Go Science Review

Vendor: Library and Educational Services

Product: Go Science DVDs

Price: $8.97 per DVD

Age Range: 4-12 years old

Library and Educational Services is a small family business that has been around for 37 years. They are a wholesale distributor but they consider homeschool the same as a school.  They also offer the same prices to homeschools as they do brick and mortar schools.  All of their products are from the Christian stand point and science is evolution-free. There are a total of seven DVDs in the series. The DVDs that I had a chance to review were the Volume 5: States of Matter, Water and the Volume 2: Life Science, Weather, Light , Space.

The kids and I love science and everything about it.  Sometimes it is hard for me to come up with things to talk to them about though, or the just plain get tired of hearing me.  We love videos as well and this was a blast to get to review.  These videos are experiments done by Ben Roy. The videos are about 55 minutes long with each experiment lasting 3-10 minutes. 

Our first go around we watched the movies all the way through.  They were bit exciting to the kids but they lost interest quickly. Since there is no supply list or a break down of the experiments we couldn't have everything readily available to do them along with the movie.  We ended up watching them again doing each segment separately and talking about them.  There were some that we were able to watch a few times and do them at home.  Some though were fun to watch as they required things we wouldn't be able to use or obtain.

The movie is a bit outdated but they are cheap and do make a good little addition to your current curriculum.  I would suggest these would be good for a mama sick day.  Like a day when you need to sit back and let the kids do some video learning.  Also they kids seemed distracted by the kids in the videos.  They liked that they were helping but they did not seem to pay attention when the kids talked.

We did though overall enjoy them.  The kids ended up making butter.  This one was found on the volume 5 video.  Last year we did the experiment with the Oobleck so we just talked about it.

Here is our butter.  The kids loved making it and they loved how it tasted.  I wouldn't normally look upon eating butter by itself but the kids were scooping it out with their fingers.  I couldn't help myself but be overjoyed at seeing them be so happy about making something for themselves that is generally a bought item. This was by far the best video out of the two.  It had more things we could do or have done in the past.

Volume 5 contains some of following experiments: Ice Cream, Oobleck, Ice Block Melt, Run Through Corn Starch and Water, Making Butter, and Burning Water.  There are others but these were our favorites.
Volume 2 contains some of the following experiments: Flashlight-Animal Eyes, Bobby Pins, Naked Eggs, Fire Tornado, and Cloud in a Bottle were our favorites for this one.  Once again there are others on the video.
Be sure to check them out:
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/libraryanded \

Giveaway from Diana Waring

As you know by now I am reviewing some history curriculum from Diana Waring. I will tell you know it has been a blast and the kids are loving it. I will be posting my review for that in the next week. 

I am please to say though that along with the previous giveaway she is holding, Diana and Friends Experience History, I am holding a single one of my own. 

This giveaway is for Encouragement for the Homeschool Moms. It comes with the following titles; Beyond Survival, Wings, Box Free Living, Roots, Roots and Wings Q & A, and Once Upon a Time.

Giveaway ends July 5th so please enter and win some awesome books.  As a homeschooling mother we all need some encouragement from time to time.  It is a tough job but we do it for the best of children.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Influenster Vow Vox Box Review

I am always happy to try out new things.  Influenster sent me this wonderful Vow Vox Box for those that have a soon coming wedding.

The Pure Silk Shave Cream is wonderfully scented.  My version was Raspberry Mist.  It was not overwhelming but pleasant.  It is smooth and it did not give me razor burn or leave my legs dried out.

The Sally Hansen Complete Spa Manicure blue polish was great.  It did take much longer to dry and I had to redo a couple nails thinking the were ready.  Once they do finally dry they do seem to be holding up well compared to other brands.

The Tide To Go Pen is something new for me to try.  It does seem to work a bit when you get it on a fresh spill but if it dries any on your clothing it does not work at all.  The pen is not very moist so I think that it uses the spills moisture to help activate it. 

Riley & Grey is a place that you can make a website for your wedding.  It is nice professional looking and easy to use.  Everything is right at your fingertips to create your own great site to publish your wedding on.

EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge is a hard little sponge until you get it wet.  It does soften up some and makes a great sponge to get ride of build up from makeup or oil.  I really enjoyed this the best.  It made my fresh feel fresh with out having to use any type of chemical.

Be sure to check some of these out for yourself.

Kids in the Kitchen

Sometimes you just have to let loose of the ropes and let your kids fail at something in order for them to learn. 

Lastnight they sat with their cook book picking out what they wanted to make for breakfast this morning. I let them at the kitchen to their own. This is hard for me so I went out and mowed the lawn while they mixed it all up. I know otherwise I would micromanage everything they did. They finished up and we baked them and they were a clear flop.

I was very happy to see that first thing they did was sit down with the recipe and see what they did wrong. They forgot the butter!

It's times like these where we want to help make them perfect for them but in reality we need to step back and let them make the mistakes so they learn next time. I know now that they will double check before they finish mixing up something. 

Do you let your kids cook alone?

Diana and Friends Experience History Through Music Giveaway -- $700+ Value!

Diana and Friends Experience History Through Music Giveaway -- $700+ Value! I am taking part in the launch of the upcoming release of Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring. Come back at the end of the month and check out my review on it.  My kids are enjoying the fun music to dance and sing too while we learn about history.  I have also gotten to chat with Diana and learn some pretty interesting stories from her. If your kids like music the will want to be back to check out the review on this and maybe you will win the giveaway.



To celebrate the release of Experience History Through Music, I am joining members of the Diana Waring Launch Team for an amazing giveaway. Friends of Diana have joined in and as you can see, someone's homeschool is going to be greatly blessed!  Here's what you could win! 

From Diana Waring Presents

Experience History Through Music - set of 3 books with CDs ($50/set) Diana Waring Presents is about to bring back into print the BEST folk music you have ever heard, combined with the fascinating stories they represent in American history!   The Experience Music Through Historyseries includes: America - Heart of a New Nation, Westward Ho! - Heart of the Old West  and Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The musicians are amazing, every instrument is real, lots of great vocalists, and more toe-tapping music than you can imagine! The books tell the stories behind the songs.  Together, they bring American history to life through it's music!!With fascinating history books and toe-tapping folk music CDs, American history has NEVER been this fun!


Encouragement for Homeschool Moms Collection ($25) Every mom needs that word of encouragement from someone who has been there, who has grownup children and can speak with assurance about the journey. Homeschool moms have an extra portion of the journey to navigate, and often wish for an extra voice that will offer direction but without nagging or prodding. Diana Waring has that voice.  

From A Journey Through Learning

$50 Gift Certificate $50 to spend in the A Journey Through Learning store, applicable toward any digital download purchase.  

 

From Homeschool Legacy

Westward Ho! Part I ($19.95) Load up your wagon! Discover the extraordinary times of adventurous frontiersmen and brave pioneers as you travel cross-country along the Erie Canal,  Oregon Trail, and even “remember the Alamo” in Westward Ho Part I. Westward Ho! Part II ($19.95) Continue the exciting saga begun in Westward Ho! Part I as you journey with the forty-niners, ride the rails of the Transcontinental Railroad, experience life on the prairie, and discover the exciting era of cowboys and cattle drives in Westward Ho! Part II.  

From Knowledge Quest Maps

Map Trek: Atlas and Outline Maps of World History ($55) Map Trek is a historical atlas plus outline maps that allow you to teach geography alongside history. This is a resource that any homeschool parent can use with brilliant success, even if you don't remember a thing from your history or geography classes in public school.  

 

From Home School Adventure Co. 

Philosophy Adventure™ Digital Download ($39.95) Philosophy Adventure™ is designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas.  

 

From Heidi St. John (The Busy Mom and Real Life Press)

Firmly Planted Family Devotional Digital Volume 3 ($39) The Firmly Planted Family Series is divided into ten-week studies and is your key to making sense of the Bible—even if you’re learning right along with your children. Each lesson provides a core idea, a simple narrative, memory verses and discussion questions for children of all ages. And the companion student workbook is filled with age-appropriate, full-color, reproducible activities for children of any age!  

From Raising Real Men

Free Registration to Boyhood Boot Camp or Boot Camp 9-12 LIVE webinar series (winner's choice) plus Mom & Dad Special Raising Real Men (Book for Mom to read in the bathroom + AudioBook for Dad to listen to on the commute) ($62-69) Free Registration for Marriage Retreat Online plus His & Hers Special of My Beloved and My Friend: How To Be Married To Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses (book + audiobook), ($65)  

 

From Institute for Excellence in Writing

$50 Gift Certificate $50 to spend in the IEW store, applicable toward any purchase.  

From The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

SchoolhouseTeachers.com ($139) A one year membership to the curriculum arm of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Nearly 100 classes for Pre-K to High School, taught by expert teachers, and lots of extras including the Schoolhouse Planners, Schoolhouse Expos, monthly free ebook downloads and more.  The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 2014 Print Book ($15) Be encouraged, enlightened, and educated with the all new 2014 Annual Print Book published by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.You’ll get a year’s worth of homeschool support in almost 300 pages in this full color one-of-a-kind print magazine for homeschoolers, by homeschoolers. This is a magazine you’ll refer to again and again.  

From Writing with Sharon Watson

The Power in Your Hands ($53.96) With The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, they’ll learn what they need to know for high school and will be prepared for college writing. Writing Fiction [in High School] ($35) Are you raising the next C. S. Lewis or Jane Austen? Help your students develop their fiction-writing talents with Writing Fiction [In High School]: Bringing Your Stories to Life .

 To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older only. Other Terms and Conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tasty Thursday

Ok I know tasty is supposed to be on Tuesday but I couldn't wait to share my treats!

I made some wonderful homemade salsa! Kid approved I might add!

1 yellow bell pepper

2 green bell peppers

1 banana pepper

2 large tomatoes

1/2 an onion

1-2 teaspoons of salt (pretty much to your liking really)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ( u can use fresh but I didn't have any)

Couple shakes of pepper

You can also add a jalepeno and I do this for the adult version but the kids generally are not a fan.

Blend it all in a food chopper. Tastes better if you chill for awhile to let the flavors blend together.

Next I made some guacamole. I tried some a couple nights ago, it was ok but could have been better. So today I made it again and changed it up instead of following all the other recipes out there.

2-3 large avocados. (I used 2 and 1/2 because that's what I had left but it wouldn't hurt to use 3 full ones)

1 small lime

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Couple shakes of salt and pepper

Then 3 tablespoons of my homemade salsa ( you could just use some tomatoe instead or bought salsa)

Blend in food chopper and squirt like juice into the mix and blend until smooth.

Hope you enjoy!

What's that Wednesday?

So I always get the question of what is for dinner. It seems to be a Facebook game of sorts to get ideas or give ideas I think. However when I say corn cakes people are like what?!

I seriously can not be the only person to know what these are. It was something we always has growing up. I am sure my family didn't invent them or anything but we sure ate them a lot. It was a nice change of pace from a pancake and went well with anything we had for dinner. They are very filling so I am sure back in the poorer days that's why we had them a lot.

You know those foods that always bring back memories from your childhood? Corn cakes make me remember grabbing them and running outside blowing it so I could chomp it down and keep playing. 

So today I share with you how to make them. I dare you to splurge a little on the healthy eating and try a wonderful southern side.

2 cups cornmeal

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup of water (more or less depending on consistency)

Mix all the ingredients, should be a little thickish, soupy like pancake batter. Then fry in a little oil (coconut oil works too) until golden on each side.

You can also add a but of honey if you like a sweater flavor. I make my cornbread sweet do corn cakes are good sweeter too.

Farm Life

So we are spending some time out in the country at my parents little farm. The kids are having a blast learning and exploring the world around us. They started out by milking the cow.

They then found that the horse water tank, that isn't in use, was full of tadpoles. They quickly reminded me of the life cycle of a frog. 

It has been raining everyday since we have been here as well. So of course there are mud puddles all over. They went from splashing around to learning that those puddles were habitats.

They also found baby bullfrogs and have caught a ton.

There is so much to explore in the country.

Recaro Preformance Ride Giveaway

Giveaways don't get much better than th

Welcome to the "RECARO Performance Ride Giveaway Event" sponsored by Mommy's Favorite Things. This event is from 6/9-6/23. 

RECARO has a wonderful convertible seat, the Performance Ride. Rear facing from 5-40 pounds and forward facing from 20-65 pounds means this seat will last for most of your child's car seat needs. 

RECARO has over 100 years of history designing seats for the world's most prestigious automobiles, airlines, and race cars. RECARO is German engineered, and an international leader in seating safety, design, comfort and style. RECARO is the pioneer of child seat side impact technology, going beyond any side impact requirements as tested with the ADAC European standard. For your peace of mind - every seat is built with RECARO's superior side impact protection technology.

You can check out the review of the Performance Ride on Mommy's Favorite Things here. 

One winner will get the chance to win a Performance Ride in the Marine color shown above!!

You can also connect with RECARO on Facebook and Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mommy's Favorite Things and the participating bloggers are not responsible for a sponsor who does not fulfill a prize. 

Live Learning

Doesn't get much better than this!

Kinder Cottage Publishing Review

Vendor: Kinder Cottage Publishing Products: Peter Rabbit and Jack the Jumper

How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea

Price: $4 each Age: 3-9 years old

I don't know about in your home, but in my home we jump for joy when we get a new book.  Kinder Cottage Publishing allowed me to review two books of theirs; Peter Rabbit and Jack the Jumper and How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea.  These are hardback books that are 5x7 in size, perfect for little hands.  Both are 64 pages in length and have colorful illustrations that are similar in style to the original versus of Peter Rabbit. The pages are set up to having the reading on the left side and the picture on the right side of the book.

I remember reading Peter Rabbit when I was a kid.  His silly little antics always kept me wanting to read more. These books always tell an adventure that is takes and might I add ones he shouldn't take.

How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea is a story about Peter Rabbit getting in trouble for forgetting the cabbage and leaving his family to have no food.  His mama spanks his butt which brings him to run off and start his adventure.  His siblings and him make some popcorn and then Peter decides to play in the brook even though his mother told him not to.  So the book goes on to tell about his adventure at "sea" till he returns home and goes to bed.  It was a very good book and the kids loved it.  They were sad that he got a spanking though, we do really spank in our home so it was a bit new to them.  They were not sure why he got a spanking with paddle either versus a hand and they insisted it could have really hurt him.  So I suggest if you do not believe in spanking or want to introduce the topic to your children you skip this one in the set or pass the page on by.  It is a pretty good story otherwise.  

As you can see it does look a little scary and maybe if you plan on reading this to younger children.  My kids are 9, 8, and 5 and I was able to explain to them in a way they didn't freak out.

Peter Rabbit and Jack the Jumper is about Jack the Jumper coming to get Peter the Rabbit and go to McGregor's cabbage patch while his mom was away.  Peter was to stay in the yard, but of course we knew he wouldn't because that is not what Peter does. This continues on to his adventures going out of his yard, I won't spoil the details.  This book had lots more to read than the other one as well.

Overall these were great little books.  This is 2 books out of a set of 10. They make great bed time stories which is what we used them for.  We did end up using it as a little lesson too talking about why we should listen to our parents and that anything could happen when you disobey.  This books are a funny little gentle way to teach kids that.  We are not all perfect and we will make mistakes.  It is better to know what could happen if you choose not to mind so it's best to learn about it and be able to make the right choice.

Be sure to check out the other reviews and learn about the other books in this series to decide if you would like the collection for your home.  Once again they are only $4 a book or you can get the whole set for $30.  Also you can enter code TOS and receive a 20% discount, which makes it even that much better of a deal! These would make a great little set to have in your school room for the kids to read or even as a gift for an upcoming birthday for your little reader.  I can't convince you anymore by myself to get these books, we will be getting the rest of the set, so check out my fellow crew members reviews down below.

Progeny Press Review

Vendor: Progeny Press Product: Frog and Toad Together Age: Grades K-3 Price: $11.99 E-Guide Progeny Press gave me the chance to review some work with one of my all time favorite books, Frog and Toad Together by Arthur Lobel.  This was an e-study guide for the book. This company is also a husband and wife combo who thought that some of the old classic books should be used again and in a Christian way.  
This study guide consists of 34 pages and was written by a Leslie Clark. The first portion of it in basically the instructions on how to use the study guide with your child.  Next it has an overview about what the book is about.  Then there is a section that tells about the author of the book. Next you have the "before you read" section that asks things about your (the child doing the work) friend and what makes them a good friend.  It also shows what God's says about it too.  Then we go on having a section for each of the five chapters of the book.  Each sections has some questions over the chapter and a Bible versus to read that goes along with the topic of the chapter. There is also a project for each chapter, from planting seeds to cooking and crafts.  Following that you will have a diagram and a word search.  The added bonus of other reading books to look into and finally the answer key.
Since my kids are all elementary but range from kindergarten to fourth grade and are at various levels in learning I read the book to them.  We just moved to a new area that is very homeschool friendly and we are joining in activities and the kids are making new friends.  This book went along great with us starting new friendships and how we should pick them and act.  So  I read the entire book to them and then we went to the study guide.  Once again since we were all doing it together we did the questions out loud as a family type discussion.  This worked out well because I had the questions to ask and I have two that can't spell so they do not write much yet.  However I think we can later revisit this and I can have each one of them put their answers down when they are able to write better.  That is one perk of having the e-guide because you can use it and copy it for any of your children.  
We also really enjoyed the Bible versus and I thought it was great because it was helping us learn God's word without being strictly a Bible curriculum.  The kids get bored of constant scripture that they have a hard time understanding.  This made it easier because it was based with something that was at their age level and things they are facing in life currently.  I will be using more of Progeny Press in the future of other classic books for the kids.

Be sure to check them out on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/progenypress

Twitter – https://twitter.com/progenypress

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/progenypress/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/ProgenyPress