Archive by Author | Lisa McAfee

Smoothies

Jan6

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During the week I am up at 5:00 and out the door by 7:00. I have a lot to get accomplished before I leave and if it weren’t for my husband and fixing me a smoothie every day, I wouldn’t get breakfast. Our routine for the past 4 years is to drink a Mango Smoothie each morning. I will occasionally have something else, but this is quick, easy, and good for you. The other thing is that my husband will make it for me and I love that I don’t have to think about fixing breakfast. It has everything you need to get your day off to a great start and tastes yummy, even for a picky eater like me! You will notice that it has avocado, but believe me, you can’t taste it and it is extremely good for you. 🙂 Just make sure the avocado is ripe as it will taste a bit “green” if you use one that isn’t ripe. My in-laws live out-of-state and always comment before coming to visit that they are looking  forward to having a smoothie for breakfast. Here in Ohio the winter is the best time to try the recipe since mangoes and avocados are in season in many tropical climates where they are grown and the price of the fruit is lower than other times of the year.

I think it is important for us to take care of bodies so we can have the energy to the best we can for our families. I will stick a few recipes in from time to time as I am currently researching superfood smoothies to use occasionally as a meal replacement.I gotta keep those extra pounds at bay!

Mango Surprise Smoothie (from Flat Belly Diet Cookbook)

1 serving 268 calories

1/4 cup mango cubes

1/4 cup mashed ripe avocado

1/2 cup mango juice (You can use apple or pineapple juice instead)

1/4 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt (We have gone to kefir as a healthier alternative.)

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (We use bottled lime juice when limes are expensive.)

1 tbsp. sweetener (honey, blue agave nectar, stevia, coconut palm sugar)

10 ice cubes

Combine the mango, avocado, mango juice, yogurt, lime juice, sweetener, and ice cubes in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass. Enjoy!

Jokin’ Around

Dec23

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It seems that the majority of children go through a period where they are telling jokes. I actually think it is because they like to see the reaction of another person when they tell it. It is invigorating to see someone laugh because of what you have said.

I also think that jokes require a higher level of thinking. No, I’m not kidding! 🙂 You have to have a knowledge base to tell the joke and certainly to understand it. The hard part is being the listener of the jokes your child tells because many times they are repeated (over and over again) and outlast their funniness. I want to provide your children with some new material and give you a break from some of the old knock knock jokes.You are welcome! 

Here are the resources for your jokesters. (By the way, I apologize if you have to listen to a lot of ones that will make you groan, but isn’t that more pleasant than listening to negative comments? Can I get an amen?) For your entertainment, and as an example, I will post a joke for each section. I guess I like to tell jokes too!

Knock Knock Jokes  I am only listing three websites since there are only so many knock knock jokes (a person can take).

Ducksters There isn’t a really long list, but there are jokes on there that I didn’t know and hopefully you haven’t heard them before either.

Funology I got this joke from their website. Of course, it is an education themed joke!

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Canoe.
Canoe who?
Canoe help me with my homework?

Kids Turn Central  This is a list of jokes that kids have submitted for others to enjoy.

Puns Puns are a play on words, requiring knowledge of the subject in order for it to be funny. Puns either have a double meaning  (such as the joke below) or words that sound similar. I like a good pun, don’t you?

Funny Puns Here is a math pun: The roundest knight at King Arthur’s table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from far too much pi.

Middle School Puns These puns are longer than one liners, but I think junior high students love a good pun too. Note: There are a few bar jokes in the mix in case you want to take those out.  Print off the other puns as there are some rather clever ones there that older students would enjoy. 

Here are examples of different types of puns. Funny Puns

Riddles Riddles require some thinking and are fantastic for getting those gears in the noggin moving!

How about this one? What begins with T, ends with T and has T in it? A teapot

 Riddles for Kids

Animal Jokes

Enchanted Learning has quite a few animal jokes for your children to enjoy. Actually, if you don’t look at any of the other websites listed above that will be fine because this website has enough for everyone.

Here is one joke/riddle that my son made up when he was little.

How are cats like pirates? They both like to bury their treasures.

Headed out of town for the holidays? How about printing off some of the jokes and have the kids make a joke book by picking a few to copy and illustrate. Take some nice bordered paper along to wrote the jokes. Your children can give the jokes to whoever you are visiting. It’s always a good idea to have something to laugh about when visiting family!

 A great way to conclude joke telling would be to have a language arts lesson and incorporate some of those jokes and ideas or use as copywork.

Language Arts Ideas

Discuss why the joke is [supposed to be] funny.

Discuss the meaning of the joke.

Make up your own joke or riddle and illustrate it.

Have a family comedy night by reading or reciting the jokes.

Copywork- copy your favorite joke, riddle or pun in your best handwriting.

Make a joke mobile. Copy favorites on to thicker paper and hang each of them with fishline of varying lengths on a hanger. Add some colored streamers to brighten up he mobile.

Laughter is a good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

~Lisa

Trail Life USA: A Program for Young Men

Dec16

 

BlogLogoMy boys were in scouts for a while and loved the camping trips and being outdoors. Read all about a new organization in which your sons can become a member. 🙂

Most guys want exciting outdoor adventure with their friends. We’ve got that! Trips and travel? That, too. Camping. Check. Physical and mental challenge? Yep. And awards? Of course!

Trail Life USA is a Christian adventure, character, and leadership program for young men. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. Living the Trail Life is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.

VISION

Our vision is to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.

MISSION

Our mission is simple and clear: to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.

MOTTO

“Walk Worthy”

Colossians 1:10  “… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, …”

OATH

On my honor, I will do my best
To serve God and my country;
To respect authority;
To be a good steward of creation;
And to treat others as I want to be treated.

For more information CLICK HERE

Sticking with Something

Dec9

I was known to not stick with projects when I was young. I had a mom that didn’t like that and always got after me to finish up, clean up, do- your- best. I have tried to take that to heart as I have matured. (In other words, gotten older! 🙂 ) I think it’s working, but I am not sure…

I have had one of those projects that has taken a lot of perseverance and waaay too much time, but I am determined to finish it THIS winter. It is a queen-sized quilt top that my great grandma hand-pieced and I decided to quilt it by hand. My grandfather mailed it to my mother a long time ago.  She in turn thought I’d like to have it since I have done some smaller quilting projects before. It has been an arduous project and my fingers have bled and been sore more than once, but I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. You may be wondering, “How long have you been working on it? One year. two years?”

I have to sheepishly admit 12 years. Yes, you read that right and it’s not a typo! I do, however, have one thing that I can use in a way of defense and that is I have only worked on it when the weather gets cold. For you who are giving me the benefit of the doubt and thinking that Ohio doesn’t get that cold, I appreciate it, but that isn’t the case.

Why am I embarrassing myself and being transparent? I was just thinking today that you might need some encouragement to stick with it! When you think homeschooling is hard and you aren’t sure you can teach one more math lesson, set your mind to know that you can do it if you stick with it. I am sure my mom would be shocked and amazed to know that I stuck with a project that I would never have done earlier.

What is that you are struggling with right now? Have you stopped and prayed about it? Have you asked for wisdom and taken time to make a plan and follow through with it? What about breaking it down into smaller pieces? Sometimes you just have to swing your legs over the side of the bed, put your foot on the floor, and take one step at a time.  I have every confidence in you and your teaching. By being diligent you will see the result of your efforts.

“And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

Have a great day,

~Lisa

In order for me to stay motivated with this, I will post a picture of the quilt when I finish. Don’t expect to see anything until May though. 🙂