90 days to a sharper mind

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 Zeitgeist sent me this Logic Puzzles Book for Brain Fitness: 90-Day Challenge to Sharpen the Mind and Strengthen Cognitive Skills with Enlarged Print to review. As we age we need to keep our minds healthy. One easy way to do that is through puzzles like these which can help improve your logical thinking skills by stimulating your brain, testing your knowledge, and developing your reasoning and creativity.

This book has 90 days worth of puzzles in 6 different formats from easy to hard and teaches you how to to solve the puzzles if you have never done them before. If you are like me you pick up assorted puzzle books and do your favorites but leave the puzzles you don't know how to do empty. The large print is great for those who need it.

Puzzles like this Logic Grid Puzzle on the left I would always try but never finish, not sure why but I never got the hang of them but the informational pages that taught me how to do these puzzles I am doing them on my own now and getting the answers right. I am 52 and I strive to learn new things each day and this was a win for me. Logic Grid puzzles sharpen your logic and reasoning, develops perseverance, and encourages you to see the world from different perspectives.

Sudoku puzzles like the puzzle in the top left-hand corner comes quite easily to me and even though this has easy to hard I still love doing them and usually just breeze right through them. It is nice to have both easy and hard puzzles to do to keep your mind sharp. Think back to all of the years you had to learn your multiplication tables, the practice of reciting them over and over again is why some of us can still recall them with little effort. Sudoku improves memory, deepens concentration, and increases your capacity to analyze how individual parts relate to a whole. 

Calcudoku is at the bottom of the left page. I have seen these but they are one of the puzzles I would skip over and now I am learning how to do them. Calcudoku helps improve number sense, develops problem-solving skills, and prevents memory loss.

Battleship is on the top right page and is one of my favorite games to play but solving it this way is quite different and took me a bit but I am now doing well with this puzzles as well. Battleship improves creativity, increases spatial reasoning, and helps develope logical deduction and reasoning.

Kakuro on the bottom right and though I have seen and skipped these I am looking forward to learning how to do these soon. Kakuro helps lengthen your attention span, helps develop highly methodical thinking patterns, and increases your ability to use resources efficiently.

Masyu, which I am sure I have seen but only a few times and will learn how to solve once I get to that spot in the book. Masyu enhances visual intelligence, boosts your pattern-recognition skills, and increases adaptive thinking.

Most of us want to look and feel young but that includes taking care of our minds too. Here is to stronger better minds for years to come.

Find Logic Puzzles Book for Brain Fitness: 90-Day Challenge to Sharpen the Mind and Strengthen Cognitive Skills with Enlarged Print at

Water Wipes

 I first heard of Water Wipes when my grandson was born. It was the only one suggested as he had medical problems.  As a mom, I was skeptical but after having tried these wipes which are saturated with water and less than 1% fruit extract, I can attest to their quality. Not only gentle on the skin, but very strong, which means using less of the product for the job at hand. Water wipes have proved their worth to me. 

The size is big enough to do the job, gentle enough to use on your baby's bum, and can be used for the face and other body parts without worry. The packaging is easy to use and has a tab that closes well to keep the wipes moist and ready at a moment's notice. The scent is unscented which is great for those with scent intolerance. We have found our new go-to wipes for all our bodily needs and are spreading the news about how great they are. Other people said something about the price but realistically they are about the same price as what we were already buying. 

Water wipes can be found on Amazon here.

 Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Our kitties favorite new toy.

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Recently I was sent a cat toy for our kitties to review and my kitties love it. It is considered a 4 in 1 toy as shown in the picture to the left. I love that you can use it with batteries or plug it in depending on how rambunctious your kitty is playing with it. If you have a cord chewer then I suggest using batteries only.

We have had ours for a while and they are still on the first butterfly. My kitties know the different sounds from their toys and as soon as they hear this one being moved they know they are in for a treat. If you want it so it doesn't rock around and you are using batteries you can remove the bottom half circle and just have it on your floor which would be great for smaller kittens. 

It comes with a USB cord for plugging in and a battery compartment for use with batteries. It comes with a cat nip ball to keep them returning for more which is hidden in the bottom of the unit. It has two balls that the kitties can bat at, a feather-like item that goes in and out of the holes like a peek-a-boo effect, and then a fluttering butterfly. They send you an extra butterfly if one breaks down. 

There are three settings, one just for the butterfly, one just for the peek-a-boo effect, and a setting that alternates between them. 

You can see my kitties playing with it below.

Currently, this is marked down to 11.49 which is a steal but the price is subject to change at any time. Click on the product below or the link here. 

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

One Question a Day for couples.

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 Our lives from the beginning were all about our children but now we are officially empty nesters. Even after almost 35 years together we still learn something new about each other almost daily. The journal, One Question a Day to Stay Close & Curious, A Couple's Journal for a Lifetime of Love by Gina Senarighi is a great book for new couples at any time during their relationship. Actually, this would be nice to do at the beginning of a marriage and then updated throughout the marriage to see how the responses might differ over time.

Our marriage has always been pretty strong but it took work. We have had our lows, highs, and tons of twists and turns over the years. We only had a short time of being a couple before children started coming along and even though we took time for date nights regularly we always found ourselves talking about our children. Not much has changed but not every living minute is about our children now.

Now we are filling in all of the little details and learning more about each other. For instance, when Easter came around I knew my husband always liked his big solid chocolate Easter Bunny which was always in his basket growing up and I know he loves pretty much anything Reese's but other than that he always got what our children got. I didn't really know his favorite candies. These are conversations we have now.

Yes, most of our lives are still taken up with our children and grandchildren but we are discovering new things about each other every day. This journal takes us to places where we might not have taken the time to talk or write about but now we have a space for them. There are many we have spoken to each other about but have never taken the time to actually write down in words that we could come back and read at a later time or leave for our children to read when we are gone.

 

For me being diagnosed with 3rd Stage Colon Cancer was a big eye-opener. My whole life had revolved around my family which is not a bad thing, but I really never took time for myself other than a bath while reading, and that was OK, but now that I have time there are things I want to still do in my lifetime and that includes staying close to my husband and leaving something behind for our children. Money, we don't have but knowledge that I can do.

If you are interested in this book check it out below. 

Great Gift Idea for mulitple people

One of the best things we did this year for Christmas that I would like to share with you was buying an assortment of candles. We got a great deal during the candle deal from Yankee Candle. The best part is that they were all shipped to my home. We still do most of our shopping from home. 

We placed them all on the desk in our living room and each of my children's family chose two scents they would like to take home with them as a gift and the rest we would use throughout the year to come. I think this went over well and I am going to do this again.

I did have a little insight into the scents they liked so I chose around those and then ordered some new to us scents. I loved a few that were chosen so we will be ordering those scents again. I know this is late but an early idea for next year for those who have multiple families to gift to. 

Glocusent 16 LED Rechargeable Book Light review

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I was recently able to try out the Glocusent 16 LED Rechargeable Book Light which was sent to me for my honest opinion. Honestly, I love it. It is rechargeable, you can change the light setting with a click, and it will last 80+ hours although I can't vouch for the 80 hours yet as I haven't read that many non-digital books to know if it lasts that long yet. 

This is great for both children and adults. You won't bother your partner while reading, it is great for camping or even for the kids who love to read when they are supposed to be sleeping. I was one of those kids for sure. I love that it helps me read without having to ask someone to help turn the light on at night as I am currently battling colon cancer and this gives me some independence on my down days so that I can do something for myself without having to depend on other so much during the night. 

What I think would make this better is a timer that blinks the light when it will turn off for those parents who don't want their kids staying up all night, as a reminder, it's time for bed you can read more tomorrow. 

If you are interested check it out at Glocusent 16 LED Rechargeable Book Light. 

Not just any Pop it

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So the girls and I mean all of the girls in our family love these Pop Its, so when I saw it in a game form I knew we needed to have one so I placed it on my wishlist. Low and behold one of the companies wanted a review so who am I to turn them down when I knew this would give some cheer to two of my favorite girls. Luckily my granddaughter was over this weekend so they both were able to open this surprise together. They were really excited, just check out my video here.

Years ago we had a small circle pop it game, you know way before they became popular. Now we see them everywhere but there are only a few that caught my eye. This one is one of them. I am so glad they are enjoying the time together while playing a new game together.

Being only three years apart they still like a lot of the same things which makes gift-giving really easy. I like easy and I love making them smile.

If you are interested in this pop it game which included a set of dice check it out below.

Eternal Spring

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My mother was a big collector of religious knick knacks, but once my father and her passed I wanted to decorate their gravesite with both religious and colorful items they loved in real life. With that being said I found these cute little birds from Gaidenly I thought would be a perfect addition to their grave site. They also make great decor for your home, garden, potted plants etc. 

I think it will give their gravesite a little touch of eternal Spring, and a pop of color in the middle of the cold days of winter. The next time I get to visit my parents I will drop them off, but until then they are hanging around here on our entertainment center with my very own small collection of knick knacks. 

They are well made resin pieces that measure about 2.8x2 inches each. I love how you can use them all at one time or split them up around your home for a little bit of surprise here and there. A great idea would be to buy these and when giving a gift of a plant to for say a housewarming party you could stick one inside the pot for a little extra pizzazz. 

You can find this four piece bird set at Amazon.

The Cutest Thing Ever

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Do you ever just stumble upon Something that tickles you pink? Well I do and sometimes those things just need to bought. That is what I felt when this I found this cute bike accessory. It is just so stinking cute. I couldn't resist. I know my daughter loves it too. Even though it feels like it has been raining forever, she couldn't wait for the first sunny day to put it on her bike and show it off a bit. The rubber duck was easy to strap to her bike and the color we chose really pops with the color of her bike. Now she has a trusty friends to go along with her while biking around our neighborhood.

Now tell me this isn’t the cutest bike accessory ever. He squeaks and lights up. He can have his helmet up or down and even comes with an optional gun. Ok so they had me at rubber ducky. Sometimes I am just pulled in for the sale on sheer cuteness or originality, and I think this hits both. They have six different helmet covers to pick from so you can match it up with your bike colors. It also comes with adhesive so you can attach it to the dashboard in your vehicle. Who doesn't need a little sidekick to bring some joy to their lives? I think this is whimsical and affordable. Bring a little cuteness into someone's life. 

Great for gift giving, bringing someone cheer, or just as a fun gift to surprise someone with. Coming from a first person shooter game family we find this has cuteness overload.

Most Popular Fidget Toy of the Year

 

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We are always on the look out for new games and toys that stand the test of time. These push pop fidget toys hit the mark. They are very popular right now and I was super excited to find this two piece set for my daughters. Years ago we bought a game that was a silicon circle with the pop-its inside. Even though we have played the game many times and had to replace it, I am pretty sure the kids spent more time just popping the little circles over and over again. 

Toys like this are great for kids who have autism, have adhd, or just need something to keep their hands busy with while they are learning. My daughter was remote learning this year and she would drive me crazy popping ours over and over again. I know it relaxed her when the teachers would frustrate her but for me it was just too much. 

This set has one side that is louder and the other side is quite. I love it and think I can deal with that because there would be a pause between the louder side and the more quite side. I love the colors so that one could be given to each of my two girls still at home. The set comes with a rainbow and marble colored fidget toy and it is surrunded by a hard plastic.  Check it out here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0913FTKPQ .

Perfect for Playing in the Sand

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Summer is just around the corner and Sand box season has already begun. As a mom and grandmother I love sand and water toys, so finding this cute 7 piece seemed like the perfect gift for my grandchildren. Even though this toy will be for them to take home to enjoy I am feeling good about this item. It is made from flexible food grade polypropylene, is non toxic, and eco friendly. 

Over the 30 years of being a parent and child care giver I have seen many toys come and go in our home. Some had staying power and some were here just for a season, or gone in a very short time. We have many favorites that stood the test of time and we have even replaced once worn out because of how good they were. 

For sand toys for instance many times they start off all bright colored and end up fading to a muted color of their orginal self. This set has a sort of aged look to them that I really like. Of course I don't know for sure but I don't see these fading like other toys on the market, and I am excited to see how they fair over the years. 

If you are interested in them check them out below. 

How To Tie A Tie with Houlife

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Today we are here to tell you about the Houlife 100% cotton ties. You can buy them one by one or in sets up to 5. We have the 5 piece set it Mixed2.

One Summer Activity I know the girls are going to love.

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With summer coming and our family not being comfortable with everything opening up yet as well as the news we will be having our granddaughter most of the summer, I needed to come up with some activities to keep the girls busy in between when they run out of ideas. This girl’s creator braiding bracelet kit is one of the many awesome items we picked out. My daughter gave it a whirl today so we can make sure we know how to use it when the time comes.

Her results were OK for the first time using it. We didn't finish it off with the cutting or glue due to the fact she wants to practice to get better at it. My daughter is 13 and really needed a lot of help with this at first but once I showed her two rounds she was able to do the rest on her own. Like I said she wants to practice a bit more to get the string tighter and neater for the finnished look. 

She did say that this will be a good item to use during the summer with my 10 year old granddaughter and I am sure a few of her friends. 

The kit does say it makes up to 12 bracelets. With that being said this one took took two strings which leaves just enough to make 10 bracelets if you only use one color per bracelet so keep that in mind and maybe pick up some extra elastics and string. I see these being made with embroidery floss, paracord rope, yarn, and other simular strings which we have on hand and can be picked up easily at your local craft store or on Amazon. 

We love that this came with a bag so everything can be stored inside and grabbed at a moments notice for some bracelet making fun. I personally see this being used for years to come as long as I can continue to provide the elastics and string. Sadly right now there were no refill kits but maybe in the future they will have those available. 

Here is a picture of everything you get in the kit. 

 

Check it out below. 

The Ultimate Laptop Bag

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We are forever trying to find the perfect bag to suit everyone's needs and this one is pretty high on our list. This is a great backpack for toting your computer or computers around with you. Think remote learner, distance learner, college, work, home. It needs to make transporting your computer equipment easy while keeping high priced items safe. 

In reality I could transport my full size laptop computer, my daughters smaller school notebook computer, and both of our tablets safely all in this one bag and still have room for books, pens, pencils, and notebooks. If you hook up a power bank to the included built in USB port you have charging ability for tablets and cell phones which is nice to have on hand as well. 

This bag from Insavant is also water resistant and considered Anti Theft. It has so many extras side pockets for water bottles, a hidden anti theft area, key ring, sunglass holder, card compartment, luggage strap, etc. I love that the bag is padded so that you don't have a hard computer jutting into your back, which protects both wearer and items inside. This bag has just about everything you need to get your computer and other items from point A to point B safely. Check out all of my pictures below.

I really could go on and on about this bag. One of the other things I love about this bag is the padded handle, this is very important to me so that I can grab and go. Even though I love this bag dearly my daughter has called this for her own unless my husband takes it first. I guess we might need to get a few more to make everyone happy. Like I said there is a lot to love with this bag. 

 

Learning while playing Games

There is no secret our family loves to play games. As a parent I also like learning games, and games that can be played in different ways like this Magnetic fishing game. I absolutely love that it comes in a package that can house the whole game in between play. First of all it is a fishing game where you can fish for numbered magnetic fish. This can be changed up many ways, as well as a set of alphabet magnetic letters. Use them in the game on a magnetic board etc. 

Then you have the card set which teaches animals, the alphabet, and matching. I love the simple design and how much I can see this being played with by my grand children. 

Check them out at my affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Road Trip Anyone?

Sponsored


Going on a Road trip can be lots of fun, but not always for the little ones who will be seated for long periods of time in between all of the exciting places they will see. Having items on hand that keep them busy, happy, and excited about what is ahead is a great idea. Treats, road games, music, videos, and books like this one from i See Me. My U.S.A. Road Trip book is just the right thing to break out just before the trip to show all of the wonderful places you might see.

The i See Me My U.S.A. Road Trip is a personalized book which makes it super special to the child or children receiving it. Filled with pages about each state and of course pictures of the child and their name throughout the book. The book alone gives a great way to pass the time by counting how many times they see their picture, their name, or even a place they are visiting. Not to mention the learning aspect of it. Learning is always best when it is fun and can be applied to real life events.

If your trip is already planned and the places are in this book you can mark those areas with a sticky note or flag so the child knows this is a stop during the trip. The map which you can choose to add on if you wish is a scratch off map so they can scratch off which states they have been too. I know when my daughter received hers she got really excited because she will be traveling to two brand new states when she goes off to camp, that I haven't even been too yet, and they were in this book so it made it more real to her.

My U.S.A. Road Trip is a uniquely personalized storybook adventure that teaches children about state names and monuments. In the book, the child receives a personalized driver's license, hops in a magical car, and drives across America to visit each US state. An entire spread is dedicated to the child's home state, with fun facts about the state bird and state flower! The book can be personalized with a child's name, gender, skin tone, hair color, birthdate, and home state. It can also be photo personalized--upload a photo of your child's face, to be incorporated into the main character. This book introduces basic US geography to young children, and encourages curious minds to explore and discover. 


The i See Me My U.S.A Road Trip book can be found here by itself or here with a scratch off Map as well.

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Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with i See Me. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

For those who need to get rid of a car fast try out WeBuyJunkCarsFast.com