Life on the Road

I’m not overly paranoid about stuff, but it did creep me out when I read this:

One third of all personal care products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.

 I mean . . . Eeew!

Does this mean that “organic” isn’t just for the “crunchy” folks among us anymore?  Where do you even begin?

One thing I tried recently was the skincare products from One Group, which is an Australian line that is all certified organic…  In fact, they claim to be

. . . the world’s first and currently only fully certified organic skin, personal and oral care products to food standards.

The facial cleanser and moisturizer certainly felt nice going on, and smelled nice - was that sunflower?  One thing I HATE is when something is so “natural” that it looks and smells kinda like . . . mud. 

Of course you can’t tell everything about a skin care line from one use, but it was encouraging.  There are certainly plenty of things in the world that you can rule out from just one use - or less!  LOL

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy baths?  One of the biggest frustrations I have with this house is the small tub, but that’s a story for another day…

I wanted to share with you the most amazing bath stuff I have ever used!  No, really!  This post may sound like a commercial, but I assure you I’ve posted less favorably about other things I’ve tried, and I really am just crazy about this stuff!  I’m not getting a penny off any sales this may generate - although if she offered an affiliate program, I’d sign up in a heartbeat!  And be sure to check the end of the post for a Top Secret Discount Code you can use to get your own goodies for less!

Check out Kristine’s Shower (and if your first question, like mine, is “What’s with the name?” the answer is here).  Jenny actually does hand-craft all of her products, which is impressive in itself. 

If you’ve been reading for a while, you may recall that we’ve had mixed reviews of some of the “natural” and “homemade” soap and bath products we’ve tried.  Apparently, there IS a secret to it - and Jenny’s got it!

I got a cute assortment of sample sized products as a gift, so I got to try most of her products.

I am a big fan of scrubs.  Before I unpacked this gift, I aready had four different ones sitting by the shower - a sugar scrub, a salt scrub, an apricot scrub, and another body scrub that didn’t specify its scrubbiness.  So I was anxious to try the Body Frosting, which she says she created after trying numerous others that just didn’t do the trick for her.

All I have to say about it is, WOW!

With most salt or sugar scrubs you scrub it on, rinse off the granules, and your skin is left smoother and oily (in a good way, at least theoretically).  With the Kristine’s Shower Body Frosting, it just melted away!  My bathwater turned a lovely shade of blue, and my skin was silky and soft…  Did I mention WOW!?

And how cute is this?  The soap is called “Pink Cupcake” … and it looks like a cupcake, complete with pink frosting and sprinkles!  It was almost too cute to use.

And when I did break down and use it?  Of course I gave it to Wolf first, as he is the soap critic of the family.  He liked it!  “Not slimy, not filmy.”  With an endorsement like that, I had to try it for myself… Truly, it had none of that icky, soapy feeling that is the whole reaosn I’ve used liquid body wash for years now.  Two converts with one tiny bar!

My next bath I tried a Bath Bomb, which you’d hope would be good, coming from “The Bath Bomb Capitol of the Web.”  No joke, I was amazed - and I am (was) not a fan of bath bombs.  Other than for the mildly entertaining quality of watching them “fizz,” I never noticed that they did anything.  Then there was this one…

Although it fizzed mightily, it took its own sweet time dissolving completely.  The fragrance was mild, but pleasant, as was the color of the water.  The bath felt nice, and I was impressed.  But when I let the water out and dried off I noticed the real payoff - my skin felt soft and moist, as though I’d had a nice bath oil or something in the tub!  How in the world do you get oil into something that’s dry and fizzy?!

I also got to try the Aloe Body Whip and Shea Butter Sorbet, which were lovely, rich, non-greasy lotions… 

Anxious to try it for yourself?  The prices are already fair, but if you enter the code POST25 at checkout you’ll save 25% on your entire order! 

I’m going to get some more for me right now!! 

On more than one occasion, we have tried various schools.  And thus, on more than one occasion, we have pulled Nick out mid-year.

With textbooks, it’s a given that things are geared around a whole year, and that’s okay.  But having never been really comfortable piecing things together from scratch, I have tended to go for the “packaged curriculum” and “online school” kinds of things . . . which, naturally, are also geared around a whole school year.

Work-wise?  What a nightmare the year we joined a K12 Virtual Academy mid-year, and had to go through and check all the boxes and test out of all the tests for the entire first half of the year to satisfy the annual “minimum progress requirements”?

But financial-wise?!  I’m paying for a whole year to do half!

So I wanted to pass on something cool I came across recently - The Jubilee Academy is a Bible-based, accredited online program for Pre-K through 12th, with 24/7 online support and everything else you’d expect from an online homeschooling academy . . .

. . . and they offer a mid-year tuition discount starting February  1st, of some 55% off the full annual tuition. 

Just what the doctor ordered if you need to make a change mid-year.

Luckily, this year everyone in our household has stayed put.  What a relief! 

Many, many thanks to Nataly of Beeutiful Graphics for the terrific new look over at our fun blog about the Knaus Berry Farm Bakery.

Yes, those are real Knaus Berry Farm cinnamon rolls in the header and next to the titles…  Makes me hungry just reading the blog now! 

Nataly also designed the adorable “Sleepy Cat” theme we use here…

I wonder if I can figure out how to ship some hot baked goods to her, to show my appreciation…

As you know if you follow the blog at all, we are fans of old TV shows that are wholesome family entertainment.  We are accumulating a large collection on DVD: Andy Griffith, Little House on the Prairie, Wonder Woman, The Waltons, etc.

We recently rented “Family Ties”, remembering it as a fun and wholesome Michael J. Fox show… but it appears that by the 80’s “wholesome” was already a thing of the past.

On the first disc alone were episodes about a womanizing high school boy, and Alex’s “first time” - yes, a whole episode that glorifies taking that step through a casual affair as a teenager.  Not to mention the now-usual declines such as adults being disrespected and portrayed as dumb.

I guess we’ll have to make sure we go back further than the 80’s to look for Family Values - “Family Ties” sure doesn’t have them.

Anyone have any idea when that boundary line is?

I think Michelle is on to something:  Kids are more willing to eat things they help prepare, and you can use this to your advantage to sneak healthy food into your family menu.

I think I may be outside the optimal kid age window for this, though.  At 13, Nick is not likley to think something is cool just because he helps - his tastes and opinions are already very strong.  And at 2, Jewel’s a little young to do much, or care much… 

Hmmmm…

She also has a lot of fun cooking- and food-related gifts and products on the site, so it’s definately worth a look, regardless of kids’ ages. 

I am just so pleased with the last Chrsitmas gift I got for Jewel that I had to share it with all of you…

Here’s a photo of the gorgeous 3-D Name Art I commissioned from One of a Kind by Lexi:

It’s actually even cuter in person - I’m not a good enough photographer to be able to capture it properly.  The colors are really lovely - and match her room - and the 3-D detailing makes it really an interesting piece.  It even has green wire stems on the flowers!

I picked a frame that looked suitably Princess-y to Nick and I, and it’s now wrapped up and under the tree waiting for her…

Here’s another goody that I can across in my recent web surfing: K-12 Free Homeschool.

They offer

The same core curriculum courses that are offered elsewhere at $250 - $500 per school year are tuition-free. Optional electives are offered at 25%-50% of standard tuition.  Here’s how it can be tuition-free … They call it a “community-sponsored online home school academy.”  Essentially, it is paid for by corporate and non-profit sponsors as well as donations by parents who use the services - a concept the creators say has never been tried before.

Like any good online program, this is very flexible, and can be adapted for home school students with a variety of learning styles. You can mix and match grade levels, adjust your schedule to fit your life, allow your student to work ahead or take extra time to focus on specific subject matter, etc.

Crucial to me:  Their courses reflect Biblical truth because they have been written by curriculum developers from a Biblical world-view.

They’ve also got some great extra features (free) like an online grade book, transcripts, and parent/teacher Message Boards (get suggestions and support from other home school parents as well as their academic advisors).

Enrollments are limited right now because it is still in beta-testing.  Applicants may be placed on a “Waiting List,” but they say they will usually only have to wait 2-5 days for a space to open. (Open spaces are dependent on donations and sponsorships received.)

Here’s where to find the K-12FreeHomeschool.org Course Catalog.

Just wanted to share a couple of cute things I’ve run across online recently:

Elf Yourself

This is a fun/silly activity - see my kids elfed! 

Free Baby Stuff Giveaway!

The folks over at Our Blessed Arrows are preparing for a military transfer next spring, so they’re clearning out the inventory from their online shop by having weekly giveaways on their blog - just comment to enter.  This week’s giveaway is for a pair of Pedoodles baby or toddler shoes.

Happy beginning of the holiday season…  Regardless of the fact that Christmas stuff has been in stores since Halloween!  ICK!!  LOL

Who says modest clothes can’t be fun?

I was delighted to discover a new place to get things made for Jewel and I (and her baby doll!): Holy Hillbilly Creations. 

The first things we got were some sample products, which we’ve been having a blast with: cloth diapers (with Velcro) for baby dolls, and cloth baby wipes / washcloths.  They were SO nicely made that I figured I needed to go look at her site more carefully!

Rachel custom makes everything to order, and was patient with my long list of special requests.  She even designed pockets for Jewel to keep her pennies in (which are now a permanent option on her skirts).

Here’s Jewel in the adorable camo skirt we designed to match her cool new camo sneakers.  I love that the pockets are opposite colors, and the lace is such a cute “girl-izing” touch.

And here are Jewel and her baby in their matching Red, White and Blue skirts (aren’t those heart pockets great?).  So much fun it makes you jump for joy!

Did I mention how inexpensive this was?  I don’t see how she can do it for those prices…

And a special thank you to Rachel for her thoughtfulness.  She included a penny for each pocket, since in all our conversations she learned that was why we needed the paockets added!  How sweet!