DM Speaks

Ten Inch Hero, the review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

This afternoon I discovered a film I hadn't heard of before, Ten Inch Hero, and decided to give it a go since Jensen Ackles (Dean from Supernatural) was one of the main stars and Sean Patrick Flannery (From Young Indiana Jones) came in with a supporting role.

And I have to say that it surprised me.

It was created in 2007, but has the feel of an 80s film. It has some sex scenes and sexual remarks that make it unsuitable for small eyes, though... personally, I hate "sex scenes" in films. Call me old fashioned but I think they should be implied and not seen.

It's about a group of individuals who work in a sandwich shop near the beach; a group of misfits if you will. These, unlikely to hang out with each other outside of work, characters grow a fond attachment for one another, making them more like family than friends or co-workers which really adds a bit of charm to the film.

The story involves 5 main characters...

Piper is a young woman who gave birth to a child at age 15 and had to give that child up for adoption. Two years after the adoption, the adopted parents stopped sending updates on her child. When she sees a photo of a young girl in the paper who appears to be her daughter, she moves to the child's town in hopes of getting a glimpse of the little girl, unfortunately, she was mistaken and the little girl isn't hers.

Jen is a computer nerd who helps get the sandwich shop online and ready to take pick-up orders via the 'net. She befriends a guy named Fuzzy22 and after a year of conversing back and forth, she decides to meet him in person. Unfortunately, she gets cold feet at the last minute and is broken-hearted that she may have lost the love of her life simply because she couldn't face him in person.

Tish is a sex craved woman who uses a lame story about not being able to get turned on by men to get "hot" men to sleep with her. Then one day, she's persuaded by a rich young man who turns out to be abusive and a little bit unstable.

Priestly is a strange young man who wears a Mohawk, a kilt and several tattoos, all the while masking his true feelings, for one of the gals in the shop, through sarcasm, humor, and an uncanny outspokenness.

Trucker is the owner of the shop. He's not only taken this group of misfits under his wings, but he consistently acts like a father-figure, though the kids can only see him as a hippie loving surfer dude.

Of course, there's more to their stories than mentioned here...

I think what I liked most about this film is how charming it turned out to be.

Who wouldn't want to go to work each day enjoying the work atmosphere, the people, and the boss?!

But more than that, it's about growing up, defining one's self worth, and learning to believe in yourself enough to stand up for yourself, regardless of the situation.

Order Ten Inch Hero Today! You can get it on Amazon.com as an instant download or a DVD, or you can watch it on Netflix instant streaming.

Disclosure: The reviewer rented a copy of this film to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Holy Cow Batman!

We have an nice amount of interviews here on the blog...

Just look at the numbers...

The problem is that finding more about the author, artist, business person, or writer you're interested in can feel like you've been thrown into a roaring sea. Right?

Well no more!

You don't have to scan page after page to find the one you're interested in. Just stop by our archive list at http://thedabblingmum.com/interviews/, click on an area you want to learn more about, then click on the interviewees name... it's that easy!

Interview with Marcie Lovett

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:43:00 +0000

Marcie Lovett is an author and Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant who coaches residential and business clients on goal setting and use of time. She graduated from the University of Maryland, School of Education, and is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO.

Marcie’s mission is to assist clients who want to remove clutter and chaos from their environments, thereby improving the quality of their lives.

What was your path towards publication like?
I have been writing since I was very young. I wrote atrocious poetry and dreadful prose when I was a teenager. As an adult, I tried writing short stories and a novel, but they aren’t very good. I used to say that I thought I had a book in me, but I never envisioned writing nonfiction.

I resisted writing this book for several years, even though clients and participants in my workshops asked for it. I have been in homes that are filled with books that the owners hoped would somehow transform their lives. Just like buying a diet book isn’t going to make you lose weight, I know that my book isn’t going to change lives if the reader doesn’t commit to making changes.

I struggled with wanting to get the information out and knowing I might contribute to book clutter. I had intended to publish it only as an e-book so readers wouldn’t have to find a place to keep it, but I learned that my audience wanted to read a physical book.

Once I made the decision to write the book, I told everyone I was doing it and I started referring to myself as a writer, then I changed my marketing materials to reflect the upcoming book. The truth was, though, that I spent more time researching, thinking and talking about the book than I did writing.

I ran into an acquaintance, at a networking event, and we both mentioned that we were writing books. She asked if I would consider being accountability partners and I agreed right away.

Once I had to report to someone what I did each week, the writing process became an assignment instead of a dreamy fantasy. I set up time to write every day and I noted the other activities, like research, so I realized how I was using my time. I don’t believe I would have finished the book without having this structure.

I looked at all the publishing options and self publishing seemed to be the most cost effective and expedient way to make my book available to the greatest number of people.

Since this was my first publishing experience, I also wanted to have control over all the aspects of the process, including the design, pricing and release date.

What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
I have never been a great self promoter, although I have been more comfortable marketing my book than my business.

People have responded enthusiastically to the book, even before it was published, which made me more willing to talk about it. I spend a lot of time reading blogs and listening to webinars about marketing. Of course, I could say that I was simply following the steps in the Goal Setting section of my book!

Because I believe so strongly in the book’s message, I am dedicated to getting it out to as many people as I can.

How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I coach people on making choices about how they spend their time, so I feel like I have to model appropriate behavior. Although I work long hours, I don’t allow it to interfere with my personal life. I rarely schedule clients in the evenings or on weekends and my writing and administrative work can be done any time during the day. I have much more freedom now than when I worked in an office.

What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Because I attempt to practice what I encourage my clients to do, I created a writing routine.

I schedule time every day to write and I have stuck with it, even when I have nothing to say. Some days the writing comes effortlessly and two hours can fly by, while other days are torturous and all I do is move words around on the page or reformat headings. Whether I have a productive session or not, I sit in front of my computer and make some movement toward meeting my goal.

What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Dan Janal of PR Leads told me, “You are not writing the definitive organizing book.”

Once I realized that I didn’t have to include everything I knew and address all of the concerns anyone could have, I was free to finally finish the book. I removed sections that really didn’t fit and set them aside to use in another book.

What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
You have to pay attention.

There are so many details that need attention, including finances, marketing, administration, customer service and personnel. If you focus on just one thing and neglect the others, you will not be successful.

My suggestion is to have a calendar/planning tool that works for you and write everything down. I recently worked with someone who said she keeps all her customer information in her head. That is not the way to run a successful business.

How did you get started in your line of work?
I experienced three job layoffs in seven years. I had considered working as an organizing consultant even when I was working full time in other jobs, but I was concerned about working on my own. After the third layoff, I realized that it was a good time to open my own company and if I didn’t try, I would always regret not taking the chance.

Before starting my own business, I assisted people in a less formal manner. Because I have always had strong organization skills, people relied on me to help them sort out their cluttered home and work spaces, then create uncomplicated solutions.

What is your goal when providing your services?
My goal is to help people save time and money by teaching them to let go of what they don’t need and find room for what they value.

People call me because they are overwhelmed.

They find that they’re not able to keep up with all of the details of life, whether at home, work, or both. Just about everybody lives with some degree of clutter; however, when clutter keeps you from functioning productively or from enjoying your environment, you feel stress. That stress affects your social or family life and can affect your earnings, as well.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
Whether it’s caused by things, commitments or thoughts, clutter holds you back. Letting go of it will change your life. The Clutter Book: When You Can't Let Go is meant for people who need guidance and structure to meet their goals of eliminating clutter from their lives.

I firmly, yet sensitively, move readers through what can be very painful experiences. I’m also a cheerleader, encouraging them to take the next step so they can enjoy their successes.

My book comes from a place of acceptance, is written for adults and includes exercises for readers to participate in the process. I teach them process that I hope will make a profound difference in how they see their relationship to things. In addition, I want to inspire them to think about how they live their lives and what they want to change. Most importantly, I encourage readers to enjoy their lives and their choices.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Before I committed to writing a book, I read what seems like every existing organizing book to make sure that my message was distinctive.

I admire many of the writers, but they all seemed to be missing something. Some of them are too academic, some don’t offer practical advice, others are written in a comic tone that didn’t appeal to me.

For the past few years, I have been thinking differently about clutter. As a group, organizers tend to promote living with less. I endorse a “simple living” approach and I now recognize that doesn’t work with a lot of people. So the aim of the book is to help people learn to live with what they have. Some people need to be surrounded by stuff, but they also need to live safely and comfortably. This book is for them, too.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
The most difficult part of the process for me has been the editing.

Although I hired an editor and I reviewed the manuscript several times, there were still errors that got through. Three times over the course of a month I had to submit a proof, wait for it to be printed and shipped, read it and make changes before I was satisfied that it was accurate.

Reading the book as an actual book, not as words on a computer screen, made a huge difference. I took each of the proofs to bed with me, like I would read any other book, and marked them up. I was frustrated that I kept finding things to change, but I think I learned a lot and ended up with a much better book.

Did you have to do any special research for your book?
As this is a nonfiction book, the content needed to reflect current research about human behavior. I did a lot of reading about decision making, procrastination and perfectionism; these are issues my clients struggle with. Readers who are interested in the science behind the approaches in the book will appreciate the knowledge as they make changes.

If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
My wish is that someone who has been struggling with a relationship to things reads this book and finds the strength to change. That change can manifest itself in letting go of relationships that aren’t healthy or behaviors that aren’t productive or stuff that doesn’t add value to his or her life. Letting go doesn’t mean dumping everything you have; it’s about choosing what works for you and discarding the rest.

What’s ahead for your writing?
I'm working on a companion workbook. The Clutter Book contains exercises and checklists; the workbook will allow readers to print full-size copies of the exercises and write all over them, then print more when they want to repeat an exercise. The workbook also includes worksheets that workshop participants have found to be invaluable.

I’m also considering creating more specific books targeted to students, older adults and people with attention challenges. These are groups with significant concerns who would benefit from a book tailored to their needs.

Thanks, Alyice. This was a very enlightening exercise for me! I look forward to reading more interviews on your blog.

You can learn more about Marcie Lovett at www.organizedbymarcie.com

Order The Clutter Book Today!

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Touched By An Angel, Season 4

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I am one of those people that love sappy endings. I also love it when the good guys win, when the underdogs triumph, and when people are reminded that God does indeed exist—even if at times it all feels like hocus pocus. But, I am also one of those people who likes good acting and sadly, there are many Christian films that lack good actors. That, however, is not the case when it comes to Touched By An Angel—regardless of the season you choose to watch.

In Season Four, Volume 2, Tess is still the Supervisor, Monica is still the Case Worker, and Andrew is still the Angel of Death/Case Worker in training, and Rafael comes along to lend a hand as another Case Worker.

I was partial to three episodes: The Trigger, Flights of Angels, and God And Country. But what I’d like to do is tell you about The Trigger because I truly believe it is an episode that should be shared in every classroom across the United States.

In The Trigger, a wife is faced with physical abuse as her husband deals with the demotion he received at work. This episode hit home for me as I grew up around abuse. I used to believe that abuse only happened to lower income families, such as those of us who lived in the ghetto. But as I grew into an adult, I began to see all forms of abuse in all types of circumstances: from verbal to physical to both; from children to spouses to friends; from low income to medium income to those who had lots of money. Abuse knew no boundaries. And those that were abused were either too afraid to speak up, talked themselves into believing it was only a temporary thing, or actually believed it was their fault.

In Trigger, the wife was abused as a child and honestly believed that she would never allow another man to hurt her the way her father had. In fact, she thought that by purchasing her childhood home, she would be able to put to rest the memories of the past. But when her husband gets demoted due to an accident at work, he feels like less of a man and to make up for the high he got on saving lives, he began to abuse his wife. And no matter how many times she ended up in the hospital, she kept rationalizing it away—he’s just going through a tough time right now, he didn’t mean anything by it, he really loves me, he promised he’d change.

Then one day, the wife’s sister arrives and things change from bad to worse. The sister kills the husband in self defense. The wife lies to the police and puts her sister in jail. It’s up to Monica, Tess, and Andrew to get her to see the error of her ways, to see what really happened the day her husband died, and to stop her son from becoming the next abuser. It truly is an emotional roller-coaster but one every family should watch.

Your Task
Invite your child’s friends over. Invite your child’s Sunday school class over. Invite the parents, too. Make popcorn, oven Smores, and hot cocoa. Then put in a copy of Touched By An Angel, Season Four, Volume 2, Disc 1, Episode 2. After watching Trigger, turn off the DVD and open the room up to discussion. Ask the children what they thought about that episode. Ask them if they know what the various forms of abuse are: verbal, physical, unjust spankings, beatings, etc. Ask them how they would feel if something like that happened to them. Ask them what they would do if someone hurt them and they were really afraid. Then talk to them about the importance of staying safe, of reporting abuse, and about getting away from bad situations and bad people. The only way to end abuse is to educate others. Keeping it quiet solves nothing.

Order Touched By An Angel today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

P.S. Don't forget to enter our drawing for some free postcards. Click here for more details and to enter.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Two And A Half Men, season 4

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A successful middle-aged chiropractor named Alan divorces his uptight, money-hungry wife, Judith, and is forced to move in with his wealthy bachelor brother, Charlie. In season one, the original idea was for Alan to stay with Charlie for a few months and then move out, but as Judith continued to require more and more money from Alan it became apparent that he couldn’t afford to live on his own—just yet. Though tempted to throw Alan out on several occasions, Charlie agrees to let him stay. As the show progresses, Charlie and Alan set aside childhood issues, learn to forgive—or at least move past—hurtful childhood events, and end up becoming good friends.

Charlie is a male chauvinist who thinks great relationships with the opposite sex consists of one-night stands. He drinks too much, spends money foolishly, and knows just how to manipulate the opposite sex to get what he wants.

Alan is an uptight business owner who never fully understood what it meant to live until he moved in with his brother. Now he struggles between experiencing a carefree lifestyle and being a responsible, yet fun-loving man.

Both men have a fear of women—resulting from a poor relationship with their own mother—and this fear causes them to mishandle their relationships with the opposite sex which results in lots of troubling times.

Jake, Alan’s son, is a naïve, lazy boy with a never-ending appetite who hates school and finds his Uncle Charlie’s lifestyle fascinating.

Rose, is Charlie’s stalker turned friend and babysitter. She’s strangely entertaining and you can’t help find yourself rooting for her as she tries to get Charlie to see the light and marry her.

Berta is Charlie’s housekeeper. She’s crude, obnoxious, and very forthright. She has a working relationship with Charlie that allows her to run the entire household. She’s also the closest thing Charlie has to a “best” friend.

Two And A Half Men takes the saying “dysfunctional” to an entirely new level. And yet, as a woman who enjoys a good laugh and usually dislikes anything with sexual innuendos, I can honestly say that this is the only show of its kind that I’ve ever been able to watch and enjoy. Perhaps it’s because the storylines make fun of some of the most horrific stereotypes while intertwining important life lessons, albeit very subtly. Or perhaps it’s because despite all their best efforts to appear uncaring, the cast finds themselves reaching out and helping one another. Or perhaps, just perhaps, it’s simply because it is funny.

Your Task
This week as you sit down to watch television, put the kids to bed and pop in a copy of Two And A Half Men. Your husband will thank you for it! This is a truly wacky show that shouldn’t be watched with small children—unless you plan on explaining to them why heavy drinking, sleeping around, and sadistic behaviors aren’t the best way to live one’s life.

Order Two And A Half Men today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

P.S. Don't forget to enter our drawing for some free postcards. Click here for more details and to enter.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Want to win some artsy postcards designed by our editor?

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:07:00 +0000

Where are your favorite places to hang out online?

Share them on our blog and enter a drawing for some free postcards from my etsy shop!

One winner will be selected, from the comments below, on Friday, 1/27/12.

You could win a few of these....

or a few of these...

Of course, all postcards are available for sale via our etsy shop in case you just have to have some now.

Contest rules and disclaimer page

Real Steel, the review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

When Real Steel was in the theatres, I left so hyped and ready to kick some butt that when my daughter asked to watch it again a few weeks later, I took her. And yes, we left the theatre just as charged up. So when I was offered a review copy, I couldn’t refuse… I just had to know if that same adrenaline rush was going to occur at home, too.

Well, I have to say that while it’s not the same adrenaline rush (there’s just something far more magical about watching it on a huge screen), it did leave me charged and feeling good. So if you want a feel-good movie to share with your kids, I truly encourage you to give Real Steel a try!

That being said, if you never liked Rocky then you’ll want to pass up Real Steel because it truly is a Rocky remake… but with a twist.

What I loved about this film is how amazing the fight scenes were—and not one human being was injured in the course of the fighting!

As a little girl I loved boxing… I loved the thrill of it, the skill of it, that excitement of it. Then I discovered how damaging it was to the human body, and being the sensitive soul that I am, I boycotted the sport. But not without regrets as I seriously enjoyed a good fight.

So the whole idea of robots taking the beating instead of humans…and using all the same moves…well, how could I not get excited?!

The film takes place approximately 15 years in the future where human boxing has been replaced with robot boxing. The main character, Charlie Kenton, was a human boxer, and when the sport shifted to robots, he reluctantly made the switch. Sadly, he sucked in his new profession, became a drunk, and basically gambled away his future.

Then one day he gets a call that the mother of a son he abandoned at birth has died and he must attend the custody hearing. At the hearing, he realizes that his child’s aunt is married to a rather wealthy man and agrees to give up his rights as a father in exchange for money, and a summer with his son, Max. (Yes, that’s very bad!)

Charlie uses the money to buy a new robot, and instead of taking the time to learn about the robot, he takes him to a fight and basically kills him. Frustrated and angered over his own stupidity, he takes Max to a dump to collect parts in hopes of putting together a new robot. That’s when Max discovers ATOM, a shadow-boxing robot, who had been thrown away with every piece still in tact.

Max cleans up ATOM and decides that he’s capable of fighting, but Charlie disagrees. After a little persuading, Charlie gives ATOM a try and is surprised to discover just how good a fight he can be.

Match after match, ATOM proves himself a worthy opponent. Then he’s scheduled to fight the champion of the World Robot Boxing League and all bets are off.

But there’s so much more to the storyline than fighting robots, or a sleazy dad taking advantage of a bad situation and selling his son for money.

It’s a story about second chances, of righting wrongs, of forgiveness, of human growth, of trusting your instincts, of learning what it really means to be a father. And that’s what makes this film worth watching over and over again.

Finally, some have argued that the robots not being intellectual enough to box on their own (think Transformers) was a turn off, but I found it rather charming. They remind me of the old Rock’em Sock’em robots I used to play with as a child.

But I think what I liked most about going this route is the fact that the robots being controlled by human beings—and without emotions—makes it easier to accept their skulls being bashed in, and far more exciting!

Order the Real Steel combo pack on Amazon.com for just $28.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of this film to review.

For a limited time, Dreamworks is offering $5 OFF the purchase of the Real Steel 3-disc Combo Pack. Those interested should visit http://www.steelgetsreal.com/, and click on the offer in the upper right corner of the page. Offer ends 1/29/12.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Step Up 2

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:01:00 +0000

Loved the dancing, hated the plot. Well, I shouldn’t say “hated” as much as felt there was something vastly missing. I honestly think the choreography and dancing took over the movie—which for those who prefer lots of action and very little drama, that’s a good thing.

But for people like me, who enjoy having a more balanced approach, let me just say that the plot could have been much better.

Step Up 2 is about a teenager girl named Andie who loves to dance and uses it as an escape to not deal with the death of her mother. She lives with her mother’s best friend, but the friend is fed up with Andie’s lack of respect for herself and the people she lives with. In fact, she’s just about ready to ship Andie off to a long distance relative when an old friend pops into town and offers up some sound advice: get into the local school of arts, keep your grades up, and continue doing what you love and living in a place that affords you the opportunity to take your dancing to new heights or give up on yourself and any hopes of a future by moving away and living with relatives who won’t understand you. She opts for staying put—reluctantly.

But when her new life interferes with her old life, her friends disown her. But all’s not lost because she discovers a new group of friends who not only “get her” but respect her enough to remain “true friends”—even in hard times!

In the opening of Step Up 2, there’s much talk about dancing being more than just another form of gang-related activity—that dancing was about bringing groups of people together to show off their talents and end the violence. Yet, we see a crew of dancers, known as 4-1-0, deface public property, make a nuisance of themselves in public, and take dance rivalry to a whole new level when they beat up a guy for co-starting a new crew with Andie, for not “being part of the streets,” and for basically stealing Andie from the crew leader who dumped her earlier in the show. But they don’t stop there, they then destroy an expensive dance studio to make a statement: you’re not welcome in our dance-offs, stay away or else! But it doesn’t help matters when the “new crew” does a little damage of their own by mocking and taunting 4-1-0 via secretly taped video footage and then breaking into their “crib” to place a dead fish in their central
air unit.

That being said, there are some underlying issues that really don’t get addressed in the film and they should have. Issues like the fact that the Andie needed to deal with the emotional issues of her mother’s death, the fact that Andie wanted so badly to fit in somewhere that she was willing to be bullied into giving up her future for the sake of her crew members, and the fact that vandalism and physical violence can’t go unpunished—they must be dealt with.

Your Task
Your task, if you choose to watch this film is to make an even of it. Because whether it’s lacking in the drama department or not, it’s got a lot of wonderful choreography going on and any child interested in dance is going to love the dance scenes and—like my daughter—replay them over and over again. Turn up the volume on the dance scenes and dance along with the actors. But when it’s over, take the time to ask your kids how they felt Andie could’ve better handled the sadness she felt over her mother’s death and the relationship with her legal guardian. And ask them what they do to deal with peer pressure. You may even want to give them a safe out by saying, “It’s okay to tell your friends, ‘I’m sorry, my parents wouldn’t like that and if they caught me I’d be grounded for life.’ So if you don’t mind, I’ll pass.”

Order Step Up 2 Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Lois and Clark, Season 4

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

In season 3, after years of hiding his feelings for Lois, Clark was finally able to reveal his true identity and the two began to build a relationship. In this season, they conquer all odds and get married. But their marriage doesn’t have a storybook ending. It’s not happily ever after but real life with all of its ups and downs (only with a few super-villains and surreal moments mixed in).

Sometimes, watching the mushiness of Lois & Clark can be a bit sickening. It’s hard to see a couple go from cat and mouse to openly loving one another. But that’s when you have to ask, “Why is that we like the tension more than we like the bonding and closeness? Why do we prefer to see them struggling to find a way to love each other instead of relishing in their ability to finally show true love and affection for one another? And why do we turn our backs on characters that seem to finally have things going their way?”

Personally, I’ve enjoyed every season of Lois & Clark and was disappointed when the writers didn’t feel their relationship valued better writing. By that I mean the couple jumped into lovey-dovey too soon. The couple had been playing cat and mouse for so long that finally being able to show their true feelings, to openly say “I love you” and to call each other pet names, should have happened gradually, not all at once. Yet despite this flaw, season four still holds its charm. Superman still battles evil, Lois still sticks her neck out for great stories, and the couple still has a little tension to work out.

At first, I wondered if I could even come up with a defining moment for this season of Lois & Clark, then as I pondered what lesson we could learn I realized that the lesson was simple: relationships are hard. Marriage is even harder and roadblocks will always abound, but true love never gives up. A good marriage isn’t just about give and take, it’s about forgiveness, lifting each other up when we’re down, remembering to do special things for the ones you love, and keeping the romance alive by adding a little spice every now and then.

Your Task
This week take the time to look through old photographs of your pre-marital life. What were you and your spouse like before you got married? What do you see in those pictures? How did he (or she) make you happy back then? What made those times so romantic? What were the good qualities in your spouse?

While you’re feeling good about those memories take the time to write down those memories and good qualities on a piece of paper. Then once a day, over the course of the next few weeks, take one of those memories and write a short 2 to 5 sentence note for your spouse. Hide that note in his (or her) lunch, briefcase, dashboard, dresser drawer, tool chest, hobby area, or wherever else he (or she) might “happen” upon it. Continue to send secret reminders until you no longer have anything left on your note paper.

Once you’ve used up all your notes, plan a romantic evening out—with no kids, no business talk, and no problem-solving. Then relish in the fact that you’ve married the perfect person—for you!

Order Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Season 4 today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Interview with Heidi Legg

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:19:00 +0000

As a young girl, Heidi Legg kept creative writing journals. To her, writing came naturally so while in school she wrote a column for the school newspaper, became editor of the school yearbook, and became a roving reporter for Teen Generation Magazine. Then one day, after the birth of her second child she realized that she wanted more from her life and for her writing…

What was your path towards publication like?
After writing three screenplays with a few meetings in Los Angeles, I realized screenplays were ubiquitous and difficult to pitch from Cambridge… and with two little kids in tow, that was the reality of my life. I had to write from here for now.

A top literary agent in Boston sat down with me to discuss these three scripts and we realized Evangeline had more to say; it was a novel. That said, he was a non-fiction agent and once I sent the manuscript around as an unknown to agents, I started to check off the rejections one by one on my excel spreadsheet.

I thought if I created a professional spreadsheet with YES and NO columns, eventually I would be able to check off YES. When that didn't happen, the indie movement was looking pretty dam sexy and exciting and liberating. Just like the heroines I like to write.

What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
The biggest obstacle is being an unknown on an independent study who has been at home raising children for the ten year nap.

I would go to readings of newly published authors or filmmakers who either had a famous last name or an internship from the New Yorker or had done an MFA at Iowa and I was convinced for a while that was insurmountable… until I started to read about indie writers breaking out and bringing their stories to "the people". Seth Godin's daily emails also helped. It reminded me of the Internet days in the early 90s. Anything was possible.

How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
The most important gift I gave myself was the boundary of time.

At first I felt guilty, as women do!, saying no to things, people, school, friends and then I realized I was not saying no, but rather, I was saying just not now. I carved out three full writing sessions a week in the mornings and I tried so hard to respect those times.

Friends knew that on Tuesday and Thursdays I was writing, my husband would try to give me two days a week when he would take the kids to school so I could write fresh out of bed in my pajamas.

Our kids were really little—ages 2 and 5—when I started soI started slowly. First two mornings a week, then as they went to school full time, I took more time to write and when I had paid work to do, I would consolidate that work into other times and try diligently to respect my writing days.

It is a luxury as I do not work full time at a job but I do pick my kids up every day and some things had to give. Lunches, work outs, paid jobs, grocery shopping all queued behind those writing hours. I am sure, until my book came out, many people thought it was a cover for long naps and matinee movies.

What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Brush your teeth or take a walk or run the Charles River in the northeast winter.

What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Oh there are such good ones....

My writing friend Bob Johnson reminded me that swaths of time are important for writing because writing fiction is like a dream, if someone wakes you up mid-dream, it is very hard to get back to where you were when interrupted.

Hemingway said you should write once you have lived and so I write in times of struggle because I know that's when I can really hear my voice and when I am living real time.

And my mother said, mind your manners.

What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
Listen to reason over your gut.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
My Evangeline is so personal to me because it is from my home. I had been writing very irreverent, midlife reckoning scripts (which I LOVE and the novel I am working on leans to that beat) and I was looking for a story to transport people to my quiet, "lost in time place" in Canada where old world charms saunter alongside rugged, raw realities. They combine in a way that is unique to Atlantic Canada.

Annie Proulx has captured it in The Shipping News, Antonine Maillet has captured the Acadians in La Sagouine and Longfellow romanticized it in Evangeline.

This is my version of the way of life up north, in our secret Atlantic coast, and the coming of age story with eighteen-year old Eve is so timeless to me and something I went through myself. The classic townie vs. summer kid, the duty to father vs. the lure of romantic love, the immigrant vs the nationalist.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?
My mother was visiting from Shediac, New Brunswick and we took my daughter to Longfellow's National Parks house a few short blocks from where I live near Harvard Square. While touring through with the docent, we learned that Longfellow had never stepped foot in the Maritimes of Atlantic Canada and had written the poem's topography from paintings of the area.

Nathaniel Hawthorne had been offered the story first by a traveling cousin and Longfellow was so taken by the French Acadians and their plight as they were disbanded from the British ships that sent them south in 1755, that he asked if he could work on it first. Hawthorne was fine with that.

I realized that if Longfellow was so enamored with them as an American, then my love for the Acadian way of life, my way of life growing up, was possibly of more interest to others than I feared.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
I started the book in the present tense to be cool and current and I found it very difficult to recount the story in that tense. It tripped me up more than once. I also struggled with people's reaction to the magic realism in the book. But it came to me that way in a dream one night and I just had to honor it. I am still defensive about it and I must stop because it is what makes it a book ripe for the young who will understand it with me.

Did you have to do any special research for your book?
Longfellow house was a major inspiration and there I bought a book on the poem and on his life. I also spent time researching the news clippings on the Quebec election and suggested accusations by people after the fall out of the election, especially Parizeau.

If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I hope this book inspires young women to hear their voice earlier than I heard mine.

I hope it encourages that 20 something girl trying to live boldly and on her terms to just go for it; especially if it happens to be my own daughter, Bronwyn, one day.

What’s ahead for your writing?
Oh I still dream so much to make a movie. However, an indie book is more affordable than an indie movie right now but maybe that will change.

I would do anything to be Sophia Copolla! Nicole Holofcener for films and Isabelle Allende for novels are idols. I love writing strong heroines who use wit, irreverence and an openness to being flawed as they find their voices. Family ties and romance usually figure pretty heavily in anything I write.

I have a new book in the works and a few agents are interested which feels so much more motivating this time round, like a trampoline at the bottom of a 100 story building. Novels, film, essays - To be paid to make those would be pretty awesome.

Learn more about Heidi Legg at www.heidilegg.com or order My Evangeline from Amazon.com for just $14.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Grey’s Anatomy, Season 3

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This is an old review (9/28/07), but one worth sharing here on the blog....

I can’t believe this series has been on the air for three years and this is the first time I’ve watched it. I was impressed with the way the writers were able to keep the medial aspect of the show real while helping us to connect with both doctors and interns. It’s like a tame version of a soap opera with a mix of medical terminology.

As I watched Grey’s Anatomy, Season 3, I couldn’t help but feel as though I were giving into a guilty pleasure. Premarital sex, love triangles, forbidden love, and so much more.

I was hooked on the love triangle between Callie, George, and Izzie. First, I couldn’t believe he didn’t know he had feelings for Izzie, then I couldn’t believe Izzie decided she had feelings for George only after sleeping with him over a drunken stooper. And finally, I felt sorry for Callie who thought she’d finally found love—only to be severely hurt. Her entire demeanor changed as she watched her relationship with George die and in her I saw hundreds of women who try desperately to hold onto relationships that have long been over—hoping to rekindle that one moment that brought them together and hoping that in doing so their dreams would be fulfilled.

And then there was the relationship between Burke and Christina. Christina clearly loved Burke, but his constant need to “try and change her” continued to build a wall between the two of them. In his mind, he had vision of what the perfect mate would be like and he truly believed that he could mold Christina into that vision. Then, on the day of their wedding, he realized that he could no longer continue to make Christina into his vision—that if he truly loved her, he needed to let her be who she was and he couldn’t do it, so he left her at the alter. And in him, I saw countless men and women who are never satisfied until everything is done their way—relationships, business transactions, and children. Some become abusive verbally, other become abusive physically, and others just destroy every relationship that comes there way—even the good ones.

Christina’s character is strong and will one day make a brilliant doctor. But she’s got a lot of baggage that keeps her distant and sometimes cold when it comes to her patients. And the end of her relationship only adds to that. When Burke left her at the alter she was confused, stunned, dazed, and left wondering if she was relieved to be free or scared to have given her heart only to have lost the man she loved. In Christina I see women who tries so hard to forget the past that she becomes stuck. Sure they succeed in their careers and even their finances, but despite how successful they become, there’s just something missing and until they deal with the baggage in their lives, there will always be something missing.

And let’s not get started on Meredith. Talk about complete craziness! Her parents screwed her up so badly that she has only allowed one person in—and that one person is just as screwed up as her, emotionally. Meredith is smart and has the potential to be a great partner—and one day, mother—but she can’t see it and therefore destroys every good relationship that enters her life. Her depression, untreated, nearly kills her, destroys the best thing that has ever happened to her, and leaves her in a self-destructive mode. In Meredith I see what can happen to people who don’t reach out, who live with untreated depression, and who allow the past to rule their futures. In Meredith I see lost hope.

Your Task
Grey’s Anatomy offers lots of material for adults to open of conversations with their teenagers about trust, honesty, love, premarital sex, love triangles, friendships, depression, suicide, and even hope. If there’s an area in your child’s life that you feel could be opened up by a conversation starter, search the episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, watch the show together, and then ask your child what he/she thought about it.

Order Grey's Anatomy Today

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Saturday Morning Cartoons from the 60s and 70s

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

When I was a little girl, my mother had to leave the house between six and six-thirty in the morning—for work. That meant I was awake and ready for school at six in the morning, every morning. Unfortunately, it also meant that I spent my mornings at a babysitter’s house—often sitting in the dark as I waited for that house to wake and start their day. Then my mom switched sitters and while I still had to stay quiet and sit in the dark while I waited for the rest of the house to awaken, I had the blessed fortune of turning on the television. It was then that I discovered re-runs of the Saturday Morning Cartoons and time literally flew by!

Now, I get to relive those memories as Warner Brothers presents several of those cartoons—and some I’ve never seen before (or don’t remember)—on disc. It’s amazing to be able to step back in time and see how simple cartoons were back then. There were no special gimmicks, no high tech gadgets, no murderous plots, no sexual innuendos, no garbage—just clean, silly fun!

Just take a peak at what you’ll get in each collection:

Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s, Volume 2

Augie Doggie And Doggie Daddy
Breezly and Sneezly
Droopy
Foghorn Leghorn, the rooster
Just Ducky
Lippy The Lion
Magilla Gorilla
Punkin’ Puss & Mushmouse
Precious Pup and The Hillbilly Bears
Ricochet Rabbit & Droop-a-long
Snooper and Blabber
Space Heroes
Sylvester & Tweety
The Adam Ant Show
The Adventures of Young Gulliver
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Jetsons
The Peter Potamus Show
The Porky Pig Show
The Road Runner Show
The Space Kiddettes
The Tom & Jerry Show
The Wally Gator Show
Touche Turtle
Quick Draw McDraw
Yippie, Yappie, and Yahooey
Young Samson & Goliath
Bonus: Completely Bananas: The Magilla Gorilla story

Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970s, Volume 2

Inch High Private Eye
Sea Lab 2020
Shazzan
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Chan Clan
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour with the Arabian Knights, Danger Island, and The Three Muskateers
The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour with Daffy Duck and Peppe Le Peu
The Hair Bear Bunch
The New Adventures of Gilligan
The New Adventures of Batman
Valley of the Dinosaurs
Tom & Jerry and the Grape Ape with Beegle Beagle
Yogi’s Gang
Bonus: The Power of Shazzan

There are a few caveats, however, with this collection. First, there isn’t a line-up sheet so you don’t know which disc contains which cartoons and that can be frustrating when you want to watch a specific cartoon. Second, the menu bar isn’t very clear since it contains episode titles but doesn’t tell you who is in each episode. Third, none of the cartoons have been digitally re-mastered; therefore you will see streaks, flashes of tape jumping from top to bottom, and an occasional black dot or two. Fourth, the “Saturday Wake Up Calls” and trailers are a big joke and add nothing of real value to the collection.

That being said, when I first heard Warner Brothers was going to create a smorgasbord of cartoons in a new series titled, “Saturday Morning Cartoons”, I couldn’t help but wonder why they didn’t create a “Complete Series” collection of each title instead—and for that reason, I didn’t jump at the opportunity to buy volume one. But after viewing volume two, I get it. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t prefer complete series of my favorite cartoons, because I would. What it does mean, however, is that collections like these have their place. In fact, I think these volumes make great trip videos. And for those who enjoy a little nostalgia, this collection offers just the right amount.

Order Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s, Volume 2
and Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s, Volume 2 Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

DÉJÀ VU

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A huge fan of Denzel Washington, I couldn’t wait to see DÉJÀ VU when it hit theatres. And I’m glad I did. DÉJÀ VU is truly an action packed thriller loaded with great actors and plenty of suspense.

When we saw the previews, we thought it would be about premonitions, but that’s not what DÉJÀ VU is about at all. In fact, DÉJÀ VU is really a play on words.

A terrorist blows up a New Orleans ferry filled with military personnel. The FBI is called in to investigate. When the FBI is introduced to Doug Carlin, an ATF agent with a keen ability to interpret data, they discover that one of the victims was actually killed “before” the ferry exploded and made to look like part of the explosion. Having caught their curiosity, the FBI asks Carlin to help them solve the mystery behind the explosion.

Confused, but happy to help, Carlin discovers the FBI has the ability to “spy” on Americans through the use of a highly sophisticated satellite-based surveillance device. To move the investigation along, Carlin asks to see what the first victim, Claire, was doing prior
to the explosion. And it’s there that Carlin realizes that the device isn’t just recording history, but going back in time and recording live events—creating true DÉJÀ VU moments.

And it’s then that Carlin realizes the government has invented an unstable, yet highly sophisticated time machine. Will Carlin be able to solve the mystery? And in doing so, will he be able to go back in time and prevent the mass murder of hundreds of innocent people?

You’ll have to rent the film to find out.

Your Task
After watching DÉJÀ VU, sit down with your kids and ask them if they’ve ever experienced moments when it felt like someone was following them. Ask how it made them feel and what they did to feel safe. Then explain to your children the importance of being aware of our surroundings, what to do if a stranger follows them, and how to keep safe when they’re alone.

Order DÉJÀ VU today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Cartoons From The 80s

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Cartoons
As a kid growing up in the 80s, I L-O-V-E-D cartoons and spent every Saturday morning glued to the television set. I didn’t see sunlight until after lunch and it didn't matter if my friends and classmates thought I was uncool for watching them because I liked the way they made me feel on the inside—happy and content.

I had many cartoon favorites in the 80s and these three were no exceptions:

Garfield
Garfield was such a hit when I was a kid that even my mom adored this chubby, self-absorbed lasagna eating cat! For awhile there, we even had a mini-shrine just for Garfield (mom's not mine), complete with drawings by yours truly!

Mom’s been gone for just over two years now and I miss her like crazy but watching Garfield’s Fun Fest is like curling up on the couch next to mom and being a kid all over again.

In this episode, Garfield's got a rival who wants nothing more than to de-throne Garfield and take over as top cat in the funniest comic strip ever. Garfield, however, has a few tricks up his sleeve which include getting back to the roots of what true comedy is all about. In the end, Garfield discovers that the best talent happens by being one's self, not by conforming. It’s a lesson we can all use refresher course on from time to time, don’t you think?

Order Garfield's Fun Fest Today!

Care Bears
For me, the Care Bears were an amazing group of cartoon characters because they did what people in my family didn't do—share their feelings. I learned a lot from these little bears and would recommend them to anyone with small children.

In this series, Care Bears Care-A-Lot collection, children learn how to be helpers, how practice makes perfect, what it’s like to make new friends, how to overcome personal challenges, and more.

Amongst the cast are: Funshine, Grumpy, Share, Cheer, Oopsie.

Funshine bear taught me how to turn ordinary situations into fun times—even if I had to do it alone. Funshine bear was all about finding contentment in life regardless of one’s circumstances. Grumpy bear showed me what I looked like when I let my emotions get the better of me. Grumpy bear also reminded me that underneath those rough and tough exteriors lied hearts of gold—we just had to look for them and break through the hurts and pains that caused the hardening of those hearts. Share bear was probably my favorite bear because she's a lot like me—she's very giving and for all the right reasons. Share bear was all about reaching out to those in need and showing genuine concern for their well-being and happiness. There weren’t any ulterior motives, it was love in its purest form. Cheer bear was always a breath of fresh air because she knew how to turn gray skies into blue ones. Cheer bear was like having your own personal cheer squad at your beckon call. When times got tough she was there to remind you that taking just one more step in the right direction could prove very rewarding. Oopsy bear was a fantastic role model because he reminded me that not everything turns out the way we want it to. Oopsy always seemed to have good intentions, but he was also very clumsy and good at messing things up. He taught me that as long as we did our best, that’s all we could do. Order Care Bears: Care-A-Lot Today!

Strawberry Shortcake.
Being a bit of a perfectionist growing up, I needed a character like Strawberry Shortcake. Heck, I even had her dolls and figurines—and yes, each one actually smelled like their names! She helped keep me grounded by reminding me that as long as you do your "berry best" everything will work itself out in the end. She had a very optimistic outlook on life which encouraged daydreaming.

In Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll, Strawberry Shortcake and her friends get a dose of reality when they let their pride get the best of them. The girls form a band for the local talent show, but they all want to do it “their own way” which ruins their chances of entering the talent show—that is, until they learn what it really means to work as a team and practice, practice, practice.

Order Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

The Witchblade

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Yancy Butler plays Sara “Pez” Pezzinni—a New York detective hell bent on bringing in the guy who killed her best friend. With only one thing on her mind, Sara’s obsession costs her the life of her best friend and partner, Danny, but gains her a secret weapon unlike anything ever seen before—the Witchblade.

The Witchblade is an ancient weapon that appears to have a mind of its own and with the help of Sara Pezzinni it will do what it has always done—fight evil. The Witchblade is an amazing instrument in that it can look like a simple bracelet one minute and a combative arm piece the next—complete with dagger or sword. There also appears to be a living, conscious being within the Witchblade that speaks to those that wear it and gives the wearer the ability to see the past and the future, the ability to heal, and the ability to fight with a strength the wearer has never known before.

Many have tried to wear the Witchblade but only a few have succeeded—that’s because it cannot be worn by a male and it can only be worn by certain females. Those who aren’t meant to wear the Witchblade have rare consequences bestowed upon them—some death, some a living hell, and some the ability to remain immortal and forever connected to the Witchblade and its wearer.

I have to admit that the storyline takes a while to get used to as Sara is a rather distant, untrusting soul that makes it difficult to embrace her character or understand the full potential of the Witchblade, its history, or its true purpose. But just as you’re getting comfortable with the show’s format and beginning to understand Sara’s character strengths and weaknesses, the show does a drastic 90 degree turn-a-round.

Sara discovers that she can reverse time—only once—and chooses to go back to before she ever receives the Witchblade. She saves everyone that has ever died but still ends up with the Witchblade. After all, it was her destiny!

With the Witchblade back in Sara’s possession an alternate timeline takes place with many of the same things occurring as before, but thanks to Sara’s premonitions (or her memories) she’s able to make some wiser choices. And soon, Sara discovers that you can’t always cheat death.

From my understanding, the Witchblade is actually a knock off of a famous comic book series with the same name. But don’t expect to know what’s going on if you’ve read the comics. The two aren’t as identical as one might suspect. In fact, if you’re not careful, you can miss some key points that will leave you hitting the rewind button because if you don’t you’ll be lost and confused for the rest of the series. Yes, folks, this is one of those series where you cannot skip an episode and catch up.

Your Task
In Witchblade, there are many historical figures and events mentioned. Because the storyline isn’t real, the mentions could leave young scholars confused as to what’s fact and what’s fiction. This is the perfect opportunity to take a walk through history with your children—rent some movies based on historical truths, read a few books together, visit the local museums. If your kids are half as interested in the series as mine were, they can’t help but want to know more about what was truth and what wasn’t. (Oh and one more thing, don’t let anyone under the age of 13 watch it—not all scenes are safe for young eyes.)

Order Witchblade Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Whew! The site overhaul is nearly done!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

I am so happy to announce that I finally have all the old article pages switched over to the new web design. It only took five months, but I think the overall feel was worth it!

I kept a minimalist attitude when redesigning, and held onto our old banner, but gave the site a lot more space, and streamlined the navigation a bit.

The official Re-Launch won't be until February 1st, as I have a few kinks to work out yet, but if you want to take a peek... head on over to www.thedabblingmum.com and check it out!

I am currently looking for a few good guest posts to get the publication up-and-running again while we continue to work on the back-end changes, like:

sprucing up some old content that we temporarily took off the site as it needed some major updating,
adding images to old article pages to make the content pop more,
adding book cover images to the book reviews on the main site,
adding a "Your Task" action to the film reviews we seemed to have forgotten,
correcting any outbound links to Amazon.com (our affiliate site) via articles, and
fixing any coding errors we may have missed in the the transfer of content.

So if you are an expert in your field, and it's a topic we cover (parenting, writing, recipes, parties, home or small business) or if you're a hobby crafter with a really family-friendly craft, please consider donating a guest post to at http://thedabblingmum.com/write4us/donate.htm/.

Oh, and WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR INTERVIEW SERIES NEXT WEEK! YAY!

Thanks so much for your patience in this area...

We have a back log of interviews to weed through and showcase yet, but if you want to be showcased and don't mind waiting, you can get featured by answering the questions found on these pages...

Oh, and what do you think of our new bylines? I just love how they came out...

The Closer, Season 5

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson heads the Los Angeles Crime Division and does a darn good job, even if her home life is somewhat of a mess.

Determined to never let the bad guys walk, Brenda refuses to take no for an answer, lies to trick people into giving true confessions, and demands nothing but the best from her staff. She's high strung, opinionated, somewhat spastic, and extremely hard headed. And
she loves her job.

This season finds Brenda married to an FBI agent whose work schedule—and agenda—often conflicts with hers, mourning the death of Kitty, dealing with her alcoholic mother, taking on a troubled niece who overstays her welcome, and fighting with an Internal Affairs agent who is as committed to her job as Brenda is.

On top of all that personal drama, she must continue to deal with the stress and strife that goes along with being the Deputy Chief.

When the show first aired, we had cable. We watched the show and fell in love with Brenda's neurotic nature. While the rest of the cast always appeared to take backstage to Brenda, their supporting roles seemed to strengthen the show.

When we dropped cable a few years ago, we were surprised to discover that we missed watching The Closer. So when I was asked to review season five, I was excited to say the least.

I wondered if the show held its own or if, like many of its predecessors, the writing had gone downhill, causing the series to also plummet. To my delight, the show has not only held it's own but has strengthened in areas.

Sure, Brenda's accent seems a bit over-the-top, and yes, it can be hard at times to watch her constantly appear frazzled—as though she is juggling one too many balls. But that is also the thing I enjoy about the show. She is fresh, unique, raw.

It's the finale that threw me for a loop. On the surface, everything looks great with Brenda's marriage then she has a heated argument with her husband about her constant need to put her job first and she discovers that he is left wondering if the marriage is more of an arrangement of convenience than actual "life ever after" sort of thing.

Talk about being thrown for a loop. How did this come about? Where were the warning signs? Didn't Brenda and the agent compliment one another and make a good couple? Sure there wasn't much on the romance, but this was a cop show, not a soap opera. And didn't her husband know, before the marriage, how much her of her identity was wrapped up in her job?

It's definitely the right cliff hanger, though. And has one anxiously waiting for the new season to start.

Your Task
Instead of watching the series first, take a road trip through downtown Los Angeles via the "Seen At The Crime Location Map" then watch the series and test your memory. Guess which scene belongs to which location on the map.

Order The Closer Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

The Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

When I first heard about The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman I couldn’t wait to see it. But no sooner did I see the advertisements for the film was it already out of the theatres and prepping its way for DVD. I couldn’t believe it. How did I miss
it?

“Was it that bad?” I thought to myself. I had to know. Nothing Freeman’s ever done has been bad. I love the guy. He’s got great talent and his acting is like fine wine, it gets better with age. So when it came out on DVD, I scooped it up.

Having watched it, I can now see why it went to DVD so fast. It was billed as a comedy—as two men having the time of their lives in the last days of their lives. But it’s not a comedy. Oh sure, there are some funny moments in there. But it’s hard core reality and at times can be downright depressing. There were literally moments when Nicholson’s character was undergoing cancer treatment that I found myself praying, “Please Lord, don’t ever let me or my kids or my husband get cancer. Please.”

It all starts when a small time mechanic by the name of Carter Chambers (Freeman) ends up in a hospital room with the hospital’s owner himself, Edward Cole. Carter is mild-mannered. He is quiet and reserved but full of wisdom, often spewing philosophical advice. Cole is loud, rude, and has a really dry sense of humor. Carter has a simple life in which he put aside his dreams to raise kids who could fulfill their dreams. Cole pushed everyone out of his way to make room for his dreams and to succeed at levels most men only dream of. Carter has life filled with happy memories and a wife who’ll go to the ends of the earth for him. Cole has a life filled with broken marriages, board room meetings, and an assistant who’s his only true friend. With not much in common, it’s hard to imagine the two becoming friends, let alone best friends. But dying has a way of putting things into perspective and not even money can distance the
two.

As the movie progresses, the two become friends. They lean on each other, they laugh together, they play cards. Then one day they’re both given the news: they have less than a year to live. When Cole is given the news he closes himself off. You sense his anger and betrayal of modern medicine. But when Carter hears Cole’s news he begins making a Bucket List: a list of all the things he wants to accomplish before he kicks the bucket, so-to-speak. As he’s in the middle of making his list, however, he’s given the same news. Realizing he’ll never be able to complete his list, he crumbles it up and tosses it on the floor. The next day, Cole reads it and it sparks an idea: “Why lay down and die when we still have breath to breathe? Let’s do something about this list, but let’s make it more exciting!”

And so the adventure begins. With Cole’s money the sky’s the limit but with Carter’s sage personality the adventure isn’t going to simply be about materialism or commercialism, it is going to be about life altering moments. It isn’t going to be about “going out with a bang” but it is going to be about “setting things right” before it’s too late.

One thing I liked about the film was that instead of putting the main emphasis on the locations or adventures as one might have expected, the emphasis was put on more important issues: the matters of the heart. As the two traveled the world, they found themselves opening up old wounds and helping each other heal. And in the end, they both became better men.

Your Task
Watch this film with an open mind and really pay attention to what’s being shared. Then ask yourself, “How do I measure the quality of my life?” Is it by the financial successes, the material wealth you possess or is it by the relationships you’ve made and the lives you’ve touched? Once you’ve answered those questions, you’ll be on the road to becoming better people, too. I know I am.

Order The Bucket List today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Merlin, Season 2

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

In season two, the folklore of Arthur and Merlin is once again challenged and taken to new heights. It’s refreshing to see the writers take such liberties with the storyline while still staying true to the overall mythology.

In this season, Merlin is no longer insecure when it comes to his magic. He is, however, not so good at knowing when to use his magic and when not to use it. It’s that uncertainty that plays havoc on Arthur’s life more than once.

Throughout the season we watch the line between Arthur and Merlin’s relationship blur as they move past their titles as royal prince and servant to friends, all the while keeping their friendship a secret from the king who definitely has no clue about loyalty, honor, or what it means to be a true friend. A realization that becomes painfully clear when Giaus is wrongly accused of witchcraft, imprisoned, and brutally beaten.

We also watch as Arthur discovers the truth behind Uther’s hatred of magic, only to see him easily dismiss it when a lie covers it right back up again.

There’s even a fun episode in which Gwen discovers Arthur’s true feelings for her, and a sad moment when Merlin finds love only to have it taken away from him.

The storyline becomes more complex this season with new enemies turning up on every corner, including the betrayal of Lady Morgana, the introduction of Morgause, the continuation of the Druid’s plot to take over Camelot, and the ultimate surprise of all, the arrival and death of Merlin’s father.

But what I am glad to see the most, is the growth in Arthur as he begins to understand his true role as prince and realizes that while his title may afford him many luxuries in life, he cannot lead his people by remaining the entitled, arrogant lad he was last
season.

I’ve often wondered if, as the storyline progresses, it would remain safe for the whole family to watch. So far, I can happily say, yes! Even if you’re not a big fan of the whole Arcadian legend, you cannot go wrong with this series. It’s entertaining, it’s heartwarming, and it has a level of charm that the young ones in your family will enjoy. Still, I could easily watch it for the beautiful sets, the stunning near true-to-era costumes, and the amazing special effects, alone.

The bonus features include a commentary and a behind-the-scenes look into the making of each episode, that’s 13 ten minute featurettes.

Your Task
Watch season two all the way through, then talk to your children about the subtle, underlying lessons each episode offers. Lessons like… the importance of standing up for what you believe in, of righting wrongs, of not allowing pride and arrogance to get in the way of doing what is just, of not allowing past hurts to cloud our judgment and/or cause harm to innocent people in the process, and so on.

Order Merlin Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Merlin, Season 1

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

While the legend of King Arthur and Merlin is folklore, many storytellers refuse to deviate from the legend which means that any new films will essentially be the same. Over time, that gets stale.

Merlin, however, dares to take the essence of the folklore and create an entirely new storyline which I found extremely refreshing and totally geared towards the teens of today.

King Uther has forbidden the use of magic after magic causes the death of his beloved wife. Anyone suspected of using magic is instantly imprisoned and upon the King’s command, put to death—without a proper trial.

Merlin doesn’t age backwards, but instead ages (or grows up) like a normal human being. After becoming a teenager he leaves his home and moves in with Gaius, a former magician and sorcerer, takes advice from a caged magical Dragon, and works for Prince Arthur as his servant. Merlin has yet to master his skills as a sorcerer and makes a few near costly mistakes—always walking away having learned yet another valuable life lesson.

Arthur is not yet king, but under his father’s care is being groomed to take over the kingdom. At first, Arthur blindly follows his father’s laws and never questions whether his father is right or wrong. But upon being challenged by Merlin, Arthur soon discovers that king or not, his father has flaws and his biggest flaw is his inability to see the whole picture. As Arthur tries to find his own destiny he begins to butt heads with his father and at times secretively goes against his father’s wishes to do what he feels is the “right” thing to do.

Gwen is the daughter of a single father—a peasant. She is also the maidservant to Morgana and one of Morgana’s truest friends. Upon Merlin’s arrival to the kingdom, Gwen quickly becomes one of his closest and dearest friends and finds it both scary and refreshing to be able to voice her opinions or take a stand.

Morgana’s father is killed due to one of the King’s commands and becomes a ward of the King. The king takes her under his wings and raises her as his own daughter, secretively hoping that she and Arthur would one day tie the knot.

Throughout the series, several characters from the Arthurian (or Arcadian) folklore appear and it’s up to Arthur and Merlin to save the kingdom. At times, Merlin must use his magic to fight magic and do it in a way that prevents his from being discovered or sentenced to death by the king.

The series does have a formula problem in that every episode tends to carry with it a magical situation in which Merlin and/or Arthur must deal with and Uther is always pigheaded, stubborn, and reliable. But since each situation is so vastly different, it keeps the series moving forward.

As for the bonuses, I was really impressed with the amount of bonus material included with season one, including the explanation on why the creators took such liberty with the storyline.

Your Task
Watch Merlin with your kids and test your Arthurian knowledge. Can you tell which storylines are “on the mark” and which storylines have been changed to create a new story? Then discuss with your children the many moral dilemmas in the series. What would you do, in this day and age, if such an event took place? When is it okay to keep secrets? When is it not okay? When should you put your life on the line for someone and when should you seek professional help?

Order Merlin Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

F- Troop, the review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

F Troop is a hilarious sitcom filled with silly antics, ridiculous incidents, and cornball gags. It’s one of those series that requires very little brainwork and offers just the right dose of humor to lift anyone’s spirit.

The show centers around Sergeant Morgan O’Rourke and Corporal Randolph Agarn’s get-rich-schemes but includes many side stories of Wrangler Jane’s attempts to snatch the man of her dreams: Captain Wilton Parmenter.

Captain Parmenter often seems oblivious to Jane’s true feelings as he concentrates on securing Fort Courage. He also seems like an unlikely commander, but despite his naivety he manages to keep the peace and keep his troops in line.

Wrangler Jane on the other hand is a beautiful tomboy who often forgets how much of a woman she really is. Her relentless pursuit of Captain Parmenter has everyone wondering if she’ll ever slow down long enough for him to make the next move.

When it comes to O’Rourke and Agarn’s schemes, one can’t help but think about today’s get-rich-quick schemes. In the past, trying to convince people to give up their hard-earned money in exchange for some hopeless cause took ingenuity, trickery, and even a bit of “acting”. Today, those schemes often come in the form of slick advertising copy and personal emails made to look like friendships.

If you’ve ever thought those get-rich-schemes were worth a second look, this series will have you seriously reconsidering. No matter how hard O’Rourke and Agarn plot and scheme and work in hopes of making it big, they never succeed. Even if a scheme brings in a little bit of cash, it’s never enough to cover the sweat equity put into each endeavor. And the irony of it all? They don’t need to scheme to succeed, they already run two successful businesses on the side: the local saloon and the Indian Souvenir Company.

Your Task
Gather up your teenagers. Put in your copy of F Troop. Watch a few series staring Wrangler Jane. Then ask your teenagers why Jane could never get Captain Wilton Parmenter to ask for her hand in marriage. It’s truly the perfect opportunity to discuss the right and wrong ways to court your future mate.

Order F Troop today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Mamas Family

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

While the DVD version could use a little more bells and whistles, the sitcom itself is very funny and lives up to the original series. The costumes, the set design, and the acting all remind me of a series of comical skits (performed in a local theatre) designed to focus on the cast and their punch lines, and not the set or special effects.

Not a big fan of sarcasm and crude remarks, I was surprised when I first watched the sitcom, as reruns, to find myself giggling through every episode. Today is no exception. While I wouldn’t be caught dead mimicking Mrs. Harper’s outlandish remarks, it’s refreshing to watch a woman be true to herself and not conform to the views of others.

If the show had one defining moment, it would simply be this: no matter how dysfunctional our family is or how bad things appear, we can get through anything if we simply stick together as family. And as a viewer, it would be: don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself; lighten up and enjoy life!

Your Task
Watch an episode of Mama’s Family, then gather around the living room to discuss how things could’ve been handled more appropriately. For instance…

In The Wedding, part 1, there’s way too much drinking going on. This would be the perfect time to discuss, with your children, your rules on drinking, the law’s rules on drinking, what constitutes too much drinking, and so forth. It would also be a good time to discuss the fact that although television and peers make drinking appear fun, there are dire consequences to heavy drinking.

In Mama’s Silver, Vince pawns his Mama’s sterling silver without permission. This would be a great time to discuss property rights and the need to ask permission to borrow, keep, or sell something that doesn’t belong to you.

Order Mamas Family today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

iCarly, the review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

iCarly is about a young girl named Carly who lives with her somewhat childish, twenty-something brother, Spencer, who’s trying desperately to make a name for himself as an artist. Their parents live abroad—on military duty—leaving Spencer in charge. Carly spends most of her time with her best friends Sam and Freddie. Together, the three of them create a weekly web cast where anything goes. But iCarly isn’t just about the web cast; it’s also about life as pre-teens: friendships, dating, school, and of course, growing up with an eccentric brother.

It’s a show about kids for kids and it’s truly funny.

iCarly isn’t your traditional comedy. Not only does it focus on make-believe characters that host a weekly Internet web cast, but there’s a real live website (http://icarly.com) in which ordinary, everyday kids can upload their own home videos, answer polls, play online games, and text the stars.

I’ll admit that when I first watched the series, I didn’t realize that the website mentioned in the show was real. But having heard the web address mentioned more times than necessary, I logged online to find out. Personally, I like the idea of tying the televised show with its sister website, but I think that each episode should also include a caveat about seeking parental permission before going online and definitely before uploading videos or sharing personal information.

In this particular DVD you get 2 discs with 13 episodes: iPilot, iWant More Viewers, iHatch Chicks, iDream of Dance, iLike Jake, iWanna Stay with Spencer, iNevel, iScream on Halloween, iSpay a Mean Teacher, iWant to Date Freddie, iWant a World Record, iRue the Day, and iPromise Not to Tell.

Your Task
Take time out of your busy schedule to sit back, relax, and watch a humorous episode of iCarly. Then talk to your kids about the importance of Internet safety. Explain to them the necessity to keep certain bits of information private, including when you will and won’t be home, how you walk to and from school each day, and your home address. Talk to them about dealing with cyber bullies, why they shouldn’t gossip about others, and how important it is that they stay safe and legal by avoiding certain websites.

Order iCarly today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Suite Sweet Victory

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Okay I admit it. I really enjoy watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Its hilarious antics are pure, clean fun. There’s no foul language, no sexual innuendos, and there always seems to be an underlying lesson to be learned.

There’s the hotel heiress (London) who has the common sense of a carrot, the candy-counter girl (Maddie) who is both smart and funny, the uptight hotel manager (Mr. Moseby) who just so happens to be London’s surrogate father, the weird, but loveable hotel handyman (Arwin), the dumb-witted bell boy (Esteban), and the twins: one book smart and one street-smart.

In this particular DVD, you get three episodes: Band in Boston which has friends turning against one another in hopes of reaching fame and fortune, Election which turns brother against brother in an all out war to win the role of President, and Not So Suite 16 which has two best friends (complete opposites of one another in both status and character) competing against each other for the best birthday bash ever.

Your Task
Take time out of your busy schedule to sit back, relax, and watch a humorous episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Then talk to your kids about the best way to handle rejection, competition, and dreams. Talk to them on their level. Tell them about a time when you weren’t too proud of how you behaved and what you learned from that experience. Ask them how they could have handled things differently and then listen to their answers. Don’t correct them if you don’t like what they have to say, but ask more questions to get a better understanding of why they felt that way. Then end the evening with Brenda Song’s Trivia Knowledge Test—found on the DVD.

Order The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Suite Sweet Victory today!

Disclosure: Reviewer was given a complimentary copy to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Cory in the House, review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyice Edrich) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

My daughter and I loved watching Cory’s character in Disney’s “That’s So Raven” so we were excited to discover this spin off. However, I am a bit disappointed that the mother, who was a stabilizing factor in “That’s So Raven” and the Baxter household isn’t a part of the new series. It’s also disheartening to find that she’s rarely mentioned, considering the fact that the couple is still married—just temporarily separated as Cory’s mother concentrates on law school back home. That little nuance aside, the show’s a complete hit.

Cory In The House could have easily been called, The Misadventures of Cory Baxter since the show centers around Cory and his many antics—antics that cause chaos in the White House and the lives of the Baxters.

In Never The Dwayne Shall Meet, Cory manages to lock everyone in the closet just when the President is to meet The Rock and discuss endorsing a fitness program. In That’s So In The House, Raven guest stars in hopes of winning a uniform design contract but ends up scaring the President instead. In Air Force One Too Many, Cory accidentally gives Alaska to the Russian government and hides on Air Force one in hopes of stealing it back. And in Just Desserts, Cory’s scheme to start a dessert business backfires when the sauce causes the desserts to explode!

Your Task
Enjoy Cory In The House over a dinner of pizza, salad, and drinks. Laugh until you can’t laugh anymore. Then talk to your kids about proper etiquette. How should one act when a guest in another’s home? What’s the right way to meet and greet someone of such social status? And when can one go from formal etiquette to friends etiquette?

Order Cory In The House today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.