Saturday, September 7, 2013

Wearever Socks by Buster Brown Review

I got chance to review socks by Wearever called Buster Brown. I remember the brand Buster Brown from when I was a kid. They've been around since 1904. That's a long time!


The package came with 3 pairs. I'm so happy because I go through dark socks like crazy with work. I need something to wear that is comfortable.


 About Buster Brown Socks:
  • They have been around since 1904
  • They are 100% Cotton anklets
  • There is no elastic and no syntetics
  • Good for people with diabetes
  • Come in white or black
  • Sizes run from 5-12
  • Price: $8.95
  • The only negative for me is that they are made in China and not in the US
They are super soft. I can see why they've been around for so long!

I've washed them, and they stayed soft. I also use wool dryer balls, which help with all my laundry.

Washing Instructions:
  • Machine wash warm
  • Tumble dry low 
  • Non chlorine bleach 
Like Them:
Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get products to help with the review.
 
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Metal Slides - Gene Leahy Mall

We went downtown last night. They have a park with big gigantic metal slides there. I took the boys there, while Daddy went to go fix a sign that was at a gallery he has his artwork in.

It was so odd. There was this adult male sitting in the center of one of the slides; just talking on his cell phone.

There was about 15 kids standing in line to go down the other slide. Of course none of the kids could go down the other slide because this strange guy was parked in the middle of it.

He was on his phone for about 20 minutes. Part of me wanted to say something. I was afraid to. I didn't know what kind of person he is.

Another part of me wished a kid would just go down that slide full force on waxed paper, and smack right into the guy - oops they didn't know he was there. Of that is wrong to. Two wrongs do not make a right. I can still think it though.


All the Moms were giving this guy dirty looks when their kiddos were standing in a line to use the other one.

He finally looked up and said to no one, "Sorry I had to take that call." In the middle of a slide, REALLY?

These slides are much more fun with wax paper under your butt. Daddy grabbed some, but left it on the table. Oh well. They played tag and kept going down the slides.



In the end they were wore out and sweaty. Mission accomplished.


Superman

Mica's wanted a Superman outfit since last year. When he was in reading Isaak a bedtime story the other night, I sneaked into his room and put a Superman costume in his locker with some of his other dress up clothes. *Yes he's 8, and he still loves to dress up.

I didn't think he'd see it right away. I thought it would just sit there for awhile. As soon as he went into his room he saw it.

He said, "Thank you so much for the Superman outfit Mom!"

Isaak said, "You are welcome. I helped pick it out."

The funny thing is, is Isaak didn't help pick it out. I got it on Amazon. It's alright I want Mica to appreciate Isaak more, so I let it go.

The morning after breakfast Mica put on his Superman outfit.


Such a serious face! Superman doesn't smile, he's too manly for that!

Mica kept thanking me and his brother. Isaak kept saying, "You're welcome." Daddy and I looked at each other with a smile on our faces. 

I finally got a smile out of Superman.


Mica's too skinny for the costume, but the length is perfecto. He loves having muscles.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

Have you every heard of Balmorhea? I've never heard of them. This week I needed to listen to someone/something that was calming. This year all of my handouts for my classes are being changed from one program to another. I also have a new book, which requires me to read. Balmorhea is just what I needed.

Their name is pronounced Bal-more-ay. It is a six-piece instrumental group from Austin, TX.  Founded by Rob Lowe and Michael Muller in 2006, the band has produced five full-length albums, including Stranger, which was released in October 2012.

Balmorhea’s first works reflected American Southwest: the folklore of Texas settlers, the emotive proclamations of the mountainous setting, and intimate studies on solitude, nature, and night. They added more members to their band. Their focus is a collection of ideas, textures, and sounds into one landscape.

The New Yorker called them “an exemplary experiment in restraint”.

It isn't get up and dance kind of music. It's the type of music I listen to when I want to get other mental things done.

Source
Playing Live


Remembrance - I promise it doesn't stay slow all the way through.

Check out Balmorhea's website.
Follow their blog.
Check out their Facebook page.
Follow them on Twitter.

Friday, September 6, 2013

CollageIt Pro for Mac Review

I had a chance to review CollageIt Pro for Mac. Check out the app store to download it. I have to admit I had a few technical issues with downloading it at first. I did get it.

I'm used to Photoshop, so this was a fun change from that. It's limited to the effects from Photoshop, but does everything in such an easy way.



This software can be used on Macs and Windows. I'm so used to programs and games only being for Windows. Then it makes me sad because I can't use them. :(

CollageIt Pro creates collages in the matter of minutes. It's pretty simple.

  1. Choose a template
  2. Upload your images (however many you want)
  3. Drag your pictures into the collage template
  4. Save and there you have it
You can edit what you have. You can crop images to fit them better into the layout.

Features include:
  • 45+ new templates and 4 collage styles: Mosaic, Grid, Center and Pile.
  • Simply add photos using “Random Layout” to generate layout automatically.
  • Use “Free Mode” to move, resize, rotate each photo.
  • Free to zoom in on collage, crop photo, adjust border of round corners, customize backgrounds, photo effects, etc.
  • Add text and edit its font, size, color, alignment, effects, etc.
  • Edit and preview collage with full-screen mode.
  • Save as image/PDF; set as wallpaper; share via Email or Facebook; print it out instantly.

Check out more features on their website.

I loved the pictures I took of Isaak right before he went to Kindergarten. I decided to feature those in a college. Then I made other boxes with text.


Check out CollageIt Pro yourself. I think it's great for bloggers! You can get creative with it, or be really simple.



Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get products to help with the review.
 
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Learning

Mica has homework. It's really easy for him right now, so Daddy gives him more homework. The hard thing for him right now is telling time. I had the hardest time telling time when I was little to. I said to myself, "Why bother? All the clocks at home are digital. At school they always tell me when and where to go." It just slipped by me. Then in 5th or 6th grade I took a standard test, and it was caught that I didn't know how to tell time. I had to go where all the kids who are challenged go; to learn how to tell time. So Mica is learning. He learned last year, but forgot, or it didn't sink in.


Since Isaak doesn't have homework yet, I've been giving him activity books to work on. Previously Isaak had no interest in activity books. I'd buy them for vacation, and he refused to even pull them out. Now that he sees Mica doing homework, he's getting into them.


I set a table up for Isaak in the living room. His room is pretty small, so not a lot of room for too many things.

Then we're trying to get Mica involved with Isaak. Mica generally has always liked to do things on his own. Daddy's talked with him about working with Isaak on sight words. We saved Mica's sight words that he had to learn from the past. Then I had Mica read to Isaak at bedtime.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Sight Words Level 2 By Rock N Learn Review and Giveaway

I love products that are fun, and help my kids learn at the same time! 

I had a wonderful chance to review Sight Words Level 2 by Rock N Learn.

This DVD is perfect for Isaak; who just started Kindergarten this year. Mica helps him with site words he has to learn for school. This DVD helps all the more. He thinks he can't read, but he knows how to sound stuff out. Isaak was still zoned into the TV! Mica kept telling him, "Isaak you have to say what's on the screen! That's how you learn."





What I love about any Rock N Learn DVD is that it repeats in a fun what they want the child to learn. They enforce dialog, singing and dancing. Words turn yellow as they talk, or sing them.

Isaak seemed to really enjoy the DVD they sent us. He was like this:
 

The whole time the video was on.


The Words Covered on Sight Words Level 2: 

Some of the words from Level 1 are reviewed on this DVD. Then they get into new words.

like • this • new • but • old • too
what • bear • black • brown • white
do • did • eat • ate • ran • say
four • dog • they • are • all • under • trees
who • will • be • good • at • am
he • came • by • get • her • went • ride • boat
yes • or • no • please • thank
that • pretty • was • on • she • saw • with
our • must • have • had • now
want • into • room • out
when • were • there • so • soon • well

About the Rock N Learn Sight Level 2:

The DVD is filled with bright, colorful animation to help capture interest. It has humor, and catchy songs. There are different characters like zany armadillo Festus and his friends that make this video fun to watch. 

Find a store near you! 

Rock N Learn has videos for older children as well. Don't just think of it as being a product just for little ones.


It's Giveaway Time! One of you is going to win your choice of DVD or CD. - US only. A $19.99 value. 

They were nice enough to send me a coupon code for you to get 25% off anything off their site! It is: JQ7711 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. You need to be over the age of 18 to enter. This giveaway is for the US only. I did get products to help with the review. The winner will need to respond back within 48 hours, or I will pick a new winner. 
 
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Funny of the Day

I've been trying to give Isaak more direction in doing thing. He's the type of kid that either destroys things to make things, or says, "I'm bored!"

I now have a drawer in our coffee table that is a collection of activity books. In the past he's never wanted to do these. One night he picked a sticker book that had math problems with them. He enjoyed it, but must have gotten bored in between.

I found about 5 pencils with small water balloons attached to them.

All I could think of is, "He's practicing for the future." One thing is for sure, that pencil is staying safe.


It gave me a good laugh!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

WW: Locker {Linky}

We got another big project done!

For years we've had a locker storing paint. I got it when a gym nearby was getting rid of it. I knew one day I wanted it to be in Mica's room. I wanted to wait until he and Isaak were past the slamming door/being rough phase.

I knew it would go perfect with his locker bed.



We've never done a project like this. At first I read that you have to get a locker sand blasted to repaint it. I was unsure of the cost. It is heavy to! Then I read that you just have to sand it. 

I sanded and sanded it.



Then Daddy primed it.


I kept having to go get more primer, and some Dukes of Hazard Orange (Mica's request).


We cleaned his room off and on all weekend. Here's the final result:


He's happy with it. Not so happy having to clean, but happy with the locker.




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Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com