Our Homeschool Reviews

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Ergonomic Pen Review & Giveaway: UGLee Pen

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

It's weird, it's ergonomic, it's ugly! It's the UGLee Pen!

I had never heard of the UGLee Pen before, have you? If not, it's touted as the world's most comfortable ergonomic pen.

That's a pretty bold statement, so I wanted to test it for myself to see if it's true. Here are some of it's features:

* It has a full size comfort grip
* There are finger tip grooves for stress free writing
* It weighs only 11 grams, which is less than 1/2 ounce
* It has ink smoother than any roller ball, gel ink, or fountain ink pen

So what did I think?

It is very light. Much lighter than many of my other pens. There is a full size comfort grip that is comfortable for me when I write. I tend to grip my pen hard and my fingers felt comfortable and relaxed. And it did write smoothly and easily.

I do want to note that one of the three pens I received {the red one} had a stickier grip than the other two. I'm not sure if this is a defect, but this particular pen was hard to write with, and my fingers slipped on the grip. It does take a bit to get use to. Funny Bunny really likes them, but it is a little hard for me to use them.

Edited on 6-9-14: Even thought the UGLee Pen is neat idea, I just couldn't get a feel for it. Funny Bunny uses them though and likes them.

Find Out More: UGLee Pens can be purchased online. A 3-pack of UGLee Pens is $19.99 and a 10-pack of ultra smooth ink cartridges can be purchased for $15.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway 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.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - February 17

http://orgjunkie.com/2014/02/menu-plan-monday-feb-1714.html

Today is Day 15 of the Engine 2 Challenge and I'm still hanging in there! Even with Valentine's Day last Friday, I have stuck to the plan. I've been amazed that those little chocolates in the kitchen haven't even been calling my name. ;)

This week my goal is to up my veggies and whole grains. Although I stuck with the plan over the weekend, I did make some pretty yummy plant-based desserts that I've been munching on since Friday.

Here's a look at some of my foods

Black Bean Burgers from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Black Bean Moxarella Fajitas

Adonis Cake from Engine 2

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo from Fo Reals Life and

Blueberry Banana Bread from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

This week our dinners will include:

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo {pictured above}
Sweet Potato Stew
Burritos with Spanish Rice and Black Beans

Sides and snacks will include:

Blueberry Banana Bread {pictured above}
Fat Free Cornbread

Lunches will mainly be leftovers and salads.

Oh, and I'm still down about 4lbs and haven't had a soda since I started. Yesterday I did have a half cup of Starbucks coffee with soy milk and raw sugar, but that is it! Feeling great!

To learn more about this Challenge visit Engine 2 Diet.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Homeschool Mother's Journal 2-14-14

In our homeschool...

~~ Happy Valentine's Day ~~

Funny Bunny is working on Unit 23: Rome in Her Infancy in Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ.

It's been a few weeks since I've posted an update to our homeschooling progress, so I'll just hit on the highlights. :)

For her history project in Unit 22, Funny Bunny made paper to remind us of the papyrus used in the library in Alexandria.

In science she has been adding to her Plant Book using Plant Life in Field and Garden and the website eNature. If you haven't been to that site, you should check it out.

For poetry and art, she has created a few more watercolor painting to go along with the Robert Frost poems.

Books Funny Bunny is reading independently...

Books I am reading aloud to Funny Bunny...

In my life the past couple weeks...

If you haven't heard, I've made the switch to a whole foods/plant based diet. Today is day 12 and things are still going wonderfully! If you haven't ready about it, you can read more on my Engine 2 Challenge thread.

Below are a couple pictures of our dinners this week. Tonight {for Valentine's Day} I'm making Vegan Margherita Pizzas {dough, sauce, and cheese all made from scratch} and Adonis Chocolate Cake {also vegan and made from scratch}. I'm hoping the family enjoys it and still loves me afterwards. :)

Black Bean Moxarella Fajitas

Black Bean, Veggie, and Brown Rice Burgers

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thrifty Thursday

Here are some of the thrifty deals for today!

FREE Valentine's Day Printables @ Meet Penny

FREE Planning Printables @ Proverbial Homemaker

FREE Minecraft Addition Worksheets @ Frugal Homeschool Family

FREE Ancient History Curriculum & Schedule @ Guest Hollow

FREE Art Journal Pages @ Kathy's Cluttered Mind

FREE Math Practice Sites @ The Canadian Homeschooler

FREE Vocabulary Bridges from English to Latin & Greek {Subscriber Only} @ Homeschool Giveaways & Freebies

FREE Ancient Rome Printables @ Homeschool Freebie of the Day

FREE Piano Lessons @ Zebra Keys

FREE The Daily Bird {Cardinals} @ CurrClick

I hope you enjoy some of these FREEBIES! If you know of any others, please leave a comment below.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Engine 2 Challenge - Why Plant Based?

So why eat only plant-based foods? {I'll be using quotes from The Engine 2 Diet book to answer this question}

1. Cheese is, simply put, a disease promoting, nutritionally vacant, calorie-dense food that's loaded with saturated fat and animal protein.

2. Although red meat has more fat than chicken, most people don't know that they both contain about the same amount of cholesterol and fish can contain more cholesterol than either red meat or chicken.

3. The yolk of an egg contains 212 milligrams of cholesterol and 5 grams of fat. The white is almost pure animal protein, which is harsh on the kidneys and leeches calcium from your bones.

4. Oil's nutrient content is low, its saturated fat level is high, and all that fat goes straight to your waist and eventually clogs up your arteries.

5. One reason why Americans have such a high incidence of osteoporosis isn't a lack of dietary calcium but an excess of animal protein, which leaches calcium from the bones.

6. Animal-based products contain all the building blocks for heart disease: artery-clogging saturated fat, plaque-promoting dietary cholesterol, cholesterol raising and inflammation-causing animal protein, and free-radical-promoting oxidants.

And those are just a few reasons why...there are so many more I can't list them all. Eating a plant-based diet can protect against a wide variety of diseases. Visit Engine 2 for FREE Resources and Research.

So I know you are wondering what in the world is left if you take out dairy, meat, and oil. Well, there are actually a ton of options!! Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans to mention a few.

I'll be posting more on that later, but for now, take a peek at the muffins I made yesterday. Made with no oil or dairy, all plant-based. :) Recipe from Happy Herbivore Light & Lean.

If you would like to learn more, then you can visit Engine 2 online or purchase The Engine 2 Diet book.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Hard Subjects to Teach

Over the years in our homeschool the subjects that have been the hardest to teach have changed. Some years it was Math and some years it was Spelling. This year those are actually going really well for us.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that my only child is just in 5th grade. As she gets older I'm sure the subjects will change again. I seriously can't imagine teaching Algebra and Geometry! Thankful for teaching videos. :)

I would say right now that the subject I struggle teaching most has to be Latin. I can teach the basics, but once we move past that, I just can't keep up. :(

We've used several different curriculum, and thankfully they all come with CDs and DVDs. I don't know what I would do without those. But when Funny Bunny has a question that isn't in the book or DVD, I really can't help her. Foreign language is just not my thing.

And unfortunately, she doesn't really like it either. I'm hoping though, that as she gets older, I can find some kind of online or local class that she can take so she can be with other children or friends learning the same thing. I think that will help motivate her with this hard to teach {and learn} subject!!

In the meantime, we are going to Keep Calm and Love Latin {well, at least we are going to try} ;)

Monday, February 10, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - February 10

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/01/hash-browns-and-black-bean-burgers.html

If you have been reading my blog over the past week you know that I was selected as one of the many Engine 2 Challenge bloggers!!

Engine 2 is having a Nationwide 28-Day Challenge to eat plant-based foods!

Before I get into my meal plans for the week, I know that many of you are interested in a healthy plant-based lifestyle, but are unsure of where to start.

Engine 2 offers two plans: Firefighter {go all in} or Fire Cadet {ease into it giving up new foods each week}. You can take this online quiz to find out where you should start.

Both plans along with free recipes and resources are available at their 28-Day Challenge page. And to view all my posted meals and recipes you can view my Engine 2 Challenge thread.

Today is Day 8...and I'm feeling GREAT! ;)

Here are a few of my meals from the weekend

Pizza from YourPie {whole wheat crust, no cheese, and lots of veggies}

Spelt Blueberry Pancakes from Engine 2

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies from Happy Herbivore

Here are my meal plans for the week:

Black Bean Burgers
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Burritos with Spanish Rice and Black Beans
Black Bean and "Cheese" Quesadillas

And you may be wondering how I am feeling. Well, I feel wonderful! After one week I've lost 4lbs and {if you don't mind too much information} am having bm's every day. To some that may not be a big deal, but for me, that is just short of a miracle!

On the down side, I've been having headaches just about every day as well. I know that they are probably caused by lack of sugar and caffeine and from toxins leaving my body, so I'm looking forward to being headache free! Last night was my worse one yet, so I'm pretty over having them at this point.

Well, that's it for our meals this week. If you have any questions about the Engine 2 Diet or if you are also taking the challenge, I'd love to hear from you!

Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash Giveaway

NEW Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash gives your skin a daily boost of vitamins. The advanced formula contains a moisturizing Vitamin Complex, which helps draw moisture directly to your skin leaving your skin feeling so healthy and soft, people can't help but notice!

We received the new Dial Vitamin Boost Lotion Infused Amazing B Body Wash to try and we really like it!

Hubby and I have been using it in the shower. It goes on really smooth and the smell is nice, not at all overbearing. Plus, it's great that Vitamin B helps draw in moisture and keep skin hydrated! I really feel like my skin is soft and smooth after using it.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, February 7, 2014

Engine 2 Challenge - Day 5

Today is day 5 of the Engine 2 Diet and everything is going great! I've been sticking to it 100% and haven't been hungry at all. I've kept my meals simple and easy to make, something I think anyone can do. I'm also trying to stay away from crazy, hard to find ingredients, which makes it even easier!

Below are a few of the meals that I've eaten this week:

A variation of Rip's Big Bowl

Food for Life toast with approved peanut butter and a peach

Open face sandwich and a salad loaded with goodies

Again, these meals have all been simple to make with easy to find ingredients. If you want to see some of my other meals with recipes this week, view my Engine 2 Diet Challenge thread.

Although I'm not doing this to necessarily lose weight, I've lost 2lbs so far!! And my tummy troubles have decreased. :) I have had headaches this week though, which I'm sure are from lack of sugar, but they have been slowly lessening too.

This afternoon I'm also planning a trip to our local Whole Foods store. It's about 30 minutes away so it's a fun trip for me. More on that another day. :)

If you are taking the Engine 2 Challenge I'd love to hear from you! And if you are thinking of eating a more plant based diet, I'd like to hear your thoughts too!