I've added several new sales and coupon codes at Shop @HWTK in the past few days. Have a look before you place an order for those new school materials.
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Of particular note- Hobby Lobby has T-shirts on sale for 50% off this week! These shirts come in adult and child sizes and in a wide variety of colors. I purchase some each year for my family to wear when I want matched shirts for outings.
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I forgot to poston the website this one from The Critical Thinking Store:
Win a Free Product!
Enter Source Code HSS0705 during checkout and you'll be instantly entered in our random weekly drawing for one product of your choice!*
Also, save 15020% on select software titles.
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Five in a Row has been jumping this week. If you want a copy of Volume 4, act fast. It will soon be OOP.  Also, one of the books used in Volume 4, Higgins Bend Song and Dance by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is OOP. If you come across a copy still available- make your buy!
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Here are some links to ideas for the Month of May from Family Fun:
Memorial Day
Celebrate the start of summer during Memorial Day weekend.
Sunny Day Activities
The days are getting warmer and brighter all the time -- get outside and play!
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Now a little disappointment:
I ordered several books and a game from The Book Cover a few weeks ago. The transaction went smoothly, shopping for what I wanted online was pleasant and the shipment went out quickly.
That's when the trouble began. My box arrived about 2 weeks later. Taped up tight all around by the Post Office. It had been ripped open during shipping and all the books were missing. The game had been housed in a plastic case about the size of a plastic video case. The case was mangled in one corner and half the game cards were gone.
I was very sad of course as I'd really wanted these particular books for our homeschool work. In fact I'd only ordered the game because it was very low priced and I was 'already paying shipping'. I called The Book Cover first to let them know what had happened and to make sure all the books were supposed to be in that box. (I was hoping they'd tell me the game had shipped separately.) No luck. I *should* have received 3 books plus the game. Plus, since the package wasn't insured the person I spoke with on the phone told me there was nothing he could do and perhaps I could file a claim with the Post Office. (As far as I know, insurance was not offered as part of the transaction.)
Well, I tried filing with the Post Office and their answer was basically- that's what insurance is for and most good sellers will take care of you. To be fair, I've not contacted the seller again to see if they are standing by their "you just blew $15 on half a packet of cards and a ripped up box" stance. So perhaps once they find out the P.O. really isn't going to pay they will help me out. But so far I've not received an offer of assistance.
So there you have it. I am really torn because I like the selection of this particular store and even have them listed on my website. But I don't want to throw away more money ordering from them again to see if things are handled better. Nor do I know if it's fair to just remove them from my website or continue to list them (because of the great selection) but with a warning. I know it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, it's only money and I won't go hungry. But I enjoy good customer service and this sure wasn't it.
In any event the history lessons I was hoping to start soon are going to have to wait since I just blew nearly half of what it would of cost for me to buy the book I really wanted brand new on used books that are now lost at the Post Office. (The Post Office by the way will let you fill out a form to be sent to the Postal Inspector but they no longer bother to search for lost items. I assume someone will get to buy my books at an auction at some point in the future.  )
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Here's the silver lining though. It's complicated so stick with me. DH had to work very early today and then had to drive me to renew my driver's license in a town about 30 minutes away. Silly me, not only let my license expire but also didn't bother to check to see if the branch was open on Mondays. It was not. So home we go after making one more stop to try to buy some food at the health food store- they were out of stock.
Having some time to waste in my wholly unsuccessful day, I decided to go work out and check in at the Post Office regarding the above referenced package. I went to the post office about 1 mile from our house first. That's the good news. When I came out, there was a pool of dark reddish brown liquid around my van. I'm sure it hadn't been there when I went inside. Bummer. So I drive home, wake poor napping DH and give him the details. Not good- radiator leak. Good- I was close enough to home that I made it home AND it's the hose not the water pump. This is particularly a blessing as our other vehicle is out of commission right now as well, needing brakes and that would have left us with one van and lots of errands to run tomorrow.
So, believe it or not that's my good news. I can't get my books, my license or my food BUT I didn't have to be towed home and in a day or two DH should be able to fix his van so he'll be able to drive to work on Thursday. (Oh- another silver lining: Tuesday and Wednesdays are his days off work.)
Oh and I almost forgot- ground beef is on sale this week and I have money in the grocery budget. So I'll get to stock up! (Once I have a car to get there. LOL!)
Have a great week and may you always find the blessings God has hidden for you in life's trials. 
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