Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Have you heard of Brick Mates? My son loves to build things with his hands, so I knew he would enjoy playing with their Stack By Numbers kits.

Each kit comes with everything you need to create a 3D piece of art that can be hung on a wall. The building process allows kids to use their problem-solving strategies, develop fine motor skills, as well as practice math skills such as counting, quantifying and patterning.

n had a lot of fun putting his picture together and he really liked the 3-D effect of the end product! The Stack By Numbers toys are recommended for kids 5 and up. Younger kids may need some help, but n had no problem figuring everything out by himself.

Stack by Numbers is STEM.org authenticated and recently won The National Parenting Center Seal Of Approval. This would be a great screen-free way to keep the kids busy during a summer afternoon!

Stack By Numbers comes in a variety of different fun designs and can be purchased on the Brick Mates website or Amazon.

I am pleased to announce that Brick Mates has offered to give away a Stack By Numbers kit to one of my readers!

Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

This 828 Movement Bracelet is more than just a bracelet; it provides hope. Unfortunately, educational inequality still exists in America. The 828 Movement is a non-profit that donates 100% of its net profits to underfunded urban schools in the United States.

According to the 828 Movement website, 828 represents several significant days in American/Black History:

August 28, 1833: Slavery was abolished in the UK which led to American abolition.

August 28, 1955: Emmett Till was brutally murdered which was a catalyst to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

August 28, 1963: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream Speech”.

August 28, 2005: Hurricane Katrina landed in Louisiana and the delayed response for relief impacted mainly black communities.

August 28, 2008: Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Nomination for President. 

Each ring on the American-made 828 Movement Bracelets is symbolic:

• The Past: 13 metal rings 
To remember the 13th amendment and lives lost
in the struggle to abolish slavery. 

• The Present: Engraved ring for August 28th
To honor the date 8/28, when important events in the fight for equality line up in history.

• The Future: a single ring for hope
The pursuit for educational equality continues.

These 828 Movement bracelets come in a variety of colors and are a stylish way to support educational equality. This would be a meaningful gift for an educator or anyone else who appreciates the continual fight for justice in our country.

Giveaway Time!

Enter below to win a 828 Movement Bracelet for yourself, or to give as a gift.

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

I had a chance to watch a preview of The Pilgrim’s Progress with my kids, and it is a good one! As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have never read the classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. I knew it was an allegory for one man’s journey through the Christian life, but that is about it. The fun part about watching this movie with my kids was seeing them make the connections for themselves. For some of the scenes and characters, the implications are quite obvious, but for others it may be a little more difficult for kids to decipher. I really appreciated how this movie provides a lot of opportunity for deeper discussions about the Christian faith. Watching this movie would be a wonderful way to celebrate the real meaning of Easter with your family. It could also be a way to start a conversation with a non-believer relative, friend or acquaintance.

*Please note that in my opinion, some scenes might be a little intense for younger children.

Watch the trailer:

Genre: drama/ animated
Rating: NR
Run time: 1:45
Studio: Revelation Media
Talent: John Rhys-Davies (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Kristyn Getty, Ben Price

The Pilgrim’s Progress has a very limited engagement in theaters. It will be playing for only 2 days –April 18 & 20, Easter weekend!
Thursday, April 18, 7:00p
Saturday, April 20, 12:55p

• Buy tickets NOW (click here)
• Invite a friend
• Bring a group (click here)

Giveaway

I am excited to have the opportunity to hold a giveaway for The Pilgrim’s Progress! Three winners will each receive a Fandango gift card loaded with $25 (good only toward The Pilgrim’s Progress movie on April 18 or April 20) AND a hardcover illustrated storybook of The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Disclosure: I received these games in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Goliath Games has a wide variety of games that are fun for kids of all ages, as well as adults. We had the opportunity to try out three of their games: Word Search, Googly Eyes and Build Or Boom.

Word Search

As a word game fan, Word Search is right up my alley. The special circular board reveals the word that everyone needs to find and the person who finds it puts colored disks on top of the board to mark it. This is a great games for kids and parents (or grandparents!) to play together. It is for 2-4 players, ages 7 and up.

Googly Eyes

Googly Eyes is a drawing game with the addition of goofy glasses that distort your vision. The space you land on the board determines whether you use the easy, medium or hard lenses in the glasses. The glasses definitely make drawing a challenge! This game is for 4-16 players, ages 7 and up.

Build or Boom

Build or Boom is a fun game for kids who like to build (and destroy!) It is a race to see who can replicate the structure and then squeeze the air hose to knock over the opponent’s structure first. This game is for 2 players, ages 4 and up.

All of these games are sure to keep your kids entertained. Plus, playing games like these is a fun way to develop important social skills. Enter below to win Googly Eyes, Word Search AND Build or Boom for yourself! Be sure to also enter the other #HoppyEaster blogger giveaways below!

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Have you heard of the new animated movie based on the classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress? I must confess, I have not read The Pilgrim’s Progress even though it is one of the most popular books of all time. In fact, it is second only to the Bible in the number of copies and translations! I had a chance to preview The Pilgrim’s Progress movie. It is an inspiring story with spiritual implications that the whole family can enjoy together.

Watch The Trailer:

Genre: drama/ animated
Rating: NR
Run time: 1:45
Studio: Revelation Media
Talent: John Rhys-Davies (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Kristyn Getty, Ben Price

THEATRICAL RELEASE

Buy your tickets now! 2 days only–April 18 & 20, Easter weekend!
Thursday, April 18, 7:00p
Saturday, April 20, 12:55p
Get tickets

I am also hosting a giveaway for The Pilgrim’s Progress digital interactive storybook!

Disclosure: I received these games in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Spring break is fast approaching and families everywhere are looking forward to having a little “down time”. I found a couple of games from Pressman that will provide plenty of family fun.

Mastermind For Kids

I remember playing the original Mastermind game when I was a child. It is a good way to teach kids logic and deduction. This version has instructions for three levels of play and is designed for kids ages 6 and up.

The animal playing pieces are so cute!

Mastermind is a classic game for a reason. After initially testing this game out, the kids kept asking to play for days later.

Hydro Strike

Hydro Strike is easy to set up and to learn how to play. It operates like a two-sided pinball machine, but if your opponent scores, water sprays in your face!

This game is designed for two players and is recommended for ages 7 and up.

My kids had a lot of fun with this game as well. The amount of water that comes out is actually pretty small, so it is not as messy as I thought it would be. Just be sure to play in an area that is easy to wipe down.

Enter below for a chance to win both Mastermind For Kids and Hydro Strike!