Random Thoughts Tuesday - I Want A Nap!

I so did not want to get out of bed this morning. Today is just one of those days I could sleep away.

We had a bit of smoke coming out of one of our bushes this weekend. Luckily, DH and I happened to be outside, or I shudder to think about what could have happened if it had really caught. :( We still have no clue what started it?

My fridge froze my spinach and carrots again. Grrr! I had been planning to dehydrate the carrots, too.

I'm still on the hunt for the right shade of markdown paint for the living room. It keeps being darker colors - go figure!

Still stalking our blackberry plants. Started stalking the blackberries at the park, too. ;) Hey, waste not want not, right? ;) I noticed someone's apple tree was already dropping apples the other day... it drove me crazy thinking they were going to be wasted. :(

Did you see what's been happening over in India? The roads must be a total nightmare! They might have more folks over here than we do in America, but they are probably taking it a lot better than we would. Me, I'm cringing at the loss of my freezer if it was to happen. (I really should can meat, not freeze it... I know better.)

Zombie Apocalypse List Of Attacks in 2012, Real Or Just Covered More? I joke, but when you look at that list - it's kind of scary what the world is coming to, isn't it? :( Be aware of your surroundings, folks, because it's when you least expect it that the predatory people take advantage of the situation to steal from you or hurt you.

I didn't get wind of this until it was already underfoot or I would have gone and brought back pictures: Zombies battle Westboro Baptist Church at military base Lewis-McChord Seattle WA I am all for exercising rights to freedom of speech, as long as you realize the person on the opposite side might not agree with you. That's supposed to be the beauty of America - we can agree to disagree, hopefully without killing each other. However, I get a little (OK, a LOT!) cranky when you're picketing the brave men and women who are giving their lives to let you express your opinion!

I must get these stickers:

We do - do you?

And The World Was Right Once Again...

Yesterday I went outside to feed the stray cat I have been feeding, and glanced across the street at the foreclosed house. In the driveway was three black cats - one the stray I was feeding. One of the other two turned around, and I spotted a half naked butt - our Mystery! (She's OCD with licking her fur off, unfortunately)

I ran inside and quickly grabbed the tray of fish I was about to feed Magick, called out "here fishy, fishy", and she came running. I grabbed her as quick as I could - she wasn't happy with me at all - and tossed her inside. I was so focused on getting her before she ran off that I totally forgot to get her in the bedroom to keep her isolated from the rest of our gang. (Sigh!)

She smells like she was soaked in a bottle of Pine-Sol - I'm assuming from being in the pine tree we have, but she came home with nary a scratch on her rotten little body. We're off to the vet in a few, just to be on the safe side. I put on a shiny new red collar just in case she should sneak out again.

Magick is thrilled, because his buddy is back once again:

It was a long couple of days without her for him. He did not want to be alone, and he expected someone to carry around his fat 22 pound butt everywhere. As he's not exactly a small cat, it was either carry him around, or trip over him and faceplant into the walls. lol

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the stray kitty in almost 24 hours now, and I'm hoping he's OK. I'd also like him to show up so I can ahem, kill multiple birds with one stone and take him along to the vet today too. Here, kitty kitty...

Review: BrainEatingTees.com

We take being prepared for the zombie apocalypse very seriously here. ;) From being aware of our surroundings to identifying weak spots in our household security to yes, even canning food so we don't starve... everything goes back to being ready for when the dead - or the really angry virus people - walk the earth. ;) However, we want to be fashionable while we are doing so, and that's where Brain Eating Tees come in. They have a fabulous array of quirky undead apparel to help you look smashing while aiming for the head. (Remember: always aim for the head!)

DH was super excited that they sent him the Zombie Apocalypse Response Team: Helping The Dead Stay Dead t-shirt to review:

I'll know the world is over the day he's not wearing a t-shirt on his days off. ;) Here he is wearing it:

Anyways, the shirt design is done nicely on a good quality, basic black t-shirt. (You have NO idea how thankful I am that they sent the shirt in black instead of white - at least I won't have to worry about those pesky splatter stains so much!) He's wearing an XL, which is just the right size for him and fit true to size - remember, loose fitting clothes can get caught in weapons, as well as grabbed onto by undead hoards - just say no to oversized clothing! ;) It plays perfectly to two of the most favorite weapons in the zombie apocalypse - the shotgun and a chainsaw. (both of which have their flaws, and one is close contact so I'd personally skip it unless your desperate! lol) If you're on the hunt for an easy way to find like minded folks - or just want to announce to the world that you're ready to take on the zombies - this shirt is it. ;)

I've gotten the chance to wash this shirt once - now remember, I line dry all our t-shirts, so I can't comment on what dryers might do to a design - and it looks just as great as when it arrived. Will it survive the zombie apocalypse? Who knows - but I'll update the blog if it does! ;) Well... if there's still Internet at that point, anyways... funny, zombies don't scare me, but the thought of no Internet sure does!

The Zombie Apocalypse Response Team t-shirt retails for $19, plus shipping. If you're not keen on the black or white, you can pick other color - yes, even pink - and you can also switch around the style of shirt to a tank top if you'll be fighting zombies in hot weather, or a women's fit shirt too. Check out their website for all their options. (prices will vary on what you choose, of course)

...I totally want the Homeland Zombie Security shirt for me!

I received the shirt shown above in exchange for sharing my thoughts on it. All cheeky opinions are my own, but if I was you... I'd start preparing instead of reading this ultra boring disclaimer... ;)

Book Review: Catching Fireflies By Sherryl Woods

I recently received an advance reader's copy of the new book Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods to review.

Laura Reed is the English teacher at Serenity High School. Laura starts to wonder what is going on when one of her best students, Misty, is skipping her class - only to find out the student is being bullied. This brings back painful memories for both Laura and pediatrician J.C. Fullerton, who Misty went to trying to get an excuse for staying out of school - even begging him to say she was contagious. (Good try, kiddo. lol) Together Laura and J.C., along with the support of the Sweet Magnolias crew, try to bring the town together to stop bullying in Serenity, South Carolina. Alongside this great cause though, Laura and J.C.'s feelings for each other begin to grow. Can they get over old secrets and past hurts to find their happily ever after?

Catching Fireflies is part of the Sweet Magnolia series the author has written, one of which you've seen my review in the past. While you can just jump into this story without reading anything else, if you've read the other ones, you'll recognize the setting as well as some of the characters mentioned in this book.

While I admit I've been on the fence with all of the hoopla over the bullying issues in recent years, I'm glad to see this author bring forth the issue for a different audience (a la women in their 30's-50's) to read. Some folks might not be aware of how bad it seems to be getting (in part thanks to social media sites, unfortunately), and this could help them get involved in a bullying issue around them. I enjoyed the storyline, and I liked seeing some familiar characters lurking in the side shadows of the story - I'm starting to feel like I know this town! (By the way, I'll totally take that house and that footpath on the front cover! lol)

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods is a paperback romance fiction book published by Harlequin MIRA that will be released tomorrow, July 31st. It is 384 pages long. The suggested cover price is $7.99, and you can purchase it via Amazon, as well as your favorite local bookstore. It is also available in hardback, large print paperback, and audiobook, as well as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Book Review: Sly Fox: A Dani Fox Novel By Jeanine Pirro

I recently received a copy of the new book Sly Fox: A Dani Fox Novel by Judge Jeanine Pirro to review.

Meet Dani Fox - an ambitious 25 year old assistant district attorney who wants nothing more than to bring the bad guys (especially abusers!) to justice. She even has a pet pig named Wilbur. (Be still my heart!) Set in Westchester, New York back in 1976, Dani must deal with trying to fight her way through a male dominated world, emotionally challenging crime scenes and uncooperative colleagues while facing threats to both her and Wilbur's safety. Starting the country's first domestic violence unit in a shifting legal landscape, she must find allies where she can, especially when one simple case turns out to be not so simple. Will she trust the right person, and bring justice to those who deserve it?

The author is/was a lawyer, assistant district attorney, district attorney and a judge, so if anyone is qualified to write this kind of book, she certainly is! Dani Fox comes across as almost her other personality, with the storyline woven so well with experiences that have happened to the author. In a field where we don't tend to like people (ahem, lawyers!), Dani's character is definitely likable. I found Sly Fox to be a fast page turner, and I'm hoping we'll get to read more about Dani Fox in future books. If you love legal thrillers, I think you'll definitely enjoy this one too!

Sly Fox: A Dani Fox Novel by Judge Jeanine Pirro is a hardcover legal fiction book published by Hyperion. It is 304 pages long. The suggested cover price is $25.99, but Amazon has it available for $16.79 as of this posting. It is also available in mass market paperback, as well as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Menu Planning Monday - 7/30 - 8/5

This is going to be one of those crazy weeks I fear with lots going on... we'll see if any of my menu ideas end up sticking. I'm trying to pick easy! It's hard to believe August is already here, too?!

Monday: grabbing dinner out

Tuesday: hamburgers, pasta salad

Wednesday: breakfast for dinner: sausage & gravy biscuits, fresh cut fruit

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: dinner out

Saturday: attending a BBQ

Sunday: slow cooker roast chicken, salad, side dish du jour

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Book Review: One Pink Line By Dina Silver

I recently received a copy of the new book One Pink Line: A Novel by Dina Silver to review.

Sydney is your average college senior stuck in the middle of studying for final exams and preparing for life in the read world when it suddenly hits her: she is late, very late for her like-clockwork period. To make matters worse, it's not her boyfriend Ethan's, it's a friend from college named Kevin. Her mother is less than the perfect mother - she mostly cares about what others think, and cares more about Sydney's older sister Kendra than Sydney herself. When it comes time to tell her mother she's pregnant, her mother says she's busy and basically hangs up on her. Nice, right? It doesn't get any better with Kevin - he basically tells her off. As her life is changing forever, will she loose the love of her life? And will this come back to haunt her when a paternity test is filed?

The book also is told from Grace's point of view - Sydney's daughter. It zips back and forth every other chapter or so, so you're in the past with Sydney and fast forwarded to the future, where Grace is growing up and learning about her real father. Will Sydney end up a better mother than hers was?

I had some serious flashbacks at moments reading the author's descriptions: rolled tight jeans (remember that?), acid wash, having hair smoke from the curling iron... geez. Now I feel old. ;) College though, that I don't remember much of. It went fast, maybe because I was determined to get out of it as fast as possible (LOL) and maybe because I'll admit I drank my way through plenty of $3 pitchers of beer. Ahem. ;) I can't even imagine sitting there at the finish line and having the extra stress of a positive pregnancy test staring back at me. That would have been the things nightmares were made of for me. No honkin' way could I have handled being a mom then! So have I mentioned I love this book yet? I did! It's a down to earth story that you'll probably enjoy, too.

Visit the author's website here.

One Pink Line: A Novel by Dina Silver is a paperback fiction book. It is 360 pages long. The suggested cover price is $12.99, and you can purchase it online via Amazon. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Win A Trip To Bristol Thanks To The Dew Crew

I know I just posted about joining the Dew Crew the other day, but I just got wind of this awesome contest, and because I know it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for some folks, I wanted to share it with you. (My once in a lifetime opportunity came back in 2000 when I got to attend the NHL All Star game and sit in the second row right by the players - woot!)

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew.

EEK! Sorry that picture is so big... I couldn't get it any smaller!

To celebrate 65 rockin’ years of Mountain Dew, the Diet Dew team is sending two lucky fans and one guest of their choice to the Bristol race in Tennessee on August 25. Here's the catch: you've got to be a member of the Dew Crew in order to get in the running. That's the easy part - the hard part is you have to compete in an action-packed tournament bracket to make it to the finals! Of course, if you know your racing, this would be easy for you - just pick who you think is going to win each week. Visit the Dew Crew page for more information!

DVD Review: VeggieTales: The Penniless Princess

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD VeggieTales: The Penniless Princess to review.

The newest story to the VeggieTales family, The Penniless Princess is a play on Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic book A Little Princess. Sweet Sara Crew has everything a little girl could want - from a closet full of pretty dresses to a loving family. In the blink of an eye, it's all gone, and Sarah's life has gone from riches to rags. Now Sarah must realize that her true worth is what's lies in her heart, not the possessions she has.

Another inspiring tale from this great children's series, it teaches kids about true worth, and reminding them who they are in God's eyes. Kids these days get so caught up in owning things - from the latest video game to the hot toy - and this dvd helps bring a gentle reminder that it's not about all the toys in the box, it's about what's inside. As a parent, I think is a great lesson for kids to learn - especially with the commercial overload most kids get - and I highly recommend having kids of all ages watching it. Of course my daughter thinks Larry the Cucumber is the bomb (LOL), so she loved the story! Want to see the trailer? Here you go:


Direct link for the feedreaders

The DVD also has some bons features, including a behind the scenes look, a featurette "My Teddy Bear's From Where?". a discussion guide for parents called "A True Princess", a tour of London, and sing-a-long songs including the new "Best Friend Forever" (which is based on texting, and I'll admit it drove me insane with LOL LOL LOL - of course, the kid LOVED it! LOL)

VeggieTales: The Penniless Princess will be available on DVD on August 11th at Christian retailers and August 14th at all other stores and online. Not rated, it is safe for all ages and geared towards the 3-8 crowd. The total running time is 50 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $18.33, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $9.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Giveaway: New Ice Breakers Duo Mints

If you can't decide between the taste of minty flavors, or the taste of fruit flavors, you're going to love new Ice Breakers Duo Mints. You'll get the best of both worlds, because there's the taste of fruity fun on one side and refreshing cool mint on the other! Available now in Raspberry and Strawberry, you'll be able to find these at your favorite store with other assorted candy and mint products.

To celebrate the launch, Ice Breakers is asking fans whether their personality is more fruity or cool. Can't decide? No problem! Just head on over to the Ice Breakers Facebook page, and you can have your Facebook profile analyzed thanks to the nifty app to determine if you are "sweet as a puppy parade" or "cool as a cucumber". There's lots more to do while you're there, including listening to custom Ice Breakers Duo Pandora stations, vote on your favorite songs and 'Duo' your profile pictures by combining their sweet or cool side with that of a friends!

Win it! One lucky reader will win new Ice Breakers Duo Mints in both Strawberry and Raspberry flavors! To enter, tell us which one you'd try first.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Ice Breakers Duo Mints http://bit.ly/QxgHvf ends 8/11 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 11th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received samples of the product mentioned above, and one winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Medieval Fashion

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a shop called Medieval Fashion. You'll find handmade Renaissance and Medieval leather wares here.

Check out this gorgeous Renaissance / Steam Punk Leather & Steel Battle Corset (Over the Breast):

Or how about this Gothic Steampunk Claw Gauntlets / Gloves:

I love these Spiked Leather Medieval / Steam Punk Gauntlets SCA LARP:

Stop by Medieval Fashion today and have a look around! Support handmade!

AstroBrights Help You Get Creative

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I've always had a thing for brightly colored paper. When I created my own business, I had the graphics company I was interning for special order a couple of reams of this totally awesome bright purple paper to have all of my letterheads and hangtags/cards printed on. It was love when it arrived, let me tell you. ;) Plus, my customers could spot my stuff a mile away in the sea of boring whites and ivory colors most people used.

AstroBrights papers are right up my color loving alley - they are available in *23* bright colors to match just about any creative idea you might have, and catch attention too. Like me, AstroBrights Papers can help anyone else stand out from the crowd! You can use it for everything from scrapbooking paper to PTA meeting flyers to garage sale notices you're placing on local store bulletin boards. Which would your eyes go to first: the plain white notice, or the bright aqua? I'm thinking aqua! ;)

Does this give you any ideas for a project using AstroBrights Papers? I hope so, because then you can participate in the  family-friendly "Make Something Astrobright" design challenges for a chance to win AstroBrights Paper and other prizes. How about paper flower bouquets to take to your local nursing home to brighten their day? How neat would that be! Or maybe a neat set of flyers to help raise donations to your favorite food bank? I'm sure you can think of lots of other great ideas to enter too!

You can also help support your local elementary school by entering the "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes. Not only could you win a cash prize of $500 for you, the school will also receive school supplies to bring in a total prize value of $30,000! This could really help the school out! No purchase is necessary, and you have until September 10th to enter, so hurry on over and get your entry in!

Book Review: Preschool Gems By Leslie McCollom

I recently received a copy of the new book Preschool Gems: Love, Death, Magic, and Other Surprising Treasures From The Mouth Of Babes by Leslie McCollom to review.

I had no clue how hysterically funny little kids were until mine started opening her mouth and letting them rip. Sometimes I am left saying to myself, Did she REALLY just say that? lol I've called her my "little alcholic without a filter", and boy, it sums it up. Girlfriend has NO filter. And you know what? I love it that way. It gives me some serious entertainment! ;) (I might change my mind when she's 13 and she's turned into the evil creature known as a chupacabra teenager!)

The author is a preschool teacher and the creator of the @preschoolgems Twitter feed. She started sharing these little gems because even though she swore she'd remember them, five minutes later they were easily forgotten. This way, they are remembered for life - because who would want to forget little doozies like:

"I don't care about time-outs. I only care about my life."

or the fabulous:

"Sorry, but your luck is doomed."

And something that I swear I've heard my own spawn say:

"My powers are resting now."

The book is also filled with some original artwork that looks drawn by little kids - very appropriate. If you're looking for a few giggles, or you're just stuck in a "why are my kids taking over the house?!" moment and just need to be reminded of some of the funny things they do, pick up a copy of Preschool Gems and prepare to giggle and shake your head through the book. Kids! It's a quick read as the book isn't very long, so it won't take long to get through it at all.

Visit the author's website here.

Preschool Gems: Love, Death, Magic, and Other Surprising Treasures From The Mouth Of Babes by Leslie McCollom is a paperback humor/family book published by Perigee that will be available on August 7th, 2012. It is 128 pages long. The suggested cover price is $13.00, and you can purchase it at your favorite local bookstore, or online vis sites like Amazon.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Join The Dew Crew To Cheer On #88!

Although I did work at a race track back in the day, I've actually never really been a fan of racing. I think it probably goes hand in hand with not driving and avoiding cars. ;) But, if you're a fan of NASCAR and other racing, you've got to go join the Dew Crew.

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew.

The Dew Crew is a group of #88 Diet Dew Chevy driver Dale Earnhardt Jr fans who not only get to help call the shots for the #88 crew (which is also super cool!), but they also have access to exclusive #88 team content. If you're a fan - what are you waiting for? Head on over to the Dew Crew app to join! It's free to do so.

An Empty House...

At least that's what it feels like. There still has been no sign of our little Mystery, although every other kitty in the neighborhood seems to be stopping by our yard. Last week, I had started feeding a stray kitty we've fondly been calling Solstice, or "Solly", and I guess the word has spread fast! ;) We had been hoping to introduce him to our furry family inside in the next few weeks, although now both DH and I are a little more hesitant.

It is strange to be in the kitchen and not have Mystery squawking every time I open the fridge door or open a can. Magick is very lost without her, and has been moping around, not his usual self. :( I feel bad for the not-so-little guy. It's not like he's all alone here - there are still six other pets - but I know it's not the same for him, or us. I've been out every night looking for her, checking the yard for glowing eyes. We went on another walk around the neighborhood last night looking for her, and I can wow, a lot of my neighbors apparently also have black cats. Every time we spotted one we'd try to call out and see if it was her.

Usually I am one of much hope, but not on this one. I have a bad feeling she won't be coming back, and it was hard explaining it to the kiddo. :( Unfortunately, she is the one cat who is not microchipped, and she wasn't wearing a collar, so if someone does take her in, they won't know she has a home. (Yes, I am kicking myself) I can only hope that if she is still alive, she can make her way back home to us.

Yeah, I feel like the worst pet parent in the world. :( This is the first pet we've ever lost.

Wordless Wednesday - Uh Oh...

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

My DH and I have had an ongoing joke over the last few years. DH is never to buy me jewelry, just land. It sprang up after a friend back home said she wouldn't accept a marriage proposal unless the guy gave her at least a $20K diamond ring. It's a good thing she said it over the phone, so she couldn't see me choke. ;)

We thought we had found the perfect place - it had a decent amount of land, plenty of trees and greenery (hard in some part of Texas as you probably know!), and a pond. It also had a house in need of serious help - perfectly liveable, just kind of in the same situation as what we have here now. It needed a bit more serious work than either of us cared to do for what it was - although, it was nearly three times the size of what we have now. (I'm not sure I'd know what to do with all that extra space! LOL) It even had a fireplace. Before we could get our act completely together and try to make an offer, it sold. Phooey. The person who bought it got a great deal, good for them - bad for us. Sniff, sniff.

So I figure if there was one place we liked, we'll find another. I'm using that first place as a way to get all our ducks in a row though, and not only finish up some cosmetic projects around here, (I might love purple walls in the bedroom, but most people don't!) but start going through our things and getting rid of the extra fluff. Even with all my trying to get rid of clutter, we always have a bunch. I'd love to blame just the kid, but DH is the guiltiest. I know I have some guilt too - goodbye, breadmaker I never use. That was easy - parting with books? Not so easy. Extra kiddo clothes in hopes lightning strikes again? Also not easy. I really don't want to get rid of absolutely everything outgrown and then -wham! I'd cringe at the cost of rebuying basics - what can I say? lol

Then there's the part about us really wanting to build our home ourselves and have it as much off grid as possible. We've done a good job over the years of paring down appliances we don't need and keeping things off when not in use, so much so that our electric bill has never once cracked $100. It usually averages in the upper $30's to upper 40's, and the highest it's ever been was in the $80's. Granted, we rely on wood heat a lot, but that's still pretty good. DH's cringe is that he knows if we run mostly solar, there goes his extra big screen TV and he'll have to downgrade to a smaller one. ;) (Hey, if it was me - we'd have NO TV! I did just fine without one before we were married!)

We talk about chicken and goats, not purchasing a washer and dryer - I'll line dry everything, and there's a hand crank washer from Lehman's I am in love with. (OK, I'll admit it - I'm in love with just about everything in the Lehman's catalog/store! Road trip to Ohio, anyone?)

DH calls this my "Gothic Amish midlife crisis". lol My mother thinks it's hysterically funny because she likes to remind me I ran away from the countryside and swore I'd never go back.

...really, I'm not going back - at least where I grew up. I'm looking at further northeast. I have no desire to be so far south in Texas except to visit... Plus, the last thing I'd like to do is run into anyone I went to school with. You won't catch me attending any reunions, accepting former classmates friend's requests on Facebook, or signing up on MyLife.com. My attitude towards that hasn't changed since the day I did run away! Have I ever mentioned I almost wasn't allowed to walk in the graduation ceremony because the new principal didn't like my nose ring? Pfft. I took it out, and as soon as he turned his back, put it right back in. He could bite me for all I cared. ;)

I haven't really changed a bit since those days, I think. Well, I'm taller and heavier, alas. (Hey, I grew 3 inches after I graduated!) But my style of dress and everything else is still so much the same. The only thing to me that's changed is I can't handle living in the big city anymore - I need to be able to walk barefoot in my grass. Well, at least if there were snakes and fire ants nearby. LOL

We'll have our little place of off grid paradise - and my chickens! - if it's the last thing I do! Aren't these Golden Polish Hens neat?

Random Thoughts Tuesday - I Think I'm Cursed

It has NOT been a good week. Mystery ran out the door late last night, and as of right now, there's no sign of her anywhere. Here's to hoping she comes home when she's hungry and doesn't bring any germies with her. :( Magick is taking it pretty hard - he keeps wandering around the house calling for her. Poor kitty. And yeah, I got no sleep last night because I was out looking for her. I am miss cranky today - beware my wrath. ;)

My grass is officially toast. It doesn't bug me, I am just surprised at how quickly it all turned brown considering how wet and rainy it's been most of summer. Now the tomato, I'm still sulking about. lol My blackberries look like they are going strong though, and should be ripe in a few weeks.

The kiddo asked for Spagetti-O's for lunch. (Seriously? Ick!) Luckily, I still had a can in our emergency stash.

DH has the rest of the week off after this early shift, so I am hoping the weather continues to stay nice and we can finish off a lot of the projects on our list. The cap blew off our chimney with all the wind we've had, and we can't find it - so I am assuming it's ended up in Kansas and we'll have to have that replaced, too. We just had that taken care of last winter! What gives?!

I have the worst craving for biscuits and gravy.

DH is all excited because he got a Cabela's gift card thanks to turning in the credit card points. He's like a kid making his Christmas wish list, LOL

Theater holds zombie survival class I guess the costume contest is how to blend in with the dead, a 'la the scene in the first season of The Walking Dead? Personally, I think there are other more important zombie related skills to learn, like oh, I don't know - get your rear end into shape so you can RUN! LOL (Can you tell what's on the top of my list right now? Yeouch!)

Review: Dead Trigger — Zombie Survival All these zombie games coming out almost make me want to get a smartphone just so I could play them. Then again, I'd kill it within a month and nothing would get done during that time. lol Why can't they make them for the comps, too? :(

Nifty! Zombie Gun Cleaning System It's sad, but a lot of folks who don't shoot on a regular basis don't realize you have to clean your gun on a regular basis. I think this helps get the point across? I hope, anyways.

And your funny for the week:

DVD Review & Giveaway: The Wiggles Big Birthday

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD The Wiggles: Big Birthday! to review.

Come celebrate with The Wiggles and their friends Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, and more as they celebrate their Big Birthday in a "live" performance presentation. This DVD is full of songs and jokes for kids to sing along with, including "Hot Potato", "Fruit Salad", "Quack Quack", and "Wake Up, Jeff!". If you can't get to see The Wiggles live in person while they are on tour at the moment, this is the next best thing!

The DVD does include several special features: Birthday Wishes from fellow Australians Terri, Bindi, and Robert Irwin, a photo gallery, and a really neat hour long documentary called "Everybody Clap! Everybody Sing!", all about The Wiggles' first 20 years. (Has it really been that long?!)

My daughter has always been kind of so-so on The Wiggles, but she enjoyed dancing around to some of the songs on this DVD. If you have a Wiggles lover at your home, I think they will be thrilled with this new release!

The Wiggles: Big Birthday! is available now on DVD. Not rated, it's safe for all ages (those over the age of 5 will get bored quickly), and it has a total running time of 140 minutes long, including the special features. The suggested retail price is $12.99, but Amazon has it available for $9.99 as of this posting.

Win it! Want to win a copy of The Wiggles: Big Birthday!? To enter, share with us the child's in your life favorite Wiggle or favorite birthday party activity.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win The Wiggles Birthday DVD http://bit.ly/NN4AfP ends 8/11 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 11th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the item shown above in exchange for my sharing my thoughts on the products. One winner receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Tune In to Giving

PepsiCo, Dollar General and country singer Brad Paisley have teamed up to help you help others through the "Tune In to Giving" campaign. Simply by purchasing a combination of any flavor of a 10-ounce or larger bag of Lay’s potato chips and a two-liter Pepsi product, and then logging onto www.dollargeneral.com or Tune Into Giving and redeeming the code found on the bottom of your Dollar General receipt, you'll help donate $1 to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. You can also phone in your code if you don't have internet access. (I am assuming though, that if you are reading this, that you do! lol)

The Dollar General’s Literacy Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping Americans learn to read and earn their GEDs. If you participate, yu can help raise up to $75,000 for the Literacy Foundation!

Now, you didn't think there wouldn't be something in it for you, of course? ;) Folks who enter a code will also receive a free music download and be entered for a chance to win Dollar General gift cards, Brad Paisley memorabilia and concert tickets to Brad's “Virtual Reality World Tour”, which runs through mid-October. Unfortunately for me, there are no Dollar General stores over in here in Washington, so I can't participate myself. Booo!

Giveaway Winners

The winners of the Practice Safe Breath With Dentyne giveaway are:

Jennifer Reed said... I brush my teeth twice a day and I check my breath often in my hands and use mouthwash I keep in my desk when necessary.

moonsword said... I brush regularly and keep a supply of gum and mints on hand. Thanks!

The winners of the Resource Spa giveaway are:

105 Derek Timm Leave a Blog Post Comment

92 April V Follow me!

126 Kimberley Rose Meier Follow me!

The winner of the Stim-U-Dent giveaway is:

Chrystal said... I have flossed today.

And the winner of the scünci Flower Bendini Clips giveaway is:

nickieisis3 said... purple for me and to the park

Congratulations everyone! I am sending out emails right now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me!

Menu Planning Monday 7/23 - 7/29

Hmmm... I had planned for DH to grill out tonight, but the weather is starting to scare me. If it doesn't pick up y 2ish, I guess I'll just toss the chicken in the crockpot and make some pulled chicken sandwiches instead.

Monday: DH is grilling out

Tuesday: taco night (having DH grill extra chicken to kill two birds with one stone!)

Wednesday: garlic chicken & pasta, salad

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: slow cooker sweet bean stew

Saturday: spicy sloppy joes, Seasoned Steak Fries

Sunday: attending a BBQ

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Repurpose, Don't Just Recycle!

I prefer to purchase as much as I can in bulk these days. It saves me money, and it cuts down on shopping trips, too. (Bonus!) The problem with some of those oversized packages is that they aren't always very friendly to use!

Instead of simply tossing things into my recycling bin, I try to ask myself first if it can be reused right away. I usually don't keep items around "just in case" - this only leads to clutter and a home that looks like it belongs on an episode of Hoarding. ;)

When this former dried Parmesan cheese container was empty, I knew it's purpose right away. I quickly removed the label and cleaned it well, allowing it to air dry for a couple of days. Then I refilled it with my Borax for the laundry! It is now so much easier to use - instead of lifting the heavy box, I can just sprinkle as needed into my wash water. It's also a lot safer in my plastic container than the cardboard box when it comes to moisture. (You can probably see some clumps in the jar thanks to our very damp air here in Washington!)

Caution: be sure to label each jar carefully. You don't want to think you are using Borax, and it's another powdered product like baking soda. (Although, both can be equally refreshing for your laundry) Also keep these containers way above little hands (and husbands! lol) who might be confused thinking it's the product the container used to be!

Giveaway: Win An Amazon GC Thanks To Asurion!

Did you know 1 in 4 people will lose, damage or have their phone stolen this year? I've never had my phone stolen (actually, I think they'd be doing me a favor!), but I loose my phone around the house pretty frequently. And when it comes to damage, well, it's taken it's fair share of drops, not to mention a few dunks - even in the toilet. Yikes. (See why I am avoiding getting a smartphone? It would die the first month!)

I have to be honest: they only phone number I know without looking is my DH's. Everyone else's - from my parents, to my in-laws, to all our friends back home - I couldn't remember if I tried. If my phone really does finally bite the dust for good, I'll loose all that information! It would take me several weeks to track down folks via email or Facebook to get those numbers back. (cringe! Note to self: copy these numbers down later!)

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Asurion.

If you're in the same boat as me, Asurion can help. Available through most wireless companies, Asurion empowers you with apps and services to give you complete peace of mind so you can enjoy using your smartphone. Asurion can help - whether you need technology to secure your data privacy against growing mobile threats, need a device expert who’s just a call or click away, or coverage to replace your phone as quickly as the next day. In today's day and age, being without a cell phone for many folks is really hard to do, because no longer are our phones just for talking - we do everything from financial trades to business negotiations with them. We can't forget all the important photos we take, either. (And of course, stay entertained playing games, listening to music, or watching movies and tv shows via Netflix or iTunes!)

Win it! Thanks to Asurion, one lucky reader is going to win a $40 Amazon gift card! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway ends August 4th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the information stated above as a member of the Asurion Influencer Network. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Book Review: Midnight Promises By Sherryl Woods

I recently received an advance review copy of the new book Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods to review.

Karen Ames had a nightmare first marriage, and her husband left her - and their two small kids - with a huge amount of debt. Somehow, she managed to hang on and dig her way out, and finally met a wonderful new guy named Elliott Cruz who she ends up marrying. Fast forward a few years later, they are both working around the clock, and while life is hectic, they talk about having a baby soon in the future. Karen is still very skittish, especially when it comes to thinking that Elliott is doing something behind her back - like opening his own gym without asking her thoughts first. Doing so would mean using their "baby fund", and if it fails, all that money would be lost. In amongst their problems, it's discovered that Elliot's sister's husband is cheating on her. Even worse? The man thinks it's justified. Will Karen and Elliott hang in there? Or will their marriage crumble too?

Midnight Promises is part of the Sweet Magnolia series the author has written. While you can just jump into this story without reading anything else, if you've read the other ones, you'll of course the setting as well as some of the characters mentioned in this book.

Unlike most romance books, this one has the main characters already married and dealing with every day problems. I enjoyed this story, and could identify with the main character's issue with her husband spending money. Goodness knows my DH is dangerous when it comes to cash! I've been training him since we've been married! lol ;) If you're looking for a good book to waste some time away on vacation or relax while reading in the evenings, definitely add this one to your list.

By the way, as many of my returning readers know, my husband is a nurse, and works with older patients. Many of the folks he's taken care of suffer from Alzheimer's, so I was happy to see the spotlight on this awful disease in this book and the discussion it's brought up. Sometimes we miss early warning signs, and the author manages to work some in. (Ah! We learn things without realizing it! lol) It could help someone spot a problem before things get too bad.

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods is a paperback romance fiction book published by Harlequin MIRA. It is 384 pages long. The suggested cover price is $7.99, and you can purchase it via Amazon, as well as your favorite local bookstore. It is also available in hardback and audiobook, as well as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

DVD Review: Hey Arnold! Season 2 Part 2

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD Hey Arnold! Season 2 Part 2 to review.

Thanks to the agreement between Shot Factory and Nickelodeon, we have another show resurrected from the cartoon graveyard in Hey Arnold!, which aired back in the last 90's/early 00's. It followed Arnold, your average fourth grader who lived with his grandparents in Hillwood, and his friends, alongside a bully named Helga with a crush on him. (Not that she'd ever admit it, of course) Throughout the episodes, Arnold helps friends get out of trouble as well as his own tricky situations he gets into. It's geared towards the 7-8 and up crowd.

Season 2 Part 2 picks up with the last ten episodes of season two on two discs. (Each one really contains two "stories" per episode) Here's the episode listing: "The High Life" / "Best Friends", "Steely Phil" / "Quantity Time", "Eating Contest" / "Rhonda's Glasses", "Helga's Boyfriend" / "Crush on Teacher", "Hall Monitor" / "Harold's Bar Mitzvah", "Coach Wittenberg" / "Four-Eyed Jack", "Eugene Goes Bad" / "What's Opera, Arnold?", "Tour de Pond" / "Teachers Strike", and "Part-Time Friends" / "Bio Square".

There are no special features included on this set. I'm not sure why there's nothing, when I'm sure they could have dredged up SOMETHING from the Nickelodeon vault, even if it was just an interview or some bonus art drawings in a gallery.

DH just loved this show when he was younger-ish (We fully admit to watching cartoons even without our daughter. lol), so he's thrilled that the rest of season two is available now. While it's not one of my personal most favorite Nick cartoons, he does have kid friendly topics filled with some slapstick humor and not really any violence. My main gripe comes that I'm irritated to see season two split into two different sets, instead of having the entire season in one box just like season one is. Not only does the cost start to irritate me, it also takes up more room on my DVD shelves. C'mon Shout Factory, give us parents a break and stop with the splitting up of seasons! I'd also like to see these shows released onto Blu-Ray, instead of just DVD.

Hey Arnold! Season 2 Part 2 will be available on DVD this coming Tuesday, July 24th, 2012. Not rated (see above), the total running time is 450 minutes long. The suggested retail price is 419.93, but Amazon has it available for $14.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Sponsored Post: I Hate My Cell Phone #HelloBetter

My cell phone is the bane of my existence. I need it to keep in touch with friends and family, and for emergency purposes, but it hates me. That's the best way I can sum it up! Those of you at least my age will probably remember messing with the rabbit ears on the TV to try to get a good signal. Well, I have to walk around my house to try to get a signal to call out! That's IF it's decided not to be stuck on emergency calls only. Half the time when people try to call me, the phone doesn't even ring! It'll let me know I have a voice mail message about an hour later. And I drop calls all the time.

I'd like to blame the phone, but DH just got a new phone about two months ago, and he has the same silly problems. The sad part about all of this is if we really had an emergency, we'd waste valuable time trying to get the phone to work. Do you really think an intruder would wait to come in the door while we try to call 911? Yeah, I didn't think so either. It's kind of scary now that I type this all out. :(

If you're asking yourself why we don't just get rid of AT&T and move on to another provider, it's partially because most of our friends and family use it too, so we can save on minutes there. Another reason was because we still have Texas phone numbers, and the one time I went into a Verizon store to try to switch, they told me I couldn't keep my number because of that. I don't want a Washington phone number when our days here are numbered. And the third? I'm not sure I want the headache of trying to switch providers. I've heard so many nightmare stories!

U.S. Cellular is encouraging people to say goodbye to dysfunctional wireless relationships and say hello to a better experience with their Hello Better campaign. Apparently, I'm not the only one frustrated with my wireless experience! A study conducted by U.S. Cellular indicates that 43 percent of individuals are in the 'seven year itch' phase with their wireless provider, noting they are comfortable but suspect they are missing out on something better. Out of the 1,208 participants polled across four regions of the country, 56 percent of the respondents admitted to being unhappy with their carrier over the past year but only 35 percent of all respondents have ever broken up with their provider. More than one-third of respondents say they stick with their current provider because they believe all carriers are the same, it is too much trouble to switch carriers, or they don’t want to sign a new contract.

No wonder wireless services tend to get low satisfaction ratings if there are 56% of us who are unhappy with our current provider! (I feel better knowing it's not just me!) US Cellular treats their customers like neighbors, not numbers. I wasn't very familiar with them, having only heard the name, but they caught my interest when I learned they have free incoming calls and texts. Why don't all wireless carriers do that?! They also have the industry’s only points-based rewards program, no contract after the first contract ends, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap for your device. I'm on my second battery for my phone, so I like hearing that last one! I need to check out their plans.



Are you frustrated with your wireless provider too? Have you ever made the switch?

I participated in this sponsored post campaign as a member of One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.

Review & Giveaway: From You Flowers

Sending someone flowers can totally brighten their day. It's like having a ray of sunshine delivered!

From You Flowers' is the largest privately owned flower company in the United States. I was lucky enough to receive the "It's a Beautiful Day Bouquet" thanks to From You Flowers. This summer themed bouquet features an assortment of pink and orange roses, orange daisies, pink carnations, purple alstromeria, and other flowers, all contained in a vase. A local florist snuck up to my door and delivered them to me:

(Please ignore DH's fishing pole lol) As you can see, when they arrived some of the flowers hadn't even opened yet - now that's fresh! The bouquet I received retails for $39.99. I know that the quality and style of these arrangements can vary depending on the local florist who is fulfilling the delivery part of the order, and I am unsure who delivered mine (I wasn't kidding about sneaking up on me - I opened the door to let the dogs out, and there they were!), but they are really pretty and I was very pleased with my bouquet.

I spent some time peeking on From You Flowers' website, and they have some really pretty arrangements available. One of my favorites is the From The Heart bouquet. They also sell gift baskets, and Mylar balloons. If you order before 3PM, you can even have them arrive the same day for an extra fee if you need a last minute gift or a pick me up sent to a relative who's been feeling under the weather.

I also decided to spread the joy these brought me. I took these beautiful flowers to an elderly neighbor who doesn't get out much. You should have seen her face light up! Not only did I get the pleasure of receiving them, I was able to share some happiness with someone else.

If you'd also like to brighten someone's day by sending them some summer sunshine too, or need to send your condolences for the loss of a loved one, use promo code 01T at checkout to receive 15% off your order. You can find From You Flowers over on Facebook, Twitter, or Pintrest too.

By the way, From You Flowers is hosting the Go For Gold Sweepstakes. Simply visit the website and enter your name and email for a chance to win a $100, $50, or $25 dollar gift card. For more information, including rules, and to enter, click here. Contest ends July 31st, so hurry to enter - and good luck!

Win it! Thanks to From You Flowers, one lucky reader is going to win the "A Day In the Sun" bouquet. To enter, visit the website and tell us which bouquet you'd love to receive (not mentioned in my review!).

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win From You Flowers! http://bit.ly/MtqNPO ends 8/4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 4th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the item shown above in exchange for my sharing my thoughts on the products. One winner receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Zed's Zombie Ranch

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a shop called Zed's Zombie Ranch. Handcrafted by a metalsmith and two leathersmiths, you'll find t-shirts here, as well as metal artwork.

Check out this Guns Don't Kill People Zombie 2XL and Larger T-Shirt:

One of my personal favorites is this Trespassers Will Be Eaten by Zombies Screw Mount Sign:

Halloween will be here before you know it, and these Zombie Skeleton Kneeling Candle Holders Set of 2 would be a great decoration:

Stop by Zed's Zombie Ranch today and have a look around! Support handmade!

SAVE When You Visit San Antonio

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SAVE . All opinions are 100% mine.

I have lots of fond memories of San Antonio as a little girl. As the nearest big city, we'd visit regularly. On the agenda usually was Sea World nearly every year, and my great-grandmother just loved to sit on the Rivercenter and drink a margarita - that was her idea of heaven. ;) Admittedly, as a Texan I am very pro-Texas (said with my hand over my heart, haha!), but if you've never had a chance to visit San Antonio, you are missing out on a ton of fun - and very affordable - things to do!

When you come visit San Antonio, take advantage of the SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience  - to help <i>save</i> even more on your visit. You'll find lots of great discounts available via SAVE, from hotels to restaurants to theme parks, and it's easy to do so. Turn around and use those savings to spend an extra night in town, or visit the spa while the rest of the family hits up Six Flags! ;)

Now we haven't been home in six years (sob!), but as soon as we do, I'm heading straight to San Antonio. I've got a tradition that I've been slacking on to uphold - and that is to start my daughter to Sea World. What does our San Antonio dream vacation look like with the help of Save? Feast your eyes on this:

First of all, I'd book our hotel at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio. Not only is it located in a great place, rates start at just $111 thanks to SAVE - and both parking and breakfast for two is included in the price. I've stayed places were parking wasn't included, and trust me, it adds up, so I always look for it to be included when I book a hotel!

Day one would include a visit to the Rivercenter for lunch, and taking in a movie at the air conditioned Alamo IMAX Rivercenter Theater, where we'd receive a FREE child's admission thanks to SAVE. Next, we'd pop on the Alamo Trolley, where we'd save $2.00 off the cost, thanks again to SAVE. We'd end the day with a great dinner.

Day two would be the fabulous visit to Sea World San Antonio, where SAVE would save me $10 off a one day admission for adults or children, up to six people per coupon! That would save our little family $30 right there. (Which I admit the savings would be gone in 30 seconds of getting inside, between feeding all the animals and the fun touristy souvenirs. LOL)

Day three we'd check out of the hotel in the AM, and then head over to the Institute of Texan Cultures, where it's buy one admission, get one free thanks to SAVE. We'd stop for lunch, then hit up the North Star Mall for a little window shopping. Thanks to SAVE, if anything catches our eye, we can save a little more using the Free Premier Passport.

...I'm saving the Alamo for when my daughter is a bit older, so I can make it into a homeschooling field trip. DH swears up and down they never visited in school (remember, I went to Catholic school, he went to public) - how can that be?! I thought all the schools in the general area went!

What would your dream trip to San Antonio include? There are so many other great places I haven't mentioned, plenty of which are currently participating in the SAVE program. Be sure to visit the website to see them all, and follow @SAVEinSA on Twitter for all the updates on deals, Limited Time Offers & ideas to help plan YOUR next trip to San Antonio! (You won't be disappointed with all there is to do!)

Review & Giveaway: Carmex Pomegranate

We all know to slather on the sunscreen all over our bodies when we head to the beach, but chances are, you might have forgotten to protect an important part of your body - your lips!


Carmex Lip Balm can help you protect those kissable lips. Each stick is made with an ultra-moisturizing formula, and SPF 15 water resistant sunscreen. They are available in six different flavors, including original, cherry, strawberry, vanilla, lime twist, and the newest member of the Carmex sticks family, Pomegranate.

Carmex sent me on over an assortment of their Carmex sticks, including the new Pomegranate, as well as a fun yellow beach tote to take everything to the beach in. I was excited to try out the new Pomegranate "flavor" of the Carmex family, and it did not disappoint me! It has a sweet scent to it that is perfect for the hot summer months. I'm glad to know I am protecting my lips from the possibility of a painful burn while keeping them soft and smooth. Let's face it - one of the first things people notice about a person is their face, and I don't want to have icky looking lips to scare anyone away. (I do that just fine without that problem. LOL)

You can find the new Carmex Pomegranate Lip Balm Sticks, and other varieties, at big box stores like Walmart and Target, as well as other stores like Walgreens, etc.

Win it! Thanks to Carmex, one lucky reader is going to win a Carmex beach tote and set of Carmex sticks just like what I received! To enter, just tell us which of the stick flavors you'd use first.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Carmex lip sticks! http://bit.ly/SKbe7f ends 8/4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 4th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the products mentioned above thanks to Carmex in exchange for sharing my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of any other person or company.

DVD Review: Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand

My family and I recently received a copy of the new CGI animated DVD Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand to review.

One Shall Stand originally aired as a seven part story arc over the first two seasons of Transformers Prime. Unicron has awakened, and with that, extreme measures must be taken. Both the Autobots and the Decepticons band together to save Earth. It sounds like a great plan, but Optimus Prime surrendered the Matrix, and loses the power and wisdom that makes him, well, Optimus. Without it, he returns to his pre-Prime state, a historical archivist known as Orion Pax. He is vulnerable in this state, and Megatron manipulates him into joining the Decepticons. Will a teenage boy named Jack save the day - and Optimus?

The DVD also contains a little bit of special features: a look back of the making of One Shall Stand, with various interviews of folks who worked on the movie, as well as a short featurette on the animatrics of the movie.

Transformers geeks will be happy, as it's still Peter Cullen who does the voice of Optimus. Frank Welker also returns as the voice of Megatron. There are also other assorted special voice guests, including Ernie Hudson, John Noble, and Jeffrey Combs. Fellow Firefly browncoats will also be thrilled to know that both Adam Baldwin and Gina Torres make voice appearances as well.

While I will never prefer CGI animation to old school, it's always nice to see new stories to share with this generation. One Shall Stand was a pretty big story arc, and while it's decently edited together, be aware that since this really wasn't a special, but rather episodes - if you already own season 1 and you're planning to purchase season 2 of Transformers Prime, you'll end up with doubles. The bonus material is nice, but not enough to make it or break except for the most die hard fans who have to own EVERYTHING. It depends on whether or not you want to wait to own season 2 to see this story.

I also find it frustrating that more and more of these new shows are being continued to be released on DVD only, instead of setting them up for Blu-Ray. Considering this is a recent show that has been created since Blu-Ray has taken off, it's starting to get old when it's available on bland DVD only.

Keep in mind this is geared towards boys ages 6 and up, and does contain cartoon violence.

Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand will be available on Tuesday, July 31st, 2012. Not rated (see above), this widescreen format show has a total running time of 154 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.97, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $11.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

CD Review & Giveaway: David Garrett - Legacy

I recently received a copy of the newest CD from David Garrett called Legacy to review.

For those unfamiliar with this incredible musician, David began playing the violin at the age of four, and attended the Julliard School. since then, he's gone on to release a host of CD's, as well as several PBS specials. He's also been known for covering different rock songs from artists like Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, managing to close the rift between the two genres. He's also been part of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. When I say this man's musical abilities are amazing, I mean it!

Legacy was released at the end of 2011 in Europe before recently being released here in the USA, and was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Here is the track listing:

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D-Dur, Op. 61
1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Larghetto
3. Rondo (Allegro)
4. Kreisler: Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani
5. Rachmaninoff: Variation 18 (Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, Op. 43) arr. Kreisler
6. Kreisler: Caprice Viennois, Op. 2
7. Kreisler: Variations on a theme of Corelli in the style of Tartini
8. Kreisler: Romance: Larghetto on a theme by Carl Maria von Weber
9. Kreisler: Tambourin Chinois, Op. 3
10. Kreisler: Liebesleid

Please don't ask me to choose a favorite track off of this one, because each one is just as incredible as the next. It is like the violin is an extension of this man's soul that he is baring for all to see and hear. If you don't get goosebumps listening to David play, I'm thinking there is something wrong with you! ;) By the way, if you'd like a sneak peek at some of the tracks before purchasing this CD, you can do so via David's website.

David Garrett Legacy is available now on CD wherever CDs are sold. You can also purchase it online via Amazon. It is also available for download via sites like iTunes. The suggested retail price is $9.99.

Win it! Thanks to Decca Records, one lucky reader will win Legacy! To enter, let us know if you are familiar with David, and if you are, your favorite piece of work from him. If you are not, please tell us what is attracting you to his music.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win David Garrett Legacy CD http://bit.ly/OazYCy ends 8/4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 4th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received a copy of this CD in order to listen to it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own. One winner will receive the prize stated above, thanks to the giveaway sponsor.

Wordless Wednesday - It's Smirking At Me!

Book Review: The Skeleton Box By Bryan Gruley

I recently received a copy of the new book The Skeleton Box: A Starvation Lake Mystery by Bryan Gruley to review.

Starvation Lake, Michigan is your average small town where there is normally not a lot of crime, and every one knows each other by name. When someone starts breaking into homes while the eldery residents are off enjoying their weekly Bingo night, the town starts becoming uneasy. The "Bingo Night Burglaries", as they become known as, are bad enough - at least nothing is being taken - but when one of the break-ins turns into murder, the town begins to panic. Gus Carpenter, editor of the local paper, Pine County Pilot, must now investigate the most difficult story he's done so far - the murder victim is his ex-girlfriend's mother. Even worse? Her body was found in Gus's mother's home, and she suffers from dementia. The plot thickens even more when Gus receives a lockbox from his mother. Will Gus be able to find out the truth about Phyllis Bontrager's death with the help of Luke Whistler, a former Detriot Free Press reporter who though he'd be moving to a quieter area? And are some secrets hidden in Starvation Lake better left buried?

This book three in the Starvation Lake series by the author. While you don't need to read the first two books in the series to understand what is going on in this one (I didn't), it always helps to. Being familiar with small town life, I found The Skeleton Box to be an entertaining read, with more than enough suspense, twists, and turns, to keep me reading page after page. (It kind of made me wonder exactly what skeletons are lurking back in my hometown... hmmm... I am sure there are some juicy ones worth of a good book or two! lol)

The Skeleton Box: A Starvation Lake Mystery by Bryan Gruley is a hardcover mystery fiction book published by Touchstone. It is 336 pages long. The suggested cover price is $25.00, but Amazon has it available for $13.58 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Review: SunBurnt Treatment For Sunburns

If you've ever had a really bad sunburn, you know how miserable they are. Fortunately, there are products available on the market like SunBurnt, a treatment for sunburns. This homeopathic after sun relief gel is lidocaine free, and it helps to reduce skin peeling, while soothing and hydrating skin. It also helps cool overheated skin.

I was sent a 2.5 ounce tube of SunBurnt to try out. It comes in an easy to apply from tube with a flip top lid. The size is just perfect to toss into a purse for attending festivals - which seems to be where we end up with surprise sunburns the most around here. I love that it's made with Aloe, so I know it's got the good stuff in it to soothe my families' angry skin. After hanging around the water while DH was fishing the other day, I'm the one who ended up with very dry and tight skin from the sun, mostly on my shoulders. (Guess what shirt ended up in the donate box? Yeah, that one. Now I've got a farmers tan line thanks to it! lol) For best results, you just slather some on immediately after sun exposure - don't wait for the blisters to start appearing if you can help it.

I was pretty thankful the SunBurnt had arrived the day we left to go camping and I had tossed it into my bag - whew! Granted, I didn't end up with a blistery, peeling burn to try it out on, but my skin has been miserable enough that I'm pretty thankful it wasn't any worse. I'll definitely be keeping this product in my first aid kit for hiking and camping! If you too, do a lot of things outdoors - from hiking to gardening to golfing, I'd recommend you pick up a tube and keep it handy. For anyone who is creating a "get home" emergency bag where they think they might have to be doing a good amount of walking to get home or to safety, you might want to add this to your bag. It's light enough, and could help save the day if you're walking a distance in the bright sun.

I was also very happy to find out that not only has this product not been tested on animals, it's also made here in the USA.

SunBurnt Therapeutic After Sun Relief is available in a 2.5 oz tube and a 6 oz tube. The 6 oz tube has a suggested retail price of $8.99. You can purchase it at drug stores like Walgreens, as well as big box stores like Kmart, and online via sites like Drugstore.com and Amazon.

Click here to learn more about what is a sunburn?

I received a sample of the product mentioned above in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - The Death Of Another Can Opener

Seriously, we're already Tuesday again?!

So I killed yet another can opener a few days ago. This one we only had for what, about a month? I don't think I even used it to open a single #10 can, so that's not the problem. The Kitchen Aid one had a warranty on it, but we figured by the time we paid for postage (it's heavy) we were better off buying new. Yeah, the new one didn't work so well either. Can you sense my frustration? I hereby challenge any company to step up to the plate and prove to me their heavy duty can opener actually lasts more than a few months, because I have yet to see one that does. I'm sick of the waste going in the landfill, and most importantly - I'm sick of throwing money away!

House is clean (well, except for stray toys lol), laundry is out drying, bread is rising. I'd feel accomplished, but I feel like there is still 5,000 things to do. I still need to find paint for the living room, before I run out of time on that project. We all know how long summer lasts here in Washington (about two weeks for those who don't know. lol)

My lone tomato plant is dying. Booo! :( So much for doing any canning this year, lol. I'm planning to hit up the restaurant supply and get some carrots and peppers this week to dehydrate though. Once they are dry, I'll either foodsaver them or just store them in mason jars. At the cost of things lately, I figure I can't go wrong, and I always use both of those in assorted slow cooker dishes and soups. Plus, the beauty of dehydrated foods is that they take up so little room!

We actually attended a lecture on this at ZomBcon Tax Implications of the Zombie Apocalypse It sounds super funny, but just imagine the nightmares of going through a 3-4 day zombie apocalypse, losing loved ones, but the US government is still intact, so now you need to prove your relative is "dead". Then you've got the paperwork nightmares, the estate, etc taxes to be paid... let me put it this way, if you're hoping for a zombie apocalypse, you'd better have your camera with fresh bodies to take some photos and prove your relative is dead. lol And knowing the US government, if your zombie relative is still moving, they'll probably make us pay a license tax to let them hang around. And of course, there would be more paperwork with that. *rolls her eyes*

You know where we will be October 14th. ‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Glen Mazzara Talks Zombies Are you as excited for season three of The Walking Dead as we are?

Comic-Con attendees flee zombies on city streets

Nifty idea, if it was real: Chain Saw Sword I like my weapons to be, oh, you know - useful.

I am totally going to do this and put it outside the door. Haha! I just need to find a hand. All these Halloween decorations and props, and not a single hand. What is wrong with us? LOL

For entertainment purposes today:

I'm in trouble! Why couldn't it be the right?! Well, I have the wall to my left. I'm toast. I hope you have a better option than me!