Hosting a Kids Tinkering Lab Party

I probably sound like a broken record about now, but I'm a firm believer that hands on STEM toys are the best thing EVER! And to further prove it, I hosted a party for Tinkering Labs recently. The things the kids and guys came up with were awesome. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products for the sole purpose of hosting a party and then reviewing the products. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are strictly my own.*

STEM is so much more than a passing fad. It promotes children's love and passion for the fields that will shape the future. In our house, it is also strongly promoted. We limit screen time and make our kids get hands on. Starting with building bricks and having worked up to circuit kits, we now turn to Tinkering Labs kits! 

What are Tinkering Labs? 

In short, they are a company that makes kits. Each kit contains everything needed to let your child(ren) become inventors. They are designed to get kids interested in inventing, in creating, something. Anything their mind can come up with. They are super simple. And yet, insanely fun.

What do the kits contain?

Everything! No, really. Everything you need to build something is in the box. All the parts and a catalyst motor. There are suggestion cards to spark ideas. And all the tools you need to put them together. A pair of goggles for eye protection and even a high quality screwdriver. One of my favorite pieces in the kit? A large paper to lay down and give them a workspace! No need to worry about the table finish or not finding that tiny screw that rolled away. It is all there, in the box.

Why is it important?

We live in an age where kids are losing their imagination to video games and screens. Hands on is becoming more of a thing in the past with each passing day. Ingenuity has been lost. I remember spending hours playing with my Lego bricks or cars or Barbie dolls. We didn't have video games (except the brief time of playing Duck Hunt).

We learned real skills. Changing outlets and switches, climbing trees, cooking, woodworking and shop. My Dad was very handy-minded and creative. He instilled that in some of my siblings and I. All of those things required our ability to think. These kits do the same thing. You have to think. Problem solve. You have to get creative and test theories. These are things that children need to learn now so that they can succeed in the real world later. 

On top of that, the bonding experience was amazing. I sat back and watched as 4 generations of guys got together and created something fun! Making memories is very important to us. You can lose a lot in life. But most times, your memories stick with you. So make them great! 

Where can I find them?

A couple places. You can purchase it from their own website, or if you prefer faster shipping and/or gift wrap you can go through Amazon. They also sell spare parts if you need a replacement or want to expand the kit. You can get a classroom-sized order too. 

Want to see it all in action? Check out the video below!  

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!