Sunday, February 16, 2020

Easter Basket Idea for Toddlers




Today I am talking about this set of toddler puzzles you see above. Isn't the lady bug puzzle adorable?  My grandsons are still quite young so these will be going into my oldest grandson's Easter basket this year with a few small treats. In a few years his little brother will be able to play with them too. He loves back packs so I was really excited to see that this set of 4 puzzles comes with a little draw string back pack so they can be toted along for fun on the go. 

My suggestion once opened as long as you are keeping an eye on your child is to put the puzzle pieces to each puzzle in a zip bag so when playtime is open you can hand the board and pieces and they can put the puzzle together and not worry about mixed up pieces. Also as they get quicker at doing the puzzles you can add two puzzles and their pieces to make it a bit harder and keep adding till they have all four empty puzzles, as well as all of the pieces to challenge them even more. 

These are rated for children three years of age, but my son who is my grand sons father was doing 25 piece puzzles by the time he was 18 months old, so depending on my grandson who seems to be following in his footsteps these may be too easy. I always say go with caution. A parent knows their child best, if using with younger children make sure to be watchful and not leave your child alone while playing with small toys. 

Each puzzle board is 5.8 inches by 5.8 inches. Perfect for toddlers and a great gift idea.

Check them out at Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Disclosure: MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation. If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Learning while playing Games



There is no secret our family loves to play games. As a parent I also like learning games, and games that can be played in different ways like this Magnetic fishing game. I absolutely love that it comes in a package that can house the whole game in between play. First of all it is a fishing game where you can fish for numbered magnetic fish. This can be changed up many ways, as well as a set of alphabet magnetic letters. Use them in the game on a magnetic board etc. 

Then you have the card set which teaches animals, the alphabet, and matching. I love the simple design and how much I can see this being played with by my grand children. 





Check them out at my affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Puzzles to Go



Today I am talking about the super cute toddler puzzles you see above. Aren't just the sweetest? My grandsons are still quite young so these will be going into my oldest grandson's Easter basket this year with a few small treats. In a few years his little brother will be able to play with them too. He loves back packs so I was really excited to see that this set of 4 puzzles comes with a little draw string back pack so they can be toted along for fun on the go. 

My suggestion once opened as long as you are keeping an eye on your child is to put the puzzle pieces to each puzzle in a zip bag so when playtime is open you can hand the board and pieces and they can put the puzzle together and not worry about mixed up pieces. Also as they get quicker at doing the puzzles you can add two puzzles and their pieces to make it a bit harder and keep adding till they have all four empty puzzles, as well as all of the pieces to challenge them even more. 

These are rated for children three years of age, but my son who is my grand sons father was doing 25 piece puzzles by the time he was 18 months old, so depending on my grandson who seems to be following in his footsteps these may be too easy. I always say go with caution. A parent knows their child best, if using with younger children make sure to be watchful and not leave your child alone while playing with small toys. 

Each puzzle board is 5.8 inches by 5.8 inches. Perfect for toddlers and a great gift idea.

Check them out at Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.



Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Our favorite Popcorn Popper

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.




I sign up for lots of freebie sites but mainly find out that the things aren't what was pictured or you just never get them at all. For this I honestly forgot where it was free from but know it was from Williams Sonoma where I signed up. I had to set up an account and a registry and add Cuisinart items that I would like to receive up to a certain price and you would get a microwave Cuisinart popcorn popper. I had to fill it out a form with my information and send it in.



I did this a while ago and today I got a package in the mail. I let my daughter open it up as we didn't know what it was and I hear a squeal of excitement from her. The popper had come just in time for after school snack.

We immediately opened it up, read the instructions, and made our first batch. Three batches later we are totally in love. Shhh I liked it so much I actually ordered some for gifts for my Children who have their own homes.

We made a pact that when we really loved something we got in the mail or bought ourselves we would buy that product for our older children as well as tell our readers about a great product that does what it says.

We have had microwave popcorn poppers before that just burned the popcorn and tried the hacks ending in burns or scalds, but this works great.






What I love about this is that I know what is going in and on my popcorn. All you do is make the bowl full size. It folds flat for space saving storage, best thing ever. Then if you want the full 10 cups of popcorn you will add 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels and set your microwave to 4 minutes. That is it. We have a small counter top microwave and thought it would take longer but the 4 minutes was perfect. A tip is to count 1-2-3 and if you don't hear a pop it is done.  From here you have beautiful unflavored fluffy popcorn goodness that is just waiting for your favorite seasonings.




We just made ours with real melted butter and salt, but later my daughter put some butter and some powdered ranch seasoning on hers. I know our movie and game nights just took a giant leap to fun and flavorful popcorn that I can feel good about serving to our friends and family.






If you are interested right now they have a great price but prices and availability are subject to change. Check it out below.


Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Beginner Tips to Sell More on Poshmark



If you're new to selling on Poshmark then you know how intimidating the process can be. Not
only do you need to know how to create a captivating brand, but you also need to be able to get
your items in front of the right audience. The good news is, selling on Poshmark isn't as difficult
as most people assume. Below are some tips to help you get started.

Be Picky About What You List

When getting started, most beginners list every item that they think has value. Unfortunately,
this approach can put a damper on your profits. When you're deciding what items to list, you should
give serious thought to the type of brand you're trying to create. If you pay attention to high-end
retail brands, they all have a certain aesthetic that they stick to. They want their clothes to send a
message.

The benefit of creating a specific aesthetic is that it helps you to better target your audience. You'll
be able to build a loyal following. Would you like to create a closet for career women? Does
your closet cater to individuals who have an eclectic style? Perhaps your closet is geared towards
formal wear. Before listing an item, ask yourself if it applies to the audience that you want to reach.

It's All About the Presentation

Do you know what separates the top sellers from those who have average sales? It's the photos
that they take. You see, each time you list a new item you're allowed to include a few photos so that
your audience can get a better idea of what you're offering. The vast majority of Poshmark sellers
take pictures of their clothes on hangers or laid out on a bed. However, if you want to get the most
out of this platform then you need to invest your time into styling your items.

The best photos feature an actual model. Create an entire outfit and feature the item that you're
selling. If you're too shy to model, purchase a mannequin. You may also create a flat lay.
A flat lay is a well-thought-out arrangement of items set against a simple background.
Also, keep in mind that the lighting will determine how professional your images look.
So take photos in a room that has the most natural light.

Make sure that your clothes are clean and free of wrinkles. You should also be honest about
any flaws that the item may have. The best photos are also those that show every detail of the item.
This means that you need to highlight every rip, tare, and stain. The reason it's so important to show
off the flaws of your item is that your customers need to know what they're purchasing. If they
receive an item with flaws that they didn't know about they may complain or leave a negative review.

Answer Every Question That Comes Your Way
Sometimes you'll list an item and it will sell immediately. Other times your customers may need
a little more convincing before they make a final purchase. A lot of customers will ask questions
about the item. And it's up to you to resolve these questions as soon as possible. The faster you
answer, the higher the chance that the customer will make a purchase from you.

Not only should you answer their questions as soon as you can, but you should also make sure that you're courteous and polite. Your interactions with Poshmark users can be seen by others.
People are more likely to buy from someone who is professional and seems to care about them.
So make sure your answer is thorough and respectful.

Treat Your Customers Like Gold

A big part of being a Poshmark seller is making sure that your customer gets their shipment.
And here's a huge opportunity for you to rise above the competition. Everything from the packaging
to your communication can determine whether or not this person becomes a loyal customer.

One of the first ways to distinguish your brand is to create special packaging. Poshmark offers free
shipping materials that you can order from USPS. However, you could always go above and
beyond and ship the items in unique wrapping or a nice box. You may include a small box of
chocolates and a thank you note. Another way in which you can make a lasting impression is by
keeping in touch with the customer throughout the shipping process. Contact your customer to
let them know when you plan to ship the item and contact them after the item has been shipped.
You may also contact them to ensure that they received the order.

Engage in the Community

There are two types of engagement that are vital to your success: sharing and following.
You should share items from your closet and you should also share items from the closet
of other sellers. The best part about sharing is that it can get you a lot of exposure,
especially at Poshmark parties. Poshmark parties occur four times a day. So this gives you
several opportunities throughout the week to reach a huge audience.

Following requires you to follow the accounts of other Poshmark users. Whenever you follow
someone it often leads to their visiting your closet to find out more about you. In many cases,
they'll follow you back and share some of your items.

Both of these types of engagement help you to get exposure but they take up a lot of time.
The more you share, the more sales you'll make. So you need to share and follow on a
consistent basis. And in some cases, this can be a bit overwhelming.

Conclusion

Once you've gotten the hang of the first few steps most of your time on Poshmark will be spent
sharing and following. Instead of doing this manually you could always use a Poshmark bot.
A Poshmark bot follows and shares for you--completely automating the entire process.