Review This Reviews!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Review of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse photo by mbgphoto

In the 1800's the Rockland harbor was one of the busiest on the mid coast of Maine. A thriving limestone industry along with shipbuilding and fishing made this harbor essential for the mid Maine economy. In order to protect the harbor between 1881 and 1899 a long granite breakwater was built. In 1902 a lighthouse on the end of the breakwater was put into operation. The tower of the lighthouse is 25 feet tall and it is attached to a keeper's house. The light of the lighthouse flashes white every 5 seconds and in foggy weather a fog signal puts out one blast every 15 seconds.

Long Rocky Walk to Lighthouse

rocky walk to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse photo by mbgphoto

Rocky Walk to Light

As you can see in the photo above the breakwater is made of chunks of granite. On the day we visited there were several people walking down the breakwater to see the lighthouse at the end. After walking about a quarter of the way, I decided the long walk with my camera equipment was a bit treacherous so I stopped put on my long lenses and photographed from a distance. I also took several shots from the shore. One of the photos from the shore captures Owls Head lighthouse in the distance. Click on the link below the photo to read more about Owls Head lighthouse.

Owls Head Lighthouse

Today the lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation. You can visit the lighthouse by walking the 7/8 of a mile down the granite breakwater. Here is a photo of the lighthouse taken from the shore.

Ledges by the Bay

The motel that we stayed at was about a mile from the lighthouse and we had a wonderful view of another small bay adjoining the Rockland harbor. The photos below show the view from our room. It was exciting to watch the beautiful colors of the sunrise and sunset and to see the clipper ships sail past our view.

Zazzle Products from my Photos

Rockport Maine Harbor
by mbgphoto

Owls Head Maine Card
by lighthouseenthusiast

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Book Lovers Day, Let's Review Coffee Table Books for Everyone

In honor of Book Lovers Day, I'm looking at my collection of books and marveling at the variety of subjects that grace my coffee table!

Let's Review what makes a great Coffee Table Book Collection and see where it takes us.

The beauty about Coffee Table books is that they are really truly works of art in themselves. The topics can range from Architecture right through to Zebras in the Serengeti! There are subjects that are as individual as we all are. What appeals to one person may not appeal to another and yet when I look at Coffee Table Books (the big ones with beautiful pictures of people and places), I am always in awe at the myriad of choices. The one common part of every Coffee Table Book is a great review of the topic and pictures that you and I will never be able to replicate.

Travel Books

Travel books make a great collection that will be enjoyed by your many friends and family. Especially if they are places that you have visited. Most of the time these Travel Books have the highest quality pictures and always done under the most perfect conditions. Now let's be clear, I am not talking about "Travel Guides" for different destinations, but rather those beautiful large hard covered books that show places in their best and most photographic light. I have a beautiful book on the Sistine Chapel. It is one of my favorite Coffee Table Books, because while I have seen the Sistine Chapel with my own eyes, trying to get a great picture of it when there are hundreds of people milling about, is almost impossible.

Special Interest Books

Everyone has their own special interests and that is what makes coffee table books so interesting to me. You may like History, while someone else is into the History of Comics. Both of these subjects are well covered in Coffee Table Books. There is everything in between too! Fashion, Wars, Machinery, Animals and a host of other topics are all bound up in beautiful books that just wait for your eyes to enjoy them. The turning of the pages will show you picture after picture of marvels that man has either made, built, destroyed and more. There are books to inspire and even Old First Edition books that are proudly displayed on the coffee table or a bookshelf close by. One of my favorite topics is Architecture, so needless to say this book featuring works of Gaudi, happens to be a "go to" book when I need to relax and just enjoy some amazing buildings that are famous in their own rite.

Humor and Levity don't stray too far from our Coffee Table either!

My husband can be found on a Sunday evening enjoying the antics of "Calvin and Hobbs!" He had started to collect the comics out of the paper especially when he found one that related so well to our children. He would keep these in a file folder at his desk. One time when one of our boys came home, they found his "clippings file!" That Christmas they got together and purchased the Complete Collection of Calvin and Hobbs for their dad. Today, 10 years later, it is not uncommon to see him enjoying this gift and laughing with delight. Friends have come for a visit and found themselves drawn to our eclectic collection of coffee table books. Needless to say we enjoy sharing these books with our friends. Is there a rhyme or reason for any of these books to be there? No, other than they are all topics that we enjoy. We can pull out a book and lose ourselves in the Space Race, the Sistine Chapel, Gaudi's amazing architecture or just laugh with Calvin or Elizabeth in my "For Better or Worse Collection." Of course these days there is also a whole section in our bookcase beside the coffee table for the Complete Works of Dr. Seuss! When the grandchildren come to visit, they have their own "little library" and sit quite contently on the floor, flipping through their books strewn all over the coffee table.

Topics for Everyone!

Coffee Table Books come in any genre imaginable. There are lovely books on Dogs, Cats, Birds, Mountains, Fish in the Oceans, and the list is endless. I would suggest that if you have a friend or two with a special interest in a certain topic, you will find a Coffee Table book that they would enjoy for many years to come. They do make a great gift for that person that has just about everything under the sun and I know that they will get enjoyment out of your thoughtfulness. A beautiful quote that suits your friend and the topic of the book is all that needs to be added. What a wonderful gift indeed!

Just In Case:

There is the chance that you don't really like these lovely picture books, so for those who would rather have a pile of paperbacks or latest Best Sellers on their coffee table, then check out all the great Book Reviews you'll find right here: Review This Book Reviews

All pictures are courtesy of Pixabay.com

FOLLOW US ON:

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

The Collection (A Series) Reviewed

An Intriguing Drama Series To Stream

Sewing Machine image courtesy of Pixabay.com

The Collection is a series of episodes that can be streamed through an Amazon Prime membership. My husband and I started viewing it this weekend and we are really caught up in the drama of the show.

The story takes place in the late 1940s after WWII in Paris. It revolves around the fashion industry focusing on a small house of couture called Paul Sabine.

In case you are not much of a history buff, during the war France was occupied by the Germans. As one can imagine the fashion industry of Paris suffered during this occupation. In fact, Hitler wanted to move the fashion houses and designers to Germany.

The series hints at some collaboration with the Germans during the occupation and also shows how the industry is trying to make a comeback and restore its recognition of being the best place in the world for couture and new styles.

The Collection

I am not one who really gets too caught up in fashion but I do love the premise of this series. The set designs are remarkable! I love seeing how the staff worked at making a design on paper come to life in the sewing room. The attention to detail in how that room would have looked is amazing. In one scene a girl is working on a dress on a mannequin and my husband said, "What does she have on her wrist?" It was a wonderful old fashioned pin cushion that a seamstress would have worn on her wrist for convenience.

One might think that most men would not enjoy this series much since it deals with Paris fashion houses. My husband is really enjoying it because there is more than just creating unique dresses involved. I mentioned the hints of collaboration with the Nazis. There is an American reporter who is trying to dig up some dirt on that front. There is also a conflict between the two Sabine brothers that is quite interesting. Paul, who is known as the owner and top designer of the House of Sabine doesn't really design the dresses. His brother Claude is the real talent behind their designs but the public doesn't know that. I don't think most of the staff realizes who the real genius is. The mother of the brothers is pretty interesting too! There is something from her past that makes her mysterious. Paul is holding something over her and she does not want Claude to find out. She is a real piece of work!

We are finding that there is enough going on that both genders, male and female, can enjoy this series found on Amazon. The story holds your attention and keeps you wondering what will happen next. It is currently rated 4.6 stars out of 5 so it would appear that most viewers are rating it highly.

Currently the only way to view it is through your Prime membership. That might change in the future but for now only Prime members can watch it for free.

FOLLOW US ON:

Monday, August 7, 2017

Moodle Stressed Review

Moodles - doodles that change your mood.

What is a Moodle? In a Google search, the word "Moodle" brings up a variety of search results. The Moodle I am reviewing is a book series that was designed by the author to improve mood through doodling. This is a book that I personally would have picked up from the shelf, flipped through, then put back on the shelf and wandered away. But after seeing the Stressed volume put to use, I decided that I needed to help spread the word about the Moodle series.

What is a Moodle and why is there a series?

The Moodle books were written and illustrated by Emily Portnoi. She describes the books as:

"...a new concept in therapeutic doodling - fun doodle books for adults or children, with the power to change your mood" -- Emily Portnoi

Ms. Portnoi is a Designer, Art Director, and Illustrator. I think that her enjoyment of aesthetics and fun art is easy to see in the pages of her book.

Why I recommend the Moodle Stressed Volume

Since I admitted that this is a book that I would have leafed through then left behind on the bookstore shelf, why would I now recommend that very same book? I recommend it because one of my "kids" recommended it. And I watched as this young person "Moodled" into calmness.

There is nothing new about coloring, doodling, and fidgeting (keeping the hands busy while focusing on a task) as a means of relieving stress or anxiety. Ms. Portnoi writes that her books are a new concept in therapeutic doodling. I don't fully agree with that statement. Doodling/drawing is something that I've done with the kids I work with for just over two decades now (wow, time flies!). Some of the doodles in the Moodle book were very similar to things I've done with the kids over the years.

Are you still wondering why I recommend these books? I can see why you would be wondering that. Let me explain a little more.

The size of the book is a handy size (approx. 6" x 7.8").
The bold print of the illustrations is eye-catching and Ms. Portnoi's illustrations are fun and engaging.
What is new about her books is the variety of activities. All of the suggested doodles are open-ended and can be as brief or detailed as the user chooses.
The page corners are rounded and smooth
The pages are thick and a slightly "slick" paper stock (I am not a publisher, so I am unsure of the correct terminology). Not too slick for pens and pencils, but not regular rough paper stock.
The feel/texture of the pages were clearly pleasing to the youngster I was with while we colored in the book.

A few quick photos I took of some of the pages in the Stressed volume to show the variety of activities

The book is suitable for pencils, pens, and colored pencils. I did note that my young friend was using markers and gel pens. Some of the most vibrant and "wet" ink markers/pens did slightly bleed through the pages while some of the gel pens did not.

While this book was not my cup of tea, it was clearly very enjoyable for this young person. The activity did in fact improve mood and release stress in a remarkably short period of time.

As we sat and colored, I realized that I should stock up on some of the books in this series. I think that the book series will be helpful for folks who need to calm, focus, release stress, and improve mood. In my mind, I created a list of some of the people I will recommend the book to - including folks on the Autism Spectrum and who have difficulties with symptoms of anxiety, impulsivity, and ADHD.

The Moodles series offered on Amazon - including Moodles Happy

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Salt Life Review

Salt Life Signature Decal

What is Salt Life, you may be asking?

Salt Life, as defined by the Urban Dictionary, is:

“Salt Life ~ Originally a sticker on the back of cars used to denote a surfer, bodyboarder, or general beach bum whose life centered around the ocean or related beach going activities.”

Recently I reviewed apparel by Southern Fried Cotton, carried in the clothing department of the store I work for. Since our store is located in a coastal community, we cater to ocean and beach related clothing, popular in our area. Salt Life is another Southern and Coastal Company which manufactures the type of clothing we carry.

Origin of Salt Life

The Salt Life brand has come to represent the ocean and the many activities centered around it. It appeals to those who enjoy an active lifestyle surrounding surfing, fishing, diving and days spent on the beach.

Salt Life was begun in 2003 by four men who, besides being friends, were also passionate about the ocean and all it has to offer. These four 'watermen' are from Jacksonville Beach, Florida and thus that is where their company is located. Salt Life is more than just a Logo ~ it represents a style of life that is ocean and beach related.

Explore the Salt Life in TeeShirts, Hats, Decals and Lots More...

Cut Salt Marlin Life T-Shirt

Popular with fans of ocean fishing is the Salt Life Marlin Tee Shirts. They come in a variety of colors, and are found in different designs such as the Sun Tee (marlin leaping with sun behind it), Palm Tee (showing a palm tree on the beach and the marlin leaping in the ocean), and Marlin Waves (colorful design of a marlin leaping out of a large ocean wave).

The Ocean Life tee shirt line represents all there is to love about the ocean ~ the surfing, swimming, fishing and fun beach life.

There are fishing theme T-shirts with the “Life in the Cast Lane” sayings and designs such as hook, line & sinker that fishermen love. There are skull themes and anchor images, turtles and many others.

Sea La Vie Ladies T-Shirt @ Salt Life

Especially for the ladies, there are scoop neck Tees with clever sayings that remind one of the ocean and coast, such as “Sea La Vie”, “Seahorse Daze”, and “Living Salty Turtle”.

Salt Life also has a wide variety of hats for these seaside activities. Live the Salt Life is one of their favorite mottos. This 'Anchor' hat is a favorite for your beach-going activities.

Salty Crab Decal @ Salt Life

And, of course, there are stickers and decals, such as the one seen in the Introduction image and this Salty Crab decal. Check out all the Salt Life images of fishing poles and fish, sea turtles, palm trees, Salty crab and more.

Salt Life also carries clothing for kids, a line of shorts for men & women, and other beach gear such as beach towels, flags and coolers.

Everything that is a reminder of your favorite oceanside sport or beach activity. Check them all out on the Salt Life website.

Salt Life Food Shack

In addition to their clothing and gear designs, Salt Life also has restaurants called 'Food Shacks'. Currently, these restaurants are located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, St. Augustine Beach, Florida and Fernandina Beach, Florida, with plans to open more. They are known for their eclectic seafood menu and are lively hangouts for the beach-going crowd.

Enjoy Local Fried Shrimp and Beer Can Chicken, salads and tacos and Fresh Rolled Sushi, fresh fish and salt water favorites. Check the Jacksonville Beach menu here for these and many other selections, all available in their casual yet trendy open-air space located near the beach. Their motto is “Pull up a stool. Eat. Drink. And be Salty.”

Roatan Marine Park

The Salt Life Company 'gives back' in an effort to protect the oceans they love and preserve the seas and coral reefs for future generations. They have teamed with Roatan Marine Park to protect the waters and reefs in Roatan, Honduras. Check out the Roatan Marine Park website to see how they are working to provide a sustainable marine environment that can provide fisheries and tourism without harming the ecosystem.

Summary

Salt Life Signature Turtle Decal

Everyone enjoys the Salt Life, whether it's participating in water sports or simply having a 'beach day'. The Salt Life clothing and gear is perfect for anyone, seaman or land lovers, wanting a trip to the beach. The Salt Life Food Shacks specialize in tasty seafood.