Big City Animals: App Win

I received the product to review. All opinions are my own. 

Big City Animals has become one of my favorite resources for apps for Tbomb. He has his own tablet, which is a great resource for school, being on the go, and for when mommy needs to work and he wants to be entertained. However, when I get a new app for him, I always worry about it being appropriate and if he'll even be able to understand it. All those worries are gone with Big City Animals.

These apps involve the whole family, and include "conversation starters" to get the whole family in on the fun. The theme song is adorable, Tbomb will randomly sing it throughout the day. It really is just too cute.

Big City Animals™ creates interactive, educational learning apps for children. Our apps revolve around fun and entertaining city-centric stories. With our one-of-a-kind children’s stories, “City Ambassadors” will take your children on magical travel journeys, touring major cities around the world. Your children will learn vocabulary, geography and history – all in one app! We provide clean, quality, educational entertainment for your children, with no violent content or in-app purchases.

So far, the developer has released Boston Bernie Snaps The City. It is available for Amazon App Store (Android) and Itunes. Tbomb has told me so many things about Boston that its ridiculous. Now, I want to take him there- just because he gets so excited. I love that these apps teach  vocabulary, geography, and history. They are also very entertaining.

The other characters are just too cute. They each have their own personalities, interests, dislikes, and city. Learn more about Boston Bernie, Atlanta Annie, Manhattan Mikey, Chicago Christy, and the future characters on their website. We love them and are patiently waiting for new apps to come out!

I love that once the app is purchased, you're good to go. There are no in-app purchases, so no distraught Tbomb running to me asking me if we can "buy this story," which gets oh so frustrating. This is one developer that you can download apps from without the other worries from around the internet. Try out Big City Animals. You will not be disappointed. 

Super Software: Infix PDF Editor

Disclaimer: I received the software in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

About 3 years ago, I had the chance to review Infix PDF creator, on Cari On Designing (Now Cari On Media). I was beyond impressed with this software, but I was new to PDF editing and creating. I have since learned more about this art and make and edit PDFs quite often. I use several different programs when working with PDFs, depending on what I am working on. However, Iceni's Infix PDF Editor is the most rounded of the programs I use. I have really enjoyed learning to do new things with it too.

I want to share why I love Infix PDF editor so much.

Features

• Easily fix typos in PDFs
• Edit any PDF without the source file (huge plus)
• Easily fill in forms without printing
• Automatic reformatting when editing
• Color Picker
• Search and Replace
• Sticky Notes
• Linked Text Boxes
• Works Like A Word Processor 
• Edit just about anything within the PDF
• Copy text and graphics
• Create PDFs
• Create PDF from any document
• Allows you to create PDFs from printed documents
• Translation tools
• Compose using Drag and Drop
• More Features

Linked Text Boxes

Sticky Notes

Buy

Iceni's Infix PDF Editor is available in 3 varieties. Choose between Professional, Standard, and Form Filler (free). You can even download a free trial to try it out. More details and features on their website. 

My Thoughts

I have been extremely impressed with the Infix PDF editor. I used to have to switch between different editors to get everything done. This is extremely annoying when I'm trying to get a project done, working on a deadline, or corresponding with a client on a project. Now that I've started using Infix, I rarely have to open another program. In fact, the only time I do is for my drag and drop converter. It's really nice to have this freedom to do what I want without having to switch between software. If you ever deal with PDFs, you should definitely try it out- I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from having it on their computer. 

Healthy Snacks Meet Disney

Disclosure: I received products to use at my #DisneySide @ Home party. I have not been otherwise compensated and all opinions are my own.

Brother's All-Natural Fruit Crisps sent me cases of their Disney apple crisps to use with my #DisneySide party. These things are truly amazing. On first impression, the kids wanted them because they looked cool, which suited me. Then, when tasting, they really were impressed.

When it was time for the kids to have their snacks, they each grabbed a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. Then, I passed out the apple crisps. Almost all of the kids (and adults) grabbed a pack. A few of the kids asked for a second cookie, but I convinced them to take the apples. These kids ate them like nobody's business. Everyone was impressed with the taste.

After talking with some of the parents, I learned how impressed they were. They were shocked at the taste, the fact that they are 100% apples, and each pack actually contains 1 1/2 apples. I, along with the other parents, was ecstatic to learn that there was no junk in them. I try to avoid all the junk in food, and it's nice when something the kids love is this way.

I found out after the party that most of the parents would be on their search for these super snacks! I, of course, sent them to their website brothersallnatural.com.

I had a few packs left after the #DisneySide Cars party, which was perfect since we had some guests from Virginia the following weekend. Our friend's son, J, is a year older than Tbomb, so all the kids had a blast together. When snack time came, I handed over the Brother's All-Natural Fruit Crisps to the kids (Cars to the boys, and Princess to Kodabug of course). The kids LOVED them, so of course the grown-ups had to try them too. Everyone loved them and was quite impressed with them. 

Seriously, these super snacks are now staples in our home. I even keep a pack in each of the kids backpacks so they have them while we're out or if they are at Nanny's house. If you haven't tried them yet, you should. Kodabug is 18months and they are her favorite thing in the world- especially since she can't eat fresh apples yet. 

Staying Prepared for Last Minute Events

I love planning events, especially when I have a while to plan them. I am not always that lucky though. I've often had to plan events just a couple of weeks or a month out. I've even had to plan a last minute luncheon in less than a week. From this, I've learned to stay prepared. In addition to my event planner bag, I have a toolkit that I keep stocked for those last minute events.

First, there are certain people you should add to your network. Get to know these people and work with them often. They can be essential to pulling off a great last minute event. Some of these people include florists, bakeries, venues, musicians, djs, and even caterers, depending on the type of events you work on. Start now thinking outside the box for venues, refreshments, and decor. You never know what you can do on your own at the last minute.

There are obvious things to have when planning events, like a list of what needs to be done, an event planner bag, a timeline, and even business cards. That's for another post though. Today, I want to talk about the physical items to have on hand in case a last minute event comes your way. These things will help to alleviate the stress.

Here are the things I have kept on hand for last minute events. This is just a general list- add or remove items to fit your needs.

1. Table covers in a neutral color (unless your organization uses a specific color). You can choose between table skirts, table cloths, or table runners like this chalkboard one I like. You can opt to go for vinyl or fabric, depending on your purpose. We usually do meet and greets, so vinyl works.

2. It never hurts to have some serving dishes on hand- you really don't want to serve snacks in the packages they came in.

3. It is a good idea to have some promotional items on hand, if you are doing events specifically for one business, organization, or group.

4. A generic sign or banner for your organization should always be on hand.

5. Table decor. This could be candles, vases, or some time of 3D prop.

6. Photo frames with information about your organization. The frames make it look more professional and thought out.

7. Do you use a specific hashtag for events and such within your organization? Get some custom printed items to show it off, along with social media handles. It never hurts to push that aspect of what you are doing.

8. Chalkboards. I really cannot stress enough the usefulness of a chalkboard. Use them in your events to convey certain hashtags, information, directions, or anything else. If you see a chalkboard you like, grab it. You cannot have too many. My suggestion though, is that you use Chalkboard markers as they look clearer and more professional.

9. There are other "big ticket" items that it wouldn't hurt to have. Some of these include a couple of tables, karaoke/ audio equipment, lighting, and other useful event items.

This is the basics of my list. There are other event/ organization specific items on the list, but I didn't want to include those here.

There are no affiliate links in this post. I used links to Shindigz.com because I truly love their company!

Confessions Of A Prodigal Son: A Modern Retelling

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review, but all opinions are my own. 

The increase of Christian films being released lately is like a song to my heart. I have always loved them- from Veggie Tales, to the 1990s version of Left Behind. They speak to my heart and it is a good feeling that by putting it in film version, there might be people that hear the word that otherwise may not. 

Confessions Of A Prodigal Son is no different. I love the modern retelling of a classic Bible Story. It speaks volumes about The Bible, when the stories can still relate to what is going on in our lives today. Whether for a moment, or years, everyone has been in the position of the prodigal son, which is what makes it so relate-able. 

Starring big names, such as Kevin Sorbo and Michael Bolton, Confessions Of The Prodigal Son is a classic coming-of-age story. Sean decides he is going to take part of his college fund into his own hands and goes about learning about life and the world, all the while ignoring the rules and expectations he was taught growing up. He was taught these things by his father, who is also his pastor. After meeting a beautiful girl, Sean is forced to rethink the things he thinks he knows. All this goes on while he lives a life full of partying and promiscuity. Sean finally begins to figure out that the choices we make determine the kind of story our life is going to tell. 

Join Sean on his journey with drama, laughter, relationships, faith, and redemption. Find out if "broken stories can have a happy ending." This is a wonderful movie, and I hope that you each take the time to see the preview and watch the full movie once it is available. After you watch, I encourage you to pass it along to someone who needs to hear the word- let's start a movement. (Remember The Shack- let's get this going the same way!)

Confessions of a Prodigal Son will be for sale on their site and in stores starting March 24th. You can see the preview at ConfessionsOfAProdigalSon.com, right on the homepage. 

Attention College Students: Are You Ready For The Summer Semester?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own. 

Whether you are a new college student, returning college student, nontraditional student, or you squeeze in school with everything else you do (I know you busy moms are out there), I have something exciting to share with you!

You know, when I was in college, we couldn't rent textbooks. We had to buy them, and if we were lucky enough (more often we weren't) we could sell them back to the campus bookstore. Those $300 textbooks took a great deal of summer saving! I'm so glad that times have changed and that I'm able to share with you about CampusBookRentals.com. They have been around since 2007 and have proven themselves time and time again that they are the rental service to use. 

When you choose to use CampusBookRentals.com, the benefits are astounding. The prices are 40-90% off bookstore prices, you get free shipping both ways, and they even offer flexible renting periods. The coolest feature to me is that you can highlight and mark in your rented textbooks, and still send them back! They even offer a RentBack program that allows you to continue making money on the textbooks you bought (it's okay if you didn't know you could rent them until now). 

Even better than all this is that CampusBookRentals.com donates to Operation Smile for every textbook rented. Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity. They perform safe and effective cleft lip and cleft pablatesurgery to help kids all over the world have more safe and hopeful lives. They also do research into the causes, prevention, treatment, and eradication of the cleft lip and cleft palate problem. Did you know that every three minutes, a child is born with one of these? 

There are so many reasons to rent from CampusBookRentals.com, but I'm sure you still have questions. Here's a video explaining the process.