Friday, October 30, 2015

DIY LEGO® Compatible Table Kit



My kids love to play with Legos and have a ton of different sets. I try to encourage them in what they like, but I hate stepping on lost bricks and parts on the floor. They have bins, but when they get them out to play, pieces end up all over the place. I think I have the solution!


 I love the idea behind this kit. A ready to use Lego station that you can build on over and over. The kit comes with everything you need, the base plates, sandpaper, glue and detailed instructions. For me, selecting the table was the most difficult part. It is easy to find one that fits, but I wanted a certain look to mine. Once I found it, putting this together was a snap.


All you have to do is lightly sand the back of the base plates and the table area where they will go. Once you have them sanded, apply the glue and place them carefully, then use a few bricks to hold them together while they dry. Set something heavy likes cans or books on it to hold it down while the glue dries and that's it!




I had to measure my table to find the center, so I would have even spaces along the edge. I wanted a place to keep bricks while they play, because my kids like to grab what they need and then build. This way they would have an area to set them. I love how the table turned out. It holds together well and the kids love playing on it. They didn't even want to wait for the glue to dry.



This is such a great gift idea. Buy a table that you like, you can get one to fit, or a little larger like I did. When you finish creating the table, add some Lego sets and figures, and you have an awesome gift for a kids room or play room. My table has a drawer too, so you can store the bricks right in it and not have them all over the floor!




*I received a kit in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

O.B. On the Go!

All woman have to face that dreaded week where Mother Nature decides to visit each month. Just because we don't have a choice in the visits, doesn't mean we can't have a say in how it all goes down.

It's bad enough we have to deal with cramping, bloating, hormones and breakouts, but we should at least have a say in how we protect ourselves during this time. The O.B. Pro Comfort non applicator tampons offer total protection in a form that goes anywhere. The small size means you can keep them in your purse or pocket  and because they don't have applicators, you don't have that mess to throw away either.

There are even cute little storage containers for just this purpose. Nobody has to know what is in there, but you have your tampons on hand all the time. This is perfect for on the go, at a concert, while camping and much more. Keep yourself fully covered without a lot of hassle.



* I received samples for myself and to share with friends as part of a promotion through Crowdtap. All opinions are my own

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Snug Plug and Play Kids Headphones



These cute and functional plug and play headphones are great for kids and work perfectly while on the go. These are not designed for usb ports, but fit the older style, prong type openings. This is perfect for my daughter to use with her phone. She is 9, so she doesn't care what they don't do, as long as they do what she needs them to. These headphones allow her to listen to her favorite music, watch videos or play games, without everyone else having to hear the noises. When I have to take her with me to the doctor, on a road trip, or to a meeting, she can take these along and do her own thing. The headphones work with mp3 players, laptops and handheld games too, so she isn't limited to just her phone.



The Snug Plug and Play headphones look cute when used and come in a nice variety of colors. The headphones are made of sturdy plastic, so even the little ones can use them without assistance. They are adjustable and have cushioned ears for a comfortable fit, and literally take only a second to connect and use. My daughter listens to hers for hours at a time without complaint. That said, she is mostly using them while lying in her bed or sitting, so I don't know how well they hold up to a lot of jumping or running around. The plus is that these are a nice, inexpensive option that isn't a big deal to replace if they are broken. I would purchase more of these if needed and think they would make a nice gift choice too.

*I was provided with a sample item in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.


Monday, October 26, 2015

AmazaPens are Amazing!




I am in love with these gel pens. My daughter has a few friends and a teacher who have these, so I had heard of them before, but never tried them myself. I prefer to use the AmazaPens for writing, making notes, school forms and such, but they do color beautifully, if you wanted to use them for an art project or display board.


 

The white and pastel colors look great on black paper or poster board, so my daughter claimed some for her school Alpha Fair. They do work on lined white paper too, but it can be hard to see some of the bright colors like yellow or neon green on white. I prefer the glitter pens because they leave everything you write full of sparkle and shimmer. They work great on lots of colored paper too, so they are a fun addition to scrapbooks. I especially like to use them in cards or Thank You notes because they add a touch of personality, and I can match the ink color to the card.



I scribble a little on paper with them at first, just to get the ink to the tip and flowing. My pens all worked great once I got them started and I haven't had any problems. They write smoothly and evenly, with no ink splotches or missed spots so far. You might be able to see in the photo that two of my pens had a small crack in the outer plastic. It didn't hurt the pens at all and they work just as well as the others. Sometimes when a shell cracks, pieces fall off or the pens falls apart, but this wasn't a problem with the AmazaPens. These would make a great gift alone, or put them in a personalized cup or holder for a one of a kind present almost anyone can use.


*I received a set of pens in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.

Deluxe Cook V-Blade Mandoline Slicer Professional



I am always looking for tools to make my job easier in the kitchen, and this is one that has come in handy several times. I love that the slicer comes complete with multiple inserts, giving you just the cut you need for your food items. This is perfect for slicing onion, tomato and other toppings for sandwiches, cutting veggies for sides, creating pieces for breading, dipping and more.



 The Mandoline Slicer is easy to use. You simply snap in your desired blade, put the food down on the slider and use the press to move it toward the blade. This helps prevent cuts to your fingers and gives you nice, proportioned slices. When you finish, everything comes back apart for simple cleaning and the blade pieces fit into the included storage box for safe keeping too.



This is useful for new cooks and familiar ones alike. It gives nice, even pieces as long as you are using fresh, solid fruit or veggies. I tried making slices from a soft tomato and it created a big mess, while the firm, ripe ones cut beautifully, and in just seconds too. You can experiment with the different inserts to create shreds, julienne, slices and more if you use them creatively. It does take a little bit of practice to use this fluidly, but you will love the results and the time it saves once you get the hang of it.



*I received a sample it in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.


Thursday, October 22, 2015

Kids Email for Safe Online Communication


With so many dangers facing our kids today, we have to do all we can to keep them safe. We know about talking to strangers, traveling with a buddy and avoiding dangerous circumstances, but many people don't think about the online dangers that face them every day.

You can put child safety blocks and such on your computer, but what about the things that come to their email? Kids check email at school, on phones and at friends houses, so you might not always be there to see what they are reading. That is, unless you are using something like Kids Email, a safe, monitored email system that YOU control.


It is simple to register for a free trial so you can see how well this system works for you. Just enter your name, email and password and you are good to go. From there you add each child, and select the settings you want. It takes only minutes to do and gives you confidence that your kids aren't seeing or reading anything you don't want them to.

The safety settings allow you to manage this email in multiple ways. You can set it to send and receive emails from their contact list only. This way you control exactly who is sending them mail and who they can send mail to. Anything not authorized will be held in the mail queue, where you can approve or deny them before your kids ever see them. There is also an option to have a copy of all incoming and outgoing messages sent to the parent email address, which allows you to monitor everything they do, and without the kids even knowing you saw it.

Choose settings to remove images, links and attachments in the emails, and even a language filter to prevent any bad words from coming through. Select from various backgrounds for a more personalized page and even pick an option for older children, to give them a more grown up look and feel, while still being safe and secure. There are even choices for time restrictions, and a grounded setting so they can't access their email until the grounded period is up. You have total control!

It only takes one bad email to expose children to inappropriate content, or to open them to horrors beyond their imagination. Prevent this from happening with Kids Email!

*This is a sponsored post. I will receive payment for sharing this information with you, but all opinions are my own.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Celebrate The Sweet In Life

I have been a Coca Cola drinker for years, so I am used to the traditional flavor you expect from it. When I was given a chance to try the new Coca Cola Life, I was surprised by the difference in flavor.This has a whole new taste that I admit does take a bit of getting used to. It is still just as sweet as before but with the cane sugar taste versus whatever they use in the original blend.




Don't get me wrong. I am not at all saying it is bad. It is just not what you expect when you are used to classic Coke. My first drink I was a bit turned off by this, but instead of writing it off, I decided to give it a real chance. For me it took a few servings before I could drink it without really noticing the flavor change. I think it can be like that for any new product you try. Sometimes you just have to adjust to the change before you can really decide how you feel about something. Once I had adjusted to this, I didn't really notice the difference unless I drank a can of the classic version.

This is a great drink to take with you on the go or grab while out to celebrate those sweet moments in your life. From camping to boating, hiking and more, this has been with us during those moments this fall. Relish the sweet in life by grabbing some and giving it a try to see how it works for you!

I was provided with a sample item as part of a campaign with BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.



Visit the Lego Creativity Tour in Columbus Ohio!



Lego bricks are a classic toy that never goes out of style. The amazing sets, characters and pieces are enough to keep you entertained for hours on end. My kids all have boxes of Lego bricks, mini figures and kits and are always asking for new ones too. I can't wait to take them to the Lego Creativity Tour next month! 


The LEGO Creativity Tour, powered by the team that runs the popular North American LEGO KidsFest tour, comes to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus Nov. 20 - 22 for eight identical sessions. The LEGO Creativity Tour will offer children of all ages an opportunity to build, create and enjoy an immersive LEGO experience through engaging play areas, family-oriented building activities and more.



Some of the activities in the 118,000 square-foot space include:

* LEGO Model Museum: walk among life-sized models made from LEGO bricks 
* Race Ramps: build a custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends and family 
* Challenge Zone: the whole family is on the hook to show off their creative building skills in this emceed challenge 
* Construction Zone: enjoy a creative build, play, and display area
* LEGO DUPLO: the youngest builders can explore building their imaginations and so many ways to play with DUPLO bricks 
* Brick Battle Zone: join a team and compete in fun activities like relay races, tower speed build and bridge building contests
* Big Brick Pile: dive into the largest pile of LEGO bricks ever seen to build something amazing 
* LEGO Art Gallery: create a custom masterpiece and display it for all to see 
* Monochromatic Builds: limiting the materials to one color and one size creates amazing results
* And much more!




Tickets for the LEGO Creativity Tour are $19 (plus tax and service fees). Children under 2 are free. Go to www.LEGOcreativitytour.com for more information or to purchase tickets. 

Friday, November 20, 2015

Session I: 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Session II: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Session I: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Session II: 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Session III: 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Session I: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Session II: 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Session III: 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm


Greater Columbus Convention Center 
400 North High Street 
Columbus, Ohio 43215

I will be visiting compliments of my fabulous sponsors. Grab your tickets fast because this event can sell out anytime!

Our Visit to the Ohio Renaissance Festival



 I try to take my kids to do as many different things as I can, so this weekend, we went to the Ohio Renaissance Festival. I have been wanting to visit there anyway, and I thought it might be something the kids would like. I was so right.


There were so many different things going on, you really have to spend the whole day to see them all. At set intervals, there are shows and activities happening all over the grounds. Using the map they give you upon entering you can go directly to these, or take the browsing path, like we did, and see what you find. There are shops and booths all along the perimeter of the grounds, with more along the inner walkways and attractions everywhere you look.





You will see people in costumes everywhere, and if you don't have one, you can surely buy one there. There are tons of shops offering everything from simple gear to leather and Chainmail, boots and even weaponry of all styles and colors.

You can watch plays, jousting, acrobats and more, including a group that appeared on America's Got Talent, all included in the admission cost, and happening multiple times through the day.




 While there, you can also challenge your skill at things like archery or knife throwing, test your strength or let the kids go on the old style theme rides.

If hunger strikes, stop by one of the food locations for selections like Turkey Legs, Fowl Tidbits and Royal Wurst or have a cold glass of wine, ale and much more. There are traditional choices like Bread Bowls and Pizza too, so even the kids can find something that suits them.

I could have spent days there, and it would probably take more than one to watch all the performances, browse all the shops and take in everything. We had a great day and everyone walked away with something to talk about and another memory to share.

If you have a free day, or even a few hours, I suggest spending it at the Ohio Renaissance Festival!!

*I was provided with tickets to this event in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own from personal experience.