Sunday, November 30, 2014

Review - Trading Secrets



Trading Secrets
by Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: October 21, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800722272
Pages: 288
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I thought I would end November by reviewing a few books that have been read, but haven't been reviewed yet as I have been busy. One of these books is Trading Secrets by Melody Carlson! 

Almost everyone has probably had a pen pal during their life, most likely when you were in elementary school. Well, pen pals happens to be the theme of Trading Secrets. You see the main character, Micah Knight, began writing to her Amish pen pal, Zach Miller, when she was in the 5th grade. After all these years of writing back and forth to each other, Micah is finally going to meet Zach, but there is one small problem - Zach is under the impression that Micah is a male!

Micah knows that there is a big chance that Zach may not forgive her for never telling him that she was a female, but she really wants to meet Zach and visit his family’s farm.

The Perfect Present For Every Fisherman!


Yep, the holiday shopping season officially began on Black Friday, giving shoppers less than four weeks to find the perfect gift for your family and friends before the 25th!

Find the best gift can be a bit challenging, especially when whoever you are buying for already has everything. There is good chance that almost everyone has at least one fisherman in their family. Tomorrow on Cyber Monday, Alaska's famous fishing lodge, Waterfalls Resort, will be having a “Gift Wrap a Fish" deal, which all guests will receive a free round trip airfare (a value up to $750)!

Waterfalls Resort is located near Ketchikan, which is a 90-minute flight away from Seattle. Originally, it was called the Waterfall Cannery that was established in 1912 and ran until the late 1960s. It was remodeled in 1983 as Waterfalls Resort.

Here are some fun facts about Waterfalls Resort:
  • During the cannery years, the Waterfalls Resort location broke a world record for producing the most canned salmon in a single season.
  • Waterfalls Resort is located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, which is by one of the most famous fishing locations -  SE Alaska’s Inside Passage.
  • Waterfalls Resort has been operating as a private sport fishing lodge for over 30 years.
  • The resort provides the best rods, reels, tackle, bait and all-weather gear.
  • Guest can catch a wide variety of fish, including the king salmon (Chinook), Coho Salmon, halibut, ling cod, red snapper, black bass and rock fish.
  • The resort has their own fish processing team, who cleans, trims, packs and freezes each guests' catch.
The “Gift Wrap a Fish” deal can be booked from December 1st thru December 31st. The free airline tickets can be paired with the Land Package for 2 or more nights at the exclusive price of $3,510 per person. Airline baggage fees, as well as Alaska State fishing licenses and gratuities, are not included in the package.


Holiday Gift Guide 2014 - Snowman Throw



Snowman Throw
From: Oriental Trading

Retail:

$15.00
(on sale for $11.98)

Size:

60"L x 52"W

Description:

Let this cozy snowman family keep you warm all winter. Made of fleece with a stitched edge, you'll reach for this soft blanket all winter long. Give this throw as a Christmas gift or use it to decorate a chair for the holidays. 

Facts:

Machine Wash Cold
Imported

Buy Link:

Oriental Trading

Billy's Thoughts:

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Two Rivers Mega Coffee Sampler Pack Review + Giveaway




Looks like the holiday shopping season has officially kicked off starting yesterday on Black Friday. I noticed many of the stores have Keurig machines on sale, which would make a great gift for a family member or friend. Some makers come with a free K-cups and others don't! So you should consider giving some K-cups along with the coffee maker.

For the past few weeks, I have been trying out the Two Rivers Mega Coffee Sampler, which features 40 single brew cups.

While each box may vary, the 40 coffees that were in the box that was sent to me are:

Brooklyn Bean Hot Cocoa - Carnival Hot Coccoa (Salted Caramel Flavored)
Brooklyn Bean Hot Cocoa - Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa (Milk Chocolate Flavored)
Brooklyn Bean Roasted - Oh Fudge! (Chocolate Flavored)
Brooklyn Bean Roasted - Brooklyn Bridge Blend (Medium Roast)
Brooklyn Bean Roasted - Fuhgeddaboutit (Dark Roast Extra Bold)
Brooklyn Bean Roasted - Maple Sleigh (Maple Flavored)
Brooklyn Bean Roasted - Colombian (Medium Roast)
Charleston Chew - Strawberry Nougat (Flavored Hot Cocoa)
Tootsie Roll - Premium Hot Cocoa (Creamy Hot Chocolate)
Stash - Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea (Tisane Citron Gingembre)
Stash - Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea (The Vert Grenade Frambolse)
Stash - Chai Spice Black Tea (The Noir Chai Epice)
Prospect - Duke of Earl Grey (Caffeinated Earl Grey Tea)
Prospect - Pepperint Heights (Decaffeinated Peppermint Herbal Tea)
Prospect - Green Powder (Caffeinated Green Tea)
Cafe Artigiano - Caramel Macchiato
Cafe Artigiano - Cappuccino
Select By Trump - Resort  (French Vanilla Roast)
Select By Trump - Clubhouse (Medium Roast)
Cake Boss - Dulce de Lech (Decaf)Fireside Cider - Apple
Guy Fieri - Redwood Roast
Guy Fieri - Guy's American Diner Blend 
Workaholics Coffee - Let's Get Weird (Medium Roast)
Workaholics Coffee - Straight Grizzly (Honey Vanilla Flavored)
Hurricane Coffee - Coconut Fudge Typhoon
Hamilton Mitts Coffee - Hamilton House Blend (Medium Roast)
Hamilton Mitts Coffee - Pumpkin Spice (Flavored)

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Plush Mr & Mrs. Softly The Snowman Set


 
Plush Mr & Mrs. Softly The Snowman Set 
 
From: Oriental Trading

Retail:
$25

Sale Price:
$22.48

Product Description:

Make your mantel or tabletop a little more merry with a snowman scene sure to make hearts melt! Place this snowman couple in any room and create a winter wonderland with pine cones, holiday wreaths or even bed of faux snow for a fun frosty look this Christmas!

Facts:

(2 pcs. per set) 10" - 13" x 12"

Buy Link:

Oriental Trading

Billy's Thoughts: 

Friday, November 28, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Nov. 28th - Dec. 4th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

Do you visit the same blogs each week or do you branch out and try to find new blogs?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

I visit a wide variety of blogs every week; some are old blogs and a few are new blogs.


Linky List:

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Mighty Bright Lighted Seam Ripper


Mighty Bright Lighted Seam Ripper
by Mighty Bright

Retail:

$9.99

Description:

The Lighted Seam Ripper and Magnifier is the new secret weapon of quilters, sewers and embroiderers. This innovative model integrates both a light and a magnifier into one cleverly compact unit. The seam ripper features a sharp metal blade that unfolds from the main handle. It allows you to tackle seams and buttons with a genius combination of illumination and magnification. A 1.25″ lens quadruples the image size of your blade and stitch. The enlarged area is brightened by an energy-efficient LED, bringing details into sharp focus. Its ergonomically shaped handle offers a comfortable grip as you rip, snip and cut away. Durable ABS plastic construction and three micro cell batteries keep the weight at a minimum. The Seam Ripper is an incredible value for a slender dynamo. It fits nicely into any sewing kit, until you’re ready to get down to business ripping seams. 

Buy Links:



Billy's Thoughts:

Thursday, November 27, 2014

The Three Dogateers DVD Giveaway


'Tis the season to be shopping! Well, at least that will be the saying for tomorrow on Black Friday.

Available now on DVD is the family Christmas adventure The Three Dogateers from Image Entertainment. The film stars Dean Cain, Richard Riehle, Bill Oberst Jr., Andrea Monier and Sabrina Gomez! 

The Three Dogateer centers on three pampered pooches, whom are left to guard the house on Christmas Eve. They become fearless DOGATEERS when thieves break in and steal every present, every ornament—even the yuletide tree! Vowing to save Christmas, the three canines set out in search of Santa, the only one who can help them on their quest.

The movie can be purchased at Walmart.  


Blu-ray Review & Giveaway - The Hundred-Foot Journey


The Hundred-Foot Journey
Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon
Studio: Touchstone Entertainment / DreamWorks Pictures
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00MI56U6S
Running Time: 122 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray on Tuesday December 2, 2014 is feel-good movie The Hundred-Foot Journey. The film is directed by  Lasse Hallström and stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon. Extras include The Hundred-Foot Journey with Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey; The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey; On Set With Oprah Winfrey and Coconut Chicken.

Based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Richard C. Morais, the film centers on the Kadam family, whom leaves their home in Mumbai and eventually ends up in Saint-Antonia-Noble-Val, France. Papa Kadam (played by Om Puri) finds the perfect building for them to restart their family Indian restaurant, which happens to be directly across the road (a hundred feet) from the French restaurant named "Le Saule Pleureur" that is owned by Madame Mallory (played by Helen Mirren).

Competing against a high-end French restaurant is going to a major challenge for the Kadam family, but Papa has confidence in his head chef, his second-oldest son, Hassan (Manish Dayal). Madame Mallory is determined to get rid of them one way or another; first reporting them to the building inspectors and later trying to sabotage their restaurant.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Release Day Tueaday: November 25, 2014


If you would like to have a book, DVD or Blu-ray featured on a Release Day Tuesday post, please email me at billyburgess20@hotmail.com!

Adventure Time: Finn The Human
Studio: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

This Christmas, Santa’s got a brand new bag—courtesy of Cartoon Network! Following the huge success of the Jake vs. Me-Mow and Jake the Dad DVDs and accompanying Finn and Jake hats, fans of Cartoon Network’s smash hit series, Adventure Time, can now complete their Finn look with an authentic backpack, which is valued at around 20 bucks on its own, packaged with the DVD! Packed with 16 hilarious episodes from fan-favorite seasons, Adventure Time: Finn the Human is a must-have gift for any Adventure Time lover. Beginning November 25, 2014, for only $24.98, fans will be able to get their hands on nearly three hours of content and a sweet exclusive backpack, perfect for any adventure this holiday season.


Phobia
Studio: Image Entertainment

Jonathan MacKinlay is a man trapped inside his home by his own mind. Suffering from agoraphobia, caused by a car accident that took his wife's life; his existence has been reduced to a monotonous repetition of identical days. As his dread and self-loathing escalate, an onslaught of gruesome visions and twisted, waking nightmares begins to gnaw away at his last shred of sanity. Are these ghastly visions imaginary, private demons…or is he being victimized by a very real entity of infinite terror and unspeakable evil?






Monday, November 24, 2014

Review - Salsa Dancing Mastery System


Salsa Dance Mastery System
Studio: salsacrazy.com
Release Date: September 15, 2006
Retail: $147
ASIN: B000ICLS88
Running Time: 600 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I have no clue how to dance. I use to avoid dancing at all costs, because I feared that I would embarrass myself with my two left feet. Exercising has been a bit of a problem for me because of an injury, so I've been avoiding any high intensity workout. I have been looking for a new exercise that is isn't too demanding, so I finally decided to look into a dancing workout. Luckily for me, I got a chance to try the Salsa Dance Mastery System from salsacrazy.com.

The Salsa Dance Mastery System contains five discs (Beginners Vols. 1, 2, 3 & Intermediate Vols. 4 & 5). Of course with it being an introduction set, you have to learn the basic moves, step-by-step. The set retails at $147, but it currently priced at $67 on Amazon.

There are two instructors (male and female) throughout the Salsa Dance Mastery System. The first disc basically explains the basic steps in salsa dancing. It is a little boring, but you need to go through it, so you can master your steps and then you can go on to the next disc.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Brooklyn Bean Variety Pack Review + Giveaway



I can't function properly without my morning cup of coffee, so you can imagine that I have tired almost every brand of coffee imaginable. Though I am a coffee freak, I'm not going to pay over a hundred collars for a Keurig coffee machine, but instead I own a cheap Bella Coffee Maker, which I have enjoyed using for over a year now.

Many coffee brands are bringing out the single serve coffee cups (or otherwise known as K-cups) that are intended to be used with the Keurig machines. I keep seeing these K-cups in stores and I have always wanted to try one, but I didn't want to buy a new high-priced coffee brewer.

Luckily for me, I was sent a complementary 40 single serve Brooklyn Bean Roastery Variety Pack to review. Since I am a coffee nut, I was more than excited about trying this out. You might be wondering how I was going to brew these coffees without a Keurig. Well, that is simple, my current coffee maker has a reusable coffee filter, so I just pour in about a cup of water into the machine, poke a hole in the K-cups and pour the coffee grounds into the reusable filter. It works perfect this way, though I do recommend putting in a another cup of water as it was a bit too strong for my liking.

Please take note that if you do own a Keurig, these cups are not compatible with the Keurig 2.0 Brewers!

The 40 coffee cups in this variety pack are:

Blu-ray Review - The Wind Rises


The Wind Rises
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voice Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, William B. Macy
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00MHT49KO
Running Time: 127 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon


Review:

Now available to own on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time in the United States is the award-winning Japanese anime The Wind Rises. It is the final film from director Hayao Miyazaki before his retirement. Based on the manga Kaze Tachinu by Hayao Miyazaki, The Wind Rises is a fictional fictionalized biopic of Jiro Horikoshi. Special Features include The Wind Rises: Behind The Microphone, Storyboards, Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots and the Announcement Of The Completion Of The Film.


The Winds Rises tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who as a young boy dreamed of being a pilot, but his poor eyesight kept from it. Despite this setback, he still loves all aviation. He is determined to become an aircraft designer and follows the footsteps of his mentor,  Giovanni Battista Caproni (voiced by Stanley Tucci). He goes on to attend Tokyo Imperial University to study engineering, where he befriends future designer, Kiro Honjo (voiced by John Krasinski)

Bedphones Sleep Headphones Review


As far back as I can remember, I have always been a night owl. This has never really bothered me, as I do my best writing and blogging late at night, but after I finish my work there is nothing else to do. Yes, I could watch television, but there isn't much on after midnight except for repeats of reality shows. Therefore I try to go to sleep, but it isn't an easy feat and I normally have to listen to some music to help me doze off to beddy bye.

I'm a little bit behind on the current technology, so I don't own a MP3 Player or and iPod, instead I listen to music on my portable CD player at night. The problem is that I can't exactly lay down and listen to music because of my bulky stereo headphones. I have tried the smaller earphones, but they are uncomfortable too.

Luckily for me there is a new headphones that are meant to be worn when you are in bed. Is is called the Bedphones Sleep Headphones and it retails at $54.95. It is $5 higher if you want an incline microphone with remote, but it can be purchased on Amazon.com for $39.95. At 1/4 inch thick, these Sleep Headphones are the thinnest headphones in the world. They are designed to lie flat, so this way they won't disturb your sleep while wearing them. It comes with a neat black case and a sleep mask.

DVD Review - Adventure Time: Finn The Human


Adventure Time: Finn The Human
Voice Cast: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Dee Bradley Baker, Pendleton Ward, Polly Lou Livingston, Jessica DiCicco, Maria Bamford
Studio: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 25, 2014
Retail: $24.98
ASIN: B00MEXP5OW
Running Time: 176 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Buy Link:  Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD on Tuesday November 25, 2014 is Adventure Time: Finn The Human, featuring 16 exciting episodes from the popular Cartoon Network series and a sweet exclusive backpack, similar to the one Finn carries around in the series.

The creative world of Adventure Time was created by Pendleton Ward, who was inspired by video games and the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The series is set in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, where the heroes, Finn the human and his adoptive brother, Jake the dog, get into some sort of trouble in almost every episode. 



The episodes on the single-disc set are:

The New Frontier (Season 3)
The Lich (Season 4)
Finn The Human (Seaosn 5)
Jake The Dog (Season 5)
We Fixed A Truck (Season 5)
Bade of Grass (Season 5)
The Red Throne (Season 5)
The Great Bird Man (Season 5)
One Last Job (Season 5)
Little Dude (Season 5)
City of Thieves (Season 1)
Conquest of Cuteness (Season 3)
Who Would Win (Season 4)
Ignition Point (Season 4)
Furniture & Meat (Season 6)
Sad Face (Season 6)



Though Adventure Time is targeted at kids, the series has managed to win the hearts of adults with its snappy humor and Futurama-style humor, which ironically has John DiMaggio (he voiced Bender on Futurama) voicing Jake. Highlights from this DVD release includes the three-part episode - The Lich, Finn The Human and Jake The Dog. Overall, all the episodes on the Adventure Time: Finn The Human DVD are fun to watch and it would make a great stocking stuffer this Christmas for any fan, young or old. 



*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.


Friday, November 21, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Nov. 21st - 27th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

Do you have any advice for new bloggers?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

Start out by focusing on posting original content and reviews to your blog. It will take a while to gather a few loyal blog followers, so please be patient. Before you request to review a title from a major publisher, please make sure that you have at least a Google Rank of 1. Wait at least six months to a year before joining any sort of reviewer program.


Linky List:

Blu-ray Review - Kiki's Delivery Service


Kiki's Delivery Service
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voice-Cast: Kristin Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00MMPB4ME
Running Time: 105 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon


Review:

Available to own on Blu-ray from Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the 1989 (first released in the United States in 1998) Japanese anime Kiki's Delivery Service. The film is directed by the now retired Hayao Miyazaki and features the voices of Kristin Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman and Debbie Reynolds. Special Features includes an Introduction by John Lasseter, Ursula's Painting, Original Japanese Storyboards, Original Japanese Trailers Creating Kiki's Delivery Service, Producer's Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki, Scoring Miyazaki, Behind the Microphone, The Locations of Kiki's Delivery Service, Kiki & Jiji and Flying with Kiki & Beyond.

Based on the book of the same name by Eiko Kadono, Kiki's Delivery Service centers on a thirteen-year-old girl, Kiki (voiced by Kristin Dunst), who travels on a broomstick with her cat Jiji (voiced by the Phil Hartman) to the port city of Koriko, where she plans train to become a witch!


Kiki takes a job delivering goods on her broomstick for a baker named Osono (voiced by Tress MacNeille). She befriends many of the locals, including an artist, an old woman and a geeky teen. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that she can no longer fly, which forces her to halt her job at delivering goods. When a friend gets into trouble, Kiki must find away to regain her powers and save the day.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Review - Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!


Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!
by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Publisher: Ripley Publishing
Pub. Date: September 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-1609911096
Pages: 256
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Ripley's Believe It or Not! was founded by Robert Ripley as a cartoon in 1919 in the New York Globe. When Globe folded, Robert moved it to the New York Evening Post in 1923 and later moved it to the New York American in 1930 before heading into syndication. The cartoons all featured unusual and bizarre facts from all over the world. Several short films were released in the 1930s and there have been several television shows over the years as well.

2005 marked the release of the first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Annual featuring hundreds of unusual stories and articles with glossy photographs throughout each edition. The 2015 installment titled Reality Shock! was released back in September and includes the newest collection of unbelievable stories, crazy photographs and wacky facts.

Reailty Shock! is spilt into 11 different chapters:

Believe It!
The first chapter features some of the strangest things that you will ever see, such as a skateboarding mouse, the world's tallest man and a village full of dolls.

World
Take a trip around the world to climb the "Death Zone," step across the see-through path or climb the stairway to heaven.

Lazarus is an unusual looking feline with a lovable disposition. Born with a cleft palate that makes him look like almost vampiric, this cat is so warm and cuddly that his owner is using him as a therapy cat.

Animals
Chapter Three proves that animals can be strange too, such as the fluffy cows, the trapdoor spider, the flat face cat and the freaky lobster.

Sports
Chapter Four features the craziest sports and activities imaginable, from bubble soccer to berry boarding.

Body
Learn about several unique humans, such as Larry the Leopard, the young man that grew a new nose on his forehead and the Two-Headed Nightingale.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Soniclear Antimicrobial Sonic Cleansing System Review


When I started this blog I never imagined that I would be reviewing a health and beauty product, but here I am writing a review for the Soniclear Antimicrobial Sonic Cleansing System from Michael Todd.

The Soniclear Antimicrobial Sonic Cleansing System retails around $150. The world's first antimicrobial sonic skin cleansing brush features: 1 Soniclear Device, 1 Facial Brush Head with Cover, 1 Body Brush Head with Cover, 1 Charging Stand and 1 Charging Cord.

The problem with other face brushes and scrubs is that they easily get bacteria on them. The Soniclear brush has been treated  with a proprietary "life" antimicrobial product protection which is suppose to guard against the growth of stain and odor that causes bacteria. This means that you won't have to replace the brushes.

While I have seen several different cleansing systems in stores, this is first time that I have actually tried one. You might be wondering why a man would want to review a facial brush cleaning system. Well, to tell you the truth - my skin always breaks out after I shave. It doesn't matter what razors or shaving creams I use, it still happens, so that is why I was interested in trying out this cleaning system.

Though it is recommended to use the Michael Todd body wash, cleanser and facial scrub soaps, I didn't have any of them, so I used a Gillette face & body soap that I already had in my bathroom. The brush has 6 different speeds and over 300+ sonic movements per second (I didn't actually count these, instead I'm going by what was on the box). I have been using the Soniclear Antimicrobial Sonic Cleansing System on my face and my neck for over a week and I can see that the brush does work really well. I've been using the brush shortly after I shave in the mornings and it has helped stop the skin on my neck from breaking out.

For more information about the Soniclear Antimicrobial Sonic Cleansing System and to get 20% discount, please visit www.michaeltoddtrueorganics.com/soniclear-antimicrobial-cleansing-system/soniclear/new-soniclear.html.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review - Pilates for Dancers


Pilates for Dancers
Studio: SalsaCrazy.com
Release Date: March 31, 2006
Retail: $29.95
ASIN: B000ELJ3JE
Running Time: 104 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Let's just say that I have never been coordinated enough to  attempt to dance in public. I know that I'm not alone in this as many people out there can't dance. I have always heard that a key to any dancer is a strong core and one way to a strong core is through pilates.

Pilates was started by German-born Joseph Pilates during the early 20th Century. There are now millions of people, including dancers, who practice pilates, which involves muscle control, breathing and concentration.

Pilates for Dancers was released by SalsaCrazy.com and was created for anyone, dancer or non-dancer, to learn the basics of pilates. You'll learn 24 step-by-step exercises that will help you lose weight, strengthen your core and get into shape.

The 24 exercises are:

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Ozeri Cardio Tech Premium Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor Review


As you get older you should really keep an eye on your health. Most people have some sort of health insurance, but don't want to go to a doctor because the high deductible. If you are just looking to get your blood pressure checked, well,  then you can check your blood pressure for free at most pharmacies, but so many people use those machines, so the readings might not be accurate.

For the last few weeks, I have been trying out the Ozeri Cardio Tech Premium Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor. This a portable monitor that comes with a black storage bag, so you can take it on the road, work, school or wherever you are going. It comes with an arm cuff that is made from clinically proven technology. The monitor can store up to 1197 blood pressure readings, which can be shared with 3 different users. It has an automatic color-coded hypertension indicator, which will give you a warning if your blood pressure is a bit too high or if you have an irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia). There is a clock, date and time stamped on the monitor for each reading. It takes 4 AA batteries that are included.

Every blood pressure machine brands claim they are 100% accurate. The fact is that every one of these are going to give you a different reading, though the numbers are usually in the same ballpark. The Ozeri Cardio Tech Premium Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor has an interesting design, though I did have a bit of a problem with the arm cuff as it gets a little too tight when using it. I recommend not wrapping it too tightly. Plus, you need to push out the air of the cuff if you want to taking a second reading.

Monday, November 17, 2014

DVD Review - Housebound



Housebound
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Starring: Morgana O’Reilly, Rima Te Wiati, Glen-Paul Waru
Studio: XLrator Media
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Retail: $14.99
ASIN: B00MU1YEJK
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I grew up watching a slew of horror films while growing up and now as an adult I have been disappointed with the recent horror flicks that has been ruined by the PG-13 non-scary paranormal films and countless remakes. It seems the only watchable horror films are being released direct-to-DVD. I had the privilege of watching Housebound on DVD this morning, which will be available to buy tomorrow. The film is directed by Gerard Johnstone and stars Morgana O’Reilly, Rima Te Wiati, Glen-Paul Waru. It made its round at film festival earlier this year before heading to home-video.

Filmed in New Zealand and inspired by the reality series Ghost Hunters and the films The Changeling and The Legend of Hell House, the film centers on Kylie Bucknell (played by Morgana O'Reilly), a young woman who returns home after getting in a little trouble with the local authorities. Against her will, she is put on house-arrest in the house owned by her mother, Miriam (played by Rima Te Wiata), and step-father.


Kylie thinks her mother is a little crazy when she learns that her mother thinks the house is haunted because a murder took place there years ago. Kylie quickly changes her mind when objects start going missing and she starts hearing strange sounds coming within the walls. Her social worker, Dennis (played by Cameron Rhodes) starts to think that Kylie is as a crazy as her mother, but the security guard Amos (played by Glen-Paul Waru) believess she might be telling the truth.

Blu-ray Review - Princess Mononoke



Princess Mononoke
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voice Cast: Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith and Billy Bob Thornton
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00MMPB3VG
Running Time: 134 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Arriving on Blu-ray High Definition for the very first time is critically acclaimed animated classic Princess Mononoke from director Hayao Miyazaki. The newly remastered film features several bonus features, such as the Original Japanese Storyboards, Original Japanese Trailers, Princess Mononoke in the U.S.A. and Original Japanese TV Spots.

Princess Mononoke was originally released to theaters in Japan in 1997 and in the United States in 1999. Of course the United States version got an American voice cast, featuring the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith and Billy Bob Thornton. The film received great reviews from critics and moviegoers. 

The film centers on Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, who kills an evil possessed beast before it entered his village, but he is injured in the process. He is now poisoned with the same evil that controlled the beast. He is told that a possible cure for his curse may be somewhere in the western lands.


Review: Robot Chicken: Christmas Specials DVD

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.

Arriving today on DVD from Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is Robot Chicken: Christmas Specials, featuring all 6 Christmas Specials. Special features include commentaries, deleted scenes, deleted animatics and long-forgotten promos!

If you have ever been channel surfing late at night, then there is probably a chance that you came across an episode of Robot Chicken on Adult Swim. The series was created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. It premiered in 2005 and has become a ratings hit for the Cartoon Network. The premise of each episode (runs around 11-12 minutes each) follows a sketch-comedy format, where the series spoofs cartoons, movies and pop culture.

Since December 2005, Robot Chicken has aired six Christmas specials and each and every one is a parody of Christmas movies, specials and a little bit of everything else you can think of. Seth Green voices Santa Claus in the earlier specials while Seth Macfarlane takes over the role for the rest.


The six specials on the DVD are:

Friday, November 14, 2014

DVD Review - Power Rangers Megaforce: Robo Knight Before Christmas


Power Rangers Megaforce: Robo Knight Before Christmas
Starring: Andrew M. Gray, John Mark Loudermilk, Azim Rizk
Studio: Lionsgate / Saban Brands
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00N3N6F8C
Running Time: 68 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

If you have been in the department stores this week, then you probably noticed all the holiday decorations, gifts and everything else associated with Christmas on the shelves. Of course the electronic departments has been stocked for the holidays too with several new and old movies on DVD and Blu-ray. This coming Tuesday, Lionsgate and Saban Brands will be releasing Power Rangers Megaforce: Robot Knight Before Christmas to DVD, which is the Megaforce Christmas Episode form 2013. The DVD also features two bonus episodes, Power Rangers Wild Force - "Team Carnival" and Power Rangers Jungle Fury - "The Spirit of Kindness."

As you can probably guess, Robo Knight is the center of attention in Robo Knight Before Christmas. After seeing  the citizens of Angel Grove cutting down pine trees and putting up decorations for Christmas, Robo Knight goes on a search to find out what Christmas is really about.

"Robo Knight Before Christmas"

After seeking information from Noah (Blue Ranger), Robo Knight stumbles upon the toy donation. He is accidentally mistaken as a toy and is shipped off to a village in Africa. There, Robo Knight befriends the village's children and tells them stories of the Megaforce Power Ranger, while at the same time he finally learns what the true meaning of Christmas.

Review - The Christmas Cat


The Christmas Cat
by Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800719661
Pages: 176
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

It is almost hard to believe that another Thanksgiving is just around the corner, well, less than two weeks to be exact.  For the last few years I haven't had the Christmas spirit in me, ignoring any Christmas movie that was on television. This year I have already watched a few holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel. Plus, I have read several holiday themed books, including The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson. I'm a cat person, so it was a no-brainer why I wanted to review this book.

The Christmas Cat centers on Garrison Brown, a young man who hasn't made much time in his busy life to visit his grandmother since he returned home from his missionary work in Uganda. His parents died when he was young and his grandmother raised him. He gets the shock of his life when he learns that his grandmother had passed away just a few weeks before Thanksgiving. He is contacted by her lawyer and is informed that there are a few specifications she left behind for him in her will.

Garrison's grandmother left behind six cats, Oreo, Spooky, Muzzy, Viola, Rusty and Harry, all of which needs new homes as Garrison is allergic to cats, well, more like a phobia. It seems his grandmother had some money he didn't know about and she had paid off all her debuts including the mortgage on the house. It states in the will that Garrison would inherit the house, but only if he finds  good homes for all the cats. The cats can only go to local families that I lived in area for a while. After a short-term trial, Garrison ha to approve if the person or families are good owners or not. If he  lets them have the cat, they receive a gift his grandmother had left behind - $10,000 for each person who takes in a cat.