All Posts

Historical Re-Enactments: Making History Come to Life Part 3

  History was never a favorite subject growing up.  Sure, I had some fantastic teachers growing up.  I had one teacher in particular who taught a lesson on debate.  The subject was  “Which is better, ketchup or mustard on a hotdog?”  Doesn’t sound like much, does it?  But he went so far as to call the Vienna Sausage company and get them to come to the debate and provide food.  Then he convinced a news crew to come as well.  I can’t tell you anything about that debate, or even who won.  But I remember how interesting and fun it was.  This taught me a valuable lesson.  Kids remember valuable moments way more than facts they read.  This is why I love Historical Re-Enactments. Many people don’t realize that historical re-enactments exist.  Depending on where you live, you may have a lot of them available or just a few.  I found out by accident from a random stranger when we were discussing homeschooling.  If you have never been to one it’s really quite fun.   What It’s Like There are actually Historical groups that plan out these events.  Everyone dresses up in the time period.  This isn’t a typical Renaissance Festival (although that’s fun too). They are extremely strict about wearing and eating only what would have been available at the time.  We did both a Civil War reenactment and the Revolutionary War.  If multiple ones are available to you, I would encourage you to do more than one.  If was amazing to see the difference in periods.  We were able to learn how the time periods changed and how even the food and weapons changed.   In our case, they allowed you to walk around the camps, showed you how they ate and even the games they played at the time.  They really immersed you in the time period.  While we were their they taught us an authentic game from the time period called Shut The Box.  It’s a classic wooden math, strategy game.  My child loved it so much we ended up going online and purchasing it.  If you’re interested in it, you can get it HERE.   In addition to this, we were able to see actual printing presses making newspapers.  We got to see surgeons tools and medicines.  They had authentic furniture and timepieces.  There was even a woman who showed us how spies created ciphers and encrypted messages.  Battle Re-Enactments The best part was the actual battle re-enactments.  It’s one thing to read about cannon fire and another entirely to stand next to one as it is being fired.  It’s also fascinating to discuss how long it took to fire each weapon, reload, then fire a weapon again.  That’s something you can’t really get from a book.   Planning Ahead To really get into the spirit I highly encourage you to plan ahead.  After each one we went home and made recipes that would have been available during that time period.  We made hard tack, and bison stew.  We made hard boiled eggs, apples and bread to take with us as our snacks to really get into the day.  If you aren’t sure what to bring you can always look up recipes on the internet.  We had been doing our lessons from the Time Travelers Series from Homeschool in the Woods.  Their lesson plans include recipes and crafts from the time period you are studying which makes things so much easier. If you have time for it, wear a costume (at least the kids).  Pretending to be a part of it makes history come to life even more.  You’ll be amazed at the excitement.   Finding One Near You There are many different types of historical re-enactments all over the world.  Here is a just a small list of some of the most well known and famous places for re-enactments in the US.  If your in one of these areas or are planning a visit nearby you may just want to stop at one of these places: Arizona- The American Heritage Festival is the largest re-enactment in the Western United States and is held annually in the Southwest US. Indiana-Mississinewa 1812 is considered by some to be the largest living history event in the country.  It’s all about the war of 1812. Minnesota- Wilder’s Pageant which is a living re-enactment of Little House on the Prairie. New York-National Silver Ball Tournament which celebrates vintage Baseball New Hampshire-Muster in the Mountains is a three day colonial experience. Pennsylvania-WW2 Weekend & Gettysburg Civil War Battle Re-Enactment If you would like to find one in your area just Google “Historical Reenactments near me.”  Please feel free to share additional re-enactment websites in the comments below and I will try to update the post as I get them.   Final Thoughts Historical re-enactments are a wonderful way to make the most out of your history lessons.  They allow your children to immerse themselves in the true feeling, spirit and world of that time period.  This immersion is what really makes history come to life for kids.  It takes a moment that may otherwise be lost on a child and makes it meaningful and memorable.  I hope this series helps you to bring life into your homeschool history lessons.  Happy Homeschooling! Don’t forget to check out the rest of this three part series: Making History Come to Life Part 1: How to do it! Making History Come to Life Part 2:  The Sword Casting Guy Please feel free to share additional re-enactment websites in the comments below and I will try to update the post as I get them.  

Historical Re-Enactments: Making History Come to Life Part 3 Read More »

The Sword Casting Guy-Making History Come to Life Part 2

  History is one of those subjects that many feel is difficult not only to learn, but to teach.  Textbooks can be dry, bland and boring.  This is why when I come across a really amazing live and in person way to teach history, I am instantly excited!   This is how I came to meet the Sword Casting Guy.  If you haven’t heard of him, his name is Greg Wenderski.  He’s a former school teacher turned sword casting instructor.  I heard about him on one of my mom boards.  The minute I heard he was coming to town to teach a sword casting class for a few days, I literally booked it as fast as I could.  Boy, am I glad I did!  Every class was sold out in a few hours. The Class The class was taught outside which was great for many reasons.  He first starts by teaching you the history of the swords you are going to cast.  So you get a mini history lesson at the beginning.  We were personally studying Babylon in our homeschool lessons and he had an Egyptian Khopesh sword which was eventually used by the Babylonians for us to choose from.  So clearly, that was the sword we had to make.  But he had other options.  Some of these were Greek, Egyptian, Japanese and more!  Depending on the lesson you are teaching, he has a sword to go with it.  If he doesn’t have a sword from the history lesson you are teaching, you can request to make your own.  He will send you the dimensions and you can design it yourself.   Making The Sword Once your mini history lesson is over, your child gets to make a sand casting of their chosen design.  Gary handles all the hot metal used to cast the swords.  So, don’t worry that your child will do that.  He also made sure that everyone was a safe distance away and gave very good safety instructions before he began.  Once that’s done, he removes the swords while your child watches.  If you think your going to be bored watching someone pour hot molten metal, think again!  I had as much fun watching as the children.   After the metal cools, parents get to help by sanding the swords and grinding them down to a shiny finish.  I’m not gonna lie, this was a serious arm workout for me.  But again, don’t worry that these swords are going to be sharp.  The swords won’t have a blade put on them.  Make sure you teach good safety with these because while they are not bladed, they aren’t childproof.  I’m not going to say your kids couldn’t smack someone with these pretty good, because they could.  But they are about as safe as you can make a handcrafted sword.   Once these are ground and polished, your child will get to put a leather bound strap on them for additional hand safety and authenticity.  One of the things I appreciated most is that all of his materials are made from recycled materials.  He uses old couches for the leather and recycled scrap metal for the swords.  It’s a brilliant use of upcycling. When You’re Finished When you’re all done, your child gets this beautifully designed work of art to put up and show all their friends.  There’s not a lot of kids who wouldn’t think that’s cool.  We ordered a sword mount to put it up on the wall.  If you need one, you can purchase it HERE.  But even better than the sword, they have a memory that will last a lifetime. Who Can Take The Class The nice thing about this class is that children of all ages can take it.  I saw very young kids (around the age of 5) all the way to high schoolers in the same class.  It brought together kids of all ages in a way that you don’t often see. I also noticed that it had the effect of teaching independence in the younger kids.  I saw a younger child struggling with his sand casting and so I offered to help.  He said, “No thank you, I’ve got it.”  This is something I think children pick up simply from being in groups of multi-aged children.  They want to be successful like the big kids are.   Cost One of the most amazing things about this class is the cost.  The Sword Casting Guy only charged $100 for this all day experience.  We spent at least 8 hours in this class.  I honestly think for an experience that the entire family could go to and enjoy, it was way beyond my expectations.  Most small workshops charge more than this for an hour or two.  After spending the day with him, it’s very clear why he does this.  He is extremely passionate about what he does.  He clearly loves history, swords and working with children.  Even after the class was over and everyone else had left, he took the time to teach us and answer more of our questions.   Where to Book If your looking for a way to make history fun, exciting and engaging… this is it!  There is no better way to make history come to life, than a hands on experience.  To find out how to take his classes near you go to www.swordcastingguy.com.  If he isn’t having a class near you, you can request a class HERE.  Make sure to book quickly.   Final Thoughts When making history come to life for your children, remember that there is no better way than a hands on experience.  Even if they don’t remember all the names, dates and places you discuss…they will always remember the moments.  Don’t forget to share the ways you make your homeschool experience come to life in the comments below.  Happy Homeschooling! Don’t forget to check out the rest of this three part series:   Making History Come to Life Part 1: How to do it! Making History Come to

The Sword Casting Guy-Making History Come to Life Part 2 Read More »

10 Ways to Make History Come to Life

  When I was a kid I always thought history was boring.  Turns out, it was.  Everything I learned from history was from a school textbook.  In fact, before teaching the Civil War to my own child, the only thing I could tell you about it was from the movie Glory.  Seriously nothing else.  It wasn’t until I was an adult that I began to find history interesting.  So when I decided to homeschool I knew I wanted to make sure to make history come to life for my child.  So in this three part series we are going to start by discussing 10 ways to make history come to life for your child. 1. Seeing History Nothing is better than seeing history in person.  Going to a historical site and seeing it, especially after reading about it, can really bring life to the subject.  I realize that not everyone can do this.  However, it may be easier and more economical than you think.  Where we live there are a surprising amount of ruins, Native American cliff dwellings, archaeological sites, dinosaur excavations, meteor craters, historical buildings and landmarks.  Most of them are less than a 3 hour drive and cost less than a cup of coffee to get into.   One of the best investments we have made is to purchase the America the Beautiful Annual Pass.  The pass costs $80 for the year.  It allows four adults and all kids under 15 to get into any national park for free.  The pass includes access over 2,000 sites in the U.S.  To check it out go to the America the Beautiful Pass Website. It literally pays for itself if you only use it once or twice depending on the landmark.  So look around your neck of the woods, history is waiting! If you have a fourth grader you can apply for the Every Kid Outdoors pass.  This pass allows all kids under 16 (including your fourth grader), as well as 3 adults over 16 to get into over 2,000 national parks for free.  This includes homeschoolers.  You can also apply if you are an educator of 4th graders.  To apply go to Every Kid Outdoors. Junior Rangers Before you go, don’t forget to set your kids up with their very own junior ranger accounts HERE.  This will allow them to find parks online with interactive and printable activities. You can view special places within the parks from your living room. You can also watch wildlife, geysers, and other activities in real time. They can also download junior ranger books HERE.  In addition to this, when you visit local parks, your junior rangers will receive badges each time they go to one of the national parks (as long as they are available).  They can collect stamps and badges along their journey.   All of these interactive activities make these trips more enjoyable and fun. 2. Audio Books Sometimes school is more fun when you don’t call it school.  I started using audio books for history as bedtime stories.  Instead of calling it history or school, I named it storytime.  My absolute favorite is the Story of the World Series read by Jim Weiss (review coming soon).  These are so well received that my child will excitedly ask for them.  Another great series on audio is the I Survived Book Series (also in paperback).   A great audiobook can make history come to life.  For children, it’s like having a fantastic book read out loud by a great storyteller.  If you think bedtime might be too scary for history (history is violent after all), then just do it during the day.  I don’t give tests on this and I don’t ask questions.  We just let it be enjoyed.  Remember, if you don’t call it history or school, they will love it.  If they love it, they’ll remember it. 3. Educational Television That’s right, I’m not opposed to using television as a tool.  There is nothing wrong with high quality videos to teach kids great things.  Amazing videos keep kids engaged and can explain things in a way I am not always able to. But, I use this sparingly and with care.  One of my favorite educational video sites is Curiosity Stream.  It has hundreds of streaming high quality educational videos.  All of them are available for the price of a couple of cups of coffee per year.  What’s not to love?  If you want to read more about them, you can check out my post Where I Find Educational Videos.   4. Lap Books and Hands On Programs It’s a proven fact that connections are made in the brain when you “see, say and do” things together.  Hands-on activities are a great way to solidify what has already been learned.  My favorite is by a company called Homeschool in the Woods.  This family run company produces fantastic world and US history unit studies, lap books and timelines.   Each program focuses on a specific time period and then has hands-on activities that you can do with them.  They include everything from recipes from the time period to miniature reproductions of things.  I have used many of their units and we are never disappointed.  (Full review coming soon!). They are not the only company producing these hands-on products.  However, they produce high quality at an affordable price.   5. Museum Tours-In Person The day I set foot into The Met in New York was mind blowing.  I had no idea what a true museum was like until then.  What most people don’t know is that larger museums like The Met and The Getty have actual tours of the museum.  Different companies will tour you around the museum explaining artifacts and giving historical facts and stories.   These tours will typically have themes.  They take looking at a tiny statue that seems like nothing, and turn it into an entire experience.  It is absolutely worth looking into.  To find a tour group just google “in person tours +

10 Ways to Make History Come to Life Read More »

Moroccan Preserved Lemons w/ Only 2 Ingredients

Have you ever wanted to make a recipe, only to realize it requires a special ingredient?  You drive to three stores across town and no one has it.  Then you go home, look it up on Google, and it’s ridiculously simple to make.  Yep, that’s Moroccan Preserved Lemons.  So hard to find, yet so easy to make.  It only requires a little bit of prep work and time.   Salt Typically, I don’t count salt as an ingredient.  Every home has it.  But in this case, I felt it was only right to count it because this recipe requires a truckload of the stuff.  I typically use kosher salt as it dissolves really well in this recipe.  You can also use sea salt.  If you’re not sure which salt to use, be sure to read my post on Types of Salt. Why So Much Salt? So you may have noticed this recipe calls for an insane amount of salt right?  Well, that’s because we are preserving the lemons, not fermenting them.  We are using the salt to stop any harmful microbes from growing, while preserving the lemons.  So yes, you really do need that much salt.  It keeps those nasty microbes away. What Can I Use Preserved Lemons For? Preserved lemons have been used for hundreds of years in North Africa.  They then spread through the Mediterranean and Middle East.  Moroccan Preserved Lemons originated out of a need to have the taste of fresh lemons all year long.  Shakshuka is one of the most popular dishes that use Preserved Lemons.  This dish is a personal favorite of mine.  But really they can be used in a multitude of dishes.  They have the ability to transform stews, tomato sauce dishes, pizzas, and more!  It’s like lemon’s funky cousin on steroids.  A little goes a long way.  So start with a little and then add more if you like.   What Kind of Lemons Should I Use? Ideally you would use a thin skinned lemon.  The closest variety in the US would be the Meyer Lemon.  However, not only are these hard to find where I live, I have a lemon tree.  It produces more lemons than I can possibly eat.  They are a thicker skinned variety and they work just fine.  So use what you have.  Once you get the hang of it, search out the thin skinned varieties.  See which you like better. Steps First put two tablespoons of kosher salt in the bottom of your jar. Then, cut one lemon to remove the stem end.  The side that would have been connected to the tree.   Once this is done you will need to cut the lemon lengthwise into fourths.  You want to try not to cut the lemon all the way through.  I have attached a picture for easy viewing.  The lemon should end up having an X or + shape pattern lengthwise.   Open the lemon where you made the cuts and put one teaspoon of kosher salt inside the lemons. Give the lemon a bit of a shimmy to move the salt around.  It’s gonna make a mess and that’s fine.  You want as much of the salt inside as possible. Turn the lemon cut side down and place in your mason jar or canning jar.  Give the lemon a firm squeeze to release a lot of the juices.  Try to release as much as you can without breaking the lemon apart. Repeat these steps with each of the lemons.  Place each lemon in the jar making sure to pack them tightly.  Fill almost to the top of the jar leaving about an inch of space.   Once filled, add two tablespoons of kosher salt to the top of jar and close the lid.  If the lemon juice does not go all the way to the top of jar, use additional lemon juice until it covers them. Give the jar a shake and leave it on your counter to rest.  Each day, for seven days, give it a shake.  After seven days, stash it in the fridge.  They won’t be fully cured for 4-6 weeks in the refrigerator.  You can use them earlier but they won’t have the same flavor. How to Use It’s important to realize that when you go to use these, you will need to first rinse the salt off.  Nobody wants that much in a dish.  Second, you will be removing the insides of the lemons.  Third, you are only going to use the peel.  So, once the skin is removed you will chop the peel very fine and add it to your dish.  Super easy! Storage Once everything is in the jar, you will need to shake these once a day for 7 days.  Then they are done.  You will notice the jar goes from clear to cloudy.  That’s totally normal.  Stash in the fridge.  These will last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year in the fridge in an airtight container.  The salt will eventually degrade the lemons and they will get very soft.  At which point I make a new batch. Morrocan Preserved Lemons are great in everything from soups to pilafs. It only needs two ingredients and time to make this umami packed flavor bomb. This recipe is so easy to make you won’t believe you didn’t do it sooner!  

Moroccan Preserved Lemons w/ Only 2 Ingredients Read More »

Fix It! Grammar Overview-Video Post

    Hey Guys!  I thought you might like to see the newest homeschool curriculum we are using.  It’s Fix It! Grammar by IEW.  Fix it! Grammar is an incredibly easy program that can be done in just 15 minutes a day.  The program is incredibly simple for both parents and students.  It only requires the teachers manual, student manual, a dictionary and a notebook or journal.  If you don’t have a dictionary available you can download one for free from Merriam-Webster for either Apple or Android HERE.   One of the things I like most about this program is that it incorporates vocabulary, writing skills and grammar into a simple 15 minute a day program. I also use it to build on penmanship.  So it’s a great multi-tasking curriculum. I have been extremely impressed by the simplicity of this program as well as its effectiveness.  We have had no trouble using it.  The program is good for multiple students of several different age ranges.  You only need one teachers manual, but you will need multiple student manuals.  You could also make copies of the student manual.  However, the program is reasonably priced.  So, purchasing additional manuals would be much easier and less time consuming. Here are some samples from the books. Parent’s Note This series is based on (for the most part) old fairytales and contain elements of magic.  I realize that some parents (including myself) take issue with some types of thematic elements in books and writing, so I wanted to make you aware of this.  I personally use these as a teaching element unto itself.  However, if this is not something you would want your children reading you will want to select a different curriculum. Fix It! Levels Fix It! Grammar has 6 levels.  The first level is The Nose Tree. Level 1 Nose Tree presumes no prior grammar knowledge and introduces basic parts of speech, end-mark punctuation, phrases, clauses, homophones, and more.  Level 1 is rated for grades 3-5.  The cost for the combo teacher/student editions is $29.  Each additional student is $19. Try Before You Buy You can try up to 4 weeks of this program free by going to this link HERE: If you like this video, be sure to check out these others: Unboxing All About Spelling Level 4 Unboxing Talkbox.mom Language Subscription Kits Using Spice Subscription Kits For Homeschool (Unboxing)

Fix It! Grammar Overview-Video Post Read More »

Kiwico Eureka Crates Subscription Kits Overview

    Hey guys!  I thought it would be great to show you an overview of KiwiCo Eureka Crates.  We have been using the KiwiCo Subscription Kits for a long time and have a great selection of their products.  This overview will give you a large look at not only the KiwiCo Eureka Crates boxes, but also give you an idea of their entire line.  You will get to see how well made they are as well as the quality and craftsmanship involved. The KiwiCo Eureka Crates line is rated for ages 12+, but I have found younger kids can do it with assistance.  These kits start at $26.95.  However a lot of their other lines start at $18.50 and begin at ages 0+.  Also, they give great discounts on multi-month subscriptions.  The longer the subscription, the more you save.   I am such a huge fan of KiwiCo as a company.  Not only are their products great, their customer support is even better.  They make fabulous gifts for kids.  So check out this video to see a vast array of their products.  Make sure to share with me your own KiwiCo Experience.  I’d love to hear how you like some of their other lines. If you like this video be sure to check out these others: Unboxing All About Spelling Unboxing Talkbox.mom Language Subscription Kits Unboxing Barnabas Robotics Part 1

Kiwico Eureka Crates Subscription Kits Overview Read More »

Writing Challenges-When Your Child Hates Writing

  So if your child is anything like mine, writing is a challenge.  Sure there are those kids who were born to write, but most find it challenging.  This post isn’t going to make them great at writing, but hopefully, it will help you find out the reasons why they are struggling.  Once you find out why, it’s easier to help your child with writing challenges. Most people think that writing is simply the act of putting something down on paper.  I did.  In fact when my child started to struggle with it, I asked a trusted friend (who also happens to be an ex Montessori teacher) what she thought I should do.  She asked me which part of writing was difficult.  This was a new idea to me. Turns out writing is a multi-step process.  It involves the brain which needs to come up with ideas and thoughts.  Then that must be translated into a muscular function of the arm and the hands.  So the first challenge a parent faces is deciding which part of the process is causing difficulty.  Is it the brain struggling to come up with the ideas and thoughts, or is it the actual act of writing that is the problem?  Or both? Thoughts and Ideas The struggle to come up with your own ideas and thoughts is real.  Especially when you’re young and have had limited life experiences.  So for kids this is a real challenge.  Especially, young children. Starter Stories One of the things you can do to initiate good writing is to have starter stories, writing starters or writing prompts.  These can be found for free online by googling “story starters” or “writing prompts for kids”.  You can also purchase them online easily.  They come in books many times.  You can find some of them HERE. If your child is very visual you may want to try picture story starters or picture writing prompt books.  These books start with a drawing or picture and allow the child’s imagination to come up with a story.  It’s simple and effective and it works very well for many children.  You can find some of these HERE. Muscle Strength Muscle Strength is a real problem. Not just for kids but for adults as well.  Think of it this way.  You spend your whole life as a couch potato and one day you say, “I’m going to the gym.”  How does your body feel the day after?  Fantastic right?  When we ask children to start writing for the first time, it’s the same.  It takes many muscles in the body all working together to complete the act of writing.  If those muscles aren’t strong, the physical act can literally be exhausting.   Fine Motor Skills While Muscle Strength is a problem, for many children the real issue lies with fine motor skills.  These tiny muscles in the body that control minute movements can be very weak or underdeveloped.  Boys in particular tend to struggle with this due to the vast majority of things they play with as children.  Girls are often taught to color and do things with their hands.  Boys often play with trucks and action figures.  Different muscles get stronger by doing these things.  So in a sense some children literally have “writing atrophy”. It’s extremely important to develop these fine motor skills because they control functions such as writing, holding pencils, buttoning your clothes and more.  By working on fine motor skills you will improve not only dexterity but also the quality of your child’s writing. Hand Strengthening Exercises If writing is a problem due to muscle weakness, you will want to focus on hand strengthening exercises.  Montessori techniques are wonderful.  Montessori focuses on pincer grasp development.  Pincer grasp is the ability to hold something between the thumb and the first finger.  These movements particularly strengthen the muscles used for writing.  If you don’t know where to begin, just google “pincer grasp activities”.  Many of these simple and free techniques can help children become proficient writers.  You can also purchase toys specifically designed for strengthening these muscles HERE.   A great technique if your children are younger is to literally break all their crayons in half.  Yes, your kids will find it weird and so will your friends.  Especially when you go to a restaurant and start breaking crayons on the table.  But so what?  Think of it as a great conversation starter.  You can do this with pencils as well, although I found buying golf pencils worked much better.  Using these mini writing devices forces the hands to work in the desired way.  It requires more use of the pincer muscles, which will help strengthen the hands. Final Thoughts It can seem very frustrating when you feel that your child is not as successful at doing something other children the same age are doing.  Try to keep in mind that all children develop different skills at different times.  However, you can definitely create a more positive, successful environment by first determining what the real issue is behind the problem and then coming up with the appropriate solution.  This will make it much easier to help your child with writing challenges. The worst mistake we can make as educators is to force a child to complete a task they aren’t ready for.  They will end up in tears, hating what they are doing.  Sometimes it’s better to wait until they are ready.  So it may be that you need to put the pencils down and play with some legos, or teach your child beading.  Improve those fine motor skills, then go grab a pencil.  You will be amazed at the difference it can make.   If you have enjoyed reading this post be sure to check out some of these others: Why You Should Create a Homeschool Budget 7 Things I Wish I Would Have Known About Homeschooling While Working How to choose a Homeschool Schedule

Writing Challenges-When Your Child Hates Writing Read More »

A jar filled with apple candy bites sits on top of a wooden table. Some of them have spilled out onto the table.

Raw Apple Candy Bites (2 Ingredients)

My favorite thing about these apple candies (other than eating them) is the way they make your house smell.  The incredible scent of vanilla will be everywhere in your home.  This recipe only requires two ingredients to make an addictive “candy”.  The secret to these Raw Apple Candy Bites is the vanilla.  Yes, you really are going to use that much of it!  It transforms these otherwise simple candies into something magical.  I actually can’t keep these for more than a day or two in my house.  The three pounds I made for this post lasted exactly one day.  Seriously!  They have the chew and texture of candies with none of the artificial stuff. These are nutrient dense snacks that are healthy and taste good.  Your kids will love them and so will you. Peeling These require peeling your apples.  I highly recommend using an apple peeler.  You can use a vegetable peeler as well.  However, even with a big batch of apples, this will only make a small amount of candy.  Three pounds yields about 16oz.  So you will do a lot of peeling.  An apple peeler makes a world of difference.  Plus, it gives you an excuse to make apple pie. Chopping It’s very important to make sure that you chop these as uniform as possible.  The closer in size the pieces are the better.  Keeping them about the same size will help them to dehydrate at the same speed.  If you make a lot of different sizes you will have to take some out early and leave some in longer.   Dehydrators This recipe requires a dehydrator.  I really prefer a dehydrator with a thermostat on it.  My favorite are the Excalibur Dehydrators.  A lot of dehydrators get way too hot for this recipe.  But if that’s all you have, go for it.  The apples won’t be quite as chewy.  But they will still taste great.  I haven’t put these in the oven so I don’t currently have an option for that.  If someone wants to do it and post it in the comments section for the rest of us, feel free.   Vanilla Use the best quality vanilla you can afford or find.  This recipe is really all about the vanilla.  Do not use vanillin or artificial vanilla which is made from things like old wood.  Remember the simpler the recipe the better your ingredients should be.   Apples I have tried this recipe with every kind of apple and it tastes good with all of them.  Use your favorite variety and you can’t go wrong.  Granny Smiths will have a more sour candy flavor, while red apples will provide more sugar content for a sweeter candy. Final Thoughts These Raw Apple Candy Bites are great eaten as is.  I secretly eat them like popcorn during my favorite movie.  However, they are also wonderful additions to trail mixes, in lunch boxes for snacks and in muffins.  This recipe is a great way to introduce kids to a non candy alternative.  For other kid friendly recipes, be sure to check out my Strawberry Delight Lassi. I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe.  Let me know what you think.   This incredibly easy recipe is vegan, paleo, raw and dairy free. It’s so easy to make and tastes incredible. You just need apples and vanilla.

Raw Apple Candy Bites (2 Ingredients) Read More »

7 Things I Wish I Would Have Known About Homeschooling While Working

  After I started homeschooling, I began to get phone calls from moms who wanted to learn how to homeschool as well.  One of the questions I would get is, “how do you homeschool while working.”   I realized that there are 7 things I wish I would have known about homeschooling while working.  So I decided I wanted to share them with you.  I would say that I’m a busy person.  Very busy.  I’m not a full time stay at home mom.  I work 20+ hours a week and homeschool 4.5 days a week. Then I take care of household chores and scratch make most of our meals.  Not to mention volunteer work and ministry work.  In my downtime (I’m currently laughing) I write this blog.  The reason that I’m saying all this is simply to say that it is possible to homeschool while working.  So here are the 7 things I wish I would have known about homeschooling while working.   1.) Why Should You Homeschool? Homeschool allows you the freedom to educate your child in the way you want.  Not the way someone else wants.  It also allows you the ability to modify your child’s education to their needs.  If they are in need of extra assistance you can give it.  If they are above grade level in a subject, you can move them up.  You make the schedules and the rules. 2.) It Takes Proper Planning It’s important to have a plan when you are homeschooling.  It’s even more important to have a plan when you are working and homeschooling.  Having a proper schedule setup makes your life much easier.  You won’t be trying to come up with lessons on the fly. While you may not always stick to the schedule, having one eliminates stress.  Trying to homeschool while working, without a plan, is the fastest way to failure. 3.) There Are Different Types of Homeschooling The first thing you must choose when working is what type of homeschool you will use while working.  There are online homeschools that will teach your child without the need for you to do anything.  Hybrid curriculums that will do part of the lessons online and part at home are also available.  You can also choose open and go curriculums that are “all in one” where you teach with minimal prep work.  Some choose to build their own curriculum, which is what I do.  It is more work than some of the others, but it gives me the most freedom and it’s what works best for us.   You need to decide how many days you will teach.  When I first started I did 5 full days of school.  Now I only do 4.5 and I don’t feel so fatigued.  It’s amazing the difference a half day can make!  Some families only do three days and take 4 days off.  Others only teach in the morning and not the afternoons.  I teach a lot of Sundays because I work during the week.  Remember though, it’s not about what others do.  It’s about what works for you. 4.) There Are Different Types of Schoolwork There are days I have to work and I need to send school work with my sitters.  So, I have two types of school work in my home.  I have homework that must be done with an educator and work that can be done independently.  When I send work to the  babysitters I make sure that most of the work can be done independently or that the lesson has been pre-taught by me.  This allows my child to learn self sufficiency and how to work without me and allows the sitter to not be super stressed about schoolwork. When lessons need to be taught I make sure to do it on days I’m home.  I honestly prefer this.  It keeps me up to date on what lessons are being learned.   5.) Having A Great Support Team is a Must I am very blessed to have a husband who is supportive and picks up things when I feel exhausted.  Whether that’s laundry, cooking or a half day of school.  I also have the help of family and friends.  So, I can’t say enough about having a great support team.  Having even one extra person can really help you to succeed.  Whether that’s a spouse, a BFF, a co-op group, your neighbor or a relative, don’t be afraid to ask for help.  You might be surprised at who is willing to help you when you run out of energy.  If you don’t have any of these there are local homeschool co-ops and groups that you can join. 6.) Concessions Must Be Made An important thing to realize when you are homeschooling is that things are not always going to go according to plan.  This is especially true when you are working and others are checking in on your little ones.  Lessons will be missed.  Work may get skipped.  It’s okay.  It will all get done in the end.  Remember that kids miss lessons even in public school due to sickness or vacations.  Nothing bad will happen from a missed lesson or two. The other important lesson I have learned is that if you’re working and teaching and a wife and mother, then sometimes things just aren’t going to get done.  Sometimes the beds won’t get made and the laundry won’t get folded.  It’s fine.  Prioritize life in order of what’s most important.  The rest will get done.  Eventually. 7.) Know Your Limits When I first started homeschooling, I did five full days of lessons and we didn’t take a lot of time off.  I started to burn out as did my family.  Burn out is bad for everyone.  So, now we do a rotating schedule.  We do 4.5 days of lessons for four weeks.  Every 5th week we take a break.  This allows me the ability to catch up on everything from cleaning to grading papers.  It also

7 Things I Wish I Would Have Known About Homeschooling While Working Read More »

A bowl of strawberries sits next to a tall glass filled with strawberry lassi in it. They both sit on a place mat made of wicker on top of a colorful tablecloth.

Strawberry Delight Lassi-A Kid Approved Smoothie

  When I declared my intentions of writing a blog to my family I was told that this recipe had to be on it.  This simple Strawberry Delight Lassi recipe is a fan favorite in my house.  Hopefully it will be in yours as well.  This tastes just like a strawberries and cream popsicle only much healthier for you and your family.   What is a Lassi A Lassi if you haven’t heard of it is a creamy yogurt based drink much like a smoothie.  It originated in India.  This recipe is simple, tasty and easy to whip up.  It’s raw and filled with gut friendly probiotics.  This is a great recipe to get kids started on both smoothies as well as the spice cardamom.  Kids really like it as it has a milk shake consistency.  The secret to this recipe is the cardamom.  It doesn’t add tons in the way of spice.  It just helps the strawberry taste more like strawberry.  I added raw honey but I know it won’t be sweet enough for some.  Make it as is and then feel free to add Stevia or another sweetener of your choosing if you need more sugar. To Dairy or Not to Dairy In our home only some can eat dairy so this Strawberry Delight Lassi recipe is dairy free.  However, you could easily swap it for the dairy version.  I think the dairy free version tastes fabulous as long as you get a good quality, dairy free yogurt.  If you have one you love, use that.  Otherwise my two favorite brands are the Kite Hill brand and Trader Joes new cashew alternative brand.  They both taste great in this recipe and have minimal ingredients and fillers.  I use the plain versions. What is Acerola The acerola purée is probably a little hard to find for some of you.  Acerola is a cherry sized tropical fruit.  It’s super high in vitamin C.  One serving provides over 1000% of your daily needs.  It adds just the right amount of tart without changing the flavor drastically.  I have had the best success finding it in the natural grocery store freezer section.  If you can’t find it at the store, it is available HERE in bulk.  I would definitely try to find it in the store first.   If you can’t find it you can swap it for mangos.  Mangos are a very traditional choice for lassi’s.  They also pair wonderfully with cardamom.  Just know it won’t taste the same as the acerola.  But, it’s still wonderful.    A Word About Cardamom This is a great recipe If you have never used cardamom.  If you think you’ve never tasted it, you probably have and just didn’t know it.  It’s what makes Chai Tea taste like Chai Tea.  Cardamom is the fruit of a herbaceous perennial plant from the ginger family.  It smells and tastes like camphor, but it a good way.  It’s a strong herb that provides a lot of flavor using only small amounts. You can purchase these pre-shelled and ground.  But I personally think the flavor is pretty lousy.  Not to mention the shelf life on ground cardamom is almost non-existent.  Whole cardamom pods will last through a zombie apocalypse as long as you store them remotely well (airtight container).  I like to use a mortar and pestle to crack them.  But if you don’t have one, you can use a heavy bottomed glass cup.  Smack them on the counter a few times until they crack.  Then remove the seeds inside.  If you have a mortar and pestle, you can grind them to a powder.  It will make the consistency smoother.  If not, just place the seeds in your blender.  As long as your blender has a decent motor, it should be fine. There is a huge difference in both the size and types of cardamom pods available on the market.  I have seen them very small and very large.  I adjusted the number of pods to reflect that.  Start with just a few for your first smoothie as you can always add more later.  You can’t take it out once it’s in.  Use wisely my friends. Final Thoughts I hope you like this Strawberry Delight Lassi as much as we do.  If you like this recipe be sure to check out my super easy Ginger Ale Syrup recipe.  Your family will love it!  It would make a wonderful sweetener for this smoothie.  Feel free to post your favorite Lassi recipe down in the comments section below. This kid approved lassi originates from India. It’s a simple five ingredient smoothie tastes like strawberries and cream. It’s dairy free and so easy to make you be blending it up every day. This recipe can easily be made vegan.  

Strawberry Delight Lassi-A Kid Approved Smoothie Read More »