The Tummy Team - Core Foundations {Review}

Today I would like to share a more personal journey with you. It's something that affects more than 80% of our population and for most of us we chalk it all up to age and "That's just life". To begin with I was under the impression that this struggle was unique to woman but I now understand this issue is something that many people struggle with and are unaware that there is a solution to their pain and that solution is now available to people all over the world thanks to the work of Kelly Dean and The Tummy Team in the form of their online Core Foundations Program.

Core Foundations is an eight week Core Rehab Specialist program designed to be done at home.  It is a program which is presented to you by a qualified Core Rehab Specialist program who specializes in neuromuscular rehabilitation and home health .

I have taken the program to my personal Doctor who confirmed to me that all the information is 100% accurate and is now referring her clients to The Tummy Team.  I was pleasantly surprised at my own personal progress and in an incredibly short space of time. My waist measurement decreased by two inches within the first month and my active sitting time lengthened from around 5 seconds to over a minute.

I learned that the repair surgeries I have had were actually not necessary.  My Doctor confirmed to me that the medical profession in general are unaware that Diastasis Recti, general back ache and hernia's are symptoms of the deeper issue of a weak functional core.  I was surprised to learn what a weak core and diastasis looks like and it's something I've had since high school.

I have been empowered with knowledge, I am very excited about Core Foundations and the enormous difference it is making in my own personal life and my husbands.  My functional core strength was very low and it took me a whole month to recover from disconnection before I could progress. I have chosen to begin at the beginning and do the complete program over and document my journey and share it with you here on the blog on Mondays along with photographs and tips and insights I learn from my journey to being #Strong4Life.

How I found The Tummy Team
I was surfing Instagram one day when I came across a rather intriguing graphic of  a before core rehab pregnancy and after core rehab pregnancy.    I went to the account  to find out more.  There were the most amazing before and after photographs of what Core Foundations could accomplish.  I was rather surprised at the info graphics explaining that Planking,  Crunches and Cross-Over Crunches are really bad exercises for your core and your tummy and actually do not accomplish what we think they should. I was drawn to find out more about their program because Paul had been regularly exercising including doing planking exercises to strengthen his core but was still having pain issues and regular flare ups with his back.

Symptoms of Functional Core Weakness

• Low back pain - "Back pain is one of the most common symptoms of a weakened core. It is the result of other muscles trying to compensate when your transverse abdominis muscle lacks the strength to hold you up."
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Stress incontinence
• Diastasis Recti - a separation of the abdominal muscles
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Upper and/or Mid back pain
• Abdominal hernia's "Abdominal hernias typically appear in areas of weak or damaged connective tissue which results in portions of the organs bulging out of the abdominal wall. When this weakened area of connective tissue tears, portions of the intestinal track are at risk of strangulation requiring urgent medical attention and often surgical repair."
• Sciatica
• Prolapse
• Prostrate issues
• Tired back at the end of the day
• 'Preggy Belly' or Belly Bulge
• Incontinence
• Digestive issues - "Chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, recurring hemorrhoids, painful bloating and acid reflux are all common symptoms of a weakened core. Several vital organs, including the intestines, rely on a strong internal core for support. Without that support, the digestive system fails to work efficiently."
• Pelvis instability
• Menstrual issues
• Pain tolerance

How Online Core Foundations Works
After choosing and purchasing the right Online Core Training Program for you, you will receive a invoice/payment receipt via email. This will be followed by a welcome letter explaining to you how to access your program and an email address where you can reach the team.

You do not receive access to the full program in week one.  On the first day of each new week the new week's program will become unlocked.  You will still have access to the previous weeks video's so you can watch them as often as you like.  The reason is to encourage structure and accountability.  Each week builds on the preceding week.  Knowing I had limited access meant that I had to set aside regular time to watch the instructional video's it kept me motivated to come back.

• When you log in you will be taken to your online program.  Navigation is super easy and you will be able to see at a glance each separate week on the left.  On the right you will either see: Available Now or Not Available. 
• In week one you are only given access to Core Foundations and Week 1.  
• After that each subsequent lesson is released weekly.  When a new week becomes available the team will email you a short note as soon as you have access to the next class it will also have a note at the bottom detailing how many weeks access you have left.
• Each lesson is equivalent to a one on one consultation with Kelly.  

After selecting the week you are working on you will open a new page. At the top there is a Focus of the Week section. This is a concise summary of what you will be working on.

Below this text box you will see the Week number and the Video Instruction box along with a note on how many video's there are to watch. To the right of the video is the title of the video along with a note.
 

Kelly is a very articulate instructor. She takes time to explain your anatomy, the process and more importantly the why behind every step of your core rehabilitation instructions. There is currently a blind lady doing the course and Kelly's instructions are so clear that this lady is successfully completing her journey to wellness.

Kelly's focus is on empowering you with knowledge to help equip you with the tools you need to become strong for life.  She is a Core Rehab Specialist who specialises in neuromuscular rehabilitation and home health. Kelly is passionate about to fully understanding the neuromuscular, postural, and alignment issues that contribute to core weakness and abdominal separation. Her combination of multiple approaches specifically treats these conditions for long-lasting changes.

The thing I appreciate about learning from Kelly is that she is speaking from personal experience.  She was facing major hernia repair surgery with a large Diastasis Recti and other health issues.  As I watched her personal testimony I could identify with many aspects of her personal journey to being strong for life and reclaiming health. Kelly recognizes that each of us have our own story and it is these very things that influence how our bodies are going to heal.

Active Sitting (Source)

The best part of the program is the simplicity. Above is a sample of the first exercise you learn to do:

Below the video section is a helpful box containing your downloadable handouts and a section of what to expect as you follow your core rehabilitation program for the week.  I have been very surprised at the accuracy of the list of what to expect.  I love the handouts because I have written instructions I can refer to anytime I need to refresh myself on what I have learned and I can go back and re-do the week anytime I want.  The charts are helpful for keeping myself accountable.

What does each week cover?

• Week 1
  
  • Initial Measurements
  • Understanding Your Transverse
  • Rehabilitation of your Core
  • Functional Integration of the Core
  • Why We Splint
• Week 2
  
  • Potty Posture
  • The Transverse, the Lumbar Multifidis & Lower Back Pain
  • Abdominal Massage
  • Preparing Your Environment
• Week 3
  
  • Progression of Transverse Exercises
  • More Functional Integration
  • Neutral Pelvis Training
  • Modifications
• Week 4
  
  • The Transverse and Pelvic Floor for Women
  • The Transverse and the Prostate for Men
  • Pelvic Floor Strengthening
  • Initial Fitness Choices
  • Neutral Pelvis Training
• Week 5
  
  • Neutral Rib Cage & Upper Back Activation
  • Weaning from Your Splint
• Week 6
  
  • Core Integration with Functional Activities
  • Safe Core Stretches
• Week 7
  
  • Rehabilitation versus Lifestyle versus Fitness
  • Transition to Fit2b.us
  • Core Integration into Fitness - Fit2b.us
  • Love Handles Lost - Fit2b.us
  • The PMS Routine
• Week 8
  
  • Core Strong Lifestyle
  • Final Diastasis Check and Personal Plan
  • Core Strong Workout
  • Full-Body Tummy Team Workout
  • Thank You from Kelly

Some Nuggets to Protect your Core

• There is a BIG difference between engaging your core and bracing.  Engaging your core protects your back and your internal organs whereas bracing damages your back and stomach.
• How to get out of bed safely:  Sexy Slide
• Tummy safe lifting  
• Your pelvic floor is not your core.  
• Healthy safe Driving Posture
• Safe Potty Posture.  
• 6 Fitness Guidelines for Everyone 

What do you get with the program

• Eight weeks of personal Core Rehab Specialist  instruction. This are presented by a Core Rehab Specialist  in pre-recorded video sessions you can access in the comfort of your own home. 
• A set of instructional online video's added each week.
• Each week there are pdf sheets containing a summary of  the weeks lesson.  Where appropriate a exercise tracking sheet and online support handout.  These are the same handouts are a written summary of the key elements of your program for the week.
• Access to a private client forum on Facebook. On this forum you can ask any question and one of the Tummy Team Core Rehab Specialists will answer you.  Most questions are answered within a couple of hours. 
• Tools to help you become strong at life 
• Ten weeks of online access which begins immediately after purchase

Please note there are two purchase options for each program

1. BUY NOW, START NOW - means your ten week access starts immediately upon payment of your program.
2. BUY NOW, START LATER - means you get a voucher that you use when you are ready to start your program.  

Learn More

• The Tummy Team Story
• The Full Story Behind The Tummy Team  (21 min)
• About Core Foundations Online Program - Who is this For ? 
• Abdominal Splinting - Splint Options 
• Could you be suffering from a diastasis?
• Overview of Core Rehab   
• FREE Resources from The Tummy Team 
• Encouragement and information on The Tummy Team Blog.

Connect on Social Media

• Facebook @TheTummyTeam
• Twitter @TheTummyTeam
• Instagram @thetummyteam
• Pinterest The Tummy Team 

I would like to thank Kelly Dean and the Tummy Team for sponsoring me with Core Foundations.  It is revolutionizing my life and I look forward to sharing my journey and progress here on the Blog. Next week I will be sharing my experience with Gillian Sukachevin, MPT and our Skype Session.

Blessings
Chareen

Online Christian Filmmakers Academy {Review}

I'm so very excited. This year has been so interesting watching Nathaniel discover how to make and produce short movie clips.  Some of the clips are made on his phone and recently he started a YouTube channel and spent many hours delightfully teaching himself how to use all sorts of software to accomplish his goals. I was feeling a little at a loss on how to support his learning in this area until we were given access to Online Christian Filmmakers Academy from Family Gravity Media, a division of Families For Christ Ministries, Inc. to review.

Together we have been learning so much. We have not had to buy any special equipment although you do learn about the types of equipment used. Needless to say Nathaniel's Christmas wish list has grown quite considerably.

We have been given a year's worth of online access to the Online Christian Filmmakers Academy.  The classes are produced and presented by Ken and Zack Lawrence who are a father and son team who have been working together since 2004 and have more than a decade of experience.

How it works

Lesson Library

The course is an online program which is digitally streamed from your account. After signing in you will be taken to the home / introduction page.  On the left there is a menu with links to the five different modules of the program.

There are five modules to work through.

1. The Camera (6 Lessons + 1 Quiz)
2. Cinematography (10 Lessons)
3. Sound (6 Lessons)
4. Pre-Production (5 Lessons)
5. Production (6 Lessons)

Tracking the lessons

• Each of the modules are divided into separate lessons. 
•  Tracking your progress is really easy.  Once you watch a clip you mark it complete and move onto the next lesson.  
• Each lesson is titled and below the title you can see the length of the video as well as a short written summary.
• On the module overall page you can see your progress at a glance.  Completed lessons show a tick in the corner and partially watched clips show as such.

Lesson page layout

When you click on a lesson it opens on a new page. On the page you have access to the lesson video and a comments section.  In the comment section you can ask questions about the lesson and interact with the instructors.

If there is a lesson download you will find the link on the right hand side of the page.  The downloads are in pdf. format.

The program is continuing to grow and as such being updated with bonus documents which include: templates, insider interviews, quizzes and new content.  This will be added throughout the year ahead and made available to all new and current students.

Details 

• The course costs $299* for a full year of access. It is currently on sale for $199 until 30 November 2016 by using Coupon Code: FALLCREW16 on the checkout page. 
•  It comes with a 30 day no questions asked money-back guarantee.
• Your one year membership is good for your entire family and can be used by multiple students within your household.
• Christian Filmmakers Academy share tips and free video lessons on their Facebook page: Christian Filmmakers Camp.

 * This price is current at the time of this review.  Prices are subject to change at the discretion of Family Gravity Media, a division of Families For Christ Ministries, Inc. so please review the current price on their website before making your purchase.

Overall
Nathaniel and I have both enjoyed working our way through the lessons.  They are well presented and give a very good twaddle free class on the practical aspects of film making.   I am really looking forward to Nathaniel using the skills he has learned in this class in the future and if he continues in his passion for film making I will be adding this to his Curriculum Vitae in the future.

Blessings
Chareen

MWorld {Review}

Over the last few years I've been pursuing a new direction in our home school, one that is built upon Charlotte Mason's ideals and sprinkled with delight directed opportunities.   In today's digital filled era I have found it difficult finding information that is enriching, twaddle free and reliable.  

Monash University have set out to meet this need and created an app to meet the criteria and today it is my pleasure to introduce you to MWorld.

Last week I had the privilege of a teleconference with Justin who shared with me his passion to grow and create an app that would use curiosity to unleash learning in our children.  Justin and his team have been working alongside the leading academics at Monash University to produce each unit on MWorld so you can trust the information you are accessing is up to date and correct. (You can watch a one minute overview on YouTube here.)


Did you know...

• Curiosity increases your brain function and leads to more engaged learning and better memory retention?
• Pre-school children ask an average of 26 questions an hour.

MWorld is constantly growing and being developed.  They are currently developing mini missions which will be available later this year.   These missions are there to equip parents to support their children's learning and encourage enquiring minds to learn more.


How Does MWorld Work?
There are a few different options available to use MWorld. (PC, Android app and Apple app).
We have been given MWorld to use for a full year and have access to the complete platform.

IF you sign up via the Home Education option the team at MWorld set up your account and send you an access code (MCode) and password.  You use this to log in and set up your account.

Once you log in, you have the option of either customizing your avatar or exploring the world we live in. As you explore the world through one of the apps you will collect points which allow you to purchase clothing for your Avatar.

You also collect experience points. These points show you where you are on the leader board.

The leader board is private unless you add your friends to it. Experience points also build your badge level.  You can see how many points are needed in order to graduate to the next level.

Points are awarded for: each screen you read, each game played (these reinforce learning) and each quiz which is answered.

By clicking on Explore the World you are taken to the app home screen. Here you will find the main ten learning areas. Each of these areas are divided into five apps each. After selecting the subject you are then taken to the app area.

 For example in the Natural World you will find: Deep Blue Sea, Volcanoes, Deserts, Extreme Weather and Protected Areas. Next you select your area of interest.  The app then downloads to the device and loads.  Each app is fairly large due to the beautiful rich graphics, text to speech,  videos and interactive pages.

Each module has an introductory video  (See all available module introductory clips on YouTube).

The center of the page is a list of questions to whet your appetite on the topic.   On the left and right margins you will find graphics which are links to learning areas.

Along the bottom of the page there are five buttons: back, home (takes you to the first screen), map, points page and text to speech. The text to speech function is a handy tool for younger students or students who are auditory learners.

 The map shows you where you are in the module and the total number of learning areas for the module.  As you can see each module is fairly extensive.

MWorld can be used off line. To access offline studies each of the 50+ apps can be found on the app store. You use your MCode to unlock the app which is then downloaded independently onto your device.

On the home screen you will find a credits button beneath the sign out button.  In this area you will find a complete list of the titles on MWorld linked to an information card.  Here you can meet the scientist who contributed to the production of the topic, a full list of the production team, a list of reference materials used in the unit and the names of the production team responsible for the unit app production.

Titles Available on MWorld
At present there are over 50 areas of learning on MWorld and it will be growing so be sure to check back to see what is new.
MWorld have supplied a summary, YouTube introduction and a free downloadable teacher guide for each title on the MWorld Title finder page.

1. Animals
   
   • Adapting to new Worlds
   • Fangs - How do animals eat ?
   • How do animals behave?
   • Long-distance Travellers
   • Sharks and Rays
2. Art&Music
   
   • Art Today
   • How to write a Song
   • Jammin'
   • Secrets of art: Drawing
   • World Beats
3. Early Civilizations
   
   • Ancient Greece
   • Angkor
   • Early Australians
   • Early China
   • Rome: The Early Days
4. The Human Body
   
   • Build Your Own Skeleton
   • Germs
   • The making of me
   • Peak performance
   • Sleep and Dreams
5. Language and Culture
   
   • Dragon boat festival
   • Fairy Tales - The untold story
   • Lost languages
   • Manga
   • Spain: Food, Football & Fiesta?
6. The Modern World
   
   • Challenges of our time
   • The digital age
   • Money
   • Super-fast Trains
   • Mega-cities
7. The Natural World
   
   • Deep Blue Sea
   • Deserts
   • Extreme Weather
   • Protected Areas
   • Volcanoes
8. People and Places
   
   • Asia Today
   • Changing Places
   • Designing Places
   • Europe Today
   • The Rises of Cities
9. Space
   
   • Black Holes
   • Comets, Asteroids and Meteors
   • Galaxies
   • Mission to Mars
   • Planets
10. The Wonders of Science
    
    • Chemistry:Let's Get Started
    • How does Life Work?
    • How to become a Scientist
    • Invisible World - Inside the Atom
    • Light

What platform is MWorld available on

• iPad (iPad 3 and later, All iPad Air and Mini models)
• Android (Android 4.4 and later)
• PC (Windows 7 and later)

Due to the size of each of the individual topics covered, (the beautiful photographs and interactive content of MWorld) you will need access to quality internet connectivity in order to download and use your chosen area of learning. The main MWorld app needs connectivity to run.

MWorld can be used off line on your chosen device. You will need to download your chosen topic as an independent app via the app store.

The Cost*

• Single topic apps for MWorld are available to purchase at $5.99 each.
• Home Education bundle is currently available for $59 for 54 apps (That is a saving of $317.47!). To access this special please email your request to team@discovermworld.com and they will do the rest.
• MWorld is available for school class use in student bundles. 
• FREE trial is available.  You will receive two credits to unlock two titles of your choice along with three units: Jammin, Planets and Volcanoes.

*Prices quoted are current as of July 2016 and subject to change at any time.  Please check the MWorld website for up to date pricing information.  
Connect with MWorld on Social Media

•  Facebook - Discover MWorld
• Twitter - @discovermworld
• Google+ -  +Discovermworld
• YouTube - MWorld  

I am very impressed with this app. The graphics are beautiful, the information is twaddle free and presented using excellent multimedia platforms.  The variety of topics covered is both broad and deep, we have  over a year of learning at our finger tips.

We are looking forward to learning more about the world around us using MWorld. Nathaniel enjoys following whatever path of curiosity he chooses, personally I like being able to use a professionally presented supplement to reinforce our current learning areas. 

Blessings
Chareen

Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing {Sunya Publishing Review}

In the last few weeks I've shifted our focus in our homeschool to memory work.  When I first started home educating in New Zealand my mentor consistently encouraged us all to start our morning off with chanting the times tables lists. So for the last few weeks Nathaniel has been practicing his math facts before settling in to do his written work.  I really wanted to do something different in testing his math fact knowledge.  To help Nathaniel evaluate where he is at in his memory work we have been playing Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing from Sunya Publishing.

What we received

• Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Adding & Subtracting
  
  • Teacher / Parent hand book (25 pages) - Introduction to the numeral system, Basic game instructions, Game II instructions, Game III instructions, Math activities for young students, Facts and Riddles.
  • Number line tool
  • 30 Math and Science Riddle Cards*
  • 60 Sunya playing cards*
• Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing
  
  • Teacher / Parent hand book (25 pages) - Instructions for playing the basic game, Game number II, Solitaire, Team Sunya, Sunya 400, a brief history of Sunya and math, math quotes.
  • Number line tool
  • 30 Math and Science Riddle Cards*
  • 60 Sunya playing cards*

*The cards are printed on card stock with a plastic coating. The size of each card is 57 mm by 89 mm. The numerical cards have each number printed in the center with the corresponding number of dots representing the numerical value below the number.  The riddle cards have the answer to each riddle printed on the same card.

How we used it
The very first thing I wanted to know is what does Sunya mean and how do I say it ? Sunya® (the "u" pronounced as the "oo" in the word "book") is a word from Sanskrit, the ancient and classical language of India. It means being empty or without quantity.   You win a round when you run out of cards to play in your hand and declare out loud Sunya meaning "I am out of cards."

I chose to focus on the multiplying and dividing game as this is the fact set we are currently working on.  I read the instructions a couple of times to figure out the basic game.

• In the basic game each player receives four cards to begin. 
• Your job is to make a true number sentence. 
• The times and equal sign is placed on the table. 
• There are a number of rules on how to make subsequent plays and when to draw cards and what to do with the cards which are already on the table.

The winner of a round gets to read a riddle card.

 We have not progressed to the more complex variations of the game as Nathaniel is still learning his multiplication facts.

The division game, addition and subtraction basic game works on the same principle.

Recommended Age Range

• Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Adding & Subtracting is recommended for ages 7 to Adult (1-5 Players) In the game addition goes up to 9+9=18 and subtraction goes up to 18-9=9.
• Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing is recommended for ages 9 to Adult (1-5 Players) In the game multiplication goes up to 9x9=81 and division goes up to 81/9=9.

Over All I thought ...
One of the things I've enjoyed about the game is the recommendation to begin with all the players cards on the table and to help one another.  Success builds success and enjoyment. It's been fun for me to play as it's helping me brush up on my logic and math facts ...


Blessings
Chareen

Please note:

Sunya Publishing is a brand new company and this product is newly on the market. The website is currently under construction and purchasing options will be available within the next week. I will update this post with links to the individual product pages when they become available. 

Organic Mini Mushroom Farm {Review}

 One of the things I've been learning about this year is how to look for more hands on learning to experience with Nathaniel.  I was quite excited to discover a kit to grow Organic Mushrooms from Fluid Growers. I was surprised at how easy they are to grow!

Once the kit was shipped it arrived at our place within 24 hours. It arrived via courier and comes pre-assembled.  There was very little required of us.  The card board box it arrives in is also the container the mushrooms are grown in.  It's a hand box and takes up very little room.  The front has a picture showing you what to expect.  On the back is a perforated section with a recipe on it.  On the side are step by step instructions on how to grow the mushrooms.  The time it takes to grow is dependent on the temperature and humidity in your home.

Once you remove the perforated section on the back the next step is to cut the plastic within this area.
Next you remove the bag and soak it in water to hydrate the growing medium.  I discovered that I needed to clip the plastic back with a paper clip in order to expose the area to the water to hydrate the contents in order to begin the growth process.

Once the contents are well hydrated you re-insert the bag into the cardboard box with the cut plastic on the open side of the box and then place your box where you intend to grow your mushrooms.

Each morning we added two tablespoons of water to the bag and let it soak in before placing the box back on the shelf.  I was shocked two days later when I noticed the baby mushrooms peaking out from the plastic after 48 hours of us beginning the process! It was stunning to see the exponential growth of the mushrooms.  They more than doubled their growth every 24 hours.

Within three days of noticing our mushrooms they were ready for us to harvest!  We were stunned.  We knew mushrooms grew rapidly but hadn't realised it was that rapid.

Once we harvested the mushrooms we fried them in butter and enjoyed a hearty scrambled egg and mushroom breakfast.

 This is one project that you can enjoy with your family from the youngest pre-school student to your high school students.  The best part is that you can consume it at the end of the process!

Purchase your kit online from

• In the USA Back to the Roots and on Amazon (Mushroom Farm)
• In Australia and New Zealand from Fluid Growers (Organic Mushroom Farm)

This kit is also available for purchase at most of your local organic vegetable shops and outlets.

You can also find the company on social media here

• Facebook - Fluid Growers
• Pinterest - FluidGrowers
• Twitter - @FluidGrowers
• LinkedIn - Fluid Growers
• Instagram - @fluidgrowers tag your photo's #fluidgrowers #growyourownfood #kidsgrowingfood

Our whole family enjoyed growing mushrooms from scratch and many of our friends loved coming over to see how the mushrooms were doing.  This is one project we highly recommend as it is family and child friendly and the best part is there is no mess no fuss either!

Blessings
Chareen

Thank you to Fluid Growers for supplying this wonderful product to our homeschool we really enjoyed learning about mushrooms with this wonderful easy to use product and hope that many other children will experience the delight of growing their own food with this hands on product.

Clever DIY {Review}

While I enjoy hobbies like crocheting, scrapbooking and sewing (in my former life before mommyhood and homeschooling etc) I do not have a lot of hands on items around the home for Nathaniel to experiment with DIY projects and art.  I was recently introduced to Clever DIY who graciously sent me their January Project Box: My Room.

 I was blown away when our box arrived.  The staff were super helpful and our order arrived within 24 hours.  The box was full with helpful information and contained ALL the items we would need to successfully complete our projects.  They even supplied a messy mat to protect my table!

Wooden Key Ring Holder

 The first project Nathaniel wanted to make was the Wooden Key Ring holder.  Clever DIY supplied the wooden key holder, wooden pegs, Permanent markers, Glue tube, Embroidery Thread, Paint Tubs and Paint brush.

Wooden Pen Holder 

This part of the kit surprised me. The project was to make a wooden pen holder.  Clever DIY even supplied 10 coloured markers to go into the completed project!  We used the wooden Pen Holder bits, Glue Tube, paint brush, Paint Tubs and Permanent Marker to complete this project.

Bag Tag/Key Ring 

This kit inspired Nathaniels creative juices far more than I though it would.  Each of his Key Ring / Bag Tags have a name and a purpose.

We used the supplied permanent Marker to add detail to the glued tags and we both love the characters as they've come to life before us.

Door Hanger

Our final project for the month was this door hanger.

It was so much fun watching him go through the process of design, painting and altering his design as it unfolded before us both.  It took him a quarter of an hour to complete.

How it works

New Project boxes are released on the first of each month and shipped to subscribers.  The project boxes become available to the public two weeks later where they can be purchased separately.

Subscriptions are available for single and Share the Box options.

• Single Box option is $24-90* (free postage) with no lock in contract.
• Share the Box is a single box containing enough components for two children to complete all the projects.  $24.90* + $15.00* (second set of components) = $39.90* (free postage) with no lock in contract.
• Purchase individual Project boxes at $24.90* each + shipping. 
• Shop for materials to do your own inspired projects

*All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars and subject to change.  Please check the Clever DIY website for up to date pricing and product options.

Current Projects available for purchase are:

• My Room
• Jewellery
• Transport
• Christmas
• Gadgets

Their March project box is called - Easter and will be available for purchase from the 15th of March.

Connect with Clever DIY on Social Media

• Facebook - Clever DIY
• Instagram - @cleverdiy_
• YouTube - CleverDIY

If you have a child who loves to be creative and you find yourself running out of ideas then Clever DIY is for you.  These kits are aimed at 5 to 12 year olds.  The projects require very minimum parental supervision and the end results are impressive.  Children feel as though they accomplish great things.

Blessings
Chareen

Living Book Geography * The Adventurous Mailbox * {Review}

Geography is a little bit like science and math and often times gets forgotten about in the homeschooling arena. Some mothers worry incessantly that they are not going to do it right either.  Other times it seems so boring full of maps and map work.

In my quest to find living geography books that are twaddle free I discovered The Adventurous Mailbox. Crameye Junker has become one of our favourite tour guides and we love his humour and adventurous can-do attitude!

"Our primary goal in this endeavor is to help children learn different ways of thinking and being at an early age, while inspiring them to learn other languages, travel the world, and lead well-examined lives." - The Adventurous Mailbox

What we received

• Series One of The Adventurous Mailbox containing a welcome note, beautiful sturdy box containing books one to eight.
• Access to Crameye's World
• Teacher's Lounge

How we used it


Our box arrived in the mail in triple quick time. The best part is that the box was addressed to Nathaniel directly.  He loved receiving a parcel in the mail.
When we opened the box there was a personalised letter to Nathaniel.  It was TOP SECRET and made him feel super special.

This letter contained a welcome note to M.I.T.C.H. and how to access it via the internet at www.crameye.com along with a special password.

In the letter you discover Crameye has the funniest sense of humour which appeals to children and adults alike. Here is a little excerpt:

"Also, though these books are for YOUR EYES ONLY, and though they would add a good deal of fiber to your diet, DO NOT eat these books after reading them to destroy the evidence.  That would be really weird. ..."

The hard cover box is made of good quality cardboard.  It contains books one to eight covering seven countries.

1. Finland (55)
2. Taiwan (52)
3. Brazil (44)
4. Thailand (48)
5. Greece (56)
6. Tanzania (44)
7. Peru (44)
8. Peru Too (48)

Each of the books is well bound,  A5 size,  illustrated with a soft cover.

The books have been written from Crameye Junker to you in a letter narrative.  In book one Crameye introduces his friend Neva and himself to you.  Together they embark on their first independent adventure with the blessing of their fathers.  The books are written to you from your new penfriend. The tone of each of the books is that of a friend sharing their latest undertaking with you.  Crameye has a terrific sense of humour and as we've read each book we have searched all over for the little fun notes that are there for you . (click on the graphic to view in full screen to read)

Crameye Junkeye does not assume you know anything about where he is or the culture.  In his letter to you the reader he introduces you to the country he is in, gives you geographical information (country name, the capital, the language, money, transport systems), cultural information (food, customs, money). Between Crameye and Neva they get into some pretty interesting adventures together and if you are observant you can pick up on some very interesting clues too!

Each book opens with a greeting in the local language of the book.  The next page has a map highlighting the country that Crameye is sharing with you. The books finish with a farewell from Crameye and an addendum containing:

• Picture of country and or flag
• Country name
• Location
• Population
• Flag
• Language
• Politics
• History
• Religion
• Culture
• People
• Animals
• Interesting Facts

You can browse each of the books over at: The Adventurous Mailbox. Click on the book you would like to know more about and you will see a picture of the cover of the book, an excerpt of the book and a summary of what your student will learn in the particular book. The books are all common core aligned and will help you meet State requirements if you are home educating in the USA.

As you work your way through the books you will meet the main characters.

For the Parent

The Teachers Lounge has been designed to support you and provide content to broaden your child's learning experience.

• A Forum  - Containing a board for each book.
• Recommended links for student research and additional lessons.
• The lessons are arranged in Workbooks .  These are available to you in Word and PDF format.
• Workbooks cover the following areas:
  
  • Vocabulary - fill in the blanks, choose the response, rewrite the sentences, multiple choice, definitions & crosswords.
  • Reading Comprehension - Full workbooks, the teachers book, OR you can download separate areas to work through
  • Academic Writing - Full workbooks, the teachers book, OR you can download separate areas to work through
  • Critical Thinking projects, group work and country specific lessons.- Full workbooks, the teachers book, OR you can download separate areas to work through. Exploring events and ideas, cultural qualities, demonstrate your powers of observation, web search activity, cultural netiquettes, creative reasoning, brain teasers and mini guidebooks.

For the Student

Crameye's World is an online portal to many different things. It is has been specifically designed for students in the age range of 8 to 12 years old.  The Adventurous Mailbox takes you and your childs online safety seriously and as a result have designed the site with multiple checks and balances in place.  You can read all about it here:  Privacy and Safety policy for Crameye’s World. I am pleased to say there is NO Advertising on this site at all.
In this area you will find:

• Update user information
• World language information - Four characters who speak a total of eight languages between them. Here your student can see a language written/translated and interesting facts about the language.
• A Forum - This is divided into several areas (Ask your question to a specific author, Share your written adventures and a few others...)
• Links to interesting places on the web in reference to the country in the books.
• Links to the characters blogs
• UNESCO World Heritage sites
• World Cuisine
• Games
• Music from around the world 
• Contests

*Cost of The Adventurous Mailbox

• Series ONE Adventure Package - $79
• Monthly delivery option - $99
• Teacher's Lounge - $20

*All prices are current at time of review. Please check the website for up to date pricing before purchasing. All prices shown are in U.S. dollars.

 Recommended Age Range

• Reading level 4-5th grade

Connect with

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Google+
• RSS Feed 
• Blog  

Over All I thought ...
We love The Adventurous Mailbox!  The personalized touch is so rare in today's world. I am very impressed with the quality and presentation of every item contained in the box. Nathaniel  loved receiving a parcel which was addressed specifically to him!  He loved the secret code and invitation. 

We're a family who love to travel and explore. Each book has caught our attention and fueled our desire to know more.  Crameyes' humour is spot on my tweens sense of funny and the hidden notes are an extra bonus.

We are looking forward to Series Two and hope it will be available soon.

Blessings
Chareen