Saturday Solutions: Wood Stains

One day last week I was talking on the phone with one of my friends.  This friend, who will remain nameless, happens to clean houses part time.  While she was cleaning she said "Brandi, I am going to be in so much trouble!"  I asked her what the problem was, she informed me that she had brought the wonderful new cup that I had bought her house cleaning.  I am think why is this a problem??  She then informs me that she had placed this wonderful cup on an ANTIQUE TABLE and now there were white rings on the table!!  So of course, she was freaking out.  I told her to calm down and go get a jar of mayonnaise.  I told her to rub the mayo into the table and wait a few minutes.
After a few minutes one ring had disappeared and then a few minutes later the other ring disappeared too!  Like I told her, I thought everyone knew this trick.  I think my mom may have showed me this many years ago.
She told me she had not known about it before and then said "This is why I keep ya around."  ; )

Cooking & Science Review & GIVEAWAY!

I never really liked science when I was in school, I always thought it was a bit boring.  I think part of the reason it was so boring is because we were always confined to our seats, we weren't allowed to do any experiments and we definitely weren't able to get a little messy and have fun.  Now that I am homeschooling and have the liberty to choose what to teach my children, I try to remember what I might have enjoyed if given the opportunity.  Experiments, making messes, nature and creation - these are the things that kids really enjoy doing and learning.

When I found out that we were going to be able to review Cooking & Science for Elementary Students from Castle Heights Press, we were very excited.  What kid doesn't like to get in the kitchen?  What kid doesn't like to do experiments?  I know mine do! 

We did several of the experiments, but our favorite one (so far) was the Homeschoolers' Cupcakes! 

First, I copied the pages from the book so that we could do this experiment again and put it in the kids notebooks.

We gathered our supplies.

We mixed up all of our ingredients.  As you know kids love doing this!  

The girls and I did this experiment while the boys were napping. 

The girls enjoyed taking turns adding the ingredients.

Lil' Chef and Computer Girl filled up the cupcake tins.  While I took pictures of course : ) 

This is the point where the experiment part comes in. 

The Cooking & Science book had us draw a picture of the cupcake before we put it into the oven.   We were also asked to explain the look, texture and shape of the cupcake. 

I think the hardest part about these cupcakes was the waiting!! 

After 15 minutes of baking, we were told to examine another cupcake.  The kids poked it with a fork and then sliced it in half.  Using the same process as the uncooked cupcake, the kids were to draw a picture of this cupcake and describe it's shape, look and texture.  We examined a new cupcake every 5 minutes until all the cupcakes were done.  I believe we did 5 cupcakes altogether. 

Here the girls are recording their findings.

The girls not only learned what oxidation is but they got to eat a cupcake.  How cool is that!

Who would have thought that you could teach your children basic chemistry principles while having a blast in the kitchen!  Cooking & Science has 17 awesome experiments for you to enjoy using simple items right in the comforts of your own kitchen:

• 
  
  Lemonade: Condensation & Dissolving 
• Cherry Turnovers: Observation
• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Drawing
• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fractions
• Homeschoolers’ Cupcakes
• Three-in-One Pudding: The Effect of Density
• Hot Chocolate: Studying Insulation
• Root Beer Floats: States of Matter 
• Kids’ Carrots: Observation
• Freezing Vegetables: Observing Changes Made By Freezing
• Brownies: Baking vs. Frying
• Pancakes: The Effect of Baking Powder
• Yeast in a Balloon: Observation and Drawing
• Speedy Rolls: Yeast Growth
• Trail Mix: Classification 
• Scripture Cake: Word Drill
• Popcorn Explosion

We still really want to do the Brownies, Scripture Cake and Popcorn Explosion

You can purchase your own Cooking & Science for Elementary Students two ways.  You have order the book for $12.95 or you can purchase the Ebook for $9.95.  Either way, it is a great price! 

Castle Heights Press has also offered to send a FREE copy of the Cooking & Science for Elementary Students to one of YOU! 

To enter to the giveaway for a copy of Cooking & Science for Elementary Students please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT for each way that you enter and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!  I will pick the winner on September 26, 2010.

Here are the ways that you can enter:

• You must be a Follower or Subscriber of LSG to Win! Please leave me a comment and let me know how you follow.
• If you have just become a new Follower or Subscriber please tell me how you heard about this giveaway.
• If you blog about this contest please come back and leave me a link to you post.
• Please visit the Castle Height Press website, let me know which other product they offer that you would be interested in.
• Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway and leave me a comment to let me know about it.
• Like Castle Heights Press on Facebook.

(PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS I WILL HAVE TO SELECT ANOTHER WINNER)


We received this product free of charge, from Castle Heights Press, for review purposes. The opinions stated in this review are our own and we were not paid in any way.

TOS Crew: PyraMath Review

I have a really neat card game to tell you all about.  The TOS Crew sent us Pyramath, from I See Cards.   So far, only the Lil Chef and I have played it, because you have to know your math facts in order to play.  I have to admit, that I have played this game all alone, all by my self , while the kids were sleeping.  Like I said, it is a really neat game!  I had to stop myself, it was becoming kinda addicting.  Ok, I will stop babbling and tell you about it. 

PyraMath is a card game, but not any ordinary card game.  You can play it alone or with someone.  You can have fun AND practice your math facts (all of them, yes, all of them!) and there are several different ways to play!  The Lil Chef and I have both played it alone and together. 

To play alone you lay down 5 or 7 cards and then you have to add, subtract, multiply or divide with the 2 cards that are next to each other.  Like if you have a 7 and 2 next to each other you can lay down a 9 (7+2=9), 5 (7-2=5) or a 4 (7x2=14).  You lay the cards down in the shape of an upside down pyramid.  See....

Please don't look real close at the numbers here, there might be a few mistakes.  

Here is the Lil' Chef  learning to play PyraMath.  She loves math so this is a great game for her.

She was so happy that she finished the whole pyramid. 

I think her numbers are all correct, so feel free to check these : )

To play with another player you start with the same row of 5 or 7 cards, except you each work a side of the row.  The goal is to finish a Pyramid going down towards yourself first.  The I See Cards website has a great sample video that really explains and shows you how to play with 2 people.  As I said there are several other games that you can play with just one deck of PyraMath card, you can check them out HERE.  The website also allows you to PLAY PyraMath online for FREE!

Most of us know that when it comes to math facts repetition is key, this is a great way to switch up from regular old math drills and flashcards.  With PyraMath, you get the enjoyment of playing a fun game all while  practicing your math facts.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me! 

PyraMath is very affordable, at only $6.95 per deck.  This card game would be a great addition to any family game night or a great game to put in your child's workboxes. 

This is not the only great card games that I See Cards offers, they have several other games that fun (and educational too!

This product was provided to us free of charge for review purposes.  I was not paid in any way and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Curriculum Swap over at Heavenly Homemakers

If you have been reading my blog you probably know that I love Heavenly Homemakers.  Well she has something great going on today, The Great Big Curriculum Swap for homeschoolers.  Thought you might want to check it out.

Arise, My Soul, Arise

By Charles Wesley

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;

The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.


Sung this in church today. It is a very good song, another song that takes us to the cross.  To really stop and think about the Lord on the cross and the suffering that He endured so that we could be forgiven is amazing. 

The original song was writen by Charles Wesley and you can listen to it here.