Freebie Friday: Free Weekly Pre {non} Schooling Chart

I plan to stay home and educate my daughter {and future child} and the great thing about not sending her off to "school" is that I can create the education process that best fits our needs.  I can also start teaching her, whenever she seems ready to learn.  And this little girl is ready to learn!

This weekend, I came up with a little goal chart for us to use during the week...

My goal is that over a week we will fill in 3-5 spaces for each subject matter.  I don't want a set schedule with 10 am being for this or that, but I do want to make sure she's getting a well rounded exposure to all subject matter.  This little chart allows me to make notes and modifications as necessary.  I know some of these subjects might seem extreme for a two year old but you can modify them to whatever level your child is at.  For example, Science and Ecology could be a simple walk around the block where the child looks for different plants or animals and then learns about said plant or animal.  Same for Math, a trip to the coffee shop could result in a chocolate chip cookie treat, simply have the child count the chocolate chips and/or add and subtract the change from the purchase.  Simple activities are what creates learning for a small child.  As my kids grow so will my technique for teaching them!  Some of these boxes might get filled everyday. Reading, for example, will get a book title scribbled in each day!

Feel free to download the pdf version here or the excel version here {so you can edit if necessary}

Happy Non-Schooling!
Jenn





p.s. I'm not sure I explained my term "non-schooling" anywhere on this blog, but basically, I don't like all of the components of unschooling nor do I like all the connotations of homeschooling.  So, I came up with my own term "non-schooling;" meaning I'm not sending my kids to school, but educating them to be life long learners.

Oh and here's a Resource I found helpful.

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}

Food Club No. 5

This month we headed to Windsor, a neighborhood restaurant and bar.  It's in a historic 1940's building and has a beautiful patio, plus right next door is our local ice cream shoppe {which is where we headed for dessert}.  They have a vegetarian friendly menu and lots of wholesome choices, see their menu here.

The ambiance is low light and classy. 

Drinks! Isn't the little stirrer on the left adorable?!

Fondue Appetizer

Loaded Chips

Chicken Sliders with Mac 'n' Cheese.

Veggie Stack with Fries

Combo: Soup of the Day {Chicken Tortilla} and mixed green salad with chicken kabob

Veggies & Mac 'n' Cheese

Chicken Kabobs

Veggie Stack with Fried Okra

Mouths full of food

The damage and the leftovers

A few of the ladies

The Review:

Favorite Appetizer: The Fondue was amazing!! Although, if I was by myself I'd ask to substitute the sausage for more apples, since you know, I don't love meat. 

Favorite Entree: Everyone's looked great, and I might try their soup and salad combo next time, but I LOVED my Veggie Stack, black quinoa and beets? soo good.

Favorite Drink: I had water {thanks a lot fetus} but all their cocktails are named numbers and each one sounds amazing!

1-10 Service {0 worst, 10 best}: 9.5 We had 3 servers checking on our group of 8 and never had an empty glass.

Cost {$  $$  $$$  $$$$!}: $$-$$$ I shared my appetizer, had my own $12 entree and spent a total of $24 on the whole night after tax and tip.  

Mistakes {corrections?}: No mistakes.  Everything was delish!

Reservations? I think so, but didn't ask since I knew we were going to be happy waiting at the bar if necessary.

Would we eat there again? Yes!

And I wouldn't have you miss dessert...

Walkway to Churn {on the right} and the candy display {on the left}

From the front

Adorable Bats on display for Halloween!

The Dessert Menu

And I Love Churn's vintage style honeycomb tile!  

If you're in the area I highly recommend a visit!  I think we're doing Sushi next month.  So, keep an eye out!

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}

Pregnancy Round 2 {17 & 18 Weeks}

I have absolutely no thoughts on week 17.  I can't, for the life of me, remember anything special that happened or didn't.  And in my opinion, my favorite weeks are the ones I hardly feel pregnant.  I think that's when I'm most comfortable.  I can do everything like normal, while still growing a person and that is really my favorite time during pregnancy.  I'm really just trying to enjoy this time as a mama to one and not think too much on how difficult it is with a brand new baby.  Life with Sonja is really easy.  I remember when she was first born feeling literally weighed down by all the responsibility and accommodations I had to make, and now that she's older I can pretty much do everything I want, whenever I want.

As far as week 18 goes, I do have some thoughts...
Constant kicking.  This week was full of tummy tickles.  I was driving in the car listening to broadway calls and baby just had a dance fest.  It was such a weird sensation, because when Sonja was that active she was much bigger so the sensation wasn't as ticklish, more jabbing and painful.

I officially am not comfortable on my stomach anymore.  Nor can I do certain yoga poses that require inversions or closed twists.  There is a stomach, or technically, uterus in my way.  The times I'm most comfortable are when I'm sleeping.  I have some discomfort in the evenings and prefer a semi-reclined position {even though I don't think that's good for my posture}.  Walking is more comfortable than standing still.  Lines anywhere makes me want to stab people.  Mostly because when I'm just standing still it feels like knives are in my back.  Must keep moving.

As far as exercise, I've been really consistant about my weekly yoga and going to the gym once a week.  Although, my goal is to add one to two more workout sessions a week for maximum strength training before labor.  We've only been walking with the dogs and stoller a handful of times during this pregnancy and it's on my MUST DO list {but to make myself feel better, I'd like to note that I walk all the time with Sonja just not in a structured/planned kind of way}.

Diet; I'm happy to report a lack of sweets cravings during this pregnancy.  Sometimes, I want a chocolate chip cookie or chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream but usually only if I 1. see said treats, 2. smell said treats, or 3. am bored and think we could go on a family dessert date.  Also, speaking of diet, I'm drinking one cup of coffee over the course of a day and have not noticed any increased fetal activity in correlation to my caffeine.  I really enjoy coffee so I'm happy baby doesn't mind it either.

Health; Thanks to my chaparral oil I'm yeast free.  I'm still taking lots of garlic and probiotics but I do not have any systemic symptoms and since we're done breastfeeding I haven't noticed any thrush.

Appearance; I do look pregnant now, but again don't really feel it.  Or at least the huge, "oh my gawd, my body hurts," kind of pregnant I remember with Sonja.


And that concludes my bi-weekly update!  I'll post again around 20 weeks!  Thanks for following along, and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below.
-Jenn

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}

What Sonja Wore No. 10

You Guys! I can not explain how pleased I am with myself and this outfit!  I haven't posted a "what Sonja wore" post in a while, because, she hasn't really worn anything all that amazing in the past few months.  But this?  This is really a gem. 

I found the Ralph Lauren sweater at Hissyfits.  It's actually a 3t but the sleeves roll up and you can't even tell it's "big" on her.

And actually, come to think of it, I found all these items at Hissyfits!

The jeggings are originally from Old Navy.

and the Shoes don't have a label {I bought them months ago, before they fit her and now look how nicely they match!}.

Everything is used!  I'm always pleased to find "new" clothes for my littles that are not newly manufactured {thus contributing to new waste, new production, nor new shipping pollution}

I also got a few more items and my mom just did some early Christmas shopping, so be sure to keep an eye out if you're interested in her fall wardrobe!

and that's what Sonja wore...
-Jenn

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}

Cleo & Clementine Grand Opening {a local event}

This past weekend my little family and I headed to a sweet boutique grand opening here in phoenix...

I was so excited to get this invite in the mail earlier this month!  I love Monique {Ouma} and I could not be more excited for her and her new adventure as a boutique owner!  I've had the pleasure of working with her a few times on custom orders and each time she does an amazing job!  She made Sonja's flower girl dress for her aunt and uncle's wedding and she's made me a few goodies as well! So, when I got this invite, I knew we had to go... 

Cleo and Clementine's adorable window display. 

Just a few of the accessories available in the shoppe. 

Some of Monique's designer work! 

More amazing dresses!

Then, she invited me to check out her work space.  

you guys! she has a chalkboard calendar and the chicest work space I've ever seen.

So, when she invited me to come sew there "anytime," how could I say no?!

They also had Social Station there taking photos against this glittery background.

p.s. notice my new arrow necklace?  I couldn't buy anything to "wear" since I'm only getting bigger, but you can bet I'll be back once my postpartum body is ready for a night on the town!

Congratulations Monique and Jennifer! 

you can also "Like" Cleo & Clementine on Facebook!

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}

Do It Yourself; Hiding your Hoarding through Displaying.

My mom is a hoarder.

Okay, maybe not a HOARDER, but she's a shopoholic with way too many candles and costume jewelry.  Everything she has is nice, but it's in boxes and hardly properly displayed.  And it got me thinking, what's the difference between hoarding and collecting?  Well, I decided that is the way in which you display your stuff.

So, when Husband started hassling me about the things I save for upcycling projects, I knew I had to change the way I saved.  I started collecting glass jars from thrift stores and once in a while from craft stores.  These clear and fill-able beauties were and are the key to my non-hoarding system.  I display my save-ables in these glass jars in plain view.  They're sort of a collection within themselves.  I save wine corks to turn into a large project in the brown section of my shelf. I save discarded bullet cases for art projects in a very large glass jar in the gold section of the shelves.  I display my candle collections in correlating color sections.  And, so on... By displaying my raw materials in plain view, I turn my hoards of "trash" into collectables.

I also organize drawers and cabinets with various compartments so everything has it's place.

When my siblings-in-laws move out I will use their current living spaces to display more of my glass collections {my cake stands, drink dispensers and vintage pyrex}.

This way all of my materials are:
1. visible to me, as a reminder to complete projects.
2. displayed as works of art or collections, which is way more socially acceptable than piled up boxes in my closet {or in my mom's case guest rooms and bedrooms}.
3. out of valuable cupboard and drawer spaces in my laundry room or work room, freeing up that space for functional tools and not so display-able materials {like certain fabrics, extracts; which need cool dark spaces, cleaning supplies and guest linnens}

Above: the glass jar hold a collection of discarded and hard to see keys, the metal tins are reusable espresso tins that fit in well with the gray section of my book shelf.

I use these jars for various teas and herbs and display them in the gray section as well.

My stash of red straws fits in well in the red section. 

Blue tip match sticks find their place in the blue section.

Purple straws have a home in the purple section next to a blue framed prom photo {I'm eating an oreo not smoking a cigarette}. 

Green tea lights find a jar next to some photos in the green section.

In the brown and yellow section I have old school pencils, wooden stamps and discarded brass casing from ammo on display.

I also have beige shipping tags and discarded wine corks on display.  

And because I know I'll think of a use for these later, I have orange discarded reward tickets from my classroom.

I have a few more random discarded collections but they're not on display yet, I'm headed to goodwill this week for a few more glass jars to find them a proper home.

Hope this way of displaying certain materials will beautify your home and clear up some much needed hidden spaces.  Good Luck and Happy Collection Crafting!

You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr!

p.s. if you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your vote. Click the banner below and then the owl on the left. {No email required and no spam generated! promise}