Our New Project: P52

Life With My 3 Boybarians is hosting P52, one photo a week for a year.  I'm going to try my best to participate each week. Come and check the P52 Flickr Group out and here's the link to my set (of course there is only 1 so far but you can see it below) and here is the link to my other photos (not in the project)! 

Goals for 2011

For the past week I've been reading a lot of resolutions and promises that people are planning to make for 2011. I am usually not one to make resolutions for the new year, but I thought I would list out a few things I would like to improve on...it will be an ongoing list. ;o)

1. Improve my eating and work on exercising every day.  Yes, I know, isn't this what everyone wants to do??  Is that a bandwagon going by?  I'll jump on. ;o)  I'll be explaining more on my fitness and nutrition goals in a later post, so stay tuned!!!

2. Focus on getting school with my daughter completed by lunchtime.  For me, that means less time on the computer creating posts and reading blogs in the morning, and more time getting school started and finished early.  I'd like to schedule my computer time for only early mornings and late afternoons.

3. Spend more time with my family in the evenings and weekends.  This really isn't hard, but again, I would like to try to wrap up my computer time by dinner so we can have family time afterwards.

4. Take Maisy, our dog, for more walks.  We have a fenced in backyard that we play with her in, but I know that it would be good exercise for her if we took her for more walks.

5. Take more time on my Bible lessons.  I have gotten bad about rushing through my weekly Bible lessons to get them completed for class, and I don't always take the time I need to understand and reflect on the lessons I should be learning.

OK, so there you have it.  My first five goals for 2011.  I think they are all achievable so I should have no problem.  I'll try and post updates as I remember. 

 

What's Happening In January...and Beyond?

We have been enjoying a nice break from the normal routine!  Dh has been off work since the 17th and we have been having a great time taking day trips and relaxing!  Tomorrow he will be back and work and we will be starting school again, so I thought I would give you a sneak peek into what is coming up in January...and beyond!

Reviews, reviews, and MORE reviews!!! 
I can't wait to talk to you about all the products I will be reviewing this month (and throughout the rest of the year)!  Several of the products I reviewed in 2010 have benefited our family and we love them (and if you purchased them based on my reviews, I hope you are enjoying them as well!).  I'm also glad to have a daughter who enjoys trying out new things and can be honest about what she thinks.  You can see all my upcoming reviews in the right sidebar (and there are many in January). 

Giveaways!!!
I have come to love giveaways!  I enjoy entering contests myself and I hope my readers are enjoying what I am offering!  I hope as my blog grows, I can offer you bigger and better contests!  :o)

Deals!!!
As you know I love a good great deal!  I will continue to find as many freebies and samples as I can for you and post them on Thrifty Thursdays.  Also, throughout the week if I find any deals that can't be beat, I'll try to post them that day.  I'll also try to pass along my shopping and couponing tips as well. 

Homeschooling!!!
I'll be posting weekly about our homeschooling journey.  It may be as simple as a a recap of what we have completed in a week, or I may pass along tips and things I have learned about homeschooling through the years.

The Kitchen Sink!!!
Wordless Wednesday, recipes, fitness, photography, our dog....just a few of the many things I will be talking about.

I hope you will enjoy taking this journey with us!

Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone and their families and safe and Happy New Year!

 

Thrifty Thursday

I'll be adding more freebies and samples throughout the day to Our Homeschool Reviews, so please check back, or better yet, follow along with Google Friend Connect on the right or "like" me on Facebook! If you find any good freebies or deals, let me know by commenting below!

And don't forget to enter my Pick and Draw Giveaway!!

Swagbucks
If you haven't heard yet, Swagbucks allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things they do every day, like searching the web and shopping at their favorite retailers.  I use Swagbucks for all my searching and you can too!  Join now!

Wireless Sensor Bar for Wii
Amazon has a  Wireless Sensor Bar for Wii for only $4.99 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

Blu-Ray Deals
Amazon has The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth for only $7.99, both with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

4 GB Memory Card
Amazon has the Kingston 4 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB for only $6.88 (down from $26.99) with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

Amazon Deal of the Day
Panasonic DVD-LS86 8.5-Inch Portable DVD Player only $79.99 (down from $189.99) with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime!

FREE Coffee and Poppers at Einstein
Einstein Bros Bagels on Facebook is giving free coffee and poppers when you buy a breakfast sandwich. Coupon expires 1/7.

FREE Arby's Shake
Get a FREE Arby’s Junior Shake with this coupon.  Expires 1/2.

FREE Sample of Purina One
Go HERE, wait for banner #3 and click on the “Get a Free Sample” link.

FREE Emergen-C Sample
Get a FREE sample Emergen-C HERE.

FREE Sample Roundup
Don't forget to check out the FREE Sample Roundup at Deal Seeking Mom!!

Wordless Wednesday: Ice Skating

Look - No Help!!!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for Pick and Draw!!!

 

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Pick and Draw Review and Giveaway!

Pick and Draw is a really creative and fun way to engage family and friends in drawing fun and easy cartoon faces!  I gave this card game to my daughter for Christmas, and other than the DSi (which is hard to beat btw), this is her favorite game and she wants to play it all the time!  We have played it several times as a family and it is so much fun to see the faces that everyone comes up with.

Game play is simple.  The object of the game is to draw a cartoon face.  You start by flipping over a Face card and drawing what you see, any way you would like.

Flip over a Nose card next.  You can draw it big, small, high, or low.  

Now draw the eyes, along with eyebrows.  There isn't a card for ears, so you can just place those on your own.

 
Then the mouth. 

Last is the hair.  This one is sometimes tricky but fun to play around with.  Then you can add anything extra to your character, like a bow tie, freckles, glasses, or a moustache. 

Now, give your character a name and hobby!  They even suggest writing a story about your character.

My Thoughts:  This is a great game and a lot of fun for the whole family.  We hide our pictures until everyone is done drawing and reveal them at the end to see the differences.

Thoughts of a 7-Year Old: It is fun because Mommy and Daddy both play it and it turns out so different! It also helps you draw if you usually doodle stick figures. If you want to do all of the above, Pick and Draw is the thing for you! Love it!

Find Out More:  You can purchase Pick and Draw from their website for only $10!  You can also check out their blog for more drawing ideas, tips, and FREE lessons! 

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So, here's how to enter to win Pick and Draw! 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 Pick and Draw website and let me know why you would like to win this card game. Leave me a comment and this will give you 1 entry.

Additional Entries:

2. Like the Pick and Draw 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, January 10, 2011. (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: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the product to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.

Break Time

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  My posts will be light this week as we are enjoying our family time together! 

And the See the Light: The Gift of Love DVD Winner Is...

Comment #17:  Our Village is a Little Different said... I like your facebook page.

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

Thanks to everyone who participated in the See the Light: The Gift of Love DVD Giveaway via Our Homeschool Reviews and thanks again to See the Light for allowing me to offer this great product!

Holiday Bliss 2010 - December 24

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...

Made Gingerbread Cookies

Found Magic Pajamas

Enjoyed a Homemade Christmas Eve Dinner

 And Left Out Cookies, Carrots, and Milk

Merry Christmas!