Vocal Coach Singer {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Singing is a wonderful ability that we have. Many feel that they cannot hold a tune but still enjoy singing. I’d figure into that category! Both of my kids can hold a tune though and I thought this program would be good to fine ‘tune’ (haha) their talents –and hopefully help me get a tune! Through the Schoolhouse Review Crew I’ve been privileged to receive Vocal Coach for review.

Chris and Carole have been teaching singing for over 40 years.  In addition to their wonderful products, they offer private vocal coaching and vocal seminars.  They are passionate about teaching people to sing. (from Schoolhouse Review Crew post)

What we received:

10 zipped files for download (MP3s) (retail $99.99) that include the same program that is included when you purchase the physical product (retail $119.99):

Vocal Coach Singer Includes:

7 Training CDs:

Getting Started
Complete Breathing
Complete Warm-Up
Complete Tone
Complete Expanding Your Range
Complete Diction
Complete Performance

4 Workout CDs:

Daily Workout High Voice 1 & 2
Daily Workout Medium/Low Voice 1 & 2

Plus these great educational tools:

Guidebook – Full-size Instructional Guidebook to Ensure Success
Printable Lead Sheets – each exercise in our course, plus track lists
Personal Singer's Journal (Getting Started Journal & Workout Journal) to Track Your Progress
Vocal Coach Song Evaluation – Evaluation form to enable you to make more intelligent song selections

Technical support for MP3s:  LIMITED SUPPORT

It can be downloaded and transferred to a portable device like an IPod to be used on the go. I did not get this to download onto any of my own personal devices but not due to any fault of the downloads I was sent –chalk it up to faulty software and technologically challenged user.  ‘Vocal Coach Singer’ is intended to be used with older students and adults.

The order that is recommended to go through this program is:

• Posture
• Breathing
• Tone
• Warm Ups
• Rhythm
• Diction
• Dynamics
• Vocal Health

Here are a couple snapshots of the pdfs included in this.

Song Evaluation:

Work-out Journal:

My thoughts of the program:

It’s difficult for me to say that I would recommend this or not but this is in no way due to the program itself –I did not get to use it as fully as I’d hoped in the review period. Because I could not get it to download to a player, or mobile device, I found it difficult troublesome to go through the cds after each ‘lesson’. It just wasn’t as easy or convenient for me to get them running. I just mention this because you could be in the same boat!

As for the content of this program –it would appear to be a very well done and laid out program. I’ve never had any instruction in singing besides high school choir. My kids both were in a class at a homeschool co-op where they did get some instruction on singing. But this is more in-depth. It covers much more than simply going through the notes (do-re-me-etc. –my apologies if I wrote that wrong). It goes through why they suggest doing what they suggest (such as the posture and exercise lessons).

When I listened through the lessons, I did find the voice of Chris and Carole to be nice and not grating on my nerves. Sometimes the dialogue does seem rehearsed but it wasn’t too bad. I like the journal for each time going through a lesson with the program –it helps to give immediate feedback as to how we feel and think about what we are doing.

I do plan to get this into our week more because from the little that it was used, it is a good program. I like that it is Christian focused as well as homeschool friendly. They also have free resources on their websites.

If you have more questions that I’m sure I didn’t answer, you can check out the FAQs. Vocal Coach also offers programs for younger ages –some of the Schoolhouse Review Crew were given Teaching Kids to Sing. Chris and Carole also offer personal singing lessons. 

You can read more reviews of this and the other program by checking the post at the Schoolhouse Review Crew. Click on the image below to get to the post.

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Contact Vocal Coach:

Website: http://www.vocalcoach.com

Email: contact@vocalcoach.com (general questions, schedule lessons)

customerservice@rede-commerce.com (questions, comments regarding an order or product)

Contact on the website: http://vocalcoach.com/contact/

Phone:  615-280-0554 (9am-4pm CST)

Blog: http://blog.vocalcoach.com/

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***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed item free from Vocal Coach via the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Duo Window Reading Rulers: Crossbow Education {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

The Eye Level Reading Ruler is a colored overlay text highlighter…Discreet and portable, the reading ruler is made of a combination of opaque and transparent plastic that both underlines the text and highlights it in a coloured tint. Simply read the text through either of the tinted plastic strips of your selected color, and track down the page: broad strip for paragraphs; narrow strip for single lines.

Crossbow Education are specialists in teaching aids for children with Dyslexia and Visual Stress.
~Educational Supplier of the Year 2012 award winner~

Product: Eye Level Reading Rulers: Pack of 10 (also available in packs of 5 for $9.45 {add shipping})
“These have two windows, one is 1/2” (11 mm) wide and one is 1 1/4” (30 mm) wide: the narrow window will take one line of big text and two of small text, and can be trimmed if helpful.”
Retail: $16.95 (add Library Mail postage- that’s cheap!) –check website for most current pricing
Age: Any
Colors Available:

I’m reading a book, doesn’t matter if it is a good book or just a so-so book, but I’m reading and my eyes keep skipping around. The words dance from place to place! Squeeze my eyes shut, rub them a few times, pull the page closer; nothing helps. Sigh, start over. I do not have a learning disability (that I’m aware of) but I have had a difficult time with focus and retention while reading in the past few years. Perhaps it’s my age, ahem, or just poor eyesight (time to get new glasses!), but whatever the reason, I’m struggling.

Has that happened to you? Do you or your child have a difficult time with focusing on the words on the page or struggle with reading in general? Crossbow might just be able to help!

Perhaps if you or your child have been diagnosed or live with dyslexia, visual stress (Meares-Irlen syndrome), ADHD, autism, or other special needs or reading struggles, you might have heard of the technique of color ‘coding’ pages and/or passages to help read them easier –thus retaining information better. I first became aware of this in college when I took a class with my mother-in-law, who had a terrible time with our math assignments. She is a very smart lady but for whatever reason this math class was very difficult for her. One of the strategies she employed was color coded paper for her assignments. I cannot say that she aced the class (I don’t recall her final grade but she did pass –oh, I did too, by the way) but it may have helped her to focus more and be able to work out her math problems. Perhaps I should have used the technique –I barely passed! But, I digress.

Crossbow Education has been focusing on providing tools for children and adults who struggle with dyslexia and special needs. Their reading rulers have been used in UK schools and they feel if more people knew about these, they could benefit more children and adults. I’m thinking that I agree.

I used the rulers for anything and everything I was reading. Here’s a {nifty} collage I made of them when reading magazines.

As soon as we received the rulers, the kids and I chose our color. Of course we used all of them at one point or another to see which we preferred. It’s amazing the difference these overlays have on the page! Yellow is for me. Definitely. And that isn’t just because yellow happens to be my favorite color. Purely coincidental {probably}; yellow works the best while I am reading.

Helpful aspects:

• Reduces glare
• Improves focus
• Assists tracking
• Isolates single line of text OR paragraphs

I can also use these for reading medias other than paper: computer, Kindle and Kindle Fire. But I admit that it doesn’t work that well on the Kindle Fire; it causes the screen to be less clear, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the ruler. You’ll notice that yellow is the dominant color on the following photos.

In my opinion, these worked the best with books and paper (not the magazine type paper)–the third image down is printer paper with a reading schedule printed on it:

Everyone is different, of course, and a color that worked for myself or my kids may not work with you or your child. Crossbow suggests purchasing the 10 pack, trying each color to see which is best suited and then purchasing however many are needed of the color that works best. In the paper that came with the rulers it says:

“If you have a mixed pack of colors, test read with all the colors, choose the one you feel most comfortable with, and use it to read…[C]hoose the one that is clearest. Don’t worry that you seem to like on color one day and change the next day. Varying lighting conditions make a difference.”

Remember how I mentioned I used these with my computer and other reading devices? Crossbow has a free 30 day trial of their downloadable Virtual Color Overlay*. Other products* offered by Crossbow include:

• Visual Stress
  • Covered Overlays (large, covers the entire page)
  • Single Window Reading Rulers (available in packs of 5, 10 and 30)
  • Assessment Pack
  • Virtual Reading Rulers and Colored Overlays (to limit glare from computer)
• Sand Timers
• Spelling
• Math
• Phonics
• Language Arts

Bottom line:

I found that using the rulers helped tremendously when I was reading. Especially it helped reading challenging works; it kept me more focused line by line. Before I used to have to reread the paragraph a few times and put a piece of paper over both the preceding text and the following text, fairly boxing in my specific text. With these rulers it’s almost like the text before and after are not even there!

Yes! I recommend these to other people who are struggling, for whatever reason, with reading. At least give them a try. You could purchase a pack of 5 to test them out. They are less than $2 a ruler (about $2.66 with shipping). The company has a satisfaction guarantee on their products.

It was a pleasant surprise that I could use them with my computer and other reading devices. It worked very well on both the computer and Kindle. It is a little awkward to use on the computer because I had to hold it up to the screen; tired arms if there was a lot of reading! But I do quite a bit of computer reading and thought it worth the little arm strain to alleviate a little eye/reading strain.

My kids used these as well but there wasn’t really a noticeable change in how they read or perceived their reading. Both are strong readers in the first place. I thought it might help my daughter because she also has some of the same issue of ‘wandering’ eyes or ‘bouncing’ letters. They said they didn’t really feel a difference but they thought they were neat anyway. They make a good bookmark also.

They are made out of a durable plastic that held up well under my 13 year old boy’s use, so you can draw your own conclusions on that. I will mention that they scratch, I won’t say ‘easily’ but it can happen. Say you want to, for some reason, put it between the rings of your three-ring binder (why? well, why do boys do half of what they do? Hmmm?). It will scratch it. Take note.

*I have not used any other products by Crossbow Education; I reviewed the Duo Window Reading Rulers only.

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Read other reviews by Schoolhouse Review Crew members- click the image below.

Learn more about who makes up Crossbow Education.
Contact: (at the website)
 http://www.crossboweducation.us/contacts?phpMyAdmin=W0BZ2zPXwVfRQQOtu-mIVvETeP0
Mailing Address:
Crossbow Education Corp.
P.O. Box 1977, Davidson, NC 28036
Phone: 704-987-1501
Website: http://www.crossboweducation.us

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***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed items free from Crossbow Education via the Schoolhouse Review Crew. No other compensation was given. All opinions stated are my own or those of my family. I only recommend products that I feel would truly be of benefit to others based on my own experiences. See Disclosure/Policies.***

National Tax Training School–Federal Individual Income Tax Course {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

For years, no exaggeration, I’ve wanted to do taxes. I’ve looked into local tax courses but just never took the plunge. I think part of it was that I was intimidated- taxes intimidate a lot of people! The goal for taking a tax course, personally, would be to have a part-time home business, as well as to do my own taxes. About the time that the thought was in my mind again to try a tax course, National Tax Training School came up for review with the Schoolhouse Review Crew. How quickly do you reckon I filled out that form?!

National Tax Training School (NTTS) has been in the business of tax education since 1952. They specialize in offering complete accredited tax courses via distance education, especially for home study. 

NTTS offered some of the Schoolhouse Review Crew members the opportunity to review their Federal Individual Income Tax Course. The course is offered in two options*:

1. Complete Course with 4 years Post-Graduate Support –$795
2. Complete Course with 2 years Post-Graduate Support –$495

*there are payment options for each of these; check the website for current options.

We were also given access near the end of the review period to the online portion of the course but I’ve not been able to utilize it enough to include more than this mere mention of it in my review. I do intend to use it as I progress with the course.

NTTS says that those with at least two years of high school can do well in this course. It is for those who have no experience with taxes as well as a refresher course for previous or current tax preparers. The course might also be eligible for college transfer credits; check with your college of choice to find out.

What is included in the course:

• Course Text- this came to me in a large 3-inch 3-ring binder with 20 lessons and 20 envelopes to send my exams to NTTS for grading
• Self-Check Practice Problems- within each unit or lesson is a self-check practice ‘test’; these tell you where to look in the lesson(s) if you get the answer incorrect
• Exams- straight-forward format, much like the self-check practice problems but without the hints (or answers); these are sent in the pre-addressed envelopes
• Instructor Grading Service- each exam I submitted came back with ‘checks’ and x’s for correct and incorrect, respectively. I have the option to email my instructor if I have questions pertaining to the course. So far I’ve not felt the need to do so.
• Practical Case Studies- these are usually delivered after the 17th lesson but we received them within a few weeks of getting the first 20 lessons so that we could see what else was included in the course
• Guidance Service- this is available to me if I should need help with any portion of the course, at any time
• Building and Operating a Successful Tax Practice Book- also delivered after the 17th lesson, is a 285 page book to help with keeping a tax business going
• Reference Book- this is huge- literally; 850 pages. I’d equate this to the tax preparer’s bible. Also delivered after the 17th lesson.
• Graduation Certificate- I’ve yet to get this far
• Postgraduate Services- this includes up to date information about current tax laws and forms, up to 4 years, depending on the enrollment chosen

It also prepares the student to take and pass the required IRS RTRP exam.

Some details and my thoughts on this course:
Honestly, I was nervous that the language would be above me. I’ve never done taxes before and although I have worked in a tax office, if we weren’t tax preparers we were discouraged from ‘learning’ tax lingo. The introductory letter that accompanied the course did comfort me some; I felt that this was a company, a school, interested in the success of its students.

At the website it says that some students complete this course in as little as 8 weeks but I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it in that amount of time. Fortunately, I do have a year to complete the course, with extensions available.  We’ve had the course for 6 weeks and I’ve completed 6 units. Initially, I hoped I would be able to get through 2 units a week but life has thwarted that plan.

The lessons are very straight-forward and easy enough to understand. I did feel that the inclusion of information that would be covered in depth in a later lesson, but not the lesson I was studying, to be a little distracting. Also, there were some words that I know what mean in every day life but in tax ‘lingo’ I did not and there really wasn’t a definition or explanation given. Fortunately, so far there have not been very many of those. This is an instance when I would feel the need to email my instructor.

It is really set up in a methodical way; it isn’t difficult to navigate. In each lesson, for example Assignment 7, we start with a contents page. For Assignment (or Lesson as I refer to them) 7, it goes like this:

• 701 Introduction
• 702 Cost Basis
• 703 Property Received in Exchange for Services or Other Property
• etc.

The numbers, 701, 702, etc., correspond to each subheading in the lesson, not the page numbers. The lesson itself is conversational, I would say. Here is an example from the same lesson:

701 Introduction
From your study of the previous assignment you already know that in order to compute the gain or loss on a sale or exchange of property we must know the basis, to the taxpayer, of the property that was sold or exchanged.
…
You will learn later that no depreciation deduction is allowable on personal use (nonbusiness) property.

Also throughout the reading are many, many examples of how to apply what is being learned. Here is a simple example from this lesson of the in-text examples (some are more involved):

Example (3): In 2010, Mr. Atkins paid $12,000 for an automobile which he uses entirely in his business. For 2010 and 2011 he deducted total depreciation of $5,040. The adjusted basis of the car at the end of 2011 therefore is $6,960 ($12,000 – $5,040).

At the end of the lesson there is the Self-Scoring Practice Test and it is in the following format (I’ve not included the entire question/answer):

• Question 1: The basis of property…. (True – False) 
  
• Answer 1: False. A casualty…. (701)                           ________

The Answer includes why the answer is such. It also includes where to find the answer in the lesson. The line at the end of the answer is for scoring. In each practice test there is a specified scoring system at the bottom of each page of the practice test. Once I felt confident that I scored well on my practice tests then I moved on to the real test. These are set up in just about the same format as the practice but there are no answers, nor any hints. Also at the top of the test page is a place for you to write your name and address along with your student ID so that the graded test can be mailed back to you. The ID, of course, is to credit you with the score.

When the graded test came back to me in the mail it also included a solutions sheet. That sheet had the correct answers and why, much like the practice tests. I really liked this for reassurance as well as for when I missed questions, I knew why I had erred.

I was really gung-ho when I first received this. I loved the huge binder and was starry-eyed at the ‘new’ curriculum that I’d received (many homeschoolers will understand that feeling). I completed lessons 1-3 fairly quickly but then started to ‘feel the pressure’ with getting into more complex tax matters. I decided to wait for my results before proceeding with lesson 4. The results were very encouraging and so I continued on with 4-5. Again, I started to get nervous that I’d not done as well as I’d hoped and so waited for a bit for the results from those three tests. They’ve come back encouraging as well and that is where I am right now.

Something that I’m going to point out here about the course as-is is the postage! I’ve sent off 6 exams- that’s $.45 per envelope = $2.70; figure if I had to do all 20 = a book of stamps! Okay, that really isn’t that big of a deal but since I did so many exams in a row it felt like a lot at the time. All items sent to you are postage paid. And I will again make mention of the online portion of this course: right now they have the first 10 lessons online which includes the tests. No postage! They are in the beta phase with it at the moment. I am going to be using it more as I go along. But I do like the paper portion of the course; I like to mark up my ‘book’ with notes.

I fully intend to complete this course with an A (aim high!) and also to utilize the information and support that is part of the course. I’ve already begun looking through the book Building and Operating a Successful Tax Practice ($49.95) because that is the goal for me. I don’t wish for a large tax practice but a small one that I can help our family bring in some income while doing a job that I feel I will really enjoy- and at home!

I really like this answer (emphasis mine) given in the FAQs section about if this course covers tax preparation only:

Mere mechanical knowledge of how to fill in a tax form, what figure to put on which line, will not make you a true Tax Professional. To earn the rewards and prestige tax work offers, you must know how to search for tax savings possibilities, how to make effective use of advance tax planning, and how to find tax saving elections and alternatives. You will see that the NTTS training program superbly achieves these results.

I have learned so much from the little I’ve done in this course and feel that I will be perfectly capable of doing my own taxes this coming year. Who knows, in a short time after that, I might be doing other’s taxes.

If you are considering a tax course, I would encourage you to look at NTTS. It is a solid course with the expertise and support you’ll need. If you are concerned about the cost, think of it in terms of how you will use the information you gain. If you do your own taxes as opposed to someone else doing them, you could save yourself a lot more (but you might already have an awesome tax preparer and save yourself no more). Or if you were to take this information, take the required IRS RTRP exam, you could do taxes for others and recover your costs in a short time.

I encourage you to read other Schoolhouse Review Crew members comments about this tax course. Click on the image below to find more reviews.

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed tax course free from National Tax Training School via the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

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NTTS also offers Higher Course in Federal Taxes, California Tax Preparer Course, IRS RTRP CPE Courses, and CTEC CPE Course.

Contact:

Address:
National Tax Training School
67 Ramapo Valley Rd. Suite 102
PO Box 767
Mahwah, NJ 07430-0767

Website: http://www.nattax.com
http://www.nattax.com/contact.htm

Email: info@nattax.com

Telephone:
800-914-8138      
201-684-0828     
9 am - 5 pm ET Mon -Thu
9 am - 2 pm ET Fri

Fax
888-814-8140
201-684-0829

WealthQuest for Teens {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

There are some smart people out in this world and I get to try out a lot of the creative programs they put together. One program that some of the members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been blessed to review is from Jill Suskind, WealthQuest for Teens. Let me just say this: my daughter loves this program!

What is WealthQuest for Teens? It is an “online resource for finding innovative, engaging, practical tools for teaching your teen effective money management.” (from the website, emphasis mine) It was designed for teens ages 14-19 and their parents.

I don’t feel that the website gives very much information about this program. There are no samples that I could find, other than the above video, for what you will see in this program. You can sign up for the mailing list and receive the first chapter of the parents ebook free  (on the homepage, on the right, you have the option of signing up via email). I would like to say that the endorsements by apparently well-known finance gurus was a selling point for me but it wasn’t really. However, there are testimonies from previous parents, teachers and teens that have used the program; all good reviews.

Money ‘issues’ have never been hidden in our house but I don’t know that we are open about our habits with money with our kids. Growing up I heard, “I don’t have any money,” from my parents a lot. But there wasn’t a lack of income just a lack of efficient money management. They didn’t share with us what they did. I don’t even recall any advice on how to handle money. I did have a Personal Finance class in high school but…honestly, it didn’t help at all. I don’t recall anything of value from it.

I think what caught my eye and why I was interested to review this product is because it is a program for helping “this generation of teens to meet the financial realities of adulthood with confidence and competence.” Growing up with poor examples of money-management and attitude toward finances, I understand that this is an issue, not just in my house but for this entire country. Adequate instruction isn’t given in school to help our teens know how to be smart with their money. But not just that: “While all of the lessons offered through WealthQuest for Teens online products are about money and wealth building, they are really about wealth in all areas of life.”

I looked over the program before letting my 16 year old daughter use the program. She will be the one to tell you what she liked/disliked, what worked/didn’t work. I will give you my thoughts on the program as well as all the nitty gritty details like where to find this and how much it’s going to cost. Here goes!

The program can be purchased for $39.95 and consists of four ‘parts’:

• Basic Seminar QuickStart Guide Teen Workbook,
• 7-Module Video Series,
• Parent ebook
• and Online Money Management Program (MoneyTrail.net)

Here are the questions I put to my teen using this program, and her answers:

Q: When you first heard you were going to be using this program, what did you expect? Did using the program change your initial expectations? If yes, how so?

A: I expected a boring course on budgeting, savings, stocks, and such, but it really turned out to be different! It isn’t about all those ‘complicated’ parts of money, but really the basics – the basics that aren’t very well known. It turned out to be fun and educational.

Q: How did you ‘use’ the program? Take us through your typical session using WealthQuest for Teens.

A: Each day I watched one of the videos, filled out the questions, and read from one of the suggested books. I would think about how it all applies to me, and then I would apply it to my life – dividing my money up, saving my money, and figuring out what I wanted my money for. *My note: she ‘narrated’ quite a bit from the book readings she did and taught us a few things along the way!*

Q: What was your favorite aspect of this program?

A: It’s very easy to understand. The program wasn’t hard to read, but the things I learned kept me thinking later on – it really changed my perspective on a lot of things. I also like the ‘silo system’ – the system suggested for managing your money: it’s simple but efficient!

Q: What did you think of the online money management system?

A: It’s simple to use and works fine. I didn’t use it very much because I felt it was simpler to have a physical notebook (*she uses envelopes for ‘silos’*) for keeping track, without having to go online.

Q: Do you think this is a beneficial program for teens? Why or why not?

A: I think it is very good for teens! I would not be saving my money as well as I am now if I had not gone through this – and those habits will stick with me for life! As is said in the program, the sooner you learn these things, the more time you have for it to become a good habit, and that will help you out a lot later in life.

Q: What else would you like to let readers know about this program?

A: There are many good suggested books to read along with the program – definitely read at least one! The more you know, the better you can do with your money. (One she is reading pictured below)

This program gets a hearty thumbs up from my 16 year old as a great money management program that will instill good habits for later life as well.

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I read the Parent’s Guide that came with the program. It is 60 pages long, so not a terribly long read. The table of contents looks like this:

• Prelude: This book is for you if…
• Chapter 1: Teen Financial Literacy: Defining the Problem, the Goal, and the

  

• Solution
• Chapter 2: Origins and Overview of the Online Video Program: The Basic Seminar for Teens
• Chapter 3: Recognizing the Old School Model: Mistakes Parents Unintentionally Make
• Chapter 4: The New School Model: What to Teach and How to Measure Success
• Chapter 5: Allowance and Jobs: The Pitfalls and the Possibilities
• Chapter 6: Teen Philanthropy: The Black Belt Level of Teen Financial Literacy
• Chapter 7: The New Normal: Financial Literacy as a Peer-Group Experience for Teens and a Grassroots Movement for Parents
• Endorsements
• Acknowledgments

While reading this, I found myself nodding in agreement through at least Chapter 4. I thought would  have a different mind-set about Chapter 5 about Allowances but it could honestly be because I don’t expect the right responsibility from my kids when it comes to what they do with that allowance. Follow-through is always important.

And here is what I think WealthQuest for Teens really emphasizes:

At first I felt like the program was striving to make a millionaire out of my kids but I don’t think that’s the case at all. It doesn’t matter if they make $10,000 a year or $1,000,000- that’s not where their ‘net worth’ is. Those are just numbers. In the course, yes, it does talk about net worth in terms of actual money- but it focuses a lot on the attitudes that are carried about that money. That’s important. I don’t want my kids to feel that money should have such a lofty position in their lives. I also really appreciated the “Philanthropy” chapter- giving to others is important and I’m so glad that this was made part of the program.

The Parent’s Guide gave a lot of good tips for how to implement, or rather how to not hinder, the New School Model for healthy money management.

Here are some screenshots of other bits of the program as it was used:

We couldn’t print out the notebook from the website (due to lack of ink at times during the review period) but Lee figured out that OneNote worked well for keeping these interactive notebooks for future reference. I show you a few shots of different modules that she went through.

And also the Teen Ebook, that is printable, Lee figured out how to keep her notes by leaving comments and then saving the document. This workbook is a 30-day program but honestly, it can be gone through quicker than that. I do think it is something she will go back to again and again. She can look at this and reevaluate what she feels and believes about her ‘wealth’.

Bottom line:

I think this is a wonderful program for teaching teens how to appropriately handle their money, no mater how little they might have. My daughter, who has a babysitting job and does not have a large income, has saved (and spent!) more using this system than any of our previous “Old School” methods. I’ve been quite impressed with the amount of responsibility she has taken with what she has.

The program is easy to go through, isn’t stale or boring and appeals to her partially because there are other teens who are presenting it. I personally think that if it were Jill alone presenting these videos my daughter would have gained just as much but this different perspective definitely didn’t take away from the program. It is really great to have a program for this life skill that does such a great job and instills such positive results.

The cost is very low for what is presented and the skills that are learned. The skills will last a lifetime, if the person who is going through the course wishes them to. I believe that once they see the benefits of going through WealthQuest for Teens and applying the strategies they will be sold! My daughter definitely is. She insists that *I* need to complete this as well as her 13 year old brother!

Others of the Schoolhouse Review Crew also reviewed this. Click the image below to read more reviews.

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Contact WealthQuest for Teens:

Website: http://www.wealthquestforteens.com

Blog: http://yourteensmoneyskills.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/WealthQuest-for-Teens-Ltd/110310148997232

Webpage contact: http://wealthquestforteens.com/contact-jill/

Phone: 781-724-0382

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***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed items from Jill Suskind, WealthQuest for Teens via the Schoolhouse Review Crew, free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own or those of my family members. I only recommend products that I feel would be beneficial for others based on our experiences. See Disclosure/Policies***

Tis the Season–for Applying

Time has gone so fast it seems. In May 2010, I sent in my application to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Review Crew (TOS). I was ecstatic when I got the email saying they wanted me to join the team. I was overjoyed when my name showed up on lists for products to review. Loved. Every. Minute. Truly.

It’s been 2 years and 5 months, or so, since I fist was accepted to review products through TOS. They’ve undergone some changes, many have seen these changes from the outside. I was privy to some of the behind the scenes views (not all, mind you). There are over 200 people on the current Schoolhouse Review Crew (renamed this year- SRC) and while I’ve not come close to getting to know them all, I’m so so glad I have been privileged to ‘meet’ them at all.

While a part of the SRC, I was part of the Main Stay. I had a hand in providing pictures for reviewers for their posts. It’s a little job but it was helpful because it enabled the reviewers to easily insert ready-supplied images into their reviews. I liked to do it.

I wrote a post last year when the time came for applying for the Crew. I direct you to that post because it details what is required of a SRC member. There are some things, such as having 25 followers, that have been changed. You can find out more at the SRC website. If you decide you would like to apply, follow the link at the bottom of the SRC post.

It used to be, the first year I was on the Crew, that I was on a list whether I wanted to be or not. Fortunately, I didn’t get anything that I really didn’t like. Now, however, they have what are called Vendor Interest Forms- you can voice how much interest you have in the product. If your kids are in the age range, you have to fill out the form but if you really don’t want to review it, you choose, “I’d rather take a pass on this” (or however it’s stated lol). It’s rare that you get what you don’t want to review.

There are some great businesses in line to send out review items for the coming year. I’ve already seen some of the list. I’m sure that whoever is on the Crew will be blessed immensely!

I am stepping down from the SRC this coming year. It’s bittersweet. Now I will have freedom to continue with the curriculum I’d chosen to use with my kids. But I will miss out on finding those gems that I didn’t know existed before. I will also miss out on the forum, where all the SRC members get together and talk ‘real’. I think that will be the toughest thing for me.

I’ve loved being part of the Crew. God gave us some absolutely wonderful gifts via the Crew. Not just things- but the people. It makes me all choked up actually to think about it at the moment.

Here are the questions to help you see if this might be something you would be interested in doing:

1. Do you have an active blog?
2. Do you have at least 22 public followers?
3. Do you homeschool?
4. Do you like homeschool curriculum?
5. Do you want to use new curriculum with your own children and share about your
experiences on your blog?

If you’re interested here is the link again: Apply for the 2013 Schoolhouse Review Crew

Beeyoutiful Skin Mineral Makeup {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Just a quick warning: this post will include a few photos …of me. Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you! The reason for the photos of myself, when I normally do not post many, is because I was blessed to receive some of Beeyoutiful Skin’s Mineral Makeup. Beeyoutiful Skin is the sister site to Beeyoutiful. I’m not terribly fond of photos of myself but I figured “How else to show a makeup product but on one’s face?”

I received* a lovely set of foundation, eye shadow, foundation brush ($11.00), multi-purpose brush ($6.50) and a sample of a second eye shadow. It all came in a nice giftable gossamer bag. See the website for most current prices. Sets can be designed to your specifications. 

I chose the following colors:
Foundation- Tori -$25.00
Ingredients: Mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, ultramarine blue, zinc oxide
Eye shadow, main color- Cinnamon Rose –$10.00
Ingredients: Mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, tin oxide
Sample color- Chocolate Plum –$1.00
Ingredients: Mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, tin oxide

The mineral makeup offered by Beeyoutiful Skin is 100% pure minerals, all natural and gluten free. It is free of chemicals, fillers and preservatives. The foundations come in 20 different shades ranging from very light to very dark. They offer a helpful chart to decide which shade is right for you. Their eye colors are offered in 45 different colors. Samples can be ordered. Finally, for color, blush and bronzers are offered in seven colors at this posting; they can double as lip color.

And this is where the photos start. To start, here is a before and after. Before putting any makeup on and then after applying foundation. (told you I don’t like photos…look at that face! *wink*)    

Here is how much foundation I personally use. I have dry skin usually but an oily T-zone. I don’t generally ‘wash’ my face. By that I mean, I try not to use soap unless it’s really necessary. I also don’t usually use moisturizer except during the winter.

The little container that the foundation comes in is really neat. It has a cover that can be turned to expose 3 holes or more, depending on how much of the powder you want to come out. It ‘clicks’ into place. I used very little of the powder. This the Tori foundation. First I shake a bit out in the lid and then dip the brush in. I tap the brush on the lid to shake off the excess. At first I kind of blot it on my face, then use circular motions to blend it in. If I need more, I repeat. The difference really between the before and after is really minimal but personally I like makeup to enhance, not change my face drastically. I usually wear it enough to smooth my face, without changing the color overly much. I have a pale face and I’m fine with that

For the eye shadow, the amount needed is crazily small. If not for watching the videos about how to use this makeup, I’d have used it like I use any other eye shadow; coat the brush and hope some sticks on my lids! It’s a bit difficult to see how little I used here but that is a standard tube of chapstick; the amount I used is only a tiny bit of what’s in the lid. The second photo shows it applied on one eyelid. This is the Cinnamon Rose eye shadow.

I also tried the foiling technique that they show on the eyes video but not quite sure I ever got that one down. First you get the brush wet then pick up your color. It lets the eye shadow be a thicker application. I usually chose to try this with the chocolate plum color along my upper lashes.

And one final thing that I did with the chocolate plum was to double it as a lip color. I don’t generally wear lipstick when I do wear makeup so this felt strange to me First I used the chapstick I normally wear. Then I used the rounded end of the combo brush to dab on some color. I painted my lips! I could have added more for more color but I felt bold and daring with just the little I used lol.

Here is my finished ‘made up’ face I will admit that I am not wearing any of the Beeyoutiful Skin products for blush; I used what I had already.

*You may notice from my photos of the makeup (the foundation and eye shadow in their little containers) that they are not full. No, I did not use all of that in 6 weeks! We were given approximately 1/4-1/5 the amount that would be received when purchased from the site. For example, the amount of the foundation for purchase is 20g; I received 3.65g. Here are the FAQs at the site.

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Beeyoutiful Skin also offers brushes and skincare products at their website.

Contact:
Website: http://www.beeyoutifulskin.com (and http://www.beeyoutifulskin.com/contacts/)
Email: customercare@beeyoutifulskin.com
Phone: 1-800-556-0967
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeeyoutifulSkin

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Bottom line:

The makeup is great. It requires very little to get results I like. It goes on light and smooth. I’d used ‘mineral’ makeup once before and it left me with cake face; this did not. The colors, especially speaking of the eye colors, are bold and stay put all day. We received this at the tail end of August when it was still hot. I live in Ohio and it is humid. Makeup usually doesn’t stay put well! This did.

It isn’t filled with anything that will irritate my skin and that isn’t necessary. I’d been looking for a product such as this: natural, no fillers, no chemicals, no preservatives and from a great company. I like Beeyoutiful products and these do not disappoint.

The amount I received, as mentioned, is much less than one would get when placing an order. In the time I’ve had this small 3.65g of foundation, there has been perhaps 1 1/2 weeks (11 days) that I didn’t wear it. The amount I still have is barely different from the start. I’m not saying this is typical but I’m pointing out how it has proven its worth to me. I am considering purchasing the full product when mine is just about out. The length of time I will have it makes it quite inexpensive!

Now when you go to the website, it can be confusing, or if not confusing a bit frustrating. Honestly I think this might be in part because it is so simple. Each product tells you the name, what it’s good for and the ingredients. Oh, and the cost. What more do we need? I personally enjoyed the straightforward simple approach. I also think that it is still in the ‘early’ stages.

Bottom line? I recommend this to anyone that is looking for natural makeup that does what it promises. I am hoping they extend their line soon to include items specifically for lips and perhaps mascara.

I almost forgot to mention what I’ve liked most about what I received: the foundation brush. The bristles are the softest I’ve ever felt. It just feels wonderful!

Read what others thought of this makeup and also some other products from Beeyoutiful Skin and Beeyoutiful. Visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew post to find links to other reviews.

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed items for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own. See Disclosure/Policies. Thank you, Schoolhouse Review Crew and Beeyoutiful Skin!