Lisa Ehrman

Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.

3 Easy Slow Cooker Meals

by

Days are long and you’re tired.  Don’t go through the Drive-Thru to get greasy burgers.  Fill your Slow-Cooker quickly in the morning and you’ll come home to an amazing dinner.  As the days get colder and shorter, you’ll love smelling the scent of a home-cooked dinner.  Here are three of my favorites: Beef Stew 1 1/2 pounds Beef Stew Meat 12 small potatoes, cut in half 1 medium onion, chopped 1 bag baby carrots 2 Cups water 1 dried bay leaf Seasoning ( 1 1/2 teaspoons)  salt, pepper, your choice 1/4 cup water 2 Tablespoons flour Directions: Place top 7 ingredients into crock-pot.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Mix last two ingredients and gradually stir into the crock-pot.  Cook on high for 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Remove bay leaf. Serve. Chicken and Vegetables 8 Chicken thighs (boneless, skinless) 2 Cups chicken broth 1 teaspoon salt ( or less for certain diets) 1/4 teaspoon pepper 8 oz. pearl onions (or chopped onions) 2 cloves, finely chopped 1 bag baby carrots (1 pound) 1 pound small button mushrooms 2 Tablespoons cold water 2 Tablespoons flour Directions: Add first 7 ingredients into crockpot.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Then add mushrooms.  Stir cold water and flour and gradually add to the crockpot.  Cook on high for 15 minutes or until it thickens.  Serve. Bean Soup 5 cans broth (chicken or vegetable) 20 oz Mixed Beans 4 medium carrots (2 cups) chopped 3 celery stalks chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 Tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon salt (or less for certain diets) 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained Directions: Cook in crockpot on low heat for 8-10 hours, or until beans are soft.  Then, stir in can of tomatoes and cook on high for 15 minutes.  Serve. @2017, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Date Night At Putt Putt

by
putt putt

Date Night at Putt Putt Disclosure: I received passes to Putt Putt in order to provide a review.  All opinions are 100% my own. Putt Putt Fun Center is an amazing place for kids to have fun!  But, it’s not just for kids.  Adults love it, too.  In fact, hubby and I had a blast there for our date night.  On a fall evening, what more could you want?   As parents, we’ve spent many days at Putt-Putt Fun Center.  Our children have had so much fun there with their friends.  They’ve even celebrated quite a few birthdays there.  But, why leave all the pleasure for kids?  Adults like to have fun, too. We arrived and decided to have fun with the outside activities, first.  We grabbed our golf clubs and ball and headed for one of the beautiful and challenging courses.  The courses are built around gorgeous, large rose bushes and waterfalls.   See, Putt-Putt can even be a romantic place amongst the roses.  Hubby and I tried to be good sports as we fought hard to win the mini-golf game.  The courses were challenging but really nice! Putt Putt Fun Center has many silly, as well as entertaining props around the courses.  I love these HUGE putters.  Aren’t they cute?  We enjoyed trying to get a hole-in-one, but didn’t do it this time.  Maybe, next time. We decided to not try the Bumper Boats, because it was a chilly evening.  I’m sure these are a blast in the summer.  It would be a exhilarating place to play and even get a little wet!  It’s a beautiful pool! Next, we checked out the Race Zone!  The race cars are thrilling for kids and adults and really race around an exciting track.  You can hear the roar of the engines.  What an awesome experience! Putt Putt also has some terrific Batting Cages.  Aspiring MLB players (or just recreational stars) can practice hitting here.  Hubby forgot his bat, but was daydreaming about a Home Run in there. We skipped the Laser Tag, but boy did it look thrilling!  We went into the other game areas indoors to try out some new and old adventures.  I first found this fun game where you can ride on a “motorcycle”  It was delightful to play and move on the bike! Since Hubby is a retired concert pianist, he decided to try out the Piano Keys Game.  I thought he looked and sounded Mah-velous!   We remember spending a lot of time in this room.  This is the place where they hold Birthday Celebrations!  You can schedule your own party, and they’ll take real good care of you.  The Birthday Boy/Girl will feel super special! Hubby competed against the clock with this classic basketball hoops game.  He was shooting so fast! As you can see, the fun never stops at Putt Putt Fun Center.  There are many great locations.  Find one close to you, and schedule your date night at Putt Putt Fun Center.  You’ll be glad you did!

Glasstic: The Perfect Water Bottle

by

Disclosure: I received a Glasstic Bottle in order to review.  All opinions are 100% my own.   What is Glasstic?  It’s the perfect water bottle!  How could it be so perfect?  It’s because of the huge list of features that everyone wants in their Water Bottles. We all want to drink out of real glass vs plastic, but how can you take a glass bottle with you?  I have a glass bottle with the handy foam covering.  But, if you drop this and break the glass, it goes everywhere and can cause a cut. The Glasstic Bottle has a BPA-free plastic outer layer.  If you were to break the glass, it will be contained inside the plastic outer layer.  This is so much safer for you and your children.  Because of the protection, you can take your bottle into places that don’t allow glass containers. I love the Flip-Top lid with the great handle.  The handle allows you to carry the bottle easily.  The large spout allows you to take a gulp instead of a sip. The bottle has a wide mouth, so you can add something other than water to your bottle.  Would you like to add fruit slices to create a fruit-infused water?  So many of us love to add lemon, lime, or other fruits to give water a great flavor.  You can also add essential oils or teabags.  Make your water great! The unique patented design is the best I’ve seen.  The Glasstic company  has a great warranty and believes in their product.  That’s why they offer free replacement parts. I love the beauty of the bottles, too.  They come in six standard colors: blue, pink, white, black, green, and purple.  But, that’s just the beginning.  These bottles can be customized in multiple ways. It’s really easy to add text and images to customize your new bottle.  I did this very quickly and easily online.  They also offer simple-to-follow instructions.  There is a huge collection of fonts to choose from.  You can adjust the size and colors of the text.  There are even fun text patterns!  I love the snow pattern, that would help you to design a bottle perfect for Christmas presents! You can also add a logo or image.  They allow you to upload these right onto your bottle.  You can also adjust the sizes, colors, and everything!  These are great for businesses, schools, churches, and individuals!  Your imagination can truly run wild in designing your bottle. I selected a white bottle and added “Homeschool Insights” in text as well as a matching logo.  I’ll enjoy carrying this everywhere.  It’s perfect for promoting by blog at Homeschool Conventions, meetings, or just running errands.  People will definitely want to know where this super bottle came from. To continue with customization of your new Glasstic water bottle, they offer a huge selection of pre-made designs.  They come in a variety of patterns and you’ll love these! I think my favorite feature is the cute Style Inserts addition.  These style inserts can slip between the glass and plastic to add even more design to your bottle.  They offer a variety of packages to choose from, depending on your style preferences.  They even have sheets that you can color!  You’ll love these, which are perfect for children and adults.  There’s something for everyone! Accessories are available, too.  There are shoulder straps that come in green or black.  There’s a handy tea filter that fits perfectly.  You can even purchase Essential oils! If you purchase from Glasstic in October, you can save 30% by using the code: October30.  They also offer free shipping with orders of $25.  What great deals! @2017, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Techknow Training Studios

by

Disclosure: Affiliate link may be included. How do you teach computer technology in your homeschool?  Technology skills are necessary for kids (and adults).  There are many courses out there, but how about finding one that has super ratings? TechKnow Training Studios was voted Top 100 Educational Site by Homeschool.com.  TechKnow Training  has also been reviewed by Cathy Duffy, and TheHomeschoolTechie.com.  They sell courses to individual homeschool families as well as Co-Ops, Homeschool Groups, and private schools. They include two great Freebies with a subscription: A free parent account and EduTyping Keyboard courses.  The Parent Perks are really great.  Parents can learn with their free account, too.  In the parent perks, parents can: Monitor how much time students spend on the course, as well as their progress Run student progress reports Take any courses their students are taking Gain access to reporting tools that keep track of transcripts and more Have direct access to TechKnow Techs to get help with resources They offer a huge list of courses, with everything from Microsoft Word to Building your own Computer.  Check the courses HERE.   TechKnow Training has High School Credit information for your students who are taking technology courses for high-school credit.  The Course Syllabi are also ready for you to click and print, if you like. My favorite thing about the program is the Student Achievement System, where students can be rewarded for learning new skills and completing courses.  Badges can be earned and points calculated. This helps students to keep track of their learning and share the success of their accomplishments. And, every 9 weeks TechKnow Training rewards one student with a special prize. Prizes could be: Robot Kits, Drones, iPad, computer software and more!  Doesn’t that sound wonderful?   There is also a Fun Zone on their website for games.  They’ve created a separate server for Minecraft games.  The only access is for registered students, so it’s a safe place to play. I hope you’ll check out TechKnow Training Studios.  They have a 30-day Free Trial. I was privileged to meet their representatives at the HEAV Convention in Richmond this summer.  @2017, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Let Furhaven Fill Your Stocking

by
Dogs

Affiliate link included. Does your dog’s bed look worn out?  Archie really “loved” his bed when he was a younger pup.  He loved it to death.  He’s also outgrown his soft little bed.  I think Christmas might be the perfect time to give him a new bed! Furhaven Pet Products, Inc. I’m thrilled to find the choices at FurHaven Pet Products.  The prices look reasonable and I love that they offer so many things for pet owners.  The choices in beds is huge: Sofa beds, waterproof beds, Orthopedic beds, Memory Top beds, beds that fit in crates…..What to choose? Pet Bed Sale! 20% off Limited time only using code “Pet20” The Memory Top Comfy Couch with Faux Fur looks perfect for Archie!  He loves soft things and he can cuddle up to the “arm rests” surrounding the couch.  Wow!  Which bed would suit your dog? Does your dog or cat like to snuggle under the covers?  They would love the Snuggery Burrow Bed!  It has removable/washable covers and comes in different colors.  It also comes in sizes for large or small pets. Some pets like to snuggle with blankets and would like the hood effect. Others would prefer the hood up.  The beds come with a plastic hoop to add, if your pet likes the hood up. FurHaven has really thought of everything. Now, if you have a cat and would like to keep them busy, you might select a cat house.  FurHaven has so many cat houses to select.  They have cat hammocks, cat playgrounds, scratchers, and window-perches.  Check out the Deluxe Playground for Cats with IQ Busy Box! Here’s the Hammock I love the accessories at Furhaven.  The Safety LED Light-Up Collar is just one of my new favorites.  The collar will be great for winter months, when it gets dark so early.  The Collar comes in four different colors and four different sizes!  You’ll find one for any dog. Another product that would be helpful for traveling or any time, is the Water Bottle with Dish.  I would love to have this in the car when Archie gets thirsty.  No more spills with this Water bottle.  It comes in four great colors, too. Do you use plastic fencing to block certain rooms from your pet?  Why not upgrade with beautiful fencing that extends to 48″ and really improves your home decor.  There are two choices: pecan or mahogany.  There are so many wonderful products for your pets at FurHaven.  See if there’s something that you want to put in your pet’s stocking this Christmas. Shop Here – Furhaven Pet Products, Inc.  Save 20% on all Pet Beds for a limited time with Code: Pet20 @2017, copyright Lisa Ehrman

×