Family game night in with Gamestop

Gamestop is a great place to look for a wide variety of used and new games. They have games and game gear for Playstations, Wii, X Box, DS, GameBoy and more. I have been very impressed with the selections, and wide variety. Sometimes you can find older games that you have been looking for. I like that you can bring in new or used games and receive a trade in credit to use toward another purchase.
In this tight economy, it can be a challenge finding more affordable entertainment~ especially with children. I think it is great that GameStop has offered Tuesday nights (for the summer until September 1) as Family Night In. GameStop has special value offers giving you an extra 20% trade-in credit on pre-owned games good toward the reserve/purchase of select Family Night In video game titles. Plus, more, like:
· A Family Fun sweepstakes – ten families each week will be awarded a $25 gift card redeemable at a food vendor or restaurant of their choice for dinner and a Brownie a la Mode cake for dessert, courtesy of Baskin-Robbins; and
· Coupons for $3 off any Baskin-Robbins cake purchase of $15 or more, given to GameStop customers making purchases on Summer Tuesdays (while supplies last), OR to those who enter the Family Night In sweepstakes online.
I think that is very generous of GameStop to offer special incentives to family gaming, already something our family totally loves! I know that I have a few games around my house that I would love to trade in/sell to get ones I would rather have....Plus, get some coupons for ice cream!? I am heading to GameStop this coming Tuesday to check out the selection. Hurry, because August will go fast! You have 3 more Tuesdays left to take advantage of Family Night In from GameStop!

Great Conversation starters (and a giveaway!!)

I love to talk and have conversations, and I think it is great to encourage good conversation for our kids/teens. I was really excited to hear that Around the Table Games came out with more conversation starter sets, which were created and inspired by kids, for kids. Beth Daniels, owner of Around The Table Games, first created “Family Talk” and “Grandparent Talk," which have won many awards, including a 2008 iParenting Media Outstanding Product Award, a Top 10 Puzzles & Logical Thinking Games from Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products of 2008, the Grandkids Gift Guide 2008 Superproduct Award, the National Parenting Center 2008 Fall Seal of Approval and a Teachers’ Choice for the Family Award 2009.
There are three new versions of the game, Camp Talk, Buddy Talk, and Teen Talk. I really like the ring of conversation cards. Kids can clip this to their backpack or jeans, and have a way to enjoy great conversations with their friends. It really encourages great topics, and ones that kids care about. There are 50 cards in each set.

Camp Talk – Gather around and make new friends with…Camp Talk! Perfect gift for kids heading off to camp or for family camping trips! Camp Talk is the perfect way to get to know new camp friends on the bus to camp, in the bunk after lights-out or around the campfire while eating s’mores! It’s also a great way to learn fun things about your family! Just draw a card, read one of the 50 cool questions and let the fun begin! The handy flashlight and compass allow you to navigate your way back to your campsite or cabin for some fun, late night conversations! Ages 7+, MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Camp Talk:
- What's the funniest or most unusual nickname for a counselor you’ve heard? - If you wrote your own campfire song, what would it be about?- Name a place you feel you can really be yourself.

Nathaniel has had a great time asking his friends questions from the Buddy Talk - he says it is fun learning more about his friends, and finding out what they think. He likes to ask his neighbor friend questions while waiting for the bus, and asking his friends questions at school. Ages 7+, MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Buddy Talk:
- What's your favorite thing about summer break?- If you could have picked your own name, what would it be?- What is the funniest trick your pet can do?
Teen Talk – A fun way for teens to really get to know their friends! This set of diverse questions is sure to spark some colorful conversations among teens! The cool carabiner clip attaches to backpacks, sports bags or overnight bags for fun conversations anytime! MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Teen Talk:
- What is one thing you couldn’t live without?- What influences you the most?- What is the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?- Do you think guys/girls act or talk differently online than they do in person? Why?- What would be the title of YOUR autobiography?

Also new for 2009, Around The Table Games is offering a double-deck tin with full playing-card-sized Family Talk and Grandparent Talk decks. Makes a great addition to any family gathering or game night. Each tin comes with 200 conversation cards. MSRP $19.99
Around the Table Games is rolling out “new and improved” cards for Family Talk, Family Talk 2 and Grandparent Talk. All cards will be larger playing-card-sized, made from heavier paper stock with rounded edges and equipped with a circular carabiner for easier flipping. MSRP on each 100 card set is $9.99.

ABOUT AROUND THE TABLE GAMES
Creator and owner of Around the Table games, Beth Daniels was blessed to have her grandparents and great-grandparents in her life for decades. Over the years, she realized that the more she learned about them, the better she understood herself. As an Occupational Therapist, wife and mother of two, Daniels understands all too well how active lives and busy schedules can prevent families from sharing the anecdotes and folklore that make a family a family. That’s why she created Family Talk and Grandparent Talk games as a fun way for families to reconnect.
What began as a business of bringing families together through conversation has now brought the Daniels family together through entrepreneurship! Beth’s 9-year-old daughter saw and heard the impact that her mom’s games had on peoples’ lives, so she decided to write some games of her own. Thanks to Beth’s daughter’s hard work, in 2009, Around the Table added Buddy Talk (for tweens) and Camp Talk (for kids going away to camp) to its line of conversation games. The family involvement continued as Beth’s niece wrote Teen Talk - a conversation game designed for Teens!

I just think it is great that Around The Table Games have created this great resource for kids to be encouraged to talk to each other. With the rave of video games, TV~ well, media in general, it is great that there is something that will help kids connect and learn from each other.

Around The Table Games has offered to sponsor a giveaway to my readers! You can choose which one of these games you would like to win. This contest is open to USA addresses, and will end on June 22, 2009. There is a new way to enter for this contest: Tell me in the comments what is a creative question you would like to ask your child/teen, or friends while camping? You can get extra entries by: "Following" the company's Twitter page and/or become a "Fan" of their Public Profile on Facebook. More chances to win: blog this contest, add my button to your page, subscribe to sassyfrazz, follow me on twitter, visiting/commenting everyday, commenting on other posts, etc. Just leave separate comments for each "extra credit" you do, so you can get the credit.

Happy Birthday and bits of pieces....

Today is my husband's birthday! Happy Birthday~ honey! We had a great day so far...we got up and went to church. It was Youth Sunday~ and that is when the Youth Group leads in worship, song, and prayer. Our Youth Pastor gave the sermon. I missed most of the sermon, because Cole needed a diaper change and to be fed. This usually happens during the church service when my babies are little. Cole is getting so big! He had an appointment last Thursday for his 2 month check up. He is now 11 pounds 14 ounces! It is hard to believe that he is almost 10 weeks old already! Don't worry, I am not looking to have another anytime soon...the labor/birth/recovery is so fresh in my mind, and it isn't a pleasant thought. At least I have a beautiful baby, and he is healthy! He still has a bump on the top of his head. It is hard, and that is a bit worrisome. I asked the Dr. about it, and she said it was odd to her that it was still there after 2 months. She said sometimes when they give shots, and they hit a vein, kids can get a harder lump from calcium build-up (from the blood). So, she thinks that may be what it is. Too hard to tell. She said we could maybe go to a Skull Dr., but with Cole being so little, there really isn't too much the Dr. could do. So, we wait. Madelyn had her 2 year check up the same day as Cole's 2 month. She is finally on the charts with her weight! She is now 23 pounds (still a little peanut), but she is growing well. She will just always be petite, I think. She a busy little girl, and learning more everyday! I can't believe my little baby girl is a toddler. Of coarse, she loves to say, "NO!" and she is learning Independence with getting dressed/undressed. She loves to give kisses and hugs, and is our cuddler.
For the last two nights, we have had friends over for game night. We love having friends over and entertaining. On Friday night, we had over our friends Lisa and Donnie. Our other friend, Jody and her husband were suppose to come over, but they had forgotten. We had fun playing our new Yatzee game. Good laughs, and fun. Then, on Saturday evening, we had over Jodi and Ben. We have really enjoyed playing this game called Ticket to Ride. I was hoping to review the game on my site, but no luck. It is a really fun game, and my husband especially loves it because it is trains.
I am sorry I haven't been writing too many personal blogs lately. I have been so busy with 4 kids. It really makes a difference from 3 to 4.....especially since they are all under the age of 4~ Caleb will be 4 end of May. I do want to get better with writing about our kids, what they do, and our family times. I will try to get more pictures uploaded too.
Tonight I am going to go pick up Nathaniel from his weekend with his Dad. I hope he had a good weekend with his Dad. We have been going through some things with Nathaniel and we are seeking guidance. I pray that we can help him get through his heart issues. He is 10 years old, and in such a crucial moment in his life. The other night we sat down with him and let him say anything he wanted to us. He could share his feelings, anger, fear~ whatever he wanted. If he was mad at us, or whatever. He had to stay respectful through it. It was amazing what our results were. I will have to go into more details about that another post. I hope you all had a good weekend. More later.

DS Game GIVEAWAY!

I don't personally have a Nintendo DS, but I wish I had one. I love video games, and I am not afraid to share that. I bought my son a Game Boy Advance for his success with potty training (that was 8 years ago). Someday, we may have to get a Nintendo DS. Anyway, The Game Factory has offered to sponsor a giveaway to my special readers for the World Championship Games Nintendo DS game! This game just came out this month, and up to 4 people can play!
From The Game Factory Site:
Description:
World Championship Games is the most realistic athletics simulation available on handheld consoles.
Create and customise your own athletes and compete with them in 14 different events at world famous arenas! Use the stylus to control your athletes as they run, throw, jump, shoot and more. Beat world records and collect medals to unlock additional events and other bonus items!
Challenge your friends and play the game as Nintendo WFC, Multi-card and single console 'pass around' modes for 2-4 players! World Championship Games is the most realistic athletics simulation available for a handheld console.
Featuring thirteen events with career, tournament, multi player modes and some of the most well known international stadiums. World Championship Games, quite simply, has it all. Unlock extra events by winning medals and compete in the ultimate test of human strength and endeavor - the Decathlon - and prove your are the best!
Key Features:
Accurate presentation of 13 events - 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, 1500m, rifle shooting, pistol shooting and archery
Decathlon (career), Tournament, Quick Event, Practice and Multi player game modes
Achievements - Break records, accumulate medals and earn trophies to unlock additional events, stadiums and other hidden items
Create your own customized athlete with distinctive attributes
Superior character, animation modelling and in-game A.I.
Compete with other gamers via online multi player option/leader board

Seriously, maybe I should start saving for that DS, because there are so many fun sounding games! I bet you are wondering how you can win this game? To get your first entry, comment on any of my posts. With your comment, link to the comment you left on my site. You may comment on as many posts as you want to for each separate entry! You have many chances to enter this contest! You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 1ST, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!
This contest is made possible from Family Review Network & The Game Factory!

Gaming Fun from EA ~ and a giveaway!

Electronic Arts has some great games! Our family spends a lot of time together playing games. We go back and forth between board games, card games, and video games. We have so much fun, create a lot of fun memories, and we are careful with our spending when we can budget in the cost of games. We have spent numerous hours on our new game for the Wii: Monopoly! It is so much fun to see the classic board game (from my childhood) on a video game! Mr. Money Bags: a.k.a. Milton Bradley walks around the board as you play, and interacts with you. He gives you some direction, and encourages you. You can play on the classic board, or boards from the all new Here And Now~ World Edition boards. The boards are really fun, too! It is fun to read the names they have for the properties. We have a lot of fun trading and selling our properties for each other. With the Monopoly Wii game, you can auction properties with just a flick of your wrist. We have fun bringing the cost up with the auctions. Up to four players can take part in the fun, and there are mini games to play as well. As you play the boards, you fill up your passport to unlock new and never-before-seen Monopoly boards. One of our favorites is the Cheese board. Another bonus to the Wii Monopoly game is the Richest Edition. This is fun when we don't have time for a 2 hour game of Monopoly boarding game. The Richest Edition is completely different. The aim of the game is to acquire the most assets at the end of a certain number of rounds. It is a matter of mini gaming against your opponents, and the luck of the dice. The winner of the mini game gets to chose the dice roll they want. The number you pick determines the amount of tokens you get placed randomly around the board. Super fun games for the family with the Monopoly Wii game!

Nerf N' Strike is a shooting game new for the Wii. This game is geared toward ages 10 and above, but I think that younger kids can play, as well. I know my (almost) 4 year old could play, too. There is a lot of repetitious shooting, and the Nerf gun is fun for kids to shoot with.
About the game: Through the din of a popular arcade, one player has emerged as the best N-Strike gamer his friends have ever seen. But even as Shane smashes through the game's record, something far more mysterious is happening: his success is being tracked and recorded. Shane is the perfect candidate for an ultra-exclusive invitation to become an N-Strike Elite. Later that night, he's awakened to find the Nomad C Series Recruitment bot hovering silently over his bed. "B.O.B." has a challenge for Shane- join the quest to become an Elite Striker and he'll have access to Top Secret Blasters. It's all the incentive Shane needs, and as the one controlling Shane, it's your opportunity of a lifetime....
Features:
Bundled with every game comes the revolutionary Switch shot ex-3 which transforms between a live Nerf blaster (with darts for shooting, as well) and a Wii remote shooting peripheral for the game. Explore a top-secret NERF facility and unravel the mystery of the unknown threat that awaits. Play with over 25 NERF Blasters including the Maverick REV-6, Vulcan ebf-25, longshot cs-6, and many never seen before!
Go head to head with up to 4 players using additional Wii Remotes and switch shot blasters.

"Littlest Pet Shop": Garden~ puts you right in the middle of all the fun in the Littlest Pet Shop world. Have your pet explore four separate environments in the Littlest Pet Shop world, where you can care for and play with your pets in a variety of 16 mini-games. The more time you spend with your pet having fun, the more great stuff you earn for your pet shop, including new 20 pets (including brand new Fanciest, Cuddliest, Sportiest, and Chilliest pets), over 100 play sets & accessories, and more.
Choose from tons of unique pet accessories like scarves, hats, glasses, and more! Play with your pets in four unique pet-sized worlds! Plus you'll manage your Pet Shop through the hopping Pet Plaza. The mini games offer a number of difficulty levels for each game, and you can replay them over and over again. The pets interact with the player and offer choices of things to do. The game starts by giving the player tasks to complete. Everything is simple and well explained and the tasks teach the player about how to play the game. As you play games you earn kibble (money) which allows you to buy more pets and play sets that the pets can play on. As you expand your pet shop more games become unlocked and more 'worlds' unlock for you to play in. You can celebrate pet birthdays and other events by planning festive Littlest Pet Shop-style parties with the Evite Party Planner.

Would you like to win a game from Electronic Arts (EA)? They have offered to giveaway the Littlest Pet Shop (Garden) game for the DS! (SRP $29.95) This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, go to Electronic Arts website, and find a game that looks like a blast to play and own! Come tell us about it! Then, you may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on March 11th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Family Game Night Incentive~ (4 Giveaways)

Playing games is one of my favorite things to do with my family and friends! Our family has invested many hours into gaming (board games and video games). I can say some of our best memories are from the fun and laughter with playing games. Growing up, I spent many years playing games with my parents, siblings and friends. It is very good for the soul, and it is affordable, too! It is so expensive to go out of the home and find entertainment. It is a challenge to find something fun to do that won't break the pocketbook. The economy is really struggling right now, and most families don't have endless money right now. What a better way to connect with your family ~ let the stress of life escape~ by spending a night together and have a family game night!
Hasbro encourages Americans to share a weekly night of laughter, bonding and fun – and still stay on budget – with a Family Game Night! Board games can certainly be played and enjoyed at any time, but a designated family game night provides an opportunity for families to share an affordable night of staying in and creating new memories together. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Hasbro in May 2008, nearly half (48%) of Americans believe that a family game night is the most enjoyable form of family bonding. I really couldn't agree more! We have such a great time, and a hard time ending our game time. Before we know it, 5 hours have passed and our kids are passed their bedtimes.
If you are trying to save money, or can't afford to indulge on entertainment, Family Game Night is an excellent choice. A game can bring many hours of joy and entertainment. When you go out to eat or a movie, the time is limited. Investing in a board game is an economical and wise choice. “Family game night invites families everywhere to turn off the outside world for a short time and reconnect with each other,” said Matt Collins, Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Hasbro Games. “This year we are pleased to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hasbro’s Family Game Night initiative, which continues to encourage families to play games together for fun, learning and laughter.”
Hasbro offers such a wide variety of fun games that families can enjoy during their Family Game Night! Twister Hopscotch is a great combination of the classic Twister game and the well-known hopscotch. Kids can design their own courses with colorful rings and snap them together with purple connectors. Kids can make their courses down hallways, in living rooms, and even take this game outdoors. Kids can wiggle, sing, hum, or clap their way through the coarse, with a friend on the other end, going from ring to ring. Spinning the wheel, kids can find out what activity they must do to get to the next color. At a reasonable price of $19.99, kids ages 6+ can enjoy this game.
My husband and I went away for a few days just after our baby was born, and we really enjoyed sitting down and playing the new MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition game. This is a great new version of the classic Monopoly (but updated to the present) with electronic funds! That's right, you get to swipe cards to buy, sell, and transfer funds. I liked this version because the money amounts were greater (Millions vs. Hundreds) and we got to buy and sell cities from around the world instead of the streets of Atlantic City. It was fun playing with new pieces for our markers, too. We had a lot of fun with this game, and I recommend it! The A.R.V is $38.99 and it is recommended for ages 8 and up. 2 to 6 players can enjoy the game at one time.
Another game that we recently enjoyed from Hasbro is the Yatzee Free for All. Our friends cameover for a game night, and we played this game for about 4 hours. It is such a fun version of the classic Yatzee, but brings out some competition between players. You still roll the dice to make a combination (like the classic Yatzee) but you have to match a combo of something the cards like a small straight, full house or three of a kind. If you match one, you can claim it, but now it's "up for grabs" until your next turn, so anybody can steal it by matching or beating your dice roll! The cards are placed in front of your spot until everyone takes a turn. It is a suspenseful game, and a lot of fun! This game is $19.99 and 2-4 players can play. I think this game is more fun with at least 3 people.

Did you ever play Guess Who? when you were younger? I played it (for many hours) and I loved trying to trick out my opponent. Hasbro has a new version of Guess Who? called Guess Who? Extra and it's electronic! You still have the fun face-guessing game, but there is even more faces to pick from~ more than 100! This edition has an electronic timer, lights, and sounds to enhance the fun and excitement with guessing. Geared toward ages 6 and up (for 2 players) Hasbro has this game for

$24.99.

Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. For additional information about games and other tips for Family Game Night, visit http://www.familygamenight.com/.

To encourage you to get a family game night planned, Hasbro is sponsoring a giveaway for my readers! There will be FOUR winners!! I have 4 Electronic Guess Who? games to give away!

This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, go to Hasbro.com and take a look at all the games they have, then come tell me what looks fun to play. If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on February 24, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Sending out some thanks~

I won a few prizes from some great sites! I wanted to shout out a big THANK YOU to them for hosting the giveaway and for being the lucky winner!

First of all, thanks to MomCentral for having their Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway! It was 16 days of giveaways and I was a runner up to win a Sleep n' Grow DVD (0-10 months) from Itsy Bitsy Yoga! This will be great to use with my new baby (due in less than 2 weeks). Thanks so much MomCentral for all your work and hosting of the giveaway! Thanks for picking me, too!

Secondly, thanks to Lisa from Our Seven Qtpies for hosting the Polliwalks giveaway! My son, Caleb loves his new shoes, and is wearing them around the house! Since we live in the Arctic MN, he needs to wait until summer to wear these outside of the house. Thanks so much for bringing joy to the feet of Caleb! He is digging the frogs!

I would like to thank Kailani from An Island Review for hosting a Build-a-Bear for Wii giveaway, and for picking me as the winner! We love our Wii and it is fun to have a new game!

Thanks so much for your generosity everyone!! I am very grateful for the wins!

Thomas' Great Race Game: Review and Giveaway!

My son loves Thomas, and he has so much fun playing with his Thomas Trains, and watching Thomas shows! I know he will really like this great game we got for him for Christmas! Thomas' Great Race from Briarpatch games!

This game is great for kids, because they use their counting skills to know what the answers to the cards are. The answer appears on the back of each card in the form of a graphic that matches one of the blocks of coal. A correct answer is rewarded when a player picks up the matching block of coal and inserts it into the open slot behind his engine, powering it up the hill. Each engine drops into a slot on the Great Race track, with the back of each slot open to receive “coal blocks.” Coal blocks are also different sizes and colors, adding to the fun and excitement of the race. Once the engines crest the hill, they roll across the finish line. Children also do color matching and sorting in this fun filled game! Thomas’ Great Race game is geared toward children ages three and up, and 2-4 players can play at a time. Each game includes a Great Race track, 4 racing engines, 24 question cards, 30 coal blocks and complete game rules. The game retails for $24.99.
Currently, Briarpatch offers more than a dozen different Thomas & Friends themed board and card games that have won multiple national awards. Thomas the Tank Engine is based on “The Railway Series” by The Reverend W. Awdry and has been enjoyed by children and their parents internationally for more than 60 years.
Briarpatch’s strong legacy of stimulating children’s lives through fun and eco-friendly products has earned the company over 280 industry awards (and counting). Since its founding, the company’s co founders applied environmentally conscious business practices in such innovative ways as using vegetable and soy-based inks and post consumer materials.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN THOMAS' GREAT RACE GAME? Briarpatch has generously offered to give one away to one lucky reader! Go to the Briarpatch website and tell me which of their new products look fun? That is your first entry to this contest. You can come back ~once~everyday for the duration of this contest to enter again...just leave a comment telling me something you are thankful for. Please just comment once a day. This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Tell me what you like to do to relax. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on November 20th, at 7:00 PM CST. GOOD LUCK~

Fancy Nancy Posh Bedroom Board Game: Review and Giveaway

Girls will be in girl haven with the new game from Briarpatch called Fancy Nancy Posh Bedroom board game! This game kids can enter Nancy's world where they can dazzle in her posh bedroom, play with the deck of tiaras, wands and bows. Her bedroom is frilly, socks are lacey, and she totes a pen with a plume.
For ages 5+, “Posh is a fancy word for fancy!” 2 – 4 players will delight in helping Fancy Nancy transform her world from plain to fancy. She even teaches her family to be fancy. Boas, ribbons, tiaras and oodles of other frilly accessories make the posh makeover complete! This game is a challenge to see who the first player to complete the posh bedroom makeover is!
You can purchase this game for $20.99 from Briarpatch.
Briarpatch’s strong legacy of stimulating children’s lives through fun and eco-friendly products has earned the company over 300 industry awards (and counting). Since its founding, the company’s co founders applied environmentally conscious business practices in such innovative ways as using vegetable and soy-based inks and post consumer materials. A key ingredient to Briarpatch’s success has been to combine fun with learning. Both parents and children adore the exciting new licenses and products that Briarpatch continually brings to market. Few game and puzzle companies can boast a green thumb while enriching childhood.
Would you like to enter to win your own Fancy Nancy Posh Bedroom Game? Briarpatch has offered to sponsor a giveaway for my readers! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Go to the Briarpatch website, and look at all the games, puzzles and cards they have. Come back here and comment on which ones sound interesting, or that you would like to own. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on November 6th, at 7:00 PM CST.

I Spy! Private Eye Game Review & Giveaway!

We had a blast playing the new I Spy Private Eye game from Briarpatch. Nathaniel, Caleb and I played this game on Thursday night, and we had fun! Even Caleb, who is 3 years old, could remember what he "saw." This game comes with 2 decks of cards, one for the beginners and one for the advanced players. What you do, is you put all the dice (nine picture blocks) in the blue (Jumbler) container. You put on the lid, and shake 3 times. Then, you move the Jumbler around on the table a bit, to let the dice settle so they aren't piggy backing on the other dice. After that, you remove the cover and look carefully at the pictures on the dice. You get as much time as the timer (which you assemble to the top of the container) gives you. We didn't use the timer, because we were playing with Caleb. We don't think we needed as much time as the timer allowed, but we would probably use all the time allowed if we were using the advanced cards. After you take a look at the dice, you replace the lid, and draw a card. Then, you have to remember what you saw, and see if the card has it or not. If you guess correctly, then you win the card. If you are incorrect, the card is placed on the discard pile, and the next player could win their card as well as yours if they correctly guess on their turn. There is a "Spy Glass" included as a game piece. This is used for challenges.
This game is geared toward ages 5 and up, and retails for $24.99. My kids really like that there is no reading involved, and this is a game that they can bring with them in the car for travel. The Jumbler has a compartment on the bottom where you can store the cards, so that helps with keeping it all together.

Briarpatch’s strong legacy of stimulating children’s lives through fun and eco-friendly products has earned the company over 270 industry awards (and counting). Since its founding, the company’s co founders applied environmentally conscious business practices in such innovative ways as using vegetable and soy-based inks and post consumer materials.
A key ingredient to Briarpatch’s success has been to combine fun with learning. Both parents and children adore the exciting new licenses and products that Briarpatch continually brings to market. Few game and puzzle companies can boast a green thumb while enriching childhood.

Would you like to win I Spy! Private Eye? Briarpatch has offered to sponsor a giveaway for my readers! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To enter the contest, Go to the Briarpatch website and look at all the wonderful games they offer. Come back here and comment about another great game you would like to own, or do own. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on October 15th, at 7:00 PM CST.

Rainforest Puzzle from ImagiPlay: A Review

My kids love doing puzzles, and they love to pretend with their toys. I really enjoy watching my children play~ they get so imaginative! That is what I really liked when we got the Rainforest Puzzle Play from Imagiplay! Each puzzle piece is a colorful animal found in a rainforest, and there is clouds, grass, and a branch. My kids like playing with the individual pieces, like having the tiger chase the monkey. They like making the animal sounds as they play with the pieces, too. The puzzle is a bit challenging, so it is good for kids to keep on working on it. It really keeps them busy. Nathaniel has no problems getting the pieces to fit together to make a puzzle, but Caleb is more challenged by it. My husband was picking the pieces up from the table, and it fell out of his hands. It landed on the table and broke into two pieces. That is my only disappointment with this fun puzzle. I would say that it isn't very durable, so have your kids be careful with them. The puzzle pieces are made from rubberwood, an earth friendly hardwood, making it safe for kids to play with. There are 18 pieces to the Imagiplay puzzle. The Rainforest Puzzle from Imagiplay retails for $19.99.
For over a decade, ImagiPLAY has created high-quality educational toys that inspire children's imaginations and the desire to explore. With the abundance of toys available for children today, ImagiPLAY sets itself apart from the rest through its motto: "Toys with Integrity." By producing quality products that connect with nature, have eco-friendly sources, and hold educational value, ImagiPLAY works to benefit the earth we share and the people that inhabit it.

Games to enjoy from Rix: and a giveaway!

I think the cartoon of Charlie and Lola is so adorable! This show is about a boy, Charlie, and his very small sister, Lola. Lola is quite imaginative, and it is fun to see what she comes up with! All three of my kids enjoy watching this cartoon together. I was very excited to see that there were games featuring Charlie & Lola found at Rix! Caleb was so excited to get his Charlie & Lola games in the mail! We got the Domino game, Go Fish, Mix & Match, and the Lola's Pink Milk game. The games have such great pictures, they are colorful, and fun! The games are easy enough for smaller children to play and enjoy.
In Lola's Pink Milk game, you have to be the first to reach "I've Won!" in the center of the board after collecting three pink milk cards. There are tigers who want your pink milk, though, so you have to be careful! Lola is a lover of pink milk, and she has in her imagination tigers that come to get her milk. So, it is a fun game to play it like the cartoon.
I think that Lola's Pink Milk game, and the Dominos game is our family's favorites from the Rix website. You can purchase the Charlie & Lola games at Barnes & Noble, or Target.
Marina Games, a division of Rix, is a whole sale company that doesn't sell to the consumer directly, but they work with companies to sell their product in their stores. Marina Games is an innovative company committed to a fun and creative approach to product design,bringing about unique games with great consumer appeal.
Rix Products is generously offering a giveaway to my readers! They offer a complete line of Charlie and Lola, Dick & Jane, Spot, Futurama, or Domo games! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To enter the contest, go to the Rix website, and pick out which game you would love to win! You may be there awhile, because they have a good selection. Then, come back and comment on which one you would choose. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win. Contest will end on September 22nd, at 7:00 PM CST.

Beddy-Bye Baby Game: Review and Giveaway!

The ultimate toddler/pre-schooler game is from Briarpatch called Beddy-Bye Baby! There is no reading required! It is great! The cards have nice big pictures on it, and they have fun colors, too. The game includes the game board, 48 playing cards, 4 tokens with stands, and 1 rattle die. I think that this game does cater to the female crowd (in my opinion), but my son loves it, too...and he is 3 years old. He likes to tuck the baby in bed with it's teddy bear, bottle and p.j.'s. He collects these items needed for baby's bedtime along the path on the game board. He loves that he can try to be the first one to accomplish the tasks, too. I think this is a great game to help kids see what needs to be done to get ready for bed.
Each game piece is a baby in a buggy on a stand. There are four pastel colors to chose your baby: pink, green, yellow and blue. The game has a retail value of $19.99, and is suited for ages 4+.
Would you like to win this adorable Beddy-Bye game for your kids, or someone you know? Briarpatch has offered to give one of my readers this fun game! I know with my last review of the Briarpatch game, Clothespins! Some of my readers said they would love to own Beddy-Bye Baby~ Well, now here is your chance to win! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Just go to the Briarpatch website and look at all the great games on their site. Come back and comment on another game you would like to have in your home. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win. Contest will end on September 9th, at 7:00 PM CST.

Noodleboro Learning game: Review and chance to win!

Wouldn't it be great if you could teach your child an important life skill while playing a really fun game? Noodleboro's Pizza Palace game does just that! You can teach your child the importance of listening while making pizzas! Making pizza's at the Pizza Palace, kids have to listen carefully to get the order correct. The order giver(usually Mom or Dad) tells the pizza-maker (your child) what they would like on their pizza. Kids really need to listen and watch, so they can get the order just right. They need to remember the order, in order, too. Then, the game becomes like a memory game, because you flip over the topping cards so the pizza maker can't see what the toppings are.
It is fun to make the game a bit of a challenge if the order giver changes their order once in awhile. The game has 2 pizza boxes, 2 card board pizzas with outer rings, 1 Chef's Hat game board, and Pizza topping cards.
To make this game fun for younger learners, you can work as a team to build the ultimate pizza! Or, you can make and deliver a made pizza within a certain time frame.
I think this game is a lot of fun, and I love that it promotes our children to really listen carefully! Our home loves games, and I love teaching my children new games. Noodleboro offers other great games for learning to share or using manners. This game is suited for ages 4 and up. 2-3 players can play this game at a time. My kids love it!
MomCentral is raffling 200 Noodleboro games to Mom's in a contest! Would you like to have a chance to win? Just click this link. Then sign up to win!

Xeko Mission: China series

The new "Mission: China" the fourth set of the Xeko cards has once again thrilled Nathaniel! He loves these playing cards, and he is really excited to learn about all these endangered species!
This card game is similar to Pokemon or Yo-gi-oh, but I think it is way more fun and educational. The cards desplay pictures and facts of real animals from far away lands. Xeko involves collecting trading cards to create a custom library—or in this case a “Xeko-system”—and using the cards to match wits against opponents in exciting game play. Instead of monsters and fantasy, Xeko takes its cues from nature and science, casting actual animal species as the heroes and basing game play on fragile ecosystem relationships. I would rather see Nathaniel playing with these card games verses the Pokemon cards. At least he is learning with his game play this way.
Game creator Amy Tucker was inspired by the work of Conservation International to focus each Xeko series, or “mission”, on a different “hotspot”–a species-rich part of the world. The first two Xeko missions were Costa Rica and Madagascar, both award-winning games.
This mission includes animals like the beloved Giant Panda, critically endangered
Snow Leopard, and ferocious King Cobra. The Xeko Mission: China starter set will come packaged in a stunning pagoda box decorated with animals from China’s habitats and dragon illustrations that capture the mysteries of ancient Chinese culture. Piquing kids’ interest in endangered animals and environmental conservation, Xeko seeks to inspire the next generation of eco-leaders through enriching and exciting game play. The starter set retails for $24.99. Booster packs of 9 cards are available for $3.99.
Dedicated to “a bright green future,” Xeko produces the games in an Earth-friendly way. The cards and packaging are made of 100% recycled stock, and all printing is done with eco-friendly
inks. While younger children can play and enjoy the game, Xeko is best suited for kids ages 8 years and up.
**I recommend this game for fun and learning!