4GB Digital MP3 Player Giveaway

As part of our Christmas on The Lounge celebration, we are giving away a 4GB Digital MP3 Player! Perfect for listening while you walk or while working around the house. Listen to your favorite music or download an encouraging podcast!



GPX 4GB Digital MP3 Player with Stereo Earbuds
Retail Value: $66.00



Favorite tunes play on with this 4GB digital audio MP3 player. At home or on the go, just plug and play to hear songs through the stereo earbuds. The headphones give easy access to volume control and preset equalizer settings let the sounds come through loud and clear--all the time. From GPX.

Includes 4GB digital audio MP3 player, stereo earbuds, and cable
Holds approximately 1,000 songs; 2,400 photos; or 12 hours of video
Plays MP3, WMA file formats
Supports USB 2.0 high speed
Headphone jack volume control
Five preset equalizer settings
SD/MMC memory expansion
Backlit LCD display with artist and track information
Artist and track information
Requires 1 AAA battery, not included
Measures 2"L x 2-3/4"W
90-day Limited Manufacturer's Warranty


To enter this giveaway for a chance to win, please visit this Homeschool Lounge event page for more details! Click on the link below...

http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/events/4gb-digital-mp3-player

The BEST Christmas cookie dough!

A friend made these cookies at our ladies tea last night and cut them out with tiny Christmas cookie cutters and decorated with icing and sprinkles, they were adorable and delicious! I can't wait to try them with the boys.

The original recipe is for Santa's Whiskers cookies but she simply used the dough from that recipe to make her own cut out cookies to decorate.

Best of all, the raw dough is safe to eat because they have no Egg! My chunky monkey can eat them and the boys can eat the raw dough! (the best part)

Easy kid-friendly recipe for slice & bake refrigerator cookies.

1 1/4 cups butter, softened (2 1/2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, preferably with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beat again and scrape bowl.

With mixer on low speed, add flour one cup at a time and beat after each addition.

Shape into logs approximately 2" in diameter. Roll the logs in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat liner and give them a light spray with vegetable shortening.

Unwrap logs and slice into 1/4" thick slices or roll out to cut out shapes. Place cookies on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until very light brown and the sides are slightly firm.

Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack. Cool completely before storing in air tight containers.

We are sharing and discussing Christmas Cookies at The Forum on The Homeschool Lounge... come join us!

Christmas on The Homeschool Lounge

One of our favorite gifts to give for Christmas is baking mixes. Christmas gifts in a jar are an economical and fun gift option for everyone on your list.

The possibilities for creating gifts in a jar are endless…

• Cakes, cookies, and brownies are the most popular Christmas gifts in a jar.
• You can include all of the dry ingredients required to make a tasty soup.
• Hot Chocolate mix will be a welcome gift in the cold winter months.
  
• Colorful and shaped pasta is another option.
• Jams and Jellies

I find it easiest to make one recipe at a time. I line up the jars on the counter and add the ingredients to the jars one at a time.

Things You'll Need: Mason jar with lid Card Stock Ribbon, string, rubber band or raffia Glue Leftover fabric Spoon or cookie cutter (optional) Hole puncher

Recipes for Gifts-in-a-Jar are plenteous on the web:

http://www.handmadegiftsinajarrecipes.com/

http://www.heart4home.net/giftsinajar.htm

http://lilylaceplace.com/Kitchen/Mixes.html

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/soup-mix-recipes.htm

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/jarrec.htm

http://www.achristianhome.org/GoodThingsandRecipes/More%20unique%20Gifts%20in%20A%20Jar.htm

http://www.giftsfromyourkitchen.com/jar/jar.html

http://www.pastorswife.net/jars.htm

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/giftsinjar.html

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/gifts.htm

http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/jarrecipes.html

http://www.momof9splace.com/giftsinajar.html

Stop by The Homeschool Lounge for some more Christmas fun; we are sharing family traditions, recipes, crafts, photos and discussions in the homeschool Forum!

Visit our Christmas on The Lounge page for a Christmas play-list, a wonderful homeschooling through Christmas article and tons of links for lessons, unit studies, Advent projects, FREE printables and more!

Reflecting on my boys birth day.

The boys birthdays are always extra special for me. Yep I said me, probably more so then for the birthday boy. It's a day I spend reflecting on the day of their birth, my pregnancy with them and how they are growing. Am I making each day count, am I taking every opportunity to show them how far and wide the love I have for them flows. Do I take the small moments to create lasting memories. Birthdays are always joyful with a tinge of sadness; they are growing up too fast. My time with them feels like sand slipping through my hands, it runs out fast.

Today is Ashton's 5th Birthday, he is my tiniest boy weighing 5 lbs less than his younger Brother Noah (2). He is my feistiest and funniest of the 4. He is precious in every way, if I do say so myself! :-)

We had an early Birthday party on Sunday so that Troy could celebrate with us. Today we had our Birthday breakfast with Ashton's favorite... cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa! :-)

Find more photos like this on The Homeschool Lounge

Homeschool Toolbar Blog Launch Giveaway - Discovery's Planet Earth

To kick off the launch of the Homeschool Toolbar Blog a pretty nifty giveaway is underway!
http://homeschooltoolbar.blogspot.com/

Discovery Channels Planet Earth!
An $80 Value

This version is exclusive to the Discovery Channel Store.

More than five years in the making, Planet Earth redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking and continues the Discovery Channel mission to provide the highest quality programming in the world.

Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver narrates this 11-part series. You'll be amazed by never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time and unprecedented high-definition production techniques.

Features:

• 11 episodes and bonus materials
• A behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, technology and danger that went into the making of this incredible series
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes on each episode
• Bonus disc featuring 'The Future' documentary – a three-part companion series revealing the vulnerability of the natural history of earth.

• Format: DVD
• Number of Discs: 5
• Run Time: 10 hours 3 minutes

Plus the Best of Discovery Collection Volume 4

Valued at over $75 (if purchased separately), this fourth edition of the Best of Discovery series includes 4 DVDs featuring four of Discovery Channel's recently acclaimed programs including "A Panda is Born - Baby Pandas first year"!

• Format: DVD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Run Time: 5 hours 44 minutes

Entering this giveaway is super easy, visit the NEW Homeschool Toolbar Blog and enter to win!

http://homeschooltoolbar.blogspot.com/

Autumn Swap on The Homeschool Lounge Swap Shop ...Thanks Secret Sisters!!

If you have not yet joined a Swap on The Homeschool Lounge , you really must! The Swap Shop on THL always has some kind of fun swap going on. Right now its a Lapbook swap! :-)

So on to the Autumn Swap... a huge thank you to my Secret Sisters for all of the sweet goodies they sent me! Elaine .... the blessing who took on this HUGE swap (over 75 moms) with Char (thanks ladies) sent me the most beautiful chrysanthemum... Thank you so much Elaine, I treasure you!

It is now in our front yard next to our scarecrow. :-) A shot from the back...

I was also blessed with a lovely gift from my Secret Sister (I still do not know who she is???) Thank you my secret sister for the matching Apple orchard coupon book, recipe cards,bookmark, air freshener, menu planner, magnet, coasters and chocolates!! Thank you so much...what a treat!

Lastly, my other Secret Sister and friend IRL "Tasha" sent me another amazing package.... fall mug, fall towel, fig and blueberry fig preserves, bath gel, a beautiful fall ceramic plaque and figurine and Hershey kisses (the boys thank you for those) . Tasha and I have been great friends for over 12 years. We worked together at The Disney Store then at The Children's Place and now we homeschool our blessings together. Thank you Tasha!!

Thank you ladies... you blessed my socks off!

Homeschool Day In The Life

This will be the last post in the fun "Not - Back to School Blog Hop" hosted by Darcy. Its been fun Darcy, Thank You!!!

This week we are to share a "Day In The Life" post. I am going to cheat and share the day in the life page from my power point hand out from the Heart Of The Matter conference.

Below is a sample activity list the boys will do during nap/ quiet time...

If you are interested in tips, suggestions or help for working from home you can view the power point hand out in its entirety HERE.


Reminder : Only 8 more days to enter The Homeschool Open House on THL! All you have to do is share your homeschool plans for the coming year and enter to win in our drawing of over $5000 in prizes!