This and That

I'm still here. And this week has been much better.

There has been a lot of real life going on here. Blogging has been low on my list, as I think it should be.

A few things that have been rattling around in my brain (or stomach, in some cases)...

1. Making my own bread. I've been thinking about doing it for months. Well, I did it... and with surprising success (Thanks, Brenda, for a great recipe!) It is sooo much better than anything I would buy at the store. The kids love it. And the smell of it baking... it makes me giddy. So, if I can get my act together and make it regularly, I'm done with buying blah whole wheat bread at the store.

2. I am needing to buy some more face care stuff and makeup. It does seem it all runs out at the same time. I am so happy to have found this site - telling me what is really in that face cream and if it's safe.

3. Granola. I'm addicted. I love this recipe - I use the basic recipe (no brown sugar) and add sliced almonds and cinnamon. It doesn't last long around here. The last time I made it I used virgin coconut oil and it was oh-so-good! I keep reading about coconut oil (look here and here and here), so I bought some (Whole Foods) and having been adding it here and there.

4. Lapbooks. I went to a lapbooking workshop organized by a friend this past Saturday morning. I learned more that I thought there was to know... look for some lapbooks here soon!

5. Indian Food. I really like it (this is new). I went to a local Indian grocery store last week in preparation for our dinner club. (Indian themed... and very yummy.) The hostess made Tandoori Chicken - delicious! I served samosas with coriander and sweet chutneys for the appetizer (thanks to the nice Indian grocer who helped me figure out what to serve).

6. Outsourcing Art (or not). Hannah and Will have been taking a Mona Brookes inspired (Monart) art class once a week since January. I'm not sure it is worth the half-hour drive out of town and the $$$, but they have loved it. The session is almost up and I don't think we will do it again. For the money, I could have bought some really nice art supplies and done more here at home. And since they have been in an art class, we haven't done a single art project at home. (This is tragic for me.) What I will miss about the hour long class is my weekly Starbucks date with Peter. (I'm sure he will miss me splurging on those Horizon chocolate milks, too.)

7. Habit Training. This is something that has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I recently bought this book - Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook. It is full of so much wisdom. Great investment. There's too much to write about now... that's for another post.

8. Curriculum. The decision has been made. We will continue to homeschool next year. (We said we would do it for one year and then reevaluate.) So, I am starting to think about 2nd grade and Kindergarten... and Peter possibly not napping (oh my).