I am so excited to be a part of the Tryazon SmartGames Party. I am 100% a family oriented person. My kids are my world, and will always be, no matter what the age. We have been playing games together, and with friends, for as long as I can remember. Everything has become so electronic oriented, though, and it is harder to stay connected because of that. That’s why I really love, we really love, board games, hands on games. These three games from Smart Games are not only fun, but they are also exercise for the brain. That is suggested for all ages now, too. No matter how old we get, we need to exercise our games, and the best way to do that is with games. The games that were sent to us to try out and experience are:

• 2 sets of IQ XOXO

• 2 sets of Busy Bugs

• 2 sets of Ghost Hunters

These games are slated for 1 player each, so it’s great to have more than one, so you can compete and challenge each other, if so desired. Games like this are great for large and small families. A child can keep themselves occupied by themselves this way too. Which is great for my youngest! We had a lot of laughs, and silliness throughout the party. It was a lot of fun. My favorite comment of them all, at the end is: “Wow, that was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.”

IQ XOXO is a game that entails challenges. You are given a booklet of challenges that you need to complete. There are 120 challenges too. Each board consists of 10 puzzle pieces that fit into a built-in grid on the game board. The pieces are solid plastic and highly durable, and everything is self-contained in a small plastic container, for storage. This is a 1 player games slated for children ages 6 through adulthood. My son really like this game. This one is pretty neat. The pieces are nice vibrant colors. You have to fit them into the matching sequence as shown in the puzzles. It’s actually very fun, and enjoyable to do. My son loved the pieces. Probably because they reminded him a lit bit of Legos, lol.

BUSY BUGS is a 1 player game for ages 7 through adulthood. It is also self-contained game, in a book like form, which snaps shut. There are 4 magnetic game pieces that you move around the magnetic board to solve/match up to the many, many challenges set up in this book. There are 48 to be exact. They can be redone, and redone, too. By the time you work your way through, the first one will again be a challenge. The further up you move in the numbers, the more challenging it becomes, too. This is a great one for traveling, and for sitting on the couch, because it can be done on your lap. It really doesn’t get more convenient than this one. There is even answer pages in the back of each puzzle section. Don’t look until you’re done, or you’ll just be cheating yourself.

GHOST HUNTERS is also a 1 player game for ages for ages 6 through adulthood. I love the name of this game, and was drawn to it immediately. This one was my first choice. There are 60 challenges to this game. The challenges, or puzzles, are printed in a foldout pamphlet. I am going to cut the pages apart and laminate them, eventually, so they last longer. You need the puzzles to last, since they are integral to the game. The bottom half of the board opens up to reveal the other game boards, that rest on the top half of the unit. After you place your chosen game board on the platform, you have 6 hard plastic games pieces that cover the board. You will need to find the coordinating puzzle challenge that matches your chosen game board. You need to move them around to reveal the ghosts as shown in your current challenge. I love everything that is Halloween, so I love the game boards, lol.

These games are great to boost and strengthen your cognitive skills and abilities. It’s great for kids, because they don’t even know that they are doing this. It’s just fun for them. The colors, and designs are fun, and engaging. From what I have seen, this applies to all ages. Most brain games for adults are boring to look at, and it’s easy to lose interest. I have been enjoying this set as much as my son. His favorite is different from mine, and it’s fun to see who can do the challenges faster. Overall, these games are well thought out and put together. They most definitely can be used from child through adulthood. They can be used solely, or as entertainment in a group environment. You can create a game/event, where you have to complete a challenge to move on to the next event. That would be fun at birthday parties, rainy days, and more. These have really been an enjoyable set of games. I was very pleasantly surprised, and I am truly glad I was able to share them with you.

Check out their games here: http://www.smartgamesusa.com/

#tryazon #SmartGamesUSA #GotItFree

It’s time to be pretty in pink. Well, for me anyhow, lol. The competition has begun in the double walled construction, stainless steel beer koozies. This is number two for me to review. Yes, we even have the original Yeti one as well. My older son made sure of that. This one is not built up to the overall ruggedness of the Yeti, or even some of the competitors. It is however, made well, and functions well. The largest difference in construction and design is the “lid” of this koozie. It is completely made out of silicone. Even though it has threads built into it and the stainless itself, the lid just pushes on. The threads help keep it firmly in place. It stays put pretty well too though. A bottle can fit in here, but cans are really the forte of this holder. That is what I would stick with this product. The silicone is thick, and soft on the face. If you tip this into drink, and it rests on or hits your face, while drinking, this lid is soft and warm against the skin. Not hot from being outside, or cold, because it’s not made out of metal, like a lot of others.

This product is available in a total of 4 colors as well. So, you can get multiple, and everyone can be designated a color. They have the pink, black, navy blue, and red available. These are insulated, and will help to keep your drinks cold for a longer period than without. I can’t think of a hot can, lol. But, if you have heated coffee in a can, or bottle, this would help to keep it warmer, longer as well. You will not get that horrible can sweat anywhere, since this is a stainless insulated tumbler. They gave a cool tip on their ad page. They state to get the maximum coolness out of this koozie, to fill it with ice water prior to using it. Then let it sit for 5 – 10 minutes beforehand. That never would have occurred to me. It’s easier to just put ice in it, or to place it in the freezer. But then it is so cold to hold, lol. This is not made for the slim cans, but the regular old fashioned shaped soda and beer cans. Depending on the can that you have, it may be harder to shove the silicone top on, than with others. But, it won’t go anywhere once on. Overall, it’s not the best stainless can koozie out there, but it works, is comfortable on the face, and it’s priced well.

I received this, at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – New Design Beverage Can & Bottle Cooler Insulator Stainless Steel Koozie – Best Sleeve for Beer Bottle and Cans (Hot Pink).

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KQKUPPI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is not a secret that my family loves its’ stainless steel tumblers. Since the tumblers have become widespread and heavily used, new forms have emerged. My older son gave the Yeti stainless can kozies, as gifts for Father’s Day this past year. So, we even have those, lol. This particular Solstus koozie is a competitor that has hit the market. There are some differences to this one, that makes it more usable for bottled beers, than the Yeti can koozie. This one’s shape is just slightly different. So, it can easily accommodate both 12oz cans and bottles. It is made out of plastic and stainless steel. There is even a secret, thermal lock gasket, that helps to secure your bottle or can. It definitely held our Corona really well. It didn’t rock at all, in the Koozie; a perfect fit. The stainless steel is 18/8 stainless, and it is vacuum sealed, double wall construction. That is what gives it it’s great insulation properties. The plastic is part of the screw on top. It is threaded well, and easy to do. Just unscrew the top, and place your bottle or can inside of it, and screw the top back on. Then, just enjoy, relax, or party. Whatever is on your agenda. It is stated that this koozie will keep your drink cooler 10X longer than without. It definitely keeps it cooler longer, I can attest to that much anyways. I like the little added green color of this holster. We like to call it Zombie Green, lol. It’s a fun twist to a stainless koozie. I love the no sweat factor this koozie delivers. And, you do not have to worry about it rusting here on the coast, since it is made out of quality stainless steel.  It is just like our stainless steel tumblers. It’s comfortable to hold and use. It’s sturdy in construction, and highly durable. We have no complaints.

I received this product, for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Solstus Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated 12oz Can Colster / Koozie / Insulator.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EIGB6H2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Halloween is my favorite holiday. It is so much fun, and it’s for all ages. When you think of Halloween, you think of skeletons. My son had to have one last year, and it was a hard plastic. He immediately broke one of the joints, so now it’s a one-armed skeleton, lol. So, I am really liking this one. It is so much more durable, and house friendly. It is soft to the touch, and it is made out of plastic foam, but feels like a thick foam. If you put your face close to it, you can smell it at first. It’s shipped in a cellophane wrapper. It did air out. The smell wasn’t strong enough to make me sick with my insane allergies, so I have no concern over it. All foam has an odor to it. The design looks just like it’s pictured. One of the eyes has a smidgen of red just outside of the eye socket. That might make someone with OCD nuts, lol. A white out pen, or sharpie marker can correct that if it bothered you. It doesn’t bother me at all. Mine measured out at 25 inches long, and 9 inches wide, at the widest point. Fortunately, it has a loop attached to it, so it’s a breeze to hang up. Since it is soft, it won’t scratch up your walls or doors, if your kid plays with it, like mine. So, I am loving that feature. The cord is attached to the top of the head, and is 5 ½” long. It can be used both indoors and outdoors. I love the red color in the eye sockets. It gives it a lot of depth and interest. You can add it to a collage of other spooky decorations, or let it hang alone. You can add flashing lights, or colored LEDs, to make it look spookier. Just be creative and have a lot of fun. It’s an easy going, foam skeleton, enjoy.

I received this for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – YoungKer’s Vbiger Scary Halloween Skeleton.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JFQXLL4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We love to make homemade pizza in our home. I have insane food allergies, and we really can’t make frozen pizzas or even, takeout pizza, in our home. If we do not do homemade, we really have no other pizza we can eat. Fortunately, I make a mean sauce, lol. Making homemade pizza is such a great option. We ordered bulk, organic, non GMO flour, and we can really make a healthy pizza for our family. I feel so much better being able to purchase healthy ingredients, and making a yummy, but good for your product. Eating pizza doesn’t have to be an unhealthy choice, just a yummy choice. I have had a pizza peel on my wish list for a long time. I had a wood one in the past, but I really wanted a stainless one. You can use this in any type of oven, and even on pizza cooked on your grill. This pizza peel does measure out at 9 ½” wide and 13” long. The handle extends for use, and folds in for easy, easy storage. With the handle fully extended, it is 22” long. All you have to do is open the handle, and slide the stainless steel ring down over the handle to lock it in to place, and slide it up to fold the handles back in; so easy. It really is a clever design. To top it off, even with the non stainless handle, it is still quite dishwasher safe. The handle is very, very sturdy, and comfortable to hold and manipulate. It has a soft, rubberized coating on it, making it making it easy to hold onto. It doesn’t get hot to the touch, so you do not need to use a pot holder with it either. They call it their Comfort Grip Rubber Handle. It lives up to its name.

Even if you are not using the peel to take the pizza out of the oven, it is fantastic for separating the pizza from my stone. No matter what I put down on my stone, I always have my crust stick to it a little. This is so much better for that. I can remove it from the stone without cutting up the crust, just using a spatula. With a peel, you can turn or remove large items on a grill. Remove pies from your oven, or fresh breads you throw in the oven to heat up, and more. If you are short like me, you can use this to help reach into the oven and pull things to the front of the oven. I have burned myself more than once, removing a hot dish from the oven. You can grab the underside of a dish with this and pull it right to the edge, making it really easy to grab. This pizza wheel is very sturdy, and a solid piece of stainless steel. It is not bendy in the least. I really can’t say enough positive about it. It really is a great add to the kitchen.

I received this at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Checkered Chef’s Stainless Steel Pizza Peel With Folding Handle.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FGTFBHG

I have been lucky enough to be able to review Virginia Kitchen Boys’ ceramic cookware in their Lavender theme. This is the 4^th piece I’ve received. It’s their 1 ½ quart casserole dish. I absolutely love it. It is also such a useable piece. As like the other pieces, this product is handcrafted here in the USA. It is made out of “100% lead free, cadmium free, non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints.” It is microwaveable, oven, and dishwasher safe as well. You can cook with this in the oven up to temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be picky about drastic temperature changes. For example, do not take it out of the oven, and put it straight into the sink to wash. Also, don’t take it from being wet from washing it, and place it into the oven. Even though it is dishwasher safe, and has a hard finish on it, I like to hand wash my ceramic wear. I’m afraid of other items in the machine chipping my cookware. This casserole dish has the beautiful lavender decoration going all the way around the outside if it. It is really pretty to serve it. The slick ceramic coating goes around all of the dish, except for the underside, on this one. Since you can cook and serve in this same dish, do not forgot to place a trivet down on the table. Then, when you are done serving from it, when it cools of, you can wrap it and place the leftovers in the fridge, in the same casserole dish. I love convenience like this. You can do so much with this dish. You can just serve cadies, or snacks in it. You can make hot dips, casseroles, salads, baked omelets, and cook meat dishes in it as well. You can make your yummy fruit crisp dessert in this dish, and be proud to serve it to your guests. Hummus is the new craze, and you can definitely serve it proudly in this dish. I love baking brie with fruit preserves, and that can be done easily in this casserole dish. You really can’t go wrong. I love cooking in stoneware like this, because it heats up so evenly, this cooking your food dish so evenly. I am absolutely loving their line of lavender themed ceramic cookware. This casserole dish is going to get a ton of use.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own.”– Virginia Boys’ Kitchens’ Large 1 1/2 Quart Ceramic Casserole Oven-to-table Deep Baker and Serving Dish with Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016V9SWTO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#AtADiscount

#TouchOfClassReviews

Wow, this is my third stunning piece from the Lavender line of ceramic cookware, from Virginia Boys Kitchen on Amazon. I absolutely love it. This is a 2 quart serving/cooking bowl. You can do so much with it too. The quality lives up to my high expectations. My piece arrived with no imperfections. I am always so relieved when pottery arrives in perfect condition, lol.  I also love the fact that this piece was handcrafted here in the good ole USA. That is something I love to get behind and support. Especially when the product is so wonderful. Cooking in ceramic wear like this is so wonderful. It heats up evenly and cooks evenly. The cooking quality is worth the little extra care you need to maintain it. Now, that said, this bowl is highly user friendly. It is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s so great that you can cook in it, then bring it to the table to serve in it. Just remember to use a trivet. I love how the Lavender design wraps around the entire bowl. The entire bowl is ceramic coated, even the underside. Always avoid extreme temperature changes with this ceramic wear. Do not take it from stove to sink, or from sink to oven. The drastic change will make it crack, or split in half. You can do so much with this bowl. You can cook casseroles, vegetables, desserts, and more in in. It’s a great pasta serving bowl of course. You can serve soups, salads, fruit salads, and snacks as well in this bowl, too. A large bowl is one of the most versatile pieces you can own in a kitchen. You can even cook a cake in this bowl. I would grease it down with butter, before cooking the cake in it, so it’s easier to get it out when you flip it over. Overall, this is a wonderful piece. I have absolutely no complaints with it, except that I only have one, lol.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys kitchens’ Large Ceramic 2 Quart Pasta Serving Bowl with Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BCCJR4E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#GotADiscount

#TouchOfClassReviews

I do a lot of cooking from scratch, and that includes bread, and cakes. Both of which are perfect for this stunning loaf pan from Virginia Boys Kitchen. I love this Lavender Series they have going right now. I already have their Lavender baking tray, and now this loaf pan. It is a substantial piece capable of holding a 2lb loaf. This product is made here in the U.S., which is a fact I absolutely love. I love to support products made proudly here in the U.S.A. It is made out of “100% lead free, cadmium free, non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints”. You don’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food with this product. I have cooked with stoneware for years now. It really does distribute heat evenly throughout, which allows for even cooking. It is so worth the little extra care needed for its maintenance. This loaf pan was handcrafted. It is pretty thick, and very well made. The ceramic covering encompasses the entire pan. The very underneath does not have the smooth shiny finish to it. This stone can be used in the oven, and microwave. It can be washed in the dishwasher too. I always hand wash my stoneware though. I always worry about other dishes banging into it, and thus chipping it. It can withstand temps up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit too. You want to make sure that you never take it from oven to sink without letting it cool off first. You also don’t want it to go from wet sink to the oven, as well. Extreme temperature changes will cause it to crack. It is pottery. Try to remember that. It has the pretty Lavender design on both sides of it. You can use it as a serving dish too. You can serve side dishes in it, desserts, and candies too. It’s a beautiful piece that can go from oven to table, and in style too. I absolutely love my new loaf pan. It is definitely a quality piece.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large 8 Inch Ceramic Deep Bread Loaf Baking Pan with Scalloped Edges and Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found her on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9MFUIU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#GotADiscount

#TouchOfClassReviews

If you like to entertain, or enjoy your coffee and tea, then you might really enjoy this Stainless Steel Carafe from Quality of Life. It can also be used to keep cold drinks cold, longer too. This is a 68oz carafe. It is pretty easy to fill, and will help keep your beverage hot, a lot longer. Aesthetically, I think this is a gorgeous piece. It is very sleek, and modern looking, while still holding a traditional flare, in case you like to have the ladies over for tea. It is made out of 18/10 Stainless Steel, and has double wall construction for an insulation factor. It not only is double walled, but there is also a vacuum seal, which creates the great insulation factor everyone is getting to know and love with the Yeti Tumbler. This Carafe is very well made. Mine has no imperfections, and feels quite solid in hand. When you close the lid, just double check to make sure it’s pushed down all the way, to ensure the utmost insulation of your beverage temperature. The opening is large enough for me to pour boiling water into it from my kettle. I was concerned about the size at first, but I had no issues the first time I tried it. I tried it while holding a camera in one hand, so I could film it, lol, and the boiling hot water in the kettle, in my other hand. If I can pour the water into the carafe like this, successfully, and without a stray drip, then anyone can. Now, even though it is double walled, it still gets hot to the touch when you fill it with hot water. It doesn’t get hot enough to burn you, but it still gets hot. The handle stays cool to the touch though, so that is all that matters. The bottom doesn’t get hot either, so you can place it down on the table. About 2 ½ hours after I filled it with boiling hot water, the carafe was getting cooler on the outside, and the top portion was still a little hot to the touch. It really retains its heat. I was happy to see that this carafe is actually dishwasher safe. I wasn’t sure because of the seal, but it is. It is definitely restaurant quality too. I hand wash everything, and it’s easy to reach down into the bottom of this product, with a bottle brush. Stainless doesn’t naturally harbor fungus, bacteria, or mold, so it’s a great material to be used in the kitchen/food environment. Now, I did a long term test on the carafe with hot water. It is great for casual dining, and entertaining. It will not by any means keep your water hot, like coffee or tea hot, for a long span. I let it sit for 7 hours, with never opening it up. The water was tepid at that point, and I had to microwave it in my coffee cup, to make a cup of tea. I think it’s perfect for social entertaining. You can get your coffee, or tea, or pitcher of cold drinks ready, and be able to set the table and sit down and enjoy with your friends and family. It’s perfect for that.  

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Quality of Life’s Hiware 68oz Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe, Double Walled Vacuum Insulated Carafe with Press Button Top.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XTOB6UW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#GotItFree

#TouchOfClassReviews

I first became hooked on cooking on stones years ago with Pampered Chef. They really do make a difference with cooking. Then the ceramic coated ones came out, and they are so much prettier and are great to serve with as well. This serving tray from Virginia Kitchen Boys is so pretty. I love the lavender design on it. Lavender is such a great flower to begin with, so I am really enjoying the theme of this cookware. This serving tray is 9”x14”. It has a nice, smooth, flat surface. You can make pizza on it. Cook appetizers on it, and then serve from it, and so much more. You do not have to worry about what you are cooking on either. This tray is made in the USA. It is also 100% lead and cadmium free. It is made out of non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints. They state it is an eco-friendly product. You can use this tray in the oven, dishwasher, and microwave. You can heat the tray up, and serve foods on it, to keep the food hotter, longer. Just remember to place a hot plate underneath of it, if you choose to do so. The entire tray is ceramic coated, even underneath. At first glance, your company will think it’s only a tray, not cookware too.

Since it is pottery, it has some weight to it. Make sure you don’t throw it under cool water when hot. It has a higher chance of cracking that way, since it is stoneware. They also suggest not cooking in it over 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though it’s ceramic coated, you do not want to soak it in water before cooking in it. That can also cause it to crack. It may seem, from what I am saying, that this stone is fragile, but it really isn’t. It just has some basic instructions. I have stones that I’ve had for years. They cook so evenly, it’s amazing. Because it’s pottery, the heat really disperses evenly throughout it. I absolutely love cooking on stones. They include a great sheet with care instructions. The instructions never change, so if you already cook on a stone, the instructions are the same for this one. I absolutely love this product. It’s perfect for both cooking on and serving on.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’  Large Flat Rectangular Ceramic Serving Platter Tray with Curved Scalloped Edges and Hand Painted Decorative Lavender Design

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016X3OTX6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#GotADiscount

#TouchOfClassReviews