Monday, 25 May 2009

Great For Wedding


This is a beautiful book, with a nice listing of toasting "do's and don't's" but half of the book is made up of quotes and poems. I'm not really the quote or poem type, but if you are, this is the book for you. I also found the advice a bit formal for my taste. To the Happy Couple: Creating a Great Wedding Toast with Style'


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6 Person Inflatable Boat - boat, inflatable boats


Pros: Comfort for 3 people, Stability of platform, Ease and speed of set-up

Cons: Boat it easy to nick when deflated, HANDLE WITH CARE when it isn't inflated



Have had this boat for about 6 months, and love it. Use it on a local river where my center console with it's heavy non-jetted 90hp outboard is a bent prop waiting to happen. Bought the motor mount kit, and a 30lb thrust Minn Kota troller. It navigates the river with little difficulty, except for the faster stretches, where I really wish I had purchased a 50lb thrust motor.

The boat is super comfortable with 3 people, a bit tight with 4, and the seats work really well. The most amazing thing to me about this boat is the hard floor, which allows you to STAND in this inflatable boat. (Absolute truth, even me at 190 pounds. My 130lb sons could dance the watusi in it.)

Set up is a breeze. Takes about 10 minutes. The dual action manual pump included is also amazing. Can't believe how quickly it inflates the boat. I've found it handy for other inflatables around the house, as well. Do NOT buy an electric pump to replace it.

The one drawback I've found is that the boat is very easy to damage when it's not inflated. The vinyl is super sturdy when inflated, but when it is deflated, and folded, that creates sharp corners at the folds. Rub that against something abrasive, and voila, leak. (Voice of experience) I don't consider this worthy of dropping the rating, as it was my carelessness that damaged the boat, but you really need to be careful transporting when folded up, and if you can store it flattened out, I would think that would be safest.

In all, this is an amazing product for the money. Use it a lot, and couldn't be much happier with it. Recommend highly. Intex 4 Person Mariner Inflatable Boat Set

I read a ton of reviews for rafts/inflatables before choosing the mariner 4. I purchased the motor mount and a minn kota 30lb thrust trolling motor to go with it. I was looking for a boat that would be comfortable with my fiance, large dog and myself in it. We took the boat out today and had a blast on the lake and moved around just fine even though it was windy. It is very comfortable and sturdy. I am a 225 pound man and I stood up just fine in the boat. The material seems pretty heavy and durable. I was worried a little bit about my dog's claws tearing a hole in the side but by the end of the day he had went in and out and not a scratch on the boat. I would highly reccomend this boat to anyone looking to get out on the water and relax. Two people stretched out with plenty of room for a good size dog in the middle and a cooler is great. The only things I would recommend would be to add an exstension handle to the trolling motor and some kind of cushions to lean back on. The motor sits a little far back and can get uncomfortable constantly reaching behind to steer. As soon as we came home I ordered the extension so next time I will be extremely comforatable. Some people said it is like a toy or that it tears easy but I don't know why. It looks like a raft and and you can tell it is a thick tough material and has a hard floor insert. Not much more to say. Hope this helps.

After considering several options in the inflatable boat department we settled on the Intex Mariner 4 primarily due to the plank flooring. While I have no regrets about our choice, just be aware that the planks are inserted through a series of sleeves in a strong vinyl panel that mirrors the boat's bottom. Despite the hard surface of the planks the spaces inbetween them still allow for significant play in the flooring when standing or moving about. Hence, any talk about doing the "watusi" or a considerable amount of casting while standing is going a bit overboard...perhaps literally. Sure, you can stand but it's not going to remotely reflect the experience of an actual hard surface craft. Sitting down is still going to be the most suitable option.

On that note, from a fishing perspective the inflatable seats were too low and pliable so we opted for a couple of 32 inch wide storage chest from the local big box hardware store. They're strong, inexpensive, fit perfectly and feature cup holders on the lids no-less. Besides a much higher seating profile, this added tremendous storage space and a much better base for casting and maneuvering the boat via the trolling motor. Toss on a couple of seat cushions and you're comfortably set.



In terms of roominess, if your aim is to simply cruise around the water sans the fishing element, perhaps four people (adults or kids) pushed together is a possibility, but as noted by others, there is no way you could enjoy fishing on this boat with more than two people...it would be a logistical nightmare with room to do little more than hang a line over the side and hope no one sneezes.

These shortcomings aside, the Mariner 4 is as rugged of an inflatable as your likely to find at this price-point and while it may cost more than other similar inflatables, it's by far a better option for those who want to get out on the water without the considerable expense or headache of an actual boat.

This is a great raft for the money. Its tough and stores easy. I paired this with a 30lb thrust Minn Kota and love it! The floor planks make a huge difference for stability. You can easily stand up while casting without any robble. Would definitely recommend this to anyone without the space or money for a real boat. - Intex - Inflatable Boats - Inflatable Sailboat - Boat'


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Blanket - throw, alpaca


I still don't understand why these guys are having such a hard time selling this throw enough to reduce the original price by 75%...whatever, our gain. The quality is soft and smooth, but not as much as you might think. However, you can right away tell that the product is high in quality. The shipment, coming from Ecuador, was relatively quick, and the product was packed nicely. This is a terrific Christmas idea for anyone. Keep in mind that the colour of the throw is more bordeux (like wine) than purely red (like they show in the picture) Extra 40% Off Soft 100% Alpaca Wool Reversible Throw Blanket Deep Solid Burgundy Color

I have been looking for a blanket/throw to use while TV etc, that is a good size, natural fiber at a good price. There are millions of choices out there on polyester based fiber that will cause static electricity in the dry weather - NOT what I want. This items delivers it all and more: it is made of alpaca, a great natural fiber that rivals (and possibly better) than wool, light weight yet warm, a great deep burgundy color that enhances any interior decor, a great size, at a great price! I haven't found any better value on the internet or in physical store yet. I have already got compliments from friends on this. Highly recommend!

The blanket is terrific. It has a wonderful feeling. One could lose their job because it is hard to remove it and go to work. It arrived with $22.00 Postagte Due from Ecuador though...did not expect that.

Bought this for my son and his new condo, which he likes to keep cool to save on energy cost, important in New England! I own two baby alpaca coats, so I know how warm, lightweight, and soft the material is. This throw does not disappoint. The color is fabulous, a dark, rich Burgundy (NOT red, as someone else noted that the images shows). Even though coming from Ecuador, it arrived much earlier than expected. Highly recommended!

Package was due April 10, arrived April 9. I immediately unpacked and machine washed it in cold water and a tablespoon of detergent. After drying on the line, I brushed it with a new shoe brush to restore the luster. Love the feel and is really warm and light. Sixty inches is a bit narrow, I wish it was sixty four inches wide so that there would be some draping on both sides of our double bed. But, it is what they say it is and is a fine blanket.

I purchased this for my TV room. We have had it for 6 months. It has had only very light use but looks just awful. The fuzzy nap is completely pilled up. Little bits of stuff are caught up in the pilled nap. I do not know what I can even do with it. It can't be washed. It arrived looking ok but in less than 6 months it is ready for the trash. I would like to know who reviewed the the blanket. The reviews were so exceptional I almost bought more than one. I am glad I waited to see how it worked out. - Alpaca - Blanket - Throw - Wool'


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Ipod Docking Station


[Update: In answer to some questions, this stereo has a conventional audio input, so you can easily use it with sound sources other than an iPod. As someone has observed, the Cyber Acoustic web page claims the Nano 3g can't be charged by the CA-421 dock. Au contraire! When using electrical power and the included dock adapter, I had no difficulty charging a Nano 3g with this CA-421 dock. In fact, contrary to the company's description, it did the same with a Classic and the Touch (I don't own an iPhone, though.) Since writing the following, I've "gone through" other speakers, including the most popular rechargeable Altec Lansing and Logitech, both of which balk at playing the newest Touch. This inexpensive iRhythms model actually sounds competitive and continues to be the only portable I can depend on (no doubt due to the well-constructed adapters and the provision for using regular AA alkalines). As for the outdoors volume limitation, even the very pricey, much lauded Tivoli iPal falls flat on its face when used outside. These battery-operated machines simply are not backyard party animals. Finally, these are far and away the best labeled and designed adapters I've seen.]



After becoming attached to a JBL Micro, I decided I could use another, more affordable version. The Cyber Acoustics dock-speaker seemed like a worthy candidate, especially at a half to two-thirds the price of the JBL. Frankly, I wasn't expecting a unit as good as the vaunted JBL but was willing to sacrifice some quality to save a few bucks.



Surprise. If anything, the Cyber Acoustics sounds better than the On Stage Micro! Tastes will vary, but the CA-421 is slightly warmer, has deeper and fuller bass, and is less inclined to distort when playing files recorded excessively "hot." The Micro is a bit more crisp-sounding with a slight edge in treble frequencies (as noticed while comparing the drum's hi-hats and ride cymbals on the two units). I'm finding the Cyber Acoustics unit "wears" better for extending listening stretches.



Aside from the sound of the two units, the Cyber Acoustics-421 will seem agreeably light and trim--unless you've owned a JBL Micro, which wins on style points (the impressiveness of the Micro's sound is partly due to its coming from such a tiny saucer). The JBL also gets points for finishing touches and detailing--the look and feel are less "plastic" (even though, unlike the boxed CA, it comes sealed in virtually impenetrable plastic laminate). Also, the JBL's carrying bag is supple and cushioned (with interior pockets and velcro straps to keep Micro, iPod, and cords tightly and neatly packed); the CA's is basically a functional "sack." On the other hand, the Cyber Acoustics has clearer labeling of the plastic inserts for adapting different iPod models; the JBL comes with the inserts, but the user has to pick the right one through trial and error.



Even if the cost of the two units were the same, the CA-461 would still be competitive, if for sound alone. Perhaps the most compelling reason to go with the JBL in that case is its inclusion of a remote--admittedly handy for starting, stopping, and changing tunes when the speaker is on the other side of the room. But even without the remote, I doubt you'll find a better value in an iPod dock-speaker than this little Cyber Acoustics overachiever.



Finally, give the Cyber Acoustics people credit for making the power adapter light and compact, easily deployed whenever the user wishes to save on batteries (I returned a JBL On Stage II because the power adapter was practically the size and weight of a small boat anchor, making it clumsy for use even with some electrical installations.) Cyber Acoustics Portable Digital Docking Speaker for iPod (Black)

I was looking for something cheap to listen to podcasts while I was working in the garage. This thing plays loudly with no apparent distortion. Very well designed with digital volume control. Recharged my iTouch in less than an hour. At the present it has adapters for all iPods regardless of what the descriptions may say. Had I paid twice as much I would have still regarded it as a bargain.

These speakers have great sound for their size. If you're looking to spend this amount on speakers, then they are great. I listen to dance music when I'm travelling and the sound is good when it's played reasonably loud. My only (small) complaint is that I have a white iPod and only black speakers are available. But apart from that, I'm really happy with these.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted something small, w/ good sound and portable. This docking station delivers. The sound quality is great considering how small it is. Of course to much of anything is bad, so if you decide to turn it all the way up, you may blow the speakers. I don't think it was made to serenade the whole neighborhood. It fits all IPODS, even the Iphone, and the best is that is doubles as a charger.

Some things to keep in mind. It does not have controls on it (only for volume) so most controlling (skipping, repeating, searching, sound) is done from your IPOD. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on what your wants are. Also, it has great sound, but again, this is used more for a small area, like a dining or kitchen or garage area. Not for music heard all over the house. For that you may want to consider buying a stereo system w/ a docking station. Also, it comes w/ no remote. This didn't bother me, but keep in mind that you have to walk over to it to change settings, songs, etc. A little exercise never hurt anyone! Finally, the speakers don't carry. If you've ever had a Bose, the speakers are constructed around the docking stations allowing them to carry sound further. Not this one. For example, I had the docking station in the kitchen and as soon as I went to the next room, the sound was muffled a bit by the wall. Really not a big deal because it satisfied my needs in the end, but if you are looking for projection, check out a stereo system instead.

All in all, this satisfied my need for a docking station and I'd buy it again any time of the week and twice on Sunday. The price was great, the quality is great and the docking station is simple, problem free--perfect for an electronically challenged person like myself ;)!

Monica'


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Conversation Cards - girls night, games


I purchased this for a Girl's Weekend getaway this fall and we got so caught up in it we never got around to watching our Chick Flicks. Made the six of us feel closer (and many of us have known the others for years). It also encouraged the ones who don't talk as much as the others to do so -- great for women of all ages. Table Topics Conversation Cards - Girls Night Out Edition (Pink)

This was great to use to pick back up the conversation during a lull. We had so much fun with it that we kept seeing what the next card would ask. It is great for get togethers.

I did take out some of the 'downer' cards before using the set. But there really weren't many of those.

The box is really nice, and the questions are thought provoking and/or can bring out some fun and hilarious stories and explanations! You will talk about things, and learn things about your friends that you might not have otherwise.

I used one of the reviewer's tips and had everyone draw a few cards and only read those that they were comfortable with, or dig back in for some more interesting topics. That was a great idea! Everyone loved it so much they wanted to pull out more cards just to see what other things they could find out about everyone.

Lots of fun!



I look forward to using it again and again :O)

I have brought this to two different dinner gatherings with different groups of women. It was so much fun to go through the stack and ask each other these questions! At both dinners I learned more about my girlfriends than I ever knew! We began conversation topics we would have never talked about. Here's one tip: have each person grab part of the stack and ask the questions that they like.

I got this for my sister for her 40th birthday. I gave them to her at a big dinner party and they were the hit of the night! They were passed around all night and everyone was laughing and talking. Since we went through all the cards at dinner, now I have to get her another set. She loved them and so did all of her dinner guests. These are a great idea for the person who has everything or you don't know what to get them.

Fun questions that prompt fun and meaningful answers from women who are married with kids. I find it tends to be geared more towards them. That being said, there are a lot of questions that don't apply to the single, kidless crowd. So, if you fit that scenario, this might not be the card set for you.



I have read the questions on the Original Table Topics, and I found them much more engaging. I thought they were more thought provoking, and if I was able to trade this set for them, I would.



Some of the questions in this set include, "Which of your children would you want to take care of you in your old age?" "if you had one week by yourself at home what would you do?" "if something were to happen to you who would you pick to replace you in your family" "what view would you love from your kitchen window". While these are interesting questions, I found them a little flat and boring.



So, this review is coming from the perspective of a single, kidless person in her 30's who doesn't view herself as the domesticated girly girl. If you fit this description, you might want to pass on this set and choose the Original Table Topics instead.

I hosted a Ladie's Night last Friday. We usually play Bunco but I decided to do something different and brought out these cards. We had so much fun and were laughing so much. I highly recommend you try this for your next girl's get together!

I brought this set to a girls' night out where there were old and new friends. It helps break the ice with people who don't know each other very well, yet you still learn something new about friends you've known a long time. A great combination of funny, serious, and risque questions. - Games - Girls Night'


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Articulating Wall Mount


This mount is about the best I have seen yet. Looking locally, I couldn't find anything for less than $60 -$80 (even walmart). This came home for about $25. It mounts easily, comes with all hardware, it is black, just like the TV I mounted and the cables I strap to it to get them out of the way. The swing is very smooth, there is very little rock (side-to-side). The tilt (pitch) is very sturdy but adjustble. I don't have a single complaint about this unit. VideoSecu Articulating TV Wall Mount Bracket for VESA 100 LCD LED Flat Screen Monitor TV 1E9

Nice product, fairly well built, and attractive black powder coating. I mounted a 26" HDTV (22.8 lbs) on our bedroom wall. As others have mentioned, no rotation after installing makes it important that you measure carefully before drilling. Here's a couple tips that should help your install.



Before proceeding, I suggest that you tighten the arm hinges (using the supplied Allen wrench) to where you think they should be. They were fairly loose on the mount that I received. Reason being ... Their tightness changes the level of the TV bracket.



1st tip: First thing I noticed was that the top of the bracket that mounts on the TV was NOT parallel with the mount's arms when the mount was folded flat. Therefore, I mounted the vertical wall bracket (plate) so that the TV bracket was level; this meant that the wall bracket was NOT perfectly vertical, but just a "scosh" off vertical.



2nd tip: Even doing this, the TV was still not exactly level; close, but not "perfect". This time I took a round file to the screw holes on the TV bracket and elongated them to correct the rotation required to make the TV perfectly level. It didn't take much filing; less than 1/8".



That did it! TV hangs perfectly level now when flat against the wall, which is where it is used mostly. Swinging the TV out to "max" position from the wall, due to the slight "give" others have mentioned, the TV is a gnat's off from level, but this is low priority and tolerable.



One other point: If your TV/monitor is wider than 26", you won't be able to get it completely perpendicular to the wall, something to consider.

This monitor arm is pretty cool, and great price point. I mounted a 26" LCD TV weighing like 32 LBS. Have not had a problem with it. I did need to make a trip to the hardware store for some longer screws than what was provided to connect to my TV.

I purchased this mount to hang a 15" LCD TV, weighing less than 9 pounds (the specifications rate it up to 33 lbs). I carefully measured and used a level to mount the swing arm on the wall, but when I hung the TV, the position of the arms and the small amount of "give" between the arm segments caused the TV to hang at a slight, but noticable, angle. You can tighten the arm segment joints, which helps the problem somewhat, but you won't be able to swing the arm around once tightened. The swivel adjustments only allow you to change the side-to-side angle and the vertical tilt, there is no way to fix the rotation of the set.

I tend to be the engineer type, so looks don't win me over if a product is flawed below the surface. This mount looks good, if and when you catch a glimpse of it but most important to me, it is designed well. The joints lock and hold positions well because the design provides enough flat mating surface area. All of the major parts are solid cast, forged or machined.

Finally, after you have mounted a monitor or TV, this mount does not demand or call your attention back, it just does its job, `quietly', behind the scene.

I purchased this wall mount on the basis of other reviews. It was perfect for our need. Installation was very easy, the bracket was well made, moves easy (side to side, up and down). I put a 15" tv on it and I am well satisfied compared to other brackets that are 3 & 4 times the price. I give this bracket a 5 star rating.

In one of the other reviews someone said something about the mount being lose or having some "give", I am thinking they may have recieved a bad mount and should send it back. I have a 23" LCD mounted with this bracket and its tight and holds the TV right where I set it. Now I can see where if you mounted it maybe a little off center where you could complain that they should have put a rotation(tilt) adjustment on it. But alas if you mount it level then you should have no problems. It was easy to mount and does what it should. A mount like this at a box store will cost you about $80, so you can't beat this price. The product is also very durable

I own 8 flat panel TV's, all of them wall mounted, for two (26"ers) of them I am using this particular bracket. I like the flexibility of these brackets, however, they are quite "wobbly" and that leaves me with great concern each time I adjust them. Only time will tell if they will hold up to the moderate usage they receive.

I bought this product to mount a flat screen computer monitor to the wall. It installed easily and works great. You can pull the monitor out from the wall and adjust the swivel (for instance, parallel to wall or at an angle. If you need something you can adjust for different height users, then be aware that this under $30 unit does not adjust for height; you pick the height and that's the height it will be. You have to get a more expensive fully articulating model if you want to be able to change the height.'


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Led Faucet Light - novelty, led light


This faucet light provides a blue glow to running water. In the dark it glows a fantastic, gorgeous blue that fills the sink with shimmering colors. It was very easy to install and worked for me immediately.



Unfortunately, the ad shows a stream of focused deep blue water that isn't quite accurate. In daylight or when the bathroom lights are on (aka: most of the time), the water has just specks of a dim pale blue scattered throughout the stream. The blue is more focused at the top, not evenly all the way down. Also unfortunately, the cheap-looking plastic rim of the adapter detracts from the overall effect. The faucet adapter is also an awkward length of over 2" long, which can pose problems in certain sizes and shapes of sinks.



When the light are off the blue water is absolutely *awesome* and gorgeous, but realistically how often do people use the bathroom in the dark? Overall I would recommend this as a novelty, but warn against expecting too much from it. The blue really isn't as dramatic as the product ad shows. Faucet Light

The light would be great, but it will not fit on my Chicago faucet. Neither of the adapters work. I've been to plumbing supply stores, and nobody can help. The 800 # couldn't help me either. So, order at your own risk!

We were very excited about installing the lighted faucet extension. It was definitely easy to install, and excitement was high. For my kids, it meant they would have a blue light on their hands while washing, which made it more fun. For the adults, it meant the kids would be more likely to remember to wash their hands, and it would remind them to turn the water off when finished, because if they didn't the light would still be on - RIGHT? Well...that's the way it's supposed to work. At this point (approx. 4 months later) the light is on ALL the time, whether the water is on or not, sometimes brighter than others. But it's not quite as bright as it was at the beginning. So it's not such a novelty anymore, so I still have to remind the kids to wash their hands.

This nifty little gizmo is all kinds of fun. It's not super bright, but in normal it's noticable and at night (think candle light) it's gorgeous. Words of caution, don't over tighten or else it can be a bear to get off, pick a sink that's fairly deep or else it inhibits movement.



Finally to address all of the complaints of it not turning off, here's the deal folks, it's not a pressure switch, it's an electronic switch, the water short circuits a little electronic gizmo and turns on the light. Now if you have the little electronic gizmo gets a drop of water on it, it will continue to remain lite, so rotate the assembly until the water doesn't stick on the little golden contacts. Have fun!

This IS an excellent, fun gadget. My husband and I get a silly sense of fun from it, as do all three of our children (ages 15, 10, and 5).



I do have to agree with the reviewers that complain about it not turning off after the water is shut off, though, and am not sure why. I understand the reviewer who said it's an electrical issue, but on the other hand, we only have trouble with the light staying on when the water stream wasn't terribly strong to begin with. When that happens, if you turn the water on HIGH briefly and then turn it off, the light does go off.



All in all, it was well worth the money.

from the moment we put the light on the kitchen faucet, we have had nothing but fun and awe. It is neat to see clear to the bottom of your glass, even in the dark. And it makes the water taste sooooo good because it looks like cool blue spring water. I have sent one to my daughter also, and they are having a blast with it in the bathroom, plus she reports that the little ones use it for a night light when they have to be in there for just a minute. Love it!!

The Blue Faucet Light was the biggest hit of the Christmas gifts this year. I bought three, when they arrived my husband decided he just had to have one, everyone I showed wanted one, so I ended up ordering three more. It is easily installed, doesn't interupt the water flow and is a great conversation piece.

This was really fun for about 2 weeks. After that, the light would just stay on all the time, and then the batteries died (because the light was on all the time). So now we just have this weird plastic thingie on our faucet because I haven't gotten around to putting the old screen back on. - Novelty - Led Light'


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