The Loose Screw

AWESOME 99% savings at Walgreens today!!!

2012-02-11T14:22:00.001-07:00

I am SOOOO excited, and set for hair styling products for a long time! Walgreens is currently offering a buy 1/get 1 free on all got2be styling products, which are $5.99. I scored a bunch of $3 off coupons, so here's what happened.....

12 assorted got2be styling products @ 5.99 each=$71.88-(6) free=$35.94-(12) $3 off mfg coupons= -$.06 (but Walgreens won't do overages, so $0.00
Gillete Fusion Proglide razor bonus pack $9.99-$5 mfg coupon-$4 register reward=$0.99
St. Joseph aspirin $2.00-$2.00 register reward=$0.00

Total regular price=$83.87, total paid* =$0.99=99% savings!!!

This deal is going on at Walgreens with the got2be products through 2/25, and you should have received a $3/1 coupon in the Redplum ad that we in Utah get delivered in Tuesday's mail, but others I know get with their Sunday paper.

I usually don't include taxes in these, so just so you know they made me pay tax ($1.64) on the products I got free, which brought the percentage down to 98%. Still great! I'm going to be doing a happy dance for days over this one!!

Book Review and Giveaway: Cooper and Me and the Military!

2012-02-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I reviewed 'Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure'. Chad and I really enjoyed the fun characters in it. Now, another Cooper and Me book is here!! It is called 'Cooper and Me and the Military'.

In this story, you will learn about Cooper's best friend, Trooper, and how he was adopted by a military family. Also discussed in 'Cooper and Me and the Military' is how the kids in the family feel when their parents are gone serving our country, and the things they can do to stay close.

At the end of the book are a Life Lesson to go over with your child, Connections, and Learning Together (questions about the book and the feelings your child might have). Special in this book is 'My Letter', a fill-in-the-blank letter for your child to write, with an email address to send to the troops overseas! Chad is really excited about sending his letter!!

Reading 'Cooper and Me and the Military' began a great discussion at our house. My husband Jeff was in the Navy in the early years of our marriage, during the Persian Gulf War, until our oldest child was 1 1/2 years old. We don't really talk about his time in the military very much, except the occasional mention of a country he has been to. I realized our youngest, Chad, had no idea what his Dad did to serve our country. We had a great conversation, and Chad enjoyed learning about his Dad's service.

To learn more about 'Cooper and Me and the Military', visit these sites:

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

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

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

Now, for the giveaway!!!!

One Loose Screw reader will win a copy of 'Cooper and Me and the Military'! It's simple to enter:
1. Just leave a comment below!
For one additional entry each, you can do the following (must leave a comment for each entry letting me know what you did:
* Follow me on GFC (right sidebar)
* Follow me on Twitter (right sidebar)@athenalang
* Tweet about this giveaway
* Blog about this giveaway
* Post on Facebook about this giveaway

The winner will be drawn at random on February 17, 2012 at midnight MST. Good luck!

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

Product Review~MathRider

2012-02-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited about this math game for kids! There are many ways out there you can practice your children's math facts with them, such as flash cards. Do your kids like flash cards? Mine do not! Anytime we can play a fun game though, they are all for it, especially computer games! MathRider is a latest generation math game for ages 6-12. Direct from their website:
"Ride your horse on noble quests through the magical MathLands. MathRider combines fun math game play with a highly sophisticated question engine that adapts to your child. The game propels your child to mastery of all four math operations using numbers 0 to 12 in record time."

This game was created by parents who wanted to improve their children's memorization of math facts in a fun way. You can choose from addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Your child begins a 'quest', complete with storyline, and then rides their horse toward obstacles. A math problem will appear on the screen and they must solve it correctly to jump over the obstacle. I was very impressed with how the program adjusted to how well Chad was doing. It sped up as he was doing well, and it also repeated problems more frequently that he got wrong. Parents can check their child's mastery level and know exactly which problems need more practice. Click here to learn more about how MathRider is played.

Chad loves MathRider! He enjoys the challenge of completing the quest, and has even played the game during 'non-school' time! I have noticed a big improvement in his memorization of math facts, especially subtraction, which he wasn't too strong with.
I love that Chad can do this on his own, has fun, gains confidence, and is learning! It is much more pleasant to have him play MathRider than make him do flash cards!!

MathRider is very affordable. It is available for Windows and Mac OSX as an instant download for only $37! That is a great price, considering it is yours forever to use with as many children as you want. This price is only good until February 15th, when the price will increase to $47. You also have a 30 day risk-free guarantee when you purchase MathRider. Want to try it out first? Go to the MathRider website and click on 'Try MathRider now!' for a free 7-day trial. Click here to read more crew member's reviews of this product.

*Disclaimer: I received a trial of MathRider in exchange for my honest review.

So very sad.......

2012-02-06T15:21:00.002-07:00

A few years ago, I wrote this post about the disappearance and search for wife and mother Susan Cox Powell, who still remains missing. I didn't know Susan personally, but was connected by a few people. One of my first friends when we moved here to Utah, who is a fellow homeschooling Mom and did co-op with me, is Susan's sister-in-law. She was estranged from her brother Josh, believing he was involved in Susan's disappearance. Susan's best friend, Kiirsi, is a fellow mom at the dance studio we have been part of for years. The family's most important goal was to make sure the boys, Charlie and Braden, now 7 and 5 years old, were safe.

Yesterday, we got some horrible news. Josh Powell killed himself and his sons in a double murder/suicide. The boys were living with their grandparents in Washington state, where Josh had relocated, but had lost custody of the boys. Yesterday was his supervised visitation, and he shoved the caseworker out of the house, locked the door and blew everything up.

Everyone is shocked and horrified, of course. My heart goes out to the families and friends who are grieving this horrible loss. I cannot imagine what they are going through. Please everyone, hug and love on your kids extra and pray for comfort and peace for this family and friends of Susan and the boys.

Awesome Target trip #2!

2012-02-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I showed you my first Target trip, when I saved 71%. This second trip was a great savings too! I hope this isn't horribly boring to you-personally, I love seeing what deals people score! My big dream is that they would double coupons where I live, so I could have 90%+ savings trips to the grocery store! Oh well, maybe some day.

The Breakdown:

Kids winter knit hat $12.99 reg, clearance $3.88

Ladies Merona top $16.99 reg, clearance $8.48-$3 Target coupon=$5.48

Hanes Boys Sweatshirt(stocking up on bigger sizes) $6.99 reg, clearance $2.08

(2)2pk. ceramic bowls, that match my nice dishes that I love!!! Soooo excited, they didn't have them when I got the dishes a few years ago!! $6.99/set reg x 2=$13.98, clearance $3.98/set x 2=$7.96

(3)Purina One dog food 6lb. reg $6.49 x 3=$19.47-(3)$5 mfg coupons=$1.49/bag x 3=$4.47

Total regular price=$70.42

Total price paid=$23.24

% savings=67%!!

I paid with my Target red card (debit comes directly from your bank, not a credit card) so I got another 5% off=$22.68, a 68% savings!!

Tulip the puppy is set for food for quite a while (very inexpensively!), and Chad will have a bunch of bigger sized sweatshirts for the next few years!

My suggestions: Study your ads, clip coupons, go online to get manufacturer and Target coupons, stack store and mfg coupons together on sale/clearance items, check out the clearance areas of the store, and use your Target red card! Fyi, Target does have a system to how/when they mark down their clearance items. Of course I can't find that info right now, but I will post it as soon as I track it down! Happy Saving!

UPDATE!!!! Christy at Thrifty and Thriving has graciously shared her Target markdown and clearance items schedule with us. Might I suggest you also check out her 20 Days of Target Training, which is jam-packed with all the info you need to get the best deals at Target!! Check out the rest of her site while you are there-I get a lot of my information on deals from her site, emailed right to my mailbox daily!

Awesome Target trip #1

2012-02-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've gone to two of our local Targets to score some clearance deals and stack manufacturer and Target coupons. You can really get great deals that way! Here is my haul from the first trip:

The Breakdown:

Woman's Merona shirt $14.99 reg, $7.48 clearance-$3.00 Target coupon=$4.48
(3) Hanes Boys Sweatshirts $6.99 reg x 3=$20.97, on clearance $2.08 each=$6.24
Toddler girls sleepwear $5.00 reg, on clearance $1.26
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs $14.99 reg, on sale $7-$3mfg coupon=$4.00
(2)Krave cereal $4.25 reg each=$8.50, sale $2.50 x 2=$5, stacked $1/2 Target and $1/2mfg coupons, $1.50 each=$3.00
(3) MP tomato soup $0.64 reg x 3=$1.92-$1 Target coupon, $0.31 each=$0.92
Up&Up liners, 64 count * $1.97 reg-$1 Target coupon=$0.97*
*I can usually get a box of 20ish liners for less than .50 with sales and coupons, so although this is more than I'd usually spend, it is a large quantity so an awesome deal!

Total regular price of products: $68.34
Total price I paid: $20.87
% Savings: approx. 70% Woohoo!!
Then I pay with my Target redcard debit card (goes straight from your bank, not a credit card) and got another 5% off, bringing my total to $19.83, a 71% savings!

I can't stress enough going to Target's website and print out their coupons, stack them with manufacturer coupons and sales!!

Another Target haul coming tomorrow.........

HOT Michael's coupon!!

2012-02-03T09:36:00.001-07:00

If you love the craft store Michaels, then you are going to want to print this coupon for $5 off of a $5 purchase!! It is good today and tomorrow only, Feb.3-4. The interesting thing is that I was able to print multiples of it-that way the kids can get something, and Mom can get something too! Have fun crafting!

TOS Review~KinderBach

2012-02-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

KinderBach provides you with a way to teach your children aged 3-7 how to play the piano, as well as music basics such as note reading, rhythm, singing, and composition.
There are currently six levels available of entertaining music education, which is equal to about 22 hours of video and interactive coloring pages!

Research has shown that music helps with the development of math and language skills. It has also been discovered that children who study piano specifically have more success in their later education! These children outperformed non-musical children with up to 80% higher scores in other areas.

I was very impressed by this program! There is so much available, basically a program can be created to please everyone!! You can choose the online lessons (over 240 sessions!) using your computer, iPad, Android Tablet, Kindle Fire, or Nook. You can also choose to use the DVD packages, as well as CDs, songbooks, coloring books, games, and more! There is a lot to choose from!

Personally, KinderBach is a bit babyish for my 9 year old son (the program is recommended for 3-7 year olds), but he still learned a lot! If you have preschoolers, they will LOVE the fun songs and cute characters!

Online lessons start as low as $7.99 for a one-year membership (you can buy a one-month membership as well), DVD with CD packages start at $40.45 plus shipping, CD packages are $23.95 plus shipping, and there are several low-priced (some even free!) games, crafts, and coloring books. There is also a classroom KinderBach program available that would be perfect for piano teachers and preschools!

I love this-KinderBach has a No-Hassle Return Policy for DVDs & CDs as well as a satisfaction goal for web members. All Products carry a 30 day Money Back Guarantee, and all of their disks have a lifetime replacement if they are broken or damaged for any reason!! You don't find that very often! KinderBach obviously wants you to be 100% pleased with your purchase!

Kinderbach also has a free online trial if you want to try it out before purchasing. When you are ready to purchase, here is a coupon code that is good for one year, giving you 30% off any order: TOScrew2012

Check out Kinderbach on Facebook for more information on this great program! Click here to read more reviews of Kinderbach by my fellow TOS crew members.

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a free trial of KinderBach in exchange for my honest review.

~Tulip's Wordless Wednesday~

2012-02-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

DVD Winner!!

2012-01-27T12:03:00.004-07:00

The winner of the DVD is.....

Rondah (soccermom1)!!!!

Congratulations Rondah, I hope you enjoy watching the movie!! Thanks to everyone who entered!

More Purex Winners!!!

2012-01-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

The 3 winners of coupons for Purex Ultrapacks are....

Lightlovebeing kwonagain@
AngelaH Thisisme@
Twifanheather hsemonick@

I have emailed the winners with further instructions. Congratulations, and thanks for entering!!

Review: We Choose Virtues

2012-01-21T19:55:00.002-07:00

Teaching my children godly character traits is very important to me. In today's world we can only shield them so much from the negative attitudes and actions that are out there. I was extremely excited to learn I was going to review We Choose Virtues!

We Choose Virtues was created by Heather McMillan, who was a Children's Pastor, preschool teacher, and is a Mom herself! She was discouraged by the lack of good character skills she was seeing in the kids she worked with, and We Choose Virtues was born!

First off, let me say that this is not a big curriculum or unit study that you need hours to devote to every week. It is a tool you can use daily all year round! I was given several products to try out from the Kids Set (3-11 year olds). There is also a Youth Set for Middle-High School age. The Teacher's Handbook was very helpful. It goes through steps on how to teach virtues, how to use each of the products, and more. It is full color and very user-friendly.

After reading the Teacher's Handbook, we sat down as a family and went through the Family Character Assessment, which was very interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on different areas. This will be a great tool to use every few months to watch our progress in these areas.

My VERY FAVORITE part of the products we got to review from the We Choose Virtues line was the Virtue Clue Cards. They are great-colorful, sturdy, and in their own plastic case with a velcro closure. As the cards are business card size, this would be easy to throw in your purse to go over while waiting for an appointment with your child. The characters on the Virtue Clue cards and throughout all the products are just adorable. My son Chad, 9, was drawn to these cards immediately! We decided to let him close his eyes and draw a new card every day until we have gone through the entire set. The different virtues on the cards are:

I am Diligent

I am Kind

I am Helpful

I am Obedient

I am Forgiving

I am Perseverant

I am Gentle

I am Patient

I am Self-Controlled

I am Content

I am Honest

I am Attentive

Each card has a catchphrase, an antonym, a clue, and the matching character. For example: I am Patient. I wait, and wait, and wait with a smile. I am NOT...pushy or controlling and I don't get frustrated or bored when others are slow! Choose to go the whole day and not rush or push anyone. Piggy Bank Frank knows you can do it! I really like that the catchphrases are short enough for kids to be able to memorize.

We also got to download the Kids of Virtueville Coloring Book, which has all the characters from the Virtue Clue cards. This is great to use after you have gone over your Virtue Clue card, and find the matching coloring book page to go along with your card!

We had a great experience with everything we reviewed from We Choose Virtues, and there is a lot more on their website! These are good quality products! There is a great sale and clearance going on right now (the Virtue cards are only $5.99!!), and during the months of January and February The 100 Days of Virtue Poster and Stickers will be included FREE with any Homeschool Kit purchase during these months. Here are some promo codes for you (you may only use one per order):

VIRTUE15 for 15% off the shopping cart is still available

SHIPFREE for free worldwide shipping

I really hope you will go check out this great line of products! They have Homeschool Kits, Classroom Kits, Kids Church Kits, Teacher Kits, and so much more! Also, for more tips on parenting, leadership and inspiring lasting Virtue, check out and 'Like' We Choose Virtues' Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wechoosevirtues

To read other crew member's reviews of this product, click here.

*Disclaimer: I was given these products free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Winner!! Purex Crystals and Jockey Sports Bra!

2012-01-19T21:43:00.003-07:00

The Winner of a full-sized Purex Crystals Tropical splash and a Jockey Sports bra is...
Tanya (TMC480)!! Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered!

~Wordless Wednesday-My Silly Boys~

2012-01-18T11:40:00.001-07:00

Review and Giveaway~'A Mile in His Shoes' DVD

2012-01-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it can be difficult to find movies the entire family can enjoy together, especially when you have younger kids who get bored easily. It needs to be a movie that has enough of a plot/story line for the adults, but easy enough to understand for the kids. Having a teen and a 20-year-old as well, that throws in yet another viewing group to satisfy at our house!

'A Mile in His Shoes' was perfect for our family to watch together. It is from the director of 'Angels in the Outfield' and stars Dean Cain and Luke Shroder, who both did an excellent job portraying their characters. Mickey is an 18-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of Autism. He also has an amazing pitching arm! He lives secluded on a farm with his parents, and is discovered by a minor league baseball coach. A Mile in His Shoes is an inspiring and educational story, based on a true story and book, 'The Legend of Mickey Tussler'. Watching this movie together started a dialogue on how to treat others who might be different-great family conversation!

To take a peek at the movie, click on this youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2T0BFetH4

For more information, here are some links for you to check out:
Website: http://www.watchgmctv.com/video/mile-his-shoes#biography

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

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

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
I have an extra copy of 'A Mile in His Shoes' to give away!! There are 6 different ways you can enter:

1. Leave a comment below-make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

2. Follow me on Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar, and leave me a comment to let me know you are a follower.

3. Follow me on Twitter @athenalang and leave me a comment letting me know your twitter name.

4. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the tweet.

5. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the post.

6. Blog about the giveaway, and leave me a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end on January 25th, 2012 at midnight MST. I will email and announce the winner the next day. Good luck!
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Winners!

2012-01-13T12:48:00.002-07:00

The 3 winners of coupons for a free full-size bottle of Purex Triple Action are:

Trista
Debbi (debbi.diamondgrove@)
Shala_darkstone (madelinebrubaker@)

The winners were drawn at random by Random.org. I have emailed each of the winners further instructions. Congratulations!!

Don't forget....I have TWO other Purex giveaways going on right now!! Click here to go to the Purex Crystals and Jockey Sports bra giveaway that ends 1/18, and click here to be taken to the Purex UltraPacks giveaway that ends 1/20-there are 3 winners for this one!

Another Purex Review & Giveaway~Purex Ultrapacks

2012-01-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

This is my third Purex giveaway in one week! Purex has many great products that have recently come out and are coming soon! I was given the opportunity to try Purex UltraPacks laundry detergent, which will be available in stores next month.

Purex UltraPacks laundry detergent are convenient pre-dosed liquid detergent packs that make doing laundry easier then ever. I love using them because, with my spine problems, I can't lift big, heavy jugs of detergent. All I have to do is pop one of these pre-measured packs in when I put my clothes in the washer. So easy!

Purex laundry detergent is formulated and safe for all machines, including high-efficiency. The UltraPacks dissolve quickly in the washer, even in cold water! Each of the Purex UltraPacks contains powerful 2x concentrated detergent, so you are getting double the cleaning power! Scents available are Mountain Breeze and Free and Clear. My sample was of the Mountain Breeze scent, which I already loved from the bottled Purex Triple Action detergent. It's a nice, fresh scent.

Purex is definitely my choice in store-bought laundry detergent. The cleaning power you get is the best for a great price! I do make my own laundry detergent, but always have some backup Purex in case I run out and for extra-tough jobs.

Beginning in mid-February 2012, http://www.freesamplepurex.com/ will be up and running again, so you can get your own free sample of Purex Ultrapacks laundry detergent! I will post when I get the word that the link has gone live. In the meantime, you can try to win your own full-size package of UltraPacks here!!

THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!
Three (3) The Loose Screw readers will each win a coupon for a full-size package of Purex UltraPacks!! You have 7 chances to win!

1. Leave a comment below-what laundry detergent do you use most often?
2. Check out this product at www.Purex.com/UltraPacks and leave me a comment with something you learned about this new detergent or Purex.

3. Follow me on Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar, and leave me a comment to let me know you are a follower.

4. Follow me on Twitter @athenalang and leave me a comment letting me know your twitter name.

5. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the tweet.

6. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the post.

7. Blog about the giveaway, and leave me a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end on January 20th, 2012 at midnight MST. I will email and announce the winners the next day. Good luck, and have fun doing that laundry!

*Disclosure: Purex provided a free sample of their UltraPacks laundry detergent so I could write a review. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Review and Giveaway-Purex + Jockey!!

2012-01-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Purex Crystals fabric softener and Jockey have teamed together! As a member of Purex Insiders, I was sent a sample of Purex Crystals Tropical Splash and a Jockey sports bra. I have done a review of Purex Crystals before, but I had never tried the Tropical Splash scent in the yellow bottle.

These two products together are a great match! See, the moisture wicking fabric a lot of our sports/workout clothes are now made of are damaged by the oils in liquid fabric softeners. Purex Crystals fabric softener does not contain these oils, is 92% natural, and freshens your laundry for weeks!

The Jockey sports bra is soft and comfortable, made of 93% polyester and 7% Spandex. It has breathable mesh panels, along with the moisture-wicking we talked about above. I thought this was really cool-it has a little key pocket in it! The sports bra does a great job wicking away the moisture-I put it to the test! I then washed it using my Tropical Splash Purex Crystals fabric softener. The scent is nice-not too strong and perfumy as some softeners can be.

If you are interested in buying your own Jockey sports bra, click here to get a 20% off coupon on your purchase!

THE GIVEAWAY!!!
I have a great giveaway for one reader of The Loose Screw: a full-size bottle of Purex Crystals Tropical Splash, and a Jockey sports bra!!

You have 6 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment below, answering this question: What is your current favorite fabric softener?
2. Follow me on Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar, and leave me a comment to let me know you are a follower.

3. Follow me on Twitter @athenalang and leave me a comment letting me know your twitter name.

4. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the tweet.

5. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the post.

6. Blog about the giveaway, and leave me a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end on January 18th, 2012 at midnight MST. I will email and announce the winners the next day. Good luck!!

*Disclosure: Purex and Jockey provided free samples so I could write a review. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Purex Triple Action Laundry Detergent~Review and Giveaway!

2012-01-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Its time for some giveaways! As you may remember, I am a Purex Insider, and they are letting us in early on some great new products and promotions they have going on. In the next few weeks, I will be having THREE separate giveaways for Purex laundry detergent!!

My first review and giveaway is for Purex Triple Action laundry detergent. This new formula takes the best part of Purex's current formula and combines it with new additions, to deliver even greater cleaning and improved brightening power. Just like Purex's other detergents, Purex Triple Action works in both traditional and HE washers.

I have been completely pleased with all the Purex products I have tried in the past, and this new Purex Triple Action was no exception. I received the Mountain Breeze scent-it smells great! There are several scents available, as well as a Free and Clear.

The first time I used Purex Triple Action laundry detergent I decided I would try it on some clothes my young son had worn outside climbing trees. I figured that would be a very tough test of how much cleaning power this detergent has! I didn't even pre-treat anything first. The laundry came out perfectly clean and fresh, you would never know the abuse it had taken!! It smelled wonderful too! Although I usually make all my own detergent, Purex Triple Action is my next choice for when I run out of my own, or have extra dirty clothes. Also, Purex is the best value out there for the quality you are getting.

Starting in February 2012, be on the lookout for the chance to get free samples of Purex detergent at http://www.freesamplepurex.com/! I love free samples!! I will let you all know when the link goes live so you can get your sample.

Now, for the GIVEAWAY!!!! (I love those too!!):

I have coupons for a full size bottle of Purex Triple Action for 3 readers!! You have 7 different ways to get entries:

1. Leave a comment below, answering this question: Do you smell your clean laundry as you are folding it (or putting it away, or...)? I know, strange....but the reason I'm asking is because I do and I want to know if I'm weird for doing it!! *Clarification: I don't smell it continually, just once or twice. Love that clean smell!

2. Check out this product at www.Purex.com/TripleAction and leave me a comment with something you learned about this new detergent or Purex.

3. Follow me on Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar, and leave me a comment to let me know you are a follower.

4. Follow me on Twitter @athenalang and leave me a comment letting me know your twitter name.

5. Tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the tweet.

6. Facebook about the giveaway, and leave me a link to the post.

7. Blog about the giveaway, and leave me a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end on January 12th, 2012 at midnight MST. I will email and announce the winners the next day. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

*Disclosure: Purex provided a free sample of their Triple Action laundry detergent so I could write a review. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Seventeen!

2012-01-05T13:43:00.002-07:00

Today is my daughter's 17th birthday! It is hard to believe that 17 years have flown by so quickly. Alyssa was born about a month early, after a difficult pregnancy (a seizure at 6 weeks, mild contractions at only 2 months along, and full bedrest at 6 months). It was a stormy night in San Diego, where we lived at the time. Getting to the hospital late at night, we had to dodge tree limbs and debris while the winds howled and the rain poured. The labor and delivery ward even had a leak in the roof! I got an epidural soon after we arrived (my other birth was all natural), and waited for a few hours. As we were chatting, my husband looks down and says, 'Something is coming out!' and out slipped Alyssa just in time for the nurse to catch her. The doctor arrived soon after, and told us we all did a great job without her! After a rough pregnancy, it was the easiest birth ever!! Alyssa was beautiful, and I was amazed that I had a little girl of my own.

After we got cleaned up, they wheeled us down to our room. Jeff and my family decided to go home and get some sleep, and as I sat alone gazing down at this beautiful creation of God's, I looked out the window to see a HUGE, beautiful rainbow. The storm had cleared. It was the most amazing moment. I will never forget it. I tried to think of some way I could incorporate 'rainbow' into her name, even another language's translation of it, but never found anything I liked.

Alyssa has been a rainbow in my life for 17 years now-I couldn't be more blessed having her for a daughter. Happy Birthday!

~Tulip's Wordless Wednesday~

2011-12-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

She comes running when she hears that magical sound...........

Product Review~Slice Safety Cutter-Great for Couponers!

2011-12-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months, I've heard couponers talk about the Slice Safety Cutter and how it is SO much nicer to use than scissors. I couldn't wait to get mine in the mail, and I put it to use immediately. I was so impressed! Here is the product description from the website:

The Slice™ Safety Cutter is the most versatile tool you'll ever own. Features a finger-friendly microscopic ceramic blade that's quick, easy and a safe substitute for scissors or traditional safety knives. Slice Safety Cutters are perfect for scrap-booking, clipping recipes, coupons and news articles, removing shrink-wrap, opening CDs, DVDs, plastic packaging, and more. Includes a built-in magnet and key-ring hole.

- Ceramic blade lasts longer than steel
- Stays sharp and never rusts
- Built-in magnet and key-ring hole
- Rubberized non-slip finish
- Finger-Friendly™ Design
- For left- and right-handers

The Slice Safety Cutter really is perfect for couponers! I can go through several pages of coupon inserts with one quick swipe of the Slice! I have to say, I'm amazed that this little tiny ceramic 'bump' is the blade and cuts so well! The awesome thing about that is that it cannot hurt you or your kids, and if you keep it in your purse you won't cut yourself reaching for it. This is perfect for scrapbooking too! Much easier on your hands than scissors for all your cutting needs. I was really surprised that it can cut through the plastic cases on CDs and such:

The Slice Safety Cutter-great for couponers is available for only $5.99 at www.sliceproducts.com. Buy several to keep around the house, and one for in your purse or attached to your keychain. I have mine on the front of my fridge (it has a magnet in it), and that's been working great for me!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM5118cf43025d0a1446b9171f22bdda0b">Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Great Budgeting and Couponing Tool!

2011-12-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Angela over at The Coupon Project has released the Savings Tracker for 2012. Click here to learn more about it and download. This is an awesome budgeting tool that tracks coupons and savings from your receipts. She put a lot of work into this and it shows! I played around with it some last year, but didn't use it faithfully. Now that I've revamped our budget, I'm ready to use it consistently in 2012.

Also on the Savings Tracker download page you will find a manual you can print out to help you use the tracker, and a webcast from January 2011 where she goes step-by-step and shows you how to use it yourself.

Even if you don't have interest in the Savings Tracker, I highly recommend checking out Angela's website, The Coupon Project. She has great tips and ideas to help you save money!

A fun, messy Christmas treat!

2011-12-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea in a magazine (and of course I can't remember which one it was now to give credit where it is due) and we tried it out yesterday. Very simple and fun. All you need are cone-shaped ice cream cones, frosting, and sprinkles or whatever decorations you want that can stick to frosting.

Add green food coloring to make the frosting nice and green. Decorate as you wish with sprinkles, etc.

Here is Chad with his finished Christmas tree. He says it was very yummy!!

A debt-free Christmas!

2011-12-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

It's the worst feeling to go into credit card debt buying Christmas presents! I don't know about you, but with the way the economy has been the past few years, our salaries are shrinking more each year with budget cuts and increases in insurance premiums, etc. We've cut back a lot. The best way to handle Christmas is to put away a little money every month. We've tried that. Then guess what happens? The car breaks down or there is a dental emergency. Gone is the Christmas savings.

In mid-2010 I started trying something different. This year (2011) was my first full year of using this method, and I think it was a success!! Here's what I did: I am signed up on several survey sites and sites where you collect points in exchange for money or gift cards. I also scan all my purchases for Nielsen. All year I took every opportunity I could, and as I redeemed points for gift cards I tucked them away for Christmas. I only got cards to places I knew I would use, like Amazon and Target. I also used the Target promotion when they would have something on sale that we use, and I had coupons for it as well (often both Target and mfg coupons), and if you bought a certain amount during the sale week you would get a $5 gift card. I did this all year with toilet paper and paper towels, as well as a few other things. By the end of November, I had just over $300 in money and gift cards!! I was SO excited!!

My husband and I don't usually do gifts for each other for any occasion, including Christmas (except cheap stocking stuffers). After almost 23 years of marriage we both know we love each other, we both hate wasting money, and would rather put that money away for ours and our kids' futures. It just works for us. This year we made gifts for our parents, and we are also making our neighbor gifts which will be a minimal cost. So, getting a handful of neices and nephews a little something, our homemade presents, and then with our three kids, $300 was plenty of money for gifts! We don't go crazy on big expensive gifts for our kids, and everyone is still just as happy! Another lesson learned from years of experience.

A word of warning: You may think all these surveys and clicking on things would be very time consuming. It isn't. Maybe 3-5 hours a week at the most. But-I must say at this point I am a bit burned out, and I'm taking a break from surveys. I will be back at it soon though!

Here are some of the companies I've been using. These are all companies that I have used all year, and have received gift cards/prizes from them all, so I know they are legit. They worked for me, hopefully they will for you too!

Swagbucks (I have a button on the right sidebar you can click as well)
MyPoints
Valued Opinions
MySurvey
Synovate
e-rewards
Campus Fundraiser Surveys
Mills Advisory Panel
Nielsen Homescan
Recyclebank

I just joined JD Power and Associates, they are taking applications now. I've heard good things about them. I've been trying forever to get into Pinecone, but never fit the criteria they need.

*I will not get any compensation for you clicking on the above links, with the exception of Swagbucks. If you go through my link, I will receive bonus points*

I also want to stress requesting free samples as there are many that could be stocking stuffers, or just use them to save a little more money toward your savings goal!

I have tried many survey/points websites, and some I didn't care for. There are so many out there! Some are hard to get into (Pinecone!). Have you had any success with survey/points websites?

Well, that's how we paid for Christmas this year. Of course presents are fun, but I want to make sure my family remembers and focuses on the real reason for this Christmas season: our saviour, Jesus Christ.

~Review-The World's Greatest Stories~

2011-12-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about this product! It's one of those great finds that you want to tell everyone about! The World's Greatest Stories are a collection of award-winning CDs (cassettes are available as well) for children and adults that tell Bible stories word-for-word from the King James Version or NIV. They are not re-written bible stories.

George W. Sarris is a master storyteller, who uses dramatic voices, music and sound effects to capture your attention as you listen to scripture. Click here to learn more about Mr. Sarris, who has quite an impressive background.

Each CD is approximately one hour long. Currently there are six CDs available, with a total of 23 individual stories on them. Here are the titles of the CDs:
1. The Prophets
2. The Life of Christ
3. Beginnings
4. Joshua and Esther
5. Joseph and his Brothers
6. Defeating Giants

I was given volume 1, The Prophets in NIV version, as well as a sample CD, to review. Included in volume 1 are the stories The Blazing Furnace (Daniel 3), The Handwriting on the Wall (Daniel 5), Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6), Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 17-18), and The Prophecy of Jonah (The Complete Book of Jonah). I honestly didn't think my son Chad, 9, would sit and pay attention to it. We put it in the CD player, and wow!! The hour went quickly, with Chad asking questions and commenting throughout. Afterward, he said it reminded him of listening to Chronicles of Narnia (which he loves) with all the action!

I have to tell you, immediately my husband Jeff looked at me and said, "We need to order the rest of the set and tell everyone about this!" Here is the exciting part-the price. Each CD is only $7.95!! If you order the entire set, shipping is free! Click here to listen to audio clips and order CDs. I encourage you to go to The World's Greatest Stories website and learn more about it! Click here to read more reviews of this product by fellow TOS crewmates.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of The World's Greatest Stories in exchange for my honest review.

Winner!! Cooper and Me and The Winter Adventure!

2011-12-16T10:02:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to #9, Shawna (pridelandmama)!! I have emailed you with instructions. I hope you enjoy your book!!

~The Christmas Signing by Cindy Woodsmall~

2011-12-09T15:11:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I reviewed The Christmas Signing by Cindy Woodsmall, who is one of my favorite Amish fiction authors. You can read my review here. With Christmas quickly approaching, I want to suggest this book would make the perfect gift for the readers in your life!

Click here to watch a video about The Christmas Singing
Here is a peak at the first chapter of The Christmas Signing

Right now you can get 30% off and free shipping on The Christmas Singing (and any other title) when you use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/. The coupon code expires on December 20th, 2011.

Book Review and GIVEAWAY!!! Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure!

2011-12-07T11:19:00.001-07:00

We love reading fun winter stories during this time of year, and if the books have animals they are usually a favorite! Chad and I received Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure, written by Monique and Alexa Peters. I had heard of the Cooper and Me series, but this is the first time we have read one of the books. From the Cooper and Me website: "Explore life along with Cooper, a fun-loving black Labrador Retriever, whose entertaining adventures help kids navigate the emotions and challenges of everyday living. Created by mother-daughter team Monique and Alexa Peters and inspired by their real-life family dog, Cooper and Me provides adults and children with opportunities for meaningful conversation and tools for constructive problem-solving. Kids will laugh at Cooper’s antics, and adults will appreciate the resilience nurtured in their children."

I love it when a story can be fun and entertaining, and have a good message come through as well. The illustrations are very charming, the characters are fun, and we have enjoyed this book several times since we received it. I encourage you to go to the website, http://www.cooperandme.com/ where you can find their mission statement, activities, buy books, and more!

You can also find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooper-and-Me-Inc/214695101924101
and Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cooper_and_me

If you are interested in purchasing from the Cooper and Me website, there is a special going on right now-Make any purchase of $25 or more at CooperandMe.com and get FREE SHIPPING now through December 15. MUST USE THIS CODE at Check Out: COOPERBLOG

Here is something else very special: Please note that $1 of every Winter Adventure book sold will go to advance research & treatment of pancreatic cancer, via the Lustgarten Foundation (http://www.lustgarten.org/)

***Now, for the giveaway: I have one copy of Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure to give away to a Loose Screw reader!! You have 5 chances to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know you are a GFC follower (on right sidebar).
2. Follow me on twitter and leave a comment letting me know you did. @athenalang
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.
4. Facebook about this giveaway, leave a comment with a link to your post.
5. Blog about this giveaway, and leave me a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end on December 15, 2011 at midnight MST. I will notify the winner the next day. Good luck!!

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

Curriculum Review~ ARTistic Pursuits

2011-12-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

Art is not a strong subject for me-I have never really enjoyed art. So teaching it can be really intimidating. I was looking for an art program that would help me teach Chad art, without needing creative talent myself. I am so glad we got to review ARTistic Pursuits, created by Brenda Ellis, because it is the perfect fit for us!

We received Grades K-3 Book One, which is an introduction to the visual arts. The book is written to the student, with no teacher preparation required. There is a list of materials needed in the book, and then it is broken down into three sections: What Artists Do, What Artists See, and Where We Find Art. The pictures and examples in the book are fabulous, and I like that the words are written to the child, and are simple and easy to understand. The exercises in the lessons are a perfect fit for this age group.

ARTistic Pursuits is an art history program as well as instructional, examining works of Great Masters. There are 32 projects in each book-the range of projects includes painting, drawing, sculpture and more! Chad has gone through many of the lessons with great enthusiasm, and that makes me very pleased, as that is not the experience with art that I had as a child in school. Here is Chad's oil pastel drawing from Lesson 6:

The ARTistic Pursuit book that I received is $42.95, and is non-consumable, which means you can use it over and over with many students. There are many books available to choose from, ranging from preschool to High School ages. Click here to learn more about what products are available, including materials packs already put together so you have everything you need to get started! To learn more about ARTistic Pursuits you can go to their website at www.artisticpursuits.com. I look forward to trying more of the books in the future!

To read more reviews of this product, click here. Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for my honest review.

Product Review-BrytonPick

2011-12-03T13:26:00.001-07:00

Did you know that ADA statistics show only 12% of the population flosses regularly? I was really surprised to hear this-I am a flosser, mainly because I have noticed a definite drop in cavities if I floss regularly. People think floss isn't convenient or easy to use. If you don't like using floss, you may want to try this product out!

BrytonPick is an alternative to regular floss. It is made in the US from completely recyclable materials. The really cool thing is that is is reusable for up to a month, due to its germ-resistant stainless steel cleaning strips. It's very flexible and thin, perfect to keep in your wallet or purse. It also comes in a variety of fun colors!

I have been using BrytonPick for the past two weeks, and I am impressed! I must admit at first, putting something metal-looking in between your teeth is a little scary-I was afraid my gums would get cut. But the blade is thin and flexible, and I quickly got used to the feeling. Click here to learn more about how to use BrytonPick.

I like that it is portable in its own little pouch to slip in your purse or wallet if you're going out to eat. There's nothing worse than getting food stuck in between your teeth and not being able to do anything about it! Am I going to replace my regular floss with BrytonPick? Yes and no! For my regular flossing at home, I still prefer the old-fashioned stuff. But-I will definitely keep BrytonPick in my purse for eating out! BrytonPick is available at stores across the country and online. Click here to go to the BrytonPick website, where you can purchase your own BrytonPick!
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.

~Tulip's Wordless Wednesday!~

2011-11-30T20:10:00.001-07:00

There seems to be a pattern to the majority of my Wordless Wednesday pictures....Tulip the puppy! Probably because she's so darn cute! Here she is-again!

~Winner-FFH album download~

2011-11-28T20:25:00.001-07:00

The winner of the One Silent Night album download is.......BELINDA! Congratulations and enjoy your new Christmas music!!

Review~The Reading Game

2011-11-26T17:24:00.001-07:00

As I've mentioned in past blog posts, learning to read has been a struggle for Chad. He is definitely improving as a reader, and I'm always on the lookout for fun ways to help him with reading. Chad loves games, so when I heard about The Reading Game, by Kenneth Hodkinson, the author of Wordly Wise, I was excited to give it a try!

What is it? The Reading Game is a learn-to-read program for two players (student and tutor) ages 4 and up, centered around six beautifully-illustrated storybooks about animals. The books feature a skunk, a snake, a bear, penguins, a unicorn, and a zebra as main characters, with other animals also in the stories. Each book comes with a simple word matching card game. Most kids love matching games, and they are so easy and quick to play. Each game is played in six stages, each of which teaches five words. After you and your child play each matching game, they have learned 30 new words! They should then be ready to read the corresponding book, which contains only those 30 words. Each subsequent sets of cards and book adds another 30 new words, for a total of 180 words 'hard-wired' into memory.

The Reading Game complements most standard curriculums, and meets the criteria of the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts and Reading and Foundational Skills for both kindergarten and first grade.

What is included? Included in the sturdy box are matching cards for each book, each with the corresponding animal picture and game level number, the six animal storybooks, and a teacher's guide, which has lists of all the words used and sample sentences. The cards and covers of the books are very colorful, but the stories themselves are black-and-white, with beautiful illustrations. The price for The Reading Game is $24.95, with a 15% discount off of orders of 8 or more.

What did we think? Chad loves animals and matching games, so I figured this would be a hit with him. I wasn't sure if the stories being all black-and-white and not having punctuation would be hard for him, but these things didn't phase him at all. He enjoys the games and the stories. I like that everything is fairly quick, so if he is getting tired of reading, it won't be long before we are back to the matching game. The stories are very cute, too! Chad flew through the first 3 books, and we have been working on book 4, Penguins, for the last week or so. I would definitely suggest The Reading Game as a supplement to whatever you are already using to teach reading!

Click here for more information on how the program works, including helpful videos, and to purchase your own copy. Also at the website, http://www.thereadinggame.com/ you will have access to free assessment worksheets and recording sheets. To read more reviews of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Reading Game at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~An Amish Wedding

2011-11-21T18:14:00.001-07:00

An Amish Wedding is comprised of three novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long about the busy Amish wedding season. I've read two other collections like this one written by these talented authors, so I knew I was in for some good reading!! You might think that with three separate stories the characters couldn't be very developed, but that's what is great about this book-each of the individual stories are intertwined.

In The Perfect Secret by Kelly Long, Rose is preparing for her upcoming wedding to Luke, her best friend since childhood. She has some doubts and longs for mystery and excitement. Mystery finds her, and it threatens her engagement.

In The Perfect Match by Kathleen Fuller, Naomi is an independent single Amish woman helping her sister Priscilla prepare for her wedding. Having had her heart broken a few years back, she is not looking for love herself. She has to learn to accept God's will in her life and open her heart to love again.

In A Perfect Plan by Beth Wiseman, Priscilla (Naomi's sister and Rose's close friend) is in the final weeks before her wedding. Things are going wrong every time she turns around, and she and her fiance Chester question if they should be getting married.

I love Amish fiction, and An Amish Wedding lived up to my expectations. It is an easy read, hard to put down, and interesting to see how each of the authors intertwines the characters. There is a glossary at the front of the book to help you with some of the Amish dialect, and the back of the book has a Reading Group Guide and some yummy-sounding Amish recipes that were mentioned in the stories.

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange from Booksneeze for my honest review.

Winner-The Grace Effect Giveaway!!

2011-11-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

The winner of The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton is............#17, Susan!! Congratulations Susan-I hope you enjoy reading it!!

Review and Giveaway!!!!~FFH Album 'One Silent Night'

2011-11-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite Christmas album!! It's FFH's One Silent Night and it is fantastic! I love Christmas music, and can't wait to unpack our Christmas CDs when we get out our decorations from storage. We usually don't decorate until Thanksgiving weekend, so I was thrilled to get some new holiday music early! I love all the songs on this album too!

Press Release for FFH:
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Sept. 30, 2011– Best-selling pop group FFH will usher in the holiday season with its first Christmas album. One Silent Night, available Oct. 18, is a mix of original songs and Christmas classics.
Produced by FFH founding member Jeromy Deibler, One Silent Night has been four years in the making. Giving in to the persistent appeals of loyal fans, FFH has crafted a project worthy of your holiday music collection.

Listeners will recognize favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” among others, while being introduced to new tracks including “The Birthday of a King,” “Glorious Impossible,” and “One Silent Night.”

Deibler comments, “We just feel blessed to be able to make this record and wanted to do the kind of Christmas music we like to listen to, something that’s not trendy but more of a classic style. For us Christmas is about remembering… slowing down to see what is important. And being reminded of the glorious impossible that was the birth of Christ. We hope this album reflects that desire and inspires others to do the same.”

FFH plans to support the album with singles “One Silent Night” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” to radio Oct. 1 as well as select tour dates in November and December.

About FFH:

Pop vocal group FFH has released thirteen projects, sold more than two million albums, and garnered 24 radio hits, including seven No. 1 singles and ten Top 5 radio singles. In addition to multiple Dove Award nominations, FFH has been recognized at the Inspirational Life Awards as well as the Billboard Music Video Awards. The group has performed more than 1000 dates since 2000 and continues to be a favorite on the tour circuit. FFH is also known for its work with the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Kurt Warner’s “First Things First Foundation,” and for its contributions to national ad campaigns for Coca Cola and IBM.

If you want to learn more about FFH or this album, click the links below:
Website: http://ffh.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FFHmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/FFHMusic
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-silent-night/id474548207

Now, for the best part....the GIVEAWAY!!!!! *Please note that this giveaway is not for a physical CD, but for a download of the album.* You have 6 chances to enter:
1. Leave a comment below-do you have a favorite Christmas song? Or just say hi!
2. Follow me via Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar, then leave me a comment letting me know you did.
3. Follow me on Twitter @athenalang . Make sure you leave me a comment letting me know you did.
4. Tweet about this giveaway, and send me a link to your tweet.
5. Blog about this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Facebook about this giveaway, and leave a comment with a link to your post.

This giveaway will end November 27th at midnight MST. The winner will be contacted and announced the next day! Good luck!!!

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

Review-Time Timer

2011-11-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

Here at our house, we've been working hard with Chad on telling time with a traditional clock. In today's world, so much is digital! He can tell time for the most part on the traditional clock, but he really struggles with understanding the passage of time and how long something will take. When we use a timer, we usually use the digital one on our stove. Then we received the 3" Time Timer in the mail. It is small, easy to take with you, and has a protective cover that doubles as a stand. I couldn't imagine this timer would be much different than others, or that it could impact Chad any differently than other timers. I was wrong!

Time Timer was invented by Jan Rogers-click here to read how she came up with this great idea. From the Time Timer website:

'Use the Time Timer to:

*Help children focus on their homework.
*Balance TV (or computer) time with playtime.
*Stick to practice and workout schedules.
*Assist with "start/end-of-day" routines.

Throughout your hectic day, the Time Timer is there to remind you when it’s quiet time... or yoga time... or dinner time. Today, more than ever, we are challenged to do more with less, and wherever time needs to be managed or measured, you can count on the Time Timer to make every moment count. '

The above suggestions are what was listed just for home use. Time Timer is perfect for any situation you would use a timer-at home, school, or work, to name just a few. Time Timer is also perfect for special needs use-such as for individuals with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Dyslexia.

Time Timer has been a great addition to our household routine! Chad loves using it. One of the things I like about it is how quiet it is-no distracting ticking, and just one soft beep-beep when time is up. You can also choose to turn the audible beeping off. If you are someone who likes a loud alarm that you could hear from another room, then this might not be for you. The red disc slowly disappearing as time goes away has really helped Chad with the passage of time concept too. I highly recommend this product!!

Time Timer comes in three sizes-3", 8", and 12". Prices range from $30-$40. Also available are a watch, software and apps, and other accessories. Click here to see and order the various products. Click here to go to the Time Timer webpage where you will find all sorts of information about these great products!

To read what other TOS crew members have to say about this product, click here.
*Disclaimer: I received this Time Timer free in exchange for my honest review.

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-11-16T10:38:00.001-07:00

Tulip's first Halloween~our little diapered Butterfly! The diaper wasn't supposed to be part of the costume, but she surprised us and went into her first heat. So, she couldn't go trick-or-treating as planned. Poor butterfly-maybe next year!

OK, this was really Wordy Wednesday I guess :)

Curriculum Review: College Prep Genius

2011-11-14T16:27:00.001-07:00

Last month, Alyssa took the PSAT. The day after she took the test, I received College Prep Genius to review! Talk about great timing! As a college-bound Junior, it is (past) time to get really serious about the SATs.

College Prep Genius, created by author Jean Burk, consists of a textbook, a workbook, and 12 lessons on four DVDs. This program is PACKED full of information!! Along with thorough explanations of how the PSAT and SAT work including all three test sections, this set has hundreds of tips and shortcuts. You'll learn about college interview and scholarship information too!

Included in the text are these sections:
1. Introduction to the SAT
2. The Critical Reading Section
3. The Math Section
4. The Writing Section
5. Scholarship Search
6. Journal for Test Success
and three Appenices: Prefixes, Math Terms, and My Motivation Test.

I wish I had this resource when I was ready to take the SATs! I learned a lot just in the first section, Introduction to the SAT. Watch this video:

Alyssa has been soaking up the information in College Prep Genius like a sponge, and she likes the way the lessons are taught. We don't have her PSAT score back yet, but my guess is that she will do much better on the SATs after using this program. She plans to spend several months going over the information repeatedly to get the best score possible. As a Mom, I am thrilled with College Prep Genius!

You might expect this course to cost hundreds of dollars, and honestly after what I've seen I think is worth several hundred dollars. Incredibly, the cost of the complete College Prep Genuis program is only $99!! You can buy the books and DVDs separately for a total cost of $129.85, but it is a 25% savings to purchase it as a set. You can also buy additional workbooks for more students. They have a 100% money back guarantee!! Click here to see all the products available. If you have middle or high school students who are considering college, I highly recommend College Prep Genius! To read other reviews of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

WINNER~Revolution Worship Live CD!

2011-11-14T10:35:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to #15, Robin, on winning the Revolution Worship CD!!

Book Review and Giveaway~The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton!

2011-11-12T17:14:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading a great book-The Grace Effect. I was expecting an educational book about atheism and Socialism from a Christian standpoint. I got that, and much more! There was a very personal story here involving the author's adoption of a young girl in the Ukraine. Being adopted myself and having adopted Chad, I am always interested in books that have an adoption story in them. The Grace Effect is educational, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. It was hard to put down!

About The Grace Effect:

"Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.” What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it.

Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace. Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.

And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.” Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day."

For more information, check out these links on The Grace Effect:

Website: http://www.fixed-point.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fixedpoint?ref=nf
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/fixedpoint
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Effect-Reverse-Corruption-Unbelief/dp/1595554408

The Giveaway: I have a brand new copy of The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton to give away to one of my readers-yay!! You have a chance to get four entries:
1. Leave a comment below.
2. Be a GFC follower. Leave a comment letting me know you are!
3. Blog about this giveaway, and leave me a comment with a link to your post.
4. Facebook about this giveaway, and leave me a comment with a link to your FB entry.

This contest will end on November 20, 2011 at midnight MST. Good luck!!

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

Curriculum Review: Keyboard Town Pals

2011-11-12T16:20:00.001-07:00

In today's world, it is essential that our children know how to use a computer, and proper keyboarding skills are important to be successful. As Chad is in 3rd grade now and we had not begun any formal keyboarding instruction, I was interested in trying Keyboard Town PALS. Keyboard Town PALS™ is a computer keyboard program that teaches elementary school children the letters and symbols on a Qwerty keyboard in an hour using proper technique. The lessons can be broken down into one hour, two 30 minute sessions, or eight stand-alone sessions. Each lesson will take about 6-7 minutes. The suggested age range is 6-12. The lessons use puppets, music, and humor to catch the children's attention and teach them. The price is $30 for either CD-Rom or Web-based.

Keyboard Town PALS™ uses the PALS system. PALS stands for PURPOSEFUL ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM. 'The PALS system works on the classic principle that two objects seen or heard together will often become linked in our minds. In addition to utilizing association and numerous memory techniques to improve retention, we incorporate different cues throughout the video to stimulate the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic senses.'

What did Chad and I think? Chad thought it was too babyish, but he did learn where all his fingers go, and so I think the program is great in that aspect. He was very proud of himself each time he typed a word. I think the concept is great as a tool to learn proper finger placement, but it is not a full typing program. It was a great start for Chad to learn, however. The price ($30) is too much for us with only one child that will use it, but if a family had several little ones I could see that it would be cost-effective.

I must admit I was bothered by something in Lesson 3. One of the puppets (a wizard) says to the kids he is feeling sick, and turns around into his 'house' and starts making vomiting sounds and motions. Now, some parents and kids may not think a thing of that, and may even think it is funny. I was bothered by it, and didn't see the point in exposing my child to it.

In summary, the concept of this program (sans vomiting) is good for learning finger placement on the keyboard. It may be the perfect fit for some families. It just wasn't for ours. Click here for more information on how the Keyboard Town PALS program works. Visit their website at http://www.keyboardtownpals.com/ for more information, testimonials, and other products available.

To read more reviews of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Winners~ Renuzit Air Freshener!!

2011-11-12T08:07:00.001-07:00

The winners of the coupons for a free Renuzit Holiday Air Freshener are......
#17 Jena
#49 Sherry S.
#60 Tori

Congratulations!! I have emailed the winners with instructions on how to get their coupons.

Tomorrow(Sunday) is the last day to enter the Revolution Worship Live CD!

Check back this week for another new giveaway!

Christmas Lodge DVD Winner!!

2011-11-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

The winner of the Christmas Lodge DVD is........Modest Mama!! Congratulations Modest Mama-I have sent you an email. I need your mailing address!

Come back tomorrow for another winner announcement for Renuzit Holiday Air Freshener-ends at midnight tonight!

~A Special Day~

2011-11-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Six years ago today was a very wonderful day in our family! Chad officially became part of our family. He had been a member of our family in our hearts and home for 7 months already, but this was adoption day!

I can't believe how little the kids were! Nick was 14, Alyssa 10, and Chad had just turned 3 a few weeks before. We were all very happy to make it official! This little boy has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives, I can't imagine life without him. It is truly an honor and pleasure to be Chad's Mom.

Beauty Bag!

2011-11-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's always an exciting mail day when you get something fun that you didn't even have to pay for!! Today I got this beauty bag full of samples and over $20 worth of coupons from Target!
I've mentioned Target's awesome coupons before. The reason they are so great is that on just one item, you can use both a Target store coupon and a manufacturer coupon. Target's coupons are usually pretty good value, and often there is a sale on the item as well. Click here to see the current coupons being offered.

Target doesn't offer samples too often, but when they do, it is usually worth it (see photo)! The samples do go quickly so you have to act fast.

Have you received any good samples in your mailbox lately??

~Review and Giveaway: Revolution Worship Live CD~

2011-11-04T18:59:00.002-06:00

It's time for Giveaway #3 for this week-an awesome Christian praise and worship CD!!

About Revolution Worship LIVE:

“Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International”, is a tremendous Praise & Worship album with a powerfully inspiring collection of songs that is unparalleled to any other Praise & Worship series in it’s category. Filled with meaningful lyrics and sincere, personal worship, “Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International” masterfully demonstrates authenticity at it’s best. From fiery, electrifying tracks with edgy, rock-driven guitar to peaceful, intimate tracks, this album focuses on pointing attention to God.
And because it’s recorded live, you get to experience the congregational feel of being in a vibrant church service. Infusing musical quality with a spiritual impact that raises the bar on what to expect in new Praise & Worship music, “Revolution Worship…Live At Joy Church International” brings you a brand new worship experience. From start to finish, this release is about the act of ministering uncompromisingly God-centered music through pure, heart-felt praise!

I enjoy contemporary Christian music, as well as some of the old hymns. To be honest, when I first started listening to Revolution Worship, I didn't think I was going to like the music. It just wasn't what I was used to. But after listening to a few songs, I was really enjoying it! My two favorite songs are Yes and Jesus in Me-all the songs are so uplifting! While listening to many of them, you feel like you are part of a big, high-energy church service! Check out the Revolution Worship links below:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MyWorldRevolution
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MWRevolution
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revolution-worship-live/id467741849
Video: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2371896618238

Time for the GIVEAWAY!!!!! I have one CD of Revolution Worship to give away to a Loose Screw reader! You have an opportunity to get 4 entries:

1. Just leave me a comment!! You can tell me your favorite band/artist, or just say hi!
2. Follow The Loose Screw via Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar. Then leave me a comment to tell me you are a follower.
3. Facebook about this giveaway, then leave me a comment with a link to your post.
4. Blog about this giveaway, then leave me a comment with a link to your blog.

This giveaway will end on November 13 at midnight MST. The winner will be notified on November 14th. Good luck and happy listening!!

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

Curriculum Review:Ooka Island!!

2011-11-02T20:35:00.001-06:00

Chad's schoolwork has kept him busy lately-he's been climbing mountains, skateboarding, and jet skiing to name just a few activities that are helping him learn to read! I know what you're wondering: How and where is he doing all this? The answer is simple: He's been on an Ooka Island Adventure!!

What is the Ooka Island Adventure?

'The Ooka Island Adventure is a downloadable hero-mission in 3D designed to teach young children how to read fluently and well. The Ooka Island Adventure combines the highly engaging components of a state-of-the-art virtual world with the scientifically proven OokaMethod that builds literacy skills. Carefully embedded within the Ooka Island Adventure are dozens of interactive instructional activities that captivate the child and motivate them as they learn essential pre-reading, reading, spelling, and writing skills. After completing the Ooka Island Adventure, children will be on their way to reading fluently and well for life.'

Watch the official trailer for the program:

Ooka Island is for Prek-Grade 2. Chad is in 3rd grade, but as he is not a strong reader yet, this program was perfect for him! Here's how a typical session at Ooka Island works: The child starts with 20 minutes of guided play where the player is guided through a customized learning path through the 7 activities on Ooka Island. This guided play time is learning time, but it is fun too! After 20 minutes of guided play the child unlocks the next book on the Book Path, reads the book in the Popcorn Library and completes the comprehension and vocabulary activities. There are 85 leveled books to read on Ooka Island!! The player is then rewarded with 8 minutes of Free Play where the player can play in any unlocked activity on the Island, purchase items in the Mist Mart, or play with their Ooka Elf friends in the Pencil Playground. When Free Play ends, the player starts the cycle again, beginning with 20 minutes of Guided Play.

Click here to explore the island!

When we received our download for Ooka Island, I must admit I was worried-it is a BIG file. It took our computer about an hour to download it, but after that we've had no problems with the size of the file. I do think it would be nice to have the program on a CD to insert into the computer instead of the download. Next, Mom (yes, that's me!), not reading the instructions first, attempted to start the program and messed up the customizable avatar. Chad definitely didn't want the blonde, long-haired female avatar I created. One quick email to customer service and they fixed us up immediately! (They also have live chat customer service!) I was impressed with the speed and efficiency of the customer service. Here is the pricing:

The Bottom Line: What do Chad and I think of the program? LOVE IT!! From the first time playing, Chad had so much fun he just assumed this is not 'schoolwork' and so he asks to play Ooka Island after he's all done with his school day. I haven't said anything to the contrary!! I love when learning is that much fun for kids!! This is a high quality program, and I was impressed with the many features available. I highly suggest you get a FREE 14 day trial to try it out for yourself. Then if you're interested in buying a membership, I have some good news:

Click here to go to the Ooka Island website. It is packed full of information on the program, and several videos to watch as well! Click here to read more reviews of Ooka Island.

Disclaimer: I received this product free in exchange for my honest review.

~Giveaway-Renuzit Holiday Air Freshener~

2011-11-02T10:55:00.002-06:00

A little over a month ago, I received two Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Fresheners to try out in my home. These are an attractive new air freshener that offer the following:
*Stylish versatile two-sided holiday design
*Two holiday fragrances-Winter Berry and Festive Snow
*30 days of continuous fragrance odor elimination
*No plugs, batteries, or flames needed.
The great thing is that you can get all of this for a third less than competitor's similar products, at around $2.00 suggested retail price! For more information, go to http://www.renuzit.com/.

The holidays are a great time to have a festive-smelling home-it just seems to put me in the holiday mood! I put my Winter Berry air freshener on top of the entertainment center in the living room, and the Festive Snow in the bathroom. My favorite scent is the Winter Berry-mmmmm. In fact, it was everyone in the family's favorite. Festive Snow smells good too, but is more of an earthy, piney scent. The containers are really pretty on both sides, so you can set it anywhere! It has been more than a month since I set my Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Fresheners out, and they still have scent!

Now, for the giveaway!! I have 3 coupons to give away for free air fresheners for my readers!! You have 4 chances to win.
1. Mandatory: Leave me a comment, letting me know which scent you think you would like.
2. Become a Google Friend Connect follower (over on the right sidebar), and leave me a comment letting me know you did.
3. Post this giveaway on Facebook, and leave me a comment with a link to the post.
4. Blog about this giveaway, and leave me a comment with a link to your blog post.

This giveaway will end November 11th at midnight MST. I will announce the winners on November 12th! Good Luck!!

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

~Movie Review & GIVEAWAY-The Christmas Lodge~

2011-11-01T15:28:00.000-06:00

I love having giveaways, and I happen to have THREE this week for you guys!! The first one is a sweet movie that really captures the true meaning of the holiday spirit.

Description: Thomas Kinkade presents Christmas Lodge, a place where a heart-warming past and loving future meet for one remarkable group of people. During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now-dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself draw to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the Christmas Lodge.

My family really enjoyed this movie. It was G-rated, and there is absolutely nothing in it that children could not watch or hear. It's getting harder and harder these days to find good, quality movies for the entire family to enjoy! The strength of the family bond and faith in God was the center of this story. I truly think it is a movie we will watch every year during this season. If you'd like to take a peek at Christmas Lodge, here is a trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1554553881/

And now for the GIVEAWAY!! I am able to offer one of my readers their own copy of Christmas Lodge DVD!! You have a chance to have 4 entries!!

1. MANDATORY: Leave me a comment, telling me if you have a favorite movie you like to watch during the holidays and what it is.
2. Become a follower with Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar. Leave me a comment letting me know you did.
3. Facebook about this giveaway, with a link back here. Leave a comment with a link to your FB post.
4. Blog about this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link to your blog.

This giveaway will close on November 10, 2011 at midnight MST. I will announce the winner on November 11th. Good luck!!

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

Curriculum Review: Excellence in Literature

2011-10-30T19:04:00.001-06:00

High School English Literature class. Some remember it fondly, others with moans and groans. I loved to read, but disliked writing, so I was happy sometimes and not other times. I did okay in the class, but really don't remember much about it except a few classic books I read and enjoyed. Now here I am with my own high-school age daughter, Alyssa (16). She enjoys reading and is a good writer as well, so I was excited to review Introduction to Literature (English 1) from Everyday Education's Excellence in Literature Curriculum. This curriculum was created by Janice Campbell, and was created to 'use great literature, studied in its historic and literary contexts, to help you learn to think and write analytically.' The students are not given extensive instructions, rather they are encouraged to be independent learners and are given a framework of what needs to be done when. They are provided with many resources to find what information they should need. The objectives for this course are as follows:

• Introduce students to great literature from the western literary tradition.

• Teach students to read with discernment.

• Train independent, self-motivated learners.

• Provide tools that students can use to strengthen their writing skills.

• Introduce students to sources for high-quality online and offline research.

• Prepare students for college classes by expecting carefully researched, well-thought-out material to be presented in standard format, with preliminary proofreading completed.

Each level of Excellence in Literature: English 1 is broken down into nine units, each suggested to be completed in four weeks.
Unit 1: Short Stories
Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
Click here to read how/why Janice Campbell chose these works for this curriculum.

The students are given links for reading their novel online, context reading, video available, and each unit even has an honors option. Alyssa was excited to get to Jane Eyre, but I had her start with Unit 1, the short stories. She did well with the writing she had to do for the first unit, but it definitely was much deeper than anything she had ever done before. She is looking forward to continuing on with what she has learned in Unit 1 and applying it to the subsequent units.

With Excellence in Literature, the students are learning time management and researching skills along with reading the great works of literature and learning the writing process. A rubric is provided to help parents evaluate their student's writing. This curriculum is rich and deep, and I just wish I would have found it a few years ago! I highly recommend this curriculum for your High School English student! Excellence in Literature would be a memorable course, not like my High School literature experience!

There are five levels in Excellence in Literature, and each level is just $29.00 (plus $4.95 priority mail shipping)! The e-book is also available for only $27.00! That is incredible for an entire year's curriculum! The suggested grade range is 8-12th. Everyday Education has many products you may be interested in. Click here to be taken directly to their website. If you're interested in reading more reviews of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I was provided with this curriculum free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-10-26T14:36:00.002-06:00

1 Boy + imagination + no electronics =

~Game Review: Say Anything Family Edition

2011-10-26T13:55:00.001-06:00

Remember back a few days when I posted a review of Wits & Wagers Family Edition? Well, we are still playing games from North Star Games at our house! This time we had the opportunity to play Say Anything Family Edition, and since we enjoyed Wits & Wagers so much, we knew there was a good chance we'd be having some fun! Here is an overview from North Star Games:

"Say Anything is a light-hearted game about what you and your loved ones think. It gives you the chance to settle questions that have been hotly debated for centuries. For instance, "What magical power would be the coolest to have?" or "What would be the most fun thing to throw off a tall building?" So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty-this is your chance to Say Anything!"

Included in the sturdy box is:

60 question cards (360 topics!)

6 dry erase boards

6 dry erase pens

1 Select-o-matic 6000

12 player tokens

1 dry erase score board

1 full color rules

How it works:

1. One player asks a question from the card drawn.

2. Everyone else writes an answer on their board and turns it face up on the table.

3. The player who asked the question chooses their favorite answer and marks it on the Select-o matic 6000.

4. The other players use their tokens to guess which answer was the favorite.

5. The answer is revealed, and points are given according to the rules. The game is over after everyone has asked two questions. The player with the most points wins!

This game is so much fun! We were laughing like crazy! It was fun to learn what your family members thought your answer would be, and to learn each other's answers to the questions. North Star Games suggests this game for ages 8 and up, but I could see younger kids playing if they write well, or got help with writing their answers down. One of my personal favorite features of Say Anything Family Edition is that it takes 2 minutes to learn to play and only 30 minutes to play per game! Perfect for a quick game after dinner!

The Bottom Line
What is it? Say Anything Family Edition
Who Makes it? North Star Games
Who Can Play? 3-6 players, ages 8 and up
Where Can You Buy It? Online and at various retailers, click here to find one near you.
How much does it cost? Suggested retail price is $19.99; it is just over $13 right now at Amazon.
What did we think? Fantastic!
Want to read more reviews of this product? Click here to read more TOS crew reviews!

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

~Game Review: Wits and Wagers Family Edition~

2011-10-24T16:28:00.002-06:00

When a new game enters our home, excitement is in the air! We recently received Wits & Wagers Family Edition from North Star Games to review. From North Star Games: "A Family edition of the most award-winning party game in history! Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!"

Inside the sturdy box you will find:

150 question cards (300 questions)

5 dry erase answer boards

5 dry erase pens

5 large Meeples

5 small Meeples

1 dry erase score board

1 full color rules

You're probably asking, "What in the world is a Meeple?" They have been used in Europe for game play for years, and they are simply adorable!! Here is a picture of ours:

Here we are placing our guesses on the boards:

What did our family think of Wits & Wagers Family Edition? This is definitely going to be one of our most-played, favorite games of all times. One of our favorite features (besides the cute Meeples) is that it takes only two minutes to learn how to play-two minutes, people!! How many times have you gone to play a game, everyone sitting and ready, and Mom or Dad has to then spend half an hour figuring out how to play? That is SO frustrating! Well, that won't happen with Wits & Wagers Family edition! One quick read-through and you're playing! Mom and Dad also love that it is quick to play-about 20 minutes. Recommended age is 8 and up (although I think younger can participate), and you need 3-10 people to play. Although we haven't tried it with more than 4 of us, the fact that you can play with 10 people is great for get-togethers.

The questions asked range in difficulty, and can be both fun and educational. An example of a question we answered was, "How many types of nuts come in a can of Planters Mixed Nuts?" On the back of the card with the answer is another interesting or fun fact to go along with that question. It was really funny to see the guesses to some questions-sometimes we had a W-I-D-E range of answers! In case you might be worried about learning all the answers to the 300 questions, an expansion pack is available!

Wits & Wagers Family Edition is available at a variety of retailers nationwide, and prices may vary. At the time of this post, Amazon is selling it for just over $15. To read what other TOS crewmembers thought of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-10-23T18:56:00.003-06:00

Three years ago, Mattie Eash quickly left her hometown in Pennsylvania to go live with her brother in Ohio and start a new life. Her best friend and boyfriend, Gideon Beiler, had broken her heart when he broke their engagement on Christmas Eve. She has since rebuilt her life, and has a thriving cake shop, Mattie Cakes, as well as a steady boyfriend. But her heart remains with Gideon. When Mattie suddenly has to return to Pennsylvania during the Christmas season, she and Gideon cross paths. There is so much hurt in her heart, she doesn't know if she can ever forgive him.

Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish authors, and she has written another wonderful love story in The Christmas Singing. It is not only a love story, it is a story about faith, forgiveness, and trusting God for your future. There are some yummy-sounding recipes in the back of the book as well, based on cakes that Mattie makes in the story! This hardback edition would make a lovely gift, and is a quick read.

To learn more about author Cindy Woodsmall, click here. To read the first chapter of The Christmas Signing, click here. Disclaimer: I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I'd LOVE to win this giveaway!!!

2011-10-21T17:51:00.003-06:00

Christi from the blog Sweet Tea and Sandy Beaches (isn't that an adorable name?) is a graphic artist. She is so talented, and is hosting a giveaway for a free Blog Header!! As you can tell by my blog header above, I could REALLY use this help! I just have no clue how to do that kind of artistic stuff on the computer. Here is the button for her blog, so you can get a peek at her work:

Cute, right?? So if you are interested in entering this giveaway, click here. You will be taken to her blog and the information you need to enter. The last day to enter is October 28! Good luck!!

Autumn Craft-Another use for the Laminator!!

2011-10-20T12:42:00.000-06:00

I love my laminator. It's awesome. My family will tell you that I get excited when there is something that needs (or I want) to laminate. And they're right-I do! Our backyard is a beautiful mix of greens, yellows, oranges and reds right now, and I wanted Chad to do a craft with the leaves. So he collected different leaves and placed them in the laminating pouch how he wanted them, and I (very carefully so the leaves wouldn't fall out) laminated it! Turned out like a mini-placemat, and it looks pretty on a window with the light shining through it. I tried to take some good pictures, but it was hard to get really good ones that show how pretty it is. Here is the finished project up against the window:

and laying on the table:

I'm sure there are tons of variations you could do with this. I thought it would look pretty just loaded with leaves all mixed up and overlapping, but Chad was feeling rather orderly today apparently and this was what he wanted!! This activity is also good to get outside and have a nature walk. Now go use those laminators!!!!!

Book Review-The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman

2011-10-17T20:51:00.001-06:00

Katie Ann Stoltzfus is a 40-year-old Amish widow with a new baby to raise alone. She lives in Canaan, Colorado, which has a small Amish community. She has several close friends and family there, but wonders how she will raise Jonas as a single parent. At her nephew's wedding, she meets Eli Detweiler, an Amish widower who is in town for the wedding. He has already raised six children as a single parent, and now as an empty-nester, is looking forward to this new, slower-paced time in his life. There is an instant, strong connection between Katie Ann and Eli, yet neither of them can imagine that a relationship would ever work out. They both question whether their own plans are the same as God's plans for them.

The Wonder of Your Love is the second book in The Land of Canaan series by Beth Wiseman. I read the first book, Seek Me With All Your Heart, earlier in the year and just loved it. So I was quite excited to receive The Wonder of Your Love to read and review. Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite Amish authors, and she did an outstanding job once again with this novel! I enjoyed reading about the Amish in a different setting than they normally are in back east. The characters in The Land of Canaan are genuine and well developed, and the story line kept me from wanting to put the book down! The Wonder of Your Love is an excellent book, and I hope Ms. Wiseman will be coming out with a third book in The Land of Canaan series soon! Disclaimer: I received this book from Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review-Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman

2011-10-17T18:15:00.000-06:00

Forsaking All Others is the second book in The Sister Wife Series by Allison Pittman. I did not realize it was part of a series until I had it in my hands, and was worried it would be hard to jump into not having read the first book. It turned out to be very easy to read separately. The story: Camilla Fox is a married mother with two children living in Utah in the 1800s with her husband Nathan. When Nathan obeys their religious leaders and takes another wife, Camilla flees their home, leaving him and their daughters. She desperately wants her husband to leave his new wife, but if he won't she dreams of starting a new life with her daughters at her parents home. A snowstorm nearly kills her, and she ends up in the care of the United States Army until the Spring.

Although this wasn't the type of book I usually read, I did enjoy it. The story was easy to get into, and the characters had depth. I would be interested in reading the first book in the series now. Personally I enjoyed the story line as I live in the Salt Lake City area of Utah, so it was fun hearing the referrences to where I live. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House.

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-10-12T15:46:00.001-06:00

Book Review: The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-10-04T15:58:00.001-06:00

Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish authors, so I was definitely excited at the opportunity to review 'The Harvest of Grace', the third of the Ada's House novels.

Sylvia Fisher is not your typical old-order Amish young woman. In her 20s, by now she should be married with babies. But Sylvia loves her family's dairy farm, and coming from a family of all girls, has helped her father run the farm most of her life. After the man she loves turns to someone else and gets married, Sylvia throws herself even further into the farm. She ends up doing something morally unacceptable by her family and faith, and flees to start a new life far from home, helping run another old-order Amish family's dairy farm. There she devotes her life to saving the debt-ridden farm, and denies herself any chance at finding love again.

'The Harvest of Grace' was my favorite of the three Ada's House novels. The characters were deep and believable, and I could not put the book down. I wonder though, if it would be possible to read this book without having read the other two in the series without confusion due to the amount and complexity of the characters. Easy solution-make sure to read all three, you won't be sorry! Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Our Curriculum for 2011-2012 School Year!

2011-10-03T15:59:00.000-06:00

Better late than never, I'm telling myself :) Don't get me wrong-we did start school about 1 month ago, it's just this post I've been delayed at getting to!! So-in case anyone is interested, this is our lineup. Keep in mind this is what we have designed for our own family, not a post on what I think everyone should use! I don't know about you, but I'm always fascinated by other homeschooler's curriculum choices, and I often learn about a product or two I didn't know about!

Alyssa is enrolled in 11th grade at Open High School of Utah (OHSU), which is a virtual High School we are very pleased with so far!! She is attempting to get most core classes taken care of so next year she can take the community college dental hygienist program, which covers 4 electives. So far it's straight As! I'm also considering using the Dave Ramsey Foundations in Personal Finance program for teens. Here is a recent photo of my sweet girl, doing schoolwork while on vacation!!

Chad is officially a 3rd grader, but is at a 1st-2nd grade level in most areas. He's consistently stayed about 1-2 years delayed since he became ours at age 2, but this past summer we found out he has numerous learning disabilities, including Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. You can read that post here. So, armed with this information, we've tailored a curriculum to really focus on reading and writing much more than anything else. We are also getting some special education assistance-speech therapy and reading/writing help as needed.

I decided to go with a school district in Southern Utah (we are northern), for their state-wide K12 program, Washington Online School Utah (WOSU). We are using them for the special ed, Math, History, and Science. This is a program we used in the past with my oldest two, and were very impressed. Chad will have lots of opportunities for field trips and fun which he needs having no siblings at all close in age. Plus I get the special support I need to learn how to teach him effectively. They also have awesome online classes and teachers there when you need them. Some homeschoolers have big issues with what I am doing, as the state school system gets money for our being enrolled. I believe you do what you feel/know is best for your child, and reassess that each and every year for each and every child. Even after homeschooling for 14 years, I know when I need help, and the private kind is way too pricey. I love that I can still involve special ed. assistance and tailor my own curriculum! Our curriculum may change later in the year based on how he is progressing. This year I decided to try out my own version of a workbox system. This is getting long, so our workbox system will have to wait for another post.

K12 Math, Science, and History (all 2nd grade) through WOSU.
Reading Horizon's Discover Intensive Phonics (K-3 program on computer, Orton-Gillingham based)
Susan Barton's Reading and Spelling program
Writing With Ease
Handwriting Help for Kids (will be Handwriting without Tears next)
Building Christian Character/60 Day Wonder Devotional

Later in the year: Read, Write, and Type
Occasionally: First Language Lessons, All About Spelling (click button on right sidebar for more info)*

Plus, we have so many wonderful products we get to use and review through the The Old Schoolhouse Crew throughout the year. And after homeschooling for so many years I have lots of good unit studies and crafts to do at a moment's notice!

*I love the All About Spelling Program, and Chad had completed level 1. We decided to start back at the beginning, now knowing his diagnosis, with the Barton program and see how that goes. I would like to eventually get back to AAS.

Well, that about covers it!! I really don't have a good enough feel yet for how these products are going to work out for us, so I'll check in again a month or two down the road. Happy Homeschooling!!

Review: Aletheia Writing Magazine

2011-09-25T15:17:00.000-06:00

I remember as a young girl, before computers, receiving a subscription to a literary magazine in the mail that was all children's submissions. I devoured it each time it arrived, and even sent in a few submissions myself that didn't get published. I also enjoyed my junior high and high school collections of student's stories, poems, and artwork. So when I found out I was going to be able to review Aletheia Writing Magazine, I was excited to be able to share it with my daughter Alyssa, 16.

I received the Fall 2011 edition of the magazine, as well as a link to a digital copy of the summer edition. Aletheia Writing Magazine is described as a quarterly publication focusing on the literary and artistic works of Christian teens, ages 13 to 19. The name Aletheia is Greek for 'truth' or 'unveiling'. Included in each edition is a Writer's Challenge (teens submit a poem based on a picture or a story based on a proverb), a Featured Contributor, a book review, Glory to God for the Beauty of Nature (photography), Ancient Ink(words from people of the past), and an interview or other feature for edification and enjoyment. From the publishers:

"We are excited to offer Christian teens a healthy platform in which to express themselves, especially in a culture that so definitively shapes and saturates their worldview with unhealthy imagery and values."

What did I think? I enjoyed reading Aletheia Writing Magazine and looking at the beautiful artwork. Many of these teens are very talented. I think it is a wonderful way for Christian teens to have an outlet for their creativity. Personally, I would be careful with younger teens, based on individual maturity level, reading this magazine. There are some darker stories/images that may be too much for less mature/younger teens. Aletheia publishers do point out:

"Aletheia Writing Magazine is geared toward youth ages 13 to 19. Because contributors’ ages vary, the maturity level of situational content may likewise vary."

What did Alyssa (16) think? She found it interesting in that she had never seen a publication like this, where teens could submit their creative work and have it published. She liked many of the stories and artwork, but without me sharing any of my thoughts, she immediately said she would be concerned for a younger teen to read some of the writings, saying they were 'dark'.

Overall, both Alyssa and I give Aletheia Writing Magazine a thumb's up! We think it is a beautiful magazine, very well done, and a great platform for Christian teens. If you are a teen interested in submitting your work to Aletheia, click here. There are also writing tips on the webpage. Click here to view a sample of Aletheia magazine. If you are interested in subscribing, the cost is $26 for four issues a year, each 40 pages and full color. This price includes shipping and handling. Click here to subscribe.

I received Aletheia Writing Magazine free in exchange for my honest review. If you are interested in reading other crew member's reviews, click here.

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-09-21T15:32:00.000-06:00

Product Review: Before Five in a Row

2011-09-20T13:50:00.001-06:00

Before Five in A Row by Jane Claire Lambert is a beautifully written book I wish had been around when my older children were preschool age. Here is a description of the book from the back cover:
"What is Before Five in a Row? Let's begin with what it isn't. It isn't a curriculum. Neither is it an aggressive, academic training regimen designed to turn your preschooler into a scholastic super-achiever. It is a rich treasury of creative ideas designed to help you gently, consistently prepare your children for the life-long adventure of learning. For children ages two to four, Before Five in a Row is better than a curriculum!"

All three of my children loved being read to. There is just something so special about that quality time between a parent and child. Before Five in A Row is all about enjoying that special time together. In the first half of the book, there are activities to go along with 24 classic books written for young children. Some of the activities for after reading each story are Art, Bible, Science, Math, Health, and many others. There are many fun things suggested to do with your child, and it is also recommended to just talk about what you have read.

The books used with Before Five in A Row are:
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
Yellow Ball
My Blue Boat
The Little Rabbit
Ask Mr. Bear
Blueberries for Sal
Goodnight Moon
The Big Green Pocketbook
The Runaway Bunny
The ABC Bunny
If Jesus Came to My House
Caps for Sale
The Carrot Seed
The Snowy Day
The Quiet Way Home
Play With Me
Prayer For a Child
I Am An Artist
Angus Lost
Katy No-Pocket
We're Going On A Bear Hunt
The Red Carpet
Corduroy
Jenny's Surprise Summer
Most, if not all, of these books should be available at your local library.

The second half of Before Five in A Row is 'Parent's Treasury of Creative Ideas for Learning Readiness'. There are Activities for Reading Readiness, Coordination, In the Kitchen, At the Store, Toys, and The Arts. Each of these sections contains many suggestions and activities for each area. Last, there is also a section titled 'Learning to See Through Children's Eyes with examples and suggestions, as well as a list of more books and tapes you might use.

Although my youngest is 8, he still loves being read to, and so I knew he would enjoy this book. Chad's favorite story and activities from the book was 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt.' This doesn't surprise me as there is lots of action you can act out in this story. The author gave many great ideas we used, and we had a wonderful time together. There were a few activities that were too young for him, so we just skipped over those. Even though the Before Five in A Row is suggested for ages 2-4, I found it was engaging for my older child as well.

There are many other Five in A Row products designed for a variety of ages. You can learn more about these products at their website here. Before Five in A Row is sold by Rainbow Resource for $35.00. If you'd like to read more reviews of this product, click here.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this product free in exchange for my honest review.

Product Review: Big IQ Kids!

2011-09-15T14:31:00.000-06:00

Let me just start off this review of BigIQkids by saying this program is a favorite in our home! Any educational product that my kids ASK to use during their free time is a favorite of mine!
Here is a description of BigIQkids from their website:

BigIQkids.com turns your computer into an online learning academy by providing daily academic lessons for young learners in an interactive, easy to follow format.

BigIQkids is for kindergarten age-adult. Their spelling and vocabulary programs are completely free, and their math and geography have both free and premium versions. There is also a premium spelling junior program. The cost on the premium programs run from $39.99-$49.99 per year for each program. For BigIQkids pricing, as well as the difference between the free and premium versions, go here.

Chad enjoyed all the different programs, but I think his favorite was math:

He liked that the drills were timed, and enjoyed trying to beat his best time. What I liked about the math program was that I could customize it to what we are working on right now. Chad also loved customizing his 'buddy':

By the way, this is not his buddy, just a representative one! Chad also really enjoyed playing the games he bought with his coins. What I liked about the games was that he earned coins for doing his lessons (only 10-15 minutes each), and then he could spend his coins on quick games.

I was very impressed with the spelling and vocabulary program. I customized Chad's spelling lists myself with high-frequency words we have been studying. Then BigIQkids would create lessons around my words! Here is a description from the website:
With a over 40,000 word dictionary, BigIQkids spelling & vocabulary program comes pre-loaded with 40 lessons for K-adult appropriate word lists. Or, as a parent or teacher, you can easily enter your own word lists and the program will automatically create a week’s worth of lessons, quizzes and tests around your own list with the goal of achieving 100% on the Friday spelling and vocabulary tests. The program includes tracking and progress reports. You can build your own curriculum or use our default settings. The program is completely customizable and goes around a student's progress.

The bottom line: I think BigIQkids is a great supplement to our homeschool. If I'm having a bad pain day with my illness, I would feel completely comfortable having Chad work on BigIQkids on his math facts, spelling, vocabulary, and geography (states). BigIQkids sends me emails on Chad's progress, which is helpful. I'm impressed with all of their programs and plan to continue using BigIQkids. The only negative in my opinion is the premium price. Being a one-income family, we could not afford to pay for all of the premium programs. I could see using the free programs, and possibly upgrading one of the programs to premium. I'm also planning on trying out the SAT vocabulary prep program with Alyssa (11th grade). I will definitely continue using all of the free programs in our home. To find out more, click on any of the links highlighted above, or go to http://www.bigiqkids.com/. To find out what other TOS reviewers thought of BigIQkids, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this product free in exchange for my honest review.

And The Winners Are.................

2011-09-07T09:35:00.000-06:00

The two winners of the FREE Purex Complete with Zout are Lynn (Lynn at TDHGP) and Sarah (Baby Mama)!!! I have emailed both winners-congratulations!!!!!!!!

Product Review: R & R Games Flea Circus!

2011-09-06T17:17:00.000-06:00

We love games at our house-especially games that the entire family can play. When R & R Games Flea Circus arrived at our house, it was quickly opened up to be played! Here is the description from the box:

"Step right up! Calling all cats and dogs! The flea circus is about the begin! It's a wild time under the Big-Top as dogs and cats race from one show to the next! Players use their best Flea cards to attract the most dogs and cats. Play your cards right and you can steal the audience away from your neighbor! But watch out for the Animal Catcher-he'll snatch your cats and dogs away! With all this excitement...how's a Flea Ring Circus supposed to keep up! When all the dogs and cats are gone, whoever ends up with the most animals at their show wins the game!"

Doesn't that sound fun? Included in the Flea Circus box is 55 Amazing Flea cards, 20 plastic cats, 20 plastic dogs, and the instructions. Everything is very sturdy and colorful, and the size of the box would make it a great game to take along for a trip. The little blue dogs and white cats are simply adorable!

The first two or three times we played Flea Circus, we had to refer to the instructions often to look up point values for some of the Flea cards, but we quickly got the hang of it. I love that this game is quick to play-10 to 15 minutes only, and the math practice makes it educational! With my animal-crazy son Chad, 8, the dogs and cats are his favorite part of the game. Even if he doesn't have someone to play the game with him, he likes to line them up, stack them, and just play with them!! A word of warning: Puppies love Flea Circus too!! So if you want those cute little dogs and cats to not disappear, keep them out of your puppy's reach!!

Flea Circus is for 2-6 players, ages 6 and up, and retails for $15.95 at the R & R Games Website.. R & R Games is offering my readers a 20% discount-just use the coupon code CREW20! Do you want to read what other TOS crewmembers thought of Flea Circus? Click here.

Disclaimer: I received this product free in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~'Treasuring Emma' by Kathleen Fuller

2011-09-03T08:37:00.003-06:00

Emma is a single young Amish woman who has been through much heartache. Both of her parents have passed away, and Adam, the boy she loves, has left her and the Amish church to live in the modern English world. Being plain-looking and heavyset, Emma doesn't hold out much hope for finding love. She is buried in medical bills from her mother's cancer, and is worried how she and her aging grandmother, who she lives with, will survive. Her relationship with her sister is strained, and her sister is trying to push Emma into a new business together. Emma's grandmother continually encourages her to stay strong in her faith and trust God's will for her life.When Adam returns and a mysterious new man comes to town and shows interest in Emma, she is more confused than ever.

'Treasuring Emma' was fun to read-it was very suspenseful and had lots of twists and turns in the story. I'm looking forward to reading more from the Middlefield Family series by Kathleen Fuller. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review~'How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids'

2011-09-01T08:46:00.000-06:00

The first product I received to review for The Old Schoolhouse Crew this year was 'How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids' by Rachael Carman of Apologia Educational Ministries. Let me just say-PERFECT timing! This beautiful hardcover book was just what I needed to begin my homeschooling year! Most homeschoolers relate Apologia to science curriculum (as I did), but they have science and so much more to offer!

Rachael Carman is a wife and homeschooling mom to seven children. She begins the book by telling her story of how she reluctantly (yelling and screaming, she says) came to homeschool her children. She referred to her homeschooling journey as 'Mr. Toad's Wild Ride', which I can very much relate to. The book is based on the word 'heart':

H-Have a heart for the things of God
E-Enrich your marriage
A-Accept your kids
R-Release them to God
T-Teach them the truth

Each letter of the word heart has its own chapter in the book, and at the end of each chapter is a 'Heart Check-up'-questions to reflect on where your own heart is at relating to the topic of that chapter. Although all the chapters were impacting, chapters 3 (A) and 4 (R) impacted me the most. Having teenagers, I really needed to be reminded to accept my children as uniquely designed by God for His purpose. Also to continually point my children toward God and ask them what they think God's directions for their lives are- not just the typical "What do you want to do after you graduate?"

Rachael Carman's writing style made me feel as if I was an old friend sitting down visiting with her. She pours out her heart and communicates with such genuineness and transparency, the book is hard to put down. I didn't plan to take notes-maybe put post-its here and there on things to come back to. Well, I ended up with two full pages of notes, AND the post-its!! 'How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids' has already enriched my relationship with my children. I believe non-homeschooling parents would enjoy and learn from it as well.

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids is available for $13 from Apologia Educational Ministries. You can also have a peek at a sample chapter here. Be sure to check out their website for more great information and products. You can read other TOS crew member's reviews of this product at The Old Schoolhouse Crew's website.

Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Upcoming September Reviews!

2011-08-31T13:14:00.000-06:00

As you may remember, I am now doing reviews for The Old Schoolhouse Crew. The reviews will be posted on my blog and will be available online through clicking The Old Schoolhouse banner on my blog. Here is the lineup for The Old Schoolhouse reviews in September:

Apoligia How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids
R & R Games-Flea Circus
BigIQKids
Before Five In A Row
Aletheia Writing Magazine

Be on the lookout for these reviews and more-I hope you enjoy them and find some great products for your home!

Giveaway!! Purex Complete With Zout!

2011-08-30T09:53:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited that I get to have another giveaway!!! This one is for Purex Complete with Zout!

I have coupons for a FREE bottle of Purex Complete with Zout for TWO of my readers!! If you are interested in reading more about this product and how it works, here is the Purex with Zout Fact Sheet.

You have TWO chances to enter:
1. MANDATORY entry: Just leave me a comment letting me know how many loads of laundry you guess you do each week.
2. Additional optional entry: Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar) and leave me a comment letting me know you did!
*IMPORTANT* Please leave me your email address in your comment so I can reach you if you are one of the winners!
This contest will run until September 6, 2011 at midnight MST.
GOOD LUCK!!

My Most Frequently Searched Word This Summer Is.........

2011-08-29T12:52:00.000-06:00

Dyslexia! Earlier this summer, we finally got an answer as to why Chad can't read or write higher than a 1st grade level. Some background: We adopted Chad when he had just turned three, and it was a special needs adoption because he was delayed in several areas. We really figured he just needed to catch up in a nurturing environment. Even though I was a veteran homeschooler, my other kids were teenagers and I was sick with a chronic illness, so I thought he would be better served in school. He plugged along through kindergarten, a little behind the others, but actually was sounding out CVC words at an early age. 1st grade was a disaster-he did not progress at all. We kept asking the teacher if he thought Chad had Dyslexia. He continually said no(but never tested him), we just need to read with him more. More?? As a homeschooler, we already read more than the average family!

At the end of 1st grade, after a particularly upsetting 'incident' involving Chad's teacher, we pulled him out of school with only a few weeks left of the year. My husband and I both felt that I could do better one-on-one with him. So last year we set out to learn to read and write closer to grade level. The results? He did progress-a little. Not as much as he should have for all we did. So, this summer we had him tested privately. It turns out he does have Dyslexia, quite a severe case actually, as well as Dysgraphia, Irlen Syndrome, and several other auditory and visual learning delays. We weren't surprised. He has had a small amount of tutoring this summer, and I have spent a lot of time researching how to teach him. I've had lots of great support from my friends at the TOS Crew, as many of them have experience with Dyslexia. I've recently ordered my curriculum, and I'll do a separate post about that once it all arrives. I'm actually excited about the promise this year holds-we finally have a direction to go in, and my prayer is that we can discover whatever it is Chad needs to understand how to read and write.

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-08-24T16:55:00.002-06:00

God's Hands

2011-08-21T17:27:00.000-06:00

This past month has been one of many changes for my oldest son, Nick, 19. He got a great full-time job close to home, he rented a bedroom in the house across the street from us, and he started working toward getting his driver's license (finally). Everything was going great for him, and then there was an accident at work on Thursday. Without going into all the details, a several-hundred pound automatic door closed on his head and neck, and the sensors did not work to open it back up. The door had to be manually opened up, and Nick ended up with abrasions, a cut, swollen ears, and a concussion. He is doing better-still some headaches and nausea, but will not work for another week until he gets clearance from the doctor.
There is one *small* detail I have left out, and that is that Nick's hardhat started falling off just as he was about to be closed in those doors, so he lifted his hands to adjust it. Because he did this, the position of his arms saved his head and/or neck from being crushed. I don't believe this was coincidence-I believe this was God's hands. I believe God knows our entire lives and exactly what day we will die, and this was not my son's day. But it could have been. What really got to me is how quickly everything can change. The call I got about the accident could have been a very different call, and right now we could have been planning a funeral or sitting by the hospital bed of a paralyzed 19-year-old. My week that I was stressing about getting school ready, could have been the worst week of my life. Kind of puts things in perspective, huh? So make sure and give your kids hugs and kisses every chance you get, no matter how old they are. I'm sure going to.

Psalm 121:7-8 The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The Old Schoolhouse Crew Members!

2011-08-07T18:35:00.000-06:00

You may remember a few months back I was thrilled to find out I had been selected to be a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew for the upcoming school year. The crew is a great group of homeschool parents who review homeschool curriculum and products. I wanted to introduce you to them! If you click on the button below, you will be taken to a list of all of their great blogs-check them out!

~Wordless Wednesday~

2011-08-03T13:10:00.000-06:00

Freebies and a Win!

2011-07-26T18:16:00.001-06:00

I get a lot of free samples in the mail, that I have requested. I have three reasons for doing this:
1. The free samples save us money.
2. We get to try products we haven't tried before.
3.*The most important reason-there are often coupons along with the samples! Sometimes they are high value coupons!

The picture above shows what came in the mail one day last week. A coupon for Free Jif peanut butter at Target, a free Glad trash bag and a bunch of high value coupons, a sample of an industrial strength wipe, Miracle Whip samples, and my win-a years worth of Secret clinical strength deodorant!! Not too bad for very little effort on my part. I even get samples I wouldn't use such as diapers or pull-ups, to pass along to friends or keep at my house if a friend has an emergency while visiting.

How do I get all my samples? My *favorite* site is Free Stuff Times-you can find all sorts of great stuff on this site, not just freebies! I also subscribe to several money-saving blogs. Here are a few of my favorites (but there are many more that are great-let me know if you want a more extensive list):
Money Saving Mom-this site is incredible. She has everything from recipes to financial advice on here!
Thrifty and Thriving
My SLC Mommy
Cuckoo for Coupon Deals
Utah Deal Diva
Now, at these sites you will have a wealth of information-notification of freebies to get, great coupon deals, coupon education, and giveaways, to name just a portion of what these incredible ladies do! Speaking of giveaways, the Secret Clinical Deodorant pictured above was a giveaway I won at another of my favorite sites, Free stuff, Fun sites, Contests & More! Thanks to Angie for the opportunity!

New Friend Friday!

2011-07-22T16:54:00.000-06:00

Today I'm participating in New Friend Friday Link-up, sponsored by Molding Minds Homeschool!

Here are the directions from her post:
This is just a fun way to meet new bloggers and to get your blog out there a bit more. So if you are a FAMILY FRIENDLY blogger and want to participate here are the directions:

1. Add your blog using the Mr Linky at the bottom of this post: New Friend Friday Link Up for June 22nd.

2. Post a small blurb linking back to the above post.

3. Follow at least 3 of the blogs already linked (the first few will have to come back later in the day to get 3).

4. Comment on their blog letting them know that you are following from Follow Me Friday at Molding Minds.

5. Follow anyone that comments on your blog.

The last is very important as that is what makes this work! Any type of blog is welcome to participate as long as it is FAMILY FRIENDLY. Have fun and I look forward to meeting some new friends! Be sure to give the linky a few minutes to refresh before putting your info in a second time. It can take up to 5 minutes sometimes.

The Winner Is...........

2011-07-21T11:32:00.000-06:00

The winner of 'When Sparrows Fall' by Meg Moseley, drawn at random by randompicker.com, is................
#22 vwestermeyer!!! Congratulations! Please contact me with your address so I can ship off this great book to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered!!

Big Savings on Parents Magazine!

2011-07-14T19:14:00.000-06:00

Purex has partnered with Parents magazine to offer a one year subscription (12 issues) for only $4!! That is a huge savings off of the newsstand price. To get this great deal, just click on this link: https://www.purex.com/parents-promo
Once you get there, there will be a place to enter a promo code to get this great price. The promo code you need to enter is: PX1653.
Happy Reading!

Book Review and Giveaway! 'When Sparrows Fall' by Meg Moseley

2011-07-11T18:59:00.001-06:00

The Review: Miranda Hanford is a widowed mother of six children, living a secluded life controlled by her pastor. She wants out of the cult-like church that has been her life since she married at age 19. When she faints and has a bad fall after fasting, her brother-in-law Jack comes to take care of Miranda and the children. He is shocked by their reclusive lifestyle and wants to help them. Miranda tries to hide her secrets from Jack while figuring out a way to escape the church.

When I read the description of 'When Sparrows Fall' by Meg Moseley, I was eager to read a fictional book about a homeschooling family. I soon learned there were many more reasons why I would enjoy this book! I started out having a hard time getting into the story, but that changed quickly, and I soon couldn't put it down. It is well-written-the author does an outstanding job of drawing you into the characters' lives. A discussion guide is also included, so I think this would be an excellent choice for a book club! Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The Giveaway: I have two copies of 'When Sparrows Fall', the one that I read and another brand-new copy!! I will mail this copy to a winner drawn at random. You have two chances to win:
1. For the first entry, leave a comment with your name, email address, and the name of a book you've enjoyed recently.
2. For the second entry, leave a comment with your name and email address, letting me know that you are following me on Google friend connect. You must be a new or current follower to have this second entry.

The giveaway will end on July 20th, 2011 at 11:00pm MST. I will announce and email the winner the next day, July 21st. GOOD LUCK!!!

Book Review: 'The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance' by John Trent and Gary Smalley

2011-07-03T17:37:00.000-06:00

In this revised and updated edition of 'The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance', the authors present the gift of providing the "blessing" for our children. This concept is built upon Genesis 27 from the Bible. The principles in this book could also be used to strengthen other relationships, such as marriages and friendships.

In this book, Gary Smalley and John Trent suggest the gift of the blessing containing five elements:
*Meaning of touch
*A spoken message
*Attaching high value
*Picturing a special future
*An active commitment
The authors believe that, when given the gift of these five elements, children will become stronger, more well-balanced adults. Each of the five elements is broken down for better understanding , with examples of the anticipated positive outcome, as well as examples of homes that withheld the blessing. Everything is explained thoroughly, including steps for a written blessing, with frequent scripture references.

John Trent and Gary Smalley have created a website, www.TheBlessing.com, with more resources. Throughout the book and on the website, they ask parents to pledge the Blessing Challenge, which is 1 million adults pledging to bless others.

'The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance' was a very well-written book that could many lives. For me personally, the five elements of blessing were not new information. It was a great reminder though, of making sure to impart the blessing daily to our loved ones, and of the scriptures that support the blessing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their relationships, especially with their children. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

~Puppy Love~

2011-06-30T14:29:00.000-06:00

Puppy love has struck at our house! This sweet little girl is the reason you haven't heard from me for the past few weeks.

We've had two mini schnauzers for 11 years: Iris (11), and Raley (15ish-a rescue dog the vet estimated to be 3-7 years old when we got him 11 years ago). Raley was the sweetest, liveliest dog up until the day we had to put him down in January. It was so painful for all of us, and we still miss him. Iris had a terrible time missing Raley, so after several months we decided it was time to look for a new dog. The *plan* was to get an adult dog, maybe a few years old so we wouldn't have to deal with puppy training, and to get a schnauzer mix, not a purebred. We looked and looked, and just couldn't find one that would fit with our family. Then we found her. Puppy. Purebred. Out the window went The Plan. We all melted and couldn't resist her puppy charm.

Her name is Tulip (continuing with the flower theme), and she is now 12 weeks old. She is a purebred toy/miniature (not sure which yet) schnauzer. She is such a love. The first week or so was very time consuming and we didn't get much else done aside from taking care of her, but now we are into a semi-routine. It is like having a newborn in the house! She is sleeping about six hours a night, with plenty of naps during the day. She gets me up early -5 a.m. I am NOT a morning person, but there is no resisting her! She is quite spoiled already, which is very easy to do when you are so cute and snugly!! Iris is tolerating her presence, and things have gone better than any of us expected. We have all smiled and laughed so much in the past two weeks, and taken lots of pictures!!

This is just the beginning-I'm certain there will be plenty of puppy shenanigans to share with you as Tulip grows up!

31 Days to Clean-Day 31!

2011-06-13T11:37:00.000-06:00

The 31 Days to Clean challenge is over. I only posted one other update, at the end of week 1, so I pretty much dropped the ball on updates. I started the challenge May 1st through Joyful Mothering. So, here's how I did:

I did read the entire book (quick, easy read if you read it all at once, but that kind of defeats the purpose of a small chunk each day). I pretty much stuck to reading it one day at a time. The daily Martha challenges(cleaning, organizing) were great, but I got behind as we were having some work done in our house during the challenge. Then after the workers left, we had company. So I didn't do everything, but I did the majority of it, just not in the order given. The daily Mary challenges were the best part of the challenge. Once again, I dropped the ball here and there, but at the end of the month I did go back and make sure I attempted something towards doing all of the challenges.

What did I come out of this month with? I have a detailed weekly cleaning schedule that has daily assignments, a new chore chart for the youngest kiddo, and a posted menu plan for the week. Most importantly I learned that I need to stop obsessing over having a perfectly clean house and instead focus on having a home full of love that is a haven for our family. This does include cleanliness and organization, but not to the extreme that Mom is stressed and grumpy over cleaning. I need to delegate more, and enjoy making a comfortable 'nest' for my family. What a special role in our families we have as wives and mothers!

Book Review: 'The Promise of an Angel' by Ruth Reid

2011-06-05T18:49:00.001-06:00

Anyone who knows me well (or has been reading this blog for a while) knows I enjoy Amish fiction. 'The Promise of an Angel' was the first book of Ruth Reid's I had ever read. I assumed it would be a typical Amish fiction story, but I was wrong! This story still contained the principles, setting, and language of an Old-Order Amish story, but it was unique-it incorporated angels in the storyline.

Judith Fischer's lifelong dream was to marry a boy in her Old-Order Amish faith and raise a family with many children. She was in love with Levi Plank, and it looked as if her dreams would come true. Then a terrible accident happened, and an angel appeared to Judith to send her a message from God. Her community did not believe her story and turned their backs on her. Her only supporter was Levi's cousin, Andrew Lapp. 'The Promise of an Angel' can be summed up in one word: Faith. The characters are likable and genuine, and the book was fast-paced and hard to put down. I am looking forward to reading the next book in Ruth Reid's 'A Heaven on Earth' series, due in 2012. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

And the winners are..........

2011-06-01T17:56:00.000-06:00

The winners of my first giveaway, for a coupon for a free full-size bottle of new Purex Crystals are.......
Comment #16 Kristen S.
Comment #4 Amy C.
Comment #11 Stephanie S.
Congratulations! I will be contacting each of you. For those of you who didn't win, I encourage you to try out this product anyway-it's awesome! Also, I have two new giveaways coming up this month-another Purex giveaway, and a book giveaway!

My First Giveaway!!!!!

2011-05-21T19:17:00.002-06:00

A few months ago, I became part of the Purex Insiders group.  I've been able to try products before they hit the shelves, and now I get to give away some products!!
                                    Today's giveaway is for Purex Crystals! I am IN LOVE with this product. It's easy to use, smells fantastic, and doesn't block flame retardants in kids sleepwear or absorbency in towels like liquid softeners do.

Here is a fact sheet for more information about how Purex Crystals work: Purex Crystals Fact Sheet.

After using Purex Crystals for two months now, I honestly can say I will not use any other fabric softener. I used to use liquid, with sheets occasionally, but disliked the occasional spots on clothes and how it 'gunked up' our HE washer filters. We had just switched to using vinegar for a softener, which was fine, but I missed the fabric softener fragrance. I have tried the Lavender Blossom and Spring Waters fragrances, but not the Tropical Splash. My favorite is Lavender Blossom.

So, here is the GIVEAWAY!!!!!! My FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!! (Can you tell I'm a little excited?????)
THREE readers of The Loose Screw will win a coupon for a 28oz. bottle of Purex Crystals, which I will mail to the winners. You will have until May 30th at 11:00 pm (MST) to enter, at which time I will choose the three winners using Random.org. Here's how to enter:

1st Mandatory entry: Leave a comment below letting me know you'd like to win, and which of the three scents you think you might like the best. Make sure to leave your email in the comment so I can contact you if you are a winner.

Additional entry: Become a follower of The Loose Screw via Google Friend Connect! Then leave me a separate comment letting me know you already are a follower or just signed up, and be sure to leave your email address.

GOOD LUCK!! I will announce the winners on June 1st!

WOO-HOO!!

2011-05-18T15:52:00.000-06:00

A few months back, I asked for some support as I was applying to be part of a team of reviewers for an awesome homeschool magazine. I needed more followers, and you were all great at helping me out. Well, the application process is over and..... I got a spot on The Homeschool Crew!! I start in June. Thanks so much everyone! Here is a link to the magazine if you want to check it out: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Book Review: Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic

2011-05-17T11:38:00.002-06:00

When the opportunity arose to review Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic, I was intrigued. My family had recently seen him speak at a church, and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about this amazing man. This book is a combination of autobiography and inspirational. It did not disappoint-it kept my attention to the end, and I had a hard time putting it down.

Nick Vujicic tells of his difficult childhood, and all that he had to endure without arms and legs. He describes times of depression and hopelessness, and how he rose out of these dark times to become a motivational speaker. He teaches others how to accept what they cannot control and make the most of their lives. His story is truly inspiring, and Life Without Limits is full of encouragement for your life. Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

31 Days to Clean-Week 1!

2011-05-08T19:22:00.001-06:00

On May 1, I began the 31 Days to Clean Challenge through Joyfulmothering. I really don't have any problems with housekeeping, other than not ever seeming to have enough time or energy to get it all done as often as I'd like. My home is usually picked up, just not as deep-clean as I'd like it. With chronic illness affecting my energy and pain, along with homeschooling and a busy household where someone is always home 24/7, our house is very 'lived in' and I can't get it all done like I want it. I've had to relax and let some things just get dusty and cluttered at times. This Challenge appealed to me because it is more than just cleaning your house-it is also about cleaning up some things inside of you-"We’re going to declutter some junk from our hearts and dust off that motivation that’s been sitting on the shelf."

So, I've finished through Day 5 and wanted to share with you the best part of the week. No, it wasn't having a sparkling clean fridge (although that is always very nice!). On Day 3, one of the challenges was to ask your family members what makes them feel loved that you do in caring for the home. My kids responses really made me feel great! Nick (19) said he feels loved when I offer to switch his laundry for him(the older kids do their own laundry), when I cook a big dinner from scratch, and when I just sit and joke with him or listen to his plans for the future. Alyssa (16) said she feels loved when she sees how frugal I am with budgeting, planning, and sales/couponing. I'm passing all I've learned over the years on to her, and she has become quite the sale shopper, and uses coupons too!! Chad (8) was the real shocker: he said he feels loved when I homeschool him, and that he loves me teaching him!! Melted my heart and made me feel so great!! I wrestle all the time with whether he would be happier in school, and that statement of his erased so many doubts I had.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, click on the link above. If you aren't interested in joining but would like to buy the book, go to 31 Days to Clean.

Product Review: The Curiosity Files-Platypus e-book

2011-04-28T12:00:00.004-06:00

'The Curiosity Files-Explorations with Professor Ana Lyze, Expert in Outlandish Oddities' is a series of e-books published by The Old Schoolhouse magazine. We reviewed the Platypus e-book in our homeschool, and had a blast with the fun activities! This unit study is aimed at the 8-13 age range and is $6.95-well worth the price, in my opinion.

Every subject you need is included in this e-book. Some of the topics are:
*Everything You Never Wanted to Know about the Platypus
*Platypus baby math and cooking
*Platypus 10s (counting by 10s math activities)
*The Write Stuff-includes limericks, spelling and vocabulary word lists, activities and puzzles
*Copywork-scripture verses in both manuscript and cursive
*In The Lab-science activities
*Good Old Days-history activities including mapping skills and timeline
*Let’s Get Creative-craft ideas
*Curiosity Fact Files-mini books and folder to make
*Read All About it-lists of books to read about the Platypus
*Hands On Learning-for special needs learners

I was impressed with many aspects of this unit study. It is written in a fun way for kids to really get excited about learning. Colorful pictures are throughout the study, as well as questions to answer about what you have learned. The games and activities were great-the Platypus Bill Scoop using out leftover Easter candy was a big hit! Other favorites at our house were the Platypus Burrow (using blankets to make a burrow-what kid doesn’t LOVE doing this?), and the Platypus food (gummy worms in chocolate pudding). The all-time favorite with my 8-year-old son was the Limericks!! He laughed so hard I didn’t think he would stop! Now he is trying to make his own Limericks about everything. That was the great thing about this study-my son had so much fun he didn’t realize he was doing all the ‘school’ subjects. (Don’t tell, but Mom had fun too!)

Throughout the Platypus e-book, activities are separated by lower and upper grades, which was very helpful. Although the suggested age range for this e-book is 8-13, I truly think you could expand to younger and older ages. There were many book and website suggestions for further research, and answer keys in the back. I think it would have been helpful to have the book list for further reading also separated by lower and upper grades/ages, as I had to go through each book to check if it was at my son’s level.

Now that we have finished the Platypus unit study (although I do plan to use it again when he’s a little older and can do the upper grade activities), I would like to get more unit studies in The Curiosity Files line. They are enjoyable and educational for kids and parents!

If you are interested in this e-book or others, visit the store at The Old Schoolhouse magazine: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/

Book Review: 'Please Stop Laughing at Me' by Jodee Blanco

2011-04-24T20:24:00.004-06:00

'Please Stop Laughing at Me' by Jodee Blanco is a heartbreaking, true story of the author's many years of bullying, taunting, and abuse at the hands of her schoolmates. For all accounts, she was a normal little girl, and popular for many years in elementary school. She also had loving, supportive parents. Jodee was very intelligent, and began being bullied because she stuck up for deaf children in a special program at her school. From then on, the bullying followed her, even with school changes. She had a few times of beginning to fit in, but something always happened to make classmates turn on her. In High School, a disfigurement of her chest was noticed by another girl in the locker room, and that made the taunting even worse.

This girl was not just bullied and taunted. She was abused, physically and mentally. I was amazed at what these children did to her, and Ms. Blanco does not hold back in telling the stories. The language can also be rough at times, when she repeats what these bullies said to her. This book is not the type of book I would normally read, yet I was intrigued by the subject matter. Then once I received the book, I was so shocked at what this girl went through that I couldn't put the book down. I was inspired by the author's strength for so many horrible years, and how she overcame her fears and was able to attend her High School reunion, confronting many of her attackers. She is a successful professional woman now, and is an advocate and speaker for anti-bullying programs. In the back of the book, there is a Reader's Guide-Q & A with author Jodee Blanco, the author's professional biography, and a description of her Day-long Anti-bullying program called 'It's Not Just Joking Around'. I would definitely recommend this book to adults who were bullied as children, parents of school-age children, and teachers. After reading this book, I am glad that I chose to homeschool my children!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Cool Giveaway!!

2011-04-21T10:41:00.000-06:00

Cindy at Along the Way is giving away this great set of Interlox from Guidecraft!

I know Chad would love to have these!! Click here to enter the giveaway for your chance to win these: http://gironlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/interlox-guidecraft-mom-review-and_18.html

Speaking of Giveaways, I'm excited to announce that I am going to have my very first giveaway soon! Be on the lookout for it!

If you like Reese's PB cups........

2011-04-17T23:27:00.000-06:00

Here at my house, we LOVE Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Right now you'll find the cute little egg-shaped ones in the stores for Easter. I ran across this recipe for DIY Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs over at Tip Junkie, and knew we had to try them ourselves. Alyssa and I got busy, and here they are:

No, they aren't the prettiest things, but they taste good, and were very easy to make! In the end, they did not taste exactly like Reese's, but they were pretty darn close!! The recipe is in the link above-enjoy!!

What we're up to!

2011-04-11T10:28:00.002-06:00

There have been some major changes in our lives in 2011, so I thought I'd do an update on what we're up to these days. There are some big changes going on with our house itself, but I'll save that update for later in the month when all the work is done-exciting! The biggest change in our lives is our oldest son, Nick, left to go live in Minneapolis for six months! This is part of a new job-he will be selling cable and phone services there. It is really strange having him so far away for such a long time, but it does help that Jeff is from Minnesota (Mankato), and has lots of family in the Minneapolis area, as well as his Mom, brother and his family in Mankato, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from where Nick is. So it is a comfort knowing he has family close by. He actually chose Minneapolis over Nashville for that reason. I have a feeling it is going to be a long six months-especially for his little brother Chad, who adores him. Update 4/24/11: Nicholas is home in Utah! The job/situation just was not a good fit for him. We are glad he's home, especially his wrestling buddy Chad!

We also had a big loss a few months ago-our 17 year old miniature schnauzer Raley passed away. We had him for 11 years, and he was honestly the best dog. Up until his last day, he was still full of energy and fun. The great thing is he was so in love with everyone, but especially the kids. He adored the boys' rough and tumble energy. It was great because Nick was about 8 years old when we got Raley, so they were best buddies for years, and then we got Chad as Nick was becoming a teenager, and Raley had another round of loving on a boy!! He loved us girls too, but there was something special about that 'boy and his dog' bond. Raley also loved his sister Iris, our other schnauzer. She is having a rough time being without him, but it is getting better. The house sure is quiet without him, and we miss him a lot. This picture was taken the day he died-Iris (in sweater) knew something was wrong, and kept smelling him.

I've already blogged about another big change-Alyssa driving! She is gone all the time now, driving herself everywhere she needs to go. So Chad and I are often home without a car, which is okay because we need to get our schoolwork done!

The rest of us are just doing our normal stuff-homeschooling for me and Chad, Jeff working his two jobs (which we are very thankful for!), and our activities outside the home. I did read the Bible in 90 days, which was awesome! We are looking forward to Spring coming (it is still snowing and cold here, which is normal for Utah), and surely more changes to come!

Bible in 90 days update-I DID IT!!!!!!

2011-04-04T14:45:00.001-06:00

Wow, I can't believe I read through the entire Bible from cover to cover!! I ended up finishing on day 89 even! It is a great feeling, and I completely suggest this program to anyone and everyone! I believe the next group starts in July, and here is the link for more information:
Bible in 90 Days General Information
When I started this program just after New Year's, I was skeptical. My thoughts were that I didn't see how you could retain much when you were reading so much each day. It is about 1 1/2 hours of reading a day. I also didn't think I could find that much time seven days a week. Well, I feel God carried me through this program, because life still happened-still all the sicknesses, emergencies, stresses, and I found the time. Usually it was in the evening, instead of watching TV. I struggled a bit in the Old Testament with concentration, but once I really got into a habit of reading every day, no matter what time it was, it was natural. I know that I have no excuses now in finding time for Bible reading and study. As far as retaining the information-wow! I learned and retained so much. I have never read through the Bible before, but I have tried many times with 1-year programs, and never made it past a few months. I think reading this every day without taking any breaks, it was like I was reading a story that all came together. Obviously, there wasn't time to study what I was reading, but now I know what I want to go back and study. I just can't say enough great things about this program, and I am thrilled to have completed it. Thanks so much to Amy at Mom's Toolbox who put all this together, and my leader and mentor Heidi at Reviews and Reflections! My husband Jeff was also a great help, as he would come home after a long, hard day to have me disappear into the bedroom for a few hours to read.

The Bible was not the only thing I read during this past three months; I did read a few fiction books and my study books for the groups I am in. Along with the Bible, though, I read a little 99 cent book called 'Know Your Bible'. Before each book in the Bible, I would read the summary in this book-it had unique things to look out for, who wrote that book, the timeline, and other interesting facts. I would suggest using that book also. My life the past three months can definitely be summed up by one word: reading!! It was great though, and I'm just so excited to have done this. I have been doing the happy dance all weekend long!! Feel free to ask me any questions, or go to the general information link above to check it out yourself for the next round this summer!

The Snake Scarf

2011-03-31T13:36:00.000-06:00

I am not an accomplished knitter. I learned how to knit last year, and have made several very basic scarves and dishcloths since then. My daughter Alyssa, who learned to knit the very same day I did, is already an accomplished knitter. She has to rescue me from all my mistakes when I knit, plus reteach my old brain how to do the things I've forgotten. So, last year my friend Cassie was making an adorable snake scarf for her son, and I asked Chad if he wanted one. Of course he did, and I started to knit the scarf. Very soon, the problems arose. I didn't know how to change colors, how to increase or decrease-all things my Alyssa was willing to teach me, but I got overwhelmed and started working on dishcloths for gifts. When this winter rolled around, Chad started asking when his snake scarf would be finished. Hmmmm.....that was a really good question. So I decided to enlist Alyssa's help and get going on it again. Due to my tremor in my hand, knitting can get frustrating at times, so we decided to make it easier on me by adjusting the pattern a bit so it wasn't so complicated. I worked on it off and on during the winter (on when Chad asked me when it would be done, off when he didn't). Then February came and I realized I really needed to get this done before another winter was over. So I kicked it into high gear, and finished one week before the official first day of Spring!! Now, here in Utah we can have snow through Memorial Day so I know there will be opportunities to wear it a few times this Spring. The scarf has several flaws in it, one being it is way too wide-I switched to a thicker yarn and didn't consider how that would affect the pattern. But, even with it's flaws, Chad was thrilled, and that makes me happy.

I've decided to put away the knitting needles for a bit. I have lots of yarn and many things I still want to knit, but I would like to try crochet, and see how my hands (and I) do with that. Here is a picture of Chad with his snake:

Target deal-mittens!

2011-03-26T17:21:00.000-06:00

So, last night I did a quick trip to Target to check clearance items. I didn't find much, but what I did find was a great deal-mittens! These are just your regular black mittens that are one-size-fits-most. They had a lot of them, so I decided to stock up. Each set had two pairs of mittens, and was originally $1.50, now .37. I got five sets, so ten pairs in all, for a grand total of $1.85! That was a 75% savings! I figure these may last a year or two-it seems mittens get lost so easily. I was in an artistic mood, so here is my '$1.85 Mitten Wreath' for your viewing pleasure: