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http://econobusters.com/learning_to_save_money_on_almost_everything_especially_at_christmas_time/#
December12
Financially, times are tough. Everywhere you look, stores are closing, prices are rising, and great deals are getting harder and harder to find.
We here at Econobusters understand everyone needs a helping hand. That’s one of our main principles, everyone working together to bust through these hard economic times!
Easy Ways to Save Money
Search the weekly ads and use coupons. Most grocery ads come out every Wednesday and retail ads come out on Sundays. The age of the giant Sunday newspaper full of ads and coupons has almost passed us by. Now days, you might find good deals in the Sundaypaper, but your best bet is to hit the web. One of the best ad websites for supermarkets and retail chains isSundaySaver.com. They post links to almost all of the national chain stores.
Have you read The Coupon Craze: Chaos or Common Cents issue ofMolly Green Magazine? Check it out!
Major Coupon Networks and Companies
Most coupon lovers are familiar with the inserts found in the Sunday newspaper. The three main companies that provide these coupons are Smart Source, Red Plum, and Proctor & Gamble. All three companies also provide coupons online. Providing printable coupons on the Internet makes collecting and sharing coupons with others very simple. In fact, one website, Coupons.com, usually hosts them all in one place.
Make Shopping a Game
Create a monthly challenge. Each month, make it a goal to save more than the month before. Find ways to collect more coupons, stack more deals, and earn more rebates. Over time, shoppers learn pricing and predict when items will go on sale. Look for deals all year long: garage sales, thrift stores, second hand stores, Goodwill, and Salvation Army.
Don’t Forget FREE and FREEBIES
You might begin by signing up for your local Freecycle group. Anytime you need something for yourself, the home, or the kids, ask your Freecycle group first. This is an easy way to receive TVs, electronics, small appliances, clothes, toys, and books. You can also list things you no longer need on this group!
Speaking of books, we all know about Amazon, but occasionally, you can find what you want for free on Paperback Swap. You post the books you no longer want. Other people request those books from you. You mail a book to that person, (at your cost), and then you get to pick a book to be mailed to you! If the book you are looking for isn’t listed, check Deal Oz. This website does the book searching for you and finds the best deals on the web for books, CDs and DVDs.
Lastly, you might be interested in these points incentive programs:MyPoints, Swagbucks, and Amazon. You can earn points toward freegift cards simply by reading MyPoints daily emails, (no purchase required). If you use Swagbucks as your search engine, you also can earn points toward free gift cards, but it’s not as easy as MyPoints. Amazon has started a new incentive program where you agree to review products. If you are chosen. They send you the products free of charge to keep!!! It’s called the Amazon Vine. Check it out!
What great deals have you found that save money, especially during the holidays?
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My 2 year old dog had puppies yesterday. For her first (and only) batch she had a total of 8.
You know spring is coming when you are surrounded by 8 new puppies, and kids that are in awe. God does amazing things with puppies and kids. My daughter so wanted to watch them be born, but as she saw the first one come out she saw the sack and screamed "ugh" . After that she ran straight to her room, to stay until Abbey had to time to clean up the puppy before the next was born.
To see pictures please come to my blog and have a look around.
join me for a cup of coffee, or tea and look at my new additions to the family.
http://kidslearn2.blogspot.com/
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Did you hear the story when my brother, my mom, and my aunt, and I were walking in a cemetery. It was very peaceful there. My brother and I were riding bike. I slowed down while my brother sped ahead of me. Then he suddenly stopped, and motioned for me to come to him. About half way there, I saw why he was motioning. There was a deer standing by a tree. By then, my mom and aunt caught up to us. They saw the deer too. The deer stared at us, I got kind of scared, but was very excited. We rode up closer, but the deer didn't move. We went even closer, Then the deer ran away very fast. We were all amazed.
THE END!
By Barry F. Mete
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After watching a program by Reb Bradley on The Homeschool Channel, I got inspired to create this wall of character. Although he didn't talk about this concept that I came up with, he did talk about particular ways in which they use scripture and certain questions around their home. After meditating on those things, I came up with our wall.
The two questions listed at the top were two main guidelines that he talked about. Basically, they're based on the commands to love God and love your neighbor. The two statements listed below that are two main principles that should always abound in our home (be kind, be loving).
Reb talked about how as parents we can fall into a don't do this and don't do that christianity (i.e. don't lie, don't fight, etc.). He mentioned how they turn it around instead to be positive - this is what we do.
So one night while spending time with the Lord, I gathered together a bunch of scriptures that pertain to how we should act and treat others. By no means is my list exhaustive, but it's a good start. From there I wrote positive statements from those scriptures and then referenced the scripture.
Now, when one of my children break one of the commands, I walk them over to the wall and we start at the top by asking "What you just did, how does that honor God?", and then the second question, "How is that loving others?". Then we find the statement that pertains to the offense, they profess what it says (i.e. We will speak the truth always) and then they must look up the scripture in the bible and read it to me.
Since we've implemented this system, it has brought such a peace to our home and to me. Instead of getting frustrated and being tempted to yell or speak harshly to them, I simply say, come with me and we go through the steps. It's a great visual to what they've been hearing for so long.
One quick testimony; last night something happened and one of our boys said, "I'll show mercy just like the thing says". We haven't even used that particular scripture since we put the display up, but he has been reading them and it has stuck with him. What a blessing that brought to my heart.
Just one last detail. I ended up pasting the scriptures to the inside of file folders and now we can simply close them up and take them along with us throughout the day wherever we go. I didn't plan that but as I was being obedient to what I believed the Lord was telling me to do, everything just fell into place so nicely. He is so faithful to lead us and give us wisdom. All we need to do is ask.
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We just finished a week with tigers, using a new Download N’Go unit study called “TERRIFIC TIGERS”… and what magnificent creatures they are!!
In this 5 day unit the areas of study are broken down into these areas:
Day 1: What Is a Tiger?
Day 2: Getting to Know Tigers
Day 3: Where Are the Tigers?
Day 4: The Science of Tigers
Day 5: Cool Things About Tigers
We learned several things about these beautiful, graceful hunters… Especially how endangered they are… We watched lots of videos, drew our own tigers, and attempted to learn how to play Pachisi ~ which is the national game of India (home to a large number of Bengal tigers).
As usual, the night before, I did my planning by briefly looking over the unit, and then printing out what we would need. This time, I decided to work the unit a different way… Instead of lapbooking / notebooking, I took the approach of letting the kids do some copy work and oral quizzing. They loved it ~ it made the unit one big learning game. 
We covered extiniction, endangered animals, and discussed the animals use of speed, claws, and teeth… Our trek with the tigers led us into learning about Project Tiger, which was started in 1973, and helps protect tigers and their habitats… and how the demand for tiger bone and other tiger parts in the medicinal markets of Asia has made dead tigers worth lots of money to poachers. Geography is one of my favorite things that Amanda Bennett really makes use of in the DNG series and it is such a great way for kids to learn about a topic and where it is from and the habitat..
And did you know that a big, hungry tiger can eat about 100lbs. of meat at one sitting? That’s about 1/5 of it’s total weight…which is like my 10yo son eating 40 hamburgers in one meal…(a fact that absolutely fascinated him). Another thing that impressed the kidlets was that the tail does all the talking with tigers. An upright tail that wags slowly back and forth says, ” Hi, I’m friendly”… a tail that lashes rapidly from side to side says, “I’m excited”… and a lowered tail that twitches feom side to side says, “Watch your step”!! After we talked about these tiger behaviors, the kids tehn watched the cat all afternoon, trying to interpret her moods by watching her tail…
Since I didn’t reserve any library books this time (even thought a wonderful book list is included with the unit), I used some that I had at home…Two of these were:
 An issue of Zoobooks named “Tigers”
 and from the Kingfisher Knowledge series “Dangerous Creatures” .
And we got to watch some great movies this week on Netflix and some great video clips online… We watched a documentary from Animal Planet called “Animal Face-Off : Lion vs. Tiger”… and then these 2 movies also…
 
Our local zoo has a great exhibit of tigers. They also have “Zooboxes” which are take home “exhibits” of items that homeschoolers can actually borrow (of course you have to leave a deposit) and they happened to have one perfect for this study called “Habitats: Realm of the Tiger” …Here are some of the beautiful animals the Knoxville Zoo has in their tiger exhibit…
 a beautiful white tiger (my son’s favorite animal)
 and then this Indochinese beauty…
Now to finish our wonderful week with “TERRIFIC TIGERS”, I would like to include the address of the World Wildlife Fund where you can find out you can help these beautiful animals by supporting the work of scientists and conservationists who try to save the tiger, and by learning all you can about tigers and other endangered animals.
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street NW
P.O. Box 37180
Washington, D.C. 20090-7180
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The Attack
On 12 October 2000, two terrorists detonated a powerful bomb containing 400-700 lbs of explosives in a small boat next to the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. Cole while it was docked in the harbor at Aden, Yemen. The Cole had entered the port a few hours earlier to refuel. The blast blew a large hole into the side of the Cole, flooding the engine room and destroying several compartments. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed and thirty-nine others were injured.
Suspicion soon focused on the Al Qaeda terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. Scores of individuals were detained for questioning. The investigation revealed that a sophisticated and well-funded organization had planned and executed the attack on the Cole. The conspiracy had also planned to attack other U.S. targets in the Middle East. Several suspects were eventually arrested in Yemen. Despite a cooperative arrangement between U.S. and Yemeni investigators, the Yemeni government refused to send the suspects to the United States for prosecution.
In December 2000, the Cole was transported to the United States for major repairs. In April 2002, it returned to active duty at a cost of $250 million. An onboard memorial commemorates the victims of the attack.
On June 30, 2008, the following report appeared on CNN: The U.S. military will seek the death penalty against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, making him the first person charged in the United States for the attack on the USS Cole, an Air Force general said Monday.
Osama Bin Laden
The U.S. government considers Osama bin Laden to be the most dangerous terrorist in the world. Bin Laden joined the Afghanistani resistance in 1979 and became a commander in the guerilla wars against the Soviet Union in the 1980's. After that war ended, bin Laden founded a loose organization of pro-Islamic terrorists known as al-Qaeda ("the base"). He then joined with the Egyptian militants led by Ayman al-Zawahiri to form an international group whose goals included driving the United States out of the Middle East and overthrowing the government of Saudi Arabia. Attacks which bin Laden is believed to have plotted or inspired include the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the 1995 truck bombing of a Saudi National Guard training center, and the 1998 explosions at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania (Bin Laden was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitive" list after the embassy attacks). Along with captured suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, he is considered responsible for the September 2001 attacks that crippled the Pentagon and destroyed New York's World Trade Center. Despite an intensive American efforts in the years since that attack, bin Laden has not been captured.
Al-Qaeda
An international terrorist organization founded in the late 1980s, by Osama bin Laden and Muhammad Atef, al-Qaeda calls for the use of violence and force in bringing about the end of non-Islamic governments and, in particular, a wish to drive the US armed forces out of Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Establishing training camps in areas such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya and Saudi Arabia, al-Qaeda is responsible for the proliferating of terrorists throughout the world, and providing them with military equipment and financing.
Al-Qaeda has been blamed for many lethal attacks, including the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, which resulted in 3,031 deaths, and damage estimated to be in the billions of dollars. They are also said to be responsible for an attack on the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, killing over 200 people.
Following American-led military intervention in Afghanistan, the political infrastructure of the pro-al-Qaeda Taliban movement was virtually destroyed and a new government was established in Kabul. Al-Qaeda's military infrastructure in Afghanistan was destroyed but US officials believe the terrorist network has reconstituted itself in Pakistan, with more than 3,500 al-Qaeda fighters believed to be hiding throughout Pakistan's cities and border areas. In addition, the terror network has cells worldwide. US officials also believe that a group of mid-level al-Qaeda operatives has assumed a more prominent role in the organization and is working alongside Middle Eastern extremists across the Islamic world.
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About a week ago I ordered my son’s new medical alert Id from N Style Id. I got it rather quickly in great condition seeing as it was sent post. I absolutely love what we chose. Customer service was great, I had gotten some incorrect information from another site and it only took 2 prompt emails to correct one of which was a generous offer you will benefit from.
I sat down with Brad to choose one, and since he is 14 I thought he might want to really decide on his own what he’d like. He did decide on his own and to my surprise picked a really beautiful classy bracelet.
 
He already has dog tags but he is always forgetting them. This time he thought he might remember a heavier bracelet more. While it’s not heavy at all (stainless steel) he does know it’s there.
More...
http://emptymelord.blogspot.com/2010/08/n-style-review-and-giveaway.html
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I’m not in the habit of letting my children play with dead animals. But this one flew into our kitchen window with a spectacular BANG and died from the impact.
After hearing the noise, we went outside to investigate. David picked up the honey-eater and showed it to Aisha and Brioni. He let them feel its still-warm body and talked about how it died.
And then, because Brioni in particular showed interest, he gave the dead bird to them to play with.
Brioni wasn't at all squeamish about holding the corpse.
She liked to feel its feathers.
The girls could play with its eyelids, making it wink and blink.
And we noted how its claws were curved so as to properly grip tree branches.
Brioni would open its wings to pretend it was flying. I pointed out the different types of feathers — some are to keep the bird warm, and others are to fly with.
Aisha was eager to show me the bird's real skin colour — yellow! (Not at all what I was expecting.)
After it had been properly examined, Brioni integrated the dead bird into pretend-play. She became a farmer, and the bird was an eagle that helped keep pests off her farm.
I could hear her talking softly to her feathered friend, arranging it in the positions of flight or repose. She played with it for about an hour, long after Aisha had moved onto other games.
And then, when she was finished, Brioni dropped her bird into the wheely bin, which was what David had instructed her to do when she was finished with it. There was no remorse, no sadness, just a simple disposal of something that no longer served a purpose.
Brioni came inside, washed her hands carefully and later spoke about the bird with authority and intimacy. For a brief moment it had been part of her world, and now it was gone. The fact that it was dead the whole time was almost irrelevant.
Read more of our learning experiences from Sparkling Adventures at www.sparklingadventures.com!
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