Fun and Educational toy ideas for kids from ThinkFun Maker Studio:Propellers

My family loves all kinds of challenges and ThinkFun games specialize in fun challenges for the mind. We have been enjoying their puzzles and games for years. They have so many great options for toys that are enjoyable but give your brain a break from the electronics, bells and whistles that get old after a while. ThinkFun designs puzzles and game sets for kids and adults of all ages. My tween has been enjoying them since she was a toddler. They have recently launch a line of Maker Studio products that get kids thinking and constructing. Perfect for kids and adults that enjoy STEM or if you are encouraging your kids in that direction. 

This set was designed by engineers to help your little  engineers get excited about building! Maker Studio Construction Sets inspire  a love for engineering with easy to understand instructions. Reuse, recycle and use your maker parts to transform everyday things into cool, working, kinetic inventions. This set features propellers that let you construct a chopper, a biplane, a windmill and a even a functional plane. 

This set lets you do so much too. Once you've completed your item, you can put your thinking hat on  and use your new creations to complete 10 different engineering challenges. These are real challenges too and will have you pondering. My 11 year old has been having fun with it for the past week or two. You'll become a true engineer as you design your solutions to the engineering challenges. Each Maker Studio Set comes with all the basic elements so you can build just about anything-all you need is a little imagination and a few simple items we have at home like a cardboard toilet paper roll for example.

If you enjoy this Maker Studio then you should check out  and consider all three Maker Studio sets-Propellers, Gears and Winches. You can mix and match and even combine the different sets for more building fun. Who knows what a creative kid or adult can create? Thes best part is that each set is embedded with brain building essentials that are really necessary for problem solving in today's high tech world. Think about how sets like this magically help develop skills such as spatial and sequential reasoning, beginning physics, creativity and even executive function.

You can find this great ThinkFun Maker Studio Propeller Set on Amazon for the easiest shopping experience ever. Let me know what you think.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Beauty Box 5 Fall on Fleek September 2015 Subscription BoxReview @beautybox5 #beautybox5 #elizabethmott #beautifulnutrition #harveyprince #bellapierre #beabombshell

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the products for review purposes. The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the products.

I love it....Beauty Box five has the fun beauty ideas for every day of the year whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter.  My little blue box from BB5 helps me manage to keep it all together at work and at home to freshen up my glam look no matter what the day holds for me.  BB5 shows you how you can squeeze in quality beauty time into even the days you gotta speed things along with a few little marvy products.  Check out all the trendiest of autumn fashions now that the long, hot days of summer are starting to fade! Don't forget to share your fave finds and share with friends too. Take a peek at a few beauty goodies to go along with your pretty fashions and maybe grab a few extra for friends. A BB5 subscription makes a great gift any friend would appreciate all year long.  

Everyone loves getting the inside scoop. I like trying new beauty products from sunscreens to lipsticks and find that I often find new faves.  That is one of the great things about BB5.  You can try lots of new things and sub in new favorites without being stuck with a huge bottle of this or that. I happens to the best of us even with green intentions. Sometimes I look at a product in the store but I worry it might not be for me and I don't want to spend all that money if I don't know that I really like it.  Who needs something else to sit on the bathroom shelf or take up more room in a drawer? I would always feel guilty. Every once in a while you get lucky and the store has a sample or perhaps a beauty company sends you a sample and you get to try it first.  That is the premise behind BB5.

The ideal solution for all of us is brought to you by Beauty Box 5. They understand  and created their great sampling box program. Beauty Box 5 is an amazing subscription beauty box sampler that is delivered right to your doorstep (or mailbox) filled with a combination of 5 brand new cosmetic samples monthly, quarterly or annually. You can start out at just $12 a month or save more by getting a longer subscription. Signing up to receive Beauty Box 5 each month is a great new way for anyone from teens to moms to sample new cosmetic products and see what works for you.  Each month they include tips and tricks for the products on the back of this little card below to help you get the most out of your beauty samples each month.

Beauty Box 5 is always on the lookout for the latest new items to make the best matches for your own personal taste and lifestyle.  The prices are reasonable too. You can get a Beauty Box 5 monthly for $12, quarterly for $30 or annually for just $99.  Shipping is always free.  A fun way to check out lots  of the new beauty stuff out there without a whole lot of $$ investment. The great part is that if you like something, you can just up and buy the full size item, right?  Much better than buying a full size you-know-what-beauty-item and paying a fortune and then it sits in the makeup bag gathering dust because it doesn't work for you.

Beauty Box 5 mixes it up with their brands and keeps things adventurous. They source from a mix of niche, luxe, regular drugstore, vegan and eco-conscious brands.  One month you might get hair care, nail care, makeup, skin care, fragrances or even beauty accessories or a mix of any of the above.  I love the suspense!  You will get a carefully curated blend of travel, full-size and deluxe samples from their most current collection.
  

I just received the September Fall on Fleek Box this week.  The September theme is all about working the trends no matter what your beauty regimen.  Just how do you add a those fearless new shades, tools and a bit of freshness to your routine? Let BB5 help you out! The team at Beauty Box 5 wants to remember you are it is all about being just a little bit adventurous.  They show you just how to let go of those summer colors and let the metallic eyes and rosy cheeks shine through even if you aren't walking the runway this week. Beauty Box five is here with a ton of special treats to help you along the way.    Here is the scoop on the amazing treats that were in this sweet sea blue September box:

As always It was chock full of amazing goodies that I could not wait to try. There were goodies for my hands, face and body tucked in there this month.  Lots of special items to keep me looking fresh and alluring wherever the cool fall days take me from work to play.  They take me all over too but hopefully not too far from home. We will have to see. I am one busy mama as always.

The first item in this box is a sample of Beautiful Nutrition Lemon Rinse Gentle Clarifying Treatment.  All that summer sun and those outdoor workouts really gave my hair a beating. This clarifying hair treatment could be the solution for you too. It is easy to use just add a capful of this restoring remedy root to tip after your standard shampoo and see a bit of a shine peeking through. It takes all the weight out of the buildup that products left behind. It smells fresh like lemons and feels good on my hair. I noticed an improvement in how it looked and the shine.  Retail: $10.00 for 13.3 fl oz. 

Scent galore! The next product in the box is ideal for keeping me freshly scented wherever I go this fall. This little Sincerely Mini-Roller from Harvey Prince is just adorable and smells like a dream. I enjoy changing up my scent for the different seasons and what could be better than a fresh scent arriving at your door just in time for fall? It has a fresh, herbal scent with a bit of cedarwood, freesia and orange flower that is light and airy but perfect for fall. What a fresh take on the ho-him nail file that gets lost in my cavernous purse.  Naturally I stashed it right in my purse but this one I can find easily whenever I need it. A deal at $21.00.

This Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Snowflake is the perfect way to add some fall sparkle. If the sparkly silver color didn't get your attention I don't know what will. Here is the perfect bit of accent that you need to add some highlights to your eyes. Add as much as you like but I like to use just a bit for the day but more for evenings out. This is priced reasonably too so enjoy...pick up a few colors to add sparkle and shimmer to different looks.  This would also be a super cute little gift tucked into a gift bag for your best friend, your girls.  At this price I can collect a few more. Retail: $19.99  

I love a good eyeliner that adds dimension because it really defines the eyes. Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Crayon is an ideal option. I use eyeliner most days for work.  My everyday makeup routine includes moisturizer, mascara, a bit of eyeliner and lipgloss. I am thrilled because this crayon goes on smoothly so I can swipe on some defining color in a flash. This pretty green shade gives me a fresh swipe of color to add some dimension to my hazel eyes. Perfect on my busy days when I just want perky, defined eyes. I am looking forward to bright eyes this fall. This one lasted all day for me. A good deal at $14.00.

The final item in this precious box is a Elizabeth Mott Tins + Sass Lip + Cheek Stain. It is a lighweight color that adds a pop of perfect pinky-rose-red for cheeks or lips that stays on all day long. This girl loves her makeup to be carefree so all day is heaven for me.  I don't have a ton of time so I am thrilled that it only take a few seconds and I don't need to bother with touch-ups either.  A secret beauty steal at $22.99 for .35 oz.

So, are you ready to get in on the fun? The ladies from BB5 have put together another really amazing box full of beauty fun perfect to take you straight into spring and even summer. Don't forget to join Beauty Box 5 and get in on the goodies to keep you looking fab all four seasons.

After you join, you can even spread your good fortune via Instagram and have an opportunity to win full-size versions of these products too! Don't forget to tag @beautybox5 and #bb5fave that way they know that it was you spreading the love around!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Jump into Fall Baking with Lucy Leid’s New Cookbook and an Amish Baking Basket Giveaway

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review.

I love to cook so I was so excited to receive this lovely cookbook featuring Amish baking. This cookbook offers so many favorite Amish family recipes that have been handed down over the years. The recipes are blended in with sweet stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks.I kind of got lost in some of the stories as I was reading through the book, they were so captivating. The recipe for the Pecan Rolls shared how delicious they taste following a winter ice-skating party for example. One Amish community sold their special hoagies to help one of the families with hospital bills. Then there were the Cocoa Cupcakes that a budding cook got "stir by hand" confused with their hand...literally. Don't forget the Whoopie Pies that one Amish woman took to the local market in her horse and buggy.

My daughter and I enjoyed reading and earmarking these yummy recipes. You can feel their comforting traditions and faith as you read the recipes and the accompanying stories. Especially now, as the cooler weather starts to move in it makes you want to gather the whole family together to enjoy some of these delicious meals. The recipes aren't complicated or fancy but they are simple, fresh and tasty and that is what everyone loves. Pick up a copy and see what plain people do with simple ingredients and how they magically turn them into heaven. 

    Incorporate Amish cooking traditions this fall in your kitchen with Lucy Leid's Gather Around the Amish Table. Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

Get your fall baking underway with an Amish baking basket giveaway from Lucy and MennoMedia!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Gather Around the Amish Table
• An Amish baking basket full of goodies

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 29th. The winner will be announced September 30th on the Litfuse blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Renuzit #TBT Girl’s Night In Sweepstakes @purex @renuzit

Disclosure: I am a member of the Purex Insiders. The Dial brand provided me with the opportunity to win prizes in exchange for sharing information regarding this sweepstakes. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

Renuzit has just launched a fun new sweepstakes. The ladies need some R+R too...we work so hard all year long between crazy jobs, shuttling the kids around after work and then coming up with healthy dinners that will taste great and come together in a flash. Let's not forget all that back to school shopping we had to squeeze in there somewhere. Ooops, almost forgot waking up at 5:00am to squeeze in those workouts. We really need some relaxation time and Renuzit knows it. That is why they hatched this super sweepstakes. One winner will win the ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package, including a FREE Renuzit Lavender and Vanilla cone, spa essentials and 1 year of Netflix. You can find out about all the wonderful Renuzit products and the different scents and formulations on their website.  

There are tons of great prizes though, take a peek! The following is are the Renuzit #TBT Girls Night In Sweepstakes amazing prizes:

September 3-9th: 1 winner will win the ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package, including a FREE Renuzit Lavender and Vanilla cone, spa essentials and 1 year of Netflix!

September 9-16th: 1 winner will win the ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package, including a FREE Renuzit Apple & Cinnamon cone, Sephora gift card and 1 year of Amazon Prime!

September 17-23rd: 1 winner will win the ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package, including a FREE Renuzit Pumpkin Pie cone, mani-pedi essentials and 1 year of HBO Now!

September 24-30th: 1 winner will win the ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package, including a FREE Renuzit Cotton Breeze cone, home essentials and 1 year of Hulu Plus!

How do you enter to win this ultimate #TBT Girls Night In package? Enter to win the Renuzit #TBT Girls Night In package right here. Good luck!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.