I have really enjoyed watching the summer Olympics!  From the gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, soccer (since I love to play soccer) to the running – it all has been so exciting to watch!  I really admire all the years of work they put in for their short moments of glory.  It makes me look at myself and question my dedication to things that are important to me.  Am I working with goals in mind?  I’d have to admit, not always.

I think NBC has been great in showing it on so many channels – there’s much to see.  I have to admit though, that these late nights are killing me!  I guess the fact that we’d have to be a day behind for them to show them on prime time made them decide to just show them live?  I know that they aren’t all live though.  Hmmm…  It sure does make it difficult to get up the next day though!  Well, gotta run – men’s gymnastics is on!

One of my latest goals has been to make menus that I can use over and over.  For example, I’d like to make maybe, say,  4 weeks of menus that I can rotate week after week.  That way, I don’t have to even THINK about the thing I enjoy least –cooking!  So, you can imagine my excitement when I found the following menu planner!  It’s all organized – just the way I like it!  She has all kinds of organizational helps on her site – especially if you’re a homeschooler.  Check it out!  http://donnayoung.org/household/fullsize/ffiles08/kifiles/menu.pdf

Jodi

Homeschool mom of 3

Anyone who has kids have encountered rashes and hives.   Lately my dd has had strange rashes and “streaks” on different parts of her body.  She’s had them off and on for the last couple weeks and feels much less itchy after taking a shower.  I know that different foods and products can cause allergic rashes so I started thinking about what we’ve done differently.  The only thing that I can think of that I’ve changed is fabric softener.  In an attempt to save money, I’ve switched from Gain or Downey to the cheaper brand Suavitel.  So, I thought I should look at the ingredients.  It says: cationic fabric softener, perfume, colorants.  Hmmmm…Very vague.  Makes me wonder exactly what that is and why she’s reacting like this? Help?

Jodi

Homeschooling mom of 3

It’s 11 pm in a sweltering South Florida August.  It’s hurricane season and we’re waiting to see what Dear Fay will do.  Will she become a Cat-1 hurricane or stay a tropical storm?  Will she visit the east coast of Florida or just mess up her dear friends on the west coast?  Should I put up shutters and buy gasoline for the generator I have not cleaned up from last year? Or maybe I will just hope for the best, hunker down for the night and see what the morning brings.

Ah, the joys of living in a tropical paradise.  But I won’t complain. I don’t have to shovel the humidity.  My car won’t slide off a frozen highway into a ditch. And I don’t have gray gloomy days for much of the year.  What I do have is palm trees, ocean breezes, sandy beaches and sunshine nearly every day.  I don’t know about you, but I need sunshine everyday - sometimes it’s my biggest reason to smile!  I love the blending of cultures and ethnicity here, the ability to hop on a cruise ship for a 3-day get away, or to take a drive to Disney with the kids or to South Beach for some grown-up nightlife.

So as I sit here, watching the “storm track” waiting to see if I’ll need to be concerned, I will continue to count my blessings and be ever thankful that I live year-round in the tropics.

Ladies,

We’re so glad you’re here. Jump right in and Make Some Noise about whatever is on your mind today. Tell the world what you think!

Criss