Journal your Christmas...

Today I prepared my album for Shimelles next class 'Journal Your Christmas'  I cut all the cardstock and now have an album big enough to run from Dec 1st until Jan 6th....

I've gone with another 6x6 album - just the same as my Fall In Love album.  I loved working with that size and style as it makes everything feel relaxed and simple - I don't want to feel like it has to be perfect as December is stressful already - I want this to be FUN!!!  I tend to be a perfectionist if I use a proper album...but thanks to all I have learned from Kara Haupt this year, I feel much more relaxed in my journaling and am enjoying it soooooo much more than formal scrapbooking :)

I still haven't made it to the scrapbook store to get supplies for my class, but I have been collecting things together and have a box with old tags and cards in it, Christmas photographs from years past, Starbucks cups and sleeves to cut up....festive papers and supplies......so I just need to get a few REAL supplies to add to all of that - then I will print pictures off as we go through the month too.

I can't wait to start!!!  :)

Anyone else joining in????  Or doing Ali Edwards 'December Daily' ???

Good for the heart :)

I rustled up a big box of chocolate coconut flapjacks on Thursday - I used my normal syrupy flapjack recipe and just added dessicated coconut,cocoa powder and a handful of chocolate chips to the mixture.  I added a little extra butter, syrup and sugar to compensate for the extra ingredients.

This recipe was a bit of an experiment after readying about the Green and Blacks choccy coconut flapjacks online....

They were a HUGE success and everyone loved them :)  Needless to say, they are all gone now!

We tell ourselves that they are good for the heart because of all the oatmeal in them!!  :)  Kind of like telling yourself carrot cake is as good for you as it's a vegetable ;)  lol!

I will definitely be making these again!!  (Sorry for the bad iphone snapshot lol)!!

(ps English style flapjacks are a little like an oaty cookie - or granola bar - oats baked in a syrupy mixture - this is VERY different to American flapjacks (ie pancakes).

Festival of Trees...

We had a great time at our local Festival of Trees yesterday.  Cookie decorating, card making, bracelet making, face painting, decoration making....and plenty of beautiful trees and decorations to admire :)

We then headed down tot he library for a while and chose some more books to add to the millions we already have at home that we haven't taken back yet!!  Abigail was feeling festive and picked up a lot of Christmas craft and music books to enjoy.

Am I doing enough????

 I think this is one of the fears many homeschoolers have at one time or other.  Today I read this article:       'Am I doing Enough'??? and it is full of useful questions to ask yourself about your homeschooled child.  It is for parents who want to evaluate whether they are teaching their child enough, if they are heading in the right direction....if they have the balance right ;)

After reading through the questions, I'd say we are doing just right.  Our facilitator will call in January to ask how our year is going - just a phonecall appointment, as the only times we actually see her are once in the Fall to discuss our plans for the year, and once in May to show our progress.  I think we are doing good though as Abigail has a balance of activities she takes part in, and is quite independent regarding life skills - as well as loving to read, craft, write, draw etc etc....

You will find endless links to other useful pages at this fantastic website too :)