Make your own Scruncheeze's

 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

 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

 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

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

 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

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

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.

Try Sitka Salmon Shares for dinner tonight

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.    

Story Blox- light up blocks

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.  

Slime Fun for all ages

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.

Glitter Dots for crafty kids on your Christmas List

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.    

Stem Gumball Machine Maker

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.