The best way to get my kids to eat healthy food? Make it fun!
Sadie and Mordecai demolished these smiles! Doing things like that always reminds me that presentation is such a nice touch with food. I’ve been trying to buy fresh herbs lately and topping things like ratatouille and chicken thighs with chopped basil, thyme, and rosemary and it makes all the difference in appearance and taste! Do you have a favorite herb? Mine is rosemary. Love it!
Have you heard of all the changes Starbucks is making to their company? One of them is for the baristas to write on the cups. I’ve had a few messages (yes, I go to Starbucks way too often!) and this I got the one on Monday.
Did I slay Monday? Not really, but I did go to the chiropractor and completed school with Sadie for the day, so that was a win 🙂
Mordecai wants everyone to know that he slays every day. This was his smile before we made hot cocoa together. He loves to sit on the counter and watch me heat up the milk, whisk the cocoa mix, and pour it into his cup!
Another day… another cup of cocoa haha.
Sadie was working through The Good and The Beautiful Math Level 1 and man, we just hit a wall. The curriculum just got increasingly difficult and I knew it was time to swallow my pride and switch to a different curriculum.
I always hesitate to write about things like that! What if someone thinks I’m too easy on her? Or that we switch curriculum too often? But you know what, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that she is learning, enjoying learning, and that she’s not getting frustrated with something that’s too advanced for her.
One of the things I love about homeschooling is that we can switch curriculums in the middle of the year because something isn’t working. That’s one of the reasons we homeschool–so we can personalize Sadie’s learning journey! Why would I try and push her through just to finish a math book that she’s hating when we don’t have to, you know?
All that to say, we switched to Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Mathematics Level 1 and it has been a breath of fresh air. I love that our Christian faith is included in this curriculum and that it’s so hands-on and project-oriented.
Today’s lesson, for example, had us making a number collage. I love a good collage and I was excited to introduce Sadie to this concept while also teaching her some math!
She had to write the numerals 1-10, find the numbers in a magazine, and then pictures of that amount of objects. It all got pasted onto a big sheet of paper.
We were doing school at Jimmy’s work, so I found myself asking Jimmy if he happened to have any magazines… and he did. They were *different* than the type of magazines I would have picked… like I had no idea there was a whole magazine dedicated to tube and pipe… but we worked with what we had 😂
We showed Jimmy the collage and he was like “Oh, I just ordered those buffing wheels on number three the other day!” haha.
Sadie is summoning spring with her attire lately. I am ready for it!!
Next month is the time change and while we lose some sleep we will get more daylight and hopefully warmer weather soon! It has been cold here in the ‘Burgh–like highs in the teens. We’ve been making the best of it by playing inside but I can’t wait to get back out in the yard and such!
Other notes from life lately:
- Our coffee maker broke. So sad! It broke almost a week ago and we haven’t replaced it yet… because in classic Allie and Jimmy fashion… we have two other coffee makers we’ve been using in its place. My machine of choice lately is our Nespresso (+ these pods) and Jimmy’s is our Keurig (+ these k-cups). Is it slightly insane that we had/have three coffee makers? Maybe. But I love it.
- Mosaic success! I’ve always loved the look of anything mosaic. Imagine my joy when Sadie gave me a mosaic candler holder kit for Christmas. Last time I tried my hand at mosaic, it didn’t go great (but I had fun anyways!). I finally used the kit this week and the project came out so well! I’ll have to share a picture soon 📸 I just love crafting!
- My favorite research. My last post was such a deep dive into St. Patrick’s Day books for kids… and that right there is one of my favorite types of research: books! Especially books for children 📚
- A fun idea. I asked Jimmy to try doing my makeup. I handed him a couple colors of this highlighter stick that I use as eyeshadow and was like “Pick a color!” and he was like “What is this? What do I do?” We were cracking up! I’m thinking I need to film a video where he does my makeup because I have a feeling it will be too fun 😬
Living My Full Life 
I love fresh herbs too! I know some people dislike coriander (which is the name for cilantro in the UK) but that’s one of my favourites especially as it’s often used in Thai food. I read that some people lack a specific gene to taste coriander/cilantro so for them it just tastes like soap?!
I agree, flexibility is one of the best things about home schooling. Like you say, there’s no point forcing a child to learn in a way that they’re not enjoying.
I’m pretty basic when it comes to makeup – I use a tinted CC cream, lipstick and mascara daily. So maybe Lewis would meet the challenge. You should definitely film that video!
Have a lovely weekend when it arrives 🙂
I don’t go to Starbucks that often, but once in a while I will stop by for a drip coffee after work. My cup the other day said one word, but I honestly can’t even remember what they wrote. It was very “I have to do this so I’m writing one word” energy. 🤣
I think you should absolutely film a makeup video with Jimmy. I don’t wear any makeup, but I’m tempted to do this with Duncan. 🤣
Hahah, yup, I know what you mean about them *having* to do it. I bet the baristas have enough on their plates already!!
I def need to do the makeup video with Jimmy… and maybe one with Sadie HAHA. I’d love to see one with you and Duncan! I feel like he has such a fun personality and I KNOW you do! It’s cool to see a couple’s dynamic shine through in silly situations like that!
I would NEVER have dad do my make up- I’m pretty sure he’s quite clueless. I even have a hard time letting a professional do it- due to skin insecurities 😣
I LOVE researching other peoples lives – via reading a memoir. It’s just so interesting to me to read about people from the past and present and different things they have gone through in their lives, and how they have handled success or hardships.
you know I’m a Dunkin girl, so I don’t see the cool things ‘bucks baristas write in their cups! That is cool though
love you,
Madre