No biggie, Grab a mini!

Beat the heat, GRAB A MINI! That is the best thing to be able to say as this Texas heat gets ramped up around here. But grab a mini? Let's see what that means. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this party pack to share with others. And to share my review afterwards. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions shared are mine or my guests'.*

Dreyer's has so many types of ice creams under their brand name. Ever seen the Oreo Sandwich ones? Yep, that's from them. How about Outshine fruit bars? Yep! Theirs, too. So many great flavors. And now, you can get them in mini sizes! These are perfect for parties and get-togethers. More like bite-sized frozen treats. Quick and easy to chow down on. Kids at your house? These are perfect! Smaller hands can finish these off quicker, and save you from chasing them down to clean messes.

They sent me this great party pack. I grabbed up a variety of ice cream minis to share. And then we had some fun with friends. 

What was the consensus?

Oreo was a hit, of course. But adults were loving the Dulce de Leche Haagen Dazs bars. I think that one was my favorite. I loved the small size of the Drumstick Cones mini mini.

They were all creamy goodness, though. I would love to find the mini Nestle Cookie Sandwiches next time. Walmart here only had the Drumstick Cones from the 3 we tried at the party. We had to find the others at our local HEB. 

So next time you are shopping for ice cream options, maybe consider your Mini options! *pun totally intended* There are other flavors for Drumstick minis and Haagen Dazs bars minis that we may one day give a chance to. What about you? What benefit do you see for these? 

Let's Chill with Kinder Bueno Ice Cream!

First off, I love ice cream. But more so, trying new flavors! And this time, I was able to not only try a new flavor, but to have a party with friends and share with them. Let's check it out!

 *Disclaimer: I was sent the party pack for free in exchange for hosting a party and sharing with others. I was not otherwise endorsed. All opinions are mine or my party pals.*

So first off, we have the party pack. This was full of fun things we could share with others. I took an unboxing video. Here you go! 

Now, let's talk ice cream, shall we? I have seen these at my local HEB stores. They come in the personal size (shareable, if you are in the mood). You can find them and the other new flavor, Nutella (AMAZING!), next to them. They sell for $4.37 each here. A little pricey for something so small, but not bad if you are in the mood and treating yourself, ya know?   

We were happy to have caught this sale when we got the ice creams for the party. $1 off each one! And yes, I totally had to grab some Nutella ones. They are soooo good! I got 6 of the Kinder flavors to share at the party. 

Time to party!

Next up, we have party time. We talked to our buddy that has a game store here in town and asked if he and his crew would want to be our party pals.

It was so hard getting everyone together at once, but we managed to break it up and share in the fun. The ice cream was well received by all those who tried it, even those with lactose intolerance wanted to try it. Smooth, rich in flavor and the crunch you recognize from the Kinder Bars! 

What else can you find? 

How about the Kinder Cones? (And Nutella Cones.) I found these while looking for ice cream recently. They went all out with options here! What are your thoughts on these? Are they a buy or a pass for you? Let me know in the comments down below! 

Play Dyce Games with Us!

I was given the amazing chance to try out some new games for Dyce Games. Thanks to them for sending these games to us for free! 

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

Dyce Games are all about easy-to-play games that are fun for all ages. You can check out their website for more information HERE. The 3 games we are focusing on today are: Birdy Call, This or That, and Miraculous. 

A deeper look at the games 

Let's start with This or That. This game isn't all about winning. It is about seeing how well you know the people you play it with. I played with 3 of my kids. Mom sure knows her kids well, right? But even then, there were things I got wrong on the "what if" decisions my kids answered. There are 300 questions cards where you pick an option and follow the arrows. Cards are stacked pyramid-style. Follow the arrows to find the next This or That question. At the bottom, players have to guess what number the one player would end at. There are points you can count up to find the winner. We just did it in rounds until each player had gone twice. It was not just eye-opening, but fun to see where people go based on what they liked (or disliked) most.

 Next up, let's see the other one that had us girls giggling like crazy. Birdy Call is about calling out and seeing who has the same bird as you. You collect the eggs and even try to steal eggs from other players! This one is truly a riot to play. 

And, finally! We arrive at my youngest daughters favorite, Miraculous. She absolutely loves the show and the movies. So she couldn't wait to try this one! You pick your hero character, and then each player tries to reach the top of the tower first. 

Takeaway:

These games were so easy to play. They cover all ages. I think the only one we had some trouble with was Birdy Call. We weren't sure about when to draw cards when we didn't find matches... Which is why I suggest you watch their videos on how to play before you start. 

Discount! 

Want to get some games of your own? Don't forget the 20% off code at checkout:  TRYAZON20

What game are you most interested in?? Leave me a comment below!  

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.  

Summer Fun with a Pool?!

Yes, for some of us, winter is finally getting into gear. Some of you have been dealing with ice and snow for a little while. Not here in Texas. Some days, we are still looking at 70 degree weather. All while we were watching Christmas creeping ever closer. With weather like that, it feels wrong to have Christmas so close. But whatcha gonna do?  

How about get a pool? Yep, you heard that right. After all, we have the weather for it. So why not? Coleman's Pools partnered with me to share my latest product review - a giant pool! 

*Disclaimer - I was sent this product free in exchange for sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine or others I shared the pool with.* 

I love getting to try stuff out and then let you know what my thoughts. So when they offered me a pool, I got really excited about it.  Not really for myself. This pool, I decided to share with some friends from church. I got her the biggest pool they had to offer. 

This bad boy is 22' in diameter! Talk about a monster size... It is above ground and comes with the pump. They had to deliver it via really big truck and a pallet jack. My sons barely managed to get it inside. Here is the box next to my tallest son who is just over 6' tall. 

I couldn't wait to let my friend know. This was going to revolutionize their summer fun next year. But we couldn't wait that long to show it off, now can we? After all, best to get the word out before sales see them flying off the shelves. 

So, after getting it to her house, they got it all set up and ready to bring on the fun in the summer! She said it was crazy easy to set up. A single person can do it. For them, it took about 2 hours, plus the filling time. It is deep enough that younger kids, maybe 4 years and under, will need flotation devices unless they are good swimmers. That is how deep this thing is! She and her family are so excited about the up-coming summer fun they will be having.  

Coleman has pools in various sizes, that also come in a variety of styles. This ones gives off the wood look, but you can find others to fit your preferences. 

Walmart.com has a lot to choose from. I found the one we got HERE. Looks like it is running about $1,200. You can go to the source at BestwayUSA.com. They are the parent company, I believe, of Coleman products. However, at the time of writing this review, their website says they are out of stock. So you might have to keep checking back. You might also sign up to receive updates and deals. 

What do you think? Are you a pool person? Let me know in the comments down below!  

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! 

Holiday Baking with Fisher Nuts (Recipe Included!)

Thanksgiving was a feast in this house. My kids were all happy with the things I made. And one of the biggest parts of this meal? Pecan pie. Watergate salad was another favorite. And then, dateballs. All a must in this house. Know what they all have in common? Pecans! Each one had pecans in their making. Which is what made me glad to work with Fisher Nuts in doing a review. We needed A LOT of pecans! 

*Disclaimer: I was given these pecans in exchange for sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Pecans are a tree nut that I have grown up eating, sometimes straight from the ground under a pecan tree. Out of all the kinds of nuts, it happens to be a favorite. They are best used in baking (in my humble opinion). Versatile even. Our Thanksgiving meal list always includes at least two recipes that need them. But one thing I have learned over the years, not every nut brand is equal. For cost efficiency, I had been getting the store brand. But they are often dryer in taste. Not dry in brittle-like composition, but just a dry taste. I find I don't like that in something such as a pecan pie. Another way to describe it is a slightly chalky taste. 

With these nuts, that did not seem to be a thing. And it was wonderful! I ended up making 2 test pies at first because I accidentally doubled the recipe. But the kids didn't mind that. I made another pie at Thanksgiving. Note - don't use a graham crust for this one! Then I started pouring nuts into the other recipes. 

There were smiles and no complaints. That tells me that we got the right kinds of nuts. Christmas will be here before I know it. And I plan to use more Fisher pecans in my recipes. What would you be making with them? 

How Well Do They Fit?

Let's look at the new Teeny Tinies Gamer Essentials set. Do they fit well with Barbie? We will find out. I made a video showing how they look with the dolls. Enjoy! 

I think all but one item was perfect. I love the variety and how they can be used in various scenes. What is your favorite thing from this set? Would you get one? 

LEGO Fan in Your Life?

Do they love LEGO and Stranger Things? Well, stick around. I have a review for you. 

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

My kids have loved LEGO products for many years. For 2 of them, it is straight-up the thrill of putting them together. At one point, I was a big AFoL (Adult Fan of LEGO). I still collect some of the minifigures. I have a half-built museum MOC (my own creation). This is a toy that can increase in demand and value over time. Well-made little bricks that can create whatever you can think up. It is quite the rabbit hole! So, when I was offered the chance to review a newer product of theirs, I had to say yes! 

Let's check out this set.  

Stranger Things was another thing our family loves. Just makes sense to have two loves in one, right? This is set number 40801. LEGO Brick Headz Stranger Things. You get to make 4 of the characters from the first season. 

When you open the box, you are met with 5 polybags and a cute little paper envelope that holds the instruction manuals for each character. I think one character had 2 bags. 

The instructions are very simple. 3 of my kids put these together, including the youngest at 9 years old. She might have been slower at it, but she did it all without help! 

At most, I think it took about 20 minutes to get all 4 of them built. Each one is detailed to be as you remember them in the series. 

There are extra pieces of some of the smaller things that might get easily lost when a kid pops one of the bags open. 

I absolutely loved the final product of their labor! They are adorable. Since they are smaller, they also fit well on shelves around the house. The only downside for our set was that Dusty Buns (as my kids call him) was missing a piece from his headset. However, I know that if you contact LEGO and tell them the part number (found in your manual) and set number, they will send out a replacement part. So I may just have to do that. 

But what do you think? Leave me a comment below! I love to hear from you guys.  

This is the Vacuum You Are Looking For

My vacuum has been dying. Again. Story of our life, right? Which is why I accepted a chance to try a new vacuum. I didn't think it would be that great, but the value was listed as more than a couple hundred dollars, so maybe? Anyhow, my opinions quickly changed. Let me show you why! 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this product free in exchange for writing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions about it are my own.*

All the best features...

First off, this comes from a company called Levoit. I had never heard of them before. Mention a Shark or Bissell, and I know exactly what you are talking about. But this? Nope. Apparently, they are higher-end products. 

This particular one hangs on the wall, allowing for better storage. I love that it doesn't take up more space in an already limited home. It also means that it can be put wherever I need it. Which is the laundry closet zone for me. I will say that my husband used his own anchor pieces as the flimsy ones included didn't want to truly hold up as well. 

While it is lightweight, they did not skimp on quality. How do I know? My technically-minded husband put it together for me and was praising its quality parts. Coming from him, that is high praise! Being lightweight was important to me though. Why? Because my pain has made a lot of the cleaning more difficult. While I love having 4 kids capable of helping me, it is never to my standard. This vacuum helps me do at least that chore with minimal pain increase. 

The quality has greatly shown in how well it gets up the dust, dirt and other crud from the floors. We have 2 kinds of carpet in this old house of ours. The standard kind runs through the hallway and our sons' room. But the rest of the areas in the house with carpet are this indented squares style that I can't wait to replace. Stuff gets in the grooves and this makes the floors feel and smell dirty still. But I have noticed a great difference since using this new vacuum. 

Another feature I have enjoyed is that it lights up as you vacuum. Do I vacuum in the dark? No. So why does it matter? Even with lights on, there are areas that are dark, like some corners and under some furniture. This lights up the path I'm going in so I can make sure nothing is on the floor in front of me in those darker areas.  

A tangle-less brush?! I didn't know this existed, but I have been loving it! We have 6 people in this house and every single one sheds to some degree. Hair getting caught in the vacuum meant either I or my husband were having to clear the brush too often. 

This is a battery-powered device. However, the battery charges quickly and lasts me through the whole house. We have 5 rooms and a hallway. I can get the whole place done without needing to stop for a charge. 

The head swivels with amazing ease. I love getting into all the crevices and corners. Even under chairs. The filter pops out easily so that I can knock off anything holding on in the tank. Then you just click it back into place. You can also get replacement filter kits on the website. And the extensions are so easy to swap out! Everything is a single button click from taking apart or putting together. If I need to switch between the speed settings as I go, I can do so without stopping what I am doing. It is right there where my hand holds it. 

Where can you find these?

Well, there is the company website HERE. That is where I learned they are currently on discount for about $150.  

You can also get them on Amazon for the same price, but with the possibility of free shipping.  

Holiday Scents are Rolling Out!

I've been getting products to try that are gearing more towards the winter months and their holiday scents. Thanks to my affiliation with Influenster, I was sent a couple things I thought I would tell you about. 

*These products were sent to me for free in exchange for trying and reviewing them. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

 First of all, these are from the brand Old Spice! My husband and sons all enjoy using their products. However, none of these were used by my husband who is staunchly devoted to his set product line. The boys are at least open to trying new things. 

First up is....

Jacked Frost! This one was a lighter scent - Frosted Mint. My younger son prefers the lighter scents. I think that is because he is in that stage of not putting much effort into hygiene or smelling his best, while my husband thinks it is to scare people away. However, he and my oldest both loved it! Even though my older son loves stronger, more odorous concoctions. But he also just loves using Old Spice in general, so he was of the opinion that it works wonderfully for cleanliness and that is all that truly matters.  

Next up, we have....

Lumbersnack! Cute play on words with the fresh Pine scent. It was well received by sons as well. It made a great addition to their shower routine.   

Another one was low on stock, so we were not able to give it a try. This is the Snickerdudel. They should also have gift sets available. So be on the lookout! 

                           Some others they sent that are not so new...

Old Spice Bearglove is a citrus-scented version they have been offering for some time. My eldest son was thrilled to have this one. He thought she scent was amazing and couldn't wait to use it. The Fiji line will also have gift sets rolling out this year. Great gift ideas for the gents in your life! 

How Well Does ColourPop Pretty Fresh Foundation Hold Up?

I sent my mother one of the makeup pieces I had received. She got to try it out and let me know how well it worked for her. Her skills with makeup are way more refined than mine. 

*This product was sent to me for free in exchange for reviewing. All opinions are mine or my mother's. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed.* 

This is ColourPop Pretty Fresh Foundation. There are 3 Skin Undertones and then you choose your color from there.  

Robin said it was very light weight on the coverage. It doesn't have an overbearing scent either, which is great for those who are smell-sensitive. At first, she was worried that the light weight wouldn't cover the redness, but as you can see in the pictures - it worked just fine. The color matched her skin tone perfectly! 

Where can you find it? 

Target has them. You can find it on their website HERE.  

Or you can get it from Ulta HERE.  

Go to the source on the ColourPop website!  

I found it at other places too, so don't think these are your only options. I just didn't think I should overload the post. I think overall, this works well. There are so many options, that it would be difficult not to find one to match your skin tone. A helpful foundation for staying glamorous!