Mega Xmas Review- Young Scientist Club Magic School Bus Kit

The Young Scientists Club was started by Esther Novis, a mother of five and a former Harvard-trained biologist over a decade ago as a summer science camp for her then 5 year old son.  Friends from other parts of the country told Novis they felt cheated that their kids couldn't participate, so she packaged the experiments and sent them off.  The ideas was such a hit that now subscription kits are mailed monthly to thousands of children around the world and the company's retail kits are sold in hundreds of specialty stores worldwide.

We were thrilled to receive the Magic School Bus Diving into Slime, Gel and Goop kit by the Young Scientist Club.  My little ones are budding scientists and could not have been more excited.  I, on the other hand, was not so thrilled with the kit- Slime, Gel and Goop- sounded messy to me!!  I have to admit, however, that I had more fun doing the experiments and activities than my children. 

There are so many amazing aspects to this kit including step by step instructions, multiple exciting experiments, and hours of family fun.  I loved this kit so much that we will be purchasing other kits from the Young Scientists Club for Christmas for other young family and friends.  I would recommend these kits to anyone wanting a way to help young ones get excited about science and spend some wonderful time learning and laughing together.

About the Magic School Bus Diving into Slime, Gel and Goop kit:

Diving Into Slime, Gel, and Goop

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists diving into slime, gel, and goop with fun and fabulous experiments. Young Scientists discover oobleck, produce glue from milk, grow jiggly marbles, make snow from super-absorbent crystals, form a bouncy ball, create slime, expand super-absorbent gel crystals, melt fake snow, learn about polymers, and much, much more! This polymer kit includes extra gels, super-absorbent crystals, and marbles to repeat the fun! Seatbelts everyone! Get ready to Dive into Slime, Gel, and Goop!

(Ages: 5 and up)

To Buy:

The Young Scientists Club offers many wonderful kits for children of all ages.  For more information or to purchase a kit visit kidsciencekits.com.


**We were provided a Magic School Bus kit to review for this post.  The opinions herein are mine alone.**

Mega Xmas Review- Squeeze Blaster

Squeeze Blaster by Prime Time Toys is a game for boys (and girls) of all ages.  We received a Squeeze Blaster game recently to review for our Mega Xmas by Parent Reviewers. 

My 7 year old son and my 38 year old husband were both equally as excited when they first saw the box.  They were equally as excited when they began playing it and realized how fun and competitive it could be. 

Since that time, both my husband and my son have enjoyed countless hours playing Squeeze Blaster with wonderful results.  The best part in my opinion is the fact that the ease of play allows both my son and my husband to be competitive and they have each enjoyed winning many games. 

Another wonderful aspect of this game is the softness of the foam darts- when my son "accidently" shot one at his sister she was not harmed.  She actually found it amusing enough to want to give the game a try and had fun playing with it as well.  I found this one to be a win-win and I am sure that this will be a family favorite for a long time to come.

About Squeeze Blaster:

The Squeeze Blaster Target Game from Prime Time Toys is the dart game that challenges players to take aim at the colorful 11 diameter board, squeeze the soft launcher, and make the 3 foam missile fly towards the target. The player with the most points wins!

Includes 2-3.25L launchers and 6-3L missiles.

To Buy:

Squeeze Blaster can be purchased on Amazon and other great specialty retailers.

**We were provided a Squeeze Blaster Game to review for this post.  The opinions herein are completely my own.**

Mega Xmas Review- CitiBlocs

My little guy is an avid builder.  I think it runs in his genes as my husband is a carpenter and my father in law is an architect.  Either way, my little guy is convinced the best job in the world is building houses.  Imagine his delight when I gave him a set of CitiBlocs and told him he could build an entire city.  He was thrilled!!

CitiBlocs are a fabulous, unique wooden construction toy that can be used to build just about anything.  The amazing thing about CitiBlocs is that every piece is the same size and shape allowing for hours of creativity and fun while creating some amazing things.  The pieces are made from high quality Radiata Pine from certified renewable forests in New Zealand.  They are just the perfect size for stacking and creating all kinds of wonderful buildings, animals, anything your mind can create.

About CitiBlocs:

What are CitiBlocs?
CitiBlocs are a unique wooden building toy made of pine from renewable forests. These small rectangular plans measure 1" x 4 1/2" x 1/4" and exist in seven different colors.

Kids (and their parents) can enter a creative world of building, fantasy and fun. The possibilities are infinite: a galleon fit for pirates and princes, monuments and palaces, villages and bridges and futuristic towers. Imagine and build dragons and crocodiles and multicolored exotic birds; a meadow filled with flowers and trees.

Build outside the box with CitiBlocs, enhancing awareness, vision and skill - engaging hands on experience, concentration and understanding. Introduce builders to the world of art and design, science and expression, mathematics and history - the joy of creating and learning all the time. CitiBlocs: the finest building blocks in the world!
The essential building and learning toy.

We were so pleased with CitiBlocs that we will be purchasing more for Christmas for family and friends. In addition to the 100 piece set we received, they are also offered in 52, 200, 300, 500 and even 1000 piece sets ranging in price from $14.99 to $229.99.

To Buy:

CitiBlocs can be purchased at Toys R Us and online at CitiblocsStore.com and other specialty retailers.


**I was provided a set of 100 Citiblocs to review for this post.  The opinions herein are completely my own.**

Mega Xmas Reviews- Haba Animal Upon Animal Game

I have been a long time fan of HABA and the fantastic toys they create.  Thanks to Parent Reviewers I was given the opportunity to try out a new game- Animal Upon Animal- The Duell, a fantastic wobbly stacking game for young children. 

My daughter was so excited when we received this game at our house.  She is the animal lover in the family and couldn't wait to begin playing.  She though the box itself was fabulous with its bright colors and the wonderful pictures of animals.  She loved the ease of play of this game as well as the challenging aspect which kept us all on our toes. 

The wooden pieces are adorable and just the right size for little hands.  The dice that accompany the game are a bit small- they could pose a choking hazard for very young children so this game is recommended for children 3 and up.  I think this is another winner by the HABA company and I am sure we will all be enjoying this one for many years to come.

About HABA's Animal Upon Animal Game:

HABA Animal Upon Animal Game The Duell - This games helps:
-Eye-hand coordination
-Fine motor skills
-Three-dimensional perception
A wobbly stacking game for 3 or more players.
Game Idea:The stacking competition has started! The tiger balances the goose on his paws, the squirrel climbs on to the goose, but the second team is catching up …

A quick stacking game of balance for 2 skillful players. Includes variation “All for one and one for all” for 3 and more players.

To Buy:

HABA Animal Upon Animal Game can be purchased at Maukilo or anywhere HABA games are sold.

**The HABA Animal Upon Animal Game was given to me to review for this post.  The opinions given in this post are mine alone.**

Exergen Temporal Scanner Review

Do you remember the old days of the mercury thermometers that took SO long to complete a temperature reading on your sad, sick little one?  I am so glad those days are long past and now- Exergen has created a wonderful alternative.  The Temporal Scanner is a new and effective way to monitor the temperature of anyone who is under the weather.  It is quick, accurate, and easy to use- something all moms and dads will appreciate.

About the Exergen Temporal Scanner:

The TemporalScanner Thermometer is a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements. Advanced, patented technology measures temperatures with a gentle stroke across the forehead.

The TemporalScanner Thermometer has been clinically tested for accuracy compared to rectal thermometers and temperature sensors inserted in the heart during course of patient treatment and accepted for use in major hospitals, making it the ideal thermometer for use with newborns, infants, children or adults.

The TemporalScanner has patented software, providing arterial heat balance. This unique process determines temperature by accurately measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling (warming) caused by heat loss (gain) to the environment.

I was so pleased to be given the opportunity to try a Temporal Scanner by Parent Reviewers.  We have had quite a few opportunities to test the Temporal Scanner during this flu season and we have had wonderful results.  It is so quick that my little ones didn't even know we were taking their temperature.  We often had to hold my youngest child still while taking her temperature under her arm, causing her even more discomfort and tears.  With the Temporal Scanner this was not any issue at all.

Here's how the Temporal Scanner works:

As you gently stroke the thermometer across the forehead crossing over the temporal artery, the sensor in its probe performs two processes:

First it scans like a video camera, capturing naturally emitted infrared heat from the arterial blood supply at about 1000 “frames” per second, locking in the highest temperature it senses and;

Second, at the same time, a patented system measures the ambient temperature of the site where the temperature is being taken. The patented "arterial heat balance" (AHB) software then synthesizes the two separate readings to accurately determine and display body temperature.

As with any thermometer, taking temperatures properly is critical to obtaining accurate temperatures, so please read all instructions carefully and thoroughly before using this product.

To Buy:

You can purchase the Temporal Scanner at Wal-mart, Babies R Us, Walgreens and many other major retailers.  For a complete list click here.

**I was provided a Temporal Scanner by Exergen to review for this post.  The opinions provided within this post are completely my own.**

K'NEX Review

My family has been a huge fan of K'NEX building products for a long time.  We were so excited when we were recently given the opportunity to review two fabulous products from the K'NEX collection.

The first product was the great 400 piece value set, which came with 400 individual building pieces, building ideas for 20 different models, and a great storage tub.  My son was so excited to receive these as he is an avid builder.  The K'NEX set is perfect for him with just enough difficulty to keep him interested, yet enough variability to allow his creativity to blossom.  He has literally played with these for hours on end, creating vehicles, building, animals, insects, Christmas presents, and many, many more fun and imaginative creations. 

It is so valuable for us to find toys that work well for him, with his multiple special needs it is often to find things that will keep his attention, not be frustrating, and allow him to be as creative as he wants to be.  This set fit all of those and more. 

About the K'NEX 400 piece set:

Loaded with 400 parts, including bricks, for lots of open-ended fun and endless building and play opportunities! Includes instructions and ideas for 20 models or use your imagination to dream up your own creations. The convenient storage tub means there is always a place to put your parts or take the fun with you wherever you go!

*Packed with 400 parts, including bricks, rods and connectors, for lots of open-ended building fun

*Includes ideas/instructions for 20+ models or use your own imagination

*Handy storage tub means you can take the fun with you and clean-up is easy

For ages 7+

The second set we received from K'NEX was the adorable Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Ice Cream Truck.  This set was just so sweet- my 5 year old daughter had so much fun showing this to her 3 year old cousin.  They built it together and then had tons of fun chasing each other through the house with Elmo. 

The pieces in this set were big and chunky, easy for little hands to grasp and the Elmo that was included is dressed as an ice cream man.  There are four Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection sets and each works alone or you can purchase them all for even more involved play and fun.  Each set also comes with a Play & Learn activity sheet which features educational and fun activities designed specifically for preschoolers and their parents.  The activities teach children fun facts related to the theme of the scene.  They also offer ways to use the parts of each set to work on sorting, patterning, colors, shapes and more.

About the Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Ice Cream Truck set:

Your child can build the NEW smaller scale Elmo - dressed in his white uniform and cap - along with his ice cream truck! A "Play & Learn" activity sheet filled with educational fun for parent and child, plus additional building ideas, is also included. This 18-piece building set pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection 1-2-3 Brownstone Building Set. Look for all the Neighborhood Collection Building Sets so your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!

*18 pieces to build Elmo and his ice cream truck!

*Includes "Play & Learn" activity sheet with additional building ideas

*Collect all 4 Neighborhood Collection sets and your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!

Ages 2-5

To Buy:

You can purchase the kits above and many other fabulous building and learning tools at KNEX.com.


**I was given both of the sets above to review for this post. The opinions herein are completely my own.**

Grapevine Studies Review!!

As part of the TOS Crew, I had the opportunity to review a wonderful Christian Bible Study curriculum, Grapevine Studies. I was thrilled with this review partly because my children really enjoy learning about the Bible and about the life of Jesus.

Grapevine Studies is a complete Biblical curriculum created to instruct and disciple students from as young as 5 years old through adulthood. With just a set of colored pencils, a Bible, and the Grapevine lessons, students of all ages will learn and grow in their Christian walk.

The scope of Grapevine Studies lessons cover many topics and are divided into levels based on the student's age and ability. Here are the levels available:

Beginners (Ages 5-7)- Beginner students will enjoy this hands-on study of the major characters and events of the Bible using simple, colorful stick figures, and symbols. Teachers will appreciate the chronological and easy-to-teach format!

Level 1 (Grades 1-2)- Level 1 students will begin to learn the Old or New Testament Timeline, with each subsequent lesson related to a point on the timeline. Teachers will see measurable results in just a few lessons.

Level 2 (Grades 3-4)- Level 2 students will expand their knowledge of the Bible timeline while learning new facts about each timeline character and event. Memory work includes the books of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed and more!

Level 3 (Grades 5-8)- Level 3 students will deepen their understanding of the Old or New Testament characters and events. Students should be able to complete either the Old or New Testament Timeline on their own. In addition, students will be introduced to basic biblical geography, so they will not only know what happened, but where it happened!

Level 4 (Teen-Adult)- Level 4 students will master the old or New testament Timeline and know were the books of the Bible fit into the chronology of the Timeline. Students will also be introduced to and practice using basic Bible study tools: Bible Concordance, Bible Dictionary, and Topical Bible with each lesson. Students will also be challenged with critical thinking question associated with each lesson.

Level 5 (Teen-Adult)- Take a self-directed approach to studying the Old or New Testament. students will take notes, use Bible study resources, and answer critical thinking questions in each lesson. Hands-on activities and research projects make this an excellent study for students who desire to deepen their understanding of the Bible. No teacher manuals needed.



We had the opportunity to try out the Birth of Jesus Beginner study from Grapevine Studies. My first impression of the study was great!! The teachers guide was very easy to understand and follow- allowing for the lesson to be catered to any age group. The beginner study for kids was also so simple to apply, however just the right pace for my little ones.

My daughter is a budding artist and was thrilled to see the "stick figure" aspect of each lesson. Her stick figures were a bit more developed than those in the teacher guide, complete with eyelashes and fingernails, but the lesson behind the figures were imprinted firmly in her mind.

My son has a very hard time focusing for an extended period of time, but even he was intrigued by the lessons and was able to recite many of the things he learned in the lessons even days later- a huge step for him.

We also received the customizable lesson that would work for all age groups and although we weren't able to really try this one out, I did notice that the questions were much more in depth and thought provoking. The included time line is also another great tool that will be great to use with my kiddos when they get just a bit older.

I was extremely impressed with Grapevine Studies and I know it will be one tool for Bible learning that we use for years to come.

To Buy:

Grapevine Studies multiple Bible Lessons can be purchased exclusively on their website. Use the code: crew9 for 30% off your purchase through September 30.

Don't forget to check out more great reviews by the TOS Crew.

Web Design for Kids (and Curious Grownups) Review!

Web Design for Kids (...And Curious Grown-ups!) is a great program for introducing the basics of HTML to children. With the growth in blogging and home-based businesses, especially in the homeschooling world- these are vital skills for today's students.

Brian Richardson, a middle school computer literacy teacher, developed the Web Design for Kids program to capture the attention of his students and teach them a skill that will give them opportunities throughout their lives. The reaction of his classes was tremendous with many of his students creating their own web pages. His desire to share this valuable program with students all over the world led him to create the Web Design for Kids DVD.

This DVD makes learning fun with Mr. Richardson's upbeat and cheerful demeanor and his two wonderful student assistants. His passion for teaching comes through as he walks students step-by-step through creating the basics of an original webpage. Plus, there is no additional software to purchase. The programs used on the DVD are all included free with every Windows Operating System.

The DVD is approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes long and consists of seven chapters. Two preteen kids are on the DVD to keep you company and learn along with you! They actually ask a bunch of questions that (after 7+ years of teaching kids web design) I know will pop up in your child's mind!

Some of the subjects covered in the DVD are:
*The 10 Basic Lines of Code
*Coloring the Background and Letters
*Making Letters Move Across the Screen
*Designer Backgrounds
*Changing Fonts
*Adding Pictures

There is also a Bonus Chapter on File and Folder Management. Basic things like how to create a folder, how to save things inside the folder, what to do if you accidentally save something in the wrong place, and much more!

Although my pre-reader children were not able to try out this DVD (yet!!), I was so glad to watch and learn from Mr. Richardson myself. I have been fairly fluent in HTML for a while, but I was surprised to learn from the DVD as well. I love that Mr. Richardson tags "and curious grownups" to the end of his DVD title. I am sure that many blogging mom's would love to have the knowledge shared on this DVD to spruce up their blogs or even to create webpages for their families.

Here is a sample of the DVD for your viewing pleasure.

To Buy:

Web Design for Kids (and curious grownups) DVD is available on their website for the low price of $19.99 plus $3.99 shipping and handling.

Go purchase a copy for the budding web designer in your family!!

And check out more of the TOS Crew reviews here!!

iKookie Review and Giveaway!!

ikookie is creator of some wonderful organic clothing for infants and toddlers. They have a full line of T-shirts, bodysuits, shorts, yoga pants, sleepsuits, gift sets and more- all created with 100% organic cotton in adorable colors and styles.

From the ikookie website:

ikookie baby clothes are made with 100% organic cotton, grown with natural fertilizers and free of toxic chemicals. Our organic cotton baby products include bodysuits, t-shirts, yoga pants, sleepsuits, blankets, towels and more.

100% certified organic cotton ~ good for your baby's delicate skin and the environment.

I recently received the above gift set from ikookie- a sweet lap-T and shorts gift set in the softest organic cotton. I was very impressed with the great craftsmanship that went into making the set, with each seam in perfect alignment and every stitch carefully placed. I only wish I had a little one I could put it on, but my sweet ones are a bit too big!

To Buy:

You can purchase ikookie's sweet clothing at ikookie.com.

To Win:

I am giving away the set that is pictured above- (gift set of lap-T and shorts in the natural cotton color and size 18-24 months). If you would like a chance to win this sweet set, please fill out the form below. I will choose a winner September 18th and announce the winner on this blog.

Hank the Cowdog Review!!

Thanks to the TOS Crew, I have another great product to share with you today. Hank the Cowdog is a series of books created by John Erickson over 26 years ago. Mr. Richardson wanted to create a story that could be enjoyed by the entire family. He understood the need for these stories to be funny, entertaining and have a good basic lesson in order to allow everyone to enjoy them. Thus, Hank the Cowdog was born. From his first story, written over 26 years ago to his newest adventure today, Hank has been winning the hearts of fans of all ages.

I had the opportunity to experience Hank the Cowdog for myself with his story of The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse, the wonderful Tales and Tunes from Hank the Cowdog CD and Tornado- the wildest Race and Chase Game Ever!!



Hank the Cowdog was an instant hit in our family. The Tornado Game started our adventures with Hank and we were hooked from the start. From the great compact size to the adorable game pieces, Tornado is our new family game night choice.

Aside from the fun of chasing Hank, Drover and the little buzzard pieces all over the game board, Tornado is great because it is travel friendly with all the pieces fitting nicely inside the board. It's a great distraction for little one's while waiting at the doctor office or in a meeting. It's quiet (except for the excited murmers from the little one's playing it) and easy to understand with no difficult directions or long explainations needed.

It's a race to be the first to get your three "characters" from the start to the finish. But watch out, your opponent is chasing you and may send you back to the start. And landing on a tornado space can send you flying in any direction! The only safe place is a finish space. And in this fast paced game it's truly, never over until it's over!

You can even take the TORNADO game with you on the road! Everything can be stored inside the folding plastic game board!

Hear "Drover's Tornado Safety Song." Drover's funny song is included on your free 30 minute cassette tape from Hank's award winning audio, The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado.

Includes:

• 1 plastic playing board
• 12 "characters"
• tornado spinner
• instructions

For 2-4 players/ Ages 5+

My little guy fell in love with Hank from the beginning- even asking if I could get him "Hank" for his birthday this Sunday. He thoroughly enjoyed the Tales and Tunes from Hank the Cowdog CD and has listened to it over and over. The different character voices John Erickson uses in his audio recordings truly bring the stories to life.

The CD contains excerpts from 10 different Hank stories as well as 9 original songs. The "little taste" of each story makes you wonder what trouble is in store for Hank next.



We also very much enjoyed blending Hank the Cowdog's book #8 , The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse into daily reading schedule. Our nightly chapter readings were full of laughter as Hank got himself into one predicament after another. From poisoned bacon grease, to girls cousins, to Tuerto, one mean horse- Hank never gives up and always manages to come out on top.

From the back cover:

Things are looking pretty bleak for Hank the Cowdog. First he gets sick on poisoned bacon grease. Then he accidentally trips Sally May-and she ends up with a broken ankle. And if that’s not bad enough, he gets stuck playing dress-up with Amy and Ashley, Little Alfred’s cousins.

But when Turto the Killer Stud Horse breaks free and charges at the girls, Hank knows it’s up to him to protect them. He’ll show that one-eyed horse who’s boss-even if it means risking his own life!

I am so glad we were introduced to Hank, Drover and all their friends. The stories are hilarious and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them to my little ones. We can't wait to see what trouble Hank gets into next!!

To Buy:

Hank the Cowdog products can be purchased on their website.

They are currently available at the following prices:

Tornado Game- $12.99
Tales and Tunes CD- $3.00
Hank the Cowdog Books- Paperback- $4.24/ Hardback- $12.49


Check out some other great reviews from the TOS Crew.

Sleepy Bear Review

I was recently given the opportunity with Parent Reviewers to review a great new product from Sleepy Wrap- creator of organic and fabulous babywearing apparel. They have an amazing selection of the sweetest baby wraps I have ever seen.

Sleepy Bear is one of the fabulous products created by Sleepy Wrap and it is the very first stuffed toy that was created to promote babywearing. I was thrilled when I was chosen to review this product as I have always been a huge babywearing advocate.

From the Sleepy Wrap website:

NAP, Inc. introduces the very first stuffed toy to help promote babywearing! Made from the softest organic cotton, the new eco-friendly toy is perfect for your child's first friend (intended for children ages 3 and up). No buttons, snaps or removable parts are used on the Sleepy Bear – only soft stitching and materials are used to make this the perfect bear for your child!

Produced in accordance with the requirements of the Organic Exchange 100 Standard, the Sleepy Bear contains no pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers or any other chemicals – we are dedicated to providing only the best for you and your family.

My Experience:

When the package arrived in the mail I couldn't wait to see Sleepy Bear for myself. Once I opened the box I was amazed at how soft and sweet this little bear feels. Sleepy Bear is just the most adorable stuffed toy complete with an Organic Khaki wrap (available for adults as well) and a little bear cub of her very own.

My daughter fell in love immediately. She has often created baby wraps for her baby dolls out of blanket and playsilks we have around the house, but now she has a friend with a "real" baby wrap! How exciting! Sleepy Bear is 100% Organic and has no removable parts that could be potential choking hazards. That makes Sleepy Bear a great toy for all children- and a great way to introduce babywearing to curious little ones.

Many children want to imitate Mommies, especially after a new baby has arrived and this is a great opportunity to allow young children to be able to understand and learn about the experience of babywearing. I would recommend Sleepy Bear for anyone who want to promote or explain babywearing to little ones!

To Buy:

Sleepy Bear can be purchased at the following locations:

Supermommy’s Superstore
2411 Ring Road, Suite 105
Elizabethtown, KY
accounts@supermommyssuperstore.com
www.SupermommysSuperstore.com
270.769.6693

Sweet Infant
1007 S. Country Club Rd.
Lovington, NM
support@sweetinfant.com
www.sweetinfant.com
575.441.3005

Nurtured Family
8525 Jackrabbit Rd., Suite B
Houston, TX
support@nurturedfamily.com
www.nurturedfamily.com
832.239.5140

Heavenly Hold
510 Briarfield Crossing
Marietta, GA
amber@heavenlyhold.com
www.heavenlyhold.com
404.849.5394

Baby Carriers-n-More
265 W Cimmarron Way
Erda, UT
robyn@babycarriersnmore.com
www.babycarriersnmore.com
801.671.5740

Attached to Baby
Seattle, WA
sara@attachedtobaby.com
www.attachedtobaby.com
800.887.1461

Go purchase a Sleepy Bear for the sweet little one in your life!!

Quarter Mile Math Review!!

Being a part of the TOS Crew has given me the opportunity to review some of the best homeschool products on the market. The product I have to share with you today is one of my favorite products thus far. The Quarter Mile Math program was created as a way for children to advance in mathematics whether schooling at home or in the public system.



The Quarter Mile Math program allows students of all ages and grade levels to complete mental math problems at the fastest rate possible. The student begins by choosing to race either a riderless horse or a car. When the race begins, a student is provided a math problem, as soon as the student answers correctly another problem appears. Correct answers accelerate speed of the car or horse that is racing in real time. The racer is competing against the previous five fastest times the student has performed. This allows the student (and parents) to see their progress race after race.

There are two versions of the Quarter Mile Math program- to suit the needs of every student.

The Standard Version is available on CD with prices ranging from $39.95 to $89.95 depending on the grade range. There are 7 different programs to choose from covering different grade ranges.

The Deluxe Version is available for the low price of only $2.95 for the entire family per month. It offers all 323 topics in the entire product line and all 70,000+ problems covering Kindergarten through 9th grade (pre-algebra). It also provides for additional student progress tracking features.

Check out the complete comparison of these two versions.

My children love playing on the computer so asking them to try out this great program was easy. From the beginning I knew this would be a new favorite in our house. Both of my children thoroughly enjoyed playing both the horse races and the car races although my little guy was hooked on the cars when he started.

It was great to be able to watch their progress as they began on the first topic and quickly moved up. They really liked being able to compete against themselves (their 5 fastest previous scores) and even if they lost the race, they didn't feel bad.

They both made great progress much quicker than I had first thought. My son has some special needs and I often wonder how new programs and curriculum items are going to work for him. This was a home run!! He loves math and this only increased his confidence and abilities. I know we will be using Quarter Mile Math as a supplement to our regular curriculum for years.



The Quarter Mile Math program is used in all 1,300 Sylvan learning centers across the US.

There are many, many testimonials by families and teachers who have used the Quarter Mile Math program for years and have seen amazing progress in their students.

Just for Homeschoolers!! There is now a great Just For Homeschoolers section of the Quarter Mile Math website with great tips, information, and suggestions for incorporating the program into your current homeschool curriculum. Coming soon there will be a User's Forum for even more great ideas and support. There is even a great Printable Progress Chart to help track your students achievements.

To Buy:

You can purchase any of the Quarter Mile Math programs on their website. You can also download a Free Demo.

Check out some other great reviews by the TOS Crew!

Les Mess Review

Leslie, owner of the Les Mess company, is dedicated to helping to families get control of the mess in their lives and get organized. The Les Mess company has created great resources to help every family conquer the clutter in their homes.

Les Mess Game for Children (from their website):

Les Mess, organizing cards for kids (ages 5-12), will help get their room and your house organized and clutter-free.

Shuffle the cards, pick one and do what is on the card. Each card has a time limit on it. If you finish in time you get a prize (Mom and Dad do this part), and there are cards with ideas of great prizes. These prizes do not bring more clutter into the house.

These organizing cards teach children to put things away, what to keep and what to toss. They will learn through getting organized, how to sort and will create a habit of picking up every day. After all, isn’t teaching our kids how to be organized and clutter-free a part of being a parent…and sometimes learning should be fun too! It's NOT just a game, it's a way of life.

Les Mess Game for Men (from their website):

Does your man (husband, partner, lover or boyfriend) help you with the chores while complaining all the way? I have the perfect solution for him.

I have created Les Mess for MEN. These cards offer him a choice, if he picks the right card. It could be a chore, a chance to play Golf, get out of the dog house for FREE, or a night with the boys. Or, if you prefer, I have included blank cards for YOU(the wife, partner ,lover or girlfriend) to add your own chore to.

The game is simple, pick a card, do what is on the card, and then turn it over…there is something on the back you have to do too---(very easy and lots of fun!)Every man and woman will enjoy these cards…and your house will be a home, organized and clutter-free!

My Experience:

Our children are pretty good about keeping their rooms clean and making their beds on a regular basis, but getting them to do additional chores around the house has proven to be a bit of a challenge. When I received the Les Mess Card Game for children I was hoping it might help motivate my little ones.

We opened the box and started "playing" right away. Within minutes I had my children organizing their toys and closets and taking out the trash. They had so much fun with the game they didn't even realize that they were doing work. The Les Mess Card Game has totally revamped the way we approach chores with our children. We have even made extra cards that cater to our particular needs as a family and they have blended right into the game.

I recommend the Les Mess Card Game for anyone needing a boost in motivation or needing a creative way to introduce chores to children (or husbands).

To Buy:

You can purchase the Les Mess Card Game for Children or any of the other great organization products at LesMess.com.

Sense and Sensibility Review

In conjunction with the TOS Crew, I have been given the opportunity to review some of the best products on the market for homeschooling families. Sense & Sensibility Patterns is one company with a heart for homeschooling. Sense & Sensibility Patterns was started in 1996 by Jennie Chancey, a stay at home mom with a passion for creating old-fashioned clothing for herself and her children. Her company soon exploded, creating a wonderful resource for families looking for quality, modest clothing.

Sense & Sensibility Patterns offers multiple ePatterns and eClasses to help even the most novice seamstress. They also have a wonderful forum where you can meet and fellowship with wonderful like-minded women who will gladly help you every step of the way.

The ePatterns offered by Sense & Sensibility Patterns are downloadable which means they are available instantly and they are reusable and easy to resize. At a price of $7.95- it's such a great deal. You can also purchase a hardcopy of the pattern that will be mailed to you for just $12.95. You can also purchase eClass and ePattern bundles for $24.95.

My Experience:

I was given the opportunity to review the Girl's Edwardian Apron ePattern and eClass set by Sense & Sensibility Patterns. I have to admit- I was really worried when I was chosen for this review as I am NOT a skilled seamstress. I do have a sewing machine, given to me by my grandmother years ago, but I have not ever had success using it.

I emailed Jennie before beginning this review and she assured me that the eClass is created for even the most novice seamstress. I was concerned that she might not understand how little I actually knew in regards to sewing, but yet I forged ahead. I downloaded the ePattern and eClass bundle and immediately opened them both up. I could tell that there was such detailed information in these bundles that I knew I could handle this project.

I was pleasantly surprised at my ability to create a wonderful (almost completed) apron for my little one. The pattern adjusts for sizes 2-14 so it works for little girls of all sizes. It took me almost three days from start to (almost) complete and it actually resembles the apron in the picture. Every time I got stuck in the directions, I just went back to the eClass slides or instruction and I was back on track. All in all it was a great experience and I would encourage everyone, even beginners, to give it a try.

To Buy:

Sense & Sensibility ePatterns and eClasses are available on their website.

Be sure to check out the other reviews by the TOS Crew.

Travel With Me Review and Giveaway!!

Travel with Me is a wonderful new company dedicated to making travel safer and more comfortable for travelers of all sizes. I was recently given the opportunity through Parent Reviewers to review a set of the JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases. We were so excited to try these, as we are hoping to make a big trip overseas soon and we know these will come in handy for us.

From their website:

Here at Travel With Me, we've learned that most airlines do not change the pillowcases between flights. Pillows often end up on the floor, and are loaded with dirt, germs and drool. Next time you travel, play it safe and slip a soft and comfortable JetHeads™ Disposable Pillow Case over your airplane pillow and rest easy knowing you and your children aren't napping where the last passenger just sneezed!

JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases are made of a soft and comfortable, non-woven fabric and come 2 to a pack. JetHeads™ are made in the USA.

In addition, Travel with Me has wonderful Down and Faux Down Travel Pillows. They are just the right size to easily take with you on any long trip.

My Thoughts:

I was wonderfully surprised with the softness and strength of the JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases. I was worried that they might be stiff or scratchy, but did not find either of these to be true. I tried one of the pillowcases on a little pillow my daughter has and she was so excited that she wanted to take a nap with it. She slept well and had no problems with it at all.

After her nap she decided to decorate her pillowcase with markers and had so much fun "designing" it that she then wanted to sleep with it for the next few nights. The pillowcase held up well through many nights and naps after that.

I know that I will feel better knowing that when we travel this is one less thing we have to worry about. Going on a long trip- especially overseas- with small children is a tough journey, but JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases allows me to rest easy knowing my children are protected and safe as they snooze on the plane.

To Buy:

You can purchase JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases at Travel with Me.com. Be sure to check out their other great travel products as well.

To Win:

We have two packs of JetHeads™ Disposable Airplane Pillowcases to give to two of our fabulous readers. To enter- please fill out the form below. Giveaway ends July 31 at midnight.

SpellQuizzer Review

I was recently given the opportunity via the TOS Crew to review a great product for homeschoolers. SpellQuizzer is an interactive, engaging and fun method of completing daily spelling lessons. The creators of SpellQuizzer have made our job as teachers so much easier. SpellQuizzer truly takes the work out of teaching our children to spell.

From their website:

The typical approach to preparing a child for his or her weekly spelling test is to dictate the week's words each night as the child writes them down. Then correct the spelling and repeat. It takes time. It's slow, tedious, and a chore for both the child and for you.

With the SpellQuizzer spelling software you can automate this process, taking up less time from both you and the student. Each week you input the child's spelling list into SpellQuizzer once. Then the child uses the SpellQuizzer spelling software to practice his or her spelling words.

SpellQuizzer plays back the words you recorded, waits for the student to type in the correct spelling and lets the student know how he or she did.

Our Experience:

I have to admit I was really excited to try out this software. I have been trying to find a way to make our weekly spelling lessons have a bit more fun and excitement... and I was hoping this might be the answer. When you first open SpellQuizzer, you come to this main page:



The first option I tried was "Create a spelling list". This took me to the List Creation Page:



The screens are very easy to understand and use, even on your first try. I have to admit I though we hit a snag when I realized that we didn't have a microphone to actually record the words in the computer. There are two solutions to this problem- you can either go buy a microphone at Walmart (about $10) or you can use the Reminder Phrase field on the screen above.

We chose to use the Reminder Phrase at first (we are planning on purchasing the microphone in the very near future). Lucky for us we were working on an animal unit so it was easy for my first grader to understand the hints such as "What animal says Meow?"

Once the list was created then my little guy got to try it out in an actual "quiz". Here is an example of the quiz screen:



You can see how easy it is to use and my little guy just flew through his first "quiz". He got them all right and asking if he could do it again. We have certainly never had that "problem" before!!

Overall I really enjoyed working with SpellQuizzer. It truly does make the tedious job of teaching spelling so much easier. One of my favorite features is the ability to import and export spelling lists between other SpellQuizzer users. This would be great for anyone in a small homeschool group or Co-op who might be working on units together.

My impression is that SpellQuizzer is very user friendly and would work with all ages and grade levels. It is a great addition to anyone's homeschool library and I would recommend it highly as a great teaching tool.

You can download a FREE 30 day trial version of SpellQuizzer here.

Enjoy!!

I'm Having Twins! Review and Giveaway!!

I recently received a wonderfully sweet book to review. My Friend Paris is a series of books written by Paris Morris, a 9 year old author living in the San Francisco Bay area.

The book I received was "I'm Having Twins", the story of a little girl who finds out her mommy is pregnant with "two babies". The story tells of Paris's family and the changes that are forthcoming in a playful and fun way. The book is very informative and there are terms explained in the book such as "Twins" and "Bedrest".

I was truly impressed with the wonderful writing, although from a child's perspective, it is very thorough and well expressed. The pictures are wonderful throughout the book, very colorful and fun!!

This is a great book for any little one, but a must read for any families with small children who are expecting twins.

The "I'm Having Twins" series includes the following books:

I'm Having Twins

My Twins are Coming Home

My Twins' First Birthday

My Twins' First Halloween

My Twins' First Christmas

There is also a wonderful series about travel written by Paris Morris including books about Italy, Lake Tahoe, France, and New York.

To Buy:

My Friend Paris books are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

To Win:

I have a copy of "I'm Having Twins" to giveaway to one of our lucky readers.

To Enter:

Fill out the form below to enter to win!! Giveaway ends July 20, 2009 at midnight.

Trebellina Review

Thanks to Parent Reviewers we were recently given the opportunity to review the great music DVD- Introducing Trebellina created by the Cristofori Baby Company. A great new concept in teaching music theory to young children. Using great characters Trebellina, Rock Bassey, and Rhythmo, this DVD introduces the music scale, rhythm and instruments in a fun and exciting way.

From their website:

Trebellina helps young children develop pitch and teaches them to read music in a super fun and engaging manner. Trebellina's patented method of teaching note reading and pitch is simultaneously effective and entertaining.

The Trebellina DVD also introduces little ones to instrument names and their sounds, beautifully demonstrating how different instruments sound individually and collectively in a piece of music.

I was so impressed with this DVD from the start to the end. Within minutes of the beginning, both of my children were singing the scale and beating out rhythms on the couch. The DVD kept the attention of both my preschooler, my 1st grader, and our 2 year old niece.

They have watched Trebellina tirelessly for the past week and they are actually picking up some wonderful lessons in music theory as they watch. It is a great introduction to music for children who may have not had much exposure in the past. I think this is a great addition to ever child's DVD library.



Thanks again to Parent Reviewers for the opportunity to review this great product.

Eleven Collection Shoes Review & Giveaway

Eleven Collection, maker of the fabulous shoes for little travelers, is a family-run company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Apparel and shoe designers Nancy Coronado and Cause Haun have collaborated to create this bold new line of amazing shoes.

Eleven Collection shoes are unique in design and impeccably hand crafted with flexible, high-proportioned rubber soles, cushioned insoles and easy Velcro closures for adjustable fit. They are constructed with all leather uppers and durable soles for active kids.

Eleven Collection's shoes are available in whole sizes (9-3) and are great for toddlers through early school age children (age 3-8). Shoes and boots retail from $54-$60 and Sandals retail from $48-$60.




Our Experience:

We are HUGE fan's of Eleven Collection's shoes and we were thrilled when we were given the opportunity to review a pair of shoes from their Spring Line. We chose the fabulous Aubin style (shown below) for my little guy and I was waiting by the door the day they arrived. Just out of the box I could tell that no quality had been spared in the making of Eleven's shoes. The leather is so soft and the stitching is so well done. My little guy was so excited to try them on.

As always, we love the quality of Eleven Collection shoes, but more than that, I love the great unique designs they create. I get more comments and questions about these shoes then I have with any of our other shoe purchases.

We got them just in time for Easter and they were the perfect compliment to his Easter outfit. He received tons of compliments and was proudly strutting around in his "coolest brown shoes ever". He loves them and they are now officially his "church shoes". They are such good quality that I know they will be around for a good long while.

Check out the great Spring Line of Girls and Boys shoes below:

Eleven Collection has generously donated a pair of shoes from their fabulous Spring Line to one of our lucky readers.

To Win:

• Go check out Eleven Collection's Spring Line- then come back and fill out the form below including the style of shoes you would choose.
• For Extra Entries (complete the form below only once with all entries):
• Blog about this giveaway including a link back using our button located on our sidebar.
• Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this contest. Leave us a comment with your twitter name and a link to your tweet.
• Subscribe to our blog (or tell us you already do).

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Giveaway ends May 18 at midnight. Winner will be announced on this blog within the week. Winners will also be contacted by email and have 72 hours to respond with their shipping address. Failure to respond in that time frame will result in a new winner being chosen.

The Old Schoolhouse Review- HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work, and School Without Losing Your Balance

Home, School, Children, Husband, Friends, Family, Church.... we as mom's have so many different hats we wear each day. It is so easy for us to become overwhelmed by the many responsibilities we have and the hopes and dreams that are yet unfulfilled in our lives.

Rebekah Wilson knows what it's like to have a full plate- between her home, her husband, homeschooling her eight children (two of whom have special needs) and her FOUR home businesses- she has figured out how to do it all, and do it well. In the great new Ebook- HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work, and School without Losing your Balance- Rebekah Wilson's journey is just one of the inspiring stories of families who are (NOT) doing it all and learning how to prioritize the most important parts of their very busy lives.

HomeWork shares the journeys of many families living, working and learning together and offers great ideas for those wanting to step into the Work At Home world as well as wonderful tips for those who have already taken the plunge.

These inspiring stories are broken down by categories:

• A Labor of Love- an eclectic collection of business stories ranging from a thrift store based sewing adventure to running a Bed and Breakfast


• Computer Based- including selling products over the internet and freelance work


• Creative Writing- families who make their living writing, printing, and/or publishing


• Business Support- the journey of a medical transcriptionist and a offsite bookkeeper


• Tricks of the Trade- great advice for those already in the WAHM world or those thinking about making the transition including- record keeping, tax information, organization, and more

There is even an appendix that includes some wonderfully helpful internet resources for those wanting more information on the careers mentioned in the book.

I was truly inspired by the way the families spotlighted in this book are dedicated to making the most of whatever journey they have taken. They understand that the true treasures are found in each other and that success can be measured in many different ways.

To Buy:

To purchase your own copy of HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work, and School without Losing your Balance, visit The Old Schoolhouse Store. There you will find many other great resources that will help you achieve your dreams as a homeschooling family.