Eccentric Eclectic Woman

Hoppy World Frog Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:22:00 +0000

🐸 Hoppy World Frog Day! 🐸 Here are some photos I took of a Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla) on one of my Dahlias last year. Get more info. here... worldfrogday.org

Tongue Out Tuesday from Nova

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:02:00 +0000

Happy Tongue Out Tuesday from Nova to those who celebrate!

👅😋🐕🐶🐾😛

Raising Funds to Fight Empty Bowls: Fundraiser for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:33:00 +0000

Empty Bowls Fundraiser - photo collage courtesy of the Columbia Pacific Food Bank.

The Columbia Pacific Food Bank, located in St. Helen's Oregon, is the regional food bank that distributes an average of 16 tons of food per week and valuable resources to 38 food pantries, meal programs and produce distribution points throughout Columbia County, Oregon to combat food insecurity. To reduce food waste they participate in a gleaner program that harvests surplus produce from local farmers, gardeners, and orchardists. HOPE (Help Our People Eat) Food Pantry is the one in our hometown of Rainier Oregon that they distribute to. They also provide for Meals on Wheels (MOW) for homebound seniors in our area. Empty Bowls is one of the fundraisers for this wonderful organization.

Empty Bowls Menu

Empty Bowls is the creation of a high school teacher and their students in 1990 in Michigan who came up with an idea to make ceramic bowls to for a fundraising meal to support a food drive. The guests were given a meal of soup and bread and a ceramic bowl to take home to remind them of the hunger in the world. Since then, the Empty Bowls tradition has been held throughout the world to raise awareness and money for hunger.

Some of the yummy soup and the bread that was offered.

The Empty Bowls event in Columbia County was held at McBride Elementary School on April 12th, 2024 from 5-7pm. There is a small ticket fee of $15 per person to get in. It is well worth that because you are donating to a great cause, get fed yummy soup and bread donated by local restaurants and businesses, get to listen to music by The Decades band, and get a lovely keepsake handmade bowl to take home by local artist, Pat Brame. Pat freely makes 300 unique pottery bowls for every Empty Bowls event in Columbia County.

My friend, Erin, and I with our bowls.

This was my third time participating. The first time was during COVID so I didn't get to actually go to the event, but I still got a lovely bowl that I got to pick out online and they gave us a homemade shelf-stable soup mix to go in it instead, which was also wonderful. The second time I went with my husband and the third time was with my husband and my good friend, Erin, and her daughter, Melody. I love participating and giving back to my community and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. I cannot wait to participate next year.

Follow Them

CP Food Bank FB | CP Food Bank IG | PB Pottery | PB Pottery FB

Nearly Wordless Wednesday $2 Braided Hibiscus Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:23:00 +0000

Braided Hibiscus Plant

I purchased an Island Blooms braided hibiscus for $2 at my local Walmart today. It looked healthy and I loved how the trunk was braided. My hummingbirds are gonna love it when it blooms and I have it outside in the summer. I will have it indoors in the winter because I believe this one is of the tropical variety and not a hardy one, but it was still a great deal and I couldn't pass it up!

This is what Walmart says it looks like in bloom.

Braided Hibiscus Care Instructions

Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:40:00 +0000

Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park.

I love discovering new places to see and experience. On March 16th my good friend and I went with her kids to Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview, Washington, just across the river from us. We had all been there before, but this time we went to a part of the park that we hadn't been to, the Japanese Gardens.

The Japanese Garden's Weyerhaeuser Centennial Bridge at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Lake Sacajawea Park is an expansive, well maintained park of 67 acres in the heart of Longview Washington with 3.5 miles of trails that go around the whole lake. There are lovely old growth trees and other plants along with wildlife like ducks, geese, herons, and other water fowl, birds of prey and other birds, frogs, turtles, fish, otters, beavers, weasels, racoons, opossums, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer. You can enjoy biking, walking, and running, jogging, fishing, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boating, birding, wildlife viewing, and taking your kids to play on the playgrounds. There are picnic tables, sitting benches, covered picnic areas, playgrounds, 2 spectacular lake fountains, botanical gardens, an arboretum, restroom facilities, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, bridges, and event spaces. Events held there include Summer Concerts at the Lake, Go 4th Festival, Annual Fishing Derby for kids, and Summer Movies at the Lake. You can enjoy the Frank Willis Arboretum, Japanese Gardens, Rhododendron Gardens, and the Solar System Walk while you are there. The park is designed to be accessible, with paved paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Pets are allowed, but need to be leashed. To get there you have easy street parking all around the perimeter of the park. The park is open from dawn until dusk.

A Japanese Garden Lantern in the Japanese Garden at Lake Sacajawea Park.

The tranquil Japanese Gardens are nestled on an island in the Lake Sacajawea Park. They are gorgeous year-round to view especially in the fall when the leaves of some of the Japanese maples have changed. The Japanese Gardens were meticulously built to mimic the beautiful gardens of Japan. Accessible by the Weyerhaeuser Centennial Bridge, these gardens are a gorgeous haven to Japanese and Asian flora. Within the gardens there are a number of neat structures like pagodas, arbors, statues, and sitting benches. There is also a bubbling brook that I enjoyed listening to while I took in the scenery. It is a lovely, peaceful place to go and get away from it all. I highly recommend visiting if you are ever in the area.

A Pagoda structure in the Japanese Garden at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Location of the Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park.

Japanese Gardens at Lake Sacajawea Park

Address: 3223 NE Nichols Blvd, Longview, WA 98632

Phone: (360) 442-5421

Hours:

Monday	7 AM–3 PM
Tuesday	7 AM–3 PM
Wednesday	7 AM–3 PM
Thursday	7 AM–3 PM
Friday	7 AM–1 PM
Saturday	7 AM–1 PM
Sunday	7 AM–3 PM

15th Annual Rose City Yarn Crawl 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:38:00 +0000

Rose City Yarn Crawl Theme for 2024

The 15th Annual Rose City Yarn Crawl was held March 7th-10th this year in 2024. The Rose City Yarn Crawl is "an annual Portland experience, the Rose City Yarn Crawl is a four-day event for fiber enthusiasts" - knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, and felters. This year the crawl featured eight shops that participated. Within each of these lovely shops they have gorgeous yarn, knitting and crochet notions, needles, handmade wares, books, bags, patterns, and other enchanting things. Once open, visitors use a passport that gets stamped at each of the yarn crawl destinations you visit for a chance to win prizes. With each purchase you make in the shops you will get access to a Ravelry download code for that shop's free pattern. In addition each kit purchased for the patterns gives 10% of the sale to the shop's selected charity.

Image designed by local Portland Tattoo Artist Alice Kendall from Wonderland Tattoo

If you cannot participate in person, you may instead participate in the Rose City Yarn Crawl online and crawl virtually. This is how I participated this year because of time and travel constraints. You can instead download and print the passport and look for the code words on each shop's website then record them on your passport. After you are done shopping and crawling, then you go back to the Rose City Yarn Crawl website and enter them into the virtual passport entry form. After you do this you will be entered to win a prize exclusive to virtual crawlers.

Rose City Yarn Crawl Participating Shops

I bought some things from three of the 8 shops during the crawl: Weird Sisters, Starlight Knitting Society, and Knotty Lamb. I really wanted to buy from more shops, but I unfortunately had a budget that I was following. I received my package from Weird Sisters first on March 15th. I purchased the Wild Witchcraft book by Rebecca Beyer because of all the lovely folk herbalism, gardening, and foraging information in it. It also has recipes for tinctures, teas, salves, etc. Some very pretty full color pages of herbs and plants as well. I love the wood burned stitch markers, too. They have a mushroom 🍄, books 📚, and butterfly 🦋, as well as the St. Johns Bridge 🌉 and their logo. They threw in a pin, sticker of a cool spider in her web knitting, and a bookmark. On March 16th I received both packages from Starlight Knitting Society and Knotty Lamb. From Starlight Knitting Society I purchased the Starlit Owl cross stitch kit by Junebug and Darlin and a lovely enamel pin with bleeding hearts, knitting needles and yarn on it made by Kitty with a Cupcake. The package from Knotty Lamb contained three different sized Crystal Palace Yarns bamboo circular needles and some very cute llama washi tape. They threw in a lovely butterfly button too. All stores I purchased from gave me two awesome downloadable patterns each for free as well (one knitting and one crochet each).

Rose City Yarn Crawl Purchases.

Follow the Rose City Yarn Crawl on Facebook and Instagram and mark your calendar for next year's yarn crawl on March 6-9, 2025. I will be participating in the Rose City Yarn Crawl next year, hopefully in person this time. Maybe I will see you there. Give me a shout if you are also going or just leave a comment on this post telling me what fiber arts you enjoy doing and what projects, if any, you have been working on.

Wordless Wednesday First Day of School

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 15:39:00 +0000

Today was Teela and Zari's first day of school. Teela is in 11th and Zari is in 8th.

Advancing Native Missions Gift Catalog Review #nativemissions #giftingcatalog #giftcatalog #ANM #seasonofgiving #missions #giftofthegospel

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:43:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this catalog through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was compensated for this post.

Advancing Native Missions is a Christian mission based organization that instead of sending out foreign missionaries that have little knowledge of the people or culture, they have native (local) missionaries to spread the gospel and minister. They are already accustomed to the physical climate, environment, and political situation. These missionaries live and minister on a fraction of the resources because their standard of living is comparable to those they serve. They also already know the language, people, and culture and can begin work with minimal training and preparation. They are more committed to working long-term because they already know and love the people; their own family, friends, and neighbors. These missionaries preach the Gospel, plant churches, care for children; found: schools, medical clinics, and Bible colleges to train others.

ANM has over 27,000+ missionaries, church planters, trainers, and workers working in 121 countries around the world with 49,000 + churches planted. Some of these countries that these native missionaries serve are closed to Western missionaries. This is the only way to get the message of The Lord out to them.

Through the Advancing Native Missions Gift Catalog you can help these native missionaries with gifts and donations to them and the people they serve so that they may live in better circumstances. You and your family can also pick from many causes and charities to aid and advocate for those that are in need, including:

a Bible to a fellow Christian for spiritual growth
a boat or bicycle to a church planter or pastor so they can travel easier
a chicken so a family can eat and sell its eggs
a Christmas gift box: a box of small gifts to a child in need
a goat or sheep so a family can have milk and meat
medicine to support medical outreach in impoverished communities
a motorcycle so a church planter or pastor can access remote areas and share the gospel
sack of rice to feed a family on the verge of starvation
school supplies so that a student is more equipped to learn
sewing machine so that a family can start a home business and mend clothing
shoes so a child can play, do chores, and walk to school safely
soccer ball so that kids can enjoy healthy recreation with friends
well to provide clean and accessible water for a community
etc.

My daughter, Zari, looking through the ANM Gift Catalog.

My Thoughts:

I believe that food and financial security is so important and so many in this world are starving, going hungry, and don't have any way to make ends meet. People are also being persecuted for believing in Christ and that is wrong. I know that I am fairly privileged to live in America where I am living fairly comfortably and free to be a Christian and share my beliefs. I am so grateful and thankful for this. My family is overjoyed to be able to share something so important and essential as the gifts in the ANM Gift Catalog.

Included in the catalog was a coloring book for my kids to color that is based on a true story about 4 kids that go the their grandparent's house and learn about generosity through hard work where they earned money to get gifts from the ANM Gift Catalog. You can download this coloring book when you sign up on the website.

Nova says, "Give to ANM! It's a worthy cause.".

Giving to this amazing fund is a wonderful and generous thing to do to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holidays with your family. Sharing the message of Christ and giving the gift of benevolence, service, and humanitarianism is so important for those that are impoverished and/or persecuted for their beliefs. Please help those who cannot help themselves. Use the Advancing Native Missions gifting catalog to donate and directly impact families around the world.

YOU CAN HELP CHANGE LIVES TOO
Find over 20 simple ways to transform lives inside this catalog … all in the name of Jesus.

Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf Review and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:51:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product from Waypoint Goods in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

I love to travel, but sadly I don't get to very often because living on a farm means having many responsibilities: tending animals, planting, gardening, harvesting, and keeping up the home and grounds. However, I still get to occasionally go to: hike, waterfall spot, bird watch, rockhound, mudlark, beachcomb, star gaze, and just explore nature. I also love to go to different fairs, festivals, carnivals, conventions, concerts, theatrical performances, antique shops, bazaars, flea markets, farmers' markets, open air markets, food carts, museums, and art galleries as well.

I am wearing the Jasmine & Jain travel scarf from Waypoint Goods.

When I do go places, I like the convenience of having my hands free to be able to do things and not to worry about my stuff being stolen. Caitlin Blythe, the owner and founder of Waypoint Goods, made the perfect travel fashion accessory to do just that and more! Besides being fashionable, this infinity scarf has a handy, inconspicuous, and unseen zipper pocket that has room enough for an iPhone+ or similar sized cell phone, passport, wallet, keys, some cash, ID, credit cards, boarding passes, facemask, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, and/or other small essentials. This means you can keep your belongings safe and secure without having to take a bulky purse or backpack with you at all times. No more worrying about pickpockets while you are taking in the culture, food, art, sights, and sounds of your next adventure because the hidden pocket blends into the wide folds of the scarf eliminating the outline of your secure essentials. Just place the pocket loop closest to your body and use the other loop to drape over the top and hide the pocket and contents.

I received a Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf from the Featured Artist Series and called Jasmine & Jain. It is one of the lightweight scarves made from all natural bamboo and cotton. This pattern was made by two women, Alison Abbott and Jane, and was inspired by the flower market in Jaipur, India and the local people there, wearing colorful geometric patterns. Marigolds, rose petals and the scent of jasmine made the painted and layered canvas spring to life. The scarf's pattern is a result of an adaption of the full canvas. I love this gorgeous scarf! The oranges, reds and purples with the layered pattern are so rich and beautiful. You can read more about the art process, here. 1% of sales of the Jasmine & Jain scarf will be donated to the nonprofit organization, CharityWater.org.

I love that the Waypoint Goods scarves are made of quality fabric and notions that is sewn well. The fabric is soft, yet durable and is meticulously stitched with a lined pocket that has an invisible zipper. The pocket is lined in Waypoint Goods patterned fabric that complements the outer fabric and is lighter in color so you can find your stuff fast.

There are two different categories of travel scarf depending upon length and fabric choice and each have 5 lovely designs per category. One category is the lightweight bamboo and cotton travel scarf which is long and narrow and great for warmer weather and petite travelers. The lightweight scarves are 18" wide by 34" long and made of eco-friendly 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. The other category is the original travel scarf which is wide and short and is best for cooler weather and wrapping up. The original is 22" wide by 32" long and is made of buttery soft 100% polyester.

I love how versatile this travel infinity scarf is, that you can pretty much wear it anywhere, and it is easy to clean. It can be used as a scarf, shawl, blanket and worn several different ways. You can take it with you on an airplane, train, bus, boat, etc. It is great to have at crowded tourist areas, stadiums, museums, concerts, festivals, date night, out walking the dog, etc. If you don't have other pockets in your dress, jeans or jacket, this scarf is the key to that problem! Washing instructions are pretty straight forward: hand wash cold with mild detergent and lay flat to dry. If you cannot wash the recommended way you can instead machine wash on delicate cycle after placing in a garment bag and then lay flat to dry.

BUY IT

Any of the Waypoint Travel Scarves would be perfect for gift giving! They are a unique and functional gift that is just as great for travel as everyday life. Great for giving at graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or any of those special days or moments that come up. The Waypoint Goods Travel scarf comes gift ready with sleek packaging and the same attention to detail and design inspiration as the scarf itself. Sign up for their newsletter and get 10% off your first order!

WIN IT

Prize: Win a Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf of your choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Nova

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:57:00 +0000

Nova, our new puppy dog.

Meet Nova, our McNab Rat Terrier mix puppy dog 🐕. Her name, Nova, means star 🌟. She has a gorgeous tricolor (brown, black, & white) and merle (blue) coat and super cute cocked ears. Her ears are so expressive. We adopted her from the Lassen Humane Society in Susanville, California and she was being trained by Pups on Parole there. After a long car ride 🚘 all the way from California (about 10 hours there to get her and 10 hours back) to Oregon she is finally home for Christmas 🎄.

Nova at the shelter.

Within minutes of arriving last night we found out she likes to bolt out doors and chase cars 😟. We had a harrowing night trying to find her in the dark 🌉 and cold 🌬️, but everything turned out 🙏 and our neighbor, Chuck, found her this morning on his front porch and brought her back home to us. My family is ecstatic that she is back safe and sound. Now she is content; getting lots of attention, warmed back up, and some much needed rest. Thank you to everyone that was looking for her! Y'all are all amazing!

Nova with my daughters and on her new bed.

She also received a comfy dog bed from our other neighbor, Jessica, for Christmas. She is settling in nicely and loves her new digs. We love her 😍! She is such a sweetheart and loves giving wet kisses 👅 to show her affection 💕.

You can see her adoption photos here... https://photos.app.goo.gl/hkWHzVYZJnayhEpc7

Ameo Life Health Products Review and Giveaway #ameolife #christianhealth #healthylifestyle #supplements #naturalhealth

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:21:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Ameo Life health products are backed by science and research, are all natural, and made in the USA. Their mission is is to "produce amazing natural products to promote care for the body using only the cleanest ingredients, free of chemicals, toxins or any harmful substances". Their products include: vitamins and supplements, liquids and gels, soaps, and lozenges.

Here is an overview of 4 of their products:

pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution

16 oz. (473ml)
30ppm Structured Silver Solution
pH balanced
Supports a Healthy Digestive System
Immune System Support
Naturally Cleanses the Gut
Naturally Cleanses Bad Bacteria, Yeast, and Mold
Safe and Effective Supplement

Extra Strength Silver Gel

3.38 oz. (100ml)
35ppm Silver
Structured Silver Gel
Naturally Support the Skin
pH balanced
Safe and Effective

Organic Silver Soap

4 oz. Bar
Infused with 30ppm Silver
Essential Oils
Naturally, Cleanse the skin
Toxin and Paraben Free

Chelated Multivitamin

60 Veggie Caps
18 Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Increases Energy and Stamina
Easy to Swallow Vegetarian Capsules
Iron-Free for Gentle Digestion
Boosts Nutrient Levels

My Thoughts:

I love products that are natural and nourishing. Ameo Life health products are just that and they are also a company with Christian values. I love how they stand strong in their faith and believe that the human body is a miracle of divine creation and that our planet earth provides the ability to promote healing with natural supplementation and elements. They share this belief with me.

I received 4 Ameo Life products to try out: pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution, Extra Strength Silver Gel, Organic Silver Soap, and a bottle of their Chelated Multivitamins. I love that I got to try out different Ameo Life products and not just one thing.

The pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution is a liquid supplement that adults can take 2 tsp of twice daily and children 4 years and older can take 1/2 tsp twice daily. It doesn't really taste like anything and doesn't have a smell. You can use this both for external skin use and internally as a supplement. I have also been using it on my tooth brush and notice a difference. My gums feel better and so does my gut.

The Extra Strength Silver Gel is Ameo Life's strongest silver gel they offer. It is for external use only and is great for your skin. It comes in a pump and its directions say to apply generously to skin as needed to promote healthy skin. I love to use it on my face as a cleanser. My skin is so dry with this summer heat and this gel is cold and refreshing. My skin soaks it up and feels fresh and rejuvenated. I find that it speeds healing too. I noticed my blemishes disappearing and it is great to quickly heal cuts, burns, rashes, and bug bites/stings too. I have super sensitive skin and this was delicate with no added dyes or perfumes and didn't make me break out like other things.

Ameo Life has 5 different Silver Soaps to choose from. They have Lavender, Charcoal Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Oatmeal Spice, and Peppermint. These bar soaps are all natural, silver infused, and made with organic ingredients. These are great for all skin types and are toxin and paraben free. I received their Charcoal Tea Tree Silver Soap. This soap has orange, tea tree, and bergamot essential oils which make it have a light, pleasant smell. It is a black bar because of the activated charcoal which helps clean the skin, unclog pores, remove oils and impurities, and slough dead skin cells. It also has coconut oil and cacao butter which help moisturize and soften the skin. Plantain leaves from the Broadleaf Plantain have been added because of its healing properties, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and vitamins A, C, and K. Cacao is added for its antioxidants and nutrients and Rosemary extract for its stimulating and astringent effect on the skin, as well as its ability to decongest oily skin. I love this soap! It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

The Chelated Multivitamin is an adult daily multivitamin with 18 essential vitamins and minerals. Recommended use is to take 2 cellulose capsules per day with food. They are gluten-friendly and vegan. Chelated means that it has improved absorption and availability for the human body. The added methylated folate, a biologically active form of the B9 vitamin folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-methylfolate), is a bonus because it helps with depression and other mental health issues and is better for us than the synthetic form, folic acid. It is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, E, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. I can take these with my iron pills since they don't contain iron. These have a "full complex of B vitamins", meaning 8 different kinds: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin); to help with stress, and to support brain function as well as nervous system and reproductive health. I have noticed a significant boost in energy, mood, and stamina while taking them.

BUY IT

Purchase the Ameo Life Health Products here.

WIN IT

Prize: Win 4 full sized Ameo Life products!
Host: Ameo Life and its subsidiaries and FrontGate Media.
Who Can Enter: Open to US residents 18 years or older.
Selection Process:1 Winner will be selected on 8/25/2022 and notified by email at which time they will ask for your address. Winner will have 2 weeks to respond.
Where to Enter: Go to this link https://www.blessedfreebies.com/ameo-life-giveaway.html and fill out the form to enter.

NET Abide Bible + Free Study on the Book of John Review and Giveaway #abidebible #abideinchrist #abide #bible #studybible

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 18:48:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

The Abide Bible is a bible that is a great for scripture study. You can choose from the NKJV (New King James Version) or NET (New English Translation). For the NET version you can pick from 3 different covers: Blue Cloth-bound Hardcover, Brown Leathersoft, and Stone Leathersoft. The leathersoft versions are made of imitation leather with a Smyth-sewn binding which allows it to lay flat while open. It also has two different colored ribbon bookmarks to keep your place while you read. This bible is in an easy to read language and in Comfort Print®.

Features Include:

Bible Trailer:

My Thoughts:

I received the NET (New English Translation) Brown Leathersoft version even though I requested the Stone Leathersoft version because the Stone Leathersoft was on backorder and they were not sure when they would get them in. Even though I didn't get the cover I wanted this bible has a very nice brown imitation leather cover. It came in a sturdy box that protected it from getting damaged in shipping and also keeps it neatly tucked away in after being read, so that it stays nice. I like that it also goes through the features inside the bible on the first page and also has a inscription page in case you are gifting this bible to a friend or family member. I also love that it has "how to use this bible" explanation pages and an introduction of the NET if you are not really familiar with it. It also has a 365-Day Bible-Reading Plan in color to follow in your reading. My absolute favorite aspect of this bible is the Engage Through Art pages. These have full color pictures of art pertaining to the scriptures you have read and a description of the art piece to go with it. I also love all the other prompts and there are so many different ones to delve deeper in the Word of the Lord. I love that this bible is basically a devotional in a bible. Each book of the bible also has a historical and literary context and what you should do to prepare as you read further.

This bible is heirloom quality. It has a faux leather cover with binding that allows it to lay flat when opened. I love this because struggling with keeping a book open while reading is definitely not fun. Also, the full color pictures inside are fabulous. This bible has gold lettering on the cover and spine that says the title and gilded gold outer edges to the pages, as well. It also has two different colored attached ribbon bookmarks to keep your place.

I highly recommend the Abide Bible to further your understanding of the bible and to deepen your faith in God. I can't wait to immerse myself with the tools that this bible provides.

There is a free 21 day bible study through the book of John that is available as part of the Bible launch. Please sign up here: https://bit.ly/3tY50db

WIN IT

Prize: Win a copy of the Abide Bible
Host: Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson and its subsidiaries and FrontGate Media.
Who Can Enter: Open to US residents 18 years or older.
Selection Process: 1 Winner will be selected on 7/25/2022 and notified by email at which time they will ask for your address. Winner will have 2 weeks to respond.
Where to Enter: Go to this link https://www.blessedfreebies.com/the-abide-bible-net-giveaway.html and fill out the form to enter.

BUY IT

Purchase the Abide Bible from Thomas Nelson Bibles.

Kids Faith Krate Review #kidsfaithkrate #disciplechildren #raisethemup #kidsbiblestudy #subscriptionbox

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Fri, 20 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

One of the Kids Faith Krate Boxes.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Days can be hectic. Busy schedules get in the way of spending quality time with the family. Kids Faith Krate can help you focus on what matters and grow your faith together in family discipleship.

Kids Faith Krate is a monthly Christian faith based subscription box for kids a. The hands-on crafts that come in the boxes change from month to month and are best suited for ages 4-10. They can fit craft supplies for up to 3 children in one box. The price goes up depending upon how many kids you would like to have craft supplies for. Boxes are delivered at the beginning of every month so that you will have all 4 weeks to do the material.

What’s Inside All Kids Faith Krate Boxes?

Four weekly Bible lessons to do with your child!
Four crafts to go along with each week's lessons.
A new stamp every month to add to your Stamp Collection for scripture memorization!

In each box is a booklet that guides the parents through the process of helping the child along. It also includes most the items you will need for the crafts and activities. In the guide booklet there is an overview for the parents and 4 complete lessons. Each week's lesson has a key to the krate (a main theme), read together (a scripture and discussion), create together (the craft instructions), talk together (questions to think about and discuss together), remember together (a memorization scripture), and handle with prayer (a prayer you can say together that goes along with a scripture). There is also a stamp in every box to collect every month to make the memorization of the scripture a little more special for the child.

Kids Faith Krate June Camp Compassion Box.

We received the Kids Faith Krate June box early. The theme of this box is Camp Compassion. It goes through 4 lessons, one for each week of the month of June: Compassion for the Hungry, Compassion for the Sick, Compassion for the Needy, and Compassion for the World. Each lesson has scriptures and crafts or activities that go along with the lesson.

I love that there is a guide to show the parents what to do and that it goes through step-by-step what you need to do with your child. My favorite activity in this box was a baking activity where you get to bake a loaf of bread with your child after they decorate a bread napkin themselves. I love that the bread napkin is made of reusable cloth that the loaf can be wrapped in and becomes unique once decorated by the child. After they make the loaf and napkin, they give the wrapped loaf away to someone that might need it. I love this lesson and humble act that teaches compassion and sacrifice.

Make sure you look over what is needed for each project before hand so you will not be missing an item when you go and do the project. Some things you will have to acquire or have on hand at home. The bread ingredients were not in the box, just the recipe. There is also a blanket activity which only includes 4 squares of fleece like material that the child ties together. It suggests that you could make it a larger blanket if you had more of the same kind of fabric to add to it to make more squares. When I opened the box up I noticed that the items were mostly loose in the box, but I inventoried and found that everything was there. I do appreciate that they are probably trying to limit plastic. They seem to have just enough of the material that they provided to create the crafts successfully with anything that you do need at home listed so that you will know what you will need if it is not provided in the box.

BUY IT

Purchase Kids Faith Krate starting at $28.99 a month up to $43.99 depending if you chose a 1 child plan or 3 additional children. These are shipped on the 28th of each month. Use the code “campinabox” and get $10 off your first box!

Harlem Globetrotters 2022 Spread Game World Tour Offer

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:07:00 +0000

US Family Guide provided me with this promotional information and giveaway to share with my readers. I am getting tickets for free in return for posting this information.

Bringing world-class basketball showmanship to arenas all over the U.S. SpreadGame is what the Harlem Globetrotters do best; it's what they've done best for 95 years. Bringing light, laughter and love on the court that extends off the court in the smiles families bring home or the stories fans tell their friends. SpreadGame is excellence shown through basketball wizardry night after night, and demonstrated through years of commitment to unsurpassed entertainment. The Globetrotters SpreadGame through every slam dunk, killer pass and magic fadeaway; and through every smile for a child and every achievement within the communities they visit.

Light, laughter, love. Hope. SpreadGame.

I can't wait until they come to Portland, Oregon on January 22nd to the Moda Center! We love to watch the Harlem Globetrotters play ball.

Don't miss out - Save up to 20% with Promo Code: USFAM

Here is the coupon: https://www.usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=13043&dealid=2964

You can see their World Tour Schedule here to find a game in your area: https://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/world-tour/schedule

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Harlem Globetrotters I am getting 4 free ticket vouchers for my family to go to the Harlem Globetrotters next showing. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free tickets. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Chris Tomlin/UNITED Tour and Giveaway #TomlinUNITEDMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 20:43:00 +0000

Disclosure: Many thanks to Premier Productions for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

Chris Tomlin and UNITED are gearing up for a Spring 2022 Tour! I am excited, as they are coming to Portland Oregon to the Moda Center on March 22, 2022. I love these artists' worship music! They are wonderful and bring such uplifting music to these troublesome times. Please look at the tour dates and places below and find one near you!

WIN IT

Prize: Win free music download codes for UNITED's “people” album and the Chris Tomlin and Friends recording that features Lady A & Florida Georgia Line!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BUY IT

Purchase tickets for the Chris Tomlin/UNITED Tour here!

Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program Review

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 18:52:00 +0000

My family had the privilege of trying the Art History Program from Creating A Masterpiece for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Creating A Masterpiece is founded by Sharon Hofer. Sharon traveled all over the world to study art under some of the finest artists of our time at world-renowned art institutes and studios for the past three decades. She learned that anyone can create a masterpiece and started this online art instruction that teaches aspiring artists step-by-step at their own pace to create beautiful art.

Sharon Hofer of Creating a Masterpiece.

The Art History Program is part of the Creating A Masterpiece line of award-winning art curriculum. These lessons will have you learning the same techniques as the art masters through video lessons taught by Sharon Hofer. This program is a great addition to art history studies. Instead of just reading about the great masters of art, you can recreate their masterpieces too! Your student will learn how to recognize and create period specific art styles and master art skills needed to make masterpieces. They will also learn how to use different art media, for example: sculpture, colored marker, fresco, printmaking, acrylics, mosaic, egg tempera, glass etching, etc. The program comes with art supply lists for each project that are set up so that you can purchase all that is needed on Dick Blick, a wonderful art supplier.

This program features:

Styles of Art in History: In these projects students learn how to create fine art that mimic art styles from different periods of the past. For example: Romanticism, Realism, Cubism, etc. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Historically Themed Projects: These projects can add art to your study of history. For example: a ship in a lagoon representing the Spanish Exploration or a Native American Chief representing life in Early America. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
Exploring the Art of Yesterday: In this project the student will learn to recreate an art piece from Ivan Aivazovsky. Recommended for ages 13 and up. This is a more difficult project.
Capstone Project. These projects are meant to teach the student how to recreate historic masterpieces. These are taught at a masterpiece level and should only be attempted by those who meet Sharon's criteria in the project description.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

We were given access to all the art projects from Creating a Masterpiece until December 31, 2021. There were many different art lessons we could chose from, but we focused on the art history sections in Creating A Masterpiece as this is what we were supposed to review. The art was accessed by logging in and clicking STUDIO in the top right corner. Then we scrolled down to the bottom sections because that is where the Art History Programs were located.

We chose three different art pieces to do for this review from The Art History Program of Creating a Masterpiece. The first was the Expressionism Period: The Zebra (Acrylic Painting) from the Styles of Art in History section. This project I will go into more detail than the others and show pictures. We also did the Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Nomads and the Revolutionary War: The Cannon (Ink) from the Historically Themed Projects section.

I wish each art project would have the level clearly stated according to difficulty. Most do in the project description, but some do not say and so this made it harder to choose the project. The ones that do have this label go from 1-5 in difficulty. All three of the projects we chose had the level in the project description.

The Zebra art supply list.

Each project comes with its own art supply list and purchase list. Just click the "View Supply List" button to see the art supply list. This list shows you what art supplies you will need for the individual project and helps you determine quantity depending upon how many students you have doing the same project. There is also a purchase list of the same supplies provided by Creating A Masterpiece in Dick Blick. You can view this list by clicking the "Purchase Supplies" button. If you already have the art supply at home or need more of the item you can easily adjust the quantity of each item and then add the items you do need to your cart to purchase. You can buy supplies from the provided Dick Blick list or buy them elsewhere if you find them cheaper or want to buy locally. I would also suggest watching the first or second video in each project so you know if you need to buy supplies or can use what you have at home. The art supplies listed are highly recommended as they are the best choice for getting the finest results for the art taught. We bought supplies for The Zebra and The Cannon, but had what we needed for the Egyptian Nomad picture at home.

The Zebra purchase supply list.

The Zebra Blick art supplies.

The first art piece I chose to do because it was a level 3 and I wanted to do some painting with acrylics. I chose The Zebra from the Styles of Art in History section. My daughter, Zari's favorite animal is a zebra, so I decided to surprise her with the art piece after I finished it. There are 5 lessons for this project and within each lesson there are two to three sections each in video format so the lessons are broken up and not too long and you can follow along better. The painting style I learned was from the Expressionism Period. I learned that in the Expressionism Period they used color to express emotion. I finished my zebra painting by signing my signature Fina🌙 in the corner. This project would be great for those learning more about the Expressionism Period.

How The Zebra project is laid out.

The second art piece we did was the Ancient Egyptian Nomad scene from the Historically Themed Projects section. It is a level 1 art piece. We used our markers from home because in the video Sharon says not to go out and buy new markers. We also used regular paper because she said we could use that or marker paper, which we didn't have. We picked similar colors as what she chose in the color swatches. This project has one lesson with 5 video sections. We loved how the silhouette of the nomad riding on the camel took shape and the pyramids in the background became colorful with designs.

The Zebra progression.

The third art project we did was The Cannon. This was a project from the Historically Themed Projects section and level 2 in difficulty. We learned a bit about the Revolutionary War by reading the description of the project. The Cannon is a single lesson project that is broken up into 9 sections. This project used ink in an interesting way, like watercolor. Before doing the project we purchased these supplies through Blick as well. The supplies included a Bristol paper pad, a red sharpie twin tip marker, a Tombow dual brush pen, a size 14 flat brush, and a size 0 round brush. We loved learning the technique to making the pen ink look like watercolor. We will be using this technique in other art projects later on.

My finished Zebra painting.

The Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the projects and lessons thoroughly and are excited to do more of the projects. Sharon Hofer is a great teacher and she explains everything well. These projects go very well with a history curriculum. We highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about art and/or the process of making a masterpiece.

Follow Them on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDU-6301Pwj_1Dez9YkumQ
Hashtags: #hsreviews #fineartonline #CreatingaMasterpiece #ArtClassOnline #ArtCurriculum #ArtEssentials #DrawingCourses #ArtHistoryCurriculum

BUY IT

The Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program can be purchased in monthly or yearly subscriptions for $29.99/month or $299/year. Homeschool special rates are always available to those who contact them.

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program...

Home School in the Woods Time Travelers: New World Explorers Review

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of trying the Time Travelers U.S. History Studies New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Home School in the Woods is a family run business that creates Christian based history curriculum for homeschooling. This curriculum immerses your student in the topic. It is very hands-on with lapbooks, timelines, recipes, art, creative writing, notebook projects, dramatized audio theater, maps, crafts, projects, re-enactments, file-folder games, vocabulary to learn, etc.

The Time Traveler American History Studies are a seven part series that starts with the New World Explorers and concludes at the end of World War II. These are recommended for grades 3-8. There are two different versions you can purchase, a CD version or a digital download version. With the CD version everything that you access and print is on the CD. With the digital download version you download a zipped file, place all of the contents into a folder on your computer, and access it by the start.htm file that is in that folder. We received the digital download version.

Left: Main Menu, Right: Lessons 1-5

We found that there was a lot of preparation that needed to happen before getting started. There is a lot of things needing printed, items needing prepared for crafts and other projects, and general preparation of materials before one can begin the travel. The Beginning of the main menu includes: Acknowledgements / Copyrights and Usage / Bibliography, Introduction, Tips to Consider Before Starting..., and Teacher Helps which gives you a great foundation. Teacher Helps guides you with preparation and organization, gives you a Lesson Planner schedule to help you see an overview of the things being taught and Additional Resources to pull from. It also includes the printables for the 3-Ring Binder Covers and the Teacher Keys for the timeline.

Each study has twenty-five lessons and is supposed to last roughly 5-10 weeks depending upon how quickly everything is completed. These lessons have reading Text Pages and an activity that go with them. Project Pages accompany these to give directions, list of supplies needed, printing instructions, and illustrations for each project and activity. Masters are provided for all printables.

In the Other Resources section at the end of the main menu there are some visuals and directions to help you with the projects, activities, and lapbook. These include: All Master Pages in numerical order, A Gallery of Project Photos (final photos of what projects should look like at the end), and Lap Book Instructions. You can also have your student catch up with the five Project Days that are included in the schedule. The student will compile a lapbook in the 24th lesson. This lapbook is pieced together throughout the studies. The final lesson is a party with a theme that goes along with the series to celebrate the end of the study. These are very flexible and you can pick and choose what projects work best for your family.

You will need a few items to get you through the lessons:

Working Printer
Color and Black Ink for the printer to cover all the printing that will be happening
White and Colored Printer Paper
White and Colored Cardstock (this is best, but admittedly we didn't have any of this and used only white printer paper and it worked OK)
One 3-Ring Binder for the Teacher's Binder (reading text, project direction pages, the "Guide-at-a-Glance," teacher keys, and any of the other teacher helps)
One 3-Ring Binder for the Scrapbook of Sights (student binder for all notebook projects including)
Colored File Folders or Colored Pocket Folders with Fasteners
Scissors and/or an X-acto Knife (when using an X-acto Knife you will need a thick piece of cardboard or self healing mat to use as a cutting surface)
Crayons, Markers, or Colored Pencils to color the pictures, if desired
Glue
Other Craft supplies specified for each of the different projects that your student wants to do

Lessons for Time Travelers American History Study: New World Explorers:

What is an Explorer?
The Life of an Explorer - Pt. 1
The Life of an Explorer - Pt. 2
Ship Ahoy!
PROJECT DAY - 1
Navigation
Brendan, Eriksson, & Columbus
Cabot & Vespucci
Ponce de León & Balboa
PROJECT DAY - 2
Pizarro & Magellan
Verrazano & Cortés
Cartier & de Soto
Coronado & Drake
PROJECT DAY - 3
Cabrillo & Ribaut
Raleigh & Smith
Oñate, Champlain, & Hudson
Bering & Cook
PROJECT DAY - 4
Pirates! - Pt. 1
Pirates! - Pt. 2
PROJECT DAY - 5
Pulling Together the Lap Book™
Exploration Celebration

Zari coloring the binder cover and spine.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:
I enlisted my daughter Zari, who was in 4th grade this past school year, to learn about New World Explorers. She has loved doing Home School in the Woods in the past. This is supposed to be for 3rd through 8th graders so most of the projects she did very well on. She did need my help with some of the more advanced projects and writing assignments and it took her a lot longer to get through some of the written assignments than it might have taken for my older kids. I learned quite a bit too while helping her with this study.

We have been learning about an explorer and ship that is tied to the history out here. The Columbia Rediviva was under the command of John Kendrick and Captain Robert Grey. They sailed in the Pacific Northwest for the maritime fur trade. They used the Columbia River as a key transportation route. This ship is said to have been the model for the local high school being "The Columbians". The Home School in the Woods Time Travelers: New World Explorers goes hand-in-hand with what we have been studying.

My girls with a chainsaw carved sea captain sculpture at Rainier Jr Sr High in Dec. 2017.

This study was jam packed with information. This is all about early U.S. History. It is about the explorers that discovered the new world. In the weeks we had before this review we learned about explorers, their life, and ships, etc. There are creative writing, recipes of the era, notebook timeline, factfile cards, file folder games, penmanship pages, notebooking activities, three-dimensional projects, arts and crafts, lapbooking, and a Exploration Celebration to bring the whole unit to a close. We still have not gotten through all the lessons, but we have enjoyed everything that we have done thus far.

Zari coloring the ship and learning about ship's anatomy.

This was differently laid out than the Project Passports I was used to. There were no stops or pretending to be on a trip and these did not have any audio files to listen to. Like Project Passport though, the instructions are not hard, but there is a lot of things to set up and print out initially and throughout the program....so be aware of that and set some time aside to begin with to get things done so you are not overwhelmed.

Zari really liked our project time together the most. She loves art and making things. She especially loved tying nautical knots, making dried apples, making flags, learning about the ship's anatomy, making and drinking lime juice, and singing sea shanties. We can't wait to make the ship out of a large box that we acquired, dress up like pirates or seaman, find constellations in the night sky for navigation, making navigational tools, and make some of the recipes, etc. We are learning a lot and are enjoying every moment. These are so much fun!

Dried fruit was a main staple of food on a ship while exploring.

I highly recommend the Time Travelers American History Study: New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods. This is great for anyone homeschooling who might need some help with teaching about explorers in the new world in a highly educational, fun, and very hands-on way. This is a great stand-alone unit study or can be used to supplement something already being taught. This would also be perfect for those wanting something fun to do with their kids in the summer time. I am looking forward to reviewing more from Home School in the Woods in the future and learning more about United States history with this study!

BUY IT
You can purchase the download version of the Time Travelers U.S. History Studies New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods for $27.95 and CD version for $28.95.

Download the scope and sequence, look at a sample lesson, see photo examples of projects, and watch a video of "What is a Time Traveler" when you click the link above, to get more of an idea about the program.

Follow Them on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolinthewoods
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HSintheWoods
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hsinthewoods/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Hashtags: #hsreviews #HomeSchoolintheWoods #HSitW #TimeTravelers #NewWorldExplorers #history #unitstudies #lapbooks #lapbooking #HistoryUnitStudies #HomeschoolHistory #handsonhistory #historyforkids #historycurriculum #ushistory #americanhistory #americanhistorystudies #americanhistorycurriculum

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for Home School in the Woods...

Darn Good Yarn One of a Kind Sari Scarf Review

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 17:52:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through the Apogee Agency in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Darn Good Yarn is an online yarn store that is dedicated to supporting women's economic empowerment, fair trade practices, and principles of environmental sustainability. Not only do they sell many reclaimed and sustainable fibers and lovely yarn, but they also sell project kits, patterns, notions and tools, clothing, accessories, home goods, etc. This is a treasure trove of rare and special items to those who love to knit, crochet, do crafts, or just have something as unique as them.

The One of a Kind Sari Scarves are very distinctive They are great for summer because these scarves are light and airy. Made with 100% recycled materials from reclaimed saris by partner artisans in India and Nepal. No two are alike and these can be worn many different ways. These are a great gift to help give back.

My Thoughts:

I received a One of a Kind Sari Scarf. This one was a gorgeous bright color of red, neon green, and pink with cream as well. It has a leafy heart pattern on it. This particular pattern would be great for Valentine's day. The only problem with this scarf is that when I opened it up and examined it I noticed that it already had a small snag in it before I got to wear it. This flaw was a bummer, but it still is a lovely scarf. I love how they are recycled and made ethically and sustainably. This particular scarf is hand made in India. It is eye-catching and a great piece to frame an outfit with and I love that it has good coverage for more modesty.

This scarf is so versatile! You can wear it as a sarong, headband, hair/head covering or wrap or tie, belt, shawl, neckerchief, or scarf. You can also decorate your home with it, cover a small table, use it as a wall covering/art, tie back curtains with them, or use it as a purse or tote bag accent.

I would recommend these scarves. While you probably won't get this particular scarf I am confident that you will love the one you do get. These scarves make the outfit fun with a splash of color and pattern and would be a great unique gift.

I noticed a small snag in the fabric when I took it out of the packaging (this is quite zoomed in).

Here is a video about them...

It can be worn different ways as you can see...

One of a Kind Sari Scarf worn as a shawl.

One of a Kind Sari Scarf worn as a head covering.

One of a Kind Sari Scarf worn as a sarong (albeit a bit messy one).

BUY IT

You can purchase the Darn Good Yarn One of a Kind Sari Scarf here. Add 2 Scarves to your cart and use code SUNFUN to save! Code expires 7/5/21.

Emily Lex Watercolor Package and Classes Review and May Flowers Giveaway #EmilyLex #Watercolors #WatercolorClass #MayFlowers #favoritethings #emilylexstudio

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Tue, 25 May 2021 20:36:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Emily Lex is an artist that makes pretty watercolor art and words of encouragement. Her work has been featured on HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, Magnolia Journal and more. She also has a shop full of lovely things that she has created: watercolor workbooks, art prints, Truth for Today cards, Kids Truth for Today cards, Freely and Lightly book, Twirl children's book and stands for the cards. She also teaches online classes on how to paint with watercolor and do fancy penmanship.

Emily Lex package of products.

We received a very generous package for this review:

A watercolor flowers workbook
A watercolor animals workbook
Truth for Today cards
Kids Truth for Today cards
A brass stand
PLUS free registration for all 3 of her online, go at your own pace watercolor classes including one for kids!

Emily Lex Watercolor Workbooks: Animal (above) and Flower (below).

There are two watercolor workbooks: Watercolor Workbook Flowers and Watercolor Workbook Animals. Each watercolor workbook has you create 10 watercolor pictures with the help of a reference page, instructions, and a faint sketch. They have forty-two 7" x 9" spiral bound lay flat pages professionally printed on slightly textured paper. Each workbook has original watercolor artwork + sketches by Emily Lex. The reference page has a picture of the completed art, paint palette of colors, and simple instructions to help you. The sketch page has a light sketch outline that gets you started with the art. This sketch page can be painted directly onto it because it is made of watercolor paper.

Examples of Emily Lex Truth for Today Cards (left) and Kids Truth for Today Cards (right)

There are two different packs of Truth for Today cards: one regular version and one for kids. Each card set has 31 cards with original watercolor artwork by Emily Lex and a scripture verse. These are 4" x 4" cards made out of 120lb cotton texture eggshell paper. There are also two different types of holders for the cards to sit in: brass and gold card stand. They are both sold separately from the cards. We received brass card holder. It is solid brass with a brushed finish. Emily Lex has three courses you can take: Simplified Penmanship, Simplified Watercolor, and Watercolor for Kids. These classes are online and you can watch them on any device. After purchase you get instant unlimited access to the video course chosen. You can work at your own pace and can pause and replay any lesson at your leisure. Each course has 8-10 video lessons. Supply lists, project templates, and guides are included. Simplified Penmanship is a course to learn better handwriting skills. You can use this to write notes, letters, address envelopes, create artwork, write on a chalkboard, and write legibly and beautifully. Simplified Watercolor is a course that teaches watercolor basics and then helps you create lovely watercolor paintings that you can be proud to display. Watercolor for Kids is a course for kids of all ages. These lessons will teach your young aspiring artist techniques for mixing paint, caring for a brush, and stroke-making, then practice making fun watercolor art cute enough to proudly display.

My Thoughts:

I have not done very much watercolor painting on my own, except for the "Paint With Water" books I did as a child. These were fun, but did not really teach me the fundamentals of how to paint with watercolor. I have always wanted to learn those basics, but never took the time or had the chance. When I received the opportunity of reviewing the Emily Lex Watercolor Package and Classes I jumped at the chance.

I first received the package of watercolor goodies in the mail and opened it up. There were so many fantastic things inside. I cannot wait to thoroughly dive into everything offered.

I looked through the watercolor booklets and am very excited especially to do the whale in the animals workbook and the sunflower in the flowers workbook...2 of my favorite things! There are so many other pages that look like fun also! The instructions on the reference pages look fairly simple to follow and you can paint directly onto the page with the outlined sketch, so no need for buying a watercolor pad of paper. The sketch makes it very easy to know the outline of the painting and you do not need to know how to draw to do these. There are also blank pages to practice what you have learned with watercolor or just do your own thing. I also love that they are perfect for taking with you on trips or outdoors when the weather is nice and they don't need any screen time to do.

The Truth for Today and Kids Truth for Today cards are just lovely. I love the illustrations from Emily Lex and bible verses on each one. These are gentle reminders of scripture truths. They are a wonderful way to start the morning with and would be great as gifts for someone that needs uplifting. Both sets of cards are great for anyone, regardless of age.

I love how the Truth for Today cards can be displayed in the brass holder that we also received. Make sure to place the cards in it the correct way so that the card angles slightly back not forward this way you can read the bible chapter and verse number. This sleek and stylish brass holder can also hold other things as well...like a recipe card.

Here are my finished art from some of the Emily Lex Simplified Watercolor lessons.

There were three different courses that we were also given: Simplified Penmanship, Simplified Watercolor, and Watercolor for Kids. I have been doing the Simplified Watercolor class. It is a great step-by-step watercolor class for a beginner like me or artists who would like the practice. You can go at your own pace watching the videos, pause at anytime, go back if you missed something, and skip over the parts you already know if you want. In this she begins describing the supplies. I only had a cheap set of crayola watercolors, a nice paintbrush set I got as a gift, and a watercolor pad from my kids using our watercolor crayon set. She said that using the cheap paints would be fine, but as you get better with the art then you might want to purchase a better set and she listed a few. She went over some techniques in the third and forth lessons and then we started painting actual pictures of things. There are also bonus lessons at the end as well. I loved how it also checked off the lessons I had done so that I would know where I was the next time I logged in. I could also still go back through the finished lessons if I needed to. I loved painting the Seascape the most so far, but the Dot Project was fun too. I know that my kids are going to enjoy the Watercolor for Kids class. I looked it over and I might even do the lessons right along with them. The Simplified Penmanship class is going to be very good for me. My penmanship is not too bad, but I would love to do better with my writing and learn some fancy lettering too. I cannot wait to get all the way through these. I have learned so much already and there is so much more to go.

I highly recommend all that Emily Lex has to offer. Her products and classes are so much fun and would make great gifts. I am very pleased with everything we received and want to thank her for being so generous so that we could try a bunch of things. Everything here is fabulous! I encourage you to check Emily Lex out for yourself.

WIN IT

Prize: Win the May Flowers Giveaway
Host: Emily Lex.
Who Can Enter: Open to US and Canadian residents 13 years or older.
Selection Process: 3 Winners will be selected on 05/30/2021.
Where to Enter: Go to this link https://emilylex.com/may-flowers-ga and fill out the form to enter.

BUY IT

Purchase products and classes from Emily Lex's Shop.

Learn more about Emily here: https://emilylex.com/about/ and on IG: https://www.instagram.com/emilylexstudio/ and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilylexstudio/

YWAM Publishing Heroes of History George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist and Unit Study Curriculum Guide Review

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Tue, 04 May 2021 20:03:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of reading the Heroes of History - George Washington Carver from YWAM Publishing for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

YWAM (YOUTH WITH A MISSION) Publishing is a nonprofit organization that produces and distributes books that help Christians make a difference in the world by giving a portion of every dollar spent to buy books through YWAM Publishing to children and adults in other countries that are in need. Their books focus on evangelism, educational training, prayer, discipleship, and mercy ministries.

YWAM Publishing has two popular book series; one called Heroes of History and the other called Christian Heroes: Then & Now; in which true stories are told of real people that lived in our history. In the Heroes of History series we learn about great men and woman who changed the course of history. In the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series we learn about ordinary people who have put their trust in God and in doing so accomplish extraordinary things. Both of these book series help us as: parents, teachers, and caretakers; give our children wholesome biographies to read or be read to that teach good character traits, values, and virtues.

George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist

George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist by Janet & Geoff Benge is part of a series of 29 biography books called Heroes of History by YWAM Publishing. This series covers the years 1451 to 1951. This book tells the true life story of George Washington Carver who was a brilliant American agricultural scientist, inventor, and professor. This Christian biography book from YWAM Publishing about George Washington Carver teaches great character traits, values, and virtues too. This book covers the years 1864 to 1943. It chronicles his life from a baby to his death in 1943. It is a total of 16 chapters and 189 pages long.

George Washington Carver Unit Study download page tab.

The Unit Study Curriculum Guide that is paired with the George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist book that I received was in the digital downloadable format and opened as an executable file. The digital version is downloadable in a zipped format, so you will have to unzip before you use it. After selecting where it will go on your computer, unzip it, and find the folder it placed it all into. Find the file version you need: __MACOSX for Macintosh and the other for PC. Click on the file that has START HERE in its title and it will open in a new window in your browser. You can then read a very short synopsis of the biography under the George Washington Carver tab, download the unit study under the Unit Study tab, etc.

The Unit Study downloads in PDF format. It also has a 25 page guide for classroom and homeschool as well as a 12 page guide for a small group that tells you how to best use the unit study. This shows how flexible you can be with the unit study. You can do the whole study or just parts of it. It is all up to you how you use it. The unit study goes in depth to help you go above and beyond the book and explore other areas that pertain to the material like: crafts, cooking, art, and writing assignments; has questions to ask your children to see if they comprehended the reading, and quotes to use as copywork to enhance handwriting or memorization. The unit study is broken into two parts.

Here is the Unit Study Curriculum Guide Contents:
Part 1 -
Introduction (how to use the study)

Key Quotes (great for copywork, memorization, theatrical presentation, or art display)
Display Corner (an area designated for hands on display of items relating to the reading)
Chapter Questions (questions that enhance the reading: 1 vocabulary, 1 factual, 2 comprehension, and 2 open-ended)
Student Explorations (essay questions, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts & crafts)
Community Links (field trip ideas)
Social Studies (places, journeys, terms/vocabulary, geographical characteristics: mapping, timeline: plotting historical events, conceptual questions)
Related Themes to Explore (cultures, math, literature, history, current events, science & medicine)
Culminating Event (sort of a show and tell ending, ideas include: invitations, clothing, competitions, presentations, food, displays)

Appendix A: Books and Resources
Appendix B: Answers to Chapter Questions

Part 2 -
Appendix C: Social Studies Reproducibles

Zari reading YWAM Publishing Heroes of History George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

My 11 year old daughter Zari and my 13 year old daughter Teela read the book. Both have been doing the study guide with me. We learned more about George Washington Carver's life from reading this book than any textbook we had read or movie we had watched previously. It was quite refreshing to learn more about this important man.

After each chapter Zari and I did the first three questions from the study guide which are geared toward the younger students. They include a vocabulary question, a factual question coming from the reading, and the first comprehension question. The study guide is geared toward ages 10+. Zari and I would look up the words in a dictionary and thesaurus as well, for more understanding. My daughter, Teela, had no problem with the reading and vocabulary, but that is because she is a voracious reader. I had Teela do all of the chapter questions. Besides the chapter questions I had Zari do copywork from the key quotes and I had Teela memorize them and say them back to me. I will have Teela do an essay as suggested in the study guide under the student explorations and essays. She will also be doing some creative writing.

We also tried to go to the websites in the books and resources section of the study guide to learn more about George Washington Carver, but most of them were unfortunately broken. We looked up our own and found some pictures of his paintings of flowers and explored the George Washington Carver National Monument Park in Missouri by virtual tour and multimedia. We didn't know he was an artist as well as a botanist and inventor until this study. He was a very well accomplished man.

There was so much to learn and explore in this unit study. We were amazed at the very complexity of it all. We are going to check out some more books and biographies that they recommend in the study guide later. We didn't even begin to scratch the surface and were still very engaged in this lengthy unit study. This would be a great study to incorporate for Black History Month.

The YWAM Publishing biographies are historical and true. These true stories along with the unit studies are great for homeschooling families. We hope to get to read about Theodore Roosevelt next in their extensive biography list. I highly recommend these!

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Website - https://www.ywampublishing.com/
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YWAM Publishing Heroes of History - George Washington Carver book:
~~Regular Price: $9.99~~ YWAM Price: $7.50

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Figures In Motion Famous Figures of Ancient Times Review

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:35:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of trying Famous Figures of Ancient Times from Figures In Motion for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Figures In Motion was created by Cathy Diez-Luckie an award-winning illustrator and homeschooler. One Thanksgiving she came up with the idea of making articulated puppets for her children of Pilgrims. Her children loved them so much she decided to make more historical figures and the company was born. Now Figures In Motion has 8 books dedicated to movable paper figures throughout history, including a book on dinosaurs! They also have 6 different coloring eBooks as well.

The Figures In Motion paper puppets for kids consumable books make up different time periods. They have Famous Figures of Ancient Times, Famous Figures of Medieval Times, Famous Figures of the Middle Ages & Renaissance, Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era, Famous Figures of the American Revolution, Famous Figures of the Civil War, Footsteps in Faith Queen Esther, and Dinosaurs on the Move. Each book is softcover with perforated pages to tear out for easy access to each paper doll. The pages are made of card stock material. In the front of the books are short descriptions of each historical figure. Then it has a reading list for each paper puppet to further learning. Each historical figure has a full color version and a black and white lined version to color. The costume illustrations are historically accurate. On the back of each paper puppet's articulated pieces are how they are put together with the help of a letter key. After they are cut out, these pieces are hole punched with a ⅛" hole punch where indicated and put together with mini brads so that they are moveable at the joints. You may purchase the hole punch and brads separately at most craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.) or on the Figures In Motion website. They allow moms to copy the line art pages to use with more than one child in your family. They do not allow them being shared at coops, or between other families or school settings. They have licenses for coops, church groups, and classrooms.

Figures In Motion Famous Figures of Ancient Times

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

We received the Famous Figures of Ancient Times physical book from Figures In Motion. Figures In Motion was very generous as they also gave us a hole punch and brads in the correct size for the review. This particular book had 21 historical men and women (19 men and 2 women). Figures include Jesus, Moses, David, Julius Cesar, Alexander the Great, Aristotle, and more! We will be studying more on each figure as we read about them with our ancient history lessons at home. The included book list will be a great teaching resource so that we can further our learning. We love learning about history especially if it is hands-on. These books make history incredibly interactive.

Zari assembling Leizu.

Zari looked through the Famous Figures of Ancient Times book to pick out a figure to articulate. She was very surprised to find there were only two women in the book. She picked Leizu, a Chinese empress, to learn about, cut out, and put together. We read the blurb about Leizu first. Then, Zari chose the full color version of her because she wasn't in a coloring mood. We pulled the page out with the perforated edge and she cut out all the pieces. Besides letters to match up we noticed that the back of each piece had either back or front on them so you could place them in the correct position on the articulated doll. I showed Zari how to line up the hole punch correctly and punch out the holes where the dots where located on the doll. She placed each body part on the doll correctly and lined up the holes to place the tiny brads. After she was finished putting the doll together she danced her around the table saying, "Oh no! A cocoon dropped into my tea!".

Zari holding the articulated movable paper doll, Leizu.

We highly recommend Figures In Motion Famous Figures of Ancient Times. These are great for kids to have a hands-on tactile experience learning history. Because they are moveable they are more fun than your standard paper doll and they are super easy to assemble. This is a great arts and craft to enjoy along with the learning. Kids can put on a puppet show to reenact historical events with these. They are great educational play and the imagination. The historical paper dolls are wonderful to be used with biographies, with lap books, as a unit study, with a timeline, or with any ancient history curriculum.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
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TV Store Online Wonder Woman Vintage Tried and True Full Zip Sedona Hooded Sweatshirt Review and Giveaway #justiceleague

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 21:34:00 +0000

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this complimentary product from TV Store Online in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The giveaway product is also provided complimentary to the winner. Affiliate links are in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

TV Store Online is a great online store that has quality licensed merchandise from TV, movies, comic books, and 80's themes. There is stuff from Disney, Hasbro, Nintendo, Marvel, DC Comics, Harry Potter, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. You can find a number of accessories, clothing, footwear, pajamas, robes, costumes, shirts, leggings, etc.

The TV Store Online Wonder Woman Hoodie has pockets!

Apparently there is a new Justice League movie that just started streaming on HBO Max, so celebration was in order. For this review I picked out the Wonder Woman Vintage Tried and True Full Zip Sedona Hooded Sweatshirt in a small to review. The small fit was just right. This officially licensed hooded sweatshirt comes in S-XL in juniors sizes. I love that this sweatshirt is super soft inside and out, has a hood, zips up, and has pockets. It is a lovely sedona red color and has the words *Wonder * Woman* printed up the right sleeve. It also has the Wonder Woman logo on the left side. I love the retro feel of it. The hoodie is made from 60% Cotton and 40% Polyester. I love the comfortable feel of this hoodie and will wear it often!

I recommend TV Store Online for all your fan apparel needs for the entire family. You can even all match or be unique...it is all up to you. Father's Day is coming up and they have so many great products to choose from. Deluxe Face Masks are now available too!

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Prize: Choice of Justice League product from TV Store Online up to $50.
Who Can Enter: 18+, USA and Canada Only

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ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries Review #ComplimentaryProductReceived

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 23:49:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of trying the Art of the Northern Countries from Artistic Pursuits Inc. for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. creates art curriculum for children. This full-color curriculum helps children to grow their skills of observation and critical thinking. It teaches all components of fine art, including creativity, art history, art appreciation, and art techniques. This unique homeschool art program permits the student to be expressive and make up their own decision about what and how they will draw, paint, or sculpt.

ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray by Brenda Ellis are brand new hardcover books for kindergarten and elementary students. These have art history and art instruction lessons in text with pictures to study and video lessons on how to use the art materials. There are a total of 8 volumes currently:

K-3 Vol. 1 ART FOR CHILDREN, Building a Visual Vocabulary
K-3 Vol. 2 ART OF THE ANCIENTS
K-3 Vol. 3 ART OF THE MIDDLE AGES
K-3 Vol. 4 ARTISTS THAT SHAPED THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
K-3 Vol. 5 ART OF THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES, RENAISSANCE TO REALISM
K-3 Vol. 6 ART OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS
K-3 Vol. 7 ART OF THE MODERN AGE
K-3 Vol. 8 ART IN AMERICA

Each book covers one whole semester of art if you have your student do one lesson a week. You can do these lessons chronologically starting with volume 1 and follow the history volumes in order or do volume 1 and then skip to the volume of choice after that. It is all up to you.

Art of the Northern Countries is the fifth volume of the series. It is a hardcover book with both Blu-ray and DVD. It has 64 pages, 18 lessons (12 text lessons featuring artworks by ancient artists and 6 video lessons featuring art instruction on materials), and 86 illustrations. This art curriculum book and videos takes a look at of the Northern Countries of Europe from renaissance to realism. The book covers monoprints, observation drawing, relief prints, and more. Young learners will discover where the long lasting tradition of Realism in Western art began as they create and respond to art of the Northern Countries of Europe. They will experience art from famous artists like: Durer, Tuner, Millet, and Carot. Children will work with printmaking, watercolor, charcoal, and oil pastel.

K-3 Vol.5 Art Supply Pack | ARTistic Pursuits

K-3 Vol. 2 Art Supply Pack (can be purchased separately or with the book for additional cost) Includes:

Prang Pan Watercolors, set of 8
Blick Vine Charcoal sticks
Watercolor Paper Pad, 30 sheets
Sketch Paper Pad, 30 sheets
Speedball Hard Rubber Brayer
Water Soluble Printing Ink in teal, yellow, and black
Foam Printing Sheets, set of 12, 9" x 12"
15" x 15" cotton fabric burnt orange cotton tote bag

You will also need these materials from K-3 Vol. 1 Starter Pack Materials list:

Ebony pencil
Watercolor brush, #8 round
Watercolor paper pad
Drawing paper pad
Construction paper
Scissors
Elmer's Glue-All

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries Lessons 1-4.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

I did this art instruction for kids with my daughters Zari and Teela who are in 4th and 7th grade this school year. We did one lesson a week and completed 4 lessons. We did what we could with what we had at home and I also bought some supplies as well. My kids love art so they enjoyed these activities and learning about the art and history very much.

The lessons without videos have prep notes with tips and information about the type of art. It also has notes on how to instruct a larger group. Then there is the art history lesson on the next page with pictures of an art piece and questions at the end in bold. After the history lesson the book has a page of how to do the art. Each art lesson has a box of text that will list the materials needed for that art project, an example picture of the art made by a student, pictures of the art being assembled and instructions with more insight into the history. The lessons that have videos are truncated in the book and have a minimal amount of information to show you what art will be created and what materials are needed to make the art. These are used with the DVD or Blu-ray.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries Online Course.

We also received access to the Online Course for the Art of the Northern Countries. When you login you get to a page that says "My Art Courses". This lets you click on view product and sends you to that course page. This page lets you start the course online with some bonuses. First it has a "Course Introduction" which has "Welcome to the Course", "Your Instructor", and "Course Book and Contents" in video format. The next category in the Online Course is "The Art of Seeing". This section has 2 bonus video lessons: "First Landscapes" and "Discovering Light". The next section is called, "The Fundamentals" and it has all of the same video lessons online as the DVD to follow along with the book lessons. The next category is called "Advanced Tips" and has a video on "Why Light and Dark Need Each Other". Last is a "Course Wrap Up" and has a video called, "What's Next". It will automatically mark these video lessons as complete once they are watched or you can mark as complete yourself. After they are completed they will have a check mark show up beside them in the course menu. We loved having the option to watch these videos online.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries, K-3 Vol. 5: Lesson 1 (monoprint).

The first lesson we had an introduction of art in Europe around the Northern Renaissance and learned how to use a brayer roller and black water-soluble printing ink to make a monoprint using plants and stencils. This lesson was accompanied by a video (video #1) on the DVD or Blu-ray. This gave us very visual step-by-step instruction of the process. We liked the videos and thought they were very thorough, educational, and nicely done. The video had the art history and art instruction to show how to use the brayer roller and black water-soluble printing ink. Teela did this lesson and she did a butterfly as her stencil. She found plants in our yard to use as well. Hers didn't quite come out as crisp as the one shown in the video and book, but she at least got to understand monoprints and how they work.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries, K-3 Vol. 5: Lesson 2 (observation drawing with oil pastels).

The second lesson in the book we learned about Durer and his painting, "The Large Piece of Turf". We read in the art book how Durer was inspired by art that looked like the real world and how he choose to paint plants when others were painting people. There are questions at the end in bold of this art history lesson about the "The Large Piece of Turf" painting in the book to make sure the children are paying attention to the art. Then we are told with words and shown with color pictures in the book how to make a frame out of construction paper and draw plants with oil pastels. Teela did this art outside and picked plants in our "fairy garden" to draw.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries, K-3 Vol. 5: Lesson 3 (oil pastel drawing, snow scene).

The third lesson we learned about Bruegel's painting, "Hunters in the Snow". There are questions at the end in bold of the this art history lesson in the book to make sure the children are paying attention to the art. Then we are told with words and shown with color pictures in the book how to make an oil pastel drawing of a winter scene. Zari made a snowy cabin in the woods with snow falling and a moon.

ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art of the Northern Countries, K-3 Vol. 5: Lesson 4 (relief print).

The forth lesson we learned more about relief prints. This lesson was accompanied by a video (video #2) on the DVD or Blu-ray. This gave us very visual step-by-step instruction of the process. In this lesson you make a white figure of a pet on a dark background. The video had the art and art instruction to show how to prepare the wax paper surface with the registration sheet, make a printing plate with foam printing sheets, and use the brayer. Zari decided she wanted to do our bunny, Norman, who had passed away. I helped make the printing plate. It asked us to use a picture of a light colored pet. We have a white horse, but Zari wanted to do Norman instead, so even though he was a black and white rabbit I think she did a good job as the correct areas of him were white and black.

There was only one thing that I would change if I was the author. My daughters and I wished that all the lessons had videos because we are very visual and the videos made the instruction so much easier, but we would also have liked those that did have videos to have the whole instruction and art history lesson in the book as well. This would make it easier to use with those children that are too young to read and those that learn better by reading than by visual and audio as well would benefit if both were used for all lessons. This would help our learners of all types.

So far ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray Art of the Northern Countries has been very educational and fun. We have learned so much about the art of the time. I highly recommend this art for children. ARTistic Pursuits Inc. Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray Art of the Northern Countries would be a great art curriculum for use with art history lessons and unit studies of Renaissance, Realism, and Europe.

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Hashtags: #hsreviews #myartisticpursuits #homeschoolart #artinstruction #ART #Homeschool #ARTEDUCATION #artisticpursuits #creativity

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You can purchase ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray. They are each $39.99. If you would like to purchase the art kits with these it is more and depends on the kit.

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Math-U-See Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Review #ComplimentaryProductReceived

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 23:39:00 +0000

My family had the privilege of trying the Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division from Math-U-See for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

The Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Set has everything to teach older students who are struggling with math, specifically with a mastery of multiplication facts. This instructor-guided intervention program is generally targeting students age 10+. With the use of proven methods and manipulatives from Math-U-See, AIM strives to give students the confidence to learn better methods to succeed in multiplication and thus excel in more complex math continuing on in their education. Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division has 10 lessons for multiplication learning and 2 lessons with a bridge to division.

Accelerated – The opportunity for students to move quickly through a skill set they have not yet mastered, without extra distractions.
Individualized – Each student is different, as are their learning preferences. Using as many approaches as possible, the program creates an environment for a student to master the skills they still need at their own pace.
Mastery – In this program, mastery means that a student can recall all the math facts using as little mental energy as possible to remain engaged in the process of problem solving.

Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Kit

Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) Contents:

Resource Guide Step-by-step guide that includes the techniques, components, and instruction for presenting fact strategies and practicing for mastery. Includes 10 lesson plans for multiplication and 2 with a bridge to division.
Integer Blocks Proven Math-U-See manipulatives illustrate strategies and are integrated within the instructional materials.
Fact Check Cards Set of cards used for planning instruction and assessing mastery.
Math Facts Strategy Posters Individual posters illustrating the Math-U-See multiplication fact strategies.
Digital Pack Set includes code to redeem access to the AIM for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Digital Pack. The Digital Pack includes lesson videos, instructions, solutions, and
printable resources required for successful implementation of the AIM for Multiplication
program. This gives you access to all the online and downloadable activities and resources. Internet access is required to utilize the Digital Pack.

Lesson 2 in the Digital Tool-Box.

Getting to and using the Digital Pack that comes with the kit after it has been purchased is easy. Once you have purchased the Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division and it has arrived at your home you will receive a Digital Access card inside the box. This will give you access to the Digital Tool-Box online, just follow the directions to sign up. There is a pull down menu to select a product on the left. Pick Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM). On the right hand pull down menu select Multiplication. Once you select a lesson you can play the Streaming Instruction Video and/or click on the pull down menus underneath each video with printable PDF links for a Lesson Summary and Lesson Solutions. There are also Additional Activities and Resources that you can also print out.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

I used this program with my daughter Zari, who is 11 years old. She takes a long time with solving multiplication facts. Zari and I are familiar with Math-U-See and how the program works because we had used the Primer kit when Zari was in preschool and the AIM for Addition and Subtraction last year. Now that she is in 4th grade I believe the Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division will get her back on the right track for math and help her become more positive in her skills.

First Zari did the Before-AIM Assessment so that we could see where she was with her multiplication facts. This assessment is an important step to evaluate your student's progress and mastery. There will also be a After-AIM Assessment that will show you if your student achieved the goals. In this assessment 81 multiplication facts are asked verbally to the student in a stress free environment. Make a slash through the facts they answer correctly. Students being assessed can take a break after 1-2 minutes. You will then tally up the number of correct answers at the end.

This is what I did before most lessons:

Watch lesson video
Read lesson instructions
Study example problems
Gather lesson materials

These are the sessions of most lessons:

Session A: Present Lesson Instruction
Session B: Demonstrate Understanding
Session C: Transition Math Facts to Visual Memory
Session D: Assess for Mastery

Color by Block Value Activity

Lesson 1 was all about the integer blocks. This was review from last year. Zari loved the activities and resources parts of the instruction the most. In Lesson 1 her favorite was the color by block value activity. I thought she did very well with the activity sheets too in getting to learn the colors that went with each integer block. After mastering them again we moved onto lesson 2.

Zari watching Lesson 2 in the Digital Tool-Box.

Lesson 2 was all about rectangles, factors, and product. This lesson only has a session A. This lesson was also review for her. She also reviewed about area of a rectangle. After this we went onto the Digital Tool-Box and did the activity sheet that went along with the lesson. She did the Build, Write, Say method with the sheet. There are activities A-C on this sheet. Zari did very well with this lesson and knew how to solve for the area of a rectangle, and so we moved onto the next lesson.

I think that Zari is having fun doing these lessons and learning multiplication without taking so long. The instruction of the Math-U-See Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division is outstanding and well put together. I highly recommend it if your student needs this to succeed in math.

BUY IT
You can purchase AIM for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division for $45.

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A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice Book Review and Giveaway #amostclevergirl

noreply@blogger.com (Finamoon) — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 17:31:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I received this product in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jasmine A. Stirling in exchange for my honest review.

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice by Jasmine Stirling is a wonderful book geared towards 4-12 year olds. It has lovely illustrations by Vesper Stamper that have a warm cottage feel. The story begins with Jane as a girl living with her family at Steventon in the Hampshire countryside, to her tragically quiet time in the small house in Bath, and then ends with her as an experienced woman back in the countryside again finding her voice once again, only wiser. This book will certainly be a delight to Jane Austen fans everywhere.

I love this book! It is eloquently written and illustrated. My girls who are 10 and 12 also found themselves consumed by the words and pictures. They were absolutely enthralled by the story of one of their beloved authors. I loved how her father was so supportive of Jane and her ambitions. Through all of the trials she had in her life, Jane grew into a talented, perceptive, and clever woman. Her experiences shaped her and made her better.

I highly recommend A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice for all ages. Jane Austen fans especially will love this book. This is also a great book to introduce Jane Austen to little ones.

Follow The Author on Social Media:

Website: https://jasmineastirling.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmine.a.stirling.author
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasmineStirling

BUY IT

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sGRdFa
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781547601103

WIN IT

Enter for a chance to win a glorious Jane Austen-themed picnic basket, including a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

A picnic basket filled with:

A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling
A vintage teacup
1 oz of tea From Adagio Teas
Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates
Gardenia hand cream
A set of Jane Austen playing cards
A $15 gift certificate to Jasmine A. Stirling’s Austenite Etsy Shop, Box Hill Goods

Two (2) winners receive:

A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling

The giveaway begins March 16, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT, and ends April 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

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