Family Game Night - Watch Ya' Mouth 90s Edition Review

 

The 411:

There are so many ways to play Watch Ya' Mouth because there are so many editions and all of them are fun. This is the 90s Edition which features some of your favorite pop culture icons, sayings, bands and more that will have you yearning for some Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch music and so hapy that mullets are no longer a thing. I played with my daughter and then with her and her friend. It was fun because neither of them had any knowledge of what was on the cards which made it easier for me but hard for them.
 

There are 200 cards with 90s themed sayings that will have you cracking up or feeling nostalgic for the days we thought were difficult. Lord! We had no idea what was coming down the pike. This games reminded me how much I loved the 90s.

The game comes with 6 adult size and 4 kid sized although my daughter felt the kid size was still too big for her mouth.  Our only complaint the first day we played was that that mouth pieces hurt our mouth however, I felt that I got use to it while all my daughter did was complain. Her friend seemed to have problems with mouth pain in the very beginning but then was playing along. My daughter who is a skinny 13 kept taking hers out because she said it really hurt the sides of her mouth.  The first day I felt it was really uncomfortable but the second day didn't have too many problems.

The mouth pieces are easy to put in once you get how they should go. We all felt odd with our horse teeth showing but once we got going it was so much fun. We found ourselves even doing our turn with the mouthpiece.

If you love games this is a must have. It is hysterical trying to understand what is being read to you. We used the timer in the beginning then stopped because we just wanted to focus on the game not watch the sands. Whenever we got it we got it no matter how long it took but you can use the timer if that is your thing.

There are no instructions to the game. You can play however you like and we are dying to play this during the holiday when we get together with family visiting from Cali!

Idea: Have a kid free night and get the Watch Ya Mouth Adult Edition. Good times for sure.

See Our Unboxing Of Megalopolis Toys

Megalopolis is an online adult collectible specialty retailer, focused on delivering an exciting online shopping experience, infused with things collectors do and love.  

The 411:

OK guys my daughter and I are true fans of horror and collectibles. We were beyond excited to review some of the collectibles from Megalopolis. FIRST, let me start with the box. The Megalopolis box is eye catching. I saw it the moment I drove into the drive and had zero idea what was in it at the time but I couldnt' wait to open it.  We sat with the box all of about 20 minutes while Goddess finished homework. The moment she ended her homework, we tossed everything off the table and opened the box not knowing what was inside.  You can hear us in the video when we saw the first item. Eleven from Stranger Things is definitely a favorite character and we love everything about the collectible. It is so detailed and looks like a mini Eleven with the socks, pink dress, dirty sneakers, blonde wig, Eggo, mini hands (her hands come off), blood on her face, and huge 80's phone. She is bendable and comes with a stand so you can stand her on a shelf. Goddess claimed her for her bookshelf. I don't blame her, I love her too! We decided we need more of the characters to join her on the shelf.  They have Dustin, Lucas, Demogorgon and Hopper. Love them! They sell for $17.99 and are so worth it.

The Freddy Krueger Madballs Foam Horrorball by Kidrobot sells for $9.99 and is so fun. It combines Madballs with some of our favorite villains. Freddy happens to be my favorite.  There is so much detail on the ball. Freddy's hat, teeth, shirt, gloved hand with the knives and drippy, melted skin have been considered in the creation of this ball. There are 5 other horror villains available if you are into this and I wish I had them all. 

Last but not least is Jason from Friday the 13th The Final Chapter collectible figurine. It is so cool, I can't bring myself to take him out of his box. I love the box too. It is a covered box with Jason inside a cardboard box with a plastic covered front so you can see him and all his attachments.  Two, masks, Saw, Ax, Corkscrew, Clever, Machete, even a tombstone with Pamela's name on it.  Jason comes with a mask that allows you to re-create his fatal wound by sliding the machete into the side of his head.  This is a must have for a true collector of this movie franchise.  

Besides the collect toys and a kick ass box there was purple bubble wrap, tissue paper an Overlord and some stickers for your laptop or iPad. They really put a lot of thought into their packaging and it did not go under appreciated. 

Definitely ordering more from Megalopolis as Christmas gifts this year. Look for them and other items on my Holiday Gift Guide. 

Adolescent Friendships Are Important

Positive friendships are so important to all of us but especially when kids are teens. My daughter has a few very good friends and fortunately I am very lucky that the kids she chooses to be friends with are kids I would pick for her myself.  Today we had a friend over that she has been in school with since preschool but not one that she hangs out with outside of school.  I know that during the day they are together but it wasn't until I saw them together and spent a few hours with them where I really saw just how important this friendship is.

It was wonderful to hear her friend speak so kindly to my daughter and see the comfort they found being together.  When my daughter mentioned a photo that she felt she looked terrible "boyish" in, her friend was quick to say, "You are so pretty. I hate when you are so hard on yourself." We all need that friend who is there to lift us when we feel we are less than. Even if all her friends words don't alll sink in, maybe just hearing them from someone other than me or her dad will stick somehow and she will see how special she is. Teens need more than their parents as they get older. Their friends are a huge part of their lives as they journey into adulthood and hopefully they all have friends who are positive, accepting, and supportive.

Friendships that last for years, that show a history between two people is so very important to our soul and I hope to get these girls together more often outside of school.

I loved listening to them talk today, play a board game with me, cook dinner together and just hang. Hopefully my daughter will have friends that last well  into her adulthood life as I do. Knowing these people are in my life gives me such warmth and happiness even if we don't see each other. In an age of social media I was so happy to see these two in the same orbit for a few hours today.

They were sweet enough to re-enact this pic from their preschool graduation for me today.  I love them both!

In this age of online friendships, make sure you get your children to be with their friends. They feel that because they just spoke online they were together but there is nothing like being "together".

Art 4 All Hats & Artwork

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The 411:

If you have read my blog you know that my daughter Goddess has been an artist for years. She is 13 and has an interest and desire to always do her art and stretch her skills. I loved handing this hat over to her for review. 

The hat is from Art 4 All a company created by Abby Paffrath an artist who uses an traditional art form to create her art. My daughter loves hats and she loves art. Goddess loves something she can put on her head to keep her hair out of her face while she is hard at work on a sketch or digital coloring her sketches. The hat has a flat bill and mesh sides. It also has an adjustable back for every size head. Goddess loved that the hat had artwork from an artist who took her passion for wildlife and nature and created a product where others can walk around with her artwork.  "I love it. It isn't just on a canvas, photo or online. Her artwork is putting footprints all over town. This is so cool." 

We love you can get a trucker hat, winter hat, beanie, headband or bandana featuring Abby's art. 

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Ever Wanted To Be A Mermaid? AquaMermaid for Classes, Parties and TAILS - Adults and Children

The 411:

While we can't get to a pool this time of year my daughter has worn the tail a few times at home. She loves sitting there flipping her tail and having the cats run over to see what she is up to. She says it is easy to get into and she adores the color. It really is very pretty.

The monofin insert that goes inside the bottom of the tail comes with inserts that keep your feet inside and it is easy to adjust.  We also love the zipper at the bottom of the tail which makes it very easy to get to the monofin and your feet.

I love the idea of doing an AquaMermaid class with my friends. There isn't one near me but maybe near you. 

I am going to get one one day! I love it and so jealous that my daughter gets to be a mermaid.

From The Producers Of Stranger Things - The Darkest Minds Is On Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and OnDemand

The 411: 

We watched The Darkest Minds last weekend and have seen it three times since. I think for a mix of teen romance, science fiction, action and a touch of drama it was a really good movie. Kids who like Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and even the campy Sky High will enjoy this movie.

98% of the children are dying. If you don't die you have super powers. Those who didn't die are quickly rounded up and shipped out to concentration camps.  Sounds like a good premise right?  It is.
Ruby is broken out by MANDY MOORE (Yes, that Mandy) but she doesn't trust any adults and it seems like Mandy has an agenda of her own. Ruby and some other kids escape and find out there is way more to this "disease" than meets the eye.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie with my kids and thought the scene where her mommy doesn't recognize her was so sad. There was a lot of armed adults with guns pointed at kids which didn't concern my kids but I wanted to mention. This is a great movie for kids over 13. Mostly because there is flirting and those guns and a few curses. Nothing that was embarrassing to see with my kids but my 13 year old daughter did mention that it was weird to hear them in a "kid" movie.

We haven't watched the extra yet but hope to do so soon.

I had no idea that this movie was based on a book series called The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken which I hope to check out. 

Unplug Your Kids This Year With A Razor Scooter PLUS a Review + Video

Our Video Of The Razor A5 Lux Scooter

A5 Lux Scooter

The 411: 

My daughter hasn't been on a scooter in over 6 years and she was really nervous getting on at first. She suited up (we borrowed knee guards and helmet from a friend) and headed out. She was so nervous that she was going to fall immediately. Two times up and down the street and she was a pro. "Just like riding a bike, if I knew how to ride a bike" she said.  She was nervous turning and quickly realized she needed to take wider turns because only the front wheel pivots like most scooters.  She used the brake and has built up speed really fast so much so that I was telling her not to be so confident because that is when accidents can happen. She rode it 3 days in a row even though the weather has been under 45.  I love that she has been outside even though I need to go with her (she is nervous going alone). Anytime my kids are unplugged, outside and active I am happy.

The Pros:
Ready to go right out of the box
Folds up for easy on the go and storage
Comfortable handles
Easy to use brake
Wide foot board
Beautiful blue color
Easy adjustable handles
Smooth ride
Kickstand so she isn't leaving it tossed in the driveway when she needs to go in

The Cons:

The level for folding is sometimes tight. She has to pick it up and fight with it to open it.

The Lotus Trolley Bag

  

The 411:

Not sure about where you are but starting next year many of the stores in my area will be charging for plastic bags that you use in their store. I am okay with that since we love using our canvas bags but The Lotus Trolley Bag is completely different. 

It folds nicely and has a handle for easy carrying. It also comes with 4 large, canvas bags that hook onto your cart including an insulated bag for frozen items and pockets for egg cartons or bottles.

My family has used The Lotus Trolley Bag for 3 weeks and love it! We place them easily in our cart and fill them up. Once we get to the register we empty them and put the groceries right back in them. It took some time because we were use to bagging as we were putting things on the conveyor belt. Now we just empty each bag and fill as the cashier rings the items up. 

 
When we get back to the car, we just place the four bags in the car instead of 10 small plastic bags that spill all over my truck as I drive. Then we just lift the bags out and take them in. It is wonderful because instead of 5 trips from the car to the house, we do it in 2. 

 
Pros:

The bags are large
There is an insulated bag for frozen items. 
The bags all Velcro together so you are not grabbing a bunch of bags, it is like 3 in 1.
Each bag has reinforced stitching so they won't break due to the weight of your groceries.  
The bags are washable. just remove the rods and toss in the wash.
You can even use the bag alone without the rod if you need a really large bag making them very versatile.
I love the colors!

Cons:

I wish they didn't stick out so far. I understand it is so the bag doesn't fall as you place things inside it and so that it will fit many different size carts but I worry that I am going to hit someone when I go by. They are much wider than the cart.  A hook that wraps around the cart would make more sense so I don't catch on anyone as I shop. 

Smithsonian Exploration Stations Human Body And World Atlas

 

Smithsonian Exploration Station: World Atlas (ISBN: 978-1626867208) is the perfect way to engage kids in the amazing world around them!

The 411:

These kits are so much fun. My daughter was more interested in them then I thought she would be. I would have been so into these when was a kid so it made me very happy to watch her go through them. Read through the books and put the skeleton together. We think the included stickers, books and models make this is a great learning kit that is fun and educational.