My household contains many LEGO Fans both big and small, so you can imagine how stoked they are to be going to LEGO Brick Fest Live at the Meadowlands in New Jersey this July! This will be our first Brick Fest Live and so everyone is super excited. I know the little guys will be in absolute awe! Cannot wait to capture their faces. If you have Lego fans in your family and live near the Meadowlands Expo Center or will be traveling there July 10-12, you should check it out! Lego Lovers will be inspired, educated and entertained with LEGO bricks! They can play with huge attractions built to set your imagination free! Witness mind-blowing creations made entirely of this timeless toy at Brick Fest Live!
Save on Tickets!
Use Coupon Code: FAMGUIDE5 for $5 off each ticket, Event runs July 10-12 at the Meadowlands Expo Center. To save on tickets click HERE!
At a Brick Fest Live event, you and your family will take part in lots of hands-on activities. But LEGO itself is a hands-on activity. What will you get when you attend a Brick Fest Live event that differs from your activity at home? We have accumulated a collection of LEGO pieces ready to build with which span many decades of production. Every year, The LEGO Group produces dozens of new elements which have never been made before. Consequently, they also retire many elements and replace some of them with newer versions. Many parts as well as colors are never produced again. Our collection of parts gives you free range of LEGO’s extensive part catalog for an unhindered building experience.
We have seen other LEGO-related events which use a limited selection of LEGO elements in their free-build area. There have even been events with a massive quantity of only one type of piece. While this presents interesting and different challenges for the builder in your life, we find that building with as large a parts selection as we have will present a new and exciting experience for you.
Check out the trailer for LEGO Brick Fest Live Below:
Have you attended a LEGO Brick Fest Live before? If so I would love it if you shared your experience in the comments.
With summer vacation fast on our heels, families are traveling, going on road trips, visiting relatives and getting out and about. Great memories are what they want to bring back from vacation, no one wants to bring bed bugs back! Unfortunately, many do bring home these unwanted stowaways. They could come from a hotel, Airbnb, relative or friends house but if you have them, one thing is for sure, you want to kill them quick. If you have kids and pets you don’t want to use toxins especially on surfaces like your mattress that you spend so many hours on each night. If you are looking for something you can treat bedding with when your travel or if you are dealing with an infestation at home, there is a safe, eco-friendly treatment.
Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer kills bed bugs on contact and is made with all natural ingredients like essential geranium oil. The spray works to eliminate all stages of bed bugs (eggs, nymphs, adults). The spray is odorless and non staining so you can apply it directly to your sheets, mattress and bedding to kill bed bugs on site. Spray is safe for kids and pets and the organic, non-toxic ingredients put your mind at ease, which is what you need when you are already stressed.
When you have bed bugs you want to get rid of them fast, going to bed can literally be a nightmare when you know they are just waiting to feast on you and your family. The Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer is the fastest bed bug treatment on the market. Works faster than bed bug powders, traps and interceptors. The spray was formulated by professional exterminators and is guaranteed effective to work and comes with a 100%, no questions, 60 day, money back guarantee.
The threat of bed bugs does not end with summer. Did you know if you have children who are heading off to college, there are outbreaks of bed bugs in college dorms nationwide. Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer is a great product to send your child away with. This bed bug killer should be the top of their college packing list. You can purchase Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer on Amazon, there is a link below.
I received a free product to facilitate my review from Eco Defense. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
Recently I tried to adjust my favorite coconut oil, chocolate chip cookie recipe and substitute almond flour for white flour. The problem was the cookies spread out way too much and were like crepes. I added more almond flour and the second batch was better but still way too thin. They tasted good though, so I know if I keep experimenting, I will come up with the solution.
In my search, I did find it would be best to chill the dough and I will try that next time. In the meantime, I tried another recipe for Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies and this one used baking soda instead of baking powder like mine and I decided to try it and chill the dough. The cookies did not spread out but they did not take like a chocolate chip cookie like my first recipe. The taste and texture is more like a macaroon. They are very good, but I cannot believe there is such a huge difference in taste and texture. This recipe almost tastes like flaked coconut was added. Like I said, it is very good, just not what I would call a chocolate chip cookie. I would refer to it as a chocolate chip macaroon cookie, lol. Anyway, lets take a look at how we make these and I will update with the other recipe and post pics of the first go round on that as well.
For my almond flour, I used the Morning Pep brand that is available on Amazon. It is made from 100% all-natural Certified Gluten-Free by GFCO blanched almonds. The flour is ground very fine so it gives baked goods and sweets a rich flavor and moist texture, contains no preservatives or additives. Morning Pep Almond Meal Flour is a great source of dietary fiber, Vitamin E, protein, iron, magnesium and calcium. Morning Pep Almond Flour is considered pasteurized by the USDA and The Almond Board of California.
Almond Meal Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (More Like A Macaroon In Consistency)
3-3-3/4 Cups of Almond Flour (dough was too soft with 3 cups so I added about 3/4 cup more)
1-1/4 Cups of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2/3 Cup Toasted Walnuts (Optional)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Use a silicone baking mat or line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In your mixer bowl cream the butter, extra virgin coconut oil and brown sugar. Next, add the vanilla and eggs and mix until blended.
Add baking soda and sea salt. Add the almond flour one cup at time, beat well after each addition. I felt the dough was too soft after adding 3 cups of flour and gradually added more, I would say about 3/4 cup more. Dough was still soft but not as soft as before.
Add the chocolate chips and mix until incorporated in the dough, if you are adding the nuts, add them now and mix.
Chill the dough for at least an hour. Scoop with a small cookie scoop onto the lined cookie sheet and bake immediately for 11-12 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Let cook and remove to baking rack to cool thoroughly. Yield about 3 dozen with the additional flour.
See our video below of the process:
I received 2 bags of Morning Pep Almond Flour to facilitate my review. As always my words and opinions are 100% my own.
The Pridebit Julienne Peeler lets you easily peel your vegetables with one side of the blade and with the opposite side of the peeler, julienne them effortlessly. The peeler has a 2 in 1 blade that will peel even tough vegetables like squash and eggplant easily.
Food prep is easy with this versatile tool made of professional quality stainless steel that maintains sharpness even after washed in the dishwasher. The peeler comes with a handy cleaning brush to help you clean out any small vegetable peels and then you can just rinse them and put right in the dishwasher.
See our video below of it in action. You can purchase the peeler on Amazon.com. There is a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee! Let me know what you think.
I received this peeler to facilitate my review as always, my words and views are 100% my own.
Don’t you hate writing with messy, dusty, chalk that gets all over your fingers? I remember in college one professor hated to write with it, any time he absolutely had to, he would always say that he was risking getting cancer to write on the board. He was talking about the chalk dust. Anyway, with most chalk boards you don’t have many options besides using white or colored chalk. If you’re looking for an easier option, one that is colorful, neat, non-toxic, eco-friendly and FUN…I have the answer. Fun Chalk, Liquid Chalk Markers take chalk to a whole new level.
Here are just some of the benefits of these Chalk Markers:
* 8 Bright, Eye Catching Colors
* Long lasting, quick drying ink
* Clean-up is quick and easy. Simply wipe off with water and a cloth.
* It’s dust free making it a prime choice for those with asthma or allergies
* Non-Toxic, xylene-free, odor-free
Plus, FUN CHALK’s Chalk Markers are environmentally friendly and conform to all the requirements set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the European Standard for Toy Safety Testing.
FUN CHALK has been tested and APPROVED by moms, kids and teachers. It’s time to let your imagination and creativity take flight. BUY our Chalk Markers now and receive FREE SHIPPING! Just click add to cart. Your purchase will be backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
IMPORTANT: All liquid chalk is meant to be used on non-porous materials. We recommend that you test FUN CHALK on a sample or inconspicuous spot on the material you are going to use.
I recently test drove the 8 piece broad liquid chalk markers. There is a little trick to get them started. First you push down on the tip to release any pressure, then you shake it vigorously and then depress the tip while holding it on a piece of paper until you see the color filling the tip and it flows. After that, it is time for fun!
I used them on my black dry erase board and they worked great! The eye-popping, vibrant colors made leaving messages or drawing pictures really fun! You can use the markers on non-porous blackboards, mirrors, windows and plastic. Use them at your next business meeting, on your family message board, to decorate windows or whatever. The easy, wet cloth erase will make cleanup a snap. There’s also a set of 8 fine tip fluorescent colors available. You can purchase the high-quality chalk markers on Amazon.
Enter The Giveaway!
Fun Chalk is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a 8 pack of broad Fun Chalk, Liquid Chalk Markers.. Thank you to Fun Chalk for the review chalk markers and for sponsoring this vibrant giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
I would consider myself to have a green thumb, two in fact, but when it comes to orchids, something changes them both to brown. I love the look when I see them in the store but take them home, and soon all I have to show is a planter. Recently, I found a beautiful orchid that will stay that way.
At Silk Flowers Direct, I can shop online from a vast selection of silk flowers, plants, topiaries, palms, trees, containers, custom items and even commercial products. I love you can choose from various filters that let me find items by the type of flower or plant, color, shape, quantity, material and more. Silk Plants Direct offers the largest selection of lifelike faux plants and trees for your home or office decor. They not only offer a collection of stocked products, but they also manufacture plants and trees to each customers exact specifications for turn-key solution.
Here is the beautiful Orchid I received and it is so pretty. I put it next to my tub and it is a gorgeous, tranquil piece that is perfect for gazing at when relaxing in the tub.
Exclusive Discount Code-Save 10%
So take a look at the huge assortment of beautiful flowers, trees and plants at Silk Plants Direct and if you decide to purchase use the exclusive discount code, BLOGGER10 created for Mommy Ramblings’ Readers to save 10% on your order! Follow Silk Plants Direct on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the loop on the newest products and promotions.
I was sent the orchid silk plant to facilitate my review by Silk Plants Direct. As usual my words and views are 100% my own!
Summer is just about here, if you’re like me you’re probably busy making summer plans. We have some nice day trips planned and since we live on a lake, we really love the summer! Keeping the kids active and cool all summer long may seem like a huge undertaking especially if you don’t have a pool or lake nearby. How about your own water park in your yard? Wouldn’t that be a great way to keep the kids busy, active and cool all summer long? It is so easy with Blast Zone’s Inflatable Crocodile Isle Water Park with 2 Slides!
This huge inflatable is only about the size of an extra-large folded sleeping bag when deflated. The magic occurs when you attach the UL listed blower, in mere minutes, before your eyes, it inflates into a child’s dream-their own water park! With a large pool area and 2 long fun slides, climbing wall, lookout platform and spraying water they will have hours of fun, playing and keeping cool.
Simple to set up, and one tip we want to share to make things easier is to get a very large tarp to put under the inflatable. The tarp makes it easy to move the deflated water park on the tarp to different areas of your yard. The other advantage with the tarp is that it is easy to cover the deflated and dry inflatable when it rains. We keep our inflatables out all summer and using this method our inflatables are in great shape year after year.
To set up, all you do is unpack the inflatable, quickly attach the water hoses and sprayer to the handy velcro holders, tie the little air out take and hook the included blower to the yellow intake and turn it on.
Features
Dual Sides
Massive Splash Area
Upgraded Tail Walls
Climbing Ramp
Upgraded Climber
Safety Netting
Commercial Vinyl Impact Surfaces
Double and Quadruple Stitching
Included Fan W GFCI
Included Storage Case
Inflates in Seconds
Includes
Inflatable Unit
UL Listed Blower
Sprayer Assembly (Water Parks Only)
Carrying Case
Instruction Manual
Instructional DVD
1 Yr Warranty on Inflatable
1 Yr Warranty on Blower
“2 Yr Promise” on Kit
When inflated you can secure with the included stakes to keep you inflatable safe and secure and there are even stakes for the blower. Then simply attach your garden hose to the hose that extends down the back of the inflatable and secure.
Turn on your water supply and the water will spray out of the spray heads located above each slide and eventually fill the pool area, Now you could fill the pool area too if you like and then connect the hose to the back as well. We do it the first way and it works fine. now if you live in the mountains like me and do not have truly level land you will find areas of the pool that are deeper and areas where it is very shallow but my kids never really care about that and given we move it around all the time the changes in the water of the pool is fun.
One big advantage the Crocodile Isle has over the Ultra Croc we have is that with the climbing wall in the front they kids do not exit the pool to climb up to the platform and go down the slides. This means that they will not be tracking grass, leaves and dirt back into the water and slides. I really like that! This is a huge inflatable, 14′ D by 22′ W by 8′ H with room for up to 6 kids to play at once. The rugged Crocodile Isle Water Park is constructed according to Blast Zone’s strict quality and safety standards, using double and quadruple stitched, reinforced polyester oxford. Commercial-grade vinyl is used on the climbing and slide surfaces, adding extra strength and longer life to the unit. As with all our products, the Crocodile Isle comes with Blast Zone’s industry-leading warranty and customer support. There is a handy storage bag to hold the inflatable at the end of the season for storage.
Please note, we just turned the water on that is why it is not showing much in the inflatable. The water fills it very nicely and creates a refreshing splash pool!
As a blogger I have a brand relationship with Blast Zone and have tested many of their products over the last several years. I can tell you that when you are making a purchase like this, you want a quality inflatable, one that is not just going to last for one season. Over the years we have reviewed many inflatables from Blast Zone and do you know that all of the ones we reviewed we still use and they are in excellent shape. Multiple years and they look great and provide year after year of enjoyment. As a parent it only makes sense to invest in a product that is going to last and not one that is trashed at the end of the season.
You can see some of our other reviews of Blast Zone products HERE! There are videos to show you the products in action. If you have any questions please ask. I have a lot of experience with the products and would love to assist you with your questions. The Blast Zone products are available for purchase on Amazon. Recommended for ages 3 years and up. Max weight on inflated structure is 300 lbs. If you have a Blast Zone product I would love for you to tell me what you have and what you love about it. If you are looking to buy one, share with me which you think you will purchase.
Do you ever wish there was a way to get quality prescription glasses and sunglasses at more affordable prices? I know I have. How about the most popular, trendy eyeglasses frames from all over the world available at big savings? Sound good, right? GlassesShop.com has all that and more! Shop online and have your new glasses quick, just a few days after they’re shipped.
Right now Sunglasses are on sale for 25% off with free shipping when you use the Promo Code SUNSALE at checkout. They start as low as $12.95 a pair! I recently went online and ordered a pair of Sarcelles Cat-Eye – Tortoise sunglasses from Glasses Shop. The website is easy to navigate and I was able to choose from a wide selection of styles and color choices. My sunglasses were delivered quickly in a nice case with a cleaning cloth. They are fashionable, functional and most importantly affordable!
They have fashion sunglasses, polarized sunglasses and prescription sunglasses for men and women. It’s never been so easy and affordable to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. Stop squinting, it causes wrinkles, take a look at the site and browse all the great options. Let me know what you think.
Special Savings for Mommy Ramblings’ Readers:
Use The Promo Code CarolynX20 to save 20% off when you buy glasses at GlassesShop.com. In the words of Brad Paisley-“She Looks Great In Cheap Sunglasses!”
Time passes so fast and as much as we try to stop it, we are no match for the strength of Father Time. The best thing is to try to soak it all up and be thankful for the memories we make. Charm bracelets are a great way to remind ourselves of the special people, hobbies, pets, vacations and milestones in our life. I recently received a beautiful sterling silver charm bracelet form Soufeel. I was amazed with the details of the small charms, each side featuring something special.
The Soufeel site is full of charms to celebrate nearly everything in your life. Look at some of the new Summer Arrivals!
Aren’t they so cute, see the whole new collection HERE! They have a great sale where some of the Summer Arrivals are as much as 75% Off! You also get a free bracelet with purchases over $99!
This is the back of the heart with the cross.
All Charms, Beads, Bracelets Made of 100% 925 Sterling Silver:
All Soufeel beads, charms and charm bracelets are made of 100% 925 sterling silver. Customers can join the Soufeel Rewards program and earn points on their purchases that can be redeemed for free jewelry. For a truly unique and memorable keepsake, they will put a picture on a charm or locket, you can see the option HERE. Browse the site to see their full selection of bracelets, charms, earrings, necklaces and gifts.
Soufeel Specials-Free Jewelry-Free Shipping-And Special Discount For Mommy Ramblings’ Readers
Soufeel offers free worldwide shipping on orders over $50 and a 365-day return/exchange guarantee. Customers get a free ring with orders over $59 and a Free Sterling Silver Charm with orders over $79. Orders over $99 get a free bracelet! Use coupon code Carolyn5 and save 5% off for any order.
Graduation season is in full swing. Did you have any college graduations in your family? My daughter’s graduation with her masters degree was a very proud day for our family. It is hard to believe that she could be graduating when it seems like yesterday she was born. Life passes in the blink of an eye, so it is nice to have photographs and keepsakes from special events. With a graduation, all the years of hard work and dedication are represented in the diploma.
What better gift than a custom diploma frame that recognizes the graduate’s university and has styling options even medallions that can be added. Further customization can be made in the way of upgraded glass, finishes, frames and matting. I was so happy to present my daughter with a gorgeous presidential gold diploma frame that featured the university that she earned her graduate degree at. She was so thrilled to receive it, she was so surprised that the frame had her University on it and the medallion. She said it was the most impressive and meaningful diploma frame she had ever seen. Her diploma looks great in it and we know that it is protected and preserved.
If you are looking for a special gift to present to a recent graduate or to showcase any diploma, check out Church Hill Classics. Right now through June 3rd, in honor of Dads and Grads, they are offering free shipping when you use the code DF15B
This post is sponsored by Church Hill Classics but as always my words and views are 100% my own.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
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