EyeBuyDirect Review and Giveaway!

I am a cynic. Usually when a deal sounds to good to be true it usually is. That is why I was so curious about EyeBuyDirect but I am so happy that these great deals really are true!!! Now we have pretty decent vision insurance so it was going to take quite a deal to make us not use it. Now NerdDad needed some new glasses so I got his prescription (must have to order) and sat down to look around. I found these great frames called Saint that were $24.95. This was the frame and a single vision lens. That is a huge steal!!! We always get a thinner lens with a scratch coat so I started looking at the options. I was pleasantly surprised to see that is came with a scratch coat for free. Then we selected the super thin lens that was only $42 more. Insurance never covers that upgrade and you never get it that cheap. We also added the Anti-Reflective and UV coatings. Our grand total, counting shipping, was a mere $83.80. Even with insurance we have never gotten out so cheap! We have never gotten away with less than $100 when we were also using insurance. Now it did take a while to get the glasses but it wasn't too long.

We received them in a nice hard case with a cloth to dry them with. I was so happy with quality. I am sold! We will be using EyeBuyDirect from now on for all our eye glasses. For once something is really as good as it sounds!

(Non-Prescription glasses- Every frame can be fitted with a blank lens. All that needs to be done is select "Fashion" under the "I use my glasses for" on the prescription page.)

Win it!
So how would you like to win your own pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect?
To enter:

* Go to EyeBuyDirect's website and tell me what frame you think you will like the most (you are not committed).
* For a second entry, they could upload their photo and try on glasses (you just have to try this!) or review someone in the "Wall of Frame".
* A random winner will be selected and notified on March 11th.
* The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

* Subscribe to my feed.
* Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to EyeBuyDirect.

This giveaway is open to addresses within the US. Please leave a way to contact you in case you win.

(This is a Family Review Network review)

Math Tutor Review

I recently had the opportunity to review a couple of videos from The Math Tutor. I have to say that I am not a fan of these. I tutored math for years and I was looking forward to videos but they just didn't hit the spot with me. The math seems solid but they are boring. If you have a student who has never dealt with the subject matter and you are looking for a teacher, they might do. But if you have a kid whose is already having an issue, these will bore the student and cause them to tune out. They have many dvds in various areas of math. I could totally be off but that is my opinion.

A plus, I may have been inspired to create my own videos!

Scanalog WFMW and a Giveaway!

I am in love!!! I am a pack rat. I try to dress it up but it boils down to I can't get rid of anything and especially information. I have a file box of clipped articles from various magazines, wait I HAD! With Scanalog all you need is a scanner and it can help you handle the rest. This boils down to a filing system for all those bits of paper you collect with the plan to use in the future. You can use this software in a couple of ways: either scan straight into it or pull saved images off your hard drive. Then you can "file" all of them into either the provided categories (11 Master Categories and 102 subcategories) or make some of your own. I like that you can add categories because I had to add some for homeschooling art projects and folder games that I see out on the web. I am even thinking about using it for the kids' completed projects (since I already do pictures).

Now it does cost a little money, $49.95, but I think it could be worth it. I have said for at least 10 years that I need to find a way to write a database with images and I haven't. Even if I did, it would take hours. At $49.95, it is a bargain of time, sanity and money.

The 1 drawback.... When you move your mouse over the top bar (you can see it in the picture) it makes a clicking noise that you can't turn off.

So if you are a pack rat too, or just like keeping all the information that goes through you fingers (that sounds better doesn't it;) go check out all Scanalog has to offer!!!! Tell them that NerdFamily Things sent you!

Win it!
So how would you like to win your own copy of the Scanalog software?
To enter:

* Go to Scanalog's website and tell me what Feature you think you will like the most.
* A random winner will be selected and notified on Feb 28th.
* The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

* Subscribe to my feed.
* Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to addresses within the US. Please leave a way to contact you in case you win.

(This is a Family Review Network review)

Homeschooling ABC's Review

Over the past few months I have been given the opportunity to review Terri Johnson's (of Knowledge Quest fame) Homeschooling ABC's course. This is designed to go step by step through all the areas of homeschooling to give you direction and ideas on how to conquer this grand challenge. This is class goes through step by step with advice and wisdom on how to start and how to approach each are of homeschooling. This is a weekly e-course that even comes with free goodies. The price is $10 a month for 6 months and you get $250 worth of curriculum over this time.

Personally, I don't know if I would use it because I have been reading about homeschooling for years. I would also not use Lesson A just because it is very generic about filing paper work and I would talk to someone in your state. I can say that I don't feel her recommendations fits with California. Her other lessons seem very pertinent to the challenges facing homeschoolers and the many questions we all have. So go check it out. It even has a 60 day guarantee!

Manifest Your Magnificence Review

I recently got the opportunity to review the Manifest Your Magnificence cards for kids aged 6-12. This are affirmation cards that are designed to nurture a kid's self-esteem. These are beautifully illustrated cards with a statement on one side (like "I am a Shining Star") and on the other side is a how statement (like "I make a positive difference in the world"). I think how each family would use them is based on your world view. For us they are a little too heavy on inherent goodness but I think that most of them are great writing prompts. How are you a shining star? How do you make that positive difference in the world? This way you help a child to see how to be the positive affirmation in the world. I love the fact that you can focus on how to develop these positive traits and develop art and writing skills. So go check out these cards and see what you think!

(This is a Family Review Network review)

Glade Review and Giveaway!

With 4 kids and one of those potty training, you can just imagine all the smells my house can have. That is why I was so happy to receive the new Glade Sense & Spray starter kit. I even got it in my favorite scent of Fresh Linen that isn't too heavy or perfumy! This product has some really awesome features. But I have to say my favorite was that it came with batteries and I didn't have to go find any!

It sprays only when its light sensor is triggered. The only thing is if you put it in an area that gets light changes from other rooms it will spray. But I love the fact that it has to be triggered so it isn't wasting the refills by just spraying when no one is around!

It also has another convenient feature that comes in handy when you are always in the room. That is a lock out feature. Your Sense & Spray can not be activated more than once every half hour! That is great for me because a little scent is good much too much gives me a huge headache. There is an override button though, just in case you need an extra burst! So now that you have heard how great it is how would you like to win one?

Win it!
So how would you like to win your own Glade Sense&Spray starter kit?
To enter:

* Go to Glade's website and tell me what your favorite product or scent is in the comment section.
* A random winner will be selected and notified on Feb 25th.
* The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

* Subscribe to my feed.
* Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to addresses within the US. Please leave a way to contact you in case you win.

(This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and giveaway.)

WFMW: Organization Tool

I love plastic drawers! These little beauties are in a cabinet in my playroom organizing my crafting supplies. I don't if you can see that in the top drawer I have stamp pads, then chipboard/stickers/sayings and then in the bottom I have cutting templates. Now these can get pricey but go through and figure out what you need to store your junk. Then buy them slowly. I wait to use JoAnn coupons or when they have them on sale for 50% off (which is fairly often). So that is a little something that works for me!

Abe and the Amazing Promise

Right now my kids are loving my blogs. That is because I got a chance to review the not yet released Veggie Tales: Abe & the Amazing Promise! Here in the NerdFamily we are huge VeggieTale fans. So you can imagine our delight when we popped this in the dvd. The main story is a lesson on patience that is about Sarah and Abraham having to patiently wait for the arrival of baby Isaac (it doesn't touch on Ishmael or Hagar at all). It is a cute retelling that stars radio personality Delilah.
My 7 year old's favorite part was the silly song Sneeze If You Want To! It was completely adorable. The part I absolutely loved was the musical Blunders in Boo-boo-ville about how fast isn't always best.

If you love VeggieTales you have to check out Veggie Tales: Abe & the Amazing Promise! It comes out Fed 10th on Amazon but you can preorder it today!

(FRN Review)

Building Thinking Skills

Logic and critical thinking is the true cornerstone of all learning. I truly believe it. That is why I have always looked longingly at the Critical Thinking catalog when it cam in the mail. So you can just imagine how thrilled I was when I received Building Thinking Skills for 2nd-3rd grade.

Right of we got our second grader, NerdBug, on it. This is a 2 year book and for $29.99 it is a great deal. It gets kids right in to describing shapes because observation and description is the basis for critical thinking. Then it gets into similarities and differences. Then you are onto figural sequences and figural classifications. Then everyone's favorite, analogies. Then they look at the verbal side of these steps.

The NerdBug loves it because it is a puzzle. How much can you notice? Can you figure out what the instructions should be? Can you make clear instructions? It was hilarious when my 2nd grade brought me his book and said, "Can you follow my instructions?".

I love watching his logic develop. Now when he sees things he describes them so clearly. He understands comparisions so much more. It is great. I am planning on getting this core for my preschooler and my kindergartner also! This is great!! I highly recommend it.

Story Builders Review

I recently had the opportunity to use some of the WriteShop's Story Builders and they are a great tool! I got the People set and the Christmas set. Basically they are e-books that have printable cards in them. Then you deal out a few cards to your kid (type of person, place, activity) and they use it as a base for quickly writing a story. The books contain ideas of how to use the cards and everything you need to use their program.

I really thought that while I like these I thought they would be a waste of money. Because in all honesty you could do these yourself. Then I saw the price. Right now the Christmas set is only $3.95 and the World of People set is only $7.95. Now for the time it saves (one has 96 cards set up both in color and black/white) and the ideas they give you, theses are well worth the money.

So go check out these incremental writing tools because we here will be using them for a long time!