Here it is! The last Contesting Monday of 2013! I hope you all had a great Christmas and got everything you wanted. But just in case you didn’t, why don’t you go win it?
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!
It may be Christmas Eve but it is still Tuesday and Tuesdays are the Carnival of Homeschooling! I am blessed to be hosting this week and we have a few great blog posts. So lets jump right in!
Time for Learning reminds us that Nutrition is a Worthy Elective. So if you have been thinking about making some life changes this might fit right in!
Jeanine at Why Homeschool found her self a very interesting Homeschool Debate through debate.org.
To the Moon and Back talks about homeschooling When You’re Pregnant. I so remember those days!!
And that brings this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling! Next week will be hosted by Our Curious Home. Make sure you submit your pieces and here are all the details on how! Make sure to check out all these great articles and make sure to comment!!!
This holiday cleaning tips post is brought to you by Swiffer® as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.
Guests, we all love having them but sometimes we just don’t have the time to clean our houses and we think it should be done. Let’s be honest. With 4 kids, I never have time to clean my house to spotless! And if coming to judge my house, don’t bother visiting! But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to appear somewhat clean and tidy. There are just a few things you can do to make your house seem clean when you don’t have the time. And yes, a decent part of this is all mind games;).
1) People are self centered and love to look at themselves. Clean your mirrors! Focus on your bathroom mirrors but if you have them elsewhere try to give them a good wipe too.
2) We all have stuff (and too much of it) but no one needs to see it! Baskets and bin hide a multitude of excess! Just pick everything up that is laying around and dump it in. No one will look in them and no one will even notice if they are cute! I seriously have plastic bins in the kids’ playroom to hold stuff and everyone comments how clean it all looks. (Did I mention that the playroom meets the front door?)
3) People really only look where they are so clean off the kitchen or dining room table that they are going to sit at. Maybe even put on a clean table cloth!
4) Clean out your kitchen sink. Some helpful guest is going to want to put their glass in the sink or wash their hands. Even if you have dishes on the counter, a clean sink gives them impression of overall cleanliness! No one will care about the mess on the counter because that is just eating (and maybe even cooking) but a clean sink shows they probably haven’t been on the counter long;).
5) Have a spot for your guests purses, phones and keys. Yes, putting them on the couch or where ever is perfectly acceptable. But if you have a spot designated for them it gives an air of organization! I started having a spot when my kids were toddlers so they couldn’t get to anyone’s stuff but I had so many people comment on how organized I was that I will do it forever;).
6) Swiffer your floors!!! I was raised in the sweep, then run a bucket of soapy water, then mop, then run clean water, then mop again era. I never have time for that but nothing can kill the illusion of a clean house like feeling a bunch of stuff under your feet. I recently got a SteamBoost Steam Mop and it takes care of all those steps in 1. Just slap on a pad and fill the reservoir with water then plug it in and go! It takes 2 minutes and leaves the floor nice and clean!
Do all this and your house will seem clean in just a few minutes! And if you are judged because your bookcases don’t pass the white glove test, well those people are usually never satisfied any way;). Enjoy your guests and your life!!!
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And what could be better than buying Christmas presents for others? Winning them for others (or even yourself)!!
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
Kids, do they really need more junk? You know the stuff I am talking about. The doll that gets tossed aside after the initial hugs. The character figurine that is boring before the movie it is even on dvd. I personally like to try to buy presents for kids and families that teach a little something or just get your mind sharp! Here are a few of our families favorites!!!
Snap Circuits: These good old fashioned fun! These are a bunch of components that you can make over 300 projects with. They snap together and you don’t need to know any electronics. But you will be able to pick up some great electronic knowledge.
My First Science Kit: This is an 8 activity kit with science experiments all centered around color and color mixing. It is for ages 4 and up so it really is for most ages. I do recommend doing it in the kitchen;).
No Stress Chess: This is a great way for beginners to master chess with out having to suck all the fun out of the game. You basically draw cards to dictate the play in order avoid being overwhelmed by choices. And if you out grow the cards don’t worry because it is a standard chess game too!
Knights Treasure Chest: This is a collection of fun activities and booklets surrounding the knights! There is a catapult kit and a signet ring and wax for seals! This is a great gift to bring history to life.
Ticket to Ride: This is a great game! You build trains and then pick up and deliver loads around the country. There are also versions of this for Europe, India and Africa too. It is a ton of fun for the whole family. NerdFamily Dad and I play without the kids and with friends all the time. Love this!!!
These are some great gifts! And don’t worry, you can get them in 2 days if you have Amazon Prime. If you don’t have it yet you can try it out for a month for free.
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And what could be better than buying Christmas presents for others? Winning them for others (or even yourself)!!
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And what could be better than buying Christmas presents for others? Winning them for others (or even yourself)!!
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!
We all have them… Computers and phones full of pictures. But we can justify all that image hording by using them in Christmas gifts! Use all those great pictures to build photo books and calendars to give to friends and family. The images can even decorate your custom cards.
But, that gets expensive. Picaboo right now is running some fabulous deals to make it all a little more affordable!!! Here are 3 coupons!
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And what could be better than buying Christmas presents for others? Winning them for others (or even yourself)!!
So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.
So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!
