Finding Splendor in the Ordinary
I have been a long-time fan of Anne Bogel. You might know her better as Modern Mrs. Darcy. Her podcast is fabulous, but I’m a devoted fan of her blog. If I’m in a reading lull or need a quick shot of reading inspiration, she’s my go-to! So when I heard she had a book coming out I knew I’d be… Read More
Friends, I promised a video detailing how I set up my Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner to use in our homeschool – and here it is! Before we start, it might help to remember that I’m planning for an 11th grader, 7th grader, 4th grader and preschooler in this planner. We are Charlotte Mason educators using Classical principles – so… Read More
It’s that time of year – we’re all starting to think about planning for the year ahead. Keeping ideas and records and books and assignments on paper somewhere is a necessity for any teacher. In the homeschool, planning and organizing can be a sanity-saver and is sometimes required (by different state and local requirements). As homeschool moms, we’re usually juggling… Read More
Full. That’s what life is. Full. Blessedly full. Decidedly full. Considered and full. I felt a little twinge of…something…I don’t know…weird, maybe…when I posted back-to-back-to-back planner reviews. LOL! You know, I do actually do stuff besides planning! LOL! But I had these great opportunities to share with you…and besides, it is fun to look at planners and take pictures! Today,… Read More
What a treat! Today I get to review and share with you the five brand new, never before seen planners that Dayspring has created! I’m often invited to review different planners; I’m always grateful for the invitation, but I usually say no thank-you. If I take the time to take detailed photos and really review something for you then I… Read More
Well, friends, it’s planner season! And that means I have a few planner-posts for you to consider here! Today, I’m going to share a review post for the planner that has recently become a cornerstone for me – the 2018 Emily Ley Simplified Planner. My posts are photo heavy, and this one is no exception. Here’s your invitation to click away now if… Read More
If you’ve read here for any amount of time you know that almost 12 years ago, homeschooling my young but growing children, I sought to provide a common point in our day with what I coined, the Morning Basket – a simple collection of worthy books that lived in…a basket…and we read from each…morning. Thus, the Morning Basket came to be. (You can read all… Read More
I can hardly believe it’s time for a new planner, but it’s here! And Erin Condren will launch her beautiful new 2017 – 2018 Life Planners on May 4, 2017! Like all of you, I am eagerly awaiting launch day because there are some fabulous new products in the lineup, and the classic Life Planner has undergone some subtle (and… Read More
Some day. When your kids are little, you think about “some day” a lot. Some day she’ll ride a bike. Some day she’ll graduate. Some day she’ll get married. But at the time you never actually think that some day will get here…and then it does. A year ago, my daughter Sarah got engaged to a wonderful young man, and some… Read More
It’s no secret that around here life is rolling with fervor. I’m keeping up – which lets me know I’m right where God wants me to be. Tending all the little and big things each day, considering and anticipating what I can, and leaving just enough margin for those things I can’t anticipate. I’m not sure life has ever been… Read More
Each year, this delightful chapter book finds its way to our March Feast Table in honor of good St. Joseph. This narrative makes a great read aloud and illuminates a remarkable saint! One of the beautiful titles we give Our Blessed Lady is “Gate of Heaven.” So naturally the “Keeper of the Gate” is her faithful protector, St. Joseph. Originally… Read More
I’ve been working through so many fantastic home projects the last few months. Organizing spaces. Tidying and sorting and putting things in places. It’s been good in so many ways, but mostly because it helps me sift out the useful and beautiful from the superfluous. I find renewed peace and beauty in these “sifted spaces” and naturally there is the… Read More
Here we go – rolling right out of holiday time and into what is, for most homeschoolers, the month of uncertainty, hesitation, self-questioning (in which we are tempted to define our homeschooling efforts thus far as a failure). That means…it’s almost February. There is just something about this time of year! With half a school year behind us we examine and… Read More
Hello friends! I hope y’all had a fruitful Advent and are enjoying the Christmas season! Our Christmas was wonderful – full of family and celebrating the Divine Infant’s Nativity, and this Christmas was our last Christmas with our oldest daughter at home! She gets married this May – we’re just a few months away and it’s a flurry of planning activity here!… Read More
The 2016 Preparing Heart and Home Booklet is AVAILABLE for you to download and print! Just click the image above to download – or click here. Wondering what this FREE Advent booklet contains… The rich liturgical history of the season of Advent. A week by week planner which contains a daily listing of the liturgical feasts and customs appropriate to that day. Each… Read More
With the upcoming canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa on September 4, 2016, I wanted to share a bit about how this Saint has provided influence in my own life. This article was originally published in 2009 in mater et magistra magazine. It is republished here with slight editing to update. The vocation of home education is beautiful, but like all… Read More
I am going to make an attempt here. To be pithy. Succinct. Abbreviated. One picture. One idea. LOL! I’m not sure I’m capable of limiting my vocabulary in this way. >>>Just.Not.Sure.I.Can.Limit<<< But, I’m seriously going to try. I finished my Year 3 and Year 6 booklists, term plans, and weekly plans! Happy dance!!! After getting all of the paper… Read More
What’s happening behind the blog? I’m deep into planning here – books, papers, laptop, printer, pens – how about you? How is your planning coming? We found a bumble bee. Perished. On the driveway near the crepe myrtle. We love bumble bees. And so… Bumbletree at Apple Tree Lane Erin Condren Life Planner in action – read more here – coupon… Read More
Happy Summertide everyone! It’s been a full few weeks for me and thus…a lot quieter in my digital spaces. This morning, I thought I’d take a minute to pop in and visit for a few minutes and share a glimpse of my days lately! You can catch up with me over at iheartplanners.com today – Walk Your Plans from Paper to… Read More
Edited to add a link to the most up-to-date review of the 2017-2018 Life Planners launching May 4, 2017 – check out my latest review with photos here! I’m really excited to share with you this {extremely photo-heavy} review of the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planners…and I even added a video at the bottom, too! If you’re reading this because… Read More
It’s conference time – and I’m getting excited about speaking! I’d love to see you in June if you’re in Kansas City, and in July if you’re in Grand Rapids for the Grace Gathering conference! This year I’m giving the following talks: Rebuilding Culture by Doing the Next Thing (KC) (GR) The Morning Basket: Ageless & Inspiring (KC) (GR) Planning: For the Home… Read More
Our parish was blessed to host a Celebration of Life baby shower for six moms who were expecting a new little one, or who just had a baby. These baby showers are a delight to attend and support because being a mom these days is hard work. And not popular. And what about being a Catholic mom that is open to… Read More
I was so excited when I was invited to be a guest blogger on Erin Condren’s blog! Pop on over to check it out! And, you might be interested in knowing about the huge sale going on over there right now – Teacher Planners, acrylic clipboards, trays and boxes! Those floral acrylic tray inserts are gorgeous!! And the new Life… Read More
This post is a continuation of my planning series follow-ups – these questions come directly from you! They’re the planning questions you asked after Mystie, Dawn and I shared in our planning chats. By the way, you can still click over and view the planning chats if you haven’t seen them yet! They were so much fun and we shared our different styles… Read More
