Sweet Acacia Honey, Blueberry Banana Smoothies, and Fudge…

Hungry yet?

wiseGEEK
What is Acacia Honey?
What is a Blueberry Banana Smoothie?
What is Microwave Fudge?
How Do I Choose the Best Asian Pear?
What is Souring?

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Playing Learning Games with Kids

Homeschooling Books
Learning Games for Kids

Pagan Journey
Great Yule Gifts for Pagans

Supernatural Super Freak
Is Bobby Singer Dead?

Adventure Book Club
Review: Troll’s Eye View

Kids in the Kitchen

Cooking Northwest
Let the Kids Help in the Kitchen

Fantasy Book Club
Review: Swan Sister

Cat Lady Talk
Puss in Boots Packs a Positive Cat Message–and Fun

Parenting Chat
If You Can’t Say Something Nice…

Alternative Holiday Gifts

Here are some wonderful ideas for alternative holiday gifts, including gifts that give more to others as well as meaningful gifts children will treasure for years to come.

Children Report
10 Great Gifts for Children

Great Buy
10 Holiday Gifts That Give Back

Health Food Report
Quick, Delicious Apple Crisp

My Brat
No, Your Project is NOT Like Raising a Child

Free Field Trips

Parenting Talk
The Best Field Trips are Free

Chinese Book Club
My First Book of Mandarin Chinese Words

Science Book Club
Desert Days, Desert Nights

Matricity
26 Letters and 99 Cents

Those Sparkly Homeschool Moments

I see things every day that I am amazed by, but every once in a while something just wows me…

Working and Parenting
Crafting with the Scientific Method

AA Talk
Staying Conscious of Addiction During the Holidays

League of Capitalist Voters
Death Penalty Moratorium Declared in Oregon

Drug Specialist
More Scary Water News

Farm Subsidy Voters League
Sign the Cotton Crimes Petition

Things I Love Thursday

I was hoping to report that one of the things I loved this week was a loan we applied for. After nearly a year of my husband being laid off, we are deeply behind financially, even after making many, many cutbacks. Sadly we were not approved, which means I just need to work even harder at getting us above water. In the meantime, here are a few things that I love this week.

  My husband picking up extra hours due to the holidays. I don’t support consumerism, but when it’s helping to pay our bills, I am grateful.       A surprise chunk of money from a friend who had my husband help her move, which allowed us to buy Wood Sprite’s allergy medicine, purchase groceries, and pay part of a bill. Thank you so much, J!      Gorgeous book shelves given to us by said friend. I love the red in my living room; now I don’t love the rest of the room so much and want it just as bright! I’m thinking the Browns’ house in Nanny McPhee…       Unschooling. Around this time two years ago I still had many doubts, and last year I was just becoming comfortable… Now I can’t imagine anything else. Yesterday Wood Sprite demonstrated the entire Scientific Method without having ever studied it, just by doing craft experiments on her own… I am continually amazed by her and wish other children could have the same opportunity to make mistakes without judgement, explore their passions, be active all day, and simply be themselves. I am also grateful that we didn’t have to put up with false Thanksgiving tropes and pageants and crafts that many schools still perpetuate this time of year.      Sleep. I have been allowing myself more of it (including two nights of eight hours this week) and boy, has it made a difference! I feel better, and so much happier, after I’ve rested.     Fairytale compilations! After I read Silver Birch, Blood Moon, I had to check out the other compilations from these editors, and I am not disappointed yet! Right now I am reading Troll’s Eye View, and it turns out that the same editors compiled the book I enjoyed several weeks ago, Teeth. There are still dozens yet for me to read, and I am so excited about the four I have reserved at the library.  

Guest Post at I’m Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write.

I am a big fan of the blog I’m Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write. I’ve found a lot of inspiration, as well as kindred stories, at Idzie’s blog, so when she asked for guest posts from her readers I was very happy to submit one. 🙂

I’m Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write.
You Can Unschool with Limited Resources

How About a Buy Nothing New Christmas?

It’s definitely possible to do–and it could be exactly what your holidays were missing.

Christmas Report
Take the No New Gifts Holiday Challenge

360 Blog
Support the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act

League of Private School Voters
Mummy Snubbery

Craptastics
Hunger Games Action Figures Coming Soon

Movie Center
Real Parents Don’t Take Their Daughters to See Twilight

I Heart Richard Matheson

I only wish I’d found his works sooner!

Sci-Fi Book Club
I Heart Richard Matheson

League of Educational Funding Voters
Stop the Humiliation and Physical Harm in School Bathroom Use

Legal Specialty
Six-Year-Old Sex Offender

Education Job Market
The Definition of Teacher

Artista Blog
Add Creative Mornings to Your Schedule