Author Archives: Andrea Hermitt

Cut the Cost of Your Window Treatments In Half

I had my living room and dining room painted this weekend and realized that my old window treatments would not work. Because the rooms are directly across from each other and painted two dramatically different colors, I would need the window treatments to be cohesive to balance out the stark contrast. I found a window treatment set that had the colors of both rooms in the pattern, and fell in love with them. The problem was that if I purchased 4 sets, it would cost far more than I had budgeted for them. After staring at the curtains for a … Continue reading →

Having Peace of Mind During Home Repairs

If you have been following my saga, you know I had to have my entire roof replaced because of a hailstorm followed by torrential downpours in Georgia. While the insurance company approved the repairs, the mortgage company held onto the money for 6 months just because they could. This meant more damage and more work to be done. We had the roof fixed a couple of weeks ago, and now the indoor damage on our home is being repaired. Sections of wall need to be replaced. A couple of ceiling spots need to be cut out and replaced as well. … Continue reading →

How The Economy Has Changed Homeschooling

When I started writing about homeschooling in 2006, my main motivation for writing about homeschooling was to defend the right to homeschool. Homeschooling was something that normal people just did not do. It was for the overly religious, and antisocial. Or so people thought. These days, just 4 years later, there is a lot less defending going on. Everyone we meet knows someone who homeschools and most now see it in a favorable light. These days, my motivation for writing about homeschooling is to keep new homeschoolers encouraged and informed. There is a lot of work to do too. It … Continue reading →

Are Your Teenage Girls Safe at Work?

A California girl just sued Starbucks for sexual harassment on the job. Her claim is that a 24 year old supervisor turned her into his sex toy. She felt like she could not say no and keep her job. Her manager eventually pleaded guilty and spent 4 months in jail. There are similar incidents all around the country. A Taco Bell Manager recently pleaded guilty to raping two 16 year old employees. They don’t always get away with it though. A 16 year old worker at a McDonald’s went to her mother about harassment and the manager was quickly fired. … Continue reading →

Loving Your Teens Through Problems

Teens are…. well, teenagers. One minute they can be on top of the world, impressing you and making you proud. The next minute they are rebelling, and shaming themselves and even you. They mess up. Sometimes they mess up big. We have to remember however, that we all mess up, and they are just a reflection of us. As their parents, it is our job to get them through their issues without minimal long-term damage. In dealing the dirtier, grittier, messier parts of raising teens, we have to remember to not take their mis-steps personal. When we internalize their mistakes, … Continue reading →

Can Dating Cause Teen Depression?

I had a conversation with my daughter some time back about dating. It wasn’t that she was interested in dating or anything, but I just wanted to make sure she didn’t have any expectations that it was something we would allow anytime soon. I explained that in my experience dating at a young age had caused more stress than happiness. Along with dating comes always worrying about how you look, worrying about your ‘relationship’, and worrying about competition and threats to your relationship. Teens also have to cope with unexpected break-ups that can really throw a teenager for a loop … Continue reading →

Easy Ideas for Painting Murals in Your Childrens Room part 2

You paint like a three year old and hiring a muralist is out of the question. Don’t let this stop you from creating an awesome custom room for your kids’ room. I recently introduced two fun and easy ideas for painting murals in your kids room, here are a couple more easy idea. Create Word Murals This wall mural idea is always unique as the words and sayings you choose will be your personal choice. You can order a custom stencil online with your favorite poem, encouraging words, or Chinese characters of your choice. There is no limit to your … Continue reading →

When Is It Ok to Wear Heels?

A recent Associated Press article discusess the fact that girls are wearing high heeled shoes at a younger ages. They are concerned that the shoes will interfere with physical development. Some of the problems with wearing heels before feet are fully developed are: ~ Tightening of the heel cord ~ Changes in the growth plate ~ danger of sprains and broken bones According to Mathew Dairman, a foot and ankle surgeon in Suffolk, VA, the age for begin learning to walk in heels is 12, as the foot bones have developed by this time. My problem with heels has nothing … Continue reading →

End Your Homeschooling Journey at Disney World!

This is one of those announcements that makes your eyes light up and your mouth drop open. Your homeschooler can now participate in a National Homeschool Graduation at Disney World! The date of this first homeschool graduation is May 9, 2010. This give you plenty of time to schedule a trip to Disney World. As my kids are set to graduate in 2012 and 2013, you had better believe that this is on my list of things to do! I will definately start planning now! To participate in the National Homeschool Graduation, you will need to: 1. Purchase your tickets … Continue reading →

Homeschooling Gains Popularity in India

The Times of India has an article entitled More Parents Opting for Homeschooling that explains the trend of parents in India deciding to homeschool their children. As parents decide that their children are over stresses, or are not getting a quality education at school, they are removing them and teaching them at home. Like many homeschooling families in the United States, some rely on the same books used in the schools, and for others, the internet and everyday life are the tools they use to teach their children. “None of them thrust books on their children. “When my child was … Continue reading →