Vintage Homeschool Moms

Happy 4th Birthday to the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network Usually, a birthday is celebrated with cake and cookies, or something sweet, right? Well, our "happy" 4th birthday is no different, however, the "sweetness" comes from a special giveaway - a cash prize. To sign up for your chances visit the giveaway here. Happy 4th birthday to US and YOU get a present! Please enjoy this podcast as I recall the beginning idea of a podcast network and take you through each of the current podcasts - with new shows weekly, bi-monthly or once a month. In this episode, I explain what you will hear when you tune in. Do you have a special topic you'd like to hear? We are an email away. Each of podcasters works hard to bring you fresh shows with topics you will enjoy. I'm excited to be celebrating our 4th birthday with you with thousands of shows available for you to listen to - or search on the front page of this website for a topic you'd like to find. More than likely our podcasters have already created the show, just for you! If you have any questions - please contact me at felice (at) mediaangels.com - I am happy to help. If you are coming to the party a bit late, don't worry. You will never miss the fun. At the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network, we have bonus and giveaways weekly for our special email subscribers. In order to get on the list, visit this page to subscribe. And if you enjoy social media we are on Facebook.com/UltimateHomeschoolRadioNetwork, Twitter - Pinterest, Instagram, and Google+

The Art of Kids Cooking Raddish Kids Creator - Meet Chef Samantha Barnes with Felice Gerwitz Podcast #225 Did you know cooking is an art? Did you know the art of kids cooking can be successful? Today, many people order food kits to prepare meals at home, now kids can learn to cook like a professional. How? With an amazing kit that comes right to your doorstep. Raddish Kids Creator, Samantha Barnes is our special guest and shares how she created this amazing kit for kids. Learn how parents can guide their children with easy to prepare meals at home, each month. The interactive sets include specialty items to cook with as well as laminated cards and step-by-step meals with wonderful illustrations.   Thanks to our sponsor, Raddish Kids! Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page Show Notes: Raddish Kids Creator - Meet Chef Samantha Barnes  * Samantha began as a teacher and soon realized her students loved cooking. She is the founder of Kitchen Kid and is a Culinary Coach. Samantha has merged her two passions – teaching and cooking. Soon she began Raddish Kids with the idea to send recipes home for parents to incorporate with their own children. * Homeschoolers love to incorporate "school" in creative ways ... I love the concept of cooking with kids - share with us your goals for cooking: (Check out the website and the list "what will your Rad-Kid gain from cooking with you?" https://www.raddishkids.com/pages/cooking-with-kids * Getting kids to eat healthily I think is one of the most difficult parenting challenges - Samantha shares her suggestions including cooking with children. Be sure to leave enough time to cook so you are not rushed. Children love eating things they create. * Raddish kids include recipes for kids with allergies or dietary restrictions on their website Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor! We'd like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Raddish - a cooking club and curriculum, specially designed FOR KIDS by chefs and educators! Raddish is perfect for homeschooling families! Teach thematic cooking lessons that incorporate math, science, nutrition, geography, and culture. With Raddish, the kitchen is the tastiest place to learn! Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for $15 off a 6 or 12 month membership. Visit RaddishKids.com/Homeschool to learn more and to download a free lesson. Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page Don’t forget to visit the website and enter the special money off coupon code – this offer is not available elsewhere and we are so blessed to offer this to our listeners just in time for the holidays!  

15 Healthy Recipe Substitutions & Alternatives Episode 226 When I started to look at my favorite recipes I was shocked to see that most of them contained "bad-for-you" items.  I found 15 Healthy Recipe Substitutions after I began looking and testing alternative substitutes. I had two goals and one was health and the second is that it would make my recipes taste the same if not better. In this episode, I explore some of these substitutes with an explanation of what works and why some choices are better than others. Show Notes: 15 Healthy Recipe Substitutions and Alternatives * Coconut Oil in place of shortening * Here are some great food conversions you can try with your recipes. The first and the greatest is coconut oil – I found a wonderful oil that is flavor free and you can substitute it for anything that calls for shortening. It really imparts no flavor and gives cookies that chewy texture we love! Discount if you sign up for the ezine: Wilderness - Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil here. * unsweetened organic applesauce instead of oil in recipes, you can substitute (1:1 ratio of sugar) * Egg substitute: * Flaxseed – ground and you add water. 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed (grind it fresh –don’t use the ground variety) and add 2.5 tablespoons of water. You can use this for pancakes, muffins or some baked goods – doesn’t bind as well as eggs. * Chia seeds. Add 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds with 1 cup of water – let it sit for 15 minutes * Unbleached white, organic flour with flax seed (whole not ground). * Whole wheat flour milled at home with organic wheat * Dark leafy greens instead of lettuce (or mix it in – have the kids do this and it looks pretty!) * Zucchini for pasta – this may be a hard sell for your kids, but I love it! (spaghetti squash for pasta – not my favorite but some people love this!) * Corn tortillas instead of flour for gluten-free diets – but look for non-GMO and organic * Quinoa instead of couscous – or even oatmeal – but that is a hard sell for some –I love quinoa and kale - it is yummy * Lettuce wraps – my kids love them. We make chicken Caesar wraps on tortilla shells or romaine lettuce leaves – yum! * Ground chickpeas – makes hummus – who knew! If you add some fresh crushed garlic, extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to taste even your pickiest eaters – and you can use fresh veggies to dip into the hummus instead of chips. * Sugar substitutes: * Stevia for sugar. It is way sweeter than sugar so a little bit goes a long way, and there is an aftertaste – so use it sparingly. You can use liquid stevia – not cheap! * Vanilla extract: cut the sugar in half and add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. You can use this in pancakes, muffins, cookies. You may need to play with the exact ration depending on your recipe. * Unsweetened organic applesauce instead of sugar. You can substitute (1:1 ratio of sugar) the applesauce, but cut the liquid in your recipe down by ¼ a cup * Plain yogurt instead of sour cream. Works great in all recipes and even dips and baked potatoes. My kids never noticed. * Potatoes: * Sweet potatoes instead of baked potatoes or fries * Kale chips – wash, lightly toss with olive oil, salt, pepper paprika (chili powder – if you want a kick) and bake in the oven. Watch it – burns easily. * Sliced tomatoes instead of tomato sauce on pizza – it is delicious! My kids love it on focaccia bread.

Cooking With Kids with Felice Gerwitz Podcast # 224 Do you realize all the reading, math, science and advanced thinking skills are involved when cooking with kids? In this podcast, Felice discusses the long history of cooking in her family long before "farm to table" was fashionable. With a large family, cooking is something we do often - so why not include your children in the process? Thanks to our sponsor, Raddish Kids!  Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page Kids like to eat what they cook. Allowing them to serve their own food helps them in their food choices. Set a good example by eating a variety of foods or having foods available for them to eat. Especially finger foods and cut up fruit. Age-appropriate tasks and expect a mess! Show Notes: Cooking With Kids * Children Helping in the kitchen: * Setting the table * Washing dishes / putting dishes in the dishwasher * Cooking with mom * Select food choices * Exempt for cleanup * Help plan the menu Homeschoolers Cooking with Kids -Make cooking part of school: * Hands-on experience for the little kids * Cleanliness – teach children to be neat in the kitchen * Kitchen safety. * Writing out the recipes – the children can use it for copy work. * Reading and following directions. * Math skills – temperature to cook, measuring, calculating, fractions, dividing recipes or increasing them (two or three times), depending on family size. * Agriculture – learning about how things are grown * Geography: Source – where do foods come from? * Good nutrition – how food works to make us strong. * Cooking skills – learn various techniques. * Shopping for foods – putting together a grocery list. * Different cuisines – Asian, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Thai etc. Here are some things to ensure better quality time when cooking with kids: * If you are pressed for time, including the kids may not work. * Weekends – the best time for cooking * Age appropriate skills * Safety consideration – sharp knives, hot stove, etc. * Simpler dishes and meals again – again, Raddish kids offered things like chocolate pudding, sloppy joes, and tater tots and salad making. Very high on kids lists of favorite foods – and if you use organic ingredients. Muffins, or assembling a pizza – you can use mini-bagels, or gluten free flatbreads or English muffin. More thoughts - * Prep ahead. Sometimes the messier activities are better done in advance, like measuring out flour or sugar and having it ready in containers for the little ones to just pour, older kids can do this on their own. * Washing berries like blueberries – unless they are fresh (frozen makes a mess) * Keep paper towels handy. * Doing some prep work in advance, such as rinsing the berries for muffins etc. in advance does help – again with age appropriateness. Cooking with kids - kid-friendly ideas * Set the stage for healthy eating - encourage kids to help * Teach kitchen cleanliness. Wash hands first, use clean surfaces. * Use stool to stand on or a separate lower table so they can reach * use charts with the recipes * Raddish Kids - great illustrated cards * Use kid friendly utensils - blunt knives so they can help * Be creative. Use skewers for bite size pieces.

20 Healthy Snacks For Kids (or anyone!) with Felice Gerwitz Podcast #223 Snacks are not going away, so it's time to begin eating healthy snacks. In this episode Felice shares some of her family favorites as well as her passion which is helping her children reach adulthood with a good basis in healthy eating. Eating healthy is fun and there are ways to save money -- all in this podcast. Thanks to our Sponsor Show Notes: Healthy Snacks: * Survey your family - what are favorite snacks. * When do your children crave snacks? * What are some areas of compromise? * How can you combat those snacks that "creep" into your home? * Make a list and look at ways to turn those snacks into a healthier version Healthy Snacks: I'll be adding recipes on my Cooking with Kids Podcast  * Nuts - organic and raw if possible * Seeds - sunflower seeds, pumpkin, golden flaxseeds * Chia Seed Recipes * Dried fruits - apples, pineapple, bananas, dates, raisins, cranberries * Dried veggies * Oatmeal bars - home made * Granola bars - home made * Dark chocolate covered ... nuts, dried fruits * Air-popped corn * Cheese and crackers * Kale chips (make them!) * Chia and cashew butter, or chia and peanut butter -organic * Smoothies * Fruit kabobs * Bowls of fresh fruit * Vanilla yogurt - homemade * Banana and peanut butter (or almond/hazelnut butter) * Beet chips - try them! * Fresh veggies with yogurt or nondairy dip * Protein balls * - homemade - dates, whey protein, nut butter, salt and cocoa * - homemade - dates, whey protein, nut butter, coconut, nuts Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor! We'd like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Raddish - a cooking club and curriculum, specially designed FOR KIDS by chefs and educators! Raddish is perfect for homeschooling families! Teach thematic cooking lessons that incorporate math, science, nutrition, geography, and culture. With Raddish, the kitchen is the tastiest place to learn! Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for $15 off a 6 or 12 month membership. Visit RaddishKids.com/Homeschool to learn more and to download a free lesson. Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page

Kids Eating Healthy with Felice Gerwitz Podcast #222 Are your kid eating healthy? Most kids don't and many parents believe that eating healthy is one of the hardest parts of parenting. Even those who only serve healthy foods find their kids gravitating to the sweets tables at birthday parties. What is a mom and dad to do? In this podcast, Felice shares what has worked for her family and talks about battles she has lost. (Can you say chips?) Thanks to our sponsor, Raddish Kids! Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page Show Notes: Kids Eating Healthy * What do your kids like to eat? Do a survey * Do your children have food allergies? * Does your family like different foods? * Not so fun facts: * A popular fast food chain's chicken nuggets only contain 50 percent chicken and the other 50 percent includes corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and completely synthetic ingredients. * Nonfood ingredients can affect your health * Foods to avoid: * High Fructose corn syrup * GMO - genetically modified ingredients * MSG - monosodium glutamate * Food Additives - preservatives and coloring Foods In Order Of Ideal Consumption: Mercola Food Pyramid - Download here 1. Healthful fats & Veggies - healthy fats include coconuts, avocados, olive oil, butter and raw nuts, raw, organic vegetables 2. Protein - grass fed, organic meat and poultry, organic eggs, fish - wild fish, dairy 3. Fruits 4. Grains and sugars - complex carbs, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, corn, rice, grain What types of foods do you like to eat? Do you know what types of foods your children like? Nutritional Typing Extra Interesting Articles: Dirt help promote kids immune systems Dangers of eating chicken nuggets   Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor! We'd like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Raddish - a cooking club and curriculum, specially designed FOR KIDS by chefs and educators! Raddish is perfect for homeschooling families! Teach thematic cooking lessons that incorporate math, science, nutrition, geography, and culture. With Raddish, the kitchen is the tastiest place to learn! Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for $15 off a 6 or 12 month membership. Visit RaddishKids.com/Homeschool to learn more and to download a free lesson. Check out this info pack: Raddish One Page

Erin Odom, Author an interview with Felice Gerwitz Podcast #221 Today Felice Gerwitz interviews Erin Odom, author, and homeschool mom. She shares her family's personal struggle.  Erin brings a unique message to bring hope to financially frustrated families in her new book. Erin Odom, author of Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated, published by Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian! She blogs at Thehumbledhomemaker.com Erin blogs about motherhood, homemaking, healthy living and family finances. Show Notes: More Than Just Making It with Erin Odom, Author Erin and her family were struggling, even though she and her husband had college degrees and both were earning good salaries, one was a spender and one a saver. They found themselves without jobs and lost their home. Their story is one that resonates with many hit financially during the downturn in the housing market. Jobless and with little children, they turned to God for help and found it at church and with a financial planner. Erin turned to writing and soon created a blog that became successful. Thankfully, she shares her success with all in her new book. Newly published author Erin, Odom! * About Erin and her family. * Homeschooling using the university model * The one thing that impacted Erin to make a change. * About Erin's blog * Root cause – income problem or a spending problem? * Create income – one chapter in the book delves into this topic…passion, skill set, God given’s gifts. * Contentment and gratitude of each day.      

Refreshment For Moms with Meredith Curtis and Felice Gerwitz Refreshment for Moms? Is that possible? If you are you a mom-this show is for you! In this episode, Meredith and Felice discuss their take on refreshments for moms. Each shares several points on how to live a balanced life, to look at each crisis as it comes along and deal with each with prayer and discernment. For any mom, especially homeschool moms these daily events can take your breath away. Veteran moms give great help and advice for you! Podcast #220 Please visit our sponsors -   Meredith Curtis - Meredith Curtis - Refreshment For Moms * Fix your eyes on Jesus –the person of Jesus * Relax and fix our eyes on Jesus * Normal Christian Life – book recommendation * Jesus loves and is with me – He has over come * Realistic expectations * Here in this life we will have trouble * Things don’t work the way we expect * Worship in your homeschool   Felice Gerwitz –  Refreshment For Moms * Be quiet before the Lord – A Few Minutes with God Podcast * What is He asking * Are we following His will * Are we swimming with or against the stream? * Like minded friends and families * Learn to say NO – without guilt  

Authority, Discipline, and Respect Podcast #219 Do you have authority to discipline your children and earn their respect? How can we successfully parent when our kids are not respectful and won’t follow our directions? That is a struggle many families confront no matter what time of the year. In this podcast episode, Felice Gerwitz tackles this problem with experience from a long-time mom and homeschool mom with practical and insightful suggestions. Today’s sponsor is Media Angels – with our MediaAngelsMembership website – there you will find information about our bundles of products at a rock-bottom price. Many books are the top 100 and 102 Top Homeschool Curriculum Picks in Cathy Duffy’s book. Visit Our Sponsor – Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website.   Show Notes:  Authority, Discipline, and Respect. Sadly, many of you may not get along with your own parents, perhaps there are some hurts or unforgiveness of past wrongs. Unfortunately for many, the way they regard their parents is the way they regard God – especially a Father figure. The Bible talks about a loving father – and if your maternal father was not loving there is not much to go on … Authority: * Authority is the ability or power to give orders, command, control, or rule – it sounds harsh! * Parental authority is the power to give instruction to your children * It allows us to in essence shape and form their behavior * Basically – authority gives us the “right” by sheer power of birth to parent our children. Discipline * This is the enforcement of our parental rights of authority * Setting up the rules * Teaching our children to obey the rules * Teaching our children self-restraint and self-control (model this and it will work beautifully) * Allows for punishment and correction (pray for solution – it works!) Respect * Esteem regarding another person * We admire or look up to them * We respect them – honor them How do we earn our children’s respect? How do we discipline with the authority of God in a way that is successful? After this quick commercial break… Younger: * Be consistent * Be firm – do not back down * Do not expect your child to parent others * Take parenting books and suggestions with a grain of salt. What works for one child does not work for all * Around 2 – explain rules. You will wear a seat belt in the car, you will hold my hand when we get out of the car. You will sit in the cart when we get into the store. * Use a wall chart when practicing new rules * Play act – practice – them coming Middle: * Discipline wrong behavior – “bad” isn’t a good term – I’m not trying to be politically correct here, but telling a kid they are bad doesn’t tell them what they did wrong. Explain. * Punishment fits the crime (chips) * CONSISTENCY * Clever solutions – pray * Practice – if needed Older: * Creative solutions – taking away electronic devices, privileges * Be careful of intent. Knowing your child’s reason for disobedience here is the key to future issues – why is there a disruption in trust or authority? What has been done to break that bond of trust? * Puppy analysis – especially for homeschool kids. Who are your kids bonding with? Friends? Kids at church? On the sports field?

Wellness Products 4 Life with Felice Gerwitz and interview with special guest, Nate Kievman Episode #218 I dislike taking any medication. Until I was introduced to wellness products from 4 Life. I feel great, energetic, and my health has never been better. In this episode we discuss protein shakes that are great for before and after exercise. If you are interested in taking your exercise up a few notches these products may be something you want to add to your regime. For more information about 4Life.com products visit here Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website.   Show Notes: Wellness Products For Life Recently I learned one of my homeschool friend's father was ill and her brother, a board certified doctor had recommended the 4Life products for her father's health. What an additional confirmation that the products are helpful and that even a doctor recommends them! * Wellness aspect - we can't eat everything we need for good nutrition. However a healthy diet is important. * My journey to wellness has been a few years in the process. * Protein powders and exercise. * Favorite protein shakes. Shakes for breakfast. * Family wellness - focus. * Exercise, eating right and adding the right supplements.

Feel Better 4 Life with Felice Gerwitz and special guest, Nate Kievman Podcast #217 Are you tired of feeling tired and sick? Do supplements work? It is time to feel better and I want to introduce you to 4 Life. It is hard to believe that about four years ago I was often so sick I had to stay in bed all day. Whether it was a migraine or stomach cramps, either one ruined whatever plans I had for the day. As a busy homeschool mom, there were no built in sick days in my schedule. Life had to go on with or without me. Fast forward and now with addition of natural supplements and essential oils I'm feeling great! In this episode I want to introduce you to a long time friend of mine, Nate Kievman. Nate and his wife homeschooled for a season and have been interested in wellness and fitness forever! Nate introduced me to this wonderful product and it has ramped up my health to new limits. I'm so excited to share this information with my Vintage Homeschool Moms Family. For more information about 4Life.com products visit here Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website. Show Notes: Feel Better 4 Life This show is a little different for me. In this episode I interview the first every man - gasp! - on Vintage Homeschool Moms. Nate is like a son to me and has helped me, unselfishly with my business through the years. When he introduced me to 4Life I was ... I will admit, concerned to hear yet another get-well-info-product. Yet the research and scientific information caught my eye. No surprise, you know how science is important to me. So, I decided to try it and I feel SO great that I had to share it with you. Because he (Nate) is better at explaining the products, he's used them so long with his family, I felt it was a better option to have him on the show to explain. I hope to do another show with Nate - "Wellness for Life" on Vintage Homeschool Moms. Here is a synopsis of this podcast: * Meeting Nate almost ten years ago in a business venture. * Nate's helpful advice through the years * 4 Life and wellness - and 4 Life transfer factor * Personal stories of the benefits of 4 Life for Nate, his family and his sister * Personal benefits of 4 Life for myself, my husband and kids * 4 Life benefits for the immune system (587%) and how they work

Begin Your Homeschool Year with A Bang! with Felice Gerwitz Episode #216 It appears that as parents we have competition with the back to school crowd, you know your kids may have friends who are shopping for new clothes, back packs, lunch boxes and school supplies that their schools require. I know I’ve been asked to donate to the back to school funds for needy kids – teachers association and the like. So what is a homeschool parent to do?! Let me share my back to school routine with my kids and how exciting it was each and every year! Even in the high school years! Visit Our Sponsor - Begin Your Homeschool With A Bang Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website. Show Notes - Episode * Create a party atmosphere – why not? Lead up to the day with some hints and some hidden surprises. I’ll share some of these surprises later on… * Create a banner –super easy to do on the computer AND as a bonus – I’ve added one to this post –podcast – look under VHM or PODCAST # and I’ve added several. One you can have the children color and one if you want to splurge with a colored printer. I always added the children’s pictures to the banner –and their grade. * Hand out the new books – each child gets their books (or you may have a family book pile) … go through them, introduce the topic and make it sound exciting! “This year we will learn about the stars and the oceans! How fun!” * Hand out new supplies. Crayons, markers, art books, pencils, pencil sharpeners, etc. * Have a fun project ready to go – either a craft… like decorating a box where they will keep their school supplies, even if it is a plastic see-through case, you can purchase fun stickers for the kids to use to make it their own…or a fun science activity. Something spectacular is fun… see my podcast on fun science activities –Summer activities for Kids. * Remember to get some work done the first day. It might be an open ended story the kids need to finish (younger kids can dictate it or you can write it on a marker board or large sheet of paper to use as copy work.) * Be careful of the reproducible monsters. Too many worksheets – it is a disaster to grade or to keep track of… * Use photos to keep track of the year – make Friday night pizza or (whatever night) and * Give a year end notebook. This is the place where you will put work samples to keep track of progress in the year. The children can label the dividers, decorate the notebook or label it in some way.

Essential Oils for Fitness with Felice Gerwitz Episode #215 Essential oils are important for fitness results. I am a perfect example, because of the increased benefits I've received. While exercise is a new addition on my to-do list, essential oils have enhanced my life and well-being for several years. It is amazing to think of a life without the benefits, now that I use them daily. Wellness and exercise include a healthy lifestyle. Eating right and exercising go hand in hand, and now with the benefits of essential oils you will see a vast improvement. Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website.   Show Notes: Essential Oils For Fitness * For centuries many cultures used essential oils for wellness and fitness * Athletes use essential oils in their training regiment * Essential oil benefits are backed by research * Peppermint oils help with cardiovascular performance in athletes * Lemongrass oils help with energy and weight * Lemongrass helps to burn more calories * Lemongrass with basil, clary sage and coconut oil * Eucalyptus helps mood and energy (this can be added to a spray bottle with other oils) * Add geranium, peppermint, bergamont (my favorite) to spray bottle 4oz water with Eucalyptus * Lemon oil - my favorite in bottled water. Promotes immune system support, lymphatic drainage and fat loss * Lemon drops in water, help with hydration, encourages you to drink more * Deep Blue - is great for sore or stiff muscles - brings immediate relief. * Fennel - a great benefit, add to lavender and use for calmness * Fennel - sweet flavor, helps fight sweet tooth Additional and suggested resources: Essential Oils For Fitness Felice Gerwitz (disclosure) my DoTerra Account. Order at a discount by signing up! Here is more information. Pinterest – Lists of essential oils and their benefits here Essential oils: Pinterest list here https://doterra.com/US/en/blog/healthy-living-doterra-for-athletes  

Best Homeschool Planning Tips Episode #214 The best homeschool planning tips are the ones we often forget. With this simple outline your year will begin with a great start! Often, what we do is we get laser focused on school and forget we have a life. We are so excited we have our books – our schedule laid out and then when the afternoon rolls around we are FREAKED OUT we don’t have anything planned for dinner. In this episode I cover three simple guidelines. Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website.   Show Notes: The Best Homeschool Planning Tips * The best advice I can give you about planning your school year is don’t forget about the REST of your life. * God * Spouse * School * Meals * Laundry * Meals * Doctors * Field Trips * Do take time to plan your entire year – yes, your year * Do you seasonal themes especially if you school younger children – older children love this too. * Do plan breaks and save days for field trips as they come up * Do plan time for family chores * Do plan time for meal prep – mega cooking and FREEZE or can * Utilize cooking in your schedule –   3. Think through things once and forget it! Just like the crock pot recipe commercials would say the set it and forget it – the same thing with your planning. * School Schedule. Times! * Break fail – after lunch very hard to get back to work * Finish math – or writing projects * Science experiments * Read * Year End Notebook * Keep work samples for each subject ALL YEAR LONG * Put in pocket sheets and clear vinyl slip sheets to keep things like pictures, samples of math, writing, history, and science papers. Art projects etc. * Tests and progress * Go out bag. Put in all the things you will need. Pick it up and go. If you have older kids put a laminated card on the outside and someone can double check the bag to be sure nothing wandered out or was not replaced. (Tell forgetting diaper bag – had the baby!) * One for field trips * One for the park * One for church * Chore chart – * Meals * Laundry Day      

The Absolute BEST Last Minute Summer DIY Tips with Felice Gerwitz What are the best last minute summer DIY Tips? In this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms, Felice Gerwitz shares her passion for all things DIY and some quick gift ideas to make for the holidays that are just around the corner. Use recyclables you have on hand or with a minimum of cost, create beautiful items you will treasure. The best thing? The kids can help! Visit our podcast sponsor! Get all these books from our Media Angels Membership website.   Show Notes: The Best Last Minute Summer DIY Tips * Get Organized. * Now is the time to just relax - for me that means doing something creative. If you or your children love to create crafts for gifts make a list of some people on your list. * Look around the house. From the podcast I created on getting organized fast here,  you may have things you were going to throw away that you can recycle. What about an old frame, some mason jars or a plastic bin that can be recovered or painted? * Trash day. My kids use to ride bikes up and down the road to see what neighbors were throwing away and sometimes came home with treasures. The awesome wrought iron and wood bench (my son refinished with new wood) that sits in front of my pond is one of those treasures. Look around on trash day. * Gift Making * Useful items. Picture frames with a treasured memory, hand painted to match any decor specifically for a family member. * Tool holders: kitchen utensils, pencils, crayons, etc. * Shelves. Floating shelves are all the rage. Ask dad, mom, grandpa or even grandma (not me--but some of my friends are really handy!) to help. Here are some directions on how to make floating shelves. * Mixes. A great help for when you begin homeschooling again. Make muffin mixes, sour dough, cookie mix, biscuit mix from healthy alternatives. Use organic ingredients, make them vegan or gluten free. There are many great recipes. * Painted pots. Hanging pots with an inexpensive fern or recycled wood look great. * The Best DIY Ideas For Families * Gift Cards. My favorite ideas revolve around hand rubs, neck rubs, car washes, etc. When kids were younger it was "watch the baby" for 30 minutes, etc. Give in a homemade envelope or box. * Create Job Calendar: These involve paper and clothes pin. Listen to the podcast for specific directions. * Meal Schedule * Vacation planning * Pizza night * Last minute getaways or field trip ideas