Saturday, November 9, 2013

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.

I discovered a band called City and Colour this week. I just love the Brittish way of spelling color, as colour. How about you? Do you like it spelled color, or colour?

Source
Anyway City and Colour has a nice sound. Their music is so peaceful sounding. I like everything about it, except for the fact that in the song Comin' Home they sing, "I've been to Lincoln, Nebraska and hell it ain't worth shit." I happen to love where I'm from. They could have added those lyrics just because it's all that would fit. Counting Crows has a song called Omaha, but they had never been here before writing it.

Dallas Green, the voice behind the music believes that songwriting should be organic, natural process and sincere moments captured in the studio. The music is not manipulated.

They have hit the music charts in the U.K. and Canada, but not yet in the U.S.

Harder Than Stone


I love the middle of the next song all the way to the end. 
 
The Girl


Like City and Colour on Facebook.
Follow City and Colour on Twitter, and Dallas Green on Twitter.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Mineral Hygienics Review

I am excited to share with you products from Mineral Hygienics.  I don't have a lot of make-up. It's nice to get a package in the mail full of girly things; especially since I have all boys in my life.


Included in the box:
  • Sheer Perfection Silk Translucent
  • Sheer Mineral Foundation Fair
  • Sheer Mineral Foundation Fairly Light
  • Mineral Enhancer Cool Kiss

About Mineral Hygienics:
  • They are the highest rated cosmetic across the world. Why? Because they are loose powders formulated from crushed minerals that are extracted from the earth.
  • All their products are long lasting.
  • All their products contain fewer ingredients. This helps with anyone like myself that has allergies.
  • Completely free of irritants such as talc, bismuth oxychloride, dyes, parabens, mineral oil, salicylates, carmine, synthetic fragrances, methylparaben, petro-chemicals, and many other questionable chemicals. I happen to have issues with sulphites. With make-up like this there are no worries.
  • All their products are natural.
  • They have been featured in a lot of well known sources such as: Women's Health, America's Bride, The New York Times WebMD, and more.
  • They have free shipping with any order over $75. 
  • Their mini starter kits are $29.99 and their full starter kits are $59.99.
Choose your skin tone: 
Their website gives you tips based on what skin tone you have.

My face is Fair to Light.

Fair - My face has a tendency to burn easily. My sensitive skin can show redness and I get some freckles on my nose in the summer time. I look best with cool, icy tones - particularly those with blue or pink undertones, because these are colors found in my skin.

Light - My skin tans with sun exposure, but I still have to be careful not to over expose yourself. I tend to burn, and then turn tan.

My Dad has red hair, so this is where I get my Fair to Light skin complexion. 

What are my thoughts?
I love that they have tips all over their website! It's great that that you can buy their product individually and in kits. I love knowing that they are allergy safe. I did not feel like I was coating on make-up. It's really natural feeling.


Like Mineral Hygienics on Facebook.
Follow Mineral Hygienics on Twitter.
Follow Mineral Hygienics on Google +.


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.  
The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel'sThe Apel'sThe Apel's   
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.

Tid Bits

  1. I'm busy rewriting a test today (Thursday). I had crossword puzzles in my tests. It takes so long to create an original one of those. Messing around with creating a table in InDesign is something else. At least I'm getting it down, and won't have to do it next year.
  2. Daylight Savings Time is hard to get used to. The boys have gone to bed early this week. they have been cranky in the evenings. I think it's hard on teachers to. Isaaak's teacher told the class that no one got a green (good) dot on Tuesday. He's had nothing but green dots since they started the dot thing a few weeks ago. One can't be perfect all the time.
  3. Daddy has been working hard on putting a sculpture together. His welder has been making one of our circuit breaker's go off. Before we had fuse boxes. 
  4. In one of my classes, my students are doing a campaign for a nonprofit organization of their choice. They usually get into it. As a teacher what do you do if a student breaks down crying during their presentation? I stopped her, and told her she could A) Take a break, or B) Try to keep going. I left it up to her. The poor thing tried to keep going. She's doing her non-profit on An Alzheimer's organization. Her Grandma currently has it. My Grandma passed away from it. Emotion was in the air.
  5. My sister is pregnant. It was hard to know how to feel. She has Evan 8, Elijah 5, Emerson (special needs) 2 1/2 and now she's pregnant with a healthy boy. At first I was scared for her, then I was annoyed that she wasn't careful. How is she going to take care of all of them? Now I've gotten past all that. I'll just go with the flow. I'll be an aunt in May. All together I have 5 nephews and only 1 niece.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Something

Isaak often asks me how to spell words. I don't usually pay much attention as to what he writes. I just spell the words for him.

The other day he wrote this:


It says, "I an do a something."

It's much better than a nothing.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

WW: Missing Tooth and Crazy Hair {Linky}

Isaak showed us his first wiggly tooth on Saturday afternoon. It was crazy because it was the first that we knew of that this tooth was wiggly. We brush his teeth most of the time, he does some of the time, so you would think we would know. He was excited, and nervous at the same time. Saturday evening he was wiggling it back and forth, and it popped out.


The only Tooth Fairy box we have says, "Mica" on it. I found a hand painted wooden box to give to him. The Tooth Fairy gave him $1.50.


Did you grow up believing in Tooth Fairy? Do you have kids that believe?

That same day we decided not to do Isaak's hair. I call his hair, "Troll Doll Hair". Usually Daddy sprays it back and combs it flat. Not on Saturday. Isaak got compliments at Costco, and at art galleries for his crazy hair.





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Monday, November 4, 2013

Mica Was the King of Play Dates This Last Weekend

We wanted Mica to play with someone, while Isaak was hanging out with Aunt Angela.
Somehow, someway communication isn't always on board. Daddy sets the playdates up most of the time because he picks the boys up from school. Some of Mica's friend's parents are from Africa. There's a language barrier to get through as well.

One kid Mica has been raving about. Mica's wanted him to come over for awhile now. We'll call him Boy A. The trouble is, is his mom's phone broke. We can leave messages, but she can't get them.

We have to work on phone etiquette with Mica!

Mica's Phone Message to Boy A:

"I've been waiting a long time for you to come over. Are you coming over? Oh and this is Mica."

He decided to try another friend. We'll called him Boy B. It to was awkward, but not as awkward because I told him exactly what to say. Boy B's Mother was impressed that I make Mica use the phone. She has older kids, and says now a days they only know how to text, not talk. Boy B couldn't play on Saturday, but he could play on Sunday.

Boy A's whole family came over and wanted to take Mica to the library to read books, and play on their computers. Later they came and played at our house for awhile. It was great; I just wasn't expecting it. I was kind of glad Boy B didn't commit to that day!

Sunday came and Mica called Boy B again. His mom said the day before that they could play at Boy B's Grandma's house. She lives right behind us. Boy B has come over to our house a few times.

Mica's Phone Message to Boy B:

"Hi this is Mica. I really want to go to your Grandma's house instead of my house. When will this occur?" 

Daddy and I looked at each other and both said, "Occur?" and started laughing.

Mica went over there around 1, and played for a few hours. 

He got home and had a soda in his hand.



He said, "Mom they gave me a Pepsi. I didn't realize it had caffeine in it; until I read the back of the can. I'm going to go dump it out. It really made me feel full." 

We don't drink soda regularly. They do. Not a big deal. Mica felt it was a big deal. To him it was like they were drugging him.

The next morning Mica told me that he told Boy B that his Grandma's house was boring. I didn't say too much that second. Sometimes I need a few minutes to process what to do, or say with my kids. 

At breakfast I said, 

"Mica do you remember that Little House on the Prairie where Nellie told Laura her house was boring? It made Laura feel so bad. He shook his head yes. I want you to go to school and give Boy B an apology. 

Tell him, 'Boy B I'm sorry for telling you that your Grandma's house was boring. I really wanted to play with you. It wasn't right for me to say that about your Grandma's house. I'm just thankful that you had me over.'"

I made Mica practice like I was Boy B. That to was just about as awkward as his phone messages. He practiced a few times. Daddy said he'd stand there and observe the apology before school to make sure it happened. 

For the record

It isn't just Mica that is awkward with the phone. Boy B did call while we were gone, and his message wasn't understandable at all. As for the rudeness factor, well we've heard that to. When Mica's had friends over they've asked us why we don't have candy and cookies around our house? Our food is boring.

Storyland Yoga DVD Review

I am very excited to share a fun company, and their products with you. I got a chance to review two products from Playful Planet. The first product is in the post prior to this one. This post is about their fun DVD called Storyland Yoga.

You can purchase their kids yoga DVD on their website for $14.99. It's well worth the cost.

Mica and Isaak were busy playing on their Nintendo DS. I mentioned that it was time for them to try doing some yoga. I thought I'd hear grumbles, but nope. They were excited to try this DVD out. Mica kept saying he was doing, "Yoda" instead of "Yoga", which made me laugh.


Right away they were involved. Mica kept helping Isaak get in the correct positions. Daddy and I were laughing with their sound effects. We truly loved that they were having fun. It's a great thing to put in when we're too busy to do things with them. Dinner time has always been part of the day when the kids are needy. This fits right into that time. It gives them a release at the end of a busy school day.


Benefits of yoga poses for kids:
  • Good for the mind and body.
  • O2 intake helps with the lungs and heart. 
  • Increases focus and concentration.
  • Improves mobility of the joints and flexiblity.
  • Helps with energy-flow, circulation, digestion and elimination.
  • Enhances natural connection to nature.
Our Thoughts:
  • I love that it has a story that goes with it. 
  • It says for ages 3 to 8. Mica is 8 and he got into it so much!
  • They bonded during the DVD. Mica helped Isaak get into the poses they were talking about.
  • I feel like it's worth the money. It's only $14.99.
  • The proceeds from the DVD are donated to "Save the Whales" and "Kid's vs. Global Warming" Foundations. 
  • The DVD is packaged in 100% recycled materials. 
  • Now I want mats and yoga clothes for my children. A bigger living room would help to.
  • It gave our kids a break from their normal day to day activities. 
  • It was a good length. Condor Trek is 23.10 and Save the Whale is 18:30.  
  • They've won 4 awards. To me that says, This is a good product.


Connect:
  • Like Playful Planet on Facebook
  • Follow them on Playful Planet on Twitter.

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.  
The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel'sThe Apel'sThe Apel's   
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.

Condor Trek Kids Book Review

I am very excited to share a fun company, and their products with you. I got a chance to review two products from Playful Planet. The first product I'm going to share with you is their book called Condor Trek Kids.

  
Condor Trek Kids is a book based on the first story on the Storyland Yoga DVD.  I will be reviewing the the kids yoga DVD in the following post.

Condor Trek Kids is a fun story about baby condor eggs that need to be brought back to the mountain to be with their mama.  The kids are encouraged to act out different animal poses and moves to help return the eggs to their home. There are a lot of questions that the kids are encouraged to answer.

It says,

It's a crocodile! Can you pretend to be a crocodile too? That way he won't notice us, and we can pass by him. 

Hold yourself up with your arms. Make your back straight like a board. Okay. Now, hold it!


 The boys love the rocket pages! They moved too fast to get pictures through some of it. It says,

Look! The Sun Dance is working. Do you see what I see? It's a solar-powered rocket ship. It's powered by the sun. Hop in! Put your feet up in the air. Don't forget to buckle up. Let's count down. 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6  Reach for the instruments. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

And... blast off! We are flying to the top of Sun Mountain!"


Some photos were hard to get because they kept moving. They were having a lot of fun.

This is from a page where they were stretching their hands in the air like tall trees.


Our boys love reading, acting, so we did hear animal noises coming from them. I was thinking that Mica who is 8 years old may not participate, but he loved it! He kept helping Isaak to get in the proper positions. They really bonded through reading and participating in the book and watching the DVD.

All the things I liked about Condor Trek Kids:
  • This got my kids up, and moving. 
  • It gives kids a great reason to pretend.
  • They bonded by helping one another get into poses. 
  • The story has a great message about being kind to our planet.
  • It's affordable. The book on Amazon is only $10.76.
Connect:
  • Like Playful Planet on Facebook
  • Follow them on Playful Planet on Twitter.
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.
 
The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel's The Apel'sThe Apel'sThe Apel's   
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.

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