Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Games Focus Groups Paid $25-75 Per Test Online or NYC
Do you play games on your computer, phone, tablet, or Facebook?
A NYC-based game development studio is looking for men and women of all ages to help them design better games. It's okay if you are not a "serious gamer" -- Facebook and mobile game players are very eligible!
These tests will usually involve participants playing games which are in the process of being developed, and providing feedback on the mechanics, usability, and "fun factor." Some tests will be held in-person in NYC, but many of the projects can be done online, anywhere nationwide.
Format
This research panel will consists of playtests and interviews. These focus group interviews and focus group play tests may be conducted online nationwide or in-person in NYC.
Schedule
Membership in the panel is ongoing. Participants may be asked to participate in multiple playtests over time. You can opt-out of the panel at any time!
Location
In-person research will take place around Union Square, Manhattan. Online research can be done anywhere nationwide.
Compensation
Participants will be paid on a per-playtest basis. Payment will range from $25-$75.
APPLY HERE
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Sponsored BA*STAR Stardusts & Mineral Shadows Reader Discount and Review
I had the opportunity to sample and review the BA STAR cosmetics line through my membership with BrandBacker. As always, my opinions are my own.
#BASTAR #BASTARMAKEUP @brandbacker
Do you have a daughter that is involved in theatre, dance, cheer or other performing arts? Then you definitely want to take a peek at BA STAR cosmetics. Oh, those musical theatre shows. The dance shows. Cheer makeup. No more scrambling for you Mama. BA STAR has a fab line of very affordable cosmetics for you and your daughter on their easy to shop website. They have gorgeous stardusts and mineral shadows in addition to lip pencils, lipsticks, mascaras, blushes and even cosmetic bags.
We were excited to get to try out some of the BA STAR stardust in the glamorous Diamond shade. It had beautiful sparkle and really stayed when you put the base on before the stardust. It felt very comfortable on her skin and my daughter loved her special sparkly look. It will be so pretty for her next performance.
They have fantastic videos that show you step by step how to achieve looks like these beautiful eyes below with the makeup.
How about a special look for your daughter's next dance or theatre performance? Take a peek at this video showing you how to get the look just right.
Let me know what you think!
#BASTAR #BASTARMAKEUP @brandbacker
Do you have a daughter that is involved in theatre, dance, cheer or other performing arts? Then you definitely want to take a peek at BA STAR cosmetics. Oh, those musical theatre shows. The dance shows. Cheer makeup. No more scrambling for you Mama. BA STAR has a fab line of very affordable cosmetics for you and your daughter on their easy to shop website. They have gorgeous stardusts and mineral shadows in addition to lip pencils, lipsticks, mascaras, blushes and even cosmetic bags.
We were excited to get to try out some of the BA STAR stardust in the glamorous Diamond shade. It had beautiful sparkle and really stayed when you put the base on before the stardust. It felt very comfortable on her skin and my daughter loved her special sparkly look. It will be so pretty for her next performance.
Everything is priced right too. Did you know that BA STAR is the #1 makeup for performers, dancers, & cheerleaders? I am offering an exclusive discount for my readers so you can get glammed up and save 50% at the same time! Use reader discount code: BBDUST which is valid through September 30, 2013! BA STAR also offers free shipping on all orders $55+ and orders ship out in 24 hours so you can get your order fast.
How about a special look for your daughter's next dance or theatre performance? Take a peek at this video showing you how to get the look just right.
Let me know what you think!
Blue Diamond Artisan Nut Thins Snack Crackers Review
Disclaimer: I received samples of Blue Diamond Artisan Nut Thins through Naturally Savvy. As always, my opinions are my own.
I was thrilled
to hear that Naturally Savvy was
partnering with Blue Diamond products to share about their yummy new Artisan
Nut Thins crackers. I tried other varieties of Nut Thins before and really
enjoyed them so I was interested to get the scoop on these totally new
crackers. So, Blue Diamond
has launched a new line of premium wheat and gluten-free crackers called Artisan Nut Thins.
The packaging looks different, definitely more upscale and hand-crafted, don't
you think?
All three of the varieties of the Artisan Nut-Thins are made with almonds, brown rice and different seeds. I like that. They have a nice crunch and a light flavor. These crackers definitely go well with almost anything whether you make a dip or have them with a bit of cheese or put them out on a platter for a party. I love making a healthy dip with fat free Greek yogurt and fresh herbs when I have people over. These crispy, light crackers go well with my homemade Greek yogurt dip too. I had to make some when they arrived so I could test them out. They are yummy any which way or even just on their own. I love that the added nutrition of seeds makes these crackers a guilt-free snack option for me.
Did you know that Blue Diamond is a California cooperative of almond growers? I never knew that. I like that they are based in the good, ole' USA. I always try to support American companies and what is more American than a cooperative of farmers that grow fresh almonds?
Blue Diamond Artisan Nut Thins are made from a blend of brown rice flour and almonds. I think they are just perfect to munch on as a snack even solo right out of the box. They are topped with a sprinkling of seeds which gives the nutritional content an added boost. Nice, right?
The boxes are 4.25oz which is the perfect size for our family. It retails for about $3.29. I always like to check out my fave products on their websites...you can visit the Blue Diamond here and see what goodies they have going for their customers.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
The Crayola Experience Review
Disclaimer: I received tickets to the Crayola Experience complimentary along with a gift card to cover gas expenses to drive there. As always, my opinions are my own.
I was thrilled to hear a few weeks ago that I won tickets to visit the newly refurbished Crayola Experience. It was a place that my little one had been asking to go to for a while but we just had not gotten there yet.
We decided to take a day trip to to Easton, Pennsylvania along with some friends. It was a fast drive through NJ and The Crayola Experience was right in the cute little town of Easton. I was pleasantly surprised at how much Easton been revitalized. There was a a beautiful farmers market going on in the center of town on a sunny Saturday and lots of new shops, nice cafes and restaurants. I knew it was going to be a great day with fun entertainment for the kids and good food for everyone, how could it not be?
I was impressed with the Crayola Experience building. It was colorful and modern... totally impossible to miss. Parking was a breeze on the street and very inexpensive. I think we paid $3.00 for 3 hours. Hubby had to go back and feed the meter though but no big deal...
We thought that 3 hours would be plenty but you can spend a whole day there. We ended up staying about 4.5 hours and we didn't get to see everything. There is tons to do and the kids spent more time in some areas because they really enjoyed it a lot. Next time we go back we will have a better sense of time...we just got hungry after that much time and wanted to check out some of the local restaurants too. We noticed there was also a cafe inside the Crayola Experience but we didn't get to check it out.
The Crayola Experience has four floors of different shows, entertainment and kids activities that are fun for kids of all ages including moms (Glamamama included...okay, hubby was laughing at me but I had fun too!). Most of the activities are included in the ticket price ($15.99) but a few are extra like the Puffy Paint ($5.00). I wish that all of the activities were all included though. It always makes it difficult with kids to keep saying "no" because you know you can't say yes to everything. I hope Crayola rethinks that aspect for parents. Otherwise, I have to say Crayola was very generous. Each admission got you a bunch of tokens that you could use to make a custom crayon, buy a mini-box of crayons or marker from a Crayola vending machine or other activities. Speaking of vending machines, I was impressed to actually see a healthy snack food vending machine too. That was a nice touch to see some healthy snack options--Go Crayola!
We started at the at the Crayon Factory live crayon theatre show which demonstrated how crayons were made. It was animated and had a "Crayonologist" staff member interacting with two animated crayons on a large screen. The Crayonologist showed how they actually make crayons with a machine and at the end of the show the kids received a crayon of their own.
We decided to take a day trip to to Easton, Pennsylvania along with some friends. It was a fast drive through NJ and The Crayola Experience was right in the cute little town of Easton. I was pleasantly surprised at how much Easton been revitalized. There was a a beautiful farmers market going on in the center of town on a sunny Saturday and lots of new shops, nice cafes and restaurants. I knew it was going to be a great day with fun entertainment for the kids and good food for everyone, how could it not be?
I was impressed with the Crayola Experience building. It was colorful and modern... totally impossible to miss. Parking was a breeze on the street and very inexpensive. I think we paid $3.00 for 3 hours. Hubby had to go back and feed the meter though but no big deal...
We thought that 3 hours would be plenty but you can spend a whole day there. We ended up staying about 4.5 hours and we didn't get to see everything. There is tons to do and the kids spent more time in some areas because they really enjoyed it a lot. Next time we go back we will have a better sense of time...we just got hungry after that much time and wanted to check out some of the local restaurants too. We noticed there was also a cafe inside the Crayola Experience but we didn't get to check it out.
The Crayola Experience has four floors of different shows, entertainment and kids activities that are fun for kids of all ages including moms (Glamamama included...okay, hubby was laughing at me but I had fun too!). Most of the activities are included in the ticket price ($15.99) but a few are extra like the Puffy Paint ($5.00). I wish that all of the activities were all included though. It always makes it difficult with kids to keep saying "no" because you know you can't say yes to everything. I hope Crayola rethinks that aspect for parents. Otherwise, I have to say Crayola was very generous. Each admission got you a bunch of tokens that you could use to make a custom crayon, buy a mini-box of crayons or marker from a Crayola vending machine or other activities. Speaking of vending machines, I was impressed to actually see a healthy snack food vending machine too. That was a nice touch to see some healthy snack options--Go Crayola!
We started at the at the Crayon Factory live crayon theatre show which demonstrated how crayons were made. It was animated and had a "Crayonologist" staff member interacting with two animated crayons on a large screen. The Crayonologist showed how they actually make crayons with a machine and at the end of the show the kids received a crayon of their own.
The girls then ran out to the Wrap It Up! where they could customize their own crayons with a personalized label. It was kind of cool but there were not a ton of machines so there was a bit of a wait. The machines had several different colors including Cornflower Blue, and Apple Green that day. I think the colors change daily. One of the yellow machines was kind of wonky and wouldn't print the label correctly. I quickly located a Crayola employee who was really nice. He gave the girls like 10 extra tokens and grabbed a tech person immediately to repair the issue. I thought that was very generous. The girls made labels with their own names then also made a few for us and friends. They could choose a picture to go next to the name too like a peace sign, a heart, an alien or other fun option.
We realized later that we missed the Marker Mania where you make your our own marker and Modeling Madness.... aaah, we didn't get to sculpt some Model Magic creations to take home which we were sad that we forgot. A tip: don't be like us, look at the map and info sheet they give you periodically so you don't forget a fun area. There is a lot to see!
Water Works was a fun area that was very different. This was a cool interactive exhibit where you get to navigate colorful Crayola log flumes through a real canal with locks that you can open and close. The kids really seemed to enjoy this alot.
The kids and Glamamama really loved the Drip Art design station below.Glamamama the Kids were so excited to see the Drip Art area too which was like a Crayola version of Spin Art. There was a little wait there too, but probably about 5 minutes.
You get to choose two different colored crayons and there are Crayola employees there to help you get the big old machine going. Glamamama the kids needed a little bit of help to get it going. You put in each crayon at a time and control how fast or slow the machine goes. That changes your design too. You can see below how cool my daughter's came out. I think we will mat and frame it for her room. It came out pretty gorgeous, right?
After the Drip Art the kids wanted to check out the huge play area. It was colorful with lots of tubes to climb in and run around. It wasn't too crowded and they had some fun in there. You can see everything so I felt very secure.
There was another area called Meltdown where you use melted crayons and drip them onto paper into a cool design
of your own choice. There were several different colors to choose from
and lots of open stations. There were long sticks that you dipped into the melted crayon and onto your paper. My daughter and I did dotted designs and her friend used a drawing technique. It was fun.
We also enjoyed making our own treasure boxes in another area. This is my little ones creation in the making. There were plenty of materials and lots of tables to hunker down and create.
We enjoyed the Puzzle It! area where we got to make our own puzzles and cut them out with a special machine. There were tables and blank white cardboard squares on the tables along with crayons. We had fun making our puzzle creations and then cranking the special machine to cut out the pieces. Little ones will definitely need help with cranking the machine and removing the pieces though.
There are a lot of benches dotted around each floor, in brightly colored Crayola colors so you can rest your tootsies when they get tired too. I was surprised at how much the girls really enjoyed it. I was thinking before we went that it was more for younger kids but I think even the 8-10 year old crowd will have a great time. It was a great day trip for us.
There was also a light
studio, where you could draw with special markers on a light board, a
huge crayon themed jungle gym, lots of coloring and craft stations and a
Our trip to the Crayola Experience was a success!
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