Truth In The Tinsel Advent - 20% Off Coupon Code

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One of our family's favorite Christmas traditions is the Advent Calender. Ever since I was little my family has done some sort of Advent every year so I wanted to continue the tradition with my children. We change it up a little every year but for the last couple of years we have had tons of fun with the Truth In The Tinsel Advent. Check out our Truth In The Tinsel review and also some of the other great Advent ideas I have blogged about.

You really need to check out Truth In The Tinsel. The eBook is $7.99 and you can use it year after year. Used code CLUTTERED to save 20% off the eBook (not ornaments or curriculum).

Here is what our Advent calendar looks like, I made it out of scrapbook paper, embellishments and my Cricut.

Need some ideas for your own Advent calender? Check out my Advent Pinterest Board.

Does your family have a special family tradition at Christmas?

FreeBEE Friday - FREE Christmas, Advent and Countdown Resources (and eBooks and Android Apps)

Jen, from Gricefully Homeschooling, and I team up, every Friday, to bring you a list of freebees...on both of our blogs.

PLUS...with the added bonus of this being a weekly link up...where you can showcase your freebies, things you've found online, and also, things you've received in the mail, totally FREE in the last week...or so. 

FreeBEEs:

If you have homeschool FreeBEEs to share
please link up at the bottom of this post!
You can copy the button from my right side bar.

FreeBEEs:
Last year we did Truth In The Tinsel to celebrate the Advent and we took some time to learn about the different holidays celebrated throughout December. I loved Truth In The Tinsel. It was lots of fun and it was a great way to teach the kids the real meaning of Christmas. This year though I wanted to do something little different. You know mix it up. Things have been sort of stressful around here the last few months so we are taking December easy, regrouping, having fun and spending lots of quality time together. We will still be learning of course...ALL about Christmas!

This is our handmade advent calendar.

Here some of our plans for December 2012:
-Celebrate the Advent
-Read a Christmas book each day (we will probably read more than one)
-Make ornaments for the tree
-Do something nice for others
-Learn about Christmas around the World
-Make some goodies
-Visit Bethlehem
-Go Caroling

What is on your agenda for December? If you still need ideas check out the many FREE resources listed below. And if you want to follow us on our December learning journey we will be using hashtag #christmasunitstudy on Twitter and Instagram.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Advents and Countdowns:
-Stef Layton shares a great post on "Preparing for Advent"
-The Activity Mom shares printable Advent activity cards and links to ideas as well as a great idea for kids who enjoy Legos - Lego Christmas Countdown
-Silent Night copywork printable from Adventurez in Child'Rearing
-Living Montessori Now has a great list of countdown activities
-Calendar connections cards Christmas Around The World and also Jesse Tree by 1+1+1=1 - these are fabulous
-Thriving Family Advent activity calendar - I actually get their magazine so I received the actual booklet it is wonderful
-Great Advent calendar idea
-Jesse Tree devotional ebook with craft ideas, songs, prayers and more
-Confessions of a Homeschooler has some great printable ornaments and ideas
-Jesse Tree Advent devotional and printable ornament eBook (must sign up with your email)
-25 days of Christmas songs printable - sounds like a fun Advent idea
-Adventures in Mommydom has a great list of Advent ideas
-Free Grapevine Announcement to Mary eBook lesson thanks to The Pelsers

Other Fun Christmas Resources:
-Mamas Learning Corner has loads links to various Christmas printables
-Homeschoolin' Mama shares lots of great Elf on the Shelf links
-Symbols of Christmas Lapbook from In The Hands of a Child
-Living Life Intentionally has over 155+ Christmas crafts, activities, treats and more to share with you
-Living Life Intentionally Christmas Around The World - this is one of the things we are definitely doing
-Christmas writing prompts and notebooking pages from Blessed Beyond a Doubt
-FREE personalized letter from Santa

Android Advent Apps:
Yup there's apps for Advents!
-2012 Advent calendar - decorate a Christmas tree with an ornament each day
-Advent candle widget - light virtual candles
-The Elf Advent-ure Calendar
-Christmas Calendar 2012

Kindle Christmas Books:
-Suzy Snowflake - FREE Prime
-Baby Saves Christmas
-Elle the Elf - FREE Prime
-One Little Christmas Tree - FREE Prime
-The Children's Book of Christmas Stories
-Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village
-Little Nemo's Wild Sleigh Ride
-Christmas Beyond the Box
-The Carpenter Who Saved Christmas
-Christmas in Legend and Story - 40 stories from the Bible and well know authors
-Christmas Songbook

There are many more great FREE Christmas resources available I wish I could share them all but I just can't. If you cannot find what you need listed here just do an internet search and I am sure you will find it.

You can also check out my Advent or Christmas Pinterest Boards I will be adding to them throughout the month.

I hope you find these resources useful. If you ever have any questions feel free to leave me a comment or email me. Also be sure to follow my FB page where I post FreeBEEs daily.

Link up: FreeBEE Fridays with Kathy's Cluttered Mind and Gricefully Homeschooling

Remember when it comes to FREE resources the internet and a good search engine are your best friend.

*Disclaimer - Many of the links found on my side bars and in my blog posts are affiliate links. Please note that prices indicated in the post are subject to change. As a result, I might get paid money and I will most likely spend the money on homeschool supplies.
  
Linking up with 3 Boys and a Dog

Truth in the Tinsel - Week 4

I am so thankful that I saw a post on Facebook about the Truth in the Tinsel Advent. And that Amanda let gave me a FREE copy in return for a review. The kids learned so much about the REAL meaning of Christmas. We had a lot of fun doing the crafts. And we learned some amazing things about the Jesus, Bethlehem, Israel, temples, sheep, shepherds, wise men and angels. This is the first year we did an Advent and I am so happy we finally started this tradition. We will also be starting another tradition of making ALL of the ornaments for our tree. In addition to the Truth in the Tinsel ornaments we have also been making others like pompom wreaths and candy canes, hand print snowmen, Christmas trees, cotton ball snowmen, menorahs, crackers and cereal box angels. Our tree has never looked more beautiful.

Now we just have to convince Amanda that she needs to do an Easter e-book for everyone!

Here are our week 4 photos Day 18 - Day 24!

If you were unable to participate but still wanna see some amazing photos head over to the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page.

If your a blogger and participating in Truth in the Tinsel please feel free to link up your final weeks post! If you not a blogger please leave a comment sharing your experience with Truth in the Tinsel!

December 3 in 30 Goals - Week 3

It was another wonderful week and I accomplished ALL of my goals for the week. Now I am trying to think up some realistic goals for January which will be posted on Friday/Saturday just in time for the New Year!

December Goals:

1.  Be a supportive wife to my husband through the Christmas season because it is a rough time for him due to a bad childhood - Well my wonderful husband said he had one of the best Christmas's this year. I could tell he wasn't stressed out like he normally is and there was no sadness. I am so thankful that he was able to enjoy all of our special moments.

Hubby opening up his handmade Christmas presents from the kids,

2.  Finish decorating and get presents wrapped - Everything got decorated and the presents got wrapped and then unwrapped. Now its time to start cleaning and taking down the decorations.

3.  Stay on track with our Advent this year we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel Advent - We finished our Advent and I am so happy we now have a NEW family tradition. 

Final Advent craft crosses.

Any encouraging words or suggestions are always appreciated!

Truth in the Tinsel - Week 3

We have been doing a great job with our Truth in the Tinsel Advent. The kids are learning so much and not only are we doing the Advent and learning about Christmas we are also learning geography, history, singing and listening to some amazing stories (since the library was out of the book). This week we also had some friends visiting so we decided it would be fun to share our Day 14 Stable activity with them. We made our scheduled Truth in the Tinsel ornament craft but we also decided to make Gingerbread Stables with our friends. They turned out so cute and each child's was so different. Rowyn had a row of marshmallow soldiers who were protecting Baby Jesus (he later said they were Angels with swords). One child made a garage for the camels.

Here are our week 3 photos Day 10 - Day 17!

Here are some other things we have been adding on each day to expand the experience:
-We watched Legend of the Three Trees
-Listened to Away in a Manger by Celtic Women
-Listened to No Room for Baby Lord Jesus
-Listened to Bread of Life
-Took a tour of Bethlehem
-Checked out Shepherd Field, Bethlehem
-Sang O Little Town of Bethlehem

It's not too late to join in the fun. You can still catch up or do an alternate schedule option. Head over to the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page to see all of the FUN we are having with people from all over the WORLD. I love seeing all of the crafts each child has done and how different each one looks.

If you want to read more about this e-book check out my review.

If your a blogger and participating in Truth in the Tinsel please feel free to link up your post! If you not a blogger please leave a comment with your experiences so far! I will try to do this every Saturday until Christmas Eve!

December 3 in 30 Goals - Week 2

Its been a wonderful week and I accomplished all of my goals for the week.

December Goals:

1.  Be a supportive wife to my husband through the Christmas season because it is a rough time for him due to a bad childhood - Hubby has been a good mood this week and he seems to be doing much better with regards to the holiday. Next week will be the toughest for him when Christmas Eve and Day arrive.

2.  Finish decorating and get presents wrapped - Everything is decorated and over half of the presents are wrapped. I am so thankful for blogger giveaways and homeschool company giveaways, if it weren't for them my kids would not have gotten very much this year.


3.  Stay on track with our Advent this year we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel Advent - We are still going strong. The kids look forward to doing the Advent everyday. This week we also got our friends involved and made Gingerbread Nativities. 

Aren't they adorable? Rowyn is the back right, Gwyns is back left and their friends are in the front.

Any encouraging words or suggestions are always appreciated!

Truth in the Tinsel - Week 2

We are doing the Truth in the Tinsel Advent this year and the kids are really loving it! We are currently on day 9 (we missed yesterday so we will be making it up today). They are still learning so much about the REAL meaning of Christmas. And I am so proud of them for remembering what we have been reading each day. Just this morning Gwyn said to me, "Mommy Jesus is the light, like a shining star." On Thursday night we went to a "Back to Bethlehem" presentation in Canton, GA. It really put what they have been learning into perspective.

Here are our week 2 photos day 4-day 9!

And a few of our Back to Bethlehem photos!

It's not too late to join in the fun. You can still catch up or do an alternate schedule option. Head over to the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page to see all of the FUN we are having with people from all over the WORLD. I love seeing all of the crafts each child has done and how different each one looks.

If you want to read more about this e-book check out my review.

If your a blogger and participating in Truth in the Tinsel please feel free to link up your post! If you not a blogger please leave a comment with your experiences so far! I will try to do this every Saturday until Christmas Eve!

December 3 in 30 Goals - Week 1

Since I was not sure how much I would accomplish with it being a VERY busy month I picked some goals that are centered around the holidays and shouldn't be overly complicated to complete.

December Goals:

1.  Be a supportive wife to my husband through the Christmas season because it is a rough time for him due to a bad childhood - Success several times this week we spent time just talking and snuggling. He has been expressing his feelings and thoughts instead of bottling them up. I would also like to ask for a prayer request. My husband is currently a contracted employee with his company and will continue to be a contractor until they hire him on this can be anywhere from 6 months-1 year. This has added a lot of pressure to him because he must perform everyday and not have any screw ups. He also needs to get the contract with the company so he can get all the benefits (like holiday pay, vacation, etc.).  He will also get a nice raise when he becomes a full time employee with the company.

2.  Finish decorating and get presents wrapped - Success again the entire house is decorated and now I just need to wrap presents and get some handmade gifts put together for friends/family.

3.  Stay on track with our Advent this year we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel Advent - We are still going strong and haven't missed one day of our Advent. The kids are really enjoying it and are learning a lot this year about the REAL meaning of Christmas.

Any encouraging words or suggestions are always appreciated!

Truth in the Tinsel - Week 1

We started our Truth in the Tinsel Advent on December 1st. We are currently on day 3 and the kids and I are having a blast.  They have already learned so much about the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas. It's not too late to join in the fun. You can still catch up or do an alternate schedule option. Head over to the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page to see all of the FUN we are having with people from all over the WORLD. I love seeing all of the crafts each child has done and how different each one looks.

Our handmade Advent calendar.

Here is what we have done so far....

Day 1 - The Candle

The kids love our new handmade Advent calendar.

Gwyn laying out her tissue paper.

Day 1 - candle craft

The kids seeing how their candles glow since our tree was not up yet.

Singing this little light of mine.

Day 2 - Kingdom

Rowyn painting his crown orange of course.

Day 2 - crown craft

Today we went to Fernbank Museum and the kids were so happy to see this baby Jesus on one of the trees.

Day 3 - Zechariah

Gwyn being silly with the wiggle eyes.

Rowyns Zechariah craft - we used buttons to button up his mouth.

Gwyns Zechariah craft.

If you want to read more about this e-book check out my review.

I am not sure if anyone else is doing a Truth in the Tinsel blog link up (I haven't seen one yet) so I thought I would start one. If your a blogger and participating in Truth in the Tinsel please feel free to link up your post! I will try to do this every Saturday until Christmas Eve!