Art with Smile

Art with Smile is a drawing stencil kit available on Amazon. You can see the great reviews and I also agree. It comes in a case with 14 large plastic drawing stencils, 22 blank paper sheets, 14 colored pencils, 1 pencil sharpener and 2 clips. 

The organizing case is great and keeps everything securely inside when closed. It is available in either red or blue. Lots of stencils included and they hold up to pencil use. The pencils and paper are just okay but the kit can be refilled with better quality pencils and paper that you might already have. This art kit is terrific for ages 3 and up. Creative and fun.

Visit the Art with Smile website for a 10% off discount code.

Art with Smile provided the red stencil art kit to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

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Real Shades

 

We are on a mission. Since 2002, Real Kids Shades (RKS) has made it our goal to protect as many kids’ eyes as possible from the damaging effects of UV radiation. We launched RKS when we searched and could not find an inexpensive pair of real sunglasses that would protect our kids’ eyes.

The RKS promise is simple. Offer affordable, premium quality, 100% UV protective sunglasses designed specifically for kids, and manufacture them using the most durable materials available so they will last.

Reviewed and proved to be awesome.

Before trying RKS,  I was already aware of the dangers of cheap sunglasses. Shaded lenses without UV protection cause more harm than not wearing any sunglasses at all. (Read more about toy sunglasses here.) Please share this information with those you know and help more families make educated choices when purchasing sunglasses for their kids.

Visit Real Shades to learn more about quality sunglasses. They have many styles in sizes for infants, toddlers, kids, and adults. I like the wrap around style of “bolt” to keep out as much light as possible. 

 

 

I remember when my reviewer wore “My First Shades” in 2013. 

I’d like to thank Real Kids Shades for the privilege of reviewing their children’s eye wear. Their sunglasses provide “real” sun protection. They are safe, durable, and comfortable. Real Kids Shades are reasonably priced with benefits that are priceless!

I received sunglasses from Real Kids Shades to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

REALthings

Bigger. Better. Beautiful.

It has been a long search to find my zafu (floor sitting cushion). But here it is and meeting all my expectations.

Handmade in Canada, it is made with a 100% cotton cover and filled with buckwheat hulls. This zafu comes in three sizes and Julie with REALthings helped in determining the best one for me. I use my zafu for meditation/stillness but mostly for floor time with a toddler. This cushion makes it so I can sit straight and comfortable by lifting the hips higher than the knees and letting the back straightening naturally. I am happy to avoid the posture of collapse (slumping).  With thought and care in its making, it does its job perfectly . 

 

The website is easy to navigate and contains really helpful reading.  The start here tab will direct you to Meditation Cushions 101 (where you will see this cute illustration along with the info).

There are other cushions options for you including one called the Runa that Julie designed herself. The design looks pourposeful and I’d love to try this cushion style. 

Key points about REALthings cushions

– we make them bigger so they fit North American bodies really well 

– we make them by hand so they are durable and leave a wonderful impression 

– we make them beautiful so you will be inspired to create your own oasis of calm and find moments of peace and beauty in your day

– we make them portable and versatile so people can use them for many purposes – comfort at work, travel and relaxing.

– we make them locally in eco-friendly ways  – we use natural materials, recycle our scraps and use biodegradable plastics and have minimal waste.

For all our American customers  – the prices are about 20% cheaper than listed because of the value of the Canadian dollar against the American dollar.  So for example a cushion that is $90.00 CAD is $72 USd . The same applies for shipping which is also shown in CAD dollars.

REALthings provided a zafu to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

Happy Dragonflies

Shop Earth Creations for organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo fashions for the entire family. Super stylish. Earth kind. In addition to using sustainable fibers, they also dye the clothes with natural clay avoiding the use of chemicals from synthetic dyes. 

Eco. Pure. Simple. That’s why I love Earth Creations! I’ve featured them on the blog many times & today’s feature is for their fun imprinted top.

Happy Dragonflies on organic cotton. True to all Earth Creations clothes, the cotton is noticeably soft. This design was made for Earth Creations by a local artist.  And get this !, the tee is also rated UPF 50+ (the actual test was over UPF 90). It is the natural property of the clay that makes it block so effectively the UV spectrum of sunlight. Earth Creations is always a win シ

 

Get 15% for a first time online purchase. Visit http://www.earthcreations.net and use the discount code “welcome”. 

Southern Craftsmanship.

 

Earth Creations provided the happy dragonflies tee to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

What’s Above? What’s Below?

Hardcover, 12 pages, Kane Miller Books

Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Earth Sciences

Ages 5 And Up

These are both pop-up books. What’s Below? also has a pop-down effect. Both have text but my little guy was all chatter, chatter about what he saw, so the text I only read to myself. Each and every page he stated, “wow”. There are five scenes in each book. Both books are recommended 🙂

 

 

Kane Miller Books specializes in award-winning children’s books from around the world.

Order online at Kane Miller Publishing shopping site Usborne Books & More. 

 

Kane Miller EDC Publishing provided these books to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

What Do You Do With A Chance?

Hardcover, 44 pages, January 2018, Compendium

The award–winning creators of The New York Times best sellers What Do You Do With an Idea? and What Do You Do With a Problem? return with a captivating story about a child who isn’t sure what to make of a chance encounter and then discovers that when you have courage, take chances, and say yes to new experiences, amazing things can happen.

Amazon recommends this book for grades kindergarten -3 but the book and it’s message definitely goes beyond grade 3. I loved the first two books. (Idea and Problem) for their amazing text and illustration. This picture book is very similar and I wished it was somewhat different. Still, a great insightful book. Positive thinking !

I appreciate the positive influence that Compendium products give. 

 

This book was provided by Compendium to help facilitate the writing of an honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed, and all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

How to Window Box

From the founders of the popular gardening blog The Horticult comes a guide to the window box, the container garden that is by far the most accessible for any skill level, space, or quality of light. The 16 indoor and outdoor projects range from succulents to veggies, and showcase a variety of full sun- and shade-loving foliage. Bright photography and a thorough introduction to soil, watering, and plant varieties make this a great primer for anyone who’s green to gardening.

Hardcover, 176 pages

February 2018

There are sixteen different window box designs in the book, each with care instructions and steps for set-up. The plants used for each project have the names included and the book has many beautiful color photos. I am making the herb garden box. The detox box and the ice box are next in line. It is a cute little rectangle book ( almost 6×9 )) that would be great for home school science, for a house warming gift, or to reference while greening up a small space in your home. 

The Blogging For Books book review program provided this complimentary copy for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.