Faith and Family Reviews - Product reviews you can trust!

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island

Posted by Professor on August 23, 2013
in Books, 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.

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island

Book Review

Summary of the text:

Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a daemon who is holding his wife’s spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife’s soul free.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Long Island, Michael has always had a fascination with ghosts and horror writing. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children. Stillwell is his second novel.

OUR REVIEW:

I was pleased to read Michael Phillip Cash’s second novel. I LOVED his first book, Brood X, and am just as delighted after reading Stillwell. I am now a fan of Mr. Cash’s writing.

Again I am a fast reader … so like the other novel it was only a day read. However with that said being a fast reader did not ruin the story for me only left me wanting more out of this author!

I loved the interwoven details of the story so much that I wished the book read lasted longer. However with that said… I am just a fast reader because Cash does not leave anything unsaid or anyone dangling in the end asking questions… everything is resolved. I love resolution in a book … I hate it when the author lets you draw your own conclusions or lets the book just end…it really irritates me…so thank you Mr. Cash for delighting my reading fancy!

For our readers concerned with content… this is not a children’s book. There is some adult language within the pages and it is a scarier subject… with the suspense and thrill of ghostly encounters and other scary tidbits that I will let you discover on your own!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was a thrilling read. I am currently lobbying for my library to carry this title as well… and have a few copies out to family members to get them on the “Cash Train”!

You can purchase the book on Amazon.com or at the authors personal website

www.micahelphillipcash.com

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Claratin Mom’s Crew & Kaboom Playground

Posted by Professor on August 22, 2013
in Community Issues, Uncategorized

I received this information as a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew. As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience

Do you know a school that needs an innovative play space? Maybe there is a school near you that needs a play space that will work for students with any skill level?

Look at this amazing opportunity from Claritin!

Children’s Claritin and KaBOOM! are helping bring play to kids in need by offering 12 national schools the chance to win Imagination Playground™ equipment. These mobile play sets are comprised of oversized foam blocks that can be assembled inside or outside, giving children of all abilities the opportunity to foster creativity and critical-thinking skills.

Your vote can make a difference! Join Children’s Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, and KaBOOM! to help select 4 schools to receive Imagination Playground™ equipment. You can visit http://Facebook.com/Claritin between 8/1-10/31 to cast your vote for one of twelve finalist schools. The four schools with the most votes will win Imagination Playground™ equipment for their students.

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Brood X: A First Hand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion

Posted by Professor on August 21, 2013
in Books, Uncategorized

Brood X: A First Hand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion Book Review

Summary of the text:

Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Set plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new camcorder. During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast. Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade. During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, Wi-Fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone. Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Long Island, Michael has always had a fascination with horror writing and found footage films. He wanted to incorporate both with his debut novel, Brood X. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

OUR REVIEW:

At first I was hesitant to read a book from a horror/suspense/thriller author. My taste in literature is usually much more tame. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So much so that I have been lobbying my local library to get the text for avid readers. I have also been passing on the text to family and friends.

I must say that you should not let the genre of the book scare you away… this is more suspense/thriller than horror…unless you have an aversion to bugs then I can see many sleepless nights in your future after reading this text!

This book is reminiscent of the cicada summers we have had in recent years… the big ugly bugs that number in the thousands… with their incandescent wings and shrill chirp. Just the thought of the bugs are icky and to read a book with trillions really makes you crazy…so crazy that you cannot put it down!

I must admit that I am a fast reader… so this book was only a day read for me… I wish it was longer…but alas the author did a wonderful job of weaving his tale with enough suspense and drama for me.

For our readers concerned with content… this is not a children’s book. There is some adult language within the pages and it is a scarier subject… with the suspense and thrill of millions of cicada enveloping a community.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was a completely wonderful surprise!

You can purchase the book on Amazon.com or at the authors personal website

www.micahelphillipcash.com

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My First Trip to Mariano’s in Chicago

Posted by html404 on August 20, 2013
in All Natural Products, Deals, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Fun Stuff, Health and Nutrition, Money & Finances, Parenting, Reviews, SALES, Saving Money, Shopping, Things to Do in Chicago, Uncategorized

It takes a lot to feed our family of ten. A huge reason we started farming was to grow our own food because buying all organic food for a large family is soooo expensive! There is no way we could do it by shopping at Whole Foods. We try to buy as much organic as we can, but it’s not always possible due to our budget. Enter Mariano’s. We had seen bags with Mariano’s on them but until we shopped there we did not know anything about this store or that they offered organic produce.

My husband and I went out ALONE to Mariano’s in Jefferson Park, Chicago. It was a rare treat to be alone but it was also a treat to go into the city for a change. We looked forward to purchasing organic milk, natural products and organic produce. First we went to Whole Foods in Sauganash, Chicago, then we went to Mariano’s in Jefferson Park. The stores are literally only a couple miles apart. We bought the exact same items at each store. The goal was to see how much money we could save by shopping at Mariano’s for organic produce and all natural products.

Mariano’s in Jefferson Park

Mariano’s in Jefferson Park is a large spacious store. There was lots of room to maneuver aisles, even though there were lots of people in the store. It was pretty easy to find everything. The only thing we couldn’t find right away was Kombucha but we found it just before we checked out because I almost forgot to buy it!

Shopping at Mariano’s was a good experience for us in that we discovered a new store we can shop for organic produce and all natural products our family loves and enjoys and SAVE money, which makes my hubby very happy!

Here’s a list of items we bought:

Organic Valley Milk
1-1.5 lbs Organic Tomatoes
2 lbs Organic Carrots
2 lbs Organic Blueberries
2 pkg.Applegate Organic Bacon
1 bottle of Kombucha (fermented tea that is carbonated)

Below is our receipts from both stores to show you how much we saved by shopping for organic produce at Mariano’s. We saved a whopping $12.24! We were impressed.

This past weekend was customer appreciation at Mariano’s. In celebration of this they featured over 3,000 roses on display at all stores – just $1 each. Over 100 varieties – a rainbow of color and called it their Rose Extravaganza! It was truly a gorgeous display of roses. Robert and I loved looking at the roses and we even took time to stop and smell them.

Customer appreciation at Mariano’s includes a FREE rewards card with the potential to earn rewards!

We are looking forward to shopping at Mariano’s again in the future.

Please mark your calendars because you are invited to Mariano’s Twitter Party which will be on Thursday, August 29, from 12-1pm CT/1-2 pm ET RSVP link: http://cbi.as/5bh5f #cbias #MyMarianos. Consider “liking” them on Facebook as well.

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Wallaby Organic Kefir

Posted by html404 on August 20, 2013
in All Natural Products, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Health, Health and Nutrition, Home, Organic, Reviews, Uncategorized

What is Kefir

Kefir is an ancient beverage that is packed full of wonderfully good stuff! This is what the National Kefir Association says (I didn’t even know there was such an association for kefir!). I thought this information was interesting and I learned a few things:

The name Kefir comes from the Turkish word “keif” – meaning “good feeling” – for the sense of well-being experienced after drinking it.

Kefir is often compared to yogurt, because they have similar tastes and both contain live and active probiotic cultures, which support immunity and ease digestion. One difference between the two is that Kefir is a drink, so it can be enjoyed on the go. But the biggest difference is that Kefir contains three times the amount of probiotic cultures typically found in yogurt – Kefir usually has around 10 – which means a bigger benefit for your digestive and immune systems. Kefir is also an excellent source of protein, calcium and fiber. Plus, it’s gluten-free, 99% lactose-free and comes in many different flavors, as well as lowfat, nonfat and low-carb versions, so even the pickiest eaters can enjoy the health benefits of Kefir.

Wallaby Organic Kefir

When there is food in the house to review I have to take photos right away. I did this with this review, but what I forgot to do was take photos of the actual kefir and of someone drinking it! If I don’t do it right away, it gets eaten or gobbled up before I even get a chance. This is what happened with the Wallaby Organic Kefir….until….my older daughter found the second bottle of strawberry! So she got to be my model!

We all love yogurt and amazingly all the children love kefir too, especially Wallaby Organic Kefir. We got the strawberry and vanilla flavored, but it comes in two additional flavors of blueberry and plain. We downed it. It was thick, tasty and over all very good. There are definite advantages to training your children’s palate to healthy food. Once their taste buds get accustomed to it they will usually eat anything good set before them. There are exceptions to this of course, as we all have our own unique likes and dislikes.

When Wallaby Organic Kefir says it is creamy, they are not lying, it truly is creamy. It also contains 12 different strains of Live and Active Kefir cultures and boasts the health benefits listed above from the National Kefir Association. The organic milk comes from local farms in California.

I really do not have anything negative to say about this kefir. It was a little hard to find so don’t go by the store locator unless it specifically states the stores carry kefir. I went to Jewel, which carries Wallaby Organic Yogurt, but it did not carry the kefir. My husband went to Whole Foods for it.

Two thumbs up from us!

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The Candle Classic Bible

Posted by Professor on August 19, 2013
in Uncategorized

The Candle Classic Bible

The Candle Classic Bible takes its readers through the Bible in 365 exciting days!

Each story within the Bible is divided into easy –to-read sections with Scripture references. Children will be encouraged to spend family time together, reading a new story each day.

The Candle Classic Bible is complete with traditional illustrations, and clear, well-written text. The best loved Bible stories within the Candle Classic Bible will certainly becaome timeless classics for children and parents alike.

OUR REVIEW:

At first upon being asked to review I thought…another bible? Then I rethought and examined my collection to see that I had many different types of scriptural texts but nothing that quite peaked my interest as The Candle Classic Bible. This is an AWESOME Bible… I cannot reiterate enough how GLAD I am that I accepted the review. The text is laid out in Old Testament and New Testament sections but the stories are numbered so that you can read one story a day (or however many you choose.) The text is interwoven with beautiful illustrations…these made the book for my children. They loved looking over my shoulder as I read a story to view the illustrations. I LOVED that there was a scripture reference with each story so that my older daughter and I could go to our larger bible and compare stories.

~ Sidebar: when school starts I am thinking that this will be an excellent accompaniment to my Sunday School class that is studying the Old Testament and getting bored with the language of the traditional Bible text… this should be a fun way to enhance their learning. ~

This Bible is a great transition bible … by this I mean young children who are reading will elate in being able to read their favorite bible stories that they have only heard before. This book will allow them to easily read and understand the biblical text.

One other nice addition is that the bible is hardcover and has nice Contents pages in the beginning for easy reference. It even comes with a nice ribbon to hold your page place.

Overall we were greatly overjoyed with this text. If you are looking for a family Bible, Bible accompaniment or just another Bible for your collection…then this is IT! This is such a wonderful text I suggest that you at least take time to peruse buying options for the Bible.

This book and many others are carried by Kregel Publications

Visit their site and peruse all the wonderful books they have to offer!

www.kregel.com

Direct Link: http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3087

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The Ultimate Back to School Bash #bts2013

Posted by html404 on August 17, 2013
in Contests, Education, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Giveaways, Kids Stuff, School, Seasonal Stuff, Shopping, Uncategorized

Welcome to the Ultimate Back to School Bash #bts2013!

I don’t know about you but I still have school supplies to buy…oy! I so want to get back to the store before the sales are over! Since it is back to school season, I thought it would be fun to join the Ultimate Back to School Bash and let you all have some fun trying to win some awesome back to school products!

3BoysandaDog has teamed up with A+ Interactive Math and some fabulous other brands to bring you this giveaway.

Prizes:

A+ Interactive Math – 1 year FREE Online Full Curriculum – A+ Interactive Math – 1 winner (choice of: grades K – Algebra I) Value $124.99 . A+ Interactive Math is dedicated to making math enjoyable and learnable for all ages. A+ Interactive is perfect for homeschooling parents or parents that just want to give the child some extra math help. A + Interactive Math offers full curriculum books, workbooks, online education and interactive math CD’s. You can purchase A+ Interactive Math or view their catalog here.

Door Prize for all participants:

Multiplication for Elementary & Middle School – download (value $21.99)

link: http://aplustutorsoft.com/SpecialOffers.do

Code: enter 3DOGSMATH upon checkout

$100 Visa Card – This fabulous gift card is being brought to you by www.learntobloghangouts.com! This is the perfect way to get a great jump start on your back to school shopping! You can use this $100 Visa gift card at any location that accepts Visa.

Back to School Survival Guide – This back to school guide is brought to you by The Confident Mom. In this Back to School Survival Guide you will find everything you need to help you ensure the school year runs seamlessly. This guide is an 80 page printable that will help you keep your child safe while using the internet, help with homework, making packing school lunches easier, become a savvy back to school shopper and much more! You can read more about the Back to School Survival Guide or purchase one here.

Office Depot Sackpack of School Supplies –Office Depot is committed to providing affordable school supplies! You will find $25 worth of school supplies in this sack pack. The Office Depot Foundation donates over 30,000 backpacks to school children each and every year!

BYOU Magazine Subscription

Go Picnic Ready to Eat Meals – Go Picnic makes packing lunches and snacks a breeze. They offer gluten-free, kosher, all-natural and a variety of other snacks that are perfect for back to school lunches and snacks. You can view the large variety of products they offer here.

Tummy Calm – Have a little one with an upset stomach? Tummy Calm is a safe option to helping your child feel better. Tummy Calm is made with all-natural FDA regulated ingredients. You can read more about Tummy Calm and place an order here.

BIC School Supplies – BIC offers a wide range of back to school items from pens, pencils, markers, highlighters and much more! BIC is your one stop shop for your back to school supplies.

Teach My Preschooler – Teach My is your one stop solution for giving babies, toddlers and preschoolers a jump start on education. You will find interactive learning products that promote learning in a fun manner. You can order a Teach My learning program here.

Texas Instruments – Texas Instruments should be your go to supplies when it comes to tools for math and science calculators. One lucky winner will be receiving this http://education.ti.com/en/us/nspire-family/cx-handhelds. This is a colorful and engaging way for to learn math and science!

Wild Planet Foods – Wild Planet Foods has tuna like you have never tasted before. This tuna is the perfect ingredient for a healthy and delicious school lunch. Wild Planet offers tuna that has 6 times the Omega 3 and 1/2 the mercury other brands have. Order up your own supply of Wild Planet Foods here.

GHCretors – GHCretors offers all-natural, non-GMO and gluten-free popcorn in a variety of flavors! You will love that a healthy snack can taste so good. This might just be the best popcorn you have ever tasted. Get your order placed here.

ListPlanIt – Are you ready to get your life organized? If so then ListPlanIt is the place to visit! Any kind of list you can imagine you will find on ListPlanIt. The winner is going to receive 2 ePlanners (Student ePlanner and Home Education ePlanner, value $10) + a coupon code for a 3-month trial to ListPlanIt! This is a fantastic prize to get the school year started off. You can also sign up for ListPlanIt here.

Go to The Ultimate Back to School Bash (<<—-click there) post to enter for your chance to win this HUGE giveaway worth well over $350 dollars!

Awesome line up of prizes, eh? Have fun and I hope you win!

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Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review & Giveaway

Posted by Brande on August 16, 2013
in Appliances, Home, Houseware, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

What’s one of the worst things about washing dishes, baking, canning, or folding? Standing on the hard floor! By the time I get out the kitchen my back is aching and my feet are barking.

Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review

I was super excited to review Chef Fabio Viviani Comfort Mats by Smart Step Home. The first time I stepped onto the mat it was a dream to my feet. This nearly indestructible mat will not curl and is trip resistant. It is puncture, heat and stain resistant and is non-toxic. In addition it is super easy to clean and is non-skid.

In this picture you can see I do my kitchen work in heels. lol…….nah. I’m just showing you how thick this mat is. I’m putting my weigh into the heel of this shoe, the product did not puncture. When I got off the mat, it popped right back in place, you didn’t see when I dug my heel into it. I LOVE IT!

Here’s what Smart Step Home says about the comfort of their mats….

“Our proprietary polyurethane composite (STP) effectively suspends body weight and reduces the impact on the back, legs, and feet, while encouraging proprioception (rebalancing). The result is consistent comfort, improved circulation and less fatigue on joints, limbs and muscles.”

I have been using my mat for the past few days and my body doesn’t have the aches as it did last week. I highly recommend this Smart Step Home Mat for people who stand most of the day. I have a friend that owns a flower shop and she is planning on buying them for her shop.

It’s available in a few different colors and also comes in a 6 foot size! Click here to order yours today!

Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat Giveaway!

Now you can enter to win one of your very own Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat in the giveaway form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Kids II Taggies Bedding and Bouncer

Posted by 278Wife on August 15, 2013
in Baby Products, Bedding, Gift Ideas, Kids Stuff, Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Kids II. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Kids II Taggies Bedding Review

My four month old daughter LOVES touching and feeling different textures. The Taggies Owl Crib Bedding Collection arrived at a perfect time for her to really explore. The 4 Piece Crib Set contains a brightly colored polka dot crib sheet, a matching diaper stacker with an owl perched on top, an adorable owl and polka dot textured comforter, and a coordinating cribskirt.

When I put the polka dotted sheet in the crib and laid my daughter on her tummy on it, she was enthralled!

She probably stared at all of the dots for ten minutes straight. I don’t cover her up in her bed, so I use the comforter for tummy time. She had a ball, touching all of the polka dots, and looking at the whimsical owls. Her favorite part of the comforter were all of the “Taggies” placed around it. The tags are satin-like and of all different colors.

The Taggies Owl Comforter has now become her new favorite tummy time spot! I loved how soft the materials were and that it is machine washable. The colors are so bright, yet very soothing at the same time. It is a perfect bedding set for any little girl. My daughter sure enjoys it!

The Taggies Owl Crib Bedding Collection can be purchased at Buy Buy Baby.

Taggies Soft ‘N Snug Bouncer Review

My daughter is one of those babies that likes to be held at all times. It’s very cute at times, but not when I want to get something accomplished! I was very anxious to try the Taggies Soft ‘N Snug Bouncer. First of all, it was super easy to put together, it took less than five minutes. The only tool required is a screwdriver to put the batteries in.

This bouncer is very unique in that it has two positions so it can either be upright or reclined. This is great if you wanted to use it for when your baby takes naps.

It features hanging plush animal toys, and a Peek-A-Boo blanket. The bouncer has a removable headrest and a sunshade, too. I love that it has music and vibration, and that you can use them singly or simultaneously. When I put my daughter in it, she loved it right away. I think she felt very secure. She loved batting at the hanging toys and feeling all of the “Taggies” all around the bouncer. Her favorite, though, was the Peek-A-Boo blanket. She loved snuggling it and looking at all of the brightly colored tags. She didn’t care too much for the vibrations, but she enjoyed listening to the music.

The bouncer is very lightweight, yet sturdy. It is one of the nicer ones I have seen. I would highly recommend the Taggies Soft ‘N Snug Bouncer. It has so many great features and my daughter loves it!

The Taggies Soft ‘N Snug Bouncer can be purchased at Babies ‘R Us

To see all of the many great Taggies products go to their website here.

Check Taggies out on Facebook.

See the Taggies Instagram Page.

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Kwickeye Review

Posted by html404 on August 15, 2013
in Children's Clothing, Crafts, Deals, Eco Friendly Products, Education, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Kids Stuff, Kids Toys, Shopping, Uncategorized

This is a sponsored post.

What is Kwickeye?

Kwickeye is a social platform that lets you follow products/services that friends want for their kids and also makes it easy and fun to surprise moms and kids with the things they love!

Kwickeye has a “quick add”, or “Kwickadd” as they like to call it, button that is very easy to install, much like Hootsuite’s or Wishlist’s, simply drag it to your bookmark toolbar and voila! it’s installed. This makes it convenient to add products you like from any online store to your Kwicklist. Your Kwicklist enables friends and family to see the products on your list and allows them to comment, provide recommendations or opinions or maybe even purchase the product for an upcoming gift! You can also receive surprise notifications of an anonymous gift!

Kwickeye was founded by a mom – Gayathri Santhanam, an entrepreneur with technology background. She has two adorable kids, Aadit(6) and Anishka(3). She lives in the San Francisco BayArea. The site was featured on CNBC as one of the most promising startups globally.

You can find Kwickeye on Facebook here.

My Kwickeye Review

Kwickeye has a wide variety of products displayed on their site. From clothes, books, toys to organizational tools for mom – I found a fabulous daily organizer from Pottery Barn on that I would love to put in my office. I also found eco-friendly clay, Pure (organic snack bars) and sweet clothing for children.

I like the idea of Kwickeye and can see how helpful it would be to busy moms, moms with family close by and far away and be a general help to moms who attend a lot of birthday parties. Moms and kids could just look up their friend’s lists and pick a cool gift based on their Kwicklist. Eliminating unnecessary gifts and returns. Bonus!

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