Are you hoping to start a tutoring business? The opportunity came to me years ago when I had left the classroom after 9 years to stay home with my own kiddos. It has been the most fun thing I’ve done!

I’ve always said that tutoring is the “best parts” of teaching. You get to work with one student or a very small group of students and you get to tailor your plan to meet their specific needs. I love getting to work with kids on exactly what they need help with. I was born to teach and knew I wanted to teach from the age of 3, so it’s been a wonderful outlet for me to use my teaching abilities outside of the traditional classroom.

Here are a few things I use and tips I’ve found along the way:

First of all, I offer my initial evaluation free of charge. I think this is a great time for me to meet the student and the family, make sure we click and can work well together, and I get to assess where the student is at and where any gaps may be. This is just an idea I had when I first started and I have continued to offer it. I have never had an initial meeting that didn’t turn into a continued tutoring experience, but I like to provide this service as we get to know one another a little bit. It gives a way out for either party, if things just don’t click.

Secondly, I like to have my families sign a contract of sorts. I lay out my guidelines and go over it with them at that first session. That way there are no surprises and all are in agreement. I get their basic info, we discuss cancellation policy and payment options and expectations. Give these things some thought so you know what your expectations are and be prepared to communicate them clearly. I always think it’s better to be up front so everyone is on the same page. I don’t ask for payment until the end of the month but you may prefer pre payment before your sessions. Figure out what will work for you and let the families know.

Third, talk to the family before you even meet the student. Ask what their goals would be for tutoring. Ask what challenges the student may have. Ask what motivates them and what they like. I jot all this down in a lined notebook so I can reference it as needed. This helps me pull together what assessments I want to do as I head into that initial meeting.

Fourth, have in mind a set of times that will work for you. I was so excited to start tutoring in the beginning that I was willing to do it anytime. It made for some later nights than I’d like and earlier mornings and took me away from my family more than I had wanted. I now have set times I offer tutoring sessions and if that doesn’t work for a family, I try to connect them with someone else who may be able to help. Keep your family time preserved.

Finally, get the word out there that you are offering tutoring services. I have had many clients come word of mouth, but I also do post on a local Mama’s Support group on Fb. I know some schools will also look for after school tutors so it might be worth reaching out to your local schools. Post it on insta or on your fb page. There are always people looking for tutors, you just need to get the word out there.

Tutoring truly is the best and so much fun. You get to be the child’s cheerleader and encourager to help them learn and succeed. Make it as fun as possible and build up those brains!

I have some amazing tutoring games and other tutoring tips on my youtube channel. Hop over to A Day’s Discoveries to learn more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGWZIHgbY70

Father’s Day feels like an appropriate time to be talking about a tribute. I was blessed with an amazing Father who took really good care of me. He made mistakes, of course, but I knew I was loved and my opinions and ideas had value. I know know not everyone had the same experience and there is a lot of pain on days like today.

For those that are ready (and able) to honor your parent or someone else who had an important place in your life, here’s a really cool idea! Dan and I both wrote tributes to our parents a few years back. We spent hours pouring over the words, framed them and then gave them at Christmas time. Birthdays or Mother’s and Father’s Day would be special too!

We chose to do one for each parent because the relationship we have with each parent is different. The tribute is a collection of things we remember that were special with that person, things we appreciate about them, things we aspire to be.

To this day, it’s my favorite gift I’ve ever given. It was love written out on paper. It felt like a way to honor and say thanks for all they have sacrificed for us. Being a parent is full of hard stuff! None of us are perfect at it and we all fumble through, but the hope is we are doing the best we can with each day.

We used a book similar to this one:

It gives you a faith based guide to help you prepare your tribute. Let me know if you decide to try it!

Here is our affiliate link to the book, if you want to check it out: https://amzn.to/3y2h6V3

We have had the switch for a few years now and my boys, 14, 13 and 9 all LOVE it!! They all have different favs to play and here is a list of their top 5 switch games.

Coming in at #1 is Minecraft. My 9 year old loves this game and spends hours creating his own village. It’s amazing to see the designs he comes up with and how his creativity just flows. His words, “It is super fun. It’s my favorite game on the Switch because I can build, create and play with friends”. You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3QpFAyS

Sort of a 1a type rating is Minecraft Dungeons. “It’s really fun and you can beat new levels. You can also try to collect all legendary items. You can play with friends.” This is just about fighting the mobs and getting new loot. This game is not creating or surviving like the basic Minecraft but for a 9 year old, still has great appeal. https://amzn.to/3HvfWoo

Next up is Rocket League. My new teenager loves this game! Basically it’s soccer with cars. You can play by yourself or with teammates. You can enter tournaments or just practice. Here’s his take “It’s a fun game, you get to play with friends. If you’re into sports, you’ll probably like it. You can push to be better than you are. There are different ranks and you can always improve”. He spends lots of time honing his skills and is a proud Diamond 3 now. https://amzn.to/3y22jKo

Our 3rd choice is Pokemon Sword and Shield. It’s an adventure game where you find things, catch Pokemon, hit the gym to battle and progress further. “It’s fun and you can also battle your friends online. If you want to make it harder, you can do it Nuzlocke.” To be honest, I have no idea what that means as it’s 13 year old speak, but it means something cool!

Number 4 is Mario Kart! This game is so fun, even us old folks like to join in the racing fun. “It’s super fun because you race against your friends. You try to get first place and you get new characters and new carts.” This is one that my boys will play with each other and just laugh and giggle. https://amzn.to/3b9VVrl

Rounding out our top 5 list is Luigi’s Mansion. “It’s super fun because you can play with your friends and try to beat ghosts. You can get gems on every floor.” My 14 year old loves vacuums and he gets to use a vacuum to get the ghosts. It’s a fun multi-player game so you can tag team the hunt. He also says he enjoys the music. https://amzn.to/3QxCyZE

We hope this helps as you try to find a game for your family.

The links above are affiliate links, so we get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As we head into our busy birthday season, it’s the magical time of year when I get to pull out the kid’s birthday shirts! They get stored in a bin all year long and only get to make an appearance once a year.

I saw this idea years and years ago and am so glad I decided to stick with it! You simply buy a men’s (in my case) shirt, size L. Then on your child’s birthday, take a picture of them in that shirt. You can see the shirt “shrink” as they get older each year and it makes a special momento.

I chose three different colors so each of my kids would have his own special shirt. You could even write the years or have them put handprints on it if you’d like, but I kept mine simple.

Here’s the latest picture of my 13 year old. Clearly he appreciates the tradition as much as me. :).

Some day they will outgrow these shirts and seeing this pictures will always warm my heart.

You can use something I created like this: https://a-days-discoveries.creator-spring.com/listing/it-s-my-birthday-shirt-2022.

Or even just hop on amazon and find a basic colored T-shirt like this: https://amzn.to/3O5GBuo

It’s been a fun tradition all these years and I would encourage you to try it too.

Whether you are a keto newbie or this is old hat, it’s always nice to find products that work well and keep you on keto! Here are a few I’ve discovered recently:

• Pork rinds. I know, I know. You can go to the store and crush up your own pork rinds and I have done it many times. However, this is so handy! I just got my first jar of these and I’ve already used them to make chicken patties, meatballs and meatloaf! They are tasty and a nice pantry staple for a quick grab. https://amzn.to/39xWs6

• Spaghetti sauce. Have you discovered this marinara sauce yet? It is perfect for all your spaghetti squash or zoodle needs! It has a good flavor to it and is not filled with sugar. https://amzn.to/3xW0Gh1

• Sweets. When I started a couple years ago, I used to make fat bombs and keep them in the freezer. Those are still yummy but I am finding I need more of a grab and go type situation right now. These little Lily’s caramels do the trick! Soo yummy! https://amzn.to/3mRbgiX

• Chips. I have been missing chips since I started keto. There’s just something about that crunch! I have tried a few options and of course, crisps are good, but these are my current fav. They come in three flavors and it’s nice for a summer BBQ or picnic to have a chip like everyone else. https://amzn.to/3tEBSb3

• Cookies! These little mini chocolate chips ones are pretty good. I even found them at Costco on my latest trip. They provide a quick little chocolatey taste! https://amzn.to/3xSG35t

I love how I feel when I am in ketosis! My body just seems to hum and function well. I hope these help you on your journey too!

(The above links are affiliate links so I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Have you heard about vision boards off and on but never done one? NOW is your time! I made my very first one last year around this time. You can find online options if you prefer to design that way, but I am old school. I got my Dollar Tree trifold board and a new set of Crayola markers and went to work. I grabbed an old magazine and also printed out pictures from my computer so I could make it visually appealing too.

I began with the word “Dreams” in the center. These are ideas/dreams/goals for the future. Big things and small things. My mind started to run with creativity and I was there for it.

I wrote down personal goals, health goals. What did I want my goals to be for my health? I added things to do with walking, exercise and even things like feeling comfortable in my own skin and doing a handstand! I had started a new exercise program and wanted to get through the 100 days. I marked off my progress each month or so so I could see how far I was getting.

I wrote down spiritual goals. I want to pray without ceasing and grow in my faith, daily finding ways to be grateful and ways to worship.

I wrote down financial goals. Adding to a savings account. Saving up for a new vehicle.

I wrote down relationship goals. I added “date” on the board because I want to make dating my husband a priority. I wrote down “Love Extravagantly” because I want my life to reflect love and looking for ways to love the people in my life.

I wrote down goals for the far distant future. A vision for someday owning chickens and acreage.

I wrote down goals for the kids. I want them to become mini chefs…or at least be able to make some meals someday.

I wrote down business goals for my side biz’s.

I wrote down goals for smaller purchases like a generator. Something we needed to save up for, but would be doable in a shorter period of time than a vehicle.

I tried to think of the different parts of my life and dream big and small.

Some of the goals I have met in the last year and I wrote down the date they were realized. Some of my goals have changed over the course of the year and are less important. Some of them are still big future dreams.

So now that I’m a year out, I am ready to do a new vision board. The summer always feels like a good time to rethink as the kids are home and my life tends to slow down a bit. So I can’t wait to see what my 2022 board looks like!

What would be on your vision board?

(PS…I love the saying “love extravagantly”. I wanted it on a t-shirt so I made my own! You can check it out here: https://a-days-discoveries.creator-spring.com/listing/new-love-extravagantly

Those beloved fb ads got me hooked! I saw someone using a face steamer and it got me looking them up and researching. I have had a few facials in my day so I already knew how great it felt but I hadn’t looked up the reasons behind it. As I’m getting older, my face is losing a lot of moisture so I am always on the lookout for refreshing, hydrating things.

When I started looking it up, the benefits are even better than I imagined. Here are just a few positives of steaming:

-it’s cleansing

-it promotes circulation

-it’s hydrating ***

-it promotes collagen (yes please!)

-it’s soothing.

That all sounds great! The only negative I could possibly find is if you do it too often, it can be hard on your skin. I hardly seem to have time to carve out 10 minutes once a week so no problem there!

I found this one on Amazon and ordered it. It is ah-mazing! It is super easy to use and has become my weekly 10 minute rest period. For those 10 minutes, I just get to sit and relax and breath in the steam! It’s like a piece of heaven. Cheers to self care and healthy skin!

This steam is super easy to use. Simply add your distilled water and plug ‘er in. It runs for about 10 minutes and I just simply let all the water melt away and then I know I’m done. I use it once a week on Sunday nights and it’s become my calm before the storm of the next week.

If you haven’t tried steaming yet, try it! It is great for your skin and it feels SOO good! I give this product 4****!

Here’s the link if you’d like to try it: https://amzn.to/3xNypcl

How’s your linen closet? Mine used to be TERRIBLE! It was so jam packed with stuff I could hardly open or shut the door. I had like things on each shelf, but the sheets, towels, pillow cases etc, all looked like a haphazard mess.

After all these years, I finally decided to look into other options. I found these bins and now it looks like this:

It makes me so happy now to open it up and everything is all organized and lovely! I still want to label the bins but for now I have a bin (or at least one bin) for:

-hand towels

-tablecloths

-bath towels

-pillowcases

-sheets

-medicines

The summer is a fabulous time to find a project to tackle. I had put this off for so many years and now it feel so good to have it mostly done!

What’s yours gonna be? My summer list is ever growing 🙂

*Here’s my link for bins like the ones I used if you’re interested: https://amzn.to/3mGPQVH

As a Mom, cold coffee is nothing new to me. All of my mornings involve a cup of coffee that travels the house with me. It’s beside me while I make breakfast. It moves to another counter while we pack lunches. It goes with my to the basement to fix my hair. Back upstairs to help everyone get ready to head out for the day. It’s a special traveling companion. It gets a little colder with each step of our morning.

I recently discovered intentional cold coffee..the cold brew. I love me some Starbucks and find myself there grabbing a cold brew, more often than I’d like to admit. The problem is, the cost adds up!

So I began to research home options. I found one that got decent reviews and I added it to my birthday wish list. One magical day, my Sister-in-Law showed up at my door with a birthday present…my very own cold brew bottle!!

I was so excited and couldn’t wait to get started. I didn’t have any ground coffee on hand so that was the first step. I hopped online and ordered a bag. I counted down the days it took to arrive and then hopped on the cold brewing bandwagon. That’s where my first hiccup in the process happened.

The reviews and directions clearly state: use coarse grounds for the brew. Did I listen? Nope! The grounds I found and ordered were NOT coarse. So when I went to pour my first cup, I got this:

NOOO good! I had to grab a cloth to help me strain out the grounds. THEN it was delish!

So back to Amazon I went and ordered some coarse grounds and tried again. I thought things were going to be perfect and I poured my to go cup to take with me to work. I hopped in the car and called my bestie and took my first sip of brew. Oh. My. Word. EWWWW. I got an entire mouth full of coffee grounds. Like stuck to my teeth, chewing them up, mouth full.

My second mistake…I had forgotten to take out the filter when I poured the coffee. It’s not rocket science but on a busy morning, I had gotten distracted and ended up eating the grounds.

SO…before you pour your cold brew, take out the filter. You can see it in the picture still in the pitcher. Sigh.

It’s taken me a few trials and a few bumps along the way, but now I’ve got it down. For me I like a little splash of cream and sometimes some Keto friendly syrup…all coffee ground free.

If you’d like to try it too, here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3HfvfkO

Coffee. Coffee. COFFEE! Even just to read the word makes my tastebuds do a little dance. I love it. Coffee in the morning. Coffee at noon. Coffee at night. Piping hot or ice cold and truthfully, as a Mom, everything in between!

I wasn’t always like this. Growing up, I could not understand why my parents drank it. I didn’t like the smell and certainly did not want a taste. They enjoyed theirs black…true Ninjas in the coffee game.

It wasn’t until I went to college in Seattle that I discovered bougie coffee and things like frappuccinos. I found that with enough sugar and cream, anything could taste good. I began to head up Queen Anne hill from my dorm to the local coffee shop on top for a coffee, errr..sugar rush to enjoy while studying.

Fast forward a few years when when I began teaching and had a regular schedule to get up for, I bought a small multi cup coffee pot. I was still honing my taste for it but found that with enough creamer in it, it was tasty no matter how long the coffee had been sitting out.

My Mom got a Keurig a few years back and I was a slow convert. ONLY one cup at time…how inconvenient. Buy it by the pod, not by the bag at the store? Ridiculous! Not gonna happen! But like so many things in my life, once I tried it, I ended up eating my words.

I soon found a Keurig in my kitchen and I enjoyed it. I was a Keurig girl for a long time and enjoyed the many flavors and kinds of coffees I now had the chance to sample. Each cup was hot and fresh and made to my liking and I continued to discover my favorites.

I heard rumblings about a magical Nespresso machine that was even better and again I was skeptical. Nothing wrong with my trusty Keurig. However, my Mom ventured forth first and I had one cup of her Nespresso and I immediately had eyes for another!

I got some birthday money in May 2020 and I knew the time was right. I ordered my very first fancy Nespresso machine. I was so excited I felt like a little kid waiting for Christmas for it to arrive. The day finally came and it was beautiful. Big. Bold. Shiny. Impressive. I got it out and tried it right away. It was so easy to use and easy to set up. (The only hiccup I did have is the size of the pods. There are two different Nespresso pod sizes, so be sure to get the right one! There is nothing worse than being excited to try a pod and having it be the absolute wrong size.)

Here we are more than two years later and it greets me everyday like an inviting hug. My fancy friend just waiting to say good morning. It foams up the coffee and adds some dimension to it. There is just something special about the way it makes the coffee that makes it taste amazing. The pod choices are endless and you can sample coffee from all over the world. After two years of sampling, I have found some great favorites. Hands down, my personal go to is Sumatra….clearly.

If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading your machine or trying a newer system, research it. I looked up reviews and made sure I found one that was well received by fellow coffee people. I will never go back to the old ways. In fact, if I ever travel and have a cup that’s not a Nespresso, it just doesn’t hit me the same. I will always come home to my beloved friend.

PS…to be fair, the Keurig still lives on my counter. The people I live with who don’t enjoy coffee like I do still use it for tea, hot chocolate and apple cider. It is still a great machine.

***Here are the links if you are interested in getting yourself any of the products above. I may get a percentage of each sale without ANY additional cost to you!

Nespresso Breville can be found here: https://amzn.to/3He3UzE

My fav Sumatra Vertuo pods can be found here: https://amzn.to/3MLyzVU