Best Personal Calendar, Planner, Organizer Apps on the Web

Okay, I admit it--I love to organize. I find it therapeutic to wander the planner aisle in Barnes and Noble. When I get a new cellphone, the first thing I play with is the calendar function. But I am also a tightwad--I won't pay for apps or software. And I don't have to, nor do you, when there are so many free organizers available online. Here are the best organizer apps on the net. Don't forget your email organizer function. I like this because it's right there with my email and doesn't share data.  Best Personal Calendar, Planner, Organizer Apps on the Internet

Best Personal Calendar, Planner, Organizer Apps on the Web

Okay, I admit it--I love to organize. I find it therapeutic to wander the planner aisle in Barnes & Noble. When I get a new cellphone, the first thing I play with is the calendar function. But I am also a tightwad--I won't pay for apps or software. And I don't have to, nor do you, when there are so many free organizers available online. Here are the best organizer apps on the net. Don't forget your email organizer function. I like this because it's right there with my email and doesn't share data.  Best Personal Calendar, Planner, Organizer Apps on the Internet

Free Printable Easter Baskets and Homemade Gift Basket Ideas

Parents, do you get sick of holiday spending? Seems like it was just Christmas, then Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. Now we're buying for Easter. Call me Scrooge, but I say it's time to curb spending before we drown in debt. Kids don't need more reasons to expect. All that getting sets a dangerous precedent for greed. It makes for entitled (tiresome) children. Instead of bowing to marketing ploys, make your own homemade Easter basket. It's just as nice and saves a lot of money. Here's how.  Free Printable Easter Baskets and Homemade Gift Baskets

Family, School Mission Project to Teach Kids Generosity

 Catholics entered lent on Ash Wednesday. During this season, we fast, pray and give alms (extra tithing). Here's a way to do all three in one activity. Parents and homeschoolers, you might try this.



Fast from shopping and buying luxuries. Quit online shopping. Buy only what you absolutely need. Give up entertainment, shows, movies, Netflix, dining out, clothing, salon visits, sport events, music venues, concerts. You don't have to give up all of these; just pick one or two.

Three in One Lent Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting Activity - News - Bubblews

Get a Decent Router if You Have Students in the House

A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse? Forget that. Just give me a router that doesn't foul up every six seconds. I've spent more hours than I care to count dealing with this internet router nightmare. First, the router keeps booting my daughter's devices off. So I reset all the internet options. Then I switch search providers. My advice is, if you have students in the house, buy a good dual band router. Costs about $20 more but worth it.   Forget the Horse, My Kingdom for No Router Problems 

Parents Are Responsible for Student Drivers, Then Have to Pay for Driver Education--FAIL

Drivers' education costs about $400 and must be taken from a licensed teacher. Then parents must supervise the bulk of their child's driving time. Then we pay to have the child tested, around $50. We provide the vehicle for testing, which must pass certain regulations. We pay for the gas.



The teen goes through several license levels each with fees and associated parent responsibilities. We have to attend meetings, sign waivers. We pay for auto insurance under which she is covered. We pay more for it when our children turn 15, because the law assumes they're driving. Regardless of whether they do. Why, then, must we also pay for instruction? Why can't we teach our kids ourselves and save class costs? (Picture is my "I don't get it" face.) Why Are Parents Responsible for Student Drivers, but Have to Pay for Driver Education?

  

Ancient Greece Coloring Pages for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games

  Are you following the 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi? The Olympics have a long and interesting history, beginning with the original games in ancient Greece. The term "olympic" refers to Mt. Olympus, where Greeks believed their gods dwelt. The games were played in honor of various deities: Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Ares, Apollo, Athena and other Olympians. Those are their Greek names. The Romans renamed the gods and goddesses with their own spin.  Ancient Greece Lesson Plans for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games - News - Bubblews

Free Valentines to Print, Perfect for Snowbound Kids

Where I am, the snow is rising and the thermostat plummets. If my kids were still young, the scene would not be pretty. Bored restless children milling about underfoot, looking for trouble. Too cold to play outside for more than a few minutes. Snow too deep. Irritable mommy (did I say that?). And feel for me, people, this was back before internet! No login-drug. The poor lambie-poos actually had to play with their mountain of toys!



But to un-digress, you modern families have computers, so use them. Not for gaming. Good Lord, kids get way too much of that already. I mean print some crafts for 'em. And with Valentine's Day right around the corner, how's about printing free valentines? Here are a few links. Read on  Free (Yes Free!) Valentines to Print, Perfect for Snowbound Kids

Chinese New Year Lesson Planner and Unit

For many of us, January and February are the longest, coldest, darkest months of the year. Spring vacation seems light years away. It never seems to get light out and the sun rarely ever peaks it head out. This is a great time to pull out a fresh exciting batch of lessons for your class or home school group. Why not explore the Chinese New Year with all its color, festivity, fun and pageantry? Chinese New Year begins on January 31 in 2014. It's the Year of the Horse this CNY. Here is a unit with enough lessons for a two week unit. You'll find social studies, literature, writing, art, music, craft and food lessons. There are also animal activities. Chinese New Year Lesson Planner and Unit

Skip Holiday Gift Exchanges at School

Random gift exchanges are silly. I see no sense in trading gifts with extended family or people you're not close to. Many of us can't afford nor want to waste money on a meaningless token gift.

Some of us would prefer to donate gifts to those who actually need them. I long pushed for my extendeds to adopt a family or raise money for a gift to Heifer, International. That idea was nixed in favor of a gag gift exchange. Brilliant. Buy junk for each other that we don't need and will throw away, instead of doing some good. There's the holiday spirit.  Skip Holiday Gift Exchanges at School, Work