Official Best of Fest: The Best Films You’ve Never Seen

I love a good story! I also love when a good story is played out on the silver screen. It always amazes me when a talented group of actors, directors, and film editors can take a writer’s story and turn it into something visual without losing the writer’s message or the heart of the story. Too often, we see a preview of a film and think, “Hey! What a great story!” only to be disappointed by what Hollywood did to it. You get reeled in by box office results and over the top reviews only to discover you already saw the best 30 seconds of the film in the preview. For me, a good film should equal the satisfaction and enjoyment I get from a good book. Just like when I turn the pages of a novel, from the time I press play to the time the credits roll, I want to be entertained. I want a life changing experience.

They say that somewhere around the world a short film or movie is being made every 4 seconds. One would think that only the best of these films would make it to the theaters but unfortunately it is more about big money, big name actors, and big Hollywood productions. So how do we find the hidden gems among the thousands of films being made every year? Enter Official Best of Fest, a collection of films touted to be some of “the best films you’ve never seen.” Each year, the Best of Fest curators attend film festivals around the world to seek out the best of the best and to create the ultimate international collection of film gems.

I recently had the opportunity to review The Official Best of Fest Sampler, a two DVD box set of fourteen films gathered from the many collections they offer. Ranging from a two minute short to full length feature films, this collection offers almost seven hours of entertaining stories that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even rejoice. I promise you, I am a tough critic and I’m not one to waste two hours of my life on a poorly made flick. I employ something I like to call The Fifteen Minute Rule. If the film doesn’t hook me within the first fifteen minutes, I shut it off. Granted the run time of a few of these films is much shorter than fifteen minutes but I was not disappointed by one of the films in this collection. Not once did I press the stop button on the remote.

From the heroic tale of a young boy who sets out bring his older brother home in Two Soldiers to the charming tale of a lonely woman who befriends a young writer in Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, these films offer a truly enjoyable experience. I laughed out loud with Full Disclosure and I cried for Celamy. There are films that capture your attention with twists and unique story lines and films that mesmerize with stunning animation.

At just $44.95 per collection, Official Best of Fest is an incredible value offering hours of entertainment and something for everyone. The films featured in Best of Fest collections are carefully categorized by genre and experience. In addition to collections like Award Winning Films that Inspire or Make You Laugh, Official Best of Fest offers collections about love, romance, and real people. Looking for a short collection specifically suited to your taste? Try Girls’ Night In or Fathers, Brothers and Sons. There are even collections for kids and dog lovers.

Now I can’t promise you that you’ll love what I love. We all have different tastes in films. But with the Official Best of Fest guarantee, you can’t go wrong. If you don’t enjoy one of the films in a collection, Official Best of Fest will offer you a credit to stream another live film from their site. How can you lose? To view the collections and find out more about this amazing endeavor to turn the best films you’ve never seen into the best films you’ve ever seen, visit Official Best of Fest online. Enjoy!

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.
Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

bellybuds: play music to the womb

From the time our children are born, we play music to soothe, comfort, educate, and motivate. When they are babies we sing lullabies to help them go to sleep and when they are older we introduce them to songs to help them learn the basics of counting and colors. As they grow, we introduce them different kinds of music to snuggle to, dance to, and even study to.

Many people don’t realize that a child’s introduction to sound and rhythm begins long before he or she is born. At as early as sixteen weeks, a baby in the womb begins to hear the sounds of its mother’s heartbeat, the gurgle of her stomach, and even the soft tone of her voice as she sings a lullaby. Research indicates that it may even be possible that a child’s appreciation of music can begin in the womb.

In a perfect world, pregnant moms could go about their day singing show tunes to their bellies. Unfortunately, life is not a musical or an episode of Glee, so belting out a mashup version of Halo and Walking on Sunshine in the middle of the supermarket probably won’t get you a backup choir of cashiers and bag boys. It might just get you an invitation to leave.

Now with the introduction of bellybuds, your baby can enjoy the sounds of Beethoven, Bach, or the Beatles while you shop, work, exercise, and even while you sleep. Bellybuds are a unique pair of deceptively simple bellyphones that plug into any digital music player and gently adhere to mom’s growing belly. A special medical grade substance called hydrogel keeps bellybuds in place whether you are behind the desk or on the yoga mat. Not only is it safe for mom’s skin but it is also safe for baby’s developing ears. The maximum sound level from bellyphones is strong enough to penetrate the womb but lower than mom’s beating heart.

The ability to plug bellybuds into multi-use devices like iPods and iPhones allows smart moms and dads to think beyond the music. Use bellyphones to play recorded messages from Grandma and Grandpa, soothing audio poetry, or stories about how a cow goes “moo” and a pig goes “oink.” Baby can even enjoy sounds from nature like whale songs and ocean waves.

Convenient and stylish, Bellybuds are a unique and exciting shower gift for the mom-to-be. For more information, visit bellybuds online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.
Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

DaddyScrubs Comfort Wear for the Dad-To-Be

Enter any delivery room and you will not find it a difficult task to identify the major players. You can’t miss the mom-to-be. She’ll be the one at the center of attention; the one with the radiant glow and sunny disposition. Bill Cosby once described the doctor as the one at the end of the table with the catcher’s mitt and the salad spoons. The nurse will be the calm, cool, collected one in charge of the whole show. Finally, the dad will be the one who looks out of place. Not because he is pacing back and forth or passed out on the floor, you’ll recognize him because he’ll be the only who doesn’t seem to fit in. Whether he just rushed over from the office in full business attire or just hopped off the riding lawn mower in cutoffs and t-shirt, the daddy will be the one in street clothes. To make things more interesting, if Grandpa, Uncle Bob, or Cousin Joe show up for the birth, it becomes very difficult to determine just who is the daddy.

Thanks to DaddyScrubs, the confusion is over. Whether the dad-to-be is a first time player or veteran of the delivery room, “I’m the Daddy!” medical scrubs are the perfect way to let everyone know the Daddy has entered the room. Made of super comfortable, super durable 65/35 poly cotton, these scrubs have built-in moisture control to quickly absorb perspiration keeping dad cool and dry. No one will ever know how nervous he truly is! The scrub top has a handy left chest pocket. The drawstring pant has a hip pocket to hold his wallet and two front slash pockets convenient for placing hands in while pacing. Available in Hunter Green, Killer Khaki, and Navy Blue Seal, these scrubs will have the dad-to-be looking the part. Finally, don’t forget the “I’m the Daddy” imprint prominently placed on the front and back of the V-neck scrub top. These will be no mistaking him now!

DaddyScrubs Comfort Wear are the perfect way to show the “expecting” father in your life that he plays a significant role in the new baby experience, including the delivery room. He’ll wear them with pride! “I’m the daddy!” medical scrubs are available at www.daddyscrubs.com. For the low price of just $39.95 per set, they make the perfect shower gift. Don’t forget to check out the selection of “I’m the daddy!” gift items including t-shirts, coffee mugs, and license plate frames.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.
Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Handsfree Writing with MacSpeech Dictate

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I am a writer. Whether I am working on a novel, blogging, or writing a review, putting words on paper is my passion. But to get those words on paper, they first have to appear on the computer screen. It used to be that the only way to get them there was to type away until my fingers were sore and my eyes were blurry.

Now with MacSpeech Dictate I have finally found relief. Using voice-to-text technology, MacSpeech Dictate allows me to create documents with my voice rather than typing. Not only do my fingers and eyes get a rest, but I am actually more productive.

MacSpeech Dictate is a highly sophisticated piece of software so I really didn’t expect to be up and running as quickly as MacSpeech promised. Easy-to-follow instructions makes installation a breeze. Everything you need is right in the box. Just plug the included noise canceling microphone into the USB adapter and then plug the adapter into your computer. Next, insert the MacSpeech Dictate Application Disc and just as with any other “Made for Mac” software, simply drag and drop the MacSpeech Dictate icon to your Applications folder. When you launch MacSpeech Dictate for the first time, it will prompt you to insert the Data Disc which will install additional files and complete the installation. Then you can register your product and create your first profile. MacSpeech Dictate walks you through the necessary steps to create your first profile by helping you select your microphone settings and then move on to the initial voice training session.

Training is easy. MacSpeech displays several passages for you to read out loud using your microphone headset. If the program doesn’t understand a word or or series of words, it will ask you to read it again. It will then “learn” from how you read the word or passage. When you reach a point where MacSpeech can identify all the words from the passages, your training session will be over. My training session took just under five minutes and then I was up and running with the ability to create documents using only my voice.

Here are a few things I discovered about MacSpeech Dictate:

• First, the accuracy of MacSpeech Dictate is simply amazing. Watching the words appear on the screen as I speak is pure joy.

• With MacSpeech Dictate you are able to create different profiles for different times of day or different environments.

• I love that while I am composing, I have freedom to move around a bit, gaze out the window, or pet my dog Lucy without interrupting the flow of words hitting the screen.

• When blogging, I like to use my casual voice. MacSpeech Dictate lets me write the way I speak. It just feels natural.

• Learning to speak punctuation really wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. Period!

• With Spelling Mode, I can spell names or use acronyms that might not be included in the MacSpeech vocabulary. I can even add words to the Vocabulary Editor.

• Jumping around in my document is easy with the “move” command which allows me to maneuver the cursor with my voice.

• MacSpeech Dictate is built for Mac so it is compatible with all my favorite programs like Microsoft Word, iChat, and MacJournal. I can even compose emails with MacSpeech Dictate.

MacSpeech Dictate lived up to my expectations and I am pleased to recommend it to all Mac users. Whether you are writing a novel, preparing a presentation for the office, working on your thesis, or blogging for entertainment or profit, MacSpeech Dictate is sure to enhance your writing experience.  In addition, MacSpeech Dictate is just plain fun!

For more information, please visit MacSpeech Dictate online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.

Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

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StoryChimes

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StoryChimes: An Interactive Reading Experience for Your Child

I remember the day my little girl placed her first read along cassette in her Playskool tape player. The voice on the player said, “You can read along with me in your book. You’ll know it’s time to turn the page when you hear the chimes ring.” That day seems like ages ago, but the memory still holds a special place in my heart as it marked the beginning of my daughter’s own personal adventure into the world of reading.

While cassette tapes and players may have gone the way of the dinosaur, fortunately read along books have not. StoryChimes is a new series of interactive storybook apps from Sienna Entertainment designed for use on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

With no cassette tapes, CDs or players necessary–StoryChimes are the perfect solution for on-the-go moms and dads in search of an educational way to occupy their kids while out and about.  Ideal for use in the grocery store shopping cart,  on an airplane trip, or in the backseat of the car, StoryChimes is an excellent alternative to handheld video games.

At just 99¢ per story, StoryChimes is an exceptional value for a high quality product.  Colorful illustrations, professional voice actors and original music make each story come to life.  Designed to encourage reading and provide an entertaining and educational experience for your child, StoryChimes is the premier interactive reading experience. With titles like Little Red Riding Hood, The Frog Prince, and Nathan Saves Summer, there is a story for everyone.

So even though your child may never experience the charm of the cassette tape, he or she can still journey into the world of interactive reading with StoryChimes. While the technology may have changed, one endearing feature has not…just listen for the chimes!

For more information, please visit StoryChimes online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.

Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

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Our Child Safe

OUR CHILD SAFE

There is nothing more terrifying or heart wrenching than a child gone lost. It happens every day. A child goes on a nature walk and strays from the path, a troubled teen fails to show up for school, a toddler disappears from the backyard—no matter the circumstances, a missing child is every parent’s nightmare. In the case of a suspected child abduction, every minute that passes is potentially one more mile of separation between you and your child. Time is of the essence.

Like most good parents, you probably have an emergency plan in place in the event of a house fire or power outage. But beyond the initial 911 phone call, how many of you have a plan in place if your child goes missing? How handy is your child’s medical information and most recent photograph? Will you be calm and level headed enough to provide a complete and accurate physical description including height and weight? In a situation like this, a plan is essential. Our Child Safe is an online Amber Alert Registry and Medical Vault database designed to help parents prepare a plan and enact it should their child go missing or be in need of immediate medical attention.

For $19.95 per year parents can create a profile for their child to include a current photograph, physical description, and complete medical history including immunization records, prescription medications, family history, and medical disabilities. Each additional profile for siblings is only $4.95 per year. Profiles can be created for your child from newborn to college age and revised as often as you feel necessary. Your membership also includes yearly email reminders to update.

Your child’s vital information is stored in a secure, encrypted database that you can access from anywhere in the world. In the event of an emergency, download your child’s file and email it directly to law enforcement officials or medical personnel or simply provide officials with your user name and password and they will gain instant access to all the details and information necessary to find or treat your child. A “Missing Child” flyer can be created and faxed to law enforcement agencies and media within minutes rather than hours resulting in more time spent searching for your child than gathering information. In a medical emergency, doctors who have access to your child’s profile will be able to better treat your child if they have full knowledge of prior medical procedures, prescription medications, and food or drug allergies.

When a child goes missing or suffers an injury, there is no amount of money a parent wouldn’t give to have them back home safe and sound. For the low cost of just $20 per year, Our Child Safe offers parents a safe and secure way to help make that happen.

For more information please visit Our Child Safe online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

Sample product(s) were provided NOT for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Vizini

Vizini: Not Your Ordinary Visor!

I just love a product which solves a multitude of problems and does so with an uncomplicated, yet highly functional design. I recently came across one that is delightfully and deceptively simple!  It’s not a hat and it’s not your traditional sun visor. It’s a Vizini! Completely unique, the Vizini is a sun visor which provides protection for your skin, eyes, and even your hair. The clever design of the Vizini allows it to be attached to the arms of any pair of prescription glasses or non-prescription sunglasses.  When attached, the Vizini is so lightweight that you will forget you are wearing it. Gone are the headaches associated with uncomfortable bands and straps that circle your head like traditional caps and visors and unlike a baseball cap, the Vizini won’t flatten your hairstyle or leave you with embarrassing hat head. No longer will you risk wrinkled brows, forehead, and eyes caused by squinting in the sun just to save your hairstyle!

Perfect for a lazy day at the beach and secure enough for a round of golf or tennis, the Vizini is as lightweight and compact as it is practical. It’s flat design allows it to slip easily into a purse, between the pages of a book, or under the sun visor in your car. Available in a multitude of bright colors and fashion prints, there is sure to be a Vizini to match every outfit. For more information visit Vizini online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.

Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Ilona BDS Illustrations

Whimsical Works of Art

Are you looking for ideas to decorate a nursery or redesign a child’s playroom or bedroom? Then look to Ilona BDS Illustrations for inspiration.

From fairies to pirate ships, there is something for everyone. Animal lovers will delight in a cow jumping over the moon, a hippo in a tub, or a giraffe on a tricycle. For your little one who loves things that “go,” check out the bi-plane, the cement truck, or the steam engine. Thinking of doing an ocean theme?  The octopus in shoes is sure to please. Or spark their imaginations with prints featuring the Frog Prince and Alice in Wonderland.

These signed and numbered original reproduction prints are alive with color and movement and finished off with a sparkly touch of acid free glitter. Available in 10” x 10” and 5 “ x 5”, each print is laminated for protection from UV rays and matted in white for finished sizes of 15 1/2” x 15 1/2” and 8” x 8”.  Browse the full collection of fanciful and quirky prints online at Ilona BDS Illustrations. You are sure to find something that will catch your eye.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.

Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Lunchbox Love for Kids

We cannot tell our children often enough how much we love them and how much we care. When my daughter went off to school at the precious age of five, she never left home without a love note from mommy tucked inside her book bag or lunch box. Even in high school she would open her brown bag to search for that scrap of paper wishing her luck on a test or simply to have a great day. Sometimes the note would be written on a heart carefully cut out of construction paper, but more often than not it was on a post-it note, napkin, or even on the back of a grocery receipt.

Lunchbox Love from Say Please, Inc. is a cute collection of credit card size notes that feature a positive phrase on the front and a fun piece of trivia on the back. Designed to give your child a boost and let them know you are thinking of them, a Lunchbox Love note can be placed in with their lunch, tucked into a pocket, a binder, a backpack, or even under their pillow at night. Bright and colorful, these cards are sure to make your little one smile with encouraging words like, “You have a big heart” and “You can do anything you set your mind to.”

A set of twelve notes in a convenient pocket size plastic case runs just $3.99. That’s less than a single greeting card! Plus, Lunchbox Love notes can be used more than once by encouraging your little ones to pass on the fun to classmates, siblings, and even back to their own parents. If you want to spread the love even further, Say Please, Inc. offers Lunchbox Love for Teens and Tweens, Girlfriends, and even for People You Work With.

For more information about Lunchbox Notes, visit Say Please, Inc. online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.
Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Sothys Healthy Color Products

Almost twenty years ago, I experienced one of the biggest scares of my life. My doctor noticed some abnormalities on my skin.  Several days and several biopsies later I was diagnosed with premalignant melanocytic dysplasia, a pre-cancerous form of melanoma. My doctors were able to eradicate the precancerous cells before they had a chance to spread to other areas of my body.  This early detection saved my life, but I would have to make major changes in my lifestyle in order to stay alive.

Since then, I made a commitment to myself and my family to stay out of the sun. For years I wore long sleeve shirts and wide brimmed hats.  I covered my skin in layers of 45 SPF sunscreen. When my first experiences with sunless tanning lotions left my skin orange and streaky, I gave up on the idea that I could ever  have a healthy looking tan again. As new sunless tanning products emerged on the market, I tried them all.  Foams, creams, lotions, and sprays. While some worked better than others, none produced the healthy looking appearance of a natural tan and all of them had a strong unpleasant odor.  Now, legendary skin care company Sothys offers a new line of products designed to give my skin year-round healthy color while improving my skin’s tone and firmness at the same time.

Sothys Face and Body Self-Tanning Cream provides natural, long lasting color in under a few hours.  Before application, be sure to exfoliate your skin and rub body lotion on those problem areas like knees, ankles, and elbows. This will help the creamy tanning lotion spread evenly for a seamless, streak-free tan. I used the Self Tanning Cream two days in a row and enjoyed natural color that didn’t scrub off in the shower. Plus, it faded like a real tan over the next week.

Don’t have three hours? Try Soins Soleil Celllu-guard Age-defying tinted care, a body lotion that provides an instant glow to your skin upon application. Cellu-Guard improves skin tone and firmness and the lotion also contains SPF 10 to help guard against the harmful rays of the sun.

Sothys new line of year-round healthy color products will give you natural looking color, streak free application, skin firming qualities, and  protection from the sun. What more could you ask for? How about the sweet smell of jasmine? As promised, both products have a wonderful scent, almost like warm sugar.

I still plan to keep my promise to stay out of the sun, but with Sothys, I’ll look like I just spent the day on the beach.

Face and Body Self-Tanning Cream:Price: $38 (5 fl. oz.).
Soins Soleil Cellu-guard Age-defying tinted care:  Price: $44 (1.7 fl. oz.)

For more information, please visit Sothys online.

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This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.
Sample product(s) were provided to this reviewer.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

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