Getting Ready to Homeschool

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

With everything that is going on in the world and our wake up call when the kids went remote that the school was not doing them justice. I won't go on about how far behind they are from other students or that they are were being asked to do work when they couldn't do the work leading up to that work, so they felt  defeated everyday because they just didn't understand how to do the work. Yes my oldest child graduated by the skin of her teeth but that is a whole other story for another time. 

Right now is where we are at. My now 13 year old daughter Dorothy has been asking to be homeschooled for a few years now and after what we have seen, we decided to take our cue from her seriously and take the plunge again. We have homeschooled before and enjoyed it. Looking back I wish we had homeschooled all six of our children right from the get go. With that being said he we beginning our journey into Homeschooling once more this coming fall. 

We ordered our learning curriculum which has arrived (our state has strict guidelines to follow) and now we are looking at school supplies that will work with our families needs. We know we didn't really need a lot so we are just filling in around what we already have available in our home. 

Since my daughter is entering 9th grade and with my health some of the days will be spent traveling or even at her sister's house we went with a system that would allow her to take her basic school needs with her where ever she might be learning on any particular day. 

One of the big items we provided for her was a computer for home use, a microscope which will be coming in soon, and this ZIPIT'N'GO Organizer which will hold all of her books she is working on. We went with a system that has smaller workbooks that can be changed out as the year progresses, so they fit perfectly into the acordain file system that is built into this binder. 

What I love most about this case is that once closed it zips up so nothing will be lost when in transit from place to place. There is a front pouch for holding pens, pencils, calculator, etc. A 3 ring spot for regular folders, dividers, paper, etc. A nice flap on the back where you can keep a flat pad of paper or store other projects. It has lots of different pockets built in to store pretty much everything you would need for a day of learning. 

There is also a detachable strap for the binder so you can carry it with you and have your hands free for
other tasks. You can also use the handle to carry it, or use the the tried and true in your the crook of your arm hold. Either way you are sure to be organized and ready for the day. What I love most is that it has a lifetime warranty which means they really stand behind their products. 

We have had many ZIPIT products over the years and we have yet to have one fail us, now it is our turn to try out this and put it the test. Make sure to check back with us at the end of the school year to see how it held up. Find the ZIPIT'N'GO Organizer at Walmart. 

Check out ZIPIT on

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Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

The Ultimate Laptop Bag

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We are forever trying to find the perfect bag to suit everyone's needs and this one is pretty high on our list. This is a great backpack for toting your computer or computers around with you. Think remote learner, distance learner, college, work, home. It needs to make transporting your computer equipment easy while keeping high priced items safe. 

In reality I could transport my full size laptop computer, my daughters smaller school notebook computer, and both of our tablets safely all in this one bag and still have room for books, pens, pencils, and notebooks. If you hook up a power bank to the included built in USB port you have charging ability for tablets and cell phones which is nice to have on hand as well. 

This bag from Insavant is also water resistant and considered Anti Theft. It has so many extras side pockets for water bottles, a hidden anti theft area, key ring, sunglass holder, card compartment, luggage strap, etc. I love that the bag is padded so that you don't have a hard computer jutting into your back, which protects both wearer and items inside. This bag has just about everything you need to get your computer and other items from point A to point B safely. Check out all of my pictures below.

I really could go on and on about this bag. One of the other things I love about this bag is the padded handle, this is very important to me so that I can grab and go. Even though I love this bag dearly my daughter has called this for her own unless my husband takes it first. I guess we might need to get a few more to make everyone happy. Like I said there is a lot to love with this bag. 

 

Getting things back in order

*This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Since we have settled in our apartment, we have been slowly replacing furniture from all of the stuff that was lost or left behind before we became homeless due to my husband's accident. Most we have gotten free along side the road, like this desk from when our new neighbors moved and had this out for free. We snatched it up quickly but it has been sitting in our bedroom with things stacked on top of  it for sometime. 

Well the time has come to turn the desk  back into a useful piece of furniture and get more organized. With this being said I like to have a base for my computer so what when I move it around I don't scratch up the surface of my desk. I was able to find this 33'x14' PU Leather desk mat at Amazon. I had to look up PU Leather to find out what it meant as I had always heard it said but had never really knew what it was. Searching on the internet for things can sure be interesting to say the least. 

My desk still has a long way to go. The pictures were actually taken with my husband's laptop which is 15.6' as opposed to mine of a different brand but same size for those wondering how their computer may look on it. I will of course be adding my sorting baskets, stapler, etc to this desk to get the look I want to achieve and then it is all business, or lately mostly teaching school work, but that is a whole different kind of conversation. 

If you are interested in this item check it out below. 

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Organizing Tiny Messes

Having a family means organizing lots of things big and small. My husband used to have a really nice way to store his tools but now that we have moved it is a whole new ball game.

Recently while unpacking. Yes 4 months later we are still making a dent into unpacking and found this bucket of mixed screws, nuts, nails, washers, and other doodads.

Having little totes like this one from Lasten on hand really helps make sense of tiny messes. These storage boxes are also great for use in tiny toy collections, hair beads, jewelry making, etc.

As you can see the after is looking a whole lot more neater and there is plenty of room for more items to be sorted. My husband is happy he doesn't have to dig anymore for what he needs and I am happy not to have to worry about the bucket tipping over and having to clean it up. What is great about this particular one is that you can change the sizes of the areas to accommodate different items.

This Storage box from Lasten can be found below.

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Keep your car clean when you have pets

I have seen many car seat protectors but non that have made this U shape before. This one from INNX products also allows the seat belts to be used with these Velcro areas that can be accessed. If you have a pet you can have it as shown to keep your pet from sliding off of the seat and unto the floor during stops.

This car seat protector is also waterproof and machine washable so you are sure to keep your interior clean. If you have kids this also doubles as a seat protector just undo the front headrest pieces and you have full coverage of the seats and floors, great for long car rides or even when you are renting or leasing a car, will keep your resale value high.

The best part is the versatility which makes this a great item to have on hand or to use everyday.

The INNX car seat protector can be found at my affiliate link below.



Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and INNX products. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

#innxproducts Quilted Waterproof Cargo Liner

Love this quilted waterproof cargo liner from INNX products. This is almost perfect. I only say that because I think they could have added more pockets to the sides and back pieces. Other then that this is the cargo liner for us. I love the size, coverage, and the versatility of this product. You can use it to protect your cargo area in your van, SUV, or even hatchback. I also love the extra lip that covers up the tailgate so that your pet or what ever you are loading or unloading in your vehicle will not scratch our paint. Awesome for resale. 

This is great for both pet owners and those who just need extra protection for their vehicles interior. It is waterproof, and machine washable. This is also pretty heavy duty for a lot of use. 

The INNX products Cargo Liner can be found at my affiliate link below.

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Innx Products. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Magnetic Whiteboard Eraser Set

Finally full size erasers for both our chalkboards, and white boards. Much easier to get jobs done when your eraser is big to make the job go by more quickly. I love that these are magnetic I can just leave it towards the bottom of the board and it doesn't fall off because of it being held there from the magnetic makings of the eraser.

Great for classrooms, work, home, Sunday schools, etc. I know we will be passing a few of these on to our favorite teachers next year with some ideas we saw online. I also like that their are 4 colors so that if you need to have for different areas or different things say one for chalk and one for dry erase you are sure to be able to tell which one to use.

The Magnetic Whiteboard Eraser Set can be found on Amazon.


What ONME has to say about their product.

Set of 8 PCS ,Red、Blue、Yellow & Green Each have 2PCS.
Perfect Size - exact size of the eraser is 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches.
Strong magnets - sticks to all magnetic whiteboards, refrigerators, calendar boards, kids dry erase boards, bulletin and planning boards.
Multifunctionality - works well with all popular whiteboard brands. Clean your white boards in the office, on your desk, in the school and classroom, kitchen fridge, at home.
Best quality material - clean any large or small board easily, no need for sprays or cleaners. Eco friendly, non-toxic, no smell.
The products are designed to stimulate the mind, foster creativity and are the best available.

#Chalkboard

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and ONME. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Canvas Messenger Bag

My husband is not the man purse kind of man but this messenger bag he likes and wishes he had for when he was in college to tote around all of his extra computer equipment for classes.

He likes the fabric, and all of the pockets but wishes it had more padding to be able to actually carry a laptop with security he would ove it even more.

Great pockets, leather like details, velcro and zipper closures for easy access to your gear. One large outer zipper, 2 smaller pockets under the flap. a large zippered area with 2 smaller pockets inside as well as a smaller zippered area for storage.

Great for college, school, work, or just for having what you need with you when you need it.



You can get this canvas messenger bag on Amazon.


What Skorch has to say about their product.

SKORCH Original Slim Messenger Bags and Shoulder Bags with Luxury Strap (Brown) - Ideal for Work, College, School and Commuting.

• This SKORCH Original Messenger Bag gives a surprising amount of internal space and will easily carry your laptop, tablet, folders and papers and still have room for a spare item of clothing. Measuring 16 inches wide by 12 inches tall the bag also has a depth of 4 inches at the base. Could be the ideal seasonal gift for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas.
  
  The wide range of internal and external easy access pockets means that you can keep items like your phone or camera separate and still be able to reach them in a hurry.
  
  Made from high quality cotton canvas with a luxury broad strap, this bag looks good in both smart and casual environments. You can wear it as a shoulder bag or as a front, side or rear crossbody carrier and it will look good both full and empty.
  
  The outer flap can be fastened closed for extra security or left to hang over the front of the bag.

You can find out more about Skorch Outdoor on:
Website
#SKORCHMessengerBag

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and SKORCH. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Review & GiveAway of VITCHELO V300 Mini Headlamp

A great item for any worker who has to work on machinery or be inside of machinery. This is great for hikers, running, and any work that needs some extra light.

The red light is great for night crawler hunting as well as a safety light in case of a accident and no road flares are available.

The adjustable strap is great and the light can even attach to your shirt, hat rim, belt buckle, or coat.

VITCHELO V300 Mini Headlamp Giveaway

Hosted by

MarksvilleandMe

sponsored by 

Vitchelo

Two MarksvilleandMe readers will win one VITCHELO V300 Mini Headlamp valued at 14.99. Open to residents of the USA ages 18 and above. Giveaway is open from 9/16/2015-9/24/2015 12:00 AM EST. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to email or message before I will pick another winner. MarksvilleandMe is not responsible for prize distribution that will come from the sponsor Vitchelo. As always MarksvilleandMe wishes everyone who enters Good Luck

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the VITCHELO V300 Mini Headlamp on Amazon.


The BEST & Brightest Mini Headlamp With Red Led For Camping, Running, Hiking, Book Reading and more.

NOW Announcing the VITCHELO V300 Small & Ultralight Headlamps Flashlight - The BEST VALUE mini headlamp for your money on Amazon!

Our V300 led headlamp has been carefully developed to be small and lightweight thus suitable for both children and adults.

TOP 5 FEATURES: 
- Multi-function led headlamp. 
- Impact and water resistant IPX6. 
- Powered by 2*CR2032 MAXELL batteries INCLUDED. 
- COMPACT, very SMALL and ULTRALIGHT (only 32g including batteries and headband) 
- 60 Lumens NICHIA LED (from Japan) with adjustable lighting mode (White: Low, High, Flashing / Red: Steady-on and SOS). 

TOP 5 BENEFITS: 
- Elastic, soft and comfortable head-strap. 
- ENERGY EFFICIENT! Runs for 20 hours on low mode light. 
- Clip providing an alternative way to attach the head light. 
- ERGONOMIC and cute design with NICHIA LED light that protects your eyesight. 
- Very USEFUL and HANDY in different occasions such as running, jogging, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, biking, climbing, kayaking, book reading, walking your dog at night, etc. 

You can find out more about Vitchelo on:

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Facebook

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Pinterest

 #VitcheloHeadlamp

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Vitchelo. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Home, Work, and Medical

This is the second Infrared Thermometer we have reviewed, it has many of the same qualities and specs of the first one including being used in the last Ebola outbreak which tells you it was a trusted piece of equipment. 

In our home we mainly use it to test the walls for cold spots for the winter so we can remedy the situation to save on our electric and heat bills. This is also a great item to be able to find where you might have a animal infestation in your walls during the winter because it will be warmer then other spots. 

I love that this comes with a battery so you can use it right away instead of having to look for the right size of battery. 

Below you see my husband's review of the product for more ideas. 

You can purchase the Nubee Infrared Thermometer on Amazon.

What Nubee Store has to say about their product.

•  Max temperature function: it can take the highest temperature of the area tested by scanning and saving       the data at the bottom of the screen
  - Ems adjustable function of each object has its suitable emissivity, it can test more accurately by                 adjusting the suitable emissivity for different objects
  - Measures in Celsius or Fahrenheit (range: -50 to +500 /-58 Degree F to +932 Degree F),
  - Auto shut-off & low battery indicator
  - Red laser pointer for precise aiming, powered by one 9-volt battery(include); take accurate temperature         readings with this handheld gun
  - U.S. FDA, FCC, CE, ROHS approved
  
  Take Accurate temperature readings with this laser-sighted infrared gun-style thermometer. Reads in Celsius or Fahrenheit, there is a switch on the panel to choose between them.There's also a switch to turn on or off the laser sight and adjust the emissivity on different objects.
  features temperature Range: -50 ~ 500 (-58 Degree F ~ 932 Degree F)
  Accuracy: -58f to 68f: 2% or 2
                   68F to 212f: 1% or 1
                   212F to 932f: 1.5% Or 1.5
  distance spot ratio: 12:1
  emissivity: adjustable
  response time wavelength: 500ms (8-14)um
  repeatability: 1% or 1
  resolution: 0.1 or 0.1
  Degree F / Degree F selection ---------------------------- ok
  data hold function ------------------------ ok
  laser target pointer selection ------------ ok
  backlight display selection ---------------- ok
  auto power shut off --------------------- ok
  low battery indication -------------------- ok
  package includes: 1 x Nubee nub8500h temperature gun non-contact infrared thermometer 1 x 9v dc battery 1 x Nubee nub8500h temperature gun user's manual
  
  Nubee nub8500h infrared temperature gun had U.S. FDA, FCC, CE, ROHS approved. FDA Accession number:1420571 - 000
  
  Product Details
   Take accurate temperature readings with this laser-sighted infrared gun-style thermometer. Reads in          Celsius or Fahrenheit, there is a switch on the panel to choose between them. There's also a switch            to turn on or off the laser sight and adjust the emissivity on different objects.

     Laser Guided:
         Aim precisely at whatever you measure thanks to the laser beam guiding the way. Even from a distance,          the laser provides a mark to aim with,ensuring that you're measuring what you want to be measuring.
     Infrared Lens:
         The Infrared lens inside that provides temperature readings without touching or coming close to anything            dangerously hot or cold.
     Quick Results:
         Instantaneous results appear on the Infrared thermometer's LED screen for fast readouts of                              temperatures.

A few examples provided include:

Water temperature in the bath; Checking heater or oven temperature, for calibration and control purposes; Hot engine parts; Cooking Surfaces; Hot tubes & Insulation; Electrical Connection; Ballasts in Electrics lights; Electric Motors & Bearings; Wine coolers & Hot asphalt; Fuse Panels & Transformers; Swimming pools & Fish tanks; Hot & Cold food products; Heating & Air conditioning.

Since the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Nubee infrared thermometers are used in several airports, as for example John F. Kennedy International Airport and French Charles de Gaulle Airport, to measure temperature from people coming from Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Measure Difficult Targets in Less Than a Second
Speedy. Sanitary. Safe. With the NUB8500H, you'll have the ability to measure high temperatures, hazardous and inaccessible objects, and even moving targets, all in less than one second. Accurate readings are as simple as pulling the trigger and aiming. And the thermometer's non-contact design eliminates risk of contaminating or mechanically effecting the target, so you can tackle the job worry-free.This product is covered by Nubee 2-year warranty.

What's in the package?

1 x Nubee NUB8500H Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer
1 x 9 Volt Battery
1 x User's Manual

You can find out more about Nubee Store on:

Website

#IRThermometer

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Nubee Store. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

No more swimmers ear

My husband has always had problems with his ears, from excess wax causing problems to having water seeping in and causing havoc so Ear Plugs are something he really needs to use when he is in the water.

I love that they have more than one color to choose from so  if you have more then one family member with ear problems they can each have their own color.

Even if you don't have problems with your ears you might find that depending on the job you have you will need to have ear plugs in order to protect your hearing from loud sounds. Some people will even use earplugs while they are sleeping to drown out sounds. As a mother this is not an option because you want to be able to always hear your children in case of emergency.

Easy to use, love that they are reuseable.


You can watch my husband giving a demo on how to use them.


You can purchase Stops Ear Plugs here or on Amazon.




What Stops Ear Plugs has to say about their product.

STOPS Ear Plugs are well known as the absolute best in both blocking sound and sealing out water. Made from all natural elastic resin, they are extremely durable, re-usable, and unbelievably comfortable. Soft and moldable, they provide a perfect custom fit for every ear canal. Just insert for all day or night relief from loud sounds and water.

Great for blocking noise from:

• Loud Machinery
  Motorcycle Wind Noise
  Gunfire Noise
  Barking Dogs

Great for sealing out water while:

• Swimming
  Surfing
  Showering / Bathing

You can find out more about Stops Ear Plugs on:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

#earplugs

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Stops Ear Plugs. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Uqique Mini Voice Recorder

The Uqique Mini Voice Recorder is awesome, small, compact, easy to use. Wish I had this years ago. This will so help my husband write his book and for me to be able to put ideas for blogs on it, as well as remember shopping lists, wishlists, as well as listen to music.

Gone are the days of huge tape recorders. Much easier to take notes later after class and be able to pay attention while in class, great for lectures, pod casts, learning a new language. So versatile and so tiny you can pretend you are a spy.



You can watch our video below.
Video here.





You can purchase the Uqique Mini Voice Recorder here or on Amazon


What Uqique has to say about their product.

Uqique mini digital voice recorder is arguably the smallest digital audio recording device in the market that transmits clear and high-definition sound. Smaller than most USB flash drives or thumb drives, it is easy to fit into your pocket so that you are always able to keep it handy whenever you need it. Being a voice recorder, MP3 player and USB flash drive all in one gadget, it can be used for recording classroom lectures and business conferences, music playback and data storage.

This mini voice recorder worked like a gem as it can picks up voices very well and at a good distance too. It is great for keeping notes on a variety of occasions such as classes, lectures, meetings, interviews and the like, saving much time and trouble, and you can easily playback and review the recordings instantly and not lose any information. Intelligent noise cut filtering and voice amplification with a built-in ADPCM algorithm, you can record up to 10 hours of non-stop recordings with crystal-clear sound quality.

Easy one-touch feature, toggle to [ON] and you can start recording in just 3 seconds. You can use it as a audio recorder to record anything, or simply use it as a MP3 player to listen to your favourite songs. Simple plug-and-play feature for file transfer to a PC, there’s no installation needed. With a built-in 8GB memory, you can store up to 96 hours of recordings easily without any hassle.

You can find out more about Uqique on:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

YouTube

#uqique

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion using Tomoson.com. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.