Kids Academy Apps Review

*Sponsored Post*

My girls are always asking me to download them new games on their iPad so I'm always looking for new ones to download. I like apps that are not only fun but also educational. These three apps are exactly that. If you have a toddler, preschooler, or a kindergartener, you should definitely check them out.

Preschool and Kindergarten learning kids games free for toddlerBy Kids Academy Co apps: Preschool & Kindergarten Learning Kids Games, Educational Books, Free Songs

Give your preschoolers a chance to learn basic alphabet, writing and mathematics the fun way! This app immerses your child with wonderful graphics and sound, all while improving hand eye coordination necessary for you toddler's development. My 3 year old daughter loves playing with this app. She likes tracing and collecting fireflies in a jar. It's helping her improve her writing skills.

This app is created to make fun more educational! The app goes beyond simply great graphics and beautiful music by engaging children to learn preschool basics through intriguing game play. Toddlers will start with easy tracing by collecting fireflies in a jar and will move gradually to tracing requiring more developed fine-motor skills. The basic skills in this app are foundations for reading, writing and arithmetic operations. Appropriate hints are provided to support your children as they practice and build their skills.

ABCs alphabet phonics & Montessori learn to read app for toddlerBy Kids Academy Co apps: Preschool & Kindergarten Learning Kids Games, Educational Books, Free Songs

This builds on the previous app by introducing your preschooler to writing both uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet. The app takes tracing to eventually writing alphabetical characters.  It also teaches your young one the sound of each characters as they are applied in words and rate's them accordingly. This app is a wonderful way of introducing children to the basics of writing and reading.  

Learning to write has never been more fun! With Montessori Worksheets for Kids Free your kids will not only learn to write letters, but will also develop good handwriting skills! The app turns the learning process into what kids love the most - a game! ---

Bingo ABCs alphabet phonics song with farm animals cards for toddler freeBy Kids Academy Co apps: Preschool & Kindergarten Learning Kids Games, Educational Books, Free Songs

This app takes the "Bingo" song that us older folks have come to know and love and reintroduces them to the new generation! This interactive, sing along music book will keep your kids preoccupied for hours with mini games and a recording, karaoke function, all while learning different farm animals.

Cute interactions, a catchy tune, and simple lyrics of this sing along music book will entertain you and your kids. With a single app you can sing and record your singing in a Karaoke session, play mini games with farm animals cards, make up and record your own stories!

Splash Math App - Makes Learning Math Fun!

This post was created in partnership with Mom Buzz Media and StudyPad Inc. All opinions expressed are my own.


I'm always looking for fun and educational apps for my girls especially for my 3 year old who's just learning her numbers and letters. Recently we downloaded Splash Math on their iPads. We downloaded both versions one for Preschool & Kindergarten and one for Grades 1 to 5.

The Preschool & Kindergarten Splash Math is perfect for my 3 year old. She's been playing with this app since we downloaded it last week. She's practicing counting skills, addition, subtraction, measuring and other math skills without knowing it. To her, it's all fun and games. Her favorite is counting and dragging the correct number to the right box. She get's so excited every time she gets it right and says "I did it!" She calls this app Hippo game.

The Splash Math - Grades 1 to 5 app is great for both Emma (she's 5) and Olivia (she's 7). It has lots of fun and interactive math problems aligned to Common Core Standards. Some of my favorite features of this app is that it gives explanation for wrong answers, it has scratchpad for rough work, and you can monitor progress with real-time progress dashboard. It even has rewards program. I love that it grows with your child. All my girls will be able to use this app for many years. The free version is limited to 20 questions a day so we are thinking of upgrading to their paid version.

Join the 8 million+ users! Download Splash Math on iTunes! Get SplashMath for Grades 1-5 Get SplashMath for Pre-K

Or check them out on Google Play!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Canon EOS Rebel T5i at Best Buy

Disclaimer: I been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

I've had my Canon Rebel XTi for years now. My husband gave it to me on my birthday. It's one of my best presents I've ever received. I still love it and uses it all the time to take pictures of my kids. But I think it's about time to make an upgrade. The Canon EOS Rebel T5i sounds amazing. It has everything I want in a DSLR camera and so much more.

Best Buy is the ultimate destination for the latest cameras to capture your holiday memories. The Canon EOS Rebel T5i is one of the best-selling DSLRs. This camera makes advanced photography easy and fun, and gives you exceptional image quality, along with a host of features to enhance your creative expression.
•      Capture Hollywood caliber full HD video
•      Continuous autofocus while taking HD video
•      Features an 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 image processor to ensure vivid, crystal-clear images.
•      The 3" vari-angle touch screen simplifies navigation.

Save $150 on the Canon EOS Rebel T5i at Best Buy*. Visit Best Buy to learn more.

*offer valid 12/7-12/20

Do you love twitter parties? Best Buy is hosting an LG OLED Twitter Party on Thursday December 4th at 7PM CST and a Canon Twitter Party on Thursday December 18th at 7pm CST. Feel free to join this party for a chance to receive Best Buy gift cards and other great prizes. Tweet #HintingSeason with your top gifts that you want this Holiday from Best Buy.

This holiday season get 20% off on Splash Math

Splash Math is an award winning math program for kids of ages 5-10 which can be used both at homes and in schools. Splash Math has benefited over 9 million kids and has been used in over 50,000 classrooms. Available on iPads, Android tablets and web, Splash Math works across multiple platforms and devices.

Splash Math is an adaptive program. It personalizes math practice depending upon the child's level of mastery and covers all math skills for all grades - Kindergarten through 5. Splash Math collects the practice data and shares analytical reports with the parents/teachers.

Splash Math combines the best of both worlds. For a child, Splash Math appears to be like a game which rewards on getting answers correct, keeping them engaged all the time. For a parent, Splash Math covers all necessary math skills for their grade levels and provides crucial insight on the child's performance.

Special 20% discount - This holiday season, Splash Math is offering a Special 20% discount. Go to Save 20% Off Splash Math to access the discount.



One Liners--

"This holiday season get 20% off on Splash Math - the fun math program for K-5 used by 9 Million kids"

"Why wait until Christmas to get a discount? Get 20% off on Splash Math to enjoy fun math practice for your child for an entire school year."

"Need a reason to try Splash Math? Here's one. Get 20% discount on Splash Math - the fun math program for K-5 Kids"

"It's the Holiday Season and it's time to make merry and spread happiness. Get 20% off on Splash Math to enjoy fun math practice for your child for an entire year."

"Give your child gift of Math this festive season. Unlock 350+ math skills across Kindergarten to Grade 5 and save 20 %."

Wordless Wednesday: An Evening in December Concert

Egg in a Hole: Fun and Healthy Breakfast

One of my kids' favorite breakfast is egg in a hole. I love it too because it's easy and fast to make. It is also healthy. It's our go to breakfast during school days.

Ingredients: Bread, butter and egg

You will also need cookie cutter.

Use your cookie cutter to cut your kid's favorite shape in the middle of your bread. We love Trader's Joe organic bread. They both have organic white and organic whole wheat bread.

In LOW HEAT add a small piece of butter on your pan and place your bread. Add your egg in the middle. You can add salt if you wish.

Don't throw away the cut heart. My girl's love to use it to dip the middle part of the egg.

About 3 minutes or until bread is golden brown flip it over and cook the other side.

Make sure you don't over cook the egg!

Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates Review plus Discount Code

*Product Sample Received*

We recently received a one pound box of Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolates, and I have to say, they taste delicious. Since 1964, they have been making an assorted variety of candy and chocolate sweets. We in particular received their assorted milk chocolate box although they have dark chocolate as well. 

In addition to their traditional chocolates, the have variety of other flavors such as chocolate covered nuts, cherry cordials, chocolate pecan turtles, chocolate cremes, mints and chews like caramel. There is also a sugarless version for those who are diabetic but still want to enjoy eating chocolates. 

Aside from the one pound box, we were also received delicious chocolate bars of assorted flavors, my favorite being the white chocolate with a hint of coconut. They are packed in wonderful boxes, great for the holiday season. 

Although there's a positive general consensus among my kids, (kids and chocolates go together perfectly well) each one is inclined to a different flavored candy in the box:

Olivia (7 yrs old): " I like the caramel."
Emma (5 yrs old):  " I like the cherry flavored one."
Sophia (3 yrs old): " I like all the chocolate!"

Discount/Promo:  My readers receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates use promo code: usfamily2014 http://www.mrscavanaughs.com/

Disclosure: I received product sample(s) mentioned above from the company or representing PR for free. NO other payment was given. This is my honest opinion, yours may be different. 

Easy Banana Bread and Muffin Recipe

I've tried a lot of banana bread recipes and I finally found the perfect one. Adding sour cream makes a huge difference. I usually would never add sour cream on my banana bread. But last week I tried it and it make so much difference! It is so moist and delicious.

This recipe is for one 9x5x3 inch loaf of pan or 12 muffins.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
3/4 to 1 cup sugar (it depends how sweet you want it)
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 ripe bananas (mashed well)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream

• Pre Heat oven at 350 degrees and butter your pan.

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add eggs and vanilla.

• Add flour, baking soda, and salt to the sugar and butter mixture. Mix well. You can use an electric mixer but I didn't. I mixed by had.

• Once it is all mixed add your mashed bananas and sour cream and mix.

• The mixture should be a little thick.

• Place in the oven for one hour for the loaf pan or 25 minutes for muffins or until cake tester (or butter knife) comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Holiday Gifts From Collage.Com

Product Samples Received

Just in time for the holidays, Collage.Com launched a handful new products. I recently ordered their Aluminum Photo Panels and Custom Ornaments. What I really like about Collage.com is that it was so easy and simple to order. I was able to make and order both products in  less than half an hour. It would have taken less if I knew which pictures to use. 

I ordered their 11x14 Aluminum Photo Panels. I used a family picture that was taken in  Niagara Falls last summer. I was really worried that my picture would look blurry because it was taken using an iPhone. But surprisingly it came out really great. The picture is so clear and beautiful. Although I only used one photo, you can add more and make a collage. Another great thing about the aluminum photo panel is that it came with mounting hardware already pre-installed so they are ready to be hang and display when you receive it.

Aluminum Photo Panels are great alternative to the classic canvas photos. Dyes are directly infused into the metal, giving your images brightness and definition like you're never seen it before. Memories don't get more vivid than this!

Collage.Com's aluminum Custom Ornaments are a great way to turn memories into keepsakes that will deck the halls for years to come. Their ornaments come in two shapes, oval and rectangle and come looped with red ribbon and ready to hang. I made the rectangular ornament with five pictures taken last Christmas. The pictures are clear and printed both sides. I've always wanted to start a family tradition of making Christmas ornaments so I will definitely continue to make one every year.

Did you know that you can also order Custom Wrapping Paper in Collage.com?  Custom wrapping paper is a great way to make your gift fun and memorable. It's perfect for any occasions especially this Holiday Season. Their custom wrapping paper is printed on thick, high-quality wrapping paper. It has has measuring grid printed on the back for those of you (like me) that can't cut straight. 

Visit Collage.Com to learn more of these products.
Like them on Facebook for discounts and promotions.


Disclosure: I received product sample(s) mentioned above from the company or representing PR for free. NO other payment was given. This is my honest opinion, yours may be different. 

Make, Bake, and Decorate with Christmas 3D Cookie Kit

*Product Sample Received. This post contains affiliate link*

It's been our tradition every year to make Christmas cookies. My girls always look forward designing their own cookies. This year they are even more excited because we are going to make 3D cookies thanks to The Christmas 3D Cookie Kit that we received to review.

The kit comes with a recipe and instruction book and 3D cookie cutters. The instruction is very easy to follow. I really like that their basic cookie dough recipe has only 5 ingredients (that we already have in hand) and very simple to make.

My girls are so excited to make and decorate their own 3D Christmas Tree and 3D Snowman Cookies. They also have instructions how to make candy canes, gingerbread houses, spiral cookies, snow globe cookies and so much more!

The kit comes with a cute box with a magnetic closure. You can easily put back the recipe book and cookie cutters for later use or store it for next year.  It's also perfect to give as a present this Christmas!

Disclosure: I received product sample(s) mentioned above from the company or representing PR for free. NO other payment was given. This is my honest opinion, yours may be different. This post may contain affiliate link.

Just Sayin' Review

*Product Sample Received*

I've always struggled to do my daily devotional when I was younger. And I'm sure a lot of kids feel the same way. This is why I really like Just Sayin' because it is not your typical devotional book for girls. 

It’s an all-out open space for you to explore and learn more about yourself and your faith. Prompts get your mind thinking, ideas flowing, and help turn your thoughts and emotions into dynamic doodles and more!

Each of the short, single-page devos were designed for girls and teens, with relevant topic, quotes, Scripture, plus doodles, journal prompts, lists, puzzles, quizzes, fill-in-the-blank prayers, and unique activities that explore Bible truths and ways to apply the everyday. Just Sayin’ challenges girls to follow Jesus every day.

I gave this to my 11 year old niece and she really likes it. She like to draw and doodles so this is perfect for her. She likes that all the activities on the book are very simple and easy to understand. The puzzles and quizzes are also fun to do. 


Disclosure: BookLook Bloggers-Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me this Book free as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Soothie Suckers Review and Giveaway

I know it's impossible to shield our children completely against cold and flu especially when they are in school. However, it's always a great idea to teach our kids some preventative measures.

Washing Hands - We always make sure our kids wash their hands at all times especially before eating, playing, or after using the bathroom with soap and water.

Cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing - Make sure your kids know how to properly cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or their elbow.

Teach your kids NOT to share utensils/cups with other kids - I have to constantly remind my daughter not to do this because she loves to share her food with her classmates.

In spite of us doing all these, during winter time my girls still get sick easily (especially my eldest.) She have already missed six school days this year.

We recently tried Soothie Suckers and we are hoping that taking their Immune Support and Nasal Support daily will keep our kids healthy this winter. They are all-natural herbal supplement ice pop. They contain certified organic or wild crafted herbal extracts. There are no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup and no alcohol. They taste great and my girls love when it's frozen because it's like eating orange or grape flavored ice pop!

Immune Support Herbal Ice Pops  

• Orange Proprietary herbal blends 
• Certified organic or wild-crafted herbal extracts 
• No artificial flavors, No high fructose corn syrup and No alcohol 
• Formulated in conjunction with the President of the American Herbalists Guild 

Try our Soothie Suckers Nasal Support, too! One hundred percent plant-based, our Immune Support blend makes use of herbs that for generations have provided parents with safe and gentle ways to help kids stay happy and healthy. Your kids will love the sweet orange taste, and you’ll love that there are no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup and not a single drop of alcohol.


Nasal Support Herbal Ice Pops 

• Grape Proprietary herbal blends 
• Certified organic or wild-crafted herbal extracts 
• No artificial flavors, No high fructose corn syrup and No alcohol 
• Formulated in conjunction with the President of the American Herbalists Guild 

Try our Soothie Suckers Immune Support, too! One hundred percent plant-based, our Nasal Support blend makes use of herbs that for generations have provided parents with safe and gentle ways to help kids stay happy and healthy. Your kids will love the yummy grape taste, and you’ll love that there are no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup and not a single drop of alcohol.

Coupon: Enter HEALTHYFUN for $2 OFF your purchase of Soothie Suckers Herbal Icepops

Giveaway: Win a box of Soothie Suckers Herbal Icepops Immune and Nasal Support

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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.

Happy Holiday Giveaway: Win $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 PayPal

I can't believe it's been almost 5 years since we started this blog. We are so grateful and thankful to our readers. As a a thank you, we are giving $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 PayPal (winner's choice) to one of our readers this Christmas. This giveaway ends 12/25. Winner will be notified on Christmas Day.

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