Archive for Fun Stuff

More Free Kids Apps, Plus One For Your Cats!

Posted by Brande on February 9, 2012
in Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Saving Money, Techie Stuff

**(When I downloaded these apps they were free, I cannot guarantee if they started charging a fee.) **

SKEE-BALL!!! I love skee-ball. We live near the east coast and head to the beach every year. After a day on the beach, we find an arcade and play skee-ball. Now, we don’t have to wait for the summer. Currently, it’s snowing and we are playing Skee-Ball in the house.

This app is only compatible for an iPad. You gain points by playing skee-ball and then you get to pick out “prizes” to spend your tickets on. This is a good one for the whole family.

SIMON’S CAT IN “PURRFECT PITCH” – If your not familiar with Simon’s Cat Cartoons. Simon’s Cat is drawn by Simon Tofield an English Animator, who can draw a cat’s temperament “purrfectly”.

This app is available for the itouch, iPhone and iPad. With this one you play the piano, but when you hit the key the cat meows. It’s really funny. Funny Quick Story – My daughter and I were waiting in line to see Santa in December and I brought along my iTouch. She started playing Simon’s Cat and the people around us started laughing. All you heard was meowing. (I guess you had to be there;-)). There are options of “Free Play, Challenge, and Play Back”. Lots of fun!

RIO THE MOVIE COLORING WITH BLU – Remember this movie? We enjoyed it and downloaded it.

This app is available for iPad, iPhone and iTouch.

You color. It’s that simple. Choose one of two birds and the background. The color pallet is at the bottom on the screen and your off and coloring! When you done you can save it and email, post it to Facebook or print it!

OK! Get your cats ready for a frenzy! I got an email earlier this week from Friskies about an app for Cats. I haven’t tried it on mine yet, they are currently sleeping (surprise, surprise). Here it is!

It’s CAT FISHING 2 BY FRISKIES –

So, you start it up and let your cat go. The fish start swimming around and your cat taps them and gets a score. The more fish you cat taps the harder the game gets. There are 3 levels and you can post their score to Facebook or the “World-Wide Leader Board”.

It’s again only available for iPhones, iTouch and iPads.

Let your kitties in on the fun too!

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Terracycle Valentine’s Day Craft Idea

Posted by html404 on February 5, 2012
in Fun Stuff, Guest Post

LOVE THE PLANET THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
Celebrate with Eco Games and Gifts from Upcycling Pioneer TerraCycle

Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. Some are planning romantic dates with their longtime sweetheart. Some are planning to finally ask out their crush at recess. Regardless of your plans this Valentine’s Day, TerraCycle has sweet ways to celebrate that are good for the planet, good for the wallet and good for you.

While cleaning up trash doesn’t seem like a romantic way to spend the day, you can celebrate the holiday and effect real-world change with special Valentine’s Day items, products and decorations in Trash Tycoon, Facebook’s first upcycling game from Guerillapps and TerraCycle. In the game, you can clean up trash and upcycle it to fun products like necklaces, Valentine’s Day cards and heart shaped wreaths to send to friends or to decorate your town. Players’ hearts will swell because Trash Tycoon creates positive social impact by donating 10% of in-game dollars to environmental projects sponsored by CarbonFund.org.

Next, love Mother Earth and your Valentine by making an upcycled necklace out of Kraft Cheese wrappers or chocolate wrappers, just like the necklace in Trash Tycoon! TerraCycle’s Design Junkies have brought the beaded necklace into the real world with simple, do-it-yourself instructions available for download here:bit.ly/ValentineBraceletDIY. Whether you make one for that special Valentine or one for each of your friends, recipients will be touched that you took the time to give them a heartfelt, handmade gift.

Finally, Valentine’s Day and candy go together like peas and carrots, but the packaging can be a real heartbreaker. All those red and pink wrappers left over from sweet treats can be sent to TerraCycle through Mars’ Candy Wrapper Brigade to be recycled and earn money for charity. Signing up is free and easy at www.terracycle.com.

About TerraCycle
TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to recycle-packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products. Founded in 2001, TerraCycle (www.terracycle.com) is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with more than 30 major brands in the U.S. and around the world to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It repurposes that waste into new, innovative materials and products that are available online and through major retailers. The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade programs, which are free fundraisers that pay for every piece of waste collected and returned. For information on how to join a TerraCycle Brigade and on purchasing TerraCycle products please visit www.terracycle.com.

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Free Lego Club Magazine Subscription!

Posted by Brande on February 4, 2012
in Deals, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Kids Toys, Saving Money

Free Lego Club Magazine Subscription!

It’s for a 2 year subscription!

I signed up and got a confirmation email!

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Part 2 – Free Kids Apps

Posted by Brande on February 2, 2012
in Downloads, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Parenting

**(When I downloaded these apps they were free, I cannot guarantee if they started charging a fee.) **

I completely forgot about all the phones and tablets out there that are not an “I” product. To those, I apologize if these apps are not available for your product. Otherwise, I was pleasantly surprised with the positive feedback from the last Free Kids Apps post! Thank you and Enjoy!

Toddler Puzzle Shapes – This app is compatible for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. You are able to turn the music on or off and is available in 5 different languages. This app is for your little ones. When you press start, you are given 5 different shapes and a ghost outline of one of the shapes. Your child will then drag the correct shape to the ghost shape. After every 3rd choosing of the shape a jigsaw (4 pieces) appears. When you select a puzzle piece, it glows where the piece should go. In the tools section, you are able to turn off the jigsaw section.

PBS Kids Video – Compatible with iPhone & iPad. Got any kids that love Elmo? He’s on this app along with SUPER WHY, Curious George, Cat in the Hat and others! However, this is not a game your child can watch videos of their favorite educational friends.

Barnyard Mahjong Free – This one is also compatible with the iphone & ipad. This is for the bigger kids (and this Mom!) If you’ve ever played a Mahjong game you know it’s addictive. If you haven’t, all you do is match the tiles and you’ll catch “the addict bug”. The tiles in this one are animals, fruits, veggies and the farmer, so it’s easier for kids.

Happy Downloading!

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Children & Technology – Wordless Wednesday

Posted by html404 on February 1, 2012
in Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Techie Stuff, Technology/Electronics, Wordless Wednesday

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Free Apps for Kids!

Posted by Brande on January 28, 2012
in Deals, Downloads, Education, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Humor, Technology/Electronics

**(When I downloaded these apps they were free, I cannot guarantee if they started charging a fee.) **

Personally, I’m over the Angry Birds frenzy. How about you? For the next few weeks I’m going show you 3 apps that my daughter (she’s 3) and I enjoy. Most of these apps are directed toward the little ones, but there are a few along the way that your older kids might like as well.

Like most free games on iTunes, they are not the entire version. They want to get you hooked so you’ll buy it. So, far that hasn’t affected our home and we are happy with what we got.

The first one is called ABC Animal Puzzle Free. This game is compatible with an iPhone and iPad. This is not a complete version. However, still very playable for your younger ones. It’s a puzzle game. There are 5-9 piece puzzles. Besides the puzzle you are learning animals names, for example there is an elephant puzzle and it says ELEPHANT when you are completing it. Also, on this app is a Memory Game. (Click the bubbles on the bottom right corner to activate the menu). There is a stickers & score card section that let’s you know which puzzles you’ve completed and how long it took.

Baby DJ – this one can get a little annoying after a while, but is still cute! This app is currently available for the iPhone and iPad. Got a little musician in your house? Here’s the app for you. There are 10 options on this one. Anywhere from a lion to an octopus. Even Santa Claus makes his way onto this app. Once you choose an animal, the next screen opens to 9 “records” (like the good ol’ black vinyl records). You touch a record and it spin and start a beat. Then as you continue pressing the records, they sync up. Then press them again and that record turns off. Each animal has different beats.

The last one for this week is Glow Draw! Again, this one is available for the iPhone and iPad. All kids love to draw and this app is kind of like etch a sketch. You draw and then shake your device to erase it. On the lower left you can change colors,make your line wider, put a background of your pictures loaded on your device and save or email you pictures!

Fun FREE apps for kids! Now it’s your turn to share you favorite apps!

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Little Ace and The Ten Commandments App Review & T-Shirt Giveaway

Posted by Brande on January 27, 2012
in Children's Clothing, Downloads, Ebooks, Education, Faith and Family Reviews Friday Giveaway, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Giveaways, Parenting, School

How cute is this little guy!

It’s never to early to have your children learning about the Ten Commandments, in a fun way! This little cartoon chick goes on a journey to find “the God”. While in this travels he learns about the Ten Commandments through other cartoon animals.

The narrator of this story has a soothing voice, talks smoothly and slowly. With this iPad app you can turn the narrator on or off, so you or your child can read this e-book. You can also control to turn the pages or have the “story” turn the pages when it’s time. In addition, there are interactive opportunities for your child to help the animals with tasks, for example to find the goat’s glasses and put then on the goat. This app is available on iTunes for only $2.99.

Here are a few screen shots.

My Review –

This is a MUST HAVE e-book in my house. My daughter and I loved it. I let the narrator read to her (he does the animals voices much better than I). The app says it good for children 4 and over, however my daughter is 3 and LOVED it. What I like is it’s a book that will grow with your children. Once they are at reading age, they can read to you. The learning experience is also wonderful in a fun way. My daughter loved the cartoon chick. The graphics are not fancy or overwhelming. Just very simple with a lot of impact on the story. My recommendation is to download it now. You won’t regret this one!

Here’s the download site – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/little-ace-ten-commandments/id481298715?mt=8

Here’s Liitle Ace’s Website – http://www.acethechick.com/

And he’s on Facebook! Go ahead and “like” him! It’s hard not to!

Like this t-shirt? You can win it!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway

Posted by html404 on January 27, 2012
in Books, Contests, Fun Stuff, Giveaways, Guest Post, Technology/Electronics

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway from @triciagoyer @mikeyorkey!

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world – the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia’s website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock?) and lots of giveaways.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

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Children at Work & at Play!

Posted by html404 on January 21, 2012
in Family Stuff, Fun Stuff

I captured some shots of our children at work and at play yesterday. I used the flickr slide show again. I just wanted to try it this week to see how I liked them and how you all liked them. Might try something different next week. Not sure what yet.

The first photo is of one of our older daughters (the third oldest) playing with her horses. I snapped a shot because soon enough she won’t be playing with them any more. Sniff. Sniff. She’s growing up! The second one is of our youngest daughter with our reading lesson book, 100 Easy Lessons, which I have used with all six older children to teach them to read. Blondie is doing wonderful and I really believe that the foundation that ABCmouse.com – Over 3,000 Educational Activities – First Month Free – Click here! gives the children has helped her supersede where she would have been otherwise. She is nearly sounding out the words silently and saying them fast – we are only on lesson 14! We are very pleased with ABCMouse.com. I don’t have to conj-ole or bribe the children to do their school work on ABCMouse. It’s that much fun. Ok, enough of my shameless, unpaid plug! (Update: I have since added an affiliate link above due to the amount of searches for it leading here! So we earn a few dollars if you click on our link and purchase a subscription.)

Back to the photos…next comes the blocks that were scattered on the floor. And if I was participating in my old friend’s “The Children Were Here” posts this is one that I would post as we always seem to have these blocks scattered. Then I shot one of a couple of school books that were laying around.

The next photo after that is of our two older boys shoveling the driveway for their Dad. The thing is I didn’t send them out there to do it, they volunteered. Granted they have always loved to shovel snow for some reason, but still it does this mama’s heart good when they do things like this without asking and especially thinking of their Dad who had to drive home on messy roads!

My oldest daughter has taken a dislike of being caught on camera, she’d rather be behind the lense these days! So when she put her laptop up in front of her face today as I was snapping a picture I told her I was going to post it! So that’s why that one is there! She’s a hard worker that one and has some solid work ethics already. She won’t go to the barn if she has too much work to do, nor will she goof off until her work is done. We are proud of her.

The rest of the photos are of two of the younger children doing their best to help shovel a little bit, the snow plow (the boys wanted me to get one of all the snow flying over the truck but I kept missing it) and just of our time outside.

The last photo is of a masked man…not sure where he came from or what he was doing in my house but my daughter caught him red handed! Isn’t he positively evil looking? Ha!

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Hasbro Fun & Coupons!

Posted by Brande on January 20, 2012
in Contests, Coupons, Deals, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Giveaways, Holidays, Kids Toys, Saving Money, Shopping

I’m always looking for ways to save on toys and games. Sometimes it’s not always easy. I’m big on buying stuff on sale or clearance and saving it for a rainy day or holiday. I was super excited about an email I got this morning! I LOVE coupons and use them regularly.

Go and check out www.hasbro.com/fun . They have great coupons for Playdough, Transformers, Baby Alive, Elmo and more! In addition, they have a daily game for 6 to 13 year olds, are giving away Hasbro toys & games every hour until the end February. AND – they have a daily deal. Today’s was a Baby Alive for 50% off! I unfortunately missed it, but I signed up to get the daily email for a heads up!