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Apex Sit-up Board
If you read "Black Belt Mama" then you know how much I am in love with the slant board at the gym. Because Mr. BBM can't join a gym right now, I bought him the Apex Sit-up Board for Christmas. I knew I couldn't afford to get him one like they have at the gym, and this seemed like the next best thing. I mean, how much money does one have to spend in order to have a reclined surface to work your abs?
When all was said and done I spent about $15 on it (I had a lot of Amazon gift cards), and I figured that even if it was lousy, $15 was worth it. It sells regularly for $79.99 but is currently on sale for $54.99.
Mr. BBM and I put it together in about 5-10 minutes. It was fairly simple. Some of the pieces came already put together. It was shipped directly to my door in a fairly flat and ship-friendly box too so that was nice, especially the free shipping.
I have to be honest though. While it obviously does its job on abs, it doesn't have as much of an incline as I would like. The one at the gym allows me to hang almost completely upside down. The angle on this one is definitely more beginner-moderate.
The pads for your legs and to hold your feet are plenty comfortable; it's the board itself that is killing my back. Granted, it doesn't take much for me to have back pain, but when I spend more than five minutes on that thing, I pay for it the next day.
I must admit though, that when I'm not using it, it does make a fabulous indoor sliding board for the girls. I just much prefer to do my slant board sit-ups at the gym.
If you're looking for a slant board to mimic what you get at the gym, this one will do; but don't expect the perks you get from having high quality equipment at the gym. The lumbar support is just not there.
BBM gives the Apex Sit-up Board. . .
Bugaboo Friends
If you're a parent and you're looking for some inspiration to stay active, if you happen to be a techy person and like online websites like Facebook and MySpace, then Bugaboo Friends may have something just for you!
You're probably thinking, "Aren't those people the stroller people?" and you would be correct. But they've started a campaign to get people connecting online with other active like-minded people and it seems to be catching on.
To get started, one only needs to go visit the Bugaboo website and log in. Once logged in, users create a profile detailing things like where you live and how you stay active. Creating this profile enables you to link your other online personas from Facebook and Myspace all in one place.
There is a "featured friend" area where one can find all kinds of inspiration to stay active via skydiving, traveling, surfing, etc. I thought we were an active family. These people make us look like couch potatoes. What's inspiring though, is that despite having multiple kids of all ages, there are people on there who just do it, despite all the equipment required to travel with little ones and despite having to take a slower pace out in the world.
In addition to the possibility of winning prizes, those who create a profile can become a featured friend. There is no shortage of things to do once you're a registered bugaboo friend.
The only negative is that those with slightly older children may feel a bit out of the loop. Many of the featured families have stroller-aged children. But if you can get by that, make some active new friendships and find some inspiration to get you and your family rolling, then it's all worth it.
BBM gives the Bugaboo Friends website. . .
Parents Look-at-Me Camera
Parents has a great line of toys for little ones, aged six months and up. We were sent the Look-at-Me Camera to try. This toy is meant for children aged 12 months +. It's a simple easy to hold camera that features a couple buttons to press that make different sounds. One button makes the standard shutter noise. Another plays music fit for an "I'm Too Sexy for this Camera" type of catwalk action. It also features a mirrored front so your little one can pretend they're taking pictures or take a good look at themselves. I had hoped that maybe the camera would capture an image or two, or show some pre-set images but it doesn't. It's simply a push-the-button type of toy.
While my 3-year old initially thought it was shiny and cool, she lost interest after a couple hours. My older daughter picked it up next and thought it was neat for a while. She was especially digging the fashion music.
While I certainly think the toy is cute and fun, one really needs to pay attention to the suggested ages. While a 1-year old would probably find it great fun for longer stretches of time, my kids were looking for a little more action from the toy.
If you're interested in checking it out yourself, visit the Parents website or Target. The suggested retail price is around $15 but you can find it out there for about $9.99.
BBM gives the Parents Look-at-Me Camera. . .
“Me, Chi and Bruce Lee” by Brian Preston
Tonight I watched the Nick Nolte movie, "Peaceful Warrior." I had read the book when I was first out of commission with a newly torn ACL. After a three hour hike up a mountain, the young protege says to his wise mentor, "You brought me up here to see a rock? I was so excited the entire journey. I thought you were going to show me something, not a rock." After a few minutes to allow his anger to subside, he quietly surrenders, "It's about the journey, not the destination."
Brian Preston proves this yet again in his raw and unfiltered "Me, Chi and Bruce Lee", a book about his adventures in martial arts that go from an injury while learning Kung Fu, to a seminar with Royce Gracie, to the backwoods of China, to the UFC. It is a book written with the honesty that only a true beginner in the martial arts could have written. With nothing to lose, he details his journey and his thoughts honestly and without bias. If he doesn't feel the "chi," he doesn't tell you he does. It's a refreshing and fun book.
I dug into this book enthusiastically, being injured myself, and it does not disappoint. Preston swears, and he tells it as he sees it throughout:
"Remember the holy embryo? I'm thinking at this moment Freud missed the mark when he attributed penis envy to women. It's men who have womb envy: women, without even trying, can miraculously produce an entirely new human being out of their abdomen. To match that, men in their jealousy have to invent all kinds of mystical nonsense about Holy Embryos and Immortality" (247).
He doesn't buy all the mystical nonsense that many martial artists proclaim is key and he doesn't make any bones about it. It's not all funny stuff like this though. There's also serious stuff that really makes you think (and made me upset):
"He presents a scenario where good intentions make things worse. 'A guy comes across a gang rape and interferes. He dies. Because the woman is a witness, now they have to kill her too. Is that the right outcome?'"
This as justification to not get involved, even being a skilled martial artist. This from one of Preston's instructors.
If you've ever had an interest in knowing what Royce Gracie is really like or why Jeff Monson took his clothes off at the Abu Dhabi World Championship of Grappling, you want to check this book out. Getting inside the head of serious martial artists, whatever their style, is always something interesting and unique. If ancient martial arts are more your thing, "Me, Chi and Bruce Lee" delivers there as well.
Preston spends weeks in China, watching Wushu demonstrations and asking the great Masters tough questions, like why they beat the young children dropped off to learn their ancient art. Along the way he meets many martial artists, some serious, some not, and learns something from all of them. He approaches his research and the writing of this book in a refreshingly honest way, that only a beginner could do.
Although Preston settles himself on Taiji, he provides an overview of many martial arts styles in his journey all around the world to meet the Masters and learn about their chosen martial art. It's a journey that every martial artist should take, but few will be able. Why not let Preston be your tour guide?
The book is scheduled to be released on January 6, 2009 and can be pre-ordered through The BBM Review store via Amazon for $12.21 here.
BBM gives "Me, Chi and Bruce Lee". . .
Delgo
December is the month for family films and this December is no exception. Delgo is the first movie of independent film studio, Fathom Studios. It's an animated feature with some serious star power behind it in the form of Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kelly Ripa, Ann Bancroft, Val Kilmer and more.
The characters kind of look like Star Wars meets Planet of the Apes, but the movie is being promoted as a family film that centers around love, justice, good overcoming evil and cultural understanding (which is something the whole world could use about now). The film has received some good press and great reviews so far. The scenery is beautiful from the looks of the trailer, and it looks like it will be another animated hit. After all, how can it not be with a princess involved?
If you'd like to see the trailer for the film, go here. The film itself runs for 90 minutes. Delgo opens nationwide on December 12th, just in time for Christmas break. Enjoy!
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