Since having my boys, I’ve always dreaded taking their temps, especially when they’re little, and you can’t get them to hold the oral themometer in their mouth.  I don’t feel that taking an axillary temp is as accurate, so I’ve always gone with the dreaded rectal temps when they’re little.  Oh yes, I just said it….dreaded rectal temps.  They are just not fun, especially when little ones are already sick and as uncomfortable as one can get.

A few months ago, I had heard about forehead thermometers, but I really didn’t know that much about them.  I’d heard they weren’t as accurate; still, I really wanted to try one.  We have now had the opportunity, due to the gracious generosity of Exergen, to review one.  I’m so excited to tell you about this thermometer, because I believe it is going to be a wonderful tool for all moms, especially new moms who are just grabbing hold of this job we call motherhood.

The Exergen Temporal Scanner, or forehead thermometer in layman terms, is just that, an infrared forehead thermometer.  It measures temperature readings from the temporal artery, which is located in your forehead.  There are no alcohol wipes needed to disinfect afterwards, no probe covers needed for doctor’s offices, no mercury to deal with if it breaks, and hardly any time spent taking a temp on a sick child.  It doesn’t require them to keep their mouth shut when they can’t breathe because they’re so stuffed up, and it requires no invasive measures whatsoever, which means no trying to hold the diaper shut while you take a temp, so that the baby doesn’t pee all over you.  You simply slide the probe, after removing the plastic cover, across their forehead, from the center over to the hairline, while at the same time depressing the button.  Once you reach the hairline, let go of the button, and voila, you have your temp!  It is awesome, to say the least!

I actually wanted to compare mine to the oral thermometer, just because of rumors I’ve heard circulating about this thermometer’s accuracy, and I found them to be comparable to each other, just within a few points….I think the Exergen said 98.6, and the oral thermometer said 98.2.  So, I definitely would trust this thermometer.  Not only that, but the Exergen Temporal Scanner is tested 6 times during the manufacturing process, and it comes with a 1-year warranty.  Tests show it is accurate to within +0.2 degrees F- a much more accurate reading than taking the temperature any other way.

I highly recommend this thermometer for every mom and dad.  It’s a great tool, especially for new moms who are experiencing the highs and lows of having a new baby.  You can purchase the Exergen Temporal Scanner from stores like Walmart, Walgreens, Costco, etc., and prices usually range between $29-$49.  It comes with a 9V battery that is easily installed.  You can also find Exergen on Facebook.  To find out more, Melissa J. has a great video below, demonstrating just how this thermometer works.  Also, you can get a $5 rebate if you use this coupon when purchasing your Exergen Temporal Scanner.  Be sure to check out the details of our giveaway below Melissa J.’s video!

Melissa J’s Thoughts

Untitled from mama buzz on Vimeo.

Now it’s your chance to win an Exergen Temporal Scanner.  You can enter in one or more of the following ways.  Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter.  We will draw the winner on Thursday, April 1, using random.org.

1. Check out the Exergen Temporal Scanner website, and tell us what you love best about this thermometer.
2. Follow our blog, or subscribe to our posts.
3. Subscribe to our newsletter.
4. Follow us on Twitter.
5. Tweet about this giveaway; in fact, you can tweet once daily to gain extra entries.
6. Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to MamaBuzz.
7. Digg or Stumble this post.
8. Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs or Mom Blog Network (just click on buttons in sidebar).

Good luck, and have a wonderful day!

Check out more reviews from our review panel of moms!

(Disclosure: We were each provided an Exergen Temporal Scanner, free of charge, by Exergen Corporation, for the purposes of this review.)

Raw Energy

By: Stephanie Tourles

Retail Value: $16.95

Disclaimer: Mama Buzz and reviewers received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Melissa J’s Thoughts:

This book is perfect for my family! Absolutely perfect!  We have been trying to move into a more natural, raw way of eating but have really struggled because we are a family that tends to eat little meals all day long, instead of a few big meals. I was running out of snack ideas – - until I received Raw Energy by Stephanie Tourles.

I immediately tried the Frozen Banana Sundae Bites for my 2 year old daughter. While I am not a fan of bananas, she is. What a hit those were!  They are definitely on the snack list now, not only for her, but also my daycare kids that I attempt to feed healthy foods to while they are in my home.

Second on the list was Almond-Raisin Cocoa Bites–only I used chopped dates instead of raisins, liking the taste of dates much better. Oh yum! Need a chocolate fix!? This is the way to get it in a healthy way!

Next on my agenda is the Pecan-Pick-Me-Up Bites. . .

This is a book that already has bent pages from all the flipping to and fro I’ve done in it. It is one of the best resources ever for those just beginning the raw food lifestyle. Raw eating is not easy–but this book helps it be less of a struggle because of the yummy snack ideas in it.

The book sections include:

Raw Snack Basics

Raw Snack Pantry and Kitchen Essentials

Raw Snack Prep 101: Learning How to Uncook

Super-Satisfying Raw Nut Milks, Shakes, Smoothies, and Frozen Fruit Creams

Fit and Fabulous Fruit and Vegetable Juices

The Snacks that Keep You Going: Energizer Bars, Balls,a nd Bites

Powerhouse Nut, Seed, and Fruit Blends

Raw Cereals and Delectable Fruit Parfaits

Vegetable Jolt: Crispy Chips, Zippy Dips, and Scrumptious Spreads

Chillin’: Fresh Cold Fruit and Vegetable Soups

Raw Confections: No guilt, Nutrient Packed Candy and Cookies

Suggest Reading, Resources, and Index

For those who are questioning the whole raw food thing, this is the book to buy. Not only will the recipes be a delicious introduction to the raw lifestyle, Sheri also does a great job explaining why we should eat raw and giving a basic course on how to achieve it.

For those who have been partitally raw diet, this book will move them even further into the raw lifestyle realm, simply because it broadens the horizons on different recipe ideas.

For those immersed in a total raw diet, they will want this book to add to their repertoire of already existing snack ideas and recipes.

This is a book that everyone who longs to eat healthier, especially when it comes to snacking—even if they are not 100% sold on raw eating—is going to want to purchase. It is money very well spent. After all, you can’t put a price tag on a healthy body!

Mel’s Thoughts:

Raw Energy, by Stephanie Tourles, is a book with 124 Raw Food Recipes for Energy Bars, Smoothies, and Other Snacks to Supercharge Your Body.  Stephanie Tourles is actually a licensed holistic esthetician who has worked in this field for over 20 years.

Here is a peek at what Raw Energy contains:

• Raw Snack Basics
• Raw Snack Pantry & Kitchen Equipment Essentials
• Raw Snack Prep 101: Learning How to “Uncook”
• Super-Satisfying Raw Nut Milks, Shakes, Smoothies, and Frozen Fruit Creams
• Fit and Fabulous Fruit and Vegetable Juices
• The Snacks That Keep You Going: Energizer Bars, Balls, and Bites
• Powerhouse Nut, Seed, and Fruit Blends
• Raw Cereals and Delectable Fruit Parfaits
• Vegetable Jolt: Crispy Chips, Zippy Dips, and Scrumptious Spreads
• Chillin’ Fresh, Cold Fruit and Vegetable Soups
• Raw Confections: No-Guilt, Nutrient-Packed Candy and Cookies

This book is basically a powerhouse manual that’s easy to reference and have on hand when trying to figure out how to eat healthier.  I was especially excited to review this book because sometimes in our house, snacks can get quite boring.  I try to keep them on the healthy side, but it’s not always easy.  Now I have something I can reference for some easy, quick fixes.

Not only does this book give recipes, but it teaches the reader about raw foods and how they work to help the body.  Every ingredient used throughout the recipes is described in The Raw Snack Pantry chapter.  For example, did you know that home-grown tomatoes, one of my favorites, have “twice the amount of Vitamin C” as most tomatoes you can get in your local grocery store?  Throughout the first few chapters are informational boxes that give out extra, handy facts that might help, as well.  I was honestly afraid that the recipes in this book would be like most organic recipe books and have expensive ingredients that can only be found in a health food store.  I was pleasantly surprised, however, as quite a few of the recipes call for things I can get right at my local grocery store.  Most of the ingredients are fresh fruits and veggies.  There are a few pieces of equipment you might need to get, such as a juicer, a nut milk bag, a citrus reamer, etc.  Most of the equipment you should already have on hand, though.    Here are just a few of the recipes:

• Peach Perfection Smoothie
• Banana-Chocolate Chip Frozen Fruit Cream
• Vegetable Brain Blast
• Morning Power Shot
• Post-Workout Replenisher
• Get-Up-and-Go Apple-Walnut Bars
• Cinnamon Maple Cashews
• Summer Harvest Berry Trail Mix
• Mighty Maine Blueberry Muesli
• Texas Tango Salsa
• Basic Fruit Jam
• Chocolate Turtles

…and many, many more.  In the back of the book are suggested reading materials, as well as other resources.  We are planning a garden for this summer, so I’m hoping to incorporate some of the things we grow into making some of these healthy snacks.  You can purchase Raw Energy from Storey Publishing for $16.95.  It’s definitely a great manual to have on hand, especially if you are new to real, healthy eating.

Vital Earth was quite generous with me and sent me numerous soaps to test out: Grandma’s Natural Old Fashioned Soap,  Grandma’s Natural Old Fashioned Soap, Mango Butter Soap, Rose Petal Soap,  Sweet Pea Soap, Vanilla Bean Soap, Gentle Lavender Chamomile, and Recyle Soap. I loved each of them! There was not one bar I didn’t care for and I was unable to choose a favorite.

You would think that simple ingredients such as water, coconut oil, palm oil, canola oil, sodium hydroxide, and fragrance, these soaps would not deliver like national brands, but they do. Granted, they work differently than a leading soap wash in that they don’t foam or suds up as much, and their scent is much lighter than what is popular on the market, but they rinse clean and they leave skin feeling soft and moisturized.

Next in my package was a heavenly body scrub. The scent when I took the cover off was AHmazing!  It smelled good enough to eat! This scrub not only exfoliated my dry, winter skin, but it also left my skin deeply moisturized. It was like putting oil on in the shower, but didn’t leave me greasy–only soft and moisturized. I loved it so much, I even used it on my face!

The ingredient list for these scrubs are: White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Sea Salt, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil, Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Purified Water, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Lemon Juice, Honey, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Borate, Lemon Essential Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Seed Extract, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Soy Bean Extract, Benzoin Extract, and Fragrance Oil. The herb and essential oil ingredients will vary with each fragrance way.

Last, but definitely not least, was the Whipped Mango Body Butter. This, was my absolute favorite product! It is unlike most lotions that you can buy in the store. In fact, at first glance you wonder how you’re even going to use it. It looks like hard butter. However, if you dip your fingers in and use your nails a bit, to grab a chunk, you find quickly a melting property to this body butter that makes it dreamy. A little truly goes a long way, as the site page states. It melts into an a massage-like-oil and just soaks right into your skin. It’s perfect and makes store lotions look cheap and worthless.

All Vital Earth Tradition products are made fresh and shipped with a label clearly stating expiration date (if it pertains). Natural preservatives are used so the user does not have to worry about using unhealthy chemicals on their body, and the handmade process leaves behind bits of small herbs, making each product unique and authentic.

Right now, Vital Traditions is offering 40% off when using promotion code “SPRINGBLOG”.

We also get to give a package away! This package will include an  8oz Jar Mango Whipped Body Butter, a bar of Mango Butter Soap, a bar of Olive Oil Soap and a of Mango Butter Lip Balm. To enter, go to the Vital Earth Traditions website and tell me what you like best.

Additional entries can be gained by:

~ Listing a second item you like

~ Following this blog

~ Following us on Twitter

~ Tweeting this post using #mamabzz

When I was a little girl, I remember watching the Save the Children program on tv.  I would sit there and wonder at how these children were surviving even in the midst of a terrible situation.  Every time I was watching tv, if the show was on, I would just become mesmerized by it.  Now I can tell you about the work that Save the Children does.

• First of all, you could make a donation.  You could just make a gift donation or make a memorial donation, in honor of a loved one.
• Save the Children has a gift catalog that you can browse to purchase a gift for a person or community in need.  For example, you could purchase a goat or dig a well.  There are many options for you to consider.
• You could commit to give so much a month; you could even give as little as $10/month to help a child receive the food, education, or health care, etc., that he/she needs.
• If you simply want to help in the work with American children here in the U.S., you can donate to that cause.
• You can help dontate to the campaign, Survive to 5, which aims to help newborns and children receive what they need to survive. Did you know that nearly 9 million children under age five die annually around the world? That is more than 24,000 children a day. We know that almost 6 million child deaths could be prevented every year if the world’s poorest children received low cost existing solutions. Community health workers can deliver life-saving advice and care to women and children in areas beyond the reach of clinics.
• You can support Save the Children’s HIV/AIDS programs.
• You can help children who are affected by war, to receive the education they need to learn how to overcome their obstacles and make it in this world.
• If you are an Ebay fan, you can donate to Save the Children with every item sold, or you can look for items whose proceeds help Save the Children.
• You can redeem points and donate through your American Express card, you can donate stock or mutual funds, you can plan to donate through your will, etc.
• You can sponsor a child for only $28/month.  We are actually sponsoring a child right now through another organization, and the blessing you receive is just indescribable.  This is a more personal way to get involved, and it’s also a wonderful way to teach your children the power of giving.
• You can become an advocate for these children, advocating for them before Congress.
• Get your community or church involved, even your online community, and start a fundraiser.
• Send an e-card to a friend, thereby spreading the word about Save the Children and shining your light.
• Become a volunteer with Save the Children.
• If you are a corporation, check out ways you can get involved, even getting your employees involved in the life-saving work of Save the Children.
• There are many more ways that you can help….check them out!

No matter who you are, there is an endless array of ways that you can get involved in this work.  You can follow Save the Children on both Twitter and Facebook.  Remember, the mission is for you to shine your light; the blessings to others and yourself, endless…..

The trouble is, mineral makeup is expensive. Have you seen the prices?!

Orglamix is so much cheaper in price, than the national leading brands, but it is not cheaper in quality! I was curious, I must say, what the quality would be like when I tested it out, but truth be told, it was of such high quality, I don’t ever see a need to buy the well-known brand ever again.

I was able to select three items. The first I selected was the Rose Quartz Mineral Glow. This seemed different than the usual blush product and I wanted to try it out.

It’s sparkly! Wow!  This is not such a great winter product, if you live in the North and are a bit pale in the winter. Because it’s more “glowy” than full of color, it would better be a summer product when you already have a blush of color on your face and want to highlight it a bit.  I would even use it as a light dusting on the shoulders I think, for a formal event at night time.

I then chose the Expresso Eye Color. A little goes a looong way with this stuff! In fact,  my husband, who is usually oblivious to all things makeup, even noticed, stopping up short and saying, “Your eyes are glimmery!” It was a bit “much” for my regular personality, but again, for an evening event, I would wear it in a heartbeat because it is so shimmery and eye catching.  I must confess, I have also worn it on some of my daycare days when I just need a little extra “flair” to feel like a woman.

Last–and my complete and total favorite–that I will buy in the future, was the Bamboo Mineral Foundation. This is what sold the entire line for me. It honestly has better coverage than the expensive national product! It evens out skin tone color and hides blemishes. And yet, it’s not cakey and heavy. It keeps your face looking completely natural despite the flawless coverage. Based on how well this covered, I am definitely interested in choosing a blush out of Cheri’s line. I think it will be amazing coverage, again, with a little going a very long way!

In addition to what I reviewed, I just discovered today, as I was browsing Cheri’s Etsy Shop, this kit for Hazel eyes. That’s so helpful as I am always drawn to those type of kits in CVS for my eye color!  I love that she does this, choosing the best colors for different colored eyes, leaving the guess work out of it for those of us that aren’t as makeup savvy as others are.

I also love that she has starter kits available and create your own kit and as well! So many times you’re locked into what a company offers but not in Cheri’s shop. That alone is worth my business, adding to already quality products.

The thing that floors me, are the prices. Here the makeup is better than expensive brands and yet, it is 50% cheaper. This to me, makes it a worthwhile investment, especially when not very much product gets the entire look completed for one’s makeup routine!

Giveaway

Ends March 31st

Cheri graciously offered to giveaway three products away to our Mama Buzz readers! In order to enter, you must go to her shop and tell me what interests you there.  (Please leave your email with your comment.)

Additional Entries

~ Join the Orglamix Facebook page

~ Follow on Twitter

~ Tweet your favorite product from the Orglamix shop

~ Become a follower of this site

~ Follow Mama Buzz on Twitter

~ Post about this givewaway

~ Tweet about this giveaway

~ Sign up for our email newsletter

Graphics Toolbox has many features:

• Life Color cards and an extensive color library- It comes with RGB glide and a color finder.  You can actually match your colors to make sure that they will go together well in your image.
• Color Tools
• Basic Drawing Tools
• Framing Tools
• Basic Image Manipulation Tools
• Advanced Graphic Tools
• Embellishing Images

For some families, this program may be a wonderful tool, but for our family, it just wasn’t a great fit.  I am grateful for the opportunity to review it, though.

Graphics Toolbox works with operating systems Windows NT, 2000, XP, or Vista.  You can purchase it for one user for $149.  You can also try it free for 30 days.  You can read more reviews on the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: We were provided this program, free of charge, by Linda Holler of Graphics Toolbox, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Untitled from mama buzz on Vimeo.

We had a mishap with this DVD and it almost didn’t get reviewed! Toddlers! *said with exasperated smile* However, Thomas Nelson was kind and  sent me another video so I could view it and review it.

I’m glad they did. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my daycare kids and daughter. In fact, they have been asking for it since viewing it for the first time. That’s a pretty big deal around here. Videos either get thumbs up or thumbs down by the viewing gallery.

The video isn’t actually about Hermie, the caterpillar hero of the series, but instead, about his friend Antonio the Ant. Antonio is pretty tough stuff. After all, he is the one who defends the garden from Big Bully Croaker and is the all time winner in the bug Olympics. He’s used to people thinking he’s all that and more. But then, some Irish Ants move into the garden and begin beating Antonio up with their golf balls and horrendous music. Determined to tell them they need to leave. Antonio is stopped by God and told instead to love his new neighbors.

He tries to, but it proves pretty difficult, especially when it results in Antonio’s eviction. But in the end, Antonio lives out true love for his enemies, a story that will capture children while entertaining them, and hopefully, impact them as well.

This was my first time viewing a Hermie video and I loved it so much, I want to add more to my library. It teaches spiritual lessons to children through the use of creative and bright animation, fun voices, and great story lines. As a Mama, anything that does this, is worth buying – - even if it is bugs helping instill spiritual truths into my child.

Hermie activity sheets are available for download at the Thomas Nelson Site.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this DVD from Thomas Nelson for Review Purposes

I had no idea that Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, went through an extremely difficult time in his life when Big Idea and Veggie Tales had to declare bankruptcy (the result of losing a legal battle, that was later overturned in their favor). As he explained in the preview DVD to his new series, What’s in the Bible? God used this to turn him back to his original vision.

Phil began VeggieTales to help children dive into the Bible, but as he stated, within a few short years he was up to 200 employees and was sitting around tables discussing whether or not to make VeggieTale’s sewing fabric. He lost his vision. Then he lost VeggieTales and found his vision renewed.

What’s in the Bible? with Buck Denver was begun. This is a DVD series in which the Bible will be explored with the help of puppets, starting at Genesis. In my preview version I was able to view the segment that explains what the Bible is all about, who wrote it, and how many books make it up. I was also able to view the Genesis show.

I was expecting a VeggieTales type production. What’s in the Bible? is not that. The animation is awkward at best. It didn’t seem to attract my daycare kids and it didn’t attract me.

I would say the same about the puppets that were used. Not exceptional in appearance and voices that sounded like forced puppet voices, aka, adults speaking in high pitched voices.

I feel bad saying this, because I love the vision behind What’s in the Bible? In places, it did make me laugh, so I really appreciated the humor but overall, it just didn’t catch me. Perhaps this is because it is an age of incredible digital media and puppets are a long lost medium to reach children. We aren’t used to the old-school way of doing things, which is what What’s in the Bible? looks like when viewing, even though the series is new.

Is it worth the purchase price of $14.99? I’m not convinced. Again, I feel bad saying that. I wish I could highly recommend it, simply because of the vision behind the product, but it didn’t work for my daycare kids or my daughter, so it’s not money I would spend now, or for future DVD’s in the series.

Mel’s Thoughts:

We had the opportunity to review a new series created by Phil Vischer, creator of the Veggie Tales series.  This new series is called What’s In the Bible?.  The vision behind this series is extraordinary, as Phil seeks to open up the Bible for children, helping them to learn what it is all about.  I found myself agreeing with him when he spoke about how the Bible is one of the least read books on our shelves, how children today know more about American Idol or the next great show on Nickelodian, than they do the dramatic stories contained within the pages of the Bible.

This 13-DVD series takes children through how the Bible is made up, how it was written, and the different stories throughout.  It’s made to teach the Bible to your kids.  Throughout the video, there were puppets, including the host of the show, Buck Denver, and there are real kids at certain spots, giving their feedback on different questions posed, such as, “Who wrote the Bible?”  We were able to watch 3 different shows, one of them on how the Bible is put together, one on the book of Genesis, and one on the book of Exodus.

If I told you my kids loved this video and were mesmerized, I’d be fibbing….we just were not impressed with the quality or the attractiveness of the movies.  The puppets just seemed very cheaply made, and the voices of the actors behind the puppets were very fake.  Even my oldest spoke up, “Why are they using stuffed animals for puppets?”  It only caught my boys’ attention at certain points, but then they’d quickly go back to what they were doing.  I was expecting to watch something zany and hilarious, especially from the creator of Veggie Tales, but it just wasn’t that good, in my opinion; there were times when it was funny, but it almost bordered on corny.  The concepts behind the video were wonderful, and the teachings were sound, Biblical teachings, but the poor quality of the video overpowered the teaching, in my opinion.

You can purchase What’s in the Bible? for $14.99 from Tyndale.

Disclosure: We received a complimentary preview DVD of What’s in the Bible? from Tyndale House for review purposes.

It’s amazing the difference that children can make in this world, and I have one special big sister to tell you about today.  Her name is Emily, and back in 2008, her parents got the devastating news that their yet-to-be-born baby boy, Jude, had a brain bleed, or a bilateral stroke.  They were told to terminate the pregnancy, that his condition could have profound effects on his life….or he could be a very healthy baby boy with no effects at all.  The first three months of his life were healthy, happy months, until one night he had a seizure, and the effects of the stroke became very real.  As his mother writes on her blog, Jude now has “clefts” on both sides of his brain, but it’s worse on one side. Jude also has vision loss, Cerebral Palsy, and epilepsy.  You can actually read more of his story on Jude, The Diary of a Baby and a Stroke.  They have been able to control the seizures with medication, but they have spent so many days and nights in the hospital.  That is how Emily’s Smile Boxes came about.

I think the most wonderful thing about Emily’s story is that she has shown true compassion and love through her work, distributing Smile Boxes.  She and her parents are examples of courage and beacons of light to me, in that when they thought all hope was gone, they still did not give up, and they’ve seen Baby Jude as a precious blessing, through all of the trials.  Life is truly a blessing, and Jude and Emily’s story is truly an inspiration to many.

This is a precious book. It’s actually hard to believe a man wrote it, because it is so believable authentic from a teen girl’s point of view.

Cancer is a devastating diagnosis for anyone. For a teen, it rocks one’s world. And that is what Never Blame the Umpire is about. With raw, painful emotions, this book chronicles Kate’s journey, as she navigates the terrifying world of a parent with cancer. Her mother’s faith shines as a bright beacon in the midst of the darkness and readers will watch a young woman of maturity emerge as she wrestles with issues no teen girl should have to wrestle with.

While geared for teens–and highly recommended for teens—adults can even glean lessons of implicit trust and faith from a story that is real-to-life with no easy answers and hope that can only come from the belief there is more than what we see.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Never Blame the Umpire

Zonderkidz (March 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Bridgette Brooks and Pam Mettler of Zondervan Publishing for sending me a review copy.***

Gene Fehler, an award-winning and widely published poet, is the author of ten published books and over eighteen hundred published poems, stories, and articles. He and his wife, Polly, live in Seneca, South Carolina, where he writes, teaches, and participates in sports.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310719410
ISBN-13: 978-0310719410
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER: Just Press the Button:

Z

Browse Inside

Browse

Info

Add

That’s where Family Mint Comes in.  Family Mint is all about helping your kids to “appreciate money.”  It’s a system that can be used to teach your children how to handle their money.  Not only do they get to create their own goals, but they get to track their goals, as well, teaching them how to budget wisely.  Every time Jacob gets an allowance or birthday money, or what have you, he can make a deposit, although, his allowance will be automatically deposited, just to save the parent hassle; keep in mind that the money tracked on Family Mint is virtual money, so it can’t be stolen or anything.  It’s just a way for him to keep track of how much he has earned and how much he’s spent.  He can deposit money, withdraw money, and transfer money.  As the parent, I’m the banker, so I’m responsible to help him handle his money and pay him when he requires it.

I can also set up interest rates, in order to let him see how a real savings account, with interest, might work.  If he has set up a particular goal that is worthy, I can match his goal.  If his goal is not meeting his expectations, he can easily go in and edit it.  So say that Jacob wants to save up for his favorite Lego set.  He can set that as a goal and then work towards it.  If he decides to change his mind and decides he needs the next Star Wars action figure instead, he can change his goal to accommodate.  If he decides he wants both items, he can change his goals and add or subtract goals.

It’s all about appreciation of money and what’s most important to him.  As he gets older, he may realize he wants to set a goal of saving for college or for that vacation he wants to take when he graduates.

With Family Mint, there is a parent’s side and a child’s side.

So, I can easily log in and see the progress he’s making, but he can log in and also see how he’s doing on the child side of it.  He’ll easily be able to see all of his goals and edit them from his homepage.  So far, I’m pretty impressed with Family Mint.  I really think this will be a great help to Jacob and even Jaden as he gets older.  With Jacob, he’s very money conscious anyway; the trick has been teaching him that his money is only there as long as he saves it….he has to make the decision whether or not the particular item he is purchasing is worth it; does he want to spend a great deal of his money on that one item, or is it something that can wait?  Does he need that item?  Is the purchase truly that important to him?  We always tell him that he has to make the decision, but he really needs to think about the consequences.  Is he going to regret not having any money left or having very little left?  He has started to become very conscious with his money, and I can only see this program as a huge help.  Now he’ll be able to truly track his money and how he’s wanting to spend it.

(Disclosure: I was provided this free version of the program by Family Mint, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Does the fact that I have let my toddler watch Sesame Street and Max and Ruby during quite a bit of our homeschool hours lately make me a bad mom?  Does the fact that my kids haven’t gotten any sunshine for the past week make me a failure?  Does the fact that my kids might not have 3-4 organic fruits and veggies on their plate at every meal make me despicable?  Does the fact that I occasionally shut myself in the bathroom just to have a second of peace or sneak a bite of chocolate make me a terrible mother?  (I just have to say here that the bathroom is not my sanctuary anymore….it’s becoming “the place to be,” the proverbial gathering place, the feeding trough for my little natives….need I say more?)  Does the fact that I totally lost it trying to teach myself and Jacob origami last week make me horrible?

I’ve been mulling this over the last few days; I really have.  You can ask my dear, sweet husband, as he is my ever faithful, listening ear.  I may not feel like a good mom some days, but at the end of the day, when I kiss those 2 precious boys and tuck them into bed and hear the words, “Mommy, I love you,” I know I’ve gotta be doing something right.  When my oldest asks me if he can help carry the groceries in, maybe my efforts with him on manners/courtesy lately are finally paying off.  When my toddler actually listens to me in the store and looks me in the eye and stops his erratic behavior (granted, it took 3 times, but he finally listened), maybe the efforts to stay consistent are working.  Maybe I’m being too unrealistic and harsh with myself.

Maybe this has happened with you.  Do you go through each day, feeling as if you can’t get anything right?  No matter how hard you try, you just feel like you are failing?  Maybe it’s time to stop judging yourself so harshly, especially when it comes to comparing yourself with other mamas.  So what if you need to turn Sesame Street on for a little bit?  (I have that puppy set to record on my DVR.)  So what if your child doesn’t get his organic peas and carrots at every meal?  If your kids are loved by you, and they know it….if your kids are learning and growing more and more each day….if you are doing your best, then you are doing a good job, Mama.  Don’t overthink this motherhood task.  Relax, and enjoy the ride (and we all know it’s going to be a long, rollercoaster ride).  See yourself through your Heavenly Father’s eyes, Who loves you more than you’ll ever know.  Even when we fall, He is right there to pick us up and dust us off, and kick our rears in motion again.  I promise you that when you start seeing yourself in His light….being a faithful, Godly, and consistent mama is only going to get better and better because the judgment is gone.  You can finally focus on what’s important, your children, not yourself.

So, remember, Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it….yet.  Give yourself that margin of error; it’s ok.:)

Patricia, Ginny from Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews, Andria, Michelle from My Perseverance, and Brandy.

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