Nov 13 2020

Little Bridges Encourages Intergenerational Bonds With Their New Grandma & Me Activity Kit

I was recently introduced to a wonderfully new company called Little Bridges and their unique box kits. Unlike most theme boxes that we get in the mail, Little Bridges shares exactly what is in each box and there is no subscription required! Simply find the box you desire and purchase it with a one time fee knowing that everything inside is exactly as described. Each Little Bridges box contains activities and items that are designed to help initiate family conversations and develop close relationships with family members.

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At this moment, they have released their first box called “Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen.” I received this Little Bridges box and I can’t wait to tell you what I found. Keep reading for the review!

When I received the kit in the mail and removed it from the shipping box, I was pleasantly surprised. You know how they say you eat with your eyes? If a meal doesn’t look appetizing, more than likely people will not try it. Little Bridges understands this idea. They made the outside of the box fun and colorful to the eye, which made me and my family excited to rip it open and play with whatever was inside. (Please don’t eat the box. This is just a comparison LOL)

Inside the box, the colors and fun decorations continue. The box itself has a wallpaper type of décor featuring baking supples and ingredients (see image at the top of the blog post). The activities and books are wrapped in a red sheet of tissue paper. The “Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen” box includes

  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • A read-aloud storybook
  • A keepsake potholder for Grandma
  • A keepsake apron for Grandchild
  • Fabric paint for personalization
  • One-of-a-kind Activity Recipe Journal with conversation cards, journal prompts, and recipe pages

The read-aloud storybook is a hardcover book titled, “What if You Were a Chef At The Zoo?” It features a grandma and her grandkids cooking in the kitchen. However, the kids often make a mess. The grandma proceeds to tell the kids a story about what a chef has to make or do to feed the animals at the zoo. The whole story is a fun rhyme with great artwork.

“A journey to the zoo: From a picky koala to a curious gorilla, laugh and learn together about zoo animal eating habits. Spending time with grandma should always be this fun.”

At the end of the book there is a cute “Grandma’s Secret Sauce” recipe where it gives grandma and the grandkids a chance to hear more real-life stories frim grandma. This keepsake book can become a family tradition to encourage intergenerational story telling.

The pot holder for grandma and the apron for the grandkid is a perfect keepsake to remember their time together. These items can be personalized and they can be reused for another fun afternoon of Love, Laughter, and Legacy. while baking. The “Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen” box comes with fabric paint to make a fun design on the pot holder. The apron has a white heart to draw on with a marker.

The final item in the box is an exclusive one-of-a-kind Activity Recipe Journal with conversation cards, journal prompts, and recipe pages. The book is also hardcover with a spiral bind to make it easy to use in the kitchen. The décor featuring kitchen supplies and ingredients from the inside of the box flows to the pages in this book

This journal will allow grandma to share her recipes with her grandchild and share the stories behind them. This journal is not a one time use, it is a book to fill out over time, tell more stories, and bond with each other. The activities included in the journal are:

  • Conversations from the Kitchen where grandma and the grandchild pick their favorite recipes together and write them down. There is space to write why it is their favorite recipe, ingredients. and directions. It is the perfect opportunity for the two to work together in creating a forever memory and a book of delicious recipes.
  • Memories and Recipes: This section allows grandma to share her favorite recipes, family traditions, and keep a journal about what she loves most. It is like a letter to her grandchild that they can read together and discuss.
  • More Activities and Recipes: This is the place where grandma can help the grandchild record their family tree, make salt-dough keepsakes, and share even more recipes. This section comes with the recipe and instructions on making a salt-dough ornament.

Check out the Little Bridges unboxing video to see all the items included.

This “Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen” will make an awesome gift for either grandma or the grandkid. All the items are well made, even the books have hardcovers, the instructions are clear, and the set can easily become a beautiful addition to the kitchen. With the holidays coming, imagine this under the tree and opened on Christmas Day. The activities, no doubt, will begin almost immediately with fabric paint flying onto the pot holder and marker connecting to the apron. The keepsakes will be ready to use to make those fun holiday sugar cookies and tell the story about the first time grandma made them.

I give the “Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen” activity kit five stars. Not only will this activity kit encourage members of the family to communicate, it will help increase intergenerational bonds, develop literacy skills, help the grandkids to learn their family history, teach them to cook, and more.

“Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen” activity kit is added to our Holiday Gift Guide as an amazing present that will give for years to come and become a family tradition. The activity kit can be purchased at https://littlebridges.com/. The Little Bridges website describes the box, shares testimonies, explains the reason behind their creations, and it gets us excited for even more activity boxes that are coming soon!

More about Little Bridges:

LOS ANGELES (November 12, 2020) – Little Bridges announces the launch of their debut family heritage series with the release of their inaugural project, Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen. The first in a line of intergenerational themed activity kits that include exclusive Little Bridges content and entertaining keepsakes designed to stir vibrant exchanges based on family traditions and history, Grandma & Me: In the Kitchen is designed for Grandmothers and their 4+ year-old grandchildren.

Available today, the Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen activity kit includes a picture storybook (“What If You Were a Chef at the Zoo?”), keepsakes to craft and personalize (a handprint potholder for Grandma and an apron for grandchild), and a one-of- a-kind activity recipe journal that captures favorite family recipes as well as the cherished stories behind them. All of the activities in the kit are intentionally designed to jump-start meaningful conversations between Grandma and her grandchildren.

Little Bridges is an innovative direct-to-consumer company dedicated to creating products that foster enduring multi-generational experiences. Founded by veteran publishing executive, children’s book author, and intergenerational product expert Kate Jerome and lifelong media entrepreneur and dedicated environmentalist Raoul Goff, Little Bridges is committed to fashioning beautiful and life-changing creations that can bring people together and facilitate insightful, legacy-building connections.

Jerome, co-founder and beloved “Mimi” of three grandchildren, is passionate about helping nurture the grandparent/grandchild bond. “Research shows that strong intergenerational relationships are mutually beneficial—contributing to both a child’s sense of self and an adult’s sense of purpose—and this activity kit provides a wonderful way for grandparents to connect with little ones as they pass down family traditions and help build their personal development.” says Jerome. “For generations, gathering in the kitchen represents the heart and soul of family tradition so it’s a great foundation for this series.”

As a follow-up to Grandma and Me: In the Kitchen, Little Bridges is planning to release a second kit in 2021, Grandma & Me: Explore Outdoors. The company will also expand the intergenerational activity kit concept to include future products branded around such groupings as “Mama & Me” and “Grandpa & Me.”

“If the present circumstances have taught us anything, it’s that life is precious, and we can’t take it for granted,” says Co-Founder Goff who is a devoted father and new grandfather himself. “With Little Bridges, we hope to help people focus on the intangibles that really matter as families build deeper relationships.”

“All of us want kids to learn how to nurture great connections with the people in their lives” adds Jerome. “At Little Bridges, we like to say that we provide the tools and you provide the love. Our motto of ‘love, laughter and legacy’ sums it all up!”

About Little Bridges
Parents and grandparents know that family stories and important conversations are essential to a child’s well-being. Yet, in this busy world, it’s often hard to find the time or the way. That’s where Little Bridges comes in. Each kit provides a set of fun-filled activities intentionally designed to inspire meaningful conversations, connections, and delightful legacy moments between kids and their favorite adults. Together, we envision a partnership of real impact. Little Bridges provides the tools…you provide the love! See more at www.LittleBridges.com

Amazon Affiliate link below:

Nov 12 2020

Spongebob Squarepants DIY Jellyfish Umbrella and Plankton Paper Roll Craft!

The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! is now on DVD! SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face catastrophe – until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage to prove that the power of optimism really can save the world. This one-of-a-kind musical event boasts the full, extended-length broadcast of the hit Broadway musical, plus an exclusive sing-along version only available on this DVD! Also featuring a special guest appearance by voice actor Tom Kenny as ‘Patchy the Pirate,’ this is one under-the-sea spectacular that you don’t want to miss.

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Get a copy of The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! by going to Amazon.com (affiliate link) and purchasing the DVD.

To celebrate the DVD release of The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!, Nickelodeon has release two amazing DIY crafts to make us feel like we are under the sea and at Bikini Bottom. The two crafts are: 1. a DIY Jellyfish Umbrella and 2. a Plankton Paper Roll Craft!

DIY Jellyfish Umbrella

The DIY Jellyfish Umbrella brings the viewers to the stage with a wonderful lighted and colorful jellyfish. It takes just a few supplies to make this Jellyfish umbrella and it is a project the whole family will enjoy. NOTE: adults should handle all things requiring the glue gun.

The supplies needed are:

  • Clear Children’s Umbrella
  • White Tulle
  • Pink Tulle
  • White Wire Ribbon
  • Thin White Ribbon
  • Hot Glue and Glue Gun
  • Clear Packing Tape
  • Scissors
  • Battery Operated Copper Eire String Lights

To get the instructions click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. Then print and create!

Plankton Paper Roll Craft

Mr. Krabs’s arch-nemesis Plankton has returned, cleverly disguised as a paper roll craft! Who knows, maybe this plankton can help you steal the Krabby Patty secret formula…MWAHAHAHAAH. The supplies are simple enough to come by. If a toilet paper roll is hard to find, cutting a paper towel roll in half works as well.

The supplies needed are:

  • Paper roll
  • Green, Yellow, Red and White Construction Paper
  • 1 Green chenille stem
  • 1 black chenille stem
  • adhesive (tape, glue stock, and/or hot glue)
  • Scissors
  • Black Marker

To get the instructions click the image below and save the PSF to your computer. Then print and create!

Nov 04 2020

Top 10 Gifts for Kids – 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

The Holiday season is upon us. It has begun and there are less than 60 days to Christmas. That kind of makes me panic a bit. However, I have done a little work, scanned a few sites, read several magazines, and asked a few kids to discover what are the top toys on the Christmas Wish Lists. I also have put n a couple gift ideas that I find absolutely amazing. If a toy can encourage learning through fun, it impressed me and made it on the list.

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Below, are the top 10 toys (plus a bonus toy) I found to be some of the most popular items for Christmas. Many are based on popular movies and shows, popular advertisements, and brand new merchandise kids will love. The bonus gift idea leaves me saying…what?

1. Little Passports

To encourage learning through fun with experiments and crafts, I found Little Passports a great idea for any kid. Little Passports has different boxes for different age levels (3-5, 6-8, 9+), different themes (i.e. Science, Explorer, USA), and more. We can buy one box or have them shipped throughout the year making it the gift that keeps on giving.

As an added bonus, Little Passports is featuring a fantastic sale where if you buy a multiple month subscription, your first box is free. Simply use code: FIRSTMONTH. Let the exploration begin!

2. Disney’s Frozen 2 Shape Shifter Olaf Plush

This Olaf toy is probably one of the most adorable creations I have seen. Being a Frozen fan myself, I can say Olaf is simply the cutest. This plush doll actually has a surprise; he comes apart and can be placed back together in the weirdest ways. He also talks. Olaf is a build and play but also a snuggle toy to love. He can be found on Amazon.com (affiliate link).

3. Pomsies Lumies

The Pomsies cats were a huge gift for 2019. They were hard to find as almost every kid wanted one. They are interactive, they light up, and they are adorable. For 2020, Pomsies has created a new must-have toy called Lumies. Lumies are little interactive unicorns that come in multiple colors. These use lights to glow in several different colors, they turn colors into beats to create fun music, they have over 100 sounds and phrases, and have 4 game modes. To find these cute little Lumies check out The Pomsies Store on Amazon.com, which has several different kinds and colors of Pomsies and Lumies.

https://amzn.to/31ETLIM

4. Super Colossal Indominus Rex

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous is a highly popular show made by Dreamworks. It features kids going on a camping trip to the isle of Isla Nublar. Unfortunately, for the kids, they are there when Jurassic World accidently releases the Indominus Rex. Get more information about Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous by clicking the image below.

This highly sought after toy features an extra large version of the Indominus Rex. She is 18 inches high and over three feet long! She can swallow up to 20 mini action figures (say goodbye to all those Lego Minifigs mwahahahaha). The Indominus Rex also comes battle-ready with articulated arms and legs and extra-wide jaws that can open and close. This is a great toy for kids that love dinosaurs and /or action play! It can be found on Amazon.com (affiliate link).

5. Squeakee The Balloon Dog

Say hello to the cutest robotic dog ever! Squeakee is a fully interactive balloon dog that can perform tricks, listen to commands, and more. Amazon.com (affiliate link) highlights several different abilities including

  • Use the pin to make the dog sound like he is popped and being deflated
  • Train Squeakee with his squeaker toy
  • Feed Squeakee with his pump to make him sound like he pees and farts (always a crowd pleaser
  • Tickle Squeakee and he will roll on his back and ask for more
  • Squeakee responds to your voice.

With over 60 sounds and movements, I will admit, I want one of these as well.

6. L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Remix

L.O.L. is probably on every girls wish list. This brand has made waves with its fashion sense, dolls, and accessories. Combine these poplar dolls with the unboxing craze, and you have a giant recipe for success. This L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Remix comes with over 70 items in a wonderful box featuring 2 rock bands. That includes 8 dolls and 4 instrument! Get the boom box set at Amazon.com (Affiliate link).

7. FAO Schwarz Giant 69″ Dance-On Piano Mat

This Dance Piano Mat is over five feet long with large keys to dance on. Play your favorite music or become a composer with your feet. It gets the whole family up and active! By following a few instructions, the dancer can learn, play, record, and create! This is a gift that works for girls and boys…and adults! Get it from Target.com

8. Present Pets Glitter Puppy

Everything has gone cutesy this year and these Present Pets are probably one of the cutest gifts so far. These interactive glitter puppies feature over 100 actions and sounds And to make it even more adorable, the puppy will unbox itself! Each box contains only one puppy. It is a surprise which color and character you will receive! This is a perfect gift with tons of cuteness and fun! Get it from Amazon.com )affiliate link)

9. Hilarious Battling Robots

I have to say, this is one awesome gift! With two ninja battle bots, this is probably one of the most hilarious toys out there. The box contains the Red Dragon ninja and the Black Tiger ninja with 6 weapons to choose from. Basically, give the ninjas their weapons and watch them battle. They have over 100 sounds and movements making each battle a unique fight. The awesome thing is you can train and level up your bots to make them even better fighters. After all, learning the skill of spatula fighting or how to use a boot on a rope is a must needed skill for any ninja fighter. Amazon.com (affiliate link) has a fun video to show an example of an epic duel.

10. Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition

You have seen The Child on my Geeky Holiday Gift Guide, and I am placing it in the toy guide as well. The Child “Baby Yoda” is very popular right now with The Mandalorian season 2 being release for the next couple of months. Everywhere I have looked, The Child was at the top of almost every holiday gift guide list. There is no denying it, this little guy will be under almost every tree.

Last year The Child was hard to find, and this year is no different. Disney has released a brand new Animatronic Edition that features 25 sounds of cooing, giggling and more. His head moves, his ears move, and his eyes open and close. It is like having your very own Baby Yoda! I do suggest ordering The Child when you can because this toy will be flying off the shelves. You can grab it from Amazon.com (Affiliate link)..

Bonus Top Gift of 2020: The Pooping Pink Flamingo

I normally limit my gift guide to the top 10 gifts, BUT I had to share a toy that seems to be taking over the world by pooping. Yes…pooping. This Little Live Pets Gotta Go Flamingo has somehow crashed 2020 by sitting on a toilet. Most stores are out of stock, and those that sell it have doubled it’s price. I did find two in stock at walmart.com, zero in stock at Target, and Amazon.com (affiliate link) has them for sale from other sellers.

The Little Live Pets Gotta Go Flamingo loves to sing, wiggle, chat back, eat, and poop – on the toilet What’s even better is that you don’t have to keep buying flamingo food, he will eat his poop! Well, technically, the poop “magically” turns back into flamingo food when removed from water. It’s recyclable!

The contents of the box include: 1 x Flamingo, 1 x Reusable Flamingo Food, 1 x Scoop (color may vary), 1 x Toilet, 3 x AA Batteries, and 1 x Instruction Manual. That is everything you need to have a pooping good time.

Nov 03 2020

Get Ready for the Holidays with WizKids from LootCrate

It is getting cold outside. Do you know what that means? It means warm fireplaces, hot chocolate, and board games! If you are like my family, the board games have been played several (thousand) times and the game closet is in need of an upgrade. I mean we all love Shoots and Ladders, but maybe it is time for something more exciting.

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LootCrate has heard our cries for new games! They have partnered with Wizkids to provide a LootCrate box of games they will send out every other month! Each box will contain THREE games with a combined value of $50 or more! For those with friends or family members who love to game, this makes an amazing gift that keeps on giving! Learn more at LootCrate.com.

I received a LootGaming box featuring games from WizKids and it is amazing! It contained nearly $70.00 worth of games! Check out my unbox video below.

Inside this LootCrate box, which costs $19.99, came three new epic games: Sovereign’s Chain, Thrown, and Fungeon Party. Each of these games have a suggested retail value at or above the cost of the LootCrate WizKids box! I am not sure if this will be normal, but it has me extremely happy with my gaming box! I can’t wait to learn and play the games with my family and friends! This easily gets 5 stars!

Get more details about the WizKids gaming box from my blog here.

To get the WizKids Gaming box, head over to LootCrate and subscribe! The site also has many other themed boxes that will make amazing Christmas Gifts. It is easy to find a box that will match the person you are shopping for. They have Harry Potter, Disney, Superheroes, and more! Because LootCrate makes it easy to shop for Christmas Gifts and the amazing value of each box, LootCRate is a must on the Holiday Gift Giving Guide!

As promised, here are some details about each game.

Sovereign’s Chain – SRP $19.99

Sovereign’s Chain is a strategic game where doing damage to your opponent is just as important as boosting the difference in points in your chain. In this game, the goal is to form a chain of stars and planet cards. Once the game is over the winner of the game is the one with the greatest difference between those two cards. How do you damage your opponent? You can play Class Cards in your opponent’s chain. WizKids.com calls it a “cutthroat card game”

Image from WizKids

Components:

  • 1 x Rulebook
  • 12 x Shield Tokens
  • 20 x Modifier Tokens
  • 20 x Suit Tokens
  • 4 x Reference Cards
  • 15 x Event Cards
  • 70 x Class Cards

Thrown – SRP $19.99

Thrown is a dice game where tricks are to be won. Unlike a normal trick-taking game, Thrown uses dice. This make your tricks random! For each trick won, the winner receives gold. Have the most gold at the end of the game and win. BUT there is a snag, this game also has special ability cards that will allow flipping your or your opponent’s dice to their opposite sides, removing dice, rerolling dice, automatically winning with a particular roll, etc.

image from WizKids

Components:

  • 40 Dice
  • Gold Tokens
  • 26 Cards
  • 4 Cubes
  • Rules
  • Box: 168 x 126 x 35mm

Fungeon Party – SRP $29.99

Fungeon Party puts the fun in dungeon. Each person is given a quest and is given 30 seconds to complete that quests. Quests might be stack dice on your forehead, bounce dice into the box, knock down a meeple surrounded by dice, balance a meeple on a stick, and more.

image from WizKids

COMPONENTS:

  • 66 Challenge Cards
  • 7 Role Cards
  • 40 Dice
  • 1 Meeple
  • 6 Sticks
  • Rule Book

Nov 02 2020

PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! 8-DVD Collection Is the Perfect Holiday Gift Set

On November 10, PAW Patrol is releasing their biggest collection of rescues in a limited edition gift set, PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! 8-DVD Collection (affiliate link). In the shape of Marshall’s fire truck, this gift set invites viewers to join Marshall and the PAW Patrol for over 12 hours of heroic rescues. To add even more fun and action-packed adventures to the collection, Robo Dog will have his very own DVD, PAW Patrol: Robo Dog Rescues!, which is only available in this PUP-tastic Collection!

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I got the opportunity to review this collection, and let me just say…SO MUCH FUN!

PAW Patrol is a wonderful show encouraging friendship, teamwork, helping others, problem solving, understanding what others might be going through, and so much more. Ryder, with the help of the PAW Patrol pups Marshall, Rubble, Chase, Rocky, Zuma, and Skye, help and save the community members of Adventure Bay with their awesome skills and fun vehicles. My family absolutely loves this show, so when I got the chance to review this fire truck limited edition of awesomeness, I couldn’t say no.

When I received the collection, the first thing I saw was an adorable fire truck box featuring our lovable puppies from the show all with smiling faces and ready for their next adventure. The fire truck box was heavier then I expected and I figured the collection was going to contain eight DVD cases with a DVD in each. In my mind it was the only thing that would account for the weight…I was wrong

Upon peeling off the plastic and pulling the handle of the box, I found one case….one wide DVD case with all eight DVDs inside. The weight of the box was actually the box itself. The walls of the fire truck are made of thick cardboard wrapped in gloss decals. The drawer is red and made of the same material. When the DVD case and cardboard insert are removed, the whole thing quickly shifts from being a DVD case to a fun fire truck toy that can hold all kinds of rescue-loving stuffed animals or action figures. In fact, it will never again hold the DVDs. How cool is it to get two gifts in one?! Let the imagination and play begin.

https://amzn.to/3oEEVLX

The DVDs included in the collection all have several episodes of Pup-tacular adventures. In fact, if my math is correct, these eight DVDs contain 53 episodes of PAW Patrol! Now that is a lot of rescuing fun! The DVDs and there episodes are:

  • PAW Patrol: Robo Dog Rescues! *Only available in this PUP-tastic Collection!
    • Pups save Ryder’s robot
    • Pups in a Fix
    • Pups Save the Paw Patroller
    • Pups Save a Robo-saurus
    • Pups Save a Cloud Surfer
    • Pups Save a Pony
    • Pups Save the Movie Monster
  • PAW Patrol: Ultimate Rescue
    • Pups Save the Royal Kitties
    • Pups Save the Tigers
    • Pups Save the Movie Monster
    • Pups Save a Swamp Monster
    • Pups and the Hidden Golden Bones
    • Bonus Episode: Top Wing Dream Team
  • PAW Patrol: Jungle Rescues
    • Tracker Joins the Pups
    • Pups Save Baby Humdinger
    • Pups Save an upset Elephant
    • Pups Save Big Hairy
    • Pups Save Big Paw
    • Pups Save Monkey-Dinger
    • Pups Jungle Trouble
  • PAW Patrol: Pups Chase a Mystery
    • Pups Save a Runaway Stargazer
    • Pups and the Mystery of the Missing Cell Phones
    • Pups Save a Cat Burglar
    • Pups Save the Mountain Climbers
    • Pups Save Captain Gordy
    • Pups Stop a Meltdown
    • Pups Turn on the Lights
  • PAW Patrol: Pups Save Puplantis
    • Pups Save Puplantis
    • Pups Save a Sunken Sloop
    • Pups Save a Wiggly Whale
    • Pups Save the Flying Diving Bell
    • Pups Save a Soggy Farm
    • Pups Save Their Pirated Sea Patroller
  • PAW Patrol: Sea Patrol
    • Pups Save a Baby Octopus
    • Pups Save a Shark
    • Pups Save the Pier
    • Pirate Pups to the Rescue
    • Pups Save A Frozen Flounder
    • Pups Save a Narwhal
  • PAW Patrol: Summer Rescues
    • Pups Save The Fireworks
    • Pups Save the Carnival
    • Pups Save a Ferris Wheel
    • Pups Save the camping Trip
    • Pups Save Dude Ranch Danny
    • Pups Save the Chli Cook-off
    • Pups Save a Sleepover
    • Pups Save a Windsurfing Pig
  • PAW Patrol: The Great Pirate Rescue!
    • Pups and the Pirate Treasure
    • Pups and the Ghost Pirate
    • Pups save the Day
    • Pups save a Goodway
    • Pups Save a Pool Day
    • Circus Pup-formers

Out of all the DVDs included in the PUP-tastic Collection, PAW Patrol: Robo Dog Rescues! is probably the most anticipated. This DVD can only be found in the PUP-tastic Collection and features the high flying Robo Dog in seven fun episodes..

There is a ton of fun, adventures, and excitement in this PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! 8-DVD Collection that the whole family can enjoy. From the cool fire truck case to the eight fantastic DVD, this is a top 2020 Christmas gift and is certainly going on my 2020 Holiday Gift Guide. I give it FIVE Stars!

If you wish to purchase a copy of this amazing PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! 8-DVD Collection, click the Amazon.com link below. It is an affiliate link and will take you directly to the pre-order page since this DVD collection is not released until November 10, 2020.

Oct 30 2020

Celebrate Halloween with Love and Monsters Printable Activities

It’s time to get ready for the spooky season and the Monsterpocalypse! In celebration of the release of Love and Monsters, now available On Demand and Digital, we’re excited to share this monstrously fun activity packet, complete with coloring pages and pumpkin stencils inspired by the monsters from the film.

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Starring Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker and Ariana Greenblatt, Love and Monsters (amazon affiliate link) takes place seven years after the Monsterpocalypse. Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien), along with the rest of humanity, has been living underground ever since giant creatures took control of the land. After reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), who is now 80 miles away at a coastal colony, Joel begins to fall for her again. As Joel realizes that there’s nothing left for him underground, he decides against all logic to venture out to Aimee, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.

Grab a copy of Love and Monsters from Amazon.com, then download the awesome printables to have monstrous fun just in time for Halloween! The printable pack includes:

  • Pool Frog coloring page
  • Queen Gobbler coloring page
  • Love and Monsters poster coloring page
  • Pool Frog pumpkin template
  • Queen Gobbler pumpkin template

To get the printable pack click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. Then print and create!

Oct 30 2020

SpongeBob’s Delicious Undersea Volcano Cakes – Recipe

Dive deep into Bikini Bottom for SpongeBob’s latest sweet treat: delicious undersea Volcano Cakes! In celebration of the upcoming release of The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! arriving on DVD November 3, 2020, we’re excited to share instructions on how to make your own Volcano Cakes with Pineapple Lava for the whole family!

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These reddish-pink volcano lava cakes are made with mini chocolate cakes and a lava pudding-pineapple mixture inspired by Spongebob’s pineapple house. Don’t worry, no Spongebob home was destroyed to make this recipe. The ingredients needed to make the volcano cakes are:

  • Mini chocolate cakes
  • 3.4 oz box of instant vanilla pudding
  • 1.5 cups of cold milk
  • can of crushed pineapple in juice
  • red food coloring
  • icing bag
  • serrated knife
  • Sparkler candles

To get the instructions and begin your adventure under the sea, click the image below and save the recipe to your computer. Then print and create. Since the cakes are already precooked, the whole family can enjoy making these.

Be sure to also enter for a chance to win The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! on my blog here. or you can get it from Amazon.com (affiliate link).

Oct 29 2020

NASA Creates Cosmic Fright Posters Based on Classic Horror Movie Advertisements

NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Office, with help from astrophysicists, created several posters for the Halloween season. These posters feature real events in the cosmos with a touch of fun fanciful fright from classic horror films. With many of the posters, there is also an interactive site to explore the system. It is Halloween fun for the whole family where everyone is secretly learning about space! That is quite a trick!

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On the NASA’s Galaxy of Horrors website we will find six frightful posters made to look like classic horror advertisements. Each poster was meticulously create by scientists to contain facts in the fiction. For example, In the Dark Matter poster, while the spider is fiction the web alludes to the cosmic web. The cosmic web a bunch of invisible threads of matter and dark matter that connects galaxies like the silk of a spider’s web…well that’s what it is in a nut shell. \Read more about the facts and fictions of each poster here.

These posters will make excellent Halloween decorations. We are given high resolution photos that we can have printed and framed to make them last through the years. The posters that are available to download from the Galaxy of Horror Website are:

  • Galactic Graveyard
  • Dark Matter
  • Gamma Ray Ghouls
  • Flares of Fury with an interactive exploration of the system
  • Zombie Worlds with an interactive exploration of the system
  • Rains of Terror with an interactive exploration of the system

There are three other systems we can explore, but there are no posters to download. They are:

  • Kepler’s Inferno
  • Monster Mash
  • Eternal Darkness

I have to admit, my favorite part is the interaction and exploration of the systems. I took a screen shot of what the interactive exploration sites look like. You can click and move the planet around, zoom in and out to get a closer look, check out the system or the star, compare it to other known bodies of mass like Earth or Jupiter, and so much more. It is actually a lot of fun

Kepler’s Inferno

To get the posters and begin your journey of exploration click the image below. Once the website loads hover over each image and select the task you wish to complete, i.e. download, explore, or read more. Get the whole family involved for a night of frightful fun.

Oct 26 2020

2020 Holiday Gift Guide For the Geeks in Our Life

With two months to Christmas, it may be time to start thinking of gifts, especially with most people shopping online. I can almost say with certainty that shipping companies are gonna be more than a little busy this holiday season. To avoid the stress of whether your package will arrive on time, I suggest early shopping at your favorite online stores.

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To help with all the choices, I have created a list of the top 2020 Holiday gifts for the geeks in our lives. Being a geek myself, I feel like these will be at the top of many people’s lists. And for those who don’t create a list (they know who they are), there is always a Loot Crate or Space and Beyond box that will be a nice surprise. Each comes with 5 to 7 items making them a gift that keeps on giving.

The items listed below all contain links to make finding them a breeze. Disclosure: The Amazon links are all affiliate links. This means I get a little something when you purchase through my links. Thank you in advance. Every little bit helps keep this blog alive and kicking with awesome printables, gift ideas, and more.

Now on to the Gifts!

1. Loot Crate Box

Loot Crate is an amazing box that all geeks will enjoy. With each unboxing comes exclusive collectibles and surprises geeks, like myself, will love! I did an unboxing of a Loot Crate and let me just say…AMAZING. What is most impressive about Loot Crate is that they have different themes one can purchase. This allows the gifter to match the needs of the giftee perfectly. At this moment there are Loot Crates for:

  • Breakfast Club
  • Star Trek
  • Harry Potter
  • Hello Kitty
  • Anime
  • Marvel
  • Loot Wear
For a limited time, the Loot Wearable line includes an exclusive E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Jacket:
https://www.lootcrate.com/wear/wearables
  • Deadpool
  • WWE
  • Fallout
  • Elder Scrolls
  • Disney
  • and more!

Check out Loot Crate’s website for more details, lists, and other geeky items. I think this site may just check off everyone’s Christmas List.

2. The Child… or anything Mandalorian

The Mandalorian’s new season is starting Oct 30 and will continue through December. This makes anything Mandalorian a must have for Christmas. The Child, or better known as Baby Yoda, is extremely popular. It is almost a guarantee that getting a Baby Yoda gift will bring a huge smile. My favorite Baby Yoda item is the 11-inch plush/beanbag Baby Yoda figure from Mattel.

The Other Popular Baby Yoda Toy is the “Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition “AKA Baby Yoda” with Over 25 Sound and Motion Combinations, ” Almost always sold out, you will be lucky to get your hands on this little gem. You may also be able to find him on shopdisney.com.

About the Animatronic Edition:
He may look like “Baby Yoda,” but this lovable creature is called The Child – and now you can become his protector with this animatronic toy from Star Wars. Touching the top of The Child Animatronic Edition’s head activates over 25 sound and motion combinations, including happy and excited sounds, giggles, babbles, and more, all while the figure’s head moves up and down, ears move back and forth, and eyes open and close. Boys and girls ages 4 and up can pretend to harness the power of the Force as The Child toy closes its eyes, raises its arm, and sighs as if exerting a great amount of energy. Click the image below to head to Amazon.com (affiliate link) and see if one is available.

For more Mandalorian gifts check out Amazon.com by clicking my affiliate link here: The Mandalorian Gifts

3. Space and Beyond Box

This box is another one of those surprise boxes that makes a perfect gift to all the space and science geeks. However, unlike other surprise boxes, Space and Beyond Box will tell you what you are getting as the shipping day gets closer. I gave this as a gift to my mom and her first box contained a piece of a meteorite in a cool frame, a t-shirt, a comet pen, a couple of awesome photos, and a magazine. It certainly was $80 worth of items for only $50.

The Campo del Cielo meteorite sample and certificate

The Next big box will feature Black Holes. I have no idea how they will incorporate that awesomeness, but I do know there will be a magazine all about black holes, probably a photo of the first picture of a black hole, and maybe a poster. The rest is still a surprise.

4. Star Light Galaxy Projector for Bedroom

While the Star Light Galaxy Projector is geared towards kids, I think this is also a great toy for all ages. It provides an epic light show on the ceiling and is Alexa and Google Assistant activated. The best part about this item is that it has a soothing galaxy light that calms the senses for kids and adults. The stress of the day dissipates into outer space. This item features:

  • A STAR FILLED GALAXY IN YOUR ROOM. Get the most relaxing visuals from this galaxy projector that’s like a portable planetarium. It feels like you’re drifting calmly into space at night.
  • VAST NEBULA CLOUD BACKGROUNDS TO CHOOSE FROM. With 16.7million Colors behind green stars that float across your ceiling and walls & Multiple Brightness Settings, you’ll never run out of options with this multiple starlight projector.
  • HELPS KIDS SLEEP AT NIGHT. These night lights are perfect for children with fear of the dark or trouble sleeping. With a soothing galaxy light that calms the senses, it’s the perfect gift that kids love. Adults love it too!
  • ALEXA AND GOOGLE ASSISTANT ACTIVATED. Get creative with your bedtime stories! This laser projector is voice command-activated for a handsfree experience.
  • SMART SLEEP SHUTDOWN TIMER. You can set this galaxy night light to turn on and off automatically anytime you want. PLUS this comes with a mobile app so you can control it from anywhere. AND in the beautiful gift box, comes a couple of cool gifts

Say goodbye to sleepless nights and hello to relaxing nights under the stars. Find the item on Amazon.com by clicking the image below. The link is an affiliate link.

5. Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo Switch Lite is a new version of the Nintendo Switch system that’s optimized for personal, handheld play. It is a small and light Nintendo Switch system with a built-in +Control Pad, and a sleek, unibody design. I highly suggest this system for all the Geeky Gamers out there. It makes a perfect gift. Be sure to add games.

6. Funko Pop! Amazon Exclusive 6 Inch Wampa Vinyl Figure

Throughout 2020, 6 exclusive figures will be available for purchase, starting with The Wampa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back. All 6 figures will nest into the next to form one larger set piece recreating the opening scene from Empire Strikes Back. The Wampa is an Amazon exclusive.

The Wampa is one of my favorite creatures from Star Wars and I think it would make a wonderful gift for any Star Wars fan. It had to make the Christmas Geek Gift List.

7. Smash Up Card Game

Smash up is a collectible card game where you select two different factions to battle your friends \. The goal of the game is to collect victory points, be the first to reach a certain amount and win. Each faction has different capabilities. Alderac Entertainment Group, the creators of Smash Up, are releasing a new set of Smash Up factions. This time they have partnered with Disney Marvel to bring out some amazing Super Heroes and Villains.

Smash Up: Marvel will allow seasoned players and newcomers of all ages to join the limitless clashing with comic mainstays, such as the vigilant members of The Ultimates and criminal masterminds HYDRA as two of eight factions leading the charge! In the ultimate shuffling building card game, players smash up two groups of Marvel characters to take over bases and score the most victory points. Mix and match the different decks of heroes and villains to see which combinations can best defeat the others! This game allows for fans to create stories that have never existed in the Marvel universe. What combo will you choose?

The Marvel set is not released until January, but any fan will love to see that this game is coming. Simply wrap a picture of the item and say coming soon and place it under the tree. I have received gifts like this and it made my Christmas last even longer. EPIC Amazon affiliate link

8. The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Elder Scrolls fans are gonna love bringing the recipes from the games into their kitchen. With this cookbook we can feast our way through Skyrim, Morrowind, and Tamriel! There are over 60 recipes to help fans immerse themselves into the diverse cuisines of the Nords, Bosmer, Khajit, and beyond! This cookbook is a great gift for those who love to cook, those who love Elder Scrolls, or both!

Some of the recipes included are

  • Imperial Mushroom Sauce
  • Apple Cabbage Stew
  • Water of Life
  • Saltrice Porridge
  • Sunlight Souffle
  • Orsimer Venison
  • Snowberry Cordial
  • Sweetrolls
  • and more!

Click the image below to fly over to Amazon.com and buy the book. It is hardcover and illustrated.

9. FreezerBoy

Every geeky gamer is going to love to relive the classics and show off their love for the classics with the Freezerboy magnets that can turn most refrigerators into a Gameboy look-alike. The screen even doubles as a white board! It turns tasks into epic achievements! The set includes six magnets to form the Dpad, A, B, start, select, and the screen. The screen measures 16″w x 12″h

10. Star Trek: Picard – Season One

Star Trek has a new series featuring Picard, the used to be captain of the Enterprise. Star Trek: Picard has Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The new series will follow this iconic character into the next chapter of his life.

Starring Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, Santiago Cabrera as Cristobal Rios, Alison Pill as Dr. Agnes Jurati, Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker, Isa Briones as Soji, Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Harry Treadaway as Narek, Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Evan Evagora as Elnor, and Brent Spiner as Data.

For any Star Trek Geek, this is a must. It brings back many of the characters fans have come to love, including those from different series. It comes on Blu-ray or DVD

Oct 23 2020

Monster University Printable Halloween Window Decorations Activity Pack

Get the family together this Halloween and decorate the doors and windows with magnificent monster silhouettes, but not with just any monsters, these are the monsters from Monster U. The monster silhouettes feature James P. “Sulley” Sullivan, Randall Boggs, and Mike Wazowski. Each of them sport their very own spooky and scary stance.

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The silhouette templates also include multiple eyes to choose from to make your monster scary or funny. For example the silhouette of Randall features many different eyes to make him spooky. After all, he was Boo’s monster, he has to be scary.. Of course, you could just display the eyes all over the window to make the scene even more spooky.

To create these monstrous silhouettes you will need :

  • A pack of black construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Clear tape

To make:

  1. Print out all of the pages in this window decorating pack.
  2. Lay each page over a piece of black construction paper. Adults should cut along the black edges of the silhouettes.
  3. Follow the numbered instruction grid to align the pieces, then tape them together to make a giant monster silhouette.
  4. Tape each monster silhouette to your window or door. Cut off the edges of the images to fit.

To get the silhouette monster craft click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. This Halloween package also includes several other activities and recipes the whole family will enjoy. Such as:

  • Spooky Smoothies
  • Spot the difference
  • Monster Match
  • Monster Sneaker craft
  • tailgate recipes
  • Extra large puzzle
  • Candy Tote Bags
  • and Monster window silhouettes of James P. “Sulley” Sullivan, Randall Boggs, and Mike Wazowski