Tag: reviews

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Go Trybe! (review)

Bethany LaShell

Fitness is more fun with more people! That’s the premise behind Go Trybe, which is an online activity, fitness, and nutrition center for kids of all ages. Kids join a trybe with others their age, build an avatar, talk about fitness and nutrition issues on the safe forums, and gain motivation through a points system. Little tykes can be part of the ZooDoo Trybe, middlers join up with Trybe 180, and older teens stay cool with the Nextrybe.

Modern kids love screen time, so why not make it Active Screen Time with a purpose?
Whole families can exercise and track their nutrition together. There are even instructional videos for all sorts of fitness levels and exercises. My Pyramid (the government’s nutritional guidelines) is available at the click of a mouse. This flexible fitness program requires no parental preparation! You can choose how much or how little your kids are involved in the program.

My sedentary teenage daughter thought it was cool and set up an avatar, but I could not get her really into exercising with the videos. She wasn’t at all interested in the nutrition aspect, but I suspect she just didn’t want to change her bad habits (hm, kind of like her mom!).

Check out all of the benefits and features and sign up for a free trial day on the Go Trybe website. It costs $19.95 for a year’s access, although this information was not readily found on their website.

For more opinions and reviews, check out the official TOS Review Crew blog @ http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783980/



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Bethany

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My Homeschool Transcripts (review)

Bethany LaShell

my hst

It’s never too early to start on your children’s high school transcripts. Okay, well maybe kindergarten might be a bit soon, but by the beginning of 9th grade, you’ll want to have a system in place. I’ve seen free templates, expensive templates, and instruction books thicker than Webster’s. But the best, new solution I’ve seen by far is My Homeschool Transcripts, written by homeschooling dad Steve Sensenig.

My Homeschool Transcripts is flexible, versatile, and easy to use. It’s an online application that securely stores information for one or more students. It can generate transcripts by year (more traditional) or by subject (for students who graduate early, like mine is). The GPA can be listed weighted, unweighted, or both. You can use it as a grade keeper throughout the high school years with up to four grading periods, or you can input the grades during your teen’s senior year as she’s filling out college applications. My Homeschool Transcripts allows users to input their own subjects and classes. It also has the capability to note whether classes are honors, dual-enrollment, or AP. Track credit hours obtained and credits still needed. Decide how many credits are required for graduation from your homeschool. The printout is crisp, clean, and just what colleges are looking for, with room for your official signature at the bottom. There’s also the option of adding course descriptions to the transcripts if you wish.

I was privileged to be a beta tester for My Homeschool Transcripts and Steve provided the most responsive customer service I have ever seen anywhere. Every suggestion I made, he promptly added into the program. When I had a question that wasn’t answered in the user-friendly, online manual, he texted me from his phone while he was out with his family. Wow!

Here’s the bottom line: It’s FREE if you just want to input data for one child and print it out without saving it. Or, if you just want to check it out. If you want lifetime access—yes, that’s unlimited—to store information for multiple children, print out multiple transcripts, and have access to the best customer service ever, the cost is only an affordable $29.99! Hurry on over to My Homeschool Transcripts to get started today!

Bethany

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Easy Filing

Bethany LaShell

Y’all know how much I love organizing and setting up filing systems, right? In case you forgot, or need a refresher, check out my paper posts (including How to Set Up a Filing System). Well, the good folks over at Smead Products caught wind of my penchant and sent me some great filing products to try out (for free):

Tuff Hanging Folders                                                                        New Heavy Weight Super Tab Folders

My hubby “let” me reorganize his filing cabinet–again. I expect he’ll use it about as much as he did before, but I like the shiny new folders. I love the clear tabby things; they’re very easy to attach and the labels slide right in. The manila folders are cool, too, with the extra large surface are for labeling. Of course, I had to use my labeler to help me work on this project. Please excuse the fuzzy picture quality, but you should be able to see the difference between the new folders and the old, yucky, green folders with the tiny tabs that are falling off.
IMG00131.jpg

Be sure to check out Smead’s Facebook page too. Oh, Smead is also giving me a $20 gift card to Target for reviewing their filing products here on my blog, but the opinions presented are entirely my own.

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Buckets-O-Fun

Bethany LaShell
 When we received the “It can’t get any Yuckier!” and “Sticky Yuck!” packets from Buckets-O-Fun in the mail, my kids could not wait to try them out. They even agreed to work together on the projects! “Sticky Yuck!” contained one small packet of granules and directions on the card to which it was stapled (only required water and a bowl to make). The “It can’t get any Yuckier!” packet contained 3 small packets of granules—Chunky, Snowy, and Saucy—complete with fun project ideas attached. My package also contained 2 pages of fun games, FAQ, and a science fact/project flier.




So, what is Yuck? You guessed it: slime! My teenage girls were fascinated by it, so I’m guessing it would be a huge hit with grade school boys (or kids of all ages). These hands-on projects can be used for fun, to reinforce a science concept, or to entertain kids at parties, camps, or other events. This is not just a homeschool product; it’s for everyone who doesn’t mind a little mess to have a lot of fun.




“Eeeeewwww!! This is soooo cool!” The tiny packets actually made quite a bit of yuck, except for the Chunky Yuck, which didn’t fluff up a whole lot for some reason. As you can see from our pictures, we added food coloring, which made it a whole lot more fun–especially adding green to the Sticky Yuck. The favorite Yuck product was the Sticky Yuck because it felt like snot, as proclaimed on the pamphlet. Comment overheard: “So, they (the makers) must pick their noses a lot if they know what snot feels like!” Overall, the Yuck products were a huge hit with my girls and their friends.
Check out Buckets-O-Fun’s complete line of products on their website, including the X-Force Eliminator, Finger Rockets, Inflatable Fun, and Yuck accessories. You can also access their Safety Data Sheet. Prices vary on the amount you order (1, 5, or 50 pounds). A free sample is available from their website just for the asking.
For more opinions and reviews, check out the official TOS Review Crew blog @ http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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An Organized Laundry Room

Bethany LaShell

My laundry room looks more like a laundry closet, so it’s important that it be organized or else it looks like a hurricane hit it. When we bought the house, these wire shelves were already installed. I put the products I use directly above the appropriate machine, then lump other cleaning products on the rest of the lower shelf. The large, full basket on the top shelf is where I store my old towels and rags. The empty laundry baskets are what my kids use for their clean laundry.

A few weeks ago, I posted a teaser about some of the great products that CSN Stores have to offer. Well, here’s how I used the voucher they sent me in my laundry closet:
I used to store my iron and starch spray on the shelf above my washing machine, but the cord was always falling through the slots and I was always afraid I would burn something else on the shelf when I put my iron away. In addition, although my ironing board fit beside my washer, it would annoyingly tip over and fall into the clothes I had drying on the hangers. So, I used part of the voucher from CSN Stores for this very nifty ironing board holder with basket from their Spectrum line. It came with the hardware to install it, but because of its design, it took my dad and my hubby over half an hour to attach it to the wall.



The other product I chose was this fabulous triple laundry sorter from CSN’s Honey Can Do line. I was very excited to receive it and my daughter and I put it together ourselves (which means it wasn’t that hard to do!) in about 15 minutes. I rolled it to my laundry closet with great anticipation and tried to cram it into the slot I had picked out for it beside my washing machine. Oops! It’s too wide! Guess I should have measured the spot first. Oh well. Since it moves so easily on wheels, I just store it in the space between my machines and the folding doors and move it out into the hallway when I’m actually doing laundry. Each cloth basket holds a full washer load (for a regular washer, probably not for a super-size front loader) and so far it’s kept the stray pieces of clothing off the top of my dryer.
Want to win a CSN Stores voucher for the products of your choice? Check back for a contest coming soon!
Q4U: What’s your best laundry room/closet organizing tip?

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Storing Summer’s Bounty: Canning, Freezing, and Dehydrating (a Molly review)

Bethany LaShell
With autumn right around the corner, this month’s “Begin with the Basics” section on apples is quite timely. Included are what some of our favorite types are best suited for (applesauce, pies, etc) and several yummy recipes. Crunch!
I enjoy canning, especially salsa, which never lasts long, and spaghetti sauce. Molly includes links, directions, and recipes for a variety of produce. Seeing the pictures of fresh berries and fresh corn being prepared for the freezer brought back childhood memories. Too bad I don’t have a larger freezer! While I don’t own a dehydrator, I am tempted to buy one so I can dry apples for snacks and herbs for future use. It looks like a very handy gadget.
The Kids’ Corner has tips and printables to help your children manage their time and schedules. Since that’s one of my foci this coming school year, I’ll be printing out that section to share with my girls.
A Molly Digest wouldn’t be complete without calendars, printables, menus, and lists. Check out Molly’s Econobusters website for more great money-saving tips. You can also join Molly’s special members’-only site for even more articles, ideas, and freebies. It’s only $3.95/month for a subscription.
Hurry on over to The Old Schoolhouse Store for your super-sized Digest (52 pages) Storing Summer’s Bounty: Canning, Freezing, and Dehydrating e-book guide. It’s only $4.95.
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Centsible Celebrations (a Molly review)

Bethany LaShell

Over the next few months, my family has been invited to two graduations and a wedding shower. In addition, we have a slew of summer birthdays and holidays that we like to celebrate with our friends by hosting bbq/swim parties. I can’t wait to use Molly’s thrifty ideas to make this year’s events fun and frugal! Maybe I’ll try one of her pretty gift basket projects, too.

A Molly digest wouldn’t be complete without printable organization forms, a week’s worth of menus and a shopping list to go with it, a special section on fresh produce (it’s time for farmers’ markets again), resources and links, and creative ideas to feather your nest frugally.

The May Digest is available for download on the Member’s site and is available in the store shortly. You’ll especially enjoy this issue that focuses on gift-giving, celebrations and parties.

Look for some great freebies in the special Member’s-Only Page as well. This month is all about frugal celebrations! Here is a small sneak peek at some of the free downloads you will receive along with your May Digest.
• Tons of freezer cooking goodies
• Wedding freebies (along with tips, ideas, and frugal gifts)
• Inexpensive Organization E-book (creative organization ideas)
• A Baby Shower for Jesus E-book (encouragement for Moms)
• Mother’s and Father’s Day ideas
• Ideas for hospitality and parties
• A Free Kids’ Cookbook
• And more!

You get all of that for only $3.95! If you have not signed up to become a Molly Member, what are you waiting for? If you purchase the Digest alone, it is $4.95! Why not save a dollar and get all the above to boot? It is $1.00 cheaper than buying the Digest and they get SO much more. Here is the link to the sign-up sheet.

Here is the link to buy just Molly’s Centsible Celebrations May Digest from the TOS store.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


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Homemade Happiness–Frugal Fun and Games (review)

Bethany LaShell


Spring is in the air and with spring fever running rampant, everyone’s looking for outside fun—on the cheap, of course. Where better to get great ideas for games and activities than from Molly Green! Her April 2010 Digest, Homemade Happiness—Frugal Fun and Games provides over 30 suggestions. She also delves into the world of yard sales with helpful tips and—of course—printable forms. The “Something Old, Something New” project is the most adorable play kitchen re-purposed from an old entertainment center. You’ve got to see it!

A Molly digest wouldn’t be complete without printable organization forms, a week’s worth of menus and a shopping list to go with it, a special section on muffins (the recipes and pictures in the “Begin With the Basics” section had me drooling!), resources and links, and creative ideas to springify your home for less money.

Purchase Molly’s Money-Saving Digest, Frugal Fun and Games for $4.95 on The Old Schoolhouse Store Web site. Or, for an even better deal, sign up to be a member of Molly’s exclusive Econobusters Web site.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


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How to Write a Review

Bethany LaShell


I’ve written many reviews in the past two years and in the process, I’ve received many free products. If you’re interested in receiving free products but intimidated by writing reviews, here are a few pointers to get you started:

1. Evaluate the product. Use it. Have your kids stomp on it. Read the book. Check the references. And so on.

2. Write the review for the reader, not for yourself. You already know what you think about it. Write it for the consumer who does not have the product in her hands at the moment.

3. Answer four essential questions: 1) What does the product promise? 2) How well does it meet those expectations? 3) Is it a good value for the money? 4) For whom (age, gender, life situation, etc.) will the product work?

4. Reviews are usually not comparative; evaluate the product on its own merits.

5. Include the product’s full name, where it can be purchased, and how much it costs.

6. Don’t provide irrelevant details. Stick to the basics. Don’t sugarcoat a review because you like the vendor if you truly don’t like the product. But, don’t be nasty, either.

7. Be brief and to the point, but be sure to include all of the necessary details.

8. Here’s how to organize your review for proper flow:
A. Introduction. State the problem to be solved and how the product can solve it. Write a one-sentence summary of your personal likes and dislikes.
B. Describe what the product does, how it works, and what it promises.
C. Describe in detail what you liked and did not like. Try to put the positives before the negatives.
D. Summarize your opinion with a strong conclusion by answering the four questions above and by stating whether you would spend your own money to buy it for yourself.

That’s it! You’re ready to start receiving free products and writing reviews about them! In a future post, I’ll detail how to write book reviews, which are a bit different although many of the same elements should be included.

Q4U: What product(s) would YOU most like to review? What products would you like to see me review on this blog?


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Molly’s $7 Slow-Cooker Recipes (review)

Bethany LaShell

I think that the Crock-Pot is one of the greatest inventions ever. The only thing better is having a variety of tasty recipes from which to choose. Molly to the rescue! In Molly Makes $7 Slow-Cooker Suppers, you’ll find 140 recipes in all categories: soups and stews, chicken, beef, pork, meatless, and sandwiches, plus bonus sections with sides, breakfasts, and desserts. Molly includes some of the basics you’d expect to see such as Pork Chops and Gravy, Chicken and Rice, and Chili. In addition, she incorporates some unexpected and fun recipes such as Taco Soup, German Potato Salad, and Chocolate Cake. Also included are tips for freezer-friendly beef and chicken broth (I’m trying the chicken broth later this week) and tips for converting traditional recipes into Crock-Pot recipes (very handy).

What makes Molly Makes $7 Slow-Cooker Suppers different from Molly Makes $5 Dinners? Half of the recipes portray mouth-watering real-life photographs. Try not to drool on the pages! In addition, each and every recipe has been taste tested by an independent panel and their homey comments and suggestions are printed for you to see. How cool is that?

One of the most handy features is a breakdown of the costs for each meal by ingredient. Many of the recipes cost less than $7, so you can really save money. I think my favorite feature (after the Chocolate Cake recipe) will be the conversion chart. I can now make many of my favorite meals without slaving over the stove all day. Be sure to check out more helpful hints from Molly on her Econobusters Web site. Purchase Molly Makes $7 Slow-Cooker Suppers for yourself at the TOS Store.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”