Molly's Money-Saving Digest Nov. 2009 (Review)

I was given the chance to review another one of Molly's Money-Saving Digests, and I jumped on it! I love her frugal advice. The upcoming November issue is all about family photography, so get out your cameras!

I love to take pictures of my daughter. She has inspired me to learn more about photography and for a little while, I had dreams of doing that for a living. Of course, homeschooling has taken precedence for now, but I still enjoy learning new tricks of the trade! I need all the help I can get, especially when it comes to what to *do* with all these digital photos I have on my computer!! If you enjoy taking pictures of your family, but need some inspiration that won't break the bank, this issue is for you.

If you enjoy scrapbooking, you will appreciate the article on the subject that shows you how to save money while preserving precious memories. I have dabbled in making scrapbooks and have even made a few digital pages, but all too often, I leave all those great pictures on the computer without even developing them! This article will not only give you pointers on making scrapbooks, but it will also help you to get organized and start printing out all those great shots you got of your daughter's first soccer game (oops...sorry - I was talking to myself there, lol!).

Since I have not printed many of my digital pictures, I have not added any new framed pictures to our walls in quite a while. But, now that I have read the article by Aubrey Lively, entitled "A Room with a View", I have been officially motivated! She gives instructions for a very creative project that involves one of those room divider frames and a poster-sized print. You'll have to get Molly's Digest to find out what happened when she put those two things together! :)

There are some wonderful tips on how to take better pictures of your family in the article by Becky Emerick. She will help you figure out the "who, what, when, where, why, and how of taking pictures of your own kids". Above all, she advises you to get out there & practice! Make sure to take your camera with you wherever you go (I need to heed that advice!) and take pictures that truly show the personalities of your children (through what they're wearing and the activity in which they are participating). I am going to be referencing this article a lot during the upcoming holiday season.

As always, Molly leaves you with plenty of links to follow so you can continue learning about how to take better pictures, store them more efficiently, and print them out without spending a chunck of money. Included in this issue are articles on couponing, remembering to keep the joy in the joyful season ahead, and turning something old into something new. You will also find several recipes that will keep your slow-cooker running full-force this Fall! Please stop by The Old Schoolhouse Store to get your copy of Molly's Money-Saving Digest for just $4.95.

Dreams and Designs E-Book Now Available!

I told you about this wonderful e-book in this post, but I wanted you to be aware that the title of the book has changed. The new title is "Dreams and Designs: Homemade Supplies to Compliment Your Homeschool" by Donna Campos. It is now available at The Old Schoolhouse store. Just click on this link to find the e-book for only $12.45!

Big Dreams Creative Designs E-Book (Review)

I have had the chance to review another e-book for The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It is called, "Big Dreams Creative Designs" and it is written by Donna Campos. This new e-book offers many ideas for creative learning opportunities, even if you're on a tight budget.

In this 54-page e-book, Donna shares with you some of the ways she's used inexpensive items to transform her homeschool. The first section of the book gives you several ways to use something as simple as a three-sided science fair display board! From just this one item, you can make an adaptable calendar, a puppet theater, a scrolling story board, personal partitions (for those of you who are homeschooling more than one child), and activity center partitions! Donna doesn't just show you how to make each of those things, she also shows you how each one can be used in different ways with pictures and detailed directions.

The next section of the "Big Dreams Creative Designs" e-book deals with organization - specifically, how to keep your school supplies/books/posters/etc. organized for daily use. Donna converted an old computer desk into a multi-use educational center that can be wheeled around in your house so you can take your "school" with you! I love this idea and would love to incorporate it into my home at some point. If you don't have room for such a large piece, Donna tells you how to recycle items you might not have thought about using for school storage.

After reading this book, I started to think about organizing my own school area. This afternoon, I did some rearranging with great results. I found an old crate that had been in the garage for quite some time that I dusted off and am now using as a shelf to hold my daughter's collection of coloring books on her desk. Her desk had been quite cluttered with all of her art supplies, so I found creative ways to store those as well. This e-book was just the nudge I needed to get myself in gear!

If you buy this wonderful e-book, you will also learn how to use file folders to create timelines that don't take up a whole wall and index cards to design a variety of activities for use in your homeschool. Donna Campos is very creative and invites you to think outside the box (literally!), while providing you plenty of help and direction along the way. This new e-book will be available very soon at The Old Schoolhouse store. I will post again when it has been released!