Science Ninjas "Big Trouble with Simple Machines" Book Review

I'm gonna be transparent here.  Make an honest confession.  I'm not a "science-y person." I think its interesting.  I love watching people explain experiments, etc.  But I feel completely inadequate when it comes to explaining it myself.  Especially when the aforementioned "it" is something like physics or chemistry. That's why I was THRILLED to receive a review copy of Big Trouble with Simple Machines, from Science Ninjas!

S'Mores Bark

I love trying new recipes!  Especially desserts!  And especially during the holidays!  One of my favorite things to do is find new ways to make old favorites!  That's why I love this recipe!!! This deliciousness is S'Mores Bark!!! The recipe comes from Lisa at Wine & Glue ! Its SOOO GOOD!!!  And so fun! Try it for yourself!  (And make sure you head over to Wine & Glue and check out all the amazingness over there!)

Here's the recipe:

1.) Melt 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips and spread them onto a wax paper-covered pan. (I used one that was about 9x13, but the chocolate doesn't cover the whole bottom, so don't worry. Also, make sure not to spread it too thin.)

2.) Place pan in fridge for 30 min so chocolate can harden.

3.) Melt 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. Stir in 1 cup marshmallow fluff and microwave for 30 seconds.  Immediately spread over chocolate on the pan.  4.) Spread broken graham crackers (3 full sheets) on top of marshmallow and press into the marshmallow. (Make sure to press it in. Makes it easier to spread the chocolate on top later.) Place in fridge for another 30 minutes.

5.) Melt 2 cups chocolate chips and spread on top of marshmallows and crackets. Place in fridge or freezer for 2 hours to harden. 

6.) Once hardened, cut into pieces (the marshmallow makes it a bit difficult to just break into pieces, so I cut it with a big knife.) 7.) Store in the fridge.

Animo Game Review

We love incorporating games into our homeschool and our family time, but one type of game that is difficult to find is a biblically-based game.  They do exist, but most of them are either merely Bible trivia or simple roll and move board games.  So when I find a new Bible-based came, I always wanna know more!  That's why I was excited to do a review for Animo: Living Deck Bible Verse Game!

Eagle-Gryphon Games Review

With Christmas coming up, I'm always on the look for great Christmas presents.  But I like to get my kids things that will grow with them.  Things they'll be interested in for more than a week.  Haha!  Don't get me wrong.  We get our kids toys.  But I love getting them some things we can enjoy together - like crafts or games!  Games are a favorite in our house!  And Eagle-Gryphon Games has some great titles!  They were kind enough to send us a few for review!

Play Nine Card Game Review

As you've probably already guessed, my family loves games!  And I'm particularly partial to games that are both fun AND educational!  Play Nine is one of those games.  It's fairly easy to learn, simple to play, and fun for a wide range of ages!  Plus it has math educational value!!!

Election Night and PlaySmart Dice Game Review

I LOVE gameschooling!  You can use pretty much any game - even super simple ones - as gameschooling.  But sometimes its great to have games that are particularly educational! Semper Smart Games has created one of those SUPER EDUCATIONAL games - Election Night - and I LOVE it!!!

The World Game Review

We have lots of math-centered games, critical thinking games, agility games, and even science-oriented games.  But we don't have tons of geography games. There's geography in some well known trivia games, but the problem with those is: if you don't know the answer, you lose.  I wanted something I could play with my kids - where they could learn but also have a chance to win.  That's when I found The World Game!

Cowboy Breakfast Casserole

This casserole is super easy and perfect for a holiday breakfast because you can prep it the night before, cover and store in the fridge, then just throw it in the oven in the morning! Takes 45 minutes to an hour to bake.  That's just about the amount of time it takes for everyone to open and admire their CHristmas presents!  Haha!  Once everyone is done, breakfast is served! 

Renegade Games Lanterns: A Harvest Festival and Lanterns Dice: Lights In The Sky Game Review

I'll admit it.  I'm a complete sucker for a pretty game!  Anyone else?  Haha!  If a game is beautiful, I'm instantly intrigued!  But sometimes I'll find a game that "looks" beautiful, but is either too boring or too difficult to make playing it enjoyable.  Lanterns: The Harvest Festival and Lanterns Dice: Lights In The Sky are NOT those kind of games!  These games are beautiful, enjoyable, and easy to play!

Uncle Goose Educational Blocks Review

Every Christmas I have the same dilemma - what to gift my kids.  I know that they are going to get lots of toys from family.  And we don't live in a palace, so we have to make room for every new toy.  Haha!  So I like to get my kids things that are both fun AND educational!  And Uncle Goose is one of my favorite companies to shop from!  Their blocks are beautiful, well made, fun, AND educational!!!

Llama Drama and Llama Drama Holiday Edition Card Game Review

Today's gameschool review has a really fun holiday twist! - Its a cool card game AND a holiday version!  Llama Drama and Llama Drama Holiday Edition!

Story Time Chess Review - Even a 3 Year Old Can Learn To Play Chess!

Can I confess something?  I don't know how to play chess.  I've always wanted to!  I even tried to get my dad to teach me when I was a teenager.  But that lasted all of half an hour.  I just could NOT remember how each of the pieces moved.  Actually, I think my brain just shut off in anticipation of the difficulty.  Haha!  But I've always wanted to know how to play, and I want my kids to learn, so I was THRILLED to find out about Story Time Chess!

TENZI Games Blog Review

The wonderful folks at TENZI were kind enough to send my family a copy of each of their games for review!  And I have to say, I'm a little amazed at how fun these simple games are!  Seriously!  We had so much fun playing these games!  So let me introduce you to the fun:

First off is the original game: TENZI -

Game Review - Onitama, by Arcane Wonders

OK, folks!  It's time for a game review!  Today's featured game is Onitama, by Arcane Wonders!  I'm super impressed by this game! Its beautiful, compact, simple, challenging, quick, and fun!  All of that together adds up to one great gaming experience!

Periodic: A Game of The Elements Review

If you follow my blog, you've seen how interested I've been in gameschooling lately.  Playing games is a GREAT WAY to introduce new information to your students in a fun and inviting way.  Somehow information just seems less intimidating when its in game form.  One of my favorite discoveries in the gameschooling community recently has been the company Genius Games!  The take subjects that can seem very intimidating - like biology and chemistry - and turn it into fun!

With that in mind, the wonderful folks at Genius Games sent me a copy of Periodic: A Game of The Elements for review!  And I have to admit, I am EXTREMELY IMPRESSED by this game!

Dolphin Hat Games Review - Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Frog Pig Pug

Today I have some fabulous card games to show you from Dolphin Hat Games!  My family LOVES card games, so I'm always up for reviewing them.  I'd also heard lots of people say that Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza was their family's favorite game, so I was intrigued.  But I was COMPLETELY SURPRISED at how much fun we had playing these games!

So let's start with Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.


As I mentioned above, I'd heard lots of people sing the praises of this game.  But I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how I'd feel.  I mean, its a super simple game.  And since I'm currently on a "gameschooling" kick, I wasn't sure how Taco Cat would fair in a review.  Would it have any educational value?  Would it be challenging?  Would it really be any fun? YES! YES! And YES!



I was completely floored by how much laughter this game brought! We had so much fun!  It was easy to learn, but hard to master.  And the added Gorilla, Groundhog, and Narwal cards add extra giggles!  We played this game several times and NOT ONCE did we ever play without the game devolving into uproarious laughter!

So what about educational value?  I mean, there's no math or anything in this game.  So how can it add any educational value for gameschooling?  Easy!  It's a perfect stress reliever/restarter game!  What does that mean?  Well, as a homeschool mama I can tell you that some days are TOUGH.  Maybe the math isn't clicking, or the phonics lesson is not going well, or everybody is just in a bad mood.  It happens.  And sometimes its REALLY HARD to get out of that difficult moment.  Taco Cat is the perfect way to reset!  Its fast, allows the kids to move and raise their voices a bit and its super hard to play it without bursting into laughter.  Sometimes the value of a game is in the simplicity and the joy it brings!  And Taco Cat definitely has GREAT VALUE!!!

The second game we received was Frog Pig Pug.

In Frog Pig Pug, you have to fin sets of 3 cards.  There are 3 traits on each card: animal, number, and color. In order to have a "Pug" (Proper Unit Group), the cards have to be all the same or all different for each of those traits. I was surprised how quickly the kids caught on!  Since we were playing with a 4 year old, we didn't play for speed.  Instead, we just took turns.  But it was still super fun and was able to get our brains working!  And it was so much fun to watch the kids teach their daddy what counted as a set and what didn't.



So what do we think about Dolphin Hat Games?  Well, we hope they'll create some more games soon!  We've only had these games for a couple of weeks and they're already both favorites!  They're quick, portable, and lots of fun!  The kids (and mom and dad) request them often!

I received these games, free of charge, from Dolphin Hat Games, in exchange for my honest review.

Tedco Education Toys and Games Review

Today's gameschooling blog review is super educational!  Now I know what you're thinking.  Shouldn't all gameschooling reviews be "super educational?"  But the answer is no.  Some games are subtle in their educational value, but they're still educational.  Sometimes you need a "covertly educational" item.  Haha! The folks at TEDCO Toys, however, have lots of "overtly educational" toys!  And they're fantastic!  Let me introduce you to a couple of them!

Animal Quest Globe and Game

Great Board and Card Games from AMIGO Games Inc.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!!  Have I said that before?  Yes.  I believe I said that on my last review!  Haha!  Can you tell that I'm excited?  I love this time of year!  I love giving gifts!  But as my kids get older, I'm constantly battling the accumulation of worthless junk.  And it happens fast, people! I mean, LIGHTENING FAST!  So this year I've tried to focus more on gifts that make my kids think - books, crafts, and GAMES!!!  With that in mind, I'll be doing some game-related blog reviews this month!  And I'm super excited about this one!  The amazing folks at AMIGO Games were kind enough to send us several games to review!  And I have to say, I was really impressed!

Math For Love Games Review (Prime Climb and Tiny Polka Dot)

As a homeschooler, some subjects are easier than others.  Some subjects are a struggle. Math has always been one of those subjects for me, and it was beginning to become of struggle for my oldest as well.  I realized things had to change.  She was starting to pick up on my dislike of math and it was spilling over onto her.  I needed to find a way to make math fun.  But I wasn't really sure how.  After all, I'd never really considered myself a "math person."  Then I discovered gameschooling and everything changed!  For all of us!  Turns out, using games to help reinforce math concepts is easy!  And it doesn't feel like work! So I began to look for math games for our family.  That's when I found Math For Love and I fell in love!  Haha!


The folks at Math For Love were kind enough to send me both of their games to review.  First up was Prime Climb.  I was immediately drawn to it because it's so pretty!  (I love colorful games!  I guess that's a win for the Math For Love folks!  They drew this "non-math mama" into a math game just by the looks of it!  Haha!

Santa's Sleigh Ride Board Game Review

Y'all!  Its November! That means I'm officially allowed to talk about Christmas stuff!  Haha!  And don't worry.  I'm not forgetting Thanksgiving.  In fact, today I'd like to review something I'm very thankful for - BOARD GAMES!  And what game should I start with?  Why, a Christmas game, of course!

Great Books From Christian Focus Publications

I'm constantly looking for great books for my kids and I to read together.  It's kinda my thing.  My husband says I may have a bit of an addiction.  Haha!  But I was thrilled when Christian Focus Publications sent me some books to review!  What do I love about these books?  Well, they're beautiful!  Just scroll down and check out some of the pics!  They're also easy for kids to understand and full of great information!

Great Medieval History Books from Getty Publications (For Children AND Adults)

I'm gonna be completely honest.  I've been pretty giddy planning this year's homeschool curriculum.  As Classical Conversations homeschoolers, we're currently in the midst of Cycle 2 - Medieval History. That happens to be my "thang." I LOVE LOVE LOVE medieval history, literature, art!  I can't get enough!  So when the fine folks at Getty Publications offered to send me some books to help with our lessons on the Middle Ages, I jumped at the chance! And I was not disappointed with the wonderful titles they sent!  Let me introduce you to some fascinating books!

First up: Don't Let The Beasties Escape This Book! -

Pick And Draw Card Game and Book Review

Hello lovely readers!  Its been a little while!  But we've been getting our homeschool rhythm!  It takes a while.  Haha!  But I had to stop by the blog and introduce you to one of our new FAVORITE games! Pick and Draw!

Great Advent Reads From New Growth Press

If you read my blog or follow my Instagram account or my Facebook page, then you probably know how much I LOVE Christmas!  It's my favorite time of year!  I have so many decorations that I have to start in November with the decorating.  I love to find great Christmas-themed books and devotionals to read during the holiday season. One of my FAVORITES is Prepare Him Room, by Marty Machowski!

Why I LOVE the Logic of English Curriculum And Our Experience So Far

Well, as promised, I am back with another Logic Of English review!  And, ladies and gents, my opinions have not changed!  In fact, I may be MORE in love with this program now than I was in June of last year when I first posted about it!  If you are a reader of my blog, you may remember that I wrote two separate posts last year: one on why I chose the Logic of English curriculum for my kids, and one on what I thought were the necessary items for Level A of the program.  So let me go back to that review and tell you our experience with the different products.