Sunday, January 31, 2010

Thyroid Awareness $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Winner


The winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card is #11 Cindy!

Congrats again to the winner! I will contact you by email. If you did not have your email posted please post it here so I can email you! Thanks to all those who participated and don't forget to enter in my contests/giveaways that are going on now! I will also be adding more posts and giveaways soon so stay tuned!

*All winners are chosen by my True Random Number Generator.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Free Sample 3-pack of Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max

Pampers has redesigned its Swaddlers and Cruisers diapers to make them perform better. The new diapers are called Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max and they are supposed to lock away wetness up to 12 hours!

The babies of Team USA athletes are going to be given the new Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max to wear as they head to Vancouver. Honoring these athletes and their families, Pampers has put the Team USA logo on them. Although these limited-edition "Team USA" diapers will not be for sale, you can get a free three-pack of the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max starting the morning of January 29th to celebrate the new diapers. Pampers will randomly be inserting diapers with the "Team USA" logo, and if you receive one of these you will win free diapers for a year! Remember freebies like this usually go fast so keep checking Pampers.com to sign up!!

***UPDATE: HERE is the actual website URL for the free 3-pack!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Pampers and American Pop - Social Media Marketing for this information to share with my viewers. I did not get compensated with anything for this posting.

National Thyroid Awareness Month and Giveaway

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. I wanted to tell you a little bit about why I am posting about this. I have a daughter, sister, and a friend's daughter that all have thyroid disorders. My daughter, Tatiana, had a brain tumor that was discovered and surgically removed at 8 months of age. Because of this she has multiple endocrine problems including hypothyroidism which she takes Levothyroxin for. Because the pituitary gland regulates the functions of the thyroid gland her thyroid doesn't work. My sister, Melody, has hyperthyroidism to the extent that it caused her to have Grave's Disease. My Uncle Jesse has just the hyperthyroidism. One of my best friends, Erin of Connected2Christ blog also has a daughter that was diagnosed with Congenital Hypothyroidism three days after she was born. I know way too many other people that also have some sort of thyroid problem. It is a growing problem and I feel we need to make more people aware of it.

The thyroid is a small gland located in the middle of the lower neck, which produces hormones that regulate many functions including temperature, weight gain, and weight loss. Many Americans experience various problems with the functioning of their thyroid. Some red flags to watch for are:

* sudden weight gain or increase in body fat
* inability to lose weight despite proper diet and exercise
* fatigue, insomnia or restless sleep, anxiety or panic attacks
* gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation
* chronic sinusitis or lingering infections

It is important that people experiencing these warning signs see their physician to learn more.

There are also many online resources for those seeking more information and support. One online resource is the Fibro 360 Community - Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Center. This online community not only offers a network of support, but also resources to those seeking more information about fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and related disorders including those concerning the thyroid.

If you'd like to learn more or would like to join the Fibro 360 Community, please visit Fibro 360 on Facebook. You can also follow Fibro 360 on Twitter.

WIN IT:
Could you use a little pampering? One reader from this site will win a $25 gift card to Amazon.com to be used on whatever you need! Let us treat you!

Mandatory entry: To enter, please visit the Fibro 360 Community on Facebook and become a fan, then let us know in the comments here.

Bonus entry: Let us know in the comments here that you follow @Fibro360 on Twitter!

Contest ends January 31st at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Since I am a Global Influence Member I received this information to share with my readers.

Eco-Chic Baby 75% Off Sale

I just wanted to let you all know about a going out of business sale that The Eco-Chic Baby store is having. I just bought a beautiful Käthe Kruse Nicki Baby in Violet and a SmartMom pink cupcake teething bling bracelet there for 75% off! I saved a total of $43.27!!

The Käthe Kruse Nicki Baby is a soft doll in one piece sleeper suit and colorful pointed cap. It is made in Germany and is super cute! Teela was looking at pictures of it on their website and saying dolly over and over again. I am buying it for her as an early Birthday present (her Birthday is on April 15th) and I think she is going to love it! I think I bought the last violet one they had because a few minutes after I purchased, it says it is now out of stock.

The SmartMom Teething Bling Bracelet in pink cupcake is for me. I am a sucker for teething jewelry and even though Teela won't have an interest in chewing on it anymore it is perfect for her also to play dress up with. She loves playing dress up and the safer it is for her to play with the safer I feel about her having it. It is safe for her because it doesn't have small parts that she might choke on if she were to put it in her mouth and the material it is made from is safe also.

If you want to save 75% off in their shop you better hurry! Things are going quick and they are shutting down their shop in less than 2 weeks! Just type in the code: closeout and you can get the savings I did.

They are both shipping from Canada and I hope they arrive here safely. I will update this post when I get them.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Wordless Wednesday Tatiana's Toothless Grin


If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares Review

Valentine's Day is coming up on February 14th and what better way to celebrate than giving chocolate. I just had these fabulous Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Filling Squares that I was able to try from SheSpeaks for free. These have a milk chocolate outer shell and a yummy peanut butter inner filling. They are delicious and I recommend them to anyone that loves both chocolate a peanut butter together. Ghirardelli chocolates have been around for more than 150 years. I was savoring every last little bit of these squares and although peanut butter isn't my absolute favorite filling for chocolate these were really good.

Indulge yourself...The Ghirardelli filled squares also come in these other flavors... Milk Chocolate with Caramel, Dark Chocolate with Mint, 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Caramel, Dark Chocolate with Raspberry. Yummy!!

You can buy these at local retailers, such as Target, Walmart, Borders, Walgreens, CVS, as well as online and at Ghirardelli retail stores. They are about $3.49 for a 4.69 oz-5.32 oz bag.

Have an iPhone? Download the NEW Ghirardelli app and enjoy 15% off your first purchase of $20 or more. Enter promocode "shespeaks15" to redeem. Expires 1/31/2010.

DISCLAIMER: As a member of SheSpeaks, I received a sample of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Filling Squares, as well as six coupons for $1.50 off any Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter bag. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Uprinting Business Card Review and Giveaway

This is a business card that I made and Uprinting printed for my blog. If I ever got to go to a blog convention or blogger event I really wanted to have something that I could give out to fellow bloggers. I put my blog button that I created on my business cards so my blog would be easily recognizable. I have to say even though the image I chose turned out a little fuzzy (I don't blame Uprinting, this was the images fault) they turned out very nice. I received all 500 of them neatly packed in a box. I love handing them out to my friends and family as well. I have also found that when going to product conventions I can hand them out to people there.

Business cards are handy to have on hand. You can make them blogger cards, business cards, play date cards, etc....it’s really up to you what you want to put on them! Get your own Business Cards Online or Print Online at this great website.



WIN IT:
500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner
Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Mandatory:
1. Leave a comment explaining what you would do with the business cards.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by email and let me know. (2 extra entries)

2. Become my fan on facebook. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Uprinting.com in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra)

7. Add me on twitter and retweet this: @finamoon: @uprinting WIN 500 Business Cards #giveaway http://bit.ly/cBttEV (Daily Extras are Available)

8. Fan Uprinting on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

9. Follow Uprinting on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. This contest ends on Friday February 19, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only and entrants also get FREE UPS Ground Shipping!!

DISCLAIMER: Because my blog is sponsored by Uprinting they offer gifts for me and giveaways for my readers! They are offering me and one of my readers 500 business cards. I am excited to be able to make another 500 business cards with something else on them. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Robeez Footwear Review

In 1994 Sandra Wilson, a young wife and mother, set out to handcraft a pair of brightly colored, soft-soled leather shoes for her son, Robert. These shoes worked very well for him and she wondered if other youngsters could benefit. The response was overwhelming by other mothers for these handcrafted shoes. She named the company after her son..."Robeez" Footwear and the rest is history. Robeez is recognized as the world’s leading manufacturer of soft-soled leather footwear for newborns to four-year-olds. These shoes support the healthy development of little feet. These shoes are best for little ones because they mimic bare feet. They flex and bend just as a foot would while keeping the little feet protected. They also promote good balance and don't restrict growing feet. The elastic in the ankles help them stay on well and provide the best fit.

My daughter, Teela, received a pair of 12-18 months Robeez Soft Soles in Floppy Bunny Brown to try out, keep and review for free from Robeez. She absolutely loves to wear them, especially inside the house since they are soft soles and they should only have light outdoor use. When she asks to wear them she calls them her "bunny shoes" and can now put them on herself. They remind me of moccasins because of the soft suede bottoms. I love the bright colors these shoes come in and how they have so many cute designs to choose from.

Robeez has other shoes in their collection too. You can view the different styles HERE. They are $18-$40 per pair depending upon the style and shoe you choose. Right now there is a 50% off sale on selected girls and boys shoes and if you purchase 2 or more pairs of Robeez footwear you can receive free standard ground shipping. Look on the website for more information.

DISCLAIMER: I received the Robeez Soft Soles in Floppy Bunny Brown to try out, keep and review for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Gospel According To Lost by Chris Seay Review

LOST is one of my favorite TV series and I have watched it with my husband *religiously* from the first episode to the last episode of season 5. I am so excited for the new and final season 6 to start on Tuesday February 2nd! I was intrigued to say the least when I saw this book come up on Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger's website aka Book Sneeze. I chose it to read and review and they sent me a free copy.

LOST, for those of you who have never seen this TV series, is a drama that follows the complex, intertwined, flawed and broken lives of the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 which crash lands on a mysterious tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific. Almost at its sixth and final season, it is a show that has a massive amount of followers and fans...myself included. Just when I think I have figured out the plot, it thickens and throws in even more twists and turns....and so many more questions. I love how the show is so thought provoking and clever.

The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay goes through and paints a picture of each of the main characters and how they are connected with the spiritual, philosophical, mystical, and biblical. Chris Seay compares the characters of LOST with people of both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. The chapters of the book delve into faith and reason, guilt, fate, quantum spirituality, dharma, island life and salvation. The author makes some of his own hypothesis and predictions. The book was a fast read and I thought the parallels were interesting. I think that it would have been better if it were written after the last season ended, but it is still a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

The artwork in the book is called The Saints of LOST and is very well done. The black and white prints of the art pieces are in front of each chapter pertaining to a character and then in the middle of the book they are all there in color. You can see more of Scott Erickson's work HERE.

For those of you who are die hard fans here is a season 1-6 episode recap in 8 minutes 15 seconds. If you haven't watched LOST I highly recommend you do from beginning to end. Don't spoil it for yourself by watching this!!...



DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wordless Wednesday Tatiana's First Day of Kindergarten



If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Energy: Its Forms, Changes & Functions by Tom DeRosa and Carolyn Reeves FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

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:


and the book set of
Energy: Its Forms, Changes & Functions

The Main Book

The Student Journal

and The Teacher's Guide

New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (September 30, 2009)

***Special thanks to Robert Parrish of New Leaf Publishing Group for sending me a review copy.***

MY THOUGHTS:
These are a great science based curriculum for 3rd through 6th grade. My boys enjoyed doing some of the projects in them and learning about Energy. I received the main student book, the student journal and teachers guide. The main book goes through and teaches elementary physics with 20 hands-on activities. The journal has a wonderful amount of room to write in. The teachers guide gives instruction about the lesson, answers to the questions asked and what supplies are required for the various experiments and projects. It is very helpful.

ABOUT THE AUTHORs:


Tom DeRosa left seminary and the church thinking he was throwing away his faith, but in reality he found a new religion: evolution. In 1978, Tom accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. Soon after he studied biblical creation at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and came to the conclusion that a lack of knowledge of the biblical account of creation is greatly responsible for keeping many people from Christ. His commitment to breaking down those barriers is what led Tom to form Creation Studies Institute in 1988.


Carolyn Reeves, Ph.D. and her husband make their home in Oxford, Mississippi where they are active members of North Oxford Baptist Church. Carolyn retired after a 30-year career as a science teacher, finished a doctoral degree in science education, and began a new venture as a writer and an educational consultant.


The Main Book Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 88 pages
Publisher: Master Books (September 30, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515700
ISBN-13: 978-0890515709

The Student Journal Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Master Books; Student edition (June 30, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515719
ISBN-13: 978-0890515716


The Teacher's Guide Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Master Books; Tch edition (September 30, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515727
ISBN-13: 978-0890515723

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTERs:








Investigation #1: Where Exactly Does Energy Go?


Think about this. Ella understands that light is a form of energy, but she is having trouble with the idea that light energy cannot be created or destroyed.

“Look,” she told her aunt, who is a science teacher. “When I flip the switch and turn off the lights, I cause all the lights in the room to go away.” She demonstrated and made the room very dark.

“Now look what happens when I turn the light switch back on. The room fills with light again. Didn’t I just create and destroy the light in the room?” she asked.

“No, you certainly did not,” her aunt said. “All you did was demonstrate how energy can change from one form into another.”

Let’s look at some examples of how energy changes from one form to another in this lesson.


German-born Albert Einstein was awarded the 1921 Nobel Price in Physics. His studies of light transformation helped to base his discovery of the photoelectric effect.


The Investigative Problems:

What are examples of energy?
Can one form of energy change into another form of energy?


Gather These Things:

1.5-vold dry cell
5-inch pieces of electric wire
Small wooden boards
Assorted rubber bands (different thicknesses, but same length)
1.5-volt light bulb
Sandpaper
Sturdy shoe box


Procedure & Observations

Electric energy ito light and head energy: Take a 1-5-volt dry cell, a five-inch wire, and a light bulb. Test different combinations until you get the light bulb to come on. Show your teacher when you are successful. Make a drawing to show how you connected everything.


Feel the light bulb. Can you tell if it has gotten any warmer? (Note: This is a small amount of head and it may not be easy to detect.)


Mechanical energy to heat energy: Rub a piece of sandpaper quickly over a board several times. Feel the sandpaper and the board. What kind of energy is produced?


Mechanical energy to sound energy: Remove the cover from a sturdy box and cut three groves on opposite edges of the box. Now choose three rubber bands of equal length, but each with a different thickness. Stretch the rubber bands around the box, fitting each into one of the grooves. Pluck each rubber band. Observe that it is vibrating. Listen for a sound. Repeat for each rubber band. Compare the pitch made by the different rubber bands. Record your observations.


The Science Stuff

Energy is what enables matter to move or to change. Energy is found in many different forms, such as heat, light, electricity, mechanical (the energy in moving things), sound, nuclear, and chemical. One form of energy can be changed into another form of energy. Still, the total amount of energy never changes. This means that energy cannot be created or destroyed. These ideas are expressed in one of the most important laws in all of science – the law of conservation of energy.

These activities illustrate some of the main forms of energy. Each activity shows one form of energy being changed into another form of energy. Electrical energy changed into light and heat, mechanical energy changed into heat, and mechanical energy changed into sound.

In the first activity, when the equipment was wired together correctly, an electric circuit was completed. An electric current then moved through the dry cell, wires, and light bulb. As the electric current moved through the light bulb, electric energy changed into light energy and heat energy.

This activity illustrates another important concept about energy. It shows that energy can be transferred from one place to another. Much of the earth’s energy is transferred from the sun to the earth.

Remember the conversation between Ella and her aunt? When Ella flipped the light switch, the electric current began to move through the wires and the light bulb. Inside the light bulb, electric energy changed into light and heat energy, which is the same thing that happened in your activity with electricity. When she turned the lights off, the objects in the room absorbed the heat and light energy. (This is a small amount of energy, and you probably couldn’t detect it without some sophisticated equipment.)

When you rubbed a board with sandpaper, your motion produced mechanical energy. This motion produced friction between the sandpaper and the wood, causing the molecules to move faster. As a result, both the sandpaper and the wood became hotter. Thus, the mechanical energy of the moving sandpaper changed into heat energy.

You were also the source of motion when you plucked the tight rubber bands, causing them to vibrate. Sound is produced when a force causes something to vibrate and produce sound waves. Sound energy is carried in waves.


Making Connections

Another way in which mechanical energy can produce sound waves is by tapping on a table. Tapping on the table causes the table to vibrate in the same way plucking on the rubber bands caused them to vibrate. Sound waves actually travel faster through the table than through the air. You can put your ear next to the table and hear the tapping sounds clearly. You can also raise your head and hear the sounds as the sound waves pass through the table and then through the air.

When electrical energy passes through a light bulb, it is changed into light energy and heat energy. Even though the heat energy is unwanted, it is still part of the electric bill. Engineers try to design light bulbs that increase the amount of light and decrease the amount of heat produced. Some progress has been made, but light bulbs continue to produce unwanted heat.


Dig Deeper

Start with the energy being given off from a TV or a radio in your home. Try to figure out where this energy comes from. See how far back you can trace the energy changes. This gets a little complicated, so get ad good reference book to help you.

What is the difference between an electric motor and an electric generator? They basically contain the same parts and are built the same way. However, an electric motor changes electric energy into mechanical energy, and an electric generator changes mechanical energy into electric energy.

In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed a theory that altered the law of conservation of energy. He said that matter can be changed into energy, and energy can be changed into matter, but the total amount of matter and energy in the universe remains the same. How was Einstein’s theory shown to be true?


What Did You Learn?

Give two examples of how one form of energy can change into heat energy. Give another example of an energy change.
List two ways in which energy does work for us.
The following list contains examples of forces, properties of matter, and forms of energy. Underline all the examples of forms of energy: inertia, heat, density, buoyancy, electricity, lift, weight, chemical, push, and nuclear.
Define mechanical energy and give an example.
What kind of energy can be quickly provided by a battery?
What is the law of conservation of energy?
Give an example of when an unwanted form of energy is produced in a device.
What happens to a roomful of light on a dark night with the lights are turned off?
Was energy transferred from the batter to the light bulb when an electric circuit was completed?



Sunday, January 17, 2010

General Mills Cereals‏ Review

It is so important to start the day with a wholesome healthy breakfast. I feel lousy when I don't. A good breakfast can help you feel good and gives you the boost of energy needed to start your day well.

Cereal is a quick and easy breakfast and I have great news for cereal lovers... General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

* Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

* Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

* More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

MY THOUGHTS:
My favorite General Mills Cereals are: Fiber One Honey Clusters (6 grams of sugar), Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters (13 grams), Basic 4 (14 grams), Honey Nut Clusters (16 grams), Oatmeal Crisp Crunchy Almond (16 grams), Oatmeal Crisp Hearty Raisin (20 grams), Total Cranberry Crunch (16 grams), Total Honey Clusters (13 grams), Raisin Nut Bran (14 grams), Cheerios (1 gram), Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (12 grams), Honey Nut Cheerios (9 grams), Multi Grain Cheerios (6 grams), Golden Grahams (11 grams), Kix (3 grams) and Reese's Puffs (11 grams).

Wow! I didn't think that my Oatmeal Crisp Hearty Raisin had 20 grams of sugar! I guess you can't tell a box of cereal by its looks. I guess I will be buying more Cheerios and Kix...although I figure you do have to factor in other things besides the sugar. So, make sure you look at the nutrition labels on the box before you buy.

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for a box of Trix cereal and if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals listed on the coupon.

DISCLAIMER: By participating in this Spark, I received 4 free cereal coupons for 4 free General Mills boxes of cereal. All information about the campaign I received from MyBlogSpark, Pssst General Mills Network and the General Mills: Cereal and Health website. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Letters to Darcy: a mother’s heartfelt letters to her unborn child by Tracy Ramos FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

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 author is:


and the book:


Letters to Darcy: a mother’s heartfelt letters to her unborn child

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (November 9, 2009)

***Special thanks to Maggie Rowe of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a heart wrenching story about a pregnant mother who found out that her unborn child had Trisomy 18 and was told to abort the baby by her doctors. She chose not to and the book that follows are her diary entries written to her unborn child. This is a wonderful book about determination, spirit, hope, despair, depression, beauty, grace, and love. God gives us our challenges to overcome them and become better people and this is a book about how one woman did just that. The loss of a child is sometimes unbearable. You just have to remember that God is always with you every step of the way and he is there to help you through all trials and tribulations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Tracy Frisbie Ramos is the mother and home educator of six living children, ages two to eighteen, and is joyfully expecting a new child to join their family in November. Tracy’s mission in life is to serve God by raising godly children who will make a different for His Kingdom on earth. It is Tracy’s hope that the legacy of her seventh child, Darcy Anne, will continue to spread the message that children are a gift from God and that the life of the unborn is sacred and should be protected. She and her husband, Jason, currently live in Magnolia, Texas.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (November 9, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414333846
ISBN-13: 978-1414333847


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:




Foreword

There comes a time in one’s life when a single decision changes everything. For Tracy and Jason Ramos, that decision was to allow their unborn daughter Darcy Anne to live. Faced with the reality that she was carrying a baby with trisomy 18, Tracy was given the option of ending the pregnancy early, after being assured that her baby was not compatible with life. The Ramoses chose life over death because of their faith in a sovereign God who does all things for His glory. Darcy Anne arrived a few months later as a beautiful bundle of joy, just like the Ramoses’ previous six children.

Although Darcy Anne’s life expectancy was only a few hours, God kept her alive for fifteen amazing days to teach each of us some valuable lessons about life. This gift from God reminded us that life is measured not in days but in daily experiences. Tracy and Jason knew that because their time with Darcy Anne would be short, their memories would have to be long. And so, each hour of Darcy’s life was filled with the joys that most girls have years to enjoy: birthday parties, hugs and kisses, painted toenails, and even a ride on her daddy’s motorcycle. Tracy and Jason treasured each memory with Darcy Anne as if it would be the last.

You are about to read Tracy’s thoughts that were captured in her Web diary. Hundreds were reading about the daily emotions the Ramoses experienced. People who did not know Tracy and Jason began watching a fragile life change the world, one heart at a time. As it turns out, this little four-pound-seven-ounce bundle of joy provided an international audience with a message that should never be forgotten: Each day we live should be for God’s glory, and each of us brings glory to God by the way we live each day.

Tracy and Jason chose life over death for their daughter, and she brought great glory to God as a missionary for life. Those of us who lived this journey with the Ramos family will be forever changed. For those of you who will read of this journey, my hope is that you will see how God has a plan for everything He creates. Darcy Anne is a testimony that life is precious from the moment of conception and that it is given to humankind to fulfill a purpose. Darcy Anne’s purpose was to bring a family together, to unite a church, to remind all of us of how we are to live our lives, regardless of their length.

—Ted Seago

Honored pastor of Darcy Anne Ramos

Grace Community Church

Magnolia, Texas

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

This was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I just found out that I am pregnant. Even though we were not planning on having any more children, God had other plans. I always said that you were our first surprise baby and that you were special because God chose for you to become part of our family. Inside, I was leaping with joy. I saw the plus sign on the pregnancy test, and joy filled my heart. I had felt a void from the decision we made to not have another baby. But God intervened and filled that void. I was overwhelmed with gladness. I waited a week to tell your daddy because I knew he would be shocked. I actually first told your aunt Nekita and then your big sister Ate Brittany.1 I wanted to explode with excitement and tell everyone, but for the first time in your mommy’s life, I showed self-control.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Today was our church’s Valentine’s Day party. We had a great time. I was mostly excited about telling everyone that I was pregnant with you. Darcy, our church really loves babies and got so excited to hear about you. They really were so happy. Daddy even sang me a special song. He forgot the words, but it was still really pretty. He sang “And I Love You So.” Now whenever I hear that song, I will think of you.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

This was my first real scare. I started having crippling pains and bleeding. I just knew that I was going to lose you. I was devastated. I knew that I was given this seventh chance and now it was over. I gave up all hope.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

The bleeding continued all night. I decided to stay home from church and rest. The bleeding finally stopped at noon. I was so relieved. I was glad but still very anxious.

Monday, February 25, 2008: First Sonogram

Today, I decided to go to the doctor and have an exam. I wasn’t scheduled for my visit till next week, but since I was having problems, they went ahead and saw me. They did a sonogram and said everything looked good. I even got to see and hear your heartbeat. Never was I happier. You were a fighter from the very beginning, just like Mommy!

I love you, Darcy. I love you so much.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Well, the bleeding started back up. It seems like this is happening again. It only lasts for about twelve hours and stops. This time isn’t as bad as the last. It sure does scare Mommy when this happens. I hope you are okay.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

I decided to stay home again from church. I am very nervous about doing anything strenuous. I want to make sure you are okay.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Today was my first legitimate doctor’s appointment. I got so sick that I threw up everywhere. Don’t worry, Darcy. I think it was food poisoning and not morning sickness (even though I’ve had a lot of that, too). Dr. Ritter was very nice and did not make me endure the exam but rather just talked to me about what to expect and the extra tests I could get if I wanted them. I also had Daddy pull over along the side of the road on our way home to throw up some more. I was very sick.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

The bleeding started up again. This seems to be happening once a week, on Saturdays. Maybe it is because I tend to do more on the weekends. I hope that I am not overdoing it. I will try to be more careful on weekends. I have continued to have crippling pains, and they seem to be getting worse. It affects my arms and legs. I love you. I have a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. I will ask him what is going on then.

I love you and hope you are all right.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

I missed church two Sundays in a row and thought I would go today. I talked to some ladies at church about my symptoms and asked if they could be a sign that something is wrong. But they gave me some advice, and I am going to take it. When I got home, my symptoms got really bad. I got a rash all over my belly, and it itched so much. I am going to my regular doctor tomorrow to see what he says. I hope this is not a result of something being wrong with you. I will pray.

Monday, March 10, 2008

I went to my doctor to see what is wrong with me. He didn’t want to diagnose me and referred me back to my ob-gyn. I guess I will see what he wants me to do.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Remember when Mommy said that I was a fighter? Well, I am stubborn, too. I waited till today to go see Dr. Ritter. The pain is too bad to endure anymore. So I went after I had Well, the bleeding started back up. It seems like this is happening again. It only lasts for about twelve hours and stops. This time isn’t as bad as the last. It sure does scare Mommy when this happens. I hope you are okay.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

I decided to stay home again from church. I am very nervous about doing anything strenuous. I want to make sure you are okay.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Today was my first legitimate doctor’s appointment. I got so sick that I threw up everywhere. Don’t worry, Darcy. I think it was food poisoning and not morning sickness (even though I’ve had a lot of that, too). Dr. Ritter was very nice and did not make me endure the exam but rather just talked to me about what to expect and the extra tests I could get if I wanted them. I also had Daddy pull over along the side of the road on our way home to throw up some more. I was very sick.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

The bleeding started up again. This seems to be happening once a week, on Saturdays. Maybe it is because I tend to do more on the weekends. I hope that I am not overdoing it. I will try to be more careful on weekends. I have continued to have crippling pains, and they seem to be getting worse. It affects my arms and legs. I love you. I have a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. I will ask him what is going on then.

I love you and hope you are all right.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

I missed church two Sundays in a row and thought I would go today. I talked to some ladies at church about my symptoms and asked if they could be a sign that something is wrong. But they gave me some advice, and I am going to take it. When I got home, my symptoms got really bad. I got a rash all over my belly, and it itched so much. I am going to my regular doctor tomorrow to see what he says. I hope this is not a result of something being wrong with you. I will pray.

Monday, March 10, 2008

I went to my doctor to see what is wrong with me. He didn’t want to diagnose me and referred me back to my ob-gyn. I guess I will see what he wants me to do.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Remember when Mommy said that I was a fighter? Well, I am stubborn, too. I waited till today to go see Dr. Ritter. The pain is too bad to endure anymore. So I went after I had lunch with Daddy. Dr. Ritter prescribed some steroids, and I need to take them. He didn’t want to refer me to an allergist yet, just in case my symptoms cleared up. He did say that it has nothing to do with you and that you are not experiencing any bad side effects from the steroids or my symptoms.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Dr. Ritter has cured me. Steroids took all of my symptoms away. I must have been allergic to something. I’ve stopped eating all weird stuff. I hope I stay well and you are okay.

I love you, Darcy.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

All of my symptoms have come back with a vengeance. I went back to Dr. Ritter. He is sending me to an allergist. I went to see her, and she gave me more steroids. She said to be careful with them because of the risk of getting gestational diabetes and having a big baby. She also referred me to a rheumatologist. The allergist wants me to make the earliest appointment with the rheumatologist, which is the middle of April. She ordered some blood tests. I will go tomorrow to have blood drawn.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I went to have my blood drawn. Daddy and I have our regular lunch date since it is Thursday.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

It is Easter! And Bella gets to share Easter with her birthday. We were going to go to Incredible Pizza, but they were closed. We took her to CiCi’s instead. We will have to go to Incredible Pizza some other time. Isabella’s little secret sis made a special cake for her. It was so pretty and yummy!

Postscript

Although life at the Ramoses is starting to resemble a somewhat routine pace, life after Darcy has felt as if we are suspended in another reality. Darcy shook our complacency by causing us to reevaluate many of the ways we viewed circumstances and treated people. She compelled us to rely fully on God and to trust in His providence.

It’s true that we experienced new depths of pain and anguish, but as is the case with any life-changing experience, we are forever changed because Darcy accomplished the purpose God had for her coming. Little Darcy led us to love more deeply, to forgive, to have faith, to never limit God’s power, to accept His grace and pass it on, to seek more closeness with God, and to abandon our sinful pasts and move ahead to new beginnings.

Our children Brittany, Isabella, Alexys, Mallorie, Roman, and Bryson learned that living the abundant life is about making the right choices and that the choices they make have temporal and eternal consequences.

God sent Darcy to us to help us heal. This is our new normal.

As for the thousands of family members, friends, and caring strangers from all over the world who visited the Web site, Darcy’s impact on them was profound too. Perhaps the greatest change occurred in the hearts of those who, before reading about Darcy, had already made the choice (and had even set up appointments) to have abortions but later changed their plans. Many have renewed their relationships, not just with the Lord but with their loved ones, especially their children.

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.

Isaiah 11:6

Friday, January 15, 2010

Tatutina, Sentimental Silver and Motor Oil Matters Giveaway Winners


The winner of the 4 Tatutina Children's Medals is #5 Xenia. Xenia said Cute! She would have to choose Birthday Girl, Grandma Loves Me, Most Lovable and Princess.

The winner of the Personalized Sentimental Silver Tiny Tag is #2 Erin! She said that she would love the You Have My Heart - Double with her name Erin and her husband Justin on it.

The winner of the Motor Oil Matters $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card is #19 justicecw! justicecw said she took the quiz and she got a 50 out of 70! She cannot believe she got the one about more weight in the car helping with gas mileage...she knew that!

Congrats again to all the winners! I will contact each winner by email. If you did not have your email posted please post it here so I can email you! Thanks to all those who participated and don't forget to enter in my contests/giveaways that are going on now! I will also be adding more posts and giveaways soon so stay tuned!

*All winners are chosen by my True Random Number Generator.

Basics by Bravado “Spot a Mom” Sweepstakes



Bravado Design’s 18 year old signature line is truly the gold standard in nursing wear and beginning January 14, the brand will be introducing an affordable new line of nursing wear called Basics by Bravado in Target stores across the country. As part of the introduction they are holding a Basics by Bravado “Spot a Mom” sweepstakes in which participating moms will be entered to win $500 worth of must-have items for their baby.

Here’s how you can enter:

* Find the nearest Target store in your area offering Basics by Bravado nursing wear (a complete store listing can be found on the site).
* Visit the store and snap some pics of yourself finding the Basics by Bravado store display.
* Email your photo, along with your name and contact details to basics@bravadodesigns.com.

Click here for sweepstakes rules and regulations.

Thanks to Role Mommy and BeyondPR for this information to share with my viewers.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body by Susan Gregory Book Review

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

I know the importance of fasting, but it has always been difficult for me. In my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Fast Sunday is a Sunday (usually the first Sunday of every month) set aside for fasting. This fast is typically an absolute fast (one without food and water) for two consecutive meals in a 24-hour period. When members of my church fast we give to the church a Fast Offering, money that would have been spent for the food that was not eaten (Isaiah 58:6-12).  This money is given to the church to be put aside for the poor and needy. I usually do not partake in the absolute fast, where no water or food is consumed, or normal fast, where you drink only water, often because my body can't handle it physically. I am underweight and petite. I have always been this way since I was born because of a heart defect (TAPVC) and heart operation to fix the defect when I was a year old. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, where some foods are eaten while others are restricted, making it so much easier for me and so many others to participate.

The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body by Susan Gregory is a book about fasting using the partial fast that is based upon the Old Testament prophet, Daniel, and standard Jewish fasting principals to become closer to God. The Daniel fast is a recommended 21 consecutive day plan (because of Daniel's 3 week fast in the Bible scripture, Daniel 10:2) that follows a vegan type diet with more restrictions and the only drink allowed is water.

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Daniel 1:12, KJV  Pulse was food that came from seed, including legumes and fruit.

There are more suitable times to use the Daniel Fast than other fasts. The Daniel fast works well for both Lent and the Passover. There is also a corporate fast where some Christians start the New Year fasting for a 21 day period. In this case it is recommended to start the Daniel fast the Sunday after New Year's Day. It is appropriate to use this partial fast when you are fasting more than 3 days or when you have health or physical limitations that preclude you from doing the absolute or normal fasts.

Part one of the book introduces the author and the Daniel Fast. She talks about the different types of fasting, why we fast, and the biblical history behind fasting. She also talks about why Daniel fasted and how, providing a background for this spiritual discipline. She talks about the 5 steps for a successful Daniel Fast which are: Pray, Plan, Prepare, Participate, and Praise & Process. These steps are essential for any fasting regimen. I highly recommend them to help you gain a better understanding and have a more humbling experience while you fast.

Part two of the book consists of a food list, recipes, menus, and devotionals. The food list goes through and spells out what to eat and what not to eat while on the Daniel Fast. It also includes what to stock your pantry with. I have noticed that these food items that are recommended to consume are very close to the things I am moving towards stocking my kitchen with. I love vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds anyway, so eating them comes naturally to me. The book also mentions quality oils and lists canola and grape seed oil on this list. I do not include these particular oils anymore in my kitchen. I have found in my studies that the healthiest oils to use are the ones that say unrefined cold pressed or expeller pressed. It also mentions soy foods to be on the foods to eat list. I would recommend only getting GMO free or organic soy products because most other soy contains genetically modified organisms. Even though some of the food recommendations are not perfect, they are a far cry from the normal American diet of prepackaged overly processed foods. In the foods to exclude list I think I would have the most trouble excluding dairy, molasses, sugar in the raw, and honey. I would also miss my Kombucha, 100% juice, and herbal teas since I am only to drink water for this fast. I see no reason why I couldn't flavor my water with a small amount of lemon and mint though even though it says "pure water".

The recipes in the book look fairly straight forward and some sound better than others. With this fast, I am reminded of Kurt Saxon's 3.3 cent breakfast which is basically, four ounces of untreated hard red winter wheat, sprouted for 48 hours, cooked overnight with boiling water and a little bit of salt in a thermos, and put in blender to make an easy, low cost breakfast. Add fruit like berries and/or bananas and it is the perfect healthy, delicious food. I love that The Daniel Fast book has menu plans for all 21 days with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. This makes it easier to focus on the Lord instead of what to make for food. The book also includes a blank meal planning worksheet template in case you want to create your own.

The devotionals for all 21 days have a themed title, scripture or scriptures to go with the theme, and a roughly two page pondering. These help us through our spiritual journey. Susan Gregory says in The Daniel Fast, "The definition of a biblical fast is to restrict food for a spiritual purpose." The sacrifice of fasting is so important. Susan Gregory says in The Daniel Fast, "The Daniel Fast is for the whole person: body, soul, and spirit." Fasting lets us purge the worldly substances from our bodies and cleanse ourselves. It improves our temporal well-being and gives us a greater compassion and desire to serve. It also lets us grow spiritually stronger and brings us closer to God.

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. D&C 88:119, LDS scripture

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to get closer to God and eat healthier while doing it.

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:  Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers because I am a part of the Tyndale Blog Network for letting me know about this product and for sending me a free advance viewer copy of The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body by Susan Gregory to read and review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Coupon Mom Show

Because I am a budget savvy blogger and I know these are rough economic times, I wanted to let you know about a new show on YouTube that might be of interest to you and your family.

The Coupon Mom Show is a new money-saving series from nationally known author, mom and coupon clipper Stephanie Nelson (aka Coupon Mom). In her new series, Nelson teaches real families how to save BIG by sharing her infamous tips and tricks on how to get the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing quality.

Beyond coupon clipping and grocery store savings, future episodes of the Coupon Mom Show will feature tips on savvy shopping at drug stores, eating out inexpensively, and entertaining on a tight budget.

Coupon Mom will be sharing her savings secrets every week in a new episode of the Coupon Mom Show through April. There has already been 5 webisodes posted on YouTube, with new ones premiering every Thursday!

You can also download her ebook, Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half With The Coupon Mom System!, for a limited time only HERE.

Join the CouponMom.com group on Facebook.

Follow her on Twitter.

Happy Shopping!

Thanks to American Pop - Social Media Marketing for this information to share with my viewers. I did not get compensated with anything for this posting.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wordless Wednesday Teela in her Wizard Wardrobe




If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Matter: Its Properties & Its Changes by Tom DeRosa and Carolyn Reeves FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

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:


and the book set of
Matter: Its Properties & Its Changes

The Main Book

The Student Journal

and The Teacher's Guide

New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (May 8, 2009)

***Special thanks to Robert Parrish of New Leaf Publishing Group for sending me a review copy.***

MY THOUGHTS:
These are a great science based curriculum for 3rd through 6th grade. My boys enjoyed doing some of the projects in them and learning about Matter. I received the main student book, the student journal and teachers guide. The main book goes through and teaches elementary chemistry with 20 hands-on activities. The journal has a wonderful amount of room to write in. The teachers guide gives instruction about the lesson, answers to the questions asked and what supplies are required for the various experiments and projects. It is very helpful.

ABOUT THE AUTHORs:


Tom DeRosa left seminary and the church thinking he was throwing away his faith, but in reality he found a new religion: evolution. In 1978, Tom accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. Soon after he studied biblical creation at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and came to the conclusion that a lack of knowledge of the biblical account of creation is greatly responsible for keeping many people from Christ. His commitment to breaking down those barriers is what led Tom to form Creation Studies Institute in 1988.


Carolyn Reeves, Ph.D. and her husband make their home in Oxford, Mississippi where they are active members of North Oxford Baptist Church. Carolyn retired after a 30-year career as a science teacher, finished a doctoral degree in science education, and began a new venture as a writer and an educational consultant.



AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:




The Main Book Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Perfect Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (May 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515603
ISBN-13: 978-0890515600

The Student Journal Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (May 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 089051559X
ISBN-13: 978-0890515594
Product Dimensions: 10.6 x

The Teacher's Guide Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books; Tch edition (May 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515611
ISBN-13: 978-0890515617

Matter

Its Properties & Its Changes


By Tom DeRosa & Carolyn Reeves


Investigation #1: The Physical Side of Chemicals


Think about this. A detective collected samples of food from the table where a victim was eating when he collapsed. The detective sent them to a crime lab. A few days later, the lab called to say they had positively identified a poison in the victim’s food that was not in anyone else’s food. Have you ever wondered how someone in the crime lab could figure out what chemicals are present in food or in someone’s blood or in something else?


The Investigative Problems:

How can the physical properties of a chemical substance be used to help identify the substance?


Gather These Things:

Magnet
Iron nail
Sugar cube
Copper penny
Container of water
A piece of paraffin
Small amount of vegetable oil


Procedure & Observations

Your teacher will show you ten items. Your job is to identify one of the items on the basis of its physical properties. You should eliminate any item that doesn’t match the descriptions. These are the physical properties of the item: It is round. It is flat. You would not want to eat it. It would be hard to break. It is shiny. What is the item that has all of these properties?

Your teacher will give you some more substances to investigate, but each of these will be a pure chemical substance. They will be either an element or a compound.

Bring a magnet near each substance and observe if the magnet has an effect on it. Place each substance in a container of water and observe if it floats or sinks. Note if it is soluble (will dissolve) or insoluble (will not dissolve) in the water. Note also the color and whether it is shiny or dull. Put this information in a data table.


(sample of date table)


The Science Stuff

Physical properties are often characteristics you can see, hear, taste, smell, or feel, but may include any physical characteristics of a substance. You used some simple physical characteristics to identify one of the ten items you were first shown.

Some of the items you were shown were pure substances (like the glass), and some were a mixture of many substances (like the apple). A pure chemical substance could be either an element or a compound. (We’ll learn more about elements and compounds later.) A fragment of a pure substance would have the same properties as the whole substance. All of the basic particles in a pure substance are the same. For example, a piece of pure iron only contains particles of iron and a container of pure water only contains particles of water.

Properties such as size and shape were helpful in identifying the first items, but they are seldom considered in identifying pure chemical substances. The properties of the five pure substances listed in the chart will be present regardless of the size, shape, or amount of the substance. Scientists look for characteristics that will remain the same no matter where the chemical is found. Almost any substance can be made into a round shape, so this would not be helpful in knowing what chemical is present.

We examined physical properties of several pure substances, including the effects of a magnet, whether the substance would float or sink in water, whether the substance was soluble or insoluble in water, its color, and its shininess. There are many other properties we could have considered, such as odor, taste, density, hardness, brittleness, elasticity, melting and boiling temperatures, solubility in other liquids, conductivity of heat and electricity, and viscosity.


Making Connections

There is a huge need for methods, instruments, and trained people to identify chemical substances that are present in things. Identifying unknown chemicals is part of the study of analytical chemistry. This includes what chemical are present, their characteristics, and how much is present. There are many crime labs that hire people to help solve crimes by identifying things such as drugs, alcohol, poisons, or traces of gunpowder. Medical labs test blood and urine for the presence of many kinds of substances. Other labs help identify pollutants in the air, water, and environment. Industries must consistently monitor their products for impurities. These are only a few of the places where chemicals are analyzed.

One of the most important things any society can do is to maintain a clean source of water. During the Industrial Revolution, many factories were built next to a river so they could dump their wastes into the river. Congress eventually passed a number of laws to try and keep our water sources free of pollution. Even today, environmentalists look for better ways to prevent pesticides and other harmful chemicals from being washed into rivers and lakes after a rain.


Dig Deeper

Labs generally use both traditional methods and a variety of instruments to identify chemical substances. An instrument known as a spectroscope is often used to help analyze the chemicals in something. Do some reading about spectroscopes to find out how they work and what uses thy have.

Crime labs hire forensic scientists. What do forensic scientists do? Is there more than one kind of forensic scientist? If so, what are the different areas in which they work?

What are some of the U.S. laws that try to prevent water pollution? Do all countries have similar laws? Try to find the name of one charity whose mission is to provide clean water to people who don’t have clean water to drink.


What Did You Learn?

What are physical properties of chemical substances?
When scientists want to know what chemical substances are in an item, they seldom consider the size, shape, and amount of the item. Why is that?
Give ten examples of physical properties used by scientists to describe a chemical substance.
What is a pure chemical substance?
What are some of the things students learn about in analytical chemistry?
What are some of the main things that are don in medical labs?
How might an environmental agency use a lap that analyzes chemical substances?
Are the physical properties of pure iron the same anywhere pure iron is found?