ABCmouse.com Review!!

A couple months back I introduced Bella to ABCmouse.com. I hemmed and hawed about using it but I though "hey free trial, why not". I have been looking for something to engage my little learner and help her prepare since she was getting most of her pre-k education at home.

I have to say.... I am AMAZED at the number of activities and resources this program provides. She could play all day and still not exhaust the activities! We use it on our iPad, which seems to be easier for Bella than using the computer mouse.

Here is how it works....

You select the level you want to start your child at (tot,1,2,3,4,5,6). I started Bella at 3 but changed it to 4. I felt she was more advance and I didn't want her to get bored. You start off in the class room and navigate from there.

Your child follows The Learning Path, while completing several activities per lesson. The activities include coloring pages, puzzles, books, games, and more. Level 4 has 72 lessons to work through.

Each activity gets awarded a certain amount of tickets that you can use to shop with(imaginary). Bella loves spending her tickets on collecting fish for her aquarium and new clothes!

There are endless activities and things to do! I was amazed at the amount of information my child could learn! There is The Basics section which allows you to specifically focus on certain areas. This one's my favorite.

Your child can also take a virtual trip to The Farm or The Zoo! How cool is that!?! Each one has all sorts of information on the animals and corresponding activities for the kids to complete.

You also get the opportunity to teach responsibility while your child takes care of their virtual fish!

Eww, fishy gunk... better clean that up!

I could go on and on about how much this program offers... I think you get the picture with the screen shots:)! But really I encourage you to try it for yourself! What's great is that the first month is free!!!! So there is no risk to try!

Pros.....

Tons of activities and resources to teach your kiddos

Parents progress tracker to help you track your childs progess

Affordably

My child loves it!!!

Cons....

For the younger kids, the usage of a computer mouse can be difficult(I would suggest using the iPad app instead)

*This post contains affiliate links but the opinions are entirely my own.

10 Things I Live For {52 Weeks of Blogging a Purpose}

1. My Girls and being a Mom I never knew I could love another person so much and then I had kids. This love gives me a purpose and an existence greater than I could have ever felt or imagined.

2. My Husband and being a wife He has been a godsend and is so patient and kind to me. We have been through some rocky roads and we seem to work best together in these times. I am learning to be a better wife, a more patient and loving wife.

3. Little Smiles They are just the greatest form of therapy and the fastest way to lift a spirit!

4. Warm weather and barefoot I belong in warmer climates where flip flops are acceptable year round. The winter months are depressing and drag on. Once the weather picks up I feel a whole new spirit awaken!

5.Gods presence In the past couple months I have felt a coming home. To feel his presence in the sun and in the wind is uplifting. It lets me know that he is always with us, it's just a matter of us listening and believing.

6. Acoustic Music Or music in general... I start to hear that guitar jammin and I feel the beat in my soul. "The good thing bout music, when it hits you, you feel no pain"

7. Making a difference If we have no purpose in this world, then we are all lost wandering creatures and that saddens me. If we see something wrong we should stand up and fit for the right and the good. It's the voice of the people and the masses that make changes in this world. Stand up and fight!

8. Adventures and Travel The world is full of history and stories, I long to learn and witness them. They help us grow  and take the monotony out of everyday routine.

9. Planning Parties... It's just something I do!

10.Disney World I love Walt Disney World!!

52 Weeks Blogging with a purpose: Who I am

Who am I? That's a great question and something I have been searching to answer now for the past year. This post actually makes me a little on the uncomfortable side because I don't have these specific words to use to describe me. I feel like everyone can explain so nicely about themselves for me, I get stumped.

I am a Wife and a Mother. I couldn't ask for a better set of people to call my family. I love being a Mom, although I didn't always think I wanted to be one. I am blessed to have been awakened to this calling and can honestly say I didn't know this kind of love could every exist. My husband is an amazing man who is so patient with me and loves me so unconditionally. He accepts me for who I am, the good and the bad.

I am a caregiver, teacher and life long learner. I once studied elementary education and for personal reasons I decided not to continue but I am a teacher at heart. I love browsing in the teacher stores and when I felt the calling to home school I knew was a vocation I could not ignore. I really want my children to have a natural curiosity for life and learning.

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

I am a little hippie. I believe in a better world were we can all just get along in peace and love. I think if people really took a step back and saw a life with out greed and power, the idea would catch on but our global society is concerned with material things and money. I have hope that one day I can have my own sustainable farm and not worry about where my food comes from and if it's safe for my family.

I am indecisive all the time. I could never pinpoint what I wanted to "be" when I "grew up". Just when I think I made a commitment to a decision, something pops in to my head and I'm second guessing myself all over again. Maybe this comes from the fact that I am OCD... the mental obsessive kind. My husband handles this very well. I'd like to think that I can do everything. While that isn't going to always be true... I am still free to have many interests!

Father's Day Frame

*This is a recycled post from last year! I wanted to share will you all again. 
What are your plans for your special Dad? 
Please share your ideas(because I have to find something to top this idea for this year)!!!


This year for Father's day I wanted to create something special. I went to Michael's and bought these wooden letters D and A... Then I thought get a P and you can do papa too. I took portraits of my little ones with the letters and here is what happened...

I took the picture and turned it black and white with Photoshop. I had to increase the brightness and contrast so it didn't look too dark.

I did this with each letter D, A, D.

The finished product for Dad.... 

Sorry for the picture quality... taken with a phone camera:(

I also did one for my pop. I used the letters PAPA... That's what my daughter calls him:)

I put the pictures on publisher and arranged them so I could print out one big 8x10.

ABC Old School Blogging

This is so much fun!!! It reminds me of the days in school when you would pass around notes to friends in study hall.

I’m linking up with Elaine and Jennifer for this month’s Old School Blogging-The ABC edition.







A. Attached or Single? Attached for the past 5 years!
B. Best Friend? I would have to say the hubby!! He knows me better than anyone and accepts me for all my craziness.

C. Cake or pie? Every occasion needs a cake!
D. Day of choice? Saturday, it's a lazy day when everyone is home and you don't need to worry about work the next day.
E. Essential Item? My iPad.
F. Favorite color? Yellow, my first car was yellow!
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy worms in mud pie:)
H. Home town? Elmhurst, IL
I. Favorite Indulgence? Chocolate and wine!
J. January or July? July, I am not a winter person.
K. Kids? Two little princesses.

L. Life isn’t complete without? With out my spirituality and my family.
M. Marriage date? November 13, 2009 ( Friday the 13th)
N. Number of brothers/sisters? 2 brothers and I'm the middle child.
O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges, they taste better juiced.
P. Phobias? Something happening to my kids. This is a constant anxiety. I also have a problem with heights.
Q. Quotes? "Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright"-Bob Marley
R. Reasons to smile?Every day we have a chances to better ourselves and start fresh
S. Season of choice?I like summer, but only with a dry heat.
T. Tag 5 People.
U. Unknown fact about me? I am so short I qualify for a handicapped plate.
V. Vegetable?Yes!! I love juicing them.

W. Worst habit? My obsessive (OCD) nature mixed with my anxiety problem makes me over analyze everything and my webmd problem.
X. Xray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound, it's safer.
Y. Your favorite food?Chips and guac ( I love Mexican)
Z. Zodiac sign?Scorpio

How To Be An Adult Student

I am a working mama to two little girls. On top of my 40 hours a week, I have been in school for about a year now, to finish up my Bachelor's degree. My husband is also taking classes too!!!

Yes, that's right... 2 full time jobs. 2 full time parents and 2 full time adult students!!!

I always intended to finish up my degree before I had kids. Clearly, life did not work out that way. I am blessed to work for a company that offers 100% tuition free education for both my husband and I, one of the perks of working for a higher education institution!! When searching for jobs, this was my main goal. I didn't want the debt that everyone else had and I was determined to finsih our degrees.

I think we have set the tone about education for our children. Bella often sits down with her work book and says "I'm doing homework like you mommy!" She takes pride in it and I'm glad to example the importance of it!

 Don't let my goals fool you, this situation isn't easy. In fact, is sucks!!! I am burnt out and I can't stand the work, but I know that isn't an excuse to not finish, even though I have really contemplated quitting. Many people ask "how do you guys do it?". My only response is "you do what you gotta do!"

1. It's going to be hard, very hard and you need to keep the end result in mind every time you want to quit. If you can face this fact, you can do it!

2. Evenings are prime time for school work. The hubby and I take turns and rotate on putting the girls to bed and school work. There is rarely an evening that one of us is not doing school work.

3. There is still time for family!!!! My husband and I take our kids on a family bike ride 3 days out of the week. In addition, we make sure we are spending quality time with our girls on movie nights and park days. I think my kids get to go to the park more than most... which is a great opportunity to study!

4. Weekends are not as relaxing as they used to be. No, they are filled with the juggling of getting piled up laundry done, grocery shopping, school assignments, maybe a family activity and house cleaning. Gone are the days that I can sit back on the couch and watch my shows... oh how I miss my shows.

5. You have time, you just have to find it. We have more time than we think... I don't care how busy you think you are, my daughter has gymnastics activities... we still fit in the occasionally family bike ride. I try and fit some school work in on my lunches and the little time here and there. Don't kid your self... you will fill up every moment, but think of the outcome?

6.Think of the grand scheme of things. You are doing this for a greater purpose, so those moments where you have had enough... you need to stay motivated! Maybe you need to cut back on classes but don't give up... the second you stop taking classes you will never go back!

7. Online options are the way to go. Despite the bad rap they have gotten, there are several options that can help you achieve your educational goals. Do your research and make sure they have the accreditation. Know what your looking for in a school too! Mandatory log in times? On site testing?  I've done mine completely online and there is never a specific time I have to be online. I write my school schedule and I could have never done it any other way!