Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Welch's and Influenster

I got the chance to try Welch's Fruit Rolls and Welch's Fruit Snacks.






We really liked the Rolls. They had a nice taste and were fun to eat.

The Fruit Snacks had artificial dyes so, we gave them out on Halloween.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv6aX29iJU8&feature=youtu.be

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Quick post about testing ZzzQuil #ZzzQuil, #SleepLovers, #gotitfree #ad

Through Influenster, I got to try ZzzQuil. I received these products complimentary for testing purposes.

I am a hard core insomniac. Like I can stay awake for a few days, insomniac. I can stay awake through Ambien, insomniac.

 
Since Vicks and Influenster were nice enough to send me a sample, I tried it.


My insomnia won.

If you are having a bout of insomnia, try ZzzQuil. It made me a little drowsy and would work great for someone who needs a little help getting to sleep.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Mayfield Ice Cream Review #sponsored

I got the chance to test Mayfield Ice Cream for Influenster. I bought Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Moose Tracks. Influenster and Mayfield sent me coupons for free product and a nifty ice cream scoop.


Well, it's an okay ice cream. There are a lot of additives but, they don't use hormones in their cows.  We were limited in our flavor choices because 1/2 of their flavors contain either artificial colors or artificial sugar (high fructose corn syrup).

Mayfield is generous with their mix ins. There were plenty of cookie dough blobs in the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and lots of fudge and peanut butter cups in the Moose Tracks. The ice cream itself is the weakest part of the experience.

The ice cream doesn't have a lot of flavor and can't stand up to the mix ins.

My son having fun while I scoop ice cream.
 
 
I don't think I will go out of my way to buy this brand.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Felippo Berrio Review

Thanks to Influenster, I got to try a free sample of Felippo Berrio Olive Oil. I tried both the Delicato and Robusto flavors.


The Delicato lives up to it's name. It is a delicate oil with a light flavor. This would be great for salads or when you are looking for the benefits of olive oil but not the strong flavor.


The Robusto has a light floral aroma and a slightly bitter olive taste. The Robusto is great for dips, salads and adding to bread recipes.
 #OLIVEyouFB


Saturday, December 05, 2015

Pattern for a Braille Knit Blanket

My mother-in-law is a fabulous knitter. World class, ribbon winning, old world knitter. I could spend a lot of time and a big thesaurus describing the goodness of her knitting.

Many years ago, MIL made an alphabet blanket for a newborn baby. The letters were sunken in and each letter had a different color of yarn. At the time, my mother was working with a main-streamed (public school) blind girl. I asked MIL if she thought she could do a  Braille version of the blanket for my mother's student. I think her answer was "Sure". I forgot about the project until a week later when my MIL came to me with different styles of knitted Braille dots. In that week, she had done research on Louis Braille, the Braille language and how Braille is used around the world. My MIL is a physicist and loves knowledge. A few weeks later, she had a Braille blanket.

Each strip was done in a different color, for the sighted, and a different textured yarn, for the blind.


The blanket in this picture is a later version made for my mother.

Jessica, my mother's student, loved it. She was just learning Braille and was thrilled that a non-blind person knew it too. Jessica's mom wouldn't let her use it and hung it on the wall. My mom had to convince her that it was made to be touched and used.

MIL went on to create blankets for my mom (above picture), my blind aunt and a few for the Lion's Club to be used in their auctions.

I don't knit so I don't understand the pattern. PDF version PDF



Carla’s ABC  Braille Blanket   2015 © Part 1 of 2
 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        a               b               c               d               e               f               g               h
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1.....4....X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X....1.....4....X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X
X....+.....+....X....2.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....5....X....+.....5....X....2.....+....X....2.....5....X....2.....5....X
X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        i               j               k               l               m               n               o               p
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....2.....+....X....2.....5....X....+.....+....X....2.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....5....X....+.....5....X....2.....+....X
X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        q               r               s               t               u               v               w               x
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X....+.....4....X....+.....4....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....+.....4....X....1.....4....X
X....2.....5....X....2.....5....X....2.....+....X....2.....5....X....+.....+....X....2.....+....X....2.....5....X....+.....+....X
X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....6....X....3.....6....X....+.....6....X....3.....6....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        y               z              #1                              #2                              #3
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X....+.....4.........1.....+....X....+.....4.........1.....+....X....+.....4.........1.....4....X
X....+.....5....X....+.....5....X....+.....5.........+.....+....X....+.....5.........2.....+....X....+.....5.........+.....+....X
X....3.....6....X....3.....6....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
       #4                              #5                              #6                             #7
YYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....4.........1.....4....X....+.....4.........1.....+....X....+.....4.........1.....4....X....+.....4.........1.....4....X
X....+.....5.........+.....5....X....+.....5.........+.....5....X....+.....5.........2.....+....X....+.....5.........2.....5....X
X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
       #8                              #9                              #0                               !               ?
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....4.........1.....+....X....+.....4.........+.....4....X....+.....4.........+.....4....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X
X....+.....5.........2.....5....X....+.....5.........2.....+....X....+.....5.........2.....5....X....2.....4....X....2.....+....X
X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....4....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        J                               e               s               s               i               c               a
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY..........,YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....+.........+.....4....X....1.....+....X....+.....4....x....+.....4....X....+.....4....X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X
X....+.....+.........2.....5....X....+.....5....X....2.....+....X....2.....+....X....2.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X
X....+.....6.........+.....+....X....+.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        C                               a               r               o               l               y               n YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....+.........1.....4....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1..........X....1.....+....X....1.....4....X....1.....4....X
X....+.....+.........+.....+....X....+.....+....X....2.....5....X....+.....5....X....2.....+....X..........5....X....+.....5....X
X....+.....6.........+.....+....X....+.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....6....X....3.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        B                               r               a               i               l               l               e
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....+.........1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....+.....4....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X
X....+.....+.........2.....+....X....2.....5....X....+.....+....X....2.....+....X....2.....+....X....2.....+....X....+.....5....X
X....+.....6.........+.....+....X....3.....+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X....3.....+....X....3.....+....X....+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
        R                               e               a               d                               m               e
YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............YYYY............X
X....+.....+.........1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1.....+....X....1.....4....X..........+....X....1.....4....X....1.....+....X
X....+.....+.........2.....+....X..........5....X....+.....+....X..........5....X..........+....X..........+....X....+.....5....X
X....+.....6.........3.....+....X..........+....X....+.....+....X....+.....+....X..........+....X....3.....+....X....+.....+....X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 


In Braille
 
        a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h
        i   j   k   l   m   n   o   p
        q   r   s   t   u   v   w   x
        y   z      #1      #2      #3
           #4      #5      #6      #7
           #8      #9      #0   !   ?
            J   e   s   s   i   c   a
            C   a   r   o   l   y   n
            B   r   a   i   l   l   e
            R   e   a   d       m   e
 
Bobbles are on the 8th row.
 
I made each row of Braille a different color and a yarn with different feel.



Carla’s ABC  Braille Blanket   2015 © Part 2 of 2
In English


+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+....+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+...XXX...+.........+.........+.........+...XX....+.........+.........+.XXX.....+.........+...XXX...+...XXXXXX+........XXXXXX.....+
+.XX..XX..+.........+.........+.........+...XX....+.........+.........+.XX......+.........+..XX.XX..+...XX...XX.......XX+...XX....+
+XX....XX.+.........+.........+.........+...XX....+.........+.........+XX.......+.........+.XX...XX.+...XX....XX.....XX.+.........+
+XX.......+..XXXXXXX+..XX....XX...XXXXX.+...XX...XX.......XX+...XX....+....XXXXX+.........+XX.....XX+...XX...XX......XX.+.........+
+XX.......+.XX...XX.+..XX.XXX.+..XX...XX+...XX....XX.....XX.+...XX.XXX+...XX....X.........+XXXXXXXXX+...XXXXXX+......XX.+.........+
+XX.......+.XX...XX.+..XXX....+..XX...XX+...XX....+XX...XX..+...XXX..XX...XX....+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....XX.....XX.+.........+
+XX.......+.XX...XX.+..XX.....+..XX...XX+...XX....+.XX.XX...+...XX...XX....XXXXX+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....+XX....XX.+.........+
+XX....XX.+.XX...XX.+..XX.....+..XX...XX+...XX....+..XXX....+...XX...XX........XX.........+XX.....XX+...XX....+XX....XX.+.........+
+.XX..XX..+.XX...XX.+..XX.....+..XX...XX+...XX....+..XX.....+...XX...XX...X....XX.........+XX.....XX+...XX....XX......XX+...XX....+
+...XXX...+..XXXXXXXX..XXX....+...XXXXX.+..XXXX...+..XX.....+...XX...XXX...XXXXX+.........+XX.....XX+...XXXXXXX........XXXXXX.....+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+........XX.XX......+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........XXX.....,+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+......XX.+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+XX.......+.........+...XXX...+...XXXXXX+........XXXXXX.....+
+......XX.+.........+.........+.........+.XX......+.........+.........XX........+.........+..XX.XX..+...XX...XX.......XX+...XX....+
+......XX.+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+........XX.........+.........+.XX...XX.+...XX....XX.....XX.+.........+
+......XX.+..XXXXX..+..XXXXX..+..XXXXX..+.XX....XXXXX.....XXXXXXX.....+...XXXXX.+.........+XX.....XX+...XX...XX......XX.+.........+
+......XX.+.XX...XX.+.XX....X.+.XX....X.+.XX...XX.+..X...XX.+.XX......+..XX....X+.........+XXXXXXXXX+...XXXXXX+......XX.+.........+
+......XX...XX.+.XX...XX......+.XX......+.XX...XX.+......XX.+.XX......+..XX.....+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....XX.....XX.+.........+
+......XX.+.XXXXXXX.+..XXXXX..+..XXXXX..+.XX...XX.+......XX.+.XX......+...XXXXX.+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....+XX....XX.+.........+
+XX....XX.+.XX......+......XX.+......XX.+.XX...XX.+......XX.+.XX......+.......XX+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....+XX....XX.+.........+
+.XX..XX..+.XX....X.+.X....XX.+.X....XX.+.XX...XX.+..X...XX.+.XX......+..X....XX+.........+XX.....XX+...XX....XX......XX+...XX....+
+..XXXX...+..XXXXX..+..XXXXX..+..XXXXX..+.XX....XXXXX.....XXXXXXXX....+...XXXXX.+.........+XX.....XX+...XXXXXXX........XXXXXX.....+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+XXXXX....+.........+.........+........XX...XX....+.........+XXXXX....+.XX......+.........+.........+XX.......+.........+...XX....+
+XX..XX...+.........+.........+...XX...XX...XX....+.........+XX..XX...+.XX......+.........+.........+XX.......+.........+...XX....+
+XX...XX..+.........+.........+........XX...XX....+.........+XX...XX..+.XX......+.........+.........+XX....XX.+.........+.XXXXXX..+
+XX..XX...+.XX..XXX.+..XXXXXXX+...XX...XX...XX....XXXXX.....+XX..XX...+.XX....XXXXXXX....XX.XXXX....+XX...XX..+..XXXXX..+...XX....+
+XXXXX....+.XXXXX...+.XX...XX.+...XX...XX...XX...XX...XX....+XXXXX....+.XX...XX.+.XX.....XXXX..XX...+XX..XX...+.XX...XX.+...XX....+
+XX...XX..+.XXX.....+.XX...XX.+...XX...XX...XX...XX...XX....+XX...XX..+.XX...XX.+.XX.....XXX....XX..+XX.XX....+.XX...XX.+...XX....+
+XX....XX.+.XX......+.XX...XX.+...XX...XX...XX...XXXXXXX....+XX....XX.+.XX...XX.+.XX.....XX.....XX..+XXXXX....+.XXXXXXX.+...XX....+
+XX....XX.+.XX......+.XX...XX.+...XX...XX...XX...XX.........+XX....XX.+.XX...XX.+.XX.....XX.....XX..+XX..XX...+.XX......+...XX....+
+XX...XX..+.XX......+.XX...XX.+...XX...XX...XX...XX....X....+XX...XX..+.XX...XX.+.XX.....XX.....XX..+XX...XX..+.XX....X.+...XX....+
+XXXXXX...+.XX......+..XXXXXXXX...XX...XX...XX....XXXXX.....+XXXXXX...+.XX....XXXXXXXX...XX.....XX..+XX....XX.+..XXXXX..+...XX....+
+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+.........+
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
Copyright 2015 - Carla G,Messina


 

Idea suggested by Vicki Scott,                   Size 5 needles

 

Cast on 153 stitches, The borders are 6 stitches in seed pattern (purl in the knit and knit in the purl),After the border is done then the row starts with 6 seed stitches and 6 knit,Change color and knit 129 stitches,Finish with 6 knit and 6 seed stitches in the second border color,The bobbles are placed on the 8th rows.

  

Bobble stitch - On a jersey base (one row, purl the next) as follows: - k into front and back of same stitch until 5 stitches are on the one stitch, turn, work 4 rows in the five stitches, then slip the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stitches over the 1st stitch, With the bobble stitch, you loop the bobble stitch stem tightly by the yarn on the next purl row,

 

The bobble must not be able to be pulled through to the other side or the braille characters will be incorrect,There is a bobble on every eight row and 5 stitches between bobbles,Tack down bobbles.

 

The rows of all X’s are purl.  The columns of X’s are purls on the knit side.  The reverse rows are all purl. 

 

The only exception is the upper left hand corner with the Y’s.  Question, Which way is up?  The Y’s are tactile marks for the blind.  The X’s are for the sighted.  The +’S and .’s are knit stitches.

 

The revere side of a row in English is knit in the knit and purl in the purl.

 

The bold face characters are for the blind.  The normal font is for the sighted.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Nexxus #HairThatMoves VoxBox from Influenster #sponsored

I got picked for the Nexxus #HairThatMoves VoxBox from Influenster and I am pretty happy about it.

So, I didn't wash my hair everyday. I have very thin hair and daily washing is a bit too rough and can make my hair fall out. Adding to that, our water is terrible.  I thought Nexxus was in for a battle.

When I do all three steps, my hair is wonderfully bouncy the next day. My curls are curly and have lots of body.



Step 1: Shampoo.

I liked using the shampoo as an almost daily shampoo. My hair is too thin for daily washings. I was able to use it as part of the 3-part system as well as a stand alone shampoo.

Step 2: Conditioner.

This is a nice and thick conditioner. It was a bit heavy for daily use. Sometimes, I would skip the conditioner and go straight for the oil treatment step. I liked it as part of the 3-step but it was too heavy for my thin hair.

Step 3: Oil.

I *really* like the Oil.  There were days when I skipped the conditioner and did the oil treatment after washing my hair. I liked that the oil provided a type of softening of my hair without the weight of a conditioner. The bottle says the oil can be used on wet or dry hair. For me, it was better on my wet hair than dry. On my dry hair, it weighed it down and made it feel a bit greasy.

Would I buy?: Yes.

The Nexus #HairThatMoves 3-step Oil Infinite System is Harley the dog approved!




I received these products complimentary for testing purposes.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Review of Crimson Peak

I'm a fan of Pacific Rim. I like bit bots and I can not lie.

I was looking forward to seeing another film from Guillermo del Toro in another genre I like.

When I got home from watching the movie, I told my husband and son all about my trip to the movies. I had a weird guy in my row. He felt the need to speak to everyone in the theatre (not during the movie) and moved around during the movie. Weird couple that moved away from weird guy twice. Couple in the front that asked the usher about getting RiffTrax to the theatre. I also told them about the 'prize' I found in my popcorn.



I didn't want to leave because I discovered it as the movie started and didn't want to miss a moment of del Toro imagery. It was a piece of the popcorn machine.

My son finally asked, "But did you like it?".

I don't know.

I am a fan of the gothic genre. I am a fan of del Toro. I don't think I am a fan of this movie. That doesn't mean I didn't like it.

Dear Guillermo,

Please stop casting Charlie Hunnam as an American. He can't do the accent and he sounds weird when he tries. He is pretty. His acting isn't bad. His American accent is bad.

Love, Me

I think Crimson Peak would have worked better as a mini series. I would give del Toro more time to develop the characters and to develop the reveal. For me, there was too much time on the set-up of characters and story and not enough time on the reveal and motivations. The last 1/4 of the movie felt rushed. I wanted to know more about the ghosts and their motivations.

If del Toro had put a 10c sticker in the corner of the poster, I would have loved the gothic romance reference. I read a lot of gothics. The 10c was the price when they were considered 'pulp fiction'.

Most of the gothic romances were written in the 60s and 70s. Later stories had more paranormal elements. A gothic can have a range of none to some paranormal things going on before it gets reclassified as a paranormal. Crimson Peak reminds me of many of the gothics I have read.

I enjoyed the visuals. The mansion was delightfully spooky. The characters were dressed for their parts. The villains were in dark colors and the heroes were in light colors. I have read that del Toro is very conscious of color when he makes a movie. Except for Hunnam's accent, the acting was good.

Will I see it again?

Yes.