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It’s been a minute huh? Ok, here’s a very fast update. I’m on the Bulb’s advisory board! (Yaaaay Me!) And I’m also now a certified in CPR for youth and adults.
For the last 6 weeks, home-schooled students across Charlotte from 3 years old to 16 have been learning how to grow food in small spaces. These kids were from very diverse walks of life. I taught Urban Horticulture and the focus of the class was self sufficiency.
Each class was taught in a age appropriate group using engaging strategies to encourage creativity and exploration. The students face literally lit up with our weekly gardening adventures.
So far we have successfully learned how to make:
The biggest take home for these students were
For me, it was verification that parenting greatly reflects a garden.
We all begin as seeds. The better you tend to it the seeds, the better it grows, and the more fruitful it will be. To do the opposite is perilous. Too many weeds and wild animals will destroy it.
Disclosure—> I am not a master gardener or carry any degree in the science of horticulture. I am just a mom that believes in self sufficiency and have learned so much from local master gardeners and lots of trial and error with my little guys in tow.
We have been homeschooling for 13 years now! It works for us! Right now we have four boys homeschooling and I recently (get this) started teaching again out side of the home. For three years I taught SES in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system with MasterMind and Centipede Math tutoring companies. And even now, I tutor privately (moonlight) with Wyzant. (I know- what don’t I do- right?) But get this, it’s at the local YMCA and it their African american homeschool group. And it’s something we do here for our class study, Urban Horticulture. { Growing produce, flowers, and other plants in small spaces scientifically and aesthetically} I make a little change AND my boys get to attend other classes at a big discount! It’s a when win as I see it!
Now, my question to you is – have you heard about National Homeschool Week? Neither did I, but that’s okay. Here’s what it looks like: National HomeSchool Week is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort to support homeschooling families, share homeschool resources, and to amplify homeschooling parents voices. Granted, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states now. Yet, the battle for public opinion is where we have more work to do.
It is celebrated September 17th – 21st each year.
Monday-> Selfie With Your Favorite Teacher- Dress alike, move alike, Ask her/him to look like you. Just take a really nice picture and share it Use hash tag —> #HomeSchoolersBeLike
Tuesday -> Make A Law No Written Homework on Thursdays, All A’s reward of 5 day beach vacation. Pizza for your birthday week. You get the picture. Take one for the team and Think Big !
Wednesday -> Create It! Get your sibling together and make an obstacle course. Create an outfit out of colorful duct tape or your old graded homeschool assignments, make some fun jewelry from old fabric, paint your own selfie. Design your own ‘spirit wig’ with ribbon from the local Family Dollar store
Thursday –> Go Green. Recycle your stuff, Reduce your waste,—find a smart a fun way to reuse your school supplies!
Friday –> Give Back Friday Visit a senior living center, go read to shelter pets, deliver needed supplies to the homeless.
Those are just a few example of what to do on those days. Make those days yours. You maybe lucky enough to get a nonprofit to work with you or a few donations from local businesses if you need financial support.- Kelle Pressley
I love this daily missions.
They all reflect the quality, and progressive education we parents provide in a fun way. As you see homeschooling is slowly buy surely gaining credibility, traditional traditions and performance standards. Our goal is to create options that make it easier for all parents. Help us show some of the faces of homeschooling–and homeschool groups.
Join us and even tell someone about this upcoming fun week!
Easter weekend 2018
My aunt summoned us early the previous week. She requested all the small kids to be at her house in Conway for dinner and a egg hunt. We accepted and started looking for our fancy church- like clothes.
Our trip home began at 8am. It us three hours to get there. It sun was kissing our face in the sun roof of the Buick Encore. The closer we got the more I thought about the beach. Growing up, it was our family refugee from the busy work and school week. It was almost like it was calling me, calling us all. Because the boys, one by one, began asking to go the Pawley’s Island before returning back to Charlotte. We made it through a plate or two of my cousins and eldest aunt dinner plates, catch up conversations with the aunts, impromptu haircuts from cousin Lamont and even the trash talking in the background from the men folks playing cards for quarters in the driveway. As we got ready to issue our so-longs, the requests began once again.
Awe shucks………. I knew there was no way I could be that close to the beach and not go. Sure the water wouldn’t be warm enough to go surfing but it was perfect to watch the boys play on the beautiful sand, sit and watch the ocean waves dance and even build sand castles.
And it’s just what we did. Of course we took pictures and chatted with the locals after our quick stop at the beach store for floats, sand pails, and salt water taffy.
We had a wonderful time and hope to return soon for more vitamin Sea.
I’m sharing all of this because in the next coming years, I do not know if we will have moments like this again. Under President Trump, the plan Aims to Open Up Almost All of America’s Coastline to Risky Offshore Drilling.
Drilling for oil on our coast is risky. A spill/leak will happen as it has in every other occurrence. Here’s four reasons from a mom, homeschooling, business owners and beach lover’s point of view why you should say no to the Trump administration and pro-drilling members of Congress:
At this point, the plan is still preliminary; it won’t be finalized for a year or more. This offshore drilling proposal will be very real for many people who might not have been involved in politics before. They are getting involved now. The Trump administration may not have listened to state and local stakeholders yet, but soon the president won’t be able to ignore the chorus of voices demanding that he keep offshore drilling out of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Now is the time to take a stand and demand change. Add Your Voice, Click here to say NO Drill NC!
And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came. –John F. Kennedy
Hey Charlotte, are you looking for a meaningful way to celebrate MLK with your child? Then plan to join us for a FREE kid-friendly birthday party to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! 
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.- MLK
MLK Day and the days surrounding it provide the perfect opportunity to talk with our kids about justice, service, and the ability of people working together to change things for the better. But it can be hard to find an event that speaks to kids at their level.
At this year’s party, we’ll also be celebrating the power of children. While their contributions are often left out of the history books, children and young people played a critical role in the struggle for equality.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
From the thousands of children who marched and were jailed in the Birmingham Children’s March to Ruby Bridges and the many other children who bravely integrated schools to Claudette Colvin who at 15 refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus nine months before Rosa Parks and so many more, our nation’s history is filled with brave kids who stood up for what was right.
At this year’s MLK family birthday party, we’ll celebrate their contributions in kid-friendly ways while encouraging all of our community’s children to think about how they too can help make our world a kinder, more just place.
There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
At this FREE celebration, we’ll have story time, crafts, activities, and top it all with birthday cake as we sing “Happy Birthday” to Dr. King.
Here are all the details:
What: Join us for a free story time, crafts, activities, and birthday cake as we celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy in a way that kids can understand.
When: The party will take place on MLK weekend, Sunday, January 14th from 1-4 pm.
Where: Beatties Ford Rd. Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216
It’s going to be a lot of fun! Will we see you there? RSVP here so we’ll know to look for you.
Celebrating MLK and those who stood alongside him is great way to teach our kids that they too can make a difference. We hope you’ll join us and help spread the word about this free event!
-Beth, Kelle, Ruth, and the whole NC MomsRising.org team
Like what we’re doing? Donate: We’re a bootstrap, low overhead, mom run organization. Your donations make the work of MomsRising.org possible–and we deeply appreciate your support. Every little bit counts. Donate today on our secure website.
On Facebook? Become a Fan. Follow us on Twitter.
Want info from MomsRising.org in Spanish? Sign up to receive emails from our Spanish-language community, MamásConPoder.org!
What should MomsRising tackle next? Tell us what’s on your mind.
Thanks to this co-sponsors, special guests :
*****Last year was good. This year will be even better—–>
Thursday will be here in no time. Hopefully my mini van will be repaired soon. But for now, I’m in a rental for Thanksgiving. I plan to pick my car up first thing in the morning. Then get started on my hefty drink list for the family dinner. Yes, I’m in charge of drinks. We’re having kombucha, green tea, Jamaican hibiscus Sorrel, and bottled water. Not one soda will I purchase. My prayer for the last week is that everyone arrives safely and no one throws a dinner roll at me! 
But just in case my Enterprise Car rental falls through for my family of —many. I am looking for dinner alternatives. Rush cooking has never been my thing. I figured that we would find a local place where we could both volunteer at and dine in.
So, here’s what I found online. Turns out there a quite a few places to dine, help and donate in the Charlotte area.
Food pantries, some of which also have a soup kitchen on site, may provide help in one of two ways. These tend to be “hyper” local in that they only serve people in a limited area and each center has their own application process, resources, and hours of operation.
It is recommended to call or stop by a pantry to learn more on what they offer. Anyone that is seeking help at Thanksgiving (or really any holiday) should ask in advance what type of services are provided, and do not wait until November rolls around. Find how to get help from a food pantry.
The homebound, disabled, and senior citizens that can’t make it to a feeding site should register for Thanksgiving assistance from a Meals on Wheels provider. These tend to be offered as year round services. Some of the administering agencies may charge the client, or “encourage” a donation. Other Meals on Wheels services are free, especially those offered from Agency on Aging Centers. and maybe other food items.
Free Thanksgiving lunches or dinners may also be served by churches or other faith based groups. There will not be any discrimination based on age, religion, or race and anyone can drop in. Churches, such as St. Vincent de Paul or Catholic Charities do their best to feed the poor at Thanksgiving. The goal is to spread holiday joy to all, especially to children and the elderly.
The meals served by a church depend on volunteers and donations. They rely on stores, restaurants, fund raisers, and other sources of money in an effort to offer these Thanksgiving programs. Anyone that uses a soup kitchen at a local church is always encouraged to also volunteer in an effort to give back to the needy.
And if you are a military family like mine, check this out!
Military veterans have so many benefits even after leaving the service and Thanksgiving is no exception. During the holiday season there are special events that include veterans’ and not just active duty, family members and government employees.
Read more: https://militarybenefits.info/thanksgiving-resources-veterans/#ixzz4z7hAl4SO
If none of that works out, I will get my daughter Cassie of Cassie’s Sweetz to create us a Sweet Potato Wonderland!
Well friends, where ever you find yourself on Thursday, may the Joy of family, Gratefulness and Love find you there!
Notes:
I’m smart, because I know where to find good information. See my resources below:
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/free_thanksgiving_dinner.html
http://www.operationhomefront.org/holidaymeals
https://patch.com/north-carolina/charlotte/veterans-day-free-meals-discounts-north-carolina
Halloween is supposed to be fun, mysterious, and yummy! I for one have seen a spectrum of Halloween scenarios and today, Ias I type I am a born again Halloween worshiper! LOL! No More white sheets and plastic pumpkin bowl filled with sugary Kiddie Crack! 
As a parent no one wants to go in the hole while celebrating this amazing holiday, there are a few ways you can get the kids looking great, save money on treats, and have loads of fun together as a family.
Okay, I kinda understand that not everyone gets excited about Halloween, but let’s just think for a minute…..with everything going on in today’s world, a light-hearted, healthy, progressive, fun, mental adventure here and there in a safe environment is a needed perk! Any chance you can give your child to enjoy childhood, go for it! It will only give them more fond memories of you and extend their childhood a little longer. It also tells them, that they are special enough to you to make it happen. Why not?
For those who do, allow me to give you a hand with this. Because, you know, October is “MY MONTH!” It’s the month I was given to our Earth. I will be turning 24 years old! (Just flip those numbers around -okay) (Cake below by vegan teen baker, Cassie, of Cassies Sweetz)
Homeschooling parents, this is for you! Make it a Science Day! I have put together a few ideas here on Pinterest for you! Everything is affordable, easy and not too messy to try! Follow THIS ONE other boards over there and thank me later!
2. For my children, I have gotten some really nice costumes from friends kids, thrift stores, my closet. Yes, I’ll go to a local department store but only after I luck out at these other options. Shopping early is never a bad thing either. I get some of my most favorite event wigs -BRAND new from outlet stores for dirt cheap! If you are hitting the bottom of the barrel with costume options, just click here for fresh ideas!
3. Do you really want to go door to door or to a boring party JUST to get candy and watch your child play? NO, you don’t. Skip it all and mark your calendar for the next BooBash! I The only thing scary about it the idea of you not voting! Yes, it a family-focused- free, Early Voting Halloween parade and party! It’s sponsored by Momsrising, Queen City Stay At Home Moms and other amazing community partners. It’s on the lawn of Beatties Ford Road Regional Library. It nonpartisan and low candy. distribution. YES!!!! Find out more about Momsrising here. CLICK HERE. 🙂
4.I have a friend that is a merchandiser for Family 
Dollar. Right now all of their candy is buy 2 bags of candy and get 1 for free! While I’m NOT an advocate of any (non-chocolate)) candy, that is a pretty good deal.
Alternatively, offer clementines. They look JUST like tiny pumpkins and they have their very own packaging. 
So my question to you is, are you ready for some not so scary good times?
In Total Wellness,
QC Supermom – (Jabela)
Disney On Ice is back! And I’m not sure who is more excited. The children or myself! It’s my opportunity to take the kids back to my childhood. A time of low stress and all fantasy!
Enter a fantastical winter wonderland beyond all imagination at Disney On Ice presents Frozen. The heartwarming Academy Award-winning tale you love is now LIVE and skating into your town. You’ll be magically whisked away into the wintry world of Arendelle, where you will be dazzled by amazing special effects and astonishing skating. Sing and dance along to inspiring songs, including “Let It Go.” Join royal sisters Anna and Elsa, the hilarious snowman Olaf, Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven and the mystical trolls as they journey to discover that true love is ultimately the most magical power of all! Hosted by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, with special guest appearances by your most beloved Disney Princesses and characters from favorites like Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Disney’s The Lion King, this unforgettable celebration of love and friendship will leave your family with memories to last a lifetime.
Love Is Putting Someone Else’s Needs Before Yours- Frozen
My children always focus on the colorful excitement, costumes, and funny lines, I take in the lyrics, perfect moves on ice and the light-hearted storylines. For 90 minutes, there is nothing but excitement, fun, and a carefree childhood! If you have gone before, you understand my excitement. If not, make plans to go this year!
Director Patty Vincent says, “Our goal is to showcase these heartwarming characters in a way that allows the audience to cheer and sing along throughout this emotional journey.” Here’s how to get your tickets. Buy them via the link below or win them!
I’m giving away four tickets for the opening night show on
Thursday, October 5 at 7:00pm. To win them, be sure to like us on Instagram and Facebook. Then tag me in your favorite Disney meme. Simple right? I posted one of my favorite Disney memes below.
The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all; Mulan
Last year we invited Zianna Oliphant, she and her family had a ball!
Location: Spectrum Center
Show Dates: Oct 05, 2017 – Oct 08, 2017
You know a lot of people don’t understand the importance of having a gun control laws but I do. When I was 17 a lot of you may not know this, but I was a really hip young lady. And I went to a party at a local Club and this young man asked me to dance with him and I refused him.
It happened in 1992, I went to a party at Club 261, local club back home to celebrate much anticipated ‘Summer -Sum-mer, Summer -time Season. I guess we weren’t the only ones, the place was crowded with folks. Out of the blue, this young man asked me to dance with him and I refused him. 
Who knew that he would take it so hard? But then, I am Kelle! Lol, so going back to my fun time, I soon heard a loud, frustrated voice behind my head. It was the same guy, asking the same question, only to get the same answer. He was .”BIG MAD” Minutes went by, and then the voice return it was like deja vu because everything happened again, but to my surprise, he came with a little package. Yes, a gun and he shot the gun towards my feet. Thank goodness no one was hurt. He lost all self-control. I went home that night and the next day we went to press charges on the guy. Come to find out he had no permit to carry. He failed the required testing to carry firearms. What if I was fatally shot? What if a bystander was fatally hit? and couldn’t return home that night? I know my parents love me. Other parents must love their child as well. What if This sick guy had no business with a gun.
It’s for these reasons we need real regulations and accountability for everyone that desires to carry a firearm. Even on the side of the state, there are perks to ponder. Can you imagine how much money there is to be made from people that just can’t pass the test? If you feel the same way I need you to join Momsrising today. I’m with them.
We, the moms, dads, family members, and leaders of the United States, pledge to continue to fight for gun safety reforms to protect our kids our famil
ies, and our communities, including
Here’s how with your help we can send an even louder voice saying we want our children and loved ones to be safe we want to be safe we want accountability to let’s do it together Take the PLEDGE here and read on…..
Dear blog readers, rise with me for families scarred by gun violence. Support commonsense gun reform with a gift of $5 or more to MomsRising.
The 2016 tax deadline* is just days away! April 18th will be here in no time!
Are you ready? For some small business owners it’s a big nope! But I got you! No worries.
Wearing many hats require me to know about as many tax deductions as possible. If you are in any MLM, Self Employed, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Set aside a space in your home that is 100% business use. Never used for anything else, and regularly used for business. This is where you keep your business records, your business computer or laptop, make your sales calls from and meet clients. The tax term is regular and exclusive business use. If you do this, you deduct a percentage of the household expenses – rent, interest, taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs, etc, based on the square footage of the office ratioed to the home square footage. Expenses directly related to the office, such as a dedicated phone line; do not have to be ratioed. You can also take a small depreciation deduction for the home losing value. -K.P. KP Tax Servive kptax.webs.com
Office Supplies
“The easiest mileage log is a notebook where you right the date, the trip purpose and the miles driven. ” K.P. -KPTax Service, kptax.webs.com Charlotte NC
Office Equipment
Communication Expenses
Travel Expenses
Go on trips that are going to increase your money-making potential. Stay away from any others. For legitimate travel, you get airfare, rental car, tips, taxis, laundry, internet and phone, as well as 50% of meals and any other reasonable and necessary expenses. K.P KP Tax Service kptax.webs.com
Internet Expenses
Business Related Education
Trade Show Expenses
There are so many more to add to this list. I intended to give you a mental rolling start. . I’m a tax expert. Contact KPTax.webs.Com to discuss your particular tax situation. Also get more guidance. Please buy my book. It’s a easy read and loaded with tips for Direct Sales professionals. Message me —> QCSupermominfo@GMail.com
QC Supermom 