Just the Facts: Why I Love Writing for Factoidz.com

This year marks my third year of writing online. It all started when I was scooped up as a homeschooling expert to cover local stories. And then, through it all, I also discovered Factoidz.com.

At Factoidz.com, I was able to write on any topic I felt comfortable. The community of writers and editors were very inviting and welcoming.

I have written about a number of topics ranging from my experience with a Neti Pot to facts about Japan to health concerns in children (like does my child have diabetes?) to facts about Japan to what your child needs to know before babysitting. I have discovered that I really like writing about holidays (like Ground Hogs Day) and how they help kids learn.

I have now been ranked an expert #1 in parenting and family time, #2 on childhood obesity, and #3 in child safety.


If you are interested in joining a team of warm, welcoming writers - It's very easy to apply. Click here and go through the process of applying. Oh, and if you wouldn't mind, please use my link so you can be my affiliate. If it doesn't ask - My number is: 4S3744.

When I Look In The Mirror - My Mother Looks Back!

Lately I've been noticing that when I look in the mirror, the reflection that looks back resembles more of my mom than the face I'm used to seeing. This is probably a natural part of aging, or perhaps my coming into a maturity I did not have before. I have noticed this especially around my eyes.

I realize this is probably a natural progression to aging - That you begin to look more like images you have of your parent(s). (Not that they were truly as old as we remember them to be).

When I was younger, there were plenty of years spent where I would have resisted the notion that I was anything like my mom. However, in recent years, I have come to enjoy it.

These eyes that belong to my mom share a lot of love in my life. Though, there were moments when her eyes shed a disapproving look upon me - She often reminds me that I once told her she didn't yell at me with her voice, but rather, with her eyes. What I meant was that the loving look that was naturally befitting to her face would change when she showed disapproval. I did not like this, because I wanted her approval.

There is something special about a person's eyes. The Bible says that the eyes are a window to our soul. I think this is true.

My youngest daughter will turn my face toward her with her little hands. When I am crabby, she wants to make sure I am not angry at her. My response to her has always been, "Look into my eyes. Do you see love there?" So, now when she turns my head toward hers, she will announce: "Mommy, I see love in your eyes."

My mother's eyes display her emotions. And, now I see it in my eyes as well. Though once rebelling against the notion, this is something I am now finding to actually enjoy.

My mother's eyes have shined on me a lot of love.

They have seen me through many middle-of-the-night scares when I would nearly stop breathing because of severe tonsilitis and allergies.

They have guided me through youthful foolishness.

Her eyes cried in prayers for my protection for years.

They have let me look into them to see a portion of who she is

It was a magical moment when her eyes and my eyes gazed upon what would be my wedding dress.
Both of us knew, by one single look, that this dress was the one as tears gushed out of our eyes at the exact same moment.

They had the joy of being one of the first to see each of my children after they were born.

They carefully surveyed cross-stitch patterns to make wonderful pieces of art.

Several years ago, we almost lost my mom. As she woke up from surgery, she had trouble focusing on the objects that surrounded her. We would later discover that the oxygen level used caused damage to her eyes, so she would have blind spots. But, I will never forget her looking at me that day and describing how she saw me. I was a figure that was outlined by my long hair streaming down my face.

As I gazed at her, all I wanted was for my mom to keep on living to see me through more of my, and my children's lives.
She did.

And, now I look into the mirror and see the shape and contour of the eyes that seem to belong on my mother. But, they are now mine.

I will proudly wear my eyes and hope that my eyes will encourage and guide those who look into them..... Like my mother's eyes did for me.

I'm One Of The Top 100 Homeschooling Blogs - Well Almost!

To my amazement, and complete delight, I logged onto Facebook today to see another blogger posting that she had surprisingly made the list of Top 100 Homeschooling Blogs. Just for the fun of it, I clicked on the link. OK, I'll admit it - I was deep down inside hoping I would be surprised too. Well, guess what? I was!

Only, I didn't quite make the top 100. But, I was mentioned as "Other Great homeschooling blogs to check out!" Not bad. I'll take that. So, I guess that puts me at the top 102 homeschool blogs? Either way, I'm on the same page as the others!

If you want to take a look, it is listed on the Teacher Certification (Top Teaching) Blog!

Cool Colorful Lava Lamp Science Experiment

I ran across this craft idea from Family Fun today as I was researching President's Day information.  How I ended up on lava lamps, when I started out with Presidents is only a series of steps I could perform.  Nonetheless, here it is.

According to their video (which follows), all you need is a jar (or more than one if you're making several colors), water, oil, salt (they state that it needs to be Kosher - I'm not sure why, I guess that's part of the science of it all. Or perhaps, you can log some religious studies hours while you're at it) and food coloring.

Follow the video, and then figure out the science behind the project:



And, you can learn more about the science of how lava lamps work, here - more on lava lamps at How Stuff Works.

Just a Picture to Brighten your Day

As I sit here and type, I realize my early morning quiet time is almost ready to come to an abrupt halt.  I hear someone is awake besides me.  Though I am in the process of many projects and hoping at least one of them takes off to propel my family out of debt this year, my money-making portion of my day is soon to be put on hold.  When the children come out of their rooms, it's time to put on my mommy and teacher hat and put down the writing pen.

So, I thought you might enjoy just a happy little picture to brighten your day:

This is how I was greeted on New Year's Day.  The kids decided to make their famous "big breakfast".  My 5 year old donned her apron and hat and went to town serving us.  She loves to help, and it made me smile.

As I look at the photo, I can't help but think of her as a server announcing:  "Welcome to 2012, I will be your server!"

Solve your Express Script worries with Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Where do you go to get your prescriptions filled?  If you have trusted Walgreens pharmacists and enjoyed their knowledgeable pharmacists along with their convenient 24-hour drive-through services, you’ll want to listen up!  This could change the way you get your prescriptions filled.

Check the back of your insurance prescription card.  Do you see the words: “Express Script” listed?  If so, you are affected.

Are you a member of the military and receive your prescriptions through Tricare?  You are affected.

Here’s how the relationship between Walgreens and Express Script works:

Express Script steps in as a “middleman” between pharmacies and employers when it comes time to fill a prescription.  Recently, Express Script has pulled the rug out from underneath their Walgreens pharmacy providers.  These changes have allowed Express Script to continue to profit at a rate more than two times the average – and, faster than the provider of this service, causing an in-balance to this health care system.  Walgreens has been undergoing contract negotiation talks to remedy this problem, but have faced an unwilling-to-budge Express Script.

The result is that Walgreens customers who are part of the Express Script system are forced to go out of their way to get their prescriptions filled without any savings to them.

Here’s the brief history:

Walgreens has been unsuccessfully negotiating with Express Script for the past year to come up with a new contract that would allow them to continue as a member of its pharmacy provider network.

As of January 1, 2012; Walgreens nationwide (and Duane Reade pharmacies in New York City area) is no longer a part of Express Script’s pharmacy provider network.

What has Walgreens done for their customers?

Walgreens has made every effort to keep your prices low without prescription service interruption.

Without Walgreens’ services, prices may go up (because Walgreens offers less expensive generic drug refills) and the way you receive your 3-month supply of medication would become a hassle (receiving three 30-day refills as opposed to one bulk 90-day supply). 

During contract negotiations, Walgreens offered to hold rates for military members of Tricare and other customers.  This was not met with a positive reaction from Express Script who insists on being able to define terms such as what drugs constitute a brand or generic drug.  Express Script also wanted to slash Walgreens reimbursement rates to levels far below the industry average.

Walgreens wants to ease your burden.  What is Walgreens offering you as a solution to this Express Script's mess?

Walgreens is offering a special savings plan to help minimize your disruption in receiving the trusted services you are accustomed to:

For the month of January, Walgreens is offering an annual membership for its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club – Individuals can join for $5 and a family for $10 (this is quite a savings off the normal $20 individual and $35 family rate).  The family membership includes everyone in your immediate family including a spouse, and dependents 22 years of age and younger, including pets.

This covers:

• More than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications (more than 400 generics are available) for a three-month supply at less than $1 a week.
• Savings on flu shots
• Pet prescriptions
• Nebulizers
• Diabetic supplies
• Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens and Nice! Brand products and photofinishing services.

Prescription Savings Club membership is risk free – If you don’t save more than the cost of your membership during the first year, you’ll be refunded the difference.

Stay informed of changes in your prescription coverage by following Walgreens on Facebook and Walgreens on Twitter.

I Did It! I Published An E-Book on Amazon Kindle

Whew!  I did it!  I actually published my first e-book on Amazon through their KDP Amazon program.  It's no small feat to attempt to write a book (albeit more of a pocket guide) while attempting to keep up with other online writing, eBay selling, helping with my hubby's performances and tending to homeschooling and caring for 3 amazing children.  But, I did it!

I was given advice that How-To books about a subject a person has experience in sell the best.  So, I went to town writing about my experience with eBay.  I have tons of experience over the past 10 years.  Not only has eBay changed several times over in their approach and layout, but I have changed as I learned with each and every encounter I had.

I met some amazing people through eBay.  I have also encountered some grumps and those who gave me the creeps.  Overall, it has been a learning experience that has brought in some money to pay down debt.  It has also been a nice way to hand off clothing and toys which the kids have outgrown.  And, it has been a money-saving place to find curriculum (though one of eBay's changes over the years has made selling teacher's guides to be not one of the benefits).

I don't want to turn a blog post into a sales pitch, so this is purely optional.  But, if you are curious about my e-book, you can download it for free (today only) here!

If you do, I hope you like it because something happened to me that I didn't expect.  In all the excitement of publishing the book and getting it out there for readers to have access to it, once it was done I had what I call is writer's remorse.  This is the overwhelming feeling of "ugh!  What have I done?  What if someone buys it, and they absolutely hate it?"  It's a dreadful feeling.

So, I hope you enjoy it.  However at the free download, how can you go wrong - right?

Falling Behind Resolutions So Soon? 2012 Is Already Flying By

Where did the last 3 years go?  My youngest is supposed to still be in diapers toddling around.  Who stole these days from me?  I woke up this morning to January 10.  January 10?  It has already been 10 days since the start of 2012.  My husband hurriedly got out of bed and announced he was going to get his hair cut, followed by, "It's been 5 weeks since I last had it cut."  What?  Seems like he was just walking out the door prior to Christmas with his last cut.  Where have these days gone?

My girls started back to school yesterday (at their choosing).  My son will start back today.  Of course, for a homeschooling mom, starting back to school doesn't mean a break.  It means back to work....  To work at teaching.

So 10 days ago, I set some goals.  And, I've already fallen behind...  This is why I don't make the New  Year resolutions.  To me, a promise is a serious matter.  So, I set goals that I hope to attain but do not promise to do so.

Among these goals were a closer spiritual walk.  Sadly to say, this came as a prompted goal when I saw a friend post a similar desire on her Facebook status.  I thought -  *gulp* - why did that one not occur to me?  So, I included it.  Truly, I want a closer spiritual walk with my Lord Jesus.  And, sadly I've become a bit numb in recent years due to church politics, people who call themselves Christians letting me down, and whatnot.  So, I add it to my goals for 2012.  Put the pain aside, and slip into the arms of quiet time with my Savior.  So far, this has included an effort to get back into reading the Word (Bible).

Another goal was to blog more.  Honestly, I want to blog every weekday morning.  OK, so I've blogged - what?  2 days this new year?  I don't even know what the count is.  But, I do know it's lacking far behind my goal.

I have managed to spend some more time with my children.  And, I did get my first two e-books published.  I even have my very own Author's Page.  Published yesterday on Amazon, and my books will be made free tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday.  After the initial excitement of realizing my works were available for sale, I am now in panic mode wondering if I am just under the illusion that I can actually write something people will want to pay to read....  Writer's remorse?  Regardless, if you download my works, I hope you find them enjoyable and useful.  And, if you do, will you write a review on Amazon?

Here's the links if you're interested:

Free on January 11 - eBay Seller's Secrets (20 essential household items)
Free on January 12 - How to repair, repurpose children's clothing

I am about to head toward fulfilling some more of my goals set 10 days ago.  Where does the time go?

The Flexibility Of Homeschooling and a Walk Around the Lake

I think one of the things I enjoy most about homeschooling is the flexibility it allows.  For instance, today it is unseasonably warm where I live.  So, this means I can pack up the kids and head to the park.  We'll get in some PE if nothing else.  But, our trips to the park always include so much more.

For mommy - The park involves a walk around the large lake.  I need the exercise, and it prepares me for sittng at the playground while they play later.  But, these walks provide so much more than exercise.

While we walk, we talk.  We talk about anyting that comes up.  In our talks we have uncovered topics that range from "Oh, look at that leaf" to "the beautiful sunset our God chose to paint the sky with" to "the art of animation programs, and how to turn a ripple on the lake, and blowing blades of grass into a picture on a computer screen that moves".

We have talked about philosophy, science, politics, cute things the children say, photography, math, engineering, technology, and the like.  You name it, it has probably come up in our walks around that lake.

Of course, we also talk about fairness, and how not to change the rules in a game of "I'll race you to that bench".

The flexibility to pick up and go is what got us there.  The flexibility to incorporate schooling into real life, and not the other way around, is where my children embrace learning that sticks.  From time to time, they will bring up our conversations, and have a full understanding of what we discussed.  Or, they might ask questions about something they didn't quite grasp at the time.

This is how my family learns best - Through the flexibility of homeschooling.

Testing

This is merely a test blog post to make sure they are posting onto Facebook.

Welcoming The New Year

This year, when December 31 rolled around, I found myself just  ME AND THE 3.....3 kiddos that is.  My hubby is a musical performer (he plays saxophone, guitar and vocals in a solo act).  He had 3 jobs booked on New Year's Eve, starting at 2:00 in the afternoon and working his way to midnight.  This left me with the kids to celebrate the new year together, without him.

As sad as this sounds, I've become used to giving up, or postponing, holidays and special events due to his career choice.  It doesn't bother me in the least.  The kids usually roll with it too.  So, there we were on New Year's Eve 2012.

How did we spend it? 

• We tried to build our 2nd gingerbread house of the year.  This one was a post-Christmas freebie, and not one I will buy even though it is a top name brand one.  I won't mention the name, but she is a popular maker of cookies.  When the icing didn't stick well, we gave up and decorated the pieces of the house as if they were individual cookies.  Then, we discovered that they were too hard to actually bite into.  So, we set it all aside and moved on to more fun.
• We mixed up some sugar cookies.  When they came out of the oven, we decorated them as our 2012 cookie designs (see above picture).
• We played a Cranium game called Conga.  By the way, if you want a fun family game (this is the one).  We had a blast wading our way through this game for our very first time.
• We put some pizza in the oven and gobbled it down when it was ready.
• We pulled our party poppers at midnight and hopped and hollered while watching the neighborhood sky light up with fireworks like the 4th of July.
• Daddy called at midnight....We missed his call since we were outside celebrating for just a moment....So, I called him back.  He had just finished his last gig.
• I talked with the kids about what they enjoyed most about 2011 and what they hoped 2012 would bring....  We then, thanked God and prayed for the new year.

If my new year celebration sounds boring or uneventful, that's because I wanted it to be a quiet evening home enjoying my little family.  The days of big party crowds are in my past.  Though, if someone would have told me (when in my 20's) how I would be celebrating New Year's Eve 2012, I'm not sure I would have believed them.  But, you know what?  I much prefer my little non-eventful New Year's Eve.

And, my goals for 2012?  I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, because a promise to me is a serious matter that I never want to break.  However, I do make plans and set goals.  I'll share with you some of my 2012 goals, if you like:

• A deeper spiritual relationship with Jesus
• Make a dent in our debt
• Attempt to blog more (This is going to be a difficult challenge, but I hope to attempt to post something almost daily)
• More time with my kids and hubby
• Lose my writer's belly and hips (get healthy)
• Plan some awesome summer vacations (my parents have paid for a beach house in Isle of Palms this year for our family, and we hope to go on tour again - John booking gigs in one of our favorite states - Wisconsin )
• Publish my e-books
• Enjoy life more (Less serious, more laughter)