Jun 24 2025

Amazon Prime Day 2025: 7 Self-Care Deals for Homeschool Moms

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We homeschool moms pour our hearts into creating enriching learning environments for our children, often putting our own needs on the back burner. With Amazon Prime Day 2025 running from July 8-11, it’s the perfect time to prioritize self-care with some amazing deals on products that promote relaxation, wellness, and a little pampering. Below, I have curated seven self-care essentials tailored for homeschool moms, plus a special note on how an Amazon Prime membership can maximize your savings. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps support this blog at no extra cost to you. Let’s dive into these must-have deals!

 

1. Pré de Provence Lavender Soap Bar

Indulge in a luxurious bathing experience with this shea butter-enriched soap, crafted using traditional French methods. Its soothing lavender scent and thick lather make it a perfect addition to your evening wind-down routine, leaving your skin soft and refreshed.

Pre de Provence Lavender Bar Soap

Pre de Provence Lavender Bar Soap

  • Why I Love It: Long-lasting, natural ingredients, and a calming aroma ideal for a quick self-care moment.
  • Deal: Up to 30% off select Pré de Provence products during Prime Day.
  • Price: Approx. $10.99.

 

2. Dreamegg White Noise Machine

Sound Therapy Machine

Sound Therapy Machine

Create a serene environment for meditation, naps, or focused planning with this versatile sound machine. With 34 soothing sounds and customizable light settings, it’s a homeschool mom’s best friend for carving out moments of peace amidst a busy day.

  • Why I Love It: Portable and perfect for creating a calming atmosphere during lesson planning or downtime.
  • Deal: Matches the best price seen in 2025, up to 25% off.
  • Price: Approx. $29.99 after discount. Maybe less. Check the link.

Continue reading »

Jun 20 2025

Homeschool to College: Our Journey, Part 1

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And so it begins: our adventure into the senior year. The plan is to blog about what we are learning and share it with you all as it happens. Naturally, it all starts with a plan and a goal. What is your goal for your children as they graduate high school? Please share it in a comment below. College is not for everybody.

Homeschool to College: Our Journey Series

Homeschool to College: Our Journey Series

For us, the goal is a four-year institution with a strong computer science program and a merit-based full ride scholarship. Geography plays a role, too. Our son wants to stay nearby. There are many options in Tennessee, where we live. However, we have cast a wider net in order to add certain other universities which have peaked his interest. Continue reading »

Jun 10 2025

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Best Homeschool Back-to-School Supplies to Grab Early

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As homeschool families prepare for another year of learning adventures, Amazon Prime Day 2025 arrives at the perfect time: July 8-11. We’ve carefully selected these foundational items that work across multiple subjects and grade levels, helping you maximize your homeschool budget. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through these links. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

Back to School Amazon Prime Day

Back to School Amazon Prime Day

 

Essential Items

  1. The Homeschool Planner by Paper Peony Press and Jennifer Pepito [affiliate link]
  • 192 pages printed on high quality interior stock
  • Monthly tabs
  • Undated (so that you can start at anytime!) sections
  • Clean & simple layout
  • Beautiful hardback cover with gold spiral and corner protectors
  • 7.25 in. x 9.75 in.
  • Why we love it: This planner specifically addresses homeschool needs while remaining flexible enough for various teaching styles.

Continue reading »

May 31 2025

2025 Romania Trip

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We spent three weeks in Romania, May 13-June 3. The last time we went to my home country was in 2016. Wildfires and global pandemics have kept us from returning for nine years.

Our family in front of Grand Hotel Bucharest

Our family in front of Grand Hotel Bucharest

Last fall, knowing we would go to Romania in 2025, we renewed passports. You might know this already, but the process takes at least 4-6 weeks. If you plan an international trip, start with the passports. Then get your tickets. We like United and the Star Alliance Partners, like Lufthansa. Here is more information about their Points, a frequent/loyal flyer program.

Continue reading »

May 16 2025

2025 Co-op Graduation

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We attend a homeschool co-op and some of my children’s friends graduated this year. Besides, we wanted to go see what the ceremony is like, to know for next year. My son will be graduating in May 2026 and it is becoming increasingly real. So we attended graduation. Here are three lessons from it, so you know what to expect, if you are anything like me.

2025 BHEA Graduation Venue

2025 BHEA Graduation Venue

 

Lessons from Attending Graduation

Continue reading »

May 2 2025

Ice Skating Lessons

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My daughter and I have been taking ice skating lessons at the Ice Chalet in Knoxville since January. We started out as beginners, aka Pre-Alpha level. After nine weeks of lessons, the teacher tested our class during lesson #10. Could we execute the six skills required for the next level? We could! We graduated to the Alpha level.

My ice skating gear

My ice skating gear: skates, soakers, hard protectors, towel, and bag

What a great opportunity to bond with my daughter even more. The drive, the errands we ran before the class, the class itself, learning how to buy ice skates and the rest of the gear – all these stepping stones bonded us. Continue reading »

Apr 30 2025

Tears (of Joy?)

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Slipping through my fingers all the time – ABBA sang this in the 1980s and I was a small child and did not quite get it back then. Now I do. As a mom, don’t you feel like these children of ours are growing up a little too fast? Time is slipping through my fingers. They keep on doing new things and tackling new phases in their young lives.

Preston and Ava

Our son and his girlfriend at the Junior Prom

We are happy our son has started dating a lovely young lady whom he met at our homeschool co-op. They are very precious together and the happiness on their faces gives us joy. My husband and I have always said that if our children wanted to date after age 16, they would be free to do so. While they are still under our roof, we can offer guidance as needed and support if necessary. Continue reading »

Apr 27 2025

Junior Prom

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My children attend a homeschool co-op which organizes spring formals every year. Call it Junior Prom, call it a banquet, call it a dance, call it whatever you want. It is a fun evening spent with friends, fabulous food, and music. Everyone gets to dress up and act like they know what they are doing.

Teenage siblings hugging before prom

My children posing before prom

For all the negative comments about homeschoolers and socialization, our children have so many opportunities to socialize. Arguing against the stereotype of weird, unsocialized homeschoolers is so easy. I can promise you these homeschoolers in high school, who have been homeschooled since the very beginning, have better manners and social interactions than public school students. Continue reading »

Apr 17 2025

2025 Graduation Gift Guide: Thoughtful Ideas for Kindergarten, 8th Grade, High School, and College

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We blinked and it is the middle of April. Graduation season has arrived. Do you need kindergarten graduation ideas? Even if your children are not graduating from Kindergarten, 8th grade, or high school, you probably know somebody whose child is. Instead of a check in the mail, why not buy your friend’s child a thoughtful graduation gift?

Graduation Gift Guide 2025

Homeschool Graduation Gifts

Below, please find a list of items I have personally enjoyed. Or gifts somebody I know has found very, very useful. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thank you! Without further ado, here is my gift guide for graduates 2025: Continue reading »

Mar 25 2025

Purple Power Smoothie – Hide Your Greens with This Kid-Friendly Recipe!

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One of the most fun things for me is to make smoothies. You can pack a lot of nutrition in a glass of deliciousness. In this video, I show you how to make a purple smoothie. If you have picky eaters who cannot stand green foods, this is your ticket.

Purple Smoothie Recipe

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Blueberries and bananas conspire together to hide the green color of the kale. Add soymilk (or any other nut milk), orange juice, water, and whatever else you want. If you wanted more protein, you could throw in chickpeas or chia seeds, flax seeds or even tofu. Endless possibilities.