I know it’s impossible for most parents to actually afford all of the cool stuff that gets written up. Heck, most of us can’t afford it either, and we’re envious of the person who scored a review copy of a cool board game or awesome gizmo. So while we love telling you about all the cool stuff that’s out there, I understand that as parents we all have limited budgets and we sometimes need help narrowing down our wishlists.

So to help you out, I’ve worked really hard to narrow down this list to five items that no kid should be without. All five should fit easily within any budget, and are appropriate for a wide age range so you get the most play out of each one. These are time-tested and kid-approved! And as a bonus, these five can be combined for extra-super-happy-fun-time.

1. Stick

What’s brown and sticky? A Stick.

This versatile toy is a real classic — chances are your great-great-grandparents played with one, and your kids have probably discovered it for themselves as well. It’s a required ingredient for Stickball, of course, but it’s so much more. Stick works really well as a poker, digger and reach-extender. It can also be combined with many other toys (both from this list and otherwise) to perform even more functions.

Stick comes in an almost bewildering variety of sizes and shapes, but you can amass a whole collection without too much of an investment. You may want to avoid the smallest sizes — I’ve found that they break easily and are impossible to repair. Talk about planned obsolescence. But at least the classic wooden version is biodegradable so you don’t have to feel so bad about pitching them into your yard waste or just using them for kindling. Larger, multi-tipped Sticks are particularly useful as snowman arms. (Note: requires Snow, which is not included and may not be available in Florida.)

As with most things these days, there are higher-end models of Sticks if you’re a big spender, from the smoothly-sanded wooden models (which are more uniformly straight than the classic model) to more durable materials such as plastic or even metal. But for most kids the classic model should do fine.

One warning: the Stick can also be used as a sword or club, so parents who avoid toy weapons might want to steer clear of the larger models. (On the other hand, many experts agree that creative children will just find something else to substitute for Stick, so this may be somewhat unavoidable.)
Finally, something that does grow on trees.
You could put someone’s eye out.

2. Box

Another toy that is quite versatile, Box also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Need proof? Depending on the number and size you have, Boxes can be turned into furniture or a kitchen playset. You can turn your kids into cardboard robots or create elaborate Star Wars costumes. A large Box can be used as a fort or house and the smaller Box can be used to hide away a special treasure. Got a Stick? Use it as an oar and Box becomes a boat. One particularly famous kid has used the Box as a key component of a time machine, a duplicator and a transmogrifier, among other things.

The Box may be the most expensive item on my list, available from many retailers and shipping companies, but they can often be had cheaper if you know where to look. Amazon is one of my main sources of the small- to medium-sized Box; I include one with virtually every order I place there. If you don’t mind second-hand toys, the grocery store, bookstores and recycling centers are also great sources for Boxes. Oh, and the best place for the extra-large version is an appliance store (though sometimes they’ll try to sell you an appliance along with it, which could get pricey.)

Note: If you’re in a pinch, Laundry Basket is a similar item and can often be substituted for Box in some instances, though it’s generally not as great for costumes (other than a turtle). And if you’re thinking of using Box for your next building project, Mr. McGroovy’s Box Rivets make a great optional accessory.
What do you put Box in when you’re done playing with it?

3. String

Kids absolutely love String — and when they can’t find it, sometimes they substitute other things for it such as scarves or blankets, but what they’re really after is String. Now, I should start off by saying that String is not intended for toddlers and babies: it is a strangulation hazard and your kids must be old enough to know not to put it around their necks. However, when used properly your kids can really have a ball with String.

The most obvious use of String is tying things together, which most kids love to do. You can use it to hang things from doorknobs or tie little siblings to chairs or make leashes for your stuffed animals. Use String with two Cans for a telephone (and teach your kids about sound waves), or with Stick to make a fishing pole. You’ll need String for certain games like Cat’s Cradle — there’s even an International String Figure Association for lots more information. String is a huge part of what makes some toys so fun — try using a yo-yo or a kite without String and you’ll see what I mean. Try the heavy-duty version of String (commonly branded Rope) for skipping, climbing, swinging from trees or just for dragging things around.

Although you can buy String at a store, it’s generally sold in much larger quantities than your children will probably need — usually kids are happy with roughly two or three feet of it. I actually have no idea where it comes from, because I don’t remember buying them any, so it must be pretty easy to come by.
It really ties everything together.
There’s a reason “no strings attached” is a benefit.

4. Cardboard Tube

Ah, the Cardboard Tube. These are kind of like the toy at the bottom of a box of Cracker Jacks — they come free with a roll of paper towels and other products but you have to wait until you get to the end of the roll before you can finally claim the toy. (Perhaps this explains why kids — who love the small size — go through toilet paper so quickly.) The small- and medium-sized are most common, but the large versions that come with wrapping paper can be more difficult to obtain — I had a roll of Christmas wrapping paper that lasted about three years before my kids finally got the Tube. There’s also an extra-large size that is sometimes sold with posters, and a super-sized industrial version which you’ll generally only find from carpet suppliers. (Of course, carpet stores aren’t toy stores, and while their product also goes by the name Cardboard Tube it’s hardly the same thing and probably shouldn’t be adox: considered a toy.)

My kids have nicknamed the Cardboard Tube the “Spyer” for its most common use in our house, as a telescope. (Or tape two of them together for use as binoculars.) But if you happen to be lucky enough to get a large size, the best use is probably whacking things. Granted, Stick is also great for whacking, but the nice thing about Cardboard Tube is that it generally won’t do any permanent damage. It’s sort of a Nerf Stick, if you will. If that sounds up your alley, look up the Cardboard Tube Fighting League — currently there are only official events in Seattle, San Francisco and Sydney, but you could probably get something started up in your own neighborhood if you wanted. Or if you’re more of a loner, perhaps the way of the Cardboard Tube Samurai is a better path.

Obviously if your own kids are younger you’ll want to exercise discretion about these more organized activities, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to provide them with a Cardboard Tube or two just so they’ll get used to the feel of it. You never know if your kid will be the Wayne Gretzky or Tiger Woods of Cardboard Tube Fighting, right? Best to give them the opportunity so that if they show some particular aptitudes they’ll have that early advantage. And if not, well, there are still plenty of people who enjoy playing with Cardboard Tubes casually without all that pressure.
Comes free with purchase of toilet paper, paper towels, and wrapping paper.
Doesn't hold up to enthusiastic play.

5. Dirt

When I was a kid one of my favorite things to play with was Dirt. At some point I picked up an interest in cleanliness and I have to admit that I’m personally not such a fan of Dirt anymore — many parents (particularly indoor people like me) aren’t so fond if it either. But you can’t argue with success. Dirt has been around longer than any of the other toys on this list, and shows no signs of going away. There’s just no getting rid of it, so you might as well learn to live with it.

First off, playing with Dirt is actually good for you. It’s even sort of edible (in the way that Play-doh and crayons are edible). But some studies have shown that kids who play with Dirt have stronger immune systems than those who don’t. So even if it means doing some more laundry (Dirt is notorious for the stains it causes) it might be worth getting your kids some Dirt.

So what can you do with Dirt? Well, it’s great for digging and piling and making piles. We’ve got a number of outdoor toys in our backyard, but my kids spend most of their time outside just playing with Dirt. Use it with Stick as a large-format ephemeral art form. (Didn’t I tell you how versatile Stick was?) Dirt makes a great play surface for toy trucks and cars. Need something a little gloopier? Just add water and — presto! — you’ve got Mud!

Dirt is definitely an outdoor toy, despite your kids’ frequent attempts to bring it indoors. If they insist, you’ll probably want to get the optional accessories Broom and Dustpan. But as long as it’s kept in its proper place, Dirt can be loads of fun.
Cheap as dirt.
Dirty.


I absolutely love this blog which is why I re posted it from GeekDad. I hope you enjoy reading this!!! Thank you!

It's not all that bad!!

Have you every thought to yourself "I have a hard life!" I know I have, some days are just plain difficult to deal with. With school or work and transporting and finding time to eat and getting enough sleep and other activities it can be a long hard week. Do you every stop in the middle of your day and say, "It's not that bad" or "It could be worse."? Yes it could be far worse.

These are our problems:

My hand is too fat to fit in the Pringles can so I am forced to tip it instead.

I didn't have a bad childhood, so I can't turn my pain into art.

I ate too much and now I'm tired.

I forgot to bring my phone into the bathroom with me, so now I'm bored.

I am kind of hungry but my roommate has guests over so if I go get food I will have to introduce myself.

I have to find my own girlfriend because my country doesn't practice arranged marriages.

I accidentally clicked on iTunes so now I have to wait five minutes for it to open so I can exit out of it.

My GPS made me drive through the ghetto.

I'm trying to text while at a red light, but I keep making all the greens.

I can't hear the TV while I'm eating crunchy snacks.

The Domino's pizza tracker isn't working, so I don't know when to put my pants on.

My laptop is on low battery but the charger is clear over there.


This kind of makes our problems sound pathetic.
Hope you enjoyed!

ZOMBIES!!

Have you ever wondered what you would do if a zombie apocalypse happened? I have.
Things you may need in case zombies attack:

Canned food-- enough to last at least a month until you can get more supplies.
A gun-- if anything it will slow them down enough for you to get a head start.
A hideout-- Somewhere to hide that has think doors (preferably underground as to not attract attention) but some way to see out in case you need to get out quick.
Running shoes-- Most zombies are either crawlers or stumblers but running away gives you a better chance of life.
A back way-- ALWAYS have a back door in your hideout, the first person to die is always cornered.
A spot light-- zombies will stay away if there is light, so shine a spot light on them and they'll back off... for now.
A sword-- Chopping off a few zombie limbs will help for a quick get away.
Anything you can hit or throw at them-- Baseball bats, bricks, ANYTHING will help!
Vehicle-- For a fast get away or to get supplies.

When in doubt... RUN. Go grab some supplies, hop on a plane, and go!! When it comes to zombies its every man for himself. Personally I would recomend going to a cemetery after the outbreak to hide out... its not like the zombies are going to be coming back to the dead any time soon!!
Be prepared for everything and good luck!

Less isn't more.

Phones - wireless
Cooking - fire-less
Cars - key-less
Dress - sleeveless
Youth - jobless
Leaders - shameless
Relationships - meaningless
Attitude - careless
Feelings - heartless
Children - manner-less

Everything is becoming less... and we need more. Somebody has to step up and start giving more. Less isn't more and it never will be, so be the person to stand up and start giving more. With our communities full of less, we need more.

Facts of Life

Life is about small joys, achievements, anguishes and contentment. It seems a mystery at times like the birth of a child, its milestones and old age that ends in death. There are so many facts about life that cannot be explained.
People meet and get attached emotionally. Sometimes it bonds into relationships or at times it is a simple acquaintance. Living a full life is a difficult thing to as man is full of ambitions. Life as a teenager is about exploring and silent aims to make it big.
Life as a career person is struggle and achieving targets. For a person who is married it is about family and well being of all its members. For a person who is yet to find the special person in his life, it is about a constant yearning. Sometimes life can be harsh in case of sudden death of loved ones or a uneventful situation.
Life is also about money and managing finances. Modest living is seldom done in today’s structure. Gizmos are ruling the life’s of all. People have better facilities in terms of education, travel and choice in spending a vacation. Parents want the best for their children and elders have their own support groups.
All of us want to have that little bit of magic touching us in times of low. The magic lies within us and inside our minds. Combining a routine life with small breaks is an ideal way to break the monotony. Life is also about giving, sharing and explaining situations. Facts remain regarding sickness, mounting expenses and disagreements with family.
Give and take is another rule and there is no special code of conduct as each personality is different. The nature of a person also changes as per circumstances.
Toddlers slowly walk on their own without hand holding and grown up kids set out to make their own nest. Accepting facts in life is the best way to not suffer loneliness. Life unravels secrets each time and guides us to happiness in daily living.


I've been thinking... about my life, what I have done, what I will do, and what I haven't and wont do in my life time. I want to be the lady that everybody loved, the one that was crazy, and happy about everything. If I do nothing else in my life I want to be the old lady that lived and loved well.
I am thirteen... only thirteen. I have so much time ahead of me, so many things to do, people to meet, and lives to change. I want to be different, I want to be the old lady that everybody wants to adopt as their own. I want to live, and live well, see things change, and new things come about. Life shouldn't be wasted, don't be bored with your day to day lifestyle... change it up a little.
Try something new, don't be afraid.
Smile.
Always smile.

Bananas, online dating, and so much more.

I have weird friends. Now you might be saying "Everybody has weird friends! That's what makes them unique!!"
No really my friends are over the top, straight up strange. First I'll talk about Courtney.
I met Courtney two and a half years ago at our dance studio, she was the most shy person you have ever met. Since then she has become my absolute best friend and is far less shy then when I first met her.
Some things that Courtney and I do are:
Talk to random people in sign language so they don't know what we are saying.
We can tell what the other is thinking about with just a simple look
And so many more things

Now onto Emmett:

We run through town carrying a huge stuffed banana at midnight.
Make fake online dating accounts so we can flirt with German guys.
Try to get the person taking our order to write their phone number on our food.

I have spent so many fun times with these two.. I can't even remember half to stuff we do. They are my best friends.. and I love them :)

Checking off..

Pretty much everybody has a bucket list... not necessarily a written one, but a mental one. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. I have a written one and add to it daily... some of the things on my list include:

*Start a flash mob
*Learn Chinese
*Become a certified lifeguard
*Write a novel
*Meet someone famous
*Change someones life
*Go to Disney World
*Re-inspire someone


These are just a few things on my very long list of to do's. Since I started my bucket list I have checked off, swim in the ocean, learn to knit, and a couple other things that I can't remember at the moment.
I want to add to my bucket list as I get older and check each and every thing off of it before I die. Having a bucket list really shows who you are and whats important in your life, my list has changed dramatically over the few years that I have had it, then again, I have changed dramatically.
Never stop adding to your list and being as creative as possible. Thanks for reading!

Stupid Girls

This week I want to talk a little bit about something I have to deal with a lot, everywhere... Stupid girls.
Today I don't care what anyone thinks or says about this, I am saying whats on my mind.

Everywhere I go I see girls... it's inevitable. The female species populates about 70% of our world so it is pretty much impossible to go an entire day and not see one of these "stupid girls". Now I should probably define the term "stupid girls"
Stupid girls are the girls that have lost ambition in the world, the ones that need a man in their life just to survive, who have no clue how hard we fought for women's rights only for them to toss them to the can. Not necessarily EVERY teenage girl is like this but there has been a growing population of them. Seriously... stand up and do something different for once. Don't just go to your local high school get a boyfriend join cheer leading and volleyball, dress like every other girl in the school until you graduate only to leave your glory days behind. It is a proven fact that people who are not considered "popular" in high school tend to get into better colleges and find better jobs after they graduate.
I never want that dream to end... the dream of a women becoming president, the dream of every outcast in the schools to become to ones that are leaders in life.

Below I posted some lyrics to a song by one of my favorite artists P!nk. I urge you to look the song up at www.youtube.com after reading the lyrics I've posted.

Stupid girl (woo), stupid girls, stupid girls

Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
porno paparazzi girls (yeah), I don't wanna be a stupid girl (uhhuh)

Go to Fred Segal, you'll find them there
Laughing loud so all the little people stare
Looking for a daddy to pay for the champagne
droppin' names
What happened to the dream of a girl president
She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent
They travel in packs of two or three
With their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny tees

Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
Oh where, oh where could they be? (yeah yeah yeah)

chorus:
Maybe if I act like that,(woo) that guy will call me back
porno-paparazzi girls, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Maybe if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back (yeah)
Push up my bra like that (uh-huh), I don't wanna be a stupid girl

(Break it down now)
The disease is growing, it's epidemic
I'm scared that there ain't a cure
The world believes it and I'm going crazy
I cannot take any more!!!!
I'm so glad that I'll never fit in
That will never be me
Outcasts and girls with ambition
That's what I wanna see (c'mon)

Disasters all around
A world of despair
your only concern-
Will it fuck up my hair???????

chorus

(Do ya think? Do ya think? Do ya think?_
(I like this, like this, like this)

Pretty will you fuck me girl, silly, as a lucky girl
Pull my hair I'll suck it girl, stupid girl!
Pretty will you fuck me girl, silly, as a lucky girl
Pull my hair I'll suck it girl, stupid girl!

Maybe if I
Act like that,
Flipping my blonde hair back...
Push up my bra like that, stupid girl! (girl girl girl)

chorus

Maybe if I act like that.... push up my bra like that....
Stupid girl, stupid girl, stupid girl....

In this blog I want to talk about a song that recently came out by Kid Rock. Now, Kid Rock isn't my favorite artist in the entire world so I wasn't overly excited about listening to this song when my mom sent me the link... But I listened. And then I read the lyrics, the lyrics of this song say exactly what I have been trying to say for years.

In part of this song Kid rock sings "And how can we seek salvation when our nations race relations, Got me feeling guilty of being white? But faith in human nature, our creator and our savior, I'm no saint, But I believe in what is right."
This particular verse is my favorite.
For the last couple of years in school I have been studying American history and I got kind of irritated with the government and the lies and how most public schooled kids are not hearing the truth about their forefathers and what they did for us.
Of course no matter how long I rant about the government and no matter how many people hear what I say, only about 12% of the US will even come close to understanding it. And no one can even really prove that anything that anybody says or does is even remotely true. So I will stop with my ranting.
I have been writing this blog for school... I have passed my time limit because I haven't been able to find the right words and I am still not quite sure that these ramblings will make any sense, anyway I have been writing this blog for roughly 7 days... probably the longest time I have ever taken on any assignment that is this simple. I suppose it is a touchy subject for me and if I don't say the words just right it won't settle well with me.

I believe that each and every United States citizen has the right to know what is going on with our government, my school curriculum teaches the little know truth of our society. I posted the lyrics to the song below... I hope they speak to you as much as they speak to me.

It's another night in hell
Another child won't live to tell
Can you imagine what it's like to starve to death

And as we sit free and well
Another soldier has to yell
Tell my wife and children I love them in his last breath

C'mon now amen, amen, amen

Habitual offenders, scumbag lawyers with agendas
I'll tell you sometimes people I don't know what's worse
Natural disasters or these wolves in sheep clothes pastors
Now God damn it I'm scared to send my children to church
And how can we seek salvation when our nations race relations
Got me feeling guilty of being white
But faith in human nature, our creator and our savior, I'm no saint
But I believe in what is right

C'mon now amen, amen
I said amen, amen
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/k/kid_rock/amen.html ]
Stop pointing fingers and take some blame,
Pull your future away from the flame
Open up your mind and start to live
Stop short changing your neighbors
Living off hand outs and favors, and maybe
Give a little bit more than you got to give

Simplify, testify, identify, rectify
And if I get high stop being so uptight
It's only human nature and I am not a stranger
So baby won't you stay with me tonight

When a calls away
to break the sound
I'm faden down, I need someone
Oh to be someone
They just sinken down, and holden back
I hold the dawn and run
They don't save a child
Oh, to save a child

It's a matter of salvation from them patience up above,
So don't give up so damn easy on the one you love, one you love
Somewhere you got a brother, sister, friend, grandmother, niece or nephew
Just dying to be with you
You know there's someone out there who unconditionally, religiously, loves you
So just hold on 'cause you know it's true
And if you can take the pain
And you can withstand anything, and one day
Stand hand in hand with the truth

I said amen, I said amen
I said amen, I said amen,

Amen

Welcome to My Life

As a homeschooled student I get to help design my curriculum. Because I get to do this, for my geography class I chose to try Geocaching to help me with GPS skills and reading latitude and longitude.

About Goecaching
Geo caching is a worldwide treasure hunt. How it works is, you enter your coordinates (Latitude longitude/zip code/city/state.) into the Geocaching website (www.goecaching.com) and a list of local "caches" come up.
Caches are hidden containers that can be anywhere from the size of a dime to a large piece of Tupperware. Inside these containers are log sheets, once you locate the container you date and sign the log. That sounds simple right? Not so much... using latitude/longitude on your GPS you have to not only find the general location but also find the hidden container. As hard as this sounds,geocaching is quite addictive!

For my literature I will be reading the top one hundred novels and also a reading list designed my my mom and I. Other things I will be doing this year include:

Reading all of the Grimm's Fairy tales
Reading all of Aesop's Fables
Blogging
Algebra
and Biology

Plus my extracurricular activities like violin lessons, dance class, and any other activity that happens to fit into my schedule.
Some questions that I often get as a home schooled student are...
Do you like being taught at home?
Of course, I love it! Every year since 4th grade I have had the option of going to public school... each year I have turned this offer down.
Do you get to do school in your pajamas?
No... My parents try to make it be as similar to a classroom setting as possible. Occasionally though I do get to have a freebie day and wear pajamas.
Do you eat whenever you want to?
Is it just me or is this question insulting? I have asked this question countless times... each time I reply with, No. I get a lunch break just like everyone else, now snacks aren't forbidden or anything I have just found my day to be far more productive when I have scheduled times to do everything.

This is my life as a student, a dancer, a daughter, and a friend.
I love every part about my life and wouldn't give it up for anything, thank you for reading.

The Red Animal

I walk through the towns of earth, searching and prowling for one unlucky place to break out in hatred. I will be coming to get even your town and loved ones. I will overwhelm you, your family, and friends. I am war, death, hatred, I am everything you never wanted to see.

This was a school assignment; I had to wright a paragraph describing one motif from a book I am reading, called The Red Badge of Courage. I hope you enjoy my motif of 'The red animal' for war.