Finding Love at Any Age: Don't Miss this Classic Rom Com

Hey there, fellow movie enthusiasts and hopeless romantics! 

Today, I'm excited to talk about one of my all-time favorite films that will make you believe in love again, regardless of age. 

It's the heartwarming and side-splitting romantic comedy, "Something's Gotta Give."

Picture this: an aging playboy, a sophisticated playwright, a picturesque beach house, and a whole lot of hilarious encounters. Welcome to the whirlwind world of "Something's Gotta Give."

Side Note: The beach house in this movie, and the master suite where "Erica" writes, is my personal-manifestation-dream-writing-spot!

First things first, here's the star-studded cast. Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Frances McDormand, Keanu Reeves, and Amanda Peet.

When you have the legendary Jack Nicholson and the timeless beauty Diane Keaton in the lead roles, you can expect nothing less than magic on the screen. With their sparkling chemistry, the duo brought this heartwarming story to life and made us laugh, cry, and cheer them on throughout the movie.

Side Note: How many times do you watch a movie you love? I've watched this one more than 20 times!

So, what's the story all about? Well, brace yourself for an unexpected turn of events. The film starts with Harry Sanborn (played by Nicholson), a seasoned music mogul with a reputation for dating women half his age. While on a romantic getaway with his latest young girlfriend, Marin Barry (the daughter of Erica Barry played by Diane Keaton) things take a wild turn when he suffers a heart attack.  

After Harry's health scare, Erica and Harry end up spending time together in Erica's beautiful beach house, and that's when the real fun begins. 

Both Harry and Erica are strong-willed and fiercely independent individuals, each set in their ways. Sparks fly, witty banter ensues, and soon they find themselves caught in a love-hate relationship that has us on the edge of our seats.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. While "Something's Gotta Give" could have taken the typical route of a May-December romance, the movie beautifully delves into the complexities of relationships and self-discovery. Harry and Erica's dynamic is a rollercoaster of emotions, full of laughs and poignant moments that'll tug at your heartstrings.

The film's charm also lies in the supporting cast, including the quirky but endearing Marin's (Peet) pursuit of her own happiness and the charming doctor for Harry, played by the ever-charismatic Keanu Reeves. 

Side Note: One of the many reasons I rewatch this movie is the amazing Keanu Reeves

Amid laughter and unexpected romance, "Something's Gotta Give" leaves us with a powerful message: that love doesn't always happen at the "right" time or the "right" age. It's unpredictable, messy, and beautiful in all its forms. 

The movie reminds us that we should embrace the journey, cherish the moments, and never shy away from taking a chance on love, regardless of age or circumstance.

So, if you're in the mood for a delightful romantic comedy that'll make you laugh, cry, and believe in love again, "Something's Gotta Give" is the perfect pick for your movie night.

With its witty humor, fantastic performances, and a heartwarming story that transcends age barriers, it's a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Remember, love, knows no age and can surprise us when we least expect it. Who knows, maybe you'll find your own "something" when you watch this excellent movie. 

So grab some popcorn, cozy up on the couch, and let "Something's Gotta Give" work magic on your heart. 

I watched it again the other night and plan to watch it again soon.

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Reviewing Homemade Immunity Cubes

I have recently caught a pretty bad cold/flu virus that has been going around which although annoying was a great chance to try out my immunity cubes that I had made a couple of weeks prior.

I got the recipe for these cubes on Instagram and I'll be honest I've found quite a few quick and healthy recipes on Instagram. The immunity cubes were created by the user @feelgoodfoodie and they are made as follows.

Immunity Cubes - Ingredients

12 oz fresh lemon juice

2 thumbs fresh ginger

2 inches fresh turmeric root

Directions for Making Immunity Cubes

Juice the lemons until you made the required amount of lemon juice (I used 5 medium-large lemons) and put the juice into a blender cup. Peel both the ginger and turmeric and add them both to the cup. Next, blitz them all together in your blender.

Strain the liquid into a jug and then grab an ice cube tray.

Now as a note I decided to purchase a new ice cube tray for this as I wanted to make sure I could easily remove one cube at a time (also this includes turmeric so I had to be prepared for staining, which you can see in the photo is a real concern!). I choose to go with a silicone-bottomed pop-out ice cube tray (like the one I've linked to). This worked really well for removing said cubes when needed.

Pour the liquid into the ice cube tray and pop into the freezer.

Once frozen your immunity cubes are made and ready for when they are needed.

How to Use Immunity Cubes

When you are feeling sick simply take the ice cube tray out of the freezer, pop one of the cubes into a mug and add boiling water.

You can add honey or not, it's entirely up to you. On days when my sinuses were blocked, I didn't bother with the honey, but when I had a sore throat I added some raw honey. Honestly, I think it tastes a lot better WITH the honey!

I found that they definitely seemed to help me and in my opinion were a lot better than the Lemsip sachets I used to have when I was younger. The hot drink is always nice when you have a cold and it's also a great way of getting fluids into you and that's all without counting the health benefits of all three of the ingredients.

 

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Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent ~ A Book Review

 Strange Sally Diamond is set to be the talk of the book world when it is published on July 18, 2023!

I love to read and I'm generally drawn to Historical Fiction and Cozy Mysteries.  But once in a while I like to stretch my boundaries and search for something completely new!  

Strange Sally Diamond caught my eye as a book that might interest me mainly because of the title.  We just found out that one of our grandchildren is on the Autism Spectrum, she can be a little strange sometimes and I thought I might learn something when reading this book.  Well, I did learn something for sure, but nothing that I had expected!  This book was a real eye-opener for me.

Well, it has nothing at all to do with Autism per se, but rather what happens when someone is so damaged early in life (by circumstances imposed on them) and how the human spirit helps (or hinders) the very fragile psyche of the individual in the outer world.

Strange Sally Diamond is that girl.  She has a horrific childhood that she cannot remember.  At the tender age of 7 she is adopted by the very people who "found" her.  So damaged was her mind, that no one was considered capable of caring for this youngster.  So the psychologist and the medical doctor (The Diamonds) who were working with her, were granted guardianship of this young girl and adopted her.

Sally is a reclusive person, by nature of where she has come from and what she has been through, and encouraged to be so by her "new family".  Much media attention followed her for many years after she was first rescued.  In order to help her the Diamonds decide to live in the country away from media attention while Sally grows up.

She has a loving relationship (in her mind) with her new mom and dad as they don't make too many demands on her personally.   She is home schooled and doesn't have too many friends.  Sally's problems begin when she tries to incinerate her father after his death in their home. He left instructions for her and she followed them to the letter!   Media frenzy ensues as Sally is arrested for this "crime" and she's no longer protected by the confines of the family home.  She only has a couple of really good family friends who have been with her from the time of her arrival on the family 's farm.  

Stepping out into the world for the first time Sally must learn to navigate a world she does not know or understand and really has not been a part of for most of her life.  Her new mom and dad had sheltered her completely.  After mom's death, dad kept her even more isolated from the "outside world".  But then he died too.......

The twists and turns in this book are enough to keep you turning the pages.  What is "normal"  and how do you help someone who is NOT part of that very narrow definition?

Sally has some help, but she also has a lot to learn both about the present, the past and the future.

You can pre-oder this book through Amazon and it will be published July 18 of this year.  It is a page turner and if you enjoy mind bending books, this one will keep you totally captivated.

I'm going back to re-read it once again, it is that good.  Mark your calendar or pre-order the choice is yours, but you will not regret reading this book!

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I Will Find You – A Book Review

The latest suspense thriller by Harlan Coben

Storyline

As the story begins, David Burroughs is in his fifth year of a life sentence for murdering his three-year-old son, Matthew. Only one problem; he didn't do it. 

David was alone with his child that night, as his physician wife was working a night shift.  He knew he got drunk the night it happened and apparently slept through the whole thing. He woke up to discover that Matthew had been murdered. Since there was no evidence pointing to anyone else, and since David had no real alibi, he was convicted and sent to prison. 

Half a decade later, his wife Cheryl has divorced him and remarried. David has had no visitors all this time. Then, Cheryl's younger sister, Rachel, comes to see David to show him a strange photograph taken by friends of Rachel's on vacation at an amusement park. In the background is a boy who bears an eerie resemblence to David's son. It doesn't seem possible; it just can't be, yet David just knows.  Matthew is still alive. 

Somehow David has to get out of prison, search for his son and discover what really happened. To do so, he plans and successfully accomplishes a daring prison escape. 

Now David's life is on the line and the FBI is following his every move. Can David evade capture long enough to discover what really happened, save his son and clear his name? The shocking truth will be revealed in the final moments of the story. 

Summary

Another thriller by this master of suspense. I Will Find You is Harlan Coben's most recent (March 2023) novel. 

Quick Links to more reviews of Harlan Coben:

• Book Review of CAUGHT by Wednesday Elf
• TV Series Review of THE STRANGER by Lou16 aka Louanne Cox
• Book Review of WIN by Wednesday Elf
• Review of the Mickey Bolitar Series of Young Adult Books by Wednesday Elf
• The Boy from the Woods – review by Wednesday Elf
• The Woods Book Review by Wednesday Elf
• The Match – A Novel by Harlan Coben – Book Review by Wednesday Elf

*Book Review written by Wednesday Elf

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Review Of Slim Non Slip Space Saving Clothes Hangers

 

I have used these slim, non-slip space saving clothes hangers for years in our wardrobes and find them a joy! I am not the best at organising clothes and these hangers really do help me to maintain a more organised and neater, more useable, pleasing space in the wardrobes. 

I used to have quite a mix of hangers in our wardrobes, anything from bulky yellow plastic and lovely thick wooden hangers which did the job but took up space themselves. I even used those that came with clothes bought from shops which were often black shiny plastic.

I disliked the clattering noise the black plastic hangers make and the way they all got caught up with each other often snapping in the process. All the hangers were different colours, clothes were difficult to find and get out of the wardrobe and the wardrobes themselves just looked messy.

 Also, my silkier clothes were always falling off the hangers onto the floor to my regular annoyance. They became creased and needed washing again, so could not be worn when I needed them. 

It may sound silly, but going into the wardrobes each day and facing that disorganization became a source of a sort of mild stress in my life I did not need! 

These slim, non slip, space saving clothes hangers have made a huge difference to the organisation of our wardrobes and made it a pleasure to pick out clothes to wear in the morning. 

Slim non slip hanger for shirts, dresses and tops  Photo By Raintree Annie

Advantages And What I Love About The Slim Non-Slip Hangers

• Being so slim they make a huge difference in the number of clothes you can hang in a wardrobe space. The profile is so slim, really just a few millimeters, the only real width it takes up is the type of clothes you hang on it. 
• As they are covered with velvet or velvet like material, it crucially prevents clothes from slipping off onto the floor. It also keeps clothes looking nice without ugly hanging marks. 
• If you buy enough of one colour to hang all your clothes on it can make your wardrobe look quite beautifully designer colour coordinated and extremely organised without much effort. 
• Or you can colour coordinate your clothes for example shirts on one colour hanger, dresses on another colour and so on. 
• What we do is to have all my clothes on one colour hanger and my husband's clothes on a different colour.
• If you have children you can choose a different colour for each child or let them choose. 
• Even very silky or lightweight floaty clothes do not slip off these hangers which is a wonderful plus as I used to find my silky tops at the bottom of the wardrobe all the time, but now they remain firmly on the hanger. 
• All clothes are now hanging at the same level which looks pleasing to the eye and makes finding clothes much quicker.
• Clothes do not get crushed so easily and I find stay looking good for much longer even if you don't regularly wear them. 
• These slim hangers with velvet or velvet like material coverings are quiet, they do not clatter like the plastic ones and so are much calmer to use. 
• I find the hangers reasonably sturdy especially if you buy the heavy duty ones. Depending on what quality you buy they may not always last as long as good quality wooden ones but they are at a price point where it is not too much to replace any that do break after a few years. 
• You can hang shirts, dresses, cardigans, trousers, leggings, jeans, skirts and jackets to name a few on these hangers. You will need the hangers with a bar across to hang trousers and jeans. 

Slim Non Slip Hanger with bar for trousers and jeans Photo By Raintree Annie

• These hangers come in a wide range of lovely colours to suit different members of the family or different uses. A single colour of the Slim Hangers looks very chic and efficient in a wardrobe. You can buy them in white, black, grey, pastel colours and bold colours to suit everyone in the family and your wardrobe! 
• If you do not have a wardrobe and rely on a hanging space or freestanding hanger then having all the hangers in one colour and one type just makes the clothes hanging space look so organised and neat in a room. 
• Some of the hangers come with a small hook as in the photograph below. With these types of hangers, you can hang your clothes on them, then use the hooks to stack the hangers using the hook to make them even more space saving. I usually hang no more than two or three hangers together to achieve this as clearly it will make clothes hang lower in the wardrobe and puts more pressure on the top hook. However, especially for light shirts and tops, it is a wonderful space saving tip.

 

Slim Non Slip Hangers with hooks Photo By Raintree Annie

Disadvantages Of The Hangers

• The weak point I have found on pretty much all these hangers is where the metal hook meets the hanger. You do need to watch for signs of wear in that area. However, I have found ours do last many years and many have not shown any wear. 
• Never try to jam them into an overfilled wardrobe. If you do they may break. Rather make sure there is a clear space, which there now should be as these are so space saving!  
• I have found it is not good to pile many clothes on one hanger, for these hangers one normal clothing item or two light items is enough. Personally, I do not hang really heavy clothes like coats and heavy jackets on these types of hangers, I use thicker and broader hangers for these items. 
• I do not feel they are really suitable for hanging damp or wet clothes after washing. So we keep plastic or wooden hangers for laundry purposes and these slim non-slip ones for dry clothes.

The Joy Of An Organised Wardrobe Of Clothes!

Our wooden hangers and my special pretty padded hangers are still used for some heavier clothes or those that require a wide hanger or if they are on display, but they are reserved for these few items and do not form the majority of our wardrobe hangers.

Now the majority of our clothes are hung using slim, non slip, space saving hangers. We feel more organised and can find the clothes we are looking for so much more easily. 

There is certainly more space in our wardrobes, our clothes look better, and it all just feels so much clearer and neater. It is an altogether quieter, calmer and happier experience choosing clothes to wear in the morning!

We always try to clear out our clothes and wardrobes in late Winter or early Spring and it feels so good to have it all lovely and tidy with our clothes hung on these slim, non slip, space saving hangers.

The wardrobe looks organised, calm and tidy and in a sometimes chaotic and stressful world, this small change makes one aspect of daily life a bit easier. 

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Automobile Windshield Snow Cover for Ice and Snow Reviewed

A few years ago, we were picking up a family member at the airport when I saw an SUV decked out with this windshield cover.  I thought it was genius!  Ice and snow were imminent in our area that day.  I am certain the driver of that vehicle didn't wish to return to a windshield that needed to have ice and/or snow scraped off before they would leave.

I went home that very night and did a search for a windshield cover that would fit our SUV.  Since we park it on our driveway, it is constantly exposed to whatever weather hits.  Unfortunately, in our area, we are more likely to get ice or at best, a wintry mix.  It is a very cold job to scrap a windshield.  

We have plastic scrapers in all of our vehicles in case we are caught out when the weather moves in.  However, this windshield snow cover is easy to carry in the car and cover the windshield on a work day if ice or snow are predicted. 

Driving on ice is dangerous enough.  We don't need to exhaust ourselves scrapping the windshield before we get behind the wheel to drive home. 

I do recommend keeping a large plastic trash bag in the car for temporary containment of the wet windshield cover for the drive home, after it has been used.  That will protect the vehicle carpeting.  The cover does come with a storage bag, but I would only put a dry cover in the storage bag.

 

Windshield Snow Cover

 Windshield Snow Cover, FOVAL Car Windshield Cover for Ice and Snow Frost with Side Mirror Protector, Safe Luminous Strip, 4-LayerCheck PriceI found there are many choices for windshield covers.  I opted for an inexpensive one with great reviews.  With our icy winters, I expected to need to replace it after a few years of use.  Thus far, replacing it has not been necessary.

The Foval cover is waterproof, snow-proof, frost-proof and won't scratch your windshield or paint.  The cover does extend over the windshield wipers and covers the exterior door mirrors.  Having the protective bottom layer is just as important as being waterproof.

It only takes few minutes to put the cover over the windshield and "tie" it down.  We attach the bottom straps to the wheels (as shown in the manufacturer image on the right), but we literally tie the back straps to our luggage carrier on top of the SUV instead of attaching them to the back wheels.  That is what works best for our SUV which sits up higher than the vehicle in the photo on the right.

As you can see in the images below, our SUV has folding side mirrors.  Instead of inserting the mirrors into the mirror pockets, we fold our mirrors in and simply cover them with the cover.  If we used the windshield cover on one of our cars, it would be necessary to cover the mirrors with the cover mirror pockets so it is wonderful to have them as part of the cover. 

This definitely beats trying to tape cardboard over the windshield!

 

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Cookbook Review - 5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver

I recently purchased a cookbook that I'm very excited about. It is 5 Ingredients Quick and Easy Food by Jamie Oliver. 

Sometime during the past year I have seen Jamie Oliver on his cooking shows on television. He was a new name to me and I only had the show on as background noise. But he caught my attention during one episode when he ran tomatoes across the shredder leaving behind a seedless, skinless tomato pulp. He added his resulting tomato sauce to small pieces of crusty bread. I don't recall now what else he added to his tomatoes, perhaps cheese and herbs but I had to try it. I used the tomatoes as a dip for my bannock bread. It was so easy, fresh, and delicious that I looked forward to more new ideas from Mr. Oliver. 

5 Ingredients Quick and Easy Food Cookbook

5 Ingredients Quick and Easy Food is exactly that; a collection of recipes that require only 5 main ingredients. I am adding the word "main" because it ends up that you still need things like salt, pepper, cooking oil. But the shopping list truly consists of 5 ingredients. 

For example, I had the Sausage and Apple Bake this morning for brunch. The shopping list was apples, red onions, parsnips, small pork sausages, and honey. The prep was exceedingly easy, the aroma coming from my kitchen was wonderful, and I had a delicious one skillet meal.

I was unable to find parsnips. After a quick internet search I found the recommended parsnip substitutes and chose carrots. The recipe also used salt, pepper, olive oil, and a tablespoon of red wine vinegar (which I did have but in previously years I wouldn't have had on hand and I would have been irritated that this item wasn't listed more prominently in the ingredients list). Other than the parsnips (which are available here at certain times of the year), I can easily find all of the ingredients in the recipes that I've bookmarked for later.

Tomorrow I will make the Peachy Pork Chops which includes adding bourbon and lighting it. This will be my very first attempt at flambe. Wish me luck!  Fortunately, Mr. Oliver gives a super easy meal to try which includes only garlic, rosemary, porkchops, a can of peach halves, and bourbon which gives me the confidence to try.

The book itself is beautiful. The recipe is on one page and a photograph of the finished dish is on the facing page. It is full of recipes (approximately 300 pages of recipes) and a gorgeous photo for each dish. 

The introduction states:

"Quick & Easy Food focuses unapologetically on genius combinations of just five ingredients that work together to deliver an utterly delicious result, giving maximum flavor, with minimum fuss. These are dishes you can get on the table in 30 minutes or less; or that are ridiculously quick to put together with just 10 minutes hands-on time, while the oven or stove then does the rest of the work."

There is no false advertising in that statement. The meals are quick and easy. Just my style. Yet, flavorful enough to feel as though I am eating something completely new from my usual weekly menu.

I was fortunate to find my copy on deep discount at a discount store. But the book is widely available on Amazon and in book stores. Personally, I would not have spent the original $35. However, now that I own the book I believe it is worth every penny. If you are on a budget I think you can find it in your price range.

As I mentioned above, the "5 ingredients" seems to include the main ingredients. You will also need salt, pepper, oil, and other small items that seem to be in most pantries. This is addressed in the brief introduction. 

Are these meals as complex and flavorful as the multi-star, multi-course restaurants I've been to? No. And that's not the goal. But they are different and delicious flavors that are super easy for the most busy home cook.

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Reviewing Two Styles of Aprons Found on Etsy

I have had aprons on my wishlist for many years. But they are just one of those things that don't seem like a necessity - until I slop tomato sauce on a favorite shirt. Because I don't spend as much time in the kitchen as some people do, aprons definitely felt like a splurge. Now that I own two aprons, I'm not sure why I waited so long!  I did need them. I chose two different styles and I am very pleased with both. 

Old Fashioned CrossOver Apron by TheFortiesRevisited

The Apron:  I have wanted a crossover apron for years.  I prefer to slip something on and off over my head as opposed to messing with ties. The aprons in this shop caught my eye because of the retro style (I think it was the edging that made me think of older style aprons) and the beautiful choices in prints.  The word calico always makes me happy. 

The apron I chose was a cute, light colored, calico floral print with contrasting edging. I chose the style with the sections edged, giving the apron a somewhat geometric shape. The shop offers styles without so much edging. But the contrast on the apron I chose caught my eye. 

The online description is:

"This old fashioned Grandma full apron has subtle coral and blue flowers on a pale yellow background that has a tiny dot. It's trimmed in a dark green bias. The apron design is an 1940's vintage style to complete the look."

 The apron is handmade. The material is cotton.  It is machine washable. 

The Shop: Sally Hill is listed as the owner of TheFortiesRevisited. The shop is located in Worthington, Ohio, US. 

The store lists a variety of items including: full aprons, half aprons, clothes pin bags, smocks/cobbler aprons, children's aprons, and mother/daughter matching aprons. There is a large selection of premade items but if you don't see what you want special orders are accepted. Do you remember rick rack? She even offers aprons with rick rack! She also offers a wide variety of holiday prints. I had a hard time choosing which print I wanted because there were so many I liked.

The Mexican Apron by Orozocosshop

The Apron: While I went to Etsy to shop for a long, crossover apron, these Mexican aprons took me back in time to a neighborhood I lived in years ago. Many of the older Mexican women wore aprons in this style. I remember one abuela in particular who wore similar aprons every day. In fact, I'm not sure if I ever saw her without her apron.

I purchased the black and white check pattern apron because it was more my style than some of the floral embroidered styles offered on Etsy. Honestly, since it reminded me of that sweet woman it was an emotional purchase rather than a purchase with a plan of using the apron regularly. But, I now wear this apron daily!

The online description is: 

"A Mexican style two pocket apron made of lightweight check fabric poly/cotton with bias decoration, opened at the bottom back. Four pleats in front and four at the back.  30 inches long from the shoulder."

 

The apron is handmade. The material is cotton. I did not see that it is listed as machine washable but I am sure it is. However, I will hand-wash it because the material is a bit more thin and I already hand-wash many items.

The Shop: Gabriela is listed as the owner of the Ozorocosshop. The shop is located in Chicago, IL, US.

Comparing the Two Aprons

These aprons are different and I like each for different reasons.  The crossover apron is a thicker material so it will likely last longer. The Mexican apron is made from thinner cotton and will likely wear out sooner. BUT it will be more comfortable in the summer months. The Mexican apron is more full coverage around my torso and protects my entire shirt while the crossover apron is longer and protects most of my jeans. 

Frankly, the aprons have more similarities than you might expect. Both aprons have generous pockets (I've collected the chicken eggs using those pockets!).  And both aprons are very easy to get on and off by slipping them over my head; the crossover with it's straps and wide open backside and the Mexican apron with the very long slit in the back (I apologize that I could not get a good photo of the backside of that apron but if you look closely you can see the slit in the photo).

Now I know when I drop things with liquids, splash, or cook and splatter that my clothes are protected. Both aprons make me very happy and I'm pleased with these two purchases.

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Two Little Girls in Blue – Book Review

 by Mary Higgins Clark

Having been a fan of best-selling suspense writer, Mary Higgins Clark, in years past, I recently realized there were several of her books I had not read.  Two Little Girls in Blue was one of them and I consider it one of her best. 

Synopsis of Two Little Girls in Blue

Kelly and Kathy, twin daughters of Margaret and Steve Frawley of Ridgefield, Connecticut, celebrate the girls' third birthday with an afternoon party at their new, fixer-upper, home. That evening, Steve & Margaret are obligated to attend a black-tie dinner in New York City for Steve's company. When they return home, they discover the police there and learn that the babysitter has been found unconscious and that the children are gone.  A note demanding eight-million-dollars in ransom was left in the twins bedroom.

The Frawleys do not have that kind of money, but Steve's firm, a global investment company, agrees to pay the ransom. One board member of the firm disagrees with paying the ransom, stating it could become a precedent for other kidnappers to target company employees, but he is overruled. 

The FBI and the local town and state police are all involved. When the kidnapper, who calls himself the “Pied Piper”, makes his terms known, the family and the FBI are told that 'on delivery of the money' a call will come revealing the girls' whereabouts. The “Pied Piper” used two men to do the actual kidnapping, and a woman (girlfriend of one of the men) to take care of the twins until the ransom is paid. The kidnappers never know who the 'boss' is; only communicating with him via burner cell phones. 

The ransom is paid in a rather convoluted manner that, despite FBI agents undercover all around the 'drop' area, the kidnappers get away without being caught.  The promised call does come, but only Kelly is in the car parked behind a deserted restaurant. The driver of the car is dead from a gunshot wound and a suicide note states that he inadvertently killed Kathy and dumped her body in the ocean. 

The heart-broken parents have a private memorial Mass for Kathy, but Kelly speaks up saying “Mommy, Kathy is very scared of that lady and she wants to  come home right now.”  

At first, only the mother believes that the twins are communicating in their special 'twin-talk' and that Kathy is still alive.  But as Kelly becomes more specific with her warnings, the FBI is finally convinced and set out on a search for Kathy. The climax of this suspenseful novel is breathtaking.

Summary

This story describes the well-documented, though unexplained, phenomenon of twin telepathy and the special 'twin-talk' that identical twins often engage in. A fascinating and exciting story I thoroughly enjoyed. 

*Two Little Girls in Blue book review written by Wednesday Elf.

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A Daring Proposal: Memorable Proposals Series - Book 3 Reviewed

I rarely read a series where I would say the author saved the best book for last, especially when I enjoyed all of the books in the series. However, in the case of "A Daring Proposal", I do think Jennie Goutet saved the best 'til last.

Perhaps this book was my favorite because the main character has been a part of the previous two books and I already liked her. Maybe, it was because I just liked the true historical story line so much. Most likely, it was both.

Each of the books in the series could be read independently, but I do think, in this case, Phoebe Tunstall's character was developed over the entire series. Therefore, even though it is my favorite, I think the series should be read in order. Otherwise, you might miss just how unusually "daring" Phoebe becomes in "A Daring Proposal".

A Daring Proposal Synopsis
1815 - London, England & Brussels, Belgium

Phoebe Tunstall has already enjoyed four London seasons. There is a concern that she may well end up being considered "on the shelf" by potential suitors. At 22, she is far from an old maid, but society tends to focus on the newest, brightest stars that appear on the scene. Phoebe was not looking forward to another season, especially since her sister, brother, and best friend were all now married. She would feel alone in the crowd.

 A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals Book 3)Check PriceBecause she often stayed in her vivacious sister's shadow, Phoebe was viewed by society as shy, perhaps disinterested or unavailable, as she attended to her elderly aunt. Something Phoebe shared with no one, including her twin sister, is that her heart was unavailable. For as long as she could remember, she had loved someone who viewed her "like a little sister". Still, she realized she needed to marry, even if it wasn't a love match, and a fifth season might be her last chance.

When her friend, Lydia, suggested she accompany her and her husband to Brussels instead of staying in London, Phoebe surprised herself by considering it. As she mentally recounted Frederick Ingram's suggestion that she do "something daring", she decided she would do just that and accept his sister, Lydia's, invitation to go to Brussels. She would cast off this despair, all expectations and embrace the opportunity to travel somewhere new.

That turned out to be the best decision she could make because "somewhere new" offered her the opportunity to be someone new. Well, at least, someone new to Brussels society, where she was immediately received as a desirable partner at every ball & social gathering.  Little did she expect to catch the eye of someone she had known all of her life or to be caught in the middle of a war.

_______

 

We may not immediately think of Brussels as the setting of a war, but it was in fact, the location of the Battle of Waterloo, which ended with the final defeat of Napoleon, and as in all wars, with many deaths.

Jennie Goutet did a masterful job of threading the story of "A Daring Proposal" into the fabric of real historical events and real people. 

This entire "Memorable Proposals" series is truly wonderful. I highly recommend all three books to anyone who enjoys historical romantic fiction, but especially "A Daring Proposal" because of it's historical accuracy.

I previously reviewed the first book in this series and you can read that review here: A Regrettable Proposal

Currently, all of these books are available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership

 A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1)Check Price A Faithful Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 2) [Paperback] Jennie GoutetCheck Price A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals Book 3)Check Price Memorable Proposals Boxed Set: A Complete Regency CollectionCheck Price

 

A Daring Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 3) by Jennie Goutet by:

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Carewell: The Caregivers Shop Review

Carewell: The Caregivers Shop is an online shop I found and used when assisting a family member to recover from surgery. This shop was a wonderful resource and their ability to ship quickly in the midst of a snowstorm was impressive!

Selection

Carewell carries all the major brands you will recognize, but the difference is the wide selection per product. Whether it be flavors, sizes, the medium or products you didn't even know were offered, the choices are voluminous. This makes shopping so much easier and definitely gives the shopper so many more options which helps to provide exemplary care.

Shipping

Quick! Very very quick even when one part of the order was caught in a snowstorm mid route. The communication was on point and efficient to give notice of the package arrival. Free 1-2 shipping is available for orders beginning at $49.00. The quantity of each product offered is similar to a big box store like Costco or Sam's Club.

Bridges The Gap

The selection at Carewell's helps bridge the gap between items which are necessary, but not easily (if at all) available for in person purchase at a bricks and mortar store. I was surprised to find a product I found at the local drugstore actually came in many more sizes and flavors, but only found online at Carewell. Phone assistance is available 24/7 to help with product selection if needed.

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Shokz OpenRun Pro: The Best Bone-Conduction Bluetooth Headphones

If you enjoy listening to music, radio, podcasts or audiobooks, watching TV, movies, YouTube, etc., Bluetooth headphones are a must-have — especially if you don't live (or work) alone. If you want to be able to hear ambient noises, such as a phone call, someone speaking to you or an approaching car as you're crossing the street, you'll want to choose open-ear headphones, rather than on-ear or in-ear styles, such as earbuds. And if you care about sound quality and comfort, I highly recommend investing in a good pair of lightweight bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones.

Shokz, which changed its name from Aftershokz in 2021, is the leading brand of bone-conduction Bluetooth heaphones, for good reason. I have owned several pairs over the years and the company's products just keep getting better. 

I recently purchased the new, top-of-the-line (as of this writing) Shokz OpenRun Pro premium bone conduction Bluetooth headphones, which were launched in January 2022 and are significantly superior to my older models. In this product review, I'll share what I love most about my new Shokz OpenRun Pro on-ear headphones and why I think they are worth their premium price tag. I will also recommend some less expensive models of Shokz bone conduction headphones that are also well worth considering, depending on your needs and your budget.

Bone Conduction Headphones

I first learned about bone conduction headphone technology in 2015 from my husband, who researched and purchased his first pair of Shokz (then called Aftershokz) bone-conduction headphones after his primary care doctor advised him to stop wearing earbuds, over-ear or on-ear headphones because of his ear eczema. When his new 'phones arrived, he invited me to try them and I became a fan almost immediately (it did take a couple of minutes to get used to the mild vibration against my outer cheekbones the first time I put them on).

Unlike traditional wired and wireless types, Bluetooth headphones with bone conduction technology bypass the eardrum entirely! Instead of sending vibrations through the air to your eardrum, bone-conduction headphones use transducers to transmit those vibrations through your cranial bones (mainly cheekbones and jawbone) directly to your inner ear, causing the cochlea to send signals to the brain, which processes those vibrations into the sound coming through the headphones.

Interesting fact: Since bone conduction technology bypasses the eardrum, it is also used in certain types of hearing impairment tests and hearing aids.

Advantages of Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

We continue to move inexorably from wired to wireless technology. We have become accustomed to the freedom and convenience of no longer being tethered to our devices or having limited mobility while using them because they need to be plugged in. This is especially true when it comes to headphones. Most wireless headphones and the devices we use them with, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones,  have built-in Bluetooth technology. So, for example, when I'm out taking a walk, I can listen to an audiobook through my wireless Bluetooth headphones while the iPhone I'm playing it on is safely zipped inside my purse, backpack or belt bag.

Types of wireless Bluetooth headphones include:

• Earbuds that fit inside your ears.
• In-ear monitors (IEMs). These are often the choice of serious audiophiles, professional musicians, band members and sound engineers.
• Over-ear headphones with cushioned ear cups that enclose your ears completely to isolate whatever you are listening to from ambient noise. Again, if you are a serious audiophile, professional musician or sound engineer, or if you are a frequent traveler, these definitely have their uses.
• On-ear headphones, where the cushioning rests against your ears, rather than enclosing them, so there is less sound isolation (i.e., you can hear some ambient sounds and others may be able to hear what you are listening to, i.e., sound leakage).
• Open-ear headphones, which have a slim, wrap-around headband that goes behind the head and above the ears, with the ends resting on your cheekbones just in front of the ears. Most open-ear headphones, including the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones, use bone conduction technology.

Here are some of the key benefits of open-ear Bluetooth headphones:

• Comfort. Open-ear headphones tend to be significantly more lightweight than other types that have bands. In addition, some people (including me) find earbuds and IEMs painful. In my case, I can't get earbuds to stay in my ears, and I have tried many different types including those designed specifically for people with hard-to-fit ears!
• Safety. Open-ear headphones allow you to hear what's going on around you while you're listening to music, audiobooks, podcasts, videos or TV, taking phone calls, etc. So, if you're out for a run in the park and a cyclist is bearing down on you from behind, you won't be caught off-guard. Similarly, if you're vacuuming and an important call comes in, you can not only hear the phone ring but also pick it up and talk with the caller without having to pull out your cell phone or walk over to a land line.
• Hygiene. When you cover your ears with earbuds, over-ear or on-ear headphones, you're creating an enclosed, warm, moist environment that bacteria thrive in. Earbuds and IEMs are especially non-hygienic, since you are repeatedly inserting them inside your ear, where they become covered with bacteria that can continue to grow after they have been removed. Ick!
  
  In addition, some people (including my husband and me) have ear eczema, which makes the skin in and on our ears dry, flaky and itchy. Wearing headphones that cover our ears, and especially earbuds or IEMs that fit inside them, exacerbates this condition, whereas open-ear bone conduction Bluetooth headphones allow the skin in and on our ears to "breathe."
• Unobtrusive appearance. The band on most open-ear Bluetooth headphones is narrow and can be worn under your hair, if desired (unless it's extremely short), so that the only visible part is the small ends containing the transducers, which sit just in front of your ears.

The Shokz OpenRun Pro wrap-around band is extremely thin, lightweight and comfortable.

It can easily be hidden underneath your hair, if you wish, so that only the small transducers are visible in front of the ears.

Why I Highly Recommend Shokz OpenRun Pro Premium Bone Conduction Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

In addition to the pros of open-ear, bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones I've already covered, here are some features and benefits specific to the Shokz OpenRun Pro model I own:

• 

  Simple power & volume control buttons
   on the right side (above magnetic charging port
  
  

  Shokz's newest, most advanced bone conduction technology. Bass tends to be an issue with open-ear headphones, but the new OpenRun Pro 'phones feature Shokz TurboPitch 9th Generation Bone Conduction Technology with CoreCushion bass enhancers inside the transducers for full, rich sound.
• Multi-point pairing lets you pair with two devices at the same time. I have my Shokz bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones paired with my laptop and my iPhone by default, so I don't have to disconnect and re-pair my Shokz each time I switch from one electronics device to the other multiple times a day.
• Simple, intuitive controls. The buttons have been enlarged, which makes it much easier to avoid pressing the wrong button.
• On the right side, there is a large Power/Volume+ button and  Volume- button. Press and hold the Power/Volume+ button for two seconds to power up the headphones, then press and hold it for three seconds to turn them off.

• 

  The multifunction button on the
  left side is context-aware.

  On the left side, there is a single, large, context-sensitive multifunction button. Phone calls: Click it once to answer or end a call. Music: Click once to play/pause, double-click while the music is playing to skip to the next song, or triple-click while the music is playing to go to the previous song.
• Up to 10-hour of music and phone calls on a full charge. Note: With any Bluetooth or other wireless headphones, your actual battery life will depend on the type of audio you're listening to, the volume, the ambient temperature and the output of the USB port used to charge your headphones.  
• Full charge time: 1 hour. That's pretty fast for 10 hours of use!
• 5-minute quick charge = 1.5 hours of use. Since these are so lightweight and comfortable, I sometimes forget I'm wearing them and don't remember to turn them off when I'm through listening to my music, audiobook, etc. So, being able to quick-charge them for 5 minutes and immediately use them for another 1.5 hours is an awesome feature!

• 

  Magnetic induction charging =
  no fumbling to align the
  charging cable with the charging port!

  Magnetic induction charging cable. The magnetic charging pad on the Shokz OpenRun Pro charging cable firmly snaps into place automatically as soon as it gets near the magnetic charging pad next to the power and volume buttons. Fast and effortless! The location of the charging pad on the headphones has also been moved to make it more easily accessible.
• Audio battery level notifications. There's no need to guess how much charge you have left, because each time you power on your headphones, a voice will say "Battery High," "Battery Medium," "Battery Low" or "Charge Me." How cool is that?
• LED charging/charged indicator glows red when charging, then turns blue when fully charged.
• 20% smaller than previous models. My new Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are not only more unobtrusive than the older models I have owned, they are also much more lightweight and fit my small-ish head much better, while stil fitting my husband's much larger head equally comfortably.
• IP55 certified water-resistant. Wear your Shokz OpenRun Pros during a sweaty workout or outdoors in the freezing rain, snow, or blistering heat—they can take it! Just remember that they're water-resistant, not waterproof, so take them off if it starts to pour.
• Moisture detection alerts. Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones will beep to let you know if it detects water, perspiration or other moisture on the charging pads, so you can stop charging and allow the area to dry completely before charging. 
• Dual noise-canceling built-in microphone. Perfect for making or taking phone calls or participating in Zoom meetings without annoying electronic feedback.
• 33 ft. wireless range lets my phone be in one room while I listen to music or audiobooks playing on it in another room.
• Lightweight nylon fitted zippered hard shell storage and travel case makes it harder for me to lose my new headphones, charging cable, sports headband, warranty card or user guide and protects my investment when I throw them into my purse or suitcase.
• Optional elasticized headband (included). I have never used mine, but I gather it is to make sure your headphones can't come off while you are running or doing other forms of strenuous exercise.
• New color option: blue! While I wouldn't sacrifice quality for appearance when choosing an electronics product, I admit I was delighted to see that these superb Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are available in a pretty aqua blue as well as in black.
• 2-year warranty. The manufacturer's warranty covers product defects. If you order your Shokz headphones on Amazon you can also purchase an ASURION 2- or 3-Year Portable Electronic Accident Protection Plan with Tech Support for a small additional fee, if you wish.

My aqua blue Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones in their
black nylon fitted case (with a loop for the charging cable

The only real "con" is the premium price tag. As of this writing, Shokz OpenRun Pro premium bone conduction open-ear headphones retail for $175.95, much more than I would normally consider spending on this type of product. However, for all the reasons I've listed, including the unmatched comfort, great sound quality, magnetic induction charging and quick charge feature, I consider them a worthwhile investment. 

They are marketed as sports headphones, but I consider them top-of-the-line, open-ear Bluetooth bone conduction headphones for all-around use.

Other Shokz Bone-Conduction Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones Worth Considering

Shokz open-ear Bluetooth headphones are consistently top-rated by expert technology product review sites such as TechRadar, which named Shokz OpenRun Pro their top pick of The Best Bone Conduction Headphones of 2022. Given their steep price tag, however, there are other, less expensive Shokz models as well as some specialty models that also merit consideration.

Shokz OpenRun have the 8th (vs. 9th) generation of the company's bone conduction technology (with PremiumPitch 2.0 vs. Shokz TurboPitch) and have an 8-hour battery life (vs. 10-hour), a 1.5 hour charge time (vs. 1 hour), a 10-minute quick-charge time for 1.5 hours of usage (vs. 5-minute quick-charge time for 1.5 hours of usage), compared to the Shokz OpenRun Pro. However, they also are IP67-certified waterproof (vs. IP55-certified water-resistant), priced $50 lower than the OpenRun Pro model ($129.95) at the time of publication, and are available in a choice of four colors: Black, bright blue, grey or red. 

Shokz OpenRun Mini headphones are the same model but with a smaller band to fit smaller heads. They only come in black.

Shokz OpenMove have the 7th generation of the company's bone conduction technology with PremiumPitch 2.0, a 6-hour battery life and are IP55-certified water-resistant. They have a partial titanium frame (vs. a full wrap-around titanium frame), use a USB-C charging cable (vs. magnetic induction charging), and don't have a quick-charge feature. On the other hand, they retail for only $79.95 as of this writing, $100 less than the OpenRun Pro model. They come in a choice of blue, grey, pink or white.

Shokz Bone-Conduction Bluetooth Headphones Make a Great Gift

Most people I know own at least one and, for the most part, multiple Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, smart watches and fitness trackers. From college students to seniors, there's a Shokz bone-conduction open-ear Bluetooth headphones model to suit their needs and your budget.

Shokz OpenRun Pro: The Best Bone-Conduction Bluetooth Headphones by Margaret Schindel

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