Life after iPod

My son is grounded…  That’s right, he’s lost his iPod and he’s grounded. Grounding in this house is pretty lenient though so I don’t know how much he’s learning from this grounding, but at least I can say he’s GROUNDED. (Yay, Mom!)

My point here is not that he’s grounded, it’s what he’s doing WHILE he’s grounded.  Grounding (in this instance at least) means no video games.  The first day it was no TV, no video games, and look for that goddamn iPod.  The next day when we realized the iPod was truly lost and there was nothing we could do, I lightened his grounding to no video games. Indefinitely. (gasp!)

So, in between movies and TV shows and TV shows on demand, my son is forming a new “game” of sorts.  A few months back he began playing with a group of kids and they called themselves “The Group”.  They would do things like make “parts” where they learn skills and earn experience points (kind of like Dungeons and Dragons). They create avatars that have special powers and weapons.  So I guess this is just like a real-life video game.

Since the grounding, my son has been focusing more and more on “The Group”. (I know, it’s so original RIGHT??)  He’s created a journal of sorts, where he stores his ideas and rules about “The Group”.  As of late, he’s been making up spells using real (made-up) words and pretending he’s actually playing as his avatar in my living room, testing out his “spells” on his sister, the dog, the clouds, the shed. As I type this, he’s practicing his Martial Arts moves (he hasn’t taken Martial Arts since he was four).

I should point out that over the last few weeks we’ve been reading together Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

Photo courtesy Amazon.com

It’s a story set in the future when the earth is going to shit waste and the only way to escape the pressures of reality is to spend your time in the OASIS, a virtual reality universe where you can do everything from going on adventures and falling in love to opening a business and making your millions.  Most everyone is on the OASIS, only logging off to do the mundane things like go to work, shower and use the bathroom.  Wade Watts is the main character in this space opera.  Wade is just your average everyday teenager who lives his life in the OASIS almost 24/7.  When James Haliday, the creator of the OASIS, dies, he leaves his fortune to the one who can crack his puzzle. Wade learns all he can of the eccentric Haliday and his obsession with the 80′s, the decade in which he was a teenager.  Haliday’s “easter egg hunt” is filled with references to 80′s  movies, music, and video games.  The book, in a word is AWESOME, and my son is loving it too.

I’ve noticed since we’ve been reading it that he’s picking up things and using them in his “group work”. His journal can be compared to Wade’s “Grail Diary” (The Last Crusade was my FAVORITE Indiana Jones movie, in case you were wondering).  And his avatar is similar to Wade’s as well. (ok, maybe not…)

I love that he’s using his imagination instead of relying on something electronic to entertain him. I love that his sister is joining him on his “quests” (most recently to Connecticut by ferry) and they’re not beating the crap out of each other like they normally do. I love that he talks endlessly about his group work and about his body armor and weapons and the quests he’s been on and the things he’s built, all using his imagination, albeit they are based on that stupid Minecraft game that he’s ridiculously addicted to, but all his stories over the last week are from his OWN BRAIN and not computer generated.

I think his grounding might just last a little longer than expected…

***Ok kids…  this is the part where we talk about how you can win your very own copy of Ready Player One.***

This book is BRIMMING with references to the 1980′s, a decade which I, myself am quite fond of.  Do you love the 80′s?  Tell me your favorite movie, song, or video game for a chance to win!!  ”Like” me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter for more entries!  Be sure to leave a comment when you “like” or follow so you get your entries!  Drawing will take place on Monday June 11th so be sure to get your entries in!

This is an original ROSCMM post and was written for the From Left to Write Book Club and was insipired by Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  As a participant in this From Left to Write book blog tour, I received a copy of the book for review. Check out the other stops on the blog tour for a chance to win a copy of Ready Player One, and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2012 Mastermind Mommy

Oh, and if anyone finds my son’s iPod, would you please let me know so I can put it away and not worry anymore… It’s GOT to be here somewhere…

The one where I talk about my dog’s balls…

I know… I haven’t been around much lately… I really don’t have any excuse…  blame Facebook… And my kids… and my inability to put down a book… GAH!

Anyway, this week’s Mama Kat’s writing prompts had me in a tizzy.

“This Week’s Prompts
1.) A promise.
2.) I thought my child was going to _______, but instead he/she _______.

3.) Tell us something you learned about a grandparent that surprised you.

4.) List 7 things your pet thought about today.

5.) Spring fashion is in the air! Put together and share an Spring outfit you’d like someone with money to buy you.”

I just couldn’t help myself…

Most of you who know me personally, have met Chewey (of course not his real name although sometimes I wish I’d named him that) my year and a half old Siberian Husky.

My former Fluffernutter... now he's all fluff and no nuts. :O

Chewey (or “Dumbass” as I affectionately call him) has been the center of my world lately as last week we had him neutered in an attempt to get him to stop peeing on the furniture.

So without further ado, here’s my post taken from Mama Kat’s Writing Prompt…

4.) List 7 things your pet thought about today.

7. I’m up! Who’s up? I’m up! Who’s up? You’re up? Oh boy! oh Boy! Hey wait…  where’re my balls??

6. Are you going to feed me??  Huh??  You got some food for me??  C’mon, I know you got some food for me!  Where’s my food??  Have you seen my balls?

5. Are we going to walk?  I wanna walk!  Are we gonna walk?? Oh boy!  We’re gonna walk! Maybe I’ll find my balls…

4. Bitch!  Take this thing off me!! (He’s referring to his head collar.  He does not like it.,) I wonder what will happen if I jump on that guy??  Maybe he has my balls…

3. Another dog??  Oh boy another dog!!  C’mon Mom, let’s go see the other dog so I can pee on him and sniff his butt!  Maybe he knows where my balls are…

2. Play??  Play, play play??  Where’re my balls??

1. Wait a minute…  WHERE ARE  MY BALLS??

Ok, so maybe that wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be…  Pish!  Whatever…  Where’s my book?

And to the man whose balls my dog clipped… I am eternally sorry!  Bad dog!!

This is an original ROSCMM post.  All opinions expressed are that of Jennifer herself.  This post was written for Mama Kat’s Weekly Writing workshop and has a compensation level of 0. (See my disclosure page for full details.)  And no, you can not steal my stuff.  It’s called Copyright, yo!

Copyright 2012 Mastermind Mommy

Mad Libs with Write on Edge, and no I’m not pregnant…

Today’s post comes from a prompt from writeonedge.com.  It was intended for April Fool’s Day, but as with everything in my life…  it took a backseat to running like an idiot all over for my family so I guess this is my April Fools joke on you Dear Reader.  SURPRISE!!  An April Fool’s Day joke that’s not on April Fool’s Day!!

Oh, that was just awful…

Please enjoy the prompt.

“Here’s the template to cut and paste into your post, inserting the words from your list.  We’re trusting you to fill in your original word choices, no matter how silly they seem.

After all, what fun is a tea party hosted by The Mad Hatter without a little silliness?  This is a snippet from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Chapter 7 – A Mad Tea-Party.

When you’re finished, link up below and let us giggle along.

There was a (1) set out under a (2) in front of the (3), and the March Hare and the Hatter were having (4) at it: a Dormouse was (5) between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a (6), (7) their (8) on it, and (9) over its (10). `Very (11) for the Dormouse,’ thought Alice; `only, as it’s asleep, I suppose it doesn’t mind.’

The (12) was a (13) one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!’ they (14) when they saw Alice coming. `There’s PLENTY of room!’ said Alice (15), and she (16) down in a (17) (18) at one end of the (19).

`Have some (20),‘ the March Hare said in an (21) tone.

Alice (22) all round the table, but there was nothing on it but (23). `I don’t see any(24),’ she (25).

`There isn’t any,’ said the March Hare.

`Then it wasn’t very (26) of you to (27) it,’ said Alice (28).

`It wasn’t very (29) of you to (30) without being invited,’ said the March Hare.”

Here’s mine…

There was a boy set out under a girl in front of the man, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having woman at it: a Dormouse was driving between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a car, flying their arms on it, and kicking over its head. `Very pretty for the Dormouse,’ thought Alice; `only, as it’s asleep, I suppose it doesn’t mind.’

The wall was a ugly one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!’ they played when they saw Alice coming. `There’s PLENTY of room!’ said Alice quickly, and she farted down in a silly towel at one end of the plant.

`Have some Easter Bunny,‘ the March Hare said in an happy tone.

Alice hopped all round the table, but there was nothing on it but shoes. `I don’t see any bush,’ she washed.

`There isn’t any,’ said the March Hare.

`Then it wasn’t very skinny of you to walk it,’ said Alice slowly.

`It wasn’t very blue of you to poop without being invited,’ said the March Hare.

Wow…  that was just about as good as my April Fool’s Day joke.  At least I didn’t tell you I was pregnant.  Cause I’m not…  No really, I’m NOT!

This is an original ROSCMM post.  This post was inspired by a prompt offered by writeonedge.com and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2012 Mastermind Mommy

The Me before the Mom…

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

This month the From Left to Write Book Club is reading a book called The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Not available on the American market until February 1st, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats is an international bestseller about a man who goes missing and his daughter’s search for him. Her investigation into her father’s disappearance leads her to Burma (now called Myanmar) where her father was born and raised. She meets a man in the small village of Kalaw who tells her of her father’s youth and a love story to end all love stories.

Just recently as we were cleaning up from dinner, my mother mentioned to me a story about a boy she used to dance with in school. She said that she used to enter dance competitions with him and he used to fling her around the room like she was a rag doll. She was often afraid that he was going to let her go and she would go careening to the floor. I laughed as I listened to her tell me about how she used to hide from him at school dances because she was so afraid that she was going to get hurt. It wasn’t a love story like Tin Win and MiMi’s in the book, but listening to her reminded me of the book; of Julia sitting in the tea shop listening to U Ba tell her of her father’s youth and the love he left behind.

Listening to her made me realize that I don’t know all that much about my mom before she became my mom. I know she used to sing in shows at school, very much like I did, and that she was in the colorguard. I know that she was engaged once, before she met my dad, but it didn’t work out. I know that her sister cut off her ponytail one day when she was taking a nap. Beyond that, I don’t really know a whole lot.

Listening to her also made me think of my kids. Will they know who I was before I became their mom? Will they know that I wanted to be a novelist (and still do…)? Will they know that I lost their father for 8 months before we got engaged because he wanted to seek his fortune in Florida? Will they know that I used to work in the lingerie department in Sears and sold bras and panties to old ladies? (that was scary!)

I taught my son the other day how to slice his bagel without cutting off his fingers.  When he asked how I knew that, I told him that I used to work in a bagel shop with my friends.  The astonished look on his face set me back. “You??” he said.  ”You used to work in a bagel shop??”  Like its so hard to believe!  I mean, I know I don’t GO to a job every day like some people, but yes, at one point I did, and I still have friends that can vouch for me!

But I digress…  My point here is, for most of us before our parents became our parents, they were normal everyday people who had friends, jobs, lovers, and lives that didn’t revolve around us, their children…  I hope one day my kids realize that and want to know more about my life BC (before children) as I now want to know about my parents.

Oh, and get the book…  Seriously…  get it.  :)

This is an original ROSCMM post and was written for the From Left to Write Book Club.  This post was inspired by The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, by Jan-Philipp Sendker,  a copy of which I received free from the publisher for the purposes of this book club, and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2012 Mastermind Mommy

Jada Toys Battle Machines Combat Crash Review

Before the holiday season, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Janina from Southard Communications on behalf of Jada Toys. Janina wanted to know if I was interested in trying and reviewing one of their Battle Machines toys here for you loyal reader.

Of course, I said yes. The toy arrived and my kids played with it. And then the holidays happened and everything got pushed off and put on to the back burner…

So, without further ado, my review.

I was given the choice of the Battle Machines: Combat Crash or the Lazer Combat: Land vs. Air. Big Boy chose the Combat Crash toy because he said he was no good at flying planes.

Jada Toys Battle Machine: Combat Crash

When the toy arrived, he jumped right in, insisting on putting it together himself (he should be able to… he’s nine) so I just sat back and watched.  He had it together by the time I got the batteries in the cars and remotes.

The track put together.

The Battle Machines: Combat Crash is a track set with two cars and two remotes.  SUPER easy to put together, SUPER easy to operate.  The track simply snaps together, and the signs snap into the rail.  Then you put the cars on the track and pull the trigger on the remote.  For an extra turbo boost, flip up the guard on the turbo button and KAZOW!  You’re zipping around the track.  Guide your car around the track with the steering wheel but be careful!  If anything hits you from behind, your doors and hood pop off!! Race with your friend for lots of combat crashing fun!  And you can race on and off the track!

To quote my Big Boy, the Combat Crash is “Totally Awesome!”.  He just loved putting the track together and then racing and crashing his car into his sister’s.  Little Miss had loads of fun too.  Her favorite part was watching her brother crash into her car and the hood and doors popping off.  Major giggle factor there.

Its also pretty durable.  After we finished playing with it, Big Boy took the track apart and put it back in the box.  As he was bringing the box down to the basement, it opened and all the pieces tumbled down the basement stairs!  Not a nick or crack in site.  Whew!  I was going to be pretty upset if we just got this great new toy and it broke apart due to a fall down some stairs.

Big Boy and his blue racer.

Little Miss and her red racer.

This is the perfect gift for the little racer in your life.  It is available at most major retailers including Toys R Us and Target for $49.99 in stores.

Special thanks to Jada Toys for allowing me to try out their toy and also to Janina and Southard Communications for the opportunity.   I can’t wait to do it again!

This is an original ROSCMM post. The product mentioned in this post was provided to me free of charge (or at a considerable discount not available to the public) for the purposes of writing this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not a result of any compensation or free products received (although they are both openly accepted.) and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2012 MastermindMommy

OH FOR PETE’S SAKE!! IT’S A HEAD COLLAR… NOT A MUZZLE!! A Public Service Announcement

Meet Chewie…

Chewie...

Chewie is our (almost) 11 month old Siberian Husky puppy.

Meet Chewie’s head collar…

Meet Chewie when he’s wearing his head collar…

This is what Chewie looks like twice daily when I walk him.  Now, I don’t meet a lot of people when I walk Chewie, but those that I do meet (usually dog owners themselves) take one look at Chewie in his head collar, and ask me if he bites, or if he snapped, or if he’s viscious.  Seriously people??  Can you not tell that its just a strap around his snout?  Can you not see that his mouth is open and his big giant floppy tongue is sticking out??  If he were wearing a muzzle, he wouldn’t be able to open his mouth.  He wouldn’t be able to drink, or eat, or bite your ass if he wanted to.

A Siberian Husky’s instinct is to PULL.  It’s what is bred into them.  I have every intention of hooking my kids’ sleigh up to him in the winter time and charging for dog sled rides.  (no joke, man)

If I DON’T use the head collar, my Siberian Husky (who’s instinct is to PULL) will PULL me all over the neighborhood.  Now I’m no lightweight (as if you didn’t know that already) but if he sees something he wants to get at (cat, bird, another dog, shiny object) and he’s not wearing his head collar, he will YANK my arm off trying to get to it.

With the head collar, a slight correction to him (I’m also studying the methods of Cesar Millan, aka, the Dog Whisperer) and he will sit and wait to be ALLOWED to yank my arm off.

The idea behind a head collar is very much like a halter for horses.  Where the nose goes, the rest of the body will follow.  You wouldn’t put a regular collar and leash on a horse and expect to be able to ride it or lead it anywhere, would you?  It’s the same concept for Chewie.  If he’s wearing the head collar I can lead him (like every pack leader should, thank you Cesar) where I want him to go.  Ultimately , I want to do away with it and just use a regular collar and leash, but until he realizes that I am the pack leader,  this is the way I need to do it.

So if you see me walking down the street with Chewie and his head collar, take a minute and consider what you see…  Is is mouth open? Can you see his teeth?  Then no, he doesn’t bite.  But I might!  So, think before you open your mouth!!

This is an original ROSCMM post. All opinions in this post come from Jennifer herself unless otherwise noted.   This post has no compensation level as I did not receive anything for writing this post,(visit my Full Disclosure page for more details) and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2011 Mastermind Mommy

I can’t even imagine…

I just wanted to take a minute of your time… I know I come on here and complain about my kids and my husband. A lot. I know… I’m usually awake in the wee hours of the morning (as I am now) thinking and being annoyed and worrying and thinking some more…

It is also very typical that when I am up at the wee hours of the morning that I go on Facebook and see who else is up, maybe play some Frontierville or Zombie Lane, maybe catch up on some blogs that I haven’t read in a while.

I was doing just that when I came across a post from a blogger expressing her condolences for another blogger whose husband suddenly passed away.

Jennie Perillo is a talented chef,  food blogger and friend to a lot of other bloggers I wish I knew.   I have just learned that her husband died suddenly yesterday from heart attack.  He leaves behind not only Jennie, but their two young daughters as well.

I can’t even imagine what they must be going through right now.  Words cannot express the pain I feel for them.

I think today I am just going to take some time and give thanks for the life I have.  The life my husband and I have built together, the children we’ve brought into this world with love and the things that make our lives worth living.

I know I complain about my family…  a lot.

But I am thankful for them.

I love my Little Miss and Big Boy, and especially the Hubs.  And I hope to God that they know how much.

Kellogg’s Fiber Plus Cereal Review! #FiberPlus

Recently I was given the opportunity to sample two of Kellogg’s new Fiber Plus cereals, Berry Yogurt Crunch and Cinnamon Oat Crunch.  I’d have posted my own picture but my family ate them so fast, I didn’t have time…

     

Anyway, I love Kellogg’s products, especially the Special K snack bars and Special K Cereal, so when Technorati contacted me that Kellogg’s wanted bloggers to try a new cereal I jumped at the chance.

In case you live under a rock, I’ve been on a special quest to lost weight for a couple of weddings I’ve got this year (two next month!).  Special K cereal has been a part of my family for a very very long time so I completely trust anything made by the people who make the cereal my father has been eating since before I was born.

When the boxes arrived, first of all, I must say, I was not expecting Kellogg’s to mail two boxes of cereal to me.  I expected a coupon that I could use at my local grocery store.  Thank you Kellogg’s.  Next, I admit, I’m a little leary about anything that has Fiber in its name.  Usually for me fiber= not a happy stomach.

Reading the box further it states that the cereal is rich in Antioxidants.  Antioxidants are a good thing.  According to Discovery Health, antioxidants “are substances that are capable of counteracting the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in animal tissue. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that assist in chemical reactions). They are believed to play a role in preventing the development of such chronic diseases as cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and cataracts.”  Most adults don’t get enough antioxidants in their diet (including me) so I thought this was an excellent way to further my dieting and weigh loss adventure.

Upon first taste, I was sold.  The Yogurt Berry Crunch was sweet and crunchy, just what I need in the morning to get me going.  It kept me full until lunch and I had the energy to keep up with Little Miss and Big Boy and all their shenanigans.  The Cinnamon Oat Crunch was also very yummy although they didn’t smell as sweet as they taste.  They kind of reminded me of those other little O’s only better.  Even my kids liked it and if its not a sugary sweet brightly colored cereal, they won’t even try it.  Sadly, I only got one bowl of the Cinnamon Oat Crunch before the rest of my family ate it all.  Hey Kellogg’s, wanna send me a new box so I can better research the product??  Just kidding.  Sorta.

You should try Kellogg’s Fiber Plus cereals if you’re looking to incorporate more fiber and antioxidants into your diet.  You should try Kellogg’s Fiber Plus cereals is you want a tasty change to your breakfast routine.  You should just try Kellogg’s Fiber Plus cereals.

Many thanks to Kellogg’s for allowing me to sample their cereal and participate in this program.

This is an original ROSCMM post. The product mentioned in this post was provided to me free of charge (or at a considerable discount not available to the public) for the purposes of writing this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not a result of any compensation or free products received (although they are both openly accepted.) and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2011 MastermindMommy

Playing the Prince

“Here Mommy, I will be the beautiful princess and you will be the handsome prince.”  Little Miss approaches me in one of her many princess dresses, in her hand is a bright green cape adorned with dollar signs.

The cape, circa 2008.

I hate that cape.

It is scratchy.

And annoying.

And it reminds me of our worst vacation ever to Lake George a few years back where we won that cape at an amusement park.

But I take it from her and put it on.

“Why do I have to wear this cape?  Do all princes wear capes?”

There is no reasoning with a three year old.  “Mommy, you have to wear the cape so you can be the handsome prince and rescue the beautiful princess from the dragon.”

“Yes, but why do I have to wear the cape?”

“C’mon Prince!” I’m not winning this one…

“Ok, where’s the beautiful princess?” I say, putting on the scratchy, annoying  worst vacation ever cape.

“MOMMY!  I’m right here!”

“Oh, YOU’RE the beautiful princess?”

“Yes, now lets go fight the dragon!”

“Wait, I thought I was supposed to rescue you from the dragon. Not fight it with you.”

“Look!  There’s the dragon!  Let’s go fight it!” she says pointing to our 9 month old husky puppy.

The dragon!! AHHHHH!!

“But that’s Chewey!  That’s not a dragon!”

“MOM! We have to go fight the DRAGON!”

“Oh, alright, but you should really change your dress, I don’t think Snow White would appreciate it if you got her dress dirty fighting a dragon.”

“We’re going to get you dragon!” Insert various fighting sound effects here. 

Dragon, disguised as a nine month old husky puppy, yawns, rolls over.

“C’mon Prince!  Let’s get that dragon!”

“Wait!  Do you really think we should try to fight the dragon if he’s sleeping?  I mean, he’s not really bothering anybody right now.”

“MMMMMOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!”

“Ok, ok…  let’s get the dragon!”

Dragon, sensing that something is afoot, gets up and walks to the back door wanting to be let out.  He wants nothing to do with this.

“YAY!!  We ran the dragon, out of town!  HOORAY!! Now we can go take a nap.” I say, my hand reaching up to remove the scratchy, annoying, worst vacation ever cape.

“No, there’s another dragon over there!” She’s intent on “getting” a dragon.

“There is?  Where?”

“Over there. By that chair.”

“What color is it?”

“Ummmmmmmmm, pink.”

“With purple polka dots?”

“YEAH!”

“Oh, we can’t fight him…  there’s a law against fighting pink dragons with purple polka dots.  We could go to jail.”

“We’re not going to jail!  There’s no police to take us to jail!  Let’s fight that dragon!”

“Look!!  Max and Ruby is on!”

“Max and Ruby!!  Can I have a snack??”

And thus ends my stint as the handsome prince wearing a green, scratchy, annoying, worst vacation ever cape.

I love playing with my kids.  And really, why WOULDN’T you want to play the prince to this??  

The Beautiful Princess

This is an original ROSCMM post and was written for the From Left to Write Book Club. and was inspired by The Costume Trunk, by Paddywhack Lane, a copy of which I received free from the publisher for the purposes of this book club, and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

NO CAPES!!

 

Copyright 2011 MastermindMommy

Piggies and letters and potatoes, OH MY!!

I’m not going to lie when I tell you, I’m not the biggest fan of Play-Doh. Not the company, the compound. I don’t like the smell, the consistency, and weird film left over after I’ve touched it.

YUCK!

However…
My kids LOVE it!!

So when I was contacted by Lauren at Litzky PR on behalf of Hasbro to see if I was interested in trying out their new spring products the only thought that crossed my mind was “rainy day activity”.

At the time I was babysitting my 2 year old nephew three times a week and between him and my three year old daughter, I was at a loss for stuff to keep them busy on a rainy afternoon.

Play-Doh seemed to be the answer.  We have a couple sets of our own and when I would break them out for my son,(now eight) he would happily play for a solid hour, no whining, no crying, nada.

So, Lauren sent me four different Play-Doh sets, each one a new product for spring.  I received the Flip and Serve Breakfast Playset,  Cookie Monster’s Letter Lunch Playset, one of theFairy Tale Assortment (Three Little Pigs), and the Smashed Potatoes Game.

The first set we tried was Cookie Monster’s Letter Lunch Playset.  What fun!  The playset comes with Cookie Monster donning a chef’s hat,a big bowl for his letter soup, letter shapes and 4 containers of compound.

Cookie Monster's Letter Lunch!

Kids can learn their ABCs by forming letters to spell names and words!

Lunch Time for Cookie!

The kids ate up a whole afternoon making letters and feeding them to Cookie! (well, I should say Little Miss did… Smoosh was happy with a lump of Playdoh and a knife.)  Even I got in on the act!  My nephew liked it so much, my sister in law went out and bought it that very day! (I wouldn’t let her have mine…)

Next came Smashed Potatoes…  Picture this…  Family Game Night…  We were SO tired of playing UNO! and were looking for something new to play.

Smashed Potatoes

The object of the game was to make it through the game board without getting caught in the various potato traps and being turned into french fries or mashed potatoes.  If you get caught, you go back to the beginning and start over.

Little Miss and her purple potato

Big Boy and his yellow potato.

After an intense showdown between Big Boy and Little Miss, a winner emerged…

And the winner is...

LITTLE MISS AND HER PURPLE POTATO!!

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!

YAY!!  Family game night will never be the same!  Big Boy is STILL asking for a re-match!

Another Play-Doh set I received was The Three Little Pigs from the Fairy Tale Assortment.

We’ve had quite a few rainy days here on Long Island, so I was happy to introduce my little ones to yet another Play-Doh set.  One of my favorite stories to tell the kids is The Three Little Pigs.  I am a very animated person when it comes to telling stories.  I like to do all the voices and really get into it.  This Play-Doh set is probably my favorite one.

Little pig, little pig, let me come in!!

With the molds included in this set you can construct your own Three Little Pigs story and make it come to life!

There's the straw house...

The house made of sticks...

And the house made of bricks...

And of course, the three little pigs...

What a fun afternoon we spent playing with this!!

Little Miss enjoyed making the piggies...

While Smoosh... smooshed 'em!

I wanna try Hansel and Gretel next!

The last Play-Doh set I received was the Flip and Serve Breakfast playset.

Flip and Serve Breakfast Playset

I love breakfast in any form.  This playset lets you make a bagillion different variations of breakfast, from eggs and bacon with hashbrowns and toast,  to waffles and pancakes.

YUM YUM GIMME SOME!!

And you can top it all off with a milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry!

Of course, I wish they were real and not compound, but it was fun making everything all the same!

Wanna bite??

Perhaps my opinion of the compound is changing…  :)

Many thanks to Lauren at Litzky PR and Hasbro for the opportunity to try out and review their products.  All of these Play-Doh products are available to order online or at most major toy retailers.

This is an original ROSCMM post. The product mentioned in this post was provided to me free of charge (or at a considerable discount not available to the public) for the purposes of writing this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not a result of any compensation or free products received (although they are both openly accepted.) and no, you can not steal my content unless you specifically ask me for it first. It’s called copyright, yo.

Copyright 2011 MastermindMommy