Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Marvel's Ant-Man


Marvel's Ant-Man
Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale
Studio: Marvel Studio
Release Date: November 8, 2015 
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00ZGDIGZ2
Running Time: 117 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon



Product Description:

The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe harnesses the tiniest but mightiest force know to man and introduces the newest member of the Avengers: MARVEL'S ANT-MAN. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must channel his inner hero and help his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of ruthless villains! With humanity's fate in the balance, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a daring heist against insurmountable odds. Filled with humor, awesome special effects and exclusive bonus features, this action-packed adventure takes you to new levels of pulse-pounding excitement! 



Billy's Thoughts:

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: The Imposter: A Novel





The Imposter
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: October 6, 2015
Retail: $14.99
ISBN: 978-0800723200
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon



Book Description:

Katrina Stoltzfus thought she had life and love all figured out: she was going to marry John and live happily ever after. Those plans started to crumble when her father moved the family to Stoney Ridge, then completely collapsed when John decided to marry someone else. Katrina is devastated. How could she have felt so loved, yet been so deceived?

As she struggles to face a future without him, a widow asks for her help to start a new business and Katrina quickly agrees. She needs time to heal her broken heart, to untangle her messy life, to find a purpose. What she doesn't need is attention from Andy Miller, a farm hand who arrives at the widow's farm just when help is most needed--and who always seems to say the right thing, and be in the right place, at the right time. Is Andy for real, or too good to be true? Deceived once before, Katrina is determined to keep her feelings in check.

When a cascade of events is set in motion by some surprising information, the little Amish church is turned upside down. Soon, everyone has a stake in the outcome, and the community struggles to find the best response to an imposter in their midst. Can they forgive even the most deceitful deeds?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher introduces her loyal fans to a brand-new series set in their favorite town--Stoney Ridge. As always, Fisher delivers endearing characters and plot twists that keep readers turning page after page after page.

 

About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of Anna's Crossing, the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher. 


Billy's Thoughts:

Monday, December 7, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Extreme Treks: Sacred Mountains of China: Season 1


Extreme Treks: Sacred Mountains of China: Season 1
Studio: Ryan Pyle Productions
Retail: $19.99
ASIN: B00ROM0EIU
Running Time: 185 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Buy Link: Amazon




Product Description: 

Four Remote Sacred Mountains, One Unforgettable Journey. Join adventurer and renowned photographer, Ryan Pyle, as he spends months exploring and photographing Western China's remote Sacred Mountains in an effort to better understand these most sacred Tibetan regions. His human-powered adventure is "one of the ages" as he explores the remote provinces of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan.  


Billy's Thoughts:

RAW MEAL: Chocolate Cacao Now Has Less Sugar and More Protein!



It's Monday, so probably many of you are feeling a bit sluggish. Or maybe it's just me today. Nevertheless, the best way to give yourself a boost is by drinking a tasty protein shake.

You might recall me reviewing the Raw Meal: Chocolate Cacao (read my review here) earlier this year. Well, Garden of Life listened to their customers and tweaked the powder mix. It now has less protein (only 1g now), 15% more protein (20g per scoop) and is loaded with 45 Superfoods!

Garden of Life nicely sent me a sample 17.4oz container to test out and review a few months back, and as you can see, I'm finally getting around to reviewing it. Each container has about 14 scoops (servings), if you are wanting just a shake. If you want to use it as a meal replacement (2 scoops), then it would last only 7 days.

Just like other Garden of Life products, this is NON-GMO Verified (independent third party verification). There is no gluten and it's soy & dairy free. Also, there are no added sugars, artificial flavors or sweeteners.

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Sunday, December 6, 2015

Review - Tributes and Treasures



Tributes and Treasures
12 Vintage-Inspired Quilts Made with Reproduction Prints
by Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison
Publisher: The Patchwork Place (an imprint of Martingale)
Pub. Date: October 6, 2015
Retail: $26.99
ISBN: 978-1604685671
Pages: 96
Buy Link: Amazon



Book Description: 

Perfect for showcasing reproduction fabrics, each nostalgic design in this charming collection is inspired by quilts from the 1800s. Be inspired by top-selling traditional patterns from Red Crinoline Quilts.
  • Bask in the beauty of 12 bed-sized quilt patterns reminiscent of nineteenth-century designs
  • Enjoy the stories--fascinating tales of yesteryear bring each quilt to life
  • Follow detailed project instructions and successfully create the quilts you love

About the Authors:

Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison met more than 15 years ago when they both moved to the same street in Katy, Texas. Paula taught quilting classes at the local quilt shop and Mary Ellen was the devoted student. They quickly formed a friendship that went beyond their love of quilting and reproduction fabric to become Red Crinoline Quilts.

Paula began quilting in 1989 after moving to Dallas, Texas. Not knowing anyone, she decided to take her six-month old daughter to the Dallas Quilt Show. Three days later, she was hooked. After discovering that hand piecing wasn't her thing, Paula visited a notions counter and purchased the tools she would need to cut out and piece her quilt tops. Once she completed her fourth top, she was asked to teach a class at a local quilt store. Her husband encouraged her to give it a shot and the rest, as they say, is history. Paula taught in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for more than 25 years, and now teaches at shops and quilt guilds throughout the US.

Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison met more than 15 years ago when they both moved to the same street in Katy, Texas. Paula taught quilting classes at the local quilt shop and Mary Ellen was the devoted student. They quickly formed a friendship that went beyond their love of quilting and reproduction fabric to become Red Crinoline Quilts.

Learning from her mom's expertise, Mary Ellen began sewing at the age of 12 and made most of her own clothes as she grew up. The year 1975 saw a resurgence in quilting due to the upcoming Bicentennial Celebration, so Mary Ellen made her first quilt, a baby quilt that defied almost all of the rules of quiltmaking. Fortunately, shortly after that initial attempt, Mary Ellen took her first quilt class and the spell was cast. Being a wife, mother of three, full-time school librarian, and seamstress for her three children took most of her time, but her love of quilting and fabric was always present. Relocating to Texas, meeting Paula, and discovering reproduction fabrics reignited Mary Ellen's enduring passion for quilts.


Billy's Thoughts:

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Whitman Encyclopedia of U.S. Paper Money and Currency Album



Whitman Encyclopedia of U.S. Paper Money
by Q. David Bowers
Publisher: Whitman Publishing
Retail: $69.95
Buy Link: Whitman

Product Description:

Collect, grade, and attribute your paper money. Organize your collection, with Friedberg and Whitman numbering systems. Make wise purchases in today's market.

900 Pages; more than 1,600 full-color images. Printing quantities for nearly all issues - a guide to rarity. Dealer pricing for all federal notes, 1861 to date, $1 to $10,000. History and values for Continental Currency, War of 1812 notes, Fractional Currency, encased postage stamps, star notes, mules, error notes, and more. Auction data, market commentary, more than thousands of prices and values, multiple grades, a bibliography, extensive endnotes. Hardcover. And get the currency album as a bonus! A $109.00 Value!


Billy's Thoughts:

Friday, December 4, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: The 10th Kingdom: 15th Anniversary Special Edition


The 10th Kingdom 
15th Anniversary Special Edition
 Studio:Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: November 3, 2015
Retail: $24.98
Running Time: 447 minutes
ASIN: B0159B1HKQ

Product Description:

Join an all-star cast as they find fantasy, action, romance and adventure in the Emmy winning® The 10th Kingdom! Beyond the mortal world lies Nine Kingdoms where the fantastic land of fairy tales and magic are brought to life – and reinvented. The themes and ideas of folklore and mythology perform fully as the classic characters enter a vortex at the edge of the mortal world which leads them to The 10th Kingdom…Central Park!

This ten part mini-series tells the tale of Prince Wendell (Daniel Lapaine) and the evil queen (Dianne Wiest) who has doomed him to spend the rest of his life as a dog. In order to recapture the throne Prince Wendell travels through the portal to the mythical kingdom of Manhattan and finds two ordinary mortals Virginia (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and Tony (John Larroquette). Together they battle the evils of the parallel universe, and defend themselves from vile trolls, goblins and every fairy tale character imaginable! Stunning visual effects and a stellar cast create an epic adventure that will enchant audiences of all ages!

An all-star cast featuring a wealth of Emmy®, Oscar®, and Golden Globe®-wining and nominated talent including: John Larroquette (Boston Legal, The Practice), Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Nashville, Father of the Bride), Scott Cohen (Love and Other Drugs, Jacob’s Ladder), Ann-Margret (Bye Bye Birdie, Tommy), Rutger Hauer (Batman Begins, Sin City), Daniel Lapaine (Double Jeopardy), Camryn Manheim (The Practice), Ed O’Neill (Modern Family, Married with Children) and Dianne Wiest (Edward Scissorhands, Parenthood)!




Billy's Thoughts: