Teachable {MOM}ents

Today, I am sharing 4 DIY Christmas crafts over at Frugal Homeschool Family  as part of the 25 Frugal Days of Christmas... To find out how to make these crafts, click here ! 

Christmas is the perfect time to host a Pinterest party! Last year my mom and I put one together, and let me tell you - it was a blast! In reality, it was super relaxing and enjoyable. Four hours of fellowship, food and crafting - what more could a girl want? ;) We made recipes we found on pinterest, and each guest brought one craft to share with the group. We provided hot glue guns, scissors, ribbon and glitter snow paint - plus bags to take our crafts home.  Our bags said "Saw it. Pinned it. Did it." - a Pinterest idea ;) The yummy food... My mom's famous punch - not from Pinterest :) Chocolate Dipped Oreos & Peppermint Cookies Chocolate Caramel Truffles as favors Chips & Salsa Bar Layered Taco Dip Mini Wonton Tacos Our crafting gear The ladies crafting away :) Popsicle Stick Snowflake Wreath Stick Vases Christmas Craft Frames Stick Stars & Scrapbook...

*Post contains affiliate links* Last year I started a new Christmas tradition with my children. I created a list of 24 activities that we would accomplish during December - one for each day leading up to Christmas - a part of our Advent celebration. I am going to share my list with you and you will also find some FREE printables - you can either use my list or print the blank cards and create your own - you can even mix and match!  24 Days of Christmas 1-            Write Christmas Wish List 2-          Color a Christmas Picture 3-          Make Christmas Tree Ornaments       4-        Sort through toys to donate 5-          Hot Chocolate &  Watch Christmas Movie 6-           Play with s ensory  S...

Today I am sharing my first post as a contributor at FreeHomeschoolDeals.com !  I watch in slow motion as the eyes widen and the lips forcefully come together. “MMMMIIIINNNEEE!” I hear as the little form of a toddler hurls itself toward the unsuspecting sibling. The sibling quickly registers what is going on and clings to the toy phone, pushing the toddler away. But, not to be deterred, the toddler goes in for the big finale – mouth open and teeth slide across skin, beginning to clench down…I reach them just in time to pull the sibling away from the toddler’s eminent bite. We are born with it – that sin nature, that desire for self. A giving, selfless, servant’s heart – well, those things don’t come so naturally... To read the rest of this post, click here !   

I have created a FREE printable Thanksgiving placemat for you! You can personalize these placemats by adding your own little turkey's photo! You can print as an 8x10 (on letter size paper) or use the 8x14 size for a larger placemat (on legal size paper). Click here to download the 8x14 placemat Click here to download the 8x10 placemat Blessings!

My friend Sarah from My Joy Filled Life is giving a piece of custom jewelry from Origami Owl! Isn't that just awesome?!? You can enter below :)  Tell your story with an Origami Owl Living Locket Wearing an Origami Owl Living Locket is a creative way to share who you are, where you've been, and where you're going - it tells your own unique story.  They also make meaningful gifts for the special people in your life - let that special someone know just what they mean to you with a custom Living Locket that you made just for them. Haven't heard of Origami Owl? Origami Owl is a customizable jewelry company that helps you tell your own personal story and show off your personal style with jewelry.  By choosing from the wide variety of chains, lockets, charms, plates, and dangles, you can make your own unique creation that is just as unique as you! The company started back in 2010 when 14-year-old Bella had a dream of buying a car for her 16 th birthday.  He...

The turkey's perfectly golden, the pies are beautiful, the table is set, the children are...hanging from the chandelier?!? It is a lot to expect from little ones - sitting still and quiet, eating food they may not like, being hugged and kissed by relatives they do not know, missing naps, eating sugar - it is a recipe for tantrums and foolishness. Thankfully, I am blessed with a wonderfully understanding mother (she has worked in childcare for 25 years!) who hosts our Thanksgiving Dinner and we work together to make it "kid-friendly" a.k.a. fun! Here are some ways we do that, some may work for your situation - some may not, but I encourage you to plan ahead and think about ways that you can make it enjoyable for all ages!  We set a table (or part of the main table) specifically for the children. No fancy table cloths or napkins - we have found this table cloth they could color at Wal-Mart. Using place-cards is a great way to help children stay where they are sup...