Miss The Old Polaroid Photos? Check Out Polaroid's Mint Camera

Guys...not sure how I felt about this product. I was so excited to see how it worked and how much the photo paper was. My daughter had been given a different brand as a hand me down from a cousin and the paper was so expensive after the first time using we never bought more. It just wasn't worth it.

I have a soft spot for Polaroid photos. Some of the last photos of my mom were shot on Polaroid back in the 70's so I was so excited when I got one.

The camera looks way different then it use to. It is smart phone size and fits in your pocket easily.

The package comes with everything you see here.

Knowing how much we like selfies these days, Polaroid gave us a selfie mirror so we can make sure we are in the frame.

You can choose between black and white, sepia and color. You can also choose to have the classic Polaroid border or no border. It has a built in flash that I didn't see a way to turn off yet if there is one and it has a 10 sec timer.

I have taken 5 photos so far. The first was an accident and it is a photo of me and my biggest fan and I used a border. I also took a photo of my son without the border. I love them both. The photos come out fairly quickly and the paper has adhesive over a sticky back so you can peel and stick anywhere if you want to use them as stickers. The last few I  have used as regular photos by not removing the back.

The camera can hold a photos on a micro SD card but would need to be purchased separately. So far it worked out great except a photo I took last night at my daughter's school. It was a dark hallway with lights coming from 3 different doorways. My daughter and two of her friends were in the photo and I could see them in the shot but when the photo came out it was dark and a friend wasn't in the photo. I guess I should have held it landscape but he was in my frame when I shot it. Disappointed but thankfully another friend took the same photo so I do have one.

Watch Goddess and I talk about the camera and take some photos

The camera sells for $99.99 and kids seemed to love the idea of it. A friend of mine wasn't sure what to get her daughter for her birthday and has decided to grab one of these.

The camera comes in black, red, blue, yellow and white

Join Storm Boy Opening In Theaters April 5th And Adopt A Pelican #StormBoyMovie #WorldAnimalfoundation

My family like most of you out there love animals. We spend our day checking out videos and photos of various animals via You Tube, Instagram, Facebook and even spend weekends at the local Animal Shelter so when we learned about a movie called Storm Boy which was adapted from a book bby Colin Thiele about a young boy who rescues a trio of orphaned pelican babies we were excited and eager to find out more. AND...if this poster doesn't just hit you in the gut, nothing will. 

We love the tall grass, the boy clutching the pelican, the Pelican in complete trust to this small, lonely boy. It is an obvious bond that makes you interested in learning more.  

We were more excited when we were given an opportunity to see the movie and partner with Good Deed Entertainment "Storm Boy" and World Animal Foundation and adopt our very own real Pelican and thought what a wonderful idea for others. We are learning so much about Pelicans (who knew there were so many kinds of pelicans?) and after checking out the World Animal Foundation site, found out you can pretty much adopt any animal. I know so many people who don't need another candle, book, piece of jewelry or thing but an animal that they can help. Now that is a loving gift. 

My family and I received our package in the mail and were all so excited to see the photo of our adopted Pelican and today bought a frame to showcase our certificate.

In the package you receive:

A glossy photo of your adopted pelican

Adopt a Pelican adoption certificate

Fact sheets about your adopted pelican

and Animal cards with information on animal issues and how you can help

My daughter's first question was when can we visit our pelican? We can't visit, him but here is an adorable stuffed pelican for you to hold.

Dealing With Teens On The Spectrum

This morning my son decided to be all angsty teen. In the car usually he wears his headphones and listens to whatever it is he is listening to. We never speak in the car in the morning. This morning I thought, let’s open up a line of communication. So I asked, “How are you friends at school? Has your friend come back from vacation?” The only reason I know someone is on vacation is because I read his phone. I own it so I read it. Both kids were told when they were handed the phones that we pay for them and until they can pay for it themselves, we would need to password to get in and would be checking up on their social media. I believe all parents should check their teens phones.

When I mentioned to my son that I had read on his phone that somone was on vacation he said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” So I asked, “how about your girlfriend? Is she nice?”  His response, “I would rather die than have a girlfriend.” So, now I know he doesn’t have a “girlfriend” but in the text he wrote to someone “we are back together, we hugged it out and talked things over.”  Knowing my son, I don’t believe he has a “girlfriend” or does he....but a friend that is a girl so I say, it is not nice to say you would rather die”.  He started yelling that he doesn’t know what I am talking about and that I am trying to upset him.  Okay...I know he is a teen and a teen with autistm but this conversation has taken a wrong turn. In trying to open up communication, he is now shutting down and blaming me for ruining his morning

I tell him that no one can make you angry, it is on him if he is feeling that way because I am only trying to talk to him and that at his annual meeting last week, I saw him give 3 other adults that he has only know for the past 6 months a lot of respect and that it is not okay for him to not give it t his parents.  I tell him to see it from my side. My entire work schedule is based around his schedule yet, he never speaks to me in the morning or afternoon and that usually I allow him to zone into his headphones. I ask him to look at it from my point of view and he says. “ know what you are saying, I see it from your point of view and I am sorry. I just didn’t want to talk. Let’s rub it out he says as he rubs my shoulderr (he is in the back seat) I tell him thank you for apologizing but can’t shake the conversation.

We drive to school in silence and I silently cry. It is so frustrating that he is so closed off. Is it the teens or is it the disability? Autistic kids are very set in their ways and he really just wanted to listen to his music but it would be nice to have a conversation with him too.

Anyone else dealing with teens?

My Fab Fit Fun Box Came In WOOT! WOOT! #unboxing #fabfitfun

Unfortunately, no affiliation but hey Fab, Fit Fun anytime baby, anytime. This is NOT a review, just an unboxing of a product I love

We Had A Jousting Good Time At Medieval Times In Lyndhurst NJ #medievaltimes

Last month I took my family including my Spanish in-laws to Medieval Times in Lyndhurst New Jersey. They live only about 20 minutes from the place for 30+ years but had never been there. Imagine?! I had been there two times before but it had been over 30 years for me.  Last year Goddess had gone with her 7th grade class and I was so jealous. I remember loving the colors, the cheering, THE KNIGHTS, the Queen and King, the food and the Jousting. It was a really fun time.

My in-laws are from Spain and go back every year since my father-in-law retired. They hadn't realized so much of Spain would be featured in the history of the show and loved it. I saw them taking photos in front of the signs.

What is great about Medieval Times is just how organized it is. The doors open and you have a few minutes wait as you are ushered inside. It was cold out but we got into the building quickly. You do not need to get there before the doors open but there was a line already forming at the doors when we got into the parking lot. It was too cold to take pictures outside so I waited until we were in. The lines moved quickly, there are hostesses helping you along. My in-laws were meeting us there. The desk took our tickets handed me 4 and wrapped my in-laws tickets around their seats. I was informed to tell them to give my name and we would all be seated together. You are given seat tickets for a particular color section. The color given to you will be the color of the knight you are cheering on.  We spent some time walking around, getting a drink, looking at souvenirs and buying way too many.

As you wait, there is an MC that speaks to you from a balcony. Basically the show is starting from the moment you enter the doors. He tells us that the Queen is excited we are there and that our seats are being prepared. You enter the arena by the color of your ticket. No matter what seat you get, you can see the show because of the Colosseum style seating.

The Queen greets the guests as the servers start pouring your drinks. They also ask if you are doing a regular meal or the vegetarian meal. Soup is poured and the royal falcon show starts. My kids were amazed as the falcon flies over us always heading back to the trainer. It is really cool.

The knights are introduced and your see your knight. It really is fun to cheer them on with your section while booing the others.

The meals are served. Chicken, potato, and garlic bread. My daughter asked for the vegetarian which was really good too. It was rice, potatoes, tomato and whatever else was in there. It was delicious. I ate what she didn't.

You can see my plate has chicken in it and the next pic is the potato and bread. They weren't out at the same time so I took a pic separately.

The show was fun. The knights are skilled and the weapons make all kinds of clanking sounds. They do protect the crowd with the use of netting that drops down just prior to the jousting beginning.

My daughter took some great pictures of the jousting.

I think my favorite things about Medieval Times is the cheering and booing. It is fun to get a bunch of people celebrating their knights or jeering when another knight wins a battle. It really is interesting to see how into it people get.

Dessert was vanilla ice cream with caramel over it. It was simple a perfect for the ending of the show. At the end of battle when one knight is standing, the queen celebrates him and meets him in the stands to greet one special girl picked out of the crowd. The girl this time was so excited. She was about 3-4 years old and so happy.

The best picture of the knight was looking over at my father-in-law who looked like a little boy as he watched the knights battle.

For more photos and video from our time at Medieval Time in Lyndhurst New Jersey.

Family Friendly Movie About A Pampered Celeb and Her Pooch

The 411:

Goddess and I watched this movie over the weekend and while it isn't the best quality or going to win an Emmy it definitely was family friendly. There were no uncomfortable scenes that made it hard to watch with a 13 year old who is embarrassed at everything.  

We loved the spoiled, selfish celebrity turned into humble girl as London learns more about herself and allows herself to fall for a farmer.  The star of the movie is definitely Latte the adorable, diamond wearing Pomeranian. She reminded me of my Pom Zoe who I had before Goddess came along.  

Worth a watch. 

Red Room On DVD

The 411: 

This is a perverse, gritty, bloody movie about 3 woman being held captive in a "waiting room" while people make online bids as to how they should die. The winner gets to decide their fate while the others can watch. All at a very high cost to the bidders and the victims.

While it isn't the best movie I have seen, it was a little too realistic to me. Human trafficking is real and the uncomfortably factor is high.  It felt like this was a sick voyager look into devious people who sit silently behind computer screens, in a virtual reality world without a consideration to the reality of "real" people. We see it daily in our real lives and it gets scarier and scarier how sick some people are.

I felt the movie was more shock and awe with the girls being hurt in horrific ways. Nails being ripped out of the knees, hammers repeatedly slammed into kneecaps, fingers snipped off, etc.

This is a watch it once and shake your head movie. If you are into it good for you but I thought the  couple who were obviously in charge the most disturbing.

Shopping Made Easy with Clever Made Totes

Shopping today was so easy with my new @clever_made totes. From cart, to car, to kitchen then cat hideaway they are amazing. Now to collapse them so I can put them back in the car so the cats don’t take them as their own.

Oh man...I am in love with these tote bags. They not only look nice and allow us to organize the cart but are easy to carry when full of groceries or other things AND they fold flat. 

My grocery store is going to do away with plastic bags the end of this year and I have been hearing more stores are doing this too. You will be charged per bag so bringing bags with you are going to be necessary. Soooo we may as well all get use to bringing them now. AND...I have a friend who keeps her daughter's sports gear in her trunk stored in these Clever Made Totes. She says it keeps everything organized and they just take them out and carry them to the field and when she needs to empty the trunk for non sport events, she simply picks up a bag instead of collecting things piece by piece. It makes total sense. 
 

Pros

• When we shop it use to take us 10 trips from the car to the house. Now it takes us one. We each take a bag. 
• The bags are stylish
• They have many uses
• They collapse flat so you can fit them anywhere when not in use.
• They are cat approved

Cons

If you don't collapse them quickly when emptied the cats take over. 

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase Swag Pack

 

Who doesn’t love an epic mystery?

As a child book lover, I devoured all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and I am so excited. Nancy is back with an all new feature length film that will keep you guessing until the very end.After the death of his wife, Carson Drew decides to leave Chicago behind and make a fresh start with his daughter 16-year-old daughter Nancy in River Heights. Nancy is asked by Flora to help solve the ghostly activity at her home, the Twin Elms mansion. Can she help explain the creaking footsteps, exploding lightbulbs and the ominous creature? Is it the handiwork of high-school bully Derek Barnes? Or is it possible that the ghost of original owner Malcolm Colfax is back for revenge? Recruiting her best friends George and Bess, along with local “mean girl” Helen, Nancy Drew is on the case!

3 Reasons Why You Should Treat Yourself To New Sheets

When was the last time you bought yourself a set of sheets? I can tell you when I did it. About 8 years ago for my husband and I and my kids are still sleeping on sheets from when they got their "big kid" bed. This means my daughter has been sleeping on Dora the Explorer and Tinker Bell Sheets at 13 years old.

Recently my daughter got a new mattress and the old kid sheets weren't able to fit around the pillow top mattress. She has been asking for new sheets for months because her fitted sheets were too small and every morning, one end was off the mattress. These X-Long Twin sheets in Silver are perfect!  They are so soft and like the package says luxurious. She loves the way the feel and I love the way they look.

We especially love the stitching detail on the pillow

Oh BTW...Jinxy loves them too. We can't get him off the bed unless we open a can of food.

Our 3 Reasons You Should Treat Yourself To New Sheets

1.  You sleep better. There is nothing like a set of new sheets to make you think you are on vacation. Sheets are not expensive and you deserve them.

2. Upgrading your sheets now that you have a new mattress is so much better. OMG...it was such a pain to make the bed every morning. She complained daily about the fitted sheet not fitting on her new mattress. 

3. You spend time in your bed. It is okay to indulge on yourself. 

These sheets are light, breathable and soft.  They are gentle on her skin and for some crazy reason, she wakes in the morning with less tangles in her hair. WTH is that about? I had no idea her bedding was tangling her hair. 

We will be getting sheets for my son's bed and our own bed this week. Everyone should have new sheets. The price is very reasonable so next paycheck...new sheets for the house.

The only thing I didn't agree with was the wrinkle free. I don't like to iron sheets. I know a lot of people do iron their sheets but we are wash and wear family.  In the photo of Jinxy above; these had just come out of the dryer. 

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Tea Lovers Monthly Subscription Box + Video Unboxing

Winter is coming to an end but I drink tea year round and love this monthly tea lovers subscription box from Sips by.

This 3, 6, or 12 month package is only $15 a month and wonderful for those tea lovers in your life or someone who could use a special affordable "thinking of you" box.  Each box comes with 15+ cups of tea. Hey, I am not good with math but that equates to $1.00 a cup.

Each tea comes with special instructions on water temperature and seeping time as well as where to order them from if you decide you cannot live with out them. I can tell you that I have already ordered the Vanilla Matcha

My Life In Photos - February 15 - February 22

February 15 - I asked Goddess to draw a cat that 2 year old's could color for the letter C. They loved it!

February 16 - I am in love with these plants. They were .99 cents at Shoprite and I couldn't pass them up.

February 17 - OMG...this was our first attempt at Lava Cake. It was amazing.

February 18 - LOL...OMG...awful but it is all I have. Waiting for my son outside his school.

February 19 -  The kids and I decided it was time to start an Instagram page for our rescue babies. Follow us if you are interested in cute cats.

February 20 - Jinxy sleeping with his tongue out is the cutest thing we saw today.

February 21 - Our icy morning was so beautiful I had to get outside and grab some pics of our icy ivy chandelier.

February 22 - I grabbed a quick shot of my daughter's 8th grade grad photo to post on Facebook much to my daughter's dismay. She of course hates it.

5 Tips To Feel Better When Sick

I have been sick since Thursday however I think it was a few days before that that I started feeling sick but like most who have responsibilities I just told myself I needed more sleep, needed to lose weight, needed to learn how to manage my time better, needed to get some fresh air....all those things are true but it wasn't until I got the chills on Thursday that I decided to take my temp at work and realized it was over 101. We had been sending kids home from school for weeks and I was pretty lucky avoiding the stomach virus, flu, colds, and whatever else a Petri dish of a job handles on a daily basis.

Thursday I headed home and crashed on the couch after calling the doctor to make an appointment for a flu check.

A tech at the docs office handed me some tissues, I asked her if I was going to cry and she said sometimes during a flu check people sneeze or tear up. She stuck some skinny thing up my nose which yes, made my nose itch. The doc came in, felt my neck and said, "I think you have the flu my dear." She gave me a dose of Delsym and said she does not give Tamiflu.

"You will have the flu for 5-7 days. With Tamiflu you will have the flu for 4 days but will have all the aches and pains and nauseous associated with it." Alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 3 hours, take Delsym, keep the diet light, drinks lots of fluids and sleep!"

It sounded easy enough and it was. 

1. Listen to your doctor

2. Get LOTS of sleep

3. Use Vicks VapoRub. I use this anytime we have a cough or can't breath. It helps on so many levels and it is good for muscle soreness. I have been using it forever. I put it on my neck, chest and feet before bed. It stops me from coughing my head off and helps my nose clear so that I can breath without struggling. It is definitely a must for your cabinet. This is NOT an ad just really love the product.

4. Drink water, tea, orange juice, apple juice, whatever it is you drink. Drink it! Keep your throat, tongue and mouth lubricated.

5. Allow people to help you. YES! This may be the hardest. You need to slow down. You need to take it easy. Everything can wait until you feel better. Allow yourself the time you need to feel better and get your energy back.

"No Filters Can Help Us Now" - Motel Mist A Review VOD/iTunes/DVD - April 9th

The 411:

Okay! Okay! The creep factor is extremely high in this film and the director  really goes for it with angles, lighting and the use of background action. The creep laying on the floor in the tiny pleather shirts and coat taking snapshots of a girl being completely humiliated with a gag and strapped down was beyond creepester. 

While the movie has a few storylines going on at one time. I was more focused on the vendetta one and feel that was the only one that had some closure to it. 

While I am not sure if the movie was meant to be exotic, creepy, horrifying, seductive, enticing or just hokey but it was all of that. 

My favorite character is the little girl who sits in a chair in the parking lot the whole time with fun glasses on for most of the movie. 

What You need to know:

The movie has subtitles. 
You will enjoy if you are into different, foreign films that you may not understand 

Warning: This could trigger emotions in certain individuals. Also, sexual situations and visuals. 

Use Your Words

Who even knew there was a National Grammar Day? I had no idea. While I am a total idiot and have barely any right saying I hate poor grammar. I do! It sucks to know you suck at grammar and constantly want to call people on their use of it.

For instance:

Yesterday someone on a Facebook page I belong to wanted to call others who ask about snow on the road conditions out. He stated "So another words everything is still fine" I couldn't help myself so I wrote "So In Other Words you are tired of the road condition questions?"

Or....my son's Speech Therapist who use to say for instance; "You want these ones?" Or "These ones are red."  I loved her but after a while I couldn't contain myself and said, "come on...you are his speech therapist and you're grammar sucks!" Thankfully we had a good relationship because I was rude but she said, "I say that? That is not okay." I think it is a habit that is hard to break. My husband always says Yous guys! UGH...now that makes me crazy but it is endearing. ALL I am saying is try to use good grammar if you remember and well...Happy National Grammar Day to you.

My Life In Photos - February 8 - February 14

February 8

My class learning the many different part of an apple. They were very interested in learning skin, flesh, stem, seeds, and core

February 9 

My Luna!

February 10 

Some colorful ice made the ride this morning so much prettier

February 11

Playing with a photo I took with Snapchat. I am loving this color hair!

February 12 

My daughter's math midterm must have kept her teacher entertained during grading.

February 13 

My daughter and I had a great time with Ben 10

February 14

My girl was surprised this Valentine's Day. We love spoiling her!

My Life In Photos - February 1 - February 7

Home with the flu and bronchitis. Because I don't like to do things the normal way I went for the combo Flu A & B and bronchitis. Yeah...that's right...don't mess with me because I know how to sick! My Goddess decided to run a fever yesterday as well so we are both home. I am trying to catch up on computer stuff and she is sketching in her sketch book. Sounds like a good way to spend the day until I have to jump up and go pick up Handsome from school. It is surprising how fast the day goes when you are not working. Work days on the other hand...not so much.

February 1

Ignore the dusty dash and draw your attention to the temp. This was for a photo to my husband who was asking what the temp was by us. He works in the city and the weather at home is a constant discussion over text.

February 2

We were brushing the cats teeth when we decided to try to grab a photo of those pearly whites. You can see Jinxy didn't love it. He has a weird overbite which makes him drool a lot. He is a moist boy and shakes his head like a dog shaking spit all over. We have been woken up with a juicy, Jinxy shake more than once. So gross.

February 3 

That's my girl! Man I love how she enjoys taking photos like her mama back in the day. I always had the camera attached to my face. We headed out together with my cameras and snapped like crazy.

February 4 

Trying to get a good thumb nail and looking like total idiots. That is us!

February 5

How my crazy Luna waits for breakfast every morning. She eats on the table because the kits use to eat all her food and since she is such a scared cat never ate so we started feeding her on the table. I hate it! She refuses to eat on the floor now.  Look at that face! How could I refuse her.

February 6 

Passed these guys driving on some ice and just had to stop and take a shot. I would never but it looks like so much fun.

February 7 

My daughter's drawing for school is too cute not to share.