Category: review

March 14, 2018

Small but Mighty: The MYNT ES Tracker

Life can feel like a whirlwind at times. We are constantly on the go, pressured to do more and more at home, work and in our precious moments of free time. Our minds are constantly full of to do lists and thinking about the next item or place to go that it can be easy to misplace or lose items.

Hands up if you have ever misplaced something in the house, car or office? Do you remember the sheer frustration and hopelessness that comes with that? I know that I do.

When I have too much on my mind and I lose something as simple as my keys in the house, it can bring me to tears. But what if you could prevent the emotional upheaval from ever happening?

The MYNT ES tracker ensures that you will never have these moments again. Known as the “compass for finding things”, this small but powerful tracker easily attaches to any item that you want to keep safe and tracks its whereabouts at all times (from keys to a laptop to even your car’s parking spot).

The tracker is about the size of a typical loyalty reward card that attaches to your keys and not much heavier making it easy to attach to any item and carry around with you anywhere. We loved the sleek design of this tracker as it wasn’t obvious, heavy or distracts from the item it is on. The tracker has the MYNT logo on it, which we thought made it look really sharp – almost like Superman’s cape.

Key Features of the MYNT ES Tracker:

higher ring volume than previous models (80dB)
battery life of up to 12 months and uses a replaceable battery
connects to MYNT app (which is free to download and use)
small and sleek design
remote controller and camera shutter features
compatible with iOS 8.0 and above, iPhone 4S, 5C, 5, 5S, 6, 6 PLUS and iPod touch 5, iPad mini and newer devices. Android 4.4.4 with Bluetooth 4.0 and later.

One of the best features (besides its sleek design) is the connection to the MYNT app on your cell phone. The set up is incredibly simple and connects within seconds. This app allows you the power to connect with your personal items that you have attached the tracker to at any time with the push of a button on your phone. It also works both ways if you lose your phone – use the tracker to find your phone, a win -win situation.

Ready to stop the frustration and worry that comes from losing items?

If you want to take control of your life and be preventive, you can now purchase a MYNT ES on Amazon or learn more about the product on their website.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

March 8, 2018

When Calls the Heart Review and Giveaway

The love story blooming in Hope Valley continues with the television special, When Calls the Heart, available on DVD from Shout! Factory on March 20th, 2018.

About When Calls the Heart

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls The Heart, a beautiful story filled with “many of the values we all hold precious such as love, family, friendship, community, faith and caring about one another” (Military Press).

The citizens of Hope Valley find the true meaning of the holiday season with a Wishing Tree that helps everyone’s dreams come true. As Abigail, Bill, and the rest of Hope Valley work together to create a special Christmas parade to warm the town’s collective hearts and bring everyone closer together, Elizabeth longs only for the return of her beloved Jack.

Executive produced by Michael Landon Jr., When Calls the Heart currently airs on The Hallmark Channel.

Our Thoughts

This was a wonderful, wholesome movie that I couldn’t help but fall in love with (not to mention our youngest – who was so excited to see “Aunt Becky” in this film). After watching it, I had to find out a little bit more about the history of Hope Valley and Elizabeth. The television series was based on the books by Janette Oke’s Canadian West series. In the television series, the wealthy Elizabeth heads off to the Canadian Frontier to teach children in a small mining town in Alberta. She must learn the ways of small country living in order to fit in and survive.

This movie was Christmas themed based on the themes of hope, love and faith. The town sets up a Wishing Tree where everyone can hang up an ornament with their Christmas wish. Residents were then encouraged to take one back in turn to help someones wish come true. Also going on is the return of a past resident who is doing penance for his crimes, Elizabeth’s wish for Jack to return and stay with her and the possible loss of a pregnancy in one of the town members.

There were a lot of great themes in this heart warming story. We learn a lot about hope, faith and love. We are reminded to believe in others and always see the good in their hearts, sometimes we have to move past their past actions in order to see the good but it will definitely be worth it. We are faced with faith that we will make it through every possibly negative experience okay and that each experience is meant to teach and guide us. This is a movie that all members of the family can enjoy all year round, even with the Christmas theme.

You can purchase a copy of When Calls the Heart on Shout! Factory.

The Giveaway!

My Canadian and American readers can now enter to win an advance copy of When Calls the Heart DVD! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 26, 2018

My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship DVD Giveaway

Everyone’s favourite characters our back! My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship leaps onto DVD February 13th in all new episodes!

About My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship

Big trouble is on the horizon when Twilight Sparkle is given only two coveted tickets to the most anticipated event in town. But how will she decide which of her best friends gets to go with her? She faces quite the challenge.

Discover the answer, and see four more amazing pony tales, as Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy help usher Springtime into Equestria!

Episodes Included:

The Ticket Master
Sisterhooves Social
Just for Sidekicks
Princess Twilight Sparkle Part One
Princess Twilight Sparkle Part Two
Bonus: Sing a long!

This beautiful DVD has been released just in time to make a perfect addition to Easter baskets with its spring themes if you are thinking of Easter basket ideas. The DVD has a run time of 110 minutes and enough episodes to keep your little one engaged and craving more. Can’t wait for Easter? Why not set up a My Little Pony viewing party with colourful snacks, decorations and their favourite characters and get set for a night of fun and entertainment.

You can purchase a copy of this DVD on Amazon and Shout Kids.

My American and Canadian readers can now enter to win their own copy! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 21, 2018

Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

Children love to play and re-create what they see both in real life and on television. As we are in the heart of winter (although my fingers and toes are crossed that the worst has almost passed us by) and the Olympic games are in full force, giving children an opportunity to bring their favourite sports to life with Playmobil sets is a fantastic way to keep them busy and foster some love for creating winter adventures.

Do you have a budding snowboarder? Or alpine skier? Or maybe a fan of cross-country skiing? Or maybe they love just being outdoors in the middle of winter building snow forts, having snowball fights and imagining they are crossing the Arctic in search of polar bears! The possibilities are endless with this new line of winter themed sets, that features a ski lodge, winter SUV, snowball fight, snowmobile, trio sports, biathlete, skiers and Arctic expeditions.

My son and niece tested out the Arctic Expedition with Polar Bears and the Winter Sports Trio over the weekend and had nothing but positive feedback for the two sets.

My favourite part of Playmobil sets are the ease of the set up. It can be put together by a six-year-old independently and at the same time my nine-year old niece had no problem whipping her pieces together without it feeling too young for her. All of the pieces are sturdy and easy to grip for little fingers. There were a few smaller pieces like the snowboard, skills and binoculars that I had to help them with but overall both sets were easy for them to manage on their own. Once the pieces are set up they stick together well – those skis were not going to accidentally fall off, which is a huge win for parents! There is nothing worse then a child becoming frustrated by parts that keep falling apart. The quality of the sets are incredible and you know that the pieces will last for a long time.

The Arctic expedition was by far their favourite set of the two, although they ended up combining the two sets to make one big winter adventure with daring polar bears and brave athletes who came to the rescue of the scientists (those naughty polar bears were cheeky and kept stealing their supplies!). The set came with one large iceberg, a drill, two fully moveable polar bears and two figures with accessories. The winter sports trio came with three figures and skills, tube, snowboard and winter accessories.

We loved the attention to detail on the accessories, ability to combine the sets into a bigger scene and the ease of set up. These sets were a win win for both the kids and my husband and I.

The entire line of winter themed sets range in price from $14.99 to $89.99 and can be purchased on the Playmobil website and at most retailers.

Make sure to follow Playmobil on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest information and new releases!

What is your child’s favourite winter activity?

Disclosure: We received the above mentioned products in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 15, 2018

TruthStone, The TruthSeer Archives Book One Review

In TruthStone, one little lie won’t hurt, will it?

About TruthStone, The TruthSeer Archives Book One

When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.

For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.

But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?

My Thoughts

Little lies, big lies – we are all guilty at some point of telling a lie. We lie for a variety of reasons, to hide mistakes and to hide the truth from someone who we worry it might hurt. Most of the time people have good intentions but other times, people lie to hurt and cause pain.

In TruthStone, Shaeleen, a young woman who is unique and confident young woman, is given a special gift by a strange woman. A TruthStone. This TruthStone, while giving her the ability to decipher the truth from the lies, also causes her great pain. She receives physical pain from lies – from weak pain to a high degree of excruciating pain. I loved how she was displayed as a normal down to earth character – she understands that lying is wrong but sometimes a necessary evil to do what is right. She is conflicted on the inside on what is right and wrong but uses her heart and common sense to make decisions.

With the TruthStone, she has been entrusted with a very important mission. We only find out the great extent to what she has been tasked to as she sets off on a crucial mission from the Prince with a huge plot development! Along her fantastic journey she meets key characters that will help her on her way as well as realizing her own strength and abilities.

This was a well written, exciting novel that I could not put down. Young adults and adults a like can enjoy the adventure and risk that Shaeleen takes on. This was an excellent start to a new series from Mike Shelton.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Mike is now on his third young adult/teen fantasy series. For information on his new releases, book reviews, and other relevant info, please join him at www.MichaelSheltonBooks.com.

Mike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn’t reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn’t put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.

Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.

Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys – writing!

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.