Wrap Up $100 In Savings on the XP-830 All-In-One Printer! #HolidayGiftGuide

Looking for a family gift, something practical for the college student or an update to your home office? If you are in the market for a new printer, the Epson Expression Premium XP-830 is a versatile all-in-one printer with superior photo quality. You can also save $100 right now on this amazing printer with a compact footprint.

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epson xp 830 1

Fax, Copy and Scan faster with features like the 30-page auto document feeder, auto 2-sided printing and the auto-extend/retract output tray. Print amazingly vivid borderless photos up to 8″ x 10″, or use specialty paper and DVDs. You can print from your smartphone or tablet  with or without a router at home or on the go. The intuitive 4.3″ touchscreen makes tasks simple. Print Facebook photos, coloring books and more with Epson’s Creative Print App.

 

I recently set this printer up in my home office and just love it! It prints, scans and copies super fast and the colors are vibrant and crisp. It is wireless and I really like that I can print right from my iPhone 6 or iPad. This printer is super for when I need to make and print printables for blog features or scanning in older family photos to post online. The touch screen is a pleasure to use and this feature loaded printer has a sleek design that fits anywhere. Why not wrap up the extra savings and this printer today.  I don’t think old St. Nick himself could get you a better deal. Mommy Ramblings has added the Epson Expression Premium XP-830 to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. 

xp-830 printer

xp 830 printer

Features:

  • Superior photo quality — vivid, bright photos and sharp text, with five-color inks
  • Full-featured — 30-page Auto Document Feeder; auto 2-sided print/copy/scan/color fax; auto-extend/retract output tray
  • Create — print on specialty paper and DVDs; plus, lab-quality, borderless photos up to 8″ x 10″
  • Ultimate wireless — designed for easy printing from your iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ mobile devices and many more; includes Wi-Fi Direct® for router-free printing
  • Fast — lab-quality 4″ x 6″ photos in as fast as 12 seconds
  • Easy — 4.3″ intuitive touchscreen with gesture navigation
  • Creative Print mobile app — easily print Facebook photos and create custom cards, stationery and more
  • Versatile Small-in-One — ultra powerful performance, ultra slim design
  • Share — scan to Facebook and the cloud for easy photo sharing

Eco Features

  • Save up to 50% on paper with automatic, two-sided printing / copying
  • Supports printing on recycled paper
  • Recyclable product
  • ENERGY STAR® qualified
  • RoHS compliant
  • Epson America, Inc. is a SmartWay™ Transport Partner

 

Thank you to Epson for sponsoring this post and providing me with this awesome printer. As always my words and views are 100% my own.


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Spice It Up In December With The 12 Days of Passion

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KYTrySomethingNew #CollectiveBias

ky passion 12days

As we head straight into the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” it can often feel like the most stressful time of the year. Most of us already lead incredibly busy lives so throwing the holidays and all the expectations they bring on our already overflowing plate can seem like a recipe for disaster. I think stress is something most would say definitely rises during the holiday season.

 

The holidays seem to exacerbate so many issues for couples like family tensions, finances, and not having time together. This can all lead to arguments and hurt feelings. I think it is best to get an action plan and go on the offense before we make the most wonderful time of the year feel like the most horrible time of the year.

 

Couples tend to put their relationships on the back burner this time of year. It is so important to remember that you and your partner need to make time for each other. You might think that while that sounds nice it’s just not possible when you have so much to do.  You can barely get through each day as it is and you only sleep 4-5 hours.

Well, time to make a plan. Everyone has the same 24 hours. Your relationship matters and fighting and arguing can zap your energy. So make some small changes and see how you feel.  Commit to 12 days of passion with your partner this holiday season.

Sit down with your partner over dinner or coffee and dessert and get out your calendars. Calendar in 12 special times for you and him alone. They don’t have to be elaborate and they don’t have to cost a lot of money either. Just get out your calendars and take a look at some of the suggestions below and you can add your own.

  1. Notes of Passion– Pick a day and agree to leave each other passionate notes throughout the day. Of course you can include texts, but mix it up. It would be fun to stick a note for him to find in his briefcase or coat pocket as well. Speak from the heart and let your partner know why you are thankful he is your soulmate. Just doing this throughout the day can brighten both your spirits and make you feel adored.

2. Unplugged Game Nightfor just the two of you- Family game nights are nice, but this is just for you and your partner. Pick a favorite game and spend the time together when the kids are in bed to play together. You can make a favorite dessert, hot cider or cocoa to serve while you play and extra points  for playing in front of a cozy fire.

ky scrabble

3. Dinner and a Movie– Always a great one, and it does not mean going out. Chances are you have a DVD you still have not had the time to watch and cooking even the simplest dinner together can be fun. Don’t make it hard, even homemade pizza with your favorite toppings works. Heck, even frozen pizza will work, it is about the two of you spending quality time together. It does not have to be expensive or mean slaving over a hot stove all day. Use fun printables and of course some movie theater candy and popcorn containers make it super fun!

ky dinnermovie

4. Couples Massage– I was in Walmart recently and I saw K-Y® TOUCH®. K-Y® TOUCH® is a product that is a 2 in 1 Massage Creme and Pleasure Gel that can be found down the Family Planning aisle. What better way to work out that stress than from a loving massage from your life partner? This cream feels like soft cashmere and creates a feeling like warm cashmere wherever you massage it into. It is touch activated and will have you slowing down together to enjoy the splendor of the feelings it evokes as you lovingly massage one another. Trust me you will not need board games after this to pass your time.

5. Couples PlaylistYou and your partner each put together 6 songs that remind you of each other, your relationship or the love you share. Then get together and listen to them. It is amazing the feelings that music can stir up.

6.How Do I Love TheeWrite down 6 things about your partner that you love and cherish and then read them aloud to each other. Too many times we don’t feel appreciated or adored. This will give you the time not to remind each other of your shortcomings as we so often do in our day to day lives but to celebrate what you love about each other.

7.Make Something Special For Each Other– Don’t worry if you are not crafty, it could be a coupon book for special things, a poem, a song if you are musically gifted, etc. Just make something from your heart and share an early gift with the one you love.

8. Take A Walk TogetherEven a short one holding hands and unplugged. Just spend some time in nature and with each other, you will be surprised how good you feel when you take the time to connect with nature and each other.

9. Sweets For Your SweetheartPick out a special dessert recipe you have never made and make it together. Taking the time to find something you both think is pure decadence and then making it together may turn out just as sweet as the end result.

ky heart cookies

10. Share A Favorite Holiday Movie TogetherPick a holiday classic you both love and watch it together. Add cocoa and cookies for extra points.

11. Help Each Other– Help your partner with one of the chores they need to do. Maybe he helps you to wrap presents or you help him paint the guest room.  Just pick something that either of you would normally do alone and help the other with it. An extra set of hands makes the load lighter and brings you together doing something that is necessary.

12. Sit Back And Just TalkMaybe in front of the tree in the quiet evening over some coffee or cocoa, take the time to just talk about what is on your mind. This is a time to connect with conversation and really communicate. You never know what you might learn or where it might lead.

Do you have any special ways that you want to share about how you keep your relationship paramount during the holiday season? If so, please share in the comments, I would love to read your ideas.

 


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Best Housewarming Gift Ideas to Make You the Best Guest in the Party

house post 1 - Copy

Attending housewarming parties is always fun and exciting. You share the excitement of the family, couple, or perhaps a single person (who is most likely rich for buying a house for himself). It is a joyous celebration! And you surely do not want to come empty-handed. It just does not feel right even though the couple might probably include in the invitation that no gifts needed. You know that’s just being polite. In reality, they would love to receive gifts, especially good ones. Well, do not be blinded by the word good. Good does not necessarily mean expensive. So there is no need to panic or worry. house post 2

 

Here are some best housewarming gift ideas that will make you the best guest at the party.

  1. Customized welcome mat – living in a new home can be surreal. And often, house owners feel very sentimental and particular. They want everything to be meaningful and special. Giving them a customized welcome mat will surely be a great idea. Make sure to include something that will represent the family or probably their names on it.
  2. Custom address stamp – couples or new house owners usually send out tons of thank you notes or cards to inform people of their new address. A custom address stamp will be very helpful for them. Also, it’s just too cute! They’ll love it without a doubt.
  3. Personalized cutting board – it is common to give kitchenware or appliances for housewarming parties however, if you want to be remembered, make sure to come up with unique idea. How about a personalized cutting board? Include a humorous message that will remind them of you. Most moms who love to cook are particular about cutting boards – so this is a winning idea indeed.
  4. Fire extinguisher – make sure to extend your care for their new home. Giving them a fire extinguisher will help them prepare for emergency cases. This is a very important thing but most house owners tend to overlook its importance. So be the one to remind them how important it is to have fire extinguisher in the house.
  5. Customized Christmas ornament – Christmas holiday is just around the corner. Come up with a customized Christmas ornament that they can display on their new house.
  6. Scented candles – they surely want to keep the house smelling fresh and fragrant all the time. Giving scented candles will be good gift idea to keep their house a comfortable haven.
  7. Cookbook – for newly married couple, a cookbook gift will be nice. It will assist the wife to cook delicious foods for the husband and the entire family. Make sure to choose a really good cookbook. If you have personal recipes you want to share then you should compile everything and come up with a personalized cookbook.

 

The hosts of the party will definitely love these gifts. They will definitely think that they made the right choice inviting you to the housewarming party.

Thinking of buying your own house? Australia is perfect country to raise a family. Lend Lease’s house and land packages in Adelaide are wonderful with great neighborhood and nearby parks and walking trails for outdoor activities. Who knows, you might be the next host of a housewarming party.

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The following is a sponsored guest post and the views expressed do not necessarily express the views or ideas of Mommy Ramblings.

 

 


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“Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World” Book Plus Giveaway! #HolidayGiftGuide

I had some pop up books like this when I was a child and they were from Disney. I think I still have them somewhere in this house of mine and they were always a favorite. I can clearly remember buying them with my mom. Over the years as a child I never tired of them and they were among my favorites of all time. Given my experience, when I saw this new Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World Book, it brought back lots of great memories.

disney pop up book

Starring the timeless characters that have made the Disney Princess films a treasured part of pop culture and animation history, this visually stunning volume is packed with intricately designed pop-ups, transformative scenes, and many other surprises. Constructed with state-of-the-art paper engineering and beautifully rendered illustrations, Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World brings these castles and characters brilliantly to life, capturing the magical worlds that have enthralled audiences for decades.

This collectible piece of Disney Princess magic spans eleven films and princesses, including fan-favorites such as Belle, Snow White, Ariel, and Rapunzel. Through twenty-seven pop-ups and transformative scenes, the key moments from these beloved films leap from the page, and the accompanying text makes this book a wonderful interactive reading experience that families will treasure.disney pop up 2

I think Disney Princess fans and Disney fans in general will love this book because it truly is magical! The pages seem to come to life as they pop up into some of our favorite scenes.  Join Cinderella as she transforms for the ball, Jasmine as she embarks on a magic carpet ride, Aurora as she pricks her finger on Maleficent’s spinning wheel and is saved by her prince, and Merida as she bravely fights to decide her own destiny.

Kids and Collectors alike with treasure this book. Mommy Ramblings has added it to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. We are also giving away a copy so make sure to enter the giveaway below.

disney princess my book

Disney princess book mine

Insight Editions and Mommy Ramblings are sponsoring a giveaway!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World Book! We hope you think this giveaway is awesome as we do! Thank you to Insight Editions for the review and giveaway books. The giveaway is open to US resident

Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Books, Disney, Family, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, kids, Review

Do You Know The Symptoms of Anemia? Most Don’t.

You might think of someone with anemia being pale, lethargic, sleepy and weak. I know I did, but anemia can be very severe without those symptoms. Anemia can be caused by many things, but in women it is very often caused by heavy periods. Maybe you have always had heavy periods and so you think they are normal. Perhaps you feel since you have not been anemic in the past with them, there is no reason for it to happen in the future.

I am here to shed some light on dangerously low anemia, the kind of anemia where you are just a point or less away from needing a blood transfusion. It is a personal story, it is my story. I am a person that never stops, I go-go-go all the time, I sleep very little and I work a lot. Not the kind of person who would be the poster child for anemia.

For about a year I was noticing after climbing more than one flight of stairs I was winded. I am in shape, I can easily swim and I mean swim for 7 hours straight pulling my 2 youngest children around our lake on a floating mat. I thought it was heart related, it scared me. I started feeling in the last couple of months weird sensation by my sternum. Thought it was breast related, had a mamo, sono and physical exam and my doctor told me all was good. Went back to the doctor thinking it was my heart as I was feeling more tightness in my chest. Sometimes I seemed to feel like I could not get a deep breath. I went for fasting blood work and then a full physical.

The doctor told me that my blood work was always good, but it was exceptionally good this time. I told him about the feeling in my chest, he told me it was probably a strained muscle. I agreed as I was literally throwing logs a few days earlier. He said he would do an EKG to just make sure. EKG was normal. He said he did not feel it was anything heart related but said if I wanted to go to one of the cardiologists in the practice he would take care of it. I said okay as I feel better safe than sorry. Then I asked what my thyroid levels were. I was diagnosed with being hypo thyroid in 2008, right before getting pregnant with my son Luke. He then noticed he had forgotten to send that blood test through. He said he would have the nurse draw it too along with a CBC that was forgotten.

The next evening, he called me at home around 7 pm. He told me I was severely anemic and that would explain all the symptoms I was having in my chest. He said I was close to needing a transfusion. I explained I have heavy periods but that has always been the case. He had me schedule with my OB/GYN and immediately had me take 2 times the iron dosage. I have been taking a very good total health supplement that consists of patented multivitamins and all kinds of supplements but I had not been taking any additional iron. I had also been drinking Matcha Tea which can slow or interfere with the bodies absorption of iron. I stopped that right away.

low iron symptoms

That very night I started on the iron which I took with additional vitamin C and orange juice to increase absorption. I added a lot of iron rich foods and my OB started me on Progesterone to try to hold off my cycle so we could build up my iron. We also did an endometrial biopsy to make sure that there were no other issues for the bleeding. That came back good and he found nothing out of the ordinary, he said my endometrium was normal for someone who would be ready to ovulate. I continued on the progesterone and on day 31 of my normal 28 day cycles after calling the office and them agreeing it had worked to hold off my cycle, they told me to stop it  and then start it again on what would have been the 15th day of my cycle. Within a day of stopping, my cycle returned. I was crushed, how would I build my iron levels. I did not want to go for a hormonal IUD to stop them or anything more drastic. I hoped they would at least be lighter, I was wrong. They were heavier. I immediately had a return to the crushing chest pain that had left me a few weeks prior.

My blood test prior to this showed my iron levels were still very low but slowly rising. Now I am pretty certain I am extremely low. I feel so helpless in a way. I mean, I pray the iron that I have been taking will keep it above transfusion level, but not sure. I am scared and feel I am in a place where my options are many and I am not ready for something radical. I was hoping this regime would work.

I am writing this as I know it is common in women but not many talk about it, not many know that anemia can present itself in an energetic, on-the-go woman who has symptoms of what one might associate with heart issues. If you are feeling like this, make sure you have a CBC to check your iron levels.

If you have experience with this, feel free to share your story.

 


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This Season’s Perfect Entertainment Gifts-#HolidayGiftGuide #Giveaway

Okay, so if you are stuck thinking of gift ideas, you should check out Time Life. I mean, who wouldn’t love the complete series coming-of-age hit show–The Wonder Years?

Wonder years Signature Edition

I was blown away by how awesome this complete series metal locker set is. It comes in a replica locker, inside you find locker magnets, a yearbook with lots of great photos and fun stuff about the cast and of course all the DVDs of the complete series.

wonder years

wonder years 1

This would make any Wonder Years fan sing out a tune, better yet you can create a brand new one with this great set. Seriously, this is one great gift for individuals or for a family gift everyone can watch together.  This set is available at Costco but there are similar sets on the Time Life webiste if you do not have a Costco near you.

The Wonder Years

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The Wonder Years 6

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The beloved, award-winning series is now on DVD for the first time ever! Available for a limited time with a hand-signed Wonder Years yearbook!

Premiering after the 1988 Super Bowl, The Wonder Years captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike with the trials and tribulations of young Kevin Arnold as he enters junior high. From his first kiss with Winnie Cooper to his friendship with Paul Pfeiffer and the ups and downs of the Arnold family, fans shared in laughter, love, loss, and above all, wonder.

Now you can own a piece of television history with a limited-editionWonder Years set hand-signed by Fred Savage, Danica McKellar, and other cast. There are only 500 available and each collection comes with a certificate of authenticity.

You’ll get the complete series housed in a collectible metal locker like those at Kennedy Junior High (Go Wildcats!) The locker includes…

  • All 115 episodes on 26 DVDs, including over 300 songs as they were featured in the original broadcast!
  • Over 23 hours of exclusive bonus features
  • Two notebooks with detailed episode information, photos, and production notes
  • Custom Wonder Years magnets to decorate your locker
  • A replica yearbook with behind-the-scenes photos and notes from the cast and crew. Plus, in this special Signature Edition, the yearbook cover will be hand-signed by Fred, Danica, and other cast members!

Exclusive bonus features include…

  • The first cast reunion in 16 years
  • Over 20 interviews with all 7 main cast members, the creators, narrator, guests stars, and many more!
  • Ten newly-produced featurettes
  • Never-before-seen outtakes of Kevin and Winnie’s first kiss!

 

You want more! How about a whole lot more? You can really rock out to The Midnight Special Collector’s Edition. This DVD set is jam-packed with late night’s original rock & roll show with loads of great extras!

 

midnight special

 

Bring home the ’70s greatest artists performing their biggest hits LIVE on The Midnight Special.

The Midnight Special was the first of its kind. The most popular artists of the day, from rock, pop and soul, shared the stage performing their hits LIVE on late-night television – and right in your living room.

Midnight Special 1

midnight special

This collection contains almost ten hours of incredible performances, 130 songs, PLUS almost five hours of bonus features including brand-new interviews and exclusive featurettes highlighting the history and the legacy of this pioneering TV show. You also get a bonus disc featuring the best comedy from The Midnight Special including Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Billy Crystal and more.  You’ll also receive a 32-page booklet featuring photos and stories about The Midnight Special. Everything comes packaged in a beautiful collector’s box.

  • Tom Petty
  • Aerosmith
  • Alice Cooper
  • Bee Gees
  • Fleetwood Mac
  • The Doobie Brothers
  • Jim Croce
  • Helen Reddy
  • Earth, Wind and Fire
  • KC & the Sunshine Band
  • Heart
  • Neil Sedak

Classic TV is a great choice too and I don’t think you can go wrong with The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes.

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No one has seen the first five seasons of ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ since they were first aired – no re-runs, no web streaming, no DVDs, nothing, nowhere, zip…until now!” – Carol Burnett

For the first time on DVD, you can now own the best episodes from the groundbreaking years of Carol’s beloved variety show. You’ll see the first episode aired, the first performances of many of her famous characters, legendary guest stars, and show-stopping musical performances.

The Lost Episodes features 21 uncut episodes plus over 11 hours of bonus material on 10 DVDs. Exclusive bonus features include:

  • A Backstage Tour of Studio 33 where the show was filmed
  • Exclusive interviews with Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and many more
  • Rare Carol TV Specials
  • Newly Produced Featurettes
  • Hilarious Bonus Sketches
  • Never-Before-Seen Bloopers and Outtakes

Plus, you’ll receive a collectible 40-page Guest Book with autographs from Carol’s guests, friends, and fans, production photos, and notes from Carol herself! All 21 episodes closed captioned!

 Finally for any Hee Haw Fans on your list there is The Hee Haw Collection of 11 Episodes on 8 DVDs!

Hee-Haw-host

Television’s longest-running comedy-variety show brought us hilarious jokes from Kornfield Kounty along with country’s biggest stars, into America’s living rooms for over 20 years

Roy Clark and Buck Owens hosted the countrified ensemble show, pickin’ and grinnin’ and singin’ and spinnin’ with a talented cast of characters. Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Archie Campbell, and the rest of the Hee Haw gang traded knee-slappers and gut-busting one-liners in hilarious sketches including “Doc Campbell,” “PFFT! You Were Gone” and “Gordie’s General Store”—as well as the all-time favorites “Rindercella” and “Trigonometry.”

And because Hee Haw was a favorite stop for country’s greatest stars, the collection features over 100 classic performances by country stars at the peaks of their careers, like Johnny CashDolly PartonKenny Rogers, George Jones, Waylon JenningsHank Williams Jr. and so many more!

The complete set includes 2 Bonus DVDs. Hee Haw Laffs includes enduring sketches and countess comic moments from the early years, plus the series premiere with Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride as it aired in 1969. You’ll also enjoy exclusive bonus interviews with original cast members including Roy Clark and Lulu Roman!

We have added all these wonderful entertainment gift ideas to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide! And now for a gift for you, we are bringing you the sponsored giveaway below where you can enter to win some great entertainment!

Enter To Win:

Time Life is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a 3 DVD SET of The Hee Haw Collection!  Thank you Time Life for the review products and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

hee haw 3 dvd set

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Hot Wings Are Perfect For Little Pilots #HolidayGiftGuide #Giveaway

Do you have any little pilots or astronauts on your holiday list? If so you might want to check out Hot Wings from Just Think Toys. Every Hot Wings plane comes with a collector card, plus proprietary connectable runway system that allows collectors to build their own runways and airports. Seven distinct series, dating from the earliest Bi Planes to the newest Space Planes, plus taxiways and hanger accessories, make Hot Wings the most exciting collectible planes available.

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Hotwings 4

hot wings

hot wings 2

hot wings hanger

I was amazed at the quality of these metal planes and our boys just love them. We have a lot more that we want to get the for Christmas as they want to collect them all. The runway pieces are really cool and the card teaches them facts about the different planes. Mommy Ramblings likes Hot Wings so much we are adding them to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.

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hot wings 4

Hot wings 3

Hot wings

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Would you like a chance to win 3 Assorted Hot Wings Planes? Just enter below!

Enter The Giveaway!

Just think toys log

Just Think Toys is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win 3 Hot Wings Planes picked by the Just Think Toys. Thank you to Just Think Toys for the review Hot Wings Planes and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Hot Wings Planes Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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A Fun Kid’s Toy That Helps Build STEM Skills! #Giveaway #HolidayGiftGuide

If you are looking for a really fun toy for kids on your holiday gift guide, you might want to check out BathBlocks by Just Think Toys. These BathBlocks come in a variety of sets and when they are wet they stick to each other and surfaces like magnets.

They have sets like the Ball Run that present so many options to create ball runs and drops all while taking a bath. They are soft without any sharp edges so they are safe and there are a few different sets to choose from including a cooking set, a Coast Guard Set and more.

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bath blocks 2

coast guard set

cooking set

BathBlocks bring classic block play into a fun, fascinating, new, watery environment. BathBlocks empower children to create their vision and build STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) as they experiment with geometry, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, balance, structure and cause-effect.

Bath Blocks

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bath blocks 2

bath blocks 3

BathBlocks have won Oppenheim Gold awards. BathBlocks are made from bacteria and mildew resistant EVA and contain no PVC or phthalates. BathBlocks have won Oppenheim Gold awards. BathBlocks are made from bacteria and mildew resistant EVA and contain no PVC or phthalates.

 

We have added BathBlocks to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. If you would like to try to win a set, enter our giveaway below.

Enter The Giveaway!

Just think toys log

Just Think Toys is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their choice of any of the BathBlocks play sets (subject to availability-castle set is sold out) . Thank you to Just Think Toys for the review Ball Run Block Set and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

BathBlocks Play Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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How To Make Marshmallow Fondant & Decorate A Cake With It!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MinionsMovieNight #CollectiveBias

minions movie watching collage

What was your family’s favorite movie from last summer?  If you are like us, it was  Minions © 2015 Universal Studios-all rights reserved . If you loved the movie like we did, then it’s time to celebrate, because Minions is coming to Blu-ray/DVD at Target on Tuesday, December 8th! We are super excited for this release and we are really ready to celebrate minion style.

If you want to celebrate with a great family movie night, Target is a perfect one-stop-shop for every thing you need to have an award-winning night! If you can’t wait, you can pre-order Minions online at Target and if you do, you will get a $5 Target gift card.  The Minions Metalpak Blu-ray/DVD-Deluxe is only available at Target and has 40 minutes of exclusive content! Pre-ordering is easy, just order online and pick it up at the store!

minions metalpak plain

 

You really get a great deal when you order the Target exclusive Minions Metalpak Blu-ray/DVD because you get bonus content not available anywhere else. You get a minions Party Planner that will help you create some fun party flair inspired by the minion movie. Have the perfect party with mask invitations, balloons, banners, cup sleeves and goody bags. Every party has to have yummy treats and recipes for frozen bananas, munch, cupcakes, cookies and cake pops are included. On to fun and games with a Pinata and Pin the Goggles. Finally get creative with balloons and bracelet arts and crafts!

We wanted to make something really special to show how excited we are for the Minions movie release. We decided to make a minions cake. In doing so we made our own marshmallow fondant for the first time. I was a little nervous before we started but found it was very easy and taste so much better than store-bought fondant. I was in Target recently and picked up their Market Pantry Powdered Sugar to use in our marshmallow fondant recipe.

market pantry sugar

My husband was a huge help and we had a great time doing this together. In case you want to try it, just follow the step by step tutorial below.

PicMonkey Collage minion cake hero

The ingredients you need to make the fondant are one 16 ounce package of mini-marshmallows, 2 Tbsp. of water, 2 pounds of confectioner’s sugar and some vegetable shortening for your hands and work surface. Our counters are quartz and they are excellent for rolling and kneading directly on. Find out if your surfaces are suitable or use a board.

ingredients

Place the marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and put the 2 Tbsp. of water over them. Toss a little bit and put in the microwave for 30 seconds, remove and stir. You will see little change after 30 seconds but it is important to work in 30 second increments.

Marshmallow Fondant

Mashmallow 2

Marshmallow first 30

You will keep repeating the process of microwaving and then stirring the marshmallows until they are all melted with no lumps.

marshmallow fondant stir

Marshmallow fondant keep cooking

Marshmallow fondant cook

Marshmallow Fondant stirring

Next you will add in your confectioner’s sugar a little bit at a time. When you have a consistency that is hard to stir in the bowl you will turn it out onto your work surface you have coated with vegetable shortening. You will also need to coat your hands.

Marshmallow Fondant Crisco

fondant sugar 3

Fondant Sugar Knead

Next you will knead the fondant and get it blended together with the sugar, you will need to add more sugar until you can stretch it for about 2 inches before it breaks.

marshamallow fondant 22

marshmallow fondant kneading

Marshmallow Fondant kneading 2

Fondant Sugar 4

After you have kneaded it to the right consistency you need to wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator at least 12 hours.

Fondant Away

In the meantime, I used a yellow cake mix to make two 9″ round cake layers.

cakes

cake mix cakes out

cake mix bake

cakes out 2

Next, we need to make the buttercream chocolate frosting. So you will need 2 sticks of butter, I let my soften at room temperature. You will also need 4 cups of confectioner’s sugar, 3/4 cup of good cocoa powder, 2 tsp. of pure vanilla extract, and 2 tbsp. of milk. You mix all of the frosting ingredients except the milk in a mixer and add the milk a little bit at a time to get to the desired consistency.

butter

butercream

buttercream 1

butterceam

buttercream 6

When the layers have cooled, you are going to frost the cake as you would for a regular layer cake.  Level the layers so your cake is as even as possible. Keep the frosting as smooth as you can. You can store the cake in the refrigerator to allow it to crust.

cake level

buttercream 7

cake frost

cake frost 1

Cake frost 2

When your fondant has been chilled enough, take it out and plan your colors. I needed a little white, a little blue, a little gray, a little black and a lot of yellow. So I cut small pieces and left the largest piece for the yellow. I have learned that the best kinds of colors that mix easily and completely are gel colors.

fondant

We happened to have a minions cutter that was made for sandwiches that worked well for the eyes and goggles. If you do not have something like this you can use round cookie cutters and improvise.  We cut out the white eyes first.

fondant 3

Then we did the gray goggles. You color the fondant by adding a little bit of gel color and folding the fondant on top of the gel and kneading it until well blended. The gel color works best and I saw that first hand because we used it for every thing but the blue. The blue was a lot harder to color and did not blend as well using traditional liquid food coloring.

fondant 5

Fondant 6

We made black and I shaped some hair, my husband shaped the eyeballs and I did the mouth. Then on to the yellow. My husband was a real help in all this and did most of the fondant work while I took the pictures. To get the right amount of fondant to cover the cake, you need to measure across your cake and then the height of each side. The total will be how large your fondant will need to be.

fondant 7

fondant 9

fondant 8

fondant 10

fondant 11

When it was rolled to the right consistency we brushed a little water on the top and sides of the cake using a pastry brush. This helps the fondant stick and not slip.

fondant 14

Next, drape the fondant in half over your rolling-pin.  Then carefully place it on top of the cake.  You smooth the top and as you go down the sides you don’t press down but up slightly and work to just smooth it all over your cake. When you have it smooth without wrinkles, you want to trim the bottom with a small pastry wheel or pizza cutter.  You can dust off the powdered sugar and then put the final fondant pieces on your cake. If you wet the back of them, it will help them stick.

fondant 15

fondant 16

fondant 17

fondant 18

fondant 20

fondant 21

Lastly sit back and enjoy your minion cake before you cut into him to have something sweet to eat while you watch the movie. We felt bad cutting him, especially my 6 year old but in the end we knew we needed to. Everyone enjoyed our tasty minion cake.

minion cake

minion cake 1

minion cake 4

minion cake 5

 

If you really want to have some fun with a lot of other Illumination Entertainment’s Minions movie fans there is a Twitter viewing part on December 11th from 7-9pm EST! You can RSVP at www.SoFabChats.com and follow along with the #MinionsMovieNight on Twitter!

Please let me know if you try this, I would love to hear how it comes out.


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Filed under Books, Christmas, Faith, Family, Giveaway, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Home & Garden