Challenges of Homeschooling Teenagers

Princess Ivi is now 16.  (She will turn 17 next month.)  She is a junior in high school and she attend Florida Virtual School Full Time.  She is doing really well in this program. 

One big drawback to this program though is that there is no prom.  She has been browsing prom dresses a lot lately and I know that she really would like to go.  I know that there are some areas that offer proms for home school students and I found a list of organizations in Florida and I am going to email them.  If we can’t do something this year, at least she has her senior year next year.

The other big drawback is that there is no dual enrollment right now.  So for next year, there are a lot of steps necessary for her (and me) to complete so she will be able to dual enroll at the local community college.

She is preparing for her SATs right now too which is kind of a bummer but a necessary one.   

Down in the Grumps

I have been seriously grumpy for days now.  I am not sure where it is coming from or what to do about it.  We have a three day weekend but I am taking Friday as a mental health day so maybe a four day weekend will help me chase away the grumps.

Back to Blogging in 2013 - revised schedule

I have decided to get back to blogging and to focus on these areas: 

• Parenting
• Ten on Tuesday
• Homemaking (including Gardening, Freezing, Canning, Homemade Christmas, Knitting, Sewing, Cooking, Etc.)
• Books, TV, Movies, Etc. 
• Spirituality

Starting on January 21, 2012, once a week, I will post once about each of the topics above.  Hopefully, people will find them interesting.

Winner, winner....

I enter a lot of giveaways.  Some people may think it is too much work to enter the giveaways but I think entering really pays off.  Especially if you think about the things I have won just this year.

• The Oreck Magnesium Vacuum and Handheld from My Blessed Life
• A Wii Game from Marliss Melton
• A Digital Book from Romancing Rakes For the Love of Romance
• A subscription to Cravebox
• A Kangaroo cup sponsored by Frugal Fabulous Finds
• The Summer Spruce Up Cravebox
• A copy of Keri Glassman’s new book Slim, Calm, and Sexy Diet from The Grab a Spoon Dannon Oikos Giveaway sponsored by Bargain Briana
• The Dr. Oetker Ristorante Giveaway sponsored by Frugal Fabulous Finds
• Bic Mark It Permanent Markers on Facebook
• A Perricone MD product valued at $150 from The Mom Blog Society (which I used to get moisturizer)

Of course I will keep entering giveaways and hopefully keep on winning!!  Thanks to all of the above-named bloggers for the amazing giveaways.

The Southern Woman's Guide to Perfect Iced Tea

I recently saw a post entitled “The Englishman’s Guide to Perfect Iced Tea”.  This inspired me to post “The Southern Woman’s Guide to Perfect Iced Tea”.

Before I begin, it should be noted that I lived in Southern Georgia for about 10 years.  No place makes tea like Southern Georgia.  If you have had tea in Southern Georgia, you know what I mean.  The tea has to be cold, strong, and sweet.

Here are my instructions to make a quart of tea:

Put about two cups of water in a small saucepan.  Add two family size tea bags.  (A true Southern Woman would use Luzianne.  I also use Tetley if it is on sale.  In a pinch, I would use Lipton. )  If you don’t have family size tea bags, use four regular (although your taste will be slightly off).  Place saucepan on burner on high.  Once tea begins to boil, remove from heat and pour into quart size pitcher containing one cup sugar.  Run cold water over the teabags in the empty saucepan, being sure to give it a little shake.  Pour that water into the pitcher.  Do this until the pitcher is full.  Stir.  Serve over ice.