Spongebob Squarepants Computer Games!

Do you count yourself among the millions in love with this snail-loving sponge? If so, why not share a few games with your kids featuring everyone's favorite sea critter?

What a great way to reward your thriving homeschooler for mastering that spelling lesson or finishing their math assignment without an argument? lol Ever been there?

Big Fish has a whopping 7 Spongebob PC games (listed in no particular order):

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

If you have a Mac, Big Fish offers the following Spongebob game:



Spongebob has the same effect on me as Winnie-the-Pooh. He just makes me feel happy. lol Sort of like cheesecake only without the calories, or the guilt!

By the way, if your kids are into PC Games, you'll find scads of children's games on Big Fish. While you're there, check out all the great games for you too! You can even sample the games for free! Check out Big Fish Games Home Page now. :o)

Wanna Follow My Homeschooling Blog?

Hmmm... is it wrong to solicit followers? lol Here's the dealio... Blogger has a cool widget (see sidebar) that houses all those visitors who choose to follow a blog, but for the longest time I didn't show it off, because well... there were so few of you listed. Then I got hit with the realization that if no one sees the widget, very few people will think to follow in the first place. See how smart I am? lol

Ok... so it's back and sitting high in my sidebar, waiting to be fattened up. I did the same with my Cake Space blog a while back and have nearly 150 followers there! Pretty cool! No... WAY COOL!

If you opt to follow this blog, nothing undesirable will happen... I promise! Really all it means (if you have a blogspot blog) is that your profile page will now show The Homeschooling Blogs as a blog you follow. You'll not receive emails or solicitations of any kind!

Have a great week my friends! Study and play hard and enjoy every precious moment with those super-sweet kiddos!

Finding Motivation & Direction to Succeed in Homeschooling and Career

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Allison Maslan, author of "Blast Off!". All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever wondered if a professional career coach could help you achieve your dreams in and out of your homeschooling career? I have. So many of us are trying to build a home-based business while juggling the homeschooling bit, but even those of us who aren't that ambitious, could likely use a heaping helping of professional assessment, guidance, and perhaps a pep talk or two... something to keep us on the straight and narrow, focused, and on fire for what we're doing for our ourselves and our families.

Attaining your goals in and out of your homeschool career are within reach and despite the heaviness you might feel when you think about the "big picture" that is "your dream. The weight of that big picture we dream of painting can sometimes do us in before we even pick up our paint brush.

I was just reading about a new book titled, Blast Off! , written by Allison Maslan, a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, the President of Blast Off Life and career coaching, and a licensed holistic health care practitioner.... among other things! Her wrap sheet for success is pretty impressive and to top it all off she's written a book to help you achieve your own success story! I love that!

Her book titled "Blast Off!" can be purchased for $24 starting January 19th in bookstores such as Barnes and Noble and Boarders, and for even less if purchased on Amazon.com... which by the way is always my first choice! lol

Knowing this book is available on Amazon means I'm going to add it to my want list tonight. Do you have one of those? I build it up so that once I hit $25 I can get my order shipped for free... but I digress.

I've been home from work, trying to find my work-from-home fit for nearly 8 years now and although I have found ways to earn a few hundred dollars a month, I have yet to find my breakthrough. This despite having the desire and what I would call a lot of great ideas. Honestly though, I get overwhelmed at times, not really knowing what step to take next, or in what direction to take it. Mix that with a bit of occasional burnout and I find my wheels spinning. Been there?

Ok, so I haven't read this book yet, but I'm still going to recommend it! lol Let me know if you read it before I do! Visit the link above for Blast Off! and read up on the author and book, you'll no doubt want to add this book to your list of wants! Maybe even your list of needs? lol

Homeschooling Special Needs Children... Not Missing the Needs of Mom

I have a special needs child and have come to know scads of women raising kids with varying degrees of special needs... some of these women are homeschoolers.

Homeschooling is a huge commitment and undertaking even under the best of circumstances, but when you're raising a special needs child, you really owe it to yourself to have a support group in place. If you can't find one, start your own... I say this after finding much healing and strength in a local women's group in my area solely created for ministering to mom's of special needs kids.

To facilitate such a group takes 99% heart and only 1% organizational skill, and really no special abilities to speak of. Women really just need an outlet, a place to talk, sometimes to cry, to know they're not alone, and compare experiences, doctor recommendations, maybe even experiences with medications and procedures.

I believe in my heart that even if you don't know a thing about the specific challenges that another weary woman is dealing with, if you both have a challenge, you can understand the heartache. You can relate, and through that special time of bonding... in sharing and praying, you can start to rebuild who you used to be before you started down this unexpected journey that has become your new norm.

Friendships are a beautiful thing. If you'd like to find a group locally, do an Internet search, ask friends, call churches, maybe try MeetUp.com and see if there's a group close to home. If you come up empty, please do consider hosting a group of your own. Meet in a coffee house or the meeting room at a library. Find your spot and watch women flock to be part of your group.

I have yet to meet a mom with a special needs kid who wasn't immediately interested in knowing more about the group I belong to. The need is huge!

Here's a special link for homeschooling parents with special needs children:
Nathan.com
and the HSLDA's page for teaching children with disabilities:
HSLDA

Famous Homeschoolers... From Scientists to Athletes

Share this enlightening video with anyone (uh, like family for instance) who has ever asked you why you homeschool and whether or not you're concerned about how your precious kidlets will turn out!



Pretty cool wouldn't you say?

Plan a Romantic Getaway to Branson!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

Could you use a relaxing getaway just for two? Imagine if you will a weekend away from work, the kids (even though you love them dearly), housework, walking the dog, and preparing homeschooling lessons. Imagine completely ditching your responsibilities in return for relaxation and romance. Are you with me?

Now imagine that awesome weekend taking place in Branson... otherwise known as the entertainment center of the midwest. Imagine finding two glasses of sparkling wine or cider awaiting you in your room upon checking in at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing followed by a dinner at the hotel restaurant or one of  hundreds of fine dining establishments in the city of Branson. Alternatively, you may opt for dinner alone in your room. That would be my choice! Awake to a full  American breakfast served in your room (if desired), then take a stroll down the riverwalk, maybe catch the 4th annual ice sculpture competition (my first choice!) followed by a bit of shopping and some live entertainment.The hardest part of your night will be deciding what to see!

As you and your spouse relax, reconnect, and find yourselves again... you'll have access to an awesome hotel pool and fitness club where you can unwind and if you're so inclined  to grab a quick workout. You may also wish to hit the golf course. Did you know you'll be within driving distance of a championship golf course? Depending on what you have in mind for your weekend getaway, you may or may not want to share this info with your spouse! lol

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is located within the heart of Branson and it's endless possibilities for entertainment, shopping, and dining. No matter who you are or what you're interests might be, you'll love Branson. Imagine a city booming theme parks, nearly 50 live theaters, museums, countless shops and boutiques, and even cave tours. Picture yourself away from your everyday with choices that don't involve cleaning, cooking, or chasing kids.Imagine it!

Name Your Pet Name Guide.... Cool!

Naming a pet can be a lot of fun, but most of us don't do much research on names when it comes to cats, dogs... guinea pigs, etc. When I was a kid we came up with some unusual names, just to be funny... like Crybaby for a deaf white cat we had whose meow was outlandish. His brother kitty... also deaf, was named underwear because he was white with blue eyes. Looking back, I really can't explain that one. lol

So, maybe next time your kids take home a new pet, they can put a little bit of research into finding a suitable name. Make it a homework assignment of sorts and have them make a list of their top 5 name choices along with what each name actually means, and why they like it. Then as a family make the final decision on which name to go with.

Ok, so where do you find a name finder for animals? I just came across it on an Australian website titled: BowWowMeow. Be sure to bookmark this fun site and have a little fun with it in the future. You may not need it today, but eventually you may find it a great resource to share with your children!

One of the cool features on this website is the feature which allows you to find matching names for multiple pets. If you're looking for names that somehow fit together... this is a great spot to start. You'll also find a list of most popular names, names by personality, and so on.

Better boogie! Have two tired kids to get to bed and although we have no pets at our house (yet), I'm going to hop back over to BowWowMeow after their tucked snuggly in their beds, just for fun!

Pregnant? Science Says Eat Your Tuna!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of HealthyTuna.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wish I'd known about the research on the importance of fish in a pregnant woman's diet when I was carrying my babies. I knew just enough to think I shouldn't eat fish at all (whether it was high in mercury or not), which was completely wrong. Given that I LOVE fish, I'm ready to beat up the people who scared me away from all the fresh seafood (low in mercury) I could have been eating, especially tuna casserole! I have to wonder if my pregnancies might have been healthier had I consumed fish while pregnant. There's no way to go back and test that theory, but I had complications during the last trimester carrying both my kiddos and have had 5 miscarriages since. 

Turns out a healthy pregnancy and healthy post-pregnancy are within reach via diets rich in healthy tuna.  According to the FDA, tuna is low in mercury and can and should be encouraged in your pregnant diet. Always eat healthy... take your vitamins, being careful not to neglect any of the essential 4 food groups, but whatever you do, don't believe the myth about eating fish low in mercury during pregnancy.Science says it's not only harmless, but healthy and beneficial to both you and your child.... even after delivery. Breastfeeding moms should continue to eat low-mercury fish like tuna for both the health of their babies and their own recovering bodies.

Turns out fish during pregnancy may just build your babies brain power and keep you from experiencing depression before and after delivery. According to recent research, women consuming on average of 2 oz of  low-mercury fish daily during pregnancy had children who reached major developmental milestones at a rate of 25% more when tested at 6 months and 30% by 18 months! Talk about compelling data.

My favorite tuna casserole recipe is one I found online awhile back. It's a simple one to throw together and has become a family favorite:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked macoroni
• 1 can (6 oz) drained tuna
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded chedder
• 1 1/2 cups French fried onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, combine the macaroni, tuna, and soup. Mix well, and top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 25 minutes, or until bubbly. Sprinkle with fried onions, and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve hot.

I feel blessed to have been reminded about the health benefits of fish, whether pregnant or not. It gives me a great excuse to add tuna to my grocery list and more drive to actually make that trip to the market! lol

Become a Homeschool Product Tester!

I ran across something rather interesting over at Homeschool.com and KNEW you'd all be eager to jump on board. If becoming a product tester for homeschooling products sounds like something you might enjoy, keep reading...

Senior Editor and Co-Founder of Homeschool.com, Rebecca Kochenderfer was kind enough to share the following with me:

"We have over 8,500 Product Testers at Homeschool.com. Product Testers are a valued and highly respected segment of the Homeschool.com team. When we create new programs on Homeschool.com we run them by our Testers first. When I wrote “Homeschooling and Loving It” I sent free copies to our Testers to thank them for contributing to it. And it is our Testers who select the Top 100 Educational Websites each year and also our Top Ten product list for curricula. Our Testers also receive requests from outside companies to test their products. I have a great deal of affection for our Product Testers and I communicate with them personally. If your readers would enjoy becoming a part of the Homeschool.com Product Tester team, please refer them to: Homeschool.com."

I don't know exactly how many positions Homeschool.com might have available for product testers in your particular area or grade level, so my advice would be to jump on over to the site now and express your interest! Imagine getting to sample new material FREE while helping to shape the homeschooling product industry!

Happy Homeschooling!

The Homeschooling Toolbar!

I came across this just the other day and thought I'd download it, just to see what it was all about. The Homeschoolbar is a toolbar that keeps you connected to the homeschooling community, keeps you in the know concerning all the latests giveaways, homeschooling news, top sites and blogs, and even offers quick and easy access to your favorite radio stations, so you can listen while you work or school online!

Yesterday I had KLove playing as I did my work-from-home bit. It was so relaxing and right there in front of me. I didn't have to run across the room every time the phone rang to turn the music down. May not sound like a big deal, but seems most days I play music I get an extra dose or two of unexpected calls. lol

So far I really have enjoyed the toolbar. I'm still exploring it and have just requested that my homeschooling blog join their blog list. We'll see what happens there! Could be really cool!

Another feature the toolbar offers is my local temperature, so I can see it without visiting the weather section of my homepage. Another time saver... so it's 4 degrees at this very moment and my husband is outside shoveling more snow! What a crazy Winter we've had... anyway, I think you'll really enjoy the toolbar too!

Give it a try and let me know what you think. I haven't had any problems with it at all... only gains, so there is your word-of-mouth recommendation! Here's a button that will take you there so you can check it out for yourself:

Canadians Earn Free Coca-Cola® Medallions!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iCoke.ca. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you're a Candian who shops for Coca-Cola® beverages and you frequent Mac Convenient stores, the time is now to learn how you can earn free Olympic Collectible Medallions from Coca-Cola!

In celebration of their great soft drinks and the upcoming Olympic Games, your favorite bottled beverage manufacturer is offering a FREE Coca-Cola Collectible Medallion  for every 2  Coca-Cola® 591ml products purchased at Mac's stores! There are three medallions available for a limited time, through February 28, 2010 (January 6 - March 2, 2010 in Quebec and Atlantic provinces) or while supplies last.

Next time you're out stocking up on Coca-Cola® 591 ml sized bottled beverages, be sure to head to Mac, purchase at least 2 bottles and ask for your Coca-Cola® Collectible Medallion! Be sure you do it today so you don't miss out!

What is your favorite Coca-Cola® product? Anyone who knows me well knows I'm all about Diet Coke. I have a bottle open even now as I type this blog post. What's more, once upon a time I used to collect
Coca-Cola® branded collectibles. I guess you could say that I've been a fan of Coca-Cola® for the last couple of decades. :) Are you a fan too? Do you love the Winter Olympics? What are you waiting for? If you're in Canada, rush out to Mac now!

While you're out stocking up on your favorite Coca-Cola® drinks... I'll be chucking away on mine. Love that crisp clean taste, even in the dead of Winter. It's a great treat anytime of year, any type of weather. So, as the snow continues to fall on my warm little home, I'll be enjoying my inventory. I was very smart to stock up before the new storm started moving in! Pats self on back... lol. :)

Happy New Year from The Homeschooling Blog!

Here I am bright and early on this New Year's morning to wish you all a very HaPpY NeW yEaR!!

Well, actually it's the Tuesday evening before New Year's Day and I'm taking advantage of Blogger in Draft. lol I can create a post now and have it publish whenever I choose. Pretty cool.

Ok... back to my well wishes! May you have a great New Year filled with many realized dreams, sprinkled with a few unexpected blessings, and nothing but good health for you and your family. :)

Have a great year homeschooling and keep on coming back to see what yours truly has to say. Sometimes, that isn't much, but I do appreciate you stopping by! If you haven't subscribed to my blog yet... watcha waiting for? lol Oh, and if you're a blogger do me a huge favor and grab my html snippet and add it to your sidebar so people can find me!

Btw, did you know that January 1st is the birthday of Betsy Ross (1752), Paul Revere (1735, and J. Edgar Hoover (1895)? Just something fun to share with your kids! :)

God bless!
~Wendy