Mental Math for 5th Graders

I was cleaning out my game closet when I came across my son's tub of Play-Doh. Most were old and useless to play with but I paused when I was inspecting the cups. I saw Math Towers on Pinterest and instantly thought I could use these for my son. I created these Mental Math play-doh cups for my fifth grader with multiplying by 10's, 100's, 1,000's, and 10,000's.  It's the same concept with math facts but on a higher level.
Teach your kiddos to first on multiplying the number other than zero. For example:
Google Docs
You can use dry-erase markers to change it up. You can use a timer so they can improve their mental math time.

Kickin' It: Kick 3 Bad Habits

It always seems like every year, I am always adding to my New Year's Resolution List. This year I have decided to delete bad habits. Instead of adding resolutions that last until about ...January 15, I am getting rid of three bad habits. 

Bad Habit #1: Flossing

I hardly floss. So bad, I know. I should know better because the lady who cleans my teeth always busts my chops about it. "You hardly come to the dentist. And you never floss." Tsk Tsk Tsk. My appointment is January 10 and let's hope by deleting this bad habit will improve her mood about my teeth. Well, actually improve my teeth too.

Bad Habit #2: Sleeping

I'll be honest. I only get 6 hours or less sleep at night. I go to bed very late which is really not necessary.  That sleep that I do get is not restful either. I think I stay up late until I feel completely exhausted and then I head to bed. Guess what? I wake up completed exhausted. So good-bye, Bad Habit #2, I'll going to bed two hours earlier. I might even get to read!

Bad Habit #3: Spending

Is it just me or not spending money hard? I never realized how much I spend daily. It might just be something small like the vending machine for a soda or picking up dinner because I stayed too late at school. But over time, those daily unnecessary spending adds up. I'm kicking the weekly habit of eating out. That alone can be unhealthy and also wastes money. 

Hopefully my three deletions will add up to a better ME in 2012. Gosh, that was cheesy.

Pictures courtesy of :http://tvtropes.org/

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Aromatherapy Bath & Body Works: Winner Announced

The winner of the Aromatherapy Bath and Body Works Body Lotion is:


Dawn Ochoa:
The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux. An amazing story about life, and how one moment can change everything. Read this book at a low point in my life, wondering where I went wrong, and how I can move forward. An amazing read. In fact, gonna read it again now!

Congratulations to the winner! Inbox me or email me your information for me to mail it. Thank you for everyone  who entered. It was hard to choose from all of the great ideas. Please claim prize within 14 days or prize will return to prize vault. 

Contest is ON! Book Recommendation

"Vacation all I ever wanted!" Yes, by quoting 80's music I am definitely dating myself. Even though, I am officially on vacation from school, I still seem to find myself up at 5:00am. But instead of forcing myself to wake up, I am forcing myself back to sleep. Kinda like that! 
So I am shouting YES followed by a fist pump to the fact I get to read. My friend recommended The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. She has written a must-read called Gregor The Overlander that I read to my class every year. So I had to just dive into this book. Simply amazing. There are parts in the book where I go back to reread just to get the shock and awe again. I am now on the second book, Catching Fire. With this vacation time, I'm so looking forward to finishing it. 

With that, this contest is simple. What book do you recommend to read? Yep, that's it! Post here or on the Facebook page. Win Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Energy: Orange Ginger. Contest ends Monday, December 26, 2011 11:59pm. I will even pay for shipping! Good luck and tell a friend.

Contest is ON! Holiday Moments

My son has been saving his money he earns through making good grades. I always tell him that the grades he earns now will effect how successful he will be in life. When you have a job and you do it well, you will get paid well. So I pay him for his hard work.
He has been browsing and looking online for a present for me. At first, I thought it was sweet but then I was beginning to worry that he was just getting caught up with the whole Black Friday frenzy. This concerned me. I don't want him to spend his "hard-earned" money just because of the exciting ads, commercials, and news coverage about shopping during the holiday season. I decide that this can be a learning experience about his money and spending. 
"I found the prefect present for you!" he shouts. I charge it, promise not to look at the item, and he happily hands me over his earnings (which will probably just gradually end up back to him). A week passes and the package arrives. I am confined to my room while he wraps the gift with a label and bow. When I am released from my room, he places the first gift of Christmas under our tree. The word "beaming" is a mild description of his face. He is so proud of himself. Okay teaching moment worked out. Yeah!
But I was wrong. Dead wrong.  It wasn't until yesterday did I realize the true teaching moment. I was cleaning up the family room when I happened to glance at the first gift under the tree. I did a double-take and looked closer at the label. The label read "To: Mom, From: Shelly." He had not only bought me a gift but had made it from our cat. My eyes welled up at this unselfish act from such a small person. He gave credit to the cat even though he did it himself.
He gave me the greatest present a parent could receive: humbleness.

With that, the next contest: Share about a Holiday moment or memory you had in your life. You can win Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown kit. It comes with a nonslip yoga mat, yoga block for support, and a yoga strap for flexibility.  I will pay for the shipping! Post here or on the Facebook page. Contest ends Friday, December 16, 2011 11:59pm. Good luck and tell a friend! 

Aromatherapy Bath & Body Works Body Lotion: Winner Announcement

The winner of the Aromatherapy Bath and Body Works Body Lotion is:

Angie Cerda: 

"First of all I try to make time for relaxation or “push the pause button” as Dr. Mark Hyman calls it in his book “The ultra simple diet”.I follow Dr Hyman’s advice because he practices functional medicine and is well respected in his area of expertise.
Some of the relaxation techniques I put into practice regularly are:
1.-I take an “UltraBath” 3 times a week (20 minutes of soaking in hot water with Epsom salts and lavender essential oil)
2. - 60 -90 minutes of hot yoga or guided relaxation three times a week
3, - I try to avoid or limit my exposure to negative people.
4. - Practice of deep breathing
5. – I receive a full massage once a week.
6.-And if possible I try to take a 20-30 minute nap daily including the weekend.

So, little steps big changes :P"

Congrats to winner! Inbox me or email me your information for me to mail it.

Look for the next contest in a week or so. Please claim prize within 14 days or prize will return to prize vault.   

This weekend I was hard at work getting the "casa" ready for Christmas. The best part is my kid getting so giddy and excited putting up decorations that makes me warm inside.


To add to the holiday bliss is my pet getting giddy and excited as well. Shelly, my cat, was bounding and dashing through the bushes as I attempted to arrange the lights and candy canes in the yard. Slowly rubbing and weaving her body through the candy canes making them bent was slightly annoying but absolutely all forgiving.


With a bit of rain, I am glad to see my grass growing back just in time for the winter to ultimately die again. No worries! I am grateful to have a yard, a house, a place to make memories.