Friday Four-Homeschooling In N.C.; Startup 101

87,978 students are homeschooled in North Carolina! Yes, my friends. homeschooling in is on the rise. We don’t stop at the basic curriculum because the world is our classroom!

GENERAL FACTS, STATISTICS, AND TRENDS

• There are over 2.3 million homeschool students in the United States.  That is, there were an estimated 2.3 million in spring 2016, and this was up from one estimate of about 2 million home-educated children (in grades K to 12) during the spring of 2010 in the United States (Ray, 2011). It appears the homeschool population is continuing to grow (at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past few years).
• Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago appeared to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on “mainstream” in the United States. It may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Home-based education has also been growing around the world in many other nations (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom).
• A demographically wide variety of people homeschool – these are atheists, Christians, and Mormons; conservatives, libertarians, and liberals; low-, middle-, and high-income families; black, Hispanic, and white; parents with Ph.D.s, GEDs, and no high-school diplomas. One study shows that 32 percent of homeschool students are Black, Asian, Hispanic, and others (i.e., not White/non-Hispanic) (Noel, Stark, & Redford, 2013).
• Families engaged in home-based education are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources for their children’s education. The finances associated with their homeschooling likely represent over $27 billion that American taxpayers do not have to spend, annually, since these children are not in public schools
• Taxpayers spend an average of $11,732 per pupil annually in public schools, plus capital expenditures. Taxpayers spend nothing on most homeschool students and homeschool families spend an average of $600 per student annually for their education.
• Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 15% of homeschool families are non-white/nonHispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo).
• An estimated 3.4 million or more U.S. adults have been homeschooled for at least one year of their K-12 years, and they were homeschooled an average of 6 to 8 years. If one adds to this number the 2.3 million being homeschooled today, an estimated 5.7 million Americans have experienced being homeschooled. [note 1]

Now my question to you is this? Are you prepared to dedicate 75% of your day to teaching?

• group field trips,park days and/or p.e. days – ( join QCSAHM; we might change the name if you join!)
• organized clubs such as geography club, 4H, chess, robotics, etc.
• book and curriculum exchanges- You will save SO much money by sharing resources!!! Here is video from homeschool graduation last year. Click Here! Many of the parents in this group share resources and community goodies.

Places like Home Depot Kids Workshops offers free instructions and play on building motor skills and creative engineering. And it’s free 1st Saturdays of the month!

• dedicated email loops or Facebook groups for sharing information (join my newsletter – HERE! in the subject line type Charlotte Homeschool News)
• organized athletic opportunities. (the YMCA is great for this)
• the opportunity to make new friends!! (Join my Facebook page. We gotta stick together- QCSupermom )

Contact the NC Department of Non-Public Education (NCDNPE)

The key requirements for homeschooling in North Carolina include:

• Parents must have at least a high school diploma (or equivalent).
• Families must file a notice of intent to homeschool with the NC Department of Non-Public Education (NCDNPE) between July 1st and August 15th
• Families should keep attendance and immunization records on file for each homeschool student.
• Homeschooled students should take a nationally standardized test each year and keep the results on record for one year.
• The homeschool should operate on a regular schedule for at least nine months of the school year. (Don’t worry, it’s easier to do than you think!)
• Families should notify the NCDNPE when closing their homeschool

For a full explanation of each of these regulations, including forms that will be helpful in staying compliant, visit the NC Home School Information Portal.

Homeschool Record keeping in North Carolina

The records that homeschoolers are required to keep in North Carolina do not have to be submitted to the NCDNPE unless specifically requested. However, it is a good idea to keep a detailed, accurate, and professional homeschool portfolio of items for each student. Information that you might want to include in your homeschooler’s portfolio could be:

• Subjects covered each school year
• Parent-administered or online school report cards or assessments
• Yearly standardized test scores
• High school transcript for any student in grades 9-12

Let Me Just Say This: Well Homeschool Children are SMARTER – Just kidding a bit here, but most tend to have more time to focus and recite things like this from Collin K.

We have been homeschooling since 2005. Here’s 4 Ways It Works For Us:

1. Flexibility – I don’t like getting up early on cold mornings, and sometimes, I like to go to the zoo in the middle of the week. To do that, I need my kids to go with me. lol. Seriously, the flexibility is a blessing! If my dad needs us to come to SC for his care, we can just jump up and go. And yes, spontaneous field trips are pretty cool too!
2. Protection– I know that anything may happen anywhere at anytime. But I’m sorry, some public schools are like Sodom & Gomorrah. The schools in our area are very rough. Having them with me in controlled, safer environments makes me stress less. At least I don’t have to worry about any teachers or other kids pinning them up for rape, bullying or anything else deemed ill favored. (Even the food at basic schools suck) And we can’t afford private school for 4 boys right now.
3. Diversity– I want my children to really be prepared for their future. There are so many topics not covered in public school that children need. For example, basic finance, urban horticulture, Real World cultures, home economics, Africa:pre slavery, and mechanics -just to name a few.
    So in short, our more tailored social interactions, support our values.
4. Empowering – I trust myself to do this. I honestly feel that they are thriving better with me as a teacher. And because I have my husband to help financially support us. I want to continue putting them first so that when we are older, they will be more inclined to take care of us, if needed.

Here’s a tiny clip from a trip to Discovery Place. (I can show you how to save a lot of money on local admissions through my coaching sessions)   

 

Disclosure: I am resourceful. Not the smartest. My husband, older children, wise friends, and technology helps educate our four young ones. When/if the time comes and proves our system no longer serves our best interest, they’ll go to public school with the quickness.

As a homeschool coach, I can hold your hand as you get started. It is time consuming. It requires organization skills. It requires patience. It also requires research. I’ve done a lot of that so you don’t have too. Hire me to help get you started and to be available for coaching sessions. Inbox me at
QCSupermomInfo@Gmail.com for more details.
Please use in subject line (The HomeSchool Coach ). I’d love to help navigate you through this new chapter of life.

To all my friends and family that refers people to me for home school coaching, thank you. I really appreciate that!

Get more statistics here on homeschooling.

In home music class snippet- here!                                                       

Play time with Chubby!

Showing manners with Rachel the Raccoon

Friday Four: Homeschooling Black History Month

Yay! This is my second favorite month of the year.

FEBRUARY 2, 2017 — Began Black History Month, the annual celebration dedicated to the study and celebration of centuries of African American contributions and experiences.

 

Kelly C. Pressley Sr.    02/19/17- 1/23/09 One “One Heck Of A Man” 

 

We celebrate Black History Month by education, empowerment and expriements.  To dismiss the opportunity to reclaim our rich history is a diservice to not only my ancestor, myself but also my children and thier children.  The information is out there. The elder have stories just waiting for a silent ear to share their first hand stories with. Don’t rely on tv or typical school books to tell you your history.

My Black history begins with my grandfather, Mr Kelly Ceaser Pressley Sr. 

He suceeded at many things including fatherhood to 12 children, a husband, rail road staff, shop owner, barber, shoe maker, logger, Mason lodge #358,  farmer, “Honoray Police, and Reverend.”

 

(See, you can’t blame me for being such a busy body. It’s in my blood.  I sincerly look up to this man. Even with flaws that he proudly overcame.)

 

 

How much do you know about Black History Month? Take the quiz.

Every day provides a learning opportunity for black history. President Jimmy Carter added in 1978 that the celebration “provides for all Americans a chance to rejoice and express pride in a heritage that adds so much to our way of life.

This  year, President Trump issued a proclamation Thursday declaring February as National African American History Month. The text names Katherine Johnson, a mathematician and one of three black women whose roles in the space race were featured in the recent film “Hidden Figures.”

Let’s add our stories. Let’s create amazing history to share with our future seeds. Let’s make this Black History Month the beginning of something remarkable that our children will be proud of and will educate our cultural counterparts! 

This month at Kelle’s Higher learning Center, we will cover major four subjects:

• Law: “If you don’t know your rights or the laws, how do you know if they’re being violated?  We will cover laws that were made to protect, hurt and empwer African Americans . We will also make up a few of our own. 

Health: Total Wellness with a focus on holistic prevention, advances and discoveries.

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• History:
  

  “[I]f a nation understands its history, it is a wonderful tool to help a nation figure out how they live their lives, how to understand the conditions they face,” Mr. Bunch told The Christian Science Monitor. “It is this tension between the joy of history and then using that as a weapon, as a tool, as a way to better understand who we are – to provide contextualization, and maybe on good days, a little healing and reconciliation.”

  This study will begin with our family. All four sides -paternal and maternal.  And it will include a visit to the Museum Of The New South .

• Science & Technology: African American contributions and hands own experiments.

List of homeschooling resources for Science and Technology. CLICK HERE! 

 

 

Are you excited about growing self knowledge this February? I sure am! Start where you are and grow from there.  We are incredible people. We should know and share it widely with our children.

 

 

My daughter graduated from high school on the 02/01/17!  Yay February !

 

NOTES:

Why February? Why one month” Learn here— (CLICK HERE!)

I Am Not Your Negro
Based on James Baldwin’s final and unpublished manuscript, Remember this House, Raoul Peck’s compelling new documentary I Am Not Your Negro presents Baldwin’s reflections on the assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King.
Streaming Webcast

(National Museum of African American History and Culture)

African American History Online

Scholarships for College Kids

Don’t wait. Apply for these great scholarships today! There are scholarships there that are still open! There are thousands of scholarships out there. Some are large scholarships that are well publicized, while others are lesser known.

Here are 27 scholarships for Saturday, December 3, 2016.

Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: The National Cartoonists Society Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students at a four-year college in the United States, Canada or Mexico who will be a Junior or Senior during the 2016-2017 academic year. Applicants do not have to be art majors to be eligible for this scholarship. Applicant must submit an entry form and eight samples of their own cartooning artwork.

Lance Surety’s College Scholarship
Sponsor: Lance Surety Bonds Associates
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at an accredited university, college or trade school in the U.S. Applicant must submit an essay on one of three given topics related business or surety bonds.

There’s nothing like studying in a great smelling room! Buy Scentsy now! 

Larry E. Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship
Sponsor: Nebraska Pork Producers Association
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at a fully accredited college, university or technical college in an agriculture related degree program in Nebraska.

Law Office of Joseph J. LoRusso Scholarship
Sponsor: Law Office of Joseph J. LoRusso
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students who are planning on attending an accredited U.S. college or university during the spring 2017 semester. Applicant must submit an essay on a topic related to car accidents.

Lead Roster Scholarship
Sponsor: American Marketing Ventures, Inc.
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students worldwide who have an interest in sales and marketing. Studying in the fields of Business, Marketing, Computer Science, Communications, or IT are recommended but not required. Applicant must create a video sharing why they should win the scholarship.

Legal Templates Annual Scholarship
Sponsor: LegalTemplates
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students who will be enrolled in college during the Spring 2017 term. Applicant must create a business plan executive summary that is original, creative, unique, and persuasive.

Los Angeles DUI Attorney Diabetes Scholarship
Sponsor: Los Angeles DUI Attorney
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

MoldNJ.net Scholarship
Sponsor: Mold Removal Experts
Amount: $750
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are accepted or enrolled in a university, college, or graduate program in the United States with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to preparing for a natural disaster.

MyCDLapp.com Scholarship
Sponsor: MyCDLApp.com
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in Human Resources or Business Management at an accredited college or university in the United States.

National Ag Day Photo Contest
Sponsor: Agriculture Council of America
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Contest is open to students in college in the United States. Student must submit an original photo on the contest theme: “Agriculture Food For Life.”

 

“Check out Miranda’s House.The Mission of Marion’s House is to Interrupt the cycle of Child Sexual Abuse with E.A.R (Empowerment, Awareness, and Recovery.)

You began surviving the movement you realised you didn’t have to be a victim”
-Miranda Burton

New Orleans Ghosts Scholarship
Sponsor: New Orleans Ghost Tours
Amount: $250
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to any student enrolled in an accredited college. Applicant must submit an essay sharing information about their educational goals and why they deserve the scholarship

Nutrition Inspector Scholarship
Sponsor: Nutrition Inspector
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to college students currently enrolled in courses related to diet, fitness, and nutrition.

One Shot Scholarship
Sponsor: One Shot Outdoors, LLC
Amount: $500
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students. Applicant must submit completed application and an essay describing their dream, goal, or passion.

(When you get all of that money, why not invest a little on your wardrobe? Lula Roe’s fabric is the bomb! It’s so comy! I got me three of them. I love the fact that no one else will have pants like mine) Please use the link below to chick out this moms business page.

 

LulaRoe By Bali Mitchell

 

ORB Annual College Scholarship
Sponsor: Online Resume Builders
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to domestic and international students enrolled, or due to be enrolled, in full-time university education for the semester they are receiving the scholarship (Spring 2017). Applicant must create a resume for anyone.

Prime Scholarship
Sponsor: Prime Medical Alert
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students working towards a two-year or four-year Nursing degree.

Prompt Scholarship Essay Contest
Sponsor: Prompt.com
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students 16 years of age or older who are currently applying for an undergraduate degree at an accredited institution within the United States or Canada in 2017 (or 2018 if taking a gap year). Applicant can use any essay they have written as part of a college application. Scholarship is open every month until December 15. Each monthly winner will then have a chance for a $10,000 scholarship.

Damsel In Defense
Make sure your child (ren) are protected on campus

Judy Harris
Damsel Protege
PHONE: (828)247-6375
stunninpepper@gmail.com
My Events | About Me

 

 

QuikshipToner.com Student Scholarship
Sponsor: QuikshipToner.com
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students who attend an American college, university or trade school. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to the printing industry.

Rare Disease Scholarship Program
Sponsor: XpertDox
Amount: $750
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in medical related research (including public health) or patient care (medicine, nursing, pharmacology or nutrition). Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to rare diseases.

Resume Genius Annual Scholarship
Sponsor: Resume Genius
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: December 15, 2016
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled, or due to be enrolled, in full-time university education for the semester they are applying for the scholarship. Applicant must create a resume based on the life of any fictional or non-fictional character, from TV, history, literature or myth.

 

Wednesday Wow: Keep Those Icky Germs Away-Herbal Remedies

Phew! Can you believe we are headed into the winter season already? There is nothing more pitiful than to look in your child’s eyes and see pain, congestion and low energy. Over the years, I’ve put together some of my favorite herbal blends for my family. Because they don’t always like my culinary creations, I try to mix it up a bit with power herbs to reach the same goal of a high immune system.

 

Kombucha-A happy gut is a healthy body. The main part of your immune system is in your gut, so keeping it supplied with good bacteria will help make a stronger body. There are a few ways to do this but a good probiotic and/or fermented foods in your diet like kombucha  will help populate the good bacteria in your body.

Powdered herbs into blender shakes/Smoothies– ADD IN  cod liver oil, collagen/ food sources of vitamin C  with some berries, steamed greens and coconut water every day to make sure we are starting off on the right foot.

Soap -When flu prevention experts advise you to wash your hands, they don’t mean a light drizzle of water. As mama always said, use soap and warm water — and rub hands for 15 to 20 seconds. Sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice while rubbing, to keep track of the time.

What You’ll Need

• A natural bar soap of choice. Homemade bar soaps usually work well and my other favorites are Dr. Bronners, african black soap, and Kombucha soap (available here).
• Distilled or filtered water
• A dispenser: Reuse an old soap dispenser, use a glass one or metal one, or make one out of a mason jar by drilling a hole in the top and hot gluing on the top of a soap pump dispenser.

What You Need- to do is:

• Click this link for the entire recipe and how to instructions.

 

Strong Tea-Keep things moving by drinking water. This will help stimulate your immune system during an illness because it helps your body flush the germs. Making the water into a tea is a bonus.

Natural Mamma Immune Boosting Tea and Recipe

Recipe Type: Herbal Tea

Author: Amanda http://www.naturallivingmamma.com

Prep time: 5 mins    Cook time: 20 mins  Total time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 part Elderberry
• 2 parts Rose Hips
• 2 parts Echinacea puroporea
• 2 parts Chamomile
• 2 parts Astragalus

Instructions

1. Combine herbs and use 1tsp of the mix per cup of boiling water. Let steep at least 20 minutes up to 8 hours for full medicinal effect. Drink 2-3 cups a day as needed to support immune function.

 Mouth Wash  (if you have a Doterra or Young Living connection, you’re good! )

How To Make Homemade Mouthwash

• 1 cup of Purified Water
• ¼ tsp salt
• 5-10 drops of Thieves Essential Oil (depends on how strong you want it)
• 4 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
• Optional: 1 tsp baking soda
• Glass bottle (essential oils can degrade plastic)

Getting our herbs and spices from our garden and local farmer’s market is nice too. Being able to grab Western medicine is easy. But do you really want to be completely dependent on someone else for your healing. Let’s be like the ants and do more for ourselves. It works!

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This list, as simple as it titled, needs to be shared. – Hand Washing

Make your own laundry soap, and all-purpose cleaner . You’ll save money and provide healthier options for your family.

Check Out this HippyHomemakers tincture. It’s EASY to make AND she has a list of healing herbs.

Dynamite Herbal Infusions listed here.

Soap Making- Click here

 

In Total Wellness, Jabela

 

 

Fade Away Sleep Sounds WORKS!

Do you have a fussy baby or a busy mind?

(Yes, keep reading) (No, you will if you’re lucky, so keep reading) I have found the complete solution to them both. It’s a company called Fade Away Sleep Sounds.

Ultimately it’s has been a God send for me more than for the children. When it rains here in Charlotte unlike others, I don’t try to hide from it. I do the opposite. I open the window and may even go sit on the porch. The sound of rain, thunderstorms, wind chimes just soothes me. It’s the same sounds I can listen to everyday via Fade Away Sleep Sounds.

Have you heard of white noise /sounds? I’ll explain, White noise is a type of noise that is produced by combining sounds of all different frequencies together. If you took all of the imaginable tones that a human can hear and combined them together, you would have white noise.

I love the way Fade Away Sounds explains it: See below. https://www.facebook.com/fadeawaysleep/videos/10154432454291052/

 

When asked my moms friends of Queen City Stay At Home Moms how they enjoyed it I got responses all across the board. Since we have 5 babies aged 10 months and below, we thought it would be cool to try the white sounds on our little ones.

But after 4 weeks of consistently using the Fade Away Sleep Sounds, the common response was “it works!”  The babies love white noise. And it makes sense. They’ve just spent their entire life in the womb. And the womb is deafeningly loud. I guess you can say White noise sounds like “home” to a baby.

Here’s what my mom friends have shared:

Kim said she was able to do laundry, and have an uninterrupted lunch date with her husband while the baby slept soundly in the next room..

Tina shared, “As a homeschooling mom, having her little one nap at a certain time every day makes life much easier.”

Lisa messaged me and said the she wants to try more. She wrote, ” It helps not only her twins, but her husband too!”

These sounds are  a way cheaper  and less toxic option than running your actual water or burn gas driving in circles till Little Bruce falls asleep.

They have so many sounds. Don’t miss any of them.

Follow them on twitter (@fadeawaysleep) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/fadeawaysleep ).  and  thier YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUhfGgLBRV4TbxAyRFIZkA …) –

Also, Fade Away Sleep Sounds are available on most all of the streaming and music download sites, listen in at  Spotify!

and Apple Music

Personally I suggest you  buy and download the sounds (as opposed to online streaming), from their  the website (http://www.fadeawaysleepsounds.com )

Parents, you are gonna LOVE this. Be sure to share it with you baby for a full night sleep.

Enjoy!

Jabela

Oh, also see- 10 Facts About Baby Sleep You Never Knew You Knew   

 

 

Disclosure: This has been another honest but paid review by the moms of Queen City Stay At Home Moms. The opinions are all ours.

Breastfeeding Starter Kit

Yippee! It’s World Breast Feeding Week! This year,my daughter will be sharing her amazing Breastfeeding Starter Kit  with local mom at the BIG Latch On!

Here’s how I celebrated it last week  (click here!) This year should be amazing!Here in Charlotte, it’s such a little community of like minded mamas here and it’s getting more and more connected with every event. I love it!!!-  shared byShelly Bloser Boyce

“CLC and runs the local normalize breastfeeding group here in Charlotte. Less impressive, but I’ve nursed my one child. It was really freaking hard and worth every tear”. Shelly

In spite of my husband saying “all you have to do is pop the tit out and give it to the baby. No complicated procedure there.” Thank God all men do not think like him.

For those that really need help with increasing you milk supply keep reading.

Nursing Pads-When you begin nursing a baby you quickly figure out that you need nursing pads to protect your clothing (and pride!) from leaks. There are some good disposable ones, but most are scratchy and uncomfortable, and if you use them as much as I did with my first baby – you end up spending a fortune. The reusable fabric ones are therefore a Godsend

Here, try to make it your self. I found an excellent tutorial by DIY Materintiy

Lactation Cookies–It’s a sweet snack full of goodies thought to help breastfeeding mamas keep up their milk supply and produce more nutritious milk. Do they really work? Well I think so. I have used them  while nursing six of my nine babies and my daughter uses them for her clients. This recipe is a tried, true:

Lactation Cookie

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:35 Min Total Time:50 Min

Serves 20

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or coconut oil at room temp (coconut oil will make the cookies dairy free)
• 1/2 cup flax seed meal
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup coconut flour
• 3 cups oat flour
• 2 cups rolled gluten free oats
• 1 bag dark chocolate chips (look for aa high cocoa percentage to keep the chips dairy & soy free)
• 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast Flakes (or Brewers Yeast – type will dictate if it is gluten free or not)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 9 x 13 pan

Instructions

• Preheat oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix flax seed meal in the water and set aside for 3-5 minutes.
• Cream coconut oil (or butter) and sugar.
• Add flax seed mixture and nutritional yeast flakes. Mix until light and fluffy.
• Add coconut and oat flour and mix well.
• Add baking soda, salt & rolled oats. Mix well.
• Add chocolate chips and mix well.
• If your mixture seems dry add in a little more water a tablespoon or two at a time.
• Spread evenly in a 9×13 pan and bake at 325 for 30-40m minutes.
• The edges should be golden brown and the middle should be set.
• Let cool (if you can resist the urge to cut into them right away) and cut into bars.
• Enjoy!

Lactation Tea-It’s is a mild galactagogue (a substance that can be used to increase milk supply). Its main milk-boosting ingredient is fenugreek, an slightly bitter-tasting. Some moms find that sipping a few cups of this tea a day is an easy way to help their bodies make more milk. Some drink it hot, some drink it iced, and some mix it with milk or  apple juice. Another bonus is that the tea bad (if used is good for sore nipples- just insert your nursing pad to avoid staining your shirt.)  

Shopping List-

Guess What?  your milk will probably be just right for your baby regardless of what you eat. Your body knows exactly what nutrition your baby needs at every stage of development.But eating healthy  while nursing builds a stronger body and has incredible results long term.

Order your Lactation treats and tea from Cassie’s Sweetz.

Win a  vegan Smash Cake*here!

If you are in Charlotte this weekend, visit Cassie’s Sweetz at the Big Latch On at Baby & Co. this Saturday from 10am- 1pm. She will have Breastfeeding Starter Kits available for sale.

Details? Click the image below. See You There!

Wednesday Wow: Paying Your Doula

 

Would you love to hire a Doula but you honestly can’t afford one? Fear not! Your Health Insurance may cover it!

Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain – your life will never be the same.
– Catherine Jones

So you’re having a baby huh? Congrats! Things are about to be change in a beautiful way! 

Grab a bowl of oatmeal and relax. I did it 9 times, you’ll be okay.

 

I love being a Charlotte doula. I not only help couples before conception, but I also get to help them  during and after delivery. (Check out my Facebook page)

Doulancharlotte

I love attending births.  I love how it makes me feel.  I love how it makes the mom feel.  I love making a difference in other peoples’ lives.

Charlotte has a great selection of professional doulas, and I am proud to be among some of the best in the business. IF I COULD DO IT FOR FREE I WOULD. But I can’t. Aside from the cost of education, books, workshops, continued education, and advertising (website, cards, brochures), we also take into consideration the time that it takes for all of these as well as out of pocket expenses.

In the grand scheme of things, you’re paying for an invaluable service during your pregnancy, labor, and birth. The difference a doula can make during this time is often priceless. The least that can be done is pay her asking fee.  If you need help with that, look no further than your maternity Insurance. (See My Webpage)

www.http://thepinkgrasshopperbirth.webs.com/

As a doula, one of the first questions I’m asked is, will my HMA pay for your services?  Here’s the short answer:

Expenses paid for a doula who’s primary purpose is for delivery of the infant are reimbursable. Charges where the primary purpose is child care after delivery are not covered. An explanation of the primary purpose should accompany the claim.

The following is a partial list of insurance companies have reimbursed in whole or in part for doula services:
Aetna Healthcare

AltPro

Baylor Health Care System/WEB TPA

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Blue Cross/ Blue Shield PPO

Cigna

Degussa, a German Chemical Company

Elmcare, LLC, C/O North American Medical Management

Foundation for Medical Care

Fortis Insurance

Glencare Managed Health Inc.

Great-West Life & Annuity Ins. Co.

HNTB (Peoria, IL)

Houston New England Financial, Employee Benefits (Fort Scott, KS)

Humana Employers Health

Lutheran General Physician’s Organization

Maritime Life

Medical Mutual

Oschner HMO, Louisiana

Professional Benefits Administrators

Prudential Healthcare

Qualchoice

Summit Management Services, Inc

Travelers

United HealthCare of Georgia (San Antonio, TX)

United Health POS

Wausau Benefits, Inc

 

Note: I would ask the doula for her NPI (National Provider Number It may or may not be an issue. Find out before hiring her. or it may be coming completely out of your pockets.

~~~~ON NEXT Monday, I’ll tell you the procedure to filing your doula fees~~~~

HSA qualifications vary; including Medicad. For some insurance companies may want you to identify as an out of network licensed healthcare provider and may make it easier to get reimbursement to your clients.  Depends on the insurance company and the state insurance laws.

I tell my clients to get their OBGYN to write them a prescription for me (a doula) One day Blue Cross Blue Shield called me directly just to ask if I was a doula in their network  and I was so proud to say, “Not yet but I am a certified doula .”  (Via my  numerous clients birth records and doula registration receipts) But they didn’t ask for them . So far, getting paid has never been an issue for me. My clients are instructed to submit receipts through their health insurance coverage, not a flex spending.

Feel free to check out my Pintrest board on ‘Pregnancy’. It’s the rated board for doulas! I’m sure you’ll find great information there.

If this hasn’t helped, just go to your HSA . They should have a third party administrator who can answer this for you.

Here are some beautiful quotes on pregnancy. Click here!

Lock It Down Tips & Tricks for a Dreadhead

Call me lazy, cultural or creating mini versions of my husband. We love our locks. To be more specific DREADLOCKS. This love of culture start way before I was here. As I learned dreads are dated from  1887 They have been worn for various reasons in each culture: as an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, ethnic pride, and as a political statement.

Today, I’m just share more information on how to grow and care for them. Note: I am NOT an expert. Just a mom that tries to save money and do as much as possible in house. I.E. to save money. Since there’s not too much free information on this topic and we are asked how we do our boys hair on the regular,, I figured I would share what I know.

No matter how you start locking many experts say you must avoid getting the hair wet from 4-6 weeks. Otherwise it will breakdown…and trust me, you don’t want that.

Traditionally, it was believed that in order to create dreadlocks, an individual had to refrain from brushing, combing or cutting. This method created dreadlocks that varied greatly in size, width, shape, length, and texture. Freeform locks are patterned to a degree, as the hair is separated in “chunks” (not parted as with a comb) into fairly determinate sections after washing.

A variety of other starter methods have been developed to offer greater control over the general appearance of dreadlocks. Together, these alternative techniques are more commonly referred to as “salon” or “manicured” dreadlocks.^[20]

Using beeswax to make dreads can cause problems because it does not wash out, due to the high melting point of natural wax. Because wax is a hydrocarbon, water alone, no matter how hot, will not be able to remove wax.^[21]

 

My sons range from 4 to 24. Just 4 of them have locs.

 

As with the organic and freeform method, the salon methods rely on hair naturally matting over a period of months to gradually form dreadlocks. The difference is in the initial technique by which loose hair is encouraged to form a rope-like shape. Whereas freeform dreadlocks can be created by simply refraining from combing or brushing hair and occasionally separating matted sections, salon dreadlocks use tool techniques to form the basis of the starter, immature set of dreadlocks.

For African hair types, salon dreadlocks can be formed by evenly sectioning and styling the loose hair into braids, coils, twists, or using a procedure called dread perming specifically used for straight hair. For European, Hispanic, Asian, and Indian hair types, Backcombing and Twist and Rip are some of the more popular methods of achieving starter dreadlocks.

 

Regardless of hair type or texture and starter method used, dreadlocks require time before they are fully matured. So use light weight oils to condition your scalp and a little gloss if you choose for shine.  Do not use heavy greases, waxes and pomades while the process hair goes through as it develops into matured dreadlocks is continuous.

During this time, don’t let your lock become a magnet for lint. Wear a silk scarf or use a satin pillow case.

There is also the ability to adopt different types of fake dreadlocks that may make the hair look as real as possible. This process is called synthetic dreadlocks. There are two different types of synthetic dreadlocks. The first is dread extensions, in which other hair can be infused with the wearer’s own hair. The second is dreadfalls, in which one dread is tied into another with either elastic or lace. Both of these methods are used to make dreads look better and more appealing.

Need more? Click here!

Okay now, go get loc’d up!

 

Friday Four: Graduation and Absent Parents

High School Graduation  brings all types of newness. 

I have a classmate that gave her daughter to a community friend. This year she graduated from high school and I was so pleasantly surprised to see here there supporting her child. It signified a a new chapter for them both. No matter what happened in the past,she was there and her child needed that. Another classmate of mine told me her nieces mom didn’t even showed up and the graduate actually cried on her BIG day.  What I want to share with any absent parent, let go of the ego and get your child!  Unless you are a creep, molester, etc,. the current guardian can no longer keep you from your child.  Yes, honey, it’s YOUR TIME TO bond!

Need help making it happen? I got you. Here’s FOUR ways To To Take Advantage Of This bonding Opportunity:

1. Apologize for everything. Some things could have happened and you may not be aware of it.It may not even be your fault. Something could have happened completely out of your control. Own up to it.Gone on, claim your ‘ish.  Sort through all of it.But don’t put blame completely on the child and other guardian*
2. Answer Offer to Answer any and all questions she/her may have. You’ll be embarrassed,but keep the end goals in mind. Sometimes you have to “UNTIE KNOTS “to get on a smoother road. Now is that time.
3. Ask for a relationship. Don’t be crazy and ask her/him to call you mamma/daddy, but ask can we build some type of relationship from here.
4. Find ways to be significant. You already know your child will need a mini fridge. Go buy it. Create a pintrest page to share with her/him. Keep it updated with college tips and advice. Send monthly care packages, Send gift cards to local venues/attractions in her /his college town. Whatever you do, keep sincere. While you will never make up for lost time, you most certainly can create a special relationship with your child that will never be broken. When she celebrate- you celebrate. When she upset, you find ways to put a smile on her face that no one else can.

These are my personal tips. They are working so far for me. Met my number 3.(yes, I altered her face)  She and I are building a real bond now.I know in my heart, she’s another reason why my professional services create more opportunities for me to be in her life. I’m not wasting the opportunities.  I’ll let you know how that goes!

 

Wednesday Wow: I Do’ Too! Solemization

It’s Summer and officially wedding season! If you’re in North or South Carolina, I’m ya girl!

Okay, so what began as a way to bring more money into the home, has grown to something so much more. Yes, I’m creating marriages, but I’m also creating more  ways to be a part of my children life. That really excites me!

It cost me less than $200 and I can use this new asset in all 50 states for the rest of my life. To all my mama friends, readers- you gotta do it!

I’m still getting used to being called Minister Kelle, because I am a southerner, and grew up thinking of ministers sorta differently. But then I thought about it and said to myself, “Girl, you’re more real than a lot of them out there. -Girl You Good!”

So with my ordination, I can do many things.besides solemnize a wedding  I could also:

1. Perform A Baptism/ Welcome To The World Ceremony

2.  Preside Over A Funeral

3. Be A Chaplain

   We can touch the lives of others in a prison or hospital. Sick and dying patients in hospitals around the country have been comforted by our church’s members, and prison officials actively encourage those who are eager to bring religion to others to come to their institutions and rehabilitate their inmates.

4. Start A Church ( I know right? Wow!)

5.  Ordain others

   The perfect couple for me would be laid back, spiritual but not too religious, fun loving , don’t have a church home and most times open minded.

For me, it’s important to know the couple and meet them way before they get to the altar.I want to know if couple has any religious or cultural rituals that they want to include. Do they want to break a glass? Jump a broom? Do they want to include any Buddhist poetry? Will there be any readings or songs in the ceremony? Of course I offer counseling, but it’s not required. But I will pray with the couple before the wedding and commit to pray for them all the way to the wedding day.

 And I was thinking, for now, I’ll offer my services to the moms of Queen City Stay At Home Moms at a discount as a member perk. Everyone else $220 for a basic service and rehearsal rate. I really don’t think   I would marry anyone out of the Carolina’s.

Which works out fine based on the research I’ve done already. It is said, that in

North Carolina:   Marriage Officiants:/ordained minister of any faith who is authorized to perform marriages by his church may do so.

In North Carolina, I must return the license in SC….. the couple can once completed,return the license to its office of issuance (usually by mail) within 30 days of the wedding. The license is then recorded by the state and the marriage becomes a legal binding contract.

Marriage in South Carolina is governed by Chapter 1 of Title 20 of South Carolina’s Code of Laws.

SECTION 20-1-20. Persons who may perform marriage ceremony.

Only ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in this State, and the chief or spiritual leader of a Native American Indian entity recognized by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs pursuant to Section 1-31-40 are authorized to administer a marriage ceremony in this State

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HERE! Cute wedding Script- < HERE> Beautiful Wedding script.   More Wedding Info —-here

Need wedding ceremony scripts? Click here.  Here’s some fair trade companies…..
What to Ask Your Wedding Officiant Here & Here !  My last reading on the industry-here