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Due to personal reasons, for spring, we've been on an Independent Study Program for my older son through our public school district.

Signing up was easy, since all of his grades have been recorded under the same district, there were no obstacles there for us. Schools do have deadlines to fill an application by a certain date throughout the year for Independent Study Programs so make sure you don't miss any of them. We attended an orientation weeks in advance and then picked up a Chromebook that's designated by the school to complete school work. The school does not provide headphones, but here are some headphones online that you can pick from with a mic for school meetings with their teacher. This is great to have in case your family is traveling or the home has some distractions from noise.

As implied, your kid independently studies from wherever they are. You can study at night, early mornings and set your own schedule, but you should aim for 3 hours a day and make sure you complete all of the assignments. That is their rule. If the grades are not up to par, they will not let you continue the program.

Unlike homeschool, assignments and week-by-week deadlines are set according to district standards for the Independent Study Program. So, when your child is ready to return to a regular classroom setting, nothing is missed and the report cards are up to date in their database. My child still has to go to the school in person to complete all district tests that happen every few months so they do have to come in-person for those and that is mandatory. This makes sense and we're all happy with it in this household.

Now, that we're on Month 4 of Independent Study, I can see that my child is starting to miss social interactions with kids who are the same age; like when he used to sit with 20 other students in the same grade in a regular classroom setting. On Fridays, at his Independent Study school, he does get an opportunity to see kids from his Independent Study school for a few hours, but they all range from kindergarten through 8th grade. He is one of the bigger kids and although he enjoys all of the activities that he gets to participate on Fridays, he does miss a couple of older friends from his old school. However, thus far, this Independent Study Program have been great.

We're grateful for this Independent Study Program. It has helped our family tremendously as our kid was going through some things, but now my child is ready to go back to the classroom this fall. We're going to finish Independent Study for the next 5 weeks until the last day of school and then gear up for getting back to a more standard routine for the new school year.

Pros of Independent Study

There are many pros for your kid if it is too tough for them in a traditional school setting. However, to thrive and be successful at an Independent Study Program, the child should be academically independent, great at figuring out answers to questions on their own, and responsible, with support from home; like creating a space for the child to succeed in a quiet or comfortable area.

Going from a traditional classroom for 5 years and then transitioning into an Independent Study Program, has been like a reset for my child and a good alternative way to have your child complete their district school commitments, but without the stress of bullies, distractions, and a rigid schedule. Besides for mandatory district testing schedules, weekly meetings with his teacher, PE every morning as a class on Google Meet, his school work can be completed at any time. This has been amazing!

Cons of Independent Study

[This is still in progress... as the school year has not end yet]

For the Home

• Home School Sweatshirts for Moms
• Science Kits

I bought this Wool Felting Kit to make a unicorn at Dollar Tree for $1.25 and although I had never made a wool felt item before, I thought it was really fun and worth it.

From start to finish, it took about an hour and a half to complete it but it was therapeutic and relaxing to make. I really enjoyed the process and it had instructions, all the wool colors and even the needle and foam pad to make it.

I ended up even having some felting wool leftover! Be careful though, I did stab my finger by accident so I ended up having to put a band-aid on. See my video from start to finish of making this unicorn using the Crafter's Square Wool Felting Kit that I bought from Dollar Tree.

Unicorn Craft Supplies

• Craft Kits for Making a Unicorn


• Sewing Kits for Unicorn Projects

The unicorn that took me about an hour and a half to make is a beauty! It can stand on its own. I'm not sure if Dollar Tree always has this kit available but for $1.25, it's a steal, and I can't wait to find my new project there. Find other unicorn craft kit ideas.

Find "SLAM Diego" Padres merch!

On April 9, 2026, the Padres beat the Rockies with 7-3 in the 12th inning with a Walk Off Grand Slam Victory. This is rare in the history of MLB! I was there at that game in Gallagher's Square and it was a great celebration for those who stayed til the end like me! See video of energy at the end of the 12th inning.

That night, I also got a free Machado bobble head by being the first 40,000 to attend the game. They also release the New City Connect design for the Padres merchandise.

• Padres City Style Merch


• Padres Jerseys from Different Styles


• Padres Bobbleheads

There is a nice list of coworking options in San Luis Obispo County. Coworking is where you share a large space with other people but they are not your coworkers from the same company as you. Some of these coworking spaces even have a private desk option with walls and your own door for a higher fee.

There are a total of 8 locations that I've found, including the following areas: San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles.

Organization-run Coworking Spaces in San Luis Obispo County

• Hot House in Downtown San Luis Obispo is on the Cal Poly campus and you don't have to have Cal Poly ties to get a desk here. It is pricier among the bunch. A designated work desk is $325 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://cie.calpoly.edu/coworking/

• Connect SLO is the newest of the bunch and offers office space for rental. They offer coworking spaces to their residents.So if you're looking for a living situation plus a coworking space, this is a unique option.
  Website: https://www.connectslo.com/coworkingofficespaces

• Storylabs in Atascadero is interesting because it used to be in San Luis Obispo but they moved! A dedicated desk is $300 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://www.storylabs.work

• The Launchpad in Grover Beach is 1 block from the ocean. I've been told by another mom that if you are a member of the South County Chamber of Commerce, you may get some discounts for The Launchpad. Their monthly fee is not publicly disclosed on their website.
  Website: https://thelaunchpadsouthcountychambers.com

• 5 Cities Cowork in Arroyo Grande is the most affordable of the bunch at $150 a month for a designated work desk! They don't have the fancy amenities but it's great place if you're only popping in a few times a week and need a quiet space to work. They also have a meeting room, It's close to Wal Mart and Panera Bread, plus other shopping and restaurants and located off the 101 HWY!
  Website: https://www.fivecitiescowork.com

• Bridgeworks Coworking in Atascadero is run by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. A dedicated work desk is $300 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://www.atascaderochamber.org/bridgeworks-coworking/

• Bloom Cowork in Atascadero has a big faith mission in their space, which can be very appealing. They don't publicly publish the prices on their website.
  Website: https://www.bloomcowork.org/events

• THE SANDBOX in Paso Robles has a bonus where they have an enclosed small space that you can rent by the hour at an affordable rate for calls. You can also rent a dedicated office space at a monthly rate or just drop in for a coworking space that is not designated.
  Website: https://thesandboxpaso.com/work-at-the-sandbox/day-passes/

[This blog entry is under progress. Please contact me for questions.]

Cowork or Remotely Work at Libraries for Free!

Always free, you can visit a local library and use their free wifi and seating area to work on your computer. I even suggested this on a thread and got some agreement. A few libraries in my area even have couches. I've seen people work at libraries around here before, although you should be very, very quiet, compared to a organization-run coworking space. However, if you're on a budget, utilizing the free public library to work are great options. We have some fantastic libraries around the area and you can even borrow a book with your library card when you have time afterwards! I have a list of story times for kids but you can totally use this list to locate a library. See the library list of San Luis Obispo County libraries here to explore possible areas to work remotely from for free. I highly suggest the Downtown San Luis Obispo location or the Paso Robles Library if you're looking for bigger libraries.

You can also remotely work at coffee shops in the area if you're looking for some mean coffee and vibrant spaces to also scope out different areas. Here's a list of coffee shops that I've remotely work from in San Luis Obispo County.

From being a sole proprietor for many years, I've finally learned how to start an LLC to keep my personal and work concerns separate. This is the beginning of many new blog entries about beginning a micro business in San Luis Obispo County. I can't give any legal advice as I am not a lawyer, but I can share a bit of the hurdles and know-how. Feel free to contact me via my Contact Form for any questions.

Remote Work Supplies:

Most of my work is independent work where I'm just hashing out projects from my computer and communicating with my teammates via email and chat so working remotely from coffee shops requires me to continually upkeep my office supplies. Here are the supplies I usually bring with me, when I'm remotely working outside of the home:

• Noise Canceling Headphones with Microphone - I've had web meetings from a coffee shop before. My noise cancelling headset makes such a big difference and really helps keep my work life professional, as well as keep distractions to a minimum since it could get noisy in a coffee shop.
• Extension Cord - I'd also bring my extension cord in case the closest outlet from where I'm sitting at is more than a couple of feet away. Usually a 3 foot extension cord is enough to give me the right reach without the unnecessary clunkiness that a 10 foot extension cord has.
• Notebook Paper and Pens - When needed, the old fashion note taking can be a life saver. Getting a pretty notebook and pen set or themed set really sets a good mood for me when I see them at my desk.

A few years ago, I took a friend to enjoy a ReSiprocal experience for the first time and thought it was a such a great incentive to be a member of a winery that is Sip-Certified. It's a sustainability badge for wineries to show that they care about the environment with ethical methods.

Living on the Central Coast and taking advantage of this in February is something I've found to be more valuable with each passing year. I look forward to this at the beginning of the year now and have even bugged my wine membership team about it for a copy of an email or postcard to show as my ticket!

This year, for the first week of February, I enjoyed the ReSiprocal perk with my husband. The ReSiprocal program wonderfully offers two complimentary tastings at each winery that is a participant of the program. For the first weekend of February, we decided to go to Stephen Ross Wine Cellars at their new location in Edna Valley and Chamisal Vineyards. These two wineries are located only 5 minutes drive from each other.

Stephen Ross Wine Cellars

The first time we tasted a Stephen Ross wine was at their former location, but they have moved for 2026! At a temporary space located at address: 2585 Biddle Ranch Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, we walked upstairs to enjoy a view of the hills of Edna Valley and an intimate tasting experience poured by Maureen. We didn't have a reservation. However, there were no customers there when we showed up so they took us in enthusiastically. I'm not sure if it's required but it's probably best to call them ahead, in case there are particularly busy hours. They also have a reservation system online on their website if you're tech-savvy with that. Also, remember to have your email or postcard that you received about a ReSiprocal invite from your club membership. This particular wine tasting room asked for it to ensure that we could enjoy the complimentary tastings perk. To begin our tasting flight, Maureen poured a couple of white wines and then, continued on to their reds. I particularly enjoyed the albariño.

The wind was quite strong that day and it shut the door with a slam a couple of times. That surely woke us up, but we can't complain. It's been quite a nice and warmer February this year. To see a reel of my visit here at Stephen Ross Wine Cellars, go to this instagram link. We bought a bottle to take home as a memento and then continued on to our next wine tasting adventure.

Chamisal Vineyards

Chamisal Vineyards has always been one of my top places to visit for wine tasting. I've been here twice before during ReSiprocal month so it's becoming tradition for me to visit here every February. Chamisal Vineyards has a large and spacious patio area that feels very relaxing.

I had bought lunch to-go earlier from a Mexican restaurant called Burrito Loco in Arroyo Grande and decided to bring it in with me to enjoy with their wine. The team and our wine attendant, Matthew, were very cool with me eating my lunch that I brought. My chicken taco, beans and rices paired well with the wine.

It got a little chilly from the strong winds and again, the team was very accommodating with allowing us to move inside their cozy tasting room. See a video reel of my visit here at Chamisal Vineyards while I was out in the patio via this instagram reel. When we sat inside, we were surprised to see a wall full of souvenirs and gift shop merchandise. It's a great place to find different souvenirs for those who are visiting from outside the area.

The address of Chamisal Vineyards is 7525 Orcutt Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. We also bought a bottle of wine here from Chamisal Vineyards as a memento. Then, we climbed in our car to head back to the beach suburbs. To my surprise, I got an email copy of our receipt immediately after closing our tab. Since I have been to Chamisal Vineyards before, there is a profile of me with my contact information in their POS records. We didn't have a reservation for our ReSiprocal tastings, but when we showed up in the tasting room, they took my first and last name and probably found my profile right away! Oh, that's slick!

For week 1 of February, we were able to take advantage of complimentary tastings for two different wine tasting rooms through our ReSiprocal program because we are wine club members of Tolosa Winery. We're not sure if we'll have time to visit a few more before the month ends.

Tolosa Winery

During the third week of February, we made one last wine tasting visit for the month and went to Tolosa Winery, the Sip-Certified winery that we've been members for years, which has continually given us the privilege to visit other wine tasting rooms for Resiprocal month.

This particular visit was extraordinary as it came with food. Tolosa Winery partnered up with Sichuan Kitchen for this, which I thought was great! To be brief, my "bento" included ginger chicken, black sesame shortbread cookies and a kale salad! With a great view, high quality wine, themed food, and nice company with my husband, it was a nice Friday to end the work week. Go to my 'Wineries' category for more stories about Tolosa Winery.

To see an entire list of wineries who are participating in the ReSiprocal February 2026 program, go to the Sip-Certified link here.

I've visited over 50 wine tasting rooms all over San Luis Obispo County. See my reviews and pictures that I took of my top 10 favorites wineries in a dedicated blog post.

Wine Connoisseur Supplies:

• Personalized or Engraved Wine Bottle Opener


• Picnicking Backpack for Outdoors with Wine Cups


• Bottle Cooler for Wine