Thrift Schooling

WIN AN 11"x 14" Aluminum Print  It's Day 2 of Thrift Schooling's 3 Days of Christmas Gift Giveaways! I'm excited to share today's prize with you because I personally was extremely impressed with it's quality! Similar to other projects I've worked on over at Collage.com , I simply uploaded my photos to the website. I then could chose from different designs or patterns in which I wanted my photos to appear. Pictured above is a simple collage but there are many templates and ideas to chose from. You could format your photos in the shape of a heart, a home or many other designs! You chose your background color or image and then you are ready to place your order!  My Aluminum Print arrived packaged well and the pictures came out crisp and clear! Having the pictures on aluminum adds a nice touch to the home. It's adds a different, more classy feel than a canvas or poster. I was highly excited with the quality of my print and think th...

Let the Countdown to Christmas....BEGIN! Download The Care Bears Advent Calendar and count down from December 1st to the 25th, Care Bears style!   The Care Bears Advent Calendar is an exciting interactive calendar perfect for desktop or iPad. Each day, Care Bear fans of all ages can follow their favorite Care Bears through a holiday experience! Sharing games, activities, videos and more has never been easier. For only $2.99, your friends and family can decorate Christmas trees, make their own snowflakes, color, or play Care Bears games. And to top it off, at the end of the 25 days, you and your child will unlock a full 25 minute Care Bears episode. Care Bears are loved by all, young and old, and makes for the perfect gift to kick off this holiday season! Powered by American Greetings

CUSTOM WRAPPING PAPER Why can't your package be as exciting as the gift itself? Customize your wrapping paper this holiday season to showcase your gift wrapping skills! Make a collage of the children for the grandparents or, make a roll of the family pets for the kids! Engaged? New baby? Showcase your favorite pics, all on the wrapping paper!  Kids and adults alike will be wowed by your creative Collage made easily at Collage.com! They have an extremely easy website that allows you to drag and drop photos from your computer. You can search for images online or transfer from your Facebook or Instagram account. MY EXPERIENCE I've created plenty of photo books in my day. The days of scrapbooking are over, at least for me! I know some people enjoy the hands on element of physical scrapbooking, but not me, I like the digital stuff! Actually, in the same manner that physical scrapbooking may be relaxing for some people, getting online and creating a Collage or ima...

  11/29-12/1 Starting tomorrow, Thrift Schooling will be holding 3 Days of Christmas Gift Giveaways ! Collage.com has provided THREE wonderful, customizable prizes that can be used as a gift or a treat for yourself! Visit Thrift Schooling November 29, 2014 through December 1, 2014 and enter to win a NEW prize each day! DAY ONE: CUSTOM WRAPPING PAPER Ends 12/7 DAY TWO: ALUMINUM PRINT Ends 12/7 DAY THREE: TBA

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Last year was the first year that we did any sort of Advent type activity in our homeschool. We had such a blast that I wanted to provide you with a list of different ideas that you could choose from!  We did something similar to #4 and #7 where we had a different activity that we participated in each day for the 25 days leading up to Christmas!  The kids and I enjoyed each and every activity and my husband was able to join in on the weekend ones! It was a memorable experience that we plan on doing again this year!  I have my eye on #5 one of these years, but this year I think we'll stick with the activities!  {1} Printable Snowman Mama's Like Me   has a cute FREE Countdown to Christmas Snowman  printable. Looks simple enough to get the point across to your preschoolers! {2} Scripture Countdown The Keep Home Simple   blog shows how to make this elegant looking ...

The New King James Version Adventure Bible,  with side notes and fun facts by Lawrence O. Richards, is a full color Bible for kids. The Adventure Bible is nothing new. I've seen kids carrying these around for years, BUT, it has always been in the NIV (New International Version.) When I was looking to purchase my son his first Bible, I considered the NIV Adventure Bible. but I just couldn't do it!  My husband and I want our children to grow up reading and memorizing the King James. At the time, I didn't see a KJV option. Now that a NKJV option is available, I jumped all over this! I chose to get this for my middle son since my oldest already has his own Bible. Up until  now, my middle son has been reading and bringing a picture Bible to church. The Adventure Bible is the perfect transition. It is a full Bible, not just a picture book with stories. But, it includes full color images and fun facts throughout. He personally loves parrots, so the parrot images throu...

THE MOVIE Based on the true story,  Susie’s Hope  brings to life the inspirational relationship between pit bull attack survivor Donna Lawrence and Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy found beaten, burned and left for dead. Recognizing that neglect and abuse were to blame for the tragic attack that nearly claimed her life 10 months earlier, Donna resumes the battered animal and accepts her as family. Together, they learn to heal, love and forgive as they lead a historic effort to seek justice and protection, not only for Susie, but all animals. Starring Emmanuelle Vaguier, Burgess Jenkins (Remember The Titans) and Andrea Powell (Ender’s Game),  Susie’s Hope  is an incredible story of love, loss and redemption. THE STORY BEHIND THE MOVIE Susie was found nearly dead in Greenfield Park in Greensboro, North Carolina on August 20, 2009. Just a puppy, Susie had licked the face of her owner’s newborn baby. Her owner became violent—she was beaten so severely her jaw...

Do you ever just look at your homeschooling situation with little ones and want to throw in the towel? You don't have to answer that one. The demanding task of homeschooling little ones can be emotional, trying and frustrating. Yet, we still continue. Why? Well, for one, we have a goal. A vision. A desire to see our little ones succeed in life. What better way to encourage yourself during these challenging years but to look at the success of homeschooled students in the upper grades? The ones who have almost reached the finish line and will soon be ready to enter their destiny armed for battle with the Word of God strong in their hearts and the purposes of God  ready to be revealed. I joined a homeschool group this year and finally, this week I went to one of the events. Even though I didn't really know anyone yet, I ventured out to International Night! What a blast. Everyone brought a dish to pass and shared on a country they had studied during the year. It was so encouragin...

As a busy homeschool mom with young children I am always looking for quick, easy, yet cute hair styles to wear. When I head out to the grocery store, church or a play date I don't want to look as though I just rolled out of bed! Yet, the days of styling my hair every morning with a straightener are over. Usually when I put my hair up the only thing that will hold it is a rubber band. If I want to use a stylish clip or accessory I have to first tie a rubber band in my hair and then hide it with the clip. I've been seeing these Flexi Hair Clips on Pinterest recently and have been drawn to them! There is just something about them that fits my style. They aren't loud and obnoxious but fun and inviting. You can wear a simple outfit and dress it up with these cute clips.  Usually whenever I'm out and about I am shopping for the kids. Now, I have found a fun product for mom! Sure, you can purchase them for little girls too but this just seems like the perfect wa...

A Star for Jesus by Crystal Bowman is the perfect board book to place in little hands this Christmas. This cute book is die cut to show off the fun star shape. This simple, to the point, board book shares the Christmas story with the focus of God's special star created to point to the savior, Jesus. The illustrations are intriguing for little eyes and the story is written in a catchy rhyming text.  I remember when my kids were little, some of my favorite gifts they received were children's Christmas books! I still have a small collection that I set aside for December of each year. Then, in the beginning of December, I set a basket of Christmas books by the fireplace and allow the children to pick out a different book to be read to them each day leading up to Christmas! I've even seen on Pinterest where people would wrap up twenty-five different books and the kids could pick a new one to open each day, (one of these years, I might try that idea!) If you are looki...

     Recently, my husband's work brought him down to Georgia. Twice. The second time he went ahead and took the whole family. Why not? We were directly across the street of cotton fields. No museums. No lakes. Just, cotton fields. We're homeschoolers though, so, we turned it into a homeschool lesson! I was raised in the north and honestly have never seen a cotton field. I remember reading about plantations and cotton fields in the history books but I have never seen them up close. The size of these cotton puffs were about  the size of the cotton balls you buy in the store. It was November when we were in Georgia and there were still fields to be harvested! I was surprised but, it was in the eighties that week so the growing seasons are probably different to what I'm used to. While we were there, we noticed one day that the beautiful cotton field we saw across the street had been plowed harvested.  And check o...

I'm excited to share with you a brand new antioxidant treatment called Valentia Even Glow Serum . Created to repair, refresh and renew, this product truly delivers! Filled with 98% natural, organic ingredients this serum is sure to replace those chemical filled lotions and creams that are filled with harmful ingredients.  The organic rosehip seed oil and organic sea buckhorn oil work together to increase skin hydration.  Honestly, I struggle with dry skin, especially during these present dry months. I don't wear makeup but I do use creams to keep by face from getting too dry. I'm excited to now have found a product with ingredients that I can feel good about putting on my skin. Because, as you know, what goes on your skin also seeps through your pores. Another reason to be careful what you rub on your skin. Another benefit to this serum is it's rich and luxurious smell! Twenty percent of this product has vitamin C which causes an amazing citrus-y scent as...