6 Tips for Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

 

Choosing curriculum can be overwhelming.  Enter "homeschool curriculum" into a search engine and you'll find pages and pages of listings.  How do you decide what to choose?  Sometimes, the price tag decides for you, but when you find something that is within your budget, how do you know you're spending your money wisely?  When we first started homeschooling Jude, I had no idea where to begin, beyond typing into a search engine, and asking others turned into dueling opinions.


Here's my first tip:  DON'T BUY ANYTHING AT FIRST!

I mean it.  Give yourself time to figure things out.  If you need to purchase something, then get a crayons for coloring, or a picnic cooler to take when you go exploring on field trips.  Otherwise, call it a school vacation and learn without anything formal.  Learning doesn't have to come from a book all the time.

Today I'm posting over at Tales of A Pee Dee Mama about how we learned to wade through the selection process.  Come join me there and find five more tips for choosing a homeschool curriculum that is right for your student!


©2012- 2014 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Glideware (Guest Review & Update)

This is a sponsored post and may contain affiliate links.

Hi everyone!  Remember last year how I wrote about Glideware's Kickstarter campaign?  The good news is they reached their goal and made it to production.  Now they are ready for YOU (and me!) to try it out.  This guest post was written by Heather @ Thift Schooling about using Glideware.  I have to say that I'm impressed, and since I currently have a set of frying pans stacked in each other and very close to landing on my toes every time I go for one, Glideware is very much on my "kitchen upgrade" list.

Last year, I introduced you to a brand new product in the making, Glideware. At that point, the company was only in it's beginning stages. Now, only a year later, Glideware has grown leaps and bounds. After an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, Glideware was able to raise the funds needed to get their product into production and into the hands of the consumer.

Recently, Glideware has been showcased in Kitchen and Bath Design News Magazine, listed as one of their creative storage solutions. Glideware was also featured in Builder Magazine and even Bob Vila listed it as one of 10 New Kitchen Products to Make Your Life Better! And I will tell you from experience, that this product does in fact make your life better! Seriously. Look at how I stored my pans in my Pre-Glideware days. How sad.

And now? I can access my pans with ease. And yes, those are CAST IRON pans. I wasn't sure at first if this product would hold my heavy duty cast iron collection, but actually, it works wonders! The problem I always had with these pans was the weight. Having them stacked on top of one another was clearly not ideal and trying to lift the top pans to get to the bottom one was not good for my wrists! Having Glideware installed in the cabinet right next to my stove has clearly saved time and reduced frustration when working in the kitchen. I use these pans pretty much every day, so having an easy storage solution has made my cooking experiences run more smoothly. The fact that the pans are hanging separately and not touching one another helps to keep them in pristine condition. If you are storing stainless steel or non-stick pans, then using Glideware will help prevent them from from scratching one another. For me, I've noticed that it helps prevent rust on my cast iron pans since they aren't touching each other. 

When you order your Glideware unit, you will receive what is pictured in the far left photo. All you will need to install your Glideware unit is a simple screw gun. Ours was installed in a matter of minutes! Once your unit is in place, you can attach the seven metal hooks. I like that the consumer can place the hooks themselves so they can space them out according their own particular needs. In my case, some pans are wider than others so I like the option of moving the hooks back and forth as needed. 

Purchase Glideware

For $199 you can make life at home a breeze!

Whether you simply want to give your old kitchen cabinets a makeover as I did or if you are working on a remodel, consider making room for Glideware, you'll be glad you did!

Glideware has graciously offered a $200 Amazon Giftcard to one of my readers! Simply enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US and Canada Only
18 years and Older
Winner has 48 hours to Respond




©2012- 2014 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

N is for Nativity Set (The ABCs of Homeschooling Through the Holidays)

Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration? I admit, I love all the handmade items that we have in our home - the handmade stockings that I made for each of the children's first Christmases, and a wallhanging that my Mother embroidered.  My most favorite decorations  are the Nativity Stes.  My most prized creche is an olivewood set that hubby and I purchased at a Bethlehem gift shop on our honeymoon. 

Jude made his own Nativity set, and it sits proudly on top of the piano we inherited when Neal's grandmother moved.  We made it from an upcycled box and cardboard rolls.  Come over to Upside Down Homeschooling to see how we made it!




©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Happy Blogiversary, Pin Junkie!! Celebrating with a Super-linky-party!

 The Pin Junkie is celebrating it's first birthday with a huge linky party!

The Pin Junkie loves Pinterest as much as I do!  I know Pinterest seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but here at Adventures with Jude, we LOVE it!!  I think it's awesome because it's so visually oriented.  Give me a thousand word description, and I'm clueless.  Give me a picture, and I'm there!   I can find ideas for the boys' lessons, and Luke can help himself to brainstorming ideas.  Pin Junkie is dedicated to sharing - and trying - as much of the great stuff on Pinterest as possible!

I'm so excited to be co-hosting the birthday party!  This is always one of my favorite parties to link up with, and this week, there are 21 bloggers co-hosting!  That means when you link up here today, your post will be seen on not just The Pin Junkie, but also on all the blogs listed below.  Please stop by and say hello to as many as you can!

That means when you link your project here, it will be seen on more than 21 blogs, and Pinterest boards, etc. so if you have a post that's on your heart to share, now's the time!  Crafts, recipes, projects - if you have done it, you can link it!  Share your favorites with us -- they might just become somebody else's new favorite project.

Link Party Rules

The rules for this link party are easy!
Here's what you need to know:

1.  Please follow your host & co-hosts!

2.  Link back to this party in some way.

2.  Link up something YOU made - it can be a craft, recipe, or project as long as YOU made it. (No giveaways, contests, or link parties please).

3.  Link directly to a specific post - not your main blog (Keep it family friendly, please)

4.  Show some love by visiting some of the other links and HAVE FUN!

©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

I will boast in the Lord.

Today I am guest posting over at Future.Flying.Saucers as part of  her "In God I Boast" series.

My longtime readers know I have a particular devotion to St. Francis deSales.

Click over to Future.Flying.Saucers to read why, with St. Francis' help,  I will boast in the Lord.




©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Mom's Monday Mingle - Co-host!

Have you considered sponsoring Naptime Review but was unsure?

Check out the FREE 2 week trial ad as well as the VIP spot.

VIP's get a whole month of hosting free!!!

Just want to host a week or 2?

Email

julie_marling@yahoo.com

and we can get you scheduled.

Love to have you on my sidebar.

While you are there check out my new lower priced packages.

Click here to get started!

Tweet

RULES:

1. Please FOLLOW each hostess (They are 1-4 in the link up)

Naptime Review-Hostess

Janie's Confessions of A Mommyaholic- VIP Host

Adventures with Jude- VIP Host

Mama's High Strung- Co-Host

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Mom's Monday Mingle (Co-host)

Have you considered sponsoring Naptime Review but was unsure?

Check out the FREE 2 week trial ad as well as the VIP spot.

VIP's get a whole month of hosting free!!!

Just want to host a week or 2?

Email

julie_marling@yahoo.com

and we can get you scheduled.

Love to have you on my sidebar.

While you are there check out my new lower priced packages.

Click here to get started!

Tweet

RULES:

1. Please FOLLOW each hostess (They are 1-3 in the link up)

Naptime Review-Hostess

Janie's Confessions of A Mommyaholic- VIP Host

Adventures with Jude- VIP Host

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

 ©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

I Love My Post Blog Hop - I'm Co-hosting!!

I'm so excited! This week I'm co-hosting the...

 

Welcome to the I Love My Post blog hop where we invite you to link up your favourite post of the week, to show it off and hopefully receive some love from the others partaking in the hop!

If you are yet to participate in a hop, they are really simple to get the hang of all you need to do is 'hop' around, hopefully finding some new great reads!

The Rules are simple!  

Have Fun, click around find some new blogs to read and share the I Love My Post LOVE! 

And if you fancy being a co-host with us! Give Sarah an Email: sarah@lifeinabreakdown.com

Your Hosts this week are: 

Sarah from Life in a Break Down 

Bex from Futures 

and our lovely co-hosts are: 

Kristi from Coral Court 

Meg from Adventures with Jude 

Victoria from Life as Mrs. Aguila

I would love it if you would tweet, share on Facebook, or place our button on your blog, 

the more sharing we can get happening the bigger this hop can become!

Tweet

 

<div align="center"><a rel="nofollow" href=" http://www.lifeinabreakdown.com/tag/i-love-my-post/" title="Life in a Break Down"><img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img268/1971/ilovemypostnew.jpg" alt="Life in a Break Down" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This week's Featured Blog is: Mrs Tee Love, Life, Laughter

 

Follow Mrs Tee (Tiffany) on her adventure through life - meet her husband and 6 kids and all the things they love in this fun packed blog. ~ Sarah

If you have been featured grab our button!

<div align="center"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lifeinabreakdown.com/tag/i-love-my-post/" title="I Love my Post"><img src="http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6545/featuredb.jpg" alt="I Love my Post" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you fancy being next week’s featured blogger make sure you follow all the rules, give your hosts and co-hosts a follow, and Sarah could be calling on you next week to come and feature with us.

Sign up for a Weekly Reminder about the Hop!

 ©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

H is for Hybrid Family - ABCs of Homeschooling

My kids don't follow "norms."  I am convinced that they only read the textbooks so they know what NOT to do.  In keeping with our "can't do anything the usual way" philosophy, we have children who learn at home and in a traditional school.

I'm sharing about our today family at My Joy-Filled Life.  Sarah is hosting a series entitled "The ABCs of Homeschooling," and you can find out about how we became a Hybrid Family there.  I hope you'll click through and join me there.





©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Banana Ice Cream

Who doesn't like ice cream?

Frozen treats are always a challenge for food-allergy families. For many of us, commercial ice creams are not safe, and we often make our own treats. However, the hard part is most ice cream freezers need either significant freezer real estate and lead time, or specialty ingredients and equipment. Today, I'm guest posting over at the Kids with Food Allergies Foundation and sharing a recipe for banana "ice cream"!    It has one ingredient, four steps, and only needs a 4"x 4" space in the freezer.   It's also a very kid-friendly recipe - even a preschooler can help prepare it!  It's also a great alternative to banana bread for those lone extra-ripe bananas on the counter.   I hope you'll click through to check it out!

















©2012- 2013 Adventures with Jude. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://adventureswithjude.com

Our octopuses went visiting...

Last week, we learned about octopuses.  Yes, that's really the "official" plural, not octopi.  We learned that they have eight arms to help them find their food, and the move about by jet propulsion -- they take in water and then squirt it out so quickly that it moves them where they want to go. 

We also made adorable little octopuses.  Today, we are guests of The Usual Mayhem, and you can see there how we made them.  Our thanks to Erin for hosting us, and her patience when our little octopuses got lost without a map. 


I'll leave you with a little poem that we learned as well --

 

The Octopus

Tell me, O Octopus, I begs
Is those things arms, or is they legs?
I marvel at thee, Octopus;
If I were thou, I'd call me Us.

Ogden Nash