January Home School Theme

January is almost here!! December was a short month for us, school wise, thanks to the Winter Break. We enjoyed the theme of Snow last month, but we didn't even get to Penguins! January was supposed to be Presidents and Dental Health...well, plans change and I think Penguins would still be super fun to study. So we shall carry on with Penguins for our monthly study with a President's Day study on the proper day.


Blubber Experiment: http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/antarctica/blubber.html

Watch Mr. Popper's Penguins and Read Aloud


 
Fun Penguin Crafts:http://www.havingfunathome.com/2012/01/preschool-penguin-crafts.html
Cute penguin template for paper, felt, fabric.http://sweetandlovelycrafts.blogspot.ca/2012/11/cute-penguin-craft.html

And of course go to the Audubon Aquarium and visit the penguins!


Watch "March of the Penguins" and adapt this lesson plan from Teach with Movies http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/march-of-the-penguins.html




Watch "Happy Feet"
and adapt the lesson plan from: http://www.teachwithmovies.org/talking-and-playing/happy-feet-t-p.html

Do you have any fun penguin activities? 

December Homeschool Themes

Well, I'm getting a little late start here for the month, eh?? Oh well!

It finally got cold here so it's a good time to do our short December themes of "Snow" and "Penguins"

We never get snow here except literally once every 5-10 years and its a scattering of icy flakes, but we can pretend!! So for this month, we will try to get some of these activities done:

Instant snow in the sensory box. The boys LOVED playing with instant snow last year, I think we used it all up but I'll get my hands on some.Even yoda wasn't safe from the snow.

Popsicle Stick Snowman: http://armywifequilter.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-100th-post-popcycle-stick-snowman.html


Borax Crystal Snowflakes: http://www.workitmom.com/bloggers/familycraftideas/2013/11/29/kids-craft-borax-crystal-snowflakes/

Read some Snow Inspired Books: http://blog.playdrhutch.com/2012/01/15/books-for-a-snowy-day/

Eat a melted Snowman! http://spoonful.com/recipes/serve-melted-frosty

And of course, make Star Wars inspired snowflakes: http://manmadediy.com/users/chris/posts/1522-how-to-make-star-wars-snowflakes-free-templates-included
http://www.anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php/8-ahd-blog/7-star-wars-snowflakes-2012






Some Penguin Fun:

Watch Mr. Popper's Penguins and Read Aloud

 

Fun Penguin Crafts: http://www.havingfunathome.com/2012/01/preschool-penguin-crafts.html

Cute penguin template for paper, felt, fabric. http://sweetandlovelycrafts.blogspot.ca/2012/11/cute-penguin-craft.html

And of course go to the Audubon Aquarium and visit the penguins!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are only doing a few weeks of "real" school during December so we can enjoy the holiday break. We don't celebrate Christmas, but our public school friends are off for their break and we'd like to spend some time with them.

So happy crafting, schooling and stay warm!
~~Amy


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Free Crochet Pattern: Ribbed Coffee Sleeve

Coffee Sleeve
Amy Dutsch


Materials:
G Hook
Worsted Weight Wool (or preferred yarn. I prefer wool for its ability to hold in heat.)

Terms:
Ch: chain
DC: double crochet
SS: slip stitch
ST: stitch
FPDC: front post double crochet
BPDC: back post double crochet


Round One: Chain 34
DC in 3rd ch from hook
DC across
Join with SS to form a circle. This connects the "top" of your double crochet stitches. To connect the "bottom" to make your first row sturdier, use the tail to connect the chain stitches and weave in ends.) **See Alternate Method of starting at bottom of pattern**
Round Two: Ch 2 (does NOT count as st here or throughout)
*FPDC in next 2 sts. BPDC in next 2 sts.*
Repeat from * around, making a pattern of fpdc, fpdc, bpdc, bpdc around. SS with starting ch.
Repeat Round Two until sleeve is 10 rows or so, or desired length.
Finish and weave in ends.


**ALTERNATE STARTING INSTRUCTIONS**
Ch 34
Join with ss to form a circle.
DC in the round all the way around. Proceed with Round Two of the pattern.

**TIPS AND TRICKS**
You may need to adjust your chain count based on cup sizes, how tightly you crochet, or size of the yarn. Just use an even number for your chain count.

For information on how to do the FPDC and BPDC please visit:
http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/technique_fpbp.html

January Photo Purge

January was a slow month, photography wise, as I was working for half the month and we've been fighting illness. But we had a little fun! :)

DIY Winter Decor

I've been dressing it up for winter!

I found this awesome vase at Target today on clearance. I'd been stalking it for awhile...there it was...in a random spot, for 2.98!! I saw something similar on Pinterest, and decided to give it a go!

It was easy too! Just whip up some yarn pom-poms', jab some branches in them and stick in the vase. Want to know a secret to getting the branches to stay where you want? Fill the vase with rice! That's it...easy winter decor! I can see changing this up for all the seasons!

I love this little area of my house...it's the top of my entertainment center, on one side and I love my little wintry pink yarny goodness section!! I love the vase because it looks like a cabled knit pattern! I've decorated for winter and it's so fun, since we don't do Christmas, it's nice to get to decorate for a whole season!

Here's a bit more winter fun I put up around the house:

 We made melted snowmen to munch on!

 Added pom poms to another Target clearance find!

 I crocheted the runner and it looks perfect under the candlestick plate my sister made for me. 

 Close up of the plate. Isn't it lovely? Another clearance find!

 Cheapy .50 snowman hanging from our ceiling fan.

 Some fun yarn pom poms and snowflakes hanging on our blinds.

and some pretty roses I bought to pretty up the kitchen. I love winter, but it is a bit drab, so some pretty pink flowers will always help!!

Now to get this house CLEAN....Hah.

~~amy

Winter Break Plans

It's Winter Break!! WOOO HOO! This means two solid weeks of no major committments, no plans, no schedule, no alarms (other than full bladder puppy cries). I am so ready. I've been working since August and am way out of my normal WAHM routine. I will get my WAHM life back in January, and I'm excited! So this is a nice taste test....however I have two boys to occupy. If I don't make plans, they may very well meld into the sofa.

What did we do before Pinterest? Oh right...made it up as we went....Thanks Pinterest for letting me a lazy bum but look like I'm totally rocking this mom thing.

Let us collect a set of ideas to start with (and chuckle at later when I achieve only three.) All photo credits should be on pins.

Door Decoration: We don't actually celebrate Christmas, so I love this non Christmas/Winter door decor. http://pinterest.com/pin/266205027946091894/

Snowman Inspired Snack: http://pinterest.com/pin/266205027946104770/

Make Snowflakes from Borax. I've never done this before so I'll have to dig into the directions, but it looks fun! http://pinterest.com/pin/266205027945733681/

Hot Glue Snowflakes. Not so sure on this one...letting my boys loose with hot glue guns??? I don't know if we're close enough to our health insurance deductible for that one...http://pinterest.com/pin/266205027946025108/

And we did this last year and it was a HIT! I'll have to dig it out, find it..but I know it's in the cabinet SOMEWHERE....(boy do I need to purge...) Instant Snow! This is HUGE for us southerners! http://pinterest.com/pin/266205027943710881/

Here are some pics of my boys playing with the instant snow last year..

I'm looking forward to some winter fun again this year!
I'll let you know how it goes!
~~Amy

Colors in the Cold

It's getting COLD here again in Louisiana (we bounce back and forth!) and I love when it's chilly and cold because it makes me want to cuddle under blankets and bake warm goodies! 

I threw the sunburst granny throw over my new down comforter (snagged on Black Friday for a GREAT price!) The dog approves.

We baked up some muffins with some fun, bright, sprinkles. Cannot speak highly enough of Pamela's Gluten Free Mixes.

I did some snapping around our local nature center to clear my head one day.

Can't believe it's almost the new year! Where has time gone!?? It's almost Christmas break so I'll be off of work for two weeks, then just another week and half or so then I'm home full time again! :) So y'all behave until I return!

Noms: Gluten Free Nutella Muffins

I haven't given y'all a lazy easy recipe in awhile!! I saw the inspiration for this on Pinterest (of course) but as usual, have to adapt things for the gluten free life. So here we go.

Ingredients:
Pamela's Pancake and Baking Mix (using her muffin recipe, check her ingredients list)
Nutella (or knock off Jif Chocolate is good too)
Muffin pan
Usual baking stuffs

Follow Pamela's recipe for her muffin mix. Fill the muffin tin (sprayed or use liners) only about half full instead of 2/3 as she says. Add a dollop of Nutella in each muffin space. Gently swirl the Nutella in with a toothpick (swirl easy...if you do it too much it just mixes it, which isn't bad but not the effect you're going for...unless it is..then mix your socks off.) Bake as directed per Pamela's directions. (Is her stuff not awesome?) Let cool if you can stand it and eat!

They are SO good. My kids and I love them! They may 'poof' out the pan but I consider those free parts and they don't count in calories...obviously.

Enjoy!!!

Finish It Friday

Finished up the buttermint cowl!!

I also finished up a little jar cozy for pens/pencils for my temporary work desk :)

Have you finished up anything fun lately??

~~Amy

Deal of the Week

Baby, it's cold outside! Well, it's cold for Louisiana anyway as I type this...of course when it goes to publish it could be 80 outside...

Anyhoo, I digress...How's about a freebie for the deal of the week???
Since it's so cold most places, and I am loving learning how to crochet, how about a nifty handmade scarf made by yours truly?

It will be made to order and I will give you some color choices (pretty much everything, because I apparently already hoard yarn as I do fabric...) Now, keep in mind, I'm still learning so I basically know two scarf patterns: a ruffle scarf for the ladies, or a traditional long scarf for anyone :)

But if I can say so myself, I think I'm learning quite well and fast and hey, can you beat a free scarf?? (That's a rhetorical question, please don't literally abuse handmade scarves...that's just mean, yarn never hurt anyone..)

Soooo, enter your comment here with a WAY TO CONTACT YOU! (email, facebook, etsy, something! I can't send you a scarf if you disappear into comment land!)

You have one week to get your comments in and then I'll randomly pick a winner by who my dog sniffs on the screen, or something more professional....

Answer me this in your comment:
What is your FAVORITE thing about fall/winter??

~~Enjoy!~~Amy

Adding some pics of my handiwork, lest you not trust me to make a purdy scarf...

Spotlight: Winter Wonderland

Today's spotlight is "Winter Wonderland". Although it's not snowy where I am, I hope you enjoy the snow if you are blessed (or cursed?) with it!