All Thumbs Reviews

Ramona and Beezus: Get thee to a theater!

2010-07-22T16:00:00.005-06:00

Even though his sister is older than he is, I'm sure my son would agree with the movie's tag line: "A little sister goes a long way..."Ramona and Beezus is for anyone who lives with a 9 year-old girl or who loves a 9 year-old girl or who ever WAS a 9 year-old girl. And the boys who surround them as well.This G-rated film opens Friday, July 23, and is based on the long-beloved books by Beverly

Toys that don't do the playing for your kids

2010-07-12T08:00:00.006-06:00

He's been playing in his room an hour now. Independently, creatively, happily. Every once in awhile I'll hear a soft "zhooooooom!" or a "screeeech!" or a "Watch out over there!" Each interjection is an indication of how lost Reed is in an imaginative world he's constructed.From a box of Androidz from Androidz Planet.First, let me explain how an Androidz came to be in our possession. I was invited

Extended warranties. Worth it? Or worthless?

2010-07-06T13:20:00.008-06:00

I had a bad experience with Sears last week.Our Kenmore refrigerator was failing to make ice. I got on the phone to Sears and easily navigated their automated system, which promised to send a technician to my house within 2 days. The night before the repair, we received an automated reminder from Sears. The following morning, the technician called 30 minutes before his expected arrival, arrived

$100 giveaway: A Pop-Tarts® Ice Cream Shoppe™ Vanilla Milkshake Summer (part 2)

2010-06-28T07:00:00.011-06:00

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.This is the second part of a sponsored review.In my last post, Tessa and Reed created Pop-Tarts S'mores using their imaginations and Kellogg's® Pop-Tarts® Ice Cream Shoppe™ Vanilla Milkshake toaster pastries.This week, we're showing you how Pop-Tarts® have followed us around this summer and kept my kids snacked up.(I often check nutrition

Pop-Tarts®: A Vanilla Milkshake Summer and $100 giveaway

2010-06-21T07:00:00.015-06:00

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.When a box of Kellogg's® Pop-Tarts® Ice Cream Shoppe™ Vanilla Milkshake toaster pastries arrived at our door, my children were beside themselves. They had never experienced such a sweet treat.I, too, was excited. We were starting the Summer of Swim Team, and I knew it would be helpful to have ready-made snacks on hand.(When choosing new foods

Do Shape Ups make you shapely?

2010-06-15T14:00:00.002-06:00

Shape Ups by Skechers have not, as far as I can tell, shrunk my thighs or my butt, improved my postured, tightened my abdomen, toned my muscles, or cleaned my kitchen.And yet?I. Love. My. Skechers Shape Ups.Why do I love them? It's that simple thing you want from shoes: THEY ARE COMFORTABLE. When I researched them online before buying ($100 at Zappos.com) I read that wearing Shape Ups was

Rapture: Sex and the City 2 Soundtrack

2010-05-25T12:04:00.004-06:00

Oh, ladies, this is a good one. I'll just tell you right now my thumbs are up.I got to preview the brand new soundtrack for the movie Sex and the City 2, which opens in theaters on Thursday.**Upfront disclaimer: Through the One2One Network, I received the CD Sex and the City 2 ($12 value) for purposes of sharing my honest opinion.**This soundtrack has me at hello. It starts with "Rapture,"

Free stuff!

2010-05-18T07:00:00.011-06:00

It's nice to share.Over the past two years, we at All Thumbs have been privileged to try out a whole bunch of products on your behalf.I'm ready to part with some of the stuff I've tested to make room for new stuff. I'd like nothing more than to share the booty with you.All items that were free to me are free to you. I ask only $10 per package to cover shipping and handling, payable into my PayPal

Don't build or expand your Home Gym without reading this

2010-05-03T13:54:00.014-06:00

When we first started building our in-home gym, I thought it only made sense that we would purchase equipment that was in the gym where we were members. We could trust that their equipment was well-made, durable, and we were already familiar with it. I mean, if it was good enough for hundreds of members, it was good enough for us. Right?Not so much. The way equipment is used in the gym differs

Fail: the dry reality of Aqua Globes

2010-04-26T10:35:00.008-06:00

Seems I'm the only one in my house that can be bothered to take care of fish and plants. Too bad for them.The fish survived the two trips I took last month, but two of my plants died, the two that require more frequent watering out of the dozens in my house.One of the deceased was an avocado plant from a seed I potted at the time Tessa was born, 9 years ago. I am actually quite sad about its

Jonzing for java

2010-04-11T20:00:00.010-06:00

I may not be a Rachel Ray, but there's one thing in my kitchen for which I am renowned: I make a superb cup of coffee.Besides the basics -- filtered water and freshly ground dark-roasted beans -- I do have one secret, which I'm going to share with you.My french-press. More specifically, my Bodum thermal french-press.(Is it OK to say "french" these days? I don't have to call it a "freedom-press,"

Tami's Secret: 2 Tips for Luscious Lips

2010-04-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

I am a lip snob.You would have to be in my shower to catch me without something on my lips. Gloss, glaze, stick, balm, lacquer, or even chap stick ... anything to keep the lips looking luscious.Don't get me wrong. I'm not the kind who has big, bold colors that make my lips enter the room 14 seconds before the rest of me does. I prefer subtle colors, demand no offensive tastes, and need a texture

Yoga Accessories: Reviews & Giveaway

2010-03-28T18:00:00.007-06:00

Seems I placed so many orders at YogaAccessories.com that the company decided to send me some samples to try out.(Be sure to read to the bottom to for giveaway and discount information.)First I'll review some of the items I ordered and paid for.Round Yoga Mat: We sent a pair of these 6 foot diameter mats to our friends as a wedding present. I had originally gotten one for myself but it was just

Go Organic - Updated!

2010-02-27T10:41:00.002-07:00

Want to buy a baby you know a cute little outfit? Want it to be 100% organic, and made with water-based & baby-safe dyes? Well look no further than Noah's Inspirations. A little while ago, their Chief Inspirator - Edward Dunigan - contacted All Thumbs, and with the gift of two onesies (one for a giveaway!), we easily arranged this review.Originally, I chicklet, will admit to wondering if this

Show & Tell: Ups and downs

2010-02-17T17:30:00.003-07:00

Have you ever had one of those amazing friends, the kind who will not only come over and pack up the house you're moving from, but also remember to bring plastic champagne flutes and a bottle of bubbly to the house you're moving TO?Who will cheerfully pick up your kids from school with zero notice when you have a meeting run late? Who drives you to the airport for a 6 am check-in?Who comes over

Vibrams FiveFinger for yoga and for running

2010-02-14T10:00:00.004-07:00

Shortly before my husband's accident last summer, he had gotten into Chi Running, which champions trotting about in bare feet. My fitness activity, yoga, also tends to be done barefooted. So when we heard about Vibram Five Finger shoes, which provide the benefits of bare feet along with protection, we inquired about trying them out.As a blogger and reviewer, I qualified for a $25 discount off the

Wave a Magic Wand, Get the Perfect Stroller

2010-02-08T07:30:00.007-07:00

A shopping we will go. A shopping we will go!Now that we are planning on life with a new baby, one of the things on my mind is figuring out how to get back into shape after the baby is born. My husband and I just returned from stroller shopping. I'm not sure if I'm thrilled or disappointed, but I think the decision we made five years ago will be the same decision we make again.The first time

Goodbye. Hello.

2010-01-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Eagle eyes will notice that there have been subtle changes taking place on All Thumbs recently. You might remember that Chicklet announced that she's hanging up her thumbs (some lame excuse about not sleeping and taking care of a 2 month old -- ha!). After all her excellent reviews in this space, she's earned a little tribute.If I may bug her and get serious for a moment, I want to express how

When Pink = Blue

2010-01-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is not about babies. Or gender at all.Recently, I dumped the contents of my purse for all the blogosphere to see. One of the items in there was questioned by several commenters. "What is a pink tooth?" more than one person asked me.First, let me tell you about Japanglish. A sarariman (salary-man) wears a waito-shato (white shirt) to his desk job. Unless he wears a blue one or a striped one.

The Baby Stuff I Can't Live Without

2010-01-15T13:44:00.005-07:00

As a new mama of a 7-week old little boy, I have a whole lotta stuff. There's all the stuff I THOUGHT I'd need, and then there's all the stuff I've ACTUALLY needed. While I'm still new to this whole parenthood thing, and I'm sure there's a bunch more stuff I'll end up needing later on, here's the lowdown on the 6 items I could NOT have survived without. Yes, there are a few other things that

Pssst...Rosarita isn't just refried beans anymore

2010-01-03T20:00:00.011-07:00

You really can't beat a good salsa. It's good for the munchies, good for drop-in company, and good in recipes. And considering it's made of mostly vegetables, you can consider salsa a healthy snack (just watch the sodium).There's a new salsa in town. Well, only four towns, for now. LA, Dallas, Phoenix and Denver are rolling out three variations of Rosarita salsa, available at select Walmart and

Cards That Help

2009-12-30T13:34:00.005-07:00

If you're looking for some notecards to have stashed away for special occasions, I've got the ones you should buy. And not just because they've got great artwork, or because they're reasonably priced, but because they actually do some good - something you can't say about many purchases you're bound to make. Erica over at Parenthood For Me was kind enough to send me free samples of their

And the Winners Are...

2009-12-21T18:32:00.001-07:00

Random.org drew #2 and #8, which means Cathy and My Name is Andy - you are our winners! Email me at her@bloorb.com with your mailing address, and I'll get your CD's out to you shortly. Thanks for reading!***Want easy access to products recommended by Lori and Chicklet? Help support us by visiting the All Thumbs Store, which has no added markup. Just easy shopping, good prices, Amazon security and

I Wanna Play Inside the Cardboard Box

2009-12-13T08:35:00.001-07:00

When it comes to having a kid, there are some things I think every parent fears. Definitely, there's all those awful things I shall not mention as I don't like my mind to even GO to those places, but there's also those PETTY things, those WEIRD things, those things you swore UP and DOWN you'd never do when YOU had a kid, yet you know you probably WILL end up doing them anyway - it's just much

Say You're One of Them : Review and Giveaway

2009-12-05T08:00:00.004-07:00

Us. Them. The contrast has been around since Cain and Abel, since Isaac and Ishmael, since Ayla and Broud. Humans seem destined to find and accentuate differences. No matter how "modern" we are, tribalistic tendencies are alive and well as we interact with others.Even now we have deep schisms between Democrats and Republicans. Between white collar and blue collar. Urban and rural. Labor and