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Summer Reading for the Little Ones (& busy ones)

June 11, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Disney_story_centralWe are only a week into summer, but already loving it! We worked so hard on so many new concepts this school year. As a homeschool mom, I am especially proud of completing another year. Since I teach my kids all year, getting the kids to read during the summer and not feel like they are doing “school” can be tricky. My kids love earning electronic time, and I can play into their love for electronics, by using Disney Story Central.

Disney Story Central is the largest collection of Disney digital stories, featuring a wide array of Disney stories and characters that kids and families know and love.

I can have the best of both worlds by sharpening their love for reading while also allowing them to have some screen time.

disney_books_onlineThe computer doesn’t always make sense for reading. When we are on the go or want to all cuddle up in a more comfy location, we can turn to our iPad. I love that this program can be played on both.

I let my kids pick which books they would like to read from Disney Story Central from our computer. I love that it is a cross-platform experience. Disney Story Central is available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse).

Disney_story_central_onlineOne of my favorite features of this program is the customizable bookshelves for each member of the family. With a soon to be third grader and first grader, my boys are on different reading levels and they can get personalized reading recommendations for the level they need.

When we were selecting some books, I kept in mind my little Reagan. She’s in preschool and loves to read books! With each book there is the option to read it aloud or have it read aloud to you. She could sit for hours and have these books read to her. She loves it!

Disney_story_central_review

snuggle_buddiesDisney Story Central gives families the freedom to choose the reading experience that suits them best, whether through an annual subscription service (unlimited access to the expansive library) or a-la-carte options, using Disney Book Tokens. The Disney book token system works like currency and allows parents to give their kids the opportunity to pick out the books they WANT to read.

My kids love picking out books to read. They sort through, compare, talk about the characters and their favorite parts of the different stories. Reading is so important and starting a fun way to do it as a kid will hopefully create a lifetime love for reading in them.

kids_books_onlineYou can participate in Disney Story Central‘s ‘Mid-Summer Light Reads’ Campaign. The campaign will promote weekly summer reading themes featuring selected Disney titles. By participating you can unlock free books and enter a special sweepstakes! Launching today, June 11, the campaign will run through August 13.

How do you encourage your kids to read during the summer? Thanks so much for stopping by!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Rainbow Craft for the Little Ones

April 28, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

rainbow_kids_craftColor can move us. It is a reason why it is so hard to pick paint colors for rooms. We want to pick a color that inspires us and creates a certain mood. Rainbows contain so many colors and they all fuze together to be beautiful. It is my Reagan’s favorite color. She might occasionally say purple or pink, but if there is a rainbow option…she picks it. It might be a popsicle. It might be a shirt. It might even be a pair of shoes.

We are always looking for fun little seasonal crafts to do as part of our homeschool day, and the other day we had a play date and this little craft was the perfect one. Making these rainbows incorporated so many elements: painting, cutting, and even sorting.

The first step was to staple a paper plate in half. I then let the kids paint the plate as a rainbow.

rainbow_craftWhile the rainbows were drying I broke out my ribbon stash. I wanted these rainbows to kind of have a wind chime or dream catcher feel, so what better way than to add some more textures to them!?

I love ribbon and have collected it for a while. I often use it in projects, but I find myself buying it even without a specific project. It was time to let some go.

The kids were so excited to dig through and find different pieces/colors that they liked. I showed how each piece could be a slightly different length and let them just start cutting.

ribbon

ribbon_craftAs well as having pieces of ribbon cut for their rainbows, they were also making ninja masks. It was quite fun to watch them enjoy and be inspired.

kid_ribbon_craftOnce they all had a good pile of cut ribbons, I had them line them up in the order they wanted. I then hot glued them in place while also adding a little loop at the top so they can easily be hung.

kids_DIY_wall_artThey turned out so cute! The kids were so excited about them.

rainbow_activityWe hung the boys’ rainbows where we do school, but my little Reagan wanted hers to hang right above her bed! I now ask her every morning if she had rainbow dreams.

spring_craft

kids_spring_craftThis was such a fun little craft. I love seeing their art around our home!

If you are interested in other pieces of these rooms, you can find more information here…

Feather Wind Chime

School Desk

Fabric Bunting

Rainbow Dash Decal

Stenciled Purple Wall

Do you have a thing for color too or are a rainbow fan? I hope you get a chance to create with your little ones this week! It just might make their day AND yours!

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School Desk Makeover

August 20, 2014 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

old_school_desk_makeoversDo you know your style? Although I feel like I know mine, so many different looks, patterns, styles do appeal to me. I hope I take parts of them all and kind of just make my own. If you like a modern lamp. It does not necessarily mean your style is modern, right?

Let’s say that we can make our own style by just filling our homes with things we love.

I love rustic and I love bohemian, so some may say my style is rustic bohemian. I know I have said that, but what would this desk be called just in its normal state?

old_school_desk_makeoverIs it vintage? I liked the way it was. Which is very different from my last school desk makeover. So, I decided to keep this makeover a little simpler and go with the look it already had, except of course add a small punch of color to make it more me. Is that bohemian vintage style then?!

I spray painted the whole base with a gray spray paint, but then I used Rustoleum’s Satin Lagoon to spray on the inside. I love this deep teal color, and I have been waiting for something to use it on ever since I bought it at the beginning of the summer.

Rustoleum_satin_lagoonMy tips on spray painting one of these desks is to just be patient. I kept flipping and rotating my desk so I was always spray painting down. I didn’t want the paint to run and drip down the sides, and this rotating technique helped prevent that from happening.

Next, I sanded the seat to get a lot of the spray paint off. I left a little to add a rustic charm, but I got off the obvious thickness on the edges.

sanding_off_spray_paintI was so excited to try my Minwax staining wipes that I received as part of my Haven Conference swag next. I just wanted to darken the seat up a little to what it may have looked like in its prime. So, I used a wipe and covered the seat really well. I found that these wipes were perfect for this small project, and they helped me cover the side of the seat-even in the small groove notch.

minwax_stain_wipes

minwax_staining_wipesAfter I covered the seat well with the stain wipe, I used an old t-shirt and started rubbing some stain off/in. I wanted to add a deepness of color with the stain, but also show variation and not allow it to look perfect. In some areas, I rubbed most of the new stain off, and I love how the balance of old/new stain look together.

rustic_paint_and_stain_jobOnce the stain dried, my desk was done. It was so much easier than my tribal pattern seat school desk. I was left questioning which desk I liked more!

Truth be told, I like them both! They are different. One is bold and fun. The other is a staple neutral. When they are paired together…I love the balance of fun and quirky with timeless.

old_school_desksThey are definitely different styles. Which one appeals to you more? Do you have a wide taste of things you like as well?

vintage_school_desksI love how they look in our school room. I am often on the floor, and the boys bounce back and forth from their desks to the day bed.

DCIM100GOPRODo you remember what this room was created for? It was our foster care bedroom. I am still not use to calling it our foster son’s room. I miss all his little things in there. I will tell you more of why this room is no longer the “foster care” room soon. First, I have to leave you with a real life picture of how this room usually looks.

homeschool_roomI am so blessed to be able to have them home, learning and living life together. Just like my broad taste in styles, these two have a broad contrast of personalities. I often wonder who is teaching more. They teach me so much everyday.

Imagine what happens when we go with our gut, who we are, what we like, and create a place of love by the uniqueness we all have? Life is beautiful. Keep imagining friends!

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An Embroidery Journal #2

May 18, 2014 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

embroidery_hoopsSummer is here for us. I found myself last week with a huge sense of freedom when Caleb had his last day. As a homeschool mom, my life just got simpler. I am so excited about summer.

It’s been a little while since my first embroidery journal entry. I’m going to try to keep it brief and share a little update at where we are.

be_loveWe still have our foster son. It looks like he may be with us till the fall. We are constantly reminded how this all changes so quickly. As a planner, someone who likes to know what to expect, and hates surprises…this is one of the hardest aspects of being a foster parent to me.  I am learning and this stretching of me, I know, is ultimately growing me.

We are excited about still having time with this sweet boy. We are processing life and how to try to do our four this summer really well. I’m looking at the calendar, and I want to be intentional with how we spend our time, so we make the most of our days.

choose_loveAs school was wrapping up, I started to find more little windows to craft. Hoops are still the easiest thing to do for me, as I sit on the couch at night with my husband and sew while we talk and watch shows.

Some random things I am loving right now:

rain with the windows open

weekends with nothing on the calendar

embroidering

watching my kids ride their bikes

getting sun on my face

planning our anniversary trip

dreaming up a new venture with my boo

the thought of running again

lots of coffee

packing up all our school books

hearts

I often miss friends and wish I picked up the phone to call or text someone, but then in the few minutes I have driving and I don’t have a call to return, I just find myself needing quiet. So much of my energy is training our kids to all get along in their new normal and how to love and respect one another. It’s draining work, but I have to believe some of the most meaningful ways to give of myself.

shine_brightI hope summer is coming at a needed time for you as well. I pray this summer we find rest and a beautiful rhythm of how to do life. It is a constant balance act, right?

be_kind_embroidery hoopThank you so much for being on this journey of life with us! If you are interested in any of these hoops, I have just listed them in my shop. Thank you for all your support!

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