Blue State Red State--Review

Confession: I'm not much of a coffee drinker.

Seeing as how I was born and raised in Seattle, this might be considered shocking, if not downright impossible. Alas, it is true.

Oh, I enjoy the occasional latte or mocha, but as for a cup of coffee? Unless it's a special occasion, no thank you. However, on the rare occasion when I do drink coffee, I like it dark, bold, earthy, and smooth.

(You will all be happy to know that Mr. Einstein does drink coffee. Daily. Does that redeem me, even a little bit?)

Anyway, I took the opportunity to review some coffee from Blue State Red State mostly for my husband, but I did try it, too. And it was good!

From Blue State Red State

Blue State Red State is a brand that allows you to give back to society and express yourself with every purchase. The idea is simple – buy things you use every day, but instead of us keeping all of the profits, 33% of our profits will go toward making America better. And you direct your donation when you check out, so with every purchase, you express yourself. We will be supporting charities and advocacy groups across our brands because we think people should expect more from the companies they buy from. It’s not enough to have a quality product anymore. We think it’s just as important to be a good corporate citizen, give customers a voice, and share our success. Blue State or Red State – it doesn’t matter – the point is to get more involved and do some good through your purchases! So find the brand that resonates with you and try some coffee – Red State Red, Blue State Blue, or Blue State Red State – we know you will be happy with the product and you will feel good knowing your purchase will make a difference.

Cool. When you buy from Blue State Blue, donations go to Democratic advocacy groups. When you buy from Red State Red, donations go to Republican advocacy groups. When you buy from Blue State Red State, donations go to charities and politically neutral non-profit organizations. See! Something for everyone!

My Review

I got the chance to review the Ramparts Roast. Yum! It's dark and smooth, deep and bold. And smoky! I found it to be a well-rounded coffee with a nice finish and, surprisingly, very little aftertaste. It was good! It's a very nice drink-alone coffee, though I think it would also be good as a dessert coffee. With something sweet, I'm thinking. Mmm...

If I were considering becoming a daily coffee drinker, this coffee would have pushed me into it. Seriously. It's good.

This post was written for Family Review Network and Blue State Red State who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Four

(This should have gone up yesterday, but Blogger was down. Bah!)

Somehow, someway, this little ball of scrumptiousness...

...turned into this little beauty.

Happy 4th Birthday, C! We love you very, very much.

Cardi Wrap--A Review

I have to say, I just love this wrap!

It's one of those things that I don't think I ever would have bought for myself, but since I got the chance to review it, I jumped at it! And, seriously, I'd love another one in a different color.

The Cardi Wrap

The Cardi Wrap by Kymaro is a scarf/shawl/cardigan/wrap all in one. It comes in 7 different colors and 2 different sizes, and is basically a big sheet of soft, stretchy material with two sleeves. There are over 50 ways to wear it through draping, twisting, tying, and looping. Plus, every Cardi Wrap comes with three triangular rings (black, silver, and gold) and two pins (color-matching flower and bow) for even more options. There is a way for every body type to wear the Cardi Wrap and have it look flattering!

My Review

I've had this black Cardi Wrap for only a couple of weeks now, and yet I've worn it at least 5 times already, to church, on a date, to a school function, etc. It is just that versatile!

And as much as I love the Cardi Wrap, I hate this picture. Maybe I should clean my mirror...

My favorite way (so far) to wear the Cardi Wrap is to simply drape one end over one shoulder, leaving a really long train down one side. In the picture above, I pinned the flower on to keep everything in place, but it doesn't really need it. The material is clingy enough that it usually sticks to itself nicely

The Cardi Wrap is very soft and light-weight and washes well. It does have a tendency to attract cat hair and dust, but those are easy to remove.

I really am so excited to have this as a part of my wardrobe now! It really does go with everything! It can be dressed up and dressed down. It's fun to have something so versatile in my closet!

This post was written for Family Review Network and Cardi Wrap who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest opinions.

Letter Buddies AlphaBooks--A Review

Have I mentioned before how much I love my iPad?

I have?

Okay. I'll spare you. This time.

You're welcome.

I got yet another opportunity to review yet another app: Letter Buddies AlphaBooks.

From Cavallo Media:

My wife and I (Kevin Yuen) launched Cavallo Media after spending more than 8 years developing educational materials for the school markets in the U.S. and Canada. Now, we are taking our experiences working with young students, classroom teachers and educational experts and combining them with the exciting developments in mobile technology to bring parents and their kids easily-accessible, meaningfully-educational and fun applications that will help young children become strong, independent readers.

YouTube

LETTER BUDDIES ALPHABOOKS:

24 BOOKS IN ONE APP! The fun-loving Letter Buddies help children prepare for school. Simple

stories with striking photo-illustrations develop vocabulary and basic reading skills.

● One book for each letter of the alphabet (X, Y, Z combined in one book)

● Clear, bright photography introduces key foundational vocabulary

● Simple sentences combined with fantastic photo-illustrations put the vocabulary in

context and teach important school readiness sight words

● Cute and humorous, the Letter Buddies will entertain your children as they become

fluent readers and learners!

Letter Buddies materials were originally developed for early childhood education and are

currently being used in classrooms throughout North America! These popular teaching tools

have now been adapted into the Letter Buddies AlphaBooks app so your child can develop

valuable skills that will get them ready to enter Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten.

Perfect For:

- Children 2-6

Two-ways to read each e-book:

- “Read to Me” - listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read

- “Read it Myself” - read the book in its traditional form

Educational Features:

- Learn early reading fundamentals

- Practice beginning letter sounds

- Acquire key foundational vocabulary

- Read along to vocabulary written in contextual sentences

- Expose children to important school readiness sight words

- Build awareness for simple sentence structures and basic punctuation

Additional Features:

- Text is perfect for developing and beginning readers alike

- Fun and engaging artwork supports simple text

- Narration supports a range of reading abilities

- Repeat audio by double tapping screen

- Narration can be turned on and off

- Text highlighting can be turned on and off

My Review

This is a fun app!

The colors are bright, the letters are personable, and it is so easy to use!

This app really has it all for the beginning reader!

The pages are very easy to scroll through and each letter has quite a few words/sentences/pictures associated with it (except poor "x"). As mentioned above, there are many different ways to use this app: narration can be on or off (yes!), highlighting can be turned on or off, and the audio can be repeated. And have I already mentioned how easy it is to use? So easy!

This is a perfect app for C! She's almost 4 and will be going to preschool next year. She's so curious about letters and words, and she's really intrigued by the AlphaBooks. They are fun and simple and very child-oriented.

Thank you, Cavallo Media for the opportunity to review this app. We really like it!

This post was written for Family Review Network and AlphaBooks who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

This Is OUR Year

Every year Mr. Einstein's school district does an awards night for Excellence in Education. Teachers, para's, volunteers, administrators, and community members are nominated for excellence awards, and a few actually win them.

Mr. Einstein won one two years ago.

It's a fun evening to just kick back, sit (for a long time), laugh with friends and colleagues (and spouses!), and hope, hope, hope to win a gift basket.

Because, let me tell you, the gift baskets are amazing!

Each school/building/office/service provider/what-have-you that is somehow involved in public education puts together a gift basket with some theme or other, like exercise (Mr. Einstein's school), outdoor, barbecue, camping, recession (E's school--awesome!), etc, and some community members/businesses provide some, too. Every person who walks in the door to attend the event gets a ticket, and throughout the evening, the superintendent draws random tickets for prizes.

Now, Mr. Einstein and I have attended this event for four years (not continuously, just the years he's been nominated) out of the seven he's been in this school district. We've even brought some of kids before, so had extra tickets (and no, that's not why we brought them). We've never won anything. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

This year, as I told a couple of people, is OUR year.

And you know what? It was.

It was OUR year.

No, we didn't win a gift basket.

No, we didn't win a community member/business gift.

No, Mr. Einstein didn't win an award (which he totally should have!).

He won the grand prize.

Seriously!

The Grand Prize!!!

He won a one-night stay at the Coeur D'Alene Resort AND two tickets for the St. Joe River cruise.

!

I know!

It really is OUR year!

THAT Kind of Weekend

We had THAT kind of weekend this weekend.

You know, the kind where 2 out of 3 of your children have to have 3 baths in 36 hours...

where you stay up late only to have to get up early...

where you plan a brunch in which all of the invited guests back out at the last minute,

but the last-minute guests all come,

and you have a fabulous time getting to know new people...

where it's warm yet windy and overcast...

where the kids actually get along and share during the Easter egg hunt,

but start fighting and yelling afterwards...

where you still do pizza-and-a-movie even though it's Easter...

where this is as good as it gets:

Spring Break

This is quite possibly the first spring break since E was born that I haven't actually wanted my husband to go back to work. Usually he's quite the task master during spring break, because thingsmustbedone.

And they always are done. And this year they were all done, too. But it was nicer, more relaxed. The kids are getting older, the landscaping is getting maturer, and the weather is getting nicer, all making for a nearly-perfect spring break.

Mr. Einstein finished his National Teacher Board portfolio and mailed it off (yippee!) We had E's birthday party at the bounce house with homemade knock-off Oreo ice cream cake (yummy!) at home.

We went to Seattle to visit family and Ikea (love!) and bought some new armchairs. We rearranged some furniture, and our house finally feels comfortable and looks like grown ups live here.

We did some weeding and some pulling. I dug up tons of nasty aster plants in our front planter and, sadly, had to throw some of my beloved day lilies away with them. Mr. Einstein mowed the lawn for the first time this year and got the sprinkler system all ready.

We bought seeds for the garden we're going to put in this year and replaced some weather-stripping (stupid cats).

I started to organize all my recipes online (yay!) and made a huge donation of baby stuff to the crisis pregnancy center here in town.

We filed our taxes. Yes, we are that family.

We spent Saturday in Leavenworth "hiking" along the river. We had a blast! I think we're going to start making hiking our family activity, assuming we can find some good, easy trails out here. The kids had a wonderful time, and so did Mr. Einstein and I. It was overcast and warm, but not humid. It was so relaxing, and we randomly ran into quite a few people we know. Small world! One person we hadn't seen since college. (That's more than 10 years ago!!!)

Sunday afternoon we went to Potholes State Park and hung out with some friends from church grilling hot dogs and watching our kids play (18 kids among 4 families!). The wind blew, the rain fell, but we had so much fun! What a perfect ending to a wonderful week!

And because I like to post pictures, here are a few from our day in Leavenworth. All are unedited, straight from the camera. I liked the muted colors, so I left them.

7

I tell her daily

that she needs to stop

growing up so fast.

Apparently,

she doesn't listen.

Because

she keeps getting older;

and today,

she is seven.

Happy Seventh Birthday, E!

I'm really sorry I posted this picture of you.

But, seriously, if you're not going to smile at the camera, what choice do I have?

The Difference Between Boys and Girls--The Vacuum

E has a couple of irrational fears, one of them being the vacuum cleaner. I have no idea where it came from (I didn't torment her as a baby, I swear!), but she has so kindly (and intentionally, grr!) instilled this fear into her sister.

sigh

M, on the other hand, has decided to completely ignore his big sisters' silliness about the vacuum cleaner and loves it!

Here's how a typical morning in house goes when I decide to vacuum:

C (and E, if she's home): gets excited, then panics (before I've even considered turning the vacuum on), then runs and jumps on her bed.

M: gets excited, then tried to steal the extensions so he can sword fight with them.

C: sits on her bed, laughing because I can't get her, but worriedly reminds me not to get her.

M: sits in front of the vacuum cleaner (laughing) so I'll push the vacuum into him.

C: follows me from room to room, begging me not to get her.

M: follows me from room to room begging me to get him.

Seriously! What is up with these kids? How were they all possibly born to the same parents?

The Difference Between Boys and Girls--Play Dough

Now that M is two, the differences between him and his sisters are becoming ever more apparent. The usual differences are there (M likes cars and trucks and making noise and destroying things, E and C like dolls and princesses and singing and building things), but some other, less predictable differences have come to light lately.

For example:

C and M are currently playing with homemade play dough (recipe below). Although, with M, "playing with play dough" is a relative phrase.

C: squishes play dough, rolls play dough, cuts play dough, shapes play dough, plays with play dough.

M: squishes play dough, places play dough back in canister, calls play dough "coffee," plays with play dough toys, ignores play dough.

And this happens every. single. time M "plays" with play dough. But he loves it! He asks for it weekly. He enjoys it.

I guess I have a lot to learn about having a boy.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

Mix:

2 packages of unsweetened kool-aide

1/2 cup of salt

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 tablespoon cream of tartar

Add:

2 cups of boiling water

3 tablespoons of oil

Stir, cool and knead for 5 minutes.

Today

Today...I woke up early

Today...I worked out

Today...the sun is shining (for now)

Today...my boy is feeling better

Today...my parents return from Hawaii

Today...I vacuumed the house

Today...I will make cookies

Today...I don't feel so overwhelmed

Today...is going to be a good day

Oscar's Apps--A Review

Oh, I love my iPad!

And my kids do, too. They love it so much, I've actually made them their very own page with games and apps just for them.

Included on this page are two new apps from Oscar's Apps, which I got a chance to review.

And let me tell you, I love them! And C, who is 3 1/2, loves them, too.

From their website:

Oscar's Apps is a fun and interactive learning environment for toddlers and preschool aged children.

My Review

I got the chance to review the Alphabet Song and 1-10 Balloons. Both are very similarly designed, with either the alphabet or numbers printed on balloons which kids "pop" in order. Both games have three options: Learn, Follow, and Play. In the "Learn" option, kids pop the highlighted balloons in order. In the "Follow" option, the balloons are all mixed up, but are highlighted in order. In the "Play" option, the balloons are still mixed up but aren't highlighted right away, giving kids the chance to remember the alphabet or numbers in order themselves.

As I said earlier, C loves these apps. The colors are vivid, the graphics are fun, and the "games" are simple but engaging.

C's been getting very, very curious about letters and numbers recently, and both of these apps from Oscar's Apps have been wonderful for her!

I personally like how the apps grow with children, from showing them, to guiding them, to allowing them to figure it out on their own. These apps are great for exploring letters and numbers! And I can't wait to start using them with M in the next year!

This post was written for Family Review Network and Oscar's Apps who provided the complimentary products for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

PunflayKids--A Review

I got an iPad for Christmas.

(Jealous much?)

And because I got an iPad, I got an opportunity to review some cool apps for my kids.

Enter PunflayKids.

From their website:

PunflayKids is a division devoted to developing apps (iPad) for young, growing children. These apps are meant to be for fun, holidays & special occasions and casual learning purposes.

They are developed with an eye to thrill, fascinate and engage the young ones' minds and provide value for money.

My Review

PunflayKids provided me with four different apps to review: Rhymes for Tots, Kandy Fish, ABC Numbers, and Puzzle Mania.

The first three apps are definitely designed for my middle child, C. She's 3 1/2 and is eager to learn.

I could only open up one of the nursery rhymes in Rhymes for Tots, but it is fun and interactive. There is an animated video of the rhyme plus five educational-but-fun activities.

Kandy Fish is C's absolute favorite! The animated fish swim all over the screen and kids get to drag them around sorting by color, finishing patterns, and drawing shapes.

ABC Numbers is probably the most educational of the four I received. In the ABC section, kids can explore the alphabet through pictures, letters, phones, and writing. There's a neat touch scroll on the side of the screen that makes navigation a breeze. In the Numbers sections, kids are introduced to basic math skills. They can tap a number to hear the number spoken and see that number of objects on the screen. They can count the objects themselves by tapping the pictures and have the corresponding number light up on the number line.

I also got to review Puzzle Mania which is more of a family app than child app. There are four different logic/math puzzles (can you tell why I was interested?) that are just challenging enough without being frustrating. I think kids would enjoy them, too, though they may not fully understand what they're supposed to do or how the puzzles work.

All in all, I am very pleased the with my iPad apps from PunflayKids! They are all fun and interactive with bright graphics and easy to use. And they're mostly inexpensive, too.

This post was written for Family Review Network and PunflayKids who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Happenings

I've been a lazy blogger lately, I know. But, in and among everything going on around here, the blog has been shoved aside.

We were in Leavenworth over New Years.

We had a check stolen from our mailbox and cashed.

We decided to change our bank account because of it.

E was sick two days last week.

Mr. Einstein was sick a different two days last week.

C and M showed symptoms of being sick, but it never fully materialized.

We've had several school closures due to snow and icy roads.

I've almost finished my very first quilt.

I've (finally) discovered Ebates.

I've been selling stuff like crazy on eBay.

I've been watching two boys in the morning before school in addition to the girl I already watch before and after school.

I've been trying to find childcare for a morning Bible study at our church (why won't anyone watch our kids???).

That's about it. Those are the happenings around here. It's been busy, to say the least.

What's going on with you?

Wordless Wednesday--View From a Sleigh Ride

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