VocabAhead-TOS Review

I recently got the opportunity to review another product that helps develop your childs vocabulary in preparation for the ACT/SAT tests.

I received the VocabAhead DVD, that contained videos and MP3's for over 1000 words.  The DVD is $24.99, they also offer a book($19.99) and an iPhone app($9.99).

The product works by introducing the word with a cartoon.  While the picture is on the screen it narrates the word definition and then uses it in a sentence.  You can also download the videos in MP3 format to your iPod, iPhone and iPad, enabling you to learn on the go.

VocabAhead also has a very comprehensive website that lets you create wordlists, flashcards and quizzes, to test and reinforce vocabulary words.  It is definitely worth checking out, it offers a lot of free resources that you can customize to your childs needs.

I wish I could say that I loved VocabAhead, but I really didn't.  There are so many unfortunate definitions, definitions that have an underlying negative tone.  You can definitely work around the definitions that don't necessarily align with your beliefs or comfort level, but for my family it just didn't work out.  Don't just take my word for it, head over here to see what other crew members thought about it.

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{I received this product free of charge for the purpose of review.  I received no other compensation and was not required to write a positive review.}

Project 365/35-37

We're experiencing a short warm-up around here, in preparation of another storm this weekend.  There is definitely hope that it will miss us, but they are talking about 6+" of more snow on Tuesday. UGH!!  I usually love winter, but I think I may be getting old; I'm finding myself in a bit of a funk.  Difficulty focusing, irritability, depression; I'm experiencing them all.  Who knows, it could be the hysterectomy and not the weather at all; but I'm going to blame winter and move on!

Now, on to the subject of a lot of my irritability.  Is it frustrating for anyone else to cook for your family and then have the majority complain that they don't like it.  I am not in love with cooking, really, I'm not!  I have developed some ability over the last couple of decades, but not a love affair.  It frustrates me to no end to have tons of leftovers that no one will eat.  Case in point, I make home made chicken noodle soup for my family frequently.  Couple of weeks ago, I was in a hurry and bought some of the freezer egg noodles to use in my soup instead of making my own.  They noticed!! How could they notice??  None of them went back for seconds (except for the ever loyal and hungry hubby), I asked what was up and they said they weren't sure but something was wrong with the noodles and they just didn't like it.  Seriously!?  Suffice it to say, I don't buy freezer noodles anymore, ever.

I have learned over the last 16 years to "keep it simple, stupid!" when it comes to cooking for my family, go with what I know and don't prepare too much, leftovers never seem to leave.  I can't really complain about the leftovers, I personally don't eat much of anything reheated, soup and stew are the exceptions.  How do other families deal with this, I hate short order cooking because someone is being difficult and refusing to eat what I made, but struggle in letting them go without.  I am really struggling with this right now, seems shallow, but it is wearing on me.

The other thing wearing me out is the video games and tech.  Yeah, I know, I'm typing this on a computer.  I'm a hypocrite, sue me!  The kids got a PS3 for Christmas, they play it incessantly, to the point of not getting school work and chores done.  I'm seriously considering a tech hiatus for the kids, they are becoming difficult and contrary.

(36/365)

On a different note, something that I am having fun with is learning more about my camera and photography in general.  The next to pics were taken with aperture priority, a spot focus and the second I adjusted the white balance. (Didn't I sound all official there???)

The spot focus is on the left hand side of the pic, where the pile of noodles, flat noodles and rolling pin all meet.  The white balance adjustment made the second pic look exactly like what I was seeing with the naked eye.  I really like how it turned out.

(35/365)

This one I used the scene settings on my camera and set it for snow, it automatically adjusted the white balance and probably a bunch of other stuff that I haven't figured out yet.

(37/365)

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Roman Town from Dig It! Games-TOS Review

Do you have a budding Archaeologist or a history buff? This might be the game for you. Roman Town by Dig It!Games is a very fun and engaging computer game for kids from 8 and up.

The basic premise of the game is that your student will be invited to join an archaeological dig, where they will uncover artifacts by directing their diggers to use either a pick, trowel, shovel or hoe; of course, the decision of digging tool will define what artifact is uncovered.  Then as each artifact is uncovered, they are introduced to the student by a boy or girl dressed in traditional Roman clothing.

We were a little thrown by the stick figures, mainly because my kids are gamers and they just expect awesome graphics, this is one of the only places where the graphics disappointed.  Everywhere else in the game was well done and beautiful.

Once you finish digging up all of your artifacts, you are directed to the lab to sort out your finds: metal, pottery, glass, mosaic, etc.  From there you play different games that help reinforce the learning of the many artifacts and their uses.  For example, one of my favorite was a sort of hunt and find.  You would look at a room and figure out what doesn't belong, i.e. the laptop or books.

Finally, once the student finishes all of the learning games, they will fill out this journal entry to show their understanding and knowledge.  There are 6 levels, all with a variety of artifacts and games.  Never fear, when your student is finished with the 6 levels, the game can be replayed and it will be different each time.

We really enjoyed the game Roman Town.  My only complaint and it's fairly minor, is that I had to read everything to my young learners, the game could really use a voice over, it frustrated my littles a bit.

The super awesome thing is that Dig! It games is offering a great discount to our readers.  Roman Town can be purchased for $39.95, but until February 21 use the coupon code TOS2011 to get the game for $19.95.  Awesome, right?!?

Don't forget to take a look at the Teachers manual, available for $19.95, it will help you utilize the game in your homeschool or classroom to its fullest.

We really enjoyed reviewing Roman Town, head over here to see what other crewmates thought of this fun and educational game.

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{Roman Town was provided to me by Dig! It games and the TOS Crew, for the purposes of writing this review.  I received no other compensation and was not required to write a positive review.}

Project 365/34

As I drove the back highways to work and back, I was in awe not only at what nature was capable of; but what man was capable of.  Like I said, I drive rural highways to work and back, each and every one was almost completely cleared of snow.  This wasn't just another storm, it was pretty historic in the amount of snow that was dropped in our area, the roadcrews did incredible work.  I can't even begin to thank these men and women who went without sleep and safety to make sure that the rest of us had safe travel, the very next day!! Awesome!

(34/365)

I saw this little guy under the tree today, one of the few places where snow wasn't drifted.  The wind was coming from the other way, so the back side of this tree was blown clean.  It is so fascinating to walk around and look at the drifts, between our townhome and the next there is a 4 ft drift down the middle, but very little to either side.  It really creates some beautiful formations.  I would have gotten pics of that if my kids hadn't dove into them all and smashed them.  Oh well, maybe next time.

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Project 365/33

(33/365)

Is there anything better on a cold, snowy day than grilled cheese and tomato soup? I don't think so!

Times Alive from City Creek Press-TOS Review

Have a visual learner?  Tired of working with flash cards? Multiplication facts getting the better of you?  Then I have the product for you!!!  Times Alive! from City Creek Press.  Times Alive! software is an extension, if you will, of the book "Times Tables the Fun Way." 

It is such a unique presentation of the times tables that you would be better served to see it for yourself.  If you go over here you can watch samples of the music videos that are used to teach the facts.


This is just one of the videos that links multiplication facts with a musical component that aids in retention of the facts. They are so catchy that you'll find yourself singing them, all the time. It's not just the music, it includes movies, on-screen painting pages and quizzes; to help reinforce the facts in your childs head.

Times Alive! is available on CD for $48.95 and instant download for $44.95.  They also have other math products available and if this program is any indicator of their quality, I truly think you can't go wrong.  It is an extraordinarily fun and engaging program.  Don't just take my word for it, head over here to see what other crew members thought of Times Alive! by City Creek Press.

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{This product was provided to me free of charge as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, for the purpose of review.  I received no other compensation and was not required to write a positive review}

Blizzard 2011!

Well, it's all over except the wind and the cold.  We received upwards of 14" of snow here just outside of KC.  I received an answer to prayer and my husband was able to miss work tonight.  We live about a 45 min drive from his employer, that would have been a treacherous and long drive to make at night, they told him to stay home and stay safe.  I absolutely love his employers!!!!

Hunter was home from school today and will probably miss most of the week, they might be able to return on Friday.  He's probably the only kid who is really irritated by missing school, he had to fight to go; so he really wants to be there.  Oh well, come summer when he's still having to catch that bus, I bet he'll be irritated again.

I'm gonna post some pics from the last couple of days, we stayed home and stayed safe.  I really hope everyone else did as well.

(30/365)

Ry trying to figure out how to shuffle cards the way mom does, he's so jealous! LOL.

(31/365)

Sissy trying to block her nose from brothers after Taekwondo, she said they were really stinky!

Out our back window, at 5 A.M. most of the original snow had melted and this was all grass, this is 3 PM or so and it's just really hitting it stride at this point.

It's hard to see but the drift in front of the car is about 2ft high.  It was such an amazing sight to watch this storm, especially since I knew my whole family were safely home and out of harm's way.  I spoke to my mom and brother, mom spoke to my sister, everyone was watching out their windows. 

(32/365)

We used this grill just the other day, so I know it was clear of snow at the beginning of this storm.  How crazy is that, I think this might be the only place I can measure our snow, everywhere else was unprotected and affected by the wind.

This one is taken looking at my back door.  There is about a 10" step up into the house, so this drift was about 2 feet high on the back porch.  Our front door is just as bad, we'll have to shovel our way out tomorrow.

Well thanks for stopping by, I hope that you and yours stayed safe and if you weren't in the path of this storm, aren't you jealous?

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