Sears Review

 

 

 

With the Holidays upon us, it is time to think about decorating again! What is more fun than decorating for the Holiday’s? Putting up all those fun lights, and pretty things around the house, to help you with your holiday cheer.

I don’t like to have to go to many places when shopping for my decorations, since I usually have 3 kids tagging along. Therefore, I like to go to a place that is going to have all my decorating needs. Sears Cheer Headquarters is just the place! Whether your looking for outdoor decorations, lights, tree’s, wreaths, or more!!!

 

I headed off to Sears to look over the selection I was given to choose from. I was happy to see that they had Village accessories and pieces. I collect things for my village every year. I’d like to make it a huge one eventually! This year I was able to pick up a couple pieces for my village and a new building with the gift card I was given for this review. Check out this amazing carousel I’d love to get next year!!!

 

 

Another great thing about shopping at Sears for my decorating needs is that all my purchases give me back money. I have the Shop Your Way Rewards. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and so worth it. You get 10 points for every $1 you spend, and there is no minimum amount to redeem!

 

 

 

Now for the best part!!!

One of my lucky readers can have a chance to win a $15 Sears Gift Card…

This one is a fast turn around, so be sure to enter and tell all your friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

*I was given a gift card to Sears in exchange for my review as part of the Smiley360. All opinions are 100% mine or my moneys.

 

Pinypon Review & Party…

 

 

With Christmas upon us.. I’m sure your child has been asking for all kinds of things. I know mine are struggling with what to put on their Christmas List. As a parent it is hard to keep up with the latest trend though, or what is new. With my three kids I know this is VERY hard to do.

 

 

We recently got the chance to show off a new toy. Since we always have an annual Christmas party for the kids. Where they invite their friends and we decorate cookies, enjoy punch, and if there is snow.. go sliding. This year their was no snow, so we played with toys instead.

 

 

What was this toy you ask? Pinypon was the new toy we got to show off. They are new to the market this year. So what are these Pinypon’s you ask? They are mini dolls that are interchangeable. You can swap their dresses, accessories, and hairstyles! So many combinations, for hours of fun! These come with little pieces, so they are recommended for children ages 4-7yrs old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each guest at our Party got a Pinypon figure. Then we had a random drawing for one lucky guest to get a Pinypon Caravan. This is a fully loaded house on wheels for your Pinypon. This has so many hours of fun written on it! Their imaginations will come alive! The Caravan also comes with some dolls. The girls were super excited to see when they opened it up, that they could actually put water in the pool. The best part you can get this for $19.99. In my book very reasonable for a toy of this size. It kind of reminds me of a Barbie car, only for little dolls.

 

 

 

After they decorated their cookies, they all gathered round, and played with the caravan, and talked about their different Pinypon’s. They really seemed to enjoy playing with them! I think these will be a great hit this Christmas!

 

Then before leaving we had the chance to raffle off another toy. The Nenuco Doll, was our next item to give away! The doll we got was the Baby Blows Bubbles. When you squeeze its arm it blows bubbles.  We had lots of happy girls leaving the party that day! As well as happy mommies, cause we sent home some coupons as well!

 

 

What a great afternoon of fun, and smiles. We really enjoyed playing with our friends, and being able to give a few items away to them! Hope everyone had a great time!

 

You can find more about Pinypon on Facebook and Twitter.  You can also find Nenuco Famous Toys on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

*Thanks to Pinypon Parties and MommyParties for providing us with the product to have our party in exchange for our honest opinion and review. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkey’s!

 

 

 

 

 

Kikkoman Review:

 

 

Do you use Soy Sauce? It’s a staple in our house. We use it in our Chinese cooking, marinades, and so much more. Recently I was asked to try out Kikkoman’s Soy Sauce, try using it with a chicken in a brine.

 

So I went out to the store and got a whole chicken…

 

 

 

Bought a thing of Kikkoman Soy Sauce (notice how big it is)

 

 

 

 

Mixed up my brine recipe supplied by Kikkoman.. You can get the recipe here.

 

 

Looks kinda scary doesn’t it?!

 

 

Left my chicken in the fridge overnight…

 

 

Then put it in my rotisserie for a couple ours, and this is what came out…

 

 

 

 

I have to tell you! I was so surprised!!! The brine made the chicken so MOIST! I have never had such a juicy breast piece of meat. It was amazing!

My only complaint was that it was rather salty. Even after rinsing it off really well, I felt that it was still really salty. I need to figure out how to get that part down, and then we are in business!

 

My family was very impressed with the chicken, and so happy to eat it! We will absolutely be brining more of our meat in the future!

Go here for a brine recipe for your turkey!

 

You can find Kikkoman on Facebook and Twitter.

 

*I received a coupon for a free bottle of Kikkoman Soy Sauce in exchange for my honest review as part of Smiley360. All opinions are 100% mine and my monkeys!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook:

 

 

 

 

FOR TODAY

November 19th, 2012

Outside my window...

It is cool, and frosty..

I have to get used to it,

I suppose.

Is that time of year…

 

 

I am thinking...

Wow, how can it be almost Thanksgiving already?!

This year seems to be flying by…

 

I am thankful for...

All the wonderful blessing in my life.

 

From the learning rooms...

This week we are on vacation..

Starting our first week off with a trip

to see a Play.

What about you?!

Want to see what else we are up to, stop by our blog here.

 

 

From the kitchen...

Tonight we are having Homemade Pizza!

Yum, we do love our pizza around here.

 

 

I am wearing...

My jeans, teal shirt, and sneakers

 

I am creating...

Lists, next 6 weeks of curriculum,

blog posts, crafts,

and so much more!

 

I am going...

To be super busy these next few weeks..

but in a good way.

However, not so busy I can’t

stop to enjoy life!

 

I am reading...

Nothing right now..

 

I am hoping...

to get some things accomplished that I really need to get

done.. and some organizing!

 

I am hearing...

My kids scrambling to finish breakfast,

so we can get out of here.

 

Around the house...

Laundry, decorating our outside tree, organizing..

 

One of my favorite things...

Spending time with my family!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

A play, drop off our OCC Boxes, Visit my gram, Library, cooking, decorating,

watching Christmas movies.. and visiting with family! I can’t wait!!!

 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing..

 

The Homeschool Mothers Journal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• In my life this week…

I have been laying kinda low..

We finished up some school stuff,

and now we are on Vacation for a couple weeks..

Middle Monkey has been sick all week…

I’ve been torturing my kids with Christmas Movies..

 

• In our homeschool this week…

We worked on our regular school…

Finished up a few projects,

and are done with another 6 wks..

Now we are on vacation for a couple of weeks.

(not that doesn’t mean I won’t come up with things for them to work on)

If you would like to see more of what we have been up to..

Check out our school blog… (I will get that caught up this week)

 

 

• Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Do what works for your family..

Not someone else’s..

We are all different!

 

• I am inspired by…

My children everyday!

 

• Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are staying home most of the week..

Going to see a play tomorrow (Junie B Jones)

I can’t wait.. These plays are usually really good!

Maybe a visit to see my grandmother…

Thanksgiving day it will be just us, and my mom, and gram…

Then maybe on Friday we will see one of my cousins that I haven’t

seen in like 6 or so years..

I think that is it for this week..

 

• My favorite thing this week was…

cuddling with my kiddo’s and watching Christmas Movies!!

 

• What’s working/not working for us…

Everything seems to be going quite smoothly for us now..

However, we are in a huge need of a vacation..

So that is why we are taking 2 weeks this time, instead of one.

 

• Questions/thoughts I have…

Any special plans for the Thanksgiving Holiday?!

 

• Things I’m working on…

Putting together the next 6 weeks..

I didn’t want to have to do it while on vacation this time..

but I couldn’t get it done before.

Oh well!

Plus I’m decorating for Christmas!

 

• I’m reading…

Nothing right now…

 

 

• I’m cooking…

Tonight we had chicken and gravy over toast!

 

• I’m grateful for…

The amazing people I have around me..

 

• A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

 

Be So
Happy That

When Others Look

At YOU

They Become Happy

TOO!!!

–Author Unknown

Kylie Minogue’s “The Abbey Road Sessions” CD Review:

 

 

 

We are huge music fans in this house…

 

If we don’t have music going on our computer, TV, or Ipod, it’s a rare moment. Lol!

 

We recently got a CD by Kylie Minogue’s “The Abbey Road Sessions” to try out. I’m sure you have heard the name again since she is a global icon and popstar. When it arrived in the mail, we ripped open the envelope. I had to go somewhere that afternoon, so I decided to bring it with me, and listen to it. Popped it in the CD player, and off we went.

 

I found her CD to be very uplifting and easy to sing along too. I really enjoyed it. Easy to jam along to, so prefect for my car. I love to have up beat music in my car. That way when I need to let off steam, I can just crank the music and sing along.

 

You may have recently found Kylie Minogue on Dancing with the Stars, or the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this past week.

 

 

 

On Kylie Minogue’s “The Abbey Road Sessions” Cd a celebration of 25 years of music, you can find the following tracks:

 

• All The Lovers
• On A Night Like This
• Better The Devil You Know
• Hand On Your Heart
• I Believe In You
• Come Into My World
• Finer Feelings
• Confide In Me
• Slow
• Locomotion
• Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
• Where The Wild Roses Grow
• Flower  (written years ago, following her battle with breast cancer)
• I Should Be So Lucky
• Love At Frist Sight
• Never Too Late

 

You might know the song “Locomotion”, as it is quite popular. I love to sing along to this song!

 

If  you would like to purchase her CD, you can get it at Amazon.

 

 

*I received a copy of this CD in exchange for my honest review as part of One2One Network. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkeys.

 

 

TOS Review: Growing Wild

 

 

 

Our last review of the 2012 year was not to disappoint! We were super excited to use this before our break for the holiday season.

 

Growing Wild is diffidently WILD! It takes you on a jungle adventure!

 

What is Growing Wild?

 

It is a series of DVD’s full of educational fun. Based around the Wild family, missionaries living in the jungle of Papua, Indonesia. These DVD’s give you a peek at their everyday life. While showing you about missionary work.

 

In this series there are a total of 5 DVD’s, each containing 3 episodes running about 15 minutes each. Along with a separate CD-ROM containing a PDF activity guide to go along with what you watched.

 

 

 

 

 

We reviewed Volume 1 & 4.

 

Volume 1 has:

Home Sweet Hut

Supply Trip

Sun & Water

 

Volume 4 has:

Amazing World Around Us

Adventures in Culture

Tribal Calling

 

 

The Wild’s:

Morgan, Hudson, Kian, and Asher, Wild mom, and Wild dad. When they are not living in Papua, Indonesia they reside in Florida.

 

 

 

 

About the Activity Guide:

 

Love when things come with an Activity guide don’t you?! The activity guide supplies suggested activities to go with each episode to give more to the learning experience. For each volume you will find activities based around Science/Nature, Culture, World Views, Life, and a big focus on Bible. Along with ideas for hands-on projects and field trips.  You can see a sample one here.

 

What my kids loved:

My kids really loved the look inside their lives. From how they went about making their house, to what they could find inside it. They were really shocked on the “Supply Trip” episode, when they were telling about amounts they had to stock up with. (Since they couldn’t just run to the store) A real EYE opener for them. They were just overall fascinated by these DVD’s.

 

How we used this product:

We watched these episodes, and then consulted the activity guide. For Volume 1 we made a Vienn Diagram about what they could find in their house verus ours. I liked watching what they thought of. Then we talked about how their lives must really differ from ours. What they would do if we switched places.

We also talked about tree’s, and went a bit more in depth about that, since it went along with the Botany we are studying right now.

We went out and gathered the supplies we needed to make a Wano house, but we haven’t yet had a chance to do it. But they are all very excited, and have been “drawing” up plans for it.

 

Things to be aware of:

For those who are a bit squeamish you might find some of this a bit “Eww”. My kids were not scared by anything, but did ask a few questions, or say “GROSS!!”. Since they are completely in another culture there are a few things that you don’t expect. Like the Wano people have stick piercings through their noses, and men’s clothing is different than our culture. Then there are a few times when I was grossed out by things they were eating. Such as the kids eating a fish eyeball! The cat devouring a rat, etc. Nothing inappropriate or hugely graphic.

 

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed watching these as much as my children. They are very eye opening about some things that we truly take for granted! I love how they explain everything going on, and go in depth about things. The Wild mom narrates every episode, giving you more insight. This is just an all around wonderful product! I can’t wait to purchase the other two volumes.

 

 

 

 

To purchase:

I’m sure by now you are hooked right?! You can purchase the individual volumes for $18.99, or you can purchase the 5-pack combo for $80.99.

 

See what the rest of the TOS Crew is saying about Growing up Wild!!!

 

 

*I was given volume one and four free of charge in exchange for my honest review as part of the TOS Crew. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkey’s.

Simple Woman’s Daybook:

 

 

 

FOR TODAY

November 12, 2012

 

Outside my window...

It is not to bad out today.. strangely in the 50’s..

 

 

I am thinking...

I have so much to do on my To-do list..

the change in seasons always means more work!

 

 

I am thankful for...

the help of my children and hubby..

 

From the learning rooms...

We are finishing up this week..

with our regular studies, Co-op, and piano..

Then we have a week off next week.

Much needed for us all!

Want to see what else we are up to, stop by our blog here.

 

From the kitchen...

Not sure.. Thinking maybe shepard’s pie.

Tomorrow is shopping day, so I need to finish up my menu

and clipping my coupons, and getting organized!

 

 

I am wearing...

Jeans, t-shirt, sweat shirt, and my sneakers…

(had to put up my flip flops)

 

I am creating...

A long To-do list, and

a grocery list

 

I am going...

To be working on a Thanksgiving menu and our regular menu.

I really need to get back into that.. helps so MUCH!

 

I am reading...

Nothing right now.. you?

I am hoping...

That snow holds off for a bit longer…

 

I am hearing...

My girls watching My Little Pony

 

Around the house...

I have so much laundry to catch up on..

its like it just keeps multiplying!

General clean up, and more organizing..

some mudding to be done..

 

One of my favorite things...

Spending time with my family…

I love days with my mom..

days with my hubby…

and cuddling with my babies!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Work around the house, Library, GS Meeting, Doc appt, Co-op, errands, and Piano!

Maybe a 4H workshop this weekend… YOU??!

 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing..

My mom and Little Monkey collecting leaves!

 

The Homeschool Mother's Journal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• In my life this week…

I was crazy busy..

had some great days..

enjoyed my family…

visited some friends..

and prepped for winter..

YOU?

 

 

• In our homeschool this week…

We worked on our normal studies…

finished off some History we got a bit behind on..

enjoyed some Lapbooking…

saw a play..

and had fun with art at Co-op!

 

• Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Join a Co-op if you can find one in your area.

We love that we can get together with great people,

follow homeschoolers, and enjoy friendships..

while learning some wonderful things..

and getting help in areas that we struggle to teach!

 

• I am inspired by…

amazing ideas that come from all over the web!

 

• Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week is a rather low key week for us..

which is good.. I think I need that..

We will be seeing our Co-op friends,

and piano teacher…

 

• My favorite thing this week was…

Getting my new car!!!

Isn’t it pretty?

 

 

• What’s working/not working for us…

Vacation next week..

is working very well for us..

I am so ready for it..

 

• Questions/thoughts I have…

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

Will you be hosting it at your house, or

going somewhere?

 

 

• Things I’m working on…

Our plans for the next 6 weeks..

 

 

• I’m reading…

Nothing right now.. been to busy!

 

• I’m cooking…

Not sure what is on the menu for tonight..

Need to figure that out..
(Had an amazing Potato Leek Soup last night though)

 

• I’m grateful for…

Amazing supportive friends!

 

• A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Little Monkey’s Pinecone Turkey..

 

 

Soft Scrub Total Winners:

 

 

Congrats to

 

#1  - Jenna

 

#7 – Helen

 

 

 

You have won a Coupon for a Free Soft Scrub Total.

Look for an email from me…

 

 

Winners have 48hrs to respond, or I have will have to choose a new winner.

For all you Star Wars Fans…

 

 

Not sure for how long..

but you can get the new

Star Wars Angry Birds

for your android phone for FREE!!!

 

So hurry and get it while it is free! Not sure when and if this will change.

I know my son will be so excited when he discovers it on my phone!

Littlest Pet Shop Viewing Party:

 

 

 

 

 

Do your kids like Littlest Pet Shop? My girls absolutely love it, and couldn’t wait when they heard we were going to get a sneak peak at the newest TV show about it.

 

 

 

 

My youngest loves the Wii game of the Littlest Pet Shop we have, and thinks they are just the cutest things. She loves to look at the toys every time we go into a store. She plays with the few she has often, and so we were super excited about this party!

 

 

 

Upon the kids showing up for our party, we handed out their masks.. so they could all be a “monkey” pet. Then we popped in the disk to view the episodes. The first one is called “Blythe’s Big Adventure- Part 1”, and the second was Part 2. The girls absolutely loved the show. Many of them were bummed their was not more to watch at this time. A few asked when the next one would be on!!

 

 

 

 

After watching our episodes, we had some snacks like “Sunil’s Magically Disappearing Trail Mix”, veggies, and fruit. Then we enjoyed some punch, and lemonade. Of course no party is complete without dancing.. and some coloring. We put out some coloring pages of the Littlest Pet Shop which we got from here.

 

 

 

After we partied our little hearts out, we sent the girls home with a nice gift bag with a Littlest Pet Shop foldable hair brush, and chapstick! They were so excited!

 

 

 

My girls had such a great time, and can’t wait to have more fun with their friends again. We diffidently will be watching Littlest Pet shop again! They love it! You can tune in to HUB on Saturdays at 11am EST to watch more!

 

 

*I was given a screener disk, and product to have a party, in exchange for my honest review as part of MommyParties. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkeys.

Purex plus Oxi Review:

 

 

I know most people are loyal to one kind of laundry detergent, or they go for the cheapest. I’ve always been a loyalty person. If something works really well, then I would rather pay the little extra for it.

 

Purex is a great laundry detergent, and its kind of in the middle of the road. It works really well, but its not super expensive. I have tried all their new products, as you can tell if you read my blog. The newest one is Purex Plus Oxi, and it is the same great detergent with three stain-fighting enzymes in it to help fight stains! It is so powerful it works against over 101 different stains! That is a lot of stains! I’m sure I’ve seen at least half of those in my laundry!

 

With three kids, stains are so common in this house! Grass, dirt, grease, blood, and so much more! Grass is diffidently the worst for us, besides spaghetti sauce! So I need a super strong laundry detergent!

 

Upon receiving this, I was anixous to try it out. I had just dug out some of our winter coats from last year, since cold weather and snow was forecasted. Some of our coats got put away with mega dirt on them. I was afraid that they wouldn’t come out after sitting in a tote all summer long. One of those coats being mine.. and I don’t own many. I threw it in with all the other coats, put in my Purex Plus Oxi, and turned on the washer! When it came out I was amazed at how nice and clean it was! Just like brand new again! Love it!

 

Purex Plus Oxi can be used in both front and top load washers. (we have a front load) For the best results they recommend putting detergent on the stain and letting it sit for 5 minutes before putting them in the washer. Then add your normal amount to the washer and let it wash!

 

 

 

 

For those of you with sensitive skin, Purex Plus Oxi is hypoallergenic!  Right now the only scent you can find it in is Fresh Morning Burst.

 

 

Now for the best part! Two lucky readers can win one of my two Free Coupons for Purex Plus Oxi. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

*Purex provided me with a sample of Purex plus Oxi so I could review it as part of the Purex Insiders. However, all opinions are 100% mine and my monkey’s.

 

 

 

 

 

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal:

 

 

 

 

• In my life this week…

We were a bit more relaxed…

Spent days at home getting prepped

for winter…

Its coming whether we want it to or not…

Got some brush down…

Chicken Coop ready…

Gardens cleaned…

Visited with some friends…

Enjoyed some time together..

 

 

• In our homeschool this week…

 

This week we did our normal studies..

Watched a local Jr High Play that some of our friends were in..

it was very cute..

Learned some stuff about local flowers for Botany from the LC Bates

Museum at Co-op….

and caught up on some History…

If you would like to see more about what we did you can go here!

 

 

• Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Take the little trips, they are always so much fun!

 

 

• I am inspired by…

My mom, she struggles everyday with taking care of a chronically ill person..

and yet keeps a smile on her face, and a great outlook on life.

 

 

• Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week we are going to…

go on other hunt for a used car…

have Co-op…

see some friends..

go to 4H…

Girl Scouts..

and just plain enjoy our week!

YOU?!

 

• My favorite thing this week was…

going to the play. I love watching my friends kids doing something

they really enjoy. The kids really like seeing all the people they

know.. and we just always have such a good time!

 

• What’s working/not working for us…

Trying to limit our weeks with only a few things to have to leave the house for..

With the cost of gas going up…

we can’t afford to be gone as much..

plus mentally we can’t deal with being gone so much..

The last couple weeks have been much better!

 

• Questions/thoughts I have…

Do you school around Christmas or take the month off?

 

• Things I’m working on…

I need to start thinking about getting our next 6 weeks

of curriculum planned out.. I don’t want to spend

Thanksgiving week (while we are on vacation) doing it this time..

 

 

• I’m reading…

Nothing yet.. Getting ready to start a book a friend sent to me.

 

• I’m cooking…

We are going to go simple for dinner..

Coleslaw and Hot Potato Salad…

We have Cabbage that needs to be used up! LOL!

 

• I’m grateful for…

For so much… follow me on my Facebook Page, and you will see them all..

 

 

• A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

 

“Never give up on something you really want. Its difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret.”

Chris Mann- Roads Album Review:

 

 

 

If you have seen the “The Voice” then you have heard of Chris Mann. He is a singer with a wonderful voice, I must say. I’m going to be honest with you. I have never watched the Voice. So, I had not heard him until reviewing this album.

 

 

Chris Mann in the last year, has been on The Voice, and now signed to Faircraft/Univeersal Republic. His newest release is a major label debut called the “Roads". This is a classical-pop genre. He really brings a different approach to some of these classic songs.

 

 

 

About Chris Mann:

 

He studied opera (which you can tell in some of his songs) at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Originally from Wichita, Kansas where he tried to start off his singing career. Singing in clubs, and auditioning for record labels. He did some backstage singing and occasionally made it on camera on the cast of Glee.

After coming in fourth on the season two of The Voice, he got his break.

 

 

The Cd:

 

Mann singings a classical-pop version of a few well know songs like “Always on my Mind” by Willie Nelson, and “Need you Now” by Lady Antebellum’s.

“The Blower’s Daughter” is a song where Aguilera joins him. Chris Mann co-wrote two of the songs, “Cuore” (which is based on Bach’s “Air on a G String”) and “Viva La Vida”.

 

What you can find on the “Roads” available on Oct 30th!

• Roads
• Need You Now
• Cuore
• The Blower’s Daughter
• My Way
• Unless You Mean It
• Always on My Mind
• On A Night Like This
• Ave Maria
• Falling
• Viva La Vida

 

 

 

You can purchase “Roads” from iTunes or Amazon.

 

Our Thoughts:

 

I really enjoyed this cd. Its not really my normal listening music, but there was something capturing about it. His voice is so soothing. I put it on my Ipod, and listened to it before bed. I’ve turned in on my computer, and we have all listened to it while doing chores. It just seems to be a great collection.

I think my favorite is the The Blower’s Daughter. There is just something about that song. I love his voice, and the music. Aguilera even makes a nice ending to it. Their voices together were amazing!

My kids love the song “Need You Now” and they really liked his version as well. I think this CD is great for the young and old.

 

This would make a wonderful Christmas Present for the music lover in your family.

 

 

*This is a review post from One2One Network. I was provided with a copy of the album and I am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkey’s.