Opinions for Nothing

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days - DVD Review

I am not going to beat around the bush with this review. I LOVE Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days. It is everything I was hoping Sesame Street - Old School would be, but wasn't. I found Old School to be dated, not nostalgic. That's part of the reason I had the 40 Years DVD for over a month before I finally got around to watching it. I am so glad I did.

Watching a full episode of Sesame Street from the 1960s or 1970s is boring, but Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days takes the best segments and puts them all together. There were so many segments that I remembered from my childhood once I saw them on the screen. It just made me happy to watch it and I was thrilled that my toddler enjoyed watching it, too. (She did not enjoy Old School.)

There are a couple different options for watching. You can turn on the pop-up facts and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. This collection also comes with a little commemorative book.

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days is a joy to own and watch and I highly recommend buying it to anyone who every watched Sesame Street as a kid.

This DVD was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of writing this review.

DVD Review and Giveaway -- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

I have been meaning to post this review and giveaway for WEEKS. The holidays, they done snuck up on me. First, I could never find time to watch the movie. I finally popped it in the DVD player one day during the week of Thanksgiving when my friend, Joanne, and I found ourselves stuck in the house with the kids. Then, I could never find time to post this review. Long story short, this review is going to be short, too.

I enjoyed this movie. I don't think Joanne did. She kept saying, "We are not the target demographic for this movie." I actually enjoyed Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian more than the first Night at the Museum. In this one, Ben Stiller's character isn't as much of a loser as he was in the first one, and he isn't battling against the museum exhibits; they are united with him against a common foe.

If you liked Night at the Museum, you will like Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. If you never saw Night at the Museum but you have school-age children, you will probable enjoy this movie as well. At least your kids will.

WIN IT

I have one copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian to giveaway.

To enter for a chance to win it, leave a comment here telling me whether or not you watch Glee and who your favorite character is if you watch it. (Not as random as it seems. The coach on Glee plays Attila the Hun in this movie.

For another chance to win, tweet about this giveaway. "RT @PeevedMichelle Enter to win a copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Ends Monday 12/14 http://bit.ly/84xhI6" You must leave a second comment on this post letting me know you tweeted it. (If you aren't on Twitter, but you are my friend on Facebook, you can get a second entry by reposting this link on Facebook. Again, you must leave a second comment on this post letting me know you reposted this on Facebook.)

Contest ends Monday 12/14, Midnight Pacific.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD for the purpose of creating this review.

THE MIDDLE, starring Patricia Heaton

One night this week, I found myself with nothing to watch on TV so I checked out what was On Demand. I found THE MIDDLE on ABC. I'd heard about this show in the summer and then completely forgotten about it. One of the downfalls of only watching recorded shows and fast-forwarding through commercial breaks is that I rarely see promos for shows I don't already watch.

THE MIDDLE is a sitcom about life in the flyover states. (I only use that term because that is part of their opening title sequence. Otherwise, I HATE that term.) Patricia Heaton plays an average working mom with an average husband and three average kids. You'll recognize Neil Flynn, who plays the dad, from his role as the janitor on SCRUBS. Heaton and Flynn, while not my favorites in the past, were both charming and funny in their new roles.

If you haven't seen THE MIDDLE yet, I recommend checking it out. Verizon On Demand only had the pilot, but all the episodes are available on Hulu until 11/19.

(Speaking of middles, I caught an episode of MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE this week and laughed my ass off. I wonder why I never watched that show when it was on.)

*WINNER* Chop Socky Chooks Vol. 1 - DVD Review

Jenna is the winner! Email me your mailing address. peevedmichelle at yahoo dot come

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CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS!

That's how I say it in my head every time I read it, in all caps, with an exclamation point. CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS! It's a tongue-twister, though, so sometimes when I say it aloud, it comes out, "CHOP SUEY SOCKS!"

From wikipedia:

Chop Socky Chooks is a British animated television series produced by Aardman Animations and DHX Media that debuted on March 7, 2008. It was created by animator Sergio Delfino, a prominent animator at Aardman. It currently airs only on Teletoon (EU & UK). For now, it airs on Cartoon Network, except in the USA. The name is from "chop socky" which is slang for the Asian martial arts film genre, and "chook" which is Australian and New Zealand slang for chicken.

Chuckie Chan, the wisened sensei; K.O. Joe, the smooth-talking muscle man with a giant afro; and Chick P, the brains and the beauty of the operation, battle the evil leader of Wasabi World, who else but Dr. Wasabi, of course. Dr. Wasabi rules his shopping mall world with help of his dim-witted bodyguard Bubba, his wily Ninja Chimps, and a host of evil minions. He's not the only one after the Chooks, though. Wasabi World is full of baddies.

Kids will love the contemporary themes, fast-paced action, and kid-appropriate humor. Adults will love the irreverent asides and pop culture nods. Though it's aimed at kids a bit older, Chop Socky Chooks, Vol. 1 even held the attention of my toddler.

WIN IT

I have one copy of Chop Socky Chooks, Vol. 1 to give away. Enter to win leaving a comment telling me your favorite Chinese dish. I love mu shu pork and shrimp in lobster sauce and wor won ton soup.

For an extra chance to win, tweet about this review and giveaway. For it to count, you need to leave a second comment on this post, letting me know that you tweeted it. "RT @peevedmichelle Win a copy of CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS VOL. 1, a hilarious animated series from the UK. Enter by Mon. 11/9 http://bit.ly/vycD4"

I will choose a winner at random on Monday 11/9 at Noon PST.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD for the purpose of creating this review.

DVD Review of Sesame Street: Elmo's Animal Adventures

You know how sometimes when you are watching Elmo's World on Sesame Street you start bleeding from your ears and develop hysterical blindness? Well, you'll be relieved to know that Sesame Street: Elmo's Animal Adventures causes no such side effects.

Each of the three episodes (plus bonus feature) teaches kids a certain aspect of the animal world in a way that is fun, entertaining, and educational. The first episode really cracked me up. Elmo and Telly are helping Little Bo Peep find her wayward cow (she was tired of those sheep always running off) by looking at animal tracks. When they need help with what to look for in the tracks, Luis pops up - literally - and sings clues for the monsters. Every time he popped up out of nowhere and started singing, I couldn't help cracking up.

In the other two episodes, kids learn all about amphibians and the different types of foods woodland animals eat. Each one held the interest of both my toddler and her parents.

For little Elmo fans, this is a must-have DVD - one parents won't mind having to watch over and over again.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD for the purpose of creating this review.

Hyaluronic Acid for Your Skin

I added a hyaluronic acid serum to my skin care regimen about a month ago and my skin has noticeably improved. I used to have oily skin, but my skin got very dry when I was pregnant. I was barely able to keep the dryness under control with three different moisturizers. I used moisturizers that aren't supposed to clog your pores, but slathering that much stuff on my face every day, there was no avoiding clogged poors and my poor face was beginning to look rough.

Since I started using the hyaluronic acid serum under my moisturizers, I have been able to cut back on the amount of moisturizer I need to use and my skin has become smoother and clearer. Even the freckle-like spots I developed during pregnancy are diminishing.

I am definitely going to look for more products containing hyaluronic acid. I haven't mentioned the name of the serum I am using because I can't find it online and I think you can only buy it at Burke-Williams spa, which is where I got it after my facialist recommended it.

Hyaluronic acid is supposed to help with skin moisture on a cellular level. Some people advocate taking it as an oral supplement. I recommend doing more research before deciding to go that route. In my reading, I learned that hyaluronic acid also plays a role in the rapid growth of cancer cells, so I do not plan to take it orally. I will only use it as a topical treatment.

SOYJOY is No Joy

I tried a SOYJOY bar for the first time today. Let me save you some money; SOYJOY bars are gross. I tried the Peanut Chocolate Chip and the Apple Walnut. They tasted surprisingly similar, but one was peanut scented and the other was apple scented. They looked like those kindling sticks you buy in bundles for your fireplace and tasted just as dry. Don't waste your money or your caloric allotment on a SOYJOY bar.

These bars were provided to me free of charge at the SOYJOY booth at the Head to Toe Women's Expo.

Why is Pinkberry so popular?

I had Pinkberry frozen yogurt for the first time at work. A coworker didn't want one that someone had brought for him so he gave it to me. I thought it was just OK but I chalked it up to the fact that I hadn't chosen the flavor or the toppings. Today, I had Pinkberry again. It is weirdly tart and thin. Why does it have to be so weird? Why can't it just be normal?

Three New TV Shows

Modern Family is funny. Cougar Town is not. I am still on the fence about Glee.

KEEN Sneakers Are the New Converse All Stars

Remember how I expounded upon my love of Chucks in one of my first posts on this blog? I thought my black low-top Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor sneakers gave me back a little bit of the cool I may have once had. Maybe they did, but once I noticed that everyone from tweens to Sally Fields was wearing Chucks, it became clear that they were no longer as cool as they once were. Fortunately, I had already switched to KEEN.

When I was pregnant, I needed some new shoes; ones that were roomy, comfortable, and provided adequate support. I found the KEEN Ventura sneakers. They are wider than the Chucks and don't make my feet look like boats. They also provided much more cushioning, making them more comfortable for all-day wear. I bought two pairs of the KEEN Ventura sneakers, one in black suede and the other in natural canvas (pictured above). I haven't worn my Chucks since.