August 18, 2015

Fun and learning in one: Super Genius learning games from Blue Orange

August 18, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

The school bells have rung (or will soon), meaning kids are back to learning and game time is relegated to the back burner.

Unless, that is, the games played are any of the Super Genius learning games from Blue Orange! The Super Genius lineup combines learning and fun in one—in the seemingly magical way only Blue Orange manages to pull off.

Super Genius learning games from Blue Orange

I say "magical" as it seems nothing less when it comes to more than...

August 17, 2015

Brief book review: Don't Stick Sticks Up Your Nose!

August 17, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

A fun one that should be required reading for all youngsters!

don't stick sticks up your nose

A bonus video from the authors:

For more info, visit www.dontstickdontstuff.com.

Disclosure: I received this book free for review; opinions are my own.

July 14, 2015

Every dog has a tale: Mickey, IAMS, and a dog named Duck

July 14, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

My youngest daughter, now 30 years old, had an interesting technique for naming her pets when she was young. She would consider things she admired or loved, then name the animal after that. It made for interesting conversation, as well as curious glances from neighbors when the cat she'd named "Shannon"—after her oldest sister's friend, whom she adored—got out at night. Neighbors who didn't know us well surely wondered about the child who required our nightly shouts to return home.

When our youngest went off to college and my husband and I rescued an abandoned puppy, we wanted our daughter to still feel she had a hand in the doings at home despite being hundreds of miles away. So we allowed her to name the pup. Following her standby pet-naming technique, our daughter considered the Caramel Macchiato coffee drinks she'd been consuming between classes and how the coloring of our new dog perfectly matched the creamy, tan, and brown of her favorite caffeine kick.

pit/pointer puppy

"Caramel Macchiato!" she gleefully gave us the name.

Being unwilling to back down on our promise...

July 13, 2015

Fry without oil? Avalon Bay AB-Airfryer100R (video review)

July 13, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

I've never liked to fry foods as it not only makes a great mess, it makes for fat-filled food that messes with my stomach.

AB-Airfryer100R

The Avalon Bay AB-Airfryer100R eliminates the mess as well as the need for oil when frying foods. I was...

June 26, 2015

Brief book reviews: 3 summertime picks

June 26, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Camp, friends, and bugs! The makings of summer and these three special titles from Sky Pony Press.

Boys Camp: Zee's Story

...

March 26, 2015

A tisket, a tasket: Books for spring and Easter baskets

March 26, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Have Easter baskets to fill for little ones? How about little hands to fill with colorful books celebrating spring and all its glories?

If so—on either count—consider these bright and cheery picture books from Candlewick Press.

books for spring and easter

Cutie Pie Looks for the Easter Bunny written and...

January 30, 2015

Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure From Empty Nest To No Nest At All (book review)

January 30, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

I've had the distinct pleasure of attending a few blog events alongside Veronica and David James, the amusing and adventurous couple who, once their nest emptied, sold the nest and took off to live a gypsy lifestyle on the road—and rails and seas and skies. They've long chronicled their trotting across the globe on their popular website, The GypsyNester.

going gypsy

The last time I attended a conference with Veronica and David, they gave me what turned out to be...

December 30, 2014

iCoffee Opus Single Serve Brewer: Ring in the new year with a new way to brew coffee

December 30, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Coffee hovers near the top on my list of my most favorite things. Trying out new ways to brew coffee is on my list of second-most favorite things. In light of that information, you can be sure this review was one of the more enjoyable tasks on my to-do list.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the iCoffee Opus single serve brewing system, which immediately proved to provide a more flavorful cuppa joe than many single-cup brewers, thanks to its innovative technology.