Time4Learning.com Offers Free Trial and Priceless Learning Experience

As a homeschooling mom, I was fully prepared NOT to like time4learning.com.  I had "heard" a few things about it, and frankly none of them were favorable.  But when they offered me a free month to try the product, how could I refuse?

Time4learning.com has better than average content, featuring everything from Math, to Language Arts and even a Virtual Playground, where children learn without knowing they are learning.  Best of all, you can choose what works for you.  Is your child a Math whiz, but a struggling reader?  No problem.  You can choose a math level commensurate with whatever level your little genius is at, and a lesser level for reading until your student catches up.

More than that, tine4learning.com seems dedicated to your overall success, whether you're interested in supplementing your child's curriculum or if you want to use its program exclusively for your homeschooling needs.  There is more than enough content and loads of great and unexpected surprises in terms of resources and subject matter.

My recommendation?  Try it out.  I've paid lots more for much less content and less effective learning tools.  Best of all, your children will learn something new and you'll immediately be able to tell when they begin explaining it to you.

Time 4 Learning Free for a Review

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Losing a Canine Friend

I can't believe how sad I am...

Today, I had to make the very tough decision to put to sleep one of our dogs.  I somehow feel as though I've lost a child.

George was a stray who wandered into our lives about 6 years ago from who-knows-where.  He wasn't an especially smart dog.  He wasn't particularly active, never would play fetch, no matter how hard you tried to teach him the skill.  He would eat bacon and peanut butter with abandon, but actually would turn up his nose in disdain if you fed him anything other than the high-end dog food.  He loved Pedigree, especially when you added a can of "wet" food to the dry.  He'd never eat while you were watching him though, and he didn't like you to add to his bowl if he was there--unless of course, it was bacon.

He was lazy, preferring to dig a hole in the yard and wallow in the dirt as opposed to going for a walk.  Sometimes. he'd walk with us to the top of the hill and sit there waiting for us until we came back.  Unless it was summer and there was water in the local creek down the road.  Then, he'd lumber down for a cooling dip.

All in all, he wasn't much of a dog, and yet he was the best friend you could ask for.  He had an amazing way of looking you in the eye when you spoke to him.  When he gave you that warm look, he just seemed to make you feel better about whatever was happening with your day.  He also loved to play; but only on his own terms, and it seems, only with me.  He could be amazingly standoffish with others.  I actually kind of appreciated that he was really "MY" dog.

I miss my buddy.  And I know our other dog "Six" misses him too.

Whoever said pets aren't family members has never known the privilege of loving one.  With all their quirks and peculiarities, they're a lot like people.  Only they don't give you any opinions--wanted or otherwise.

Maybe what makes them so special is that they love you "just because."

And that in itself, is more than enough.

RIP George.

Red, Black and Bridal White in March

Thought we'd show you a few photos of a wedding we did in March 2009 featuring the colors red, black and white.

Our bride chose very stron primary colors, despite an early warm up here in Northwest Florida. Still, we tried to make the strong color pallette fun and beautiful. We used white silk habotai and black chiffon strung with lights to create a feature to mask our very brown panelled walls. Once we turned off the lights and turned on all the incandescent lights and uplights, it made the horrible walls disappear. Tables were topped with roses and what are rapidly becoming our signature, apples. Our bride loved it.

We hope you like it too!

The Best Laid Plans

I had a client who called me in a panic last week. She needed someone to decorate her daughter's wedding site. It was already Wednesday and the wedding was Saturday.

Now previously we'd already spoken to her and told the woman that this was impossible as we never schedule more than one event on any given day. (I can't wait until we're big enough to do this, but for now, it's one at a time.) As fate would have it though, our prior wedding was postponed, so we suddenly had an opening.

As this was all very last minute, and the church could only best be described as "cavernous," we used some simple chiffon, ferns and other greenery atop 4', 6', and 12' columns. It made for an elegant, yet dramatic entrance. (Note: this photo was taken before the last fern was placed. It was there on wedding day.) Twice Divine Event Planners saved the day.

September 29, 2008

Greetings All!

I dedided to begin blogging today, in spite of the fact that my website, www.twicedivine.com isn't yet live. Why? Well because I think having a web presence now is more important than waiting until I get all of the kinks out of my site. So, here I am.

Oh, yes. BTW, my name is Tamara and I am a wedding planner extraordinaire, designer and printer of letterpress invitations, bridal seamstress and creator of elegant floral designs. It's a lot to tackle, but I truly love all things bridal and every aspect of event planning.

Anyway, as this is day one, I promise to fill my blog with beautiful photos, delicious tidbits, and hair-raising stories from my many and wildly varied experiences as a wedding planner. (For example, I have met Bridezilla, and she isn't nearly as pleasant as the sanitized versions you've seen on television!)

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit again soon.