The Resurrection of Gavin Stone DVD

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone

About the movie

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone is an inspirational comedy rated PG about faith and forgiveness. Gavin Stone, a washed-up former child star is forced to do community service at a local mega- church and pretends to be a Christian so he can land the part of Jesus in their annual Passion Play only to discover that the most important role of his life is far from Hollywood.

Our Thoughts

When my kids saw the image of the poster their first reaction was “Hey Mom, this is Ward!”    You have to know that we are listening to Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to know who Ward is.  But yes the main actor that plays Gavin Stone in this movie is indeed Brett Dalton.

The movie start a bit differently that most movies out there.  It was a bit confusing at first but the story unfold itself before you as you watch it.   It is slow to start we have found but with time you can see that the actors are getting more comfortable with each other.  

Gavin Stone has hit rock bottom and he is required to do some community time at a church in his hometown.   At first he doesn’t want to but realizing that his only option would be to stay in prison he reluctantly agrees to the deal.  He will also have to stay with his father with whom he has cut the communication for such a long time.

While starting to do his hours at a church in town, he realizes that they are putting a play.  He expresses a desire to be part of it seeing that he has experience – going to the point that he will “fake” being a Christian.  However, what he has not realized is that slowly but surely he will realize that these people are authentic.  He will discover what it is to live as a Christian with his interactions of a variety of characters.  After meeting the lady in charge of the play, he expresses a desire to get to know her better.  At first she is hesitant in opening up to him but eventually a spark seems to melt her resistance.   However, when it is almost time for the play to be on stage, Gavin Stone received a phone call that will  change everything.  Will it be for the better or for the worse?   I won’t tell you because then I would give away the best part of the movie.

Watching this movie was relaxing.  My husband and I started to watch it on Good Friday when our boys were at a youth rally in town.   We enjoyed it and thought that our kids could also watch it.  So as I am writing this, my three boys and my girl are watchin the Resurrection of Gavin Stone together in the living room.  They laughed a few times so far too.    The movie is a faith-based movie so you will have references from the bible and the play is based on the life of Christ.   Seeing the play was also inspiring I find because it was a great way to visualize the life of Christ.  

The movie is rated PG and anyone in your family could watch it.  You can rest assure that there will be no sex, no nudity, no violence, and no profanity either.  

If you are looking for a family movie that will be inspirational, I think this movie should be one to consider.  However, do not expect bit production like the movies released in theaters that had an enormous budget.  Keep in mind that this movie was made with a budget of 2,000,000$ and was filmed in 20 days.  The movie is about 92 minutes long.

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone will be out in DVD soon so watch the DVD aisle at your favorite store.  You can also pre-order it on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: The link to the movie has been provided courtesy of Mongrel Media and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Oh, Yikes! History’s Grossest, Wackiest Moments

Oh, Yikes! History Grossest, Wackiest Moments
By Joy Masoff
Published at Workman

About the book

Gross is back and viler than ever! From the author of Oh, Yuck! the perennial bestseller about science with over 610,000 copies in print, comes OH, YIKES!, an illustrated encyclopedia of history’s messiest, dumbest, grossest, wackiest, and weirdest moments.

If kids think pus and gas are fun, wait until they hear the lowdown on the real Dracula, samurai, gladiators, guillotines and vomitoriums, pirates, Vikings, witch trials, and the world’s poxiest plagues. Impeccably researched, deliciously wry, and subversively educational (check out the toilet-paper timeline), OH, YIKES! covers people, events, institutions, and really bad ideas, alphabetically from April Fool’s Day to zany Zoos. Here are the Aztecs, sacrificing 250,000 people a year for the gods—and for food. Fearsome Attila the Hun, scourge of the steppes whose spinning eyes terrified his friends and whose mastery of horses terrorized his enemies (how does someone so evil die? Nosebleed!). Saur, the 11th-century dog-king of Norway (and not too bad as kings go). Henry VIII and his marital problems, the story of the Abominable Snowman and the Loch Ness Monster, why sailors in the old days preferred eating in the dark (hint: you can’t see what’s crawling in your food), and the answer to the question, “How did knights in armor go to the bathroom?”

Topped off with hundreds of illustrations and photographs along with hands-on activities that bring the past to life, OH, YIKES! puts the juice in history in a way that makes it irresistible.

My Thoughts

We have reviewed OH, Ick! in the past and I was highly interested when I realized that this new title was all about history.

This book is different than other history book because it will highlight the worst inventions and events that has happened through the ages.  So as the title suggest it, it will be gross at times but so informative as well.

The various chapters or themes covered in the book are: Attila and the Huns, Aztec Antics, Beastly Babyhood, Burial Customs, Cave Dudes, Circus Clowning, Crafty Cats, Crazy Calendars, Creepy Columbus, Cruel Constructions, Cussin’ Cowboys, Dastardly Dentistry, Dog-Gone Dogs, Dreadful Dracula, Dumb Duels, Electric Shocks, Everyday Executions, Farfetched Fashions, Freaky Flyers, Ghastly Games, Gladiators, Guillotines, Heinous Hair, Horrible Henry the 8th, Humongous Hoaxes, Idiotic Inventions, Junky Jobs, Killer Kings, Knight Time, Lewis and Clark, Miserable Medicines, Moldy Money, Musty Mummies, Nutty Napoleon, Oozy Olympics, Outrageous Outlaws, Pirates, Plagues and Poxes, Prickly Presidents, Prisons and Punishments, Quirky Queens, Rip-Roarin’ Railroads, Salt Assault, Samurai and Shoguns, School Dazed, Sinking Ships, Smelly Shoes, Strange Sports, Stupid Superstitions, Tickin’ Time, Toilet Paper, Ugh! Underwear, Vicious Vikings, Wacky Warfare, Whales Tales, Wicked Witches, X-Files, Zany Zoos.

Since we studied Columbus a bit this year, I decided to select the section about him and his time period to tell you a bit about the kind of information you will find in the book.  The section about Columbus will present information about how the food was stored back in these days compared to our beloved refrigerator nowadays.   You will also read a bit about Christopher Columbus’ past when he was young and discover how he decided to become a navigator and explorer.  In all there are five pages covering the history of Columbus (or Cristobal Colon as we learned this year) and how he tried to find a way to obtain spices…

I find this book fun to read because it will present an aspect that is not often shown in other history books – the gross parts of living in different era of time.  It is a fun book to have in your personal library for all the disgusting information in it.  But it is not for the soft stomach person….   The information at times could be revolting but when you think about it…. it happened in history and people lived like that in the past.

Oh, Yikes! is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Rocket Science for the Rest of Us

Rocket Science for the Rest of US
Written by Ben Gilliland
Published at DK

About the book

Want to understand black holes, antimatter, physics, and space exploration? Looking for a common sense guide to quantum physics that you can actually understand? Rocket Science for the Rest of Us is the book you're looking for! Get a grip on even the most mysterious and complex sciences with Ben Gilliland's guide to dark matter, exo-planets, Planck time, earth sciences, and more.

You'll hear yourself saying, "I get it now!" again and again as you explore the fun graphics and clear explanations in Rocket Science for the Rest of Us. Whether you want to impress your friends with your knowledge of quantum physics, finally know what a black hole actually is, or just learn more about the universe that's all around us, Rocket Science for the Rest of Us breaks it all down so science and physics are easy to understand. You're not a rocket scientist? So what! That doesn't mean you can't understand it!

My Thoughts

This book is packed with information about space and more.   It contains fabulous pictures and information that will keep your kids interested in learning more about space.   This book is divided into four main sections:

• Mysterious Universe: Bottom line you will learn more about the universe, how it expands, and discover more about our solar system.
• To Boldly Go: Space exploration is covered here.
• The Appliance of Science: learn more about science like dark matter, gravity, stars, and more.
• Teeny Tiny, Supersmall Stuff: atoms, neutrons, and all the small science things you can learn about.

Essentially it is a media reportage on the latest scientific discoveries and breakthroughs concerning space.   But the explanations are easy to understand and your kids will have a grasp about everything concerning space in no time with this book.  It is an excellent resource to have at home when you decide to expand your knowledge about space. 

Rocket Science for the Rest of Us is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Words of Grace

Words of Grace
By Jacqui Grace and Dee Arrand
Published at Bethany House

About the book

Be Amazed by God's Grace!

Bring new joy to your time in God's Word by incorporating beauty and creativity. As a gentle tonic for the busyness and worries of your life, this travel-sized coloring book devotional will help you focus your attention and calm your hurried soul.

Each page spread includes Scripture, devotional thoughts, and images to color that are all designed to reconnect you with the God who knows your every need. Grab your colored pencils, crayons, or markers and set yourself free to create. But most importantly: relax, have fun, and be blessed by God's grace.

My Thoughts

When I received this book to review, my first impression was primary based on the size of it.   The book is not very large nor thick for that matter.  But there is a saying that says “do not judge a book by its cover” right?  So who was I to think that this book was less important than another devotional which has hundreds of page?   I proceeded to explore the book before passing any further judgment on it.

This is a devotional book that will also allow the reader to color the pages while you reflect on what you have just read. This book contains exactly twenty-eight devotions divided into four weeks based on specific themes.  The themes are the following:

• Week 1: Knowing Who You Are
• Week 2: Intimacy with God
• Week 3: When Life Gets Tough
• Week 4: Now This is Living!

Each week contain a devotion for each day.  Through these devotions, you will learn to discover who you are, how to live intimately with God, remember that you can rely on Him at all times, and spread you wings in the world.   You can spend more time reflecting on the teaching you have just read by coloring the opposite page.  Sometimes you will have a little drawing on the devotion’s page as well.  

In conclusion, I think this little devotion book is fun for whoever likes to color as well.   I am saying this because recently as I was drawing in one of my books, someone looked at what I was doing and said “Oh you are one of those…”  I was surprised but when the person told me she really hate coloring then I could understand her comment better.  However, that small comment had other consequences on me like doubts and insecurity creeping slowly…. but in the end I decided to embrace my coloring because I find it is relaxing and it provides healing in my life.

Words of Grace is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: The book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Beautiful Word 365 Devotional

The Beautiful Word 365 Devotional – Bringing the Goodness of Scripture to Life in Your Heart
Published at Zondervan

About the devotional

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Your devotional time is precious as you draw near to the Lord and experience His love in your life. The Beautiful Word Devotional is the perfect companion to help you experience His goodness through His Word as beautifully lettered Scripture.

This devotional includes:

182 verses illustrated in full color Special places to write your own reflections Warm devotions for each day of the year Dive into 365 devotions to nurture your spirit and encourage your heart as God’s Word washes over you with its promises. With lovely devotions and inspiring images, The Beautiful Word Devotional will refresh your heart daily as you seek to enjoy God’s Word in a creative way.

My Thoughts

This beautiful devotional will uplift you every day of the year as you read it, ponder on the scripture and the words in the devotion as well as delight your eyes with beautiful art.   Every second page in the devotional possess a special illustration based on the scripture on its page.  The opposite page has some lines in it which allows you to journal a bit on what you have read or simply add your own drawings to the pages.

The devotions always start with a scripture followed by the devotion itself as well as a quick prayer in the end.   For example, for today’s devotion I had to read James 1: 3-4 which is about the testing of our faith producing perseverance.   The devotion that followed was about the reality that our spiritual growth is intimately linked to the trials and challenges that we might have experience in life.   Like it or not growth does not happens when we are going through “happy times”.    Finally, the devotion concludes when you read a simple prayer – quick and directly linked to the devotion.    Reading would take you maybe ten minutes or so but the words will impact you for the rest of the day.   Getting a reminder that growing in Christ happens mostly when we persevere in difficult circumstances was a great reminder for me as I go through some difficult emotions nowadays.

So far the devotions I have read touched me in ways I was not expecting it.   I am pleased to have this devotion in my hands so I can be blessed every single day.   

However, there are a few things that I would like to highlights that could be disappointing for some.  The first thing that bothers me as a left handed writer is the pages in this devotion have a glossy feeling which means not any kind of pen would work for writing in margins on the right side.   Mind you the feeling of it makes the book very special.  However depending of the type of pen you use, there are more chances for a left=handed writer like me to smudge the notes when writing as the side of the left hand goes over the writing.   Consequently, I would suggest that you use a pen that is more permanent than a regular pen.  Second, I would have liked to have a ribbon inserted in the book so that you can keep track of the place where you are reading.  Granted the devotions possess the dates at the top of the page but the ribbon would make finding your spot more rapidly.   

Oh and case you are wondering – February 29th is also included in the devotional so technically there are 366 devotions in the book.   I must applaud this decision because I have seen many other devotionals in the past that simply skipped that day when the book mentioned 365 on the cover.   So kuddos for the publisher for thinking of putting February 29th because that way you can read that page every four year!

This devotional is fabulous in many ways and will be a blessing for the reader.   The illustrations are inspiring and add a touch of color in the pages.  The devotions are straightforward and to the point.  You will also find some space in a margin to jolt down notes to personalize your devotion time.   This book is a great devotional to give to someone you care for whether a family member or a friend.

The Beautiful Word 365 Devotional is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me the above mentioned product in pdf format for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Everything You Need to Ace…

Back in August last year, I had the opportunity to review three titles in the series Everything You Need to Ace.   I had received the English Language Arts, the World History and the Science titles.

My husband was so impressed with these books that he asked if there were other titles in the series.  “Yes – Math and American History.” , I answered.  “Try to get them as well.”

It is pretty rare that my husband will take the time to check out some books I receive to review so for him to suggest that I get the other two titles is pretty meaningful.

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class.  Inside each of the title you will find every subject’s key concepts summarize in small chunks of information so that you can digest that your own rhythm.   And to make things a bit easier on everyone the critical ideas are highlighted in neon colors, the definitions are explained, doodles illustrates the tricky concepts and mnemonics helps to memorize.  Finally you will also find some quizzes at the end of each chapters to help you cement the information in your brain.

Math

Everything You Need to Ace Math . . . covers everything to get a student over any math hump: fractions, decimals, and how to multiply and divide them; ratios, proportions, and percentages; geometry; statistics and probability; expressions and equations; and the coordinate plane and functions.

The math book has been a great reference for us – especially in the pre-algebra lessons when my son forgets how to do a calculation like the Pythagorean theorem.

American History

Everything You Need to Ace American History . . . covers Native Americans to the war in Iraq. There are units on Colonial America; the Revolutionary War and the founding of a new nation; Jefferson and the expansion west; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and all of the notable events of the 20th century—World Wars, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and much more.

I was hesitating about this specific title because we are Canadians.  But come to think of it, this book is a perfect summary to discover what happened during the history of America.   And since they are our closest neighbors why not learn a bit about them.  

My Thoughts

This series of book is amazing.  Each title is a great addition to your personal library whether you homeschool or not.   Right at the tips of your fingers you can get information about English Language Arts, Math, World History, American History, as well as Science.  

I would like to suggest some other titles to Workman for future publications: Geography and Canadian History.   I am sure that these two subjects would be popular as well.

I give my two thumbs-up for the titles in the Everything You Need to Ace series.  They are great resources to have at hand when you desire to verify some concepts, learn new facts or simply read for the fun.

Everything you Need to Ace books are available on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

   
  
  
  
  

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Avery Wraparound Labels

We all know that Avery offers a variety of labels for any kind of use.   But in recent years, the company has developed very interesting ideas when it comes to labels.  Their recent product – the wraparound labels – will offer your customers something more by showcasing your brand.  Their water-resistant material and permanent adhesive make them perfect for branding water bottles. They're also ideal for use on products, packaging, marketing materials and more to make your brand or logo really stand out in the crowd.

When I first saw this item available on Amazon Vine Voices, I knew it would be perfect to identify the water bottles of the kids when they go to activities or camp.   Our problem is that we purchase these bottles at Costco and like it or not we are not the only ones to do so.   Recently while we were having lunch after our homeschool coop, a little boy came and almost grabbed my water bottle because he thought it was his…   Funny enough his bottle is identified but mine wasn’t but at his age I suppose you don’t check for a label on the bottle.   Now I have identified mine using these wraparound labels from Avery.

Avery offer  the Avrey Design & Print software online on their website to help you design your labels.   And it contains a ton of designs for the wraparound labels too!   I chose a fun looking design for my daughter’s bottle and mine.   It was easy to add names and images to personalize it as well as changing the colors on the design created by Avery.

My first try to print ended up destroying the label page because it was already broken in.   But the second print was perfect.   And I was able to put the labels without issue on the bottles.

Now I need to design some for the boys in order to identify their water bottlers.

These labels are very original and it will add some personality to the most common bottles purchased at Costco.  That way we are sure to find our bottles when participating to an activity where we know other families will use the same bottles.

The Avery Wraparound Labels (22845) are available at a store near you, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Sennheiser HD1

From what I have heard the Sennheiser headphone is synonym of high quality.   This time around I have received their new in-ear wireless headphone – the HD1.  This headphone is designed to allow you to move freely while exercising or simply moving at home or at work.  Its design is very out of the ordinary since it has a neckband is made of leather and provide comfort – as a matter of fact you barely notice it.   Also when calls are coming in, it will vibrate in order to let you know about them.

 

The headphone possesses bluetooth technology as well as NFC One Touch Pairing which makes pairing it with your device very easy to do.    In a matter of seconds, my iPad was paired with the headphones and I was able to use them.

Now the first thing you will have to do obviously before using the headphone will be to charge them.  And note that the charging part is located at the end of one of the sides of the neckband.  But careful as I find this part a bit fragile.  I was expecting that this would take a few hours after realizing that once charged the battery will last for 10 hours.   But after checking the quick guide provided in the box, I learned that the charging time would be about 1.5 hour only.   By the way the quick guide is mostly images which illustrate how to use the headset but I can say that this guide is quite easy to understand.   However, if you desire to obtain instruction manuals and product support, you are encouraged to go directly the the Sennheiser website. 

The neckband also has control buttons on one site which will allow you to power the headphones, play or pause the music, control the volume as well as a speech mic when answering your phone calls.   The Sennheiser Captune app is also available for more functions. 

I first used the headphones to watch an episode of a show on Netflix.  The quality of the sound was amazing.   Then I also tried it for listening music and it was once again perfect.   Now this kind of headphone will not kill the noise around you so if someone come to talk to you it will be pretty clear.     However, there is a distance limit in the range of the sound to reach you.  Let me explain.    I was listening to music and left my ipad on the half-wall which we have between the living room and the hall-way.   Every thing was fine when I was in the kitchen or dining room.  But at some point since I was preparing supper, I went in the garage (which is at the other end of the house) in order to get something in our freezer and the sound was breaking up.   I was there for less than a minute but I was able to realize that distance can be an issue.   So be aware of that…

The box contain: the HD1 in-ear wireless headset, an USB  charging cable (not plug though), an ear adapter set coming in XS, S, M, and L, as well as a carry case that is very stylish.

Technical Data

• Frequency response: 15-22,000 Hz
• Sounds pressure level: 112 dB (1Hz/ 0dBFS)
• Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.5% *ikHz, 100dB)
• Supported Codec: SBC, AAC, aptX
• Battery Type: Lithium-ion polymer

If you are looking for a headphone that will allow you flexibility in movement as well as high quality sound, I think that the Sennheiser HD1 will be a great fit for you.   It is light, portable and will allow you to move freely without having the cord in the way.   You can even leave your phone on a desk while walking or exercising.   I am very satisfied with it and would recommend it to anyone.  It can make a great gift for a teenager as well.

The Sennheiser HD1IEBT Black Wireless in ear headphones is available at your favorite store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.