Weekend Links

It's that time again!  I read so many great things around the web this week.  Here are some highlights:

Cleaning the bathroom like a pro  (Oh, how I need to put this into practice!)

Fun kitchen printables (Ha!)

Meal Planning using Google Calendars (I think I'm going to try a variation of this.  If it works well, I'll let you know.)

Press-and-Seal Fridge Shelves (Genius!)

Washing your face with oil (I did this a few years ago and loved the results.  Not sure why I ever stopped.  I'm going to start again.)

7 Ways to Adore Your Husband

7 Lies About Homeschoolers (Hilarious!  And true.)

7 Ways to Practice Imperfect Hospitality

To the mother with only one child  (Not what you're thinking.  Great post.)

Sometimes the only way to read our kids is by braille.  (I LOVE The Gypsy Mama.  She hits another home run with this one.)

So what did you discover online this past week?



This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary Other days: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Vivid

I'm trying something new today.  Each Friday on The Gypsy Mama, she has 5 Minute Friday.  She gives us a word, and we are supposed to just write for 5 minutes - unedited, unplanned, and uncensored.   Here we go....

Vivid.

For some reason, I always associate this word with memories.  As in, "I have such vivid memories of ...".  Sadly, it seems the most vivid memories are unpleasant ones.  I remember vividly seeing my Grannie weeping beside my Granddaddy's casket.  I have a vivid memory of painful times in my past - times of embarrassment or discouragement.

Other memories that I wish I held in greater clarity seem to be more fuzzy.  I wish I could remember exactly how my children sounded in their first cries.  I wish I could remember every word of David's marriage proposal.

I sometimes find myself going to ridiculous lengths to preserve certain memories.  My text message inbox is always at 90% or higher because I can't bear to part with a message in which David says that he loves me.  My voice mailbox contains many recordings of my parents' voices, David's voice, and the last message that Grannie left for me.  I know that someday I won't be able to hear the voices of my parents in person, and I think I will want to hear them somehow.  It's morbid, I know.  But that's the truth.

I want my kids to have vivid *positive* memories.  Is that possible?  I want them to remember vividly picnics and times baking goodies in the kitchen.  I want them to hear my voice ringing in their ears with words of love, encouragement, and faith.  I want them to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are loved by the Lord and their parents.  I want that love to be vivid in their hearts.



This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary Other days: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Shrimp and Tortellini

Believe it or not, this was a hit with both my son and my husband!

Recipe works best with a lovely assistant.

Shrimp and Tortellini
4 servings
WW points plus: 10 per serving

1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
3/4 pound peeled, medium-sized fresh shrimp (I used the frozen ones that are already cooked, deveined, with tail off.)
1 shallot, minced (I just used half of a regular onion.)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted (I used 1/8 cup to get 10 WW points.)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain.

Meanwhile, cook shrimp, shallot, and chopped basil in butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.

Add tortellini and Parmesan cheese; toss gently.  (Lesson I learned: timing is crucial.  This is best if the pasta, shrimp, and cheese are combined right before it is served.  Otherwise, it gets a little gummy.)

Like many of my favorite recipes, this one comes from Southern Living Ultimate Quick & Easy Cookbook.

My Favorite Apps - Part 2

Image from img.skitch.com

One of the main reasons I began wanting an iPad (or similar tablet) was because of the many educational apps that were being used by other homeschool moms and school teachers.  I had hoped that, at the very least, they would provide an educational diversion for Megan while I was working with Nathan, and vice-versa.  It has far exceeded my expectations!

Truthfully, I use the iPad more than anyone.  Last week, I wrote about some of my favorite apps that I use personally.  You can read about those here.  Today I'll focus on the ones that Nathan (age 5 - Kindergarten) uses most frequently.

Geography:

Stack the States
Stack the Countries
Nathan and David love to play both of these together in the evenings.  Megan even gets in on the action!
Google Earth
We love "flying" to the different countries that we study and being able to "visit" key landmarks.

Math:

Nathan is in Kindergarten this year, so most of these focus on basic addition and subtraction.
Math Bingo
He loves to play with the Bingo Bugs when he completes a round.
K12 Counting Coins
K12 Counting Bills & Coins
Math Fact Blaster (very basic "flash card" type of app)
Math Garden
This is a fun way to build speed on the basic facts of addition and subtraction.
Motion Math Hungry Fish
Motion Math Zoom (great for learning about the number line)

Astronomy:

NASA
This is a beautiful app with lots of information, NASA TV, videos of launches, etc.
GoSkyWatch
Hold the iPad over your head and the app will tell you what stars, constellations, etc. are located above you (or on the other side of the Earth you if you hold it down).

Phonics:

Word Bingo (same premise and company as Math Bingo above)
Sound Sorting (grouping words by beginning consonant)
Tic Tac Toe Phonics
Simplex Spelling
Montessori Crosswords

Other:

King's Apps Telling Time (basic, but effective)
Build a Train
Nathan LOVES this one.  You create your own train, choose a track, and watch it run while you make different sounds, toggle the track switches, and adjust the speed.
Trainyard EX
This one involves using logic to lay out the track that will get the train(s) from the start house to the destination, going around obstacles and avoiding other trains.
Creationary
This one is by Lego and involves spatial reasoning.
Simon Says
Still a classic.  :)

We have others, but these are the ones that he either chooses or I assign for him to do in order to work on a specific skill that we are building.  The vast majority I got for free.  Most others have a Lite version that you can try out before deciding whether or not to pay for the full version.  (I have quite a few more on my AppShopper Wish List, and I'm waiting for the price to drop.)

These are all iOS apps, and most can also be used on the iPhone or iPod as well as the iPad.  My guess is that most have counterparts for Android tablets and phones.

Got any recommendations for me?  I'm always looking for new ones.

Stay tuned for My Favorite Apps - Part 3 (The Megan Edition)!



This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie, Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family, Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary

Bloomin' Monday

Move #10 - August 2008 - 7 months pregnant

You've probably noticed that I've been trying to resurrect this blog during the past couple of weeks.  Several people had mentioned that I should start blogging again, so I've been posting periodically.  Most of it has been pretty random, though.

I got to thinking about the purpose of the blog.  Of course, there are many (communicating ideas, preserving memories, sharing things I've learned or come across, etc.).  But the name of the blog, Bloom Where You're Planted, was chosen because I've moved many more times over the past 13 years than most people move in a lifetime, and I've learned (and continue to learn) the hard way how to make the most of those moves - even the ones that weren't planned or wanted (the one in the picture above was not planned and definitely not wanted).

The ideas that I will share are things that I have done myself.  Because of that, they relate most directly to a stay-at-home Mom in a new town.  But I'm hoping that others will get some ideas as well from reading my experiences.  I'm also hoping it will inspire someone who, although not new in a town, still hasn't really put down any roots or made any friends.

So I hope you'll join me each week as we discuss how to truly Bloom Where You're Planted.

Menu Plan Monday

There are many things in the world of home-making that I do NOT do well (vacuuming, ironing, mopping floors, etc.).  But one thing I got in the habit of doing several years ago is menu planning.  I used to assign a day to each meal, but it so often changed that I eventually stopped doing that.  Now, my goal is just to make a list of 5-6 meals (Wednesdays usually involve supper at church, and weekends usually involve sandwiches).  Here's what's on the list for next week (Weight Watchers Plus points in parentheses):

Chili (7)

Breakfast Casserole (7)
Reduced-fat crescent rolls (3)
Fried apples (2)

Stromboli (12) - family favorite, and great for busy nights!

Chicken Spaghetti (9) - from the Pioneer Woman

Sweet Asian Chicken with rice and stir-fry veggies (11)

Shrimp and Tortellini (10)

Baked Tilapia (5), macaroni and cheese (7 for 1/4 of prepared package), sweet potato (4)

I'll try to post more of these recipes along the way so I can include links when they show up again.  :)

So what's for supper at your house?



This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie, Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family, Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama