TRUTH in the TINSEL, A Must Have

Have you discovered Truth in the Tinsel, yet?

After hearing many wonderful reviews about TITT, last week I took the plunge and bought the $8 e-book.  I am officially in love with Amanda White's Advent Experience.  After just a few short hours  of preparation our family is ready for this Christ Centered Christmas tradition.

The program is very simple. The book includes 24 days of Scripture reading, ornament crafts, talking points and extension activities. 

Each day there is a clue word for the children to listen for in scripture.  Then while the parents talk through what was taught in the reading, a simple ornament is made to match.  What I love most about this program is the crafts are not elaborate projects, but simple, low-cost activities kids of any age can do.

Now knowing my "Big Idea, Wait To The Last Minute" personality, I decided to creatively and efficiently display each days activity to ensure that the experience would actually get done.  I did this by; prepping the daily craft items, placing them in a brown lunch bag, and sealing it off with free song sheet doilies, labeled chalk board tags and ribbon. Wah-Lah!

Now come December 7th all I need to do is open the bag, locate my Elmer's glue, and share scripture with my girls. 

Our family chose to display the bags on a cheap Target bookshelf, in the middle of my living room (don't ask where all our homeschool books are in the meantime).  A place that screams family time.  Now we have no excuse to celebrate in the true meaning of Christmas this advent season.

 

All of this too much work?  Don't let that stop you.  For an extra $4 you can buy these pre-made ornaments to color and hang.

I did, for those "Way Too Busy December Days."

 

Creative Sources:

Truth in the Tinsel: http://truthinthetinsel.com/buy-the-book/

Free Song Sheets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pemq/6299481705/in/photostream/

Framed Advent Printable: http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-subway-art-printables.html

Chalkboard Tags: http://scrapgoo.blogspot.com/2011/11/chalkboard-gift-tags.html

{Home School Classroom Sneek Peak} Work Wall

Next, I'm introducing our Work Wall.  A series of standard clipboards, laced with chalkboard paint, and then nailed to the wall. Luckily I had the perfect wall space for these six jewels.

The purpose of our Work Wall is to display our daily goal,

as well as, their accomplishments.

Work Wall Instructions:

6 Standard Clipboards ($4 per 2 pack)

1 Can Chalkboard Paint ($7 per pint)

6 Small Nails

First tape off silver clips.  Next, paint chalkboard paint to each clipboard (Secret Tip: You may need two coats for the perfect finish).  Finally hang with small nail.  Again, it's that easy! 

{Home School Classroom Sneek Peak} Lego Table

Want to take a peak into my classroom? For the next few days I'll be posting all the fun Pinterest projects I've been working.  First up, a Lego Table. 

I found a blog online that used one IKEA Lack Side Table and four Lego plates to create a budget friendly Lego Table.  Not wanting to drive all the way to IKEA, I decided to purchase the Target version of said table.  And it worked smashingly!

Lego Table Instructions:

One Target RE Side Table ($14)

Four 32x32 peg Lego Base Plates ($6 each)

Four bottles of Super Glue ($4)

First, assemble side table.  Next, measure and trim Lego plates (I used sheet metal scissors to complete this step).  Finally, super glue base plates to table.  It's that easy!

Super Girl

It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Super Monkey Girl!

 Brie is currently going through a "dirty phase" (a.k.a. Tomboy) as she affectionately refers to it.  My sweet little Brieto no longer loves all things pretty, but instead is interested in getting down and "dirty" with Phineas and Ferb, Legos, Fur Real animals and now Super Heros. 

Thanks to a Super Hero themed Chili Cookoff at our church, and Pinterest I was inspired to create Brieto her very own super hero costume. So watch out villains of San Antonio, Super Money Girl is here to protect citizens alike from your evil ways...you don't want to make her bring in her side kick, Tinker Hero!

Art Show

Looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer. How about have an art show? That's what Fancy Nancy inspired us to do today.

Come along with us on a virtual Art Show, presented by Brie and Briar.
Displayed along the hallway you will see many original pieces of art made by Brie and Briar. Some painted, some sketched and others pasted, but all beautiful!

The desk featured all of the girls sculptures and...

one "Prize Winning" piece, a self portrait of Brie. The picture seriously cracks me up! The best part is Brie made it all on her own--it's 100% Brie's.

With so many fun works of art their is no doubt our VIP guest, Daddy had a great time.

It's amazing how such a simple thing can bring so much excitement to children. Let this inspire you to not toss your kids art work to the side, but show it with pride. Have an art show just like us, and Fancy Nancy!

Woo-Hoo Reward Chart

Have you seen this cute mini-mail box in the Target Dollar Section? How about the tiny heart shaped treat container? Well Valentine's are not the only use for them--think Reward Box!

For months I have wanted to create a Woo-Hoo rewards chart for the girls. Today I finally did. My plan is to deliver a special star to the girl's mail box for an unprovoked act of good behavior. The goal is for the girls to learn it's important to honor their mother and father, and when they do it doesn't go unnoticed.

The girls can earn at most one sticker a day, when they receive their sticker it is placed on the Woo-Hoo chart. At the end of each row (five stickers) a small treat is rewarded. Once the entire chart is filled they can select an outfit from the American Girl website. Woo-Hoo!!!

Do you give out rewards for good behavior???