Giant Microbes Giveaway

Giant Microbes are a really fun way to learn about all things microbial! They are available in vinyl action figures, plushies, and Christmas ornaments to name a few. Giant Microbes are unique and memorable gift ideas that help the recipient to learn about different illnesses and viruses.

The Sublime Media Connection had the pleasure of reviewing several unique items from this line and we have a wonderful giveaway in store for you! One lucky reader is going to win a Common Cold Plush, Petri Dish and Dispenser.

Belinda of Pinterest Fanatic reviews the Giant Microbes Christmas Tree Box. To learn more and read her review click here.

Melissa of Melissa Say What? Reviews Chicken Pox by Giant Microbes, check out her review to learn more about this microbe by clicking here.

Brittany of SAHM&TW reviews Krill. Find out what her little one thinks of this unique item by clicking here.

April of Saving For My Family reviews the Heart Warming Mini Microbes Box. To read her review and learn more click here.

Sara shares her review on the Sublime Media Connection blog. She reviews the Noodle. To learn more read her review here.

Do you feel lucky? Enter to win a Giant Microbes prize pack containing a Common Cold Plush, Petri Dish and Dispenser via the rafflecopter form below.

This giveaway was brought to you by the Sublime Media Connection. The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for the delivery of this item, as that is the responsibility of the sponsor. If you have any questions regarding the delivery of the prize please email pr@sublimemediaconnection.info.

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Keep Your Child's Eyes Safe with Real Kids Shades~Review, Coupon and $250 GC Giveaway!

Everyone on my husband's side of the family has really bad eyes.  I am so worried about my daughter's eyes and try to do everything I can to protect them.  She really likes wearing sunglasses but as soon as I turn my back she takes them off.  We drive to my mother's house every six weeks or so and it takes over two hours.  There is no way that I could reach back and find her sunglasses every time she takes them during the trip.  Then I heard that I was going to be able to try a new kind of sunglasses for kids called Real Kids Shades.  

About Real Kids Shades:

"Real Kids Shades are specifically constructed to fit kids’ faces and their lifestyles. Our My First Shades line was designed with the help of a pediatric ophthalmologist for optimal fit, comfort and safety. All our sunglasses are made exclusively for infants and children in kid-approved styles that are shatterproof, impact-resistant and adaptable to sports and active lifestyles. 

Kids need to be active, outdoors and in their sunglasses. Made to be worn year-round, our banded frames fit just as well under ski helmets as they do bike helmets. Our patented neoprene bands with Velcro® adjustable closures keep them secure and in place on the court or in the yard. And they’re tough. Real Kids Shades are made to be outgrown before worn out."

 My daughter received the My First Shades in Pink Daisy.  My daughter wears these everywhere!  She is wearing them as I type.  

She loves them!

Wearing them around the house

Back of the sunglasses

I really like that they are not toys but actual functioning sunglasses.  They provide 100% UV protection (both UVA & UVB) and are shatter proof.  Anyone with a toddler understands how important it is to buy products that can take a beating.  These sunglasses will last a really long time.  The strap on the side is easy to adjust but still manages to hold the glasses on her face.  I plan on keeping her pair in the car for those long car rides.  My favorite thing about her new shades is that she likes them! They seem like they are really comfortable on her and she really enjoys wearing them.  

Find out more:

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They are also having a Back to School Giveaway! Click here to enter to win a $250 Visa Gift Card!

Stay Tuned because we taking part of a Real Kids Shades giveaway soon!

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Wholesale Halloween Costumes~Review

It's that time of year again! Time to start decorating for Halloween and looking for costumes.  I have always loved Halloween but I really get into it now that I have a daughter.  Last year, my daughter insisted on being Minnie Mouse.  Only problem?  I could not find a costume in her size anywhere!  I ended up driving an hour to a toy store after I called every store near us.  I knew that this year I was going order her costume online.  

WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com has a huge selection of Halloween costumes for all ages.  I had such a hard time deciding on what costume to get my daughter. She sat on my lap and after a long chat, she chose the Little Red Riding Hood costume.  I think she chose it because her MeMaw calls her Little Red.  

The costume was really cute!  It was a little wrinkled but that is because she made me put it on her as soon as I got it came in the mail.  It was easy to get on and off, which is key with a newly potty trained child.  Last year, she complained the whole time we were trick or treating that her costume was itchy.  This one didn't seem to bother her at all.  My only issue was the size.  It said it would fit most 2t-4t girls.  My daughter is only 2t but it seemed too short.  She would definitely have to wear something under it.  Overall, it is a great pick for Halloween!  We even liked it so much that we bought a Tinkerbell costume for her too.

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Social September at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh - 1/2 Price Admission!

I just got an email about this great deal and wanted to share it you!

Social September at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh - 1/2 Price Admission! 

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh provides innovative museum experiences that inspire joy, creativity and curiosity. Our permanent exhibits are based on the philosophy of Play with Real Stuff, where real things and real processes challenge children's abilities and help them understand the world we live in, and themselves, better. Children can take off on fantastic flights of imagination and return to earth to build a boat, play in the mud, hammer a nail and change the tire on a car. To accommodate our youngest visitors, each exhibit includes an area with activities designed to meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers. We provide the highest quality exhibits and programs for learning and play. We are a partner and a resource for people who work with or on behalf of children.  

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR 1/2 PRICED ADMISSION

Giant Microbes~Review

My daughter is obsessed with germs lately.  Even since she saw the episode about them on Yo Gabba Gabba, I cannot get her to stop worrying about it.  So when I first saw Giant Microbes I thought that it may help her understand.  Giant Microbes are plush giant sized germs, cells and more!  My daughter and I sat down in front of the computer and looked through their online store.  We talked all about germs but she ended up choosing the Krill.

She insists on calling it her Shrimp.  But I think that it did help her understand that there are really small things everywhere we cannot see.  I think that these would be great for teaching in everywhere from preschool to high school biology class.  They come in Critters, Diseases, Aquatics, and more.  

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I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Little Cosmetics Pretend Makeup~Review and Giveaway

Over the last month, my two and a half year old has been driving me crazy about make-up.  I started looking everywhere for makeup for toddlers.  The only thing I found was little lip glosses that my daughter promptly got all over the place.  When I saw Little Cosmetics I knew I found the answer!

About Little Cosmetics:

"Little Cosmetics is pretend makeup that doesn't look pretend! It looks just like real makeup and is perfect for toddlers and little girls. Little Cosmetics looks very realistic, but it doesn't show up on skin. Pretend play at its best - all the imagination and no mess! 

Little Cosmetics is the perfect solution for the little girl that always wants to use mom’s make-up, but won’t be fooled by fake plastic make-up. And the perfect choice for mom’s that want to keep their little girls mess-free."

I was able to try The Essential Set.  It includes:

~One Pressed Powder Compact
~One Iridescent Lip Gloss
~One Pink Blush Compact
~One Glitter Shadow Pot
~One Eye Shadow Palette
~Makeup Brush Set
~One Pink Organza Carrying Bag

This is honestly one of the best toys I have ever gave my daughter!  She plays with it every single day.  I was expecting it to be plastic but all the "makeup" was really soft and lifelike.  The lip gloss has a real working ball roller to it feels like you are really putting some on.  Everyone is our family has got their makeup done by my daughter, even the poor dogs!  My favorite part was that there is no mess!  She can do her makeup over and over again without me having to use a bunch of baby wipes.  The brush set was much better quality than I expected too.  They can withstand a lot of rough play.  The compact comes in three colors so you can choice the one that matches your child's skin tone. I would recommend Little Cosmetics to anyone who knows a little girl!

Playing with her compact

Eye shadow goes on your cheeks, right?

The makeup kits come in three different sizes and would be an excellent gift!

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Enter to win your own Essential Set below!

Healthy Child Healthy World!

Nordic Naturals will donate a portion of proceeds from selected Nordic Naturals children’s products to Healthy Child Healthy World during its Back-to-School promotion, which will run from August 1st   through October 31st. One dollar of every bottle sold of the following products will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World:

• Nordic Berries™ – chewy, sweet-and-sour multivitamins provide 100% of the daily value of the most essential nutrients
• Nordic Omega-3 Gummies™ – easy-to-chew, omega-3 tangerine treats for ages 2+
• Children’s DHA™ – chewable, strawberry-flavored omega-3s support brain and visual function for ages 3+
• Baby’s DHA – omega-3s for babies 5-35 lbs. with a measured dropper for easy addition to formula or food

One way to help your child stay healthy is to eliminate toxins in the home. For example, use natural cleaners while cleaning the high chair and play areas. Have you ever thought about the toys your children play with? Make sure those are cleaned thoroughly after they are sick! Germs are nasty little things that will hang around! 

Healthy Child states  their mission is:  "We ignite the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals." What I thought was interesting was it has a Action Kit by Erin Brokovich.  Remember the movie with Julia Roberts? Yeah, she played Erin Brokovich!  Learn more about it here.  

 Want to know more about these wonderful companies that are committed to helping our children?

Nordic Naturals- Based in Watsonville, CA, Nordic Naturals is committed to delivering the world’s safest, most effective omega oils to help provide the essentials of an extraordinary life. Distributing to more than 35 countries, Nordic Naturals offers over 150 products in a variety of flavors and formulations, all in line with leading standards for safety, efficacy and sustainability. By providing omega oil supplements for adults, kids, athletes and pets, Nordic Naturals helps everyone do more of what they love. 

Healthy Child Healthy World- Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Healthy Child Healthy World began in 1992 after five-year-old Colette Chuda died of a rare form of non-hereditary cancer linked to environmental factors. Playing a leadership role in one of the most important public health and environmental movements of the 21st century, Healthy Child Healthy World today ignites the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Healthy Child Healthy World is a national, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Join the movement!

Like Healthy Child on FB

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Follow Healthy Child on Twitter

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Look at some YouTube videos

Childrens Drawing DVD

In July 2012, Steps4Kids released its Steps4Kids to Draw DVD with approximately 90 minutes of video modeling to help emerging artists learn how to draw shapes, animals, people and things.    For children learning to draw shapes, the "Shapes" section shows how to draw a circle, square, triangle, rhombus/diamond, heart, cube and star.  Each shape uses colored graphics to help children learn to identify the shapes as well!  

For more advanced artists, the Steps4Kids drawing DVD shows how to draw animals that you may find on a farm, in the house, in the water or at the zoo! (20 total)  The "People" track shows how to draw 5 faces, introduces "profiles" and demonstrates how to draw basic clothing.  The "Things" track shows how to draw a bike, car, flowers and more!    Each section (Animals, People, Shapes and Things) has "all play" features that enable viewers to play multiple demonstrations at once but also enables viewers to select each item individually to practice their favorite items!

Let me tell you that B and I play DrawSomething everyday.  I draw like a kid, with stick figures and all.  Don't get me wrong because I love the simplicity of stick figures, it shows I am not an artist - that gene from my dad went straight to my brother.  Steps$Kids drawing DVD is pretty neat!  I know it is for children and it was a hit in this household.  To be honest I can now draw more than 40 things better than I could before watching this DVD  :) 

I know of this company because it has many education DVDs out for cursive writing, beginning writing, and multiplication.  They have won many awards for their DVDs and this one is on of the same.  It was recently named "DVD of the YEAR" (CreativeChild Magazine, Art Category).  Plus, with so many parents looking for stuff made within the US, this is - San Diego, California to be exact!  It sells around $24.99, which is a good price considering it is 1.5 hours long!  

To get discount codes and all the great stuff we want, check out their FB page :) 

The teacher in me wanted to point out that on their website they have printable worksheets, FREE!   The ones that could be used with the DVD are the Story Worksheets.  It has a box at the top to draw in and room at the bottom (lined) to write a story to accompany it!  I love it!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ah! Cows are taking over the world!

Cows are trying to take over the world! But how would these normally docile creatures do such a thing? Only Jimmy Tatley, a fourteen year old boy from Golthwaite and his faithful, clever sheepdog companion Flossy can find out and stop them in time to save everyone from becoming the bovine’s slaves. This is not without its perils and comical consequences however. Of course, they get a little help on the way from some unusual characters, the avians and not forgetting those mysterious agents ‘The Masters’. 

This book honestly did make me giggle. When I see a cow they are usually slowly chewing their grass and walking around at a leisurely pace.   Within the humor presented in the book, it made the reader have a great message when finished - You can always make a difference!  I loved that the bird, Robin, demonstrated over and over again that being small is a moot point when dealing with situations he was faced with.  I'm not entirely sure what was in the water at this small village, but it would be extremely interesting to see!  'The Masters' is an interesting group.  At first I was thinking it was just a general term for humans, but then was surprised when I read it.   It reminded me of the movies Cats v. Dogs and how they lived in a world that was completely secret from us.  This book is a great mix of humor, wonder, and action.  It is a piece of creative writing that children will love.  Many activities can be made out of it in a classroom too :)  Be sure to like the author on FB because he travels to many schools and most likely has many ideas to offer as well!

• Creative Writing activity dealing with another animal that they could see try taking over the world
• Study of descriptive words
• Book project dealing with art 
• etc.

 This was a great easy read and children of all ages can read it, with or without adult assistance.  Remember, if it is on an EReader they can automatically use the dictionary while coming across an unknown word.  Check out the Book Blog for more info!

Buy this book on Amazon  B&N  Kobo !

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Chalk City~Review and Giveaway!

Lately, it have been in the 90's every single day.  Since Boo is a pale skinned, red head it makes it hard to take her our in the sun for a long period of time.  This means no playground on really hot days.  Every time I take her it is like pulling teeth to get her to leave and it always ends in tears(most of the time hers, not mine).  But just because it is too hot to go there, doesn't mean I want to keep her cooped up all day.  It was one of those really hot days when I received my Chalk City activity set.  

The Chalk City® Activity Kit Includes:

• 1 Road Maker® Holds two pieces of sidewalk chalk and creates roadways or courses for kids to run or ride around on their favorite riding toy.
• 3 Road Sign Stencils: Between the Road Maker® chalk lines, kids can learn the rules of the road with the Stop Sign, Turn Left/Right, and Straight Ahead Stencils
• 3 Obstacle Course Stencils: Between the Road Maker® chalk lines, kids can enhance their outdoor physically active play time with the Jumping Jacks, Spin Left/Right, Hop Both Feet/Left Foot/Right Foot Stencils
• 20 pieces of Sidewalk Chalk
• 1 Activity Booklet Offers a variety of additional games and cities to enhance the Chalk City toy experience 

There are many ways to enjoy the set.  Boo is really into obstacle courses so I set one up for her in the driveway.  It was so easy to use that any child could do it.  Since our daughter is only two though, I did all the "work" for her.  She spent the afternoon hopping, spinning, and basically running amok.  Even Daddy joined in all the fun!  

You can find out more at their website: www.chalkcity.com

Want a chance to win your own Chalk City Activity Set? Enter below!

Tooth Tissues Review

I was one of those mother's that read every book I could get my hands on while I was pregnant.  In every single book, they stressed the issue with your child sleeping with a bottle in his/her mouth.  I swore that I would never let my daughter do it!  After I had her, I realized how hard that really is.  So we would let her sleep with her bottle but would try to brush her teeth while asleep.  Well, we tried that for about a week before I realized I valued her sleeping more than clean teeth!  I started using baby wipes to wipe her teeth off instead.  If I had only heard of Tooth Tissues!  Two parents, who happen to be dentists, had similar problem as I did with their child sleeping with its bottle. Here is their story:

"As parents, we know that is not always so simple. Our youngest daughter would fall asleep clutching her bottle of milk, whether it was the middle of the day or middle of the night. As dentists, we knew we couldn't just let the milk sit in her mouth while she slept. We had both seen too many cases of “early childhood caries” in our careers. We used our sleeves, t-shirts, anything that was around to wipe around her mouth. So we were inspired to create Tooth Tissues, easy to use, disposable, and effective wipes for cleaning your child's teeth and gums."

What exactly are Tooth Tissues?  They are an all bamboo wipe that is certified natural.  They are all natural, fluoride-free and also paraben-free! Now that my daughter is old enough to brush her own teeth, I wouldn't need to use these all the time.  However, these are great for random times when I feel her teeth need a quick refreshing.  She has been drinking grape juice more often now and I hate that her teeth look stained after.  So I just grab a Tooth Tissue and let her wipe her own teeth down.  This past week, she has been getting her molars and hasn't been doing a good job brushing because of the pain.  So after she's done brushing her teeth, I go over them again with a Tooth Tissue.  I love that I can ensure that her teeth are getting clean!   

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Carter's Watch the Wear GA

 

 Welcome to the Carter's Watch the Wear giveaway brought to you by Blog it Forward Media.

Carter's Watch the Wear was started by Henry Wood Carter. Under the name H.W. Carter & Sons (1890), Carter’s Overalls were sold and were very popular. The company expands to marketing boy’s overalls, as well as railroad overalls, painter pants, coats, jumpers and putting shirts eventually putting everything under the simple trademark “Carter’s”. As they quickly evolved into a company that you see now. They specialize in clothing for newborns, infants and toddlers. and Guess what? Their collection is entirely affordable for the family.

Well, Carter's Watch the Wear has paired up with the bloggers of Blog it Forward to offer one lucky winner a $200 gift card to their website! That's right, you can enter for a chance to win $200 worth of clothes for your little one. Just fill out the form below to enter. You can sign up for Carter's Watch the Wear e-mails! Do you want to be an affiliate? You can check out the details and sign up.

Just use the simple form below to enter! This giveaway is open to US and Canada. Must be 18+ to enter. Giveaway closes on July 31 at 11:59pm est. Only one person per household/IP address may enter. You only need to enter the giveaway on one of our blogs. Good luck!

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Caring Candies Giveaway

Are you looking for a healthy candy?  I always am.  I hate giving my little one a bunch of sugar filled candy.  But when everyone else is having some, it's hard to say no to her.


Caring Candies were developed in South Africa by a father and mother team out of sheer frustration at the lack of healthy treats available, and specifically with diabetics, hyperactive children, dieters & the health conscious in mind. Every candy is expertly handcrafted and consists of only natural ingredients. Nothing artificial has been added. They are gorgeous to look at, are tooth-friendly and kosher. Caring Candies are naturally flavored with either herbs or fruit essence and its amazing coloration is derived from either veggies, plants or herbs.

Review done by DonnasDealsAndMore


I had the opportunity to sample a variety of the Caring Candies and I was really impressed. When I read the back of the package for the mints these are the ingredients listed were isomalt (a natural sugar substitute made from beets), water, and natural peppermint flavor. That's it! And they had an excellent peppermint taste. I love that the lollipops are not overly sweet either. The munchkins love that they're allowed a treat and I feel good about what is in that treat :)


You can purchase Caring Candies on Amazon in their store: Caring Candies Amazon Store
And one of you lucky readers will be receiving a Caring Candies gift box, which will contain a variety of their products.
*Open to US only, must be 18 years or older

Plasma Car Giveaway!

Review done by DonnasDealsAndMore

Are you looking for something to entertain your kids for hours? PlasmaCar is it! My munchkins loved it. It's so easy to ride and it's powered by them. All they do is steer back and forth and they propel forward. Here's a video of Lily in action on it:



Not only is this car a best selling toy, it's unique in that it requires no batteries or pedals. It causes children to use natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, and friction. And I love that the munchkins want to play outside instead of watching tv and/or play video games.

As you can see they all had a blast! Even my husband and I rode it! It can hold up to 220 lbs!

One lucky reader will win their very own Plasma Car! All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter below! Good luck!
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*Open to US and Canada (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), must be 18 years or older

*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Blabs from a SAHM and TW(2B)! is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

FREE shipping from I See Me personalized books!

Starting today through July 5th, I See Me personalized booksis offering free shipping on ANY order!  Just use coupon code "yayforme" at the checkout.  Not familiar with I See Me? Check out a review we did for them last month here.


Also, don't forget this great offer:

Take 15% off My Very Happy Birthday Personalized Book for girls at ISeeMe.com with coupon code "happyday" at checkout. Expires 6/30/2012

Spy Party!

Looking for a neat birthday party theme?  

This one is all made for you!  Just add food and kids :)

Spy Party is basically a printable treasure hunt.  One nice thing about this printable is you can decide where you hide stuff.  Sounds personalized, right?   The hunt includes 10 clues that all have a different challenge.  Make sure you have people to help younger kids though because some clues require players to decode, "fingerprint analysis", and others are done in invisble ink. Do you remember on A Christas Story when Ralphie waits for his decoder?  Yes, this package also includes a printable decoder wheel!  So clever!  :)   

Think about having a Spy Party this summer!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Why I hate vacation..

Let me rephrase that; Why I hate coming home from vacation.  I just came home from our annual family beach trip with my mother and siblings.  It was a great time and little Boo had an amazing trip.  We swam, built sandcastles, flew a kite and even saw a sea turtle swim into the water.  It was probably the best beach trip we have been on as a family.  The bad part? Coming home!  Reasons I hate coming home:

1. Unpacking.  Is this clean or dirty?  Everything smells like sunblock so you end up washing everything anyway.  Did I really need to bring every hair care product I own? How did sand end up on every single thing I brought?
2. Cleaning the house.  My husband absolutely despises the beach so he never goes with us.  I know, who hates the beach that much? Robbie, that's who.  What does he love? Apparently making a huge mess!  I came home after being assured that he cleaned. To give him credit, the house did look clean.  Well maybe if you closed one eye and spun around until you were extremely dizzy.  Anyway, I have spent all morning cleaning and there is still so more much to do.
3. Boo misses everyone.  After spending the week with my whole family, she really misses everyone when we go home.  The week after we come home is always a really hard week for her.  It must be difficult for a two year old to understand why her beloved MeMaw isn't with her.
4. Going to the grocery store.  You leave with a kitchen filled of food.  You come how to nothing but a half loaf of bread and some tea bags.  No meat, no snacks, no drinks.  How did he manage to eat two jars of peanut butter?!

But I guess that this makes it worth it....

Party Games! ~Review & GA~

4th  of  JULY  PARTY Games

4th of July Party Games Packet has 20 great games -- Read more so you have tons of fun on Independence Day

4TH of July Party Game includes:

• Independence Day Trivia game
• Independence Day Mad Libs
• Patriotic Trivia match game
• Presidential Trivia game
• State Nicknames match game
• Beers of the World placemat game
• Nasty British Food trivia
• Military Trivia
• Baseball Trivia
• Survival of the Fittest party game
• Red, White & Blue Scavenger Hunt
• Happy 4th of July Left-Right
• American History trivia
• Independence Day Synonyms game
• Fast Food trivia
• US Beers match game
• Tangled Tongue Twisters Tango
• Pick the Party Stars
• Meet Your Match acting game
• The Color of Music

The games are downloaded via email. They're yours to keep forever, and reuse at future parties!

What we like most about this company and the 4th of July Packet is it includes both children and adult games!  Usually they are filled with games just for kids, but Python Printables includes stuff for us :) Who would not want to play the US Beers Match game, especially if you have all the beer to do it!  Now, that would be a great July 4th party - especially ending it drinking some American beer like Iron City or Coors Light!

Want your own game set?  Enter below! 

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.