We will definitely participate again next month, but I also just found out about this new reading program through The Old Schoolhouse. There will be some great prizes and there is a coloring contest right now to jump start your summer fun.  Submissions must be in before June 15th.

You can check it out here.

Fun summer reading!

Hugs~~

I can’t wait until Friday! We will be headed to Indianapolis at 6am to attend the IAHE Convention! I need to sit down and plan my curriculum agenda so I can navigate the vendor hall confidently. If I’ve learned anything over the last 12 years about conventions, is to have a plan before you get there. You can so easily become overwhelmed with all the books, videos and curriculum choices.

I thought I would share with you our meal plans while we are there so you can see that eating whole foods is still possible even though you are away from home.

I am using protein bars from Precision Nutrition’s original cookbook Precision Nutrition and their newest cookbook, Gourmet Nutrition

Since we are leaving really early in the morning on Friday (not early for me, but for everyone else), I will be making boiled eggs the night before. After peeling them I will store them in the fridge for the next morning’s breakfast. All the protein bars will be made Wednesday since I have no boot camps that day and can get a lot of cooking done.

We also have a cooler that can be plugged into the car adapter or a regular outlet. So we will be taking this with us for some of the things that need to stay cold. Our hotel may or may not have a fridge so I am planning ahead.

We also plan on eating out for dinner after we pick up the babies on Friday and Saturday.

Here’s the plan for both days:

6 am: Boiled Eggs and Fruit (on the road food)
9 am: Banana Nut Squares (Gourmet Nutrition) for snacks until lunch time.
Noon: In Hotel Room – Grilled Chicken Salads/Nuts/Fruit OR All Natural turkey breast deli meat wrapped up in cheese slices/Nuts/Fruit
3 pm: Granola Bars (Gourmet Nutrition) for snacks until dinner
6 pm: Pick up little ones and head out to a restaurant for dinner

Our hotel has a workout room, but as usual, it is all cardio equipment (gag me!). So, I will bring along a trusty kettlebell and do a workout in the hotel room. I’ll try and get one of the kids to video tape it so you can see what can be done even though your away from home.

That’s the plan. I’m excited! Can you tell?

There are going to be some wonderful workshops on college that my teenager wants to attend.  I will officially have all my kids homeschooling next year.  My 3 year old will be working with my 5 year old, although somewhat modified.  I will have a middle schooler and my high schooler will be completing her last year of school.  Wow!  Time sure flies!

If any of you are attending the Indy convention, please let me know.  I would love to meet you.

Hugs~~

Top Ten Reasons We Homeschool

by the CHENI Homeschool Group, 2009

10. Yeah, these are pajamas. So?

9. My locker is 12 X 14.

8. Solitaire is a sport.

7. No more mystery meat.

6. Our bus has seatbelts.

5. My desk chair is a recliner.

4. No homework, all homework–it’s a matter of opinion.

3. All my teachers like me.

2. I’m always at the top of my class.

1. School starts when I do.

One of the most incredible accomplishments last year was my trip to see my family for the first time in the Philippines.  There is an adventure goal building exercise in the program that I am now a complete believer in.  Prior to the Magic Hundred, I would have never imagined traveling to another country, especially since I didn’t even have a passport, but within the first 60 days of the program I found myself on an airplane traveling to see family I had never met before.  I was so excited!

So this year, after sharing the program with my husband, we decided to involve our two older daughters in our goal making.  Yesterday we spent an hour listening to the audios and creating our individual lists of 100 goals to finish in 100 days.  It was really fun to see the spark in their eyes as they began dreaming of goals big and small to accomplish over the next several months. 

We will meet again on April 2nd to create our second list of 100 goals for the year 2009. 

There is a system to the Magic Hundred that is so simple but works so well.  It really is magical how opportunities seem to come out of the woodwork to help you achieve your goals.

This blog that you’re reading right now was one of the goals on my original list of 100.  There were many others that I accomplished such as spending one night a week on a date with my husband, starting a daily bible study with my girls, writing my first book, reading several specific books, finishing another certification course and becoming an RKC.  I could go on but I think you can see that this program can be very powerful if used with dedication. 

So, if you have been setting resolutions every year that never become reality, this program could change that for good. 

Dax even has a free community set up for the users of the Magic Hundred. Talk with him and ask him questions you may have regarding the program before you purchase it.  I met Dax last year in Connecticut for the first time and he is a genuine, transparent person.

Make 2009 your best year yet!

Hugs~~

Coach Angela

One of the most incredible accomplishments last year was my trip to see my family for the first time in the Philippines.  There is an adventure goal building exercise in the program that I am now a complete believer in.  Prior to the Magic Hundred, I would have never imagined traveling to another country, especially since I didn’t even have a passport, but within the first 60 days of the program I found myself on an airplane traveling to see family I had never met before.  I was so excited!

So this year, after sharing the program with my husband, we decided to involve our two older daughters in our goal making.  Yesterday we spent an hour listening to the audios and creating our individual lists of 100 goals to finish in 100 days.  It was really fun to see the spark in their eyes as they began dreaming of goals big and small to accomplish over the next several months. 

We will meet again on April 2nd to create our second list of 100 goals for the year 2009. 

There is a system to the Magic Hundred that is so simple but works so well.  It really is magical how opportunities seem to come out of the woodwork to help you achieve your goals.

This blog that you’re reading right now was one of the goals on my original list of 100.  There were many others that I accomplished such as spending one night a week on a date with my husband, starting a daily bible study with my girls, writing my first book, reading several specific books, finishing another certification course and becoming an RKC.  I could go on but I think you can see that this program can be very powerful if used with dedication. 

So, if you have been setting resolutions every year that never become reality, this program could change that for good. 

Dax even has a free community set up for the users of the Magic Hundred. Talk with him and ask him questions you may have regarding the program before you purchase it.  I met Dax last year in Connecticut for the first time and he is a genuine, transparent person.

Make 2009 your best year yet!

Hugs~~

Coach Angela

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had planned on getting away for the holiday by driving down state a few hours and staying in a hotel with a heated pool and spa. Due to my tailbone injury we ended up staying home and having a wonderful time regardless.

It is very common for the stress of the holidays to cause many to put aside thoughts of fitness and become victims of tradition. Fitness Coach said what?! Let me ask you this. How many of your holiday traditions center around food? Elaborate meals; endless cookies of all flavors, shapes and sizes; parties with numerous friends that center around food; decorations made of food (gingerbread house); gifts for friends made of food. I could go on but I’ll stop.

Over the last three years, I have made it a point to start family traditions that do not include food. Going for a drive at a local park that sets up thousands of lights. Delivering gifts (nonfood type) to our local nursing home while singing Christmas Carols, participating in our church Christmas musical, creating homemade sewn presents for each of my children and so much more. I’m sure you see what I mean.

For so many years my focus was on food. Celebrating every holiday with a huge feast, making special breads, cookies and drinks (non-alcoholic!). I wanted to change that around to focusing on the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus Christ! I have truly enjoyed the new traditions we have started.

I haven’t entirely stopped our old traditions. I kept the ones that were most meaningful to us. We still make cookies to give away at our homeschool cookie exchange. We collect all the exchanged cookies into different containers to give to friends. We still enjoy a Christmas dinner but with healthier fare. We made miniature gingerbread houses, although my 3 year old got frustrated and ate hers!

I want to offer a challenge to you this holiday season. Don’t stress on trying to outdo yourself each year. Enjoy each other this season, reflect on the blessings of 2008, and create some new healthier traditions. Just one new one a year. Let me know what you’ve done.

PS. I am working furiously on finishing up my Transformation Guide for Homeschool Moms to get it done before the new year. It will contain all the information you need to get fit and strong with exercises that include the entire family. Lots of fun games to get the kiddies involved.

[httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOogqa-5GA]