Is VIPKID for YOU:?

I have heard quite a lot about VIPKID.  I have heard it is a scam, they won't pay you, and I have also heard wonderful things. I'm sure you may have heard many different things as well!  So, I want to just take a minute and tell you what I LOVE about VIPKID!

I have been a stay at home Mom for the past three years and I absolutely love it!  However, I did not love that my husband was having to work so many hours overtime or at his second job.  We needed the money, but we needed him around also!

I was scrolling facebook one day and a friend had shared a post about VIPKID.  I thought about it...and decided to ask her for more information.  Then, I talked with my husband about it -- he was skeptical -- said a prayer, and decided to give it a go!  I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

So, I applied, and my application was accepted!! Yay!!  Then, I had an interview online!  YIKES!  It had been over 5 years since I had a job interview, and never with someone in China over Skype!  So, I made sure it was a night my husband was home to intercept any small people in protest of bedtime, I set up my computer and began my interview!  I forget the name of the lady I interviewed with, but she was SO nice.   It was a great interview!  We did a mini-lesson.  She noted my phonetic proficiency (I do love phonics).  and I was then scheduled for a 'Mock Class'.

I did two 'Mock' Classes.  Each with a current teacher located here in the USA.  Both teachers were great (for which I am thankful, I have heard of a few, rare, bad experiences).  Then, it was time to fill out contract and banking info.

So, I was a little nervous....  I mean my bank account info is kind of a big deal.  :)  Let me assure you here - you have NOTHING to worry about!

I currently teach about 3 hours a day, 6 days a week.  I am on my second contract with VIPKID and I have not had a single issue!  I have received my correct pay every month on time.

I teach Monday-Saturday 4:30am-7:30am.  That is the time that works for me, because my children are asleep.  The beauty of VIPKID is that each teacher can set their own schedule for whatever works for them!!  You can work one day a week, or you can work every day!  You can work night time hours, or morning hours!

Base pay begins at $7-$9/class (25 minutes).  If you are on time and teach the whole lesson, you also earn an extra $2/class.  That is approximately $20/hour!!!

VIPKID also LOVES their teachers!  They are often running promotions to allow teachers to earn bonuses!

And, the PROVIDE the lessons for you!  In the mini clips below you can see a sample of one of my lessons!  -- Usually you can see the student, but since I am sharing this on Social Media I chose video clips where the students camera was off so as to respect their privacy.

You simply log in and teach!  They do ask that you look at the lesson ahead of time, so that you are prepared.  Also, any props you use (flashcards, toys, etc...) you will provide yourself.  I mostly use toys from my kids toy box!!

Above is a picture of a blank schedule.  The orange boxes are the times that are 'most likely' to be booked.  However, any time shown on the schedule is available for you to teach!  You simply select the days and times you want to teach.

So, what are the requirements??  They only require that you have a Bachelor's Degree (in ANY field), some experience with children, and that you can pass a background check!!

I hope that this has helped you understand more about VIPKID!  If you have any further questions,  please feel free to contact me!

When you are ready to apply, simply do so here!!

~Cori

DIY Applesauce/Babyfood

I began making applesauce as a school project for my first grade students.  I had been looking for a fun craft or snack for my class for Johnny Appleseed Day.  While I was searching I came across a recipe for home made applesauce.  I personally don't care for applesauce - something about the texture.  But, my kids all loved it!  It was a big hit with them!  So, every year for Johnny Appleseed day we would make applesauce!  It was a great lesson that they never knew they were learning!

I am currently a stay at home, taking care of my two precious children, so I am not making applesauce once a year.  Instead I am making it at least once a month!  My children love it and think it is a great treat!  I do try to buy a lot of apples when I find a good deal and make my applesauce ahead.

I start with my wonderful Pampered Chef Apple Wedger!

This nice little tool makes the job so much faster and easier!  Simply press down, then peel each little section!

I usually cut each section in half, but that is not a must.  The smaller the pieces, the more quickly the applesauce will cook.  So the size of the apple pieces is totally up to you.  I also add about 1/4 c. water to the crock-pot.  You can add cinnamon if you want - I always did, until we discovered my daughter has a mild cinnamon allergy.

When I made this in the classroom I cut my apples into very small pieces to be sure my applesauce was cooked in time for the students to sample it! When I make it at home I don't worry about the size of the pieces.  I just toss them in the crock pot and turn it on high!

Each time I walk through the kitchen I try to just give the apples a quick stir.  This just makes sure they continue to cook evenly and also let me know when they are done!  (It has also let me know I forgot to plug in the crock-pot...)

If I were making this for my toddler or older children, I would be finished after mashing the apples with a spoon.  However, when I make it for my 6 month old, I use a blender to puree the applesauce.  Then, I spoon it into ice cube trays to freeze and use as needed!

Good Luck and Enjoy!

How to get the Best baby footprint!

I don't know about you, but I love to make crafts!  Now that I have children, I love to make crafts that involved them!  However, that can get a bit messy!!  The first time I tried to paint my daughter's feet to make a footprint craft - oh my!  There was paint all over her, me, the towel I had put down and the paper I was trying to simply get one footprint on!  It was a mess!!

After a few trial and error attempts I have finally found the best way to capture those sweet little footprints - even on the wiggliest of my babies!

I prefer to use the washable paint! It cleans up so easily!!  I can use baby wipes, a rag, or just dip those precious little feet in the sink (which is definitely what my children prefer!)!!

The Bumbo seat has been the best thing I have used for feet painting!  It keeps their little legs pointed out, and keeps their feet from touching the floor (or anything else)!   

Then, I cover that sweet little foot with paint!  Thankfully my babies laugh at this part.  In teaching I have had some children who could not stand to have paint on their feet or hands - so we settled for tracing their feet/hands! 

To capture the footprint on paper I use a hard clipboard.  Simply place your paper on the clipboard and carefully press baby's foot against the paper.  The tricky part for me seems to be getting the toes (you can see a smeared toe in the picture).  I have found that if I start at the heel and roll the foot onto the paper pressing the toes in last I get the best footprint!

I hope this helps you as you create masterpieces with your babies!!

I am all about being prepared for anything!  Which means my diaper bag has got to be organized, or I will never find anything when I need it.  I carried the same diaper bag for the past two years, and have just had to find a new one in the past few months!  There are five main things I was looking for when I chose my diaper bag.  I wanted to be sure I made the right decision because I plan to be carrying this one for at least a couple  years also!


SIZE - Will it fit where I want it to?

          I did love my old diaper bag, but it would not fit in the basket under my stroller!  I had no

          problem with it elsewhere, but not fitting in the stroller was definitely a problem!  So, think

         about where you will be and what type spaces your bag will need to fit.  I usually need mine to

          fit in the grocery cart, stroller, or the floor board of the car.

POCKETS - Are there enough pockets to hold what I need?

          Since I am all about being prepared I really want plenty of pockets.  The pockets allow me to

          organize my things so that I can find them quickly when I need them.  I have extra pacis in

          one pocket, chapstick and candy (for Mom) in one pocket.  One of the front/back pockets is 

          the perfect size for a sippy cup or bottle!  The front/back pockets are also the perfect size for a
          canister of 'puff' cereal.  (While neither of my children eat those, I do re-use the container for
          cheerios!!).

COLORS - Will this color/pattern be something I can use in the future?

          When I had my first child I tried to emphasize to people that I still wanted gender neutral

          items.  I did not want to have to purchase everything new for the second child if we had a

          different gender than the first.  Some people do want very gender specific bags.  This would

          also include any monogram on the bag.  My bag is brown and has our last name on it.  We

          know it is ours, but it can be used for either child (or both). 

DURABILITY - Is this something that I will not have to worry about tearing up?

          I don't like spending money.  I prefer to save it.  So, when I do spend money I want to get the

          most for it.  I have had the bag I am now carrying for 4 years before I chose to use it for my 

          diaper bag.  I have a second bag (different pattern) that I carried back and forth to school when

          I taught and it is still in great condition.  This is a bag that I will be able to carry for quite

          awhile!

SPACE - Is there enough space to hold everything I need?

          Having all of the above does no good if your bag won't hold the necessities.  Think about what 

          you plan to carry in your diaper bag.  (I will post about what I carry in mine soon!)   Lay it all

          out so that you can have an approximate idea of how much space you will need inside your

          bag.  Every parent is different, so your bag may need to be larger or smaller than a friend or

          than mine.  That is fine!  Decide what is best for you and your children!

I ended choosing a bag that I already had on hand.  It is the Organizing Utility Tote (with Zipper Top) from ThirtyOne.  Of course, when I got my bag they did not have the zipper top option...so...I may have to save my pennies and get a new one! :)  I have been carrying it for a month or so now and it is perfect!  I began carrying it just to get me through until I could find a diaper bag that I liked.  But, the longer I carried this bag, the more I liked it!!

What do you look for when you choose a diaper bag?  I would love to hear from you!

God Bless!

When we found out we were expecting our first child we knew we had to cut our expenses.  We had already discussed the fact that I had always wanted to be a stay at home mom.  My amazing husband fully supported me in that desire.  Also, after looking at childcare costs, it was actually better for me to stay at home and him to pick up a few extra hours of overtime.  Below are just a few of the ways that we managed to cut our monthly expenses:

1)  StraightTalk

We saved about $125 each month by using StraightTalk as opposed to other major cell providers.  We were able to use cell phones that we already had, and we actually have a better plan.  This is a step we were hesitant to take at first, but now we wish we had taken it sooner!  We have unlimited, talk, text, and data for a little less than $50 (per line) each month!  We have had NO problem with service, and the customer service is wonderful!!

2)  Home Phone

We had a home phone for several years, mainly for our alarm system.  However, we were able to pay a small fee and get our alarm system switched to cellular and connected to our cell phones.  This saved us about $30 per month.  The monthly alarm bill did go up a little, but the savings still outweigh the cost!

3) Cable TV/Antenna TV/Netflix

We had the nice package of all the good channels, plus a couple sports channels.  It seemed our bill just kept going up, even though our channel selection didn't.  So, we totally cut out the paid tv.  We purchased a $15 antenna at Wal-Mart and we watch Netflix.  Aside from missing the new HallMark movies (me) and the occasional football game/hunting show (my sweetheart) we really don't miss cable tv.  Netflix has a plethora of shows and movies, the kids have no clue anything has changed, and the money saved is wonderful!

4)  Meal Planning

Sometimes I can go a bit overboard and plan extravagant meals that require more expensive ingredients...but, as long as I plan ahead I am able to stay well within my grocery budget.  I also grocery shop every other week, as opposed to weekly trips to the grocery.  I limit my larger stores (SAMS) to every other month/every couple months depending on how long my stock of supplies lasts.

5)  Eating at Home

The more I can cook myself, the less money we spend.  Seriously, look at the receipt the next time you eat out.  How much money was just spend on a drink?  Do you know how much cheaper it is to drink the exact same thing at home?  Especially sweet tea!  Wow!  Not to mention if you eat in a 'sit down' restaurant and have to add a tip to the meal.  Buying the ingredients and putting them together myself saves quite a bit of money.  And now, thanks to Pinterest, you can get recipes for your favorite dish from your favorite restaurant!   When we do eat out, we look for places we have a coupon for, or that offer a 'Kid's eat free' night.

6)  Using Cash

I don't like to carry cash around.  I am terrible about getting to the bank/ATM to get out the cash I need for the week, BUT, when I remember to use my cash, it helps me not overspend.  I don't spend that much per week simply because I am home the majority of the week.  But, every once in a while a Sonic Happy Hour drink is necessary!  I have a set amount of money for my sweetheart and I for each pay period.  I also try to set aside a certain amount for gas.  Any spending money that is left over goes to a separate part of the wallet to be saved for a future splurge!

7)  Creating/Following a strict budget

Creating the budget wasn't to difficult...following it...Yikes!  I have learned that if I log into my bank account every day or every couple days it helps me follow my budget.  It only takes a couple minutes each morning, and I am better able to keep track of where the money is being spent and how much is left.


Even our best plans can turn into a train-wreck sometimes.  There have been times when we have totally strayed so far from the budget it wasn't even funny!  But, when you don't allow yourself extra room, you have to learn to stick with it.  Any extra money that is left in the budget goes either towards paying off a bill (hospital, car, house, etc...) or to savings.  Depending on the amount it may be split between bill pay/savings.

What do you do to stick to your budget?  I would love to hear back from you!

Baked Parmesan Garlic Fries

I absolutely love to eat potatoes...almost any way they can be fixed! Growing up I always thought it was a treat to have 'home made french fries'.  My mom would peel and slice the potatoes and pull out the little Fry Daddy and fry them.  Oh my...they were delicious!!!  We eventually started baking them in the oven.  This is much easier in that we don't have to deal with hot oil - especially nice when you have babies running around!  Either way you cook them, they are delicious!!  I usually make mine with garlic and Parmesan, just for a little extra flavor,  However, you can make them with any flavor you desire, and the toppings are endless!!

I begin by peeling my potatoes.  If you wash yours thoroughly you can leave the peeling on if you prefer.  I then slice my potatoes to the desired thickness.  My husband prefers much thicker potatoes, similar to steak fries or potato wedges.  Once the potatoes are peeled and sliced I place them in a bowl.  I then lightly drizzle them with Olive Oil and add my seasonings.  I use Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, and Grated Parmesan.

Spread the potatoes evenly on a baking sheet/stone.

This is just a glance of the fun that happens around me when I am cooking! :)  

Bake the potatoes at 425F, for approximately 20 minutes. Time will vary depending on the thickness of the potatoes.

You can top with bacon, cheese, onions, peppers, or even just eat them like they are!  Enjoy!  Let me know your thoughts or suggestions! I love those comments! :)

My First Deer...

I have never had a problem eating or cooking deer meat.  So, when I married my wonderful mountain man, I was thrilled he enjoyed hunting and more than happy to use the meat from the deer he killed.  This has saved us a great deal of money in just the (almost) 5 years we have been married.  The past couple years though, we have become a one income family.  Which means I look for any way to save us money each month.  Although using the deer meat sounds totally free...it isn't.  Each year we have to purchase a hunting license, then each deer has to be processed ($55-$75 approx).  While that is still cheaper than purchasing meat at the grocery store (not to mention this meat has no preservatives, additives, or extra hormones) it was not always easy to find the extra money in that lump sum...

Well...I got to thinking...scary!  Why don't we do this ourselves?  We have family that does, it doesn't seem that difficult.  So, when my sweet husband called me that he had killed a deer, and to ask what I preferred that we do with it, I told him I really wanted us to try and process it ourselves.  He said, 'Are you sure?'  I said, absolutely!  We can do this!  Well, we did it!  We had a few hiccups though...

I had seen an electric meat grinder at a local store, so I planned on going out to buy that first thing in the morning.  For some crazy reason though, I decided to research that grinder before I went to the store...well, the reviews were not wonderful.  So, I tried to find other meat grinders in stock near us, that were affordable - guess what - NO LUCK!

So, we pulled out the hand grinder...oh my!!  I pray we never have to use that hand grinder again.  It served its purpose well, but hand grinding almost 40 lbs of meat was no picnic.  I didn't even do the majority of the grinding...I was packaging!  However, we DID process our own deer!  I am working on getting our electric grinder ordered ASAP!



Have you ever processed your own deer?  Do you have an electric meat grinder?  If so, what recommendations do you have?  I will be sure to update you on what we get and how it works!