Quick: I Need An APP Maker!!

Recently, I was talking to someone about my Little Library. It has had a positive impact in lives of people who have come to our home (not even realizing we had the library!). They either took books, left a book, or said they would be coming back. It makes me happy to have something that affects others in our community. All while fulfilling a wish I've had for years. 

One of these recent conversations I had, was about how there should be a game app for Little Libraries. Picture it as a sort of Hide-n-Seek thing. Like Geocache. Like Pokemon GO. But for BOOK LOVERS! Can you imagine how much fun that could be?! Okay, I'm calm now. Excited, but calm. Let's rationalize such a thing. 

But they have a locator for Little Free Libraries, you say.

Sure they do. But in order to have your library on their locators and app, you have to pay for it by purchasing a charter sign. And honestly, people like me can't afford that. Who is paying to have their little book nook featured these days with our broken economy? So here is where I'm proposing something totally different. 

A free app. That people can create an account with. It will have map functions that allow you to search your area and find Little Libraries - FOR FREE! If you have an account that is showing your library, you'd have a photo so people know what they are looking for. Maybe tell what ages your included books are for. Let people know if you prefer they exchange, borrow, or just take books. Personally, I prefer people take a book. I have told locals that I talked to that I want them to take a book and not worry about bringing it back. Share the books with others. Find their new favorites. If they feel like dropping another book in, great! Maybe I will find a new favorite for myself or my kids. 

Step up the fun factor a notch!

Maybe set up events sometimes for a search. Find this little library and sign a log. Or enter a giveaway. I don't know. But make it a challenge that others can enjoy. See who can find the most maybe? Especially during summer and winter breaks. This gets parents more involved too. I know that seems like a foreign concept to so many, but if a parent promoted reading more, their kids would show improvements in other areas of their lives. Reading is proven to have positive results in grades, learning, and just in living. Reading takes us all to another place, to be someone else for a while, to live a different life. It teaches us new things that can be useful in real living. 

One final note...

There is another benefit to this idea. It would bring the community together more. There are a lot of things said about how a Little Library has brought people to meet each other. Neighbors meet neighbors. Discover things they share in common. Look out for each other more. Could you imagine the changes your own street might see if that were the case? We have amazing neighbors! I know 3 of them by name. And we are getting to know them better as time goes on. One of the families on our street has even talked about homeschooling their grandson and asked about getting help from me. See? Finding things we will have in common! This is something we all should want to cultivate in today's world. There are just so many reasons we want to avoid each other. But that just makes more issues. We need to be coming together more. Building each other up more. 

What if creating such an app could do just that? Can you imagine it? Because I could... 

Leave me a comment below letting me know your thoughts. And if you have heard of something like this already started, please let me know so I can join the fun!

Reusable Water Balloons?!

Did you play with the water hose as a kid? Chasing siblings or friends? Maybe jumping through the sprinkler system? How about water balloons? Did you love throwing them at others and hoping to get hit in turn? I did! And so, apparently, do at least some of my children. You know what I didn't like? I didn't enjoy having to pick up the balloon pieces afterwards. Tiny bits of busted rubber, a rainbow of colors everywhere! Reminded me of that part in Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters where his very important job was to clean up after the Hero Games were over...

 So, what if I told you that there were alternatives? Like... reusable water balloons? No, I'm not talking about sponges filled with water that you throw at each other! I'm talking about a soft silicon-like container with magnets that keep the top half attached to the lower half. And actually do pretty good at keeping the water inside until they hit someone and splash!

It is a very clever concept called Hydrobursts Balloon by Relatable toys. I got this through Influenster. But when I attempted to look them up, I learned they are just too new! So I'm letting you know what we think for when they start hitting the store shelves.

*Disclaimer: I was sent this product for free in exchange for sharing my reviews. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

As a mom, I don't want something that is going to make a horrendous mess in my yard. I don't want bits of rubber everywhere that is dangerous for pets or babies. That makes my yard look trashy. I also prefer toys that are economical. We don't have money to buy tons of new balloons just to throw and pop in a couple seconds. 

These are soft, so the hit won't hurt. Even the ridge with built-in magnets isn't that hard. My 7 and 11 year olds both had a blast tossing them at each other. 

I suggest having a water-filled bowl or bucket to keep the fun going. They are easy to refill like that. 

This is going to make the summer so much more fun! And also give us a good reprieve from the Texas heat. Definitely an amazing product that we enjoyed testing out!

A Time Out for the Midland County Fair

Our family has had a lot going on. But we still try to take out a moment for fun as a unit. Our most recent adventure? Going to the Midland County Fair! 

This is the first time we have been able to do so. We were pretty new in town last year. Going to and from work, my husband was able to watch the transformation of the Midland County Horseshoe as the rides for the carnival went up.  

In case you are interested in what they offer, here is the official website. You know me, I'm a planner. So I check into an event as much as I possibly can before we go. These are the posted rules:

Things to know:

You can't bring in food and drinks. They have vendors there for that. More on those options below.

You can purchase a VIP Pass for unlimited carnival rides. These are bought on site, or just buy tickets for a few rides. The VIP pass is $35. Individual tickets are $1 each. Rides are about 3-5 tickets each. My husband couldn't wait for us all to try out the centrifuge ride called Starship 4000. 

He had been on one a long while back. You all stand against the wall of this round ride and it spins around, pinning you in place! This ride cost 5 tickets per person. So it turned out to be the only one we rode this time. This was the enclosed version. They had an open air one too. It was quite warm in here. And I definitely had to close my eyes a couple times.

Foods were plentiful! There were food trucks and then, in the carnival, you had the types of foods you would expect to see. We preferred trying the food trucks this time. There were so many options! So let's break it down... We tried some amazing juices and lemonades. My husband and I loved the mango one. My oldest son says the cherry lemonade was divine. My oldest daughter got a Root Beer Float from the Hawaiian Shaved Ice truck.

We tried fried Oreos and Twix bars. 4 fried Oreos or 2 Twix bars were $10 each.  I told my husband I can officially knock that off my bucket list. One son had curly fries. He wasn't as thrilled with those as they were made straight up from potatoes cut in a curling pattern. But they were quite the serving for $10. The Mini Donuts truck had some delicious tiny donuts that my youngest enjoyed. She got the Banana Cream Pie ones. You get 12 for $9. The nachos my other girl got were also $10 for a decent serving. My favorite? Steak on a Stick! $10 got us a delicious ribeye steak that was cut into chunks and grilled to perfection. My husband and I shared one.

Bringing cash is better. Using the card means you will pay additional fees or even just $1 more per item.

They have vendors inside. This is also where they had the Pet Parade and information on the various shows you could check out. Or the contests that were being held. We didn't spend much time in here, but it was still pretty interesting to see various types of things that were being sold. 

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that the whole family enjoyed. We were a little fried by the end of our time there. After all it was 104 degrees out there. But it was worth it. The kids are even asking to go back next year! 

Celebrating Independence Day With Style and Great Flavors... Or Were They?

Time to fire up the grill and celebrate freedom! In America, we have Independence Day - a day to remember getting our independence from British rule. To celebrate it this year, my family had a cookout with my mother and sister-in-law in attendance. We were given the opportunity to also try some new products (new to us at least) by Beyond Meat. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent the products free of charge in exchange for hosting a party. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine or my party goers.*

Beyond Meat is an alternative option for those looking to get away from meat products without losing that meat-like texture or taste. 

Planning for the party!

Before all else, planning has to take place. I wanted to make sure that the food list was made and I knew what I might need ahead of time. Being that the Red, White & Blue theme is usual for such a holiday, I thought a refreshingly cool drink in a vibrant color should be included. So I found this recipe for a Virgin Blue Lagoon Mocktail. I loved the color! Sadly, I couldn't find the blue curacao syrup at a store near me. Next time I'll have to check the liquor store or order online ahead of time.

Beyond Meat provided the burgers and meatless sausages. So we took our free product coupons and went to find them. Locally, I found these at our HEB. They had more of a variety than I expected to see. We were told to serve burgers and sausages at our party, so I grabbed a 4 patty pack that were $7.98 each and a 2 patty pack of burgers that were $3.98, as well as the hot Italian links and the original links for $6.99 each. 

Continuing in the holiday color scheme, we grabbed some skewers and made fruit kabobs with strawberries, blueberries and bananas.

And then my husband really wanted a Peach Dump Cake for dessert. I had no idea there was something so simple, yet so delicious. Especially when we topped the warm cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

How did the meatless options stand up to our test?

My in-laws have meatless meals more often than we do. They have a little more experience in various brands. My husband is a total skeptic about meatless products. The following are reactions from those who tried them.  

For the burgers, there was a unanimous agreement that the texture was like that of the cheap burgers served in American public schools. Flat, with a question of what they found to make them with. The taste was good enough. My husband seasoned them just like he would with beef-made burgers. Not everyone was willing to have seconds on them, but everyone said they were good enough to finish a whole burger. When it came to cooking them on the grill, my husband had a hard time with them sticking to the grill. He said it would have been better to cook them a different way. 

Now we come to the sausages. All I really want to say is, no. But I have to keep going. Never again. Why not? Well, these were definitely not something that we could stomach. No, seriously. Two of my party goers couldn't even swallow their bites. Others were gagging. Words that were used to describe them included, "gritty", "chewy", and "lumpy". We couldn't get over the lumps in them. What on earth made them lumpy? We have no idea. But it was like chewing gristle. Some of my dinner guests had to cover their eyes when others were attempting to chew them as it made them sick to see the reactions of others. That is really saying something! And for the rest of the night, some of us were burping the smell of those sausages. Not a pleasant evening. The original ones had a really strong herb taste and smell. I'm thinking sage?? And the hot Italian ones... well, at first I thought the spice would make it bearable. But it didn't. As much as I tried, I couldn't stomach them. 

Important note: I need to add a note before I post... Stomach problems over night and into the next day were abundant. My guests reported upset stomach, stomach cramping, indigestion, heartburn, and even diarrhea after eating.

Bottom line is, these are made with more fruit and veggies product than I thought possible. The burgers were passable for some of us. The sausages.... well, there were no leftovers because the ones not eaten were tossed in the trash. 

May the 4th Be With You!

We are almost all Star Wars fans in our home. My oldest daughter is decidedly not and the younger daughter hasn't seen much lately to make up her mind. But the rest of love the movies and some of the characters. 

So, yes, I do love being able to celebrate the holiday devoted to fans - Star Wars Day. May 4th for you non-fans. This year, I decided to take up the fun challenge of doing something cool. I printed out these cool bookmarks that you can find by 123homeschool4me. She has a HUGE database of free printable resources. This time though, I was only interested in the bookmarks. I printed off 2 copies of those. But then I found some others too... Figured I would let the kids choose any they wanted. The rest though.... I had a plan for! I also decided to go ahead and laminate them. They last longer that way.

I had been wanting to make a sweet treat for my family to enjoy. We have been under so much stress and so strapped in the financial department, that treats weren't so common for us. And I wanted to make it really special! I found these two ideas. But in the end, we created our own.

The craziest option is the BB8 Freakshake. I had never heard of a freak shake before. I was thinking that might be too much sugar, but I thought maybe I could make some of the attachments for fun.

The one my husband really wanted was the Wookie Chocolate Milkshake. Much simpler. He was most excited by the waffle cookie being included. It doesn't require much. We weren't going to waste the time and effort to make the belt across a jar, but with some icecream, chocolate syrup, and these wafer cookies - I think I made it close enough! 

I made some little chocolates using my Star Wars molds. We had these the weekend before Star Wars Day because the boys would be out of town. This way they didn't fully miss out on the fun. The X-Wings weren't as strong as I usually have them... maybe next time.

For the actual day, my daughter made some Twix cookies that we put the chocolate ships on top of. It was delicious!  

I had taken time out to play dress up with the girls. I pulled my costume bin out and let them create their own characters, both rebel and empire sides. While I can't share their photos (for safety reasons), I will show you what outfits they came up with for me! They also chose my makeup colors and we all played with my Star Wars palette from ColorPop.

The blonde is my Jedi costume, while the redhead is the Sith. They were pretending to be Vader's daughters, taking turns being Light and Dark. So of course they decided I had to be both as well.

We had a fantastic time! Even my non-fan daughter was getting into the cosplay aspect with great vigor. It made me proud. We had some mermaid photos afterwards for Mer-May. And they can't wait to come up with the next idea! Until next May, may the force be with you!

From Empty Yard to Crafters Shed to Tiny House!

Life changes drastically, often quickly. One minute you are dreaming of a future project. Then you start thinking about how it doesn't have to be years down the road. And before you know it, you are building with urgency because it is a need. 

Well, that is how it went for us at least. When we moved into our home, our own home, we had a couple sheds in the backyard already. But those were my husbands. Storage and workshop. Eventually, I knew I wanted to have my own crafters shed. A place for all my projects to be centralized. To clear space in the house. Where I could work in an organized way. But that would cost a pretty penny for this family that is making it check by check for the most part. So I knew I'd have to wait a year at least. Or so I thought. 

We started talking about our tax refund money. And what projects might be beneficial to start. About this time, my mother-in-law had quite the health scare. Before we knew it, she was talking about moving out here this year. But she needed a place to stay. Her, my sister-in-law, and their 4 pets. My husband and I are decidedly not animal people. No pets. He has pretty severe allergies, and with all I have on my plate (4 kids included), animals are just a nuisance. We talked about how to accommodate the in-laws without coming to issues with the pets. Thus the shed build was decided as a priority. 

Getting started

Our first step was in deciding where and how big this thing would be. Then we searched online. I can tell you that was grueling! Searching for delivered, pre-built sheds wouldn't work. Our backyard set-up would make for difficult delivery. Kits were also a no. They look great in pictures, but then you read the fine print. Windows not included. Roofing not included. Paint isn't included. Nor were the floors. All that is on you or costs extra. Sizes are rigidly set. Once we compared pricing, we noticed that it seemed cheaper to just build from scratch on our own. With the ability to design it to fit our needs. So, we did just that. 

Foundation to last a lifetime

Usually, you build a slab foundation. The whole building sitting right on top. However, that would have costed around $1,100 - $1,500. We didn't have that kind of money. And we needed to get the foundation started. So the engineer put his brain to work and created the next best solution.

Square slabs. It was inventive and cost us a fraction of the price. I think we used about 50-60 bags of concrete mix total to create 20 squares in rows.

These are 43 bags my mother-in-law had delivered. Each one was a whopping 80 pounds. Made for some back breaking work. 

However, this was also slow-going for us. See those boards forming the square? We needed 20 total to create the foundation. But those board molds - we only had enough to do 6 at a time. Well, we had enough for 6 after the first couple pours. They had to set for 7 days. So it took us a little over a month just to finish that part. Burned out the new drill trying to mix it that way too.

Had to swap to this nifty device my mother-in-law sent us. While this is by no means industrial-strength, it held up for us to get the blocks finished.

And then on top of each one, we had these metal brackets set in the concrete. My husband told me this was to add strength for the high winds we fight here. 

We dug holes and poured concrete. Working as a well-oiled machine together, every chance we had.

Took many weeks, but it slowly took shape with each block we finished.

Then came the next part - the floor foundation. We weren't just laying plywood on top of the blocks. My husband created his plans with a little insight from my research on shed building.

Once we came to this stage of the build, I could finally feel confident that it was really happening. Although there were days when I was pretty tired of going to the hardware store. I know my husband loves window shopping there, but the kids and I get so tired of trudging around the lumber and fasteners.

My daughters took their toys and this is what I saw when we had a particularly long wait as dad checked out the various types of screws... Anna falling asleep with her unicorn on a shelf.

We laid cross sections that added stability. My sons learned a lot from their dad about getting this part right.

Our SUV can't handle the amount of large pieces of wood we needed. So we had to resort to having them delivered on a flatbed truck. Thankfully, the guy bringing them was nice enough to get them dropped off in the backyard, closer to the build. Otherwise the boys and I would have to cart them from the driveway, through the house and out back.

We laid down treated plywood for the flooring and then the walls started to quickly take shape. 

As of today, all four walls have been framed and 3 are standing. It has been a long process. And we are not even close to finished.

But we have learned a thing or two along the way so far that I wanted to share with you. 

1. Careful measurements are crucial to getting everything locked in together correctly. 

2. Having a sense of humor is the only way to break the stressful moments. Don't forget to laugh when it gets hard. 

3. Look up. You get so focused on the craziness right in front of you that you might forget the beauty that is around you. So take a deep breath, and look up. Or around. Great stress release. 

4. Be mindful of your local weather. For us, wind was a battle we hated fighting. It gets strong and lasts all day. Not only did we have to focus our efforts with this in mind, but we had to build something that would withstand those winds as time goes on. 

5. If you are able, ask for help from friends or family. I can't tell you how many times I wished we would ask for someone to help. While my husband isn't big on interacting with others outside the family, it could have gone smoother. 

I'll keep posting as we go along. There are many more steps ahead of us. Both exterior and interior. But we will take them each in stride as a family. And have something amazing to show for it when we reach the end!

Jurassic Quest is Coming to Town! (Discount Included!)

My 6 year old LOVES dinosaurs. I'm not sure if it has something to do with Chris Pratt, but the Jurassic movies are top on her list. She'd take those over Disney princess movies any day. So, of course, I was thrilled when I saw this new promotion through U. S. Family Guide. They are working with Jurassic Quest to promote the show that may just be coming to your town! 

There is quite the lineup already for the locations available. They even have shows in Canada! Texas has Abilene on March 3-5. I can imagine that my youngest will be wearing her new Chris Pratt shirt if we are able to make it. She will enjoy seeing the animatronic dinosaurs that rule the show there! As I'm typing this, I have her running around talking about riding dinosaurs, digging up fossils and watching the "live" dinosaurs! This is perhaps the closest thing to her going to a real Jurassic World. 

FAQ's

I like to plan out trips like this as much as possible in advance. So the FAQ section is typically my go-to. I'm happy to say I got a lot of helpful knowledge from doing so. 

First off - children under 2 are free, however will need activity tickets to participate in some of the events inside. Kids tickets are for 2-10 year olds. 

Tickets can be purchased at the door. It will cost you the same online as in person. However, subject to availability. They have safety restrictions on how many may be allowed to enter at once. Ticket prices are $19 - $36.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons - evenings are the least busy. I think this is one of the most helpful things for us. We aren't big on large crowds. 

Wear socks! Unless you want to purchase socks there. The inflatables and soft play areas require socks. 

My teen boys are going to be a bit bored. This is mostly geared for 2-10 year olds. Especially the rides and activities. 

Check ahead about parking! Since they are using venues from third parties, you could have to pay parking. Once you figure out where the venue is for your town, you can contact them to find out if you need money for parking.

Bring your cameras! And share your rawr-some moments with them! @jurassicquest #jurassicquest  I know I plan to do this. After all, my little one will be losing her mind from the fun. 

Cash and cards are accepted. They have activity tickets as well as souvenirs.  

And the most important for our family - food! Seems like food options and rules are run by the venue. Jurassic Quest does not provide food. So check out what your venue allows. Being that the event is usually about 2 hours to get through the whole thing, you might not even plan to eat there. Just plan your trip around meal times. 

Activities include....

Dino rides! These are just for kids. There are stationary dinosaurs that walk in place as well as those that walk slowly forward.  

Bounce houses! My little one tends to be afraid of these. Not really sure why, but she's afraid of others bouncing her. So we might not even bother with them. 

Dino crafts! You can do a quick craft to create your own dinosaur. My daughters might enjoy this. Looks like paper crafts. 

Dig for fossils! My little one recently learned to say paleontologist. As well as what that is. And she is excited to dig up dinos.  

Meet the baby dinos! When I was telling my kids that we might go to Jurassic Quest, they wanted to know what kinds of things were included. My oldest 3 were meh about it. But the youngest has been squealing about the possibilities since. Meeting baby dinosaurs has to be on the list or she won't be satisfied. If she could have her own baby dino, she would. That and a unicorn....

While you are walking around, look out for the walking dinosaurs! They are playful and like to run and walk around the guests. So be ready and snap a cool pic while you are at it! 

Lastly, discover the ancient oceans! I'm a skeptic on this front. Then again, dinosaurs trigger my skepticism too. However, it could still be a lot of fun to see the ancient ocean creatures moving around.  

Want to go and save money?

I can't wait to possibly make the trip! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Is anyone you know a dinosaur fan? Would you enjoy taking your family somewhere like this? Let me know all about it!  

Don't forget to use this code at checkout to save 20%! 

My readers get an exclusive offer of 20% off by using the code USFAM at checkout!  Get your tickets before they go extinct! https://www.jurassicquest.com/
 

Play Monster Party Fun! Discount Included

Our family loves to play games. Cards, video and board games. If can be played together, we are all in! One of my favorite game companies, Play Monster, sent us a couple new ones for our collection. Check out the fun we had and get your discount below!

*Disclaimer: I was sent these games in exchange for hosting a party and writing a review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are strictly my own.*

I was sent two games to test out with family and friends. Farkle and Five Crowns. I had never played either one, but was told at least one, if not both, were a lot of fun. 

Farkle

Farkle was the first one my kids wanted to try with me. It is a game of chance with the dice. Super simple to play, but does have us questioning our decision making on risk-taking skills! 

You can get the Farkle game from PlayMonster for $9.99.

Five Crowns

Then we have Five Crowns. I have to say, this one took us for a loop and the kids said it was more difficult at first. The rules are bit more complicated. However, I think it has potential to be lots of fun once you get into the rhythm with it. 

I did like that the points list are posted on the rule manual and the box. The more you have it to check with, the easier it can be to determine if you have a winning hand. I was also thankful that they included the QR code that linked to an instruction video. It was still complicated, however. So watch it a couple times and listen carefully. I'm pretty sure we were not playing it right the first time.

Five Crowns is $12.99 on the PlayMonster website. 

I'm always down for trying a new game with my family. These two were more of a challenge, but that can be a good thing! I will say that I look forward to seeing what others think of this game as we play with other family and friends. Each perspective can be fun while it adds to the experience. Which game would you most like to try? Leave me a comment below! 

Want to get your own? 

How about with a discount? They have graciously allowed me to share this discount code with you, my readers. Use the code TRYAZON25 at checkout to receive 25% off your entire order! But don't wait too long. This code will expire on June 30, 2022.

Is Hello Fresh Really Worth Getting?

I love participating in sampling new products. Every once in a while though, we come across something that I shake my head and pass on. The most recent product came in my PINCHme box. They are pushing the Hello Fresh option. While I'm all for saving money on feeding my crew, or finding simpler recipes that are fully put together and don't require me to go shopping, I am not seeing the benefit for our family of 6 on this one. 

What is Hello Fresh? 

It is an automated payment system where you are subscribing to a weekly delivery of boxes containing food. Each meal is planned out for the amount of people included.

Here is what we have learned....

So the first thing we had to figure out were the prices and overall payment for the amount of time the deal was for. The one I was sent was for 6 weeks. In that 6 weeks, it would include meals for 4 people (problem #1 for us, since we have 6 family members). There would be 3 meals per week for those 4 people. So that is 12 meals. And over the 6 week period that leads us to 72 meals. First part of the math is done. 

Now the pricing fun. 

You really have to pay attention here. When they say you are getting a bunch of free meals, in my case - 17 free meals, they break it up. Here is the break down for you according the fine print on the card they sent me....

First week is half off with free shipping.

Week 2 is 35% off plus $9.99 for shipping. 

Week 3 is 20% off plus $9.99 for shipping.

Week 4 and 5 is 14% off plus $9.99 for shipping each week.

Week 6 is only 5% off plus $9.99 for shipping. 

That comes out to a total of $516. 47! For a total of 72 meals. With then translates to $7.17 per meal. Not bad if you are going by price per meal I suppose. Cheaper than eating out. However, for a family of 6, it is not even an option on their website. You can only choose 2 or 4 person plans. 

Any benefits? 

Not for us. But I suppose I would have to concede that if you are a couple who have busy schedules, or are open to multiple options and not just going by a meat and veggie option, then maybe you could make that work? Prices in the grocery stores have been a tremendous burden for a good deal of people. My own family is eating a lot of sandwiches and ramen lately. At the same time, we did the math. Roughly $200 allows me to make those 72 meals. They may not be fancy meals, but they fill my teenage boys. Depending on what the serving sizes look like, my giant sons probably wouldn't fill up on them. 

What about you? Would something like this be cheaper than your current food bill? Tell me about it in the comments below. I'd love to know who this would work for.

Scarborough Viking Weekend Was a HUGE Success!

We had a great time at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival last weekend. I could spend each weekend there, in full costume, just seeing all the different sights and eating. One day really doesn't cut it! 

*Disclaimer: My family was hosted in exchange for writing reviews and sharing about our experience at the festival. All opinions are strictly our own. We were not otherwise paid or endorsed.*

I spent a lot of time and effort in creating our costumes for the event. We loved seeing everything from shows to the vendors. I will say the kids were a bit worn out and the eldest was being a grouch the whole time... But he is 13, so I blame those teen rebellion genes on that. 

My oldest daughter loved the ride, Barrel Bedlam. He promised to give her the insane version at her request. I was thinking she might not be able to walk straight after that ride, but she has amazing talent for keeping her balance! 

I love the old-style village look. Each road you walk is set up to really immerse you into the feel on medieval times! 

I love seeing other cosplayers! This guy really went all out with his. I had wanted to get my photo with him, but happened to be in line for food when he passed by. I'm so glad my husband snapped this photo instead. Some people invest a lot into the costumes they were. They also embrace their characters. It really makes the experience all the more fun.

Some artisans do more than just sell their handmade goods. They also show you the process in which they make them. This glassblower, for instance, showed how he crafted the beautiful bulbs and goblets in his shop with a demonstration.

We happened to catch the parade as well. They have a great array of actors that participate, showing many eras of costumes as you can see. 

We tried several types of foods. Sadly, by the time we got to the crepes that I love so much, the wait time was at least 30 minutes. But we did try the Lemon Chill. Quite the tart treat. I loved the smoothies they serve. My husband had his favorite - turkey leg. Dressed like a Viking and chowing down on one of those, you really do feel like you have been transported back to their age. We got the kids root beer floats too. It was a hot and dusty day, so it made a great treat! As did the ice cream we had... 

As for shopping, I finally have my own cup! With the attaching strap to wear it on my costumes and the lid. I didn't get to use it there as the dust blowing through the area filled the cup. But I'm looking forward to using it at home as often as I can! The dragon design I chose is one she rarely makes, so it was even more special. 

 

My husband also grabbed some Beard Buzz and Dragon Jelly from a vendor with a great variety of homemade beeswax products. The Dragon Jelly is to help with his incredibly cracked hands from work. The Beard Buzz was to help his beard be smoother and less irritated. Everything this guy makes is as simple as he can get it to ensure you aren't getting unnecessary oils and chemicals. I've been using the dragon jelly on my legs after shaving and I love how it feels. You can check out their products HERE. He is Nature Craft online.

Bathroom lines for women had some so desperate that they ran into the mens room... My husband was startled by one such woman. If you even THINK you need to use the restroom, and you are of the female variety, then you better go get in line immediately! Don't wait until you are dancing in the line and hoping you won't wet yourself.
Next weekend is one I'd love to try next year - Live the Fantasy! Fae folk come to life during that weekend. They have a Fairy Initiation Ceremony as well as the Spring Celebration. They will also have the Deaf Day this weekend! 

What are you thoughts? Have any of you gone yet? Or are planning to? I'd love to hear from you!