Hope you like the Patriotic theme that will be up for about 10 days ... I had fun designing it with all of these wonderful graphics I have (graphic artist links are at the bottom of my blog).

Well, Summer Camp is coming to an end! I hope that I have helped some of you make some good goals and get motivated to reach or finish them in the coming weeks of your summer break. Here's how I did last week:

- meet up with Angie *called her, but she had family in town; will see her this weekend *

- exercise 30 min. minimum daily *yep*
- continue adding info to My Cozy Little Cottage *yep*
- spend daily time with the kids *did better playing games with them*

- write up 3 more product reviews *yep*
- continue to eat better and drink more water *I'm eating healthier, but not drinking enough fluids yet*

- continue to schedule time well and not waste time on internet *did a pretty good job of this*

- buy yogurt maker *yep, it's on its way!*

- get ready for detox diet; have foods in house, etc.*nope, didn't do yet*

I'm pretty happy with last week's results. My other friend also called and we are getting together this Friday, so I've met up with some other friends this summer! I am not making any goals for next week except to get the school schedule together, keep reviewing products and adding content on my website. It's our last week of summer break and I want to have a relaxing week for the most part as I spend a lot of time working on our schedules. I completed the listing of curriculum and materials we'll be using and updated it in the sidebar towards the bottom. My main focus for the year is on character building. I am setting aside the "book learning" a bit to make room for this. My daughter will continue to read her own choices of History books from our bookshelves; my son will read some, too, but just not as many. Our other focus will be on learning US Geography. I changed my son's science to reading through a set of books I bought last year. He'll read one book each quarter.

I think I've finally settled on our calendar for next year as follows:

July 10 - Sept. 8th: 1st quarter

Sept. 11-15: BREAK

Sept. 18 - Nov. 17: 2nd quarter

Nov. 20 - Jan 1: Long Holiday Break (6 weeks); will also give us some "wiggle room" for extra days as I can shorten the break to 4 weeks, if needed

Jan 2 - Mar 2: 3rd quarter

Mar 5 - 9: BREAK

Mar 12 - April 11: half of 4th quarter

April 12 - 20: BREAK and attend PA convention for TOS

April 23 - May 25th: 2nd half of 4th quarter

 ** BREAK FOR SUMMER - 6 weeks**

Guess that's the update for today ... I'll be inviting you to join me on my trip to the Beach beginning July 10th - more details coming next week, but here's a hint ... we are going to be focusing on OURSELVES!! Not goal setting, just learning how to take care of ourselves so that we can take better are of our families. I'm looking forward to this focus - I do it every year and I feel so much better when I'm done. This will last until August 11th. I've enjoyed the Summer Camp experience so much that I plan on having a special focus on my blog for 4-5 weeks at a stretch. Here are my plans so far ... mark your calendars!

July 10 - Aug 11 ... Beach Blast ....

Aug 14 - Sept 15 ...Back-to-School Book Club ...

Sept 18 - Oct 13 ... Fall Festival of Cleaning ...

Oct 16 - Nov 17 ... Hope for the Holidays ...

Not sure what I'll do for the 6 weeks of holidays .... have some thoughts churning in my head, but haven't finalized my decision! I'll announce that in November when it's closer to beginning the new theme. I hope you are having a good week!

... Kris ...