So here it is, the big news I've hinting at and teasing about for the last couple weeks. If you haven't already heard, today is the launch of 3 new blogs at Simple Living Media (founded by Tsh Oxenreider, Simple Mom maven). One of those blogs is Simple Homeschool of which yours truly is a contributing writer. My first not-self-published regular writing gig.

Late last fall I got an e-mail from Tsh inviting me to join as a contributor to the Simple Living Media (SLM) blog network. Later in the day I got a follow up e-mail from Jamie Martin (aka Steady Mom), asking me more specifically to consider being a writer for Simple Homeschool (SH), of which Jamie is the editor. To say I was thrilled that morning is a bit of an understatement.

I mean the Tsh of Simple Mom fame asking little ol' me to contribute to her hugely successful blog, writing about something I love to talk about!! How could I possibly say no?

I guess I could of said no if writing there wasn't in-line with my personal or professional goals. But luckily for me (that would been a hard gig to turn down) writing for Simple Homeschool definitely fits in with our family's goals, my personal mission and overall professional interests. Wow, how did I get so lucky?

Keeping my mouth shut during these past two months while having all this behind the scenes access has not been easy. It's so much fun to feel a part of something bigger than my personal blog. That my thoughts on homeschooling and life, my passion for educational freedom and simple family living can be shared with a greater audience. Yeeshh... it's enough to make a girl do the happy dance. Which I did when I got those invitation e-mails, just ask the kiddos.

So, Tsh (who no doubt will not be reading this) and Jamie (who might be reading this, though she's busy these days with a book and editorial launches) a million thanks for asking me to be a part of the team. I am way beyond excited about where SLM will go in helping families live more simply while growing myself as a homeschooler, writer and photographer.

There are 2 other blogs being launched today also, Simple Bites and Simple Organic for which I can't speak much about having not checked them out myself. But if they are anything like the calibre of Simple Mom and what we've got planned at Simple Homeschool (this is one organized show I tell you) they should be worth checking out.

My first post at SH is coming up this week and I'll direct you over there when it publishes. After that I'm posting there once a month. But it looks like there's some good giveaways going on at all five of the Simple blogs this week. I wonder if I'm allowed to enter?? Should be a fun time.

Hope to see you over there.

PS. Thanks for sharing in my excitement. And I apologize for the lack of photos on this post. Writing this took longer than I anticipated today and I ran out of time to look for an appropriate photo in my files, I haven't taken any exciting learning photos lately.

One of my strategies for enjoying the rest of winter and getting more weekly exercise is to go for a walk with the kids 2 days a week. This is working with mixed success. We are getting more exercise and I am definitely feeling better. But the kids don't particularly enjoy these outings. Walking on sidewalks is not really their thing. Hiking for hours in the mountains is more their style. I don't blame them. I like that better also. So to motivate ourselves to get out the door we are walking places we need or want to go (I am driving less errands). One of the huge benefits of living in a urban neighborhood.

Recently I had to take Celine to an orthodontist consultation (trust me you don't want to know the estimate of services) which we couldn't walk to. But instead we took a walk from the orthodontist to the library and around the downtown neighborhood of our twin city across the river. Our last and unexpected stop, "can we go in mom, please??", on this walk was Orphan Annies, a well known local antique store.

We ventured in and after reminding the kids to walk carefully and not to touch we lost ourself in glass for the next 1/2 hour.

My art appreciative kids ohhed and ahhed over, well, everything. I was constantly coming to see all the treasures they found.

We hadn't intended to buy anything and certainly most items in that store are priced way out of our reach. But shortly before we left the kiddos found the marble jar, 5 for $1.00. So they each bought a few marbles, one of their favorite toys.

That day's walk had been very pleasant. If only all of our urban walks could be so mutually enjoyable.

*You might notice on some of my recent posts and in future ones that I am experimenting with a processed photo look, like the last photo in this set. No worries, I still like most of my photos to look true to life but I am having fun with the cross processing preset in the new version of Bibble 5, the photo software I use.

Brienne has a new friend, from her dance class, who has a lovely mother who can knit. We've had some playdates with Brienne's friend and her mother, enjoying a couple winter Friday afternoons together. When we met last week, R. (the friend's mother) gave Brienne a wonderful gift. A merino wool sweater she knit for her daughter but which her daughter couldn't wear because it wasn't comfortable on her skin. When our friends arrived at our house we were asked, "Would we like this sweater?"

Um, yes. We would love that sweater, thank you very much. Handknit and slightly felted it has a wonderfully warm and cozy tight knit and is perfectly purple, green and blue. I wish it fit me.

Having friends who knit and share is a real treat. And I have another surprise coming from this new friend of mine. Something I am bartering for soap. A little bit of blue and green for myself. To help keep my wrists warm. Can't wait to show you all.