A Tisket A Tasket

Guess what I found in my basket...



Baby Earflap Hat




Hand Coiled Fabric Basket



Body Spa Gift Basket



Merino Wool Cocoon Photo Prop


Pick 4 Merino Wool Yarns

Running Around In Circles

You know, I assumed that the onset of summer would bring with it a peace, and quiet and rest. I was envisioning sparkling sand and salt water, picnic baskets and pink lemonade.

Alas, reality has ended my daydream. What was I thinking? After all, I am a mother of four. Two of my kids are teenagers - with jobs. One of those teenagers - with a job- does not even have her drivers license yet.

So instead of casual strolls at the beach, I am running circles around the city taking my four children to swim practice and choir practice and work and ...

So here to celebrate the busy"ness" of mother hood are a few items from SHETEAM member. This collection is a team rendition of Running Around In Circles. After all, Stay At Home Moms can all relate to this circle busy"ness" and none of us would trade this crazy life for anything in the whole ROUND world.


Rose Peppermint Bath Bombs






Two Tone Sterling Silver Orbit Necklace





Luggage Tags




Rag Quilt





Circular Chapel Veil Cap





Heating and Cooling Pad with Removable Cover

Find more Circles and Dots HERE.

Musical Learners

This article was originally posted at Chocolate on my Cranium. Montserrat is a member of sheteam and her blog is filled with tips and ideas for homeschoolers, wonderful recipes and a glimpse into everyday life. Montserrat is the owner of Cranial Hiccups and Montserrat.
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Of all my children this one is definitely the most musical learner of the bunch. I think she was born singing - okay it was screeching at that young age - but she really has an ear for music and rhythms and tones and sounds.

She can watch her older sisters play the piano and will sit down and play a simplified version of it - with both hands. She remembers songs and melodies after only hearing them once! She is constantly singing or humming.

Other characteristics of musical learners include: tells you when music sounds off-key or disturbing in some other way, has a rhythmic way of speaking and/or moving, unconsciously hums to himself/herself, is sensitive to environmental noises (e.g., rain on the roof, crickets chirping), taps rhythmically on the table or desks as he/she works.

Some strategies to employ with musical learners:

•Have background music going while they are doing school work. Classical music works best for us.
•Linking old tunes with concepts
•Creating new tunes for concepts
•Clapping, tapping, or chanting while reciting facts
•Have access to musical instruments - especially during break time
•Since there is a strong auditory element lectures work better than reading

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Reposted by VeryVerdant with permission from Chocolate on my Cranium

So What Have You Been Up To Lately

It is May - YES - May!!! It's time to finish up the last few lessons of the year. It's time to plan for graduations and summer break. It's time to just relax and take it easy for a while.

Photography by Autumn Daisy

Who Am I Kidding?!? If you are anything like me, (and I'm sure that you are, whether you like it or not!) you have already begun thinking about next school year. So, in all actuality, it is time to order more books. It is time to schedule your next school year. It is time to decide...
Vintage Children's Book from Dodies Cupboard

No, it's time to take a break. Push away from the books if only for a few days and just enjoy each other as a family. See if a little break doesn't calm your nerves and clear your brain. Healing Salve by Cindy's Suds

Hey, you might even find new reasons to love the people in your very own household.
Cloth Diapers by The Blissful Stitcher



~posted by VeryVerdant

SheTeam Inverview with MumMumCrafts

Tell us about yourself:
I’m a homeschooling mama of two with another on the way, due May 29th 2011! I love what I do, both in business and being a mom, and I would not have things any other way. I feel like one of the lucky people in this world who are actually able to do what I love each day!

What would we find in your shop: 
Mineral Makeup, Deodorant, Lotion, Soap, Skin Care, Lip Tints and Balms. I am always adding new things and changing things up though, so you never know!

What is your style of Homeschooling: 
I am not real strict! I do insist that a certain amount gets done each day but I am also flexible. If my kids want to focus more on science on some days we go with that, or if they really want to curl up and read we go with that, on top of the things that I insist get done, like math. We use Sonlight which is just the perfect curriculum for our family! We love to read!

What tip do you have for homeschooling while having an at-home business: 
The biggest tip I have is to keep your priorities straight. My first priority is not my business; rather I run my business so that I can remain a homeschooling mom! I’ve set up boundaries to make sure my business does not consume too much time. For example I do not ship items every day, but within 3 business days. I do as many things as I can to keep my time organized, not always easy but really does help!

Mum Mum's Crafts Links:
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mummumscrafts 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mum-Mums-Crafts/161062091744

Blog: http://www.mummumscrafts.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mummumscrafts

Interview by Beccijo of The Enchanted Cupboard

Homeschooling Fun: Camping, Caves, and Tunnels

No, not those kind but ones like these.

I love it when the kids get creative and work together. On this particular day I was doing a big clean up in the dinning room and the chairs had to go somewhere. The boys took them to the family room and made a tunnel maze for their sister to play on. We have been struggling with her lately and her need to climb. She will turn anything into a stool to get up on something. On this day she was happy to just climb on the chairs and I was happy to not have to say, "NO!".

Later when it was lunch time and we had no chairs there is only one thing to do, Picnic in a Cave! The kids all had a grand time eating under the table and they thought this was the funniest thing since normally they eat on top of the table.

So the only thing left to do was put up a tent in the livingroom for rest time. All the kids got in with pillows and blankets and watched a favorite movie. It all made for a fun and relaxing day and an at home "field trip" that cost nothing. Later we looked up information about how caves and tunnels are formed. This all made for a nice relaxing kind of fun homeschooling day!

What to know more about caves check out these websites:

http://www.geocities.com/~caves/ed16.htm

http://www.design42.com/caving/formed.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/caves/form.html

Originally posted on http://thereluctantcitydweller.blogspot.com/ 

Find items like this by Beccijo in her Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedcupboard

Pirate Secret Hideaway with Cave Stacker