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Nedra in So. CA
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Sarah M
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I want to come to your store! That sounds wonderful!
I find that I start doubting well-laid plans when the catalogs come, too, Nedra. I am tempted every single year to buy from CHC, even though the couple of books I've gotten from them haven't worked for us. But their catalog is so pretty, I always think there *must* be something I need from them! I do plan to keep the SL catalog and a couple of others as booklist references throughout the year, but sometimes just hucking the other catalogs into the recycle bin is a good idea for my peace of mind (and my checkbook!)
I don't really need to buy much for our homeschool- and I keep having to remind myself of that. Our library supplies 80% (more, maybe?) of our curriculum. So I just need to purchase some religious books, craft supplies, sketchbooks, and we're good to go.
I'm more tempted by our state homeschool convention than by catalogs. But I'm still going this year, because Catherine Levison is speaking there (hooray!). I just plan to bring a little cash and leave the credit card at home. 
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Nedra in So. CA
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12stars
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I live in Southern California, can you PM and let me know where this wonderful store is at?
Maybe it is not too far from me.
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Claudia in Southern California
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Nedra in So. CA
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Mackfam
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Well, I love catalogs! But, I have learned over the years what works for us and what doesn't, and that includes those catalogs that are good for reference and those that serve only as temptation. I really have to be a good steward of my time these days...so I'm brutally honest with myself when catalogs come in. If we don't usually buy from that catalog, I don't keep it. Period. I don't even open the cover...they go right to recycle as Sarah suggested. Temptation averted. It's not like throwing the catalog away means I *can't* order from that vendor. I can always check them out online if I need to make a purchase.
There are a few catalogs that are never thrown out until the next annual catalog comes in to replace it. They have great booklists, and I know I'm going to use it as a reference.
Here are my favorite catalog staples that never leave my shelves:
**Emmanuel Books
**Sonlight
**Winterpromise
**Bethlehem Books
**Neinhuis Montessori (used for ideas only!)
**Montessori Services
**Child of the World (Michael Olaf Montessori catalog for 3 - 12 yrs)
**The Joyful Child (Michael Olaf Montessori catalog for 0 - 3 yrs)
**Alison's Montessori
**Rainbow Resource
**Dick Blick
**CHC
**Nature's Workshop
**Insect Lore
**Nova Natural
Some are only kept as references, while others are used extensively as planning aids!
If a catalog comes in and I know it is really kept mostly for reference (Rainbow Resources would be an example - that thing is a monster and I get overwhelmed trying to plan with it!) I immediately put it in my magazine holders that I use to store catalogs in (kept on my homeschool reference shelves).
All others that are used for planning get stashed in my catalog pile which has a special place in my reading basket. I look through those when I have time to plan and consider. I mark them up with post-its and pens first. I reflect on my plans and then go back to the catalogs. The catalogs are used for library lists and ordering lists. I make everything on paper before I start an online cart because I whittle and purge so much before I actually place an order. All this is done while planning.
Once my year is planned, I might keep a catalog because it looks neat to consider for next year, but I don't look through it if I feel it might side-track or de-rail my plans. I just file it!
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I'm with Jen--I love them! And a plus for me with catalogs is there portability. I can read a catalog just about anywhere, including the park or the bathtub and not worry too much if it gets wet or muddy or whatever. it's nice to find some inspiration away from the computer every so often. Like so many resources and inspirations, catalogs need to stay in their places. They are tools, not masters, of my time and attention and money.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Willa
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I've stopped reading catalogs! For a couple of years I've tried to spend as little money as I can on curriculum. Mostly these days I just buy materials, like paper and pens. So catalogs for me just create a need that I didn't have until I looked at the catalog.
I think it helps that I already know what works for me -- in the earlier days catalogs were very helpful to me in seeing what was out there since I've never been to a curriculum fair and there are no homeschooling type stores in our area. But as you said, I bought a lot of things that just loaded down our shelves and made me feel guilty. So just tossing the catalogs is freeing for me.
Your store sounds great!
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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Bookswithtea
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Elizabeth wrote:
| I'm with Jen--I love them! And a plus for me with catalogs is there portability. I can read a catalog just about anywhere, including the park or the bathtub and not worry too much if it gets wet or muddy or whatever. it's nice to find some inspiration away from the computer every so often. Like so many resources and inspirations, catalogs need to stay in their places. They are tools, not masters, of my time and attention and money. |
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This is how I feel, too. I enjoy browsing them, not worrying too much about weather or bath water.  I prefer to have something in my hand to read than hunting it all down on the net. I've noticed that they also sometimes remind me to plan ahead...like when I'm reading Emmanuel Books and start drooling over their Lent and Advent stuff, it reminds me to order something in April rather than 2 days before Christ the King Sunday!  That said, I have no problems pitching ones I don't like, such as the Christian Liberty Press one that showed up un-invited in my mailbox a few days ago. Did you know that according to them Cromwell is an unsung hero??? 
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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folklaur
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Oh, I am in the "love 'em" catagory.
Except when they make me question what I have planned.
But I am getting better about that
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Bookswithtea
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cactus mouse wrote:
Except when they make me question what I have planned.
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Its like an addiction, huh? I have about 7 by my nightstand at the moment, along with clipboard and pen.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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trish
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I love them too. I just got the Sonlight one today. That'll be my night time read while my husband watches the hockey games.
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Connections
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The ones I use for read-aloud and independent reading lists sit near my computer- where I can place the books on hold at the library.
Your homeschooling store sounds awesome!
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Tracey
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stellamaris
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For me, it's just like a day in the bookstore, only at home! I love the catalogs, I love the books, I love all the cool hands-on manipulatives, I love the hope of planning in the Spring! I even love reading all the children's books when they arrive...I even hide them so the kids can't get to them until I read them! How pathetic is that!?
Tossing them would probably be healthier!
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Caroline
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Nedra in So. CA
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melanie
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I love them, but there is one in particular that is a big temptation to me, my *other* curriculum, the second choice in our homeschooling decision and I waffled back and forth with whether or not to use them. So when their catalog comes in teh mail, I start doubting myself all over again. I do love their catalog and buy some thigns from it and browse through it, but I've learned to leave it alone this time of year.
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LeeAnn
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Love the catalogs! The ones I keep all year:
CHC
Memoria Press
Sonlight
I don't really get any others, I guess! I order online from Math-U-See and Our Father's House usually once a year and sometimes Dover Publications, but the bulk of our books come from Amazon. I can't imagine how BIG that catalog would be!
I do like looking at all the other stuff I get from the homeschool convention though. Particularly the online schools like Kolbe, Mother of Divine Grace and Our Lady of Victory, etc. I like to compare what I'm doing with everything else. It's a constant process.
However, I do almost immediately chuck all the OTHER kinds of catalogs into the recycle. If you don't know what's in those catalogs, you won't want it, whether it's Hanna Andersson or Pottery Barn or whatnot. Chuck 'em if you need to!
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KateinIndy
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Nedra,
What is the name of this amazing sounding homeschool store? Do they ship?
Thank you,
Kate
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Getting rid of catalogs...
