WW: OPPD Arboretum {Linky}

The OPPD Arboretum is really close by us, and free. I never realized how pretty it is. I went to take photos of my sister's family. While we wait a few minutes for them to get there I took a few photos of my own boys.

The boys were running EVERYWHERE. I was running after them, and the whole sole of one of my boots fell off! I had those boots since 1997. It's not a horrible loss. It just made it harder to chase after my kids! Isaak in particular would not allow me to take photos of him. Especially when their cousins met up with us, there was no hope in getting photos. Most of these are of Mica.

I have two new giveaways up. They are low entry giveaways, so if you have a moment enter please. I'd be happy to comment a few times on your blog if you enter them.

Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job Book - Ends 12/9 US

Piczzle - Win a Small Cardboard Custom Picture Puzzle - Ends 12/9

Awarded

Right after I posted about Isaak getting an award at school, Mica got one.

In his class they do the award thing differently than what he's used to. In the past he was picked earlier on. Mica does know how to turn on the charm. He has his faults to. This year his teacher puts all the kids that are doing well in a bowl, and picks one out a week. It's not based on how good you are. It's just that you've been good.

Mica kept saying, "I'm never picked!" He'd say that when it came to Isaak getting his award, and when Isaak won a book from a bookstore. I kept reminding him about times that he has won things.

The award is all about being responsible, respectful and a good leader in the classroom.

Piczzle Review and Giveaway!

I've been eying Piczzle picture puzzles since last year. I saw it reviewed on a few other blogs. I wanted to include one of our family holiday cards on it. It can be something special the kids get out every year.

The picture was so easy to upload. It really uploaded fast. They have cardboard and wooden puzzle options. You can choose the amount of pieces to. I got a 308 piece puzzle *Value $32.95. Priority shipping is $6.95. That may seem like a lot, but they double box the puzzle to ensure it's safe. They shipped it out much faster than I expected.

As soon as the boys saw the box they of course asked, "What's in that?" When I told them they wanted to put the puzzle together right away. I kept putting it off because it was dark. Not a great time to take photos. No worries they got to put it together the next day.

I chose to upload to their site a holiday card from two years ago. It has a Christmas train that I knew the boys would love. They must have forgotten about that card. Isaak said when he was putting the puzzle together, "Mom where was this photo taken?" I said, "In our backyard son." He said, "But we don't have train tracks in our backyard." I said, "There's this thing on Mom's computer called Photoshop..."

The cardboard puzzle has 308 pieces. That didn't seem like a lot when I read that number online. For some reason it took us most of the afternoon to put it together. When we got to solid pieces many of them fit within the holes made. Then we got the next piece in, and realized it wasn't the right piece.

I'm glad it's challenging. I wanted something the boys could take out every year to put together. After all custom-make jigsaw puzzles shouldn't be boring. 

Isaak and I put most of it together. Mr. Mica man had a date day with Aunt Angela. Once I got Isaak rolling on a certain part of the puzzle he was determined. I had to initiate it though. Mica's always been into putting puzzles together, so I know he'll love doing it!

Mica got home and the boys fought over who put the pieces in.

Here is the end result:

My biggest fear is that we'd get the puzzle all together and have a missing piece. Luckily that did not happen! All the pieces were intact. The image seems like it will stay on there for a long time. 

Isaak did a little review of his own:

 

Overall I'm really happy with the puzzle. It was everything I hoped it would be. Piczzle really does a great job with their photo puzzles.

Win a small custom cardboard puzzle from Piczzle.

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. I did get products to help with the review.  
 

   

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.

Bulu Box - Discover a Healthier You Review

I love getting boxes of good for me things in the mail. Lately that's been happening more and more.

I just got a Bulu Box in the mail. It was filled with all kinds of great things.

They have some great deals going on right now that are perfect for the holiday season.

• Get your first Bulu Box FREE! - Purchase a 3 month gift for you, or a friend, and get the first month FREE with the promo code: JUMPPONIT3. This deal gets 3 months of Bulu Box for $15. Usually it would cost $30.  
• Get your first 3 Bulu Boxes FREE! - Purchase a 6 month gift for you, or a friend and get the first 3 months FREE with the promo code: JUMPONIT6. This deal gets 6 months of Bulu Box for just $30. Usually it would cost $60.

These are the items that came in my box:

My favorite things so far are the Simple Being Nutrition Slimming Smoothie Portion Packs and the Natural Vitality Raspberry-Lemon Flavor Natural Calm. I like to have protein smoothies before I hit the gym, and the Natural Vitality in the mornings that I'm feeling sleepish.

Each box comes with 4 to 5 healthy samples to try. It's a good introduction to know if you want to keep using the product, or not.

What I like about Bulu Box? 

• They have the full sized products that you can purchase on their site; once you know you want more of the product. I don't know how many times I've bought something in a big size, just to find out I didn't like it. I love that they start you out with samples.
• There are reviews of each product.
• The site gives you points when you buy from them. The higher the points you get, they more discounts you receive. 
• The only thing I wish about all sample boxes is that they would let you as a consumer choose the samples. It's great that this company focuses on health. You know you are getting samples that are positive.

Check them Bulu Box! 

• Read their healthy updates on their blog.
• Like them on Facebook. 
• Follow them on Twitter. 
• Follow them on Pinterest.

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.   

   

  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.

Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job Review and Giveaway!

I had a chance to review a book called Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job By: Tracy Brisson. It can be found on Amazon on paperback for $13.99 and Kindle for $9.99.

I'm always in a search for good books that will help my college students out. I teach their last portfolio class. Their resumes should be ready to go. Last year I took a look at them, and found errors. Mostly it was programs that they spelled wrong. Programs are not in their spell check. To defend my students programs are often times spelled oddly: QuarkXPress, InDesign, PowerPoint, Illustrator, Photoshop and more. Some are one word, some are two, and others throw a capital letter in the middle. There is no excuse for errors. The programs are right on their computer's dock. I've had students argue with me about how they think a resume is not needed in our field. Their argument is that their portfolio should speak for its self. I know better. If a Creative Director, or Art Director were to be hiring them sure they mainly look at their portfolio. If someone for the HR department was in charge of hiring they look strongly at their resume, and their portfolio comes second.

About the Book:

Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job will help me assist my students to manage a job search that attracts the attention of HR departments, top managers, and in my student's case top creative and art directors.

It features step-by-step pointers, detailed templates, interviews with instructors, eye opening stories from 13 years of recruiting teachers, and confessions on what hiring professionals really think about when reviewing resumes.

The book came out in June 2013. It's been on Amazon's top 25 list of bestselling resume advice books many times.

Things the Book Includes:

• Maintaining a good attitude throughout a crazy job search
• The purpose of cover letters
• Making a resume stand out
• Defining your online presence
• Formatting a resume, so it doesn't end up in the trash
• Giving hierarchy to the best things in each section of their resume
• Filling out applications

Who is the Book For?

• Anyone looking for an entry level to middle level job
• Teachers that help with this process 
• It would be a great gift to a high school, or college graduate 

What I Think:

I like that the book gets down to business. Some of the things I already talk to my students about. That's not a bad thing. It just let me know that I need to keep discussing those things. I like that there is a check off section towards the end of the book.

The writer Tracy Brisson is the founder and CEO of The Opportunities Project, a national talent development, coaching and recruitment consulting agency, and a recognized career coach, recruitment expert, and author. Kind of random, but I noticed that the writer lives in Savannah, Georgia. That's where I went to grad school. Such a pretty, blooming place.

Like Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job on Facebook, follow on Twitter to keep up with their latest news. Purchase the book on Amazon, or read on Goodreads.

Win the book Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job!

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. I did get products to help with the review.  
 

   

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.