latest on the blog
financial freedom/ personal finance powerpoint and activity / caravan sonnet classroom
April 18, 2026
Happy Saturday friends! I am so excited to share with y'all a newly updated resource in the caravan sonnet classroom at teachers pay teachers! This is a resource for personal finance teachers at the high school or college level.
If you would like to go directly to this resource you can click HERE!
Help your students build a strong foundation in personal finance, financial independence, and smart money decision-making with this engaging, college-level lesson on financial freedom.
This resource is designed specifically for high school and college students and introduces essential concepts such as saving habits, investing basics, avoiding debt, and financial responsibility—all through a clear, structured, and meaningful approach.
Perfect for personal finance units, economics courses, life skills classes, or first-year college seminars, this lesson goes beyond surface-level budgeting and helps students think critically about their financial future.
What’s Included in this NO PREP Resource:
✔ Engaging Financial Freedom PowerPoint Lesson
✔ Student Guided Notes (structured and easy to follow)
✔ Teacher Answer Key for guided notes
✔ Reflection & Application Assignment (college-level thinking)
✔ Teacher Answer Key for Application Assignment
Topics Covered:
✔ What financial freedom means for college students
✔ Financial independence and goal setting
✔ Building saving habits
✔ Introduction to investing options
✔ Avoiding debt and living within your means
✔ Making intentional financial decisions
Why Teachers Love This NO PREP Resource:
✔ No prep — ready to use immediately
✔ Encourages real-world application and critical thinking
✔ Designed for older students (high school + college level)
✔ Moves beyond basic definitions into meaningful financial literacy
✔ Includes both instruction + student application
This lesson emphasizes that financial freedom is not about having more money—but about having control over financial choices, helping students develop a mindset that supports long-term success.
This is the perfect prequel to The Value of a College Degree Resource (available in the shop HERE) and The Cose of a College Education Resource (available in the shop HERE) or it could be used alone!
Thank you so much for all of your support of the shop! If you would like to check out the shop you can find it HERE!
TWO HUGE ASKS
(1)- If you are not already following the shoppe could you please do so? Even if you are not a teacher or don't plan to purchase things the number of followers does influence potential buyers and this would show incredible support! Simply click HERE!
(2)- If you have purchased something would you please take a moment and leave a review? It doesn't have to be long, but reviews are SO helpful to TPT owners like myself! Simply click HERE!
THANK YOU!
This has been an incredible blessing and you are making this possible!! Thank you again friends!
Happy Saturday!
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.jpeg "caravan sonnet- rebecca vandemark")
This is a girl so excited about some Spring weather that has arrived in the North Country... *smiles*
Happy Friday friends! I hope that you have had a lovely week! It has been a busy and full week and I am looking forward to the weekend.
Here are some of my favorite things from this past week! First of all....
Thank you so much for all of the behind-the-scenes emails and messages about this post. For a long time I debated sharing about this very painful experience. If you have been around the blog for any amount of time you know that I am very protective of those in my private life- and have been for a very long time. There are lots of things that I do not share- and yet this one was something that I hoped and prayed would be an encouragement to someone.
While I won't share more details beyond what I did in this post, I hope that this is an encouragement on how to heal from something extremely painful and disrespectful like this. From the thousands of reads so far since posting this less than a week ago, it is sad to see that this defintely is something that many people have experienced. My heart goes out to you... you can and will heal from this. Take comfort friends. You can read the post HERE!
.jpg "The Kind of Legacy We Teach and Dream About")
Thank you so much for all of the likes, comments, and views on this IG reel (click HERE to watch, comment and like!). You can read the blog post HERE! The entire mission and the people have been absolutely incredible.
3. This Stanley
Y'all, I mentioned this specific stanley several months ago and I am still loving this size. My sister had gifted me my first Stanley two summers ago, and I loved it. At the end of this past summer I needed another one and when I saw the 40 ounce size I was excited to try it and it has NOT disappointed. I love the cream color and you can find it on Amazon by clicking HERE!
And y'all... I just saw this one...
The flowers on this are SO pretty!! You can find it HERE!
I am so excited to share with y'all a newly updated resource in the caravan sonnet classroom at teachers pay teachers! This is a resource for personal finance teachers at the high school or college level.
If you would like to go directly to this resource you can click HERE! College is one of the largest financial decisions students will make—and most walk into it without a clear strategy for reducing the cost. This lesson shifts that narrative.
Instead of focusing only on how to pay for college, this resource teaches students how to make college more affordable from the start. Through 18 practical, real-world strategies, students begin to understand that the cost of college is not fixed—and that their decisions before and during college can significantly impact their long-term financial future. In a landscape where students are often overwhelmed by tuition, loans, and financial aid options , this lesson provides a clear, structured, and empowering approach to lowering college costs before debt becomes the default.
I am SO grateful for ALL of your support of this shop. Y'all... THANK YOU. This is something that I work so hard on behind the scenes and your support, reviews, and encouragement are HUGE. Thank you so much for all of your support of the shop! If you would like to check out the shop you can find it HERE!
Can I ask 2 HUGE favors?
(1)- If you are not already following the shoppe could you please do so? Even if you are not a teacher or don't plan to purchase things the number of followers does influence potential buyers and this would show incredible support! Simply click HERE!
(2)- If you have purchased something would you please take a moment and leave a review? It doesn't have to be long, but reviews are SO helpful to TPT owners like myself! Simply click HERE!
THANK YOU!
On Wednesday I shared more about the upcoming Lake Placid Half-Marathon that I am officially signed up for! You can read the post HERE!
As y'all know back at the end of the summer, I had signed up for and planned a trip to Hawaii for this month - and part of that stay was going to be doing a half-marathon. It felt like a stretch goal, something both adventurous and symbolic. But life, as it so often does, shifted. With my mom’s diagnosis, everything changed. Priorities realigned. Travel paused. And the idea of that race quietly slipped away.
But the dream didn’t.
As mom has been healing and with the beautiful news that no more surgery is needed (ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL AND SPEECHLESS) - the opportunity to explore a half marathon was back in the picture. So today, I’m sharing something a little different—something that feels both tender and strong at the same time. I am officially registered for the Lake Placid Marathon and Half Marathon this June! Read more about this HERE and send along ANY and ALL tips please in the comments below!!
.jpg "heating pad")
When I was a teenager I tried to attempt a "stunt" (like I was a cheerleader- which in my defense I was so it made sense haha- please don't ask *smiles*) while I was water skiing. Suffice it to say the "stunt" went horribly wrong and I took a bad fall that hurt my back. About 7 years ago I was skiing (winter this time) and I took a very bad fall and between the two things- I can unfortunately end up in extreme pain if my back goes out... so one of the things that I have always been grateful for, has been the suggestion of THIS heating pad by one of my doctors about 12 years ago. I can't say enough good things about it and can't recommend it enough! If you have been around the blog the last decade then I also have to say that this was a huge help while I was extremely sick fighting Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and Cancer (and other things). The heating pads of this brand come in a variety of sizes (I use the medium size while my mom loves the small size).
For after my mom's knee surgery we also purchased the knee version and this was a huge help also. (You can find that HERE). There are tons of options of sizes, but if you are looking for a new heating pad definitely try these out. It definitely is an investment, but worth every single penny. Each one we have owned has lasted for about 5 years - so they last a LONG time! I just checked and on Amazon they are having a MAJOR sale today so definitely check that out!
If you are curious, the brand that I have found to be the best after lots of research is the Carlson's brand (you can find it on Amazon by clicking HERE!.jpg "Top 10 Must Pack Items for a New England and Canadian Cruise")
.jpg "Top 10 Must Pack Items for a New England and Canadian Cruise")
With Caravan Sonnet turning 13 years old this year I love sharing on Fridays some of the older but most popular posts on the blog! One of the things that Caravan Sonnet developed into in the early years was a a resource for those looking for cozy luxury travel around the United States and World.
I am so delighted to start sharing about an upcoming adventure that we are going to have in the second half of the summer and look forward to sharing all of the details!!!
In the meantime, you can check out all of the travel and cruising adventures HERE!
I hope that you have a wonderful Friday friends! Thank you for making this such an incredible space to come to and connect with every single day. I am so blessed!!
Accessorizing in the summer is very different to trying to accessorize in the fall or winter. After all, those are seasons when you need to focus on staying warm and dry. You may even need to have something to keep your hair wrapped up against strong winds too!
But in the summer, you’ve got hot weather, humidity, and a light breeze to contend with. You can’t be wearing accessories that are too heavy, like a beloved watch you’re rarely seen without. That band is a bit too thick, and you’re just going to sweat right through it!
Instead, you need to think about uplifting your outfits in a more easy, breezy way. Indeed, if you can match your accessories to the vibe of the season, you’ll do just fine! As such, here’s a few pointers on the kind of accessories you’ll want to wear over the sunny season.
A Good Set of Shades
And not just because they look good! Your eyes are going to need the protection as well. And seeing as we’re not quite experiencing permanent blue skies and sunshine right now, you’ve still got plenty of time to go shopping for a new sets of suitable sunglasses.
If you don’t really have any shades you like to wear, and you just have glasses you turn to when it’s too sunny and you just need the protection, now is also the time to find your perfect style.Do you like thin rimmed, subtle sunglasses? Or are you more of an oversized shades person, because of the drama and color they tend to bring?
And even if you need to get some prescription sunglasses, you’ll be able to find plenty of different frame types to set the lenses in!
Sparkly Jewelry
They catch the sun a lot better! And with lab grown diamond bracelets perfectly suited to add a bit more bling to your jewelry box during the summertime, you don’t have to break the bank for your glimmer either.
And when you’re wearing a gemstone like a diamond, the focus is on the diamond itself. That usually means the setting it’s put in, as well as the bracelet wrap or the attached chain, are more on the subtle side. That makes them a perfectly light piece to wear at a time like this.
Sandals (that you can walk in!)
They’re no good to you if they just flop off your feet or make you feel like you’re constantly traversing over a shingle beach. You need sandals you can rely on; it just helps if they’re also the kind of cute style that you enjoy too.
When you go shoe shopping, make sure you try the sandals on and do a bit of walking around in them. Don’t just grab the first pair that looks good. Make sure you know how they feel on your feet!
Accessorizing for the summer sun is all about staying cool, so make sure your wardrobe has plenty of options!
*contributed post*
Back in 2013, shortly after I was diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme and Skin Cancer (among a host of other health issues), I spent several weeks out at a Health Clinic as part of my treatment. I had hoped (not understanding or knowing the severity of my illnesses) that it would be the answer for my health issues. While it wasn't, it was a life-saving time (literally) and where I began the journey of being able to walk and eat again.
While I was there I was introduced to several things that I have continued to incorporate to this day, one of them being Cod Liver Oil. When the doctor first mentioned taking it each day I looked at her with skepticism as I thought she must not have tried the "wonderful" taste of it. At the time she laughed and admitted that this was something that she had been recommending her patients do for years, but had only started taking herself recently. I was skeptical until she started sharing all of the health benefits from adding this quick and simple habit into my life.
I will warn you that the Cod Liver Oil truly does not taste good. There are some brands that offer "taste enhancers" but in my opinion nothing truly masks the taste of Cod Liver Oil! I have found that having a small glass of cranberry juice to sip on immediately after is the only thing that truly kills the taste. I would also recommend working up to the amount you will take slowly. This will help with adjusting to the taste and also provide your body the opportunity to get into the habit of taking it regularly.
The brand that I have found to be the best after lots of research is the Carlson's brand (you can find it on Amazon by clicking HERE!
Cod Liver Oil has been used for over a hundred years. There are recorded notes of Cod Liver Oil being given as early as the 1890s to malnourished children and adults with arthritis!
Here are just 13 amazing benefits of Cod Liver Oil:
1. The anti-inflammatory properties of Cod Liver Oil can help reduce some of the swelling that is known to cause arthritis pain.
2. Cod Liver Oil can help those with high cholesterol and heart disease.
3. Cod Liver Oil has been known to help relieve migraine headaches.
4. Cod Liver Oil has been known to fight inflammation.
5. Cod Liver Oil has been known to help regulate the immune system.
6. Some studies have suggested that Cod Liver Oil inhibits cancer cells!
7. Along the same lines as number 6, Dr. Patrick Quillin who holds a PhD, an RD, and a CNS degree and who wrote the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" said: "Fish oil is therapeutic and can slow cancer."
8. Cod Liver Oil has lots of omega-3 fatty acids that are important to the body!
9. Cod Liver Oil contains excellent amounts of EPA and DHA which are important omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Cod Liver Oil contains high levels of Vitamin A.
11. Cod Liver Oil may improve seasonal allergies.
12. Cod Liver Oil helps support healthy eyes.
13. Cod Liver Oil may help depression.
With all of those benefits one small swallow and a little bad taste don't seem that important!
With all of those benefits one small swallow and a little bad taste don't seem that important!
The brand that I have found to be the best after lots of research is the Carlson's brand (you can find it on Amazon by clicking HERE!
I am so curious- do you take Cod Liver Oil? What health benefits do you find from it?
Happy Wednesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week! There are moments in life where a decision feels small on the surface—but quietly carries the weight of something much deeper. As y'all know back at the end of the summer, I had signed up for and planned a trip to Hawaii - and part of that stay was going to be doing a half-marathon. It felt like a stretch goal, something both adventurous and symbolic. But life, as it so often does, shifted. With my mom’s diagnosis, everything changed. Priorities realigned. Travel paused. And the idea of that race quietly slipped away.
But the dream didn’t.
As mom has been healing and with the beautiful news that no more surgery is needed (ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL AND SPEECHLESS) - the opportunity to explore a half marathon was back in the picture. So today, I’m sharing something a little different—something that feels both tender and strong at the same time. I am officially registered for the Lake Placid Marathon and Half Marathon this June.
To walk 13.1 miles in a place known for its quiet strength and history. To walk in a season that, not long ago, would have felt impossible.
Less than a decade ago, as y'all know, I was primarily bedridden due to advanced late-stage Lyme disease. Even the idea of walking a few hundred steps felt overwhelming, let alone thirteen. And yet, here we are—not at the finish line yet, but at the starting line. And that matters.
This race isn’t about pace. It isn’t about performance. It’s about healing.
It’s about honoring the long, unseen work of rebuilding a life—physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s about choosing to do something hard on purpose. And it’s about walking forward, quite literally, in gratitude.
And mom will be there- Cheering. Standing at the finish line. Being exactly what she has always been—my greatest source of strength and inspiration.
There’s something about that detail that changes everything.
If you’ve ever had a dream that had to be set aside, postponed, or reshaped—you understand this kind of moment. The return to it. The quiet decision to try again, even if it looks different than you originally imagined.
This is what “starting over” looks like in real life. Not perfect. Not polished. But intentional.
If you happen to be considering a race this season—or even just looking for something to work toward—I’ll share the exact one I signed up for HERE!!
No pressure. No expectations. Just an open invitation to do something that stretches you in your own way. If you sign up- please let me know! I would love to connect with you!
For me, this is about walking into a new chapter.
One step at a time.
Here's to the Lake Placid Half Marathon- happening in 2 months (from yesterday)!!
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.jpg "the kind of legacy we dream and teach about // artemis ii")
Watch, Like, and Leave a Comment on the Reel HERE!
As a history professor, I spend my days teaching about the people who changed the world… and many are stories of the ones who never got to see the full impact of what they started.
I often talk about legacy in past tense. The ones that risked everything and were heroes... all in the hopes that as I teach my students will study and analyze and be inspired to change the world in which they are living for the better... that they can be heroes for future generations. Many times it is in past tense... but these past 2 weeks a beautiful story came along that we all go to observe and live in the middle of (to the moon and back).
The crew of Artemis II— Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen—(and Rise :)) - thank you. As I and millions around the world watched live feeds, interviews, laughed at the humor, had tears at the beauty, and gathered with loved ones to celebrate your successful return to your loved ones and earth, we had tears. You have done what history has always required of heroes- stepping courageously forward before the outcome was certain and believing that the future of humanity was worth the sacrifices anyway.
And in doing so, you also inspired millions, including my students and myself. In my classroom these past few weeks, history has come alive because of the character of the people you are and the inspiration that you have given. By bringing us along we witnessed the beauty of the world beyond our planet earth, the incredible things we can accomplish as humans if we work together, and the things that are most important in life.
You have taken us to the moon and back and sparked curiosity and wonder and reminded an entire world what it looks like to aim further than possible with great sacrifice and with great character and respect and humility. Your legacy is one that I truly believe will not be forgotten but generations from now will tell the story of four incredible people that showed not only what was possible but what the best of humanity can be. From one history professor- and one of the millions of people you have inspired, thank you.
A huge thank you to NASA, the CSA, and the thousands of other people who also made Artemis ii mission successful. And a most humble thank you to all of the families...how do you say "thank you" for your sacrifice and your courage to encourage your loved ones to go? The world is indebted to you forever.
eighteen ways to make college cheaper / personal finance powerpoint and activity / caravan sonnet classroom
April 13, 2026
Happy Monday friends! I am so excited to share with y'all a newly updated resource in the caravan sonnet classroom at teachers pay teachers! This is a resource for personal finance teachers at the high school or college level.
If you would like to go directly to this resource you can click HERE!
College is one of the largest financial decisions students will make—and most walk into it without a clear strategy for reducing the cost.
This lesson shifts that narrative.
Instead of focusing only on how to pay for college, this resource teaches students how to make college more affordable from the start. Through 18 practical, real-world strategies, students begin to understand that the cost of college is not fixed—and that their decisions before and during college can significantly impact their long-term financial future.
In a landscape where students are often overwhelmed by tuition, loans, and financial aid options , this lesson provides a clear, structured, and empowering approach to lowering college costs before debt becomes the default.
What Students Will Learn:
✔How to actively reduce the cost of college before enrolling
✔The financial impact of everyday decisions (housing, textbooks, course load, etc.)How to think strategically about college as an investment
✔Why small cost-saving choices can lead to long-term financial stability
What’s Included:
✔Editable PowerPoint (10 slides)
Designed to guide instruction while encouraging discussion and real-world connections
✔Student Guided Notes (Word Document)
Keeps students engaged and accountable throughout the lesson
✔Teacher Answer Key for Guided Notes
Supports consistency and saves valuable prep time
✔Matching Reflection Activity
Moves students beyond passive learning into application and evaluation
✔Teacher Answer Key for Reflection Activity
Why This Resource Matters:
Students are often taught about financial aid, loans, and the FAFSA—but rarely are they taught how to minimize the need for those systems in the first place.
This lesson fills that gap.
By focusing on prevention rather than reaction, students begin to:
✔Approach college with a financial plan instead of uncertainty
✔Recognize the long-term impact of borrowing
✔Develop financial literacy skills that extend beyond college
This is the perfect sequel to The Value of a College Degree Resource (available in the shop HERE) and The Cose of a College Education Resource (available in the shop HERE) or it could be used alone!
If you would like to purchase this resource you can find it HERE!
Thank you so much for all of your support of the shop! If you would like to check out the shop you can find it HERE!
Can I ask 2 HUGE favors?
(1)- If you are not already following the shoppe could you please do so? Even if you are not a teacher or don't plan to purchase things the number of followers does influence potential buyers and this would show incredible support! Simply click HERE!
(2)- If you have purchased something would you please take a moment and leave a review? It doesn't have to be long, but reviews are SO helpful to TPT owners like myself! Simply click HERE!
THANK YOU!
This has been an incredible blessing and you are making this possible!! Thank you again friends! Happy Monday!
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