Biopics, or Biographical pictures, are movies that tell the story of a real existing person. These films are often very hit or miss. Sometimes a biopic can cleverly tell a person’s life story in an engaging way that keeps you entertained while you learn about them. Other times they are awkward, adding fictional plot elements to make the film seem more exciting. Luckily, Hidden Figures movie is one of the good ones. This lovely story kept me engaged the entire time and I left the theater very satisfied. The Hidden Figures movie focuses on Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), an African American NASA computer scientist back in the 1960s. She, along with other African American women, works in a “colored department” where they go out and assist the other employees in making calculations. She and her two friends Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), are all brilliant individuals, and it seems the only thing keeping them from moving up in their fields is … [Read more...]

Disclaimer: We were given a Solar System Bracelet kit from Rosie's Research to review and another to giveaway. All thoughts are entirely our own and I dare you to try to take it off Miss Sarah's wrist. If you have been a reader of mine for any time, you know Miss Sarah LOVES all things solar system; in fact, she is currently taking a 4-credit Astronomy Course right now. We were delighted to stumble upon Rosie's Research because they have a TON of great information and very affordable kits for working with the littles. Miss Sarah was totally enthralled with the Solar System Bracelet Kit and was offered a set to review and giveaway. First of all, check out this adorable packaging! We shot a mini video - it was so well laid out! So, we emptied all the little baggies and got started stringing the beads in the very simple to follow instructions. Just look at the concentration on Miss Sarah's face: When she was finished, she wanted to make sure you could identify … [Read more...]

When I was in school, I got passable grades. I wasn't always a straight A student, but I never failed a subject either. My participation level depended on how interested I was in a subject. Math was iffy at best, Language Arts I excelled at, and English was one of my favorites, but things started looking up when it came to History. I loved learning the backgrounds of places from all over the world. Maybe it was because I'd always dreamed of traveling after I finished school, but whatever the reason, I could not get enough of learning about the different places from all over the world. Little Passports Leads to a Well-Traveled Child Now that I'm a mom, I've tried hard to instill a love of history and travel into my daughter. From the time she was small, I took the time to teach her about the history of our country as well as those around the world. Like many young girls, she's partial to Europe and talks about the places she'll visit when she's old enough. It's this love for travel … [Read more...]

Disclaimer: We were given a Smartscope in exchange for an honest review. It was given to the elementary school students for review and then they got to keep it for their Maker Space. Just like when I was little, my daughter spends a lot of time outside. My parents didn't believe in a lot of electronic toys, and I adapted that mentality when I became a parent, so my daughter depends a lot on the power of imagination and has learned to keep herself busy without the aid of a lot of gadgets. As a result of spending so much time outside, she's naturally found a lot of cool places around our home to explore as well as a collection of items she's unearthed during playtimenature-related. Most of it is nature-related, with items such as interesting rocks, unique flowers, bird feathers, etc. With each new fascinating addition to her growing collection, my daughter's interest grows. She's always taking the time to examine each item as she finds it, marveling in each unique characteristic. When I … [Read more...]

Before becoming a parent, I wasn't conscious of some of the decisions I made about my health or well-being. I was raised a certain way and never thought about some of the products I used or what they had in them. Then I became a parent, and suddenly I was super conscious about everything my little one came in contact with. This is especially true when it comes to toys. Before I started researching what goes into making some of the most popular toy brands, I had no idea some of the ingredients were potentially harmful, but when I sat down and did some research, I was horrified. I started researching before buying and, since then, have been pretty happy with the purchases we made. Bears for Humanity was founded by a mother who was on a quest to give her twins, Arianna and Rowan. She made sure to purchase healthy, organic foods as well as organic clothing and toys for her little ones, wanting to make sure they got the best she could provide. When she received a toy bear as a gift from … [Read more...]