tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21147132560037890092024-03-13T01:56:51.010-04:00Home on a DimeDecorating, Housekeeping and Homeschooling
without breaking the bankPamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-17837208679350780892014-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:002014-01-07T06:00:04.843-05:00January is the new September. It is.We're on Christmas break right now. We ended school at home on Wednesday, December 18th; the 19th and 20th were our last co-op days. We return to co-op this Thursday and resume school at home next Monday. As I always do on Christmas break, I'm using this time to tweak our schedule and curriculum as needed.
My friend Tiffany will tell you I frequently say "January is the new Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-57983301152565563662014-01-02T02:14:00.003-05:002014-01-02T10:03:02.386-05:00Homemade hand soapIf you're like me, you're concerned about both the cost and the ingredients of some personal and household cleaning products. The ingredient list on shampoos, make-up and lotions are way long with odd sounding, harmful chemicals. Not good.
The thought that everything that I put on my skin is actually absorbed into my body makes me a bit nervous. Same thing with the products Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-68696206503420562752013-12-30T01:05:00.000-05:002013-12-30T01:05:24.739-05:00Entryway redux & intro to Use What You Have MondayI started the entryway redo just before the holidays. Here is the summary of part one with a reminder of the end result:
That post represented the largest part of the makeover, which will be completed in four sections.
Today we're discussing part two. You can't see it in this picture, but the ceiling light fixture was an old, 70's style round&Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-83938163038391723002013-10-20T02:09:00.001-04:002013-10-20T08:28:16.812-04:002013-2014 curriculumToday I'm sharing what my girls are studying this school year. In keeping with the theme of this blog (and how I choose to live in general), we've not spent a dime more than is necessary.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: it doesn't take a boatload of money to properly educate children. If you've got the time and patience to research, a library card, computer access and a Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-43265932109676876202013-10-16T20:36:00.003-04:002013-10-20T08:21:04.605-04:00Decorate for free? You bet!The adage 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' really resonates with me. I've been known to grab discarded household items off the curb. Don't judge.
I found two window frames at the site of a remodel. I brought them home and put them on the wall in my bedroom. I was going to sand and paint them, but decided I liked them the way they were.
The one by the sitting&Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-74292635696798593632013-10-14T23:47:00.000-04:002013-10-15T07:37:50.020-04:00Bench LoveI mentioned in a previous post how much I love benches. I've got several. They're different but share one similarity: each started its life as a coffee table. True story.
The first bench is in our living room. That's my baby girl Gracie working on her geography in homeschool.
I love that detail in the middle of the table. All I did here was paint the legs black.
Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-92015478222068299342013-10-11T21:41:00.000-04:002013-10-14T23:48:59.020-04:00Ten things that will kill your homeschool
Fail to plan and plan to fail so the saying goes. No matter how wonderful your intentions or great your curriculum, a few missteps or inactions will sink your homeschool.
Let's read what Jenn of Forever, For Always, No Matter What has to say about the topic.......
Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing, but Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-16813838975157717212013-10-10T23:57:00.003-04:002013-10-14T23:48:59.017-04:00Handmade kitchen island, Part 1I wanted an kitchen island, but none that I found suited me- either price or style-wise, so I decided to make one.
Victory Home is a thrift that I frequent in Portsmouth. It's located on George Washington Highway and is run by Bethany Baptist Church. Funds are used to maintain the drug recovery mission they run. I volunteered there for a while. It's a great ministry. If you stop Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-27877525735561081752013-10-08T23:59:00.002-04:002013-10-20T08:07:21.253-04:00A word about extra-curricularsIf you've been homeschooling for any amount of time, you may have noticed a trend: overscheduled homeschool students.
It happens quite innocently. Little Johnny or Mary has more time in the day because they're homeschooled so Mommy determines to fill some gaps with outside activities.
Or, Mommy has confused proper socialization with busyness and the family runs hither and yon to varied Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-61912369337364785322013-10-05T11:35:00.000-04:002013-10-06T10:48:11.976-04:00Wow. Just wow.I appreciate the vision it takes to transform a routine or discarded item into a work of household art. I'm really grateful when the craftsperson shares their project. It gives newbies like me hope that we can do something similar and proves that style and taste are distinctly personal.
Occasionally during my forays through the DIY and decorating haven of the web, I come across a project Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-24432810736187587332013-10-04T23:27:00.001-04:002013-10-07T07:01:43.459-04:00Let there be light.....I didn't wake up that morning expecting to re-do my entryway. It just sorta happened.
I tend to categorize my favorite thrift stores by items: one has a wonderful book section, another has awesome clothes and so forth. The CHKD in Churchland has great linen and housewares. I mean really great.
I walked in one Saturday and found this.....
and this....
Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-31032461776778320622013-10-03T00:02:00.000-04:002013-10-20T08:07:21.254-04:00Homeschool for FreeI enjoy shiny, new curriculum as much as the next homeschool mom, but I've discovered that if necessary, I could homeschool without spending a dime. It's true. As long as you've got a library card and/or internet access, it's possible to teach your kids without touching your wallet.
First, make a list of the classes you'd like to teach. Contact your state's Department of Education Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-60399598086263989542013-10-01T17:48:00.000-04:002013-10-01T17:48:09.079-04:00Homeschool humorThis post is part of the '31 Days' series.
In addition to '31 Days of Decorating on a Dime', I'm also posting '31 Days of Common Sense Homeschooling'. Join me every day in October as I share some of what I've learned during my homeschooling years.
Let's get started with a little tongue-in-cheek.
Yes, you will survive homeschooling.......
Yeah, I've had days like thisPamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-73604944497079939442013-09-30T22:17:00.000-04:002013-09-30T22:17:59.542-04:00Getting Ready for 31 Days......After a couple years of reading the posts in the '31 Days' series, I've decided to throw caution to the wind and jump into the fray.
What's '31 Days?' you ask. Basically, bloggers commit to posting every day during the month of October. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers and to learn a new thing or two or six.
The posts don't have to be long or scholarly not do you Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-4768180184652624992013-08-07T21:27:00.000-04:002013-08-07T21:27:13.019-04:00SwitcherooWhat initially appeared to be three separate decorating issues has resolved itself in one fell swoop.
Issue 1: Try as she might, my Graci just couldn't keep the shelf next to her bed organized. Originally it was a changing table, but I removed the mattress pad and declared it a shelf. Yeah, that's how I roll.
I have an aversion to closed doors (I have open kitchen shelving and have Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-18203662204872688362013-01-02T00:31:00.000-05:002013-02-25T22:33:33.368-05:00Homeschool: How we roll....We enjoyed a peaceful, glorious holiday at the Nichols compound. Hope yours was the same. Public school begins tomorrow in these parts, but we'll use the remainer of this week as a review then hit the ground running next Monday. Illness cancelled four days of school just before the holiday and the girls have tests to take in Latin, math, science and Bible. We They will review tomorrow Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-64921327440757376382013-01-01T21:47:00.001-05:002013-01-01T21:47:16.162-05:00Ceiling fan re-doMy hubby's idea of redecorating is buying a new shower curtain. Seriously. And one should only attempt that when said curtain is so old it's changing colors or falling apart. Heavy sigh.
It came as no surprise, then, when my desire to remove the dining room ceiling fan was met with shock and disdain. I'd been threatening to do this since we moved in 15 years ago. I'm a lilPamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-25951445074468632912011-11-17T00:12:00.000-05:002011-11-17T00:12:36.050-05:00No butter? No problem....A few hours away from home seemed to be at odds with my desire for a chili dinner, until I pulled out the old crock pot. Gotta love'em. Really, you do....
I weaned myself from spaghetti sauce in a jar a while ago (more on that later), so after browning the beef, I tossed the sauce fixin's, spices and veggies into the pot, put a few taters in the oven and left to run errands.
You're probably Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-25612912217894981342011-11-11T22:35:00.000-05:002011-11-11T22:35:19.881-05:00Our homeschool year - What works for us (Part 1)We've just completed the first quarter of our 2011-2012 homeschool and things are going very well. We're pretty much on track, haven't suffered any (teacher or student) meltdowns and intellectual, emotional and spiritual progress has been noted both in and out of our homeschool classroom, important to us as we believe true education encompasses all three.
Education is the Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-6749127777087630222011-10-10T21:38:00.000-05:002011-10-10T21:38:18.695-05:00Shirley PlantationOn Fridays, my ten year old (Gracie) and I join our friends the Firestones (Mom Tiffany and kids Madeline and Will) for Friday Fun Days. An informal mix of education and fun, it's a great way to end our homeschooling week. Already, we've studied Italy- its geography, its customs and a little of the language. We finished that day with homemade pizza and 'kid's wine', i.e. Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-24548095116969977802011-06-10T19:54:00.001-05:002011-06-10T20:02:03.471-05:00Frugal Friday- Wall HangingI love wall-hangings. They're a great way to add color to a room, to centralize the room's focus or the blend the varying hues used in decorating. There's something so French Country/Meditteranean about them, and perhaps because these are the two decorating styles I enjoy most, it just speaks to me. Isn't this stunning?
http://www.tapestrytapestries.com/
Hmmmm, at a cost of Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-84710667948139080892011-06-09T10:00:00.002-05:002011-06-09T10:00:11.201-05:00A walk thru Olde TowneMy work as a freelance reporter for our local newspaper occassionally takes me into the Olde Towne section of Portsmouth, VA. It's beautiful, people. Dating back to the 1600's, the neighborhood has original homes and churches from the era- several listed on the National Historic Registry, ecletic shops, and great restaurants, all framed by the Elizabeth River. {heavy, happy Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-80428095632276178822011-06-08T15:24:00.000-05:002011-06-08T15:24:24.863-05:00Sneak PeekPsst...come closer....
Here's a peak at my current project.
I'll share more later.....Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-8158575002786526642011-05-27T16:42:00.001-05:002011-06-08T15:30:31.884-05:00Frugal FridayEvery Friday, I like to share my free or frugal finds (trying saying that three times fast). Here is this week's offering:
When we moved into this house 14 years ago, kitchen cabinets flanked the window. I hated them. They were old and made the already-small room dark and cave-like. When we eventually replaced the cabinets, I decided to buy only the lowers, and used open shelving Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2114713256003789009.post-6647047732638052492011-05-26T19:38:00.000-05:002011-05-26T19:38:36.942-05:00What is your home saying?
It happened quite innocently.....
SUCCESS is measured not so much by the position that one has reached as by the obstacles that have been overcome
I was pondering what should be my first post when I looked up and read the frame over my laptop. Then I read the frame above and to the left of that one.....
GOALS...Obstacles are those frightful things you see Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590063601404995082noreply@blogger.com0