Draw-A-Saurus - Book Review

http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780385345804?width=1000&alt=no_cover_b4b.gifDraw-A-Saurus by cartoonist, James Silvani, is an in depth dinosaur drawing guide, that combines humor, creativity, and dinosaur research. Not only teaching you how to draw and create the character, but also teaching you a little information about each one as you go.

This drawing guide contains easy to follow art exercises, designed to help you create your own master piece, whether it be dinosaur doodles, or a
full on artistic picture. It contains 9 chapters of different guides, ready to teach you how to draw each dinosaur. I love how on each page in between sections of drawing guidelines, it has random facts about the dinosaur your learning to draw, so you're also getting the history of the creature too. The vivid and colorful cartoons are entertaining and will help keep your attention. I chose to review this book because my son loves dinosaurs and loves to draw. Two things he adores combined in to one book, is a perfect gift for him.

A Look Inside:



Draw-A-Saurus is a fun and educational book for children, and adults too! It's a book for everyone, looking to learn how to draw dinosaurs while reading fun facts, some you never even knew! This would make a great gift for the dinosaur lovers out there.

You can find Draw-A-Dinosaur available for purchase on Amazon , in paperback, 
for just less then $15. You can also find more information here.


This review is made possible by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group via Blogging for Books,  by providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Simply Essentials Luxury Bath Pillow

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.


Simply Essentials Luxury Bath Pillow is a bean shaped foam pillow that you can take to the tub with you. It is made of a PU Waterproof Foam with two suction cups on the back for easy install. The pillow is firm, yet springy, such as the squish in memory foam, or in an orthopedic assistive device. Because of its bean shape, it has a slant where you can lay your neck, while resting your head on the thicker part, providing good support, and can be used either way. Now you can relax your whole body in the tub, and maybe read a book while your at it!

Just the other day, my son mentioned wishing he had a bath pillow to lay his head on, while taking his bubble baths. So I jumped at the opportunity to review this one, as it looked of good quality! When I received the pillow, it is much more firm then I was expecting, but still suitable for taking baths. When I flipped the pillow over, I noticed the suction cups were a different color! To me, this just screams flaw, because I'd like them to match, but in the end, that doesn't really matter as they are hidden when in use. So I suction cupped the pillow to a warm and ready tub full of bubbles, and let my son be the first one to try it. He said it wasn't very comfortable, as we couldn't quite figure out how to get it to lay on the tub correctly. We tried one of two positions, finding the photo on the right to be best.


My son, being the silly little boy he is, decided to pull the pillow off and put it in his bath water.
'Great for the review!', I thought, to fully test its waterproof capabilities. But when he pulled it off,
one of the suction cups stuck to the wall! Making it not as durable as I hoped.
The suction cup wasn't too hard to push back in but when it sat in his bath for just a few minutes, the pillow soaked up a ton of water. I had to wring the pillow out so the water wouldn't stay in and get stinky. But...it still got stinky And it now if you put your nose to it, you can smell
a slight mildew scent.














 
    The pillow is 12x8x3 inches wide and fits any size bathtub, Jacuzzi, hot tub, or spa. It comes in the color white so it matches any bathroom scheme, and because of its compact size, it fits nicely under your bathroom sink. It's about the size of a large body towel, folded up. You can find Simply Essentials Bath Pillow available for purchase on Amazon for $34.99 with a No Risk 1 Year Guarantee. 


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.

The Wonder Within You - Book Review

The Wonder Within You written by Carey Wickersham, takes you on a journey in childbirth, connecting scientific studies and stories from a mothers experience of the growing life inside her womb. Each chapter includes week-by-week developmental information, findings from recent neonatal studies, nutritional advice designed to nurture a healthy baby, and helpful advice from an obstetrician. This book also serves as a weekly journal for the expectant mother to write about her own baby's journey and their life outside the womb, making it a keepsake
and highly informative book, all in one.

Each week includes a new 3D ultrasound image of the development of a baby in the womb and a web link, as well as a QR code that you can scan with your phone to see incredible ultrasound videos at each stage.The pages are packed with advice on health and nutrition, as well as funny quotes and memorable stories from other moms. There is also space to write your own thoughts and feelings, including letters you write your your child and other notes you may want to jot down.




In the back of the book, there is an easy to use pregnancy calendar with stickers to help you keep track of your experiences and make them more enjoyable to look back on. You can keep track of your growing little one, while reading up on some great advice throughout as the months go on. Having a baby is an amazing experience, but sometimes it can be quite scary or overwhelming. The Wonder Within You will help ease your mind, and encourage you as you and your baby grow. I would have loved to have this book with my first born,
but I'm looking forward to using it with the future baby to come.




Here are two videos from the book.
The one on the left is at 11 weeks and the one on the right is at 28 weeks.
The ability to capture these images is so amazing!

The Wonder Within You is available on Amazon where you can purchase it in E-book, Kindle, 
or Hardcover. You can also find more information at thewonderwithinyou.com

This is a great book for every mother-to-be. 
It would make a good baby shower gift as well!


This post is made possible by Tyndale House Publishers in providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
The Wonder Within You
The Wonder Within You
The Wonder Within You

Surprise Ride Subscription Service Fun!


Surprise Ride is a subscription service for kids age 6-11, designed to bring fun and educational hands on activities, to foster creativity and imagination. It was created by two sisters, Donna and Rosy, who wanted to positively impact children's life, beyond the latest toy or game. They wanted to encourage children's imagination through art, as well as help busy parents bring that opportunity to their children.

"Through carefully curated monthly activities, Surprise Ride aims to foster creativity in kids 
and expand their horizons. With a little hands-on learning and a lot of fun, we help kids exercise that special power of creative genius that empowers them to be tomorrow’s innovators. 
There’s no better way for kids to learn than by doing. There’s no better time than 
when they’re young and absorbing experiences like a sponge."

 Every month, the child will receive a box, with the surprise of theme, ranging from art and science, to food and geography, and it will be full of materials to do hands on projects. The box includes everything needed to complete the projects, including a fun book, snack, or other surprise to go along with the ride. It also includes a famous Surprise Ride booklet, that is filled with lessons on the theme of the box, as well as interesting facts and ways to continue the exploration.

 The way Surprise Ride works, is you sign up for a select number of months you would like to subscribe to, and every month, you will receive a new package filled with everything you need to supply your child's activity. The ride starts at just $24.99 a month with free shipping, and you can cancel anytime.

This is a great way to keep your children doing activities
and using their innovative and artistic minds.
 I love the idea of a project being completely thought out and provided for you, so you all the materials needed right there, you don't need to make a run to the store before the project!

As a homeschooling mom, this is a great subscription service,
to supplement our original daily work each month. I was happy to receive a box to review, and of course, my son was pleased too!
The box we received is a garden box. It was filled with things
you might find to make or enjoy a garden:

A Solar Powered Dancing ladybug, a garden spray bottle, Organic mixed herbs seed packet, Ace Lacewing Bug Detective Book, a snack size bag of Plentils Dill & Sour Cream Chips, and the two crafts:
Make a Plant Buddy and Design a Garden Wind-chime.














As soon as we opened the box, my son was ready to make the Wind-chime. He loves the sound it makes and the fun jewels he got to glue on. Making the Plant Buddy was so much fun! Planting it all on his on, and watching the grass grow after just 3 days! You can style his "hair" too, by shaping and cutting the grass that grows in. I think this was a favorite!


Surprise Ride is so much fun, for parents and kids. It's like receiving a gift 
in the mail every month, one you can enjoy together.

 If you're looking for the perfect monthly subscription to enjoy with your child(ren) Check out Surprise Ride. It's wonderful! And when you sign up. you will get $5 off a new subscription! Also, for a Limited Time, Surprise Ride has the Activity Box for busy moms, that is filled with nutritious recipes and engaging crafts to do with your kids, getting them involved in meal time. They will also be launching a Surprise Ride for grown ups soon, too. You can join the list here.

For more information on Surprise Ride visit surpriseride.com
and sign up for your first monthly subscription!

Now for the giveaway! One reader will win your very own Surprise Ride box! Enter through Rafflecopter below, Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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.


Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil


Apothecary Extracts provides one of the best quality, 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil's 
on the market. It is a product of Australia, but it is bottled in USA, distributed in Columbus Ohio. 
Their oils are free from preservatives, artificial colors, fragrance, parabens, mineral oil,
 petroleum and chemical solvents.

Tea Tree Oil is harvested from the leaves of a Native Australian Melaleuca tree and is used for many things. It has a strong antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal effects, making it a great cleaner for you and your home. You can replace your harsh cleaning chemicals, with Tea Tree Oil, allowing it to work as an all natural disinfecting agent, removing toxins from your home and saving money all in one! You can use Tea Tree oil as a skin or hair care regime. It's great for acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin tags, and more! You can also use it as an aromatherapy, inhaling its scent for the common cold, as it can kill up to 99.9% of drug resistant MRSA within 4 hours. It can also ease your stress levels!

Being that Tea Tree Oil is one of the most versatile essential oils, there are SO many things you can use it for. Some of my favorite uses for Tea Tree Oil is for cleaning the house, using in shampoo, and clearing up blemishes. I also like that you can make your own Dryer sheets, using tea tree oil! There are so many uses for this oil, it's a great product to invest in!

Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil is available on Amazon, for $24.99, it comes with a Free E-Book of 50+ uses for the many things you can make using Tea Tree Oil. 
 
Now for the giveaway! One reader will one a bottle of Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil. 
Enter through Rafflecopter below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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.

Snuggle Scent Boosters From the Bear Den

As a member of Team Snuggle, I was sent a pack of Snuggle's new Scent Boosters in Lavender Joy to review. 
 
Each little Snuggle Scent Booster pac is packed full of freshness. A scent I love wafting throughout my house. And they are so easy to use too! You just plop one or two pac's into your wash before you throw your clothes in, and wash as you normally would with detergent. One pac is for small loads, two for heavy. I have found that using two is my ideal number because the scent lingers for days when I do that. And I love it! The Lavender is truly a joyous smell and it does lift your spirits as it says it will do. It leaves me wanting to wash every last bit of fabric in my house,
so I can surround my senses with the smell. It's that good. 
 







Snuggle Scent Boosters are available in two scents, Lavender Joy that I received above, and Blue Iris Bliss. You can find Snuggle Scent Boosters in most stores. So if you see them, snag you up a bag or two, you will love it!

For more information and other Snuggle products, visit Snuggle.com
You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

I received a complimentary product from Snuggle Bear Den in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Cocoa Cravings Cacaos Gourmet Chocolate


Cocoa Cravings Cacaos Gourmet Chocolate bars are delicious chocolate bars made from hand picked, canopy dried "Criollo Arriba Beans", grown on small farms in the Amazonian forests, high in the Andes Mountains. An Arriba bean is a special cocoa bean that contains a floral scent, giving off a smooth and dominant floral note, with a slight nutty after-tone. These bars are made with a simple recipe using top notch ingredients of just cacao beans, cane sugar, and pure vanilla.

They are free from chemicals, additives, preservatives, synthetic emulsifiers or artificial flavorings. They are also Vegan and Gluten free.

Cocoa Cravings Cacaos Chocolate Bars are available in three types: 71% full bodied, 65% mellow and rich, and 55% classic familiar. I received Cocoa Cravings 71% bar to review. It's a rich dark chocolate, that you can savor each bite and enjoy every last bit of it. Because of its rich flavor, one square should make you feel content. This is great for me, because I am a huge lover of chocolate and could sit and eat a whole chocolate bar in one sitting lol. I love that Cocoa Cravings allows me to feel satisfied with just one bite, ok maybe two, so I'm not having an excessive amount of sugar at once. Knowing that with that bite, I can get legit benefits from a natural chocolate, of heart protection, stimulating endorphins, and helping as a natural anti-depressant, makes me enjoy that piece of chocolate that much more!
I also enjoyed some pieces in homemade cookies. Delicious!

Cocoa Cravings makes delicious chocolate! And an added bonus, for every bar that is sold,
a portion of their sales goes to the Amazon Preservation!

For more information you can visit esutras.com, as well as find many other Organic products!
If you would like a chance to win your own Cocoa Cravings bar, 
Enter through Rafflecopter below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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.

VeriLux Happy Light Liberty 5K Energy Lamp Great for Winter!


Winter is nearing, which means the sunlight will be decreasing, and the cold, gloomy weather will soon be on its way. If you're one of the many people who are bothered by lack of sunshine, the VeriLux Happy Light Liberty 5k Energy Lamp is perfect for you! 

Because of the lack of sunshine and warmth in the Winter,
our bodies react differently,  spending more time inside, relying on "man-made" light, which tends to affect a lot of peoples natural circadian system. The circadian system is our body's natural inner clock, that thrives on the natural light that brings us energy, good moods, and well-being. Without this, we tend to get the Winter blues, we feel sleeplessness, and we lack focus or concentration. The reason behind this, is because our eyes contain photoreceptors, including one call melanopsin, that allow in a narrow spectrum of natural light that we crave, and most artificial lights cannot provide this. The VeriLux Happy Light is made to emulate key spectrum's of natural light, set to the body's internal clock, so it can improve your mood, energy, and over all well being. This lamp produces 5,000 LUX of balances NS Light, so it can help your body gently recalibrate and stabilize, while improving your focus and concentration. It also helps prompt your body's natural sleep patterns and alleviate the effects of jet lag,
so you can feel great, all year round. Even in those gloomy seasons!

The VeriLux Happy Light is perfect for using in your home or office, and it measures at 6"x7"x3" so it fits nicey in a briefcase or backpack, allowing for easy transport. Its easy on/off switch in the back, allows for instant light usage, working great for light therapy, giving your body the sunlight it deserves.
I'm one who tends to feel sad in the Winter, so this HappyLight will be of such good use!
The benefits I will receive during winter time, will make Winter that much easier to bare :) 

 You can find more information and other Verilux products at verilux.com
 Now for the Giveaway!! :)
If you would like to win your own VeriLux Happy Light, 
Enter through Rafflecopter below. 
Good Luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



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.

The Mess Detectives and The Case of the Lost Temper - Book Review

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.
 
The Mess Detectives and The Case of the Lost Temper by Karen Poth is a cute Veggie Tales "I Can Read" Beginning 1 Reading book for children learning how to read. It contains short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts children can read on their own. The story is a lesson on self control, for Bob the Tomato, who is getting tiresome of Larry the Cucumber's ideas on a strange new case they come across. They are on the hunt to find out who the Masked Door Slammer is. There's humor and mystery all throughout reading, where they solve another case and end happily-with a Bible verse:

"A foolish person lets his anger run wild. 
But a wise person keeps himself under control."
-Proverbs 29:11

I love the illustrations in this story. Larry in his cute chicken suit and Bob in his glasses. It's colorful and exciting, with short sentences to hold your child's attention.
This makes a great book for new readers.





The Mess Detectives and The Case of the Lost Temper is available for purchase on zondervan.com for just $3.99


This review is made possible by BookLook Bloggers, in providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.  


Daveliou 24 Piece Artist Brush Set

 They say 'The Secret Behind Every Great Artist Is expression in each paint brush stroke'...
Well to have a good brush stroke, you need some good quality paint brushes! 

Daveliou's 24 Piece Artist Brush Set is made of 24 good quality brushes
with interlocking heads for control and durability. 
In this set, it includes these types of brushes:

- Round : for detail, wash, fills, thin to thick lines
- Flat: for blending, glazing, and covering large areas
- Filbert: for making broad marks with soft edges, blending, figurative work
- Angle: for creating controlled sharp edges, precise strokes, thick or heavy color lines and curves
- Fan: for blending, softening edges, creating textures.

Each brush has a long wooden handle with an aluminum protective furrule.  The texture of the brushes are perfect and non-shedding, made separately of either Nylon, Bristle, Camel and Pony.
They are best used for Acrylic, Watercolor, Chalk or Oil Painting.

The set comes in a roll-up canvas case for easy storage and transport. Making them great to travel with. I like the touch of these brushes and can see their durability lasting me a long time. I love that they come in a pocketed pouch so I can store each one, safely until use. This is the perfect gift set for any artist or teacher in your life. It's a great investment, and at such a good price!

You can find Daveliou's 24 Piece Artist Brush Set available for purchase on Amazon for just $14.55 and it is backed by a No-Hassle Lifetime Free Replacement Guarantee!

 "Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."

I received a complimentary product to review in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions my own.

NuElle Triple Action Anti Cellulite Concentrate


Skin QR Organics NuElle Triple Action Anti Cellulite Concentrate is like a cocktail for your cellulite affected skin areas. It contains 25 well known flub busters, made to help assist in weight loss and cellulite reduction, giving you smoother, moisturized skin 

This anti cellulite concentrate contains things like Caffeine, L'Carnitine, Butcher's Broom, Bladderwrack, and Ivy, (for a full list of ingredients, scroll to the bottom) which helps detoxify the skin from the inside, reducing water retention and fat cell clusters, while firming and tightening the surface of your skin. It is made to improve the circulation and appearance of your skin, 
while making it softer to the touch.

It does not contain any artifical colorants, fragrance, formaldehydes, oxybenzones, petrolatum, mineral oil, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, TEA's, DEA's, or GMO's, and it is all natural and organic.

To apply NuElle's anti cellulite cream, you use it two hours after eating, or one hour before a meal, so your body can burn more fat without the fats from food being in your bloodstream; rubbing the cream in a circular motion on your affected areas (thighs, buttocks, stomach, ect.) twice a day. Results are said to be noticeable within 3-4 weeks, but some have had them as early as 2!

When using this concentrate, it tends to give a "sauna" effect, that may cause you to sweat more in the areas the cream has been rubbed in, as well as working as a diuretic, 
but the results vary per person. 

When I first used NuElle's anti cellulite cream, I could hardly bare the smell. It was such a strong chemically smell, it made me feel so sick to my stomach, I didn't feel comfortable using it. But per my review, I rubbed the cream into my thighs. The cream rubbed in smooth, and absorbed well, but I was one who never felt the "sauna" warming effect, which I'm actually happy about, seeing the temperature has still been warm here. I did, however, feel major effects of the caffeine in my system. I am not much of a coffee or soda drinker, so when I do have caffeine, it tends to hit me really hard. After using the cream, I felt like I had drank a whole pot of coffee!! I was so shaky and jittery, I could hardly stand it. I never realized how much something on your skin could get into your bloodstream, until I used this cream! It's kind of scary actually. After using it the first time, I decided I hated it. I couldn't stand feeling so jittery, and I didn't even get to enjoy a single cup of coffee to get that way. So I didn't use it that night, as I was worried it would keep me awake all night! Well, the weird thing is, I still slept horribly, because my body would not stop the shaky feeling. I sweared I would not use this cream again. But the next morning after my shower, It taunted me, sitting on my bathroom counter. The idea of having cellulite free thighs is intriguing! Come on, you know that's every woman's dream...Who's with me? So I used the cream again. The results were the same, but not nearly as bad this time. So I decided to try it again, and with each use, the shaky/jittery feeling seemed to decrease. I've been using it twice a day, every day for a few weeks now, with no real visible results. It does make me sweat more and the skin has gotten slightly softer, but visibly, I cannot see a difference. I slowly got use to the products smell...it went from a strong chemical scent, to more of a lemon, spicy smell, with a hint of chemical. But the results haven't changed yet, so I will continue to use until the bottle is empty, and hope for an updated result! There are several reviews, good and bad, of NuElle's Anti Cellulite Cream, on Amazon. A perfect example that every result will be different, just as every person is different too.

*NuElle cellulite cream is not recommended for women that are pregnant, and is not made for children.  

You can purchase NuElle Triple Action Anti Cellulite Concentrate on Amazon for under $30 or you can buy it in the set for $75, which also includes Organic seaweed body scrub and a Phat QR Massager.

 Ingredients Purified Water, Organic Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil), Glyceryl Stearate, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Octyl Palmitate, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter), Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Organic Beeswax, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Essential Oil, Pinus Pinaster (Pine Essential Oil), CoQ10, Betula Alba (Birch) Essential Oil, Agathosma Betulina (Buchu) Essential Oil, Algae Extract, Pullulan, Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Hibiscus) Flower Extract, Ruscus Accileatus (Butcher's Broom), Coffea Arabica (Caffeine), Organic Cola Nitida (Kola Nut), Organic Capsicum Annuum var. Aannuum (Cayenne), Organic Juniperus Communis (Juniper), Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract, L'Carnitine, Organic Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladderwack), Organic Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Organic Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut), Organic Cinnamomum Aromaticum (Cinnamon), Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen Essential Oil), Organic Uncaria Tomentosa (Cat's Claw), Organic Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo), Organic Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Caviar Extract, Cymbopogan Flexuosus (Lemongrass Essential Oil), Organic Joeniculum Vulgare (Fennel), Pelargonium Gravolens (Geranium Essential Oil), Seaweed Extract (Algae), Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp), Helichrysum Italicum (Helichrysum Essential Oil), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu Oil), Organic Borago Officinalis (Borage Oil), Organic Linum Usitatissimum (Flax Seed Oil), Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose Oil), Organic Rosa Canina (Rose Hip Oil), Allantoin, Organic Arnica Montana (Arnica) flower extract, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Organic Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Organic Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia Nut Oil), Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin. 


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.