Poetry Month in our Homeschool

Sure, you can force a kid to read a book. Any book, actually. But you can't force a child to love to read. You can't push and push literature on them and shove it down their throats and simultaneously wonder why they revolt and push back with a forceful "I HATE READING!" after months or years of doing your "parental duty" of making them read.

As a homeschooling mom, I kind of HAVE to "make" them read. It's a part of the job. BUT, I try, with every fiber of my being, to not turn reading time into a forced or timed activity. This means that if one of my kids is actively involved in a chapter book for 5 hours straight, I don't interrupt. Not even for math. It means that I am constantly peppering every surface of our home with countless varieties of books in all genres and levels.

It also means that if my daughter says "let's read poetry outside today," that I happily follow her to our patio and read along with her for as long as she wants; No matter how many dirty dishes await me in the sink.

 Here is Corinne on a lovely spring day last week after we worked in our garden pulling weeds and planting seedlings. We sat in the shade and drank lemonade and read poem after poem after poem from the adorable children's collection entitled "A Pizza the Size of the Sun" by Jack Prelutsky. She insisted on searching for the funniest ones; the ones she had MEMORIZED during quiet reading times. She insisted on sharing these poems with me so that I could also experience the joy of the words she had discovered. How do you refuse THAT?

It's a fantastic collection of fantastic children's poetry by the award winning author. We received this book along with several others including a second collection of poetry by Mr. Prelutsky titled, "The new Kid on the Block."  Both attracted my 7 year old's attention this month and have really engaged the two of us in discussions about the words, the phrasing and the rhythm that poetry entails. She has become so interested, in fact, that she signed up for a poetry class at our homeschool co-op next fall!

 

 This picture is from today, as a matter of fact. With hair still wet from the sprinkler and dirt across the tops of her fingers, Corinne sat beside me and insisted on reading the entire book, "Dirt on My Shirt" by Jeff Foxworthy. He's NOT just a comedian! Who knew? Dirt on My Shirt is yet another amazing book of poems for elementary-school children. Absolutely adorable and hysterical at times, it engages the imagination of both child and adult. This one will be, without a doubt, a new favorite in our read-aloud time.

*disclaimer: I received these books and others by Harper Collins Publishers for review. No compensation was received and all opinions remain my own. 

Medieval Times - A Review and A Giveaway!

 Evan turns 11 today! As usual, I cannot believe how time has passed. But that's not what this post is about...

 I was offered complimentary family passes to Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL and they just so happened to be available the weekend before Evan's birthday!

 Talk about a kid who was thrilled with the entire experience! Evan thanked us, repeatedly, and told us he loved us, repeatedly, the entire night.

 The pre-show anticipation was pretty high. We had a very hungry teenager (not pictured) and that always causes him to be, shall we say, less than sweet? This in turn, causes me to be anxious and on edge. I was ready for the fun to begin!

 Thankfully, the lights went down and the horses entered....

 And we were all entranced. It really is a great show. A little cheesy in the acting at times, but the storyline and characters engaged the audience and there wasn't a silent seat in the house. The food was phenomenally delicious (and they ALL ate it. ALL OF THEM. Even the picky one!) and was served on such a perfectly-timed schedule; you could tell this was a well-oiled procedure. We did have a minor issue pre-show where Evan wasn't knighted with the group (we got him a birthday package that included being knighted by the king, an announcement, photograph, and cake). I caught the eye of the "chancellor" and he came over as the king was leaving the knighting area. He was exceptionally helpful and, after a few minutes of trying to figure out what went wrong, he arranged to have the entire royal crew (king, trumpet dudes, photographer, etc.) come BACK OUT just to correct the mistake. This in no doubt was a huge time set-back for the cast but they were all incredibly polite and helpful. A definite thumbs up for their customer service!

 Look who caught a flower from our knight! This was seriously the best souvenir she could have ever gotten. (which is handy, cuz this momma doesn't do many souvenirs!)

This shot makes me laugh and laugh because it is SO legitimate! My husband was leaping from his seat, screaming louder than the kids were, as the Black and White knight kicked some serious jousting ass.

Tickets for Medieval Times may seem a little pricey up front until you realize that the cover charge pays for not only the dinner and show, but also for the cast and crew, equestrian trainers/caretakers and 3 different equine ranches that provide the fabulously trained horses for 9 different castles. Suddenly, the cost makes a lot more sense. Still, it can be difficult to find resources for larger families to attend, which is why Medieval Times runs special ticket discounts on their website. You just need to make sure you plan accordingly!

From now until 4/07/13, use the code SBWEB to Buy One ticket and Get One Ticket free for certain shows through April 30th at the Schaumburg castle!!*

 I am beyond THRILLED to announce that Medieval Times of Schaumburg, IL has offered 4 tickets** to one reader on my blog!!

To Enter:

~ Just comment below! Have you ever been to Medieval Times before? Who would you bring if you won?

~ ONE extra comment if you share this giveaway via any social media site of your choosing. Please be sure to copy the link back here. (Facebook/Twitter/Google+/etc.)

Giveaway is open until Midnight CST, Saturday, April 13. I will draw 1 winner on Sunday. Giveaway is open to anyone 18 or older and I must have a valid email address to contact you by or I will have to choose another winner.

Best of Luck!

*Certain restrictions may apply. Be sure to check the Medieval Times website for all rules and regulations.
**Certain restrictions/time frames may apply.

Updated with winner information:

Congratulations to Meghan Winscott! I hope you guys have a fabulous time!

McDonald's and My Family: AND a giveaway!

 That would be my "Yeaaaaah, baby! I would most definitely like a Shamrock Shake, please!" look. I mean, what's not to like? I would like to thank St. Patrick for chasing those snakes out of Ireland or whatever he did hundreds of years ago so that McDonald's could make a minty shake of goodness every spring.

 Miss Lori (SMILE!) was a brand ambassador for the McDonald's "Moms Nutrition Panel." She gathered some of the mom bloggers in Chicagoland at a local McDonald's to discuss the healthier options available for our families at this classic American institution. I happily admit that I frequent McDonald's with my family. We take advantage of their dollar menu items when we are in a rush for time without extra cash to spend, but my kids' favorite McDonald's meals (and I'm not even joking here) are the Southwest Salads... withOUT the dressing! (Well, Corinne likes a little dressing on hers...) 

 It was really nice to hear the different options available for families who are trying to treat their children without overloading them with calories, sugar or sodium. Though McDonald's is obviously not the HEALTHIEST choice in the line up of restaurants available, they are continuously moving towards a menu that is up front and helpful for us all. Not all fast food restaurants can claim to be so forward-thinking towards health, and I give McD's a lot of credit. The main difference I have noticed and am grateful for is the calorie information that you will find beside every food item on their menus. Just look up at the boards! It's all there, in black and white, so no one can claim ignorance of the crazy high calorie number on some of their items anymore. You can also find all of the nutritional information on the backside of every tray liner or on the McDonald's Website.

 Mcdonald's very generously provided me with several vouchers for 4 of their healthier options including the Premium Chicken Sandwiches, Premium Salads, Fruit Smoothies, and Fruit & Walnut Oatmeal. My kids' eyes bugged out when I brought home a salad for each of us. It was as though I had told them we were having a gourmet treat at a 5 star restaurant. :)


I just so happen to have 4 sheets of vouchers that McDonald's provided to me so that I can give them away to some of YOU! I will pick two names and each person will receive 8 vouchers total (2 free item vouchers for each of the foods listed above).

These vouchers are valid only in the Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana McDonald's restaurants. You must be 18 or older to enter.

To Enter:

~ Comment below! What is your favorite McDonald's food? (Healthy or not, I don't care!)


THAT'S IT. That's all you have to do. :) One entry per person, please, and I will pick two winners on Thursday, April 11 via Random.org

Good luck!

*Though McDonald's provided me with lunch and coupons to review their product, no monetary compensation was received and this review/giveaway is being done of my own desire. All opinions are my own.

Updated with Winner:

 
Congratulations to Julie and David Lobner! Enjoy!!

Legoland In Schaumburg introduces a Star Wars Exhibit! AND a giveaway!

(Giveaway closed: Winner posted at the bottom!)
My family has been to Legoland in Schaumburg many times over the past few years but it had been several months since our last visit. I was thrilled to see the new addition of the Lego Friends corner and an updated luncheon area. The kids were thrilled to see their newest exhibit:

STAR WARS!!

 Schaumburg is the first of all of the Legoland facilities to host a Star Wars exhibit of this nature.

 Hands-on activities include driving your own pod-racer...

 ...Helping a Naboo Starfighter escape from the hangar...

 And assisting the Gungans defeat the droid army. Pretty cool, right?

There are still the building workshops and the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride in addition to all of the regular activities that are crazy fun for the kids to enjoy. But if you have a Star Wars fan, you simply HAVE to check out this new exhibit at Legoland Discovery Center!

I just so happen to have 4 tickets to give away to one reader!

To Enter:
(must be over 18 years old)

1. Just comment below and tell me who the biggest Star Wars Fan is in your house!
2. Share this giveaway on any social media site (Twitter/Facebook/Google+/etc.) and link back here (on a separate comment, please!)

I will pick the winner via Random.org on Tuesday, March 26. Good luck to all and may the force be with you!

And the winner is.... #18: Mep from "Not to Brag." Congratulations! I hope that you and your kids enjoy the tickets!

Thank you to all who entered! I have other giveaways coming up soon!

JumpStart: New York! A Review and Giveaway

My kids and I have had a long-standing love affair with JumpStart programs. We've played their Wii games, CD roms and the games from JumpStart.com and loved them all. Corinne has always enjoyed having a site that she is able to independently navigate. Look at her first review of the Pet Rescue game for Wii! I can't believe how little she was...

JumpStart.com recently added a new feature to their online children's website called "Greetings from JumpStart, New York" which features the penguins from Madagascar in a cool new page. Here's what Jumpstart has to say:

"As if the arrival of the Central Park Zoo and the animal’s European Habitat were not enough to quench your kids thirst for all things Madagascar. Now, they can help us welcome Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman back to New York. With exciting new areas and games, there are so many more adventures for your kids to enjoy while in the JumpStart World. From the city skyscrapers and iconic yellow cabs to the arrival of Central Park, all the sights and sound of the city are just waiting to be discovered." Read more of the details from Jumpstart's site!

It's adorable. Really. The graphics and navigation have only gotten smoother over the years, making the JumpStart.com site one of the most kid-user-friendly sites I've encountered. There are several different "lands" to enjoy, from ages 3-5 all the way through grade school (my 5th grader still enjoys the MathBlaster games!) so the membership is one that can be enjoyable for all of your children at once. Check out the adorable graphics on this tutorial of Storyland:



My own personal FAVORITE update to the entire site are all of the parent resources available! There are pages and pages and PAGES of downloadable worksheets that encourage the skills your children have learned on the site. Everything from geography and reading skills through fractions and geometry! As a homeschooling mom, this is AWESOME. I have been perusing the pages with ways to implement these pages and plan on bringing a ton of them for our car trip to Florida next month!!

JumpStart has offered one reader a complimentary 3 month membership! Please follow the directions below and good luck! (Giveaway is open to adults over the age of 18 only.)

First entry: just comment below about who will be using the membership!

Second entry: Visit JumpStart's Facebook account and state: "I hope I win a membership on Just Another Review Blog!" (Be sure to link back!)

3rd entry: link back to this giveaway on any other social media site and link back.

BE SURE that each entry is in a separate comment and that you provide a valid email address. Giveaway is open until Midnight, CST, February 14. I will choose the winner via Random.org on February 15 from Florida!

“Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

Monster Truck Jam in Chicago!

It's that time in Chicago again! Time to rev up your engines and head to the Allstate Arena for some...

Monster Truck JAM!!!

I truly cannot convey to you how much my family has enjoyed attending the Monster Truck Jam these past few years. I am bummed that we may not be able to make it this time due to other scheduling conflicts (that I am desperately trying to work around, because my kids LOVE THIS EVENT) but I am happy to announce that I am still able to offer my readers 4 free tickets to the opening night show at 7:30 on Friday, February 8th! Follow the directions on how to enter below and ACT FAST because this giveaway will end on Friday, February 1st!!

For anyone else who wants to go, you can use this code for some amazing discounts. (be sure to read all disclaimers and fine print):

Save 33% on adult tickets to all shows Feb. 9-10 with code MOM.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/dr1gv7

Kids tickets are always just $10.

Offer Not valid on Opening Night.  Discount does not apply to VIP or Gold Circle seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply. All tickets $2 more day of show.

To enter the Giveaway:

~ Comment below and tell me if you've ever been to a Jam before or who you would bring.

~ To earn 1 extra entry, share this giveaway on one social media site of your choosing. Be sure to link back to this giveaway and to provide a link to your share on a second comment. (i.e. 1 comment for every entry).

Each person entering has a total of 2 chances to win. You must be over 18 to enter and provide a valid email address in the comments. I will contact the winner via email by Feb 2nd. Winner must respond back within 24 hours or I will have to pass the opp along to someone else, due to the time sensitivity of this event.

Good luck! The giveaway will end on Midnight (CST) on February 1st.

EDITED WITH WINNER:
(I used 1-12 entries because there were replies within comments that did not count as full entries)

Congratulations to comment #2: "aismeg"

I hope you enjoy the show!

Winner of the Novica Gift card

Winner of the Novica $50 gift card is....

#6, David Lobner.

Congratulations! I sure do hope you buy your wife something with it!

Thank you to all who entered. Remember to enter the Sears giveaway that is still open till Feb 1.

Sears Gift Card Giveaway

Can you imagine the days when Sears was the ONLY choice for shopping? I love looking at old printings of the Sears catalogs that would be sent across the nation in the early 1900's. The random pharmaceuticals! The corsets that "set you free!"

It's like a history lesson in shopping.

Nowadays, there are endless choices for purchasing the products you are looking for; Online! Local Mom and Pop boutiques! A Superstore on every corner!

I find it reassuring that many of the good ole standbys like Sears still exist.

Where else can you pick up a replacement part for your lawnmower's engine, fancy nighties for your wife and a board game for the kids; all under one roof?

Sears.

Sears has given me one $25 gift code to pass out to a reader! With all of the post-post Holiday Season sales coming to a close, now is the time to make the most of your money and hit the Sears nearest you, armed with $25 to spend!

To Enter: (As always, entries are open to only people age 18 and over. This giveaway is open to US citizens only. You must provide a valid email address in the comments or I cannot choose your name.)

1. Comment Below with what you'd like to buy at Sears with $25. You can use it towards something small or add it onto the price of a more costly item. Your choice!

2. Second Entry: Share the information about this giveaway on any social media site that you choose and provide a link back in the SECOND comment.

I will pick the winner via Random.org. The comments are closed on Midnight, CST on Friday, Feb 1.

Good luck!!

EDITED WITH WINNER INFORMATION:

Congratulations to #28: "debijackson" I hope you enjoy shopping at Sears!

 

"I Love Lucy Live On Stage"

I LOVE LUCY! 

 I do. Always have. Always will. My favorite television episodes are probably the ones where they are traveling through Europe. Something about those teeny hotel rooms and the lack of airplanes and in-room telephones just tickles me inside. In fact, there isn't a week that goes by that I don't watch at least 1 episode on MeTV around 3 am (I have recurring insomnia. Fun Times!).

If you Love Lucy too, AND if you live in the Chicagoland area, I highly recommend checking out the "I Love Lucy, Live on Stage" production at the Broadway Playhouse at the Water Tower Place in Chicago.

The actors were Spot.On. (Lucy and Fred especially made me smile with their perfection of the television characters.)

 The sets felt as though we were actually watching a live television performance and experiencing all the surprises for the first time (even though I already knew the two programs that they performed; I TOLD you I was a Real Fan!).

 And the commercials in between were authentic. My mom leaned over during the Chevrolet commercial and said "I remember that one! They ran it for YEARS!"

I swear to you that by the end of the play, I was almost convinced that these actors were the REAL Lucy and Ricky and Fred and Ethel from the 1950's.

Loved. It.

Tickets are available and the show runs through March 2013! Don't miss your chance to see this award winning show!!!

  *Photos used with permission from the Broadway Playhouse.

Novica Gift Card Review and Giveaway

I am really excited about the next item I am reviewing! I was given a $50 gift card to Novica, an online site that represents dozens of artists and artisans from underprivileged countries. The company has truly changed the lives of these people and their communities by promoting their artwork through the world. (I highly recommend reading through their Mission Statement and the Artist Testimonials. It will touch your heart.)  After searching through the site for a while and admiring the lovely items for sale; there were some beautiful necklaces that would have looked great on ME and some absolutely stunning wall artwork.

But what captured and held my attention were these necklaces made by Ralph Ashong, a carver from West Africa whose life story touched me as much as his artwork did. I carefully chose a necklace for my husband titled "Life's Questions." The artist writes about the meaning:

"Life does not provide all the answers to all the questions we face. Persevere until you get answers to your questions,"

Patrick has always had a "signature" necklace to wear. The most recent necklace was one that I purchased for him about 4 years ago for his birthday. It was a fish hook carved from coconut shell that was just absolutely awesome. When the string finally, FINALLY frayed (after 4 years of CONSTANT use) he said that it must mean that it is time for a new signature necklace. When I saw this necklace, it spoke to me and said "This one. This is for him!"

I hope that he likes this new one enough to make it The One!

I have a $50 gift card to give away to one reader to use towards a purchase through Novica. It can be used for the entire purchase or towards a larger purchase, if you find that your heart is set on something a little more expensive. There are plenty of items from the jewelry sections to choose from but don't forget to look through all of the housewares and decor, too!

To Enter: (be sure to include your email address in a comment or else I will have to choose a different winner. As always, this giveaway is open to only people 18 years or older.)

1. Simply comment and tell me which item or type of item you would choose. It's as easy as that!

2. One extra entry per person if you help to promote the Novica company online in whatever way you feel most comfortable. (i.e. if you like a necklace like I did, link to that necklace on Facebook/Twitter/Google+/etc. and tell your followers about this giveaway so that they can have a chance to win as well). Then come back here and comment again with the link to wherever you shared.

You can enter until midnight CST on January 25. I will pick one winner using Random.org on Saturday, January 26.

Good luck!!

Wimpy Kid Winner

Winner of the Wimpy Kid book was picked via Random.org....

Congratulations to Kim C. I'll be contacting you today! Hope you enjoy it and thanks to everyone for coming over for the giveaway!

A Wimpy Review and Giveaway

The only way you wouldn't know about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is if you are:

A. Living under a rock
B. Living in North Korea
C. Dead

Seeing as how you are reading my blog on the internet which isn't available under rocks, in North Korea, or in the afterlife; you MUST know what I am talking about!

Evan and I had the amazing chance to get one of his own Wimpy Kid books signed by the author, Jeff Kinney, yesterday. Even more spectacular was the opportunity for us to board Jeff's tour bus for an intimate interview with a few other blogger children!

These are the kinds of opportunities that turn me from "Mommy" into ROCK STAR.

Man, I love my job.

 Evan was initially a little bummed that he didn't have the newest of the series: The Third Wheel.

"Mama, can we buy the new one so that Jeff Kinney can sign that one, too?"

Well, that just SPOILED the surprise that there was a review copy of the newest book in the mail!

Read on below to see how you can win one of the Wimpy Kid books, too!

 With Mr. Kinney! How cool!

 In shock after the signing...

 Waiting to board the tour bus with Vanessa's and Emily's kids...

Evan:  "Where did you get the idea for Rodrick?"

Jeff Kinney: "A little bit is modeled after my older brother, but mostly Rodrick is just what I think a lot of teenage boys are like."

True dat, Jeff...

 Even Greg was there!

And really? Despite all of his flaws; who doesn't love Greg Heffley?

Want to win the newest book?

Don't own any of them and want to start your own collection for a cool kid in your life?

Missing one of the series and need to complete the set?

All you have to do is enter a comment below, telling me which of the 7 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books you would choose if your name is chosen! THAT'S IT!

To receive an extra entry, Tweet the following statement and comment again with your twitter handle:

"I would love to win a @wimpykid book from @justanothermom at: ow.ly/fnmTg "

Winner will be chosen via Random.org on Dec 2nd.
Open only to US residents over 18 years of age. (Sorry, Canada...)

Piles and Piles of Books for Your Kids!

 So, um, I got on Harper Collins Publishers mailing list for book reviews...

 ...and I have never been quite so honored. As a homeschooling mom of 3, books are always in high demand in our home. I will try to keep on top of as many of the books as I possibly can, but holy moly, there are so many that we love! I will be breaking the books into groups of reviews. I hope you find something that appeals to one of your children as my own family has benefited greatly!

 First up is Invisible Inkling - Dangerous Pumpkins by Emily Jenkins. This was perfect for my first grader who has a reading comprehension well above her average age range. Do you know how hard it is to find engaging chapter books for a 7 year old that are age-appropriate? This is the second story about Inkling, an invisible pet that gets his boy into all sorts of trouble (as invisible pets tend to do).

We give this story an A. It is appropriate as a read-aloud for your kindergarten through 5th graders (my own 5th grader enjoyed the story, too!)

 The Turning by Francine Prose is nowhere near as spooky as the jacket cover leads you to believe. It's marketed towards the teen age bracket, but I would say that most teens would find it a little slow. However, a 10-12 year old might enjoy the idea that they were reading a "teen book" and their parents would appreciate that it's not too scary and has nothing inappropriate for their ages. (i.e. no sex, violence, etc.). It tells the story of a junior in high school who goes away for a summer job on a strange island. Through a series of letters he writes to his girlfriend and father, we learn how the story unfolds.

I read this book in about 2 hours while waiting for gymnastics to be over. It was a decent story, but not my absolute favorite.

I'd give it a B-...

 Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon really intrigued me. It has a complicated storyline about a runaway foster child and a neglected "rich kid" who find themselves enmeshed in a fast-paced, modern-day political and technological thriller. Best part of this? It's TOTALLY appropriate for teens! All of the intrigue of an adult mystery without ever going above a kid's head (or delving into sex or adult activities). THANK YOU, Ms. Gagnon. I loved this book, though the ending left me wanting more... I suppose that is an author's prerogative, eh?

I give Don't Turn Around an A-. 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard was AWE.SOME. I was captivated from the first few pages and didn't put it down for 2 days. It follows Eleanor Fitt, a young woman in high society of the late 1800's whose family has fallen into financial distress. To further complicate matters, the dead folks in the world just won't stay, well, DEAD. Especially in her hometown of Philadelphia. Between the zombies and World Fair and forbidden romance, I fell in love with the story and characters and was REALLY TICKED OFF when it was over. I mean, seriously? Hoping for a second book, Ms. Dennard!

I give this book an A!

Fang Girl by Helen Keeble initially turned me off because I instantly thought "Another vampire teen book? Blech." But it was SO funny and interesting! Seriously. In fact, part of the ironic theme is that the main character is a teen who was fascinated with the vampire culture of the 21st century becomes a vampire herself. :) I love that Ms. Keeble acknowledges that vampires may be a bit overdone in 2012, but that she still found a way to write a fresh and intriguing story. I'd totally recommend this one for any teen or pre-teen girl who is looking for a new book for Christmas.

I give Fang Girl a B+.

Dark Eden, parts 1 and 2 by Patrick Carman spins the tale of 7 teens who are sent to a facility in the deep woods to help combat their various psychological fears. Through a series of questionable methods, they are "cured" but find that they now have new and strange physical ailments, often associated with old age. Twists and turns explain the unusual psychological issue that the main character, Will Besting, is facing. But what of the weird "doctor"?

Though book 1 held my attention and had me interested, book 2, in my opinion, fell very short of my expectations. I recommend the first for the reluctant teen who is looking for a new story but suggest checking the second book from the library first to see if it appeals to you before you purchase.

I give Book 1 a B.
I give Book 2 a C.