The Handbook of Vintage Remedies
by Jessie Hawkins, MH
www.VintageRemedies.com

This 270 page handbook is cram-packed with natural remedies for everything from ADHD to yeast infections. Written and organized in user-friendly style, you're sure to find yourself thumbing through it time and time again as you take care of yourself and your family. Wondering what to do, when your child is complaining of an earache? You'll find answers here. Looking for recipes to make your own bug repellent spray? They're in here too.

Plus, I loved Jessie's handy list for stocking your own herbal medicine chest and the recipes in back for natural household cleaners and bath products. This book really does cover it all with a practical and trustworthy approach.

I found a really interesting tidbit in the Cold/Flu section that seems especially timely with Easter (and the accompanying candy approaching). Jessie says,

“Additionally, I find it a strange coincidence that the winter viral season often begins right around the time Halloween candy is distributed and often ends right after New Year's or Valentine's Day. During these closely set holidays, we are prone to indulge in extra sugary treats. Sugar products lower our immune systems by up to 40% for up to 4 hours after intake. When we combine a decrease in immune function with close indoor interaction with other individuals (and their assorted germs) and other holiday stresses, it really is difficult to wonder why we become ill every year around this time.”

Makes sense, doesn't it?

I think you'll find yourself thinking that about the whole book. You'll want to have your pen and a highlighter handy so you can mark the pages as needed and make your list for your next trip to the health food store.

You'll find a wealth of other helpful information as well as ordering information on Jessie's website. www.VintageRemedies.com

The Duggars share, with humility and humor, the family routines and guidelines they've learned through biblical study and trial and error -- ideas that can help make your home a place of peace, love, and support:

- Financial lessons for debt-free living

- Organizing systems for a clutter-free home

- Homeschooling methods and schedules

- Training tips for little ones

- Relationship builders for older children

- Favorite Duggar family resources

See why I like it so much? It's a perfect read for this time of year!

Anyone else reading something they'd recommend right now?

Leahy Live DVD
Leahy

Lotos Nile Media

www.lotosnile.com

615-298-1144

P.O. Box 23050
Nashville, TN 37202-3050

This wonderful DVD of the Leahy Public Television Special on WLIW New York is outstanding! Leahy is a Canadian Irish family of 8 musical brothers and sisters who have been playing music their entire lives. Now adults, the Leahy family is absolutely energizing and will amaze you with their talent. They seem to be able to do it all! Fiddle, step dancing, vocals, percussion, and piano. They definitely have some very talented genetics coursing through their veins!

Their father was a fiddle player in the original Leahy band while their mother was a step dancing champion. They grew up working together on their farm by day and singing and dancing at night. Their joy, energy, and confidence makes for an outstandingly enjoyable video. With a style which includes just about every musical genre – pop, Celtic, classical,jazz, and country, Leahy will set your feet to tapping and hands to clapping.

Through their performances, they exude a love for not only music, but for their family as well. What a wonderful way to see the difference that parents can make in their children's lives, and how their family has been able to take their love of music and performing and create something that will bless and inspire delighted audiences worldwide. I am so thankful that I was introduced to this group. They are an absolutely heartwarming breath of fresh air.

Watch their website www.LeahyMusic.com for information on upcoming performances and shop for their merchandise at their online store.

-Product Review by Nancy Carter, HomesteadBlogger Senior Editor, November 2006

The Star-Spangled Combo Package
Joel King
www.HomeroomEducation.com
Homeroom Education, Inc
547 McLean Avenue
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
homeroom@homeroomeducation.com

If one of your goals for your child's education is for him to learn all about the 50 States, then you'll definitely want to check out this Star-Spangled Combo Package. The author and my good friend, Joel King, a homeschool dad has created something that will get both children and parents excited about learning the 50 states!

With 3 boys ages 5-14, I've seen plenty of curriculum over the years, but this is truly the first that I've seen to take such a thorough approach to teaching the 50 states. It is just packed with information! For each state, your child will learn the capital, recall basic state facts, identify the state by it's shape, locate it on a US map, and even learn the border states to give them a solid geographical framework.

The combo priced at $49.90 includes both The Star -Spangled State Book ($19.95) and The Star- Spangled Workbook ($34.95). The State Book itself makes a great stand alone book. My family absolutely loves the colorful pages with clip art and quick facts. I've never had a book that was such a complete resource. The Star-Spangled State Book gives the capital, the date the state entered the Union, the state's population and population ranking, the state's land area and land area ranking, the names of the 3 most populated cities, a picture of the state, the state flag, and then some other quick facts. That's a lot to learn, but this book will make it fun!

At the bottom of the each page, you can quiz your child or your child can quiz himself using the self-checking Geoquiz. Need to know even more? You can check the different maps of the 13 colonies and the Civil War states, review the order our states joined the Union, check the abbreviations for each state, memorize the list of Presidents, find out which states have the most people, see how fast the states are growing, check out which states are biggest, and then review it all with the Where Did I See That? quiz, the Where Did I Read That? quiz, the What's Wrong With This? test, and the blank US map. See what I mean? This book has it all!

Well almost all of it! If you want a workbook that your child can write in which will provide you with a full year of lessons, you'll want to order The Star-Spangled Workbook as well or the combo package. You need both  The Star-Spangled State Book and The Star-Spangled Workbook to complete the 36 week program so your best value is to buy the combo and save $5. The course is set up so that you'll do three short 15 minute lessons each week and then the 4^th day will be a quiz to review what the student has learned. Various lessons will have the student filling in the blanks, answering True or False questions, writing important facts and definitions, drawing a picture of the state, connecting the names of states to their pictures, finding the state on a blank map, unscrambling important words, writing the abbreviations and capitals, and listing various border states. That last one is really tough for me so I'm definitely learning right along with my kids on this one.

Whether your child is just beginning to learn the states or just needs to review them, you'll love this program! You won't find a more well-organized, thorough, or colorful resource anywhere. Joel's love for history and geography, passion for learning, enthusiasm for games, and experience as a homeschool dad all work together to make this the best US geography curriculum on the market. Every homeschool family should make sure to have one on their shelf!

-Product Review by Nancy Carter, Public Relations Manager for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine