Sesame Street: Cool Counting DVD Giveaway

 

Hey friends, today we're teaming up with our friends over at Shout Factory in celebration of the upcoming release of Sesame Street: Cool Counting on DVD! Sesame Street has been around for years, and I'm so glad that the show that helped a lot of us learn to count, is still going stronger than ever. Their latest release, Cool Counting will have you and your little one singing and counting along with Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster, The Count, and more as they sing, play, and laugh their way from 1 to 20. Learning numbers has never been more fun or furrier!

Animations, songs, and favorite moments from recent seasons make counting as easy as, well, 1-2-3! Celebrity friends help the little ones practice their numbers, too: Elvis Costello wants to count to 10, but he’s missing an important number; Feist sings about her favorite number 4, and Liam Neeson gets an acting lesson from Count von Count while they count to 20.

The DVD is packed with over two hours of fun and comes complete with bonus features, including quintessential counting segments from Elmo’s World and Abby’s Flying Fairy School. Also included with the DVD is a Count with Elmo! mini-book for young fans.


            

GIVEAWAY:
We're excited to team up with Shout Factory to offer (2) readers, both US and CANADA a chance to win a copy of the upcoming DVD. To enter, leave a comment below sharing your favourite character from Sesame Street! 

Sesame Street: Cool Counting will be available on DVD and Itunes on June 8th! For more information about this title and others, be sure to head to Shout Factory! For some extra fun, check out these cute free Sesame Street Cool Counting colouring pages you and your little one can colour as you watch the DVD.

Kick-Off the Summer Season With Asmodee (Giveaway) #backyardboardgames



The sun is out and boy can you feel it when you step outside! I don't know about you, but with summer slowly creeping around the corner and with us continuing to staying at home while still being in a global pandemic, we're trying to figure out how to keep ourselves and kiddos entertained this summer.

Canada’s May long weekend is known as the unofficial kick-off to summer, with celebrations usually centered around our summer activity favourites like backyard BBQs and outdoor activities.  My family normally spends the long weekend at my in-laws camping out in their backyard and spending the entire long weekend together. Although the festivities may be a little smaller and scaled-back this year we're trying to come up with other ways to make staying home more enjoyable. 

By now you all know how much we ladies at Just Us Girls enjoy the family games from Asmodee Canada. This year Asmodee is encouraging Canadian families to participate in #backyardboardgames, starting this Victoria Day long weekend, bringing some of the classic Asmodee titles to your outdoor festivities. 

So we've teamed up with Asmodee Canada to share with you lovely readers a handful of classic games you can play this summer while hanging out in your backyard and to offer one of you readers a chance at winning one of the four games. 


Azul: Glazed Pavilion is an expansion pack for existing fans of the gorgeous Azul tile game. Azul: Glazed Pavilion offers players 2 newly-designed player boards and matching scoring boards to compete over and a set of 4 overlays to keep Azul: Glazed Pavilion tiles neatly organized. Offering the best of both worlds - beauty and new game elements - Glazed Pavilion is a must-have expansion for Azul fans! Retailing for $19.99 this game is aimed at ages 10+ and gameplay for 2-4 players.



Match 5: In Match 5, you look for common links between 2 words or groups of words. You have 3 minutes to find creative answers for each of the 10 dice combinations. Make links, create connections! Retails for $34.99 this game is aimed at ages 10+ and gameplay for 2-8 players.




Trek 12:  In Trek 12, players trek through the Himalayas to open new routes to the summits. Carefully map the area and set up your lines, but be careful on the most dangerous paths. Wits and nerve are necessary to make the best choices to boost your reputation, and maybe even become a legendary alpinist. Retails for $39.99 this game is aimed at ages 8+ and gameplay for 1 or more players.


Unlock! Mythic Adventures: Unlock! is a cooperative card game inspired by escape rooms that uses a simple system which allows you to search scenes, combine objects, and solve riddles. Play Unlock! and embark on great adventures, while seated at a table using only cards and a companion app that can provide clues, check codes, monitor time remaining, etc. Can you crack the code and unlock the mystery? Retails for $43.99 this game is aimed at ages 10+ and gameplay for 1-6 players.


So which one would you want to play this summer in the backyard? Comment below to let us know! For more information about the above-mentioned board games, be sure to head to Asmodee Canada.

Celebrating World Bee Day with Belgian Moon #HoneyForDaze


Today is World Bee Day! Proclaimed in 2017, World Bee Day acknowledges the role of bees and other pollinators in our ecosystem. Because let's face it, without bees we humans would be in big trouble. The protection of bees and the beekeeping sector can help reduce poverty and hunger, as well as preserve a healthy environment and biodiversity. 

Studies have proven that bees have become increasingly endangered. We need to come together to ensure the protection of bees and their habitats. Today is a great day to stop and think,  how can I make a difference for Canadian bee colonies? Our friends at Belgian Moon are sharing fun ways Canadians can give back to the bees, all you have to do is pick up a can of Belgian Moon Honey Daze. Made with ethically sourced real Canadian honey, and in partnership with Dancing Bee Equipment, Belgian Moon will plant one pollinating flower for every can of Honey Daze produced in an effort to support the ecosystem for honeybees.

Approximately 80 percent of flowering plants depend on pollinators such as the Honey bees to transfer their pollen. Without our lovely pollinating friends, humans wouldn’t be able to enjoy the natural sweeteners, like honey, that make everything, including Belgian Moon beer, taste better.

To celebrate at home this year, here are a few tips and tricks that are both easy and impactful to help support World Bee Day!

  • Plant bee-friendly shrubs in your home garden to rejuvenate our pollinators.
  • Source local and ethical products made from real Canadian honey.
  • Sponsor a bee-hive for 2021 with The Bee Conservatory
  • Create a bee-hotel or water fountain in your garden to quench their thirst, after all, they are busy-bees!
  • Purchase raw honey from local farmers or beekeepers.
 

We were sent a few samples of Belgian Moon Honey Daze to have to celebrate World Bee Day today and let me say, it's so good! Belgian Moon Honey Daze is a light, refreshing Wheat Ale Beer with a smooth mild sweet hop flavour. Crafted with a touch of sweetness and an orange peel for a refreshing taste, Honey Daze is a must-have this summer and pairs deliciously with grilled summer food such as marinated chicken or prosciutto-wrapped melon. 

Available year-round, you can find Belgian moon Honey Daze at your local Beer Store and LCBO retailing for $2.95 per 473 mL can. Be sure to check out Belgian Moon website for more information about Honey Daze and their other products. Be sure to also use #HoneyForDaze on social media to share about Honey Daze and World Beer Day! 
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received samples of Belgian Moon Honey Daze at no cost for the purpose of this post. No other compensation was received.

Celebrating May 2/4 with A Coors Slice of Grapefruit!

 The weather has started to warm up and with most of us still following the stay-at-home order, with the long weekend being around the corner, I thought I'd share a new bevvy that will keep you cool and relaxed during the Victoria Day long weekend. 

Earlier this week we were sent a six-pack of the new Coors Slice Grapefruit, and let me tell you, it's a must-try this long weekend and during summer as the weather continues to warm up. Coors Slice Grapefruit is a light, refreshing beer with just a hint of grapefruit flavour. It’s subtle, not too sweet, and combines the delicious citrusy flavour of ruby red grapefruit with the refreshing taste of Coors.


My husband is a huge fan of Coors, the original is his beer of choice, but when he tried Coors Slice Grapefruit, he was surprised that he liked it. When first smelling the beer, you get a strong aroma of grapefruit. We both loved that the grapefruit flavour wasn't overpowering the taste of the beer, but had only a hint of grapefruit. So for those of you who aren't a fan of grapefruit, but would like to give this drink a try, I definitely recommend doing so.

Coors Slice Grapefruit is very refreshing and for someone like me who only drinks beer on occasion, I loved it. The beer is smooth, not too carbonated and goes down pretty easy. I could see myself enjoying one of these beers during a hot day after working in the yard or during a summer barbeque with family and friends, boy how I miss those days.

With the long weekend coming up my family and I usually get together at my in law's house and camp in their backyard during the Victoria Day long weekend. We've done this every year for over ten years, so I'm bummed that this will be our second year in a row not being able to get together. With that being said, the hubby and I are setting up camp in our own backyard and busting out our yard games to enjoy the long weekend with the kiddos. 

What are your plans for this long weekend? If it includes indulging in a nice cold drink, I hope you give Coors Slice Grapefruit a try. You can find them at your local Beer Store or LCBO retailing for $2.95 per 473ml can. For more information about Coors Slice Grapefruit and other Coors drinks, be sure to head to the Coors Light website.


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a six-pack of Coors Slice Grapefruit at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Celebrating Top Gun Day (4K UHDGiveaway)


It's hard to believe it's been 35 years since Top Gun was released in theatres. I remember watching this movie when I was a kid and fangirling so hard over Tom Cruise as he played the handsome and charismatic fighter pilot, Maverick, in this movie.

The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman (Val Kilmer). But Maverick isn't only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he's also fighting for the attention of his beautiful flight instructor, Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis).

Here we are decades later, celebrating Top Gun Day and all its glory. Top Gun Day was created by and dedicated to its fans. If you've been around the blog, you'll remember we got to review the remastered movie on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray last year and let me tell you, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is much better picture quality, and the bonus features are great to watch. They include commentary on the 30th anniversary of Top Gun, along with interviews with Tom Cruise and behind-the-scenes footage from the movie.

In celebration of today being Top Gun Day, we've teamed up with our friends over at Paramount Pictures to offer one of our readers (CANADA ONLY) a chance to win a copy of Top Gun on 4K Ultra HD. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment sharing your favourite character from the movie.

To join in on the celebration, head over to Twitter, show off those aviators and tag your wingman, and belt out your best version of Danger Zone. Share your favourite quotes, GIFs, and memories using #TopGunDay. Follow @TopGunMovie on Twitter and stay tuned all day for more fun!

Spring with Gazillion Bubble Rush! (Review & Giveaway)

The weather is warming up and you know what that means, time to break out the outdoor furniture and toys to enjoy the sunshine. With us still living in a pandemic and with the stay-at-home order still in effect, like last year, my family and I are trying to make the best out of the situation we are all in. The weather in Ontario has been up and down. The past weekend we enjoyed some sunshine for a couple of days and then were hit with rain for the next few of days. So when we have the chance to get outside and enjoy some good weather, we take full advantage of it. 

Both my seven-year-old, Bailey and our two-year-old fur baby, Luna, absolutely love bubbles. Bailey enjoys blowing bubbles and seeing Luna go crazy for them. We received the Gazillion Bubble Rush machine last month from our friends at Funrise Toys and although we couldn't use it at first, due to the weather, we finally had the chance to break it out and give Bailey a break blowing bubbles. Both Bailey and Luna enjoyed running through the bubbles as they came out of the machine. 

With its revolutionary design, this high-powered bubble machine blows the most bubbles ever. This next-generation bubble machine has a three-sectioned no-spill modular design including a removable washable top, solution recycling tray, and batteries and motor sealed inside the base.

Simply pour the solution into the reservoir and push the button for a bubble explosion in seconds. This item was designed to create hours of fun for kids, but easy to clean for parents. Includes an 8 oz. bottle of Gazillion Premium Bubbles solution. 6 AA batteries required, that are not included.



I love how easy the Gazillion Bubble Rush is to put together and use. I also love how it has a section for the recycled bubbles that you can easily pour back into the bottle and reuse. This allows you to use all of the bubble solution without wasting it. Bailey and Luna absolutely enjoyed playing in the tons of bubbles that came out of the machine. This machine gives your kiddos hours of bubble play and is perfect for outdoor and backyard play. A must-have this Spring and Summer with all of us still being at home. 

The Gazillion Bubble Rush machine is recommended for kiddos three and over It retails for $19.98 and is available at a Walmart near you or online.



GIVEAWAY:
I'm excited to team up with Funrise Toys and offer one of our readers (Canada Only) an opportunity to win a Gazillion Bubble Rush machine for yourself or the little one in your life. To enter the giveaway, comment below what your favourite outdoor at-home activity to do with your family.

For more information about Gazillion Premium Bubbles and all of their other products, head to Funrise Toys.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the Gazillion Bubble Rush at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Bright Fairy Friends Series 2 Dolls Review

My seven-year-old loves to play with dolls. I love seeing how far her imagination can take her because she can play with her dolls in her own little world for hours at a time. So when we received two of the latest Bright Fairy Friends Series 2 Dolls from our friends over at Funrise Toys, Bailey was super pumped to meet and play with her new dolls.




Flying in to join their BFF’s are 12 new BFF Bright Fairy Friends! With a new, enchanting colour for their Fairy Home, these BFF Bright Fairy Friends are ready to shine bright! Bailey got to unbox both of her new fairy friends to unveil which magical fairy doll she received. She received both Cherry and Pearl fairy friends along with multiple surprise fairy accessories! Each fairy came with a stand, a brush for their hair and BFF matching hair barrettes for your child to wear with their new fairy friend.




Each fairy comes housed in its very own fairy home with bright, motion activated twinkle lights.  The fairy home and how it lights up is so adorable. You can also use your fairy home as a night light, which Bailey loved doing, especially having the fairies in her fort with her or on her nightstand during bedtime.

You can also press your fairy’s necklace to make her wings glow with radiating multi-colored lights. There's so much fun to be had with these new fairy dolls. Bailey has had her friends with her by her side for over a month and still plays with them daily. Collect all 12 BFF fairy dolls from Series 2 and enjoy swapping out their fashions and accessories. 

Bright Fairy Friends Series 2 Dolls are aimed for children who love fairies and those that are aged three and older. They retail at $14.99 and is available online or at your local Walmart. For more information about the Bright Fairy Friends Series 2 Dolls be sure to head over to Funrise Toys.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Bright Fairy Friends Series 2 Dolls at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.


Cat Junior Crew Fix-It Phillip Review

Our two-year-old son, Braxton, is all about tools and toys. When he watches his dad work around the house he’s constantly trying to play with his tools. He loves playing with my husband's tape measure, hammer, screwdrivers, you name it,  basically any hand tool you can think of. He loves imitating dad.


With Spring here and the weather warming up, we're continuing to fix things up around the house and Braxton loves to help any way he can. We were sent the Cat Junior Crew Fix-It Phillip truck a few weeks ago and it's become one of Braxton's favourite toys to play with. 

The chunky, preschool-friendly Fix-It Phillip is a large 12” vehicle filled with personality and designed to make learning fun and easy for young ones! With the interactive buttons to make the workstation come to life, our son spends hours pretending to build using the hand tools and saw.

The Cat Junior Crew Fix-It Phillip truck helps children develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they interact with the friendly tool pals included. With a magnet safely secured inside the tools, they can be moved around and stored on the magnetic pegboard until they’re needed for action. Each tool has a unique shape and specific purpose which, when matched to its corresponding part on the bench, activates different lights and Kid-Vroom sounds to let your child know they’ve completed the task successfully. Even the large wheels are fully removable for fixing a flat or creating a stationary workplace.


This is an amazing toy for any parent at home who has little ones that love to build and play with cars or who shows interest in helping mom or dad fix things around the house. Our son has been playing with his Fix-It Phillip truck almost every single day since we received it. The interactive lights and sounds keep Braxton intrigued for hours. It’s definitely become one of his favourites toys to play with. 

One of my favourite things about the Cat Junior Crew Fix-It Phillip truck is that when playtime is over, cleanup is a snap; all you have to do is simply place all the tools back onto the pegboard and close up the vehicle for convenient storage. The truck sits nicely on top of Braxton's toy bin so that he can play with it again the next day.

 Cat Junior Crew Fix-It Phillip has retailed at $29.99 CAD and can be purchased at Canadian Tire, Walmart, Toys R Us, and Costco. This would be a great toy for younger kids at home that love to pretend to build and work! Be sure to head to our Instagram stories to see Braxton playing with Fix-It Phillip! 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the Cat Junior Fix-It Phillip truck at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Craft Room Design Ideas to Boost Creativity

 Any serious crafters will know that they need to have a craft room that means business! If you are a keen crafter, then it isn’t just the dream; you will actually have so many supplies and materials that you need to store them all somewhere. This kind of hobby does need to have its own dedicated space, and as a bonus, it can be a way to decorate just how you’d like to and have your materials and supplies organized just as you’d like to. As any creative knows, having a blank space for something can be quite alarming, as there are just so many options. So how about trying out some of these craft room ideas? It would be great to hear what you think.




Organized Space
If you are a keen crafter, then you will know that nothing can beat an organized system. If things aren’t organized, it can mean projects take longer as you try to remember what is where and have to look through boxes and boxes of things to get what you need. You could consider custom storage to create space right where you need it. You could also think about getting plenty of storage with drawers so that everything can be in place and labels can be attached so you know exactly what goes where.


Adjustable Shelving
Your current craft loves may be cross-stitch or scrapbooking, but what about in a year’s time? Will you have moved onto another craft? It can be a good idea to prepare your craft area for your different interests, and you can do this by using shelving that is adjustable. Then you can make the spaces wider if needed, to occupy larger boxes, or make the shelving closer together if you need to free up space underneath.


Comfortable Environment
Having a craft room that is comfortable is another important aspect to the design. You want to enjoy your time there, and will no doubt, be spending a number of hours in there too. The table and chairs that you choose play an important part, as well as other aspects like the lighting and the temperature. When you have natural light, as well as lots of bright light from lamps, you will be able to craft in there late into the night without your eyes having to strain. Getting the temperature right is key too, especially in the summer months. That can be why having the number of a 24 hour AC service on-hand can be a good idea, just in case anything needs repairing quickly. Your craft space should look good, but also be comfortable and desirable.


Use All Surfaces
Crafting queens can have a large amount of materials to store, and when a project is in full-swing, you can need a lot of space. Make sure that you use all the surfaces that are available in your design. A pegboard or noticeboard could go in a corner of the room to pin things too, as well as the floor being used for storage units. Tabletops can have organizers on, as well as machines like computers or sewing machines. Use all the space that you have and you won’t be short on space.

Spring Break with Elevation Pictures (Digital 3 Movie Giveaway)

 With Spring Break being around the corner and with the new Stay At Home lockdown restrictions in order, we’re still going to be at home for the week while the kids are on a break from school. No surprise there, since we’re still in a worldwide pandemic. So it’s time to start planning out some fun staycation activities we like to do with the kids and one of the main things we love to do is an outdoor movie night. We set up our outdoor screen, projector, blankets, comfy seats, and snacks and watch a movie outdoors. It’s not the same as the big screens in the movie theatre, but hopefully one day in the near future we’ll all be able to enjoy a movie in a theatre again. 

We’ve teamed up with our amazing friends over at Elevation Pictures, once again, to keep your family entertained during the break. Currently, right now you can find a few of their rental titles on sale for 99 cents on Apple TV or on Itunes only until April 13th! We’re offering one of our Canadian readers a chance at winning three family titles to enjoy in the comfort of your home or if you’re like my family, if the weather is nice enough, switch it up with an outdoor movie. 

Enter below for a chance to win all three movies on digital, The Breadwinner, Missing Link & Shaun the Sheep.


Receiving a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards, The Breadwinner tells the story of Parvana, an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana disguises herself as a boy in order to support her family. With dauntless perseverance, Parvana draws strength from the stories her father told her and ultimately risks her life to discover if he is still alive. Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is a timely and inspiring tale about the transcendent power of stories, and their potential to unite and heal us all.


Mr.  Link is the altogether lovable and hilarious title character in this globe-trotting comedy-adventure.  Hugh  Jackman is  Sir  Lionel  Frost, a  brave and dashing adventurer who considers himself to be the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is no one else seems to agree. He sees a  chance to prove himself by traveling to  America’s  Pacific  Northwest to discover the world’s most legendary creature. A living remnant of Man’s primitive ancestry. The Missing Link. 

Zach  Galifianakis is  Mr.  Link: the slightly silly,  surprisingly smart, and soulful beast who Sir  Lionel discovers. As species go, he’s as endangered as they get; he’s possibly the last of his kind, he’s lonely, and he believes that Sir Lionel is the one man alive who can help him. Together they set out on a daring quest around the world to seek out Link’s distant relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. 

Along with the independent and resourceful  Adelina  Fortnight  (Zoe  Saldana),  who possesses the only known map to the group’s secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous rollercoaster ride of a journey. On their journey, our fearless explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril, stalked at every turn by dastardly villains seeking to thwart their mission. Through it all, Mr. Link’s disarming charm and good-humored conviction provide the emotional and comedic foundation of this fun-filled family movie.


Shaun's a clever, mischievous sheep who lives with his flock on  Mossy Bottom  Farm,  under the nominal supervision of The Farmer, and Bitzer, a well-meaning but ineffectual sheepdog. Despite Shaun’s best efforts, life on the farm has got into a bit of a  rut,  and  Shaun concocts a  cunning plan --to have a day off. But be careful what you wish for.  Events rapidly escalate out of control and  Shaun’s mischief inadvertently leads to the hapless farmer being taken away from the farm. With the flock’s help, Shaun must leave the farm for the first time and travel into the Big City in order to rescue The Farmer --and failure is not an option. But how will the sheep survive? Can they avoid being recognized as sheep? And thus avoid the clutches of a fearsome animal catcher? In the course of an action-packed adventure, they experience a host of wild, funny mishaps. And Shaun meets a little orphan dog called Slip who makes him realize that having a home and a family is not something to be taken for granted.


GIVEAWAY
To enter the giveaway, comment below sharing your favourite staycation activity you love to do with your family. You never know, your idea may help other families stay entertained while staying home and being safe. (Please be aware, the digital codes are only valid for Apple TV or Itunes)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spring Break with Asmodee Canada (Review & Giveaway)

With the days in quarantine seeming to be endless, my hubby and I have been making game night a regular occasion. With Spring Break being around the corner, and with the new lockdown restrictions, we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to try out a few new games that caught our eye from our friends over at Asmodee Canada, and we didn’t regret it. We were sent Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers, Catan: The Dice Game, and Spot It! Collector.



Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers is an adventure board game where you and your fellow players work together to build a vast land that includes rivers, lakes, forests, and grasslands. During this process, you collect points for completing areas, hunting animals, and fishing the waters, with the objective being collecting the most points after the last tile is placed.

This game is extremely interesting to us because you’ll never play the same scenario twice, as you place and put each tile down, the lands you form will always be different, making a unique experience every time!

We absolutely love this game. It’s a great mix of strategy and competition, and each turn keeps you on your feet against your opponents. We would absolutely recommend this game to anyone that enjoys a nice family game night. In fact, we played this game with the in-laws and they loved it so much that they ordered it that night, while we were finishing our game up!



For the families and couples out there looking for an exciting dice game, that’s not only fun but quick to play, Catan is the game for you. The version of Catan we had was the miniature dice game, where the object of the game is to collect as many points as you can within 15 turns. Points are granted by building roads, settlements, cities, and knights, and each one carries a different point value through the progression of the game.

Catan is played with 6 dice that have resources on each side of them, and per turn, you can roll 3 times to make certain recipes that build things on the map. It is a game of strategy and risks as going for the hardest recipes will grant you the most points, but falling short will end up with you losing two points.

My husband and I loved this game because it’s one we can fit in at any point of the day. The game only takes around 15 minutes to play, so we can get a few games in before dinner, bed, or when our son is napping. Whilst being a relatively quick game to play, it’s a great strategy game that benefits with a stroke of luck when rolling the dice.

We would absolutely recommend Catan to all of our friends and family, and anyone who is looking for a new and exciting game to throw into game night, or as a break in a busy day. It has definitely become a game night regular in our house.



Ready to test your eyes and your reflexes? Because Spot it! Collector is the game that will put everything you know about quick reactions to the test. We were so excited to give this game a try, and it definitely held up to our expectations.

Spot It! Collector is a game of matching and quick thinking. One of the things we loved about this game is that there are actually 5 different versions of the game to play, so you can play a few then switch, and the game stays upbeat and fresh! Each card has a set of symbols and has one match with every other card in the deck. To quickly describe how to play, I will use the mini-game Tower as an example. Each player is dealt one card face down and the remaining stack is placed face up in the middle. At once, everyone turns their card over and has to find the matching symbol between their card and the tower card, and once you find it, be the quickest to grab that card off the top and add it to your hand. The game keeps going like that until the tower is cleared, and the person with the most cards wins. Each game variant has a similar style, with a different twist to keep it exciting.

This game not only is great for the entire family on game night but can be super fun with friends and some drinks for an adult version! Spot It! Collector has definitely become a regular for when our friends (that were in our social bubble before the latest lockdown) come over for game night, it brings out the competition and the laughs to go along with it. This game is also great for small groups as well, my hubby and I play with just the two of us and have lots of fun with it! We would definitely recommend Spot It! Collector to anyone looking to throw a fast-paced, competitive card game into their party night or family game night.

GIVEAWAY:
I'm excited to team up with Asmodee Canada to offer one of our Canadian readers a chance at winning one of the games we mentioned above. All you need to do is comment below which game you'd love to win and that's it! For more information about the games mentioned and many others, head to Asmodee Canada.



Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above-mentioned games at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.


Wonder Woman 1984 Blu-ray Review

 


Diana Prince lives quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s -- an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she's come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile by curating ancient artifacts, and only performing heroic acts incognito. But soon, Diana will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.


MY REVIEW
My family and I are huge superhero fans. Although we're team Marvel, we still love DC and their heroes. We were such huge fans of the first movie, Wonder Woman, that I just knew we had to watch Wonder Woman 1984. As much as I wanted to love this movie, I just liked it. 

When we open up to the movie we are in Diana's past where she is a young child back at the hidden island Themyscira, home to the Amazons, women warriors created by the Olympian gods to protect mankind. We see her compete against other women warriors with obstacles coming her way, she almost wins, but is stopped by General Antiope because although she was about to win, she took a shortcut due to an obstacle during the race and that would be cheating. I absolutely loved what General Antiope said to Diana, which proves to be true when we fast forward in time to 1984. 

"You cannot be the winner, because you are not ready to win, and there is no shame in that. Only in knowing the truth in your heart and not accepting it. ... Like patience, diligence, and the courage to face the truth. One day, you'll become all that you dream of and more."


Set in the '80s, I have to say they did an amazing job with set and wardrobe designs from the way things were back then. The first scene of the '80s is the mall and it literally looks exactly like the '80s. It definitely felt a bit comic book cheesy but in a good way. that fits the movie perfectly.

We see Diana living her life quietly going to and from work at the Smithsonian and helping civilians in her spare time but in a low profile way. Although she is kind to co-workers, she doesn't appear to socialize with any of them outside of work. When we see her in her apartment, we see that there are pictures and items from her loved ones that are no longer with her. One of the main ones being Steve Trevor, the love of her life who sacrificed himself to save others in the first movie. There's a photo of him along with his watch he gave Diana. We can tell from this scene that she is a bit lonely and misses Steve greatly. 

Back at the Smithsonian, we are introduced to Barbara Minerva, a shy woman who seems to be ignored and invisible to most. When she drops her briefcase and has papers flying everywhere, the only person to stop and help her pick them up is Diana. She immediately likes Diana and tries to invite her to lunch. Diana, not being very social, respectfully declines, and says maybe some other time. 

Barbara is a geologist and gemologist and receives new artifacts from the FBI, including the mythical Dreamstone. It's rumored that the Dreamstone grants you one wish, but with every wish, there is a price to pay. Barbara thinks the Dreamstone is a fake, so when she shows Diana, not knowing that it's real, Diana wishes to have Steve back.

We're then introduced to Maxwell Lorenzano, a struggling businessman famous for his infomercials. He tries to flirt and charm his way with Barbara to secure the mythical Dreamstone that he's been searching for, forever, but Diana knows that something is off with him. She decides to go out to dinner with Barbara and they have a great time. On Barbara's walk back to the office she is harassed and attacked by a man and Diana is there to save her. When she's back at the office she has the Dreamstone in her hand and wishes to be more like Diana. 

Little do both women know, their wishes are about to come true, but at what price? Steve is back but in someone else's body. Barbara is more confident and is noticed by men, women, just about everyone when she walks into a room. So when she interacts with Maxwell at a company party, he manipulates her into giving him the Dreamstone, which he then wishes to be the Dreamstone and turns into Max Lord. The greed is overwhelming and Max continues to grant people's wishes and in return, he takes power, money, soldiers, and anything else to make his life feel richer. While he's doing that, his son just wants to hang out with his dad. 

As Diana and Steve try and stop Max Lord from taking over the world, they realize that the consequence of having Steve back is that Diana's powers are draining and she isn't as powerful or strong. We see Barbara team up with Max Lord because she doesn't want to go back to how things were, but one thing she is losing is her humanity. Diana has to take on both and in order to do that she must denounce her wish so that she can get her powers back fully, which also means she has to say goodbye to Steve again. 

Although a slow start, I did appreciate the storyline for what it was, I wish there were more action scenes that gave me as much excitement as I had from the first movie, but I did enjoy Wonder Woman 1984 and absolutely loved the bonus scene after the credits. I won't spoil that for you, but a special someone makes an appearance.

I also love how the movie showed how much women were sexualized in the past. How we had to deal with cat-calling and men just walking up to women just because they found someone attractive and because they could, even if it was not mutual. I love that we're in 2021 and how this is not acceptable behavior anymore. It never was for women, but now more and more women and men are coming together as allies and calling other men out for behavior like this. 

Wonder Woman 1984 is out on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD today, March 30, and has been out on digital for you to own or rent since March 16. For more information about  Wonder Woman 1984, check out their Facebook Page.



Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received  Wonder Woman 1984 on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

John Hughes 5-Movie Collection Blu-ray (Review & Giveaway)

 


Five essential John Hughes classics arrive in one fantastic Blu-ray Collection on February 23, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The JOHN HUGHES 5-MOVIE COLLECTION includes the beloved favorites Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, as well as the Blu-ray debuts of She’s Having a Baby and Some Kind of Wonderful. The Collection also includes access to a digital copy of each film.

Originally released on February 28, 1986, Pretty In Pink celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2021. Produced and written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch, the film stars Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy. Andie (Ringwald) is a high school girl from the other side of town. Blane (McCarthy) is the wealthy heartthrob who asks her to the prom. But as fast as their romance builds, it’s threatened by the painful reality of peer pressure

Howard Deutch returned to direct 1987’s Some Kind of Wonderful, which was also written and produced by Hughes and makes its Blu-ray debut. Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson star in the affecting story of young love in which Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz), run deeper than just friendship. When Keith gets a date with the most popular girl in school (Lea Thompson), the girl's old boyfriend is unable to let go of her and plans to get back at Keith. 

Also celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off continues to be enjoyed, quoted, and revered 35 years after its theatrical debut on June 11, 1986. Matthew Broderick stars as a delightfully charming high school student who, with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck), ditches school to enjoy one perfect day as a kid with no responsibilities.

Produced, written, and directed by John Hughes, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles stars comedy greats Steve Martin and John Candy. The uproarious classic follows a businessman (Martin) who is struggling to get home for Thanksgiving but burdened by one travel mishap after another, as well as the company of an annoying traveling salesman (Candy). Filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth, the film also features appearances by Michael McKean, Edie McClurg, and Kevin Bacon.

Hughes wrote, directed, and produced the romantic comedy She’s Having A Baby, which arrives for the first time on Blu-ray. Starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, the film follows an aspiring writer who must face up to the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood despite his persistent doubts and unfulfilled ambitions.

MY REVIEW
I am a huge fan of movies from the '80s. I remember watching so many different movies on television when I was a tween and most of those movies that I ended up loving so much came from John Hughes. Some of his movies brought together misfits and "popular kids," and gave others a perspective that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

So when I had the chance to review a 5 movie collection from John Hughes, I knew I was going to love it. Not only does it include two of my favs, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty In Pink, but it also includes three other movies I hadn't seen in years. So it was nice to take some time to sit back and relax, grab some popcorn and a few adult beverages and head back to the '80s. Since I recently watched and reviewed Pretty In Pink, I started off with Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Some Kind of Wonderful, She's Having My Baby, Planes Trains, and Automobiles.

It was great to go back in time and watch some classics and introduce some movies to my teenagers. They've both seen Pretty in Pink, so I had them watch  Ferris Bueller's Day Off and they both absolutely loved it. They can't wait to go back to school in person and one day, maybe, have a day off like Ferris did, minus "borrowing" a vehicle.

All five movies brought back so many memories and left me reminiscing on the past, but glad it's behind us and that I now have these movies in my movie collection to watch whenever I feel like back to the '80s. This 5 movie collection is now available on blu-ray as of February 23, 2021.

GIVEAWAY
I'm excited to team up with our good friends over at Paramount Home Entertainment to offer one of our readers (Canada Only) a chance to win a copy of this 5 movie collection. To enter, all you need to do is comment below and share which of the five movies you would watch first. 


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received  John Hughes 5-Movie Collection on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

The Croods: The New Age Blu-ray Review & Giveaway #CroodsNewAge


 The first prehistoric family is ready for another rocking adventure! The Croods have survived fanged beasts, natural disasters, and even young love, but now they must face their biggest challenge yet: another family! In search of a new home, the Croods discover a walled-in paradise created by the sophisticated Betterman family (emphasis on the “better”). As they try to coexist, the differences between the two families escalate into a full-blown feud, but when a new threat forces both families to embark on an epic adventure, they must all learn to work together...or they’ll all go extinct! Available to own on Digital now and on 4K Ultra-HD, Blu-ray and DVD on February 23rd, 2021.


MY REVIEW

 It's been seven long years since we last saw our favourite cave family, The Croods, Guy, and Belt. We had the pleasure of reviewing the first movie, The Croods back in 2013, so I jumped at the chance to get the family together for another movie night to watch the sequel, The Croods: The New Age. 

The first scene we're introduced to is from Guy's past where we see how his parents passed away. We see him meet Belt for the first time and see that Belt was first named Watch because he was first wrapped around Guy's wrist. From there we're back with the rest of the family in the present and see that they're still trying to find a home to call their own and are still trying to survive. Guy and Eep are still in love with one another and the closer they get, the more Grug seems to worry that his daughter will eventually leave him and the rest of the family to start her own. 

They finally find a place to call their own that is behind a giant wall, to keep them safe, that has plenty of food to keep their bellies full and lots of indoor shelter. They're all super happy and excited to find there, "Tomorrow," as Guy calls it when they meet the actual residents of the place they'd like to call their new home. It so happens to be a family from Guy's past. 

The people from Guy's past are his old neighbors who were like family to him. Throughout the movie, we see the differences between cave and non-cave people. We learn the reason why this walled-in paradise has been safe and protected for so long and what happens when two different types of people come together for the safety of their families. 

This was such a great sequel to the original movie. I really hope we get a part three, but I can tell you 100% that if you were a fan of the first movie, you will absolutely love The Croods: The New Age! 

GIVEAWAY:
With the release of The Croods: The New Age coming out on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD, February 23rd and being available now on digital, we've teamed up with our friends from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment to offer one reader a chance to win a copy of The Croods: The New Age on blu-ray! The giveaway is open to readers in both USA and CANADA. To win a copy, comment below who your favourite character is from the movie! 


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Croods: The New Age on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this post. No other compensation was received.

Cozy up for Valentine's Day with Asmodee Canada (Review & Giveaway)

This Valentine's Day is looking a little different this year with us all still being in a pandemic and still staying home. With so many restaurants, movie theatres, and other places being closed for indoor service, how do you plan on spending it? It's time to think of something to do for a creative, fun and, cozy night in. Whether you will be hosting a Galentine's celebration with your roommate, a romantic night in with your significant other, or a fun family game day, Asmodee Canada is bound to add some excitement to your plans!  

Asmodee Canada has tons of great games for you to choose from that may just be what you need to help make your Valentine's Day more fun while still being at home. They offer games that range from just two players to some of the games going up to 6 to 8 players. So you can have a romantic one on one game night with your significant other or a fun-filled family game night. The choice is yours.

We were sent two games for the hubby and me to play together as an activity for us to enjoy on Valentine's Day and we love them both. We received Jaipur, a two-merchant trade game, and Splendor, a competitive, fast-paced 2-4 person game. 



In the game Jaipur, you are one of the two most powerful traders in the city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, but that’s not enough for you because only the merchant with two “seals of excellence” will have the privilege of being invited to the Maharaja’s court. You are therefore going to have to do better than your direct competitor by buying, exchanging, and selling at better prices, all while keeping an eye on both your camel herds.

Jaipur was such a fun quick-paced game to play with the hubby. The object of the game is to gain more riches than your opponent. In the game, you are collecting cards to sell for goods. When you sell a card you gain one good per card you sell. The goods are worth the numerical value that it states on them. If you sell three or more cards you take the corresponding bonus token that is worth a secret amount. 

On each player's turn, you can either take or sell cards. If you take cards, you have to choose between taking all the camels, taking one card from the market, or swapping 2-5 cards between the market and your cards. At the end of the round, each player counts their goods and the player with the most takes a Seal of Excellence. The first player to receive two Seal of Excellence wins. 

This was such a fun game that had us both on our toes with excitement about who was going to win. I have to admit, the hubby one the first time and I can't wait to play again on Valentine's Day to see if I can win this time.  Jaipur is a two-player game recommended for ages 10+ and retails for $29.99.



Splendor is a fast, elegant, and intuitive game where players compete to build Renaissance Europe’s most lucrative and prestigious jewelry business. You begin by collecting raw gems and use those to fund the development of mines throughout the world. Once you’ve mined more gemstones, you must acquire the means to transport them, artisans to shape them, and finally a storefront where you can sell your polished jewels. The player whose business earns the most prestige wins. 

To start playing Splendor you have tokens, the deck of cards, and the noble tiles. The tokens each represent a jewel type, there white for diamonds, green for emeralds, red for rubies, blu for sapphire, and black for onyx and the yellow token is called the joker. Next are the cards, which are divided into three colours, each representing how expensive they are, green is very cheap, yellow is affordable, and blue is expensive. In Splendor the object is to gain the tokens to buy the cards in order to get points to win the game.  

We played Splendor with our two teens and it was so much fun. My oldest won and we are all going to have a rematch on Family Day.  Splendor is a 30 minute game for 2 to 4 players 10+ and retails for $44.99.

Asmodee Canada carries a wide variety of board/card games for the entire family to enjoy. Here are a few other games that would be great to play with whoever you're spending Valentine's Day with:

Carcassonne: Carcassonne is the perfect introduction to the modern world of board games. With its simple rules (place a tile, place a meeple, score points), beautifully illustrated tiles, and iconic components, this modern classic should be part of everyone’s collection.
2-5 Players | 35 Minutes | Ages 7+

Catan: Embark on a quest to settle the isle of Catan. Guide your settlers to victory by clever trading and cunning development. Use resource combinations to buy handy development cards and build roads, settlements, and cities. Acquire your resources through trades, cards, or lucky dice. 
3-4 Players | 45-90 Minutes | Ages 10+ 

Patchwork: Patchwork is a light, two-player board game where players are each attempting to piece together a quilt using oddly shaped, tetris-like tiles. 
2 Players  | 30 Minutes | Ages 8+


GIVEAWAY
We've teamed up with our friends at Asmodee Canada to give one lucky reader a chance at winning either Jaipur or Splendor, the choice is yours. Comment below sharing which game you would pick! For more information about the games mentioned and many others, head to Asmodee Canada.


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned products at no cost for the purpose of this post. No other compensation was received.

Valentine's Day with BritBox Canada

I can't believe Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Although this year is going to be way different than the last considering we can't go out to restaurants or any other place with our significant other due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean you can't put together a nice date night at home for the two of you. In fact, that's exactly what I plan on doing this Sunday. The hubby and I have been loving charcuterie boards to snack on while we have our weekly date nights at home. Once the kids are all in bed, we put on a show or movie and start streaming. 



We've shared our thoughts on BritBox Canada with you all over the holidays and I just wanted to mention them again as they have you covered with the gift of great British love stories to binge-watch this Valentine's Day. At $89.99 a year or $8.99 per month, a subscription to BritBox is the gift that gives all year long.

There are tons of great love stories to stream on BritBox Canada, here are a few that would be great to watch this Valentine's Day:


The phenomenon that changed the face of British television forever. This Edwardian drama follows the lives and affairs of the elite Crawley family and the servants who work for them in a time before the last vestige of a century’s old tradition were stripped away by WWI and the modern age.



This massive hit from co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones is the adorable saga of when Essex boy meets valley girl. Hilarious and tender, the one thing it doesn’t laugh at is love itself.



Wuthering Heights (1978)
Emily Bronte’s unforgettable story of jealousy, revenge and the destructive passion of lovers Heathcliff and Cathy.



Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this award-winning adaptation of Jane Austen's timeless Regency romance, restored in 4K exclusively by BritBox. This classic story of love and class centers on the strong-minded Elizabeth Bennett (Jennifer Ehle), who matches wits with the wealthy, conceited Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth).



Elizabeth Gaskell’s tale of love across social divides is brought to life in Sandy Welch’s four-part adaptation. When Margaret Hale exchanges her middle-class rural life for a northern mill town, she witnesses the hardships of the poor working class firsthand and develops contempt for mill owner John Thornton.



Romola Garai is Jane Austen’s fickle heroine, fatally convinced she is good at matchmaking, but unaware she is playing a dangerous game that might finally force her to grow up.




Lesley Manville (Harlots) stars in this warm comedy as a woman managing the death of her husband and her daft family.


A sparkling modern take on a Shakespeare classic, Russell T Davies' adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream sees a cast of acting royalty and incredible new talent bringing Bard's words to life in this spellbinding adaptation.


Whether you have someone special you're spending this Valentine's with or just hanging out with family and friends in your social bubble, BritBox Canada is available to entertain you with so many amazing British love stories to stream. BritBox Canada is available on Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku®, Apple TV 4th Gen, Samsung, LG, Chromecast, and all iOS and Android devices, as well as online. BritBox is also available on Amazon Prime Video Channels for prime members. Not 100% sold? No worries, you can try BritBox Canada for a week with their introductory free trial period.

Treat yo self this Valentine's day or give the perfect gift without leaving the comfort of your home, a subscription to BritBox. For more information about BritBox, be sure to head to BritBox Canada

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a 3-month subscription to BritBox at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.