Get Cozy With Me!

Whoo! I love a good, soft blanket. Something to curl up in. And I got a really cozy one. This came from my partnership with Influenster.

*Disclaimer: I was sent this blanket in exchange for trying it out and writing reviews for it. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

So, before we talk about this blanket, let me tell you a little story. I used to have bedding sets. Comforter, sheets, and maybe even a bedskirt. You know the kinds, right? Comes in a bag at your local Walmart. Then I met the love of my life. While I'm shivering, his internal heater keeps him warm. During the summer - too warm. He didn't like comforters. And didn't care for having flat sheets either. Said he would get too hot under all those layers. Didn't take long before I gave up having them. They ended up on my side of the bed at night while he used just an oversized throw for a blanket. This started to get annoying. So I got rid of the comforters and flat sheets. Since then, our bed now keeps just a throw each. Although there have been times when I have piled up to three on my side...

I was so excited to try this one out. I love the deep blue color. It even has an intricate pattern that you can see when the light hits it just right. And talk about so soft! I am looking forward to days of curling up on the couch with it and a great book.  

There is one other thing I love about this blanket. Sometimes, I will curl up on the couch, which is up against a wall. From the doorway entrance of the living room, you can't see me. Because of this, there has been times when the kids look for me for a while before they realize where I am. I think of it as a game. With this deep blue velvety blanket, I might just take the game up a notch!  I call it activating Camouflage Mode! 

If you are looking to find one of your own, I found them on the Macy's website. The tag that came on my blanket says it is 50x70" while the website says 50x60", but the original price of $30 is the same. Except that at the time I am writing this, Macy's has them on sale for $12.99. 

Teeny Tinies Candy Shop - How Do They Measure Up?

You know that I have been working on a lot of doll projects lately. Dolls, crafting, and reviews - oh, my! Well, here is another one. My Mom sent me quite the care package recently. I'm still getting through each part, so keep up with the posts as they come out. 

This one is focusing on the Teeny Tinies Candy Shop sets that you might still be able to find at your local Five Below. I created a video for you, to show you the intricate little pieces. They work pretty well in the 1/6th scale world.

While I have the grocery store, I can also fit these into my food court build and keep tiny candies in Grandma's bag for the little ones. So many uses!

So without any more blabbing, let me show you. Then, I hope you will let me know what you think. What would you use for them? 

Bratz Scorchin' Jade Doll Review

Thanks to MGA Entertainment, we get to take a look at the Bratz Scorchin' doll, Jade edition!

This line of dolls was set to fully be released by the end of July. However, from what I was seeing, they might not be all out there yet. There are 4 dolls in the collection. My initial thought at seeing them was how they look like a biker chick gang. I love that! 

Jade comes with the standard articulation and slightly bendable knees. True to the Bratz way, the boots come off, leaving behind a ball nub that click locks into place.

The clothing is incredibly detailed, and is removable. While Bratz weren't high on my dolls list, these are definitely pretty cool! I think the only downside for me is that they are not more articulated. 

Where you can get them:

Walmart may still be in the process of adding them. There were no photos when I looked them up. But Jade is HERE. However, it also looks like their stock was extremely low in my area. 

Amazon - had listings for 3 of them, but not currently in stock.

Target had the initial release. I'm pretty sure they have a deal with MGA to get all the toys earlier than other retailers. They also had them cheaper than what I saw on Walmart. 

I decided to do my review on video for you guys. Feel free to let me know what you think about these dolls!  

Minecraft Party! (With Game Reviews)

Tryazon and Ravensburger are back with some board games to celebrate your love of Minecraft! And I'm going to share them with you. But first....

*Disclaimer: I was sent these games in exchange for hosting a party and sharing my honest review. All opinions shared are mine or my guests. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed.*

With that out the way, it is time to dive in!

Part of the deal in getting these games, is that I will host a party. As such, I took the time to do some research and get some ideas. If you are interested in doing something similar, there are LOTS of ideas out there. They fit all budget needs. I like to keep my parties sorta simple. For time, money and energy are easily expendable in this house. I printed off these water bottle labels to use.  I also got the invitations from that website.

I like that these are not just birthday invitations, which was what I mostly found while I was searching. I decided to host my party during the week for other homeschool families to join in. 

Once that part of my planning was finished, it was time to create a menu. Since I'm showcasing both a board game and a card game, I decided to keep things finger-friendly and less messy. But I still wanted things that pointed back to the awesome online game we love so much. So here are the food choices I went with. 

Pretzels = Sticks                                       Goldfish = Fish

Chocolate chip cookies = Cookies            

A fruit tray was thrown in, with Watermelon and Apples among the choices. The green grapes represented Slime Balls. 

Water bottles with the Creeper labels and some juice bottles provided hydration to our party goers. 

Like a dummy, I forgot to snap a picture before my guests arrived of the table layout. So just imagine it being awesome. 

Time to party!

Once everything for the party was gathered, it was time to host. We set up and awaited the arrival of our guests. The kids and I had already tried out the game before hand so we would be able to explain it to the others. Heroes of the Village and Minecraft Explorers are up to 4 players each. So I decided to have them play in rounds, which meant we only managed to play the first one this time. 

You set up the main piece to be your Village. Illagers are on their way to attack. You and your team have to take action! You get a character and a pet to help you in some way as you explore, gather material blocks fight mobs and build defenses. It really does require team efforts to accomplish a common goal as no one person can do it all before the Illagers take you out. 

The world grows as you explore, opening more possible places to gather building blocks from. Gathering blocks to be brought back to the village provides others with the ability to build during their turns as well. 

Heroes of the Village was met with great enthusiasm. I will say that kids who have difficulty sitting still for more than 20 minutes, might not enjoy this one so much. But even the most wiggly of our group were able to enjoy the fun and try to save the village.

We are looking forward to trying the Minecraft Explorers next. Sadly, we ran out of time at this party.

If you are interested in finding these games for yourself or to give as a gift, please check out the links below!

Ravensburger - You can find both games at THIS LINK. Plus others they offer. 

Walmart - Heroes of the Village

                 Minecraft Explorers

Introducing Bubblelick!

Let me introduce you to bubbles that you can LICK! Yes, you heard me right. These bubbles are safe for humans and pets alike. Not that you should drink the solution, but catching them in your mouth is SAFE. And so much fun too!!!

*These products were sent to me in exchange for hosting a party and sharing them with others. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine and my guests alone.*

We had some family come to visit us recently. Which made it the perfect chance to share these bubbles and see them in action. The solution worked out really well as far as making bubbles. And the kids informed me that at least 2 out of the 4 flavors tasted as they claimed. I can attest that each one at least smells like they said it would. This product is perfect for indoor fun when the weather is not so nice. These bubbles don't leave sticky surfaces where they fall. However, we also greatly enjoyed the outdoor play. Plenty of room to run and jump around as we caught the bubbles!

Need more information? This is straight from the company on the safety of their bubbles:

Bubble Lick™ redefines the bubble experience with a unique combination
of natural flavors and GRAS-certified ingredients—because bubbles
should be fun AND safe! Bubble Lick™ delivers delicious, naturally
flavored bubbles that create exciting sensory experiences for all ages.
Made in the USA in an FDA-registered,
CGMP-certified, allergen-free facility
Indoor & outdoor play with no sticky
residue
Infused with real, natural flavors for a
fun, safe, and lickable experience
Perfect for all ages—kids, adults, and
even your furry friends!
Why Bubble Lick™ Stands Above the Rest:
Invented by a Pediatric Allergist & Im-
munologist – After seeing children suffer
from allergic reactions and digestive is-
sues from so-called “non-toxic” bubbles
made overseas, he set out to create the
first truly safe, lickable bubbles.
Other bubbles are made with ques-
tionable ingredients – Many foreign-made
bubbles contain China’s tap water and
chemicals—worse than your kitchen
soap!
The Only Bubbles Safe for Year-Round, Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Bubble Lick™
leaves no sticky, slippery residue, making them perfect for any setting, any time!
Experience the world’s safest, tastiest, and most fun bubbles ever created! Catch
them if you can… and taste the fun! 

You can find these at Target or the Bubblelick website. Let me know what you think below!

Nabisco Wrapping for the Holidays!

The holidays are coming, so let's talk about having a wrapping party with Nabisco! They sent me this party pack through Ripple Street to share with our friends. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this pack in exchange for reviewing and hosting a party with others. All opinions shared are mine or my guests. I was not otherwise endorsed.*

I love Nabisco products. Oreo's are a huge favorite in our home. And before my husband and I developed reactions to peanut butter, so were the Nutter Butters. With my husbands new dieting, he was taking Wheat Thins to work to snack on. So yeah... we are a Nabisco fan family here. Which is why I was thrilled to host this party. They teamed up with Dollar General again for this one. Dollar General carries so many of their products. And sometimes you can catch some pretty great deals.

Before we jump into the products I bought for the party, let me just show you the swag I was sent to share! Nabisco certainly brings the fun.

               Now, let's examine what I chose to buy and share!

I grabbed these $1 boxes of Sour Patch Kids candies. These are a favorite of one of my daughters. And even better is that they are cheaper at DG than at Dollar Tree!

If you are more a Swedish Fish fan, they have those too. Would you believe I had no idea that these candies were Nabisco brand?? You can get them in the bags as well for a fun treat. Oreos were an obvious must. By the time the party ended, I think I had two left. We had Chips Ahoy (the Chewy ones!), but I forgot to put them out.

We put out Ritz crackers with some meat cuts. There were some Honey Maid graham crackers too. I really love making s'mores with those and will be doing so with the leftover ones. 

What about the swag? 

I've been giving those out to other friends as I go. The hats are adorable and my youngest couldn't wait to start using her Sour Patch Kids fuzzy socks that very day! I'm also looking at those recipes and wanting to plan out when I can try some of them. Who will be my guinea pigs.... 

If you are planning a holiday get-together, I really suggest you check out the variety of Nabisco products available in your local stores. But never forget that Dollar General has you covered as well! There may even be a deal going or a coupon you can snag on the app. So check them out soon. And let me know, what is your favorite Nabisco product?? Leave me a comment below.

Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty Review Party

Let's be honest. I really didn't know what Crazy Aaron's was about until this party. I knew of their products from previous Tryazon party opportunities. But I thought, who wants to have a bunch of kids playing with slime in their house?? I'm too much of a neat freak for that kind of thing. We aren't the type to play with dough toys unless Mommy puts down a plastic tablecloth first. So let me introduce you to something that showed me there is more to Crazy Aaron's than that.

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products in exchange for hosting a party with friends and sharing them. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions shared are my or from my guests.*

First off, what is Crazy Aaron's? 

So glad you asked! Crazy Aaron started his business of innovative toys in 1998. The product lines they release are non-toxic and made with high quality ingredients, right here in the USA!  I won't get into too many details, but I'll say that his growth and making the products here in the United States has meant that he doesn't have to worry about any future disruptions to supply chains. So gifting with his toys is a great idea. But if you want to know more, there is plenty to learn HERE. 

Crazy Aaron's are not just slime, or even putty, as I knew it. I grew up with the cheap putty from the Dollar Tree (back when everything was still $1!). And the first time I tried out slime, I was grossed out. 

But Crazy Aaron's has surpassed what I knew of those two things. The slime is slick, wet-feeling even. But it doesn't stick like others. So it comes across as cleaner. Now, I have a sensory issue when it comes to how things feel. Slime and I can't ever get along. Ever. But I can say that I honestly do believe this kind is the best one I have ever had dealings with. It was quite popular at the party too! They come with charms you can mix in as well. Though, my girls were more excited about some of those charms becoming doll sized snack items than they were about mixing it into the slime. At the beginning, it would leave some residue behind when I opened the package for the kids.

I think one of the most popular items on the tables were the SCENTsory Putty's. Smooth and comforting to handle, they also had really good scents. My daughter fell in love with the Banana Split one while her friend loved the Popsicle version. They really do smell as they say they will. No residue from this one! And then the packaging even has things to do in them. Activities and such!  

The second item that was highly popular (even with Moms) was the cloud Slime Charmers. Sounds too much like an oxymoron, but it is amazing! No slimy feels on this one. It sorta reminded me of a dough product, but it is softer and airy. When you stretch it out... Well, I don't know how to describe that feeling exactly. It was just highly enjoyable. My son had the Sushi one and has decided to keep it as just his only, which is unusual for him. 

The thinking putty can be rolled into a ball and even bounce! It isn't sticky. It isn't slimy. No mess. I love that the mini tins can actually fit into these little bag clips you can get from Crazy Aaron's. 

So many options! These little ones with the charms have been so popular. What do you think? What was the favorite one in your opinion? Let me know in the comments below!

Making This House, Our Home

We have already made so many changes to this house since we moved in. But it seems like a never-ending story. On the one hand, we are never bored. There is always a new project to enjoy, and sometimes hate, having to do. I enjoy the decorating. I hate the plumbing. I enjoy designing a fun yard, but hate the weed-pulling. See what I mean? A constant love/hate relationship. 

I love this new water RO (reverse osmosis) system we purchased. But I didn't enjoy the installment process. However, in this town of ours, the water is dangerous to drink. No, I'm quite serious. Arsenic has been higher than FDA levels allow for more than once. In addition to that, there is so much in the hard water from oil drilling and fracking that the first time I tasted the water, I described it as thick. How does thick water taste? Disgusting. Very disgusting. We have been buying up to 5 packs of water a week and gallons for cooking. Which has been way more than a single RO system would cost. 

It isn't so pretty, but  the kitchen is still a work in progress for us.

Lately, I have been getting to try out products that have helped us beautify the front and back yards, while the husband is working on fixing our electrical setup. 

First up, we have the Allen + Roth LED Mushroom Lights. I love them! I'm not usually into the mushroom motif, but these are made from glass and light up so beautifully, I can't help but love them!

My husband and I installed them without too much difficulty. We did have one of the stakes start to bend in the hard ground we have around here, but a little digging solved that issue.

We also got a heat shield from Coolaroo. It really does make a difference in the heat. The one I received is about $45 at Lowes.

We put it in between the back porch and the shed we built. Eventually, we really want this area to be more conducive for entertaining. 

There has been a lot going on. But I'll be planning to show more as the chance comes. Including a party pack... So thanks for sticking with me on this journey! 

Hasbro Transformers Set and How They Stack Up to a True Fan!

I was recently sent a toy from Hasbro to do a review on. It was a Collectors Edition Transformers set, of all things. Something I'm not very knowledgeable on. But that was okay. Because I had a Fan up my sleeve! Well, not literally. Geez, guys. It is just an expression! Still with me? Good! Let me share the thoughts of the true fan with you. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this toy set in exchange for writing and sharing my review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are either mine or my friends.*

This was the set I received. Pretty neat, huh? Sonic is our pal. And a lover of Transformers. So I trust him to know how well they will hold up to the movies or shows they are from. 

This is how they looked after being 'transformed'. One thing I agreed with him on was having the built-in display in the packaging. Nice touch, Hasbro! Let's get in closer, and then I will share the video review he did as he unboxed them.

So much detail! But you really want to see them before, I'm sure. So let me show you. And yes, I laughed and enjoyed this as much as I'm sure you will. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, though. Do they spark your interest?  

Hosting a Fun in Motion Party!

I love hearing about new toys. Especially unusual toys. Or toys that teach creativity. Yeah, I'm a huge kid at heart! So I jumped at the chance to host a party for Fun in Motion Toys. These German-engineered toys inspire kids (and kids at heart, like me) to come up with new and fascinating shapes. The images on the Sashibo cubes change depending on the pattern you create too. But I'm getting ahead of myself, so let's dive in!

*Disclaimer: I was sent a party pack in exchange for sharing them with others. All opinions are that of myself or my guests. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed.*

So first off...

I was sent two types of toys. These first things come as a cube. Each cube uses magnets and unfolds into shapes from your own designing. They are the Sashibo. There are so many different patterns to choose from! And each one has other colors and patterns within.

My husband spent about half an hour or more trying to combine all the 3 cubes I had left into one shape. That was AFTER he had figured out how to combine two of them. 

Next up are the Hypertiles! These are something like plastic mesh tiles that have been slightly twisted and are connectable with little clamp-like pieces. But based on how you connect them, you can create all kinds of shapes and movements with them. For you math nerds out there, think hyperbolic paraboloids. Geometry and I aren't friends, so I shall stick with twisted squares for a descriptive word here. 

How did the party go?

To be honest - it kinda didn't. The week I was supposed to have the party, we had quite the emergency situation pop up. It took a good chunk of my time and mental focus for a few days and then suddenly, Saturday was on me and I had no party to start! So... I had to be unconventional. I had to introduce people in random ways to the appealing toys I was sent. 

 We visited our good friend Sonic at his store to share a couple Sashibo cubes. His little girl is nuts for things like this, so I was really hoping she would have fun with it. 

Next, we invited our friends over to play. The kids were able to show off the skills they have learned with the Sashibo, as well as show how to connect and build with the Hypertiles. It was a laughter-filled time!

Who would these appeal to?

For kids - anyone! The Sashibo are puzzle-like. They are magnetic. They are colorful. And they are meant for lasting play that can span hours! I've had kids begging to have their turn next and when someone else wants to try, I hear things like "Just one more shape".  The Sashibo were definitely more interesting to the kids I had interacting, than the Hypertiles.

For adults - anyone! The Sashibo appeals greatly to ADHD people who will definitely love these. It is like a fidget cube. Only, I think they are more fun. I've watched grown men absentmindedly just talk while spinning and reshaping these in their hands!  

They do have an app that can walk you through making and creating with these toys! Just search for Fun In Motion Toys in your app store. If you are interested in finding some for yourself, they are available on their website HERE or on AMAZON. And if you want to get a 20% discount on your total order, you can use the following code on their toy website: TRY20. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing the fun! I'll be back with more later.