Free homeschool curriculum

This is just cut and pasted from their website, but they explain it better than me. Good stuff!

"Welcome to Ambleside Online, a free homeschool curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own private and correspondence schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group."

Like it says, it's free, and it's a wonderful resource to use either to frame out your homeschooling, or just to give you ideas of books and such....

http://www.amblesideonline.org/

Sales flyer crazy

I gotta say that I have found a new addiction. The Sunday paper's sales flyers are MINE in our house. As soon as I get the paper, they are pulled out, sorted, and put in order of importance. CVS always has the really good deals and freebies, so that goes on top. Rite Aid with its rebates is pretty good, so that's next. Price Chopper will go next, especially if they have any double or triple coupons on the front page. The rest fall in place after.... Then out come the coupon inserts. I skim to see what's in there so that I can know what is on sale AND I have coupons for (dollar signs in my eyes!). I hand my coupons off to one of my kiddos to clip, grab a pen and paper and hit the sales flyers, listing off the really good deals. After I've got my list together, I grab my coupon box and start matching up. Anything that I can get for next to nothing stays on the list, and the rest are mercilessly scratched off. Every once in a while we'll buy something that's not on sale, but that's not nearly as exciting :). Anyway, it's strangely fun - kind of like a treasure hunt, and with money stuff the way it is right now., every little bit helps!

Webkinz stuff

Aren't everyone's kids Webkinz crazy right now? They are giving away free stuff this weekend at a bunch of locations... Gotta go catch it with my girls :) http://www.webkinz.com/webkinz_day_2008.html

The "Good Book" for free

I was doing a little digging on line and found a neat article that talks about places where you can get Bibles for free. I thought it was a really neat resource for folks who would like to check out what the Bible does have to say but aren't able to spend the money that they do cost at the bookstores and such... I'm cuttting and pasting it here, but the link is also http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/ht/freebible.htm

How To Obtain a Free Bible
From Mary Fairchild,Your Guide to Christianity.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

At first I thought a better title might be, "How to Get a Free Bible without Stealing it from a Hotel Room." But, I didn't want to offend anyone, especially my Gideon friends. The truth is, the Gideons don't mind if you take those hotel Bibles. They are actually placed there for travelers who might need one. (It's a good idea, however, to ask the hotel for permission before you take the Bible!) So, there's one very easy way to obtain a free copy of the Bible. Here are several more:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Varies
Here's How:

Contact a Local Church. One of the easiest ways, and actually the very best way to obtain a free Bible is to call a local church. Most large churches have a surplus of "left behind" Bibles in their lost and found. My church has so many unclaimed Bibles that we ask a local prison outreach to come and distribute them to prisoners. Some churches will even give away a new Bible if you don't have one. Don't be shy! If you truly need a Bible, most Bible teaching churches will be happy to set you up.

Download Free Bible Software. Here are a few options for free Bible software programs to download: • E-SWORD • BiblePro for Windows - Download or request a free CD. • Theophilos Bible Software - Download or request a free CD. • The SWORD Project
Use a Free Online Bible. • BibleGateway.com • CrossWalk.com • BlueLetterBible.org • SearchGodsWord.org

Request a Bible from FreeBibles.net. FreeBibles.net promises to send a new or gently-used Bible to anyone in the U.S. who cannot afford to purchase one. Requests are limited to one per person and one per address, but other than these simple rules, there are no catches! Most ministries will only send a New Testament, or the "free" offer comes with strings attached. Not only does FreeBibles.net send a complete Bible, they also cover shipping and promise not to contact you with any solicitation. They cannot guarantee a specific translation and they only mail Bibles to the needy and imprisoned. • FreeBibles.net

Philippines and Africa Residents. GetYourFreeBible.com promises to send a New Testament Bible in the English, Tagalog of Hiligaynon language to anyone in the Philippines and Africa who cannot afford to purchase one. Requests are limited to one Bible per person. GetYourFreeBible.com will also take requests from small churches or ministries (Philippines & Africa only) who need Bibles for their ministry. And the best part? Absolutely no strings attached! • GetYourFreeBible.com

Sign Up for a Free Bible. Some sites offer free Bibles, but proceed with caution! There may be strings attached: • USA Bibles - Free King James Version • Shop Here Free - Free King James Bible

Contact a Bible Society. If you're looking for a large quantity of Bibles for ministry distribution, consider one of these societies. They offer reasonable pricing for bulk quantities. Obtaining free Bibles may be possible, however, not guaranteed. • International Bible Society • American Bible Society • The Gideons accept requests for Bibles in the following areas of need: hotels & motels; hospitals, nursing homes & domestic violence shelters; schools, colleges & universities; military, law enforcement, firefighters & EMTs; prisons & jails. • Visit UBS Fellowship for a complete list of national societies.

Quick and Easy Summer Recipe

I have a picky picky family, and my culinary skills are pretty, well, limited, but this dinner is always a hit. My mom made this whenever we picnicked as kids, and we eat it now pretty much all Spring and Summer long, at least once a week. Quick, easy, healthy, and cheap! Yeah!!

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Boil as much elbow macaroni (or spiral, whatever your family likes) as your family needs, and at the same time boil 4-5 eggs. Drain it off and pop it in the fridge for a bit. Once everything is cooled down, add in 1 can tuna fish, 1 cup mayo (more or less depending on the amout of macaroni you used), your boiled eggs (now chopped up), and a cup of frozen peas. Mix it all up well and enjoy. You've got pleny of protein, your carbs, and your veggies. Pair it up with some fresh fruit and you're all set! The whole meal is maybe $3.oo and everyone's happy! Enjoy!

Stay at home mom

I'm wondering tonight, as we try to balance it all here - homeschooling, parenting, living, paying bills... is it really possible to be a stay at home mom? It just seems so impossible to stretch one paycheck around an entire family.....