A Tyrant Spell has Bound Me...

I found this incredible photo on Flikr. It reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Emily Bronte:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philkoch/10951778564/

The night is darkening round me,

The wild winds coldly blow;

But a tyrant spell has bound me,

And I cannot, cannot go.

The giant trees are bending

Their bare boughs weighed with snow;

The storm is fast descending,

And yet I cannot go.

Clouds beyond clouds above me,

Wastes beyond wastes below;

But nothing drear can move me;

I will not, cannot go.

Creativity: Piercing the Mundane to Find the Marvelous

Kiddo2 handed me this picture she'd drawn. Being in the middle of something I thanked her quickly and started to turn away. Something stopped me, and I decided to take an extra minute to ask her what everything was. This is what I learned: While to me the art may look simple, to her it was a whole world of intrigue. 

It's like that quote, "The creative adult is the child who survived". Creativity can't be taught, but it can certainly be unlearned. Take the time to explore the creativity in your child. Don't squelch it. Give them the freedom to express themselves even if it means coloring outside the lines or painting green cows. Demonstrate your interest by encouraging them to use their imagination and empower them to rise above the limits. 

DIY Hair Mask for Shiny, Residue-Free Hair

I tried out this fantastic hair mask that left my hair incredibly soft, shiny and best of all, residue free. All you need is two simple ingredients which can be found in your kitchen.

Lemon Water for Your Health

I started to drink lemon water every morning 15 mins before eating anything and I def. noticed an improvement in my health. 

I know many people think they could never down a cup of lemon water on an empty stomach. I thought the same before I gave it a try. But I've found it's surprisingly refreshing and doesn't upset my stomach at all. -even while I'm pregnant. It's certainly worth a try for the sake of good health!

http://theberry.com/2014/11/06/daily-motivation-25-photos-655/da-mo-16-597/

Have you got a favorite health secret to share? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. 

Mommy vs Teacher: Things I've Learned as a Homeschooling Mom

As a home-ed mom, I sometimes find it difficult to switch between teacher mode and mommy mode.

The basis of home-ed is seizing every opportunity to create a teaching moment. This ensures that learning is always fun, spontaneous, and follows your child's interest.

Sometimes, though, kids just need mommy.

I was reminded of this recently when Kiddo1 presented me with a card she'd made. I was very touched, yet for a split second the teacher in me raised her grammatically-correct head and I nearly ruined her precious gift by pointing out the mistakes.

Luckily, the mommy mode kicked in and screamed at me to stop before I ruined what was a special moment between my daughter and me.

I'm so glad I let it pass. Kiddo1 was able to feel good about the surprise she'd made and I can rest assured that another day will come to teach the correct usage of to/too/two.

The lesson I learned was far greater than any lesson in grammar.

I would love to hear back from any other home-ed/homeschooling moms out there. Do you struggle to switch modes? Have you found any tips that work well for you? I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Easy Kid-Friendly Mango, Plum and Banana Smoothie Recipe

A delicious, fruit smoothie is the highlight of our morning. It just tastes so yummy and is a wonderful healthful snack that kiddos can make along side me. Here's one easy peasy recipe that we love.

Ingredients:

1 banana
1 mango
2 plums
600 ml. of chilled orange juice
400 ml. of chilled apple juice
3 large tablespoons of yoghurt




Instructions:

Remove the peels and cut the fruit.

Science Project: Crystal Egg Geodes

Had so much fun making these with the kiddos. Find the instructions here.

Got a fun science project to share? Let us know in the comments below.

In the Shrouded Silver Wood: A Poem

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Dream-Believer-314670634

Faerie dance and elvin play

To enchant, to bid me stay

Voices echoed o'er the grove

Pledge an evermore abode