Holiday Bliss - December 21

For the month of December Our Homeschool Reviews will be participating in "Holiday Bliss" hosted by Brenda at Garden of Learning.

To participate, I'll be sharing favorite holiday recipes, crafts, traditions, things we do during the month, thoughts on Christmas, pictures of our family during December, or just anything that has something to do with this blessed holiday season.

Today we braved the crowds and took a few hours to go shopping.  Our plan was to go to the mall, but after looking at the mile-long line to turn at the light into the mall, we decided that was too much trouble...lol!  Mind you, we have already completed most of our shopping online, but there are always those last minute gifts to purchase.  Instead we headed to The Loop for lunch, Best Buy, Office Max, Starbucks ;o), and Academy Sports.  Still, it seems like we have been out all day and the traffic was pretty thick. 

We are glad to be home now and are ready for some afternoon naps.  ;o)  Hope all your Christmas shopping is coming to an end.  Of course, there is always online, and with Amazon's two-day shipping, gifts will still get here by Christmas...hmmm, may have wait on that nap and check out the deals for today!!

And the Simply Fido Winner Is...

Comment #6:  frugalkelly said... I am an email subscriber.

I used Random.org to pick the winner and I have already notified her via email.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Simply Fido Giveaway via Our Homeschool Reviews and thanks again to Simply Fido for allowing me to offer these great products! 

 

 

More Amazon Deals Before Christmas!

There is still time to get Christmas gifts shipped to you before Christmas!!  Here are some deals I found on Amazon today (Can you tell I have done almost ALL of my shopping online this year)??

Today the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden is only $12.99 (down from $24.99).  We have one of these and have sent away for the caterpillars a couple times.  My daughter absolutely loves it!  FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

Get the Paperoni Magic Movin Pets for only $5.79 (down from $21.99)!  FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

The Garmin GPS Navigator is only $99.99 (down from $399.99)!!!  That's 75% off!  Plus you can get FREE one day shipping!

See the Light: The Gift of Love Review and Giveaway!

See the Light: The Gift of Love tells the story of Christmas, brought to life by a beautiful chalk-art drawing.

See the Light chalk artist Gloria Kohlmann draws her interpretation of the Nativity and the story that has been told time and time again now becomes even more captivating.   

Included with the DVD are also three step-by-step art lessons: Rejoice, Away in a Manger, and Portrait of Mary.  Each is drawn by a different artist.  The first introduces creative lettering, the second is a manger scene using colored pencils, and the last is a portrait of Mary using chalk-art techniques.  Each drawing may also be brought to life with a black light, if the correct art supplies are used. 

Our whole family watched the DVD together and we enjoyed the Christmas story and art lessons that followed.  We decided to watch the lessons completely through one time before trying them out ourselves.  Our daughter is excited to get started! 



Find Out More:  You can find out more about this DVD and others in the series at the See the Light website.  The Gift of Love is only $14.99 but you can also purchase the Deluxe Bundle, which includes the DVD, a pocket black light and extreme colored pencils for $29.99.

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So, here's how to enter to win the Gift of Love DVD! For each comment, you will get one (1) entry. Only the first comment is mandatory, all others will just increase your chance at winning.

1. Check out the See the Light website and let me know what you would like best about the Gift of Love DVD. Leave me a comment and this will give you 1 entry.

Additional Entries:

2. Like the See the Light Facebook Page. Leave me a comment and this will give you 1 entry.

3. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect (on the right side of my page) or let me know you are already a follower. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry.

4. Follow my blog using Networked Blogs (on the right side of my page) or let me know you are already a follower. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry.

5. Subscribe to my blog by email though feedburner HERE. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry.

6. Like my Facebook page HERE. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry.

7. Follow me on Twitter @OurHSReviews. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry.

8. Share this giveaway on your blog or twitter. Leave me a comment sharing your link and this will give you two (2) entries (leave separate comments for both).

9. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page. Leave me a comment and this will give you another entry. 

**Remember to please leave a separate comment for each entry** 

One random winner will be selected using Random.org on Monday, December 27, 2010. (U.S. Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you (either an email address in your comment or on your profile).

"Disclosure of Material Connection: 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 Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Amazon Last Minute Gift Ideas!!

You can get a Bon Appetit (1-year auto-renewal) subscription today for only $10 (normally $54)!  You can cancel your auto-renewal at anytime.  This is a great deal.  We had a subscription to this magazine several years ago and it was way more than this!  This would be a great gift!

Another great gift idea are these Sterling Silver White Freshwater Cultured Pearl Button Stud Earrings.  They are only $9 (down from $19.99) with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

This Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Game is only $4.99 (down from $19.99) with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime! 

Amazon: Littlest Pet Shop

Just saw this great deal on Amazon.  The Littlest Pet Shop Collector's Starter Pack is only $7.99 (originally $20.99) with FREE Shipping with Amazon Prime!  That's only $1 a pet, and you can't find that at any store!

Weekly Wrap Up #8

Since it is almost the end of December, I thought I would post a School Year Review to this point.

Preparing Hearts For His Glory: We worked up through Lesson 22 for the year and took a break back in November to focus on other studies.  So far this year in History we have covered: Creation to Noah, Life after the Flood, Egyptian Civilization, Israelites in Egypt, Greece, Babylon, Rome, birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the persecution of the Christians.  In Science we have covered the Arctic Tundra, Cactus Desert, the Dinosaurs, and the Constellations.  Bible study included learning Psalms.  

Bible - Various: We started the year studying Psalms.  Once Community Bible Study started we moved to learning about the Servants of God by reading Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.  Now we are celebrating the season of Advent by reading through the Bible and going through the Jesse Tree stories. 

Math - RightStart Math Level C:  We finished up on Wednesday with Lesson 70, which was a review and practice test.  She did pretty well on the test and we are at about the half way mark so we will be stopping here until the new year.  So far this year she has learned or reviewed: Venn Diagrams, Roman Numerals, mentally adding two-digit numbers, multiplication, adding four digit numbers, subtraction, money, perimeter, and fractions. Most of what she has done this year has been review, with the exception of about the last 20 lessons.  She has been enjoying math this year more than last.

Grammar - First Language Lessons 2: Second grade in this book starts with lesson 101, and we have completed through lesson 154.  It ends with lesson 200, so we are about half way through.  So far this year she has learned or reviewed: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, types of sentences, contractions, letter writing, quotations, poem memorization, and story and picture narration.  We both really like this book since the lessons are short and quick. 

Writing - New American Cursive Wkbk 2: We started cursive over the summer and she is about 3/4 through the book.  Her writing is legible but needs correction from time to time.  I will just have her continue through the book and when she has completed it, I will periodically have her write assignments in cursive.

Latin - Various: This year she is reviewing Song School Latin, which she completed last year.  She still enjoys listening to the songs and that is helping her with her vocabulary words.  We have also added Latin's Not So Tough 2 and have just finished the alphabet, diphthong, and special consonant sounds.  We will be getting into the vocabulary next.  Lastly, we started using Visual Latin, but we have only watched a couple of the videos so no word yet on what we think.

Science - Exploring Creation with Astronomy: We started using this about a month ago so we have only finished chapter 1 and 2, but we are both enjoying this book.  We will probably continue through the book on top of the other sciences we have planned for the rest of the year.  

Music - Piano Lessons: She is currently working through Alfred's Basic Piano Library All-in-One Course Book 3.  She has about five more songs in this book until she moves to the next.  She has been taking piano lessons for about a year now and has really been enjoying them.  

I know we have more subjects but I think that gives a pretty good overview of where we are right now.  :O) 

How was your week?  Thanks for Joining Our Homeschool Reviews and for more Weekly Wrap-Up, this week I am linked up with Kris over at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Holiday Bliss - December 17

For the month of December Our Homeschool Reviews will be participating in "Holiday Bliss" hosted by Brenda at Garden of Learning.

To participate, I'll be sharing favorite holiday recipes, crafts, traditions, things we do during the month, thoughts on Christmas, pictures of our family during December, or just anything that has something to do with this blessed holiday season.

Today is the first day of dh's vacation.  He always takes (or tries to take) two weeks of vacation around Christmas.  This morning we have all be relaxing and cleaning a bit but next week we will start taking some fun one-day excursions around town to places like the zoo, Museum of Science and History, the art gallery, miniature golf, and others.  Of course we will have to run some errands and probably buy last minute gifts, but it is nice to have him home to do it all with!  :o)

Amazon Deal: Magellan RoadMate

The Amazon's Deal of the Day is the Magellan RoadMate 5045-LM 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps and Traffic for only $109.99 (down from $229.99) AND when you use the code 48HRSGPS at checkout you can get an extra 10% discount, making your total only $98.99, plus you get FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

Happy Shopping!

Growing Healthy Homes

Our Homeschool Reviews has been given the special 20% discount code 20TOS10, and I am offering it to my readers to purchase Nutrition 101: Choose Life! and any other products from Growing Healthy Homes!  This offer is valid from December 15 through December 31, 2010, for unlimited uses.

If you are local, you will remember Growing Healthy Homes at our Homeschool Convention.  I spoke with them briefly about their book, The Raw Food Feast, which I almost bought (and I know a couple of my friends did).  So, if you are looking for another book in their collection, now is the time to get it!