A while back we reviewed the Piano Lessons by Hoffman Academy. Gavin has really enjoyed the worksheets and working through the lessons each day.

    

Here's a coupon code: thriftyfamilypiano That will give 20% off the entire cart, and is good through Saturday, January 11th, 2014.
Enjoy!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Our kids continue to love these bilingual children's books!!!  Being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual family I think they are great for not only the little one but for language instruction. They are a good way to learn Spanish for children.

Description:
This book is the fourth in a series of bilingual books for children to either learn Spanish or English. THE EARTH - LA TIERRA teaches about the continents on earth.
The book is accompanied by a website were the book is available in an animated format as well as many games to practice the vocabulary.




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I had applied for the free copy of CollageIt. With the holidays being so slow and all, yeah right. I did try out the application and there are some really neat features that could be used for those digital scrap booking folks. Description: CollageIt is an automatic and easy to use collage maker to create eye-catching collages in no time on both Mac OS X & Windows. It excels with its ease of use. Highlighted Features: • Making collages is as easy as 1-2-3. • Various kinds of layouts and diverse templates. • Free to customize collages with powerful functionality. • Multiple export and share options. Know more product info: http://www.collageitfree.com/
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

We reviewed the book, "Escape from Mercy Hall".

Decription:
A thrilling new adventure by Garth Edwards with illustrations by Max Stasyuk.
 An ebook for boys and girls age 9-11.  The first of the Thorn Gate trilogy.

     They heard a loud crackling noise behind them.
     “Quick!” called out George. “The hedge is closing. We’d better get back.”
     Before they could move, the crackling noise grew louder and as they watched, the long slim poles rapidly bent in all directions. Branches twisted and thorns stretched out again. In just a few minutes the crackling stopped and the hedge was back to normal; huge, dense and totally impenetrable.

      The four orphans from Mercy Hall are stranded in a strange new land where Muttons (savage sheep), strange people and curious creatures live under the control of the cruel Robes.

      They travel through the mysterious Rainbow Cave where living creatures can be changed for better or for worse. Dangers abound around every corner and the children set out on a mission to free slaves and escape themselves?

     The land behind the hedge is full of weird and thrilling adventures.

Our comments:
Although Yuneidi, 9 years old, wasn't as enthused with this book, I started reading the book and it is pretty good. The book does move slow at first and may be why she lost interest. I would recommend this book for late elementary through maybe middle school children.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This is a really neat idea for kids homeschoolers or not. The Seafloor Explorer seems really neat!
https://www.zooniverse.org/

Feeling a little behind after a week off......

Getting back on the school bus with Gavin. There are some great sites out there for Homeschooling in Texas. We recently transitioned to 3rd grade Science and Social Studies, but the amount of reading really has him flustered.

These Printable and Online Unit Studies could be great to use as extras. So much things for free!

ThriftyMota eStore is up and running. Slow start but excited about getting started nonetheless.
Check it out. 
http://thriftymota.ecrater.com/

One downfall of eCrater, pictures have to be uploaded one at a time.
Makes for timely uploads unless things have one or two pictures only.

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! This cough, crud had me wiped out over the week, but finally subsided. Next goal clean out garage! Reuse what we can and sell or donate the rest, or recycle of course. Also thought about all the wonderful things like scrapbooks and memoirs and memorabilia that was saved over the years by my relatives. 2014 will we be a great year to share those memories perhaps in a new blog for preserving the past.... Also for 2014, continue to live and reuse and recycle and be thrifty!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I personally read this book and thought it was a very cute book and appropriate for the kids to read.
I had Yuneidi read the book and again we have the can't tell the main point of the story, but after we talked about the story she understood the point it made about Anabella's giggling.
Definitely a must read for girls in the K-3 grade range.

 

Book Description: Anabella Giggles All Day! is a wonderful book about feelings, friendship, and giggling. Written in easy-to-read rhyme, it is the perfect book for young readers ages 3 to 7. Anabella loves giggling, but when Anabella starts giggling at her bossy best friend, their friendship is challenged. Because her feelings are hurt, Anabella's best friend becomes angry and commands Anabella not to laugh again. What will Anabella do? Can she stop giggling at her best friend? Can they still be best friends? Ultimately, shared all-day giggles lead to the triumph of friendship. Children will learn valuable lessons as they enjoy stunning illustrations, surprising twists, and super fun in Anabella Giggles All Day!, an exciting addition to the I Love Anabella series. 40 pages.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I received the "Download and Print 60 Christmas Party Games, Crafts, and Activities" to review. These are really cool and not expensive.
 

Description: Our Christmas Printables packet contains weeks of fun!
Includes many unusual printable game types not found in other offerings. Your website or blog visitors will adore the artwork, and the games are ultra-fun.

Spot the Difference
Mad Libs
Trivia
Scavenger Hunts
Left-Right Games
Group Party Games
Teen Christmas Games
Word Games
Kids' Games
Adult-Appropriate Games
Christian Games
Paper Dolls
Newlywed Game
Gift Exchange Games
Office Christmas Party Games
Printable Letter From Santa
Printable Thank-You Notes

Customers receive their games via an encrypted email link. They are in PDF format and may be printed in the home, office, or a copy shop.


http://www.python-printable-games.com/printable-christmas-games.html

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I received the Academic Planner for review and oh I so wish we would have had this when we started Homeschooling Gavin. This is a really neat planner.

Using this, we are able to keep all of the assignments in one location that he can use to complete his daily work.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Immortal Sleep definitely helped me out last night. This congestion was not letting up no matter what I took. I decided to try the Immortal Sleep and it really helped. May try it again tonight.If your interested, here's the website www.immortalherbs.com
https://www.facebook.com/ImmortalHerbs

Product Description Trial size, typically will last the average person 3-4 days. Wake up refreshed and ready for the day! Be reminded of how great it feels to get an uninterrupted good night’s sleep. For people who have: difficulty falling asleep, poor quality sleep, irritability, agitation, fatigue, and lack of focus. This safe and effective, non habit forming formula has no side effects and no next day drowsiness. Most people will suffer from insomnia at one time or another. Often due to stress and anxiety and the inability to “shut off the mind chatter.” Insomnia can quickly inhibit your body and mind’s ability to function at optimum levels. Sleeping pills can be helpful when all other efforts have failed. Our natural herbal sleep aid is not only effective but also safe, non-habit forming and all with no next day grogginess. If you have trouble with sleep and want to avoid the side effects of other sleeping pills, taking Immortal Herbs’ specially developed herbal sleep formulation will help you to regain the balance needed to ensure a deep peaceful slumber. Deep quality sleep is essential for your health and well being and allows your body to restore and renew. This herbal remedy is extremely safe and will allow deep relaxation and calm. Unlike other sleeping pills, Immortal Herbs‘ sleep blend may provide your body with benefits beyond that of a good night’s sleep. Immortal Sleep™ contains the time tested herbal remedy long ago introduced into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM all of the remedies focus on bringing the body back into balance. Traditionally it was used for “replenishing the blood and Yin” and to “strengthen heart functions.” People needing this treatment exhibited symptoms such as heart palpitations, irritability, restlessness, forgetfulness, and night sweats. Today, the herbal remedy is commonly used by Chinese doctors for insomnia associated with palpitation, amnesia, and anxiety. Our all natural sleeping pills contain zizyphus which has been used for centuries to help people fall asleep. It is well suited to those who are stressed out and experiencing symptoms like irritability, agitation, and racing thoughts. Zizyphus is used to get the body to sleep more soundly. For deep peaceful sleep you need to relax the body and mind. To achieve this we have combined L-theanine with our herbs. L-theanine promotes deep relaxation, stress relief and calmness. L-theanine is not a sleep aid itself but allows the body to enter a state of calm relaxation so the herbs may be more effective at getting the body into a deep state of rest. The products and the claims made about specific products on this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This sounds like a great deal on Groupon! Check out this link

King's Biergarten and Restaurant - Pearland

 

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
With all the holiday preparations, my reviews have slowed down. So to get caught up.....
I read the ebook, "Job Interview - What You Ought to Know".

Description: If read in it's entirety, this book (Job Interview) is all you need to pass a job interview successfully.   It contains no-nonsense, straight to the point advice and tips on how to pass a job interview. What you need to do before going to a job interview and what you should do during the job interview are all butressed.


The book has some good pointers and valuable tips to having better interviews. It was an interesting short concise book if you are searching for a job. http://www.naijajobhunt.com/
 


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This year we realized all of our Christmas Ornaments were in the other house the evening we were going to purchase our tree. So we decided the next day we would spend making Christmas ornaments out of things like paper, beer caps, etc that we had around the house. The kids had a great time, we watched Christmas shows and most of all got to spend the day making our own decorations. Which turned out really great I might add.

Our finished Tree without topper....

The decorations we made:

And finally the tree topper 3D paper star

A coworker's husband who is very crafty is selling really neat rustic art. Check out the website rusticartonline.com

Broken laptop?

Have you had this happen to you? Screen broken or keyboard stop working.

Did you think you would have to get a new laptop?
Well you do NOT!!! There are parts that can be replaced on laptops and computers in general for that matter. We will give you a free consult via email with just the model info and description of what is wrong. We will tell you the part cost and installation cost.
Here are some photos of replacement of the screen for my HP Pavillion. Parts will need to be ordered and then once arrived we will install the new part and have your laptop or other electronics back to your within the next 24 hours. Send us an Email

Blogger app

Trying out this blogger app from my phone. Editing seems easy and posts.

Review of Hoffman Academy Piano lessons

We were selected to review the Piano Lessons by Hoffman Academy. This was great since Gavin is now in home school and added to his curriculum for Music. He really enjoyed the worksheets and working through the lessons each day. We are not yet complete with all of them with the holidays and all, but we will complete them and continue with the following lessons. Thanks so much.

Below is a description of what we reviewed. Here is a link https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/product/complete-materials-for-piano-unit-one/



    

Description:
The Complete Materials for Unit One accompany the free Unit One Lesson Videos (found at https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/lessons/piano-unit-1/ ). Students can work at their own pace, in the comfort of their own home, to build a foundation for excellent music reading skills and a solid knowledge of music theory. All 41 pages of worksheets and song sheets were designed by Joseph Hoffman to reinforce, expand, and deepen the learning in each lesson. Contents include: - Music Theory Worksheets & Activity Pages (36 PDF pages) - Song Sheets with Practice Instructions - Piano Listening CD MP3s - Practice CD MP3s - Parent’s Guide

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review of Dog Training Basics

An All In One Startup Guide on Dog Training

Discover which training method works best for you and your dog and how to properly train your pet.

In Dog Training Basics - All In One Startup Guide you will understand what dog training really is all about and how dogs actually learn. You will be able to discover which training method (e.g. Motivational, Electronic, Clicker etc) will best suit you and your dog. You will also learn about the basic dog training concepts that every dog owner should know such as Reward or Ignore. Standard commands that all dogs without exception should understand and follow and some house manners and essentials that will improve your life if you intend to keep your furry friend inside your home.

Here Is A Preview Of What You Will Learn...

• Introduction to dog training and what it means
• Choosing the right training method
• Basic dog training concepts
• Standard commands for every dog
• House essentials for your dog
• F.A.Q – Frequently Asked Questions
•  

This is a real book for new dog owners. Even a seasoned dog owner could get a little refresher from the book. The book is easy to follow and includes great basic concepts to help train your dog. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review of Balislanka

Book Description:
Rick Rivoire has two desires: to protect his country from outside threats, and to purge it of the tyranny that plagues it from within. After saving an isolated mining town from the ruthless necromaner Lucan, he dares to dream of fulfilling both goals.

But the cities are becoming unstable. Religious persecution brings bouts of madness that grow steadily bloodier and more frequent. All about him, Rick's old friends are attacked by fresh, determined enemies. Chaos reigns in the streets of the capital.

Moreover, there are worrisome signs that the town of Jendreaux may not be out of danger after all. Necromancers do come back with distressing regularity, and Lucan is no exception. Rick must put Lucan down once and for all, before an army of walking dead overruns the countryside.

Rick returns to Jendreaux on his own. There is no sign of its soldiers or townspeople. Can he find them? Are they alive? And if they're not alive --- can he beat them?

Even if Lucan can be defeated --- what then? Can Rick find a fledgling rebellion to aid, or join? Or will he have to start one himself?

This is the third book of The Talan Revolt. This book contains sex and violence, and is intended for adults only.


My Review:
Balislanka was quite a great read! John Blackport did an excellent job in the third book in The Talan Revolt series, Balislanka. Rick as the hero he is at times save the town from Lucan. Lucan are back by the way in the third book. John Blackport has an amazing way of storytelling to keep the reader on their toes and the story continuous throughout the three books of the series. I was given the oportunity to read and review the book and even the previous two books. Took me a little longer, but I so enjoyed them all. I will be leaving reviews for the other books as well. The series is awesome and a must read set of books! I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.