Wicked Flying Monkeys Coffee Mug

Do you love Halloween? Are you looking for a new Halloween-themed coffee mug? Maybe the best one? Personally, I love many, many of the Halloween mugs out there but this one is definitely one of my favorites. It is just so darned attractive.

This is a Wicked mug, pun intended. I love the dramatic coloring of black on the outside and purple on the inside with a punch of green thrown in for good measure.

As a Wizard of Oz fan, I love the reference to that series and to the he hit Broadway musical called Wicked.

The mug is by Enesco, holds 16 ounces of your favorite hot and steamy beverage and it is both microwave and dishwasher safe.

Use it to warn your family and friends that if they do not behave, you may just have to call the flying monkeys.

I am surprised that it is still available on Amazon because it has been available for long time. However, as I write this, you can still buy this Wicked coffee mug by following this link.

Bubble, bubble,
toil and trouble.
Happy Haunting!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy this Wicked mug on Amazon.

Good Luck Care Bear Funko Pop Vinyl Figure

I am a Twitter user and in my feed regularly appear Funko Pop vinyl figures like this flocked Good Luck Care Bear. I have never written about a Funko figurine before and there's not much one can say about him in terms of a blog post other than that I think he is super adorable. He stands 3 3/4 inches tall and reminds me of St. Patrick's Day. He'd make a fine addition to your decor when you are celebrating Ireland, leprechauns and St. Patrick's Day.  You can find him on Amazon by clicking right here. His release date is March 20, 2018.

Do you collect Funko Pop figures? Do you think this little guy is too cute?

Happy
St. Patrick's Day!
Brenda

More St. Patrick's Day Items:

St. Patrick's Day coffee mugs.
Family friendly St. Patrick's Day movies, a list.

Cranium Board Games

Family Friendly Cranium Board Games

Our introduction to Cranium games was in 2001 through a family board game called Cranium Cadoo. Cranium Cadoo is the child-friendly version of a game called Cranium and our family really enjoyed the challenges of the different types of activities that had us "thinking, creating, giggling, grinning, and laughing" when we played.

Since then, quite a few more Cranium games have been made. Some of them are still available at retail outlets and others are out of production and must be sourced more creatively by turning to online resellers.

This page is intended as a resource page on which you will find a brief discussion of a few Cranium-made games as well as help for sourcing them. Be forewarned that some games that are out of production go up in price. If you are seeking a new copy of one of the retired games, you will very likely have to pay more that you might expect but even a used copy of a game that is very popular and no longer being made will cost more than the original retail price.

Be sure to check out the Cranium games available in my eBay store by clicking right here.

Cranium's Balloon Lagoon: The Four-In-One Carnival Game For Kids

Cranium Balloon Lagoon: The Four-In-One Carnival Game For Kids is a carnival themed game in which you have fun at each of the four carnival games before the music comes to an end. This game is recommended for 2 to 4 players aged 5 and up. Find it on Amazon here.

Cranium's Cariboo Island: A Magical Treasure Hunt

Cranium's Cariboo Island takes you and your children on a magical treasure hunt during which you must match colors, letters, shapes and numbers. Once you have found enough treasure you can unlock the treasure chest. This game is recommended for 2 to 4 players aged 3 and up. Find it on Amazon here.

Cranium Cariboo A Magical Treasure Hunt Game (Extended Version)

Cranium Cariboo, the extended version, is a game in which you and your children explore the island called Cariboo and find castles, boats and balloons. On each play, your children get to match drawings, unlock doors and work toward find treasure. This version of the game features six rubber balls and is recommended for 2 to 4 players aged 3 and up. Find it on Amazon here.

More Cranium Games

Cranium features 14 activities with various types of activities including some for the actor, the artist, the data hound or the wordsmith. It is intended to allow everyone to be able to have success according to his or her strengths. This version of Cranium is intended for individuals 16 years old and up.

In Cranium’s Family Fun Game you get to sculpt, flip frogs and perform stunts. You complete many different activities as a team in order to get four in a row. Cranium Family Fun is recommended for individuals aged 6 and up.

Cranium, WOW is the upgraded version of the original Cranium Game. In this game you move around the game board to get to Cranium Central. You have 15 activities, including sketching, sculpting, puzzling, acting and humming, to complete and 600 cards. It is recommended for individuals 13 and up.

In Cranium Disney, you play the game of Cranium on a Disney-themed board. Once again it has opportunities for the artist, singer, actor or speller to shine, this time with Disney and Disney/Pixar activities like identifying things that a Princess might say or remembering how Aladdin’s song A Whole New World goes. Cranium Disney is recommended for individuals aged 8 and up.

In Cranium Whoonu, you spend time getting to know your friends and family and discover that you don’t know everything about them. It is recommended for individuals 8 to adult and is good for team building and for use as an icebreaker.

That is just a partial list of the Cranium games available. You can see ALL of Amazon's Cranium games by clicking right here.

Have you played a Cranium game? - Would you recommend it?

See you
at the gaming table!
Brenda

More Games:

If It’s Not a Wham-O, It’s Not A Frisbee
The Days of Wonder Ticket To Ride Strategy Board Game Reviewed
Harry Potter Clue Reviewed 
Jenga Stacking Games
Jumanji The Board Game

Author's Note: Originally published elsewhere in 2014.

Create A Christmas Coffee Mug Tradition

It started when my boys were grown up. The Christmas coffee mug tradition that is. Each year at Christmas I put out a selection of Christmas-themed coffee mugs for the month of December and whenever someone has a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, they can pick the mug that speaks to them.

You do know that mugs speak to you, don't you? They can speak from the perspective of image, color and even shape and size.  Personally, year round I am enamoured of a mug that is small at the bottom and wider at the top and has a nice glazed surface. I broke it and it took six months to find a replacement but I digress.

What's your favorite coffee mug like? Do you have a mug for Christmas? Or maybe a Christmas coffee mug collection?

Here on this page, I am sharing TEN  fantastic Christmas-themed coffee mugs that I found on Etsy.  Etsy is an online retailer of mostly handmade and vintage items and yes, there are a large number of artists on Etsy creating beautiful coffee mugs.

To start with, I love these camping-inspired coffee mugs, which are available in many sentiments including Warm and Cozy and Let's Snuggle as well as Get Toasted, Naughty and Nice. There's one for everybody. But do not be fooled. These mugs are stoneware and they are not metal. You can find them in the Modern Arrow's shop by clicking here.

Next up are three gorgeous mugs from Walking Pottery. Walking Pottery has a large selection of legged coffee mugs including the Santa Claus, elf and angel ones shown below. They are handmade earthenware and they are available in an assortment of colors.  You can find them all on Etsy by clicking here.

If you would rather have a set of matching mugs that are simple and classic, you might consider some hand thrown pottery mugs like these cranberry red ones from JK Anderson Ceramics.  You can find them on Etsy by clicking right here.

Next up is this Grinch Who Stole Christmas themed coffee mug that reads, "Maybe Christmas, he thought doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more." Find this mug in Giftsology's Etsy store by clicking here. It's an obvious choice for anyone who loves the classic Christmas story.

I know I am not alone in loving a good Hallmark Christmas movie or Hallmark movie in general. Here's a coffee mug from The Burlap Wine Sack celebrating Hallmark and Christmas. It is available in a couple of designs including this one that reads, "Hallmark Movies and Snuggle." A second one that will make the right woman smile reads, "I need a Hallmark movie husband." Find these Hallmark mugs on Etsy by clicking here.

Finally, here are a series of mugs that can be personalised for your child. They include Rudolph, an elf and Santa Claus.   Bizzy Bee also has cute Mommy and Daddy Elf mugs. Find them all here on Etsy.

I hope I have managed to at least get you thinking about a special Christmas-themed coffee mug either a single one or to complete collection!

Brenda

Quick Links:

See all of Etsy's new, used and vintage Christmas-themed coffee mugs.

Haunt Your House with Lego's Haunted House Set 10228

The Lego Monster Fighters Haunted House (10228)

Dare to enter this haunted mansion at your own risk...

Halloween is hugely popular in my house as it is throughout North America. Who would not love to decorate with this Lego version of a haunted house? Personally, I love the idea. I love the fact that this Lego set is a seasonal decoration that can be built and rebuilt by Lego enthusiasts year after year after year.

Your first impression of this haunted house, even before it is out of the box, will be WOW. It is a very impressive piece, a large set in a big box. The house is an old mansion that is falling apart at the seams.

To enter this haunted house you must first muster the courage to pass through an old 'wrought iron' gate, LOL.

Once you have managed to summon the nerve to cross the rickety step and open that gate and then throw wide the front door you will find a home, well a home for ghosts and vampires and such, with three floors and a roof to explore. The house opens wide in the same manner as a dollhouse so that you can easily access the details inside.

In the kitchen, you can become the zombie chef and whip up a meal on the antique stove. Then you can write us a letter in the Vampyre’s office but beware there are no computers in this office and you will have to post your letter via good old-fashioned snail mail. Perhaps you will take a moment to sit in front of the fireplace and appreciate the home's ghoulish décor before exploring some more. You can access the second floor by pulling a lever in the chimney to release the stairs and continue your adventure in this detailed Lego set.

Lego's Haunted House, set 10228, is a fairly big set, which I have read is or at least was at time of release, Lego's 15th largest set. It contains 2064 pieces and is recommended for individuals aged 14 and up. Of course, it is a great set even for adult Lego builders or for families with older children to build together.

If you are a fan of Lego and Halloween, you will want to consider adding this magnificent Lego set to your collection. Alternatively, if you know someone who is a big fan of Lego and Halloween, this haunted house is most definitely a top-rated gift idea.

The Minifigures 

What is not to love the Lego minifigures that are Included in this set? Within that box, you will find six of them: two glow-in-the-dark ghosts, a vampire and his bride, a zombie chef and a butler.

Quick Facts & Technical Details

I think that Lego has done a brilliant job of creating this haunted house. The technical details that you might like to know include:

This set is number 10228.

It was released in 2012.

It is the largest set in the Monster Fighter series.

It has 2064 pieces.

It has six rooms and a folding staircase.

Those rooms include a kitchen, an office, a bedroom, a potions room and a music room.

This set will measure just over 15 inches high, 9 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep when built.

It is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Includes 6 minifigures.

It originally retailed in the U.S. for $179.99.

Current Status

Lego has retired this set. Unfortunately for those that want one, this means the price has gone up significantly. I think it is fairly safe to say that given the popularity of both Lego and Halloween, in North America this is one of the most sought after sets.

A whopping 100 percent of those who reviewed this set for Lego recommend it saying things like "pure Lego fun" and "genius." Many even consider it to be one of the BEST Lego sets ever produced, which for Lego fans is a pretty strong recommendation, don't you think?

By way of warning, as I write this, this set is currently listed for $445 on Amazon. That price is likely to fluctuate on a daily basis and to spike in the months leading up to Halloween. You can check it out for yourself on Amazon by clicking right here.

Price comparison on eBay may or may not save you a few details. As I write this in July, 2017, the price for a new sealed box set starts at $349 plus shipping.  You can see what is available on eBay today by clicking here.

More Monster Fighter Sets

Lego created a number of sets in the Monster Fighter series. They have included the following sets, none of which are being produced by Lego anymore but most of which are available on Amazon by clicking right here.

The Swamp Creature, Set 9461 (70 pieces)
The Mummy, Set 9462 (90 pieces)
The Werewolf, Set 9463 (243 pieces)
The Vampyre Hearse, Set 9464 (314 pieces)
The Crazy Scientist & His Monster, Set 9466 (430 pieces)
The Ghost Train, Set 9467 (741 pieces)
Vampyre Castle, Set 9468 (949 pieces) Set 9468

In Conclusion

I think that this set is a pretty amazing Lego creation. How about you? Are you interested in owning it? Do you dare to enter Lego's haunted mansion?

Be sure to subscribe for future posts by using the subscribe button on the right because you never know what I might have in store for you!

Brenda


More Lego Reading

Check out the Haunted Mansion on Amazon.

Rare & Hard To Find Lego
This page features more hard-to-find and interesting Lego sets including the Volkswagen camper van, the shuttle expedition and the Grand Emporium.

The LEGO Taj Mahal: The Largest Lego Set
Another large set, the Lego Taj Mahal, set number 10189, is actually Lego's largest set with 5922 pieces.

Are Lego's Monster Fighters A Tool of Satan?
Lego's Lord Vampyre has been accused of being evil. What do you think?

Author's Note: Originally written for another site in 2014.

21 Insanely Awesome Things About Canada

Of course, I believe that there are WAY MORE than 21 insanely awesome things about Canada but I still enjoyed this video list put together by Talltanic in June, 2017. If you are Canadian, you will also likely know some of these facts but I bet there are some that you do not know, too.

I won't spoil the video for you if I bet that you have heard of our sweet export maple syrup, our prime minister and our quick use of the word sorry. However, did you know that Canadians have a longer life expectancy than many other countries, that we have the most expensive coin ever produced and that Santa Claus is from Canada?

Watch the 12 minute video for yourself and discover some more interesting facts about Canada:

Did you learn anything new about Canada?

Brenda

Tim Hortons Canada Celebrating 150 Years Coffee Mug

It has been awhile since I have posted a mug here on this blog. However, that is not to say that I have not seen more than a few fabulous pieces. I just stumbled across this totally terrific Tim Hortons mug, which celebrates Canada's 150th Birthday Party. The party is happening July 1, 2017 and I am sure that if you are in Canada, you have not missed the fact that we are celebrating though you may have missed this mug.

Because of this huge celebration, there are a lot of red and white merchandise options out there but I know that this officially licensed mug, with the cool comic-style patriotic images of the loon, ice skating, maple syrup, the maple leaf, beavers, curling, etc., is the perfect souvenir choice for many of you.  Of course, it also includes images of Tim Hortons coffee, Timbits and donuts, an important tradition in Canada.

The text reads, "CANADA celebrating 150 Years – Tim Hortons."

I love the red interior, too, which features a maple leaf in the bottom and I also love that it is dishwasher and microwave safe.

It is reasonably sized measuring 4 inches tall and 3.75 inches wide (without the handle) and holds 14 oz of your favorite steamy hot beverage, whether that be Tim Hortons' coffee or something else. Personally, I am a tea drinker so you will find only tea in my coffee mugs!

This mug is a limited edition mug and available only while supplies last. I suspect that it could be a hot seller since Canada really is gearing up for a fantastic party. If for whatever reason you are unable to find this mug locally, know that you can find it readily available on eBay by clicking right here.

How about it? Would you like to lift a Tim Hortons' mug in celebration of our national holiday and the birthday of our nation?  Are you a Canadian in Canada, a Canadian who lives away or just someone who loves Canada?  Be sure to take a moment and say hello and tell us where you hail from and whether or not Tim Hortons figures in the mix when you think of Canada.

Happy Birthday, Canada!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy your Tim Hortons Canada 150 Coffee Mug on eBay.
Find more Tim Hortons items in my eBay store.