Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook

I'm a big fan of novelist Claire Cook.

Ever since I read Best Staged Plans, I've been hooked on her books.

And what a fascinating personal story she also has. Claire Cook became a best-selling author, after writing her first novel in the family's van when she was 45; while waiting for her children at swim practises. Five years later, she was walking the red carpet for the premiere of: Must Love Dogs, based on another highly acclaimed novel that she wrote.

 

Wowsa. That's my kind of creative inspiration. Claire Cook has proven and in a big way that real-life dreams can and do come true.

 

Speaking of Best Staged Plans, you can read my full review of that wonderful book here.

  

 I was happy to note the recent release of her newest book: Wallflower in Bloom.

And as expected, Ms. Cook did not disappoint.

 

As is the case with most of Claire Cook's novels, this one centers around a large, somewhat dysfunctional family and in particular the main character Deirdrie Griffin and her brother Tag.

 

Deirdrie is Tag's personal assistant. Tag is a world-renowned motivational guru with millions of fans around the world. Adored and fawned over (especially by the ladies!) wherever he goes with Deirdrie always close behind. She is left to sort out the many details and intrigues in Tag's life and to pick up the pieces, when things go haywire! And that happens a lot.

 

It's the behind part that Deirdrie is sick of. Being out of the spotlight, feeling that she is just a glorified "gopher" that never really has a chance to shine on her own merits or have a life of her own.

 

But a twist in fate is in store for Deirdrie when she gets to be on the hit TV show: Dancing With the Stars, when a replacement dancer is needed. Being Tag's sister for once is paying off and in a big way. She grabs the chance and goes for it. And dances her way to a whole new life in the process.

 

 As a big fan of Dancing With the Stars, I also loved reading about the behind the scenes action at the show. And how Deirdrie went from a very average dancer to being able to hold her own and to go on to perform (and well) in front of millions of viewers. Talk about her time to shine!

 

This was such a fun read from beginning to end. I was sorry to turn the last page!

 

If you love a good read, happy endings, Claire Cook's writing, Dancing With the Stars; any or all of these, you will love: Wallflower in Bloom.

 

One more thing, isn't this a great cover? I think it's so perfect for the story.

                           

 

Keep them coming Claire. Can't wait to see what your next book will be about.

 

 

Overall rating for this book: Excellent. 5 out of 5.

 



Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Deluxe 6 Qt. Slow Cooker

As any of my regular readers already know, I love to cook! And second only to finding or creating a great new recipe, I love to discover a new kitchen appliance or gadget that makes the process even more enjoyable.

I recently gave slow-cooking another try. The last time I had, was many, many years ago. And in the meantime, slow-cookers have come a long way! I tested out the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Deluxe 6 Qt. Slow Cooker and overall, I'm very impressed with this small appliance. A far cry from my little, old crockpot type cooker, from years ago! ;<)

What did I like about this slow cooker?

It has a nice large ceramic liner, that's easy to clean and allows for a large meal to be prepared in it.

As a vegetarian, for me that's usually a soup or stew. But I've got a lot of other recipes planned to try in the near future, in this slow cooker, including: lasagna, steamed breads, desserts...it's actually a very versatile way to cook and definitely not for just a big piece of meat or chicken as a lot of people still think. I'll be sharing a couple of excellent slow-cooker cookbooks here in the near future too.

This slow-cooker has a nice chrome finish on the outside that's easy to clean. A handy spoon rest in the lid handle, complete with spoon.  Easy to read and program, front panel. Very quiet operation. Reasonably priced too. Today I noted this slow-cooker at Amazon on sale for just $49. Well worth the price. And a 5 year limited warranty.That's the first time I've seen this for any small kitchen appliance.

And for people who do enjoy cooking meat, poultry in a slow-cooker, there is a handy temperature probe included.

And what didn't I like?

Rather minor negatives but perhaps things the company might want to consider for future models and marketing. This particular model features metal clips to secure the lid if you want to transport your slow cooker to another location: potluck dinner, another room...and avoid spillage.

These clips are only for this purpose and not to be used when cooking in the slow cooker.

 I found the video a bit misleading (click through to the product page to see this) as no mention was made of whether these clips were to actually be used for cooking but it appeared that way. I finally found the recommendation for transport use only, in the FAQ section at the company's website. I did not note any mention of this in the users guide I received either.

Speaking of the users guide, I did note that after cooking time is complete that the unit will beep and then revert to WARM mode for (total of) 14 hours and then shut off. This is too long, IMO in terms of food safety. I was surprised by this. Not something I would personally recommend.

As I said, minor complaints.

Overall, I'm impressed with how easy this slow cooker is to use and how good the cooking results are too. I will definitely be using it on a regular basis.

Stop by the Hamilton Beach site for lots of great recipe suggestions for slow cookers and their other appliances too.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

A Mr. Cheddar Review: Innova Dry Cat Food

                                     

Mr. Cheddar here....

Yes, I have been snoozing quite a bit lately, what with all the oh so hooooot weather and all.

I love a good nap, almost as much as I love a good bowl of kibble.

And wowsa, Meowmie has recently found another winner in that department that I am just a  lovin' : Innova Dry Cat Food (regular and sigh...low-fat formula too.) Although why I would really need any kind of "low-fat" kibble is beyond my comprehension. But it seems to make Meowmie happy and it tastes great so who am I to complain.

And I do want to keep my slim physique in top form so why not watch the catories, right!!! Can't really improve on purrrfection but must try to stay the dreaded "bag belly" that seems to be a problem for so many felines I've met. Not me of course but it can happen! Yikes.

BTW, I love that babe on the Innova low-fat bag so that helped to convince me too.

Who says advertising doesn't work??? Snort.

Oh what a blue-eyed vixen....perhaps the company is reading this and can find a way for us to meet? I certainly hope so. I'm not getting any younger and the perfect female companion for me has still not appeared sigh...oh well, I live in hope. I know she's out there, somewhere...waiting for me too.

Perhaps this "bag lady" is THE ONE!!!

 And remember this sage advice, my dear feline and human fans:

 If it's the truth, it ain't bragging!

Innova gal, DOOOO RSVP, sooner than later. I will be waiting oh so impatiently for your email.

Anyhoo...back to this kibble. I love everything about it. Tasty, satisfying, keeps my tummy working from entry to exit (if you get my meaning snort....) in perfect harmony.

And Meowmie's given it the thumbs-up too in terms of ingredients, so no problems with getting her to bring home the goods.

Here's some information about this food from the Innova website:

For less active cats and cats prone to undesired weight gain, Innova developed our Low Fat Adult Cat Food. This unique formula provides all the same nutritional benefits of our regular Cat & Kitten Food, but with 50% less fat than Innova Cat & Kitten Food to assist with weight management in low activity or sedentary cats. In addition, we included L-carnitine to help metabolize fat and retain lean muscle mass.

Click through to their site to read the complete ingredient list and lots of other good information too.

I definitely give Innova dry cat food the "Cheddar- paws up"

And speaking of 'bag bellies" snort...here's  Meowmie's final word:

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan

As I blogged about recently here I've been focused on a number of writing projects, including a novel, in the past few months.
                                                   

It's a daunting task to write and to complete a novel. At least that's been my experience so far. It's been thrilling, energizing, frustrating, at times- all-consuming. And along the way, it's been other writers, bloggers, friends and loved ones who have kept me going, when I just didn't feel like continuing.

One of the most talented, inspiring and encouraging people I've met in the past few months, is author: Theresa Ragan. If you aren't familiar with Theresa's books yet, you will be. This woman is an achiever and then some!

Here's an Interview with Theresa from the CreateSpace website that gives an overview of just some of this author's amazing accomplishments to date. And Theresa is not just an achiever when it comes to writing novels, she's one terrific and supportive person too.

Stop by Theresa's blog for  more information about her life, work and to read more about all of her books.

After I got to know Theresa online, I was eager to read some of her work. I started off with the novel: Finding Kate Huntley, a suspense-packed thriller that takes the reader on a fast-paced and memorable journey.

When lead character, Kate Huntley is only 15 years old, she witnesses the murder of her beloved father, while they are on board a boat vacationing in the Caribbean.

Her father, who had been a respected, well-known US scientist, had warned her just before his untimely death, to "trust no one". It is a warning that Kate takes to heart and never forgets, spending the next 10 years of her life in hiding; living in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti.
                                     

 In spite of the poverty and other difficulties of living in this foreign and unfamiliar place, Kate learns to love Haiti and many of the gentle and kind native people she gets to know. But she also never forgets her father's warning and endures the ache of losing him, year after year. Kate vows to find the person(s) responsible no matter how long it takes, find out why and to avenge his death.

                                                       
Fast-forward to Kate at 25, still living and working in Haiti. She is recognized by Jack Coffey, rookie FBI agent who has been sent by the agency to find Ms. Huntley and bring her back to the States where they are also still trying to find the reasons behind her father's murder and to solve the case.

 Jack Coffey works first of all, to gain Kate's trust, not an easy assignment in itself. Then to complete his FBI duties to get her back to the (supposedly) safer US, where Kate had been born and to hopefully and finally unravel the mystery of her father's death. Along the way, there is romance, intrigue and lots of surprises and awakenings for both Kate and Jack.

Although this would not normally be "my kind of book" to read (I've never been a real fan of thrillers, crime stories etc) I found myself turning page after page, anxious to see how things would turn out. I don't want to spoil the plot....so I'll leave the details for you to enjoy!

Theresa Ragan shows an attention to details that is commendable. She not only is a compelling writer and takes the time to develop each chapter throughout the book; Theresa also ties up ALL the loose ends, at the conclusion of the story. I appreciate that. You would think that would be a given for any well-written/regarded novel, but as any avid reader knows, that's just not the reality, for too many books.

                                                

If you are looking for a fast-paced, engaging novel with plenty of twists, turns and romance along the way, you'll want to check out: Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan. Available in print and ebook formats.

Overall rating for this book: Very Good. 4 out of 5.    

belVita Breakfast Biscuits

 I recently noted an ad for belVita Breakfast Biscuits  in a local grocery store flyer.

As a person who is not a big-breakfast eater on most days (exception: Sundays when my dear Joe makes a late morning "fry-up" fit for royalty, that I enjoy immensely!!!) I was eager to check this new product out. Even planned to purchase some, until I started doing some checking online.

I've thought for a very long time that Kraft Foods is lagging well behind many other food manufacturers when it comes to truly addressing the needs and wants of increasingly savvy consumers who are looking for quality products that really do "walk the talk".

The days of shoppers being at the mercy of the food "giants" with their clever marketing campaigns (often targeting young children with sugary junk) and lulling us all into believing that we can take their word at face value when it comes to (supposedly) wholesome, nutritious products, is long gone!

Hooray, and hooray again for ingredient lists and the Internet!

                                                     

belVita is a "shortcut" attempt by Kraft/Nabisco to jump on the current and growing market trend for better, more nutritious snack and breakfast foods. Unfortunately, they've fallen short of the mark, again!

                                

Check out the ingredients in the belVita Golden Oat Flavour: whole grain blend (rolled oats, rye flakes), enriched flour [wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), folic acid], high oleic canola oil, sugar, evaporated cane sugar, whole grain wheat flour, malt syrup (from corn and barley), invert sugar, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, disodium pyrophosphate, datem, ferric orthophosphate (iron), niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), riboflavin (vitamin b2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1).

Nothing new or noteworthy here. Plenty of sources of refined sugar though. Nothing organic either.

Come on Kraft, join the 21st Century!

                                                                  

 This is nothing more than a glorified cookie, cleverly marketed as a healthy breakfast option.

Comes complete with some cutsey marketing tactics: belVita "in action" video

The nutritional "benefits" albeit limited of belVita.

                                                        

Do these companies really think that the majority of consumers are still this gullible?

                              

A couple of other points I noted at one of many belVita sites. They suggest repeatedly that these are to be eaten with other healthy foods such as a glass of milk, yogurt...to help sustain a person and stave off hunger for 4 hours. Maybe with the addition of other higher- protein foods, that might work. But with just 4 grams of protein in these breakfast cookies, they certainly aren't going to do the job on their own! A good "hit" of quality protein is in the 15-20 grams range for an average person per meal.

These cookies sell for about $3-4 per 250 gram box. For the price of a couple of boxes, a person could easily make a batch of energy bars at home that would be a lot better nutritionally and probably taste-wise too.

As one of many quick breakfast/snack alternatives: here's a popular recipe for  No-Bake Energy Bars from my cookbook: Not Just for Vegetarians that you might want to try. They certainly are tasty, filling, kid-approved and easy to make too.

 Countless other recipes for energy bars and other quick breakfast options online too.  If you need "breakfast on the go" you don't have to settle for something as lame and lacking as  belVita Breakfast Biscuits are.

And one more thing, what's with the letter casing for the name of  this product? Is that suppose to make it better? Or does Kraft have 4 year olds in their marketing department these days LOL!

Overall rating for this product: BAD. 0 out of 5. 

Jane Fonda Prime Time: Fit & Strong Exercise DVD

I've always believed that regular exercise was an essential part of staying well and feeling energized. When I recently had some issues with one of my ankles that didn't allow me to walk or do any weight-bearing exercise, for extended periods of time; I went looking for a workout DVD that I could still do.

After reading some very inspiring comments/reviews about: Jane Fonda Prime Time: Fit & Strong DVD, I decided to give it a try. And I'm certainly glad that I did.


First of all, how could anyone not be inspired and encouraged by anyone who looks as good as Jane Fonda does? I think she's absolutely beautiful. In her 70"s now (seemingly ageless!) and in much better shape than a lot of women in their 30-40's.

 And she certainly is a pro when it comes to putting together an exercise video that is not only effective but fun and informative too. Hard to believe it was the late 1970's when her first exercise videos were available. How time flies!

The Jane Fonda Fit & Strong DVD includes two workouts, each approximately 30 minutes including a warm-up and stretches to finish. There is also an introduction (calming and empowering) and balance exercise (so important to maintain our balance) segment, both that are worthwhile adding to any daily exercise workout.

Jane Fonda not only explains each exercise well, she also shares interesting facts/stats throughout, the workouts about the importance and benefits of exercise. For example: did you know that people between 50-72 can actually increase their muscle mass/strength by as much as 200% with regular strength training exercises? Amazing! And we all know how important it is to stay strong, whatever age we are.

Jane also talks about the importance of balance and working to maintain a good level of ability in this regard, throughout our lives. Unfortunately, changes to balance start to happen in our 20's and decline from there. But with specific balancing exercises added to our daily exercise regimes, we can help to stem the tide. Such an important topic that from what I've seen elsewhere is usually overlooked when it comes to any type of exercise programs/DVDs.

The Jane Fonda Prime Time: Fit & Strong DVD  is a very good way to ease back into an exercise program, if you've been unable to participate in regular exercise, for whatever reason. Even if it just comes down to being unmotivated or as in my case, having an injury that made my regular activities hard to continue on a regular basis. This DVD would be too easy for someone who is already working out at an intermediate level but that's just not the reality for a lot of us.

Some other things I appreciate about this DVD. Jane Fonda has a very soothing, relaxing voice to listen to. It's easy to focus on what she is saying and to follow her instructions to the letter.So many exercise DVD's are lead by instructors with annoying, grating voices that definitely don't add to the routines.

 And speaking of instructions another helpful and appreciated point I noted with this DVD: when Jane is referring to working the left arm or leg...she is working the reverse herself, so that what we see facing the TV matches up with her instructions. So many instructors don't bother to do this.

The only thing that could be improved on this video is a minor issue. I found the background used for this workout distracting and "busy" looking. For example, there is a coffee table directly behind Jane Fonda when she is working out. When she is doing chair exercises, it looks like there are "wings" sticking out from both sides! A simple, attractive room without so much clutter would have added to the appeal of this DVD. Minor but something that could be improved upon.

If you stop by Amazon, you can read many positive reviews about this DVD. Some very touching personal comments included and written by people of all ages.

 It really is never too late to get more physically active and strive to be in better shape. Our attitude is so important in terms of what aging well really means and in all areas of our lives, not just the physical. Again, Jane Fonda touches on this topic in the short introduction segment; a great way to begin the workouts.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book by Steven Tatar (with Denise Grollmus)

                                                                   

As any of my regular blog readers know already, I am a self-proclaimed yarn addict! And how. If I'm not working on at least 2-3 knit or crochet projects at any given time, I'm just not happy!

My love of all things yarn-crafting extends to the pleasure of finding a new and unique knit or crochet book. And just recently, I found one that I'm very excited about:

 

The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book is a book that came about in a very unusual way. Author Steven Tatar was hunting for scrap metal when he stumbled upon the now shuttered Ohio Knitting Mills. He subsequently bought the company's sweater archive and opened the Ohio Knitting Mills store, in Brooklyn, NY where for two years he sold vintage knits and wrote this book.

The author now sells limited edition sweaters online at: OhioKnittingMills.com.

The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book traces the history through four decades of this historic Ohio mill from the 1940-1970. It makes for fascinating reading. Sharing a part of crafting in America through some of the most creative and turbulent times the USA has ever seen. And along the way, the reader is taken back in time to enjoy the styles, trends and fads of each of these decades. Including 26 knitting patterns from the original OKM archive.

What keeps this book fresh, timely and oh so 21st century are the updated versions of the original patterns that are included. Complete with full instructions and graphs where applicable.And wowsa, these are knitting patterns that are definitely worthy of a retro-encore!

                                                

Here are just a few examples of the unique patterns in this book:

Ski Chic Fatale

                              

California Dreaming

                                     

                                                                            

Father Knows Best

                                                                                       

Hippie Stashbag

The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book is visually stunning with sepia-toned text pages and full-color photos throughout. The attention to detail and precision work that went into this 158 page book is evident throughout. Another plus: there are patterns for knitters of all skill levels from the beginner to expert, included in this book.

If you love retro-knit fashions this is a book you won't want to miss. Would also make a memorable gift for any yarn/American craft history buff on your gift list too.

This book is a great example of that timeless saying: "everything old IS new again"



You can read more about this unique knitting book and also find ordering options at: Thomas Allen and Son. Priced at: $22.50 CDN and $17.95 US.

 

Credit: "Excerpted from The Ohio Knitting Mills by Steven Tatar with
Denise Grollmus (Artisan Books). Copyright 2010. Photographs by Anna
Wolf

Overall rating for this book: Excellent. 5 out of 5.

And the Winner of the Ice Cream Lover's Contest Is....

.... Crystal from Dream Baby Dolls!

Congratulations Crystal. I hope you enjoy all of your prizes!

You have 2 weeks to claim your prize package.

If not claimed within two weeks time, another winner will be chosen.

Send your mailing address to:

MRLR at myway dot com

and I will get your prizes sent out.

***

Stay tuned for another great contest/giveaway, this one open to Canadian and US residents, coming up in September.

And lots of new product reviews coming up, starting again this week at MRLR.

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.

It was such fun reading all your fav ice cream flavours.

Happy August!

MRLR July Ice Cream Lover's Contest (and June Winner)!

Summertime:

Definitely 'tis the season for ice cream!

Even better...fresh from your own kitchen, homemade ice cream.

Yummmm....Mocha Pecan Ice Cream.

I made this recently in my new Hamilton Beach 1.5 QT. ice cream maker.

Yes, it is as delish as the photo looks. You can find the recipe here.

And the first of 3 prizes in this month's MRLR giveaway is:
                                              

The Hamilton Beach 1.5 Qt. Ice Cream Maker courtesy of Hamilton Beach.

Retail value: $35-40. depending where you buy it.

You can read my full review of this oh so handy small kitchen appliance. And one that will pay for itself in no time if you and your family love ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbets....

And the taste compared to commercial (even gourmet) ice cream, well there is no comparison. Oh so yummy and easy to make too.

And for lots of inspiration to go with this ice cream maker; two fabulous new ice cream recipe books courtesy of: Thomas Allen and Son:

The Ultimate Guide to Homemade Ice Cream  ($28.95 CDN/ $$24.95 US)

and

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home ($28.95 CDN and $$23.95 US)

Click through to read more about these two new specialty cookbooks and for ordering options also (if you just can't wait to see if you're the winner!) :<)
                        

One lucky winner will win all three prizes, value approx. $100!

                           

***

To enter, leave a comment below including your favorite ice cream flavour.

No anonymous comments please. They will not be considered as an entry.


Contest open to Canadian residents only.

 (Sorry US readers. More US/Canada contests in the works and coming up soon.)

Contest close on July 31st.

Winner will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. If not claimed in that time, another winner will be chosen.

***

And speaking of winners.

The winner of the June Cat Lover's Contest is:   

BongoDog who kindly put in an entry for his human and house-mate cat Scratchy.

Congrats to Scratchy and Bongo!

Send your mailing address to MRLR  at myway.com  and I'll get your catty prizes sent out! You have two weeks to claim your prizes. If not claimed in that time, an alternate winner will be chosen.

I'm taking a break from blogging for the rest of July but will be back first week in August to announce the winner of this contest. And with lots of new product reviews to share too.

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer and good luck with this month's contest!

Ice cream photo courtesy of Flickr.

Last Chance to Enter the June Cat-Lover's Contest!

Mr. Cheddar here...

If you haven't already, there's still time to enter the June MRLR Cat Lover's Contest!

Contest closes June 30th.

If you are owned by a feline (or two, three...) you won't want to miss this one.

And if you aren't owned by a feline, I wanna know why??? Snort!!!

Good luck to all humans and felines entered.

Make sure to stop by the first week in July to see if you're the big winner. :<)

Kiju Organic 100% Juice

I tried Kiju Organic fruit juice for the first time, over a year ago. It was not a good experience. The juice had a very strange taste. Suffice to say, the word GROSS comes to mind. I ended up throwing it down the drain. I realised afterwards, I should have returned it to the store where it was purchased for a refund.

I was thinking about this juice again a few months ago and decided to give the company an opportunity to respond to the bad experience I had previously with their products.

Here's where it gets interesting and a bit humorous I think, too!

                                                                     

I emailed Kiju On February 9th of this year and this is the response I received that same day:

Hi Geraldine - so sorry for your experience. That is NOT what our juice tastes like at all. You clearly have a product where the packaging has been compromised at some point, allowing the juice to be exposed to air.

Do you still have the package so that we can get the BB date coding information. Also - what size of product was it?

Please send that info along with your address so that we can either send you proper samples for review and/or coupons. We really do have great tasting juices that taste just like you'd expect - juice!

                                                

Ok, I was game. I'm all for giving anyone, including companies a second chance to "get it right". I sent along my mailing info. to receive the coupons mentioned in their response.

And I waited, and waited...and waited some more.
                                   

I even sent another email to let them know I hadn't received any coupons, in case they had been lost along the way. But that wasn't the case.

Well, lo and behold, 2 juice coupons arrived in the mail on June 8th!
                                       

Wowsa, 4 months after my initial contact with this company, they finally sent me 2 coupons (yes, 2 whole coupons LOL) to make up for this bad experience with their products and the very long delay in making any attempt to rectify the problem. And to give me the opportunity to find out what their juices should taste like.

                                           

So, I took one of my long-awaited coupons to our local food co-op and got a carton of the Kiju Grape Apple juice to try again. This time, the taste was ok, not awful like my first experience. Ok but nothing special.

And I did note something interesting about the name and the ingredient list in this product:

                          

Ingredients for Kiju Grape Apple Juice:

Filtered water, concentrated organic apple juice, concentrated organic grape juice, vitamin C

Ahh...that explains the rather ho-hum flavour of this juice: water and then (second) Apple and (third) Grape juice, in descending order of the ingredients listed in this product. It actually tastes like apple juice with a splash of grape added for color. I've certainly tasted better.

What really amazed me about this whole experience was the fact that my initial complaint was answered so quickly and it seemed so earnestly at the time.

But then it took the company  4 MONTHS to finally send me 2 coupons to make up for the bad experience I had with their products initially and the opportunity to give them another try. Ridiculous!

A big part of the quality and reputation of any company/product has to be about how they handle/respond to any issues that customers bring to their attention and in a TIMELY way. I wouldn't call 4 months in any way, timely.

Kiju:  I won't be back for more! ;<)

Overall rating for this product/company: Unsatisfactory. 1 out of 5.

Hamilton Beach 1.5 Qt. Ice Cream Maker

It hasn't exactly been "ice cream weather" here in Interior BC for the past couple of weeks. But I recently received the Hamilton Beach 1.5 Qt. Ice Cream Maker (68321Z) as a gift and have been giving it a try out, in spite of the cooler temperatures. Ice cream with coffee or Caf-Lib is one of my fav combos so that helps! ;<)

This is the first electric/automatic ice cream maker I've ever used. A long time ago, we had one of those old-fashioned crank models, when I was a kid. It needed rock salt and plenty of muscle power to turn (make that churn) out a batch of homemade ice cream. Fun memories but how times have changed! Now it's oh so easy to make all kinds of ice cream treats, without any fuss or brute strength required LOL.

The Hamilton Beach 1.5 Qt. Ice Cream Maker is so easy to use. And clean-up is a breeze too.

The inner freezer compartment needs to be put into the freezer for about 24 hours before you are planning to make ice cream. It's suggested in the instructions to just clean the unit after use and return to the freezer, so that it's ready for the next batch of ice cream yummies!

After the liner is thoroughly chilled, it's placed in the outer plastic unit, and the chilled ingredients are poured in. Unit on....churning and presto, 20-30 minutes later, perfect homemade ice cream. Made with your choice of ingredients and add-ons. And with no thickeners, additives, colors...as is the case with most mainstream commercial ice cream. Just fresh and oh so delish results!

I've made Vanilla and Mocha Pecan ice cream so far, both were wonderful. You can read the post about the Mocha Pecan Ice Cream with recipe here.

I've also got an: Ice Cream Lover's Giveaway coming up shortly, so stay tuned for that!

Only a couple of things that I think would make this product even better. When the ice cream is finished churning, it needs to be scraped out of the freezer bowl and into a container for storing. It would be great to have a small, rigid spatula included to make this easier. I used a large cake spatula that I had, so as not to scratch the interior of the freezer bowl but it wasn't ideal.

Also, the churning paddle is adequate but I think it could be a bit more "heavy duty". Perhaps one in stainless steel instead of the rigid plastic this one is made of? It gets put through it's paces, when it's close to the end of the churning process and the ice cream is getting very thick.

Another thing to mention, if it looks like there isn't enough ingredients in the container at the beginning of the churning process, you'll be amazed how it expands as it's processing. Definitly good to follow the recipe instructions and stick to the amounts suggested.

There are a few recipes included with this product in the instruction book but I've got a couple of amazing Ice Cream recipe books to share with you soon. And of course, creating and tweaking your own ice cream favorites to make is part of the fun too!

If you've been considering buying an Ice Cream Maker, this is a good one to buy. Reasonably priced to at about $35. -40. It will pay for itself in no time, if you've been buying premium ice cream products on a regular basis.

Visit the Hamilton Beach site to read more about all of their fine small appliances and products. And stop by Europe's Best to enter their current Hamilton Beach small appliance contest too. Some great prizes up for grabs.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

CreateSpace (Self-Publishing)

CreateSpace is an Amazon company that specializes in self-publishing services including books, ebooks, music and film.

I tried out CreateSpace for the first time, a few weeks ago and I'm certainly glad I did.

I had been wanting to publish a collection of my poetry for a long time. I had started and stopped this project many times. With a couple of other self-publishing services that I had tried previously, including Lulu and IUniverse, there was always something that kept me procrastinating and not focused on actually completing my book.

 In terms of Lulu, I had high hopes initally after reading some reviews about their services. But when I attempted to download my completed poetry document file at their site; right off the bat, I was faced with an error message that made no sense at all. Listing several font errors for a font I wasn't even using! I was turned off big time and decided not to waste any more time there!

CreateSpace makes the whole process of self-publishing a book not only easy but fun too!  I was able to download my poetry document and with only a bit of minor tweaking to adjust for the page size I had chosen; it was ready to go within a couple of days, after being checked over by the CreateSpace team.

Here's how my book turned out:

And here's a link to the Amazon page with the Click Inside the Book feature included. (The back cover may be still appearing as it was for the first one I created (green) as this may still be in the processed of being updated on the Amazon product page.)

I then had a few things I wanted to change after I received the first copies of my book, including the cover and a few tweaks of the text, that were minor errors I had missed. No problem. I submitted an updated document, chose a new cover photo (this time, one I took myself) and presto, my book was on it's way to being updated to my complete satisfaction.

CreateSpace provides a Cover Creator option that makes this process so easy. And completely customizable. Not some "cookie cutter" same old, same old....options, as is the case with some of the other self-publishing companies offerings.

And with Amazon behind a book, well the opportunities to take it to whatever level you aspire to, are definitely there. Channels offered include: Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Europe, UK...library distribution, online distributors....impressive!

Their support services are excellent too. And again, an area that I think is so important and is lacking with too many companies, of all types it seems. I had numerous questions along the way and all were answered in a friendly, timely and professional way. No "jumping through hoops" to get someone to respond to questions and that's something that I really appreciate.

Price-wise. Hard to believe. For a mere $25. investment I not only was able to create my book to my complete satisfaction. The $25. also included the expanded distribution options, mentioned above and only available through CreateSpace,editing assistance and a free ISBN number. This was $25. very well spent! And without the expanded distribution, initial costs are FREE! Hard to go wrong.

Only two things that I can think of that would have made my experience with CreateSpace even better.

I had asked about the title and my name being included on the spine of the book but was told that for a book with 70 pages (as mine is) the spine was too small to allow for print. I know that Lulu does offer this service and it would be most helpful to have this provided at CreateSpace, especially when targeting bookstores and libraries for selling prospects.

Also, when checking the proof of my book online at the CreateSpace site, the magnify page option is a bit "wonky" with only a very large and rather small size of magnification offered. To have incremental zoom options, again would be helpful and appreciated.

I am now working on another book, this one a collection of my haiku poems. I am also putting together a marketing plan specifically targeted to regional libraries including a media release for both of my poetry books. Wish me luck! To see a labour of love come together as has been the case with both of these book projects is oh so satisfying!

If you've been delaying your own creative indie project be it a book, ebook, Cd....make sure to stop by CreateSpace to find out just how easy, inexpensive and rewarding it can be.

Overall rating for this service: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste

I recently started using:  Jason Sea Fresh All-Natural Sea-Sourced Toothpaste . I had been a fan of Green Beaver toothpaste products (click for my review) for a long time and in spite of being satisfied with their products; it's always nice to give something new a try-out.

*Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste has a pleasant, minty flavour.

*It leaves teeth clean and breath, very fresh.

*A little goes a long way.

*And with the larger than average sized 6 oz. tube for about $6. at our local food co-op and just over $5. at Amazon, it's very reasonably priced too.  A 75ml. 2.5 oz tube of Green Beaver brand is almost the same price, so it pays to look at the actual quantities you're getting in a tube. When they are all packaged and sealed in boxes, it can be misleading.

I did some checking re: the Blue Green Algae which is one of the ingredients in this product and found this informative article. Based on this information and some other articles I read online, it appears that the type of Algae used in this product is not only safe but can be beneficial for your health in a number of ways. Not that I'd recommend eating toothpaste! But of course, we do ingest small amounts when brushing teeth.

Here's the ingredient list for this toothpaste:

Calcium Carbonate, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Carrageenan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1) , Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Powder, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract , Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Stevia, Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, (1) Certifed Organic Ingredient

and some additional information, from the company's website:

Strengthen your teeth and freshen your breath, without harsh abrasives or irritating chemicals. Sea Fresh® All Natural Toothpaste features Blue Green Algae (Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae), rich in Calcium, proteins and antioxidants, to naturally strengthen your teeth and gums and potent Spearmint and Parsley Extracts to keep your breath fresh and clean. Our exclusive blend of natural polishers and stain-fighting botanicals includes Bamboo Powder, Calcium Carbonate and Silica to help prevent tartar build-up while gently brightening your smile. For a strong smile and fresh breath, use JASON Sea Fresh® toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day.

The JĀSÖN natural toothpastes promise:
√ No Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates
√ No Preservatives
√ No Artificial Colors
√ No Artificial Sweeteners
√ No Saccharin
√ No Propylene Glycol
√ No Gluten

If you've been considering changing to a more natural toothpaste product and want one with a clean, fresh taste and that is economical to use, you might want to give Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste a try. It also makes a nice change, if you've already been using a natural toothpaste.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.