My dd18 first showed me this video a while back. It was my introduction to Improv Everywhere, a group dedicated to spontaneous public performances and pranks. Check out their site for more of their hijinks.
This clever concept now has its imitators, not surprisingly. Here’s a very nicely done public performance in Belgium (you’ll especially enjoy this if you’re a fan of “The Sound of Music”):
Do you homeschool during the summer? Some years we do, others we don’t. It depends on what’s going on with our family each year.
I enjoy both schedules, but I have to admit that summer is a great time to not think about homeschooling. Letting the whole family enjoy downtime gives everyone a break from the homeschool routine and gives me some breathing space. Besides, after being cooped up a lot during a very long winter, we’re really enjoying the beautiful weather.
This summer we won’t be doing school other than a weekly review for my son, who has developmental disabilities; there are just too many other things going on in our lives. But one thing I’ve learned in the past is that no matter how much I don’t want to think about homeschooling by the time June rolls around, come August I’ll be drooling over homeschool catalogs, hanging out at the teacher store and plotting my purchases.
So if you need the summer off, go ahead and take it. Let yourself be refreshed. You’ll have plenty of time to think about homeschooling later this summer.
While cleaning off my desk today, I found an article I’d saved to blog about. It discusses the little luxuries that people like to enjoy in spite of cutting back on their expenses in a lousy economy.
In my early years as a SAHM, I occasionally bought little things to make myself feel good. I felt guilty about not bringing in an income, so I didn’t splurge. But I’d grab a quilt magazine at the grocery magazine rack and go home and enjoy it thoroughly. Or I might pick up a votive in a new scent and keep it burning at home until it was just a little blob of wax. (Usually, one of the kids or even my husband would come into the room and ask, “What stinks?”)
These days, I don’t seem to require little luxuries, at least not the ones that cost money. I’m happy to find a good book or DVD at the public library, or take a walk on the beach. (Although I did pony up $3.99 at the Goodwill store a few weeks ago for a hardback copy of an Elisabeth Elliot book I hadn’t read yet….I was thrilled to add it to my collection.)
But I like to have things around for my family to enjoy. So my little luxuries have become things like picking up a bucket of fried chicken at the grocery store deli when it’s on sale, or buying a box of peppermint hot chocolate mix at Sam’s Club for a whopping $1.81 for 28 packets. And when candy bars go on sale “buy one, get one free,” I buy some for everybody, not just me 🙂
So, are you finding that little luxuries make life a little easier these days? If so, what are your favorites?
A homeschool mom I know sells her lovely handmade jewelry on line. She also has a heart for suffering children. From now through the end of June, she’s making an incredible offer: she will donate 50% of the proceeds of jewelry sales from her site to an organization that feeds starving children around the world. Check it out!
First Girl Scout of America, Mrs. Samuel G. Laurence, Demonstrating Fire Starting Methods
Unemployment is up and income is dropping; how do you keep your daughters in activities without spending a fortune these days? An article in our local newspaper makes the case for Girl Scouts.
It’s true that being in Girl Scouts is a lot cheaper than monthly dance lessons, sports, etc. It’s also a great way to give girls a chance to bond together while having fun and learning skills. I think the author of the article makes a good case for choose scouting over other activities.
Do note the comments at the end of the article. Commenter Anndee complains that God has been excluded from Girl Scouts. Unfortunately, the Girl Scout organization has changed a lot in recent years, and has become quite p.c. However, commenter Owensmomma suggests a way around that.