tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23228643040613750132024-03-18T10:41:54.546-04:00More Like HomeMaking this house into something more.Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.comBlogger784125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-32823803413011854042024-01-25T21:57:00.002-05:002024-01-25T21:57:15.680-05:00DIY Renovation - What To Do Yourself vs. What To Hire Out<p>I've had a few questions about what we do ourselves vs. what we hire out, so I thought it might be helpful to go into that more in-depth today and talk about not just what we personally hire out, but also how we make those decisions (and I'll walk you through how to make those decisions for yourself as well). It's always a good to have an idea of what you <i>really </i>can (and want to) do yourself before you begin any kind of remodeling project! <i><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2024/01/installing-can-lights-in-our-diy.html" target="_blank">I addressed this briefly in my post about installing the recessed lighting in our kitchen if you want to check that out as well.</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/diy24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="563" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/diy24.jpg" width="375"></a></div><p>When it comes to home renovation, you're not only deciding <i>how much</i> you want to pay, but also <i>what </i>you want to pay. Because doing things yourself involves a different kind of cost than paying a contractor. <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">While DIY does save money, it costs <i>time </i>instead. Nathan once spent a whole Saturday installing flooring in our dining room with help from a friend and they only got about 75% done. So while we saved a lot of money over having it professionally installed, it cost him a couple days of time instead. See what I mean? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So for every part of your renovation, you need to evaluate your unique needs and decide exactly what you're willing to pay. Find the balance that works for you, your home, and your family. Today I have several tips to help you think through these decisions and I put together <u>a free printable workbook</u> to help you as you work through that thought process! You can get it here:<span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://madmimi.com/signups/b4a964497de24ec3a029c4f4c65e3801/join" target="_blank">DIY Renovation Planning Workbook</a></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2024/01/diy-renovation-what-to-do-yourself-vs.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-20930085362876149962024-01-12T23:59:00.005-05:002024-01-12T23:59:57.991-05:00Installing Can Lights in our DIY Kitchen Reno<p>Lighting is <i>so important</i> to a functional kitchen. I'll admit I'm no lighting expert, but I did plan all the lighting for our DIY kitchen remodel myself and I know that you can do it, too! So today I'll share the lighting choices we made for our kitchen (and why we made them) which should at least be a good starting point for you to jump into your own kitchen lighting project!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/lighting24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="562" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/lighting24.jpg" width="375"></a></div><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2024/01/installing-can-lights-in-our-diy.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-33819766914562252142024-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:002024-01-09T08:00:00.244-05:00First Steps in our DIY Kitchen Renovation<p>Guys, we're well over a year into our DIY kitchen renovation. Which sounds crazy. But we're DIYing the entire thing (on top of jobs/kids/homeschooling) so it takes as long as it takes. I've been planning to share as many details as I can, but it turns out finding time to both do the DIY <i>and</i> write about the DIY <strike>has been difficult</strike> has not been something I really wanted to try to do. So. I didn't. </p><p>But I think it's time. So today I'm going to kick if off by going back to the beginning to share <b>the first steps we took toward get our dining room ready to convert into a kitchen</b> just in case it would help anyone else planning a similar renovation. Obviously the very first step was a lot of planning, which you can <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2022/10/diy-kitchen-reno-plan.html" target="_blank">read about here</a>. Then the first actual ax-to-the-grindstone step was getting the bones of the room ready and creating a blank slate. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/firststeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="695" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/firststeps.jpg" width="463"></a></div><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2024/01/first-steps-in-our-diy-kitchen.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-61790915137167114972024-01-05T22:20:00.001-05:002024-01-05T22:20:36.962-05:007 Steps to Simplify Your Christmas Decor & Cut the Clutter<div>I know Christmas is over, but if you celebrate the full 12 days of Christmas you'll just be taking down your decor today or tomorrow. And believe it or not, the day you pack up your Christmas decor is actually the perfect time to evaluate your decor, your storage, and any changes you need to make! And I'll walk you through it all in a few simple steps.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/simplify24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="625" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2024/simplify24.jpg" width="417"></a></div><span></span><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/12/christmas-2020-naturallow-waste.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-72201958222669793102024-01-01T22:41:00.001-05:002024-01-01T22:41:38.542-05:002024 Goals Worksheet (free printable!)<p><span style="background-color: white;">Happy New Year, friends! I wanted to start off the year with another goal setting printable. Because there's nothing better than getting all your ideas down on paper. (And who doesn't have a head full of ideas as we roll into a new year?) </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Now, this is not a resolution list. And trust me, there is a difference. While resolutions imply something you're absolutely committing to doing or changing, this goals list is more of brain dump for your hopes and dreams for the year. It's much more fun (and for me, more productive) kind of list! Anything you'd like to work towards or make progress on this year can go on the list - home projects you'd like to tackle, places you'd like to visit, habits you'd like to practice, etc. All the things you'd love to see in, you know, a perfect world. But we don't live in a perfect world, do we? And we have no idea what this next year will hold. Which is also the beautiful thing about a goal sheet like this. It's totally flexible and totally fluid. No pressure when things change or plans fail. We can go into it knowing things don't always work out, and we most likely won't cross everything off before next year. It's ok. The best plans in the world are really just guesses, aren't they? We can still dream and plan, and leave it all in God's hands. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/2024goals2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="690" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/2024goals2.jpg" width="460"></a></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2024/01/2024-goals-worksheet-free-printable.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-34579223100386531122023-12-21T08:00:00.006-05:002023-12-23T12:22:14.381-05:00Final Christmas Prep - what you really NEED<div><i>I wrote this post three years ago and never got around to publishing it. But it rings just as true today.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>Guys. It's four days until Christmas. It's the epitome of crunch time when we all run ourselves ragged getting everything just perfect for the big day. Right? In and out of stores, more presents, more food, more decorating!<br />
<br />
But this year we're after a different Christmas. This year we're after peace. And I just want you to know, it's okay to chill. To let go of grand plans and take hold of the simple alternatives. To wait with eager expectation and just let things be. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/easy-christmas-crafts-for-advent-season.html" target="_blank"><i>Check out my SIMPLE Christmas projects and tutorials here. </i></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2020/IMG_8897.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="506" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2020/IMG_8897.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I'd still <i>like</i> to get done. But it turns out there are very few things I actually <i>need</i> to get done. That's the key, friends.<br />
<br />
Things I still <i>need</i> to do are the simple and basic things. The things that, if I don't finish them, will actually cause problems or hinder our Christmas celebration. And I can only think of four things:<br />
<ul>
<li>finish wrapping gifts (although even this one is iffy. I could leave things in their amazon boxes and we would survive)</li>
<li>pack for our holiday travels</li>
<li>prep our (simple) Christmas meals </li>
<li>read the Christmas story</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2019/IMG_1647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="http://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2019/IMG_1647.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
Now, I can think of a whole list of things I would still <i>like </i>to get done. But they are all extra. I can recognize that if I don't do them... it's not actually going to hinder us in anyway. We can still have a beautiful, meaningful, peaceful Christmas. Probably even more-so, because when we're not distracted by our own need to impress with the "perfect" Christmas, we have more time to focus on the things that are actually important and meaningful this season. So here are the things I've eliminated from my list already:<br />
<ul>
<li>making Christmas cookies</li>
<li>putting up exterior lights</li>
<li>fancy gift wrapping</li>
<li>cooking an elaborate feast</li>
<li>sending Christmas cards</li></ul>
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<a href="http://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2019/IMG_1654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="431" height="320" src="http://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2019/IMG_1654.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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All that to say: don't be afraid to chill, friends. Don't be afraid to take an honest look at what NEEDS to be done - what truly matters for <i>your </i>family - and then let go of whatever doesn't fit the bill. Don't let striving for a "perfect" Christmas steal the joy and peace from your home this season.<br /><br />Let's have a peaceful Christmas, friends.<div style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white;">And above all, remember this: no matter how much we chase it this season, true peace and joy only come with the Savior we are celebrating. Who came because of his great love for us and died so our sins could be forgiven. He took the punishment that should be ours. This Christmas, don't forget what's <i>truly most important</i>, and don't let your kids forget it either. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">"For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11</span></blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Titus-3-4" id="en-NIV-29928" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: courier;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: courier;"><span class="text Titus-3-4" id="en-NIV-29928" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Titus-3-5" id="en-NIV-29929" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5</span></span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Titus-3-5" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="text 1Tim-1-15" id="en-NIV-29712"></span><blockquote><span class="text 1Tim-1-15" id="en-NIV-29712">Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.</span><span class="text 1Tim-1-16" id="en-NIV-29713"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.</span> 1 Timothy 1:15-16</blockquote></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">And in despair I bowed my head;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">"There is no peace on earth," I said;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> "For hate is strong,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> And mocks the song</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> The Wrong shall fail,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> The Right prevail,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">With peace on earth, good-will to men."</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a merry Christmas, and I'll see you in 2024!</div></span></div>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-19677104312221230242023-12-20T22:59:00.002-05:002023-12-20T23:00:22.173-05:00Custom Keepsake Ornament Hack<p>Every Christmas we love to give each of our kids a new Christmas ornament to commemorate something from the year - a favorite toy, favorite activity, funny memory, etc. It's so fun to pull them out every year to reminisce! I know a lot of families enjoy a similar tradition, but today I wanted to share a simple little twist that can save time and money as you hunt down your own special ornaments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/IMG_2902b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="549" height="556" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/IMG_2902b.jpg" width="383"></a></div><div><br></div>So what's the twist? It's just this: you can make your own one-of-a-kind ornaments for next to nothing! Rather than trying to hunt down a mass-produced, overpriced keepsake, let me show you a few shortcuts to try first. You'll probably need a few simple supplies like eye hooks, ribbon, and glue depending on the ornament you are making. <span></span><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/custom-keepsake-ornament-hack.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-49072288041880867942023-12-18T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-18T07:00:00.140-05:00DIY Wooden Stocking Tags<p>I know, I know. I'm changing up the stockings again. Turns out I have a have a restless spirit when it comes to stockings - which you've probably noticed if you've followed me for more than one Christmas (you can read all about it and see my <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/12/diy-classic-christmas-stockings.html" target="_blank">long stocking history here,</a> if you're curious). But I would like to say, for the record, that this year I only added tags to the new stockings I made last year. So. That's something. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5502b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="491" height="571" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5502b.jpg" width="351"></a></div><span></span><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/diy-wooden-stocking-tags.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-81022627611941183482023-12-16T10:00:00.001-05:002023-12-16T10:00:00.134-05:00Cream Cheese Pinwheels (only 3 ingredients!)<p>Cream cheese pinwheels are one of our classic go-to treats. Whether it's the Superbowl, a birthday, Christmas, or anything in between - if there is something special going on, this sweet, creamy goodness is on the menu. Pinwheels hold a lot of nostalgia for me because I remember my mom making them, and now my kids love them just as much as I do! You won't believe how simple they are with just three ingredients.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5476b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="416" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5476b.jpg" width="416"></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span></span></o:p></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/cream-cheese-pinwheels-only-3.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-74832253450092738712023-12-15T22:45:00.005-05:002023-12-15T23:08:50.221-05:00Foraged Stick Stars<p>This Christmas project is almost too easy to post. But it's a fun one that's super simple and cheap, plus collecting the sticks can be a lot of fun with the kids!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5448B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="800" height="337" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5448B.jpg" width="433"></a></div><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/foraged-stick-stars.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-89919700507824714132023-12-13T13:18:00.002-05:002023-12-13T23:00:33.835-05:00Vintage Inspired Yarn Doll Ornaments<p>This is easily my very favorite Christmas project this year. These little yarn dolls are the sweetest, and are a great way to share memories that will last a lifetime. And I love that they are ornaments the kids can actually <i>touch</i> and play with without hurting them. Anyone with small children knows the value of an unbreakable ornament!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5419B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="800" height="392" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5419B.jpg" width="432"></a></div><div><br></div>But first, let me explain what I mean by memories that last a lifetime. Beyond the memories you will make with your kids that they will get to enjoy year after year. I remember visiting an older woman in a nursing home when I was very young, and when we visited she would give my sister and me yarn doll ornaments just like these. I don't know when it was or who she was, but that memory has stuck with me my whole life. In a similar way, I have an older, very dear friend who makes little angel ornaments that are crochet instead of yarn. She gave me one when I was younger, then surprised me with a second one when my oldest son was born. They are some of my most treasured ornaments. <div><br></div><div>I say all of that to help us remember - little gestures can make a huge impact. And in this busy season it's good to remember to look out and see how we can be a blessing to others (it's so easy to forget that in all the holiday hustle and bustle). The smallest thing can make someone feel remembered and loved. Last year I asked my friend for a copy of her crochet pattern. Then I did a little digging to figure out how to make these yarn dolls. I hope to be the next generation ornament giver. To continue the traditions those ladies started. To give a tangible reminder to friends and family that they are loved and thought of. And I hope to bring my kids along with me. <span></span></div><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/vintage-inspired-yarn-doll-ornaments.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-31981807526694619812023-12-11T18:16:00.008-05:002023-12-13T13:24:22.029-05:00From Shopping to Wrapping - The Best Christmas Gift Tips From My Family of 8!<p>Today's post might be a little all over the place, but I just wanted to take a minute to share a few details about how we're doing gifts this year:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Our gift-planning system and how we do our best to minimize clutter and excess</li><li>The boys' secret Santa swap</li><li>My favorite way to save big $$ on gifts</li><li>A fun (and cheap!) wrapping tradition</li><li>What we actually bought for the boys last year</li></ol><p></p><p><i>If you're still looking for gift ideas, I'm not planning to put together any gift guides this year but you can check out my <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/11/minimalist-gift-guide-for-kids.html" target="_blank">minimalist gift guide for kids</a> that's full of our tried and true favorites, plus some of my <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2017/11/christmas-gift-guide-for-any-guy.html" target="_blank">top picks for guys</a> and <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2017/11/christmas-gifts-stocking-stuffers-for.html" target="_blank">for the ladies</a> (and my full <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/p/shopping-round-ups.html" target="_blank">shopping guide archive is here</a>).</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/gifts23a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="528" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/gifts23a.jpg" width="352"></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/from-shopping-to-wrapping-my-best.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-77438640926118986772023-12-08T22:57:00.001-05:002023-12-15T23:09:13.053-05:00Tiny Sleeping Bag Tutorial (great stocking stuffer!)<p>Need a quick handmade gift that only takes a few scraps of fabric? I've got you covered! You can whip up a whole campground worth of these tiny sleeping bags in no time. And the small size = perfect stocking stuffer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_9260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="658" height="474" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_9260.jpg" width="390"></a></div><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/tiny-sleeping-bag-tutorial-great.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-60060050492645894212023-12-05T22:09:00.004-05:002023-12-17T23:00:33.206-05:00Easy Christmas Crafts for the Advent Season <p>Happy Advent season, friends! </p><p>I’m always looking for ways to savor this season with my kids, strengthen family bonds, and ultimately point our children toward Christ. But for all the well-intentioned family advent plans out there, I can't for the life of me make it through one of them. Because here's the thing: I can't deal with anything complicated right now. Like, at all. I can't follow an extra advent schedule with projects and crafts and recipes every day. I can't spend time hunting down special ingredients or searching for unique craft pieces. </p><p>But guess what? We don't need a fancy, fully scheduled plan to make the most of this season. We can fly by the seat of our pants and make the season magical and memorable for our kids in ways that work with our unique schedules and lifestyles, using simple items and ingredients we probably already have at home. And that's my goal with this little series. It's not a fully guided advent plan by any stretch, but it is a collection of projects and recipes that are <i>simple, low commitment, and fun,</i> that can be enjoyed with your family. Feel free to use them as you see fit - whenever you find a pocket of time and want to fit in a little Christmas magic. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5446_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="800" height="437" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5446_1.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As you complete these projects with your family, please don't overlook the most important part of any advent celebration: Christ. There is no project on this list that is more important than teaching your children (or grandchildren) the true meaning of the season, the gospel, and all Christ has done for us. If you have time for only one advent "project," make it reading the Bible with your children. There are all kinds of advent reading plans out there, but, again, it doesn't have to be complicated. A great option is just reading the book of Luke. It has 24 chapters so it works out perfectly to read a chapter per day throughout December leading up to Christmas. Or, if you have younger kids, you can grab a reliable Children's bible and start reading through the New Testament passages with them <i>(but don't ever discount the importance of reading from the actual Bible or be afraid to do it with younger kids - they understand far more than we give them credit for). </i></div><div><br /></div><div>With that said, many of these projects can work really well hand-in-hand with your scripture reading to make a pretty complete (but very chill and super flexible) advent "plan." I recommend starting with the playdough because you'll be able to use it all season! It's great for keeping little hands busy while you read, and older kids might enjoy sculpting what you are reading about. The recipes can be used in a similar way - enjoy making them with the kids, then sit down and read to them while they enjoy the treat. <i>(It's so much easier for them to sit and listen when they have cookies to nibble or cocoa to sip! A warm cup of tea works in a pinch, too!)</i>. If you have bigger kids, they can work on the crafts or recipes while you read to them. And the yarn doll ornaments can be especially fun - they can double as, well, yarn dolls that the kids can actually play with while you read. Have fun with it, and remember that nothing will go perfectly and it's ok!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/11/gingerbread-playdough.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="201" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5436_1.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/11/gingerbread-playdough.html" target="_blank">Gingerbread Playdough</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/3-ingredient-shortbread-cookies.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="800" height="238" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5442.jpg" width="292" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/3-ingredient-shortbread-cookies.html" target="_blank">3 Ingredient Shortbread Cookie</a></td></tr></tbody></table><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i><div><i><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/vintage-inspired-yarn-doll-ornaments.html#more" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="199" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5419.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/vintage-inspired-yarn-doll-ornaments.html#more" target="_blank">Vintage Style Yarn Doll Ornaments</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/02/hot-chocolate-mix.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/IMG_3406.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/02/hot-chocolate-mix.html" target="_blank">Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix</a></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/11/no-sew-felt-garland.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2019/IMG_3457.jpg" width="312" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/11/no-sew-felt-garland.html" target="_blank">Easy No-Sew Felt Garland</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2020/12/diy-paper-sack-christmas-stars.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="800" height="229" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2020/IMG_2843.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2020/12/diy-paper-sack-christmas-stars.html" target="_blank">Giant Paper Sack Stars</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/cream-cheese-pinwheels-only-3.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="800" height="219" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5476_1.jpg" width="306" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/cream-cheese-pinwheels-only-3.html" target="_blank">3 Ingredient Cream Cheese Pinwheels</a></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/foraged-stick-stars.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5448.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/foraged-stick-stars.html" target="_blank">Easy Foraged Stick Stars</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></i><br /><br /></div><span><div><i><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></i></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Check back soon - I'll add more projects as I get them posted!</span></span></span></i><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="291" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5444.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><p>For more Christmas tips, check out <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/from-shopping-to-wrapping-my-best.html" target="_blank">the post below</a> with all the info about how our family of 8 does Christmas gifts: how we plan, sibling gifts, a fun wrapping hack, what we actually bought for the boys last year, and more!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/from-shopping-to-wrapping-my-best.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="620" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/gifts23a.jpg" width="413" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I'd love to hear your favorite advent crafts, recipes, or traditions!</p></div></div></div></div>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-88373774544504242502023-12-04T22:45:00.004-05:002023-12-06T21:01:42.302-05:003 Ingredient Shortbread Cookies<p>Do cookies count as crafts? I'll let you decide. But either way, these shortbread cookies are <i>so good</i> and so easy to make! They only take three ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. They are perfect to make in a hurry for last minute guests, a cookie swap, or a movie night with the kids! Don't let the Christmas season go by without giving them a try!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5442b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="758" height="448" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5442b.jpg" width="424"></a></div><br><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/12/3-ingredient-shortbread-cookies.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-22019272910726248012023-11-30T21:56:00.007-05:002023-12-06T21:00:46.519-05:00Gingerbread Playdough<p>I know this old blog has been quiet the last two years, but it turns out I have an abundance of Christmas content that I've collected and photographed during that time. Even when I don't have time to actually blog about it (6 kids and what not), I always have some kind of project going (especially around Christmas time!) and thank goodness I had the good foresight to photograph much of it! So hold on to your hats while I try to bring you as much Christmassy goodness as I can over the next couple weeks!</p><p>Let's kick-off this Christmas season with gingerbread playdough. This is great to make right away because your kids will be able to enjoy it all season long! It will help keep little hands busy through Christmas read-alouds or while dinner is in the oven. It would also be fun to have on hand when grandkids come to town!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5436_1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="800" height="412" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/IMG_5436_1b.jpg" width="456"></a></div><div><br></div><span></span><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/11/gingerbread-playdough.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-9063117431059777662023-11-21T23:51:00.004-05:002023-11-22T16:32:58.484-05:00Last Minute Thanksgiving Decor (Kid Friendly, Low Cost, & Low Clutter)<p>If you're looking for a fun way to get your kids involved in Thanksgiving prep for tomorrow that's affordable and easy, that won't add clutter to your home (you can throw it away after the party!), and that <b>looks amazing</b>, look no further! I've rounded up a handful of ideas that you can still pull off in time for the festivities using items you probably have around the house. And the best part is they are a great way to get your kids involved - not just to keep them busy or get them out of your hair, but to let them walk hand-in-hand with you. They are so capable of learning to contribute with prep work, to take part in creating a beautiful home, and to be a blessing to others! Here are a few ideas to get you going:</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">1. A Leaf Garland</span></p><p>Depending on where if you live/if you have pretty leaves right now, this one is a super easy option! Just hot glue leaves to a string and hang them in the windows to catch the light. If you're feeling ambitious, <a href="https://farmhouseposey.com/2020/10/25/all-natural-beeswax-preserved-leaves/?pp=1" target="_blank">Farmhouse on Posey</a> has instructions for dipping the leaves in wax to extend their life - but if you're just looking for something to last through the weekend you can skip the wax and start gluing! If you collect enough leaves, you could also spread some down the center of the table as a centerpiece. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://farmhouseposey.com/2020/10/25/all-natural-beeswax-preserved-leaves/?pp=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="558" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/leaves.jpg" width="372"></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://farmhouseposey.com/2020/10/25/all-natural-beeswax-preserved-leaves/?pp=1" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></i></div><span></span></i><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/11/last-minute-thanksgiving-decor-kid.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-18442037104538526642023-09-30T17:01:00.003-04:002023-09-30T17:13:28.554-04:00GHC Homeschool Convention Curriculum Haul<p>We're slowly jumping back into homeschool full-time (maybe "wading" back in is more appropriate), and I thought you might like a peek at what part of our homeschool looks like! Back in April we went to the Great Homeschool Convention in Cinicnatti and I just finished sorting through all our new books and curriculum for the year. Want to see it?</p><p>I made a youtube video showing our whole haul from the convention that you can watch here if you prefer. If you want more info and links for everything we bought, keep reading!</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYhRLmf-m5I" target="_blank">WATCH THE YOUTUBE HAUL VIDEO HERE</a></span></p><p>I'm linking everything I can to the authors' pages so you can find any extra information easier, but keep in mind that most of these items are available from <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/" target="_blank">Christian Book</a> or <a href="https://www.rainbowresource.com/" target="_blank">Rainbow Resource</a> (a local midwest company!) and you might be able to save on shipping by ordering through one of those.</p><p>I'll also mention anything I buy in ebook form. I've found that, for things I need for multiple children, I can reprint them for much cheaper than buying a new hard copy each time. I definitely recommend <a href="https://thehomeschoolprintingcompany.com/" target="_blank">The Homeschool Printing Company</a> for the best prices!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/convention2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="724" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2023/convention2023.jpg" width="483"></a></div><br><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Curriculum:</span></p><p><b><a href="https://store.rightstartmath.com/home-school-demo/elementary/new-to-rs2/" target="_blank">RightStart Math</a> // </b>We've used this curriculum for.... maybe 5 years now? So I just bought the next level for my 7th grader. We tried two others before we landed on this one and it has been a good fit for us! Last year all three of the boys told me math was their favorite subject, so it has been a good fit for them as well! It's not fancy to look at, but don't let the appearance fool you. Here are some of my favorite things about it:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It is "open-and-go," meaning that I don't have to do any prep work ahead of time. It tells me exactly what to say and what the boys need to do. </li><li>It seems to teach the concepts in a clear way that they boys are able to understand</li><li>It's straight math with no other "filler" activities that some curriculums have (or "time-wasters" as I like to call them).</li><li>The boys love the games and manipulatives that go with it. </li><li>I can purchase once and reuse for all my kids (I get the ebook workbooks so I can reprint them myself for each child. Everything else is reusable.)</li><li>It's hands-off starting in 6th grade (my son does reads and completes his lessons on his own - I only grade it and help if he's stuck)</li></ul>I will say - some of the lessons run a bit long, so I split them into two days if I need to. This curriculum does use a manipulative set that you can either piece together yourself, or just buy their set (the upfront cost is high, but it's a one-time purchase because you can use the same set every year for all your kids!). For each grade level you will need two books: a teaching manual that can be reused with each child, and a consumable workbook (you need a new one for each kid). I buy the ebook worksheets because I can re-print them as needed for the younger kids. <br><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://store.rightstartmath.com/home-school-demo/elementary/new-to-rs2/" target="_blank">Shop RighStart Math curriculum</a></li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/" target="_blank"><b>Simply Charlotte Mason</b></a> // We've been buying curriculum from Simply Charlotte Mason since we started homeschooling. We don't use their full curriculum, but I do use their handwriting and language arts curriculum for all the boys along with a few other odds and ends they offer. Here's what I brought home this year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/spelling-wisdom-and-using-language-well-book-3-bundle/" target="_blank">Spelling Wisdom and Using Language Well Level 3</a>. This is the next level for my 7th grader. We already have levels one and two that I'm reusing with the younger boys. It's a full language arts/grammar/spelling curriculum that we begin in 3rd grade. It's copywork based and all the copywork selections are from the Bible, hymns, or classic literature. (The Spelling Wisdom book is supposed to be consumable, but I have the boys give answers verbally and write their copywork in a cheap lined notebook so I can reuse everything)</li><li><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/self-knowledge/" target="_blank">Self Knowledge</a> - one of their recommended reading books for 7th grade. I don't know a lot about it other than that it's supposed to be a character-building book. So we'll try it to see if it's helpful and if it's necessary (we've been really enjoying <a href="https://amzn.to/3snZ8Mr" target="_blank">Bob Schultz' books</a> during our morning reading so if this ends up being too similar I'm going to stick with Bob!)</li><li><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/speaking-spanish-volume-1/" target="_blank">Spanish with Ms. Mason</a> - I've had my eye on this for a couple years and decided to give it a try! It looks like a really simple introduction to Spanish that is based on repeating and acting out simple phrases. We'll see how it goes.</li><li><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/busy-times/" target="_blank">Busy Times Reader</a> - I grabbed this for reading practice for the littler boys. </li><li><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/individual-studies-grade-7/" target="_blank">Individual Studies Year 7</a> - I buy this for each grade level to use as a guideline for their daily schedules and individual grade-level work. It gives daily assignments for the language arts course and reminders for things like math, science, and typing. </li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/product/science-in-the-atomic-age-set/" target="_blank"><b>Berean Builders</b></a> // This is the science curriculum written by Jay Wile. I have used some of his books in the past (when I was homeschooled!) so I was excited when I saw that one of his books was recommended for Grade 7 by Simply Charlotte Mason! <i>(He has a whole series for elementary age children. We tried one a few years back but I ultimately decided to skip science in the younger years apart from a few science readers.)</i> This 7th grade edition (Science in the Atomic Age) is supposed to be largely self-led which means he can work on it himself while I teach the younger ones! I also ordered the matching lab kit from Nature's Workshop Plus so he can do the experiments himself without waiting on me to buy supplies. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/product/science-in-the-atomic-age-set/" target="_blank">Science in the Atomic Age Book</a></li><li><a href="https://www.workshopplus.com/products/lab-kit-for-science-in-the-atomic-age?_pos=1&_sid=b66ba585a&_ss=r" target="_blank">Lab Kit from Nature's Workshop Plus</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://eternityatstake.com/" target="_blank">The Light Project</a></b> // This curriculum it totally new to me, but I'm so excited about it! It's designed for ages 7th grade through adult, and it's all about building a Biblical worldview (what we believe, why we believe it, how we know it's true). <i>This is the single most important thing we can teach our kids while they are under our roof.</i> So far we've done it all through Bible reading, scripture memory, and catechism but I'm excited to have something a little more in depth to do with my oldest this year!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://eternityatstake.com/" target="_blank">Shop The Light Project Curriculum</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/" target="_blank">Memoria Press</a></b> // I'm not very familiar with this curriculum overall, but a few things at their booth caught my eye for this year. I'm planning to use these as a loose "science curriculum" with the younger boys this year to learn more about trees and birds and to identify what we see in our own yard:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/petersons-first-guide-trees/" target="_blank">Petersons First Guide to Trees</a></li><li><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/the-book-of-trees-second-edition/" target="_blank">The Book of Trees</a></li><li><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/peterson-first-guide-birds/" target="_blank">Petersons First Guide to Birds</a></li><li><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/the-book-of-birds-second-edition/" target="_blank">The Book of Birds</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://iew.com/schools?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwldKmBhCCARIsAP-0rfxjwf9TCt-moxO1_4PFq-AU4mmC5bZBN3apGnwbB3B1HaeYL6Y3YyIaAuOaEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Institute For Excellence in Writing</a></b> // I just discovered IEW last year when my oldest signed up for a writing class at our homeschool co-cop. I also went to see Andrew Pudewa at the convention before I even realized he was the creator of IEW and have loved him ever since. He has so much good advice about homeschooling! This is what I brought home from IEW this year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/student-resource-package/9781623412777/pd/412777?event=ESRCG" target="_blank">Student Resource Packet</a> - This is an updated version that we need for our co-op class this year.</li><li><a href="https://iew.com/shop/products/linguistic-development-through-poetry-memorization-teachers-manual-cds?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwt52mBhB5EiwA05YKo7xmZasd0NSfwb752R38LXNcow30eln49SWN_O1ePhj1QVmm1oiWxxoCEqEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization</a> - We've done some poetry memorization over the years and I'm excited to have something more organized this year. This is a curriculum for the whole family that everyone can use at their own level. Andrew Pudewa has a short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuDfu-A0iyU" target="_blank">YouTube video</a> about it and he says poetry memorization is the best way to "enrich vocabulary while infusing reliably correct and sophisticated English language patterns into students' minds." </li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://shop.jeanniefulbright.com/" target="_blank"><b>Jeannie Fullbright</b></a> // This is another new-to-me convention find that I'm super excited about. I read last year about notebooking journals for homeschool and have been itching to give them a try. The idea is flexible, but basically you give each child a journal and at the end of each day (or week, or whatever) and have them write (or draw) something interesting they learned that week. No rules, no spell check, just getting something they enjoyed learning about down onto paper. This creates a fun record of their lessons, plus putting it into their own words (or pictures) aids their memory! Of course you can do this with any cheap notebook, but I loved the idea of these heirloom-quality journals that I can save as keepsakes of my growing boys. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://shop.jeanniefulbright.com/products/living-streams-notebooking-journal" target="_blank">Shop Notebooking Journals</a></li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://www.ltoj.net/" target="_blank"><b>Lyle Lee Jenkins</b></a> // This is another new find for me! My sisters and I went to hear Lyle Lee Jenkins and he was a wealth of homeschool knowledge. He talked about how important it is for kids to enjoy learning if you actually want them to learn, tips for how to accomplish that, how to focus on what's truly important instead of testing them on vague information, and more. If you get a chance to hear him, I can't recommend it enough. Here's what I brought home from his booth (linked the best I can, he doesn't seem to have much of an online store):</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://amzn.to/45ac8Ds" target="_blank">Create a Perfect Homeschool</a> - this is a book he wrote with his daughter who also homeschools. I don't know much else about it, but he seemed like a fountain of wisdom so I'm excited to read it!</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/44osPdQ" target="_blank">Custom Spelling Dictionary</a> - This is a handy tool to help your child learn tricky words. Whenever they ask you to spell a word, have them write it in their own spelling dictionary. Then they can reference their dictionary as needed!</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3Oerd0c" target="_blank">Write the Story Book</a> - Encourage your child to write with these cute illustrated books! They can make up a story to match the pictures and fill in the blank spaces on the pages. (I'm thinking I can reuse one book with multiple kids if I put sticky notes in the blank spaces)</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Extras/For Fun:</span></p><p><b>Used Book Seller</b> // There are a couple used book sellers there and they are <i>full</i> of treasures. This year I wasn't looking for anything specific and I'm trying to avoid impulse purchases - so 1I'm really proud of myself for only bringing home two books! </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://amzn.to/44vikFj" target="_blank">The Lie: Evolution</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3qU6eb7" target="_blank">The Snow Treasure</a></li></ul><div></div><p></p><p><b><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/" target="_blank">Miller Pads and Paper</a></b> // This is a very dangerous booth for any homeschooler - because they have everything you never knew you needed! I have to be really careful not to overbuy and overspend in their booth, but it's also a great place to find a few fun things for the boys to do this year! Here's what I brought home:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/blank-game-money?_pos=2&_sid=5249fdfb9&_ss=r" target="_blank">Blank Money</a> - the boys love making their own games so this was an easy choice for only $2.50!</li><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/stem-starters-hydraulics?_pos=1&_sid=8867e1197&_ss=r" target="_blank">Stem Hydraulics Kit</a> - they got a smaller hydraulics kit in a kiwi crate a couple years ago and <i>loved it</i>, so I knew this would be a hit!</li><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/test-tube-activity-card-set?_pos=1&_sid=3703bc79d&_ss=r" target="_blank">Test Tube Activities</a> - The littler boys love to play "science" and mix things like food coloring and salt in old empty, glitter tubes. So I thought a real test tube kit would be a fun project for them! It includes a booklet of simple experiments to do with the test tubes.</li><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/a-first-book-of-classical-music?_pos=1&_sid=a9c28025e&_ss=r" target="_blank">First Book of Classical Music</a> - the boys have been doing piano lessons online through <a href="https://www.learntoplay.biz/" target="_blank">Learn to Play</a> (we found them at the convention a couple years ago), but this book is actually for me because I wish I paid more attention to my own piano lessons when I was younger and I'm trying to pick it up again for fun.</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3OePl2A" target="_blank">Night Sky Detective</a> - We just got a telescope second hand and this looked like a good companion to go with it!</li><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/dot-to-dot-count-to-20?_pos=1&_sid=fa2dc5da1&_ss=r" target="_blank">Dot-to-Dot Books</a> - I picked out a couple of these for my Kindergartener.</li><li><a href="https://millerpadsandpaper.com/products/1-2-dry-erase-graph-board?_pos=10&_sid=5ee5aba79&_ss=r" target="_blank">Dry Erase Boards</a> - Seems you can never have enough of these! I love these flat ones that don't take up much room to store. These are a great size and have a grid on the back that is helpful for lining up numbers for math problems. </li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://store.sdsmith.com/products/the-green-ember-series-all-10-books-bundle-softcover" target="_blank">The Green Ember</a></b> // This is one of the boys' favorite books series. The author, S.D. Smith, did a live event Friday night that the boys loved, and they were thrilled to get to meet him afterward. We already own all all the books in the series, but we did buy posters for the boys get signed and a couple other things:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://store.sdsmith.com/products/green-ember-t-shirt" target="_blank">Green Ember Tshirts</a></li><li><a href="https://store.sdsmith.com/products/copy-of-jack-zulu-and-the-waylanders-key-softcover" target="_blank">Jack Zulu</a> - A new book he wrote with his son</li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://slugsandbugs.com/" target="_blank">Slugs and Bugs</a></b> // Another family favorite! We also went to his live event at the convention the last two years and we listen to his cds daily! He does scripture memory songs that are so good. We bought all the Sing the Bible cds last years, and picked up a few more things this year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://slugsandbugs.com/collections/listen/products/sing-the-bible-bundle" target="_blank">Sing the Bible CDs</a> - we bought a few more of these to use as Christmas gifts.</li><li><a href="https://slugsandbugs.com/collections/all-products/products/the-slugs-bugs-show-complete-bundle-9-dvd-set" target="_blank">Slugs and Bugs Show DVDs</a> - the show is really cute and incorporates his songs. It's available on a few streaming services, but we like to have hard copies of things so we have more control over what the kids have access to. </li><li><a href="https://slugsandbugs.com/collections/read/products/book-the-society-of-extraordinary-raccoon-society-on-boasting" target="_blank">Boasting Book</a> - This was a new find at the convention. The boys begged for it because they wanted to get something signed, but it actually turned out to be a really cute book that we've enjoyed a lot. </li></ul><div><p><b><a href="https://rubyreadsbooks.com/collections/printed-read-aloud-posters" target="_blank">Ruby Reads</a></b> // These are read-aloud posters to go along with popular read-aloud books. They have things to color and different sections to fill in. I thought they would be a fun way to kick off the school year and the boys are loving it! I'm already trying to decide which ones to buy next year!</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="https://rubyreadsbooks.com/collections/read-aloud-posters/products/the-wild-robot-read-aloud-poster" target="_blank">The Wild Robot Poster</a></li><li><a href="https://rubyreadsbooks.com/collections/read-aloud-posters/products/a-place-to-hang-the-moon-read-aloud-poster" target="_blank">A Place to Hang the Moon Poster</a></li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://lamplighter.net/store-2022/" target="_blank"><b>Lamplighter Publishing</b></a> // This is probably my <i>favorite</i> purchase from the convention! Lamplighter republishes older books that are beautiful inside and out. They not only publish books that are clean (that alone is hard enough to find these days), but that also demonstrate excellent morals, Christlike character, Biblical truth, and Christian Faith. I've read a couple with the boys so far and they have been so good! (We've read Fire in the Sky, Teddy's Button, and we're working on Basil right now, plus I read Friendly Dragons Moral Nightmares for myself) Check out the <a href="https://lamplighter.net/about/" target="_blank">Lamplighter about section</a> for more information on their mission and beliefs! You can even search their site by your child's age or by a character theme you want to cover! So, which books did we bring home?.... All of them. Literally. We bought one of everything they had. It's an investment toward our goals for our family and the values we want to instill in our boys. </p><p></p><ul><li><a href="https://lamplighter.net/store-2022/" target="_blank">Shop Lamplighter Books</a></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For Mom:</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><a href="https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Homestead Education</b></a> // One of my favorite sessions at the convention was called "Raising Self Sufficient Children" by Kody Hanner, and she has a book coming out that goes more in depth on the topic so I pre-ordered a copy. Even though she teaches a lot about homesteading (she even sells a homestead science course), the session was about so much more than that! It really addressed how to raise children who will be self sufficient in every area of life. I'm excited to read more!</div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/product/sufficient-children/" target="_blank">Raising Self Sufficient Children</a></li></ul></div></div><p></p><p><b><a href="https://epicure.com/en-ca" target="_blank">Epicure </a></b>// This booth was a treat for myself. They sell meal mixes without any of the junk ingredients that are so common in convenience foods. It's not something I would spend this much for on a regular basis (I could figure out how to make my own mixes for a fraction of the price), but they are so easy and it was a fun treat! I couldn't find most of them on the website today, so I don't know if they are seasonal or what, but here's what I brought home:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://epicure.com/en-ca/product/mac-cheese-seasoning-pack-of-3" target="_blank">Macaroni and Cheese</a> - this one was amazingly good. Wish I could eat it everyday. But it costs so much more than regular macaroni and cheese that I probably won't buy it again. ($4/packet plus you have to add your own pasta)</li><li>Dill Popcorn Seasoning - another fave!</li><li>Teriyaki meatballs</li><li>Pulled Pork Seasoning</li></ul><p></p><p><b><a href="https://groundedinkandthread.com/" target="_blank">Grounded Ink And Thread (Formerly Shirts Galore)</a></b> // I like to call this my "teacher appreciation" purchase. I brought home three shirts that seemed like they were made just for me:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://shirtsgalore.com/products/home-school-better-together?variant=44926207951153" target="_blank">Home & School Better Together Shirt</a></li><li><a href="https://shirtsgalore.com/products/run-a-tight-shipwreck?variant=31336251850863" target="_blank">I Run A Tight Shipwreck Shirt</a></li><li><a href="https://shirtsgalore.com/products/silly-goose-university?variant=44915430621489" target="_blank">Silly Goose University Sweatshirt</a></li></ul><p></p><span></span><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2023/09/ghc-homeschool-convention-curriculum.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-18114641253889246722023-01-01T22:14:00.000-05:002023-01-01T22:14:07.972-05:002023 Goals Printable<p>There's something about a new year that inspires us toward a fresh start. It's such a natural time to reflect on the past and to look toward the future. It's a time for dreaming, hoping, and planning. And there's something that feels so good about getting all those thoughts down on paper! So today I have a super simple printable for anyone else who's reflecting on what this next year might hold. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/2023goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="645" height="497" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/2023goals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now, this is not a resolution list. And trust me, there is a difference. While resolutions imply something you're absolutely committing to doing or changing, this goals list is more of brain dump for your hopes and dreams for the year. It's much more fun (and for me, more productive) kind of list! Anything you'd like to work towards or make progress on this year can go on the list - home projects you'd like to tackle, places you'd like to visit, habits you'd like to practice, etc. All the things you'd love to see in, you know, a perfect world. But we don't live in a perfect world, do we? And we have no idea what this next year will hold. Which is also the beautiful thing about a goal sheet like this. It's totally flexible and totally fluid. No pressure when things change or plans fail. We can go into it knowing things don't always work out, and we most likely won't cross everything off before next year. It's ok. The best plans in the world are really just guesses, aren't they? We can still fill in this goal sheet full of hope, realizing that it's all in God's hands.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/verse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="618" height="457" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/verse1.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I added a snippet of this verse to the bottom of the goals sheet as a reminder. And if you're goal planning with the kids, it's a great time to go over it with them, too!</i></p><p>So let's talk details for just a minute and then you can get on your merry list-making way! I've left this printable totally blank so you can let it fit your needs perfectly. There are seven different sections you can label for yourself to fit your own personal goals (i.e. home projects, garden projects, homeschool goals, fitness goals, etc.), and you can even print separate pages for different goals (i.e. print a sheet just for homeschool goals and work through it with your kids to brainstorm field trips, projects, or unit studies they would love to tackle this year). Make it work for your family!</p><p>That's it! Download your list here and get started!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/2023GOALS.pdf" target="_blank">Download the 2023 Goals Printable</a></span></p>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-63686346650585241812022-10-18T23:01:00.003-04:002022-10-19T08:57:00.954-04:00DIY Kitchen Reno PlanWe've decided to make a big change in our old farmhouse. We're swapping the kitchen and dining room! The current dining room is much bigger than the kitchen, and with baby #6 on the way we're feeling more crowded than ever in our smaller kitchen. Will we get it done before the baby comes in December? No idea! <div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/dining.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="391" height="498" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/dining.jpg" width="391"></a></div><div><div><span></span></div></div><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2022/10/diy-kitchen-reno-plan.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-67904894850548376452022-01-28T22:53:00.000-05:002022-01-28T22:53:15.667-05:00DIY Camper Van Full Video Tour (Family of 7!)<p>Have you even wondered exactly how we fit seven people into our camper van? What our camping trips actually look like? What my voice sounds like and how fast I can talk? Well today is your lucky day! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/vantour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="611" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/vantour.jpg" width="407" /></a></div><p></p><p>When we went to visit Marengo Caves last summer, I put together a quick
video tour of the whole set-up in action. So wonder no more. I'll show you where everyone sleeps, where we eat, our rainy-day plan, what we do with car seats, and so much more.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_6030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_6030.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p>Enjoy the
tour and let me know if you have any questions!</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="346" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zFvZrUosdG8" width="621" youtube-src-id="zFvZrUosdG8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p> Are you more impressed by how many people we fit in there or how fast I talk when I'm filming?<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj-DM0ArBSsRtAq7uUXQh-xJG3cJFe6jzdN3Rm38K0eFRF-2oG5H-dY1nJ6CsxgT9uPCDza_V80gTZtRUFDHFO4R02QyK_9hr64YapGbbHEsmOlfkQPJDT7UdMWTMPPtOIlMjeyTiu7phPt2ZUJv0RuFa0iurk=s600-d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Camping at Magnus Park Beach" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj-DM0ArBSsRtAq7uUXQh-xJG3cJFe6jzdN3Rm38K0eFRF-2oG5H-dY1nJ6CsxgT9uPCDza_V80gTZtRUFDHFO4R02QyK_9hr64YapGbbHEsmOlfkQPJDT7UdMWTMPPtOIlMjeyTiu7phPt2ZUJv0RuFa0iurk=w450-h338" title="Camping at Magnus Park Beach" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i>Camping at Magnus Beach Park near Petoskey, MI</i> <br /></div><p></p><p>Want to turn your own van into a camper? Here are the tutorials for all everything we made:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/06/diy-ford-transit-camper-van-with.html" target="_blank">Removable Queen(ish) Bunkbed Frame</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/06/bottom-bunk-shelving-unit-diy-camper-van.html" target="_blank">Backdoor Storage Shelf</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/06/diy-insulated-camper-van-window-shades.html" target="_blank">Insulated Window Shades</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2020/07/diy-window-screens-for-our-ford-transit.html" target="_blank">Magnetic Window and Door Screens</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2019/08/packing-organizing-camper-van-for.html" target="_blank">Packing and Organizing our Camper Van</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/p/diy-camper-van.html" target="_blank">If we post any other tutorials (or favorite campgrounds) they will show up here!</a><br /></li></ul><p>Those posts are full of information and photos, but here are a couple angles I don't think I've ever shared before:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_5873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_5873.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><i>Magnetic screens moved to the back doors (we can also only open one door
and put up a single screen like the first photo in this post).</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_5884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_5884.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We couldn't do it without that handy screen tent that acts as our outdoor kitchen!</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_6041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_6041.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Georgia for scale. Plenty of room to sit up (the ceiling is lowest right at the back door but it's several inches higher above the bed).</i><br /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_3249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_3249.jpg" width="400" />a</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I peeked in the side door to see if this guy was awake yet and found him tucked up in our bed watching everyone make breakfast out the window.</i><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_3319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="510" height="300" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2022/IMG_3319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Random and super zoomed-in/low quality photo my husband took of us, but we me the nicest couple by Marengo Caves who had converted this little cargo trailer into the sweetest little camper. They gave me a tour and tons of tips and I'm dying to give it a try. Is this the next step after a camper van??</i><br /></div></div><div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where should we camp next??</span></span><br /></p></div>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-26649682311740787952021-12-10T11:55:00.013-05:002022-12-16T09:06:51.896-05:00Printable Bookplate Stickers<p>Hey guys, I had an idea for the boys stockings that I'm super excited about and I wanted to go ahead and share it now in case you want to make a set for your kids as well! </p><p>I was looking at the <a href="https://readaloudrevival.com/gift-ideas/">Read Aloud Revival gift guide</a> for book-lovers and one of their ideas was bookplate stickers. I <i>loved </i>the idea of the boys being able to mark the books they get each year, but I did not love the ones linked in the gift guide. So, I headed to Etsy to see what else I could find. I came across some custom book stamps that looked <i>amazing</i>.... but $30 per stamp was over my stocking budget. I also looked at custom bookplate stickers that ran around $8-10 for a set of 12. They were cute, but it was still more than I wanted to pay, especially since the bigger boys already need more than 12 stickers. </p><div></div><div>But then I suddenly realized... I can print my own stickers!</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="800" height="579" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplate.jpg" width="609" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>A set of <a href="https://amzn.to/3pOv1Jh" target="_blank">120 printable Avery labels</a> was under $10. Now I'm looking at 30 labels per kid for under $2.50 each! Those are stocking-stuffer prices, folks. And I had a ton of fun designing a unique set for each of the boys that I think they will love. </div><div> </div><div>I made a PDF of each design that you can download below for free and print on your home printer (you'll just need <a href="https://amzn.to/3pOv1Jh" target="_blank">these Avery labels</a>). You can write in the names before you gift them, or leave that up to the kids (it would be so sweet to have their handwriting saved in their books). If you're feeling a little more tech-y, I also have a jpg version so you can upload it into a program like canva to type in the names before you print. Make sure your printer is set to print full-scale so the stickers will line up correctly. Click on the links below to download the printable sheet for each design: </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_ship.pdf" target="_blank">SHIP PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_ship.jpg" target="_blank">SHIP JPG</a> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_arrow.pdf" target="_blank">ARROW PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_arrow.jpg" target="_blank">ARROW JPG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_castle.pdf" target="_blank">CASTLE PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_castle.jpg" target="_blank">CASTLE JPG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_book.pdf" target="_blank">BOOK PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_book.jpg" target="_blank">BOOK JPG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_sword.pdf" target="_blank">SWORD PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_swords.jpg" target="_blank">SWORD JPG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_leaf.pdf" target="_blank">LEAF PDF</a> - <a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/bookplates_leaf.jpg" target="_blank">LEAF JPG</a> <br /></span></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy stuffing! (Ok, probably could have done a little better there. But <i>it's almost Christmas, guys!)</i></div><div><i> </i></div><div>What are you putting in stockings this year?</div>
<div> </div>
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Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-28165363457283718372021-12-07T23:00:00.001-05:002021-12-10T10:26:07.530-05:00DIY Modern Farmhouse Christmas Stockings<div><p>New year, new stockings... again.... How often is it normal to get replace your stockings? Growing up we had the same stockings my whole life (my parents still use them!) and I feel like that's the normal thing to do. It's all part of the nostalgia of Christmas, right? But here I am replacing my stockings for the... fifth time? I've started from scratch every time we added a baby (since we needed to add a new stocking) but almost every time I breathed a sigh of relief that I could finally ditch stockings I didn't love and try again. Here's what I've tried so far (you can <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2018/12/5-christmas-stocking-hack.html" target="_blank">read the full saga in this post</a>):<br></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2011/12/theres-always-next-year.html" target="_blank">Failed Sweater Stockings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2014/12/easy-flannel-stocking-tutorial.html" target="_blank">DIY Flannel Stockings</a> - <i>I ended up hating these. I was on a tight ($0) budget and made them out of leftover flannel from other projects that didn't match my Christmas style. I won't totally knock this idea though - I think a cute plaid set would feel wonderfully cozy!</i><br></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2018/12/diy-wooden-stocking-tags.html" target="_blank">Cheap Hobby Lobby Stockings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2018/12/5-christmas-stocking-hack.html" target="_blank">$5 Christmas Stocking Hack</a> - <i>I actually really liked these ones! And I honestly don't have a good reason why I didn't just make a seventh one to match for our newest addition - it was just so much red when so many of them were up there together, and! So this time I'm trying something that feels a little more organic - like a collection we can add to over time.</i><br></li></ol><p>And now I'd like to introduce you to my newest stocking love: mix-and-match modern farmhouse stockings!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/1stockings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="651" height="642" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/1stockings.jpg" width="522"></a></div><p></p><p><span></span></p></div><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/12/diy-classic-christmas-stockings.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-89558597725731881372021-11-27T15:11:00.001-05:002021-12-10T13:15:04.764-05:002021 Gift Guide - Stocking Stuffers<p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/11/2021-gift-guide-for-kids.html" target="_blank"><i>Check out my gift guide for KIDS here.</i></a></p><p><i><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/11/2021-gift-guide-for-adults.html" target="_blank">Check out my gift guide for ADULTS here.</a></i></p><p>I've got one more gift guide for you this year, and it's all about the stockings (speaking of which, I'm hoping to have a new DIY stocking tutorial for you next week!) I made separate guides for adult stockings and kid stockings, but I'm going to stick them both in this one handy post - so scroll on down if you're looking for ideas for the kids! </p><p>Like the rest of my gift guides this year, these are truly some of our favorite things that we use on a regular basis. And FYI, when I asked my mom and sister what they would put on this list the first thing they both said was "good kitchen scissors" and I already had it on here as one of my top picks. So I guess my #1 stocking stuffer recommendation is kitchen scissors. If you're looking for trendy cutesy stocking stuffers that most people have never even heard of, you've come to the wrong place. But if you want an honest-to-goodness gift that will be used for years, I've got the guide you're looking for, folks. So let's get to the good stuff:<br></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADULT Stocking Stuffer Guide</span></span> :<br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/gift_stocking_2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="280" height="1477" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/gift_stocking_2021.jpg" width="517"></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>1. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/782474465/circle-gold-studs-14k-gold-filled-studs " target="_blank">Simple Circle Earrings</a> / 2. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FJIpVp" target="_blank">Hot Cocoa Mix</a> (or <a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/02/hot-chocolate-mix.html" target="_blank">make your own</a>!) / 3. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FLyluQ" target="_blank">Popcorners</a> (or their favorite snack!) / 4. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FMhF6z " target="_blank">Silicone Spatulas</a> / 5. <a href="https://amzn.to/32serGZ " target="_blank">A Slim Wallet</a> / 6. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FNXFAE" target="_blank">An Infuser for Loose Leaf Tea</a> / 7. <a href="https://amzn.to/3DVzWhf" target="_blank">Bobby Pins</a> (because we always lose them) / 8. <a href="https://amzn.to/3HQJPiB" target="_blank">A Garlic Rocke</a>r / 9. <a href="https://amzn.to/3p259ch" target="_blank">Good Kitchen Scissors</a> / 10. <a href="https://amzn.to/3daCVXD" target="_blank">A Wrist Magnet</a> / 11. <a href="https://amzn.to/3nPyV4I" target="_blank">Silicone Straws</a> (especially good if you're gifting <a href="https://amzn.to/2Z0OAVo" target="_blank">a straw cup</a>!) / 12. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/979734705/unscented-baby-tallow-butterbalm" target="_blank">Tallow Balm</a> (or your fave lotion) / 13. <a href="https://amzn.to/32yfB3T" target="_blank">Isotoner Mittens</a> / 14. <a href=" https://www.etsy.com/listing/492493469/tiny-rose-gold-pinecone-charm" target="_blank">A Pinecone Necklace</a> / 15. <a href="https://amzn.to/3ramGC6 " target="_blank">Erasable Gel Pens</a> (or <a href="https://amzn.to/3xk7Wl2" target="_blank">my other favorite pen</a>s) / 16. <a href="https://amzn.to/3xp3H7y" target="_blank">A Pen Light</a> / 17. <a href="https://amzn.to/3r7xr7V" target="_blank">A Pocket Knife</a> / 18. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FSM9Ed" target="_blank">Jeopardy Desk Calendar</a> (may or may not fit in a stocking - but my father in law has this and saves the cards all year to play jeopardy whenever the whole family gets together! )</i><br></p><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/11/2021-gift-guide-stocking-stuffers.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322864304061375013.post-59725586271395124602021-11-24T15:51:00.004-05:002021-12-10T13:17:35.715-05:002021 Gift Guide for Adults<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/11/2021-gift-guide-for-kids.html" target="_blank">Check out my gift guide for KIDS here.</a></i></span> <br></p><p>If you're like me, you love finding a really great gift guide full of really great ideas that will make your shopping really easy this year! But finding such a guide can be pretty frustrating.... because a lot of lists like this don't actually have anything on them that I want to buy. I don't want a list of trendy ideas that sound cool but aren't truly practical or useful. I don't want to give gifts that will be clutter by January. </p><p>That's what inspired my 2021 list. It's full of things that we truly love and use on a regular basis. You can choose anything on this list and know that it's tried-and-true. Hopefully it's helpful and you'll find some great gifts for everyone on your list!<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/gift_adult_2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="194" height="2256" src="https://projects.morelikehome.net/albums/2021/gift_adult_2021.jpg" width="547"></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>1. <a href="https://amzn.to/3x16aVF" target="_blank">Wingspan Game</a> / 2. <a href="https://amzn.to/3wWYJPf" target="_blank">Cozy Minimalist Home Book</a> / 3. <a href="https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=671715082&pcid=999&vid=1&&searchText=womens%20sweater%20green#pdp-page-content" target="_blank">My Favorite Sweater </a> / 4. <a href="https://amzn.to/3ns16GK" target="_blank">A Tin of Tea </a> / 5. <a href="https://amzn.to/3kPgivM" target="_blank">Chicago Cutlery Knife</a> / 6. <a href="https://amzn.to/3ns1kxA" target="_blank">Good Mixing Bowls</a> / 7. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hxshrz" target="_blank">Cast Iron Pan</a> / 8. <a href="https://amzn.to/2YXwAex" target="_blank">Mesh WiFi</a> / 9. <a href="https://amzn.to/3noBYAL" target="_blank">Insulated Travel mug</a> (<a href="https://amzn.to/3DExrzC" target="_blank">small</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/3noBYAL" target="_blank">large</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2Z0OAVo" target="_blank">straw cup</a>) / 10. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1060745767/lake-landscape-wall-art-rowboat-on-the" target="_blank">Art Prints</a> (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/686228254/juniper-tree-ring-print" target="_blank">tree rings print</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1060745767/lake-landscape-wall-art-rowboat-on-the" target="_blank">vintage painting prin</a>t) / 11. <a href="https://amzn.to/3cp17Fa" target="_blank">Wool Socks</a> / 12. <a href="https://www.target.com/p/greenroom-lined-journal-hardcover-navy/-/A-52958057#lnk=sametab" target="_blank">The Best Notebook</a> / 13. <a href="https://amzn.to/3wWJhTi" target="_blank">History Books</a> (<a href="https://amzn.to/3qNVmcv" target="_blank">Washington: a Life</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/3wWJhTi" target="_blank">1776</a>) / 14. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1072085122/handmade-porcelain-teal-bear-mug" target="_blank">The Perfect Mug</a> / 15. <a href="https://amzn.to/3cmn6fI" target="_blank">Gift Card</a> / 16. <a href="https://amzn.to/30sI1v3" target="_blank">A Plant</a> / 17. <a href="https://amzn.to/3kKse1O" target="_blank">Laptop Stand</a> / 18. <a href="https://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/nostalgic-houses-and-shops-keepsake-korners-coffee-shop-2021-ornament-2199QXR9215.html" target="_blank">Keepsake Ornament</a> / 19. <a href="https://amzn.to/3nqTvIr" target="_blank">Bluetooth Speaker</a> / 20. <a href="https://www.galison.com/products/avian-friends-puzzle" target="_blank">A Good Puzzle</a> / 21. <a href="https://amzn.to/3x5nngU" target="_blank">Outdoor Blanket</a> / 22. <a href="https://amzn.to/30wbc0g" target="_blank">Handheld Espresso Maker</a> / 23. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/688181486/custom-wild-poppies-necklace-in-1420" target="_blank">A Custom Necklace</a> / 24. <a href="https://amzn.to/326eoAp" target="_blank">7 Wonders Duel Game</a> / 25. <a href="https://amzn.to/3kIec0M" target="_blank">Kreg Jig</a> / 26. <a href="https://amzn.to/30C4dmk" target="_blank">A Good Drill </a> / 27. <a href="https://amzn.to/3ctWYQ5" target="_blank">Compound Miter Saw </a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span></span></i></p><a href="https://www.morelikehome.net/2021/11/2021-gift-guide-for-adults.html#more">Read more »</a>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098769340141865316noreply@blogger.com0