WonderMaps by Bright Ideas Press (Review)

I was recently given the opportunity to do a review of WonderMaps by one of my all-time favorite homeschool resources, Timberdoodle.  WonderMaps is published by Bright Ideas Press   and is a software collection of over 350 customizable maps of continents and countries across the world and across time.

Not only are there over 350 customizable maps, but there are tons of wonderful ideas on how to use the maps with your children in the Teacher Notes section.  These great hands-on ideas for learning geography cover five themes:

                    1. location
                    2. place
                    3. relationship within places
                    4. movement
                    5. regions

The Teacher Notes also includes fifty ideas for  using the maps.  Some of my favorite suggestions and ones I will soon be incorporating with our current studies are:

                    -locating and labeling the birthplace of the world's most famous composers--we'll include that as part of our composers studies

                    -locating and labeling the countries of service of missionaries--currently we are studying Asia and are reading many biographies of missionaries throughout Asia during the last 200+ years

                    -using maps as book logs by labeling the setting of a book on the map

                    -using purchased themed stickers to label the animals of the world, national and world landmarks and so much more--How much fun would this be for the K-3 grade students!

                
The maps themselves are divided into four sections:

                    1.  The World Continents, Regions, Nations
                    2.  United States of America
                    3.  Historical Maps
                    4.  Thematic Maps

This map shows the movements of Noah's descendants throughout the world.

Side by side maps comparing English occupancy of India from 1735-1858

As I have been studying the WonderMaps program I have come up with some great ways to use it with my children.  Not only can I print out maps, but I can also determine what I will show on the maps using the nifty layering tool.   Borders, rivers, cities, country names, map key and so much more can be added or deleted as needed.  I can print out a blank map in black and white with just the borders and have my children label each country.  I can add in the rivers and other features and even use color.  The historical maps also feature a modern overlay which depicts today's boundaries.  I find that I can show two maps on my screen at the same time to depict the changes in  Europe from before and after both World Wars, which just happens to be the time period we are studying right now.

Comparing Europe at the end of World War I to the end of World War II

WonderMaps software collection will be an invaluable tool for us as we make our way through time and across the world.  Browse the Timberdoodle on-line catalog here or request a copy through the mail.  We have enjoyed purchasing much of our homeschooling materials through Timberdoodle for at least 20 years now and have always received prompt and quality service.

And, finally, as a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a copy of WonderMaps for my frank and unbiased review.

http://www.hiphomeschoolmoms.com/2011/09/hip-homeschool-hop-91311/

George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Way

I recently received this DVD in the mail from Franklin Springs Media.  I had an opportunity to do a review for Franklin Springs and I choose this DVD for many reasons.  It was a newer release that we didn't have and as we are in the midst of gardening season I thought it would be fitting for us to learn a little more about this great man who loved plants. 

George Washington Carver:  An Uncommon Way is narrated by Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr. and is very well done.  Carver was born during the Civil War and never knew his parents.  His early years were spent in the home of a white family who took him in and raised him until he left them as an early teen.  He desired to be educated and worked hard to educate himself with the help of kind people that he met along the way.  He was finally allowed to enter a college where he met with much success.  

He was asked by Booker T. Washington to join the staff of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and there he began his life's work in teacher southerners, both black and white, how to live in a post-war world when the plantation days were over.  Washington is well-known for his discovery for many uses of the peanut, but he was also a wonderful artist and a follower of Christ.  We found this DVD very inspiring and will be eager to see what Franklin Springs produces next.

Right now you can get George Washington Carver for only $14.95.  Well worth the investment for your home library!  Check out the other products from Franklin Springs as well.  You won't be disappointed!

Homemade Soap Review-Hen N Chicks Soap

I recently received a nice bar of homemade soap from Hen N Chicks Soap for review purposes.  I love homemade soaps and this bar was quite lovely.  I love the rustic look of a nice homemade bar of soap and the Vanilla Mint scent put me in the Christmas spirit.....Yes, it was June, but it did remind me of a Christmas-y scent.

This bar of soap is made from totally good-for-you ingredients including sunflower, coconut, olive and palm oils as well and wintergreen essential oil and vanilla crystals.  I love the way homemade soap makes my skin feel and this soap was no exception.  The oils are very good for your skin and the wintergreen and vanilla scent was very nice.

I have noticed in my own homemade soaps that are darker that the color of the soap tends to leave a little messy residue in the bath.  Not a ring, but brown soapy spots where ever the lather splatters.  Not a problem that isn't easily rinsed away, but it is something to be aware of...especially if you have little guys who like to play in the tub and don't rinse afterward.

Check out more wonderfully handmade soaps from Hen N Chicks at  http://www.homemadenaturalsoaps.blogspot.com/  and tell them Busy Hands Busy Minds sent you over!

CSN Review: 23-Qt Pressure Cooker & Canner by Presto

The Presto 23-Qt. Pressure Canner and Cooker allows you to can your low-acid vegetables, meat and fish safely, and according to the U.S.D.A. This canner also doubles as a water bath to can fruits, preserves and make jams and jellies. 

5out of 5

Thanks again to CSN for sharing another wonderful product with me! I have enjoyed using my new canner to can milk, pinto beans and chicken broth. I'm looking forward to filling my pantry with many canned goods this summer.

The large size allowed me to can 18 pints at one time. The instructions are easy to understand and clean up was a breeze.  I was very intimidated about using a pressure canner at first and had a friend come over to give me lessons.  Since then I have had two other canning sessions and had no trouble on my own.

As always I am very satisfied with the products and customer service from CSN.  CSN has over a million products available from many, many companies.  Many times I have found just what I needed at a great price with free shipping as well.  Check out CSN!  You might find just what you've been looking for...and at a great price.

(legalese)

Caedmon's Tropical Banana Cookies

Caedmon, in addition to being my seventh baby and super-cute, has some extreme food allergies and it is a challenge to find foods that he can and will eat.  I recently came across this recipe and made some changes to make it all mine!

3 mashed bananas (if they are especially ripe you can easily mash them with a fork)
2 cups oats
1 cup chopped dates (I am thinking you could substitute raisins, dried cranberries or dried pineapple as well)
1/3 cup Tropical Traditions Gold Label Standard Virgin Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix ingredients well and drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.  These cookies don't spread, so you need to flatten them a little. I keep them in the freezer and pull a couple out each afternoon for a quick snack for my gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free toddler.


Next week I'll be making my granola recipe, but exchanging the olive oil for the coconut oil.  I am eager to try more recipes using Tropical Traditions products found here . Watch this video to see how Tropical Traditions Gold Label Standard Virgin Coconut Oil got started.



Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Goat Milk Stuff Review and a Giveaway

Got milk?  How about goats' milk?    While I haven't yet brought myself to taste the goats' milk that my friend down the road has offered me fresh from her own goats, I have been using goats' milk soap for a couple of years now.  I recently discovered a large homeschooling family's home business which is making and selling goats' milk soap and other products.  The Jonas family began making their own goats' milk soap for their own family in order to help clear up a child's eczema problems.  It worked and others soon began asking for soap as well.  So much so that Papa Jonas quit his job and came home to make soap full time along with his wife and children.

Goat Milk Stuff has a large product selection with plain and scented soaps, laundry soaps, stick lotions, lip balms and much more.  I purchased the "Purity" soap for my little guys and myself and for the big guys "Musk Blend".  I actually told  one of my extreme eczema sufferers to use it on their hair as well and it got rid of the flakes!  This soap is creamy and oh-so-soft!  And it's pretty, too!

I also purchased the large laundry soap bar.  I grated it with a cheese grater and then mixed it with washing soda and borax.  This lasted for over 80 loads of laundry.  All natural ingredients, no harsh chemicals and no added scents.  Low sudsing as well for my front loading washing machine.

Another item I purchased was the Clean Cotton Lotion Stick.  It's like lip balm only for your skin!  It comes in a large tube that would fit great in your pocket or purse and is very easy to apply directly where you need it.  The Clean Cotton smelled fabulous, but was a little too scented for me.  The almost empty tube sits next to my computer, though, where I stop work and scrape out what remains to put on my dry, scaly dishpan hands.

How would you like to win three large bars of your own Goat Milk Stuff soap?  You can do just that by following these easy steps!

1.  Go to goatmilkstuff.com .  Look over the products and let me know what you would order in the comment section of my blog.

2.  Become a follower of my blog and let me know you did by leaving me a comment.  Or let me know that you are already a follower.

3.  Sign up for the Goat Milk Stuff newsletter on the goatmilkstuff.com website.  Leave me a comment letting me know you signed up!

4.  Become a Facebook fan of Goat Milk Stuff!  Click the link found in the lower left hand corner of their website at goatmilkstuff.com.  Leave me a comment letting me know you fanned them.

5.  Follow PJ Jonas' blog at goatmilksoapers.com.  Again, let me know by leaving a comment on my blog.

Wow!!  You get five chances to win three large bars of some fabulous goats' milk soap!  Hope to hear from lots of you.  This soap really is great and did I mention that it is very pretty as well!  So what's your favorite soap?


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CSN Product Review

My friend with the CSN stores recently contacted me about working together again and I agreed to do a product review this time.  Have you looked at the CSN stores?  Over 200 stores with lots of fabulous products!  Childrens toys, cookware, all kinds of furniture including some nice dining sets and much, much more.   I am looking forward to picking out one or more products to review.  I am gathering materials to start making homemade soaps for my family's use, so I have already been looking at stick blenders, thermometers, kitchen scales and new measuring cups.  Don't you love getting new kitchen gadgets?


Check out the CSN link to the words "dining sets" above to find some great products!