Luv'N Lambert Life

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Review

The Brinkman Adventures: Season 2 {Schoolhouse Review}

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One of our long time favorites around the Lambert House are radio dramas.  We love how these fun little adventures come to life through something as simple as listening along to a CD.  We were not disappointed with The Brinkman Adventures.
The Brinkman Adventures Season 2: Episodes 13-24 pickup where Season 1 left off.  Now I must admit, I have never heard Season 1 so I don’t know anything about what I’m missing on those wonderful CD’s but I hear great things about it.  In fact, after hearing the great stories from Season 2, I am seriously thinking about investing in Season 1.
The Brinkman Adventures Season 2: Episodes 13-24 is a 4-disc set.  Each disc contains 3 separate episodes.  Each of those episodes are jam-packed full of excitement straight from the Brinkman’s adventures.
The Brinkman’s stories are based on real-life experiences.  Through The Brinkman Adventure’s website you can read specifically about each of these real life adventures and learn how they each became part of this wonderful radio drama series.  Every episode, every experience shared on the CD’s can be found on the website.
We used the website to help build upon the wonderful stories and lessons we learned by listening to this wonderful set of CD’s.  Each of the Season’s Episodes that are shared online tell the story behind the story on the respective CD and Episode.  Each episode is about something different but like a book, each episode flows into the one before bringing the Brinkman’s story to life.
We learned so very much from each of these website links about the episodes which we listened to.  It was great to be able to relate the stories we were hearing about Gold, lost objects, places like Mexico to the real life adventures that this family had lived through.  The videos about the animals and places also helped my children to better understand the things they were hearing about on the CD’s making such an impact on them educationally and mentally.  What they have learned through The Brinkman Adventures will stick with them for many years to come.
Each of The Brinkman Adventures episodes differ in length, but the entire CD collection contains over 5 hours of entertainment for your family to listen to.  These stories have been created to be listened to by children and adults of all ages, to share in the radio dramas together as a family and help encourage that strong family bond with enjoyable Christian content that leaves you wanting to hear more.

We really enjoyed listening to these CD’s.  Each of my children found the stories and sounds intriguing to listen to.  Even Grandma enjoyed the funny antics and even the serious moments shared by the Brinkman’s stories.  We each found different lessons from hearing how they helped others in so many exciting ways.
We received the physical CD’s of The Brinkman Adventures Season 2: Episodes 13 – 24 for this review.  This 4 CD set for all ages, can be purchased for $25.  You can also purchase The Brinkman Adventures Season 2: Episodes 13-24 as an MP3 album for $17, if you’d rather go that route.  Either way, you are going to love these stories just as much as our family has!

You can also find The Brinkman Adventures in the following place online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brinkman-Adventures/152895116079

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Lulu’s Cafe – T.I. Lowe {A Review}

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It’s very rare that I write a review on a book that I wasn’t asked to review but this one has called to me from the minute I heard it mentioned by a dear friend.  Lulu’s Cafe was written by T.I. Lowe, a home-town girl, who grew up in the same places as me.  The small-town gossip about her amazingly written book left me wanting to read it for myself and I was definitely not disappointed.

T.I. Lowe and I have walked the same streets over time, the same well-beaten paths of beauty by the river and the beautiful Atlantic Coast that make up our coastal SC home.  I knew every true, picturesque place she described in the made up town of Rivertown, SC.  Much as Rivertown became “Home” to Leah Allen, the main character in Lulu’s Cafe, Rivertown is indeed “Home” to me.

Leah’s life was not always sweet southern peaches and cream.  She’d been through Hell in her lifetime – a Hell that few of us can even begin to imagine.  Growing up as an orphan was only the faint beginning of this life she led.

To everyone else, it seemed Leah, who was then known as Gabriella Sadler, lead a dream life.  She was the wife of the handsome Brent Sadler who gave her everything she could ever want.  If only the world would take a closer look, they’d see that Gabby’s life was not all roses and champagne.  Only a few cared to look for the truth and those few couldn’t help Gabby.

There comes a time when the abuse becomes too much and you fight back.  I know because I have been there and though I wasn’t nearly as badly abused as sweet Gabby was, it wasn’t easy just to walk away.  Still Gabby managed to break free and she started on a path to begin her life again.  She headed South.

In the South, Gabby began to grow and blossom, thanks to the great support she found in Lulu and others in Rivertown.  She was known as Leah now, her name all along.  She hid her past but began to look forward to her future.  Lulu’s Cafe helped Leah find who she really is and that fine piece of man, Crowley Mason also played a hand in that.

Coastal South Carolina leaves with you a lasting impression.  The sweet little towns, the southern sass, the smell of wetlands and marsh grass are incomparable.  I personally couldn’t imagine a better life than here and Lulu’s Cafe, T.I. Lowe’s debut novel, brings forth every bit of that beauty through Leah’s story.  T.I. Lowe provides an experience you won’t soon forget and a connection to a place time has not changed.  I truly look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

You can purchase Lulu’s Cafe through T.I. Lowe’s personal website at www.tilowe.com.  It’s available on Amazon Kindle for $3.99 or in Paperback for $15.  This is one book you’ll want to read!

*Disclaimer – I was not asked to write this review.  It is of my own personal opinion.  I received no items in exchange for this review and I purchased the eBook version of this book on my own with no monetary reimbursement.  I am including this disclaimer in accordance with FTC guidelines and regulations.

KinderBach {Crew Review}

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KinderBach is a program designed to allow music via piano lessons into the a simple home setting.  Designed for younger children around ages 3-7, KinderBach makes learning music fun.  This simple, low cost program is easy to use by everyone.
The KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner is a complete piano music curriculum.  Parental involvement in the program depends on your child’s ability to learn.  Children who are able to view the videos on their own will need less involvement from a parent than those who are younger and less skilled in learning.
Since this is a full curriculum, it includes video instruction to show children how to use the piano through online lessons.  It also includes worksheets to be completed which bring the lessons offline and into their daily life for practice and learning without a computer.  A piano is also needed to provide correct instruction on playing this wonderful instrument.
The KinderBach curriculum contains 7 complete levels, each covering different aspects of Piano lessons.  Reading, Writing and Arithmetic are also covered as children work through their lessons while using this program.  Learning to read symbols, decoding, learning to identify right and left, coordination, control, as well as rhythm and sequencing are all learned throughout the lessons provided through using KinderBach for music lessons.  
The video lessons used in KinderBach are short but fun.  They capture the child’s attention while teaching them important skills.  They also help to build fine motor function as children follow along and practice what they are learning in the program.
The worksheets that are used to bring the program off the computer and into real life for the child are also fun, while at the same time they provide a solid learning foundation to help the child further the skills learned online while watching the lesson videos.  These worksheets give the child concrete evidence of learning and help encourage building their musical skills, helping them to gain confidence in their lessons as they learn.
KinderBach offers a free trial of their award winning program for the first few lessons which can be located directly on their website.  There is also a NO RISK 30 day Money Back Guarantee for this program.
Though we used the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner for home, there is also a Classroom version perfect for co-ops and schools to use.  KinderBach is for use with children who are ages 3-7 as I mentioned above.  My Laycie was the perfect age for using it at 5 years old.
We have been using KinderBach in our home for about 2 years now and we still love it.  Laycie began using it when she just turned 4 – she turns 6 in April and has been using it off and on.  Emma has also used the program and helped Laycie with some of the lessons.  Both girls enjoy the adorable characters and the simple instructions provided through the program very much.  This is something we use several times a week, allowing them to work at their own pace during lessons but it’s not something that we push for learning.  It’s just a really fun program that we keep coming back to as an extracurricular activity for all of us. 
 I’m kind of anxious for Jackson to become old enough to use it.  At 17 months, he enjoys watching the videos as well but he’s a little too young yet to gain anything from the other parts of the program.  He isn’t old enough to know how to use the piano or remember key placement or count timing.  Laycie on the other hand loves doing all of those things and has really enjoyed learning them.
A membership to the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner is available for one year for a special limited time price of $95.88.  It’s normally priced at $130 per year for the program.  
A membership to the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner gives you access to over 240 sessions in lessons by computer, iPad, and more.  You will also receive access to the lesson PDF’s to print and use at home.  Teacher’s Corner is included with this membership, allowing you access to the Audio MP3’s for each lesson and all materials for Levels 1-6 of the KinderBach program.  Downloads for the lesson story books, song books and coloring pages are also included with your one year membership to KinderBach.  This complete curriculum package provides you with everything needed for one year of learning Piano and Music from KinderBach.
You can find and follow KinderBach in the following places online:

Facebook for Teachers:  www.facebook.com/classroomkinderbach
Twitter: @KinderBach
YouTube: KinderBach Preschool Piano
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Putting On The Spirit {Review}

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Have you found your self struggling to keep up with the Word of God as a busy Mom?  Is your time short and are your days rushed with little time to look at the Bible, much less read it?  Do you find that your prayers go up quickly but there is no room for anything else but yet you’d like to add in that sweet devotional time with the Lord?
Look no further than Putting On The Spirit by Katie Hornor.  Putting On The Spirit is a one month devotional that literally takes 10 minutes from your day to do.  In 10 minutes, you can find yourself surrounded by the Lord’s love and word even on the busiest of days.
Katie is a busy Mom just like you.  She wrote Putting On The Spirit because she understands how valuable our time as a Mom is.  She understands what it’s like to raise children, keep a home, job, and family going.  She herself has struggled the same struggle as us, in keeping up with her devotional studies all while maintaining real life.
Putting On The Spirit is a one month study, designed to be completed in only 10 minutes a day for the course of the month used.  Concentrating on the Fruit of the Spirit, this devotional challenges you, Busy Mom, to examine yourself and your life in the light of Scriptures to better yourself and even those around you through the daily lessons as well.  It is bound to be a blessing in your life.
Putting On The Spirit is available in both English and Spanish for Kindle download.  The retail price is $4.99 and it’s well worth the cost.  As a bonus, a Katie has also provided a downloadable workbook to go along with the study for free!
After the Foreword and the beautifully written Introduction, the eBook begins with the good stuff: Breaking down the Fruits of the Spirit into daily bites that can be covered in those 10 minutes a day.  You will cover Love, Joy, Peace, Long Suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, Self Control and finally, putting it all together in Putting On The Whole Fruit.  This is followed by the Appendix where Katie share her testimony in Faith and more.
Each of Putting On The Spirit’s devotional chapters are broken down into days.  Each day begins with a verse from the Bible.  This is followed by a very quick explanation of what’s been read or an activity to build on what you are revealing in the Word itself.  The segment is wrapped up with short questions to get you thinking about the meaning of the scripture and to help build your prayer on the subject for that day.
Each day of the devotional provides a different experience which really helps you to build upon the lessons being learned and allows you to wrap yourself into the Scripture.  Since the devotion only takes 10 minutes, this really allows you to meditate on that one verse throughout your day, though it does leave you anxious to get to the next day as well.  I found that to be a good thing, leaving me wanting to move forward with the study where so many others have left me feeling empty and dry.
The beautifully designed workbook that Katie has created to go along with the Putting On The Spirit devotional study, is a wonderful place to work through each days lesson requirements.  This can be printed and placed into a notebook for easy use as your read through your day’s devotion.  It is 29 pages long and provides plenty of space for writing out details for each devotion.
Putting On The Spirit is 25 pages long and available on Kindle for $4.99.  It’s available in English and Spanish.  The bonus workbook is FREE.
You can read more about Katie Hornor and Putting On The Spirit on her website Paradise Praises.  You can also find Paradise Praises on Facebook and Twitter.
Putting On The Spirit has been such a blessing to me over the past few weeks!  I’m more than certain you will love it too!  

Hello Fresh {Review}

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Last month, I signed up to do a review for a lovely company called Hello Fresh through Mosaic Reviews.  I was completely excited to be able to provide this review – I mean who doesn’t like free food right?  This company has very good reviews and was something I really looked forward to sharing with my readers.
This review was a bit different than what I am used to, being a fully-equipped food package.  The reviews were broken down into several weeks.  I was placed into week two’s list, which was scheduled for delivery during the Thanksgiving Holidays.
The ordering process was very easy and simply to do.  I read about others finding confusion in this process but I didn’t find I had any problems.  I ordered a Classic Box and chose three out of five menu choices that would work for my family.  I entered the necessary information to have this box shipped to my home through the provided services, which ships through Fed-Ex to my area.  Hello Fresh is not available every where, unfortunately but you can find out where they do deliver by checking on their website.

The three meals I chose were:
  • Apricot Glazed Turkey with Beets and Orzo dish
  • Stuffed Squash with Cherry Balsamic Reduction
  • Zucchini Parmigiana
My box arrived the day before Thanksgiving.  I was expecting quality organic ingredients inside, shipped soundly with ice packs to keep it cold allowing very little shifting in the items inside.  When I opened my box, I found this wasn’t completely so.  There were wonderfully solid ice packs inside the box but the padding surrounding my food had shifted to allow outside elements to permeate the unsealed edges of my box.  My meat had shifted from between the ice packs leaving them semi-warm instead of the thorough cold temperature I would have expected.

The products inside my package were beautifully separated which I completely loved and each individually packed according to the recipe it was designed for in separate baggies.  This was a wonderfully, unexpected part of the experience.  However, because the meat wasn’t properly shipped within the case, all the food had a sticky texture with an odd, off smell to them.  This didn’t affect the food inside the bags only the items the outer bags themselves and left me with a unappealing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Another issue I found was that one of my main dishes called for a beet to be used in my meal.  The beet was provided in that dishes package of items but had a large gash in it which was filled with mold.  Mind you, I didn’t expect perfection from Hello Fresh but I did expect not to find moldy food in my package.  I have a child with an extreme mold allergy that can lead to severe illness and even death so I must avoid all foods that even come in contact with molds for his sake.

The third issue I had was with another dish that called for a Shallot which I found to be in the same condition as my beet mentioned above.  These items were things I was not able to use in my meals at all and either I had to leave them out or replace them.  Since I didn’t have time or money to replace the ingredients, I opted to skip them.
I did love the fact that Hello Fresh provides each box with a rather large recipe card for each meal provided.  These are fully colored and share with you every step for the cooking process, including nutrition facts.  Full color images are provided on them as well, which is helpful when trying to figure out what you are doing with what you have in the kitchen.  I’m totally in LOVE with these cards!
As I was cooking my Hello Fresh items, I made sure to thorough wash what I could to make sure no molds contaminated any other foods.  Because they do package items into baggies used by meal, the dinners weren’t a total waste and I was able to create a dish out of the products sent to us.  The end results turned out very well despite the initial issues with our shipping and quality of these few ingredients we were provided.
Now had I been a paying customer, I would have simply contacted Hello Fresh with my complaints and asked to be issued another box immediately but since this was a one time review of this product, I decided to just let this go and share my issues within our review post.  I’m sure Hello Fresh would have immediately accommodated us and corrected any issues we had with our products through them had I contacted them as they seem to be a wonderful and high quality company.
Back to our meals: I chose to cook the turkey dish first.  I wasn’t able to use the beet so I just skipped it.  The Orzo was different and something we wouldn’t normally eat.  I added butter to it, salt and pepper to taste.  It tasted a lot like buttered pasta.  The turkey was really yummy though I wasn’t personally a fan of the Sriracha that was used to season it.  This dish also called for Edamame, which are soy beans.  We don’t eat them so I also left those out.

The next dish I made was the Stuffed Squash with the Cherry Balsamic Reduction.  We are squash lovers so this was a great one for us.  I did not use the meat that was sent with the Hello Fresh box because it’s the package that I believe may have been leaking and was not cold when I received it.  I wasn’t willing to risk it so I did substitute Venison which we already had in our freezer into this dish.  I also substituted a small yellow onion for the Shallot that wasn’t usable in my package.  Both worked wonderfully in our dish.  The Basmati rice took a bit of getting used to but it’s something we would try again and I was not a fan of the cherries but the kids liked them.  With some tweaking, this is a meal we would gladly have again.

Last, I made Zucchini Parmigiana.  I have wanted to make this dish for forever in our home but haven’t.  I’m a huge fan of Italian foods and Zucchini is a new favorite of mine.  The dish turned out amazingly.  The flavors went together so wonderfully and it was surprisingly easy to make.  Let me just say, if you’ve ever wanted to make Zucchini Parmigiana, do it now!  You will love it as much as I do!
Overall, my experience with Hello Fresh’s product could have been better but no company is perfect.  What food we were able to use was delicious and the meals were able to be salvaged into something we really did enjoy.  Except for the items I listed above, the rest of the items were fresh and tasted superb in the dishes they were used in.  As I stated, had I been buying this, I’m sure the company would have corrected these small issues but since I am only a one time customer providing a review, I did not persue that course of action.

Hello Fresh sends out a different menu each week.  Each box contains the necessary ingredients for the meals you choose to order out of the five for the Classic Box, which I received.  There is also a Vegetarian box that can be ordered with only three meals.  You order the box one week and the dishes are sent out for the next weeks delivery.  You can cancel at any time.  A credit card is required to order.
A Classic Box from Hello Fresh containing three complete meals costs $69 a week for two people.  You can also order a meal for 4.  For this review, we were gifted the meal for 2 box.

Puddle Tap Publishing: The Nativity Story App {Propeller Review}

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From Puddle Tap Publishing comes an app for all ages, which shares one of the most joyous occasions known to man.  The Nativity Story App shares the story of the Birth of Jesus for all to share.  This App is one to be viewed again and again by the whole family.
The gorgeous drawings within this app are an immediate crowd-pleaser and the story tells the generationally known story of the birth of Jesus from beginning to end.  Each page of the app has beautifully, interactive pop-ups.  Our favorite parts were the beautifully lit, large Moon and the Angels used throughout the story.
The story begins with a beautiful introduction to Mary and Joseph, and shares a small portion about their love for each other and the gift Mary is about to be blessed with.  Then comes the Angel to advise Mary upon her situation.  Next we find Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem.  How many doors will they knock on before they find just the right one: the generous man who offers them a stable to sleep in.  Baby Jesus arrives and an Angel appears to spread the word to all on this blessed occasion.
It’s a timeless story that is not soon forgotten.  The Nativity Story App presents this story of the Birth of Jesus beautifully, complete with the Angels singing at the end.  In the words of my 5 year old, “it is gorgeous”.
Puddle Tap Publishing has truly outdone themselves with this app.  You can purchase The Nativity Story App from iTunes for $3.99.  It is worth every penny and is a story you will want to read again and again with this fully interactive display presentation.
*Disclaimer – I was provided this app free for review in a blog post from Propeller Reviews and Puddle Tap Publishing.  I am including this disclaimer in accordance with FTC Guidelines and Regulations.


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