Random Tid Bits

1. On Tuesday most things went down hill. I can't figure out how to get https off my blog, so it doesn't read as Not Secure.
   
   
   
   
   

   I'm writing this on Tuesday, so maybe when this posts on Friday it will work out. Where I have my hosting they say it's blogger, and of course blogger doesn't really have help per say.

   
   
2. My computer crashed. Then it wouldn't see the airport to print, and put my backup files.
   
   
3. My husband has an emergency at work. He'll be putting in extra hours.
   
   
4. The boys won't stop fighting. We said, "No media at all". We'll see how that goes. Travis doesn't remember fighting with his sister, but he was usually outside, and she was usually inside. He doesn't get why the boys fight. I fought with my sisters, and still disagree with them at times.
   
   
5. Mica's birthday is coming up. I don't even know what to get him. He's going to Chicago for school. part of me wanted to just give him money, then it would go to us where the money is coming out of each month. That seems kind of odd. I'm giving you money only to take your money.
   
   He mentions Lego sets, but I'm not about to spend $330 on this:
   
   

   

   
   

   I started thinking...why do Lego sets have to cost so much? I know they have big brands they work with. I know they come up with better instructions than any other building company. When it comes down to it, it's a cheap toy to make. Tiny plastic pieces. Do you think the same way about Lego?

Lego Masks

My next craft post is up on ParentSavvy! 

My Almost Teen Mica has 3 Things He Likes: 

1. Reading
2. Listening to Music
3. Building with Legos

I decided to take what he likes to do, and bond with him. At first there was resistance. It's not that he doesn't like spending time with me, nor does he dislike building with Legos. He just wants to build what he wants to build. I like trying to get him to think outside the box a bit.

Building Lego Masks:

We used to make Duplo Masks, but never jumped over to making them with Legos.

First I had him separate Legos out by color. He was resistant to the sorting process, but it did get done.

I laid down on one of his pillows and said, "Ok start."

Here's Mask 1:

I said, "Ok, so now build one with more volume. Think about where my cheeks are. Add something on my forehead.

Here's Mask 2:

I said, "Ok, so now build one with even more volume. Do something with a beard. That would be funny."

Here's Mask 3:

That was the winner. I just had him add a bit more. Like a nose, and hair.

We both liked it when I stuck my tongue out.

Have you ever liked masks? I do I have a few in my house. I love the ones on Novica's website. African masks are my favorite I think.  

WW: Isaak's Beanstalk {Linky}

Isaak brought home from school a bean to grow:

It kept growing, so Travis had him make a trellis out of Legos for it to rest upon:

Blue Building Baseplate 5x5 8 pack Review

My boys play with Legos much of the time. The problem is that Legos are so expensive. I'm finding that off shoot brands are pretty good to. They don't put a dent in your wallet.

We never really had any baseplates to play with. Now we do. I got a Blue Building Baseplate - 8 pack that is 5"x5" to review. They are made by Click n' Play. The cost is $13.61.

Gift of the Season:

• They are going in my kid's stockings. They are the perfect size for a stocking gift. 
• This would be great for any nerdy White Elephant gift. I have a lot of artist friends that still love building with Legos, or similar building toys. 
• You could donate these to a local school, or library for a Lego Club that they have. We have Lego Clubs at both the boy's school, and library. 
• You could donate these for Toys for Tots, a hospital that has children there long term, or other non-profit that gives to children. I love giving, but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg when I give. It's more the thought that is there for me. This would be a great gift for a kid in need. 
• They'd be great for birthday party bags. 

I did a little snooping in Mica's room to find some of his recent constructions to play with. These baseplates just keep the models connected, and make it easy to display them. 

Don't run out of baseplates again with this 8 pack 5x5 inch Blue plates! They are compatible with all major building bricks company's. I did find them best for what they are suited for - baseplates. I tried putting one on top of a construction, and it didn't fit as tight as the Lego ones. They do keep your creations together for small models, and make it easy to carry and display them.

These are ideal for group building with family, friends, and building clubs.  

Recommended for age 3 and up. Not for DUPLO sized blocks. The plates are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by Lego, a registered trademark of Lego Systems.

Do you have kid in your family that likes to build? I find that my kids build the sets 3 or 4 times, then abandon that to make their own things.

    
 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Brick Genius 1000 Building Bricks Compatible with Lego Review

My kids love to build with things. It started when they were little. Mica loved puzzles, then it moved to Thomas, Polar Express and Team GeoTrax train tracks, then it was CitiBlocs and Twig Building Blocks, and now it's Legos. I just got Brick Genius to review. They are a company that has 1000 building bricks to construct whatever creative minds come up with. 

What I love about Brick Genius is the color variety that they have! They have colors that many Lego sets do not have in a variety set: Yellow, Green, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Red, Pink, White, Grey and Black. I hardly see the slightly different blues, pink, purple and grey in the Lego sets.

Brick Genius is not affiliated, but are compatible with Legos. They will work with all our other sets.

The cost like any brick building set isn't cheap. It's $79.99, but on sale for $36. That's a $43 savings! You get 1000 bricks: 60 roof pieces, a free brick separator, and lots of bricks! I dislike that the bricks are made in China. Most things are made in China now a days. I love that they fill up the bag, so there is no package waist. It would be nice for beginners to have a case. It comes in a disposable bag. We have bins for this kind of stuff, so that's not a problem for us.

I have not given this set to my boys yet. I have however played with them myself. :) I plan on creating little constructions with the Elf on the Shelf. Soon enough our Elf Brita will have a couch, a bed, and more. Then the boys can keep the bricks. 

This set doesn't come with instructions to build this or that. I kind of like that you can let your imagination take over to create whatever you want.

It's for ages 3 and up. To me the age always depended on if they put things in their mouth, or not. Mica was able to play with this type of toy at age 3, and Isaak was 4 before he could without supervision.

Do you like building things?

 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for a discounted price in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

SnB Deluxe Silicone Candy Molds & Ice Cube Trays Review

I'm super excited to share with you the new SnB Deluxe Silicone Candy Molds & Ice Cube Trays - Best Box Set of 5 for Lego and Heart Lovers with Bonus Recipe Inside. *19.95 value

You can use the molds to make:

• Fun Ice Cubes
• Chocolate Candies
• Gummy Candies
• Fun Crayons
• Fun Soaps
• More 

You can use them for: 

• Part of an after school snack(s)
• Playdates
• Birthday Parties
• More

Isaak and I decided to make Candy Gummies. They were super easy to make.

Candy Gummies Recipe:

• 1/2 cup of cold water
• Optional 1/4 cup corn syrup
• Whisk in 2 packets of plain gelatin
• Whisk in 1 box of JELLO, or 1 packet of Emergen-C (Whatever flavor you prefer)
• Pour into a small pot
• Turn the heat to medium-low
• Stir every minute or two for 7 minutes
• Pour into the molds
• Wait 10 minutes to skim off the top layer of hardened JELLO
• Let set for 7 hours

They popped out well, and the molds cleaned easily. I did hear from a friend that they used theirs to make homemade crayons, and it was hard to clean them enough to use them for food afterwards. You'd have to buy two sets if you want to use them for food, and other things.

The Legos don't have holes on the bottom, but they still appear to stack. 

They turned out really good! I can't wait to make something chocolate in them. I love chocolate! 

What would you make in these molds?

If you want to buy these molds, the company said you can email them: customercare@snbdeluxe.com with "50% OFF" in subject line and they'll gladly send you an individual code to get 50% OFF!  

 

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.