Saturday, September 27, 2014

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

Today I'm featuring an artist named Andrew Thomas Huang. Not to be confused with Andrew Huang I featured last week. I found one through the other. At first I thought they were the same person until I saw an interview, and knew oh that's a different guy.

Source
He is a filmmaker and artist from Los Angeles. His work has been showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles.

Bjӧrk handpicked Andrew to direct her music video for Mutual Core from Biophilia, which premiered at MOCA Los Angeles. He has since gone on to direct for Sigur Ros and Thom Yorke.

Solipsist


An interview with Andrew Thomas and what it was like to work with  Bjӧrk on the video Mutual Core


Andrew also directed this video: Atoms for Peace - Before Your Very Eyes.


Check out Andrew Thomas Huang's website.
Follow Andrew Thomas Huang on Facebook.
Follow Andrew Thomas Huang on Twitter.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Random Tid Bits

  1. My first year students are really bad with deadlines this year. I take off for them being late, but it does nothing to motivate them. 

  2. I'm trying out essential oils to help with my allergies. Daddy rolls his eyes at me and says, "Really! You're into witchcraft now." I'm willing to try alternative things if they help.

  3. The boys spent the night with their cousins last weekend. I know why my mom hated when we had overnights as children. Little sleep = grumpy children the next day. At least they had fun.

  4. I feel like I have a pretty good relationship with both of my sisters. Do we see eye to eye all the time? No. I wouldn't see eye to eye with anyone all the time. I just wish that the two of them would talk. I'm really tired of being in the middle of a no talking war. My husband's family has people in it that don't get along as well. It makes family events stressful. I just want everyone to play nice so to speak. I get that getting along doesn't always happen. There is major things that can go down in a family that can split people up. This no talking war could easily be solved by each of them realizing that they just have different opinions, and let it go.    

  5. I got my flu shot last week. My doctor's office is seriously 5 minutes away from my work, which makes it so handy. I like getting flu shots at the doctor's office because insurance covers it. $15 isn't too much, but x that by a family of 4, and it adds up. At the doctor's office I don't have to fill out paper work because they have mine on file.

  6. The boys get their shots this upcoming weekend. It's great they make Saturday appointments. :) I've always had them get the shot over the mist. I just have more faith knowing that they get the shot. Anything with a mist doesn't always mist. My boys are generally pretty good about it. I give them a pep talk about why we get shots, and how they are helpful. Grandma had Polio a few years before the vaccine came out, and Isaak had Meningitis before he was old enough to get fully vaccinated for it. I used to get allergy shots, so there is plenty to talk about. In the end I hear, "That hurt, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was." Sometimes Isaak limps, because he's over dramatic.

    Why get the shot? I know so many people say, "I never get sick." That's my husband. Guess what? He one year got sick with influenza. He missed 2 weeks of work, and felt like he was going to die. I hear others say, "I always get sick even when I get the flu shot." The flu shot is meant to cover influenza. It's not meant to cover the common cold, sinus infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, or the stomach flu. Influenza will knock you on your butt. Even though those that have weakened immune systems are more likely to get influenza, anyone can get it. I have bad allergies, so I'm more at risk, and those that are around my nephew Emerson that really has a weakened immune system should get the shot. Medical staff members have to get a flu shot to keep their job. I hear others say, "I get sick from the shot." I'm hear to tell you I've been getting the flu shot ever since they started making them, and I've never gotten sick from it. I just get a sore arm. If you've gotten sick in the past it's more than likely a coincident. Have I had my doubts over flu shots and vaccines? As much as I'd like to say, "No." I can't. I have had doubts. Isaak got meningitis right after he got his first immunization for meningitis. Of course I've had doubts. Think about all the crap that is gone because of immunizations: Polio, many forms of Meningitis, Small Pox, Chicken Pox which can lead to Shingles, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and more. All of it could come back because not all countries have immunizations. Do immunizations cause Autism? One doctor claimed it did, but he only tested his theory on a handful of patients. All of which had Autism. It's been disproved that immunizations actually cause Autism. - You can read more about Autism and vaccines here.   

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Gravity Maze™ Review

I really like reviewing games. It's just plain fun. My boys enjoy playing board games just as much as video games. Recently I got Gravity Maze™ to Review.

This game is more for Mica's age. Isaak is obsessed with marbles. I think in time Isaak will love this game to. It's for ages 8 to adult.

The game is $29.99.

The game is a single player game. Mica enjoys doing things on his own, so this game really fits his personality. It's a marble run, logic puzzle. It's meant to build visual perception and reasoning skills. Think Fun also makes a wonderful games called Rush Hour, and Robot Turtles. It to pushes the player to think, and reason when playing.

It comes with different cards to help a child play at their own level. When first playing you can start with beginner, and work your way up to expert.


It comes with pieces that build up, and lock together. Each of the pieces has tunnels inside them. This allows the marble to travel through the pieces in different ways. Once the pieces are locked in you can put the marble down the track. The game comes with 3 marbles in case you loose 1 of them.

In this gravity-powered logic maze, you’ll arrange colorful, translucent towers to whisk your marble from starting point to target. Just like best-selling Laser Maze, you’ll rely on your visual perception and reasoning skills to find the single solution to 60 different challenges. The towers can be arranged in many visually stimulating structures offering lots of creative building time, but only one design will successfully carry your marble directly in your target.



My favorite things are that there are 60 different challenges, and that there are different levels to play. I recommend starting out with the beginner cards, and working your way to the harder ones. This is a great game for days were your child has little to do: Like a snow day, or if they are sick. It's low key in the mess, but still gets their brain thinking.


It would also make a perfect holiday gift.

Like Think Fun on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.


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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.

Luxe Beauty Microfiber Hair Towel Review


I am happy to introduce you to Luxe Beauty Microfiber Hair Towel. It is the softest towel that I've ever owned. *A $15.97 value.


What I love is that it doesn't take up a lot of room. It's thin, yet effective. It's 80% polyester and 20% polyamide. It is made from double sided brushed terry microfiber is extremely soft, gentle on hair and super absorbent.

It's so easy to take care of. It's machine washed on warm. Then tumble dry on medium. No bleach, or fabric softener is needed.


It washed up for us great. I actually measured it to see if it would shrink. It stayed 19"x39".

We make the boys take a shower after swimming, and after ju-jutsu. Both of those times are hectic. We rush home to begin our bedtime ritual. Often times I blow dry Isaak and Mica's hair quick before they go to bed. I don't know about you, but I hate sleeping on wet hair. I wanted to see if I used this towel if I'd need to blow dry their hair at all. I didn't.

Isaak was super pleased with how soft the towel is.


My only problem with taking pictures of him was that he kept saying, "Mom I have long hair. I'm a girl." He kept giggling, and was being silly.

The towel even stayed up in his hair nice.



I'm pleased with the softness, and how quickly it dries. I do wish that it came in a variety of colors. I'm more of a fan for bigger towels; it is a nice travel towel size. It's a great size for my kiddos!

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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.

OmahaLove.com

I nearly lost it two days this week. I was driving and Mica said, "Hey Mom have you ever seen the sign for omahalove.com?" I said, "What are you talking about?" He said, "Mom there's a sign for omahalove.com. I think we should sign Aunt Becky up on that site. You can meet people there." I said, "Oh really?" He said, "Ya."

Source
I was laughing so hard, but tried not to show my laughter. One thing is true with my children, and probably more is that if you laugh at what they are talking about they will obsess about the topic even more.

We went about the rest of our day.

A few days later we were grocery shopping. Right there in line was a guy I teach with. He was surprised to see us. He introduced himself to the boys. I said the boy's names for them. Then explained that I work with him.

The boys were extra chatty that night. That's nothing new. They were being so good, and helped me shop. Mica made the list, and both helped me put things in the cart. I was a pleased Momma.

I was in a good mood. I have a crazy sense of humor. My co-worker seriously reminds me of someone that would be on the old show Seinfeld. He talks like George, but has Kramer's facial expressions. His hair isn't as crazy, up in the air like Kramer's, but it's crazy. It's all one length, all brushed back, and grey. They guy has a good sense of humor.

I couldn't help myself. I tried, but it slipped out.

I said, "Mica my co-worker is a single guy. Why don't you tell him all about that sign you were telling me about. You know the one that matches people up with the love of their life."

Mica said, "I saw a sign with a website omahalove.com. You should go there to meet someone. You just register, and they set you up with the love of your life."

I'm still laughing my ass off. He was laughing to. No harm, no foul. Just good laughs.

I saw my co-worker the next day. He said, "Your boys talk a lot. They seem like nice kids though."

OraMD Breath Spray #Giveaway


I have tried OraMD before in a liquid form, without the spray. Trusted Health gave me a bottle of OraMD Breath Spray to me to try out.

Do you ever wonder what's in your toothpaste?

I saw just this week on the news that Crest (the leader of sales in toothpaste) admitted to adding polyethylene in their whiting toothpaste. Dentists were actually cleaning out tiny plastic balls out of their patient's gums. These plastic balls literally do nothing to whiten your teeth.

If you ever read the ingredients on most toothpastes there is a disclaimer that says something to the effect: WARNING KEEP OUT OF REACH FROM CHILDREN. If accidentally swallowed get medical help. Call poison control. I don't want to be scared to brush my teeth.

OraMD puts no harmful chemicals, sugar, alcohol, or additives in their breath liquid, or spray. It's 100% pure. It's made with almond oil, spearmint oil and peppermint oil. It's made to kill the bad bacteria in the mouth.
  • Sugar in other toothpastes actually feeds bacteria. It's great that there is no sugar in OraMD. 

  • Alcohol in mouthwash dries out the mouth, which can also be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow. OraMD doesn't have bacteria in their products. 

  • Artificial chemicals, additives, and flavors carry other health risks. OraMD doesn't have any of these additives.
 Properties of OraMD:
  • It kills the cause of bad breath
  • One spray in the mouth kills bad breath 
  • It leaves a really fresh clean feeling unlike anything you've ever experienced
Cost:

You can get OraMD Breath Spray in a .17 ounce single bottle for $8.95. One spray will seriously last you all day. You can get a 3 pack for $24.95. OraMD Breath Spray is sold also sold Amazon.

Check out Trusted Health on Facebook, and Twitter.

It's Giveaway Time!

3 of my readers have a chance to win OraMD Breath Spray!

This giveaway is for the US, Canada, England and Australia only.  There is no shipping/handling fee to the giveaway winners.

If you or anyone in your household has won OraMD Breath Spray before, please do not enter. Let someone else have a chance to try this wonderful product out.
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I received a OraMD mentioned above for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my read.

Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream Review

I still have stretch marks from when I was prego with the kiddos. I've lost some weight, but some is still there.

Body Merry's Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream is made to combat cellulite with their unique Caffeine + Retinol + Seaweed formula.

Full List of Ingredients:
  • Organic Herbal Mix (I do wish they'd state what that mix is)
  • Organic Aloe
  • MSM Methysulfonylmathane
  • Sodium Stearate
  • Kosher Vegetable Glycerin
  • Organic Coconut Oil
  • Menthol
  • Cetyl Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Algae Extract
  • Japanese Green Tea Leaf Extract
  • Fragrance (I wish this wasn't in it)
  • Organic Sweet Almond Oil
  • Hydroxyethl Cellulose
  • Carrageenan Gum
  • Retinol
  • Kelp
  • Dulse - Red Alga
  • Wildcrafted Horsetail - Shavegrass
  • Organic Cayenne
  • Apricot Kernel Oil
  • Vitamin E
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Potassium Sorbate
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Ethythexyl Glycerin
I have to say that looking at the ingredients, and looking some of the things up I'm impressed with much of what's in the formula, but there are other things I'm in question of: Phenoxyethanol, Ethythexyl Glycerin, and the fragrance.

Like all their products, it is free from harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates and phthalates. That's really good!

Applying it:

Message the gel-cream onto the affected areas twice daily (morning and night). It helps to clean the area you are applying it to first.  Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying it.

It's a fast absorbing gel-cream that helps visibly reduce the appearance of bumps and lumps. This formula leaves your skin looking and feeling younger, smoother, and tighter.

I've tried skin tighteners before. I don't like ones that are used on the face. I just feel like I have Halloween make-up on, or something. It just doesn't feel natural. This cellulite defense gel-cream doesn't feel bad at all. It absorbed into my skin quickly. It doesn't smell bad. I don't mind the tighter feeling on other parts of my skin. Instead of it making my skin feel tight, it actually just gives it a tingling feeling.

I do like the packaging. The red and white just looks pleasing.


It's great that it quickly absorbs into your skin. It's not sticky, or oily feeling.


Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream is rated perfect on Amazon. The price is $79.95, and is on sale for $27.99.

Connect with Body Merry Facebook and Twitter.

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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.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

WW: Hiking {Linky}

We went hiking at Platte River State Park this last weekend. 



I love seeing moss and lichens growing on trees.



There was a tepee off this trail.


The youngest one always has a stick in his hand.


A mini waterfall was off the trail.


The two boys spent the night with their cousins, and then went hiking afterwards. They hardly fall asleep in the car. This was a rare exception.


Do you ever go hiking?





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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