Southern Fried Fun: Southern Sayings and Their REAL Meanings!

Happy Friday y'all! I have poured myself a big 'ol glass of sweet tea and have settled in at my desk to shed some light on a dark world. Ya know, that world that lies north of the Mason Dixon line. Well, okay so the North isn't THAT bad at all, but I know plenty of y'all think we are just plum crazy down here with all these jumbled up sayings that you can't make heads or tails out of. So I figured it is high time we Southerners let y'all in on our secret code!

As some of y'all might know, I am from East TN but now call West TN my home and while both are in the south there are still variations ( A LOT OF VARIATIONS) in the way I talk and the way everyone else talks! That being said, it is that way all over the South so these sayings I am going to share with you, may not be exactly how your Mama said 'em, but you'll get the picture! 

1) I bought it for a song. 
That is a saying we use to describe gettin' a REAL good deal on something! 
2) Does a cat have climbing gear? 
This saying is used as a "well duh!" response.
3) Madder than a wet hen!
Have you ever encountered a wet hen? Well, it ain't pretty and I would steer clear at all costs!
4) Drunk as Cooter Brown. 
Who knew, Cooter Brown is a real person! With quite a reputation! You can read about him here.
5) He doesn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.
I am really glad that using a "pot"ty is not a common thing anymore! But back in the day, it sure was the norm. And if you didn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of, you were sure enough poor. 
6) That makes about as much sense as tits on a bull.
This one makes me laugh cause I imagine someone trying to milk a mean old bull. Silly, isn't it?
7) Walkin' in High Cotton
Cotton is kind of a big deal in the south, so as a farmer high cotton is a true blessing!  
8) As happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.
This one I had to do a little research on myself. Apparently, when a pig dies in his pen and is left in the sun, his skin draws up and leaves him with a smile on his face. 
9) Can't Never Could.
Saying "I can't" just isn't acceptable. If you think you can't, you can't and you never could.
10) It came a gully washer.
According to Wiktionary a gully washer is an intense, but unusually short lived, rainstorm.
11) Do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck?
Finding the origin on this one is tough, it seems that there is no definite answer as to where it all started! I have read that it was made popular by Johnny Carson. The phrase falls in line right along "I wasn't born yesterday", meaning you aren't ignorant or insinuating that you have "been around the block a time or two".
12) Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.
There seems to be a little controversy here! I suppose I have always assumed that the phrase was literal, as in if the creek got to high, you wouldn't be able to pass it. And that, like a lot of southern sayings, the grammar is incorrect but normal to the slang way people talk. There seems to be another theory that the phrase came from a Colonel writing a letter to the President and was referring to the Creek Indian Tribe which would make it grammatically correct. Which every theory you want to claim, it still means the same. As long as it is God's will and nothing gets in your way, it will happen! 
13) What in the Sam Hill?
Seems this phrase comes from the notoriety of yet another rascal from the past. Sam Hill was a man that had such a potty mouth that his name became a cuss word all on its own!  
14) Put on the dog. 
To "put on the dog" means to make things fancy or put on your best! 
15) Quit bein' ugly!
I think everybody's Mama has told them at some point to quit bein' ugly. Which is southern code for straighten up and act right!
16) Clean as a whistle.
While there are several ideas about where this phrase originated, my favorite is in reference to the whistle sound a sword makes when it swishes through the air during decapitation. While it might be a messy answer, it sure makes it interesting!
17) How do ya like them apples?
While a true Southerner never gloats, (Mama wouldn't like it) this is one of those phrases that might be said to you when a turn of events favors the person saying it. But I assure you, they are absolutely NOT gloating! 
18) Don't let the screen door hitcha where the good Lord splitcha!
While a lot of Southern sayings add a little sugar, this one is a little different, it is more ummm direct! This is one way a Southerner may ask you to leave without hesitation and I suggest that you do so! 
19) Spit in one hand and want in the other, see which one fills up faster.
One thing Southerners are a stickler for is workin' hard for whatcha got. That is exactly the meaning behind this phrase, actions are what get ya somewhere, not wishes! Wish for it, then go make it happen!
20) Take it with a grain of salt.
This is a warning when hearing a tall tale (even though you might not realize it is a tall tale at the time). It is a well known fact that too much salt can ruin food, well the same is to be said about an exaggerated truth. Let's all go easy on the salt, it is better on the heart! 
21) I don't give a hoot.
Well, I think this one means something along the lines of ya can't be bothered to make a fuss.
22) Simmer Down!
We Southerners love our food and all too often our Mama's can be found in the kitchen. Well when the pot gets to boiling too hard, ya turn down the heat to simmer. Well, she expects the same thing outta her kids when they get too rowdy, "simmer down" means to calm yourself!
23) Haven't seen you in a coon's age!
A long time ago, back before all the scientific technology we have these days, it was believed that Racoons (coons) lived for a LONG time. That is where the phrase was coined, inferring a long time. 
24) Don't put all your eggs in one basket!
Eggs break way too easy so it is better to collect a few per basket to ensure they don't all break and you are left with nothin'. This phrase is often used to encourage people to spread their resources a little so that if somethin' goes sour, you don't lose it all!
25) You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
You best keep that smile on your face and be sweet if you want to get your way! Bein' ugly doesn't get ya anywhere!

I sure hope ya'll enjoyed this list and maybe learned a few things along the way (I know I did)! This is part one of a series (Southern Fried Fun) where we will take a look at different things that make us who we are!  Y'all have a good weekend! We will see ya next week!




Why Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type Can Make You A Happier Person




Have you ever met someone who, though you both may be good people, it just feels like you’re eternally on different wavelengths? Have you ever been accused of being too sensitive, or too hyper, or too daydreamy, or too commanding, as if these were inadequate qualities to have? Have you ever felt different from everyone else in a way you couldn’t explain? Have you ever felt like no matter what you do, your motives or your train of thought are misunderstood? Have you ever cared too much on the inside? Have you ever not shown that you care enough from the outside?

Regardless of how you answered the above, I know how you feel. For most of my childhood, I felt completely misunderstood. There have been words friends, family or strangers used to describe me that I wrestled with for years, because I knew they just. weren’t. true.

"You’re too quiet."

"You’re selfish."

"You’re too sensitive."

"You’re too slow."

"You’re airheaded."

"You’re stuck-up."

I’m sure there are misguided words people have used to describe you, too; words that you just couldn’t identify with, no matter how accurate they appeared to be. In my case, I understood—sometimes—why people would perceive me in certain ways, but I would drive myself crazy because I knew they were flat-out wrong. Growing up—and even into adulthood—there were very few people who I felt “got” me; I could count those people on one hand. That’s not to say I was loved by only a handful of people. I know plenty of people who genuinely love and care about me. But being loved and being understood can be two different things. By the time I was in college, I just accepted that I was different without knowing or even asking myself why. What I often did ask myself, though, was why I couldn’t be more like someone else. I saw so many of the qualities that made me different—qualities that were either misinterpreted or deemed as inferior by others—and tried to hide them, frustrated with myself, because it was like forcing a square peg into a round hole.


And then, I discovered the MBTI: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator takes C.G. Jung’s psychological theories and puts them into an applicable form by implementing them into sixteen different personality types.

Ask my friends. I’m obsessed with the MBTI. OBSESSED, which is actually symptomatic of my personality type (INFJ). Discovering my “type” changed my life. As an author, it’s been invaluable in helping me better develop my characters. As a person, I’ve found it’s helped enrich my relationships. Heck, it’s helped me understand strangers. It also explained why I’ve felt so misunderstood through the years.

Let me explain to you why you NEED to know your own personality type, and why it would be beneficial to become familiar with all the other types as well.

WHY IT MAKES YOU A BETTER PARENT:

Every child has their quirks and their strengths. As a parent, I’ve already acknowledged both of these things in my daughter, but the MBTI has helped me understand why she feels the need to do things a certain way. The why is very important. I see that she is not necessarily shy, she’s introverted (I). She is very observant and has to grow accustomed to people and her surroundings before taking any kind of action (N). She generally is very concerned and aware of how other people feel and how they might perceive her (F). And lastly, she seems to make the connection between cause and effect—her actions and the possible resulting consequences (J). So, though I’m not an expert, I believe as of right now, she’s an INFJ, but she is still little enough to where this could very well change in the future. For now, though, since we share the same personality type, I have a little more insight into her personality than I might otherwise. My husband, being an INFx himself, also understands her why. xNxx (intuitive) Children raised by xSxx (sensory) parents (and vice versa) often grow up feeling misunderstood or unappreciated, because both process thoughts differently. This is one reason why being aware of your type and your child’s type is essential; it could very well explain why you have a “good” parent and a “good” child who can never seem to get along.

Another reason it’s imperative to know your child’s personality type is because in some types, there’s a tendency to be misconstrued as a behavioral disorder (ADHD, ADD) when in fact, it’s simply who the child is; it’s how they view the world around them and how they react to it. In addition to this, by knowing your child’s personality type, you will find it easier to pinpoint why they may struggle in certain areas. This will enable you to address those problematic areas specifically, allowing your child to flourish as they learn and live.

WHY IT MAKES YOU A BETTER SPOUSE:

I often tell people that I’m an ounce of prevention and my husband is a pound of cure. That is how we both subconsciously make decisions and view the future. I’m the one who is thinking ahead and seeing every possible disaster, while my husband generally deals with disaster as it comes. For many years, I saw this as a character flaw (as he did mine) and we both struggled with understanding why the other planned too far ahead or didn’t plan ahead at all. Discovering his personality type helped me to not only understand his thought processes, but to embrace them. It helped me to see that it was more than “that’s just the way he is” but to understand why. As a result, I have much more patience for this aspect of his personality than I did before.

I also no longer take the stance of “I’m right for thinking ahead when you didn’t.” Though I still believe one should consider consequences to either action or inaction, sometimes in certain scenarios, this overwhelms me to the point where I get extremely stressed out and high-strung, anticipating how everything could go wrong. That’s when my husband will hit the pause button on the situation and say, “Why are you freaking out? It’s okay. We have the whole day for this. There’s no deadline. We’re good.”

I’m very fortunate in that my hubby and I almost have the same personality type (INFJ/INFP). We’ve always gotten along extremely well with very few hitches. This may be different for married types who are almost or completely different, but knowing what your types are can help you adapt and appreciate each other more.

WHY IT MAKES YOU A BETTER CO-WORKER AND EMPLOYEE:

Jane is controlling and bossy. Laura is never in a hurry and not very assertive. Both get their jobs done, but both get frustrated with the other’s methods. Sound familiar?

Jane is most likely an xSTx personality type; Laura is probably an xNFx type. Neither of them are wrong, they’re just different. Being familiar with the MBTI can help you recognize traits in certain types and value or understand your coworkers and friends better. Jane appears controlling because she sees a problem that needs to be fixed and instinctively pursues the most efficient way to solve it. Laura is unhurried because she is thorough and wants to ensure that her job is done correctly. Being able to acknowledge the differences in perspective could potentially diffuse confrontational circumstances and empower you to see the complementing strengths in your counterparts. Someone with an xxFx type is likely a better people person, while someone with a xxTx type is likely a better problem solver.

In an intense situation, Laura is probably more likely to show empathy/sympathy and make the other person feel heard and understood, while Jane is more likely to present a solid plan to resolve the issue. Both are “right” because both are necessary.

WHY IT MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON:

If all of the above isn’t enough to convince you of why you should learn your personality type, allow me to make one last hurrah. One of the most profound changes I experienced upon discovering my personality type—and perhaps the most important—was self-acceptance. I no longer look at some of my less-celebrated qualities and think with a sigh, “That’s just the way I am.” Learning my type has allowed me to embrace both the strengths and weaknesses of my personality. It’s given me confidence in my specific abilities, while allowing me to acknowledge my growth areas with humility. Learning about my personality type has definitely made me a happier, more empathetic person.

Take note, though. The MBTI is not to be rigidly adhered to. Though you may find similarities in people who share your personality type, we all grow up in different households with different environments, experiences, and values. Having a general—if not thorough—knowledge of the MBTI types can be indispensable, but it should definitely not be used to reproach someone for behaving or thinking outside the boundaries of their personality type. It’s also important to note that people with mental illnesses may not appear to belong to any one specific category.

Again, I urge you to take the test and discover your personality type and what it means. It could become as invaluable to you as it has become to me, whether its discovering a career you will thrive in, improving relationships, or just plain learning to love the unique, remarkable person that you are.


Surviving Snow Days!

Snow day! Two little words that have the power to fill a parents heart with dread or pure joy. I am a parent who absolutely loves snow days. We have currently been snowed in for four days now and we are not only surviving, we are thriving. We have had so many wonderful experiences as a family from movie nights, sledding, snow art and snow science. The best part is lasting memories we have made as a family.
This is how we survived Snowmageddon 2016...

Day 1- Finally we had the "S" word in the forecast, with the possibility of accumulation- Yay! Naturally I bundled the little's up and headed to the store for some snowssentials and I am not talking about bread and milk. First stop, the baking aisle for some baking soda and a big jug of white vinegar. Next, everyone got to pick out a special candy. We grabbed a box of popcorn with the pour over butter (because calories do not count on snow days), and of course caffeine for mom because I am not crazy enough to take on a snow day with three little's with out a morning pick me up. Finally, we hit the shampoo aisle for a bottle of white conditioner and then we were ready to checkout and head back home. As the evening of day one approached my little's were bummed that not a single snowflake had fallen so we took matters into our own hands. We made our own snow!!!!!! We did this by mixing 9 cups baking soda and 1 and 1/2 cups of the white conditioner (the original recipe calls for only 3 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup of conditioner but I needed enough for three). The outcome was pure playtime bliss, my little's loved this activity and the best part was that it really felt like snow.


Day 2- OMG!!! It's Snowing! There is actually white flakes falling from the heavens and it is sticking. After watching the snow fall for a few hours we ventured out to play and by mid-afternoon we had about five inches of glorious white snow which meant that we could finally make a snow volcano. To make our volcano we used a small Pepsi bottle that I filled about halfway with baking soda, a water bottle filled with the vinegar, a few drops of red food coloring, and snow. Next I placed the Pepsi bottle in the snow and covered the sides with snow, basically building a mound around the bottle. After the volcano was built my husband poured the vinegar and we watched. Almost instantly we had a volcanic eruption that wowed and amazed my little's. They loved it so much we repeated the experiment several more times. As the sun began to set we headed in to warm up with some hot chocoate and prepare for a movie night. We ended up watching Mr. Poppers Penguins which was free on Demand. We also stuffed our faces with popcorn, M&M's, Sour Patch Kids, and Sour Patch Watermelons.






Day 3- Of course we spent to morning just enjoying the snow but by the afternoon my littles wanted something new and fun so we attempted to make ice marbles using balloons, water, and food coloring. You are supposed to use water balloons but all I had on hand was thick party balloons but I figured it was worth a try.We filled each balloon with water and a few drops of food coloring before putting them in the freezer to set up. After about 3-4 hours in our freezer the balloons were rock hard, so we peeled the balloons off and what we had were ice ovals. They were not round like marbles (I think the balloons affected the shape) instead they were egg shaped. I was bummed things had not worked out the way I expected, but then my oldest spoke up, "Wow! mom we have dinosaur eggs! Lets hide them and go on an egg hunt!" We spent the rest of the afternoon hiding and hunting dinosaur eggs.







Day 4- Day four brought blizzard like conditions with frigid temperatures so we weren't able to play outside but that did not stop us from enjoying the snow. In the morning we made snowflake sun-catchers to hang on our patio doors. It was a simple project that we were able to complete with items we had on hand, we used clear contact paper, black construction paper, and tissue paper in shades of blue. I helped my two youngest cut their snowflakes out of the black paper but my oldest was able to to hers on her own. Next we placed the snowflake in the middle of a piece of contact paper, and then added the tissue paper to fill up the rest of the contact paper. Once they were finished I hung them on our glass patio doors so the sun could shine through them. This was a very simple and stunning art project. After lunch we collected some clean snow and made snow cream which was a huge hit. I know most people have a favorite snow cream recipe but in case you don't here is the one we used...
Snow Cream Recipe:

8 cups fresh snow
1 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract. 

Mix all together and serve immediately!
After we finished our tasty treat I went back outside and filled a bucket of snow which I brought inside. We used this snow to make snow buddies. Each kiddo made their own snow body (they were basically just blobs) next we used Mr. Potato Head pieces to give our snow buddies life. They actually turned out super adorable and they were a lot of fun for the kiddos.







Day 5- The original plan for day 5 was to build a snow fort with snow guards but that went out the window when our neighbors invited us to spend the afternoon sledding with them. By the time we had finished sledding the sun was setting and it was nearly dinner time but we were able to squeeze in time to build a small snowman family before heading in for the night,



There you have it, how we survived Snowmaggedon 2016. Please feel free to try any of these fun activities with your own kiddos on your next snow day. If you didn't find an activity you loved check the pictures below for more ideas from our previous snow days.









The Working Mom's Secret to Working Out

I hate working out.

Seriously, I do. Like most modern women, I have a full-time job, a husband, a child, responsibilities at home, and a passion that I pray might just evolve into a full-time career someday. Being a helpful wife and the best mom I can be (while inundating both my husband and kid with love and wet kisses) is my top priority, but I still have my own individual pursuits, too. I’m an author. After my family, my writing is the next biggest priority. It’s something I will not yield on. If I couldn’t write, I know I’d not only lose a part of myself, but I’d go out of my mind. (My head is like the island on Lost; if I don’t release the energy up there every so often, things get scary). During the week, my writing time is already reduced to just a couple hours. I get home, change clothes, maybe grab something to eat, let the dog out, play with my daughter, and talk to my husband. Depending on the day, that only gives me 2-4 hours to write. That may seem like a lot of time, but to an author, it’s not. Not all of that time is spent actually writing; some of it is spent doing necessary research or thinking. That time runs up fast. I hate working out because, at the end of my eight-hour work day, I want to relax, spend time with my family, and write my novels.

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Every woman knows your entire life philosophy changes when the kids come along. Those things that used to be a priority—make-up, hair styling...heck, sometimes even showers—just don’t take precedence over an itty bitty who needs to be fed, bathed, cuddled, and looked after every second of the day. Then, there’s the clothes that need to be folded, dishes that need to be washed, kid-crumbs that need to be vacuumed, husbands that need assistance (don’t laugh ladies; we need his help sometimes, too). We blame our flabby bellies and mermaid thighs on the burger and french fries (or in my case, pizza) that were easier to run out and get than the time and the energy it takes to cook something ourselves. Sometimes, I apologize to my husband because he’ll come home to find me in sweats, my hair in a bun, and not a stitch of make-up on my face. I just felt like I didn’t have time. There’s just not enough time in the day for working out, especially when you hate it.

But you know what else I hate? I hate that sweats are the only thing I feel comfortable in.

I hate feeling self-conscious when I go out, all the worst parts of my body emphasized in pants that I can barely squeeze into anymore and shirts that seem to have shrunk.

I hate that there are clothes I love hanging in my closet that I haven’t worn in years.

I hate that while I feel confident in many things, my body is not one of them.

Recently, I had a life-changing revelation: I don’t hate working out at all. I actually love working out. I love being able to see the shape of my waist changing. I love being able to feel the hard muscles starting to emerge underneath there. I love feeling the strength and stability in my legs that I didn’t have before. My arms are stronger. My face is slimming. I’ll be honest with you, though; I’m only on my fourth week and have lost only five pounds. No one else can see a big difference yet, but I can. The difference to me is so substantial that I’m quietly waiting to see if my friends and family notice the changes in another four weeks. I know I’m still going to be doing this in four weeks because I discovered the secret to following through. Do you want to know what it is? It’s going to be earth-shattering. It just might blow your mind, actually. Ready?

I stopped making weight loss the purpose for my workouts.

Why? Because the numbers on the scale are dropping at a turtle-like pace, and when I weigh those numbers with the time I’m sacrificing to exercise, it’s just not worth it.

But five pounds is not at all a reflection of how hard I’m working. I know this, because there are these awesome things called oblique muscles that I can feel in my sides now. I’m constantly tensing my hamstrings (thighs) just because I can’t believe they’re no longer mushy; they’re becoming rock-solid. My endurance increases with each workout session, and it’s not even a conscious effort I make to push myself a little harder anymore. I’m just curious about how much farther I can take it.

But that’s not how I started! I’m a total homebody; a couch-potato! My first week of doing T-25 (the first half of my personal daily workout routine), my goal was not to keep up with the people on the screen (I still can’t!). I just wanted to get through the workout.

I probably overdo it, (I can be a bit of an overachiever in some things—probably the effect of being the daughter of two Marines). After doing T-25, I top it off with Pilates (because I LOVE Pilates and it always gives me swift results, and after that, I do 10-20 minutes of hamstring stretches and hip-opener stretches because I feel like tight hamstrings hinder my workouts).

But I don’t want any of you to read this and be discouraged from making some healthier, happier changes in your life. I made this hour/hour and half commitment because it works for me. There’s a certain taboo about being self-absorbed (and for good reason), but when it comes to working out, you should only be thinking about yourself. Don’t compare yourself to those fit people leading you on the screen. Don’t compare yourself to the models in your Victoria’s Secret catalogs. Don’t compare yourself to your favorite actress, or that girl at the gym. What can you do? What can you make time for?

You could commit to running in place for two minutes once a day. You could commit to doing just five sit-ups, or jumping jacks, or lunges once a day. You could commit to doing at least two good push-ups once a day. You and I both know you can do at least one of these things.

Anyone will tell you that that’s not enough—and they’re right, you’re not going to get a slim waist and toned arms and legs by doing so little—but that’s not the point. Not yet, anyway. All that matters is that you are DOING SOMETHING. This kind of thing snowballs. A month and a half ago, I would have told you you were crazy if you expected me to sacrifice an hour and a half of my day to working out. But I started doing the minimum, and the little differences I noticed made me push my body even farther.

Isn’t the time you give up worth it if you can fit into your clothes again? Isn’t it worth it to feel your body getting stronger? Isn’t it worth it to feel confident and happy in your body for once, or once more? I’m still nowhere close to where I want to be, but because of the changes I can already see in the work I’m putting in, my confidence is soaring.

I see now it wasn’t the workouts I hated; it was just the time they took up. So now, I’m learning to make each minute of my day count. (It helps, too, that my husband began doing the work outs with me, and now our little daughter joins in with us. We’ve made exercising a family affair!) This is a way of thinking that you can apply to everything, not just daily workouts. Even with my writing, I take what I can get during the day. Those minutes are precious and sometimes few, so I make sure they are rich with effort.

You can do this, too. Now, drop and give me twenty!

Or two. Just...whatever you can do.


Mythbusters: My Experience with Homeschooling

Let me preface this post by saying even though we are homeschoolers we know that it is a choice that is not right for all families for a variety of reasons. That being said my husband and I have chosen to homeschool our three littles (ages 6, 4, and 3), at least for now. This is not a decision that we took lightly, and even now in the midst of our first official year of homeschooling I occasionally find myself doubting our decision. Most days, however, I am confident in our choice and know that we made the best choice for our children and our family.

My husband and I have been discussing and researching public school, private school, and homeschool since the day our baby girl was born in 2009. When we finally made up our minds to to homeschool I knew we would receive our fair share of ridiculous questions and crazy opinions from well meaning strangers about homeschoolers.I was, however, not prepared for the ignorance on behalf of the school system.

In most states, Tennessee included, once your child becomes of school age (and every year following) you have to go to your school system's main office and fill out an intent to homeschool form, as well as provided documentation of your highest level of education. So that is what I did. I went to the main office and told the receptionist that I was there to complete an intent to homeschool. She handed me the form and I handed her my proof of education. I had completed the form in about a minute, handed it back to the receptionist, and headed for the door to leave, that is when I heard "Mrs. Reynolds, may I speak with you?" I spun around to see a particularly grouchy woman staring at me. "Sure" I replied. She proceeded to inform me that it was her job to "educate" me on my choice but what she really meant that it was her job to shove her ignorant and misinformed beliefs down my throat very aggressively.

As soon as we sat down she look me straight in the eyes and said, "I can't believe you are planning on homeschooling, how dare you condemn your child to failure." I simply replied with a dumbfounded "ummmm..." and ask her to please elaborate, which she was more than happy to do. "How dare you think you are qualified to provide your child with an education. You do know that she will never be able to graduate and will have to get her GED, which means they will never get accepted to college, or be successful. Not to mention the social aspect, your daughter won't have any friends or be able to play sports. Are you that religious or do you just hate teachers?" I was dumbstruck... her attack and spewing of ignorance seemed to last forever but finally it was my turn to speak. "Mrs. So-and-So you seem to be a little uneducated about homeschooling. Let me start by saying even though families do homeschool for religious purposes that is not one of the reasons we have chosen to do so. I do not hate teachers and am in fact a licensed teacher, I do however have a huge issue with our current educational system.. I think that I am more than qualified to provided my child with a proper education especially since the state of Tennessee believes that I am qualified to provide students k-6 with one. I am also well aware that my daughter will not be allowed to receive a diploma in this state, which is part of a policy set in place to deter parents from homeschooling. GED's however are accepted by colleges and universities. Speaking of college are you aware that Ivy leagues actively recruit homeschool students? They do this because studies have shown that homeschool students are doing better academically when compared to their peers. They also tend to be better independent workers and self motivators. As for sports and extracurricular activities my child will be able to take classes in pretty much anything her little heart desires and in most states once they reach high school age  homeschool students are permitted to try out and play for their high school. Thank you for your misguided concern regarding my child's education and future but as her mother I think I know what is the right decision for her and our family." With that I headed back towards the door, with one hand on the handle, I turned to Mrs. So-and-So and with a smile said, " I look forward to next summer when I see you again . Oh and I will be filling out two intents to homeschool that day." With that I was gone and our adventure officially began. 

I know that homeschooling is not for everybody but please don't be like Mrs. So-and-So. Please don't spew ignorance. I have included a few common myths about homeschoolers that have been debunked to hopefully shine new light on homeschooling.

Myth #1- Your child won't be accepted to college.
FALSE- Homeschoolers have the same opportunity to go to college as any other student. In fact homeschoolers are in demand, the high achievement levels or homeschoolers has caught the eye of colleges and recruiters across the nation especially at some of the top schools. We are talking the Ivy Leagues people. That's right you can homeschool and your child can still go to Harvard.

Myth #2 - Homeschoolers are not as smart as their peers.
FALSE- On average homeschoolers perform better on standardized tests then 80% of their peers.

Myth #3- Homeschoolers are socially awkward
Even though this is probably the most common myth it is FALSE! On average homeschoolers have better social skills since they spend time surrounded by a diverse group of people from adults, to their peers, and younger children. They also spend more time out in the real world interacting with a diverse population. Plus they don't have homework so homeschoolers can spend their free time doing dance, cheer, gymnastics, music, theater, Martial Arts, or volunteering as well as countless other extracurriculars. And let's be real the typical school day is not designed for socializing, children are not allowed to talk with their peers except for during recess and lunch which for most children is 20 minutes to 1 hour per day.

But don't just take my word for it, after all knowledge is power...

All in flavor of Aldi...

Everyone is a fan of saving money, right? I mean, with the price of milk nearing $5 a gallon we are forced to cut corners somewhere! Unfortunately, in most cases, when corners are cut, so is quality. Sacrificing quality ingredients leads to mediocre tasting food which takes away the excitement of eating a meal which depletes our love of cooking and leads to...take out! So now, we really aren't saving money!
Well, what if I told you I was gonna let you in on a little secret that has saved me money and IMPROVED dinnertime at my house?!
Let's go back to when I was in my early twenties and living with a roommate, so sick of Ramen and trying to figure out this whole adult thing. Are ya there? Okay. Well this new grocery store was being built in town and one afternoon we decided to check it out. Well, we hit roadblock #1 before we even made it in the front door! This place requires a quarter to use a buggy! So, now I'm wondering how I'm gonna save money if I have to spend some before I even get inside! (SIDENOTE: Later I learn that you get your quarter back as long as you properly return your buggy to it's home) Of course being typical 20 somethings we had NO change, so we carried on without a buggy. Once we are about halfway down the first isle we hit roadblock #2. We can't find ANYTHING we recognize! When you can't find "The Blue Box" (Its the cheesiest!) And your Honey Bunches of Oats are Honey Bunches of Nopes....you just quickly head for the nearest exit!
Needless to say, it was a while before I gave Aldi another shot, but now I LOVE IT! Like, seriously, I tell random strangers about how wonderful this place is because not only do I save money, the quality is incredible! (click here to learn about their double guarantee on their exclusive brands!)
I realize how scary it is steering away from national brands of foods, especially if you are dealing with a picky eater! (I raise my hand high on this one, I am SOO weird about foods.) So, I'm gonna share my insights with y'all on the ins and outs of Aldi (including recipes using some of my favorite things from there)!

This first recipe is something I threw together using staples I keep on hand!

Ingredients:
Fried Chicken Nuggets (recipe to come)
1 box Reggano (Aldi) penne pasta (or noodle of your choice)
2 Jars of Reggano (Aldi) pasta sauce
Stonemill (Aldi) crushed red pepper flakes
Stonemill (Aldi) garlic powder
Stonemill (Aldi) Italian seasoning
2cups Friendly Farms (Aldi) Mozzarella

Directions:
Prepare pasta as directed. While pasta is cooking pour pasta sauce into saucepan to heat. Add in crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder and Italian seasoning to your families tastes. Mix into sauce. Drain pasta and pour half into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Layer in chicken and sauce until gone. Cover the top in mozzarella. Bake in oven until cheese is thoroughly melted. Serve with Aldi garlic cheese sticks for a delicious treat!

I hope y'all will join me for more Aldi cooking adventures! See ya soon!