Rock ‘N Learn ‘Sight Words Level 2’ DVD {Review}

Rock N Learn LogoSight Words Level 2 by Rock N LearnRock ‘N Learn DVDs have become a favorite in my household. My sons are constantly asking to watch the Sight Words and Letter Sounds DVDs to sing and dance along with the characters. The first few times we watched them, I couldn’t believe the difference I saw in their vocabulary and how they remember some of the songs from the DVDs.

Rock ‘N Learn just released ‘Sight Words Level 2’, which picks up where the first one ends. It is targeted for children Kindergarten to 1st grade who are starting to read. Even though my son just turned 3 and not reading yet, he has received great benefit from the DVD and is he is expanding his vocabulary and speech. I know he will grow into this DVD in the next couple of years as he starts to read.

Sight Words Covered:

  • use • your • wordsRock N Learn Sight Words Level 2
  • like • this • new • but • old • too
  • what • bear • black • brown • white
  • do • did • eat • ate • ran • say • four
  • dog • they • are • all • under • trees
  • who • will • be • good • at • am
  • he • came • by • get • her • went • ride • boat
  • yes • or • no • please • thank
  • that • pretty • was • on • she • saw • with
  • our • must • have • had • now
  • want • into • room • out
  • when • were • there • so • soon • well

Bonus Sections:

  • Word Shapes

The songs are catchy (as always) and capture my kids attention when they are watching it. Humor and fun is added throughout the DVD as well. I love that the characters are the same as the level 1 DVD because it makes it familiar for them. All the graphics and animations are fun, creative, and full of color. Yet again, Rock ‘N Learn has been able to entertain and capture my sons attention while educating them at the same time. We just can’t get enough of Rock N Learn! Here is a short sample clip of the DVD:

 

 

Rock ‘N Learn has produced over 50 educational videos and music for children of all ages creating a fun educational learning experience. You can find DVDs and CDs for Phonics, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, French, and more. Some of their best selling titles include “Letter Sounds”, “Phonics”, “Colors, Shapes and Counting”, “Getting Ready for Kindergarten”, “Spanish”, “Sight Words”, and “States and Capitals Rap”.

Follow Rock N Learn on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Buy It – You can buy Rock N Learn products on their website and use promo code JQ7711 for 25% off!

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

Fab Five Friday – Top 5 Banana Snack Recipes

Quick Easy Banana Snack Recipes

Bananas are one of my little guys’ favorite snack foods and I am always looking for ways to jazz it up. These are some of my favorite banana snack recipes I have came across.

1. Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites: These add a great twist to banana snacks with their crispiness. View the recipe here.

Easy Banana Snacks
Recipe & Photo courtesy of FormulaMom.com

2. Frozen Banana Bites: The kids love these! Dip frozen banana pieces in  a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter. Ashley adds coconut flakes, but I leave them off. She has lots of great tips and variations included with her recipe.  View them here.

Frozen Banana Bites
Recipe and Photo Courtesy of NeverHomeMaker.com

3. Chocolate Banana Crepes: These are also good using Nutella instead of chocolate chips as well. View the recipes here along with 21 other healthy kids snacks.

Easy Banana Crepes Recipes
Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Parenting.com

4. Banana & Nutella Graham Cracker Sandwiches: Banana slices and Nutella is also good on toast. There is no recipe on the site, but you can also view some other healthy snack ideas.

Quick Easy Banana Snack Recipes
Photo Courtesy of TasteofHome.com

5. Banana Split Bites: I haven’t tried these yet, but just look at how yummy they look! Scoop out the inside of the banana bites and put ice cream in them. Naomi has a lot of great recipes! View this one here.

Banana Split Mini Bites Recipes
Recipe and Photo Courtesy of BakersRoyale.com

Do you have a favorite banana snack?

 

August 25 & 26 Lowes Free Kids Workshop – Shrek Onion Carriage

Lowes Kids Build and Grow Clinic August 25

Lowe’s offers a great ‘Build and Grow’ Clinic for kids. This weekend they are offering the same clinic at two different times: Saturday, August 25th at 10am and Sunday, August 26th at 2pm. The kids will be building a Shrek Onion Carriage.

The first 50 to register and be present at the store will receive the kit, an apron, and goggles. the recommended ages is 1st-5th grade.

For more information, store locations, and preregistration visit Lowe’s Build And Grow here. They also have fun activities, Kits you can purchase and family projects.

 

Healthy To Go Brands – Green Tea Energy Fusion Packets {Review}

PhotobucketI love convenience. I actually need things to be convenient to get through a typical day. Keeping up with my sons doesn’t leave much ‘me’ time. I don’t always get time to finish a meal, drink enough water, or assure what I am snacking on (or drinking) is healthy. I normally don’t get enough sleep as I should and I tend to be running low on energy most days. When I found out about To Go Brands and got the opportunity to try their products, I couldn’t wait.

Green Tea Energy Fusion Packets

To Go Brands specializes in drink mixes and products that are all-natural, healthy, great-tasting and convenient. Some of their products they offer include VitaRocks, Trim Energy, Omega To Go, Smoothie Complete and Go Greens. I decided to try Green Tea Energy Fusion which are single-serving packets that you simply add to a water bottle. It is a fusion of all-natural, healthy teas, herbs and extracts to help support metabolism and provide energy.

The health promoting benefits of green tea have been known in Asia for centuries. New scientific reports of its benefits as an antioxidant & metabolism booster are reported almost weekly in the Western press.

I have never tried a tea that wasn’t hot or mixed with lots of ice (my personal preference). I tend to favor hot tea over cold tea, but I first tried a packet in a bottle of water. The flavor was alright, but I am use to having a lot of ice in my tea. I waited a few days and tried it mixed with hot water and I do prefer it hot. Drinking it hot takes away from the convenience aspect though.  However, the more I drink it cold, the better it gets. For the best results, it states to drink it one to two times daily. I try to drink one every morning while the kids are eating breakfast. After a week or so, I started feeling less exhausted with a boast in my energy! Also, if you are dieting, it is best to drink one thirty minutes before meals to help curb your appetite.

I think I am going to be trying the Trim Energy product line next to help finish losing the baby weight!

To learn more about other To Go Brands product, visit them online (also offers Healthy To Go recipes ideas), become a fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

 

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

Fab Five Friday – Top 5+ Chores for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Chores for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Trying to get household chores done everyday can sometimes be a difficult task with toddlers and preschoolers. We all know there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done on our ‘To-Do’ lists. I enlist the help of my sons (ages 2 & 3) to help out with household chores sometimes. I try make it a game and add some learning activities in. It never gets old seeing the excitement of a 2 year old when you ask him if he wants to do laundry or vacuum. Kids love to help no matter what it is. Sometimes it takes longer to get things done, but the kids are happy! Here are some of their favorite ways to help.Toddler Preschooler Chores

  1. Laundry
    1. Sort the laundry before (dark, whites, kids/baby clothes) and after (who it belongs to)
    2. Have them put the clothes in the washer and/or dryer. We create an assembly line since I have two little helpers. And while we do it they call out what article of clothing it is, the color, and/or who it belongs to.
    3. My sons fight over who gets to push the laundry basket. This is one of my 2yo’s favorite things to do. Lucky for them we normally have at least two a day for them to push around!Toddler Preschooler Chores
  2. Dusting/Wiping
    1. I have three Swiffer dusters. I know, seems crazy. But I give one (new/clean) to my sons while I am doing various cleaning and they dust just about everything: fireplace, walls, bookshelves, etc. Sometimes they want to get the dusters out even when I am not cleaning!
    2. When I am wiping down the counters, tables, windows or glass, they like to take a baby wipe or paper towel and do the same. I let them wipe a window I haven’t cleaned yet or the chairs or the floor around where I am cleaning.Preschooler Toddler Chores
  3. Sweeping
    1. I have to sweep at least twice a day. These kids can get messy! I picked up a small handheld broom/dustpan from the dollar spot at Target and it is great for my 3 year old. This is great for coordination skills.
    2. They also like to push the broom around so I let them take turns after I get done and it allows me a few minutes to put some dishes away or clean the counters.
    3. You can also buy a kids-size broom on Amazon.com.Preschooler Toddler Chores
  4. Vacuuming
    1. My sons have always loved the vacuum. I don’t know why, but it gets them all hyper and they run in circles the whole time I am vacuuming.
    2. I let my sons hold the attachment and get around the edges and corners of rooms.
    3. You could get a handheld vacuum as well for older preschoolers to use.
    4. I have been thinking about get a working Dyson Toy Vacuum that actually has suction from Amazon.com.Toddler Preschooler Chores
  5. Picking Up Toys
    1. Just telling my sons it is time to vacuum is enough motivation for them to pick up toys in that room.
    2. Sometimes we play ‘Find the…’ game. I name a toy (I.E. white Hot Wheel, blue ball) that needs to be put away and they find it to put it away. Or I describe a toy kind of like ‘I Spy‘ (I.E. color, texture, size) and have them find it and put it back where it goes.
    3. I have a crate we fill at least once a week with toys that need to go back upstairs or in a different room. I let them sort through the toys as we are picking up and choose which box it needs to be in. You can have a box for each child’s room. Sometimes we count similar toys as we pick them up (blocks, Hot Wheels, books).

A few other ways they like to help out: Watering the plants, handing me groceries to put away (I put breakables on the counter so they can’t reach those), refilling the diaper drawer, putting their cups away and throwing away the junk mail. I could only get lucky that they help out so much when they are teenagers ;)

Are there any other household chores your toddler or preschooler like to do?


No More New Printable Archiver’s Coupons

Archivers New Coupon Policy

Today I got my normal Archiver’s email and coupon with a little surprise… They have decided to change their coupons. Instead of having a uniform coupon with a coupon code, each coupon send out has a unique barcode and can only be used once. This means will no longer be able to provide you with the lastest Archiver’s coupon :(

If you don’t receive the emails containing the coupons, sign up for their mailing list next time you are in their store. Or sign up on their website here. (thanks Laura for the link)