Faith and Family Reviews - Product reviews you can trust!

Homecoming Dresses

Posted by html404 on August 30, 2013
in Clothing, Fashion, Seasonal Stuff

Homecoming Dresses

School is back in session in many areas, which means fall is just around the corner. With fall comes football practice, football games and homecoming. If you children old enough, you may have a daughter who is planning attending the homecoming dance and will need to purchase a homecoming dress. DressFirst has some very cute styles that are sure to tickle her fashion sense.

Princess Sweatheart

One of my daughters thought this dress was nice:

Sleeveless

A-line with Sleeves Short Length

A-line Long Length

Prices vary but on average are in the $100-$150 range. There’s quite a few “baby doll” styles that young ladies can choose from, whether they like lots of frills or keeping it simple, these homecoming dresses are sure to please most girls. We, moms, on the other hand might cringe a little that our little girls are becoming grown up enough to wear plunging necklines and strapless dresses for a night out with their favorite guy. Sigh.

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Carole P. Roman Book Series

Posted by Professor on August 30, 2013
in Books, Reviews, Uncategorized

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … : A Child’s Introduction to Cultures Around the World, is the latest exciting new children’s series of children’s books from Carole P. Roman. Roman takes young readers all over the globe to explore different countries and cultures. With each book covering a different nation, Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Focusing on what life would be like for children if they were to live in another city or country, she examines the diversity around the world and the value possessed by each different culture. Think of the series as a children’s version of the travel Channel that is filled with entertaining and educational facts.

Our review:

We reviewed three books in Carole P. Roman’s series

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … MEXICO

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … SOUTH KOREA

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … FRANCE

In short we are in love with the idea of this new series! What a wonderful way to introduce young children to cultural diversity. The text of the books are simple yet powerful. We liked that the book was written for children … I did not have to summarize or paraphrase information because the text was outside of their knowledge grasp…what a plus! The vibrant illustrations were also a plus. My children not only loved listening and learning but took the book after we were done reading just to look at the pictures.

On a cultural note… one of the books really hit home for us. We have a very diverse neighborhood and a handful of our neighbors are from Mexico. I thought this was very poignant for our family because it let the children learn about our neighbors’ cultural identity.

The book is geared toward Pre-K through age eight… well… my 5, 7, and 9 year old all LOVED the books! Love of literature and cultural awareness is a must in our household, so this series was a hit!

Wow! What an excellent read! This is such a lovely book and we look forward to the next installment of the series!

For more information about the author or her books please visit www.carolproman.com

This book can be found on Amazon.com

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Delicious and Nutritious Microwave Meals

Posted by html404 on August 29, 2013
in Appliances, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Home, Uncategorized

This is a featured guest post

Delicious and Nutritious Microwave Meals

Microwaves are capable of more than we give them credit for. So often they’re relegated to an out of the way counter where they’re used only to defrost frozen meats or cook frozen dinners. For busy families with hungry mouths to feed microwaves provide hearty, healthy dinners for everyone around your table.

For the beginner microwave chef there are a few introductory recipes that are super easy and sure to please the whole family. One of the easiest things to cook in the microwave is a baked potato. A conventional oven can take 20 minutes to cook a potato while a microwave cuts cooking time in half. Prick the potato all over, cook on high for five minutes, flip and cook for another five for steamy delicious potatoes ready to be dressed with the toppings of your choice.

Another easy crowd pleaser is microwave chilli. Combine all your favourite chilli ingredients into a microwave safe casserole dish and cook on high for five minutes. Remove the dish and stir it up well to break up all the meat then put it back in the microwave for another 20 minutes stirring every 10. You’ll be absolutely shocked at how delicious this dish tastes and it can quickly become a weekly staple.

Lasagne is a family favourite in many households but can sometimes be ruled out as a dinner option because of its labour intensive prep and cook times. Microwave lasagne is a quick alternative to conventional baking and tastes just as delicious. There’s no need to cook the noodles ahead of time, so once you’ve prepared your marinara and cheese ingredients the layering can begin. Arrange your layers in a microwave safe dish, cover and cook on medium heat for 20 minutes turning halfway through. Remove the lasagne from the microwave at this point and let it stand covered for about five minutes. Put it back in the microwave and cook on high for 15 minutes turning it again at the 10 minute mark.

It’s always important to know how your appliances work as individual units can vary. Understanding temperatures and cooking times specific to your microwave will help your culinary skills develop. For more delicious microwave recipes there are several websites worth perusing, even Oprah has a page dedicated to the fine art of the microwave meal http://www.oprah.com/food/Microwave-Cooking-Recipes.

Delicious and nutritious, microwave meals allow families to spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the dinner table, as it should be.

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Back to School with Enzo Francine Shoes

Posted by Professor on August 29, 2013
in Fashion, Kid's Footwear, Kids Stuff, Reviews, Uncategorized

Back to School with Enzo Francine Shoes

Add some superstar style to any outfit with the snazzy, jazzy, look of these Enzo Kids, oxford. The Enzo Francine shoe is available from size 8-5 and is a great combination of athletics and fashion all in one. Here are some of the shoe details:

Metallic or white fabric upper in classic silhouette

Lace-up closure for quick and easy on and off.

Padded tongue and collar provide additional comfort.

Breathable textile lining and cushioned textile insole

Flexible rubber outsole.

The Enzo Francine Shoe is available in white and metallic lavender at www.zappos.com for $45.99

Our review:

We received the metallic lavender Enzo Francine shoe. We were very pleased with the overall look of the shoe. This is a very classic shoe with a modern fabric. My daughter will be stylin’! My daughter wears a size 12 and we received a size 13 and they fit nice…she has a bit of room to grow (about a thumb length from the big toe). When she put them on her feet, she mentioned how nice they felt. My daughter also mentioned that she liked the slip on ease of the shoe, saying that they were easy to take on and off. I liked the fact that the shoe has “give in the heel” it is not stiff like regular slip on shoes and can be easily manipulated on and off.

Please note that although there is a lace closure it is not a tie closure … which is GREAT for my kindergartener who is just learning to tie her shoes… this gives us a no fuss way to wear shoes right now and learn to tie at our convenience instead of every time we have to put on shoes!

As for the aesthetics, the outer part of the shoe is a very nice metallic fabric, and great quality. The inside is a cushiony soft material that will wear nicely. Finally, the traction sole is great and will help keep little ones steady.

Overall, we were very pleased with the shoe functionality and fit. I think you will be pleased with this shoe this season!

Please visit Zappos.com at this LINK to view the Enzo Francine shoe in further detail!

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A May Baby?! – Wordless Wednesday

Posted by html404 on August 28, 2013
in Animals, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Fun Stuff, Pregnancy and Birth, Seasonal Stuff, Uncategorized, Wordless Wednesday

Nope, it isn’t me that’s having a baby. It’s little Miss Moo! Well, hopefully. We had the vet (Dr. M) out on Saturday for a meet and greet. Kind of ridiculous but we have three vets, one for the horse, one for the cow and one for the cow and dog. Anyways, we’ll figure that all out later and hopefully narrow it down to one eventually! I wanted this vet to look at Miss Moo because we’ve been having a hard time putting weight on her. She came to us thin and while she’s gained some, she still isn’t where she should be and we’ve had a friend telling us she’s too thin and of course people driving by call Animal Control. So now I can say we’ve had her looked at by two vets who say while she’s a bit thin, she’s fine or she’s healthy and happy. Whew! That’s a load off my plate. Not only do I have children to worry about but now I have our animals! Oy, oy, oy!

A May Baby

This week the calendar indicated Miss Moo’s heat was due. We were kind of disappointed to find out that it takes a week to get bull semen straws for AI (artificial insemination). Then as “fate” would have it I get into a conversation on Facebook with Miss Moo’s second owner, who shared that she still had a straw left in Dr. M’s tank (they freeze bull semen and keep it in a freezer tank that he carries around) from the last time Miss Moo was bred and would I like to buy it!? I said sure, of course.

So when our daughter “B” told me yesterday that Miss Moo was showing signs of her heat cycle I put in a call to Dr. M. He came out yesterday afternoon checked her and confirmed she was in heat, he AI’d her with “Grumpy” a Guernsey bull that two of our cow friends have recommended.

If the AI “sticks” we will have a May baby calf! We are kind of hoping for a heifer calf (female) as Dr. M suggested thinking about replacing Miss Moo since it takes a couple of years. Miss Moo is such a sweet cow we’d love to have one of her heifers so that’s what we are praying for! We want to try raising beef sometime in the future too but have to finish our fencing, which is a whole ‘nother blog topic or two!

For now, I told my husband if I’m not having any more babies I’m going to be excited and plan for farm babies! 😉 He just kind of looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head. Nah, just kidding! He likes Miss Moo too. 🙂

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LunaTagz

Posted by Professor on August 28, 2013
in Reviews, Safety, Uncategorized

LunaTagz genuine 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material reflect light from over 1,000 feet away! They’re specially formulated with a durable adhesive so that you can tag your clothes, sneakers, helmets, bikes, backpacks or any area that requires the safety illunination from street lamps, headlights or any beam of light.

OUR REVIEW:

This is really a wonderful product for ANYONE who is out in the evening…walking, bike riding, etc. Although we rarely ride bikes or walk around our neighborhood in the evening…we do occasionally walk our in laws dog in the evenings. I found that LunaTagz kept me at ease knowing that the children were wearing them while walking the dog… and would have some sort of reflection protection from cars. We tagged them on the back of the children’s shirts and one on the dog leash. They stuck really well. I wish I could show you and let you feel how strong the adhesive is… they are not falling off!

I must admit that the grey coloring had me a bit skeptical of their “illuminating” power…but they reflect tremendously! I would venture to say they are more powerful than a glow stick or a flashlight! We are definitely using these for Halloween!

I do have to say although the adhesive is quite powerful… LunaTagz does recommend sealing the product with an iron or sewing them on… I imagine this would be a good idea for extended or daily use.

LunaTagz come in a variety of patterns, which delighted my children. There were enough patterns for everyone! We received three packages of reflective patches…

doghouse with dog bone

peace signs

lightening bolts

… but there are many more to choose from at LunaTagz.com. They have three product categories … Pet lovers, Sports and everyday, and Halloween. In each package you get two reflective tags. Each package retails for 4.99…or you can buy a 4 pack for 14.99. They even have a larger variety pack of 5 LunaTagz for 19.99. Sign up with your name an email and get 15% off or use this special code Luna20 and receive 20% off! Lunatagz is also celebrating National Safety and is offering FREE Shipping! What a great incentive! Halloween is just around the corner… I will be ordering some…will you?

Make sure to visit their site for a complete line of product and instructions.

www.lunatagz.com

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OMG Nail Strips Review

Posted by Brande on August 27, 2013
in Deals, Fashion, Fun Stuff, Personal Care Products, Products for Mom, Reviews, SALES, Saving Money, Seasonal Stuff, Shopping, Uncategorized

Imagine having great nails that look expensive BUT, without the appointment and expense! OMG Nail Strips bring that to you at a low cost and it’s do it yourself at home! Hook me up, right?

These super easy nail adhesives are so much fun with little effort. Pick your favorite design from OMG Nail Strips; rather pick 4 of your favorite designs. There’s a sale going on right now 4 designs for $20.00! Tell me where you can go to get your nails done 4 times for $20.00? Not where I live.

OMG Nail Strips Review

They come in a strip with 12 sized strips. You need to make sure your nails are clean, apply a small amount of hand lotion. Wipe the excess and start applying the nail wraps. File the edges and you are ready to go! Yes, it’s that easy.

I wore them out to a picnic and one of my friends asked… “Do they really last?’” My answer was yes. After I applied OMG Nail Strips, I peeled and canned tomatoes. The strips lasted through the scald, cold bath and peeling tomatoes.

The strips last up to 10 days and come off very easy and there’s no drying time. For a mom & wife on the go these are great and very fun!

Click Here to visit OMG’s Nail Strip Website or visit their Facebook page.

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Back-to-School with Kmart #KmartBackToSchool

Posted by html404 on August 26, 2013
in Deals, Kids Stuff, Parenting, SALES, Saving Money, School, Shopping, Uncategorized

This is a sponsored post. I am a Kmart blogger, though all opinions are my own.

Doesn’t it seem like every year your kids get busier and busier? As the years go by, activities get piled on and so do the expenses. Soccer, ballet & music classes aren’t free. Unfortunately, neither are school supplies. With so much going on, your budget can get pulled in a lot of different directions. Fortunately, Kmart has savings on back to school so you can breathe easier. Pick up everything on their back to school shopping list from backpacks to gym shoes and the latest fall styles for less. The only question left is what will YOU do with the savings? I vote picking up something for yourself because it is a new year after all. 😉

Watch for the Back-to-School with Kmart savings on Twitter using hashtag #KmartBackToSchool and follow the conversation too!

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He’s All Boy Alpha Cards

Posted by 278Wife on August 26, 2013
in Education, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Kids Stuff, Parenting, Reviews, School, Uncategorized

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

As a mother, I am always on the lookout for fun, innovative ways to teach my kids important lessons and skills. Learning your ABC’s is especially important since it is the basis of reading. I started early teaching my son his letters, always looking for fun ways to teach him without him knowing he was “learning.” He’s All Boy has made this an easy task!

He’s All Boy Alpha Cards are not your ordinary flashcards. “A” is no longer for “Apples” and “B” is no longer for “Ball.” “A” is featured as an “alien” having an “accident” and “B” shows a “bear” picking his “booger.” These silly cards are gross and funny, a perfect mix for any boy and even girls.

I have found that when I relate things to my son, he is more likely to remember what I taught him. What better way than teaching him that “F” is for “fart” rather than “feather.” What will your child more likely remember? My son is really into the Ninja Turtles right now so his favorite card was “N” for “Naked Ninja.”

Every card he laughed out loud at, and when we went through the entire deck he wanted to do them again. These Alpha Cards are an absolute GREAT learning tool to get kids excited about their letters.

These cards are also nice because they are larger than most making them very kid-friendly. They are also thicker and have a shine to them so they would be easy to clean. He’s All Boy also sells a Matching Game and Vinyl Placemat which would be great for reinforcement! Overall, I highly recommend the He’s All Boy Alpha Cards to any mom. They are definitely fun for everyone playing. I’m not sure who laughed harder, my son or I!

www.he-is-all-boy.com

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Coppertone Water Moms Recipes

Posted by Brande on August 24, 2013
in Camping, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Fun Stuff, Kids Stuff, Parenting, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Recipes, Safety, Seasonal Stuff, Shopping, Uncategorized

With the end of summer drawing near (sniff…. sniff), I wanted to share Coppertone Water Moms recipes for upcoming parties! Enjoy and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Coppertone Water Moms Recipes

Summertime Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

1 liter of lemonade

1 cup of Strawberries, sliced OR 1 cup of Raspberries

½ cup of sugar

2 cups of water

Ice

Directions:

Combine sliced strawberries/raspberries and sugar in a bowl. Using a fork, mash the berries into the sugar, leaving some large chunks. Chill for 1 hour. In a large pitcher, combine the berry mixture, the lemonade and the water and stir. Add ice then serve!

Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips

Ingredients:

2 medium sweet potatoes

2 tbsp. Extra-virgin olive oil

½ tsp. of sea salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice sweet potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices, then coat slices with olive oil by tossing together in a bowl. Place slices on baking sheets in a single layer so there is no overlap and then sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, slipping once, until lightly browned and crisp.

Beach Sand Pudding Cups

Ingredients:

2 cups of Milk

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant pudding mix

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 (12 ounce) package of vanilla wafer cookies, crushed

Variety of candy topping to decorate

Directions:

Combine milk and pudding mix in a large bowl. Beat with a whisk until well blended, then let stand for 5 minutes. Add in whipped topping and half of crushed cookies and fold in. Place 1 tbsp. crushed cookies into each cup, and then fill each up ¾ of the way full with pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Decorate with fun topping such as gummy worms, gummy snacks, gummy fish, paper umbrellas, or get creative and come up with your own!

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