20 Best Tips

For Real ~ Really!!

Years ago, when people first began ‘meeting’ over the internet, I was a tad bit cynical about the relationships that developed. Ok ~ maybe more then a tad. Last year I met Mary from Not Before 7, and last week I was BLESSED beyond measure to meet two more wonderful ladies IN REAL LIFE!!

{you can insert some squeals of excitement here}

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Carisa from 1+1+1=1 and Totally Tots I had far too much fun {and got together more than one day}. We hung out at her house, spent some time working on behind the scenes things for the Totally Tots site, wandered the aisles of several fun stores ~ but just enjoyed the time we had together and getting to know each other on a different level. I even got to play along with Krash for some Tot School fun, cuddle with the cute Lil’ Ladybug and have PacMan show me a thing or too on some itouch games. And seriously? I think her husband, Frank, was more than a little relieved to see that I’m a real, living person ~ and normal…well, mostly. :)

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Wednesday we traveled to meet up with Jill from Forever n Ever n Always and spent most of the day with her and 8 of her kiddos! It was gorgeous day, so we were able to spend some time outside and just play together. And all those kids? These are all unedited pics ~ they are all THAT stinkin’ cute! And sweet. And amazingly wonderful!

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These two ladies have challenged me on so many different levels over the last few months and God has blessed me exceedingly, abundantly ~ more than I ever imagined with their friendships! TRULY! I am honored to call them friends ~ and know that we’ve just scratched the surface of our friendship.

If you want to see some more pictures, you can also visit these posts:

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Ch-ch-ch-Changes….

In the next few days, you might notice things changing around a little bit here.

Hopefully not disappearing as I heed my own advice and BACKUP my template before doing anything {ahem} blog-threatening.

Just know that you are still in the same place. Same blog.

You’re just hanging out with someone who apparently has nothing better to do with her free time than fiddle with html and hope for the best.

Hang in there!

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The Swallowtail Dilemma

This isn’t anything earth shattering, but I’m having a bit of a dumb dilemma. We found a caterpillar on Labor Day {swallowtail} and brought it home to watch something different after all of the Monarch hatchings we’d had.

He ate. He grew. He made his cozy home. He hasn’t come out yet.

Much of the research I did pointed to him emerging between 2 and 3 weeks later, and we are well passed that time frame. Of course, the research ALSO says they can stay in their cozy home all winter long.

Which means I have a bug container sitting out on my counter – ALL WINTER LONG.

I’m tempted to stick him up high, but then what if I forget about him, he emerges and then dies because I didn’t notice?

Or worse, what happens if he emerges in the middle of the winter and I have no way of keeping him alive because I can’t release him outside?

Or what if it’s a dud?

What, oh what, is a mom to do? Would you keep it? Be a brute and ‘dispose’ of it outside?

Help a mom out and give me some ideas!!! What would you do?

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A Few Recent Posts

Some of you might know that I have another blog where I share more about our family and my thoughts in general.

Or make fun of myself.

Just wanted to share a few recent posts with you all to show that I’m not always focused on homeschooling and I’m not always the most patient with my kids:

Captain of the Obvious ~ because sometimes I get so focused on things I need someone to point out the obvious

Used Toy Sale Soon
~ the costly result of an overactive 4 year old

We Do Use Soap ~ truly we do. Even if Zachary isn’t familiar with it.

Those Pesky Phonics
~ The joys of spelling

Delighting in Our Blessings ~ There’s always something to be thankful for.
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If A Girl Buys a Laminator…

If a girl buys a laminator, chances are she’ll feel the need to also buy a pack of 50 laminating pouches to go along with it.

And if she buys 50 pouches, chances are she’ll feel the need to print off everything possible in order to fill those pouches.

And if she prints off everything possible, chances are that her printer will begin to despise her and decide that it’s time to run out of ink.

And if she runs out of ink, chances are that she’ll head over to Amazon and start looking around for the refill cartridges for her printer.

And if she gets on Amazon and starts searching, chances are that she’ll end up with way more in her cart than she planned for {all for the sake of free shipping} including an additional set of laminating pouches.

And if she has additional laminating pouches to fill….

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