Escape Mail - Mail Order Escape Games Review

With all of us going through this pandemic, we're trying to figure out creative ways to entertain ourselves while at home.  One thing I suggest is Escape Mail.  It's a Mail Order Escape Game for people looking for something new and engaging to escape the lockdown blues.

Escape Mail was imagined as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, when schools closed and Mobile Escape founders, Eric Reynolds and Paul Harvey, suddenly saw their successful education-based mobile escape room start  up business vanish. Fast forward a few months and Escape Mail is now shipping its at-home escape style adventure games to 20 countries around the world.

For just $12.99 per episode, Escape Mail players get an envelope filled with adventure delivered to their homes. Each episode contains a thrilling storyline that includes a combination of physical manipulation, online and multimedia twists, and has tiered hints available at every stage if needed. The gripping storyline deepens over 12 episodes, giving players an immersive adventure to look forward to month after month.  Escape Mail currently has one 12-episode season available. Players can order a single episode, monthly subscription, or buy the entire binge-worthy season for a discounted price. The company is currently finishing its first season with plans to release new games regularly to keep adventure seekers coming back for more. Players can select between difficulty level of Easy, Regular, or Hard when they purchase Escape Mail.

I was given the opportunity to try Episode 1: Family Secrets in the Regular difficulty range.  I received an envelope in the mail with all contents.  I actually worked together on it with my friend, Alexis.  I'll admit I'm not much of a critical thinker, so some of the clues stumped me.  Luckily, I was able to get on the website to receive clues when needed.  Players can choose to try to master the entire thing on their own or use clues online that will help further them along.  I did end up having to use a few of the clues, but it wasn't without trying to figure it out on my own first.  It took a couple of hours for me and Alexis to play Episode 1.  Players can choose to do only one episode and it's a fun, interactive way to occupy your time.  But, if you want to continue the storyline, I suggest you purchase the monthly subscription package.  After all, don't you want to know what happens to the character next?!

Alexis, my Escape Mail partner

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Check It Out: Savings.com #SamsClubHolidayPrep Giveaway

Savings.com is giving away $1000 in e-gift cards from Sam's Club!

Giveaway ends on Thursday, November 19th at 11:59 PM PT.  Ten (10) winners will receive a $100 e-gift card from Sam's Club.

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Heck Of A Holiday Gift Guide for Boys

 

Christmas will be here soon and people have already started shopping.  It's me - I'm people!  Here are some ideas for the boys in your life:

Atomic Power Popper with Sticky Targets - The classic Hog Wild ATOMIC POWER POPPER is back and better than ever – thanks to a flashy new design and cool new features! PLUS, it now comes complete with three super Sticky Targets you can use just about anywhere! Available on Target for $14.99. 

DinoMazing Egg Decorator

Holiday Poppers - Hog Wild brings you your Holiday Poppers as part of its POPular Poppers line! They're offering a Yeti Holiday Popper! Available on Amazon for $9.99. 

DinoMazing Egg Decorator - DinoMazing Egg Decorator allows kids to color and create their own dinosaur eggs using a mechanism that spins the egg while you decorate! Plus, inside each Dino egg is slime and your own collectible dinosaur! Available on Amazon for $27.99.

Marshmallow Blaster - Bow & Mallow Blaster - The big brother of the Mini Bow & Mallow, the Bow & Mallow Blaster continues to bring food and fun together -- thanks to its edible ammo! With launching distances of up to 30 feet, your marshmallows will soar through the air! Available on Amazon for $25.99.

Yeti Holiday Popper

I received products in exchange for this post.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Info: Had to Create A New Twitter Account

 

Photo by Chris J. Davis on Unsplash

For whatever unknown reason, the previous Twitter account I had for over nine years (partymix25) became defunct.  After trying to figure out why, I just gave up and created a new account.  It stinks that I have to start from scratch but it is what it is.  My new Twitter account is @HeckTerra.  I'd love if you'd follow me; I'll return the favor.

DreamWorks 10-Movie Collection - Blu-ray Review and Giveaway

From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes some of the studio's most treasured and beloved films packaged in special collections perfect for holiday gift giving! 

DreamWorks Presents: 10-Movie Collection

Available now on BLU-RAY™ AND DVD

Relive each classic moment as an ogre, a panda, a yeti, and so many more of your favorite characters embark on epic journeys across their worlds. With lots of laughs and breathtakingly beautiful animation, this collection is perfect for children and parents alike. The fun-filled collection includes Shrek, Madagascar, Home, Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron, How to Train your Dragon, The Croods, Kung Fu Panda, Boss Baby, Abominable, and Trolls! The DREAMWORKS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION comes with hours of bonus features including animated shorts, music videos, deleted scenes, and much more for the whole family! The Blu-ray comes with a Digital code for all films.  

DreamWorks films include:

1.  Shrek

2.  Madagascar

3.  Home

4.  Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron

5.  How to Train Your Dragon

6.  The Croods

7.  Kung Fu Panda

8.  Boss Baby

9.  Abominable

10.  Trolls

My Review:

The holidays are coming up and I'm sure a lot of us are thinking what we can purchase for people or how we can entertain during the pandemic.  The DREAMWORKS PRESENTS: 10-MOVIE COLLECTION is perfect for either.  You just can't go wrong when you've got hours and hours of family-friendly movie entertainment.  All of the featured films have been big-box hits, and for good reason.  Bonus features include mini-movies, sing-alongs, games, interactive content, and more.

Win It!

One person will win DreamWorks 10-Movie Collection on Blu-ray.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

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Photowall Canvas Print - Review and Exclusive Discount Code

stock photo

I love canvas prints, and have several in my home.  I was able to recently order one from Photowall, a Swedish company with a passion for design and quality. Their wall murals and canvas prints are environmentally friendly, fire-retardant in accordance with Swedish standards and do not fade in sunlight. 

Between the canvas prints and the wall murals, I chose to go with the former.  With canvas prints, you can use an image of your own or choose from one of the 4000+ available.  I was very impressed with the different designs the company has to offer, and liked that I could "heart" my favorites.  

my canvas print

After browsing the different layouts, I ultimately chose "Ghost of the Forest".  It was then up to me to chose which size and edging I wanted.  I went with this particular image because my bedroom is decorated in a wildlife and deer theme.  

I fell in love with it from the start.  The canvas is of good quality and the colors are so vivid.  You can't miss seeing this print when you walk in my bedroom.  Some assembly was required; The canvas itself had to be attached to a wooden frame.  My husband was able to put it together in a short time and with no hassle.  There are instructions included and the biggest time involves inserting screws and tightening them to make the frame stable and to tension the cloth.  All in all, I'm very pleased with the quality and image of this print.  

back side of canvas print

Exclusive Discount Code:  Shop at Photowall online and use code heckofabunch25 to receive a 25% discount off any order.  Offer is valid until December 20, 2020.

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Check It Out: Savings.com #BRFactory Giveaway

Savings.com is giving away ten $50 e-gift cards from Banana Republic Factory!

Giveaway ends on Wednesday, November 11th at 11:59 PM PT.  Ten (10) winners will receive a $50 e-gift card from Banana Republic Factory.

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Merle Norman Cosmetics Bronzing Powder Duo - #MerleNorman Review

I'm by no means a beauty expert and couldn't even tell you how to create a perfect smoky eye. I could definitely use pointers on correct makeup application. I do, however, wear makeup almost every day. I've tried many, many brands and shades. I like to experiment with different colors. Although I'm not qualified to explain how to flawlessly apply makeup, I think I'm fairly well-versed in which brands are worth the buy.  I've been a fan of Merle Norman Cosmetics for a while now and was excited to try their new Bronzing Powder Duo.

There's something about that healthy summer glow that has us feeling fabulous. But when seasons change we lose that sun kissed look and need a little boost.  Merle Norman Cosmetics Bronzing Powder Duo is all you need to look like you are relaxed and refreshed (even though who really is these days).  Fake it till you make it is real - even when it comes to the sun on our skin!

Available in two colors (Satin and Matte), these bronzers, provide a gorgeous healthy glow in one beautiful compact without the fake orange hue that is often associated with bronzing products.  The bronzers feature Tri-Microsphere Technology to help blur fine lines and control shine, while Vitamins C & E provide antioxidant protection. 

The lighter shade is to be used on cheeks and the deeper shade around the perimeter of the face.  Or, you can sweep over forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin with a brush.

Using this combination of bronzing colors on my face gives it a nice, subtle glow.  It isn't weighty and gives my face a summery, polished look.  

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Bloggers and Influencers: Join Sivan Social for Extra Income

As a blogger, I've been a member of Sivan Social for a couple years now.  Although I don't "get rich quick", it's been a nice source of some extra cash.  If you're a blogger or influencer, I highly recommend you sign up for free.   There are a lot of great monetization tools and campaign opportunities offered through Sivan Social.

A qualified lead is an influencer who is interested in sharing affiliate links with their audience and/or is interested in sponsored opportunities.

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This post contains a referral link.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Charlie's Christmas Wish - DVD Review and Giveaway

In this heartwarming holiday film starring Aiden Turner (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), a troubled war vet’s family finds new hope from a scrappy little rescue dog. Discharged and sent home for the holidays, John (Turner) tries hard to adapt to civilian life—and to son Jimmy’s new pet, a feisty terrier named Charlie. As the family meets other struggling local veterans, they know it’ll take a miracle to bring peace to them and to John. Good thing Charlie has a direct line to the Man Upstairs…

Street Date: 11/10/20

My Review:

Be prepared to shed some tears and feel a lot of patriotism as you watch Charlie's Christmas Wish, a movie with all the feels.  The story line isn't exactly original, but you'll feel more in the Christmas spirit and feel more patriotic after watching this film.  It tells of a dog named Charlie who "talks".  Viewers get an inside feel to the dog as he tries to bring peace, love, and normalcy to those in the service.

Win It!

One person will win Charlie's Christmas Wish on DVD.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

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Check It Out: Savings.com #HomeDepotDecor Giveaway

 Savings.com is giving away five $100 e-gift cards from Home Depot!

Giveaway ends on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:59 PM PT.  Five (5) winners will receive a $100 e-gift card from Home Depot.

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

First Winners for November

 A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn.

The winner of the Sea Level Double Feature DVD giveaway is #6, Shelly Peterson.

The winner of the All Tee, All Shade Water Bottle giveaway is #5, aperry.

The winner of the And That's The Tooth children's book giveaway is #18, lfhpueblo.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to all who entered.  Be sure to keep an eye out for other giveaways I've got going on and will be adding soon.

River Otter's Adventure - Children's Book Review and Giveaway

by Linda Stanek, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani

32 pages, Ages 4 - 8

When a young river otter sneaks into a zoo, she wonders if she should be more like some of the other animals she meets. She wants a trunk like the elephant or be loud like the gorilla… By imitating and comparing herself to these other animals she learns to appreciate herself. Educational components are woven throughout this fun, read-aloud story and sidebar information complements and extends the learning, making it a perfect book for a wide variety of ages.

My Review:

River Otter's Adventure tells of a river otter who decides to take a trek to the zoo.  River Otter wants to see what it'd be like to be a different animal.  She pretends to be a salamander, a musk ox, a gorilla, and many other animals before deciding that she ultimately likes being a river otter.  

River Otter is very active in how she imitates the other animals and it's shown in the illustrations.  Children can interact with this book by replicating the actions of River Otter.  For instance, they can Coil, Wiggle, Slither, and Strike just like a snake or Hoot, Scream, Roar, and Howl just like a gorilla. This book is also a good reinforcement of how it's perfectly okay to be just who you are.

The 'For Creative Minds Section' in the back of the book further educates with facts about 'Basic Needs and Living and Nonliving Things'.  It also challenges kids to use a chart to identify which images are river otters or sea otters.  

River Otter's Adventure is a Fall 2020 release from Arbordale Publishing.

 Win It!

One person will win a River Otter's Adventure children's book.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received book for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

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ILLUMINATION PRESENTS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION- Blu-ray Review and Giveaway

From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes some of the studio's most treasured and beloved films packaged in special collections perfect for holiday gift giving! 

 ILLUMINATION PRESENTS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION

Available now on BLU-RAY™ AND DVD 

Illumination presents all ten of their blockbuster comedies in one collection for the whole family. It includes all three Despicable Me films, The Secret life of Pets 1 & 2, Hop, Minions, Sing, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch! With all-star voice casts including Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Sandra Bullock, and Michael Keaton, the ILLUMINATION PRESENTS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION is packed with hours of bonus content including mini-movies, sing-alongs, games and more! The Blu-ray comes with a Digital code for all films.  

Illumination Films Include:

1.  Despicable Me

2.  Despicable Me 2

3.  Despicable Me 3

4.  Minions

5.  The Secret Life of Pets

6.  The Secret Life of Pets 2

7.  Hop

8.  Sing

9.  Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

10.  Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

My Review:

The holidays are coming up and I'm sure a lot of us are thinking what we can purchase for people or how we can entertain during the pandemic.  The ILLUMINATION PRESENTS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION is perfect for either.  You just can't go wrong when you've got hours and hours of family-friendly movie entertainment.  All of the featured films have been big-box hits, and for good reason.  Bonus features include mini-movies, sing-alongs, games, interactive content, and more.  

Win It!

One person will win  ILLUMINATION PRESENTS 10-MOVIE COLLECTION on Blu-ray.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

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Make Some Holiday Cash With These Apps

Here are three apps on my Android phone that I personally recommend as a way to earn some money.    You won't get rich quick but, with the holidays coming up, you can earn a little moolah too.  

S'more

I have a lockscreen app on my phone that I've been using for some time now and it's a super easy way to earn points for rewards. 

S'more is a lockscreen rewards app that allows you to earn points in exchange for placing ads and content on your lockscreen. Every day you'll receive points in exchange for having the S'more lockscreen installed, and regardless of how many times you see it, you'll have points added to your account. Just use your phone normally, and get paid. You can also complete paid surveys and offers, and use the "refer a friend feature" to get more points. Once you've earned points you'll be able to redeem them for gift cards from retailers including Amazon.com, Target, CVS, GameStop, Starbucks and more.

 You will get points every single day that you have the app installed. That's it, no catch. As long as you use S'more, you will get points that you can redeem for gift cards.

To earn points, you DO NOT need to learn more about every ad or try to see as many ads as you can. Continue to use your lockscreen the way you normally do. You won't earn more for viewing as many ads as you can.

Please use my referral code of RC6346 if you sign up.  You'll instantly receive points, and I'll get some too!

Receipt Hog 

Turn your everyday receipts into valuable rewards and cash prizes. Use Receipt Hog to snap your paper receipts, connect your email or Amazon account, and you’ll earn valuable rewards. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered into weekly sweepstakes for cash prizes. United States only.

Fetch Rewards

Since the middle of last year I have been using Fetch Rewards, a mobile app that turns grocery receipts into savings.  It is so easy to use and it doesn't take long at all to earn points for rewards. 

Check out Fetch Rewards, and turn any grocery receipt into savings. You'll save on thousands of products every time they're on your receipt. Enter my referral code BR2FH at the sign-up screen and start earning Fetch Points!  When you sign up and submit your first receipt, you'll automatically get 2,000 points in your account.

There's several reasons why Fetch Rewards is one of my favorite Savings Apps, and here are just a few of those reasons:

1.  It works good on ANY grocery receipt.  From the big box store to the locally-owned corner shop in your neighborhood, you have an opportunity to save.  You get points anytime a receipt is uploaded.

2.  Bonus Point Offers are extended several times with may brands, so you receive bonus points if you purchase a specific brand. Those offers are always listed on the app.

3.  It keeps track of how much you've spent.  It lets me know how much in total I've spent for 2020 so far and compares it from month to month.  This gives me an indication of how much I'm spending with all the receipts I've uploaded.

4.  The rewards are pretty awesome and it doesn't take long to acquire points.

Seriously, I could go on and on about this app.  But don't just take my word for it;  Check it out yourself!

This post contains referral links.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

The Life and Times of Fuzzy Wuzzy - Children's Book Review

Date Published :October 2020

Publisher :Histria Books

The Life and Times of Fuzzy Wuzzy is the timeless story of a beloved bear born without any hair. Join Fuzzy Wuzzy as he lives life to the fullest. This book teaches children the importance of being kind and loving and that it's not what you look like that is important. A great life begins with love for everyone and everything around you.

My Review:

I think most of us are familiar with Fuzzy Wuzzy, the bear with no hair.  In case you need reminding, "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.  Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.  If Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, then Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy, was he?!"  

The Life and Times of Fuzzy Wuzzy takes that catchy composition a step further and introduces the personality of the bear himself.  The well-drawn illustrations and interesting narrative shows Fuzzy as a bear who was married, a loving dad, and a caring creature who made the most of life.  Having no hair didn't stop Fuzzy Wuzzy from being productive and genuine. 

I received book for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.