School

So I know it is really weird, but I have started obsessing over Keegan's schooling.  Those who know me, know I obsess.  A lot. Sometimes over trivial things.  A lot of times of far off things.

But alas, I am obsessing over my one year old's education as in four years from now.  I love his preschool but man I am going nuts over when he actually starts elementary school.

I heard of this (Christian based) private school model called University-Model School that I absolutely think is the coolest thing.  It's semi-homeschool.  They aren't really considered homeschooled, but your kids only go to school two days a week and you are their "coach" the remaining days to bridge the gap.  Hard to explain so here is an article on it:

http://www.home-school.com/Articles/university-model-schools.php

And here is the National Association of University-Model Schools webpage:

http://www.naums.net/

Problem is - the only one in Florida is in Largo/Pinellas Park area.  Bummer.  A lot can happen in 4 years though, right?

Then there is the Lee County Virtual School.  I have an awesome friend whose daughter is only 2 weeks older than Keegan and she was interested in homeschooling so we were talking about the option of having our kids go to the Virtual School and we can alternate teacher/coaching days this way we could work part-time if we wanted to.  (I'd like to think I'd have the option of working part time in 4 years but I know that's not a definite too).

Here's the "schools" website: http://lvip.leeschools.net/

And (as of right now) they use the Calvert Curriculum so I want to look in to that more: http://www.calvertschool.org/

I do like the idea of Keegan being in a regular classroom setting for social purposes down the road too and I know it's not a bad thing if he goes to public school - heck, his AWESOME Aunt Kiki teaches at a school he could go to and they just built a technology/science elementary school nearby.

Also another blogger I came across via pinterest has an awesome site where she has put together massive packets for "Mommy School" for toddlers.  I think that's great and plan on trying to do stuff with Keegan too.  I want to instill a love of learning in him.  His father and I like it so I think there's a fair shot he will too.

Mommy School: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/mommy-school

So I am not sure what is weirder - that I am obsessing over his schooling already or that I am liking it???

Keegan's Cardboard Car

Inspired by a post on Pinterest (here: http://pinterest.com/pin/17732992252271625/) I decided to make Keegan a cardboard car to play in. He's still at that age where playing in boxes is fun. But it's not that pretty and I wanted a project. So I used a heavy duty fruit cardboard box, painted it with acrylic paint (which is where I was originally going to stop), and then went a little overboard with embellishments. I added a mini bicycle license plate, mailbox reflectors as brake lights, and the budget buster of tap lights as the headlights. I didn't shop around for the tap lights so I paid more than I planned at $6.50 for the two. Originally I was going to do either clear/white or yellow reflectors but I could only find red that were big enough. I also purchased little sticky circle mirrors that are meant to be put on your side view mirrors to use as sideview mirrors but I haven't figured out the best way to add them on. The mirrors, reflectors, and license plate were all fairly inexpensive.

Keegan likes it :-)

 

How do they do it?

How do they do it? You know "they" - the superhero women who work full-time, have the most well behaved kids, and an immaculate house (sans paid housekeeper... although that would be nice!). I like my job and I am good at it but my house is always dirty and I feel like I don't spend enough quality time with my kid (or my hubby but part of that is our opposite work schedules). I wish I could be home more. Then I would have no excuse not to have a clean clutter-free house, dinner on the table each night, and a million finished pinterest projects. Sigh.....

Magical Loaf Studio Courtesy of Jennifer McCann, author of Vegan Lunchbox

So this is a Red Bean Loaf from the magical loaf studio all packaged up for leftovers (With edamame and mashed potatoes). I am telling you, even meat eaters will like the magical loaf studio - I bet you have everything you need to make one in your pantry. There are a ton of combinations.

The loaf in this picture has red beans, oats, peanuts, flax, nutritional yeast, onion, garlic, and seasonings. I baked it with a can of petite diced tomatoes over it. Delish! And healthy to boot haha www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html

New Year New Me - so cliche yet so hopeful

Another year has passed. It was a year of mixed blessings and curses for me. There were a lot of hard times but also watching Keegan grow has been amazing. I cannot believe our little man is now over a year old. His birthday party was quite the bash - I will have to dedicate a whole post to that some other time...

New Year's goals... sure I have a bunch haha

1) Read a minimum of 26 Books (or is it 52 - I forget what I have done in the past so maybe we will stick with 26 and we just might be pleasantly surprised if I read way more)

2) Get financially stable. Have savings and no debt other than house, car, and student loans.

3) Close on our house.

4) Get more physically fit and healthy. I want to incorporate a workout into my routine and also eat healthier more whole foods and eat primarily vegan.

5) Manage my time better.
*Side note - Keegan has woken up and he is sitting next to me and "reading" my planner to me... maybe he's telling me I better start filling it up!*

Numbers 2 and 4 are huge because every year I want to do these things and I never do but we want to try for baby #2 around Keegan's second birthday/end of next year. Woo hoo.

Well it's late and I know I have way more catching up to do but that's it for now.

XOXO

Paper Crafting (Cards & Decoupage) - Pict Heavy

Another craft I love is (broad category) paper crafting! Aside from scrapbooking, I also like to decoupage composition books so they are pretty journals and also make cards. I have so much stuff! Paper, sciccors, stickers, stamps.... I need to make use of it. These pictures are old but I hope to craft some this week. These are from swaps (journals, cards, box that I decoupaged etc.... all paper crafts!) - I had made a purple journal and a Disney journal for myself but I cannot find the purple journal or a picture of it. Bummer. The Mickey one is mine :-)

Bento Swap - Pict Heavy (old swap)

This was one of my very favorite swaps to craft for (through crafster.org). My first few swaps I got awesome packages but then I wasn't really getting paired up with people who did what they were supposed to so I haven't swapped in a while. Kara had the idea to pick a swap she liked but craft for herself instead - I like that idea. So anyways, these are pictures of what I sent for the Bento Swap over a year ago. I loved it. I sewed a placemat that rolled up and had slots for utensils, a bag to carry a bento box etc, and reusable snack bags. I included other bento-esque items.