The Intouchables Review

Oh...it has been quite some time since I have enjoyed a movie like I enjoy this one.

I sit here in my "office"...because it's a french movie, and I know the hubby doesn't want to watch and read the movie...so I sit, and read the subtitles...and enjoy the french language because I enjoy this movie so.

Driss (the grinning fella in the picture above) made me laugh so many times.

I loved watching Phillippe (the older fella in the picture above) enjoy life moments more because of Driss.

The relationship between these two men touches my heart.

I'm not giving anything away.  Because I want you to watch the movie and enjoy it all on your own.

Thumbs up doesn't even begin...I really really like this movie.

Go to your netflix...add it to your queue and then move it to number one.

I highly recommend this movie.

p.s.  i still don't know how to say the 'f' word in french...lol...

Genie Bra Review

While in Target, land of amazing bras, I was doing my clearance lap and came across the genie bra.

Again.

I've watched the infomercials.  For Genie Bra and AhhBra (or however they spell that...).  And I've wondered.  And I've looked online.  And then they start to pop up in stores....As Seen on TV!!!  And I disregard them because I read there is no nipple coverage.  And...I just do not care to go walking around with my headlights on...if you catch my drift.  I need nipplage coverage.

But I also have not strayed from underwires for years and years and years.  Because I'm sure that I need them.

But this particular day, I was thinking...hmm...and I look at the box, because I'm curious.  And I read that the pads are included...and I think, ah...no nipplage... And it's two for $19-something.  So, I think..okay.  I'll try them.  If nothing else, maybe they'll work okay for the gym.

A few days later (because i'm quick to change my ways...ha...), I try one.

*insert heavenly music here*

Okay, so it's not heaven.  But I am surprised...because my boobs are up where they're supposed to be.  And it's comfortable.  Like, the sun starts to go down and I'm not antsy to yank the bra off.

It's now been a few weeks.

I am sad when I wear a regular bra.

Okay, not sad-sad, but I don't enjoy it.  And I'm back to yanking that thing off as soon as possible.

So.  To those of you who have wondered about this bra...I say, thumbs up.  Both thumbs up.  I'll buy more. So I don't have to wear a "regular" bra ever again.

Definitely make sure you get the pad things.

I do not recommend nipplage in public.

I do recommend these bras.

April Birchbox Review

What is Birchbox?  Well...

"Discover the best beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products..."

"Birchbox delivers luxe beauty samples to your door each month.  Find out what you love, and buy with confidence."

"Hand-picked beauty and lifestyle samples, delivered to your door for $10/month + Birchboxes Ship Free!"

I have been eyeballed this Birchbox thing for awhile and finally decided that it's $10...I have had at least that much sitting in the "ashtray" in my car for quite some time now so apparently, ten bucks isn't that big of a deal so go ahead and try it...

I got April's box...let me tell you...it comes in the cutest little box.

And, those who know me, know I'm a HUGE sucker for a cute box.

So I open the shipping box, and this is what I see...and I think...ug...I'm sick...it's a physical success right now to just breathe...I cannot go to the gym...but, I'm also wondering what magic lies within this little box...

So I slide off the sleeve, and here is the cute little box...

I take off the lid and there is a little postcard with the little "hoorah" about this month's box and on the back is a description of what will be underneath that pink tissue... 

Tada!  This month's fun! 

(inside that green sleeve...)

So here is their description and my opinion...

(MALIN+GOETZ)/peppermint shampoo

The recipe for this bestselling shampoo? Tingly cool peppermint extracts paired with purifying amino acids.

-okay...i tried this today.  i didn't use any conditioner, so i would know how it did.  and i hate trying new shampoos...since i'm allergic to a lot of things out there, and i LOVE my shampoo/conditioner...perhaps i ought to review it, eh?  anyway.  i used it, smelled it...didn't necessarily feel much tingle, but my longer hair wasn't all tangly and icky feeling without conditioner, my styling products went in easily and it still feels soft.  so, if you are looking for a new shampoo, this is a good one.  smells good.  i'd look for a conditioner because i'm brainwashed to do so.  maybe you don't need a conditioner with this...thumbs up...but i'm not switching...cuz i'm stubborn like that...

Ruby Wing/Color Changing Nail Polish in Peony

Why stick with a single shade when you can switch it up with this color-changing polish?  The peach morphs into a brilliant red in the sun.

-hmm...i painted my thumb nail.  i held my thumb in the sun while i was in a parking lot on the phone.  i noticed no change.  so i will not be going out to buy this brand of nail polish.  maybe i needed more coats?  i dunno.  i'm too lazy to find out since i have loads of colors that i like just waiting for me in the bathroom.  i'll still use this, i just didn't see any color change.  so.  thumbs down on the color change aspect.

Supergoop!/Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream

At last: an eye cream with serious eye protection.  Plus, the innovative formula has oat peptide complex to firm skin.

-well...i'm not allergic to it.  that's a plus.  and the sunscreen aspect of it didn't make my eyes angry at me, which sunscreen near my eyes usually gets them very angry at me for a good long time...i will use the tube up.  don't think that i'll go buy it though.  thumbs up for the no-reaction...that's a big deal around here...

Whish/Shave Crave Shaving Cream

The organic shea butter in this foam-free shaving cream leaves your skin incredibly soft and your shave insanely close.  Plus, we love the exclusive blueberry scent.

-oh my!  even with my stuffed nose, i can smell this!  it smells SO GOOD!!!  i don't know that my shave was any closer.  i don't know that my skin is softer than usual.  i do know that i love this smell.  i want to smell like this all day.  except then my nose might become accustomed to it and i wouldn't smell it.  except others would smell it and they'd all think i was the best smelling person ever.  i just may buy this just because i love the smell.  that much.  i think i'll go smell it again right now...excuse me, i'll be right back.

thumbs up.  thumbs up.  thumbs up.

LIFESTYLE EXTRA

Mighty Leaf Tea/Tea Pouches

We're hooked on these hand-picked whole-leaf blends, which come in silken biodegradable pouches.

-ok...these are just beautiful.  i was expecting the normal tea bag.  not so.  they are so pretty.  this chamomile citrus tea that i'm drinking right now makes me feel all sorts of elegant.  makes my cold seem a little bit less invasive (cuz i'm too elegant for a cold).  i didn't even add any honey!  i always add honey to my herbal tea.  i got three different teas in the box...i'll only be trying two of them...  you can buy 15 pouches for $9.95...that's pricier than the grocery store ones, but...it's also cheaper than sodas.  and better for me than a soda.  and i don't drink tea often so i think when i'm going to indulge, i may indulge in these.  i just might be buying these...thumbs up.

It also came with a 'Women's Health' magazine card thing.  I thought it was one of those: one free issue and then cancel if you don't like it offers.  But, no.  It's for a free year!  I read the fine print.  I see nothing that is tricky trickster about it.  It's just a free year.  There's also an option for a rebate if you don't want the year... ???  There are instructions on how to send this card in with proof of this month's box purchase and I'll get $9.95 back.  ???  I debated this.  I'd basically have gotten this month's box for free...but I also might learn something from the magazine over the next year.

I'm going for the magazine.

I will not be cancelling my subscription to the Birchbox.  I'm looking forward to seeing what little treasures I get next month.

If you are interested in trying it out, go here:  https://www.birchbox.com?raf=xks65

Yeah, using that link gets me points.  It's okay.  What goes around comes around.  You can have your people give you points.  Plus, I want to see what I can do with points... They have women boxes and men boxes.  I love that the men's costs more, because how often does that happen in the real world?  The website will tell you a four-week wait time for the women's subscription, but I put my order in by April 14th and got April's box a few days later.  So.  Maybe that's there to just have you relax.

I like this little Birchbox.  I highly recommend it.  Now I'm going to finish my wonderful tea.  

The Host Review

Two brief reviews in one...because I have to.

I asked the husband, "Want to go see 'The Host'?"  Fully expecting a nope...and then going by myself...because anything resembling a chick flick, he doesn't want to have anything to do with...  But then, he said, "Sure, tomorrow?"  Okay.

So, on the morrow we went.

All the way in, I'm waiting for some "chick flick" comment...but it never came.  Previews start.  More "nope" coming from our mouths after each preview than "I want to see that!"

Although, we were both surprised that we want to see the new 'Superman'!

I'm more surprised by him wanting to.  Usually, comic book movies get a "nope" from him.  Like the new Iron Man...nope...I'll be enjoying that one on my own.  Which is fine.

Back to this movie.

Not to reveal details, if you don't know them, I don't want to spoil anything...the husband knew nothing about it except that I loved the book and had brought it on our Mexican cruise with the younger two and got really into it.  It messed with my head, in the best way that a good book that you've dived into can mess with your head...back to the movie...so sorry...I get distracted...

They did a good job.  It's been awhile since I read the book, so I forget how old the character was, but I guess, in my head, I had her older.  And I didn't have the seeker as old.  But that's all okay.  They did a great job with the uncle's "place".  I really want to see the mirrors from above...

I wouldn't say that this is for a youngsters.  Private parts are kept covered, but...the little ones don't need to go.

Leaving the theatre, I said they didn't destroy the book.  They did okay.  So, from someone who loved the book, and wasn't upset with the movie, I'd say that's a positive thing.

He liked the movie.  It kept his interest.  I told him they rushed a few things, but it's a BIG book, so they kind of had to let you just know that feelings were developing instead of how you got to live them in the book.

Movie?  I don't love it, but I liked it.

Book?  I love it.  Don't know that I'll reread it, because what if it's not as good the second time through?  I don't want to take the chance of ruining it in my head.

Haan Steam Mop Review

I recently purchased the HAAN Multipurpose Handheld & Upright Steam Mop.

That's quite a name.

I'm just going to call it my steamer.

Like most "big" purchases, I researched this baby for quite some time.

Like, an embarrassingly long amount of time.

Like, think months...of googling and reading reviews...

And then add more months of googling and reading reviews...

And finally, when I'm about to just never-it-mind about the whole thing, I decide to just bite the bullet and buy it.  Mostly because there was a 20% off sale...and I had a $25 gift card to that store so that's a deal right?  A 20% coupon AND a $25 coupon!  So I order and hope for the best.

It arrives and I was so very nervous...what if the people who hated it were right?  What if it hurts me?

(sweeping and vacuuming causes me great pain in my joints and back...)

What if I just wasted money...what if...what if...what if...

So I put it together.  Easy enough...you do need a screwdriver for one screw.  And take the water reservoir out (this is something not all steamers have, a removable water tank...make sure you get that folks), fill it up, plug it in and let it stand on it's resting pad like the instruction manual said.

Yup.  I read instruction manuals.

I annoy my husband with that particular character trait of mine.

Back to the steamer...

I had swept the kitchen floor so it was all ready for me and I got to work on that tile.

It moves easy.  It steams easy.  It made my floor clean with minimal effort on my part.  And...

IT DIDN'T HURT MY JOINTS OR BACK!!!

That folks, is some sort of freaky miracle.  Because I do not understand why it didn't hurt.  I have tried every angle and level in sweeping and vacuuming, trying to find a magic angle/spot...no success...and I'm in my 40's...this steamer?  Didn't hurt me to use it.

Fast forward to the next day, because I didn't want to push my luck...I was all ready to do the wooden floors in my dining room, living room, and the tile in the laundry/mud room...

Again, no pain!  And it feels nice and clean under my feet!

I pushed the release button so it converted to the hand held steamer and used it to clean my front loading washing machine (girls: listen to your mother, do not waste money on a front loading washing machine...they're entertaining, but the top loading machine cleans better...although, the front loading is very nice for blankets, pillows and sleeping bags...).  This week, I'll get after nooks and crannies on the dishwasher.

The manual says to empty the water tank thing after using.  I did that.  But there was a little water under that...that leaked out as it stood in it's new home.  So the next time I emptied the water thing, and then just held the steamer upside down over the sink before putting it back in...nothing leaked out that time while it "rested", so...there you have that.

Long cord.  Easy to use.  You can swivel the handle/head to get around things or up against the wall.  I haven't used the carpet glide yet.  I'm not quite sure what they mean by "freshens carpets and rugs", so I'm...holding off on that.  But if it freshens carpets and rugs, I might take it to my computer chair.

I like this steamer.  I recommend it.

Odd Life of Timothy Green Review

Well, don't know what took me so long to see this movie...

Actually, I do.

Movies have been sucking for the past few years.

Finally got this dvd via the handy dandy service called Netflix.

Put it in the computer to watch on one screen while messing around on the other screen...

And was happy with the outcome!

Because I got more caught up on the movie on the monitor to the left, than the websites on the right monitor...

Which, in the world of an ADD brain, is saying something folks.

Just a cute movie.

Touched a nerve at the beginning, whatwith them dealing with their infertility (it's okay, i didn't just give anything away...), but it was done in a sweet and real manner.  So it ended up being a HUGE plus in the movie.  For me.

But then, this is my review.  So of course it's for me.

Anyway...I'm not going to go into the story, or what I like, but I rarely buy a movie and I'm considering this one.  

It's family friendly.  It's a nice story.  And the parents are awesome...she's just overly cautious and he's a nice counter to her...he loves her and is nice about her worries...

Have a nice day...that's too much pressure...have the day you have...

Watch the movie.  It's a good one.

Crazy Apples Review

Here's a food review to make my daughters smile.

While in the grocery store, getting apples and grapefruits, I noticed a new product.

New to me...don't know if it's new to you.

And when I saw what it was, it made me raise my eyebrows and shake my head and wonder what in the world is next.  When on to get our apples, and then, went back, because I thought it would humor my children if I bought it and tried it.

Because they know I'm a bubble gum lover.

So I bought it.

And after it had properly chilled...and I remembered I had it...I ate it...

My verdict?

It was a hard crisp apple (how they all ought to be).

Every so often, I caught the essence of bubble gum, but in no way did this apple taste like bubble gum.

It tasted like a good apple.

No artificial taste...so I'm not quite sure what they did to this apple...

I wouldn't buy it again...even though I thought if I liked it, I might try the pomegranate/grape one.

But I'm not going to pay extra for the essence of pomegranate/grape.

Good apple.

Not worth the extra price.