Homeschooling: The Week Before the First Day

Covid was the catalyst - but now I am excited to start homeschooling my kids. Could we do this forever?

I have been scouring the internet reading about different types of homeschooling, took quizzes to determine "What Type of Homeschooling is Right for [Me]," bought out the dollar store craft section, read curriculum reviews, read more curriculum reviews, and bought a curriculum. Then I second guessed the curriculum I bought, joined Facebook groups, left Facebook Groups, signed up for Teachers Pay Teachers, and second guessed everything again... third guessed? 

I know I am not the only person in our country going through this battle with the uncertainty of schools opening, school safety, and online learning. I know I am not the only person in my neighborhood for that matter! 

Here is what I know so far:

• I have no idea what to expect.
• I need to be flexible.

My boys are 7 and almost 5 and very different children with very different needs. I have been working hard to create our first week of school without our purchased curriculum (it was on back order, unsurprisingly) and I think it is a good way to ease into a whole new world. I am not totally comfortable with this unstructured beginning - and I never want my boys to fall behind their peers or later feel like I did them a disservice in their education.

We will start with curriculum learning but also follow the path of "unschooling" where we learn on adventures and in our garden, visiting museums, and learning music skills. We will cook more and play more. Our world is becoming our own and I think that I am finally feeling connected to the hippie mom I always wanted to be. 

Between now any Monday you will find me consuming as much Pinterest as possible. Please tell me if you have homeschooling tips that would help a first timer!

Sense of Self

Notice the radio silence on the blog these last few weeks? That’s because I made a huge, major, ginormous, life decision. 

I quit my job, 

my 9-5. I am no longer a “square,” as my best friend and entrepreneur extraordinaire once called me. My last day is this Friday and I am nervous as all get out. I am going to be staying home with my two children and working on my Mother-in-Law’s antique business with her. But that isn’t all I will be doing. I will be working on the concept of “me.” 

Truth

 Since becoming a mother, I have lost the identity of being Emily. It isn’t something to be disappointed in, but absolutely not something to be ignored either. Truth be told, I really like me. 

• I like that I am a cheerleader for my friends. 
• I like that I have a creative urge that needs to be nurtured regularly. 
• I like that I hold grudges, but encourage forgiveness to my friends. 
• I like that I feel spiritual when I am nourishing my body properly. 
• I like that my friends are confident in my wine selections and will come to me for recommendations. 

Ultimately, I want to be ME again. I don’t want to be my business title. I don’t want to be “mom,” “wife,” “friend,” or “daughter.” I want to be EMILY again. 

As author Danielle Laporte puts it, “Love yourself like you life depends on it. Because it does.”

I intend to. 

Coffee Consciousness

Let’s be honest, coffee is an accessory. I remember the first time that realization hit me. I had just moved to Scottsdale, AZ and was headed to an affluent outdoor mall with my sister. We had to stop for coffee first to walk around with. We did this every time we went to this mall. Initially it was Starbucks, but it changed as soon as the local coffee shop, Press Coffee, opened across the street. Truthfully, I felt even cooler walking around with a Small Biz logo on my little cardboard cup.

But now, I am taking a fresh look at this portable beverage fad. I am working very diligently to stop participating. My reasoning?

Ayurveda

Sitting and enjoying a meal or beverage not only creates conscious eating, which helps to prevent over consumption, it also strengthens your agni, or digestive fire. By staying in the coffee shop, and using a ceramic mug, you can focus on your coffee, be mindful of the warmth and flavor, enjoy conversation with your friend, and engage in your local community.

Reducing Waste

To-go cups are the ultimate convenience. They have a lid so they don’t spill easily and they come with a nice cardboard sleeve so you don’t burn your hand. Some even come with a nice little stopper so you won’t spill it when you cruise over that speed bump. Yes, yes, so convenient. But, at what cost? Cutting down trees, more unsustainable fuels used for the plastic cap, and the unreal amount of waste we are producing.

At a conference I attended recently, catering offered both cup types. I used the ceramic cup every day, and was happy to see many others do the same. I am also an animated talker and still never spilled a drop. Woot! While I did use a disposable cup for water, it was made of corn and compostable, so that gave me a little relief, but it was still waste.

I also think it makes you look pretty hip hanging out at a coffee shop with a REAL mug. I mean, who does that? Only the regulars, right? Ultimately, I think it would do us all a little bit of good to slow down and enjoy the coffee.

Do you try to reduce waste in your everyday life? How so? Or have you not thought about it? What changes can you make?

Small Town Teacher Makes a Huge Impact

Elementary school has changed dramatically since my days at Sawtooth Elementary, way back in the 90's. We had one morning recess, an extended lunch recess, and an afternoon recess. It never felt like enough free time, but it is substantially more than most children get currently. More and more I read about schools eliminating recesses all together and solely focusing on the test scores, pressuring teachers to keep their students noses in books all day. But is this really effective? Are we going in the right direction?

To serve as a reflection on the school year that is nearly complete, and to create a plan for a better school year for 2017 - 2018, my childhood friend and a hero of a fourth grade teacher, Miranda Brammer offers some amazing ideas with proven results.

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My name is Miranda Brammer, I am a 4th grade teacher in Gooding, ID. We are very lucky to live in this small community of nearly four thousand people. The school system here is amazing and I have never met harder working people. I am finishing my second year teaching 4th grade and I want to tell you what I have learned.  

The First Year

My first year of teaching, I had no clue what I was doing, and maybe I still don’t, but I know the direction I need head. In my first year, the kiddos in my class got restless; they were lethargic, and not engaged in anything I was doing. My scores were low in state testing, and I knew I had to revamp everything I was doing. 

We have a 4-day school week here; meaning we go to school Monday through Thursday, then have Friday through Sunday off. This is important since we are a huge farming community, and days get pretty long with parents working 12 to 14 hours a day, we had to make time for family time. This also means that our days are looonnngggg. We start school at 7:30am and end at 4:10pm. As 4th graders, my students have a 30-minute lunch recess and 20 minute afternoon recess and the rest of the day they are shuffled around to specialized classes, in desks, doing their work. This is NOT enough exercise and WAY too much thinking to handle as a 9 year old. 

As a teacher, there is not much I can do about giving them more free time. However, I realized this year I could make their assignments not seem like work and customize things in my classroom that will help them create endorphins, increase their metabolism, and boost their energy. 

A New Classroom Is Born

Completely self-funded and principal approved, every kid in my class got a yoga ball chair at his or her desk. Yes, it took a lot to get used to watching 27 bouncing heads as I was trying to explain Idaho History, but well worth the extra energy burn. This reduced the amount of times the kids got out of their seat and bothered other classmates drastically. 

I tried to make everything bright and fun! I did research on the paint colors I was using, and how each color could affect mood and behavior. Turns out the color orange can make you hungry and blues make you happier and increase brain activity.

Importance of Physical Activity & Mindfulness 

We took time outs for 60-second “Brain Breaks” (I.e. Jumping jacks, dance parties, jump rope.) we also tried meditating, yoga, and timed breathing. After yoga, I gave my students time to write and reflect silently about how they felt their day was going in a journal that only I was allowed to read. I found Fluency and Fitness (math or reading with fitness breaks in between) on Teacherspayteachers.com,  to be so much fun! Some days we didn’t get to do anything extra physically or mentally, but at least they had their bouncing yoga balls, all the time. 

Another great mind exercise was the 10-minute “Hard Work” times, where at the beginning of writing or math assignments, my students had to be silent and start or think about what they were going to do for their assignment before anyone could speak or ask questions. This was followed by 5 minute reflections at the end where they got to think silently and then partner share about they liked and disliked about the assignment or activity.

Nutrition & Learning 

At our school, we have an amazing program that all students get FREE breakfast, lunch and snack at the end of the day, as long as we meet healthy requirements, and the food is nutritious for their little bodies. Not only does my school district care about healthy nutrition but also to make sure each child is getting at least two meals a day. If you meet income requirements, we will send food home for your family on the weekends. I have had a student tell me that learning was hard for them because they didn’t get to eat at home. I would say our district is pretty great for not letting this be the reason kids aren’t doing their best in school. 

No Homework Policy

One more little thing I do in my classroom to help boost energy and keep kids moving, is not overloading their minds with homework. A 9 year old has to live by his or her parent’s schedule. They might have parents that work late and aren’t home to help them if needed, or their parents might have errands and chores that the kiddos have to tag along for. I am a firm believer in students doing their work at school and playing and spending time with their families outside of school.

So whether is be taking time out for a 6 minute basketball game, or a 60 second dance party, get your students or kids out of their chairs and up and moving. It has proven successful this year for my class as my class's scores met or exceeded the Idaho state average this year! 

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I have watched Miranda's teaching journey on Instagram and couldn't be more excited for what she is doing in her classroom. As a mother of two young children, I can only hope my boys will have a teacher like Miranda who will challenge the system creatively to make a better learning environment and experience for them. May she light the way to change! 

Drink of the Summer: Sassy Water

The first time I had this refreshing beverage was Summer 2007. My goodness, it's been a decade! My mother had made it during one of my visits home and I was hooked. It may have been the name at the time. This was the beginning of this infused water craze! 

Now I crave it every year at the beginning of the summer. As soon as it heats up outside, and the nights are not nearly as cool, the ingredients start calling to me in the grocery store. The recipe came from the Flat Belly Diet, but I don't really adhere to it. I use what I have, and add fun things when the occasion calls for it! I just so happened to have ginger in my freezer - did you know you could freeze ginger?

Ingredients

• 1 Organic Cucumber, peeled & sliced
• 1 Lemon sliced (I peel mine because I don't like the bitter rind flavor - but that's totally your call)
• 1 Grip of Mint Leaves - try growing your own! Mint is like a weed! 
• 1 Tsp of Freshly Grated Ginger

Add that to a pitcher, add water, and let it soak overnight in the fridge. 

You are supposed to drink the whole pitcher in a day if you are looking for the flat belly. But, I just fill up my Nalgene and go! I continue to drink water throughout the day, not just the 32 oz of Sassy Water.

Now, you are curious about the additions, right? 

• Coconut water - extra potassium and hydration
• La Croix (Citrus flavor) - the fun fizzy bubbles make it a great poolside drink
• Apple Cider Vinegar - More digestive benefits 

This is a seriously refreshing drink. If you drink the whole pitcher in a day, you will absolutely be hydrated, which helps with bloating. Also, I use the concoction of ingredients twice. After I fill up my glass or Nalgene, I refill the pitcher and let it soak again throughout the day.

Do you infuse your water to make it more interesting or just go with old reliable? 

For more information on the actual Flat Belly Diet's Sassy Water, click here. 

Interview with "The Vegans"

I lovingly call these friends of mine "The Vegans," because they are the only friends of mine who have gone vegan and stayed vegan. The first time I attempted at the vegan lifestyle was after I read the book "SkinnyBitch" in 2009. Randi had gone vegan as well around the same time frame and I found a lot of comfort in having a friend who found the same things important as me. It's often a lifestyle change that brings about a lot of "concerns" from folks... ie "Where do you get your protein?" (Another post for another day). It is good to have community for support in the early days when you may not have the tool set to educate the people questioning your motives.

Since then, I have gone back and forth between vegetarianism to meat-eating, but I always found myself going back to vegetarianism. Recently, I have been inching closer and closer to vegan, but haven't quite made it. Randi and Kevin have been been vegan since forever. I think it is so amazing and admirable! Here is a quick Q & A with them. As my plant-based experts, you will likely see more from them down the line!

How long have you been vegan?

Randi: 8 years, almost exactly to the day.

Kevin: 6-ish years….I don’t know the exact date.

What inspired you to go vegan? (Reasons, resources, books, movies, etc.)

Randi: I was introduced to some undercover footage of animal agriculture and processing. It was enough to change me right then.

Kevin: My lovely wife [Randi]. Like anything positive in my life she was the catalyst for change. She came home one night with the book “The Engine 2 Diet” and it all clicked from there.

Have your reasons for being vegan changed? If yes, how so?

Randi: I originally started out vegan for animal rights. The more I dove into the lifestyle, the more I learned about the health and environmental benefits as well.

Kevin: I started out exclusively for health reasons. As the years go on, animal rights and the environmental side have become more important.

You have a son, has he been vegan since birth? How have you dealt with the haters?

Randi: In all technicality, Ira was given cow based formula during his first two days of life. Everything else has been vegan. I really try to avoid anyone who might have differing opinions towards raising children vegan. I usually take everything they say with a grain of salt because everyone has an opinion on the best way to raise your child.

Kevin: That is my absolute favorite thing. Raising our kiddo to be a compassionate person is an amazing feeling. We actually haven’t had to deal with too many “haters.” I’m a big believer in educating those that have differing or misinformed views. You don’t get anywhere by being defensive or attacking.

Have you found community in other vegans?

Randi: YES! We have met some amazing people in the vegan community. They have always been so welcoming.

Kevin: Absolutely. Some of our best friends have been a result of the vegan community (thanks Instagram).

How do you eat when you travel or visit family and friends?

Randi: We usually try to bring as many snacks as possible but also research through Happy Cow or other websites places to eat. We get really excited looking at food.

Kevin: We plan our trips around food so we rarely get stuck without anything to eat. I LOVE making “omni friendly” vegan dishes for friends to help show them that our way isn’t so bad.

How do you plan/prep your meals for the week?

Randi: We don't and it's really something we are trying to work on. Dinner is always decided on last minute so it's always a scramble putting it together. It usually ends up being a super simple recipe from Happy Herbivore.

Kevin: Simplest answer…..Rice, beans, and greens.

What changes have you noticed in your health?

Randi: I have always noticed I have felt “lighter” in my conscience. I also notice my energy levels are higher. Also, the more veggies we add, the better I feel.

Kevin: Quicker recovery time and a clear conscience. When you stick to a predominately whole foods diet you are giving your body the best fuel possible. When the food on your plate aligns with your values you really can’t go wrong.

Kevin, you said "quicker recovery time," what do you mean by that?

Kevin: After working out. Quicker recovery time equals little to no soreness. Ability to get back to it without taking any supplements.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a vegan or plant-based life?

Randi: I always congratulate them on the conscious step. I say, every little bit counts. It can be a huge change and it does get easier.

Kevin: Jump in and get shit done, simply put. Go all in for 28 days (that’s how I started) and you will never go back. Also, stay positive and educate yourself at all times.

Will you share your favorite vegan recipe?

Randi: Cheater Pad Thai from Happy Herbivore.

Kevin: Black Beans and Rice from “The Engine 2 Diet.” We’ve been eating that once a week for the last 6 years and it NEVER gets old.

If you have any questions or need resources on a plant-based life, they Kevin and Randi are an excellent resource, they certainly have been for me! They will be visiting early in June and I cannot wait to share some of our plant-based food adventures!

Have you thought of going vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian? What attracts you to that lifestyle? Or, what prevents you from making the change?

Breathe Easier: 6 Air Purifying House Plants

Summer is encroaching. While this season is for vacations, holidays, and general easy, breezy livin', it is also the time of year when we Arizonans hunker down indoors. We close the windows and the shutters and live off A/C until October. I hate living off A/C for many reasons, but one is the terrible air quality that starts circulating, and then re-circulating through the house. Many indoor air toxins are potential carcinogens, and the closed up house and A/C pushes them from room to room.  

What's a girl to do? House plants. That's it. Well, that's not it, but it's a start! House plants gobble up toxins up for breakfast. While I don't want to be paranoid, I will do the simplest thing I can, and that is let the plants do some of the heavy lifting.

Spider Plant

This little baby loves sunshine and makes more little babies when treated well. My mom gave me my first one when I moved into my first apartment, and it has moved with me ever since! We've seen our ups and downs, but it's thriving again in my bedroom window.

Removes: Formaldehyde (found in car emissions, pressed wood, and other building materials) and benzene (found in plastics, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, gasoline/emissions, and pesticides).

Golden Pothos

Another plant that swings around our house as well as my childhood homes. This plant is practically unkillable. So if you don't have a green thumb, get this one. It tells you when it's unhappy, and you can easily re-root the trimmings. Given the toxins it removes from the air, I put one in our entry way and near the garage.

Removes: Formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (car emissions, stoves, lanterns, fireplaces), and benzene.

Snake Plant

My son and I recently planted this  new addition to our house. I have known of its crazy nightlife for a while, and I am super stoked to have it as an addition to our air purifiers. This plant does its work while we are snoozing, improving oxygen levels.

Removes: Carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene.

Boston Fern

We received a sprig of this plant from my mother-in-law, who received it from her mother, who inherited it from her mother. This is a fourth generation fern. Oh the pressure! I finally have this fern in a place where it can be happy! It needs high moisture and humidity, of which Arizona has neither. This one takes a little more care, but it also takes care of us.

Removes: Formaldehyde

Lady Palm

This is a slow-growing corner charmer of a plant. It needs a little more real estate, but it can be a show stopper once it gets going.

Removes: Ammonia (found in house cleaning products, fertilizers, fabric dyes, and latex).

Peace Lily

This lovely, large plant doesn't require a lot of light and makes the most beautiful flowers. Use caution when choosing this plant, it is poisonous to animals, causing difficulty breathing, swallowing, and vomiting.

Removes: Acetone (found in nail polish remover, paint thinner, varnishes, plastics, and cleaning products) and Benzene.

There are many more plants that do good work in your home, and you can certainly find one that fits your decor. Plants also earn their keep making a house feel like a home, and I often dispose of un-drunk water into their pots as to not waste!

I am hoping to start adding more plants for the summer and have a few Golden Pothos rooting right now. What plants do you keep in your home?

A Simple Connection: A Big Difference

A few months ago I was going through the Dairy Queen drive through, very much looking forward to my cool treat. I was wondering if my blizzard would indeed be upside down thick when the gal at the drive through window complimented my hair. While I didn't think it looked any different than normal, it really lit me up inside and made me smile.

That's when it occurred to me, if she said one nice thing about every person who went through her drive-thru that day, she could make each person smile. What an opportunity to make a difference to so many people. Then I thought, how can I implement this positive action in my own life?

I don't encounter many strangers in my normal work day. I see the same people day in and day out, but why not say something nice about them? I spend most my life with these people. "I love your shoes!" or "That band you told me to listen to was awesome!" How easy it is to say those things, yet, the monotony of our schedules can prevent us from saying, or noticing, these things. I also put this flyer up in our break room from The Compliment Project. Got a few takers.

Another opportunity I have taken advantage of is saying, "Good morning!" when I am walking to my office from the parking lot. There are landscapers, delivery drivers, security officers, and the like all around me. A simple greeting can easily change the day, if not for them, certainly for me.

Try it out! Instead of avoiding eye contact with a stranger, give them a smile, a compliment, or a greeting. Hopefully it will make someone (including you) a little happier today. You can also visit The Compliment Project to download and print your own flyers!

5 Easy Earth Day Projects

In 1970, the first Earth Day celebrations were coordinated by the non-profit Earth Day Network. Can you believe the 50th anniversary of Earth Day is only 3 years away? Earth Day Network is working diligently to build the largest environmental movement in history for the 2020 celebration. While they are busy doing that, and bringing awareness to the public, what difference can we make in 2017? Here are a few simple things you can do:

1. Take a walk with two bags, one for recyclables and one for trash. Pick up any garbage you see along the way and dispose of it properly. 
2. Live in your environment. If it's cold wear you live, avoid turning on your furnace and bundle up! If it's hot, reduce your energy usage by turning off your AC. 
3. Plant sustainable plants. Go to your local nursery and ask for the best sustainable plants for this time of year. Anything you plant will help with our Co2 emissions! 
4. Plan your own Earth Hour. March 25th was 2017's Earth Hour day, but turning off your lights for an hour, and convincing your friend's to do the same, can make an impact.
5. Ride your bike. Reduce your emissions by riding your bike or walking to your destinations. If that isn't possible, consider car pooling!

These seem pretty doable, right? Seems pretty doable all year, right? Doing little things like this throughout the year makes a difference!

I am teaching my boys the importance of taking care of our Earth. We talk frequently about the importance of not littering or wasting water. We throw away recyclables in the "blue garbage" and waste in the "white." If I can plant those seeds now, I am hoping for a brighter, greener future for them.

This Saturday, we will be taking a walk on our community trail early in the morning to pick up trash, using our Keep It Wild DIY Clean Up Kit. My oldest son has been talking about it all week. We frequent our favorite path, which wanders through a desert wash, and want to take care of it for our future adventures. Then we will be heading to the farmer's market to support our local farmers!

How are you celebrating Earth Day? 

Where's the Beef?

Health is a very important piece of my life, and I am trying to spread it like a disease. An organic life-style has been a major focus for me for the last five years. Fruits, veggies, legumes, quinoa, and other natural foods are something my family is quite comfortable having on their plates at dinner. But the more I learn about healthy eating, the more I learn about the environment. They go hand in hand. Did you know?

CNN recently reported on the effects that Big Food is having on the environment in their article "Go Vegan, Save the Planet," but that is something I have been reading about for years. Maybe I can’t change the world, but I can certainly vote with my household dollar, and we are taking this into consideration. 

Slowly but surely, we are moving towards a plant-based diet in our home. My husband, who is of Mid-western (German) descent, loves him some of grandma’s hot dish, chicken pot pie, anything meaty, cheesy, and/or greasy. So how do I play into his dietary preference, while considering health and environmental factors? I am sneaking in plant-based “meat-like” products into our dinners. I wait until he says he loves the meal, then spill the beans. It wasn’t meat at all!

Enter “Beyond Meat!” The texture is near identical to the meat they are mimicking with plant-based products! If you follow The Simple Choice on Instagram, you will remember I used their Beyond Beef Crumbles - Beefy in our spaghetti dish this week. Could he tell? Nope. He thought I had used ground turkey or something of the like, but it was still quite “meaty” to him. Now that I have successfully, and lovingly, duped him a few times, he said he is totally cool with incorporating more of these plant-based meats into our lives without balking and me twisting his arm.

If you are worried about protein intake, fear not! Impressively, The Beyond Burger boasts 20 grams of protein vs 19 grams of protein in an animal based patty. The Beyond Burger has double the iron, nearly half the saturated fat, and ZERO cholesterol. Not a fan of soy? No problem! There isn’t any soy in their products.

We will definitely be using Beyond Meat much more frequently in our house now. I highly recommend trying their products. The less animal products we consume, the kinder we are, in every aspect of the word. 

Death and Beginning

I haven’t experienced many deaths in my 31 years. My grandmother when I was 8, my family dog when I was 17, and my husband’s grandfather before we were married. As an adult, we've lost my Aunt Joan, the kindest woman I’ve ever known, my step-mother’s father, a WWII veteran, passed away just before Christmas, and most recently, my husband’s uncle. The older I am getting, the more I am witnessing these losses.

My relationship with these losses feels so heavy and emotional, but also like they are not mine. I see the sadness and suffering of people I love very much, but does it also belong to me? I feel like an fraud when I weep for the losses. I weep for the absence of life, I weep for my hurting family, and I weep for the realization that maybe they didn’t get to do all that they set out to do. I, then, start to look inward.

Why is it that it takes a loss to help us to see what is important? A death that makes us shift our priorities? The end of something to help us begin again with purpose?

2017 has not started out as I would have liked. Things are hard at work. Things are hard at home. Schedules don’t allow for much self-care (2017 cliche?). That all changes now. 

Things I am doing for me:

• Personal Training – Getting fit and taking control of my health
• Food Consumption – Significantly reduce the amount of animal products I consume
• Education – Seriously consider going to school for Holistic Nutrition
• Mindfulness – Meditation and mindfulness solo and with my family
• Relationships – Monthly date nights with my husband, one-on-one time with each son, reach out to family and friends more regularly outside of social media
• Minimalism – Reduce the crap and clutter in my home and office that doesn’t have meaning or create joy in my life

Mercury is retrograde; is there any better time to discover what is working and what isn’t? 

About The Simple Choice

Hi, I am Emily. I am a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I am on the prowl for a simple way of being. I am certain simplicity is the key to life. This space represents that journey. In addition to that journey, this is a space for inspiration, motivation, and positivity.

I have found myself surrounded by people who inspire me in so many ways: entrepreneurs, squares, artists, moms, dads, children, grandparents, chefs, vegans, professionals, job seekers, and adventurers (some holding several of those titles)! I take lessons from each of them because they are all powerful and amazing teachers, whether or not they know it. They inspire me to be my best self. I think they have stories to tell, lessons to teach, and gifts to give the world. This is where I would like to do that, to capture their motivation and inspiration.

The Simple Choice is about gathering thought leaders with different stories and backgrounds to inspire others as they have inspired me. Just regular people who say, think, and do amazing things.

Stay tuned.