Thinkfun's Turnstile--A Revolving Maze Game

     Thinkfun's innovative games have provided my family with hours of challenging, yet fun times during our family game nights.  Recently, we received a sample package of some of Thinkfun's newest releases, and this morning, the temptation was too much for my son and I, as we couldn't wait until our family fun night, to try out Turnstile™.
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     The challenges of Turnstile ™ will hook you and your child, and just about anyone else who plays the game with you, instantaneously.  Each Turnstile ™ game comes with the following pieces:

• 1 Game Grid.
• 4 Color Tokens: 1 Purple, 1 Orange, 1 Green, and 1 Blue.
• 4 Gray Tokens.
• 40 cards with Challengers & Solutions: Beginner through Expert.
• 10 Turnstiles: 1 X, 3 singles, 2 L’s and 2 T’s.
• Instructions.
• 1 Game Go Bag.

     We started with the ‘Beginner’ level cards, and set up our color tokens and turnstiles to match the first card we picked, and right away, our color tokens set off into the maze of turnstiles. If your token hits a turnstile, you are allowed to push it through the turnstile so your token can rotate one quarter turn.  But, if your token is blocked by another turnstile or token, then you will have to quickly don your thinking cap to come up with another way to move around. Continue to move your tokens through the maze until they reach their color coordinated corners.  As you move thru ‘Beginner’ to ‘Expert’ cards, you will find just like we did that the gray tokens can either work for you or against you as the maze challenges increase.  You have to constantly think on your toes!  Very soon, my son and I found that the more we played (warning─Turnstile ™ is addicting!) we quickly worked our way up to the ‘Expert’ level cards. 

     Thinkfun has a great how-to-play video available on YouTube forTurnstile™ , and here is a link to this helpful introduction to the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KHQ3WnFshs&feature=youtu.be



     My son liked that the game was quick to figure out, and was very simple to set up, and I appreciated the ways that this game enhances a child’s visual and strategic thinking skills in an addictively fun way! Turnstile ™ is perfect for ages 8 and up, and the game retails for $19.99.  Look for this, as well as other games from Thinkfun on their website, http://www.ThinkFun.com

Melissa & Doug Debuts Free Virtual Camp

    

     It’s that familiar time of the year when parents everywhere are asking themselves the age-old question─ how on earth am I going to keep my kids busy this summer and not break our bank?  Melissa & Doug, the creators of innovative, educational and fun children’s to the creators of innovative, educational and fun children’s toys, have recently announced the debut of their latest venture─Camp Sunny Patch—a week-by-week activity guide to a summer full of active, imaginative play. Hosted at blog.MelissaAndDoug.com, Camp Sunny Patch features a team of blog ambassadors as “camp counselors.” These counselors host themed “camp sessions” in diverse categories such as water play, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts and other familiar camp favorites, through free printable play guides.

     Every week, families can visit the blog to download a guide that provides a multitude of age-appropriate and fun activities, games, crafts and more. The blog also includes printable camp badges, and if you also become a fan on Facebook or follower on Twitter, camp-themed surprises will be featured on each of these social media networks. In a time when families (like mine) are searching for fun, yet inexpensive ways to keep their children busy during the summer break from school, Camp Sunny Patch provides a valuable and enjoyable way to spend time together. Join Camp Sunny Patch by visiting the Melissa & Doug blog today!

100% Pure Yummy Ice Cream Vanilla 2 in 1 Wash

When I became a mother, I can honestly say that my number one job besides caring for and loving my sweet healthy baby boy, was to become more conscious of the health and well-being of my family.  With so many harmful ingredients found in the products that we use on our bodies, especially when it comes to children’s skincare products, my mission to keep synthetic and harmful ingredients away from our family took great importance.  With this always in mind, I recently came across a company called 100% Pure, and quickly became a fan.  I take comfort in the fact that all of the 100 % Pure products are natural, 100% vegan, gluten free, and are never tested on animals. This environmentally conscious company also packages their products in biodegradable materials made from post-consumer recycled plastic, glass and aluminum materials. 

The folks at 100% Pure kindly sent a package containing some of their newest products, and when I opened their package, which contained the Yummy Ice Cream Vanilla 2 in 1 Wash, I was shocked to see that it was contained within a 19oz pump. And, from the first moment it was used, I was completely enamored with this product.

 The Yummy Ice Cream Vanilla 2 in 1 Wash smells heavenly─lovely aromas that will instantly remind you of delicious vanilla.  After a shower, our whole bathroom literally smells like a heavenly bowl of vanilla ice cream, and the scent surprisingly does not vanish away quickly.  My son hair as well as my own was left shiny and clean, without stripping away the natural moisture from our scalps like other heavily artificially fragranced products have in the past, and our skin was left smooth and moisturized.  

Retailing for $15.00, the Yummy Ice Cream 2 in 1 Wash also comes in scents of Strawberry and Chocolate, and can be purchased directly thru the 100% Pure website at: http://www.100percentpure.com/default.asp

100% Pure Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream

Like many women in my age group (pushing 40), my skin has become highly sensitive to products containing artificial fragrances and synthetic ingredients, and I am always on the lookout for natural, organic ingredient-based products for myself, and for my family.  Recently, I received a package from 100% Pure, containing what has now become a must-have product in my daily skin care routine.

100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream contains non synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances or chemical preservatives. Richly filled with the antioxidant properties of Acai Berry, soothing aloe, calming rose flower water and extracts of healing herbal oils combined to literally feed your skin with the highest level of nutrition.  This nourishing, gluten-free facial cream has greatly assisted in easing the redness in my cheeks, something that I have suffered with for years since we moved to the South. 

This lotion is very thick, and from the moment that I put it on my face, I can feel how quickly it sets in, immediately setting out to moisturize my dry skin tone.  It actually penetrates my skin, instead of settling up on top of it.  I use it in the morning, under my makeup and at night before I go to sleep.  After using this ‘miracle’ product for two weeks now, I can see the difference in my skin tone.  It has greatly assisted in easing the redness in my cheeks, and my blemishes are virtually non-existent.  I cannot speak more highly of this all natural product. 

100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream, available for $32.00 for 1.6 fl. Oz,  can be purchased directly thru the 100% Pure website at: http://www.100percentpure.com/default.asp

Thinkfun Roll & Play

     Toddlers interact with their world around them─ they learn to think and understand behavior and how it affects their environment.  Through the introduction of simple and amusing games, you can help to nurture your little one’s early cognitive, development and motor abilities.  Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ is a wonderful first game that will grow with your child.  Roll the cube and help your toddler identify the color side up when the cube lands.  The six activities in the 48 card set are easy to read and are broken down into categories of Emotions, Body Parts, Animal Sounds, Counting, Colors and Actions.  These cards describe and illustrate the activities that you will speak or act out.  Very quickly, you and your child will be ‘mooing’ like a cow; seeking out items around the house that are of a particular color; or making silly faces at each other.  Our family really enjoyed playing with this simple yet engagingly interactive, well-made game, and it has quickly become a favorite ‘go-to’ game on our weekly Friday game nights. It is entirely portable, and it is a great game to bring along on trips to visit family or play dates. The activities will challenge your child, while expanding their creativity and imagination.  The convenient storage pocket on the side of this colorful, soft dice keeps the cards together and safe from possibly going lost.  Best of all, especially knowing how messy toddlers can get during play; the Roll & Play™ is machine washable! 

     Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ is designed for children between the ages of 18 months and up, and is best played with two or more players.  Retailing for $19.99, the Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ can be purchased at Barnes & Noble and specialty toy stores nationwide. For further information on the Roll & Play™ or other educational products from Thinkfun®, please visit their website at: www.ThinkFun.com

Modest Momma's May Skin Care Products Spotlight

     Nelsons Pure & Clear Purifying Daily Cleansing Wash─ Combining the essential oils of Lavender, Tea Tree, Petitgrain and Grapefruit oil, nestled within a natural seaweed formula, this cleansing wash helps to clear impurities and soothe and restore skin, leaving it feeling cleansed and invigorated. This foaming cleanser can be used individually or as part of the Nelsons Pure and Clear 4-step acne skin care system. The first thing our family noticed about Nelsons Pure and Clear Purifying Daily Cleansing Wash was the scent.  My husband and son appreciated the fact that the scent, while not flowery, was bright, crisp and clean.  As someone who is constantly on the lookout for products without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, artificial colorants and fragrances, this cleansing wash thankfully contains none of those.  Word of advice─ while this is not a sudsy cleanser, it does not affect its cleansing ability.  Our skin, after a month of use, felt smooth, clean, while maintaining adequate moisture.  Nelsons Pure &  Clear Purifying Daily Cleansing Wash retails for $10.95, and it can be purchased at Whole Foods Markets nationwide.  For further information, please visit their website at:

http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-us/us/our-brands/nelsons-pure-clear/

     Aura Cacia Cheering Foam Bath─ The uplifting and refreshing blend of 100% pure tangerine and sweet orange essential oils fills your bathroom with the lovely scents, while leaving your little ones delicate skin smooth and refreshed.  Contains no synthetic colors, fragrances or preservatives, this package had enough of product to use for two bubble baths in our house.  Aura Cacia Cheering Foam Bath is also safe for use in whirlpool baths and spas.  Retailing for $3.29 per 2.5oz pouch, Aura Cacia Cheering Foam Bath can be purchased thru their website at: http://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/acindex.html

     Gabriel Cosmetics Clean Kids Naturally Tropical Orange Burst Shampoo and Banana Smoothie Detangler

 Gabriel Cosmetics Clean Kids Naturally line features organic botanical extracts joined together with all natural ingredients combined to create a gentle and pleasant skin and hair care products that will provide your family with a healthy alternative.  The Tropical Orange Burst Shampoo provides you with a very effective yet gentle, tearless (yes, there were NO Tears shed in our household when we used this product) cleanser.  The refreshing aroma’s from orange and lime balance your hair and scalp, while protecting your little ones hair from the damaging effects of sun exposure.  The Banana Smoothie Detangler contains extracts of real Banana oil, leaving your little ones hair looking shiny and soft, painlessly removing all those annoying knots.  Retailing for $8.75 each, Gabriel Cosmetics Clean Kids Naturally Tropical Orange Burst Shampoo and Banana Smoothie Detangler can be purchased online at their website at: http://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/index.cfm?category=4

      Trillium Organics Ogi baby Organic Tubby Rubby Soapless Cleanser─ Trillium Organics offers this dry blend of gentle herbs, including the calming chamomile, calendula and lavender, combined with the soothing properties from oats offers families with a soapless, yet ideal herbal bath alternative.  Fill the muslin sac (provided with the product) with the herbal blend, seal the sac closed and drop into baby’s bath.  Once you have found the sac to be completely saturated after a few minutes, squeeze it out and dunk it repeatedly like you would when you make a cup of tea, until you notice that the sac emits milky white colored water.   Squeeze the oat/herbal milk all over your little ones delicate skin.  The soothing milk doesn’t have to be rinsed off with fresh water, as the oat/herbal milk mixture leaves your baby with a soothing protective coating over their skin.  We found that this product is perfect for babies and children with eczema and other sensitive skin conditions, as it prevented irritation and relieved their skin. For further information, please visit the Trillium Organics website at: http://trilliumorganics.com

Hyland's Leg Cramps Ointment

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     Over ten percent of healthy children in the United States experience intermittent pains (commonly referred to as ‘growing pains’) in their leg, calf or thigh muscles. Usually lasting between 10 to 30 minutes, they tend to occur late in the day or night.  Causes of cramps in children can include electrolyte imbalances, specifically potassium and magnesium deficiency. Exercise can also cause dehydration with loss of electrolytes and fluids in sweat, resulting in cramps. In addition, children (and indeed adults also) often sit or stand in awkward postures for extended periods of time precipitating muscle cramps. For young children, leg cramps are painful and often scary since it can feel like your muscles are ripping. 

     Sadly, both my husband and son suffer from what can only be described as painful cramps in their legs and calves.  Between heating pads, hot baths, ice packs, alcohol rubs and plenty of aspirin, nothing that we tried in the past brought either one of them any sense of relief.  We recently received a sample of Hyland’s Leg Cramps Ointment, and almost immediately, both my favorite boys felt relief.  This non-greasy, pleasant wintergreen scented ointment quickly soothes as it warms (without the overbearing burn of some other muscle ointments on the market) the affected area after application.  After massaging it into his legs after waking up recently in the middle of the night, and he was back to sleep in only minutes.  Something which never happened before, as our son would be up for hours after awaking from the pain.  Our family highly recommends this homeopathic, quick healing product.  Hyland’s Leg Cramps Ointment is available for purchase at CVS, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens nationwide.  For further information, please visit their website at: http://www.hylands.com/index.php