RaisingFigureSkaters.com

“When I Learned to Read” Word Art Freebie

May 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 2 Comments

In honor of Children’s Book Week, here’s a word art freebie based on the Mary McLeod Bethune quote: “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.”

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

For lots of literature-based activities for young children, see my post at Living Montessori Now: Montessori-Inspired Literature-Based Activities for Preschoolers.

Happy Children’s Book Week!

Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: Background image by Dmytro Tolokonov.

“2 Teach Is 2 Touch Lives 4 Ever” Word Art Freebie

May 8, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 1 Comment

It's Teacher Appreciation Week (the first full week of May)! In honor of the great teachers and coaches around the world, here's a word art freebie based on the popular quote (author unknown): 2 teach is2 touch lives4 ever To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .” Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Freebies, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: 2 teach is 2 touch lives 4 ever, digital scrapbooking freebie, freebie, teacher appreciation, word art, word-art freebie

Less Screen Time/More Family- and Outdoor Time

May 1, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 5 Comments

It's Screen-Free Week (April 29-May5)! With spring and Screen-Free Week, it's a great time to focus on spending more time outdoors and with your family. Even if it doesn't work for your family to go completely screen free, spring is a perfect time to focus on reducing your family's screen time. It's easy to find screen-free activities when lots of kid bloggers are specifically focusing on screen-free activities of all kinds this week. Screen-Free Activities from Around the … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Parents' Role Tagged With: parenting, screen-free activities, Screen-Free Week

Love Ellie Fitness Fashions!

April 24, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

My daughter, Christina, and I were given the opportunity to review some activewear by Ellie in March ("My Daughter and I Love Ellie Activewear!") and again now. Both times have been great experiences! Note: Although I was given clothes from Ellie, my opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links (at no cost to you). Christina and I have been amazed at the cute selections and the way the clothes fit both of us perfectly (we both wear size small). We've been impressed with the … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Ellie, Ellie activewear, fitness, fitness fashions, Love Ellie

“It’s Nice” Word Art Freebie

April 19, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

I LOVE this quote, which is most often attributed to motivational speaker John Cassis: “It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.” I first heard the quote as the motto for Olympic figure skating champion Sarah Hughes, who learned it from her mother. It's a concept that was important in my kids' figure skating careers - and lives - as well. I always thought it was much more important that my kids grew up to be nice people than that they grew up to be "important" people. … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Freebies, Parents' Role, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: character, digital scrapbooking freebie, It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice, John Cassis Quote, parenting, word art, word-art freebie

Ultimate Blog Party 2013!

April 4, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 10 Comments

Welcome to Raising Figure Skaters and the Ultimate Blog Party 2013! What a great way to make some new online friends! The Ultimate Blog Party is hosted by Janice and Susan at 5 Minutes for Mom. You can join, too … write a post about your blog and enter it in a linky to make lots of new blogging friends. And you can register for some awesome prizes! Here’s a bit about me: I’m Deb Chitwood, a Montessori educator/writer and mom of two grown children. I also have 14 years of experience as … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Blogging and Networking Tagged With: blogging and networking, Ultimate Blog Party, Ultimate Blog Party 2013

“Throw Yourself” Word Art Freebie

March 27, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

One of my favorite quotes about personal growth is by C. JoyBell C.: “The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: C. JoyBell C. quote, digital scrapbooking freebie, freebie, word art, word-art quotation freebie

Are You Treasuring the Time You Have with Your Children?

March 20, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 8 Comments

My husband and I recently returned from spending ten days with our kids/kid-in-love in San Diego. There's nothing that's more special to us than spending time with our family. As an empty nester, I can definitely say it's true that children grow up too fast and that you'll never regret treasuring the time you have with your children. One of my favorite quotes about parenthood is by Elizabeth Stone: “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Parents' Role

My Daughter and I Love Ellie Activewear!

March 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

My daughter, Christina, and I were given the opportunity to review some activewear by Ellie. Christina specializes in fitness, and I'm a mom who values fitness and works out at least three days each week. So we couldn't pass up the opportunity! Ellie has a new collection each month and two ways you can order: as a member of the Fit Fashionista Club where you get 2 items of your choice (and free shipping) for only $49.95 per month or by purchasing individual items as a non-member. My … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Ellie, Ellie activewear, fitness

True Inspiration – Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year

February 27, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

In January, I published a post on How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special. One of my suggestions was to try to support each child's extracurricular activities as a family. The story of Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, is a truly moving story of a brother's love and encouragement of his brother through triathlons. I love the way the Longs show the best of sports and family support. For a moving sports story about a father's love … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Inspiration, Inspirational Sports Stories, Parents' Role Tagged With: 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, Connor and Cayden Long, Inspiration