Babushka: A Christmas Tale Book Review

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

Babushka A Christmas Tale is a dusk-jacketed hardcover children's book written by Dawn Casey and illustrated by Amanda Hall. This classic Russian folk tale is about an old grandmother that loves to have a tidy home. One night while working on her chores she hears a knock on the door and invites three travelers inside to rest and have a bite to eat. She hears their story of where they are headed and is intrigued. After the three travelers are warm and well fed they get up to leave and ask if Babushka would like to travel with them. Politely she declines since after all, she is not done with her chores. The next morning she wakes and decides to find the baby the three spoke of and starts off on her own with handmade gifts in a basket. On her journey she cannot find the tracks of the three men, but finds others that are in need and helps them each with a gift from her basket.

This story is a wonderful tale that will warm your heart during the chilly winter. It reminds you and your family of the true meaning of this joyous holiday season. The lovely illustrations capture Russian folk art and bring this tale to life with patterns and color. I love that this story has a wonderful moral and theme of sharing love with others. The generosity of the old lady should remind us of how Christmas should be, a holiday of giving. I recommend it as the perfect gift for anyone for the Christmas season!

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Leonard's Beard Book Review

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

“Leonard's Beard” Summary:
Each day Leonard’s beard grows longer and longer, and more wild and untamed, but he doesn’t notice because as a writer, he is so engrossed in writing his stories. After a large storm passes over his house, Leonard discovers just how out of control his beard has gotten. He finds strange things that have gotten stuck in there, including a mouse, a bird, and some apples. As Leonard removes the items from his beard, he comes to realize that being consumed with writing adventures has prevented him from having his own. For ages 3-6.

Our Thoughts:
The book, Leonard's Beard, written and illustrated by Nancy Cote is so adorable! We love the sweet, funny illustrations on each of the 32 pages! This book got giggles from my girls as they read what Leonard had to pull from his beard. Aside from the lyrical words of the story that rhyme and wonderful illustrations, this book has a great message. You've likely heard the age old adage: “Energy flows, where attention goes”. This holds very true in this book. It shows how important it is to give attention to where it needs to go and live your life to the fullest. We should have adventure, play, fun, friendship, family, discovery, passion, inspiration, and also love life, not just write these things in stories or live in our fantasies. Such a great message in a wonderfully written and illustrated book! I recommend Leonard's Beard very highly!

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Website: http://www.nancycote.com/ 
Read about how the author and illustrator got the idea for this story HERE.
Nancy’s Twitter: @nancycote31
Nancy’s Instagram: @nancycote31
Nancy's Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/14778565@N02/ 

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Give a Novica Gift for Christmas, Review and $35 Giveaway

I received a $35 gift card free from Novica to facilitate this review and the opportunity below to giveaway another $35 Gift Certificate. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

NOVICA helps change the lives of artisans in developing nations, while offering us extraordinary handmade gifts, jewelry, apparel, and home decor. There are so many talented artists and artisans around the world. NOVICA provides these unique, hard-to-find items on their internet website at great prices. These services are all fair trade, meaning that they don't charge the artists and artisans any listing fees and the artists and artisans remain fully independent. They are free to raise their prices, lower their prices, or remove their items from their website whenever they please. This website is great to buy something from for your special someone for Christmas, just remember since these items are coming all the way from the country they are made in, the shipping might take longer than expected.

I received $35 to spend on Novica. I love the variety and eclectic feel to Novica. I sought out something unique to bring a welcoming knock to my farm house door. I purchased a Horse Door Knocker called 'Horse Arrival' which is made out of copper plated brass that has an antique look with a lacquer finish. It is so very perfect for welcoming guests into my home. This horse head door knocker is hand crafted by Khalid Ali, an artisan in India, and inspired by the ancient Mughal style. It even came with the iron screws to mount it. This door knocker gives an ambience of dignity and grace and also has a neat feel of the orient. At a little over a pound in weight, this has got some beef to it. I love the way it looks and hope it lasts a long long time out in the elements. I cannot wait to install it!

This brass door knocker 'Horse Arrival' can be found in decor accessory categories such as Animal Themed Decorative Hardware. Enjoy exploring these sections for other Novica treasures.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a $35 Gift Certificate from NOVICA (This GC Expires 1/31/2017).

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it 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!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to NOVICA for sending me a $35 gift certificate for free to review a product off their website and one $35 gift certificate to give away 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 of their website. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Cricket Media #DoubletheGiving Magazine Subscription Campaign and Giveaway

Cricket's "Double the Giving" Campaign
It's not too late to give the gift of reading this holiday season with a subscription to one of Cricket Media's award-winning parenting magazines. Any gift-giver purchasing an annual print subscription to one of four different Cricket publications will also deliver the gift of reading to a child in an underserved community through two award-winning, charitable partners: Libraries Without Borders and Parent-Child Home Program, both 2016 Library of Congress Literacy Award Winners. Each subscription bundle to BABYBUG (ages 6 mos.-3), LADYBUG (ages 3-6), SPIDER (ages 6-9) or CRICKET (ages 9-14) is priced at $29.95 (regularly $33.95), and is guaranteed to spark a life-long love of reading! Gift-givers can select between two charitable organizations to receive another 9-issue annual print subscription. Go to DoubletheGiving.com to find out more!

Cricket Media has been around for 40 years and has some wonderful annual traditions. And a long-time favorite of Cricket fans has been FREE printable cards for the holidays! For the 2016 holiday season, Cricket Media has selected 10 of their favorite holiday illustrations and created beautiful cards for you to share and send to loved ones.

To print them out, visit FREE HOLIDAY CARDS and follow the instructions.

Social Corner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cricketmedia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cricketmediainc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cricketmediainc/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CricketMediaInc/

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Each subscription bundle to BABYBUG (ages 6 mos.-3), LADYBUG (ages 3-6), SPIDER (ages 6-9) or CRICKET (ages 9-14) is priced at $29.95 (regularly $33.95). Gift-givers can select between two charitable organizations to receive another 9-issue annual print subscription. Go to DoubletheGiving.com to find out more!

WIN IT
Prize: Win an annual subscription to any of the “bug” magazines being offered in the campaign: BABYBUG (ages 6 mos.-3), LADYBUG (ages 3-6), SPIDER (ages 6-9) or CRICKET (ages 9-14) {US Only}.

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it 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!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post to let my readers know about this freebie and opportunity to give back. I will be getting a subscription and giving one away here for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else.

The Book of Kringle: Legend of the North Pole Book Review

The Book of Kringle: Legend of the North Pole is a children's book with gold foiled hardcover by Derek Velez Partridge with Mary Packard and illustrated by David Wenzel. This tale is a story about the North Pole, elves, Santa Claus, and magical reindeer. This however isn't the story you are probably familiar with. Kris Kringle has a evil brother that rules the North Pole with darkness...even Kris. The battle between light and dark has started between the two brothers and the elves go to find Santa, the one, truly kindhearted soul who could bring back laughter, play, and Christmas to the world. Could they do it in time?

This book is eloquently written and gorgeously illustrated. I love the storyline which is a classic battle of good and evil. My girls who are 8 and 6 enjoyed reading this book and looking at the elaborate illustrations. This book is truly magical. It is a wonderful, heart warming book that is perfect for the holiday season.

Social Corner
Website: http://www.thebookofkringle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebookofkringle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookofkringle
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeR_BeWupT-RcKzClgxQZ2w

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Jesus Is Born Book Review

Jesus Is Born is a dust-jacketed hardcover children's book retold by Sophie Piper from the story of the birth of the Savior and closely echoes the words of the Bible. This story is adapted from passages of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. The text starts from the angel Gabriel's great visit with the Virgin Mary and ends with King Herod's decree and how the Holy Family must flee to Egypt so that baby Jesus stays safe from harm. This children's book is illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert with detail-rich colored pencil drawings. These are visually stunning and each picture reverently portrays the nativity story beautifully. Along with the narrative this is a lovely book that is perfect for the Christmas season.

This sweet retelling is a wonderful book to have children turn to for learning about or helping remember the story of Christmas. I love that this book helps us get into the true spirit of the Christmas season and is in language that young ones can understand. The exquisite illustrations are phenomenally well done. I love looking at the elaborate drawings. My daughters love this book. This will be one that we will cherish for years to come. I recommend it as the perfect gift for parents, grandparents, and children for Christmas!

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Edushape Marbulous Marble Run Review

The Marbulous Marble Run from Edushape is a fun marble maze toy that will help your child's imagination zoom. This fun, action-packed marble track set is loaded with extra marbles so there is no need to purchase them separately. The sturdy colorful plastic tracks fit together a lot of different ways so that the child can build a different track pathway every time. It is so much fun loading the marbles and watching them twist, turn, and roll down the track. Develops fine motor skills, socialization, spatial relationship, logic & reasoning, hand-eye coordination, visual sensory development, creativity, imagination, and more. Includes 80 pieces and 20 marbles. Compatible with all Edushape Marble Runs and more! Appropriate for 4 years and up; $39.99

What Is Included:

• 80 Pieces: including bells, spinning pieces, bases, straights, tunnels, slides, shoots, etc. These are sturdy plastic and have vibrant colors.
• 20 Marbles: These are colorful glass cats-eye marbles.
• Instruction Booklet: has different designs that you can build from start to finish. These designs range from easy to hardest and more complex.

My daughters having fun with the Edushape Marbulous Marble Run.

What We Thought:
We loved this awesome marble run! The pieces fit together well and easily, even for my 6 year old. I loved that this set had marbles that already came with it because so many do not. The instruction booklet was mostly easy to understand and comes with pictures for each of the builds in it. Some of these builds were a little confusing because the pictures missed steps in between others, so you had to really try to understand the pictures well to get the pieces together like they had it in the booklet.  My kids loved putting the tunnels, shoots, slides, bases, etc. together mostly on their own to make the ultimate obstacle course for the marbles to shoot down and sometimes they would race marbles to see who would come to the bottom first. This is a great toy for them to play with together. Putting these pieces together they learned that some designs work better than others. I loved watching their faces as the marbles raced down the run and made it to the very end of the track! So priceless! My little engineers love this and so do I! It keeps them occupied and entertained.

I highly recommend the Edushape Marbulous Marble Run! I do not, however; recommend this to smaller children because of small pieces and choking hazards. It would make a great gift for a child 4 and up and is part of my Holiday Gift Guide!

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Amy Grant Tennessee Christmas CD Review and Giveaway #TennesseeChristmas #FlyBy

Amy Grant is one of the most well known and cherished songwriters in Christian music. Tennessee Christmas is her first all new Christmas album in nearly 20 years. This album features an updated recording of the Amy Grant Christmas standard, Tennessee Christmas, 6 new songs and the traditional Christmas favorites: Baby, It's Cold Outside, O Come All Ye Faithful, & Joy To The World. This album wasn't recorded in a big music studio. Instead it was recorded in Amy's Nashville Tennessee home. Her husband and country singer, Vince Gill, sings with her in Baby, It’s Cold Outside. This brand new album shares Amy's classic vocals with a more intimate, mellow feel. Some of the songs are also mixed with personal stories and Amy's memories from the holidays. The liner notes inside the CD case have some fun family photos and each songs lyrics as well.

I have been to Tennessee, but only briefly. I know they have some gorgeous scenery and beautiful Smoky Mountains. It is also the birthplace of country music and where Elvis grew up. I pray now for the people in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where wildfires are burning homes, businesses and parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I hope that those affected can stay positive through this trial. I also hope these people stay safe and even in the midst of heartache and loss can rebuild when the fires are finally put out. Let's all pray for them.

This album is a lovely medley of Christmas music. Amy has personalized the music with her thoughts, and to some, like me, it sounds like a cheesy Christmas card. It feels a little too sentimental and a bit sappy for my taste, but that is just me. I know she meant well, but these thoughts would have been better in the liner notes. I do love the songs and the feel to this new CD of Amy Grant's, however; I also wish there were more songs about the Savior's birth. My favorite songs on this Album are To Be Together, Tennessee Christmas, and Joy To The World.

Track Listing:

1. Tennessee Christmas (4:27)
2. To Be Together (4:10)
3. Christmas For You And Me (3:03)
4. Melancholy Christmas (3:02)
5. December (3:29)
6. White Christmas (2:23)
7. Joy To The World (3:08)
8. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (3:24)
9. Baby, It’s Cold Outside [feat. Vince Gill] (3:14)
10. Christmas Don’t Be Late (3:16)
11. Still Can’t Sleep (3:11)
12. Another Merry Christmas (2:22)
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful (3:07)

Album length: 13 tracks: 42 minutes, 16 seconds

Social Corner
Want to be on a video with Amy?? Amy is asking fans to upload any videos they may have of them surprising loved ones for the holidays to social media. Post these to socials using the hashtag #TNChristmasSurprise! Those chosen will be part of a compilation video that Amy herself will share on her large social media outlets! Check out this video to see an example of what they are looking for.

“To Be Together” Audio:


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iTunes Buy-link: http://smarturl.it/TNChristmasAlbum?IQid=flyby

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Prize: Win a copy of the Amy Grant Tennessee Christmas CD {US Only}.

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it 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. 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 review and giveaway. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

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, 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.

Oregon Zoo ZooLights 4 Tickets Giveaway #zoolightspdx

I have a fun giveaway for my local readers! The Oregon Zoo has provided me with 4 tickets for one of my local readers to visit the Oregon Zoo's annual winter festival, ZooLights, with their family!!

The ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo opens at 5:00 pm nightly from November 25th through January 1st (with the exception of Dec. 24th and 25th!), and runs until 8 or 9 pm, depending on the day. This year, ZooLights visitors will receive reduced admission on Mondays through Thursdays through December 15 (although these value nights end at 8pm instead of 9pm.

ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo. © Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham.

This event is a lot of fun and features some really cool light displays for the holiday and winter season. The Zoo is transformed into a fantastic winter wonderland of over a million and a half twinkling lights. You can walk through about 95% of the ZooLights. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture this experience!

They also have a great train ride that goes through the park so you can see light displays that you would not be able to see otherwise. Trains begin running at 4:45 pm and tickets for the ride are $3.50 for members and $4 for all others per person.

Penguins in lights reflected in a fountain during ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo.

Besides your camera, don't forget to bundle up and dress warmly. I would recommend bringing: clothing with layers, warm coats/jackets, gloves/mittens, hats, scarves, thick insulated socks, and comfortable boots/shoes. I am going to be bringing my favorite reusable hand warmers and an umbrella in case it rains the next time I go with my family! You can purchase food, snacks, and drink while you are there and they have hot chocolate to warm you up as well!

ZooLights Admission

• Members: Free
• Adults (12–64): $14.95, $9.95 on value nights
• Seniors (65 and up): $12.95, $7.95 on value nights
• Children (3–11): $9.95, $4.95 on value nights
• 2 and under: Free

Train Admission

• Members: an additional $3.50 per person
• Others: an additional $4 per person

Schedule

• Monday through Thursday through Dec. 15th: gates open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• All other nights from Nov. 25th through Jan.1st: gates open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Grounds remain open an hour after gates close.
• Closed on December 24, and 25.

Please see my other posts on the Oregon Zoo.We loved going to the ZooLights in 2012 and hope to go again soon!

WIN IT
Prize: Win 4 Oregon Zoo ZooLights Tickets. (please don't enter unless you know you will be able to go)

Winner will be notified via Crystal of Eccentric Eclectic Woman. Upon confirmation, tickets will be placed in will call at the zoo under the winner’s name. Tickets are valid for one-time use from completion of contest through the last night of ZooLights (January 1, 2017). Value of four tickets is $59.80.

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it 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!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I have been given an opportunity to giveaway 4 free tickets to the Oregon Zoo ZooLights. 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 post.

#LIGHTtheWORLD In 25 Ways Over 25 Days Advent Calendar

“During Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. This year, we have an amazing opportunity to share that light by resolving to do the things Jesus Christ did. Every day leading up to Christmas, we will focus on a different Christ-like behavior and provide suggestions for ways we can emulate His example....” mormon.org

The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints has provided each of us a way to #LIGHTtheWORLD from December 1st through Christmas Day. The Worldwide Day of Service is on December 1st and kicks off this Advent Calendar. For the Worldwide Day of Service people were given the opportunity to "serve anyone you want, any way you want" and "find a way to serve others as Jesus did". Just like this Christ-like day, each day following in the advent calendar has a theme and follows with suggestions of different ways you can get involved with small, but meaningful acts of service.

“When people think of Christmas, they often think of lights,” said Bruce Muir, director of emergency response for the Church. “Christmas lights, lighted store windows, tree lights. Christ taught ‘Ye are the light of the world,” and we hope that through small and simple acts of service, we can spread the light of Christ—helping others to feel the love of the Savior through genuine kindness.”

This Advent Calendar helps us get into the Christmas spirit and follow Christ's example this holiday season as we go about our busy daily lives. Just one act of kindness each day can make someones day or brighten their future. You can also see each video that goes with the theme as it posts each day. Videos and printables, including the advent calendar, are available in multiple languages so people from all over the globe can participate. Go download the advent calendar today!

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Please visit mormon.org for more information.
Fan on Facebook
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Also, here are some fabulous FREE printable kits to help you too.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post to let my readers know about this opportunity of service. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else.

Learning Resources STEM Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set Review #learningresources

Learning Resources STEM Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set is a fun toy that teaches sequencing, coding, and programming. This toy challenges players to sharpen their analytical thinking, critical thinking, logical thinking, and problem solving skills. For ages 5 and up and grades Kindergarten and up.

STEM

• Science: exploring the science of coding and programming with hands-on activities!
• Technology: building and using tools for amazing discoveries!
• Engineering: designing solutions for real-world problems!
• Math: measuring, recording, and comparing data to draw conclusions!

83 Piece Set Includes:

• 1 Robot mouse named Colby: has a switch on the bottom with 3 positions (off and two speeds: normal to use on plastic maze base grid pieces and hyper for use on carpet and other more uneven surfaces). Colorful buttons on top make him do things in the order they are pressed and are: forward (blue arrow that points towards his nose, makes him move forward 5"), rotate right (purple arrow that points right when he is facing away from you, makes Colby rotate right 90 degrees), reverse (yellow arrow that points towards his tail end, makes him move backward 5"), rotate left (orange arrow that points left when he is facing away from you, makes Colby rotate left 90 degrees), action (red circle that makes him either: move forward and back, squeak loudly, or chirp 3 times with lit up eyes), clear (yellow circle clears all coding if you make a mistake or want to do another sequence, has confirmation tone), go (green circle that is the last command to be pressed when the sequence (up to 40 steps) is completed and Colby is set down on the maze). Takes 3 AAA batteries, not included.
• 16 Plastic maze base grid pieces: connect together to form a larger board or any configuration that goes together.
• 22 Plastic maze walls: to be placed around the grids in the crevices so that the mouse can go through the maze to get to the cheese.
• 3 Plastic tunnels: can be placed on the grid or surface for the mouse to go under and through.
• 1 Plastic cheese wedge: to be placed at the end of the maze for the mouse to find. This is magnetic and sticks to the mouses nose when touched by it.
• 30 Double-sided coding cards: have one side with just the arrow and the other side with the mouse and the arrow. These help you plot and track the mouse's path and order in which the code needs to be pressed on Colby for him to get to the cheese in the maze.
• 10 Double-sided activity cards: help you build the mazes from pictures on the cards. These are made in order of difficulty, 1 being the easiest and 20 being the hardest.
• 1 Multilingual activity guide: is instructions and directions for how to play.

How To Play:

1. Pick an activity card with one of the challenge mazes.
2. Build your maze from the picture on the card or just build your own: by connecting the maze grid pieces together and adding the walls, tunnels, and cheese.
3. Use either side of the coding cards to create a step-by-step path for Colby to find the cheese.
4. Program the sequence of steps with the buttons on the mouse.
5. Set Colby down where he is suppose to start in the maze, press go, and watch Colby race to find the cheese.

Teela and Zari playing with the Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set.

What We Thought:
My daughters who are 6 and 8 tried out the Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set. This is a neat toy. It teaches some very important skills and I love that it is educational and that my girls enjoyed it so much. We love bringing this toy out for when we need a break from book work during homeschooling. The girls liked making their own mazes and figuring out what code to program into Colby, the mouse. They also thought that it was funny that the mouse made little sounds occasionally and loved that you could program an action into it to make the mouse do random things. Someday we'd love to get the purple mouse, Jack, that is sold separately, so we can have even more fun with this set and race the two!

The Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set is fun and educational! I recommend it to people that love games, puzzles, and educational toys! This is also a great addition to any homeschool environment. It is a great family centered toy and wonderful to teach and improve STEM and mental skills.

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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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Where Jesus Slept Book Review and Giveaway #WhereJesusSlept #FlyBy

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

Where Jesus Slept is written by Norma Lewis and illustrated by Katy Hudson. This jacketed hardcover book is filled with delightful watercolor pictures to accompany a story that starts with one line of words and builds from there. It starts out with the manger bed that Jesus slept in, then straw, a cow, and so on until the end where the Wise Men give their gifts to Jesus. Each spread adds a new element to the story. On the last page is a picture of swaddled baby Jesus sleeping peacefully and the scripture John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.". The book is geared towards ages 3-7.

My daughter Zari enjoying the Where Jesus Slept book.

This sweet book of the Savior's birth reminded me of the song, 'The Green Grass Grows All Around' and the story, 'There Was An Old Lady That Swallowed A Fly' because of how the story builds upon itself. The repetition of the rhyme is great for young children. The gorgeous watercolor art shows the nativity in a lovely light. My daughter Teela loves reading this to Zari and Zari loves looking at the childlike illustrations. We love this Christmas treasure.

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WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of the Where Jesus Slept Book {US Only}.

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it 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. 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 review and giveaway.

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, 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.

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light: Perfect For Holiday Gift Giving!

My kids and I love to decorate their rooms different ways! Lighting is a great way to give the room better ambience. Not only that, but if the lighting is fun and versatile it is even better.

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Lights are the perfect gift this holiday season. They have a full range of comic book, super hero, Disney Princess, sports and car lights that look as though they are popping right out of the wall! They are battery operated and cool to the touch so you can place them any where in the room! Your kids will loves having these in their rooms and they're also the perfect editions to a den, family room, man's cave or office! Find all of these amazing products  at Target and Target.com!

Pinkie Pie 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light

I have a feeling that a My Little Pony 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light is going to be coming to my home! 3DLIGHTFX has three MLP Friendship Is Magic nightlights: Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. These will look so cool in my kids' room!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light Offer I am getting a FREE 3D Deco Light from 3DLightFX. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information. 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 promo.

The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix Neons & Metalix Review and Giveaway #KwikStix

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. The paint dries in 90 seconds and the colors are bright, bold, and vivid. 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.

Kwik Stix Color Chart

Kwik Stix Neons and Metalix are two sets of colors of Kwik Stix from The Pencil Grip, Inc. The Kwik Stix Neons 6 pk comes with a rainbow of neon colors including: pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The Kwik Stix Metalix 6 pk comes with a rainbow of jewel tone colors including: magenta, emerald green, sapphire blue, royal purple, silver and gold. Besides 6 packs of Neons and Metalix these also come in Classic colors and larger packs.

My daughters making pictures with Kwik Stix solid tempera paint sticks.

We received our first box of Kwik Stix 12pk in Classic colors not too long ago. Now we have the Neons and Metalix colors too. The neons are bright and luminous. The metalix colors are bold and rich. We love having so many colors to choose from! My daughters, Teela (8 years old) and Zari (6 years old), love them! I do too! The best part of Kwik Stix for this mama is the no mess factor! I also love that I didn't have to get out any extra equipment for coverage and no water is needed. This means no drips or spills. I also noticed that since the paint dried quickly there was also very little color bleeding into the next. You can not get very detailed with these because of the blunt end, but the paint makes great layers. The sticks are very easy for little hands to operate and are a wonderful addition to our kids art supplies!

Top and Right: Metalix, Bottom: Neons. Notice how the Metalix shimmer in sunlight.

Follow Them on Social Media:
Website -  http://www.thepencilgrip.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/KwikStixPaint/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ThePencilGrip @ThePencilGrip
Suggested Hashtags: #ThePencilGrip, #KwikStix, #temperapaint, #tempurapaintsticks, #kidcrafts, #kidsartsupplies, #lovepainting, #christmasgifts

BUY IT
Starting November 1^st you will be able to purchase the 6 pack of Metalix and 6 pack of Classic colors in Target stores. You can also now purchase Kwik Stix at Target.com. Go to Amazon.com to see and purchase more of their products. These are perfect for stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts under the tree!

WIN IT
Prize: Kwik Stix Neons 6pk & Metalix 6pk.

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 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. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Coobie Seamless Bras are the most comfortable bras EVER Offer!

 US Family Guide provided me with this promotional information and offer to share with my readers. I am getting something for free in return for posting this information.

You need this amazing bra in your life! Coobie Seamless Bras are ultra comfortable and supportive. Perfect for everyday wear our versatile one-size fits 32A - 36D, available in 7+ styles and 70+ colors/patterns, with adjustable straps and removable pads!

Coobie Lace Bralette

 They Have:

• Scoopneck (One size: 32A-36D) or (Full size: 38A-42DD)
• V-Neck with Lace (One size: 32A-36D) or (Full size: 38A-42DD)
• Nursing Bra (One size: 32A-36D) or (Full size: 38A-42DD)
• Comfort Bra (S: 30-34) (M: 34-36) (L: 38-42) (XL: 42-48) 
• Classic Lace Bralette (S: 28A-32D) (M: 32A-34D) (L: 36A-38D)

  
Try one, you'll love it! PROMOTION: Save 25% on any order of Coobie Seamless Bras at www.shopcoobie.com Use code: USFG

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Coobie Seamless Bras Offer I am getting my choice of a FREE Coobie Seamless Bra! PLUS Two Bras for Giveaways!. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information. 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 promo.

Homeschool Legacy Christmas Comes to America Once-a-Week Unit Study Review

My family had the privilege of trying the Christmas Comes to America Once-a-Week Unit Study from Homeschool Legacy 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.

Christmas Comes to America is a Once-a-Week Unit Study by Homeschool Legacy. This is a 4 week study that is geared towards second through twelfth graders. It has an option to use this to help your child earn a Music Badge in Boy Scouts or Music Appreciation Badge in American Heritage Girls or a project record in 4H, if your child is involved with any of those. I was given this in digital format.

Layout of weeks for the 45-page pdf:

• Week One: Dutch - Dutch traditions, Legend of Santa Claus, history of the real St. Nicholas, how to make Dutch Hot Cocoa, how to make homemade marshmallows, etc.
• Week Two: English - Reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, History of caroling, how to make wassail, history of Christmas cards, etc.
• Week Three: Germans - History behind the Gingerbread House, Holiday concert etiquette, Johann Sebastian Bach and his Christmas Cantatas, George Frederic Handel and his MESSIAH, Hansel and Gretel, history of Christmas trees, tinsel, glass ornaments, Christmas tree lights, cookie ornaments, advent wreaths, and Christmas stockings, Legend of lights on a Christmas Tree, etc.
• Week Four: An American Christmas - Reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, ‘Twas the Night before Christmas, Gift of the Magi & Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Irving Berlin and his song White Christmas, how to make popcorn and cranberry garlands, decorate an After Christmas tree for the birds, etc.

Unit studies provide us with an in depth view of a certain focused theme and has us do many different subjects surrounding it. For example; with this Christmas Comes to America history unit study we were doing Bible lessons, history, geography, culture, reading, language, life skills, arts & crafts, music, science, etc. We also partook in field trips, watched movies, read devotionals and books on the reading list provided, listened to Christmas music, and made some yummy recipes that were included. As a homeschooling family we love unit studies! It gets us away from some of the more mundane work we sometimes have to do in our schooling at home and gives us a chance to dive into some hands on studies. A lot of the time unit studies also let us get out in the field to learn.

If you choose to use Homeschool Legacy Once-a-Week Unit Studies as your main source of history or science you can combine any four to five Once-a-Week Unit Studies to easily satisfy a full course study of those subjects. All Once-a-Week Unit Studies are appropriate for Grades 2-12, though upper levels will still need their lab sciences. These are comprehensive and wonderful for credits.

Homeschool Legacy Christmas Comes to America unit study is interactive and hands-on. Each study starts off with library reading and video choices. Then goes with a supply list, daily activities, and once-a-week activities. Within its pages you learn the history of all sorts of Christmas traditions.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. It celebrates the birth of our Savior and I absolutely love giving gifts! I love going to look at neighborhood/city Christmas light displays with my family. I love decorating and going to local nativities. Every year I can count on the Monticello Hotel in Longview Washington to have a wonderful Christmas light display to see. We also have gone to the Portland Zoo and seen their neat lights. Our church puts on a Festival of Nativities at the Longview Stake building across the river from us. There is also a Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Kelso Washington that puts on a live Journey to Bethlehem which is spectacular!

We had a lot of fun so far with the Homeschool Legacy Christmas Comes to America unit study. We have done three out of the four weeks, but plan on also expanding upon what we did to include even more during the holiday season. So far we have followed the suggested schedule in the study. I love that there is a reading list of books and other media resources to pull from. We watched It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street as a family and listened to different Christmas music that was suggested as well. I also really like that with the digital version of the study we can access links within the unit directly from it. We are going to enjoy making garlands and the Christmas tree for the birds when it gets closer to Christmas. I love that these are Biblically centered and very flexible to incorporate in one's own busy schedule. We have learned a lot about Christmas that I didn't know and I am glad to have Homeschool Legacy as a unit study choice for my homeschool. I recommend this holiday unit study very highly. Homeschool Legacy also has a Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims Once-a-Week Micro-Study for the upcoming holidays.

BUY IT
Homeschool Legacy Christmas Comes to America Once-a-Week Unit Study in Paperback format is $18.95 and Downloadable Grab-N-Go format is $14.

Follow Them on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoollegacy/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hslegacy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/homeschoollegac
Hashtags: #hsreviews #unitstudies #historyunitstudies

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for Homeschool Legacy...

Zonderkidz A Night of Great Joy Book Review and Giveaway

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

A Night of Great Joy is a Zonderkidz children's book by Mary Engelbreit. It is an adorable hardcover picture book that Mary Engelbreit illustrates with her colorful artwork. The paper jacket of the book is glittered too. The book celebrates the Christmas season as a group of multi-ethnic children puts on the Nativity pageant play throughout its pages.



I remember my church's Sunday School growing up putting on the Nativity pageant. As children we would play different parts in the play. One year I was a sheep. It was a lot of fun in theater even though I did not have a big part. My family would put on the pageant at home as well. I always enjoyed being a part of it.

I love Mary Engelbreit's artwork! It is whimsical, vibrant, and fun. Her charming illustrations have always given me joy. This is a sweet book for little ones filled with her illustrations. The words in it are simple yet tell the story well of what happened the night of Jesus's birth. This wonderful book is a treasure for the Christmas holiday. It reminds me of the pageants I was in as a child. I love this book and my younger children do too. It would be a perfect gift for Christmas and is great for ages 4-10 and Mary Engelbreit fans.

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BUY IT


You can also purchase the Zonderkidz A Night of Great Joy at Zondervan for $16.99.

WIN IT
Prize: A Night of Great Joy Book

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 to facilitate this review. Another will be provided free to the giveaway winner. 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. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.