Real Science-4-Kids

We are using Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Level I this year.  In my opinion this is not a whole year curriculum.  We are going to do it over the course of 10 weeks.  We will than use the Biology and Physics sets.

We are only on Lesson 1 right now so its too early to give a true review.  So far I like the curriculum.  The book seems well written and very colorful.  I did not buy the lab book in paperback, I bought the .pdf download so I can print it and put it in a 3 ring binder.  We have the teachers manual, textbook, lab book, and the tests. 

We are still setting up our workbox system.  I am using the Sterilite 6.2 qt. clear plastic boxes.  This box fits a 1” 3 ring binder and the textbook.  I made lessons plans for this curriculum for 4 days a week.  Day 1 consists of reading the chapter, day 2 complete the experiment, day 3 answer the review questions in the lab book, and day 4 take the chapter test. 

I made these plans similar to some plans I found on the internet for Story of the World.  I wasn’t able to find plans for this so I modified the ones I found. 

Below is a link to my plans on Google docs.  I am new to uploading docs to Google, when I did a print preview the formatting was all messed up.  If you know how to fix this great otherwise I recommend copying and pasting to word.  You can email me and I send you the actual word file.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r0IjjCuChUNGSwEWdaFCmMsnmLljdN7ouvV862iT30g/edit?hl=en_US#

Triple Coupons at Harris Teeter 5/19

Harris Teeter is having triple coupons this week.  They will triple coupons up to $0.99.  I wasn’t able to go yesterday and a lot of the free and low cost items were out.

My grand total today was $59.84.  My manuf. coupon savings was $40.67 and my store savings was $50.16 for a total savings of $90.83.

Item	Qty	Price	Coupon	Total
Egg land's Best Egg’s	1 doz	$2.50	$0.35/1 SS 05/01	$1.45
Ball Park Deli Style Beef Franks	2 pkg	2 for $8.00	$0.75/1 RP 05/01 – 2 cpns	$3.50
Ball Park Bun Length Bf Franks	4 pkg.	2 for $4.99	$0.75/2 – 2 cpns	$5.48
International Delight Irish Crème, 16 oz.	1	$1.87	$0.55/1 SS 04/10	$0.22
Baileys Creamer Irish Crème, 16 oz.	1	$2.19	$1.00/1	$1.19
Silk Pure Almond Milk Dark Choc., 64 oz.	1	$2.50	$0.75/1	$0.25
Star-Kist Tuna Pouch, 2.6 oz.	1	$2.19	$0.75/1	Free
Kraft BBQ Sauce, 18 oz.	2	$1.55	$0.45/1 – 2 cpns	$0.40
Tabasco Sauce, 2 oz.	2	$1.99	$0.60/1 – 2 cpns	$0.38
Hunts Ketchup	1	$1.85	$0.25/1	$1.10
Luigis Mango Italian Ice, 6 ct	1	$1.74	$0.50/1	$0.24
Rosina Meatballs Italian Style, 12 oz.	1	$4.45	$0.75/1	$2.20
Swanson Prem. Chicken Breast, 4.5 oz.	1	$1.79	$0.75/2 – accidentally bought only 1	Free
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel	2	$2.99	$0.60/2	$4.18
Colgate Toothpaste, 6.4 oz.	1	$1.44	$0.75/1	Free
Herbal Essences Hair Care	2	$2.99	$0.50/1 – 2 cpns	$2.98
Pepsi, 12 pk	5	$5.99	Buy 2 get 3 free	$11.98
Utz Potato Chips	5	$3.99	Buy 2 get 3 free	$7.98
Mahatma Rice, 16 oz.	1	$1.59	$0.50/1	$0.09
Slim Jim	1	$1.25	to keep the kid quiet	$1.25
Plaza Paper Towel	1	$0.67		$0.67
Perdue Roaster	1	$5.60		$5.60
Perdue Roaster	1	$5.65		$5.65
HT Whole Milk	1	$3.79		$3.79
			$5.00 off $25.00 Harris Teeter cpn

 

My total should have been $58.04 because the toaster strudel coupons didn’t scan in.  I guess it works out even for the Swanson Chicken mistake.

My store told me they were restocking a lot of the items overnight tonight.  So I may go back tomorrow for some of the free and cheap things.

I am pretty happy with todays shopping.

Goodbye Big Blue…

Ok, we sold this big ‘ol blue sectional. 

We would always get comments from people on how nice it was or we did we find it.  It sold in 24 hours which I suspected it would. 

My family room looks so empty.  At least if this house sells that’s one less gigantic thing to worry about moving.  I will probably bring the sofa from upstairs downstairs and leave my two chairs upstairs in place of the sofa.  Ah the joys of staging while downsizing. 

House Tour–Part 1

Here is my Kitchen.  The walls are Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore.  You can read more about the process here.

Here is the Master Bedroom.  You can read about the process here.

Here is my son’s room.  This was my first project in this house and probably my favorite.  You can read about it here.

Here is our upstairs sitting room.  I sold our ugly leather couches and got this green sofa a few months ago.

Here is our foyer (yes we live in a split level).  I bought a sewing table ($15) and repainted it cream and stained the top.  I got the mirror at a garage sale for $3.  I painted it oil rubbed bronze.  We painted our front door black and couldn’t be happier with it.  The throw rug is from IKEA for $5. 

Ok, my guest room is pretty sad.  But here it is.  Got any ideas for under $10 to spruce this up?

More to come next post. 

We’re Moving!!!!

We decided to sell our house.  We will probably take a loss even though we bought in a down market it has still dropped significantly in our neighborhood.

There was a tragic death in my family and that has been why I haven’t posted for a while.  It really affected my husband and I and helped us realize this house is not our home.  We were so torn on trying to save this house or selling at a loss and than this horrible event occurred.  My family lives in New York and they need us now more than ever.   Whatever loss we take we can live with.  We just want to be closer to family.

We will have to find jobs, a place to live, and good schools.  I am not sure I can continue to homeschool if we move.  My husband is trying to find an EMT position and sending out multiple applications everyday.  We are looking into Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.

If you live in these states please comment and tell me where to go or stay away from.  Thanks I will be posting all about boxing up our lives and becoming renters again. 

So far I have finished my sons room and will be posting the current pictures in my next post.  That is my house in the top picture, if you live in the Triad and want to know more about it just email me.

Thanks everybody!!

DSLR Manual Settings

I have been working on learning to use my Canon Rebel EOS Rebel XS’ manual settings.  I have never taken a photography class in my life.  I basically take 100 or more pictures at different settings on my camera and learn that way.

I am going to show you a bunch of photos and what the setting was on each.  Todays model was my 2 year old Chihuahua Mix Chloe.

1. Manual
2. White Balance – daylight
3. F-stop   f/5
4. Exposure Time  1/25
5. ISO 1600

1. Manual
2. White Balance – daylight
3. F-stop   f/5.6
4. Exposure Time  1/25
5. ISO 1600

1. Manual
2. White Balance – daylight
3. F-stop   f/5
4. Exposure Time  1/25
5. ISO 1600

1. Manual
2. White Balance – daylight
3. F-stop   f/5
4. Exposure Time  1/25
5. ISO 1600

1. Manual
2. White Balance – daylight
3. F-stop   f/5
4. Exposure Time  1/15
5. ISO 1600

She’s the best model.  My other doggie doesn’t like to be photographed. I took a great picture of my friends 2 yr. old son, but I’ll have to ask her if I can post it.

Janet

What I’ve Been Up To - Filing System

I have been organizing.  I honestly haven’t cleaned out my files in over 1 year.  I have months worth of receipts I am still going through.  I haven’t balanced my checking account since last fall. Blah. 


Here’s why a colored coded 3 tab file system won’t work for a Type “A” person.  I would file my folders left tab, middle tab, right tab.  When I would add a folder my tab system would always fall apart.  For some reason I never had the tab I needed or I wanted to add a folder in a certain spot and it messed up the whole system.  This would cause a complete mental shutdown and stop all filing.  It really is hard to be an anal retentive Type “A” person. 
Unfortunately in too many areas of my life I have color coded systems that need to go!
Here’s my solution:
Single Color Hanging Tabs (I like navy but my deciding factor was my cheapness – thank you Wal-Mart)

Single Tab Folders (No more mixed up 3 label folder systems for me)

And last but not least color coded labels (I know right – didn’t I just bash color coded systems – this system will work I can add labels to my hearts content)

Ok so I am almost done going through all my receipts and papers.  I’ve made most of my files already. 
My other big project I am working on right now is converting all our compact discs to current technology.  We have about 1000 cd’s and we never listen to them anymore.  They take up so much storage space too.  I am ripping them to my computer, backing them up, and boxing them up.  We have a crawl space in addition to our basement so they will go there.
We had a pinewood derby in January for my son’s Cub Scout pack.  It was a whole lotta fun.  I recommend scouting for all kids.  It has been a great experience for us. 
My husband and I have been working on one of the plans off Ana White’s (Knock Off Wood) site.  I just love her.  I can’t wait to reveal it.
I am taking a blog design class currently, so keep tuned for a new look here.
I decided to take down the other blog and just blog where my heart is here.  My finances are not allowing me to do many projects, however I have plenty of low cost projects I will be sharing this year.  I will also be blogging about homeschooling, couponing, and whatever else floats my boat. 
Please leave comments.  I love them and I read every single one.  I am one of the few bloggers lately that does still have time to respond to them.

Making the World Cuter: Lifestyle Crafts "L" Review & GIVEAWAY!!!

Image courtesy of lifestylecrafts.com/blog

Making the World Cuter: Lifestyle Crafts "L" Review & GIVEAWAY!!!: "I am so so so excited about this review and giveaway! Lifestyle Crafts has brought the art of letterpress into the home with an affordable a..."

Some Blog Families can really use our prayers.

I continue to pray for Edie from Life in Grace, whose home burned to the ground and Roeshel from The DIY Show off whose father just passed.  But it seems without even trying I keep finding terrible heartache in this wonderful blog world.

I cried and cried when I read about Mattias Ryker Hanley.  He was just 22 months old when he died from an accident in December.  I can’t even imagine and it’s just so heartbreaking.  I am praying for this family to heal.

I am also praying for Lori , from Random Ramblings of a SAHM, whose husband committed suicide during a mental breakdown earlier this month.

I have also added Courtney and Zane, from Project Pretty to my list as he recovers from 3rd degree burns.

Cherish your family and friends.   I am so thankful for my family.

I’m a Stylish Blogger!

….well at least Vonda from Newlyweds and The Old House thinks so.  This is my first blog award.  I was completely floored to be included in Vonda’s picks, she awarded some awesome bloggers.  I feel like Wayne & Garth, “I’m not worthy”, but I’ll take it.  Thanks Vonda I think your pretty Stylish too.

So, here's the lay of the land, or the accepting of the award in this case: A. Thank and link back to the person that awarded you or me in this case. (above)
B. Share seven things about you.
C. Pay it forward to 15 (or so) recently discovered bloggers (I'm going recently discovered by ME b/c some have been around for longer
D. Contact those bloggers about the award!

7 things about me:
(1) I am a total goofball.  I am always joking around either sarcastically or extremely silly.
(2) I cry over the ASCPA & Humane Society commercials no matter how many times I see them. 
(3) Almost everything in my house has been painted 3 x’s.
(4) I hated being an Accountant. I like doing taxes but I was bored silly working at an public accounting firm.
(5) I plan vacations I can’t afford to take.  I will pull up hotel rates and all kinds of information about my dream vacations. Than reality sets in and I close all the windows on my laptop.
(6) My husband and I are both unemployed.  We have been for a while.  We have a plan and things will be turning around soon. 
(7) I used to live in Las Vegas.

Drumroll please, now onto the awards!  Ok I think these bloggers are pretty stylish:
(1)

(2)

(3)






(4) I Saw That Going Differently in My Mind
(5)






(6) Our Humble Abode
(7) Pine Tree Home
(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13) Urban Farmgirl
(14)

(15)

Possible Lamp Makeover Idea

I love this lamp by Serena & Lily, but at $329 it is not going to happen.  I saw a similar lamp at Home Goods but at $69 that’s not going to happen either.  I am thinking to either wait for Home Goods to mark it down or I am brainstorming how to recreate it.

I have a big round brass Goodwill Lamp that I got $1.  I have already rewired it with a kit from Lowes.  It has been sitting in my garage waiting for inspiration and a few days above 50 degrees.

I am wondering if I put a stencil on the lamp, paint over the stencil with puffy paint, and than cover it with white spray enamel if that would work. 

What’s your opinion, you think it will work or be a big fat fail?

Bright is “in”

I am so excited.  I love neutral colors but I always need that pop of bright.  Lately in blogland, I have been seeing bright greens and reds.  I Love it. Here are some of my favorites.

Red Chair @ Three Men and a Lady

Green Dresser @ Primitive & Proper

Yellow Lamp Makeover @ Yellow Songbird

Green Dresser @ Less-Than-Perfect Life

I painted my dresser pink back in 2009, unfortunately I don’t have a little girl and my dresser was not being loved as much as she could.  So she found a new home on Craigslist last year, by this sweet college girl who came to pick her up in her convertible.  I hope my dresser is happy with her new owner. 

I have plans for some bright pieces in my home this year too.  Are you loving all these brights?

Wall Art Featured on Remodelaholic

 

I was so excited last night when I found out my picket fence wall art was going to be featured on Remodelaholic.  I have loved this blog for quite a long time.  Cassity is so kind in featuring other bloggers. 

She is an awesome DIYer herself too.

Check out this vanity & Headboard she built…

 

Thanks Cassity!