Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes by Younique ~ REVIEW

I love my eyes.

There, I said it. I am glad God gave me blue eyes.

Now, my eyebrows are another story LOL. I have not plucked them in over a week because I'm preparing for my brow wax, so cut me some slack on the pics. Don't judge my temporary bushy brows.

On to the highlight of this review. Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes by Younique.

The 3D Fiberlash Mascara is just a simple three-step process that combines Transplanting Gel and Natural Fibers to help create the appearance of incredible thickness and volume to your existing lashes. They are NOT false lashes. They are your own! The fibers are natural…made from Green Tea Leaves, hypoallergenic and safe for contact lens wearers.

 Here is a pic of my eyes through the application process....

You can see in the first pic that I don't have barely any lashes.  Well, they are there, just very light.  I am definitely in need of some mascara.  The pic that shows me wearing my own mascara is what I look like almost every day.  I wear eye shadow and/or liner occasionally.  This mascara is the same brand I have been using for about 15 years.  The company is well known and I use all of their makeup and skin care products.

Since I was given this product to try in exchange for my honest opinion and review, then that's what I'll give you.  Here are my 2 cents.

• The fibers are black and that is what I prefer.  I have tried brown mascara before and it does nothing for me.  However, I have friends and family who will only use brown.  Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes do not come in brown.  This is something Younique may want to consider.
• The two step process comes in a cool case and includes a full color pamphlet with information about the product, easy to follow steps, and tips for a better application.  The case made me feel fancy.
• I wear contact lenses some of the time and when I tried an application with my lenses in I did not experience any discomfort or irritation.
• For my every day look, I honestly prefer my own mascara alone.  I found the Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes to be too thick and heavy feeling for my personal taste.  But, if I were going out or dressing up and wanted a more glamorous look then this product would definitely turn up my glam a notch.
• By mid-day, I would start to experience clumping and flaking.  The first time I thought it was because I hadn't put on enough of the Transplanting Gel after applying the Fibers.  But, I experienced the same thing after another application where I was much more liberal with the Transplanting Gel.  Here is a pic of me about 6 hours after applying and taking the pic in the above triple photo.  You can see that my lashes were clumping up and needed to be combed and some of it had flaked off and started smudging under my eyes.  This is not a look I like and, for me, that was the deal breaker.
  
  
• I am told this product will last up to 3 months.  This may vary some depending on how often it is used. Three months is the typical life span of any mascara, so this is comparable. 
• This product retails for $29, plus tax and shipping.  When I put one into the cart on the website, it showed shipping to be $5.50 in the US.  So, expect to pay at least $34.50 for this.  Personally, I think that is pretty expensive for a lash enhancer.  This is not something I would purchase for myself considering my budget.
• This product would be excellent for anyone in the performance industry, like dancers or actors.  This will definitely give you the effect needed to get your eyes to pop from stage!
• One of my favorite aspects of any respectable company...a great guarantee.  So, you can try it and love it, or try it and get your money back.  Check out their Guarantee Details Here.
  
  
  Overall, this is a good product.  It is innovative and Younique!  It's just not my style.  Maybe it is yours.  I encourage you to check it out.  Click away to get more information or order your Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes....

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Read more reviews from my Home & School Mosaics peeps by clicking HERE.

Hello Fresh ~ Review & Coupon Code

Well, Helloooooo!

When I was asked to do this review for Hello Fresh, it took me days to get the image and sound of Mrs. Doubtfire out of my head.  Well, Helloooooo!

Yes, indeed!  Hello Fresh!  Welcome to my home!

Hello Fresh is a company that provides fresh, delicious, complete meals right to your door for you to cook yourself.  Here's how it goes...

Yes, it is that simple.  Each week, you select which meals your would like to prepare.  You could choose the Classic Box, which includes meat and/or fish.  Or, you can choose the Veggie Box.  You can order the 3 for either 2 or 4 people.

I ordered the Classic Box of 3 meals for 2 people.  I was offered 5 meals in which to choose my three.  I chose:

• Sauteed Chicken with Garlic Parsnips and Carrots
• Classic Beef Stew with Chickpeas and Green Beans
• Yogurt Marinated Shrimp over Arugala Salad

Now, before I get into the yumminess of the food, let me chat about the company a bit more.   It is a treasure these days to find a company that delivers not only an excellent product, but excellent customer service.  After I placed my order, a representative from Hello Fresh sent me an e-mail thanking me.  A couple of days before my order was to arrive, a representative from Hello Fresh called me at my home to let me know it was on the way and to welcome me to the Hello Fresh family.  She didn't need to do that....I had already gotten an e-mail from them with the tracking number.  I appreciated the personal touch.

Hello Fresh sources their ingredients weekly to ensure the best quality.  The meals offer a variety of vegetables and spices, so you can't get bored.  The meats and fish are sealed for freshness and not frozen.  Each item is packaged for safety and seasonings are in sealed packets.

Let me take you on my Hello Fresh journey.

BEHOLD!!!!  THE BOX!!!

My box arrived in the afternoon on a Wednesday.  That's when everyone gets their Hello Fresh box!  It's like all the lucky people of the world get to open a present on the same day.  This is not your ordinary shipping box.  No.  After cutting off the plastic security tabs, all I had to do was lift the lid.  It was like a portable ice chest.

Yes, I oohed and aahed when I opened it.  Hey!  Wouldn't you?  Now, remember when I said that I received my box in the afternoon?  Well, I live in Florida and, although it is December, each day the temperature has been in the mid-80's.  Check out how well this box is insulated!  Everything was still refrigerator cold and it had been in the shipping process for two days.  I carefully removed all of the food.  Here is the empty box with three large ice packs that kept things cold.  Yes, those went straight into my freezer for me to use again and again....thank you, Hello Fresh!

Each meal was packaged neatly and clearly labelled.  Here is a picture of the ingredients I would use for the Classic Beef Stew.

Each meal included a beautiful double sided recipe card that showed ingredients, description of the meal, nutrition content, step by step instructions and full color pictures.  Check it out!

I let my 13 yo son pick which meal to make first.  He chose the Sauteed Chicken with Ginger Parsnips and Carrots.  He was so excited to get started!  Here he is preparing the veggies...

 And then sauteing the ginger...

It was wonderful to have him involved and excited about preparing the meal!  The instructions were simple and he did most of the work.  Here was our finished product...

Sauteed Chicken 

with Ginger Parsnips and Carrots

 The next night we made the

Classic Beef Stew

Then, on Saturday, we made the

Yogurt Marinated Shrimp over Arugala Salad

What an absolute treat it was to be a part of this review!  Now, let's talk shop.  I know you are asking yourself...how much does this cost?

The Classic Box of 3 meals for 2 people is $69

The Classic Box of 3 meals for 4 people is $129

The Veggie Box of 3 meals for 2 people is $59

The Veggie Box of 3 meals for 4 people is $109

Click HERE to go to the website, find out more, and place your order. Set your subscription on your own terms.  Have weekly delivery, once a month delivery, etc.  Just visit the calendar and click on when you want your box.  Or, just order for a special occasion!

What's the bottom line for me?  Well, Hello Fresh asked me to do this review and provide my honest opinion.  So, here it goes....

• We loved receiving our box.  It was like early Christmas.  All of the ingredients were fresh and well organized.
• The recipes were unique and we were able to try new foods that we have never had - like parsnips and chick peas!
• The recipes were easy to follow and I liked that they did not take more than 30 minutes from start to finish.  In the end, we had beautiful, gourmet meals.
• The price is not within my budget.  Boo-hoo.  I wish it was.  But, we are a family on a tight budget and my food shopping for the month is about the amount of one box for four people.  So, we won't be ordering again.  But, if my budget ever changed I would be all over this!

I encourage you to give this a try.  It is fun and you will love the food!  Make it a family event....bring everyone together.  Or, try it out for a special dinner guest.  Now, that's a way to impress someone with a gourmet meal!

Use this COUPON CODE when ordering:   PWVB3Y to get $20 off your first box.  And, hey, I'll get $20 off too just for giving you the coupon code!  Woohoo!

Check out what my peeps over at Mosaic Reviews had to say.  There were many different meals ordered, so you are likely to see some delicious pictures!  Click HERE to take a peek. 

Udderly Smooth Cream ~ Review

 Udder-ific

Udder-fied

Udder-tastic

Yes, the "udder" jokes have been flying around my house for the past couple of weeks.  I was thrilled when I received my generous box of "pamper me" products from Udderly Smooth.  Wouldn't you be excited to dive into this?

TWO Hand Creams....Foot Cream....Body Cream

I'm about to get Udder-fied!

First, I dove into the hand cream.  I have eczema and tend to be cautious about lotions, but I have heard of Udderly Smooth before and I know they are a trusted name.  Sha-Smooth!  It was light weight and non-greasy.  It absorbed well and had only a light natural fragrance.  It did not cause me any inflammation.  The small one now lives happily in my purse and the larger one is content to be on my desk where I work. 

The next day was my "shave the legs" day.  Don't judge.  It's winter and this is only a 3 day per week event now.  For me, shaving brings dryness.  It's time to smooth on my Udderly Smooth body cream.  The texture was thicker than the hand cream, but not goopy (is that even a word?).  I prefer my creams from a tube or pump, but this comes in a jar.  I would suggest taking some out of the jar using a mini beauty spatula in order to avoid contamination in the jar.  This probably doesn't even need to be mentioned, but, at least wash your hands well first.  Anyhoo....back to the body cream.  It absorbed well.  I actually re-applied it because I felt I needed more.  I'm not sure if this was my dry, dry skin or the product.  Regardless, I sure didn't mind.  It felt nice.  Again...yippee.....no eczema issues!

OK, now is where I'm going to get a little TMI for some of you.  The foot cream.  This also comes in a jar.  Other foot creams I have used were much thicker.  This was not.  By the look of it, I expected it to be but it was not.  I think I would have preferred it to be a little thicker.  OK, back to my feet.  My feet are not pretty.  I live in Florida and rarely wear socks, so my feet take a weathered beating.  Plus, I take karate and I am barefoot whenever I am in class or practicing and I'm sure you can imagine what that can do to a lady's feet.  Enough said.  I thought I would conduct an experiment and use the foot cream on only one of my feet.  I only used the Udderly Smooth Foot Cream.  I did not use a pumice stone or any other galmourfying tool (again, is that even a word?).  The foot on the left is the Udderfied foot and the foot on the right is the, ahem, not Udderfied. 

This was after only THREE days of applying the foot cream in the morning and at night.  Amazing, right?  Yes!  I took one for the team and shared my scaly foot with you all....*ShUDDER*.  But, I thought it would be the best way for you all to see this great product in action.  To top it off, this picture was taken several hours after applying the cream and after wearing my sandals all day.

Don't just take my word for it.  Included in my box of review goodies were several sample packets of the body cream.  I decided to share these with some friends of mine and asked that they give me their honest opinion.  Here are their two cents....

"I udderly love it! I used it on my legs after shaving and they were soft all day!" ~ Danyel

"I really like the fragrance and how smooth the lotion feels. It was a bit greasy, for my lotion taste, but after washing and drying my hands once, it left my hands very soft. I would probably use it for a night time moisturizer on my hands and feet." ~ Brenna

"Loved it!  It wasn't greasy and it smelled nice.  I have to get some." ~ Liz

You can also check out what my peeps on the Mosaic Reviews team said about Udderly Smooth.  Click HERE for that udderific tidbit.

Udderly Smooth products are easy to find.  Click HERE to visit their website and get a complete list of retailers that offer it.  Prices will vary with each location.  Click HERE to see all of the Udderly Smooth products and a list of ingredients.

You can also get in on the scoop by checking out their Facebook page or on Twitter.

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A Light for My Path - An ABC Book based on Psalm 119 ~ Review

I just love Apologia.  We use their science curriculum and we have several of their books and resources.  Apologia gives me a confidence that their product will be beautiful, Bible based, and inviting.

A Light for My Path by Davis Carman is just that. 

This soft cover book is a full 80 pages.  This brings me to purpose #1 of this book.  At first thought, you may have wondered why a pre-school book was soft cover with paper pages.  Oh, my!  Well, this treasure is meant to be shared with your child while cuddling on the couch, or while tucked in bed for the night.  Reading together is a special time to bond.

I've never seen an ABC book like this before.  The illustrations are beautiful and tranquil.  It looks like hand painted watercolor with every turn of the page.  Purpose #2 is clear.  It's that time in life for your child to learn the alphabet.  Carman takes you through the English alphabet using the beauty of God's creation to enchant the way.  With each new letter, you are greeted by an animal of that letter.  Illustrator, Alice Ratterree, creatively weaves the previous animal/letter into the next illustration.  What a beautiful example of how God's world is so intricately woven together.

Notice how the baby Koala bear (K) is in the background of this picture for Light (L) with the lady bug.  You will find this throughout the book.  What a fun game to add to your time as you search for the "letter animals". 

No greater gift can be given to your child than to have a deep love and respect for God's Word.  Carman shows this in purpose #3 as he uses each letter to describe an attribute of God.  In the above picture, the L page describes God as Light.  "God's Word, Law, Statutes, Decrees, Commands, and Precepts are....Light".  These simple words to describe our God will help to introduce your child to Him.

Now, for the sweet surprise in the last part of the book.  The Hebrew alphabet!  Purpose #4 is so unique that it might make this book a one-of-a-kind.  Psalm 119 is a poem, divided into twenty-two stanzas.  The corresponding Hebrew letter for each stanza is shown at the top of the page along with its English spelling to help you pronounce the letter correctly.  Now, that is God inspired creativity.

This beautiful book can be purchased at the Apologia website for just $14.  Click HERE to get there right away!  If you would like to read what my Mosaic Review team peeps are saying then click HERE.

iTooch by Edupad App Review

iTooch by Edupad offers apps for:

• Elementary - Grades 3-5 in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Health
• Middle School - Grades 6-8 in Language Arts, Math, Health, and Music
• SAT preparation in Math, Critical Thinking, Biology II, and US History II
• Languages - TOEFL and French

Most offer free trials.  I tried the Language Arts for 8th grade which offered only the first exercise for free.  It was enough for me to get an idea of how things would roll and help me decide whether or not to go ahead with a purchase.  The app was easy to navigate and the content was grade appropriate and varied.  Otherwise, these apps are $4.99 - a fair/competitive rate in my opinion.

Here are some general factoids:

• there are 1500 - 6000 questions per title
• comply with Common Core Standards
• users unlock levels and receive badges for achievements
• math apps come with a virtual blackboard and calculator
• a lesson summary accompanies each chapter, so the user is learning to succeed
• no internet connection is required
• the app will automatically sync for updates when you do have internet access
• Apple, Android, and Windows compatible

Check out iTooch by Edupad at their website HERE.  Want to know what other reviewers are saying?  Visit my fellow Mosaic Reviewer peeps HERE. 

Math Mammoth ~ Light Blue Series ~ Review

I love math.  I'm a nerd.  It's my favorite subject to teach and I proudly admit that I even do Algebra for fun on my own.  There, I said it.  Don't judge me. 

Hello, my name is Doreen, and I'm a math junkie.

So, when the opportunity came up for me to review Math Mammoth, you know I was first in line.  I chose the Light Blue Series because it is the complete curriculum and I wanted to get a true feel for the comprehensive offerings of the product.  I selected Grade 6 because I tutor a child in math who is working on that grade level and, well, I thought she would make a great guinea pig for my experiments.


First, let's take a brief look at your product options:

• Light Blue Series - full elementary math curriculum for grades 1-6; Each grade level in the curriculum consists of two student worktexts (A and B), and supportive materials, which include answer keys, tests, and additional cumulative reviews. Full Set Download $34 ;  Printed about $58 - downloads set to increase by 10% as of October 2013.
• Blue Series - worktexts or units on specific topics for grades 1-8. "Worktext" means that the books contain both explanations of the concepts and lots of varied problems. It is like a textbook and workbook combined. Each unit only covers a few of topics. $2-7 - set to increase by 5% in October 2013.  This is an excellent selection for extra review, summer skill maintenance, or to supplement with a different curriculum.
• Golden Series - collection of worksheets for grades 3-8.    Each collection contains 120-150 worksheets and each worksheets concentrates on one topic.  Grade Bundles $12 - 12.50  This is also a great selection for extra review, summer skill maintenance, or to supplement with a different curriculum.
• Review Workbooks - grades 1-5.  The topics of these books correspond to the Light Blue Series. Each download $5.50; Printed $10.50
• Make It Real Learning Workbooks - grades 3-12.   The workbooks contain activities or problem situations taken from real-life, with real data. Some examples of the situations are: cell phone plans, autism, population growth, cooking, borrowing money, credit cards, life spans, music downloads, etc. etc. $4.99 each

OK...I received the Light Blue Series for Grade 6, so that is what I'll be writing about.  You can see all of the products and categories listed above at the Math Mammoth website by clicking HERE.  But, if you are interested in what I have to say.....follow me!

I found the Grade 6 to be "spot on" for content.  Here is a list of the concepts covered:

• four operations, whole numbers, place values
• introduction to exponents
• ratios, proportions, scaling
• fractions, decimals
• percents, integers, basic geometry
• statistics, probability

I love the mastery method of learning/teaching.  The curriculum I have used for the past 4 years for my (now) 8th grade son uses this method and he has excelled.  We also love the worksheet style.  My son was never into the manipulatives for math.  If your child is a strong kinesthetic learner, then Math Mammoth may not be the best choice for him.

The printed books come in black and white.  This surely has helped keep the cost so affordable.  The download version has lots of color.  So, if this is important to you than....download, it is!  You can then choose to print in black and white or color.  That brings me to my next point.  We don't use internet based or software based curriculum.  My son and I both prefer to have a book in front of us.  Now, you could print the curriculum and three ring bind it, but there are over 200 pages for each book and that is a whole lot of ink.  You could just print what you need to keep the cost down.  I would imagine that a child could work right from the computer, as well, and just show his work and answers in a notebook.  There is definitely flexibility there.

The download is large and takes some time to do, but the process was not too complicated.  The software itself is very user friendly and easy to navigate.  I like two features in particular.

Notice on the left side of the picture how there is a separate scroll/navigation menu with pictures of the pages.  It is easy just to quickly scroll through to select a page you want to see, click on it, and BAM, there it is.  

Also, the Table of Contents makes it easy to locate a concept you may want to get to quickly.  I'm all for easy and this feature does that.  At the beginning of each book, there are also many clickable links for additional resources and games. 

Here are some additional points that you may find interesting:

• free math assessment test to get a suggested starting point
• free samples
• aligned with Common Core Standards
• designed by Maria Miller - teacher turned housewife/homeschooler
• Spanish and South African versions available

Overall, I liked this program.  I don't like downloads or curriculum used on the computer, so that prevented me from using it as I fully wanted or intended to.  But, I loved the methodology.  If I were to use Math Mammoth, I would definitely get the printed version.

Hey, don't just listen to me!  Check out all my fellow reviewer peeps at Mosaic Reviews to see what they have to say.  I've read several of them and the opinions and experiences are quite varied!  Check it out HERE.

Homeschool Programming, Inc. - TeenCoder - Review

Homeschool Programming Inc is the host for KidCoder and TeenCoder, an online computer science curriculum.  It is a self-study program where students move at their own pace.  

The KidCoder Visual Basics Series and KidCoder Web Series is for grades 4th -12th.  This is a light-hearted option for students exploring computer programming.

The TeenCoder C# Series and TeenCoder Java Series is for grades 9th -12th.  This latter option provides an excellent resource for computer science or elective credits for high school.  This course has a more in-depth study of computer programming.

Courses can be purchased separately for a one semester study, or coupled with another program.  Here is a picture of the suggested companion courses:

Learn more about each of these program options by clicking HERE.  I would like to share with you some of the aspects of the program that I liked and stood out to me.

• no prior computer programming experience is required
• each course is self-directed, so the student can move at his own pace
• lessons can be revisited easily
• each course comes with a solution guide and tests (yes, I'm a tester)
• free technical support is provided with each course
• the choice of a printed textbook of lessons, video lessons, or both! Click HERE to see some demo videos and click HERE to see sample pages of the text.

Trust me, there are many more features to this product, but these were real attention getters for me.  For this review, I was given the TeenCoder C# Series which includes the first semester Windows Programming and the second semester Game Programming.  So, this is what I will be referring to as I move forward.   

I allowed my 13 year old son to select which course he wanted to take and when he saw the Game Programming, it was an easy pick.  That will be our second semester course later on in this school year.  He can hardly wait until the final project where he will create his own video game!  But, for now, we are starting with Windows Programming.

Upon receiving access to the links for all of the downloads, I was anxious to get started.  The download process was quite a challenge for me, but I'm computer techie challenged.  I enlisted my husband for this process and it then went much more smoothly.  The download process and registration for the required FREE programs for these courses was a snap.  Homeschool Programming provides excellent step by step instructions from start to finish, including screen shots so you know what to look for.

The TeenCoder Windows Programming, so far, seems to be providing my son with an excellent overview of computer history, windows technology, and the C# language.  The video series are easy to navigate and interesting.  They are a good length so as to deliver the concept of the lesson, but not exhaust the attention of an antsy teen.  He is really enjoying it and is eager to move on.  I am thrilled with the ease of him being able to be self sufficient with the lessons.  We discuss the lesson when he is done so he can share with me what he is learning.  It's been a great experience so far!  I'm thinking this is going to look great on his high school transcript.

Homeschool Programming, Inc offers purchase options to fit your interest, learning style, and budget.  Although the pricing for each program varies slightly, here is an idea of what to expect....

$75.00 TeenCoder: Windows Programming or Game Programming (Course Only)
$90.00 TeenCoder: Windows Programming or Game Programming (Course & Videos)
$20.00 TeenCoder: Windows Programming or Game Programming (Video Only)

You can also purchase both courses for a full year's curriculum at a reduced rate:

$130.00 TeenCoder: C# Year Pack (Courses Only)
$155.00 TeenCoder: C# Year Pack (Courses & Videos)
$30.00 TeenCoder: C# Year Pack (Videos Only)

Remember these above prices are for a FULL year of a computer science curriculum!  I find this to be a competitive price for a quality elective.  The term quality is not just my opinion, Homeschool Programming backs this up with a full page on their website that highlights the many awards their programs have received.  Check it out HERE.

Check out what other reviewers are saying about Homeschool Programming at Mosaic Reviews!

So, which courses will you start with?

The Classical Historian ~ Modern American History Curriculum and Ancient History Go Fish Game ~ Review

The Classical Historian provides curriculum, resources, and games that promote critical thinking, thoughtful discussion, and independent learning.  John De Gree is a married father of 7 with over twenty years of experience in teaching History and English.

I was provided with parts of the complete curriculum for Modern American History for Grades 9-12 in exchange for my honest review and opinion.  This is a full one year curriculum and may be used for High School credit.  Yay!  I'll explain what I received, give a brief description, and share my thoughts.

1.  32 Week Modern American History Guide - This is a printed copy of 49 pages that comes stapled at the top.  I would recommend doing 3 whole punch and securing it in a binder to keep it clean and prevent tearing or rapid wear.  This, in my opinion, is a must have for curriculum like this.  This is a lesson by lesson walk through for both teacher and student.  This provides a tutorial of sorts on how to use the curriculum and each day's lesson outlines what needs to be done, along with the time it will take.  You could follow it to a "T", or just use it as a guideline.  Check out a sample HERE.  When purchased separately it is $24.99 and worth every penny, IMHO.

2.  Take a Stand!  Student's Edition and Teacher Key - This is a 93 page soft cover book.  This tool teaches students how to be historians.  It teaches them how to analyze historical events, and not how to memorize dates and facts.  It is a thinking, reading, speaking, and writing guide to history using the method of Socratic discussion.  You will need supporting history texts and documents to use this tool.  Check out a sample HERE.  When purchased separately, the Student Edition only is $18.95  I found this to be an interesting tool and it is valuable to the experience of this curriculum.  I particularly liked the guided outlines and questions that assist the student in notetaking.  There is a fair amount of writing required.  My son is not a confident writer, so this is something we would need to ease into.  We would likely focus more on the verbal discussion as he analyzes the information he is taking in.  When you purchase the complete curriculum, you also receive the 62 page teacher key for this book.  When purchased separately the student and teacher key set is $24.95.

3.  Teaching the Socratic Discussion History DVD Collection - This is a set of 3 DVD's offering 3 hours of run time that come in a hard case and a 77 page spiral bound, soft covered book.  This set teaches the teacher and the student the tools of the historian, the Socratic Discussion, and how to foster critical and independent thinking.  Essentially, it will prepare you to use the curriculum in the most productive way.  If you are not familiar with the Classical method of teaching, this is essential.  Click HERE for many more details about this piece.  When purchased separately it is $79.99 and would be an absolute need for someone like me who is not experienced enough in this method of teaching/learning.

The remaining two items are part of this curriculum, however, I did not receive them.  So, I can't share my personal experience or opinion on them.

4.  A Patriot's History of the United States - This is a 932 page (GULP!) book by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen.  This serves as the "textbook" for this curriculum.  It focuses on the virtues of our Founding Fathers, in contrast to the revisionist historians.  When purchased separately it is $19.99.  

5.  The Patriot's History Reader - This explores the original documents, speeches, and legal decisions that shaped our country.  When purchased separately it is $12.95.





If you're like me, you are looking for the best deal.  When I do the math here, I come to a total of $162.87 for all of the pieces that are included in the complete curriculum package (if each is purchased separately).  But, the website offers the Complete Curriculum Package with one click for $146.99.  That's almost a $16 savings.  Yahoo!

I see the benefits of this curriculum, especially if you enjoy the Classical method.  The value of learning critical thinking will seep into other areas of learning, especially science and literature.  The Classical Historian would be best suited for a classroom or family with several children.  As they learn together, the skills of discussion and debate will naturally occur.  As a family with one child, this would be limited.  In addition, we have not enjoyed the Classical method in the past.  However, the material in the product I received looks interesting and we are looking forward to exploring it further once we are able to get the final two essential pieces needed, The Patriot's History of the United States and The Patriot's History Reader.

Now, moving on to the game I received....

Ancient History Go Fish Card Game!  This is for ages 5-129.  This game is a Four in One!  Let's look at each game you can play with this 50 card deck.
1.  Go Fish - players match 4 of a kind cards in 12 different categories
2.  Collect the Cards - practice your knowledge of historical facts as you try to guess your opponent's card.
3.  Chronology - race against the clock to beat your own best time or your opponent's as you arrange the cards in chronological order.
4.  Geography - race against the clock to beat your own best time or your opponent's as you arrange the cards in geographical piles by continent.

These cards are high quality, heavy stock.  The larger size makes them easy to handle and the graphics on them are interesting and colorful.  There are lots of visual codes on these to help remember facts.  They can be played in a group, or games 3 and 4 can be done solo. I LOVE that it comes with an answer key for games 3 and 4.  These cards are $11.95.  Check them out HERE. 

How Do We Know God Is Really There? ~ Book Review

Ah, the question every child asks at one point.  As an adult parent this can be a hard one.  How do we keep it simple enough so our child will understand?  Inquiring minds want to know!

How Do We Know God Is Really There? by Melissa Cain Travis is a beautifully illustrated book that is a perfect share with your child. 

This hardcover book is presented to you by Apologia.  Here is a little clip from their website to tell you more about it...

Thomas and his father escape to their backyard tree house most evenings to watch the night sky through a telescope. Thomas is dazzled by what he sees of God’s creation, but he has questions. “Dad, how do we know God is out there?” he asks one night. “I know the Bible says He’s there. But how do we really know that’s true?” Together, Thomas and his father begin to examine the cosmological evidence for God’s existence. This is the first in an exciting new series of picture books designed to introduce kids to important questions of the Christian faith in terms even pre-readers can understand. Read this aloud with your family, and you’ll come away knowing that “the heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1). 

I especially loved that the story begins with a father and son sharing their nightly time together.  What a treasure!  You are invited to share in their special time as they discover new things and learn about God's creation.  I read this aloud to my 13 year old son.  Yes, he still loves to hear me read and he is such a trooper when I need to review books for younger children.  We both agreed that the story was interesting and the illustrations were whimsical and fed the imagination.  I was told that this book is for grades K-3.  My son and I both agreed for that to be accurate for the illustrations.  However, we felt the story line and language used was more for grade 2-4.  I would still recommend it for younger children as the story is fun and has an attention grabbing flow to it.  Click HERE to see a sample of a few pages.

You can purchase your own copy of How Do We Know God is Really There? at the Apologia website for only $16.00.  Click HERE. 

 

My Home School Grades ~ Review

My Home School Grades is a program designed to help you organize and store several aspects of homeschool life.

• Manage students' grades
• Organize curriculum
• Create Lesson Plans
• Track Extra-curricular activities
• Export official college ready transcripts - check out this sample HERE
• Calculate GPA's

I have tried a few different programs for similar purposes and I have never stuck with them because they were so complicated and time consuming to use.  My Home School Grades is so easy to use.  It is intuitive and the process "just makes sense".  There are video tutorials to walk you through every aspect of the program, but I found that I didn't need them very much because of the user-friendly aspect of this product.

The web app lets you take your My Home School Grades with you everywhere.  You don't have to worry about trying to remember to record a field trip or activity when you get home.  Just do it while you are there!  Are you traveling?  No problem.  Record grades and adventures right from your phone or tablet.  There is no need to try to find a computer.  The activity section of the program allows you to share as much detail as you want about the activity, including awards.

My Home School Grades offers a FREE 14 day trial.  Wow!  You can try it out before you buy it.  You'll be amazed at how easy and thorough it is.  Then, when you decide to make your purchase it is only $49.99 for a LIFETIME membership!  That's right.  A lifetime membership for as many children as you have.  I'm thrilled and excited to have my membership now as my son is entering 8th grade.  I've been wondering how I would effectively record and store a comprehensive transcript of his courses, grades, and activities for high school.  Problem solved!

Learn more about My Home School Grades by getting in the loop....

• visit their website at https://myhomeschoolgrades.com
• visit their blog at https://myhomeschoolgrades.com/blog
• visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MyHomeSchoolGrades
• visit them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HomeSchoolGrade

Waterproof Bible ~ Review

Waterproof Bible?  Seriously?

Yuppers!

I had never heard of such a thing and my curiosity went bonkers!  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this Bible.  My 13 year old son and I awaited anxiously for its arrival.  One day he came running into the house with the package.  He could barely wait to open it.

Ta-Da!  I was thrilled with the color they sent me! PINK!

The teenaged boy.  Not so much.

"What?", he exclaimed in his most dramatic teen voice, "It's pink!".

We had a brief stare down.  

Stare at each other.  Stare at the Bible.  Stare at each other.  Stare at the Bible.

LUNGE!

Rats!  The kid won!  He grabbed that Bible faster than me and tore off into his bedroom to check it out.  I didn't see that thing for two days.  He hid it in his room and only took it out to read in the secure cover of his bed and to take it in the shower with him.  

So much for "It's pink!"  blah blah blah.

I have barely had a chance to read it myself and, when I can, it is under the watchful eye of the new proud owner of a pink Waterproof Bible.  My son. He leaves it on his bathroom counter and takes it in the shower with him.  After his shower he likes to sit on the floor of his tub and read, enveloped in the steam and pool of water he has manage to collect.  One night he left it there in that partially filled tub...for experiment's sake for this review.

He is good about drying it like the directions describe.  He stands it up on its spine and fans out the pages.  Usually by the next day it is pretty dry or may need a little bit of a wipe down with a hand towel.  Good as new!  Now, back in for another shower baptism!

I did manage to (oops!) spill my coffee on it one morning.  It wiped right off even after I let it set on there for a while.  The liquid sort off rolls of the synthetic pages.  We also tried tearing the pages by flipping through it quickly or at odd angles much like a child would and....nope.  No tears.

Let's get the run down of what this Bible has to offer and what makes it unique.

• durable, synthetic pages
• ultra clear text
• no bleed through with highlighters and pens
• tear resistant cover and pages
• tightly stitched binding
• variety of translations:  NIV, NKJV, KJV, ESV, NLT
• variety of colors:  pink, blue, lily pad, camouflage
• Waterproof
• It FLOATS!  That's right....drop it over a side of a boat and it will float.

This is the ideal Bible for any individual or family!

• outdoor activities like hiking, boating, skiing, etc
• missionaries
• campers
• boy scouts, girl scouts, and cub scouts
• reading around young children with cheeto fingers and juice boxes
• travel
• beach or pool reading
• every day use 

Check out all the Bibles they have to offer at the website, www.waterproofbible.com  Prices are $24.95 - $44.95.  They also offer a variety of accessories to use with your unique Bible, like dry highlighters and space pens.  Check them out HERE.  I'm thinking I need to get a camouflage one for my son, so maybe I'll actually get the pink one for me!  We'll see!