I was asked by Influenster to watch a few videos of the new language learning program for kids, "Dino Lingo," and I really enjoyed what I saw.
Dino Lingo from what I watched follows two little dinosaurs that go on an adventure and learn about different animals, colors and numbers. The graphics are very kid friendly, bright and colorful which I believe will really capture the kids attention. There is a lot of upbeat music as well.
When the two dinos are on their adventure, they will come across animals and they say what the animal is, not only is the word repeated several times, but the name is shown on the screen as well and they include pauses in between saying the word giving the kids and parents time to say it aloud themselves. While learning the new word the creators of Dino Lingo also show various versions of the animal, color or number. For example when they are showing a cat on the screen they are not just showing a cartoon version, but they show live versions of the animal. They distinguish between singular and plural as well.
This program is offered in a wide variety of languages and each are just as entertaining. From the small bits that I was able to preview I think this program will really be a great tool when trying to teach the kiddos a second language or perhaps even three or four. They combine what I feel is lacking in a lot of language learning programs, the visual stimuli as well as the audio. With the cartoon characters and the catchy music they make the learning process fun and easy to follow.
The husband and I are looking into the German version, as well as the Spanish since we live in the South. I look forward to using more of this program in the future and I recommend it to anyone who has children.
Want to try it out for yourself? Click the link below, enjoy! Dino Lingo - German
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
November BirchBox
For those of you who do not know what BirchBox is, it is a membership that you pay $10 a month for and they send you high end samples and sometimes you get full size products; like this month a I got a full size mascara that runs for $24 in stores...you do the math ;).
This month's box has been by far my favorite box! I have only been a member for about 4 or 5 months. Here is the rundown on my box:
ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Lengthening Mascara:
I was really excited about this product as I had anticipated that it would be a full size product. I also, am a huge fan of the fibre lash mascara product; it gives me fullness without the weight and clumping that several coats of regular mascara will do. If you aren't aware of what fibre lash is, then where have you been?!?! :) What it is regular mascara with a twist, it has tons of tiny little fibers mixed in, and when you apply it to your lashes the fibers attach to your lashes and create a lengthening and fullness affect. This brand is the best I have come across and I couldn't be happier. My first experience with fibre lash was by complete accident I picked up the wrong type at the store. With that first tube it took some getting used to because sometimes the fibers would adhere too close to my eye and when I blinked they would poke me, and I have since had that problem with other brands I have tried. That is not the case with the ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend, and I have also not run into the problem where once the mascara drys on your lashes sometimes the fibres will fall off onto your face then you have little black specks everywhere. I was able to apply this mascara to my desired looked without any problems and it has great coverage...which means I can use less and make it last (which is great when it comes to spending that kind of $$ on one tube of mascara).
SOYJOY Cranberry Snack Packs:
I have tried several different bars that I have received through my BirchBox membership over the last few months, and I have been quite surprised that how much I didn't mind them. I however, have not gotten around to trying this one just yet and will come back with an update once I do.
Shea Terra Organics Whipped Shae Butter Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme:
There are several different scents to choose from with this moisturizer, but unfortunately in my box I received the Banana and Baobabs, and anyone who knows me knows I have nothing to do with bananas. Even so, I attempted to give it a shot; I opened it up and gave it a sniff, if the banana wasn't the most dominant scent then I would more than likely be able to look past it. That was not the case, it smells like a jar of bananas and I could not go further. I was really excited for this product and was really hoping for any of the other 4 scents they had available. What I ca say about this product is that it looks like it would be a very nice creamy moisturizer. It also looks to be pretty thick; it doesn't move around inside the jar. I was pretty impressed with the size of this sample as well.
Stella Cadente Miss Me Eau de Parfum:
I do love to sample new scents, but I am not a big fan of getting perfume samples in the BirchBox because I can go to any store and get the same sample for free. For me, this perfume was a disaster! The only positive thing well the only two positive things I can say about this sample is; 1. I liked that it came in a spritzer, saved me from actually having to put it on and 2. It is able to last for a long time, which would have been fantastic if it were a nice fragrance. I sprayed the perfume only twice and it took hours for us to air out the house...or maybe we just got so used to smelling it we didn't notice it anymore. The fragrance smelled like a mix of hairspray, soap and baby powder...just a bad combination.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray:
I got a travel size of this spray which is great because then I can try it out more than once, and sometimes that is necessary. I have not tried it just yet, but plan to experiment tomorrow with it and will be back with an update.
So that's what I got in my box for November and I am so excited to see what I get next month!!
Also, another great thing about BirchBox, you can do product reviews on their site for each review you submit you earn 10 points and when you purchase things from the site every dollar you spend equals 1 point; for every 100 points you earn $10 to spend however you see fit on their website! It racks up pretty quickly too, because every month you get 5-6 products that you can submit reviews on. If you want to learn more or sign up, which you should totally do because you wont be disappointed click the link below. OH! Guys can sign up too, they just launched a subscription for men last month and I believe that one is $20 a month, and right now they have a limited edition home box with all sorts of things for the house!!
https://www.birchbox.com?raf=j8nxp
This month's box has been by far my favorite box! I have only been a member for about 4 or 5 months. Here is the rundown on my box:
ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Lengthening Mascara:
I was really excited about this product as I had anticipated that it would be a full size product. I also, am a huge fan of the fibre lash mascara product; it gives me fullness without the weight and clumping that several coats of regular mascara will do. If you aren't aware of what fibre lash is, then where have you been?!?! :) What it is regular mascara with a twist, it has tons of tiny little fibers mixed in, and when you apply it to your lashes the fibers attach to your lashes and create a lengthening and fullness affect. This brand is the best I have come across and I couldn't be happier. My first experience with fibre lash was by complete accident I picked up the wrong type at the store. With that first tube it took some getting used to because sometimes the fibers would adhere too close to my eye and when I blinked they would poke me, and I have since had that problem with other brands I have tried. That is not the case with the ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend, and I have also not run into the problem where once the mascara drys on your lashes sometimes the fibres will fall off onto your face then you have little black specks everywhere. I was able to apply this mascara to my desired looked without any problems and it has great coverage...which means I can use less and make it last (which is great when it comes to spending that kind of $$ on one tube of mascara).
SOYJOY Cranberry Snack Packs:
I have tried several different bars that I have received through my BirchBox membership over the last few months, and I have been quite surprised that how much I didn't mind them. I however, have not gotten around to trying this one just yet and will come back with an update once I do.
Shea Terra Organics Whipped Shae Butter Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme:
There are several different scents to choose from with this moisturizer, but unfortunately in my box I received the Banana and Baobabs, and anyone who knows me knows I have nothing to do with bananas. Even so, I attempted to give it a shot; I opened it up and gave it a sniff, if the banana wasn't the most dominant scent then I would more than likely be able to look past it. That was not the case, it smells like a jar of bananas and I could not go further. I was really excited for this product and was really hoping for any of the other 4 scents they had available. What I ca say about this product is that it looks like it would be a very nice creamy moisturizer. It also looks to be pretty thick; it doesn't move around inside the jar. I was pretty impressed with the size of this sample as well.
Stella Cadente Miss Me Eau de Parfum:
I do love to sample new scents, but I am not a big fan of getting perfume samples in the BirchBox because I can go to any store and get the same sample for free. For me, this perfume was a disaster! The only positive thing well the only two positive things I can say about this sample is; 1. I liked that it came in a spritzer, saved me from actually having to put it on and 2. It is able to last for a long time, which would have been fantastic if it were a nice fragrance. I sprayed the perfume only twice and it took hours for us to air out the house...or maybe we just got so used to smelling it we didn't notice it anymore. The fragrance smelled like a mix of hairspray, soap and baby powder...just a bad combination.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray:
I got a travel size of this spray which is great because then I can try it out more than once, and sometimes that is necessary. I have not tried it just yet, but plan to experiment tomorrow with it and will be back with an update.
So that's what I got in my box for November and I am so excited to see what I get next month!!
Also, another great thing about BirchBox, you can do product reviews on their site for each review you submit you earn 10 points and when you purchase things from the site every dollar you spend equals 1 point; for every 100 points you earn $10 to spend however you see fit on their website! It racks up pretty quickly too, because every month you get 5-6 products that you can submit reviews on. If you want to learn more or sign up, which you should totally do because you wont be disappointed click the link below. OH! Guys can sign up too, they just launched a subscription for men last month and I believe that one is $20 a month, and right now they have a limited edition home box with all sorts of things for the house!!
https://www.birchbox.com?raf=j8nxp
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Our Miracle Home
As most of you know my husband Chris and I were fortunate to be gifted a mortgage free home through Operation Homefront and Chase Bank this past August. This is a wonderful program for ALL Veterans. Operation Homefront has teamed up with Chase and now Wells Fargo to donate homes to those selected. All that you have to do is register with them and apply for current homes they are offering. You tell them about your current situation and how the home will benefit you, and from there you go through a selection process. The committee will then determine the family that they feel will most benefit from the home. Once you are selected it will take about two years before the home is transferred into your name, and during those two years it is treated as rental of sorts. The goal is to make sure the family is able to sustain the costs of owning a home. Though there is no mortgage payment the family is still required to pay property taxes for the home. Anyway, that is a general idea of how the program works, for more information click on the link below.
So, we were told once we were selected for the home that it could take anywhere from 3 to 4 months before it was ready for move-in. During that time the orginization is getting bids from contractors for renovations for the home. Well, we had gone out to the property on several occassions and were getting pretty discouraged, not because we are ungrateful but because we are so excited to be able to be given this opportunity and with it we are looking forward to be able to start our family a lot sooner, because we could see that nothing had been started on the home. We finally contacted Paula, the wonderful committee member who chose us, and she got back to us stating that if all stays on schedule they will be done with the ronvations by November 28th, then they would add 4 more weeks for the closing of the house and as of right now the key ceremony is set for around the 2nd week in January!! Also, she asked us for what furniture we needed for the home! We were so shocked we had no idea that on top of getting a mortgage free home it was going to come furnished and with all new appliances!
So this past weekend we took another trip out to the property to see what had been started and to our merry surprise quite a bit had been done already. The entire back of the house has been repainted, all new double paned windows have been put in on the back side of the house, a brand new back door, since it is a two story home it had two a/c units but one had been stolen so we have a brand new unit, the walls on the inside are starting to be painted, and the kitchen is now missing its sink; which Chris is hoping that means they are going to do all new countertops, but I will just be happy if it means a new sink :) . Also, right before leaving I noticed the stairs in the front have had their carpet taken out, so we get brand new carpet, I am hoping for wood floors but I wont hold my breath lol.
After seeing the state of the home our excitment has been renewed, and it is starting to feel real! 2013 is bound to be a fantastic year!
www.operationhomefront.net/homesonthehomefront
So, we were told once we were selected for the home that it could take anywhere from 3 to 4 months before it was ready for move-in. During that time the orginization is getting bids from contractors for renovations for the home. Well, we had gone out to the property on several occassions and were getting pretty discouraged, not because we are ungrateful but because we are so excited to be able to be given this opportunity and with it we are looking forward to be able to start our family a lot sooner, because we could see that nothing had been started on the home. We finally contacted Paula, the wonderful committee member who chose us, and she got back to us stating that if all stays on schedule they will be done with the ronvations by November 28th, then they would add 4 more weeks for the closing of the house and as of right now the key ceremony is set for around the 2nd week in January!! Also, she asked us for what furniture we needed for the home! We were so shocked we had no idea that on top of getting a mortgage free home it was going to come furnished and with all new appliances!
So this past weekend we took another trip out to the property to see what had been started and to our merry surprise quite a bit had been done already. The entire back of the house has been repainted, all new double paned windows have been put in on the back side of the house, a brand new back door, since it is a two story home it had two a/c units but one had been stolen so we have a brand new unit, the walls on the inside are starting to be painted, and the kitchen is now missing its sink; which Chris is hoping that means they are going to do all new countertops, but I will just be happy if it means a new sink :) . Also, right before leaving I noticed the stairs in the front have had their carpet taken out, so we get brand new carpet, I am hoping for wood floors but I wont hold my breath lol.
After seeing the state of the home our excitment has been renewed, and it is starting to feel real! 2013 is bound to be a fantastic year!
www.operationhomefront.net/homesonthehomefront
My Senterpiece Experience
So, last week I went to my first floral consultation for my wedding and I was a complete and nervous wreck prior to the meeting. I couldn't tell you why, but my nerves were out of control. The funny part being how well prepared I already was for the meeting. I have my colors, and I took the time to print out all of the flowers I was interested in as well as how I wanted to see my bouquet, the Bridesmaid bouquets, the boutinerres and even the centerpieces.
I thought for sure the nerves would settle upon arriving at the florist, The Senterpiece, but they did not, and during my consultation I was asked about things I hadn't even thought of! I guess I knew in the back of my mind that I was not as well prepared as I had originally assumed. Nonetheless they helped me with ideas and showed me tons of pictures of what they could do for me, and I was pleseantly surprised. I was also very pleased with the pricing they were able to generate for me, very affordable in my opinion.
I am supre excited to see the final products and to continue working with the fine folks at The Senterpiece, I knew upon reading the hundreds of reviews they were going to be super easy to work with.
To Be Continued....
www.senterpieceflowers.com
I thought for sure the nerves would settle upon arriving at the florist, The Senterpiece, but they did not, and during my consultation I was asked about things I hadn't even thought of! I guess I knew in the back of my mind that I was not as well prepared as I had originally assumed. Nonetheless they helped me with ideas and showed me tons of pictures of what they could do for me, and I was pleseantly surprised. I was also very pleased with the pricing they were able to generate for me, very affordable in my opinion.
I am supre excited to see the final products and to continue working with the fine folks at The Senterpiece, I knew upon reading the hundreds of reviews they were going to be super easy to work with.
To Be Continued....
www.senterpieceflowers.com
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