Since putting my son on a gluten and casein free diet in April '11, I've had to rethink cooking and baking, and educate myself on ingredients I was once unable to pronounce! lol As difficult as it is to have a child on a restrictive diet, we're actually having a lot of fun sampling new recipes together... all of which call for ingredients we were once unfamiliar with.
I'm so enjoying experimenting with the wide variety of gluten-free flours, oils, starches, and milks currently in my pantry and fridge purchased to keep our autistic son thriving both physically and mentally. We don't deprive him of anything... not even the goodies like cookies!
I made the above batch of coconut oil and coconut flour chocolate chip cookies this afternoon (click image for recipe) and both my kids loved them! Some of the benefits of coconut flour (over rice for example) is that coconut flour is non-gritty. We've learned over time (actually it was pretty immediate) that we're not big fans of rice flour in deserts. If you've eaten gluten-free cookies, you may know what I'm referring to. This coconut flour is dense and rich with no grit to be found! It's what you'd call gluten-free perfection! Even if you're not worried about gluten, but love coconut, this recipe is sure to please. My daughter isn't on a special diet and loved these cookies, and the brownies I made last month with Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour every bit as much as my son.
If you've been reading this blog since Christmas, you know that on Christmas, we acquired a dog named Christmas. If you can follow that, you're brilliant! Our girl is an awesome and beautiful golden retriever, who loves to play outside, whether it be the light of day, or dark of night. If you're a dog lover, I'm sure you can appreciate the concerns of having your dog out after dark, whether leashed or otherwise. Especially if you live in the 'burbs like we do. Just enough traffic to make a pet owner nervous.
In fact, we had a little family dispute going in our home before the fine people at Dogtrainingcollars.com asked us if we'd be interested in trying their Safe Glow LED Dog Training Collar. My husband was reluctant to allow Christmas to run in the backyard after dark, because well... it was too hard to see what she was up to. We occasionally catch her during the day trying to dig her way under our privacy fence, and naturally, we don't want to lose our girl, so we make her stop immediately... that is, when we can see her!
Given I'm not quite the worrier that he is, my argument was always, well... what if she needs to go? It seems rather cruel to force a potentially "loaded" dog to endure a miserable night, just because of what "could" happen, especially given, she does have a leash after all. So why not just take her out?
In any case, that was then, and this is now and our poochy will suffer no more. We LOVE this collar! It's a lot thinner than her other collar. At first I wasn't sure how durable it would be. I'm still not convinced she needs to wear it all the time and in fact she doesn't. What we've taken to doing, is snapping it on when she's wanting to go out at night, or when we decide to take her for a walk after dusk. During the day she wears a heavier collar and the collar she has grown accustomed too. In fact, she really doesn't like to take her other collar off. It's like a wrestling match, so "normally" when she's wearing the Safe Glow LED collar, she's wearing it over her regular one.
These photos were taken late afternoon, so... you're not going to see the wonder that is the Safe Glow LED Dog Collar in action (see video further down the page), but you can see in these first two photos what the collar looks like. In the following 2 photos you'll see Miss Christmas showing her interest and affection for her her new collar.
K5Learning has an online reading and math program
for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I've been given a 6 week free
trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a
blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.
If you are a
blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.
Not "Fit Moms for a Season" or "Fit Moms After Pregnancy", not even just "Fit Moms", but rather... "Fit Moms for Life". I have to admit, as an overweight mother of two who just turned 40... and who has yo-yo-ed between skinny and fat since high school... I like the title of this book.
Other than liking the title, I had my initial doubts about this book's contents. Fortunately, you really can't judge a book by it's cover... or in this case by it's title, so fortunately I actually opened the book and read it.
My initial thoughts after seeing the youthful face of this book's author looked a bit like this... What could this young author and fitness guru know about middle-age"ish" moms and their weight-loss struggles? In other words, what could Dustin know about me and "my stuff"? The other thought was...How many books on diet and fitness do I already have sitting on my bookshelf and how have those books helped me? How would this book be any different?
In a nutshell... here are the thoughts I've cultivated "after reading" Fit Moms for Life:
REAL MOMS/REAL STORIES
Fit Moms for Life is REAL. We all like real don't we? The book contains dozens of moms... with before and after photos (from Dustin's boot camp), along with their stories, their challenges, their goals, advice and shared encouragement. So, you're apt to feel a real connection (as I did) with one or more women in this book. REAL women. It's not just a book of tips and recommendations... many of which we've all heard a million times. You know a book of facts on healthy living, but without a plan, without encouragement and without one ounce of ongoing support or community?
Dustin's dream is to one day see Fit Moms for Life communities spring up all over the United States; where moms like you and I can enjoy the personal encouragement and accountability lacking in simply reading a book or watching a video. There are already a handful of such communities in existence and Dustin offers tools and resources from his website at fitmomsforlife.com to help you launch a program in your own neighborhood. Thousands of women are subscribed to a monthly DVD program through Fit Moms for Life too.
Another thing Justin addresses is why it is moms get out of shape in the first place... or why it is they feel they've lost control of their bodies. The root of the problem could be different for you than it is for me. Perhaps it's lack of motivation? Maybe you're surrounded by negative influences? Perhaps you have no energy for thoughts of taking care of youself simply because you're eating the wrong foods at the wrong time of day? Maybe you've forgotten how to take care of yourself, or decided a long time ago that part of being mom means putting yourself last? The bottom line? Getting to the heart of what is holding you back is key.
I NEED TO BE FIT
Why do moms need to be fit and why is it so easy to put ourselves last? Dustin reminded me that we need to be fit and healthy in order to be happy and productive. It doesn't hurt to look good either. lol What besides looking her best makes a mom happy? For one thing, being able to keep up with her active children. I got winded tonight just bathing our 14 week-old puppy. Seriously?
I'd also like to think that it's my job to successfully model a healthy lifestyle to my children. As I get older every year (and yes, you do the same thing) I also have to consider the benefits of remaining mobile and keeping my heart pumping in my later years so I might enjoy an active life with my grandchildren. Like it or not, my body (and yours) is changing. Wouldn't it feel incredible to take that change by the horns and lead it to a smaller pair of Levis? I think I have a Kohl's coupon somewhere.
I was reminded that some of "life as mom" is and should be about me taking care of me. That the healthy lifestyle I live and demonstrate to my children will affect them in multiple ways... both today and tomorrow. Wow... what a hard pill to swallow. Fortunately with Dustin's plan you'll not need a pill. Don't even get me started.
~Win it!~
One winner will receive a paperback copy of Fit Moms for Life by Dustin Maher (ARV $19.95) and a $25 to Amazon.
This particular giveaway is the product of a co-effort between Fit Moms for Life who graciously offered a copy of this motivational book to one of our readers and The Homeschooling Blog who tossed in the $25 gift card to Amazon just to sweeten the pot!
This giveaway widget it much shorter than most of those you'll see published on The Homeschooling Blog (Bonus!)... so I hope you'll have time to pick up all possible entries! You'll also find opportunities for daily entries if you're into tweeting and voting for me on Picket Fences.
Oh.... how I long for another weekend! It's almost here and I have oooodles of blogging to do. One of the articles I'm currently working on features a family favorite supplier (our family that is!) of custom-made weighted blankets for adults and children with sensory issues.
Weighted blankets help many people with special needs relax like nothing else. Adults and children suffering from developmental disabilities such as autism often benefit from the deep pressure of a heavy blanket when overly stimulated or when tensions are high. My little guy (well, he's 5' now) received his weighted blanket nearly a year ago from what was then Affordable Weighted Blankets. They've recently changed their name to SensaCalm and added a handful of new products to their website.
Recently I contacted Donna with SensaCalm to give her an update about J-man. He's still using and loving his custom-made blanket and occasionally I sneak up to his room to rest underneath it too! lol There have been a couple days when I'd had some tense moments with another family member and the blanket seriously helped me to de-stress! That experience made my heart smile... as I felt what I imagined to be a mere fraction of what my son must feel at night while sleeping.
J-man sleeps beneath his blanket nearly every night. He absolutely loves it too. He chose fabric featuring the solar system on one side of his blanket and a lime green underside. The green was a surprise to me, but it's what he wanted! lol That's what these blankets are all about. The customer chooses the fabric and the blankets are weighted based on his or her body weight.
I'll share more about the blanket and this company when my full review is published! Stay tuned!
Recently I was approached by FreePianoLessons4Kids.com with a FREE online music academy for teaching children 5-10 to play piano. Talk about exciting! I've shared piano learning programs on The Homeschooling Blog before, but never a program like this one. I think "free" is what really caught my attention.
From the creator's own words: I provide "online video piano instruction for free. Every single video lesson on
the website is free (there is a charge to download supplemental activity
pages and an mp3 listening album which corresponds to the lessons, but
the lessons work fine without these supplemental materials). I now have
36 lessons live, and I add a new one each week. The lessons are geared
for ages 5 to 10, but I've also heard from many adults who have been
enjoying using my lessons. The lessons are simple and fun, yet also
thorough, covering all aspects of a solid musical training, including
fluency in note and rhythm reading, technique, and music theory." ~Joseph Hoffman
If you've ever paid for piano lessons you know how expensive they are. There's nothing wrong with paying someone to teach you or your children how to play the piano... it's just that not all of us can afford the expense. I LOVE that there's a solution for those of us without the means to afford traditional piano lessons!
I've watched a few of Joseph's lessons and they are clear, professional, and easy to follow. I think you'll agree this academy is worth further examination. I've also had the pleasure of examining his supplemental downloads and activity pages which sell for just $14 (and like he stated above, they're completely optional and not mandatory for following his lesson plans).
The Giveaway!
FreePianoLessons4Kids.com is offering 10 random reader's from The Homeschooling Blog the supplemental materials for lessons 1-20 absolutely free!
These supplemental materials, while not required, are awesome if you're looking for worksheets, games, and activities for furthering your child's understanding of how to read musical notes and understand rhythm. The lesson plans retail for $14 and are provided as convenient downloads to your computer. The $14 download also includes an mp3 album which cooresponds to these initial lessons. There are 33 songs for your child to listen to as they learn how the songs should sound when appropriately mastered. Very cool!
If you're not one of the fortunate 10 to win these downloads, remember you can purchase them together for only $14. In my opinion they're well worth the price. I was given the downloads free to examine and was impressed with the quality of everything I received.
How to Enter:
You're odds of winning are high and I'm going to make this giveaway as easy as pie to enter. All you have to do is use Rafflecopter. If you don't see it below... it's still loading, so be patient! Rafflecopter makes hosting a giveaway painless for you and for me! lol When the giveaway concludes, Rafflecopter will even randomly select the winners. I'll then notify each winner via email and you'll have 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected.
Giveaway begins tonight: December 23, 2011 and will conclude on January 6th at 12:01 AM.
Choose any or all entry methods below (to increase your odds of winning). Good luck!
If you don't see the Rafflecopter giveaway widget just below.... try clicking HERE.
What's that you say? Another giveaway? WooHoo you know it!
Recently the fine folks at Jump Start invited our family to a free trial-membership of the Jump Start and Math Blaster educational games. I'm all about sampling anything that promises to provide a healthy mix of fun and education. So naturally we jumped on this offer!
The name Jump Start isn't completely new to me. When my children were at the preschool level, their grandparents gave them a Jump Start computer game which they frequently played, but we never experimented with anything else from that series. What's more, I didn't realize an online version of Jump Start existed and had wasn't at all familiar with Math Blaster.
As many of you already know, my son struggles in math and we've had him enrolled in a local Kumon center since last December. We've also used Big Brainz' Time's Attack to help him master his multiplication skills. I don't think you can throw too much variety at a child when it comes to helping them gain and retain new skill, and what kid doesn't love a great computer game? So, I'm a huge fan of combining technology with learning!
The Review:
What first struck me about the Math Blaster and Jump Start games were their amazing graphics. These games aren't cheesy, but incredibly vivid and in great form. It's amazing what technology can bring us... and right from your home computer. My kids feel like they've uncovered something truly special and my daughter would love to spend hours playing these games. I've actually had to cut back her time on Jump Start. lol... I just don't think it's a good idea to have an 8 year old spend 5 hours sitting at a laptop computer! However, does this not speak volumes for the amount of fun and adventure these games provide? I've never had my girl take to anything like she has Jump Start.
Out of her own mouth, my girl says... "Awesome! It's really cool, you can design your own house and room. You pass certain levels by completing math and reading games." Overall, my daughter seems to be having fun with Jump Start and btw has asked me twice since I sat down to share this review when she might have access to the game again. lol
She likes Math Blaster too and that's where I'll focus my attention now. The images on this page all come from the actual Math Blaster game. You can also find more about this exciting game on the Math Blaster website.
Features of Math Blaster:
You may add up to 6 children per account... so no need to worry about extra fees for multiple children! If you're a teacher with a full classroom, Math Blaster has memberships for larger groups of children.
We've noticed Math Blaster remembers your score and where you were in your game should you stop playing at any time. This is huge when you have two children taking turns!
Math Blaster was developed for children at the kindergarten grade level through 8th grade (ages 6-12), Jump Start is designed for children 3-12 and is included in this giveaway!
Children can customize their character... described as a Blaster Cadet
Users enter a virtual world where they'll have the option to engage in games with other players (you set the controls on this feature).
Your children will find activities geared towards improving their performance in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, money, place value, and 3d figures
What Your Kids Will Do on Math Blaster:
First off, they'll build a Blaster Cadet, choosing hair color, skin color (which by the way include such shades as green and blue should they wish to make their cadet an alien!). They'll also select a name.
They'll then be off to explore the Math Blaster world through the Blaster Cadet Academy portal. They'll have the opportunity to earn points and increase in the ranking system which will also give them the opportunity to tackle more challenging math activities.
Your children can even interact with their siblings, classmates, and friends within the safe virtual Math Blaster world. Parents are given a parent's page where they can control the level of interaction your kids will have with other online players.
Math Blaster offers arcade types of games, racing adventures, and for those who like to explore... there are multiple activities catered to please.
Your children can decide which type of activity they'd like to explore based on their individual interests and type of math enhancement they're wishing to engage in.
Benefits from a Parent's Perspective:
On a personal note, I love this game because it combines the fun and excitement of online games with actual learning. So many of the sites I've introduced my children too are only of interest to them for a few minutes, sometimes a couple days if we're lucky. Then it seems they've seen it all, aren't feeling challenged, aren't entertained, and simply uninterested in continuing.
I'm impressed with the images... which are brilliant and up to date. This is a state of the art game that will knock your socks off! I'm also struck by how many games are provided and how many activities your children can engage in throughout their adventures.
I love that the site offers a parental control page.
The only possibility for trouble I foresee with this game might be if you're on dial up. If you don't have a quick and responsive Internet connection, the game may not load or play well.
I was really impressed with how my kids took to both this game and Jump Start. When our trial membership expires, I'll no doubt become a paying customer! lol
My kids love the Monster Mutts, which are like baby aliens they can adopt and care for on a regular basis. Once the Monster Mutts mature just a bit, they can play games and eventually with proper care (feeding and grooming and the like) can become Monster Teenagers and Adults! lol Too funny.
To be fair... my 10 year-old son hasn't been playing these games nearly as much as my 8 year-old daughter has. He loves them too, but recently developed an obsession for magic card tricks and spends most of his downtime accordingly. He's maybe averaging 2 hours a week on the Jump Start games, whereas my daughter averages more like 7 or 8.
I also wanted to share that the Math Blaster games are 50% comprised of activities containing math drills... with the other 50% of activities dedicated towards exercising the brain towards mathematical thinking. So, in that respect Math Blaster is all about math! Jump Start is just over 50% in it's dedication to enhancing mathematical skill... so in either game your child will find tools for strengthening their math skills.
~The Giveaway!~
Ok, so now for the giveaway! I'm excited to have been invited by Rafflecoptor to use their new giveaway widget. It's simple to use and I think you'll find it a breeze to enter this giveaway!
Only the first two entry methods below are mandatory, the remaining entry methods are completely optional.
1 winner will receive a 3 month trial membership to both Jump Start and Math Blaster ($23.97 Value).
Giveaway Ends August 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM (CDT)
Just a little head's up that we have two exciting giveaways just around the bend!
The first will be announced this weekend and will give one random (and ever so fortunate) winner a 3 month membership to Math Blaster and Jump Start online! This giveaway will be included with our family's review of both online games... so be sure to stay tuned! Btw, I found a blog dedicated to the love of Math Blaster, which is sorta cool don't you think? If you click on the Math Blaster button you'll find it!
The second giveaway includes 2 wonderful books on grammar that are sure to enhance your homeschool (or nonhomeschool) learning environment. Up for grabs to one lucky winner will be My Grammar and I... Or Should That Be Me? and Write (Or Is That "Right"?) Every Time.
This book giveaway will start next week and will include a review. Nothing happens if you click on this image. lol
Looking for a quick reference guide for mathematical definitions, formulas, measurements, and perhaps the proper strategy for calculating answers to everyday mathematical equations? The Math Dictionary for kids is an excellent resource not just for your developing student, but also a valuable asset for any teacher, homeschooler, or tutor. If you have a classroom where math is taught, you'll no doubt benefit from this information-packed mathematical dictionary.
Prufrock Press sent me a complimentary copy of this awesome reference book in exchange for my honest opinion. Before receiving it, I contemplated turning my review into a giveaway, but to be honest with you... I simply value this book too much to part with! lol It's conveniently geared towards children in grades 4th through 9th, and my kids are in 3rd and 5th, so I'm keeping it! lol
If only such a book had existed when I was in elementary school perhaps I would've experienced fewer brain cramps. Ever had one of those? I think I'm still recovering! Those cramps not only hindered my confidence through jr. high and high school, but well into my college career. Math was not something I was fond of... today I have a 10 year-old son who despite having an engineer dad, seems to have inherited my math brain and consequently we shall be keeping this book in our library! lol We're so blessed to live in a day and age where there are resources like this math dictionary to refer to and learn from. My 8 year-old daughter LOVES math and had a great time flipping through this book. She told me "Hey mom, we need to keep this for when I start 4th grade!". lol I second that!
Unfortunately, text books don't always do an adequate job of connecting the dots for those who struggle with numbers. Imagine having a reference book you could easily hold in your hands (not a dinosaur of a read) loaded with definitions and simple to understand steps towards mastering mathematical principles? I believe this book should be on every parent's bookshelf, within easy reach of their children.
The definitions in the Math Dictionary for kids are well worded (without being wordy), easy to understand, simple to follow, and come accompanied with colorful visuals. It's the perfect book for any math student... as well as for the parent helping them to understand, or explain the operations needed to find the correct answer... especially if it's been awhile since you've opened a math book!
Just a few facts about this book:
Includes over 400 full-color illustrated definitions
Provides definitions, illustrations, explanations, and examples of math problems
This book includes algebra, geometry, measurement, fractions, decimals, probability, and statistics
Available as an iPad app
You can read reviews of this book, as well as sneak a peak at the inside at Amazon.com
You may wish to learn more about Prufrock Press and their complete line of advance learning tools and resources by visiting their website.
I received no compensation in exchange for this post. Prufrock Press provided a "review copy" of the Math Dictionary for kids in exchange for my honest opinion.
If you're not reading this post on The Homeschooling Blog... the content has been hijacked without permission.
Are you struggling to teach your children how to reach their true potential? Not just academically, but with people? And with their own self-esteem or self-worth? Sometimes the hardest lessons in life for us to learn (or teach) deal with how to put the needs of others above that of our own desires and interests. I find this to be true even in my own household... watching my children quarrel is probably the most stressful thing we face as a family. Ever been there? Oh, it's been a long week.
Finding resources for teaching children to do the right thing... and for the right reasons are hard to come by. Especially in this self-serving society we find ourselves in.
I suppose that's what makes C.D. Shelton's book A Kid's Guide to Being a Winner so refreshing! It's a quick read and filled with common sense. Remember that? lol It's getting harder and harder to find. Much like a children's Bible which you may use to teach your children how to love others, feel good about doing "right", and what consequences look (and feel) like, this non-fiction book gives you an excellent accompaniment to any devotional or lesson on looking and feeling like a winner. That being... an individual who practices selflessness with a winning spirit and full heart.
I love everything about this book... from the giant apple on the cover to the encouragement and wisdom within it's pages. It's ALL about making the right choices for the right reasons. It's about feeling good about those positive decisions you're making... knowing you are making the world around you a better place for someone else. Above all accomplishments we could hope our children to attain, this should be at the top. Regardless of what they may become "when they grow up", they'll go miles above the competition if they know how to love and care for others... and feel good about doing so!
The chapters in this 40 page easy read include:
Being A Winner
Being Responsible
Being Thoughtful
Being Respectful
Having Gratitude
A Positive Mental Attitude (my personal favorite!)
This book stresses the value to self and to others, through the art of making the right decision, and reminds children they get to make that choice all on their own! I especially love that message! It's a choice they should feel good about. It's about saying no to drugs and peer pressure, about helping others, listening in class, saying please and thank you, and it's about not holding grudges or hanging your head low when things go wrong... but rather learning from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, and moving on.
I love this excerpt:
"Winners show GRATITUDE
when they focus on what is
RIGHT and GOOD
in their lives.
It's not so much what happens to
you, but how you ALLOW it
to affect you.
When "stuff" happens, LEARN
the lesson, MOVE-ON and then
focus on what is RIGHT and
GOOD in your life."
I've been reading some of the awesome reviews from readers on Amazon.com... so many customers have found the common sense principles taught in this book to be an essential to the health and success of a child's social development. What's more... A Kid's Guide to Being a Winner sells on Amazon for around $10! A great price for a hardcover book and one I can whole-heartily recommend to my readers.
Choice Publishing House has generously provided The Homeschooling Blog with a single copy of A Kid's Guide to Being a Winner by author C.D. Shelton.
The following review reflects my honest opinion of this book. The
Homeschooling Blog has received no other compensation, in any form, in exchange
for this review.
If you're not reading this post on The Homeschooling Blog... the content has been hijacked. Please let me know by following this link and leaving me a comment. Thanks in advance!
Recently I was provided a full set of the new 5-book MADE BY GOD series by ZonderKidz for review on this blog. I must say, these books are full of brilliantly colored photos of some of God's most amazing creatures. These books were so much fun to flip through... even for a 39 year-old mom like me!
If I'm having fun with these books, you can imagine just how much they'll thrill your 4-7 year-old reader. Especially if you have an animal lover in the house and what child doesn't love learning about animals? The photography in these books makes you fell all warm and fuzzy, much like many of the animals portrayed in them. I really wanted to keep these books for myself, but we have so many books already and my kids are nearly 9 and 10, so I'll be throwing them into my newest giveaway. Tada! Be sure to stay tuned for more information on how you can win the complete 5-book series. I'll be shooting out the details today!
You may already be familiar with other ZonderKidz I Can Read books and know how well they're worded and illustrated (or in this case, photographed) towards children. And as always, the "Reading with Help Level 2" will give you the perfect excuse (not that you needed one) to sit together and learn some interesting animal trivia to impress the grandparents.
I highly recommend this series to anyone with an emerging reader in the house. Preschool through first grade is the intended audience for these awesome reads by ZonderKidz, but even my third grader (who loves animals) is drawn to these books. I have to admit to having a pretty good time with these books myself (as I confessed to earlier!). I loved reading about my favorite bear... the polar bear and how the momma usually gives birth to twins! Wow... I love my kids, but I'm grateful I'm not a polar bear! Oh, and did you know the arctic fox uses it's big bushy tail to stay warm while sleeping? God gave this particular animal a beautiful gift, wouldn't you say?
For more information on this and other great reads for kids by Zondervan, be sure to visit HarperCollins I Can Read website! You'll find information for parents on this site and activities for children. Go check it out!
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company is a leader in Christian publications. Thanks so much to Zondervan for supplying these books for review on The Homeschooling Blog! I'm sure they'll bless the home of whomever wins my next giveaway!
I received no monetary compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion of ZonderKidz MADE BY GOD series. My opinion has in no way been influenced by the publisher. HarperCollins sent me the complete set free of charge for review on this blog. The complete 5-book series will be given away in The Homeschooling Blog's next random giveaway.
If you're not reading this post on The Homeschooling Blog... the content has been hijacked. Please let me know by following this link and leaving me a comment. Thanks in advance!
