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.

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.

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.

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.

A year in the life of Marksville

I won't paint a pretty picture for you because this year was not full of happy stories in the least. We lost 10 friends and family this year. such a large amount to lose in a years time. Sadly most were from overdoses which just floors me that the epidemic has hit so close to home. A few died of old age or accidents. So many lives lost and I know some did not have a relationship with the Lord which makes it all that much heartbreaking.

For our family even though we feel blessed for what we have, we lost so much over the last year. My faith was really tested. Some of my readers who know a few years after my husband's accident when all of our savings had been depleted  and before his disability kicked in, (which took forever) we ended up separated and homeless for just shy of two years combined. After all of that we just found out in October after paying on our storage unit that it had been sold for 300.00. It had our personal papers, pictures, lifelong objects, etc. We had been paying on it for more then a year we have been in our apartment. They wouldn't let us take anything out till it was paid off so we were making monthly payments and extra for the overdue amount. The numbers seemed to never end. We went without in many areas trying to make these payments as what my husband gets for disability hardly covers the bills. A few times we had car repairs or upkeep that kept us from paying so that didn't help either. Then our van broke down and there it sits in our yard useless till we can get it fixed. Not sure how long that will take.

This may sound gloom and some days it is. I am often reminded of an item or more that we really need or used to have and I get angered. It doesn't last long but it hurts. I feel for those who have fires I do, but with this our stuff is somewhere so I know it is out there being used. We just pray that no one steals our identities with the information that was in the storage unit. I ask my readers that if they know someone is going to become homeless to offer a safe place for their belongings till they get back on their feet.

Don't get me wrong, some days I feel relieved to not have to worry about the things that were in storage we didn't need that were just taking up space. I know most of the things can be replaced, but for the items that have sentimental value, worth, or personal. They can't be replaced, and those hurt the most. When my husband got his disability the state took most of it because they were housing our family in motels which we understand but because they took so much we had just enough to get a used vehicle and a down payment on our apartment. There wasn't enough left over to get both storage units open. I even borrowed money to be able to just get our furniture out of storage and a few other things.

Sometimes people don't understand what others are going through or just how hard things can be. What is sad is there are many people who don't even have what we have and that is scary. This is why when we can we try to help others out even if it makes things hard on our family.

So yes a few bad and sad things happened in the last year but there were also great moments. We have a church family that cares for us. Our older children visit when they can. We have our grand daughter Lilly over a few times a month, and had her most of the summer too. We became grandparents to another grandson this last summer so we now have two grand daughters and two grandsons to love.

We were able to take part in a few outings with our family which was much needed. Our children took part in many opportunities in our town and with their friends families which kept them pretty busy throughout the year. They are also doing well in school. Dorothy loves to swim and even though she had to give up swim club due to our van breaking down looks forward to swimming again as soon as she can. Deanna is over half way through her Criminal Justice classes this year and loves the classes she takes and has a clear goal for what she wants in the future. My son has become Deacon of our Home Church, Samantha is still struggling but making strides in her life path, Bryan got into some trouble last year and we have yet to be able to track him down or hear from him so we have been keeping him in our prayers, last but certainly not least Nesie is doing well, has a job she loves and enjoys going to each day as well as a volunteer job she does in between everything.

Besides our health issues my husband and I are doing well, making the best out of each day. I was able to read many books this year and even joined a book club. Check out my reading log here. I don't get there every month but I do read the books and keep up with what they are doing. One of our favorite things to do is play Call of Duty together. We would love to play games like Apex and Fornite together but we only have one TV and game system, so my husband plays those. I am yet to learn. I know that sounds silly but it has become one of the things we do for fun.

I want to thank all of our readers, friends, family, subscribers, and of course all of the companies I have had the pleasure of reviewing products for, for all of your support. A heartfelt thank you for the last year and for the year ahead. May everyone find something to be thankful for even in the darkest of times.