Chicago Toy and Game Fair

Hi Neighbors,

I just had to take a few minutes and share with you about CHITAG. It was great. The whole family went. We were able to get in 1 hour ahead of the general public. I was amazed at the many companies that were represented there.

We were able to wander around and speak to both representatives of the companies and some of the inventors themselves. You know the Blurt game I just did a post on? I was actually able to meet Tim Walsh the inventor. Very nice gentleman.

At the booth for Out of the Box games they were able to play Pirate versus Pirate. An really neat game of strategy. Three of us were competing against each other. My 13 year old won. They have several other games I am keeping my eye on.

I was able to make some contacts for upcoming reviews and giveaways. The lady who invented Wise Alec was really fun to meet. She was excited about her game and it showed. Wise Alec is a fun family trivia game. Look for more about Smart Alec in the future.

Above is my daughter playing with the CitiBlocs. There was a huge pile of them on the floor for children to build with. The CitiBlocs were displayed by Geppetto's Toy Box.

Squarrels is a card game that you will also be hearing more about. A game in which you are collecting acorns before winter sets in. Your opponents are also, and you need to keep an eye on them. Whirlwinds, Ambushing, Quarreling and Hoarding are all part of this fun game.

My husband and daughter were able to ride on the huge rocking horse. Glad we got this picture!

I was able to meet Jane, the creator of InStructures. A instruction, construction game! I am really looking forward to trying this one out at home. Two teams each with a Foreman must construct a design out of building blocks. Sounds easy right? Not so easy when you see the twist they put into it. If you want to learn more, you will have to keep checking back.

Wits and Wagers Family will be another fun game to keep an eye out for. I was able to play a round or two and it was definitely fun. You ask questions and and then each persons writes down an answer, the answer that is closest without going over wins. My daughters are playing this one right now as I am writing.

This is just a few of the companies and individuals I was able to talk to. Oh, remember Baby Go Go from a post not long ago? She was there too! My 10 year old was so excited!

Any one of the games mentioned above would make a great gift. Take some time to check out a couple of their websites and see if there is one that would fit into your family.

I really want to say thank you to everyone who was there and helped make the day great. And a special "Thank you!" to Marcy for inviting me! We are already talking about going next year.

Baby First TV 'I Can Sign" First Words

Hey Neighbors! Here is a really neat gift idea for someone with a young child. Here we have I Can Sign (First Words) from Baby First TV. Now, I am just going to share right here that we have friends who have taught two of their children to sign at a very young age. And it works! Their children could sign before they could talk. The Dvd will teach your child many useful words that will be used in day to day life. Words like: eat, water, milk, cookie, ear, feet hands, kiss, sleep, book, mother, father, and many other words. Each word is taught in a short video clip where they will see pictures of the word/item and people signing. There is also a little character at the bottom corner of the video signing along. The Dvd can be done on English or Spanish. Also included on the Dvd are printable coloring pages that you can print off by inserting the Dvd into your computer. Inside the cover of the Dvd case is a little booklet that covers some of the words you and your child

What To Do About Those Fuzzy Uninvited Guests In The Home

When we talk about pests in the home, the most common that we tend to deal with are the creepy-crawlies that find their way in. Ants, termites, and spiders, for instance. Occasionally though, you have a real chance of getting a much bigger, fuzzier unwanted guest in the home. What do you do about the fact your home is at risk of becoming a wildlife sanctuary for some truly unhealthy and even dangerous beasts? Picture by Alexas_Fotos Know the signs It doesn’t matter if you’re in a suburban home, a country cottage, or a fourth-floor apartment. Some animals can find their way just about anywhere. It’s worth knowing the signs of pest infestation so you can confirm it and act on it immediately. Spotting droppings, keeping an ear out for scratching, and looking for signs of nesting like shredded paper, scrunched leaves, and grass clippings around the home without explanation can help you start fighting back. Picture by wolfgang_vodt Cleanliness is key If there’s

Hey neighbors, its with a heavy heart I let you all know that my mom (Lori) unexpectedly passed away the end of June. Our family has been taking the time between now and then to be together and remember what a light mom was. I came on towards the end of last year and was planning on fully moving my interviews and review to this website. I intend to to so partially to keep mommas beautiful website going. Thank you all so much for your love and support over the years. ~Mercy

At the Fence

Search This Blog