Note-able Scraps

Review: The Guardian Duke & A GIVEAWAY!

2012-02-23T22:41:00.001-08:00

After reviewing quite a bit of homeschool curriculum, it is nice to be able to relax and read something for enjoyment. I'm going to be honest with you, I don't read much above a 6th-grade reading level these days! It has been quite a while since I've read a romance novel, so I enjoyed reviewing The Guardian Duke, part of The Forgotten Castles series by Jamie Carie.

Here is the synopsis of the book from the promotional materials:

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

Jamie Carie is a gifted author with a flair for writing historical romance. She seems to have researched her setting well. Her characters are life-like and enchanting. I like the fact that she gives the reader insight into what both the Duke and Lady Featherstone are thinking. In truth, it was a page-turner. I read two-thirds of it the first night and finally had to force myself to put it down because my children would have me up early the next morning. If you enjoy a good, clean, Christian romance, this book may be for you.

All that said, I feel that I must include the following in my review, but I must issue a spoiler alert. I am going to discuss my feelings about the end of the book, so if you do not want to know what happens, please do not read the next paragraph!

After over 300+ pages of page-turning action, I had such anticipation of the Duke and Lady Featherstone finally meeting. I could not wait to find out what happened to her parents. I charged through to the end and found. . . no conclusion. The Duke and Lady did not meet in this book, except briefly, when the Duke did not recognize her. We did not find out anything about her parents. The saga will continue with the next book in the summer of 2012. I do not mind series of books in which each volume leads into the next. Often, one volume contains the solution to one problem and then sets another problem up as a teaser for the next volume. In this book, however, I felt no resolution of any problem whatsoever. I enjoyed the beautiful writing, but when I finished, I felt that I had hugely wasted my time. When I was younger and didn't have four children, I may have had more time and patience to read this type of series. It may be just what some people love. I think, however, that with my busy schedule that revolves largely around my children, I am very jealous of the little amount of time I do get to read something myself, and I need a more satisfying conclusion at the end of just one book. Heaven knows when or if I'll be able to get the next one. That is my personal opinion, and the book may be perfect for some people, but I wanted to include it because I believe I have other busy moms like me reading this blog, who would want to know that ahead of time.

If you are looking for a book for a club or discussion group, you may enjoy this one. The author includes a number of discussion questions in the back.

You may purchase The Guardian Duke for $10.94 on Amazon. For more information see:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ForgottenCastles

Live Action Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyTk2MQw04s

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Guardian-Duke-Forgotten-Castles-Novel/dp/1433673223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328570148&sr=8-1

One Sheet: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/books/products.asp?p=9781433673221

USA Today Review: http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-02-04/review-the-guardian-duke-by-jamie-carie/620195/1

Or, WIN a FREE copy right here! Just leave a comment below or on Facebook to enter the drawing. I will choose one random winner on Thursday, March 1.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

TOS Review: Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here?

2012-02-23T22:08:00.000-08:00

We were so excited for a chance to review Apologia's Who Am I?, from the What We Believe series, especially since we had already been doing the first book in the series, Who Is God?, which I had purchased several months ago. I have been looking for books that teach about a Biblical Worldview, and these are some of the best that I have found.

Why do we need to teach our children from a Biblical Worldview? Are we brainwashing them to believe as we do, as some accuse us of doing? In actuality, I believe we are doing the opposite. We are explaining to our children what a worldview is and how it affects them; we are teaching them to think for themselves. Children are, at birth, unable to process much of the data from the environment around them and make conclusions based on that data. They are something like the tabula rasa, or blank slate, in John Locke's theory. In the nature vs. nurture debate there are, of course, arguments for both sides: that children are born with certain attributes, or that they gain attributes through experience as they grow. The answer, as in so many debates, must lie somewhere in between. It is clear, however, that as they grow, children's thought patterns and problem-solving processes are influenced by what they are taught. This becomes their worldview. Everyone has a worldview of some sort. If you were raised on streets full of thieves and have learned by experience that most people are dishonest, then you will not easily trust people because of your worldview. On the other hand, if you were raised in an environment where no one did anything dishonest, then you may believe everyone is honest and you will trust more easily. Either worldview can be altered when evidence appears to the contrary, but they are difficult to shake.

Assume, for example, that you were raised in a culture that believed heavily in magic and superstition. If you met a witch doctor who seemed to make a small animal disappear, would you believe that he had made that happen? Most likely. It would fit with both your worldview and the data that you observed. Now, if you were raised in America and had a more skeptical worldview, you may see the same witch doctor do the same trick, and you would probably start looking around for his trapdoor or hiding place. You saw the same evidence that the person in the other culture did, but it did not fit with your worldview, so you started looking for more evidence to reconcile the data with what you knew to be true. The fact that I called what the witch doctor did a "trick" shows what my worldview is, and I wasn't even thinking about it when I typed it. Obviously, however, only one of those worldviews is correct. The witch doctor either made the animal disappear, or he didn't. They cannot both be true. If we want to know what is true, we will try to determine which worldview is correct, not just the one that we like the best.

A worldview, then, is how you interpret the information you have based on what you know to be true. It is impossible not to have a worldview. A child who goes to public school and is never told anything about God has just as much of a worldview as the child who is homeschooled in an overtly Christian home. He does not have less of a worldview; he just has a different worldview. If one wants to call teaching from a perspective of a specific worldview "brainwashing," then the children in any public school, private school, or home are all being "brainwashed." They are all being taught to interpret data based upon some set of facts, be they true or false. Since a worldview that is incorrect, such as in the example of our witch doctor, will cause one to arrive at the wrong conclusions, then it is important to have the foundation of the correct worldview in order to process all the information and experiences we have in our environment.

What then, is the correct worldview? Undoubtedly, no person is likely to always be right on every interpretation and every conclusion drawn in life. We must do the best we can, and some small parts of our worldview may change over time. The best gift I can give my children, though, is the foundation of a basic, true worldview to start out with. A framework of what we know to be true and that will not change. I believe that is a Biblical worldview. If you disagree with me, then obviously your next question will be, how do you know that the Biblical worldview is correct? That will have to be the topic of another blogpost, or even a novel, as this blogpost is already stretching quite long and I haven't even gotten to the chapters of the book yet. I do not believe this worldview blindly, just because my parents taught it to me, and I do not teach my children to believe it blindly. I believe it is important for them to know that there are other worldviews, and what the reasons are that I believe in this one. I will get to that another time, but for the purposes of this review, suffice it to say that for numerous reasons, I have concluded that the Biblical worldview is True, and it is important to teach my children from that foundation.

If you want to teach your children about the Biblical worldview, Apologia's What We Believe series is for you. Specifically, this second book in the series, Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here?, deals with a Biblical worldview of self-image, and that age-old question of purpose. The book explains what a worldview is, what the Biblical worldview is, and how that worldview will affect the choices you make. It uses material from the Bible, other historical anecdotes about people like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, well-known stories like Peter and the Wolf, and lesser known facts and stories. It teaches what some other people's worldviews are. Overall, it is a thorough and effective study of the subject, and it can be overlapped with studies in history, language arts, and art, to name a few. It is also set up well for teaching integrated ages.

For this review, I received the textbook, notebooking journal, coloring book, and audio book on CD for the Who Am I? volume. This combination works perfectly for my children, with their different ages and learning styles. The things they are learning in here also work very well with some of the other products we have reviewed this year. The curriculum is geared toward children ages 6-14, but it can be adapted for children who are slightly older or slightly younger. I whole-heartedly recommend Who Am I? and the whole What We Believe series. The textbook may be purchased online directly from Apologia for $39.00. See the catalogue for prices of other items and the rest of the What We Believe series. Apologia also carries curriculum for science, history and geography, writing, and other homeschooling resources.

To see what other TOS Crew members thought of this curriculum, click here.

Disclaimer: I received free copies of some of the above products in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"Daydreamer" by Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-02-23T10:40:00.001-08:00

The mild winter seems to have Dandelion Dust Designs dreaming of spring! I love the bright blues and yellows and greens, and the flowers and clouds in this kit!

You can get the kit exclusively at ScrapDelicious!

Don't forget to pick up your FREE QPs from Mediafire!

Happy Scrapping! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "Daydreamer" Kit in exchange for LOs.

LAST CHANCE TO WIN!

2012-02-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

LAST CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF COOPER & ME & THE MILITARY OR

A FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE PRAISE ALBUM I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE!

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW FOR THE DRAWING TONIGHT!

"I Love Your Presence" Album GIVEAWAY

2012-02-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE was recorded live at the Burn Bright: Worship and The Kingdom Of God conference, hosted by Vineyard Worship. Featuring worship leaders Matt Turrgiano, Chris Lizotte, Steve Jones, Anabeth Morgan, Kirsten Ford, Nigel Briggs and Casey Corum, the album inspires a worshipful attitude. From the title track to the old favorites like "Isn't He" and "I Lift My Eyes Up" to some newer and less familiar songs, the music is uplifting and powerful. If you are looking for an album of inspiring praise music, this would be a good addition to your collection. You may purchase it at Vineyard's website for $11.99 for the album or $9.99 for the MP3 download.

Or, you could win the MP3 download of the whole album right here! Leave a comment below to enter. I will be drawing one name on Thursday, February 16!

For more information, visit:

Website: http://www.vineyardmusic.com/vm/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DiscoverVineyard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/VineyardMusic

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-love-your-presence-live/id491711353

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Cooper and Me and the Military GIVEAWAY!

2012-02-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

As a military family, we were very excited to review Cooper and Me and the Military by mother-and-daughter team Monique and Alexa Peters. The Cooper and Me series was inspired by the Peters' real-life pet, a black labrador named Cooper. The purpose of the books is to help kids deal with emotions and situations they encounter in real life and to teach life lessons.

In Cooper and Me and the Military, we meet Cooper's best friend, Trooper. Trooper's family is in the military, and they deal with long separations and the challenges of trying to stay close as a family. Boy, does that hit close to home! It was fun reading this to my youngest son, and helping him to realize that other families have the same lifestyle and challenges that we do.

If you have a family member in the military, or if you know someone else in the military, or if you would just like your child to understand more about military families, this storybook will be a great addition to your home library. At the end of the book, there is even information about writing to a military member if you wish to do so.

You may purchase Cooper and Me and the Military, as well as the other Cooper and Me books, on the website here. Cooper and Me and the Military is $12.99.

You could also WIN a FREE copy of Cooper and Me and the Military right here on my blog! Just leave a comment below to be entered into the drawing! I will draw one name on Thursday, February 16.

Find out more about Cooper and Me at the following:

Website: http://www.cooperandme.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooper-and-Me-Inc/214695101924101

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cooper_and_me

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Win an iPad 2!

2012-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Want to win an iPad 2 with a whole bunch of apps to get you started?
One lucky winner will receive an iPad 2 (16GB with Wi-Fi) from Apps-School
and free apps from our generous app developers. Click on the gift basket to enter the drawing today!

TOS Review: Math Rider

2012-02-03T22:33:00.000-08:00

I will always give honest reviews, and the reason most of my reviews this year have been good is because I've really liked most of the products I've reviewed. And then, every once in a while, a product comes along that you not only like, but that really fills a need at just the right time.

That happened to me with Math Rider. I was reading and listening to the information about this fun math facts game, and I thought, "Yes. . . kids who are very bright but hate math. . . understand mathematical concepts but need more repetitious practice. . . don't want to do it because it's not 'fun'. . . tried math games but they don't work. . . yes, yes, he is describing me and my kids!" I am the flash-card queen, with stacks of flash-cards for everything from the alphabet to sight words to math facts to music notes. They work for a while, especially with incentives like candy, but the kids get pretty tired of them in short order.

Now we are playing Math Rider, the computer math facts game where you and your horse, Shadow, must ride through the magical Mathlands and complete the quests. The faster you can answer the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts, the faster Shadow can run the course and jump the hurdles. There are four different quests, and in each you may choose an easy, medium, or hard level. You may also do Practice Runs in which you may concentrate on one particular number or group of numbers in your equations. The Practice Runs are coming in very handy for my 1st grader, as I can have him run a race in which he just adds "1" to each number, then a race where he adds "2" to each number, and so on, before mixing up all the numbers. The program "learns" what your child can do well and what he still needs to master, and it adapts. You may also choose a timed game.

From the website:

--You will know when your child has completely mastered an operation. And more importantly, your child will know it, too!
--This is the fastest way to mastery of all four math operations. The artificial intelligence rehearses what is needed most, at a rate that is tailored to each player.
--The game recognises and rewards math improvement, not just perfection. This builds confidence and propels children naturally towards complete mastery.
--Noble quests exemplify positive values such as family, caring, honesty and kindness.

The game was designed for any elementary age children. I am using the easiest levels for my 1st grader, the whole game for my 4th & 6th graders, and I'm even having my 8th grader play it for review and to increase the speed at which he can complete basic equations. When these facts come to mind very quickly, upper level math will come much more easily. Finding educational games that are interesting to the boys has always been a challenge for me, and this one is a keeper.

I have also been very happy with this company's customer service. Everything has been explained very well in tutorials, and the program is very user-friendly. If there is still a question, the software developer is accessible and helpful. Version 3.0 is the current version, and anyone who has purchased previous versions gets a free upgrade. That is customer service!

You may purchase your copy of the MathRider game - for Windows, Mac OSX, or Linux - for just $37 here. It will be available for instant download. That could be less than the price of paying a professional private tutor for one hour to raise your child's math grades!

Find other TOS Reviewers' opinions of MathRider by clicking here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the MathRider game in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: KinderBach

2012-02-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Music is a big part of my life, and it has always been important to me to include plenty of music instruction in homeschool. I regret to report that while I used to give piano lessons regularly to others, I have failed miserably at teaching my own children to play piano. They do, however, play band instruments and sing.

For this reason, I was very happy to review the KinderBach program for my younger children. Perhaps it will give us a good foundation so that I can do a better job teaching them piano than I did my older children. After all, anything with "Bach" or "Beethoven" in the name has to be good, right? And if it's not "Baroque," don't fix it! (OK, I stole that one from Disney's Beauty & The Beast. It's a good line!)

KinderBach at Home is an interactive online program to be used along with a keyboard to teach the basics of piano and music theory to children ages 2-7. Since the ideal age to start actual piano lessons is around age 7 or 8, this program is an excellent introduction for younger children. If you would like to expose your early elementary or preschool-age children to basic music theory or see how they will like piano before starting lessons, this program would be great for you, whether you homeschool or not. You do not even need to purchase a piano, as an inexpensive keyboard, even a toy keyboard, will work fine.

In each lesson, there is a video where children will learn basics like notes, rhythm, and composition while playing games with fun characters. You may watch the videos online or on DVD. Some lessons are accompanied by worksheets that you can print out from the website. You will need some sort of playing keyboard on which your child can play the notes. You do not need to have any musical background yourself in order to do this program. Soon, your child will be playing simple songs!

My first grader is really enjoying this program and the chance to have his very own music lessons, since his older siblings have been playing musical instruments for some time. I believe it is giving him a good foundation to start his own piano lessons in a year or two. As a piano teacher, I will recommend this program for parents of younger children who are interested in starting their children early, or who are wanting to find out what their child's interest is before purchasing a piano as opposed to a keyboard.

KinderBach at Home has several packages available to meet your needs, starting as low as $7.99 per month, or if you prefer a one-time fee, you may purchase a DVD package, which includes the accompanying activity sheets on CD. See all pricing here. Before you head over there, though, I have more good news. Although KinderBach's New Year's Clearance Sale just ended, they are offering a special coupon for our blog readers! The coupon gives 30% off ANY order from their website, and it is good for one year! That is a great deal, so please take advantage of it!

The coupon code is: TOScrew2012.

To see what other TOS Crew members thought of KinderBach, click here.

Disclaimer: I received free online lessons from KinderBach in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"Falling In Love" by Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-02-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

It is February, the time for Falling In Love! Dandelion Dust Designs has released a kit that is aptly named, full of hearts and ribbons and some nice dusty pinks and purples that are as perfect for scrapping pictures of a friend or a pet as they are for that special valentine!

"Falling In Love" is available exclusively at ScrapDelicious.

I have two Quickpages for you today. Click images below to download from MediaFire. PU only.

Happy February! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of "Falling In Love" by Dandelion Dust Designs in exchange for layouts. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Stuff To Scrap February Road Trip: All You Need Is Love

2012-02-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends! I am SO SORRY that I did not get this up on the first. Here are my gradient papers to match the gorgeous palette for the February Road Trip with Stuff to Scrap! Click on image to download from MediaFire. PU/S4H/S4O.

You probably came here from Let Me Scrapbook!. The next travel stop is Stuff to Scrap

Here are the rest of the travel stops:

DoubleTrouble Scraps
CutieFruity
Just For Fun Designs
Busy Crafting Mommy Designs
JMC Designs
Scrappin Serenity
Joyeuse Pagaille
The Digi Scrapping Mama
Flower Pot Designs
A Fish Design
SnickelsCorner Scraps
Ponytails Designs
Mommy Made This
Queen Wild Scraps
Cami Jo Designs
PizazzPixels
Lisa's Scraps
lmcdesigns
scraphannah
Growing Pains Scrapped
The Scrappy Kat
Saphira's Scraps
Kandiced
Sweet Maple
Junfunkie Designs
Let Me Scrapbook!
Note-able Scraps
Stuff to Scrap

Happy Scrapping! :)

My First Book!

2012-01-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

And now, Ladies & Gentlemen, is the moment we have all been waiting for! Well, you may not have been waiting as anxiously as I have, but I have been waiting, anxiously, on the edge of my seat, with great anticipation. My first children's book, Amazing Animals by Design, is published and available for purchase!

The road to this moment has been fun, and I hope to repeat it with other books in the future. If you have thought about writing a book or getting one published and are curious about the process, check out my other blog at http://www.amazingbydesign.blogspot.com. I've taken my readers through the whole process, from choosing a publisher until today, the day my book is available for sale!

Amazing Animals by Design is a storybook written to introduce the concept of Intelligent Design to young children. Illustrated by Jesse Blythe DeFriese, it shows children some familiar and some not-so-familiar animals while explaining that different animals were designed with different characteristics to help them to live in their environment.
Amazing Animals by Design is available now in paperback at Tate Publishing for $8.99. The official release date for national retailers is April 3. After the official release, it will be available from Amazon and national retailers like Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble. I will be doing book signings at those places then. Until then, I will be doing local book-signings and pre-release events, getting the word out! The audio book and official website will be ready closer to the release date. I will be posting a schedule of book signings on the Amazing By Design blog!

I will give away one free PDF version of the book from each blog. If you are interested, please leave a comment below to enter the drawing! I will draw one name on Friday, February 3.

Have a great day!

TOS Review: We Choose Virtues

2012-01-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

Most of my homeschooling friends agree that one of the most important things we can teach our children is Character. One of the great benefits of having our children with us most of the time during their growing-up years is being able to instill and demonstrate consistent values, which we hope will serve them for a lifetime. I am always looking for products that share our values and worldview, so I was excited to have a chance to review a few products from We Choose Virtues.

We Choose Virtues does not offer a curriculum or unit study to be used as a stand-alone subject. Instead, their products can be used ongoing from year to year, as a supplement to your curriculum. Their goal is “Simply Inspiring Character That Lasts." The products I reviewed are for elementary and early childhood ages, but the company also offers products for teens.

We Choose Virtues uses fun characters like Feather Heather, Oboe Joe, and Hat Matt to teach Virtues such as: Obedience, Forgiveness, Helpfulness, and Self-Control. There are 12 Virtues in all. For each, the children learn a catchphrase and the antonyms. These help children learn how to demonstrate the Virtues in their lives, and how to answer someone who tries to get them to do wrong. The fun, brightly-colored Virtue Clue Cards illustrate the Virtues, the catchphrases, the antonyms, and the characters. These are great for carrying from place to place in a purse or schoolbag so that you can review them at any time. I must confess, however, that although my children love the cards and the bright colors, I have a hard time keeping up with them and have lost them several times!

The downloadable products are much more useful to me. They are always accessible on my computer (or my iPad when my husband buys it for me!), and I can print them when I wish. I received a downloadable Teacher's Guide, with excellent ideas for teaching the Virtues to different ages; a Family Character Assessment Chart, of which I can print out multiple copies so that we can track our progress over time; a Kids Coloring Book, which is wonderful for my youngest to use while the older ones are discussing the Virtues; and A List of Memory Verses, Bible Heroes and Truths to go along with the Virtues, which I found most valuable. Together, these items make a great package that I can use every day with my children, or a few times a week as our schedule allows. They could also be used as reinforcement along with a character program that you already have in place, and they could be tied into unit studies on character, Bible heroes, or the Fruits of the Spirit. They are very versatile to be used as a stand-alone or in conjunction with other curriculums.

We Choose Virtues also has posters, charts, flashcards, stickers, and other classroom helps for the homeschool or classroom. They can be purchased separately or in packages conveniently assembled for homeschool, Sunday School, faith-based school, or community school. You may even want to use a pack of the cards or a poster for family discussion if your children are in a school that does not use them. See their website for a complete list of products and prices. For a limited time, there are several items on SALE:

2011 Kids Virtue Poster $9.75 (from $14.99, 35% savings)
2011 100 Days of Virtue Chart and Butterfly Stickers $11.99 (from $14.99, 20% savings)
2011 3 Rules Poster $7.75 (from 11.99, 35% savings)

There is a CLEARANCE category on the website only while supplies last.

Also, The Virtue Clues are $5.99 (from $7.95).

We Choose Virtues products are welcome new pieces of my total curriculum. You can find more information on their website at http://www.wechoosevirtues.com/, and "Like" their Facebook page here. To see what other TOS Crew Members thought of their products, click here.

Disclaimer: I received free products from We Choose Virtues in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"The Bird's Nest" at Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-01-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

It's a wonderful winter season in Phoenix! So nice that temperatures are in the 70s, the leaves on the trees are popping out and the flowers and shrubs are starting to bloom. It is beginning to look a lot like Spring....in January, and so we introduce to you our newest resale kit called The Bird's Nest, sure to make you feel like Spring is in the air.

This kit contains 20 papers - 5 Solid and 15 Patterned, 29 Embellishments and 1 Egg Shaped Alpha including numbers 0-9.

Papers are 12" x 12" JPEGs. Embellishments are in PNG. All are in 300 DPI and Quality Checked. The Bird's Nest Kit may be use for PU, S4H and S4O. This kit is exclusively in our ScrapDelicious Shoppe!

Here are the pages I made with this kit:

You can pick up your free QP from Mediafire. Click image below. PU only.

Happy Scrapping! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of "The Bird's Nest" by Dandelion Dust Designs in exchange for layouts. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Amazing Animals By Design

2012-01-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

This book will be available in just a few short weeks! See http://amazingbydesign.blogspot.com/!

DVD Review: A Mile In His Shoes & GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

My family recently had the privilege of reviewing the DVD A Mile In His Shoes, the inspiring story of a special boy with an amazing gift. When Coach Arthur "Murph" Murphy sees Mickey Tussler pitching apples into a bucket for his pigs, he knows he's found someone with a special talent. Convincing the young man's father to let him take the risk and convincing everyone on the team to accept him, however, prove to be challenges. Mickey has Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism. Though he is able to care for himself and communicate with others, sometimes his communication and his mental processes are slightly different from those of the typical baseball players. Most of the team is ready to help him out, but some do not appreciate his presence. Coach Murph, however, will not give up, as he battles some of his own inner demons in the process.

Dean Cain and Luke Schroder star in the GMC movie based on the book The Legend of Mickey Tussler. From the director of Angels In the Outfield.

Our whole family enjoyed this movie, and it opened up some discussion about autism and Asperger Syndrome, since my kids have several friends who wear these labels. It is appropriate for all ages, and I believe it is a "must-see" for anyone who has dealings with someone with Asperger Syndrome.

You will find more information about this inspiring GMC movie at the following links:

Website: http://www.watchgmctv.com/video/mile-his-shoes#biography

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Mile-In-His-Shoes/270101973014772?sk=wall

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2T0BFetH4

Dove Foundation Review: http://www.dove.org/reviewmasterframe.asp

Would you like to win a free copy of the DVD? Of course you would! Just leave a comment below or on my Facebook to enter your name in the drawing on January 23! :)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

TOS Review: The Story of Swan Lake from Maestro Classics

2012-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

My kids love all kinds of music. I have taught piano and I direct children's choir, so I have tried to expose them to a wide variety. While they may be the first to jump up and sing, "I pump my fists (watch me)/ I slide and switch (watch me)," and unfortunately know all the words to the "Friday" song, they also love hymns, old Broadway, and classical music. So maybe I'm getting a little culture in there! Like me, one of their favorite classical composers is Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and my girls and I just enjoyed a live performance of The Nutcracker right before Christmas.

It was a treat, then, to have a chance to review The Story of Swan Lake, by Tchaikovsky, from Maestro Classics! Maestro Classics produces the Stories in Music series of CDs with classical music, performed by The London Philharmonic Orchestra, set to narration to explain the accompanying story to children. Available titles also include Peter and the Wolf, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, My Name Is Handel: The Story of Water Music, and others.

First of all, I appreciated the fact that the CD performance was excellently done. Too many times, I have purchased CDs made for children, only to discover that the music is terrible and we will probably not listen to it more than once. Not so with Maestro Classics. You cannot miss when you perform with The London Philharmonic! Secondly, having the narration really does help the children understand and appreciate the ballet. The CD also contains a teaching "About the Music" section that I found very worthwhile, and a "sing-a-long" with simple words for the children to sing along with the music. These things all help the children to better enjoy and remember the classical music. There was also a rendition of "Speed Metal Swan" with electric guitars. My children and I did not particularly care for that piece, but if you have children who only like modern music and do not want to listen to classical, they may enjoy the classical piece set to "speed metal"!

Although Stories in Music is designed for children ages 5 to 12, you may find that even as an adult, you enjoy and learn from these CDs! You may purchase The Story of Swan Lake CD from http://www.maestroclassics.com for $16.98, or the MP3 download for just $9.98. A 24-page activity book included with the CD contains a biography of Tchaikovsky, information on acoustic and electric guitars, sheet music and words for a sing-along song, explanation of major and minor keys, puzzles and more. MP3 download from Maestro Classics website includes a PDF of the activity booklet. The other titles are also available, as are several package deals if you would like to purchase several CDs at once at a discount. If you would like to use these CDs for unit studies or as a part of your ongoing music education, you may find the free educational materials provided on the website (click here) helpful. They include all kinds of curriculum guides, videos, further research, and projects to accompany the CDs, as well as links to purchase lapbooks from A Journey Through Learning that were specifically written for Maestro Classics CDs.

As a lover of classical music, I highly recommend Maestro Classics' Stories in Music CDs for everyone of all ages. To find out what other TOS Crew members thought of The Story of Swan Lake, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Story of Swan Lake CD for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Zeezok Z-Guide to the Movies for Kit Kittredge

2012-01-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

I have read that even when you are homeschooling, you should get up in the morning and dress professionally, like a teacher in school, and set a good example for your children. Nevertheless, I cannot resist a good homeschool pajama day every so often. Pop in a good educational movie, light a fire in the fireplace, sip hot chocolate, and eat popcorn in our jammies. I'm trying to do this with my kids about once a month.

Some of my girls' favorite movies are the American Girl Movies, so they were excited to have a break from their regular work to review Zeezok Publishing's Z-Guide to the Movies for Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. My boys enjoyed it, too, but don't tell anyone!

The Z-Guides to the Movies are available for Elementary/Middle School or for High School levels, and for a number of popular movies, such as Johnny Tremain, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Most of the movies can be obtained from Netflix or even checked out from your local library. We reviewed the Elementary/Middle School level.

The Z-Guide is a completely downloadable product, and it is much more than a discussion guide. It includes ten activities, designed to be done two-per-day for a week. The Kit Kittredge Z-Guide began with an overview of the movie and of the historical setting. Activity 1 listed movie review questions for the children to answer while they were watching the movie. I was impressed by how this kept their attention on the movie and improved their retention. Activity 2 involved researching the Great Depression apart from the movie. After all, movies are seldom a completely accurate portrayal of history! Other activities followed, including vocabulary, a discussion of literary devices used, a newspaper story to write (because Kit wanted to be a newspaper reporter), and my favorite, a discussion of the worldview that shaped the events in the movie. The worldview discussion teaches students to not only watch movies for entertainment, but also to understand the worldviews behind them. According to Zeezok publishing, the hands-on activities for some of the movies include creating a treasure hunt, completing a craft, or planning and making a meal. I plan to check out some more of these, because I have always loved unit guides that help me to include several different subjects, hands-on activities, and various learning styles in a way that will be educational and memorable for my children.

You can find all of Zeezok's Z-Guides to the Movies at Zeezok Publishing, or click here. Prices vary, with many of them running around $12.99. Check Zeezok's price list for individual titles.

TOS Crew members reviewed Z-Guides for a number of different movies, so to see what they each have to say, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Zeezok's Z-Guide to the Movies for Kit Kittredge in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: R.E.A.L. Homeschool Spanish

2012-01-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

At left is the pattern for a poinsettia brooch that you can make out of pumpkin seeds and navy beans by following the directions here. Why is that a great project for your Spanish class? Because in Mexico, Christmas Eve is known as La Noche Buena (The Good Night), or Poinsettia Night. Here is the story:

There is a famous story in Mexico of a poor child who did not have a gift to lay at the altar on Christmas Eve. He saw some leaves and branches near his home and took them to the church as an offering. Some people snickered at his modest gift. However, after laying the leaves down at the altar, they miraculously turned a beautiful red! Hence, Christmas Eve is called the ‘Noche Buena’ in Mexico!

This is just one of the fun activities we gleaned from the R.E.A.L. Homeschool Spanish newsletter, which we began receiving monthly when we started reviewing the R.E.A.L. Homeschool Spanish curriculum, available on the Homeschool Spanish website.

The "R.E.A.L." in the title stands for Relax, Enjoy, Aspire, and Learn Spanish. The idea is that children (and adults!) will learn a new language best when they are able to relax and enjoy the learning process. They learn by beginning with conversation and concentrating on the application of the language more than the grammar to begin with. To quote from the developers of the curriculum:

We believe that a relaxed environment encourages positive language learning. Too much grammar and too much emphasis on perfectly correct speech hinders the enjoyment and progress of learning. Slow and steady practice promotes correct speech over time. For these reasons, we have limited our grammar sections to the minimum and stress communication and enjoyment first.

When I took Spanish in high school, I learned spelling, grammar, noun cases, and verb tenses ad nauseam. I studied, did well on my tests and passed the class with flying colors; yet when I went to Spain and tried to speak to people, it was very difficult. I had not learned to carry on a conversation in that language. Now that we are military and know many people learning new languages as adults to go overseas, we realize that an immersion technique is the best way to learn a new language; yet it is hard to completely immerse your children in a second language in your own home, especially if you do not speak the language yourself.

Homeschool Spanish: A REAL Curriculum for the Whole Family is a practical teaching method that works in a home environment. First of all, the parent does not have to speak Spanish to begin. You can learn right along with your child. Secondly, all kinds of activities are offered to help integrate your Spanish studies with your other activities. Geography, History, even Math - there are ideas offered in the Curriculum Guide for activities in every subject to correlate with what you are doing in Spanish. The curriculum is suitable for any age, as your youngest children can begin learning conversational Spanish simply by listening to the audio files, and older children can do the activity book and other projects. Even high schoolers and adults can learn the language with this relaxed method, and a High School Supplement is due to come out soon.

We reviewed the downloadable version of the Homeschool Spanish curriculum. We received a complete curriculum to download, including a Curriculum Guide with detailed lesson plans and extra ideas, a PDF Spanish book, a black & white version of the Spanish book for printing, a PDF activity workbook, an activity answer book, and all the audio files needed for the units. This downloadable version, without the Curriculum Guide, is on special for $49.95 right now on the Homeschool Spanish website. There is also a bundle that includes the Curriculum Guide for $59.95, and hard copies of the curriculum are available. Click here for all package pricing.

There were several things I especially enjoyed about this curriculum:

1) It concentrates on teaching conversational Spanish, which can be applied and used in real-world situations, without neglecting the grammar that needs to be taught.

2) It promotes interaction among the members of our family and can be used with all ages together in a relaxed atmosphere.

3) The various tools used to teach the second language incorporate all the senses and appeal to every type of learner, whether your students are visual, auditory, or more hands-on learners.

4) There is a good balance of work that I do with my children and work that they are able to complete on their own. There is very little prep work that I have to do beforehand.

5) The newsletters we receive monthly are a fantastic supplement to the program and contain a lot of fun and useful information.

6) To be honest, it's just fun!

To see what other TOS reviewers thought about the product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free downloadable version of the Homeschool Spanish curriculum. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Free Quickpage Kit from My Memories, and a Challenge

2012-01-05T10:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Here's another free quickpage from My Memories! Click image to go to the download site. You will get both of these quickpages, plus the individual elements with which to make them so that you can customize your own page.

The theme is New Year's Resolutions. Send the page you make with the above kit about your Resolutions to noteablescraps (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will send you the link for the next kit, pictured below! (The submission of your page grants permission to share it here on this site.)

New to digital scrapbooking, or needing some new scrapping software to try?

USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

Happy Scrapping! :)

"Snow Dreamy" by Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know about your house, but my kids are dying for snow. Here in North Carolina, it was in the 70s Christmas week. Then the temps dropped into the 20s, but no precipitation. My kids are begging and pleading. We keep telling them to enjoy this, because when we move up north next year, they'll have more snow than they ever wanted!!

While we're dreaming, though, here's a great kit by Dandelion Dust Designs to scrap those snow memories, or just the snow dreaming: "Snow Dreamy"!

You can pick this kit up exclusively at ScrapDelicious. Image is linked:

Want to try the kit out with your own photos? Try these free quickpages! Click images to download from Mediafire. PU only.

Happy Scrapping!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "Snow Dreamy" kit in exchange for these layouts and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

My Birthday (Repost)

2012-01-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday! (We won't say which year!) I made myself a little kit to scrap my birthday photos, and you may download it by clicking on the image below. PU/S4H/S4O. The "Happy New Year" kit's color palette was a little brighter, but many of the elements could be used with this kit as well. Hope you are enjoying January and not letting the after-Christmas-blues get you down too much!

RAKScraps Sponsor for January - Scrapwow

2012-01-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

The RAKScraps Sponsor for January is Scrapwow. The December club kit from Scrapwow was "Christmas Joy," and it just happened to match my Christmas pictures from this year perfectly!

You can check out the Scrapwow annual membership club here.

Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of "Christmas Joy" in exchange for these layouts.

"Holiday Memories" by Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-01-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Did I hear someone say, "Wait! I need even more Christmas kits?!! I have pictures of ornaments to scrap! I have pictures with Santa!!" Dandelion Dust Designs has got you covered. In addition to "Christmas Time," with its rich golds and reds, they released "Holiday Memories" today. This kit is just as elegant, with more silvery/winter blue hues.

You can also pick this kit up at ScrapDelicious, also marked down 20.12% for the New Year 2012!

Be sure to pick up your QuickPages from Mediafire! Click images below. PU only.

Happy New Year! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of "Holiday Memories" in exchange for layouts.

"Christmas Time" by Dandelion Dust Designs

2012-01-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you may be hoping to spend some time this New Year's Day afternoon scrapping some of your Christmas pics while the sports nuts sleep in front of the football games! Although it's after Christmas, it will take me a while to get all those wonderful memories scrapped, and I'll be needing Christmas kits. Dandelion Dust Designs just released a huge new kit for getting all those memories preserved. Here is "Christmas Time."

You can get the kit exclusively at ScrapDelicious, where it is marked 20.12% off to kick off 2012!!!

Click images below to grab your QPs from Mediafire! PU only.

Happy New Year! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "Christmas Time" kit in exchange for layouts.

Oldie But Goodie: "New Year" Background Freebie

2011-12-31T22:26:00.000-08:00

The "New Year Celebration" Background was made from my 2011 New Year Freebie, which seems to have fallen off the blog. Image linked to 4shared. PU/S4H/S4O.

Happy New Year! :)

January Blog Train Blog - "Refresh"

2011-12-31T22:05:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year, 2012, time to start fresh and new! I didn't sign up in time to be on the The Blog Train Blog this month, so I'm not on their list of stops, but I did doodle on some papers with the color palette. Here they are if you are interested. Click image to download from Mediafire. PU/S4H/S4O.

To hop on the Blog Train and visit all the stops, go to http://blogtrainblog.blogspot.com/.

Happy New Year! :)

Stuff to Scrap Road Trip: Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

Enjoy the New Year Road Trip with Stuff to Scrap - Winter Formal! Click image to download. PU/S4H/S4O.

Check out all the travel stops below. You came here from Pizazz Pixels. Next stop: HD Creations!

JMC Designs
Scraps by Andrea
Busy Crafting Mommy
Just For Fun Designs
CutieFruity
Scrappin Serenity
Saphira's Scraps
The Scrappy Kat
Tinadell's Tags
scraphannah
Monkey'sMusings
Leaving a Legacy
The Digi Scrapping Mama
DoubleTrouble Scraps
Queen Wild Scraps
Shel Belle Scraps
A Fish Design
Pizazz Pixels
Note-able Scraps
HD Creations
Let Me Scrapbook!

Happy 2012!

New Website for Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-12-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! We hope you are enjoying the holidays with your family and friends. Just wanted to remind you that Sprouting Seeds Studio has transitioned to their new website - Dandelion Dust Designs - as they will be taking down the Sprouting Seeds Studio website on December 31, 2011.

If you'd like to continue following their website, downloading their freebies and/or purchasing their resale kits, you will need to now visit them on their new website. We'd love to have you join the Dandelion Dust Designs Facebook Page, where they currently have an Exclusive Facebook Freebie for you to download. They also have 2 Freebies on the new website, available for a very limited time.

Thank you so much for being a customer, fan, follower and/or reader of Sprouting Seeds Studio these past few years!

Best wishes to you and yours in 2012! Happy New Year!!!!

"My Memories" Freebie

2011-12-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in digital scrapbooking but just don't know where to start, check out the all-in-one-stop-shop at My Memories, where you can purchase both your software and your digital scrapbooking kits. Don't know quite what you are doing yet? Try some of the many freebies offered, like this one. Click on the image to download from My Memories:

USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

Happy Scrapping! :)

TOS Review: The World's Greatest Stories

2011-12-20T21:54:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have always thought that not only is the Bible important for spiritual growth, but it also contains some of the greatest literature on earth. Why wouldn't it? It was written by the Author of Authors, and every word is true! If you want a happy story, a sad story, a comedy, a tragedy, an adventure story, a topic for your report on ancient literature, or a great plot for a new movie, it's all there. The story of Abraham and Sarah alone is a saga unequaled by modern romantic adventures. So why should kids grow up thinking it's boring? For some reason, that is a common misconception among children, perhaps because they have heard it read in dry monotone voices, or perhaps because they just haven't been exposed to these stories enough. Stories such as "Daniel and The Lions' Den" and "Jonah and The Great Fish" have fed the minds of children for generations.

In our search for children's Biblical materials, however, we have been frustrated by the inaccuracy of so many retellings. Oh, I enjoy a good novel of historical fiction, and I love cartoon anachronisms showing familiar Bible stories in the present day. But when it really comes to teaching, I was having a hard time finding enjoyable children's materials that did not change parts of the stories and create confusion for the children. We finally found the - perhaps obvious - solution of simply reading to the children straight from the Bible.

George W. Sarris of The World's Greatest Stories came to the same conclusion. Why rewrite the greatest stories of all time? In his series of audio CDs, he tells the old favorites verbatim from both the New International and the King James Versions. Nothing added, nothing taken away. He is a dynamic story-teller who uses voice characterizations, sound effects, and some background music to truly make the stories come alive. I received Volume 1: The Prophets, in the NIV, to review. It includes the stories "The Blazing Furnace," "Daniel in the Lions' Den," "The Prophecy of Jonah," and others. There are six volumes available all together. These CDs are fantastic for children of any age who enjoy listening to stories, especially those who are not yet good readers or who are simply better auditory learners. They are great for car trips, bedtime listening, or as a supplemental activity for one child to use while the busy parent/teacher is working with someone else. Truthfully, though, I would enjoy them most simply gathering around the fireplace and listening as a family.

Each CD or cassette tape is $7.95 and is about an hour long. If you order six or more items in one transaction, the shipping is free! See more about George W. Sarris, order a cassette tape or CD in the NIV or KJV, and even listen to some audio clips for yourself at http://www.worldsgreateststories.com/.

To find out what other members of the crew thought about The World's Greatest Stories CDs in both versions, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Volume 1 of The World's Greatest Stories on CD in exchange for a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Merry Christmas!

Another Freebie from My Memories!

2011-12-20T20:59:00.001-08:00

Here is a great gift from My Memories, just in time for Christmas! Click image to go to the download page.

Quickpages make it easy to scrap your memories any time of the year! Enjoy!

Use the code STMMMS79285 to receive $10 off the My Memories Suite Software and a $10 gift certificate to the store.

Merry CHRISTmas! :)

Heather Jolly's New Blog

2011-12-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

Are any of you followers of Heather Jolly? I discovered her recently and have greatly enjoyed the freebies I have downloaded from her blog. Recently, however, she had to shut down her blog because of technical difficulties, and I was very sad until I found her new location here! She already has a new kit posted, Olive Juice, and she is working on a Christmas kit. So if you've been missing her blog and looking for her on the web, or if you have never heard of her and would like to check out her freebies, visit her new blog! Preview below is linked to her blog:

Happy Scrapping! :)

TOS Review: Fractazmic

2011-12-16T05:27:00.000-08:00

Today's review goes back to one of my favorite themes: learning through games! Fractions can be one of the most frustrating and difficult math concepts to learn and to teach. One of my favorite practical applications when teaching fractions is to go in the kitchen and make a big ol' batch of cookies. Double or triple the recipe and have the kids measure out the ingredients (hey, Mom, two 1/4 cups are the same as 1/2 cup!!) Just make sure you double check the accuracy before you let them dump in the salt!! Up until now, though, I did not have any fun games for teaching fractions. Fractazmic has filled the void!

Fractazmic consists of a deck of cards divided into three color-coded suits. The object of the game is to combine cards within each suit to equal one (1). When one player runs out of cards, the player with the most "hands," or combinations of cards equaling one (1), wins. This encourages kids to learn to add those fractions together quickly!

My family loves the Fractazmic game from I See Cards. The game can be played with 2-4 players and is ideal for any age that is learning fractions. The bright colors and eye-catching illustrations are probably best for upper elementary, when you are starting to teach fractions, but if you have older kids who could still use some practice on those beastly little parts-of-a-whole, I think they would enjoy it, too. The 60-card deck is only $6.95 and would make a great stocking stuffer. (You know all you homeschool moms are looking for educational Christmas gifts!) The game's usefulness is certainly not limited to homeschooling, as it would be great for any kid struggling with or just learning fractions, and it would be a great classroom aid as well.

Find out more about Fractazmic and purchase the game at www.fractazmic.com. To see what other crew members thought about Fractazmic and other I See Cards games, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free Fractazmic game for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Christmas Digital Issue

2011-12-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

The TOS Christmas Digital Issue is live and absolutely free! Click the image below to view!

Merry Christmas! :)

"Winter'ish" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-12-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

In the midst of downloading all the lovely goodies from the December/Christmas Blog Trains for the beginning of the month, I was excited to also see that Sprouting Seeds Studio released "Winter'ish." This versatile kit can be used for all your winter and snow pictures, but with its deep reds and greens and golds, is also perfect for Christmas photos or cards!

You can get the kit exclusively at ScrapDelicious:

Click image below to download my freebie from Mediafire (PU only), and also jump over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to download another little freebie!

Merry Christmas and Happy Scrapping! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for a layout showcasing the kit. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.

DST December Blog Train - "Traditions"

2011-11-30T16:27:00.000-08:00

We have two great blog trains coming your way this month! All aboard for Christmas scrapbooking pages! Here's my portion of the DST "Traditions" Blog Train:

Hop on the Blog Train at http://blogtrainblog.blogspot.com/.

Merry Christmas!

"Country Christmas" Road Trip with Stuff to Scrap!

2011-11-30T16:25:00.000-08:00

December means Christmas, and I can't wait to start downloading all the digi-scrapping Christmas goodies! Click preview to download from MediaFire. PU/S4H/S4O. Then continue on down the road below. My prayers are for a joyous and meaningful Christmas season for all!

Your last stop was Heni scrappel.
Your next stop is AZ Sweetheart Scraps. Enjoy the ride!

Here's the whole road trip in case you've gotten sidetracked:

JMC Designs
Sweet Maple
Scrappin Serenity
Growing Pains Scrapped
Let Me Scrapbook!
scraphannah
Tina Dell's Tags
Saphira's Scraps
Junfunkie Designs
Sweet Creations
Just For Fun Designs
Queen Bee Scraps
Seal Scraps
CutieFruity
Queen Wild Scraps
Monkey's Musings
The Digi Scrapping Mama
Mommy Made This
DoubleTrouble Scraps
The Scrappy Kat
Heni scrappel
Note-able Scraps
AZ Sweetheart Scraps

Merry Christmas!

FFH Christmas Album GIVEAWAY

2011-11-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your posts!! The winner is JAMIE!! Send your email address to me at noteablescraps (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will have the link for the download forwarded to you!

I am extending the giveaway on the FFH Christmas Album below because NOT ONE PERSON ENTERED! If you want it, leave a comment!

Thanks!

http://noteablescraps.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-one-silent-night.html

"Give Thanks" Kit Freebie

2011-11-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Did you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving? I hope so. We had a lovely time with friends! I am soooooo ready to get into the Christmas season, but I do love Thanksgiving and have enjoyed my weekend. Before switching holidays, I needed to change some colors on my "Everyday Elegance" Thanksgiving-themed portion and add a few things to match my Thanksgiving photos. Here is the newly-colored kit if you are interested. Click image to download from Mediafire. PU/S4H/S4O.

Happy Thanksgiving!

TOS Review: The Reading Game

2011-11-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

This month, we were given the great privilege of reviewing The Reading Game, created by “Wordly Wise” author, Kenneth Hodkinson. The Reading Game includes six illustrated storybooks and six sets of flashcards which correspond to the storybooks. The flashcards are used to play a memory game between the student who is learning to read and the parent, teacher, or older student who is already able to read. As the student plays the game, he or she quickly learns the words on the flashcards. Once he learns one set, he moves to the next, until he has all the sight words for the first book learned. Then he can read the first book. After that, he proceeds to play the game with the memory cards for the second book, and so on. By the end of the sixth book, he will have a reading vocabulary of 180 words, almost half of which are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language!

This is one of those tools that I wish I had discovered years ago to use with my first child when I was teaching him to read! My youngest son strongly dislikes workbooks and flashcards, and he definitely learns best through games. Whereas he is completely bored by repeating his sightwords flashcards, he loves the fast-paced memory game using cards that are almost identical to the boring ones (he especially loves it when he wins)! I like the fact that there are no pictures on the word side of the flashcards to help him figure out the words, so he really has to learn which words use which letters. (The animal picture on the back of the cards shows to which animal story they correspond.) I love that he is able to learn so much so quickly through playing the game, and that he gets the immediate reward of being able to read a whole book at the end of each game. The only thing I didn't like is that the books do not use capital letters (except for the word "I") or punctuation. The author explains this in the instructions to the game, saying that he prefers to let the students learn the words first without worrying about things like capitalization and punctuation yet. I believe that children learn things like correct grammar and mechanics best by reading books that use them correctly. They just get used to seeing periods, question marks, and commas in the right places, so that they are often using these things correctly even before they learn the grammar lesson. That small difference of opinion, however, did not diminish our enjoyment of this game. My 6-year-old can play for hours, and then enjoys reading his new books to anyone who will listen! His reading has improved dramatically in the couple of weeks since we have received this game.

The Reading Game is geared toward lower elementary students and is suitable for any child who is learning to read. My older children, who are all good readers, enjoyed playing "tutor" and playing this game with their little brother. I believe an older struggling reader could even benefit from playing this game in a "tutor" role with a younger sibling, strengthening her own reading ability and building her self-confidence. More information about the game can be found at http://www.thereadinggame.com/index.html, where you may also purchase it for $24.95.

I highly recommend The Reading Game for anyone who has children who are learning how to read. To see what other TOS Crew members thought of this game, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Reading Game for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

4shared Freebies

2011-11-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a little poll. Do you prefer to download from 4shared, MediaFire, or some other sharing site? Leave me a comment below. I am considering switching completely to MediaFire in December, as several readers have indicated their dislike for 4shared. In the meantime, however, all of my previous freebies at 4shared should still be available. If you haven't gotten them all, take a few minutes to build up your Quickpage stash (as well as a few other goodies).

Click here to scroll through them all.

"Cinnamon Twist" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-11-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I have all kinds of freebies and deals for you today, as we prepare for the holidays and the end of the month. Here's the new release "Cinnamon Twist," another lovely autumn kit by Sprouting Seeds Studio.

Click image above to purchase the kit at ScrapDelicious. Click the below image to download the freebie add-on from Sprouting Seeds Studio.

Don't forget to come back for your free Quickpage from 4shared or MediaFire. PU only.

Happy Scrapping! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of "Cinnamon Twist" in return for a layout using the kit.

"Clever Dragons" - A New Website for Boys - Limited Time Special Offer!

2011-11-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I posted a glowing review for Always Ice Cream, a social and educational website for girls. (See review here.) The only thing that seemed to be missing from this fabulous website was. . . . a place for boys. Well, the site developers have answered the cries from the boys' parents, and have released Clever Dragons. On this site, boys can raise dragons and build castles - but only after having earned "gold" by practicing math, languages, typing, etc.!

The best part is that they are offering a low introductory rate of $39.99 for a lifetime membership! (This is normally $99.99.) The membership can be purchased as a gift coupon to be given through the holidays. Hurry, as this offer only lasts until November 27!!

Happy dragon-slaying! :)

"My Memories" Freebie!

2011-11-21T20:11:00.000-08:00

Chances are, if you are looking at this blog, you are probably interested in scrapbooking, homeschooling, or both. (Or you are a very good friend of mine just offering your support, in which case I deeply thank you!) If you have been considering digital scrapbooking but don't know where to get started, consider the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software. Version 3 was just released, and it provides you with everything you need to get started making your own beautiful scrapbook pages or Christmas cards. Use the coupon code STMMMS79285 to get $10 off your purchase!

If you'd like a taste of what's included, try out this freebie. It includes 2 quickpages and all the elements and papers used to make them! Click image to go to download page.

Happy Scrapping!

Review: One Silent Night

2011-11-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your posts!! The winner is JAMIE!! Send your email address to me at noteablescraps (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will have the link for the download forwarded to you!

I was recently given the opportunity to review One Silent Night, a Christmas album by the husband-and-wife duo, FFH. What a fun way to get into the holiday spirit as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach us! Approach? That sounds so mild. Thanksgiving and Christmas are hurtling toward me like a speeding freight train, trying to run me over! I'm not complaining, though; I love the holiday season, and I can't wait to put up my tree and listen to all my Christmas music on Friday!

One Silent Night is a lovely way to begin the Christmas season. The voices are clear and mellow, and there is some nice harmony. It contains a mix of fun songs like "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Winter Wonderland," and more spiritual favorites like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Glorious Impossible." If you are looking for an easy-listening mix of Christmas favorites, take a look at this new album, just released on October 18th.

You can find FFH at the following sites:

Website: http://ffh.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FFHmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/FFHMusic
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-silent-night/id474548207

Purchase the CD for $12.99 from http://ffh.net/store/one-silent-night/.

OR leave a comment below to enter the drawing for a FREE copy of One Silent Night! I love Christmas movies and music and am always looking for new things, so leave a comment recommending your favorite Christmas movie or CD for me. For a second entry in the drawing, leave a comment telling me you "liked" my Facebook page! I will draw a winner on Friday, November 25.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

TOS Review: Vocabcafe

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

I remember doing Vocabulary Words when I was in school. Write the word, spell it correctly, write the pronunciation, write the definition, then use the word in a sentence. At the end of each week, we would be quizzed on a group of the words. Increasing a child's vocabulary is so important both for SAT and other test preparation, and also for improving general reading comprehension and communication skills. The majority of my vocabulary, however, came from the books I read rather than from the word lists we used each week.

Children learn so much about spelling, vocabulary, and grammar simply by reading avidly. Of course, when they come across a word that is new to them, they need to stop reading, look it up in the dictionary, and find the definition. Um, well, I wasn't so good at that part growing up. I usually tried to figure it out from the context and keep going, as do my kids now!

Well, we always want something better for the next generation, and now my kids have Vocabcafe Books from College Prep Genius, at http://collegeprepgenius.com. These modern, middle-to-high-school level, fiction books include 300 SAT-level vocabulary words in the text of each book, and the vocabulary words are highlighted. You can find the definition of each highlighted word at the bottom of that very page! There is also a word review and appendix at the end of each book. While I hoped that my 8th-grader would enjoy the books, his 6th-grade sister enjoyed them as well. They both agreed that this method of learning vocabulary beat looking up every word and writing down its definition hands-down!

According to the website and our own TOS Homeschool Crew page:

These original, modern novellas contain no foul language, no illicit sexual themes, and no sorcery. Parental discretion is advised, however, in the case of I.M. for Murder, which contains graphic material some readers may find upsetting.

College Prep Genius is currently offering this set of four novels at the special sale price of $38.85, or you may purchase the books individually for $12.95 each. The set includes: Planet Exile, The Summer of Saint Nick, IM for Murder, and Operation High School. You may purchase them here. College Prep Genius also offers other books and DVDs about standardized test preparation, improving your SAT scores, and finding scholarships for college.

To see what other TOS Crew members thought of the Vocabcafe Series and the SAT Prep Course, click here.

Disclaimer: I received free copies of the four novellas in the Vocabcafe Series for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Keyboard Town Pals

2011-11-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to review Keyboard Town Pals, the typing program for children. While I personally did not start typing lessons until the 7th Grade, it has become increasingly important to teach these skills to children at a young age in today's world. With children participating in so many activities on the computer, it is important for them to learn correct fingering early on. Not only will this be much easier and less time-consuming than the hunt-and-peck method, but also, your child will develop good habits before it becomes too difficult to break the bad ones and re-learn correct fingering at an older age.

Keyboard Town Pals, an online typing program found at http://ktpweb.keyboardtownpals.com, is an interactive alternative to the traditional typing programs that children may find boring. With its bright colors and friendly characters, it reminded me of TV shows that I watched as a child, such as Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo. Sunny, the narrator, takes the children through the three streets of Keyboard Town, introducing them to characters like "Amy, for A." The program is suitable for any child old enough to know his letters and use a keyboard, up through about eight years old. My 10-year-old thought that the program was too childish, but my 8-year-old enjoyed it. She finished the eight lessons that we were given for review quickly, in one afternoon, and she is now attempting to use the correct fingers on the keyboard, and she is finding her letters more quickly.

You may purchase the web-based software or the CD-ROM for the "Learn to Type in an Hour" program for $30.00 at this link. There is also a CD-ROM bundle available for $45.00. Other products available include stickers, finger puppets, a coloring book, and a card game.

To see what other TOS Reviewers thought about this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the Keyboard Town Pals program for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

To Publish A Book

2011-11-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get a book published? Have you thought of trying to get one published yourself? Do you know the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing, and have you wondered if there are any other options? If you'd like to follow along on a real journey to first-time publication, check out Amazing By Design. You can follow the process step-by-step from choosing a publisher (um, yeah, that's whoever is willing to publish the book!!), to Illustrations (that's where this book is now), and on to full publication and printing (sometime after Christmas).

The Person I Marry

2011-11-04T17:36:00.000-07:00

"Long before thinking of diamonds & glitter,

here are some things that I need to consider."

My kids are at such fun ages. Even the youngest is learning to bathe himself and make himself peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, so my job is not nearly so custodial as it was a few years ago; yet we also are not dealing with teenage problems - YET. My youngest son takes off running if a girl tries to hug or kiss him. My two girls are not planning to EVER let a boy mess up their plans for their lives. And my oldest son - well, that's where the problems are likely to start. At age 12, he likes girls. He is starting to like them quite a lot.

I would like to talk to my children about what type of person to marry now. Now, while some of them still believe the opposite gender has cooties. Now, before they are blinded by emotions and teenage hormones. Now, while they still listen to a few of my opinions and have not quite yet decided that I am the dumbest person on earth. I'd like to arm them with some foundational ideas about what characteristics to seek in a lifetime partner.

Gary and Jan Bower had just this in mind when they wrote the delightful book The Person I Marry for their own children. In Gary's delightful rhyming verse, accompanied by Jan's beautiful oil-painted illustrations, they emphasize to children that qualities such as kindness, honesty, and thoughtfulness are the foundations of a good relationship; that God must be the center of the relationship; and that they should strive to have those qualities themselves.

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

This 32-page, fully-illustrated, hard-cover book may be purchased for $11.99 from Bower Books at http://www.bowerbooks.com/brightfuturebooks.html. Suitable for any preschool or elementary-aged children, other books in the "Bright Future" series cover topics such as handling money, the reality of heaven, and finding purpose in life. Gary and Jan Bower definitely have a gift for explaining difficult, grown-up subjects to children. My children enjoyed this book, and I loved the truth I was reading to them.
To read other TOS Homeschool Reviews of The Person I Marry by Gary and Jan Bower, click here.
Disclaimer: I was allowed to view a free digital copy of The Person I Marry for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"Sophisticated Fall!"

2011-11-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sprouting Seeds Studio promised us lots of fall kits this year, and they have delivered! Here's the latest release, "Sophisticated Fall."

You can pick the kit up exclusively, and right now on sale, at ScrapDelicious!

There's a cute freebie available at Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog. Click image below to go pick it up.

Make sure you come back to pick up your free QP from 4shared! PU only.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "Sophisticated Fall" kit for the purpose of review.

Take the November Road Trip with Stuff to Scrap: Everyday Elegance!

2011-10-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

In two hours, we will begin the month of November 2011 and my favorite time of the year. I love all of fall, but I especially love November and December, the whole Thanksgiving and Christmas season! Here is my part of Stuff to Scrap's Blog Road Trip. Click on image to download from 4shared. PU/S4H/S4O.

If you prefer, you may download from MediaFire.

Here's the Road Map for the rest of your stops. You should have arrived here from

Sweet Maple and your next stop is scraphannah.

Scraps by Andrea
Dandelion Dust Designs
Junfunkie Designs
CutieFruity
The Digi Scrapping Mama
Shel Belle Scraps
Lovely Creations
DoubleTrouble Scraps
KatyBugScraps
PizazzPixels
Queen Wild Scraps
Scrappin Serenity
JMC Designs
Adriana's Cafe
Ladybug Pics n Scraps
Lindsey's Digital Scrapbook
MDK Scraps
Queen Bee Scraps
Daydreamer
The Scrappy Kat
scrapN2Nspire
Let Me Scrapbook!
Sweet Maple
Note-able Scraps
scraphannah

Happy Scrapping! :)

TOS Thanks Military Families

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

As a homeschooling military spouse myself, I appreciate TOS's tribute to the military so much. If you are military, please click here to see the beautiful tribute and to claim your FREE subscription (for new subscribers only) to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Thank you for your service!

TOS Review: Ooka Island Adventure

2011-10-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

One of the fun things about homeschooling is that while my oldest is beginning college prep reading and writing (see last post), my youngest is just beginning to read. I have found in teaching four children to read that the best programs involve actual books that early readers can learn to read for themselves, rather than just word lists or word/picture flashcards. My first grader is anxious to accumulate more and more whole books that he can read all by himself, and each one he masters gives him a sense of accomplishment and a boost of confidence.

Ooka Island Adventure is a unique downloadable early reading program for 3-7-year-olds. It works on Mac or PC, which is welcome news for us Mac users! To begin with, you must download the game itself, and then you may purchase a subscription to use it online (the download is included in the subscription price). It is a large initial download, but I did not have any problems downloading it or using it. Or should I say, my children did not have any problems. When we first started, I was unable to figure out how to personalize the student's avatar, and I was thinking the program may not be user-friendly. When I unleashed my 6-year-old on it, however, he had his avatar ready to go in a purple superhero suit that he LOVED in a matter of minutes. So apparently, my problem was user-malfunction. You know what they say: if you can't figure out how to work a computer program, ask someone with a doctorate degree or a 10-year-old!!

Once you have logged into the program, the student first plays games on Ooka Island, learning and reinforcing the alphabet and the sounds different letters and blends make. Watch out for the FLIGS, the mischievous flying pigs who like to make trouble all around the island! Your child can play these games as long as he or she wants or needs to in order to learn the sounds and letters, so this is ideal for preschoolers who are just beginning to learn their letters, or for kindergartners and first graders who can move through to the books more quickly. Once your child has earned some books, he may go to the Popcorn Theater on the island, where he may pick any of the books on his bookshelf. The book may first be read with Auntie K and Zobot the robot, who will read the book while highlighting each word, and explain what is on the pages. Then you may read with Zobot, who will just read the book while highlighting each word. Finally, you may read the book completely on your own. The ability to go back to any book on the list and choose to read it by yourself or with help gives children a chance to reinforce their skills. The more your child plays Ooka Island, the larger the library he can build - of books he can read ALL BY HIMSELF!

My son is currently up to 7 books in his Ooka Island library, and if he had his way, this would be his entire 1st Grade curriculum!! The program may be used as part of your homeschool reading curriculum, or as a reading supplement, whether you homeschool or not. You can find more information at http://ookaisland.com/. Pricing is as follows:

Click here to purchase.

To read what other TOS Reviewers have to say about the Ooka Island Adventure, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free subscription to Ooka Island Adventure for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Excellence in Literature

2011-10-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

My 12-year-old son is, by age, in 7th grade, but he is doing mainly 8th-grade work this year, and he is especially ahead in the Language Arts side of things. He is an avid reader who has been reading at high school level for some time, and he enjoys the classics, especially those by such authors as Jules Verne. For this reason, I was realizing that I need to start looking at college-prep studies and stepping up our writing pursuits. Just in time, I was blessed to be able to review Janice Campbell's Excellence in Literature:: English 1: Introduction to Literature with the Honors option, from Everyday Education.

The Introduction to Literature is set up like a study guide, providing assignments to use with the classics listed in the course. If your budget is tight, you could get these books from the library. The author recommends, however, that you purchase the books, so that you may highlight sections, write in the margins, and have them for future reference. Many of the books can be found second-hand very cheaply, and if you have multiple children who will be using the course, then of course you will be able to use them again. My husband regularly peruses thrift stores, yard sales, and used book stores for the titles we need for homeschool, and we have built up quite a library very economically. Introduction to Literature is, however, much more than your average study guide with a few discussion questions to ask with each book. Janice Campbell's course covers how to read analytically and for comprehension, how to study and make notes on the literature, and how to write an effective paper communicating your own ideas about what you have studied. Much of the work can be done individually by the student, at the student's own pace, with a parent or teacher reviewing the finished papers at the end of each unit and offering praise and advice for improvement. The course teaches excellent personal study habits, research tips, and in-depth reading and writing skills in preparation for college. It is also completely customizable for each family: while a specific order of books and timeline is suggested for the year-long course, the books may be done in any order, by themselves or in conjunction with another Language Arts or History course.

We are doing the course in the suggested order, and we have barely scratched the surface in Unit 1: Short Stories. We cannot wait to get to Unit 2: Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne. Jules Verne is one of my son's favorite authors, and he has already read that book. Just take a look at the fun titles we have in store for the rest of the year:

Unit 1: Short Stories by-
• Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron
• Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (This one is not scary, if you're concerned about that.)
• Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace
• O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
• Eudora Welty: A Worn Path
• James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Honors: Shirley or Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Honors: 1984 by George Orwell
Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

The titles listed are just the focus texts. More context readings are assigned in each unit, as well as optional honors texts which can be used for further high school and college credit. The English I college-prep course is recommended for students in Grades 8-12. It can be purchased from Everyday Education at http://www.everyday-education.com/literature/eng1.shtml. The print book is $29 plus $4.95 S&H. If you prefer to download the e-book and print your own pages for a 3-ring binder, you may download it for $27. Everyday Education also has many more resources for homeschooling through high school.

To see what other TOS reviewers have to say about Excellence in Literature, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Excellence in Literature:: English 1: Introduction to Literature with the Honors option, from Everyday Education, for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks!

2011-10-31T07:39:00.000-07:00

Do you have a little boy (or girl) who LOVES fire trucks? This review came at a great time for me, as my 1st grader had just started a unit on fire safety. Also, since we have several friends and relatives who are fire fighters, any bright and shiny pictures of fire trucks are always popular with my crew!

The 128-page Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks & Firefighters book contains many color pictures of fire engines and other equipment. It also contains fire-fighting information and trivia about fire-fighting history. My 6-year-old enjoyed the many pictures. I think a slightly older child might get a lot more out of the information included.

What my 6-year-old really loved was the DVD that was included: Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips. These fun jingles will keep him remembering to "stop, drop, and roll" for a long time to come!

These products are recommended for all ages. In my house, it seemed that they were best suited for around ages 6-10. While the songs and pictures are fun for any young children, I think the extra information in the book would especially be good for that older elementary child who wants to go beyond coloring pages and become a young expert on fire engines. If you are teaching multiple ages about fire safety, this combination would help you to have something for everyone.

You can find all of the Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks products at Marshall Publishing, http://marshallpublishinginc.com/. Purchase the book and DVD combo here for the current sale price of $29.95 (regularly $49.90). And just for taking a look at our TOS reviews on the product, you can receive another $10 off the sale price by using the coupon TOSF1 at checkout!

Marshall Publishing also has a number of other educational videos and products, including the George Washington Carver DVD, of which they also graciously sent me a copy. This inspirational story of the man born into slavery who rose above his circumstances to become a great scientist and benefactor can be purchased at Marshall Publishing for $19.95. A study guide is also included on the website.

To read other TOS Crew members' reviews of these products by Marshall Publishing, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks & Firefighers book, the Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips DVD, and the George Washington Carver DVD for the purpose of a fair review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Freebie at Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-10-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

There is a Freebie for you today over at Sprouting Seeds Studio!

Hurry over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to download this sweet treat and to check out the rest of their October specials!

Pick up your free quickpage at 4shared. PU only.

Happy Scrapping, and be safe with all of your activities today! :)

TOS Review: Say Anything

2011-10-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

As noted in yesterday's post, my family loved the games we received to review from NorthStar Games. The second game we reviewed was the family edition of Say Anything. Like Wits & Wagers, this game has brightly colored dry-erase cards. In place of the fun meeples, it has the high-tech "Select-O-Matic 6000" for showing the reader's choice. (It is a cardboard dial!) Instead of numeric answers to trivia questions, in Say Anything, the reader in each round asks a question from the card about his or her own opinion. The players then must answer the way they think the reader would answer, and the reader picks the best answer. Sometimes you don't know people as well as you think!!

This fun game for 3-6 players is my kids' new favorite. (You'll find that every time we get a new game, my kids have a new favorite!) The box says it is for ages 8+, but again, my 6-year-old enjoys participating. It is helpful if all the players know how to read, but sometimes he draws a picture of the answer on his card rather than writing a word. I love the fact that NorthStar Games has made Family Editions of two of their popular party games! Say Anything Family Edition game retails for $19.99 and can be purchased from places like Amazon.com, Target and other retail stores. You can find more information at http://www.northstargames.com/.

To find out what other TOS Reviewers thought about this game, click here.

Happy Game-Playing!

Disclaimer: I received a free Say Anything Family game for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Wits & Wagers

2011-10-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading my blog for any time at all, you know we love games! We were thrilled to get not one, but TWO games to review from NorthStar Games! The first was the Wits & Wagers family version. Here's what NorthStar has to say about the new family version of the popular party game:

Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!
The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.
So check out Wits & Wagers Family, the game that combines laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together!

My kids love this guessing and wagering game, with it's bright colors, fun "meeples," and easy dry-erase cards. The box says the game is for 3-10 players, ages 8+, but my 6-year-old comes in first or second place just about every game. Since you don't have to actually know the numeric answers to the trivia questions, and you get points for choosing the player's answer that is correct, he frequently picks the player who he thinks would know the answer, and he scores points. For instance, he wagered on his Boy Scout brother's answer on the Cub Scout question, and depends on Mom to be right about the year certain TV shows came out. He had everyone betting on his card, however, when the question asked about the number of characters in a Wii Mario game - his area of expertise!

Anyone who enjoys trivia games or party and family games will love the fast-paced Wits & Wagers from NorthStar Games. You can find more information at http://www.northstargames.com. The list price is $19.99, and the stores that carry the game are listed on the website when you enter your zip code. You may also purchase the game online. To find out what other TOS Crew members thought of the game, click here. To see another offering from NorthStar Games that my kids liked even more, check back tomorrow!

Disclaimer: I received a free Wits & Wagers Family game from NorthStar Games for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: E-Mealz

2011-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

I think every mother says it at some point: "If someone would just tell me what to fix tonight!" Or we start to fix something and then realize we are missing one ingredient. Frustrating! I have been trying to fix low-carb meals for our family, but sometimes those garlic crescent rolls are SOOO tempting!

Whether you are trying to stick to a diet, trying to find some new recipes for your dinner table, or just trying to save money on groceries, E-mealz has something for you! Once you join this subscription menu-planning service, you can download your new menu and grocery list each week. There are menus based on the specific sales at the following grocery stores each week: Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, ALDI, & Ralph's (CA). If you do not shop at any of these stores, you may also choose the "Any Store" low-budget plan. If your family has special needs, you may also choose a Gluten-free Plan, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Portion Control, or Vegetarian. And if your family is not that large or the kids have flown the nest, there are menus with meals for 1 or 2. With this ability to personalize the menus to the special circumstances of your family, these plans have something for everyone!

When you download your menu each week, you will also get a convenient grocery list, all on one page. I chose the low-carb, any-store option. My family has enjoyed the new dishes, and my kids have even made some of them. I love the fact that grill recipes and slow cooker recipes are included, as I use those frequently. This service is helping us to eat healthy dinners at home more often, with less fast-food when my schedule gets crazy and I just don't have much time to think about fixing dinner!

You may subscribe to this menu service at https://e-mealz.com/amember/signup.php for just $5/month! See what other TOS Crew members had to say about the service here.

Disclaimer: I received a free subscription to E-mealz for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.
Happy cooking! :)

"My Boy" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-10-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

After all my hot pink, girly pages made from Sprouting Seeds Studio's kits, you may be thinking, "But what about the boys?" Sprouting Seeds Studio has them covered, too. Here's a page made with the "My Boy" kit:

He was so cute when he was 3 feet tall. Now he's taller than me! Scrap your own memories with the kit from ScrapDelicious.

Hop over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to pick up the FREE add-on!

Pick up your FREE Quickpage from 4shared! Click image below. PU only.

Happy Scrapping! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Visual Latin Coupon!

2011-10-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you are probably mulling over my post on Visual Latin (click here if you missed it) and thinking, "Wow, that looks like such a great program; if only I had a discount code of some sort!" Well, Dwayne Thomas does not disappoint. He has made a coupon code available for $10 off Visual Latin products. Use OCT$10 at checkout.

I won't keep you long tonight, since I know you are in a hurry to go use that discount code, and I have a 6-year-old who just stuck toothpaste in his eye.

Carpe diem! Valete!

TOS Review: Always Ice Cream

2011-10-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

For the last month or so, my girls have been reviewing Always Ice Cream at http://www.always-icecream.com. This fun and educational website for girls was founded by parents who homeschooled, though it certainly is not limited to homeschool students. The goal is to have a safe and fun website for girls ages 7-12, with family friendly content. As a parent, you may link your parent account to your daughter's account and monitor her progress and activity on the site. You may choose whether to allow only educational content or to also allow community content, so that your daughter may communicate with other players online and play "social" games with them. You may also choose whether or not to allow Christian content. There are no ads for external sites, and the website has been certified by the Privo Privacy Assurance Program for online safety for children. You can see more information about the safety features here.

Games on Always Ice Cream teach and review concepts in Language Arts, Math, Geography & History, Science, Music Arts, Computer Skills, Foreign Languages (Spanish & German), and Religious Education (Christian) if you choose that option. My girls have already improved greatly in their math drills and in learning the USA States and Capitals.

The girls are rewarded for their efforts in "$coops," which they may then use in the games. From my parent account, I can also award them "$coops" for doing things like their homework, instrument practice, or cleaning their room, for no extra charge. That is a fantastic incentive!

In terms of review, I have to say that my girls absolutely love this website! I love having a safe and educational place for them to play on the Internet. The animation, the colors, and the games are perfect for their age and interest level. And as for my boys who feel they may be missing out? Well, I hear there may be something coming for them in the future!

If you would like to try out this fantastic program, you may try it for one month for only 99 cents! After that, a modest membership fee guarantees that the site can be funded without outside advertising. Packages range from $4.99 per month to a lifetime membership for $99.99. You can see all the packages here.

I highly recommend Always Ice Cream for anyone with girls ages 7-12. To see what other TOS Crew Members thought of the site, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a free subscription to Always Ice Cream for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Visual Latin

2011-10-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Latin is dead,
As dead as it can be -
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me!

When I wrote that on the chalkboard in my 8th Grade Latin Class, my teacher had a little chuckle, but proceeded to emphatically explain all the reasons that Latin is not a dead language. When my brother wrote the same poem on the same board for the same teacher, he got in trouble. I wonder why they called me a teacher's pet?

Well, Dwane Thomas says Latin is not exactly dead, it's just "frozen." It is not currently in use as a spoken language, and since it has not been for quite some time, it has no direct translation for words such as "Internet," "airplane," "LOL," or "BFF." So how in the world could it be useful to kids of today? As it turns out, Latin has plenty to offer. To find out what, you should look into Dwane Thomas's Visual Latin series, available on DVDs or as online downloads.

At this point, I should probably admit that despite enjoying taunting my teacher with the above poem, I was somewhat of a Latin geek when I was a teenager. I took several years of the ancient language, bringing home a gold medal and a silver medal for the National Latin Exam, as well as several Certamen trophies with my team. If you know what Certamen is, you are probably as big of a geek as I am, so for those of you who have never heard of it, it is kind of like a Latin Bowl or game show between schools. Because I loved Latin so much, I had planned to teach it to my children, but with so many other things for me to teach and them to learn in the few short years I have to homeschool them, I had about decided I would let it go. I very happily changed my mind when I received these videos to review.

The study of Latin gives kids a firm background in word roots, grammar, and language structure that is helpful in understanding their own language as well as others. Dwane teaches the lessons on the videos in a very easy-going manner with a little humor thrown in. Kids enjoy his conversational method of teaching. I also appreciate his explanation of the history of languages in the Biblical context. I learned a thing or two myself!

The Visual Latin curriculum is available at http://www.visuallatin.com/. It is designed for ages 9 and up. For pricing, see http://store.compasscinema.com/categories.php?category=Visual-Latin. The three DVDs that make up the full Latin I course are currently on sale for $80.00. You can also purchase them separately or purchase group licenses for use with a homeschool group or co-op. The full Latin course includes Latin I and Latin II, each intended to be done over one school year (but of course you may speed that up or slow it down), and there are several companion products you may wish to use for further enrichment. Overall, this is a very effective and entertaining way to breathe life into a language that some some have considered to be beyond saving!

If you would like to try out Visual Latin for free (you can't beat that deal!), click here to download SIX FREE lessons! Also see what other TOS reviewers had to say about Visual Latin here.

Disclaimer: I received a free DVD copy of the first 10 lessons of Visual Latin for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation, and all opinions are my own.

Grand Opening of Dandelion Dust Designs!

2011-10-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Grand Opening of Dandelion Dust Designs, and they are celebrating with a full-size FREEBIE fall kit!

Click here or image below to check out the Grand Opening and download your full-size kit! Also look back to posts from earlier this week for a few more freebies!

Of course, I have a free QP for you at 4shared PU only:

Happy Fall, Y'all! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

New Kit from Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-10-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not much for celebrating Hallowe'en itself, but some years we do attend some sort of Fall Festival or other costume party. I love the colors and the little candy and pumpkin elements in Sprouting Seeds Studio's "Spooky Night," just released at ScrapDelicious, for scrapping those not-so-spooky pics!

You can get the whole kit over at ScrapDelicious.

Head over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to pickup a little add-on freebie!

Don't forget to click the image below to download your free QP from 4shared! PU only.

Happy Festivals! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"Fall Splendor" at Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-10-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

I am just loving all the fall kits that are out! "Fall Splendor" by Sprouting Seeds Studio has some great decorated papers and elements in warm fall colors!

You can find the kit exclusively at ScrapDelicious.

Be sure to download this adorable add-on FREEBIE from Sprouting Seeds Studio. It has the pumpkin sticker that I loved from "Fall'ish" with glitter around the edges. So cute!

Then jump over to 4shared to download your free QP! Click image below. PU only.

Happy Fall Y'all! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Enter Survey to win $500!

2011-10-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

HSLDA needs your input to help them better serve you and the homeschooling community! Follow the link below to their short, six-question survey and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $500 Visa gift card.

http://www.hslda.org/Survey/mvt/Default.aspx?rid=35850

Survey and drawing entries must be submitted by October 9. Winner will be drawn on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, and will be contacted by email. If we do not receive a response within 72 hours, a new winning name will be drawn. Must be age 18 or older to participate. By entering this contest, you agree to have your email address added to HSLDA’s email list. You may unsubscribe at any time.

FREE E-book: "And Then Mama Said"

2011-10-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the Splish ebook that normally goes for $5 in The
Old Schoolhouse Store - it's FREE for 4 more days only.
This is about a little homeschooled frog who is beside himself
because he just CANNOT learn to read. Find out how his wise
Mama helped him. Be sure to read the book aloud to your
children and let them view all the illustrations right there with you.
Here's the link to that and be sure to use
the coupon code FREESPLISH so that
you don't pay a DIME for it. Totally free,
no purchase necessary - let your friends know. It's gone as of Oct 8.

Get the Splish Book HERE.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, Junior

2011-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

My dad taught me never to go into debt. Like most of his generation, he saved his money when he wanted to buy something, and he bought it when he had the money. He told his money where to go rather than wondering where it went.

Like most of my generation, I didn't listen. Ours is the generation of immediate gratification by means of a credit card. We wanted everything our parents had worked a lifetime to obtain, the day we left home. Instead of asking, "Can I afford it?" we asked "Can I afford the monthly payments?" If we are lucky, we stopped our dangerous patterns before we got into trouble.

And now the next generation is observing our habits. My children's choir is singing about shopping in our Christmas program this year: "And I'm runnin' out of cash and my credit cards are maxed/Oh I think I've lost control, and I'm only nine years old!" Can we teach our children not to start the dangerous patterns to begin with? Can we convince them to live debt-free and to be smart with their money BEFORE they get a credit card?

When my husband began teaching Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, I decided to look into Financial Peace, Jr for my kids. This fabulous kit for ages 3-12 includes:

Dry-erase board to track commission earnings
Dry-erase board to track savings amounts
Envelope system (3 separate envelopes)
Clip-n-carry coin case
Give, Spend, and Save magnets
Cool calculator
Instruction manual
Instructional audio CD

Here's what the pieces look like all over my refrigerator!

The fridge is now Command Central for our Financial Program. Every job, fine, and goal is right here in an easily accessible format.

My kids are very excited about this new program. For one thing, they each get their own cool calculator and these awesome dry-erase forms, so what could be better than that? What they are really excited about are the things they are saving up to buy. We've already had a yard sale in which they chose some of their old toys to sell, and they got to keep the money from them. (What a great way for Mom to clear out some clutter without making anybody mad!) They also sold pink lemonade. One of my daughters lucked out, having a birthday recently so that she also got money from grandparents and aunts and uncles. When she combined all this money with the money she had saved, she was able to buy an American Girl doll she'd been wanting for a year or more - all by herself! What an incentive for an 8-year-old!

I highly recommend both getting this kit with the cool tools, and USING the Financial Peace, Jr, system! You can pick the kit up here for $19.95, and each additional child gets a full kit for only $10.00. Teach your kids the value of saving, investing, and maintaining financial independence before they are enslaved by the bonds of debt!

Also check out Dave's other products for kids, including the Foundations in Personal Finance High School Edition Homeschool Pack, which can be done for a High School credit.

TOS Schoolhouse Planner Sale!

2011-10-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

There is an awesome Planner sale going on now at the Schoolhouse Store!

Buy the Schoolhouse Planner, get a Student Planner of your choice for FREE (this includes the Special Needs Planner).

Click HERE or on the image above to take a closer look at the Planners!

These planners are a tremendous help in organizing your school, home, and extraneous information. Download a couple and start getting organized today!

Look What's Coming to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!

2011-10-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

"Power of Pink" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-10-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and so Sprouting Seeds Studio has released the "Power of Pink" kit!

This kit will be available only during the month of October, exclusively at ScrapDelicious for just $1.00, with all proceeds from sales going to the Susan G Komen Foundation.

Click image below to download your free QP from 4shared. PU only.

Happy October!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

October "Stuff to Scrap" Blog Train (er. . . Road Trip)!

2011-09-30T15:26:00.001-07:00

It's October! The temperatures are finally cooling down, and Autumn, my favorite time of the year, is underway! And you know the first of the month means a new Stuff to Scrap Blog Train (I mean, Road Trip)! This month the theme is "Mystery Machine"! I just have a paper pack for you this time. Click image to download from 4shared. PU/S4H/S4O.

Don't miss any of the stops on our Road Trip! You should have come here from Adriana's Cafe, and next you will go to You've Got Your Hands Full. Have a great trip!

Scraps by Andrea
Queen Bee Scraps
Amy's Designs
Growing Pains Scrapped
Ladybug Photography & Scrappbooking
AmyDane Designs
Sweet Creations
DoubleTrouble Scraps
Scraps N Pieces
scraphannah
The Scrappy Kat
Queen Wild Scraps
Adriana's Cafe
Note-able Scraps
You've Got Your Hands Full
scrapN2Nspire
Scrappin Serenity
Saphira's Scraps
Shel Belle Scraps
Pizazz Pixels
Junfunkie Designs
Let Me Scrapbook!
Designs by Snowlady
Jensen Motley Crew Designs
CutieFruity
Leaving a Legacy
Digital Scrap Fun

My Memories, RAK Scraps October Sponsor

2011-09-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

My Memories is also sponsoring RAK Scraps for the month of October. They carry kits and elements by so many designers, you can find just about anything you are looking for. I recently decided to try to download all of their Disney-themed kits, as I've been working on a rather extensive Disney album for my family. Today I used Simply Magical. This is a huge kit with papers, elements, stars, ribbons, brads, wordart, etc., all in the bright red, black, blue, white, and yellow that make us all think of our favorite Mouse. Without actual character drawings in the kit, however, these elements in basic colors can be used for layouts about children, celebrations, magic shows, fireworks, or even patriotic pages, just to name a few ideas.

Just So Scrappy is one of my favorite designers at My Memories. Her themes and color palettes so often exactly match the photos I want to scrap, and she develops her themes well with a plethora of papers, buttons, stickers, alphas, etc. I enjoy having these large kits from which I can make a whole album on one theme, all the pages perfectly complimented to each other. Yo Ho Yo Ho is one of my favorites, since I have a number of pirate photos I need to scrap. Not just the boys, either; Elizabeth Swann lives here, too!

Visit RAK Scraps here, and keep a watch out for the October Newsletter with goodies from the designers! Visit My Memories here.

Happy Scrapping! :)

Meredith Cardall, October RAK Scraps Sponsor

2011-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

I really love the color combinations in Meredith Cardall's kits. I love to just put the keyword "Meredith Cardall" in my elements database and browse over the bright color combinations in the kits that pop up! Rainbow Wishes is a bright birthday kit with perfect colors for a girl's birthday or just about any other occasion. It's "Lisa Frank"-type style is perfect for my preteen girls, but this generous kit is not limited to any age group or occasion. It will be one of the great staples in your scrapbooking library for making fun pages, cards, or hybrid projects.

Farewell to Summer, also by Meredith Cardall, is aptly named, as its rich and vibrant colors are perfect for scrapping late summer flowers or autumn leaves. Each of Meredith's kits contains a generous number of papers, elements, and an alpha or two. I love the versatility of these fabulous elements: I can make a fun page for my 10-year-old's birthday, or a more classic-looking page for my grandmother's 90th birthday, both of which happened to be this past month.

Visit RAK Scraps and read more reviews here, and purchase Meredith Cardall's kits from 9th & Bloom here.

Happy Scrapping!

Disclaimer: I received free copies of Meredith Cardall's kits in exchange for the LOs and review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Salmon on the Grill

2011-09-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

So often, I look at my children and wish they could be little again. They are growing up so fast! Twelve-years-old is such an interesting age. Sometimes I look at my son and swell with pride. He's becoming such a fine young man. So mature. So tall. So like his Daddy. And then. . .

WHAP! He just whacked his brother with a light saber. And the moment is gone! Not really, though. I am very proud of all my children's accomplishments, even though some days I miss the smaller versions of them. I asked my youngest if he would please stay little, just for me, and without hesitating, he answered, "No way! I'm going to be 6!" Then he grew more thoughtful and said, "Well, Mommy, that means I'd have to stop having birthdays. I think only God can do that, and I'm pretty sure He won't!"

As I'm feeling nostalgic for their younger years, though, I can also be quite thankful that I no longer have to bathe 4 people besides myself every day. That I don't have to clip a grand total of 100 fingernails and toenails every Saturday night. They are able to do so many things by themselves now, and in fact, they are quite helpful. My older children are becoming quite proficient at cooking, and I've got to say, it's nice to not have to cook every night by myself! (They still need supervision, of course.)

A few weeks ago, I was sick one day, and my oldest son offered to cook dinner. In another evidence of his Daddy-likeness, he decided to grill salmon. He can't just borrow Dad's recipes, though. No, this is a competition of Manly-Men. He pulled up the Weber App on his iPod Touch to find his own new recipe, mixed up the glaze, and really grilled the salmon nearly to perfection. This is not your grandmother's recipe book! Dad, watch out, the competition is fierce! Luckily, I did have leftover veggies in the fridge, so he just heated those up in the microwave.

The recipes my husband and son use are not exactly the same, but they both involve cooking the salmon over the grill on soaked cedar planks, which gives the salmon a nice, smoky flavor. They both mix a few tablespoons each of lime juice, some kind of vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and chives; a dash each of sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper; and olive oil. Brush the salmon with the dressing and grill on the cedar planks.

Now, my 10-year-old daughter, who has taken on the job of cooking dinner once a week, also made salmon the other night. She broiled hers, and being much more attentive to artistic detail, she wrapped each fillet in foil with a perfectly-placed lemon slice on top. She also made garlic-sauteed broccoli, and wonder of wonders, all the children seemed to like it! To get her recipe, though, you will have to come back in about 2 weeks or so and check out my review of E-mealz!

Happy Grilling!

Free Birthday Quickpage

2011-09-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

Our family has a lot of birthdays in the month of September, and I loved the colors in Sprouting Seeds Studio's "Celebration 500" Kit so much, I decided I needed to make a birthday LO and quickpage.

If you missed it before, you can download the whole kit for free from Sprouting Seeds Studio. Make sure you "Like" their Facebook Page!

And here's what you came for, your QP! Click image below to download from 4shared. PU only.

Happy Scrapping!

"Fall'ish" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-09-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

It's probably obvious by now that I love seasonal kits, and Autumn is my favorite season! Sprouting Seeds Studio just released the next kit in the Season Series, "Fall'ish." Don't you love those colors and that cute pumpkin?!

This kit is available exclusively at ScrapDelicious.

Sprouting Seeds Studio has the matching papers on their website, absolutely free. Try them out; we know you'll want to buy the whole kit!

And here is your free quickpage! Click image to download from 4shared. PU only.

If you haven't seen the other "season'ish" kits from Sprouting Seeds Studio yet, check out these posts. The freebies are still available!

Spring'ish

Summer'ish

Happy Fall, Y'all! :)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "Fall'ish" Kit for the purpose of making a LO and review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.

Another Freebie from Sprouting Seeds Studio!

2011-09-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Sprouting Seeds Studio is giving away another full-size kit to celebrate reaching 500 fans on Facebook! Click image below to go download the kit from Sprouting Seeds Studio!

Happy Scrapping!

"My Girl" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

2011-09-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Well, around here, the girls love, pink, pink, and more pink. What's even better than pink is HOT pink! So we are loving these girly kits from Sprouting Seeds Studio! Here's "My Girl":

You can purchase the kit over at ScrapDelicious, but don't forget to come back for your freebies!

Sprouting Seeds Studio has a freebie over on their blog.

Click the preview below to pick up your free QP from 4shared!

Happy Scrapping!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the "My Girl" Kit for the purpose of making a LO and review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.

FREE Curiosity Files Unit Studies!

2011-09-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

If you love The Curiosity Files with Professor Ana Lyze, from The Old Schoolhouse Store, as much as I do, you will be THRILLED with this special offer. Today ONLY, you can get a coupon to download NINE of these fantastic unit studies for FREE!!! Click here for more information from Homeschooling With Heart.

This deal is too good to pass up! If you are not familiar with these fantastic studies, you can flashback to the review I wrote here.

Have a Happy Day! :)

TOS Review: Discovering Our Amazing God

2011-09-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

I was given the opportunity to review Discovering Our Amazing God by Deeper Roots Publications. I received the Homeschool Edition of the Student Workbook and of the Teacher's Guide in the mail. This Bible curriculum is for 7th-9th Grade. The content is divided into nine lessons on topics such as "Discovering God's Wisdom" and "Discovering God's Faithfulness." Each lesson includes a Scripture passage and questions that can be answered in the workbook and/or used for discussion. There are also guidelines for journaling, and each student is encouraged to keep a journal. Besides studying the various passages about the characteristics of God, there is a strong emphasis on missions. The students learn about Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and other unreached people groups, and what missionaries are doing to reach them.

This curriculum is well-laid out and organized. I love the fact that every section is completely rooted in Scripture. (Perhaps that goes without saying, since it is a Bible curriculum, but I do find the complete use of Scripture with very little author opinion refreshing.) I also love the emphasis on missions. I think it is important for today's children to learn about people who follow other religions, to learn what they believe, and if we as Christians disagree with them, to learn why. We live in a smaller world than the one in which I grew up, and even at their young ages, my children have already known friends from Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist backgrounds. It is important for my children to understand what their friends believe, and how to talk to them about Christ when the opportunity arises. (This curriculum does not cover Judaism, as that is not an "unreached" people, but we've studied that in other places.)

Jan Harris and Howard & Bonnie Lisech, of Deeper Roots Publications, did a good job in leading students to study the characteristics of God for themselves, and also in applying that study to the field of missions. If your middle schooler (or even high schooler) has studied the stories of the Bible in children's books for years and is ready for a meatier study with applications to the present day, this curriculum may be for you. It is one that we will continue even when the review is over.

There are four books in this Deeper Roots series, of which I reviewed the first. Also available are:
Discovering Who I Am In Christ - Book 2, 7-9th Grade Bible Curriculum
Discovering Christlike Habits - Book 3, 7-9th Grade Bible Curriculum
Discovering Christlike Character - Book 4, 7-9th Grade Bible Curriculum AND
Rooted & Grounded - 10-12th Grade & Adult Bible Curriculum.

These books, and other resources, are available at http://www.DeeperRoots.com. You may also contact the company via email, at DeeperRoots@aol.com, or at Deeper Roots Publications, 2100 Red Gate Rd., Orlando, FL 32818, 407-293-8666.

The Discovering Our Amazing God Teacher's Guide is $28.95, and each student workbook is $19.95.

To see what other TOS Crew Members thought about Discovering Our Amazing God and other books from the series, go to the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of the Discovering Our Amazing God Teacher's Guide and Student Workbook for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given, and all opinions expressed are my own.