GrandBox Review

Send Grandma and/or Grandpa a GrandBox. It's the perfect gift for Grandparent's Day, their birthday, Christmas, or just to show them how much they are loved!

Before I got the box I didn't really know who to give the box to:

• My grandpa would love to get this considering he can't drive, and hardly gets mail. If it goes to my Grandpa - I'll add a fidget spinner because he got into playing with one at our house.

• My parents help out the most. They really bend over backwards to help take care of the boys. It would be nice to send this to them. 

• My in-laws never get to see the boys. They would like to get mail as well.  

Now I still don't know. My Dad is on a very limited diet due to psoriasis around his eyes, my Mom is on that same diet trying to loose weight, my Mother in Law is dieting due to weight loss, my Father in Law I can't see liking many of the snacks, and my Grandpa I can't see liking anything but the cookies. Most of them are on the Paleo Diet.

My boys will like everything in it, so I'm going to indulge, and let them have the snacks. I'll save the dice game for a kid's friend birthday party. We already have the game.

I do love the idea of sending this to someone the boys and I love! If the grands in my life weren't dieting it would be great for them.

What came in the GrandBox:

I thought maybe the grands would like the room spray, but my mom said, "No." I'll keep it in our bathroom. It's Honey and Almond Room Spray.

My boys love cookies! I used to make them more. Isaak was all excited about Maple Creme Cookies from Dare.

I like BigSlice Kettle Cooked Apples. I like them on top of Apple Sauce. One morning this week we'll have to have this for breakfast. 

I  think Mica's so to love Cornbread Crisps - Honey Butter by Farmer's Pantry.

We have a few Tenzi Dice Games already.  I got them to review awhile back. Isaak love the one he has, my nephew Elijah is getting one for Christmas, and I'll save this one for one of Isaak's friend's birthday. Have you played this?

GrandBox is a monthly subscription box curated specifically for seniors 65 and up. Each box can be personalized with family photos and a note. It's the perfect gift to bring a smile to your loved ones. 

If they go by Grandma and Grandpa, or Nana and Pop it's the perfect gift!

GrandBox, the subscription box for the ones who cared about you. Order yours now! http://www.mygrandbox.com/

My readers get to save!

GrandBox perfect is the perfect gift for your older loved ones! Save on your first purchase!
http://usfamilyguide.com/coupons.php?bid=13139&dealid=3064 .@usfg

Disclaimer: I received my own GrandBox to review in exchange for writing this post. GrandBox and US Family Guide did influence my writing, or future review.

WW: Pac-Man {Linky}

I get into Halloween more than my kids do. I work at an art college, so most of my students get into the holiday as well. To me it's a fun day to dress up, and be creative.

Isaak's being the same zombie he's been for 3 years now. Mica may or may not dress up.

At Isaak's school Fall Festival I dressed up. Hey if I'm going to buy or make a costume I'm going to wear it more than once.

Punched and hand cut sticker vinyl on a black shirt and black pants. A yellow swimming hat. I haven't decided if my make-up is going to be this way for Halloween or not. I may have more pictures after Halloween.

Do you dress up for Halloween?

@gleegum - Gum Pops Review

It's almost Halloween time! 

I have a few questions for you:

1. Do you dress up? 
2. What kind of candy do you hand out? 

I've been trying to stay away from sugar, which isn't easy considering that my work has it all over the place.

Glee Gum sent me Gum Pops and Glee Gum to review. It's great because it's sugar free, but has the sweet taste that I'm craving.

We've gotten Glee Gum products to review in the past. Never have they disappointed us. I love that their product are fun, tasty, have great packaging, and are not filled with sugar.

Flavors:

• Sweet Strawberry
• Crisp Green Apple, or as we call them Crisp Green Apel Ha! Blog name - Last name.
• Juicy Orange

I was just a tad sad that they only had one Crisp Green Apple! It's my and Isaak's favorite. That was the one he picked to eat.

He said it was good!

About Gum Pops: 

• Allergy-friendly 
• Vegan 
• Made Without Artificial Colors (No Blue 2 Lake or Red 40)
• Made Without Extra Flavors (Made With Tree Sap From the Rainforest of Central America. It's Made From Chicle, Which Helps Conserve the Rainforest 
• Made Without Added Sweeteners (Like Aspartame or Acesulfame K) 
• No Added Preservatives (Like BHT)
• Certified Kosher by the International Kosher Council 

Ages:

3 and up!

Isaak is 9, so he's well over the age limit. He was a little concerned because he has a space maintainer in his mouth. He was told not to chew any gum. I told him to just chew it with his front teeth. He did just that, and had no problems.

Cost:

$6.95 per bag of Glee Gum - Gum Pops. If you spend more than $50 on their site you get free shipping.

Flavors of Glee Gum:

• Peppermint
• Bubblegum 
• Lemon-Lime 
• Wintergreen
• Mixed Berry 
• Tangerine 

Their Kits:

Encourage parents and kids to learn about what they are eating. Kits are $13.95 per kit.

• Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit
• Make Your Own Chocolate Kit
• Make Your Own Gummies Kit

All Glee Gum products are packaged in recyclable material. I love that they can have something a little sweet that isn't packed full of dyes, sugar, and crap.

Follow Glee Gum:

Check out their webstore
Facebook (Glee Gum)
Twitter (@gleeguy)
Pinterest (Glee Gum)
Instagram (glee.gum) 
Sign-up for their monthly e-newsletter with exclusive deals & offers

What's something you'd like to try from Glee Gum?

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 am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Glee Gum provided me with a free sample of this product to review. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review.

Madagascar A Musical Adventure @RoseTheaterCo Review

We had a chance to visit The Rose Theater again!

Right now they are showing DreamWorks Madagascar A Musical Adventure. My boys like the moves, so I thought it would be a great one to see on stage!

It's always fun to see the set design, and their stage is just beautiful!

This didn't seem to be as big of a show as some of the others that had intermissions, and a live orchestra. It still was fun!

About the Play: 

Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the Giraffe, and Marty the Zebra have an unexpected adventure. They go from Central Park Zoo in New York where they are adored and cared for to Madagascar where they are wild, free, and hungry. Different animals make appearances along the way. Notably the penguins and the lemurs added humor to the musical.

The musical really gets into different types of friendships. I really liked the relationship of Alex and Marty. They were a great duo in the musical. Of course they go from being the best of friends to Alex wanting to eat Marty because of his natural instincts.

The costumes were pretty great as well!

Here's Marty:

Here's Alex:

I felt like they could of added to Gloria and Melman's costumes just a bit. 

Cast and Crew:

Marty the Zebra: Is the one that's bored with life in the Central Park Zoo. He wishes he was in the wild. 

J. Isaiah Smith

Alex the Lion: Is the leader of the pack. He sticks with a friend so much as to leave his safe surroundings to go to the wild Madagascar just to be there for Marty. He experiences a falling out with his friendship.

Jordan Smith

Melman the Giraffe: Is the worrier. He's always nervous that something may not go right. 

Manny Oñate

Gloria the Hippo: Tries to add humor to the scenes.  

Sue Gillespie Booton

Director: Kevin Ehrhart

Assistant Director: Geran Ramet

Music Director: Jerry Brabec

Choreographer: Sue Gillespie Booton

There's more people in the show!

They made me want to Move It!

Ages This Show:

Is best for ages 5 and up.

Time Frame:

75 Minutes.

Show Dates:

The show is at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska from October 6-22, 2017.

I know I'm late in reviewing this. They have Van Gough and Me coming up November 3-12! After that is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever December 1-23! Please go check them out!

Contact The Rose Box Office: 

• 402.345.4849 for more information

• This musical is sponsored by Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Mutual of Omaha, the Whitmore Charitable Trust, the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment

Remember to move it! 

Disclaimer: I received tickets from The Rose Theater to see Madagascar A Musical Adventure. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Boy's 2-Pack Camo Pajama Pants + Slipper Socks

My boys don't really wear pajamas. They do however love pajama pants, and on weekends they like to wear their robes.

Recently I got Mad Dog Boy's 2-Pack Camo Pajama Pants + Slipper Socks to review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XYFN6CP

I had Mica try the set on, but I'll be giving the set to Isaak for Christmas. It's a tad short on Mica, but will fit Isaak perfectly. Clothes go directly from one son to the next.

Sizes:

We got a size 14-16 to review. Mica's in that size for pants. I wasn't sure if this set would be for him, or Isaak. I knew one of my kids would get some use out of them. They fit Mica, but I'd want a size up for them to last through the winter. They don't have a bigger size. I just have pretty tall kids.

• Size 6
• Size 8
• Size 10-12
• Size 14-16

Cost:

$16.99, which is a great price for 2 pj pants and slipper socks. It's on Prime shipping!

Material: 

Polyester! They wash up nice. 

The slippers have no slide fabric on the bottoms. They work great on our wood floors.

Are you a fan on pajama bottoms for lounging around the house in?

Disclaimer: I received this pajama pant and slipper sock set to review in exchange for writing this post. Mad Dog did influence my review.

Multifunctional Outdoor Rain Poncho

I think it's great to have a poncho around. We have rain coats, but they just don't cover you as much as a poncho does.

Mica just got a Multifunctional Outdoor Rain Poncho https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071F6DJ6F made by: Winis to review. 

Uses:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Walking
• Picnicing
• Fishing
• Cycling 
• At the Bus Stop

Since Mica takes the bus now it's good to have something to wear in the rain.

Bag:

I have a love/hate relationship with the bag that the poncho fits in. It's tiny, so it doesn't take up a lot of space (love). It's good the poncho comes with a bag, so other things don't get wet (love).

I dislike how hard it is to get in the bag (hate). Even I had trouble getting the poncho in the bag. I can't see Mica being able to fit it in there. We started out folding it all nice to put it in - flag style. That didn't work at all! I started shoving it in, and it was still difficult.

Picnic Time:

I never thought to put a poncho on the ground all flat like to use it as a picnic blanket. It's not thick like a picnic blanket, but cool that it could in fact be used this way.

Colors:

• Orange (like we got to review)
• Blue

I do like orange because it's bright to see in the dark. Blue is fun as well. I didn't really get a choice. Orange was the color we got. Being the Color Theory teacher that I am I would suggest they offer more colors to pick from.

Hood:

It pulls tight with the toggle cord.

Cost:

$16.99 on Amazon Prime.

What would you use the poncho for?

Disclaimer: I received this poncho to review in exchange for writing this post. Winis did influence my review.

Random Tid Bits

1. I wish I could share good news about my nephew Emerson. He's been in the hospital for seizures. They've tried different meds. Nothing so far has helped. In fact things have just gotten worse for him. His 2 minute seizures are now 15 minutes! All these meds have side effects.
   
   Little Emerson has needed extra O2, a catheter had to be put in because he couldn't pee - they don't scan his bladder right because it is shaped funny, he was blocked with stool, he's sleepy but can't sleep well, he his thyroid was on the low side, he had a fever, he got a huge rash from one med that they have had to stop. Some doctors are all about helping Emerson, while others won't even show up. My heart melts for their family.
   
   I'm taking in Emerson's 3 brothers this Friday for the Isaak's school Fall Festival.
   
   
   



2. Isaak keeps getting papers like this sent home: 




To me it's crazy to grade 4/4, but whatever he's doing well.


3. Isaak got into Show Choir. I'm so glad he's taking his own path, and not following in his brother's footsteps. Mica did great! Isaak is Isaak. They are two different people with two different personalities. 


4. Mica to is doing well. He got a postcard in the mail from his math teacher saying how he's doing so great in class. Mica seemed proud! That was good.
   
   It inspired me to talk with my good students, and tell them how proud I am of how hard they work. I don't think it's going to go to their heads. They worked for it, and deserve it.


5. I'd say I'm ready for a relaxing weekend, but it will be a busy one: The boy's school Fall Festival with 3 cousins tagging along, an overnight with cousins, flu shots on Saturday morning, basket ball game Sat. morning, a friend get together somewhere in there (she's visiting), the boy's Leadership Camp Sat. night, and maybe Sun. will be a clean-up craft day.
   
   What do you have planned for the weekend?

#MeToo

I have a few #MeToo Stories. If you're unfamiliar with what I'm talking about click here to get an understanding. It's all over social media, and on the news.

I'm fairly an open book. By telling my story it will help others to open up to. Anyone that has been assaulted is not alone.

I do agree with Alyssa Milano - We need to talk about sexual assault. There are a lot of grey lines.

Story 1:

I was in a group in Science class when I was in 7th grade. I was with 2 boys.

I never kiss a boy yet, and was pretty terrified to even talk to the opposite sex.

1 boy in my group put his pencil upright on my chair, refusing to let me sit down, and kept saying, "Come on sit and spin!" I pushed him away and said, "STOP! Let's get to work." He then put his hand on my upper leg and kept saying, "You know this is what you want." The other boy laughed. I said, "No! That's not what I want!" I kept shoving his hand off my leg, and he kept putting it back.

Towards the end of class I went up to my male teacher and said, "Is it ok if I switch groups? I'm with 2 boys, and they keep saying and doing inappropriate things to me."

The teacher didn't ask questions. He let me switch groups.

Two things happened that day: I became all the more afraid of guys. I also met one of my best friends. She was in the group I changed to. I'm still friends with her today.

During high school that same friend mentioned above that I'm still friends with today was skinny. A group of guys used to walk behind us and would say, "I bet if I had sex with her, I'd break her in 1/2."

Story 2: 

When I was in high school I took a few old school photography classes. On the first day of class my favorite teacher said, "Girls do not go into the dark room alone, or be in there with 1 guy."

What he said stuck with me.

I was in the dark room timing my prints. Photography paper is, and was really expensive. There were about 5 people in the room with me. All the sudden my fellow high school peers started walking out of the room. I was left in there with one boy. I was almost done with what I was doing. If you've never taken a photography course, timing is everything! If you take the paper out of a chemical too quickly then you can mess up a print.

In my mind I was thinking, "Time hurry up! I'm not supposed to be here right now!" What I should have done, opened the door, and shouted for someone to come back in the room. I didn't think of that.

I was standing at the chemical bath just waiting impatiently.

The boy that was in there was a few years younger than me. I had talked to him few times. About the only thing I knew about him was that his name was David Story. David came up behind me, grabbed my boob. I elbowed him hard. He held on saying, "Come on you know you want this." I shoved him hard, and left the room.

My heart was racing. I did what many woman would do. I did nothing. Why did a do nothing? Because I was told not to be in the dark room with a guy alone. I felt like it was my fault.

There are more stories, but those stuck with me the most. Overall most guys were respectable. Anything that did happen was mutual. I'm thankful that I was never raped, or brutally attacked.

I do wish that more people talked about this subject openly. Maybe then at time I wouldn't have felt so alone, or would have stood up for myself more. 

WW: Vines {Linky}

We were on our way to an art opening, and I spotted some vines on a brick wall. I said, "Get over there 1 by 1, and I took everyone's photo. Then my husband took my photo.

Isaak was easy to shoot. He puts on a good smile for me. He lets me know when a smile isn't going to happen.

Most of Mica's photos had "goof" all over them. He plasters on crazy faces, then laughs.

I usually have to shoot a few of Travis. He loves to open his mouth to say things to the kids, or I. Then it looks like he's singing to the camera.

Travis took a few of me. One with glasses and one without. I'm not totally used to my glasses just yet. Sometimes I swear I see better without them than I do with them. I wonder how long it will take to get used to them?

Introducing Fama @famahire

I love companies that are all about solving problems. 

I tell my college students every year that if there's one thing I want them to get out of my classes it's to be able to solve their own problems.

• If my students don't have the money to buy a canvas or illustration board to paint on, then cut down cardboard to work on. 

• If a certain art technique isn't working how they'd like, figure out how to make it pan out. 

• Dive into coming up with an idea, and make that idea transform into a concept. An idea is just the spark of something. A concept is when an idea is executed through the technique, and medium chosen.  

Fama gives online identity analysis. They provide solutions to some of the toughest problems. They turn online identity data into actionable insight. 

Employers can gain information about individuals, and their online presence.

It is hard coming up with a name that is unique, and fits a person. When I first started blogging I used the name Planet of the Apels. It was already in use, and I didn't even realize this. It's hard to think, and find something different. When I changed the name of my site I wanted something that tied the two together. I kept my name in there. It may be considered risky, but I wanted something that spoke for my family. An Apel a Day we became.

One of the hardest things about manual social media screening is finding the right profile. Fama helps with that.

Having a presence is much more than a name.

• It's behavior
• It's how things appear
• It's who you want to market

Fama works to develop these customized elements internally.

Data is important, but what if you could take collecting data further? Fama has a team that is capable of gathering comparative analytics. Making things consistent throughout your site, and social media is important. It builds a framework, so people know what company or who to trust.  

Fama gives you a Social Media Background Check. Go check them out!

It's always good to look over resources. Fama has many!

• Legal Book - Lawyers weigh in on the legal aspects of social media screening.
• YouTube - Watch videos with experts on business and social media use.
• Case Studies - Examples that have worked in the past really helps to understand what you're about to get into. 
• Twitter - Innovative knowledge about social media, and where it's going.

Do you like social media? What's your favorite platform? I find myself on facebook the most.

Disclaimer: Fama helped to sponsor this post. They did not influence me to write this post. This post was written by me. I only review things I think my family, friends, or readers would be interested in.