App Review: Splash Math

   If your kid is anything like mine, they LOVE to play on anything electronic. It doesn't matter if it's slinging birds across a screen or using an educational app. If it's fun and entertaining, they will be more than happy to play it.

   Splash Math is an app that helps kids reinforce the math skills that they have learned. It's bright, colorful and walks you through what you need to do for each game.

    You as the parent will get weekly email updates on your child's progress.You do have to purchase the grade(s) you wish to use, however, the actual app is free.

   I think that any app that helps get kids excited to learn is a great app to have.


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: Ayurvedic Triphala Herbal Internal Cleanser

   I was given a bottle of Triphala Internal Cleanser to try for free. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first tried it. I hadn't been feeling well and decided I needed to try a detox.

   These pills are a detox and also an appetite suppressant. I'm always a bit skeptical when it comes to weight loss pills. Here's what I found.

   The directions are to take two before bed. When I woke up, I didn't really feel much different. I'm not a big breakfast eater, so I wouldn't notice until about 10 or so if the appetite suppressant was working. When I got home from dropping the kids off at school, I could tell the detox part was starting to work. I was feeling great and had a ton of energy. I ended up having to make myself eat. I didn't get hungry until about 4 in the afternoon.

   The next day, I was back to my sluggish, tired self. I had taken the pills the night before again and had to make sure I took time to eat. I took them for a few more days, before I decided to stop. It doesn't say how long you are supposed to take the pills for.

   I didn't really lose much weight with the pills. I have been working on losing weight for a while now so I didn't have the original beginner weight that comes off quickly.

   Here's my opinion on the pills. Yes, it did detox me to an extent. It did suppress my appetite, maybe a little too well. I am usually a pretty busy person so I need that feeling of being hungry to help me remember to eat. I have a hard enough time taking time out of my day to eat as it is.

   If you are looking for a detox diet pill, this did what it said it would. Like I said, I didn't lose any weight, but I wasn't taking it for that. I still believe that exercise and eating right is the way to go.


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

Fleece Blanket Giveaway!

   My friend over at Purple Tulip Quilts is doing a giveaway for a Frozen fleece blanket. The edges are braided instead of knotted. She makes all kinds of awesome blankets and quilts. Feel free to check out her page and give her a like.

   The Details:
      It is open to US residents only. No exceptions will be made.
      The blanket measures 38 inches by 58 inches.
      You can enter between February 12th and February 28th.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: MatchaDNA Handheld Milk Frother

   I received a MatchaDNA Handheld Wireless Milk Frother to try for free. When it came, I was a little surprised at the lack of anything on the box other than a little sticker labeling what it is. 

   When I pulled it out of the box, there weren't any directions. Just the milk Frother in a plastic bag. It takes two AA batteries to operate.

   I grabbed a cup of milk and put in a little chocolate syrup.

   I put it in my milk and turned it on. The milk started spinning around.

   When I turned it off, I had some yummy, bubbly chocolate milk.

   My kids are going to love having extra bubbles in their milk! It's light and easy to use. When you are done using it, it's easy to rinse off for next time. I would keep the box to store it in so that it doesn't get bent. It is a neat little kitchen gadget.

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

Mint Tin Pirates Review

   Min Tin Pirates is a little two player game that can fit in your pocket.

   There is actually quite a bit in this little tin, but everything fits nicely.

   The directions are on four cards which keeps them short and to the point.

   There are two cards with a ship on them. There is also corresponding meeples and cubes for each card. There's a white meeple that is the Pirate Ghost, a yellow cube that is gold, and some dice.

      And whole deck of cards.

   Set up is simple. Shuffle the cards and deal out five face down to both players. Put the stack between you. Choose a color and take the corresponding ship, Crew (meeples) and cube. Put the Pirate Ghost and gold where they can be easily reached. Roll the dice to see who goes first.

   On your turn, you are going to play a pair of matching cards.

   Each card has a different picture. The cannon does damage to your ship. The bomb, knives and guns makes your opponent lose one crew member. Take their meeple and place it next to your ship. The Treasonous Desertions card (the two ships with the meeple between it) means you can take a crew member from your opponents ship, and put it on your ship. The Davy Jones' locker card (the ship and the meeple in the water) means you can take one of your dead crew and put it back on your ship. The Spanish Doubloons are wild cards.

   After you play a pair, you will roll the dice. The number you roll has to match the numbers on the bottom of the card. If this happens, it is a hit. If they don't match, it is a miss.

   If you roll doubles at any time, take the gold cube and place it on your ship. This allows you to have an extra card. 

   If you are the first player to lose all of your crew, you get the Pirate Ghost. Discard down to three cards (unless you have the gold, then it's four). The Pirate Ghost is the last of the crew to be lost. If you gain other crew members back, they will be lost when hit.

   Once the Pirate Ghost has been lost or if a ship has sunk, the game is over. Whoever is still standing is the winner.

   This game is a lot of fun for such a small game! It is a great game to take with you when going out to eat, spending an afternoon at the park, or taking a break at work. The game play is fast and easy. There is even a way to score it if you need to stop before it is over.

   The game says it's for ages ten and up, but I bet younger kids can learn this game rather easily too. Just be cautious, the meeples and cubes are smaller.

   I would definitely recommend this game if you want a light, fun, fast game. You won't find this game from any distributors, so if you would like to order it, click on the name at the beginning of this post.

   Now for some fun! If you would like to watch a fun play through I did (which I'm pretty sure you do, it's awesome!) you can find that here.

Books. Friends, And Dessert: The Perfect Combination

    My book club recently gathered to read the Selection by Kiera Cass.  If you are interested in hosting a book club, check out this post.  It gives a brief synopsis (but no spoilers), some questions for discussion, and some fantastic themed dessert ideas!

The Synopsis:

     This novel takes place in a dystopian future with a very structured class system.  I don't normally like romances but the author  had me at dystopian. In the Selection, a person is born into her class (labeled One to Eight) and in most cases must stay there. Ones are royalty and Eights are the homeless.  The main character, America, is a Five, a member of the artists' caste.  There are very few ways to leave your caste. Being in a higher caste means better living conditions: more money, more food, and a better house.  America's family can barely make enough money to put food on the table.  Enter the Selection.  The Selection is one of the few ways a woman can improve her living situation and possibly her caste.  How?  It's easy, she competes with the prettiest girls in the kingdom to become the wife to the prince, the heir to the throne.  All a girl has  to do is get the prince, Maxon, to fall in love with her.  It sounds simple but no one should get between a woman and a tiara, I mean, the man she loves.

     The problem is that America does not want to marry the prince. She wants to marry the boy she loves, a Six named Aspen.  A marriage to Aspen will not improve her living conditions nor her family's but even just participating in the selection will result in a hefty paycheck for America's family.  With a heart heavy with obligation, America enters the competition. The longer she stays in the competition, the more her family is paid.  This is an opportunity that America can't pass up.  What she doesn't expect is that Prince Maxon would truly give Aspen a run for his money in the love department.

Questions for Discussion:

• What did you think about the book?  What did you love about it? What did you hate about it?
• How do the rebels effect the plot line?
• If you were in America's position, how would you react?
• What do you think of Maxon? and his family?
• How would you feel about the other contestants?
• Who is your favorite contestant (besides America)? Who is your least favorite contestant?
• Would you choose Aspen or Maxon?
• What do you think is in store in the next book?

Themed Desserts (yes, desserts plural!!!!)

     In the spirit of the Selection, I asked my fellow book club members to choose between two deserts.

     The first I call the Aspen.  It is a black forest brownie with a cherry cheese cake topping.  You can find the recipe I used from Womans Day here.

     I named the second choice, the Maxon. It is a brownie baked with a surprise inside--full size peanut butter cups.  It is then layered in a dish with bananas, fresh whipped cream, caramel sauce and peanuts.  Here is the recipe from Woman's Day.

      So go get baking these delicious treats and enjoy them as you read the book!  Or host a book club and enjoy the treats with friends.

Product Review: Tempered glass screen protector

   I received an iPhone 6 tempered glass screen protector by iArrow to try for free.

   I didn't have any problems putting my screen protector on. It came with an alcohol wipe to completely clean off your screen and a little cloth. I did notice once I got it on, there was a little nick in it so it had a little bubble. After a few days, I noticed it was starting to come up a little around the edges. This isn't a huge deal right now, since it is a glass screen so it is still flat and doesn't catch on anything. I plan on keeping it on until it gets dirty under it where it was sticky.

   Overall, it's a great screen protector. I would like it a bit more if it had stayed sticky around the edges. I don't have any scratches on it at all even though I keep my phone in my pocket. It's a thick, sturdy screen protector.

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.