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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

I’m not great at remember things like Mother’s Day. I should be but I’m not, and part of the reason is because my little girl over shines on this day. Her birthday is just after it this year. So while I’m thinking about her birthday, I forget Mother’s Day and usually just end up sending cash in a card to my mother and mother-in-law.

Here are some Mother’s Day gift ideas to save you this year.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.

Store Bought:

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Vanilla Therapy Bath and Body Spa Basket – relax Mom, enjoy a hot bath – hopefully without any interruptions

I’m A Mom, What’s Your SuperPower?” 12oz Coffee Mug – who needs a new coffee mug strutting your stuff?

Butterfly Mother Suncatcher with Pressed Flower Wings – Butterfly Suncatcher – I love suncatchers, this one is beautiful with the pressed flowers in it

Mommy Medicine Funny Wine Glass – HA! How awesome is this wine glass?!

 Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Canvas Stripe Tote (Currently on sale with a $40 purchase) I just ordered my own bag, after ordering $40 worth of books for my kids

Time For Tea Set – Best Mom – take time for yourself with a cup of tea. The mug, perfect measurement spoon, and a steeper.

Abundance Collar Necklace Gold – if my husband would like to get me this I wouldn’t turn it down. Classy.

Corkcicle 16-oz. Tumbler – when you’re running around with your kids, take your coffee with you!

 Homemade:

DIY Tile Photo Coasters – I love these, it makes me want a coffee table so I have a reason to have them

A Helping Hand, Homemade Gift – Oven Mitts – these are sweet, perfect for Dad to make with the kids and surprise Mom with

DIY Marbled Mugs with Nail Polish – now Dads, do not take one of your wife’s nail polish, you don’t want to take her favorite. Go buy a great color and make this for her!

 

Last year I got a DSLR for Mother’s Day. Hubby can’t beat that. Unless he let’s me have the house to myself for the day. To sleep. To eat without being interrupted. To do whatever I want.

Never gonna happen.

Tell me, what do you want for Mother’s Day this year?

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: affiliate, gift ideas, Mother's Day, shopping

5 Ways Kids Can Learn to Code

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

As a blogger I understand the importance of understanding code. Knowing what is written in the “back end” of my website. But it isn’t just for blogging, its for the way the world is going. And we want our kids to have that knowledge. Just like I also want my kids to have entrepreneurial knowledge. When kids want to learn to code we have to be able to provide them with opportunities to learn and that’s what I have here, ways for your kids to learn to code with little to no help from parents who might not know how to code.

5 Ways Kids Can Learn to Code

5 Ways Kids Can Learn to Code

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

If you want to sell something, you can create a website, to look exactly as you image, if you know how to code it. There is a lot of information out there on the world wide web for our children, keeping internet safety in mind, so why not let them create a world for themselves, why not learn to code and give them the opportunity to create.

Why Kids Should Code

  1. Ideas will become reality. If they can dream it, they can build it with a computer!
  2. Code is one of the world’s most used languages. Across the world, coders are using the same language to build websites and programs for others to use.
  3. Kids learn faster when they are young.
  4. Coding encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
  5. Open your child to possibilities. With coding experience, kids can apply for computer science internships and jobs.

Learning to Code in Fun Ways

Minecraft

One of the most popular games for children right now is Minecraft, teaching children how to code in a fun, engaging way.

  • For Minecraft kids ages 8 to 13
  • Kids learn at their own pace
  • Lessons are easy to follow (minimum adult help needed)
  • There are books, Lego sets and more to keep them learning even off screen

Learn for FREE with Scratch

Scratch is where my kids are learning to code. It is free to use online and there are a lot of tutorials available to help them out on the site. We started using it after I came across some books about using the site and I thought why not get them started this way. This one, Coding Projects in Scratch: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Coding Your Own Animations, Games, Simulations, is great.

Khan Academy – Also FREE

Known for its extensive and challenging math games, Khan Academy also has basic programming tutorials that teach kids how to build graphics, animations, interactive visualizations, and more. Its latest addition is a partnership with Pixar, which gives users a chance to learn how Pixar artists do their jobs.

Lego Mindstorms

LEGO® robot building toys are the perfect gift for kids of all ages. Even if it doesn’t seem like they have an obvious interest in coding, their curiosity will almost certainly be sparked once they get the chance to build a robot of their own.

These aren’t for the frugal family, they are a bit more costly than I am willing to pay but I definitely think it would be worth the money. I see all Lego as being worth it as my kids spend so many hours playing and building and learning with Lego.

CodaKid

CodaKid is a kids coding platform that teaches kids how to use real programming languages and professional tools while creating games, coding apps, programming drones, building websites, and more.

Bonus ways to code

If you can find access to DreamWeaver, an Adobe product, it is a great way to practice coding. You can create a a website within, through code and see what it looks like as you go along. I have the CS6 (on disc) and use it for web design and will be using it with my kids when they are older and have more interest in learning code outside the fun and games programs.

My kids are often amazed when they see me changing code, “wow you know what that says?” is often said. It’s a nice feeling knowing I can help them learn to code.

Similar posts you may be interested in:

Online Art Curriculum for Homeschool

Where to Find Books Online With Libraries Closed

Online Typing Practice With KidzType

Filed Under: Curriculum Tagged With: affiliate, coding, curriculum, educents, homeschooling, minecraft

Educational Stocking Stuffer Ideas

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

Can you believe that there is just over a month left until Christmas? I can honestly say, I am done shopping. Hubby still has two things to pick up this week when he goes into the city for a meeting and then I have to start wrapping. Though I tend to put that off until the last week that I possibly can. I love the shopping and buying for people, hate the wrapping.

How do I get so much shopping done so early? I do my Christmas shopping all year long! It adds a couple extra bucks to my grocery bill to throw in an extra bottle of bubble bath for one of my girls, or a pack of *crayons. It doesn’t add much, but come December, you have a lot, if not all, of your stocking stuffers.

*If you are going to do that… the above… keep track or you’ll end up with doubles or triples!*

If you are looking for some ideas to get you started, check out some of my ideas for your man, your woman, and your kids!

You can also find more holiday posts in the right sidebar and in menu above, as well as our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.

Disclosure: This post does contain affiliate links, the below is from Educents. A great resource for homeschooling families. Affiliate links do not cost you anything, I may make a little from your purchase, without costing you.

Personalized Letter from Santa

Gone are the days of trying to write in “Santa’s handwriting.” Educents has made it so easy to make your child feel special and loved by Santa! The personalized letter comes straight to your front door from the North Pole in a beautiful red envelope, and highlights your child’s exciting accomplishments this year. The letter also includes some fun Santa-approved activities for you and your kiddo to spend some sweet holiday time together, like a recipe for Mrs. Claus’ Famous Cookies, two snowflake craft templates, a packet of reindeer food (glitter!) and a sheet of festive stickers. This special letter will make for an imaginative and exciting addition to the very top of our Christmas stockings this year!

This letter will make for an imaginative start to any Christmas morning, but there’s more pressure now to keep the fun going! Here are some other easy stocking stuffers to keep the magic going for your kiddos this year!

Educational Stocking Stuffer Ideas

1. FREE DIY Crystal Christmas Tree Experiment – An opportunity to spend more time together as a family is one of the best gifts you can give! These directions for a DIY salt-crystal Christmas tree can get the whole family involved and teach everyone something new!

2. DIY Push Light Planets – Create these amazing lights for your kiddo’s bedroom. Each light is decorated to represent one of the planets. To encourage planet recognition, even paint the names of the planets onto each pushable light!

3. Show Me the Kwan – Looking for a great, fun game for the whole family to play after all the presents have been opened? This clever and upbeat word game gets kids excited about vocabulary, word construction and more and is the perfect size for a stocking!

4. Matching Games for Little Learners – These handmade wooden matching games from Mama May I are a very sweet stocking stuffer for little learners. Choose from Zoo, Trucks, Vegetables, Space and more !

5. The Familia Craft Kit – This craft kit has all the tools for your kiddos to decoupage little wooden peg dolls to create their own story or to include in a new adventure! They come in a slim tube that’s easy to fit in a stocking!

6. DIY Domino Set – This homemade domino set is one you and your family can play for years to come. To make this set special for the holidays, use green and red puff paint!

7. DIY Pop-Up Alphabet Sponges – This simple gift is a low-cost way to make baby’s bath time fun and educational! Cut sponges into the shapes of alphabet letters and numbers.

8. DigiPuppets – This adorable animal finger puppet acts as a touchscreen-sensitive stylus for phones and tablets. Use them on their own to keep kids engaged with digital learning tools, or head to the app store to download DigiPuppet’s educational games.

9. Just Add Milk Science & Art Kit – This kit is filled with fun science and art projects you can do along with some at home ingredients, and it’s just the size of a milk carton! If your child is lactose-intolerant, don’t worry, the experiments work with non-dairy milk as well!

10. DIY Telling Time Clock Pillow – Crafty family members can take a few hours to create this comfortable accessory for kiddos learning to tell time!

11. Clever Catch Math Balls – These inflatable balls make math-learning fun with active games you can play with 2 or more people. Just keep it deflated, and this blow-up Clever Catch is ready for the stocking! Choose from: Numbers 0-25, Money, Multiplication, Addition, or Subtraction.

12. DIY Hopscotch Mat – Here’s a fun game you can make yourself, roll up into a Christmas stocking, and then play on Christmas Day and many, MANY days after that!

13. DIY Bongo Rice Shakers – Use some household materials to make shakable, musical instruments for little ones to use while Christmas caroling on Christmas Day!

DIY Stocking Stuffer Instrument

Looking for more ways to make your Christmas stockings and holiday gifts extra special this year? Head to Educents’ Give the Gift of Education page for more ideas, tips, steals and deals!

Filed Under: Holiday Tagged With: affiliate, Christmas, Crafts, DIY, educational, Educent, holiday, Stocking Stuffers

8 Resources for Learning Times Tables

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

If you are an educator or parent with a frustrated child who is attempting to memorize the multiplication tables? Read on. I chose to share this because, as a homeschooling family I’m looking for all the help I can get, and want to share them with you as well.

8 Resources for Learning Times Tables

8 Resources for Learning Times Tables

*This post contains affiliate links, see my privacy polices for more information.*

Teachers Pay Teachers Resources

Multiplication Facts Booklets

This booklet can be printed off and given to each student to work through at their own pace as it is easy to follow or can be used laminated and used for centers.

Each booklet contains: A cover, write activity for all the times tables 1-12, an activity sheet asking students to write inverse/commutative property and repeated addition for each times table. Multiplication Grids for each times table.

Multiplication Bookmark style Flashcards

Easy to use multiplication bookmarks now in a rectangle bookmarks that is easy to print and use. These are a great way to work on multiplication fact fluency.

Make multiplication easy (and fun!) for your kiddos with this set of 144 Multiplication Clip Cards. Interactive and engaging, these Multiplication Clip Cards are a great math activity for teaching and revising multiplication up to 12×12.

Hundreds of kids have learned their times tables in an hour using a very fun & easy to understand animated video. The Times Tales DVD is a two-part video series that uses stories to teach multiplication to kids. The videos use cute, simple stories that provide students with a “memory peg,” allowing them to quickly recall otherwise abstract multiplication facts. As students progress through the video, they’ll learn multiplication without even knowing it! It’s that easy!

About the Times Tales DVD – What is included?

  • Animated video comes on a DVD
  • CD includes printable worksheets and flashcards

Times Tales Animated DVD & Printable Worksheets

Times Tales teaches kids the upper times tables without rote memorization. Students can simply follow along with the entertaining story. As they progress, they’ll be guided into associating the stories they’ve learned with real math.

More Activities to Practice Multiplication:

Early Multiplication: Grouping with Legos by School Time Snippets – Kristina and her son practice multiplications using Legos!

Multiplication Rap DVD – Kids discover what multiplication is all about, learn facts through 12, and practice skip counting.

Multiplication Clever Catch Ball – This colorful ball is an interactive way for kids to practice multiplication facts outside or during an organized classroom activity.

Patterned Multiplication Circles by Lemon Lime Adventures – Dayna and her 7-year old use this visual way to learn multiplication. This math craftivity is fun for all ages!

Musical Math with Sue Dickson’s Songs that Teach – This program makes memorizing the facts easy, sure, and fun with catchy songs that allow students to master the facts in no time!

30 Multiplication Facts Printable Worksheets – This low-cost packet includes 30 printable worksheets, 143 flash cards, six vocabulary word cards, and a multiplication chart.

A+ Math Multiplication Unit – Build a strong foundation in math with A+ Interactive Math’s multiplication unit.

Similar posts that you may be interested in:

Smartick Math - Having Fun with Math

Smartick Math – Having Fun with Math

Mastering Multiplication with Times Tales

Mastering Multiplication with Times Tales

RightStart Math - RS2 Math Set

RightStart Math – RS2 Math Set

Filed Under: Curriculum Tagged With: affiliate, curriculum, educents, Homeschool, homeschooling, multiplication, times table

Subscription Box Addiction – Little Passports

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

I have fallen in love  with subscription boxes when I got my first Wantable box about a year ago I think it was for review. Spend X amount of money and get a box in the mail full of great things. We’ve tried a few different ones and haven’t loved them all. The newest one that we tried was Little Passports.

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

The other day we received our first month Little Passports USA Edition. Even the box it was shipped in was cute, I wish I had taken a picture of it. In the first month box you get:

Little Passports signature blue suitcase [Read more…] about Subscription Box Addiction – Little Passports

Filed Under: Family, Kids Activities, Review, Sponsored Post Tagged With: affiliate, Little Passports, monthly subscription box, wantable

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A Little About Me

I'm Ashley, a Canadian secular homeschool mom of 3, living in Nova Scotia.

I share our adventures in homeschooling and parenting.

You can usually find us at the library surrounded by books.
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