That's Not a Hat!

Ravensburger - do you know that name? If not, let me introduce you!

*Disclaimer - I was sent these products for free in exchange for hosting a party and posting my reviews. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own or those of my guests.*

Ravensburger is a name you might see on some games, toys and puzzles. They are a family-owned company that has been making games since 1883!

They sent me two games to showcase. One is called That's Not a Hat. This is the one I focused on. The other was Strike, which I gave away as a door prize. Both can be found on the Ravensburger website. Don't worry, I'll have links below! 

That's Not a Hat

That's Not a Hat was truly fun, even through it's challenging play. We had to read through the instructions a couple times, but overall we loved the laughter! It is about having the ability to remember all your "gifts" or be able to bluff when you forget. For us older ones... we forgot, but we dusted off those bluffing skills like champs! 

I highly suggest watching this how-to-play video before you try playing. Makes it a lot easier! 

The official information on the game is:
That's Not a Hat - Wrap and regift objects in this deceptively simple card game of having the world’s best memory... or convincing everyone you do! Was that gift a hat, a bucket, or a traffic cone?! Play this “unforgettable” bluffing game with friends and family for fun, laughter, and a dash of madcap mayhem. As cards or gifts are flipped face down and passed around the table, players must memorize the object on each card or bluff their confidence as they pass the unwanted gift to someone else. Avoid getting caught declaring the wrong object or gain penalty points. The player with the least points at the end wins!

Recommended Age: 8+ 

Great for parties!

Number of Players: 3 - 8

15 minutes playtime

Includes: A rule book and 110 cards with simple illustrations for maximum
memorization chaos.

I've done a few of their puzzles over the years. But want to know a game I loved that they put out? My mom sent me this one before... Under their ThinkFun products, you can find the Cold Case Files. I have done A Pinch of Murder with my husband. It was so much fun!

Where can you find these games for yourself?

So glad you asked! As I mentioned above, you can go directly to the Ravensburger website. But there are other options of places you can look for the games at.

That's Not a Hat: 

Ravensburger has it for $10.99.

Barnes & Noble had it too for the same price. 

Amazon was the same price.

Strike: 

Ravensburger has it for $24.99. 

Walmart has them for the same price. 

Amazon was the same price. 

What do you think? Was this a great game option? I'll be looking forward to hearing from you in the comments below!

A Time Out for the Midland County Fair

Our family has had a lot going on. But we still try to take out a moment for fun as a unit. Our most recent adventure? Going to the Midland County Fair! 

This is the first time we have been able to do so. We were pretty new in town last year. Going to and from work, my husband was able to watch the transformation of the Midland County Horseshoe as the rides for the carnival went up.  

In case you are interested in what they offer, here is the official website. You know me, I'm a planner. So I check into an event as much as I possibly can before we go. These are the posted rules:

Things to know:

You can't bring in food and drinks. They have vendors there for that. More on those options below.

You can purchase a VIP Pass for unlimited carnival rides. These are bought on site, or just buy tickets for a few rides. The VIP pass is $35. Individual tickets are $1 each. Rides are about 3-5 tickets each. My husband couldn't wait for us all to try out the centrifuge ride called Starship 4000. 

He had been on one a long while back. You all stand against the wall of this round ride and it spins around, pinning you in place! This ride cost 5 tickets per person. So it turned out to be the only one we rode this time. This was the enclosed version. They had an open air one too. It was quite warm in here. And I definitely had to close my eyes a couple times.

Foods were plentiful! There were food trucks and then, in the carnival, you had the types of foods you would expect to see. We preferred trying the food trucks this time. There were so many options! So let's break it down... We tried some amazing juices and lemonades. My husband and I loved the mango one. My oldest son says the cherry lemonade was divine. My oldest daughter got a Root Beer Float from the Hawaiian Shaved Ice truck.

We tried fried Oreos and Twix bars. 4 fried Oreos or 2 Twix bars were $10 each.  I told my husband I can officially knock that off my bucket list. One son had curly fries. He wasn't as thrilled with those as they were made straight up from potatoes cut in a curling pattern. But they were quite the serving for $10. The Mini Donuts truck had some delicious tiny donuts that my youngest enjoyed. She got the Banana Cream Pie ones. You get 12 for $9. The nachos my other girl got were also $10 for a decent serving. My favorite? Steak on a Stick! $10 got us a delicious ribeye steak that was cut into chunks and grilled to perfection. My husband and I shared one.

Bringing cash is better. Using the card means you will pay additional fees or even just $1 more per item.

They have vendors inside. This is also where they had the Pet Parade and information on the various shows you could check out. Or the contests that were being held. We didn't spend much time in here, but it was still pretty interesting to see various types of things that were being sold. 

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that the whole family enjoyed. We were a little fried by the end of our time there. After all it was 104 degrees out there. But it was worth it. The kids are even asking to go back next year! 

What Words Were Created the Year You Were Born?

I've been learning a lot of new words lately. I have penpals in New Zealand that have been showing some of their words and phrases. I've learned a lot about the differences between the Queen's English and American English from a dear friend in the United Kingdom. But I'm also learning American words and terms that are new, or just new to me. I have found a word that describes my love of learning these words. Ready for it? I am a logophile. Where do I mostly find words to learn about? Well, since I'm also a bibliophile, I find them in books. 

Logophile - A lover of words.

Bibliophile - A person who loves or collects books, especially as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like. 

I have also come to enjoy getting the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com. I learn words for myself. Or I find words that I think the kids should know and create spelling lists in our homeschool curriculum from them. Here is a new word for the generation of today...

Nomophobia! Can you guess its meaning? I had a pretty good laugh when I first saw it. After all, it is a running joke in our house these days. 

Nomophobia - Anxiety caused by being without access to a functioning mobile phone. 

I recently learned there was even a thing as finding words and phrases that were created the year you were born! If you are curious about your own year, just go HERE. For example, my year is 1988. Yes, I'm quite old in the eyes of my children and siblings. In that year, I have found some interesting new words that also give insight to what was going on during that time.

Some of these, I wasn't familiar with. Like d4T, heteroglossia, himbo, and mommy track. Others, I grew up hearing regularly or even used myself. Like swole, pimped-out, defrag, unibrow - these were things that were pretty common as I was growing up. One of my favorites was gangsta. We used to make jokes with this one all the time. 

We didn't use it correctly, of course, but then who ever does?? Mommy-track is about moms who chose to work and raise kids. They resigned themselves to making money, probably to make ends meet, but knew they probably wouldn't grow in their careers because of the kid side to life. I've witnessed that firsthand. A job I applied for was very interested in me until they found out I had kids. They told me flat-out that having kids made me a liability. I would most likely miss work they thought. Who knew that began in 1988? 

And e-book?! I'm not a fan of those. But I didn't realize they started that early. Just took them a while to gain popularity I suppose. I still prefer holding a book in my hands, flipping each page, and indulging my imagination with pictureless descriptions. Even the smell of a book can be alluring. I will happily spend time wandering through book stores - used ones, not so much new ones.  

The first place I heard the term killer app was in a song. Took me this long to realize just what it really meant!

And in case you missed it, Al Yankovic's favorite MC is M.C. Escher. My dad's favorite too. This guy was amazing with his art. Mathematically and artistically inclined. But that is just a side note. 

So humor me here. What word(s) came out the year you were born that you had no idea of? What word have you learned recently? Or what is your favorite word? I'd love to know. Who knows if I might learn a new one from you. Leave me a comment below!

May the 4th Be With You!

We are almost all Star Wars fans in our home. My oldest daughter is decidedly not and the younger daughter hasn't seen much lately to make up her mind. But the rest of love the movies and some of the characters. 

So, yes, I do love being able to celebrate the holiday devoted to fans - Star Wars Day. May 4th for you non-fans. This year, I decided to take up the fun challenge of doing something cool. I printed out these cool bookmarks that you can find by 123homeschool4me. She has a HUGE database of free printable resources. This time though, I was only interested in the bookmarks. I printed off 2 copies of those. But then I found some others too... Figured I would let the kids choose any they wanted. The rest though.... I had a plan for! I also decided to go ahead and laminate them. They last longer that way.

I had been wanting to make a sweet treat for my family to enjoy. We have been under so much stress and so strapped in the financial department, that treats weren't so common for us. And I wanted to make it really special! I found these two ideas. But in the end, we created our own.

The craziest option is the BB8 Freakshake. I had never heard of a freak shake before. I was thinking that might be too much sugar, but I thought maybe I could make some of the attachments for fun.

The one my husband really wanted was the Wookie Chocolate Milkshake. Much simpler. He was most excited by the waffle cookie being included. It doesn't require much. We weren't going to waste the time and effort to make the belt across a jar, but with some icecream, chocolate syrup, and these wafer cookies - I think I made it close enough! 

I made some little chocolates using my Star Wars molds. We had these the weekend before Star Wars Day because the boys would be out of town. This way they didn't fully miss out on the fun. The X-Wings weren't as strong as I usually have them... maybe next time.

For the actual day, my daughter made some Twix cookies that we put the chocolate ships on top of. It was delicious!  

I had taken time out to play dress up with the girls. I pulled my costume bin out and let them create their own characters, both rebel and empire sides. While I can't share their photos (for safety reasons), I will show you what outfits they came up with for me! They also chose my makeup colors and we all played with my Star Wars palette from ColorPop.

The blonde is my Jedi costume, while the redhead is the Sith. They were pretending to be Vader's daughters, taking turns being Light and Dark. So of course they decided I had to be both as well.

We had a fantastic time! Even my non-fan daughter was getting into the cosplay aspect with great vigor. It made me proud. We had some mermaid photos afterwards for Mer-May. And they can't wait to come up with the next idea! Until next May, may the force be with you!

Jurassic Quest is Coming to Town! (Discount Included!)

My 6 year old LOVES dinosaurs. I'm not sure if it has something to do with Chris Pratt, but the Jurassic movies are top on her list. She'd take those over Disney princess movies any day. So, of course, I was thrilled when I saw this new promotion through U. S. Family Guide. They are working with Jurassic Quest to promote the show that may just be coming to your town! 

There is quite the lineup already for the locations available. They even have shows in Canada! Texas has Abilene on March 3-5. I can imagine that my youngest will be wearing her new Chris Pratt shirt if we are able to make it. She will enjoy seeing the animatronic dinosaurs that rule the show there! As I'm typing this, I have her running around talking about riding dinosaurs, digging up fossils and watching the "live" dinosaurs! This is perhaps the closest thing to her going to a real Jurassic World. 

FAQ's

I like to plan out trips like this as much as possible in advance. So the FAQ section is typically my go-to. I'm happy to say I got a lot of helpful knowledge from doing so. 

First off - children under 2 are free, however will need activity tickets to participate in some of the events inside. Kids tickets are for 2-10 year olds. 

Tickets can be purchased at the door. It will cost you the same online as in person. However, subject to availability. They have safety restrictions on how many may be allowed to enter at once. Ticket prices are $19 - $36.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons - evenings are the least busy. I think this is one of the most helpful things for us. We aren't big on large crowds. 

Wear socks! Unless you want to purchase socks there. The inflatables and soft play areas require socks. 

My teen boys are going to be a bit bored. This is mostly geared for 2-10 year olds. Especially the rides and activities. 

Check ahead about parking! Since they are using venues from third parties, you could have to pay parking. Once you figure out where the venue is for your town, you can contact them to find out if you need money for parking.

Bring your cameras! And share your rawr-some moments with them! @jurassicquest #jurassicquest  I know I plan to do this. After all, my little one will be losing her mind from the fun. 

Cash and cards are accepted. They have activity tickets as well as souvenirs.  

And the most important for our family - food! Seems like food options and rules are run by the venue. Jurassic Quest does not provide food. So check out what your venue allows. Being that the event is usually about 2 hours to get through the whole thing, you might not even plan to eat there. Just plan your trip around meal times. 

Activities include....

Dino rides! These are just for kids. There are stationary dinosaurs that walk in place as well as those that walk slowly forward.  

Bounce houses! My little one tends to be afraid of these. Not really sure why, but she's afraid of others bouncing her. So we might not even bother with them. 

Dino crafts! You can do a quick craft to create your own dinosaur. My daughters might enjoy this. Looks like paper crafts. 

Dig for fossils! My little one recently learned to say paleontologist. As well as what that is. And she is excited to dig up dinos.  

Meet the baby dinos! When I was telling my kids that we might go to Jurassic Quest, they wanted to know what kinds of things were included. My oldest 3 were meh about it. But the youngest has been squealing about the possibilities since. Meeting baby dinosaurs has to be on the list or she won't be satisfied. If she could have her own baby dino, she would. That and a unicorn....

While you are walking around, look out for the walking dinosaurs! They are playful and like to run and walk around the guests. So be ready and snap a cool pic while you are at it! 

Lastly, discover the ancient oceans! I'm a skeptic on this front. Then again, dinosaurs trigger my skepticism too. However, it could still be a lot of fun to see the ancient ocean creatures moving around.  

Want to go and save money?

I can't wait to possibly make the trip! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Is anyone you know a dinosaur fan? Would you enjoy taking your family somewhere like this? Let me know all about it!  

Don't forget to use this code at checkout to save 20%! 

My readers get an exclusive offer of 20% off by using the code USFAM at checkout!  Get your tickets before they go extinct! https://www.jurassicquest.com/
 

Creativity Blooms With Cool Maker By Spin Master

Spin Master might as well be a household name for us. We love so many of their toys and games! I have posted previous reviews on some of them. But now we got some more of their Cool Maker line that was really awesome. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products in exchange for hosting a party and sharing my own personal review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Cool Maker aren't your typical girls toys. They are for creativity-boosting play. For learning and designing in fun ways. I was sent these two for a fun online party I did. My daughter demonstrated their uses for our guests while I explained the features. 

Stitching creations!

Style 'N Stitch Fashion Studio was definitely our favorite. My daughter has been learning to sew by hand, but some things are easier to do on a machine. Like her doll clothes creations. As her Mom, however, I worry about needles and fingers being in close proximity on my clumsy girl. With this device, that isn't an issue at all. The needle is safely hidden in the cartridge. There are so many features to love besides that though. There is the fact that it runs automatically. All my girl has to do is line the material up under the guide line and it starts to stitch.

The guide line shows her exactly where her sewing will be. There is a drawer for her to keep the needle threader, which just helps her to adjust the string if it comes out of place. In the drawer, there is also a stamper. With a touch of water, she can add decals to her creations that came with it. There are 2 clamps to hold the material in place for her and help her to maintain that straight stitch. Oh yes, there is a pre-printed cloth inside this kit of hers. It has patterns on it and instructions in the manual that allow her to make things like a hair tie, purse or plushie. I find this is a great addition to teach her about patterns and how they work. Almost forgot a couple more things. The machine has an on/off switch as well as a cutting switch to help if the thread catches. There is a pause switch in case she needs to turn the material and can't keep up while it is running. Should the material get stuck, which has happened, there is a knob on the side that allows her to release it manually. 

While there are a lot of good things about this device, we have noticed there are some cons. I would highly suggest reading the manual as thoroughly as you can. We have learned a lot through it. Like how to get material unstuck - something it has done several times. I'm still trying to understand the threading as it keeps stitching on one side only, meaning that once she stops, the seam just comes apart. On a normal machine, that happens because the bobbin isn't connecting or threaded correctly. I'm hoping we will figure it out though as she really wants to be able to use this machine to make more things. Even I want to use it! 

Braiding and Beading come next

That wasn't all they sent. We also received the KumiKreator Bead & Braider.

This one took a little more practice to get used to. If you don't follow the directions, you find it jams. And heaven forbid your 5 year old think it funny to grab it while the older sibling is trying to turn it... That was a tricky time that required my engineer husband to step in and save the day.

But if you do it right, and it isn't so hard to do that, you can create beautiful necklaces and bracelets.

The spools look like we can even refill them. It has beads you can add to make them more stylish. My older daughter loves it. As her Nana pointed out, they make great gifts she can give away for Christmas (something she loves doing). 

Where to find them

If you want to get your own (Christmas is only 145 days away, just so you know), you can find the KumiKreator at Walmart, Target, and Amazon. The Style 'N Stitch is available at Target. I've also seen other versions on Walmart and Amazon for the sewing machine. You can get more refills too. 

What did you think? Which one strikes your fancy more? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

Miniatures of Life

Oh, my hobbies! I tease my husband. He has a wife who finds joy in painting rocks and playing with dolls. His response? At least it isn't snowflakes. All joking aside, he is thankful. My hobbies and the things that bring me joy cost him a lot less than other men have to pay to keep the wife happy. Especially when I can make my own things! 

Making miniatures

I create more realistic Barbie accessories for my doll scenes as well as for my daughters' dolls. It is amazing what you can make from things around the house or even things purchased cheaply. Check out some of the things I've been making lately. 

Barbie luggage

I'd seen this idea on Pinterest. It required so few pieces to make too. A plastic soap dish, a couple buttons, and they used a large fold over clip. My daughter asked me to use something else for the handle though.

For my Barbie, I plan to make a wooden trunk instead. My mom gave me these pretty little wooden boxes that I plan to test out some ideas on.

Still a work in progress!

Barbie dishes

This idea came from a video clip my sister sent me on Instagram. But you can also get the idea here. Amazing what you can do with little plastic containers (aka cut up pill packs), a bowl of water, and nail polish! Take the bowl of water, drip in some nail polish (gently! or it will just all sink to the bottom of the dish) and then dip the plastic container into it. Just dip the outer part. Leave the inside as is. And there you have it - crazy cool dishes that are the perfect size for Barbie and her friends.

Plate makeover

Not everything is handmade, but instead I give them a makeover. I loved the tiny plate set that my mother gave me. Their yellow color needed to change though. So I spray painted them white, added some rub-on transfer stickers and voila! You have elegant plates for the future kitchen I have yet to create. 

Books

My Barbie is definitely a Nerd. She can't have a home without books. Just not possible. So I started practicing making books. There are several techniques that you can use, based on your level of crafting skill. I'm still learning, so I started with just cutting card stock in the desired size, adding white crafting paper (thin kind) as pages, then decorating the fronts with stickers and tiny writing. These went to my girls. Next, I tried printing book covers. People have scanned and shrunk actual books photos to be the perfect size for dolls. And thanks to Pinterest, you can find them and make your own books. But there is another technique. Ever find something like this that came with a surprise toy?

My daughter asked me to turn it into a book for their dolls. It's adorable and SOOOOO easy!

It was the booklet that came in their LOL Tiny Toys box. You push it back together, staple the side, cut the pages edges and you have a book with colorful doll pictures in it.

Clothes

All dolls need clothes. Granted, my toddler did enjoy removing them mostly.  She is getting better about keeping her dolls clothed, now that I've been creating cooler ones. My latest one turned out pretty well. And it was super simple. Amazing what you can make from old clothes the girls outgrow... Anyhow, my oldest daughter asked for a long ruffled skirt. I ended up making it too long though and got the idea to make an evening dress instead. She loved it!

I created a Steampunk hat for this doll using a miniature hat my mom found at the craft store and some gears I had. I'm still debating on tiny goggles and a feather.... 

My attempt at this long sleeve dress for my daughter did not work out so well though...

As they say, you never know until you try. You also have to practice to get good. I've learned a bit more about piecing these things together. I put this skirt together too...

This kind of material is a pain to sew, but shimmers so nicely. My girls want this one when I finish with it.

As I said, not everything has to be made by hand. I found an oriental style dress and got the idea to pull out some drink umbrellas from Chinese New Year decorations (my husband had planned to decorate for my birthday and we just never did). I created this style and love it! 

I love finding things too. Like this Foosball table set from Walmart that was clearance! I grew up loving Foosball since we had a table. It is a fun way to pass the time. 

I've been following a couple Barbie influencers on Instagram. (Yes, they are thing!) My favorites are Grandma Gets Real and Bella_belladoll. It is amazing how popular this has become. I think each of us girls still wishes we could 'play' dolls and pretend that their life is our own. After all, who doesn't wish for that Malibu figure, endless shopping sprees, the Dreamhouse, a private jet - okay, okay, you get the picture! Besides, Barbie scenes look way more fun than people in photos often do. And they always get along with each other!

Living As A Miniature Nerd

I started following Grandma Gets Real on Instagram and Facebook. She has an amazing hobby! Photographing and collecting Barbie dolls in real life ways. I used to laugh and say that I wanted an Elf on the Shelf to goof off with around the house. But then I saw Grandma Gets Real and the wheels really started turning. 

Even Wonder Woman does glamor shots.

I've been making Barbie accessories for my girls. Books, furniture, dresses, crowns, necklaces - anything I can get an idea for online. Pinterest and YouTube videos can be treasure troves! I love seeing what others have done and trying my hand at recreating them with my own flairs. 

                           I told you, Diana. Amazon women can't buy shoes from the Barbie stores.

I'm still in my infancy as far as creating realistic photos, but I'm working on it. I'm learning the right techniques. While figuring out our new camera. But I thought I'd share the new Instagram account I've set up as well as some of the photos I've been taking. Mine centers on the Nerd style. 

                                   Link did it again. Left his fairy in a bottle, just lying around.

I created things, using other things. Take this entertainment center, for instance. It came from parts of wood from a Dollar Tree plane kit. 

                                                       This ^ came from that...

Her drill was the plug in part of the headphones cord. And those speakers (pink things) were earpieces from the headphones. I jazzed them up with a little nail polish. 

These were tiny plates that were chipped and yellow (think yellow from the 70's). I spray painted them white and then used rub on transfer stickers to doll them up elegantly.

If I ever find more rub on decals, I totally plan to get more! These are amazing. Super easy to use, but all kinds of beautiful. I'd love to see if there are other kinds. 

I've also started collecting the mini brands from Zuru. They are replicas in miniature of the actual brands we buy in stores! The perfect size for your dolls needs. I can't wait to start putting these kinds of things in the photos. Maybe making my favorite recipes... They come in mini toy brands too. I give second duplicates to my daughters for their Barbies. But out of 4 balls, I've only had 1 item be a duplicate so far. And only 1 defective item.

I just love surprises! 

What do you think? Did you love playing with Barbies when you were growing up? Do you ever wish your life could be duplicated in Barbie world? I used to wish I could be her size or smaller and see the world from that angle. Like in the movie The Secret World of Arietty. As a Borrower, where 1 basil leaf can be used for a years worth of meals. Where a stick pin can be a sword. 

        Tall girl problems include getting shorted when you can't test it out before purchasing.

My photos will always include characters that fit my nerdy joys. Star Trek, Star Wars, Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Wonder Woman, and even Phantom of the Opera. I can't wait to expand out. Since I haven't been able to cosplay, I'm planning to do it through my dolls.

                                                     Reporting to Captain James T. Kirk!