Get Your Front of the Line Pass to SeaWorld's Manta!

SeaWorld Orlando is preparing for their newest roller coaster... drum roll please.... tatatatatatata... it's Manta! We visited Sea World last fall and drooled over the construction site, dreaming of what was coming. At that time the twisted steel track was still being constructed... giving us just enough information to know something big was about to happen. My son loves roller coasters and must have asked his dad 100 times if we could come back and ride Manta... oh, and would he be tall enough when it opened? lol

As if you needed another reason to be excited about SeaWorld Orlando, visit the Manta website today and discover what's in store for all who dare to spin and glide like a sting ray. This roller coaster promises you'll feel as though you're flying and what's more you're guaranteed to experience animal encounters along the way... this is after all Sea World! I'm going to have to visit this new attraction before I'm too old to enjoy roller coasters! lol By the way, I'm praying the day I'm too old to enjoy a good roller coaster is years and years away, but I better start planning our next vacation just in case!

Currently Sea World's Manta site offers you a platform to learn more about Manta while at the same time earning yourself a "Front-of-the-line" pass to the thrill-ride everyone will be talking about. Simply visit Manta online where you'll be instructed to register for your RideThe FlyingRay.com account. You'll then use Twitter to follow Sahmu to uncover hints to a Manta quiz! In return for answering just 5 questions accurately, you'll be rewarded with an email from RideTheFlyingRay.com and once you've completed the online Manta activities you'll earn your "Front-of-the-line" pass!

Maybe you can explore Manta's online site with your children? They'll love the complimentary electronic photo they can earn through this site, simply by completing just 2 Manta activities. Hang on to it! When you experience Manta, you'll definitely want to take home a piece of that thrill that only a photograph can capture!

Oh, and mark your calendars now... SeaWorld's Manta opens in May!

Selling Our My Father's World First Grade Curriculum

If you're interested in some gently used homeschooling products, I've just listed our 1st grade curriculum on eBay. Your purchase will help me raise funds for Summer activities. I don't have a lot of cash coming in lately and with Summer quickly approaching I'd like to change things just a little. lol

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'd love it if one of my readers won this curriculum. It's all Bible-based and follows the Charlotte Mason approach. Very laid back curriculum that is fun to teach and has an especially wonderful reading program.

You will need to purchase the consumables from the MFW website, as we used them, but the bulk of what you'll need to have is included in my auction, including the ever so important teacher's manual... which mainly what you pay for when you purchase the curriculum new.

By days end I'll try and have a few more auctions listed. I'm selling some other teacher resources that I no longer need. :o)

Homeschoolers on Etsy

How many of you are selling your handmade items on Etsy.com? I've just registered for my own store, but still have to finish my jewelry creations before I'm ready to share.

A few friends of mine make extra spending money this way, so I thought I should try it too... it will make it very convenient for people to buy my cross jewelry and my finger and toe rings that I've just started making... all of which are sold for right around $10 with shipping included. It would be nice if I could have everything in place before Mother's Day, but more likely it will be just afterwords, possibly in time for graduation gift giving. If you'll be needing something little (and handmade) to gift to a friend or relative, stay tuned!

Once my store is polished and ready to share I'd like to ask that all homeschoolers with Etsy stores share their own links with me here. Who knows, maybe I'll list them in my sidebar? If there are enough of you, I'll start a blogroll! I'd love to see what it is you are busy creating at home and wouldn't it be awesome if we could support one another? Let's say one of us needs a new apron and Mary sells on Etsy? Or what if I need a quilt for my daughter's room and Karen has the most beautiful quilt in just the perfect assortment of colors? Could be fun!

Stay tuned! I'm off to get started on my new product line now!

~Wendy

Keep The Deer Away the Friendly Way!

Awe, aren't deer amazingly cute animals? Yes, but we generally like to appreciate deer from a distance don't we? If it's not the damage they can do to your gardens, it's the very real fear of deer ticks making their way onto your pets and even worse your children. If you live in a rural area, even in some suburban regions, you know what I'm talking about.

So, here's our problem... how do we keep the deer away and without harming them or building one HUGE fence around our property line? With Deer Off you can actually repel these beautiful creatures rather than bringing them any harm. You're basically just redirecting their path in a very subtle way, but one that will encourage them to visit another lawn for lunch! What's more you can do this organically. Curious yet?

If you're in the market for a deer repellent that's free of harmful chemicals, Havahart® Deer Off® II Battery-Powered Sprayer is your answer. Their all organic product containing a smell and taste repellent acts as a barrier not only to deer, but to other plant eating animals as well. What's the smell they're not loving so much? Would you believe that it's in part a mixture of putrescent egg and garlic? Then there's the taste of hot pepper! lol So, if the smell doesn't discourage them, the taste definitely will.

This battery-powered sprayer works on large lawns, is pre-mixed and ready to go. You can easily port it around the yard with you and since it's battery powered, you won't strain your hands. The repellent will give you up to 90 days of critter free gardening and keep your family safe from the potentials of developing Lyme's Disease from deer ticks.

If you've encountered problems with deer on your property, learn about deer control and the ease and safety of applying an organic product to your lawn. I love the idea of a battery-operated sprayer since I have week hands. I can't even open most jars in my house as my grip isn't good. So, a motorized sprayer is certainly a selling point. The other big selling point to me is that it's organic. We always opt for organic when it's available, mostly for the sake of the kids. We're not a fan of chemicals around here and thankfully companies like Havahart understand our concerns.

So, if you're a fan of wildlife, just not in your garden, you now know where to turn. Have a heart and choose Havahart!

A Water Experiment a Day for 31 Days!

Do your kids like water? Maybe the last month of school (assuming you stop in May) could be filled with water experiments? Homeschoolingideas.com shares a list of 31 water experiments that you can easily fit into a homeschooling curriculum to supplement your math and science lessons.

No fancy tools or scholarly wisdom required, these experiments are all straight forward and simple to follow, what's more they'll be fun for your children... and with the warmer days finally here, there's no better time to play with water than now! These experiments are intended for younger children, as in early elementary and will definitely keep your kids interested in the wonder of water! When you're done, maybe get out the water guns and play a game of chase and squirt? Sorry... I don't have a better name for it! lol Sounds better than chase and shoot... I think.

While you're there checking out the 31 water experiments, note that homeschoolingideas.com offers a lot of great information for new and seasoned homeschoolers. Be sure to spend a few minutes navigating through the site just so you don't miss anything!

Get Healthier While Supporting the Emotional Health of Those with Breast Cancer

Bumble Bee Foods is seeing pink!! Do you like the idea of supporting those living with breast cancer while at the same time improving your own health? Who wouldn't, right? I'm so excited to share this information with my readers since I know the majority of my readers are adult women and have little doubt that most of us either know or have known someone who's been diagnosed with breast cancer. Additionally, I also suspect many of us could use a motivator to getting more active... am I right?

Maybe you'll join me in registering with BeeWell Miles where I'll log my miles online and have them translated to calories burned all while earning 15 cents per mile to support the Breast Cancer Network of Strength! That's right for every mile I walk, Bumble Bee Foods will donate .15 cents. I'm hoping everyone reading this post will join me in this campaign. Recruit your friends and your daughters too!

What else can you do online through BeeWell Miles? You can also track the nutritional quality of what you're consuming each day (should you choose to enter your meal information). This along with the ability to interact with an online panel might just give me that accountability I need to drop 15 lbs! I lost 50 lbs several years ago, but the last 15 is still with me. I will admit that while I love to walk, getting myself motivated to do it on a daily basis has always been a struggle. Imagine though if I walked 4 miles a day (which I used to do), 6 days a week I'd earn $3.60 for this awesome cause. Now imagine if we ALL did this? See where I'm going?

Oh and get this... you can actually calculate your walking or running distance using an onsite tool. It's soooo cool! My husband is a runner and he's going to love this too. Once you register, chart your route using the online tools and you'll know exactly what you're walking!

Registration is super simple, they'll ask you how active you are (be honest, since this will play into how many calories each mile is worth) and ahem... for your current weight (only hurts for a second!), click submit and you're in! Between now and October 31st, 2009 your logged miles will make a difference to breast cancer stricken women in need of emotional support.

Finally, I wanted to share that you'll find game codes online when you log your miles and when you purchase Bumble Bee Foods with the pink label that are good for $15,000 in prizes!

Hope to see you there!

Cute Book Report Forms!

Oh, these are so cute for your younger children... I just had to race on over to my lil' old blog and tell you what I just found at babybirdproductions.com! This site has a nice selection of worksheets covering a variety of subjects for various age levels (although I think they'd mainly appeal to kids 5-8).

What I've just landed on is the book report worksheet with cute little birds around the boarders. I love cute! lol I could see my little girl preferring this to regular notebook paper. There's also baby bird math and a handful of other worksheets. Granted, there's not a lot here, but it's just another fun site to bookmark for later. I like to use a wide variety of websites to supplement my children's learning and with the Summer semester just a month away I'm starting my lesson plans!

I'd thought about sending my little guy to Summer school through the public school system for math, but I'm going to see if I can't get him where he needs to be myself. He's doing well in every subject except this one... and I can so sympathize as it was never my best subject either.

Btw, if you have knowledge of a must see website offering FREE teaching resources please let me know. I'm eager to uncover all the best out there for my readers and would love your help!

Give Your Mom a Jewelry Story for Mother's Day!

It's been awhile since I've been surprised with a new piece of fine jewelry, but the last time was one Christmas not so very long ago when my youngest was 2 years old. My husband cleverly hid a silver cross pendant necklace from the Christmas tree (I wasn't supposed to notice it right away)... it was one of those gifts I wouldn't mind getting every year! Fine jewelry keeps its shine and its value and unlike so many of the necklaces I've bought myself over the years, the necklace he bought me that year along with my wedding ring have kept their beauty and look as amazing as they did the day I received them. Not to mention the sentimental value attached to finding out your husband actually took the time to step into a jewelery store and shop for something that didn't come form a discount super center. lol That is priceless!

Do you have any Jewelry Stories? What story does the ring on your finger tell? I'm hoping to have another story this year! Mother's Day is just around the corner and maybe (one never knows) I might get another surprise. If not, this fall is our 10th wedding anniversary and another wonderful opportunity to be pampered. I'd love to have my engagement ring from 10 years ago, that also served as our wedding ring, be reset in platinum with a real wedding band attached. Nothing too flashy, I'm too simple for that... just something solid that fits the amazing diamond he gave me back in 1999.

Search more jewelry stories at the Jewelry Information Center at jic.org... that is if you love to here how the gift of jewelry touches the heart in a way no other gift can. If you do have a story of your own (hopefully you do!) you'll want to submit it the Jewelry Information Center today for a chance to win the Open Hearts by Jane Seymour TCW Diamond Necklace! Registering with the site and submitting your personal story will automatically enter you into this exciting giveaway!

The Jewelry Information Center is the place to go if your looking for an objective authority in fine jewelry. Learn everything from how to shop for fine jewelry to how to care for it once you have it. They offer a gift giving guide, a design gallery, information on insuring your treasures, and share the latest jewelry design trends.

I know when my husband was shopping for my diamond he did a lot of research beforehand to insure he was getting the best value for his money. Consequently my diamond was not the full carat he originally went looking for, but rather a flawless 1/2 carrot with crystal clear clarity. He knew what to ask and what to look for. At TJI, you can do the same. They offer a diamond buying guide that will teach you about color, carat, and clarity. Pretty cool!

If you were thinking about jewelry this Mother's Day, why not take a few minutes to visit TJI to learn more about the latest trends and maybe catch a few inspiring jewelry stories? Maybe you can give your mom a jewelry story all her own! I'd love to do that for my own mother. Oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway while you're there!

Wednesday, April 22nd is Earth Day

At the risk of sounding like an environmentalist (speaking of those with obscure political agendas)... I do recycle and have a sincere desire to preserve and restore our planet as much as we are able. I think we all have a responsibility to do what we can to keep our earth healthy and beautiful for future generations.

So, with that said, I wanted to share some Earth Day links with my readers. You can make Earth Day an all day affair, or you can just mention it, but I would like to encourage you to share the importance of recycling, not littering, and just generally making smart decisions about what we dump where... like for example, raise your children to know better than to pour used motor oil down the storm drain as a neighbor of ours did a few years ago! Sorry... I still get a little bent out of shape about that one.

Not a big list, but I don't like reading through large lists anymore than I like creating them! lol So here you go:

Earth Day Krafts, Food and Activities
Earth Day Teacher's Lounge
Earth Day gov/kids
Green Guide for Kids
Kids Be Green
ABC Teach coloring pages
Green Eggs & Ham coloring pages (ok, this is a bit irrelevant, but threw it in for fun)

Have a great one! Hope your homeschooling semester is going wonderfully! Enjoy some time outside and keep on plugging away!

Finding the Right Assisted Living Facility for Your Loved One

Placing a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make. It's not that you don't want to care for them at home, but often we just can't. This has been my experience on more than occasion with family... there sometimes comes a point where our best either isn't available or sufficient.

If you live in Southern California or Southern Arizona and you find yourself in this difficult place, you'll want to learn more about the free services offered through Assisted Living Placements. You've already discovered how the stress of relocating a loved one effect the entire family and ALP is there to help. You want to know you've made the best possible choice for your special someone... that you've left them in good hands and that between visits all their needs will be met. You need the reassurance that they are getting the services that have been paid for, and speaking of cost, you'll want to know how to go about negotiating rates with an assisted living facility.

There is so much to consider, including how much assistance your looking for, special medical needs such as heart disease and cancer, or maybe you'll need a facility who knows how to best manage Alzheimer's or Dementia? Regardless, ALP is there to help.

Assisted Living Placements (ALP) provides a free representative to help you choose an assisted living establishment at the best possibly price. Finding nursing care in Arizona just got a whole lot less easier! With your own personal counselor to help you sort through the options available, you'll be less anxious about the process. The counselors will even take you on free tours of facilities.

I like this idea of not doing it alone. Making these types of decisions, when it's not something you're accustomed to dealing with can be overwhelming. Let the experts in the field of assisted living placement lend you a hand.

Have You Visited My Stores?

Just a reminder about my new homeschooling book store which you can find by following the button below... it's a fun way to look at homeschooling specific materials or products to enhance your classroom. If you have any suggestions for new departments or specific books you've used and benefited from... be sure to let me know! All sales help my little family and with Summer just around the corner, money will be tighter. Seems like we always spend more that time of year with trips to the pool and the parks... gasoline alone adds up!

I also wanted to invite you all to check out my CafePress store which you'll find the link to in the left sidebar. I'm working on new designs all the time. It's a small store today, hopefully I'll find inspiration for that winning product. Hasn't happened yet! I'm thinking about opening an Etsy store too... just looks like a lot of fun. If you're not familiar with Etsy it's an online marketplace for selling your homemade goods... things like quilts, baby booties, paintings, jewelry and pot holders! lol

Punky, Rocky, Cool Clothing Your Kids Will Love!

Looking for unique, not your everyday kid's clothing? Something you can't find at your local retailer? Maybe something special and cutting edge for you son or daughter's birthday? Enough questions? Ready for an answer? How about visiting R&S Avenue for the latest in funky and trendy children's clothing? Oops, that was another question! lol

R&S caters to parents looking for the unusual, while keeping it hip and fun. If you have a boy, you'll appreciate his excitement for the monster republic clothing line, featuring well... monsters! Not always a monster, but the idea is there... the word monster is displayed on every shirt I looked at. My favorite is the monster NASA shirt that states... "THE MONSTER HAS LANDED". They also have some cool monster stegosaurus T-shirts and a couple of stylish triceratops polo's. The clothes have a unique style that you'll not find at your everyday children's clothing store and will excite your son, especially if you can match his interest to what you're selecting. For us personally, the space and dinosaur themes are a perfect fit!

R&S Avenue also offers other cool brands, some you may know... Belle Baby Carriers, Boo Foo Woo, Christian Audigier, Eyetribe, and Roudy Sprout are just a few of the wonderful clothing lines waiting to be explored. I'm having a blast looking at the selections at R&S. So much variety all with one thing in common... these clothes are about as trendy as you'll find. Much of the site has a rock & roll edge to it, which my husband will appreciate. Another thing I like is that there is a lot of variety in color... including earthy tones, which I sometimes have a hard time finding. We love brilliant colors on our children, but sometimes go for the earthy colors as they look better when the kids are playing outside. I don't know if it's because they hide the dirt better or what, but as a mom I totally lean towards browns, tans, and sometimes even black if we're going to be outside all day.

So, before you move onto your next homeschooling task or load up the dishwasher, take a minute to visit R&S Avenue. They offer free shipping on all U.S. orders over $50, so don't let the cost of shipping stop your curiosity!

Promised Photos of Easter Egg Creations!

Late Sunday the kids and my husband went out to the garage in their worn and stained clothing to create their Easter masterpieces. We didn't buy a very expensive kit... not that any of them are all that expensive, but these are super cheap. My husband uses 2 tables (double strength) in each cup to help bring about more vibrant colors.

Like a doof, I didn't get a good photo of the completed eggs in a bowl, as you might expect me to do, but you can get the idea from the photo on the right.

Oh and no we're not moving... we just have lots and lots of boxes! lol My husband's position at work was eliminated a couple months ago and those boxes are from his old office. Before you worry about us too much, know that the Lord blessed us with another job for him same day! He was technically unemployed for a whole 2 hours. The new job is a step up in pay, environment, and surpasses the other job by leaps and bounds when it comes to friendliness and respect between co-workers and management. No loss for us, only gain!

Oh, and see how we have to vehicles in the driveway? It took me 7 years to see this image! Yes, for 7 years we were a single car family and I was stuck at home without wheels. Not so easy, but we did it and now I have the van (with extra seats in the back), just waiting for another mom who now finds herself in my previous position of needing to bum a ride with her kids to the library, the pediatrician's office, or even to the grocery store. I'm ready!

Kissimmee, Florida Vacation Sweepstakes!

Looking for a little variety on your next family vacation, but aren't really sure where to find it? Look no further than Kissimmee! Those of you who've been to Disney World or Universal Studios probably already know where to find Kissimmee, Florida... it's kind of hard to miss! But, did you know there was more to central Florida than theme parks?

We visit Walt Disney World every fall, sometimes picking up a couple days in Universal, and last year added Sea World to the mix. There are an incredible number of hotels and attractions to choose from, not to mention all the options for dining and shopping! When you're done hitting all the hot spots in and around Kissimmee don't forget you're not all that far from the beach... if you're so inclined. Our first year out we rented a car and drove down to Clearwater, then back to Kissimmee same day. It was a relaxing drive and so worth it! I'd never been to the beach... well not a real beach anyway. You don't find too many of them in the Midwest. lol

In and around Kissimmee you'll find water parks like SeaWorld's Aquatica and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, as well as Florida's Wet n' Wild Orlando. If you're can't get enough water at the parks, many of the area hotels offer extraordinary swimming accommodations with their own bells and whistles including twisting water slides, fountains, and funky shaped pools.

Maybe you're idea of a vacation is to escape into history, through the Kissimmee Air Museum or the St. Cloud Heritage Museum. What better way to incorporate a little homeschooling into your time away? I'd love to spend an afternoon in the air museum... I've always had a fascination for aviation.

Oh and don't forget the shopping! What vacation is complete without stretching your legs just a bit? I'd love to check out The Florida Mall, Pointe Orlando, or one of 17 other area malls and shopping centers.... especially the Prime Outlets International Orlando which features 175 outlet stores! Did I tell you what a bargain hunter I am? It's in my blood. Did someone say discount?

Among countless other options for entertainment and relaxation you'll find golf courses, ghost tracking tours, balloon rides, a Titanic experience, Gatorland, a petting farm, and the Holy Land Experience which is a recreation of ancient Israel! I've always wanted to visit, but I'm still working on my husband on this one! lol

Ok, but what about the giveaway? Kissimmee is offering a sweepstakes for three weekend getaways good for 3 days/2 nights away for you and your hubby; as well as two week long getaways for 4 (so if you win this one, you could even take your kids)! Can you imagine? My husband would flip and I'd love to see that... it would almost be better than the thrill of winning! Almost. lol

Drawings for the Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes will be held around the first of May and first of June, so don't delay!! I'm on it right now! If I win I'll be posting photos all over the place. Just try and stop me!

Easter Eggs Coming!

Our family will be coloring eggs later, hopefully today... although we have church activities from 3-6:30 today, then dinner, so we'll see! lol I'll be posting photos of our family fun whenever we finally find the time. I'm hoping we can accomplish the task of egg coloring outdoors, since the weather couldn't be nicer and it would make my life so much easier. I think?

There are so many ways to color and decorate a boiled egg, but the hardest part for me is just boiling them without cracking the shells. Anyone else? We boiled 3 dozen eggs this morning and about 5 have major shell fractures, which leaves me wondering if I shouldn't just turn those into egg salad? I don't know that the color is harmful, but given that it's really intended for the shell and not the consumable egg, my motherly instinct is saying better safe than sorry.

What types of activities due you have planned for this Easter weekend? We have a church carnival, egg hunt, then a Saturday evening Easter service, followed by three Easter services in the morning. My husband is in the church band, so gets to be there for all 4! lol We're probably going to just attend one tomorrow, but I might possibly hang out for 2, if they need me in the nursery.

Stay tuned for the eggy photos!

New Neighbors in the 21st Century

So tell me, do people still bring over an apple pie or freshly baked cookies when a new neighbor moves into town? I just wonder. My neighborhood seems very friendly, but my cul-de-sac not so much. Everyone primarily keeps to themselves and no one really knows anyone else. Seems very odd and I wonder if I could maybe, in some small way change things? Even just a tiny bit?

We have new neighbors on the horizon as the house next door has been sold. By the way, it sold in less than 2 weeks, which is sorta cool given the state of the economy. In any case, is it acceptable these days to bring over a baked good or a bottle of sparkling grape juice? Would my neighbor across the street feel jealous that I hadn't done the same for her when she moved in the year before? I actually had planned to, but never did and still feel funny about that.

Anyway, what have you done in the past with the arrival of a new family on your street? What have people done for you? I'd like to think people still do this somewhere in America? Please tell me they do! I've just not seen it in so long!

Create a Custom Mother's Day T-Shirt!

A couple years ago I made my mother-in-law a t-shirt with an iron on transfer of my children, which was printed from my home printer. It was very cool as I was able to play with it in Photoshop and add text, flowers, and a boarder, but the one thing that wasn't so cool was the fact that it didn't look professional. It had a different shade of white around the transfer, from the color of the T-shirt and I wasn't at all satisfied with the results.... but the money had already been spent.

For less than what I paid for the supplies to create that homemade mediocre gift, I could have done it right through VistaPrint! With Mother's Day again, just around the corner, you know what I'm thinking? Maybe this year I'll do it right. Grandma's love printed t-shirts when they feature their grand kids, which they can show off to everyone they encounter at the grocery store, hair salon, or church functions.

At Vista Print you can upload your own photos or designs and you have a quality guarantee protecting you! Prices start at just $9.49. You're able to easily upload your photos, even those photos and designs you've played with in Photoshop to their website!

If you're ordering for an event, you'll be thrilled to find Vista Print offers bulk discounts! Maybe you're forming a homeschooling group and you want to bring unity to the group by creating a member's only T-shirt? If so, this is the place to go!

I've mentioned VistaPrint here before, so many of you know I've ordered wall calendars featuring my children as Christmas gifts for grandparents, as well as magnets, postcards, invite cards, Christmas postcards and business cards. I can personally attest to their professionalism and product quality. I can also tell you that their prices are unbeatable! Even if you shop locally, you're not likely to find better prices, and considering you're not sacrificing quality, there's really nothing left to consider! lol

Well, we're off to start another day! My kids are eating breakfast and we've only a few precious moments left before the start of another school day, but tonight you know what I'll be doing? I've just reminded myself that I need to shop for Mother's Day, so Vista Print I'm on my way!!

Learning Math Through Music!

I taught my kids the days of the week and the months of the year by creating a song that we could sing together, so you know I'm going to love a song that teaches math! After all, that's one of those subjects so many of our children struggle with and/or decide they would rather not study at all.

Check out Songs For Teaching and you'll be thrilled to find multiplication, counting, grouping, decimals, and division lessons set to music! You're able to sample the music directly from the site.

They also offer songs by just about every other subject imaginable, so if your student is struggling in Spanish, science, or you just want to share songs about the holidays and seasons of the year, you'll be all set!

Have you studied math or any other hard to master subject with your children through music? It's been proven that if we can sing it, we're more likely to remember it.

Beautiful Custom Postcards for Any Occasion

I've used VistaPrint many times over the last few years to meet my personal and professional printing needs. Having ordered business cards, call back cards (using their wonderful selection of business card templates), magnets, calendars for grandparents packed with fun photos of our children, and yes custom postcards, I can personally attest to the quality of their products, level of customer service, and unbeatable prices.

Last year we even used VistaPrint to order our family Christmas cards... which were a real hit. They're version is similar to the photo paper postcards you've likely received from friends and family, but VistaPrint's cards are printed on cardstock and allow you the added perk of being able to create your own custom message on the back! I had so many people call and ask me about where my cards came from last year.

If you're in the market for postcards... whether for Christmas, a new baby, an anniversary party, graduation, a homeschooling function or to market your business... you'll find no printer in town can match their prices. You can either use one of their available templates, if you have nothing to work with, or you can upload your own design! We've done it both ways and found their system very user friendly and reliable.

Let me just say that last year my women's committee needed to place a postcard order and just for kicks and giggles we compared VistaPrint's prices to that of a local competitor. Would you believe that VistaPrint's postcards were less than half the price of the printer just 5 miles away... even with shipping factored in? No kidding!

One of my favorite things about VistaPrint is the way they send you email promotions for substantial discounts, once you're on their mailing list. They are the king of good deals and yet somehow, someway have found a way to not sacrifice quality and service. Way to go VistaPrint!

Between knowing we're saving a substantial amount of money and having had nothing but positive experiences, our committee relies on VistaPrint for most of our printing needs. The only thing we don't order from VistaPrint are registration forms and other odds and ends manageable from our home printers. As for everything else... it's VistaPrint all the way!

The Blue Jays Who Married in Our Pear Tree

I wanted to share a cute story with my readers today that started back a couple weeks ago with the sighting of a blue jay in the blooming pear tree just outside our front window. My daughter spotted it with great excitement, having never before seen a bird that was blue out in the wild. "Mommy, it's a BLUE BIRD!" she exclaimed. We watched it bounce from branch to branch for several minutes, then he was gone.

Yesterday afternoon, I found my daughter crouched low to the ground, with only her eyes and top of her head above the window sill. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Mommy there are two blue jays in the tree and I don't want to scare them away." Sure enough, she was right! We watched them bounce from limb to limb, looking this way and that and then chirping sweetly to one another as if to be discussing potential living accommodations. "Look honey, they're tree shopping!" We decided that two weeks ago the first bird went out looking for a beautiful home to share with his bride, found the one he liked best, then brought her back to check things out.

Well, we've not seen them back today, so my daughter informed me that they would not be back. "They aren't coming back mommy, they only came to the tree to marry." She shared. Now, how cute is that? I only wish the photo I have included the birds, but in any case, here's the tree! lol

Bugs in Your Garden?

Are you planning on incorporating a garden into your homeschooling lessons this Spring? Maybe it's flowers, perhaps a vegetable garden, or maybe you're planting shrubs and trees? Regardless of what it is that gets your hands dirty, you like the best of all gardeners have the same age-old battle of contending with unwelcome insects. Have you had this problem before? Ridiculous question, right? Every year our shrubs and flowers are covered with bugs. This year we're planting additional rose bushes alongside the house and I'm so glad I've done my research!

Here's the thing... planting isn't only a learning experience, it's a lot of fun, but bugs in the garden gnawing on your greens and flowers can destroy all your hard work and completely zap away the joy that a successful garden brings. If you're like me and just planting flowers, the same holds true. Women LOVE flowers... I know I do. I actually have a better day when I step outside my home and see the color and living beauty growing in my yard. Finding them covered in bugs isn't only unattractive, but potentially destructive. Frustration has just found an exit! Let me explain.

Today it's all about going natural.... am I right? We hear about organic this, natural that, environmentally friendly alternatives, and we wonder... what about pest control? What are my options? Believe it or not there is an organic pest control solution to protecting your garden and it starts with Safer® Brand Bug Patrol and ends with you applying the formula to whatever it is you're growing.

This amazing product is OMRI listed® and will prevent insects from dining on your fabulous foliage! Would you believe organic bug patrol kills over 40 insects? It feels good to find a product that's environmentally friendly and actually works.

This year my roses are going to be all they were meant to be... and possibly more! Thanks to the wonderful experts in organic pest control at Safer® Brand!