EcoUsable Stainless Steel Bottles

Recently, I’ve contacted a company that makes stainless steel bottle.   In the 21st century, we have been bombarded with news about the BPA in containers and so on.   It started a couple of years ago with a the baby bottles (well here in Canada anyway) and since then we have learned that BPA is unfortunately on a variety of products from inside of the cans to even the store receipt that we get. 

With the fear of BPA, the trend is not going toward stainless steel bottles.  And it’s for the best… 

What is EcoUsable?

For all the right reasons, the stainless steel bottle business is booming. Ultimately, the industry is thriving is because the public has been well informed about the harmful effects of the dreaded plastic water bottle and people are now willing to do their part!!!

The drawback is that the public doesn’t necessarily know the best alternatives to plastic which is why EcoUsable truly cares about the quality and sustainability of our EcoUsable made bottles. After 3+ years of bottle improvements and building our brand recognition, we’re confident that we’ve developed the best and most consumer friendly bottles on the market which ultimately saves money, health and our environment!!  

Our simple yet very important goal is to help eliminate plastic water bottles and provide the safest and most convenient alternatives!!!

EcoUsable offers the widest variety of sizes and designs of both filtered and non-filtered bottles in the business as EcoUsable made products are currently sold in more than 1,500 retailers nationwide including the likes of Whole Foods Markets, Hallmark Stores, Vitamin Shoppes, Gelsons and Quiksilver to name a few.

In addition to our strong retail presence, it’s our growing custom bottle division which has quickly taken over as the top promotional item on the market replacing the typical hat or t-shirts from the past. With the immeasurable PR Value and the immediate eco-friendly identity the custom bottles provide, it’s no wonder we’ve been receiving so many custom orders from all types like schools, musicians, corporations. Some of our clients include New York University, Raytheon, EA Sports, The 2010 Grammys, The 2010 BET Awards, NBC Universal, Fox, Jack Johnson, Sting and many more… We also support numerous charity and non-profit organizations like the NRDC,  KidShape and Algalita Marine Research Foundation so, we’re up to good things…

We’ve also obtaining logo licensing rights and recently secured The University of Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Stanford and UCLA and also the I LOVE NY logo. This allows us to put their logos on our bottles…

Check out the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/LuminariesMusic#!/event.php?eid=118161234897129

http://greenopolis.com/videos/luminaries-launch-music-bottle

http://www.youtube.com/ecousable1#p/u/3/50ws9rDADLM

Our Thoughts

  So as I said, I contacted the company and expected one bottle in the package.  They were enthusiastic about the review and told me they would send a variety of them.   I was expecting two or three samples.   So imagine my surprise when I received the package and opened it.   First I must say that I was impressed with the packing.  Each bottle were individually wrapped in paper and place in the box.   No chances to hit each other like that!   

So I open the box and saw not one, not two, not three but five bottles in there along with wrapzs, sport tops and a Ech2o straw filter.    I am speechless.   The bottles are beautiful and demonstrate the wide variety of products that EcoUsable offers.   From little bottles for school lunches if  your kids go to school to bigger bottles, each have a unique design.    Most bottle have a top that can be clipped on a bag pack and dangle while you walk.   Another one came with a shoulder strap that can be handy while hiking.  

These bottles arrived at a perfect time as we were packing up for a trip with our RV.    We were going to Toronto and planning to spend a few days at the zoo there.   What a wonderful way to test the bottles!    My first thing was to put water in one of them and leave it in the truck for our departure the next day.    Imagine my surprise when I drank from it the next morning and realized that you could still taste the freshness of water.  The water wasn’t warm at all.  In fact, it still had the coolness of fresh water going down my throat.   I was impressed to say the least.  But my testing wasn’t done yet.    I was planning to discover how the water will taste after a day in the sun.

On a very hot and sticky day, we were visiting the Toronto Zoo for the fourth time that week  and the sun was blazing in the sky.   It was so hot that day that some animals didn’t even bothered to come out and see the tourists – literally.   But we had a section that we didn’t see so we went.    And while doing the zoomobile, we brought some water bottle including one of the EcoUsable ones.    My daughter, who is almost three, drank from it without any problems.   

Even during extreme weather on the last day of August, the water was fresh and cool for our dry mouths.    And to think the water sits in a bottle that doesn’t involve plastic is very comforting in this time and age where BPA is banned from drinking bottles as well as other products we use daily.

I am very impressed with the bottles and will use them for any field trips we will do from now on.   They are perfect for the kids and for ourselves.    The only little negative point I will mention is that the cap of the sport inserts that allow you to drink easily doesn’t stay in top of the bottle perfectly.    But it is not a major issue as the water stays inside the bottle no problem when the spout is pushed in place.

If you are looking for alternative for drinking bottles, I strongly suggest that consider the bottles from EcoUsable.    They are worth the money you would invest in them.  

EcoUsable has given an online rebate to my readers.  Enjoy 10% off only at: http://www.EcoUsable.com The coupon code is ECO10.   

GREAT NEWS!  

EcoUsable has offered two of my readers to win a 16oz PURPLE bottle.  

Here’s what you have to do.  Go to EcoUsable.com and tell me which product you would more than likely buy and why.

This entry is mandatory before proceeding further.

More entries opportunity if you do the following…

1) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! on Blogger (see right side of the blog) and let me know about it.

2) Like Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook and let me know about.

3) Follow me on twitter and leave me your twitter ID.

4) Follow EcoUsable on facebook and let me know about it.

5) Follow EcoUsable on twitter and let me know about it.

6) Blog about this contest and give me your link in a comment.

7) Become a member of LobsterNetwork and leave me your ID.  It’s free and you will be able to share your books/DVDs with friends or family!   Check it out!

Don’t forget to include your email for each steps.   No email means I will have to pick someone else.    I need to be able to contact you if you win!   Random.org will be use to determine the winners.  You will have 48 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to my contact at EcoUsable which in turn will ship the bottle to  you!

Open to US and Canadian residents ONLY.

Deadline:   September 18, 2010.

PDF By Hand

As my first official review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I had the opportunity to product test and discover the PDF By Hand software that could be used with the Wacom Digital Tablet.  

Now you can use a Wacom tablet for handwriting practice!

Peterson is proud to bring handwriting instruction and practice into the digital age. Open a PDF file in this software and use your pen to write on the pages. Print the page if you wish. Attach it to Email to send handwritten greetings and thank-you notes.

The software is available alone, or with preloaded E-workbooks for teaching and practice of handwriting at every level, print and cursive. Talk about going green. Imagine handwriting practice that does not require reams of practice paper. Save a practice page on day one, and compare it on screen with the next attempt to show progress. The workbook pages can be used again and again.

The software features  include selecting a PDF document from on of Peterson’s writing program to open it in the writing frame, printing the page if necessary, using the table to practice the movement sequences and improve motor control and much more. 

Our experience with PDF By Hand
I was looking forward to this product.   I thought it was ingenious and could have lots of possibilities.   You need to go on the road?  No problem,  you can bring your curriculum on your laptop.   The PDF By Hand is an interesting idea for kids who dislike to write with a pen.    However, it also require some patience and a learning curve to use a tablet in order to practice your writing.   Once you have passed over this learning curve I am sure that a person can improve his/her writing skills pretty fast.

As much as I think this product has potential, I must be realistic and honest by telling you that not everyone will thrive with it.    At first, my son Alexandre enjoyed it.  After all it was new and fun.   But over time, he found it difficult to control the pen and to write on the tablet.    As I said previously, it is quite challenging to do so.    It takes practice.    And not everyone will like it.    After going through a whole level of cursive, we asked him what he preferred – writing on the tablet or writing on paper.    His answer was fast and totally honest, “I prefer writing on paper and feel it.”   Simple and direct.   So I will plan in advance from now on and print the pages so he can use them during our school time.    This will allow him to practice his cursive with less stress. 

Still if you have a child who is having difficulty it might be easier for him/her to use the PDF By Hand.    The installation of the software is done automatically on your PC so you don’t have to worry about shipping cost.    Everything is done electronically.   You can purchase PDF by Hand with the e-woorkbooks preloaded.   Your options are as follow; print levels only, cursive levels only, or all levels.

The folks at Peterson Handwriting are available to give you a demonstration online if necessary.    They can also answer all the questions you might have while doing the demo.   

http://www.peterson-handwriting.com/PDFbyHand.html

This review was possible because I received a free copy of PDF by Hand from Peterson Directed Handwriting while being a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.

That’s Where God Is

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

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

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Dan and Ali Morrow

and the book:

That’s Where God Is

David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Dan and Ali Morrow are parents of two wonderful daughters. When they’re not writing children’s books, they like to go on adventures around their Colorado home.

Visit the authors' website.



My Thoughts  

This book is beautiful and bright in colors.   It kept the attention of my 32 months daughter while I read it.   The story is simple and fun to read with little ones.    A grandfather send his younger grandchild on a quest to find where God is and throughout the week, the child discover that God is everywhere.   At the end, the grandfather tells his grandchild that there is still one place that God is that he hasn’t discover yet.    And this lead the grandpa telling his grandson how to ask God to come into his heart.

So simple and yet so true at the same time.    I really enjoyed the story and was wondering how my youngest would react to it (more on this below).   Each discovery of God is linked to a verse from the Bible.   Also included in the book is the Scripture of Psalm 139:1-10 which is well known by many – God’s knows us and is with us all the time.   

At the very end of the book, you have an heartfelt letter from Lee Strobel himself.   And when I read it, I also discovered how the authors of the book are related to him.    For me it was inspiring and encouraging to read this letter.    God do have a hand on our kids and ourselves.    I’ve seen it in my life and in my children’s lives.

So you might be wondering how my young daughter reacted to the book.    She was very attentive throughout the reading and loved the pictures.    At one point, she wanted to go faster but I had to tell her that mommy was reading and it was important to listen.   In the end, after reading the prayer of the little boy in the story, I asked Jasmine if she wanted to have God in her heart.  She said yes!   So I said the prayer again slowly with one or two words at a time and she repeated it very clearly.    And when I asked her where God was afterward, she said that He was in her heart.    Sweet!   She is ever precious to me and I pray that God will guide and protect her every day of her life.   She is our last child to ask God to come in her heart.    Part of it is bittersweet I guess but I see God being alive and working in my kids’ lives.   I can’t hardly wait to discover what He will do with them.  

That’s Where God Is is available everywhere even at amazon.ca.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764346
ISBN-13: 978-1434764348

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (Click on the pictures to see them larger):

SafeSocial.com

As a parent, your children's safety is your first priority. But in today's digital age, what can a parent do to protect their kids online as well as off?

These days, your teens' "friends" aren't just the kids hanging out in your family room - they're also the hundreds of contacts on their online "friend" and "buddy" lists. Did you know that more than 50 million teens (ages 13-17) are online worldwide? Or that the average number of "friends" on a list is 130? The totals are much higher for many teens.

SafeSocial, a new AOL product that launches today, can help you protect your children, even if you aren't a social media expert. SafeSocial helps you:

· Find out where your child has online accounts

· Know who your child is "friends" with online

· Get notified if your child is in a conversation about violence, suicide or drugs

· See photos your child has posted online, and others' photos in which your child has been tagged

Another benefit? You can monitor all this activity without being a "helicopter parent." Your child will have to agree to be monitored, but you won't need to connect with them on the social media accounts, or hover over their shoulders in person.

What is the big deal about being safe on the net?   Here’s on blog written by Regina Lewis about being safe online with SafeSocial!

By Regina Lewis, AOL Consumer Advisor

These days, your teens’ “friends” aren’t just the kids hanging out in your kitchen and family room, they’re hundreds of contacts on their “friend” and “buddy” lists. More than 50 million teens (ages 13 to 17) are online worldwide and the average number of “friends” is 130. For many teens, these numbers are even higher. It’s not unusual to have more than 500 “friends” and more than 1,000 profile photos.

So, how can you realistically keep up with your child’s vast circle of “friends” and ongoing status and photo updates?

1. Become a “Friend”

For starters, you can become your child’s online. They’ll need to accept your friend request. This can be easier said than done. In some cases, you may get push back. It’s your call how strongly you press.

There are more private alternatives. A new product called SafeSocial lets you privately see everything you would as a “friend” and even more. Many kids prefer this route. Remember, you’re not “spying” on them; you’re simply doing your job as an informed and involved parent.

2. Curb the Comments

If your child is reluctant to accept you publicly as a “friend,” be sure not to push your luck by excessively commenting on their page once you are granted access. Grandparents can be over-commenting culprits, too. Often teens find this “embarrassing” and it may even lead to having them “un-friend” you. It happens all the time.

3. Get a Report Card

The new parenting tool SafeSocial offers a time-efficient and thorough way to keep tabs on your children’s social networking without being too intrusive. It delivers an easy-to-read report card providing a 360 degree view of their overall social networking— what they’re saying and doing and who their friends are.

This answers one of the biggest issues facing parents all over the country—feeling like you need to spend hours each week monitoring your child’s online activity and still not really being sure if you’re seeing everything (they can filter your view) or what you might be missing (what’s happening on their friends’ pages).

4. Watch the Friends

All friends are not created equal. Some your children may know well, some they may barely know at all. You can get a good feel for their entire list via SafeSocial’s Friend Engine, which takes an extensive look at your kids’ friends and checks them against more than 50 databases to see if they may not be who they say they are. You’ll be alerted when an adult becomes a friend of your child, when someone looks suspicious or has no or few other mutual friends with your child.

5. Loaded Language and Photos

Specific words that may come up in strings of conversation— sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide and so on and suggestive or violent language will be flagged, so you can hone in on the suspect dialog versus reading every post. This helps prevent missing something inadvertently.

You can even opt to be immediately notified via an email alert. This piece could prove priceless in protecting your children’s safety and managing their reputations.

While every conversation and image is archived, you can adjust the settings to simply view those that are called out. This lets you give kids more privacy as they mature. You will also see all photos, including those other people post of your child. Young people tend to push the envelope with photos and videos, so checking out this section of the report card is critical.

Overall, social networking is an integral part of many teenage lives and an opportunity for your kids to learn to express themselves in a creative and responsible fashion. It’s too big a trend to ignore. You can embrace it with these new tools on your side. For more information, visit www.safesocial.com,  www.safety.aol.com and www.reginalewis.com.

AOL Consumer Advisor Regina Lewis (www.reginalewis.com) is a national TV and radio contributor and Internet trend expert. She knows the tips, tricks, secrets and shortcuts for making technology work for you.

Personally, my kids are too young to be on facebook and other social network.   We are not looking forward to this when it comes but knowing this service is available definitively gives us a peace of mind.

How can Safe Social works and why is it so important?   Check out this video!

Want to try it?   You can have a free 30-day trial – click on the link below.

http://www.safesocial.com/product-details/?campaign=49e5d122-f29c-4263-97d9-b8621dcb68e8

"Overall, social networking is an integral part of many teenage lives and an opportunity for your kids to learn to express themselves in a creative and responsible fashion," says Regina Lewis. "It's too big a trend to ignore. You can embrace it with SafeSocial on your side."

For more information, make sure to visit SafeSocial.com.

Permission to Speak Freely

Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art On Fear, Confession, and Grace
Written by Anne Jackson
Published at Thomas Nelson

About the book

In May 2008, Anne Jackson asked a question on her blog, “What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?”

Hundreds responded. Everyone had a story.

Permission to Speak Freely is the unique new project and movement of author Anne Jackson, who is finished with keeping brokenness in the dark. Bringing to light the original intent of God’s sanctuary as a place of help and healing, Anne reveals that through confession, both to God and to others, we can live lives that are whole and healed.

Told with disarming transparency, Anne shares what led to her own addictions and the ensuing lifestyle that left her wounded and withdrawn, but ultimately rescued and redeemed. She includes dramatic stories of others who also learned to abandon their fear, pride, and masks; to identify their hurts; and to find the courage to speak freely.

Their confessions, submitted as mixed media pieces, photography, and sketches, were collected from people across the world, and are included throughout the book. Readers will share in the opportunity to find their own path to redemption and freedom.

Who is Anne Jackson?

Anne Jackson is an author, speaker, and activist. A contributing writer to various blogs and magazines, she is also the author of Mad Church Disease. Anne will participate in the 2010 Ride: Well Tour, a cross-country cycling tour in June and July to raise awareness and funding for water wells in Africa. An advocate for Compassion International, Anne and her husband, Chris, live in Nashville.  Follow Anne on her blog: http://www.flowerdust.net .  The book itself has a website; ww.permissiontospeakfreely.com .

My Thoughts

I didn’t know what to expect from this book when I agreed to review it.   I just like the idea behind it and loved the cover.   Part of me expected more art in it I guess so when it arrived I was surprised by the text included in the book as well.    I grabbed this book one afternoon and it took me about three or four sitting to finish it.   I devoured it and enjoyed the writings of Anne Jackson as well as the insights on what people wish they could say in church but don’t.

I sense that many in the church these days, don’t voice out their troubles or struggles because they are discouraged on the reaction of others in the past or simply fearful of the reaction of the ones around them.  True there are people who think they are holier than thou and will make you feel like crap (hey – I’m being TOTALLY honest here… so please don’t judge me.)  but there is also loving and caring people around you.   People who might be going through the same struggles than you and would love to chat and share their views on the subject.   So why is it so bad to open up and let the cat out of the bag?   I wonder.

In the past, I have experience similar reactions as well as misunderstanding due to my inability to express my thoughts in English properly (you see French is my first language so… sometimes it creates interesting situations or misunderstandings…) .    I got misjudge for a comment I said while participating to a 9 months training for leaders, we got hurt by leaders in a church and denomination as well.   When we voiced up our concerns it wasn’t well received.   Conclusion.   We were in pain.   We had to deal with it ourselves.  We had to forgive over time.   And God never left us.   He was there and still is there.   He is ever present.

I find that part of the healing process is to open up.   The book of Anne Jackson reminded me that it is important not to fake it and to speak up.   Permission to Speak Freely is part of autobiography of the author and part thoughtful insights on her views on faith and real life.  

I enjoyed reading through it and will return to it in the future.  I am expecting a different reaction from my part when I do so.  Why?  Because  this book doesn’t tell you what to do and such.   It is simply going to let you ponder about what you read and then you have a decision to make whether to speak up or not.  Whether to change or not.  Whether to trust or not.   It is in your hands – plain and simple.   So what’s is it going to be?  

Not convinced?   Check out this promotional video from Anne Jackson about her book Permission To Speak Freely.

Permission to Speak Freely Resource Video from Anne Jackson on Vimeo.

This review was possible because a copy of the book, Permission to Speak Freely,  has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Permission to Speak Freely is available now at your favourite bookseller, even at amazon.ca.

 

A+D Diaper Rash Prevention and Treatment

Ah!  Babies.   The smells good most of the time.   But when they don’t it means you need to change their diapers…   Sometimes though you realize that their skin is red and hurt them.   Oh uh!  Let’s face it, diaper rash is part of life when you have a baby.  

I remember one of my kids in particularly.   When Dominic was teething, his #2 job was so acidic that it could burn off the first layer of skin.   Literally!   I am not kidding.   The poor little guy was bleeding from it.   And it hurt.   Believe me because he cried when I changed him.    I took the habit to change him immediately and put a generous coat (like a thick coat of white on his bum) of cream.    Diaper Rash cream is very handy.   I had a container in the room, in the living room and in the diaper bag.  

For new Canadians moms and dads out there, a new product is on the market.   Actually make that two new products.   The A+D^® line-up consists of an assortment of diaper rash products: one line for everyday prevention (A+D^® Diaper Rash Ointment) and one for the treatment of diaper rash, if it occurs (A+D^® Diaper Rash Cream). 

The A+D^® Diaper Rash Ointment, offered in 3 convenient sizes (42g, 113g and 454g), contains a special combination of active ingredients lanolin and petrolatum which help prevent diaper rash every day and is also enriched with moisturizing vitamins A and D. When used daily, the ointment creates a protective barrier between baby's skin and diaper moisture that can cause diaper irritations.

The A+D^® Diaper Rash Cream, offered in one convenient size (113g), is formulated with zinc oxide and dimethicone to provide effective relief if diaper rash does occur. Enriched with moisturizing vitamins A and D and soothing Aloe Vera, the A+D^® Diaper Rash Cream is a welcome addition to a new mother's baby care toolbox. Both A+D^® Diaper Rash Ointment and Cream are dermatologist tested.

I think these two products are wonderful.   The fact that vitamins are included in these will help the healing process if your little one does develop the diaper rash.   I do not wish any baby to go through what my Dominic went through.    Not all my kids had the same reaction to teething but he was definitively the worst one of the four.   In case you are wondering, he is fine now….   *grin*

Good news!  A FREE 2$ off Coupon is available on the website! Go to http://www.aplusd.ca/en/.

For more information on the products, please visit the new Canadian website at www.aplusd.ca.

This review was possible because I received two full two full size diaper cream products to check out from Mom Central Canada. 

PS I’ve decided to bless my neighbour with the two full size diaper cream products.   They had a baby boy earlier this year and will need it more than me.  

2011 K’NEX Search is on!

K'NEX Kicks Off 2011 K'NEXpert Search

Kids Can Win $10,000 Savings Bond for College!

K’NEX is inviting kids to design a creative, original model made entirely from K’NEX parts. Three imaginative children – one from each of the three age groups: 5 to 6-year-olds; 7 to 8-year-olds; and, 9 to 12-year-olds - will each win a $10,000 savings bond for college. The models made entirely of K’NEX pieces are judged on creativity, uniqueness and detail.

In addition to $10,000 for college, the three grand prize winners will also receive a trip for three to K'NEX headquarters near Philadelphia, PA for the K’NEXpert Award Ceremony, where they can meet each other and discover, through company designers and a factory tour, how K’NEX is made. Seven finalists will each receive $1,000 savings bonds and all ten winners will receive $250 worth of free K’NEX Building Sets, and their very own photo gallery page at www.knex.com.

The 2011 K’NEXpert Search will run through September 10, 2010. Children can enter by printing out the entry form available at http://www.knex.com/club/images/becoming/2011-KNEXpert-Search-Details-Rules.pdf and mailing it in.

The K’NEXpert Search is open to U.S. and Canadian residents and there is no purchase necessary. For more information on K’NEX, the contest and previous winners, visit www.knex.com.

Here’s some examples….  

2009 K'NEXpert Grand Prize winner in the 9-12 category, Tim with his K'NEXatron the Destroyer!

2010 Grand Prize winner in the 9-12 yr old category, Ian, with his amazing Chinese Imperial Dragon.    I must admit that I am speechless with this one.    Beautiful work!

2010 Grand Prize winner in the 7-8 yr old K'NEXpert category with this Amazing Amazon Adventure Park!

So take the K’Nex out and let your kids create – it is an amazing opportunity to use their creativity don’t you think?

Other website that could be of interest are:

K’NEX website – www.knex.com

K’NEXpert dedicated page - http://www.knex.com/club/becoming_knexpert.php

2011 K’NEXpert Rules & Details - http://www.knex.com/club/images/becoming/2011-KNEXpert-Search-Details-Rules.pdf

K’NEXpert Photo Gallery - http://www.knex.com/club/knexperts.php

The Creation Story for Children

The Creation Story for Children
Written by Helen & David Haidle
Published at MasterBooks

About the book

"In the beginning, God created"

...with these words, the Bible powerfully sets in motion our praise to the Creator for His awesome work. Written and illustrated by David and Helen Haidle, The Creation Story for Children is filled with vibrant images of the week of Creation.

Illustrated througout with unique, full-color artwork

Innovatively highlighting the unique design of twenty creatures

Developed to help young learners begin to grasp the greatness of God

Perfect as part of an education program or as a treasured gift, this book will be an incredible addition to your school, church, or home library. Focused on God's wonderful handiwork in Genesis 1-2 and Psalms 139, it is one children will enjoy over and over again!

Who are Helen & David Haidle?

Helen and David Haidle produce gentle, biblical books for children about the world around them. Helen writes while David illustrates and their 45 or more books have sold more than 1.7 million copies.

My Thoughts

Tonight I sat down with three of my kids (the fourth one was on a one-on-one special time with daddy time) and we read through this marvellous book that goes through the story of creation (Genesis 1-2) AND Psalm 139.

The colorful pages were an absolute hit for my kids especially those showing a the plants, fishes, birds and animals.   They each took their time to show me their favourite fish, bird and animal.   I even discovered that my four year old loves bald eagles a fact that was unknown until now.    This fact is written on my heart and I will not forget about it.    The second time we saw the bald  eagle further in the book he joyfully exclaimed “They even put my favourite one there!” *grin*  Gotta love that child of mine.    As much as I love ladybugs I think he loves bald eagles.     I think that a bald eagle from Schleich will find its way in his stocking at Chrismas time… *double grin*

Needless to say we spent a lovely time reading through the story of creation and also through the facts in Psalm 139.   The kids participated when I asked specific questions regarding creation and enjoyed the beautiful images as much as I did.

The good news is that this book can also be used in conjunction with either God Made the WORLD & ME or Creation which are two curriculum books that will bring your preschoolers or your grades 1-4 kids to a better understand of creation through science, art, math and more.   

This book can also be a wonderful gift for new parents as well as for a dedication or baptism.    It is indeed a book that I would recommend any family, church or school to have one their shelves.

This review was possible because I received a copy of The Creation Story for Children from MasterBooks.

The Creation Story for Children is available everywhere even at amazon.ca

The Little Man In The Map Teaches The State Capitals!

The Little Man In The Map Teaches The State Capitals!
Written by E. Andrew Martonyi
Published at Schoolside Press

About the book

Following the success of The Little man In the Map: With Clues to Remember All 50 States, this companion volume teaches the state capitals using the same visual and poetic mnemonic technique.   Young people have fun learning the state capitals, and do so quickly!

Who is E. Andrew Martonyi?

E. Andrew Martonyi’s affinity for travel, his contact search for new things to see, and his granddaughter’s fascination with his trips inspired him to study the U.S. map from a new angle.  What he discovered he shared in his award-winning book, The Little Man In the Map: With Clues to Remember All 50 States, and continues with his newest book that teaches the U.S. capitals.

Au author, public speaker, trainer, and businessman, Andrew has toured the world giving seminars to thousands of people.  His journeys began early in his youth when his family crossed the Atlantic to land at Ellis Island.   As a young man, he drove across the U.S., and the Tocky Mountains, the deserts, and the Pacific Ocean made him fall in love with the West.    He lives in California with his wife, Irma, who shares his love of travel and exploration.

My Thoughts

This is a cute little book to enhance the knowledge and learn the states capitals.    Honestly, I wish something similar would be available for Canada.   It is fun to read and easy to learn.   Let’s not forget the funny drawings that comes with the sentence to learn.   Kids will have a blast learning U.S. geography with this book.

My oldest sons were excited to see another book from the Little Man In The Map arriving to our house.   They loved going through the first book even though the U.S. is not our country.  But I find that learning more about our neighbour is important especially when we travel there so often. 

This past spring, we went to visit Boston in Massachusetts.   So to remember that Boston is the capital of Massachusetts, here’s what the child would learn:

"A mass of chewers (Massachusetts) ate and won, consuming baked beans by the ton (Boston).”

I find that fun and silliness can sometimes ignite a sparks in the memory and help a child to recall and remember the information later on.  In a way this book is multi-learning has is uses the visual with the images, the repetition with the saying part of the learning process and the fact that the child can easily linked the image with the sentence.    I would also include the writing part by making the child write one or two times the full clue.   I find that writing also helps to remember something easily afterward.

In conclusion, I would recommend this little book to my friends in the U.S.   As for Canadians, well if you have an interest for our the U.S. or if you have links in any shape or form with the U.S. (family, business or other), I think this book would be a great addition in your bookshelf.  

This review was possible because I received a copy of The Little Man In The Map Teaches The State Capitals! from Schoolside Press.

The Little Man In The Map Teaches The State Capitals! is available everywhere even at amazon.ca.

The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book

The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book
Created by Teresa Bondora
http://www.howtoteachscience.com/products/coloringbook.php

Science is a subject that indeed can scare homeschool moms.   But when it’s comes to chemistry, well sometimes we prefer not to think about it.   Personally, I feel a little bit ill-equipped to teach science but I am surrounding myself with fun products to use with the kids. 

I did chemistry in high school.  I believe that it can be introduced slowly to younger levels like grades 4-6 without overwhelming the kids with too much information.   Recently while checking out my facebook, I saw some of my contacts had liked a page about The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book.   I was curious and checked it out which brought me to the website.    And I offered to review their product.  

I received the document within a couple of hours.   I was excited about it, printed and binded the document and showed it to my 9 year old son who has an interest in becoming a doctor.    He thought it was cool and was looking forward to use it. So this morning we decided to explore science and used the coloring book as a complement to another book titled Elements of Faith.  I find that the coloring book is perfect to conclude the lesson learned in Elements of Faith. 

This book is created to be used with children as young as five through college aged learners.  You will discover the elements,  how we use them, where they can be found, and how they work.   The child will also have the possibility to color the elements with items linked to them.  So this morning, after we learned about hyrdogen and talked about water a bit, my son took the coloring book and started to color the hydrogen page.    Also included in the coloring book is a sheet for each element containing information about the element.   I personally found that some of the information is a little bit too advanced for a child with big words like cryogenics for example in the hydrogen info sheet but at the same time it gives us the opportunity to search the dictionary to discover the meaning (when mom can’t have the answer right away).   My son felt like he wanted coloring this morning, so this fun activity allowed him to do so.

However, I wouldn’t use the book by itself.    I like to give a perspective of our faith with any science project we do.   It is important for me as a Christian mom that my kids have a complete understand of their faith and God as well as what the science community says about things.  That’s why I took the Elements of Faith and went through the information about the hydrogen element with my son this morning.

I asked him what he thought of the coloring book.  He loved it and thought it was a good conclusion of the lesson we have read together (from both books in case you are wondering).    I am pleased to see that the information from the coloring book is the same as the one found in my other book.    In a way it was more complete with additional information like how many proton/electron there was, the atomic weight, the fact you can find it in volcanic explosions and so on.    

The price is 25.80$ for the PDF version which means no shipping charge will be added.    The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book is only available through the How to Teach Science website.

This review was possible because I received a PDF version of The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book from its author.