Hoppers from ThinkFun

I was provided with free product from ThinkFun to facilitate this review.  I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

We have had such a good time trying Hoppers, a new, super fun game from ThinkFun! You know the old school peg solitaire game?  It's been around for ages, but ThinkFun has created a really cute update ~ it's peg solitaire with a HOP!

In this twist on the classic Peg Solitaire game, you leap one frog over another, removing frogs until only one frog remains.  You set up the Hoppers board according to a challenge card, and then use your thinking skills to find the right sequence to remove all but one frog.  With its whimsical design and easy storage, Hoppers will keep children and adults endlessly entertained on long road trips or rainy days!

Hoppers offers cute little challenge cards in four levels, easy, medium, hard, and super hard.  My husband, a longtime peg solitaire fan, has mastered every level.  I, on the other hand, have not!  My four year old loves the idea of the game but doesn't really get the concept yet.  Although, the design is perfect for an imaginative little mind.  My daughter loves to just play with the frogs and hop them all over the place.  They really are so cute, aren't they?

The quality of this product is great and the storage is perfect!  It's so convenient to pack up neatly when you're done playing and easy to transport if you're taking it on the road.  You just pull out the drawer underneath the lily pond and you have little pegs on which to store the frogs and a spot to fit the cards.

Hoppers is geared toward ages 5 to adult.  It is sure to keep your whole family entertained... and individually, at that... and we all know that quiet alone time is a must sometimes!

You can find Hoppers on the ThinkFun website or on Amazon.  It comes with the game grid with storage, 40 challenge cards, and 12 adorable froggies!  If you love peg solitaire, I know you'll love this.  And if you've never played before, you should!  It's good exercise for the brain and a whole lot of fun.

I was provided with free product from ThinkFun through Tomoson.com to facilitate this review.  I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Shop and Learn Cash Register from The Learning Journey International

I was provided with free product from The Learning Journey International to facilitate this review.  I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

We love pretend play in our house and one of my daughter's favorite things to play is "store."  We have a different toy cash register that beeps, scans, and lets you pay, but we recently had a chance to try a new one and it really is so much better and really amazingly fun!  The Shop and Learn Cash Register from The Learning Journey International is one of our new favorite toys!  When we were invited to try and review the Shop and Learn Cash Register I wondered if it might be too young for my four year old, but figured even if we didn't use it much, we could still review it for you.  Well, the interactivity of this cash register makes it so much more versatile than most toy cash registers and I think she will continue to use it for quite a while!  I was very pleasantly surprised!

The Shop and Learn Cash Register comes with two AA batteries, five food items, five coins, and a credit card.  Everything is great quality and so colorful!

There are two volume settings.  Hallelujah!  Toys that only come with one volume setting kind of make me crazy because more often than not, the volume setting they come with is way too loud for a mommy's eardrums!

There are three play settings, or activity modes, on the cash register.  This is my absolute most favorite feature and is what sets this cash register apart from others.  It makes it more fun, more exciting, and more educational.  It also creates an experience that allows a child to play alone without feeling that they need a companion to play a separate role as customer, etc.  We still do play it together quite often, but it's not a necessity as it often is with other toys.  Here are the different activity modes:

• Let's Play!  This setting is great for the youngest players who are just learning some basic identification of items and numbers.  You can slide a food item down the register belt or press a button on the cash register, and it will tell you what the food is (including color) or what number you pressed.
• Find It!  This setting is a guessing came.  The cash register asks you to find a food item or press a number button.  If you slide the right food item down the register belt or press a button and it will tell you if you're correct.
• Let's Go Shopping!  This setting is our favorite.  The cash register asks you what you want to buy, you slide it down the register belt, it identifies it, tells you how much it costs, and asks you to pay with coins or credit card and you do.  It's so fun!

Now that you've heard from me, here's what my four year old had to say about the Shop and Learn Cash Register and what she likes about it:

• I like to buy food!
• I like when it says the things!
• My favorite thing is pressing the buttons!
• I use the buttons a lot!
• It's fun to play alone and with somebody else!

If you are in the market for a new educational toy for pretend play, we highly recommend the Shop and Learn Cash Register from The Learning Journey International.  It is fun, educational, and high quality.  I think you'll be pleased with your purchase!

You can find The Shop and Learn Cash Register online at The Learning Journey International or on amazon.

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 am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  
All opinions expressed are my own.

Cake Mix Cookies

Have you embraced the Cake Mix Cookie phenomenon?  If not, you need to!  Cake Mix Cookies are the easiest, yummiest cookie ever.  I am all about homemade, from scratch, cookies, but sometimes it's okay to cheat.  The Cake Mix Cookie cheat is an amazing one!

I've seen Cake Mix Cookies a bazillion times all over Pinterest but never had a reason to make them so just kind of skimmed over them.  When my daughter was planning her 4th birthday party this month and requested a "strawberry" theme, I remembered seeing some Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies on Pinterest and was able to easily whip up this delicious, colorful, and totally theme appropriate treat!

I've since branched out and made Lemon Cake Mix Cookies too.  And Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies.  And Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies.  And Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies.  And today I'm going to make Carrot Cake Cake Mix Cookies.  I'm clearly semi-obsessed with Cake Mix Cookies!  My daughter's birthday was one month ago today... so that's 6 times in one month.  Every batch has been a huge hit and seriously... they are so incredibly easy.  In the interest of full disclosure, I'm eating one right now as I type.

You are going to follow this basic recipe for every batch you make...

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix of your choosing
• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 eggs

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°
• Mix ingredients together
• Put in the fridge for about 10 minutes so the dough is not so sticky
• Make 1 inch balls of dough
• Flatten slightly with fingers
• Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10 minutes (give or take a couple)
• Let sit for a minute on the pan and then move to cooling rack

Add-Ins:
You can add some extras depending on what flavor you are making.  With Chocolate, I added a teaspoon of vanilla and rolled them in sugar before baking.  With Lemon, I added a teaspoon of lemon extract and rolled in powdered sugar before baking.  With Red Velvet, I sprinkled with powdered sugar after baking.  Be creative!

So far, my favorite has been Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies... they taste like brownies!  My husband says the Funfetti ones are the best cookies he's ever tasted.

What's your favorite?  If you haven't tried them, you should!

Disney Social Media Moms On-The-Road Philadelphia 2014

Earlier this summer I had the privilege of being invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration On-The-Road in Philadelphia.  It was such an exciting honor to attend!  What a whirlwind day full of fun, learning, challenge, inspiration, and many good friends!  My husband and I joked about the fact that we drove 6 hours to attend a 4 hour event.  Well, let me tell you something...  we would do it again in a heartbeat!  It was worth every second in that car (although hopefully next year it's in Boston... either that or we will fly!).

Here's a glimpse into some of my favorite moments from the day...

Special thanks to all of the organizers, facilitators, and sponsors of this event.  The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Team is amazing!  I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of this special day!

Frozen Fundraiser ~ all proceeds to benefit children and elderly in Romania

Some friends of ours are having a super exciting fundraiser next month that you will not want to miss if you are in the area.  This fundraiser is being coordinated by a 22 year old named Josh that came to the United States from Romania when he was 3 years old.  Josh runs a project called Operation Snowflake through which he raises money to support children and elderly in Romania.  He and his mom, Lynn, travel back to Romania as often as they can to offer physical, emotional, and financial support to families there.  For example, a few years ago, Josh and his mom found out that there was a mother in Romania that was carrying her 9 year old son 3 miles back and forth to physical therapy because they could not afford a wheelchair.  Operation Snowflake was able to raise enough funds that year to buy that family a wheelchair!  Josh and Lynn are heading back to Romania in 8 short weeks and they are raising funds again!  Here are the details!

Operation Snowflake ~ Frozen Fundraiser

Sunday, August 24 

2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Wilmington United Methodist Church

87 Church Street

Wilmington, MA 

Photos with Elsa and Anna

Queen Elsa and Princess Anna from Party Palace in Northfield, NH will be on hand to take photos and sign autographs.  Families taking photos will be asked for a good will offering or a photographer will be on hand to take photos which will be available the day of the event for a price of $5 per child up to a maximum of $15 per family.

photos courtesy of Party Palace

Frozen Themed Food

Elsa's Snow Cones

Olaf's Drinks

Kristoff's Rice Krispy Treats

Anna's Baked Items

Frozen Themed Crafts and Games

Silent Auction

A night at the Homewood Suites by Hilton
Reiki Session
Elsa Cake for a future birthday or another celebration
Patriot Handmade Pillow Cases
$100 Gift Card to Showcase Cinema
A basket with all the items you need to make an Elsa Dress
Celtics Championship Plaque with all engraved Championships
Brand New Garnett #5 White Celtics Jersey
2008 Celtics Championship Sweatshirt XL
and more!

All proceeds will go to help children and elderly in Romania.

For more information, please contact Lynn Powers at 617-538-0736 

or via email at grapeadv@comcast.net

You can RSVP on Facebook or just come join us on the 24th!

Those unable to attend the fundraiser can still help by making a tax deductible donation written out to Missio International.  Please write "Veritas" in the memo and mail to:

c/o Lynn Powers

Wilmington United Methodist Church

87 Church Street

Wilmington, MA 01887

We would love your help spreading the word about this event!  You can share on social media by clicking on the small buttons located at the bottom of the post.

From Lynn ~ Some background on Operation Snowflake:

Lynn met Josh when she went to Romania in 1993 to help create an orphanage based program for many of the kids that were highlighted in the 20/20 specials about 100,000 orphaned and abandoned kids in the country. It was an eye opening experience that you needed to live it to understand why Romanians were not at fault for what was seen in those programs. The majority of Romanians never knew these children existed and the dictatorship in place prior to December 25, 1989 made it very difficult for families to survive. Once he and his wife were eliminated the outcry was loud to have Non Profit Government Agencies from the West come and help train the Romanian Caregivers.

Although it took two years Josh came home to the Boston area and began living a much easier lifestyle than what he had been used to surviving. At age six Josh and Lynn returned for what become a yearly pilgrimage back to Romania. After his third trip to his birth country Josh was watching an Amy Grant Series called 3 Wishes. One of the wishes on a particular program was about the Happy Factory, a company with a huge heart. They made wooden cars and trucks for underprivileged kids all over the world. After its airing they were inundated with requests for those little wooden objects. But what surprised them the most was a letter from a nine year old boy from the Boston Area. It was Josh’s request for some of those cars and trucks for the kids in Romania for Christmas presents. He already knew at that age that was something these kids did not get. Three weeks late we received 200 wooden items for the kids. In an effort to ensure the girls also received a Christmas gift he enlisted several people to make them bracelets. In February while in NYC Josh and Lynn went to see Fiddler on the Roof and Wicked. Both showed had similar themes, as they walked back to the hotel it began to snow beautiful big snowflakes. As they talked, Lynn said to her son do you know what people and snowflakes have in common? Her response was that no two are alike. The next day it was settled the on-going work would be called Operation Snowflake because people look at snowflakes and say how pretty they are even though they are all different and if there are enough of them they can cause grief. But those individuals who are different are often not thought of the same way, instead they are given labels. The Motto of Operation Snowflake is to “Admire the Beauty in All.”  

Although Romania is not on the news any longer it does not mean that life is good there. Yes some things are better but those with disabilities still struggle to access services. We work with Veritas Romania. The work with disabled individuals, the elderly, and victims of domestic violence. The program to date has worked with several thousand children and families. You may go to their website at veritas.ro, please link on the British Flag for English.  

DIY Floral Sets from Bloominous

This post is sponsored by Bloominous.   

A promotional item was received in exchange for posting.

Bloominous is a new startup that is changing the way people DIY floral decor for their events, weddings, and parties.  Their DIY floral kits give you everything you need to DIY easily and successfully.  Their collections are professionally designed by renowned florists, and their flowers are cut-to-order ensuring freshness.  Their farm-direct flowers are delivered in the right proportions along with photo-instruction cards and videos.  Take the guesswork out of DIY, and save time and money!

Bloominous packages together everything you need - from florals to vases to instructions - to create your own bouquets, centerpieces, and boutonnieres.

Bloominous has some really beautiful collections available and is offering 30% off trial kits plus free shipping.

If you have an event coming up, consider Bloominous for your floral needs!

This post is sponsored by Bloominous.   

A promotional item was received in exchange for posting.

York's Wild Kingdom

We were provided with complimentary passes to York's Wild Kingdom to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This past weekend we had the chance to visit York's Wild Kingdom, New England's only Zoo AND Amusement Park!  I cannot believe that I have lived just over an hour from this gem for my entire life and have never been there.  It was the absolute perfect day in every way.  I honestly don't think I can say enough good things about York's Wild Kingdom!  But I'll try.

From the moment we drove through the entrance we were impressed.  We turned at the sign and drove down a wooded road with large signs of animal silohettes and trivia!  How creative and fun!

We arrived around 10:30 AM and were able to park for free right on site and walk to the entrance, however it is good to know that there is offsite parking that is free with a free trolley ride to and from the park.  The ticket line at the entrance was quite long so I would try to get there early if you can... or just be prepared to wait a bit!  There are several different ticket options.  You can purchase an unlimited pass for both the zoo and amusement park or choose one or the other.  Go Karts, pony rides, and camel rides are extra.  It looked like you could also pay per ride with tokens but unlimited is definitely the best way to go in my opinion.

We started our day in the zoo portion of the park and were greeted immediately by ducks!  My four year old loves ducks so this was the best welcome ever!

There are food dispensers located all around the zoo, anywhere the animals can (and would love) to eat.  Make sure you bring your quarters!  I'm so thankful that my friend Nicole over at Southern New Hampshire Kids visited York's Wild Kingdom the week before we did and wrote a review with that important advice!  We came prepared and are so glad we did!  I think you can tell that the animals were pretty glad too!

The animals were incredibly friendly.  What a neat experience for all of us to be able to get up so close to them.  They seemed to be having as much as we were!

While in the zoo we also visited the Butterfly Kingdom.  What a beautiful treasure!  There were so many beautiful butterflies of all different shapes and sizes.  They fly all over the place inside this habitat.  It is so neat!  I love the fact that in the exit hallway there is a mirror in which you check to be sure there are no butterflies on your clothes or hair before you leave!

The Deer Feeding Area is another spot that you must not miss on a visit to York's Wild Kingdom.  There is a sign upon entering telling you not to go under the fence.  This doesn't stop the deer though!  Be ready for some cuddles and hungry noses sniffing your hands.  And again, make sure you have quarters (and your camera)!

Getting up close and personal with the animals at York's Wild Kingdom is a must, but don't worry!     There are hand washing stations located throughout the zoo!  There's no need to be shy about letting those animals eat right out of the palm of your hand!

We moved from the zoo to the amusement park at about 12:30 and honestly had not even seen all of the animals yet!  You could absolutely spend a whole day just at the zoo and I may have if it was not for a four year old begging for "rides!"

We decided to have a quick bite to eat before playing and riding.  There was a large covered picnic area for eating as well as an uncovered area with picnic tables.  You can either bring your own food or purchase at the park.  We purchased there and I was actually surprised that the prices of most items were very reasonable.  Our group ate a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Cheese Pizza, Cheeseburger, Steak n Cheese Sub, French Fries, and Onion Rings and there were no complaints!  The area was clean and pleasant.  And I have to mention that the people visiting York's Wild Kingdom the day we did were so kind!  The wind kept blowing my trash off of my table and each time it happened, a different stranger would pick it up and offer to throw it in the barrel for me.  I think this is evidence that this wonderful place attracts a wonderful crowd!

This was my four year old's first amusement park experience.  I was nervous that she may not be old enough or brave enough for rides.  The rides at York's Wild Kingdom are absolutely perfect for kids in her age group!  There were only a couple of things that were really too big for her but for the most part there was a really nice variety of child friendly rides.  She started small with the boats and worked her way up to the roller coaster, stopping at every other age appropriate attraction along the way!

You may notice in the pictures that the crowd at York's Wild Kingdom wasn't too overwhelming.  Despite the fact that there were tons of people there on the day we went, it didn't even feel crowded.  We never waited more than 5 minutes to ride a ride, and in fact, didn't wait at all for most of them.  We didn't wait to order our food either.  I think the longest we waited for anything was the bathroom and that line was still only a couple of people deep.  The set up of the park is very open, and it feels clean and spacious.  It doesn't feel congested at all!  The longest line I saw was the one to purchase tickets at the entrance.

Needless to say, we loved our trip to York's Wild Kingdom and cannot wait to return soon!  If you're in the New England area and are looking for a fun family activity, I highly recommend a trip to York's Wild Kingdom!

We were provided with complimentary passes to York's Wild Kingdom to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are my own.