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My husband grabbed this book as soon as it arrived in the mail for review. He took it to work with him and read it any chance he got. My husband is not a book reader, so I was surprised that he read it...over and over. We want to network our home computers, and he said this book was such a helpful guide. He said there was so much he didn't know, and often times he would come home telling me bits and information he found in the Network Know-How book from No Starch Press.
With the Network Know-How book you will be able to design, map, and maintain a trouble-free network: explaining how to run cables, set up Wi-Fi access points, configure file sharing and printing, and implement security.
Network Know-How book is going to be our guide when we set up our networking between our computers, televisions, and gaming equipment. I am glad to have this helpful guide available to us, because there is so much to know!
Readers learn how to:
Configure network adapters, hubs, switches, and routers
Connect computers running any operating system, whether Mac OS X, Linux, or Windows
Assign IP addresses automatically
Share music, photos, documents, and printers
Automate household appliances and distribute digital audio and video to a home entertainment center
Troubleshoot network slowdowns and failed connections
Network Know-How covers both wired and wireless networks and even includes advanced topics like DHCP, creating simple intranets, and stringing Ethernet cables. With his reading of this book, my husband now wants us to have wireless, and set it all up himself. We found this book to be so helpful, and I think anyone who reads it and uses the information to set up their own networking, will get the help they need. I think many like the idea of doing things themselves, and the Network Know-How book provides the opportunity to do just that.
You can order your copy for $29.95 from Oreilly.com.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Network Know-How (book review): Learn how to network!!
Aroma Houseware's Rice Cooker
I love the Aroma Rice Cooker that I got to review! I made great tasting brown rice yesterday! I couldn't believe how easy it was to use this rice cooker! I rinsed out the brown rice, then drained
it. I poured it into the bottom of the inner pot and added the correct amount of water. I used the special spoon that came with the rice cooker, and leveled the rice out. I then shut the lid, it latched, and I pushed the brown rice button. No hassle, no sticky mess, and delicious rice! My kids loved the rice and I was very impressed at how easy, convenient and worry-free Aroma made my rice making! I love that the Aroma Rice maker, model ARC-998 8-cup, has a brown rice, white rice, steam, and warm/off button. Not everyone likes white rice, so it is nice to have the two different rice settings. I also made steamed broccoli in my Aroma Rice Cooker! The broccoli came out perfect, and it only took 5 minutes! I really like that the rice cooker is multi-functional! I am really looking forward to trying some of the recipes found on the Aroma Housewares website! I know that the fall/winter season is coming up quickly, and it will be great making stews and soups in the rice cooker from Aroma Housewares!
I think that the Rice cooker is easy to clean and assemble. There is an inner pot and steaming tray. After each use, you have to take off the steam vent, wash in warm, soapy water and wipe it clean. The Aroma Rice Cooker came with an instruction guide, and inside you will find a cook & steam chart to help you with your food preparation. I found the guide to be very helpful! The Aroma 8-Cup Cool-Touch Rice Cooker prepares up to 16 cups of rice and keeps it warm and for up to 12 hours! I think that is impressive! But, the best part of the rice cooker, in my opinion, is that you can assemble and prepare a full meal in it! I recommend this great product to everyone who loves rice, steamed vegetables, or stews/soups. I think the price to value is great, too!($59.99)
You can get more information and check out all the other Aroma products on their website.
Blue Like Play Dough (Review & Giveaway)
In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible. Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child. In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.
Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Hasbro introduces SpongeBob (review and GIVEAWAY)
Growing up, Operation and Connect 4 were on my "favorites" list for games to play. Well, Hasbro just came out with a fun line of the traditional Connect 4, Sorry!, Operation, Memory and Cranium games only they are SpongeBob Square Pants styles. We got the Operation game and the Connect 4 game to review from Hasbro. I thought both games were easy to assemble. The Operation game had little white "parts" that easily snapped out of the plastic sheet. Then, I just added some batteries to get the buzzing sound when I operated on SpongeBob. I thought the new parts were comical (Barnacle brain, Clammy hands). My younger kids, Caleb (age 4) and Madelyn (2) weren't all that impressed with the buzzing, but they did enjoy watching me operate on Bob.
(Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Recommended Age: 6 & up)
Connect 4: SpongeBob Squarepants edition was very easy to assemble. There were pink checkers and yellow checkers. I had a few sheets of Pink Patrick stickers, and Yellow SpongeBob stickers. My kids enjoyed separating the pink and yellow checkers. This Connect 4 game is just like the original, however you get a new twist...your opponent can put SpongeBob in his place. The opponent has the opportunity to block holes or columns by placing the SpongeBob face on the board. It was fun playing Connect Four with a new twist.
(Approximate Retail Price: $12.99; Recommended Age: 6 & up; Players: 2 or more)
YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THESE GAMES FROM HASBRO!
This contest is open to those in the United States, non-bloggers, and bloggers. Go to the Hasbro website, and take a look around. Find out what sparks your interest and comment here about to enter for this contest. There will be two winners! One will win the Connect 4 and one will win the Operation game. Please specify which one you would like to win!
Contest will end on August 11th, 2009.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or facebook this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Kellogg's Cinnabon snack bars
I love Cinnamon rolls, even though they aren't that good for watching my calorie intake. Mom Central offered the opportunity to review the new Kellogg's Cinnabon bars and I was right on board. I was so thankful that I was able to try these delicious
snacks~ and so were my kids! We got a whole box (6 bars) in the mail. We couldn't wait to try them out. We took one out of the wrapper, put it on a plate, and heated in the microwave for about 10 seconds. (we have an older microwave so it takes a little longer). The smell was wonderful! The taste was delicious and was very similar to cinnabon rolls. The cookie outside was filled with brown sugar and cinnamon, and it was glazed with a cream cheese frosting. MMMmmmm~ good, and only 150 calories per bar.
I like that these bars taste good heated up, and just right out of the package. I preferred to heat them up, though. I love the warm taste of the Cinnabon! I am sure that we will have to get Kellogg's™ Cinnabon™ Snack Bars in a upcoming trip to the grocery store. Thank you, Mom Central for sending our family a box to try. We give this yummy new snack a double thumbs up!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Jacquard products (Tie Dying kit review & Giveaway)
I have always wanted to try making a Tie Dye shirt, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to review a Tie Dye kit with my kids from Jacquard Products. I know that Tie Dye shirts were really popular when I was a kid, and we even had the hyper-color shirts that changed color patterns with temperature changes...that was cool! Anyway, it was so much fun trying the Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit (enough product to die 5 adult shirts). The kit came with 3 colors, (blue, yellow and fuchsia) rubber gloves (one pair), rubber bands, and the soda ash. I love that the kit was well put together with directions/hints included. I just needed to add water to the dies, because they were pre-measured in bottles, and the soda ash I just added to water for the shirts to soak in. I thought that the directions were easy to understand, and I love that they offered different ways to wrap your shirt to make different designs. It was a great project to do with my kids. We bought white shirts, got them damp with water, 
wrapped them into a certain mold, wrapped rubber bands around them,
soaked them in soda ash/water mixture, (looks like a sad face...but looks can be deceiving....)
added dyes, 
and let them sit on plastic, and covered with plastic for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, I cut the rubber bands, rinsed out the shirts, and washed/dried them. See~~ now, it is a happy face that created happy faces on my kids, too!
My kids love their new shirts, and I love to have the three of them wear them together. I should have made a onesie for Cole, too.
This is a super product to do this project with your kids! What a great home school experiment, too. You can teach about mixing colors to create new colors, art....and science. I think this would make a great gift for a birthday, too. You could get a kit and do the project with your kids, and they can give the finished project to a friend or family member for a gift. Nothing like a homemade gift!
I highly recommend Jacquard products to you! The Funky Groovy Tie Dye kit is only $11.95, and geared toward ages 5 and up. I didn't have Caleb (age 4) or Madelyn (age 2) use the dyes, but they did help get their shirt wet, hand me rubber bands, and get the enjoyment of wearing their shirt. Nathaniel had a great time doing the whole shirt by himself. I think he did a fantastic job, too!
Thank you Jacquard Products for the opportunity to review your Tie Dye kit! We love it, and are happy to let others know about them!
About the company: Jacquard Products has been producing professional-quality textile paint and dyes at the best value for surface designers, textile artists, fine artists, hobbyists, and crafters. It has almost 20 color lines, available in standard and bulk sizes, sets, and in easy-to-use kits. Offering the highest quality of dyes and inks that hold fast and color deeply, do-it-yourself people can bring professional creativity to their home, school, patio or anywhere they wish to create wearable art.
Want a chance to win a Tie Dye kit and enjoy this fun project kit to use with your family and/or friends? This contest is open to those in the United States, non-bloggers, and bloggers. Go to the Jacquard website, and take a look around. Find out something interesting and comment here about to enter for this contest. Contest will end on August 4th, 2009.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or facebook this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
MMMMMMMM.....MILK~ Why Milk?
I have always loved milk, and the many forms of milk: milk in the glass, milk in cheese, milk in shakes, milk in smoothies, milk in ice cream...MMMM....milk! It really does a body good! Milk is loaded with good nutrition, vitamins, and great for bones! I have recently been introduced to a great milk website called whymilk.com. Whymilk.com has so many great suggestions for ways to incorporate milk into your daily intake. Personally, I don't mind drinking the recommended 3-4 glasses a day; however, I know there are many ways that everyone can get the dairy our body needs~ even if you don't like milk by itself. I have made several smoothies for my family, and my kids (and husband) love drinking them. Not only are they getting a serving or two of milk, they are getting fruits, too. I use ice cubes, milk, frozen (thawed) fruit, banana, vanilla yogurt and some sweetener. Unfortunately I have recently laid our blender to rest, so once my new one comes, I can try the delicious recipes found on whymilk.com! I found a few recipes of different smoothies on the Whymilk website, like the Blueberry Blast, Mom's Mocha Indulgent, and the Peanut Butter Split Smoothie. I do have to say that the Avocado Mango smoothie sparks my interest...I wonder how that tastes?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Natural Dentist Products (and a giveaway)!!
I am so happy that I keep getting introduced to new products that are more natural, good and real ingredients, that are not harmful for us to use. I think companies are realizing it really does matter what we put into our bodies. I love learning more about the better products. The Natural Dentist asked me to review some products from their line, and I was more than happy to review them. They have oral products: toothpaste and mouth wash, 
in different flavors. I was sent the Special Gel Formula for Kids, Healthy Teeth & Gums original (peppermint twist) toothpaste and the Healthy Gums mouth rinse in Orange Zest. I think that my teeth are just as clean with the Natural Dentist products, but are taken care of with healthier products.
The peppermint twist toothpaste tastes fine, and isn't as "potent" as other toothpastes that I have used over the years. My kids weren't very interested in the taste of the Special Gel Formula (berry blast) toothpaste, but I think that is because they are used to what I have bought them in the past. I feel better about my children using the Natural Dentist products over other name brand products that may contain harmful ingredients.
Here is some information of The Natural Dentist toothpastes from the site:
Natural toothpaste without compromise:
Superior performance - cleaning, whitening, cavity prevention and breath freshening
Fluoride for cavity prevention and protection from acid erosion (fluoride-free option too!)
No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or artificial ingredients (SLS is a foaming detergent that can irritate your mouth and has been linked to canker sores) That is interesting to hear about! I haven't hear that before...good information!
Contains Xylitol (10%), a natural cleansing agent and sweetener
I think that The Natural Dentist products are great products, and I would recommend them to you! They are offering to sponsor a giveaway for my readers, so you can try them out, too!! This contest is open to those in the United States, and one winner will get to chose a toothpaste and mouthwash they would want. To enter, go to The Natural Dentist website, and pick out the two items you would like to win. This contest is open until July 28th.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or facebook this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!
Going to a wedding...
This weekend we are going to a wedding for some relatives of my husband's. About a month ago, we got an invitation in the mail. I was a bit surprised at what came to us requesting our presence at their day of celebration. I know I should have blogged about it then, but I am now. It was the most creative mail I have ever received, and I really don't think I will ever get anything like it in the mail again. The mailman brought my mail to the door, rang the doorbell and said,
"I don't believe I have ever seen a shoe mailed to someone before." At first I thought he was joking, and I really didn't comprehend what he was saying. I thought maybe he had something wrong, or picked up this flip-flop near our mailbox on the ground.
I saw it was addressed to us, and with flipping it over, I saw the invitation. How creative is that?? The invitation talked about wearing casual clothes, wearing flip flops, and their wedding would be a "flop" without us. Terry asked me if we would get the missing shoe if we came to the wedding. HA! I thought that would be funny if the other shoe was our wedding favor. Ha. Ha. Anyway, I just had to share this because I thought it was so fun and creative! I hope the weather is a bit warmer, though...
Nature Valley Nut Clusters (review)
I have been introduced to something so yummy, and I can honestly say that this has become a new favorite snack. Being a member of MyBlogSpark, I get asked to review
some products. This time I was asked to try out the new Nature Valley's Nut Clusters and I think they are great! The Nut Clusters are fun to eat, taste great, and is a healthier option for snacking. I was sent 4 bags, one of each flavor, of Nature Valley Nut Clusters to review.
I am not sure which one I would label as my favorite, because they all are great to snack on. I found them to be filling, too. I did share them with my husband and my kids, even though I could have indulged in them all on my own. :) My husband and kids loved them, too. I think my top two favorites would be the Honey Roasted Peanuts, and the Roasted Cashews. The other two flavors are the Nut Lovers and the Roasted Almond. The Nut Clusters are exactly what the name reveals: Nut Clusters, of good taste. The nuts are bunched together in a ball with some granola, krispie treats, and more. I like that you can read, and understand, the ingredients in each of the 4 bags of Nut Clusters. This makes me more confident about being sure what I put into my mouth.
I haven't seen this delicious, and nutritious snack on the store shelves yet, but I am on the look out.
Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Nature Valley for sponsoring this review, and letting me try these out! Our family appreciates it!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Birthday Bash Wii game review
Have a birthday party that you are planning for your son or daughter? I just had the opportunity to review a fun new game for the Wii, in which you can design a "party" for your children to celebrate with friends. Birthday Party Bash, from 2k PLay, can be played by up to 12 people. This game is a lot of fun, and easy enough for younger children (like ages 4-5), but can also be challenging enough for an adult (like me). Including over 20 games, this game offers some easier games like Pinata Blast, to more challenging games like the Laser Gremlin. My son, who is 10, and I tried this game out. We made a custom party with a Princess Theme. Since my Birthday is next week, we decided to plan the party for me. I invited, and included my son on the invitation on the Wii game. I picked the characters for us, to represent us. I got to enter our names, and my birthday age. Throughout the game, we played the mini games for our party. Some of our favorite games were: Duncan Hines Cake Stacker, Slingshot Splash, Balloon Popper, and the Scribble. We thought that the Bug Catcher and the Laser Gremlins were the most challenging. It can be a challenge to hit the targets just right.
After every mini game we played, we got more favors for our party. We got fancy chairs, balloons, hats, plates, cake, a Princess Throne, and more. It was fun seeing the party come together. I can see how this will be fun to design a party for my younger kids. One great feature of the game, I thought, was that if a player is out of the game...they can still shake their Wii remote and their character will do a funny thing.
There are several themes to choose from when planning the party: Music, Sports, Army Men, Construction, Pirate, Glamour, Magical Forest, Monsters, Stuffed Animals, and the Princess theme. It was fun customizing ourselves, and the party guests. We had the choices of body size (short or tall) boy or girl, and choices between the boys and girls for faces/hair colors. I like that there is several options for how you design your play. You can even pick a grandma or grandpa for them to play along with the grand kids. That is funny!
Included in the game is party invitations (post cards) with the design of the Birthday Party Bash game on it. Also, there was a coupon for Duncan Hines~ buy one get one free~ to make your birthday party taste delicious, too. The instructions for the game has ideas on how to make your party a success with your planning. It is a great help.
My son said this game is a bit too young for his age group (10 years), but I think it all depends on your child. This game is geared toward everyone between age 4 and 20.
Birthday Party Bash just hit the shelves on Monday, July 13th. I think the value is great at $39.99 for the game.
Thank you Mom Central for this great review opportunity, and for introducing me to it. I love helping spread the word!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
HIT Entertainment & Lionsgate's New Releases
HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate released a few great DVD's today! The prices are right, and kids love them!
Bob the Builder: Built for fun (Rolley vehicle included) $14.98
Bob the Builder and the Can-Do Crew come together in five episodes (Radio Bob, Super Slasher, Roley Brings the House, Silent Scoop, and Scrambler gets Prepared) as they build a radio station complete with a sky-high broadcast tower, play skidsies with Roley and Muck, design greenhouses out of recycled material and much more. Alongside Bob, Scoop, Benny and the rest of the team, kids see that they can accomplish anything with a Can-Do attitude.
This special DVD includes a "Build with Bob" game, and a read-along called "Building Buddies."
My kids love Bob the Builder, and he always has a good, and positive attitude toward teamwork, and helping others.
SCHOOL DAYS $14.98
Jammed packed with all new school episodes, to get our kids excited about learning, come the fun-loving preschool entertainers: Thomas, Barney, Fifi and the Flowertots, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and Kipper. We have enjoyed watching the episodes and listening to the lessons on sharing, friendship, cooperation, and learning.
With six different episodes, these characters bring lots of fun for preschoolers everywhere.
· Thomas & Friends - “Thomas and the Colors”
· Barney & Friends - “The New Kid”
· Fifi and the Flowertots - "Flying Lessons”
· Bob the Builder - "Dizzy and the Walking Bus"
· Fireman Sam - "Fiery Finale”
· Kipper - "Hide and Seek"
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· “Big Chris Learns to Fly” - a bonus episode of the all-new TV series Roary the Racing Car,
from the creators of Bob the Builder. My kids always look forward to seeing Roary and just love seeing what kind of mischief he is going to get into.
Barney: Book Fair DVD + Book Collection $14.98 (DVD + Book Set)
It's time for a book fair! Barney, Baby Bop, BJ and the kids are headed to the park for a book fair. Every time the kids open a book, they are dazzled with a new tale. I like how they use their imaginations with rocket building, and hosting a circus. Barney episodes always have lots of dancing, singing, music and great lessons to learn. The DVD is a full-length, and it comes with a Counting to 10 storybook (hardcover). I think this set is great for the price, because you get a full-length DVD show, plus a story book to share with your children...all for only $14.95. Barney is a fun-loving character, and always shows kids how to be more caring, loving, and to share with others.
The book (Counting to 10) is very colorful, and it is fun to count to 10 with my kids. They love counting books, and it is fun counting with Barney.
DVD Lunch Box Gift Sets $19.98 each. (Included inside the lunch box is 3 DVDs)
These sets are so fun~ I love them! I got a Bob the Builder set to review, and my son loves it! The DVD's have fun stories, and my son loves using his lunch box to hold his treasures in it.
DVD SYNOPSIS
· Barney Lunch Box
Adventure Bus - Hop aboard and get ready for the ride of your life as bus driver Barney takes you to some of the gang’s favorite imaginary destinations, including a castle, a pizzeria, a circus and the Old West!
Imagination Island - A storybook adventure comes to life when Tosha and Min discover that their wish to sail to a magical island is possible with help from Barney and his friends.
Everyone is Special - Join Barney and his friends for a dino-mite day in the park as they celebrate all the things that make them – and you – special!
· Thomas & Friends Lunch Box
Tales from the Tracks - Ride the rails to adventure as Thomas and his engine friends attend a birthday picnic, discover a ghost engine and learn the legend of a very special lamp.
Best of Percy - Learn more about the junior member of the railway, a faithful friend of Thomas’ from the very beginning, and celebrate all of the special traits and qualities that make Percy a fan favorite.
Races, Rescues & Runaways - You’ll find that life on the Island of Sodor is never boring, especially when the engines get into trouble. But no worries … as friends they’re always there to lend a helping hand for each other.
· Bob the Builder Lunch Box
The Big Game - Bob and his machine team are ready to play! Prepping for the big soccer match, a line-marking machine suddenly runs amok. Can the Can-Do Crew fix it in time for the opening whistle? Yes, they can! Then it’s off to the tennis courts to serve up more fun!
Celebrate With Bob - Looks like Bob is in for a busy, busy day! There’s a dance contest, a surprise birthday party, a really messy office and a broken computer, but it’s all in a day’s work for our favorite Can-Do builder.
Can We Fix It? - It’s harvest time and there’s plenty to do: Farmer Pickle’s barn is about to collapse and needs repair before the impending rainstorm, Travis gets stuck in the mud, a golf course needs constructing and Bob builds himself right into a windmill!
· Care Bears Lunch Box
Journey to Joke-a-Lot - Follow Funshine Bear, who, frustrated by too many jokes gone wrong, travels to faraway Joke-a-lot where the community of kooky, colorful characters quickly crowns him King. Missing their beloved prankster, his fellow Care Bears leave the comforts of Care-a-lot behind and embark on a quest to coax their friend to return home.
The Gift of Caring - Join the Care Bears as they use fun, magic and the most extravagant gift of all - caring. In seven heartwarming episodes, the Care Bears tumble through birthday parties, reunite with long-lost friends and even search for a valley of gold! They're wrapping up some fun they can't wait to share with you!
Fitness Fun On Your Mark...Get Set...Go Have Fun! Join the lovable Care Bears in active adventures that teach everyone how to be a good sport - and everyone is a winner! In five fun-filled episodes, the Care Bears and their Cousins share lessons in friendship, fair play and fitness. The whole family will love getting into the game!
Thomas & Friends: Percy And The Bandstand $14.98Thomas & Friends™: Percy and the Bandstand, has 4 new episodes on it from the Island of Sodor. The newer Thomas & Friends DVD's have new animation. The host, Mr. Arkwright, returns with never before seen content that can ONLY be found on DVD! Mr. Arkwright is Sir Topham Hatt’s right-hand man and the new driver on the Island of Sodor.
About the shows:
Come along with Thomas, Toby, Duncan, Percy and all the other engine friends and Sir Topham Hatt for a hot-air balloon ride, a top-secret birthday party, a special surprise at the bandstand and much more. It’s a non-stop celebration of fun and friendship! Future engineers -- hop aboard for trainloads of action in these four adventures:
Episodes Include:
· “Toby’s Special Surprise”
· “Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon”
· “The Man in the Hills”
· “Percy and the Bandstand”
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· “Songs of Sodor” Game
· Three Read Alongs:
Toby and the Flood
A Better View For Gordon
Busy Going Backward
For more information: visit HIT Entertainment and/or or Lionsgate.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Aim & Shoot with Prime Time Toys (and a giveaway)
What is summer without a good water squirt? My kids have had a blast~ literally, with their Prime Time Toys that I got to review. We got two Critter Blasters, a Dolphin and a Turtle, and the Blaster Board. We love taking them out on the pontoon and squirting them as far as we can. My son loves to aim at the bird populations (sea gulls, geese, loons, etc.)
It took Madelyn a bit to figure out how to pump the Critter Blaster, but now she is a pro! Caleb was her helper, and after a few times of him filling her critter, now she is doing it all by herself (and she is 2 years old). She loves sticking it down into the bucket of water, pulling up the turtle, and then squirting out the water in a blast! I was surprised at how far these mini squirters could shoot!
Here she is looking for something to aim at.....
She has pretty good aim, too. She loves to do what her brother does. Even if it means aiming at her parents! :) I didn't get a photo of that, but yes, she did get me good.
Caleb absolutely loves to shoot his Dolphin water toy. He enjoys shooting it straight up in the air, which the water ends up hitting me or Terry. That is funny, of coarse.
I love the look on his face here, priceless!
Caleb is filling up the Blaster board here, and getting ready to (try) and shoot at some sea gulls.
Thank you Prime Time Toys for adding more water fun to our summer! We love the toys!
Prime Time Toys has several water toys, and also land toys available. The Critter Blasters are new this year, and have a SRP of $5.99 (recommended for ages 4 and up). The Blaster Board Liquidator has a SRP of $19.99. It is recommended for ages 6 and up. I highly recommend owning a few of the water toys for your trips to the pool or the lake...beware** they will create lots of laughter! :)Hasbro has some new card games! (With 6 giveaways!)
Our family loves playing games, board games, card games, video games, outdoor games...you name it! We were happy to review the newest Hasbro card games, Monopoly Deal, and Scrabble Slam! We love the original Monopoly game, and the Monopoly Deal is similar in many ways. You get 5 cards to start out the game, and you can lay your bank money down in front of you, and your properties that you are starting to acquire. I have realized it is a good thing to lay down money into your "bank" right away, because the other player can demand money from you, and you pay with whatever is laid down on the table. So, if you only have properties laid down, that is what you pay the opponent with. Each card has a cash value, and/or property/action to it. You can make others pay you money, by laying down the Debt Collector card, or "It's my birthday." The game can also take new twists, because you can be forced to change cards or properties with your opponents. Don't worry, though, you may have a card in your hand to tell them "NO!"
To win the game, you need to complete 3 sets of properties first. This game is a lot of fun, and my son and I played it over and over. Sometimes the game is quick, and sometimes it takes a little while. (Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up; Players: 2 to 6)
Another fun game to challenge your thinking is Scrabble Slam. You and your opponent picks
a 4 letter word to use to start the game. Use four cards with those letters and lay them down. Then you deal out the rest of the cards to each player. You start the game by changing that four letter word with the cards in your hand. Each card has two letters on it, and you can see those letters in the corners of the cards. The first one to get rid of all their cards first wins. Very fun game, and definitely one to get your mind thinking. This is a great game for kids to work on their spelling, too! (Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up; Players: 2 to 4)
Other great card games that Hasbro just came out with are: Crazy Old Fish War, Littlest Pet Shop Go Fish, and Rook.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Fun Summer reads from Randomhouse: The Captain's Bride & Maire
I just got done reading The Captain's Bride, by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It was a superb book! It is book one of the Northern Lights series. Lisa really draws you into the character's lives, emotions, and experiences. The main character, Elsa, is from Bergen, Norway, and she is the Captain's wife. The story is about Elsa, her marriage, and their journey to the Americas.
The Captain, Peder Ramstad, gather with their friends and travel across the seas. This book dives into the stories of a few different characters: Kaatje Jansen, Tora Ander's, and Karl Martensen. Kaatje is struggling to keep her marriage together, being pregnant, too. Tora is a stow-away on the ship, and Karl is torn between feelings of loyalty and friendship with Peder to having deep, love for his best friend's bride, Elsa. This is a great book, and I couldn't put it down. There are so many moments that you just have to find out what happens next. It is fun to read of the stories that come from the ship-life. I recommend this book to those that love history, love, romance, suspense, and drama. I am looking forward to reading the second novel.
Maire by Linda Windsor, is book one in Fires of Gleannmara. The setting is Ireland, and the story is about Maire, who is the Warrior Queen of Gleannmara. Maire captures Rowan, who is a warrior from Emrys, reformed mercenary, and takes him as her husband. She has a challenging time understanding his unwavering faith, and his dedication to God. She cannot deny that the truth he displays: meekness and humility are stronger than any blade of steel. With that kind of weapon on their side, they battle together against the evil druid Morlach and corrupt his forces of darkness. In the end, they discover the cost, and joy, of following the one true God and His Christ.Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Mom Central Summer Giveaway Bonanza!! Giveaway Galore!
Mom Central just launched their Summer Giveaway Bonanza! Each week, Mom Central will post new giveaways just for Moms and their families on MomCentral.com. They will have tons of great prizes throughout the summer for you and all members of your family!! Here is a glance at some of the giveaway prizes:
• Jeep Tandem Stroller: Built to accommodate your growing family, the Tandem Traveler Stroller features sun canopies, reclining seat backs, car-seat adaptors, and cup holders that will leave you feeling like the coolest mommy on the block.
Win a Hoover Vaccum (open to US) Enter by July 17
Win a 20th Anniversary Super Soaker (open to US and Canada) Enter by July 17
Win a free game from GameHouse.com (open to US and Canada) Enter by July 17
Win a box of Crystal Light (open to US and Canada) Enter by July 17
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
My brother's wedding...
My brother got married on June 13, 2009. It was a beautiful wedding, and the weather was PERFECT for a wedding. I loved being there to support my brother and partake in the celebration of their vows to each other. Caleb was asked to be the ring bearer. He was so excited to be in their wedding and to bear the rings. He was extra excited to go down the aisle with his cousins (Atira and Emma) who were the flower girls. Here is a picture of their rehearsal.
The chaplain was the lady in the black pants and black/white top standing in front. I have never been to a wedding where the one officiating was a female. She did an excellent job with the marriage, and she had such great things to share with Russ and Melissa. She was a mentor of Melissa's from way back, and she is also a great friend of their family's. Melissa (my new sis-in-law) has been "in the picture" for a long time before my brother caught her. Melissa was a friend of my sister's back when my sister was in High School....so like, over 10 years ago. So, I have known Melissa a long time. It was fun to welcome her into our family permanently.
Here is a few more pictures that I snapped at the rehearsal dinner. They had the dinner at Russell's house. I personally think it was too much on his plate to host the dinner at his house when he was getting married the next day. I could tell he was stressed, and I felt bad for him.
Anyway, here is Caleb and Madelyn with some of their cousins.
Here are "the boys" grilling the meat. Terry (far left), and two of my brothers in the middle and far right.
Here is a picture of the Moms! My mom is on the right side.
Here is a picture of the Dad's. My Dad is on the left side.
Here is Emma and Atira (my nieces) throwing the petals for the Bride. Caleb wasn't able to join them due to his fears. He was a bit nervous to be showcased.
"Here comes the Bride!" She was radiant ~ even when she was crying. Poor Melissa had such an emotional day. She made it, though. :)
My brother has such a great look on his face as he looks at her. He looked great up there, and it seemed as though he was just so giddy! I loved watching him.
Saying their vows.
At least the pictures for the wedding memory book have Caleb in them. Even though he didn't get to walk down the aisle, he still got some great photos of himself in a tux! What a handsome guy!
Here is Miss Madelyn. She loved her pretty pink dress that she wore. While the photos were going on, I did our nails (toe and fingers). She thought that was so fun, and loved to show people her nails.
By the way, I am sad that I didn't get a family photo at all during the day.
My parents look great! I love that they had such a fun day! They are currently in their 51st year of marriage! What an inspiration!
Here is Caleb showing us his muscles. This is his big thing right now. He likes you to comment about how strong he is, and how he is growing.
Here is a picture of 4 of my beautiful nieces. The two in lavender are my brother's daughters (the one that got married). It was fun to see them supporting their Dad and standing up for him and their new mom-in-law.
Here is Nathaniel and my other niece, Adrianna. They had such a blast hanging out together. They are only a year apart in age.
Madelyn loved the frosting on the cake. She was loving the taste. My cousin was cheering her on and getting some good laughs.
It was a great day! The wedding ceremony was beautiful. It started off with a slide show of Russ and Melissa as children, teens, dating each other, and now onto marriage. There were pictures of Russell's daughters in there. I was crying even before the wedding.
My mom's quartet sang for the ceremony, as well as my brother sang. They all did a wonderful job! My mom's quartet also sang for the reception. It is always fun to hear those gals sing! The reception was at a ski and tube place about 20 minutes from the church. The catered meal was delicious, and it was a fun reception....until Caleb got sick and our evening was cut short. Caleb must have had too much sweets and too much running around. He was very tired, too, because he slept the whole way home. He didn't have a "bug" though, because he was fine the next day.
I am so happy for my brother and new sister. It was such a fun day! God bless their marriage!
Some sweet & funny things
About a month ago, we had vacation Bible School at our church (V.B.S.) and the kids had a great time with the whole week. One of the days, the kids got a Rice Krispie treat with a note on it saying something like, "Thanks for being my Leader." The kids were suppose to give it to someone who is a leader in their life. Caleb and Madelyn gave me theirs and I thought that was sweet. Then, Nathaniel came and gave me one, too. But, what was incredibly sweet was Nathaniel said, "I wish I could tie balloons onto this and send it up to Jesus."
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We have a children's picnic table in our family/rec room. It is a plastic Little Tykes table, and for some reason my kids love to stand on the top of it. I constantly tell them to get down and stop standing on there. Well one day, Caleb decided to hop on up there. I said, "Caleb, you need to get down from that table. You know I don't want you up there, and I never want you to stand up there. Ever. Now, get down."
To which he replied, "Mom, you should make a sign."
I asked him what he meant, and he said, "You should make a sign saying, "No Standing on the table," so we know that we shouldn't stand on the table."
Where did he hear or see that we need signs for things?
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We had our cousins here from Colorado/Washington this last week. They came to our house yesterday and spent the night last night. We took the boys, Nathaniel and his cousin tubing behind the pontoon. We decided to drop them off at the Island so they could go swimming for awhile while we drove around the Island. The plan was we were going to pick them up after we circled around. Well our dog, Lena, was not impressed with this choice~ at all! In fact, she was pacing the floor of the pontoon while barking. It was like she was saying, "You left the boys! They fell off! We need to go back! Hey, do you hear me? We are missing the boys!"
~lol It was very comical!
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Meeting Mr. Wrong: The Romantic Misadventures of a Southern Belle
A new book has come out, and it is written by a blogger! Her name is Stephanie Snowe, and she blogs at Jason for the love of God.
Meeting Mr. Wrong is a book about a single gal, being a single mom of twins, and meeting the man of her dreams. This is a story of Stephanie's life. There is humor, and the sharing of her misery and tears. Her first husband had left her after having the twins, with the announcement during her pregnancy. What a sad story. Her meeting "Jay," was the best thing that happened to her, and you will find the story within the pages of Meeting Mr. Wrong.
The story shares the emotions she was feeling, how she dealt with her ex, and how she picked her feet up and went down the road to healing. There are some funny stories that she shares. She really doesn't hold back the feelings or words that she felt during those hard times.
Stephanie Snowe resides in the south with her husband, Jason, two children, and their dog Ginger. She is a writer for the website Scrivel.com.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Winners & Contests
Congratulations to the winners of the contests!! Please e-mail me your name/address with the prize you won. I will also e-mail you about your win.
Thank you to the sponsors who have generously sponsored these giveaways, too!
Father's Day cards from Hallmark (giveaway~ 4 winn...: MJ mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Kernel Season's "Get the Party Popping" Giveaway!!...: Tamara B. tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com
Sparklehearts (Organic Skincare) Review and Giveaw...: Tylerpants tylerpants(at)gmail.com
Dance Me, Daddy! (book review and 2 giveaways): don_gustave at msn.com; Joyful Noise
Joyce Meyer: Battlefield of the Mind DVD (giveaway...: mom858 at hotmail.com
Don't forget to check out the other contests on my site, and I will be adding more this week!
Picture Keeper (Review & giveaway!)
Contests coming up:
Jumpstart
Hasbro games
Water toys
Fun crafty product for kids...Tie Die kits
Friday, July 3, 2009
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Wii game review)
We had a lot of fun reviewing the new Wii game we got to review: Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball. We had a great time picking out our character for the team we wanted to represent. We had a few different options (male and female) to choose from. We could be on the Alien, Robot, Mushroom Men, Zombie, Ninja, Monster or Pirates team. I think the Ninjas are the most fun to play, but my son loves the Pirates. You also get to choose your arena that you will be competing in. Then, you get to decide if you want to play the original Dodgeball, or Dodge Brawl. In Dodge Brawl, you get to fight and beat up your opponent while trying to knock them out. There are no sides on the court, it is a free-for-all approach. There are special attack moves that the players can use to take their opponents down.
The original Dodgeball is similar to the traditional sport. There are three of your own team mates on the out of bounds on your opponents side. You can throw the ball to your team mates out there, to make the opponents unsure of what your moves will be. Your player has a health bar and a stamina bar. The health bar is a limited time frame you have for your play. You don't get knocked out of the game with the first hit, but you get to play as long as your health bar is up. It really depends on how often you are hit, and also how hard you take the blow. Your stamina bar is your ability to perform special moves and throwing/dodging of the ball. I had a hard time figuring out the special moves. So far with our game play, we have just seen the fire ball throw. I am not sure if there are more special moves or not.
The controls can be a bit challenging to get use to, I thought. However, my son and husband didn't have a hard time picking it right up. You need to use the Wii remote and the nunchuck for play. You actually throw the dodgeball by throwing your Wii remote forward like you are throwing. You can also push certain buttons to dodge the ball or move out of the way. You have to push a button to catch the ball, but not to throw it.
I really liked that this game offers two ways to play: single play mode and multi player mode. This makes it nice to either play alone, and be challenged by the computer, and you can play with one, up to three, other people in the multi-play mode. It is so fun playing this game with my son and husband.
One thing that I think this game would be fun to offer is special attack modes and unique skills that each team player could possess. It would be fun if each player had a special weapon or skill that they each did, and for us (the game players) to find out what their special skill would be.
Overall, I think this game is a lot of fun, and it is a great game geared toward the tween to teen age kids. We have fun with it as adults, though, too. This game has an ESRB content rating of E for everyone (ages 10 and up).
This game is produced from SouthPeak games. For more information you can check out their website: SouthPeak Games.com.
What is up with you??
Seriously, I have been really rather scarce in the "bloggin' world," really. Not intentionally, either. I love blogging, posting family photos, telling stories, sharing memories, sharing funny things my kids do/say, product reviewing, hosting contests....all that blogging is for. What has been happening lately? I am really not totally sure, but I think that I got a bit burnt out. I think I said, "yes," too much, and not enough of "not right now", or "no" to the requests. I can see from the past few months, that my blogging has become less of me, and more of reviews. I am so sorry about that. I got so busy, and everything got piled up. I have some catching up to do, and I hope you will all understand.
I haven't even been keeping up with the daily reviews and personal life stories, photos, or the like. I am sorry to all my readers who have come to see what is going on with me, as a person...to find not much new posted. Actually, we have been quite busy, and I fully intend to catch up, if that is possible. I have been through surgery to remove the melanoma in my ear. I am recovering, and healing! Praise the Lord the melanoma is gone from my ear, too! I just saw the Plastic surgeon on Tuesday, and he said it is looking good. I told him that I feel like I am sleeping on a rock, and asked if that will get better. He wasn't sure, but he said he could fix it in about 6 months if I am still having a hard time. I saw my dermatologist on Wednesday, and she checked me over again. We decided to have another mole removed on my back, and the surgery is set for the end of August. This surgery will take awhile, since the mole is bigger. I have had this mole most of my life (I believe) but it does concern her. I am praying that it is a cancer free mole. So, this is a worrisome fear on my heart, and I know I need to put my trust in God for good results. I also had Nathaniel in to see the dermatologist and had him remove a mole from his right temple. I hope that the results will be cancer-free for him, too. So, we ask for prayer that any and all moles removed are free of cancer, and that our trust remains strong in the Lord.
My blogging is going to be getting back to more of personal life and less of reviews. I won't be giving up on reviews, because I LOVE doing them. Plus, I like being "in the know" of what is out there. I am going to do my best to keep you all up to date on what is going on with my family, me, and our life. I want to put up lots of pictures of my kids, and their funny stories. Also, I don't want to lose touch with all the wonderful blogging friends I have made! I am sorry that I haven't been around much, but I hope to get back into the swing of things. I know my mind has been so much on the melanoma, and just life being so busy with 3 kids under the age of 4 and a pre-teen child. Plus, it is summer...so, that is less time indoors and at the computer. Thanks for hanging in with me. I hope we see more of one another. God bless you! Happy 4th of July!!
