Saturday, December 5, 2015
Inexpensive ham~Frugal Discoveries
Growing up we didn’t have many lunchmeat sandwiches. I took cheese or peanut butter sandwiches to school because lunch meat was expensive. Going to a small private school we didn’t have the hot lunches daily served that it seems most school have now a days either. My kids are not really picky eaters. They will eat almost anything put in front of them. I am the picky one in the family, mostly because of my no gluten, no meat lifestyle. I am slowly introducing some meat but that is another story for another day!
Back to the ham.. my kiddos do eat peanut butter or PB&J which are more inexpensive choices for sandwiches. However, they like ham, especially when it is made as a toasted ham and cheese hoagie! Now that, the oldest kiddo around her is in public school for his last two years of high school, we pack at least one lunch daily. For packed lunches left overs or sandwiches are the best. So as my deli bill was rising, I went on a mission to help cut that bill.
I had read about different ways to cut your grocery bill when it comes to meat. I do purchase in bulk, I do purchase some meat marked down. I had read about asking the meat department to cut different meats in different ways, when purchasing bulk cuts, however I hadn’t tried it. I also had read and contemplated purchasing my own slicer and slicing my own meats. That isn't something that I am not ready to do yet.
About a month ago while at our local grocery store I went to purchase our lunch meat for the week’s lunches. I cringed as the total came to $30.00! WOW! This was for ham, turkey and roast beef, but wow! I thought this has to change. I thought would try out having a ham sliced for me. I asked the deli if I could bring them a whole ham to slice. They told me at the deli that they didn’t do that there, however if I go to the meat counter they would. I was excited to give it a try.
The next time I was in the store my husband and I were looking at the different hams and we asked at the meat counter. They can only do the boneless, for obvious reasons. They said they would slice it for free! No need to buy that slicer and have to clean and store it now.
So we picked out a half a ham to start with. I had planned on freezing the ham and wanted to see how it would be after it was frozen. They sliced it up just like the deli asking me how thin etc. We don't like it shaved and I don't think that is something that they could do based on our conversation with the meat man. I paid $2.39/lb for the ham when it averages between $5.00-7.00/lb at our deli.
This is what I brought home. The cashier and the bagger had never seen ham like this before. They were talking about it the whole time they rang out our cart! They wanted to know how I got them to cut it like that, and were amazed at how cheap it was a pound.
In saving money it usually involves you working a little harder. I promise you won’t have to do much. All I did was get out my food scale. I laid aluminum foil on it and weigh the ham out into 1 lb packets. I wrapped them up in the foil and placed them in a freezer bag. I popped them then into the freezer and that was it.
When it was time to get out a pound of ham, I just got it out the night before and placed it in the fridge. The next morning I set it out for a bit to defrost quicker. About 2 hours later, I laid it out in a glass dish that would fit in my meat drawer in the fridge and set it in the fridge. We were in business! I am going to check out my options for roast beef next and I will share it when I find it!
How much did I save? On this one package I save $26.85 because it was on sale, HOWEVER I only paid $2.39 a lb! If I purchased it at the deli at he average of $5.99 a lb it would have cost me $34.74. So I saved just over 20.00 on my ham that lasted us about a month. If you add that up that is $240 a year on something I think is SO SIMPLE!
Does your family eat ham sandwiches? If so this is the way to go! Don't worry I used all the ham too. The ends I put in a separate freezer bag. Those will be great for ham, green beans and potatoes, potato soup, or omelets. The meat department will also slice them thickly for ham steaks.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
*****Christmas Book Giveaway!!*****
I am so excited to announce that I am able to give one reader a set of these four fabulous Christmas books! What a great collection to add to any home library! Stores that you will want to read to your children/grandchildren year after year! Read on to find my reviews for each of the books and how to enter! The give away will run until Dec 5th, 2015 at midnight! Good luck to all!
Goodnight, Manger My Christmas Stocking
My Review! My Review!
The Legend of the The Berenstain Bears
Christmas Cookie The Very First Christmas
My Review! My Review!
To be entered into the give away…
1 Entry~ Comment below with your favorite Christmas story.
1 Entry~Share with link for Facebook, Pinterest, or Google+ only
2 Entries~Follow Clubbhouse Happenings
Check back on Dec 6th to see if you are the winner! I will need your info to get your books to you
Good Luck to all entrants! Merry Christmas to all!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain~Smiley360 Review
I am that person who doesn’t really take any medicine when it comes to cold/sinus issues, other than regular Advil. This doesn’t do much for congestion or runny noses. Thankfully I don’t have those issues very often. Why wouldn’t I want to take anything to make me feel better? All the medicines to help with the symptoms of colds/sinus seem to knock me out. I am not talking about an afternoon nap, I am talking about 12 or more, and I feel as if I am in a haze. It doesn’t matter if it is non-drowsy either. So, I had only used one particular medicine and it had to be the brand, no generics, no substitutions. Then they “improved” the formula! The two words I never wanted to see on my sinus medication, new or improved. Guess what? This sinus medication joined the list of other sinus medication that I couldn’t take.
When I saw the offer to review this new non-drowsy Advil Cold Sinus and Pain from Smiley360, I thought that maybe this would work. I was accepted for the review and waited for my box. Before I received it, I got hit with some respiratory infection that left me with multiple yucky symptoms. After about 2 days I asked my hubby to run out and get me some of this Advil!!!!!!!! Keep reading to see if it worked!
What is this Advil Sinus Congestion and Pain about?
Advil Sinus Congestion and Pain is a one dose tablet whose active ingredients are 200mg ibuprofen and Phenulephrin HCL 10mg and……
Treats stuffy nose, sinus pressure, nasal swelling, headache, fever and body aches ONLY
Does not treat allergies, sinus infection, cough, runny nose or any pain unrelated to sinus
Is safe when used as directed
Please follow correct dosing information as stated on the package and do not make any false claims about Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain
After using the product, what is the verdict?
I took the medicine as soon as he got home and in less than an hour, I was snoozing! However this time was different! I only slept for about 2.5 hours, and didn’t feel as if I was in haze! That was awesome! I felt sooo much better! I took this only twice a day because of the sleepiness but I was so excited that I was able to take it.
A couple of days later I got my Smiley360 kit with my box to try. I knew it was a keeper! When my teenage son started with what seemed like the same symptoms Advil Congestion and Sinus was the first thing I grabbed for him and it has worked well for his also!
We are definitely keeping this product in or medicine cabinet! Advil Sinus Congestion & pain allows me to be the wife and mom that I am/need to be even when a cold or sinus issues are around!
Get a coupon for 1.00 off here.and give it a try!
Disclaimer: I received a sample of the above mentioned product for free, fromSmiley360, in exchange for an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Thank you to Smiley360 for this opportunity!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Goodnight Manger~A ZonderKids Review
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Good Night Manger is a hardback book written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by Jane Chapman. This book tells the story of a night when baby Jesus couldn’t sleep. The rhyming words describe how the noises in the stable makes baby Jesus cry and then how the animals and visitors try to help Mary and Joseph get him to sleep.
Waaawh! “SHH” brays Donkey.” Time for bed. Here’s a pillow for your head.
Hay smells sweet. But how it itches! Baby wriggles, squirms and twitches.
Who knew how crazy that stable was when Jesus’ was born?
What a great story to start a Christmas Eve or bedtime tradition with.
Check out this book and other great titles at Zondervan.
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Thank you to ZonderKids for this opportunity.
Good Night Manger is a hardback book written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by Jane Chapman. This book tells the story of a night when baby Jesus couldn’t sleep. The rhyming words describe how the noises in the stable makes baby Jesus cry and then how the animals and visitors try to help Mary and Joseph get him to sleep.
Waaawh! “SHH” brays Donkey.” Time for bed. Here’s a pillow for your head.
Hay smells sweet. But how it itches! Baby wriggles, squirms and twitches.
Who knew how crazy that stable was when Jesus’ was born?
What a great story to start a Christmas Eve or bedtime tradition with.
Check out this book and other great titles at Zondervan.
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Thank you to ZonderKids for this opportunity.
Andi Unstoppable by Amanda Flower
Andi Unstoppable, by Amanda Flower, is a great mystery book about a great friendship and trust. School is back in session at Killdeer Elementary School and the science teacher is an avid bird watcher. What a great idea to get the kids involved also, right? He asks to pair up the kids and Andi isn’t worried at all. Her best friend, Colin and her are always together. After the class settles down she turns towards Colin and Ava has beat her to it! How could she? She heads over to where the two are and the science teacher pairs the three of them up (since there is an odd number of kids in the class it worked out this way).
The trio has an advantage…Colin’s Aunt is a birder and is willing to take the kids out. There is an extra 20 points also, if you get a picture of the Kirtland Warbler bird, Andi wants to get this before Ava. They end of finding more than birds on this assignment when it brings them to where the legendary ghost is supposed to haunt. The legend says that she is haunting this area protecting her children killed during the war. It’s only a legend, they don’t believe in ghosts then they see it! Something that looks like a ghost floating around. Do they capture the picture they were seeking for the extra points? Do they get the ghost? You will have to read the book to find out!
You can check out this 3rd book in the series, the previous books in the series or other great books that Zondervan has to offer here!
Thanks to the Z~squad for this opportunity!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary
Best Hair Book Ever! Cute Cuts, Sweet Styles and Tons of Tress Tips ~Faithgirlz
I received a copy of this book from Zonderkids in exchange for review.
Buh-Bye bad hair days! This complete hair guide boasts on it’s back cover. Written by the Editors of Faithgirlz and Girls’ Life magazine this book claims that it will make cute styles easy to have every day. So does it live up to that?
My daughter (9) was gifted (or cursed depending on the day ), with my naturally curly hair. She hasn’t yet mastered the brushing of it on the underside so there are many brushings that end in tears. She also doesn’t like her hair fussed with too much either. She is more of a braid or pony girl. When I saw this book I was so excited! Maybe seeing the fun do’s in it will help her to see how much fun it can be when we do our hair and take care of it. Anyone with hair has battled the struggles of it not doing what you want. It seems that if our hair is curly at one point we want it straight, and if it is straight, we want if curly! I can truly attest to the day to day struggles of naturally curly hair and it’s mind of its own! I was in my 20’s when I really started to appreciate my curly hair! Sadly, this is true!
This book is full of styles for any hair~up-do’s, down-do’s, braids, long or short hair. Having a bad hair day? No problem! There are many great tips like how to deal with frizz or how to handle those trouble tresses! A great book for any young girl!
You can check out this book or other great books by Zondervan here!
Thank you to the Z-Squad for this opportunity!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results or opinions may differ.
My Christmas Stocking~Fillled with God's Love by Crystal Bowman
My Christmas Stocking~Filled with God's Love, is a chunky board book by Crystal Bowman and Illustrated by Claudine Gevry.
This story tells the exciting story of St Nicholas and how he wanted to show God’s love to mankind and started leaving presents wherever he went.
What a beautifully written Christmas Eve or St Nicholas Day story to tell to your preschoolers or entire family year after year.
You can check out this book or other great titles from Zondervan here!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from ZonderKids in exchange for a frank and honest opinion. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may differ.
Thank you to ZonderKids for the opportunity to review this book!
Monday, November 9, 2015
The Legend of the Christmas Cookie~Dandy Daley Mackall
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
The Legend of the Christmas Cookie was written by Dandy Daley Mackall and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. The story is about a little boy who is missing his dad who is away working. His mom bakes cookies for a local church in need. While she is baking she explains the story of the first Christmas cookies. She explains how a family from long ago wanted to spread the true meaning of Christmas. However, they didn't have alot of money. They made molds out of wood and filled them with dough and baked them. Christmas Eve they went to town to tell the Christmas story.
Now Jack's mother was baking cookies for a family in need, when he felt needy as he missed his dad. This act of kindness Jack's mother expressed helped Jack realize a stranger in need and inspired the little boy to his own act of kindness.
I had never heard of the book The Legend of the Christmas Cookie until I saw this book and I was so excited to read it. I love stories that help bring meaning to the things that we do and I love to make new traditions. This book will definitely start a new tradition this year when we start our baking!
You can check out this book and other great books
Thank you to Zonderkids for this opportunity.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your opinions and results may vary.
The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Who doesn’t love the Berenstain bears?
I loved the books as a kid and my kiddos have enjoyed the books and the television show. The Very First Christmas, is written just as your other favorite Berenstain Bears. Its easy to understand text and colorful illustrations in the Berenstain Bears fashion make this the perfect first story of Jesus’s birth for any little one!
This book would make a great stocking stuffer or Christmas gift!
From the back of the book:
Join the Bear cubs as they learn all about Jesus' holy birth. From the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary to the visit form the three wise men. Join Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister and Honey as they discover the story of the very fist Christmas.
Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. though Stan died in 2005, and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from his studio in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear County.
You can check out this book and other great books at Zondervan
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product for free, in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Who doesn’t love the Berenstain bears?
I loved the books as a kid and my kiddos have enjoyed the books and the television show. The Very First Christmas, is written just as your other favorite Berenstain Bears. Its easy to understand text and colorful illustrations in the Berenstain Bears fashion make this the perfect first story of Jesus’s birth for any little one!
This book would make a great stocking stuffer or Christmas gift!
From the back of the book:
Join the Bear cubs as they learn all about Jesus' holy birth. From the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary to the visit form the three wise men. Join Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister and Honey as they discover the story of the very fist Christmas.
Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. though Stan died in 2005, and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from his studio in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear County.
You can check out this book and other great books at Zondervan
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product for free, in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
May The Faith Be With You~180 Devotions that are out of this world.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Devotions that are out of this world"
May The Faith Be With You is a devotional book with a cute name. It has a sturdy hard back cover and was obviously a play on words (movies) with the new Star Wars movie coming out in Dec. What perfect timing! The 180 devotions within this book are short and to the point, making this a great beginning devotional. I think it would best suit children between the ages of 6-10.
Each page has a bible verse, a master moment, ways of wisdom and use the force.
Scripture: The scripture is self explanatory.
Master Moments: Remind us of God’s love and provide the main idea with the devotion. These moments can also be used as a review at a later time.
Ways of Wisdom: Tells about the story from the scripture that was read.
Use the force: These words help you get started praying. Feel free to add to them or change them to make them fit you better. Remember, prayer is your time to talk to and listen to God. Sometimes you may even want to say, “God I am listening” and sit and quietly wait to hear from God.
In the back of the book is a list of all the scriptures and what devotion they go with. The reader could easily use this as a quick reference guide or highlight their favorite scripture verses.
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product for free, in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may differ.
Thank you do Zonderkidz for the opportunity to review this book!
"Devotions that are out of this world"
May The Faith Be With You is a devotional book with a cute name. It has a sturdy hard back cover and was obviously a play on words (movies) with the new Star Wars movie coming out in Dec. What perfect timing! The 180 devotions within this book are short and to the point, making this a great beginning devotional. I think it would best suit children between the ages of 6-10.
Each page has a bible verse, a master moment, ways of wisdom and use the force.
Scripture: The scripture is self explanatory.
Master Moments: Remind us of God’s love and provide the main idea with the devotion. These moments can also be used as a review at a later time.
Ways of Wisdom: Tells about the story from the scripture that was read.
Use the force: These words help you get started praying. Feel free to add to them or change them to make them fit you better. Remember, prayer is your time to talk to and listen to God. Sometimes you may even want to say, “God I am listening” and sit and quietly wait to hear from God.
In the back of the book is a list of all the scriptures and what devotion they go with. The reader could easily use this as a quick reference guide or highlight their favorite scripture verses.
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product for free, in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may differ.
Thank you do Zonderkidz for the opportunity to review this book!
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Centrum Chewable Vitamints~A Smiley360 Review
Vitamins are something that we take MOST of the time here at our house. I say most because we forget sometimes and don’t worry as much summer months. We eat a pretty balanced diet including lots of fruits and veggies so I feel we get a great portion of our vitamins and minerals from our diets. I believe though, that vitamins will help you fight off the yuckies during the winter months. We are, for the most part healthy all year around! I think some of that is from the vitamins, giving our bodies the tools to work efficiently.
I was selected to participate in this Centrum Vitamints review and received 5 free samples from Smiley360! Along with the samples, I received 5 coupons for 1.00 off to give to friends and family. You can check out their website here!
So what are these vitamints and what is different about them? First of all, they are adult multivitamins/minerals. Secondly, you can take them any time of the day, with or without food or water! Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Some of the reasons that we skip vitamins is because we are in route and running late. Having a chewable would help in those situations, now wouldn’t it?
So naturally, I was eager to try them! I will share my thoughts in a minute.
First, some facts about the Centrum Vitamints:
They do not freshen breath, it simply has a refreshingly minty taste
They do not increase your energy, cure any illness or boost metabolism
They will help SUPPORT your energy, immunity and metabolism
They are only for adults 18 and older.
Now, do these measure up to the test? Do they taste good? Are they as great as they seem? Well, since I received 5 of them I tried them, my husband tried them and our older kid tried them. ****I have spoken with my pediatrician and decided that it was okay for my older kid to take an adult men’s formula, so I gave him this Vitamin. ***** Please note that Centrum states that these Centrum Vitamints ARE NOT for kids.********* The verdict: I love that fact that it is chewable and can be take anywhere. This makes it very easy to make sure you get them daily. I didn’t like the cool mint flavor. The men loved it! They could chew it and head out the door or take it in the afternoon and not worry about needed that drink to wash it down. So overall, they were a hit and quickly added to our products the family loves!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product FOR FREE! In exchange for a frank and honest review. All opinions are my own and a positive review is not guaranteed. You opinion and results may vary.
Centrum Vitamints are recommended for ADULTS 18 and older. They DO NOT freshen your breath. Please consult your health car provider before starting these or any kind of supplements.
I was selected to participate in this Centrum Vitamints review and received 5 free samples from Smiley360! Along with the samples, I received 5 coupons for 1.00 off to give to friends and family. You can check out their website here!
So what are these vitamints and what is different about them? First of all, they are adult multivitamins/minerals. Secondly, you can take them any time of the day, with or without food or water! Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Some of the reasons that we skip vitamins is because we are in route and running late. Having a chewable would help in those situations, now wouldn’t it?
So naturally, I was eager to try them! I will share my thoughts in a minute.
First, some facts about the Centrum Vitamints:
They do not freshen breath, it simply has a refreshingly minty taste
They do not increase your energy, cure any illness or boost metabolism
They will help SUPPORT your energy, immunity and metabolism
They are only for adults 18 and older.
Now, do these measure up to the test? Do they taste good? Are they as great as they seem? Well, since I received 5 of them I tried them, my husband tried them and our older kid tried them. ****I have spoken with my pediatrician and decided that it was okay for my older kid to take an adult men’s formula, so I gave him this Vitamin. ***** Please note that Centrum states that these Centrum Vitamints ARE NOT for kids.********* The verdict: I love that fact that it is chewable and can be take anywhere. This makes it very easy to make sure you get them daily. I didn’t like the cool mint flavor. The men loved it! They could chew it and head out the door or take it in the afternoon and not worry about needed that drink to wash it down. So overall, they were a hit and quickly added to our products the family loves!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product FOR FREE! In exchange for a frank and honest review. All opinions are my own and a positive review is not guaranteed. You opinion and results may vary.
Centrum Vitamints are recommended for ADULTS 18 and older. They DO NOT freshen your breath. Please consult your health car provider before starting these or any kind of supplements.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Thank You, Lord, for Everything~P.J. Lyons
I received a copy of this book from ZonderKids in exchange for an honest review.
Thank You, Lord, for Everything written by P.J. Lyons and illustrated by Tim Warnes is a book about thankfulness. P.J. Lyons sets a great example for young children of how to show thankfulness for what God gives us daily in rhyming sentences.
“The books starts out Day is pushing night away, sunshine calls you out to play.
Brightly out of bed you spring. Thank you, Lord, for everything.”
This sturdy soft cardboard book goes thru several daily activities reminding us of our blessings and to be thankful for them. A great introduction book on thankfulness for our young readers.
Thank you ZonderKids and Zondervon for the opportunity to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Thank You, Lord, for Everything written by P.J. Lyons and illustrated by Tim Warnes is a book about thankfulness. P.J. Lyons sets a great example for young children of how to show thankfulness for what God gives us daily in rhyming sentences.
“The books starts out Day is pushing night away, sunshine calls you out to play.
Brightly out of bed you spring. Thank you, Lord, for everything.”
This sturdy soft cardboard book goes thru several daily activities reminding us of our blessings and to be thankful for them. A great introduction book on thankfulness for our young readers.
Thank you ZonderKids and Zondervon for the opportunity to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary.
Friday, October 9, 2015
The Story of God’s Love for You~Sally Lloyd-Jones
I received a copy of this book from ZonderKids in exchange for a review.
Who doesn’t like a great love story from time to time? What about the greatest love story ever written? In The Story of God’s Love For You you are getting just that! This book written by Sally-Lloyd Jones, tells the story of God’s love for us. She uses Bible stories to point out how much God love us and created us out of that love. The book is a sturdy hard cover that will outlast the many many times that you open the book and read it cover to cover.
From the inside cover: ‘Every Story whispers his name…. It’s and adventure story about a young hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne-everything- to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this story is-it’s true. And at the center of the story there is a baby. The child upon whom everything would depend”
My recommendations for this book? It would be that this book would make a great gift for just about anyone!
Thank you to ZonderKids for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your opinion or results may vary. No other compensation was received.
Angels~A 90 Day Devotional about God’s Messengers by Christa Kinde
Do you believe in angels? How much is really know about them? Angels~A 90 Day Devotional About God’s Messengers by Christa Kinde explores over 100 Bible passages in which angels make an appearance, proving their existence. God has used angels through out time that have been documented in the Bible as well as experienced since the Bible was written. This book that is recommended for ages 9 and up gives an idea, thru biblical scholarship, of what angels are and how God uses them in heaven and on earth.
From the back of the book: “A Supernatural Angelic Adventure! Guardian angles, diving messengers, fiery spirits, winged cherubim. The realm where these beings live in invisible. Most of the time, so are the angels themselves. re they real? What do we really know about them?
Angels: a 90-day devotional about God’s messengers explores over 100 Bible passages in which angels make an appearance. In addition, there are many questions and answers an exploration of myths and truths, hymns, Bible story retellings, pop culture references, and trivia that help readers sort fact from fiction. Through biblical scholarship aimed at ages nine and up, readers will have a better idea of what angels are and how God uses them as part of his heavenly kingdom, as well as gain understanding of God’s interne for us here on Earth.”
The book is sectioned for each day and filled with verses, questions and answers. Christa does a awesome job answering questions that we have heard, asked or wondered at some point in our lives like Are angels female? Are angels demons? or Why did some of the angels fall? These are only some of the questions that are discussed with in this book. I love the digging a little deeper questions after each devotion as well. For example, in the devotion that talks about the angel of death, one of the questions in the digging deeper section is: If you could life Methuselah’s lifespan (969 years) would you? Why? This is a great opportunity to think about our lives. What would it look like if we lived that long in todays society?
This is a great book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to explore Angels!
Thanks to ZonderKids for the opportunity to review this book!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may vary. No other compensation was received.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Project Inspired~Nicole Weider
I received a copy of this book from ZonderKids in exchange for a review.
I was so intrigued when I saw this title and read the summary of the book! I am always looking for good Christian books that will help guide my daughter as she grows into the woman God wants her to be. I feel there is more pressure on girls today to be someone they are not. Nicole was a model and had everything she thought she wanted from the time she was little. She had wanted one of those fancy stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was on her way to reaching that goal when she landed an ad job for a radio station. She didn’t know what that life would exactly look like at all when she dreamed of it as a young child, and she personally found out that that way of life was not what she really wanted.
Nicole uses her story of gaining that fame and life “She wanted” to start her mission of what God wanted for her life. She launched www.Projectinspired.com as a result of her experiences. She wanted to create a safe place for teen girls to talk about teen topics in a safe place away from bullying and pressures of the world. She wanted a space where girls could come talk about things like boys and fashion from a Christian perspective.
Back to the book now, throughout it’s 12 chapters Nicole uses bible verses, tips and personal experiences to talk to young women (many things in this book could apply to any woman, I think). She talks about things like True Beauty and your Wardrobe Essentials, Defining your Look and must have accessories and finally Boys, heartbreak and relationships. When I first saw the topics in the book, I was a little leery. I have always told my kids that if someone is worried about the brand you are wearing, the makeup you don’t have on yet or who you are dating they may not be your true friends. I wasn’t sure a book that focused or talked about such materialistic things would be a good one. I was wrong! Thank you to Nicole for writing a book (and launching the site) focusing positively on teen girls! Life during these ages is so crazy and so delicate with hormones, maturing and finding your place teen girls need a place they can feel safe and get support and advice from a Christian, accepting place.
I would recommend this book to girls and young women ages 13 and up.
One thing I LOVE was Nicole’s tips for dating. Specifically dating or not dating until you are 18. This is something that I think we don’t stress enough. I hear so many kids at such young ages talking about boy/girl friends it saddens me. I teach Sunday School to 2nd graders and guess what? They are already talking this way! Yep at 8 years old! There is so much time to find out that part of your life. Your relationship change so much from a childhood one to an adult one as we mature. There is so much drama associated with teen romances that I feel are unnecessary. Thank you Nicole for stating this also!
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!
I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your opinions or results may vary. No other compensation was received.
I was so intrigued when I saw this title and read the summary of the book! I am always looking for good Christian books that will help guide my daughter as she grows into the woman God wants her to be. I feel there is more pressure on girls today to be someone they are not. Nicole was a model and had everything she thought she wanted from the time she was little. She had wanted one of those fancy stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was on her way to reaching that goal when she landed an ad job for a radio station. She didn’t know what that life would exactly look like at all when she dreamed of it as a young child, and she personally found out that that way of life was not what she really wanted.
Nicole uses her story of gaining that fame and life “She wanted” to start her mission of what God wanted for her life. She launched www.Projectinspired.com as a result of her experiences. She wanted to create a safe place for teen girls to talk about teen topics in a safe place away from bullying and pressures of the world. She wanted a space where girls could come talk about things like boys and fashion from a Christian perspective.
Back to the book now, throughout it’s 12 chapters Nicole uses bible verses, tips and personal experiences to talk to young women (many things in this book could apply to any woman, I think). She talks about things like True Beauty and your Wardrobe Essentials, Defining your Look and must have accessories and finally Boys, heartbreak and relationships. When I first saw the topics in the book, I was a little leery. I have always told my kids that if someone is worried about the brand you are wearing, the makeup you don’t have on yet or who you are dating they may not be your true friends. I wasn’t sure a book that focused or talked about such materialistic things would be a good one. I was wrong! Thank you to Nicole for writing a book (and launching the site) focusing positively on teen girls! Life during these ages is so crazy and so delicate with hormones, maturing and finding your place teen girls need a place they can feel safe and get support and advice from a Christian, accepting place.
I would recommend this book to girls and young women ages 13 and up.
One thing I LOVE was Nicole’s tips for dating. Specifically dating or not dating until you are 18. This is something that I think we don’t stress enough. I hear so many kids at such young ages talking about boy/girl friends it saddens me. I teach Sunday School to 2nd graders and guess what? They are already talking this way! Yep at 8 years old! There is so much time to find out that part of your life. Your relationship change so much from a childhood one to an adult one as we mature. There is so much drama associated with teen romances that I feel are unnecessary. Thank you Nicole for stating this also!
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!
I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. Your opinions or results may vary. No other compensation was received.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Prayers That Changed History~Tricia Goyer
Prayers That Changed History written by Tricia Goyer is a great book about prayer. Tricia states that she wrote this book to: highlight a historical person and a moment of prayer, to teach kids how to pray, and to discuss prayers through the very words of the people highlighted. Her book uses historical people like Florence Nightingale, Constantine and Martin Luther, to show how their prayers and or action changed history.
Each of the chapters in the book is broken down into different parts about a different person: first they tell us about the person, then you have something to think about, in his own words, how they changed history, in the bible and finally your life. What a great way to see the power of prayer, how others used prayer, how God changed them and how we can use this in our lives!
From the back of the book: You’ve read their stories in history books, and you’ve heard about the amazing things they did to change the world. But one part of the story is often left out: each one of them wouldn’t have accomplished what they did without prayer. In this book from bestselling author Tricia Goyer, the stories of twenty-five notable people are presented along with the major prayer that changed their lives, and changed history. Following each historical example is a biblical story that ties to that person’s life and actions, as well as ways you can use the power of prayer in your life. because God isn’t done changing the world yet, and he would love to use you to make history.
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me to review this book!
*****Disclaimer*****I received a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All opinions are my own. You opinions and results may differ. No other compensation was received.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Thankful~Eileen Spinelli
I received a copy of this book from ZonderKids in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
Thankful is a sturdy hard cover book with a dust jacket. It was written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Archie Preston. Most people associate fall with Thanksgiving and being thankful in general. This book is a great example of gratitude for our God given gifts and talents!
From the dust cover: Beloved children’s author Eileen Spinelli and illustrator Archie Preston inspire children of all ages with THANKFUL, a whimsical picture book that celebrates the everyday blessings we find in our lives.
My thoughts: Thankfulness is something that we try to teach our children at a very young age. When they first learn they can “request” something like a toy, cup or snack we teach our children to say “thank you”. This book uses rhyming to help the reader see how and what people are thankful for.
The illustrations with in this book make the book fun. You see the same two little children (a boy and a girl) act out each thing as the words describe what each person would be thankful for:
“The doctor is thankful when patients get well. The traveler, for a cozy hotel.”
“The dancer is thankful. She loves the beat that stirs her heart and his and feet.”
What a fun, easy read and great book for any little one to experience and see gratitude.
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me to review this book!
Disclamer:
I was given a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. All opinions are my own. A positive review is not guaranteed. Your opinion may differ.
Thankful is a sturdy hard cover book with a dust jacket. It was written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Archie Preston. Most people associate fall with Thanksgiving and being thankful in general. This book is a great example of gratitude for our God given gifts and talents!
From the dust cover: Beloved children’s author Eileen Spinelli and illustrator Archie Preston inspire children of all ages with THANKFUL, a whimsical picture book that celebrates the everyday blessings we find in our lives.
My thoughts: Thankfulness is something that we try to teach our children at a very young age. When they first learn they can “request” something like a toy, cup or snack we teach our children to say “thank you”. This book uses rhyming to help the reader see how and what people are thankful for.
The illustrations with in this book make the book fun. You see the same two little children (a boy and a girl) act out each thing as the words describe what each person would be thankful for:
“The doctor is thankful when patients get well. The traveler, for a cozy hotel.”
“The dancer is thankful. She loves the beat that stirs her heart and his and feet.”
What a fun, easy read and great book for any little one to experience and see gratitude.
Thank you to ZonderKids for allowing me to review this book!
Disclamer:
I was given a copy of the above mentioned product in exchange for a frank and honest review. All opinions are my own. A positive review is not guaranteed. Your opinion may differ.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
NIV Bible for Teen Girls~ZonderKids Review
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
During the teen years there is so much growth, development and change going on in kids lives. That has never been a secret! Our young adults need to have space yet direction in developing their lives. We start off when they are young telling them that God will direct our paths. This teen girls Bible is a great fit for this time in a young woman’s life. This Bible has some great features that are perfect for any young woman.
How does the Teen Bible differ from others?
This Bible features:
*A pretty “girly” cover
*pink pages
* character traits centered around women
* Growing in Faith, Hope and Love devotions.
*Devotion index
*Topics index
I think that finding the right Bible for your child will only help them on the path as they discover who they are and who they are supposed to be. We change so many things as they grow why wouldn’t you change their Bible? I think this Bible would be a great fit for any teen/young woman!
Thank you to ZonderKids for the opportunity to review this Bible!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All results and opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may differ.
During the teen years there is so much growth, development and change going on in kids lives. That has never been a secret! Our young adults need to have space yet direction in developing their lives. We start off when they are young telling them that God will direct our paths. This teen girls Bible is a great fit for this time in a young woman’s life. This Bible has some great features that are perfect for any young woman.
How does the Teen Bible differ from others?
This Bible features:
*A pretty “girly” cover
*pink pages
* character traits centered around women
* Growing in Faith, Hope and Love devotions.
*Devotion index
*Topics index
I think that finding the right Bible for your child will only help them on the path as they discover who they are and who they are supposed to be. We change so many things as they grow why wouldn’t you change their Bible? I think this Bible would be a great fit for any teen/young woman!
Thank you to ZonderKids for the opportunity to review this Bible!
Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed. All results and opinions are my own. Your results and opinions may differ.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Plans I have for you~ZonderKids
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I received a copy of The Plans I Have For You from ZonderKids, in Exchange for a review.
One of my favorite bible verses has always been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord,”plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans o give you hope and a future.” This is the book about that verse.
Written by Amy Parker and Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton this book is based on the bible verse written from Jeremiah, the book explains that we are all called for a different purpose. Some of us will work in a hospital, or the zoo or even be and entomologist! The book explains with a little rhyme and very colorful illustrations how God designed each of us for our specific plan. I love the facet that the book is written like a letter from God to the reader, instilling the idea that the plan is in place and has been from birth! What a great story and message for little ones to hear and read that there is a plan for our life and that we have the tools to accomplish that plan.
From the book…
About the author:Amy Parker has written more than twenty books for children, teens and adults. She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son. Two of these collaborations are recipients of Christian Retailing’s best Awards. But Amy’s greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.
About the Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker and crafter. Her passion for children’s books began when she came across The Snowy Day by Ezra jack Keats as a child in the 1960’s. Growing up in a musical family who loved to sing, Vanessa’s illustrations are as fun and whimsical as a beautiful melody. Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charolette, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.
Thank you ZonderKids, a division of Zondervan for the opportunity to review this book!
I received a copy of The Plans I Have For You from ZonderKids, in Exchange for a review.
One of my favorite bible verses has always been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord,”plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans o give you hope and a future.” This is the book about that verse.
Written by Amy Parker and Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton this book is based on the bible verse written from Jeremiah, the book explains that we are all called for a different purpose. Some of us will work in a hospital, or the zoo or even be and entomologist! The book explains with a little rhyme and very colorful illustrations how God designed each of us for our specific plan. I love the facet that the book is written like a letter from God to the reader, instilling the idea that the plan is in place and has been from birth! What a great story and message for little ones to hear and read that there is a plan for our life and that we have the tools to accomplish that plan.
From the book…
About the author:Amy Parker has written more than twenty books for children, teens and adults. She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son. Two of these collaborations are recipients of Christian Retailing’s best Awards. But Amy’s greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.
About the Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker and crafter. Her passion for children’s books began when she came across The Snowy Day by Ezra jack Keats as a child in the 1960’s. Growing up in a musical family who loved to sing, Vanessa’s illustrations are as fun and whimsical as a beautiful melody. Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charolette, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.
Thank you ZonderKids, a division of Zondervan for the opportunity to review this book!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Discovery Education Streaming Plus~Free Subscription!
This FREE subscription ends on August 31st, 2015!
Check it out today!
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Have you heard the news? Homeschool Byers Co-op is giving away a FREE subscription to homeschoolers to Discovery Education Streaming Plus! Are you ready for some more? IT IS FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER! WOW!
WHO DOESN”T LIKE FREE? I know I do!
Summer break is only about 10 weeks long, traditionally. With in that time kids can loose so much of the learning they did during the school year! Let you child’s education soar thru the summer!
Discovery Education Streaming Plus is a comprehensive, educational digital streaming service that has over 12,300 full length educational videos, plus tons of other educational content including games, interactives, images and more. So, homeschoolers can have their kids engaged with educational content all summer long at no cost!
A 1 year subscription retails for $375, so this is a REALLY GOOD DEAL. Think of it as getting over 90.00 of educational material for free! (when you divide the total year subscription by 4 quarters in a year). That is an Awesome deal, isn’t it!
Bring Your Homeschool Lessons to Life
It's easy to see why homeschoolers rave about Discovery Education Streaming Plus. It's probably the most extensive and feature-rich educational video streaming service in the world.
It's much like having the entire DVD selection of your local public library available to you from the convenience of your home, 24/7/365.
But it's not just a collection of videos that you can watch from beginning to end. This library has been organized into useable video clips, organized and categorized, close-captioned, and supplemented with lesson plans, teaching guides, interactive simulations, images, audio resources, and other resources and materials that you can incorporate into virtually every aspect of your homeschool curriculum.
Here are only SOME of the features of the program:
- Thousands of full-length videos from scores of producers, segmented into tens of thousands of content-specific clips tied directly to state and national standards.
- Supplemental resources such as Assignment Builder, Quiz Center, Writing Prompt Generator, lesson plans, and more
- The ability to customize and personalize lessons to different subjects, grades, and learning styles
- Comprehensive K-12 curriculum coverage in six core subject areas.
- Video series from trusted content providers such as BBC Worldwide, CBS News, Channel 4, Discovery Studios, Scholastic, TV Ontario, and Westin Woods
- Thousands of self-paced math tutorials spanning concepts from basic addition to calculus
- Thousands of audio files including podcasts, classic literature audiobooks, children's literature
You can check it out HERE!
Remember this is only for the summer!
I was given the opportunity to a sneak peak of this program and to share this promotion with you from Home and School Mosaics and the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. I was not compensated in any other way for this promotion.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Frugal Friday!~ Refilling automatic soap Dispensers
Everyone loves when you find your favorite product on sale don’t we all? My favorite soaps and lotions are Bath and Body Works, Warm Vanilla Sugar and Kitchen Lemon my favorite ones. However, do you know how quickly 4 kiddos can empty one of those soaps? Even though I purchase them on sale with a coupon it isn’t very economical to let them have one!
I purchased one of those fancy no touch soap dispensers for their bathroom. Yes we are saving money using those than the foam or Bath and Body Works dispensers, they aren’t that cheap either. I thought I would try to take one apart and refill it. I have burned up a couple of machines (again not very economical) trying to figure out what the formula should be. I think I have found the perfect formula that works and has worked for the past 3 months when refilling my soap dispensers with blue Dawn!
Do you have dispensers that you want to refill on your own? Grab a screwdriver and your blue Dawn and let’s get started!
It is going to take a bit of elbow grease to get the top off but keep working it will come off!
Once you get it off, fill your container up to the top of the words. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. This is to thin out the Dawn. Replace the lid and put back into your dispenser. that is all there is to it! I use the blue Dawn because it has more grease fighting power. You can never have too much cleaning power, right!
Enjoy your refillable soap!
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