Thaleia

The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

November 18, 2012 By Thaleia 21 Comments

The Ultimate Guide to Charlie

and the Chocolate Factory

Intro & Review:

My children are deprived. They are not allowed to watch Alice in Wonderland or Charlie in the Chocolate Factory (you know the creepy ones with Johnny Depp.) I have to say I am really disappointed in current media’s representation of these two classics since I grew up watching Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory! I really would love to share with my children some of the joys of my childhood.

Well, now I can with Jump Into a Book’s The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wow, Audrey Press’ and Valarie Budayr’s Jump Into a Book concept is absolutely amazing! You will get to experience a book like no other! Yes, it is digital. Yes, it is media, but the great oldies but goodies are here to stay! This digital option allows for expanded learning before or after reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (I just downloaded the audiobook from our local library!) I know they are going to be very excited to hear the book before we watch the video. After that we will be diving back into The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for even more fun!

Are you ready to become a Book Jumper? What is a Book Jumper you ask? Well, I am not able to describe quite like Valarie Budayr a.k.a “Magic Book Lady” so I’m just going to quote her:

“Book Jumping are stories that reawaken the passionate idea of living inside the pages of a book.” Each story is a gateway into a magical world where stories are not just read, but are also acted out through crafts, games, tutorials, and adventures.”-

How about you? Are you ready to Jump Into a Book? Join me as we take a wonderful journey into The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I am going to give you a peek inside while we explore what book jumping has to offer.

Here’s a small “taste” of the fun we had:

We chose to melt pretzels and dip them into chocolate. We used a slightly different idea than in the book, but still had lots of fun! The kids were begging to do more things with candy so we did. We did candy experiments using Wonka candy. (We will showcase that on Wacky Wednesday!)

They were very interested in learning more so that is why I got the audiobook from the library for us to enjoy so we didn’t spoil too much about the story before going further into The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I’ve sneaked a peak and was very impressed with all the ideas and how the book is organized. If you want to try a unit study with a literature base, then The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would be a great place to start.

Want to see how the App works? Here’s a great introduction from The daily App Show:

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review besides the free pdf copy that was given to us for review. All opinions are my own and are not affected by receiving free product. The links within this post may be affiliate links which would provide Something 2 Offer a small percentage of sales should you click on a link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Tot School: Simple Gifts {Decorated Business Card Magnets}

November 16, 2012 By Thaleia 10 Comments

Decorated Business Card Magnets

Want to have your tot make gifts for Christmas? How about a Simple Gift that any glue stick loving toddler will enjoy? Do you have extra scrapbook paper? How about decorative punches?

I’m sure you have business card magnets from fairs or festival cluttering up your fridge. We happen to have hundreds left over from an old business that need put to good use. What better use than something cute and cheerful fro Grandma’s fridge?

Lil’ Red loves glue sticks and I have to admit we DO NOT ALLOW him enough time to glue! Shame on me. I’m a craft loving and mess loving mom, so why not more gluing? I guess I forget that he is a “big” boy now and can handle glue sticks very well.

Some more Christmas and Advent ideas:

It's Overflowing

Frugal Friday: Old Socks and Muddy Boots

November 16, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

Do you have a bunch of old socks?

Do you have muddy boots?

Don’t want to part with your old socks? Well, I have just the things for you. If you have adventurous, messy kids like me who will find the mud on an outdoor nature adventure, then I have a great solution for you!

After rinsing the chore boots or water galoshes out, roll up your sleeves, and put on that old pair of socks. Now you can reach right into those boots and get the rest of the muck out without getting too messy yourself!

Here’s a few pictures of me cleaning out Eldest boots after a Nocturnal Wetland Hike!

Hope this is a frugal tip that will help you and your kids enjoy more muddy adventures!

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Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment. I’ve got comment luv on which will allow a link back to your website!

Guest Posting: Upcycled Gift Card Ornament

November 15, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

Upcycled Gift Card Ornament

Want to know what to do with all those used up gift cards?
Why not turn them into a super cute and green ornament!

Princess helped to create the ornament pictured! Very easy, “green” craft that anyone can make. All you need are some basic supplies of scrapbook paper, decorative punches, glue stick, sand paper, ribbon, eyelet & eyelet setter and modge podge.

You can find my step-by-step tutorial on Tutu’s and Tea Parties! Head on over and check it out and meet Lauren who hosted an Ornament Swap this year.

Linking up with:

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Geography: State Quarters

November 15, 2012 By Thaleia 1 Comment

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Series

Got the homeschool blues? Need to spice things up a bit?
Have you been homeschooling for awhile and want to try something new?
Maybe you are new to homeschooling and still trying to figure things out.
If you need a break from your “typical” day or routine then check out
{Spice Up Your Homeschool} for valuable tips and ideas!

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} State Quarters

Want a fun way to learn Geography and US History at the same time? Look no further than your kids piggie bank or your change purse. I think it would be great fun to search the house for the quarters currently in your possession and then create a list of the ones you need to complete a set of 50. Now I’m not talking about looking for specific mints, but just finding all 50 to lay out on a big map of the US!

Did you know they also made US Territories and now are onto National Parks? A few states are getting a second design that shows even more history! Kind of an exciting activity that you can do to bring in other family, friends, or co-op members. You can ask your neighbors or call up a relative to see what quarters they might have. You can also cheat and check with your local banks.

This project could very well trigger and all out 50 States Notebook learning project. Do not get surprised if your kids get hooked on learning some history and geography!