HISTORY Through the Ages Project Passport World History Study: Ancient Egypt-- *Review*

I have been a little intimated to start teaching history to my son. History is interesting, and amazing but reading dry textbooks can make historical events seem irrelevant and uninteresting. There is nothing like learning in a way that makes history come alive, and Home School in the Woods totally understands this. They have created a series of hands-on history studies. Our family has been enjoying HISTORY Through the Ages Project Passport World History Study: Ancient Egypt. They also have studies that cover Ancient Greece, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation and coming next year, Ancient Rome.

If you are looking for a history study that will truly immerse you in the journey, this is it! You and your child will be taking a trip through history, complete with their own passport and luggage folder. Over 8-12 weeks you will have 25 "stops" or lessons. Stops feature lessons about everyday life, agriculture, trade, education, writing, the sciences, the arts, great builders and their architecture, religion, medicine, government, the dynasties, kingdoms, famous pharaohs, fitting Egypt into the Bible, archaeology and more.

What can you expect in each stop? Each stop has  a traditional text aspect, usually 2-2 1/2 pages long. These learning texts are both interesting and informative. They set the theme for the activities that follow. I usually set my son up with the necessary coloring for the days activities and then read while he works. I liked that they tie in both Bible history and Biblical messages. Kids will learn where things like the flood or the Tower of Babel fit into ancient times. Also, where topics are pertinent they tie in the Christian point of view. For example, when we learned about mummies and all the time, expense and effort that went into making them, they discussed how Jesus is the the only way to eternal life.

The next aspect of this curriculum, and really the star, is the variety of hands-on activities. Each student has a binder called their "Scrapbook of Sights". Inside they keep their timeline, map and postcard rack. Every few lessons they add pictures to their timeline to represent what they learned on that stop. When they learn about new areas of Egypt they add new locations to their map. They also occasionally get a postcard from a pertinent person in history delivered to their post card rack.

Here you can see my son getting ready to work on his timeline. He is sporting one of his handmade "souvenirs".

The souvenirs are a super fun aspect of this curriculum. How many of these 3d projects you choose to complete is up to you. Because of time limitations, we have done a few of the less involved projects. Such as my sons fancy Egyptian necklace in the above picture. Other projects include making bricks, canopic jars, a sarcophagus, a shaduf and tons more. In fact, the curriculum as directions and master for over 50 projects!

There are two long-term projects as well. One is creating a lapbook and the other a newspaper. The lapbook consists of numerous smaller projects completed week-by-week all put together into one impressive presentation.  The video shows one element of the lapbook my son made. I really like the idea of the lapbook, as upon completions it has many different parts, reminding the child of all the things they learned along the way.  The Kemet Chronicle is a newspaper and your child gets to be the reporter. They write brief articles on the topics they are learning about.

 Also included are dramatized audio tours.  These tours take you out and about in Egypt. Your guild will take you down the Nile, visit a temple school, visit Akhenaton, interview Imhotep and more. There is more than an hour of listening. These are fun to listen to while working on projects. They add another element of learning to the curriculum and are very engaging.

The instructions for all the projects are very clear and easy to understand. Some may take a lot of printing, cutting, gluing and time but they are all doable. I never came to a point where I had to ask "what exactly am I suppose to be doing here?". The steps are illustrated and there a pictures of the finished projects as well. If you read all the instructions thoroughly, you shouldn't get lost.

One of the things I really love about this history study is how flexible it is. You can chose to do each stop in a day or spread them out over a week. You can do the whole curriculum in the 8-12 suggested weeks or take longer. We are doing one stop a week and so it's going to take us a while to finish up. The core lessons, map and timeline provide a great amount of learning. From there, the rest is really up to you. My son is significantly younger than the recommended age range (3rd-8th). I knew that The Kemet Chronicle would be above his skill level and chose not to do it. We choose souvenirs that fit our age abilities and time availability. Even choosing to opt out of a few aspects of this study, we are still getting so much from it.

What can you expect if you have a younger child like me working through this curriculum? Be ready to take a more hands on roll. On top of the printing and prep there will be a lot of cutting and assembly. It would simply take ages if I had my son do all the cutting that needs to be done. I prefer to have most things ready to go. He does all the fun coloring and gluing, I just get the materials to the stage where that can happen. I never felt like the material he was learning were too complicated or over his head. He may not retain every fact or understand the significance of every event, but he has still been learning so much. If you have younger children and want to get enjoy this, don't be intimidated!

This is a digital product, so it can be hard to know what to expect. After purchase and download you will have access to the full curriculum from your computer. The file is organized into many different folders so that the content is easy to find and navigate. For example, the teacher's text is in one area and images are in another. There is a handy introductory that basically teaches you how to find the content you need and a travel planner that gives you an overview of each "stop" on your journey.

I will admit, even with all the help it can be a little overwhelming trying to familiarize yourself with how to access everything. There is just so much, so many files and things to print. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to click around and get used to everything. This is not something that you want to do for the first time on Monday morning right before you start school. I found it helpful on Sunday evening when my kids headed off to Awana to spend a little quiet time getting prepped for the next lesson.

 As far as additional supplies go, paper is a must. Both card stock and printer paper are a necessity. Most of the other supplies are things you will likely have on hand, such as glue sticks, markers or scissors. Some of the souvenirs require materials you might not having laying around, such as clay. However, they are all in an affordable range and very doable. I don't know about other parents, but that is always a concern for me.  

HISTORY Through the Ages Project Passport World History Study: Ancient Egypt is an awesome journey that will leave your children energized and excited about history. My son looks forward to this every week! I love hearing him say, "Is it time to go to Ancient Egypt yet?".

If you're interested in what other families have to say about HISTORY Through the Ages Project Passport World History Study: Ancient Egypt, or about their other curriculum for Middle Ages, Renaissance, or Ancient Greece, click here-


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My Experience With Green Chef Dinners From Start to Finish!

I recently got the chance to sample Green Chef dinners! Basically, Green Chef is subscription box for your tummy. You get to choose a plan that fits your families needs and then the ingredients for amazing, organic, healthy, sustainable, GMO free meals is shipped to your door. Here is my experience from start to finish-

I was so excited to receive my Green Chef box in the mail. I knew right away I needed to get the ingredients into the fridge, so I opened it immediately. Everything was packed with great care. The outside layer in like a little insulating blankey to keep the food nice and cool. Inside there were layers of ice packs and packaged food. At the very bottom, sitting directly on another layer of ice packs was the meat.

I was little concerned about how everything would ship and the freshness of the ingredients upon arrival. There was nothing to worry about, as all the ingredients looked great and felt cold.

Our family chose the carnivore plan for four people. Our box had enough for two meals that would feed our whole family. Each meal's ingredients are color coded and packaged. Some ingredients were pre-prepped while others required a little chopping. Each meal included a very detailed recipe card. There were step-by-step instructions and pictures that even the novice cook could decipher
.

The first meal that I made was sweet and sour pork over quinoa with a broccoli and edamame salad. There was a little chopping involved, but nothing too laborious. For example, I was sent three half sections of bell peppers, the seeds were already scraped and they just required me to cut them into bite sized pieces. I also cut the meat into smaller pieces and the broccoli. Nothing hard, but you do need a knife and a cutting board. 

The recipe estimated that the meal would take 35m to prepare. It took me about 40- but that was entirely my own fault as I had several interruptions. Seriously, sometimes I don't know how I get food cooked at all. The baby always needs changed and there is a fight to break up and then I get a phone call. I'm sure for most people this would take about 35 minutes.

My kids both had glowing review of this meal. I mean, it has pineapple and sweet and sour sauce in it, a family crowd pleaser for sure. I thought it tasted really great and I like that it was served over quinoa. I loved the broccoli salad that was on the side, but it received a mixed review from my husband (who is notoriously picky.)

Initially, I was sure that this would not be enough food to feed our whole family. When I looked at the ingredients it just didn't seem like much. But there was actually more than enough. Each person was able to have a large serving and there were even leftovers, which I enjoyed  for lunch the next day. 

The next meal was chicken cassoulet with a baby kale salad. This was chicken thighs served on white beans, carrots, celery, cremini mushrooms and onion in a tomato sauce and topped with breadcrumbs. The side salad has baby kale and radishes with a vinaigrette.  

More of the ingredients were prepped here, the carrots, celery and onion were all pre-chopped. I only chopped the mushrooms and herbs. I'm guessing because the overall time of this recipe was a little longer, 45 minutes, they wanted to keep prep time down. This recipe was actually simpler, the additional time was because it need to cook in the oven for a while. So, a good portion of the allotted time was hands off. I washed the dishes and fed the baby while this tasty dish cooked up.

How did it taste? Wonderful! This is a meal I plan on making again. Very family friendly. This dish was super flavorful and the salad paired really nicely with it. The kids and husband all approved. Again, there were leftovers, which I just ate for lunch today!

Before trying these dinners I really didn't think this service would be for me. I mean, I like to cook and honestly it just seems expensive and unnecessary. However, these meals really got me thinking. How often do I get super busy and can't plan dinner, resulting in me throwing up my hands and deciding we are going out. For my husband and I to eat and the kids to get some dinky meal, it's going to cost us. For the family plan carnivore box each meal costs $12.99. Sure, it's more than if I bought the ingredients at the grocery store, but much cheaper than eating out. There is no minimum commitment so you can always skip boxes or cancel if you know it won't be necessary that week.

Both meals were really pretty simple to prepare and cook. You do not need to be an Iron Chef to make these. If you can follow directions, use a knife and turn on your stove you can do this! I think my husband could have even figured these out. And how fun would this be as a creative date night?

This would have been such an awesome things to have after my last baby. Family and friends bring us meals for a week or so after baby comes, but after that we are on out own. This would have saved me the from some grocery shopping and meal planning. I could have fed my family great meals without all the stress. There are just times when life gets nuts, after a baby, during a hard pregnancy, long work hours, or just general life. You want to eat good, healthy food but simply don't have the time to do all the work, that is when this box would be a lifesaver. It saves prep, dirty dishes and a shopping trip.

Even though I find cooking enjoyable I sometimes just totally run out of inspiration. We get in a rut and eat the same thing over and over. These recipes are so inspiring and there is a ton of variety. If you fall in love with a meal you can find the full recipe online and make it again.

If you think your dietary restrictions will keep you from enjoying this box, they might have an option for you! There are 2-Person Plans that include Omnivore, Carnivore, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free Plans and Family Plans include family-style Omnivore and Carnivore Plans. Check it all out on their website, they offer a lot more than you might think.

Even if you never considered something like this would be a fit for you, I totally recommend looking into these Green Chef dinners. I was really impressed with everything from the quality of the ingredients to the final meals.

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 I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com Yearly Membership Review

This year I am trying something new! I am so pleased that I have been chosen to participate in the Homeschool Review Crew. This should be a fun and growing experience for me. We are going to start the year off with a resource that is new to me.

Our family is getting the chance to review the Yearly Membership available for  SchoolhouseTeachers.com. I generally shy away from online resources, as they often seem like more trouble than they are worth. There aren't enough options or the course feels incomplete. After printing 100+ pages and burning through countless ink cartridges I end up disappointed. I am very happy to report that SchoolhouseTeachers is not your typical online resource.

SchoolhouseTeachers is an entire site devoted to curriculum for all ages. Courses are available for preschool aged children all the way to high-school and there are even a few courses for parents! I really liked that are courses aimed at the whole family as well. There are actually over 300 courses total. With so many options, I think just about any family could find a course that fits. Even if I wanted to, there is no way I could fit that many textbooks and print resources into my house (although, even the thought is tempting). Having access to them virtually means they are at my fingertips, but not taking up precious shelf space.

The range of subjects is huge-

• Art
• Bible
• Computer and Tech
• Drama and Speech
• Electives
• Foreign Languages
• Geography
• Health and Fitness
• History
• Language Arts
• Math
• Music
• Science
• Social Studies
• Unit Studies

I find it appealing that the courses range in length and difficulty. Some run for weeks and others only a few lessons. One course might require a great deal of effort and commitment to finish while others are simpler. They are all ready to be started when it's convenient for you. All the things that make homeschooling great, the ability to go at your own pace, to customize to your kids needs, to stop and start when it feels right-- translates to these courses. Without, of course, the hefty fee of textbooks.

I did notice that some courses use books that would have to be acquired. The ones I saw were available at my library or relatively cheap. Which I think is important. It's frustrating when you have already dropped money on something like this, only to learn that to actually use it you now need to spend $200 on more books.

The website is huge and bursting with resources. However, it feels easy to navigate and find just what our family needed. With a few clicks you are ready to start learning. If the process feels intimidating, SchoolhouseTeachers breaks down how to use their site in the New Members Hub. Beyond that they have great customer service and really want you to get the most out of your membership. There are tons of planning resources to help document and keep track of what your student is doing. There were even special sections to get help with high school students or special needs.



The other membership benefit that I wanted to feature was the access to Rightnow Media. This is a pretty awesome perk. Rightnow media is basically a streaming service like Netflix that offers tons of Christian videos. Members of SchoolhouseTeachers get a free membership to Rightnow. I have heard so many great things about their videos and I am so excited to explore this with my family. We love the Torchlighters series and now will be able to watch them all and go through the accompanying course.

So, how have we been using this resource in our home?

I really love classical music and have desired to implement some sort of education on different composers.  I browsed around in the music section and found this course on Great Musicians. There are twelve lessons, each focusing on a great musician such a Beethoven, Chopin or Bach. Each lesson is essentially a short biography. Learning about the childhood of Beethoven humanized him and made him much more interesting to my six-year-old son. Beethoven too, was once a child who didn't really enjoy practicing, who loved his mother and lived in a cozy looking home.

I just pulled the lessons up on my computer and read from there. Of course they can be printed as well. There is a review question sheet that can be used for older kids too. After we read through the lesson I got on Spotify and we listen to a few of each musicians greatest works.

I sometimes feel like this little lady gets a bit neglected as I invest a lot of time into her brother. She loves doing school though. SchoolhouseTeachers has a large section called the Preschool Playground that has resources for toddler to preschool aged kids.

Since she recently started going through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, I thought some handwriting practice might be in order. I printed out the Beginning Handwriting course for her. We practiced writing the letters with our finger and then a little bit with pencil. She loved the little rhymes that went with each letter.

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For me this website seems like a great way to add in some extra learning. There is so much variety than I thought there would be. SchoolhouseTeachers is not just math and reading- there is film making and architecture and so much more. For me, this is really where this site will really get used. We have our bases covered with the basics, using curriculum that works for us. SchoolhouseTeachers opens up the chance to study photography or home economics
. With the holidays over and no end to winter in sight, it's nice to shake things up a bit.

If you're looking to expand your homeschooling resources, give SchoolhouseTeachers a try! If you're on the fence, take advantage of their 30-day trial for $1 and see if it's a fit for your family.

Interested in how SchoolhouseTeachers works with other families? Check out more reviews here!

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Smart Games Party

I just love when I get the chance to host Tryazon parties. Recently I got the chance to host a Smart Games party! The quality and educational value of these games truly exceeded my expectations.

I like to keep a few games around for the kids to play during quiet moments. It's great for when I need to work with one child for school, I can have the other one keeping their hands busy with a game. It minimizes distractions for the child who is actively trying to learn and keeps the other one happy and entertained- no screens necessary.

What I really liked about these games was the degree of educational value and entertainment. Not only did all of the kids at the party enjoy playing them, but these are a superb brain workout. These games were just different than a lot of games I have seen out there, They are also all relatively small and self contained. I hate losing game pieces and trying to store big game boxes, All three games would work in the car or slipped in a purse.

 The IQ XOXO game is for ages 6 and up. This is a multi-level logic game, so there are many levels of difficulty that can be played. With 120 puzzles there is something to stump just about anybody. You set up the pieces as the book shows you and then try and fit the rest of the pieces in around them. It's actually pretty challenging and fun. The game is all enclosed in the clear case and it's perfect for travel. I liked  that the pieces the child wasn't using could rest in the open lid and not fall out onto the floor of the car.

My kids love this Busy Bugs Magnetic Travel game. It's ages 7+ but also has many different levels of difficulty. You move the magnetic pieces around make the bugs match the pictures. I actually had fun trying to figure a few of these out, it's not as easy as it looks! Like the other games its compact and this one closes up like a book. I think I will keep this in my purse for the kids to play on the road or in waiting rooms.

The final game is called Ghost Hunters.

This game is for 6+ and has 60 challenges. This one is a lot of fun and a really creative game. You move the different tiles around to shine your flashlight of the different ghosts. The pieces all have to fit just right to solve the puzzle. The base of the game holds all the puzzle papers. The  container that holds it all is super sturdy and the lid stays snapped shut when you want it too.

I was really happy with the quality of all of these games. They are well designed and all the details have been thought out to make them portable and fun to play. After trying these I put a few more Smart Games games on the Christmas list!

Himalaya Botanique Toothpaste

Toothpaste stresses me out. In the last few years I have tried to make conscious decisions about the household products we use. I have held back on toothpaste out of fear that it won't really work.

Our family has been using this toothpaste from Himalaya Botanique for about a month now. I have to say, I am honestly impressed. There are loads of benefits and on top of it all, my kids like it! The flavor is refreshing and not so intensely over the top that your mouth is on fire. It tastes like real peppermint and the cinnamon one tastes like real cinnamon. That's because this toothpaste has real ingredients.

» Neem leaf, harvested from the ‘worlds most researched tree’ is history’s original housekeeper and works to keep the mouth clean.

» Pomegranate is an astringent fruit extract that helps support healthy looking gums by tightening the tissues.

» Triphala is a traditional detox formula in ancient Ayurveda composed of the three myrobalan fruits for clean teeth and a radiant smile.

» Not only is Xylitol a tooth-friendly sweetener, but it has also been clinically-studied to support good oral hygiene.

Obviously, regular brushing is required to reap the benefit of these ingredients. They even carry a whitening toothpaste that contains Papain and Bromelain, the enzymes from papaya and pineapple that help remove surface stains.

If you're on the fence about switching to a natural toothpaste, give this one a try! It might even convince the kids to give up the pink, sparkly bubblegum goop.





I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

MegaFood Kid Nutrient Boosters

If you have a picky eater it is probable that at some point you have wondered, what do they survive on?! Or, are they getting any nutrients at all? My kids aren't very picky overall, but every so often one will go through a "picky stage".

I love the idea of these MegaFood powders. Multi-vitamins are great, but getting a five-year old to take anything other than an artificially flavored, sugar filled gummy bear "vitamin" is just not going to happen. Instead of a gagging, vitamin detesting child, Megafood offers an alternative. These powders are easy on the tummy and contain no flavorings, sweeteners, colorings or preservatives. Just the good stuff. They are also free of gluten, dairy, soy, pesticides and herbicides, making them accessible to children with sensitivities. All from a company that that values working with organic farmers and local natural retailers.

The first one that we tried was the Kids Daily Multi. I'm not sure you could ask for anything else in a multi vitamin for kids. This is an amazing addition for any child who is missing key nutrients in their diet. This powder is packed with fresh fruits, organic turmeric, carrots and 23 vitamins and minerals per serving. I was initially a little concerned when I lifted the lid on this one. The smell was super strong and very vitamin-y.  I mixed it well into some homemade applesauce and topped it with a good deal of cinnamon. These products are for 5+ so I only added it to my sons. Titus definitely noticed the flavor was different. He ate his bowl but was so-so on the taste. My daughter tried a taste and was in agreement. I can live with that. Maybe it wasn't their favorite flavor but it isn't terrible to eat. If you have a terribly picky child, it might be hard to sell them on this one. I would suggest getting creative and trying various foods to add it to!

Next up, the Kids Daily Immune. This supplement is loaded with organic oranges, blueberries, cranberries, elderberry with astragalus and echinacea. I have a feeling we will be consuming a ton of this in the coming winter. I added a scoop of this to a cup of freshly pressed apple cider (we are basically drowning in apples from our trees.) This was so good. My son had no problem downing this. I even enjoyed a cup. It has hardly noticeable at all. It only added a slightly citrus/ berry taste. This would go perfect in smoothies.

The final powder is a Kids Daily B-Centered powder. Loaded with B vitamins this powder features Lundberg Family Farms organic brown rice. Not only does it help with mental focus and cognitive function it also included chamomile and lemon balm to provide a natural sense of calm. Again, the flavor wasn't bad. I added it to a pretty powerfully tasting smoothie and my son had no complaints.

Included with the MegaFoods powders was this great recipe--

Peanut Power Bites-

Total Time: 15m

Ingredients 

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup nut butter (salted)
1/2 honey
1/2 cup currants or mini chocolate chips (optional)
4 scoops MegaFoods Kids Daily Multi or B-Centered Nutrient Booster Powder

Directions

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Stir the mixture (if too thick add another 1-2 tablespoons of honey).

Cover and let refrigerate for 30m

Form 1-inch balls or press evenly in a pan and then chill. When cold cut into bars.

Store covered and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Ozobot Back to School Party

This last week we had the fun opportunity to host an Ozobot Back to School party through Tryazon! We began school last week and it seemed like a great chance to celebrate the beginning of the school year and share this product with friends. They sent two starter packs, one for me and one to give away to a guest! I loved being able to share this fun way to introduce coding and robotics.

So what comes in a starter pack?
- One cute little Ozobot
- Color code markers
- 20+ games and brain teasers
- Clear play sleeve with reusable code stickers
- USB charger
- Ozobot protective skin
- DIY Ozobot personality sticker
- Optional upgrade to programming editor

Basically everything you need to dip your toe into programming. I love that the device enforces learning through play. It makes understanding the basics of something complicated fun and easy. Depending on the age and interest level of the child their experiences will be quite different. With younger children this requires a lot of help and demonstration. However for older children they pick up on the coding quick and can remember quite a bit more.


At our party I gave a very basic introduction to what you can do with the Ozobot. All of the children (8 total) were five and under. We stuck with controlling the robot with markers which the kids enjoyed. It was neat to watch them figure out how to control the little robot with just markers. The younger ones mostly just watched.

We ate pizza and salad and enjoyed celebrating the beginning of a new school year. The kids loved learning about the tiny robot and of course pizza. It's always fun to have an excuse to gather friends.

$25 Giveaway to Family Christian!

It's a rare thing that someone offers you $25 to spend. But, that's exactly what happened to me recently! I was given a $25 gift certificate to spend anyway I choose at Family Christian. As an added bonus, I get to share a $25 gift certificate with you too!

I spent quite a bit of time browsing through all my options. It was a challenge to narrow down what I wanted specifically because there was so much fun stuff and a number of great promotions going on.

If you have been on the fence about ordering a journaling Bible, now is a great time. Family Christian is offering many styles for 30% off.

Lots of styles are on sale, but you can pick up the ESV Journaling Bible (different cover) that I reviewed here and the Beautiful Word Bible that I reviewed here. To aid in you Bible journaling everything from Illustrated Faith is on sale as well at 10% off. There are stickers, paint, tape and more. So many cute things, I love these little bow clips. I ordered there  Bookbound Journal and I cannot wait to fill it up.

Another great promotion they have going right now is their Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off. Included are all books, music, movies and more, just look for the sunflower! There were so many things you could choose from in this promotion, from Melissa & Doug Crayons to tumblers for a summer drink!

I was really satisfied with the quality of my purchase and my experience. From the time I placed my order to it showing up on my doorstep was only a week, which is pretty quick shipping in my opinion. My adorable travel mug was packaged well and arrived unblemished.

It felt truly indulgent to shop for myself, and I'm excited to give you the chance as well! For your chance to win simply visit Family Christian and then hop back over here and share with me in the comments what you would buy with $25 and provide your email so I can notify the winner. The winner will be selected at random on August 19th!  Closed




Additional Disclosure

Giveaways are open to residents of the continental U.S. and Canada only and must by 18 or older.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

When Calls the Heart Season 3 Special Gift

A few months ago I got review a great DVD that I got from FishFlix. I really enjoyed their service and was impressed with what they had to offer- so it just seemed natural to share about their newest promotion. They carry a ton of great Christian movies all in one place.

I remember watching When Calls the Heart for the first time. I was surprised by how sweet and clean it was. It reminded me of something that might have aired when I was growing up. I am constantly disheartened by the trend in TV to be more obscene, sexual and just all around morally bankrupt. While When Calls the Heart is not my general TV fare, it is a refreshing change from what else is out there. It's nice to have a show that I feel okay about recommending to a few of the teenage girls in my life, too.

If you're a fan, or interested in becoming one, now is definitely the time to pick up the series! If you pre-order When Calls the Heart Season 3 DVD Set (out October 11) you get season 1 for free. A great way to add to your collection, and if you already have season one, consider giving it away as a gift. More about this special release-

About Season Three Box Set

We’re really excited about the When Calls the Heart Season 3 boxed set because it provides some truly unique bonuses for committed fans of the show (#Hearties.)

As with the When Calls the Heart Season 1 and Season 2 Collector’s editions, this 10 DVD set contains both the film versions and the TV episode versions of When Calls the Heart Season 3. You can watch the series as 10 hour-long episodes or 5 feature films. As in previous years, fans will enjoy finding small differences between the film versions and the individual episodes.

The really exciting elements of the Season 3 collectors’ edition are the three bonus Discs. Disc 8 features the typical bonus material one would expect from a project like this – behind the scenes footage, interviews, etc. Disc 9 is a special product devoted to the fans that have made When Calls the Heart such a grassroots success - featuring footage from the #Hearties gathering in Vancouver in January of 2016. The 10th disc is a When Calls the Heart trivia game that devoted fans are sure to love.

European Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I got the chance to cook with some European Extra Virgin Olive Oil recently, and it sure was a treat. I do love good olive oil. One summer as a teen I visited a large farmers market in San Franscisco. At the time, olive oil meant the virtually tasteless substance my mom cooked with. Wandering around the market, we stopped at a booth that sold olive oils from all around Europe. We got to sample them all and I couldn't believe all the flavor differences. This was not my mom's grocery store olive oil, some were fruity and nutty while others grassy and herbal. This led to an appreciation for good quality olive oil and the European Extra Virgin hits the mark.   

So how do you find these products in the store? Because really, it doesn't much matter if you can't actually purchase them! You can also look for the European Union PDO certification (Protected Designation of Origin – also know as DOP in Italian) or PGI (Protected Geographical Indication – also known as IGP in Italian). PDO certified products must be produced, processed and prepared in a specific region using traditional production methods and have the sensorial qualities attributed to that region. PGI is less strict and certifies that one stage of the process occurred in a specific region. Third party authorities constantly monitor these certifications.

 Look for the country or countries of origin on the label as well as best buy date and lot number. Some brands offer QR code technology so you trace the oil back to its source. Living in a very rural area I generally choose to purchase specialty things online. Use the same care and purchase from a trusted source.

A few tips for using quality olive oil--

- To ensure freshness, make sure you use it within 6 months
- Screw the cap on tight to protect against air.

- Store oil in a dark cool pantry away from heat and light, which causes decay. 57°F is the best temperature for storing and beware not to store your oil next to the stove (oops, I totally do this).

Did you know that-

-Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the freshly pressed juice of olives. It is cold pressed, meaning it is pressed without heat or chemicals. 

- Acidity must be below 0.8% or virtually free of acidity. This has nothing to do with the pH or taste, but the % oleic acid (fatty acid). Higher levels indicate improper production and rancidity. 

-Peroxide value must be below 20 millequivalents of oxygen/kilo of oil, which indicates the amount of oxidation or aging that’s occurred as a result of exposure to oxygen, light and heat. 

- A panel of expert tasters trained by the International Oil Council test for taste defects and the presence of positive attributes of fruitiness, bitterness and spiciness. If the oil doesn’t have the signature fruity taste and harmonious balance it won’t pass as extra virgin.

I used the olive oil to make a caramelized balsamic salad dressing. My garden is full of all sorts of great salad ingredients right now, so I added little gem lettuce, spinach, orach, snap peas, broccolini, a little bit of dill and some feta cheese (although a more assertive blue would have been better). This dressing was really great. I loved that you cooked with the olive oil and then also added it in uncooked at the end. The salad felt like a special lunch and would be great for dinner too. Salad dressings are one area where I always try to use my good oil. You can really taste it! My kids enjoyed comparing the European olive oil with some cheaper stuff I had around. It was obvious even to them which one had great flavor.

The recipe I used-- 

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

The Torchlighters- Robert Jermain Thomas Story

The rains and stormy weather have returned to our coastal home. Last night the weather was just terrible and we needed something to do indoors. I made some popcorn and we watched the newest release from one of our favorite Christian children's movies-- The Torchlighters. Torchlighters is produced by International Films, The Voice of the Martyrs, and Christian History Institute. Each of their DVDs tell the story of a real hero or heroine of the Christian faith. They are animated cartoons but they do not skirt the truth of what actually happened. They are entertaining and interesting but also factual and educational. I find myself learning along with the kids.

This Torchlighters: The Robert Jermain Thomas Story is the newest in the series. I was excited to watch this with the kids because I had never actually heard of him. He was a missionary to China and Korea in the mid-nineteenth century. He risks everything to smuggle Bibles into Korea.

The episode is about 30 minutes and recommended for children 8-10. I was a little hesitant to watch it with our 5 year-old, but I'm glad we did! There are a few intense moments, but it is an intense story. I want my children to know and understand the sacrifice that these heroes of the faith made. It is part of our Christian heritage and history. Some elements of the story needed explanation, especially the political/trade element. I'm pretty sure most of that went totally over my sons head, even with explanation. However the core message really stuck.

My son was deeply moved by the story. The story really emphasizes that the Bible is our treasure. This inspired a great conversation with my son about the Bible, and how many have risked their lives to distribute, acquire and translate Bibles throughout history. We are incredibly blessed to have numerous Bibles laying around the house and the freedom to read them. Any resource, be it a book or DVD that inspires great conversation and learning is a winner in our house! I have recently heard great things about the Theo series as well. They are fun animated stories that teach theology to children. I hope to pick those up eventually as well.

I received this dvd from FishFlix in exchange for my honest review.

GaiaKids Bronchial Wellness

Every winter our family gets sick at least once. We all get a miserable cough and spend weeks recovering. As our family has grown it seems like we just cycle through the same crud. One little cold can linger from person to person for an entire month. This year my family has mostly avoided getting sick. It is seriously a much needed miracle. I am so thankful for our families well-being throughout my pregnancy.

There is still plenty of time for illness to strike, so we have been taking counter measures. Both of my kids have been taking the Bronchial Wellness herbal supplement from Gaia Herbs.

I feel like I am constantly hearing about cough syrup products being recalled. My pediatrician has warned me against them and other mom's have expressed concerns at their safety. I like the idea of having a product like this proactively promoting wellness in my children. We love to get out of the house and go on adventures. The weather keeps us indoors enough, we don't need illness shutting us in too.

My kids actually enjoy the taste, thanks to lemon and myrtle essential oils. There is no wincing and dread as they take it. It is so much easier to be consistent giving it to them when their is no battle. They are both taking one teaspoon twice a day. For kids older than 6 the dosage is 1 teaspoon up to 4 times a day.

A little about Gaia,

"Gaia Herbs cultivates health and well-being by stewarding sustainable relationships between plants and people. They offer more than 200 liquid extracts, functional powders, teas, and patented Liquid Phyto-Caps™, each formulated to do what’s best for your body—and for nature. Gaia uses only organic methods on their farms, and that same organic approach continues through manufacturing. Part of their seed-to-shelf commitment is the industry’s only traceability platform, MeetYourHerbs®. This dedication to purity, integrity & potency ensures the safety and efficacy of their products. Take control of your own well-being and experience the Gaia difference."

What makes Gaia's kid products different is that they were formulated by pediatric naturopath Dr. Mary Bove. In the line there are 10 alcohol-free herbal formulas that deliver herbal support with kid friendly tastes. This particular supplement uses honey for tasty and soothing support for the upper respiratory system, and the formula contains no artificial flavors or colors, no preservatives, and no high fructose corn syrup-- whoop whoop.

I had heard of Gaia's products for adults, but I didn't realize that they carried products for kids. The actually have a whole kids line, you can see the rest of the products here. I really want to try the GaiaKids Defense Herbal drops, formulated to respond to immune stressers and they aid in healthy digestion!

I loved using the Meet your Herbs platform from Gaia to learn more about what was at work here. There is so much information about the herbs, science and farming that go into each product. The Bronchial Wellness formula takes advantage the power of--

Plantain-- In modern times, plantain has been used to support healthy levels of inflammation both internally as an extract and externally, as a topical agent. Topically, the leaves, or extracts of the leaves are often used to sooth irritated skin. Its ability to support inflammatory pathways in the body often directly impacts the epithelial tissues, such as in the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems. Because plantain naturally contains mucilage, and has moist cooling properties, it has an inherent ability to support mucous membrane health by soothing occasional irritation.

Helichrysum--It is highly concentrated in essential oils. Many of the studies done on herbal products are actually not conducted on the whole plant, rather on isolated fractions obtained from the whole plant. Such is the case with Helichrysum. Many of the constituents from the distilled oil have been studied. Research worldwide is being directed towards finding natural antioxidants of plant origin. This essential oil has an amazing 1,700 ORAC score, making it one of the most potent antioxidant oils known. It has been traditionally used to sooth bronchial irritation.

Grindelia--Today Grindelia continues to be used in herbal therapies to support the respiratory system and assist in the normal production and elimination of mucous. It also provides soothing support to an irritated respiratory tract. Plants in the grindelia genus leave in the mouth a bitter, acrid sensation, which persists for some time and is accompanied or followed by a flow of saliva.

Looking for more information on Gaia? You can connect with them on Facebook and Instagram. I received this sample via Green Mom's Meet. If you love natural products you can sign up for their Mom Ambassador program. It's a ton of fun and they are always very generous with their products! 

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

HASK Keratin Protein

 Lets just say that I am overdue for a hair cut...  I was just noticing a week ago that the ends were feeling dry and sort of gross. I know I need to get into the salon and get a trim and touch-up. Things have been so busy, it might be a little bit until that happens.

These Hask Keratin products are holding me over until then. I have used Hask products before, but never this keratin protein one! It has really helped moisturize and smooth my distressed hair. The smell is great and it leaves my hair super shiny. The keratin goes a long way in restoring and strengthening the hair shaft. My hair has seen its fare share of styling and the keratin helps revive after heat damage.

I love that these products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, drying alcohol and artificial colors. If you have color-treated or over-styled hair I would recommend giving these a try! There is a shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and deep conditioner. The hair oil doesn't leave my hair a grease slick like other products. It adds a lot of shine and is definitely more of a dry oil. The deep conditioner is just the treat dry hair craves. If you have color-treated or over-styled hair I would recommend giving these a try!

I was sent these products to try in exchange for my honest review.

Earth Mama Angel Baby

     I received an exciting package in the mail today! One of my favorite companies sent me their Big Push Birth & Baby Kit to try. I remember the first time I saw Earth Mama Angel Baby in the store. Their packaging was different, their name was different and their ingredients were different. I was instantly intrigued. 

    I wasn't much of an "Earth Mama" until I had my first child. I loved the fragrant lotions from chain body stores. It seemed inconsequential that my cleaners were nearly toxic and shampoo filled with sulfates and parabens. I remember slathering myself with lotion and then picking up my sweet, pure newborn. It was the first time it had really occurred to me that everything on my skin is getting on his skin. His onesie and blankets were washed with any highly scented product I could find. Soon he would be crawling all over and putting everything in his mouth-- all things I cleaned with some intense chemical cleaners. I took a lot of care to eat clean and take care of my insides, yet there was little care to what I used on the outside. That was really the beginning of my "Earth Mama" journey. I started being a lot more conscious of the products we used. My allergies and asthma improved, my house has never been cleaner and everything still smelled amazing.

   Earth Mama Angel Baby was founded by Melinda Olson years ago in her Oregon kitchen. Their safe, herbal products contain zero toxins, without sacrificing quality or effectiveness. A little more about their mission,

"Earth Mama believes in the natural process of birth, and the healing power of nature. Our mission is to provide safe, herbal alternatives for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and babies of all ages, and to help educate people about traditional plant medicine and safe personal care. We manufacture natural and organic products that work, combining generations of women's wisdom and traditional plant medicine with the safety and assurances of contemporary evidence based research. If it doesn't measure up to Mama's standards, it doesn't leave the building."

     The Big Push Birth and Baby Kit  contains a line of products perfect for postpartum care. Birth is no joke. Having a baby is seriously hard work and it takes a huge toll on your body. This is the time to take care of yourself and heal. 

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     I used the Postpartum Bath Herbs after my second child and I loved them. Just taking a few moments for myself, drawing and bath and soaking was so important to my mind and body. Each sachet includes sea salt, organic oatmeal, organic witch hazel leaf, organic yarrow flower, organic plantain leaf,  and calendula flowers. I was a little scared to use it at first (sea salt? hello burning!) but there was no stinging. These are also awesome soaked and chilled for instant relief down there.

    If you're a first time mom, you might be thinking "do I really need bottom spray and bottom balm?" Let me just tell you, these things are totally worth it. I tore so badly with my first and I wish I would have had these products. The spray has cucumber, lavender and peppermint in it. It soothes, cools and heals. The balm is packed with healing herbs. Place is in the fridge for cooling relief.

   Also in the kit is their natural nipple butter. I used this product with my second as well. Did you know that the Natural Nipple Butter was the first lanolin free nipple cream and the first verified non GMO nipple cream too? Pretty cool. I always rubbed what was left on my fingers onto my cuticles or lips. This stuff is super moisturizing and healing. Perfect for cuts and scrapes too.

The two teas are products I have never tried before. The Monthly Comfort tea helps you recover after childbirth and manage the crazy hormones. The tea has cinnamon, lady’s mantle, red raspberry leaf, nettle, lemon balm, ginger and alfalfa. I brewed a cup and a did a little taste test for you all. It's delicious, a little spicy and very soothing. There were a few packages of the Milkmaid Tea too, which promotes healthy lactation and milk supply. Also, a shout out to their Morning Wellness Tea, for making my insane morning sickness more manageable.

Also included in the kit are some goodies for your new angel! There is baby oil, lotion, baby wash and bottom balm. It is so surreal to imagine using these products on my little one this March. You may have noticed I love richly scented products. The lotion and wash smell heavenly. They are naturally scented with sweet orange and vanilla oils. I love that the soap is castile based and super concentrated. The lotion is a total winner and I plan to buy the full sized for our whole family. The baby oil is grapeseed based, no need to worry about nut oils. The bottom balm is an all-in-one product that I have a feeling we will use a lot. Perfect for diaper rash; but also cradle cap, cuts and scrapes, small burns and itchy rashes. It contains lavender, tea tree and myrhh oils-- anitfungal and antibacterial super fighters.

I am so stoked to have all these products in my arsenal as our family goes from 4 to 5. I know many of these will be packed into my hospital bag when the time comes. I love that this company began in Oregon and creates amazing products for mamas like me! If you are in Oregon and looking to find these in store, you can check and see if they are available near you! Their products are also available to order online here.