Friday, February 6, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: February 6th - 12th

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!

Is there anything that turns you off when you are reading a blog post? For example: two posts in one post such as answers to two memes.

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: 

Yeah, having two meme answers in one post can be a bit annoying as I feel like I have to comment on all the answers, even on the memes that I'm not participting in. Then again, I do understand that the blogger has limited time and putting two or more meme answers in one post can be a timesaver!

Linky List:

Blu-ray Review - 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition


101 Dalmatians: Diamond Editon
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Cast: Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, Betty Lou Gerson
Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00OZLF4AG
Running Time: 79 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Getting the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 is the classic Disney animation film 101 Dalmatians!

The film is based on the 1957 book by Dodie Smith, which was adapted to the screen by Bill Peet.  Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wolfgang Reitherman co-directed the film, which was original titled One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It arrived in theaters in 1961 to critical acclaim and was re-released several times to theaters over the years. A live-action version was released in 1996, followed by a sequel in 2000. A short-lived animated series aired in 1997 and in 2003 the direct-to-video sequel, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, was released.

101 Dalmatians centers on a male dalmatian, Pongo, and his bachelor owner, Roger, whom run into a single woman, Anita, and her female dalmatian, Perdita, while out for a walk on the streets of London. Roger and Anita fall in love and get married and so do their dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita. The dalmatians eventually have their own pups, fifteen to be exact - Patch, Lucky, Rolly, Penny, Freckles and Pepper. (The names for the other pups are never mentioned in the film.)

Anita's old schoolmate, Cruella De Vil, is wanting to purchase all fifteen puppies, but Roger and Anita decide to keep all the dalmatians. Everything seems to be perfect for the family until the puppies are kidnapped...

Bonus Features include:

Thursday, February 5, 2015

DVD Review - Poker Night


Poker Night
Director: Greg Francis
Starring: Beau Mirchoff, Titus Welliver, Michael Eklund, Ron Eldard, Corey Large, Halston Stage, Giancarlo Esposito, Ron Perlman
Studio: XLrator Media
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Retail: $14.99
ASIN: B00PV09C6M
Running Time: 105 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD from XLrator Media on Tuesday February 10, 2015 is the crime thriller Poker Night. The film is written & directed by Greg Francis and it stars Beau Mirchoff, Titus Welliver, Michael Eklund, Ron Eldard, Corey Large, Halston Stage, Giancarlo Esposito and Ron Perlman. There are no special features on the disc.

Poker Night is set in Warsaw, Indiana and centers on a rookie detective Stan Jeter (played by Beau Mirchoff) and his nearly underage girlfriend, Amy (played by Halston Sage), whom are kidnapped and tortured by a sadistic masked serial killer (played by (Michael Eklund). Stan must use the knowledge handed down to him by his veteran officers, Calabrese (played by Ron Perlman), Bernard (played by Giancarlo Esposito), Davis (played by Corey Large), Maxwell (played by Titus Welliver) and Cunningham (played by Ron Eldard), so he can outsmart the killer.

The film was released on VOD on December 5, 2014 and received a limited  theatrical release on December 20. It received mostly negative reviews from critics and holds a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

3 Simple Tips to Eliminate Distractions while Writing


As writers, it is our job to think. But in the age of distraction, finding the ability to focus is becoming a lost art.

I have worked as a writer for home for seven years. During that time, I’ve found a few tips and tricks that help me focus, eliminate distractions, and become a better writer.

Make Time to Think

As a writer, a lot of my job is in my head. I have to have periods of quiet reflection to plot out my words. My writing is 1,000 times better when I have had time to reflect and think about what I want to say.

I do a lot of thinking at night after the children go to bed. This planning time enables me to clarify what I need to do for the next day.

Disconnect

The Internet is amazing, but it is also the Queen of distractions. I don’t use these, but I’ve seen some pretty cool apps that you can download that will actually prevent you from accessing the Internet during certain periods.

I have to have online access for research, but I try to avoid time suckers like social media and e-mail during my writing time.

Don’t Skip Meals

You know what causes distractions from writing? Hunger.

Not only does your brain not function as well without food, but if you are hungry, you’ll be thinking about how you want a sandwich, not about your work.

I often have trouble with this one, because when I get into the zone, I want to keep going until I finish. However, if I equip myself with food in advance (and sometimes snacks while I’m working), then I won’t lose focus due to hunger.


Want more tips on how to stay focused while writing? Comecheck out my companion post at Daily Mayo!

Brenda is a fellow book-lover and coffee-addict. She is a freelance writer, punctuation nerd, and grammar enthusiast. Her favorite book genres are Science Fiction, Fantasy with a Twist, and Dystopian. Brenda blogs about books, writing and more at Daily Mayo. Find her here on CaW for Writing Tips Wednesdays the first Wednesday of every month.

Follow Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to updates from Daily Mayo to keep up with all the exciting things in her life; ranging from drinking coffee to get through the day to drinking coffee just for fun.

Petoyo™ Birds Flying Feather Cat Teaser Toy Review


I have been a cat lover all my life. I was given a male cat, Snuggles, when I was in the first grade and he lived for 14 years. I never thought I would own a cat until I took in a female calico cat, Gaby, on December 26, 2007 and in 2009 I took in a stray Tabby cat, Fred. Sadly, Fred passed away last summer.

Now, I just have Gaby, who is an older cat (I don't know her exact age). She's not a very playful kitty, but she does love any toys with catnip and she likes to the chase the laser lights.

This afternoon I received the Petoyo™ Birds Flying Feather Cat Teaser Toy in an oversize box from Amazon.com. I picked the "natural" toy that has feathers and a small bell that are attached to a fishing swivel. The swivel is attached to a black cord and the cord is attached to a 20-inch rod (flexible plastic). You are suppose to wave the cord back and forth in the attempt to recreate the movement of a bird. Though domestic cats are pretty tame, they are still felines, so deep down they still have hunter instincts in them, so this toy should get their attention.

"What Is This?"
Gabby inspecting her new toy!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

DVD Review - Man Of The House

Man Of The House
Director: Stephen Herek
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00QMWEIVC
Running Time: 100 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Being re-released to DVD today from Mill Creek Entertainment is the 2005 comedy Man Of The House. The film was directed by Stephen Herek and stars Tommy Lee Jones. There are no special features or extras on the single-disc DVD.

Man Of The House centers on a group of college cheerleaders, Heather (played by Vanessa Ferlito), Evie (played by Monica Keena), Barb (played by Kelli Garner), Anne (played by Christina Milian) and Teresa (played by Paula Garcés), whom witness a murder. The girls are brought to the local police station to take their statements, but the all have different descriptions of the shooter. With no other choice, Texas Ranger Roland Sharp (played by Tommy Lee Jones) is assigned to watch over the cheerleaders just in case the murderer attempts to harm them.

Of course Ranger Sharp doesn't get along with the five young woman, especially since he is living with them. All the girls want to do is party and prepare theor cheerleading skills for the next home-game, but all Ranger Sharp wants them to do is to stay in their house. This way it is easier for him to protect them. He wasn't planning on the cheerleaders trying to rebel against, attempting to steal his pizza, wearing clothes around the house that shows way too much skin and interfering with his relationship with his estranged daughter  Emma (played by Shannon Marie Woodward). The cheerleaders even try to help him on his date with the English teacher, Molly (played by Anne Archer.

While Ranger Sharp is being distracted by trying to protect the cheerleaders, the murderer is getting closer and closer to finding their location.

Review - The Dandelion Field


The Dandelion Field
by Kathryn Springer
Publisher: Zondervan
Pub. Date: January 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0310339632
Pages: 352
Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1yGTVen
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/kspringer

Review:

I don't read very many contemporary novels as I prefer historical settings, though I do from time to time find myself reading one. It could be because I recognized the title's author or the cover art dazzled me or I liked the blurb on the back cover. Or in the case of The Dandelion Field, I just liked the title, so I took a chance and signed up to review it.

The Dandelion Field centers on a single mother, Ginevieve Lightly, who decides to stay in Banister Falls, Wisconsin with her daughter Raine when her car breaks down, well, until her daughter graduates high school. She has high hopes for her daughter's future that is until she learns that Raine is pregnant and her pans on leaving the town at the end of school year comes to a halt.

Dan Moretti has grown up in Banister Falls and has been working as a firefighter. A few years back his friend was killed in a fire and ever since then he has been looking after his friend's wife, Evie, and his son, Cody. He has raised Cody to be a good person, but Dan is shell-shocked when Cody and his girlfriend Raine announce that they are going to parents.