From the website :
One slot piggy banks have been around for....centuries. But the world has changed. Now we have a highly sophisticated financial system, a system whose complexity has outstripped the ability of most adults, many of whom grapple with credit card debt, even bankruptcy.


My Review :
My 7 year old daughter immediately asked if she could have this cute piggy when it arrived in the mail (hers is purple).  She has since put her money from chores and such into each of the compartments.  She has a little in the "Spend" part, most of it in "Save" and a little in "Donate" (for church offerings - according to her), but she was confused as to what "Invest" meant.
I found this to be a great opportunity to explain to her about saving her money to later put in the bank in her own savings account, as well as later when she is a older, "investing" some in different companies, or savings bonds.  We had a fun conversation about the different ways she could spend, save and donate her money that she earns.
This cute pig is made of hard plastic and each of it's adorable little legs has an opening on the bottom with a twist cover that helps make it easier to remove coins and paper money when needed.  The compartments are surprisingly larger than I expected and can hold quite a bit of money.  My daughter and I both think this pig is absolutely adorable, and she finds it a fun way to organize her money.  Now my youngest daughter wants one for herself as well!  This is a great way to teach kids about taking care of their money and learning how to save for future spending.




The award-winning Money Savvy Pig
Available in six colors ( blue, red, pink, green, purple, platinum )
Click here to order. . .

For more information on this cute pig, or on more of the Money Savvy Teaching tools, visit Money Savvy Generation at  http://www.msgen.com/assembled/home.html
find them on facebook at #/MoneySavvyGeneration

My Review :
I was given a code to personalize an ebook for this review, I chose to try "First Day of School" since my youngest child will be starting Preschool this fall.  The story is about a Mermaid in the ocean who is excited and a little scared about her first day of school.
The mermaid's hair color was customizable, so I changed it to brown to match my daughter's hair color.  And the personal information that I put in, made the story special since the mermaid now has my daughter's name!

She was so excited to read about a mermaid with her name.  She loves reading this book on my computer (I do not have an Ipad yet).  I like the cute pictures and sweet, entertaining story.  It captured my daughter's interest and imagination.  ImInIt has other books for boys and girls to enjoy, some about a sea captain, volcanoes and more.  These adorable ebooks are inexpensive and fun.



To visit the website, go to this link:  http://www.iminit.biz/

For centuries, mages perfected magic at the Order of the Dawn. Mastery over fire, wind, and storm. They live in the last free city in a world plagued by dark sorcerers.

Talis Storm and friend Mara discover a terrible secret. The Jiserian Empire has targeted their city for attack. An army of undead soldiers. Flying necromancers. None have ever survived.

When a surprise aerial invasion hits the Order’s temple, Talis casts fire magic for the first time. But his spell is wild and does more harm than good. Sorcerers try to capture Talis and Mara. They flee into the temple crypts. Awoken from an ancient rest, a fallen champion slays the sorcerers and gives Talis a legendary map. The map leads them on a quest to discover the lost temple of the sun.

To save his city, Talis must discover the power of magic locked away inside the ancient temple. And become a true fire mage.



My Review :

Fire Mage is written by John Forrester and is the first book in the Blacklight Chronicles.  Fire Mage is about the attack on Naru, the city in which Talis Storm and his best friend Mara Lei; and their journey to find a way to save their city from destruction.  When attacked and chased into the tombs of the dead, Talis comes face to face with one of the dead Champions of Naru- who gives him a powerful, sacred map that will show him where to go to help save his beloved city.
Set out on their quest, along with soldiers, friends and anatgonistic peers; Talis and Maral face dangers, near death and so much more.  


I found Fire Mage by John Forrester to be an exciting and fast-paced fantasy adventure. The author gives great details of each event as it happens, and made it easy for me to imagine what was occurring in the story as I was reading along.  I definitely think younger readers, ages 12 and up, will really enjoy this book as much as older teens and young adults.
The characters are amazing, and quite well-developed.  The two main characters are 13 years of age, and their friends and antagonists are similar in age; yet they all perform tasks and magic usually reserved for adults in most books.  The ending leaves the reader wondering what will happen next, which is a great way to keep the reader coming back for more.  I did enjoy this book, though there were a few parts that I had to reread to fully understand all that was going on with the story.
I look forward to reading book 2 in this series:  Sun Mage, to continue the journey with Talis, Mara, and their companions.  Fire Mage is a great book for middle grade to young adults.

Qwirkle is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but this game also requires tactical maneuvers and well-planned strategy. Earn points by building rows and columns of blocks that share a common shape or color. Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces with matching attributes. The player with the most points wins! 108 wooden blocks. 2 to 4 players.

Recommended Ages: Ages 6 and up


My Review :
My Kids and I played Qwirkle several times before I was ready to sit down and write this review.  My kids are ages 11, 7 1/2, and 4.  All of us played,  including my 4 year old daughter and we all absolutely love this game.  It is both fun and educational and uses strategy as well as luck to complete the game.  Although the recommended ages is from 6 and up, my 4 year old was able to understand enough to match colors and shapes with only a little assistance.  This is a great game for kids to play together, or for the whole family.  I can definitely see why it is one of Mindware Games ' best selling items!

 
Look for the giveaway coming in August for your chance to win this game!



In addition to Qwirkle, my son and I had the chance to review Perplexus from Mindware Games as well.  It is harder than I expected and lots of fun.  With twists, turns, upsidedowns and more, it keeps the interest of whoever is playing.  Although a bit frustrating at times, even my 7 and 4 year olds love playing with it - when they can get it away from my son or myself!
My girls like trying to play it in the car,which I find more difficult.  And my son has nearly completed all 100 parts of the maze, I have only gotten less than half way through, and my son's friend has completed all 100 parts!  Perplexus is great for all skill levels, and even comes in an easier and harder versions: 


Rookie Perplexus
With plenty of twists, turns and barriers between start and finish, this puzzle will leave you perplexed! Locate the starting point, and then try to guide the metal ball through the winding 3D labyrinth. But look out: one wrong move and you’ll have to begin all over again! Rookie Perplexus provides novices with 70 barriers and a great introduction to the Perplexus series.






Epic Perplexus
With plenty of twists, turns and barriers between start and finish, this puzzle will surely leave you perplexed! Try to guide the metal ball through the winding 3D labyrinth. But look out: one wrong move and you’ll have to begin all over again! Epic Perplexus offers 125 challenging barriers for puzzle lovers to defeat. 8.5” diameter.


For more great toys from Mindware Games check out these links:

MINDWARE
MindWare on Twitter 
MindWare on Facebook



 

About Kidtoons (from website)

Since 2004, Kidtoons has been bringing beloved and well-known children’s brands and entertainment to cineplexes nationwide.   We provide a family friendly, affordable, co-viewing experience that parents can count on each month, year-round to bond and create treasured memories with their kids.  Each monthly program is designed for kids 3-8 and their parents.


Another service Kidtoons provide parents is our educational expert Dr. Donna Mitroff.  Dr. Donna reviews our monthly features and provides additional information about the plot, the level of action and the types of humor in each movie, as well as some thought-provoking discussion points and activity ideas for the whole family.



About the Movie :











FREE Printable Coloring Pages:
http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/assets/images/TOM_BMM_Coloring.pdf
http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/assets/images/TOM_BMM_ColorSheet_Kidtoons.pdf

Welcome to the Hot Fluff Cool Baby Cloth Diaper Giveaway! This awesome cloth diaper stash starter event is sponsored by Greenie Beanie Bottoms and hosted by Just Add Cloth, along with over 75 wonderful and influential bloggers who all love cloth!

Loves 2 Read has joined in this event to provide my followers with another exciting and fun giveaway event.

Cloth diapering is a great way to reduce our waste, help our planet, and save money. Cloth diapers are Hot items and Cool for your baby! Not only are cloth diapers more breathable in warm weather, but they make adorable accessories in Summer!

One lucky winner will receive:

That's 10 pocket diapers in winner's choice of colors and closures, two wet bags, 12 cloth wipes, two pair baby leg warmers, diaper cream, two diaper covers, and five bamboo terry cloth inserts!
With 15 diaper changes and accessories to match, this is a great beginner stash for anyone just starting out in cloth diapering.

This giveaway runs from 12:01AM July 16 through 11:59PM July 31, EST. It is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Must be 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Entering means you agree to the terms and conditions stated in the form.

Entering is easy! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

*Loves 2 Read is in no way responsible for prize distribution or anything affiliated with this contest or sponsor.  

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Loves 2 Read is not responsible for sponsor prize shipmen t

 I had the opportunity for my kids and I to try a new product currently on the shelves in Walmart Stores.  
*Power Rangers  Power Blast Juice Boxes are available for $2.99 exclusively at Walmart stores right now, but are suppposed to be more widely available at grocery stores nationwide sometime later this year.


Our Review :
My kids and I tried these juice boxes, and found that they are pretty good.  We were sent a package of Berry Power Blast in the red box, and a package of Blueberry Power Blast in the blue box.  My son liked the Berry Power Blast better, and my older daughter liked the Blueberry Power Blast better.  My youngest thought they were both good.  So we have a variety of responses to both flavors.  Compared to regular juice boxes, they have a less sugary taste and I feel better serving them to my kids - when compared to REGULAR juice boxes.  I usually purchase a brand that is made from both fruit and veggies, and has a bit better flavor according to my kids and myself.  Our overall opinion is that the Power Rangers  Power Blast Juice Boxes

About Olivia Rose Cosmetics (from the website):
Our Goal is to incorporate Fresh, Raw Natural Ingredients with as little processing as possible. Each of these ingredients was carefully selected to provide essential vitamins and nutrients needed to promote a healthy complexion.

Beauty Rest (Night Cream) 50ml

Rejuvenate your Skin with this intense blend of essential vitamins and nutrients. Rich in antioxidants to fight free radicals and help repair damaged skin. Helps lock in moisture and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles. Improves circulation and helps restore your Skin's radiant complexion.

APPLICATION: apply liberally before bed in small circular upward motion warming product into skin for maxim absorption. Compatible with all skin types


My Review :
I chose to try out the Olivia Rose Beauty Rest Night Cream for this review.  When I received it, I found that the unique way that the company puts it's name on the product is fun, and fancy.  Olivia Rose is spelled out in fancy print on the outside of the Night Cream.  I love how pretty it looks on my bathroom counter.

That said, I used the nightcream off and on - usually two to three nights a week - for 2 months prior to writing this review.  I wanted to give the product and myself time to see if there was a noticeable difference.  I also wanted to compare it to a moisturizing cream I had previously used, but was not happy with.

I love that Olivia Rose Cosmetics uses natural products.  I've used a few different brand-name and off-brand items in the past that are made with artificial chemicals and tend to react badly with my skin.  Olivia Rose's Beauty Rest Night Cream has never giving me a bad reaction, but has actually improved the look and feel of my skin with each use.

I found that my skin does feel smoother, and stays hydrated much longer using the Olivia Rose night cream than with any other that I've previously used.  The cream does not feel greasy or oily, but leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, as well as keeping it from drying out as I do have a tendency to do with summer weather and winter weather.  I personally  have slightly sensitive skin, with combination skin; both oily areas and dry areas on my face.  I liked that I did not have any negative reactions at all to this product.

I like the feel of my skin after using the Night Cream, and plan to continue using Olivia Rose Night Cream in the future.  I think I may try the daytime cream as well.  I am very satisfied with my trial of this product and feel comfortable recommending it to others.

Purchase links :
OliviaRoseCosmetics.com

*Disclaimer:  I am an affiliate of SneakPeeq and will receive a small compensation for any purchases through the links included in this post.

 

A Grandmother's Secret

A Grandmother's secret recipe is no added fat, no-cholesterol, no salt cookie for our time.

My Review :
My children and I, as well as some dear friends of ours, sat down at our table to sample the different flavors of biscuit cookies that I received from ALMONDINA.  The one thing I found the most amazing, is that each and every one of us had a favorite, and nearly all of us had different "favorites" than the others!  These wonderful little biscuit cookies are thin and crunchy with just a touch of sweetness!  They have become addicting and each time I think of getting a little treat, ALMONDINA biscuits come into my mind.
Each biscuit has a sweet, crunchy cookie with slivers of almonds in it - many of them also have raisins within to add a little sweet to it.

As the sponsor said in our email correspondence:
" The Delicious Cookie Without the Guilt, this all-natural, crispy almond cookie has no cholesterol and no added fat, salt, or preservatives and has only 30 calories. The Almondina story is terrific & heartwarming."

My personal favorites are the Cinnaroma and Original flavors (I really didn't like the Chocolate Cherry - I'm not fond of cherries in cookies or sweets)
My kids loved the Choconut and Gingerspice best
And our friends (both in their 70's) loved the Chocolate Cherry and the Sesame best

There is a flavor for everyone!  These wonderfully delicious biscuit cookies have become a new favorite treat in my house! I think you will enjoy them as well.  And for those who like cookies with their coffee - I definitely recommend trying out the ALONDINA bicsuits!  Check out the website ~  http://www.almondina.com/ for even more great flavors.

**And come back again soon! - there will be a giveaway later this month of these great treats!