Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes–A Home and School Mosaics review

This review had me super excited.  Not necessarily for me, but for my niece who got married this past weekend.  The review date couldn’t have come at a better time.    I was asked to review Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes and give my opinion.   I love that this picture shows how long and beautiful her lashes looked. 

A brother and sister team founded Younique in 2012 because they wanted to uplift, empower and validate women all over.    This is company that allows women to have the opportunity for financial reward and personal growth.   All I really know is I got some really cool mascara and “fake lashes” to try.

All of Unique’s products have high quality ingredients and no unnecessary fillers.   This allows them to be compatible with almost every skin type.   No junk included.

The product was really simple to use.  It has three steps that are attained with two different products.  The first is a gel mascara.  It looks just like a really nice black mascara.

You use this just like mascara and put one coat of normal mascara on first.    Then you use the gel mascara after your regular mascara has dried completely.   Do not let the gel dry.

The next step is when  you use the lash fibers (which I called fake eyelashes).  Allie (my model) got a few in her eye but said they didn’t hurt.  They flaked off on her cheek but they did just wipe right off so it wasn’t a big deal.  This is because she put too much on at once.  (And I think the gel dried.)  
It was really cool because you could watch as her eyelashes got longer as she put multiple coats on.   If you want to get them longer, all you do is each step again.  She used it three times. 

Because it was her “special day” she liked the look.  Our best description came from my son who said, “Wow, your eyelashes look furry).  They did resemble spiders if you looked close but from a little distance they were beautiful.   She doesn’t like lower lashes so she didn’t use the fibers at all on her lower lashes, just the mascara.

The final look was just “Wow”.  I was surprised that there was such a difference.  I’m not going to get to try them because she swiped them and said I couldn’t have it back.   Her right eye has the fibers and the left is just one coat of her own mascara that she uses every day.  Of course she did both eyes for her final look at her wedding.  All of the other girls wanted to use it too but she wouldn’t share.   

 

You can read what the other reviewers at Home and School  Mosaics had to say about this awesome product here.   You can have your own amazing lashes for only about $30.  I read that they last about 30 days (the tubes).      

You can find Younique at the following places.

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

Fast Track Bible Pack–A Review for Wizzy Gizmo

 

The Bible is the most important thing we learn in our family.   I was asked to review Wizzy Gizmo’s Fast Track Bible Pack as part of Home & School Mosaics.    If you’re thinking I’ve never heard of Wizzy Gizmo’s but it sounds kinda cool, you are thinking the same thing I did when I was first asked to review this.    It is a company that  wants everyone to learn that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”.  It was created by a wonderful group of people who are committed to equipping children for life.  They do this by helping them learn God’s word.  

They have a lot of different items that can help you do this with your family.   I picked the Fast Track Bible Pack because I am no longer homeschooling both of my children.  My daughter is going to a private school and I knew I could still use this with her.     I also thought the audio story looked really neat.    It’s title Who Created Everything seems like a great resource for families also.   Samples of the audio drama are available on their website.

FAST TRACK BIBLE PACK

This is a pack of 27 cards which have a New Testament book summary, key chapters, passages and people.    The scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible.    These also would work well with Sunday School groups because they are quick and easy to go over.

The back of each thick card (printed on heavy cardstock) is where you will find the information that you can use to study further what is on the front of the cards.   Key people are one of the categories that I liked.    As the title states, these are key stories in the New Testament.   Although we are not using these as an actual curriulum, we are having fun just picking one and learning more about the Bible.  I don’t know about you, but I cannot always remember everything and these cards are helping me brush up on  my New Testament facts. 

You can Find Wizzy Gizmo on the web at:

• Website :  www.wizzygizmo.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• Pinterest
• Vimeo
• YouTube

Thank you Home and School Mosiacs and Wizzy Gizmo for the opportunity to review this product.   You can read other reviews for this product and other Wizzy Gizmo products by clicking the previous  link. 

The Power in Your Hands by Sharon Watson

Writing has always been a struggle in our little homeschool. 

My son hates to write anything.  And I mean anything.    As in he sometimes does his assignments orally because he doesn’t want to write the answers. 

So, when I was offered the chance to review a high school writing curriculum I was on board 100%. 

I met Sharon ( the creator of this curriculum) at our local homeschool conference this past spring.  We had heard about this review but wasn’t sure who would get which book and I honestly didn’t even know if I would be picked at all. 

Sharon was amazingly sweet and helpful.  She talked to my friend and I about each book and helped us understand the difference between the three she has available.   I love using curriculum that fellow homeschooling mom’s have written.  Sharon has been homeschooling her 3 children for years and she understands all of the good and the bad that goes along with it.   You can read everyone’s reviews on the different books at Home & School Mosaics. 

 

I was given The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School.   I received the teacher’s guide and the Student’s Book.  It is meant to be used without the parent’s help.  That is a huge plus for me because I am going back to school and just started a new job.  I needed curriculum for the upcoming school year that allows Griffin to do it himself and then  I can check when I get home.    The Power in Your Hands works perfectly for that.   You can also have a  more input if you would like.    I do have to grade the papers but this is easy compared to other writing curriculums.

The cost is $14.98 for the Teacher’s manual and the Student Manual $39.98.   This is very reasonably priced for a curriculum that is intended to be used for two years.  I love that if you need to take it slower, it is okay to do so, also.  This means for less than $60 we have two high school years of writing. 

I have always liked writing.  So I never understood why my kids do not.    Griffin was quite hesitant when we started this because he thought it was going to be like every other time I’ve tried to have him write something.  Getting him to write even a paragraph was like the proverbial pulling teeth.   

Teaching the course is super easy too.  It shows exactly how to grade writing which can be a little confusing (especially if you have never done it).    The course starts at the very beginning and is perfect for even the most basic writing when you child has had none (which mine hasn’t). 

Griffin has finished the first few lessons and hasn’t complained too much.  I’m not going to act like he loves writing now.  I won’t even say he likes it.  But, we don’t cry now when I mention writing.  This is a win for us.  

THE FACTS:

8 1/2 x 11 soft cover books

Student Manual (420 + pages ) which costs $39.98

Teachers Manual (200+ pages) and costs $14.98 (honestly this is worth way more)

Designed for homeschools, co-0ps and Christian schools.

The student writes essays, biographies and more.  Sharon teaches from brainstorming ideas (my son needed this a lot) all the way through proofreading. 

The teacher guide gives all the answers.  Plus so much more.   

Griffin says he likes that it is funny, and it allows him to be funny, too. 

Sharon has written two other books that were reviewed.  Writing Fiction in High School and Jump In.   You can also view Sharon’s website.  

All in all, I really like this curriculum.  I like that Griffin doesn’t hate writing with this curriculum.  The teacher’s manual is great and the style of teaching is very student friendly.   Check out what our other reviewers have to say so you can see if this may be a fit for your family. 

 

 

 

Medical Conversions for Math

So, I’m trying to get into nursing school.   It’s a crap load of work . 

I’m in a math class that is A Dimensional Approach to Medical Dosages and Calculations.

We have to memorize all of the conversions so that the math questions are easier and we don’t have to continue to look to see what equals what.

I have been studying these for a couple of weeks.  I have found that the easiest way to memorize them is flashcards.  I picked bright colored paper because white bores me.   The following is the list that our teacher requires us to learn.  This is for me as well as it is for you because I’m hoping that typing them will help me remember.   I didn’t put them in any specific order because this also keeps me from just memorizing them in order.  (I’m lazy that way).

1 mg =  1000 mcg

1 tsp = 60 gtts

1 pt = 500 mL

1 C = 8 oz

1 pt = 500 mL

1 tsp = 5 mL

1 mL = 1 cc

1 grain = 60 mg

dram 1 = 5 mL

1 mL = minim 15

1 oz = 30 mL

1 pt = 16 oz

1 C = 240 mL

1 oz = dram 8

1 oz = 6 tsp

1 oz = 2 tbsp

1 tbsp = 3 tsp

1tbsp = 15 mL

1 mg = 1000 mcg

1 qt = 2 pts

1 qt = 1000 mL

1 pt  = 2 c

1 m  = 100 cm

1 ft = 12 in

1 in = 2.5 cm

1 mL = 15 gtts

1 kg = 2.2 lbs

1 lb = 16 oz

1 kg = 1000 g

1 g = 1000 mg

 

Hope this helps!

Random Thoughts 5/7/14

I never profess to know everything.  Heck, in fact, I never claim to “know” anything. 

I do, however, have some interesting thoughts every now and then.  I usually post them on Facebook.  But, since my blog is neglected a lot, I decided to start putting them here.  (And of course linking to it on FB).

Random Thoughts

1.  Hearing what sounds like gun shots in my back yard kinda scares me.  Upon further investigation, it is just my son and his friend shooting about 2000 rounds of paint balls.  At the chicken coop.

2.  I have homeschooled my children now for a total of almost 10 years.  I thought books were expensive for them. 

Can someone tell me how I can buy a complete science curriculum for a sophomore in high school for $170 (which includes everything you need for experiments, Teacher DVD, Ebook and 500 page workbook) and one biology book and the lab manual for college  $320?  Seriously?  No wonder people cannot afford college.  

3.    I believe that everyone deserves second chances.  I’m the best at giving second chances.  I do, however, have a problem with sex offenders.  I don’t believe they should ever be allowed around kids.  If I am somewhere with  my kids and a known offender (multiple offenses including more than one jail sentence) walks in, please don’t be offended because I walk out.  Even small towns have super creepy people.

4.  I really want something to eat.  But, I don’t want to cook. 

5.  Coffee makes me happy.  Chocolate makes me happy.  Chocolate flavored coffee is gross.  But, chocolate flavored creamer in my coffee makes me ecstatic.  

6.  As I have gotten old, I realize that my Mom and Dad really did know everything.  I can’t remember at what age I figured it out.  I’m hoping my kids “get it” a lot sooner than I did. 

Until next time. . . . . . ..  

God Bless

Who needs Chipotle?

My new favorite restaurant is Chipotle

Now let me specify that the first time I ate there I hated it.    I thought it tasted just like grass.  And I don’t like to eat grass.   My niece told me I just didn’t order the right thing.  So I gave it another chance.   I don’t think it was that I ordered the wrong thing, I think I just got a bite of something weird.   Now, I love it.   So, if you try it and think you might as well  be grazing with the little cows out in the pasture, give it another chance. 

I love that it is quick.  I love that everything is fresh and locally grown (as much as possible).   I love their guacamole and I have never liked it any other place.   I love their corn salsa (cept I have to pick out all of the onions (see below))

I get their chicken fajita bowel with a flour tortilla. 

Now, if you know me at all, you know I am a pretty picky eater.   Okay, I am a very picky eater. 

Meat is not my friend.  Because I have IBS, most meat makes me sick. (Onions do too!) Chicken is not one of them so I eat it most of the time.     But, I am also picky about my chicken.  I only eat white meat.   

And I never eat it if it looks funny.  Funny weird, not funny ha ha.    I also do not eat the gross slimy part of the tenderloin.  It is just gross.

So, when I buy chicken I pretty much throw 2/3 of it away.  

Well, Chipotle’s chicken is pretty okay but I have found several pieces of strange looking chicken so I usually pick it all out.

There are two things I do not like about Chipotle.

One is the closest one is almost 40 minutes from  me.   That’s pretty far for a fajita.

The second is it is kind of expensive.   

Now, instead of driving 40 minutes, picking out all of the things I don’t like, and spending lots of money, I  just make my own at home.  It also is better because neither one of the kids will eat with me when we eat out there.  They’re even pickier than me.

Making the fajita’s at home is super easy and not very expensive.  I used our garden produce for the corn and sweet potatoes.  I know, sweet potatoes don’t go in fajita’s but they were delicious and make up for no meat in them.

Here’s the way I make them.  I use GMO free and organic things as long as I can find them. 

Yummy Chicken Fajita’s (without the chicken )

  2 small fingerling sweet potatoes

1 small onion (for some reason, onions out of my mom’s garden do not make me sick)

about 10 mushrooms

1 garlic toe (That makes me smile.  Did you know that is what one little thing off of a garlic clove is called?)

hand full of asparagus

black beans

corn

sour cream

shredded cheddar cheese

You can use however much you want of each of the ingredients.  I guess you could even put chicken (or another meat) if you wanted to in them.   If you like something a lot, just use more of it.

I sautéed in the following order in olive oil:

sweet potatoes and onion together

add garlic

asparagus

beans

corn and mushrooms last

Once all of the ingredients are cooked to your likeness, I warm the tortilla up in the skillet, add everything then top with the cheese and a bite of sour cream.   YUM-O 

These are great with rice also but I was too lazy tonight to make it.

Music to my ears.

Do you blame yourself for things that you have no idea if you could have
prevented? 

Do you feel like everything lies on your shoulders, regardless of if it had
anything to do with you?

Do you believe that you mess things up no matter how hard you try?

Well . . . .  I do.

My son used to love to play the guitar.  He was passionate about it like
nothing else he had ever done.

Here is a video I took of his first band practice at our old church.  This
makes me miss a lot of things.  Sardinia Church of Christ, hearing Griffin play
on stage, and hearing Robby (the former worship leader) sing.


Here is a video I took of his first band practice at our old church.  This
makes me miss a lot of things.  Sardinia Church of Christ, hearing Griffin play
on stage, and hearing Robby (the former worship leader) sing.

He played at church.  He is very gifted.   If he played a song, he didn’t
have to have music after the first time.  He just remembered everything he
played.

I loved to hear him play at night before he went to bed.  It didn’t matter if
it was loud, crazy, head banging music or if it was church songs played
quietly.  I loved it all.

He stopped playing about a year and a half ago.  Completely.  This happened
when my ex-husband left.  This is the part I worry about being my fault.  I
worry that I didn’t handle it well.

 Of course I didn’t.

 But,  I wonder if there was something different I could have done to help
our kids deal with it better.    The saying Hindsight is 20/20 rings so true in
this circumstance.  Griffin has dealt with it by withdrawing.  From a lot of
things.  I’m pretty sure not playing guitar has been one of them.  I’m not sure
if he just gave up on things he liked or what.  I know that he feels like he
doesn’t get to do the things he used to do with his Dad.  This breaks my heart. 

I’m a girl.  I can’t change that, of course.   I try to do things with him
that they used to do.  I ride four wheelers (which I love).  I watch him do the
things he likes.  Like shoot guns.   And play video games.  But, I know that it
will never be the same.  He feels like Bella and I have things in common because
we are both girls, and I have nothing in common with him.   

But, I believe that a Mom cannot replace a Dad.  Ever.   Kids need their Dads
for so many reasons.  I can’t be everything.  No matter how much I try. 

Now for the good part.  The other night I was watching tv (which I rarely
do).  I heard an amazing sound coming from upstairs.

IT WAS MUSIC!!!  Sweet guitar music.  I don’t know what has changed.  Time
really does help, I guess.   The music made my heart smile.  

Every day since then, I have heard him practicing.  Today, I asked him to get
his math so I could help him.  Algebra is killing us. 

He said, can I practice the guitar for a little while first?  

Why, YES.  Yes you can.   He is upstairs now playing the old church songs I
have missed hearing so much.  Bella is singing while he plays.

After all the praying I have done, it seems as if God has showed up.  In HIS
time.  I wanted everything to be better immediately.  But, once again, I see
that things don’t happen when I want them to.  They happen when God is ready.  
My children mean the world to me.  I know they mean so much more to God. 

When people of this world let us down, isn’t it amazing that God never
does?   I serve an amazing God who never leaves me.   That is worth more than
anything this world offers. 

Every single time.




Happy Homeschooling and God Bless.

Cake in a Cup

My kids love snacks.   Especially chocolate.  They get that from  me.   

And they feel the need to eat every day?  What is up with that?   I thought as they got older it would get easier because they would want to fix their own food.  

Nah. They like me to do pretty much everything.

So, my mom has been telling me about this great “cake in a cup” that they make in the microwave at work.   I’ve heard her say it about a thousand times and thought, whatever.  It sounded silly. 

Well, my kids talked me into doing it.  And Mom handed me the cake mix and said “make this for your kids” so I just about had to.

It really is simple.

You take an Angel Food Cake mix and mix it with any other kind of cake mix.  The Angel Food mix is a must cuz it has eggs and milk and stuff in it which allows you to not need anything other than water to make it.

 

We used Devil’s Food cake mix along with the Angel Food.  I figured they would balance each other out.  You can keep the mix in anything you want to.  I put it in a gallon zip lock baggie because I have pretty much thrown away all of my plastic wear because I didn’t want to wash it.

The recipe after you mix the two cake mixes together is simply

3 – 2-  1

3- tablespoons of the mix

2- tablespoons of water

1 – minute in the microwave

 

Our mug was a little big so I’m gonna try to do it by doubling the recipe (all except the time cuz Mom said you only cook it one minute no matter what). 

It makes a very yummy, spongy, little cupcake.   It would be delicious with homemade buttercream icing but that would be too much work. 

The only thing I need to warn you about is make sure you tell the kids to rinse out the cup when they are finished.  I just unloaded 10 dirty coffee mugs from the dishwasher because it evidently doesn’t get the crusty cake mix off without rinsing.   (Yeah I said 10 cups.  These things are addictive, I guess.)

Happy Homeschooling and hope you enjoy.

Baby it’s cold outside

Living in Ohio gives us the opportunity to see some freaky weather.   Yesterday it was 48 degrees.   Today the weather app says it is –4 with a wind chill factor of –28 degrees.   Now that is some cold temperatures.

Last night I decided to start forecasting the weather on Facebook.  It has been a huge success.  I am right 100% of the time.  How can I do that when even the best meteorologists can’t even come close ?  It’s easy.  I just look out the window and give up to date, right this minute, weather. 

Right now, as it was this morning, it is cold.   How cold?  Who know’s?  Honestly, I don’t care.  It is so frickin cold I don’t want to go out and find out how cold it is. 

But, being the amazing homeschooling mama I am (besides the fact that we don’t do snow or cold days) we went outside to do an experiment.

Thank you, Amy for giving us the experiment idea.   Will a bubble freeze in this cold weather?

We had no bubbles so first we had to make them.   Easy enough with water and Dawn dish soap.  Bella informed me that warm water freezes faster than cold so we used that.

We also had no bubble wand.  No problem.  We used my fancy little whisk that I have no other use for.  I think it actually is an egg separator?

We spent about 5 minutes outside on the porch.  No coats which probably wasn’t a great idea but honestly I wasn’t too cold.  Bella was shaking so I’m guessing she was.  Griffin put on coat, gloves, hat with face covered, boots and all the other normal clothes.  He said he was going in the woods.  He wanted no part of our experiment.

We blew the bubbles and waited.  It was kind of windy so most of them busted before we could catch them on the bubble want/egg separator.

They didn’t freeze.  At all.   They spun around a little.

Bella then decided we could just leave them out and see if they freeze.  

We put it in a flower pot and they turned into a thin sheet of ice.  Bella touched it and it was kind of like saran wrap.   Then it broke.

So, maybe if you have good bubbles and not homemade ones this would work better.   I wasn’t too impressed with the results but we can now say we have played with bubbles when it below zero outside.   

Check out my weather reports on Facebook, well if you’re my friend.  If not, I guess you’ll just hafto either look out of your own window or watch the news.  I apologize that I can’t allow everyone the enjoyment of my friends and my senses of humor but there are freaks out there, as I’m sure you well know.

Happy Homeschooling and Stay Warm.

Udderly Smooth Cream -

Winter is always hard on my skin.   It’s like an alligator most of the time.  I try all kinds of lotions and creams to keep my skin from itching. 

I was given the opportunity to review Udderly Smooth Body Cream.  I received a package of goodies from the company.   Foot  cream, hand cream and body cream were included.  I was really excited thinking my skin is going to be super smooth and hydrated. 

 

Here is what I received with retail prices in parentheses:
- a 4 oz.tube of hand cream ($2.75)
- a 2 oz. tube of hand cream ($1.75)
- a 12 oz. jar of body cream ($5.75)
- an 8 oz. jar of shea butter foot cream ($6.50)
- sample packets (and a coupon!)

Udderly Smooth is a product which is made in the USA and has been for over 30 years.  It is good for cracked, dry skin.  You can use it as a moisturizer on your entire body including your face.  

It was invented by a pharmacist and originally made for use on cows. 

First I tried the tube of hand cream.  It felt pretty good.  The lotion is not greasy at all but it also doesn’t smell that great.   Personally I like scented lotions but I now a lot of people do not so this isn’t really that big of a deal.

The second thing I opened was the jar of body cream.  This is where things got a little weird.  Okay, a lot weird.  LOL

I thought there was mold in the jar.

Mold doesn’t really bother me that much.  I was just going to scoop it out and try it.  Upon closer look I realized the mold had a tail.  Yep, a tail.  Obviously it wasn’t mold.  It did look like it had udders which was appropriate for the cream.   My daughter decided to have a closer look.   She showed me wings which were pretty cool.  I honestly have no idea what this was.  We poked it and my niece even touched it, lol.  She said it was squishy but firm.    I zoomed in on the picture and posted it on my facebook page to see what people thought it was without mentioning where I found it.  First response told me to clean out my refrigerator, lol.   The general consensus was that it is a tiny baby bat.  My thoughts are that when this was being made it landed in the jar before the lid was put on.  I’m sure this happens often but I have never been blessed enough to be on the receiving end of such a present.  Okay that was a joke.   Needless to say, I didn’t use this jar.  As time has passed more mold has has grown on the poor little thing and he has turned completely white.  It has turned into quite the science experiment. 

The rest of the products worked well.  Bella rubbed my feet with the foot cream and it was heavenly. 

If you would like a coupon you can visit the Udderly Smooth Facebook page $1 off any two  products!  I doubt you’ll get an animal friend in yours but you will get some really nice lotion.   You can buy it at Walmart and other major retailer stores. 

You can read the rest of the reviews of my fellow friends on the  Mosaic Reviews page. 

Thanks to Mosaics Reviews and Udderly Smooth for this review opportunity.  It was quite fun