Waterproof Bible ~ Review

Waterproof Bible?  Seriously?

Yuppers!

I had never heard of such a thing and my curiosity went bonkers!  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this Bible.  My 13 year old son and I awaited anxiously for its arrival.  One day he came running into the house with the package.  He could barely wait to open it.

Ta-Da!  I was thrilled with the color they sent me! PINK!

The teenaged boy.  Not so much.

"What?", he exclaimed in his most dramatic teen voice, "It's pink!".

We had a brief stare down.  

Stare at each other.  Stare at the Bible.  Stare at each other.  Stare at the Bible.

LUNGE!

Rats!  The kid won!  He grabbed that Bible faster than me and tore off into his bedroom to check it out.  I didn't see that thing for two days.  He hid it in his room and only took it out to read in the secure cover of his bed and to take it in the shower with him.  

So much for "It's pink!"  blah blah blah.

I have barely had a chance to read it myself and, when I can, it is under the watchful eye of the new proud owner of a pink Waterproof Bible.  My son. He leaves it on his bathroom counter and takes it in the shower with him.  After his shower he likes to sit on the floor of his tub and read, enveloped in the steam and pool of water he has manage to collect.  One night he left it there in that partially filled tub...for experiment's sake for this review.

He is good about drying it like the directions describe.  He stands it up on its spine and fans out the pages.  Usually by the next day it is pretty dry or may need a little bit of a wipe down with a hand towel.  Good as new!  Now, back in for another shower baptism!

I did manage to (oops!) spill my coffee on it one morning.  It wiped right off even after I let it set on there for a while.  The liquid sort off rolls of the synthetic pages.  We also tried tearing the pages by flipping through it quickly or at odd angles much like a child would and....nope.  No tears.

Let's get the run down of what this Bible has to offer and what makes it unique.

• durable, synthetic pages
• ultra clear text
• no bleed through with highlighters and pens
• tear resistant cover and pages
• tightly stitched binding
• variety of translations:  NIV, NKJV, KJV, ESV, NLT
• variety of colors:  pink, blue, lily pad, camouflage
• Waterproof
• It FLOATS!  That's right....drop it over a side of a boat and it will float.

This is the ideal Bible for any individual or family!

• outdoor activities like hiking, boating, skiing, etc
• missionaries
• campers
• boy scouts, girl scouts, and cub scouts
• reading around young children with cheeto fingers and juice boxes
• travel
• beach or pool reading
• every day use 

Check out all the Bibles they have to offer at the website, www.waterproofbible.com  Prices are $24.95 - $44.95.  They also offer a variety of accessories to use with your unique Bible, like dry highlighters and space pens.  Check them out HERE.  I'm thinking I need to get a camouflage one for my son, so maybe I'll actually get the pink one for me!  We'll see!

 

Ooka Island Adventure - Learn to Read - Review

Ooka Island is a Learn-to-Read game for ages 3-7, or through grade 2.  Its comprehensive approach includes the following fundamentals:  phonemic awareness, phonetics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.  From the very beginning, children are involved in their own unique Ooka Island adventure!

• First, set up your password!  Ooka uses pictures for passwords instead of words so even the pre-reader can be as independent as possible when logging in.
• Second, create your avatar!  Have fun making your avatar look just like you, or just like a cooky alien creature.  There are so many colors and features to choose from, your child's avatar is sure to be as unique as he is.
• Third, meet your guide, Zobot!  Zobot will take you around the island and encourage you along the way.

As the parent, you can either choose to just get started or have your child take an assessment "test" called the Ooka Compass.  Ooka is all about mastery, so your child will not be rushed along.  He can work at his own pace and progress to each level as he masters each lesson. Ooka uses a system called the Learning Flow Cycle.  Here is how it goes....

Because each child works at his own pace and has the opportunity for optional added activities and learning, it is a great fit for any level.  Whether your child is an emerging or reluctant reader, or advanced and gifted, Ooka Island can help them grow into a more fluent and mastered reader.  The instruction is adaptive and progresses at the learning pace of your child.  The e-readers are narrated and the progress reports allow the parent to have a record of their child's learning adventure.

Have fun away from the computer with the Ooka Tunes app and Ooka Island Workbooks.  Encourage your child to explore books that align with the level they are at in their program.  Reading can be fun and easy and Ooka Island can be the tool to get your child excited about mastering his reading skills.

Ooka Island offers different membership options, from individual to family to full class size.  Choose the Home Edition, School Edition, or Homeschool Edition.  Since most of my readers are Homeschool families, I will share the pricing for that option.  But you can visit the website by clicking HERE to see the pricing for all of the options.  

For a family of up to four students:  $19.95 per month OR $149.95 a year
For one student:  $12.95 per month OR $124.95 a year

For an additional 30% off your membership, just use the special link for my readers below!  Woohoo!  Big savings!

http://offers.ookaisland.com/inblog?purl=enGad 

Take this quick 45 second tour of Ooka Island to catch a glimpse at the fun learning activities your child will be using.  Buckle your seat belt!


Ooka Island is a downloadable program and is compatible with Mac or Windows.  The file is pretty big, so be patient as it loads.  I had a little difficulty getting it to load onto one of my computers, but the customer service at Ooka was right on top of things to help me out.  I contacted them with a couple of other questions as I got started and they were very quick to respond and helpful. 

You should also be aware that Ooka Island has aligned with Common Core Standards.  Personally, I am not in agreement with CCS and its agenda, however, I will not boycott a product simple because they are in alignment with CCS.   I would not exclude an outstanding reading program simply because they follow these standards.  My priority is to provide the best educational option for my child and for the students I tutor. If Ooka Island is that product, then I will choose it regardless.  I realize that there are other who feel more strongly about this topic thought, so I thought I should mention it.
 

Have an Ookarific Fun Time learning to read!

Magazines.com Review & GIVEAWAY & Coupon

 "Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Who doesn't love a good magazine?  These days there is a magazine for every interest!  My personal favorites are food and homelife type magazines.  When I was asked to provide my honest review of Magazines.com I jumped at the chance!  Then, I had fun shopping at their website for my own magazine subscription choices.  I picked Good Housekeeping (12 issues) and Women's Day (9 issues).  The cost?  $10!!!!  I know, right?  Seriously, only $10 for both subscriptions.

Have you decided what to get Mom for Mother's Day?  Mom would love a magazine subscription.  This is something she will enjoy all year and every time it arrives in the mail to brighten her day she will think of you.  So, hop on over to Magazines.com and check out their selection.  Here are just a few of their titles to choose from that she might enjoy:

Cooking with Paula Deen

Martha Stewart Living

Parenting Early Years

Parenting School Years

Prevention

Weight Watchers

Working Mother

Victoria

People

Southern Living

Food Network

Real Simple

Southern Lady

Crochet Today

Tea Time

Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

Entertain Decorate Celebrate

Taste of South

Creative Machine Embroidery

Just Cross Stitch

Quilt

Quilter's Newsletter

Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly

Creative Knitting

Quilter's World

Sew News

Crochet World

Creating Keepsakes

Crochet

Card Maker

Oooo, my!  That's a lot!  There are many more at the website.  To make this visit even sweeter, take advantage of this coupon code:  momday13 This will get you $5 off your order and expires 5/13/13.

Get one for Mom, you, Auntie, Gramma, and another one for you (teehee).  Pile them up because the price is right, the site is easy to explore, and checkout is a breeze.

To get in on the hoopla of Magazines.com, visit their website or follow them on Twitter and Facebook!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/magazines.com 
Twitter: @magazines


OK, the moment you have been waiting for....

One lucky winner will receive a $10 gift code to Magazines.com to select their own subscription(s).  All entries must be received by midnight EST on Friday, May 17, 2013.  Entrants must be 18 or older to enter. Due to international sweepstakes laws, this giveaway is for US entries only.  This giveaway is not connected to any social media site.  The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't hear back from you then I'll pick another winner, so mark your calendar and keep an eye out!  Get started now on Rafflecopter...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ring The Bell DVD ~ Review & GIVEAWAY

I always raise my hand high to volunteer to review a Christian or Family Themed DVD.  Good entertainment is hard to find!  I was so excited to receive Ring The Bell, the latest Christian DVD to hit the movie world.

My son and I curled up in the living room to watch this movie together and time just flew by from there.  I'm going to cut to the chase!  The story line was interesting, the characters were believable, and the message was beautiful.  I LOVED that the full gospel of Jesus Christ was shared in one scene (the Casting Crowns concert!).  There was no fluff about it.  It was bold, true, and heart felt.

There were scenes that made us laugh, and scenes that made me cry.  I won't spoil it for you, but there was one scene that touched my heart so deeply.  I was reminded of how God's love can transform a life, even the life of the deeply broken hearted.

Here is a little ditty on the story:

Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.
Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production. 

Here is a trailer to tempt your tummy:

To get your own copy, just click HERE.  That link will give you access to 6 different places where you can buy the DVD.  Prices vary greatly from $9.96 to $17.99 depending on where you get it. To read more about this movie, visit the website or Facebook page. 
Website:  http://ringthebellthemovie.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RingTheBellTheMovie

Now, hold onto your popcorn!  You know what it's time for.....

One lucky winner will receive their very own copy of  Ring The Bell.  All entries must be received by midnight EST on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.  Entrants must be 18 or older to enter. Due to international sweepstakes laws, this giveaway is for US entries only.  This giveaway is not connected to any social media site.  The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't hear back from you then I'll pick another winner, so mark your calendar and keep an eye out!  Get started now on Rafflecopter... 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 "Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! ~ Book Review

 Just the name of this book makes me giggle and want to pick it up to read it.

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! by Troy Schmidt 

How cute is that?  It's time for the whale to tell his side of the story.  This book is for ages 4-8, but I have to tell you that my 13 year old son and I curled up on the couch with this book.  He asked me to read it to him.  

 *heavenly*

It was like I was transported back 6 years to the time when bedtime stories and cuddles under the blanket were a nightly routine.  We laughed at the turn of each page, loved the colorful illustration by Cory Jones, and had a great talk at the end with the "Parent Connection" feature that guides you through great conversation with your child about the biblical principle taught in the story line.

"If you love me, you will keep my commands."  John 14:15

"I called to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me."  Jonah 2:2 

When we finished, my son got ready for bed and I went into his room to say good night.  There he was getting one more read through before bed.  Now, that's a good book.

You can order your own copy of Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! by clicking HERE.  This hard covered, beautifully illustrated book is only $9.99.  You can also following along and get in on the scoop by checking out these facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/bhpublishing?fref=ts 

https://www.facebook.com/troyeschmidt

As if this book wasn't cute enough, this is just the first in a series!  Other titles include:  Hey God, Can You Stop the Rain so I Can Get off Noah's Smelly Ark? and Hey God, I'm Having an Awful Vacation in Egypt Thanks to Moses!

OK!  You know the drill and you know what it's time for.....

One lucky winner will receive their very own copy of  Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up!.  All entries must be received by midnight EST on Friday, May 10, 2013.  Entrants must be 18 or older to enter. Due to international sweepstakes laws, this giveaway is for US entries only.  This giveaway is not connected to any social media site.  The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond.  If I don't hear back from you then I'll pick another winner, so mark your calendar and keep an eye out!  Get started now on Rafflecopter... 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  "Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Saving Memories Forever - App Review

Saving Memories Forever is an app for iPhone and Android Smartphones.  It is a system that allows you to record your family history, past and "in the making", for you to enjoy for years to come.

The smartphone app allows you to record stories, Gramma sharing her best recipe, your baby's first words, or your daughter's graduation speech.  Capture life and make them into memories and preserve the stories of your Grandfather's youth in his own voice.  The possibilities are endless. The website allows users to manage their files, add tag words, upload photos and create a living record to be shared forever.

Having this app on your phone means you can take it anywhere, so when the moment arrives you won't miss a thing.  You'll always be ready to capture a memory.  Imagine recording your Mom reading a bedtime story to your toddler while she coos and giggles.  Now, imagine listening to that over and over and being able to share that with her for years to come.  Priceless.

The Saving Memories App is easy to download.  There are several tutorial videos found on the website to help you get started and take advantage of all the features this app has to offer.  You can choose the free app or the premium paid app.  You can compare the differences in these options by clicking HERE.  The Premium Service is only $3.99 per month or $40 for the year.

You can learn more about Saving Memories Forever by checking out their website, visiting them on Facebook, or reading their blog.

• Website:  https://www.savingmemoriesforever.com/
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SavingMemoriesForever
• Blog:  http://blog.savingmemoriesforever.com

Edited Note:  I wasn't going to include this in my review, but after several days since the post went live it has just been bugging me that I didn't mention it.  I have an Android phone and this app would not work properly for me.  Each time I opened the app it would do a force close and it took several attempts to get it running.  It froze up my phone a couple of times.  I have been told by several other reviewers with Androids that they had the same problem.  But, anyone with an iPhone has not had this problem.  I would recommend trying the free app first to make sure it works properly on your phone before making your purchase.

Spanish For You! Review

I have always wanted to learn Spanish.  I have several friends who speak Spanish, some as their native language.  I have tried different programs and have one, in particular, that I really like.  But, if there is one thing I have learned as a homeschool parent it is that I need to keep an open mind about different curriculum choices.  So, I was very interested to have the opportunity to review Spanish For You!.

Spanish For You! is a curriculum for grades 3-8.  The lessons are broken up into grade levels: 3/4, 5/6, 7/8.  It is designed to promote fluency through speaking and writing skills, reading, and grammar knowledge.  The program is 24 weeks for grades 5-8 and 30 weeks for grades 3-4 and should take about 10-30 minutes per day.  Debbie Annett, author of Spanish For You!, encourages families to work at their own pace though.  She sees this program as a journey and adventure in learning and not a race to the finish line.  Many lessons provide optional activities that can help the student to dive deeper into learning not only the Spanish language, but the history and culture.

Spanish For You! offers three different themed curriculum: Viejes (travels), Fiestas (celebrations), or Estaciones (seasons).  More themed packages are soon to be introduced.  They offer different option for purchasing which are:  

• Viajes in a 4 week trial for $5.99 - grades 5-8
• Viajes in a 6 week trial for $12.99 - grades 3-4
• Fiestas for $19.95 per grade level (3/4, 5/6, 7/8)
• Fiestas for $64.95 for all grade levels
• Estaciones for $39.95 per grade level (3/4, 5/6, 7/8)
• Estaciones for $64.95 for all grade levels
• Extra workbooks can be ordered for $12.95

 ALL Spanish for You! packages come complete with:

• soft cover book, or, for trial packages, an e-book
• 24-30 week lesson guide for the grades you need in a PDF download
• self-checking worksheets in a PDF download
• audio files of entire book done by Debbie and a 2nd audio file of a native speaker in an MP3 download
• flashcard/activity pictures in a PDF download

Teacher lesson plans are not included, but can be purchased separately for class use of Spanish For You!

You will also have access to the following at the Spanish For You! website:

• activities
• games
• mini lessons
• worksheets

 Here are some of the things I liked about Spanish For You!:

• It is affordable.  Whether being purchased for a specific grade level or as the complete package for all grade levels, the price is much less than most language curricula on the market.
• It offers a variety of that will suite most learning styles.  Oral, written, audio, and kinesthetic.
• It offers a money back guarantee.  
• Payment is easy with paypal right at the website.
• The two audio files are a wonderful touch!  The native speaker file is more difficult to understand, but it really helps to be able to hear the native tongue.
• The breakdown of grade levels is very helpful in making sure you select the package that will best suit your child.  I like that the complete package with all grade levels is offered for those families with multiple children.
• I love the idea of the themes.  Not only does it make it more interesting, but your child can choose his favorite!  Then, you could even select a different theme as you continue on with the program with the different grade levels.
• Customer Service is STELLAR! 

 Here are some of the things I did not like about Spanish For You!:

• To keep expenses low for the large number of reviews being done, I received my entire Fiestas package as a download.  It took a long time to download and I had a lot of technical difficulties.  I will say that when I contacted Debbie about these problems she addressed them very quickly and helped me complete the process.
• I greatly dislike e-book or e-file products.  I never get them.  It's almost as if I have to have a book in front of me or I can not function.  For this reason, I had an extremely difficult time navigating the many files provided to me.  They were disorganized and confusing.  It took me several times of stopping and re-starting in an attempt to really get going in the program just because of my frustration.  I had to walk away.  I will say that as soon as Debbie was made aware that the reviewers were having a difficult time with this, she immediately re-organized the files into a very user-friendly format and that is what you will receive when you make your purchase.  Debbie is ready and willing to make whatever improvements to her product to meet the needs of the customers.
• Overall, this product was not a good fit for my family.  I did not feel that it offered enough foundation for a person who has never been introduced to Spanish.  It dives right in.  There is a lot going on and, in my opinion and experience, it required a lot more than 10-30 minutes per day.  It was a one hour a day project for us.  I would recommend that if it is taking that long to complete one lesson then go ahead and chop it in half.  Do a little each day and not the whole lesson.

Spanish For You! would be a good fit for the following families:

• Those wanting a casual and fun approach to learning Spanish, while still having the opportunity to master it.
•  Those families with multiple grade level children - the full package price really is a great deal!
• Those families who enjoy e-book or e-file products and/or do not mind printing out the information and creating a binder or other book-like set up.
• Those families wanting to try the trial package to see if Spanish is a good fit language for them.

Visit the Spanish For You! website and check it out for yourself.  Here you go.....  http://www.spanish-for-you.net/index.html  Go ahead and shoot Debbie an e-mail with any questions.  I can assure you that she is willing and eager to help!