Just Elizabeth Ashe

Oh, How I Love My Cozi Family Calender!

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Well school is back in session and we have officially started back homeschooling about 2 weeks ago. I am in still in the planning process when it comes laying out the lessons plans week by week, but that is something I will do on a weekly basis. Just to make sure that I will have all the supplies I need for art projects and science experiments.

I can already see, however that this year is going to be even busier than last year.

I had a little bit of hard time last year, when it came to remembering dates of field trips and some really basic appointments. I’m not ashamed to admit that I am a little bit of scatter brain. You know the person who can have a total mess somewhere in their home and buts knows exactly where everything is at.

Yeah, that’s me.

This year I am working on bettering myself by becoming a more organized individual. Which I  hope will help me to have some sort of normalcy. Now that my kids are homeschooled. I have to make sure I plan out our meals, pre-schedule appointment, etc., so that I will not be able to overlap certain activities.

I mean seriously last year I was really pulling my hair out when it came to certain things. When you have four boys at home all doing lots of things, it can get really crazy to say the least.

I realized I needed a planner.

My kids are busier than ever, and between a full schedule during the school day and all the extracurricular activities after school, when does a kid have time to relax? It's important that children have interests outside of school and family.

Having a busy life is great, but the potential for over-scheduling has been a real concern for me. If your like me an you lead a busy life with family, schooling and household chores. Keeping your child busy may seem like the best thing to do, but there can be too much of a good thing. You need down time, and so do your children.

I decided to start using an Online Family Planner called COZI!

Cozi has really helped me to make sure, I am scheduling the right things at the right time, without overbooking. It sends me alerts to make sure I will not forget an appointment. Cozi Syncs across all my devices, my Ipad, my iPhone, my computer and much more. I am able to send alerts to my husband, on food to pick up. It also allows him the see our schedule and schedule something from his own phone. Based on our schedule something for our family. Without even asking me!

Isn’t that great!

Cozi is great and they even have the free plan that you could use. I ended up getting the gold plan and paid for the whole year through Amazon with my Prime account!

Cozi came just at the right time, and is the best online family organizer that I have used in long time. I used to love to write it all down, I still do. However, with Cozi it has really been easy to input information based on each member of the family. Check out the video for all it has to offer.

Even though being in lots of activities is fun, it's also stressful. Schoolwork, Spiritual things, dinnertime, and fun with the family are important, as well. If everyone is running around in different directions, there won't be any downtime.

I know I need Downtime!

Using Cozi, has given me the ability to make sure that I  schedule activities, along with being able schedule down time and minutes of just plain fun for the kids. I love my slow time and I’m sure you do too.

When You Don’t Feel Like Your Doing Enough.

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Reading over the summer

 

You guys ever have that feeling that what you are doing is not enough. Well I had that question this past week. I started to wonder if what I was doing was going to be enough or even up to the standards of other people.

I started to feel as I was not good enough, if what the schools are doing might be better that what I can do, although I know in my heart and soul that only I can do it right.

You ever, go through the motions and ups and downs of life, of not feeling pretty, not feeling organized enough, and feeling just not capable of getting it right.

Yeah……that’s how I’ve been feeling.

The sad part about it is that I had allowed people that are close to me to seep these thoughts into my head, without me even thinking about it.

I had one person, I won’t say any names, tell me that:

“My kids need to be around more kids and not just around their own siblings all the time because they need more socialization”.

Really, they need more socialization, my kid’s get plenty of that, were not stuck in the house like a family of hermits, although I wouldn't mind that.

I wish people would realize that the proper form of socialization, does not mean you have to have some sort of mandatory schooling just to get the right form of socialization. Or, your just not right.

Bull –crock right!

I even had another person call me for advice, educational and nutritional advice for their kids and themselves. Than as the call progressed they started to tell me that I need to make sure my kids are on level, make sure they don’t get behind. Make sure they get tested!

As if tested is the only way to truly gage that kids are learning. As if I would not know just by teaching them…….I mean duh right….. .

Right?

Come on now, I would not be homeschooling my kids if I would just let them loaf around and not learn anything.

I mean really, some people really assume, that I am not capable of homeschooling my kids. It really irks me, yeah it really pisses me off. To the point where I want to say some really mean things about their kids, and how their not on level or even close and they went to school.

Go figure right…….

Bust instead I let the stress of life get to me and started to question myself.

Than I had the chance to read this beautiful post over at simplehomeschool, which told me to

“Stop looking for perfection in others and seeing only flaws in yourself. We are all imperfect. Crop out what isn’t working in your life and celebrate what is.”

 

It really helped me to put things into perspective and appreciate what I am doing, and to stop worrying about what others think.  Or how I raise my kids.

One fellow home school you tuber put it this way for me, by saying that after all our kids are our kids….. right. Not their kids. They mean well but only you can know what is best for your own kids.

 

You know what, I do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Stuff

Bye Bye Beach!

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The kids and I had a great time this past labor day weekend at the beach.  Hubby and I thought it would be great just to get away from the world of cleaning, chores, homeschooling,  people for a while. Of course you really can't let go of motherhood because my kids are with me all the time. However,  when were just relaxing and going with the flow.

It's all good!

I love my kids and wouldn't have it any other way, I love having them with me, I love having them sleep next to me, I love it all.  So here are just few pics of the family just going with the flow and enjoying the beach.

What about you did you enjoy your past labor day weekend!

I know I did, I can't wait to go back! 😉

 

Hubby and I:

hubby and i

Two of the Four Boys:

kids

Finally Me!

lily

Fun Stuff

Natural Mom’s Business Guide! Free Today Only

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Have you ever wanted how to make money online and take your business to the next level. Well you can and it is possible! My friend Carrie Willard over at Natural Moms Talk Radio, has been doing it for years now and has been making a full time income from the comfort of her own home.  Carrie is a natural living mommy like myself and also home schools 6 of her 7 kids at home.  Shes a frugal living momma and knows a pretty good penny about what is takes to make money at home while focusing on your passion. She is living completely debt free and has taken her special report updated it.

The Natural Moms Business Guide is now added it to the Amazon Kindle store so that you can have the ability to learn how she did it!

Carrie is my friend, in fact I was even  featured on her podcast years ago.  I have the book and have used it as a reference in my own online adventures.  The Natural Moms Business Guide is great go to and it featured at an affordable cost to get you started working from home.

Trust me you will not be disappointed!

Better Yet, the Guide is Free on Kindle Starting today for the next 48 Hours Only!

So go on ahead and get your free Copy!

To get the Natural Moms Business Guide Click Here!

 

Glob All Natural Paint Kits: Green Your School Give – Away!!

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Yeah, Peeps!

There is good news for homeschooling parents who also happen to be Eco conscious. Homeschooling is green!

Yep , I'm a home schooler and I'm kicking off my second year. So to get things started right. You need to green your school supplies. Many of the supplies in the school are not that Eco friendly and cause havoc on the environment. As a homeschooling family  you do have more control over which products to use for your school environment. Such as soy crayons, beeswax modeling and the list goes on.

That is why , I am a part of the  Green Your School Supplies Giveaway!

Hosted by Happy Mothering and Brittleby's Corner together with the Green Moms Network! We are excited to bring you awesome prizes to help your children get ready for a green school year! After entering my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win more great giveaways.

And don't forget to enter the grand prize giveaways! Happy Mothering is featuring an awesome prize package for girls and Brittleby's Corner is featuring a prize package for boys! Both packages are generously sponsored by Mighty Nest, Planet Shoes, Kickee Pants, TruKid and TreeSmart!

As Part of the give away. I am going to be giving away  a set of  Glob All Natural Paint Valued at over $30.00!

 

The Glob Paint set comes with 4 paints.

glob all natural paint kitsThe Glob Paint set comes with 4 paints. The Glob Paint set contains everything you need to color your painting collage wood stain play dough paper-mache and more. The kit includes 4 awesome color packets (Lemon Verbena Blueberry Pomegranate and Basil Green). These paint glass bottles become paint just by adding a little water. These paints are concentrated and can be dried and reconstituted once water is added for multiple uses. The paint is similar to watercolor or finger-paint depending upon how much water is used. Wet paint with lids can be saved for several weeks.

The cool thing about these paints is that they are made from fruits vegetables and herbs with natural ingredients and organic extracts so while they are being used they give off a fruity aroma. The paints are all natural and non-toxic so you know that they are safe for your children! The vibrant pigments in Glob products have been used by different cultures throughout the ages in food artists' paints and body products.

 

The Glob All Natural Paint Kit:

glob-paint-kit

 

 

The Glob Paint Kit comes with 6 paints compostable cups and 2 bamboo brushes. The Glob Paint Kit contains everything you need in one convenient do it yourself kit. The kit includes 6 awesome color packets (Lemon Verbena Blueberry Pomegranate Tangerine Plum Purple and Basil Green). These paint packets become paint just by adding a little water. Each packet makes between 1-3 oz. of paint for multiple uses. The paint is similar to watercolor or finger-paint depending upon how much water is used. Wet paint with lids can be saved for several weeks. The cool thing about these paints is that they are made from fruits vegetables and herbs with natural ingredients and organic extracts so while they are being used they give off a fruity aroma. The paints are all natural and non-toxic so you know that they are safe for your children! The vibrant pigments in Glob products have been used by different cultures throughout the ages in food artists' paints and body products.

 

P.S the Giveaway is now over but you can still find the Natural kids paint by glob below.

Glob All Natural Paint KitsGlob Natural Face Paint Set – 5 ColorsEco Kids Natural Plant Dye Modeling DoughFinger Paint – Eco Kids Non-Toxic Natural