Never in a Million Years Did I Think I'd Win Something This Big!

When I thought about it I entered Fat Brain Toys - $300 Shopping Spree.

They give away a shopping spree every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I got an email 2 nights ago saying that I won. Just to make sure I checked their FB page to see if my name was on there. It was. It was one of those things where I forced myself to do a double take to see if I was really the winner.

Of course it was too late to call them to figure out what I do with the code exactly. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a 1 time entry before I used it.

Here I am. We have declared that I would be the one that would be the dad character in A Christmas Story - because I like winning things like the Dad liked winning the leg lamp. My husband rolls his eyes just like the Mom rolls her eyes in the film. Mica is Ralphie because he obsesses about Legos just like Ralphie obsesses about his Red Ryder BB Gun. Isaak is Randy because he's a Momma's boy, a player of attention, and the baby of the family. Thank God Isaak eats better than Randy!

My mind is on A Christmas Story because we're going to see it tonight at The Rose Theater.

Back to my winnings. I swore my husband would kill me for winning this. Not really, but he had just told me the day before, "You better not review any more toys."

When I told him I won, I was all giggly, like a small school girl that had just been asked to a dance for the first time. He thought I drank alcohol. For the record I was not drunk. I didn't even have a sip of alcohol in me.

The code didn't expire until 2023 - something crazy like that. I knew if I didn't use it, the code would get lost. I have Christmas presents bought and wrapped. I'm quick like that.

I decided I'd buy 1 thing for all the nephew's and my son's birthdays for the most part.

Here's what I got:

I got Mica, Isaak, Cousin Evan and Elijah each a Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet with a protective sleeve. All that added up fast! I was going to get my oldest nephew one to, but he didn't think he'd use it, which is fine.

I may give Mica and Isaak theirs for Christmas. The others are waiting for birthdays.

I got Edison a Tobbles Neo, which has won a lot of awards. They bobble around on their own, and stack up to.

Then I got Mica a Lego Castle set for a future present. He'll like love it.

They have special needs toys, but I was already at my max of spending. Emerson is a little hard to get things for. He has special needs that go beyond autism or downs syndrome. I've already gotten Emerson tactile bean bags for birthday. 

My sister-in-law told me not to buy for her son anymore last year. So...I'm not.
   
I had a cyber deal, so I got $25 off my order - if I paid anything over $100. Then I had the $300 GC. I ended up spending $3.35. Squeal! 

Thank you Fat Brain Toys!
Disclaimer: I won this GC to Fat Brain Toys. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Block Builders Review

Have you ever heard of Fat Brain Toys?

If not you NEED to check out their website. They have so many toys that are not only fun, different, but also educational.

I have two former students that work there. They work on their packaging, website, ads, and more.

I just won a toy called Block Builders off of their Facebook page.

About Block Builders:

• It was a winner of 2011 Parents' Choice Gold Award.
• In 2013 Major Fun Award - Puzzles.
• There are 6 cubes that break apart in their own unique way. 
• It gives kids and adults a fun way to understand architecture.
• There are 50 building puzzle cards.  They give facts to historic and modern architecture.
• Can be played with individually and independently. 
• This game focuses on critical thinking, perception and spatial awareness.
• It has levels of difficulty: Beginner, Intermediate and Expert.
• Awesome packaging that doesn't take up a lot of space.
• Price: $32.95.

Here's what the blocks look right out of the box. Simple enough. Right?

The blocks break apart like this:

There are cards inside. You draw one and create what's on the card. The card tells you an ArchiFact about modern or historic architecture.

This card says, "Norman: a style of buildings erected by the Normans (1066-1154) based on the Italian Romanesque. It was used principally in castles, churches, and abbeys of massive proportions. Sparsely decorated masonry and the use of the round arch are characteristic."

The next one we worked on was this one:

This card says, "Constructed between 1931 and 1936, Hoover Dam was built to last approximately 2,000 years. The concrete used in the construction of the dam will not by fully cured for approximately another 500 years. Hoover Dam is 726 feet tall and 660 feet thick at the base."

What I thought of Block Builders?

I thought the age recommendation is right on. It's for ages 5 and up. Both of my boys ages 5 and 8 seemed interested! In fact they fought over it. I said, "It can be played by both of you." Sometimes they still struggle with sharing.

Isaak of course can't read the ArchiFacts yet. He certainly can build some of the easier cards.

This game reminds me of the game Rush Hour. It doesn't look like Rush Hour. The pieces are very different. It's the critical thinking that made me think they were similar.

What I think of Fat Brain Toys?

I love the fact that the website and store have an out of the box mentality with their toys. They carry some toys you'd find at any toy store, but most of them are different. They have a lot of toys that teach kids something, while they play. 

My children love going into their store; located in Omaha, Nebraska. The workers are friendly. They have toys on the floor that kids can play with. 

Sometimes they hold special events at their store. One time farm animals were invited to be outside Fat Brain Toys. My kids really loved that! 

They stock many American made toys, award winning toys and toys that will last!

Way More Than a Box 

Way More Than a Box is something that Fat Brain Toys pretty recently started. It's a spot where people can upload toys and more of things they've created with a box. It really gives you ideas on things that you can make at home.

I uploaded two of our box creations. 

Check out other ideas on what you can make with boxes at Way More Than a Box!

Check out Fat Brain Toys and enter their weekly giveaways on their Facebook page.
Follow Fat Brain Toys on Twitter.


Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get products to help with the review. 
 

Celebration of Mind Nebraska

We went to the Strategic Air and Space Museum all day Saturday.
It was for an event called Celebration of Mind. It was sponsored by Fat Brain Toys. I have 2 of my past students working there. They work on the website, facebook page, create ads for the local store and some toy packaging.

It was good seeing my students there.

They had toys all over for kids to play with, it was at the Strategic Air and Space Museum, so we saw a lot of cool thing, there was a robot exhibit and a ton of guest speakers focused on creativity. Pretty cool!

The boys liked playing with all the toys. Daddy and I liked the speakers, which the boys got tired of.

 A Daddy Shot

 I couldn't tear Mica away from these building thing. I have no clue what they are called.

 The boys liked their Citiblocs to! We have some at home, but we don't have a room of them.

Here is what the workshops were that we went to. We didn't go to all of them.