Saturday, November 29, 2014

Product Review: Old Factory Candles

    I was able to try some Scented, Natural Soy Wax Candles. Burns Clean, Even, and True-To-Scent for Hours.

   I ordered it as a gift to myself. It came with a little card and wrapped very nicely.


   Even the box was nice looking!


   Inside it had my three little scented candles and little card that told me what they were. The writing you can't see mentions that they are good for aroma therapy.


   It really does burn nicely. When we blew it out, you didn't even get that smoky burnt smell. My house now smells like peppermint, as we set up the tree and decorate for Christmas. I love smelly candles, and these are great!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Christmas Game List

   Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which means Black Friday is coming, I decided I would do a little game list of some of my favorite games. I broke them down into categories, so if you are looking for a specific type, it will be a bit easier.

Kids:

   Monsters University Dice: Will you be the one with the last monster? Pass them to the left, right, or put them in the center. The last one with the monster wins. It's a game simple enough for even the little ones to understand.

   Rampage: Build a city on the meeples then use your dragon to flick, blow, and drop on the buildings to knock it all down. Collect the meeples in sets to score big points! Kids love this game where you don't have to sit down to play.

   Hey, That's My Fish!: Can you collect more fish than your opponents? Slip and slide your penguins across the ice and collect the fish. Watch out for holes, you don't want to get trapped!

   Roll For It!: Roll the dice and match the cards. The first person to match a card in this turn based game gets to collect that card. Be the first one to forty points to win!

   Fun Farm: Roll the dice and match it with the cards. Be the first one to grab the animal that matches the card for points.

Family:

   King of Tokyo: Who's monster will be the King of Tokyo? Attack your way to the top, but beware, don't run out of health or else you are out of the game. The last one standing is the new King!

   Face Off: This fun dice game is a press your luck type game. Feel free to roll for as many heroes as you'd like, but roll all villains and you are out! Unless of course you choose to go for Villains, then bluff your way to the top. But beware, if you get caught bluffing, your opponent gets your points.

   Wits and Wagers: Are you good at time frames but not great at actual dates? Everyone writes their best guess and then you place bets. Whoever is closest gets points while the others lose theirs. Great for teaching kids about History!

   Dixit: Take turns playing a card face down. Say anything you want as a clue. Each player then plays a card that fits the clue. Mix them up and take a guess at which card is that players card. Easy for both kids and adults.

Adults:

   Carcassonne: Can you make the biggest city? Keep the biggest farm? Build the longest road? In this fun tile laying game, build up the city of Carcassonne while scoring points and trying to get in on your neighbors. Think you know who is winning? Think again, most of the scoring in this game happens at the end!

   7 Wonders: Can you build the biggest wonder? There are three phases in this game. Pick a card you want and pass the others on. But be careful, you need to have supplies for building and don't forget to build an army!

   Takenoko: Balance feeding a hungry panda, gardening and keeping the Emperor happy. Be the first to match a number of cards by eating bamboo, growing bamboo and expanding the land. First player to a certain number of completed cards gets the Emperors approval with a bonus point card.

   Seasons: This card drafting game changes with the Seasons. Roll the dice to see what actions you get to take that turn. Choose your cards carefully to make it through all three years.

Co-Op:

   Pandemic: The Cure: Can you cure all four diseases before time runs out? Roll your special dice to help find a cure before they cause an outbreak. Bottle samples, treat them, and find the cure. If you like dice, this game is amazing!

   Castle Panic: Work together to fight the monsters before they knock down the castle! Use swordsmen, knights and archers to protect the castle. Fight off all of the monsters before the last piece of castle is gone to win this fun and sometime tense game.

   Forbidden Desert: Uncover the missing pieces of your ship before you get buried under the desert sand or run out of water. It's a race against time!

Party:

   NanoBot: Try and make the longest chain of bots before someone runs out. Be careful, your opponents may move your bots, burn them or change direction to break up your chain.

   Bang! Dice Game: Are you the Sheriff? A Deputy? An Outlaw? The Renegade? Roll the dice and attack your opponents. Try to figure out who is who and team up so you win!

   Blurble: Flip the top card and yell out a word that starts with the first letter as the picture. Go around the table until someone yells a word before you. They get to challenge the people around the table. Continue until you run out of cards. There will be a lot of fun and laughter during this part game!

Intro:

   Ticket to Ride: Pick a train ticket and plan your trek. Play cards to get from destination to destination. Be careful, your path may be blocked by your opponents travels. Game continues until someone runs out of trains so don't get caught with unfinished tickets.

   Dominion: A card drafting game. Buy cards to help you get points. With many different types of cards, this game has a lot of replay ability. No two games are the same.

   Tsuro: Set sail on the wakes of the ocean. Play a tile and then move to the end of the wake. Try to get your opponents to fall off the board before you do.

   Lords of Waterdeep: Try to get as many quests done as you can before the rounds run out. Take turns placing your agents on the board to get what you need to complete the quests that your Lord requests.

   Settlers of Catan: The game that got many people into gaming. Build settlements, cities and roads to get resources. Expand quickly so you don't get cut off!

Tactical:

   Summoner Wars: Summon your helpers to move and attack your opponents Summoner. Watch out for traps while maneuvering around walls and staying out of reach.

   Krosmaster Arena: Move around trees and bushes. Stand on boxes while attacking your opponent for extra distance. Roll the dice for a little extra boost while battling to the end.

   Small World: Try to take over the small world by battling your neighbors for a little extra space. Try to get the most land by the time this round base game is over.

Cards:

   Smash Up: Take two factions and shuffle them together. Try to get the best combo on a base before it scores. Use actions to move your opponents cards, take away special abilities or boost your own.

   Guildhall: Try to get sets of the same type of card before your opponents take your cards or switch them with their own cards. Use sets to buy point cards or a special boost. Each card type has it's own special ability to help you along.

Filler:

   Love Letter: A simple game of trying to get the love letter to the princess. Play a card and do what it says. If you have the Princess at the end of the game or the card with the highest number, you win!

   Dice Masters: This two player game can be as long or short as you'd like. Buy dice to fight your opponent with. Wonder who will win between Wolverine and Dead Pool? Get rolling and find out!

   Kittens in a Blender: Will your mischievous kittens get blended up or will you catch them in time? Try to save your kittens before your opponents blend them up.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

What I've Been Working On

   I have been busy doing some crafting and projects so I thought I would share what I've been working on.

   I crocheted a stocking. The pattern took forever. It's done so you can do a cross stitch picture on it. This one was a sample but they take so long to do, the person I was sampling it for decided they wanted to hold off until another time, so I haven't put anything on it. I can't decide what to add. I'm thinking something nerdy, but I'm not sure yet. If you have an idea, leave it in the comments. I was thinking maybe a TARDIS?


   I did a two sided craft. It didn't take too long. I just had to paint the board and the vinyl is from Thoughts In Vinyl, just like our seasonal wooden blocks.


   I also made HOME blocks with the interchangeable O. This is from the same place. This one took a while. The letters needed a couple coats of paint (because I'm OCD) and we used paper and mod podge which takes a while all on it's own.


   I have to say I love my letters though! This is where they currently are. On my desk with a little nerdy felt craft O in there. It represents the family well. We all love playing games both together and with friends, so I thought this was fitting.


   I also made a Lightning McQueen beanie. Ka-Chow! It was ordered for a little girl that loves cars. I was sent a picture of her with the biggest grin on her face. It always makes my day when I get to see people enjoying things that I've made!


   I'm currently working on a beanie order for a family. Three beanies with Mohawks and one with braids. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy doing it!

   What are some things you are working on?



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Product Review: iPhone 6 Arm Band

   I was able to try out an Best Running-Sports Armband for iPhone 6 4.7" (Black) . It was surprisingly comfortable to wear. I used it on Halloween since my costume didn't have any pockets. I forgot it was there. It didn't slip, you can adjust the size so it wasn't too tight, you could even still feel when you receive a text or phone call.


   You are still able to use you phone while it's in the sleeve. I didn't have any problems with the touch screen.

 

   You can put your phone in either way so that it's the direction you want it for either arm. There is even a little hidden spot you can slip a key into. The little holes line up with the headphone jack so you can listen to your music while your out for a run.


   You can even slip it on over a long sleeve shirt for exercising in the cooler weather.


   This arm band is good for more than just going out for a run. You can wear it any time you don't have pockets or if you need to keep your phone close. I highly recommend this product. I know I will be using it for a long time!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Product Review: Solid Cordz HDMI Cable




   The cords are thick and excellent quality. The picture is crisp and clear. It's great for high definition gaming. We have one hooked up with our Raspberry Pi and it even looks great on those older games.


   I would definitely recommend these HDMI cables. They are six feet long so there is plenty of room for it to get from one device to the other. It's also a two pack which makes it twice as good!



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Face Off Dice Review

   Since the Holidays are coming up and there will be gift giving, I decided I would share a game we love to play with our kids. Justice League Face Off Dice Game is a fun family game that you can play with however many people you'd like since you pass the dice around.

   It has Batman on one side


   And Joker on the other. It also comes with a nice lid so you can store the dice inside.


   The dice have six pictures on each one. There are the Villains, Lex Luther and the Joker.


   The other four sides have the heroes. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and Flash.


   To play, decide who goes first. Roll all five dice. You then decide if you are going Hero or Villain.


   There are many different combinations you can try and get with your dice.


   If you decide to go Villain, put aside the dice you want to keep. You can re-roll the remaining dice. When you roll it, keep it secret under the cup.


   Peak at the dice and then the fun begins. You can decide to pick something you really have, or you can bluff. For example, here I can say I have a four Villain mix. You then go around the table and people can guess if you are bluffing or telling the truth.


    If someone calls your bluff, reveal your dice. If you were bluffing, the player that called your bluff gets your points. If someone calls your bluff and you were telling the truth, you get double points. If no one calls your bluff, you do not have to reveal your dice.


   If you roll the dice and you have more Heroes and decide to go for them, you can re-roll up to three dice.


   There are a few different choices you can go for when going for Heroes. As you can see, they don't score as high.


   You can push your luck and keep rolling the dice as many times as you would like. The only catch is, if you roll only Villains, your turn is over and you don't score any points. The first one to get to 250 points is the winner!


   When we first bought this game, we were thinking it would be a fun one for our boys to play together. When the Hubby opened it, read the directions and then played through it once to teach them how to play, they all had a ton of fun. I decided I should try it too. I mean, who doesn't like to join in a game when everyone is laughing and having a good time?

   The game was a lot of fun! There's a lot more in it then you would think. By the end of the game I couldn't tell if my boys were bluffing me or not. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but it made the game more challenging.

   This game would be great for a stocking stuffer or a small gift. There are a few different versions. We've seen both Marvel and Star Wars ones. I think this game would be a great addition to any game collection.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Product Review: Small Packing Organizer Cubes

   I was lucky enough to be able to try out the dot & dot organizer packing cubes. It came as a set of 4. When I got my package, I was sure there was only one in the resealable bag.


   When I opened it up, there was actually four of them in there. They just fold down really thin.


   It is surprising how much they open up. There is plenty of room in there to keep socks separate. Maybe to keep your shoes together and off of your clothes. Or what I am excited about...


   It fits two skeins of yarn in there rather nicely. I can now bring my projects with me and not have to worry about the yarn getting all messy or losing my hook in the mess.


   It even comes with a nice little handle on it if there's something you want to pack, but also take around with you.


   I am really excited to get to use these on our next trip. I love anything and everything that helps me to be organized and keep things when they go. I'm sure these cubes will get a LOT of use from me!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Blurble Review

   If you like party games, you need to check out Blurble, a fast paced party game for two to twelve players.

   Inside of the box, there are two stacks of cards.


   Play is simple. Chose how long you want to play the game. You can do it by a number of cards in the deck, you can set a time limit, or you can play until a player gets a certain number of cards.


   The first player is the Blurbler. They take the deck of cards and flip over the top card between them and the person to their left. Whoever shouts out a word that has the same first letter as the picture on the card, gets that card. There's a catch! You can not say a proper noun, a number or a word that is shorter than three letters. You also cannot say a word that has already been said on a different card. For example, this card has an ostrich on it, so you can yell things such as orange, oval, or octopus.


   If the Blurbler wins with the person on the left, they move to the next person. Play continues until someone says a word before the Blurbler. When this happens, they get the deck of cards and they become the new Blurbler and play starts with the person on their left. You continue play until you reach the predetermined ending.

   This game was surprisingly fun! When I read the directions, I was worried our group wouldn't enjoy it much. Once we started, I was surprised about how much laughter and fun we had! Our group had a wide variety in age and everyone had a blast. This game is definitely going to get a lot of play and will have a spot on our game shelf for a long time.



Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Avengers vs. X-Men Dice Masters Review

   If you enjoy dice games, you have probably already heard about Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers VS X-Men. It was a huge hit! I mean, what's not to love about dice, Avengers and X-Men?


   So how do you play? First, you choose teams. We may or may not have gone a little overboard with buying booster packs for this game. My boys LOVE opening them and they are pretty cheap so we get them almost every time we go to our game store. I have found it's easiest to lay them all out on the table. The boys and I don't have big enough hands to hold them all while we look through them. The number of guys you choose depends on the game you want to play. We usually do a smaller game of eight dice. One thing I find interesting about this game is it's about the number of dice you have, not the number of characters. I can have four of two characters, one of eight different characters or anywhere in between.


   There are power cards. You can choose four randomly or you can do a draft. However you'd like to get the four cards.


   Once the teams are picked and you have the corresponding dice, set up your area. You will need something to keep track of your life points. We have found poker chips work excellent for this. You are now ready to play!


   On your turn, draw four dice and roll them. Each side has a different picture. 

   The top die is a Sidekick. The number in the top left shows you how much it costs to summon the die. The top right is the attack and the bottom right is the defense. This is how any of the character dice work as well.

   You also have pictures of the different energy types. There is a lightning bolt, a mask, a fist, a shield and a question mark which is a wild.


   After you roll, your choices are to summon dice if you have one to summon or you can purchase dice. When buying your character dice, you must have one energy that is the same as the character. If I was trying to buy Gobby, I would have to spend three energy, at least one would need to be a lightning bolt. This is shown in the top left corner. His power is in the white section toward the bottom middle. The different sides of his die are along the bottom. The side with the two lightning bolts would be worth two lightning energy if  rolled.

 

   Here I rolled four energy. I can buy one with either a lightning bolt or a fist. I can also split them up and buy as many as I have energy for. The special power ups don't have a specific type of energy to purchase. You can buy these any time you have enough energy.


   When you summon your dice, place them at the front. You can choose to attack at that point or you can wait and attack later or defend. If you defend and your die is killed, place him toward the bottom to be rolled again next turn. Your used dice go off to the side.


   There is an insert in the rule book that goes over the placing of the dice.


   If you are attacked and you don't have any dice, you will take away some of your life points. If one of you run out of life tokens, the other person wins!


   This game is pretty fun! It can be a fast game or you can add more dice and life and play a longer game. I think half of the fun is putting together the team and seeing how they work. The powers on the cards match up with the characters they represent really well. Some combine with others and some are heavy hitters that do better when they are alone.

   They just came out with a new set. It's Marvel Dice Masters: The Uncanny X-Men. I am looking forward to trying out the new characters and their abilities. The games are compatible to play together or you can play either one separately.


   Since we enjoy this game so much, we decided to give away a copy of The Uncanny X-Men.

   A few notes for the giveaway:
      - This giveaway is open to US readers.
      - You can earn entries from Wednesday, November 5th until Midnight on Friday, November 14th         - You can do as many or as few of the entries as you'd like
      - You can earn extra entries daily by sharing this giveaway.
      - I will announce the winner on Saturday, November 15th at the end of this blog post.
      - The winner will have a week to respond before a new winner is chosen.