" 

 

One way I get around having to plan out meals is buying frozen and canned foods. It's not all unhealthy. Mostly it's how you prepare food that determines its healthfulness.

Right?

Well, that's what I choose to believe...

Fish sticks are healthy if you bake them. And so are chicken nuggets. And sweet potato fries. 

There's nothing wrong with canned carrots or green beans.

My favorite lunches are the ones where I walk to the deep-freezer thinking, I really hope we have something for lunch, only to open it up and see numerous choices to whet my palette. In a way it's like going out to eat and choosing from a menu.  

I couldn't get that "out-to-eat-mentality" satisfaction if I planned a menu. 

We love, love, love Stouffer's Easy Express microwavable meals for our homeschool lunches. One favorite is the Rigatoni with Chicken. 

Every once in a while the kids get on a Chef Boyardee Ravioli kick. It never lasts long, unfortunately.

Then there's the wide assortment of Ramen noodles.

Sometimes it's the old standby peanut butter and jelly (or, for my oldest, WowButter and Jelly).

Recently, ham and cheese sandwiches made a comeback when I purchased light and fluffy deli rolls to use in place of regular white bread. It was more expensive, but worth it.

I bought Hot Pockets this week, but they usually aren't very successful. We'll see how that goes.

If you plan out a varied, healthy menu with fresh chopped veggies and homemade bread, that's lovely! 

Please keep it to yourself. I feel guilty enough.

If, like me, you struggle with mealtimes, let me know what works for you. I can use some fresh ideas.

This is not a sponsored post and I received no form of compensation for it. These are not affiliate links.

Homeschool Freebie!

I love the homeschool lapbook publisher A Journey Through Learning. They offer lapbooks to go with many major curriculum publishers, including Apologia, TruthQuest, and The Prairie Primer.

Now that they've reached 1000 fans on Facebook, they're giving out a code for a FREE lapbook. 

Go "Like" their page now for the code--it's only good through Friday.

I am a WINNER!

I found out I won TWO contests. Really? I know everyone says it, but this never happens to me. I never win anything.

I am giddy with excitement. I have to share about what I won.

As part of the Apologia Meet & Greet Blog Hop, Betty of Mom's Mustard Seeds posted a fantastic interview with Apologia author David Webb, one of the authors of the What We Believe series. I won a copy of the Who is God book and audio. Many thanks to Mom's Mustard Seeds and Apologia! This is our second year using the What We Believe curriculum, by the way, and we LOVE it.

As part of the Grateful Giveaways Back-to-School 2011 event, I entered, and entered, and entered at all the different sponsors, until I thought my fingers would fall off. But it paid off! Over at Life...Your Way, I won the iLuv MusicPac and iPad Case.

Many thanks to the bloggers and sponsors above!

Starting a Co-op

I've been really busy this week working on starting a new homeschool co-op with another mom. Lots of work! But I know the Lord is leading us and that He will bless so many through this venture. It will be filling a need for a rural support group in our area. We've been driving 45 minutes (one way) for three years now. And there are a lot of people out here who just can't do that. Hopefully this will be an answer to many prayers!


Today I read a post from Lisa, a blog friend I've been following for a while. Her mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Perhaps you can visit her to share a word of encouragement?

2011-2012 Curriculum - What We're Using

This is what we're using for the 2011-2012 school year. All the kids have a couple subjects that we are finishing up or continuing from last year. As with most years, it is likely this will change, at least a little bit. If you have any questions about a particular curriculum or would like more info, leave a comment!

Big Boy, 7th grade

Teaching Textbooks 7, Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, IEW's Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons, Mystery of History Vol 3 and the accompanying Companion Guide, Apologia's Who Am I? and accompanying notebooking journal, Balancing the Sword Vol 1, IEW's Fix It, Handwriting Without Tears 4^th grade book

About literature ~ I choose mostly historical fiction to go along with the time period we're studying, along with the occasional more random classic. He already finished Catherine, Called Birdy, then it was A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, right now it’s A Door in the Wall, and next is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (to go along with Fix It!). I try to make it all chronological, but sometimes I can't get hold of a book until we're well past that particular topic. It makes for a good review. We’ll also be tackling our first Shakespeare this year. Probably “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

About handwriting ~ He wasn’t taught cursive in public school, and I didn't have a chance to teach him when we first started homeschooling. Actually, It didn't matter to me, except we quickly discovered he couldn't read my lesson plans! So last year we started with HWT's 3rd grade book and this year it's 4th grade. Big Boy is professionally diagnosed dysgraphic and he loves this series, so I highly recommend it.

Princess, 3rd grade

Horizons Math, Answers in Genesis' God's Design for Life (we are starting with The World of Plants), Leading Little Ones to God, CLP's Studying God's Word book A (1^st semester) and Book B (2^nd semester), Handwriting Without Tears’ 2^nd grade book, CLP's History for Little Pilgrims (this will lead up to second semester, where we'll go more in-depth into American history, probably using a unit study).

Princess is dyslexic and receives private tutoring from another homeschool mom using Barton Reading System. It is all-inclusive and I don’t need to supplement, but…

I do. We also use Explode the Code Online because I paid for it, and she enjoys it; and Raz-Kids Reading, which she doesn’t enjoy as much as she used to (because it’s gotten harder), but still likes spending coins to decorate her Reading Rocket.

J, Kindergarten

Handwriting Without Tears’ Kindergarten book, his fave subject but also his most frustrating.

Keepers of the Faith’s Succeeding at Reading (we did Reading Readiness before that)

Bob Books Set 1-Beginning Readers

Leading Little Ones to God

Horizons Math I like this, but I’m taking a leap out of my comfort zone: We’re about to switch to Dr. Ruth Beechick’s method, which she outlines in An Easy Start in Arithmetic. She is a proponent of a more natural method that is determined by the child’s readiness and brain development. I’ve been reading the books for years but have been too chicken to move away from the workbook in math—my weak area.

The plan was to have J join Princess in Bible/devotion, history, and science. Based on the grade-levels of the curricula it should have worked fine. But J is just not interested. He sneakily made his way over to the Legos. And that’s fine with me.

Disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links, meaning I earn a little money if you purchase the item through my link.

Rough Waters

Today was one of those days that make this homeschool mom say, 

"Where did I put that phone number to the public school?" while pretending to search through papers on the desk.

The idea is that the child straightens up. It used to work! But I don't think my kids buy it anymore.

Yes, I was calling out for mercy. "I just can't deal with this child anymore, Lord."

 

Then I came across this post on Facebook. 

Aaahh. Purpose renewed.

I know it was no accident.

God is here. 

He hasn't forsaken me...

...Or the calling he placed on my heart.

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2 NIV

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:7-9

Give your wallet a boost

With NEW Downy UNSTOPABLES^™, the closet can be the freshest place in the house. Check out the dissolving scent beads.

The Inaugural Post

I'm sure I've come about this the same way as most bloggers. After years of thinking, "If I had a blog I'd post about that," I have finally jumped in. The hardest part was coming up with a title, since all the good ones I thought of were taken. Our homeschool year has already started, so this will be a pet project that I undertake slowly. I hope to be able to provide support and encouragement to homeschoolers and Christian women who are new to the whole homemaker thing. I'll also post about living on little, financial hardships, teaching children with learning disabilities and glitches, curricula, and Christian growth. I've got to work on getting a real picture of me as well. After years of being behind the camera, I discovered while looking through my seemingly endless files of pics that almost none are of me. Well, except the ones that might be used for blackmail. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.