Tiny Prints Giveaway!

     With my son's ninth birthday now behind us, all of my kids' baby showers seem like distant memories. They are wonderful memories, though. My first daughter was due near labor day, and a sweet friend added a bit of humor to her party with a cake that said "Happy Labor Day!" We shared picture announcements with friends and family members too far to see each of our sweet blessings. A copy of those cards is now in each of their baby books. Tiny Prints is offering my blog readers a chance to win a set of their Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Announcements.

     Have you looked at the Unique Baby Shower Invitations from Tiny Prints or their Modern Birth Announcements? There are so many more options available than when I searched for just the right card for my firstborn 15 years ago. Celebrate with designs as special as your baby. They also offer matching address labels, thank you cards & gift tags. Their beautiful trend-forward designs even include Vera Bradley Baby Shower Invitations!

     Enter the giveaway below for $50 off total order at Tiny Prints. (one winner) and join in the  #TinyPrintsBaby Pinning Party™ with @ResourcefulMom 

Disclaimer: I have been compensated with product in exchange for posting this information. Affiliate links are included.

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One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science ~ A Schoolhouse Crew Review

     Using what you know to problem solve, One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science is an engaging book. Science Naturally shared this award winning book for this review. 

     Do you play games in the car? We have progressed from playing I Spy to listening to audio books and playing problem solving games. While I am driving, the kids take turns reading. One Minute Mysteries is just right for short trips because each little mystery is only two pages-- a one page story followed by a one page answer. Each mystery included pictures. Though I rarely saw those images, the kids did pass the book around so they could all see. Since the answer was on a different page, even the child reading got to join in the guessing as they tried to rationalize the clues. Topics ranged from whale watching, to geysers, to walking the dog, and much more. The stories were told from a kid's point of view.

     My son loves to read aloud, and the stories were appropriate for his reading level. Though written for kids from 8-12, it was still interesting to his older sisters and even me and their Grandmommie. It was fun to see who would correctly figure out the answers, and "the winner" kept changing. Some my son (and not all of the rest of us) grasped just by listening closely to the details provided. Others required knowledge not shared on the page, and one or two stumped all of us. Critical thinking was encouraged with this book, and the well thought out answers that the kids came up with sometimes surprised me.

     One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science by Eric and Natalie Yoder is available for $9.95. Science Naturally has a special offer: use the code 3SPEC to purchase any 3 books for $19.95 plus shipping ($2.95.) See what others on the crew shared about this book.  

High School Prep Genius ~ A Schoolhouse Crew Review

    When I first read about this book from College Prep Genius, I thought that the High School Prep Genius book would be useful for my oldest daughter who is in 9th grade this year. After reading more and more, I decided to use it for my 7th grade daughter as well. Though not exclusively written about homeschooling(some areas specifically cover school experiences,) there are also recommendations for homeschooling parents. 

    High School Prep Genius: An Academic Guide To Excellence is a 440 page resource of advice for helping our children plan for their futures.  Eighteen chapters cover everything from the expected-- Getting Organized, High School Mechanics, and College Essentials to the unexpected-- "Own Your Beliefs." Five appendixes cover additional topics. 

From the website:

Book Features:

¬ College & Career Notebook

¬ 9th-12th Grade Student Timelines

¬ Advanced Study Tips

¬ 7th Grade Talent Searches

¬ Scholarship Ideas

¬ Key Admissions Terminology

¬ Extracurricular Activity Advice

¬ Healthy Lifestyle Skills

¬ Keys to Finding a Mentor

¬ Friend and Relationship Help

¬ Essay Writing Techniques

¬ College Admissions Guide

¬ Go to College for Free

     My 9th grader and I both read the book and took notes. One of the highlights that stood out to her was the following quote:

"The purpose of education is not merely to make good grades. It is to gain knowledge about the world and practical applications of such knowledge."

     We are not standard with our lessons and grading as typical schools are. Though taught, highlighting the "big four" that we recently heard was what all the nearby colleges want to see on transcripts is not our main goal. I especially appreciated the sections like "Going Beyond the Basics" which discussed tailoring education to your student. 

     In addition to the typical course recommendations, the authors suggest that our students also attain the important skills of self-directed learning, critical thinking, and self-discipline. Multiple charts are included to help guide their plans and assist in record keeping. Beyond just high school, resources also help chart college admissions and scholarship applications. 

     One of the recommendations was to create a college and career notebook. Both of my girls started this along with the beginning of the mapped out high school plan. They included sections in their notebook (3 ring binder) to continue to add throughout their high school years. 

     They each added lined paper, labeled dividers, and page protectors to their binders. After creating each section, the first thing they added to one of the page protectors was their certificates from the All State Chamber Orchestra and just this week from their music teachers. I am not a naturally organized person, so I appreciate this plan that can continue to grow with them and help with our record keeping. 

     High School Prep Genius is available for $29.95. See what others on the crew shared about this and about College Prep Genius. 

Scripture & A Snapshot

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Matthew 6:20


     Thank you for joining a glimpse of our life for Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a comment with a verse that God has placed on your heart this week, or leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a snapshot. Please visit some of the other links, too.

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FREE CRAFTSY CLASS!

Click to link to the Craftsy Free Class Day page.

Disclaimer: affiliate links embedded. If 20 new customers register through my link I will receive a small bonus.
   
 

Seven Layer Salad

     At least once a year, usually around Mother's Day, we make one or two big seven layer salads. They are always delicious. My girls and I make two because otherwise there are a lot of leftover ingredients. Since they keep well in the fridge when made a day ahead, I usually make one to take somewhere and one to enjoy at home. The order of the layers can be changed. Sometimes, as pictured above, we dice the eggs and include them in a layer. Other times, as pictured below, we slice the eggs and place them with the sliced edge facing the edge of the bowl in the lettuce layer.

Ingrredients:

• finely chopped or shredded iceberg lettuce
• chopped purple onion
• sliced or chopped boiled eggs
• fresh or frozen green peas
• shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sugar

     Fill a pretty serving dish 3/4 full of lettuce. It compresses, so use more than you think you need. I use the bowl pictured and a straight edged trifle bowl.

     Layer each of the remaining ingredients except the mayonnaise and sugar (which make the topping) in any order that you choose.

     Be generous with the cheese! I prefer to purchase shredded cheese for this as it is much prettier than when we grate it ourselves.

     Several family members don't like peas, so this layer (sort of) just covered half of the salad. These can be fresh or frozen, but the canned ones are too soft.

     This is another shortcut. Of course you can cook bacon if you prefer, but for convenience it is easy  to sprinkle this layer straight from the bag of pre-cooked bacon pieces. Be generous with this layer!

     Mix the mayonnaise with the sugar. A sugar substitute can replace the sugar, but it significantly decreases the total volume of the dressing. My husband prefers Miracle Whip, but the topping isn't white if you make that substitution. Gently cover the top layer, carefully sealing the edges. This salad can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated if you prepare it a day ahead.

     Share and enjoy!

Virtual Refrigerator

     The girls made me this bouquet of waxed flowers with butterflies.

     Join the Virtual Refrigerator art linky. Share your posts about art or including your children's art projects.

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Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk!

Lap it up...

National Bible Bee ~ Registration Time!

Family registration is now open! We loved being a part of this last summer and signed up again this year. Are you considering joining the National Bible Bee this year? Sign up by the end of May to join in, and by May 20th to insure your package is received by the starting day- June 1st.

"Encouraging families to be intimately involved with the Word of God is at the heart of everything we do at the Shelby Kennedy Foundation."

Disclaimer: The National Bible Bee has shared a family enrollment and we are sharing about our experiences with it this summer.