Thrift Schooling

  Valentia is back, and better than ever with their new True Glow Eye Cream ! I've reviewed Valentia products in the past and they certainly don't disappoint. I have other facial creams and cleansers lining my dresser but nothing compares to Valentia. Two specific qualities make Valentia stand out from the rest. First and foremost, the texture. The true glow eye cream is thick and smooth. This makes it easy to apply. Secondly, the scent. Seriously, once you try these products you won't want to go back because of the scent alone! It's fruity, fun and refreshing. It's not strong but pleasant and soothing.  The cream uses natural ingredients including, astaxanthin which smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and restores elasticity to the skin. It also has resistem, vitamin C, organic rosehip oil and arnica which works to diminish the appearance of dark circles. Yes, I am an older homeschool mom (not too far of from being over the hill,) with a growing famil...

Motherhood has its joys. The first time your newborn smiles at you. The moment she finally reads her favorite storybook to you, after you’ve recited it time after time to get her to fall asleep at night. The drawing you proudly hang on the fridge for all to enjoy. What about the difficulties? Read More at Our Homeschool Forum

If you’re new to homeschooling, then it’s possible that fears, doubts and questions are still swirling around in your mind. Ok. Even if you’ve been doing this for some time, you still aren’t immune to the occasional mental struggle. READ MORE AT OUR HOMESCHOOL FORUM

What do you get a nine year old for his birthday? Toys have become babyish. Gaming systems and  tablets are too consuming and addicting. In our home, we encourage hobbies that involve the outdoors or that are lucrative. We don't do allowances in our home. It might work well as a motivator in some families but we have chosen to allow our children to find opportunities outside of their chores to make money. I have noticed that my oldest is very careful how he spends his money. I am convinced that it is because a majority of the money he has in his wallet is his own hard earned cash.  One of the ways that he adds cash to his pockets is by scrapping metal. He used to help his dad and get paid a portion of the profit. Now, he will tear apart old televisions on his own and get the money for the metal, himself. Needless to say, when he received a Tesoro Metal Detector for his birthday the first thing out of his mouth was, "am I dreaming?!" He was beyond excited. He kept t...

Purchase a Copy Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp- a horse scavenger hunt!  As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the entry fees in her mom's antique jewelry box. But when the box and the money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope, and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.  My Thoughts Blue Ribbon Trail Ride is the fourth book in Miralee Ferrell 's series, Horses and Friends . This is the first book of the series that I have read and can easily be enjoyed without having been introduced to the characters prior to reading this one. The author does allude to previous events which tended to pique my curiosity and made me wish I started from the beginning of the series!  Now that my oldest two are reading on their own, and actually enjoy it, I have been...

Don’t worry. I’m not suggesting you start stockpiling your house with trash! Instead, I look at it as killing two birds with one stone. READ MORE AT OUR HOMESCHOOL FORUM

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This past labor day our family went out for Mexican. This is a rare occurrence for us, so the kids savored every minute. I held the newborn while the older kids munched on tortilla chips. They dipped them in variety of spicy sauces while we waited for our meals. We laughed as my daughter confidently tried a spicy sauce, determined to like it, only to down half of her water after her first (and only) bite. Once served, we began sampling each others plates, testing the variety of goodies that lay before us. We talked, we ate, and we enjoyed each others company.  Then, I looked around at the other booths in the restaurant only to see practically everyone and their grandmother scrolling on their smart phones. I kid you not. First, I spotted three college kids sitting at a table together. All three of them, two boys and a girl were gazing at their phones while waiting for their food.  Behind them was an older couple, probably old enough to be their parent's age. The woma...

Regardless of the season, boys will have energy. Even if the sun isn’t shining or it may be sprinkling, consider planning outdoor activities that your boys can look forward to at the end of their homeschool day... READ MORE AT OUR HOMESCHOOL FORUM