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Friday, February 21, 2020

The Perfect Lego Display Shelves Reviewed

You've just finished the next great Lego masterpiece! Now what?

The biggest problem for any avid Lego builder is where to display their finished objet d'art. After spending hours, often days, building a Lego design, you're pretty excited and wish to set it in a place of distinction. Any open, flat surface is subject to being seized for Lego display.

Many Lego builders don't plan to play with their creations. They have the heart of an artist, or an art collector. For them, the completed project is a valued treasure that should not be tampered with or dismantled.

I have often felt like the Lego masterpieces that our son has made deserve to be placed behind museum ropes, never to be touched again. Perhaps an alarm should be set up to alert the household if anything, like a dog's tail, gets too close.

While ropes and alarms would be extreme, the reality is that we really don't want the finished Legos to be thwacked. I suspect all Lego builders have had the horrible experience of helplessly watching their masterpiece literally break to pieces. That experience is neither fun, nor desired.

Therefore, Lego treasures need a safe place for display. In my most recent search, I found a set of shelves that is perfect for Lego display!

Lego Display Shelves

Ameriwood Home Hazel Kids'
4 Shelf Bookcase, WhiteAs you know, Lego projects come in all sizes. Even mini-figures are extremely popular and collectable. Finding a way to display everything together, in a way that each piece can been seen well, is very challenging.

With standard shelves, the back of the sets tend to be blocked by the shelve just above them. An observer must contort their bodies, or hunker down to be able to see the complete finished Lego. Even then, you're not getting a really good look and are tempted to pick it up so you can really see it.

With the tiered shelves, it is no longer necessary to struggle to see the larger Lego completely without touching it. Only the bottom shelf sitting on the floor seems to be tucked away & slightly hidden from view. However, the front wood piece does keep feet from accidentally kicking whatever is displayed on that lowest shelf.

As you can see in the picture above, the shelves are deep enough for those Star Wars Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer, the Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator and tall enough for even the Imperial TIE Fighter. My son used the next shelf for a collection of Lego Rebel Starfighters, including Luke Skywalker's X-Wing. The very top shelf was reserved for the tallest in this group, his combined Jabba Palace & Rancor Pit set beside the Jabba Sail Barge.

It took us approximately one hour to assemble the shelves. The bookcase was very heavy broken down and in the box. Once they were assembled, the shelves were easy to slide across the carpet and into place.

Additional Ideas for These Bookcase Shelves

These shelves would be awesome for displaying anything. As a matter of fact, I am considering replacing the shelves in my craft room with several sets of these bookcase shelves. I love the tiered design that allows you to easily see the back of each shelf. They would definitely allow for better organization.

They would also be awesome for actual books! Like Legos, books come in many sizes. It would be so nice to have my bookshelves organized with the smaller books on the top shelf of the tiers and the largest on the bottom. Sure would make scanning the titles easier!

Last, but not least, the bookcase shelves would be great in a kids room for their toys. I haven't actually tried to climb on the shelves myself, but the tiered design would certainly make these shelves less likely to turn over.

Ameriwood Home Hazel Kids'
4 Shelf Bookcase, WhiteCheck Price

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The Perfect Lego Display Shelves Reviewed by:

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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Snorkeling in Hawaii Requires the Right Tools

Snorkel Mask Review - Snorkeling is a fun thing to do in the warm places of the earth!

Hubby and I just got back from a long overdue holiday to Hawaii. We had been planning to do this trip for our 50th anniversary, but decided to do it a little earlier, as both he and I are having mobility issues. So we celebrated 48 years together with this trip of a lifetime.

Image my own!

This was our beach on the Island of Maui. The hotel had a nice pool, but an even nicer beach. You could go out just a few feet and see hundreds of schools of fish. (Sheraton Hotel) There were even sea turtles seen by some of the guests, but we did not see any for ourselves at this location.

What made the snorkeling so much fun was the full face mask that my son had given to us to use.

So you are thinking to yourself, "Big Deal, a full face mask!" What's that all about?

Let me tell you, this full face snorkel is so much better to use than the traditional two piece mask and snorkel! I had only used the two piece equipment in the past and always had difficulty with swimming under water with my gear. Water always, always got into the tube and I ended up choking more than once. Not so with the one piece full face mask.

What makes this so much better?

Let's just say that technology has gotten so much better with these new face masks in several areas.

The breathing tube is fitted with a one way valve that let's you go underwater without getting a mouthful of ocean water.
The silicone around the face mask is comfortable and gives a really good seal, without pinching anywhere.
Anti-fog face lens lets you breathe normally and still maintain clarity in the water.
There is a mount on the breathing tube for a camera.
There is no need to clench your teeth together in order to hold the breathing tube securely.
With the full face mask, you can breathe through your nose or mouth.

Due to the comfort of the fit, you will be able to snorkel longer. Believe me clenching a breathing tube in your mouth is very tiring and can cause pain in the jaws. This problem is totally gone with this one piece face mask.

I just remembered another bonus with this one piece mask,

The full face mask wraps around your head differently than a traditional mask, thus giving you a much better field of vision. It really is comfortable and easy.

Many of these one piece face masks also come with an adapter on the tube to mount a GoPro (or similar) type of camera. So now you can snorkel with the fish and you can also take their pictures too!

Are You Snorkeling With Family?

Don't worry, these masks are made in sizes for children and for adults. Size is determined by the length of the face from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of the chin. Can you imagine your children being able to see the amazing creatures under the sea? I'm sure that the first time would be so much fun to see their reaction to things that they probably have only seen in movies or educational shows. It just isn't the same thing as seeing it with your own eyes. Once you have outfitted your family with these masks, I bet you will be looking for places where snorkeling is one of the best activities listed.

Now, I must add just a little addendum, facial hair can sometimes be problematic, so if you have a beard, you might want to check out the seal you get before you pack this mask into your suitcase.

full face mask for snorkeling and underwater adventures

Image from Pixabay

At the start of this article you will notice that I said both my husband and I were having issues with mobility. That is true on land, but in the water, we are both like little fish! I know there will be more snorkeling in our near future and hopefully I'll get better pictures to share with you too!

WildHorn Outfitters Seaview 180° GoPro Compatible Snorkel Mask- Panoramic Full Face Design on Amazon

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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

An Easter Egg Hunt For Jesus Book Review

More To The Holiday Than Eggs And Bunnies

I found a wonderful book to include in the little one's Easter Basket this year. An Easter Egg Hunt For Jesus will be a nice way to help her understand what we are really celebrating during this special holiday. Just like with Christmas, children need to know the real 'reason for the season.'

Egg Hunts are fun for kids
image courtesy of pixabay.com

I will admit that it is fun to color the eggs with the children and even more fun hiding those eggs for them to find. How often do we stop to let them know why we Christians celebrate the Easter Holiday? Depending on their age, it might be difficult to explain the Crucifixion and Resurrection in a way that doesn't disturb them . I remember my oldest coming out of her Sunday School class one Sunday near Easter being absolutely horrified over their lesson that morning. She was about 7 at the time but she had grasped all too well the story of Jesus on that cross. She kept saying, "They killed him, Mommy! Why would they do that?" I kept trying to explain that He had to die so that he could come back to life but I didn't do a very good job of it. I also remember thinking the teacher shouldn't have ended the lesson that day without telling the children at least something about what came next. Maybe she did, but my daughter couldn't get past the part of his death on that hill. I wish that I had been able to prepare her for that lesson with a book like An Easter Egg Hunt For Jesus. It hadn't been written, yet.

Forest of Faith Series

A series of books have been written to help children understand better, in ways that they can relate to, the meaning of both Christmas and Easter. The stories take place in a forest with adorable little animals who learn more about their faith. The books are written for ages 4 through 6 and have been illustrated beautifully by Lee Holland with the stories being written by Susan Jones. I really think they would be a wonderful addition to the library of books we have to read to our little ones.

Little Bunny is excited about the special egg hunt taking place in the forest as are all of the creatures who live there. In his enthusiasm to find the 'special egg' he makes a mistake that he believes has ruined the fun for his family and friends. They all come together to help him understand about the Resurrection of Jesus and the celebration over the new life that He offers to all of us. It is a sweet little story!

I recommend this book to share with the small ones in your family!

An Easter Egg Hunt for Jesus

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Reviewing the Muscle Max Massage Ball

The Muscle Max Massage Ball looks like a gimmick. It looks like an over-sized, hard rubber tennis ball with grooves. However, it is somehow much more than that and has helped me immensely with pain relief. After the first time I used one I knew I had to have one of my own.

Reviewing the Muscle Max massage ball on ReviewThisReviews.com

The Backstory

I have had migraines and a constant daily headache since the late 1980s. Relief has been elusive. And costly. The causes of migraines are as individual as each person that has them. In my opinion, that is what makes them difficult to treat. I have recently found pain relief with treatment and the Muscle Max Massage Ball by Epitome Fitness is a part of that treatment.

I have started treatment that has included chiropractic, dry needling, stim/heat treatment, stretching and exercise. With this treatment, I'm experiencing greatly reduced pain and actually have some days with no pain at all.

The Muscle Max Massage Ball

The physical therapy portion of my treatment began with the initial focus of loosening me up and increasing range of motion. The pain over the decades had kept me in a constant state of gritting teeth and shrugged shoulders. When the PT staff handed me this little rubber ball, I was so skeptical that I nearly laughed. But I did as instructed.

Standing against the wall, I placed the ball between my back/shoulders area and leaned back. As I moved my body up and down or side to side, the ball gave a deep muscle massage. I could adjust the pressure by how hard I leaned back. Finding a knot in my muscle, I pressed back and rubbed until I could feel the knot loosening.

It was so effective that I left my appointment and hopped on Amazon to order my own Muscle Max Massage Ball.

A few descriptive blurbs from the Epitome Fitness site:

high density rubber
trigger point massage grid
provides Myofascial Release therapy (MFR)
relaxes contracted muscles
improves blood circulation

The Epitome Fitness site also highlights a few different ways to use the ball.

Clearly, the Muscle Max ball is only one piece of my recovery. I would not say that it alone cured my migraines. I would say that it immediately feels good and I can feel improvement each time I use this strange rubber ball. With daily use, the tension in my shoulders has released dramatically and my range of motion has increased noticeably.

Important Note: I am not a doctor or physical therapist. If you have chronic pain or health problems, as always, consult your provider before beginning a new treatment or exercise.

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Sunday, February 16, 2020

White Cake with Coconut Topping - Another Family Favorite

White Cake with Baked Coconut Topping - A Family Fave

I don't know what's with me lately, but here I am again this week talking about another recipe my family loves.

As I mentioned in the other recipe articles, of course, I can cook, it's just not my favorite thing to do. What the heck, I'll keep the recipe sharing going until this phase wears off.

Here's this Sunday's recipe for y'all: It's the most amazing simple white cake evah!

Much like the simplicity of my previously shared recipes, this one only has six ingredients, and it's so good! It has a topping as well, so the total ingredients are actually nine. You've done the math, so I guess you've figured out that the topping has three.

We actually don't have a name for this recipe, we just call it 'White Cake with Coconut Topping.'

Cake Ingredients:

2 Eggs
1 Cup of White Sugar
1 Cup of Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Cup of Milk
1/4 Cup of crushed Walnuts (optional)

(Did you notice these ingredients are similar to making pancakes?)

Mix all the ingredients together, but don't put the walnuts in, they go on top. Don't over mix. Just get everything nicely blended. Pour the ingredients into an ungreased 8.1" square baking dish (2 quart). Sprinkle the top of the batter with the crushed walnuts. Bake the cake for approximately 25 minutes at 350 degrees. However, check it at 20 minutes.

The Topping

6 Tablespoons of Butter
10 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
4 Tablespoons of Cream or Canned Milk

Melt all ingredients in a pot on low heat. Once melted, add 1 Cup of baking coconut (the coconut you buy in the baking section of a grocery store).

Finishing the Cake

I usually poke about ten or so tiny holes into the cake using a toothpick. Pour the topping over the cake. Put the cake back in the oven under the broiler until the coconut on top turns into a nice golden color. It doesn't take long, watch it the whole time, don't walk away!

This is one of my favorite cakes. When my mother makes this cake, I cannot resist it. Although, yes I have resisted it for 10 months since I've been on Keto. Before my commitment to the Keto way of eating, I was all over this cake! I'll have to find a way to make this one Keto friendly.