Friday, August 3, 2018

Random Tid Bits

  1. Every time I leave my driveway I have a huge blind spot. Big sunflowers are in my way of me seeing. Who puts sunflowers right where people need to see? My neighbor's two houses down do. 


  2. We're double booked on Sunday. We have my mom's side - family reunion that day. Then Travis' uncle texted him to say he'll be in town. We hardly have family from Travis' side reach out to us, or want to get together. We're doing both. Instead of going to the reunion for lunch and on, we're going around breakfast to lunch. Then we can spend a few hours with his uncle. Have you gotten double booked any time this summer?

  3. A new guy started as the role of Education Director when I left for vacation. He was off the week I got back because the Director was on vacation then. I have to admit I was pretty annoyed that I hadn't gotten my syllabi back from being proof read. They've been done, since May! It was my fault - sort of. They were in my junk folder. With my 2 home emails I know to check my junk folder. At work nothing goes in my junk folder. I really only get internal emails. I felt bad about accusing him of not sending them to me. I said I was sorry, once I figured out where they were hiding. 

  4. Mrs Clean Freak has continued to give me tasks to do, but I'm not quite as annoyed as I was. I don't mind being told what to do. I just don't like little to do lists thrown my way. It makes me feel small in some odd sort of way. I also didn't like when she would give me things to do, but she herself wasn't doing anything.

    I won't have to worry about Mrs Clean Freak very much longer, as she put in her notice. 

  5. Travis has been working his butt off on a sculpture. I'm pretty sure he's annoyed some neighbors on the block. Grind, grind, grinding on metal is an annoying sound that I've gotten very good at blocking out. At least he'll soon have a piece to add to his site soon. Do you have any projects in the works - not just art, but home projects?

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Pressman Toy® Releases The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley™ Card Game #ad

Do you remember how I blogged about Mica enjoying his time at Get Your Game On! Camp? He's been into board games big time. 

I'm excited to share with you a new card game: 

Pressman Toy has teamed up with global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for the third installment of The Oregon Trail game series, The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley. Based on the classic PC game, this Target exclusive board game will be hitting shelves this fall. Pioneers must gather their supplies and family members as they embark on the voyage from Independence, MO to Willamette Valley.

Unlike the cooperative nature of its original games, The Oregon Trail Card Game and The Oregon Trail: Hunt for Food, the newest game will be a competitive strategy board game with every wagon out for themselves. In addition, the new game is tile-based as players ford the trail, discovering a multitude of pathways with each gameplay. With 2 to 4 players, ages 14 and up, The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley will require strategy and luck as players race and search for their fortune in the West.

“We’re excited to offer Oregon Trail fans a new twist on one of the most beloved computer games,” said David Norman, President of Pressman Toy. “We wish you and your fellow travelers the best of luck as you race to victory in The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley.”

To start, players will receive a wagon, family members, some food, and a pistol for hunting. As the play progresses, players will endure dangerous terrain and deadly calamities. The object of the game is to complete the perilous journey while keeping as much money as possible to start your new life. However, if family members die along the way, their funeral arrangements will be deducted from the player’s total fortune.

“We’re thrilled to bring The Oregon Trail to life again, together with Pressman Toy,” said Caroline Fraser, Head of HMH Productions at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. “This is a brand so close to the hearts of fans everywhere, and we’re excited to offer more fresh ways for fans to connect to The Oregon Trail.”


About Pressman Toy:

Since 1922, Pressman Toy has been entertaining families for generations – from making Chinese Checkers into a craze that swept the nation in the 1920s to creating timeless classics such as Rummikub®, Tri-Ominos®, and Mastermind®.

Pressman’s iconic red boxes have introduced millions of Americans to the joys of Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Cribbage, Bingo, Dominoes, Mancala, and a host of other classic games. Pressman has helped youth discover the world around them with its classic toddler toys, such as Let’s Go Fishin’™, Mr. Bucket™, and Lucky Ducks™. In addition, Pressman Toy has been a leader in creating licensed games and puzzles based on the Diary of the Wimpy Kid™, The Oregon Trail™, Harry Potter™, Wheel of Fortune™, and more.

Pressman Toy has promoted global learning with its STEM and educational products that encourage critical thinking, sequencing, problem-solving, and other fundamental skills. For more information, please visit www.pressmantoy.com.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (NASDAQ: HMHC) is a global learning company committed to delivering integrated solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental solutions and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students' potential and extend teachers' capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and three million educators in 150 countries, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com. Follow HMH on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About Brandgenuity:

Brandgenuity is a leading global independent brand licensing agency headquartered in New York, with offices in London, Munich and Hong Kong. The agency is ranked amongst the top 15 licensing agencies worldwide. Brandgenuity extends famous and iconic brands into new categories to build awareness and generate incremental revenue. A full suite of licensing services includes strategic licensing planning, prospecting, legal support & contract negotiation, retail development and assisting manufacturers in the strategic acquisition of licenses. The agency’s clients include BMW, Oddbods, Fur Babies World, White Castle, Church & Dwight (ARM & HAMMER), Edgewell (Edge, Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Playtex), MGM Studios (The Addams Family, Anna & the Apocalypse, Rocky, Pink Panther), PUR, Planet Fitness, ABI (Budweiser, Corona), Viacom Networks (MTV, VH1, Comedy Central), NFLPA, Welch’s, Mrs. Fields, and others. For more information, contact info@brandgenuity.com.

Disclaimer: I didn't get a game in exchange for posting this press release. I'm only sharing because I thought some of you may be interested in it.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

WW: Doves {Linky}

When we went on vacation we woke up to the sound of a dove. It was right out our front door. It was pretty cool to watch them. 

Meet Mamma:



Meet Baby:




Urban Adventure Quest Review

We turned Phoenix into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure.



Combine the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history.

Our Urban Adventure Quest was easy to set up! I had Travis set it up, while I did dishes. Win, Win! He had no problems. They did mention to print out the form at the end of signing up. The house we were staying in had a printer, but needed a wifi password, which the owners didn't know what it was. They must just have their phones connected to it. Travis took a screen shot to take it with us.

Some Things to Have Handy:
  • A Small Notebook/Pad of Paper
  • Pens and Pencils - Have more than one if your pen runs out, or pencil breaks
  • An Extra Camera or Phone - To take photos of your adventure
  • A Charged Smart Phone - To get the clues for your Urban Adventure Quest
  • A Map of the City - If you have one
  • Water and Snacks
A Sculpture Holding Isaak's Water Bottle:


It sounded pretty exciting to me!

I loved that we could do something on our trip that was fun and I got for free with blogging. Every Easter the Easter Bunny does a Scavenger Hunt for the boys. I knew the boys would like looking for the answers to the clues. 

Mica got into it more than Isaak, so I'd say it's best for ages 13 and up. 10 is a little young to get the answers to the clues. That's not to say Isaak didn't enjoy it. He liked looking at all the sculptures and buildings. 



It seemed like Mica and Travis were the masterminds behind figuring out the answers to the clues. Isaak and I were always behind mentally and walking wise. LOL! I typically am behind because I'm always taking photos. Travis took the clues very seriously. I was like, "Forget about the direction, let's just walk around the building." Then we'd find it. I was of some use. 


Travis was very impressed with Phoenix's public art! They have way more than Omaha does. It's much more open as far as nudity goes. This adventure took us through a lot of public art, which was cool!



Mica gets into architecture. He liked seeing the big buildings.


We did learn a lot on this Urban Adventure Quest!

My own question: What's Arizona's State Tree? 


Answer: Blue palo verde

One of the Clues Lead Us to Otterness' Bugs:




They are pretty fun, but HOT!


We Had a Some Hiccups Along the Way:

Remember that Mica had hives? Well he didn't have them that day, but he was given his last dose of Benadryl that morning. Benadryl + A Person = A Sleepy Person. We had to keep our vacation going.

We tried to get going in the morning, but it was vacation. It took awhile to get into the city on a weekday. Phoenix is HUGE. It wasn't nearly as bad traffic wise as we thought, but we didn't get started on our adventure until 9. I know Travis would have liked to of started at 7.

Considering it was 108 degrees, Monsoon Season, and there was a air pollution alert the degree of how comfortable we were wasn't as good as we would have liked. Again we should have started earlier!

They said it would take 3 hours. We must be slow. Maybe it was the 108 degrees. It took us way longer than 3 hours, and we still didn't finish.

We took a break for lunch, came back to finish, and the game seemed off. We'd answer, it would say we had the wrong answer, but it was the right answer. After a few of those we decided to stop. We didn't have that much more to go, but we weren't going to keep going if it was glitching.

This is Where We Started to Type in Correct Answers, but it Kept Saying We Were Wrong. I'm thinking it did this because of our extended lunch break. 


We're not quite sure what happens in the end of the Urban Adventure Quest. It still was fun! You can play anytime during daylight hours. Start when you want and play at your pace.


Great Family Fun! Save 20%- Only $39.20 for a team of 2-5 people Promotion Code: FGBLOG. Sign up online at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.

Disclaimer: There will be a follow up review for Urban Adventure Quest! This is a sponsored post.

Monday, July 30, 2018

Daniel the Tiger Finger Puppet

I know I've already mentioned Won't You Be My Neighbor? as a film to see. I'm mentioning it again. It will make you feel! A burst of positive emotions went over me. I was also emotionally sensitive after the movie. Creativity moved my household. My husband hadn't worked on sculpture for a few weeks, and in the garage he went to work away. Isaak and I were stumped before the movie on craft ideas for ParentSavvy (who I write for). After the movie we had a flood of ideas! So many we wanted to get done right away. Won't You Be My Neighbor? isn't just rated high from me, it's rated high overall. If you go you'll laugh, possibly cry, and feel moved!



Visit this craft on ParentSavvy.com . I have another version of it up there.

Daniel the Tiger Finger Puppet:

Isaak came up with this craft all by himself. During it he'd stop and say, "Mom go ahead and take a picture!" I hope he never looses his creative drive!


Isaak started out making a couple finger puppets on his own as sample pieces. Once I saw them I knew he was ready to move forward with the step-by-step craft.

Supplies-

Felt:

Begin with different colors of felt. I happen to have some just laying around. For his sample elephant he used grey and blue. For his sample giraffe he used yellow and brown. For Daniel the Tiger he used orange and yellow.


Fabric Paint:

I can't stand Fabric Markers! They bleed so bad! Fabric Paint is better in my opinion. I got out the tiger colors I had. Isaak only used the yellow. You can opt to use markers or Sharpies instead.


A Dark Sharpie:

This will help with fine details, and marking where to cut!


Glue:

It's optional. Isaak used it on 3 places, but you can opt to sew instead.


Ruler:

It too is optional. Isaak insisted on using it. I wasn't about to argue it. Any time kids want to use a ruler, the better! I get college students that do not know how to use a ruler. I'm not even kidding!


Extras:

The only thing I bought was googly eyes. It's good to have fabric scissors to cut the felt. We had a few different colored threads handy with a needle to sew with.




Time to Begin-

Fold and Cut the Felt:

Start by getting a finger to fit in the felt. Isaak pinched his finger with it, marked it, measured across, drew down a Sharpie line, and cut the felt out. *See images below!





You'll end up with one piece of felt! It's ok if it's not cut out perfectly. It will be folded and sewn.



Fold and Sew:

Isaak knows how to sew, but I did it to help time wise. He has trouble with knots. Start out sewing length wise.



Then sew the bottom. It doesn't matter which is bottom and which is top. You just have to leave one open because it's a finger puppet.


Cut the Head:

Draw a head shape with a Sharpie, and cut it out.


Attach the Head:

You can sew the head on, or glue it. Isaak wanted to glue it. Had we done it again I would have said, "Let's sew it." It got kind of messy holding it, to sew on other parts.


Face Details:

He glued on the eyes.


Then used fabric paint for some more details.


Then he cut out some ears, and I sewed them on.


I sewed whiskers on the next day when everything was dry.

Feet and Body:

I have to admit Isaak lost me a bit with these rolled up things *see below. They are feet. He cut them, rolled them, and put them under a book to keep them rolled. Then I sewed them, so they stayed rolled up. They look kind of like mini toilet paper rolls. They'll make sense in a bit.


He added what looked like a cape on Tiger's backside. I sewed it on for him.


Then I sewed the mini toilet paper rolled things to his front (2) and back (2). The cape looking thing is his backside. *See the 2nd picture, it should make sense.


Finger puppet ready!

He did add stripes with fabric paint. He also added claws with Sharpie.


I added whiskers.


Isaak loves him! I think he's cute as well. Well maybe not as cute as Isaak is. ;)

 

Were you a fan of Mr. Roger's when you were a kid?

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com