What not to bring to the Real Refreshment Retreat with Apologia

Soon I'll be packing up and heading off to another Real Refreshment Retreat!  I'd LOVE for you to join me for this wonderful time of fellowship and rejuvenation for women from all around the country. Just in case you are wondering - I've made up a list for you of some things I found were NOT needed at the retreat:

1. Fire wood - The Westin Hotel in both Baltimore and in Atlanta both come with their own heating and air system. The rooms even have a mini- fridge available and microwaves in the refreshment center,  so there is no need to build a fire.

2. Blow up mattress- Check out the super comfy beds from the Westin here (REFRESHING) You'll have a hard time pulling yourself up out of these amazing beds - but the encouragement from friends and the wonderful speakers during the event will get you up and at 'em for sure.

3. A rotating fan - see #1

4. Kayaks - It's hard to leave home without them, but they will not be needed for this adventure.

5. A huge cooler full of food - I may or may not part with mine for this trip (we do like to haul our own food) but the yummy food at the Westin is a special treat and lunch on Saturday is included with your ticket.

6. Your men folk - this retreat is for the ladies, but the Bell hops come in handy for help with your luggage.

7. Coffee pot - they have them RIGHT in your 4-diamond room and there is also a STARBUCKS right there inside the hotel.

8. Fold out chairs - each room comes with several of their own and even a work desk including a space for your laptop (there is a fee for the wireless high speed internet service).

9. Life vests, fishing poles, helmets, water shoes, dry bag, and wet suite - see #4.

10. Smith & Wesson - there is a safe in the room where you can lock up your valuables and the good folks at the Westin hotel take great care of you so there is no need for packing heat. I did mention it is a luxury 4 diamond hotel - right? Swanky! 

RRR~ Sponsored by Teach Them Diligently - We'll be packing up to head to TN in May - you don't want to miss this fantastic homeschool convention - for the whole family
 - Family tickets just $45 until March 15 - Register by clicking the Featured Speaker box below:



linking with Apologia blog link 

EEME - Project Genius Light - Review and Giveaway

EEME update! 

Get your first month FREE when you sign up for the electronics classes. You receive the base project (see our review below) and a new project each month with online curriculum to walk you through each step.

Although the giveaway is over, you can still get your first month's project and curriculum FREE! Get the full details here. 

Our experience: 

I was impressed when the box arrived. Quality packaging with clear instructions promised we were in for a good experience with our new EEME project. Everything we needed was there. We had a battery box, a bread board, resistors, and LED light, wires, and sensor. 

The boys were excited; I began to panic. 

I don't do wires. My kids still have to program the remote and help when I go from Netflix to, well, anything. Electronics have pretty much baffled me from the get-go.

 I logged into the web site and was relieved to find a series of videos to talk us through the project. EEME's hands - on projects are paired with online curricula to guide the kids in assembling the project and also to teach the concepts applied. 

One after the other, the boys watched the simple, easy to follow instructions on the screen and didn't have any trouble following along and putting the Genius Light together.

 My 11 year old understood every part of it and needed no assistance in building his light box kit. The 7 and 8 year olds understood MOST of the videos. With a little review, and a minimal amount of help, they were able to grasp the electronic concepts. 

They have a love for robotics, so this was the perfect educational kit for them and  is a terrific STEM project. 

The online curricula provided clear cut explanation of the basics in electronics. The way the videos are set up, it is easy to stop and review the concepts. (OK, I was the only one who needed that, but I was glad it was available for those like me, who are not electronically inclined) Moms, this is one electronic experience you need not fear. If I can do it, anyone can. 

Upon completion my oldest proclaimed, "It WORKS. I'm officially a gadget geek!" 

They were all proud of their accomplishment and excited to share it with daddy, who was also thoroughly impressed with the Project Genius Light. 

Making learning fun is the best way to inspire your children,

 and EEME certainly does that, with finesse! 

Great for ages 7 and up - $50 value 

Now, I have good news, better news and the best news! 

The good news is . . . everyone has access to the FREE online curricula found here. 

Just sign up and log in to view the videos and learn these concepts. 

The better news is . . . my readers can purchase Project Genius Light for a 50% discount.

The cost is only $25 if you email: dad@eeme.co  with AdventurezinChildRearing promo in the subject line requesting your discount. 

The best news is . . . one of my readers will get a FREE Project Genius Light! Enter with the Rafflecopter below: 

*This Giveaway is Over - please see update at the top 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simply elegant Lilla Rose Giveaway and SALE from Paula Miller

Visit Paula Miller's Lila Rose shop to order yours! 

So, I'm not so great evidently at holding a mirror and a camera steady while I 

get a descent shot of the back of my head - BUT - the clip IS GREAT: 

One of my goals for the new year is to "pull" myself together - more often - at home. I do make an effort to throw on some lipstick each day and brighten myself up to teach the boys - BUT - most days my hair gets pulled into a pony tail with a rubber band. Most. days. 

Now, I have this cute little clip and just as quickly as I can brush my hair and pull it into a pony - I can twist it and clip it with the Lilla Rose clip! #Togetherin10 is simpler than ever

Paula Miller is celebrating a birthday - Happy Birthday Paula! AND Happy day to us cause Paula Miller CUSTOMERS ONLY can combine the 15% off with the Birthday Special (below) for tremendous savings!

Note from Paula: 

• Introduce a friend to Lilla Rose - When she enrolls as a brand new customer this month via my website and orders three items, have her email me at lrpaulamiller@yahoo.com and I'll send her a 4th item for FREE.
• Let me know that it was you who introduced your friend and you'll get a SURPRISE flexi from my bulging inventory in the size you request. (You can tell me your color and taste preferences too.)

Please share these offers with your friends - and they can pass it on to their friends! If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact  lrpaulamiller@yahoo.com.

Now- That is worth celebrating! Thanks Paula - 

Find Paula on Twitter and on Facebook 

There's more - Paula is offering a giveaway to one of my readers! Easy entry - Giveaway is open to US residents - and ends in 1 week : 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am paid for reviews and receive a product to test. The opinions in each of my reviews are strictly my own. 

Story Builder App - Review

Story Builder is designed to help children infer ideas, integrate ideas and form paragraphs. It offers a rich platform for young children to be creative as they improve their speech and auditory processing. According to the site - the app has been shown to assist young ones with autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorders.


As I observed my 6 year old become acquainted with the app, I could see where it could be quite useful for those with special needs . Spence needed a bit of coaching to get started with Story Builder - but he quickly got the hang of it. 


It helped for me to ask additional questions about the picture and assure him there were no "right" or "wrong" answers. Once he figured out that it was up to him to make up any story he wanted - he began to use his imagination and answered the questions from Story Builder with much more confidence. 

  

See the grin on his face? He was pretty pleased with himself as he learned to manage the App himself. Listening to his very own narrative of the story he created was good for his self esteem. Spence has had his own special needs to overcome and I look for ways to build his self esteem. I also look for ways to keep him occupied when I am busy with other tasks - and now that he an operate Story Apps on his own - we have a winning combination! 

Features: 

• Record feature allows students to record narrative in their own voice
• 3 levels of play
• Simple and intuitive interface to record narrative
• Recorded answers are stitched together to create complete narrative
• 50 distinct story lines to create narratives from
• Over 500 audio clips of questions to guide narrative
• Optional question text and answer introduction reinforcement

Story Builder was voted Best Reading App of 2011 - by the Huffington Post.

 It can be used on your ipad, iphone, or ipod touch. We used the iphone 3 without any problems. You can get it for your ipod or iphone here or the ipad app here. 

Screen Shot from the iphone: 

The Story Builder App is a wonderfully creative way to encourage story telling for your children. It does more than simply replay a story. It teaches them to connect the pictures with their thoughts, and shows them how to stream and organize their thoughts to tell an exciting story. Mostly, I loved seeing the pleased expression on the face of my little boy. 

*This review was done for The Old Schoolhouse Review Team - I received the app free to use with my children 

the opinions are my own - I only review products I feel are valuable for my family and my readers 

Awesome Science - Explore the Grand Canyon with Noah Justice

I cannot explain how refreshing it was to watch a dvd about one of our National Parks without all the 

"millions of years" talk clouding up the experience. Often times we have to stop the program and take 

time out to make sure the kids have caught the difference between the evolutionary theory and that of

the creation theory - which we believe to be true and factual. Not only that, but it was done in such a way that explains the scientific reasoning behind why we believe what we do. 

We are explorers. We love a good adventure - or an adventure story - and this dvd totally fit the bill! 

The boys all enjoyed it, but the best part is - they were able to recall the information after it was over. 

I loved having the study guide to go over the review questions immediately following the dvd. It was a great way to solidify what they'd learned. 

   

Awesome Science: Explore the Grand Canyon

Purchase the dvd's and you can download the study guide to go with it FREE!!! 

(If you would prefer - the study guides can be purchased in print for just $3.99)

Learn facts and information that will teach your children why the Bible can be trusted as the Earth's History book! Why does the Grand Canyon point towards the biblical record of the flood verses the evolutionary theories version that says it formed over millions of years? Find out for yourself in this interesting and top notch dvd from New Leaf Publishing Group/ Master Books.

I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do! The boys want to watch it again and again. 

A new fun feature brought to you by Master Books:

*Have you seen the "Creation Education Station" from Master Books?

*I received a free dvd from NLPG for my unbiased review of their product - the opinions are my own - If you purchase the 
dvd through the affiliate link attached to the pictures I will make a profit for our homeschool - thank you! 

DaySpring Giveaway and a Sweet Little Review 2

I received the sweetest little package in the mail this week for my review from 

the kind folks over at DaySpring

What you see here sitting on my table - next to my comfy reading chair - 

is a fabulous polka dot gift bag (with matching tissue), coffee cup, stack of tiered memos, 

and . . . .  my scripture filled journal! 

All from the awesome Everyday Joy collection!!!

Each page of the spiral bound journal includes a special scripture verse to jump start your 

thoughts for the day like: 

Psalm 4:7

"You have filled my heart with greater joy."

If you aren't familiar with their products - you can see more for yourself

here on the DaySpring site  - they are now a division of Hallmark.

This collection - along with several others to choose from - is on special this month

Buy 2 get 1 Free - so if you need to show some Love for The LOVE Month . . . . .

Personally - I've already had coffee and hot tea out of my coffee cup 

(well, I had to test it out for y'all - right?)

and I'm ga-ga over the journal - so, I'm struggling to share the love! 

My mother may win out though, she's a pretty special lady! 

And now - for the GIVEAWAY - I'm thrilled to be able to give one of my readers a 

coupon code for $50 to spend on the DaySpring site!  

AND FREE SHIPPING!

You do have a minimum purchase of $50 - but with all their wonderful products 

THAT should NOT be a problem! 

John 16:24

"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

just HAD to throw that verse in - it's in my journal! 

And- that's all you have to do to be entered to win- 

ask in a comment below - tell me what you might use it on to purchase from their 

site - visit on the link here- and I'll add your name to the random drawing!

Giveaway ends February 16th 

Be sure to add your email so I can notify you of your winnings! 

I'd adore it if you'd follow my blog using GFC, FB, and/or RSS 

Easy links are on my sidebar

disclosure: I did receive these products for no charge - by doing this review

but, I bet you figured that out already! -These opinions are mine all mine -

seashells not included :)

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