Math Needs To Be Fun Sometimes (Product Review)

This is a sponsored post via USFamilyGuide.

Freemples received product to review, 

but shares opinions & information honestly.

I'm a little delayed in sharing my review of the web-based computer program, Splash Math, with you. If you'll remember, we first introduced you to Splash Math right before Christmas and were looking forward to giving it a try. In this instance my procrastination is to your benefit as I can now say with for certain that the game has staying power...

I should start by telling you that our kids are math lovers.  This is bizarre for my husband and I-we both struggled in math all the way through college-but, hooray, go kids that don't know math isn't supposed to be super easy!  Loving math is not a prerequisite to loving Splash Math, though.  The only requirement for that is being a kid who loves a talking hippo...what kid wouldn't think was fun?

Math lovers or not, as a parent it's hard to tell a child his screen time is over when he's pleading with you, "No, Mom, just let me do 20 more problems!"  

But Splash Math is not just a game, and this is what I love about it.  During set-up, you select your child's grade level.  It was encouraging to find the scope and sequence follows very closely with what my 2nd grader knows how to do and/or is learning.  As homeschoolers, that's been great because I can let him play knowing it's not too easy or too hard.  But if your child is in the school system, it's also a great way to look at what they're learning at school and then give them extra practice on that math topic at home.  Once logged in, you can work from the beginning and go straight through, or pick and choose which problems you want to work on.  

This short video will give you a better look at how the program actually works...

As you could see in the video, there is a game aspect with each question answered correctly earning points that can then be used to purchase animals to play with in an aquarium or the jungle.  Honestly, that's the only part of the Splash Math program that underwhelms me.  My 7- and 4-yr-old love it and race through their 20 questions to get to play with the crabs and giraffes again.  But it's pretty elementary, and I can't imagine it stays entertaining forever.  I especially can't imagine that someone using the whole program, K-5, would care much at all about that part once they were in the upper grades.  Also, our introductory session on Splash Math had a 20-question limit per day.  While I love my kids being able to do as much math as they'd like each time they play, I have to pay more attention that they aren't hurrying through their questions, playing in the jungle, and then forgetting to go back and do more problems.

Overall, we LOVE Splash Math.  I'm certainly not going to be the ones to tell my kids that they're really do school work every time they play.  You should let your kids give it a try!

Try Splash Math on the Computer

Try Splash Math in an App.  

Product provided for honest review via USFamilyGuide

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We had an Urban Adventure!

This post is part of a sponsored campaign via US Family Guide.

Remember shortly before Christmas when I introduced you to Urban Adventure Quest?  After several delays for a nasty 3-week flu in our house, I finally got my family bundled up and went out exploring on the Salt Lake City, UT, self-paced scavenger hunt.  I'll tell you up front, it was a great way to spend a few hours on a weekday afternoon!

As I explained before, Urban Adventure Quest is an "Amazing Race" style scavenger hunt throughout the city of your choice and at the pace you set.  You can race against the leader board of other people who've competed in that city, or just take your time and complete the challenges at your leisure.  I think our Adventure Quest experience was fairly typical, so I'll share the highlights of how it went...

The Beginning

Our initial instructions included a general starting place with basically no other details, other than to have a smartphone, paper, and pencil with you.  The Salt Lake City starting place is an open-air mall downtown.  After checking in on the website, the challenges begin and you input your answers as you go along.  Our first clues included finding statues, bricks engraved with specific words, and reading a plaque to find a person's name.  

Challenges & Clues

All complete, our Adventure Quest had around 20 questions that took us on a path through approximately 20 city blocks and covered all of the downtown area.  Several times there were options to either use public transportation or to walk and also an option to skip past several clues if the group wanted to avoid going up the steep hill to the Utah Capitol Building.

We were impressed with the variety of puzzles and hints used to figure out the clues.  Some were local sports or history facts, some involved counting objects in an area, and several involved sketching out pieces of answers to figure out the clues. Each clue gains you points and also has options for getting hints. Some of the clues are easy with a Google search, and some of them took some actual problem-solving.   For example, this is the clue that taxed our brains and took us the longest:

Urban Adventure Quest clue: Find the next location by combining the 1st letter of each starred 4-letter name

The Ending

The Salt Lake City Urban Adventure Quest concluded in a very central location, albeit one we had walked directly through earlier in the day.  After entering our last answer, we automatically were given our scavenger hunt time.  We had actually skipped the steep capitol jaunt as our boys are all under 7 and we were still recovering from the flu.  Our time ended up being 2 hours and 43 minutes.  There is a leaderboard on the website where you can compare your times if you are so inclined.  Also at the end is the option to take a survey and give input on your day in exchange for a discount code on your next adventure.  

Those are the things we really liked.  Here are a few of things I'd like to see improved in the future:

~More detailed initial information on where the scavenger hunt begins and ends so you can choose a logical place for parking.  My husband had to run back and move our car out of a 2-hour parking spot and then had to leave us to go get the car when we were done.  The ending spot would have been an ideal place to park and walk to the beginning, if we'd known beforehand.

~The web application could use some finessing.  The print was quite small and if we zoomed in, the "hint" and "submit" buttons overlapped.  It was easily solved by zooming back out, but should work better on a technology-centric program.

~For the Salt Lake City adventure quest specifically: Allow extra time for the clues that take you through Temple Square.  We did not have any trouble there, and never felt uncomfortable, but by nature the LDS missionaries working there are very friendly and will stop to make sure you're having a good time.  I think they would've been more than excited to help us find the answers to our clues, if we'd asked, but just know it's going to take longer to say hi to everyone you pass along your way.

I LOVED going on our Urban Adventure Quest!  I'm undecided if it was because I was in an area I am familiar with, or if I would love it just as much in a city where it all was brand new.  At a group price of $45, it'd be an extremely economical to spend a day on vacation or to show visitors around when they're in town.  Right now, the 20% discount I mentioned before is still available if you enter FGBLOG when signing up at Urban Adventure Quest.

Check out the list of available Urban Adventure Quest cities here.

I'd love to hear if there's a scavenger hunt near you!

This post is part of a sponsored campaign via US Family Guide.

I received a complimentary product to complete my review 

but the experiences and opinions are my own.

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A Subscription Box For Your Little Space Explorer

Freemples received a 2-month subscription

 in order to faciliate this review with USFamilyGuide

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to new subscription box service geared towards the space enthusiasts in your life.  

After receiving and using the first two month's subscription boxes, I'm prepared to tell you we LOVE Space Scouts and can wholeheartedly recommend them!

Here is a look at what is provided in the 1st and 2nd Space Scouts shipments...

1st Month: Lunch Box, Poster, Sticker Puzzle, Wiki Stix, Worksheets, Constellation Ring

2nd Month: Magnet, Astronaut Figurines, Stickers & Sticker Puzzle, Worksheets,
 Constellation Cards, Robotic Space Arm

Here are my boys completely engaged with their Space Scout activities...

And here are the reasons I think Space Scouts is a great investment...

Reason #1

 Educational-As a homeschooling parent, I could easily incorporate these boxes into a unit study each month.  They are in-depth with information pages and interactive with worksheets.  The recommended age for is 6+, but I found the worksheets to be a good mix of challenging for my 7-yr-old and also entertaining for my 4-yr-old.  Each month's box also contains a new "Space Plan" to study and a new constellation to learn about.

Reason # 2

     Quality Products-The toys are not cheap plastic that will break the first time they are used.  The poster, stickers, and magnets are durable and meant to be long lasting.  And the metal lunchbox is a fun but sturdy way to contain all the components for a long long time. 

Reason #3
     It's Fun-Being young boys, my kids don't always sit in one place for very long.  The afternoon we opened up the Space Scouts packages, they sat at the table learning and playing for nearly 3 hours.  They loved the bright colored worksheets and activities.  They got along deciding how to apply the stickers and magnets, they used their imaginations with their new astronaut figurines, and calling a generic toy grabber a "robotic space arm" is absolutely genius!  They followed their challenges to accomplish different space arm missions to the letter...

We loved our Space Scout boxes.  I think you would, too.  At $11.95/month it is an extremely affordable way to both entertain and educate.  I thought I might want 2 boxes so my boys wouldn't fight over what was inside, but each month comes with enough items to divide that we didn't have any problems. At that cheap price, though, it wouldn't be exorbitant to order an additional subscription if we decided to in the future.  

One last thing, whether you decide the Space Scouts subscription box is the right fit for your space-loving loved one or not, I highly recommend joining the Space Scouts Facebook page.  They update frequently with current space related news events that are incredibly fascinating. 

Think the Space Scouts Subscription Box would be a great fit for your family?

Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout to get 20% off your initial purchase!

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Space Scouts: An Educational & Affordable Idea for Christmas

This and future posts may be associated with promotions sponsored by the company.

Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't love the trend of subscription boxes?  If you can dream of it, I'm pretty sure you can find someone out there willing to mail it to your door once a month...for a price...and usually that price is FAR more than I can afford.  That is one of the reasons I am uber-excited to have found this...

We haven't received our first box yet, but this is what I know about the program and what we are expecting...

Space Scouts monthly subscription club for kids is a delightful learning adventure aimed at discovering the wonders of the universe! Each month your child will explore a new place in space -- stepping into the worlds of space exploration, space science, and astronomy. Join Roxy and Jett as they scout about the galaxy engaging your child in fun learning activities, hands-on discovery, and exciting challenges. Packages arrive each month filled with fun additions to your collection -- magnets, stickers, toys, and more! 

And best of all they start at only $11.95 per month + $3.00 for shipping.  What other subscription box have you found that is that affordable?  Follow this link to check them out and receive 20% off of your holiday order!

I'll share my review as soon as we've received ours!

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Love our #Disneyside

I was selected to participate in the #Disneyside blog campaign

and received promotional items to use for free. 

 No additional compensation was received..

I count myself extremely privileged to have been able to participate in the recent "Show Your Disneyside" blog campaign.  One look around the blogosphere, Pinterest, or social media and it would seem it wasn't a small group of people participating, but it was exciting to be chosen to be involved, nonetheless.

There was a huge build-up around the shipping of the party packages, and while there were no dream tickets to Disney World stuck in side, I was ecstatic when it all arrived in a brand new American Tourister carry-on roller bag!  Without evening opening it up, I would have been happy.  Mine is black with red interior, but they have so many fun colors designed with your favorite Disney characters in mind.

Inside the suitcase was EVERYTHING a person could imagine needing to throw a great Disney-theme party.  If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you might remember me mentioning that we'd already scheduled a cousin's Valentine's day party for the week that my Grandmother died.  What a blessing to have a cheerful reason to be together after many days of solemnity.

Here is a glimpse at how we celebrated our Disneyside:

Yummy Treats

Decorations

 Crafts

These are super cute printable party favor boxes.
Minnie Mouse
Mickey Mouse

We played a bunch of party games and had some dinner, but my favorite part were the Valentine's boxes!  I was so disappointed to find out my son's school doesn't allow decorated boxes so each cousin was asked to bring their own Disney-themed box and Valentine's to hand out for everyone.  

Looking for ways to celebrate your #Disney side?

Visit Disney Side Celebrations

or my Disney Pinterest Board

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Relished: Stop Planning, Start Cooking (Sponsored Review)

I received 3 complimentary meals from Relished for review.

The opinions provided are honest and mine.

Links within this post may be affiliate links.

My grandmother passed away two weeks ago.  The day I found out I was at my parent's house picking up a delivery from Chicago-based company, Relished.  The timing of that delivery could not have been more fitting; I'll tell you about Relished, and then I'll tell you why.

What is Relished?

The concept behind Relished is simple-Once a week receive a delivery of fresh ingredients you'll need to prepare 3 delicious meals without the hassle of grocery shopping and without the traffic headache of eating out.  The company is based in Chicago and the ingredients are sourced locally from there. 

What Will I Receive?

Each week, a set menu of 3 meals is available for order.  Your delivery will include all the ingredients (minus salt, pepper, & oil) needed to prepare those meals, as well as a sturdy and detailed recipe card with pictures and directions.  Every detail is covered, from how to prep the vegetables to how to present your food on the plate.  Each of the ingredients are individually packaged  and labeled for easy assembly in your kitchen.

Ingredients for Pepper-Crusted Flat Iron Steak & Vegetable Ramen

How Does It Work?

After signing up for Relished, you will begin receiving a 3-meal delivery once a week.  You can choose between 2, 4, or 6 servings at the price of $9.99/serving.  The ingredients are shipped fresh, not frozen, with the goal of arriving at your house the same day it leaves Chicago.  Right now they are able to ship within 250 miles of Chicago, or most places east of Colorado.  Their website provides a helpful zip code locator to ensure you are in the delivery zone before finishing your order.  

Once your receive your delivery, you simply put the ingredients in the refrigerator and pull them out when you are ready to make a meal.  Each week the menu will change, providing variety, and if you want to skip a week, there is a simple process to do that through the website or via email.  

Why It Was So Great For Me...

I mentioned I received my fresh food delivery the day I found out my Grandmother had died.  Funerals are never a planned event, and they take up a lot of time and energy.  Everything I had planned to do that week (grocery shopping, for example) went right out the window as family started to arrive.  By the end of the week I'd missed several appointments and just wanted to hibernate in my house to breathe and take a break from the world.  How grateful I was to have 3 full healthy and easy-to-prepare meals already waiting in my refrigerator!  We made the first meal the day the ingredients arrived because of the unexpected change in plans.  The second meal I threw together for lunch between funeral activities and family coming and going.  And the third meal I saved for after everyone had gone home.  It happened to coincide with Valentine's Day, and my husband appreciated a nice steak dinner with just the two of us after all the out-of-towners had gone back home.  

I believe in what Relished is doing!  It might not be cost-effective for my family of little ones every week, but if you are a family that eats out often, the price per serving and quality are very comparable to anything you would find in a restaurant without the cost of gas and no crowds to fight. The instructions were so easy to follow and made me feel good to be preparing beautiful dishes with fresh food.  I look forward to trying out another week of menus soon!

Want to try a week of 

Relished Fresh Meal Deliveries for free?

Sign up for your 1st week of deliveries and enter

freemples@gmail.com

in the Referral box at checkout.

Simple as that, and cancel anytime!

Want More Information?

Relishedfoods.com

Relished on Facebook

Relished on Twitter

Relished on Instagram

Relished on Pinterest

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The Pan That May Change My Life (sponsored)

Products in this post were provided free in exchange for review. 

 No other compensation was received.

I got married 10 years ago and have been cooking with the same cheap aluminum pots and pans I received back then.  Most of them are no longer circular, but vary in shape depending on how it was banged around in the cupboards or thrown haphazardly in to the sink.  Most of them also are showing varying amounts of remaining Teflon.  Yes, we've gotten rid of the peeling, dangerous ones, but the ones with scratches still grace my stovetop just waiting for food to immediately stick upon contact.

When I was asked to review a pan with new non-stick technology for Ozeri, I jumped on the opportunity and it has been nothing but love in my kitchen since then!

After cooking on this small skillet since Christmas time, these are the reasons I will gladly consider replacing all of my cookware with this new Green Earth cooking line:

1. Solid Construction  No cheap aluminum-this pan feels substantial, but is not heavy.
2. Ceramic Coating is thick and non-assuming.  The bottom of the pan is textured to aid your food in not sticking, and my food really hasn't been sticking!
3. Silicon Handle I've always been afraid my cheap pan handles would melt if I put them in the oven.  With silicon handles, these pans are safe to go in the oven for warming or to finish cooking something you started on the stove.

There was one learning curve with this pan...The ceramic material conducts heat extremely well.  It took me a couple times to figure out, but I've discovered the need to use these pans with a much lower heat than I'm used to doing with my older pans.  This is definitely not a bad thing-it seems like it would save me money on my gas stove in the end-but it did take a few test runs with "blackened" grilled cheese sandwiches before I figured out the heat sweet spot.

It is definitely time to replace the decade-old pans I have jammed into my kitchen cupboards, and I would not think twice about buying the Ozeri Green Earth Pans when I finally get around to making the change.

How about you-is it time to replace the pans in your kitchen?

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Ultimate Thanksgiving from Cravebox

I have to admit my second Cravebox isn't as over-the-top thrilling as the first, but that doesn't make it bad.  What it does have going for it is being stuffed full of improved-for-convenience Thanksgiving staples.  The products this time around are things we'll all be needing in the next few days...

Ultimate Thanksgiving Cravebox

L to R:  Duncan Hines Frosting Creations, Brookside Smooth Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit,

 Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock, (2) Del Monte Whole Green Beans  

Not Pictured:  Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, $35 voucher Folded Words customizable cards by Walgreens,

 (2) McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix

Truly, the food items I've listed above will make your holiday preparations so much easier!  Especially the green beans which hold up so well in a classic creamy green bean casserole.  I've used the homestyle stock before with mixed results-sometimes it leaves a greasy coating on my tongue-but I tried it last night in a black bean soup and it tasted great!

What I'm really excited about are the Folded Words cards by Walgreens and the chocolate covered pomegranate candies.  I had twins in August and haven't sent out birth announcements yet, and of course it's also time for Christmas cards.  I think one of these designs will be perfect...




As for the candy...

...it's all gone!

Retail $ of box items: $57.99

-$14.00 shipping:

$43.99

Tell me, how do you make your

 Thanksgiving Day cooking a little easier?

All items mentioned in this box were provided for my review. 

 I was not compensated or influenced in writing my opinions.

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Cooking Light Selects Cravebox

My first Cravebox has me SOOO excited for more to come!  Look at the amazing food that the mailman delivered to me...

L to R: (3) Fruit Crisp from Dole, Kitchen Measurements Conversion Magnet, (2) Perfect Pinch Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning from McCormick, Torani Salted Caramel Syrup, Nectresse 100% natural sweetener, & Tully's French Roast Coffee.

Trying the things in this box has been a lot of fun for my family.  The Perfect Pinch made a really simple and fast chicken dinner over the weekend, and the Nectresse worked great to sweeten up my husband's late-night grapefruit snack.  Today, though, I want to focus on the two things in the Cooking Light Selects Cravebox that we absolutely loved!

Torani Salted Caramel Syrup

What can I say?  It's DELICIOUS!!!!  I tried it in apple cider on Friday and wasn't a huge fan, but have had it in hot chocolate every day since then and my mouth begins to water while I'm stirring it in!

If you looking for ideas on what to do with the Salted Caramel Syrup, or any other of the dozens of flavors Torani offers, you'll definitely want to check out their website.  It's packed full of great recipes and ideas.  A few that I want to try are:

Salted Caramel Steamer

Baked Praline Yams with Pecan Streusel 

Caramel Bread Pudding

Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Marinade

Zabaglione Cheesecake

Go look for your favorite flavors at Torani.com, or find them on Facebook at I.like.torani.

Dole Fruit Crisps

The new Dole Fruit Crisps are delightful!  30-seconds in the microwave, pour on the oatmeal topping, and you've got a warm tasty treat.  We tried the peach, apple cinnamon, and apple pear and liked each of them well enough.  The apples in the apple cinnamon are still crunchy, which was nice!  And what's great is that the box shown above includes two bowls of fruit crisp-that was a great surprise!  Take a look at my kid's reactions...

You can find more information at Dole.com or on Twitter @DoleFoods

For my first Cravebox, the item's I received from Cooking Light Selects definitely did not disappoint!  And since I'm not a coffee-drinker, I'm going to pass the excitement on to you.  Watch tomorrow for Freemples' first giveaway, a 12 oz. bag of Tully's french roast coffee!

Retail $ of box items: $33.89 

-$13.00 shipping=

$20.89

Be sure to check out my first post on Cravebox here

All items mentioned in this box were provided for my review. 

 I was not compensated or influenced in writing my opinions.

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