The Homeschooling Blog

I rarely see people reading books, magazines, or newspapers anymore… well that is, not from hard copy. Most people today grab their news, information, and leisurely reading from an e-reader, tablet, or smart phone. Successful 21st century publishers recognize the growing demand for digital copy and have turned to sites like Turn-page.com to appease the growing number of tech savvy information seekers.

If you offer a publication and are looking to maximize your full market potential, you’ll need digital publishing software.  Your readers will not only appreciate the convenience of picking up your newsletter, magazine, or other publication from their tablet or smart phone, but they’ll recognize you’re alliance towards an environmentally responsible approach to sharing news and information. Why print when you can digitize?

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I have never been as heavy as I am today (outside of a pregnancy) and I’m horrified at what I see in the mirror. As a 41 year old mom to 2 who plans to stick around for awhile, I’ve been considering all my options for getting rid of the fat and slimming back down into a size 10… a size I once considered fat. No longer. A size 10 would be just fine. No complaints.

Over the past few weeks I’ve looked at Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and something called Slim for Life. I also looked at Nutri System. Then I looked at my budget. I thought about getting a second job so I could join a gym, or possibly buy a bike. I looked online at new running shoes and tonight went out and almost bought NEW work out clothes. Why do I think throwing money at my weight problem will get me anywhere? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve went no further than the store in an attempt to do something good for myself. I don’t need to shop. I do enough of that already… I need to start moving my body and stop eating like a 5 year-old at the circus.

I’ve decided not to pay anyone to help me lose weight. I’m not going to look at pills, join a weight loss program, or even buy a book. I have an elliptical in the basement so I don’t need to buy a new bike or purchase new running shoes. I can walk just fine on the track down the street in the shoes I already own and it won’t cost me anything. If my arches start to hurt I can buy new inserts. When I get bored with walking and have the funds to put toward a bike, I will then, and only then start looking for an AFFORDABLE bike.  If I wear out my tennis shoes on the track, I will then and only then replace them.

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The great thing about competition in the marketplace, is that it lends itself to bigger and better products and savings for customers like you and me. We all want to earn more and spend less… especially if we can spend less and get the same great quality. Nothing feels better than landing a great deal. Saving on things like housing, clothing, groceries, and yes insurance are not only great for our self-esteem, but mean more money to put towards more exciting things like family vacations, education, leisurely activities, and retirement.

It pays to do your research. How much time do you spend comparison shopping insurance rates? I’ll be the first to confess I’ve never compared insurance rates! Do you know what insurance companies look at when determining your rate? Lets look at auto insurance for example… your driving record and the value of your vehicle are no doubt taken into consideration, but do you know how car color relates to insurance rates? My guess is red costs more. I’ve always heard that red vehicles grab the attention of a police officer more than any other color. Hence, more speeding tickets… hence, higher insurance rates, maybe even before the tickets are issued! Could just owning a red car cost you in higher insurance premiums? This is the type of information it would be helpful to know before buying your next car!

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Until today I didn’t realize anyone still offered dial-up Internet services, but guess what? They do! lol Our household has been using broadband high speed Internet access for so long now, it hadn’t  occurred to me that we might be missing an opportunity to save money. Families in budget-crunching mode, scrounging for ideas on where to cut back, without ditching a service all together could save a chunk of change each year by scrapping dsl for dial up Internet service. The only real drawback this blogger’s aware of is that of speed. If you’re not all that concerned about quick service… meaning fast search results, and you live in the US or Canada, you should look into dial up.

Years ago we had dial up,  delivered by way of telephone connection (landline) and a modem. If you don’t use your computer all that much, this option for Internet connectivity is worth considering, starting at as low as $10 a month (even less if you pay annually). If you’re using your computer for school and/or business and spend a lot of time surfing the web, this option won’t suit you well. For just a few dollars more, you may find a high speed dial-up Internet.

Regardless of where you currently have your Internet service, or how you receive Internet, it never hurts to examine your options. There are so many little things we can do to cut expenses and all those little things add up to some big savings! What do you do to save money?

I have been gaining weight for the past 2 years… about 10 lbs each year, and I can’t get it off. Part of my struggle is with basic willpower (so hard to stay away from sugar and carbs!) and lack of exercise, and then there’s my age. I’m 41 and I can tell my metabolism is slowing down. It’s so hard to be at the age where I have to measure portions, pass on the fun stuff, and still not fit nicely into my clothing. Sometimes I just want to scream! I weighed myself this morning and I’m up to 185! It wasn’t that long ago when I was 158 and feeling bad about my body. What should I feel at 185 if I wasn’t happy at 158?

Exercise and healthy eating are essential to proper weight. Oh, ya… I know. I’ve always known. What about life though? What about my crazy schedule and my special needs son? I probably treat myself (sometimes when I get out I throw myself a party) far too often. Darn those donuts!

Until I get it figured out, I’d love to find some suitable shapewear. I love what this site says… “Muffin Tops belong in a bakery”! My muffin top is starting to look like a spare tire. It’s to the point I can even see it from behind, not just in front. I’m so ashamed.

I’d love to own some quality women’s shapewear to give me a bit more confidence. It would just be nice to look good in my clothes again. Even through what I’m hoping will be a transition towards a thinner me.

So the image below isn’t me, but it may as well be. I have a similar unfortunate shape. I think our muffin tops really age us. I feel like I have such a middle-aged mom body! I’m soooo not ready for that!

It’s so hard to be on top of everything all the time, taking care of house and home, and to look good doing it. I do want to lose the weight, but until I do, I would love some foundation garments so I can feel attractive again. Even when the weight comes off, I’ll have to face facts that I’m not a teenager anymore. I’ll probably always look better with shapewear than without!

Whether it is by choice or by lack of options, homeschooling is a way that many households deliver education to the children. This task can be more difficult than many parents may realize. With the right tools at your disposal, you can make it a painless experience for yourself and your child. In fact, homeschooling can be more rewarding for the child if you are able to invest a few dollars into gadgets and technology that a school may not have access to.

1. Curriculum – First and foremost you’re going to need curriculum for your student. This is the most important aspect and you need to be with the times. Fortunately for you, there are a number of websites on the Internet that can provide you with free worksheets, lesson plans, and material to teach your child just about anything you can think of. All you need is a printer.

2. Whiteboard – What classroom atmosphere is complete without a whiteboard and dry erase markers? Whiteboards have a variety of uses and will add the air of professionalism while sitting at the kitchen table. Sizes of all kinds can be found for these ranging from a personal 8-inch by 10-inch slate to sizes large enough to cover your wall. Most cheap outlet stores will have the smaller sizes in the educational section for a couple of dollars or so.

3. Educational Apps – If you’re in a tech-savvy family dynamic, then you probably have access to smartphones and tablets. There is a wide range of education assisting apps for mobile devices that could greatly assist the needs of your child. Everything from encyclopedias that are based on fact and not editable, to mathematical games and material can be found for Android and iOS devices. Space exploration, science, art, and more can easily be downloaded and a great deal of them are free to use. Even the ones that cost money are usually quite cheap and rich with content.

4. Whiteboard Applications – The Internet will be one of your greatest assets for homeschooling children of all ages. With the use of free whiteboard web-based applications, you can demonstrate materials and more by creating a private session between your computer and your child’s. Images, text, files, and more can be uploaded and shared with your child regardless of your current position. This means you are able to continue teaching and assisting your child while you are away from the home. Websites like Scribblar, Groupboard, and many others have free personal accounts you can utilize.

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I’ve been hurt on the job more than once, but have never sustained significant injury. The only two times in my work history I was sent to see a physician, it was for cuts. Each time my medical needs were covered and I had no permanent disability, just a few minor scars.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve known people who suffering long term physical pain and loss of full function from work related injures. One of whom never sought out a lawyer. She fell off a ladder at work and suffered long term back problems without any type of financial accountability from her employer. Given that accident could have been prevented had the facility been properly maintained, she really should have consulted with an attorney experienced in worker’s compensation.

If you’re looking for a worker’s compensation lawyer in St. Paul, you may want to do an Internet search using the key words worker’s comp lawyer St. Paul. Don’t allow too much time to pass without a consultation with an experienced attorney. Find out what your rights are and if you have a case. Be sure to limit your search to an experienced law firm that will only collect fees (from you the client) if you collect a settlement.

This post is underwritten by our partner Dog Fence DIY, the most affordable resource for wireless dog fencing.

For nearly a decade of “family” we had no pets to share life with. Children it seemed were more than enough, or so we thought. Then one early December morning my husband found a letter to Santa, written by our then 9 year old daughter. “Dear Santa, You don’t have to bring me any toys this year, all I really want is a golden retriever puppy. It should be a girl and she’ll need to have food and a bed, because all the stores will be closed on Christmas day.” There was more, but you get the gist. How could we say no to that? It was time to make room in our family for just one more!

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We live in the suburbs of a fairly large metropolitan area where we’re no stranger to the signs of a struggling economy. There have been at least half a dozen foreclosed homes in our neighborhood over the past 2 years. Just this month, a homeowner down the street suffered the same fate, with signs on windows, a lock box on the door, and a home left standing empty.

I tell my husband all the time that foreclosure can happen to anyone, regardless of their current circumstances. I think a lot of us assume that those facing foreclosure bought homes outside their price range. While that’s often the case, there are obvious exceptions. How long could you continue paying your current mortgage if you experienced lost income?  Good, honest, hard-working people lose homes to foreclosure all the time.

If you’re in fear of foreclosure, don’t hesitate to seek legal council before it’s too late. It is possible that the right attorney might be able to save your home. Divorce, illness, and termination of employment could leave you without a roof over your head. Don’t stand alone. If you’re in the Naples area and looking for an attorney experienced in foreclosure, you may want to search key words Naples Foreclosure Attorney.