7 Şubat 2013 Perşembe

A Late Quartet - Available Now on Blu-Ray and DVD

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The critically acclaimed A Late Quartet starring Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Mark Ivanir is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. The piece of sheet music below is an interactive rendering of Beethoven's Opus 131, the piece featured in the film. Each of the seven movements are represented by music and a clip that relates from the film as the music piece reflects what's happening in the characters' lives.



Click here to listen to the official A Late Quartet page on RDIO, which features playlists from writer/director Yaron Zilberman and co-star/acclaimed musician Nina Lee.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am posting this because I think the movie looks good. No compensation was provided for this post. If you click on the link and buy something, I might earn a few pennies. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.




Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Jumbo Caramel Apples

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Take a peek at the highlights from a MomImpact (my company) blogger tour at Mrs. Prindable's. The factory is located just outside of Chicago in Niles, in the same facility that produces Affy Tapple taffy apples. However, Mrs. Prindable's features its own production line and a more labor-intensive process. Each hand-dipped is apple is an individual work of edible art. With layers of caramel and chocolate smothering a ginormous, tart apple, Mrs. Prindable's apples are delicious treats that can be shared with up to ten people.
More check-ins at Mrs. Prindable'sPowered by Whrrl

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Drops

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At first glimpse, we thought Hershey's came out with an M&M wannabe snack. In reality, these drops are about twice the size of M&M's without the colorful coatings. According to the packaging, there is no candy shell, but rather a "light shiny finish" that keep them from melting in your hands.The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.
My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.

Breyer's YoCrunch Fruit Parfait

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Knowing how much my preteen son's Starbucks granola yogurt parfait habit cost me over the summer, I happily accepted when the folks at Breyer's offered to send me a sample pack of their granola-topped Yo Crunch Fruit Parfait.

The four-pack they sent me was gobbled up before I could say, "Yo!" Seriously, I did even get to try it.

I like that the product is HFCS-free and lowfat, though I'm not pleased about the artificial dyes. Still, these are a good size for him and easy to tote along. I'm happy that he's eager to bring these as part of his lunch.

Gimbal's Sour Lovers

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Gimbal's comes so close to getting it right for today's discerning parent- they use real sugar and natural fruit juices in their gummies and jelly candies and their sweets are free of 8 major allergens, but I really wish they would lose the artificial food dyes in favor of natural ones.
Image borrowed from the Gimbal's website

I received a sample of Gimbal's new Sour Lovers, which are tasty enough. They offer a tart zap of one of 12 flavors, and hooray for the natural fruit juice flavors, but those too bright colors and the dyes that make them are a turn-off.

This year as I head to the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I'm on the lookout for items that are made with real sugar and use natural food dyes. I'll be sharing my thoughts about the best of them over at Feed Our Families.

Disclosure: Gimbal's sent me three bags of Sour Lovers, but did not ask for or require a product review.

6 Şubat 2013 Çarşamba

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

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It's official! 

Ubergeek J.J. Abrams is going to be at the helm of the new Star Wars movies. I, for one, am thrilled. As much as I love Muppets, I don't need them mixed up in my Star Wars universe. I want some serious galactic battle and rebel snark that my kids can grow up with and I think Abrams will provide that nicely. Given his credentials with strong-but-sexy female characters, I'm dying to see how the next (kinda) Disney Princess will be portrayed.

Here's the press release, for the full skinny:

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg.  Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
 


It Can Wait - AT&T Samsung Galaxy III Giveaway

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A few months back, I wrote about AT&T's It Can Wait campaign. Hopefully you've signed the No Text on Board pledge by now but if not, let this be another reminder. We are all busy these days but there is nothing as important as arriving alive. Keep your eyes on the road, people. This video shows texting and driving from a unique perspective: the phone's.


As part of the It Can Wait campaign, I received the care package pictured below, featuring the Samsung Galaxy SIII Android phone, a No Text on Board tee and case, stickers and jelly rings. 


I was tempted by its shiny candy apple red finish but I have to admit, I'm a diehard Apple girl so I passed the phone on to my friend Cindy who is a big Android user so she could give you a more in-depth review:
When the Samsung Galaxy S III landed in my hands, I wasn't shopping for a new phone. I was somewhat satisfied with my third HTC Android phone and particularly uninterested in adapting yet another phone to my specific needs. Getting the hang of a new phone always sounds like an easy, fun, worthwhile process until you get far enough into the transition that it's too late to turn back. Kind of like having additional children.


The first glimpse of a shiny red phone with a crisp, bright display had me hooked. I use my phone to take a lot of photos of my kids and dogs to share on a variety of social sites. I was surprised to find the flash on the Galaxy S III actually makes for better photos rather than washing out the subject with too much light. I used to rely on apps to clean up my photos but I don't need that anymore. Another surprise was the lack of shutter lag. Now the photo I end up with the one I expect to see. I am still getting used to the 4:3 aspect ratio which is quite different from 16:9 on my previous phone.


My fears about setting up the phone to suit my needs were quickly allayed. Once I signed in with my Google account, my apps started downloading and my contacts were accessible. It's no longer a struggle with getting Facebook events to show up on my calendar. Adding my work email was also a breeze. I still have loads of features to explore. Since I have my phone with me everywhere and the battery holds up amazingly well, I have abundant opportunities to play with the options and learn how to make everyday tasks easier. Most recently I figured out how to capture a screen shot. You swipe across the screen with the side of your hand. It's quite clever and not the clumsy process other Android phones use.


Would I be open to upgrading to a new phone now? Unlikely! The Galaxy S III is perfect for my needs, looks sharp, and holds up well.
I have to admit when I saw her photos start popping up on FB, Twitter and Instagram, I was impressed. The clarity and color of the images are really nice. It made me want the new Samsung Galaxy camera!

Anyway, AT&T has generously offered to give one of my readers the same package. Enter to win using the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer and received the items pictured for review purposes. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.