Focus Five: Prepare to Thrive and Feel Alive

I am in awe of this young lady.  Only 10 and so willing to share her thoughts, her heart and her Self with the world. Happy birthday, sweet girl!  Continue shining bright. You are amazing!

(A repost from Grounded Yoga .  All products for purchase through Grounded Kids Yoga.)

Focus Five: Prepare to Thrive and Feel Alive

Written by

Lillarose, Grounded Student, Age 10

(Grounded elevating student since age 3.)

It was a rainy day... A perfect day to do yoga to set my day straight and to breath in my emotions.  Sometimes we feel happiness, sometimes we feel sadness, sometimes we feel joy and even stress.  There is good stress and there is bad stress.  It's okay to feel these emotions.  Let's honor them all, let's talk about it and let them guide us to be the best we can be.  The Focus Five Prepare to Thrive sequence will help anyone who needs to be calm, relaxed or to become more confident.

FOCUS FIVE

I like to think that each finger has an emotion.  Think that the thumb has happiness.  Breathe in happiness and send out light.  The pointer finger has sadness.  Breathe in sadness and allow the light to embrace the darkness, shining out.  The middle finger has joy.  Breathe in joy and send out light.  The ring finger has stress.  Breathe in stress and allow the light to hug the darkness, sending out light.  And, the pinky finger has love.  Breathe into love and send out love to the world.  When you breathe and press your fingers together you are breathing in all these emotions.  Feeling happiness, sadness, joy, stress and love are all natural emotions.  Embrace them all and honor the dark, sending out love, light and comfort.  When you exhale you are allowing them out and they go into other people's breath and out into the world.

LOTUS BREATH

Imagine flowers... Like a Lotus flower, they are calming.  They grow in dirty waters, but are really pretty.  If you are in a difficult situation remember the Lotus.  You can always rise out of the muck and bring beauty to any situation.

WASHING MACHINE

In this pose, let your head and shoulders relax.  You will go in circles and in different directions just like life will take you.  Try to close your eyes in this pose.  Imagine life taking you somewhere.  Somewhere with a cool breeze and a gentle cycle.  Then, do it one more time with your eyes open and in the opposite direction.  Think about where the world is taking you.  Allow the water to rinse away all the dirt that is holding you back from living your life.

WAKE UP MOUNTAIN

Imagine yourself as a mountain... Strong and with a cool breeze.  Imagine you are that mountain.  You are feeling all the seasons (the spring, summer, winter and fall) in one swoop of wind.  Bring your arms in with an inhale and feel the wind inside you.  You will realize how beautiful it is.  When you move your arms up, exhale and allow the wind to breeze through the world for others to experience.

LEFT BREATH RIGHT BREATH

Imagine on one side you are breathing in your doubts.  On the other side, you are breathing in confidence.  With both sides there is a goodness... even the doubts.  The doubts help us push through to learn how to be more confident.  Stand tall and strong.  You are who you are.

FOCUS FIVE: PREPARE TO THRIVE

These cards are perfect to use on a rainy day, a sun shiny day or any given day.  Color, practice and breathe to prepare to thrive.

The singing bowl is just the thing to help you focus, clear your mind and set the day straight.

2017 Birthday Bucket List

Dear me,

Happy birthday!  You are blessed to have two beautiful and talented children, a husband that makes you laugh and a mother who is there for you anytime you need her.  Be sure to thank God every single day for your grandmother who is 84 and looks more beautiful today than when you were a child watching her dance across the kitchen floor.  You have stunning friends, an incredible family and cuddly pets who warm your heart and teach you to get out the door and live life.   

In 2017, blog often.  Set intentions.  Remember, that in the midst of the most difficult struggles there is almost always an opportunity for growth.  Drink more water.  Eat more kale.  Travel.  Create.  Sparkle.  Paint.  Get messy.  On the hardest of days journal, read scripture or an inspiring book, go to a yoga class or have coffee with a friend.  My hope for you in the new year is that you continue helping others in need.  Up your game.  Pray daily and often.  Surround yourself with community.  Meditate.  And sing louder.

This year, embrace wisdom and celebrate often.  My desire for you is that you become more present with your children and your husband.  The Lord is working in them and He knows what He's doing.   He has big plans!  My hope is also that your priorities become clear so you will gain a wiser perspective.  May you continue to be blessed with many more friends and live life filled with laughter and flair.  Be sure to embrace your parents and grandmother while you still can.  Remain open.  Celebrate each day like it were the last.  Cherish all the breathtaking moments (even the most difficult ones).  

With love and high expectations,
Yourself

"I sustain myself with the love of family." ~ Maya Angelou

“Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.” ― Oprah Winfrey

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A sister shares childhood memories, jumps on a plan to surprise you and shares big girl dreams. 

“We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.” ~ Maya Angelou

***

My Birthday Bucket List 

1.  Enjoy eating a delicious grass fed, free range burger on my birthday and not feel bad about it.  ✓
2.  Commit to a daily yoga practice.  Break out in pigeon pose by the end of the year!  ✓
3.  Pack lunch for the homeless and pass out with the kids (not just once, but regularly).

4.  Put flowers on my grandaddy and brothers graves.

5.  Visit my dad in Terre Haute, Indiana.  ✓
6.  Visit Rock City.
7.  Become more involved in Grounded Yoga.  ✓
8.  Take in the good and bad days with my grandmother.  ✓
9.  Have a date night with my hubby at least one night a month.
10.  Snuggle with my kids as much as possible.  ✓
11.  C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y. ✓
12.  Tell my mom and my grandmother I love them as often as possible.  ✓
13.  Have a spa date with my sister.
14.  Read the children's "Storybook Bible".  ✓
15.  Study therapeutics with Martin Kirk.
16.  Take the kids to Piedmont Park for a picnic and a performance.
17.  Garden.
18.  Drink more water!
19.  Read more. And stick to one book at a time.
20.  Sit out the "technology basket" for all cell phones during family time.  (Actually keep phone in the basket.). ✓
21.  Rise with the sun and meditate.
22.  Rest at sun down. This can include sipping on tea or warm Almond Milk and/or reading a good book, taking a soothing bath, yoga, meditation, etc. ✓
23.  No technology after 10 p.m.!! (This allows for more snuggle time.) ✓
24.  Sneak up and love on my man more often. 
25.  Go away for a weekend adventure with my mom. No kids! (I rarely make time for alone time with my mom and it is so important.)
26.  Be a part of a newly planted church. ✓. (I'm super excited about this!  If you are looking for a church or just really like newly planted churches check out The People's Church here or here.)
27.  Be patient with myself.  ✓
28.  Make more time for "girlie time".  (I'm really working hard on this!  I'm going to check this off in 2017!  I promise myself.)
29.  To challenge myself after knee injury, hike a level I trail by the end of this year. ✓ 
30.  Live more colorfully! Draw and paint more!! And, yes mama, this may mean I'm getting a tattoo. ;) ✓
31.  Walk Janie Girl daily! (I missed this the most when I injured my knee.)

32.  Skype with my cousin, Jenny and her boys at least once a month. ✓
33.  Visit the "7 Places You Have to Visit That You Didn't Know Existed" (I grew up going to Callaway Gardens and Jekyll Island and so I have replaced them with two other locations.)

1. Bellwood Quarry
2. Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga. Rocktown   ✓
3. Brasstown Bald   ✓
4. Fricks Cave
5. Talulah Falls  ✓
6. Cumberland Island
7. Jekyll Island, Ga.Providence Canyon (a.k.a. Georgia's Little Grand Canyon). ✓

34.  Get a haircut!  ✓
35.  Take a class at Country Gardens.

36.  Write a cook book with my grandmother's recipes.
37.  Organize a book of poems in memory of my grandmother.
38.  Write a "love note" to my dearest and closest friends and family the old fashioned way... snail mail.
39.  Plan a Cousin Reunion!!!

40.  Visit all of Atlanta's Best Kept Secrets: (Check out Secret Atlanta on PBS!)

1. Goat N Hammer
2. Grocery On Home
3. Monastery of the Holy Spirit (I can't wait to visit again!  I have so many wonderful memories visiting with my dad as a child.)
4. ATL Rollergirls in the Temple ✓
5. The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable
6. Tiny Doors ATL (I've come across one here and there when I'm out and about, but I think it would be fun to go on a sort of scavenger hunt and find all the doors.)

P.S.  As a birthday bonus, thank you to Maggie Parker, a student at Agnes Scott College for interviewing me for Gaia's Journal.  I enjoyed being featured in Neurofem: Women's Mental Health.

Lordy, Lordy... looks who's turning 40!

Lordy, Lordy... looks who's turning 40!  Yep, you guessed it!  Forty, fearless and fabulous!!  To celebrate, I asked several beautiful, wise and inspiring girlfriends of mine if they have any advice for turning forty.  Here's a few bits of wisdom they shared... stop wearing makeup, buy a miracle bra, don't dye your hair, throw yourself a party, embrace the sweet moments of dependence that the kids have, seize the dreams of your truth, climb a mountain, power up your activism, and have a heart to heart with your parents.  I love all of these!!!  So, I chose a few that resonate with me and I added several more of my own to live by. 

Let Your Glitter Shine.  I love old.  I love wrinkled.  I love glitter.  I'm gonna let my strands of glitter sparkle!!!

Be Authentic.  Maya Angelou said it best, "“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”  By striving to be authentic I'm allowing myself to be the woman God planned for me to be.

Seize the Dreams of Your Truth. I am here on Earth to share my God given gifts and talents.  So, I'm gonna keep on shinin!

Sleep In.  During the fall and winter I basically hibernate.  And, when it rains... I sleep like a baby.  The rain grounds me.  It teaches me to be still, to stay in bed, to snuggle and to finish that book I've been meaning to finish for months.

Shine Bright, Boldly and Beautifully.  When grounded and in balance we are better able to express what we think and feel. We communicate our ideas, beliefs, and emotions from a place of love and passion. Sound therapy, singing or meditation helps unblock the throat chakra so we shine our personal truth out into the world.  

Keep On Juicing...  The earthier the better!  It's good for me, its yummy and it has many health benefits.  I also love that I have rainbow colored poo! Yeah, I said poo.  Poops important folks!  (If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of juicing give this a read, here.)

Keep On Baking...  I've been making these amazing muffins.  I call them Pulp Muffins (I'll blog later with the recipe.).  Since I juice daily I've been baking muffins with the leftover pulp.  Its great because they are perfect to snack on, to grab on the go or give as gifts!

Go Braless... Why not?

Go To the Movies.  I've created a Movie Bucket List that may end up going on forever since I keep adding to it.  Watching movies is something I rarely make time for, except for when we have family night.  I have a long list of movies I would like to catch up on.  Some I've seen before and some I haven't.  My hope is if I have a list of movies handy I'll go to the list and watch them when able.  I'll keep you posted!

Embrace the Sweet Moments.  These days it is extremely easy to overshare our personal lives.   Social media makes it super easy!  When we embrace the sweet moments (ie. our children, a special date, vacation, etc.) all to ourselves we are more in the present.  

Dream Big & Live Even Bigger.  I am celebrating every single person who has lifted me up or touched my life in some very special way.  These people have helped make me a better person.  To help get me started, I started a Gratitude Journal.  In it, I am writing something special about every person I am grateful for.  Throughout 2017 I will share what I've written and let them know my appreciation in some thoughtful, creative way.  Because life is too short to leave it bottled up inside and I want to celebrate their awesomeness out loud!

Cherish Every Moment.  Being present in the moment is so important and grounding.  Unplugging every once in a while to absorb the miracle moments is the juice of life.

Walk Through Doors.  Continue practicing YESES with a healthy balance of NO's.  Pray that new opportunities will present themselves and when they do be fearless and walk right through those doors.  

Be the Change.  I'd like to share my gifts in some big way.  I have ideas and look forward to sharing in the new year.  For now, I am super proud and grateful for the work I've been doing with Grounded Yoga and The Atlanta Yoga Movement.  Take a look, below.

• Check out my most recent blog post, "Moving On" here.
• Read Co-Founder, Cheryl Crawford's most recent post which includes my photography here.
• And, be sure to also read Grounded teacher, Kira Wilsterman's post, "The One and Only Ivan Family Yoga" here.  You'll see my photography there as well.  My kids also joined in on the class.  Look for the super cute red heads!  
• Last, check out the slideshow I created here.  (There is music, so be sure to turn down the volume.)
• Be on the look out for more!

Volunteer.  One thing I've learned is essential in keeping myself grounded is volunteering my time in some way.  Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”  Its true!  And, when we provide our services, not expecting anything in return we learn a lot about ourselves and others.  We learn compassion, connection and love.  

2016 Birthday Bucket List

This year has been one heck of a year!  A year of growth.  Lots of stillness.  And the best part, some good quality time with the Lord!

Last year I created a bucket list.  And when I go back to it to see what I did and didn't do I feel pretty good about it.  I've added one more goal to have 39 goals total (one goal per year).

1.  Enjoy eating a delicious grass fed, free range burger on my birthday and not feel bad about it.  ✓
2.  Commit to a daily yoga practice.  Break out in pigeon pose by the end of the year!  ✓
3.  Get a 1 hr. full body massage.  (I am very excited about this!!!)

4.  Put flowers on my grandaddy and brothers graves.

5.  Visit my dad in Terre Haute, Indiana.  ✓
6.  Visit Rock City.
7.  Become more involved in Grounded Yoga.  ✓
8.  Take in the good and bad days with my grandmother.  ✓
9.  Have a date night with my hubby at least one night a month.
10.  Snuggle with my kids as much as possible.  ✓
11.  C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y. ✓
12.  Tell my mom and my grandmother I love them as often as possible.  ✓
13.  Have a spa date with my sister.
14.  Read the children's "Storybook Bible".  ✓
15.  Study therapeutics with Martin Kirk.
16.  Take a weekend trip to Ashville, North Carolina.
17.  Garden.
18.  Drink more water!
19.  Read more. And stick to one book at a time.
20.  Sit out the "technology basket" for all cell phones during family time.  (Actually keep phone in the basket.). ✓
21.  Rise with the sun and meditate.
22.  Rest at sun down. This can include sipping on tea or warm Almond Milk and/or reading a good book, taking a soothing bath, yoga, meditation, etc. ✓
23.  No technology after 10 p.m.!! (This allows for more snuggle time.) ✓
24.  Sneak up and love on my man more often. ✓
25.  Go away for a weekend adventure with my mom. No kids! (I rarely make time for alone time with my mom and it is so important.)
26.  Be patient.
27.  Be patient with myself.  ✓
28.  Make more time for "girlie time".
29.  To challenge myself after knee injury, hike a level I trail by the end of this year. ✓ 
30.  Live more colorfully! Draw and paint more!! And, yes mama, this may mean I'm getting a tattoo. ;) ✓
31.  Walk Janie Girl daily! (I missed this the most when I injured my knee.)

32.  Skype with my cousin, Jenny and her boys at least once a month. ✓
33.  Visit the "7 Places You Have to Visit That You Didn't Know Existed" (I grew up going to Callaway Gardens and Jekyll Island and so I have replaced them with two other locations.)

       1.  Bellwood Quarry

       2.  Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga. Rocktown   ✓
       3.  Brasstown Bald   ✓
       4.  Fricks Cave

       5.  Talulah Falls  ✓
       6.  Cumberland Island

       7.  Jekyll Island, Ga.Providence Canyon (a.k.a. Georgia's Little Grand Canyon). ✓
34.  Get a haircut!  ✓
35.  Take a class at Country Gardens.

36.  Write a cook book with my grandmother's recipes.
37.  Organize a book of poems in memory of my grandmother.
38.  Write a "love note" to my dearest and closest friends and family the old fashioned way... snail mail.
39.  Laugh more!!!

Sweet Potato & Kale Indian Soup

Remember all that rain we had a few weeks ago?  I fell ill at the start of that week and I promise you, Mother Nature wrapped her arms around me and soothed me with all that rain.  I know, I know.  Many grew tired of the rain.  But, sometimes the weather lets us know exactly what we need.  My daughter says the rain is God's tears.  And, maybe so.  God may of been crying because he knows we are all too busy and some of us do not take time for ourselves.  I got his message!  For an entire week I slept, rested and pampered myself with hot tea, good books and episodes of Call the Midwife.  Thank you, rain!

Afterward, I finally grew hungry.  I felt like a bear that had been hibernating and when I woke I needed nourishing.  When we are sick it is important to eat foods that cleanse us and nourish our soul.  I literally went with what my body was craving when I put this soup together.  It was exactly what I needed!  The family feasted on it for days and we all felt it soothing our bodies and our souls.  I hope you find it comforting as well.

enjoy,

Kelley Sue

Sweet Potato and Kale Indian Soup

1 tbs coconut oil

1 Vadalia onion, chopped

2 pieces of garlic

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery rib (single "stick"), chopped

2 sweet potatoes, chuncked

4 pinches of garlic salt (to taste)

1 pinch of little peppercorns

1/2 tbs cumin

1/2 tbs tumeric

1 qt broth (I usually make my own vegetable broth, but I also like to keep Imagine Organic Vegetarian Broth on hand.  My new favorite is their Vegetarian No-Chicken Broth.  I usually get the low sodium.)

3 leaves of kale (or 3 handfuls), chopped however you like.  I like large pieces, but my kids prefer it finally chopped.

1 cup small, plain couscous

(I also served warm garlic Naan on the side.  If you haven't tried Naan bread you are missing out!  You can buy it in the bakery at Kroger or Publix.)

Heat large soup pot on medium-high.  Add coconut oil.  Allow to melt.  Add onion and garlic.  Stir and cook until slightly softened.  Add carrot and celery.  Add garlic salt.  Stir and cook until slightly soft.  About 5 minutes.  Add sweet potatoes.  Stir.  Add black pepper, cumin and tumeric.  Stir.  Add broth. Cover and allow soup to boil.  After soup has boiled, turn heat down to low.  Allow to cook until sweet potatoes soften.  

While soup is simmering begin cooking the couscous.  I use a steamer (for rice), but you can use the stove.  I also keep the couscous to the side because not everyone in my family enjoys couscous.  I also think it can get soggy in the mix.  So, I leave it to the side and as an option.  I personally love the texture and felt I needed the extra bang in my soup.  It was delic!

Spices 101:  

Tumeric is the king of spices that fights cancer by slowing down the growth.  Read The Cancer Fighting Kitchen for more on this.  Its tasty and colorful.  Guaranteed to brighten your day!  

Cumin aids in digestion and is rich in flavor.  Give it a sniff!  It smells like lime.  Yum!  

Garlic is just plain good for you and fights off infection.    

I truly went with my taste buds on this soup!  If you feel your soup needs more or less of any of the spices go for it.  I may of actually used more of the garlic salt, turmeric and cumin.  I buy my spices in the bulk and just eyeball it.  This soup was full of flavor!  

* Please note  I have read that if battling cancer you must consult a doctor for a prescribed dosage of tumeric.  

20 Ways to Stay Young

Recently I read a post on Elephant Journal on how to stay young.  I have to admit, I don't keep up with popular magazines and tips on how to stay young, but what attracted me to the post was the author taking advice from her grandmother.  I too have learned a lot from my grandmother!  My grandmother is 84 and has always lived by the motto, "Age is just a number."  She has said many times that she doesn't feel her age.  At the age of 84 she feels her age creeping up on her.  My grandmother has always told me that we have a 'real age' and our inner age is often different from our outer age.  I have learned from my beautiful grandmother that laughter, being active and living by my 'real age' are key components to living a healthy and fulfilled life.

This post is inspired by, How to Stay Young & Hot Forever: Advice from a 96-Year-Old Grandma.  

20 Ways to Stay Young

1. Laugh!  Laughter has been proven to keep us healthy and young.  There is even Laughter Yoga!

2. Surround yourself with people who feel and act young, both inside and out.  People of all ages!

3. Exercise every day!  My grandmother enjoyed gardening, walking and dancing.

4. Explore!  I'd love to travel more than I do, but for now and where I am in this life traveling around ATL keeps me young.  I crave culture, art, people and diversity so I spend lots of time at museums, going to musicals, plays and exploring the Atlanta BeltLine.  My grandmother and I use to visit the DeKalb Farmers Market almost every week together.  She enjoyed meeting new people and chatting it up about new recipe ideas.

5. Set goals and reach for the stars!  Setting goals is important and good for the soul.  Want to learn to draw?  Take a local drawing class.  Want to read a book a week?  Visit the local library.  Want to take up yoga?  Visit every yoga studio and try a variety of styles.

6. Be extravagant once in awhile.  I enjoy a daily dose of dark chocolate and recently, I started dying my hair redder than its natural red.  I vowed to live more colorfully and am loving it!

7. Practice mindfulness.  Eat, drink, say and do whatever you want, but also practice mindfulness and know when to stop.  When my grandmother wanted that Molten Chocolate dessert from Chili's she enjoyed every morsel, but we shared it.  Less calories that way!  ;)

8. Smile at everyone who crosses your path.  Sometimes we all need a pick me up and laughter keeps us young.

9. Surround yourself with like minded individuals.  Surround yourself with creative, smart, lively and interesting people who lift you up and make you hungry to learn more about the world.  My grandmother used to talk about attending Georgia Perimeter College up the street from her so she could learn how to use the computer.  She never signed up for a course, but I encouraged her to learn more and taught her a few tips.  She also sign up for Lisa Cohen's yoga class that ranged in ages 4-84 (my daughter was the 4 year old).  She rocked out!  I was so inspired by her on that day!

10. Be spontaneous!  I love this one!  I can be extremely spontaneous and have to sometimes ground myself.  I'm airy like that!  Being spontaneous keeps our creative juices flowing and makes us feel free.

11. Stay away from vampires!  Feeling sorry for yourself and bogging yourself down with regret is no good.  It's a waste of time and toxic for the soul. Keep your head up and look forward.

12. Spend time with yourself every morning.  I like to wake up early and spend time with my husband.  Once he leaves out I meditate, read and spend time with myself before the kids wake up.  My grandmother enjoyed gardening and reading.  She was also a hair stylist so she always had her hair fixed up and makeup on.  Her favorite thing to use on herself right now is hairspray!  I buy her more almost every week.

13. Its the small things that matter most.  I enjoy giving myself a pedicure once in a while, taking a walk with my dog, reading a good book with a cup of hot tea, catching up on the next Downton Abbey episode and getting dressed up (even if I'm just going to be having out around the house all day).

14. Never say you're too old!  You are only as old as you make up your mind to be. I took up skateboarding last year.  This year I'm learning Latin and piano.  I remember when I was growing up, my grandmother and mother took dance lessons together.  I love my memories of watching them practice and dance across the kitchen floor!

15. Meditate.  It helps me to set an intention every day.  Sometimes I have the same intention for a week or longer.  Especially if its something I really need to practice.  Setting an intention and meditation keeps us young and grounded.

16. It's never too late to learn!  There is always room for learning something new or maybe even brushing up on a favorite hobby, career or a new interest.  My favorite subject is history!  I enjoy learning Art History, Ga. History, U.S. History and World History.  I also enjoy learning about our family history!  I ask my grandmother many questions about her childhood and about our family's history.  I also have a dear friend who is going to lend me her ukulele so I can being learning how to play.  I'm super excited!

17. Breathe.  We often forget to breathe deeply.  Practicing mindful breathing is healthy for the mind and body.

18. Practice gratitude.  When bummed out about something practice gratitude.  Last year I got into a car accident and although I was upset about it being my husbands car I sure was thankful for not getting hurt.  At the end of the day I was returning home to be with my husband and children.  This year my husband got into a car accident and totaled his car.  We still have not found him a new car.  But, its okay!  He is healthy and alive.  I am grateful and so is he.

19. Allow yourself to have a pj day!  My favorite day to do this is on a rainy day.  My grandmother has no problem doing this!  She LOVED to sleep!  About half way through the day I tend to get antsy and end up getting dressed because I experience cabin fever, but there have been other days when I have finished a book I have been reading for weeks, finish a show that has been paused on Netflix or just spend the day snuggling with the kiddos while we read Little House on the Prairie or The Wizard of Oz.

20. Diversity is good for the soul!  Surround yourself with friends who are younger, older and the same age as you.  This is guaranteed to keep you balanced and young!  

My grandmother is a dear friend of mine and has taught me so much.  I am blessed to have her in my life and my children are blessed to have their great-grandmother in their lives.  Love you, Hello!

Curriculum 2015-16

It has been a long time since I have posted about homeschooling. And I have to admit, this post is really just for me to keep organized in preparation for the upcoming "school year". Often I have found myself wishing I had a list of the curriculum used the year before to fall back on or another homeschooling mama has asked me what we use and I've thought, "hmmm, I need to make that list!"  So, here it is...

P.S.  I wouldn't dare take all the credit!  I ask a lot of questions about what curriculum other families use.  I also search the web and follow homeschooling blogs that inspire me and help get the creative juices flowing.  A great big thank you to Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler and Eclectic Homeschooling mama for your blogs and extremely helpful, in depth posts.  You've made my life easier!  Thank you to my homeschooling friends who are always there for support and advice (you know who you are).

P.P.S.  I appreciate this post, Why Eclectic Homeschooling? from eclectic mama over at Eclectic Homeschooling: Raising Global Kids very much!  Homeschooling is on the rise!  There are books galore on how to homeschool and gobs of curriculum out there.  If you live in the ATL, there are so many things to do.  It is true, it is easy to become overwhelmed!  If you are new to homeschooling or considering it, try not to sweat over the small stuff, surround yourself with love and support, and most importantly, HAVE FUN.

GRADE 3:

• Daily Notebook & Calendar
• Devotional:  Whatever we find is inspiring at the moment.
• Music: Piano, Choir, songwriting with Daddy and begin Classic Composer's Unit.
• Art: World's Greatest Artists, Art Appreciation, Draw Your World, Doodle Academy, Art For Kids, Art Projects for Kids, local museums, sewing, musicals and more.
• Spelling: Complete Raceway book (transitioning into Grand Tour II)
• Phonics: Sing, Spell, Read & Write
• Reading: The Magic Treehouse  Series, regular visits to the Public Library and family reading time (Read Alouds):
• The Little Princess 
• Little House in the Big Woods
• Little House on the Prairie
• The Wizard of Oz (the First Five Novels)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, etc.
• Charlotte's Web
• Literature: Classical Literature Units (Chosen as a family.)
• LA: First Language Lessons, Journaling
• Math: Saxon Math, Khan Academy, Teaching Textbooks, LEGO's, Fun Supplements, Games and Apps
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears: Printing Power (Transitioning into Kick Start Cursive)
• History & Geography: The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child (Vol. 2), Fifty Nifty States and Maps, Charts and U.S. Atlas
• Science: Explore & Learn Series, The Magic School Bus books (I'm also checking out The Magic School Bus Unit), episodes and Bill Nye, the Science Guy episodes and Science Units
• Wellness: Dog walking, yoga, meditation, hiking, biking, exploring & many, many adventures
• Foreign Language: Prima Latina
• Computer Skills: Scratch Programming and typing games.
• Logic: The Amazing 50 States Maze, more mazes, Chess, Chess Academy,  Logic Games and other Apps
• Community:  Begin World Poverty Unit Study and become more active in the community (more to come)

GRADE 6:

• Daily Notebook, Calendar & Journaling
• Devotional
• Art: World's Greatest Artists , Art Appreciation, Art Projects for Kids, Art For Kids Hub, (I'm looking into a photography class at The Foto Finch), regular visits to local museums, sewing, musicals, creating and more...
• Music: Piano, Choir, World's Greatest Composer's Unit and Modern Music Study
• Spelling: Reading Detective (B1) and considering MegaWords (1)
• Reading: The Unwanted's Series, regular visits to the Public Library and family reading time (Read Alouds):
• The Little Princess
• The Wizard of Oz (the First Five Novels)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, etc.
• Possibly the Hunger Games Series (I am really looking forward to this!)
• Eclectic Homeschooler mom shares an in-depth middle school aged list here.
• Literature: Classical Literature Units (Chosen as a family.)
• L.A.: First Language Lessons (Possibly Progressing With Courage)
• Writing: I'm considering Classical Writing: Aesop for this year.
• Math: Saxon Math, Khan Academy, Teaching Textbooks, Numberphile, Vi Hart Videos, Games & Apps
• Handwriting: Cursive Success
• History & Geography: The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child (Vol. 2), Geography - Fifty Nifty States, Geoguesser, Google Earth Maps, Charts and U.S. & World Atlas
• Science: Explore & Learn Series, Happify Games, Junkbox Wars, Project-Based Engineering for Kids and Bill Nye, the Science Guy episodes (Possibly Abeka Science & Health), Camp Google and Science Units
• Wellness: Dog walking, yoga, meditation, biking, skateboarding, hiking & exploring 
• Foreign Language: Prima Latina
• Computer Skills: Keyboarding Success,  Scratch Programming and typing games.
• Logic: The Amazing 50 States Maze, more mazes, Chess, Chess Academy,  Logic Games and other Apps
• Community:  Begin World Poverty Unit Study and serve the community.