Add These Winning Moves Games To Your Game Shelf

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

My favorite type of games are those that make you think. Below are three different games from Winning Moves that will challenge your brain in different and fun ways.

Yahtzee Words

Yahtzee Words is a version of Yahtzee that uses letters and words instead of numbers. If you are a fan of Boggle and Scrabble like me, then Yahtzee Words will have a similar appeal. This game is designed for two or more players, ages 8+.

Game of States

As a kid, I had a jigsaw puzzle of the United States map that I did on repeat. The colorful gameboard in Game of States reminds me of that puzzle and brings back fond memories. Playing Game of States is a great way to learn about all fifty states, including capitals, and STEM facts. The business component is also an excellent way to teach kids about money math skills. Game of States is for 2-4 players, ages 8+.

Scattergories Stackagories

Scattergories Stackagories is a fast-paced version of the classic Scattergories game. Players try to name things that belong in the category card that start with one of the nine letters on the table. When they say the word out loud, they put their color marker on top of the letter. If there is already a marker, they stack it on top. When the timer is up, points are awarded to the color that is on top according to how many markers are underneath.

All of the components for Scattergories Stackagories fit nicely into this compact box. This game is designed for 2-4 players, ages 8+.

Where To Purchase Winning Moves Games

Winning Moves games and toys, including Yahtzee Words, Game of States and Yahtzee Words, are available on their websiteAmazon and other retailers near you.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Scattergories Stackagories, Yahtzee Words and Game of States. (Open to U.S. continental residents only).

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Experience the Beauty of Sakura With Sakuraco

Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The brief sakura (cherry blossom) season in Japan is a prime example of the concept of appreciating fleeting beauty. If cherry blossom trees bloomed year-round, they would not be nearly as cherished. Our family went to Washington D.C. a couple of years ago, and I remember being so excited that we caught some cherry blossom trees in the beginning of their bloom when I had thought we were going to be too early. They really are magnificent flowering trees, and I can see why cherry blossoms are cause for celebration each year.

Sakuraco is a subscription box that captures the beauty of sakura through Japanese snacks.

First, can we take a moment to appreciate how pretty this box is? Just looking at the outside of the box made me excited to see what was inside.

Look at all that pink! The variety of sakura goodness inside the March Sakuraco box is so much fun.

Each Sakuraco box comes with a booklet that explains what each snack is. The March edition also has beautiful photographs and descriptions of the different cherry blossom viewing locations throughout Japan. In addition, the booklet has short articles that tell the stories behind some of the artisan makers of the products that are included. The following are some of the highlights of the March Sakuraco box I received.

Sakura Candy

Look at the delightful detail of this Sakura candy. As the name implies, cherry blossom is a floral and fruity flavor that is not commonly found outside of Japan.

Anko Castella Cake

While this little cake is not sakura-flavored, the pink packaging makes it fit right in. I am a fan of red bean paste in Japanese sweets, so this was a treat!

A Lovely Assortment of Sakura Snacks

The Sakuraco box included this beautiful postcard, along with an assortment of these individually wrapped snacks. I have not tried all of them yet, but the ones that I have tasted have all been fresh and delightful.

Sakura Shiruko Biscuits

These biscuits have an interesting flavor profile. The booklet describes them as biscuit dough enriched with sakura powder and a touch of ume juice with a layer of sweet adzuki paste.

Neko Sakura Dish

I know that I overuse the word “cute” in describing products from Japan, but that is the word to describe this little dish. This bonus non-food item made the Sakuraco box feel uniquely special to me. According to the booklet, the design of this dish is a collaboration between Sakuraco, merry laugh and Bloom. I will continue to use this dish for years to come, and inspire me to recall the fleeting delights of sakura.

How To Subscribe to Sakuraco

Sakuraco offers one month, three month, six month and year-long subscriptions. A box from Sakuraco will be sure to bring joy and a taste of Japanese culture to the recipient’s doorstep!

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A Boxful of Sakura Snacks From Tokyo Treat

Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I am in the midst of planning a trip to Japan with my family this summer, and I can’t wait! Although we will miss the cherry blossom season, the March Tokyo Treat Sakura Snacktastic box is full of Japanese treats that put us in a Japanese springtime mood.

As you can see, each Tokyo Treat box comes packed a fabulous assortment of unique Japanese snacks. I particularly liked the variety, which included candies, potato chips, cookies, a mini can of soda and package of ramen!

The full color booklet is such a fun read. It contains a detailed description of each snack, including common allergens. This is especially helpful since most of the packaging is in Japanese. The booklet also contains interesting facts and cultural references that both kids and adults would appreciate. Below are some of the snacks that stood out in the March 2024 Tokyo Treat box.

KitKat Matcha Latte

This bag of Matcha Latte KitKats definitely caught my attention. I love that the packaging features cheerful cherry blossoms and cute matcha latte art.

I was impressed/surprised that the package included ten KitKat bars! These would be perfect little surprise to share with friends.

My family and I have been into matcha lattes/green tea anything recently, so these KitKats were an instant hit. The matcha flavor + creaminess + crispy wafer are the perfect combination.

Pai no Mi Mini Pies Pear Tart

I am not sure what association squirrels have with pears, but they are a cute addition to the packaging of these mini pies. The crust is airy and delicate, and the filling is lightly sweet.

Again, I like how there is enough product to share with others. These morsels would be delicious accompanied by a hot cup of tea.

Mitsuya Cider

I have never heard of Mitsuya Soda, but according to the can it has been around since 1884? It has a sweet carbonated flavor, but I cannot describe it any more than that. The mini can is just too cute. I am sure my son is looking forward to all of the vending machine drinks when we go to Japan!

Pure Potato Honey Butter & Rock Salt

For those with a more salty tooth, these potato chips will satisfy your cravings. These chips have a natural potato taste that is missing in many of the chips we have here. The honey butter flavor is not overpowering. I can imagine bringing these chips on a picnic.

Sakura Mini Cookies

Again, the sakura packaging for these mini cookies is so adorable. In addition, I find it fascinating how Japanese seem to fully embrace the triangle (think onigiri). Throw these cookies in the picnic basket as well!

How To Subscribe To Tokyo Treat

Tokyo Treat offers monthly, three month, six month, and twelve month plans. According to the Tokyo Treat website, each box contains 15-20 full-size snacks, and their boxes are the biggest Japanese snack boxes on the planet (2.86 pounds). Treat yourself or someone you know to a subscription today. Tokyo Treat is a fun way to bring a taste of Japan into your own home!

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February Bake: Chewy Espresso Cookies

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

For my February baking experiment, I tried Frosting & Fettucine’s recipe for Super Chewy Coffee Cookies. Like most of my baking inspiration, I came across this recipe on Pinterest. It caught my eye since I already had a jar of King Arthur Espresso Powder in my pantry, patiently waiting to be used.

As promised, these cookies turned out wonderfully chewy and with a nice espresso flavor. Contrary to what most cookbooks advise, I always use salted butter in my baking. That is just what my Costco carries, and I think that extra edge of salt brings a nice edge to sweets.

This recipe only called for one tablespoon of espresso powder, so I have plenty left for other recipes. Do you have a favorite recipe that uses espresso powder?

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January Bake: World Peace Cookies

If only world peace could be achieved through cookies. Nevertheless, this recipe for World Peace Cookies was fun to try out.

These cookies involve rolling the dough into cylinders and cutting them into 1/2 inch rounds. My tip would be to keep each cylinder of dough in the refrigerator until you are ready to cut and bake right away. I cut the second cylinder and let the rounds sit at room temperature while the first tray was baking. As a result, the second tray of cookies spread out more. They tasted just fine, but I liked the look of the first tray better.

This recipe originated with Pierre Herme, which Dorie Greenspan then published and Smitten Kitchen then blogged about. I used mini chocolate chips as suggested by Smitten Kitchen. I like how these cookies can be made ahead and frozen, either baked, or as logs of dough. Two thumbs up!

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Give A Colorful Assortment of Ritter Sport Chocolate #RitterSportUSA #Tryazon

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Have you tried Ritter Sport chocolate? These premium chocolate bars frequently appear in our family’s Christmas stockings. I like how each individual square bar feels hefty in the hand. Plus, the flavor combinations (which are each assigned their own colorful packaging) are unique and tasty. I especially enjoy Milk Chocolate with Cornflakes and Milk Chocolate with Butter Biscuit & Cocoa Creme.

Ritter Sport has been around since 1912 and is based in Waldenbuch, Germany. I am not sure where the name “Ritter Sport” comes from, but it is memorable. One way in which Ritter Sport ensures the quality of their chocolate is that they started their own sustainable Cocoa Farm in Nicaragua, which is quite impressive!

These miniature size Ritter Sport chocolates are so cute and a nice size for a little snack break or post-meal treat. Which flavor is your favorite? Remember to look for Ritter Sport the next time you are in the chocolate aisle, especially during the holidays.

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Join the Journey To Bethlehem in Theaters Starting November 10th #JourneyToBethlehemMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Watching movies with my family is one of my favorite ways to get in the holiday spirit. Journey to Bethlehem is a new movie coming to theaters on November 10th. This movie musical delivers the true story of Christmas in a highly entertaining format.

Journey to Bethlehem is a faithful re-telling of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. This movie hits just the right notes of drama, joy, comedy and reverence. In addition, throughout the movie, the characters burst into catchy pop songs that captivate the heart.

I would imagine it was difficult to cast Mary and Joseph for this film. However, I think they found two excellent actors who are perfect for their roles. I was surprised to learn that Milo Manheim is the son of Camryn Manheim. I guess acting runs in the family.

The performance I was most looking forward to (aside from Antonio Banderas as King Herod), was that of Joel Smallbone, who plays King Herod’s son. Smallbone is one of the two brothers who make up the popular Christian group For King & Country. We had the pleasure of attending a For King & Country concert last year, and there was a definite theatrical element to their performance. Therefore, it was not surprising to see Smallbone’s solid delivery in his role as a conflicted son of the king. (Lecrae also does an amazing job as the angel Gabriel).

The three wisemen did a wonderful job of bringing some levity to the story. Even though the movie portrays them as “three wise guys”, it also shows what an important role they had in pointing the way to baby Jesus.

Buy Tickets Today to See Journey to Bethlehem

Buy tickets here to see this family-friendly and uplifting film in theaters opening weekend, beginning November 10th!

Journey To Bethlehem Giveaway

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Fun Travel Games: Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I love a good word game. From Bananagrams to crossword puzzles to my beloved Speak & Spell (RIP), words games have always been at the top of my list. Today I am reviewing two classic word games from Winning Moves that also serve as excellent travel games: Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle. Both of these games have mass appeal and can easily be transported to your next holiday get together or vacation.

Scrabble To Go

Sometimes you need a game that you can set up, play a few rounds, and continue at a later time. Scrabble To Go answers that need with a smartly designed gameboard with snap-in letter tiles.

As you can see from the package, this game is designed for 2-4 players and is recommended for ages 8+.

This version of the game comes with mini “shelves” that have a flip top to keep the tiles in place.

These shelves then snap into place behind the gameboard.

The snap-in tiles fit snugly in the game board and will not slide out of place.

I really appreciate that all of the game parts fit into this nifty zippered carrying case. I wish more games were available in such a neat format.

Big Boggle

Big Boggle is another convenient word game to play when you don’t have a lot of time. After all, the included timer makes each round last only three minutes! (As an aside, isn’t an hourglass sand timer so quaint when everyone is accustomed to using the timer on their phone or smartwatch?)

The rules for Big Boggle are quite simple. It can be played with two or more people and is recommended for ages 8+.

Again, since everything is contained in the blue box, Big Boggle is an easy game for fun on the go.

Where To Buy Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle

Winning Moves games and toys, including Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle, are available on their websiteAmazon and other retailers near you.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle. (Open to U.S. continental residents only).

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The Bible Comes to Life in Route 60: The Biblical Highway #Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Before watching Route 60: The Biblical Highway, I had never heard of this important highway that spans across Israel. Route 60, also known as the “Path of the Patriarchs,” is 146 miles. The road begins in Northern Israel in Nazareth and ends in Beersheba. David Friedman and Mike Pompeo do an excellent job of narrating this film. They provide the historical context of how this road played a significant part in the stories of both the Old and New Testaments. It is neat to see the actual physical setting of many stories from the Bible.

As Friedman and Pompeo walk along parts of Route 60, there is a striking juxtaposition between some of the seemingly unchanged landscapes and the more modern cityscapes. It is difficult to imagine Abraham, Jacob, King David and Jesus walking along the same dirt road that is now a highway populated with cars. Route 60 provides an intriguing look into how this road connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians. I think history buffs would be especially interested in this film.

Buy tickets today to see Route 60 in theaters ONLY on 9/18 & 9/19!

Purchase tickets to see Roue 60: The Biblical Highway at a theater near you here.

Route 60 $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of Route 60: The Biblical Highway.

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The Hill Movie Is Truly Inspirational #TheHillMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Briarcliff Entertainment, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

I am a fan of movies based on true stories. If it has a sports theme, even better! The Hill is an inspirational baseball movie based on a true story that will be released in theaters starting August 25th. I had the opportunity to watch a sneak preview, and this movie inspires viewers to follow their dreams while pulling at their heartstrings.

The Hill is based on the incredible true story of a boy named Rickey Hill who had a dream of being a professional baseball player. Rickey held onto his dream despite having to wear braces on his legs due to a degenerative spinal disease. Another even greater obstacle in Rickey’s way was a strict and stubborn pastor-father, played by Dennis Quaid. Ricky’s father refused to support his son’s dream in an effort to protect him and because he thought his own plans for his son to follow in his pastoral footsteps were the best.

The child actors in this film were phenomenal, and I was immediately pulled into the characters’ lives.

It has been a while since I have seen Dennis Quaid in a movie, but he does an excellent job of playing a conflicted father.

Watch The Hill in Theaters Starting 8/25!

The Hill Movie $10 Amazon Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of The Hill. (The winner will need to respond to my email notification within 24 hours to claim the prize.)

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