Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Aquadoodle and Home Schooling
My 4 year old wants to do everything his older brother gets to do, unless its school time. He will fuss and whine about having school time, but just this week I took out our Aqua-doodle that has been hidden away in a box for months now, and let me tell you my preschool home schooling is going so well! He has been loving drawing with water. Today he shook the pen over the aqua-doodle to create stars, which went along with our question of the day: being about space and the Earth's weight. He gets to learn the lower case letters, all his numbers, and learns how to draw: people, dogs, and houses (stick figure style).
Vitamin C Serum
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Details: Amara Organics: Vitamin C Serum: highest quality of Vitamin C, most stable form of Vitamin C, Natural and Organic ingredients, No parabens, never tested on animals, clinically tested formula, anti-aging serum. Comes with Vitamin E and the base of this formula is Hyaluronic Acid. Directions: apply small amount to finger tips and rub into freshly cleaned skin of face, neck, and decollete areas, avoiding the eyes, use daily before applying moisturizer.
My Review: I used this for off and on for a few months. The first week I broke out really badly, from this serum. But that's normal with my skin. Anything new that I introduce for the first week I get a bad breakout. But for then for the next 2 weeks I still have a bad breakout. It wasn't fun to deal with, so I only used this on an every other day to every 3 days so my face could clear up. The directions say to put this on with your fingers, so I would put this on in the morning, wash my hands throughout the day and even in the evening if I licked some food off my fingers it would have a horrible after taste from this Vitamin C Serum. It was like licking rotten citrus. Really nasty. So that was another reason I stopped using it as much. When I did use it first off frequently, I never really found it doing anything for my skin. My wrinkles didn't go away, my pours didn't clear up, so to be honest, I'm not really sure if this product worked or not. So in the end I stopped using it. If I'm going to use a cosmetic product I want to see a difference, I don't want to deal with a break out on my face. I don't recommend this product, but to everyone their own. We all have different types of skin, and our skin all reacts differently to products, so my reactions may not be your reactions.
Pros: smooth, thick, stickiness goes away when its completely rubbed into skin.
Cons: I didn't feel like this did anything for me, got a bad 3 week break out on my face from using this product.
My Rating: Thumbs Down
Disclosure: 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.
My Review: I used this for off and on for a few months. The first week I broke out really badly, from this serum. But that's normal with my skin. Anything new that I introduce for the first week I get a bad breakout. But for then for the next 2 weeks I still have a bad breakout. It wasn't fun to deal with, so I only used this on an every other day to every 3 days so my face could clear up. The directions say to put this on with your fingers, so I would put this on in the morning, wash my hands throughout the day and even in the evening if I licked some food off my fingers it would have a horrible after taste from this Vitamin C Serum. It was like licking rotten citrus. Really nasty. So that was another reason I stopped using it as much. When I did use it first off frequently, I never really found it doing anything for my skin. My wrinkles didn't go away, my pours didn't clear up, so to be honest, I'm not really sure if this product worked or not. So in the end I stopped using it. If I'm going to use a cosmetic product I want to see a difference, I don't want to deal with a break out on my face. I don't recommend this product, but to everyone their own. We all have different types of skin, and our skin all reacts differently to products, so my reactions may not be your reactions. Pros: smooth, thick, stickiness goes away when its completely rubbed into skin.
Cons: I didn't feel like this did anything for me, got a bad 3 week break out on my face from using this product.
My Rating: Thumbs Down
Disclosure: 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.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Manicure Monday: Spring Flower Block
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| Supplies: 3D half pearl nail decals, Nail Ritz in Marigold yellow, and Green, Sally Hansen Perfect Pearing, Sinful Colors: Pink Forever |
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| 2 coats of the Sinful Colors pink |
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| Triangle tips for your middle toes |
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| Marigold yellow from Nail Ritz line to separate green and pink |
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| Add pearls, then green Nail Ritz for plant stems, and then Nail Ritz yellow flower petals |
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| Repeat steps for a second flower |
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| Finished look: but I'm thinking that you can either do the color block on all nails, or do the flowers on all nails, or mix n match |
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Tone Drum by Hohner
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.
My Review: I have not seen a musical instrument like this before. Its different, but really fun. The sounds that come from this are very unique. So what you have is basically a wooden box that is probably hollow. Then they cut open spaces on the top at different lengths and intervals. So when you use the mallet that comes with this musical instrument, you hit each piece of wood on top and a different tone comes from that piece of wood. Its really cool. Each musical instrument from this company have the following symbol stamped or burned into it, which I like because people ask about it all the time. I am a home school mom of younger children. I find these Eco Friendly, GREEN musical instruments way better than any thing I've seen or had my eye on in a catalog. The sounds each piece of wood makes is beautiful to listen to. The mallets are safe and easy to use by children. The catalog for this company has so many amazing products, I want teachers, home schooler families, home school groups, preschoolers, child care givers, Day cares, Nannies to really look into this company because these products are truly AMAZING! My children love playing with these for school time, play time, and when they're bored. I have family who teach in the Primary at their church who really love these products too, and can't wait to buy some for their Sunday classes.
Pros: eco friendly, desirable sounds, fun to use, easy to use, safe for children, safe for adults, great products, good pricing, excellent customer service from company employees!
Cons: I now have been asked by my children to replace all our non-wooden Green Tone Hohner musical instruments so that they have a good selection from this company. But let's be honest that's not really a negative thing at all.
CONTEST: Do you want a chance to win a Bear Drum and Melody Glokenspiel? Here's your chance! Email us at momsthumbreviews@gmail.com why you want this prize, and what age group of children you get the opportunity to help influence musically and winner will be chosen on Monday 28th!
My Rating: Thumbs Up
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.
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.My Review: I have not seen a musical instrument like this before. Its different, but really fun. The sounds that come from this are very unique. So what you have is basically a wooden box that is probably hollow. Then they cut open spaces on the top at different lengths and intervals. So when you use the mallet that comes with this musical instrument, you hit each piece of wood on top and a different tone comes from that piece of wood. Its really cool. Each musical instrument from this company have the following symbol stamped or burned into it, which I like because people ask about it all the time. I am a home school mom of younger children. I find these Eco Friendly, GREEN musical instruments way better than any thing I've seen or had my eye on in a catalog. The sounds each piece of wood makes is beautiful to listen to. The mallets are safe and easy to use by children. The catalog for this company has so many amazing products, I want teachers, home schooler families, home school groups, preschoolers, child care givers, Day cares, Nannies to really look into this company because these products are truly AMAZING! My children love playing with these for school time, play time, and when they're bored. I have family who teach in the Primary at their church who really love these products too, and can't wait to buy some for their Sunday classes.
Product: Tone Drum: can be found on amazon, via the link provided. This is made from rubberwood which is 100% Eco Friendly, and renewable. Perfect for children 3 and up. The rubber topped mallet that comes with this drum is made with an easy to hold handle which is thicker, then the wooden topped mallets for other musical instruments. Helps provide a well rounded rhythm foundation that will also help stimulate creativity.
CONTEST: Do you want a chance to win a Bear Drum and Melody Glokenspiel? Here's your chance! Email us at momsthumbreviews@gmail.com why you want this prize, and what age group of children you get the opportunity to help influence musically and winner will be chosen on Monday 28th!
My Rating: Thumbs Up
Saturday, April 26, 2014
North Carolina Zoo: Insects
Have you been to any of the animatronic animal shows at like your local Zoo, or theme park? If not, let me show you how fun it is to check it out, when you get the chance. We went to the zoo recently for Homeschool days, and this is what we found in the animatronic shows. My whole family got a huge kick out the the Insects, we had seen the dinosaurs at King's Dominion a year ago, but the insects were on a totally different level, and more interesting to my kids.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Green Tones musical instruments for Kids
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.
My Review: Have you ever bought a toy or musical instrument for your child and had to toss it because it sounded horrible? I have, and I've done it a lot, because my kids love making noise, love having fun, love playing and singing along with, and hearing music. They don't have wooded musical instruments, and those toys drive me (their mother and home school teacher) up the wall. So, when I found this company, I instantly fell in love with these products, and am so excited to use them with my own kids during our home schooling music class. I am also super excited to use them with my preschoolers that I co-teach weekly. This Melody Glockenspiel is 1. ECO FRIENDLY, 2. fun for kids, 3. beautiful to listen to.
My children are 7 and 4. They love music, they love animals. They would rather have a stuffed animal than other types of toys, because they love their animals so much. So to get animal shaped/ themed musical instruments my older kids are STOKED! I now have music class in school, because before I really only had cds for them to listen to and dance to, but they want to play instruments. I made plastic Easter egg shakers, but they don't work very good, and break easily. My kids would love to have as many of these wonderful wooden musical instruments as they can get. The sounds that comes from this drum are beautiful, natural, and magical. I enjoy listening to this sound, which is great because there are so many toys, especially music making ones or noise ones that don't sound good to listen too. So I'm highly recommending this product, and all products from this company.
Product: The Melody Glokenspiel: can be found on amazon via the link provided. This toy is great for children 3 and up. Made with mangowood, which is 100% Eco Friendly and renewable. Comes with 2 wooden topped mallets, to perfect the beautiful sound these metal keys bring against the wood. This is a one octave glokenspiel, in C major. There is a specially designed resonator chamber that enhances the tones from this instrument. The wooden base is curved, of 15-ply natural wood, to fit comfortably in a lap or stable playing surface on tables, floors, or desks.
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.
Disclaimer: 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.
My Review: Have you ever bought a toy or musical instrument for your child and had to toss it because it sounded horrible? I have, and I've done it a lot, because my kids love making noise, love having fun, love playing and singing along with, and hearing music. They don't have wooded musical instruments, and those toys drive me (their mother and home school teacher) up the wall. So, when I found this company, I instantly fell in love with these products, and am so excited to use them with my own kids during our home schooling music class. I am also super excited to use them with my preschoolers that I co-teach weekly. This Melody Glockenspiel is 1. ECO FRIENDLY, 2. fun for kids, 3. beautiful to listen to. My children are 7 and 4. They love music, they love animals. They would rather have a stuffed animal than other types of toys, because they love their animals so much. So to get animal shaped/ themed musical instruments my older kids are STOKED! I now have music class in school, because before I really only had cds for them to listen to and dance to, but they want to play instruments. I made plastic Easter egg shakers, but they don't work very good, and break easily. My kids would love to have as many of these wonderful wooden musical instruments as they can get. The sounds that comes from this drum are beautiful, natural, and magical. I enjoy listening to this sound, which is great because there are so many toys, especially music making ones or noise ones that don't sound good to listen too. So I'm highly recommending this product, and all products from this company.Product: The Melody Glokenspiel: can be found on amazon via the link provided. This toy is great for children 3 and up. Made with mangowood, which is 100% Eco Friendly and renewable. Comes with 2 wooden topped mallets, to perfect the beautiful sound these metal keys bring against the wood. This is a one octave glokenspiel, in C major. There is a specially designed resonator chamber that enhances the tones from this instrument. The wooden base is curved, of 15-ply natural wood, to fit comfortably in a lap or stable playing surface on tables, floors, or desks.
My Rating:
First Pool season of the Year
Guess What? Its finally warm enough that our pool is open. And my kids jumped at the opportunity to be able to go swimming. But our first swimming experience for the year wasn't exactly what we had thought. The water was super cold, like REALLY REALLY REALLY cold, but my kids still got in, but then they would jump out and wrap up in their towels. However, the cold water must have done something for my 4 year old, because you can see him being super brave!
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| my toes are nice and pink, so you can see just how much I got in the pool |
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| He put his face in the water! |
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| the sun came out for 30 minutes and the kids took advantage |
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Mama Bear Green Tones Drum
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.
Disclaimer: 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.
My Review: I fell in love with these products, and am so excited to use them with my own kids during our home schooling. I am also super excited to use them with my preschoolers that I co-teach weekly. This Mama Bear Drum is 1. super duper cute, 2. ECO FRIENDLY, 3. fun for kids. My children are 7 and 4. They love music, they love animals. They would rather have a stuffed animal than other types of toys, because they love their animals so much. So to get animal shaped/ themed musical instruments my older kids are STOKED! I now have music class in school, because before I really only had cds for them to listen to and dance to, but they want to play instruments. I made plastic Easter egg shakers, but they don't work very good, and break easily. My kids would love to have as many of these wonderful wooden musical instruments as they can get. The sounds that comes from this drum are beautiful, natural, and magical. I enjoy listening to this sound, which is great because there are so many toys, especially music making ones or noise ones that don't sound good to listen too. So I'm highly recommending this product, and all products from this company. On the actual box this instrument comes in there is a "Did you Know" section with a cool fact about music. Love this!
Product: The Mama Bear Drum: can be found on amazon, via the link provided. What a wonderful idea for musical instruments. The wood is rubberwood which is 100% Eco Friendly and renewable. Solid and durable 6" natural skin head produces real drum sound. On Mama bear's head is a hanging loop for on-the-go fun, or for band time like marching band. This would be perfect for all those cute children parades in the summer time! The mallet that comes with this is a wooden topped mallet. Perfect for children ages 24 and up.
Check out my other 2 reviews for this company, and enter our giveaway on the last review for this company.
My Rating:
Details: Green Tones from Hohner: Hohner is a high end name brand company that offers great musical instruments, and just started their own Green, Eco Friendly musical instruments for children of all ages. Each instrument is made from mangowood or rubberwood. "Green Tones: good for your child, good for the planet". Their products improve physical skills like: sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills, sense of rhythm. Their products improve cognitive skills like: imagination and creativity, curiosity and discovery, self expression or confidence. Their toys are broken into age categories: 6-12 months, 24+ months, 3+ years. As well as broken into categories like infant activities, toddler activities, preschool activities, Safe and sustainable products: chemical free rubberwood, non toxic glue, water based VOC free paint, recycled papers, eco efficiency, reforestation with sustainable packaging too.
Disclaimer: 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.
My Review: I fell in love with these products, and am so excited to use them with my own kids during our home schooling. I am also super excited to use them with my preschoolers that I co-teach weekly. This Mama Bear Drum is 1. super duper cute, 2. ECO FRIENDLY, 3. fun for kids. My children are 7 and 4. They love music, they love animals. They would rather have a stuffed animal than other types of toys, because they love their animals so much. So to get animal shaped/ themed musical instruments my older kids are STOKED! I now have music class in school, because before I really only had cds for them to listen to and dance to, but they want to play instruments. I made plastic Easter egg shakers, but they don't work very good, and break easily. My kids would love to have as many of these wonderful wooden musical instruments as they can get. The sounds that comes from this drum are beautiful, natural, and magical. I enjoy listening to this sound, which is great because there are so many toys, especially music making ones or noise ones that don't sound good to listen too. So I'm highly recommending this product, and all products from this company. On the actual box this instrument comes in there is a "Did you Know" section with a cool fact about music. Love this!Product: The Mama Bear Drum: can be found on amazon, via the link provided. What a wonderful idea for musical instruments. The wood is rubberwood which is 100% Eco Friendly and renewable. Solid and durable 6" natural skin head produces real drum sound. On Mama bear's head is a hanging loop for on-the-go fun, or for band time like marching band. This would be perfect for all those cute children parades in the summer time! The mallet that comes with this is a wooden topped mallet. Perfect for children ages 24 and up.
Check out my other 2 reviews for this company, and enter our giveaway on the last review for this company.
My Rating:
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