Mommy Octopus – Page 140 – We can all use a few more hands

Giveaway: World of Coca-Cola

June 11, 2017 By MommyOctopus 19 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

When we made our family’s summer bucket list, this is one place that my son mentioned wanting to visit again – The World of Coca-Cola. My children always reminisce about looking at all the Coke memorabilia, visiting with the polar bear, and of course drinking as much Coca-Cola as one can manage!

This summer, the World of Coca-Cola offers 5 ways to savor summer and help you build memories with your family and friends.

ICE COLD Summer Fun. When you arrive at Pemberton Place on July 15 and 16, expect a warm welcome with a cold beverage. During the “Share an ICE COLD Coke” experience, sip on free customized mini cans of Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero before interacting with the Bubble-izer, one-of-a-kind technology that virtually transforms you into an effervescent fizzy form. Be sure to snap a photo and share your new look with your friends!
Pop Culture Paradise. World of Coca-Cola is celebrating 10 years at Pemberton Place with a new Pop Culture Gallery exhibit that is overflowing with creativity and inspiration. “10 Artists, 10 Bottles” features 10 different four-foot sculpted Coke bottles uniquely designed by 10 renowned Atlanta artists. With everything from abstract art to recycled glass bottles, the new gallery offers up a taste of local talent.
#InstaFamous. Visitors have been buzzing about the #ShareaCokeWithATL gallery – so much so that World of Coca-Cola is extending the temporary exhibit through November. Featuring the work of 12 local Instagram artists, the #ShareaCokewithATL gallery celebrates the rich history of Atlanta and Coca-Cola with images pairing popular Atlanta landmarks with the iconic glass Coke bottle. Snap and share your own photos using #ShareaCokewithATL for a chance to be featured online by World of Coca-Cola.
GOOOOAAAALLLL! Whether you call it “soccer” or “football,” we are all excited to welcome Atlanta United to our hometown. To celebrate the team’s inaugural season and Coca-Cola’s longstanding support of soccer worldwide, World of Coca-Cola is unveiling the “Coke and Soccer” exhibit in the Hub this summer. With more than 20 countries represented, fans of all ages will have a ball exploring the collection of soccer memorabilia.
A World of Taste Awaits. Take your palette on an adventure this summer in the Taste It! beverage lounge, where you can sample more than 100 beverages from around the world. Savor new flavors like Indonesia’s Frestea Green Honey or the Dominican Republic’s Country Club Merengue, available for a limited time. Then, head over to the Sampling Bar to try one of the latest products from The Coca-Cola Company, like Honest Sport, which launches nationwide this summer.

Save at World of Coca-Cola:

Plus check out this savings offer! World of Coca-Cola will offer a limited-time Summer Pass, which is valid May 26 through Aug. 31. This special pass provides unlimited chances to chill with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear for only $25!

Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a four pack of tickets to visit the World of Coca-Cola through the end of the year. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. Good luck!

P.S. Don’t forget to try Beverly 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon: Purchase Sample Boxes = FREE Credit of Equal Value!

June 7, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Currently, Amazon has a number of sample boxes available! What’s neat about these is that whatever you spend toward the box, you get that much credit on a future purchase! I’m going to grab the Children’s Snack Sample Box and probably one of the others!

To find out more, simply go HERE and then click on Available Boxes to see what’s available. I love when they do these! I’m even happier when it’s stuff we use! YAY!

Review: Memoria Press Book of Trees Set

June 7, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

My kids love learning about nature and trees. Honestly, I’m nearly clueless when it comes to plants and trees. The kids will ask me what a certain tree is and typically I’m not able to answer them. I’ve been guiding my 8th grader through The Book of Trees by Memoria Press the past few weeks so that we can learn more about trees together.

About the Product:

The Book of Trees is an introduction to botany through the study of trees. The Book of Trees is a book set which includes The Book of Trees, the Student Book, the Teacher Guide, The Tree Book For Kids and Their Grown-ups, and the Peterson First Guide to Trees of North America.

The Book of Trees program consists of 9 chapters covering a variety of information about the root system, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, photosynthesis, respiration, and observation of trees. By the end of the program, students should be able to name the two plant systems, list the four major plant organs and their functions, and label a plant, among others.

Included in the Student Book, there are reproducible Trees Observation Worksheets that students can fill out while they observe trees. There are 21 lessons total and activities range from answering questions to labeling and even some outdoor activities.

The Teacher Guide includes quizzes and tests along with their answers and answers for the Student Book.

If you’re not quite sure how to pace the program, the option to purchase lesson plans in either a print or digital format for this program and other Memoria Press programs is available.

Our Thoughts:

We received 3 out of the 5 books as part of the set that Memoria Press offers. We received just The Book of Trees, the Student Book, and the Teacher Guide. I think the other 2 books mentioned above would be very helpful to have, but we had other tree books and the internet to help find what we needed.

Since I have been working with my daughter through The Book of Trees the past few weeks, I find both of us noticing trees more than ever before. Her knowledge of trees and their functions have greatly improved. The work doesn’t take long at all to complete, so we do brief periods of time 2-3 times a week to get through the material.

I like that she has been encouraged to outside and study nature instead of just having to be inside to work. The tree observations have been her favorite part. In the workbook, she’s encouraged to find a tree to observe, collect specimens of leaves, flowers and fruit, and then fill out a worksheet about the trees structure and location, details about the tree, identifying the tree, and then using the Peterson Guide and The Tree Book to research the tree. Lastly, she’s instructed to sketch the tree, along with it’s flower and fruit.

I think I have had as much fun helping her to work through the book as she has, however I think it would be a fine program to work through without a parent’s help since it’s geared toward grades 6-8. The instructions are pretty easy and self explanatory.

For More Information:

Memorial Press has a ton of ways where you can find more information. First up, you can always view more on the Memoria Press website for the most accurate and up to date information.

You can also reach out for more information via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Also, you can read more reviews on this product and others, such as their Latin Curriculum, available from Early Elementary to High School. Simply click the banner below to check these out.

Latin, Nature and Trees {Memoria Press Reviews}

Meal Plan Monday

June 5, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

It’s Monday again! The hubs and I were able to sneak away for 2 days without kids, so that was a blast. Big kudos to Grandma for taking on the feat of watching our 5 children. She rocks. The week ahead, we are getting ready for birthday parties that we are attending this weekend and some family and friend time. We will be spending lots of time at the pool, for sure.

I’ve finished the other books that I’ve been reading and have now added 2 more that I’m going through with friends. Both are Christian books. One is called You are Free and the other is Side by Side. Both have been very thought provoking so far.

On to the weekly meals. Still trying to eat according to Trim Healthy Mama, although I’m far from perfect. That’s what is great about this plan. There is grace.

Monday: Steak, salad, zucchini

Tuesday: Black bean burritos

Wednesday: Salsa Chicken and brown rice

Thursday: Taco Pie, salad

Friday: Brats, okra, salad

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Picnic with friends

What are you making this week?

Tracing Practice for Preschool and Kindergarten

June 4, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I have a hard time keeping my littler 2 busy while I do school with the big kids. My sister in law shared an idea that she had and we have put it into practice with great success! It’s super easy to do as well!

First up, find some printable tracing pages. I did a search on pinterest and came up with a ton! Here are some of my favorites:

You can search on pinterest to find some that you are wanting for your kiddos as well. They are easy to find.

Once you have your printables, I hole-punched mine and put in a three ringed binder and labeled it “Tracing”. Each day I can pull out a new worksheet or repeat an older one and put in the clear folder for tracing. Using an overhead marker or dry erase, my daughters can practice their letters or numbers. When they are done, I simply pull it out and put it back in the binder to be reused another day. They love having a variety of tracing options available and I love that it keeps them busy for a bit.

For the folders, I bought the Shop Ticket Holders, Assorted Neon Colors, 9 x 12 Inches, 10 per Pack. They were $13.99. Much cheaper and pretty much the same as the Learning Resources Write And Wipe Pockets.

What ideas do you have for your preschooler?

Amazon: Funny Father’s Day Shirts

June 3, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I love getting my husband shirts for Father’s Day. I was browsing on Amazon and noticed they have quite the selection of funny father’s day shirts. Depending on your husband or father’s personality, I’m absolutely positive you’ll find something for everyone. Check a few of these out! Now to decide what to get my hubby!

I’m leaning toward this one to show his 5 children 🙂 Although these ones are pretty great, too!

Meal Plan Monday

May 29, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

What a weekend! My brother in law got married, we had my husband’s grandmother here from New York, lots of busy busy busy! Definitely one of those times where you need a weekend from the weekend! It was great time, though!

I’m working with the kids to plan our summer bucket list and I can’t wait to see what they decide to do this summer. Now on to the meals!

Here’s what we plan to make this week:

Monday: Pizza

Tuesday: Mushroom Thyme Chicken, salad

Wednesday: Grilled pork chops, brussel sprouts

Thursday: Black bean burritos

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Cookout with friends

Sunday: Fix your own dinner 🙂

Giveaway: Beauty and the Beast HD Digital Download

May 27, 2017 By MommyOctopus 26 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Finally! After what seems like forever, Beauty and the Beast is coming to Blu-ray™, Digital HD + Disney Movies Anywhere starting Tuesday, June 6^th. Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” the live-action adaptation of the studio’s animated classic, brought the story and characters audiences know and love to spectacular life and broke box-office records.

I wasn’t able to see this movie in the theatre, although my daughter did and loved it! I cannot wait for it to be available to watch in my home and I don’t have to wait much longer. I have heard great things about this movie!

Giveaway:

2 lucky readers will win a HD digital copy of Beauty and the Beast to add to their collection. For your chance to win, please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: BAMBI Digital Download!

May 25, 2017 By MommyOctopus 15 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I remember watching BAMBI as a kid and always wondering why my mom was crying. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think it’s impossible to get through this movie without crying as an adult!

Great news if you’ve been wanting to see BAMBI again! The BAMBI SIGNATURE COLLECTION is coming to Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on Tuesday, May 23^rd and Blu-ray™ on Tuesday, June 6^th!Bambi remains a family favorite – now on Digital HD with exclusive new bonus extras.

Giveaway:

2 lucky readers will win a HD digital copy of BAMBI to add to their collection. For your chance to win, please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Typing Coach

May 25, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I loved learning to type as a kid. I think that learning while I was younger helped me to memorize the keys and become more proficient in typing speed and accuracy. As my kids are getting on up in grades, I’m noticing us using the computer more and more for projects and typing essays. To be honest, we haven’t really focused on typing skills until now. Typing skills are essential nowadays in order to get the job done. I’m so thankful to have the chance to review The Typing Coach Online Typing Course by The Typing Coach as part of the Homeschool Review Crew.

About the Product:

Are you ready to learn how to type? Created by a veteran typing teacher, The Typing Coach is a self paced program that helps students in memorizing key positions so that they are looking at the screen instead of at their hands. Although the course is self-paced, the option is also available for a more guided access program. For self-paced, there is nothing to set up! Just start at the introduction and continue working through the course.

This program is priced at $17 per year and includes access to numerous audio, video, and written instructions on typing posture, hand positions, and more. Printables are also included to keep record of progression. By the end of the course, most students can type 10 words per minute and work themselves up to over 65 words per minute!

Courses also include slower pace recommendations for using with younger students. When ready, students can test their progress with timed and scored proficiency tests.

My Thoughts:

We have been using The Typing Coach with my 8th grade daughter and she has been working her way through the self-paced course. I recommend reading through all the instructions and printing all the needed materials a couple days before you wish to get started. Being prepared and reading through the information will help it not seem overwhelming when you’re ready to begin.

The Tying Coach program is fairly easy to take a few minutes a week and practice typing. My daughter doesn’t mind working on it and I am already seeing improvements in her confidence at the keyboard! I also like their idea for “Typing Tickets” or opportunities for my daughter to earn incentives and rewards for working hard on the program. Positive reinforcement is always a great thing.

I appreciate how thorough all the explanations are for teachers and for students. If something is unclear, I have the option to email for help to clarify any confusion. I am thankful we had the opportunity to check out this program and am definitely considering using it with my other children.

For More Information:

For more information, please visit The Typing Coach website. You can also find them on Twitter. You can read more reviews on this product and others by other members of the Homeschool Review Crew by clicking the banner below.

Interested in The Typing Coach but aren’t sure if it’s a right fit for you? Check out their page, Try it First for Free, and see how it goes!

The Typing Coach Online Typing Course {The Typing Coach Reviews}