Sonicare

We LOVE our Sonicare toothbrushes! I have always heard great reviews of the Sonicare toothbrush. I have even had dentists, orthodontists, and periodontists recommend it to me (and my kids). I wanted one but just wasn't willing to spend that much money on a toothbrush! But when Target had a sale AND I had a coupon AND there was a rebate I took advantage of it! Now all four of us have our own Sonicare toothbrushes! We love them! They have been worth every penny and more! We just went for our six month dental cleaning after only using them for one month and received rave reviews on our dental care! (My son told the dentist he has a "secret tool"!) There is a timer (once you turn it on, it goes for two minutes and then automatically turns off) to be sure you actually brush long enough - big plus! But the biggest plus:
There was a visible difference in my son's teeth after one day!
There was a visible difference in my husband's teeth after two days!
There was a visible difference in my teeth and my daughter's teeth after just one week!
(Yes, that is a lot of exclamation marks - but, WOW! We LOVE our toothbrushes!)

Now let me warn you, as the instructions did: The first time you use it, it really tickles and is uncomfortable - your gums and lips get all tingly. You want to stop before the two minute timer is done. That is okay. The next time you use it, it is much better - you at least know what to expect. By the second full day of using the Sonicare, you notice the "tinglies" but it is not an issue. After that, it is all just routine and completely comfortable.

Oh, another warning: make sure you keep your lips closed unless you want beautiful splatters all over your bathroom! :)

Thunder Dog

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing as an "Advance Reader's Copy Uncorrected Proof." What a treat! This is Michael Hingson's story of his escape from the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. With Michael's calmness, his guide dog Roselle's confidence, and his faith in God he makes it down the 1,463 steps safely.
Not only was this a great first-person point of view from an event none of us will forget ten years ago, but about his bond with his guide dogs, and how the author has made and is continuing to make the most out of his life. This book is also very educational in terms of learning about the blind. Michael does a thorough, yet not degrading, job of explaining how he (and the blind in general) would like to be treated. In fact, at the end of the book there is a section titled "The Courtesy Rules for Blindness." There is also a "Glossary of Terms Related to Blindness" at the end as well as an article by Kenneth Jernigan titled "Blindness: A Left-Handed Dissertation."
The "dissertation" explains Michael Hingson's attitude toward his blindness - not as a disability at all. In fact that what people think about blindness, the myths, the attitudes of the sighted, etc. is the true "problem."

100 Questions & Anwers About Multiple Sclerosis

This book was much deeper and "text-bookier" than I need for understanding. In fact, I am still processing this book... wondering why there is such a slant about using steroids... is there an alterior motive? Is this really all fact? Is opinion talking over the fact? But this reading has given me more (educated?) questions to ask my neurologist.

It talks about the negative use of oral and IV steroids... which I have known and have experienced the side effects. However, this book also says that high dose steroids may result in serious muscle damage and that "IV steroids were shown to actually induce the death of brain nerve cells. Another treatment, ACTH - also called corticotrophin - (a treatment I had never heard of until this book), "has the opposite effect" and "have an anbolic (protein building) effect." BUT, "Many neurologists favor the use of steroids as being convenient, disregarding the lack of adequate controlled trials in MS." This book even states that "corticotrophin remains as the only FDA-approved treatment for attacks (relapses) of MS." Really? Then why haven't I heard of it? Why hasn't my doctor mentioned it? Lots of questions... still processing...

A Vision of Lucy

This time the book offered to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing, in exchange for a review was an ebook. (I love reading on my nook!)
A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley takes place in the 1880's when women were considered not worthy to vote and were to marry so they could be taken care of, not necessarily because of love. Lucy is a young woman who has not yet married and is more focused on helping her brother go to medical school and developing her interest in photography than accepting proposals from men she doesn't love.
I enjoyed the references to the history of photography - having to have longer shutter speed depending on the light, having to stay still for so long - even that people use to have the backs of their heads in braces so they wouldn't move in the time needed to get the picture without blurriness.
I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter by Miss Gertrude Hasslebrink, a female photographer of 1878. They didn't always tie into the chapter which was confusing but the quotes were fun on their own anyway.
Three stars for this book.

Daddy Dates

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright was a book provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a review. Since my husband is the dad, I gave him the book to read and review:

Greg Wright writes about the necessity of building and maintaining a strong relationship with his four daughters who range from pre-teen to late teenager.

His story centers on his method of calling his daughters and taking them on “dates.” Not the usual date of dinner and a movie, but quality time with his daughters by taking them to dinner, bookstores, libraries, fancy-schmancy dates, or wherever he can have alone time to talk, to get to know his daughters, and to learn their likes, dislikes and current problems.

With an early teen daughter myself, I particularly appreciated his discussion of girls maturing, becoming teenagers, starting to date, and eventually moving on to college. He has had many of the same struggles I have had and many of the same joys. I enjoyed reading his perspective, his shortcomings, his successes, and his failures then comparing them to my own. Nevertheless, parts of the book just weren’t me. I’m not sure I will ever call my daughter to ask her out, then show up at my own front door and knock like I am at a stranger’s house.

I give the book three stars largely because of the flow. I slogged through the book, but several times wanted to put it away and read something else. Someone who has a good relationship with their daughter(s) and spends quality time with them may find comfort in a similar perspective, but the book likely won’t shed much light. But for those dads, like Greg, who are distant from their daughters and want to draw closer, perhaps even becoming a confidant, this is an excellent book to give you some ideas and suggestions.

23 Things You DON'T Need to Buy

This was a fun article with lots of great hints from the All You Magazine. Things like:

• instead of buying wall filler, use white toothpaste.
• use white bread to clean wallpaper.
• use salt to remove hardwater stains
• use White-Out instead of appliance paint for the little nicks.
• use a banana peel to remove scuff marks on leather (shoes, furniture).
• use olive oil to remove oil-based paint from your skin.
• spray weeds with vinegar to kill them in the cracks.
• use vinegar to kill germs in the bathroom.
  
• use baking soda to clean the barbecue grill.
  

And my favorite:

• Use a pillow case to clean fan blades - the dust stays in the pillowcase instead of flying around the room! :)
  

Microwave Popcorn

I just found this article recently about making your own microwave popcorn. How cool! For Christmas I bought my husband a microwave popcorn jar that makes FABULOUS popcorn so I probably won't use this hint but I'm sure some of you will find it handy!

Heart of Ice

This is book three of a series but the only one I have read. That made it a little difficult to follow the number of characters in the first few chapters but I was still able to follow the storyline without knowing about the previous two books.
I have mixed feelings about reviewing this book. It read very quickly and I didn't want to put the book down in needing to know what was going to happen and how. However, I assumed this was Christian fiction (a book provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a review)and was very surprised by the number of murders. The selfishness of the characters was not addressed or changed. Yes, one of the characters prayed but that was the extent of any sort of Christianity.
I knocked the review down to three stars simply because it is not the type of book I would pick up on my own. But it is a good mild thriller.

Voices of the Faithful

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a review.

It is a good book and has 365 short "inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world" to read daily. Each story is told by a different person who has a great testimony of how God has worked in their area of the world. You also get a look into the different customs and traditions of the different cultures. However, this book was not what I was expecting, hence the three stars. It said "with Beth Moore" so I was expecting an in depth reading and that is what I was searching for as a new devotion book for the year. This is a very quick daily devotionanl that may give you a moment of pause and encouragement but does not encourage you to delve into God's Word as I was hoping.

Product Downsizing

Sunday's paper had an interesting article about product downsizing, saying consumers would rather pay the same price for less than see a price increase for the same amount. Here are some examples of product downsizing the listed:

• SCOTT TOILET PAPER: The original square was 4.5" x 4.5"; it is now 4.1" x 3.7"
• TROPICANA ORANGE JUICE: was 64 oz.; now is 59 oz.
• IVORY DISH DETERGENT: was 30 oz.; now 42 oz.
• KRAFT AMERICAN CHEESE: 24 slices to 22 slices
• COSTCO PAPER TOWELS: was 96.2 square feet; now 85 square feet
• HAAGEN DAZS ICE CREAM: was 16 oz.; now 14 oz.
• LANACANE FIRST AID SPRAY: was 113 g; now 99 g
• HILLS BROTHERS COFFEE: was 34.5 oz.; now 27.8 oz.

All of that to remind you also that when things go on sale, check the amounts you are buying. It may not be a bargain!