It's A Wrap!

By Allie*


So a couple weeks ago one Monday morning we were going over the calendar and my mom said that Thursday was a free day to do what we want and so I said "How about we go to It's A Wrap!"  So that is what we did and that is what I will write about :)
It's a wrap is a thrift shop and it has clothes from t.v. that goes there when the episodes or movie is over!  It was really fun going through the store because I would point out things that I have seen on t.v. I bought 4 things!  Three from a t.v. show called Good Luck Charlie and 1 from a t.v. show called Crash And Bernstein.  On the tags in the  shop it says things like GLC that stands for Good Luck Charlie.  There is a list that says all the names of movies and shows that the clothes/accessories  are in and it was fun looking at what it was from!  My friend who went with us now has a full outfit from the show A.N.T Farm.  Boots, Skirt, and T. Shirt!   After we went there we went to a really good place to eat!  Called The Empanada Factory.  I got 2 empanadas, one spicy mushroom and spinach  and one tomato basil cheese!  They are so yummy!  It is a tiny little hole in the wall place :)  It is really good!  Here are some pics of my field trip to It's A Wrap!

Nate picked out this stylish blazer.

This outfit was worn by Chalie on Good Luck Charlie!

Carly is super stoked!  She bought 3 items for under $20!

Yum!

Happy Pie Making Day!

Better late than never (for some reason this never got posted in 2012)...
We made 7 pies last year for Thanksgiving (along with 6 mini ones), 2 pumpkin (made from real pumpkin, not canned!), pecan, key lime, apple, banana cream and blueberry.  We also made pocket pies for the first time.  Delish!  Happy Pie Day.  Here are some pics...

*post by Carly

A Dancer's Journey: Achieving the Goal

I am pleased to present my latest film project, A Dancer's Journey: Achieving the Goal!  It is the sequel to A Dancer's Journey: The Road to Recovery documentary, which I made earlier this year.

We follow my sister's story, as she continues to grow and reach her goals since getting injured last year. It was a lot of fun to put together!  Enjoy! :)


A Dancer's Journey: Achieving the Goal from Carly Stone on Vimeo.

Quoi de Neuf*, Nate?

(*French for "What's up")

What has Nate been up to?  Well, here are some things he's been doing in the last couple of months...

fishing with dad; I caught this one.

surfing trestles

cheffing up something yummy

playing hard at my soccer game.

working as an extra with one of the Wayan brothers

puppy sitting (and holding)

at Amy's Farm

Cooking again at the Ecology Center

Homemade tortillas

Making rootbeer and pretzles at Brewbakers with Carly.

Working on the Woodworking Bus!

Visiting the Paleontology Museum with Allie.

Another STARR Ranch adventure 

Making my Halloween costume!

Coin machine - we collected all the small coins from around the house.

We got to split $63.04!

  '

Farmers' Market - I am holding a "Buddha's hand"

Working with my chemistry teacher - I love chemistry!

More puppies!

                                                

Good Books for Older Teens

As most of you know, I am a huge bookworm, and I have been my whole life!  I couldn't live without books!!  I've read some great fiction novels in the past year and I'd like to share them with you.  I recommend these books for older teens...

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green  -Incredibly well written but also incredibly sad

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher  -This one will have you rapidly turning pages till the end

The Disenchantments by Nina La Cour  -Fun road trip book

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson  -This is the story of Peter Pan told in the point of view of Tiger Lily; really good book!

The Decoding of Lana Morris by Laura & Tom McNeal  -Very unique and engaging story; loved it

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick -Dreamy-fun read

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak  -Historical fiction, epic story and very sad, but good!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl  -Fantasy & romance, creepy at times as well!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie  -Quirky and intriging

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill  -Loved it!!  Love story that takes place in London, sounds cliche, but the story isn't!

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone  -Think Time Traveler's Wife but for teens, really really good!

Also, I have a homeschool books club for teens.  We meet once a month at my house and discuss a book that one of the members has picked (this month we're reading The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider).  Whoever hosts the book brings a snack that is from the book and we talk and have a great time!  Last month we read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  We discussed the book and then watched the movie!  Let me know if you are interested in joining the book club!  The more the merrier.

With authors Tamara Ireland Stone (hey we have the same last name!) and Lauren Morrill

One more thing...this week I had the rare and exciting opportunity to meet the authors of two of the books that I've mentioned above: Meant to Be and Time Between Us.  I read within the same month, and then turns out, the authors of both books were having a signing together!  These two books were arguably the best books that I've read all year.  I was thrilled to meet the authors!  My awesome mom drove me all the way out to La Verne (aka the middle of nowhere) to meet them.  It was a Monday night during traffic time; ick!  Luckily we made it though!  It was really great, and I came away with a bunch of new books!  

Leila Howland author of Nantucket Blue -a book that I have yet to read!

I hope that you look into the books on my book list, and that you enjoy one (or more) of them as much as I did!  Happy Reading!

~Carly

My School Experiment

By   *Allie


    At the starting of the school year I actually tried out SCHOOL!   It was really fun!  I did it for about a month and after that month well, now I am a homeschooler again!  I made a list of my pros and cons of the school.   The cons won.  Oh, and the school is called IVA -  Intellectual Virtues Academy.  It is a middle school that just opened up this year with only 58 students.   I didn't have to run back and forth through halls to get to my classrooms because I only had two classrooms.  There are 4 teachers and one awesome principal!  The main reason I wanted to try school was because I was really interested in what school was like (although the school I tried was like no other).   I actually enjoyed a lot of the school but there were some big and small reasons I really did not enjoy it.  I didn't enjoy the PE teacher (egh blah eeek).  Nobody likes him.  He favored this one boy and blew his whistle so super loud that my ears hurt.  Also he shamed us.  He was not the PE teacher anyone would want.   The Math teacher made a kid go stand in the hall and she gave us many tests and quizzes in one month.  The music teacher made us switch seats about 7 times in one month.  She could not decide which seats worked best.  But most every time she switched seating I was put at a good table.  I did tell her now and then "My table is very respectful and I like where I am sitting".  She did not listen to the students.  I also thought that it was annoying that they gave so much homework on the very first day.   I really liked the English and History teacher (same person).  He was really nice.  We listened to The Hobbit (on audio) and he showed us documentaries which I enjoyed!  I also really liked the principal!  Well anyway... I was really missing the things I did last year as a homeschooler (Sewing lessons, Art lessons, and most of all my babysitting business called "Mama's Helper").  I go to houses with kids/babies and watch/play with them while the parent who stays home is doing chores or is taking a shower etc.  So now I am doing that again!  Yay :)   So yep that is "My School Experiment".  It was fun but I'm happy to be back home!  (I did make tons of new friends too!)  :)

First day of school - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Back at home celebrating being a homeschooler again with a good friend
 and a homemade batch of cookies that we made.