Arts Education--adding electives to your homeschool

Joy2Learn has an easy arts education to add to your kids school day. Study the great tap dancers, jazz with Wynton Marsalis, and classical piano. Take a little time to study the theatre, sculpture with Richard Serra, and painting with Elizabeth Murray all thru e-presentations {short video type presentations}.
If you're like me, you rely on local co-ops for your music, art, and PE. BUT, adding some picture or music studies always sounds like a good idea :) This site seems to make adding the arts as an elective for your homeschool easy. If I can stand my pretend dancers "tapping" for a month, we'll study the great tap dancers and make a little lapbook about them. Maybe we can move on to another subject after that--just a short time on the computer for them is a special treat and they are learning! If we ever accomplish a lapbook--I'll try to compile the list of resources to share.

Valentine's Day sites

I'm starring these based on how great, usable, and easy the site is for me (at quick glances).....

***educationworld ~has links to other sites including this one: kidsdomain.com ~has valentine cards to print and ones to color
***Historyofvalentine ~History of Valentine's Day
****lessonplans~Looks like good ideas for older elementary ages
****theholidayzone ~Easy to navigate--several ideas for crafts and activitiesI'll be using some of the songs/rhymes/fingerplays for co-op preschool
*****American Heart Association lesson plans and printables.
*****File Folder Fun has great heart games for prek-2nd grade....my idea to make this more simple is to do ONE folder with colors and several baggies with the other matching games, just stapled maybe......and you can do your own hearts out of the colored ones for even more matching games--addition problems, number words and numerals, english and spanish words, etc.
****Purrfect Kitty Valentines and more!!

Deals here and there...

Here are this week deals at Dillons.
They are still doing the $3 off 10 item deals......

Ever wondered about using a company's coupon on a different item? Or thought it wouldn't work? WELL--here is the secret!! It CAN and DOES work sometimes!

Print your own cleaning supply coupons and save at Walgreens this week.
I plan on this:
Transaction 1:
Fusion Gamer on sale $8.99
Use $4.00 MQ {2/8 P&G}
OOP $4.99, receive $6 RR

Transaction 2:
2 Scrubbing Bubbles wipes $3/2
printed $3/2 MQ
2 windex wipes$3/2
2 printed $1.50/1 MQ
2 Starbucks chocolate packs $10/2
2 $1/1 MQ {from a blinkie by the chocolates}
1 ESQ $3, comes off both, so -$6
chocolates will cost $1/1
total comes to $6, but use $6 RR, so just pay tax?!?

Transaction 3:
Another Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor
get $6 RR

Transaction 4:
4 Axe deodorants/antipersperents 25% off
$3.21/1
Use $6 RR
OOP $6.84 and get 2 movie passes!!! {that is worth what I spent in all 4 transactions!}

MAYBE a 5th transaction for another razor so I can have the RR for next weeks deals--hopefully much better than this weeks!! And a little birdie tells me they will be!!
ALSO--check out the Glade coupons and deal listed so your house can smell nice and romantic for this weekend :)

PRICECUTTER
2/11-2/17 2009
I haven't dbl checked to make sure these are the lowest prices available, but they look like decent deals--please tell me what I miss!!

• Tyson Fresh Boneless Skinless Fryer Breast Fillet or Tender 1/2 price = $1.99/lb
• Williams Bacon 12oz. $1.79
• Kraft Ranch Dressing 16oz. $1.87
  use MQ $1/2 {SS } = $1.37/1
• Hiland Sour Cream or Dip 8oz. $.79
• Hiland Butter Qtrs. 1lb. $1.79
• Powerade 32oz. $.79
• Musselman's Apple Juice $1.69 (Aldis offbrand is probably cheaper)

Aldi's
I just saw one stand out deal and that's grapes for $1.68/2 lbs??? Good Grief--the Aldi's circular is missing in action! But I know it was a good deal and I don't buy grapes (even in winter) unless they are cheap......

WalMart
I haven't been in our WalMart lately except for diapers, so I haven't researched a whole lot, BUT I was read somewhere that you can get Purina $4/1 MQ (you must select a charity and I just had to search for one in my state since none in my area are registered) and there is a cat food less than $4 to get for free--but using it on an 18 lb bag would still be a great value if you buy cat food regularly anyway or are in need of some (unless you are just trying to get freebies and hope some other company comes out with another big Q).
Also--an ongoing deal if your WalMart carries sample Tide detergent in the travel section for around $.98 (my town does not, but local ones do), find the $1 MQ in the mailers or even the lower priced ones from the Sunday inserts and get Tide for dirt cheap!
Check this out for a great list of deals!! INCLUDING using those Tuna Qs from VocalPoint mailers!!! We'll see how our prices match up against hers........

Check out these coupons.......maybe some new ones you haven't printed yet?

I was not designed for this.......

Ahh--God did not create me to be a single mom and I sure pray that I do not have to go thru that trial. I am not designed for it. My dh has been gone on business for 4 days now--just 10 left, but it has seemed so long already. I'm sure those of you with hubbies that travel frequently are used to it and I even know the transition and hastle when he is finally home for an extended period of time--the power struggle, the change of schedule, etc.
But I am not designed to withstand this parenthood thing alone. The added stress of going to the hospital to visit their Papa (my FIL) among other things is not helping of course, but the last time dh was gone a week, by the 4th day I settled into a depression--not wanting to do anything but sleep. School and housework took a backburner. I made precautions for this not to happen again. We have activities planned so we are going going going........now i feel GONE.......I'm worn out physically, emotionally, and a little spiritually too.
Drained.
And it's just day 4.
I avoid bed until I know I'll go to sleep quickly.
I hate crawling into cold sheets.
It's much better when he warms them up for me first :)
....ughh.....I was definitely not designed for singleness...........I'm too clingy, needy, and incomplete without my dh here to keep me on track. He helps me stay motivated to clean. Before, I could live in a pigsty and not notice until someone rang the doorbell. I could have a pile of dirty clothes that i step over until I can't step over them anymore...I'm pretty oblivious to clutter and mess---WELL, I used to be until he brought them to my attention.
OH--that orange shouldn't be left on the table for 3 months? OK, honey!
WHAT? A metal pan will leave rust stains on counter tops? I guess that's why they are supposed to be put away, not just left for the next use out where you know where they are........
Yeah--he completes me--more like wakes me up to reality!! Maybe I need medication. Maybe i just need sleep.....MAYBE, just maybe, I need my dh home by my side keeping me sane. I know I know!! What doesn't break you makes you stronger........blah blah blah.......just let me whine a little!
I'm just me--not designed for this, that's for sure.....

Don't miss it!!

Shannon at www.thegroceryweekly.blogspot.com wanted to make sure we didn't miss the coupon in the first section of the KC Star today!
Thanks, Shannon! It would've gone into the recycling without another thought if I hadn't seen your post!

Grocery Deals 2/4-2/10

UGH!! This was all typed up and i lost connection......maybe this will get completed, but I'm posting before I lose anything else......
PriceCutter has milk for $2.59/gallon!! Unreal!! They are $.10 less than Dillon's sale price.


Dillon's has another type of sale event where you buy 10 and get $3 off--not the $5 of the last 2 weeks, but depending on your coupon match ups--a great deal!

See The Grocery Weekly for how to get Fruit Snacks for free OR $.28/box (ANYONE have MQs to share from the KCStar?!?!?!?!? My kids will LOVE you!)

And here is what I have found so far.....


Colgate Total Toothpaste 2/$5
If just buying one for $2.50 works,
$1.50/1 EQ http://www.cellfire.com/
$1.50/1 printable (email me for the pdf attachment)
or $1/1 {2/1 SS}
= $.50 overage or FREE!!


Kellogg's select cereals 9-12.25oz $1.67/1
EQs at cellfire:
$.50/1 Honey Nut Cheerios, $.75/1 MultiGrain Cheerios
EQs at www.shortcuts.com:
$.75/1 Wheaties, $.75/1 MultiGrain Cheerios
if no other MQ = $.92-$1.17
printable MQ for Honey Nut Cheerios $.55/1 dbls to $1/1 + EQ = $.17/1
$.50/1 MQ MultiGrain Cheerios {1/25 SS} dbls to $1/1 + EQ = FREE with $.08/1 OVERAGE!!
{let's hope the multigrain is included!}


Ocean Spray Juice Cocktail $1.98/1

Got Mail?

And I mean the GOOD stuff--snail mail--presents--boxes--coupons!!!!!

Check out Coupon Cravings for lots of freebies, Bargain Briana, Deal Seeking Mom, and others (just do searches!!) for listings of all the freebie stuff to sign up for! Check out the free Glade offer here at Thrifty&Chic Mom!!

Here are a few things I've just gotten in the mailbox recently:
VocalPoint Sunkist Tuna MQs and recipes
Kotex samples and MQs
Orville Redenbacher sample and MQ

P&G MQs

MQ for a free Diet Dr. Pepper
AND.........something NO ONE advertised--MQs for Heinz Ketchup!

Why did I get these? Because I emailed the company and told them I liked their product but buy the cheapest ketchup we can find instead, but I would appreciate any coupons so I could continue to buy their product. They sent me 6 $.50/1 MQ any variety any size Heinz Ketchup!! Unfortunately, I didn't make another trip to Dillons for the mega sale event, but I have until July 29th, 2009 to use these on the best deal possible!

Moral of the Story--if you want coupons you can't find anywhere--search for the company and email them!! Don't be shy--Just ask!!