All the world's a laboratory to the inquiring mind.

My Fundraising page: www.firstgiving.com/goingbald

CHILDHOOD CANCER STINKS!! Especially, finding out you have cancer just months before your prom…graduation…..college….

Recently, a girl I have never met…Brooke…found out just that.

I knew immediately I wanted a difference.

MORE THAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…I wanted to show my children and my teens…that ANYONE can make a difference–you don’t have to be rich, just give what you have.

From my pic, you can see I have a lot of hair. I have decided to go completely BALD to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer. Being bald, I anticipate a lot of questions…and I hope it will raise awareness and compassion.

1. My hair will be donated to Locks For Love.

2. Money raised on this website will be donated to CaringBridge-an awesome organization that allows families and friends to stay connected when a loved one is receiving care; Money can also be given directly to me to go to Brooke and her family as they courageously walk the road to recovery.

My going BALD date will be MAY 15, 2010–the very day my teens are getting ready to attend their prom. I hope you can help me meet my goal of $200. Thanks!!

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As a homeschooler, BOOKS are our life. We absolutely love them. Our public library leaves a lot to be desired. First, the book we need is seldom there…and second, I often forget to get them back on time…Have discovered it is just easier to own books–between the late fees and just the love of having our own books…we have invested a lot in books.

We were asked to review the Homeschool Library Builder. I had not heard of it before. Homeschool Library Builder was created by homeschooling moms. It stocks new and gently used hardcover and softcover books available at great prices–I have found books up to 93% off!!

You can search for books by topic, curriculum, or by age/grade. They even have a search feature to help find ‘hard to get’ titles. They stock several out-of-print titles as well as new releases. It is definitely a great place to go look for books that will enhance your homeschooling.

I think what I love best is their membership program. Membership is FREE!! and you can earn money towards books. Every dollar spent = one point. Earn 15 points to get $1. You can also get points by recruiting new members and linking to Homeschool Library Builder from your blog or website. LOVE FREE BOOKS!!

The motto of the Homeschool Library Builder is “Filling Your Bookshelves Without Emptying Your Wallet.” They definitely live to their motto and this site is a great place to look for books to enhance your homeschooling AND support homeschooling families–does it get any better?!

Disclaimer: This review was written as part of my involvement with TOS Crew. I received not compensation for writing this review. It does express my honest opinion of the company.

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I would say weight loss has been a battle for me…but that would presuppose I had entered the fight. I give losing weight lip service as I snack on Girl Scout cookies and sit on my couch and make excuses for not exercising and eating–after all the best stress relief=Chubby Hubby ice cream (right?!)…

With the weather now nice–there is truly no excused to not go running. (Well, except that my favorite shoes are giving me blisters but to remedy that I used DH’s coke rewards points to order a new pair of Nike’s–so as soon as they arrive there goes even that excuse)

I did go out today…with my blister-causing shoes (after DH said that it would be a silly thing to do!) But I had read somewhere that applying gobs of petroleum jelly would keep the shoe from rubbing and therefor blisters would not form–ummm…did not work.

My planned three miles was cut to one, limpy mile….but as I was walking (could not run because of the blister)…I started thinking about all the websites I have visited, and Biggest Loser episodes I have watched, and magazines and books I have read about weight loss and running. Let me tell you, I am definitely filled with book knowledge. I know all the ‘secrets’ about what is ‘sure to work’ and I have made some half-hearted attempts at many different things…As I was walking, though, it occurred to me that it really boils down to the 3 R’s!

R #1: RECORD! almost every diet plan or life-eating plan (as most call themselves now) talks about how important it is to journal everything you eat. I know it would make a difference but I am so stubborn about doing it because I just don’t want to write down those 3 thin mint cookies–I think knowing what I eat and when and why would be the number one key to weight loss success. I know I do a lot of mindless munching…but couldn’t tell you just how many calories I ‘waste’ a day other than the number is high.

R #2: RUN! which is really code for exercise. I love the running the best. But I have come to the conclusion that what really matters is the moving. I don’t need to power-lift and be so scheduled that it is not fun–but I do need to move everyday! I need to make an hour for myself to get out there and do something. Time (especially as a homeschooling, working mom) is so limited BUT that hour a day–also life-changing. It is ‘me-time’–time to pray, think, just be. “Losing” that hour, gains so many rewards.

R #3: RELATIONSHIP! This is a personal one for me. All the reading says not to diet–that diets are restrictive and no one can stick to them–they give an out to people like me. I know I have an unhealthy relationship with food. I get so busy, I don’t eat, and then I binge! That cycle happens all throughout the day. I also have a major sweet tooth. I am a vegetarian who has turned largely into a junkatarian (I don’t eat meat but not much healthy, either.) For weigh loss to occur, I need to redefine my relationship with food AND that has to mean sticking to a schedule and being really strict with what I choose to consume. Food has to lose its “crutch” affect with me. For the time-being, I need to think of food as energy and not a source of enjoyment or stress-relief.

That is not saying that I will never not eat the things I love…for example, a dear friend and I go out weekly for Starbucks–and I do choose healthy off the menu–that will continue…but the other 4-5 trips a week just because don’t need to happen….

Bottom-line: weight-loss is not easy. And it is not just going to happen because I read a thousand articles. It comes down to a choice I need to make within myself. And the discipline to not let the excuses that run through my head win out.

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