Are you anything like me and need some serious updates to your kitchen essentials? From cookware to ice makers, the Free Range will help you add and refresh some everyday items and we hope enhance your everyday life!
Cookware
Due to lurking health concerns with PFOS and PFOA, Teflon pans have taken a reputation hit in the last few years. Other materials like ceramic and granite have made an entrance to the scene of everyday cookware like this set from CAROTE. With stylish cream-white color and non-stick granite coating, this set is both luxurious and durable. As a bonus, the price is much lower than name brand sets.
Don’t need all the extras? Check out this single frying pan with lid from CAROTE:
2. Ice Makers
Countertop ice makers have become increasingly popular in the last two years. You can choose from all shapes of ice and different capacities to fit your needs. Below are some best sellers.
FREE VILLAGEIce Maker
There is a good reason the FREE VILLAGE ice maker is a top choice – it includes a compact size, speedy cube making, and a self-cleaning feature.
Frigidaire Countertop Ice Maker
This top name brand pick has plenty of features and an oversized bucket for added storage
3. Mini Refrigerator
Have you upgraded your guest room to feature a stocked mini-fridge? This best selling Wanai has 3.5 cubic feet of space plus comes in fashionable colors to match your space.
4. Packed Lunches
Bento Box Containers
These fashionable 4-compartment Bento Boxes give you and your loved ones something to look forward to after a long morning at school or work. Choose your color scheme for each set you order. My daughter is using the brights this year as she starts first grade!
Ice Packs
Throw in some cute ice packs to brighten up your little one’s day. These packs come in butterfly, dino, unicorn, or penguin! What does a penguin say? I don’t know but they sure are cute!
5. Chopper
Fall is just around the corner and you know what that means – chili season!! Bust out this handy chopper to simplify the prep work. Want to spiralize some zucchini? This chopper comes with a spiral attachment too!
Stay tuned for more modern and useful finds from the Free Range writers!
I’m not ashamed of my online gaming hobby. If it weren’t for my love of simulation and role-play games, I wouldn’t have been led to my career. I’ve spent long days exploring games like Everquest & World of Warcraft. Before that, I played simulation game classics like Majesty and Roller Coaster Tycoon. But the PC platform limited my ability to do anything but stationary gaming. After months of searching for the best gaming fit, in 2014 I discovered KingsRoad, which was supported on handheld device platforms like my iPad and iPhone. I played KingsRoad for 8 years until it’s shocking sunset in 2022. Here’s where I say a dramatic goodbye to this fun and engaging experience and share some screenshots of time well-spent with my character Rogerian and his faithful bear pet.
Imagine spending countless hours in a virtual world, immersing yourself in the adventures and challenges it offers, only to have it abruptly taken away. This was the unfortunate fate of my beloved game, KingsRoad, when Rumble Games announced its cancellation. As an avid player, I would like to reminisce about the joy that KingsRoad brought into my life and express my disappointment at its untimely demise.
At the core of my gaming experience was my beloved character, a hunter named Rogerian. With my loyal pet bear acting as a tank, I would effortlessly shoot down enemies, advancing through the game’s challenging levels. Rogerian was not only a formidable force on the battlefield, but he was also the proud leader of a guild known as Fantasticats. Playing alongside fellow guild members, particularly my close friend the mage GiddyUp59, added a whole new layer of enjoyment to the game. Together, we embarked on epic quests, conquering dungeons and raid bosses.
One of the most exhilarating aspects of KingsRoad was the ability to summon a majestic dragon, Aurelian. This mighty creature offered a significant boost to the gold collected from defeated enemies, a feature that I found particularly enticing. To further enhance this effect, players could utilize gold potions to stack the bonuses, creating a lucrative advantage that added an element of strategy to the gameplay. It was a joy to watch my character amass wealth and become more powerful with the aid of Aurelian.
However, KingsRoad was not just about acquiring wealth and participating in solo adventures – it also had a thriving player versus player (PvP) community. Engaging in PvP tournaments provided an excellent opportunity to test my skills against other players and foster a sense of healthy competition. Additionally, the game offered a variety of daily dungeons and weekly events, keeping the experience fresh and dynamic. The developers of KingsRoad truly crafted a universe that catered to both solo and cooperative play, ensuring that players were constantly engaged and entertained.
The news of KingsRoad’s cancellation was met with a heavy heart. It felt as though a chapter of my life was abruptly cut short, leaving behind only memories of the joy and excitement I had experienced over the course of eight wonderful years. It was more than just a game; it was a community where friendships were forged and challenges were overcome together. It had become a part of my routine, my escape from the mundane, and losing it felt like a significant loss.
As I look back on my time with KingsRoad, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the countless hours of enjoyment it provided. The game allowed me to tap into my creativity, strategy, and camaraderie, all while immersing myself in a fantastical world. It was a testament to the power of gaming to bring people together, ignite their passions, and create lasting memories.
While the cancellation of KingsRoad may have left a void in my gaming heart, I am thankful for the incredible journey it took me on. Its rich gameplay, vibrant community, and thrilling adventures will forever hold a special place in my heart. Farewell, KingsRoad; you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten.
Do you know a little princess hooked on all things American Girl? If the answer is yes and you’re anything like me, you know the price of a fancy doll collection adds up fast! Or maybe your budget allows but your girl is looking to branch out. Whatever your doll situation, the Free Range has you covered, so let’s get started!
Glitter Girls Ice Cream Parlor for 14” Dolls
With 79 pieces including colorful ice cream, gelato, toppings, bowls, utensils and everything else your little one could imagine to make the ultimate frozen treat parlor, this is by far my 6 year old’s most used 14” doll playset even over her Wellie Wishers products. It’s also very budget friendly and holds up to demolition attempts by my toddler son! Looking to expand the ice cream parlor? This ice cream themed putt-putt set is sure to be a hit!
2. Journey Girls Wooden Stable
More economical than the AG stable, this set comes with a variety of accessories including a plaid horse blanket! The wooden stable does require some adult assembly, but the end result is a cute little decorated pen for the horses. This bargain should get your 18” doll off to a bright start on her riding adventures! Need a horse to go along with it? Check out Belle, the spotted beauty from Adora!
3. Journey Girls Pet Salon
If your little one loves all things pets, then check out this pet salon from Journey Girls! With 5 accessories including a hair dryer, your doll’s pet will have all they need to be styled. As a bonus, the color scheme is purple and teal with an adorable bubble backsplash! And if your doll is in the market for a new pet, I suggest this daughter-tested puppy set with 11 pieces.
4. Beverly Hills Doll Summer Beach Accessories
Has your 18” doll gone to the beach lately? Take her in style with this Beverly Hills Collection of beach accessories including a chair and umbrella. The set comes with 10 fun pieces for her fun in the sun! Be sure to pick up some sand toys and a volley ball for all-day play!
5. Princess Costume Dress Up Set
If you know a little princess who likes to play dress up, then check out this adorable set of costumes for her 18” doll. She and her doll can mix it up or go as twins! Love Encanto? Grab her Mirabel and Isabella costumes as a special gift.
Be sure to drop by soon for more budget friendly doll playsets and accessories!
My first viewing of Game of Thrones left me with a fragmented understanding of Westeros politics. A second viewing has given me a better comprehension of the family histories, alliances, and feuds. One thing a second viewing of this show has also taught me – the Lannister acting cast is sublime. There’s not one weak link in the bunch, making Lannister scenes memorable and worth rewatching. This article series will focus on the plot antagonists who enable and challenge them.
From the pilot episode, the Lannisters show pathological hatred and vengeance for anyone who impedes their political ambitions and preservation of family legacy. Like most GoT characters, the Lannisters, excluding Joffrey, follow an arc that doesn’t define them as good or evil. While Cersei is mostly atrocious, she almost seems like a reasonable person compared to the High Sparrow, after her empowerment of him proves to be a “shame”-ful mistake.
High Sparrow
Oh boy, many of us know a “High Sparrow” type – the person who lived out life as they selfishly saw fit for years until deciding to change. The type who treated people horribly or lived carelessly, and then found a religion or philosophy that changed them. But it’s not good enough for them to change, is it? They have to enforce their new found understanding on the rest of us and mercilessly judge our choices from their enlightened perch.
Before he rose to prominence, the High Sparrow inherited his father’s cobbler business and decided his success was too much to endure after a night of hard partying. Realizing that owning a thriving business isn’t the life he wants, he puts on a muumuu and heads for King’s Landing. In Season 5, we first see him doing what the religious and enlightened are supposed to do- hang out with the poor, feed them, and give them guidance.
“Nice muumuu, High Sparrow. How about a bowl of brown?”
Cersei shows up and ingratiates herself to the High Sparrow by arresting the Sept’s current leader for whoremongering and gives the High Sparrow his own little army, the Faith Militant. Cersei doesn’t like King Tommen’s wife, Queen Margaery Tyrell, so she needs the high sparrow to have his faith militant arrest Margaey’s brother Loras, a homosexual. This solves two problems for Cersei – 1) she was promised to marry Loras Tyrell, which would send her away to the Tyrell home of High Garden and 2) the arrest distracts Queen Margaery away from Tommen. Soon enough, High Sparrow exploits Cersei’s hatred for the Tyrells and eventually Cersai and Margaery find themselves sleeping in dungeon cells along with the rest of King’s Landing influential sinners.
As a result of arming the Septon, King’s Landing becomes an even scarier place. Barrels of ale are destroyed, Littlefinger’s establishment is raided, and the faith militant are patrolling for deviance. Cersei’s little scheme turns the whole town into a violent theocracy, ending season 5 with her humiliating walk of shame from the King’s Landing Sept to the Red Keep.
Even Jaime and Lord Tryrell’s armies cannot stop the High Sparrow. In one Season 6 scene, we see HS smirking at Jaime after King Tommen emerges from the sept to inform his father/uncle he is now ruling from the church. HS now has full control of the king. The High Sparrow’s expression tells us that just like his cobbling trade, modest success isn’t enough for him. No, he needs more control by manipulating King Tommen and the faith militant. Interestingly enough, throughout the entire storyline, the High Sparrow never strikes a blow – yet persuades his followers and faith militant to carry out his wishes.
“I’ll just tell him you’re busy, your Grace.” -Ser Lancel
Cersei wasn’t able to keep the High Sparrow under her control, so she used her power to undo the mistake of arming him. Aided by Maester Qyburn’s ”little birds”, she finds out that wildfire barrels are stored under the Sept’s foundation. In season 6, the wildfire explosion kills the High Sparrow, along with many other of Cersei’s most hated – Margaery, Loras, and Lord Tyrell.
Unlike the amoral sadists Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolten, the character of High Sparrow was multidimensional and mysterious. Before Cersei made him armed and powerful, he was down in Flea Bottom feeding the poor. Would he have stayed on the path of peacefully serving the poor had the Queen Mother not paid him a visit? Probably so. Certainly HS was revered by the powerless, but without funding, any militia he could muster is no challenge for the Lannister and Tyrell forces. Cersei offered him more than what he gave up to become High Sparrow and this empowerment exposed his greedy nature. While I was relieved to see the High Sparrow and his followers exterminated, the dreadful oppressive presence captured by the rich and brilliant acting of Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow is unforgettable.
Being born in Fall of 1977 means the early 80’s are a blurry mist in my mind. While I’d love to remember the faces and voices of long-deceased relatives who were healthy and active during this time, my memory has mostly faded along with the few photos that remain. Fortunately there are sights and sounds that do trigger strong memories of this time, one of them being certain songs.
Growing up in a rural community meant long drives into town for groceries and other necessities. It was almost 40 years ago when I first heard the song “King of Pain.” As a 5 year old staring out of the window of my mom’s Cutlass Supreme, I was haunted by the lyrical imagery of a “butterfly trapped in a spider’s web” and a “dead salmon frozen in a waterfall.” While my young brain couldn’t fully process every metaphor, I understood the song’s distressing intent. From that moment on, I was drawn to the music of The Police and after they disbanded, Sting.
You boys just couldn’t get along.
Now in my 40’s, with a long commute to work, I’m still listening to their music. My mind revels in the darkly lyrical creativity often contradicted by jolly musical notes. In fact, I’ve listened to The Police through every decade and phase of my life to date. Their music has enriched my mind with new concepts, helped me cope with loss and grief, and question love and relationships.
This series of articles will be devoted to our favorite musicians and the songs that have traveled with us through different phases of life. That’s why I’m calling it “The Enduring Life of Songs.” Some songs persist with us at different stages of life and take on different meanings and understandings. Check back soon for my article featuring Sting’s overlooked song, “All This Time.”
At this stage, I’m not all that fun but hey, I’m working on it. While a convenient excuse would be that having small children has turned me into a manic shrew, in fact, I’m probably more fun now than I was 5 years ago. Before sharing my tips for boosting your inner fun person, I’ll tell you a little bit about my background.
Growing up in an isolated rural setting, I developed a propensity for objects and tasks over people. This type of upbringing often leads to a conscientious observer personality with technical aptitude. Some may refer to us as nerds. And so that’s what I am. A female nerd. If you saw me today, you’d probably not guess I know the Sith Lord master-apprentice lineage from Star Wars mythology, or how to automate leveling your tailoring skills in Everquest 2. You also might not think I can take 3.5 million lines of raw data and turn it into an interactive dashboard, but I certainly have. I can accomplish all of these items with ease and find them “fun” but they are considered boring by most subjective standards.
Even my Easter eggs are nerdy.
My journey has been complex and often lonely. A pleasant appearance and rural Alabama upbringing often elicits unflattering stereotypes about my intellect and abilities. For example, I have trained coworkers and shared knowledge with those who did not have these perceived flaws and watched them garner favor using the learning they received from me. These small injustices damaged my spirit and led to self loathing and defeat. In my case, I wanted so much to be someone else, that I lost what is unique about me which is my background and my journey.
While my situation is uncommon, many of us struggle through daily slights and injustices that lead us to question our purpose and identity. Below are some tips I use for coping:
Focus on yourself. This one is especially tough for me. Social media, working in a crowded office, and living in a small town all contribute to daily comparisons made between myself and others. Some people are masters at projecting a perfect life and image but at what expense? Falling into the trap of comparison is mentally defeating and depletes the valuable energy you have to focus on what’s important to you.
Find a friend. Another challenge for me, but I have managed to find some. One voice of support can add tremendous value to your life. My best work friend is a kindred spirit who manages to make me laugh during the most stressful times.
Get back to who you are. Are you living to impress your social media friends, your family or your spouse? Your need to create a false persona is draining and honestly not fooling anyone. Stop fearing being “found out” and just live as you. You’ll like yourself a whole lot better too.
Feel what you gotta feel. Allow yourself to dislike things. Your feelings don’t always have to be publicly expressed but letting your inner voice invalidate them won’t make you feel better in the long term. Go through the bad feelings. Question yourself but don’t always assume you’re wrong when something doesn’t feel right.
Try to laugh every day. About 5 years ago, a coworker told me that I didn’t laugh anymore. He was right. I was taking myself, my pain, and my living situation so seriously that I had stopped laughing at anything. If I haven’t laughed all day, I turn on a favorite comedy or search for funny memes for some laughs.
Overall I’m learning every day to improve my fun factor. Let’s just say it still needs a lot of work, but using these coping strategies as a guide has helped to boost my mood and spirit.
“All good things are wild and free.” –Henry David Thoreau
Welcome to Free Range Writings – a lifestyle blog where we talk about making the most of every day. Our main focus is home life and creating the best space possible for ourselves and our families. Our articles feature wellness, recipes, product reviews, entertainment, self-help and more!
