Here in NE Ohio, school is back in session. Summer is over, despite the recent heatwave, and the kiddos are back in full time learning mode. 

We homeschool using the K12 program, so we try and supplement learning with frequent field trips to places like museums, the chocolate factory, historical places, and even more fun places like the local zoos. 

Yesterday, we decided to head to the Akron Zoo to check out their brand new African habitat. This was just unveiled, and features a brand new enclosure for majestic animals like the African Lions. There's even a train that circles their enclosure so visitors can get an up close and personal view of these gorgeous creatures. 

So far this summer, we've spent a lot of time on the road. Between seeing Machine Gun Kelly in Pittsburgh to trips to Lake Erie, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, or Cedar Point, we're always on the go lately. 

With 8 and 9 year olds in tow, long car rides can often be tedious, if not downright torturous. You see, kids don't have a lot of patience, especially when they're overly eager to reach the destination at hand. Parents like me equate constant whines of "Are we there yet?" to torture methods used at Gitmo. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much. 

One solution we've found to ensure more peaceful traveling is bringing along some fun travel games from TCG Toys. Games like  3-D Snakes ‘N Ladders, Who’s There?, and Naval Command totally save the day when we're on the go, or even at home on a rainy day. These compact, take-anywhere games are sure to provide hours of fun for both kids and adults, whether it’s on the plane, train or in the hotel room when the weather doesn’t quite cooperate (or you just need a break from the sun!).

If you’re not familiar with the toy company, TCG Toys is based in Toronto, Canada with distribution in over 40 countries! It began in 1998 with a focus on outstanding puzzles and games with the well-known Sure-Lox® brand. TCG Toys has since grown as a manufacturer and distributor of a variety of products for the whole family, including Megamat™ licensed playmats and other signature offerings. Working with top-tier licenses, the company promotes innovative game play with products featuring some of the most beloved kids’ brands such as Fisher-Price™, Hot Wheels™, Thomas & Friends™, Peppa Pig™, PJ Masks™, PAW Patrol™ and Disney™. Valued for its premium materials and advanced processes, TCG Toys offers top-quality, affordable and fun products for kids and families.

In today's technologically advanced age, it seems that more often than not, our eyes are glued to various screens. Whether it's the TV, computer, gaming device, or even our phones, electronics get a LOT of attention in this techie world. 

My daughter is hooked on old school, retro gaming. She especially loves classic games like Super Mario Bros., and she will spend every waking moment playing if we'd allow it. (We do not.) My youngest son also loves his tech time, and enjoys an online Wizard game in his spare time. 

That's why we choose to disconnect from our devices for an hour a day, Friday nights especially, to enjoy some family time without digital distraction. We often play board games, turn on music and have dance or karaoke parties, or we just take a walk by the river together as a family.

During the summer months, we love to enjoy seasonal, delicious treats during our Family Fun Nights, like A&W Root Beer Floats! 

Do you have any Anime fans in your family? I sure do! My husband and kids all absolutely adore Japanese Animation, and are always looking for new stories and adventures to dive into. 

Recently, we got to check out a brand new feature that has been long anticipated by many. Kitaro Kosaka’s stunning anime feature Okko’s Inn from the famed studio Madhouse was released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on July 2, 2019 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory. Nominated for the 2019 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, the film comes to home video following its nationwide theatrical release earlier this April. Bonus features include interviews with the director and Seiran Kobayashi (Okko). 

After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional inn near an ancient spring said to have healing waters. Okko soon discovers there are spirits living there only she can see – welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. Okko strives to be a gracious host, and this is soon put to the test by a string of challenging guests with different stories. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself, in this beautiful tale from Kitaro Kosaka, who was a key animator on numerous classic films at the venerable Studio Ghibli.
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This summer has been beyond stressful for my family. Recently, we ended up having to gut and renovate our main bathroom, all by ourselves, using YouTube for tutorials on things like electricity, plumbing, flooring, and more. It's been a long, tedious project, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't been losing sleep and about to break. 

That's why I'm making sure to take my Superior Source supplements daily. I want to make every attempt to take care of myself, even under extreme levels of stress.
This month, I'd love to talk about some Superior Source Supplements that are perfect for staying on top of wellness, even during the scorching summer heat!

What Makes Superior Source UNIQUE: They’re Clean...Pure & Simple!
Superior Source Vitamins are MicroLingual®–“Under the Tongue Technology”
works fast, as they are quickly absorbed into the body, dissolving in seconds
–NO pills to swallow! By swallowing supplements, as much as 50% of the potency is lost in the high acid environment of the stomach.

-No pills to swallow–dissolves in seconds
-GMO FREE and Sugar FREE
-90% smaller than regular vitamins
-No binders, fillers, dyes or preservatives
-Only 3 clean ingredients
-Over 150+ vitamins to choose from

Sounds pretty convenient, don't they? We received a great assortment of vitamins from Superior Source that are ideal for summer, and  I'd love to tell you a bit about each one. ​First, though, check out this brief introductory video that will tell you more about why Superior Source is the best choice for every member of the family!

My oldest son is 19, and he is an artist. 

No, seriously. He is. He's been accepted into several art shows, some of which were juried entry, and he even won an award at a local gallery for their Human Form Art Exhibition. So he is, in fact, an award winning artist. 

My younger son? He sees his older brother create beautiful and amazing things, so he wants to learn to create artwork, too. 

Recently, I was introduced to an awesome tool that will help him learn to draw like a pro in no time flat. Developed by the innovative Flycatcher Inc. team, smART sketcher Projector allows children and adults to transform photos taken from their smart devices into a sketch.

This summer certainly hasn't gone as planned. 

The first part, it was unseasonably cool, and we had so. much. rain. Parts of Ohio are still dealing with flood and tornado damage. Thankfully, we were spared of that. 

We have had our own emergency to deal with, though. Our main bathroom basically exploded, and we discovered we had a mold issue that needed emergency remediation, as well as a full bathroom gutting and renovation. Insurance doesn't like to cover any sort of water damage, so we're doing the work ourselves and paying out of pocket. 

To say I'm stressed and overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century.

Thankfully, I've had some help keeping the kids away from the demo work and out of the way while my husband and 19 year old do all the hard work. We've been playing some truly cool games from Thames & Kosmos that take us back to ancient times, before busted bathrooms were even a thing. I'd love to tell you more about them, so keep reading! 

We spend much of our summer visiting local treasures, like Cedar Point, the Cleveland MetroParks, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and more. Part of this time of course includes the time spent getting there. As we parents know, the car ride can be quite tedious for impatient, excited kiddos. That's why we plan for the in-car boredom by bringing something along to keep the kids engaged and sane. 

​One of our recent boredom buster discoveries is the PBS KIDS Playtime Pad Tablet DVD Player Combo. This kid-friendly tablet comes preloaded with lots of fun, educational content, and thanks to Google Play, you can add lots more. For places with no wifi? No worries! There's a built-in DVD player so your littles can enjoy their favorite movies on the go. 

Anyone else suffering from the daily calls of "I'm booooooored" from little people on a rainy day? 

Here in NE Ohio, it hasn't stopped raining in what feels like an eternity. No, really....A good part of my general area is currently flooded, and it's absolutely gut-wrenching to see the photos and videos of the after-effects of all this rain.

We're thankfully on a hill, and our house is not underwater at the moment. We are kind of stuck inside, though, so our summer plans have been kind of washed out so far. Therefore, many of our outdoor adventures are temporarily on hold while Mother Nature figures herself out. 

One thing the kids love doing on a rainy afternoon is playing video games on their XBOX ONE. 

DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders, the new title from global video game publisher Outright Games and partner Universal Games and Digital Platforms launched in conjunction with the release of DreamWorks Animation's new movie How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,. 

Developed by Climax Studios, the game tells a new story based within the popular DreamWorks Dragons universe and is available now on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC.

Check out this fantastic trailer below to get a quick glimpse into this magical, mystical realm. Hold onto your hats, though, because this is one wild ride! 

Since I just posted about our rain problems here in NE Ohio, I'll skip the long, drawn out description of yards that have turned into lakes and roads that are rivers. If you've been watching the news, you probably know that Ohio, and the Midwest in general, is dealing with non-stop monsoon-like rains, and the many issues that it brings. 

Oh, and earthquakes. We've had those, too. 

Oh, and tornadoes. We have had several tornadoes rip through the general area. 

Needless to say, our outdoor summer plans? They're kind of on hold at the moment. We've been staying inside, and we've been doing everything we can to keep Cabin Fever from making us go insane. 

Video games and board games have been saving graces, and one of our new faves? Definitely this Cartoon Network Bundle that includes STEVEN UNIVERSE SAVE THE LIGHT & OK K.O.! LET'S PLAY HEROES. This pack brings two of Cartoon Network's greatest games onto one physical disc and is now available exclusively at retail globally for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.