Color Blanks Review

Recently we were given a few of the color blanks figures  from RoseArts (two of them, thank goodness) to try out.  I was very excited to let the boys try them because they have been very creative lately and I am not, and it seemed like a nice project for a Saturday, and so last Saturday I let them try them out. 

Color blanks are little figures that come with stickers and markers. You can create anything you want. There are endless possibilities on ways to personalize them and there are a bunch of ideas in this video http://youtu.be/nBkEcfqkqd8.  I gave Drew the "Doggy" Color blank.
This is what he made:

Jacob thinks he looks like a detective Doggy. (It's unfinished because of course he wants me to finish it.)

Jacob, being younger, I thought he should have the "Bunny" color blank which came with pastel colors. He made an Easter bunny.

Jacob named him "Gleeky". The colors are light, but they are on there, it's hard to tell in the photo.

The boys LOVED the color blanks, and love their little guys. They had a great time working on them and it was a great craft project for me because I am terrible at coming up with craft projects.

My biggest disappointment with the color blanks is the markers. They take a long time to dry and can turn out a little "stripey" looking. The box says to wait 24 hours to let them dry, and you should wait at least that long to touch them (that's a hard thing for a 3 year old to understand). Luckily, even though the markers are permanent, they seemed to wash off our hands easily enough. Even so, this is definitely a full parental supervision craft project with the markers.

I would buy the color blanks again, but maybe wait until I am alone with Drew, as Jacob was a little young in my opinion for the color blanks. (The box said 3 and up, but the website says 6 and up, and the website age is more realistic). I really like that their arms move, and that they come with decorative stickers and glue blobs to use to attach things of your own. You could get really creative. I could definitely see my boys coming up with some crazy ideas of what to attach to "Gleeky" and "Dectective Doggy" so I will be holding onto the glue for now. Next time I would buy one for myself though, as neither boys took any of my suggestions on coloring! I think the price of $9.99 for two figures plus stickers and markers, is actually a pretty good deal. Just make sure you know what you want to create first.


Buy It: Color Blanks

Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this review other than receiving the two test products to try out. The written opinions expressed here are my own and no one elses.

Wordless Wednesday- A Battle of Wills

My Sing-along Songs

Here are some of my most well known and loved songs, you know back when I had time to memorize songs by listening to them over and over again, and when I could listen to anything I wanted. Some songs are just too much fun to sing, despite the lyrics.

My Mom should be so proud of me.  

*Warning: Most of these are NSFW.

Bust a Move, Young MC My sister and I made up a dance with costumes and everything to this one, for absolutely no reason, so memorization was essential to "pull it off". Luckily this is on VHS, so it can barely be watched anymore.


Sir Mix a Lot, Baby got Back This was my jam back in middle school. I'm not embarrassed at all by this statement.



Let's talk about Sex, Salt N' Pepa I learned more from this song than in my sex education class.



Good Vibrations, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Awww, Mark Wahlberg, you will always be Marky Mark to me.


Gone, Daddy Gone, The Violent Femmes This was the beginning of my "alternative" phase that included wearing my Dad's old electric blue Bell bottoms and a variety of flannels, overalls and tie dyed shirts- Stop judging me! I looked cool!


It Was a Good Day, Ice Cube I can thank my friend Marta for this one, as she repeated the lyrics  all of the time Freshman year.


Regulate, Warren G F. Nate Dogg RIP Nate Dogg. Also- regulators! Mount up. (Of course I sang it MOUND up back in the day). When I finally saw Young Guns with Mr. B, I learned the error of my ways.


Fiona Apple, Criminal Fiona, where did you go? Come back!! Truthfully I memorized almost all of the words to her songs, but I would Criminal is the most well known song by her.


What songs do you know by heart? List them in the comments below! (Especially any embarrassing ones.)

The Incredible Shrinking Woman

I am one of those people that feels weird talking about this- I have been losing weight. Slowly, but gradually. I guess that is the way you are supposed to lose it, but since I don't like to do anything at all slowly, especially losing weight, I am trying to be patient. I usually give up at the point and admit defeat, but I have stayed the course through the rough patches (gaining one of the weeks was tough, but I kept at it). It's working; in a little over 2 months I have lost almost 20 pounds.

Of course, losing all this weight that I have been carrying since I became a Mother makes me just that more aware of what having children did to my body. My stomach is still so doughy, no matter the amount of sit-ups I do, and I am losing my butt first because it's the only place where I want to stay the same size. My hips are different too, where I used to be stick straight, I now have curves. It's not a good or a bad thing, it's just different. I may never wear a bikini, but that's okay, because I feel better, lighter and I look healthier. I don't have to be perfect. (I do have to remind myself of this fact now and then.)

So that is where I am at, wondering about this new post-children body that is emerging and trying to adapt to my new "lifestyle" (it's not a diet, it can't be a diet or it will never last), and trying to be patient, because that has been key. Slow, healthy lifestyle changes with occasional "cheat" meals (hey, I'm not perfect) coupled with exercising. That is what is working for me, and I will keep working on it. Patience really is a virtue, but I am tired of giving up on myself.