a Latte' with Ott, A

A Cup of Excellence Winner to start your morning with

2021-03-11T08:55:00.001-05:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I recently had the pleasure of sampling some of Nobletree Coffee and what I discovered was a true crop to cup experience. Nobletree prides themselves on sourcing beans from quality farms in Brazil and then roasting them to perfection in Brooklyn, NY.

I sampled the Santa Izabel Reserve which placed 17th in the 2020 BSCA International Cup of Excellence, and also won 1st place for aroma. This contest receives thousands of entries.

I sampled both the Medium roast and dark roast of this variety and found this coffee to have notes of plum, honey and red wine. It truly does have an amazing aroma that fills the kitchen. For this lot the beans were harvested by hand to ensure maximum ripeness. The coffee is roasted in small batch to ensure consistent flavor.

You can purchase Nobletree coffee on their website or from Amazon and they do offer a subscription service. They have a variety of beans and roasts to choose from. And, Nobletree does have a Rainforest Alliance Certification.

Thanks again to Nobletree coffee for providing me with samples of their coffee for this blog post.

Make your own Scruncheeze's

2020-11-23T10:56:00.005-05:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

My daughter is currently obsessed with the 80's. She thinks caboodles, care bears and sideways pony tails with scruncheeze's are cool! So when I was recently asked by Activity Kings to check out their new Do-It-Yourself Scruncheeze Loom, I of course said yes knowing I would be "like the most totally tubular mom EVER!!!" (Yes, I lived through the 80's and can remember talking like a valley girl complete with big hair and bubble gum.)

For starters I have to say this is a nifty little way to make scruncheezies. It is recommended for ages 6 and up and is very easy for their little fingers to make. It takes just a couple of minutes to actually make, but come with some many different colors of material that choosing which one to make first will take the longest. This kit comes with 11 different fabric strips, elastic cord, 3 charms and fabric glue.

To start you knot your elastic cord and place it on the pink plastic loom. Next you place the fabric over half of the loom and scrunch it all up and on the loom. Then fold loom in half and knot the two end of the elastic strap together and lastly pull off the loom. Once off you can use fabric glue to hide the loose ends of the fabric. Let it dry and then if you wanted to you could add a fashion charm to your scruncheeze.

This kit allows for your child to utilize their creativity in making a product they will be proud to wear and show off to others. It's great for keeping them busy on cold winter days and would make an excellent gift for the little girl in your life. You can purchase this loom kit at Target or online from WeCoolToys.

Thanks again for allowing me to review this product.

Scooters for older kids on your Christmas list

2020-11-19T09:38:00.003-05:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the hot toys on older kids wish lists this year are electric scooters. Razor offers a line of scooters, hoover boards, go karts and more. The model we were sent was the Electric Party Pop and I have to tell you.... it's like a party on wheels. This light up electric scooter will have your kids zooming around in style. With a foot activated motor, lighted wheels and footboard the party is always on.

So my kids favorite part is the LED lights on the footboard and the front wheel. They are weight activated so as soon as you step on the lights twinkle in different color patterns. Even in broad daylight you can see the lights. Lights are located both on top of and underneath the footboard.

Recommended for ages 8 and up, the electric scooter can go up to 7.5 miles per hour. The battery lasts for 30 minutes of continuous ride time and it comes with a charger, so you can be back up and scooting along in no time. The handle bars have a nice foam grippers. This scooter is for riders up to 110 pounds. It is 31 1/2 inches high and weighs a little over 8 pounds, so it is easy to carry. There is a brake on the rear wheel that does stop the power.

As a mom my favorite feature was the ease of putting the unit together. The only thing I had to do was attach the handle bars to the foot board by tightening a screw with the Allen wrench provided. It was that simple. No other instructions and it took less than a minute. (ya gotta love that!)

Razor products can be purchased online or at Target. Thanks again to Razor for sending me this product to review.

Girls Can Crate subscription service

2020-10-15T07:45:00.002-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

For a gift that keeps on giving think Subscription boxes. Each month your kids can get a box in the mail full of activities to keep them busy. I think these are ideal for the winter months. Today we are opening a box from Girls Can Crate.

Owned and operated by woman this service provides a "crate" celebrating famous woman around the globe throughout history. Woman such as Marie Curie, Bessie Coleman, Irena Sendler and Florence Nightingale. Fearless woman who have helped to make the world better and can inspire girls to do the same. Each crate comes with a booklet introducing the role model and telling her story. There is an activity book, games, snacks and plenty of fun filled educational ideas to keep your girl busy and informed.

The Girls Can Crate box we received featured Eugenie Clark. She was an Ichthyologist (scientist who studies fish). She swam in different oceans all over the world, swam with sharks, worked with aquariums and has 4 fish named after her. The fact that she swam with sharks was a big hit at our house as our little boy had a shark themed birthday party this past week, so even he was thrilled to learn about the shark lady who swam with sharks and studied their behavior.

As I mentioned out box contained the booklet with 5 full pages of biographical information about Eugenie Clark. It also had activities in the book like mazes, I spy, various facts about fish and sharks. There was a shark tooth bracelet. Shark candy mold. A feed the shark game to assemble and play. As well as ingredients to make blue jello with shark gummies.

Overall I felt like this box contained a lot of good educational material. Both of my kids learned new facts and information as well as had some fun and it kept their little minds busy. There are 4 different subscriptions available, one for a single child, one for multiple children, a mini mailer and an online version. Crates are sent once a month and you can cancel your subscription at any time.

For more information check out their social media page on instagram.

Thanks again to Girls Can Crate for sending us a box to review.

a new twist on Uno

2020-10-14T13:50:00.004-04:00

Please note I was sent samples of this product in exchange for a blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

We started playing UNO with the kids when they were relatively young. It's an easy card game for kids once they know their numbers. As they got older we would add more cards like changing directions and the pick a color card. The game became more difficult and challenging the older they got. Well Uno has put a new twist on their game with.... UNO Showdown.

It's the matching game you know but with a new, unexpected twist. Whenever the showdown card is played, two players faceoff against each other on the showdown machine. Push a button and wait for the lights and sounds of the showdown unit to signal you it's time to pull off your speediest reaction. Push your lever first and the cards will jump towards your opponent. But, react too slow and you will be the one picking up the cards.

The unit does require batteries. It is recommended for ages 7 and up but our 6 year old can play it with ease and understands the rules. While only two players face off at a time you can still play the game with a large group if you like. If your family enjoys games this product would be the perfect addition!

UNO Showdown can be purchased on Amazon or at Target and Wal-Mart and sells for around $14.99

Thanks again to Mattel for sending me this product to review in time for the holidays.

a racetrack for racing paw patrol

2020-10-13T09:23:00.000-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

Another day of peeking inside Santa's sleigh to see what kids will be asking for this holiday season. Today we are checking out the Carrera Paw Patrol Ready Race Rescue track. I have a 6 year old boy who loves anything with wheels. So having cars that drove themselves with the push of a remote was an afternoon full of fun!

The 55-year-old make of remote controlled slot cars Carrera sent us the Paw Patrol themed track. This toy is a great way for families to spend quality time building their track setup, learning how to use hand controllers to operate the miniature cars, mastering the art of taking the curves at top speed without losing the cars’ grip on the track’s guide-slots, and competing against each other.

The track is good sized measuring roughly 5 feet by 4 feet. The track was easy to assemble by simply clicking the pieces together. While it does require 4 D batteries, you can purchase separately an AC adapter for it. This box set included 2 cars, one was Chase and one was Marshall (if you know your Paw Patrol characters.) There are two lanes on the track and two controllers so both my kids could race against each other. It is recommend for ages 5 and up and like I mentioned my 6 year old plays it was ease.

For added fun a ramp is included that the cars can jump. While it takes a little practice getting the cars slow enough to make the curve then fast enough on the straight away to make the jump.

This slot car track and other Carrera products can be purchased online or at a variety of stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. They have a wide range of track sets for beginners or advanced racing enthusiasts.

Thanks again to Carerra for sending us this track to review.

Toys for girls who like dinosaurs

2020-10-12T07:50:00.005-04:00

Please note I was sent samples in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

This week I am doing a round up of new toys out in time for Christmas this year. My kids have put these toys to the test and I will be sharing pictures and opinions of what they thought of them. First up we have Cave Club Rockelle and Tyrasaurus from Mattel. My daughter has always taken an interest in dinosaurs so this toy could not get out of the package soon enough.

A little smaller in size than a barbie doll, Rockelle is decked out in the lastest Cavegirl accessories and has colorful hair to brush and style. Tyrasaurus is a teenage T-Rex who is brightly colored and can be saddled up for Rockelle to ride off on an adventure with. Snacks for both the girl and T-Rex are included. The doll has bendable arms and legs to pose easily and the dinos arms and legs both move. As I mentioned the saddle does come off and on easily. It can hold 2 dolls if your cave club expands and after reading more on the box there are 5 other dolls available in this line to expand your club.

Since the weather was nice the Cave Club girls went outside and played on a rock. My daughter thought this gave the figures a little more pre-historic looking setting to set up camp and play for the afternoon. The imaginary world my daughter created for the Cave Club consisted of hunting and fishing, cooking their dinner over a campfire and hiding when they heard predators approaching. (yes, I overheard her storyline.) The T-Rex's mouth does open and close with the push of a lever on the back of the head.

The doll easily snaps onto the saddle so you don't have to worry about her falling off. And the dinos feet are wide enough that she stands well balanced. Both have hair to brush and style with a clip and a small hair brush did come with the package. The toy is recommend for ages 4 and up.

Overall, my daughter loved the bright colors of the toy. A blue T-Rex with purple hearts is very girlie!!! She enjoyed the crazy hair styles as well. If your girl likes dolls or is interested in Paleontology then this toy would be a big hit. Rockelle and Tyrasaurus are available for purchase at various toy stores such as Wal-Mart and Target.

Thanks again to Mattel for sponsoring this giveaway and for allowing us to review their new products.

Stay-at-Home Roundup of Kids products

2020-04-28T10:43:00.000-04:00

Please note I was sent free products in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I have to say the kids have been great during this phase of staying at home. They do their e-learning every morning and play all afternoon. They have never once whined or complained about staying home or not being able to go places. Part of that is that I work hard at keeping them busy with different activities and projects. I have rounded up 4 products to share with you today that my kids have tried, tested, played with and made that have kept them busy and entertained.

First up, Thames & Kosmos CREATTO™ Light-Up Crafting™ Kits

Creatto™ is a simple yet versatile building system that consists of just two primary components that can be woven together into countless 3D creations. The flexible yet durable plastic tiles interlock quickly and easily for all skill levels; no additional materials or hardware required! Each Creatto kit includes assembly instructions for four different configurations, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Add strings of colored LED lights to illuminate your works of art from the insid out. Creatto is available in 3 fun sizes: mini, medi, and maxi. Kids can choose to build: Moonlight Elephant Safari: Magical Moose & Forest Friends: Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew: Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals: Sparkle Unicorn & Friends.

As you can see in the pictures below, plastic x shapes are pushed into slots to build and form your creation. Once finished add the lights. My kids have been using theirs as night lights. While the package does say ages 6 and up, it did take some "umph" to get the pieces together sometime, so some adult help was needed.

Next up, a very fun coloring, journaling and doodling book from author Lindsey Hopkins called Shine Bright. Focusing on teen/tween girls ages 8 to 16, this deluxe coloring book and journal is designed to boost creativity and confidence. Each page brims with adorable patterns to color, such as flowers, stars, rainbows, and animals, combined with empowering phrases and journal prompts. This inspirational book features brand-new art from popular coloring-book author and designer Lindsay Hopkins of Pen & Paint Design Studio. Color, journal, and shine bright!

My almost 8 year old, daughter loved this book. It is full of fun pages to color, and there are pages that teach drawing, and positive messages inside.

She colored in this a lot while she was watching TV and the book is almost full.

This next one is a truly unique art project. Diamond Art Club makes creative and affordable art kits painting with “diamonds” to create beautiful works of art in hours or days, that anyone can do at home. There is very little learning curve to learn how to make designs, and it’s a fantastic activity that the whole family can get involved in, or do individually as a passive hobby.

Diamond Art Club has beautiful kits that one can create a masterpiece. Think paint by number meets beading. These little cut gems are hand placed on a grid individually and turn into an amazing 3D piece of artwork. My 8 year old daughter has really taken a liking to this project and will work for about an hour a day on placing the little gems on the picture. I was impressed at her hand and eye coordination and patience at lining them up and making them stick. And she will work on it for up to an hour at a time, which makes rainy days fly by.

The resin diamonds have bright, vivid colors that don’t fade over time and come with DMC color codes. The canvases are made of a strong tarpaulin cloth that is soft to touch and lays flat under the weight of the diamonds. Many of the detailed artworks are original designs that you won’t find anywhere else. They transform each artwork into a diamond painting by hand (dot by dot!)—with 10,000 to 30,000 frames per picture for ultimate precision.

Lastly, a subscription service to get kids in the kitchen. I've noticed that since we eat 3 meals a day at home the kids want to help more in the kitchen. Sometimes its a good thing and sometimes it's more to clean up. Well with Kidstir Cooking kits, kids can learn about food and have fun. Your little ones will love creating exciting, kid-friendly recipes for the entire family to enjoy while you make your home the classroom.

Each kit focuses on seasonal ingredients and special occasions, teaching kids ages 5 to 12 essential kitchen skills along the way. Along with three special recipes, your child will receive specially selected cooking tools and creative materials. Families love cooking up new memories with Kidstir, and you will too!

Monthly, 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month subscriptions are available with free shipping. Plus, Kidstir will debut a new surprise kit which will be revealed on the 21st of each month! All subscribers receive a 2 years Magazine Subscription to Real Simple, Parents or All Recipes magazines as a thank you bonus. A Cookbook Binder and Sibling cooking tools & creative materials can be added at checkout.

Learn more at www.kidstir.com.

Thanks again to all these companys for submitting products for us to review. We hope you find one you like.

Try Sitka Salmon Shares for dinner tonight

2020-02-19T14:05:00.002-05:00

Please note I received free product in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

I have always enjoyed the taste of Salmon. It is my favorite fish to eat. I recently sampled Salmon from Sitka Salmon Shares offering sustainably-caught wild Alaskan seafood. The fish are harvested using low impact methods to minimize negative ecological impact within sustainable fisheries. I sprinkled a little lemon pepper on top and placed in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and it came out perfect.

If you would like to try Sitka Salmon Shares for yourself they are offering a special discount code - SITKA25 - for all my Latte' drinkers (aka readers) out there. This code will take $25 off any 2020 Premium Sitka Seafood Share.

Sitka Salmon Shares Is:

Wild: Wild-caught from the pristine waters of Southeast Alaska and the North Pacific

Sustainable: Harvested using hook-and-line methods to minimize negative ecological impact

Traceable: Our relationships ensure that your fish is traceable to the boats of our fishermen-owners and trusted community partners

Fishermen-centered: Individually caught by one of our fisherman-owners or partner fishermen (who we hope are on their way to ownership!). Fishermen ownership makes us distinct from our competition and creates a more just system that values hard work, high-quality fish and low-impact harvesting methods.

Just: Our fishermen receive an average of 20-30% more for their harvest, which can equate to $10,000 extra income in a given season

Premium: Blast-frozen at the peak of freshness to ensure the highest quality, guaranteed

Convenient: Home delivered directly to your door, with recipes and a newsletter about the fishermen who caught that month’s share

Conscious: Carbon offsets purchased and 1% of revenue donated to efforts promoting small-scale fisheries and conservation in Alaska.

Thanks again to Sitka Salmon Shares for sending me samples to try for this blog post.

Story Blox- light up blocks

2020-02-05T14:34:00.001-05:00

Please note I was sent product in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

My kids were super excited to receive this Story Blox set in the mail to check out. They love to build things with their hands and use their imaginations. And this new brand is taking children’s playing and learning to a new level.

E-Blox was founded by a father and two sons in Illinois, with the goal of offering a new generation of educational toys through STREAM education -- Science, Technology, Reading/wRiting, Engineering, Arts and Math. With E-Blox plug-together bricks and modules, kids can build dozens of toys and games that light up and make sounds.

There are three product lines (circuit, power and story). We reviewed the Story Blox. This line follows the adventures of Seymour and his robot Robyn as they investigate a mysterious

light in the distant ocean horizon. The storybook includes QR codes that create an interactive

learning environment using online resources. Models are built in several parts of the story with the over 100 included parts, further enhancing the learning experience. Read a story, research using QR codes, and build 8 different models with this cool and amazing kit! sources.

In these pictures they are building "The Factory." While the recommended age is 8+, my 5 year old could easily snap the pieces together. The set came with an instruction book with 8 different build projects in it and with a little help from his sister he could get them built. The best part is the LED lights, as it comes with red, blue and green lights. This set required a 9 volt battery, and being able to illuminate their buildings was very cool for them to do.

All products are compatible with LEGO and will take your children’s playing and learning to a new level. Products can be found on Amazon for purchase. Other items available for purchase include:

Product: Circuit Blox 72

72 Projects to Build: Create endless possibilities with the 72 different projects that you can
build in this E-Blox Building Blocks Kit. Using 35 different parts, children can build a Nerve
Tester, Hand Crank Generator Backup Power Source, and a lot more, by following the
Manual Instructions provided.
Complete Set: This building blocks kit for kids includes a maze, hand-crank generator,
press switch, push-button switch, reed switch, lamp, LEDs, alarm, and other parts and
accessories needed in creating 72 different projects. Requires 3 "AA" batteries.

MSRP: $29.99 | Amazon

Power Blox Line

The patented technology of the Power Blox line consists of tin-plated blocks that connect to a
battery block, powering electric component blocks. The plated blocks used in Power Blox allow
you to seamlessly integrate electronic circuitry into your builds (aka no wires).

Product: Power Blox Builds Plus Set with LED Light-Up Building Blocks

MSRP: $39.99 | Amazon

Slime Fun for all ages

2019-11-13T11:04:00.001-05:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

It seems like all the kids are crazy about slime right now. Every birthday party we've gone to is giving it out as party favors. Small town festivals offer a slime bar for kids to make their own. Pinterest is full of recipes for it. And every store is selling it. Slime might even be on your Christmas shopping list. So today I'm reviewing two slime products to keep in mind as gift ideas for the upcoming holidays.

This first one I really like how it has a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) component. Alien Slime Lab from Thames & Kosmos allows your children to pretend they are a chemist in a laboratory making UFOs — Unidentified Funky Oozes! Mix up batches of “alien” slime and conduct tests to analyze and investigate their special properties. The kit comes with all the tools needed on your alien slime research mission. Use the syringe to conduct viscosity tests, roll the slime with a roller, and dissect it with tweezers and a plastic scalpel. Cut a brain shape out of the slime, stamp it with an alien head, and add eyes to it! Explore your slimes’ make-up and properties — like their different colors, glittery components, and glowing and color-changing effects — and then use your findings to correctly identify the different slimes. Recommend for Ages 6 & Up, but my after the slime is made my 5 year old loved playing with it.

The second product I'm sharing is Yucky Yuckies. A new slime filled toy from Compond King. My kids loved filling and squeezing this Werewolf's head. Simply open at the base of the head, fill with the Yucky slime compound, and squeeze! I think this is definitely a boys toy as you watch the slime ooze out of the face of toy. Each Yucky head comes with two Surprise Yucky charms. Up to 16 mini Yucky surprise charms to collect and swap! Collect and choose from four fun characters: Count, Mummy, Werewolf, and Frankenstein! Recommended for ages 4+ and can be found at Target and Kroger stores.

Glitter Dots for crafty kids on your Christmas List

2019-11-11T11:44:00.000-05:00

Please note I was sent product in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

If there is a crafty kids on your Christmas shopping list this year, then look no further. I have just the product that they will love to create and design with, and leaves behind no mess. Crayola Glitter Dots! That's right, I said glitter with little to no mess. Glitter and I have a love/hate relationship. My kids love to use it, and I hate finding it everywhere. But these Glitter dots truly leave behind no mess. It's not on their hands, it's not on the table, it's not on the floor. It is only on their project. Genius! Right?!?!

Crayola Glitter Dots are little circles of colored glitter in a punch packet. Air tight, completely contained glitter balls. Simply punch out of the packet, place on your project and flatten with your finger or tool. The glitter does not sick to your fingers. Move around the glitter and then allow to dry for one hour. The glitter sticks to itself, or your project and not to you. Below is a picture of the Crayola Keychain Glitter Dots kits. The kids choose the color of glitter they wanted and pushed it into the reservoir filling the area by pushing and flattening out the ball of glitter. When they were done they let them sit for an hour.

Using the fingers to push around the glitter was great for developing finger dexterity. The package also came with a plastic tool to use to help get tight corners. And as you can see in the picture below, it left behind no mess. Clean fingers, clean work space, and happy kids with adorable craft projects.

The keychain kit came with 3 different designs, beads, string and a clasp. As you can see my daughter already has hers clipped to her back pack. Crayola has several different kits you can purchase to create projects with the glitter dots or you can purchase packages of just glitter dots to put on paper or other surfaces to create a masterpiece. Get creative, make some fun and sparkly without the mess.

If you would like to enter to win a sample of Crayola Glitter Dot's then check out my Instagram for details.

Thanks again to Crayola for providing me with samples in exchange for this blog post.

Stem Gumball Machine Maker

2019-10-31T08:19:00.000-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

It's no secret around here that I went to Purdue. And something that Purdue hosts every year is the Rub Goldberg contest. Teams of Engineers assemble contraptions to turn a simple procedure into an 8 step process. Think of it a little like the mouse trap game, where a ball rolls and knocks over domino which releases a string to drop the net to catch the mouse. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist in the early 1900's who drew up some of these complicated gadgets, and Purdue created a contest and named it after him.

So when I received this Thames & Kosmos Gumball Machine Maker in the mail to review, it instantly reminded me of that contest. My kids could build their own mini version of a Rube Goldberg to get the gumball out of the machine and into their hands. And in the process they get a mini physics lessons (and be prepared to compete in the Rube Goldberg contest in about 10 or so years.)

Besides the basic frame of the gumball machine, enclosed are a number of ramps, slopes and additional supplies to get your gumball down the machine. A turn of a handle dispenses one gumball at a time out of the clear storage globe and down the track. As the gumballs roll down the track they build it can perform cool stunts and tricks. Stunts include a pulley lift, pendulum, funnel, trampoline, variable-slope ramp, pinball launcher, and domino slide. An instruction book is provided to show how to build as well as explain the physics behind the process. Each segment of the track teaches a different lesson in mechanical physics, allowing users to explore topics such as simple machines, force, motion, momentum, gravity, Newton’s laws, energy transfer, and more. Trial-and-error experiments teach in a fun, hands-on way.

This product is recommend for ages 6 and up. It can be purchased at Amazon or Target stores.

Thanks again to Thames & Kosmos for sending me this kit to review.

Dusty Crophopper Jello Cups

2019-10-21T14:08:00.003-04:00

Our ShOTT of Espresso turned 5 this month and is a fan of the Disney movie "Planes" and "Planes Fire & Rescue." The little orange plane named Dusty Crophopper learns to become a world class air racer and an aerial firefighter. So for his class party at preschool I came up with the idea of make orange snack pack jello cups into looking like Dusty Crophopper. With a few simple printables, glue stick and of course the jello snack packs I put together an adorable treat for his preschool class party.

I bought the jello cups, orange construction paper and then found images of Dusty's eyes online and scaled them to the width of the plastic jello cup. I then found a propeller clipart and scaled it to size as well.

I simply cut out rectangles of orange construction paper for the wings and used a piece of double stick tape to stick them to the top. Next I cut out his eyes and propeller and I used glue stick to apply those to the side of the jello cup.

I found matching napkins to serve with the jello and of course brought spoons to eat it with.

The jello seemed to be a big hit with the kids, and its allergen friendly which is great that everyone in the classroom could enjoy it.

Psssttt... I also made this quick and easy Dusty decoration for a party at the house. A simple orange tissue paper decoration (which I purchased after Halloween last year for a deep discount.) And again I simply printed off the clip art of his eyes and a propeller and attached them with glue to the dial and it made for an easy (and cheap) decoration.

Tinkering Labs for young minds

2019-08-27T13:57:00.002-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I have a child who loves to know how things work. At the age of 3 he discovered that cars have a spare tire. He was fascinated with where it was kept on different makes of cars and trucks. He would innocently ask family and friends, "Wheres your spare tire?" While I knew what he was getting at it, it was so embarrassing to see peoples reactions. I would have to jump in and say, "On your truck? He want's to know where is the spare tire on your truck?" Oiy... the things little kids say.

Tinkering Labs offers an Electric Motors Catalyst kits to keep your kids busy. Tinkering Labs offers kids the chance to build with real motors, wood and hardware. The kit contains 50 parts, so really all the supplies you need to build the featured project. I love that is comes with safety googles and tools (like this time a screwdriver) and batteries. Yes, it even came with batteries. Just in case you didn't already have those, now you do and can complete the project without running to the store.

The possibilities of what your kids can create are endless because the parts are made to be put together and taken apart and recreated for something else. This way kids can completely understand how to connect the parts with the world around them. The and the kit comes with detailed instructions. Which is handy if your kid gets stuck somewhere along the way, you can look them over and try to help them out. There are also additional idea books/10 inspirational challenge cards with activities and experiments that build off of what you made and allow your child to continue to explore and understand all the inner workings and design. I love that there is so many ways your child can take this and make it their own.

To get your own Electric Motors Catalyst kit on amazon or you can visit their website or follow them on instagram.

Thanks to Tinkering Labs for sending me product samples to review for this blog post.

Plus+Plus equal a win!

2019-08-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

Any rainy day my kids can be found building things. Whether they are stacking blocks or stacking pillows they are busy constructing. I was recently asked to review Plus+Plus Zoo Tubes. Plus+Plus is shaped like 2 plus signs and they are an interlocking brick to build 3D creations. The pieces come in a tube with simple instructions to follow and build. The tubes make for easy storage, and are also compatible enough to take with you. This STEM toy helps kids develop fine motor skills, focus, imagination and creativity for hours of fun.

If you can imagine it you can build it. While Plus+Plus is recommended for ages 5 on up, I found smaller children can build a 2D mosaic on their own. My 7 year old loved to follow the instructions and create the animals. A couple of times she got stuck but it wasn't long till she figured it out. She even mentioned that once created it kink of looked like mindcraft characters.

Plus+Plus is a unique construction toy with one shape and endless possibilities. Along with the Zoo Tubes, Plus-Plus also has a wide collection of build-able toys ranging from astronauts and superheroes to mermaids and pirate ships.

Check out their website to find where you can purchase Plus+Plus for your kids!

Thanks again to Plus+Plus for sending me samples to review!

STEM blocks that light up... yes!!!!

2019-08-20T13:48:00.004-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples to review in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I think it's safe to say Blocks are a universal childs' play toy. But blocks that light up and are magnetized..... now that just up'd any kids interest level 10 fold. I was recently asked to review Tactbit. Cubes that light up when they are pushed together. The cubes are magnetized and great for stacking and building. It is perfect for my 4 year old to play with, but my 7 year old is equally interested in them.

We have a lot of STEM toys at our house, because I love for my kids to learn while they play. Tactbit is perfect for teaching kids how to hypothesize, invent and build. Preschoolers through elementary can learn the basics of circuitry, conductivity, magnetism, resistance and more. With my 7 year old we placed a large paper clip diagonally across the cube to demonstrate a short circuit. Often times when an electronic device stopped working I made the comment it must have a short somewhere. She never understood what that meant until I demonstrated that the battery was connected to the light and once another connection was made (i.e. the paper clip) bypassed the battery and turned off the light. (I just love science.)

Each cube contains 2 LED lights. There is one power cube that contains an on/off switch as well as a plug in for a USB cord. The rest of the cubes either come in color or are white. Once a cube is snapped next to the power cube all of the attached cubes will light up. Twist the power cube and the lights change colors. The power cube will maintain power for about 4 hours before needing charged. No batteries are required. (Yea!)

Tactbit has a kickstarter campaign going on now. To learn more visit their kickstarter site. You can also sign up for the e-mail list to get all the latest news.

Thanks again to Tactbit for sending me product to review for this blog post.

Reviewing Marigold Star childrens book

2019-08-08T13:25:00.001-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I have a bookworm in my house. She devours books in no time. Mainly chapter books about fairytale like places, but she's been known to get into the non-fiction books as well. Once she starts it's hard to get her to stop. Book fairs and libraries beware as she has been known to frequent them. And there is one book that recently fell victim to the bookavore... Marigold Star by Elise Primavera.

This time I found the book hound in bed with a flashlight and when I asked her what the book was about she said.... Marigold Star is a girl that was born with a star above her head, but she doesn't know why and she can't do magic. In fact she is so bad at magic she gets sent to earth and has to befriend human children. She has a pet dragon and they try to get back to where they come from, a magical place called Bramblycrumbly where she has parents and a baby sister waiting on her. She has several friends that help her along the way. The characters in the story are very detailed not only in appearance but also their mannerism and deposition. There is artwork throughout the book (done by the author) that is also detailed and imaginative. Overall, a nice story about making friends and working together.

Copies of Marigold Star can be purchased on Amazon.

Thanks to Harper Collins for providing my bookworm a sample book for this review.

Magformers Fire Truck Set

2019-08-02T14:24:00.005-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

My youngest loves to build. He builds with blocks, legos, sticks and stones, he even stacks up grocery items as I'm organizing the pantry. He could build all day long if I let him. So when I was contacted to try Magformers Amazing Rescue Set, I eagerly agreed to review them on my blog because I know my little guy would like it.

Magformers uses magnets to hold pieces together so it is easy for small hands to put together and take apart. The recommend age is 3+ and my son is 4 and can build things with ease. While this particular set comes with 50 pieces. Build and create your own fire adventure with ideas like a fire truck, fire station and 2 characters. It also contains an instruction book showing you how to build certain items. Of course my 4 year old loves to free-style while he builds and lets his imagination run wild, but it's good to know when he wants a firetruck and can't get it to look like the picture on the box, mom has an easy out to help.

If you are into STEM toys, then look no further. The geometric shapes of the pieces and the use of magnets are ideal for teaching kids and allowing them to learn and explore on their own. This toy introduces kids to concepts in engineering, technology and mathematics.

As a mom I appreciate that once the kids are done playing, and take apart their creations, the magnets stick together making for easy storage and organization. (less toys to loose or misplace) So if you are in need of a fall birthday present, or some back-to-school STEM toy boredom busters be sure to check out Magformers!!! More sets can be found on their website.

Big thanks to Ematic toys for sending me this product to review.

Steeped Coffee Review

2019-07-29T14:35:00.003-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

I have found a way to make coffee without a coffee pot. Without a french press, or a Chemex or an AeroPress. Yes, dear readers I can make coffee with only my mug and hot water with Steeped Coffee. Just boil your water, drop your steeped single serve coffee bag into your mug, pour water over to submerge and then allow it to steep for your desired amount of time. You are about 3 minutes from a perfect cup of coffee. It's like Coffee in a tea bag.

Steeped single-serve coffee bags are filled with 100% specialty coffee and are crafted for quality, freshness, and convenience. Every bag is nitro-sealed inside compostable packaging, making every cup guilt-free and eco-friendly. I particularly like these bags
when traveling as they are easy to store. No machines mean no worry, and they are better for the environment than k-cups.

Steeped Coffee comes in a light, medium and dark roast as well as a french roast and decaf. They offer subscription services so you never have to worry about running out. They also offer a trial pack so you can figure out which roast you like best. Be sure to check out their website for more information.

Thanks again to Steeped Coffee for sending me samples to review.

Dairy Free Chocolate Cherry Brownies

2019-07-11T13:12:00.001-04:00

Please note I was sent samples from the Northwest Cherry Growers in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.
One of my favorite things about summer is getting a big box of cherries from the Northwest Cherry Growers delivered right to my front door. Nothing beats the taste of sweet cherries in summertime.

This year I'm baking up a recipe the whole family can enjoy. We are a food allergy family so sometimes finding recipes everyone can eat is a bit of a challenge. I recently stumbled across a dairy free brownie recipe. I tweaked it a little to take out eggs. And then I added in some fresh diced sweet cherries. This recipe is perfect!!! The brownies are nice and cakelike. And the cherries give it great flavor, almost like eating a chocolate covered cherry but in a brownie like form.

For more cherry recipes and ideas visit nwcherries.com

Ingredients:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup soy milk
1 T. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 T. baking powder
2 cups pitted, diced sweet cherries

Instructions:
1.) In a large bowl mix together oil, syrup, milk and vanilla.
2.) In a separate bowl mix together flour, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder.
3.) Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
4.) Fold in cherries.
5.) Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
6.) Test with a toothpick to be sure product is baked all the way through.

Thanks again to the Northwest Cherry Growers for providing samples for this blog post.

My kids first tablet

2019-06-11T14:14:00.003-04:00

Please note I was sent product in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

I am that mom that always back a bag of activities to keep her kids busy whenever we go to any events, various functions, doctors appointments, church, meetings etc. I pack a coloring book, crayons, small toys, etch-s-sketch, sticker book, snacks, reading book, fidget cube, you name it... if it's small and quiet.... into the bag it goes and hopefully keeps my kids busy for the amount of time I need them to sit still and behave.

I was recently asked to review the new PBS kids Playtime Pad 7" HD Kid Safe Tablet. And, while I was hesitant to give my kids screen time, I was pleasantly surprised to find all the parental control features it offers to ensure my kids safety and time management. I can set the amount of time and time of day they can be on the tablet. I set the apps they have access to. I set the videos they can watch and I set the games they can play. And I can completely block out roaming on the internet. It is fabulous to know they are safe and have educational PBS kids programming to watch. This is definitely the route to go for gaining knowledge on how to use technology.

After you as a parent have set up all your parameters for use, the child can turn it on, select their user setting and start playing. I can choose to download additional apps and games for them or just let them play what is already preloaded and available.

While the tablet does run on Wi-Fi, there are 23 games and 120 video clips, songs and music videos all of which teach reading, math and more. With so much to do you literally use this tablet anywhere, which makes is great while traveling or on the go. It also comes has a camera feature as well. And as a mom I also appreciate that the tablet comes with a kid-safe durable silicone case, because you know it is going to get dropped and banged around.

The Playtime Pad 7" HD Kid Safe Tablet is available at WalMart.com

Overall I am really pleased with this tablet and would recommend it to any mom. It is so easy to use (for both parent and kids) and can grow with my kids and their needs.

Thanks again to Ematic's Tech for providing samples for this blog post.

Children's Books for Summer reading

2019-05-23T13:51:00.003-04:00

Please note I was sent free product in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

Summer is almost here. My kids love summer reading programs. And we encourage them to look at and read books on a daily basis. Sometimes, where the weather is nice, they opt to take their books outside to read instead of playing. So before these two childrens books get worn out I'm going to share a quick review.

First up... "What on Earth? Birds" by Mike Unwin and Pau Morgan. I feed quite a few Goldfinch at our house and my kids enjoy identifying them as well as robins, cardinals, blue birds and red winged blackbirds. This book is broad in its information about birds. Not only does it include bird identification, but it explains birds anatomy, behavior, habitat as well as lots of craft ideas and fun facts and trivia. A well rounded book with a little bit of something for every interest level and age level. One time after reading it I noticed my daughter running around the yard looking for items to build a nest with. She came back with some grass, twigs and leaves and left them out in the open. She monitored the spot all afternoon to see if any birds came by to use her supplies. Overall a nice hardback book, with cute pictures and tons of ideas to keep kids buys. This book can be purchased on Amazon.

Next, is "Love Big" by Kat Kronenberg. A cute animal fable about how to treat others and be kind. The book takes place in the Savannah and the characters are various African animals. The pictures in this book are very colorful and the characters change throughout the story as they learn to be kind, share and smile. Ideal for ages 3 - 10. Love Big can be purchased on Amazon.

Easter Basket Ideas... Streaming Sticks

2019-04-15T12:54:00.001-04:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and photos are my own.

Looking for a unique idea to put in your kids Easter Baskets? Check out the PBS kids Plug & Play HDMI Streaming Stick. For ages 2 on up, your kids can watch hours of all their favorite PBS kids shows, play exclusive PBS kids games, songs and more. I love how easy and kid friendly this is to use. I feel completely safe letting them choose their own shows and run the remote all by themselves. There are dozens of PBS kids streamed right to your TV or you can watch PBS kids live. Imagine having instant access to WordGirl, Nature Cat, Peg + Cat, and Sid the Science Kid all at the same time with over 100 hours of content.

I love how easy and kid friendly this is to use and the fact that they can watch any show any time of day. No more waiting till 4:30 to tune into Dinosaur Train, or begging to stay up past bedtime to catch one more episode of Wild Kratts. I feel completely safe letting them choose their own shows and run the kid sized remote all by themselves.

The race car shaped Plug & Play adapter connects easily to your TV's HDMI input. And can be taken anywhere with you (like Grandmas house). It even comes with a cute zippered bag for storage and traveling. The PBS Kids Plug & Play HDMI Streaming Stick can be purchased on Amazon or at Wal-Mart.

Cold Brew Liquid Pods

2019-03-05T13:38:00.001-05:00

Please note I was sent product samples in exchange for this blog post. All photos and opinions are my own.

You know those mornings when you're getting the kids around for school and you set your coffee mug down somewhere, forget where you left it, and then by the time you finally find it.... your coffee is cold. (Ugh! That's always frustrating.) Well I have found a solution to this mom problem.... Authentic Cold Brew Coffee from Java House.

Liquid Cold Brew Coffee in a coffee pod, that you can be enjoyed either hot or cold. That's right, it's concentrated liquid in the k-cup not coffee grinds. Simply place a pod in your K-cup brewer, push start and then allow your coffee to come out either in a warm mug or over ice cubes. The great thing about Cold Brew Coffee is that it maintains it's flavor profile if you reheat it. That's right!!! Find that cold cup of coffee sitting around and stick it in the microwave once, twice, three times (depending on how rough your morning is) and the coffee will taste the same as it did when it was freshly brewed.

Java House Authentic Cold Brew Coffee comes in 4 flavors: Ethiopian, Decaf, Colombian and Sumatran. You can buy just about any grocery store coffee is sold at. I've seen it at Target and Wal-Mart. Or you can order it online.

Thanks again to Java House for sending me samples of their product.