Let's Duck the World!

I love miniatures! Have you noticed? I grew up wishing I could spend at least one day in tiny size. Experiencing the world from the doll-sized perspective. I grew up seeing the movie Honey, I shrunk the kids! and thinking, that would be so much fun! Playing with Barbies, I'd reenact my favorite book or movie scenes, while wishing I could be their size. But I'm getting off track here. Why do I bring this up? Simply because someone sent me tiny ducks. You heard that right. I got a bag full of tiny ducks! 

Through my association with Influenster, I get to try out products and write reviews. Most of those, you don't see here. I only share ones that have a pretty big impact. This time, however, it was just too much fun not to share with you guys. I mean, come on, who doesn't want some fun ideas? Am I right?? 

Say hello to the Micro Ducks by Toymendous!  They come in this mesh bag with 50 of these colorful little guys. Perfect for the 1/6 scale doll world. When I first saw these, I thought that they were perfect for adding to the Jurassic Park Jeep I made.

A little tacky putty to hold them in place? Give the Jurassic Park Jeep a modern twist. I still don't know why people put ducks on the dash of their Jeeps. Is it a game? Is it prizes for participating in car shows? Does it give you more prestige when you have the most on display? And who came up with the idea?!  Yep, here I go again. Losing track of what I came here to say... 

But I see other potential uses. How about hiding them around the house? Make a game of it with the kids! How about at Christmas time, using them with your Elf on the Shelf doll. These things are so multipurpose, it is awesome! I couldn't find these exact ones online. I have no idea where they normally sell them. You can find comparable ones on Amazon though. 

Now, it's your turn! Tell me what you like (or even dislike) about these! Leave me a comment below.  

Stepping Over to Ruidoso, New Mexico

While visiting Cloudcroft, we decided to swing over to Ruidoso while there. It is another village about an hour north of Cloudcroft. Originally, I only knew we were considering going to church there on Sunday morning. However, we learned of other things they have to offer that made them a must visit! (And we changed our mind about going to church there. Went to Alamogordo instead.)

Ruidoso's Winter Park is a recreation park with something that we really wanted to try - a mountain coaster! Sadly, it was out of our price range this time at $25 a person. And then we didn't know how the youngest would be on her own since she was just barely at the cutoff age for riding with an adult. But it is called the Screaming Eagle and looked like it would be so much fun! You could also go tubing, or they offered a couple other activities.  

We walked down Sudderth Drive to check out a bookstore and a couple other stores that caught our eyes as we went by. Books Etcetera was neat, but it was just new books. We had been hoping they would be more of a used bookstore. They did have cute souvenirs and gifts though. 

I really enjoyed Mountain Treasure Thrift, which was also on Sudderth Drive. They had quite the collection of things. The lady who checked us out was really sweet and helpful with items that didn't have prices on them. 

I'd say this is another village that is geared towards tourists. But it was fun to visit. Finding the thrift store was my favorite part. Ruidoso is about an hour north of Cloudcroft. Then you have Alamogordo, which was about 30 minutes west of Cloudcroft. That is a much bigger village (?) or town... Not sure what that one is categorized as. But it was big enough to have Walmart and Dollar Tree! And we heard there was some thrift store called Kings Treasure, but it was closed when we were there. Just a couple places to consider if you make the trip. 

I'd say all the roads were incredibly twisty through the mountains. I suggest having all wheel drive if you go in the winter months. Snow was everywhere. You could see the Salt Flats in the distance, which was awesome. We drove through a tunnel as well. While short, it was still cool. 

Dangerously Good Whisky - Pendleton!

I'm not a big drinker. I sip occasionally, but it isn't something I do for any particular reasons. This time, it was to review! Pendleton Whisky partnered with me to try out their delicious (dangerously so!) whisky. Normally, whisky burns going down the throat. Leaves you feeling warm, but that initial sip can have new drinkers coughing all over the place. Pendleton is on a different level though. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent a party pack to host a review party. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Normally when I drink, I'm leaning more towards something that tastes good. Like a vodka or cream. Or something that mixes well and goes down easy. My view on liquor is that one should not drink it if they have to "acquire" the taste for it. That, to me, is Stockholm Syndrome at its core. Whisky can be tricky. And I had my reservations about this one. But they cleared my views on theirs pretty quick. For this, we made a recipe they set me. And let me tell you... I've not had a whisky go down so smoothly! There was no burn. It was light and refreshing. Why do I call this dangerous? You almost don't realize it is an alcoholic beverage! THAT is why it is dangerously good. Only one other has come close to this kind of goodness for me. A certain Irish cream drink... 

These run about $30 a bottle. Stores well in the fridge, so no rush on getting it down!  

I could see this drink being something that is fun over those hot, summer nights. A few friends and a fire pit with some great talking and laughing moments. That is the kind of drink I think this one is. 

As with all beverages meant for adults, I don't suggest it for the purpose of getting drunk. As a Christian, I believe that drinking in moderation is okay. Getting drunk is where the problems come. So, if you are prone to drunkenness - this isn't for you. For everyone else, drink responsibly. After all, you don't enjoy it if you can't think clearly! Cheers! 

When the AirSho Comes to Town!

Wow! We made it to the AirSho! It was amazing. But we didn't go in blind. We had some preparations to make beforehand. First off, we had no seating on hand to bring. So we went to our local Walmart and grabbed some fold out chairs for each person. I also reached out about bringing water. We might be in September, but it is still quite hot here. I think the average is still about 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit. While they were predicting we might dip down to the 70's, that remained to be seen. And their website was lacking direct information on this. But thankfully, you can call or text them with the number on their website. What did I learn? No food or drinks. Period. Which was even printed on our tickets... So, we had to deal with the option to purchase at the vendors or wait until we could get back to the car where a cooler would be waiting. Something good to know ahead of time. 

As for the vendors, my husband bought a personal pizza, a turkey leg, a drink, and some nacho fries - all for well over $50. So... one treat per kid really added up. About the same amount we paid for the tickets really. They do have ATM's on hand though if you need to pull out some cash. 

While there were not bathrooms, there were plenty of porta potties on hand. Sadly, no one was refilling the toilet paper so there were a lot of women who had to hold it. Washing stations were next to the potties too. And I will say that it was odd seeing the handicapped ones, but good at the same time. 

I appreciated that they started things off with the National Anthem and closed out with Taps to honor the fallen heroes. 

The flying was phenomenal! Trick flying, war flying, pyrotechnics, a jet car... all of it was fun. For my husband and I, at least.

My kids were only mildly interested. Sadly. But for my husband, this was his first air show! And I wouldn't have traded it for anything else. He and I love war history. He's always wished he could have been a pilot, so seeing them so close and in action made his day.

We got to meet one of the great trick flyers they had. He was dressed in period style clothing and gave out autographed photos of him flying. It was a fun addition!

 The sun started to come out about 2-3 hours before the end of the show. Despite the sunscreen we put on, it felt very much like we were cooking. And indeed, we are a family of tomatoes tonight. I think it was a great event. I think it was educational for those who listened to the announcers, which could also be pretty funny. My husband and I are considering going back next year. Maybe without the kids though, since it doesn't seem to be something they like. 

Have you ever been to an air show? If so, what do you like about them?? I would love to know! 

Get Ready, Midland!

Have you been to an Air Show before? I have! Several of them actually. I absolutely love going. Whether it has been with family, friends or even my Cadet buddies, it was always a blast. Maybe that can be attributed to my love of history. World War 2 has been one of the most fascinating history lessons I continually return to. The technological advances, the lessons learned in medical sciences, and the political lessons that we should glean from even today - all tickle my fancy! 

We have lived in this town for enough years to know that there is an annual AirSho here. But this will be the first year that we can actually attend! And yes, I am making the kids go too. I really do hope they will enjoy it. Maybe even learn something while we are there. If nothing else, I know my history-loving husband will! He is as much of a fan as I am. Where do you think I heard of Unit 731 and Dark5? 

But here I am getting distracted again. History does that to me! Let's focus here. AirSho (yes, that is how it is spelled) is coming back to town. This year is a little more special than past years. It marks the 80th anniversary of WW2. Crazy, isn't it? 80 years! So many of those from that time have already passed. The number of veterans dwindles quickly. 

What to know, before you go!

They have quite the list of restrictions. What stands out to me is that we can't bring foods in. No coolers. Now, while they have concessions, this means we might want to plan ahead on having some extra money for food.

They have activities geared more for kids like bouncy houses and games and snow cones, but you better bring more money for those too.  

If I could afford to, I would pay for my husband to live out his dream of being in one of the iconic planes as they fly through the sky above our town! But alas, we don't make that kind of money. Maybe when the kids move out... If you are interested in that, just look HERE.  

Where can you learn more? 

They have a Facebook Page that has updates on the planes included in the show. You can also get a ton more information on their website. We also should note here, there is an additional $10 fee for parking, cash only, unless you get the VIP bundle. There is a handicap lot, it costs the same amount as normal parking, but is accessible. You just need to have the plate or placard ready. And when ordering your tickets online, there are additional fees (you know the kind - pay with card, pay extra!). But I did not see anything about you being able to pay in person. So it just is what it is. 

I promise to share more about the experience once we have attended! Let me know what your thought on air shows is. Do you ever go? Do you enjoy them?  

A Slice of Our Town - The Cloverdale Mercantile

I love heading out for an adventure on the weekend. It doesn't happen often, but it is always amazing when it does. This most recent trip took us out to the Cloverdale Mercantile. My daughter is officially a teenager, and decided she wanted to celebrate her yearly uptick in age by doing some shopping! So off we went. 

Cloverdale Mercantile used to be known as Wall Street Antiques. It was in a large, old building. Everything was covered in dust. And sometimes you might question if things ever moved. But then the owner of that building decided they wanted to sell. And quite frankly, I'm glad! Why? Because Wall Street was then able to look into moving. They found a newer place to move to. It is cleaner. Everything is well organized. Booth after booth is brimming with amazing finds. You are guaranteed to see new stock every time you stop by. I won't bore you with talking about it so much. Instead, I will give you a brief glance into the types of things you can come across. Yes, my focus was more on miniatures and doll-related items this time. Maybe next time, I can show you a wider variety! 

You can check out more about them on their Facebook page.  

Enjoy! 

From Hobby to Hussle

I love to bake. I quit doing as much of it as I once did, but it still brings me joy. Not just from making a tasty treat, but more so from the happiness I see others get when they dig in. Up until this summer, we would go to a Friday night Bible study with friends from church. Everyone brought a dish. After reading a passage and discussing it, we would partake in a meal. It was a great joy to us. I would bring desserts. Cakes, cookies, brownies, pies.... I even took requests. 

Then life got really busy. We couldn't go as much. So I would make our once-a-week dessert and set aside a little for certain friends who really enjoyed it. One of those friends owns a game store in our town. He loved things I would bring in. Made jokes about certain secret ingredients I must be adding to get people addicted. He then suggested I get a table at the local Trade Days. Not a bad idea. I've mulled it over and considered it. But that will have to wait until we are less strapped and short on time. In the meantime, I asked him about setting up some of my goodies during his game tournament nights. He agreed, and it has flourished! 

Some of his younger guests seemed to think he made up Suzette's Sweets! They think he provides them himself. He slipped up and called them by my real name once, which just furthered their belief that he is making up the baker of these delectable sweets. I explained to him, Suzette is my pseudonym. I use that for my characters in video games I play. It has become such a lore event, that I decided to boost the story even further. I created a little sign for them - 

Meet your Baker!

This is one of my game characters. I screenshot her from the game and put her to work as the sales girl in his shop. It must be working, or the sweets have truly garnered a following, as they have nearly sold out most weekends. 

I have really enjoyed doing this. I'm even learning new things to make based on requests that I get. And even better is the reward of a little extra cash to get 'fun' things.  

A Summer of Fun at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science

Well, we took a trip and made it memorable! Our most recent excursion took us into Dallas (and surrounding areas). In downtown Dallas, we had the great opportunity to check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. A HUGE thank you to them for giving us complimentary tickets for this time. 

*Disclaimer: I was given free tickets to the museum in exchange for my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions shared are mine or my families.*

What to know when planning your visit

Okay, where to start?? They are located in Downtown Dallas. You can check out their website HERE. They had the Bug Lab Exhibit opening when we were up there. This one costs you extra to see. As with many museums, they rotate out their Special Exhibits. Other exhibits that stay year round are fascinating for all ages! They also have videos that educate while entertaining. While walking through one floor, there was quite the line waiting to try out the earthquake simulator! You stand on a platform that gives you the feeling of being in an earthquake. 

Tickets and entries are timed. Make sure you pay attention when you purchase your tickets, so that you know when you are supposed to go in. They have a high volume of visitors to juggle. This also means that there are times when huge crowds are EVERYWHERE! 

Parking... Here is one that is super important. They have a museum parking lot that is $15 for non museum members. If you get the membership, it is only $5. Per vehicle, not per person. It is first-come, first-serve. If it is full, they have an overflow lot. However, they also have a special section if you are needing a handicapped spot. We ended up finding a lot that charged us $5.35 for 4 hours. You have to download the app or find the kiosk to mark your vehicle paid and avoid towing. 

What is inside? 

They have 4 floors of exhibits to see. My youngest loved the dinosaur level. So many skeletons and things to learn about the fossils. 

Being from an oil town, we loved seeing the exhibit on drilling and oil processes. There was so much to learn from it. Even a giant drill exhibit to give you an idea of what they are like. or the one that shows you how the oil is pumped upwards. 

We loved seeing the Gemstone exhibit too. Learning about topaz stones and geodes. The giant geode was extremely popular with the kids.

Seeing all the types of animal displays was fascinating too. We got to see what kinds of animals live where. 

Start at the top and trickle down! The elevators were constantly busy. And the escalator was down when we went. So be prepared to climb all the way up and then all the way down. We loved seeing the outdoor walls that were decorated with greenery and rocks. 

The staff were friendly, even in the rush of dealing with so many people. They were helpful in guiding us and answering questions we had. There are seating spots all over the place in case you get worn out from all the walking. The bathrooms were clean too, which was really nice. Oh yes, final notes! There is a food court and gift shop available. There were also fun things for little ones to do out front.  

We are so glad we got to stop in and see everything! It was a wonderful trip for our family.  

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Review (Discount included)

Summers are meant for fun, for family, and for making lasting memories. Usually, you take time out of school and, if you can work, to travel together and do something different. 

That being said, times are harder on many. Maybe taking a full trip isn't in your budget. So what about a one night trip? What about a day filled with fun? What if one place could give you the away time you need? Come with us as our family did just that!

*Disclaimer: I was given the chance to go to Ripley's Believe It Or Not! in Grand Prairie, in exchange for sharing about our experience. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine and my family's own.*

First off, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! has locations across the nation. Maybe not in your city, but I bet you can find one in your state. For us, it is near the Dallas area. This meant we had quite the drive to plan for. It also meant we had to get a hotel room and stay overnight. For my family, this equates to a mini vacation! So be sure to check their locator and see if you can find one close to you. 

Since the one we went to is the one I'm spotlighting, I'm going to say that not all Ripley's are the same! What we saw here, you most likely won't see at the other locations. So keep that in mind. 

How to get started! 

Ripley's in Grand Prairie has multiple things to enjoy. If you get their combo ticket, you can enjoy Luis Tussaud's Waxworks exhibit, Ripley's Moving Theater, Ripley's Power Up and Ripley's Mirror Maze, as well as the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium exhibits. These tickets are $56 per adult. If that isn't in your price range, they also offer the 3-Way Combo or a 2-Way Combo option. I love the fact that you can choose which attractions you want as well, if you choose the 3 or 2 options. You can purchase your tickets online, ahead of time, or in person. In-person purchases are how you can use various modes of discounts, so check their website to see if you qualify for any before you purchase. 

                                Thinking I might just need to join the MIB.

Parking is free! Huge bonus for the wallet on this one. Especially in a big city. 

Our Ripley's just installed a new exhibit as well. It is based on their actual Ripley's Warehouse in Orlando, Florida. That warehouse holds all the oddities that Ripley's collects over the years. Things like medieval torture devices, odd taxidermy (ever seen a two-headed calf before?), and ancient artifacts from Asia - just to start with!  

My family voted on their favorite attractions. The Mirror Maze won hands down. It took us about 4 tries to find the exit and the youngest was begging to go back in. Part of the maze has a cool selfie room that is lit and mirrored. The floor was a shiny tile that almost made it seem like you were floating with the hanging lights. 

Luis Tussaud's Waxworks exhibit came in second place. It has a long trail to follow with so many characters, both modern and historical. If you are brave, the ending can lead into a horror haunted house. But they have an exit for those who are faint of heart as well. We chose to check out the haunted house.

And let me tell you... there were some great jump scare moments. My favorite part was seeing the Phantom of the Opera! 

We took up the challenge on the 7D Moving Theater to shoot at robots and try to save the city. That was a fun experience. I think my oldest son had the best luck at shooting the janky guns, but we all had a blast. (pun intended!) 

We shot at mutant slimes in the Power Up attraction. That allows 3 people at a time to go into a room where 3 of the walls allow your device to 'shoot' at things on them.  

The Odditorium had so many fun things to see though. A mechanical statue of the world's tallest man that will go from sitting to standing! Talk about having big shoes to fill. 

There are plenty of places to sit and rest. So don't worry about getting tired as you galavant along. You can rest along the way. Each one is designed to fit the theme of the exhibit. 

My final note was in the Wax display attraction. As a Christian woman, I was particularly surprised, and pleased, to see a part that was dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ. There were scenes set up to show important events like the Last Supper. 

You don't see things like this often. It was almost like a gospel presentation, but in an entertaining way that isn't hard to handle. I really loved that.  

I highly recommend a trip to Ripley's! No matter the age. No matter your interests. I think there is something for everyone! Let me know what you liked from what you could see. Or let me know if you have been. I'd love to hear from you! Until next time, my friends. Keep it weirdly real out there.