And here’s a product I would have never thought to purchase but was so excited to try out.  It’s called Balance Benders.  This is a series of workbooks going from second grade all the way through twelfth.  Each workbook is full of grade appropriate logic and algebraic puzzles for children to work through either with an adult (if they can figure them out) or on their own.

I was a bit nervous when I received the workbook and realized we were talking Algebra here.  Algebra is a subject I loved…in the higher grades!  So, introducing this type of reasoning to my seven year old made me a little apprehensive that I would be able to give this a good review.  True, Zoe is only “technically” finishing 1st grade, but in some areas, her brain works on a higher grade level.

So, the book came in, and when Mark was home (since he’s the math whiz), we sat down and started working on the puzzles.  They start out very easy to follow and have great cheat sheets and lessons to review the algebra facts.  So, explaining it was a breeze.  I must admit that I  got stuck a couple of times and had to have Mark  and Zoe explain why the problem was such and such.  Yeah, that was great.  Zoe had trouble wrapping her brain around a couple of concepts but Mark and I were able to work together to explain them in a different term than what the book gave and that helped her work through it.  Believe it or not, when she got stuck, none of us freaked out (a very rare thing in our house).  We are working very slowly through the book as she grasps concepts that are pretty advanced, even for a second grader.  Not to say that a second grader could not work through the books.  I firmly believe they can (I’m of the opinion that we try to dumb down too much for children and therefore they don’t expect to be able to understand concepts, when in fact they do and they can if just given the opportunity.  Sorry.  I’m stepping off my soapbox now to get back to the review).  I also believe that they would benefit more to having an adult sit down with them to work through the problems.

If you have a child who absolutely loves to write in workbooks…or enjoys puzzles (Zoe does love a good Sodoku or word find puzzle), then Balance Benders is the perfect fit.  For those children who are more kinesthetic or visual, you may have to adapt the puzzles for them to understand and see them better.

Each balance bender puzzle book sells for $9.99.  There are currently four books in the series.  A definite good buy for children who need or want to be challenged.

Know someone who deserves to be recognized as a critical thinking hero?  Check out this contest that the Critical Thinking Co. has going on right now and nominate your hero today.

The Critical Thinking Co. is also holding a video contest.  Click here to get all the details and for your chance to win a year’s supply of educational products!

**Disclaimer:  This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by The Critical Thinking Co. for this review.

If you are looking for a sweet, luxurious indulgence for a tired, hard working mama…then Whish Body Products are the place to go! 

Whish Body Products were created by two brothers after one of their wives “whished” to have a better shaving product.    These products are unique because the ingredients are Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, TEA & DEA Free, and Petrochemical Free.  The product I reviewed contained organic beeswax, organic aloe, organic shea butter, and organic raspberry butter.  Each specifically added to give the user healthy, beautiful skin and not the oily, greasy residue left behind by other products.

I got to try out the Three Whishes Pomegranete Sugar Scrub.  It smelled wonderfully!  Worked beautifully!  And was a nice treat.  Now to see if the scrub really worked, I decided to try it on half of my body.  Yes, I said half.  I used it on my right arm and leg and left the other without.  I could immediately tell a difference in the smoothness and throughout the day there was a little bit of a noticeable difference. 

Now, being that I am not one to use multitudes of beauty products, I had a little bit of a difficulty trying to figure out exactly what you do with a body scrub.  I made up my own rules and just slathered it on.  It was a little hard to get on but using a loofah didn’t work to well.  So, I slathered it with my hands.  I may have used too much but it didn’t seem that using a little worked well…therefore, each time I used it I had to get a lot out to cover just one arm and leg. 

At $38 for 12 ounces of scrub, I would say this product is definitely a splurge product.  These products, for a mom of many and a single income family, would not be practical for everyday use, but as a chance to indulge and as a gift…would be very welcome in my home!  But, if you have the money to splurge regularly, you can check out the other yummy and fun products Whish sells, click on over to their website to see pamper yourself away!  You can also find their products at Nordstrom, Kitson, Studio at Fred Segal, Apothecary at the Wynn, and Zitomer.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Whish Body Products for this review.