Silkki's Reviews: March 2012

La Bella Stella

La Bella Stella opens with Maria Alley’s solid vocal styling on “Nature’s Lullaby.” This is nature appreciation with a great backbeat! The album next offers up some smooth as silk old-time jazz on “I Love the Dark,” where elegant jazz violin and a little whistling “à la Bing” enhance Tom Knight’s 1920s vocalizing. “Shooting Stars” lets Martha Johnson sing a reverie to the night sky over the mesmerizing ostinato of African thumb piano and percussion. “Galaxy Song” reduces the mysteries of the universe to a double time, upbeat lowest common denominator, with Andy Z creating terrific, high energy without high voltage guitar. AudraRox brings a bit of country rock to her dissertation on the pros and cons of “Gravity.” Set in a “cool jazz” minor key, Kenn Lonnquist’s very hip “Nocturnal” celebrates nighttime fauna with close harmony and a driving beat. Wayne from Maine offers a lunar “sha-na-na” ode to the “Man in the Moon,” while Wendy Whitten brings a late ‘70s “West Coast” gentle rock sound to “Earth’s Satellite.” The tremendously creative Rocknoceros entertains with “Pluto,” a funny, upbeat ballad in rhyming couplets about Pluto’s discovery and subsequent demotion. More celestial information is imparted in the hauntingly beautiful counterpoint of Lori & J.D. Uponen’s “Aurora Borealis.” The distinctive qualities of Mary Kaye’s “Shadow” are guaranteed to catch the ear of any kid. “Neptune Lullaby” by Dr. Planet features a sumptuously symphonic string sound, replete with strong choral singing. Banana Slug String Band’s “Safe at Home” includes strings of a more bucolic flavor, along with some great “country” vocal harmony. Laura Giosh’s “Harmony of the Spheres” likewise blends voices, strings, guitars, and percussion over an optimistic bass line. The album closes with the delightfully piquant a cappella harmony of Charity and the JAMband’s “So Long to the Day.”

MY REVIEW:
La Bella Stella is a fantastic Children's CD that is due to be released on Mach 27! It is a wonderful collection of songs about our wonderful planet and solar system. The music is fantastic and the words are great. Songs that gets your children thinking, wondering and aware of the world around them will always be a winner in my CD player. I'm thrilled they are so happy to listen to this wonderful collection of songs that really does get them thinking about the earth, and other things in the galaxy. I really believe that this is a great CD for all children, it's aimed at those 4-11 but my younger ones enjoy the "music" on the disc, while the older ones enjoy the "stories" as my daughter calls them. This is a great CD for Earth Day and every other day of the year, it's never too late or too early to learn the wonders of the world. There was a lot of thought put into these songs and they are worth having your children learn the wonderful things they should know.
I would suggest grabbing a copy and letting your child(ren) start to enjoy science in a completely new way!

I give this CD 9 out of 10 thumbs up!

~~I received the CD mentioned above for free for my written review of my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~

Little Angels Easter Cards for Printing

Little Angels has these fantastic Easter Cards. As you may remember, I had reviewed LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s My children, especially my three year old son, LOVES these movies. I think these cards are a fantastic. Print them out for your children to hand out at school, to family, friends....they are wonderful.

About Little Angels:

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with this season’s most heavenly new collection! From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes the first three volumes of a fresh, fun and inspiring educational series that children and their parents (and grandparents too) can enjoy together in LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s, now available on DVD with Digital Copy from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Roma Downey stated, "For many years I had the privilege of playing an angel on television, bringing a message of God's love to millions of Americans. As a mother, I have longed to be part of a project that would help to bring that same message to children by not only teaching them the foundations of education - but also providing strong examples of good behavior. Little Angels does just that. It offers critical learning skills through the lens of timeless and age appropriate Bible stories. I only wish this series had been available when my kids were younger!"

LITTLE ANGELS is an animated DVD series and has been created for pre-school aged children to teach practical learning skills like ABCs and numbers. The series is presented in a captivating and entertaining format that will help parents to teach their little angels a big love of learning while also providing hours of fun to enjoy together with exciting DVD extras.

Pre-school twins Alex and Zoe are blessed to have eight Little Angels watching over them – literally! These Little Angels live on the ceiling of their bedroom, painted there so they are the first things the kids see when they wake up in the morning and the last thing they see before they fall asleep at night. The angels come to life when the children need them most, helping guide them through the challenges of their young lives.

Featuring a great deal of interactive DVD extras including charming music videos and downloadable activity sheets, plus a downloadable bonus digital copy of each lesson that will allow for learning on the go, the LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1, 2, 3’s DVDs are a great value moms can feel good about sharing with their little angels.

~~I received this information to pass along to my readers. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~

Tooth Fairy 2

Larry Guthrie (Larry the Cable Guy) is a fun-loving dreamer with a serious mission: win back the love of his life before she makes a terrible mistake and marries the wrong man! In his attempt to get back on his long lost love’s good side, Larry visits the school where she works and make’s a horrible mistake… He accidentally tells a child that the Tooth Fairy is just a myth. Crushing the child’s dreams sets off a chain of events that are far more than Larry bargained for including being “sentenced” to become a Tooth Fairy or face having his memories erased for good…PLUS losing any chance of getting back the girl of his dreams! Larry is brought before a 500-year-old Tooth Fairy stuck in a 10-year-old girl’s body (played by newcomer Brady Reiter) for sentencing. The Tooth Fairy demands that Larry make retribution by temporarily serving as a Tooth Fairy and proving that Tooth Fairies really do exist. His mission? Larry must collect 20 teeth in 20 days. With his orders in hand, Larry embarks on a journey to prove the existence of Tooth Fairies and to win back the love of his life.

It’s tutu times the laughs watching Larry strut his stuff in pink tights and ballet shoes as he tries to prove he can git-r-done!

MY REVIEW:

What a great movie, not quite like the first one but along similar lines. I was very surprised to see Larry the Cable Guy in pink overalls, but man he pulled it off. I have never actually seen a movie with him in it, or anything for that matter, I have heard of him, but until the cartoon Cars, I had never heard his voice. This movie was very funny for my children, they were all laughing at different things throughout the entire movie, it was great. I was very pleased with this movie. It was nothing that I was expecting.

I am very happy knowing that we can sit down and watch this great family movie without all the elements that I don't like in movies today. This one was just great family fun, there wasn't anything that I was bother with my children seeing or hearing. And there wasn't much negative attitude either, which seems to be very hard to come by nowadays.

If you liked the first Tooth Fairy then you may want to grab a copy of this one, the Tooth Fairy 2 will not disappoint your funny bone.

I give this movie 10 out of 12 thumbs up!

~~I received the movie mentioned above for free for a written review of my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~

Save The Horse Racing Industry in Ontario petition

PLEASE SIGN THIS TO HELP SAVE SOME JOBS.....

Here's what you'll read on the petition site...

"Help save:

Ontario’s Horse Racing Industry employs an estimated 60,000 Ontarians and pays a total of $1.5 billion dollars of wages and salaries each year in Ontario. The horse racing industry is the second largest sub-sector of the agricultural economy with a contribution in excess of wheat, eggs, poultry and hogs, combined in 2010.

If the horse racing industry leaves, it will cause a "ripple effect", causing farmers, vet offices, farriers, feed stores, tack stores, breeders, those employed by the track and countless others that will be affected if the horse racing industry leaves Ontario. Many more will lose profits and jobs.

Over the last decade annual expenditures by the horse racing industry has increased by 67% to $2 billion dollars in 2010 from $1.2 billion in 2000. Approximately 80% of this expenditure occurs in Ontario’s rural agriculture communities where it provides much needed economic growth.

Government revenue from Ontario’s horse racing revenue has increased by 27% over the last ten years with the province of Ontario receiving $261 million dollars a year from industry not including OLG profits from slot machines.

Thank you everyone around the world for your support!!!! it is greatly appreciated!!

Also, you may join our facebook group called Save Horse Racing!! Where you can follow our journey of saving the industry and also join our discussions."

PLEASE CLICK HERE! Sign the petition! Spread the word! Save jobs! Help families keep their income coming in!

Save The Horse Racing Industry in Ontario.....PETITION

The Descendants

Based on the best-selling novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings and set in Hawaii, THE DESCENDANTS is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.

MY REVIEW:
This movie made me cry. I took the opportunity one night when my husband was away and my children were all asleep, and I sat down with George Clooney to have a fantastic night just the two of us!! And what a fantastic night it was.
What a tough situation this man was in, he’s a lawyer and as such spends more time on the job then he does with his family. He has lost touch with his troubled teenage daughter, who has a very foul mouth, he has lost the connection with his wife that he once had and it takes a motor boat accident that leaves her in the hospital for him to realize the mistakes he's made. It's always the case, you don't know what you have until it's on the line, and in this case it's on a life line at the hospital. I feel so sad for George's character, this movie made me cry, finding out the things he did while his wife was on life support must be terrible. He couldn't confront her or have any closure in the situation. I would hate to be in his shoes. His daughter broke his heart by telling him what she knew but in turn they become closer as a family!

I really don't want to give too much information about this movie, I really think it's really good that you should watch it for yourself. If you've read the book then you know the story. I'm happy my children don't talk the way his teenage daughter does, and I hope they never do. I think the part of this that keeps me watching is the heart and soul that is put into the entire story, the book, the actors/actresses, everything has true feeling and it's hard not to love the movie and to become glued to a movie that is so real you can picture being part of the story. Any George Clooney fans should grab this, he's fantastic, I loved him. This movie will make so many people happy for so many reasons, it's fantastic!

I give this movie 2 out of 2 thumbs up!

~~I received the movie mentioned above for free for my written review of my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~

Breakout Kings

CAPTURE THE FIRST SEASON OF THE BREAKOUT A&E ORIGINAL DRAMA

BREAKOUT KINGS

Season 1 on DVD March 13

There’s no escape when “BREAKOUT KINGS,” comes to DVD on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Don’t miss the chance to catch up on the gripping suspense, meet the provocative characters and experience the non-stop action that helped “BREAKOUT KINGS” Season 1, post record ratings for an original drama series on A&E.
Now renewed for its second season, “BREAKOUT KINGS” follows some unconventional partners working to catch convicts on the run. Driven by the fact that there are few things more dangerous than a prisoner who has just escaped and tired of following protocol, veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie DuChamp (Laz Alonso) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi) are taking an unorthodox approach to their work: using former fugitives to catch fugitives. If they agree to help, the fugitives’ sentences will be reduced for each escaped convict they bring in. However, if any of them should try to escape themselves their sentences will be doubled. Will the “BREAKOUT KINGS” wait for their freedom, or will they go on the run themselves?
“BREAKOUT KINGS” Season 1 is loaded with exclusive special features including deleted and extended scenes and several must see featurettes including Good Cons, Bad Cons, Bullpin Sessions, and spotlight on Prison Break cross-over character T:Bag Dealt a Bad Hand.
“BREAKOUT KINGS” also stars Jimmi Simpson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “My Name is Earl”); Malcolm Goodwin (“Raising the Bar,” “Hack,”); Serinda Swan (“Supernatural,” “Smallville”); and Brooke Nevin (“The 4400,” “Worst Week”). “BREAKOUT KINGS” comes from Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora, writers and producers of the hit series “Prison Break.” “BREAKOUT KINGS” is produced by Fox Television Studios for A&E Network.

MY REVIEW:

What a fantastic show! I was thrilled at this opportunity and when I received these DVDs I couldn't get them in the machine fast enough. My husband and I sat down to watch these shows and did not expect what we got. The first couple of shows were very graphic, they were a little more brutal than I was expecting. But we loved the entire series, we spent many late nights watching them. I was very pleased with the entire show. I was captivated by each new story and couldn't help but want more, that's why the late nights. I think this show is awesome, anyone who likes action, adventure and intrigue should definitely grab themselves a copy of this first Season of The Breakout Kings. You will not regret it.

There is always one character you don't like, you think they are a jerk and you just can't stand them when they open their mouths....yep, there's one here too. Zancanelli's a crooked cop. But he is very good at what he does, he makes the show very enjoyable. I can't stand the ignorance of his character, but I love to be angry at him. I think all of the actors/actresses do a fantastic job with their roles. I was very surprised with the great work in this series, I hope there are many more seasons to come. I would love to have the pleasure of seeing this year after year, each and every case is unique and great in every way.

And the ending was the best part. The team was definitely divided throughout the whole season because they are cons working with cops. And the part I find funniest is that the Zancanelli (the crooked cop who lost his badge for theft on the job) is the one who is hardest on the cons, calling them "animals" and treating them terribly, he drove me crazy watching, listening to what he would say to them. But in the end he is no better then them, he could even be considered worse if you think about the fact they are citizens who messed up but he took a pledge to do good and then he really messed up. Who do you think is worse? Well, in the end they became a real team! And that makes me eager to see what season two has in store for this team of awesome people. And I really hope the cast remains the same, I love them all and don't want them to change it up!

I give this movie 4 out of 4 thumbs up!

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Granola Cocoa Flavour

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Snap!* Crackle!* & Pop!* have fused two things that kids love - Rice Krispies Squares* Bars & Granola Bars to create Rice Krispies Granola Bars! This fun, ooey-gooey new bar is made with Rice Krispies* cereal and whole grain oats, and contains 2g of fibre. Available in two delicious flavours: Cocoa and Strawberry.

MY REVIEW:
I must admit, I love granola bars but Rice Krispies squares are not a favorite of mine. So when I received this product this morning I was very excited. I thought it would be a nice thing to try, and I was right, I love this product. There is a great blend of the rolled oats, Rice Krispies and of course Cocoa. What a taste, it's like a party in my mouth. I was craving some sort of snack tonight while watching a TV Series and I was really happy that I had these come to me because I really needed them. And you know what's great, everything!

They don't taste like Rice Krispies Squares, they don't taste like granola bars, they taste like a prefect blend of the ingredients of both. I really enjoyed every delicious bite of these treats. They have 90 calories per bar, not that I count calories but I do have to watch the sugar intake of my son and these only have 6g of sugar!! Which in a gooey chocolatey treat, that's great for me. Less is more. I love this product, I am so happy I had the opportunity to try it and will definitely purchase this for snacks for school lunches as well as around home. I know my children will love these when they get to try them tomorrow, and if one of them doesn't then there is more for mommy! YEAH ME!!!

I give this product 2 out of 2 thumbs up!

~~I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for my honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.~~

Thursday March 8^th is National Breakfast Day and Kellogg’s has partnered with Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Breakfast for Learning to launch the Share Your Breakfast program to encourage Canadians to help children who might otherwise go without.

Here are some facts and information on the Kellogg’s Share Your Breakfast movement!

Did you know?

· Studies show that breakfast can help kids boost their academic performance – improving behavior, reducing absences and tardiness and increasing focus and physical performance

· In Canada - 1 in 10 children live in poverty and are at risk of starting their day on an empty stomach

As part of this movement, Canadians are invited to celebrate National Breakfast Day with us on Thursday, March 8. Throughout the day and across the country we'll be surprising Canadians with free mini-packs of Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal to raise awareness about our country's hungry children. In return, we're donating to our National Breakfast Day charity partners. In essence, a bowl for you will equal a bowl for a hungry child.

There are a number of easy ways to get involved:

a. Visit Kellogg’s website (www.kelloggs.ca/SYB) to view the breakfast video and share this important message with friends and family via social media.

b. Pick-up a specially marked box of Kellogg's cereal in-store for a unique pin code to redeem for a free breakfast item and;

c. In return, Kellogg’s will make a donation to Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Breakfast for Learning

d. Or visit the breakfast charities directly to make your own donation and find out more about the great work they're doing to fight hunger in Canada.

www.breakfastclubscanada.org or www.breakfastforlearning.ca

e. Tweet your support using the hashtag #shareyourbreakfast

Hi everyone!

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Descendants to Blu-ray and DVD March 13, author Kaui Hart Hemmings will be participating in a special Featured Author Group Chat on social media network GoodReads next Tuesday, MARCH 13TH, 2012.

I just thought I would let all my loyal readers know about this event, as all day on March 13, Kaui will be answering user/fan submitted questions to the group page

GoodReads members can join the group and be notified when it officially starts and begin submitting questions. If not a GoodReads user, it’s easy to sign up and then join in the fun. DVD/book bundles are also being given away on the site to commemorate the release!

I hope everyone can stop by on March 13th for this event!! Have fun, get lots of information!!!

Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin’ Berry Garden

Synopsis:

Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin’ Berry Garden shows that it’s time for garden growing fun with Strawberry and her friends as they prepare for the Spring Flower Festival! But when magical sparkles make the Berrykins grow tall and the girls shrink down small, they discover that even when they’re tiny, they can make a big difference.

MY REVIEW:

And Strawberry Shortcake and her sweet desert named friends do it again. What a fantastic movie! My children absolutely love Strawberry Shortcake so of course I was thrilled to be included with this review opportunity. I was very excited and I knew they would be too. When the package got here this morning I couldn't get it open fast enough. We have been having a berry entertaining morning. I have enjoyed Strawberry Shortcake and her friends with my children, over and over again. My favorite part about this movie is that it teaches us that sometimes things aren't better just because they would work easier for us. We need to remember that every actions has an equal and opposite reaction. Just because something helps us out doesn't mean that it's better for everyone. We need to remember that we don't only affect ourselves, and we shouldn't try to change others to better suit us. Everyone has their own role and purpose, if they aren't happy with something they will change it, but we shouldn't think we knows what's best for anyone else. I really love the lessons in the Strawberry Shortcake movies and television shows. She's not just another cartoon character, she's a bunch of valuable lessons all rolled into one berry sweet girl!

I give this movie 6 out of 6 thumbs up!

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road

Synopsis:
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road follows Strawberry and her friends as they retell the classic “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” When a cyclone blows Strawberry to the strange land of Oz, she runs into trouble with the Wicked Witch and must journey to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard how to find her way back home.

MY REVIEW:
I received this movie early this morning and my children were so excited to have it. My one daughter didn't want to go to school, she didn't want to stop watching it. But I told her she can watch the rest when she returns. So, my youngest two and I continued to watch it, and we've watched it again since. I think it's awesome. I love how they made Strawberry Shortcake travel the adventures of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. It was fantastic. A very child friendly version of a classic movie. I was really impressed with how captivated my children (all of them) were with this movie. It was great to see them sitting down so intently watching such a great story about finding courage, bravery and heart deep within yourself. Of course not everything is exact, but it sure is a great rendition of the story. My children love Strawberry Shortcake, and it's true she surely is the sweetest girl of all. What a kind heart she has. I would encourage anyone who has children who love Strawberry Shortcake to go grab this movie, your children will love it. And if you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz, you may want to check it out as well! This is a berry good movie!

I give this movie 8 out of 8 thumbs up!!

~~I received the movie mentioned above for free for my written review of my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~

Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares Milk & Truffle

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Ghirardelli signature SQUARES™ chocolates deliver the perfect balance of intense, slow-melting Ghirardelli chocolate and rich ingredients in a variety of delectable flavors.

These uniquely-shaped chocolates are perfect as an individual indulgence, to share with friends and family, or to give as a gift.

As with all of their premium chocolate products, they hand-select the world's finest cocoa beans to create their proprietary bean blend and roast them to perfection. Then they slow-blend in the purest ingredients, such as real cocoa butter and natural vanilla, to achieve their award-winning distinctively intense chocolate.

Their SQUARES chocolates provide lingering chocolate pleasure anytime and anywhere – so be sure to slow down and savor each delicious bite.

MY REVIEW:
Delicious!!! I was very excited to receive this product, I don't normally purchase these kinds of chocolates, I find them too expensive for my budget. When I opened the bag I couldn't wait to dig in, but there weren't many in the bag, and for a family of six it is hard to say everyone gets one and two people can have a second one. So, it only stood to reason that since I had to do the review, I got to have the extra two, for taste testing purposes of course!

These chocolates are so creamy and milk chocolately. I was very impressed, they may have just become my new favorite, I'll have to give them another try to make sure! I was very impressed with the smooth, creamy texture of these squares, the chocolate was so fantastic tasting! It's hard to find the words to complete describe the way my taste buds were dancing. I truly enjoyed these and they come in an assortment of different flavors other than the Milk & Truffle. Flavors like, Milk Caramel, Dark, Mint, Raspberry, Twilight Delight, Luxe Milk Almond, just to mention a few. Not all flavors will be for everyone, I for one will only try the Milk Caramel and Mint. The price on the website is $3.75 for a 4.63 oz bag so for my family this will definitely be a few and far between type of treat. We don't eat a lot of chocolate, but whenever we do decide it's a good day for something special, these Ghirardelli Squares will definitely be at the top of our list!! Everyone loves them.

I give these chocolates 12 out of 12 thumbs up!

~~I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for my honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.~~

Breakout Kings Season 1 DVD ~Giveaway~

THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON OF BREAKOUT KINGS

Win the gripping drama available on DVD March 13

There’s no escape when “BREAKOUT KINGS,” comes to DVD on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Don’t miss the chance to catch up on the gripping suspense, meet the provocative characters and experience the non-stop action that helped “BREAKOUT KINGS” Season 1, post record ratings for an original drama series on A&E.

Now renewed for its second season, “BREAKOUT KINGS” follows some unconventional partners working to catch convicts on the run. Driven by the fact that there are few things more dangerous than a prisoner who has just escaped and tired of following protocol, veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie DuChamp (Laz Alonso) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi) are taking an unorthodox approach to their work: using former fugitives to catch fugitives. If they agree to help, the fugitives’ sentences will be reduced for each escaped convict they bring in. However, if any of them should try to escape themselves their sentences will be doubled. Will the “BREAKOUT KINGS” wait for their freedom, or will they go on the run themselves?

“BREAKOUT KINGS” Season 1 is loaded with exclusive special features including deleted and extended scenes and several must see featurettes including Good Cons, Bad Cons, Bullpin Sessions, and spotlight on Prison Break cross-over character T:Bag Dealt a Bad Hand.

“BREAKOUT KINGS” also stars Jimmi Simpson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “My Name is Earl”); Malcolm Goodwin (“Raising the Bar,” “Hack,”); Serinda Swan (“Supernatural,” “Smallville”); and Brooke Nevin (“The 4400,” “Worst Week”). “BREAKOUT KINGS” comes from Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora, writers and producers of the hit series “Prison Break.” “BREAKOUT KINGS” is produced by Fox Television Studios for A&E Network.