Pebblekeeper

For moms who are planning/thinking of planning/think planning might be a good idea for other people – Come on in and take a seat!

Oh Holy Cow. It’s the only thing I can think to say after spending the morning reading through the greatest planner ever made!

Raise your hand if you are list maker . . . . .Don’t be shy – even if you never follow through with the lists – ya, you in the back . . . .Susan – Could you gather your friends up close up front for a better seat??? Thanks love. 🙂

So I sat down this morning to work on scheduling, goals and planning.  It looks a bit like this: (Four shots clicked from my camera at 8ish this morning)

I’ve long since given up trying to keep all of these lists in one spot. I’ve walked the aisles at every paper and book store in town til I thought I’d walked off the Frappacino I’d been sipping. I’d tire out the store clerks til I could verbally hear them moan when I was back the next day. (I heard you Karen – you didn’t know – but I did.)

Now I’ve come up with a system that works for me – as long as my  office space stays clean. The problem starts when we actually use this space after the great office cleanout. Then, all of these items stay on the bottom of the clean stacks – so I know where they are – and have the info in my memory. 🙂 Never to be touched or re-used again, til after Christmas on the bi-annual great office clean up day. 🙂

So – this morning I am sitting down, starting to make my lists of what to do this year, and wrapping up last year, working on a menu and a budget – when I got an email from This Old Schoolhouse – saying that they’d love people to create an ad for their planner. Get the news out. Help out the moms in August before they get so far into September that the planning gets put off for “real life”.

To tell you the truth  I was so far into my planned morning – and I had read articles from the reviews for the June – Travel the World – Module – from the Crew that I didn’t answer right away – but I was curious – and shot the emailer a request to peek at the planner – so I can see if I like it or not.

OK. Back to the HOLY COW!!!! (Susan, could you pass around the coffee, Shannon, got any cake or canned peaches to pass out?)

LISTS GLORIOUS LISTS – SO COMPLETE BUT SIMPLE AND SCUMPTOUS!!!!! Sorry for breaking out in song folks but GOOD GRAVY!!!!! (ya, I am on my 3rd cup)

I had to quit the idea of a conventional ad (sorry TOS folks) and just tell you how this product blessed my socks off today – and how I wished I had it in the beginning –

It is the : Drum Roll: (Wow – thanks Teri and Lisa – didn’t know ya’ll were payin’ attention)

This Old Schoolhouse 2010 Planner –
Read their description and get one for you!! <<Here>>

I can’t tell you that I’ve read this encyclopedia of a planner yet – as it has 614 pages! I did read through the table of contents and scrolled through all of the pages. They have seriously thought of everything! For one  – the forms are Typeable – in  the PDF Reader.  No need to print them out – and then fill them out – to have them sit at the bottom of the office desk stack.  I love their Week at a Glance – Field Trip Planner- Unschooling Recap – Grocery Lists – OH – And I was at a conference last year and paid over 25.00 for a Chore Chart that didn’t work for our family – this one comes with several chore charts – even a 2 pager with PICTURES – Did I mention the Garden Planning By Season list? that comes with the what we planted with a grid to draw it out???? or –for my TV buddies anxiously awaiting a year without Lost or Heroes or 24 –  – a TV Show Reminder list.  GOOD GRAVY.

Let me get serious for a minute to the moms who are just starting their homeschool journeys.  (quiet down ladies up front  – Someone’s going to have to clean up those peaches – how did they??? nevermind)

When you start homeschooling – you are not expected to think of everything. The list of things to keep track of in the home are overwhelming. When does the oil get changed? When do you put leaves around as mulch? What’s for lunch next Thursday? How do you write out a book report?  So many swirling questions – and then – the questions that you didn’t think of – where to keep track of it all – especially when you don’t know what “it all” is. . . . . I can’t write articles on HOW TO homeschool or HOW TO be organized – but I can give you a testimony on how to walk along beside those who have gone before – of how to find the resources that are available – if this is your first year homeschooling – or you haven’t found your groove yet – this planner – encyclopedia of home /school / life planning is for you!

If you are one of the moms up front who are very very skilled at making lists – This Encyclopedia of Glorious Forms is for YOU! Not to mention the month by month ideas of things to do/eat/see/experience that takes up almost the whole first half of the book. But that’s a different session –

My disclaimer is that I was not paid – will not get paid – to review the This Old Schoolhouse Planner  for you  – I received my copy free – to pass on to you. I had the choice to not like it – say there were too many forms, too much information – not well organized – I could have – I was honestly prepared to say it was over priced for moms who are working on buying math curriculum and science supplies –

But I have to tell you from the bottom of my retail husband’s wallet – You Will Not Spend Better Money This Year. Save yourself hours of aggravation and time creating what has already been created for you!

Check out all of the specs – http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/TOSEBookSellSheets/Modules/10Planner/10Planner.htm

Here is my crazy attempt at an ad  –

Not professional enough ?  Sorry – I’ve really had way too much coffee and free time this morning . . . . .

Did I mention you can get this on CD of you do not wish to download such a huge file?
Click here for the CD link!

Um, The meeting’s over folks. Someone’s gonna have to run to get iced coffee supplies. I’m feelin’ a hankerin comin on.

Disclaimer: I am on the TOS Homeschool Crew and I have have used the product represented to write these ads – but mostly to encourage my friends. This is one ad that I did NOT have to participate in –  chose to share with you!  – 8-14-2010 – This was written as an ad – not a review – a sell sheet – by writing it, and receiving the product – I have been entered into a competition offered by the company.  Since many of you have said you purchased it this week   – Then I guess I did my job. 🙂