Preserve Home School Memories With Picaboo Yearbooks!

Even before I was a mother, I loved taking photos and using those pictures in photo albums and scrapbooks. The many missions trips I took are now preserved beautifully in handmade scrapbooks and I love looking back at those memories safely tucked away for easy viewing. Now that I am a mom, I have continued on with my scrap booking and each one of my children has a scrapbook from their first year. It takes some time to do these books but it is well worth the effort. Being that we now home school, we have yet another big part of our lives that can be preserved via pictures and scrapbooks and I have taken full advantage of that. I have just this week completed my daughter's Pre-K and it feels GOOD to be done! I also am very pleased that we have finished and she progressed so well. Homeschooling can make you feel like you are missing out on things that public educated children receive...like graduation ceremonies and yearbooks; until now.

I am a home school graduate and never had a yearbook. It is NOT silly to have a yearbook for your family's home school and I am here today to introduce you to Picaboo Yearbooks! This is a company that allows schools - public, Christian and home school to create their very own customized yearbooks...something that I had never dreamed of having for my own children.

For the purpose of this review, I was given the opportunity to create a 20 Page Softcover Yearbook and I took my ideas to the Picaboo Yearbooks website and began to let my creative juices flow. Before I started anything, I watched the tutorial that is offered on the site. I had tried to give it a go on my own first, but quickly realized that this would take a bit of learning first. 

The first thing you need to do is create a book and then label your sections. You can use whatever section names you wish such as Field trips, Writing Class, etc. These category titles won't be printed in your book but are just guidelines to keep you organized. I did have problems adding more pages to each section though and still don't know exactly how to do that. When you are setting up the sections, you choose ahead of time how many pages you want for each section. Well, when I started my project I had no idea how many pages I would want for each section so when I got into the book and started designing, I realized there were some sections that I wanted more pages for and some that I wanted less. Changing that seemed impossible and so I just added extra sections at the end.

Next, you upload the images you want to use and put them in the different sections. One thing that I struggled with was figuring out how to move images from one section to another. For instance, I had some pictures in the wrong section and wanted to move them but could not figure out how. I played with the application for awhile and finally figured it out. Watching the tutorial helped some but I still dealt with a bit of confusion. Once you have organized your pictures you can get to work designing your pages. As you can see in the photo above, I have all my pictures for those two pages on the bottom of the screen. You can pick out different layouts, backgrounds and fonts to use and this is where I had the most fun! :) There are many MANY backgrounds to choose from and so you can really customize your pages to fit the photos and your "tastes".

Here is an up-close photo of two pages from my Yearbook. One feature that I loved was when it came to moving around the pictures, you would get notified if your picture was out of the printable area. This really helps to prevent your pictures getting chopped off or cropped. As I would move a picture around, the areas that would not be printed would highlight yellow so I knew I had to rearrange my pictures/text differently. For schools, Picaboo Yearbooks allows you to have multiple people working on the yearbook at one time so you can really experience diversity and personality in each section.

Designing each page was SO MUCH FUN. :) It brought back so many memories of our first year of home school (which is a monumental accomplishment for me) and it feels good to now have these memories all in one place to look at in the years to come. I now want to show you some of my favorite pages of my year book. :)

This is the front and back of my Yearbook. I chose the background, font size and type and also the text. I love how it turned out!

On this page, I was able to document some of Hannah's days of writing. Teaching a child to learn how to write is such a wonderful feeling, I wanted to remember that. Her concentration and focus was adorable! I really liked this page's background because it looks like a child's writing.

This was also a fun page because it shows how we utilized the iPad for certain subjects...here she is writing letters on our handwriting app. 

This is quite possibly my favorite page of the entire book. Hannah was having one of "those" days and I happened to capture her mood in a photograph.(This also proves the importance of documenting the good along with the bad...it is all memorable!) We had MANY of those days and this just goes to show that being a homeschooler is not always easy but we do make it and survive the hardest of days! :)

These two pages were fun to create only because they show our first days of home school and the transition from homeschooling in the old house to doing school in our new house...an important time of our life that I want to look back on fondly. 

Last but not least, I wanted a really good final page for my thoughts about the school year. I found this amazing background that and I was able to type right in it, giving a black board look. Isn't it cute?!? I wanted a place for me to reflect on the year and give honor and glory to God...for it is HIS strength and grace that saw us through our very first year of home school! I am THRILLED with my Picaboo Yearbook. I would love to get one for each year of home school because I believe it is truly a wonderful way to record and preserve your school memories. Cherishing these years is so important because they fly by so quickly.

Pricing for a yearbook identical to the one I received is $8.49 with additional pages costing $.22 each. You can get a FREE eYearbook as well! Not bad! The only thing I don't like is that shipping is $10.99...EEK! I think that shipping could be a bit cheaper as this book is super light and really would not honestly cost much to ship. **UPDATE** Shipping is now $8.99, which sounds so much better! :)

You can check out other review for Picaboo Yearbooks by clicking the banner below. My fellow Crew mates have some wonderful reviews and if you are still on the fence about if you want one or not, check out these reviews...I am sure you will be VERY excited about creating your very own Yearbook after reading what they have to say! :)

Easy Canvas Prints Review and Giveaway

In keeping with my recent decorating theme, I am going to take today to talk about using pictures to decorate your home. I have always been a huge fan of hanging pictures on my walls and when my first child was born, we had her picture taken professionally every 2-3 months (first child syndrome...LOL!). All of her pictures were hung proudly on our living room and her nursery walls and because she was the cutest baby on the planet, everyone oooed and aaahed when they saw the pictures. Our family photo is also one that I love to display where everyone can see it and we have not been as diligent to get that picture taken. I used to have it done yearly, but prices are climbing for professional photos and it seems that the more people you have, the more expensive it is. So, I now have a nice camera and we try to get good family pictures at picnics and holidays. It has worked well and we are thankful for a nice camera with which we can take these pictures.

Easy Canvas Prints is a company that makes canvas art that you can display in any area of your home. Now this is one company that I have know about for some time now and their pictures are unique and stunning. This company can turn your photos and pictures into beautiful canvas prints. Here is a bit more about this company...

At Easy Canvas Prints, we are passionate about providing our customers with top quality canvas products. Using our custom canvas designer, you can easily turn your very own photo into a stunning work of art! 

Your canvas is custom-printed and assembled by hand in the United States and then shipped with care directly to you. If your custom canvas isn’t absolutely perfect, call us and we'll make it right. Our team of canvas experts is dedicated to making sure your experience is the best.

I was recently contacted by Easy Canvas Prints regarding a review and I was SO excited to check them out and go through the process of creating my very own wall hanging!

So, for this review I was sent an 8 x 10 canvas wall print and I chose to have our family's picture put on it. Going through the process of creating your picture was really simple. When choosing pictures, the application would tell you if the resolution of the picture was too high or low and would also show you how the photo would look when it was completed with the cropping. You can move your picture around on the template to get the perfect fit. I had to play with several pictures to get the perfect one and once I found the best picture for the canvas, I was so happy with how it looked!

My canvas arrived the other day and it was packaged in such a way that it would not slide around in the box. That was a nice touch that I appreciated which ensured that my canvas would not be damaged during shipping. The back of the canvas is securely and tightly stapled in place so that there are no wrinkles on the surface, which is nice.

I also love how mine came ready to hang. Sometimes, I drive myself crazy trying to find the hardware necessary to hang a picture up so it was nice to have it already in place.

My only problem with this photo canvas was finding a good place to put it. I mean, we have a really big house now and alot of wall space so where would be the best place to hang our family's picture?? Well, until I decide on a permanent place, I thought it looked nice on our china cabinet. It is in full view of my kitchen and dining room and honestly, my children LOVE it there!

You can choose many sizes for Easy Canvas Prints to fit whatever print you want to use and to make it eye-catching in whichever room of your house you are picturing it in. I love the size I was sent and think that it fits perfectly where I put it for now. Also, you can choose borders, color effects and even an easel back if you desire that! Check out pricing and size options today and start designing your very own canvas print in just a few simple steps. Happy designing! :)

Easy Canvas Prints has offered to giveaway a free 8 x 10 canvas print to one of you! Please note that Easy Canvas Prints is in charge of this giveaway and therefore, they will contact the winner at the close of the giveaway. All entrants will receive a 60% off coupon for Easy Canvas Prints. Here are your entry options...
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Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Easy Canvas Prints products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Easy Canvas Prints website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is NOT responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Mohawk Rugs Review and Giveaway

We have been in our new house for six months now and have really been happy here. Hard to believe we doubled our living space and now that we are here, we realize just how wonderful that feels. One of the things that I have been doing since being here is working on making the house look and feel more like a home. That really has not been difficult though and I have been enjoying trying to figure out what pictures look the best where and planning out what I want my children's bedrooms to look like when they are fully re-decorated. There are some really great touches that you can add to your home without spending a fortune and I have found that if I simply add a few throw rugs here and there that the house looks very inviting and comfy.

Mohawk Home is a company that makes rugs for any room of your house! They carry bathroom rugs, kitchen rugs and entry way rugs and the styles and sizes all vary. I was recently in a friend's house and she had a huge, GORGEOUS Mohawk rug in her family room and it looked amazing. How stunning just one rug can make a room look! I was excited to learn about Mohawk Home and wanted to share a bit more about this company with you. From their website, here is some more information about this company...

Mohawk sells floor covering and textiles for every room in the home and for every commercial application. Hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, ceramic tile flooring, stone and marble flooring and, via an exclusive distribution agreement with Congoleum, vinyl sheet flooring are among the newest Mohawk product offerings. What’s more, the company now offers woven bedspreads, tapestries, pillows, throws and window blinds. Mohawk products are found in major retailers across the country and the world. From Home Depot to Bloomingdales, from Lowe’s to Macy’s, from Target and Wal-Mart to specialty boutiques in large cities and small towns. Mohawk is making the world a more beautiful place.

Also, check out this cool video about Mohawk...

I have seen Mohawk rugs in Walmart before and I *think* I have purchased them before but I don't always look at the brand name before I purchase a product...especially if I am in a hurry. I was really happy to learn that I was going to get an opportunity to review a Mohawk product and so today, that is what I am going to do!

So, for this review I was sent the Mink Mohawk Bartley Area Rug in the 1' 9" X 2' 10" size. I was thinking of a few areas in my home that I could use this rug and that made this size even more perfect!

Our house has a huge room which we currently use as a dining room and this room has large sliding glass doors leading to a patio. The children are constantly in and out of these doors so there is always a lot of traffic and there HAS to be a rug by the door. Above, you see a photo of the rug I had been using by the doors. It was small and plain and was working fine but I wanted something a bit more colorful.

So, this is where I put my gorgeous Mohawk rug...isn't it pretty? It goes so well with the ceramic tile flooring and doors and adds a nice bit of color to the entire room. This rug is also really soft underfoot. My daughter was walking across the floor and as soon as she stepped on this rug, she told me that is was soooo soft! She stood there for a few minutes before continuing to walk on her way. It was cute. :)

This particular rug from Mohawk, in this size retails for about $19.96. It also comes in larger sizes so you definitely have choices when it comes to that. When it came to choosing this rug I had GREAT difficulty deciding on a style because there were so many options. That, my friends, is a wonderful problem to have. :) I am thankful for the variety because it gives me the option of stylish, simple, elegant or rustic. Be sure to check out Mohawk's website for more beautiful floor covering offerings.

So, in my opinion...Mohawk Home has some gorgeous rugs! I am loving the rug I was sent and it looks great in my home! I plan on using it not only in front of my patio doors but also in front of my front door as well. It works anywhere! I would definitely recommend this company to anyone...you will be glad you checked them out! :)

Mohawk has offered to giveaway a rug of the winners choice, any Mohawk Home rug up to size 5x8 and under $100 valued on site. Here are your EASY entry options...
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Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Mohawk Home products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Mohawk Home website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is NOT responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Fun, Fast and Easy Snacking for Little Ones Thanks To Buddy Fruits! {Review & Giveaway}

I still cannot believe that my baby is 13 months old now. That year went by extremely fast and just this week, he has been completely weaned from breastfeeding *sniff*. To me, that is the ultimate sign that my baby is quickly leaving the "I need mommy" stage and entering into a more independent stage. BUT, along with all of that comes an exciting phase of baby's (soon to be toddler's) life. This means that they are ready to start eating "big people" food and begin exploring new and exciting tastes, flavors and textures. I always LOVE this part of their life because it is so fun to watch them experience these new things. Sometimes the faces they make while tasting new foods are hysterically funny...you should have seen my Isaac try out squash for the first time. That "yummy first food" made him wrinkle his nose and spit out the food as fast as I was putting it in his mouth. Ha ha! Yes, I think that this is one of the more fun stages of raising children...eating new foods!

Too often, babies who are on the verge of toddler-hood are overwhelmed with new foods and like to go back to the soft and easy to eat foods once in awhile. Also, in case you haven't noticed with your children, they tend to prefer the sweeter foods. I find that fruit has been a huge favorite with all of my babies and each one of them prefers a different type of food. Today, I am going to introduce you to Buddy Fruits. This company makes pure blended fruit for babies and toddlers and puts it into easy to use and eat pouches! I am so in love with this company right now, it isn't funny. Here is a bit more about this company...

In the summer of 2006 a French family was on a road trip in the United States. Along the road, they were looking for healthy fruit snacks for their kids. Seeing that both healthy and convenient snack solution don't exist yet, they decided to stay in the U.S and and share their passion for good food! Buddy Fruits is committed to delivering our families, a nutritious alternative to unhealthy foods.

With Buddy Fruits wholesome choice of natural ingredients, the products are an easy way to outsmart temptation! Buddy Fruits is simplifying the busy everyday life of families by making fruit easy to consume whether at home, at the office, at school or on the go. With a large variety of flavors, sizes and products available, all family members are able to consume healthy fruits daily.

With 23 million overweight kids across the action (that's 32% of all kids!) there is a clear need for fruit to reclaim the number one spot of snacks served to kids. Buddy Fruits is the US pioneer of the squeezable pouch. Ever since we imported this concept in 2006, we have been dedicated to an ongoing commitment of reinventing the way we eat fruits. We will continue to offer healthy snacks you've never seen before!

As a parent, I can totally agree that finding healthy snacking options for kids is difficult. With chips, candy and soda constantly being forced into our lives via television, billboards and other methods of advertising, it can be difficult to see beyond that to something a bit more nutritious. Sure, chips are convenient but when it comes to nutrition, chips are not always the best choice. This is why I am thankful for Buddy Fruits. They make the decision EASY and totally fun for everyone involved.

So, for this review I was sent a nice selection of Buddy Fruits and I was SO excited to let Isaac experience some new flavors and flavor combinations. Fruits are sweet and therefore, make a fantastic and popular choice for any child at snack time.

Included in my Buddy Fruits were some of the newest members to the Buddy Fruits Family...Pure Fruit Jiggle Gel! These come in three flavors: Strawberry, Orange and Raspberry and contain 100% pure fruit gelatin. How fun!!

I was also excited to received some of their Coconut Milk and Fruit pouches as well. Coconut Milk is so tasty and combined with fruit, it is absolutely delicious! This comes in two flavors...Tropical (Mango, apple, banana, pineapple, coconut milk, apple juice concentrate, passion fruit juice, natural flavors) and Raspberry Coconut Milk (Apple, raspberry, banana, coconut milk, apple juice concentrate, natural flavors.). Oh. Yum.

So, when it came to choosing his first taste, Isaac had a difficult time deciding. Should he go for the Coconut Milk and Fruit pouches or the Buddy Fruit Smoothies? Oh my...so many choices!

He finally went for one of the Pure Blended Fruits and sucked the entire pouch down in seconds. Oh boy, I had to give him another one because he was wanting more! I guarantee that if you give your child one, they are going to want another. And another. And another. And....well, I think you get my point. :)

I love so many things about these Buddy Fruits. They are easily transported. Throw them in your diaper bag for an on-the-go snack or tuck one in your purse if you are going on a quick errand. I also love that they are perfectly sized for little hands. My 13 month old son LOVES to carry these around and suck on them. Not only are they easy to use but they also keep snack time clean. (Unless your little one decides to SQUEEZE the life out of one, then the contents can squirt all over the place. Believe me. We have gone through that. Hee hee!) Sooo, if you have a child that tends to be messy, make sure they stay in one place unless you are outdoors and don't mind a little mess. Generally speaking though, they are mess-free. Ooooooooo yes, I almost forgot to mention that Buddy Fruits are GLUTEN FREE too! :) YAY!

To purchase Buddy Fruits, you can enter your zip code on their website to find a store near you that carries Buddy Fruits. Prices vary based on what kind of Buddy Fruits you are buying. You can also find Buddy Fruits online at Walmart and Amazon. To keep up with news, announcements and other fun stuff, make sure you follow Buddy Fruits on their social media sites; Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube!

So, in my opinion...Buddy Fruits are SO great! I love how easy they are to use and how my son can snack on healthy fruits instantly. I also love how each pouch is packed full of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and that I don't have to worry about anything that could potentially harm my child. Healthy, pure, convenient, easy and ready to eat snacks are definitely a big plus for me! I would definitely recommend Buddy Fruits to anyone!! Trust me...you and your child will LOVE them!

Buddy Fruits has offered to give away a case of assorted Buddy Fruits to one of you! Here are your entry options...
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Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Buddy Fruits products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Buddy Fruits website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is NOT responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Picaboo Photo Books are Buy One Get One Free!

So, if you are a scrapbooker like myself and just cannot find the time to print, organize and make scrapbooks, here is a deal for you! Picaboo allows you create scrapbooks digitally and then ships them to you! Right now, you can buy a Classic Book or Calendar and get one free! This offer is good until July 16th and you just need to enter the code GETAWAY at checkout. I have done these books for gifts and also for my personal memories...they are soo great! Check it out today and get in on this fantastic offer before it ends.

FREE Sample of Scotch-Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes

I signed up for this one yesterday...Get a FREE Sample of Scotch-Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes! Hurry as this may go fast! For the first 30,000 per day!

FOR LADIES ONLY...Maidenform $10 Bra Sale

I just wanted to throw this deal out there in case anyone was interested. I found out about this $10 bra sale through I Am That Lady's website. She is all about couponing, deals and money saving. Here is the info...

Maidenform is having another great deal for bras!! It is their $10.00 Bra Sale! This sale is on through 7/10!

When you use the code RETAILMENOT15, you will be able to take a 15% discount, taking each bra down to only $8.50! Oh yes, and when you use the code SLKDEALFS13, your order will ship for FREE!

The regular price on these bras range from $17.50 – $38.00!

I just ordered two and my order came to, well, check it out...

Whew! I am so glad to have found out about this deal as I have been needing some new bras. Check out this amazing sale today and don't spend any more than you have to on these!