tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22720284761458503302024-03-06T22:33:52.554-05:00Treasuring Life's BlessingsJenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.comBlogger689125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-10769324577002347882018-09-06T12:54:00.002-04:002018-09-06T12:54:28.723-04:00Reading Eggs Workbook - ReviewWe are not strangers to the online program called <a href="https://readingeggs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reading Eggs</a>. In fact, we just used it <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2017/10/learning-to-read-made-easy-reading-eggs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">last year</a> and my little ones really enjoyed it. They've really changed things up for the positive the last few years and now they came out with <a href="https://www.readingeggsshop.com/workbooks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">workbooks</a> that go along with the online program! We decided to review <a href="https://www.readingeggsshop.com/200-essential-reading-skills-for-second-grade/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">200 essential Reading Skills for Second Grade</a>. They have books from Kindergarten to 5th grade as well as math books for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.<br />
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If you are not familiar with Reading Eggs program, they have an online program with a few different areas. They have a Reading Eggs Jr for ages 2-4, Reading Eggs for ages 3-7, Reading Eggspress for ages 7-13, as well as a Mathseed area to work on math.</div>
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We were excited to see what their new workbooks were like and we weren't disappointed. The workbook is 217 pages long. The student only has to complete one page a day which takes about 10-15 minutes. We were impressed with the sturdy pages and how colorful it was. This particular book coincides with Reading Eggspress.</div>
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Each day of the week is broke down into a different area of language skills and each of them are color coded.</div>
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<li>Day 1- Comprehension </li>
<li>Day 2- Comprehension</li>
<li>Day 3- Spelling</li>
<li>Day 4- Spelling</li>
<li>Day 5- Grammar</li>
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Day 1's comprehension has you reading a short paragraph and making "think marks" to point out different parts of the story. This usually involves drawing circles, boxes, squares or underlining things. Sometimes even coloring part of a sentence. Then it ends with circling answers to questions about the passage.</div>
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Day 2 again has you reading a passage and using different think marks but this time it ends with the child writing an answer to some comprehension questions. </div>
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Day 3 focuses on working on spelling words. They have a list of words that the student copies, unscrambling words and writing names to pictures. There is also a little lesson box that teaches the student certain spelling rules.</div>
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Day 4 still works on spelling but in different ways. There are challenge words they have to copy which were harder than the previous day and they then need to write out a silly story using them.</div>
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Day 5 of grammar works on teaching different parts of speech such as nouns, adjectives, verbs etc.</div>
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While I listed some of the activities involved in each of the different areas, there are many more that the workbook does, we just haven't gotten to them yet as this workbook is intended to last the full school year.</div>
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Each page has little boxes off to the side that give either directions, or different learning information. In the back is a handy answer key so there is no seperate book for answers or no having to guess if the child got it right.</div>
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In the front of the book, it breaks down week by week what the child will be covering in each lesson. There is also another section that gives you the year at a glance. Included is also 4 reviews that help show you their growth throughout the year and what they are learning.</div>
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While we waited for our workbook to arrive in the mail, we received a PDF file of the workbook to pring out pages to get started. We also received a 3 month membership to the online Reading Eggs programs. Since it had been awhile since we last used it, my daughter took the placement test and got started right away with the online portion.</div>
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She was able to navigate the website on her own once I had logged her in. She loves how engaging it is. We ran into an issue once where the program didn't advance her correctly. A simple email to customer service had it resolved with in a day. They were very accomodating. </div>
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With the workbook, I would sit down with her once a day to complete her daily page with her. I would definitely say the second grade workbook is a solid second grade reading level, maybe even slightly more of a later second grade so there were still some words I had to help her with. This is definitely a book I plan to keep using this year as it covers in depth, grammar, reading, and spelling skills in just a short lesson a day. We really liked that it wasn't a long or boring lesson and it was neat how it could be used along side the online portion of their program.</div>
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In fact right now, you can get a <a href="https://readingeggs.com/crew42/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">free 4 week trial</a> of the online program in addition to my readers getting 10% off any workbook using the code <b><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">WK10V7M4D5P.</span></b></div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-91470268373187405712018-07-27T10:47:00.000-04:002018-07-27T16:17:10.288-04:00Smart Kidz Radio - ReviewIf you are like my household, we are big music lovers. Someone almost always is either listening to the radio or other music. We were recently introduced to <a href="https://www.smartkidzradio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smart Kidz Radio</a> from Smart Kidz Media.<br />
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Smart Kidz Radio is a free streaming radio station for children. There are no commercials, no talking so you don't have to worry about your children being exposed to something in appropriate. The songs continually plays on a loop so you do eventually hear the same songs repeated. This is a good thing for the littlest ones as it helps them memorize the music.</div>
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The music station can either be played on your computer or you can download their free app for IOS or Android devices. We simply streamed it through my computer while my little ones were doing a quiet activity like coloring or playing with their dollhouse.</div>
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The songs are catchy, upbeat songs. The lyrics revolve around teaching life skills and positive values.</div>
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There is also a section called podcasts that are audio dramas. Some of the included ones are Cinderella, Rip Van Winkle, Treasure Island, The 3 Little Pigs. Most of them are around 20 minutes long and are dramatized.</div>
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Smart Kidz Radio plans to soon offer an on-demand subscription. While the regular radio will still remain free, there will be more options with the paid subscription. There will story programming with the age suggestion listed for each category such as Good Behavior Skill programming for ages 3-6.<br />
They will also have a Christmas song channel, Bible stories, classic fairy tales, etc.<br />
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The Kidz Radio is easy to use. You simply sign up for an account and it's ready to go. Other features on the radio is a place to click on to see the weather in your area, a map and even a way to request a song. There is also a place that lists what was recently played.<br />
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Overall, it's good quality programming. I do feel though it's geared for younger children. My one daughter is 7 and it was borderline for her. My 2 year old though enjoyed it.<br />
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Visit Smart Kidz Media at:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/smartkidzmediainc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/smartkidzmedia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br />
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-39324102344372429992018-06-17T18:58:00.000-04:002018-06-17T20:57:25.965-04:00Iced Coffee and Chinese FoodFirst off, a major Happy Father's Day to my amazing dad! My birth mom tried so hard to sabotage my relationship with him over the years when I was younger. God thankfully opened my eyes to what she did and he has been by my side ever since! He has been there for me through thick and thin despite all we went through when I was a child. I know he loves me unconditionally and is there for me no matter what! I'm so thankful for such a great dad and am thankful he shows my children what a real dad should be like!<br />
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Today is a bittersweet day. I wish so bad my children had a father like I have but God had other plans. I was brought to tears today when one of my daughters surprised me with an iced coffee and some chinese food. Her words to me were, since you are having to be both mom and dad, this is a gift to you since you are also "dad" to us! Wow!!! I know I fail in so many ways, but I am thankful my kids still love me no matter what and realize what I try to do for them! Only by God's grace!!<br />
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Happy "Father's Day" to those moms who have to fill both roles. Rest assured that God will fill in the gaps knowing you are doing the best you can!!<br />
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<br />Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-1106541374362216382018-06-13T12:17:00.001-04:002018-06-13T12:17:50.992-04:00ARTistic Pursuits - Review<center style="text-align: left;">
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I unfortunately was not born with an artistic talent. I can sew, play instruments, cook, but art is not my fortay. One of my older daughters somehow gained an amazing art talent though. Because of my lack of skill when it comes to teaching art, I've used different curriculum over the years to help out with homeschooling this subject. Our family knows the name of <a href="http://www.artisticpursuits.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ARTistics Pursuits Inc.</a> quite well. We have used and reviewed several of their books over the years (links will be included at the end of previous reviews). Recently, we had the chance to try out one of their books from their newest series, <a href="https://artisticpursuits.com/k-1st-2nd-3rd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray</a>. There are 4 books so far in the series and we specifically used the book Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary.</center>
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This book is quite different from the previous books we've used. This is the first book of the series and since my 1st grader was new to this program, we chose to start from the beginning. The book is geared towards grades K-3. It is a hardback book with 63 pages and a total of 18 lessons. What is unique about this series is that they include on the inside of the front cover, 6 lessons on DVD and Blu-Ray (same lessons on both but give you options on how to view them). The other 12 lessons are detailed and laid out in the book.</div>
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There will eventually be a total of 8 books in this series. The recommended way to start is to start with book 1 then you can pick and choose which historical volume you want to work on, or follow history chronologically in going through the art lessons.</div>
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At the beginning of the book, it shares what art supplies you will need in order to do all the lessons in that book as well as what household supplies you will need. For this book, we had everything on hand except watercolor crayon set which is simple to purchase. The purpose behind these lessons are not only to teach children different methods of art, but teach them the vocabulary that artists use and how they view everyday things in life in terms of shapes and texture.</div>
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The video lessons are intertwined with the book lessons. The videos are short and they give live examples of what the child will be doing (so you will see them cutting, gluing while they are talking). They also give simple reminders such as to make sure you stack your scrap paper together, close up the crayons, put the scissors away which I thought was neat.</div>
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The book lessons give prep notes for the lesson which means you don't have to figure things out or research stuff ahead of time. Then the actual lesson goes on to give explain views of artists on the way they compose, imagine, observe, etc. There is then a picture of an artists photo with questions to get the child to observe and pick out certain things about that painting.</div>
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Then the next part of the lesson tells you what supplies to gather and gives instruction on the project that the child will work on. It shows photos steps as well as actual project done by a child with their first name and age.</div>
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My daughters favorite project so far that we completed was where she used construction paper to cut and layer (lesson 7). The original photo showed a daytime pic but we didn't have 2 different shades of blue so we opted to do a nighttime version of this photo (which the book clearly stated from the beginning that the child is to make their own variation of each lesson). So instead of clouds, she cut out a star and a moon on the black sky. She used some markers and crayons to make designs on her house.</div>
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The lessons are intended to be completed at the rate of 1 a week but they are pretty short so you can easily do more than one a week if you wanted to.</div>
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The back of the book gives a list of objectives for each lesson as well as shapes template that you could copy to use for some of the lessons.</div>
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Overall, this book was a great first introduction to art and the history of art for early elementary students. My daughter wanted to do more projects pretty frequently. I think it would be neat if they had a web link to give additional project ideas for each lesson so they could practice more of the same ideas for each lesson for the student to practice with.</div>
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Previous reviews on ARTistic Pursuits:</div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2013/03/artistic-pursuits.html" target="_blank">ARTistic Pursuits</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/05/artistic-pursuits-sculpture-technique.html" target="_blank">ARTistic Pursuits- Sculpture Technique-Model</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2015/04/artistic-pursuits-high-school-book-1.html" target="_blank">ARTistic Pursuits- High School Book 1</a></div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-8413594274815398112018-06-05T09:28:00.000-04:002018-06-16T20:35:17.653-04:00Zucchini Fries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As gardening season is kicking off (at least in this area), I thought I'd share one of our favorite ways to use the ever plentiful zucchini. Because we all know, we reach the point of thinking there is nothing else to do with the zucchini that is up to our eyeballs!</div>
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Yes, you read that right, zucchini fries!!! These little guys take a bit of prep work but knowing that you are eating a healthy snack makes it worth the effort! I prefer to use smaller zucchini's for this as they don't have the seeds in the middle. And yes, these fries are actually crispy and not soggy like many think of zucchini as. The best part is, my kids love these!!</div>
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Zucchini Fries:</div>
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2-3 small zucchini cut into "fry shape"</div>
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1/2 c flour (or a gluten free sub like almond flour)</div>
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1/4 c grated parmesan cheese</div>
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1-2 beaten eggs or egg whites</div>
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1/2 c panko bread crumbs (or GF bread crumbs/GF panko)</div>
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1/2 tsp smoked paprika</div>
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salt & pepper</div>
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Preheat the oven to 425. Cut zucchini into fry shape (leaving the the skin on). Add flour to a dish & sprinkle in salt & pepper. In a second dish whisk the eggs. In a third dish, mix the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika and sprinkle in some salt & pepper.</div>
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Dip the zucchini strips first in the flour, then into the eggs then into the bread crumb mixture. Place a greased cookie sheet making sure the fries aren't touching (this ensures they will crisp up). Bake for 10 minutes then gently flip and bake for another 10 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispness. Serve with a side of marinara to dip them in!</div>
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<b><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/treasuringlifesblessingsrecipe/zucchini-fries" target="_blank">Printable Recipe Here</a></b></div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-53699557810175329952018-05-28T15:07:00.000-04:002018-06-16T11:24:54.799-04:00"N" is for Nine Tips for Getting Vegetables into Your ChildrenMy children love vegetables and eat pretty much anything though I know this isn't the case for all kids. So I thought I would share some ideas of how to get your child to eat their veggies & suggestions of ways to sneak them into foods if they aren't willing to eat them!<br />
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<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Dips</b>- Kids LOVE to dip food and eat with their hands! Cut up different cold veggies, arrange them in a fun shape and serve it with ranch dressing or even hummus. Or cut up celery and let them dip it in peanut butter.</li>
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2. <b>Let your child help prep the vegetables</b>- Kids love to be involved and many times if they feel like they had a special part of helping mom or dad prepare a dish, they are more willing to try it. Even a young child can use a vegetable peeler or check out this <a href="http://cute%20chef%20kid%20fruit%20%26%20veggie%20prep%20kit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cute chef kid fruit & veggie prep kit</a> for their own kid size kitchen prep tools.</div>
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3. <b>Get creative with how you serve your vegetables</b>- No one likes overdone or mushy veggies. Try roasting your vegetable with some olive oil & garlic salt then top with some parmesan cheese (you can do this with almost any variety of veggies). What about grilling your veggies? Asparagus tossed with olive oil & garlic salt then grilled is A M A Z I N G! Steamed green beans or carrots with a little bit of butter, honey (or brown sugar) and a smidge of cinnamon changes up the taste. Check out one of my <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2012/07/honey-garlic-grilled-eggplant.html" target="_blank">highest pinned grilled veggie recipes.</a></div>
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4. <b>Fake them out</b>- Do they like chicken wings? How about making my <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2013/04/buffalo-style-chicken.html" target="_blank">Buffalo Style "Chicken"</a>. Guaranteed you'll fool them! Zucchini "french fries" are another favorite around here. Served with a marinara sauce for dipping and my kids can scarf a pan down in no time! Do they like pizza? Make <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2013/10/cauliflower-pizza-crust.html" target="_blank">a pizza crust from cauliflower</a> and let them put their own toppings on.</div>
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5. <b>Have your child grow their own vegetables</b>- This goes along with letting your child help prep their veggies but taking it a step further, let them grow something. If you don't have a garden, you can grow many things in just a pot on your deck. They will get to watch in amazement how food goes from seed to plant to being able to eat! (it's also a great way for some hands-on learning).</div>
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6. <b>Be a role model</b>- Let's face it, if you avoid eating vegetables, how do you expect your child to eat them? Kids love to mimic their parents so show them how yummy veggies can be! Also in our house, we have a rule you have to try something at least once. Sometimes they surprise themselves and actually like what they first thought they wouldn't like. </div>
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7. <b>Make smoothies</b>- I don't know what child doesn't enjoy a delicious smoothie! You can combine fruits, veggies and some greek yogurt for a full meal-in-a-cup! Kale & spinach work great in a smoothie. Yes it will be green but come up with a cool superhero name for it and your child will be hooked!</div>
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8. <b>Make your own spaghetti sauce</b>- Seriously, you can cook down almost any vegetable with the tomatoes, puree it up, add your typical italian seasonings and BAM you have a delicious sauce chock full of vegetables! Granted, if your child doesn't like spaghetti, I guess you're out of luck (but what child out there doesn't like spaghetti?) In fact, if you REALLY want to be sneaky, make your own zucchini noodles using <a href="http://amzn.to/1nYCEcd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this awesome tool</a> and top it with your homemade sauce! Just peel the skin off so your child doesn't see the green noodles. </div>
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9. <b>Hide veggies in dessert</b>- Oh yeah, when all else fails, make dessert with vegetables then quietly snicker as they scarf it down! Zucchini muffins, <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2013/11/butternut-squash-cupcakes-wmaple-cream.html" target="_blank">butternut squash cupcakes</a> or <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/zucchini-cobbler-9795" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">zucchini cobbler</a> (<-- I even fooled my kids with THAT one!)</div>
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You can check out my <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/p/recipes.html" target="_blank">list of recipes</a> which many of them contain vegetables in different forms!</div>
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What is YOUR childs favorite way to eat vegetables?</div>
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My Previous #abcblogging posts:</div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/05/a-is-for-about-me.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"A" is for "About Me"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/05/b-is-for-being-mom.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"B" is for "Being a Mom"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/05/c-is-for-creating-awareness.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"C" is for "Creating Awareness"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/05/doingdisneyhints.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"D" is for "Disney"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2012/07/honey-garlic-grilled-eggplant.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"E" is for "Eggplant"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/06/f-is-for-fresh-salad-in-jar.html" style="color: #84a6cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"F" is for "Fresh Salad in a Jar"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/06/g-is-for-grilled-chicken-and-bacon.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"G" is for "Grilled Chicken & Bacon Shish Kabobs"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/06/help-us-celebrate.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"H" is for "Help Us Celebrate"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/06/i-is-for-italian-veggie-soup.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"I" is for "Italian Veggie Soup"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/07/j-is-for-july.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"J" Is for "July"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/07/k-is-for-korean-egg-drop-soup.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"K" is for "Korean Egg Drop Soup"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/07/l-is-for-loaded-potato-buffalo-chicken.html" style="color: #cc273a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"L" is for "Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole"</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2014/08/m-is-for-my-most-used-kitchen-items.html" target="_blank">"M" is for "My Most Used Kitchen Items"</a></div>
Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-17765644230498964742018-05-17T15:43:00.000-04:002018-05-17T15:46:08.226-04:00PandaParents Preschool - Review<center style="text-align: left;">
My younger daughters always like to imitate their older siblings in doing school work. I know when my older 4 children were younger, I had to piece together a lot of their school work in the early years. That takes a lot of time and work. Recently, we had the chance to review <a href="https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MESSYLEARNING FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND KINDERGARTNERS</a> from <a href="http://pandaparents.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PandaParents</a>. </center>
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This is a new program that will be coming out towards the end of this year. It is geared towards 3-6 year olds and is so far just a digital product. They hope to have it released in print by the end of this year. MESSY doesn't stand for actual mess but the acronym means:</center>
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M-Mixed subjects and activities for integrated learning</center>
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E- Engaging activities that challenge minds</center>
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S- Simple 1,2,3 steps: read, learn, create</center>
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S- Smart designs for creative learning</center>
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Y- Yeah, a new way to promote preschool STEM and early brain growth</center>
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This program is available on a monthly basis and each month offers new curriculum. Each month includes online videos, PDF files and PDF workbook activities. We received:</center>
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<li>A Jolly Jingling Journey</li>
<li>Mommy Baby </li>
<li>Scotty Skunk Hears a Scary Sound</li>
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Each of these had a video, a storybook and a workbook. We mainly worked with A Jolly Jingling Journey. There are 2 videos to watch that highlights the letter J with cute graphics. The books are short and with the colorful graphics, they keep your child's attention. The workbooks that accompany each book tie into the stories and video to help reinforce what they learned in the book. The workbook for this book was 40 pages long with many activities to complete.<br />
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Throughout this program, children learn letters, words, math, science and even do art projects. They also play hidden subject games, while working on building memory skills and comprehension. There are worksheets you can print out that help your child also practice their handwriting, basic spelling as well as coloring activities. There are also printables that if you printed them out on sticker paper, you could use as stickers!<br />
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If your child is not yet reading, you will need to sit with them while working on the workbook in order to read directions to them. Though you could let them watch the video and book alone. The idea is to work on this program 2-3 times a week, spending 15-30 minutes. A lot of these concepts my 4 & 6 year already know so we kept our sessions to about 15 minutes as it was more about reinforcing concepts they have previously learned. They enjoyed the coloring pages.</div>
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While the online book & videos are great, we would definitely love the workbook in printed form and look forward to seeing them come out with that at the end of the year. This is a cute preschool program that is easy to implement with little work on the parents part which is something I always look for when it comes to curriculum.</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-91472958313229224432018-05-11T15:25:00.000-04:002018-05-11T15:25:00.433-04:00Kayla Jarmon Book ReviewWe are always open to checking out new books. We recently were given <a href="http://kaylajarmon.com/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3 digital books</a> from author <a href="http://kaylajarmon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kayla Jarmon</a>. She is a mom, grandmother and a former homeschooling mom turned author.<br />
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The 3 books we received were <i>A Boy and His Dog, Don't Forget Me, </i>and<i> Dying is Part of this World. </i>The books are available both in print, Kindle edition and the way we received it, as a PDF file flip book. The author is working on making audio files of the books as well and hopes to soon have them ready. 2 of the 3 books are part of a Discussion Series.<br />
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We mainly read over <u>Don't Forget Me</u>. This book covers a baby en utero from conception until it's born, talking to God. The baby wonders what it's going through and is often asking God about each step. The baby learns to recognize its mom & dads voices it hears and God keeps reminding the baby that He is with the child. The end of the book comes about when the baby is born and the parents are thanking God for the baby. It was a very basic book and it was worded in simple terms and nothing that any child, even a young one, wouldn't understand. It could be used as a way to introduce a young child to a new sibling that is on the way.<br />
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The book A Boy and His Dog, is a cute whimsical book about what a day looks like with a young boy that spends his day with the dog. It covers their many adventures from playing tug of war, playing in the leaves, sharing a snack and getting muddy together. The illustrations are colorful and it's a cute story that you could see happening with any young boy with a dog!<br />
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The 3rd book is also another book in her Discussion Series. This book is written in conversation tone between a child a their papa about being afraid of the child's mom dying. The author addresses the hard topic of death and dying. After each chapter, there are a list of questions to be able to help engage your child in talking. The questions also review what was talked about in the previous chapter. The book shares how we don't need to fear death, and it also discusses Heaven and hell.<br />
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The books all are engaging and are great conversation starters for your children!<br />
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<br />Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-14505139364526913952018-05-09T14:49:00.000-04:002018-05-09T14:49:26.095-04:00Reading Kingdom - Review<center style="text-align: left;">
My 6 year old has really taken off this school year with reading and writing. She loves mirroring her older siblings by being able to do some of her school work on the computer. Recently, we were given a subscription to <a href="http://www.readingkingdom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reading Kingdom</a>.</center>
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Reading Kingdom is not a phonics based program like many of us are used to. It was founded by Dr. Marion Blank who has a patented 6-step approach that she calls a Skill Integrated Method. That approach covers sequencing, writing, sounds, meaning, grammar & comprehension. This program doesn't focus on one specific area at a time but combines several of them at a time as your child works through the lessons. This program is geared towards ages 4-10 to help them reach a 3rd grade reading level. They also offer a reading program geared towards <a href="https://www.asdreading.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)</a> to help with reading, writing & comprehension.</center>
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While working on learning reading skills, Reading Kingdom also helps build keyboarding skills. This program fully customizes itself based on where your child is at with their skills. Before starting any lessons, they take a skills assessment test. They have the option of using an onscreen keyboard (using the mouse to click on the letters) or if you have an iPad, you can use a touch screen keyboard. You can also use the actual keyboard on the computer or laptop.</center>
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It is important to note that because the program is always customizing itself based on the students answers, if they accidentally hit a wrong key (or 2 keys at once), don't press the key down all the way when they think they did or take too long to answer, it will assume they don't know that particular skill and will repeat itself. This program is fully hands-off for the parent as it dictates all the directions for the student (in fact they mention at the beginning that the parent is not to help the child at all as it would mess up the placement & customization of the program). So if you are busy working with other kids, this is a bonus! </center>
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There is a parent section where you can check out the progress report and see how your child is doing. There is even a place to download a report in excel.</center>
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This program really holds your child's attention due to the colorful and interactive graphics. My daughter was able to fully navigate the program on her own. There are many different activities the child does. Picking out the words that is said to them, typing full words or missing letters are just a few of the variety of activities they do. My daughter felt like she was playing games and was eager to do her lessons. They do recommend doing the program at least 4 days a week. The lessons are short and you can do up to 2 lessons a day. I could tell over the several weeks of Olivia using the program, that her keyboarding skills got better and she increased on speed as she worked through her lessons.</center>
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We definitely plan to continue to use this program as I can see the difference it has made in my daughters reading and typing skills</center>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-40752305543251112572018-05-04T13:33:00.001-04:002018-05-04T13:33:39.460-04:00CodeWizardsHQ - Live online class reviewMy son enjoys working on the computer, gaming and problem solving. I try to balance his interests in gaming and computers in healthy ways and encourage him to use his love of technology for learning and growing. He recently had a chance to try out one of the <a href="http://www.codewizardshq.com/curriculum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Computer Programming Courses</a> from <a href="http://www.codewizardshq.com/our-program/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CodeWizardsHQ</a>. While they offer classes to anyone in grades 5-10, they also have a class for <a href="http://www.codewizardshq.com/homeschool/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">homeschoolers</a>.<br />
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CodeWizardsHQ is a unique program in that they teach a live class with only 6-8 students. By keeping the class size small, the teacher is able to work more closely with each student. The classes are one hour long and last 12 weeks. The benefit of using a live class verses one that is self paced, is that you have a teacher who can not only show you what to do through power point type of presentation, but you can ask questions and get immediate answers as well as interact with your peers. If your child is in public school, no problem, they offer evening class hours.<br />
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It was easy to get set up for this class. We just had to make sure we had all the computer qualifications as well as a headset with a mic (which we already had). We used chrome as our browser. Making sure to have a reliable internet access is also important. What I appreciate about this class is that there was nothing to download to access the class. We simply had to log in and that was it! A quiet area is also a good idea so the rest of the class isn't hearing your animals or the rest of the kids running around! ha<br />
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<i>A screen shot from during the class</i></div>
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This was a last minute review and a one time course so my son wasn't aware until the day before that he was going to be taking it. He wasn't thrilled about it when I briefly explained what the course was about. He takes a live online math class with a teacher so he is familiar with how an online class works and already had a headset with a mic attached. After about 15 minutes into the hour class, he was like wow, this is really cool! By the time he was done with the class, he said he really enjoyed it and could see doing that in the future!<br />
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The teacher was great and engaged the students from the beginning and did a great job getting the students to talk. He also was quick to answer questions and help the students with their coding. Because the world of coding is not something I typically deal with (have only done some with my blog), I wasn't entirely understanding of all he was having my son do in the class.<br />
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I appreciate that this class doesn't teach them about programming but walks them through step by step in <u>how</u> to do it. This includes HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. The assignment they had the class do was make a comic strip and from what I understand, they typically have the students design something that is relevant to them (not some boring website page).<br />
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If you have to miss a class, they are recorded and can be played back.<br />
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For a video demonstration, check this out!<br />
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They offer over 9 semesters of classes and have a tiered approach to their teaching. If your child has already had some coding experience, they can place in an advanced class. But no experience is required to start this course.<br />
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CodeQizardsHQ also offers a 6 month intership with a non-profit after the course has been completed!</div>
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<i>This is what the back end of the coding that Erik did</i></div>
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<i>This is what Erik's comic strip looked like on the front end one he had it coded correctly</i></div>
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With the way technology is today, learning to code can be a valuable skill to gain knowledge of. And for something like this, having a live teacher is the way to go. <a href="http://www.codewizardshq.com/our-program/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CodeWizardsHQ</a> would be a great way to learn coding in the comfort of your own home. They also offer a special homeschooling rate for enrolling more than one student, this would include having several students from a co-op as well.</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-51659794218193192962018-05-02T14:31:00.001-04:002018-05-03T12:09:08.994-04:00YWAM Publishing - Ronald Reagan - Review<center>
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My children love learning about specific people in regards to history and enjoy reading their biographies. <a href="http://www.ywampublishing.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YWAM Publishing</a> has some awesome books from their <a href="http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-557-heroes-of-historybrcomplete-setbrbooks-1-28.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heroes of History</a> series. They also have another series <a href="http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-470-christian-heroes-then-nowbrcomplete-set-books-1-46.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Heroes: Then & Now</a>. So we had to decide what book and study guide we wanted to review which was a hard choice as there are so many amazing people to read about between both series. I knew Erik would be the one to work on this as he enjoys history, so I gave him the chance to look over the books and pick which one he wanted to read. He chose <a href="http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-1467-heroes-of-historybrronald-reagan-destiny-at-his-side.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heroes of History - Ronald Reagan</a> to read about. He also received the downloadable <a href="http://www.ywampublishing.com/c-108-downloadable-unit-studies-curriculum-guides.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Study Guide.</a></center>
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All the books in both series share so many interesting facts and information about each person. Some biographies can be a bit dull but we've never experienced that the several times we've read through YWAM's books. This book is a soft cover book that is 224 pages. There is also a downloadable study guide that can be purchased along with it (and study guides are available for any of the books in both series).</div>
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This book captures the readers attention right from the first page as it talks about the attempted assassination on President Reagan's life just 2 months after taking office. From there, the book backs up to talk about his life as a child and shares about his nickname he was given of "Dutch".</div>
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The book goes on to talk about the rest of his life before he became president. He played football, was a sportscaster and went on to become an actor. He lived to be 93 years old when he died of pneumonia. I still remember his funeral myself!</center>
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Not only does this book cover so many amazing facts about President Reagan, there is also a downloadable study guide to take this book to a deeper level and making it a full unit study. </center>
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The study guide offers all sorts of additional ways to dive deeper into this book. The study guide is divided into 2 parts. You can use this for a small group or classroom or you can use this for homeschooling. There are additional book suggestions to check out, a fact sheet on President Reagan, a timeline and fact sheets. Each chapter also has 6 questions to answer.</center>
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My son first read through the book entirely as he doesn't like having to stop each chapter to answer questions. And partly because he loves diving into history and wanted to soak up all he could. He then prefers to go back and re-read the book and take his time answering the questions. He would pull the study guide up on the computer and write the answers to the questions on paper.</center>
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There are additional projects and things you could do to really draw out this book into a longer unit study but because his school work is already busy enough, he just read the book and answered the questions this time. But trust me, there are other resources, vocabulary questions and so much more you could dig into with each book and study guide. We simply just didn't have time. But we truly love these books and keep adding them and the study guides to our homeschooling!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-19920677337100764152018-04-26T15:20:00.000-04:002018-04-26T15:20:05.417-04:00Story Bible - ReviewThere are so many neat children's Bibles and Bible story books out there. We have several of them and I use them to read to my young children usually before bedtime. We recently had the chance to try out a new one, <a href="http://planet316storybible.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App</a> from <a href="http://planet316.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Planet 316</a> and WorthyKids/Ideals.<br />
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This isn't just your typical, colorful children's Bible. I mean don't get me wrong, it's a great hardcover book that shares over 100 old and new testament Bible stories. But what set this story book apart from others is that they have what's called an "Augmented Reality" app. I had no clue what this meant. It was free to download on apple and android devices. I do wish I could've put it on my Kindle though. More on this app shortly.<br />
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First, about the book, it's about 300 pages long. The pages are thick and can withstand lots of use from little hands. The pictures and colors are amazing and keep the attention of your children. Each Bible story is written in a way for a child to easily understand. They also included the Bible reference of where each story came from so you could easily read the story from your Bible to accompany the story.<br />
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The front of the book has a table of contents which makes it easy to find a specific story you want to read. The back of the book includes a "people, places, things" of the Bible so you can find certain stories that way as well. This book covers stories from Genesis to Revelation in wording that makes it easier for younger children to understand. </div>
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But what really sets this book apart is something I've never experienced with any other book. You download an app and then you open the app and hold it over any of the pages and they literally come to life! The people and objects become 3D, they talk and you can touch them to interact. There is also background music playing as well. It really brings the Bible stories to life. Even my teens had fun playing around with the book and app and thought it was really cool! I tried to capture a video to show this. My daughter was using the app on her phone while I video taped it.</div>
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Everyone had fun paging through the story book to see how each picture would come to life. This would be a great book and app to have for evening devotions!</div>
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The 2 images above show a glimpse of how this app works. The first photo is simply a picture of the story book. The second photo shows a picture of what it looks like looking at the story book through the app camera bringing the picture to life!</div>
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Using the app to bring the stories to life has really kept my little ones attention AND made them ask more in depth questions about the different Bible stories. This is a definite keeper in our house! If you are looking for a new Children's Bible story book or devotional, we highly recommend this one!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-74279494694930661922018-04-25T15:53:00.000-04:002018-04-25T15:57:53.583-04:00A+ Interactive Math - Review<center style="text-align: left;">
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When it comes to teaching math, in the elementary years, I typically use a workbook and teach them myself. Later on, I switch their math lessons to come from either dvd, online or a co-op class. But I recently had the chance to try out <a href="http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/ViewInteractiveMathFamily.jsp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Family Math Package</a> from <a href="http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A+ Interactive Math (by A+ TutorSoft Inc.)</a>. And instead of using for my older children, I actually tried out their first grade level with my 1st grader.</center>
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The neat thing with the Family Math Package is that you can enroll up to 10 students on it, talk about cost effective! All of my older children already were heavily involved with their own math programs so I only chose to have my 1st grader enroll right now. My pre-K daughter did a little bit but she is not quite ready for it. Since it's a year long membership, maybe I'll have my older kids do some lessons over the summer just so they keep refreshed.</center>
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With the Family Math Package you get access to all their levels so if your child seems to be progressing fast or already covered some things in a level, you can easily just switch to another level.</center>
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The approach that A+ Interactive Math takes is a multi-sensory one. The child gets to not only listen to someone instructing them in each of their lessons but they also get to watch the instructions and teaching online. They are shown how each of the problems are worked out. Not only do they watch lessons, then they get a chance to answer questions pertaining to what they just learned. What I really like about this program is that if they get a question wrong, they are not only told the answer, they are shown the correct way to solve it so they learn from their mistake. Often times I've seen programs tell you you got something wrong but you don't know why nor how to do the problem correctly.</center>
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The lessons are color coded and engaging and always kept my daughters attention. For the most part, once I set her up with the lesson she was to do, she could do it on her own which was a win for me! As a busy mom, I love any program that my children can do on their own, including grading. I did find though I had to click each lesson "complete" which was a little confusing at first. I assumed once Olivia finished a lesson and then completed the question and answer portion, it would automatically log her as "complete". That would be the only thing I change with this program, but it's not a huge thing. It does grade them automatically at least.<br /><br />I appreciate how easy this program is to navigate. It was simple to set my daughters profile up. Starting the program each day is a simple click of a button to launch it and then find the lesson she is to complete. If I can't remember the lesson she last did, I simply go to the lesson plan link and it shows me what has been completed.</center>
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In addition to the online lessons, they also offer printable worksheets for extra work which doesn't copy the problems they already did online. You can also print off certificates of accomplishment as well. </center>
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My daughter was able to navigate typing in the answers herself. It just took us a minute to realize we had to click on the frogs stomach to enter the answer rather than click next.</center>
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It's great that the program gives them words of encouragement when they get correct answers. If they get something wrong, it simply says "I'm sorry, that is incorrect". </div>
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In the side bar, you can see each topic that is being taught with the break down being shown when you click on the "plus" sign.</div>
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Overall, the program teaches concepts well that are engaging, the site is easy to navigate and my daughter really enjoys using it. I plan to print out worksheets for her to brush up on skills over summer and will continue having her complete her math with this program.</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-15636638048689485592018-04-12T13:47:00.001-04:002018-04-12T13:47:39.710-04:00Traditional Spelling I - Review<center>
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My first grade daughter has been working on spelling this year. It's been pretty informal, mainly writing words from books she reads. So when we were offered <a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/phonics-and-early-reading/traditional-spelling-i/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Traditional Spelling I</a> from <a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Memoria Press</a>, we were excited to check it out and use a more formal spelling curriculum.</center>
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Traditional Spelling teaches spelling by using a phonetics based approach. They teach phonograms, which is the letters and letter teams that make up words. Each lesson teaches 10 different words and sound combinations. There are a total of 34 lessons, which each lesson taking 5 days to complete.</center>
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There are several components to this program that we received:</center>
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<li>Teachers Manual</li>
<li>Student Workbook</li>
<li>Classical Phonics book</li>
<li>Spelling Practice Sheets</li>
<li>Flashcards</li>
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The <b>Teachers Manual</b> is a spiral bound book that walks you step by step of what to teach and how to teach it. Each day is laid out and they even list questions to ask your child. The manual tells you what number flashcards are needed for each lesson. The answers are also provided. It also tells you which of the other books to use when. The back of the manual also has some extras such as the spelling test form, spelling review games, spelling rules reference sheet, common english contractions, phonics overview for the teacher and a colorful letters key.</div>
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The <b>Student Workbook</b> is a consumable, spiral bound book. There is one page per day for the child to complete. They don't write the words out as listed in the spelling box but rather they are grouped according to their sound and that is how the child writes them out. The first day they write the words out based on their letter grouping. The second day the child writes the words out based on the vowel signs and then they also use red and blue colored pencils, red for vowels & vowel teams and blue for consonant & consonant teams. The third day you read a passage and then fill in spelling sentences. The fourth day the child listens to you dictate sounds where they write the letter sound like /a/ and use a breve or macron as well as write out the words you dictate. The fifth day is the spelling test where you read the words as your child spells them out.</div>
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The <b>Classical Phonics</b> book is a spiral bound book that shows the child sounds, letter blends and words with "rules" that explain the word. It also has pages of sight words towards the back.</div>
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The <b>Spelling Practice Sheets</b> gives a spelling page for each lesson. It lists the words with space next to it to write that same word 2 times. This is reproducible for one child so the child can practice the list more than once if needed.</div>
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The <b>flashcards</b> are large cards printed on heavy stock of paper and will hold up well to use with several children. The show on one side the sound to help visualize the sound and on the other side, there are lists of words with that same sound.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljIi9Vdvej-pbQ8d2JPRiLmtODq2ePQTSZml5GtlUyJxqvv9F2qCCtGpXYFuF0fxiUpCczZnTkuy4dQBunJaPChRdhcKLECHW4An2N40LSJvYrwsijO49fPlmRqexmbOIcvgCLjRD7o9p/s1600/spelling6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="438" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljIi9Vdvej-pbQ8d2JPRiLmtODq2ePQTSZml5GtlUyJxqvv9F2qCCtGpXYFuF0fxiUpCczZnTkuy4dQBunJaPChRdhcKLECHW4An2N40LSJvYrwsijO49fPlmRqexmbOIcvgCLjRD7o9p/s320/spelling6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My daughter and I would sit down for the first lesson of the week and go over what the words are, their sounds and how they are spelled. I would pull out the flashcards and go over the words on them. We would also go to whatever pages were assigned to read in the Classical Phonics book. Then we'd finally do the spelling page. There are usually other activities such as games to play but depending on how long the lesson was taking, we didn't always do the extra activity. Usually every day though we would look at the flashcards even though the book didn't suggest it.</div>
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Her favorite pages to complete were the spelling sentences where she had to find the word in the box to right it with the correct sentence. She also enjoyed when I dictated the words to her as she was proud of herself for being able to spell them all on her own. Sometimes if she did well with day fours dictation, I wouldn't bother with day fives test.</div>
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I appreciate how the teachers manual is straightforward in having everything listed each day that you need and what do to. I don't have time to put much prep work into a subject so this really streamlines everything for me. I like that the flashcards are numbered, which works great until someone spills them and you have to put them back in order, haha!</div>
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This is definitely a program I will finish with her and plan to use with my next children when they get to 1st grade! Memoria Press has many different curriculum programs and others on the review crew tried out some of them so be sure to click below to read their reviews!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-52981978716553257302018-04-05T13:18:00.001-04:002018-04-05T17:56:57.920-04:00Homeschool Diploma - ReviewI can hardly believe the time is fast approaching to finally graduate my oldest girls! Being that they (twins) are my first, this whole process is new. We've been talking about their senior year and graduation for quite some time to figure out what they wanted to do. The timing was great when we were recently offered to order a <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/standard-diploma-details.html?utm_source=tos&utm_campaign=tos_crew_review_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Standard Diploma</a> that we were able to upgrade to a <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/personalized-diploma-details.html?utm_source=tos&utm_campaign=tos_crew_review_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Personalized Diploma</a> from <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/?utm_source=tos&utm_campaign=tos_crew_review_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Homeschool Diploma</a>. My girls also picked out a <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/graduation-apparel/graduationtassels/2018-tassels.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Graduation Tassel</a>.<br />
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Homeschool Diploma offers many things besides diplomas. They offer caps, gowns, tassels and even diplomas and gowns for kindergarten and 8th grade graduations. We had the opportunity to get a cap and gown but my girls decided that they don't want to participate in a formal graduation ceremony. When Homeschool Diploma heard I was having to choose which twin to use for this review, they generously gave us the chance to get them both a <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/personalized-diploma-details.html?utm_source=tos&utm_campaign=tos_crew_review_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Personalized Diploma</a>.</div>
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The process to order the diploma was pretty straight forward. Their website literally walks you step by step for each section. There were so many options for customization that I took the time to sit down with each of my girls individually so they could help me pick out what they wanted on their diploma as well as what tassel & charm they wanted.</div>
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We had never formally given our homeschool a name and considering the "school name" is one of the main things on the diploma, we had to figure that out. My girls tossed a few names around and we finally settled on one. Guess my remaining kids are stuck with that name in the years to come!</div>
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I loved all the options available to personalize their diplomas. I chose the wording of their diploma from the many choices we had. I liked that there were several options, including one for single parents. For most of the diploma wordings, it stated "our daughter" and while I was glad that there was an option for single parents which is what I had to choose, I wish I would've been given the option to say "my daughter" rather than have that part dropped. Considering it was myself who homeschooled my girls all these years, I would've loved to have had that on there. At the bottom, there is a spot though that says "mother" where I will sign it and date it so I do have a part in being on their diploma.<br />
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With each step of customizing the diploma, there are links you can click on to view the options available which was great to see exactly what it would look like. </div>
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There is a section to include an optional verse or motto. Homeschool Diploma has a few included to choose from or you can write your own. Susan used one of their suggested verses which was Jeremiah 29:11. Sarah decided to choose her own and used Joshua 1:9.</div>
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Other personalizations included choosing the type of paper to have the diploma printed on, the type of print, which my girls chose calligraphy as well as the seal. It was neat to see what each of my twins picked. My one daughter picked a raised seal and my other picked a printed one, both the same saying, "Soli Deo Glorio, To God Alone Be the Glory".</div>
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They could even personalize the sturdy cover their diploma came in, which of course, they both picked something different! The diploma came in a sealed bag. Inside the cover, there is a plastic overlay on the diploma as well as another sheet of tissue like paper. There are instructions of how to sign the diploma as well as how to store it long term.</div>
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From the time we placed our order until receiving it was barely a week! They had fast turn around service.</div>
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While I personally will miss not seeing my girls in graduations gowns (maybe I will dig mine out from high school for a photo op!), I am glad they each picked out a graduation tassel. Once again, they were able to pick from the wide variety of colors as well as charms. While they choose 2 different colors, ironically they choose the same charm unbeknownst to each other.</div>
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The plans are to have a private graduation ceremony/party with friends and family where I will present them with their diplomas sometime this summer. They most likely said they want to wait until they pass their EMT class and have a big celebration for both graduations.<br />
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I am very impressed by the quality and the level of personalization for their diplomas. I have my next child graduating next year and plan to get her a <a href="https://www.homeschooldiploma.com/personalized-diploma-details.html?utm_source=tos&utm_campaign=tos_crew_review_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Personalized Diploma</a> from Homeschool Diploma!<br />
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-16958162677097016962018-03-22T14:31:00.001-04:002018-03-22T14:31:20.451-04:00Zirrly Beads - Review<center>
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Every so often, we get crafty projects to review which is always fun! Recently, we were given <a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Super Beads</a> <a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-mega-pack" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mega Pack</a> from <a href="https://www.zirrly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zirrly</a>. My younger girls really enjoyed these!</center>
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<a href="https://www.zirrly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zirrly</a> offers a bunch of different products! Their bead selection includes:</center>
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<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-safari-animals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jungle Animals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-3d-animals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3D Animals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-bird-set" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Birds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-car-and-truck" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3D Car and Truck</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-spinning-tops" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spinning Tops</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/copy-of-copy-of-super-beads-jewelry-kit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewelry Set</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.zirrly.com/collections/superbeads/products/super-beads-mega-pack" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mega Pack</a></li>
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We were given the Mega Pack. This pack includes:</div>
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<li>4500 beads of assorted colors</li>
<li>5 design templates (a total of 20 but 4 of each)</li>
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<li>1 design tool</li>
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It's pretty easy to use. You simply line up a template under the board. This shows you how to assemble the beads and is color coordinated. When we were told about this product, we were told we get 20 designs. I thought we would've gotten 20 unique designs but instead, we were given 5 different designs with 4 of the same kind. I was a little bummed about that. My kids all chose different designs to work on so we had no need to have 4 of the same design. It would've been neat to see the mega pack included a combination of ALL their designs from the other packs!</div>
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With that said, my 4 & 6 year old went to town placing their beads on the boards. My 6 year was fine to do it on her own. My 4 year old needed a little help. My 14 year old even got in on the action and created a design.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURVitidI-4j65VOX5ruD9_EvRLflUVaszyn571Y7CUxDBsfYN5lw5nTJ1_WugWwinDDAUZPk34zKRdBDafRPbw_M-8GNy7QrDY5yDh7INrdF7FE47V7EmbzmdIfYuhjuBtliW172gRXWN/s1600/IMG_8734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURVitidI-4j65VOX5ruD9_EvRLflUVaszyn571Y7CUxDBsfYN5lw5nTJ1_WugWwinDDAUZPk34zKRdBDafRPbw_M-8GNy7QrDY5yDh7INrdF7FE47V7EmbzmdIfYuhjuBtliW172gRXWN/s400/IMG_8734.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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They all felt the beads went on the board fairly easily. There was a little bag of black beads set aside to use for eyes and other small things. We did have to use the tool that came with it to tap the beads down in place before spraying the water. It was pretty crazy how with just a few squirts of water, the beads fused together. You have to be careful not to saturate the beads (one design was sitting on the counter and a cup spilled and the beads sort of melted). They only take about 60 minutes to set, then you can take them off the board once they no long feel tacky.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQsUAde_UjbGDFw3SuY1ZhdIzZlIg4L8rIpcDuiPJNSxx36mq5bYGPomwB_XnooH_ou39qzj7oNYESaVhPL-xqov5UErnC4Wl_Odz7F3Pwt-giFvANpnoxDZyDyeH8rxwMz_ekaG56ab2/s1600/IMG_8907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQsUAde_UjbGDFw3SuY1ZhdIzZlIg4L8rIpcDuiPJNSxx36mq5bYGPomwB_XnooH_ou39qzj7oNYESaVhPL-xqov5UErnC4Wl_Odz7F3Pwt-giFvANpnoxDZyDyeH8rxwMz_ekaG56ab2/s400/IMG_8907.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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All that to say, if you are older, I am sure you remember doing something like this but having to use an iron which is SO not safe with little ones. As well as the fact that the beads became flattened. With this product, the beads hold their shape. If a bead falls off, simply pop the design back on the board and give it a few sprays of water to reattach the bead!</div>
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This is a fun project for younger kids to complete!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-60487318329079252342018-03-16T09:25:00.000-04:002018-03-17T09:30:39.131-04:00MayoYes, Mayo is an odd title for a blog post BUT I just have to share how God not only meets our needs but our wants as well!<br />
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So for most things, I am totally cool with store brands. But over the years, I have come to really like Hellmann's Mayo. Don't get me wrong, I won't pay full price for it but wait until it's on sale usually at Costco. Their huge jar is just $4.99 (regular stores it's $9 for this size jar).<br />
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The kids and I had subs for lunch today and I saw we were practically out and I hadn't gotten a deal on a new jar yet. Bummer.<br />
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So I go to pick my son up from work. I am friends with the owners and they told me about an area they have for employees where there is free things that are either damaged or outdated. And guess what they had? Scores of Hellmann's mayo for free!!! They sent 2 jars home with us as well as some other goodies.<br />
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I know it seems so small but I have been praying lately for tangible signs from God and He has been coming through in SO many ways that you can't deny it's from Him. And while this was "just" mayo, I know the timing was NOT coincidence but Him saying, I got this and I care!<br />
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<br />Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-69497420958778977872018-03-08T11:26:00.003-05:002018-03-08T11:27:00.782-05:00CursiveLogic - Review<br />
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Learning to read and write cursive seems to be falling by
the wayside in the main stream schools anymore. I personally want my children
to learn it. Even if they rarely write with it (thanks to everything being
typed anymore), they should be able to read it as there are so many historical
documents that are in cursive. We recently had the chance to try out <a href="http://www.cursivelogic.com/products/cursivelogic-quick-start-pack" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CursiveLogic Quick-Start Pack</a> and <a href="http://www.cursivelogic.com/products/the-art-of-cursivelogic-relax-color-learn-cursive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Art of Cursive</a> from <a href="http://www.cursivelogic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CursiveLogic</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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CursiveLogic is just like the name states, a logical way to learn to write in cursive! They have a unique approach in teaching cursive using a multi-sensory approach. Did you know there are just 4 basic letter shapes that make up cursive writing? This is the approach this company uses in teaching cursive. They don't teach the letters in alphabetical order but rather group the same shapes together and teach them in that order.</div>
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By teaching the similar shaped letters together in a group, the student gains muscle memory in forming those shapes and allowing for a smooth movement and transition between them. In addition to grouping similar shapes together, each of the 4 different group shapes also have a different color. If you have a visual learner, this helps them remember which shape to form by simply seeing the color each group represents.</div>
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And if those approaches weren't enough, there are key phrases for each group that the student repeats as they shape each letter. The phrase reminds the child how they are to form each letter which is yet another way to reinforce cursive writing.</div>
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This workbook is a 112 page, spiral bound, consumable curriculum that contains 3 laminated pages that can be used with a dry erase marker for unlimited practicing. Each lesson is marked by Day 1, Day 2, etc and there is no teacher book needed as all the instructions are contained in this book. In fact, also included with this workbook, is access to a 12 month online webinar. This shows you exactly how to teach cursive with a 50 minute video. It provides tips and tricks on how to implement the program and get the most out of CursiveLogic. It really was helpful to see someone "live" showing you what to do rather than just reading instructions and trying to interpret it. It was shared on VIMEO so it was easy to access.</div>
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The other neat part of this curriculum we received was The Art of Cursive coloring book. This is geared towards adults and helping to improve your cursive handwriting but an older child who has mastered cursive could also use this. There are practice phrases in there that you write out and then pages for you to color that have the different curves and moves built into the coloring page to solidify the movement. Again, all about muscle memory. This is a relaxing way to work on mastering and practicing cursive.</div>
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My 14 year old son is the one who has been working on this curriculum. At first he wasn't too keen on using it but his handwriting in general needs some work. As he worked his way through the lessons though, he said he was enjoying it and it wasn't as hard as he expected. He also felt like he was seeing an improvement with his handwriting. He will be finishing up this workbook and I will also have him work his way through The Art of Cursive once he is finished the workbook.</div>
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This curriculum is one that we highly recommend due to the ease of teaching cursive. In my many years of homeschooling, this has been the easiest way for my children to learn to read and write cursive. Right now, they are offering our readers 20% off through the end of March so check it out!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-52371497980941298332018-03-07T09:32:00.001-05:002018-03-07T09:32:59.534-05:00Magic Stix - ReviewAnytime the company <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Pencil Grip, Inc.</a> has a product up for review, my children and I get so very excited! We have had the chance in previous years to review their <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2016/05/kwik-stix-no-mess-paint.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kwik Stix</a> as well as their <a href="http://www.treasuringlifesblessings.com/2017/11/kwik-stix-review-and-giveaway.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thin Stix</a>, both of which have been such great hits with my children. Their newest product is <a href="http://amzn.to/2oSe0PF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Magic Stix Washable Markers</a> which we had the chance to try out. The Pencil Grip, Inc is being so very generous and will be sending one of my readers their own set of markers so keep reading for the giveaway!<br />
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My children love to do art projects that include coloring, painting, you name it! As a mom, I'm not always thrilled about the possibility of major messes that could happen. The lack of mess is one reason I as a mom love the products that this company produces. Not only are their products high quality, but they don't leave messes and are easy to clean up.</div>
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We received a 24 pack of Magic Stix. They came in a durable, plastic carrying case which is unique (& quite frankly, I loved!) This kept the markers organized. The case is clear which made it easy to see the colors of the markers. </div>
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What sets these markers apart from other kinds are:</div>
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<li>have no harsh odor</li>
<li>are non-toxic</li>
<li>washable</li>
<li>bright, bold colors</li>
<li>won't dry out even with the cap off for up to 7 days</li>
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If you have younger children and markers, you KNOW that someone always leaves markers without the cap laying around and by the time you find it, you have to throw it out because it is all dried up. Let me tell you, these markers truly do live up to their guarantee that they won't be dried out for up to 7 days without a cap on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuo3qbMuNXhIJQEYzy9jFY3hebsHaMGN7UqB3PYThKdP67Wjo1yWV3EHMKkBY64MvKx4HTIPrGlYJ0PokqEndIfxsRONOJ0FfwtfLtMgee93GKfCfPR3FYAFIrClozwjO9EICiXMgL1Yj/s1600/mark2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="457" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuo3qbMuNXhIJQEYzy9jFY3hebsHaMGN7UqB3PYThKdP67Wjo1yWV3EHMKkBY64MvKx4HTIPrGlYJ0PokqEndIfxsRONOJ0FfwtfLtMgee93GKfCfPR3FYAFIrClozwjO9EICiXMgL1Yj/s640/mark2.JPG" width="486" /></a></div>
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Some markers have an odor to them and if you are sensitive to scents, this can be a problem. Even sniffing the markers intentionally, we did not notice any odor to them.</div>
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Another great feature is the fact that the markers are washable! My not-quite-2 year old loves to imitate her older sisters and do what they do. So I let her mess with the markers and of course she got them on her hands and face but she cleaned up very easily without needing me to "scrub" her. Washable markers are a must have for little ones! I also tested the markers on my wall, I know, *gasp*! And guess what, the marker comes off simply using a damp paper towel!</div>
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We were all impressed with the variety of colors in the 24 pack. I don't think we've ever owned a marker set that had this many different colors. They color effortlessly. While they aren't a fine tip marker, they aren't chunky either and can color small details. Another interesting thing to note is that all the caps are the same color so there is no having to match up the color of the mark to the right color cap! Woohoo!<br />
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My little ones mainly used the markers to draw free hand as well as color in some coloring pages. I really liked how vibrant the colors were! This is definitely one set of markers that we will always have in our home!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-2895391109693590852018-02-28T14:40:00.000-05:002018-02-28T14:56:21.990-05:00Starfall Membership Review<a href="http://www.starfall.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Starfall Education Foundation</a> has been a popular name in our family for many years. They have had a free, online program since my older children were younger. They still do have a free program but they also offer <a href="https://store.starfall.com/membership/home-membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Starfall Home Membership</a> which my 4 and 6 year old were excited to use!<br />
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Starfall is a wonderful program for any young child whether they are in public school or are homeschooled. It can be used as a supplement to help reinforce what they are already learning or for the youngest ones, it can be a stand alone curriculum. The program is for Pre-K to second grade.</div>
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The difference between the free version and the home membership is that they offer SO much more with the membership program. Not only are there more activities but there is also a parent/teacher resource center that offers a wealth of printables and downloads! They offer printables that cover everything your child is learning about with the games. You can even make your own custom printables as well.<br />
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Starfall can be accessed both with the computer or using an app. The app is available for both Apple devices as well as android. My girls used the program on both my laptop and my kindle. The parent can be involved in as little or as much as they want to while the child is using Starfall. My daughters found it very easy to navigate the program on their own so this made it handy for them to play with it whenever they wanted. And by "play", I really mean they were learning ALL the time! Because the program is so fun, they think they were getting electronic time but they were really learning a lot.<br />
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Starfall uses a variety of games, activities and songs to teach children to learn colors, read, nursery rhymes and so many other things. The younger children start off with learning number recognition and letter sounds. The older children can work on learning phonics as well as practice math and math concepts such as algebraic thinking, measurement and geometry. There is even a talking library so even the younger ones who aren't reading yet, can have books read out loud to them. It highlights the sentence being read so they can follow along. My daughters really enjoy this section.<br />
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Unlike some learning programs where you have to work on things in a certain order to be able to advance on, Starfall is an open ended program meaning you can pick and choose to work on whatever you would like. My girls liked this aspect of the program as it meant they choose to go wherever they wanted and they could redo a game that they enjoyed.</div>
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I would hear my 4 year old going around the house singing different nursery rhymes that I don't remember teaching her. I asked her where she learned that from and she said "Starfall!" She has also been practicing writing 3 letter words and can read some of them. My 6 year old has really been practicing her math facts to the point she recites different addition and subtraction facts at the dinner table for us all to hear. She also learned the concept of different ways to count, such as in 2's, 10's, etc. My 4 and 6 year old often include their 23 month old sister by having her sit with them and they show her what they are doing so I have no doubt that SHE will be picking up things in no time!<br />
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<a href="https://store.starfall.com/membership/home-membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Starfall Home Membership</a> comes highly recommend from my children and I and will be something we will continue to use until my youngest outgrows it.</div>
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Connect with Starfall Education Foundation at:</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-44513491742161137162018-02-22T13:06:00.000-05:002018-02-22T13:06:46.348-05:00UltraKey - Homeschool Keyboarding - Review<center>
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Learning to type correctly and efficiently is a much needed skill in today's world. We recently had the chance to try out <a href="https://www.bytesoflearning.com/products-item/UltraKey_Online_Family_Subscription?previous_url_id=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UltraKey Online Family Subscription</a> from <a href="https://www.bytesoflearning.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bytes of Learning</a>. This is a one year, online subscription that is good for up to 8 users. I wanted to mainly used it for my son but I couldn't figure out how to switch to him from my account so the program ended up being used under my name and account.</center>
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I remember learning to type on a regular old fashioned typewriter! I can't imagine teaching my children on that now as they have come to use the backspace button when creating an error. That is one thing this program recommends you not doing. If you make a mistake, there is no deleting it and you simply have to keep going. There is a place in the parent controls that would allow you to change this though if you wish.</center>
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To first set up the program was pretty simple and straight forward. You set up your users then you have the ability to adjust their settings and what they can or can't access. There is also some customization you can do such as the background screens, whether or not to show the hands, the color of the hands, and the automatic voice readings.</center>
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UltraKey does not require any plugin's so we experienced a smooth program without any glitches. There are several ways to use the program either by setting goals for the student in the set up process or having them take a timed skills test and going from there.</center>
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This program walks you step by step using videos as well as audio in speaking directions and lessons. You have to complete each skill and lesson by passing it before advancing on to the next lesson. There are a total of 12 lessons. You start out learning proper positioning not just for your hands but also your body. (How many of us are guilty lazying on the couch or in bed typing on a laptop?!)</center>
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After learning how to sit correctly, you learn proper hand position. I really liked that this program is color coded which makes it easy to spot the errors. It also keeps your attention and isn't boring.</center>
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In addition to the lessons, there is a skills check area which corresponds to the lessons you have completed. You can't go on to the next level of skills check until you pass the one you are currently on.</div>
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A lot of what is taught is simply repetition. The lessons and skills check don't take much time and you have the ability to do them over and over. In the above photo, you are given a sentence to type and you are measured on your speed and accuracy. </div>
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Another neat aspect is that they keep records for the student and even have a "diploma" you can print off at the end once the program is complete. This would be great for the portfolio! We haven't reached there yet as it is taking my son a lot longer to master his skills. He thought he didn't have much to learn in regards to typing but has found out he was a bit off in that idea.</div>
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I admit, this screen shot is from my typing when I set up the program. ;)</div>
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There is also another section that contains 6 games to help reinforce the skills you are learning in the lessons. This is probably my sons favorite place because who doesn't like games?</div>
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Overall, UltraKey would be a great resource for a homeschooling family since you can include many kids on one subscription and it really doesn't take much time to work through a daily lesson. Right now, this program is set up for North American keyboards & spelling. They soon will be coming out with a version for the UK and Australia.</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-51167725248567427952018-02-09T19:24:00.003-05:002018-02-09T19:43:08.051-05:00Premier Designs Online PartyHey friends! My sweet girlfriend recently launched her new business with Premier Designs and I want to help her out and spread the word so I am hosting an online party.<br />
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Their jewelry is not only great quality but affordable. A lot of of their pieces are double sided meaning you get more bang for your buck so to speak. They have a really neat line of <a href="https://www.premierdesigns.com/ashleykilby/101/retail-catalog/shop-by-style/faith-based/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">faith based jewelry</a> too (which I recently bought a piece of that is entitled "Believe"). I love that it has 2 sides I can change out depending what I want to show!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-vU_rCOKYlCbn996zmzY00dQm68vk-F6p_zdeHANDLT_G2OI9bQ9S7Fc3a3qpwN_GxpgczzXyayFHNSPQ0GsrhrjyuuoqJ8YU_bkXULg6VnltKaeVd3VFRP0dSxLXopN9Y6kexuBiU7-/s1600/believe2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-vU_rCOKYlCbn996zmzY00dQm68vk-F6p_zdeHANDLT_G2OI9bQ9S7Fc3a3qpwN_GxpgczzXyayFHNSPQ0GsrhrjyuuoqJ8YU_bkXULg6VnltKaeVd3VFRP0dSxLXopN9Y6kexuBiU7-/s320/believe2.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53toWfQUL33aialmI5xJhdKovC4oYeutG-CEO35X-z-olj1Zl94rBCxxhXqTEkUEpHjbEvzNCH7UOQxEsguw48vQ74387-ivFiqbcFa8KazVjank7teQHzjPqablwMcF5UoHRDfITcycL/s1600/believe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53toWfQUL33aialmI5xJhdKovC4oYeutG-CEO35X-z-olj1Zl94rBCxxhXqTEkUEpHjbEvzNCH7UOQxEsguw48vQ74387-ivFiqbcFa8KazVjank7teQHzjPqablwMcF5UoHRDfITcycL/s320/believe.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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They also recently put out engraveable jewelry that you can customize at no additional charge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F2kbjGIo_rjLu8K73H1WTUZa6QIB8B44DdS4jgoguLH2Y6PaBgweARfusFj5pRyRKoa9qwQ_ISTHNGrGVzT7HWxcrlokr7W-F1Z8vL47EhgKacHfzox4todlpdBJVLZlRKQFqwEtFf1Z/s1600/27721344_10156151744673829_690335646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="640" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F2kbjGIo_rjLu8K73H1WTUZa6QIB8B44DdS4jgoguLH2Y6PaBgweARfusFj5pRyRKoa9qwQ_ISTHNGrGVzT7HWxcrlokr7W-F1Z8vL47EhgKacHfzox4todlpdBJVLZlRKQFqwEtFf1Z/s640/27721344_10156151744673829_690335646_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are a few stock photos of some pieces but there are SO many more! We will be doing a Facebook live event tonight to showcase some of the pieces. If you would like an invite to the party, just drop me a comment or send me a message using my contact form.<br />
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Thanks for taking the time to read! :) Hit me up if I can help you find a special piece of jewelry!</div>
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<br />Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-76659954485146779152018-02-05T12:45:00.000-05:002018-02-10T13:32:59.493-05:00God Makes All Things Right AgainI recently joined a class in my church that is specific for a situation I am dealing with in life. Sometime I will share more specifics about everything my children and I have been through but right now, rest assured God has been providing and protecting us!<br />
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I just wanted to jot some things from my workbook that I have learned this last week so I can continue to reflect on them and maybe they will help someone else so I wanted to share.<br />
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-Suffering at the hand of other people is not the end of the story. You and your children's ultimate well-being isn't fatalistically determined by someone else's mistreatment or abandonment.<br />
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-God hears the cries of His people. He understands their suffering, their pain.<br />
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-God takes an injustice in hand and is going to make that which is wrong, right.<br />
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God takes what is intended to harm us and uses it for His good! Genesis 50:19-20 I am thankful for this hope!<br />
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I was recently loaned a book to read, called "<a href="http://amzn.to/2sooIl8" target="_blank">Journal of Tears</a>" by Elizabeth Lapp. As I started the book, I realized I wanted to get my own copy that I could highlight and make notes in. So I ordered a used copy off of <a href="http://amzn.to/2CaqwxS" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. Imagine my surprise when I received my copy and found that it was an autographed copy from the author!! Not only that but in the front of the cover, she wrote "wait and hope", 2 things I need daily reminders of!! What a special God wink for sure!<br />
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Another neat thing, this author is local and I was recently connected with a gal who knows her and who also shared my story with her. So sometime I might have the blessing of meeting her!Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-19020364482565058022018-01-13T14:51:00.000-05:002018-01-15T14:51:49.237-05:00Squirrel HuntingThis past summer my son expressed interest in getting his hunting license. This is something I've wanted to do for years but never took the time to do so together we completed our hunters safety course!<br />
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He researched guns and with input from others, purchased a .22 to be used for small game hunting.<br />
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We finally had a chance to go out hunting today together. He has been out twice with others but that was before he got his own gun. So this time we went out together to some state game lands in hopes of bagging some squirrels (to eventually make squirrel pot pie with!)<br />
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It was a cold day and while we didn't see anything, it was still fun hanging out together. We both look forward to many more times of hunting together!<br />
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<br />Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272028476145850330.post-81050729053975373682017-12-24T23:09:00.000-05:002018-01-15T15:09:37.674-05:00Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">
Merry Christmas from my children and I!</div>
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Presents under the tree Christmas Eve</div>
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The filled stockings waiting for the children</div>
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My children and I at our church's Christmas Eve service</div>
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Because I didn't have Noah's picture with us at the Christmas Eve service to get a full family photo, my friend edited this picture to include Noah!! My precious 8 children!</div>
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Jenn @Treasuring Lifes Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064643472453403394noreply@blogger.com0