In this week’s coffee date, Carrie welcomes Ingrid Fincher of Healthy Holy MomLife to discuss how homeschooling moms can create healthy, Christ-centered rhythms that nurture their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being in every season of motherhood. Together, Carrie and Ingrid discuss practical ways overwhelmed moms can care for their spiritual, emotional, and physical health without adding more pressure to their already full plates. Ingrid shares realistic self-care for busy homeschooling moms, and how daily and weekly rhythms can help mothers cultivate peace, purpose, and sustainability in their homes. Whether you are feeling exhausted, stretched thin, or simply longing for more balance, this conversation is filled with practical tools and biblical encouragement to help you thrive instead of merely survive.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie and Ingrid for a little coffee and conversation.

Learn more at https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/

Connect with Ingrid on Instagram @healthyholymomlife

Join Healthy Holy Momlife All Access Membership:  https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/p/home 

Listen to Truth Over Trends Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-trends-podcast-biblical-womanhood-faith/id1774374017

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

In this week’s Coffee Break, Carrie sits down with one of her closest friends, Georgina Tanefski—better known in our homeschool community as Señora T.  A bilingual speaker with over ten years of teaching & tutoring experience, Señora T has been teaching Conversational Spanish to homeschoolers through fun, engaging, and inexpensive activities. She has successfully taught her own children and grandchild, along with hundreds of homeschool families across Southern California. In this episode, Carrie and Señora T discuss the many benefits of learning a second language and how to do it naturally—without declensions, conjugations, or endless grammar drills. If you’re looking for a relaxed and effective way to help your children learn Conversational Spanish (or any second language) at home, this episode is for you. Pour yourself a cup of espresso, put your feet up, and join Georgina and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about learning Spanish.

Sign up for Señora T's Conversational Spanish Class (In Pasadena, CA Area):  FitSport Kinetics Accelerator Homeschool Program: https://fitsportkinetics.com/academic-classes/ 

Practice Your Conversational Spanish in Costa Rica!  Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345 

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

It's time to declutter and build a habit of organization.  "Instead of seeing items as objects, see them as magnets for your attention" (James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits).  Let's get rid of (or at least re-organize) those "magnets"!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares some of her secrets how to get (and stay organized) by decluttering not only your space but your mind as well.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and sip, sort, and simplify your home and mind with Carrie this week.

Resources Mentioned in This Week's Episode:

Adjustable Drawer Dividers: https://amzn.to/4u4ylQb

Index Card Holder:  https://amzn.to/4uBBYgn

Clear Plastic Storage Bins for Refrigerator: https://amzn.to/4tqSWgE

Under Bed Storage Bin:  https://amzn.to/4wonylB

Nuuly Clothes Subscription

PaperBack Swap Club

Pango Books: Buy & Sell Books with Other Readers

Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345 

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

The habit of prayer does not and should not be complicated.  As homeschool moms and busy women, it is hard creating a consistent and meaningful prayer life.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie is talking with author, speaker, and her long-time homeschooling friend, Stacey Waller Holford, about her new book, The Prayer Card System.   The Prayer Card System is a simple, structured prayer method Stacey has used for more than 45 years.  What started as a way to remember to pray for people has grown into a system that has carried her through motherhood, business, loss, rebuilding, and many unexpected turns along the way.  You won't believe how simple it is!  Join Carrie and Stacey for a little coffee and conversation about making your prayer life meaningful and simple. 

Order The Prayer Card System https://prayercardsystem.com/pcs-about

Learn More About Stacey and The Prayer System at www.staceywaller.com 

Connect with Stacey on Instagram @stacey_waller.

Check out Stacey's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@staceywaller-author

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

Exciting News!  Coffee with Carrie is going to Costa Rica and we would love for you and your family to join us!  In partnership with WorldStrides, Mike and I have curated an unforgettable 8- day educational adventure through one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet- Costa Rica!  This is an all inclusive trip full of nature hikes, walking tours, explorations, eating, cooking, and more.  Make sure you listen to this week's little coffee break to get the scoop and all the juicy details.  Your middle schooler will fill their nature journals, your high schooler and/or college kid can get high school or college credit, your coffee cup will overflow (literally), and your family will create cherished memories on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.  Join Carrie, her husband, and other homeschooling families in Costa Rica, June 2027!  

Details about the trip: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4345

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

If you need to subdue those fears that you are "messing up your kids," then talk with a 2nd Generation Homeschooler!  In this week's Coffee With Carrie episode, Carrie shares a past conversation she had with Christa Svoboda, a 2nd Generation Homeschool Mom.  Christa was homeschooled through high school and now she and her husband homeschool their own children.  In this episode, Carrie talks with Christa about what it was like to be homeschooled, the many blessings of growing up in a homeschooling family, homeschooling lessons she has learned and applied, and why Christa, like many other homeschool graduates, decided to educate their own at home.  Christa is full of great stories, practical advice, and simple ideas.   You will be inspired, you will be encouraged, and you will be motivated. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your doubts away, and join Carrie and Christa for a little coffee and conversation about homeschooling from the perspective of a 2nd generational homeschooler.  

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

Books take us places (figuratively and literally)!  In this episode of the Coffee With Carrie Homeschool Podcast, Carrie sits down with her daughter Francesca De Francisco to explore the magic of books and how they spark literary wanderlust—both taking us on journeys around the world without ever leaving home and inspiring us to actually travel to the places we read about.  Together they discuss how stories open doors to new places, cultures, and historical moments and give tons of book recommendations to read aloud with your family.  Whether books transport you vicariously or fuel real-life adventures, this conversation offers encouragement and practical inspiration for nurturing a love of reading and exploration in your children and yourself.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, get your suitcase ready, and join Carrie and Francesca for a little coffee and conversation about creating literary wanderlust in your children.

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

Be inspired to home educate (or to keep homeschooling) your child!  If you need even more reasons to home educate or you need a confidence that you are teaching your children well, then listen to this week's conversation with Jennifer Pepito.  Jennifer Pepito is the best selling author of Mothering by the Book, Habits for a Sacred Home, and soon-to-be- released book, The Inspired Homeschool.  Jennifer is also the founder of The Peaceful Press, a homeschool curriculum provider and a homeschool mom of seven!  Join Carrie and Jennifer for a little coffee and conversation that will inspire and encourage you on this homeschool journey.

Pre-Order Jennifer's New Book (and get tons of great FREE Pre-Order goodies): https://amzn.to/3RbmnWA

Order Habits of Sacred Home and Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito

Check out gentle homeschool curriculum at Peaceful Press.

Listen to Jennifer's Podcast, Restoration Home or join her Restoration Home Community.

Connect with Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferpepito

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

You CAN teach your child to read without being a reading specialist or having a teaching credential.  For most children, learning to read is a natural and relatively easy process.  Homeschool moms do not need to overcomplicate the process or feel inadequate or underqualified.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie talks with Melanie Jeffery, the host of the top 3% globally ranked podcast, Phonics Rules for Kids, about how to simply (and inexpensively) teach your K-3rd grade child how to read.  This episode is full of practical strategies and research-based advice to help your child become a reader.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Melanie and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about being your child's best and favorite reading teacher.  

Make sure you listen to previous episode about helping your struggling speller.

Melanie's Website: https://wwww.phonicsrulesforkids.com

Phonics Rules for Kids Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/phonics-rules-for-kids-best-homeschool-kindergarten/id1771772664

FB Group 'Phonics for Kids': https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FwGFUmY8B/

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

"Help! My child is an awful speller?  Why and what can I do?"  Even good readers can be bad spellers.  There's a scientific reason for this.  If you have a child or teen who reads well, has a great vocabulary, but misspells just about everything, then make sure you listen to this episode.  If your child struggles with spelling and/or has dysgraphia or dyslexia, then you will love the suggestions in this week's episode.  Carrie shares why learning to spell is harder than learning to read as well tips, tricks, and curricula recommendations to help your bad spellers become better spellers.  You might want a notebook and pen for this episode.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie for this week's little coffee break.

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.