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June 30, 2008
More Strawberries, Please!
When I was pregnant with my son, one of my favorite things to eat was strawberries. I ate them, literally, by the pound. Although I don’t have allergies to them, I would still get very red in the face after eating far too many of them. I often wondered how my eating habits would manifest themselves in my son. Well, let’s just say I often have to hide the strawberries in my house. My son will eat an entire pound if I let him. He, too, gets red in the face after so many. But, hey, there are worse things he could want to eat pounds of, right?
Why bring this up? Did you know that California provides 88% of the nation’s strawberries? I had no idea! California strawberry growers are experiencing a huge harvest this year, and in my house, we think this is a good thing-a shortage in strawberries would be super bad for us.
While being such a little fruit, strawberries are great for you. I just learned that the antioxidants in strawberries aid in memory performance. This is great because, uh, what was I saying? Oh yeah, strawberries.
One of my favorite recipes to make with strawberries is a strawberry salsa. No matter where I take it, it always gets rave reviews and someone is always asking for the recipe. It’s a refreshing twist on salsa and a great way to use strawberries. You can find other recipes here.
To learn more about strawberries, play some cool interactive games, and try out some kid-friendly recipes, you can visit Strawberryville. I was having so much fun playing around on the site, I almost forgot to link to it. Parents, teachers and kids will all have fun at Strawberryville.
Because we love strawberries in our house and are glad for the bountiful harvest this year, I give this harvest, the Strawberry Commission and Strawberryville a
June 28, 2008
Trip Flix
"Are we there yet?"
The most annoying question in the world when you’re stuck in the car with a couple of road-weary kids just got a little less frequent. Trip Flix is like a history lesson and fun distraction all rolled into one and it can help to make long roadtrips much more bearable.
Developed by some road-weary parents, Trip Flix divides the country up into small sections and tells you interesting tidbits about each state as you go. The DVD is interactive, so if you have a remote control in the car, kids can easily take guesses at silly or historical questions as they drive.
The two teenage hosts travel throughout the country to different locations and through their experiences, kids learn a little something about where they’re going or where they’re traveling through. From a boat-making experience in the northeast, to an encounter with gnomes and caves, Trip Flix offers a little bit of something for everyone.
While my 7-year old watched with great interest, my 2-year old wasn’t quite as intrigued. I would definitely recommend Trip Flix for older children. I can’t see kids under the age of five wanting to trade in their Mickey Mouse Clubhouse movie in favor of Trip Flix. But, for a bored-to-near-death child who likes to learn a little something, Trip Flix is an interesting and fun way to pass the time.
My only complaint about the DVD is that the volume was not consistent throughout. We were frequently adjusting the volume as some segments would be much louder or softer than others.
Trip Flix is available to purchase through the Trip Flix website or directly from Amazon for $19.99. If you have a child you’d like to distract on a long ride (or even a rainy afternoon in the family room), Trip Flix is definitely worth a look.
BBM gives Trip Flix. . .
June 24, 2008
Schlage
I can’t tell you how many of my credit cards have been ruined while Mr. BBM has tried to break into our own house. Most of these attempts ended up with calls to both a locksmith and the credit card company. Or, Mr. BBM just used these incidents as excuses to ruin, what he deems my non-essential credit cards, like Victoria Secret for example.
The days of wrecking my plastic and blowing $60 on a locksmith are over. I’d like to introduce to you my fabulous new shiny brass friend.
This fabulous keyless entry deadbolt retails for about $128 in stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s. You can also purchase it directly from Schlage in a variety of finishes.
Although I unwrapped the packaging in a few minutes flat, it took my husband about 20 minutes to install the new deadbolt. It comes with everything you need and instructions that are easy to follow, even if you speak alien.
Once installed, you only need press the main key, followed by your four digit code to gain entry to your home. To lock the deadbolt on the way out, all you need to do is press the main button and turn the lock. No key is required for entry or exit. Add to that the fact that you can program the lock to work with a variety of codes and this is even better. Want to provide entry for your cat-sitter without giving the main code? Codes can easily be added and deleted from memory and the deadbolt works with a battery (included with the lock-how nice is that? Maybe toy companies should take note!).
If you’re looking for an attractive way to spruce up your deadbolt and add additional security and peace of mind for those keyless days, you really need look no further.
For its stylish presentation, ease of installation, and the fact that I don’t have to worry about forgetting my keys anymore, BBM gives the Schlage digital deadbolt. . .
June 8, 2008
Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes
I recently had the opportunity to try out an intriguing new piece of sparring technology, the Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes. One quick glance and you’ll notice that these shoes are taking kicking in a whole different direction.
I think we are all pretty accustomed to the standard fair for footgear. The dipped foam with a strip of plastic or two on the bottom and a long elastic strap to keep things together. I don’t have any particular problem with that style – it’s safe, affordable, and easy to replace. The Ringstar shoes made me reconsider the status quo, though.
The first thing that struck me about the SuperMaxx is how similar they are to real shoes. All the normal design characteristics of a shoe (tongue, sole, laces, etc.) are present. The only thing that really stood out design-wise was the insulated lip covering the laces (presumably to stop your sparring partner from getting whipped in the face by them).
After first impressions were over, I started to inspect them a little deeper. I was very impressed by the overall quality. It doesn’t seem as if any corners were cut here. The sole is well crafted and the seams look well stitched. I really liked the thick padding I encountered when I squeezed the tongue and started probing around a little on the inside. I was looking forward to trying these suckers on (and I really hoped they fit right).
I normally wear a size 11 in adidas, so I figured what the heck – might as well go with 11. I was pleasantly surprised when they fit pretty much perfectly. Shoe sizes can be an unpredictable beast, especially with brands you are unfamiliar with. Luckily, all went well here. The padding on the inside was a funny sensation at first because it seems like you are putting on a normal pair of shoes, but you are greeted by billowy foam. Quite comfortable actually. If it weren’t for the big lace strap, I think you could probably get away with wearing these in public, and doing so in comfort and style.
Speaking of style, I was also pleased with the overall appearance. Pretty sleak design. I went with a black shoe + white lettering, but there are other varieties you can check out here.
I did have one serious concern before going into actual sparring with these on – they seemed very firm and unforgiving. The padding on the inside was nice, but the outside seemed quite stiff. Furthermore, the sole seemed similar to a normal shoe. I was worried that hitting with the instep, ball, and heel of the foot would all result in partner-abuse.
When it came time to do a little sparring, I was excited to get rolling. It was a different feel being on the dojo floor with any kind of "shoe" on. One benefit I noticed right away was that this felt a lot like being "on the street." When we spar normally we don’t have any shoes on, but it’s actually rare for people (men especially) to be without sneaker-style shoes. In the constant pursuit of realistic training, these fit the bill. I was also pleased with the rotation I was able to get on my pivot foot. The sole allowed for easy spinning and sliding and was not overly grippy.
Unfortunately, some of my concerns about contact were validated. When I struck my partners in the padding they noticed a significant difference between the SuperMaxx shoes and regular shoes, the impact being harsher with the SuperMaxx. Also, when I came into contact with their skin, it was indeed abrasive and a bit unpleasant. Since the goal of sparring gear is to allow solid shots without injury, the firm, shoe-like qualities of the SuperMaxx were a bit of a hindrance.
That being said, the SuperMaxx are approved by a wide variety of tournament circuits, and I can definitely see the benefit of wearing them to one of those events. Have you ever walked around on a gym floor all day in your bare feet? It gets rough and stiffens up the body. If I attend more tournaments in the future, I will take the SuperMaxx with me without question.
Overall, I think the Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes are great in a lot of situations, but not all. Therefore, Ikigai108 gives them…
June 1, 2008
American Samurai
This movie was bought for me as a gift. I really appreciated the sentiment – the gift giver knew I liked Samurai and Period-Piece movies, and this one had "Samurai" written right in the title.
I appreciated the thought…but that’s essentially where the good feelings end.
This movie is pretty terrible…but you probably guessed that with a name like "American Samurai," right? Created in 1992, American Samurai arrived on the heels of a large ninja craze. But when ninjas were being phased out after their 80s boom, there was a need for other crappy martial arts inspired movies. Hence American Samurai.
To fill you in quickly on the plot – two half brothers are raised by a kenjutsu (sword) master. Their family sword gets stolen and this causes a rift in the family, forcing the brothers to go separate ways. Eventually they meet back up in an underground turkish fighting ring. Combat ensues tournament style.
Flashback a few years to 1988 when Bloodsport hit the scenes. Initially it had a lukewarm reception, but has grown into a cult classic. I personally love that movie, even with all of its bad acting and thin plot. Bloodsport is one of those rare movies that is bad…yet so good. American Samurai seemed to notice this unusual achievement and thought "hey, we can do that! Let’s throw some swords into it and we’ve struck gold!"
I suppose we have to give them a little credit for trying, but they fell short of the mark. The acting is unpleasant and the story is like a thinner version of Bloodsport. It feels like they gathered up as many martial art cliches (the outsider prodigy, the feuding brothers, the underground tournament…etc etc) and mixed them all up into script soup.
I did try to keep an open mind and recognize the movie for its decent qualities. The actual combat is choreographed well. I was expecting some pretty rough stuff, but was pleasantly surprised. You get to see a variety of weapons spun around, which is always fun.
Overall, I would say pass on this movie. There are many intolerable martial arts movies out there and this one does a good enough job with the action to stay out of the dregs. But between the completely unoriginal plot, the not-so-awesome acting, and the overall insulting nature to historical Samurai and Budo…
Ikigai108 gives this movie –
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