Ready Set Remodel

It has been a busy weekend at our house. We finally started our project of remodeling our bathroom and putting down laminate floors in all 3 bedrooms.

Our bathroom still had the wallpaper and stuff that came in the house when we bought it so it was all overdue. The wallpaper that we had was white with big purple and blue flowers on it so after looking at it for over 13 years it is time for a change.

The carpet is also overdue, it is a light grey almost white so I usually had to have it cleaned every year and I have to admit it has stayed in very good condition over the years. We had the carpet in the dining room and living room changed out to laminate floors a while ago so the only carpet left in the house is the bedrooms and I am ready to see that go.

This is picture of our bathroom while remodeling. We had put the white primer and taped around things (which I do not recommend, it ended up pulling paint off).

TADA!!! Here is our new bathroom. It is so nice to finish a big job with such big change. Now its time for the floor, which will be in a few weeks.

Tiger decides to try out the new toilet.

HOMESCHOOLING GOES HOLLYWOOD

You really dont hear that much about homeschooling on the news or in the movies (unless its bad) so for there to be movies out about homeschooling amazes me. My family has been homeschooling for almost three years and I would not have it any other way. I will admit that I did not start homeschooling because I just wanted to. I actually thought once the kids went to school then I could get a part time job and start working again. Well that just wasnt in the cards for me.
Some families homeschool because of religious reason others because of a problem with the school system (mine was the latter). After I started homeschooling my youngest was diagnosed with Autism so then I knew why I was led down that path because there is no way in this world I would ever put my youngest in public school. Do not get me wrong I have no problem with public schools for other families but it is just not what I want for mine (I wish other people would feel that way about homeschooling).
While surfing the web I ran across two movies about homeschooling and wanted share it with my readers.
The first is CLASS DISMISSED




The second one was HOMESCHOOLED? the movie


I think homeschooling is a parents right just as its a parents right to decide everything their child does until they are adults. What does it say about a country that TELLS us how to raise your children. In my opionion the government has manage to screw up alot of things and my children are not going to be one of them.
It is my responsiblity to keep my child safe and everyday I hear about something happening in schools, whether its bullying, kids bring guns to school, kids getting abused or left on school buses. If you have a special needs child, one that can not tell you what happened today, you think differently about leaving your child with others. Cause lets be honest, how well DO you know the people you leave your child with? Its not about me being a over protective mom either, until things are different in schools or my children are older this is what I choose to do. I am not anti-public school, I am just pro-homeschool.

This post is my opinion and is not intended to try to replace your ideas with my own.

Goldilocks Puzzle Book from Educational Toy Planet

Educational Toy Planet was generous enough to share the "Goldilocks Puzzle Book" with our family. This isn't the regular book you are used to, with this book you can create the story for your child. It includes 4 chunky puzzle pieces,(Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear and Goldilocks) , a sturdy story book and a clear carry case.
Children put there imaginations, verbal skills, concentration and pretend play skills to work with this toy, so no feeling quilty about this one.

We had a good time with this story, my oldest actually enjoyed it more than my youngest. He decided he was going to put on a "show" for us. As I read the story he would use the puzzle pieces to act out the story. He said he really liked this book. It was great for me because we could use it for reading comphension, cause and effect and problem solving, anyway to stick some learning in works for me. The carry case makes it easy for on the go too. I think any child would be delighted to get this toy.


BUY IT
You can look at it on Educational Toy Planet website along with many other great puzzles while there look for more Language Development Toys .

{Mama to 4 Blessings} Giveaway EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS

Great Giveaway on Mama to 4 Blessings blog.

Educational Insights - Dot Card Set Beginning Phonics and Ace the Talking Teaching Dog

Ends 1/29

{Hope's Cafe} Giveaways including Coffee Beanery, Speck Products and Tutortogs Woman Apparel

One of my favorite blogs has some great giveaways going on and I wanted to share some of them with my readers. Be sure to check out ALL the giveaways going on at {Hope's Cafe}

It no secret how much I love coffee, I would drink it 24/7 if I could. Hope Cafe is sponsoring a giveaway for Coffee Beanery. You could win a Sampler of Flavors Gift Basket with 6 great flavors.

To go to the giveaway to enter for your chance to win click here Hope Cafe Giveaway
Ends 1/29







Speck Products has a great variety of cases, covers and bags for Iphones, Ipads, Itouch and Laptops. You can also get a custom product. Hope's Cafe is having a giveaway for a free Speck product.
To enter this giveaway click here Hope's Cafe Giveaway
Ends 2/4



Tutortogs has Mom apparel that is just as much for your baby as for you. They have visually stimulating patterens that your baby will love looking at and can actually see. There is a page on their website that explains exactly what a baby sees and at what age.
This apparel also have a added bonus, a slimming effect, which is what I like most. The baby and the mommy are happy. Hope's Cafe is giving away your choice of Tutortogs shirt and design, To enter this giveaway click here Hope's Cafe Giveaway
Ends 2/4

PILLOW PET FEVER Giveaways Valentine Pillow Pet (Choice)

My List of Valentine Pillow Pet Giveaways

Aubut Life is also having a Valentine Pillow Pet giveaway to enter go to Aubut Life Blog.

The Not So Blog Valentine Pillow Pet Giveaway Ends 2/11

Today's Woman Blog Pillow Pet Review and Giveaway

Ends 2/28

Home Grown Families Pillow Pet (Ms Ladybug) Giveaway

At The Fence Blog Pillow Pet Games ends 2/11

Just a mom's take on things blog Valentine Pillow pet ends 2/12

For More Pillow Pets go to Pillow Pets website.
I will be adding more links as I find them to Pillow Pet giveaways.

{Cake Mom} Giveaway Miche Bag ends 1/23

Cake Mom Blog is sponsoring a giveway for a Classic Miche Bag and a Hayley Shell. Ends 1/23

Click here to go to the giveaway Miche Bag Giveaway

BOOK REVIEW "All I Can Handle I'm No Mother Teresa" by Kim Stagliano

Kim Stagilano has written a book that every family should read if they have a special needs child. I am not only talking about autism. I was lucky enough to get one of these book in a contest I entered and since I have never heard of Kim I did not realize how good this was going to be.
This is a memoir of her life with 3 daughters all diagnosed with autism.

From the Cover of the book
HOW ONE WOMAN RAISES THREE AUTISTIC DAUGHTERS, LOSES ONE AT DISNEY WORLD, STAYS MARRIED, HAS SEX, BAKES GLUTEN FREE, GOES BROKE, AND KEEPS HER SENSE OF HUMOR...
So begins Kim Staglianos electrifying, hilarious tale of her family's journey raising three daughters with autism. With her funny, startling, and illuminating first book, Stagliano joins the ranks of bestselling memoirists like David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. With her willingness to lay everything on the table- family, friends, and enemies to basement floods to birthdays to (possible) Heroin addictions-she eviscerates and celebrates the absurb.

I thought this was such an uplifting, funny story. You would never think anything in your life would be funny raising three children on the spectrum, well she managed to find it.

I would recommend this book to any family, I laughed so hard but also cried at time, but one things for sure it made me feel better about the hand I was dealt.

Corn Palooza

Our family meets late for Christmas on one side of the family so tonight was the night we had dinner. It took me a few days to decide what to cook because I like to cook things that we like to eat later. My kids love corn, it is one of the only vegetables they will eat. So it was Corn Spaghetti and Corn Pudding.

First I made the Corn Spaghetti which take an hour to cook. This is one of the easiest recipes to make and the kids (and adults) love it.

In case you would like to try this here is the recipe
1 Can Corn (with liquid)
1 Can Creamed Corn
1 Cup of Mozzarella Cheese
Small Box Spaghetti (broken into 1/2 pieces)
4 Tbsp Butter (melted)

Mix All Ingredients together in a 9x13 baking dish, mix well, cover with foil, bake at 375 for 1/2 hour then uncovered and bake for another 1/2 hour. DONE




Finished Corn Spaghetti, now for the Corn Pudding which is more like dessert than a vegetable.

Ingredients for Corn Pudding are

1 cups sugar
1 Tbsp of Flour
2 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Cup Milk
1 Stick Butter
1 Can Corn


Mix Sugar and Flour well, add eggs and mix well cut do not beat. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into baking dish. Bake 375 for 45 minutes.
Finally I made a actual dessert, Caramel Cream Cake, a caramel cake with vanilla frosting topped with white chocolate chips and homemade caramel sauce.

How many GB, best processor, high RAM you might as well be talking Chinese

I know you all have went through the grueling task of buying a new computer, I have done it a total of 3 times and everytime it gets more confusing. There isnt anything major wrong with our current desktop but it is a little slow and we have almost filled it up with pictures and homeschool stuff. We have a laptop that my son uses for school and it is twice as fast but of course it is brand new. We are looking at the refurbished ones and they have some great deals but I just dont know if they are REALLY good deals. Everytime my husband gets on the phone with someone they change his mind about what computer to pick so we keep going back and forth. It kinda reminds me of buying a new car!

Computers can be so easy to use but sometimes things happen that I just have no idea what to do with. Take for instance, with this new blog, I still have alot of learning to do. I know that there are settings and options that I have no idea about. I still cant figure out how to customize my Header on my blog.
My kids on the other hand are better than I am. My youngest who is six and has autism can get on the computer and do almost anything he wants (if allowed). He can search for what he likes, save things on the favorite list (this is why I have a list of games), and do other things that blow my mind. You have to be careful he not around when you type your password in cause if he sees you he can remember.
Well hopefully we can find a nice computer that will do what we want at a good price. What do you look for when buying a computer? What is the best brand that you found so far?
Maybe you can help me find a great deal.