NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS!

I'm back from my holiday break just in time for New Year's.   I started thinking about all of the traditions we do for the holidays each year.   When it came to New Year's I must admit that I don't have anything spectacular on my list.  I do remember as a child my dad making sauerkraut and pork for New Year's Day.   That just didn't do it for me though.

I'd love to know what you do to make the holiday fun and exciting.  Leave me a comment below.  I can't wait to jazz it up this year!

SNOWFLAKE PROJECT

Help the children of Sandy Hook Elementary

I know that we were all affected deeply by the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.   I'm sure that we all hugged and kissed our children a bit more after watching the story unfold.    Many of us live many miles away from Newtown and want to help these poor families and students someway.     Many students who have been traumatized by the recent events will return to a new school in a nearby town after the new year.

The Hudson Ohio PTA and Connecticut PTSA are hoping to create a "Winter Wonderland" as the students return to school.    Children all across the country can help and show their support by making paper snowflakes.   They encourage students to be as creative and have fun! 

Please send all snowflakes by January 12 to:

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

WET ONES STICKY SITUATION CONTEST

Have you ever been in a sticky situation where your child is in need of a Wet One stat?  I have so I entered an awesome contest that Wet Ones is having on Facebook called Sticky Situations.   It's really simple!  Just go to Wet Ones Sticky Situation Contest on Facebook and upload your best sticky situation and the story behind it.

Do you have a sticky Birthday Party picture to share?  Every year my son ends up with more cake on his hands and face then what he ate.  I always laugh and then proceed to clean the colored frosting off him.   I'm a huge fans of Wet Ones!   I always have a canister for my car and the individually wrapped Wet Ones for my purse.  I never leave home without them.  They are great to wipe down a supermarket cart.  These places are loaded with nasty germs.    

Another way I use Wet Ones is before we eat any food while going out for food.   Before we place our food order at a drive-thru the first thing we do is to all wash our hands with Wet Ones.    When we eat inside a restaurant we wash our hands and clean the table.   

Now is the time to enter the contest.  Dig up your best photo and submit it by December 28.   You could win the 

Grand Prize of a brand new Ipad mini

or 3 runner-ups will win

Tickets for 4 people to go to Six Flags

Good Luck!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Wet Ones. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

EARTH PAINT REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

eco-friendly paint kits

My husband and I do a lot to keep our family healthy and embrace a "green" lifestyle.   We eat organic foods, don't clean with chemicals, and recycle as much as possible.    We continue to be amazed at the harmful chemicals in items such as bath soap, toys, and food.

I'm so incredibly pleased to tell you about an AWESOME product that is eco-friendly and SAFE for your child.

Earth Paint is a naturally colored clay that is dried, crushed, and sifted into pure pigments.   Simply take the colored pigment, add water, and you have paint.   Simple, chemical-free paint that isn't harmful to your child.

The colors are just wonderful.   Red, blue, brown, yellow, orange, and brown.   Pigments come in plastic bags to use as little or as much as you want.

Batman loves to paint and he was so excited when I told him we were going to take a break from school work and paint.   He immediately got to work.  Look at how vibrant the blue is.   The quality of the paint was great and had no streaks at all.  It went on smooth and was easy to work with.   Clean-up was a breeze!   I was able to save the paint to work on more projects over the next few days.

There are two products available for purchase.  Children's Earth Paint Kits are water soluble and easy to use.   Most important, these paints are non-toxic.   Earth Oil Paint Kit  is a very pure, high quality, and non-toxic paint that is free of fillers, preservatives, and heavy metal toxins.

I know that I will be ordering more paint from this company.  I'm thrilled to be able to partner with Earth Paint and offer a free, trial package of the Children's Earth Paint Kit to one lucky follower of Susie Homeschooler.

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Disclosure: Earth Paint provided me with a free Children's Paint Kit for review purposes. I do not have to return the product to the vendor and I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

GUEST BLOGGER: Blythe from "The Desperate Craftwives"

GUEST BLOGGER:  Blythe from "The Desperate Craftwives"

I'm thrilled to have Blythe from "The Desperate Craftwives" as a Guest Blogger this week.  She has an amazing blog full of fun craft projects, recipes, and awesome jewelry.  Check out her etsy store for fabulous accessories.

Blythe has a really neat recipe for Cheerios Christmas Trees for you.

ENJOY!

Cheerios Christmas Trees

When I was a little girl, I remember my Mom making these super cute Cheerios Christmas Tree treats for me to take into school and share with my class. Now I am the Mom and I knew these would be a big hit in my son's Kindergarten class this holiday season.

Cheerios Christmas Trees

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of Cheerios (can use regular or honey nut)
• 4 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows
• 6 T Salted Butter
• Green Food Coloring
• Gumdrops
• Cooking Oil Spray

Directions:

• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, until fully melted and smooth.
• Add green food coloring until desired shade is reached.
• Place Cheerios cereal in a bowl and add the marshmallow mixture, stirring until all the cereal is thoroughly coated.
• Place a sheet of parchment or wax paper on a cookie sheet.
• Spray your hands with the cooking oil and take a handful of the Cheerios mixture and form into a Christmas tree shape. Be sure to press it firmly together so the tree doesn't collapse.
• When you are finished forming each tree, set it on the cookie sheet.
• Once all of your trees are formed, slice your gumdrops and just stick the little circles on the trees as ornaments.
• Place the trees in the refrigerator to set for about an hour, then take them out and cover them up until they are ready to be served!

Enjoy!

-Blythe

$600 CHRISTMAS CASH GIVEAWAY!!!!

Welcome to Susie Homeschooler!  

If you haven't been here before then please take a moment to SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL.   I look forward to connecting with you on all sorts of subjects near and dear to our homeschooling hearts.

I know that everyone could use a bit of extra CASH right now.   I've partnered with some AWESOME bloggers to give one lucky SUBSCRIBER a chance to win some COOL CASH...$600 to be exact!

Please visit the wonderful sponsors of this Cash Giveaway:

Prize Details: One winner will be chosen at random to win the cash prize of $600 ~ paid via PayPal, Amazon, or Target (or another approved merchant of the winner's choice).  Enter below using the Rafflecopter.  Each extra entry increases your chances of winning. To checkout other great weekly giveaways, be sure to subscribe to Homeschool Giveaways"Giveaway Blast".

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GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS!

Check out this awesome gifts that are both fun AND educational.

Smart Lab Squishy You Explore it Human Body

Thames and Kosmos Classic Science Archeology: Pyramid

K'nex Education

Magic School Bus Dvd Series

Rock Kit

Curious Chef 17 Piece Measure & Prep Set

Blokus

The Settlers of Catan

Educational Insights Geosafari Talking Globe Jr.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see"-Mark Twain

I can still remember the day perfectly about ten years ago.   I was driving to work and stopped to pay a toll.   The attendant told me I didn't have to pay because the person before me had given extra money for me.   At first I was bewildered but soon a big smile appeared on my face and stayed there for most of the day.    A simple gesture, from someone I didn't know, made my day!   That unique feeling of pure joy was one that I wanted to feel again.

As the years have passed my husband and I have tried to do random acts of kindness.   We've paid money in tolls, purchased dinner for people who we didn't know, helped out people in need, etc.   Our goal has always been to remain anonymous and to just find the joy in helping others.

Now that we have a son we want to pass on to him the joy of giving without receiving.   This is our commitment all year round.

Check out 25 ways you can make a difference below.

1.  Visit a nursing home.  They love seeing little children.  We threw a Christmas Party on Sunday at an assisted living facility.  It was so easy to organize and it was a blessing to us all.

2.   Take cookies to the local police department or fire station.

3.  Bring a box of candy to your local librarians.

4.  Put an item on Craig's List for free.

5.  Write a complimentary letter about an employee.

6.  Put extra money at the vending machine.

7.  Bring a bag of dog or cat food to an animal shelter.

8.  Have your child pack up a box of his or her toys to donate them to a worthwhile cause.

9.   Give a compliment to a stranger.

10.  Drop off some canned food items at your local food pantry.

11.   Bring in those pesky carts at your local supermarket or Walmart.

12.  Hide single dollar bills on the shelf in a store.  Imagine the smile on the person's face who finds it.

13.  Make a card or treat for the Pastor of your church.

14.   Have your child draw a picture for your mailman and include a box of candy or cookies.

15.  While out to eat pay for someone else's dinner.

16.  Next time you're in line at Starbucks pay for the coffee of the person next to you.

17.   Send a family in need an anonymous gift card.

18.   Pick up litter anywhere.

19.  Buy an extra lottery ticket and give it to someone.

20.   Give your restaurant server an extra big tip.

21.   Bring extra blankets to a shelter.

22.  Hold the door open for someone and say hello.

23.  Bring some flowers to a local hospital and ask them to give it too someone who needs them.

24.  Pay for someone's toll at a toll booth.

25.  Next time you're in line at McDonald's, pay for the person behind you. 

Ivan Becomes a Hero

Book Review and Giveaway

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting author Linda R. Brocato.   Linda was a guest speaker for our homeschool group and talked to us about great ways to make reading and writing more fun for our children.   Linda's simple yet effective advice was something that I was easily able to adapt to at home while homeschooling my son. 

Linda has written a beautiful book called Ivan Becomes a Hero.   It's a story about a little, gangly giraffe who does not like who he is.   He wants to be a zebra, then a water buffalo, when the other animals bully and make fun of him.

The story delves deeper when Baby Hilary the Hippo gets into trouble by falling into a deep, dark hole.  Ivan is the only one who can save her since he is the only one with a long neck and legs, and keen hearing to find her.   Ivan draws strength from the word's his mother repeatedly told him whenever he felt bad.  She said how "Fearfully and wonderfully he is made" which is found in Psalm 139:14.

All the other animals declare that Ivan is a hero after he rescues Baby Hilary. Zeke, the leader of the zebras, and Wally, leader of the buffaloes, say they are sorry for bullying Ivan.   All the other animals want to be his friend too. 

 At the end of the story Ivan has learned to accept himself for who he is and to celebrate his unique differences.  Ivan declares "I like being me!"

There is a special "Hidden Hearts" game included in this book that was so much fun for my son to look at.  "Hidden Hearts" are secretly placed throughout the illustrations beautifully done by Donna Brooks.  

One thing I love most about this book is Ivan isn't different that different from you and me.  He has insecurities and needs to learn how to work through them.   God has made Ivan different and that is one reason why he is so special.   This book is so wonderful on focusing on values and that is such an important lesson for us to appreciate.   As children grow they are constantly looking for acceptance and this book gives the reader a good understanding 

about self-acceptance. 

Would you like to win a copy of "Ivan Becomes a Hero"?

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