Book Review: Make Me I’m Yours…Jewellery; F&W International

Summary

Create your own stunning jewellery items from a selection of over 20 diverse necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Learn various beading and wirework techniques and use your own selection of beads or embellishments for a unique look. Includes projects to suit all styles and abilities, with handy difficulty levels attached to each design.
There are so many fun and inspiring jewelry projects in this book. My mom started making jewelry about 2 years ago, and she let me design a few pieces with her. It was SO much fun. Not only because I was learning a new brand of craft technique but because you get to wear (OR GIVE) these beautiful pieces when you’re done.

The table of contents show you that it starts with Vintage pieces then moves on to Vibrant pieces, and ends with Inspiring pieces.
At the back of the book there are techniques. This shows you everything you need to know about beads, findings, string, wires, glues, and more! It’s an amazing book!

Starting out as a beginner jewelry making it was extremely helpful to me to have the techniques in the back. It starts out with bead shapes and the different types of beads. Showing the different types of beads and what projects the beads best make.
Then it begins with the different types of findings. Findings are all the little pieces that are generally made of metal. They are used to make and finish jewelry. If you’re a beginner like I am, findings can be extremely confusing at first. This book breaks it down and shows what is needed for what type of jewelry- and what it best.
The String, Wire, and Chain part of this book is also a great help. There are so many different types of strings, chains, and wires that can be made into jewelry. Breaking it down and showing what is what makes it easier to decide what would look best for designing before I begin. It helps me make a decision before actually starting.
Then the tools and glues that are needed before you start your jewelry adventure. I ended up finding all the tools in a jewelry making kit at walmart for $15. They are very high quality too, I love that I found them all together.

On making the Jewelry:
I love that it not only explains it in detailed wording, but it also shows every step of the way in pictures. I can’t craft without pictures, because I can’t visualize what to do next without them.

The best part about the pictures and step by step instructions is that it is getting you ready to go off on your own (in the jewelry making world). You can take the different pieces and create something totally different than what is shown, just using the same techniques.
For instance- take the necklace in the picture above. Instead of using the neutral colored and metal beads- you could switch this up and use beautifully colored glass beads… it’s all in how you look at it.
This book has really inspired me to make some pretty awesome pieces. If you would like to learn how to make jewelry, know how but want some more inspiration, or know someone who would like to learn—this book is absolutely perfect!
BUY IT: You can buy   Make me I'm yours...Jewelry: Over 20 gorgeous necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings for $14.99 on Amazon
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Jessica Renee

Review: Acure Facial Serum

Acure Organics has done it again. This time with a fabulous Firming Facial Serum. Acure makes nothing but all natural, organic products that greatly benefit the skin.

I have oily, acne prone skin so putting a serum on my face made me think I was going to have a HUGE issue. I’m extremely glad I gave it a try though. You don’t apply this to your entire face, just the problem areas.

I didn’t have one breakouts or irritation at all. I mix this with their day cream during the day (under my makeup) to keep my makeup fresh all day. I mix it with the night cream before going to bed, and I wake up with glowing beautiful skin.

The serum itself is  lightweight and feels like pure silk on the skin. Although it is lightweight,  It does give the skin a bit of sheen if you aren’t going to add anything over it (such as makeup or at least a powder).

It includes nutrients that heal and rejuvenates the skin, as well as antioxidants to combat aging, free radicals, and cell damage. It also contains borage oil which helps to calm inflammation.

When I began using the serum I only used it in dry spots on my face, such as around the eyes and mouth. A dab on my forehead (because I tend to get dry skin there). It was an instant miracle serum, the redness was immediately gone and no irritation flared up later.

The oils that are added as ingredients not only help the skin but they smell amazing. There isn’t a “fragrance” added, but the oils combined smell heavenly. I even started using a dab of this mixed with chapstick for my dry chapped lips, and mixed with lotion for my dry legs!

My skin has definitely improved in just the short amount of time that I’ve been using this. Not only is my skin more healthy, but less dry and has a radiant glow that I love. The product is concentrated, so there is WAY more in the bottle than it looks.

There are TONS of helpful ingredients that stem directly from plants. Cranberry, olive oil, rosemary oil, sweet orange oil, argan oil, lavender oil, pumpkin seed oil, safflower oil, and sesame seed oil.

As an animal lover, I love that they NEVER test on animals. They NEVER add in anything harmful either.. so all their products do not contain any sulfates, parabens, silicone, and petroleum derived chemicals and oils.

BUY IT: You can buy the Firming Facial Serum for 22.99

Connect with Acure Organics on Facebook and

 Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

 

Art$ and Craft$

Kids love doing arts and crafts. Art supply companies love charging through the nose for the materials that you need to supply for your kids to do those arts and crafts. Luckily there are things that you can do to make sure that your arts and crafts budget goes as far as possible all year long.

Start a stockpile of arts and crafts supplies. It’s okay to use your credit cards to help fund this initial stockpiling of paints, paper, etc. Check around to find out where the best prices in town are offered and then go to town to help build up the things you know that you are going to need to have on hand all of the time, like construction paper, watercolors, crayons, etc.

Set up a savings account for the more extensive arts and crafts projects (or times of year when these types of projects happen more often, like the winter holidays). Compare savings account rates to ensure that you get a really great rate on the money that you squirrel away. This way your money will earn money and you’ll have more on hand when your kids set their sights on a project that needs a lot of very specific (and rarely cheap) materials.

Raid the sales. Back to school sales are a fantastic time to really stock up on the basic things at really great prices. For the best deals, wait until the first week of September. This is when the stores get desperate to get rid of all of the supplies they stockpiled (but that didn’t sell in time) in order to make room for the Halloween stuff.  Colored pencils, markers, crayons, drawing paper, construction paper, erasers, etc…all of them go on super sale at this time and you can get as much as three times the amount of products for what you’d normally pay at any other time during the year.

If you like having high quality materials on hand, buy them in smaller amounts over time, whether or not you actually need them. For example, if you buy your markers individually, always buy a black marker with whatever color you went into the art shop to buy. You go through black markers more than any other and this way you’ll build up a good stash of them.  Another example of this is simply tossing a packet of construction paper or stencil set in your shopping cart when you go grocery shopping.

Buy specific supplies in the off season. Buy Christmas cookie cutters in January. Buy the heart shaped stencils and rubber stamps in March. This way you save money and you’ll already have them on hand when the holiday rolls around again so you won’t have to worry about dealing with the crowds or hiked up prices that come with buying in-season supplies.

These are just some of the things that you can do to save money on your arts and crafts supplies. Put them to use and see how far your budget can stretch!

Review: Roxsee Jewelry Organizer

It has always been very hard for me to keep my jewelry organized. I’ve tried my hardest, it just wouldn’t work out so well. My necklaces would end up in my jewelry box or hanging on my wall.. they’d become twisted and almost near impossible to untangle.
My rings were the easiest thing to keep track of, but my several of my earrings would somehow end up missing just when I needed it most. It was very frustrating and would take me forever it seemed to get ready.
When I got a chance to review the Roxsee jewelry Organizer from Untangle My Chains, I was excited. Finally a way to store and organize all my jewelry in one spot. No more lost earrings or tangled necklaces.

Not only is it pretty but it’s practical. This hanging jewelry organizer has 400 earring holes, 16 sturdy hooks and 5 posts to hang rings. Can also be used for scarves, belts, hair accessories and more! It looks amazing in my room!
I was super impressed at how much jewelry this hanger can hold. Mine is now hanging on my bedroom wall beside my makeup. Now I can get ready in just a short amount of time. I’m not wasting time looking for a piece of jewelry or an accessory!


I love that the metal hanger at the top rotates.This makes it easy to hang on a wall, in a closet, or over the door. This is absolutely perfect for someone in college, someone who lives in a small space, or someone who just needs to be more organized.
Proudly made in the USA from no break polypropylene, strong and sturdy with a soft exterior that will not react to metals!

Buy It: You can buy the Roxsee jewelry Organizer in black or pink. They are having a sale for 2  for $25 with coupon "ROXSEE25" or one for $15.99

About Untangle My Chains:

Untangle My Chains LLC is your go-to place for glamorous solutions to daily dilemmas. We make life easier and help give women the confidence they need to let their sparkle out!

Untangle My Chains was launched in November of 2011 in Kent, WA by three women brought together by tangled necklaces, a love of all things sparkly, and a shared passion for problem solving. They dream of creating a line of fashion organizers, encouraging women to let their sparkle out, and creating a foundation that supports the arts.

Today at untanglemychains.com they offer their first patented glamorous solution, the Roxsee Jewelry hanger and a small selection of their favorite products that you won’t want to live without. They are proud to manufacture in the USA, embrace eco-friendly practices, and strive to be leaders in their community. In May of 2012 they launched the Let Your Sparkle Out Movement onletyoursparkleout.com with the desire to celebrate and inspire the sparkle inside each of us. Join the movement!

Connect with Untangle My Chains on Facebook,
Twitter, & Pinterest



Jessica Renee

Review: The Palm Gifts- Monogrammed Gifts

I am so in love with personalized gifts. There is really nothing like adding a personal touch to everyday items. They are the best thing you can give and receive.

The difficulty getting the perfect personalized products is that they can be a bit pricey on the pocket. Having so many people to think about throughout the year is always on my mind. That’s the reason that I try and start shopping right after Christmas. That way I don’t have to think about everything RIGHT before Christmas.

Buying something inexpensive yet classy is always on my list. When I can find something so amazing yet doesn’t break the bank is right up my alley. The Palm Gifts has everything you could ever want in a monogrammed item.

They sent me 2 items for review, and I loved both of them. They sent me their Preppy Monogrammed Cosmetic Bag and their Soft Cashmere Feel Monogrammed Scarves.

The Cosmetic Bag

I loved that they had so many color options available for both the bag and the ribbon that come on the bag. I ended up getting my absolute favorite color of course; lime green for the bag base. Then for the monogram I ended up getting a light blue with a light blue ribbon and lime green dots.

With this you can choose to add your entire name, initial, or initials. I chose to do my initials JRB. I love how they do it J B R with the B being more prominent. I even got to choose the font of the monogram, which I love.

When it came in the mail it was packaged so beautifully. It was wrapped in plastic to keep it safe in case the package got wet. The plastic was wrapped with blue and green ribbon (matching the cosmetic bag), and The Palm Gift card at the top. It was true beauty in a bag.! I loved it!!

The quality of this bag for the price (under $20) was simply amazing. The letters are on the bag absolutely perfect. There are no stitches messed up or peeling. Everything was and still is gorgeous.

The inside of the bag feels plastic coated, so that in case your makeup spills it won’t ruin your bag. All you have to do is wash it out with a warm soapy washcloth and it’s like new. There is an inside pocket to store a small mirror or something. It zips all the way around so there isn’t room for anything to fall out.

It is the perfect size to put in a suitcase or duffle bag for on the go. I loved te bag!

Bag Color Options

Ribbon Options

Font Options

Thread Options for the Monogram

Buy It: You can buy the Preppy Monogrammed Cosmetic Bag for $18.95

The Scarf

I was looking for a scarf that wasn’t only warm but pretty as well. I loved this one from the very beginning. It came wrapped in plastic wrap for protection and green/black ribbons across the top. I love how they wrap everything with ribbons that match the color of the product! SO unique and such an amazing gift to give.

I immediately took this out of the package and wrapped it around myself. It was so soft and cuddly, did I mention warm? I loved how warm it was! It goes so well with every single thing I wear. It looks amazing with casual wear (i.e. jeans, boots, and a hoodie) and it looks amazing with dresses or office clothing. Can’t beat that.

I had to choose black with the lime green lettering, of course! I couldn’t have been more happy with the quality if it were wrapped in a million bucks! It feels so amazingly soft around my neck and keeps me warm when I wait for my son to get off the bus in the afternoons.

 

BUY IT: You cab buy the Soft Cashmere Feel Monogrammed Scarves. for $20

You can also connect with them on Facebook 

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Activate Drinks- Vitamin Water

I like to think that I try my very best to drink the recommended amount of water everyday. Drinking tons of water gets kind of boring after awhile, so I like to mix it up with Vitamin waters.
I have tried MANY of the different vitamin waters that are on the market. I was excited to give Activate a try. There was really only one that caught my tastebuds because it didn’t taste like watered down juice, it actually TASTED like juice. YUM

Activate is very unique from other Vitamin waters. Activate did tons of research only to find out that vitamins lose their potency when just sitting in water. SO- they came up with their own little solution to keeping the vitamins strong.

The Vitamins are stored in the lid , so all you have to do is turn the lid left to release the vitamins into the water before you drink it. They sent me 3 different flavored drinks to try.

Antioxidant (Berry), Vitamin (Fruit Punch), & Energy (Lemon Lime)
All three drinks were really refreshing and invigorating. Certainly different from the other vitamin drinks. When you twist the cap you could actually SEE the vitamin substance fall into the water, and then you gently shake it up.

Taste is very important to me when it comes to flavored water. These are sweetened with Stevia, so it has absolutely no sugar added. Although there isn’t any sugar, it is still sweet, tasty, and tangy.
Each flavor was exactly the right amount of sweet. My kids loved seeing the vitamins release into the water. They thought it was pretty cool. They weren’t too strong or too sweet. Just what flavored water should be.
Flavorful water with a bonus of vitamins and antioxidants!

 The packaging is very eye catching and unique. The bottles fit very well into my car cup holder, so it was easy to take them with me wherever I went. The bottles are made from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic and BPA Free

To see the full range of Activate products, check out their webpage. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

About ACTIVATE: ACTIVATE is THE innovative, enhanced vitamin beverage ideal for people with active lifestyles. ACTIVATE is naturally sweetened with stevia – making it a guilt-free, 0-calorie drink with surprising flavor and no preservatives or sugar.  Did you know that vitamins and other healthy ingredients lose potency sitting in water? By storing the active ingredients inside the unique cap, separate from the water, ACTIVATE’s vitamins stay fresh, potent and offer a convenient way to get a healthy dose of the nutrients your body needs to help you activate your well-being.



Jessica Renee

Saving Memories Forever- Keeping your families memories online

 

I am a person that loves preserving any kind of memories that I can. Whether it be pictures, home videos, or scrapbooking. My aunt went and downloaded my mom’s side of the family’s family tree and had it printed out for each of her family members, mostly for my Grandmother’s Christmas present one year.

It meant a lot to me to have this because I had been trying to do the same thing for my dad’s side of the family. I think it’s interesting to read about each and every single family member whether I knew them or didn’t.

My Grandmother and I were super super close. She passed away in 2011 from Brain Cancer, so I wish I had some recorded memories of her. She and I used to sit around and talk for hours and hours. I loved hearing her tell her life stories. Her family was a very large one, so some stories were funny and some very sad.

I wish I had each and every single one of those stories recorded so that not only I could revisit them, but so my kids would know and remember her as well. My son was 3 and my daughter 1 when she passed away, so they aren’t going to recall her from memory.

 

I found a site that lets you record and save memories so that you always have them. The site is called Saving Memories Forever. It isn’t hard to use, it’s very simple actually. You can use this straight from your computer if you have your files on MP3 or have a recorder on there. OR you can download the app (for Iphones and Android 2.2).

You can add storytellers to your account, and put their photos in their profiles while adding what age range they are in.  The fun part is that you can tell your own stories or you can answer some of their prompt questions if you can’t think of anything to tell at the moment.

After you’ve chosen to tell your own story or pick a question.. you just talk about what’s going on with whatever story you’ve chosen to tell. Then you upload the recording and it goes to your account on the Saving Memories website.

You can then choose to upload it to Facebook if you wish.

I love that you have all the memory making tools right at your fingertips. When you go to your next holiday or just visiting someone in your family, you can just whip out your phone and get to recording.

I try and record all my families memories that I can from my memory. Stories about both my dad who died when I was 7 and my maternal grandma. That way I have them and my kids have them as well.

I also try and record stuff from my childhood and theirs, that way they can look back and see all the fun times we had, all the funny stuff they say, and just random times. I love this!

There are free accounts and premium accounts. Check them out today! What a great gift to give to your relatives this holiday too! A year long premium membership! And don't forget to check them out on Facebook as well.

Disclosure:  “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Advertise For Bloggers for Saving Memories Forever. A free trial and promotional items have been provided in exchange for my review.  Regardless all opinions are my own."

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Acure day cream: gotu kola stem cell & Acure Night Cream

I was excited to be able to work with Acure Organics. They have SO many different NATURAL products that have so many health benefits, yet smell and WORK well too. I love how they researched every single product they make and insert the perfect ingredients to give the perfect results.

This is the standard that they make for each of their products:

• Vegan
• Paraben free
• Sulfate free
• Cruelty free
• Gluten free
• No Synthetic Fragrance
• For normal to dry skin.

This time I want to tell you about the Acure Day Cream: Gotu Kola Stem Cell + 1% Chlorella growth factor and the Acure Night Cream: Argan Stem Cell + 1% Chlorella Growth Factor.

The Day Cream

So, I’ve been putting this on my face every single morning since this came in the mail. I’ve always had oily skin in some parts, while other parts can become dry in the winter. This was perfect for my skin because it helped with the dryness while not making my “oily” skin more oily. It was perfect.

I was absolutely delighted by the packaging. All their packaging is just SO unique. The designs on the box have the same designs on the outside with just about every single product they have, I love it.

I loved the smell and the texture of this day cream. It has such a light and refreshing scent. It goes on very smoothly and leaves my skin hydrated and  nourished. My skin is always so soft after using this, which can be very addicting.

The best thing about it is that I needed something lightweight that wasn’t going to clog up my pores. I needed something that could easily be put underneath makeup. This helps with both. It’s lightly scented and refreshing, which is a huge change from overwhelming smells from a moisturizer.

This not only has helped my skin with texture problems, but it makes my skin seem more calm. It just has a balance now that wasn’t there before. My makeup doesn’t cake up or get too greasy, my skin is clean and clear.!

I LOVE this product! It works efficiently while also being vegan and containing absolutely no chemicals or anything harmful. My skin glows with perfection now, and I was absolutely astonished with the results.

I want to keep immaculate skin. I don’t want the signs of just pop up on me one day and wonder how it happened. I want to take a stand NOW before I get into my 30s and 40s and see crows feet, wrinkles, and fine lines. I love that this has ingredients to help with the aging process. To help maintain a fresh and beautiful complexion.

it features gotu kola stem cells to moisturize and 1% chlorella growth factor, along with specialized plant stem cells, probiotics, organic argan oil, olive leaf and CoQ10. CGF is clinically proven to protect collagen and elastin fibers from enzymes that destroy them.

BUY IT: You can buy the Acure Day Cream: Gotu Kola Stem Cell + 1% Chlorella growth factor  for $18.99 for 1 oz.

 

The Night Cream

This is nature’s miracle night treatment. My skin feels so rejuvenated when I wake up in the morning! This actually helps the skin’s natural repairing process and helps to firm and moisturize the skin in the process.

This actually feeds, improves, and mends the skin cells. My skin has been in need of some extra TLC here lately. With winter here my skin has definitely been begging me for more moisture. The cold and bitter winds have chapped and dried my skin out.

Since I’ve been using the Acure Night Cream my skin has definitely done a 180, Where my skin was beginning to dry out, I noticed immediate results in the moisturizing department. My skin just started feeling so nourished and healthy.

I love the packaging, the smell and texture of this as well. There is nothing like having beautiful bottles sitting on your vanity or nightstand just waiting for you to use. These are made with actual glass bottles, so it adds a sophistication and classiness that plastic will never give.

This also has a natural, beautiful smell that isn’t overwhelming. It immediately soaks into my skin. My skin devours and just drinks this in. I use it right before hitting the sheets, and wake up with clear moisturized skin.

The best thing about these items are that they are available at Whole Food Stores if you have one near you. I don’t, but I still think that these items are affordable because not very much is needed. A $20 bottle will last for a VERY long time, so you can think about how long it lasts rather than just the cost.

BUY IT: You can buy the Acure Night Cream: Argan Stem Cell + 1% Chlorella Growth Factor. for $19.99

Connect with Acure on Facebook and Twitter

Jessica Renee

 

Review: Toilettree Professional Skin Care System

Have you ever wished you could experience refreshing, rejuvenating, and cleansing day at the spa RIGHT at home? Now you can, with the Toilettree Professional Skin Care System.

I got this about 3-4 weeks ago and have been using it daily since it arrived. I immediately fell in love with this! System includes: 2 face exfoliaters (1 soft for sensitive skin types & 1 medium for normal skin types), 1 body exfoliator and 1 pumice sphere.

This is to be used on the face AND body. The smaller attachment is for the face. There are two; one for people who have sensitive skin (so it’s softer), and one for those who have normal skin (so it’s harder). Then they have the larger brush which is for the body, and the pumice stone for the feet.

The Professional Skin Care System, along with a daily cleaning regimen, helps assist the following:
-Stimulates skin renewal.
-Improves overall skin clarity and appearance.
-Removes dead skin cells to expose healthier-looking skin.
-Energizes skin and leaves it sooth, soft and radiant.
-Cleans deep to help remove stubborn makeup.
-Enhances absorption of moisturizes.

This can be used by men and women alike, and even save for children to use. It is waterproof (COMPLETELY). My daughter made sure of that. She was holding it under the water and it never ONCE hesitated.

The rotating brush distributes a gentle exfoliation that gets deep into the pores to bring out the dirt and germs that cause bacteria. Exfoliation activates cell renewal, which clears the skin of all the dead skin cells and promotes healthy skin cells!

The best part about it is that I don’t have to remove my makeup before I use this. It takes makeup off without a hitch. I am prone to blackheads on my nose and they are extremely hard to get rid of without proper exfoliation. Although they aren’t completely gone they have really improved.

Exfoliation helps to reduce problematic skin issues such as oily skin, dry patches, blemishes, fine lines, blackheads, visible pores and wrinkles. Now a spa at home is within your budget!

BUY IT: You can buy the Professonal Skin Care System for $25 in blue, pink, or grey.

You can also find ToiletTree on Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

 

Review: Youcopia Classic SpiceStack 24-Bottle Organizer

Do you like cooking or baking? Do you have a giant variety of spices sitting around taking up cabinet space? Can you never find anything that you need to find WHEN you need to find it?

Photo Courtesy of: kevinberardinelli.com

The Brilliant Youcopia Class Spicestack is the new and improved way of storing those spices! That way you know what is where and how to get to it when you need it most. Save time and sanity this holiday season!

This can easily fit into your cabinet or beside your stove. Wherever you see it’s best to get to everything you need without it making a hassle and giving you a headache. I don’t know how many times spices have gotten pushed to the back of the cabinet.

When they got to the very back, I’d have to take the time to get a chair and pull it up to the counter so I could look further back into the cabinet. I’d still have to push and drag stuff here and there just to see what I was looking for. It was a hassle and took up time that could have been spent cooking and getting it done.

I love the Youcopia Super Spicestack I can put this close to my stove on my counter and have all the spices right at my fingertips when I need them. The drawers pull out and lower to a resting position so that you can leave it like that if there is something else you may need in the same rack.

The drawers pull out very easily so that everything is in clear view and easy to see. Everything is easy to reach and I can just slide it back in if I’m done. I love feeling organized. It not only saves me time searching through everything, but it saves me from feeling frustrated from wasting so much time looking.

It Includes 96 labels that are easy to stick on the front with no problem. If you have spices that aren’t in the collection, there are blank ones that come with the set too. It even tells you what font and size the labels are written on so you can easily duplicate it.

Organizes 24 full-size or 48 half-size spice bottles and fit all standard cabinets. If you have more spices than normal people you could always buy more and stack them on top of each other! They are very easily stacked.

I love that it came fully assembled. I didn’t have to struggle at looking through instructions. I just took it out of the box and it was ready to use. This would be the absolute perfect gift for the cook or baker in your life (that might even be YOU).

BUY IT: You can click here to find retailers near you! and they are available at all the online retailers below.

 

Jessica Renee

 

Game Review & Giveaway: Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Disney Epic Mickey 2 is out and available for all game machines, and my kids were pretty excited to be selected to give it a try. This is the first game that I’ve known to be as a type of “musical,” but it’s staying true to Disney’s musical past.

Mickey and Oswald hook up as partners in Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. Mickey has his paintbrush that he can apply and control both paint and thinner. Oswald has his almighty remote that allows him to command electricity.

It kind of reminded me of Sonic at first, where your “pal” follows you around. The only difference is that you can’t switch out characters with a button like in Sonic. BUT in Epic Mickey 2, in hard spots you can push the circle button and Oswald will fly into the sky- you press X and Mickey will hop on his tail and he will help you across.

When you enter into a new “dimension” of this game, the characters will add more to the story by busting out in song that has all original music and lyrics. You go into “Wasteland” where you run into the MAD Dr. and he promised that he has learned his lesson of destroying the town after earthquakes tear up the town.

Wielding the paintbrush, Mickey roams around the town trying to fix the town up. There are also smaller quests that you can do by walking into stores, restaurants, and camera shops and such and talking to people.

The kids thought it was fun. Everyday when my son goes to school Adisyn asks me to play this. She has never had a game for her before, so she was super excited. It’s a little hard for her because she’s 3, but she asks me to help when she can’t go any further.

Oswald has never spoke until this game, he will have the voice from the famous Scooby Doo.

Disney fans, gamers and parents can buy Disney Epic Mickey 2 at $59.99 for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U, $49.99  for Wii and PC/MAC and $39.99 for Nintendo 3DS.

Fan Disney Epic Mickey on Facebook

Follow Epic Mickey on Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Keeping your promises....to yourself.

By the time the frantic holiday of Christmas is over, we’ve overspent, overeaten and certainly overworked. With January looming like a shiny fresh start, it’s no wonder we all make our New Year’s Resolutions with well intended promises to ourselves. Come February, those promises might be getting a little tougher to keep, so here are some ideas to keep some of the most common resolutions steadfast through till summer.

1. Lose Weight. After all that rich Christmas food, it’s no wonder this resolution will appear on most people’s list this year. Start with small manageable steps, increase you daily activity level by walking more during the day or cycling to work if you can, reduce your portions by 10% and set yourself a curfew of 7pm after which you don’t have anything else to eat. These small changes will soon add up to a healthy and regular weight loss per week and you won’t suffer the yo-yoing weight loss and gain of fad diets and expensive gym memberships.

2. Give up smoking. Figures show that 67 per cent of smokers want to stop and that 75 per cent have tried to quit unsuccessfully. Nicotine replacement gums and patches have been successful in aiding people who want to quit however, for those who find these methods unsatisfactory, you may want to consider the electronic cigarette. Containing nicotine, but none of the carcinogenic tobacco, electronic cigarettes have been designed to still give you the sensation of smoking without the nasty smells, smoke or negative health implications. You can even buy flavoured e-liquids at ecig wizard to fill your e-cigarette and switching to this method may be the intermediary change you need to successfully ditch the tobacco once and for all.

3. Be more organised. The biggest benefit of being well organised is time. More time to spend with people you love or doing something fulfilling for yourself, so it’s well worth the effort to make this one stick. Identify your procrastination areas! The biggest time thief in my life is my laptop. Sometimes invaluably helpful, at other times a wonderful distraction from the list of ‘things I really should be doing’. Teach yourself to get chores done in a timely fashion and reward yourself when they are done.

4. Take up a hobby. Having a pastime that is a relaxing, fulfilling and a little escape from the stresses of everyday life is one of the best therapies you can have. You may think you have no spare time for a hobby but I’ll be willing to bet that you find the time to sit and watch the TV. Spend the time more productively on your hobby. It could be crafting, sewing, or something more social like joining a choir or book club; you will get a far greater sense of achievement from it than the television gives you.

5. Spend less. Being out of control with our finances can lead to terrible stress and even arguments with our spouse as the financial pressure takes its toll. Now that Christmas is over, cut up those credit cards and concentrate on paying them off before you accrue any more debt. The New Year is a good time to take a look at your incomings and outgoings and see if there are any easy areas to make swift cuts. Then work on other areas, such as the food bill and try to reduce this by planning ahead the meals you will make. Contact your utility suppliers to see if there is a lower tariff you can go on or whether your monthly payments could be reduced.