Step Up 2 The Streets Movie Thoughts

Hubby and I finally went to see a movie tonight. It's been a long time since we went out to the movies, so we thought we deserved to treat ourselves. Hubby has wanted to see Step Up 2 The Streets, and I have to admit I have, too, but mostly because Channing Tatum appears in it for a few minutes.

The few minutes part is what I didn't like. I'm a huge Channing Tatum fan, and I admit that's one of the few reasons why I chose to watch Step Up when it came out. I wanted to drool over his hotness. I only had about 5 minutes of drool time over Channing Tatum as Tyler Gage in Step Up 2, but I have to admit Robert Holfman as Chase Colins wasn't bad to look at either.

Moving on from the drooling, what was the movie actually about?

Andie (Briana Evigan) is a rebellious teenage street dancer who herself stuck with the choice of either staying home around her old friends and life while attending the Maryland School of the Arts or being shipped off to Texas leaving her life as she knows it behind to live with her aunt. Fitting in isn't easy, but she hooks up with Chase Colins (Robert Holfman), the hot and popular dancer from the school to form their own crew to battle at Baltimore's underground "The Streets" battle. Andie must battle obstacles of her own while realizing her dreams and making them happen.

Honest what did I think of the movie? I wasn't all that impressed. Step Up isn't a great movie IMO, but it had a lot of potential that I thought would be brought out in the sequel, Step Up 2 The Streets. Unfortunately this movie fell short of my expectations, and I felt like it was just another teenage love story. There was actually a reference in the movie to the tv show "The Hills", and I even felt like this was kind of a movie version of such shows.

The dancing was good, and I especially liked the portion where Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) dances on a mini trampoline, but there was still a lot to be desired that the movie just didn't offer.

What do I think? Save your cash, and wait for the movie to come out on video or On Demand.

Shopping Hell

My sister wants me to go to the mall with her tomorrow, and I'm really not wanting to. First of all I absolutely hate the mall. No matter what time of day it is there are too many people there, the prices are too high (unless there's a huge huge huge sale going on), and I just don't like the atmosphere.

Of course there's also the fact that the nearest mall is 45 minutes away, and it's itty bitty. My sis wants to go to the Haywood Mall in Greenville so she can hit up Hot Topic, but I'm still debating on if I want to subject myself to that torture. I might go for the simple fact that I haven't been to that mall in a couple years, and there's a Macy's there now. I wouldn't mind checking out what they've got to offer, and I might even be able to drudge up some Macys coupons.

I don't know if that's such a good idea though because I really don't need to be spending any money. I have a vision of standing in the middle of the mall screaming at myself because I bought something I couldn't afford. Maybe it's not such a good idea to go after all.

Hillside® Beverages Self Heating Hot Chocolate

My mom has been raving about a product that she truly loves and has begged me to try. She has fallen in love with the Hillside® Self Heating beverages and soups. What are they? They're cans of coffee, tea, cocoa, and soup that self heat the product inside.

My mom raved about how great of an invention it is because she can have a hot meal or drink even when she can't get to the microwaves at work. She thought they'd be great for hubby who works out in the cold half the year eating cold sandwiches on the job site.

I was a little skeptical at first, but my curiosity got the best of me. When hubby and I made a trip to Lowes tonight (where I saw a couple Kohler sinks I loved) I asked him to swing by Walmart. As of right now Walmart seems to be the only store around here carrying the Hillside® products.


I didn't want to buy a lot of them in case we didn't like it, so I purchased one of the Rich Chocolate Hot Cocoas. The price was fairly decent at around $2 each considering what these cans are supposed to do. Each can is 9.5 fl oz even though it looks larger. You have to take into consideration the heating element located separately but inside of the middle of the can.

I wish I had thought to take photos of the heating process, but I didn't. The process from cold to hot drink only takes 3 steps and 5-8 minutes though. That's fairly longer than it takes to heat a cup of hot chocolate in the microwave, but it's very useful in situations where you can't get to another heating source.

The heating is done by a chemical process when water mixes with crushed limestone. The reaction takes place inside a container that is placed in the middle of the container, so it never comes in contact with the beverage or soup.

Step 1- Turn the container upside down, and pull off the seal on the bottom of the can. This exposes a button and green water (colored with food coloring to make it visible).

Step 2- Sit the container upside down on a flat surface, and press down on the button until the water drains. You do have to press down rather hard. It took me a couple minutes to get the water to drain, but I think I'll have much better luck next time. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the can upright.

Step 3- Place the container on a flat surface, but remember that the bottom of the can will get hot, so it's best to make sure you place it somewhere that's heat resistant. Wait 5-8 minutes for the pink circle to turn white.

When the circle changes colors, turn the plastic cover on the top counterclockwise, and pop the top like any other normal can.


How does it taste? It's actually really good! I expected it to taste a little weird, and I don't know why.

I will definitely be buying a lot more of these. Not only will they be great for hubby to take to work, but I've already decided I need to stock up on some of them for camping and mountain bike trips so we don't have to ride an extra hour to find a place to have lunch. It's also a great way to keep something around that can be used during power outages or placed in emergency kits if you live in an area prone to natural disasters.

The Hillside Beverages website says these cans will keep your beverage or soup hot for 30 minutes and warm for up to an hour. My can stayed pretty hot for about 45 minutes, and even though I finished the hot chocolate about 30 minutes ago, the can is still warm. I can see the can keeping a beverage or soup at a warm in a room temperature climate for at least an 1-1/2 hours.

If you want a little more information on these products, you can check out OnTech, the company behind the product, and Hillside Beverages. There's a great video here that will show you exactly how the process works.

All About Eights

Connie tagged me for a new meme, and I'm just now getting around to doing it. It's not that I haven't wanted to do it. I've just been too down and out to really blog much, and that means I haven't felt like doing any memes.

Anyway, here's a new one for ya. It's definitely one I haven't done before, so that's a plus!

8 Things I’m Passionate About

1. My Faith

2. My Husband...yes I'm passionate about him!

3. Finding a cure for Diabetes

4. Finding a cure for Alzheimer's

5. Motorcycle Safety

6. My Family

7. My Friendships

8. I'm pretty passionate about life in general.

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

1. Bring another life into this world
2. Become debt free.
3. Earn enough money to live comfortably with my family.
4. Own my dream bike.
5. Take a road trip across country.
6. Travel to Ibiza, Spain.
7. Travel to Amsterdam
8. Travel to Ireland...heck I just want to travel everywhere!

8 Things I Say Often

1. I love you...many times everyday to hubby
2. I know right!
3. lol...ok I type it same thing
4. Dude!
5. For real?
6. For real for real!
7. I'm cold!....I'm always cold, so I'm always telling hubby I'm cold!
8. nuh uh!

8 Books I’ve Read Recently

1. Nora Roberts-Daring To Dream
2. Nora Roberts- Holding The Dream
3. Nora Roberts- Finding The Dream
4. Nora Roberts- Jewels of the Sun
5. Nora Roberts- Tears of the Moon (I'm working my way through the trilogies)
6. Janet Evanovich- Plum Lucky
7. Patricia Cornwell- The Last Precinct
8. Ashley Warlick- The Distance From The Heart Of Things (one I read a few times a year)

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over

1. Puddle of Mudd- Psycho
2. William Orbit- Adagio For Strings
3. Paul Simon- 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
4. CCR- Bad Moon Rising
5. Motorcycle- As The Rush Comes
6. DJ Trashy- Rave Stomp
7. Tiesto Featuring BT- Love Comes Again
8. Paul Van Dyk- Time of Our Lives

8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends

1. Shared interests
2. Honesty
3. The beauty of their personalities
4. Their love for adrenaline
5. Kindness
6. knowing they'll always be there for me
7. Their ability to make me happy no matter how bad things are
8. Love

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy 8s

1. Sam
2. Anna
3. Allison
4. Lisa
5. Kim 1
6. Kim 2
7. Tina
8. and you

Extra Seating A Must Have

I haven't been up for doing much shopping for myself this week, so I really haven't had much to write about the past few days. I also haven't really felt like sitting at my computer for an extended period of time.

For starters I've been in a down and out mood over the past few days, so that hasn't helped any. On top of that I had to move my recliner that I've been using as my desk chair into the living room so the boys have plenty of seating when they're playing video games. That isn't working too well because now my back in killing me in a regular desk chair. It's probably got a lot to do with the fact that I've got really poor posture when I sit at the pc, and having my recliner lets me sit around relaxing however I please. Maybe I should look into a posture corrector.

What I really want is my recliner back, so I told hubby I might invest in a few beanbags that I can throw in the living room when they need them, and when they're not needed I'll toss them in the guest room. I could pick up a few of the cheap $20 ones from Walmart, but I'm still kind of mad at Walmart, and I would rather have something nice that I know is going to last. I really like some Rayane Chairs I spotted at good 'ole Target.

In fact I'm going right now to steal my recliner back before hubby gets home from work!

Tea Boutique Bath Shoppe's Luxury Hand & Body Cream

Tea Boutique Bath Shoppe's Description:

NEW Luxury Hand & Body Cream
We have added a wonderful new cream in some new fragrance choices you are sure to love! It is very rich and creamy for use all over your body. Available in a 4 oz. jar.
Choose from Tropical Paradise, White Ginger, Hawaiian Blooms, and Pina Colada.

Price: $6.00

When I first opened my sample of the Tea Boutique Bath Shoppe Tropical Paradise Luxury Hand & Body Cream my first thought was that this was going to be one of my new favorites. The smell is wonderful! It's a light and airy tropical scent that doesn't overpower, and it could probably be worn along with your favorite perfume.

The texture is thick and creamy, and I love that. I hate runny lotions that make a mess when you're trying to use them. I made a video to show you just how thick and creamy it really is. Sorry the video is so dark. The lighting in this room sucks, and videos always show up darker than they look on the camera, but you can still see the action.



Now let's talk about the things I don't like about this lotion. First of all I found myself using a lot more than I expected. Normally I can use a dime size amount on each arm, and that's with my very dry skin, but I found myself needing to add more and more as I worked my way up my arm. After the lotion dried I was left with a combination of sticky and chalky skin that I didn't like at all. I let hubby feel my arm, then I immediately washed the lotion off. If there's one thing I can't stand it's a lotion that leaves me sticky or chalky. A combination of both was a big turn off.

Needless to say this lotion won't be added to my favorites drawer, but because of the smell and thickness I'll keep it around for those times when I'm running low on my favorites. My sister enjoyed the smell, so I may let her try it. If she likes it texture she can add it to her collection.

As for the rest of the goodies I received from Tea Boutique Bath Shoppe, my sister has reported that the Strawberry tea was wonderful. I still have yet to try the bath bomb that was included, but I may just try it tonight. I love the little seashell shape so much I just don't want to unwrap it. My mom would love to use it decoratively in her beach themed bathroom.

Unconscious Mutterings Week 262

I actually remembered to do my Unconscious Mutterings this week! Go me!


1. Score :: Card
2. Luxurious :: Money
3. Party :: The Last Post I Wrote
4. Limited edition :: Collectible
5. Security :: Social
6. Betty :: Davis
7. Under construction :: Website
8. Pest :: Control
9. Director :: Movies
10. Express :: Lane

Facial Therapy Cream From 5th Avenue Bath Co.

One of the products I received in my Lemming Central box this month is a Facial Therapy Cream from 5th Avenue Bath Co. I've been using this cream at night and in the mornings for the past 2 days, and I must say I love it!

My skin is extremely dry in the winter, and my face seems to suffer the most. I've been fighting dry patchy skin on my face for years, and even with moisturizers my face still has a problem.

I've noticed a difference already after 2 days of using the Facial Therapy Cream. I've noticed a huge reduction in the amount of dry patchy spots I have, and my face feels hydrated. My only complaint is the scent. The sample I received is "Honey", but I do notice there's an unscented version as well, so if I order more I will probably stick to the unscented version.

5th Avenue Bath Co. sells their Facial Therapy Cream starting at $12.99 for the 2oz size. You can also give it a try with a sample size for .5 oz sample size for $4.95. I think that would be the route to take if you want to sample the different scents. Right now I see it listed in unscented and almond. I might like to give the almond a try.

Thrift Store Shopping

While I'm out today I also need to look at some furniture. I'll probably stop by the Goodwill store to see what they have in terms of storage. The new Goodwill store in Seneca is full of all kinds of furniture!

Hubby and I considered joining a directbuy program because we know a couple people who are members, and they save a ton. It's probably not the best option for us right now since you have to pay fees to become a member, but when we're ready to build our house it could help us save a ton.

For now I'm going to stick to my thrift store buys. I need some new shelves for the wall in the bedroom, and I definitely need a new storage unit for the bathroom. I could have hubby build these things easily probably from material he's got around the house, but getting hubby to do any carpentry after he leaves worth is like pulling teeth.

Too Much To Buy

Today is going to be a day full of shopping for me. That's not such a bad thing to most people, but I hate having to go shopping. I prefer sitting at home clicking my mouse to buy the things I need, but sometimes it's just necessary to actually go to the brick & mortar store for something.

I've got to pick up a couple pair of work jeans for hubby. I don't know how he does it, but he tears through the seat of every pair we buy including the heavy duty ones. I know I can patch one pair, but I've thrown away 3 pair this week.

I've also got to pick up another 25' Cat 5 cable so hubby can have internet again. He accidentally shut the door on his old one slicing it in half. That also reminds me that I need to pick up a new router because my last Stinksys died about a month ago.

Hubby's going to get tires on the bike, and I told him to pick me up another pair of riding gloves. I always keep my gloves in my helmet so I know exactly where they are, but 1 disappeared, and for the life of me I can't find it.

The light in the kitchen died again, so I've got to pick up another tube for that, and our old toilet lines are clogging on a weekly basis, so hubby's got to pick up the stuff to replace the lines.

I'm sitting here counting up how much cash I've got to spend this week, and I really hope this doesn't wipe me out. I haven't even begun to think about paying bills yet.

Lemming Central February Sampler

I finally got around to taking photos of all of the wonderful goodies I got in the February 2008 Lemming Central Sampler Box. There were a lot of great Etailers participating in this box, and there are quite a few that are new to me. It's always great to see some of my old favorites, but it's nice to have a new things to try as well.


As you can see there are a ton of full size products as well as some nice sized samples. This month's participants are listed below, and photos are included for the products I received. This box was wonderful, and because I receive a lot of "mint" type items I was able to make a gift basket for my sister. She's absolutely loves minty type products, and she's had a rough time lately. When I gave her the basket last night she loved it. We sat down and sampled all of the products together!

The All-Over Body Experience

5th Ave. Bath Co.
Pookie

Wild Wind Soap Company

SBS Teas

Tea Boutique Collection Bath Shoppe

Four Seasons Fragrance
A Woman With Scents
Things That Make Scents
Candle Dippers Candle & Bath
Sugarelle
Deep South Bath Co.

Ugly Duckling Designs

Hawley Road Soap Works
Rain Barrel Soap

Because this post has already become long enough with all the photos, I will be sharing my thoughts on the products separately. Stay tuned!

There Goes Another Wallet

I made a mistake. I took a walk to my Grandma's house to show her the stuff that came in my Lemming Central Sampler Box because she likes going through the stuff with me, but when I left the house I left my purse laying on my desk.

Why is that a mistake? My money wasn't stolen if that's what you're thinking, but my bulldog apparently loves the taste of leather wallets. He won't tear up anything else when we're gone, but if I leave my wallet within reach it's gone. I've gone through 3 in the past 6 months, and my latest one was a Christmas gift from my best friend. Now it's nothing more than a few pieces of leather I had to pick up out of the floor. He didn't eat it, but he sure did rip it to shreds. I loved that wallet, too!

Luckily everything inside the wallet was spread across the bed, and nothing else was harmed during the destruction of the wallet. Now it looks like instead of spending some time online picking out new wedding rings to replace our smaller ones, I'll be spending time picking out a new wallet.

Smell Good Surprise

I promised myself I'd make myself do boring things today like looking up online auto insurance quotes since we found out Nationwide did such a crappy job getting our Blazer repaired.

My plans have just changed though thanks to one wonderful box! This month I missed the Little Black Box, so I chose to order a Lemming Central February 2008 Sample box, and it just arrived! I wasn't expecting it for another 2 days at least! It smells so great! The dog is over here sniffing it right now, but I'm going to shoo him away so I can rip it open. I'll share pics in a bit.

Sandisk m230

If you've been looking for an mp3 player that won't make a huge dent in your pocket, let me introduce you to the newest member of my mp3 player collection.

I previously wrote about my Sandisk MX1, but I decided to upgrade to the Sandisk m230 when I found it for a great price. I picked up two of these little players for $20 from woot.com during a "two for Tuesday" sale. To me the price was well worth it.

The Pros:

The reason I chose the Sandisk m230 would be because of the controls. My previous Sandisk mp3 player has a very hard to use joystick control that doesn't want to navigate through menus correctly. The m230 uses button controls that are much easier to use without becoming frustrated.

The menus are easy to navigate as well because they are laid out nicely. You've got a ton of options that are easy to find.

The included FM tuner allows you to save up to 20 of your favorite stations, and the voice recorder allows you to record notes or sounds that you may want to listen to later.

The m230 plays MP3, WMA, DRM WMA (including subscription music), and Audible files. You can browser the music library by choosing title, artist, album, genre, spoken word, or recordings making it much easier to find what you want to listen to.

There is also an included stopwatch, and files can be added to the m230 via drag and drop or it is also compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and subscription services.

The Cons:

First of all the m230 is much bulkier than I had expected. It's almost double the size of my MX1, but it's still a decent size. I can still slip it into my pocket or throw it on a chain around my neck.

It's very noticeable that the mp3 player was made from cheap parts. I feel like it will crack in half if I accidentally drop it, and the battery door is very flimsy.

Although I don't consider this a con for myself, a lot of you may so it goes in the con category. The Sandisk m230 runs off 1 AAA battery instead of charging via usb. I prefer that because if my battery dies while I'm on the road can throw in another rechargeable.

A slight con to this model is the fact that the m230 is only a 512mb mp3 player.

The equalizer is lacking in options. You only have 4 pre-set options (Pop, Classical, Rock, and Jazz) and one custom option. I would definitely like to have seen more presets.

There is no option to view photos as the small size of the mp3 player and screen couldn't handle images.

Overall I still think this MP3 player is a good buy because it sells in a price range of $19.99-34.99. It's a much cheaper option than purchasing an iPod especially if you're looking for something for your children or for occassional use.

Informal Critique Rating: