Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Reviewing Christmas Wreath Marshmallow Treats Recipe
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
The Best Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers: A Review
I'm a Side Sleeper with Bad Knees
I have had neck problems and back problems for years, and thirty years ago a physical therapist told me that when I sleep, I should keep a pillow under my knees if I'm on my back or between my knees if I sleep on my side. I am also supposed to hug a smaller than normal size pillow. It has not been easy to find pillows that will help me sleep without pain. I'm sharing the results of my search with you to save you time if you also need a knee pillow.
Finding the Best Knee Pillow
Cushy Cloud Memory Foam Knee Pillow |
A Pillow to Hug
If you found this helpful, please share with someone else. The image below is the right size to share on Pinterest. Sharing buttons are just above the comment box, below.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Controversial Anne of Green Gables Book Cover Review
What Did You Think of The Controversial Anne of Green Gables Book Cover?
In 2012 a company self-published a three-in-one Anne of Green Gables boxed book set and radically changed the image on the cover from that of the red headed, freckly 10-year old girl we have come to know and love as Anne Shirley to well, an older blue-eyed blonde, whose pose has been called sexy, sultry, a travesty. You can see the image from that cover here.
Have a look at the cover artwork that appeared on those books and let us know what you think. Was it appropriate that Anne Shirley was modernized in this way or should the publishers have stayed with a more typical, period-appropriate version of Anne. Does it even matter? What do you think?
Why Were They Allowed To Use Provocative Pictures On The Cover of Anne of Green Gables?
The first question that entered my mind when I heard of these new covers was how was the publisher able to get away with making Anne of Green Gables so provocative? I guessed that the book must have fallen into the public domain and, according to online sources that is, indeed the case. Public domain, by the way, means that the owner's copyright has expired and the work is free for others to use as they wish.
Fans Upset About New Anne of Green Gables Covers
Life long fans of Anne of Green Gables were naturally extremely upset about Anne's new look. Reviewers were clearly horrified by the cover as is reflected in the numbers recorded in this screenshot on February 13, 2013 that shows 392 one-star reviews. I believe those reviewers were really rating the cover and not the stories, which most Anne fans love. It is noteworthy that the controversial cover was pulled not long after it was released in response to the uproar.
More Reading About the Controversial Anne of Green Gables Book Cover
Book Lovers Outraged Over Sexy Anne of Green Gables Cover
ABC News Anger Over Sexy version of beloved children's character.
Anne of Green Gables Goes Blonde
The Guardian: New edition of the freckled heroine has bedroom eyes...
Anne of Green Gables Gets Racy Update
The classic 1908 book gets a new cover with an older and sexier Anne on display.
The Anne of Green Gables Three-in-One Boxed Set
What Do You Think of the Controversial Cover?
See you
in the book aisle!
Brenda
More Anne of Green Gables Reading:
Before Green Gables is the highly publicized, much anticipated, authorized prequel to the book, Anne of Green Gables written by Budge Wilson, published in 2008 and read by me right away, that summer.
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning
In the book Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, the war in Europe is winding down and Anne Shirley was a middle-aged writer returning to the island for a visit.
Anne of Green Gables on Pinterest
Author's Note: Previously published elsewhere in 2012.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Begin Again - A Movie Worth Watching
Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley and, Mark Ruffalo, and Adam Levine, transports you to a place where the ugliness of personal mistakes takes a back seat. At the same time, you become a participant in the artist's musical life. The music is the focus; the characters follow, and everything works.
If along with realism, music and art, you intimately understand the hidden mystique of a city, you'll feel even more from this movieThe story centers around the once Grammy Award-winning success of Dan Mulligan. Still, currently, down-on-his-luck character Dan Mulligan, played by Ruffalo, meets a recently heartbroken yet fiercely independent singer-songwriter, Gretta James, played by Knightley. They decided to make an outdoor album with each song performed in different locations of New York City, making this the energy that fuels the music. The city's heart automatically beats with the music, and although the city isn't directly a dramatized focal point, its pulsating imperfections connect every aspect to the characters.
If you're drawn to movies that depict the intimate flaws of people but can still manage to ooze beauty via the complex backdrop of urban life and the souls within, this one wins.
Some Movie Facts:
- Begin Again premiered in September 2013 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
- Keira Knightley learned to sing and play guitar for the movie
- The song 'Lost Stars' was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Fans of The Voice will remember Adam Levine performing Lost Stars with Season 7 finale contestant Matt McAndrew
- The soundtrack for the movie
was released in June 2014, with most of the songs performed by Knightley and Levine.
Personally Speaking, Begin Again is among my top ten all-time favorite movies. Mark Ruffalo's character is powerful; he is also one of my famous actors... and I also appreciate what he stands for off-screen.
by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Drageda.com
Friday, December 4, 2015
A Charlie Brown Christmas Movie Review
The Christmas Classic Movie
I feel as if I have always known Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang. They were not only a part of my own childhood years, but they were a part of my husband's childhood. Of course, we introduced them to our children when they were little too. Therefore, our household has literally had decades of being entertained, and multiple generations taught, by the magnificent Charles Schulz characters.In 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made it's debut on television. It is one of the Christmas classics that I must watch every year. I even find myself singing or humming "Christmastime is Here" while I am cooking or decorating our tree.
The Peanuts gang is an entertaining group for every age and every member of the family. Watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" together is a wonderful family tradition.
Each year, my heart is touched by the message shared in this Christmas classic to such a degree that anyone watching me would think I had never seen the show before.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Ice Skating Party
The opening scenes of everyone ice skating are beautiful with the snow falling and the loving sense of happiness. The theme song softly plays in the background. As I mentioned earlier, it is such a simple melody, that it often plays in my mind throughout the Christmas holiday.While they are walking to the ice, Charlie Brown is telling Linus about his general depression surrounding the holidays and his own lack of understanding for his absence of excitement and enthusiasm.
(You can view that in the video scene below)
Setting the Stage for "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Moving past the tranquil opening scenes, we find Charlie Brown seeking advice from Lucy about his holiday depression. Lucy takes her station in the lemonade stand as a Psychiatrist to help Charlie Brown determine why he is depressed. In an effort to help, she appoints him as the Christmas play director.
Meanwhile, the beloved beagle, Snoopy, sets out to win a decorating contest by decorating his dog house. Even though Charlie Brown detests the commercialism of it all, the dog house really is very pretty when it is decorated and later wins 1st place in the competition.
~ Charlie Brown from "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
The Christmas Play
When it is announced that Charlie Brown will be the Christmas play director several people, including Snoopy, express disappointment. Lucy takes over and assigns everyone their parts and the practices begin. Then, Lucy sends Charlie Brown and Linus to bring back a Christmas Tree for the play.The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
It's so sad...
Against Linus' objection, Charlie Brown chooses the Christmas tree that needs him. Of course, he is laughed at and criticized by his peers when he returns with a real tree instead of a modern aluminum tree.
It is at this point that Linus steals the show with his description of what Christmas is really all about. His eloquent delivery of the true Christmas story is the reason why this show rates as one of my Christmas favorites.
Heeding Linus' words Charlie Brown determines not to let commercialism ruin his Christmas. He takes his little tree home to decorate it. After using one ornament from Snoopy's decorated dog house, the little tree bends under the weight of the ornament. Charlie Brown believes he has killed the little tree and walks away even more depressed than before.
Showing Love
Again at Linus' suggestion, the gang comes together to show a little love and decorates Charlie Brown's tree. When Charlie Brown sees what his friends have done for him and for his tree of course, he is overjoyed. The entire group breaks into song: "Hark the Herald Angel's Sing".
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Remastered Deluxe Edition)Check Price
Amazing isn't it? Charles Schulz was actually allowed to make a Christmas story that tells of Christ's birth and it became a classic.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Movie Review
Thursday, December 3, 2015
ID Tags for Dogs and Cats
Reviewing the Importance of ID Tags for Pets
Is your pet missing? Never underestimate the importance of having an ID tag for each of your dogs and cats. |
It happens and the science behind how it happens is fascinating. But if it's your dog or cat that's gone missing, it can be a heartbreaking time of waiting, watching, and hoping that he or she will be returned to the family.
The least we can do as pet owners is to make it as easy as possible on someone who might find our missing pet. That's why I want to talk today about the importance of ID tags for pets, both dogs and cats.
Dogs are slippery and cunning and some are "rovers" by nature. We had a neighbor dog who loved to run away just to see how far he could get, or so it seemed. Fortunately, he was returned several times before he finally disappeared for good. How did the pet lovers who found him get him home? They checked his ID tag and called his owners. Having the phone number right on the tag was the key to reuniting the family with their much-loved pet.
A cat I knew also had an interesting adventure that was rather amazing. When his family moved to a new home several miles away and across a very busy highway, within two days that cat was back at his old house. How he found his way through the countryside, across the highway, then through town to get to his house only his Creator will ever know for sure. In this case the cat didn't have a tag, but a neighbor recognized him and called his owners who happily came back to get him and secure him for good. Fortunately, that story had a happy ending, but many do not.
I've seen plenty of "lost dog" or "lost cat" ads with the statement that the animal "needs his medicine." Knowing that time may be running out quickly for a cat or dog with a medical condition only makes the ordeal worse.
So now you know the background and the reason why you might want to choose one of these ID tags for your pet.
I love the "freak out" dog tag at the top of the page because I'm a dog mom who certainly would freak out if our Daisy were to go missing. It's a beautiful tag, perfect for anyone with a sense of humor. Consider ordering one for a friend's dog or cat. It's a great gift idea.
Have a diabetic dog or one who needs medication for seizures or another condition? Customize this tag, currently featuring our grand-pup Adrian (who is not diabetic but is an adorable model), with your own medical and contact information. It's also available in a dog bone shape.
Or choose this tag without a photo but with a brightly colored center that's very visible even at a distance. Very simple to customize with your message and contact information.
If you're a cat owner, then you know he or she
I hope you never have a lost pet but, given the odds that any pet can get away at any time, your dogs and cats need to have an ID tag. Please take care of that little detail right away.
Just in case.
Before it's too late.
~ Susan Deppner
Read more of my reviews.
This is important information for all pet owners. Thanks for pinning and sharing! |
Posted by Susan Deppner
About the Author
Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Reviewing Trunki A Suitcase For Kids
A Suitcase that does more...
Our four year old grandchild just recently did an overnight with Grandma and Grandpa and we had so much fun! She had borrowed a suitcase from a little friend and I was quite impressed. The one she used was the Harley The Lady-bug Trunki Suitcase and it was adorable and also roomy. It is made of plastic and sturdy enough that a child can actually ride on the suitcase. She didn't need to ride it at our house but it did get me to thinking about the usefulness of something like this for vacations.A small child will struggle with carrying their own bag through an airport but with a Trunki, they can sit on it while Mom or Dad pulls them along to board the plane. It would also be helpful at the hotel when you have to park quite a way from the door. The kids think it is fun while Mom and Dad get a break from having to carry their own luggage plus a child's. There are only so many hands and it is pert near impossible to carry adult bags, kid's bags plus hold on to your child's hands as you maneuver to the current destination. Am I right?
So, our grandchild expressed the desire to have her own suitcase like the one she had borrowed. She said that maybe Santa Claus could bring her one of her very own. Naturally, Grandma began to look at the options. I know she thought she liked the ladybug one but I doubt that she has seen the other characters available. Grandma plans to get her this one:
The one above looks kind of like a cat but I think more tiger and since she lives in Cincinnati and is a Bengals fan, I know she will love this model better than the ladybug.
Another feature of this suitcase for kids is that there is a strap that they can pull it on their own if they want to. They can also sit on it and push it around with their own feet.
This little suitcase had quite a bit of room for her clothing and there was a little pocket for keeping her little treasures in. There are straps that can hold items into place which comes in handy. The manufacturer calls them seatbelts for Teddy and a child could strap in their favorite stuffed animal to keep it safe in the suitcase during travel. I think that is adorable but also see the functionality of those straps for clothing, as well.
I was impressed with the construction of this small little piece of luggage for a child. It seemed pretty durable and is so darned cute!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Shower Accessories I Depend Upon; A Review
Taking a Shower Is More Complicated Than It Used to Be
Having the right shower accessories makes it easier. I have always been a shower person rather than a bath person. Showering was a pretty simple matter most of my life. I'd get in the shower, soap up and rinse, dry myself, and get out. No big deal. Now that I'm 73 and not quite as limber as I used to be, taking a shower seems like a much bigger deal.Invacare I-Fit Shower Chair with Back Support for Shower or Bath, Supports Up to 400 lbs.Check Price
To complicate my showers even more, we have to deal with water rationing here in California. We can't just let showers run while the water heats unless we want to pay higher water rates. When I get into the shower, I need to take a large container in with me to collect the cold water. When the water is warm, I can go about the business of getting clean.
After soaping up and rinsing off, I normally shave my legs. When I do that, I need to put my legs up where I can reach them easily. For that I use my shower chair. At this point in my life I can still get my legs up, one at a time to shave them.
After my shower, I also use the chair when I dry my legs. It's so much easier to reach my feet and legs when they are resting on the seat of my shower chair. The photo above is of the Invacare Shower Chair with Seat Back. It is very similar to the one I use. Mine is an Invacare, but they may not make the same model anymore. Mine is over twenty years old.
A Shower Chair is Even More Important After Surgeries Limit Movements
I have had several surgeries this past two years. First I had foot surgery and it was a few weeks before I could stand in the shower. It was really wonderful to have a place to sit. I use a hand-held shower head that can help me get wet where I need to while I'm sitting down. I'm also beginning to have knee problems that sometimes makes sitting to shower easier. One can still shave from the sitting position and wash hair while sitting down.
I could not get along well without a shower seat. But all shower seats are not created equal. The first one I ever got is still at home. It has no back and a plastic seat. It has chrome legs. After several years, the legs are not only rusty, but they are now also wobbly. I don't feel quite safe putting my legs up on it to shave anymore. It moves under me.
Since my last surgery, I live most of the time at a house I inherited from my mother. It has a much better shower chair - one with a back. Both the seat and legs are much sturdier. It most closely resembles the Invacare Shower Chair with Seat Back above, except that part of the legs on mine are aluminum. When I need to sit, I can lean back and have support. The legs don't rust or wobble. Along the side edges are some slots that can hold hand-held shower fixtures. You can see it in my photo below.
Drive Medical RTL12505 Handicap Bathroom Bench with Back & ArmsCheck Price Carex Bath Seat And Shower Chair With Back For Seniors, Bath ChairCheck Price Essential Medical Supply Height Adjustable Shower and Bath BenchCheck Price Zadro 12-inch Wide Best Silicone Squeegee with Clear Ergonomic HandleCheck Price
Before you buy a chair for your shower, decide if you want or need arms on it. I don't have arms on mine and have never missed them, but I do have a grab bar in the shower to assist me in getting up and down. If you are not disabled, you may not need arms or a back. But since the Carex Shower chair has a removable back, it can adjust to meet future needs. Be sure to measure your shower to make sure the chair will fit. I believe the Carex Universal Bath Bench is the most compact and will fit in almost all showers.
Wiping the Shower Walls Eases Cleaning the Shower Later
When I finish my shower, I like to get the water off the doors and the shower sides, since the water here is very hard. I used to use a towel at the other house, but the shower is much bigger here and the towel is soaked before I finish. I dug out the old simple shower squeegee my mother-in-law used to have, but it was useless and put water back on the door as fast as it removed it. So I went to Amazon looking for a replacement.
My Invacare Shower Chair. My Zadro Squeegee
is on top on the right.
|
Monday, November 30, 2015
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit Book Review
Why? Well, because in the first place I likely would not read a book all the way through that I did not like unless it was assigned reading for school or, in my case, for a book club reading selection and secondly, I would be unlikely to want to write about a book that I did not particularly enjoy.
So why am I writing about a book that I did not like? I am doing so because sometimes you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, because Ishmael offers up a lot to think about and because the fact that I did not care for a book does not mean that others will not.
In the case of Ishmael, 67 percent of Amazon's readers gave Ishmael a 5 star rating and only about 18 percent gave it three stars or less. Unless, of course, more people are likely to leave a good book review than a bad review. (Like me.) Anyway, I guess I fit in the 3 stars or less portion since I would give it 3 stars at least in terms of how much enjoyment I received from the book. Maybe I would give it more stars because of the thought provoking subject matter...
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit was written by Daniel Quinn and was winner of the Turner Tomorrow Fellowship.
Here's the storyline, straight from the book:
“The narrator of this extraordinary tale is a man in search for truth. He answers an ad in a local newspaper from a teacher looking for serious pupils, only to find himself alone in an abandoned office with a full-grown gorilla who is nibbling delicately on a slender branch. “You are the teacher?” he asks incredulously. “I am the teacher,” the gorilla replies…”
Ishmael shares his wisdom about and knowledge of the life of the earth from the very beginning to the end. He makes that lesson difficult and he asks the questions, “Is it man’s destiny to rule the world? Or is it a higher destiny possible for him—one more wonderful than he has ever imagined?”
This simple short, two-minute video, well presented by a reader on a typewriter, sums up the book Ishamel quite nicely:
Ishmael definitely provides a lot to think about though maybe no answers. It's a book to be read carefully. It's not a light read, which is normally what I prefer. I usually use reading as relaxation time and therefore choose something that is more entertaining. Sometimes, however, it is good to have something that makes you stop and think, like Ishmael.
So, is Ishmael recommended by me? I guess it is. If you are looking for a thinking book and not an entertaining book.
How about it then? Are you up for the challenge? If you read Ishmael, be sure to come back and let us know down below in the comment section what YOU think.
See you
in the book aisle!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
Quick Link:
Buy Ishamel on Amazon in whatever form you read your books.
Discover fascinating new, used and vintage books in my eBay store.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Childrens Classics ~ Book Reviews
Grandson Jacob reading a storybook |
The dictionary defines 'classic' as something of enduring significance. In literature, a classic work is generally considered to be of the highest excellence ~ a work recognized as definitive in its field.
In the field of children's books, there are dozens of stories whose origins go back many years and are still considered favorites today.
- If you were to go back to ancient times, probably the most well-known is 'Aesop's Fables'.
- In the early 1700s, the most famous stories today remain 'Gulliver's Travels, Robinson Crusoe, and the Tales of Mother Goose.
- Nineteenth century writers brought us more than four dozen stories considered 'classics' to this day, such as The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Black Beauty, Heidi and Little Women.
Here's a few modern children's classics from 20th century authors that are most special to me... and some fascinating facts about the authors.
Winnie-the-Pooh... and Friends!
A.A. Milne's beloved Winnie-the-Pooh character has been delighting children since 1926. The author's son, Christopher, was the inspiration for Pooh Bear's buddy, Christopher Robin. I loved these stories so much that I even named my first-born son Christopher.
The author began his Pooh Bear stories initially just to entertain his son ... and they became 'words of wisdom' and expressions of love & affection for generations of children.
For over 90 years, Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood have delighted each generation of children... and, of course, the grown ups who get to read the stories to little ones...
“Friendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have."
~A.A. Milne
Dr. Seuss' Favorite Cat!
It's the "Cat in the Hat" of course!
The Cat in the Hat changed the way our children learn how to read with fun rhyming words.
How the 'Cat-in-the-Hat' Came About
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote 'The Cat in the Hat' in 1957 at the request of the educational division of Houghton Mifflin publishers who were looking for a more entertaining primer for early childhood literacy because the current ones (such as the Dick and Jane series) were ineffective.
Geisel tells the story of being frustrated with the word list from which he could choose words to write his story, so he decided to scan the list and create a story based on the first two words he found that rhymed. The words he found were cat and hat.
Bambi
Of all the classic stories made famous by Disney, Bambi is the best. I watched the Bambi movie as a child, then took my children to see it. Now my children take my grandchildren. Both the Bambi storybooks and the movie are truly classics.
Since 1942, Bambi and his friends Thumper the Rabbit and Flower the Skunk have been animation favorites, one of the 10 best animation classics of all time.
The story was originally adapted for film from the book "Bambi, a Life in the Woods" written by Felix Salten in 1923.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams – 1922
“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you.'
― Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
This is the story of a stuffed rabbit and his desire to become real through the love of his owner. I think it's one of the sweetest fairy tales ever written.
Check out this special 75th Anniversary edition of the Velveteen Rabbit with its original story and artwork of a classic tale first told in 1922.
According to an online poll taken in 2007, this book is one of the National Education Association's "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children.
Curious George by H.A. Rey and Margret Rey
With these words, the tales of a curious monkey named George began.....
The story was written by Margret Rey and illustrated by H.A. Rey. As wartime approached France, the couple fled Paris in June 1940, on self-made bicycles, carrying the Curious George manuscript with them.
The Curious George series of books have been adapted into several television series and films and each book has been in continuous print since first published.
Classic Children's' Tales
Grandsons Tyler & David - reading! |
Whether reading a classic tale or any favorite story, children everywhere love books. My two youngest grandchildren, David (6) and Tyler (18 months) enjoy reading every day.
(c) Published 11/28/15. By Wednesday Elf
Most Recent Reviews on Review This Reviews
Search for Reviews by Subject, Author or Title
The Review This Reviews Contributors
SylvestermouseDawn Rae BMbgPhotoBrite-IdeasWednesday ElfOlivia MorrisTreasures by BrendaThe Savvy AgeMargaret SchindelRaintree AnnieLou16Sam MonacoTracey BoyerRenaissance WomanBarbRadBev OwensBuckHawkDecorating for EventsHeather426Coletta TeskeMissMerFaeryMickie_G
Review This Reviews is Dedicated to the Memory of Our Beloved Friend and Fellow Contributor
We may be apart, but
You Are Not Forgotten