Olympia Tools Pack-n-Roll 48 Pocket Foldable Cart Review

Funny Bunny started Challenge A in Classical Conversations this month.  Her class covers six subjects and meets once a week.  Each Tuesday she has to bring all her books and binders to class, which is on the second floor of the building where we meet.  I knew there was no way she was going to fit all of her books in a backpack and be able to carry it to class. So I started the hunt for the perfect rolling cart.

After what seemed like hours of searching, I came across a foldable rolling cart with pockets! The Olympia Tools Pack-n-Roll 48 Pocket Foldable Cart.

This was exactly what I was looking for.  I wanted a cart that could fold down for storage but also easily assemble when I want to use it.  I also LOVE the heavy duty canvas organizer that it comes with.  The organizer simply fits inside the cart and over the sides.  It adds a ton of storage!

The telescopic handle is easy to use.  Simply push a button to extend it. The cart also includes removable rails for hanging legal and letter size files.  I also love that the canvas organizer has a lid that can be pulled over the top to cover the contents inside.  We get afternoon storms quite a bit and I was definitely looking for something with a cover.

We have packed this cart full and she hasn't had any trouble rolling it to and from class.  It is 15' x 17" x 16" in size and folds down to 3" thick for storage.  I'm not sure of the maximum weight that it can carry, but as you can see, we have it full of books and it has handled it perfectly.

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Olympia Tools and purchase it on Amazon. It's on sale right now for $52.92 plus shipping. Make sure to watch the video while you are there.

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Apologetics Study Bible for Students Review & Giveaway

If you are looking for a student study Bible that will ground your child in truths of Scripture and equip them with responses to difficult questions, look no further!

The HCSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students is your answer!  This is a wonderful study Bible for students and all its information is laid out in an organized and easy to understand manner.

This Bible includes a ton of features:

* Holman Christian Standard Bible {HCSB} - a clear contemp English translation
* Includes Book Introductions for each of the 66 books of the Bible
* Study Notes that provide evidence of the reliability and truthfulness of Scripture
* 120 Articles written by leading Christian thinkers dealing with life's questions
* 60 Twisted Scriptures that address ways religious movements distort Scripture
* 50 Bones & Dirt which feature archaeological discoveries
* 50 Notable Quotes from influential people throughout history
* 25 Tactics that will equip students to withstand opposition to Christianity
* 20 Personal Stories that will encourage and strengthen readers in their faith
* 20 Top Five bullet point lists that help students to remember significant apologetics topics

The Bible we received has a beautiful hardbound cover and very student friendly. My favorite sections in this Bible are the Book Introductions and Twisted Scripture.  It's chocked full of information with just about every page turn. My daughter and I can really dig deep into topics that are either confusing or ones she just wants more information about.

If you have questions about certain Bible Truths, there are some additional Partner Resources online. Sean McDowell has shared 16 teaching videos that help answer some tough questions.  Is Jesus the Only Way? If God made the Universe, then who made God? How do I know God's will for my life? These videos are short and very helpful and informative.

You can also enter to win a free Bible, a mini Apologetic library, or even a free trip for two to NCAA in the Confident Faith Sweepstakes online!

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Apologetics Bible.  The HCSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students is $34.99 for the hardcover and $22.99 for the paperback.

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Passport2Purity Getaway Kit Review

It's the summer before Junior High.  Yes, we homeschool, but starting in August Funny Bunny will be in a co-op with other 7th graders and she will move up to Youth at church with 7th-12th graders.  I want her to be prepared and equipped for whatever situations she may face.

I had been researching the best resource to use when I came across Passport2Purity by Family Life. Passport2Purity equips parents with a step-by-step God centered program that ensures a life-changing weekend with your preteen.

Now my daughter is very resistant to "growing up".  She wants to stay young forever and still loves to "play" with her dolls.  I'm very thankful for that!  I recognize, however, that she is living in a very different world than I grew up in.  Regardless of her resistance to hearing about how her body is changing, boys, dating, and peer pressure, she needs to know about it. We had already discussed a few things, but there were still some very important topics I had avoided until now.

Passport2Purity covers it all and takes the pressure off the parents.

The Getaway Kit includes:

* 1 Tour Guide for the parent
* 1 Travel Journal for the preteen including 25 follow-up devotions
* 8 CDs containing 5 sessions, scripture memory songs and downloadable MP3s

The Sessions are as follows:

* Session 1: Beginning the Journey - Challenges, Traps, and Choices
* Session 2: Running with the Herd - Friendships and Peer Pressure
* Session 3: Ready for an Upgrade? - Changes to Him, Changes to Her
* Session 4: Destination: Le Pure - Setting Boundaries
* Session 5: Crossing the Date Line - Seeing Dating Differently

A Friday night to Saturday night is recommended to complete the program, but due to our schedule, I planned our trip out a little differently.  I booked one night at a nearby hotel and our trip lasted from a Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon.  We listened to the CDs together, she worked on her journal, we talked, completed the projects, and we shopped, ate dinner out, and spent a late night watching a movie and painting nails.

Below you can see Funny Bunny is coloring in her journal while we listen to the CDs.  Notice the chocolate bar and Vitamin Water.  Two of her favorite things! The morning concluded with breakfast and a Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino. :)

We had a fun time, but there was definitely some resistance, especially during Session 3.  Once that was behind us though, it was smooth sailing.  We had a lot of great conversation and it is a time that we will always remember.

To learn more about Passport2Purity, watch the video below.

Find out More:  You can find out more about Passport2Purity online at Family Life.  The Passport2Purity Getaway Kit is $39.99 but I'm excited to share that my readers are able to get 25% off with the code PASSPORT through 8/31/15.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

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©2010-2015 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Memoria Press Henle Latin I Review

We are starting Classical Conversations next month.  Funny Bunny will be in Challenge A.  She is so excited to start this new journey and up for the challenges that will come with it.

One of the subjects she will be learning is Latin.  We are not strangers to Latin and she has studied it in one form or another since Kindergarten.  Some years used a full curriculum and others were more of a review.

Next month she will be starting in her first year of Henle Latin.  It's my understanding that this first year Latin program is for high school students, so she will actually take three years to complete the first book.

Over the past few months we have been getting familiar with these books and have completed some lessons.  Not only is the content challenging, but so is the layout of the lessons.  It can get very confusing.

So that's why I was excited to receive the Memoria Press Henle Latin I Study Guides and Quizzes & Tests.  There are three Study Guides and three Quizzes and Tests booklets.  The first covers units 1 and 2, the next covers units 3-5, and the last includes units 6-14.

The Study Guides break down each weekly lesson into easy to manage sections and they also contain helpful study aids like how to make vocabulary and grammar cards.  The best part about the study guide is that is has all the answers to the Henle Latin Exercises, which is wonderful because the Henle Latin book does not have complete answers, and it can be frustrating.

The Quizzes and Tests books have a quiz for each week, along with tests, a final exam and the answer keys.

I'm already loving the look of these books and I can't wait to really get started using them next month!

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Memoria Press.  The Memoria Press Henle Latin Study Guides are $14.95 each and the Quizzes and Tests booklets are $9.95 each. You can also purchase the Henle Latin First Year books through Memoria Press.  The Text is $16.95, the Grammar Book is $9.50, and the Answer Key is $5.  You can see a sample of each at the link above.

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Hillsong United Empires CD Giveaway!!

EMPIRES is the story of two worlds. Our prayer and desire has been to simply create the most honest project we could. Songs that seek to listen first, and then with God’s breath speak the good news reality of Jesus and His grace into the dichotomy, tension and hopeful-collision of this broken and fragile world we see here and now, and the unshakable and mysterious reality of the Kingdom we can’t see, but no-less know is here - and NOW.

We really love Hillsong United at our house. "Oceans {Where Feet May Fail}" is a favorite!! That's why I was so excited to get Hillsong United's newest CD, Empires. It just released May 26th, so go out and get yours too.

You also have a chance to win their new CD below!!

GIVEAWAY

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The Case of the Cursed Dodo Book Review

Review by Funny Bunny:

The Case of the Cursed Dodo: A Jungle Noir, by Jake G. Panda, is an exciting action-packed fiction book about a mysterious suitcase, endangered animals, rats, birds, bears, hares, and, of course, a panda - Jake G. Panda, to be exact!

The Case of the Cursed Dodo leads Jake all across the world, where he finds a lost suitcase and inside it a mysterious carving of a jade dodo. It's up to Jake to keep it safe from animals that want to take it, like a no-good pack of rats and a sticky-fingered salamander and his partner, a crocodile.

He also needs to rescue his friend, a buzzard named Daisy, before it's too late. And on top of all this, can the Jade Dodo help Jake recover the last remaining dodo birds?

I really enjoyed The Case of the Cursed Dodo! I loved it because it was funny and full of action.

I especially liked the "jungle noir" style writing. It was written with enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat. The way it was written also made me feel like I was in a movie theater, watching the scenes unfold, and this book would make a really great movie, too! The climax was exciting and the ending surprised me.

The last chapter sort of suggested that another book is going to be written. I really hope one will be - because I can't wait! The Case of the Cursed Dodo was a wonderful book, one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed it!

Find Out More: You can find out more online at The Endangered Files, where you can watch the book trailer or purchase a copy for yourself.  The Case of the Cursed Dodo: A Jungle Noir is just $3.99 for Kindle or $9.99 for paperback.

You can also follow on Facebook or Twitter.

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The Book of the Middle Ages Review

I'm happy to be able to tell you about another wonderful Memoria Press Classical Studies set.  If you are not familiar with Memoria Press, they are a family-run publishing company that produces Classical Christian materials. Cheryl Lowe founded the company in 1994, and is the author of several of their books, including the very popular Latin program, Latina Christiana.

The Book of the Middle Ages is a collection of history books written by Dorothy Mills in the 1920's for middle school students.  Memoria Press recently brought these back into publication along with beautiful black and white illustrations.

The Book of the Middle Ages is divided into three parts:  The Early Middle Ages, The Unity of the Middle Ages, and The Later Middle Ages with over 70 stories in all.  Stories range from the Germanic Invaders to Charlemagne, and the Medieval Church to the Hundred Years War.

"It concludes with The Middle Ages, where students are privileged to see how Christianity spread out, building a new civilization on the remnants of the Roman Empire".

The Book of the Middle Ages is a year-long workbook course best suited for grades 6-9. The set I received includes a Text, Student Guide, and Teacher Guide.

The Student Guide includes 22 lessons with 3 review lessons at the end of each unit.  Each lesson in the Student Guide includes Facts to Know {along with famous quotes}, Vocabulary, Comprehension Questions, and Activities.

The Teacher Guide is essential because it contains all of the answers. It is laid out identical to the Student Guide so answers are easy to locate.  It also includes tests and answer keys.

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Memoria Press. The Book of the Middle Ages is recommended for grades 6-9. The Text, Student Guide, and Teacher's Manual are sold as a set for $39.95.

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Character Building

I mentioned last week that I recently started a Bible Study/Devotion with some of Funny Bunny's friend's at dance.  Here are some of my notes from week one.

Week One: Character Building

The 1828 Webster Dictionary defines character as - the peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others.

Our character is built from the many influences we receive from infancy throughout childhood. As we get older our character-building responsibility increases.  The choices young girls make now in life build the character that will be theirs forever.

Is it right?  Does it meet my parent's approval?  Is it glorifying God?  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ~ Matthew 5:6

Doing the right thing is not always the easy road, but it is worth the effort.  Christ is our Perfect Pattern and only those who form their lives after Him are building the best character.  

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~ Romans 5:3-5

Think of a character trait that comes easy to you, like kindness or honesty, and one that is not as easy, like patience or obedience.  Pray about the one that is not as easy throughout the week and work on it.




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Summer Fit Activity Books Review

I was on the hunt for something that Funny Bunny could work on over the summer between 6th and 7th grade. We don't stop school completely because I like for her to keep her mind sharp but I don't want to overwhelm her with work.

That's when I stumbled across Summer Fit.  Summer Fit Workbooks were written by teachers to help prepare students academically, physically, and socially for the next grade level.

Summer Fit Activities engage children in the following areas:

Academics: reading, writing, math, language arts, science, geography, & tech
Fitness: exercise, active play, healthy eating, and nutrition
Core Values: honesty, self-discipline, and friendship

The Summer Fit is a series of nine workbooks:  P-K, 1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd, 3rd-4th, 4th-5th, 5th-6th, 6th-7th, and 7th-8th

Each book contains:

* A parent introduction
* 10 weekly units that start with an overview and cover the subjects above
* 10 pages for each unit so only 2 pages per day need to be completed
* A weekly role model, like Jackie Robinson, and core values in each unit
* Extension activities

I received two workbooks to review - Summer Fit 2-3 and 6-7.

My Thoughts:  As I mentioned above, both are laid out in the exact same format, the only difference is the material. The material is different each day, which is nice and will hopefully keep the child from getting bored. In flipping through the 6-7 grade book, there are things that will be review for Funny Bunny but there are definitely new concepts.

Below you can see a few samples from both books.

2nd-3rd

2nd-3rd

6th-7th

6th-7th

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Summer Fit Learning and on their Facebook Page. Workbooks can be purchased on Amazon for between just $9 and $12.

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Girls Preteen/Teen Bible Study

I recently started a Bible Study/Devotion with some of Funny Bunny's friends at dance.  For months prior, I really felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart to start something, but I just wasn't sure what at the time.  I continued to put it off but that feeling kept coming back.

I finally built up the courage and asked if these girls would be interested in going on this journey with me.  This was truly a hard step to take.  Although I enjoy teaching, I do have some anxiety over it, and let's face it, I certainly am no expert in the subject and don't have all the answers.

But I asked.  And they accepted. :)

So in following God's instructions as laid out in Matthew 28:18-20, I am using Beautiful Girlhood as my guide.  This book was originally published in 1922, and although it has been revised and republished more recently, the wording is still pretty old fashioned. The content is timeless though.

Here is a peek into what we have discussed so far:

Character-Building
The Strength of Obedience
Inner Beauty {today's lesson}

My intent is to write in detail about each one in hopes that it may help someone else. Will try to get the first up sometime next week.



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©2010-2015 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/