Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Diggerfest Happening Weekends in October at Diggerland!

Join South Jersey's construction theme park - Diggerland for Diggerfest! Happening every weekend in October!  Guest are invited to come and enjoy the regular theme park as well as some new fall attractions. What is New for Diggerfest:
  • Children get a special ticket to pick their own pumpkin from our pumpkin patch
  • Access to the Pumpkin Decoration Station (decorate your pumpkins)
  • The DiggerFest Hay Maze
  • Diggerland’s Hay Ride
  • Pumpkin Launching! (purchase of pumpkins to launch is additional)
  • A special Stunt Show for DiggerFest
  • Themed Costume Contests (for children in costume)
All of this is included with your Full-Day Admission ticket!
If that isn't enough they will be having costume contests each weekend with the following themes:
  • October 4 and 5: Farmers and Animals
  • October 11 and 12: Superheroes and Princesses
  • October 18 and 19: Everyday Heroes!
  • October 25 and 26: Construction Workers and a GRAND PRIZE for Best Construction Equipment Contest!

Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship #review #WIN

A Rup Life received product for review purposes.  This post may contain affiliate links. 
My little guy has been loving watching Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship on DVD.  We had never seen this show before receiving the DVD for review but it has quickly become a hit in our house.  The theme song is adorable and Ella is just as sweet.  There is adventure, working things out between friends and of course her magic hat saves the day!





about:

Here comes Ella the Elephant and her magical red hat, with eight delightful stories about fun, friendship, love and laughs on Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship, available September 16, 2014 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE).   Ella the Elephant is based on the popular children’s book series. Kids will be captivated by Ella and her friends Frankie, Belinda, Tiki, Ada and Ida, as they embark on a series of playful adventures on Elephant Island. Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship will retail for $14.98 SRP.

Journey to an island of adventures where the magic of friendship has never been so much fun! Join Ella and her kindhearted friends in this all-new animated series featuring eight charming episodes. Elephant Island is home to many curiosities but Ella and her friends’ appetite for fun lands them in some tricky, often hilarious situations. It’s up to Ella’s imagination and her magic red hat to save the day!  It’s a must-own collection of delightful stories centered on highlighting teamwork, lessons and adventure for the whole family to enjoy.


Featured Episodes:
  • Ella’s Got Talent/Safety First
  • Trunk Trooper/Ella in Charge
  • Girls’ Club/Soapbox Squabble
  • Treasure Hunters/Ella Borrows Trouble
  • Ella Bakes a Cake/Camp Ella
  • Ella on the Ball/Up, Up and Away
  • Tea Party Trouble/Home Again
  • Ella’s Carnival/Monkey Business
You can purchase your copy of Ella the Elephant Season 1 Volume 1: The Magic of Friendship at your local retailer or online at stores like Amazon.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Treasury of Bible Stories Review & Rhythmical Rhymes Kindle Giveaway!




I recently had the chance to review Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times.  This is such a delightful book.  I've been using it in the mornings to expand on topics brought up in our homeschool curriculum.  We've read about Noah and Adam and Eve so far and it is ADORABLE!  Totally rhymes like the children's classics from Dr. Suess.

I have personally loved the pictures in this book - the characters are adorably drawn and draws my child in for a look.  Last time I had children's nursery I brought this book and taught about Noah.  We read this story and colored a coloring sheet.  So simple and easy to implement!

You can purchase your copy of  Treasury of Bible Stories - Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times at your local Christian book retailer or online at stores like Amazon.  

About the book:
Featuring lyrical stories that will make you laugh, this colorful collection is perfect for reading out loud. Magnificent Tales are rhyming Bible stories with clever art and clear lessons the whole family will enjoy. The stories and illustrations are so engaging that you won’t grow tired of reading a Magnificent Tale night after night! From “The Salty Tale of Noah’s Ark” to “The Lasting Story of the Last Supper,” the rhyming tales in this book remind us that God loves His people—in the Bible and today! 
Stories Included:
  • Tricked by a Snake
  • Every Beast Times Two
  • Dreams That Were Dreamed
  • Jochebed's Secret Joy
  • "Let My People Go!"
  • A Wall of Water
  • A Silly-Sounding Plan
  • A Shout for the Lord
  • The Biggest and Toughest
  • God's Bigger Plan
  • Daniel for Lunch
  • Food for a Fish
  • Good News of Great Joy
  • The Good Dunking
  • A Better Path
  • The Good Neighbor
  • Lost and Found
  • Friends
  • The Payment for Our Sins
  • He Has Risen!
Additional Information: 

Part of the Magnificent Tales series, Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times will delight children ages 4–8 with rhyming Bible stories pairing spiritual truths with playful illustrations.

Enter the Rhythmical Rhymes Kindle Giveaway 9/15 – 10/12.
Treasury of Bible Stories Kelly Pulley
One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle HDX
  • Treasury of Bible Stories by Kelly Pulley
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 12th. Winner will be announced October 13th at Kelly's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Kelly's blog on the 13th to see if you won!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Weekly Recap

Wow this week has flown by!  What a busy time!  Plugging away with school, doctor visits, lessons and a big home organization project!  I did get a *few* reviews up in the process!

Here is what I've been blogging about:

CHRISTMAS AT ROSE HILL FARM #REVIEW Pluse: iPad Bundle Giveaway & sign up to host a Book Club Brunch!

 

Quilts of Love | HIDDEN IN THE STARS – #REVIEW & $200 Giveaway & “Fall into Fall” Facebook Party!

 

Deep Cleansing Facial Oil by Insta Naturals #REVIEW

100% Pure Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil by Insta Naturals #REVIEW

 

Tried & True #BookReview Plus Kindle HDX Giveaway and Live Webcast Event with @MaryConnealy!

Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon DVD #REVIEW & GIVEAWAY #WIN

 

V is for the Virtuous Woman #abcblogging

 

The New Astronomy Book #REVIEW

Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood ~ An IEW #REVIEW

 

Bella & Bear : Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler #REVIEW #eyelashcurler

 

 

 

Bella & Bear : Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler #REVIEW #eyelashcurler


I've been using the Bella & Bear : Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler for the past few weeks.  I've been so pleased with this product.  I love how strong it the mechanics are  - it allows for a nice squeeze when curling.  The pad gives plenty of cushion and the overall size fits well with my eyes.

The best way to maintain a nice curl is to first apply all eye makeup except for Mascara.  Then use your Bella & Bear : Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler  to curl your lashes.  Next apply two coats of mascara.  Your curl will last all day.

About:

✓ No pinch no pain curling
✓ Non slip handle
✓ Ergonomic design, to get every lash
✓ The Eye & Mighty eyelash curler lifts and curls like no other eyelash tool. You will know that you have found "the one"
✓ The spring loaded handle means you get a lot more lift with less pressure, say goodbye to straight lashes and hello to sexy curvy eyelashes!

How To Use The Curler
✓ With eyes wide open, position the lash curler at the base of your lashes
✓ Gently squeeze and hold for 10 seconds
✓ For added drama add 1 coat of mascara for a pretty daytime look
✓ 2 coats for a dramatic look


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.



Friday, September 26, 2014

Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood ~ An IEW #REVIEW


We have been using Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) for grammar for the past few weeks.  IEW is well-known for their writing curriculum and founder Andrew Pudewa.  I've had the privileged of using their writing curriculum in the past as well as seeing Mr. Pudewa speak several times. 

What I received for this review:


Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood [Book 2] (Teacher Manual) -$19
Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood [Book 2] (Student Book) -$15




What is it?

Fix It! Grammar is a daily grammar activity for students.  There are 6 books in the series and it can be used for grades 3+.  Students work on correcting book passages each day.  The mark punctuation, parts of speech and more.  After four days of correcting work they then, on the fifth day,  re-write the week's passages.  At completion of the grammar course they will have written out the entire work of literature.  There are flashcards in the back of the book for reviewing.
Fix It! Grammar Review

Books in the series:
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree [Book 1] (Teacher Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree [Book 1] (Student Book)

Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood [Book 2] (Teacher Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood [Book 2] (Student Book)

Fix It! Grammar: Frog Prince, or Just Deserts [Book 3] (Teacher Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: Frog Prince, or Just Deserts [Book 3] (Student Book)

Fix It! Grammar: Little Mermaid [Book 4] (Teacher Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: Little Mermaid [Book 4] (Student Book)

Fix It! Grammar: Chanticleer [Book 5] (Teacher Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: Chanticleer [Book 5] (Student Book)

Fix It! Grammar: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight [Book 6] (Teachers Manual)
Fix It! Grammar: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight [Book 6] (Student Book)
 

How we used it

This course was used with my 9th grader.  He worked daily on the passages.  On the first page of the week the student book has information in the "Learn It" section.  This covers what they students will need to be marking on the daily passages.  He was required to review this material and come to me if there were any questions.

Each day he would then complete the passage work.  This was marking punctuation, labeling parts of speech and vocabulary.  For vocabulary we had a separate notebook where he would write out the vocabulary word and look it up in the dictionary, copying the definition.

It took him about 10 minutes a day to complete each task.

Grading was very easy for me.  The Teacher's Manual was very detailed.  I grade on day 4 then have Austin do his re-write on Fridays (Day 5).

We didn't really do much with the flashcards at the back - so far.  I kept them intact so that we would lose them.  For now I just had my son review them from there but for the most part he knew all the concepts.  However I have a feeling that we will use them more in the upcoming weeks. 

My Thoughts:

This program was recently revamped.  We had the previous version but never implemented it.  I can see that the changes were very timely because the curriculum is much easier to get started with and use.  I was very pleased overall.  The teacher's guide was easy to use and added helpful additions.  I am personally not very good with grammar so I dread teaching it - however the guide tells you more advance material. So if your student is already marking those things you can keep him at a more advance level.  (Such as when a noun might be a verb in a sentence).

I also liked how little time this program took.  I personally like grammar to be a quick lesson so that they can move onto more interesting subjects like History or Science.  10-15 minutes is a very doable lesson time.  This means no complaints from my kid who would rather be done his work entirely and outside enjoying the day.

Another plus was that my son liked this program.  In the past he has complained about grammar work.  He tires of the same thing over and over.  I feel like IEW changes that because you are actually reading a story bit by bit each day.  I think that really adds to the appeal for the students.

One of struggles we had with this program was indentation.  I feel like it is really hard to know when to indent when you are only seeing one sentence at a time (or four on the weekly page).  So for that I am just marking the indentation for him so when he re-writes he will know when to indent the next paragraph. It isn't really a big deal in the whole scheme of things so we both agreed it was easier if I just helped him along.  I told him to take a guess and he has been trying to figure it out. 

I  had a bit of a struggle figuring out placement for my son.  He has a strong background in grammar so the first book was too easy for him.  This book has been on the easy side so far  but we are only a few weeks in. As we get into harder concepts (more clauses and such) I know he will be learning new things so I'm pretty confident that I picked the correct level.  The placement test online starts you mid-book so that gives you a glimpse at what you will be learning further down the road.  I think we could have started with book 3 - but I was worried that starting a whole new program might have a learning curve and wanted to start on the easier end rather than being overwhelmed in a higher book. 

Overall I am very pleased and we will continue use this curriculum this year with my oldest son.  He is enjoying it and that is really the most important factor for me at this time.


Click to read Crew Reviews



Crew Disclaimer

Thursday, September 25, 2014

The New Astronomy Book #REVIEW

This month's Moms of Masterbooks' review has been a fun one for us.  The New Astronomy Book by Danny R. Faulkner is perfect for unit study.  Last year my middle son studied Astronomy all year so this book has been a nice refresher and addition.

About:
The universe is an amazing declaration of the glory and power of God! Beautiful and breathtaking in its scale, the vast expanse of the universe is one that we struggle to study, understand, or even comprehend in terms of its purpose and size. Now take an incredible look at the mysteries and marvels of space in The New Astronomy Book!
  • Discover the best ways to observe the heavens, along with up-to-date astronomical data and concepts
  • Learn about the dynamics of planets, stars, galaxies, and models for the cosmology of the universe
  • What we know and are still trying to discover about planets, moons, and comets within our own solar system.
If you watch the stars at night, you will see how they change. This speaks to the enormity and intricacy of design in the universe. While the stars appear timeless, they instead reflect an all–powerful Creator who speaks of them in the Bible. Many ancient pagan cultures taught that the changing stars caused the seasons to change, but unlike these pagan teachings, the Book of Job gives credit to God for both changing stars and seasons (Job 38:31-33). When Job looked at Orion, he saw about what we see today, even though he may have lived as much as 4,000 years ago.
Includes a 24-inch, full-color, pull-out poster!

Chapters:

  1. The Night Sky
  2. The Moon
  3. The Solar System
  4. Two Kinds of Planets
  5. The Sun
  6. Telescopes
  7. History of Astronomy
  8. Stars
  9. Extrasolar Planets
  10. Star Clusters & Nebulae
  11. Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
  12. Light - Travel - Time Problem
  13. The Expanding Universe
  14. Quasars & Active Galaxies
  15. Cosmology
  16. Conclusion


You can purchase your copy of The New Astronomy Book at nlpg.com for $16.99.

My Thoughts:

This 96 page book has a unique feature.  It is broken up into three different levels.  Level 1 is for all students.  Then Levels 2 & 3 are for more advanced students.  I love that feature because it gives the book life for many years for all ages.

There are many topics covered over the 16 chapters which is pretty awesome because your bound to find a topic that is interesting to you.  I also love that this book is written from a Christian perspective.  This is very important to our family's beliefs.  



V is for the Virtuous Woman #abcblogging


 A few years ago I went to a funeral for my sister-in-laws Mom.  She read to us about the Virtuous Woman from the bible and shared how her Mom was many of those things.

This really stuck with me.  It is something I want to strive to be.  I hope my kid's will rise up and call me blessed one day.  I hope that this section of the bible will be something my kids will read about me.

I know I'm not great about rising early but this year I'm working on being up 30 minutes earlier than I typically do for school.  

Her candle burns at night - she burns the midnight oil, working hard until jobs are done.  This is another area I'm working on.  


I'd love to hear how this passage of scripture inspires you! 

Proverbs 31:10-31 (KJV)



Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.


This post is part of blogging through the alphabet at BenandMe.com.  Click on the picture below to see what others are saying about the letter V. 


 
Ben and Me

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon DVD #REVIEW & GIVEAWAY #WIN

I'm so excited to share my latest Tom and Jerry DVD, The Lost Dragon, for review with you.  On top of that I am able to offer a giveaway copy to one lucky reader!




About the DVD:


Everyone’s favorite cat and mouse duo is back with song, sorcery and slapstick in this enchanted tale. The adventure begins when Tom and Jerry happen upon a mysterious glowing egg. Little do they know, this egg was stolen from a very large, fire-breathing dragon! In short time, baby Puffy hatches from his egg and takes Tom as his mommy.  The angry dragon mom wants her baby back, but she’s not the only one…a powerful witch named Drizelda captures the baby dragon for her own wicked plans! With the help of powerful allies and animal friends, Tom and Jerry must fight tooth and claw to stop the witch and get the baby dragon back to its mother. The action takes flight in a climactic ending filled with might, magic and cartoon mayhem of course! Can Tom and Jerry help this tale end happily ever after? Find out with this rip-roaring escapade for the whole family!




Bonus Episodes:



  • Medieval Mouse
  • Fire Breathing Tom Cat
  • Medieval Menace
  • The Itch


Our Thoughts:


We really enjoy Tom and Jerry.  Their antics never get old.   This action-packed adventure had Tom & Jerry working together as a team to rescue a baby dragon. I always liked the episodes where the duo are friends and not just at each out.  My kids really liked this movie and they thought the bonus episodes were equally wonderful.

 You can purchase your copy of Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon at your local retailers or online at stores like Amazon. 

 

Tried & True #BookReview Plus Kindle HDX Giveaway and Live Webcast Event with @MaryConnealy!




I had the opportunity to review the first book in Mary Connealy's Wild at Heart series. In Tried & True, Mary shares her signature humor and heartfelt story-telling.

My Thoughts:

This was such a fun book!  I loved all three sisters and can't wait to see how their stories unfold.  (Yes, I will be purchasing the rest of the series when published!)   This was a great story set in the post-civil war era.  This book focuses on Kylie the youngest of a trio of sisters.  Kylie longs for simpler times when women could be women.

Kylie's life is anything from easy living on a new farm alone.  Women just didn't do that sort of thing at that time.  She finds herself having to deal with the daily work and not really enjoying herself.  Then Aaron - the land agent happens upon her and her life changes.  She finds herself in a a whirlwind romance and has to trust God's plan for her life. 
  

About the book:

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!


Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister---and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk---they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"---but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.
Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

Purchase a copy:  http://ow.ly/AS8Js


Additional Information:

 
Mary's celebrating by connecting with readers during a live webcast event and giving away a Kindle HDX.
triedtrue-400-click

One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle HDX
  • Tried & True by Mary Connealy
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 23rd. Winner will be announced at the Tried & True LIVE webcast event on September 23rd. Connect with Mary for an evening of swoon-worthy book chat, fun trivia, laughter, a sneak peek at the next book in the Wild at Heart series, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Tried & True and join Mary and friends on the evening of September 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

Monday, September 22, 2014

100% Pure Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil by Insta Naturals #REVIEW

A Rup Life was sent a this product for review purposes. All opinions are my own. Post contains affiliate links.


Insta Naturals recently sent me their 100% Pure Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil for review.  I had never tried rosehip oil before so I was very intrigued and couldn't wait to add it to my moisturizing routine. 

About:

Add InstaNatural Rosehip seed oil to your routine for:
• Damage caused to skin due to sun-exposure
• Getting help with dryness, roughness and more
• Decreasing old and hardened scars and diminishing the appearance of marks, including scars, dark spots and stretch marks
• Nourishing the skin deeply to make the skin smoother and more even.
• Shinier hair and nail care.

Give your Skin a chemical free 'NATURAL' Moisturizer!
• InstaNatural Rosehip seed oil is 100% pure and USDA certified organic, and unrefined to give you safe and effective multi benefits.
• Contains Essential fatty acids (Omega 6, 3 and 9), which is beneficial for healing the skin.

My Thoughts:

I've been using the rosehip oil for a few weeks now.  I suffer from psoriasis on my face, arms and knees.  It has always been a challenge to find a moisturizer that feels good on those areas.  They can be dry and itchy at times.  Since using the Insta Naturals' Rosehip oil I've been itch-free.  I love the way this oil blend right into my skin instantly.  That is because it is a 'dry' oil.  Overall my skin feels better and looks better too.  














Deep Cleansing Facial Oil by Insta Naturals #REVIEW

I was recently sent Insta Naturals' Deep Cleansing Facial Oil for review.



About:

Our Deep Cleansing Facial Oil contains the perfect blend of ingredients that melt away dirt, impurities and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils or disturbing the natural pH balance. This energizing blend of oils will gently clean your pores and remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and nourished.

Use with a washcloth or sponge and rinse off with warm water. Leaves a soft and silky feel on the skin. Wonderful for all skin types and especially regenerative for mature skin. Also great to calm skin after shaving or sun burns. Can be used to remove makeup - even mascara!

This is a brand new product (with new branding) we are introducing and would like YOU to be one of the first to try it out and give feedback.

Key Active Ingredients:
+ Jojoba Oil
+ Olive Oil
+ Lavendar Essential Oil
+ Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil
+ Tamanu Oil
+ Hemp Oil
+ Sea Buckthorn Oil
+ Geranium Essential Oil
 


My Thoughts:

You might be thinking how can I cleanse my face with oil?  Well actually this method has been used for a very long time.  To use I would squirt a few pumps in my hand and rub all over my face.  Then like magic my makeup melted.  It evenremoved my eye makeup easily - which was a big hit for me because I've been having trouble with getting it off with my normal cleanser.  I found that for me I preferred to rinse with water and dry with a towel.  After drying my skin felt soft and moisturized - not greasy at all.  I did not notice any additional oil on my skin from using this product - just soft moisturized skin.  I'm totally pleased and would definitely purchase again in the future. 



I received this product for review purposes.  This post contains affiliate links.  

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Quilts of Love | HIDDEN IN THE STARS – #REVIEW & $200 Giveaway & “Fall into Fall” Facebook Party!


I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are my own.  This post may contain affiliate links. 







I recently had the opportunity to review the  newest Quilts of Love book, Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll. September's QOL release is a wonderful combination of mystery, romance, and family love bound together by a quilt and the story it tells.

My Thoughts:

This book grabbed me in the first chapter.  I honestly couldn't wait to find out the mystery.  I'm usually not a big mystery genre fan but Carroll weaved a fantastic tale and I was hooked!  Sophia was such a fantastic character - strong, independent and faith-filled.  She was inspiring with all she goes through and how she handles it all.  I would love to see another book with these characters - perhaps the next chapter of Sophia's life since it has drastically changed.  


Book Synopsis:

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother's offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn't help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

You can purchase your copy at your local retailer or online at stores like Amazon.



 Additional Information:


Hidden in the Stars Robin Carroll Quilts of Love
Enter to win a "Night on the Town" (a $200 Visa cash card!) and RSVP for the "Fall into Fall" Quilts of Love Facebook party on 10/7.
One winner will receive:
  • A $200 Visa cash card (The perfect accessory for a "night on the town"!)
  • A Grand Design by Amber Stockton
  • Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 7. Winner will be announced at the October 7th author chat party with Amber Stockton and Robin Caroll! RSVP for an evening of book chat, quilting tips and tricks, prizes, and more!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on October 7th!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

CHRISTMAS AT ROSE HILL FARM #REVIEW Pluse: iPad Bundle Giveaway & sign up to host a Book Club Brunch!



I had the opportunity to review, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher new Amish Christmas book.  Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm will charm you  into the holiday spirit.

My Thoughts:

This was a delightful book set in Amish country.   We follow Bess as she is about to marry her long time friend Amos.  It should be the most exciting and happy time of her life but it isn't.  See Bess is still in love with her old boyfriend Billy.  A little Christmas magic finds a way to bring Bess and Billy together - it is just up to them to work things out. 

I loved the Hobo character in this book.  Reminded me of the movie It's A Wonderful Life.  Christmas movies and books can have a little magic and I was okay with it during this book.  I felt like even though it was a short read Fisher managed to give us enough back story to make the book flow smoothly.  I'd love to read more of from this farm - perhaps a prequel with Bess's Grandmother's story?  She sounds like someone that would make a great book to read.  

I really love Christmas themed books and this one did not disappoint at all!

Be sure to pick up your copy at your local book retailer or online at stores like Amazon.   



Additional Information:


Suzanne is hosting a "Christmas Rose" iPad bundle giveaway and a nation-wide Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch in November. Enter the giveaway below and sign up to host a brunch HERE.
rosehill-400-click 
TWO grand prize winners will receive:
  • An iPad
  • A Rose-patterned iPad case
  • A Rose-patterned phone case (for any model phone)
  • A Christmas wreath
  • A set of Christmas hand-towels
  • Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Five second place winners will receive:
  • Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 28th. All winners will be announced September 29th at Suzanne's blog.

rosehill-brunchbuttonHost a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch! This fall Suzanne is inviting book clubs across the nation to throw a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch. Sign up here between now and September 29. If you’re selected as one of the 50 hosts, you’ll receive a copy of the book plus two other Revell titles (give them away as party prizes or door prizes or keep them for yourself), a complete party kit, and a discount code to purchase copies of Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for your book club at a discount. Suzanne is also encouraging each book club brunch to collect non-perishable items for their local community shelter. She will be making a donation to her favorite charity (helping abused women and children) for every brunch that meets their goal. Click here for more details and to SIGN UP!

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 29th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Weekly Recap



I love Fall.  The weather here in NJ has been beautiful these past few days.  This is the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside all day and night!  We've been settling nicely into a school routine.  This week we added piano lessons (outside the home) for our bigger boys.  They are ecstatic to be back to lessons. 

My little guy has been in speech therapy for 2 weeks now.  The therapist commented about how it was obvious that we had tried everything at home to make progress.  He really does have trouble with "j", "ch" and "sh".  Smaller troubles with other sounds too.  For awhile people gave me a hard time when I said I wanted him to start speech.  I heard comments like - "he is just little", "he will grow out of it" or "but he is so smart".  I'm glad I stuck to my gut and went ahead and pushed for intervention.  He has already shown improvement in some areas and we have seen where he needs work.  I want to encourage you other moms to listen to your gut when it comes to your kids! 

Okay enough of all that - onto the recap!

Precisio Slant Tip Tweezers by Crave Naturals #REVIEW

JOYFUL BY SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY #REVIEW

 

The 7 Minute Life™ Daily Planner #REVIEW

 

My Student Logbook #REVIEW 

- I can't say enough wonderful things about this log-book!  We really love them!!  

Unity #abcblogging

 

Old Wives Tail Organic Hair Treatment #REVIEW #oldwivestail

“Love & Cupcakes” Book Review & Kindle Giveaway & Facebook Party from @BetsyStAmant! #REVIEW

 

AsTheyGrowUp.com

 

Treasury of Bible Stories - Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times #REVIEW #WIN  

Precious Child CD #REVIEW

Disney's "Planes Fire & Rescue" is landing on Disney Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on Nov 4th

 

Nat Geo WILD’s The Secret Life of CATS 9/21 & Special Invite the SPCA 9/19!

 

I also wrote a guest post for Bright Ideas Press:

Things I Learned About Raising Boys

 

 

 

 

Friday, September 19, 2014

“Love & Cupcakes” Book Review & Kindle Giveaway & Facebook Party from @BetsyStAmant! #REVIEW

I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are my own.  This post may contain affiliate links. 

Two best friends afraid to take their relationship into the next level - sets the stage for All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes  Kat is ready to take her life from plain vanilla to exotic flavors!  Lucas signs her up for a cupcake realty show and she finds herself selected to compete.  Naturally she takes her best friend along - Lucas!  This book was a wonderful read.  I loved how the characters worked out their fears and dreams through-out the book.  I didn't always love Kat - but I enjoyed watching her blossom within the pages and mature to a wonderful, mature woman. 

You can purchase your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes at your local book retailer or online at stores like Amazon.

 Additional Information:

Don't miss Betsy St. Amant's latest fiction release, All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes. A "sweet" tale of two best friends and the choices they make between dreams and a possible "sure thing," St. Amant's novel is sure to satisfy your romantic-fiction craving.
cupcakes-400-click
Betsy is celebrating with a fun Kindle giveaway and a Love & Cupcakes Facebook party! One winner will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle
  • All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Love & Cupcakes" Author Chat Party on 9/18. Betsy will be hosting a "sweet" book chat, giving away prizes, and answering questions from readers. She will also share an exclusive sneak peek at her next book project!

So grab your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes and join Betsy on the evening of September 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

Old Wives Tail Organic Hair Treatment #REVIEW #oldwivestail






Old Wives Tail makes handmade hair treatment products.  The recently sent me one of them to try.

What I received:

Argan & Rosemary Organic Oil Treatment

My Thoughts:

This product came in a little plastic jar.  (Adorable!)  When I opened it the first thing that hit me was the wonderful smell.  It smells yummy!  The product is a very thick  whipped creamy texture which you apply to your hair as a treatment.  You leave it on for about an hour then rinse out.  You can also apply a small amount to the ends as a leave in conditioner.  I felt like this was a very luxurious product.  My hair felt soft and nourished after using and smelled amazing.

Additional information:

Our organic oil treatment is completely chemical free and 100% natural making it very gentle and kind on your hair and scalp.
Our oil treatments strengthen, thicken and nourish the hair making them the perfect natural remedy for dry, damaged, broken and brittle tresses.
They smell absolutely divine! We use stimulating and refreshing essential oils that give our oils their amazing scent.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Unity #abcblogging

Unity - this is a hard one.  I've seen so many families drift away because they didn't share the same beliefs.  It happens in churches too.  I think we are all a bit selfish to believe that everyone will live exactly the way we do.  To think the way we do.  To react the way we do. Our flesh tells us to do what feels good to us and what we want but that isn't what the bible says. 


There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. - Proverbs 14:12

Maybe our thoughts are:

how could they still be doing that 

or

how could she say that


but we forget that Jesus has brought us to our current state of maturity.  Perhaps when you were 20 you still said some of those same things.  Maybe your still doing something that a more mature Saint in Christ thinks you should have learned by now. Perhaps you always say the wrong thing - put your foot in your mouth?

What does the bible say about unity?

 Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous - 1 Peter 3:8


When we show that compassion and courtesy we are showing love.  By having these traits we will naturally flow to being all of one mind.

Which leads me to another verse:

 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. - Philippians 2:2


As you can see we are to strive to be likeminded and having the same love.  I believe that is talking about working towards unity in Jesus.


This post is part of #abcblogging with BenandMe.com.  Click on the picture below to see what other bloggers are saying about the letter U.


Ben and Me

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

My Student Logbook #REVIEW

My Student Logbook Review
I was recently sent a review product from My Student Logbook .  I really didn't have high expectations.  The product looked simple - and it is.  However that is what makes it so amazing.  It is not time consuming to implement.  I didn't expect this little book to be life changing for our homeschool
... but it was!

What I received:

My Student Logbook  in the Freedom Print - Undated -  $15.00

My Student Logbook Review
They also offer a dated version and a printable version. 



Recommended Age:  2nd grade +


What is it?

It is a spiral bound soft backed student planning book.  You have a spot to write the courses your child is taking and there is a spot to mark off what they've completed.

Setting up your student planner is a little different than other planners we have used.  You take a sheet physically out of the book and sort of fold it over and tape it onto the check-off pages.  Then it creates a pocket or folder for you to keep adding weekly check off pages.

This video really explains it best:


As you can see it is easy to set up.

How we used this product:

Last year I took a long time to lesson plan.  I took each book and wrote out a daily schedule for my kid's to check off.  It worked - but it was a lot of work.  This year for my oldest (9th grade) we started out the year by using My Student Logbook.  All I had to do is create the list of courses and attach.  Poof I was done!

How I set his book up is by putting his independent work at the top of the page and work he needs Mom's help with at the bottom.  He dates each school day at the top.  Then he brings me the book and I highlight the days work I want him to accomplish.  During the day he marks off what he has accomplished.

He likes checking the boxes off - it gives him a sense of accomplishment.  I like that each morning I can see what we've accomplished the day before and easily add to the schedule.  Because each week checkoff sheet has 7 slots - I can get a real glance of what subjects need more work.





For us we just check off in most of the subjects but it would be easy to write in a grade (say for math) or time (if you are in a state where you need to keep track of hours for credits.)  For gym I have him writing in the time for physical activity just so we can get an idea of how much time he spends each week.  

My Thoughts:

I loved this product!  It was so easy to set up and I didn't have to do a ton of scheduling or planning.  In fact it was such an easy and wonderful tool for me that I went ahead and ordered my middle son (7th grade) his own! I'm so pleased to have found a product that makes my life easier. 

There isn't really anything I would change.  My only suggestion is perhaps some additional cover choices.  Particularly more mature themes that boys wouldn't mind.  We lucked out with the Freedom cover and Vintage Map as our choices.  However there really isn't any other choices that would appeal to my boys.  They might have even been happy with just solid color choices.  I only mention it because I'm sure when we purchase them next year they will want a new choice.  (Yeah I'm already thinking ahead!)




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