Hey Reader,

Feature Story: Why Homeschool Printers Never Have Enough Ink 😅

One of the hardest parts of homeschooling in the beginning was figuring out HOW I wanted to homeschool.

Because at first?

I thought I needed an all-in-one curriculum.

For us, it was Abeka.

Which is honestly kind of funny because I used Abeka as a homeschooled kid myself…and hated it 😅

But I thought:
👉 “This must be what real homeschooling looks like.”

Everything planned.
Everything scheduled.
Everything boxed up neatly.

And when that didn’t work for our family?

I swung HARD the other direction.

I started downloading every free homeschool resource I could find.

Every printable.
Every idea.
Every unit study.
Every “THIS CHANGED OUR HOMESCHOOL” freebie.

You know what I ended up with?

A computer drive full of random downloads…
and a printer that NEVER had enough ink 😂

Because homeschool moms are not lacking ideas.
​We’re drowning in them.

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So if you find yourself somewhere on that spectrum…

👉 wanting structure but not rigidity
👉 wanting flexibility but not chaos
👉 wanting support without feeling boxed in

…I really think A Simplified Year is worth looking at.

Because this collection isn’t trying to force you into ONE perfect homeschool method.

It gives you thoughtful starting points you can actually build around.

Inside, there are resources for:
👉 science
👉 handwriting
👉 literature
👉 social studies
👉 planning and routines
👉 family-style learning

…and honestly, all of the “core four” I teach moms to focus on inside my Routine Builder—which is included in the collection too.

That resource alone is normally $27, but right now the entire curated collection is just $14.

Grab the Simplified Year Collection for Just $14

​

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And the best part?

You don’t need to use everything.

You just need to find the few things that fit YOUR family and make your year feel lighter.

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THIS WEEK’S FEATURE TOOL

The Routine Builder + Core 4 Framework

One of the biggest shifts for me in homeschooling was realizing:

I did NOT need to perfectly execute every single subject every single day.

I needed anchors.

That’s why inside my Routine Builder, I teach moms to focus on what I call the “Core 4”:
👉 language arts
👉 math
👉 science
👉 and social studies

Because when those are moving consistently, your homeschool starts feeling a whole lot steadier.

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And the best part?

That resource is included inside A Simplified Year right now.

So instead of trying to overhaul your entire homeschool…

you can start by simply building a rhythm around the things that matter most.

👉 Check Out A Simplified Year Collection

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COMMUNITY BOARD

Come Meet with Me

Community Days

FREE

One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is getting to build real-life community with other families.

And this June, we have a few really fun things coming up:

🌲 June 12th — Silver Falls Day Trip​
Come hike, explore, and let the kids run wild in one of Oregon’s most beautiful spots.

🌋 June 22nd — Lava Tubes Adventure in Bend​
A super fun summer field trip day for curious kids and homeschool families who love a little adventure.

📚 June 30th — Free Curriculum + Book Swap in Wilsonville​
Bring homeschool books, curriculum, or supplies you’re no longer using and swap with other local families—for FREE.

If you are wanting to learn more and find community, come join my Facebook group: Homeschooling Oregon below!

Join Homeschooling Oregon

✨ Oregon Park Meetup Days

FREE

If you’re local to the Portland area and have been wanting to meet other homeschoolers near you, I’d love for you to come join us.

We’re meeting:

👉 Tuesdays in Wilsonville
👉 Wednesdays in Hillsboro

These are super low-key.

No pressure.
No need to have anything figured out.
Just come as you are and let the kids play.

If you want the schedule and reminders, you can grab all the details here:

👉 Get the Meetups Details​

I’d love to see you there. 💛

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​Washington Homeschool Organization In-Person Workshop Conference​
​July 18, 2026​
​Federal Way, WA

This one-day conference brings homeschool families together for practical workshops, encouragement, and connection with other parents walking the same path.

I’ll be leading a session called:

Let’s Calm the Chaos and Create a Calm, Doable Homeschool Routine​
If your homeschool days feel reactive or overwhelming, this workshop will help you reset your approach and build a routine that actually works for your family.

​Learn more or register here​

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Brave Heart Free Mind Conference​
📍 Wilsonville, OR
📅 September 19, 2026

This is one of those spaces that feels different.

Not about doing more or fixing yourself—but about coming back to who you already are underneath the weight of everything you’ve been carrying.

I’ll be speaking at this event, and if you’ve been feeling even the smallest pull toward something deeper… I want to invite you into this room.

Because sometimes what we need isn’t another plan—

It’s space to reconnect with ourselves.

​👉 Learn more or save your seat here​
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Early bird pricing ends June 30th.

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BOOK CORNER 🐕 A Dog Named Lucky Tide by William Koehler​ AGES 9–13 This one came from a bag of books a homeschool mom passed on after her kids had flown the nest — and it ended up being such a hidden gem. It follows a young man named Tim as he gets caught up in the shady dealings of a man trying to take his land. Things don’t go smoothly, and he has to navigate some real challenges along the way. My 11-year-old loved this one — he actually asked me to read it to him, which always tells me something. And anything with a dog? That already has his attention. It’s an easy read, but not shallow. There’s real character development and situations that feel grounded in real life. One of those quieter books that ends up sticking. 🧱 Lego Timelines​ AGES 7–14 This is one of those big, oversized library books that tends to get overlooked — but it shouldn’t be. If you have a kid who loves LEGO and also loves details (think dates, stats, “Hey mom, did you know?” type kids), this is right up their alley. It walks through the history of LEGO in a really engaging, visual way, connecting sets, themes, and moments over time. Honestly, I found it fascinating too — especially seeing how LEGO has evolved and shaped culture over the years. A great pick for kids who like to dive deep into what they’re interested in. 🌊 Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish by Janet Halfmann​ AGES 5–9 If you’re heading to the beach this summer — especially anywhere with tide pools — this is a great one to grab ahead of time. It follows a sea star through its day, and while it feels like a simple story, it’s packed with learning. This is what I’d call a “sneaky learning” book — kids enjoy the story, and at the same time, they’re picking up real information about marine life without it feeling like a lesson. A great way to build curiosity before you actually see these creatures in real life.

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