I saw a Prayer Jar on Pinterest that inspired me to make one for my family. Basically, you pick a name from the jar every day and pray for that person. I thought it would be a fun way to get my kids in the habit of praying and thinking positive thoughts. And it would be nice for my husband and I to have this as part of our daily routine as well.

The one from “Melissa’s Projects” used names and pictures of their friends and family members glued to popsicle sticks, which was neat. But, I decided to just write the family and friend’s names on the sticks, which works great too.

 

Steps to Making a Prayer Cup:

1. Gather 2 cups, popsicle sticks, and a Sharpie

2. Brainstorm friends and family to pray for

3. Write the names on the sticks

4. Pick a time of day to pick a stick from the cup  (we chose to do it right after dinner)

5. Everyone in the family takes turns saying a short prayer or positive thought about the person who was picked for that day

5. Put the stick in a different cup after you’ve prayed for that person so you can go through everyone once before starting over

 

Eventually I added “What I’m Thankful For” and “Choose Anyone” sticks to the mix. You can continually be adding new people or other themes. We also put in our own names, along with our dog and fish.

It melts my heart when we forget and one of the kids remembers. They say “we didn’t pray!” very dramatically.

~Carrie

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I’m continually trying to keep the house decluttered. But, honestly, there are times when I find medicine in the closet that expired ten years ago. So, obviously I could be going through things more.

A relatively clutter-free space is such a simple pleasure. And I love the idea of being able to find anything that I need in my house quickly.

Here’s what I sent off to be donated this week:

• Hat- I love this hat, but it’s just a little too small for my head. I got a new gardening hat a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to donate this one.

 

• VHS tapes- I had a bunch of VHS tapes from when I used to be a full-time teacher. I have slowly donated them over the years. Charlotte’s Web was hard to part with, but I’m sure it’s available on DVD somewhere.

 

• 4 little books- I had gotten a big set of these little books from Goodwill. I went through them and took out a few to give away(the ones that I didn’t like the storyline as much as the others).

 

• 2 small toys (maze and figure)- I try to donate small toys my kids aren’t playing with, especially as we acquire more. Some people might trash them. But, environmentally, I like to donate them. They may get more use. It also creates less demand for more little plastic toys to be produced (hopefully).

 

• Orange Shirt that my daughter grew out of

 

I sent all of this to Goodwill, but I also sell quality kid’s stuff  to my local kid’s consignment shop. It’s a great way to earn a little money for things we don’t need anymore.

Thanks for tuning into this mini-Hoarders episode! I’d love to hear what you were able to part with lately to make your house more clutter-free and peaceful.

~Carrie

 

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Did you know you can download contemporary songs on TpT?

It is my pleasure to highlight I Am Bullyproof Music. They produce Anti-Bullying/Self-Esteem songs that are available on Teachers Pay Teachers. You don’t have to be a classroom teacher to have access to downloads on TpT. Parents, homeschoolers, or anyone who is interested in learning are welcome to join the TpT community to buy, sell, and/or download free products. (Check out my Blog post from one week ago if you’re unfamiliar with TpT).

I find these songs so fun and inspiring! Even for someone in their 30’s, like me. I know they will make a difference for so many people! The lyrics focus on building self-esteem as well as accepting differences in others.

Take a few moments and download some of the previews. Each preview is about 1 minute long, which gives you a good sense of the song. There are also lesson plans to go along with most of the songs. The songs can be purchased separately or with the lesson plans for $1 more.

My personal favorites and their messages:

• “Gift” -A Song About Gratitude
• “Messy” -Don’t Fret Over Small Details
• “Said the Princess” -Girls Can Do Anything Message
• “Fearless” -Bravery and Courage Message
• “Special” -Everyone Wants to Feel Special

There are about ten more songs available, along with two free songs.

As my kids get older, we’re definitely going to be listening to these inspiring songs! I feel so lucky to have found this program in the vast sea of music out there.

If you go to I Am Bullyproof’s store, you’ll see prices, but notice where you can download the free PREVIEW of the song right near the “Add to your Cart” button. It’s the light orange button. It’s nice because a lot of TpT products offer previews. You can also wishlist items on TpT that you may want to buy someday. And you can put free items on your wishlist if you’re not on the device you want them downloaded onto. Happy listening!

I Am Bullyproof Music on TpT

They also have more great info on their website:

http://www.iambullyproofmusic.org

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Just in case you haven’t heard of it, TpT stands for “Teachers Pay Teachers.” It’s an online marketplace where people sell their original teaching materials. When I first started with TpT, I wondered- do you have to be a classroom teacher to buy and sell here? I soon found out the answer is no.

Parents, homeschoolers, or anyone who is interested in learning are all welcome to join the TpT community to buy, sell, and/or download free products.

Just by creating a login, you gain access to awesome free products. Some free items you might find are lessons for every subject area, holiday-themed writing paper, printable books for beginning readers, word problems, science experiments, learning posters, and more!

There is a treasure trove of free and paid products on TpT. Here are some of my favorite FREE literacy-related downloads that may be useful to parents, homeschoolers, classroom teachers, or any learner:

 

My Very First Crossword Puzzle by Christine Maxwell

 

 

Chapter Summary Bookmark by All Things Elementary

Story Elaboration Lesson by Jessica Osborne

 

I will do more blog posts in the coming weeks highlighting some of my favorite math and miscellaneous downloads. There were too many to choose from for just one post!

So, create a login with TpT and start browsing. Because, in the end, we’re all teachers.

~Carrie

 

p.s. Here is a referral link if you’re interested in creating that login:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Signup/referral:mybookboost

 

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What’s one way you can save a little in your entertainment budget? If you haven’t already, look for DVD’s at the library. I stop by the library 2-3 times a month. Sometimes it’s a really quick trip because I love to put items on hold and have them waiting for me on the hold shelf.

Here are a few DVD’s I’ve checked out lately:
We Bought a Zoo
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Lars and the Real Girl

For the kids:
Madagascar 3
Lady and the Tramp

Most recently released movies are available, there just may be a short wait list. Or a very long wait list.

We’re currently on the Waiting List for:
Skyfall
Brave
Rise of the Guardians

I check out kid’s movies at the library to see if my kids love them before I think about purchasing them. It’s nice to be able to expose kids to a variety of movies for no cost. Then you can see which ones are their favorites.

When Brave first came out, we got on the waiting list and we were #450. We’re #24 now. Usually the waiting lists are shorter than that, luckily.

You can keep DVD’s for up to two weeks in some library systems. Also, if you want to catch up on a TV series, see if your library has it. Sometimes you can renew TV series’ for three weeks or more.

I try to remember to write the due date for the movies in my calendar.  It helps save a lot on late fees!

Plan your next movie night with a DVD from the library and you’ll have more money to spend on snacks, etc. The only question is, which movie?

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