photo credit: stuartpilbrow

A few years back, I attended another online school. I had always dreamed of going to college, but life and responsibilities often got in the way. Eventually I decided I would go online and picked one of the first accredited schools that I found. The school, sadly, was highly overpriced and I learned little while attending there. In fact, in one class I practically taught the class myself (something I was not necessarily qualified to do). I quit that school when I took a class with another professor that had absolutely no qualifications to teach the class I was in. At that point, I had all but given up on online education.

After a few months, I decided to go back, assuming that I could find a school that was as close to a traditional school as possible. I chose APU because they were formed to make sure that people traveling in the military would still be able to get the education they deserved. This portion of the school (it’s actually the same school and classes, just a different subset) is known as AMU (American Military University). I liked the wide range of degree options that the school offered, the fair prices (a term costs around $3,000 for 12 credits), and the numerous options for classes in general.

I also enjoy the fact that many of the professors are professionals in their field. These are people that have first-hand knowledge about the subjects they are teaching. You won’t get a person that only has book knowledge (or no knowledge at all). All of the professors that I have encountered enjoy what they do, in class, and in their field.

Depending on the classes that you want to take you can choose from 8 weeks or 16 weeks. APU/AMU offers a monthly start schedule. This differs from a traditional University, which makes you start on their schedule.

Some Interesting Facts about APU:

APU is a member institution of regionally- and nationally-accredited American Public University System (APUS), recognized as a leading education provider by numerous military, federal, private and public sector employers

According to the Military Times annual industry top-50 rankings for 2010, APU’s sister institution, American Military University (AMU), is the number one education provider to the U.S. military

In 2009, APUS received the Sloan Consortium’s Ralph E. Gomory award for quality online education and is also a two-time winner of the Sloan’s Effective Practice Award

In 2008, the National Survey of Student Engagement found that 97% of seniors enrolled at APUS had an extremely favorable view of the online learning system and would overwhelmingly attend again if they could start their college career over

The greater APUS virtual community numbers more than 70,000 classmates, 12,000 alumni, and more than 1,500 faculty and staff collaborating across time zones and borders in more than 100 countries worldwide

If you want to learn more about APU and their benefits for busy moms like me you can check out the APU Moms Portal or you can visit the APU Homepage if you want to learn anything else about the programs and the way things are done while attending this online institution.

Disclosure:
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Technorati Tags: American Public University, American Military University, College, Online University, School, Overview, Moms, Education

Lil B was more than excited about being involved in this video. He loves when we make videos! He did have some questions (and a few demands, too!) and those were answered before we began. The exchange went a little something like this:

Lil B: “Why do we have to do this experiment?”

Me: “Wisk asked us to try it out and make a video for them.”

Lil B: “Okay…but I’m keeping the lab coat…and the Wisk.”

Me: “You can keep the lab coat, but we’re negotiating the Wisk. I think I need it more than you do.”

Lil B: “We’ll see….”

Then it was video time. You can see for yourself how well Wisk worked. We were all quite impressed. Lil B was even thrilled to get some green “potion” out of the deal.

Wisk is available at major retailers nationwide, such as Walmart, Target and Kroger for a Suggested Retail Price of $5.99 for 50 fl oz. bottles that cleans 32 loads. I am looking forward to seeing how Wisk tackles other stains, but I have to say, if it handles everything else the way that it handles grass, I won’t be surprised. Wisk has always been a valued brand in our household, but with the new stain busting technology it’s becoming even more important to us.

Visit Wisk.com to:

* Learn more about Wisk’s Stain Spectrum™ Technology and the different categories of stains
* Download a coupon
* Also, remember to visit Wisk at www.Facebook.com/Wisk
* Follow @Wisk on Twitter

Note: This post was compensated as part of the Wisk Campaign with One2One Network. I was paid to write this post, however the information, details, and thoughts are completely my own and were not purchased.

Technorati Tags: Wisk, Stain Fighting Technology, Video, Braxton, Lil B, Grass Stain, Scientist, Laundry Soap

On the surface the Boogie Board is a thin, black board that looks like a typical note-taking tablet. It comes with a steel colored pseudo-pen that you can use in small form or extend to make longer. You write with this specific pen on the board and it will copy anything you write or draw. When you are done, there is a delete button at the top of the board. You just press it and the board is clear and you can start new.

I can see the value of a board like this, though I don’t know how worthy it would be for school. You couldn’t take school notes on the board, because you would end up erasing them and then you wouldn’t have your notes. It’d be nice for short term notes or doodling, but I could see most schools claiming the Boogie Board as a distraction and asking kids not to bring them to class.

However, at home these would be great. You could use them for to-do lists or to leave messages for people if they are not home. You could even leave the Boogie Board by the phone and write messages on it as they come in. People that like to draw will find the Boogie Board to be an enjoyable tool, as well, because you can draw to your hearts content. A quick flick of the delete button allows you to enjoy a clean canvas whether you messed up your drawing or you’re just ready to start a new one.

Some fun and useful options for the Boogie Board include:

Tic Tac Toe
Shopping Lists
To-Do List
Art Projects
Phone Messages

The Boogie Board is useful as a messaging tablet because it reduces the need for paper, which helps the environment. The Board comes with a battery in tact. The battery is only used when the delete button is pressed. The battery is said to last for about 50,000 deletes/erases. Even with limited use, it will take the average person quite some time to get to the 50,000 limit, thus getting their money’s worth.

I only have two minor complaints about the Boogie Board and none of them would really prohibit me from using it. The first issue I have is that it has no standing mechanism. If there were a bar in the back that propped it up it would allow for easier viewing if someone were leaving messages or things like that. The other complaint is the actual size of the Boogie Board. It’s not dreadfully small at 8.8″ x 5.6″, but I would have loved to see a bigger writing surface here.

That being said at $35 the Boogie Board is an adequate swap for the old pencil and paper because it ensures that you have no waste and it does the same job. It’s hard to complain about something like that when it does just what it claims it will do. We were sent the Boogie Board: Paperless Writing Tablet from Brookstone for review. You can pick one up on their website for just $35. While this is not the traditional back to school item, it’s great for list taking and will make a fun toy for doodlers.

Technorati Tags: Boogie Board, Paperless Writing Tablet, Back to School Review, Product Review, Brookstone, Doodling

ENTRY RULES:
Literary Illusions is proud to be giving away two copies of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam on DVD/Bluray Combo Pack. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to ONLY LEAVE ONE COMMENT.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the upper left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries (one extra entry for each) into our contest by (PLEASE LEAVE ONLY ONE COMMENT – INCLUDE ALL EXTRA ENTRY INFO IN THIS ONE COMMENT):

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page
-Subscribing to our YouTube Page
-Subscribing to our RSS feed (RSS button is at the top of the page, near the right corner)
-Google Buzzing this giveaway

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

Just one last time, I’m going to remind you to please ONLY LEAVE ONE COMMENT. If you Tweet, Blog, Become a Facebook Fan, etc. ONLY PUT THIS INFORMATION IN ONE COMMENT. We will be deleting all extra comments past your first one, so make sure you get in all the extra entries you need in that first comment you leave.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three days, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of September 10, 2010, which means you have until September 9, 2010 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
The Disney Channel Original Movie stars Teen Choice Award-winning actress and recording artist Demi Lovato (Sonny With A Chance) and the hugely popular Grammy® nominated Jonas Brothers. The highly anticipated sequel also brings back fan favorites from “Camp Rock,” 2008′s #1 cable TV movie. They are: Maria Canals-Barrera (“Wizards of Waverly Place“), Meaghan Martin (“10 Things I Hate About You”), Alyson Stoner (“Phineas and Ferb,” Step Up 3D”), Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (“Fame”), Jasmine Richards, Daniel Fathers, Roshon Fegan (Disney Channel’s upcoming “Shake it Up”) and Jordan “J” Francis. “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” introduces two exciting new performers, Matthew Mdot Finley and Chloe Bridges. Daniel Kash also stars.

The Extended Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a behind-the-scenes introduction to the newest stars and music videos by camp rockers from around the world, a ³Rock-Along² feature that allows viewers to take center stage, and more! Only the Combo Pack includes this Extended Edition in an array of formats: Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy; allowing viewers the versatility to watch Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam anywhere.

Mitchie (Lovato) can¹t wait to return to Camp Rock and spend the summer making new music with her friends Shane, Nate and Jason (Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas). But the slick new camp across the lake, Camp Star, has drummed up some serious competition‹featuring newcomers Luke (Finley) and Dana (Bridges). With Camp Rock’s future at stake, will Camp Star’s flashy production and over-the- top antics win the sensational battle of the bands, or will Camp Rockers prove that talent, teamwork, and spirit are what truly matter?

Technorati Tags: Camp Rock, Jonas Brothers, Disney, DVD, Bluray, Giveaway, Contest, Demi Lovato

When I found out I would be working with George Foreman Healthy Cooking I was so excited! Just the other day, I was in the store looking at small appliances and I was checking out the George Foreman grills. When they first came out we had one years ago and we used to make steaks and other meats with it. We loved that grill.

I haven’t used one in quite some time (we didn’t have a lot of counter space in this house), but I have noticed what amazing changes they have made to them and the thought crossed my mind that it would be nice to have one in our new apartment. So naturally, when I was contacted about George Foreman Healthy Cooking being part of our Moving 2010 event, I was more than willing to hear them out.

The product that we will be receiving/reviewing is the Evolve Grill. I have not received it yet, but once I do I will pack it up in preparation for the upcoming move. If it works as good as the specs say it does then I am sure that I will get tons of use out of this amazing sounding grill.

Specs from George Foreman Healthy Living:

With a large variety of meal options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack times in between, the George Foreman Evolve(tm) Grill paves a time-saving and healthy path to eating right without sacrificing good taste. What makes this grill different is the option to add plates and customize the grill based on individual preferences. Now it’s easier than ever to create healthy, delicious meals with one versatile appliance.

CROSS-HATCH GRILL PLATES (2) – Perfect for grilling chicken breasts, fresh fish and more.
MINI-BURGER PLATE – Serve up low-fat turkey sliders in minutes.
GRIDDLE PLATE – Cook up breakfast, lunch or dinner without adding extra oil or butter for healthier meals.
CUPCAKE/MUFFIN PLATE – Whipping up six muffins or cupcakes is a snap with this easy-to-use plate.
PANINI PLATES (2) – No need to butter bread when making panini in the George ForemanEvolve(tm) Grill.
DEEP-DISH BAKING PLATE – From lasagna to veggie-packed casseroles, the deep-dish bake pan provides another versatile usage for the George Foreman Evolve(tm) Grill.
OMELET PLATES (2) – Flipping omelets used to require lots of butter or oil to prevent sticking, however, with the George Tough(tm) nonstick coating, making omelets is simpler and healthier than ever.
WAFFLE PLATE -The waffle plates makes preparing golden, delicious waffles on the grill easy and convenient.

KEY PRODUCT FEATURES:
George Tough(tm) nonstick coating for oil-free cooking
Patented slope for fat to drip away
Drip tray that is dishwasher safe for collecting grease drippings
84 square-inch cooking surface
Precise Digital Time and Temperature Control
Removable dishwasher-safe plates
SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $129.99 (Includes grill and 4 grill plates, varies by retailer)
Additional plates retail for $14.99- 27.99

I cannot wait to receive this. I am wondering if they will eventually put out a deluxe version of the Evolve Grill that includes all of the available grill plates. I cannot wait to find out which four arrive. I already know that I would use all of them, so I am sure if we cook on it a lot that I will end up buying the ones that are not sent to me for this review.

We will have more teaser posts up shortly and once were in Dayton, OH next month, you can expect to see plenty of videos, reviews, and an awesome Home Buyers guide. In the meantime, tell us your favorite healthy cooking gadget or piece of cookware

Technorati Tags: Healthy Cooking, Moving 2010, George Foreman Healthy Cooking, Grill, Evolve Grill, Moving 2010, Teaser

Speaking of dining tables, Dining Rooms Direct offers hundreds of tables for any possible dining situation. Whether you are looking for a kitchen table or one for the dining room, there is a good chance that Dining Rooms Direct has just what you are looking for to enhance your family dining experience.

For most people, the hardest part of any furniture shopping is finding a price that you can afford. I know this is especially true with a lot of the dining room tables that we have looked at recently. With that in mind, I visited Dining Rooms Direct to create the top 5 under $400. These are the top five tables that I like for under $400.

Please note, these tables were chosen on style alone. I have not used any of them personally so I cannot speak of the fabulous nature of any of them. I chose them because if I were in the market for a table, I would choose one of the following.

Wildon Home West Hollywood Dining Set in Cappuccino:

The West Hollywood Dining Set by Wildon Home is small enough to fit into any nice sized kitchen or apartment dining area, but trendy enough to add to your home in the simplest of ways. The darker wood allows it to blend with a majority of settings and offers a more classic, sophisticated look to it. The lighter fabric on the chairs also offers a nice contrast from that of the table. This would be a great choice for any apartment dweller.

Standard Furniture Brentwood 5 Piece Leg Dining Set in Honey and Black

I love the darker finishes so it’s no surprise that the Brentwood Dining Set in Honey and Black made my list. The honey wood offers a gorgeous finish and it looks great with the black on the chairs. The set is a perfect size for a small family or for anyone living in an apartment. This would work well for small groups and for those days when you want to have friends over to play cards. It’s big enough to get the job done, but small enough to remain versatile.

TMS Virginia 5 Piece Dining Set in Black

This Virginia set is the only set I picked with a lighter wood. The light finish reminds me of a summery, warm day. It provides a feeling of warmth and would go perfect in lighter, airier kitchens and dining rooms. If you want to create a more open, comforting space this would be a great option. It would also work well for small families or people sharing a small living space, as it seats a few people, but extends if needed.

Wildon Home Peyton 5 Piece Retro Dining Table with Black Cushion Dining Chair in Chrome

I am an absolute sucker for anything retro and diner inspired so this table fits the bill on every single level for me. The white table-top with the black chairs and the chrome surrounding all of the surfaces just makes me giddy. I have always wanted to have a dining room that was reminiscent of a diner. When I start designing that room, I am certain that I will be picking up a table just like this one to complete my motif.

Linon Michele Corner Nook with Table and Chairs in Walnut

Beyond the retro look, I love the comfy appeal of the nook. When I was in high school a friend’s parents redid their kitchen and had a nook-style corner table with bench in their kitchen. We had some great times hanging out and eating at that table. I love everything about this model. I love the darker, walnut finish and the family-style setting that it stirs with the design. This wouldn’t be effective for most apartments but if you have a larger dining area and want a homey feel to it, this would be a perfect choice.

So now that you’ve seen my top five picks for inexpensive dining furniture why don’t you check out Dining Rooms Direct and tell me what your favorite piece is?

Technorati Tags: Dining Room Furniture, Dining Table, Dining Room Direct, CSN Stores, Teaser Review

ENTRY RULES:
Literary Illusions is proud to be giving away two copies of Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue on Blu-ray. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to ONLY LEAVE ONE COMMENT.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the upper left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries (one extra entry for each) into our contest by (PLEASE LEAVE ONLY ONE COMMENT – INCLUDE ALL EXTRA ENTRY INFO IN THIS ONE COMMENT):

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page
-Subscribing to our YouTube Page
-Subscribing to our RSS feed (RSS button is at the top of the page, near the right corner)
-Google Buzzing this giveaway

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

Just one last time, I’m going to remind you to please ONLY LEAVE ONE COMMENT. If you Tweet, Blog, Become a Facebook Fan, etc. ONLY PUT THIS INFORMATION IN ONE COMMENT. We will be deleting all extra comments past your first one, so make sure you get in all the extra entries you need in that first comment you leave.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three days, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of September 10, 2010, which means you have until September 9, 2010 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Thomas and his engine friends embark on a thrilling new journey that takes them from the Island of Sodor to the mysterious Misty Island in the all-new, CG animated adventure Thomas & FriendsT Misty Island Rescue – The Movie available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc+DVD combo pack, Digital Download and On Demand, September 7, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. This movie marks the first time Thomas is available on Blu-ray and will be part of a Combo Pack (which is also packaged with a standard DVD) for a great value of only $24.98.

The thrilling new Blu-ray Disc will showcase the exciting new CG animation like never before, and is perfect for families looking to add to their Blu-ray collection. With nearly 25M households owning a Blu-ray player, Thomas is one of the first Preschool properties to launch into the next generation disc!

SYNOPSIS
The engines are hard at work to build a new Search and Rescue Center. When Thomas helps a friend in need, he is rewarded with an exciting trip to the mainland. Along the way, he gets lost at sea and finds himself on the mysterious Misty Island, where he meets new friends Bash, Dash and Ferdinand. Together they discover the secrets of Misty Island and help Thomas find his way home. Will Sir Topham Hatt’s search party ever find Thomas? Find out in this action-packed movie adventure the whole family will enjoy!!

Technorati Tags: Contest, Giveaway, Thomas and Friends, Misty Island Rescue, Bluray, DVD, Kids, Family, Television, Movie

First off, they are made by Dr. Dre. That might seem like a little thing to you, but as people that grew up listening to his music we thought it would be good to try out headphones created by someone in the music business. I mean, if a musician (who is said to be a perfectionist) cannot get a pair of headphones right then their might not be any hope. Next, they are incredibly expensive. Don’t get me wrong. We don’t review things on the basis of how much they cost. We do like to find out if expensive items are worth the money though and we like to offer you, our readers, this information, as well.

First impressions were quite impressive. Beats by Dre arrives in a hard red box with a black slip cover that announces the Beats by Dre label. When the slipcover comes off you see the white logo on the red box. The box opens and on one side there is a black case that includes the actual headphones. The other side opens up to include instructions and manuals, two soft cables with additional adapters, batteries, and a micro-fiber cloth.

The headphones come in a case where they fold up for easier and more complete transport. You can use Beats by Dre with any smart-phone, your computer or laptop, or any stereo that has headphone support. The cord of your choice just hooks in under the right earpiece and once you put in your batteries you’re ready to start listening to music.

The batteries are placed in through the right earpiece. You just turn the side and it opens up. Place in your batteries and snap it back shut. The opposite side has a small on/off switch that you will need to toggle before use (otherwise you won’t be hearing anything). The color on the on/off switch will alert you of when you need to change your batteries.

If you are using Beats by Dre with your phone you will notice that a small switch box is a part of the cord. When you get a call, just click the button and your music will pause while you take your call. When the call is over the music will resume! Also, a great feature of these headphones is the mute feature. Just press the plate on the right ear and it will mute your music (Note: this does not pause it, only mutes it). This comes in handy when someone is trying to talk to you when your music is on.

All of this having been said, one of the most important things – actually the most important thing is always going to be the sound. If the sound isn’t good on a pair of headphones then none of the other stuff really matters. The fact is that Beats by Dre offers the most incredibly sounding headphones that I’ve found, to date. I’ve reviewed headphones that I’ve loved, but these take the cake. The sound is the most authentic stereo sound that I have experienced.

One of the best things about the sound on the Beats by Dre headphones is that you do not have to turn these up loud to experience impressive audio. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They don’t recommend turning them up too high as it can cause damage to your ear. Still, I normally have mine up (on other models) from 70-100% volume. This ensures that all sounds are blocked out and it’s just me and my music.

With Beats by Dre I had the volume no louder than 30 ever and usually kept it at a comfortable 24. When people spoke to me, I had to hit the mute button, otherwise I would not be able to hear them. Despite the low sound, the padding of the headphones keeps the sound in and allows it to sound excellent. Even at the low level the music was highly detailed. I didn’t go past the 30 mark because I found if I did that it would be too loud, but I suspect that the sound would be equally as impressive. Normally you have no choice but to turn it up, so I love that with these, you can get that amazing, fine-tuned sound at a level that doesn’t damage your ear in the process.

The bass is by far the most ear-popping element to be heard here, but all aspects of music are represented well. Each instrument and sound, no matter how seemingly small, appears as a full, distinct sound. So many headphones will represent one element of music better than the others, but Beats by Dre hits all of the right notes in every, single song.

I honestly would be shocked to find a pair of headphones with a better sound. Beats by Dre makes me want to listen to music all day long. The crisp, clear sound is so impressive that it’s hard to want to be without these for long. Music lovers need a pair of headphones like this.

The final compliment I have, and it’s a little, but important one, is that these headphones are nothing short of sexy. I don’t think of headphones in terms of sex appeal normally, but these are quite fashionable. Black, silver, and red are the main colors here with black playing the predominant role, red handling the lining, and silver playing the star of the center of the earpiece.

You can purchase Beats by Dre in a number of high-end electronic stores online and in traditional stores. Brookstone.com sells them for $299.95 and they are worth every penny. If you’re in the market for a stellar pair of headphones with mind-blowing sound then pop on over to Brookstone and pick up a pair of Beats by Dre. I couldn’t recommend these highly enough if I tried.

Technorati Tags: Headphones, Music, Beats by Dre, Monster, Dr. Dre, Stereo, Bass, High Quality, Luxury, Sexy, Fashion, Back to School Review, Product Review

Me and Papermate go through phases of love and disinterest. Like most parents I buy at least a few packs of their ballpoint pens when school is starting. The reason for this is because they go on sale for so little money. However, these thin, stick-like pens have never been my favorite. I keep them around because in most cases they are reliable. Love them or hate them, I admit in a pinch, Papermate works. So, when I was approached about their biodegradable pencils for review I definitely wanted to give them a shot.

CT wants to go green as much as possible. He knows that we can’t do it in every single way, but if we can swap out a regular item for its green counterpart then he wants us to do it. He has been using the Earth Write pencils since we received them. As he is homeschooled, he started his year earlier in the summer so these arrived at just the right time. Normally he uses mechanical pencils (Papermate also makes recycled mechanical pencils), but he agreed to use the regular pencils for this review.

I am happy to say that since he started using the Papermate Earth Write pencils he has not switched back to the mechanical pencils. In fact, after about a month, he has four left in his pack of ten. Yesterday he announced to me that I would need to buy him more pencils because he would likely be running out shortly. He still has plenty of his old mechanical pencils left, but he now prefers to use the traditional wood pencils. Permitting, of course, I buy him the Earth Write ones that he likes so much.

Meanwhile, the pens that I was sent are made from 70% recycled materials. I would be more likely to purchase them as opposed to the standard blue, classic Papermate pens, though I confess I still love the thicker, more executive-style pens more than anything. However, in a pinch I have no qualms about the quality and ease of use when using these, because these Papermate pens seem to get the job done.

You can pick up Papermate products just about anywhere that school supplies are sold. You can find them online at stores like Amazon.com or locally at Walmart, Kmart, and any office supply store that you might frequent.

Technorati Tags: Papermate. Pens, School Supplies, Back to School, Product Review, Recycled, Biodegradable, Pencils

Most women know that fashionable dress can literally be a pain. Some of the best fabrics are itchy and others just don’t fit the way you need them too. If you need an undershirt for a blazer or a sweater it ends up being a task to find one that doesn’t ride up or bulk up your clothing. Autrepeau looks to change all that.

This incredibly thin, soft under-clothing was created to make wearing those sweaters and blazers a breeze. Fitting like a second skin, Autrepeau makes sure that those itchy sweaters won’t itch and that your clothes will fit just like they should without irritating your skin, which some fabrics will do.

Autrepeau tops and tanks range in variety from spaghetti straps to long sleeve. They even offer a turtle neck tank and long sleeve option. A pant liner option is also available. Each item is made from a mix of spandex and nylon, which explains the stretchy, second-skin like quality. It also ensures that things like bunching are not going to be a problem.

Each item is available in sizes 1-4, which equates to fit sizes 4-18. Size one (4-6), 2 (8-10), 3 (12-14), and 4 (16-18) are available for all products. I have worn mine sparingly so far, because I chose a longer sleeved product knowing how invaluable it will be to me in the winter months. However, wearing it once will show you that it’s worth the purchase. The soft product fits snuggly, reducing the clinginess and discomfort brought on by some clothing.

I also imagine that thanks to the fit of Autrepeau it would help extend the life of your clothing. Wearing it with your sweaters, should cut down on cleaning costs and should help keep your sweaters newer, longer. I am a huge fan of Autrepeau and will definitely be doing some shopping again soon!

Every woman needs at least one of these shirts or tanks in their closet (maybe more) to help add some comfort to their everyday fashion. I highly recommend that you check them out.

If you do visit Autrepeau make sure to use the coupon code LIKID10 at the checkout to receive 25% off your order!

Technorati Tags: Autrepeau, Second Skin, Shirts, Tanks, Sweaters, Clothing Liner, Fashion, Product Review