Saturday, February 10, 2024

Valentine Reads For The Very Young

Reviewing Love-Filled Reads for Little Ones


Children's books

The perfect way to introduce small children to holidays is through books. Children love to be read to and board books work great for the babies and toddlers age group.


Let's look at a couple Valentine-themed board books for the youngest children.


Lovey Things by Dr. Seuss


Lovey Things is a sturdy board book about  things Things love.  Little ones will learn about sharing and caring, smiling and hugging, and blowing kisses from those two favorites - Thing One and Thing Two - from Dr. Seuss's 'Cat in the Hat' stories.  A very sweet rhyming way for little ones to learn about the loving ways of Valentine's Day and be introduced to the magic of Dr. Seuss.


Recommended for ages 1 – 4 years, Lovely Things is highly recommended by parents and grandparents. It is an Amazon Best Seller currently listed at #43 in the Top 100, and is #1 in both Poetry for Early Learning and Stories in Verse. It is also #7 in children's Valentine's Day books.


Love From the Very Hungry Caterpillar


Fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the wonderful world of Eric Carle will love this sweet book.  A Valentine's Day gift that gives all the reasons why that someone special makes the world a better and brighter place. 


"You are the cherry on my cake; you make the sun shine brighter; you make my heart flutter."


Filled with a range of images from the World of Eric Carle, and featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar, this board book is for reading ages 1 – 3 and ranks #4 in Children's Valentine's Day Books. 


Summary


So, to introduce your youngest children to the Valentine's Day holiday in a fun way, let them meet Thing One & Thing Two through Dr. Seuss and The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Eric Carle. 


Happy Valentine's Day Reading!
February 14


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*Valentine Reads for Young Ones review written by Wednesday Elf






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


Friday, February 9, 2024

Love's Sweet Recipe (2021) Movie Review

Loves Sweet Recipe
I can certainly understand how anyone who enjoys cooking would think of everything in terms of being a "recipe".

We hear phrases like "recipe for happiness" or "recipe for life", therefore it makes sense for a happily married chef to write a book on his "recipe for love".  

The husband/father in this movie is deceased, but he has left behind his book, "The Rule Book of Love" filled with idioms, quotes and memories.  His wife and daughter cherish this book and the love expressed within it's pages.  It becomes the inspiration for the changes in the restaurant, as well as Courtney's life.

I was not familiar with the actors in "Love's Sweet Recipe", so when I spotted this movie in the lineup on the Great American Pure Flix channel, I was pretty excited to "meet" two new people.  Turns out, I liked both Megan Hutchings and Damon Runyan.

This is a really cute story with delightful characters.  I highly recommend it for those romantics at heart who believe in a recipe for love.


"Love's Sweet Recipe" Movie Synopsis

Courtney Preston (Megan Hutchings) is a chef that is temporarily helping her mother run her father's restaurant.  Her plan is to return to her own career in New York as soon as she can get the restaurant back on solid ground financially.  Of course, her mother would love for Courtney to permanently move back home and take over the restaurant.  But, that is not the life Courtney has planned for herself.

The other main character, Jake Turner (Damon Runyan), was a pro baseball player.  However, after he is injured and can no longer pitch, he decides to pursue his love for baking and go to culinary school.  When he graduates, he returns to his hometown and the girl he once admired from afar.  When he proposes a business arrangement to work in her restaurant and do the baking, Courtney only briefly hesitates to take him up on his offer.  After all, she really does need the help and Jake needs a place to bake. 

Of course with a title like "Love's Sweet Recipe", you pretty much know what to expect, but it is still a sweet recipe for an enjoyable movie.

 



More Great American Family Movie Reviews

Fall Into Winter (2023)

A Brush With Christmas (2022)

Twas the Text Before Christmas (2023)

A Dash of Christmas (2023)

From Chicago With Love (2023) 

Accidentally Engaged (2016)


Check Out More Movie Reviews at
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Love's Sweet Recipe (2021) Movie Review by:
House of Sylvestermouse




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


Thursday, February 8, 2024

Review of Candle Warmer Lamps

Lamp  with Candle

 I love the wonderful scents that candles provide in my home, but I was always leery of having a burning flame.  I tend to forget about them and then they burn down too far.  Well for Christmas I received a wonderful candle warming lamp.  I had never seen one before and wasn't sure how they worked, but I can tell you now they are wonderful.  They are a great way to get light and the wonderful smell from a scented candle without having to worry about a flame and any fire hazard.

Features of my Candle Warmer Light

  • Dimmable
  • No Smoke
  • No Flame
  • Timer
My lamp is also very attractive and makes a wonderful addition to our decor.  It has a square wood base and a metal light stand.  The base will hold candles of many sizes.  I currently have one of the larger round candles in it as you can see pictured above, but I have also put other smaller candles in glass jars.  The base is a non-skid and non-scratch bottom that works well on any furniture.

I love the timer feature.  I can turn on the lamp and set the timer for 2,4,or 8 hours and then not worry about it again.

The light is dimmable, and the brightness will determine how soon the scent begins to flow through your home.

The lamp came with two 50-watt GU10 halogen bulbs, so there is no need to buy extra bulbs.

Another great feature is that the melting of the candle occurs from the light source and thus does not leave a hole like flames, this will double the life of the candles.

Great for Gifts

These candle warmer lamps come in a variety of styles and would make great gifts.  I can see them as a wonderful idea for Valentines Day, Birthdays and Mothers Day.

My lamp came from Amazon and I found that they have many different options.  Here are links to a couple of different Candle Warmer Lamps.




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


Wednesday, February 7, 2024

There's a New Game That Has People Talking! ~ A Product Review

fun new game
Have you heard of the new Game in Town?  TALKING POINT, It has everyone talking and actually interacting with each other!  

With all of the "Tech" toys that people have these days, it seems that we are talking to each other less and less.  If you don't TEXT someone, they are likely to ignore you completely because they are hard wired to the cell devices or their Tablets.

What ever happened to actually talking?

Well there is a new game in town to help you rekindle that ability to look at each other and find out what you are actually thinking, It's called TALKING POINT!  

My other half actually picked up a set of these cards in the hopes that it would foster some conversations with my mother.  She tends to be very quiet and lost in her own world, so he thought it would be a great way to get her to open up a little and see what is happening in her gray matter!




Now in our case, it hasn't worked the way it was intended to, but it sure has us (the other half and I) talking a lot more. Each card (and there are about 200 in each set) has a question on it and everyone gets a chance to answer.

Not everyone will agree with everyone else's responses, but it will definitely get you talking!

The first question I picked was: What household chores do like to do and which do you try and avoid? Now that really made me stop and think, because being the mom (now retired from that position), you always have chores to do and delegating some to the offspring is generally a great idea. Wouldn't it be so much easier if you knew ahead of time that your daughter doesn't mind doing the laundry, but hates hanging up the shirts?

The other question that I love in this family set of Talking Point cards is: How did your parents meet and fall in love?

I wonder how many children actually know those stories and how it might make them smile to know those little tidbits of family history.

Family time would be a great time to make some pizza, grab some drinks and sit down together and ask some of these questions.

Can you just imagine the looks on the kids faces and maybe even the parents'. I'm sure the discussions around the table would be interesting and maybe even open an eye or two.

How about a question for the kids, Like: Are friends more important than family? You might just be surprised by some of the answers.

All I know is that in this day and age when people are busy looking down at their phones, something has to happen to engage our families with each other. Camping nights and cottage visits would be a great time to take along a small box of conversation starters that will have everyone laughing and enjoying each other without any right or wrong answers.

Just answers that might shed some light on other parts of their lives, or be a way to open a door to more pressing concerns or just great conversation with those we love.  

These cards get a big High Five from me and seeing how many have been sold already, I'm guessing that they are a hit with a lot of people from all over the world.

This is a great way to enjoy FAMILY DAY in February!  And you have lots of time still to get a set!

I hope that it will help you to get to know each other better and have a little (or a lot) of fun along the way!





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


Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Reviewing The Romantic Story Of Valentines Day Cards

White, pink and red roses


I love Valentines day and enjoy the romance and fun of it. My husband and I still celebrate it 
and while we do not generally do anything very expensive, often we go for a lovely walk and a coffee somewhere in the countryside or at the beach. Perhaps a picnic if the weather is good enough, occasionally a dinner out or we cook a delicious meal and we often watch a good film in the evening. 

Each year we buy or make each other a Valentines Day Card. We have kept all our cards to each other and over the years it has made a lovely nostalgic collection of our life together.

The history and traditions of valentine cards is interesting, though maybe the early history a little imprecise and seems to have started in ancient Rome.  There is some debate about who was St. Valentine with several  men competing for that title. However, according to some sources, the first Valentine card was sent by St. Valentine of Terni. He was a  Christian martyred in the 3rd Century, imprisoned for performing marriages, especially those of Roman Soldiers at a time when Emperor Claudius banned his soldiers from marrying so as to keep them battle ready and free from family obligations. 

He apparently wrote a farewell letter to the daughter of his jailer who he had befriended and healed. When he wrote the letter he signed it "your Valentine". Of course other versions of the Valentine story may well exist!

White and pink roses in soft focus


Valentine cards became more usual in the Middle Ages. This was a time when people began to celebrate  romantic love and courtship. Of the earliest valentine cards some were poems or songs written by famous poets, such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles d’Orléans.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, valentine cards became more popular and people started to make them by hand, using paper adorned with lace, flowers and ribbons. Being handmade individually many of these cards were very expensive to produce and time consuming to make, often being very intricate and people must have had wonderful crafting skills.

Many declared messages of love as we would expect, but others were humorous or even surprisingly insulting!

I enjoy making Valentines cards from photographs of flowers and animals and nature in our garden and surrounding areas, some of which I have posted here. Most are messages of care and love. I have not made any insulting ones!


Here is one from made from a photograph of a gorgeous Labradoodle playfully and lovingly gazing up at us.


However, It wasn't until the late 18th century that the first printed valentine cards appeared in England but once they did they soon spread to other countries, especially the United States.

By the mid 19th century the penny post made it easier and cheaper to send Valentines cards. Gradually over time valentines cards became more accessible and less expensive to buy and send. 

Today it is again becoming more expensive to use the post to send cards and with the growth of digital communication we can now increasingly send messages and cards electronically via our technical devices. On most of my cards there is the option to have it as a printed card or downloadable to a device. 


This one is made from a gorgeous bouquet of very soft pink roses and delicate ferns.

I recall at school and University many Valentines cards were sent anonymously causing great intrigue and excitement as to who your secret admirer could be!

I think these days Valentines cards can be sent to someone you love or who you admire. However, depending on their content and picture they do not always have to be sent to a love interest, but rather to anyone who you care about and want to brighten their day.

I doubt St. Valentine of Terni could have imagined the development of Valentine cards as they are today!


Here is one made when we visited the beach and saw this "I Love U" inscribed on a rock! 


I wonder where Valentines day traditions will go in the future and whether young people will carry on the tradition or change and modify it. 

Today Valentine cards are still a kind and lovely way of expressing care, love and affection for special people in your life.


I thought these pale pink waterlilies were so beautiful sitting next to each other, so took a photo and made them into a Valentine day card. 









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


Sunday, February 4, 2024

A Glow In The Dark Throw Blanket - A Magical Gift for All Ages

glow in the dark blanket

I recently purchased a Glow in the Dark Blanket as a gift, and I couldn't be happier with the recipient's reaction. This enchanting blanket exceeded my expectations.

Why I Love Giving Glow In The Dark Throw Blankets as a Gift:

Glows Perfectly: The standout feature of this blanket (which I purchased from the Amazon Canada site) is its mesmerizing glow-in-the-dark design. Adorned with stars and uplifting words like Grateful, Harmony, Happy, Peace, Comfort, Relaxing, Hope, and Love, this blanket transforms into a radiant masterpiece when exposed to light. Turning off the lights reveals a soft, calming glow, creating a magical atmosphere that delights the recipient.

Note: I have yet to find the brand I purchased from Amazon Canada on the Amazon USA site, however, here's another one that is quite similar, and also features inspirational sayings.

Perfect for All Ages: 

It offers a sense of security and comfort for individuals of all ages. Children and seniors will especially love falling asleep wrapped up in the plush, furry fabric. The little bit of glow light on the blanket is handy as well. The blanket is ideal for any age group since the inspirational sayings apply to everyone.

Cozy and Practical: 

Crafted from velvety microfiber fleece, this throw blanket epitomizes coziness. It doesn't wrinkle, fade, or shed, making it perfect for lounging on the bed, couch, or even out on the porch. Whether looking for warmth during chilly nights or a comforting presence during daytime naps, this blanket delivers on all fronts.

Versatile Gift for Every Occasion: 

A Glow in the Dark Blanket is the perfect gift for any occasion. Whether it's a Birthday, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, or just a random act of kindness, this blanket is a thoughtful and unique present. 

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Surprise: 

With the added touch of being gift-wrapped, this blanket is the perfect Valentine's Day surprise. Its luminous and comforting features make it an ideal expression of love and warmth for family and friends throughout the year. 

In conclusion, a Glow-in-the-Dark Blanket is not just a gift; it's an experience that brings joy, comfort, and a touch of magic to anyone lucky enough to receive it. Whether you're searching for a unique present for kids, seniors, or someone looking for something different, this blanket will leave a lasting impression. 

Valentine Gift Idea: The Glow-in-the-Dark Throw and this Fun Valentine Word Scramble Activity Book




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


Saturday, February 3, 2024

Review of National Pizza Day


February 9 is National Pizza Day.


An image of a stack of pizza boxes


A Brief History of Pizza


The word “Pizza” is from the old Italian word meaning “A Point”. This popular dish began in Italy, but pizza's original American home is New York City. 


Fun Facts About Pizza


A supreme pizza
Pizza is an American standard. The most popular pizza toppings are pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms, with Pepperoni Pizza topping the list of favorites. 


A poll showed that people eat pizza on the average of three times a  month.  The most often times are Friday nights and Movie nights. 


The days most popular for ordering pizza are:


  • Super Bowl Sunday
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving Eve
  • New Year's Eve and New Year's Day


Pizza Days


Having a pizza party

Other days throughout the year celebrate various kinds of pizzas.


  • February 9 – National Pizza Day
  • May 17 – National Pizza Party Day
  • September 5 – National Cheese Pizza Day ('Hold the Toppings')
  • September 20 – National Pepperoni Pizza Day
  • November 12 – National Pizza with the works, except anchovies Day


AND - October is known as National Pizza MONTH


Pizza Places


Cheese Pizza
The top rated pizza fast-food places find Domino's Pizza in first place, followed in order by Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Little Caesars. 

Many pizza fans insist that their regional type is the best. Whether it's thin or thick crust, deep dish, kinds of cheeses, or sauce, or toppings, certain regions insist it is the only way to eat pizza! These include Buffalo, California, Chicago, Detroit, Greek, New York and St. Louis styles. For a complete list of these regional favorites, check out the Wikipedia article here on Pizza in the United States.


More About Pizza


Pepperoni Pizza

Many of the writers on Review This Reviews have written reviews about pizza recipes, and the products and supplies, such as pizza pans, which aid in creating your favorite pizza.  Click HERE for a list of reviews related to PIZZA




Summary


Pepperoni Pizza in a box
So, enjoy your favorite pizza on National Pizza Day this February 9th, or on any of the other Pizza Days throughout the year. Actually, probably no one needs a special day to eat pizza; any day will do! 


Happy Pizza Day! 


*Review of National Pizza Day is written by Wednesday Elf


+All images in this review are from Pixabay






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


Friday, February 2, 2024

Groundhogs aka Woodchucks and Groundhog Day, February 2 Reviewed

Punxsutawney Phil
Attribution: Anthony Quintano on
WikiMedia Commons CC By-SA 4.0 Deed
One of the most popular and recognized animals on earth is the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.  He is the little creature we all turn to on Groundhog Day each year to get our weather forecast.  

No one can deny this little fellow is adorable, especially when he declares spring is coming soon!  Of course, we still love him when he sees his shadow and predicts 6 more weeks of winter, but he just seems so much sweeter when he doesn't see his shadow and promises an early spring.

In spite of the fact that groundhogs have a lifespan of 6 years, Punxsutawney Phil has been making his weather predictions since 1886.  Yes, it is true (folklore)!  As the story goes, Phil drinks "groundhog punch" aka his "elixir of life" at the picnic each year, therefore he has lived a lot longer than the average groundhog life expectancy. 

The celebrated groundhog makes his appearance on Groundhog Day, February 2 each year, to give his prediction.  He only speaks to the current president of the Groundhog Club.  Then the president translates his "groundhogese" into English for the rest of us.  Personally, I blame the club president for disturbing this old fellow and not Phil when he declares, "you will have 6 more weeks of winter!"


Early Spring Has Been Predicted by Punxsutawney Phil for 2024!
Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day 2022 Pennsylvania (51858204001)
Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Facts About Groundhogs

baby groundhog
Baby Groundhog
Attribution: LadyCamera, CC BY-SA 4.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

Groundhogs are members of the rodent family and are considered the largest squirrels in North America.  They have short legs and long, curved claws which allow them to burrow.  They prefer woodland areas, hedges, or open areas with plenty of ground coverage.  They can be found in the eastern parts of North America and southern Canada.

Groundhogs live alone.  Even a mother groundhog will send her babies on the way after a few months and reclaim her burrow for single occupancy. 

Groundhogs, also known as Woodchucks, eat twigs, bark, plant stems and leaves (not the seeds or blooms) and can live up to 6 years.  

An adult woodchuck will grow to approximately 2 feet and will weight somewhere between 5 - 11 lbs.

Groundhogs are one of the few animals that are true hibernators. They sleep all winter long, relying completely on their reserves of fat to stay alive. Their metabolism slows down to a fraction of normal levels to ensure their survival.   Most hibernators wake up to find food or urinate, but groundhogs don't even do that.

When threatened, groundhogs will make a shrill sound which is why they also have the nickname of whistlepigs.

 







to Read about More Beautiful and Endangered Animals!


Check Out More Animal Reviews
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Groundhogs aka Woodchucks and Groundhog Day, February 2 Review Written by:
House of Sylvestermouse




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


Thursday, February 1, 2024

Reviewing Prom Queen by Laura Wolfe

Prom Queen book cover
Prom Queen by Laura Wolfe 

I'm not sure what made me want to read this book by Laura Wolfe, but I will definitely be diving into more of her books as I really enjoyed it.

The cover of the book says, 'We were all there 20 years ago....Only one of us killed her', that was enough of a hook for me!

This book runs in two timelines one is the present day and one is twenty years ago when the small town of Cove Haven's Prom Queen died.

The main character in the book is Brooke and she has returned to Cove Haven on the shore of Lake Michigan after her mother's death planning to renovate and sell the family home. While she's in the coffee shop she bumps into a woman who is wearing a silver locket around her neck that she instantly recognises. The necklace is one that she gave her long-time best friend for her 17th birthday and the last time she saw it was on the evening that her friend (the Prom Queen in the title) died.

The person in question was a true-crime podcaster who had decided to investigate the Prom Queen's death and she raised lots of questions as podcasters do. Bailey's death had been put down as a suicide, but her friends had often thought it could've been something more sinister. As the podcaster, Hannah probes more she and Brooke discover more things and the twists start coming.

I really enjoyed it even though I did suspect who the killer was before the end, I will confess to falling for a red herring for a few moments. I won't reveal more about that as I want you to fall for it   enjoy the book with no preconceptions!

If you like thrillers and whodunnits then you should enjoy this book. There were a couple of cliched characters in the book, but the main cast was really good.

The only thing that I didn't really like was the epilogue. I enjoyed the ending with the reveal and think it could've ended there. When I read the epilogue I said to my husband, 'that's not a nice ending, I really don't like that ending' I think it was to set up for another book, but I just didn't like it. I would recommend not reading that part, but if you're like me curiosity will get the better of you. 

For an entertaining read I do recommend it. It is marketed as a 'totally addictive and gripping psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist' and that does sum it up although I would probably replace the psychological thriller with whodunnit as it wasn't as dark and suspenseful as a lot of psychological thrillers.




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


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