We received an expanded version of their Bracelet Kit. The bracelet kit, for purchase, has enough for 4 bracelets to be made, and each bracelet to have 3 charms on it. From their website, each kit contains:

“Make 4 stylish charm bracelets
Clay colors included – Teal pearl and Pearl
Kit includes: 2 oz. Sculpey III clay, 12 decals, 4 plastic squeegees, 4 metal circle cutters, 4 metal bangle bracelets, 12 eye pins, 12 6mm jump rings, 4 plastic rollers, 4 toothpicks, and instruction sheet.”

If you are new to this clay crafting world, I highly recommend watching their YouTube video for the bracelet kit. It is so well done, and easy to understand. After watching it, I was very confident that we would all do well and have a great time. You will need additional supplies. You will need a little container with water for each person to soak their decals in, an index card, or thin piece of cardboard, to place their charms on, as they are made, and then to bake on, at least one paper towel each to dab the water away off the applied decal, and to clean off the squeegee and hands, a pair of small needle nose pliers would be great. A pencil to outline the decals with, and a pair of scissors to cut out the decals. I prepared the decals prior to my guests arriving, to both save time, and to make it more relaxing and easier for everyone. I even wrote everyone’s name on the index card, so when I baked the charms, no one’s charms got mixed up. I placed the charms on their perspective index card, onto a baking sheet, and then into the oven for 20 minutes. It went so smoothly that way.

The included instruction pamphlet is bright, well-illustrated, and written. It has cut lines in it, so you can cut it apart, and then you and your guests can easily share it around the table. I decided to laminate mine, so the instructions would both, not get ruined, and be easier to use with wet hands. Also, when laminated they are sturdier, and easier to prop upright, if needed. The charms need to be baked for 20 minutes at 275 degrees F. They stress to not overbake them, so set a timer, and make sure your oven was preheated thoroughly, first. The laminated sheets ended up being so perfect. We even placed a block of clay to be cut, by the outline of how to cut one, so each was done perfectly.

Now, the clay can damage some surfaces, so make sure you put a smooth work surface down, prior to working with the clay. You can use smooth cutting boards, wax paper, foil, baking trays, and the like. You will also want to make sure you wash your hands prior to working on the clay, and wipe them in between each color, so you don’t accidentally mix the colors.

Now, we chose to invite couples to our party. Many couples love to craft and do things with each other. It is no different than the pottery and wine nights, or the paint and wine outings, that you see everywhere. This, I think, is more fun, because it can be done in home. You can relax and cut up more. Serve food and drinks that everyone will enjoy, and really make an evening out of it. It really is a no brainer. We unfortunately had 1 ½ couples cancel last minute due to both illness and family obligations, but we still had a blast.
I also chose to buy some glow in the dark clay, in case anyone wanted to use that for one of the charms, instead of the included clay. I went to our local Micheals, and they had almost an entire aisle done in just Sculpey clay and accessories. Soooo many colors to choose from. I couldn’t decide, until I saw glow in the dark, and I thought that was just too much fun, so I bought that pack quickly and then bolted, lol. One can easily get carried away with all of those choices. You can check out the Sculpey website and see all the different things they offer. You will be amazed, I promise you.

I am really impressed with the decals. They come in sheets, so you do need to cut them out. The pamphlet and the video show you how to do so. You just place your circle cutter on the sheet, starting from the bottom edge, so you don’t waste any of it. Then, take a pencil, and outline the inside of the circle cutter with the pencil. Now you just need to cut out the circle with a pair of scissors, place the decal in some water, and wait until it starts to flatten out in the water, and the decal should come right off the paper, with a little swipe of your fingers. Now, you just place the decal on the cut circle of clay you have prepared, dab with a paper towel, to get the excess water off of it, and a light scrape with the squeegee to get out all of the air bubbles. That’s all you have to do. Then, when you are done baking your beads, you have a beautiful design on your bead, that would have been impossible to do without it. I think the decals are truly ingenious.

Some of us did go a little rogue from the kit. I had holiday themed clay cutters that I bought, so we made bat designs with glow in the dark clay. One made an Easter themed charm, and my husband made a couple actual skull shaped charms. You can really be so creative with this product.
Overall, I am really impressed with both the product, and the company. They really have done a fantastic job of creating well thought out kits, individual product, incredible instructional videos found on Youtube, and instructions that are easy enough for a complete novice to understand. Thank you Tryazon and Sculpey for such a wonderful experience.

How to video via Sculpey:

Scupley sites to check out and follow:
Website: https://www.sculpey.com/
Bracelet Kit: https://www.sculpey.com/web-exclusive/161-sculpey-iii-charm-bracelet-kit-diy-party-for-4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolyformProducts
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PolyformProducts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SculpeyPolyform?s=17
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sculpey/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sculpey_polyform/

Tryazon: https://www.tryazon.com/

I received this product to test. All opinions are my own and honest. I received no monetary payment for my review, and I do not make any money off of the sale of the product.

I don’t about you, but I love smart home gadgets. We have them sprinkled throughout our home, and truly believe they have both enhanced our daily lives, as well as give us a true sense of security. I was so excited to be chosen as part of the Merkury Innovations Smart Home TryaBox campaign. I couldn’t wait for my box to arrive. What we were all being sent was a surprise. When my box arrived, I couldn’t wait to tear into it. I received their Indoor Wi-Fi Plug, their 720P WIFI CAM, and their Smart Wi-Fi Bulb – White. Definitely a great box of goodies!

These products can be run by one app. It is free and availabe on IOS and Android. I have an Android phone. It is a Samsung Note 9. The app you download is Geeni. Once downloaded, you add your home (name it), and location. These run off a 2G network. Most homes are 5G with new higher speed cable. We have a router that does 2G in our home as well, so we can operate some smart home products that we use. The home page of the app has categories. If you are attaching a smart plug, just click on that option, and it walks you through the steps, which is nice. Pretty user friendly. I can’t state enough though. Have your 2G password ready, lol. I started with my 5G out of habit, and had to reinstall the app with my husbands phone number. After that, and a few curse words from my husband, lol, we have been connected and up and running without issue. Now, once you have your smart home item connected, and you use Amazon’s Alexa, go to your Amazon account and enable the Geeni app. You can operate all of these gadgets from the app, but it is a lot of fun to just ask Alexa to do it.

The Merkury Innovations Smart Plug was the first item I tested out. It just plugs into your existing outlet. It has a great size to it, and does not block the other outlet, which is key to us. We have a lot of plugs, lol. I already stated how we connected it to the app. We use our Alexa to operate it on a daily basis, though. This smart plug can handle a 3-prong plug. We chose to plug in a decorative light that I love, my flamingo light, lol. But, we also use this outlet for our Christmas tree. I can’t wait to be able to use Alexa for our Christmas tree, with this smart plug. I can’t wait! It’s going to be so much easier with all the items I place around my tree. Our plug has been working flawlessly so far. We are very pleased with it.

Merkury Innovations Smart Plug (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, Wi-Fi is built in

-Plug in, download the free Geeni app and start controlling your lights and appliances from anywhere in the world

-Slim and compact design will blend into your power outlet without blocking adjacent slots

-Works with Amazon Alexa, The Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana

The Merkury 800 White Dimmable A19 Smart LED Bulb was the 2^nd item we installed. We placed it over our kitchen island. We keep that light on 24/7 pretty much. This LED light bulb is bright at 800 lumens, which I love, and it is dimmable. It does not need a separate hub either. You can dim it from the app, but yes, it is also dimmable with Alexa. How cool is that! Just say, Alexa (whatever you named your light with Alexa) at 25%. It will adjust your light down to 25%. This is perfect for when we head to bed. It is also operable with Google Assistant or Microsoft Cortana, according to Merkury Innovations. The light, even when it’s on full brightness, is still pleasant to the eyes. It’s outer covering is white plastic, which is what my family seems to prefer. I also like that it won’t shatter if I drop it. Overall, we are loving this bulb. We cannot find any negatives with it, and love being able to operate it remotely. Even when traveling, no more timer needed for your lighting. You can operate this remotely which is a dream.

Merkury 800lm (60W Equivalent) White Dimmable A19 Smart LED Bulb (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, works out of the box with your home Wi-Fi. (2.4ghz wifi network required)

-9-Watt, 800 Lumens, equivalent to a traditional 60-Watt incandescent bulb

-Control your lights from anywhere with your smartphone using the Geeni app (iOS, Android)

-Easily control your lights with Amazon Alexa, your Google Assistant or Microsoft Cortana

The third item we received to test is the The Merkury Innovations WiFi 720P Smart Camera. We had no trouble connecting this to the app, or our Alexa. It has worked flawlessly since we plugged it in. It comes with the camera, a detachable power cord, and a USB adapter to be able to plug it into a regular outlet, in case you don’t have a USB outlet, and a round piece of double sided sticky tape, in case you want to mount it to your furniture or wall. The base, or stem, if you may, is unique. It is flexible, so you can turn it to eh desired angle you need. I really like this feature. It’s our first camera with that option. The image comes up pretty clear. The only downfall we have found with this camera, is the volume when speaking through it. If there is a lot of noise in the room where the camera is, and you are trying to speak through it via the app, you can barely hear the person. For us, there is a 5 second delay in the speech feature as well, which is not a real negative for us. Since we use our camera for security, to see what’s going on, the speech issue is not a major issue. If there was a break in at night, then that room would be quiet at that time anyhow. From the app you can press an alarm, press and hold to speak, record, and take photos, and playback. The alarm feature, when pressed on the app brings up a motion detector setting You can choose from low, medium, and high. This is a nice feature, because you can set it on, once everyone is in bed.

I have an Alexa Show, so I can actually ask Alexa to show me that room (You name the room for Alexa), and it brings up the camera view. I love being able to do that. Smart home technology to me, is a fun and positive option. We placed the camera, for now on our desk, so it faces our door into our garage. It captures most of the room there. At night time, the IR takes a few minutes to get adjusted to the dark. It’s not as fast as some cameras, but hopefully a break in doesn’t occur the second you turn the lights out. That, so far, is the main negative we have found with this camera. You can overcome this negative, however, if you have a nightlight in the room. Our room that we placed it in, is a pretty dark room at night. IR needs some light source to be effective. Here’s a photo of the night view on the Alexa Show:

We are going to continue to use it, as it is a pretty nice camera to use. The alarm is not an audible alarm that the camera emits. What it does is sends you a notification to your phone. It comes up as an alarm symbol. I like this feature. It will give you time to act, before melee breaks out, hopefully. You can also enable the notifications from your Alexa, Google, or Cortana device as well.

Merkury Innovations Smart WiFi 720P Camera (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, Wi-Fi is built in

-24/7 live video streaming: see your home on your phone in 720p HD and control vision from anywhere  

-Alerts on your phone: get motion alerts so you know if anything happens

 -Night vision done right: see the whole room at night

-Talk and listen: hear the baby or talk back to get someone’s attention

-Flexible stem to bend and mount at any angle

-Turn alerts on and off by voice with Amazon Alexa, your Google Assistant & Microsoft Cortana 

Over all, we are very pleased with both the Merkury Innovations products and their Geeni app. Since we have been up and running, everything has been working very well, and these products have enhanced our lives in a positive way. I love having the added security camera. We have been needing to add one to that room. I suffer from frequent anaphylactic reactions, and being able to operate my lights remotely, actually make my life easier. Not to mention, when we are out of town, we can both access and operate these new features to our home, remotely. A win, win, win, all around. Definitely check out what this company has to offer.

Availabe to purchase here:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-Smart-WiFi-720P-Camera/835969619

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-A19-Smart-Light-Bulb-60W-Dimmable-White-LED-1-Pack/512088827?athcpid=512088827&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=0957a8b7-516-169a5c0bfa591e&athena=true#https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-Smart-Plug-1-Pack/126201995?athcpid=126201995&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=d54623a0-18b-169a5c25aa9fcc&athena=true 

I received these products to test. All opinions are my own. I do not profit monetarily at all from this review or from any sales of these products. All product facts come straight from Merkury Innovations.

Being able to relax with family and friends, or just family, is such cherished time nowadays. Everyone works so hard, it’s just so hard to find that time. USAopoly is a company that makes a multitude of games. So, I was so excited to be able to be part of Tryazons’ USAopoly Blank Slate Board Party event. Unfortunately, mother nature thought we would enjoy Hurricane Florence much more. So, we evacuated, and were not able to come home for a couple of weeks. With clean up, work, and the effects we are currently feeling from Hurricane Michael, we ended up just enjoying family time. This game, Blank Slate, is the type of game that allows you to be silly, to relax, to not have to think too much, enabling you to just enjoy each other’s’ company.
In the box you will get:
1 Score Board
1 Directional Pamphlet
8 Dry-Erase Slates
250 Double-Sided Word Cue Cards with Box
8 Dry-Erase Markers with Erasers

The directions included are easy and quick to read. It took my husband only a couple minutes to read them, and then another minute to give us the directions, right before we played the first time. You need a minimum of three people to play, and can play with up to 8 people. My youngest was our third player. He was a reluctant participant since he prefers video games/computer games over anything else. As soon as we started playing, he started smiling, and laughing. My husband and I had a great time that night. Being able to interact in a game with our youngest, without electronics, was and is so amazing.

This game is so simple to play. Give everyone at the table a little whiteboard card and dry erase marker, included with the game. One person keeps ahold of the scorecard, to be the official scorekeeper. I seem to always get that job, but I do not mind. It is so easy to do. To play, everyone takes turns pulling out a card. You place the card either white side up, or grey side up. We have done games with white side up only, and the next game, grey side up only. The card states a word on it, with either a line before the word, or after the word. Then, everyone writes on their little whiteboard card a word that correlates to the word on the card. You need to think about what you think the others would write down. When everyone is done writing, then the person to the left of the person who drew the card, shows what their word guess is.

Then everyone else in a row, one by one. If everyone wrote the same word down, then everyone earns a point on the scoreboard, if no ones’ words match up, then no score is given that turn. Now, if multiple people guess the same word, then each person gets 3 points. The person to earn 25 points first, wins the game! See, so easy!

A game example:
Word drawn is: Ice_________
Example word guesses: cubes, cream, skating…..

This game is not only fun, but really allows you to have and enjoy a social experience at the same time. My youngest loved this game so much, he made us play another round as soon as we were done with the first game. This is now a family game, and I love it. I also love this game, because you can play it over and over. There are so many word options, that no game will ever be the same, and you can play it again and again! This really is the perfect game for game night, be it with your kids, or friends, or both at the same time.

As time goes by, and our town heals, and life gets back to normal, we will be able to have friends over for really fun game nights. We were so blessed to be introduced to this game. It really is a winner in our eyes!

Awards this game has won so far (Not Surprising):
2018 Parents’ Choice Award
2018 Family Choice Award
2018 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award

You can see what this great company has to offer here: USAopoly: http://www.usaopoly.com/ . They have a vast array of fun games to experience.
Here are some of the ways you can check out this game, as well as follow them on social media:
Blank Slate
Facebook Link
Instagram Link
Pinterest Link
Twitter Link

I received this to test via Tryazon and USAopoly. I was in no way monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions are honest and my own. I will not and do not earn any money from any of the sales of USAopoly.

#ad #Tryazon #blankslate #USAopoly

I was very excited to be chosen as a hostess for the Play with Pai Technology Parties. I did not know what I was receiving when I was chosen, which kept up the anticipation in my household. My youngest who is eleven is homeschooled. He loves technology and couldn’t wait to get his hands on the box. I was overjoyed, as was he, to see a variety of Pai items in the unboxing. In my box, I received:
–Cube-Tastic!
–Ocean Pets
–TJ’s Fairytale Adventure, TJ & the Beanstalk
–Circuit Conductor
-2 AAA batteries
– 2 Spiral Note Sized Notebooks
-5 Coloring Cards to hand out
-1 Flyer
I was excited to read in the flyer, that Staples has Pai Technology Products on sale, 15% off, until August 3! That’s a great way to save on toys that are both fun while helping you learn. Steam toys are definitely the new must have for parents and kids nowadays. They even have a contest going until August 3, 2018. You need to follow them on Instagram @PaiTechnology. Find and like their giveaway photo. Comment on the giveaway photo with which product you are most excited about using #PlaywithPai in the sentence. Then, just tag two friends. They have 5 prizes that they are giving away, so go and check that out!
What is Steam technology? I could ramble on, so I thought that everyone would prefer that I posted a general definition instead. The following is from Sciencecloset.com: “STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.” They are able to wrap up the principals that children equate as homework, school, and work, into fun, bright, and interactive toys. They are learning and are happy doing so. I love our new technological age we live in now.
We love the Rubics Cube in our household, so that is the first product we tore into. The Cube-Tastic! By Pai is rightly named. First off, if your pad , for example were to break, the cube itseld is very well made. It is a much better quality than any Rubics Cube we have ever owned. Secondly, once you get a hang of the app, it is pretty amazing, and I am not sugar coating it. The box it comes in has little, to no directions, really. It pretty much says to go to your Playstore for your operating system and look for and download the Cube-Tastic! App. That is exactly how’s it spelled. It is free to download on Android. That is what I have. The minimal requirements are: IPhone 4 or newer, Ipad 2 or newer, Ipad min or newer, IPad Pro, or Android Smart Phone 4.0.3 or newer. Once you download the app, and agree to their terms, you are off and running. You need to scan the cube, as it tells you. Then you mix up the cube, scan it again, and it gives you the moves to solve it. It actually times you, too. You do the moves in view of the camera, so it can follow you and give you the next move, up until you are done. Then you scan it again, and it verifies it, and gives you the results. It’s pretty magical, especially if you have ever struggled with the cube!

The next product we delved into is the sweet interactive book, TJ’s Fairytale Adventure, TJ & the Beanstalk. There is something so magical about bringing a book to life like this. I may be an adult, but wow do I love this technology. They need to bring it into more books, that’s for sure. Now, the directions for the book are actually located in the back of the book. There is a little flap, open it up, and you will see the little book, labeled Handbook. There are interactive cards for the book, behind it as well. You will need your pad or phone to download the app. The requirements to use the app are: IOS 6.0 and above, Android 4.0 and above. I have an Android based Tablet. The app is free, search Pai Storybooks. Once the app opens, it gives you a clear tutorial on how to use it with the books. Then it will ask you to register and put in a code. For the life of me, it kept counting down to send me a code via email, but I didn’t get it. Then I remembered to check my spam folder, and there it was, lol. So check there before becoming flustered, like me. Then you take out the card from the back of the book, and scan it. Now it can read your book. In the corner of some of the pages, there are two letters printed, AR. You line up the tablet with that corner, and then it brings that page to life and reads you that page. The images are 3D, and act like an interactive video. It is so impressive! The cards that are in the back of the book do the same thing. It is really fun, and truly brings the story to life. Nothing but positives here! We love it.

After delving into storyland, we moved on over to electricity. My husband is an electrician, so I am surprised we didn’t jump into this one first, lol. We already own a competitors’ set up, so I was very curious about this one. Have a butter knife handy. You need one, or a coin, to access the battery compartment of the main unit. It requires 2 AAA batteries to operate. They included them for me to test, but none were in the actual box itself, so I cannot state for sure whether or not they are included. There is an app for this as well. Thus, the saying, There’s an App for that! It is free. Just do a search for Circuit Conductor and download it. The minimum requirements are: IOS 7.0 and above and Android 4.3 and above. You will need 2 GB of memory as well. You can just connect and explore on your own. The app is interactive though and is a quick study of how to set up about 4 different scenarios. The wires are magnetic, so simple for little hands to use and apply. This set is easy to set up and use. You can make sounds, and turn on and off, and dim the lights. There are switches as well. Overall, a fun and interactive beginner set up in circuit electricity.

Last but not least, Ocean Pets. I love this one. We always try and visit the aquarium near us at least once a year, so this particular product really called to us. You will need to download the Ocean Pets App from the Playstore, and it is also free. You need a minimum Iphone 4 and newer, or an Android 4.0.3. I have a Samsung 2 tablet and have had no issues with these apps I have mentioned throughout the blog. There are a lot of parts to this set up. The box really is not user friendly to use as storage, so I suggest getting a container or large Ziploc bag handy, to store the parts in. In this set you get:
1 Cushion (more like a small cutting mat)
2 Putty Tools
8 Sea Creature Templates
8 Putty Colors in Containers
(Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black, and White)
No parental code is need to use this app. Just accept the terms and you are set to go. It takes you step by step through making your fish out of the dough. Then you scan it with the app, and it comes to life in the screen. I opened up each dough pack, and I only had one that had dried out. The green was the unfortunate casualty. I find this very common wit any brand of modeling clay/dough. If this happens to you, you can just go and exchange your purchase. The dough has a great feel to it. It is soft, but dry. Not sticky at all to the touch, and leaves no residue behind. There is no odor to the dough either. I am very sensitive, and I have had no issues at all. The app is so cute and fun to do. It’s amazing how fast it scans your fish, and brings it to life in the app. The fish are cute to look at and fun to watch. You move the pad around to make it swim. You can even change the view so it looks like the fish is swimming through your actual room. That was a pretty fun feature. You take care of the fish too. You need to name them when you create them, play with the fish, feed them, let them sleep. When you go back in, the directions aren’t written out, but there are not that many areas to click on, so it is easy to figure out. Your fish will be there, so even when you run out of putty, you will still have your aquarium of fish.

Once you click on the fish to play with, it may be hiding in the ocean and you have to find it. Let me tell you what, it is strict on it’s sleeping time. We turned off the tablet, and hours later went back on. It started back at the same time for the sleeping count down. It’s 10 minutes, and it had over 5 minutes left, lol. When you pet, clean, and feed the fish, and let them rest, they grow. There is some educational information in the program as well, which is great. There are even puzzles to solve, as you search in the ocean for the pieces. Overall, this is a pretty fun, and very interactive program. It can be more hands on with new fish creating, or more laid back, where you just play with your current creations.
Everyone had fun watching videos of the products in action, and also being able to actually experience them hands on. The older kids and even adults couldn’t believe the Cube-Tastic app, and how easy it made it to solve the infamous cube. I’ve been having fun talking to people about the items. We had an emergency roof repair which made our party spread out and more personal at times. I honestly think it was more fun and easier this way. It takes time to explain and help people discover the items. We passed on the incredible interactive book to a precious young boy. Bringing stories to life for little kids is a magical experience to see. I wish every young child could experience these stories!
Overall, this has been nothing but a positive and fun experience. I am new to Pai products, and I am thoroughly impressed. The products inspire, teach, entertain, and teach all at the same time.

Pai Technology Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paitechnology/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paitechnology/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaiTechnology
Website: https://www.pai.technology/home

I received these Pai products to experience and share my thoughts, through Tryazon. All opinions are honest and my own. I do not and have not received any money for my posts. I do not make any money off of any sales through Pai either.

#PlayWithPai #Tryazon #ad #Steamlearning #Family #Education #learningthroughplay #toys #kids

I love game nights. Whether it’s just family, or spending time with friends, it creates great memories while having a great time. I was so pleased to be able to both try and share my opinions about this new game from USAopoly through Tryazon.
Some quick specs on the game:
For ages 9+
2 – 8 players
Currently for sale in the US and Canada only

Codenames Marvel is a game for Marvel fanatics. My household is the perfect fit, that’s for sure. My husband loves all that is Marvel. This game is easy to play, but there are a lot of instructions to read. Fortunately, the instruction pamphlet is both easy to read and follow. My husband was in charge of reading the instructions to our friends to see if they could easily grasp it, and they could. Even with frequent distractions from their little one running around.
The game is pretty simple. You have to lay out 25 cards in a grid pattern. Then you choose a card, which secretly lays out your particular grid. You work in teams and ask questions accordingly. One team is SHIELD and the other is HYDRA. Shield of course are the good guys! Mwahahaha for those on the Hydra Team. (You can be a one person team.) The goal is to build your team, but you have to guess clues from the director to find out who your fellow assets are. Each team will ask questions. For example, the director has to give a one word clue and a number. So the word could be scales, for example, and then number of cards that fit that description. If the number is 2 or more and the guessing side, “the agent” guesses correctly, they can either continue to try and find the others with that clue or request another clue. As long as they guess correctly, their turn continues. A wrong guess either uncovers a natural card or the opposing teams card. If they guess the wrong one, you place either a Hydra card or Shield card on top of it, depending on which side you are on. So, if you guess wrong, you are actually helping the other team win! You can choose the loser card though, and you automatically lose! There is a slot slated as the Thanos Assassin.

It’s the landmine of the board game, pretty much. Those with the most matches win. So, you can chat, eat, and be silly during the game. I will say that some of the cards are darker, and very detailed, which makes them a little hard to see if you have any vision difficulties. But, no worries, your partner can help you out.

Now, you can switch it up, and add variety to it. I think adding a timer to it would be hilarious. For example, only allowing 10 seconds, or less, to choose your card would be fun! Also, you can have couples take turns on the teams, if people were too busy chatting, chasing kids, and eating.

We served simple finger foods like cheese and crackers and pigs in a blanket to our guests. Our drinks were a variety of craft beers and Not Your Daddys Root Beer, lol. But, no drinks or food are required. The only thing required is some floor or table space to set out your game, that’s it.

Overall, it’s a fun, simple game to play with friends and family. We really enjoyed it. One lucky couple received a free game for themselves to take home. They have a older kids at home who they said will love it, and were very excited to take it home.

USAopoly has their own website, and sell numerous different games. That was another great experience for me. With Toys R Us closing, it was great to be able to see so many different genre of games in one place to look at and share with my son. Everything is so electronic nowadays, it’s important to connect without electronics. These games really help with that.

You can check out USAopoly and follow their social media at these following links:
http://usaopoly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/usaopoly/
Tweets by USAopoly
https://www.instagram.com/usaopoly/

I received this as part of a promotion from USAopoly through Tryazon. All opinions are my own, and I do not earn any money from any sales generating through this blog. I was also not paid to write to this blog or share my experience.

“E-Cloth aims to supply the most effective, healthiest and more environmentally friendly cleaning products at a good value to the consumer. Their chemical-free products use only water to remove dust, grease, oil, grime, dirt and bacteria.”

Ok, who here loves to clean. I know I do, lololol. Well, I love a clean home, and I really don’t mind cleaning. Cleaning is a game of Russian Roulette for me. I have asthma and insane, life threatening allergies. I have frequent anaphylactic reactions. One of my off the chart allergies is dust, and dust mites. Go figure, huh. So, I have to keep on top of cleaning in my home, or I really suffer the consequences. I also have issues with a lot of cleaners as well, both natural and chemical. I am always looking for a healthier way to clean. Both for myself, and my family. I was over the moon when I learned of the company E-Cloth. I had not heard of them before and was blessed with this opportunity to both try out their wonderful, wonderful products, and be able to share about them to others. I was sent a large variety of their cleaning products to try out, and I was sent goodies to give out as well. A win, win for everyone involved.
My package included:

My items to give away are:

So, maybe I shouldn’t have told people ahead of time that the party involved cleaning products, lol. I had a lot of people no show. Their loss, these products are pretty amazing! They loved the coupons, sample E-Cloths, and the contest!

These products are created so you can clean with just using water. No chemicals needed with their line of products. Wow!!!!!!!!!! Now you know why I had to see these for myself. This company was founded in 1995. Since they have been around for over 20 years, I had a lot of faith with them, going into this. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. My first impression upon discovering what was in the box, was sheer happiness. Everything appeared to be of great quality. Nothing was cheap or flimsy, at all. This company started in Europe, and per the company, became Europe’s #1 chemical-free cleaning company. They came to the US in 2008. Their product line includes anything from single cloths to value packs, and complete cleaning sets for kitchens, bathrooms, windows, floors, stainless steel, and electronics, and then some. They have something for everyone.

I know what you are thinking. That’s just surface cleaning. I need to disinfect. Well, I personally agree, I’m a clean freak. But, I do not agree that you need heavy chemicals that are bad for you and the environment, every time you clean. That’s if you are a regular cleaner, lol. People have cited actual harm that has come to their children and themselves, from cleaning agents. I think this company offers a great healthy alternative, that truly is needed.

Now, to further prove that these cloths clean well, here’s some scientific proof from the company:
“Fiber Density – Each e-cloth is fabricated to have as many as 3.1 million fiber strands per square inch of cloth. Nearly 500 million fiber strands are in each cloth. e-cloth’s filaments are so small and so strong; using just water they break up, lift, lock in, and clean deep down into the tiniest grooves and crevices. Dust, grease, oils, grime, dirt and bacteria are quickly and easily removed and locked away deep inside the fibers until the cloths are rinsed or washed. Surfaces are cleaned so effectively that there is nowhere left for bacteria to grow. Surfaces are left polished and totally smear and lint free. e-cloths rapidly absorb 7 times their weight in water. In addition, scientific research carried out by world renowned Silliker Group, has proven that e-cloths also remove over 99% of bacteria.”

The key to the cleaning cloths is to wet them thoroughly, then ring the water out. Then you can dry and polish with the polishing cloths. The dusting glove should be enough to dust the whole house, depending on the size and dust level, of course. To remove the dust from the glove, you will need to wash it, afterwards. The Kitchen pads are like any other scrubbing pad. You do not need to use soap though, with them. Have faith in the cloth; science, remember. The Pet Bowl Scrubber is just a scrubber as well, use it as such. I love the dog bone design though; so cute! I love that E-Cloth offers a water atomizer. It works great with their cloths. It is a fine atomized mist. Not overly heavy, which is what you don’t want with windows, mirrors, surfaces, etc.. It delivers just the right amount, which makes cleaning a breeze. These cloths can be thrown in the washer or rinsed thoroughly with hot water. They are pretty durable, well made, and easy to care for.

I have wood floors and tile through the majority of my home. So, I was very excited to try out their Deep Clean Mop. I love it! The handle is aluminum and comes in two parts, which is easy to put together, and take apart for storage. It extends from 34″ to 61″, which accommodates both different cleaning levels, and heights of those who are using it. It is very to maneuver, and use. I love it! The cloth has a 300 wash guarantee. One comes with it. Just add water to clean your hard surface floors. “True Chemical Free Cleaning – Proven to remove over 99% of all bacteria (including e-coli and listeria) from hard flooring surfaces with just water.” This is from their page about the mop. Yay! The mop head Velcro’s on. So, it’s easy to remove to wash, and reapply. You wet the cloth and wring it out, apply to the mop, then clean your flooring. So simple and quick, and I love that!!!!! You are safe to clean these flooring types with this mop: vinyl, bamboo, laminate, stone, ceramic, tile, hardwood, linoleum, and concrete.

After trying out their mop, I moved onto their stainless steel cleaning cloth, and window cleaning cloth. Two items that I thought might be harder to clean, since both surfaces are so finicky. Well, I was quickly proven wrong. The stainless in my kitchen was so clean and shiny after using the cloth. No lint, or streaks left behind, and no muscle put into it. I literally wiped with the damp cloth and dried with the polishing cloth. The windows were no different. No one really enjoys cleaning windows, and I hate using a ton of paper towels, which I always end up doing. I was over the moon happy to be able to clean all my glass surfaces in my dining room and foyer, without any paper towels. Besides my many windows in that room, I have a china hutch and glass front fireplace. The cloth system proved so easy, and insanely efficient in cleaning all of these surfaces. I cannot recommend this set enough, if you can only grab one set.
No one loves dusting, but I think you might love the dusting glove. With it you can clean those dust collectors so easily. The fibers really do cling onto the dust. My family will get to use that. I, unfortunately couldn’t handle the longer fibers with my fabric sensitivities. It is soft and it is perfect for higher end wood finishes and collectibles. You can clean without worry of damaging anything. My son came in 2nd at a National Woodworking Competition with a TV table build. This glove dusted it beautifully, and for once I didn’t have to worry about the finish on the table, lol. I always sweat over that when cleaning it. I did use the glove myself on this table, since it is quick to do. I was thrilled with it. It even went through my washer and dryer, very well.

All of the products have come through as advertised for me. I am both over joyed and relieved. I love knowing I will not be killing a tree every time I clean my windows and glass items. I normally go through quite a few paper towels. My stainless and floors are so much easier to take care of, and so on and so on. Hello, my name is Carol, and I am an E-Cloth convert. Thank you, E-Cloth, and Tryazon for letting me participate in this Party.

And the winner is:

E-Cloth: https://www.ecloth.com/ecloth-perfect-cleaning-with-just-water.html
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eclothUSA/
Direct link to all of their products: https://www.ecloth.com/All-Products/
E-Cloth’s Get To Know Them Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVowxVXQZDk&t=

I received these product to try from E-Cloth and Tryazon. All opinions are my own. I do not make any money off of the sale of these products, and I have not been paid any money to try out and represent these products.

The holidays are always so special to me and my family. We always remember we are blessed, every day of the year. Maybe that is why Christmas is just so special to us. We absolutely love decorating, and really look forward to it too. I will be honest, I start to sneak decorations up before Thanksgiving, and normally leave them up to Three Kings Day. Traditions span the religions of our world. One tradition of families celebrating Christmas, is passing on decorations from generation to generation. Clever Creations is a company that sells Nutcrackers. Not just the usual ones that we see everywhere, but all types. Types that can be adored by many.

I was thrilled to be chosen for this Clever Creations Tryabox! I was sent three of their different Nutcrackers, and a trio of their Shatterproof Pickle Ornaments. We used to play the Pickle Game every year. When our family changed, we stopped playing. I am so excited to renew this game. It is so much fun. The three Nutcrackers I was sent are: The Traditional King Nutcracker, The Chubby Italian Nutcracker, and The Lady In Silver Nutcracker.

The Pickle Game revolves around the Pickle Ornament. “The pickle ornament is the last ornament put on the tree. The first-person Christmas morning to find the ornament gets to open the “pickle present”.” The present can be anything that you want it to be. Since Santa always spoils my children, I used to make it cash, like a $10.00 bill. That way, no matter the age of the recipient, the gift would be perfect. I cheated though, because I am a softy. There was also always a consolation prize, too. I love, love, love, that the pickle isn’t glass, like my last one was. Now, I don’t have to worry about it breaking on Christmas morning, and someone hurting themselves. It comes in a three pack too. So, if I want, I can write up the story of the pickle game, and give the extras to a couple friends as a hostess gift, or just as a gift, or to a neighbor, etc. It’s fun giving people presents!

I received the traditional green Pickle Ornaments. They do have them available in other color options as well. Included in the package are some silver threads. You need to attach them to the ornaments yourself. Or, you can attach a hook of your choice. The ornaments measure out at 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 4.5″. I love how they have gold, sparkly spots all over the pickles. I love sparkles! Just make sure your Christmas lights don’t reflect off of them, or that may make it easier to find, lol!

 I lucked out and received one of the traditional Nutcrackers: The Traditional King Nutcracker. It is one of the staples, so we are proud to have it in our family now. My King measured out at 12” tall. The top of his crown, brings him to a little over 12”. His Gold Staff is moveable, but does not come out of his grasp. He is made out of wood, and has been decorated in Red, Blue, and Gold tones. I love his traditional mustache, that was painted on. I also think his expression is priceless; so serious, guarding, ruling. His nutcracker action is smooth going. What I love the most about this one, is the little bit of glam, the jewels that adorn his outfit and crown. So perfect for a King.

The next Nutcracker sent to me is from their Chubby Series; The Chubby Italian Nutcracker. Since I have some Italian in me, I really got a kick out of him. He does have some paint smudges on him, but I am used to seeing that with Nutcrackers. The Italian carries a basket of grapes, which actually is moveable too. I think they scraped against his body in packaging. In his other hand, he carries a bottle of wine. The bottle has been marked with the year 2017. I really like that! I can never forget the year I received him, now. Mine measured out at 7” tall; short and stout. He is just too cute, even with the smudges. Honestly, they make him look more authentic. Like he was out there gathering the grapes, and making the wine. I really love him. They even gave him a checkered bandana around his neck. His mouth opens smoothly too, it’s just a little harder to see it, because of the bandana. I am really loving the chubby series. It also makes it easier to group the Nutcrackers together, that way.

Last but not least, is the third Nutcracker I received. I honestly, have never seen anything like her in Nutcrackers before; The Lady In Silver Nutcracker. I mean, WOW. Talk about glam! She radiates sparkle, and I love things that sparkle. She is also made out of wood. Besides being painted, she is adored in an outfit of sequins. She looks so regal, so beautiful. She stands at 14” tall. I love her white fur hat, and the matching fur adorned gown. She is even carrying a sequined purse, and wears a silver necklace. Her long black gloves are painted on, so she can never lose them. They cleverly covered the front of her nutcracker with her flesh colored tape. So, at a quick glance, it is not noticeable from the front, unless you are opening it up. They painted the wood lever on her back, silver, to match the gown. I love how regal, yet sweet, her painted on face is. She looks like royalty.

Clever Creations offers many different styles of Nutcrackers for sale. Overall, I am pretty happy with them. They have a lot of character to them, and are a decoration that is both fun to give and receive. I am most definitely going to look forward to pulling them out of my Christmas boxes every year, and setting them out for all to enjoy. They make me smile. They make my family smile. What more is there to ask for.

You can give Clever Creations some love, and follow them here:

https://www.pinterest.com/tryazon/clever-creations-for-christmas/

https://www.facebook.com/cleverchefco/?ref=br_rs

 Here are the links to these particular Nutcrackers as well as the Clever Creations Storefront on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A3DT8NCMU69VU5&merchant=A3DT8NCMU69VU5&redirect=true

https://www.amazon.com/Shatterproof-Christmas-Ornaments-Clever-Creations/dp/B01IWMKIJU/ref=sr_1_10?m=A3DT8NCMU69VU5&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1509928110&sr=1-10

https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Nutcracker-Clever-Creations-Christmas/dp/B01M0U5PYD/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1507220771&sr=1-1&keywords=Clever+Creations+Chubby+Italian

https://www.amazon.com/Nutcracker-Clever-Creations-Collectable-Christmas/dp/B072188TRY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1507220717&sr=1-1&keywords=Clever+Creations+Lady+in+Silver+with+Purse+Nutcracker

https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Clever-Creations-Collectible-Embellished/dp/B01HOT0QAI/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1507220841&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=Clever+Creations+nutcracker+red+12+in&psc=1

http://clevercreationsco.com/

I received these as a sample through Tryazons Tryabox. All opinions are honest and my own.

Time with friends and family, are the most memorable moments. They are moments where you can just relax, unwind, enjoy, and bond. I love activities that I can do with my kids. There is an age gap between the ones near to home, so I jump at activities, where age really does not matter. Corn Hole is a big one for us to all do, but it is a big and bulky game, and not always convenient to do. It’s great to have options, and Djubi has really handed us a few great ones. I was so looking forward to our party, but lovely storms, and illness pushed that aside. We have, however, been able to have a lot of fun, just as a family. My son is homeschooled, and he loves that he can do the Dartball on his own.

With the three games I was sent, you can have a mixture of ages playing together, which I love! You can also take them almost anywhere, too. They are easy to pack and store. You can even play some of them beachside too. I live on the coast, so that is a wonderful aspect for me. What I also love about these outdoor games, is that if you have a wheelchair bound friend or family member, they can also easily participate, as well. I was sent three games: The Djubi Classic, The Djubi Slingball, and The Djubi Dartball. They breakdown as follows:

Djubi Classic

Ages 8 and UP

2 Players

The Original Djubi. It’s the ultimate game of catch that allows you to send the ball sailing over 100 feet! It relies on a unique launching system that creates maximum distance and maximum fun! The balls come with a rubber loop attached, allowing players to launch them from a hook on the racket frame. It’s perfect to help sports enthusiast and catch aficionados elevate their game.

Contents:

2 Rackets

2 Large Balls

Djubi Slingball

Ages 6 and UP

2 Players

A smaller version of the Classic. It takes the launching fun and packs it into a lighter design that’s perfect for all ages. Smaller rackets require less strength, while still capturing the fun that Djubi provides. Like the Classic, it has a unique launching system that allows players to hook the looped balls to a notch on the racket frame.

Contents:

2 Rackets

2 Medium Balls

Djubi Dartball

Ages 8 and UP

2 Players

A Djubi twist on the game of darts! Dartball takes all the launching fun of Djubi games and adds the added challenge of accuracy. Use the launchers to aim and fire balls at the target net; the highest score wins!

Contents:

2 Launchers

6 Medium Balls

1 Target Net

1 Score Board

1 Dry Erase Marker

See what I mean, a lot of fun. They are well made and simple to participate in. They have a specific way to launch their balls, which according to Djubi, allows the ball to go 100ft! I did not personally measure that, or want to chase that, lol. But, wow, the balls can go far. There is a rubber loop on each ball, and a coordinating hook on the rackets; just place, pull and release. That’s it. Well, I guess you’ll need to aim too, or not, depending on who you want to chase after the ball, lol.

I love the play of the white and bright orange coloring. It’s bright, fun, and festive. It helps to set the mood. The launchers are made out of a thick plastic. The handles are comfortable, and easy to hold onto. My family’s favorite, out of the three games, is the Dartball Game. It reminds us of corn hole, but a lot less bulky, and easier to set up. My son really enjoys it. You really have to practice with shooting the balls, because wow, they really can go far, lol. My son usually likes to stand closer, as he does not have a great throwing arm, lol. But, with the dartball, he actually has to stand back the 20ft, or he overshoots it, every time. The only negative with the Dartball, is that sometimes, it can be hard to refold the pop open target. It needs to be refolded, to go back into the box. However, it does fold flat, incredibly easy, if you can store it this way, instead. Keep in mind, the difficulty could be entirely user error, lol.

I also like that you can play with these indoors, if the weather is not on your side. If you have a rec room, or a long hallway, you are good to go. The balls are soft, but could still break things, so keep that in mind. If you live in a state with a long, hard winter, or rainy season, then you’ll also appreciate these games.

Overall, the quality is great. I am really impressed. In my opinion, they are made better than a name brand competitor.  It’s hard to get my youngest excited about outdoor games. I was overjoyed when he actually told me how fun they were. Total win Djubi!

Djubi Classic  http://www.blueorangegames.com/index.php/games/djubi-classic

Djubi Slingball  http://www.blueorangegames.com/index.php/games/djubi-slingball

Djubi Dartball  http://www.blueorangegames.com/index.php/games/djubi-dartball

Disclosure: Cpsierdowis’ Product Reviews receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. I only recommend products or services I personally use and try.  This in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 225: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

I am always thrilled to be accepted for one of Tryazons’ parties. I was exceptionally excited to be able to participate in the 3Doodler Campaign. I love creating things, but I have yet to even come close to mastering the 3D pens on the market. 3D doodler has a great product, I am very impressed. I received their 3Doodler Create Pens to play and party with, but they also carry a beginner’s line, and a line great for younger kids, called #Doodler Start. Now, if you are a pro at it, or a professional, they even have a line for you, called 3Doodler Pro, and it looks impressive. Last, but not least, they even offer a kit for classrooms, called the 3Doodler EDU. The 3Doodler Start was The Best Creative Toy of the Year for 2017, too! We took the pen on the road as well, since it is so portable. You can really have fun with it anywhere.

They have a wonderful website, with 5 main sections on it: Store, Projects, Educators, Support, and Blog. The website is very easy and clear to follow and understand. I am highly impressed with their Projects section. It is a lot better than others I have used, and looked at. Their projects are actually free to print out as well, which I really love! I printed out a few to use at my party.

In my package I received 2 3Doodler Create Pen Starter Kits, 1 DoodleStand 2.0, 2 Different Color Packs of ABS Plastic Sticks, and 2 Doodle Pads. The Create Pen Starter Kits include: 1 Pen, 1 AC Power adapter, 1 instruction pamphlet, 1 Quickstart Guide, 1 wrench, 1 mini screwdriver, and 1 long tool to clear the passage with. I love the stand that this company offers. It can hold up to 75 Doodlestrands, and 1 Pen. Because the pen has a rubber guard by the tip of it, it will even hold the pen if you have the power cord attached to it. The power cord attaches to the top of the pen. It plugs into a regular 2 prong outlet. The included pamphlet offers some easy to read, and understand instructions. You can also go their website, and on the first page of the Shop section, you will see a Getting Started Tab. Press that, and it takes you to a page, where you can choose your pen. So, I clicked Create, which is the pen I have, and it took me to a plethora of information. This is the direct link for that section: http://the3doodler.com/getting-started/create/?_ga=2.159286396.778643117.1500502727-1931972569.1497930577 There are videos and manuals there to help you on your journey. Here is the main Youtube video for getting started: https://youtu.be/LVPqK4L5p2Y   Have your pen ready, so you can follow along. It is basic, for example: On the side of you pen is the off, low, and high switch, as well as, the ports for accessories. It shows you that the top of the pen houses the air vent, the power port, and the port for your plastic strips to be inserted. The buttons to make the melted plastic come out, are called extrusion buttons.

These are on the front of the pen. The larger one makes it go faster, and the smaller one, makes it go slower. It’s a fast visual, which makes it easier to adjust your speed. I really like that. I also like how they are not located on the side, like some other brands. I would always hit it while trying to create, and that was sooo annoying. Now, the back side of the pen houses a clear section, which is the Maintenance Housing. You can see how mush plastic you have left in the pen, and access the inside of the pen from here, if you have an issue, like needing to clear a blockage. Last but not least, it warns you about the tip, or nozzle of the pen. It gets very hot while in use, and takes a bit to cool down after the pen is turned off, so be careful! Then it will go through other videos about turning on and operating your pen. You can choose to just read the pamphlet, but having a video visual, can make it easier for a lot of people. The pen has two settings: low, and high. On the low setting, the lightbar turns green when ready, and blue when ready for the high setting. The bar is on the front, top of the pen. The included plastic with the kit is ABS, which has to be used on the High setting. The low setting is for PLA, which was not included, but can be purchased separately. This pen can accommodate it. Now, to operate it, after you place a piece of plastic in it, and the light is on, go ahead and press one of the extrusion buttons once to start it. Pressing once again, will stop it, and double clicking one of these buttons will reverse the direction of your plastic, so you can remove it, and start a new color; easy peasey. Now, they state to trim the ends of your plastic after removing it from the pen, so it’s ready to be reused. This is easily done with a pair of scissors. Now, if you are trying to reverse your plastic, and it won’t, that means it’s too short to reverse, and you will have to use the rest of it, to remove it. They have videos on how to use the included tools to troubleshoot, in case you have an issue removing any plastic.

Time to create and enjoy. Being aggravated is not allowed, lol! I printed out a few projects ideas, but you can find others for free, or for purchase on the internet. I am ecstatic by the free library of projects 3Doddler’s website offers, though. Their videos give you hints on how to do 3D drawings, and more. Nothing takes the place of practice, though. With their DoodlePads, which have grid measurements on them, it was easy to place a project paper under the mat, and then create from there. Here is a link to some of their videos, for ideas: http://the3doodler.com/videos/ . Some hints I learned from their website. For a flat pattern, press form onto the surface. For a 3D pattern, when creating a line up, hold it for a few seconds, so it can solidify, and then pull quickly away, to separate from the creation.

I have a 10 year old son, who has tried 3D pens before too. He is at my skill level, which is, we will say, the fun level, lol. I feel safer with him using this pen. Since the plastic inserts are straight, and not long and curvy, the pen is easier for him to handle, which in turn makes it safer to use. I homeschool him, so I love to bring creative items into our home. This definitely fits the bill. Their website also shows all types of kits they offer, which can be highly fun, and educational for children. I am really impressed with this company overall! Under their Educators section on their website, the even have STEM included, which is beyond wonderful. You can create, or copy patterns. Learn how physics work in 3D builds. You can even have your friends create their own wine glass, or beer bottle markers, at the beginning of a party. Scientists do say, that as we age, are brain ages also. To keep It young, and quick, we need to keep using it, challenging it. This is definitely more fun than brain games on a tablet or phone, that’s for sure.

You can purchase any of their pens directly from their website, or Amazon. Here is a link to their community page: http://the3doodler.com/community/ 

All opinions are honest and my own. I have no financial ties to Tryazon or 3Doodler. I received this set in exchange for testing their items, and sharing my experience, only.

I was so excited to be a part of Tryazon’s Ozobot Home Party. I homeschool my youngest, so I am always eager to get my hands on new tech. The Ozobot is a very simple and fun way to experience the world of coding hands on. The thought of coding for most people, equals boredom and the feeling of being defeated, before you even try it. My youngest is a computer attic. He loves everything that has to do with computers, and gaming. Since this is a hands-on method to inspire and teach, it is perfect for him. This little robot has been tested for ages 8+.

The Ozobot is part of the Stem Learning Practice, which is a big part of today’s education. What is Stem? Stem is: “STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.” It’s a feel-good moment for a parent to introduce this to their child. It definitely was for me. I feel that this is also great for older people, that are newer to computers. It’s a fun way to keep the brain stimulated, as well as keeping your motor dexterity up. It will also be a great generation gap filler for some grandparents to interact with their grandchildren. A win, win overall, for everyone.

You can get Ozobot Evo in a starter package. It includes the Ozobot Evo, a 9 piece playing field which is double sided, 1 micro USB cord, 1 carrying pouch, and 4 colored markers. The playing field has a green banded side and a blue banded side. There is a Quick Start Guide in the kit as well. You can go to  http://ozobot.com/manuals to download the actual manual. That is what I did. You can check out their website for all the information you will need. (http://ozobot.com/) They even have all the different codes this little guy knows, clearly displayed there. Ozobot can remember up to 500 codes at one time. The website also teaches you how to draw lines, and add code. You can print games for your Ozobot, as well as print out the codes, too. There is a free app to download. “The Ozobot app is designed for tablets with 9 inch screens or larger, camera availability and iOS 6.0 and Android 2.3 (or newer).” I only have Android products, so I was only able to test out the app for Android. I downloaded one app: Ozobot Evo. Other Ozobot apps will come up in the search, but this is the newest version of the Ozobot, and only this app will work for it. There are sections on the app that state coming soon: Ozo Tunes and Maze Runner. We can’t wait for them to be ready. The app is free to download. There is an Ozoblockly section on the app. This is the website for that: http://ozoblockly.com/. Unfortunately, “the Ozobot Evo video tutorial is coming soon”. More to look forward too, lol. I printed out multiple pages of each printable game, and code sheet. That way, I have a folder ready to go for playtime. Now, there are online games on the www.ozobot.com website as well. There are three main sections on the website: Products, Play, and Education. So, it is pretty quick and simple to find what you are looking for.

The Quick Start Guide has you set up the playing mat, green side up. The pieces are a thick laminated cardboard, and fit together like a puzzle. Then you press and hold the button on the Evo, until it flashes white, then release and place it on the starting spot. It takes over from there. It’s a great way to get started hands on with it. It will keep going on the board until you hold and press the button and it turns off. The Evo makes the cutest little sounds and flashes multiple colors. My son love it. The app can be finicky, and sometimes the Ozobot doesn’t want to pay attention, lol. In other words, it’s just like a child, lol. They do state that it is important to calibrate your Evo each time, before you play with it. You can draw a black circle on a piece of paper, or white board. I drew some on paper , and then laminated it, for future uses. Then press and hold the power button on the Evo for approx.. 2 seconds. It will start to flash white. Quickly place it on the black dot, until it flashes green. It is now calibrated. Now, on the video it flashes white for a good bit, as well as green. My Evo barely flashes white or green, but it does calibrate, so don’t panic if yours is like mine. I had emailed support, and they were fantastic at getting back to me and answering my questions. That was a huge relief for me. I hate companies that refuse to help out. 

The Education section is packed full of information to use as a family, or as a classroom set up. There are many sections to go through: Teacher’s Guide, Ozobot Tips, OzoCode Reference, OzoBlockly Getting Started, Calibration Tips, Log Sheet, and so much more. The amount that you can do and learn from this little guy, is really up to you, and how much you plan to follow and learn from this website. It is definitely worth delving into. Even though I laminated everything, it did not interfere at all with the Ozobot Evo being able to pick up the lines and codes.

They describe it as a three-tier system. First you need to draw the lines for the Ozobot to follow. Second, you drag and drop blocks of code (their OzoBlocky System) within the lines. The third thing is to take what you have learned, and create your own actions, and “world” to play in. To add another twist to the Ozobot, on their webpage, they even offer Marvel skins, that take on lights on sounds of the characters. For a reluctant learner, this might really help to inspire them.

I initially had a lot of trouble getting my Evo to connect to my app. There is a little trick to it. When you are loading your app, make sure you give it permission to use your Bluetooth. Then whenever you are accessing the app, turn on the Evo next to the device, at the same time. That way it is able to connect. Since I have started turning the app and the Evo on at the same time, I haven’t had an issue at all. This robot has become one of my son’s favorite “toys”. I hate calling it a toy since it is robotic based. It really is so much more than a toy.

We had so much fun at our Ozobot Tryazon Party. People were amazed at how interactive it was. They could not believe all the different ways you can interact with it too. We all had to agree that the lights and sounds that this little robot makes, is what really brings it alive to people. It gives it so much personality. I loved seeing all ages play with it. One is now giving one to her grandson for his birthday in June. She loves that he can learn with it, and she can interact with it, with him too. We had an older teacher there, that just fell in love with it, and everything the Evo can do. She was so impressed. This overall experience has been so much fun! I truly recommend the Ozobot Evo for all ages over 8.

You can follow Ozobot and be a party of their community on Facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/ozobot/

There are even Ironman and Captain America Smart Skins available. We love that type of thing in my household, lol. This website has the packages available here: https://shop.ozobot.com/collections/all-new-ozobots. My son has officially put them on his wish list, since both Easter and his birthday are coming soon.

I received the Ozobots Evo to present the party, and share my experience. All opinions are solely my own and 100% honest.