Do Over!

OK, since I started planning out my first week of school for the boys, I have been told that my scheduled day might be a BIT long for two little guys. Yes, I had them going from 9am-2:30pm. What? They got an hour lunch break and two breaks besides! *Ahem* Yes, I am a slave driver thank you very much! ;)

So I have decided to do over all of that meticulous first week planning. And, am I ever thankful that I procrastinated long enough to avoid planning out the whole month! All I have to re-do is one week.

Oh yeah, the other thing I didn't realize was that Monday is Labor Day. Which means it is a holiday and Daddy is going to be home. No one is going to want to do school if Daddy is home. So we officially begin PHE on Tuesday!

I'm off to see which subjects I have to cut out in order to squeeze it all into a three-hour timeblock. Ha Ha Ha!*laughing nervously and slightly hysterically*

By the time this is all over, I might be getting a new jacket. White, with loooong sleeves and pretty silver buckles....

Planning and Sleep-Deprivation...

I finished planning our first week out last night.....at 2 am! Sigh. I have to find a better time to plan, I will not be a happy or healthy teacher if I am up all hours of the night trying to stay ahead of the game.

I am excited for what we get to study though. We are doing unit studies for the first month. We'll see how it goes and modify as needed. This month's unit study is weather. Each week will have a specific focus on the weather...rain, sun, snow, hail, etc. We will check out books from the library that focus on the weekly topic. And there will be fun crafts and science projects/ experiments we get to do in relation to the focus topic.

So now I just have to get all the supplies together and plan out the rest of the month...lol!

It will be very interesting to see how homeschooling affects my housework *cringe*, hopefully I will be able to keep up with both :)

Thanks to all of you kind ladies who have commented...you were all so very encouraging and sweet!

Off to tackle the dishes before they take over the kitchen...you think I'm joking?

School's Starting...

I won't be posting very much from now on.

My husband and I have decided to start school for the kids the beginning of September.

Potter's Hand Elementary will commence September 1st!

Please pray for the teacher (me) :)

I am little nervous but I am also excited to see how God helps mold my young ones' lives by using me as His tool. It is another adventure and journey that we get to travel as a family.

Don't worry, I will be sure to share how the first week went. For now I have to get things organized, work out a schedule for school, and put together the curriculum. I am going to be busy, busy!

Centsible Spa Treatments

Here are some fun and frugal items to use for a Pamper-Yourself Day!


Baking Soda Cleanser::

1-2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup water

Directions:
Mix baking soda and water together to form paste.
Apply liberally to face and neck area. Leave on for 10-15
minutes and then gently wash off with warm water and washcloth.
This helps to minimize the appearance of large pores and is a gentle exfoliant as well.


Oatmeal Nourishing Mask::

Handful of uncooked oatmeal
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey

Directions: Mix ingredients together, warm slightly and apply to face and neck. Let sit for 10-15 minutes ( or until face feels tighter) and then rinse with warm water.
Oatmeal provides a gentle, skin brightening exfoliant. Olive oil helps rejuvenate dry skin .
The honey serves as a natural, rich, skin-nourishing crème.

Lemon-Egg Pore Opener::

Make a paste of one egg white and few drops of lemon juice.
Apply it over nose with soft brush (or washcloth). When the
first coat is about to dry, put another coat over the top of it.
Let these dry completely and then rinse off.
Use this to awaken and cleanse pores on your nose!

Olive Oil Face Pack::

A few drops of olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons of milk

Directions:
Blend ingredients well and apply to face and neck. Let sit
For 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. For optimum hydration, apply small amount of olive oil to skin before applying face pack. This helps skin retain moisture after pack is removed.
This luxurious face pack will hydrate dry skin.

Stressed Out Skin Cucumber -Tomato Soak::

Slice cucumber and tomato into thin slices. Put into freezer for 7-10 minutes and wash face while waiting for slices to chill. Lie down and place moist, chilled slices on your face and neck being careful to overlap slices. Relax for 10-15 minutes.
Cucumber contains natural astringent which helps to awaken tired and sagging skin. Tomato is slightly acidic and helps to close pores which helps prevent blackheads and breakouts.

Butter Lip Exfoliant::

Gently exfoliate lips by applying fresh butter on them and use a wet wash cloth to sweep off dry flakes. Follow up with warm olive oil application.

Avocado Under-Eye Circle Diminisher::

Placing slices of oil-rich avocado under your eyes will help to lessen the impact of dark circles.
Studies have shown that under-eye circles are not caused by a lack of sleep, but rather c congestion of the nasal cavities!

Coconut Oil Under-Eye Crème::

Use coconut oil to hydrate delicate skin around the eyes as well as reduce dark circles!

Tea Soak for Tired Eyes::

Brew tea, remove tea bags and refrigerate for half an hour. Place refrigerated tea bags on eyes for 10 minutes.
Tannic acid in the tea helps to soothe fatigued eyes and skin surrounding the eyes.

Lemon Juice Teeth Whitener::

Rub half a lemon with table salt and a pinch of baking soda will brighten and whiten your smile, as well as ward off bad breath!
This one is a lot of fun to do...if you try it, you'll see what I mean :)

Sugar Exfoliant for Hands and Feet::

Mix sugar with olive oil and gently rub over hands and feet.

Epsom Salt Foot Soak::

½ cup of Epsom salt
1 tablespoon baking soda

Directions:
In large pan of warm water, mix ingredients and soak feet for 15 minutes.
Epsom salts help to draw toxins out of tired muscles and skin. The baking soda will gently exfoliate the foot.

Epsom Salt Scrub::

After soaking feet and calves, exfoliate with Epsom salts on the moistened skin.

Coconut Oil Moisture Rub for Calves and Feet::

Liberally apply coconut oil to calves and feet and massage into skin for 10-15 minutes a day. Do this at night and then place socks over your feet to help skin absorb the nourishing oil.

**DISCLAIMER: I am not a beauty professional, nor do I claim to be. I have tried most of these, however I have not tried all. Please use your good judgement when using any product on your skin.**

These centsible spa treatments are best enjoyed with someone else, so grab your honey (or a friend) and have some spa fun!

Penny-Pinching Pantry Products

In the interest of getting more bang for my buck, as well as reducing toxins that come into my home, I have discovered the long forgotten world of pantry cleaners. Frugal, safe to use, what's not to like?

Why buy expensive, chemical-laden cleaners when you can find everything you need in your pantry?


Vinegar::

Streak-Free Shining Windows and Surfaces:
1 cup of vinegar to 5 cups of water. Use a crumpled up piece of newspaper to wipe down the window. Works every time! If using this cleaner for kitchen or bathroom countertops or surfaces, follow up with rubbing alcohol for disinfection.

Lustrous Lineoleum:
1/4 cup vinegar to one gallon of water. Take the frugality one step further and use your broom as a mop by tying a dishtowel around the head! Voila! Instant reusable mop!

Grease Be Gone:
Use vinegar/ water solution for getting rid of greasy messes on your stovetop, microwave, or oven.

For more little-known uses for vinegar check out this site.


Baking Soda::

Rug Refresher:
Before you vacuum, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then vacuum it up. It will make your home smell fresh and crisp. Adding a pinch of cinnamon will give your house a relaxing fragrance as well.

Does Everything Deodorizer:
Does any more need to be said? Probably the most well-known of its uses :) Try using it on a mattress before you put down that fitted sheet. Leave a box of baking soda open in a fridge to absorb odors. I even like to keep a box in my van to soak up those nasty "Mom-I-left-my-apple-juice-cup-in-here-to-rot-for-two-weeks" odors. (In all fairness, I do clean my van, but sometimes they hide the cup and I don't discover it until the "aroma" assails my nose.)

For more baking soda benefits, check out the Arm&Hammer site!


Come back to explore beauty aides you just might have collecting dust on your pantry shelves!

My Apologies...

To those of you who may have read my blog since I added a playlist, I apologize. This morning I was bombarded by music that was most decidely NOT what I had put on here. I have since removed the playlist because they can't seem to get the songs right. If any of you were wondering what music I had on there it was "Potter's Hand" by Hillsong. It was the inspiration for my blog name :)

Anyway, just thought I would clear that up!

Cherries Jubilee...a new take :)

My jubilant cherry-frocked almost one year old...

Grandpa and Grandma got her the dress...isn't it adorable on her? I wanted it so badly when I saw it in the store, but it wasn't in the budget at the time. God is so good...He put it on my mom's heart to buy it (and I didn't even tell her about it!) for her granddaughter's birthday. The Lord thinks about the little things too!

And not only does He provide for our needs, but He blesses us with items we want too :)

As you can see from the photo, she REALLY liked the dress!