Let's Review the board game "What's on the Menu?"

 

We recently added a new game to our board game collection that is quickly climbing up the ladder to join the rest of our go-to favorites when we have a game night. Our new game is called What's On The Menu & it is a culinary themed game. It is created & sold by Boiling Point Games. The rulebook is very straight forward with plenty of diagrams showing exactly what needs to be done, and it is very simple and quick to learn. The goal of the game is to compete with one another to become the newest head chef of a restaurant. This game can be played with two to six players ages 12+ & each game will take anywhere from 25-60 minutes. 

Every player is given a menu which will be laid out in front of them & over the course of the game, you'll be collecting menu cards and curating a menu of your choice to have the best food & the most stars. But, watch out! Your fellow competitors will have chances along the way to steal your food ideas, cause you a loss of stars or even force you to ditch a dish. Every dish has a star rating from 0-3 & some of the cards have bonus for pairing certain foods together. You will of course want to aim for having all three star food dishes on your menu, but the luck of the cards and how competitive the other players are might prevent you from that. 

The game lasts for fifteen rounds which each consist of two phases. The first is the Prep stage which is where you will collect the menu cards along with action cards which are used to gain perks for yourself or sabotage others. The second stage is the plating phase, which of course is when you will add items to your menu. At the end of the fifteenth round, everyone will tally up how many points they've collected to determine the winner. 

The art work on the cards are fun to look at & see what might come up next. Some of the dishes are delicious traditional dishes like chicken fried steak or cannolis, while others are nasty one star dishes like hot dog pie. It also comes with two well made wooden markers which will show where you are on the round tracker & who has the first player marker, plus there is an actual chefs hat for the winner to wear. 

We've been playing this with four to five players and sometimes it takes everyone a moment to think about how they want to lay out their menu or sabotage others so our games have been lasting closer to the one hour mark or slightly longer if we are joking around. However, it doesn't feel like that much times passes because you will be having too much fun to pay attention to the clock. Whether you are just starting into a board game collection journey, or are a pro already this is a fun game to check out either way. You can pick this game up on their shopify page for $39.99. 

⭐ Does this sound like a game you would enjoy playing?

If you want to find more great board games like What's On The Menu? head over to check out my Board Game Reviews section.

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Boiling Point Games for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

World of Illumination Tempe is now Open!

 

The last few years we've made it a yearly tradition to visit at least one of the two World of Illumination locations here in Arizona & this year is no different. We were able to head over to the Tempe World of Illumination location for a media night to check out the lights this year. They host this event at the Tempe Diablo Stadium located at 2200 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282 which is easily accessed from the I10. Tickets are available per card, you do not need to pay per person. During the week it is $39.99 per car and on the weekends it is $49.99 per car, there is no difference in the show on a weekday vs during the weekend so it is completely up to you when you decide to visit. 

The theme for the shows changes each year, this years theme for the Tempe location is Enchanted Safari. You'll spot a number of cute safari animals along the way, and you'll also find a few other themes mixed in like the space/UFO themed section and one that has Dinosaurs. If you've never been to one of the World of Illumination drive thru light events, then I am sure you have some questions. So let's break down some of the questions I am sure a lot of people have about the event. 

This event takes place in the parking lot of the stadium, you'll follow along a set path which has several turns. This event was made with normal sized cars in mind, so to prevent any damage to their displays they do not allow over sized vehicles such as buses, RV's, Limos or over-sized vans. You will be asked to keep your speed between 3-5 miles per hour. Depending on how many people are at the event it may take you between 15-25 minutes to get through this event. If the line moves smoothly it will be closer to the 15 mark however sometimes things get a little jammed up if people stop. Since no one is able to get out of the vehicles to walk around this is a pet friendly event, so if you wanted to bring your pet along for the ride, you are allowed to! 

The event is family friendly. I feel like smaller children would enjoy this event quite a bit more than a teenager would, however it can still be fun for the older kids too. My kids are eleven & fifteen and they have both enjoyed going to this event the last few years. We also like to stop before hand to grab some hot chocolates & a snack to enjoy during the show. The event also offers a fun assortment of classic Christmas songs & fun remixes on their holiday station that the lights are synced to. 

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" (Click or locate it on the right-hand side of my page) section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. 

Disclaimer- World Of Illumination provided a pass for the event for this review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Let's review Aquatica from Arcane Wonders!

 

I love a good board game that is not only visually pleasing but something we can play together as a family when we want to. So, when I was offered the chance to receive a review copy of the game Aquatica from publisher Arcane Wonders, I couldn't say no! This ocean themed game can be played solo, or up to four players at once with games taking place between 30-60 minutes. The recommended age for this game is 14+ however, that is just a suggestion & as I usually say, younger children should be able to play just fine especially if they are already part of a gaming family. My eleven year old son plays this game without any issues. 

During this game you will play as one of eight Sea-Kings competing to explore the ocean depths in search of resources for your clan. Along the way you'll be earning money, new characters for your deck, location cards and victory points of course. When you are brand new to the board game it suggests in the rule book that you play with Sea-kings numbered 1-4 when playing with a group of four people. I honestly would skip out on Sea-King number one and move onto Sea-king five instead. Why? He has a slight disadvantage that the player who receives him might not enjoy, but as you learn how to play the game you could come back to him without any issues. Out of the first four Sea-Kings, the first Sea-king doesn't really do as much as the others & the card requires you to discard him after using his power while the other three Sea-kings numbered 2-4 are allowed to stay in the other players decks to be re-used again. As you learn the game & are comfortable with the rules you can randomly assign Sea-Kings or let players chose who they'd like to play as. There are other sea-kings who are discarded after using their power, however most have a decent power to use. 

The playing cards in this game are beautifully detailed, I love the location cards & looking at all the small details that went into each card. I also love the little manta ray playing chips! They are so cute. During the course of the game each player will get their own playing deck which matches one of the four player symbols along with a set of manta rays that also match that symbol. Everyone starts off with the same characters in their deck of cards & the same perks on the manta rays backs so that it is an even playing field. The only difference at the start of the game will be the power/ability on your Sea-king card as each has their own set of abilities they are able to do. Along the way you will be able to add additional crew to your deck which will in turn help you collect location cards. 

There are also special goal bonuses you can aim for that will give you extra victory points at the end. For example one of the goals could be collect & place three location cards onto your mat, then the first player to reach that would place their manta ray in the goal area & collect the first victory point slot. The other players will also receive a chance to complete the same goal, however the end game victory points they earn will decrease as the completed player count increases. Meaning, the first to complete it would get ten victory points, while the fourth player to complete it may only receive four victory points so it helps to be the first! The rule book will let you know what requirements need to be met to trigger the end of the game & how to calculate victory points to find out who the winner is. Once you get the hang of the game & the luck of the location cards placed out during the first round games can go by rather quickly. Setting up the board game & then putting it away again at the end is also quite simple. This board game can be purchased on the Arcane Wonders website for $49.99 plus you'll find dozens of other fantastic board games worthy of adding to any board game collection. 

✴ What do you think of the ocean theme of this board game? 

If you want to find more great board games like Aquatica head over to check out my Board Game Reviews section.

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Arcane Wonders for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Pinners Conference AZ 2024!

 

I recently had the chance to attend my first ever Pinners Conference here in AZ & It was a lot of fun! This conference is a two day event that is perfect for anyone who loves DIY and learning new hobbies/crafts. Between the 100+ classes available and dozens of shops selling take home do it yourself kits, you are sure to find something to keep your hands busy and happy. They sell different ticket levels that range from just visiting the vendor alley to tickets that include classes with prices ranging from $12 all the way up to $199 for a VIP pass. 

The classes they offer cover so many different topics & hobbies ranging from how to do your makeup or creating bath bombs from scratch to baking bread, sewing a bag or creating a handmade cutting board. You can choose to just sit in on the class or many of the classes offer kits you can purchase to follow along with & complete or take home and create at your own pace. I think they did a fabulous job setting up all of the different class room areas & crafting sections like the sewing room or the painting area. Everything was separated & organized well, that way no one was left trying to find the right area. 

Vendor wise, there were over three hundred booths set up! So you could shop till you dropped. The vendor area was a great spot to not only shop for DIY kits & goodies for yourself, but it was also a great spot to look for a few early holiday gifts. We loved that they had just about everything including clothing, pet treats, food/drinks, tools, jewelry & home goods. Even if you visit just to check out the shops, you will have a great time interacting with everyone while shopping & are still likely to spend at least two hours at the event. 

While browsing the shops many of the food & drink booths had samples they were giving out. So you were able to try out some caramels, some pretzel/chip dips, hummus, energy drinks, teas and more. Beauty wise there were samples of vitamins, lotions you could smell or try on your hands and some booths have mini samples you could take home. If you were hungry & wanted a bigger meal than the samples offered at the booths the event had two food trucks outside plus there were actual food vendors inside offering things like coffee & chocolate covered strawberries on a stick. 

I also liked that many of the booths who offered DIY take home kits also had small tables set up in the middle of the vendors area where you could work on your kit if you wished. For example one of the booths had unpainted wood kits to make your own signs, ornaments, etc that just needed to be glued together and painted. So you would find a few round tables just a few feet away from their booth that included the glue needed to connect everything plus a large assortment of paints and brushes for you to use. 

The event was family friendly! We went on a Friday & I honestly didn't think it would be as busy as Saturday would have been, but I heard a lot of people at the event talking about how they took the day off to attend. Even though there were a ton of people, the flow of traffic in the building went smoothly & quickly with no issues due to how everything was laid out. The Pinners Conference is hosted in Arizona, California, Utah, Texas, Kansas & Georgia. Keep an eye out for the event again next year! 

What kind of classes would you want to take?

Disclaimer- Thickets to the event mentioned above were provided by The Pinners Conference for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Maelys Cosmetics Review!

 

It is no secret that as we get older & our bodies change that sometimes our skin might not be as smooth as it once was. We also know that sometimes after weight loss you can be left with areas where your skin doesn't tighten up right away, and that is where Maelys wants to help you. Maelys sells a wide range of products aimed at helping reduce the look of fine lines, stretch marks & even helping tighten up the skin for a smaller appearance. I was recently asked if I wanted to test out a couple of their products, and after looking at some of the reviews on their website I decided to go for it. I was sent their B-Flat, B-Tight & B-Thicc to test out. 

Let's start with the B-Flat. This product is a belly firming cream that is supposed to help reduce the look of stretch marks & tighten your skin a bit. After having two children I am left with some "Tiger Stripes" aka stretch marks, and I am not always the happiest with how they look so that is something I was looking forward to using this on. I haven't used this product for the long term yet meaning I haven't used the entire bottle, but I have used it a few times. It does seem to have helped reduce the coloration of the stretch marks a bit adding moisture to them which reduces their look. If you are not a fan of products that give you a warm tingly sensation do not use this within a short period after getting out of the bath. I tried it both right after a bath & waiting a while after getting out to see the difference between the two. If you use it right after a shower, it creates a very warm tingly feeling almost like icy hot without the icy part, it is bearable but some people may not like the feeling. However, if you wait a bit and then use it there is no tingly feeling at all. The product also smells nice, absorbs quickly and doesn't leave your skin feeling oily. This is sold in a 100ML bottle for $49. 

Next is the B-Tight which is for your booty! Just like the B-Flat this is aimed at tightening the skin to give a more lifted appearance and it also helps reduce the look of cellulite. It also has a pleasant smell & quickly absorbs into the skin, your skin will feel nice and smooth after using it. After a few uses your skin will feel more moisturized & you may already start to feel a difference, with most products like this you'll want to use them for a longer period to really judge the difference. My main thing with this one is I usually forget to use it after getting out of the shower. Maelys does sell other products for different areas of the body, but honestly I don't see why you wouldn't also be able to use this B-tight on areas like your underarm loose skin or under your chin if you have any issues with those areas as well. This is sold in a 100ML jar for $49. 

Lastly is the B-Thicc that is one step above the B-tight, which both essentially work the same however the B-Thicc is also designed to help give your booty the appearance of having more volume while lifting and firming. I haven't notice a large difference, however as I had mentioned I may just need to use it for a longer period of time. There are dozens of photos on their website showing real results from customers who have used these products for an extended period of time & then posted their review on the website. This product is a little bit thicker than the B-tight it almost reminds me more of a coconut oil in the container than a cream, but it glides on just as smoothly and absorbs quickly as well. Just like the B-Flat this has a warming sensation so if you'd prefer to avoid that, do not use it right after a shower. This product comes in a 100ML jar for $49. 

I think if you were using these products along side a diet & workout routine along with your normal skincare routine that you will see some great results. I myself am getting back into more of a fitness journey and look forward to having these products help me along the way. If you have other problem areas aside from your tummy & booty they have a wide range of products for different areas and problems from dry skin to plumping products. Be sure to stop by & check out everything they have to offer on their website. 

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Maelys for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Cheese Brothers Review & Giveaway!

 

When hosting get togethers for family + friends during the holidays I like to put together a charcuterie board or two for everyone to graze on while we hang out, play games and enjoy each others company. A cheese & cracker board is always a must, and the brand I prefer to use for my cheese boards is the Cheese Brothers! They have such a wide range of products, you are sure to find something you and your guests will enjoy. Whether it is for yourself or for a cheese lover on your holiday shopping list this year, Cheese Brothers offers a wide range of gift packs from their 12 days of Cheesemas advent calendar to mini charcuterie boxes. 

I've worked with the Cheese Brothers in the past on a review & ourselves along with family have ordered their cheeses randomly through out the year. I am very happy to share that I am working with them again on not only a new review, but a giveaway as well! For my review I received the deluxe "The Best gifts are Cheesy" holiday gift box. This box offers an assortment of nine difference cheeses, two summer sausages, a jar of Cherry Lavender jam & a box of crackers. It includes everything you need to create your own cheese & cracker charcuterie board. The cheeses featured in this pack at the Smoked Gouda, Dill Havarti, 3 Amigos Spicy Gouda, Bourbon Gouda, Horseradish Cheddar, Smoked Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Fratello, and Smoked Adelheid. Out of the nine, we have tried five of them in the past so the other four were brand new to us. 

I personally love their smoked gouda and the 3 Amigos is a big hit in our house. The Fratello which is a mixture of asiago and parmesan, is also a huge hit in our house and it is delicious in so many dishes. If you've never tried a cherry lavender jam before, then you are missing out - it is a must have for your charcuterie board. Of the new flavors of cheese we tried the smoked adelheid was pretty good! The Bourbon Gouda is a bit sharp & really does taste like whiskey so the kids & I weren't fans of it. I also wasn't a huge fan of the eight year aged cheddar, but my step-dad liked it. It is a more dry cheese with a very sharp cheddar flavor to it. Adding some other small platters of assorted holiday themed treats is also a great way to spice up a grazing table. I picked up some popcorn, chocolate pretzels, chocolate and a spicy pineapple jam to go along side the charcuterie board I put together. The cheese was of course the main focus though that everyone enjoyed nibbling on. 

You can create a similar charcuterie board to share with loved ones, or keep the cheese for your own cheese and cracker nights. You can buy a pre-made gift pack or if you'd prefer to create your own mixture of cheeses they do sell all of their products individually so you can create your own bundle. They also sell a cheese of the month club box which could make an awesome holiday gift as well! 

🧀 GIVEAWAY 🧀

One lucky winner is going to receive the cheese & sausage sampler which includes three different cheeses and a Barron sausage. Worth $39.95 

This is open US Residents only! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email! 

This giveaway ends on 11/26/24

Giveaway entry question: Leave me a blog comment letting me know which cheese from their catalogue you'd like to try. (Link is the purple)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Cheese Brothers for the review & giveaway free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

The Canal Convergence is back!

 

The annual Canal Convergence at the Scottsdale water front is back! This is a FREE ten day event that features different art exhibits installed along the canal near Scottsdale fashion square mall. This is our fourth or fifth year attending, it is nice to walk around for the forty or so minutes it takes to see everything & enjoy the weather. Parking is also free! You can park inside one of the three different mall parking garages. It is located at 7038 E. 5th Ave Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

This is a family friendly event so bring the whole family! It is even pet friendly so your dogs can join as well. Have a stroller? No worries, it is stroller and wheel chair friendly everything is along sidewalks and paths. There is also a small vendor area this year, there was a food truck and they have a wine/beer area for adults. 

The hours for this event are: 

November 11-14th 6-9PM
November 15-16th 6-10PM
November 17th 6-9PM

The fire show times are 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30PM be sure to get to the area about twenty minutes ahead of time to sit & wait so you can have a good spot to see the show. The front row or two fills up quickly & while you can still see the flames over everyone's heads it is a better show if you can see everything. If you would like to see a reel of this event, I have one up on my Instagram! You can see it by CLICKING HERE. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them below or on my Instagram page and I will answer them as best that I can. 

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page).

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places we explore with my followers.