Deal and A Freebie – The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

You build a strong foundation. With much effort and team work your walls are constructed, one brick at a time.

You make progress along the way with needed adjustments, getting expert advice, and adding important personal touches. You delight in the whole process that enables you to glimpse the ideal vision you hold for your family.

Homeschooling is a wonderful labor of love but you don’t need to do it alone—The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is available for you!  I personally subscribe and find it to be an invaluable resource!  Below, there’s even a link for you to enjoy the Spring 2009 Edition for FREE!!!!

Here’s the information they sent me:

Special Offer: For the next few days ONLY The Old Schoolhouse Magazine offering the craziest price for a one-year print (US only) and one-year digital subscription for only $7.95! This is a savings of 68% on the print edition and over 50% on the digital edition.

To get this price on the US, one-year print edition, you must enter coupon code FB795 at checkout.

At this price, you can purchase a gift subscription for friends. Just fill out the easy-to-use gift form at checkout. They’ll take care of the rest. Already a subscriber? Add onto your existing subscription NOW.

There are few places you can go to find the kind of information, support, and encouragement that you’ll discover inside of TOS—approximately 200 pages worth! Within each packed issue, homeschooling families and experts share their triumphs, ideas, advice, resources, and products. For more information on our quarterly magazine, click HERE to enjoy the digital edition for our Spring 2009 edition.

Gain encouragement for every day, helpful teaching tips, and incredible information about resources for every aspect of homeschooling—gain a stronger, more confident teacher and better fruits for your labor.

The digital edition has the same great content as our print edition. Enjoy instant delivery, live links to your favorite homeschool resources, the ability to bookmark items of interest, and you’ll be going green!

Want to see a sample first? Click HERE to see their Spring 2009 edition!

Get refreshed. Stay Encouraged. Be informed. Be reminded that you are not alone.

Links to Subscribe:
The Old Schoolhouse(TM) Magazine Digital Edition
The Old Schoolhouse(TM) Magazine Print Edition

Summer Staycation Tips

Once again, MommyDocs and Clorox have teamed up to bring you some amazing summer resources.  This year, they are focusing on Summer Staycation Safety!   Since money is tight for most families right now, more and more of them are deciding to stay home most of the summer and do fun local activities.

This trend has actually increased how much cleaning is going on in homes across the nation.  Trying to find quick and inexpensive ways to keep up with the extra cleaning prompted the ladies at Mom Central to get together with the MommyDocs and come up with a list of 5 tips to keep your family safe and your home cleaner during your summer staycation (I’ll list the tips below for you).

Many of the tips for keeping your home clean are quick and easy, something any mom can appreciate!  I too am finding that as we stay home more this summer, it is imperative that they boys help clean up around the house and not leave little piles everywhere (which they seem to be very quick about doing).

• Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don’t forget to check that your child’s hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.
• Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don’t forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)
• Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours. Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.
• Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts. As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!
• Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don’t have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink. Don’t forget to rinse and dry when done. A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

So, as you plan your fun summer activities, be sure to use these tips to keep it safer, cleaner and healthier!

Look Good…Feel Better

Did you know that one in three American women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in her life? So even if you aren’t diagnosed with cancer, you are likely to know someone who is and see first hand the devastating effects it can have on them…emotionally and physically.

With cancer treatment, often comes hair loss and other changes in appearance related to the necessary cancer treatments! Look Good…Feel Better is a non profit program serving cancer patients…

It is a free, national public service program that helps women cope with the appearance-related changes of cancer treatment through workshops across the country, self-help materials, and other free information. Look Good…Feel Better is a collaboration of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Inc. and the National Cosmetology Association.

Look Good…Feel Better is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary.  In honor of this great event, they are looking for women cancer survivors to submit their stories of how the program helped them cope with cancer.  What a great way to encourage other women who are currently undergoing treatment themselves!!!

Entries will be featured on the Women of Hope is Beautiful blog to help educate others. Anyone can visit the site to view entries, make comments and show their support. In August, Look Good…Feel Better will choose five women with the most-compelling stories to receive a trip to New York City for a makeover and a trip to the DreamBall, a black-tie gala and the program’s largest annual fundraiser, held each year in New York City.

I encorage you to find out more about Look Good…Feel Better!  Recommend it to your friends, spread the word about this event and get involved if you have cancer yourself.  It is a great organization that truly helps women during one of the most difficult times that we can possibly experience.

Electrolux Virtual Lemonade Stand

Today I opened my very own lemonade stand!  It isn’t just any Lemonade Stand…nope, just by opening my Lemonade Stand Electrolux donated $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) and allows others to easily donate to this amazing cause as well.

You are more than welcome to donate through my stand, or better yet, open up your very own Lemonade Stand and be entered to win the new French Door Refrigerator by Electrolux.  Then every day you visit your lemonade stand, you will get another entry for the Refrigerator!  I love that they are doing yet another great (and fun) campaign to benefit OCRF!

A little info about the new French Door Refrigerator….

There is the Perfect Temp Drawer™, which provides storage for any number of items that you want to keep at the ideal temperature. It’s also a large enough refrigerator to store everything from party platters to juice boxes. The French Door Refrigerator also offers double the ice so there is always enough ice on hand to fill your pitchers of lemonade.

So, hop on over there and open up your lemonade stand and start sending virtual lemonade to your family and friends…and feel great because you are helping support a cause that is determined to find a cure for Ovarian Cancer!

This post brought to you thanks to Mom Central.

HomeWork e-Book

The every day task of homeschooling children can be busy enough for most families, but how to balance that and handle a home-based business is something many families do not want to begin thinking about.

For those of you who would like to figure out a way to incorporate a home based business, or even choose one for that matter, I have a great e-book for you to check out!!!

Be sure to hop on over to The Old Schoolhouse (one of the best homeschooling resources overall that I have found) and take a look at HomeWork Juggling Home, Work and School without Losing your Balance.

This e-book features many work-at-home/homeschooling moms who talk about their business and how they do it while homeschooling.  Each one offers great advice, and most offer information on their specific business and how to get into it.

Not all businesses are for everyone.  I can attest to that first hand and have to say that finding the right one for you and your family removes almost all of the frustration that can be involved in a home-based business.

The end of this e-book takes it yet a step further by providing articles on keeping your home and your finances organized when you work-at-home.  This is a huge problem area for most families, and even if you already have a home-based business, this section alone can be a lifesaver for many moms.

You can pick this e-book up at The Old Schoolhouse for $12.95

Centerd.com

In just a few weeks things are going to get even busier in my family of five. My oldest son will be starting his baseball season. This is nothing new, Caleb is ten, and this will be his fifth season playing. Where the “even busier” comes in is our middle son, Brayden, will be starting tee ball.

My husband has thought about taking on a head coach position. As a wife to the head coach, my job would be to make sure that there are parent volunteers to bring a drink and a snack after each game. That is where I think Froggy Reviews featured site, Center’d would come in very handy.

Center’d is the one stop site for staying organized while you plan and assemble volunteers for your next event. The site provides you with the ability to create sign-up sheets with time-slots and tasks, you can either assign task or have the volunteers sign up for what works best for them. Centre’d then keeps everyone updated with reminders and notifications though e-mail.

There are a few really cool features on Centre’d that stood out to me, including maps (via Google Maps) to help your volunteers get where they need to be and you can also put important issues up to a vote. Like where the location for your next PTO meeting is going to be.

Center’d is a great site with lots of helpful features to keep your next event, from book fairs, class parties, PTO fundraisers, or other events, running smoothly.

Neutrogena ® Cosmetics

I recently had an opportunity to try out Neutrogena’s great line of cosmetics.  Strangely enough, this isn’t a brand I have ever tried before.  I kind of get stuck in the L’Oreal section usually, or looking around for great mineral/natural makeup options.

Well, the moment I realized the box had arrived (thanks to the Bzz Agent program), I opened it and started trying them out. I received these products:

• Neutrogena Mineral Sheers® Concealer Kit SPF 20
• Neutrogena® Nourishing Eye Quad
• Neutrogena® Nourishing Eyeliner
• Neutrogena® Healthy Volume® Mascara

I especially love the Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit and the Healthy Volume Mascara … followed closely by the Eye Quad.  I do not wear eyeliner normally, but I do like the fact that it is smooth, does not require sharpening and has a smudger on one end.

Ladies, I sincerely recommend that you try these products.  They are not heavy at all and for me, offer the perfect amount of coverage for any blemishes or the shadows under my eyes.  You can get them at pretty much any grocery store or superstore you typically shop at and they are totally affordable!

Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer

With 6 sons, we meet a variety of illnesses around here. Though for the most part the boys are pretty healthy, especially the older ones, our little trio still fights a lot of illnesses through the year.

Finding a reliable thermometer to help us when treating our boys through an illness has probably been the biggest frustration through the years. Traditional digital auxillary thermometers take quite a while and … well … let’s face it, how many of us are really sure that we’ve placed the thermometer correctly in that little armpit to get an accurate guage of their temp? Then, they move around and get annoyed with how long it takes … you get the idea.

For several years, I’ve longed to get an Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer with ExacTemp Technology, and I’m very excited to tell you all that this opportunity has finally come my way!

What a slick little device this is!  One of the arguments against an ear thermometer historically has been placement to get the most accurate reading.  With this one, you get a signal to tell you that you have it placed correctly.  Easy covers keep things sanitary from one user to the next and are easy to replace.  It also has a memory feature that remembers the last temp taken when you turn it on again.

I simply cannot say how much I recommend that each family have one of these.  Useable for the entire family it is a great investment to say the least.  When you are monitoring a sick child this will definitely help keep your mind at ease and help you to give the doctor’s office accurate reports on the child’s temps when you call or go in.

Definitely on the Frog Mom Recommends list .

Vicks – Cold and Flu Resources

Last week I shared about MommyDocs and their Cold and Flu Central website.  Along with that, I mentioned that one of their big tips is to use a humidifier through the winter.  There are actually a surprising number of reasons to use a humidifier and not only children can benefit from their use.

Today, I want to introduce you to my new favorite household appliance … Vicks UV Germ Free Humidifier.

To answer the most likely question my long time readers have about this humidifier, yes, this is a warm mist humidifier that uses boiling water to kill 99.9999% of germs, mold and bacteria from the water.

I know this probably surprises many of you in light of the burn that little Bug received as an infant from a warm mist humidifier (it was a VERY different humidifier though that had a tiny little output hole that concentrated the steam).

Before you get all nervous on me (trust me, I was at first too), although this humidifier does contain a warning to let you know to keep it away from children and that there is a risk of injury from the hot water, I have to tell you right off the bat that we did many very long test runs (mainly overnight) with it going full steam (haha).

After many hours of it running like this, I put my hand over the vent area (which is a pretty large surface by the way) and although it was hot, it did not produce the amount of heat necessary to burn a child before they realized that it was hot and pulled their hand away.  I had to make sure that we wouldn’t have a repeat incident of the last time we owned a humidifier.  I’m not saying that we don’t use caution (we generally run it at night and in areas where the twins are not likely to go at all or will be constantly supervised.

This humidifier has two huge tanks (2 gallon capacity) to keep it going all day and all night, no more filling it up every couple hours to keep it going.  It produces a healthy air since the water is sterilized.  You can use inhalants (like vapo steam) to put medicines in the air during colds to help with breathing. You never need to replace the filters (this one is huge for me)!!!  It also has adjustable humidity control (much like a temperature guage on a heater) and a 3 year warranty!

Here are 6 reasons to use a warm mist humidifier … some of these may surprise you a little:

• Running a warm mist humidifier can save money in the winter since it makes your home feel warmer allowing you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees.
• It is wonderful at making skin soft and supple.
• It helps protect your home and furniture!  In the winter, antique wood furniture (like pianos, tables) and even wood floor tend to dry out too much putting them at risk of buckling and separating.
• Protect your youthful glow … humidifiers help keep your skin looking (and feeling) healthy and young.  As we age, estrogen levels decline (even in late 30’s) and leave our skin looking dry and wrinkled.  Running a warm air humidifier round the clock can do wonders for your skin.
• Humidity helps trap the flu virus.  A study has shown that less humid air actually helps the flu virus thrive and creates ideal conditions for it to be transmitted, but that when their was a higher humidity level in the air, the water droplets tend to grab the virus sending them down to the ground where they are less likely to be inhaled.
• Keeps mucus membranes moist which helps ease chest and sinus congestion and even painful dryness in the nose from sniffles and more.

(these 6 tips provided from the pr company sponsoring this review)

When you have a little one suffering from a yucky cold, I also highly recommend the Vicks Soothing Vapors Plug-In for overnight in a child’s room. These last for 8 hours, so just grab a couple of them from the store when one of your children has a cold .

MommyDocs – Cold & Flu Central

I talk a lot about keeping your family healthy through these crazy illness filled winter months.  Finding products and more resources is always great, so when I was contacted about MommyDocs’ new Cold and Flu Central website, I was very excited to share it with all of you.  Moms can generally never have too many resources!

Mommy Docs is, of course, the same great site that I told you about waaaay back before the start of last summer.  Offering advice and information straight from two doctors who also happen to be moms!  Be sure to visit them often for great new information and seasonal updates and articles!

Cold and Flu Central is dedicated to preparing you for cold and flu season as well as walking you through the illness.  Tips on how to handle your child’s first cold or flu, taking and reading their temperature, fighting cold and flu, general resources and more great advice!

I know that in our area the flu is at it’s very worst right now, and I just want to remind all of you that it is still NOT too late to get your flu shot!  Kids are the main carriers of the flu.

Stay tuned for some truly great information on products that can help through this season as well!!!  One of the tips at Cold and Flu Central is to maintain moisture in the air, so I’m very excited to share some thoughts on my new favorite humidifier and a few other products to help through illness.

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