2010 February

Workboxes: Master Scheduler Form

February 14, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Workboxes

Here is a little form I made for our workboxes. It is a basic guide of what to drop in each box each day. The PDF is below.

Filling the boxes isn’t difficult, but it’s nice to have a routine laid out for me. I don’t always do subjects in the same order, and I like to split up big chunks of reading, and boxes that are independent vs. working with me. There are some subjects I don’t do all five days of the week, and the scheduler reminds me of what days I’ve planned to do what. This is a mindless way to make sure I get it all in.

I’ve made schedules and lists before, but I really like this version because it’s not set in stone. I can just glance at the chart, and if for some reason I need to switch our boxes around for the day, no biggie. You can also see that we do not do twelve boxes on days when we have outside lessons.

I’ve included a filled-in sample, and a blank one you can fill in for your use. I keep mine in page protectors in my homeschool notebook.

Workboxes have totally simplified our homeschool, and the master scheduler just makes them that much easier. Between this and my quarterly planning sheet for subjects I need a daily plan for, my mornings are easy breezy!

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I Wasn’t Always Homegrown: Part 2

February 12, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: I Wasn't Always Homegrown

Me, 17. Before I learned the fine art of tweezing.

Read I wasn’t always…part one here

I took one look at the little pink line and knew. All those decisions I’d been putting off were going to have to be dealt with. Soon.

I looked in the mirror and just stared at my face, trying to feel something. I knew I should be scared or happy, or even upset. But nothing came. I was completely numb.

I closed my eyes and tried to no avail to work up some tears. I didn’t even know what to think, but I felt with certainty that I should be crying. The funny thing is, the whole time I was thinking, “Someday I’m going to have to tell my child about this moment– when I found out I was pregnant with him or her– and I’m not going to be able to say that I cried.”

Seriously. From the second I took that box off the drugstore shelf, every step I took was laced with guilt. Not guilt for breaking the commandments I grew up hiding in my heart, or for putting my parents to shame (though that would come later).

Guilt because this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. How would my kids ever be happy now? I was already a bad mom.

I looked at the bathroom door and sighed. Boyfriend was outside, waiting hopefully. Not hoping in the way you’d think your average eighteen year old guy would be hoping. Nope, while I was fighting off nausea, he had been crossing his fingers. He wanted a family, and he wanted it now. We’d been dating only a few months, but he was ready. He wanted to settle. He wanted this baby. He wanted me. He wanted forever.

Me? I wasn’t so sure.

Finally, I opened the door and looked at Boyfriend. He took one look at my face and pumped his fist. “I knew it!” He shouted. He grabbed me and began to cry, kissing my face. “My baby, my baby.” Finally, a coherent thought made its way through my brain.

Now I’m stuck.

And finally, the tears came.

Part 3

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Dear Buff Guy at the Gym,

February 11, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: MamaMusings

Dear Buff Guy at the Gym,

SHE’S 13!!!

I realize that when you leaned back to check out her behind as she walked past you that her Snoopy shirt and youthful face most likely escaped your attention. However, sometime during one of your thirty or so glances, you must have noticed.

Next time you spend your workout oogling a young girl, I want you to think about this:

She still giggles during math every time I say “Time to do #2.”

She whines “Mooooom,” when her little sis is bugging her.

She still asks me to feel her forehead every night when I tuck her in.

Her favorite TV show takes place underwater and features a yellow sponge named Bob.

She’s a little girl.

And if that doesn’t get you… you’re lucky my husband wasn’t here today.

From,
The sweaty lady on the treadmill who was glaring at you.

PS: Put your shirt back on. We’re not impressed.

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Homegrown Links

February 11, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Homegrown Links

Happy Reading!

Parenting and Kids:
Tips for Reluctant Pray-ers. Tips for praying with and for your kids. I wrote this post for parents or kids who have trouble praying aloud.

Homeschooling Mamas Need a Planning Period, Too. Yes we do! Love this.

Tale of an Overwhelmed Mom Ever get overwhelmed with planning? I do, too and I lay the ugly truth out here for all to see. Warning: It includes Sponge Bob. And underwear. I was very tired when I wrote this post.

Classics for Kids Cool website for kids, all about classical music and composers.

Have a Heart Fabric Creation I can’t wait to make this! It looks like even I couldn’t mess up this cute craft.

Plan for A Mission Minded 2010 “This FREE guide is especially designed for Christian mothers who desire to become more MISSION-MINDED and eternally effective in this next year.” Awesome!

Would You Rather? A fun writing prompt idea I posted at Heart Of the Matter.

Spiritual Growth
Exemplify Magazine I am still excited that Exemplify offers this free magazine! Check out February’s issue here.

Worship My friend Rhonda wrote this beautiful post on worship and blogging, and blogging as worship, and worship as life.

A Woman Who Perseveres So, so good.

Memorize Philippians With Me! This sweet blogger has got me memorizing the book of Philppians. Will you join us?

Sweet
Red Velvet Cake Balls. If I was allowed to eat anything other than chicken and lettuce, I would be scarfing these down this weekend.

Poignant
The Goodbye Feeling utterly thankful and small after reading this.

Making me think twice about how I’m raising my girls
Modest Clothing, It’s Not Just to Save Our Daughters

Of Mermaids and Moral Dilemmas What the heck? This post is still driving me nuts. In a life-changing kind of way. Stuff to seriously ponder.

If you love to be encouraged
Homegrown Mom Book Club! If you haven’t joined yet, what are you waiting for? Even if you don’t have our book choice, (A Woman After God’s Own Heart) you will be able to benefit from and contribute to the forum discussions. Log on today and see how we are encouraging one another daily!

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Chocolate-Coffee Facial

February 10, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Updates, Miscellany, Etc.

Valentines morning coffee

By Elissa

It’s that time of year again. The time when little fat babies sprout wings and start flinging arrows. When we take a day to say, “I love you” and ingest large amounts of chocolate. In honor of St. Valentines Day I’d like to share some homegrown pampering with you.

My I introduce the Simple Chocolate Coffee Facial. My three favorite things thrown together. Chocolate, coffee and pampering. This recipe is super easy and so budget friendly you could use it every night, all February long, and still not spend anywhere near the price of a salon facial.

Here’s what you need

2 tsp. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Cocoa is high in antioxidant and has been shown to help some bacteria based skin infections i.e. acne

1 tsp Instant Coffee. Also high in antioxidant. Coffee also contains caffeine which can tighten and brighten your skin.

2 tsp yogurt, vanilla or plain. Yogurt will hydrate and remove dead skin cells gently.

Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl (It should have the consistency and scent of brownie batter). Wait a few minutes and stir again to make sure the coffee has softened and blended into the mixture. Clean face of any make-up using warm water only. Gently apply the mixture to your face in an upward motion avoiding the eye area and lips. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. I usually follow this with my favorite moisturizer (3 drops of olive oil).

When you are finished your skin should feel clean, refreshed and smell of heaven (if heaven was a Starbucks). So go on. Show yourself some love this Valentines day. For all you do you deserve a little pampering.

Elissa has 10 years experience as a massage therapist and has completed classes in herbals and aromatherapy. She is a working mother of two who enjoys finding ways to be green, creative and frugal in just about every aspect of my life. She loves Jesus, her husband, her children, understanding, creativity and kindness. If you’d like to contact Elissa you can do so through her website The Thoughtful Spot.

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15 Little Ways to Bless Your Husband Today

February 9, 2010 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: A Wife to Rush Home to

Why wait for Valentine’s Day? Every day is another opportunity to show your husband a little extra love and remind him (and maybe you) of how thankful you are for him.

An encouraging word!

An entry in his I love My Husband Book.

A small token or gift, like a book he’s been wanting or his favorite coffee.

A love note left somewhere he’ll find it.

A racy text message or email letting him know he has something to look forward to later. (Just don’t do this if he’s driving around with his best friend all day and for some insane reason asks the friend to grab his phone and read the text for him because he’s driving. You won’t be able to look said friend in the eye for a month at least. Ugh.)

Bake his favorite treat. Or if he’s watching his weight, find a healthy alternative to his favorite treat.

Write out an encouraging verse and post it on his bathroom mirror.

Take over some of his duties for the day. If he usually takes out the trash or makes the coffee, do it for him.

Give him an impromptu massage or foot rub while he’s watching his favorite show.

Have a nice snack and card game ready when he comes home from work. If he likes cards, that is. If not, maybe a board game or just a relaxing chat with just the two of you. (This is what cartoons were made for.)

Wash the car for him. Unless he’s one of those guys who is psychotic about his car. If that’s the case, buy him a nice air freshener.

Pray for him! As a bonus, share your prayer in a note.

Speak kindly about him to others.

Shave your legs! Do your hair! Get dressed! You get the point.

Plan a date and tell him how excited you are about spending time with just him.

More ideas please! How do you bless your hubby?