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The movie is a bit outdated but they are cheap and do make a good little addition to your current curriculum.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.

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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.

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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.