College Prep Genuis: SchoolHouse Review Crew

As much as I don't want to think about it, the kiddos are getting close to HIGH SCHOOL!!  I am not quite to the point about being stressed about college just yet, but thinking about High School is starting to freak me out!!  
Last year, as part of the Crew, College Prep Genius was one of the vendors.  I wasn't chosen for that review (and like I said- not worried about college yet).  This year, College Prep Genius offered us a paperback book called High School Prep Genius... JUST WHAT I NEED!! This is the best hand holding, step by step,  here's what you need to do book!  I skimmed over it when I got it in the mail, I have since read it cover to cover.  
I have a folder of notes where I have started keeping up with different ideas relating to getting through high school - I am currently working on penciling those into this book where they fit - just so I have it all in one place.  I am pretty sure by the time my kiddos graduate, this book will be pretty well used!! Great news - even if for some reason, they go to public school - this book will still be a great resource!! 

Some of the features in the book include timelines for summer from 8th grade until afterwards, study tips. talent searches, scholarship ideas, extracurricular activities, study tips, college admission guides and much more.  One of the things that we will be working on starting soon is a notebook - a place to keep up with all that they accomplish over the next few years - a place to keep up with their grades, their service hours, their career ideas - anything that will help them from now until college graduation!
The book is available online for $29.95 and is a perfect read for those that have kiddos from about 6th grade on up.

Couponing for the Rest of Us ~ a review

Revell Publishing offered the book Couponing for the Rest of Us as a review item.  I try hard to coupon, no where near the extreme couponing, I thought this would be a good resource to have.

Taken from Website:
Kasey Knight Trenum knows what it's like firsthand. When her family's finances were in a tailspin, she gritted her teeth and gave in to the need to save. In Couponing for the Rest of Us she shows you how she learned to save hundreds of dollars every month and offers time-saving tips and tricks you can easily implement in your busy life. You'll discover

· where to find coupons for what your family eats
· how to reinvent your shopping strategy
· how to make grocery shopping less stressful-even fun!
· and much more

If you want to save money and time, this book is a gold mine.

"Prepare to be surprised by how easy it really is to slash your grocery budget by 50 to 70 percent consistently, week after week! Kasey takes you from start to finish using her uniquely simple strategies. You'll go step-by-step, from collecting coupons to getting organized to understanding store policies and secrets for how to maximize your savings-just like a pro!"-Mary Hunt, personal finance expert and founder of Debt-Proof Living, author of 7 Money Rules for Life

Kasey Knight Trenum hosts Time 2 $ave / Time 2 Give, a frugal and couponing blog (www.time2saveworkshops.com), and conducts Time 2 $ave workshops frequently. Her weekly column can be read in Scripps newspapers nationwide, her work has been featured in Parademagazine and All You magazine, and she has been interviewed on HNL's Making It in America and NPR's All Things Considered. She has a personal passion for seeing women, men, and families find financial freedom, be empowered to improve their lives, and become purposeful givers. She and her husband and children live in Tennessee.

Like I thought, this was (will be) a pretty good resource.  In addition to the 10 chapters that discuss couponing 101, stockpiling and drugstores (and their secrets); there are also some wonderful resources in the appendix!  

I pretty much know the basics, like if I'm not going to use it, then even if it's on sale and I have a coupon, it's not worth it. However, I did learn a few things that I wasn't aware of - mainly about the drugstores, but some stockpiling and freezer resources.

I can't quit grasp the stockpiling yet - maybe because my budget is so tight that I can't see spending (even f it's just a little) on something I have plenty of and don't need at the time.  Maybe I will get there?

Overall, I highly recommend this book - especially if you are new to couponing, but even for those that aren't to the extreme point yet.

Spanish For You: Estaciones~ SchoolHouse Review Crew

Riley has been taking Spanish each week at our co-op.  When Spanish for You became available as a review for the Crew, I thought it would be great for him to have the reinforcement.  We were chosen to review Estaniones. 
The complete theme package: Seasons, is available for grades 3-8. Package includes a soft cover book, weekly lesson guide, & audio files of entire book as an MP3 download, downloadable flashcards.  The entire package is available for $64.95  There are other themes available and these can be used in any order.  

We used Spanish for You! four days a week, following the lesson plans as suggested.  The lessons were great for my kiddos and I think the audio files were what helped so much - because we were able to hear the correct pronunciation of the letters and sounds.  We will continue to work our way through the lessons - through next year when we do the 8th grade level.
The main issue I had with the program was it was very confusing in the beginning.  There was a lot to download and sort through, and to me, it was very confusing.  It took me a while to sort out what was what and when it was supposed to be used and with what.  Once I figured out how it all went together, it seemed easier.  Check out what the others had to say about Spanish for You!

First mission of Older Girl program - DONE!

So, last year, our Girl Scout Service Team added a *new* position.  Older Girl Specialist.  It was added for/by an adult Girl Scout that is still young, fresh out of college, newly married and super excited about scouts.  She was a Girl Scout all of her life and immediately started volunteering her time with our Service Unit.  I was super excited because my Girls are finally "older girl" age and she was full of ideas.  THEN.... she got hired by Diamonds Council of AR, OK, TX... which meant she could no longer volunteer.  

Ready for a break from the Awards Position, I stepped up to take on the Older Girls Specialist.... WHAT was I thinking???  Let me tell you what I was thinking... I was thinking that once girls reach middle school age, that's when we see the drop in membership.  NOW, I know there are a lot of you who do not agree with GSUSA and their policies and such, HOWEVER- we are talking local girls on an individual troop level.  I am talking about getting to know these girls as young ladies, being there for them as a mentor and teaching them to do the right thing and training them to be leaders!  Forget what GSUSA policies are... I am here for the Girls - NOT GSUSA!!!  These girls start dropping out of scouts at a time when most of them NEED it the most.  When they need to know that someone has their backs!!  My six girls in my troop are six of my favorite people!!  They are absolutely awesome and it is in part because of scouting - because of the opportunities they have had and the friendships they have made.  (stepping off my soapbox).

Here I am in the process of handing over and training our new Awards Specialist -all during awards season AND taking on the new position as OGS.  First mission - bridge the graduating Seniors to adult.  This happened at our Adult Awards Banquet!!  So, I was kinda pulled two directions at the same time during this.  I didn't know these five graduates very well, but I truly enjoyed working with them and planning their ceremony.  I was super nervous, but we got through it!! 

Now that all of that is over, I am ready to get started on this next year!!  I already have a brainstorming/meet and greet/pizza party planned- and I am hoping I have a decent turn out so I can get some good ideas for this next fall!!!

There were tons of photos taken that night, but so far, I haven't been in any that I have seen - which is FINE BY ME!!!  However, here is my favorite of the girls - with their bridge - all decked out in their Super Hero Theme!!

Study terminated

The past 2 and half years, I have been on a study drug for my Lupus.  It was a twice a month injection and I think it was helping with my symptoms and numbers.  However, I got a call this past week and my study is being terminated.  I am kinda frustrated about it because I have been feeling so good. 

Please take a minute to say a prayer  ~ that the doctor finds something in replace for me. And that I do not go into a major flare in the mean time.