Fruit ~ #FMSphotoaday

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Wow, it’s November already! I am really hoping to keep up with the photo a day challenge for November.

 

First up is fruit. This year during Apple Fest we walked away with 3 bushels of apples in total in four different varieties, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Winesap, and Granny Smith. That’s a whole lot of apples but they are going to good use. The majority of them we like to eat but this year I am trying my hand at making applesauce. This time around with no skins as the girls and the Lt did not like the texture with the skins left on. I also made some pie fillings for the holiday pie.

Rosie’s Doll Clothes Patterns ~ a TOS review

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Do you have little girls that love to play with dolls? I do! My three little ones drool over the popular doll magazine that comes in the mail filled with all the things a baby doll could possibly imagine. However, some of those items are quite expensive even though they are oh so cute!

Have you ever wanted to sew your own doll clothes but you did not know where to start? Over the last few weeks several we were blessed to be able to learn how to sew doll clothes right in the comfort of our own home with the help of Rosie's Doll Clothes Patterns.  

Rose's Doll Clothes Patterns Online Video Course is geared towards children ages 8 and up and retails for  $47.23 USD. Not only does this subscription give you 12 month access to over 130 step by step video tutorials, you also get 8 free downloadable doll clothes patterns that include:

• Halloween Pumpkin pattern

Sports Shorts pattern

Crop Top pattern

Frill Hat pattern

Summer Nightie pattern

Underpants pattern

Halter Top pattern

Sarong pattern

Rosie’s product is a complete six-week step-by-step video course on how to sew clothes for your very own 18 inch doll. If you prefer to have Cabbage Patch Doll sized clothes there is an option for that too. Each week you will learn new sewing terms all the while learning new tips on how to make cute clothing to add to your doll’s wardrobe.

 

The videos are live-streamed directly on the website so once you purchase there is nothing else to download. The videos are nice and short too to keep those attention spans of the younger crowd.

The videos cover the following topics:

 

~ setting up your sewing room

~ tools that make sewing easier and how to use them

~ how to print out the available patterns, cut them out, and sew with them

~how to use both a straight and zigzag stitch

~understanding fabric and elastic

~sewing hems and seams

~ making straps

~ working with buttons  and more!

From how to choose fabric to how to sew a straight line you will have one on one tutoring from Rosie as she shares her secrets to sewing doll clothes in an easy way!

For this review I enlisted the help of Mikayla (10), Montana (7). Montana LOVEs it! After getting a refresher course earlier this year in sewing I was really excited to get started with Montana on this. She loves her dolls and her imagination is wild about what she wants for their wardrobes.

At the time of writing this review we have misplaced the blue flowered crop top that we made. Note to self, take pictures after the finished product :) We were able to make a cute pair of shorts and Mikayla figured out how to modify the pattern and  make a skirt (***Please note the shirt is not one that we made ourselves). Although it is a little too short, the concept is great and I am glad she attempted it. This review has sparked Montana’s interested in searching for other patterns and thinking of what she can make for her baby dolls. Next up for her is a hospital gown, she has already drawn her pattern, we just need to get to the local fabric store for the material.

Overall, I am completely pleased with this product and I think it is an amazing springboard for your little girls imagination. Once you have the basics down the possibilities are endless of what you can create. I definitely think you should check out what Rosie has to offer. It would make the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for any doll loving fan. Also be sure to check out what my Crewmates thought of this product by clicking the banner below.

Company ~ Rosie's Doll Clothes Patterns

Product ~

Learn How to Make Doll Clothes Video Course with 8 Free Doll Clothes Patterns

Price ~ $47.23 USD

Ages ~ 8 and up

 

Candy Day reinstated

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Earlier this week the Lt. said that the girls could go out Trick or Treating this year.  To say that Montana and McKenzie were excited would be a slight understatement. This would be McKenzie’s first time ever going out.

So, because of the short timing of the announcement we got creative with costumes this year. Marie, who according to our town’s law is not allowed to Trick or Treat dolled up herself as a Magic Zebra with a wand to walk around the neighborhood with us. Madison had lots of wild and crazy ideas but finally decided on being a nerd. While Mikayla was a 50’s diner hop girl.

Montana and McKenzie’s costume choices where the easiest of all since they were dolled up as their favorite princesses when we went to Disney World in September. Montana as Jasmine and McKenzie as Cinderella.

The girls had a blast and McKenzie walked majority of the neighborhood. She was so excited after visiting each house. Towards the end she did say that her feet didn’t like Halloween and that they were tired in her glass slippers. So, she hoped in her royal chariot for a ride home. We now have enough candy to last until Easter!

While I am not fully convinced about the benefits of celebrating Halloween, I will go along with my husbands wishes.

Mr. Evan’s Pumpkin farm

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We ventured out to Mr. Evan’s Farm this morning so the girls could pick out their pumpkins.  Marie and McKenzie always pick small ones but this year the other 3 girls went JUMBO!

Next year we hope to have a bountiful crop of our own pumpkins but it is always nice to support Mr. Evan’s Farm.

     

It took all three big girls to lift Mikayla’s monster of a pumpkin!

 

Because Madison, Mikayla, & Montana choose such huge, heavy pumpkins they had to stay in the back of the van until the Lt. came home to get them out. No need to hurt my back trying :)

Bridgeway Academy: Magic Tree House:Middle Ages Learning Lab ~ a TOS review

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For the past several weeks Montana (7) has been taking a history class from Bridgeway Academy. It's always good to have the opportunity to have interaction with other kids In a classroom setting and this fulfills that need for her.

Join Jack and Annie as we travel back in time to visit with kings, queens, lords and ladies, knights and squires! Learn fascinating facts about the lives of ordinary people during the Middle Ages as we journey through the countryside, towns and cities of medieval Europe. Music, art, literature, science and war are all explored as we explore this fascinating period in history using Knight at Dawn to jumpstart our learning.                                     ~ website

We were truly blessed to be apart of the 8 week Magic Tree House: Middle Ages Learning Lab. Bridgeway Academy's  Learning Labs are weekly virtual co-op classes taught by certified teachers who have a passion for what they teach. Normally classes are 9 weeks long and between 45 minutes to 1 hour each week. Classes are available for $145 per session. Our class was taught by Kathy Thomas and we logged in for class On Monday afternoons from 1-2pm. Quick and easy to complete homework was assigned each week along with a big final project.

Here are some of the topics covered in this class. . .

Overview of the Middle Ages
Life on a Medieval Manor
Life in a Medieval City
Knights and the Crusades
Castles
The End of the Middle Ages
Art & Music

Getting set up in the learning lab was quick and easy. You just log on to the website given and it will tell you if you need to make any further enhancements to your system, like a Java update. It is recommended that you have available a pair of headphones with microphone to keep out background noise. However, we had trouble getting our microphone to work simultaneously with the headphones so we chose to go without. I made sure the girls were especially quite when it was time for Montana's class so there was no background noise.

Since Montana was one of the younger kids in the class she had a bit of trouble staying focused on the computer screen. That was no fault of our teacher, Mrs. Thomas, just an attention span/age thing. She was paying attention she just needed to be able to play with something small during her class.

Montana says her favorite part of the class was:
Making the castle! McKenzie (4) and I used a lot of Popsicle sticks. We didn't get to eat Popsicles, my mom bought them from the store. It took a long time to glue each one on. I used my Littlest Pet Shop toys for my King and Queen. I also made a menu for another project and Pig Stew was my special of the day.

I would consider Bridgeway learning Labs again in the future for Montana or any of my girls. It's like going to co-op within your own home. I would however, like to see the age range a little tighter such as 1st-3rd and 4th -5th just because of the varying abilities of the children. However, this would not deter me from signing up if the grade ranges stayed as they are listed.

I definitely think you should check out all the courses Bridgeway has to offer, there is something for everyone! Also be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this class and the other ones being reviewed, Marine Biology (Grades 5-8), and Easy Essay (Grades 9-12) by clicking the banner below to read the reviews.

Company ~ Bridgeway Academy

Product ~ Magic Tree House: Middle Ages

Price ~ $145.00 per 9 week session

    Ages ~ grades 1st - 5th

Barbour Publishing: Diary of a Real Payne, Book 1: True Story ~ a TOS review

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We love good books in this house so you can imagine that I did not turn down the chance to review Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story from Barbour Publishing. Written by Annie Tipton the story tells the diary / narrative of 10 year old Emma Jean Payne, EJ for short.

Diary of a Real Payne is the first book in this series and tells the story of a fun and precocious protagonist EJ. From the beginning we are introduced to her family. Her father the pastor, her mother a teacher and her 5 year old brother, Isaac a Kindergartener. As you follow along with EJ on some of her misunderstood misadventures you will be smiling and laughing hysterically.

 

EJ has big dreams of leaving her drab little town of Spooner, Wisconsin. However, the only thing going for her right now is small- small town school, small town shopping, and small town tourist attractions. While her body may physically be living in small town Spooner her imagination takes her to dreamy places like racing cars, a Spectacular Circus, or even owning her own Super Stylz Hair Salon. The reader gets a first hand look into the wild imagination of this spunky little girl.

With 192 pages Diary of a Real Payne is recommended for ages 8-12. I chose to use this book as a read aloud for the girls. While Montana (7) and McKenzie (4) are below the recommended age they still enjoyed listening and laughing about EJ's daily hijinks. McKenzie wanted to see all the pictures throughout the book. Madison(12) and Mikayla (10) really enjoyed the book. I can definitely she a bit of EJ's personality in Madison and her thirst for adventure.  Because my reading voice only last so long I often found them reading ahead.

This book is extremely affordable at just $5.99 for a paperback edition from Barbour Publishing. I highly recommend you get your hands on this book! It would make a great stocking stuffer or gift for the readers on your list. The next book in the series is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2014. You can be sure that we will be adding that book our home library too! Be sure to also check out what my CrewMates thought of this book by clicking the banner below.

 

Company ~ Barbour Publishing

Product ~ Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story

Price ~ $5.99 paperback

Ages ~ 8-12 year olds