Bethany . . . Reinvented . . . Maybe

So, after a long, unexcused absence from my once-beloved blog, I'm thinking about reinventing it. Along with reinventing myself. I'm not sure the blog, or me, is working the way it was. Oh, I'm still into organizing and homeschooling, but I'm just not sure that's where my blogging emphasis should be anymore. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to end up either.

Q4U: Thoughts? Comments? Requests? Please???

The Reading Lesson & Verbal Math GIVEAWAYS

Verbal Math Lessons are an interactive, fun way to learn math without any writing. Say no to worksheets, but yes to games and mental shortcuts. Level 1 is for kids in grades K-1, while Level 2 is for kids who have mastered Level 1 and/or are in grades 1-2. Get your kids into the habit of working math in their heads, not on their fingers!

The Reading Lesson includes the award-winning book with easy, step-by-step directions. Its simple style keeps the focus on the reading. The authors claim that it only takes 10 minutes a day and that kids will be reading from day 1, but I didn't have any non-readers to test it out on. Included in the set are the lesson book, the animated lesson CD, the storybook cd, the writing lesson cd (handwriting practice), the sounds of letters dvd, and Big Words for Little Kids, advanced vocabulary for readers in elementary grades. The adorable Giggle Bunny will draw kids along every step of the way!


Ready to buy? Use code organizedmom00 for a 20% discount (good through 9/6/13).  

GIVEAWAYS: TWO winners! One will win both levels/books of The Verbal Math Lesson. One will win the complete Reading Lesson package. Just leave a comment below (on my blog, not Facebook or wherever) with your email address (so I can notify you) and which one you would like to win. Yes, you have to choose one. This is for readers in the continental US only. I'll choose 2 random winners on Monday, March 11.

Disclaimer: These materials were sent to me free of charge by the publisher, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Messianic Prophecy for Kids GIVEAWAY

Curious about how Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled through the Messiah? The pick up a copy of Messianic Prophecy for Kids: Follow the Threads by Brynn Padrick. For upper elementary grades (but adaptable to just about any age), it's engaging, fascinating, and includes different activities.

Follow the Threads makes the complicated prophecies accessible for the younger ages. OK, who am I kidding? Some OT prophecies can be a bit confusing for those not so young, too, but Brynn does a good job of making everything as clear as possible. It's not just another workbook, either, it's got all sorts of fun activities to help youngsters remember what they learn.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of this great resource to giveaway to one of my friends here in bloggy world. You must live in the continental U.S. and leave a comment including your email address in the comments below (not on Facebook or wherever). I'll choose a winner on Friday, March 8, and email her/him.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for a review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.

Little Pilgrim's Progress Adventure Guide GIVEAWAY

It's hard to belive that Helen Taylor's Little Pilgrim's Progress has been around for 60 years already! But it has, and it's been improved with the addition of an Adventure Guide, written by homeschooling mom Deanna Conrad. Written especially for those in grades 4-6, families with children in other age groups can still benefit from the guide.

It's not just another fill-in-the-blanks workbook. The Little Pilgrim's Progress Adventure Guide provides engaging vocabulary, thought-provoking questions, allegorical concepts, literature elements, biblical applications, and character analysis in various formats. From trusted publisher, Moody Press, you know you can trust the content!

GIVEAWAY: I have not one, but TWO sets of Little Pilgrim's Progress, 60th Anniversary Edition, and Little Pilgrim's Progess Adventure Guide to give away! All you have to do is leave me a comment below (on my blog, not on Facebook or Google + or wherever you're reading my post). I'll choose a random winner on FRIDAY, March 8, 2013, and email the winner (so you must include your email address where I can find it). The giveaway is open only to those living in the continental U.S. only, sorry.

Disclaimer: I received both the book and the guide free from Moody in hopes that I would provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own, though.

When Happily Ever After Shatters (book review)

The big white dress. The flowers. The church. The kids. The years. The breakup. Wait--what? What do you do when your (or your friend's) marriage disintegrates before your eyes? When you can stop crying long enough to read a chapter at a time, dig into Sue Birdsey's When Happily Ever After Shatters, published by Focus on the Family in conjunction with Tyndale Publishers. Sue has first-hand experience in not only dealing with abandonment, divorce, and single parenting, but thriving through it.

Sue offers practical advice for those going through every step of this life-altering tragedy. She also offers advice for friends and families of those suffering. This book was so good that I read it straight through in two sittings. I highly recommend it for everyone because we all know someone going through divorce right now.

Disclaimer: This book was provided to me free of charge from Tyndale Publishing in hopes that I would provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, sensitive Emmaleigh! Today, she turns 15 and is looking forward to driver's ed (me, not so much!). She loves to bake and to help people.

Top Uses for Post-it Flags and Tabs

I can’t believe that I have never written about one of my favorite organization tools. They’re little, but they’re so cute and so versatile. What are they: mini, sticky tabs and flags! A Post-it by any other name is just as sweet (no, this is not a commercial). It usually works just as well, too. Let’s take a look at several different categories in which we can use sticky flags: bookmarks, textbooks, homeschooling, home management, Bible, other stuff.

The most obvious (to me) usage for Post-it flags is as bookmarks. Let’s get a bit more specific, though, then we’ll add to the list.

·         Bookmarks

o   Fiction

o   Non-fiction

o   Citations

o   Sections to reread

·         Textbook markers

o   Start teaching

o   Extra study

o   Instead of highlighting in borrowed books

o   Please help, Mom!

o   Assignment

o   Quick reference

§  Vocab

§  Abbreviations

§  Check lists

·         Bible markers

o   Teaching

o   Studying

o   Memorizing

o   Witnessing

·         Manuals for quick reference

·         Start/stop workbook sections

·         Corrections in homework to be done

·         Instead of tabbed dividers in 3-ring binders

·         Mark information in file folders

·         Sign here designations

·         Mark important information for others (boss) to read/note

·         On calendar/by door for stuff to take out the door

·         To do

o   In a book

o   On a steering wheel

o   On a calendar

o   Beside the door

·         Mark musical selections in a longer piece of music

·         Favorite recipes

·         Grocery lists

·         Wrap around toothpicks for herb/plant markers and cupcakes

Disclaimer: while I love these little guys like nobody’s business, I did a quick poll of some friends, who graciously added to my list.

Q4U: What are your favorite uses for Post-it flags?

Collecting for College

This coming fall (gulp!!), my older daughter heads away to a 4-year college. You'd think I'd be used to the idea because this is what we homeschoolers work towards for 12 years, right? Well, my heart is not ready for her to go away, but I've already started getting her stuff ready to leave the nest.

This is a large, plastic, storage bin. I commandeered it to start collecting the myriad of odds and ends that she'll be taking with her. Just in case she had ideas of throwing other junk in there, I labeled it. I don't have the money to buy her all-new stuff in August, so it works better for me to buy things a little at a time. So far, the container has a lint roller and a spray bottle of the homemade cleaner we use.

Other items I plan to add to the container: dishes and utensils (for 1), bed and bath linens, extra personal care items, Command hooks, laundry detergent, a small sewing kit (I can hope, right?), a first-aid kit, and over-the-door hooks. I'm sure we'll think of other things, too, along the way. I found a really helpful, FREE college shopping checklist at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It's available on their website at bedbathandbeyond.com/shopforcollege.

When August comes, all of her extra stuff (besides clothes and electronics) will be ready to go.

Q4U: Have you sent a child off to college already? What am I missing?

How to Prettify Plain, Cardboard Magazine Holders

I'm cheap. (Really, Mum, even though I know you don't believe it!) So when I needed magazine holders, I went to Ikea and bought the 5-pack of cheap, flat (to assemble), white, cardboard file holders. Sorry I can't remember how much they cost, but 5 were way cheaper than 1 of the expensive, brand-name ones at an office supply store. 

But plain, white cardboard is so boring. So, I took some contact paper, cut it a few inches wider than the  width of the holder, and voila: a prettified magazine holder! Then I printed labels for the contents onto my pretty Martha Stewart labels so I can tell at a glance what's in each holder.

Above, you can see what several of them look like next to each other on my bookshelf. Below you can see how I wrapped the contact paper around the edges of the back so as to prevent it from peeling off.

I saved money and completed a DIY project. What could be better?

Bookshelf Reorganization

 

I've been rearranging. Yes, again. It's been a while since I showed you my Expedit bookshelf, so I thought it was time for an update. I believe it's in its fourth different room since coming to live with me. It doesn't seem to mind, though, and it's actually fairly easy to move--after removing all of the books.

One block is homeschool teacher's manuals and such, one block is reference materials for editing, another block is teaching homeschool writing, but 2 blocks (almost) are devoted to teaching college writing. One block has my fiction books, while another block holds my yearbooks and diplomas (yes, I should probably recycle the yearbooks, but I can't quite bring myself to do it). One plastic bin is my filing cabinet, while the other one holds extra file folders, printer paper, and similar stuff.

The black bins? Well, let's just say they're holding stuff, which is what they're designed to do :-) The white tray is my to-file bin. I'd like to say that I file stuff once a week so that the bin is usually empty. Sadly, I can't say that. Hey, just keepin' it real here, folks.

Of course, you'll also notice that I've got a few pretties on my shelves as well. Organization can be pretty!

Q4U: How are your bookshelves doing?