Wordless Wednesday Cowlitz County Rocks

Zari and Teela found a Cowlitz County Rocks Happy rock at Lake Sacajawea.

The Cowlitz County Rocks we have found so far.

YWAM Publishing Heroes of History Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map Review

My family had the privilege of trying the Heroes of History - Meriwether Lewis from YWAM Publishing for this review to use in conjunction with our own homeschool curriculum. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

YWAM (YOUTH WITH A MISSION) Publishing is a nonprofit organization that produces and distributes books that help Christians make a difference in the world by giving a portion of every dollar spent to buy books through YWAM Publishing to children and adults in other countries that are in need. Their books focus on evangelism, educational training, prayer, discipleship, and mercy ministries.

YWAM Publishing has two popular book series; one called Heroes of History and the other called Christian Heroes: Then & Now; in which true stories are told of real people that lived in our history. In the Heroes of History series we learn about great men and woman who changed the course of history. In the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series we learn about ordinary people who have put their trust in God and in doing so accomplish extraordinary things. Both of these book series help us as: parents, teachers, and caretakers; give our children wholesome biographies to read or be read to that teach good character traits, values, and virtues.You can read more about them at: http://www.heroesthenandnow.com/.

Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map Book

Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map by Janet & Geoff Benge is part of a series of 28 biography books called Heroes of History by YWAM Publishing. This series covers the years 1451 to 1951. This book tells the true life story of Meriwether Lewis, President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary that was sent by him to be the leader and Captain of the Corps of Discovery (The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition of about 33 men) to explore the lands West of the Mississippi. With the help of his friend William Clark and later Sacagawea/Sacajawea and Sacagawea's husband, Touissant Charbonneau, they made the journey to the Pacific Ocean. This Christian biography book from YWAM Publishing about Meriwether Lewis teaches great character traits, values, and virtues too. This book covers the years 1774-1809. It chronicles his life from his birth to his death in 1809. It is a total of 18 chapters and 231 pages long. I had previously heard bits and pieces of his life and the expedition in history class at school while growing up, when I was visiting the Louisville Kentucky Frazier History Museum "The Lewis and Clark Experience" with my son, Jaedan; and reading about the history of Oregon and Washington before I read this biography book.

Meriwether Lewis Unit Study download page tab.

The Unit Study Curriculum Guide that is paired with the Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map book that I received was in the digital downloadable format and opened as an executable file. The digital version is downloadable in a zipped format, so you will have to unzip before you use it. After selecting where it will go on your computer, unzip it, and find the folder it placed it all into. Find the file version you need: __MACOSX for Macintosh and the other for PC. Click on the file that has START HERE in its title and it will open in a new window in your browser. You can then read a very short synopsis of the biography under the Meriwether Lewis tab, download the unit study under the Unit Study tab, etc.

The Unit Study downloads in PDF format. It also has a 12 page guide for classroom and homeschool as well as one for a small group that tells you how to best use the unit study. This shows how flexible you can be with the unit study. You can do the whole study or just parts of it. It is all up to you how you use it. The unit study goes in depth to help you go above and beyond the book and explore other areas that pertain to the material like: crafts, cooking, art, and writing assignments; has questions to ask your children to see if they comprehended the reading, and quotes to use as copywork to enhance handwriting or memorization. The unit study is broken into two parts.

Here is the Unit Study Curriculum Guide Contents:
Part 1 -
Introduction (how to use the study)

1. Key Quotes (great for copywork, memorization, theatrical presentation, or art display)
2. Display Corner (an area designated for hands on display of items relating to the reading)
3. Chapter Questions (questions that enhance the reading: vocabulary, factual, 2 comprehension, and 2 open-ended)
4. Student Explorations (essay questions, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts & crafts)
5. Community Links (field trip ideas)
6. Social Studies (places, journeys, terms/vocabulary, geographical characteristics: mapping, timeline: plotting historical events, conceptual questions)
7. Related Themes to Explore (science, literature, folk culture, geography, history)
8. Culminating Event (sort of a show and tell ending, ideas include: literary, clothing, music, food, oral presentations, displays)

Appendix A: Books and Resources
Appendix B: Answers to Chapter Questions

Part 2 -
Appendix C: Social Studies Reproducibles


How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

I read the book to my daughters who are 6 and 9. Teela, my 9 year old wanted to read it herself, but we needed time to get through some of the study guide too. My sons who are 15 and 16 are reading it to themselves on their own time and have been doing some of the projects from the study guide. My girls enjoyed listening to me read about Meriwether Lewis.

After each chapter my girls and I did the first three questions from the study guide which are geared toward the younger students. They include a vocabulary question, a factual question coming from the reading, and the first comprehension question. The study guide is geared toward ages 10+. So I had to help them with the some of the vocabulary because of its advanced nature. We would look up the words in a dictionary and thesaurus as well, for more understanding. My boys, Jaedan and Delbin, who are 15 and 16, had no problem with the reading and vocabulary, but that is because they are voracious readers. I had my boys do all of the chapter questions. Besides the chapter questions I had my girls do copywork from the key quotes and I had my boys memorize them and say them back to me. I will have my sons do an essay as suggested in the study guide under the student explorations and essays. They also will be doing some creative writing.

We also went to other websites in the books and resources section of the study guide to learn more about the Indians, places the expedition traveled, food, etc. I loved especially learning about Meriwether's journal entries about plants and animals from these other resources. I love botany and this was great to see pictures and read about the first specimens of these plants preserved within the pages of his journal.

Sunrise Over Lewis and Clark Bridge, taken on March 13, 2015.

The town of Rainier Oregon, where I live, is across the Columbia River from Longview Washington. The bridge that connects our two cities is called the Lewis and Clark Bridge. It is of course named after the two explorers. In Longview there is a Lake Sacajawea Park which has a very nice statue of Sacajawea and Pomp. We visited there to learn more and have a homeschooling field trip.

Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview Washington

There was so much to learn and explore in this unit study. We were amazed at the very complexity of it all. We didn't even begin to scratch the surface and were still very engaged in the lengthy unit study.

The YWAM Publishing biographies are historical and true. These true stories along with the unit studies are great for homeschooling families. I highly recommend them!


Follow Them on Social Media:
Website - http://www.ywampublishing.com/
Facebook - http://on.fb.me/o9VOMN
Twitter - @YWAMpublishing http://twitter.com/YWAMpublishing
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/YWAMpublishing
YWAM Publishing Blog - http://www.ywampublishingblog.com/
Suggested Hashtags: #hsreviews #christianheroes #christianheroesthenandnow #heroesthenandnow #christianbiographies #herobiographies #heroesofhistory #homeschoolcurriculum #homeschooling #americanhistory #americanhistorycurriculum  #ywampublishing #truebiographies #truestories #teachthemwell #MeriwetherLewis

BUY IT
YWAM Publishing Heroes of History - Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map book:
Regular Price: $9.99 YWAM Price: $7.50

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for YWAM Publishing...

NOW Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion Review & Giveaway #momsmeet

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

We received NOW® Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion, along with additional products: BerryDophilus™ Kids Probiotic, Super Enzymes, and brochures to try and review.

  
NOW® Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion is a dietary supplement that supports women's vaginal health, reduces occasional bloating, and supports a healthy immune system promoting feminine flora balance in every stage of a woman's life.* This probiotic is called 20 Billion because it has 20 billion Colony Forming Units or CFU. It has a blend of probiotic bacteria, good bacteria, that consists of these strands: Bifidobacterium lactis (HN019), Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HN001).

These are in smaller gel capsules for easy swallowing.  Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free. It is recommended to take one capsule daily. The bottle contains 50 veg capsules that should be refrigerated upon opening to help keep the ingredients fresh.

My Thoughts:
The Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion are easy to swallow. I took them when I was on my period and they seemed to alleviate the bloating. My friend tried these for her recurring UTI and she had good success. I like that these are especially formulated to support women's health.

NOW® BerryDophilus™ Kids Probiotic is a dietary supplement for children (age 2 & up) and adults that supports gastrointestinal health and a healthy immune system. It has a blend of probiotic bacteria, good bacteria, that consists of 10 strands: Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14), Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp-115), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lr-32), Lactobacillus paracasei (Lpc-37), Lactobacillus salivarius (Ls-33), Bifidobacterium lactis (Bl-04), Bifidobacterium longum (Bl-05), Streptococcus thermophilus (St-21), Bifidobacterium breve (Bb-03), and Lactobacillus casei (Lc-11). This has 2 Billion CFU.

These chewable tablets are vegan and vegetarian friendly. They are sweetened with Xylitol, so they won't harm teeth and have a pleasant berry taste to them. It is recommended to take 1 tablet 1 to 3 times daily between meals or on an empty stomach. The bottle contains 60 chewables that should be refrigerated upon opening to help keep the ingredients fresh.

Our Thoughts:
The BerryDophilus™ Kids Probiotic is nice tasting and the chewables come in fun animal shapes of a hippo, lions, and elephant. My daughter's who are 9 and 6 especially liked the berry flavor. I thought they had a sweet zing to them. I love that they have Xylitol instead of sugar.

NOW® Super Enzymes is a dietary supplement for adults that supports healthy digestion; breaks down fats, carbohydrates, & protein, and improves efficiency of obtaining and absorbing nutrients. This is a combination of super enzymes including: Bromelain (from pineapple), Ox Bile, Pancreatin and Papain (from papaya).

These come in large gel capsules. It is recommended to take one capsule with a meal and to not have these if you are allergic to fresh pineapple or papaya. The bottle contains 180 capsules that should be stored in a cool, dry place after opening to help keep the ingredients fresh.

My Thoughts:
My oldest son is one that cannot take these because he is allergic to enzymes in fresh pineapple and papaya. I however; tried these and this solves a lot of digestive issues that I have had...especially with spicy foods and foods like broccoli which causes me gas. I like the idea that these also break down fats and carbs better.

BE SOCIAL
Website: http://nowfoods.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nowfoodsofficial
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nowfoods
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nowfoodsofficial
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nowfoods

BUY IT
Suggested retail price for the Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion: $33.99

Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion is available to purchase at natural health food stores nationwide, and at amazon.com, iherb.com, and now-2-u.com. To find Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion in your area, visit: nowfoods.com/store-locator for the full list of locations.

Check out NOW’s probiotic chooser tool to help you pick the probiotic or gut health product that best fits your wellness needs: https://www.nowfoods.com/supplements/probiotic-gut-health-product-finder

WIN IT
Prize: One bottle of NOW Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion

This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only! Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for Rafflecopter below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. This post is sponsored. Compensation for this post was provided. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Chewy.com Oxbow Timothy Carrot Small Animal Treat Review #squeak

We received an Oxbow Timothy Club Carrot Small Animal Treat from Chewy.com free to facilitate this review.

Oxbow Animal Health has a lot of products for small animals so that they can lead longer, healthier lives. Their Timothy Club products are made from fresh Timothy Hay. This wonderful hay is the best protein-to-fiber ratio, aids in digestion, and promotes dental health. These products are 100% edible & free of harmful chemicals. There are no artificial flavors, colors, additives, or preservatives. These treats are perfect for small animal pets like: bunny rabbits, Guinea Pigs, hamsters, gerbils and chinchillas.

The Oxbow Timothy Club Carrot is a special small animal treat that is made completely from all natural Timothy Hay and is hand-woven in a fun carrot shape. It is free of wire and thread as well. It can be hung from the woven loop in the habitat for your pet to nibble, paw, and bat at. This creates mental stimulation, relieves stress, and prevents boredom while you're away. Your small pet is sure to love this great tasting treat that helps them stay healthy.

Features

• High-fiber 100% All Natural Timothy Hay
• Preservative and additive free
• No artificial flavors or colors
• No harmful chemicals, wire, or thread
• Hand-woven, edible construction
• Fun long-lasting small animal treat
• 220 x 60 mm

Norman checking out the Timothy Carrot.

Our Thoughts:

We placed the Timothy Carrot into our rabbit, Norman's, bunny hutch with him. I secured the Timothy Hay loop of the carrot to one side of the hutch and waited to see what Norman would do. He was a little curious and came to sniff it and nudge it a little, but didn't seem interested in it at first. I came back later though and he had nibbled the loop completely and so it was just sitting on the bottom of his hutch. Later in the week he had nibbled the whole top part of the carrot shape with the hanger and so it didn't look much like a carrot any more. It is also hollow inside. My daughter said she saw him stick his little fuzzy nose in the hole in the top where the "carrot greens" used to be. He probably was sniffing and nibbling it. He also was seen sticking his paw in it. He has left the rest of it for now, but probably will nibble on it little by little until it is gone.

Norman nibbled the top completely off.

Chewy.com is a great place to find items for your pet(s). They have a great selection of food and treats, bowls and feeders, health and wellness products, flea & tick products, toys, cleaning and potty training products, grooming products, leashes and collars; beds, crates and gear, litter, etc. They conveniently ship 200+ brands of pet food and other stuff direct to your doorstep, anytime of the day. They have competitive prices and offer free 1-2 day shipping on any order of $49 or more. They have 24/7 customer service, just call and ask your question(s). Chewy.com is also dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations that help animals in need. A portion of sales are donated to these great causes.

BE SOCIAL
Website: https://www.chewy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chewy and https://www.facebook.com/oxbowpet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chewy @chewy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpWl2nwLDQQI4TTa1kJgxrg
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chewy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/chewy

BUY IT
Get the Oxbow Timothy Club Carrot Small Animal Treat at Chewy.com for $3.59. (prices are accurate as of the date of this post)

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my 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.

Wordless Wednesday Pretty Peony

Pretty Peony in my garden.

MAX 2: White House Hero Blu-ray Combo Pack Giveaway & Run Game App

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I posted about in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

MAX 2: White House Hero is out on Blu-ray from Warner Bros Home Entertainment on DVD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack On May 23, 2017 & Digital HD

About Max 2

Man's Best Friend Is The Country's Biggest Hero
MAX 2: White House Hero

The All-New Original Movie Is Available on DVD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack On May 23, 2017 & Digital HD Now. Duty calls again, and our hero dog Max returns to action in "Max 2: White House Hero." His new assignment brings him to Washington, D.C. to serve on the U.S. president's Secret Service detail. When a foreign leader arrives with his precocious daughter Alex (Francesca Capaldi), tensions arise between both countries. First Son TJ (Zane Austin), along with Max and Alex, uncover a dangerous plot that puts both kids and both nations in jeopardy. A highly-sensitive mission will push Max’s specialized skills, intelligence and loyalty to the test.

Visit the Max 2: White House Hero Website: http://max-themovie.com/
Follow Max on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxMovie

My Thoughts:
This looks like a great family friendly film. I personally love dogs and have one named Prince. He is an extra special member of our very large farm family. I watched the trailer to this movie and think it to be a cute plot line. I am excited to be able to watch Max 2 with my 9 and 6 year old daughters when I get it in the mail. The game below is fun as well.

Blog App

Max 2: White House Hero RUN GAME Blog App:

• Help Max save TJ and Alex! Click anywhere on the game screen to jump over obstacles and make your best time. 
• Watch the trailer and buy Max 2: White House Hero on DVD & Blu-ray May 23. 
• Play the Max 2: White House Hero RUN GAME and share your best time on Facebook for a chance to win. 
• Tag me @finamoon on Twitter and tag me on FB for another chance to win.

WIN IT
Prize: MAX 2: White House Hero Blu-ray Combo Pack

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only! Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for Rafflecopter below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the MAX 2: White House Hero Run Game Blog App I am getting an MAX 2: White House Hero Blu-ray Combo Pack free for my readers as a giveaway and one free for myself. Thanks to PartnersHub/Tether Group and Warner Bros. for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Mandisa Out Of The Dark Album Review & Giveaway #OutOfTheDark #FlyBy

I received this CD free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Mandisa is an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. Her musical career started on the fifth season of American Idol, in which she was a contestant and finished in ninth place. She also won a Grammy Award for her fifth album, Overcomer, in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category.

Overcomer was written for her close friend Kisha in 2013. Kisha was battling breast cancer and Mandisa wanted to help lift her spirits.  The Out Of The Dark album was created after Mandisa fell into a deep depression for almost 3 years after Kisha passed away in 2014. This album starts out differently than most. It plays recorded messages that her friends and family left Mandisa on her voicemail while she shut out the world. After the messages it plays the music Mandisa wrote that tell her story about how God lifted her up "Out Of The Dark" with the help of her friends and family.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Voicemail Intro (talking)
2. I'm Still Here
3. Out Of The Dark
4. Unfinished
5. Bleed The Same Intro (feat. Kirk Franklin) (talking)
6. Bleed The Same (feat. Toby Mac and Kirk Franklin)
7. Comeback Kid
8. What You're Worth (feat. Britt Nicole)
9. Dear John Praise Report (talking)
10. Good News
11. Prove Me Wrong
12. Mothdisa Interlude
13. The One He Speaks Through
14. Shine
15. My First Love (feat. Jeremy Camp)

Bonus Content in the Deluxe Edition...

• Shame Off
• Keep Getting Up
• Back to Life

My Thoughts:

This album is uplifting and wonderful. Mandisa shows us her lovely soul and shares a very personal story with everyone who listens to this CD. I loved how open she was. There are so many that will relate to her. Depression is an extremely real thing and it is wonderful to know that we are loved not only by our friends and family, but by God too. Mandisa wanted to make sure her fans knew what happened and that depression can be conquered with faith and love. "Thankfully, it only takes a flicker of light to dispel the darkness. God worked through my family and friends as the literal hands and feet of Jesus.", Mandisa said. My favorite song is "What You're Worth" sung with Britt Nicole. I am so glad Mandisa made this album for all of us to hearken to.

I highly recommend this beautiful, moving and emotional album! It will lift you up if you are struggling with loss, despair, feeling isolated or alone, or depressed. It will help you feel closer to God and know that He is always there for you in your time of need.

BE SOCIAL
Story Behind The Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df27myDpm1cAcoustic
Video for "Unfinished”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQFpXcvFI0A
Watch her talk openly about her depression and album on Good Morning America here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mandisa-opens-overcoming-depression-47020463
Hashtags #OutOfTheDark #FlyBy

BUY IT
http://smarturl.it/OutOfTheDark.all?IQid=flyby



WIN IT
Prize: Mandisa Out Of The Dark Album

This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only! Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for Rafflecopter below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors Review

My family had the privilege of trying the Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors from The Pencil Grip, Inc. for this review to use in conjunction with our own homeschool curriculum. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Kwik Stix are from The Pencil Grip, Inc. They are solid tempera paint sticks that can be used without paint smocks, water, brushes, and drop cloths. These are simple to use, are mess free, and have no smell. You use them how you would a glue stick and they are about the same size too. Just uncap, twist up, and paint with it. Once you are done using that particular color twist down and recap. They are fast drying and the paint dries in about 90 seconds. The paint's texture and consistency is a cross between lipstick, oil pastels, and crayons. These work great on paper, poster board, cardboard, wood, canvas, and more! These are non-toxic and safe for little artists.

The Thin Stix are a fairly new product from The Pencil Grip, Inc.! These come in a pack of 6 paint sticks with a rainbow of assorted classic colors including: yellow, red, dark green, indigo/dark blue, brown, and black. The colors are bright, bold, vibrant, and vivid. They are longer and thinner than the original Kwik Stix, for more control and finer detail.

Zari's pictures painted with Kwik Stix Thin Stix.

Teela's pictures painted with Kwik Stix Thin Stix.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:
We received our first boxes of Kwik Stix 12pk of Classic Colors, Kwik Stix Neons 6 pk, and Kwik Stix Metalix 6 pk not too long ago. Now we have the Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors too. These are longer and thinner than the original so you get more precision with every stroke. Even though they are thinner they still have a blunt end. Like the originals the paint dries quickly for no mess kids art and there is little color bleeding into the next. Just don't leave the cap off too long or the Kwik Stix will dry out.

All of our pictures we made.

These are also easy for little hands to operate. My daughters, Teela (9 years old) and Zari (6 years old), love them! They made some fun art with them and enjoyed using them too. I made the camp out picture that is above. I absolutely love that there is not any cleanup required! These are a wonderful addition to our kids' art supplies! I would highly recommend The Pencil Grip, Inc. Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors for art projects, homeschool, extracurricular art, or just for fun!

Follow Them on Social Media:
Website: http://www.thepencilgrip.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip @thepencilgrip
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/KwikStixPaint/ @KwikStixPaint
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePencilGrip @ThePencilGrip
Hashtags: #hsreviews #KwikStix #temperapaint #kidsartsupplies #ThinStix #MessFreeCreativity

BUY IT
You can purchase these from Amazon.com or their website. You can also go to Amazon.com and Target to see and purchase more of their products.



Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for The Pencil Grip, Inc. Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors...

Wordless Wednesday Crab Apple in Bloom

My Crab Apple Tree in bloom during the end of April.

Armed With Truth Temporary Scripture Tattoos Review & Giveaway #armedwithtruth

Armed With Truth Temporary Scripture Tattoos.

I received these products free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Armed With Truth is a wonderful company that gives you little reminders of God's Word, truth, and promises through temporary tattoos that you can wear. These have scriptures and words that are great for inspiration and memorization. The tattoos are safe & non-toxic, made in the USA, and made with soy based ink. Most of the scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, NIRV. Typically these temporary tattoos last about 3 to 5 days. This gives you enough time to memorize the Scripture before you apply the next one.

There are different packs that you can choose from. The verse packs come in packs of 10 scripture verses that surround a theme, like: Fearless, Identity, Missions, Kids, Christ Like, Blessed (The Beatitudes), etc. The Designer series are made by letter artists that share a biblical truth. Greek tattoo packs are favorite words from the New Testament in original Greek. There is also a custom pack where you can pick a favorite verse and Armed With Truth will make you 50-100 temporary tattoos with that verse in about three weeks to hand out to family, friends, and colleagues.

How To Apply:

1. Clean and dry the area of skin.
2. Remove the clear plastic protective sheet.
3. Press tattoo firmly onto clean dry skin with text facing down
4. Hold wet cloth against back of tattoo, press down and make sure to wet it thoroughly.
5. Wait 30 seconds (don't rush). 
6. Peel off paper backing.

Armed With Truth Temporary Scripture Tattoo Packs.

What We Thought:
Armed With Truth water transfer tattoos are a gentle and beautiful reminder of our favorite scriptures, words, and thoughts that help us to reflect about The Word of God often. We loved how easily these temporary tattoos could be applied to the skin. They are a great way to keep The Lord in your heart and mind all throughout the day.

Not Grow Weary Designer Series Tattoo.

We received the Kids pack and the Designer series Not Grow Weary by Joseph Alessio. The Kids pack has 10 different Scriptures that are easy for kids and others to memorize. Verses include: Psalm 136:1, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 56:3, Psalm 119:105, John 3:16, Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 11:1, James 1:17, Philippians 2:3-4, Deuteronomy 6:5 all in NIRV. Not Grow Weary by Joseph Alessio pack comes with two tattoos of this design. I love the imagery of the spears and stars from Nehemiah 4 where the men building the wall are instructed to take night shifts, both building and guarding the builders, and held their spears "until the stars came out". The verse is Galatians 6:9 and I love what it says. It reminds me to do good and be happy and energized when doing so.

Me with the Not Grow Weary Ink on my arm.

I wore the Not Grow Weary tattoo on my arm and gave my daughters each a verse of scripture to wear on theirs as well. This was a wonderful experiment and my daughters enjoyed being able to participate. My daughter Zari even did some copywork all on her own with the verse she had and wrote it all down on a page for part of her homeschool.

Zari doing homeschool copywork from the Armed With Truth tattoo.

I am glad that these look authentic without being the real deal. I can't stand needles and so temporary tattoos are great for me. I can also change it up and wear a new one when I want to.

We received many compliments from people while we were wearing them and some of these became conversations about belief. I was glad to have had the opportunity to bear my testimony to these people about my faith and what I believe in. These are a great conversation starter and I recommend them highly.

BE SOCIAL
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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this 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.

ArtAchieve Entire Level II Review

My family had the privilege of trying the Entire Level II from ArtAchieve for this review to use in conjunction with our own homeschool curriculum. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

ArtAchieve is produced by John Hofland (a teacher of art, language arts and theatrical stage design) has online art lessons that teach anyone to become an artist or how to teach art regardless of previous instruction or knowledge. John bases these art workshops on unique things he has seen in his family's many travels all across the globe.

ArtAchieve Entire Level II Art Classes

The Entire Level II bundle has fourteen distinct lessons that we received and a brand new fifteenth lesson that was added after we signed up. These start from a beginners level. Even the most novice won't have any trouble starting here. These lessons have a lesson description page that is located on their website (under Art Lessons, Art Classes: Level II in the pull down menu, and click on each lesson picture) that tells you about the lesson, list of supplies needed, suggestions for cross-curricular connections to explore, and the estimated time to complete the lessons.

ArtAchieve Entire Level II Parts

The majority of these lessons have 4 parts that you can see under your account in ArtAchieve after purchasing: warmup, PowerPoint of the lesson, video of the lesson, and a printout of the drawing. The warmup basically lets you take a square of lines and copy it to your best ability into a blank square that is under it. The PowerPoint of the lesson goes into more depth about the object or art that the lesson is based on and a little bit about the country/culture it is from. The video of the lesson has the list of needed supplies for the artwork, tips to help you draw, and a how to explaining how to draw it line by line. All the art is open to creative interpretation, but there is the drawing printout to help you visualize what the final art should look similar to.

The Entire Level II bundle is composed up of these lessons:

• Lesson 1: The Swedish Dala Horse (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 2: The Korean Wedding Duck (suitable for grades 4-adult)
• Lesson 3: The Japanese Goldfish (suitable for all ages)
• Lesson 4: The Elephant from Ghana (suitable for all ages)
• Lesson 5: The Ukrainian Cat (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 6: The German Nutcracker (suitable for grades 4-adult)
• Lesson 7: The Sri Lankan Landscape with an Elephant (suitable for grades 2-6)
• Lesson 8: Tessellations: Repeating a Pattern to Create Original Art (??suitable for grades 1-adult)
• Lesson 9: The Ukrainian Rooster (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 10: Hiding Butterflies (suitable for grades 2-adult)
• Lesson 11: The Mexican Mask (suitable for grades 4-adult)
• Lesson 12: The Russian Fortress--Color Value and Analogous Colors (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 13: The Polish Szopka (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 14: The Mermaid from Denmark (suitable for grades 3-adult)
• Lesson 15: The Weaving from Thailand  (brand new art lesson we did not get)

Teela and Zari doing art with ArtAchieve Entire Level II.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

This is our second time with ArtAchieve and we love their homeschool art curriculum! We did the ArtAchieve Entire Level I experience last year and loved it so much that we wanted to do the Entire Level II this year. I had my girls who are 6 and 9 do the: Swedish Dala Horse, Korean Wedding Duck, Japanese Goldfish, and Elephant from Ghana so far. We have been enjoying the art lessons for kids and adults. My daughters had a lot of fun with this art and especially loved that they could follow the directions and then decorate and color/paint it how they wanted to. I love how differently the art came out for the same lesson. They are all so unique.

I love that you do not have to buy a lot of art supplies to do the ArtAchieve lessons. The 4 we did required a #4 & #6 round watercolor paintbrush, watercolor paper, multiple colors of bottled acrylic paints, a fine tipped black magic marker, masking tape, 2 sheets of color laser glossy paper, and washable markers. I used one of my cups for rinsing brushes and a plate for a palette and we just did our art on our wooden table so we didn't need the Masonite for a painting board. All of these things I already had lying around and in our art supplies at home.

There were a few things that would have made ArtAchieve even better. The lesson description page that I mentioned above would have been great if it also was available in downloadable PDF format so that we could easily access it offline too and also could print it out. Having the age or grade levels each lesson is suitable for on the lesson description would also be helpful. I also noticed that three of the lessons (Korean Wedding Duck, Ukrainian Rooster, Russian Fortress) did not have a downloadable/printable drawing/warmup. The videos and PowerPoints are not downloadable either, so we cannot view them offline. I wish we could have unlimited access to the art lessons purchased without expiration. These things would have made it better since our internet connection is slow.

ArtAchieve Entire Level II Art

These drawing lessons for kids and adults are very educational. They are packed with a lot of neat information about geography, social studies, history, science, literature, writing, music, cooking, etc. in the extra cross-curricular connections and art lessons themselves. We loved learning not only the art, but about the culture and countries represented as well.

I highly recommend ArtAchieve art lessons to anyone that wants to learn to draw or needs a great homeschool art curriculum! These classes are a wonderful way to learn. They are great for all ages.

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In addition to Level II, there are four more levels. Level I is appropriate for ages 5 and up, Level II for ages 7 and up, Level III for ages 9 and up, and Level IV for 10 and above, although if you are a beginner at art you might want to start with Level I. These can be bought separately, together, or even as individual lessons. If you buy individual levels you will be saving money as a whole than buying the lessons separately. The cost of purchasing all the lessons in Level II individually is $75. By purchasing the Entire Level II bundle you save $18.22, and pay only $56.78, or just $3.78 per art lesson. This gives you 1 year license.

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