Gracie, age 2, is a gracious, graceful and gorgeous gray cat. As you can see, she’s quite eager to please and would so much prefer an ankle to rub up against instead of a doorjamb. Wouldn’t it be nice to say, “Goodnight, Gracie” as she purrs on your blanket? Meet Gracie on the shelter side of Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A556940.
(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)
Credit: Courtesy of Companion Animal Village.
This is more than just a toy and more than just a building kit! I think that it is actually pretty unique. If you have a son or daughter who loves to build and be creative, then this set is a must-buy! It is a lot of fun too! All the pieces are included except for the household type of items such as boxes and bottles. I like that the directions are pretty easy to follow but that they also allow for creativity. This is an important factor with my son. Let’s just say he prefers to be a bit unique! I also like that there is a variety of choices of machines that can be built. My son found this to be a lot of fun and I highly recommend for ages 7+.
You can purchase on Amazon.com.
Self Disclosure: I received this product for free in exchange for my unbiased review.
The ThinkFun MakerStudio Propellers Building Kit is also a lot of fun!
This is another creative and fun Maker Studio kit from ThinkFun! What I like about this one is that it is great for younger kids (ages 6) but also great for older kids. Even my 12-year-old son enjoyed making this one. It has super easy to follow instructions and allows for creativity. There is also a choice of making different things such as a windmill or a plane. Kids can even make up their own design. I highly recommend for ages 6-14.
You can purchase on Amazon.com.
Self Disclosure: I received both kits free in exchange for unbiased reviews. Photo Credit: ThinkFun.
Halloween is almost here and time to decorate! I received a few holiday decorations from our friends at CostumeExpress.com and am so impressed! The Decorative Instant Mega Web for yards is my favorite! We set it up with a black light and it really seems to glow at night!
We added a Spider to our yard display!
I also received the Spooky Graveyard Deco Kit and a Floating Happy Ghost!
The Spooky Graveyard Deco Kit is really easy to set up and retails for $19.99. This one will instantly make your yard look haunted and spooky!
The Spooky Graveyard Outdoor Decoration Kit includes:
Retails for $19.99.
My favorite though is the Floating Happy Ghost! This one is also currently on sale for $4.99! (67% off). Includes: One ghost that measures approximately 7 feet tall. It is easy to put it up and is a Must-Buy for this holiday!
Find these great decorations and so many more at CostumeExpress.com.
Savvy shoppers are encouraged to sign-up for e-mails from CostumeExpress.com at https://www.costumeexpress.com/profile/footeroremailsub to gain early access to sale items, exclusive offers and secret surprises surrounding the sale.
CostumeExpress.com offers shoppers the following peace-of-mind this Halloween season:
Follow CostumeExpress.com
Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Photo Credit: Courtesy of CostumeExpress.com (except for night time photo of the yard Web).
Looking for a Camping Hammock that is sturdy and the perfect size? The Double Camping Hammock with Tree Straps from Live Infinity fits the description! I love that it is strong and durable and can hold up to 450 lbs. The double camping hammocks measure 9′ 10″ long by 6′ 6″ wide (300cm x 200cm). It is also easy to store when not in use. Simply fold it up and put it in the carry pouch and you are good to go. I like that it is also easy to set up and only takes minutes to set up or take down. It is big enough for two adults and is a must-have for camping trips. I like that the material is nylon and also machine washable. It is made from quick drying, weather & mildew resistant 210T parachute grade nylon.
You can purchase on Amazon.com. Also, available on their website too!
Self Disclosure: I received a free product in exchange for an unbiased review.
Based on the popular Goosebumps books and TV series by R.L. Stine, this film pulls together characters from many of the books in a unique storyline. Starring Jack Black as R.L. Stine, Dylan Minnetter and Odeya Rush as two teens whose life is turned topsy turvy by the stream of events, this film reveals why Stine is so strange. He is a prisoner of his own imagination – the monsters that his books made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Zach unintentionally unleashes the monsters from their manuscripts and they begin to terrorize the town, it’s up to Stine and the two teens get all of them back in the books where they belong. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nathaniel B. comments, “The cinematography and special effects are amazing. I especially liked when the ink flies off the pages of the book. I have to admit, I am a big fan of the Goosebumps books and they have excelled at making a movie that is true to the books.” Tre’ana H. adds, “I like this film because it is replete with action, adventure and comedy. The movie keeps you in cliff hangers and makes you think about the possibility of all this craziness actually happening.” See their full reviews below.
Goosebumps
By Nathaniel B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9
I love this movie! It starts when Zack (Dylan Minnette) and his Mom move from New York to Madison, Delaware not long after his Dad dies. Their house is right next door to a very odd neighbor, but Zack meets the neighbor’s daughter, Hannah (Odeya Rush) and she shows him a really cool abandoned amusement park.
On his very first day of school, he meets a kid named Champ (Ryan Lee). Later that night, Zack hears Hannah screaming next door and he calls Champ to help him check it out. Champ thinks he’s coming over to meet girls and his reaction to finding out he’s been asked to help save Hannah is very funny. They sneak in and that is when the adventure begins.
This story has many cool Goosebumps characters including Slappy (aka the Living Dummy), the Invisible Boy, the Haunted Car, the Abominable Snowman, Werewolf of Fever Swamp and the Blob that eats everyone.
The cinematography and special effects are amazing. I especially liked when the ink flies off the pages of the book. The monsters look great and have a lot of detail. They look very real. I have to admit, I am a big fan of the Goosebumps books and they have excelled at making a movie that is true to the books. I also love the acting. It is one of the perfect things about the movie. They react like some one really would in a similar situation.
This movie is kind of scary. There are some jump scares. But, it is funnier than it is scary. There are many jokes such as when Champ says “Most teenagers aren’t afraid of death, but I was born with the gift of fear. When I was four and put on a swing, I thought, so this is how it ends.”
I like the music. It really suits the mood of the film, creating suspense throughout the film. During Zach’s first day of school, the music is happy just like you feel on the first day of a new school year.
Goosebumps is a great story and will be enjoyed by many different ages. I definitely think you should check it out, especially if you love the books. I recommend this for ages 7 to 18 because younger kids could get scared. I give Goosebumps 5 out of 5 stars because I loved the story line, the great music, the acting and the special effects!
Goosebumps
By Tre’ana Hickson, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
I like this film because it is replete with action, adventure and comedy. Even though I unfamiliar with the Goosebumps TV and book series from the 90s, I enjoyed the eccentricity of this film. The movie keeps you in cliff hangers and makes you think about the possibility of all this craziness actually happening. The director, Robert Letterman really amazed me by how real he made the monsters look. R.L. Stine (Jack Black) is sensational and I don’t think any one else could have played him. He is a little weird though.
This film is about a boy named Zach (Dylan Minnette) and his mom Gale (Amy Ryan) who moved to Madison, a small town outside of New York City. The next door neighbor’s daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush) welcomes him to the neighborhood. R.L. Stine comes to the window and says “stay away from my daughter and don’t cross the gate” with an unpleasant facial expression. There is a reason why the dad is so strange. He is a prisoner of his own imagination. R.L. Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Zach unintentionally releases them, all the excitement begins. That’s all I can reveal. You’ll have to go see the film to find out more. It is a must see.
My favorite part is when R.L. Stine is stuck between the two doors to get out the grave yard and the monster is chasing him and Hannah’s friends. He says, “go I will be fine” and Champ (Ryan Lee) actually leaves him and runs away without turning back while the others try to get him out.
The dress code is original and modern. The monsters are bright, colorful and spooky looking.
The message of this film is that you should treat people the way you wish to be treated. Everyone’s aspirations are different but, be fair because it will take you a long way.
I recommend this film for ages 10 to 18 and give it 5 out of 5 Stars because this film is an adventure comedy that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved this movie. It is just right. This film is not for a younger audiences because it might be a little scary for younger children. Check out this movie when it hits theaters Friday, October 16, 2015.
Video review by Morgan B.
Credit: KIDS FIRST!
It’s Halloween time and one of my favorite places to go around this time of the year is Disneyland! It’s just the whole atmosphere! The decorations add to this being such a happy and fun place! My son and I had the opportunity to visit this magical place late last month and although we didn’t participate in all the Halloween activities such as Mickey’s Halloween Party, we had a blast! I hear that this fun event is all sold out for 2015. There are seasonal attractions and activities not to be missed such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy (one of my son’s favorites) and it’s just fun to simply walk down Main Street, U.S.A and see the Pumpkins.
It’s more than just an amusement park and don’t miss celebrating the 60th Celebration this year at Disneyland!
It really is a magical place!
Check out the website for more information and park hours!
Self Disclosure: My son and I received media comps to visit Disneyland and California Adventure.
Sally Hansen really does have my favorite nail polishes and here are some of my favorites this Fall!
2 stunning new collections and 6 limited-edition shades also join the Miracle Gel™ lineup.
I love the Miracle Gel Nail shades and I like how the polish lasts too!
These days, bigger is better when it comes to beauty. Following the major success of the first Miracle Gel launch, Sally Hansen has done it again, developing the new & improved volumizing Miracle Gel™ Top Coat – adding to the award-winning Sally Hansen Miracle Gel collection: the most buzzed about at-home nail system and the closest thing to a salon gel manicure at home.
When partnered with the Miracle Gel™ shades, Miracle Gel™ Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure – creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish.
The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel’s simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel™ color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.
To coincide with the release of the new top coat, Sally Hansen announces a total of 20 new vibrant colors of Miracle Gel™. The Tribal Vibe collection adds seven new sun-baked shades to the permanent line up.
One of my new favorite shades is Cream of the Crop, which is ivory with a hint of warmth. Check out all the new shades at a retailer near you!
PRICE & AVAILABILITY: The new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat, limited edition duo packs, Tribal Vibe collection, and Boho Chic collection are available at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. Miracle Gel™ Color Coat and Top Coat cost $9.99 each and the limited edition duo pack costs $14.99.
Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Photo Credit: Sally Hansen.
Choosing the perfect shade is traditionally both the most fun and the most difficult aspect of shopping for nail color; consumers surreptitiously dab color onto a single or several nails to approximate how given shades might look on their hands in relation to skin tones, mood or outfit. ManiMatchTM flips the trial-on- ly-post-purchase shopping experience that has always frustrated nail color shoppers, transforming the process into a moment of discovery, excitement and pleasure. “The app is addictive; everyone who tries it can’t stop herself from checking out more options,” says Jeremy Lowenstein, Sally Hansen Global Marketing Vice President. “The fact that you see exactly how a color will look on your own hands is just pure fun—and incredibly useful. People end up experimenting with shades they’d never normally try.”
“The innovative technology uses bespoke skin tone analysis and an algorithm to map the hand.” – says Kristen D’Arcy, Global Digital Vice President. “It tracks the individual nuances of the user’s hands, analyzes skin tone, finds the nail beds, and photo-realistically simulates our nail polish shades, with shine: the finished manicure appears instantly on the user’s hand. ManiMatchTM generates shade suggestions across all Sally Hansen’s product lines, including Miracle Gel, Complete Salon Manicure, Insta-Dri and Xtreme Wear, so users can easily navigate and experience every color they desire.”
The launch of this app coincides with the release of the new Miracle Gel® Top Coat and new fashionable shades. Available for download for free on iOS platforms since it launched September 2015 (and select Android devices later in fall), ManiMatchTM is poised to revolutionize nail color shopping, both in store and ecommerce. Sally Hansen hosted a kick-off consumer event in NYC to introduce the app. The first users to share the experience with a friend had the chance to become the next Sally Hansen hand model for Sally Hansen social media.
Credit: Sally Hansen.
