10 Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Try

There are lists galore out there on the internet of non-alcoholic drinks and “mocktails”.  All you have to do is Google it and you can come up with a hundred or so options in just a few minutes.  I’ve tried a few of them and most of the recipes out there are pretty tasty, but I have a few other caveats for beverages.  I don’t drink soda, so anything soda-based is pretty much off the list (an occasional Sprite/Sierra Mist/7Up might sneak in there).  I don’t like oranges or grapefruit–it’s more of an intense aversion that has led to me leaving the area when someone else is eating an orange.  I also want whatever drink I’m making to be relatively healthy.  Here are Ten Non-Alcoholic Drinks I’ve been enjoying during my Dry January 30 Day Challenge 

30 Day Challenge: Dry January

I’m starting this year with the goal of being more intentional.  With that goal in mind, I’ve set out to complete one 30 Day Challenge per month for 2016.  The 30 Day Challenge I picked for January is Dry January–30 days of no alcohol.  Here’s the why, the how, and the results so far! 

Building Home-School Connections Through Reading

Reading is a wonderful and enjoyable pastime that can transport the reader to interesting times and places.  Reading, however, is not just for enjoyment and this is something we should be teaching our youngest readers.  Think about all of the reasons you read things in a day.  The grocery list, street signs, novels, news articles, recipes, bills, social media…

Printable Book Log

Since starting kindergarten, we’ve had to keep track of The Tiny Human’s reading. His goal is 15 minutes of reading or more at least 16 times per month (as set by the school). We’ve been keeping track, but on the calendar grids sent home from school and now a simple lined list. Neither of these provide enough room for me to write the title of a book.

4 Simple Ways to Save More & Spend Less

 

 

Four simple ways to save more and spend less.  You’ve probably heard them before, but these are the keys to unlocking financial stability. 

Robot Unit

I’m not really sure where they got the idea for this unit, but the kiddos picked it and I honored it…and, man, was it fun.  We had such a good time making things and problem solving.  This was a very S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) unit and our favorite book from Robots inspired our next unit, Outer Space!  Planning this way is so much more organic and logical than following a script and the kids are about 1000 times more invested and engaged.  Here is an overview of our Robot fun!  

Bullet Journal Overview 2016

I spent some time yesterday with my new Bullet Journal and got my beginning spreads (two pages together) started.  I’m really happy with my new notebook, a Leuchtturm1917.  I’m loving the dot grid paper.  I’ve spent the last few months gathering ideas for what I want and need in a planner and now that I’ve started putting it all down on paper I feel like this might actually be a planner that I stick with for more than a few months.  

Collect Memories, Not Things

As we plunge headlong into the holiday season, I’m thinking a good bit about the consumer aspect of Christmas.

Planner/Journal Planning for 2016

I love planners.  I love the idea of them, anyway.  I certainly use my Google Calendar…but I am an analog keeper of plans.  Every year, I buy a planner or a Daytimer or put one together using a binder and printable templates.  And every year I stop using it after about a month.  They end up being too big, too bulky, and not giving me space to plan what I want.  And therein lies the problem:  I am a special snowflake and I want my planner to be a special snowflake, too.  

Creation Station, The Best Thing I’ve Ever Added to My Classroom

Kids are crafty and creative.  If you give them a pile of materials, they will think of ways to put things together that we, intelligent adults that we are, would never have thought of in a million years.  They’ll make all of our Pinterest searching and project planning seem like, well, child’s play.  But Creation Station isn’t just about making things!