Educational Toy: VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station

My kids have had a blast playing with the VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset they got to review.

I was originally thinking it would be a good activity for my 2-year-old while the older two kids were homeschooling. (See more 2-year-old activities here!)

But they all wanted to play with it, and it ended up being educational for all of them – just in different ways.

For instance, my 2-year-old was fascinated with the buttons he could push to learn the different colors and phrases.

The older kids worked on their coordination and thinking skills as they used the hand-crank to pull the train up the bridge and thought through different configurations for putting the track together.

I also think it's really fun that the pieces fit together with other Go Go Smart Wheels playsets. We don't currently own any other sets, but I know my kids would love adding more pieces!

Watch the video below to see all the features of the Train Station playset.

Be sure to follow VTech on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with other fun and educational toys!

Psst… I just might have an impromptu Facebook party planned for tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, Oct. 30) where one of you just might win a Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station playset for yourself! I suggest following me on Facebook and showing up around 3 pm to find out!

Disclosure: I received a free product to review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Essential Oil and Humidifier Giveaway

I'm excited to be able to offer you all the chance to win an essential oil humidifier and a bundle of essential oils!  I wish I could win this!

Essential Oils are a powerful tool in any home. You can use them all over the house for safe and natural cleaning. Apply them to cuts, bruises, scrapes, and burns to help soothe pain and speed healing. Massage them onto your feet and muscles to help facilitate sleep, relaxation, and help soothe aches and pains. Or diffuse them using a humidifier to help purify the air of particles and toxins, kill odor, and make your house smell awesome!

Positively Real Media Network (for like-minded “natural” Christian bloggers) is giving away a Blue Rose Ultrasonic Humidifier and a bundle of essential oils to use with it {worth over $380} to one lucky reader!

Blue Rose Humidifier

This humidifier is a perfect addition to any home and is different than most humidifiers. Instead of using hot water with huge particles that can settle around your room, the blue rose humidifier uses cool mists to distribute a finer water particle which is safe to use in all rooms, even in those with electronics.

The humidifier features a mood light {which works as a terrific night light for kids}, uses low amounts of power, and is very quiet to run. But the best part is that you can add essential oils to this humidifier and it disperses the oils throughout the room! It has a fragrance bottle receptacle that you can put essential oils directly into.

This powerful machine is essential to use in every home's medicinal routine.Read more about the Blue Rose humidifier from Kitchen Kneads. And if you don't win the giveaway, you can always purchase your own humidifier while it's on sale for only $59.99! Watch this video to see the humidifier in action:

Essential Oil Bundle

In addition to the humidifier, we are also including a bundle of essential oils in the giveaway so you can start using it right away! 13 bloggers have come together to giveaway these oils in addition to the humidifier to one lucky reader! Included in the bundle is:

Introduction to Essential Oils Pack {includes: 5 ml of lemon, lavender, and peppermint}: Includes the basics for cleaning, relaxation, and helping soothe aches and pains. Intro pack from Jill of The Prairie Homestead, find out where to buy HERE.

Lavender Essential Oil {15ml}: Lavender is used for it's calming and relaxing properties. Lavender oil from Krissa of More Than Mundane, find out where to buy HERE.

DiGize Essential Oil {15ml}: Di-Gize™ is a dietary supplement that provides valuable aid for digestive concerns and helps support a healthy digestive system. DiGize oil from Clarinda of A Jewel in the Making, find out where to buy HERE.

Rare Quality Tea Tree Oil {.2oz}: Treats minor cuts, scrapes, bug bites, and burns, gently soothes “ouches,” naturally fights bacteria, naturally penetrates and cleans, and jump-starts the healing process. Melaleuca oil from Kristy of Little Natural Cottage, contact her to find out where to buy.

Idaho Blue Spuce Essential Oil {5ml}: This oil contains high percentages of alpha-pinene and limonene, with a pleasing evergreen aroma that relaxes both mind and body. Idaho Blue Spruce oil from Jennifer of Royal Little Lambs, find out where to buy HERE.

Orange Essential Oil {15ml}: has a rich, fruity scent that lifts the spirit while providing a calming influence on the body. Orange oil from Sara of A Mama's Story, find out where to buy HERE.

Tangerine Essential Oil {15ml}: Tangerine is a calming essential oil with a sweet, tangy aroma. It helps with occasional nervous irritability. Tangerine oil from Mary of The Encouraging Home, find out where to buy HERE.

Thieves Essential Oil {15ml}: This proprietary essential oil blend was university tested for its cleansing abilities. It is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health. Thieves oil from Anne of Authentic Simplicity, find out where to buy HERE.

Frankincense Essential Oil {5ml}: A truly unique essential oil, with a rich, aromatic scent that is calming to your senses, your emotional state and overall sense of well-being. Frankincense oil from Stacy of A Delightful Home, contact her to find out where to buy.

Clove Essential Oil {15ml}: A favorite among both health care professionals and health conscious individuals for its many useful and healing properties. It is also a powerful antioxidant. Clove oil from Sara of Your Thriving Family, find out where to buy HERE.

Ylang Ylang Extra Essential Oil {.5oz}: Has an intense floral aroma that is prized in perfumes. The powerful scent nourishes and encourages the spirit. Ylang Ylang oil from Danielle from More Than Four Walls, contact her to find out where to buy.

Peppermint Beadlets: Each tiny beadlet delivers a refreshing burst of peppermint as it quickly dissolves in your mouth, while invigorating your senses as you breathe in the cooling aroma of pure peppermint essential oil. Peppermint Beadlets from Audra of Naturally Well, find out where to buy HERE.

Purification Essential Oil {5ml}: Purification® can be used directly on the skin to cleanse and soothe insect bites, cuts, and scrapes. When diffused, it helps to purify and cleanse the air from environmental impurities including cigarette smoke and other disagreeable odors. Purification oil from Whitney of Beauty in the Mess, find out where to buy HERE.

Enter to Win!

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter below. The mandatory entry is super simple – just hit Enter! Then you can earn additional entries for following your favorite blogs via Facebook and email. Increase your chances by liking them all!

This giveaway is only available in the United States and Canada.

(If your computer is not showing the entry form, you can click on the link below to be taken to the entry form.)

Big Berkey Water Filter Review

Disclosure: I received a free product to review.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

When I first began experiencing some of my health issues (what has now been diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, and leaky gut syndrome), I looked into every possible cause of what could be contributing to my problems.

Although we were doing pretty well with taking baby steps to healthier eating, I really stepped up my efforts and tried to go all-out, making sure our food was only from the best sources and was the most nutritionally dense as possible.

But I didn't improve.

My search continued, and I began to wonder if I was suffering from heavy metal toxicity.  Our house has old copper pipes, and many of my symptoms matched up with what I read about copper toxicity.

Whether that was the problem or not, I decided that I wanted to make sure our water was filtered.  Although we have well water and didn't have to worry about added chlorine and fluoride, I knew there could possibly be parasites lurking in our water, and any number of harmful bacteria.

I had a couple relatives who used a Berkey water filter, one of which who lives in Brazil, where the water is so dirty that their filter gets so caked with gunk that it has to be cleaned off before water will filter through it again.

I did some more research, and found out that not only does the Berkey filter out all the bad stuff, but it leaves behind important minerals which many other filters remove.

What it removes:

• bacteria
• cysts
• viruses
• parasites
• herbicides
• pesticides
• foul tastes
• chemical contaminants
• reduces heavy metals up to 95%

Is it affordable?

• The Big Berkey water filter can be purchased for around $258.
• Each filter lasts up to 3000 gallons, and since the Big Berkey comes with 2 filters, it will last up to 6000 gallons, for a total price of less than a penny per gallon!
• If you have fluoridated water, you can purchase additional filtering elements to remove the fluoride, which will bring the price per gallon up to about 7 cents a gallon.
• Berkey filters actually exceed EPA log 7 ANSI / NSF protocols for filtration and thus are rated as water purifiers, not just filters.  A water purifier is typically quite expensive and don't last nearly as long as the Berkey filters before they have to be replaced.

Other benefits:

•  Filter both treated and untreated water.  (You can filter your city water to remove contaminants or filter water from a stream or river to make it drinkable.)
• No electricity required.  In case of emergency or power outage, having a Berkey filter on hand ensures a source of drinking water as long as you have access to a pond, river, or even a swimming pool.
• Portable.  Take it along when you're traveling to ensure a clean source of water whether you're staying at a condo or camping in the wilderness.
• Easy to test.  If you're unsure of whether your filters need to be replaced, simply fill the upper chamber with water and add a teaspoon of red food coloring per gallon of water.  If the water comes through the filter clear, your filters do not need to be replaced.

 Our personal experience

I was so curious to find out whether I could taste any difference between water filtered with the Berkey and our well water.  I decided the best way to know for sure would be to do a blind taste test.

First my husband prepared two cups of water for me while I wasn't looking.

Then I did the same for him.

Neither of us could tell any difference at all, which was actually fine with us since we have always loved the taste of our well water anyway.

Another day, I brought some city water home from my mom's house and we did the same thing.  We both easily guessed which one had been filtered with the Berkey.  It was as if you could taste the additives in the city water, and once they were removed, the water tasted better.

The Big Berkey filter was a very good choice for our family.  It holds 2.25 gallons, which is just about the perfect amount of water for our family for one day.  I usually refill it right before I go to bed and the water lasts us until the next night.

I like the fact that it doesn't take up very much room on the counter, and its stainless steel design looks attractive in my kitchen.

The kids and I are also happy with the fact that they are able to reach it easily and get their own drinks.

It's not often that I give a product five stars on a review, but the Big Berkey hands down gets 5 stars based on the combination of its performance and price.

Sneak Peek of My New Toy

Thanks to the folks at More Than Alive, I am now the proud new owner of a Big Berkey water filter!  I'll be posting a full review of it soon, but I was just a little excited and wanted to show you all!