The CommonSenseMom

How to Repair a Jack-O-Lantern

2009-10-31T18:48:00.001-05:00

What do you do when you are carving your jack-o-lantern, and the unthinkable happens? Maybe you cut off a tooth, or a delicate piece breaks where it shouldn't? It happened to me today when I was carving an owl face on our pumpkin. We tried to pin the break into place with toothpicks with only limited success. Then, we thought of Gorilla Glue. Worked like a charm.

What's in Your Compost Pile?

2009-10-16T21:07:00.005-05:00

Our compost bins (we have two...made of wood pallets lined with 1/2 inch square wire fencing) are full of the normal yard waste as well as kitchen waste.

My husband keeps the bins filled with outdoor materials, and I keep a compost bowl on the kitchen counter to make sure that as much kitchen waste as possible gets into the compost mix.

If you were to investigate, here are some things you would find in our pile:

Grass clippings - excellent "green" material. My husband accepts grass clippings from the neighbors and his co-workers. It saves them a trip downtown to drop off their bagged clippings. Prevalent in the summer. Too many grass clippings dumped on top tend to get stinky. It's best to keep it mixed up with other materials.
Shredded leaves - excellent "brown" material. Prevalent in the fall. It is especially nice to find leaves shredded by the lawnmower mixed with green grass clippings. My husband uses the wheelbarrow to haul this combination home from the curbs in front of the neighbors' houses.
Wood ashes - from our outdoor fire ring. It's not a great volume of ashes. I think it helps keep down the odor and adds some diversity to the compost.
Egg shells - about 2 dozen per week. Yes, I know they take forever to decompose. And, yes, when we spread out the compost in the gardens, there are some undecomposed egg shells. But, they do decompose eventually and add calcium to the soil.
Pumpkins - when carving, all the junk goes into the compost pile. When the jack-o-lanterns are done, they go in the pile, too. They go away surprisingly quickly. This year we let a volunteer pumpkin vine grow in the compost pile, and it produced a beautiful, large pumpkin.
Coffee grounds with filters - the filters decompose quickly.
Tea bags - small, but every little bit helps.
"Sticks" from grapes - ditto.
Banana peels - compost gold as far as I'm concerned.
Grapefruit rinds - we have alot of these in the winter months, and they just sit frozen on top. But, in the spring they go away quickly.
Raw broccoli stalks - no, we don't eat them even though we probably should. They take forever to decompose.
Apple peels - tons in the fall when we make homemade applesauce.
Potato peels - 'nuff said.
Rotten tomatoes - damaged garden produce.
Miscellaneous fruit and vegetable trimmings - tops from strawberries, bad spots on bananas, outer lettuce leaves, peach pits, etc.
Decaying food from the fridge - I really try to not waste anything, but once in awhile it happens. Then the stuff goes into the compost pile.
Waste from science experiments - we homeschool. Recently, we've had science experiments using red cabbage and all-purpose flour. When the experiment was done, the waste went into the compost.
Hair - yep, hair. When my husband and son get haircuts, the clippings go into the compost pile. We hope it helps scare away the vermin.

Here are some things that I have been tempted to compost, but I've thought better of:

Bread products - stale buns, heels, etc. The crows just make a mess and carry them off.
Popcorn & unpopped kernels - ditto.
Turkey carcass - after boiling the carcass to make turkey broth, I'd love to toss it in the compost, but my husband convinced me that it will only draw scavenging animals.
Shredded newspaper - too much work to shred it. Plus we don't get the newspaper anymore.
Shavings from pencil sharpener - I decided that since I don't know what is in the pencils (especially the colored pencils), I really don't want all that spread around my fruits and vegetables.
Scrapings from dinner plates - I do put small scrapings in the compost bowl, but nothing major. See my explanation under turkey carcass.
Dirt from vacuum cleaner bags - I'm just not nuts enough to go that far. Yet.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar on Your Hair Instead of Shampoo and Conditioner

2009-10-09T15:27:00.002-05:00

For the past several months, I've been experimenting with using baking soda instead of shampoo and vinegar instead of conditioner in my morning shower. It has been working well, so I thought I'd share with you how I do it.

Baking Soda "Shampoo"
I use an old shampoo bottle. I add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to each 8 oz. of water then shake to mix. Since I do not have oily hair, I generally shampoo every other day or even every third day. I've kept the same schedule with the baking soda mixture. I wet my hair in the shower then squeeze the baking soda/water mixture all around my head. Then I wash just as I would with normal shampoo and rinse well.

Vinegar "Conditioner"
I use store-brand apple cider vinegar. I keep a quart sized bottle in the shower along with a half-cup measuring cup. I use the vinegar daily whether or not I shampoo. First, I put about 2 tablespoons of vinegar in the cup and then fill the remainder of the way with water. Be careful not to let the vinegar splash into your eyes...it really stings! I pour it over my hair and work through, then rinse.

Vinegar gives a clean rinse to the hair, and I don't smell like vinegar after it dries. Some say that the vinegar will detangle hair, but I haven't seen that result. If you have hair prone to tangling, I suggest brushing before you get in the shower. That works very well for my daughters.

Using the vinegar rinse has greatly improved my husband's long-standing dandruff issues. We've truly been surprised by this result.

Some folks like the no-chemical, "organic" nature of using baking soda and vinegar, and it does have that advantage. My main goal in making this switch was to save money! My husband asked how much we are saving, and I have to guess that it is over $5 per month, and perhaps even more than that.

Internet Resources for Homeschoolers

2009-09-19T07:34:00.002-05:00

I put together a list of sites that are generally helpful to homeschoolers. Try them out, and see what you think.

Cathy Duffy Homeschool Reviews – www.cathyduffyreviews.com
Debra Bell’s Homeschool Resource Center – www.hsrc.com
DonnaYoung.org Printables and Resources – www.donnayoung.org
Enchanted Learning – www.enchantedlearning.com
Classical Christian Homeschooling – www.classicalhomeschooling.org
1000 Good Books List - www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html
Curriculum reviews - www.homeschoolreviews.com
A to Z Home’s Cool - homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/index.htm
Starfall – www.starfall.com

Product Review: Jif Natural Peanut Butter

2009-09-14T20:52:00.003-05:00

Product Review
Jif Natural Peanut Butter

For quite some time, I've been making my own peanut butter using my Vita-Mix. It is delish. Lately, life has been hectic, and I've fallen off the homemade peanut butter bandwagon. So, imagine my excitement when I noticed Jif Natural Peanut Butter on the shelf at my local WalMart. I was even more excited to learn that the price, although higher than regular Jif, was not that much higher.

Now that my family has consumed a number of jars of Jif Natural Peanut Butter, I can tell you that we are big fans. The consistency is creamy and spreadable. And, the taste is pure peanut. In comparison to Jif Natural, ordinary peanut butter tastes like peanut flavored shortening.

The label on the jar of Jif Natural states that it does not need to be refrigerated or stirred. Well, yes and no. I do stir it when I first open a jar because it is just a little oily on top. After the initial stir, I don't need to do it again. When the summer heat set in, I refrigerated the jar to maintain a good spreading consistency. Now that fall is here, our jar is back in the cupboard.

Perhaps you've noticed that Skippy also has a natural peanut butter, and we've tried that one, too. It's good, but in our opinion, it's just not as good as Jif Natural. Jif Natural just seemed a little more peanut-y to us.

Some may be drawn to Jif natural because it doesn't have the artificial ingredients found in other peanut butters. I do prefer that my family's food is made with plain, ordinary ingredients. That's why I began making my own peanut butter in the first place. But, I continue to purchase Jif Natural Peanut Butter just because we like it so much. It makes a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich when paired with homemade bread and homemade jelly.

What to do with the Nut Dust and Crumbs

2009-09-10T07:02:00.002-05:00

I noted in my review of True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters that there is a lot of breakage that results in excessive nut dust and crumbs in the bottom of the package.

Now, I have found two delicious uses for the nut dust. First, I sprinkle it on my oat bran hot cereal. This is absolutely delicious. Second, I sprinkle some on my yogurt. In the past I have included it in my homemade granola, but I definitely prefer it on my hot cereal and in my yogurt.

I'm almost ready to take a hammer to my bag of clusters so I can make more nut dust!

Things That Really Are Cheaper at Sam's Club

2009-09-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of Sam's Club, but I do shop there. Many things I look at just aren't cheaper than I can get at WalMart or sale prices at other stores. But, I thought I'd put together a list of things that I've found that really are cheaper at Sam's club:

Shredded mozzarella cheese
Yeast
True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters
AA batteries
Splenda packets
Cheerios (just a little cheaper, awkward packaging)
Soda at the snack bar (get your cup at the checkout)
Gas (usually about 3 cents cheaper than other stations)
Ice cream sandwiches

Train Yourself to Be Godly

2009-09-03T12:46:00.003-05:00

I Timothy 4:7-8 tells us to train ourselves to be godly. If the Bible instructs us to do something, then it must be possible. Being sinners by nature, how do we go about training ourselves to be godly?

In a recent sermon, our pastor shed some light on this topic. Here are three scriptures that are useful for training different aspects of our being. Can you think of more verses and how we can use them for training ourselves in a specific realm?

Train the mind: "Take captive every thought" (II Corinthians 10:5)

Train the will: "I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)

Train the affections: "Delight yourself in the Lord" (Psalm 37:4)

Improving CommonSenseMom.net

2009-08-16T18:00:00.001-05:00

I've been learning all about DNS on the internet, and I've made some improvements to CommonSenseMom.net.

To see the main website, go to http://www.commonsensemom.net/.

To see this blog, go to blog.commonsensemom.net.

To see my items available on ebay, go to auctions.commonsensemom.net.

To see my items available on etsy, go to etsy.commonsensemom.net.

To see items available from amazon.com recommended by the CommonSenseMom, go to amzstore.commonsensemom.net.

To see the CommonSenseMom's Store, go to store.commonsensemom.net.

My kids have a blog you can see at kids.commonsensemom.net.

Q: How Much Bandwidth Do You Need To Be Happy?

2009-08-05T22:44:00.003-05:00

A: I don't know, how much bandwidth is there?

Geek Groups

2009-08-05T14:20:00.005-05:00

My husband has said for a long time that there is a "geek group" on the internet for every conceivable subject of human interest. He used to joke about my "bread machine geek buddies".

Now, we've learned that there is a geek group for people interested in collecting antique paver bricks. When I googled antique paver bricks I came up with several businesses centered around them.

And, just today, I came across a blog dedicated to typography.

Don't even get me started on toilet tank lids.

Transcript DVD Bootcamp by Inge Cannon

2009-06-25T22:12:00.002-05:00

I recently attended a Transcript DVD Boot Camp presented by Inge Cannon. I was so impressed with the content, and I was very glad I had chosen to attend at this point in my homeschooling journey.

My oldest child is entering 7th grade, and this discussion came at the perfect time. I don't have to act on anything I learned immediately. This year, I will reflect and decide how best to implement Inge Cannon's suggestions in our homeschool. Beginning in the 8th grade year, I plan to use the CreditPro card system and the TranscriptPro software sold by Inge Cannon's company.

During the DVD seminar, I learned how to define a "unit" of high school work. Inge Cannon introduced a simple card system for tracking and crediting work within a given subject area. In addition, she gave numerous tips on techniques, resources, and specific curriculum that are helpful during the high school years.

I can enthusiastically recommend the Transcript DVD Boot Camp for parents of children entering 7th and 8th grades. Even if your child is already in high school, you will certainly learn a great deal that will help you pull together an accurate and useful transcript.

Video Shows How to Prune Tomato Plants

2009-06-22T14:22:00.002-05:00

Take a look at this great video from Fine Gardening. It is about 5 minutes long and shows how to prune tomato plants. Very well done.

Save Money on Kids' Bikes

2009-06-08T07:13:00.002-05:00

NEVER, NEVER, EVER buy a new kids' bike. Kids' bikes are ubiquitous at garage sales. Since kids grow out of a bike so fast, they are usually in good condition. If you are patient, you can even be choosy. Look for a good brand in good shape (not perfect, but nice). My most recent buy was a Huffy for $5. Both tires were flat, but all they needed was a little air.

If your kids ride a lot, they may wear through a tire. In that case, it is probably cheaper (and more exciting) to get another garage sale bike than to replace the tire.

If the price is a little high, offer the owner less. Dad will probably be thrilled just to have the bike out of his garage. I would pay up to $20 for a great bike.

To Do or Not To Do: Sonlight Core 5 Eastern Hemisphere

2009-01-29T19:29:00.003-06:00

As I have noted, we use some materials from Sonlight Curriculum in our homeschool. Our family likes to read, so it has been a great fit for us.

For quite some time, I have been maintaining a spreadsheet mapping out what Sonlight materials ("Cores") each of my children would use for several years into the future. In order to get everybody matched up and studying the same period of history, I had planned to skip Sonlight's Core 5 which focuses on the Eastern Hemisphere. To be honest, I figured it wouldn't be much of a loss because the subject matter really didn't sound very interesting to me.

As I was preparing my Sonlight order last summer, I suddenly reversed my decision. I realized that my youngest still needed a little time to mature in order to get the most out of her Sonlight materials. So, I reworked my spreadsheet and rearranged everything. All of a sudden, I had a hole right where Sonlight Core 5 would fit. After consulting the principal (my husband), I took a deep breath and ordered Sonlight Core 5 and Sonlight Science 5.

Let me share with you that I have been so pleased with my decision! Both Core 5 and Science 5 have presented us with fascinating studies this year. The quality of the read-alouds has been outstanding; the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer has given us a needed, tiny push towards independent research; and the human body studies in Science 5 have covered ground that has been interesting and valuable for my students.

I give Sonlight Core 5 and Science 5 a thumbs up!

What To Do With Those Old Apples in the Fridge: Baked Apple Slices

2009-01-28T18:33:00.002-06:00

If you've got a handful of apples in the fruit drawer that are starting to look a little shriveled, don't toss them out! Make a tasty dish of baked apple slices out of them. Here is how I made mine today (all amounts are approximate, I was just throwing it together):

The CommonSenseMom's Baked Apple Slices

8 old apples (peeled, cored, sliced)
1/3 c. flour
1/3 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. Splenda (optional...reduce or omit if you like it less sweet)
2 t. cinnamon
dash salt
butter or margarine

Mix all ingredients together except the butter. Spread in greased baking dish. Dot with butter. Cover with foil or lid. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Serve with a dollop of CoolWhip or some ice cream.

I used a 9X13 glass baking dish because I was concerned the juice might overflow, but it would've been fine in an 11X7 dish.

The CommonSenseMom's Secret to a Great Marriage

2009-01-26T19:09:00.002-06:00

Drumroll, please....

BE NICE TO EACH OTHER!! Really, really, really nice.

Yes, it really is that simple. I know because I learned it from my husband.

An Electric Pencil Sharpener in the Schoolroom

2009-01-26T18:35:00.003-06:00

If you are a homeschooling mom, do yourself a favor and get an electric pencil sharpener for your homeschool room. Ours has sharpened thousands of pencils already. My kids have always enjoyed using colored pencils, so the electric pencil sharpener has been such a blessing.

Originally, I purchased a model made by Boston because it had a lower price. After a year or two, I just couldn't tolerate the fact that it sharpened the pencils off-center. I had used a Panasonic model at church, so I went and bought the Panasonic KP-310 to replace the inferior Boston.

The Panasonic KP-310 has been a workhorse in our classroom. I see on Amazon that the KP-310 is no longer available. The one pictured here gets excellent reviews.

Dread

2009-01-14T21:07:00.001-06:00

I read one time that it is pointless to dread that which you know you must and will do. Makes sense.

Abraham Lincoln Teaching Packet Available to Homeschoolers in Illinois

2009-01-12T20:44:00.000-06:00

The Illinois Secretary of State's office is making a teaching packet about Abraham Lincoln available to schools in Illinois. It is available to homeschoolers. I called yesterday and received my packet today. The phone number is 217-782-2226. The person that answered the phone took care of my request. It was very simple!

Health as Virtue

2009-01-10T09:17:00.002-06:00

I've been turning this quote by Yuval Levin over in my mind since I read it the other day:
"health has usurped the place of virtue" in our society.

If many of us were honest with ourselves, we might admit that it is more important to us to be thought of as healthy, youthful, and vigorous than it is to be thought honest, trustworthy, and hardworking.

Product Review: True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters

2009-01-09T14:04:00.005-06:00

Product Review
True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters

I first tried this tasty snack while spending a weekend with friends in Kentucky last year. They were so good, that I immediately added them to my grocery list upon my arrival back home.

I usually have a few in the morning to add a little protein to my breakfast. They have a light sweetener that sticks the nut pieces together. The mix of nuts is very balanced, creating a nice blend of flavors.

The downside is that they are a little pricey. And, when I finish a package, there is an unreasonable amount of tiny nut pieces and dust. For the price of these snacks, the packaging should keep them together better during shipping. I redeem this wasted product by saving it to put in my homemade granola. And, finally, the self sealing top (zip top) is faulty on about half the bags I purchase.

I have found the small (5.5 oz.) bags at several local grocery stores including WalMart. Sam's Club and Amazon.com both have the large (24 oz.) bags.

All-in-all they have been a tasty addition to my mornings.

Idiots vs. Maniacs

2009-01-09T13:48:00.003-06:00

Here is an interesting way to analyze the way you view the folks around you.

I was in Driver's Ed summer school class many moons ago. My teacher, who somewhat resembled George Carlin in appearance, showed a portion of a videotaped George Carlin stand-up comedy routine in class. (That's public schooling for you -- even back then there was much to roll your eyes about). Anyway, most of that video is lost in my memory bank somewhere, but one tiny portion stands out:

"Did you ever notice how everyone who drives slower than you is an Idiot, and everyone who drives faster than you is a Maniac?"

You can see this is true, no? Now apply the concept to things other than driving. Parenting. Most people think we are Idiot Parents, but a few consider us to be Maniac Parents. Now try diet. Religion. Finances. See how it describes your view of those around you? (And their view of you.) Interesting, huh?

Discipline vs. Regret

2009-01-09T13:45:00.003-06:00

I heard a quote the other day that I think is worth sharing:

"The pain of Regret is worse than the pain of Discipline."

In how many areas of life could we avoid the pain of Regret if only we submitted to the pain of Discipline? It reminds me of another quote I heard many years ago from an elderly friend:

"Do what you need to today so that you can live with yourself tomorrow."

Wise words.

My Ebay Auctions

2008-12-07T16:14:00.002-06:00

My current items for sale on ebay are now viewable at:

auctions.commonsensemom.net