4 Huge Reasons That Lego DUPLO Are a Must Have

Toys are more than just entertainment in our home. We believe that they are a way to create imaginative play. A way to grow and learn. From geology to the circuit building sets, and then to the Lego bricks! All of these things have been welcomed into our home for play that is meaningful.

*Disclaimer: I was sent the All-in-One-Box free of charge, for my honest review and to share with guests at a party that I hosted. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed by Lego DUPLO.*

I played with my Lego bricks, growing up. I loved building and exploring the possibilities. And since then, they have only gotten cooler! There are more complex pieces. Additionally, there are bigger ones now that I can let my babies play with. Lego DUPLO are perfect for my toddler. She can't shove them in her mouth and block airways. What she can do is build her castles to the sky. She can build a train that whistles as it runs the along the track through her city. Her characters are animal and human - and always fun! They have adventures together. Buzz Lightyear is often seen riding his "horse" (which is actually a goat) to save the children in a runaway train! 

Why should you check Lego DUPLO out?

As parents, we want our kids to build their imaginations. It leads to more creative thinking later in life. We live in an age where kids are glued to electronic devices starting at an early age. Studies have shown that this isn't helping them long term. They need toy time. Time to play with their hands, increasing their motor functions. Lego bricks are the perfect way to do just that! There are manuals, but after building the set once, I have found that kids can't resist taking it apart and then building something of their own design. This is great! My kids don't just build an object. They build stories in their minds. 

Motor functions - Lego DUPLO are perfect for little hands. Easy to handle, easy to take apart and put together. They are designed with little people in mind. They learn motor control of their hands. A skill that needs to be built and refined through life.

No limitations - There are sets for all kinds of imaginations. Super heroes, farms, trains, wild animals - you know the new Frozen movie? Elsa and Anna are back! They are gender neutral. While I don't think all toys should be, I am glad that Lego are. Trains and animals, vehicles or movie characters - no matter who they are favored by - can be enjoyed by both boys and girls.

 Life skill learning- Imagination isn't the only learning they do. My daughter has a train that has the numbers she can count as she puts them on. We practice saying the colors too. Naming the different animals. Now, I know she is only a toddler, but dare I say we are promoting engineering as well? Let's say she wants to build a great tower. She needs to know how to balance the bricks and connect them well so that they won't just fall over. I know, I know. Big concepts for a 3 year old. But we gotta start them off somewhere, yes? And this is the fun way to do just that. 

What else does Lego DUPLO offer? 

How about a party planning hub? You read that right. They will help you plan out your party! From invitations you can print to the napkin holder, and on to the games! You can check it all out here. There is a gift finder that makes figuring out what your kid would like most, even easier.

I even found items at the local Dollar Tree to use for my Lego DUPLO party. Plates and napkins and little party favor boxes. These were added to the plates and favor bags that Lego sent me and it was awesome! 

Party planning and hosting at its finest!  

Lego DUPLO sent me an amazing party pack to get my on my way to hosting a wonderful party. 

My daughter really got into the party spirit as we prepared for her party. They have little masks you can print. She called them her "friends"! They have a couple more in the variety that are so much fun.

We put the stickers that Lego sent in the bags along with other party favors I picked up. Oriental Trading Company has some building brick themed items that are perfect as well!

 

Thanks to my love of Pinterest, I came across the idea to make Lego themed rice crispy treats.

Then they played with the All-in-One Box! The good thing about Lego DUPLO bricks are that older kids can really connect with their younger siblings and friends as they play. They bond, as it were. At least my kids did.

There are all kinds of games on the birthday hub that you can play. The tower building one was my favorite. 
I highly suggest you take a look and see what you can come up with! Then let me know what you liked the best. I'd love to hear from you in the comments below! 

Hosting a Lakanto Healthy Holiday Baking Party!

I love being a part of the Tryazon community of bloggers! We try some amazing new products. New to us, at least. Then we host parties and write reviews about them. That is what I was able to do with Lakanto!

*Disclaimer: I was sent all the products free of charge in exchange for hosting a party as well as writing a review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.* 

I was able to host a holiday baking party using their Monk Fruit Sweetener. This is a Keto-friendly option that has some nice benefits. It is a better option than using sugar. I know this, because I have family members that have been on the Keto diet as well as other family members who have gone sugar-free. We have family meals together that require a variety of options so that we can accommodate each others dietary needs. In case you are unfamiliar with monk fruit and how they get the sweetener, check here. 

I love baking! 

But baking can be troublesome for me. First off, I am supposed to be on a healthier diet in order to lose 45 pounds and get back into shape. But I absolutely LOVE baking! I love making brownies, cookies and cakes. I love fudge for Christmas. But you know... so full of sugar and so unhealthy! So I have been looking for recipes that don't pack on the pounds, while letting me have some sweets from time to time. 

Sweeteners like Stevia are there in stores. You have probably heard of and seen some. You can look on the baking aisles of your nearest store to see a variety of alternatives. But have you ever tried them? Or do you just pass them by? That is where you will find the Lakanto brand products.

What is the difference? 

When it comes to taste, I can't tell the difference! However, the amounts you use are different as are the results. I have found that you use more sugar in recipes than you would using monk fruit sweetener. Also, you are adding stress to the heart and pounds to the waist with sugar! I have made some amazing Keto Fat Bombs before. And when the chance to host this party came around, I also made an Easy (Vegan) Chocolate Cake with Perfect Keto Buttercream Frosting! It was the most delicious one I had made in a very long time! My kids devoured slices way faster than I would have thought. I even added peppermint flavoring to the frosting and it was.... oh, wow! Perfect for the holidays! My daughter tried to dig in early.

Let's start with the cake!  

 Ingredients

1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup Lakanto Baking Sweetener
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup cold water
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, soda, salt, and s
   weetener directly into the cake pan.
3. Measure and mix together oil, water, and vanilla.
4. Pour liquid ingredients into the pan and mix batter with a small whisk or fork. When smooth, add vinegar and stir quickly.
5. Stir until vinegar is evenly distributed--without pale swirls in the batter.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

I even skipped the apple cider vinegar as I didn't have any on hand. It was still the best! On my second attempt, I drizzled caramel over the top.

Then top it with the frosting! 

A great cake comes with delectable frosting! Since this is a holiday recipe party, I thought that peppermint needed to be added. About a teaspoon is perfect. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup Grass-Fed Butter
• 1 1/2 cups Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit Sweetener
• 2-3 tbsp Dairy Free Milk (coconut, almond, cashew)

Instructions

1. Add the butter to a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 4-5 minutes until it becomes super fluffy, airy light, pale and doubled in volume.
2. Make sure butter is not too warm/oily; it will not hold its shape!
3. Sift the Lakanto Powdered Sweetener in a medium bowl.
4. In two additions add half the powdered sugar at a time, beating 2-3 minutes in-between each addition. Slowly increase speed. 
5. Once all of the sugar has been incorporated you will notice it may look a bit stiff and dense; adding the dairy-free milk and beating until the buttercream is more soft & spreadable.
6. At this time you can add Vanilla.
7. Once the buttercream is ready, frost your cakes & cakes!
8. You may place buttercream in an airtight container at room temp for 5-6 Days! Best freshly made!

I've also made some unicorn cookies! I was going to make the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies from their website, but saw some unicorn chips and decided to use those. 

What would you make with it? What is your favorite baked good for the holidays? Leave me a comment below!

Boosting Learning Power with BitWise Academy!

As a parent, I want my kids to excel in STEM subjects. I want them to do well in school so that they will do well in life. But where do you start in giving them an extra boost? Over the summer months, my son was able to try out BitWise Academy. It was a great start to learning coding.

*Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to test out their website service in exchange for my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

BitWise Academy was created with the dream of providing an easy-to-use platform for teaching real life coding and art skills that can be used in technological understanding and growth. They teach kids the basic programs that will start them down the road of success. 

As with any program, there are pros and cons.

The interface is simple to follow. You can keep track of the courses and the progress of each one.

If you have any questions at all, you can ask their AI assistant , Beem.

I love that it has a sense of humor with its responses at times. They also have a community that your kid can get support from. They can add friends and check forums for answers that will help them with their lessons. If that isn't what they need, there is an actual support option. Technical and otherwise. I like the various groups there are as well. A chance to chat and make friends while learning. 
There is also the Scratch lesson. Talk about an amazing beginning to coding for kids. 

For parents, there is a great way to track your child's progress. You get the full break down to see where they are excelling and where they need more practice. It is color coded. 

You can see what has been completed and what subject they spend more time on. 

My son is greatly interested in learning how to create games. However, I found that he would become bored after getting halfway through a lesson. Or if there were technical difficulties. 

Which leads us to the flip side...

At first, I couldn't get the class sessions to play. They would sometimes freeze up. Or would replay a lesson he had done already because it didn't recognize he had finished it. This caused him to lose enthusiasm for the program. 

Options for everyone's needs!

There are three types of subscriptions you can get. Which are currently on sale!

I think this works out greatly. Depending on how dedicated your child is, and how quickly they will work through the lessons, you have options for how long you want to sign them up for. 

What do you think? Is this something you would want your kids to use? What is your favorite aspect of this program? Leave me a comment below! 

Hosting a HempFusion Party and Introducing Twist!

I have been doing a lot of research into various hemp-based products. Things like CBD creams for aching muscle pains. But thanks to HempFusion, I have come to see that there are many other uses when combined properly with vitamins and nutrients the body needs. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products to try and give away in addition to hosting a party through Tryazon. Everything was sent free of charge. All opinion expressed are my own.*

Made from the hemp plant, but not the same as using weed. 

My first thoughts when I heard about hemp products were along the lines of it being something created by weed dealers to expand their reach. I mean this seriously. I grew up hearing that weed was nothing but bad for you. Now, however, weed is legal in many states, but it is still a drug. And something I never have, nor ever want to try. That being said, weed plants have more than just a "high" to be gained. There is more to them than a hallucinogen. Studies of the cannabis plant has led to discoveries in something called cannabinoids. These are actually beneficial to the human body. It is what you find in CBD oils and creams that have been helping with my muscular pains for a start. 

Why HempFusion? 

HempFusion has combined several things that we need for a healthy balance. And they did an amazing job with this blending. Cannabinoids combined with terpenes, healthy omega fats, chlorophyll, and flavanoids. This combination helps to promote the immune system, central nervous system, cardiovascular, as well as the digestive system. Alone, they might help a little. When you combine them all, however, you create a fusion blend that will build each other up and benefit you completely. 
Taste and smells of these compounds on their own isn't always pleasant. HempFusion figured out how to make it delicious as well as helpful. There isn't a fishy or oily taste. No unpleasant scent to it either. There was a slight aftertaste that my husband and I figured was from the cannabinoids. We have been working on various recipes that void out that bitter aftertaste. But it isn't really that strong. 

Recipes to try out! 

Smoothies are a first choice of course. Throw fruit and juice in with some Twist and voila! You have a nutritious snack.  Add ice and it becomes a slushie. Some people just add it to water. I didn't want to stop there. I decided to also try the Citrus Ginger flavor in my favorite Korean Beef Meatballs recipe. I just substituted the Twist where it called for straight ginger. Don't take my word for it though. Recipes are below! 

HempFusion Fruit Twist Smoothie

2 peaches (we used the equivalent in frozen peaches)
1 banana (use frozen equivalent or cut and freeze one first)
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon Mango Peach Twist
1 teaspoon Stevia 

Toss everything into the blender and mix well. So simple! And yet, so delicious. And healthy. Makes about 4 servings. 

 Korean Beef Meatballs

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup soy sauce (I prefer Kikkoman's reduced sodium)
1/4 teaspoon Citrus Ginger Twist
1 heaping spoon minced garlic
10 meatballs (I used frozen ones from the local grocery store)

Put the meatballs in a sauce pan. Mix all other ingredients in a mixing bowl before pouring over the meatballs. Cover and cook on low for a couple hours. Or on medium for about 45 minutes. Stir every once in a while to ensure that they are getting sauced all over. Serve as appetizers, side dish or make it a meal by adding rice. Or do what we did - serve them over ramen noodles (without the ramen seasonings).

So far, the Mango Peach is my favorite. I love making smoothies with dinner. It helps me eat less and fill up on something that is better for me. My next endeavor is to make a key lime pie with the Twist Key Lime flavor. 

If you want to know more...

There are a lot of questions that you might have. So to make sure you can get the right answers, I am sending you HERE. They have FAQ's you can look through that explain in much better detail than I can. Each bottle is a 30 day supply and costs $39.99. And I believe they are still offering free shipping. Check them out and let me know what you think in the comments below!