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PowerMyLearning

Posted by html404 on August 13, 2013
in Animals, Education, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Kids Stuff, Parenting, Reviews, Saving Money, School, Technology/Electronics, Uncategorized

This is a sponsored post.

We love getting educational products, digital or otherwise, to review. It’s fun for the children and changes up our routine a bit trying something new.

PowerMyLearning.org Review

PowerMyLearning is a free, educational website for teachers, parents and children. This site covers all the core subjects of education: Math, Language Arts, Music & Art, Social Studies, Science, Technology, World Languages and My Life (or what we old-timers would consider “Health”). There is a lot of interactive activities and my children enjoy visiting this website. The site does require creating a free account but it’s painless. Just like any other site registration.

My children really loved Biology – they love anything to do with animals – imagine that considering we live on a farm! They also loved the Who Am I section in Language Arts.

Here’s what my children had to say about the site:

“O” (13) – Picked up on misinformation. She said, “They got stuff like the gods and goddesses wrong in the solar system. They said the goddess of Agriculture was Aphrodite when everyone knows that is Demeter. Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. They said the same thing about Mars, he is the God of War.” Can you tell she’s studied Greek mythology? Thanks to Percy Jackson.

“JAG”(9) – “It’s fun. I didn’t like the millions of years. I liked the stuff about rocks and stuff like that. I like the science things. Actually, I like a lot of it.”

“Blondie” (7) – “It was cool. I didn’t like the fact that there was no “playground” (another site we have used has a “playground” for recess etc., which was actually PBS kids TV programming and computer games) I like their games. My favorite game was the car racing game.”

“Nook” (5) – First he said he didn’t really like it then he changed his mind and said he likes it. Rather fickle little boy, eh?

Overall, I would have to say the children thought it was fun and I thought it was informative and a good site to use as a supplement to their homeschooling material.

PowerMyLearning is revamping their site with a launch date of September 3! We are excited as we thought the site was not very user friendly for mom or children. So this was great news to hear!

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TWR360 Free Christian Programming

Posted by html404 on August 9, 2013
in Downloads, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Home, Parenting, Reviews, Technology/Electronics, Uncategorized

Even though TWR is the world’s largest Christian radio broadcaster with missionaries around the world and has been around for nearly years, I think this is the first time I have heard about it. They have created a brand new beta consumer platform TWR360 and are harnessing the power of technology in the digital age to reach new listeners for Christ. As I stated, the site is currently in beta and the official consumer launch is January 1; new programming is being added between now and the end of the year. What a great free Christian programming resource.

TWR360 Free Christian Programming

Like any other online account creation, creating a TWR360 account is very easy.

Here are my favorite programming:
Unshackled!
Adventures in Odessey (listed under the program schedule)
Children’s Bible Hour (listed under the program schedule)
Children’s Story Hour (listed under the program schedule)
Family Life Today

I found the site a little hard to navigate and the search engine for the site didn’t seem to bring up programs I searched for that were on TWR360’s programming schedule. So I think that is something they should improve upon during this beta stage before their official launch in January 2014. Otherwise I thought it was a resource Christians and others should know about as they have a decent variety in their programming schedule.

You can find TWR360 on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Bookboard Review and Free Trial!

Posted by Brande on August 7, 2013
in Blog Stuff, Books, Deals, Downloads, Ebooks, Education, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Parenting, Reviews, Saving Money, School, Shopping, Technology/Electronics, Uncategorized

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.

Mechanimals, Me and My Dragon, The Lucky Day Picnic, Doors in the Air are only a few of the wonderful books available through Bookboard.com. This app has over 400 books available to unlock with up to 4 children’s accounts (up to the age of 12). Once the books are downloaded, they can be read offline. Currently, Bookboard is available for iPads with iOS 5.x or higher. Bookboard recommends using and iPad2 or later version. However, they do work on an original iPad they are just slower. Bookboard says on their website that are adding other devices and platforms in the future.

Bookboard sets goals for your children and parents can check their progress through the app as well. Once a goal is reached, your child is rewarded with more books unlocked to continue their reading.

Bookboard Review and Free Trial

Head to Bookboard’s website for a FREE TRIAL! If you and your children enjoy it you can purchase a subscription for only $8.99 if you pay per month or if you choose the 6 month subscription its $29.94 or $4.99 a month! In the aspect of things if you purchase one book will cost $4.99. Here you have unlimited reading at your fingertips!

Here are a few on the many subjects that can be found on Bookboard: Smithsonian Series, Berenstain Bears and The Boxcar Children!!

My daughter is just learning to read and just loves the iPad. For us this is a great learning tool and we really enjoyed our books. You can join today to get your FREE TRIAL too!!

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Back to School with KIWI Shop

Posted by html404 on August 6, 2013
in Contests, Crafts, Eco Friendly Products, Education, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Kids Stuff, Organic, Reviews, Uncategorized

Back to school time! We received a fabulous back to school kit from our the KIWI shop that included eight back to school products. KIWI is a natural, organic online shop offering eco-friendly, organic products for parents, kids and the home.

Back to School with KIWI Shop

Below are the products we used and reviewed:

Wean Green 4 oz. Wean Cubes, 4-Pack, Garden – I loved these little glass cubes! Not only are they cute and colorful but great for little snacks. I wouldn’t necessarily send my children to school with them because of the glass material but from a storage stand point they are great containers to have in the cupboard. Though a little pricey.

LiceLogic Repel Conditioning Hair Spray – I don’t think all the girls have used this product yet but one of them said they did try it and liked it. We’ve never had an issue with lice but now that we have this hopefully we will continue to enjoy a lice free life!

Facial Gel Cleanser – I know one of my girls has tried this product and she says she liked it and how it made her skin feel softer. She was experiencing a bit of a pimple outbreak on her nose and forehead and she stated this Gel Cleanser was helping get rid of it.

Eco Lunchbox – made of stainless steel and very sturdy. Love this as well as the crocodile one for younger children.

Safari Bento Box, Green Crocodile – is super cute and our son loved it for his new Vegetable Crayons!

Vegetable Crayons – My almost 3 year old loved “his” organic vegetable crayons! They were easy for him to handle and fun to use. The only thing negative I noticed is the colors are not as dark as the crayon, even the dark blue and green or red for that matter.

Kids AlternaVites STRAWBERRY 30 CT – all of our children liked the AlternaVites, except for our 14 year old. They reminded her of the antibiotic she use to have to take before she went to the dentist (she use to have a heart condition). All the children who liked the AlternaVites, asked to have their vitamins. That’s always a good sign in our house….when they don’t run away when it’s time to take any sort of supplement!

Artterro Handmade Paper Bookmaking Kit – Our children enjoyed working on the bookmaking kit together. The only thing the younger children needed my help with was the book binding. This kit makes a great rainy day craft project or a 90 degree plus day.

We really love the product mix offered for back to school! It was fun for all of us to go through the products and test them out.

If you would like to win some cool back to school products from KIWI shop, please visit their giveaway to enter: http://www.kiwishoponline.com/back-to-school-giveaway

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BabyGanics

Posted by 278Wife on August 5, 2013
in All Natural Products, Cleaning, Eco Friendly Products, Health, Home, Organic, Reviews, Safety, Uncategorized

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

I am what you may consider a “Clean Freak.” With a toddler and an infant in the house I am always trying to clean to keep the germs away. Normally I have to wait until my kids are in another room because of the chemicals. Not anymore thanks to BabyGanics.

BabyGanics has a complete line of household and personal care products that are safe and effective to be used around babies. All of their ingredients are plant based, making them non-toxic and hypoallergenic. I had the pleasure of trying an All Purpose Cleaner from BabyGanics. I was anxious to start spraying, and I did not even have worry about where the kids were since it had no Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, or Toxins. I sprayed my kitchen counters and was pleasantly surprised by the smell. Some cleaners can be so overwhelmingly strong, but the BabyGanics All Purpose Cleaner in Lavender scent was light and fresh. Compared to my usual All Purpose Cleaner, I did not have to use as much of the BabyGanics cleaner to get the job done.

This cleaner was great. I cleaned my entire kitchen including counters, appliances, and highchair with my son running around. I cannot wait to use it on everything else in the house. BabyGanics sells everything from Household Cleaners to Baby Washes and Creams. Their products are made in the U.S.A., completely recycable, and never tested on animals. BabyGanics products are available online as well as many stores including Target and Walgreens. Check out their website to see all they have to offer!

www.BabyGanics.com

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The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Posted by html404 on August 4, 2013
in Books, Gift Ideas, Products for Mom, Quotes, Reviews, Uncategorized

I enjoyed another book last month titled, The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher. This book is about an Amish widow seeking a way to provide for her family after her husband passes away. It is inspired by a true story.

Within the first few pages I could relate to Rose’s life. Her rambunctious-work-avoiding boys, her weariness with her responsibilities (page 10) and struggles and worries over how to provide for her family.

I admired Rose’s ability to give her anger, lack of forgiveness and faith over to God. Amidst difficulty she always seemed to choose the high road. I had to ask myself if I do the same when facing difficult circumstances.

It wasn’t until the end of the book I discovered this book is a part of a new series, The Inn at Eagle Hill. The thought of existence of such a place in real life was refreshing and how invigorating it would be to visit.

I fear in places the storyline was predictable, which always lets me down. Nevertheless, it was nice to put my feet up and enjoy a good book. I admit I wondered at the miracles happening. We are a the point in our lives where we need a miracle vocationally and I can’t help but wonder if it will happen in the time it needs to.

Here are a couple quotes from the book I enjoyed:

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark. (page 9)

Rose Schrock had been raised not to complain, so she didn’t, but the truth of the matter was, the last seven months had been the hardest stretch of her life: so many things had gone wrong that it was hard to know which trouble to pay attention to at any given time. (page 10)

I need more faith to guide us through dark times and while I try not to complain, I don’t think I am the example Rose was and have tons of room for improvement.

As always, I love Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books, she combines all the emotions for a great read. So of course I give The Letters two thumbs up.

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Smiley360 – Just For Men Review

Posted by Brande on July 23, 2013
in Personal Care Products, Products for Dad, Reviews

“I received this product for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. You can join Smiley360 here!“

I have a great husband! He lets me “test” anything on him. The most recent item is Just For Men Mustache & Beard. It’s takes only 5 minutes and the gray is gone!

Just For Men Review

The box contains rubber gloves, mixing tray, brush, Just For Men Color Base, & Just For Me Natural Color Developer. You’ll need a few additional items found around your house, a timer, old shirt, old towels, and shampoo. I HIGHLY recommend the old towel and old shirt, they will get color on them. I got color on my arm and it stayed there for a few days, so wear the gloves too!

It’s very simple squeeze the same amount of Color Base and Natural Color Developer in your mixing tray using your brush. Make sure they are blended fully then using the brush to color onto your dry beard / mustache. Wait for 5 minutes, then rinse until the water runs clear. Then wash facial hair with shampoo not bar soap.

Here’s the Before and After –

It took the gray out and he looks younger.

Just For Men comes in 10 different shades for all hair types. Just For Men products are available at most drug, grocery, and big box stores.

Check out the Just For Men Facebook page and enter to win a trip to New Orleans by showing off your best beard on Facebook!

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Flourish Magnetic Schedule Review & Giveaway

Posted by html404 on July 21, 2013
in Contests, Education, Family Stuff, Giveaways, Home, Kids Stuff, Organization, Parenting, Reviews, School

Flourish Magnetic Schedule Review

Do you desire to be more organized before school starts? Is summer getting away from you without getting daily tasks accomplished? I discovered a handy little tool to help me keep our children on task and to know what to expect each day in our daily routine. It’s the Flourish Magnetic Schedule.

It is very easy to use. Open it up and stick the magnet on the back of the main card, put it on the refrigerator and add the task magnets in your preferred order….ta-da! Done!

Our children like to put the magnets back up after their little brother initially took them all down and stole the task magnets! So far it is staying in place and after the novelty Junior (our youngest) has left the magnetic schedule alone.

Both the children and I like to work with lists for daily tasks and scratch them off when complete. This magnetic schedule allows us to use less paper and gives the younger children who cannot read a little visual of what they need to do.

We’ve only had the magnetic schedule for a couple of days but I like it. The magnets and schedule are made of sturdy material. My hope is it helps the children have something to refer to and learn what needs to be done when and where they should be. I haven’t added any times or anything. I try to be flexible or else I get bogged down by the actual schedule.

Not only does Flourish have this product but also other products helpful to all moms – because the products have been created by moms.

About Flourish

Moms Flourish is a new direct sales company providing innovative products for moms and kids. To make life just a little easier. Moms can also earn a little extra money for their families by joining for as little as $59.

Flourish Giveaway

Right now there’s a contest going on, which ends August 7th, the winner will be announced during the Twitter party on August 8th at 6pm PT/8pm CST/9pm ET #momsflourish. You can enter the giveaway below or visit their Facebook page. Look at all the products offered in the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Healthgrades Website

Posted by Professor on July 20, 2013
in Business, Community Issues, Eye Care, Health, Health and Nutrition, News Worthy, Reviews, Uncategorized

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Healthgrades. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Looking for a great doctor or hospital and do not know where to turn? Well, there is a great website that can help! Healthgrades is a wonderful website that provides information on doctors and hospitals.

All you have to do is type in the doctors name or specialty and your zip code and Healthgrades will give you providers within your specifications…. it’s that simple!

After you search for your provider their name will pop up or if you searched for a specialty a number of providers will pop up… then Healthgrades not only gives you their information but gives you a rating on the practice as well. Patients can rate the practice and give them 1 – 5 stars. I don’t know about you but I like to know that the doctor I am going to got 5 stars!

I think this is a wonderful service to find providers for health services… I have used the service and have been very pleased with new providers I found on the sight and have been pleased to see that my existing providers are getting high ratings!

I personally like to research and meet doctors/hospitals before I have a visit or procedure… Healthgrades gives me the option of finding out and narrowing down my choices. Although I do not think I would replace an in person office visit to meet a doctor with Healthgrades I do think it is a great choice to narrow down choices of who to see for a consultation. One other thing I found that it is great to look up a provider based on the recommendation of others. I can type in a provider that someone else suggested and find out what multiple people are saying about the same doctor… this is a great service!

I do not think you will be disappointed in healthgrades.com … try it out and see if you can find what your provider is rated. Do not like your current provider or their rating… browse Healthgrades for a new provider. Quick simple and easy to use!

You can also find out more about Healthgrades by Downloading d Healthgrades’ Women’s Health Report 2013 and review the material presented. They have factual information as well as highlights of the 2013 award recipients in different areas. I was certainly pleased to fund my provider/hospital on the award recipient list. Download the report to find out more information and find out the award recipients in your area. You can find the report at: www.healthgrades.com/quality/womens-health-report

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Jamba Juice Review

Posted by html404 on July 13, 2013
in All Natural Products, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Health, Health and Fitness, Health and Nutrition, Kids Stuff, Reviews

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet (TM) program. May Media Group LLC, who received it directly form the manufacturer. As a Moms Meed (TM) blogger, I agreed to use the product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer.

We’ve been on a journey to improve our eating habits and quality of food ever since our children were little and we learned about the harmful affects of dyes and preservatives found in mainstream food. We don’t always get it right but growing our own food is certainly helping us move in the right direction, as well as increase the nutritional value of a lot of the food we eat.

Our children are not that picky. We’ve always required them to eat at least some of the food they say they hate or don’t like. We also find they are more open to trying new veggies if we grow them ourselves. I love the summer when they can just munch on fresh picked vegetables straight from their little garden patch! Remember, they even eat green smoothies!

We recently had the opportunity to try Jamba Juice. Jamba Juice is a restaurant retailer offering better-for-you foods, including fruit and veggie juices and smoothies.

Jamba Juice

Did you know:

Only 8 percent of Americans achieve their recommended target for fruit in an average day
Only 6 percent of individuals meet their recommended target for veggies in an average day
1 percent of adults and 2 percent of children meet both their recommended fruit and veggies servings each day.

**Source: State if the Plate: 2010 Study of America’s Consumption of Fruit & Vegetables

Jamba Juice Review

We tried Jamba Juice’s new Tropical Harvest™ Smoothie and the Jamba Kids™ Berry Beet It!™ Smoothie.

The Tropical Harvest™ Smoothie contains: Mangos, peaches, yellow vegetable juice (sweet potato, carrot, butternut squash), passion mango juice, ice and is only 230 calories.

The Berry Beet It!™ Smoothie contains: Strawberries, mangos, bananas, mixed berry juice, carrots, beets, broccoli, spinach, kale, lettuce and is only 190 calories.

My children loved the Berry Beet It!™ Smoothie. All of them drank it with gusto. They even liked the Tropical Harvest™ Smoothie. I, on the other hand, am not a huge fan of mangos. However, it grew on me as I drank it. To me the mango really came through. Otherwise, I actually preferred the Berry Beet It!™ Smoothie.

These smoothies were very flavorful and made a great treat on a hot day. The only thing we didn’t care about was the price. They are pricey. We realize we are paying for quality but it’s an ouchie on the pocket book when a smoothie outing costs our family over $30! They sure are tasty though!

Feel free to check Jamba Juice out on Facebook.