DIY Soft'n Slo Squishies & Paint Markers

The following post contains sponsored content.

Squeezed many times after two coats of Soft'n Slo paint markers completely dried over two days. 

 My 11 year old daughter has been on the crazy-for-squishies train for a couple of years now.  She may even consider herself somewhat of a squishy expert.  That being said, she and her twin brother own several Soft'n Slo squishies, and have been very pleased with them.  They have held up for months before beginning to show signs of being lovingly squeezed over and over again daily. Since this brand of squishies has been pretty dependable overall, I was excited to see DIY Soft'n Slo squishies and paint markers at our local craft store. I purchased one of every style of blank squishy I could find, plus both packs of paint markers (regular colors and brights) as a gift for my daughter.  Our daughter is a crafter at heart, and was so excited to receive this gift bag full of DIY squishies supplies.

Did the Soft'n Slo DIY Squishies & Paint Markers Meet Our Expectations? . . .

The blank squishies felt like the same great quality my children have come to expect from Soft'n Slo.  Unfortunately, the paint markers did not perform as well as we would have liked.  The freshly painted squishies looked amazing with very good coverage. After we allowed the paint to dry for a few days, however, there appeared to be spots where the paint did not adhere to the surface of the squishy.

Squeezed twice after single coat of Soft'n Slo paint markers dried for 4 days.

 I suggested to my daughter that she try adding a second coat of paint.  After allowing the second coat to dry for two days, we found that there were still spots where the white showed through.

Unsqueezed after two coats of Soft'n Slo paint markers dried over course of two days.

 Next came the squeeze test.  When we squeezed the squishy several times, the paint began to crackle and flake off.  What would have been a beautiful one-of-a-kind squishy, did not end up being the masterpiece my daughter had hoped for.

What will we do with the remaining blank squishies?

We still love Soft'n Slo squishies, but the markers were just not the same quality we have come to expect from this brand.  The blank squishies are great though, so what we will likely do is to try painting them with puffy fabric paint.  This type of paint comes in a wide variety of colors and is made to be flexible.  If that goes well, maybe my daughter can try to salvage her cake squishy or perhaps repaint other squishies to give them a makeover.
Two Soft'n Slo squishies our children received as stocking stuffers.

Two Soft'n Slo squishies our children received as stocking stuffers.

What kinds of squishies are your children's favorites?

Tell us in a comment here.

3 Things to Look for in a Fidget Spinner (According to My Children)

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing supplies for our service project in exchange for our sharing my children's tips about fidget spinners.  All opinions expressed are our own.

It used to be that fidget toys were only associated with children who have special needs when it comes to a variety of learning and social situations.  This is definitely no longer the case.  For example, in my oldest son's middle school, fidgets are allowed in the classroom for every student. Yes, some students have them for fun, but many find them beneficial and that fidgets can actually help them focus.

My children are 10, 10, and 13.  Yes, they have fallen into the fidget craze, especially when it comes to fidget spinners.  Each of my children owns multiple spinners.  I have to admit, it was tough figuring out which ones to purchase.  I didn't want to spend too much money, but I also didn't want to buy something too inexpensive that might not work well.  After having owned quite a few, and having played with the fidget spinners that belonged to their classmates at school, I asked my 3 children to each share their best tips about choosing the right fidget spinner.


3 Tips for Choosing a Fidget Spinner . . .

1.  Choose a Quiet Fidget Spinner - According to my 13 year old son, having a quiet spinner is important at school.  You need to look for one with good ball bearings.  A noisy spinner can be distracting to others, causing the teacher to ask that it be put away.

2.  Choose a Metal Fidget Spinner - Speed is important to my 10 year old son.  If that's the case for your child, then he recommends choosing a metal fidget spinner because they spin the fastest.

3.  Choose a Multi-Colored Fidget Spinner - According to my 10 year old daughter, multi-colored fidget spinners look cooler while spinning than solid colored spinners.  She recommends choosing cool fidget spinners with fun designs and lots of colors.  (An added bonus? Choosing a unique fidget spinner will help prevent any confusion about which one belongs to which child, both at home and at school.)

Do you have any tips about choosing the right fidget spinner? Share them with us in a comment here.

TEST

Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition #BigFishGames

Thank you to Big Fish Games for providing a complimentary game code to facilitate this PC game review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Being a casual gamer, I am a huge fan of Big Fish Games.  They have such a vast inventory of PC games for people like me, who only have time to play once a week (or sometimes less).  I have played many different hidden objects games before, but this new release, Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition, has been my favorite thus far.

For this game, I played in "casual" mode, which let's me ask for hints and allows me to use a map that indicates in which locations I still have pending business.  The game is quite intricate.  There are multiple buildings and many different rooms to unlock in each one.  The hidden objects portion is split into two facets.  There are hidden objects throughout the regular game areas for which you can earn achievement awards when you find them and there are hidden object mini games.  In the mini games, you must search for pieces of three objects and when you've found all the pieces, the fractured objects reassemble and then join together to make one item you need for the game.  Much of the game is collecting objects to access another key item or to unlock more content.  For myself, I did not find the hidden object mini games to be extremely challenging, but there were always 1 to 3 objects per game that were a challenge to find.

In addition to the hidden object games, there are a variety of mini games.  Usually, the hidden object games are what I enjoy the most, but this game offers mini games that I found to be quite unique and challenging because they mostly involve problem-solving.  See the example below . . .

As you can see, the graphics are quite beautiful for this game, which adds to the magic.  The storyline is about a detective (yourself) who finds herself in a fantasy world with mermaids, man-eating eels, and sorcery.  I would say it took me approximately 6 hours to play this game from start to finish.  During the last two hours I had 3 children glued to my side because they started watching me and got hooked by this game.  In my opinion, young children might be frightened by the eel and some of the evil-doers, but I think a child who is 9 or 10 years old or older would enjoy this game as much as an adult.

I also want to point out that my Windows tablet with an Atom processor ran this game just fine, although it was much easier to find the hidden objects on a 22" monitor than on a 10" screen.

If you have some time to kill at night or on the weekends, I highly recommend this game.  It was quite entertaining all-around.  You can try Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition for free and then purchase the full version if you like it at www.BigFishGames.com.

Game System Requirements:
OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
CPU: 1.6 GHz
RAM: 1024 MB
DirectX: 9.0
Hard Drive: 862 MB

Game Manager System Requirements:
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later

Exclusively Available at Target . . . 'Spot It! Fire & Ice' Family Game

Thank you to Blue Orange Games for providing a sample Spot It! Fire & Ice game for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Since our first game received from Blue Orange Games, we have been in love. This company makes fun, quality games that my family loves to play. When we were offered their newest game, Spot It! Fire & Ice, I knew this game would be another one we would love. I was right.

Spot It! Fire & Ice is a Target exclusive game, meaning it will only be available to buy in Target stores. It features the same basic concept as the other Spot It! games, but with several variations that give it a twist. The object of the game is to run out of cards by rapidly playing those in your hand by matching one symbol from each card. In Fire & Ice though, there are “burn” symbols that give you the chance to push the included timer and get to free play all by yourself. This gives the game a twist that my boys just loved to take advantage of.

As with all of the Blue Orange Games, this game is well made with high-quality materials. The 55 cards are made of thick cardstock-type paper and the holder is thick, dense plastic. This game is recommended for ages 8 and up, but my 7 year old had no problem playing against his big brother and parents. It’s also designed for 2-8 players, so the whole family can play along. With its fast-paced timing, colorful cards, and convenient storage case/timer, this game is a great find for any family.

We’ve had so much fun playing this game already and I know that it will be a long time favorite of ours. From now through the end of November, you can purchase Spot It! Fire & Ice on sale for $17.99 at your local Target store. To learn more about Blue Orange Games, visit their website at www.blueorangegames.com.

'Brilliance Award' Winners are Top Choices for Creative Gift Ideas for Children This Holiday

Thank you to Brilliant Sky Toys & Books for providing two award-winning toys and a book for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

In my experience as a parent to three children (and having once been a child myself), toys that encourage creativity and flex the imagination often make the best gifts for children.  Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, a specialty retailer that caters to children and their imaginations, has recently announced which toys would be honored with the 2014 Brilliance Award.  The list includes toys for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age children and range in price from just $9.99 to $39.99.

Why do I trust Brilliant Sky Toys & Books when it comes to gift recommendations?  Although there is not a store location in my area, I've heard ravings about this toy store from friends and I love the content on Brilliant Sky TV and on the Brilliant Sky Toys & Books Blog, where you can read more about this year's 10 Brilliance Award winners.

And the 2014 Brilliance Award winners are . . .

• Squigz Starter Set (24 pieces)
• Plus-Plus Mini-Basic (480 pieces)
• Lottie Dolls
• Doodle Quest
• Create Your Own Storybook
• Super Stadium Baseball Game
• LoopDeLoom
• Sew Cute Sets
• Illustrated Adventure Stories and Illustrated Fairy Tales
• Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls

I was thrilled to give my children a chance to experience three of these award-winning toys and books.  Although it was difficult to choose, I felt like the LoopDeLoom would be a well-loved creative toy for my daughter and I was right!  I also correctly predicted that all three of my children would very much enjoy the Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls craft kit and the Usborne book of Illustrated Fairy Tales.  I knew these products would be a big hit because both the LoopDeLoom and the Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls kit produce a final product our children could keep and enjoy forever if they wished.  And, fairy tales are magical stories meant to be enjoyed again and again.

Giving our children a creative outlet is such an important thing.  Even our 7 year old son, who does not usually show much interest in art, enjoyed painting his ceramic bowl.  He did not show the lack of patience he normally would.  Instead, he painted very deliberately and carefully.

Another Brilliance Award winner that helps children develop patience, as well as further develops fine motor skills, is the LoopDeLoom weaving kit.  Although this toy is recommended for children 8 years and older, our 7 year old daughter was quite adept at it.  At first, it seemed like it would take forever to finish, but after a little while, she could see her progress.  The best thing about this craft kit is that it takes concentration and is an enjoyable, yet quiet, sit-down activity.

The Usborne Illustrated Fairy Tales is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations.  Our daughter will sit and read one fairy tale after another.  She also loves to reread them out loud to her twin brother at bedtime.  I have such fond memories of reading fairy tales and having them read to me as a child.  I'm happy to see my children experience the same magic.  I am definitely going to look into buying this book's counterpart Usborne Illustrated Adventure Stories for Christmas this year.

You can find all these award-winning children's gifts and many more quality children's items at Brilliant Sky Toys & Books.  If you have not yet visited your local store, be sure to bring your children soon to enjoy the hands-on experience, child-height shelves and displays, and the superior personalized customer service.  You can check for the closest store location here.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

The Ultimate Gift Idea for Young Artists . . . Bring Children's Artwork to Life with #Budsies!

Thank you to Budsies for providing complimentary custom stuffed animals samples for us to base this review upon.  All opinions express are our own.

If you have a child who has a deep love of drawing, this gift idea will surely be a cherished one.  We have two such children in our house and they were over the moon about the idea of bringing their artwork to life in the form of a custom plush toy.  It didn't take them very long to decide what to draw, but what then?  That's where Budsies came in . . .

On Budsies.com, you can submit a scan or a digital photo of your child's artwork to have a Budsies designer create a 16" plush toy in the artwork's likeness.  Our two children, who submitted artwork, are 10 and 7 years old and were able to follow the tips I gave them quite well . . .

Tips for Designing Your Budsies Creation:

1.  Try your best to show the entire subject on the page without having parts cut off at the edges.

2.  Use solid blocks of color when coloring in your subject.

3.  Try to assign a color to every party of your drawing.

4.  Keep your background white or another solid color.

5.  Don't worry if any parts are a little abstract.

6.  Have fun with it!

Even if you just do one or two of the above or your artwork was drawn for another occasion, you will be amazed at what the designers at Budsies can do.  Visit Budsies on Instagram for some wonderful examples!  All the materials that go into making each one-of-a-kind creation are hypoallergenic, so they are safe even for the youngest artists.  If your child needs a little inspiration, he or she can take a look at the Budsies templates.

I have to say that the whole process of ordering from Budsies could not be more simple.  When you submit your image, you will have the opportunity to include some characteristics about the subject to help the designers really capture its spirit.  The hardest part was waiting for the custom plush to be crafted.  It takes approximately 5 weeks from the time you submit your child's artwork to the time your child's new plush friend gets delivered to you.  My children asked me at least once a week about when their cat and owl would be arriving.

When the cat and owl finally arrived, I was pretty darn impressed.  In fact, I shared a photo of the plush toys next to the drawings on Facebook and everyone was amazed.  My daughter was thrilled with how her cat came out and would not stop hugging it.  My son loved his owl, but wished it was a tiny bit pudgier.  Both the likeness and the workmanship looked incredible to me.

Need more reasons to be impressed?  Budsies gives back by partnering regularly with children's charities, such as Easter Seals and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to bring smiles to children who don't have many things to smile about.  Learn more about how to get involved or suggest your favorite children's charity to Budsies!

Thinking about ordering a new plush friend for your child from Budsies.com?  Now is the time!  Budsies is offering a special online price of $69 (Reg. $99) per plush, plus 3G2S readers can save an additional 10% off when you checkout using Budsies promo code: 3G2S10. Remember to plan ahead because it takes up to 5 weeks to have your custom plush made.

Is It Too Early to Think Stocking Stuffers? New Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putties are Here!

Thank you to Crazy Aaron's Putty World for providing samples of Thinking Putty for us to base this review upon.  All opinions are our own.

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty has long been a favorite nontoxic tactile fidget activity in our home. Our first Thinking Putty was a small tin of it and both my kids love the way it felt and how strong and flexible it was. We’ve owned other kinds of Thinking Putty since our first, and we’ve always loved them. When I was offered a review of Crazy Aaron’s newest Thinking Putties, I was excited and knew my kiddos would be as well. We received the Phantom and Super Magnetic putties and think they’re both really fun.

The Phantom putty comes in two kinds, Foxfire and Arctic Flare, and both react to a  blacklight  (included). We received Foxfire Thinking Putty and it’s green in color until it meets the blacklight when it then becomes blue. This Thinking Putty is really fun and the kids have loved writing messages to each other and decorating their creations with faces, eyeballs, etc. The Phantom putty is really cool and provided my children with hours of entertainment.

The Super Magnetic Thinking Putty comes in four varieties: Tidal Wave, Strange Attractor, Reactive Razz, and Quicksilver. We received the Quicksilver and were instantly captivated by this unique Thinking Putty. This putty comes with a ceramic magnet that you can use to “charge” the putty and make it magnetic. From there, the possibilities are endless!

You can pick up small metal objects, such as paperclips, make it levitate with the help of the magnet, and more. This putty is really cool and my kids started experimenting with what kinds of things they could pick up with the magnetic putty.

All of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty products are very well made and come in their own storage tin.  They retail for about $14.95 each on their website, www.puttyworld.com. You can learn more about Crazy’s Aaron’s products there or on their Facebook and Twitter pages.  These little tins of fun would most certainly make a unique stocking stuffer or Easter basket toys!

Indoor and Outdoor Fun with the Playmobil (5238) Wireless RC Pirates Ship with Underwater Motor!

Thank you to Playmobil for sending us a sample remote control pirate ship for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are our own.

We receive toys to review several times throughout the year. You would think that when we review the toy, we just watch the kids play and interact with the toy and take notes for the review, but we don't. The truth is that my kids aren't allowed to get anywhere near the toys until I have played with them first! Any excuse I can have to play with toys is welcome. “Sure I will review that toy….”

Playmobil sent us the Pirates Ship with RC Underwater Motor to try out and review. I will admit I was excited to get my grubby hands on this one, likely more than any other toy we have reviewed. And we have reviewed some amazing toys.

The Pirates ship comes in a giant box and all of the parts are separated and bagged nicely. I love how Playmobil boxes are large enough to assemble your toys in, reducing the chance of lost parts.

At first, the assembly seemed a little bit intimidating (some kits are complex), but the ship came together fairly easily.  My 10 year old son was able to help with just about everything.

One aspect of the build was a bit hard and would have kept a child from assembling the ship alone. The rigging definitely requires an adult. To rig the ship you must carefully measure and cut string and then tie the pieces in a very particular way. Honestly, there may be some adults who would find it not so easy, but the detail of the rigging is wonderful when done and really adds to the impressiveness of the ship. The total build time with rigging was under 45 minutes, half of which was the rigging.

Like with all Playmobil sets, this RC Pirates Ship was designed with many fun details.  For example, the anchor has a perch and can be lowered down into the water with a crank.  There's also a hideaway for a treasure chest that is can be filled with golden doubloons, chalices, and other treasure.  The three included figures, came with a whole slew of swords, pistols, and more.

The ship looks fantastic, but how well does it work? . . . A great deal better than I was expecting. The ship moves faster than I expected and can turn in a much tighter radius than I would have guessed. Reverse is lethargic, but that didn't bother me at all. Masted pirate ships don't go in reverse in real life at all!  The motor was also surprisingly quiet.

The kids had a blast playing with the ship in water (after it was pried from my hands). Our 4 year old nephew had no problem controlling the ship. The wireless controls are intuitive and responsive.

I don't think I have ever met a Playmobil toy I didn't like,  but I certainly like the Pirates Ship with RC Underwater Remote the most so far. The kit is well designed, very high quality, and the play value is through the roof. The issue I had was not unexpected: The ship does not like rough or choppy water. It can handle a little bit, but this toy would not do well at the beach or a large lake, it really is for very small bodies of water like a pool or small fish pond.  That being said, the kids had a blast making waves in the pool so that the members of the ship's crew would lose their balance and fall down, just as they imagined pirates would do on the rough seas.

This Playmobil RC Pirate Ship has tremendous play value.  It can be played with outdoors in the water during the warmer months, but can also stand alone without the motor for indoor play.  This would be the perfect toy to keep in mind for upcoming Holiday gifts.  You can find out more about this and the other Playmobil pirate-themed toys at www.playmobil.us.

The New Rechargeable VTech Kidizoom® Smartwatch is Built for Much More Than Telling Time!

The VTech product, gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by VTech.  All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s camera time! With the exciting interactive Kidizoom Smartwatch, kids can capture photos, add photo effects, record videos, and play built-in games for learning fun on the go. Complete with an easy-to-use 1.4” color touch screen, as well as more than 50 digital and analog clock displays, the multi-functional Kidizoom Smartwatch is perfect for kids learning to tell time. It also boasts a rechargeable battery, alarm clock, timer, stopwatch, voice recorder with funny voice changing effects, and parental game controls.

Kidizoom® Smartwatch features include:

• 1.4 inch color touch screen
• Camera for taking photos and recording videos
• Voice recorder with 5 voice changing effects
• Special effects including customized photo frames, color filters and distortion effects; fun video frames
• 4 fun games, included
• Kid-durable design to withstand drops and bumps
• Splash proof and sweat proof
• Alarm clock with fun tones and animation
• Timer and stopwatch in kid-friendly themes
• 50+ digital and traditional analog displays
• Rechargeable battery
• 4 vibrant colors: blue, pink, white and green
• Micro USB cable for data transfer and battery recharging
• Access to Learning Lodge app store to download more games and watch displays
• Recommended for ages 4 years and up
• MSRP: $59.99

We were sent a VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch to try out and we were instantly impressed. It’s made of high-quality rubber and plastic that is sure to stand up to use by any kid. It is very well laid out so it’s easy to use but still has many great features, and it’s small enough to fit even my tiny 7 ½ year old’s wrist. In addition to the touch screen, it has only 2 buttons so that even younger kids can navigate it easily. The choice between watch displays is a nice touch and Quinn has loved personalizing his clock daily. We also really like the camera feature plus the filters and frames you can use. The included four games are fun and engaging, though a little simple for Quinn. He still likes playing them though.

Quinn loves his unique Kidizoom Smartwatch. It’s great for the car, shopping, restaurants, or anywhere else. It’s small and simple and is no problem to wear around wherever kids like to go. I love that it is rechargeable too, so there’s no wasting of batteries. We love this watch and are happy to have it.


More about the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch . . .


You can learn more about VTech on their website, VTechKids.com. You can also follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Have Fun Strategizing with the New Battle Sheep Board Game!

Thank you to Blue Orange games for providing a sample board game for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our family loves board games, and we’ve always had great experiences with Blue Orange Games. Their newest family board game, Battle Sheep, combines logic and strategy with fun. Once you build your board, players take turns moving their stacks of sheep in straight lines and trying to block their opponents in. It takes some serious thought to accomplish blocking the other players, but it’s all very entertaining so no one gets frustrated.

Battle Sheep contains 16 pasture boards, 64 sheep tokens, and illustrated rules, all in the handy box. The game teaches social play, out-of-the-box thinking, and strategy.  It also helps improve focus and attention. It’s a great game for fun as well as thought provoking. It is recommended for ages 7 and up, from 2-4 players, and game play takes as little as 15 minutes, so it’s a great, quick game to play.

We’ve already played Battle Sheep a handful of times. From my 7 ½ year old on up to my husband, we’ve all had a great time playing. It’s fun for all ages and really gets you using your brain. It is made of sturdy materials too, like dense cardboard and thick plastic, so it’s sure to hold up for a long while.

You can learn all about Battle Sheep and all Blue Orange Games at their website, www.blueorangegames.com.

Unplug with The Manhattan Toy Company 'Imagine I Can' Notes N’ Stuff Activity Set

Thank you to The Manhattan Toy Company for providing a sample Imagine I Can toy for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our reader giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Keeping children entertained while out of the house is a hard thing to do sometimes. Manhattan Toy Company is always looking for innovative ways to foster children’s imaginations, so their Notes N’ Stuff set is a great way to keep your child entertained without the use of electronics. Manhattan Toy Company is dedicated to quality, safety, and creativity and that commitment shows in all their products.

The Notes N’ Stuff set contains a spiral notebook with wood cover, a pencil sharpener, 6 small colored pencils with a plastic holder, a pencil topper, an oversized paper clip, a magnetic clip, and 2 self-inking stamps, all stored in a sturdy tin case with handle. The “Stuff” is cute, well-made, and really fun.

My 7 year old son, Quinn, loves anything to do with art, and he’s loved this set since we first opened it. It has gone with us to church, doctor’s appointments, grandma’s house, the car, and more. He loves writing or drawing in the notebook and thinks the stamps and clips are adorable and fun. I love that this set gets him to practice writing, drawing, and using his imagination. He rarely asks to play video games when we are out now because he loves using his Notes N’ Stuff so much. As a parent, I love that it’s sturdy and sure to hold up and when the supplies are used up, as happens with art stuff, we can just refill the tin case and he can continue to use the clips with his new art and writing supplies.

Manhattan Toy Company has tons of products that are sure to delight any child. Notes N’ Stuff can be purchased on their website, www.manhattantoycompany.com for $20.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.