Thoughtworthy (Homeschool Kick Off, Facebook Friends, Giveaway, and MORE!)

This post contains affiliate links.

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Do you want to kick of your homeschool year with pizzazz?  Mystie’s got a series of live seminars coming up for Work the Plan that sound amazing (and I have the inside scoop, folks!).

In homeschooling you can run into a couple problems. The first is not knowing how to get organized — not knowing how to make a plan. The other is not knowing how to take action — not knowing how to make your plan materialize in the context of real life. Work the Plan deals with this latter problem by dealing with the root issues: ourselves and real life roadblocks. I really can’t recommend it enough!

 

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I’ve gotten a few Facebook friend requests lately, so it’s probably time to remind you that I don’t do Facebook like that. I’m sure you’re nice, and I’m sure you’d think I’m nice, but I don’t accept Facebook friend requests much at all. It’s not personal; it’s just the way we do things here.

I’ve spent less time on Facebook than ever — I’ve gotten to where I far prefer Instagram. It’s been nice. I could get used to this!

 

:: 3 ::

We’re test driving a new tooth powder. I’ve been making my own (or using plain Milk of Magnesia) for years. I have a love/hate relationship with making my own hygiene items. I love to use them, but hate spending the time.

I wanted to try a made-by-someone-else tooth powder, but we don’t do mint. Primal Life Organics, however, has bubblegum and cinnamon! I did the logical thing: I ordered some little minis for everyone to try. We promptly used those up. The vote was split down the middle, so my next order includes both bubblegum as well as cinnamon.

I checked out a lot of powders before settling on this one — for me the main selling point was that the recipe uses more than one kind of clay. That and it really was true that you don’t need to use very much of it (which means it lasts longer than you’d expect from a tiny jar).

Anyhow, I keep meaning to tell you about it — since it passed our pickiness test — enjoy!

 

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If you don’t follow me on Instagram, you should start! I’m giving away some of my new Masterly Inactivity talks right now! I’ll announce a winner on Monday, August 20.

Woohoo! Exciting times today! The talk on #charlottemasons’s concept of #masterlyinactivity that I have been traveling and giving for the past 12+ months is now available in the shop. Link in my profile.⠀ ⠀ BUT WAIT — we’re giving four copies away! Two of you have a chance to win a copy for yourself and a friend that you tag. ⠀ ⠀ Here’s how to enter:⠀ ⠀ 1. Make sure you’re following this account (@brandyvencel) on Instagram.⠀ 2. Tag friends in the comments of this post. Tag as many as you’d like – just enter each as a separate comment. ⠀ 3. Each tag is a separate entry.⠀ 4. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced Monday, 8.20.18.⠀ 5. You (and your friends) must be age 18+ to enter.⠀ 6. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.⠀ ⠀ #charlottemasonmama ⠀ #charlottemasonmethod ⠀ #charlottemasonirl ⠀ #charlottemasonliving ⠀ #amblesideonline ⠀ #simplycharlottemason ⠀ #charlottemasonhomeschool ⠀ #charlottemasoneducation ⠀ #scholesisters ⠀ #scholeeveryday ⠀

A post shared by Brandy Vencel (@brandyvencel) on Aug 16, 2018 at 8:15am PDT

 

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Just a reminder that you can get your Charlotte Mason Homeschool Mom Uniform here:

 

Or, if you prefer Just Narrate:

 

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This month in 2011:

I was a little nervous to re-read this one. I was comparatively new when I wrote this seven years ago, with only three years of formal CM-ing under my belt. But I was relieved to see I was on the right track when I wrote it! ♥

 

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This week’s links collection:

• In op-ed, Brennan says Trump revoked his security clearance to ‘scare into silence’ critics from CNN
  • But Army Brigadier General Anthony Tata says Brennan is a “clear and present danger.”
    • Which is an interesting choice of words, when you think about it. I mean, the clear and present danger test is pretty serious. So either Tata’s exaggerating (or lying), or Mr. Brennan is a serious cause for concern, as would be anyone who put him in positions of power in the first place.
• Social Injustice and the Gospel by John MacArthur
  • The history in this was fascinating to me.
• Science Explains What Happens To Someone’s Brain From Complaining Every Day from Wonderneed
  • Like everyone, I’ve got the obligatory small collection of constant complainer Facebook friends. I’ve found it annoying at times — and outright manipulative at others — but I hadn’t fully realized these kinds of people are literally rewiring their brains!
  • Makes you think about how important it is to help our children avoid forming a habit like this!

 

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Unsolicited Homeschooling Advice: I posted this on Facebook, but thought I’d share it here as well…

During the first week of school (or maybe always), keep a notecard or small notebook in your pocket, along with a writing utensil. As you notice things that are wrong or improperly prepared (you forgot to print something, there is a major error on your child’s spreadsheet, what have you) WRITE THEM DOWN.

This becomes your task list for the afternoon.

This is way easier than constantly noticing and then forgetting what you need to do.

Ask me how I know.