My son used a new rationale on me this week – he said I needed to buy him Call of Duty – World at War because it is based on World War II. Since we’re studying World War II right now, he felt it would help his education. Lol Good try!
1. What "technology" do you remember having around the house as a child?
2. What video games did you grow up playing? What was your favorite?
1. What "technology" do you remember having around the house as a child?
Technology. It’s amazing how far it has come, isn’t it? Growing up, I was always fascinated by buttons. I loved video games, computers, any gadget I could get my hands on. We didn’t have a computer when I was a kid. I remember we had Pong for our TV when I was in grade school, but we never got to play it. When we were older, we were one of the first to bypass Atari and go straight to Colecovision. Now that was WAY cool! I didn’t have to go over to my friend’s house and beg her to play her PacMan anymore. Woot!
I remember the family down the street getting a Comodore when I was in about fourth grade. Jealous! I finally bought my first machine – an Apple II+ with a monochrome monitor, a modem and almost non-existent hard drive for about $200. I had it going on! It was my first college computer. While still in college, we invested (and I mean invested since we were broke!) in a $300 forty-meg harddrive. Wow! Nowadays, there are inch by inch cards that one can buy for $8 that hold ten times that much. How times have changed!
It’s been a growth process ever since. I live and breathe on my computer as do my children. It’s hard to even fathom what their kids will be working on.
2. What video games did you grow up playing? What was your favorite?
I mentioned video games above. We had a Coleco growing up. Games like DigDug, Pitfall, Cabbage Patch Kids, Centipede, Space Invaders, Mario, yep, I played them all. I was a beast at Ms. PacMan at the arcade. Laid down the high score and never saw anyone beat it. Too funny!
Today – I can’t even figure out how to use the controller. One stick for looking around and one for walking – too complex for me. Besides, what’s the point? I liked linear games where there was an objective. My kids just run around shooting things. I get bored way too fast with that. Bring back the puzzle type games and I’m all in!
Link up - I'd love to see how technology impacted your life!
I love scarves and purses and shoes… Scarves are especially nice because they are so versatile and add such a pleasant accent to an outfit when worn as a belt, hair band, purse tie, or shoulder wrap.
The Reno Rose Pirose is an especially appealing scarf because of its design. The scarf is oblong-shaped with a hole offset from the middle allowing the scarf to be worn one of ten ways. How exciting to have one accessory with ten different applications!
I was picked to receive the medium Gwendolyn scarf. It comes with its own carrying pouch and directions for the ten different styles.
I immediately wished it were summer and I could wear it out. My daughter was home for the weekend and had her hair braided, so she became my model. Doesn't she look beautiful?
Here’s a video of the versatility in action:
If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your wardrobe, check out Reno Rose. I think you’ll find this multi-faceted scarf well worth the investment.
We love technology in our home. We have multiple computers, the boys love their video games, and the hubby is all about digitizing music. We don't always own the latest and the greatest, however. It's all about function not fad for us. That got me to thinking about technology "back in the day", hence this week's Memoir Monday Sneak Peek.
1. What "technology" do you remember having around the house as a child?
2. What video games did you grow up playing? What was your favorite?
Post your answers and then come on back Monday and link up. See you then!
Join me in a little Five Question Friday? When you are done visit the My Little Life blog to see what others had to say.
1. Can you drive a stick shift?
I used to be able to. Haven't in a long time. I learned to drive on a stick and even valet parked as a job in college. However, I believe my driving skills are declining through the years instead of improving. I'm scared of backing up - I hit things. I just don't get how I do it; I feel like I try really hard to be careful, but I do it. Sigh! I think the shift now would just be one more barrier to a successful backup.
2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
Hmmmm.... I like most foods. I would say American cheese and brussel sprouts. Yuck! American cheese is SO not cheese. It's this fake, waxy, nasty slab of oil. Sorry, can't do it. Won't eat it. As for brussel sprouts - I think many are with me on this one. That's one sprout that the rabbits can have a field day with because I don't want any part of them.
3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?
Yes, I have two nieces and a cousin-in-law that are girl scouts. The hubby likes the kind with coconut around them. My daugther likes the peanut butter tagalongs. Me, I like the lemon. However, at $4 a box, I may not be liking them at all come next year.
4. How do you pamper yourself?
I don't really. However, if pampering is needed, I would say a hot cup of chai and a good book. That's always nice. I love going out with my good friend, but I don't know if that counts as pampering. If I can talk the hubby into a massage, that's the ultimate. Ahhhh....
5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
I don't have a nickname really. Of course, I go by "Mom", "Mama", "Mommy" and "Ma". But, those aren't nicknames, their monikers or badges of honor.
Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight. How does one put family first without sacrificing herself in the process? I ponder this from time to time, and I’m not always good at doing it. However, over time, I have found a certain level of balance that allows me to feed my inner self along with taking care of the family.
Field Trips:
While this may not qualify as just "me" time, I love to see new things! While we always travel as a family, I think of going on field trips as a "me" thing as well. Learning about new places, cultures, time periods really excites me. While the boys might be downtrodden over our third lap through the museum, I'm eating it up!
Friendship: I think friendship is a key to keeping my perspective. Friends come and go. I once read about friendship being defined in stages. Some friends are for a moment (like when you talk to someone while your child is practicing a sport), some friends are for a season (those times in our lives when we have toddlers, teens, colleagues from work) and some friends are for a lifetime (those that just transcend life’s moments). I value all of them.
Having like-minded women around to talk to, mull things over with, and commiserate with feeds my soul. Of course, it’s the lifetime friends that mean the most, but a light conversation over tea while the kids are at play is always a great way to pass the time.
Work:
Yes, work! I love to teach. It’s what I was designed for, I think. Not that I’m amazing at it, it’s just that it is what suits me best. Whether it’s teaching online classes to college students or English classes at our local co-op, expressing my passion for education through teaching feels good. I know that’s why homeschooling has grabbed my heart, who better to share my passion with than my own children?
Writing:
This blog or Facebook or wherever I can write is for me. Putting thoughts down on the page is cathartic. I’m an English teacher, so it’s a good thing. I used to spend a lot of time grading and no time writing. That seemed very out of balance. A writing teacher that doesn’t write? Hmmm… I’ll never produce a novel – I’m neither creative nor patient enough for that, but a blog post can relieve stress in a heartbeat.
Reading:
It’s great to get lost in a good book. The mind gets to focus on the topic or story and get away from what’s for dinner, is the laundry done, what do the kids need to learn, where do we have to go to tomorrow? I’m not good at putting a book down, however. A weakness that can result in lost sleep.
Just a few ways to make time for me. Nothing revolutionary, but a way to keep my identity as I get the honor of helping my children develop theirs. I can honestly say I dread the day when the kids are grown and all I have time for is me. I’ll take these little snippets in amongst the joys of family and children any day!
What do you do to take care of yourself while raising a family?
Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Congratulations to Susan R.! You have won a copy of The Life Ready Woman.
(I use Random.org to select a winner.)
I'll be in touch to make sure you receive your copy. If you didn't win, I still strongly recommend this book. It's already made a difference in the way I view life and my priorities day to day.
This week's blog cruise asks: What do your children want to be when they grow up and what are you doing to help them pursue their field of interest?
This is an interesting question as my two children ages 11 and 13 are in the process of trying to figure that out. Clearly, there isn’t a lot of pressure at this point; however, with college expenses rising, it seems appropriate to have some direction before taking on the financial obligations of college.
Most of all is prayer. In addition to that…
For my older son, he’s very anxious about finding his passion. He’s a worrier like his mother. To help him, I have been encouraging him to try all kinds of new activities and see which ones he really enjoys. From there, we work on engaging in more of those activities or finding ways to incorporate some of them into our schooling. I have bought him the book – What Color is My Parachute? (teen version) and he is anxious to read it. We will also take a career survey in a year or two so that he gets a sense of where his talents align with prospective careers.
For my youngest, he loves anything and everything. “Mom, when I own a restaurant, I’m going to…” “Mom, when I have a farm, I’m going to …” “Mom, I’m designing this video game and…” For him, it will be channeling all that creativity into a path. He LOVES computers. If I had to guess right now, I’d say that’s a field he’ll end up in in some capacity. For now, we just encourage him to let that creativity flow. In a few years, we’ll start talking the logistics of his plans and how to get there. Then, he can decide which path appeals…
How are you doing it? Have you used a good career assessment you can recommend?
This week we're talking Travel and Grandparents. Come on by and take a look then post your own thoughts! I'd love to hear from you!
1. Do you recall any outstanding family trips or summer holidays you experienced as a child?
2. Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names? Any memories that you have.
1. Do you recall any outstanding family trips or summer holidays you experienced as a child?
My family didn’t travel much. Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to travel. We did have two memorable trips, however. One was to South Dakota. My father was in the National Guard and his group was training up in the Dakota’s. Mom rented a cabin there and we spent time visiting Mount Rushmore, The Fort (amazing buffalo burgers and pecan pie), and taking a jeep tour into the heart of a buffalo herd. It was a great time. I'm hoping to plan a similar trip with my brood that includes Yellowstone (a place we went on short trips when we lived in Wyoming.) I remember thinking it odd that we would go when Dad couldn’t really be with us. He joined us on the weekend, but most of it was just the three of us.
Our other big trip was to California. Since we drove, we went to all the cool spots! Lake Havasu City, Arizona to see the real London Bridge and eat the biggest, fluffiest pancakes I have ever seen; Sea World in San Diego; Disneyland in Anaheim; Circus Circus in Vegas (saw my first real prostitute! She was in a skin-tight leopard suit, asked why we were there, and scared the dickens outta me! Funny what a young mind banks…). It was a fun time, well, minus the prostitute. I remember just about melting through the desert. We were driving and the car was overheating, so no AC through the desert. Boy was that HOT!
I hope my kids have tons and tons of memories they could write about. Which reminds me – time to start planning that summer trip.
2. Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names? Any memories that you have.
I remember three of my grandparents. I never met my Mother’s father. My mother’s mother was quite the spitfire. She lived to her early eighties, and I loved her dearly. She died when I was fourteen. Grandma Leona always had a feisty Chihuahua as a pet and lived in a small two bedroom home near the park in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I remember she always slept on her big sectional couch instead of her bed in later years, and that she kept a gun under her pillow. Her house smelled like sweet, hot tea. I wish I could have spent time with her when I became an adult – she would have had great stories to share.
My father’s parents are still alive. They are my rock. I adore both of them. My grandfather in the last few years has been fighting dementia, and it’s winning. Bless his heart. He was always such a worker and family man. He exuded quiet strength and could be counted on for anything. I miss him even though he’s still here. He doesn't really know me anymore.
My grandmother is my hero. She’s a strong, opinionated matriarch who has been my heart all my adult life. We talk weekly (I should call more), she’s a devout Bronco’s fan and a consummate worrier. Yes, that’s where I get it from. She has macular degeneration so she can’t see well and has poor hearing, yet she takes care of grandpa. She always say she said “until death do us part”. They are living in a retirement community and have just moved to a smaller apartment there where they can get their meals close by and she has some help. She’s beside herself with the move. Hence, my need to get out there. I wish they’d live with me, but that would require a trip across country that neither of them can handle. (Scotty – I need that transporter online, now!) A part of me will pass when they do. When they get to heaven, I can only imagine how quickly he’ll be taking on tasks and she’ll be coordinating the effort.
I found an adornment for my mantle that I found to be rather eclectic, whimsical and the perfect coloration. It was on the mantle when the hubby got home. He, however, was not impressed. He says it looks like a teapot. So, I need an opinion.... Tre Chic or Teapot?
First, his initial view:
From this vantage point, the object on the right may or may not be a bird. I can see this. In fact, to me it looks a little like a cookie jar.
Moving in for a closer look...
Sure, it's obese - but, cute, right? And not a teapot.
Finally, up close and personal...
The colors are perfect; don't you think? It's a proud, statuesque (ok, fat), lovely bird...
So, I think I'm keeping it. What do you all think? Can it stay? Does it remind you of a teapot?
I just booked a flight to Colorado to see my family. I try to go at least twice a year, but this time it's been longer than typical. My grandmother has been asking me to come. She's really struggling taking care of my grandfather with dementia - they are 97 and 96. I'm on my way Grandma!
Anyway, that got me to thinking about travel and grandparents. Thus, this weeks Memoir Mondays below. Won't you join me?
1. Do you recall any outstanding family trips or summer holidays you experienced as a child?
2. Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names? Any memories that you have.
Blog your answers, then come on back and link up (yes, links are BACK!). Or, you can just leave your answers here. I love to hear about travel, and I'd love to know about your grandparents!
Redecorating continues, though I feel like we are almost to the point of completion. We’ve taken a brave, new step – plants.
Yes, you should immediately call PSS (Plant Social Services) and report me. I’m the original brown thumb. One would think plants wouldn’t be hard to keep alive; however, I haven’t found this to be true.
We picked the “hardy” indoor kind, so my great hope is that if I occasionally, um, I mean, weekly remember to water them, then they should continue to be beautiful and enhance our new living room/dining room.
Here’s visual verification that they do exist and their present condition. Should you become worried about their health and welfare, I will not be offended if you ask for the occasional pictorial evidence.
I think they look pretty good. I was on the fence about getting anything tropical since we don’t live in a tropical place. Yes, I am the one that cringes when people put palm trees in their front yards around here. I mean, really? Isn’t that how kudzu got here? Ok, maybe it’s not the same, I’m just saying!
Join me in a little Five Question Friday? When you are done visit the My Little Life blog to see what others had to say.
1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
It's entirely possible. If I'm lounging around and just wearing sweats with nothing better to do, then possibly. Or, if I change into an outfit in the evening for some reason, I might, just might, put it back on the next day. I'm sure I duplicated apparel as a college student - who didn't?
2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?
Hmmm... Large city... That's a tough question as I really dislike cities. I guess Denver because that is where my family lives. But, it'd be on the fringe, let me assure you.
3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?
Well, if we're flying, that means we're going somewhere cool. So - fly! It's faster. I hate long drives. It's more exciting. We go further. It usually means hotels and sight seeing and meals out are involved. Yep, flying.
4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
Ha! Paint everything that I can get a brush on. Scrub the floors, walls, bathrooms, etc. Clean the windows and the screens. New mulch around the house. Open the pool and get it crystal blue. Air the place out.
5. What is the best book you have ever read?
To Kill a Mocking Bird. Just read it with the boys. What a timeless story with great lessons for all to learn. They ate it up. I could read this book over, and over, and over.
Doesn’t everyone enjoy a small glass of orange juice with breakfast? Ok, not everyone, but many of us do. When Smile.ly asked me to post a blog about orange juice, I thought – why not? We like orange juice.
Our free carton was delicious. Sometimes orange juice can seem thick or overly sweet, but not this time. A little tart (which is how I like it) tasting just like it was fresh squeezed this morning. Yum!
So, you say, aren’t all orange juices the same? One would think, but, thanks to taking this opportunity, I learned otherwise.
Here’s what their web site has to share: “Most people think all orange juice is from Florida. But did you know that Tropicana Pure Premium and Simply Orange sometimes import their juice? Because Florida's Natural is owned by Florida growers, every drop of their orange juice comes only from homegrown Florida oranges. Never imported. And supporting American growers is always in style. For more information about Florida's Natural, visit http://bit.ly/b46i39.”
Given America’s economy, I like knowing that what I buy is supporting American growers and those that are employed by them.
Florida's Natural is hosting a sweepstakes to win a year's supply of Florida's Natural orange juice! To enter, all you have to do is go to the "Win Free Juice" tab at Facebook.com/FloridasNatural.
You can also go directly to the Florida’s Natural homepage http://www.floridasnatural.com/ where you will meet the growers, learn about the process from orchard to store and even play some fun games.
I’m glad I had this opportunity, I’ll have to see where my other products come from as well!
*** I was given a coupon for a free container of Florida’s Orange Juice by smile.ly in exchange for my honest review.
My husband and I are passionate about our kids having a strong technology foundation. We recognize that the world relies on technology and being ahead of the curve helps them to be successful.
If you are interested in incorporating technology into your homeschool and need help finding free resources, visit my featured post at MamaBuzz.
Souprint talks about becoming what we were made to be by God and not letting the world define us. I agree with this concept. It is easy to put up a facade (as he notes in the book) to placate those around us. Additionally, many of us feel too vulnerable revealing our true selves to others and choose a wall that keeps people at a distance. Batterson would argue that limits our ability to become what God intended.
Throughout the book, Mark uses the story of David to shine light on what God seeks from each of us. From choosing a stone over a sword to defeat a giant, to dancing al fresco in the streets when becoming king, to admitting his guilt with Bathsheba, we see how Daniel’s choices brought him closer to or drove him away from what God intended him to be.
The author makes several good points that I enjoyed pondering. However, overall, I wasn’t fully engaged when reading this book. It could be that the stories of David or Mark or others were so engaging that the lessons learned fell a little flat. When a book claims to help me discover my Divine Destiny, I want to walk away with answers. Maybe that is too much to ask. While authenticity is important, how does that help me to walk the walk God sent me here for? I think we all want to know, for sure, that we are walking in the right direction.
If you enjoy the stories of David and want to explore those deeper, I would add this book to your reading list. If you feel your life is inauthentic, then there are nuggets of wisdom throughout that can help you get back on track. If you want to discover your divine destiny, you might be better served on your knees.
*** I received this book free from Blogging for Books for my honest review.
Life Ready Woman Author: Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Lewis
About The Life Ready Woman:
Are you a ‘Doing it all’ or ‘Do what matters’ woman?
Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.
Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God's best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a LifeReady Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.
God has given every wonderfully unique woman different skills and abilities, different desires, and different temperaments -- and every woman around the planet and through the ages is certainly living in different circumstances. But no matter what a woman’s life looks like, the Bible says that God has an individual mission and plan that He’s carefully designed for each of us. And He wants us to find it. Starting January 2011, The Life Ready Woman and the Life Ready Woman Video Series will help every wonderfully unique woman to thrive as she identifies and courageously pursues God's unique design and callings for her. LifeReady Woman puts you on a roadmap to make decisions that will lead to relief, delight, and fulfillment instead of regret.
My Review:
I am one of those women who has grown up believing the mark of a good woman is the ability to do it all, and, hopefully, do it all well. I live the mantra that failure is not an option. Thus, "Thriving in a Do-It-All-World" seemed like just the ticket to finding that balance that allows me to accomplish everything without even getting my cape dirty.
That's not what this book is, however. It doesn't give you the magic keys to the Proverbs 31 kingdom. What it does do is talk straight about what we were made for, what our roles are at any given time and why we shouldn't buy into the myth that it ALL has to be done right now to do it right.
This book made me think, and think deeply. It made me reevaluate the worldview I had taken in and see things from the lense of how God intended me to live. If you're looking for a book rich in PC (political correctness), this is not that book. Unapologetically, Shaunti and Robert address the seasons of a woman's life and encourage her to embrace each of them with focus. The season of childrearing for instance. This one hit me hard as it is a season I've been in for a while, but am starting to see the end of the road with apprehension. Shaunti and Robert encourage a woman to embrace this season and not let it slip by chasing a career or falling into the trap of the do-it-all, miss-most-of-it mentality. Career season is addressed as well - there is time to dogedly pursue a fulfilling career after children are raised. Not that everyone can stay at home, but we can all choose to put family first for the parenting season.
With a she-said, he-said (in agreement!) approach, this team also addresses dating and marriage. If you're single, you learn to be open to love while waiting and praying for the right one to come along. If you're married, you read about what it means to be a strong helpmate to your husband empowering him while strengthening your marriage. I know, some of your are cringing. I'm a strong woman - don't get me wrong. There isn't a passive bone in my body. That's not what they are saying. They are saying that God made us man and woman with strengths and weaknesses that enhance one another when used for the good of the marriage and not just the individual.
I highly recommend this book. It's not a quick read as you'll want to ponder each chapter and see how it applies to your life. It's a book that looks at what we were made to be as women of God, and not what we're told we should be by society. I'll be mentally chewing on this book for a long time to come.
Stop by here to see what other reviewers have to say.
Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.
About MomLife Today:
At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.
Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!
We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? www.momlifetoday.com
In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!
Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!
Weekend To Remember Get-Aways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:
2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)
Life Ready Woman Author: Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Lewis
I'm so excited to be giving this book away to one of my readers! I was blessed by this book. If you've read my review, you know that it's not a book about the worldly role of women, but a book that gets straight to the heart of God's plan for you as a woman.
I read lots of Christian non-fiction. This book spoke to me, deeply. I realized some of the ideals I have been chasing are based on a worldy view of my role as a wife, mother, and career woman and not what God has planned for me.
As part of the LitFuse blog tour, I get the blessing of providing one of you with a copy of this book. Honestly, I'll love to give a copy to all of my female friends.
To win this copy, do the following:
1. Leave a comment on my blog
2. Leave a comment on Facebook
3. Blog about this giveaway (leave me a link in the comments)
4. Follow my blog on GFC then leave a comment or let me know you already do
You can have up to four entries.
The winner will be picked at random on February 22nd.
The Truth about Dating, Love and Just Being Friends Author: Chad Eastham
The Truth About Dating, Love & Just Being Friends was a review opportunity I was excited to take. I have two older children ages 18 and 20, and then I have two younger boys ages 13 and 11. My younger boys love to read. As they are on the cusp of dating, any and all materials that I can have confidence in are welcome.
The book is written in a conversational tone aimed at the teenage set. Graphics help make the text engaging while highlighting the important concepts. There are even quizzes to help the reader see how the information is relevant to him/her.
I thought it would be pertinent to get my teen son’s opinion on the book. As a mom, I found it very informative and written at a level young teens can enjoy. Here’s what he had to say:
One of the things I disliked about this book is how some of the things he says can be misleading. The author may promise an answer to a question in chapter six, but the answer he gives the reader several chapters later, is often brief or very vague. The author may tell you that “in order for this to happen, you need to do that” but the author never explains how to do “that,” suggesting that you should go pickup another book, and figure out how.
One of the things I liked about this book was the random facts the author adds in at the beginning of every chapter. I like how he relates the fact to what he is discussing in the chapter. Another thing I liked was how he would put his main points of each chapter on a separate line, away from the text. This makes skimming each chapter relatively easy.
I would recommend this book to anyone who actually has questions about anything that the book emphasizes like dating. I would not recommend the book to anyone who does not have specific questions they think the book can answer. I do not think anyone should read this book for entertainment.
*** I received a copy of this book free from BookSneeze for my honest review.
Our co-op is beginning the process of deciding who will be back, what will be taught, who will be teaching what, etc. That puts me in the mindset of getting ready for next year as well. We're starting high school - yikes! I'm a little nervous. So, that got me to thinking about teachers - here are the questions for this week: 1. Do you remember the name of the teacher who had the biggest impact on you? Who was it? Tell something about that person and that time in your life.
2. Do you remember having a teacher that had a negative impact on you? If so, what happened? How did you get past it?
1. Do you remember the name of the teacher who had the biggest impact on you? Who was it? Tell something about that person and that time in your life.
The teacher who had the biggest impact on me was my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Genevieve Forbes. She was amazing. I had moved to Ft. Collins from Laramie and was grossly under-prepared for fifth grade. The private school I went to in Wyoming has used a self-learn method that really didn't work. I didn't have any clue how to write in cursive, do fractions, or understand content at the level they were at. She worked with me diligently (along with my parents) to get me up to speed. She could easily have rolled her eyes and let me flouder, but she didn't. It made all the difference for me!
2. Do you remember having a teacher that had a negative impact on you? If so, what happened? How did you get past it?
I had a professor in grad school my first time around that had a negative impact. I was young with two children trying to perform my duties as a TA and take courses. He came up to me one day and asked how I expected to pass grad school while parenting two children. It was apparent, in his mind, I was doomed to fail. I left that school and didn't go back to grad school until I had four children and a job. Straight A's - take that! :-)
My son had a teacher that told him he could "ruin the best of days". He's never forgotten that. Teacher's just don't realize how a single comment can impact a person for life.
Post your answers to these questions on your bog and then come on back and post your link in the comments. (Linky tools aren't free anymore, and I don't have them in the budget right now.) I'd love to hear about the teachers that have impacted your life!
Friday already! Time does fly sometimes... I don't know about you, but I'm spoiled and want winter to go away. Will be getting my wish some next week as we're supposed to be in the 60's. Woot!
Here is the Memoir Mondays sneak peek:
1. Do you remember the name of the teacher who had the biggest impact on you? Who was it? Tell something about that person and that time in your life.
2. Do you remember having a teacher that had a negative impact on you? If so, what happened? How did you get past it?
Post your answers on Monday and then come on back and post your link in the comments. (Linky tools aren't free anymore, and I don't have them in the budget right now.)
Join me in a little Five Question Friday? When you are done visit the My Little Life blog to see what others had to say.
1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?
I think What Not to Wear – who doesn’t want a fabulous makeover and $5000 to spend in NY? I assume that’s still how it’s done – haven’t seen the show in forever.
Of course, I’d drive the hosts crazy. Unless there are clearance racks at Bloomindale’s, there’s no way I’m wasting five grand on full price clothes! Geesh! I’d teach them a thing or two about bargain shopping. :-)
2. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes, two. One is on my front hip, and the other is on my back hip. Sometimes one might get a glimpse of the back hip, but nobody really sees the front. The back hip is a dogwood flower. Four petals for my four children and six leaves for my total family. The dogwood flower represents Christianity as it is shaped like a cross with a crown in the center. The spiked tips represent the crown of thorns. The plant grows little red berries that are drops of blood. Christ was said to be nailed to a dogwood tree.
3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up?
Yes. For the most part. Partially because my memory is old. I led a pretty tame youth. I was a bit of a crazy driver – we’ve talked about that. I made some mistakes – they are aware of those too. Hard to know if it’s the right thing to do, telling them mistakes. You hope they will learn from them, but often they just get thrown in your face by teenagers at inopportune moments.
4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up?
Totally depends on how close I am to it. No sense risking an accident to save a few minutes.
As you can see by the pics I posted yesterday, the new room is coming together. However, this hasn’t been without incident.
It drives the hubby crazy that I am accident prone. I was raised with the “if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger” mantra. So, if I ain’t dead and the goal was accomplished, it must have been worth it.
Perhaps you don’t agree?
The first incident happened while painting the crown molding in the kitchen. I stepped from on top of the island to the countertop across from it with a small paint can in my hand. Losing my balance, ever so slightly, I grabbed some molding on the top of the cabinets to steady myself. It gave way. I fell. My son, luckily, was there to change my trajectory making me hit my back against the island instead of my head on the island. God is good! Paint went everywhere. Including all over my son. Urgh!
The second incident came while trying to assemble my new coffee table. For some reason, they had stuffed styrofoam in one of the drawers making it impossible to open. I used a sharp implement.. well… kitchen knife, to begin cutting it away and getting the drawer open. It was more effective than I thought, and I ended up slicing my finger as well. Fortunately, we were able to find the super glue, and, once my finger stopped bleeding, effect a repair.
Don’t know about super glue? You should! It’s essentially what they use in the hospitals to repair wounds. The nice thing is, you have it in your cupboards and it transforms a three hour doctor’s visit into a five second repair. Perfect! I really does work – take my word on that. Remember, I’m accident prone!
So, some work is still to be done. I’m under orders not to work on anything without the hubby around. We’ll see… :-) I ain’t dead yet…
Well, redecorating took an interesting turn. I was climbing on my kitchen cupboards to paint the crown molding. I grabbed a section of the cabinet for stability that wasn't stable and took quite a fall. Luckily my son was there to keep me from hitting my head on the island. Could have been bad, but God is good and had him there. No real damage except for a hurt big toe. Can't quite figure out where that came in. lol
Here are the Memoir Mondays questions:
1. What did your room look like when you were growing up?
2. Did your family move when you were a child? If so, what do you remember most about it?
1. What did your room look like when you were growing up?
When I was young, two to eight, we lived in a small, two-bedroom home in Wyoming. I remember the room had red carpet. Yuck! Who ever thought red carpet was a good idea? It was small and my sister and I eventually shared a double bed in that room. In fact, we shared a bed until I was about thirteen. That's all I can really remember about that one.
At thirteen, we moved to a home that looked like a big rectangle on the outside. My sister and I each had our own rooms, and my parents bought us canopy beds to sleep in. Quite the princesses, we were. There was a matching dresser, nightstand and desk/hutch that went with the set. I remember a lamp that was blue with flowers for a bottom finial that hung by the bed. We eventually sold that bed and got us each brass beds. Those were nice as well.
I don't have any of the pieces any more, but my sister has some of hers in her daughter's room to this day.
2. Did your family move when you were a child? If so, what do you remember most about it?
We moved a lot when I was a kid. Well, maybe not a lot, but quite a bit. From birth to when I moved out at seventeen, we had moved seven times. Four of those moves are in the same town, however. I lived in Ft. Collins, Laramie, Ft. Collins, Pueblo, and Ft. Collins. See a pattern? :-)
I remember a lot of packing and looking for places to rent or buy depending on the move. I do remember one move where my sister and I rode the three hours from Pueblo to Ft. Collins lying on top of furniture on the back of a pickup truck. Crazy, huh?
I moved a lot after that as well. Once we settled down in NC, though, my family has been in the same house for the last eleven years. Amazing! I never thought I'd stay in one place that long.
How about you?
Post your answers to the Memoir Monday questions and then come on back. Post a comment with your link to your blog.
Vocabulary is a very important part of any middle and high school curriculum. While some would say you can leave vocabulary out because they get it through literature, I would disagree. They do learn through literature, but understanding the fundamental definitions of a word are not always gleaned through context clues. Plus, some words have different meanings depending on the context they are in.
That being said, if your child is going to go to college now or in the future, he/she will need a strong vocabulary: first, for the SAT, and second, for college level writing. If he/she is not going to college, to be articulate in any work situation or mission situation, a strong vocabulary is necessary.
VocabAhead is one program that can be used to help your child learn a broad vocabulary. Sure, there are a lot of books and programs out there, but one thing that stood out for me with VocabAhead was their added functionality on their web site.
First, however, let’s look at the book. Ten words are taught at a time with a cartoon representation for visual recollection, a part of speech and definition, sentences, synonyms and antonyms. Each grouping of ten words is followed by a review test.
When you receive the book, (mine was SAT Vocabulary), you also receive a link to get free videos for each word and downloadable MP3S. We did not use the MP3S as we don’t have a player, but did use the videos.
I was amazed at the site! All the words are accessible for free along with videos that coincide with the cartoons used for each word to help the student learn. Parents can create their own lists, or use the ones provided. Additionally, there are online flashcards and quizzes for the student to use to help him/her learn the words.
My son begins his high school journey next year. Our plan is to incorporate study for the SAT through his first three years of high school so that he will be fully prepared to take the test with confidence and get high scores. I will be holding onto this book and have bookmarked the web site to ensure this will be part of his regimen.
*** I received this book free of charge as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew for my honest opinion.
My son used a new rationale on me this week – he said I needed to buy him Call of Duty – World at War because it is based on World War II. Since we’re studying World War II right now, he felt it would help his education. Lol Good try!
, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!
