Trekking Through History Review!

 

Back in May, I wrote a review for a board game called Trekking the World from Underdog Games. Today I will be covering another great board game from Underdog Games called Trekking Through History. This family friendly game is not only fun to play, but it is also a great way to learn about some historical moments or people of the past that you may not have heard of before. 

This game is designed to be played with one to four players over the course of thirty to sixty minutes, it is recommended for ages 10+ & can be purchased for $49.99 from the Underdog website. The game features visually pleasing artwork on the game cards, we enjoy viewing each of them as they are played out onto the game board. I also like how the individual player pieces look, the colors are vibrant & bold. 

Over the course of the game your goal is to collect "Treks" of your adventures through time, you want to start out with the earliest date possible on your turn, then collect later years as you take turns. If it isn't possible to pick a card that is at a later date than the previous card, then you can either visit a ancestor which acts as a "blank card" and can be any date, or you start a new trek. 

Each time you select a new date in history to add to your Trek, it cost hours of your time which are tracked using the large clock shown in the photos above. Once you reach 12 o clock, you are done for that round so you'll want to use "time gems" to lower the cost of the cards which will allow you to gain more cards for your trek before the round is over. Certain cards also give bonuses like extra time gems, and tokens which are placed onto a player mat that grants bonus experience. 

After three game rounds, the game is completed & you will tally up your score based off of how long each of your Treks are. This is a fun & easy to play fast paced game that is wonderful for an assortment of ages. We think this makes a great addition to our board game collection & have played it several times already, we look forward to playing it more and seeing more cards we haven't played with yet. 

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

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Underdog 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.

July Beauty & The Book Giveaway!

 

It is always crazy when I start writing the prompt for the new months Beauty & The Book Giveaway because it means another month has passed by, we are now past the half way mark for the year! Some months seem to drag on so slowly & others simply fly by, How was your June? On my end, we had a good month. We finished settling into our new place, we celebrated my husbands birthday & Father's day, we also went on a short trip to visit my father-in-law who lives in the Northern part of our state. So far this month has been going great as well, we took a short trip to San Diego for the fourth of July weekend & we went to check out the newly updated Ringling Circus. 

I always have fun picking up new products for my monthly giveaway & putting everything together. Some months have themes & others don't, this month I didn't go into it with any theme in mind but as you can see I ended up with lots of purple & pink hues of product packaging. If you are new to my blog, welcome! This is a monthly giveaway I put together as a way to give back and say thank you to everyone who follows & supports my page. 

💙 Included In This Month's Bundle: 💙

★ Paper copy of "The Fault in our stars"
★ L.A Girl Eyeshadow Palette 
★ Morphe Lipstick
★ Maccibelle New York Cuticle oil 
★ Essence Makeup Brush Set
★ Creme Shop Face Mask
★ Candle
★ Wet N Wild Eyeliner
★ Two Pink hair ties that double as bracelets
★ Real Techniques Sponge
★ Sweet Tooth perfume by Sabrina Carpenter
★ Fake Nail Set
★ Bath Soak
★ B Pure Peach hand cream
★ Pair of fake lashes

This is open Worldwide! 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 is hosted by ME.

This giveaway ends on 08/10/2024

Giveaway entry question: Leave a comment answering at least one of these questions.

Which item in this bundle are you most excited about?

Do you have any fun upcoming plans?

What is something you are looking forward to?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It is easiest if you log onto Rafflecopter using the Name/Email Address option. 

You can complete as many entries as you want, there are several one-time activities and daily activities that can earn you more entries into the giveaway. Be sure to keep an eye on my site & social media pages for more giveaways headed your way. 

Dubious Board Game Review!

 

We recently received a fun board game by Arcane Wonders called Dubious. This game not only allows you to test out your detective & deduction skills, but it will test your skills of story telling as well. This game can be played with anywhere from three to six players over the course of half an hour. You can pick this game up on the Arcane Wonders website for $44.99.

Every player will be given a random occupation & a random secret, from there you will come up with a character and answer five questions about your character. The ultimate goal is to try & get about 50-60% of the players you are playing with to guess either your occupation or secret. However, you do not want every player to guess as you will get no points for making your secrets too obvious. Over the course of the time, five questions will be asked that will help each player figure out what the rest of the players are. So your goal when answering questions is to come up with fun answers that only semi give away either your occupation or your secret without coming right out with it. Get adventurous as you want with your character! This game has been a lot of fun to play & we've been using different accents and just being silly while playing which makes it an even better time. 

While listening to others answers you will be trying to match up their subtle hints with what you think their occupation & secret might be. You are lucky enough to be able to remove two occupations & two secrets from the list right off the bat, as each player is given two of each at the start and they get to choose which two they'd like to use then the other two can just be crossed off your list helping you narrow down the list of possibilities. This game is perfect for family game nights, or a night with friends, you are sure to have a few laughs and a wonderful time together. 

If you want to find more great board games like Planetfall 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.

Lovepop Review & Giveaway!

 

It is easy to pop onto facebook & wish someone a Happy Birthday, but it is still a lot of fun to send and receive physical mail. Depending on whose birthday it is & how far they live from me, I may mail them a card or give them one in person when we get together to celebrate their birthday (or holidays).  I recently received a bundle of awesome cards from Lovepop cards. Lovepop sells a wide range of cards that have pop ups inside or physical products that can be removed from the card once open and they sell cards for every occasion. I received several cards to keep for review & a handful of cards to give to one of you! 

I let them know a list of occasions we celebrate & what some of our likes are and they sent me an assortment of cards based off of that. I love all of the cards they sent, so it is hard to choose a favorite, but I already know who some of the cards will go to once the time comes & I look forward to seeing their face once they receive it.  

If you know someone who likes suncatchers, they have some fun cards that have small stunning suncatchers that can be removed & hung up on a window or wall. The suncatcher itself feels like it is made out of a thin yet durable plastic which catches the light just right. At the moment they have five different suncatcher cards, they cost $13 each. The suncatcher above is from the "Thinking of you" hummingbird suncatcher card. 

There are so many birthday cards to choose from it might be hard to narrow your options down to just one that you want to buy! I received a Capybara pop-up card, A Pizza Love pop-up card, and A woodland birthday party pop-up card. All three have a fun scene that unfolds when you open up the card & all the cards have a pull out paper on the side where you can write your greetings. 

I also received some fun Halloween themed cards, one of which has a large wreath in it, plus the two cards shown above. One has an adorable pair of ghosts and I love the design on the inside of the card as well, and the other has a Halloween town that expands out so you can use it as décor in your home. There was also a pack of really neat 3D dragonflies included in the bundle, I put one together and used a magnet to add it to my fridge. All of the cards are well made & seem quite sturdy to allow you to open them over and over again while enjoying the surprise inside. I also like that the cards are affordable and fun. When I need fun & interactive cards in the future that also double as part of the gift, I will 100% be shopping Lovepop. 

💜 GIVEAWAY 💜

One lucky winner is going to a win all of the cards shown in the photo above. 

This is open to US Residents! 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 is hosted by ME.

This giveaway ends on 07/12/2024

Giveaway entry question: Leave a comment letting me know which card shown above is your favorite, or let me know another from the Lovepop website you'd love to have. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

** Note: With Rafflecopter it is easiest to log in using the Name + Email method as the facebook log in doesn't work from time to time.

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by LovePop 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.

Evil Izzy's Haunted Emporium Costumes & More - Phoenix, AZ!

As someone who enjoys cosplaying & putting together costume outfits for a variety of events and not just Halloween, it was always a bummer that options for year-round costume shops are slim pickings. I recently found out about Evil Izzy's Haunted Emporium which is new to Phoenix, so I had to visit. They are a year round costume shop located at 4239 W Thunderbird Road Suite B Phoenix, AZ 85053.

The store is still new & they are working on adding more inventory every week. They currently have a great selection of masks, adult costumes, kids costumes, pet costumes & costume accessories. They also have a large special effects makeup section and not the crap they have at Spirit Halloween, but the good makeup that is worth the price.

You'll also find hair dye, candles, random housewares like blankets plus horror themed clothing, ghosts in a jar up for adoption & more. I think this is a spot that I will end up visiting often and look forward to seeing what else they add to the store. Knowing there is a spot not too far from me that has my favorite special effects brand is a huge plus, especially if I run into an issue of needing something last minute for a cosplay.

Prices are about what you would expect at a costume shop/themed store like this. We picked up a Evil dead shirt & it was just over $20 with taxes. If you are in the area & are looking for costume pieces or even just want to take a look I would suggest stopping by to see what you can find.

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places to check out in my local area! 

🌵 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). 

Trappers Sushi Co in Anthem, Arizona - All You Can Eat Sushi!

 

My husband & I enjoy going out for a sushi night from time to time and we are always looking for new places to check out. I recently found out about Trapper's Sushi Co. which has three locations in Arizona - one in Anthem, one in Avondale & one in Surprise. Along with having locations in Arizona, they can also be found in Washington + one location in Texas. Before getting into the review, I do want to note that prices vary depending on the region so the price I mention below may vary from one near you if you are in another state. Trapper's Sushi Co. has a large menu of various sushi & appetizer options, and they also have All You Can Eat Sushi. My husband & I were recently invited to visit on of their locations here in Arizona to experience their AYCE. I live down in Phoenix, but this spot is well worth the drive up to Anthem & if you love sushi and have a chance to visit one of their locations, I recommend that you do. The location we visited is located at 39510 N Daisy Mountain Dr Anthem, AZ 85086. 

They have a number of great deals including Happy Hour plus kids under 10 eat for free on Sundays. This location has the AYCE at $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner, depending on how much you are able to eat this is an awesome deal. If you are going specifically for the AYCE sushi it is only served at the sushi bar, or you can relax at a regular table/booth to enjoy the full menu. The restaurant itself was very clean & felt welcoming, there were plenty of seating options and they had several large TV's each playing something different so you can choose what you'd like to watch while eating. The TV's & music were not turned up to a point where you weren't able to hear other party guests you arrived with which is nice as I enjoy having a conversation with my husband during dinner. 

We did the AYCE during the dinner hours. The only issue we had was deciding what we wanted to order because there were so many delicious rolls on the menu. I liked the selection of rolls they offered & I loved that it clearly stated what was in each roll. I've been to spots in the past that only have the name of the roll but not what was in it & as someone who can be slightly picky with sushi it is nice knowing what I am ordering. My husband & I each tried three different rolls plus we got an order of pot stickers & an order of trapper bites. All of the rolls we picked out were delicious & filling, you will be served a large portion, and everything is freshly made right there at the sushi bar. This is the first sushi place I've been to that has scallops on or in the sushi and man, I've been missing out!

I had ordered the white peach lemonade; it tasted like peach rings in a cup, and I loved it. My husband had ordered a blueberry alcoholic beverage that he enjoyed & when he went to order a second drink, he had asked for our server's recommendation & was very happy he did. The server recommended a drink called the Sea Monster Mai Tai. I am normally not a fan of alcoholic drinks, but I tried a sip and wow it was so good & one I would actually drink. All of the staff we encountered were friendly, talkative & attentive when it came to getting our orders, taking away empty plates.

They also have a program where they sell raffle tickets for $5, all the proceeds go to a cancer research group called Valley Girls & Guys. Later in the year they will draw raffle tickets and the winners could win one of an assortment of prizes. I always appreciate when companies & brands host raffles and events like this to help give back. 

We look forward to going back, not just by ourselves but with some of our other family members who love sushi as well. I can't wait to try out some of the other sushi rolls that we didn't try out this time, there is only so much I can eat & didn't want to feel like I was going to pop. But, that is a good thing because it gives me a reason to come back and try out more of their menu. 

🍣 Is this a spot you think you would enjoy eating at? What is your favorite kind of Sushi, or appetizer to order? 

🌵 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).

Disclaimer- Trapper's Sushi Co. provided a meal for two for us 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.

Soak up the Vitamin C with BeautyStat + Fable & Mane!

 

Vitamin C can be a very helpful ingredient to have in your skincare routine, it provides a number of benefits including brightening your complex, decreases hyperpigmentation, hydrates skin and more. I was recently sent a wonderful PR package that included two products from the brand BeautyStat & two products from the brand Fable & Mane all of which have Vitamin C as a main ingredient. This group of products was brought together to be a Vitamin C powerhouse to boost both your face & scalp. Let's dive into what I received & what I thought about it. 

Fable & Mane SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub. I have never used a scalp scrub before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect and whether it would be difficult to use or not. This scrub was actually pretty easy to use, it was able to get all the way down to my scalp without just getting caught up on my hair. Using it felt nice, like a gentle massage for your head. It rinsed out without any issues & my scalp felt so clean and refreshed after, plus it smells amazing. The scrub is suitable for all hair types, it is vegan, color safe and has no silicones - The brand is also cruelty free! I'd love a room spray that smells like this scalp scrub. I only needed a little bit of the scrub & since it isn't something you'll use every day the jar will last for several uses. Based off of what I used, I will guess I can get close to between eight to ten scrubs with this jar. You can pick up this scrub on the Fable & Mane website for $36 it comes in a 8oz jar. My hair did not feel greasy or look greasy after using this which is another pro. 

Fable & Mane SahaScalp Amla Soothing Serum. This is a pre-wash hair oil which aims to help you maintain dandruff, cuts down on product build up & helps soothe an itchy scalp. The smell of this is calming & soothing which is a perfect way to start off your shower. You can either use it shortly before you get into the shower or you can leave it in overnight before a morning shower. It is recommended that you use this once bi-weekly for best results & your hair type will help determine how much product you'll need to use. I have fine hair so I only need several drops which means I'll have this bottle for quite some time. This combined with the scrub I reviewed above will leave you feeling like you just got back from the hair salon. This serum can be picked up on the Fable & Mane website for $38. 

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner. This product aims to help tighten & firm skin which helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. This product goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly, it dries to a powder like consistency with a slight bit of slickness where it was used. It will leave your skin feel refreshed and moisturized, I also like that it doesn't have any strong scents as I generally do not like scented skincare products. This product can be bought in a 1oz container on the BeautyStat website for $85. 

BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector. Most of us keep busy schedules and do not always get the correct amount of sleep we need which is one of the things that can lead to dark bags under the eyes. Eye creams and serums can help reduce the look of dark bags, fine lines and help tighten the skin. This product has a nice light scent & a little goes a long way. You'll only need one pump for both eyes, much like the other product above this absorbs quickly and leaves an almost powdery finish when you touch it after you apply it. You can pick this product up on their website for $65.

Disclaimer- The product mentioned above was provided by BeautyStat and Fable & Mane 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.