TOS Review - Apologia Educational Ministries (Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms)

What is Apologia Educational Ministries?

Apologia Educational Ministries has been a total favorite around here in our homeschool, for both myself and the kiddos. We have had the opportunity to use so many of their wonderful products and have never been disappointed. If you are unfamiliar with Apologia, here is a quick overview of their company. Apologia is a curriculum company based solely for homeschooling families. This company offers several different subjects from Science to History to Language Arts to Biblical Worldview. They also offer products for parents as well. You can check out their website, www.apologia.com, for all of their great products!

As mentioned above, Apologia offers different products for parents alongside the curriculum they provide for students. Apologia has recently added a new book just for homeschooling Moms titled, Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms. 

Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms is a book written by Mary Jo Tate, a seasoned homeschooling Mom. Since 1997, Mary Jo has homeschooled her four sons, along with being successful in many other areas. She has written several books, teaches high school literature for a homeschool co-op, blogs at Flourish at Home: Joyful Balance For Busy Moms and hosts a radio show, "Flourish At Home" on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network. 

Obviously, balance is a must in Mary Jo's life. In this book, she shares her personal story, her struggles and a great plan to overcome a busy schedule, thriving along the way in life as homeschooling Mom. Throughout the book, she acknowledges the lives of stay-at-home Moms, single Moms, working Moms. Mary Jo Tate leaves no one out as she gives practical advice for how to balance life. 
Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms is only $15.00.

What I Received and How I Used It:

For this review, I received a soft cover copy of Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms by Mary Jo Tate. When the book came in the mail, I looked at the cover and knew I would love it. It's so pretty, calming and inviting. It is one of those books you want to curl up in the bed with or on the couch with, light a candle and just indulge yourself. And well, that is pretty much what I did. 
Most of my reading is done when the children are napping or after they have headed off to bed. 
To say this book could not have come at a more prefect time is no understatement. This school year, I am adding Kruz (4) to the mix 3 days a week, in which I am certain Kohen (2) is going to want to be right alongside of his Big Brother and Bestest Bud. So not only are we adding a full preschool curriculum this year, but our family is also adding a new Baby Sister any day now. All in all, next year's homeschool is going to look completely different than last year's. I needed this book. I needed to be filled with ideas, encouragement and ways to thrive as a homeschooling Momma with a busy life. 
Over the past few weeks, I have read just about this entire book and am looking forward to finishing it up soon.

What I Thought About It All?

I have had the pleasure to take part of this wonderful ministry, Apologia Educational Ministries, by using their products several times over the past couple years in our homeschool. Some of the products were ordered by choice and others were given to us by way of review. When I say I have never been disappointed, that is no understatement. Myself and my children have always loved what has come our way from Apologia Educational Ministries. And of course, Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms, has been no different. 

I would say this book is for all of us homeschooling Moms who are at all different seasons. Whether you are starting out fresh or have been homeschooling for years, this book acknowledges all different stages of this journey. 

There have been several different spots in the book that have really resonated in my mind, others in my heart. One of my favorite chapters so far has been Chapter 6: What Do I Do Next? In this chapter, Mary Jo provides Seven Essential Planning Tools that allow us to focus on goals and where we are at with them. Another chapter encourages us Moms  to rest. And sometimes, I need to be reminded that is okay for me to rest. Another chapter encourages us Moms to create a time log and assess where our time is really going each and every day. 

I really could go on and on, but I think I have said enough that all the homeschooling Moms reading this are going to grab this book and consider it a gold mine.

Important Information:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlourishAtHome

Twitter: twitter.com/maryjotate

Price: $15.00

Along with the purchase of this book, you will also receive downloadable links to loads of extras like To-Do Lists, Schedules and Planners. 

TOS Review - Motivated Moms

What is Motivated Moms?

Motivated Moms was originally started by two Moms, Deann Polanco and Janet Russell, several years ago as a way to offer other Moms the perfect planning tool to keep a clean home without going crazy in the process. After life changes for both Janet and then Deann, the reigns were handed off to Susan Cramer who is still running the company today. Susan continues on the legacy of offering Moms a great way to keep their homes in order with this wonderful chore planning system.

Originally, Motivated Moms was only offered in a traditional book format. Now we are given two great options to choose from, an app or printable EBook. 

The app is for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Android ($1.99 for the first two months and $0.99 for each additional month or $7.99 for the entire year).

 The EBook format (8.00) can be downloaded and printed. The EBook is offered in eight versions to ensure each Mom gets exactly what she needs. Motivated Moms has truly thought of all different ways to offer the EBook, in color or black and white, with or without encouraged Bible Reading, one day per page or one week per page, half size pages or full size pages. Depending on the layout you choose, there are also extras like a place for your meal planning and spots to add activities. To see all of these unique chore planning options in more depth, please click here. 

On the chore planner, most of the cleaning is done Monday through Friday, leaving Saturdays and Sundays to simple tasks like 'Water the house plants' and 'Clip and organize coupons'. Motivated Moms does not forget the down time either we Moms deserve. On the planner are times for pampering yourself, doing a craft or having fun with a hobby. 

What I Received and How I Used It:

I received the opportunity to review an EBook version of the Motivated Moms chore planning system. I was a bit overwhelmed when I sat down to choose which one I liked best and whereas, the color options were more appealing to me the logical woman in me said not to waste the color ink. I chose the 2014 Motivated Moms Half-Size Chore Planner with Scheduled Bible Reading {Black and White}.

Over the course of six weeks, I used this planner to delegate all of my housework and other tasks like, 'clip the children's nails'. Yep, that's on there and to be honest, I need that reminder. The first week or so was a little rough and I struggled with getting the hang of doing a little at a time. The point is though, for this housework thing to be stress free and once I saw it all coming together, I was elated and oh so ready to make this chore planner a habit. When I came to tasks like 'Clean off the top shelf of the refrigerator' I did not want to leave the rest of it dirty. So I ended up cleaning it out at it's entirety. I know the point of this planner is to do a little at a time, but it was great in the next few days to be able to check off the other tasks like 'Clean middle shelf of the refrigerator' and 'Clean bottom shelf of the refrigerator'. 

Here are a few shots of some of my progress: 

Confession: We've lived in this home for three years and I've never cleaned the oven. It felt pretty good, I must say.

  

What I Thought About It All:

Let me admit this first: I am the Momma who looks at the big picture of housework. And doing that, I in turn hyperventilate often. This is me: I go to the kitchen to tidy it up, see a dirty sock on the floor, go to toss it in the laundry room which in turn leads me to noticing just how much laundry has piled up, which reminds me to go check in the rooms for all the other dirty clothes, which in turn leads me to all the messes in every room - me.hyperventilating. Maybe a little exaggerated (not really), you get the picture. I struggle with the concept of "a little bit everyday". Using my Motivated Moms Chore Planner pretty much forced me to be the opposite of me - and it worked. 

At first, I was a little apprehensive - because what did I do? Looked through the whole dang planner and saw all that I was expected to accomplish. 

Deep breaths Kelsey, deep breaths. 

With a little hesitation that this would actually work for me, I punched holes in the printed papers and into a notebook it went. A cute one, I might add. It gives me more umph to get the jobs done. 

When I started, I noticed the majority of the daily chores I already did at some point in the day. Some of them, like wiping down the kitchen, I do several times a day. Then there were others like "Make the Beds" that I did not do. Did you know it takes me less than 10 minutes to make my bed and the boys' beds? Who knew! I know it sounds crazy, but coming into a room with a bed all nice and neat made me breath a little easier seeing all the toys in the floor. Making our beds has now become habit, I'm telling you - it's a wonderful thing. 

I love this chore planner and highly recommend it to all the Moms I know: working in or out of the home, homeschooling or not. This planner can be beneficial to our home, our children and our sanity. 

Important Information:

Website: www.motivatedmoms.com
Price for App: $1.99 for two months, with $0.99 for each additional month or $7.99 for the entire year
Price for EBook of your choice: $8.00
Follow Motivated Moms on Twitter.

Like Motivated Moms on Facebook.