My Favorite things

Hello Readers, 

As a homeschool mom, I find pleasure in some of the most simple things. From a 10 minute shower to a five minute foot rub, those little things keep us going. But since the holidsays are upon us, I thought I'd share some of my greater enjoyments. 

• First and foremost - Printer Ink. I cannot count on my fingers and toes how many times I have ran out of ink and need it most! This year, I budgeted our homeschool funds to allow for a small surplus of ink. Thanks to some wise printing, I've also managed to save on paper as well. 
• Second - Scented candles. There seems there is nothing more rewarding than setting down at my desk while the kids are reading, and enjoying the warm aroma that my scented candles provide. I try to find them on sale when I can because they are so costly. I grab the seasonal candles right after they are marked down after the holidays and store them for the following year. But, every now and then, I will splurge and buy one at regular price. 
• Third - Family Games. We enjoy learning together, so playing together is like the icing on the cake. Family Game Night is important to our family and allows us to shake loose the homeschool culture and focus on family. During the holidays, board games go on sale and that is an excellent time to stock up. Our next purchase will hopefully be the new Watch Ya Mouth game. You can find out more about it here. 
• Fourth - A New Book. I am currently reading Icons by Margaret Stohl. It is so great to read when it isn't school related. This past semester really humbled me to never take advantage of free reading. I have vowed to read a book, "for me" at least once a month. I only wish I had the time to read more! 
• Fifth - A New Recipe. There is something rewarding about trying out a new recipe. The excitement of buying the ingredients, the expectation of its savory or sweet flavor. Yes. When you can, try out a new recipe. Each month, a new recipe is shared in our Newsletter. I try to keep them in season, but occasionally, I step out of the box. 
• Sixth - Ink Pens. I enjoy a good writing pen because I enjoy writing. All too often, we skip over to the computer and correspond through email, text, or even... a blog. But handwriting is becoming a lost art and too many are missing out on the wonderful sensation of feeling the ink pen glide across the paper, bringing your thoughts to life. My favorite pen is Pilot Acroball. A pack of 2 runs about $4.00, but they are excellent. 
• Seventh - A movie. They are entertaining, and are also money well spent (if it's a good movie). But I prefer to watch movies at home, so I get the opportunity to read reviews before watching it. Every now and then, I find a movie that was underrated that truly is a great movie. Our DVD and Blu-ray collection continues to grow. Next on my list is a series of great humor and true comedy. I miss comedy that breaks the fourth wall and the Carol Burnette show does just that. I found the entire collection online and I am eager to begin saving. The last collection I purchased was the BBC series "Are You Being Served?" Who doesn't love Mr. Humphries? 
• Eighth - Craft Supplies. No explanation needed and you can never go wrong with this stuff. I am always on the lookout for sales of craft supplies. Just a month or so back, I found acrylic paint on sale at Wal-Mart for $0.25 a bottle. SCORE! I think I have one of each color, and two of black and white! 
• Ninth - Incents. I adore burning incense in our home. I enjoy even more, burning sage, sweetgrass, and cedar, especially in the fall and winter. Lemongrass and softer fragrences in the spring. Honeysuckle and berry blends in the summer. Yes. Incense ring right up there with candles. 
• Lastly - Time. Yes. Time. You can't buy it. You can't borrow it. You can't replace it. You can't take it back. But time is one of those gifts that you can either spend wisely or waste. You cannot do both. It is my hope to work more on this and figure out how I have become such a procrastinator. I think it's mostly because working on homeschool brings me more inner peace, where the outside world demands so much of me, that I feel, in a sense, afraid to venture out any more. I'm not a hermit, but I am finding that I have switched from an extremely extroverted sense of self, to one of socially functioning introvert. I can be around a group of people, take college for example, and by the end of my class period, I feel drained and find myself running for the nearest exit... Yes, check back later for a new post about time. LOL
•  So, there you have it. My favorite things. I hope you weren't expecting a list of high dollar items because that would be completely unrealistic. I'm a homeschool mom. Not a millionaire. Though, sometimes, I look at my children and think to myself, I am the richest woman in the world. 
  
  Until next time, 
  ​LaVonda