Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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A BIT ABOUT THE GAME:
Includes 27 wooden dominoes with cute-as-a-bug illustrations for each number. These colorful dominos will provide hours of fun filled play. Tiles come in a portable bug habitat with sliding mesh window that is easy to take anywhere. Ages 2+.
MY THOUGHTS:
Skills Learned/Practiced & Lessons Taught
When I first received this product to review, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. Dominoes? Really?! I never played dominoes until I was much older and, to be honest with you, I often found it to be a boring game. However, now that I'm a parent, my views have changed drastically and I'll explain why.
This Busy Bug Count and Match Dominoes Game is great for young children. My daughter is 3 and we sat down together today and played this game. There are many different skills that she is learning and practicing by playing this game. She practices her counting by counting out each player's starting tiles (for her and I this was 7 tiles each). Next the instructions tell you to stand the tiles on their sides in a line. It was obvious that the fine motor skill of standing flat things on their sides needed to be worked on some more. While she got frustrated when the dominoes kept falling over, she persevered and was able to stand all 7 of her tiles up. She had such a smile on her face after accomplishing that small task.
Next the player with the highest totaled domino plays first. This part I had to help her with, but if I had been patient we could've easily counted all the bugs on each of her tiles and mine to see which tile had the most (wasn't quite that patient today :D).
Both times she had the higher tile so she played first. The next skill that presented itself was matching. My daughter was able to look at the two playable spots and match her tiles to them. After once or twice of explaining if she had no matches that she needed to pick a new tile, she learned to do it on her own when no matches were available. I was quite amazed at how quickly my 3 yr. old picked up on the rules of this game.
Mommy won round 1 and round 2 went to my daughter. The final skill learned from this game is good sportsmanship! Having lost the first round, my daughter became a bit upset that she wasn't the winner. I used this as a teachable moment and explained to her that you can't win every time. I asked her if she wanted to play again and she said yes. When she won the second round she proceeded to taunt me. Another teachable moment to explain that it's not polite to taunt a loser, but that you should instead shake hands and say good game.
I absolutely love the lessons I can teach by playing a simple game like dominoes!
Quality and Craftmanship of the Game
A wooden box encases 27 wooden tiles. The box and tiles are both very well made. The tiles are chunky enough for small hands. The pictures on the tiles are simple and colorful. The backs of the tiles sport a multi-colored stripe pattern that matches nicely with the color schemes of the rest of the tiles. The carrying case for the dominoes doubles as a bug habitat, but personally I'd be too worried about losing one of the dominoes when they are out of the case and I wouldn't want the beautiful case to get dirty. That's just me though! It would certainly work well to contain bugs and has a sturdy carrying handle!
The size of this game is great too. It'd be an easy game to throw into your carry on to play on the plane or in w/ your camping gear for a family game night! Very good size measuring around the size of a box of Mac - n - Cheese (only slightly deeper).
This is a great product for young kids and it is available online at www.manhattantoy.com or at a Specialty Store near you.
As an added bonus to my readers, Manhattan Toy is offering free shipping* on any order at www.manhattantoy.com from Today – August 31st, 2011. Simply Enter promo code TRAVELTOY.
*FREE SHIPPING OFFER VALID IN U.S. ONLY!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!! OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS!
This contest will run until July 25th, 2011 (since it's my big 30th b-day that day!) All entries must be received by midnight on the 25th to qualify!
Manhattan Toy has graciously offered to send a Busy Bug Count & Match Dominoes Game to giveaway to one of my lucky readers! Just follow the steps below to enter! Winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted via email if they win.
!!!ALL COMMENTS MUST INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!!!
MANDATORY TO QUALIFY FOR GIVEAWAY**:
1. Like Manhattan Toy on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
2. Visit Manhattan Toy's website and leave me a comment stating what other Manhattan Toy your child would enjoy and why.
**These 2 items must be completed to qualify for the giveaway and before you can be eligible for any additional entries!
Additional Entries:
1. Follow Manhattan Toy on twitter and tell me about it.
2. Follow me via Google friend connect and tell me about it ----------->
3. Follow me via Networked Blogs and tell me about it ------------>
4. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment w/ your twitter name (and email address)
5. Tweet about this giveaway (Daily Tweet) (1 entry per day)
5. Subscribe to my RSS feed and tell me about it
6. Blog about my giveaway and leave the link (3 entries - please leave 3 separate comments)
REMEMBER THAT EACH ENTRY MUST HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE! THANKS FOR ENTERING AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!
A BIT ABOUT THE GAME:
Includes 27 wooden dominoes with cute-as-a-bug illustrations for each number. These colorful dominos will provide hours of fun filled play. Tiles come in a portable bug habitat with sliding mesh window that is easy to take anywhere. Ages 2+.
MY THOUGHTS:
When I first received this product to review, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. Dominoes? Really?! I never played dominoes until I was much older and, to be honest with you, I often found it to be a boring game. However, now that I'm a parent, my views have changed drastically and I'll explain why.
This Busy Bug Count and Match Dominoes Game is great for young children. My daughter is 3 and we sat down together today and played this game. There are many different skills that she is learning and practicing by playing this game. She practices her counting by counting out each player's starting tiles (for her and I this was 7 tiles each). Next the instructions tell you to stand the tiles on their sides in a line. It was obvious that the fine motor skill of standing flat things on their sides needed to be worked on some more. While she got frustrated when the dominoes kept falling over, she persevered and was able to stand all 7 of her tiles up. She had such a smile on her face after accomplishing that small task.
Next the player with the highest totaled domino plays first. This part I had to help her with, but if I had been patient we could've easily counted all the bugs on each of her tiles and mine to see which tile had the most (wasn't quite that patient today :D).
Both times she had the higher tile so she played first. The next skill that presented itself was matching. My daughter was able to look at the two playable spots and match her tiles to them. After once or twice of explaining if she had no matches that she needed to pick a new tile, she learned to do it on her own when no matches were available. I was quite amazed at how quickly my 3 yr. old picked up on the rules of this game.
Mommy won round 1 and round 2 went to my daughter. The final skill learned from this game is good sportsmanship! Having lost the first round, my daughter became a bit upset that she wasn't the winner. I used this as a teachable moment and explained to her that you can't win every time. I asked her if she wanted to play again and she said yes. When she won the second round she proceeded to taunt me. Another teachable moment to explain that it's not polite to taunt a loser, but that you should instead shake hands and say good game.
I absolutely love the lessons I can teach by playing a simple game like dominoes!
A wooden box encases 27 wooden tiles. The box and tiles are both very well made. The tiles are chunky enough for small hands. The pictures on the tiles are simple and colorful. The backs of the tiles sport a multi-colored stripe pattern that matches nicely with the color schemes of the rest of the tiles. The carrying case for the dominoes doubles as a bug habitat, but personally I'd be too worried about losing one of the dominoes when they are out of the case and I wouldn't want the beautiful case to get dirty. That's just me though! It would certainly work well to contain bugs and has a sturdy carrying handle!
The size of this game is great too. It'd be an easy game to throw into your carry on to play on the plane or in w/ your camping gear for a family game night! Very good size measuring around the size of a box of Mac - n - Cheese (only slightly deeper).
This is a great product for young kids and it is available online at www.manhattantoy.com or at a Specialty Store near you.
As an added bonus to my readers, Manhattan Toy is offering free shipping* on any order at www.manhattantoy.com from Today – August 31st, 2011. Simply Enter promo code TRAVELTOY.
*FREE SHIPPING OFFER VALID IN U.S. ONLY!
This contest will run until July 25th, 2011 (since it's my big 30th b-day that day!) All entries must be received by midnight on the 25th to qualify!
Manhattan Toy has graciously offered to send a Busy Bug Count & Match Dominoes Game to giveaway to one of my lucky readers! Just follow the steps below to enter! Winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted via email if they win.
!!!ALL COMMENTS MUST INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!!!
MANDATORY TO QUALIFY FOR GIVEAWAY**:
1. Like Manhattan Toy on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
2. Visit Manhattan Toy's website and leave me a comment stating what other Manhattan Toy your child would enjoy and why.
**These 2 items must be completed to qualify for the giveaway and before you can be eligible for any additional entries!
Additional Entries:
1. Follow Manhattan Toy on twitter and tell me about it.
2. Follow me via Google friend connect and tell me about it ----------->
3. Follow me via Networked Blogs and tell me about it ------------>
4. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment w/ your twitter name (and email address)
5. Tweet about this giveaway (Daily Tweet) (1 entry per day)
5. Subscribe to my RSS feed and tell me about it
6. Blog about my giveaway and leave the link (3 entries - please leave 3 separate comments)
REMEMBER THAT EACH ENTRY MUST HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE! THANKS FOR ENTERING AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!
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by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long
READ THE BACK:
ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR, OLD-FASHIONED COURTSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND LOVE IS AN ETERNAL PROMISE.
HEALING HEARTS by Beth Wiseman
He left to find himself. She found her way without him. Now Levina and Naaman Lapp are together again, feeling miles apart. Although coming home was the right thing to do, Naaman must regain the trust and respect of his wife who, in his absence, has learned to trust God like never before. Could it be that their prior years together have simply been a preface to a greater love than they have ever known?
A MARRIAGE OF THE HEART by Kelly Long
Abigail Kauffman is looking for a way out; Joseph Lambert is seeking a way in. Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.
WHAT THE HEART SEES by Kathleen Fuller
When Ellie Chupp loses her sight in an accident -- and then her boyfriend shortly after that -- she believes love will never be in her future. But Christopher Miller has returned home, five years after fleeing from the tragedy that broke his heart. When Ellie and Chris meet again, sparks fly. Could true love be a matter of seeing with new eyes?
MY THOUGHTS:
This book came to me in the mail MONTHS ago and I have just now had the opportunity to read it. I'm glad that it didn't get lost among all the other review books I have because it really is a treasure of a book! The three novellas in this book are each their own story, but the characters from each story intertwine among all the stories. It gives the reader the feeling of congruency.
Each of these stories is beautifully written. Having grown up just a short distance away from several different Amish communities, I was familiar with the look of the characters and that really helped make the characters real to me.
My favorite thing about this book, however, is how it kind of caught me off guard. I was really hit hard by the unconditional love that these characters felt towards one another. There were many times I was teary eyed simply because of a heartfelt gesture or phrase that one of the characters would use. It made me take a look at the way I treat those around me (especially my hubby)and to cherish those things. I think it also makes me long for the type of relationship and romance that you see throughout this book. It's like once you're married, the romantic part drifts away. I miss the small things my husband would do for me to show me he cared. Now we are all so busy with the kids and such that life just gets in the way.
I really like that this book is broken down into three separate stories. By doing this, each of the stories has its own significant impact, but at the same time the reader meets new characters and sees how their lives fit into the lives of the characters they met in the previous story.
As an added bonus feature of the book, the authors have included several Amish recipes for treats found throughout the stories as well as a Reading Group Guide to help with discussions about the book once finished. The authors even state that the "guide contains spoilers, so don' tread before completing the novellas". This group guide allows the readers to delve deeper into their relationship with Christ. What a wonderful addition to be used at the readers' discretion.
Word of advice: If you are going to read this book, don't do it near your time of the month otherwise you will need to buy several boxes of tissues! Otherwise, I highly recommend this book! :D
by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long
READ THE BACK:
ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR, OLD-FASHIONED COURTSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND LOVE IS AN ETERNAL PROMISE.
He left to find himself. She found her way without him. Now Levina and Naaman Lapp are together again, feeling miles apart. Although coming home was the right thing to do, Naaman must regain the trust and respect of his wife who, in his absence, has learned to trust God like never before. Could it be that their prior years together have simply been a preface to a greater love than they have ever known?
Abigail Kauffman is looking for a way out; Joseph Lambert is seeking a way in. Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.
When Ellie Chupp loses her sight in an accident -- and then her boyfriend shortly after that -- she believes love will never be in her future. But Christopher Miller has returned home, five years after fleeing from the tragedy that broke his heart. When Ellie and Chris meet again, sparks fly. Could true love be a matter of seeing with new eyes?
MY THOUGHTS:
This book came to me in the mail MONTHS ago and I have just now had the opportunity to read it. I'm glad that it didn't get lost among all the other review books I have because it really is a treasure of a book! The three novellas in this book are each their own story, but the characters from each story intertwine among all the stories. It gives the reader the feeling of congruency.
Each of these stories is beautifully written. Having grown up just a short distance away from several different Amish communities, I was familiar with the look of the characters and that really helped make the characters real to me.
My favorite thing about this book, however, is how it kind of caught me off guard. I was really hit hard by the unconditional love that these characters felt towards one another. There were many times I was teary eyed simply because of a heartfelt gesture or phrase that one of the characters would use. It made me take a look at the way I treat those around me (especially my hubby)and to cherish those things. I think it also makes me long for the type of relationship and romance that you see throughout this book. It's like once you're married, the romantic part drifts away. I miss the small things my husband would do for me to show me he cared. Now we are all so busy with the kids and such that life just gets in the way.
I really like that this book is broken down into three separate stories. By doing this, each of the stories has its own significant impact, but at the same time the reader meets new characters and sees how their lives fit into the lives of the characters they met in the previous story.
As an added bonus feature of the book, the authors have included several Amish recipes for treats found throughout the stories as well as a Reading Group Guide to help with discussions about the book once finished. The authors even state that the "guide contains spoilers, so don' tread before completing the novellas". This group guide allows the readers to delve deeper into their relationship with Christ. What a wonderful addition to be used at the readers' discretion.
Word of advice: If you are going to read this book, don't do it near your time of the month otherwise you will need to buy several boxes of tissues! Otherwise, I highly recommend this book! :D
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