iPad App Review - We are the Children

~ Posted on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:01 AM ~

I received an email from Kim asking whether I would like to review this app. Although the app is targeted for age 5 - 13, I don’t think that should be a restriction as my readers and followers may be interested in the app. Anyway, my review as below...

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* Title: We are the children :Your christmas, My christmas
* Price: $3.99
* Category: Education
* Updated: Jan 09, 2012
* Version: 1.3
* Size: 213 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Three Wishes Interactive
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPad.Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Description from the product page:

"7 kids from America, China, Finland, France, Japan, South Africa and South Korea tell you what their Christmas days are like. Kids will easily learn about different cultures while listening to the stories. Finding and touching the interactive elements page by page gives more fun. With beautiful and vivid graphics and cultural scenes from 7 countries, WATC also provides wonderful traveling experience.

The contents are well-qualified by artists and educators, and local consultants. The team has backgrounds in child development and children’s literature, and has got the know-how on emotional interactive function on apps. If you’d like to try something more than a good storybook for your little loved one, here is the educational, artful solution.

It also is a good Christmas treat for kids- celebrate the holiday with fun Christmas tree-making game, carols to sing along and record your own. Contents can be read either in English or Korean. "

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What's good?

* You get to learn how children from other countries celebrate Christmas.

* I like the illustrations too!

* Ben likes the game that comes with this app where he gets to decorate the Christmas tree.

* I also enjoyed the song but am not able to use the recording function (I have iPad first generation)

Room for Improvement?

* Sometimes the items we try to drag to decorate on the Christmas tree are not sensitive enough and requires few attempts to hold the items.

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You can purchase the "We are the Children" app from the iTunes App Store.

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I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code by the sponsor to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"

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Hearty Banana Oat Flapjacks

~ Posted on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 9:19 AM ~

It has been months since I posted stuff related to baking or cooking. After my last recipe post on the Easy to Remember Pancakes, I browsed through the recipes on my iPad and came across this recipe which is quite similar, except you add oats into  it as well! Anyway, without further ado, here goes:

HEARTY BANANA OAT FLAPJACKS

PREPARATION TIME: LESS THAN 20 MINUTES

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

* 2 large ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
* 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2  cup Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
  (I used Ben's organic instant baby oats)
* 1  tablespoon baking powder
* 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon
  (I omitted this)
* 1/4  teaspoon salt (optional) (I omitted this)
* 1  cup fat-free milk (I used a packet of full-cream UHT milk)
* 1  egg, lightly beaten
* 2  tablespoons vegetable oil
* Aunt Jemima® syrup, warmed
(I omitted this)
* Banana slices (optional)
* Coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
(I omitted this)

What to Do?

* In medium bowl, combine banana slices and sugar; stir to coat slices with sugar. Set aside.
* In large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; mix well.
* In medium bowl, combine milk, egg and oil; blend well.
* Add to dry ingredients all at once; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix.)
* Heat griddle over medium-high heat (or preheat electric skillet or griddle to 375°F). Lightly grease griddle.
* For each pancake, pour scant 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle.
* Top with four or five banana slices. Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
* Serve with warm syrup and, if desired, additional banana slices and nuts.

PROCESS & THE RESULTS

Close up shot...

REACTIONS FROM MY "GUINEA PIGS"

ME
"A bit dry... could it be caused by the oats?"
BEN

"Mmmmm!!" 

HUBBY
"Not enough oats!" 

So there you go.... my attempt of making HEARTY BANANA OAT FLAPJACKS!

To view my other recipes, feel free to hop over to my Recipe Library page for more info!  

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The Poser Photographer...

~ Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 8:47 AM ~

After almost 3 years laughing at funny photos of people's poses when they take photographs, my son is now doing the same!