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Movie Reviews, Movies
Movie Review by Kristin: Disney's Live Action ALADDIN
September 12, 2019 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: Disney's Live Action ALADDIN
Hello there, movie lovers!
In light of the newly released Live Action and Signature Collection versions of Disney's ALADDIN on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray this week, I wanted to repost my review of the Live Action version! I was lucky enough to catch a screening of it here in Miami and, I have to say, it was much better than I expected!
Let me preface my review by saying that I've always loved Aladdin. The original movie was one of my favorites & I loooooooved the game on Sega. Collecting apples, leaping onto wooden stairs and hopping from stone to stone to avoid lava in the Cave of Wonders. This movie has all of that, which brings back a strong sense of nostalgia. Who doesn't love that??
With that being said, let me get to the cast. There were some strong feelings going around when the cast was announced. Not necessarily from myself, but the only actor involved that I really knew of was Will Smith, who was cast as Genie. Mena Massoud (Aladdin) and Naomi Scott (Princess Jasmine) were unknown to me, but now I can't wait to see what they do next! The three of them carried the film, along with some scene stealers by Abu, Aladdin's infamous pet monkey. The chemistry between Massoud's Aladdin and Scott's Princess Jasmine was evident from the beginning. Some of the iconic scenes from the original were recreated here, further enhancing that nostalgia!
Personally, I loved the cast. The only one I thought could have been a bit stronger was the role of Jafar. The actor in this movie has a soft voice that doesn't seem to carry much power when he's on screen. This isn't to take away from his work as an actor, I just don't know that he was entirely right for this particular role. Jafar always had this menacing presence in the original, and I just didn't necessarily feel that here.
I loooooved the singing and dancing! They changed things up some, allowing Smith to sort of modernize the role of Genie a bit. Some of his songs have more of a little rap vibe as opposed to regular singing & it worked! My only "complaint," if you can call it that, was that in some of the dance numbers, it seemed like the timing was sped up a little. It looked like it was in fast mode when I think it would've been nicer to see it in real time.
One thing I want to mention again is the modernization in this one in comparison to the original. Aside from Genie's contribution, we also see a stronger female presence when it comes to Princess Jasmine's role. This version includes a new song, "Speechless," that touches on how she's supposed to be seen and not heard, but she refuses to remain speechless. It's an important message, especially for little girls, that I'm glad they included & Naomi Scott performs the song beautifully.
Admittedly, I had another idea for who should have played Aladdin, and, as I mentioned before, I had no idea who Mena Massoud was. After watching this, my mind has been changed & I think Massoud played the role of Aladdin way better than I expected! He was charming and really seemed to embody the character we all know and love.
I definitely recommend checking this out when you can! It's fun, it's entertaining and it brings back a little piece of our childhood we didn't know we needed!
ALADDIN | Official Channels
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #Aladdin
Concert Reviews, Music
Tour Review | JONAS BROTHERS: HAPPINESS BEGINS TOUR 2019 | American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL – 8/7/19
August 8, 2019 August 8, 2019 by KristinLeave a Comment on Tour Review | JONAS BROTHERS: HAPPINESS BEGINS TOUR 2019 | American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL – 8/7/19
First things first . . . HOLY SHIT the Jonas Brothers still know how to put on an incredible show. The whole thing was high energy from the moment they took the stage!!
I just want to give a little backstory to my attending this show. 10 years ago, I took my niece to her first concert here in South Florida. She was 5 and she was decked out in a Jonas Brothers t-shirt, Jonas Brothers press-on nails and Jonas Brothers sandals. You guessed correctly, her first concert ever (at 5 because I'm the coolest aunt ever) was the Jonas Brothers. When the guys announced that they were getting back together, I knew I was going to have to sell a kidney to get tickets for the niece to see them again, almost exactly 10 years later! & that's what I did (minus the selling of my kidney on the black market lol).
I also want to state that the marketing team for the Jonas Brothers deserve a raise! Their cryptic posts leading up to the show had fans going nuts trying to figure out the set list and what surprises would be coming next. The intrigue for all things Jonas has been heavy for months now and that is extremely good for the brand. 😉
The show started at about 7:45 with Jordan McGraw, who played a pretty short set. Bebe Rexha came out next and played her hits, which got the crowd pumped up even more for the guys.
While the crew was setting up the main stage, the crowd started SCREAMING and everyone was turned towards the back of the arena. The Jonas fam all walked in and grabbed seats in the VIP Section, but you would've thought the guys had walked out! It was really nice to see a packed arena mostly comprised of young girls all cheering for the guy's wives, daughters, family and friends rather than hating on them for changing their relationship status haha. Kevin's daughters must've thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Photo Courtesy of Jonas Brothers on Twitter
Anyway, the guys came on at about 9:30pm and it was absolutely insane. They had the perfect mix of old hits sprinkled with new songs off of their Happiness Begins album. There was a mini stage set up in the back of the arena, in the VIP section, so every seat in the arena was a good one. Whether you were in the back sections or the front, you got a chance to see the guys just a little bit closer than you would with just a regular end-stage setup. The music was loud, the vocals were on-point and the whole production was very well thought out and put together. You can tell that a lot of preparation went into this tour and everything was executed perfectly. My only wish is that is was being filmed! Who knows, with all the surprises they've had for everyone lately, maybe it was. The show ended at about 11:20pm.
At one point towards the end of the show, the guys brought out Sebastian Yatra, Natti Natasha and surprised everyone by bringing out Daddy Yankee for a special performance of "Runaway". Between special guests, confetti canons, pyro, fireworks and those silly inflatable dancing creatures, the show was just a party from start to finish. Even outside of the arena was decorated with balloons and made it feel like a party despite the heat and humidity haha. There were also little photo op areas throughout the hallways of the arena.
I also want to point out that I've been to A LOT of concerts, and this one might be at the top as far as high-energy is concerned. I mean that sincerely. The crowd was jumping and screaming and singing the words back to the guys the entire time and all I kept thinking about was their documentary, where Kevin asked if anyone would care that they were getting the band back together. After seeing the first show of the Happiness Begins Tour last night here in Miami, I hope that question has been answered for him and erased any doubts they might've had. It's obvious that the fans are here to stay!
I HIGHLY recommend checking this show out if you get the chance. The tickets are a big pricey, but they're honestly worth it. A huge congratulations goes out to the guys on the success of their first show back and well wishes for the rest of the tour!
Check out the set list for our show below:
We are the Jonas Brothers (video intro)
That's Just the Way We Roll
Used to Be
Can't Have You
Cake by the Ocean
Mandy / Paranoid / Got Me Going Crazy / Play My Music (medley)
Hold On / World War III / Tonight (medley)
Runaway (with Sebastian Yatra, Daddy Yankee and Natti Natasha)
Movie Review by Kristin: FIVE FEET APART
June 16, 2019 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: FIVE FEET APART
Wowwwwwww. I finally got a chance to see FIVE FEET APART last night, and my only regret is that I didn't see it sooner!
SYNOPSIS: Seventeen-year-old Stella spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control — all of which get put to the test when she meets Will, an impossibly charming teen who has the same illness. There's an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction.
Let me start by saying that the cast in FIVE FEET APART was amazing. The story focuses on Stella (Haley Lu Richardson), Will (Cole Sprouse) and Poe (Moises Arias), all of which have Cystic Fibrosis. Their performances throughout this movie were absolutely incredible. You have the besties who can't console each other as other besties would. You have the lovebirds who can't touch each other or be any closer than six (five) feet apart. It's heartbreaking & their performances really convey those feelings to the viewer. Even the supporting cast was great!
It should come as no shock that Justin Baldoni put together such an amazing film. Have you seen his proposal video???? I'm linking that HERE because it's epic in every sense of the word lol. FIVE FEET APART was beautifully shot and you can tell he sprinkled some of that Baldoni magic on it!
Admittedly, this story looked similar to other young adult movies that involve an illness, so I was expecting the same outcome. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the differences though! I laughed, I cried, I cried and I cried some more. This movie was beautiful and tragic at the same time, in the best way possible.
SPOILER ALERT: After it was over, my mother said, "I really liked this movie. I'm so glad neither of them died." My response was that I'm not sure which would be worse, having someone die and not be able to touch them or to have someone right in front of you and not be able to touch them. Obviously, I'd rather not have someone die, but can you imagine the torture of being able to see that person you love standing right across from you and never being able to feel their touch? Bleh!
Cole Sprouse, Haley Lu Richardson and Moises Arias were phenomenal. You truly felt their pain, their guilt, their love and their friendship. It was an interesting look into Cystic Fibrosis that most people, including myself, were unaware of.
I highly recommend watching this movie with a box of tissues (or two) and then watch it again and again! ♥
FIVE FEET APART | Official Channels
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #FiveFeetApart
Movie Review by Kristin: ALADDIN
May 22, 2019 May 22, 2019 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: ALADDIN
Good morning, movie lovers! Happy Hump Day!
Last night I was able to catch a screening of Disney's live-action ALADDIN here in Miami and, I have to say, it was much better than I expected!
Leading up to this Friday's release, I feel like the movie hasn't had a lot of promotion. Everywhere I look there are promos for this Summer's release of The Lion King, but barely anything for ALADDIN. I'm hoping that word of mouth will do the movie some good!
Movie Review by Kristin: THE LAST SUMMER
May 8, 2019 May 8, 2019 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: THE LAST SUMMER
Happy Hump Day, movie lovers!
I was able to check out Netflix's newest rom-com, THE LAST SUMMER this week and, I have to say, I enjoyed it!
SYNOPSIS: Teens from a Chicago high school grapple with their dreams, relationships and identities in a transformative summer before they leave for college.
Let's start off with the cast. This cast was a mix of well-known actors (KJ Apa as Griffin, Maia Mitchell as Phoebe and Tyler Posey as Ricky) and relatively unknowns. Some of the characters were a bit over the top, and I'm not sure if that was due to a lack of experience or if that's just how the characters were made to be. Either way, the majority of the cast fit really well together in their own little storylines. They're never all together in one scene, which contributes to making this movie a bit more relatable for some people. In high school, you're not always in this huge group of people that always gets along. Sometimes you're alone or with one friend or with that person you have heart eyes for.
Each set of storylines were interesting to watch play out. Whether you're recently graduating from high school or you graduated long ago, we all remember that crossroads moment when you realize everything is about to change. The characters in THE LAST SUMMER are all facing that familiar crossroad, so it brings back a sense of nostalgia for the viewer. Relationship troubles, applying to colleges, not getting into the college you had your eyes set on, figuring out where you're headed and what mistakes you've made along the way . . . all of that plays out in this movie.
There's not much action and it may not be my favorite movie ever, but it's definitely worth a watch. The cast is great, the setting makes you want to pack your bags and head to Chicago, and it's just a feel good movie that brings you back to that special time when you truly discover that life is at your fingertips.
Check it out for yourself, now on Netflix, and let me know what you thought!
Movie Review by Kristin: Netflix's BRAIN ON FIRE
December 28, 2018 by Kristin2 Comments on Movie Review by Kristin: Netflix's BRAIN ON FIRE
Holy shish kabobs!
I saw the trailer for BRAIN ON FIRE on Netflix a while ago, and I finally had a chance to sit down and watch it this week.
For the most part it was pretty slow-moving, but seeing as this movie was based on the real life story of Susannah Cahalan, it was also pretty terrifying.
SYNOPSIS: Susannah Cahalan is a promising writer at the New York Post. She's young, she's happy and she's living her best life in NYC. When she begins exhibiting unexplained erratic & violent behavior, her parents & doctors race the clock to correctly diagnose her condition and to bring Susannah back.
The first half of the movie, as I mentioned, was pretty slow-moving. This is no action movie, but it's the telling of the real Susannah Cahalan's experience with a rare condition called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. So, the slowness is just us watching a normal day in Susannah's life before experiencing any symptoms. Once she begins experiencing symptoms, it's a downhill battle because no one knows exactly what's causing her behavior and none of her doctors know what her diagnosis is just yet.
It was interesting to watch the movie and watch this person go through something as terrifying as basically being trapped inside of your own body, and then to read the facts about how many people go through this unknowingly.
If you want to watch the movie for yourself, you can catch it on Netflix now, and you can also read the memoir by the real Susannah Cahalan, also titled Brain on Fire.
Movie Review by Kristin: THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES | Starring Kurt Russell
December 19, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES | Starring Kurt Russell
Good morning, everyone!
I'm hoping that everyone is feeling the Christmas spirit – what with Christmas only being less than a week away and all. I've just been cookie-baking and Christmas shopping and feeling the onset of my anxiety when I think about what I've spent and what I'll eventually have to pay back lol. I did find some time to sit down and watch THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES on Netflix this weekend and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised!
SYNOPSIS: The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.
Kurt Russell is THE perfect Santa Claus. He's the coolest version I've ever seen in a movie, that's for sure. What other Santa have YOU seen that wears a red leather coat? I'd also seen that the people who handled the special effects in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Home Alone also handled the special effects in this one, so I went into it with pretty high expectations. With that being said, I thought they did a fantastic job. I remember thinking to myself that this is the perfect Christmas movie for kids to see because not only was Santa relatable and very human-like, but it was everything that I think a child might try to envision. For example, how does Santa carry around gifts for so many children in one little bag on his sleigh? This movie brings that idea to life and allows children to see what the inside of that bag might look like.
While I, myself, became salty that a fictional character was taking all of the credit for my hard work in buying gifts for my niece when she was younger, I still found myself enjoying this movie very much. It had the corniness that all Christmas movies have, but it also had adventure and a coolness about it. It brings imagination to life in a new way. I've seen a few people say that this movie is safe for children 10+ to watch, but I also have friends who have watched this with their younger children & they loved it. It's an edgy twist on the idea of Santa and I highly recommend checking it out! If you're not 100% sure if you should watch it with your young ones, perhaps you should watch it yourself first. Either way, curl up on the couch with some popcorn and hot cocoa and enjoy the swag that Kurt Russell brings to the character!
PRETTYMUCH: Funktion Tour 2018 | Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 10/29/18
October 31, 2018 October 31, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on PRETTYMUCH: Funktion Tour 2018 | Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 10/29/18
Hey there, concert-goers!
Guess who spent 11 hours at Revolution Live on Monday because they're the best aunt ever?? This girl right here! I'd bought my niece & I VIP tickets so she could meet PRETTYMUCH, and that pretty much (pun intended) included sitting outside the venue from 11 am until the show was done at almost 10 pm. In Florida. Where we don't participate in gorgeous, chilly Fall weather. Nope. We sat (thankfully) in the shade with the sun glaring down around us for most of the day.
If you weren't already aware, PRETTYMUCH is composed of Zion Kuwonu, Brandon Arreaga, Nick Mara, Austin Porter and Edwin Honoret. They were put together in 2016 by Syco Music founder, Simon Cowell and have been working extra hard to get their name out there in the music industry.
The "meet & greet" at our show started between 4:45 and 5 pm, and was a quicker experience than I thought it would be. I know that's not up to the guys though, and all the girls seemed to appreciate what little time they did get with them, so we do as good family members do and shell out the cash to make them happy doing the things we didn't get to do when we were younger. I happened to have bought myself a M&G ticket before I knew my niece had a friend coming down for the show, so I gave her my wristband so she could meet the guys.
After the meet & greet, fans with VIP tickets got to head inside of the venue early in order to score some merch and grab their spots as close to the stage as possible. I opted to stand where the parents were in order to avoid getting trampled by excited fans (believe me, I understand the excitement lol). Doors for those with GA admission entered the venue at about 6:30 and the show actually started at 7:30 with opening act, Gunnar Gehl.
Gunnar was great at hyping up the crowd before PRETTYMUCH hit the stage. He had a mix of upbeat songs and slow, acoustic songs, as well as a medley of covers that the crowd knew and loved.
PRETTYMUCH hit the stage at about 8:30 to hundreds of high-pitched screaming fans that couldn't wait to catch their favorites up close. I have to admit, I've been to A LOT of live shows in my life so far and this had to be one of the most lit crowds I've experienced. From the moment the guys stepped on-stage, the energy level was through the roof. If you've ever watched their performances on YouTube (I've seen plenty), you know that that's their reputation. Their performance level is always beyond 100. What I like about watching them perform is that rather than trying to be completely in sync with their dancing, they each do the choreography in their own respective styles. There's just something different about them that I think really resonates with their fans. They dress different, they dance different, they are different and that's a great message to spread to their young fans. They're not a cookie-cutter boy band and they're likely not going anywhere for a while! Which is cool because even though I'm 34, I actually really like their music and their dancing (don't judge me).
While performing, there were huge bursts of smoke that shot out over the crowd when the beat dropped, which only seemed to hype the fans up even more. Their set was about 1 hour – 1 hour and 15 minutes of non-stop excitement and I definitely recommend checking out one of their shows if you can.
You can check out the set list below:
Summer On You
Denim On Patrol
Mind of Poseidon
Solita
Would You Mind (dance break)
Head over to my YouTube channel for videos that I recorded at the show HERE.
You can also visit their official site for more remaining tour dates, etc. HERE.
Movie Review by Kristin: A STAR IS BORN | Starring Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga
October 6, 2018 October 6, 2018 by Kristin2 Comments on Movie Review by Kristin: A STAR IS BORN | Starring Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga
Happy Saturday, movie lovers!
I just got back from an early morning showing of A STAR IS BORN and I am absolutely blown away. It was even better than I expected and seeing it in Dolby (thanks, AMC) made it even more incredible.
In case you were unaware of the plot:
SYNOPSIS: A musician helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
Let me start by saying that I listened to the soundtrack for A STAR IS BORN yesterday while I was at work and was pleasantly surprised by the vocals on Bradley Cooper! The music itself was fantastic, but his vocals really proved how versatile and talented he truly is. The tracks with him and Lady Gaga made me want a full album of just them singing with each other. It was really that good! With that being said, here is my warning for those of you that decide to listen to the soundtrack before watching the movie:
YOU WILL KNOW THE ENDING.
Between each track is a dialogue track pulled straight from the movie. As I was listening to each track, I could almost feel the tone of their relationship changing. Once it got to the last three tracks, I called my co-worker and asked if the soundtrack just ruined the ending of the movie for me lol. Update: It did. However, with that being said, nothing could prepare you for the incredible performances given by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in this movie.
Consider the fact that this was her first (major) acting role and this was his first time actually singing and "becoming" a musician. They were both kind of walking in the other's shoes and did so perfectly. I'm convinced that Bradley Cooper, not only as an actor/performer, but as a filmmaker is an absolute genius. This was his directorial debut and he nailed it, in my opinion. The shots were beautiful & there were moments where there was no dialogue, but you knew exactly what they were saying just by looking at each other. The trust between him and Lady Gaga as actors was evident throughout the whole thing. You felt what the characters were feeling. You were invested in their relationship and you rooted for them to succeed. Even the performances by the supporting cast was great. Ally's friend Ramon (Anthony Ramos) didn't get much air time, but played a pivotal role in her life and the relationship with Jack. Bobby (Sam Elliott) was great as Jack's brother and really played a part in breaking my heart throughout the movie.
I love movies and I love music, so any time that they can be combined into one incredible piece of art — I'm there for it. There was no exception here and I am highly recommending it to anyone reading this review. It's gritty, it's important, it's beautiful, it's tragic. Bradley Cooper allowed the movie to breathe without us feeling like they were shoving dialogue and a fake story down our throats. It felt real and I might need convincing that there isn't an actual Jack Maine & Ally out there on tour together right now lol. Side Note: Can Sam Elliott lend his voice to a meditating app or something? Let's make that happen, people!
The only "complaint" I can muster is that there are a few scenes in the trailer (see below) that don't appear in the movie and I wish they had, but here's to hoping for an extended version once it's released on Blu-ray.
So go out and see it now that it's in theaters! Let me know your thoughts when you do. Do you think this will be Oscar-nominated? I actually think it could be and it honestly couldn't be more deserving. Great job by all!
In theaters now!
A STAR IS BORN | Official Channels
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | #AStarIsBorn
Movie Review by Kristin: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY
August 21, 2018 August 21, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY
I was browsing the available content on Netflix this weekend and stumbled upon this cute little movie, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY.
SYNOPSIS: In the aftermath of World War II, a writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war.
I've been so impressed with the quality content Netflix has included in their library lately. I'm a sucker for movies and a sucker for books, so this one was a no-brainer for me. The cast was great and the storyline was interesting. The story is set in the 1940's and follows the characters retelling their experiences of Nazi Occupied Guernsey to London author, Juliet Ashton. While she intends to write an article about the society and their experiences, she finds and values their friendship even more. She begins to reevaluate what she wants for her own life and helps the group find some sort of peace once they open up about the loss of a friend.
The scenery in the film was absolutely lovely and we get a glimpse of England (for those of us who have never had the pleasure of visiting). The performances were great in this. Surprisingly, Kate Winslet was slated to portray Juliet Ashton, but she dropped out of the project before filming began. Honestly, as much as I love Kate Winslet as an actress and human being, I can't imagine anyone else playing this role other than Lily James. She really embraced the role and gave such an endearing performance.
THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY does run a bit long — it sits at 124 minutes. It does include some drama, some comedy, a few flashbacks and the recipe for an old-fashioned romance, so it's not difficult to hold your interest (in my opinion).
This is truly a beautiful story of love, friendship and the sadness of friends lost.
Movie Review by Kristin: IRREPLACEABLE YOU
August 20, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: IRREPLACEABLE YOU
Holy crap.
I admit that I can be a bit emotional at times during shows like This Is Us and movies like Love, Simon. None, however, have made me ugly cry quite like this one.
SYNOPSIS: Recently engaged couple Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) find their dreams for the future shattered when she receives a terminal-cancer diagnosis. Abbie copes with the news by attending a support group, and by trying to plan the details of Sam's life after she's gone — which includes finding him a new partner.
IRREPLACEABLE YOU is a bit predictable in the sense that the main characters, Abbie and Sam, discover her diagnosis so early in the film, but the way it's handled is heartbreaking and lovely all at the same time. I also feel like it was a bit sugar-coated because we never saw Abbie get extremely sick the way that we know cancer can play out — but I'm kind of thankful for that. We know what's happening, we don't necessarily have to witness every detail. In that respect, I also think it's very telling that you're able to be so emotionally invested in this couple despite not seeing the very worst of this horrible disease. It says a lot about the actors in each scene.
The performances by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Michiel Huisman were very sweet and raw. You really felt the love they had for each other, which made the outcome even more beautiful and heartbreaking. With that being said, even though the ending is predictable, watching it play out in such a way had me hooked. It was also fun to see Christopher Walken play a friend to Abbie throughout the film and, ultimately, being the person who made her look at her life differently.
My only complaint is that we didn't get enough scenes with Kate McKinnon in them! Aside from that, this was a great little movie. One of the moments that really got me was when Abbie tells Sam that she thought planning his future would hurt less than her accepting that she won't be around to see it. UGHHHHHHH. If you like the odd concoction of sad, romantic and funny movies, I definitely recommend this one.
Side note: I absolutely loved Sam's dimples in the movie, and I was absolutely SHOOK to discover that he played Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones! Yes, the one that hooked up with Khaleesi and got dumped! Funny what a pair of glasses and a shave could do!
Movie Review by Kristin: TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE
August 20, 2018 by Kristin3 Comments on Movie Review by Kristin: TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE
This weekend I had a moment to sit down and watch the highly anticipated TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE on Netflix, and I am SO glad I did.
SYNOPSIS: Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. Until one day when all the love letters are sent out to her previous loves. Her life is soon thrown into chaos when her foregoing loves confront her one by one.
What an adorable teen romantic comedy! I have to hand it to Netflix because they have not let me down with their Originals lately. I will admit that I had not read the book by Jenny Han prior to watching the film, so I had nothing to compare it to, but wow!
The cast was fantastic, the story was so cute and relatable, and it really tugged at your feelings while watching it. You felt for Lara Jean when her letters got out — the anxiety of someone knowing your personal feelings when you weren't expecting them to and feeling like you don't know how to stop what's happening. I saw so much of myself in Lara Jean even though I'm in my 30's, so I think it's really a film that anyone can enjoy.
So many of us have had that experience where we're not quite sure how to express our feelings towards someone we're afraid of being rejected by. You've had that box hidden in the back of your closet with unsent letters containing your most private feelings at some point in your life. I know I have, and if those had ever been sent out, you'd probably find me in a cave somewhere hibernating until it blew over. No lie! That's probably what made Condor's portrayal of Lara Jean so likable is that even though she was mortified, she took control of the situation and didn't back down.
I know that with book-to-film adaptations, readers already have a preconceived idea of what the characters would look like and are often disappointed with the outcome. However, in this case, the majority of the readers (& viewers) seem to think Lana Condor was the perfect Lara Jean and Noah Centineo was the perfect Peter Kavinsky. So kudos to the casting crew in addition to the phenomenal performances from the cast!
This is definitely a modern day John Hughes film if I ever saw one. I honestly can't come up with any complaints. In order to provide a little insight from a younger perspective, my niece, who is 14, also saw it with her friends and absolutely loved it.
If you're into rom-coms, I highly recommend checking this out on Netflix when you can. If (and when) you do, let me know what you thought! I'll just be in my little corner reading the book now.
Movie Review by Kristin: THE SONG
August 9, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: THE SONG
Hey there, movie lovers!
On my lunch break at work the other day, I decided to check out this movie on Hulu. I hadn't heard of it before, but it starred Alan Powell, who I really enjoyed on this last season of Quantico. You might also recognize him as one of the former members of Christian band, Anthem Lights.
I quickly realized that this was a Christian-themed movie, which actually tied in really well with the storyline. I'm not a religious person, but I think the balance played well for viewers who are and for viewers–like me–who aren't. With that being said, I can't offer my opinion on how well it actually ties in with the story of King Solomon, so my opinion is solely based on the movie itself.
SYNOPSIS: An aspiring singer-songwriter's life and marriage suffer when the song he writes for his wife propels him to stardom.
There is a heavy voice-over reciting the story of King Solomon (I only know this because I googled it lol) that I felt sort of overpowered certain scenes. Jed (Alan Powell) provides the voice-over and while his voice is great for voice-overs, I just was not grasping it in its entirety. I was more focused on what was happening in the scene.
The storyline is one that we've seen fairly often. An up-and-coming musician finds his muse, hits it big, gets wrapped up in the fame, ruins certain aspects of his life and then seeks redemption. However, Alan Powell does such a great job at playing the love-sick husband and the douchebag musician that his performance almost gives the story a fresh spin. The other performances were surprisingly good as well.
It wasn't my favorite film I've ever seen, but it was definitely worth the hour and 56 minutes of watching it. I'm a sucker for films that include a live performance aspect, so I might be biased in saying that I did really enjoy this one.
Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think!
SAM SMITH: The Thrill of It All Tour 2018 | Miami, FL – 7/14/18
July 17, 2018 July 17, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on SAM SMITH: The Thrill of It All Tour 2018 | Miami, FL – 7/14/18
Hello again, music lovers!
I've been to a lot of live shows in the past two months or so, but it's still not enough! This time, my niece and I got to see Sam Smith's 'The Thrill of It All Tour' at the American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami on July 14th. Sadly, our seats were in the nosebleeds, but it didn't even take away from the incredible show that he put on for everyone.
The show started promptly at 8pm with his opening act for the night, Cam. Cam is a country singer who I'd never heard of before, but she has a great voice. She was interacting with the crowd throughout her set and really tried to get people to see a personal side to her. This isn't an easy task when you know the crowd is there to see someone else. With that being said, I felt like she held her own up there! I would definitely check out her music HERE.
Sam's set began at about 9pm and lasted almost 2 hours. I'm not sure if it's because of where we were sitting, but the sound for this show was absolutely fantastic. Sometimes at live shows, you can't hear what the artist is saying because of the acoustics in the venue and where your seats are. This one, however, sounded great. Here's what the setlist for our show looked like:
One Last Song
Lay Me Down
Omen (Disclosure cover)
Nirvana / I've Told You Now
Writing's on the Wall
Latch (Disclosure cover)
Like I Can
Baby, You Make Me Crazy
Say It First
Midnight Train
Too Good at Goodbyes
At one point, Sam addressed the sadness in his songs by joking, "I was sitting in my home and realized how fucking depressing my music is." He wanted to make it a point not to have us leave the room "feeling like shit" afterward and I think he succeeded.
One of my favorite moments of the night was during "I'm Not the Only One" when he put his mic down and had the entire crowd singing his words back to him. It was so loud and beautiful. Those are always my favorite moments during a live show, but this one seemed particularly moving.
There was also a fantastic moment at the end of "HIM" where the lights went out and a light bar on stage lit up in rainbow colors.
One thing that I found particularly funny was right before the encore performances. The amount of people that were walking out was puzzling. I had to ask my niece if they were new to the art that is a live show. You don't leave until the lights come up, people!
Here are some pics I took from the show (again, I apologize for the distance lol):
To be quite honest, despite the distance of our seats from the stage, this was one of my top 3 shows I've ever been to (and I've been to A LOT). Everything about it was worth the mission getting to the AAA. If you have a chance to catch the show, I highly recommend it. You can even get the "cheap" seats and still have a great time!
Get out there and support a musician who wears his heart on his sleeve and is unapologetically proud to be who he is — a musician with true talent and a voice we all love.
Movie Review by Kristin: BRAVEN
July 3, 2018 July 3, 2018 by Kristin3 Comments on Movie Review by Kristin: BRAVEN
I finally logged into my PrimeVideo app and saw that BRAVEN was featured. I've been wanting to check it out and now was my chance! Naturally, I couldn't turn away because Jason Momoa. Am I right?
SYNOPSIS: A logger and his father head to their hunting cabin, hoping for a quiet weekend. Instead, they find themselves in a kill-or-be-killed stand for survival when they encounter a gang of ruthless drug traffickers.
This was a great movie. Jason Momoa is a beast as Joe Braven. It sucks that he's sort of type casted into these tough guy roles, but the tough guy role was coupled with the family man role in this one & he balanced them perfectly.
Throughout the film, you feel this sense of urgency for the protagonists. Joe is trying to protect his daughter and his father, who is suffering from dementia. He's trying to do the right thing for one person & it may not be the right thing for the other. It had me tense the whole time.
I would recommend checking this out. There were beautiful images shown during the opening credits that made me google where Braven was filmed lol. Google's answer was Newfoundland, Canada (thanks, Google). The storyline was interesting and I think it was executed very well.
Check it out & let me know what you thought!
Review: BELIEVER – A Documentary From Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) on HBO
July 3, 2018 July 3, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Review: BELIEVER – A Documentary From Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) on HBO
I had the chance to sit down and watch BELIEVER on HBO this weekend and it was so good!
SYNOPSIS: Believer follows Mormon Dan Reynolds, frontman for the Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons, as he takes on a new mission to explore how the Mormon Church treats its LGBTQ members.
Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) grew up in the Mormon faith alongside his family and friends in Utah. The Mormon doctrine believes that homosexuality is a sin, and they've even been known to remove allies from their church. There have been some amendments to their policies over the years, but the astounding number of suicides among teenagers in the Mormon community is still rising.
This prompted Dan to team up with Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees lead singer & fellow Mormon) to look for ways to bring awareness to these situations within the Mormon community. They formed the LoveLoud Festival and this documentary follows their journey in getting the festival organized. One of my favorite parts in the documentary is when Dan's wife, Aja, is explaining to their young daughter what it means to be gay/transgender. I explained it to my niece the exact same way when she was around the same age and I don't regret it one bit. Because I did that when she was young, my niece has always been inclusive towards all human beings. Seeing a similar experience documented with their adorable daughter was very special.
It's an interesting documentary, to say the least. With the help of Tyler, Aja, and several people who are a part of the Mormon community, they shed light on the things that need to change, and continue to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
I recommend watching it, without a doubt. As an ally to the LGBTQ community myself, I think it's important to see how shunning a person due to their sexual orientation/preference can cause so much harm to that individual and their family. If we want to keep our brothers and sisters safe, we need to be inclusive and supportive. This documentary does a fantastic job of that.
I'll leave you with this incredible tweet from Dan Reynolds via Twitter:
celebrate our diversity. embrace our LGBTQ youth. to "accept" does not simply mean to "love" – it means you give true validity and fully embrace and support diverse sexual orientations and do not see ones sexuality as "incorrect" or "sinful". love is an empty word otherwise. pic.twitter.com/ACaIZyNrX0
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) March 28, 2018
Movie Review by Kristin: SET IT UP
June 25, 2018 June 25, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on Movie Review by Kristin: SET IT UP
I stayed up late last night to watch a romantic comedy that was recommended to me by Netflix and I have to say . . . I don't regret it one bit. It's honestly the rom-com we didn't know we needed!
The film was directed by Claire Scanlon and stars Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu.
SYNOPSIS: Two young assistants in New York City realize they can make their lives easier by setting up their workaholics bosses to date. While trying to perpetuate this romantic ruse between their nightmare bosses, the assistants realize they might be right for each other.
I've gotten to a point where I kind of go into these movies with the expectation that I'm probably going to be let down by something in the end, so I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a weak link in the film at all. Between the hilarious banter between Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), the out-of-control behavior by Rick (Taye Diggs) and Kirsten (Lucy Liu) and the likable sidekick friends of Harper and Charlie . . . there was a perfect balance of funny and friendship and romance. Not to mention it made me want to pack my bags and move to NYC immediately.
I highly recommend checking this out when you have almost 2 hours of free time to spare. It's an extremely likable film with a great cast that really blends the romance and comedy genre perfectly.
The film premiered on Netflix on June 15, 2018.
HARRY STYLES: Live On Tour 2018 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 6/9/18
June 12, 2018 June 19, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on HARRY STYLES: Live On Tour 2018 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 6/9/18
Hey there, music lovers!
I'm back with another concert review, and this time it's for the highly anticipated "HARRY STYLES: Live On Tour" from his stop in South Florida on June 9, 2018.
We bought the tickets last year for my niece's birthday when they were first released and had to wait a whole year for the show, but I have to say it was worth the wait! I've been to a lot of live shows and this, hands down, was the loudest I've ever been to. It all started when we arrived at the BB&T Center. We got there about 45 minutes prior to doors opening and this is the view we were greeted with:
With that being said, I don't think it's necessary to arrive any earlier than the time the doors actually open. Especially if you have an actual seat. If you have general admission, however, I would advise getting there EXTRA early, unless you'd like to wait for a crowd like this to get in before you do. Also, take into consideration that everyone in front of you has to get through metal detectors, bag checks, etc. Another observation was that there were several merch tables set up inside the BB&T Center and each one had extremely long lines.
After braving the lines for merch, we sat in our seats and waited and waited. At one point, they played "Olivia" by One Direction and the crowd went nuts. They sang every word at the top of their lungs — you would've thought 1D was out on that stage singing with them. My niece decided she wanted more merch, so her mom and I went out to brave the lines again and missed the start of Kacey Musgraves' set. We got to see her halfway through though and she was great. She even sang "Tearin' Up My Heart" by *NSYNC, so she had my vote lol.
Via Harry Styles on Twitter | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6/9/18
Once the lights went down the crowd went crazy once again. Harry's first song began to play and then . . . silence. There must have been some technical difficulties, so the spotlights cut off, the music stopped playing and all the lights came back on. Once everything was sorted out, the show went on without a hitch. It was actually very good! At one point, Harry walks down the middle of the crowd to a B Stage in the back of the venue. Here's what that looked like:
His stage set-up was great, the lights were fantastic and the vocals were on point the entire time. There was a nostalgic vibe to the whole set-up that fits the vibe of the album.
At certain points throughout the show, he would take some time to talk to people in the crowd and thank everyone for supporting him and the music, which was nice. During one of his songs, the crowd held up the flashlights on their phones and the whole venue lit up in rainbow colors. I was kinda salty that we weren't informed about it lol, but it was a really special moment in the show. Here's our view of what it looked like:
Here's the set-list for our show here in South Florida:
Only Angel
Ever Since New York
Two Ghosts
Stockholm Syndrome (One Direction cover)
Just a Little Bit of Your Heart (Ariana Grande cover)
Meet Me in the Hallway
Sweet Creature (on B Stage)
If I Could Fly (One Direction cover – on B Stage)
What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction cover)
From the Dining Table
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover)
I highly recommend making it out to one of the remaining shows on the tour. This one was really special because we were there for my niece's 14th birthday. The crowd was amazing and the whole vibe was positive and supportive. Not to mention that this album was actually fantastic and Harry does a great job performing it.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Man of the Woods Tour 2018 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 5/19/18
May 22, 2018 June 12, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Man of the Woods Tour 2018 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 5/19/18
Ladies and gentleman, I got to experience something incredible this past weekend. I ended up with front row tickets to The Man of the Woods Tour and it was something I will truly never forget. At one point, the first time JT stood in front of us, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and was convinced I was about to have a heart attack. Luckily, it passed and only got better from there! But, first, let me tell you how I got there:
I (finally) got my Bachelor's Degree last August and, as a graduation gift, my aunts surprised me with tickets to see my Day 1, Justin Timberlake, on one of his stops here in South Florida. I'd been pretty bummed because the tickets were rather expensive and I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to make it to one of his shows for the first time ever. So, when my aunts surprised me with FLOOR tickets, I was stoked! This would be the first time I've ever had floor tickets and it was for Justin freaking Timberlake. The only issue was having to wait months for the show!
Nevertheless, May 19th finally arrived and my niece & I were getting ready to head out to the show. South Florida has had an extremely rainy past few weeks, so I was iffy about heading out early and waiting in line for doors to open while getting soaked in the rain. Doors were supposed to open at 6pm and the show was scheduled to start at 7:30pm. We got there at 4:45 and there were about 35-40 people ahead of us in the GA Floor line. Luckily, Verizon members who are enrolled in the Verizon Up Rewards program are able to enter the venues via "fast lane," so my niece and I ended up being second in line. We got in and raced to find a good spot in the front.
DJ Freestyle Steve began playing music, and then JT's opening act, The Shadowboxers, made their way on-stage. They played about 3-4 songs and had great energy. The Shadowboxers was founded by Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins and Scott Tyler and is based out of Atlanta, GA. They later added Cole McSween on drums and Carlos Enamorado on bass. After a tweet from their Twitter account in 2013, telling JT to check out their cover of his song "Pusher Love Girl," their relationship with him took flight. Their EP titled Apollo was released on March 23, 2018 and now they're touring with him on The Man of the Woods Tour.
Justin's set began a little after 9pm and the BB&T Center was living. As close as my niece & I were to the back stage, we were unable to see the main stage, so keep that in mind for future shows. Although I'm sure the fans up front were unable to see the stage we were at also. The show was absolutely incredible. I've been to a lot of concerts at the BB&T Center and I've never been to one that looked completely sold out. Even the seats behind the stage were sold out. Luckily, with JT's current stage set-up, everyone in the audience gets a little time with him. Even the crowd behind the stage got some time with him when he went out on a little riser behind his band, The Tennessee Kids.
The lights, the lasers, the little campfire sequence, the dancing, the sound, the vibe, everything was spot-on. Here is the set-list if you'd like to brush up on your lyrics:
Midnight Summer Jam
LoveStoned
Man of the Woods
Drink You Away
Until the End of Time
Dreams (performed by backup singer, Zenya Bashford)
Ex-Factor (performed by backup singer, Nicole Hurst)
Come Together (performed by backup singer, Kenyon Dixon)
Thank God I'm A Country Boy (performed by backup singer, Jack King III)
What Goes Around . . . Comes Around
Rock Your Body
Like I Love You
Can't Stop the Feeling
Another fan had sent me this photo that lists the set list along with where each song is performed. I found this to be very accurate aside from No. 24 being performed on the opposite side listed on the map. The blue circle represents where I was for the show.
Songs 13-18 were sung around a campfire that rose from beneath the stage and some of those songs were performed by the backup singers, individually, with an assist from JT.
"Cry Me A River" was performed on all three stages and walkways that were covered with smoke.
Also, keep in mind that at times throughout the show, panels would lower and double as screens for those who might be unable to see clearly. I'm not certain because I was beneath them, but they seemed like they might obstruct the view of the actual stages a bit when they're down. Either way, they provide cool visuals that fit the theme of the album.
"Rock Your Body" was performed off to the side (the side I was on) in the VIP section. This was done on a light-up disco floor surrounded by VIP ticket holders.
Here are some pictures I took from my cozy little spot at the show:
I might be a bit biased because, as I mentioned, Justin Timberlake is my Day 1, but I highly recommend this show. The energy was through the roof, everyone involved is so incredibly talented, and I love how interactive JT is with everyone in the room. He really tries to give everyone an experience they'll never forget.
You can find more info, including remaining tour dates, by visiting JT's website HERE.
THE ORIGINALS | S5E3 | "Ne Me Quitte Pas" Review [Podcast]
May 13, 2018 May 16, 2018 by KristinLeave a Comment on THE ORIGINALS | S5E3 | "Ne Me Quitte Pas" Review [Podcast]
Hello there! Welcome to The Elijah Show! Mike and I got together to talk about this Elijah-centered episode of The Originals that was actually directed by the ever-so-talented Joseph Morgan aka Klaus himself!
Again, we apologize for being a bit late in getting these out to ya'll, but we should be back on track now for this week's episode.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@ThisIsKristin_ and @mikethemovieguy) and Instagram! You can tweet us or comment on Insta and we just might read your comments on air next week.
SYNOPSIS: In the immediate aftermath of having his memory erased by Marcel, Elijah awakens to find himself in the middle of nowhere and without a clue as to who he is. Unable to control his instinctive vampire ways, Elijah encounters Antoinette, a beautiful and free-spirited vampire, who helps him navigate his new life. However, a run-in with Klaus threatens to destroy the peace he's finally found.
Don't forget! Send us your thoughts, favorite moments and fan theories and we'll try to answer you On Air!
Tune in to The CW on Wednesday nights at 9/8c for more of the 5th and final season of The Originals!


In addition to its panel participation, Immunomic has been nominated for the World Vaccine Congress Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Award for Best New Vaccine Technology/Platform. The winner of the award is expected to be announced during the conference.
The World Vaccine Congress Washington is a multi-faceted conference experience with over 300 industry leading speaker, 10 conferences, 8 workshops, 100+ exhibitors providing the most exciting vaccine event on the planet.
Location: Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel, Washington D.C.
ITI's investigational UNITE platform, or UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression, is thought to work by encoding the Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein, an endogenous protein in humans. In this way, ITI's vaccines (DNA or RNA) have the potential to utilize the body's natural biochemistry to develop a broad immune response including antibody production, cytokine release and critical immunological memory. This approach could put UNITE technology at the crossroads of immunotherapies in a number of illnesses, including cancer, allergy and infectious diseases. UNITE is currently being employed in Phase II clinical trials as a cancer immunotherapy. ITI is also collaborating with academic centers and biotechnology companies to study the use of UNITE in cancer types of high mortality, including cases where there are limited treatment options like glioblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia. ITI believes that these early clinical studies may provide a proof of concept for UNITE therapy in cancer, and if successful, set the stage for future studies, including combinations in these tumor types and others. Preclinical data is currently being developed to explore whether LAMP nucleic acid constructs may amplify and activate the immune response in highly immunogenic tumor types and be used to create immune responses to tumor types that otherwise do not provoke an immune response.
Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI) is a privately-held, clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of vaccines through its proprietary technology platform, UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression (UNITE), which is designed to utilize the body's natural biochemistry to develop vaccines that generate broad immune responses. ITI's UNITE platform could potentially have broad therapeutic applications in oncology, including viral antigens, cancer antigens, neoantigens and antigen-derived antibodies as biologics and ITI has built a large pipeline from UNITE with six oncology programs and two allergy programs. ITI has entered into a significant allergy partnership with Astellas Pharma and has formed several academic collaborations with leading Immuno-oncology researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, Duke University. ITI maintains its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.immunomix.com.


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Assisting you to continually improve and realise the value in your business through bringing in new investors, the acquisition of new business interests, corporate restructures, Buy-Sell arrangements and business management advice.


Well I was pretty sure I hadn't lost any weight this week but weighed in this morning (not going to SW groups) and I gained 2lbs!!
MONDAYLunch - fruit. Tea - Quorn sausages, onion, smash.activita.
THURSDAYLunch - fruit, yoghurtx2. Tea - stir fry veg, seafood mix, chicken, soy sauce, garlic.Melon.
FRIDAYLunch - fruit, yoghurt. Tea - wedges, beans, eggs.Melon.
SUNDAYSalad, chicken, seafood, peppers, tom. Melon. Tea - bacon, eggs, tom, sausages.
This is last weeks food diary. Any idea why I gained???
... I've checked my BMR and its 1785 (calories i can consume a week to maintain) So really I should only be having 1285 to lose 1lb a week ... so am i eating too much????
What about your HeA's and HeB's are you having them every day?? Maybe your not eating enough syns?
Hi MrsV .. thanks for your help with this.
For breakfast I have an Alpen light bar. At weekend I get up too late to have breakfast.
HeA's and HeB's I've noted down. Usually Alpen bars, ryvita minis, ryvita, cheese or cheese spread.
And syns I'm having usually around 10 a day sometime more.
... really not sure what else I can do?!
You've used 9 out of 14 HEX Bs on Alpen Light bars. This might be part of the problem. Try varying your HEX B's and have at least 7 different ones. Also seems like your lunches Mon-Fri are pretty meagre when you're just having fruit and yogurt - try adding some more bulk to it.
Lost nearly 7st when I did SW back in 2009/10. Then moved to Canada.
Have tried and failed at many other plans. Now I want to get back to my roots and do SW again.
What a pain for you as your food diary looks ok to me. Is there any more Super Speed foods you like - most berries are SS.
When I asked recently on here what the 'star' week was someone explained it as the week before or during TTOTM where you are more likely to gain or stay the same... maybe this is your star week and next week the weight loss will be noticed?
Thank you all for your feedback on this.
I agree StaceyUK, I do need more variation with my HEX B's. Slowly branching out with ryvita and wholemeal rolls but probably need to look at others things. Alpen lights bars are so convient for work.
RM07, oh could it be the week before? Yes I think its 8 days ish away.
I really appreciate everyones advise. For the amount of weight I have to lose I just assumed the first few months would be losses every week.
I thought the same with regards to losing each week... but I've had two small gains which really annoyed me as it means my weight loss is slow going!
What do you do for work? I found the Alpen Light bars to be quite expensive so now I have Scotts Porrage in the morning. Each sachet is 30g which is on the list for HeXB's and I find it more filling than two cereal bars.
I agree with the others Hun...try varying what you are having each day, especially with the H Extras as your body gets used to them.
Thanks again everyone! Really helpful feedback! Feeling a bit more positive about it now.
RM07, I have a very dull 9-5 desk job! I'm not really a breakfast person and I don't actually feel hungry at work so Alpen Light bars, yoghurt and fruit gets me through the day. Plus as I'm usually running late in the morning its easy to grab on the way out.
I'm thinking maybe a bit more thought is needed regarding lunchtimes and we do have a mircowave so will have to get my thinking cap on.
One other thing I thought about is I have set days ie.
Monday green, Tuesday red, Wednesday green, Thursday red, Friday green, Saturday red, Sunday red. Would varying this help?
Hi, I would definately "shake up" your variety of food and your days. It shouldn't matter what colour days you have but your body does get used to certain things and variety keeps it on it's toes, so to speak!
I was always told that if you sts a few weeks then change what you eat. I tend to vary my meals, I have porridge for a couple of days, then toast, then fruit and yoghurt for example. Lunch is always different, usually left overs or something out of the freezer and sometimes a salad. It keeps your body guessing.
You have plenty of fruit but perhaps you could try having a bit more veg too.
I know it takes planning and it can be a pain, but make time the evening before to sort out your lunch and breakky for the next day and it will pay dividends, it really will!
Stick with it, you have lost 12lb so it does work and if it is star week then it will show next week!
Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the feedback. I stuck to 10 syns a day and varied my HEX B's as much as possible and lost 5lbs!!
I thought 4 ryvita was a HexB? That's what I've been having!!
Just adding to the rest - try varying your Hexes more. And please, no matter how much you don't feel like it, eat breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. You've just gone on average eight hours without eating and now you're asking your body to wait even longer. Anything it gets it's going to think: "Keeping this." A good breakfast will stimulate your metabolism and give you the energy boost you need to start the day. Follow that with fruit and yoghurt (proteins? carbs?) for lunch and your body must surely be crying out for food it can keep for its energy stores (as ever, I'm happy to be corrected!). As it is, your biggest meal is at the end of the day, when you are naturally lethargic and aren't going to work any of it off.
Also, most muesli bars are high in sugars and a lot of processed food is also high in salt (quorn is a big one. Nothing wrong with eating it, but bear that in mind). I read somewhere - think it was this board, actually - that too high salt levels in a diet can affect weight loss too.
Make sure you drink lots of water, vary your diet to keep your metabolism on the watchout, and try to get active. Even if it's just taking the stairs instead of a lift or getting off the bus one stop earlier. Every little bit helps.
Step 1 Sole Source I need solids!! Can someone please advise!


text:
Het Kasteel van Rochecotte (Frans: Château de Rochecotte) is een kasteel bij Saint-Patrice in de Franse gemeente Coteaux sur Loire. Het kasteel is een beschermd historisch monument sinds 1948.

Coteaux-sur-Loire
Rochecotte
Historisch monument in Centre-Val de Loire

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Zvezda Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Model Kit in 1/144 scale from the plastic aircraft model kit range accurately recreates the real life British fighter aircraft famous for its vital role during the Battle of Britain during World War II.
This Zvezda aircraft model does not require glue but may require paint to complete. This is just one of many great kits from the Zvezda plastic models range.


Large vintage Danish modern teak and tile coffee table or bench table. The table is solid teak and teak veneer with 2 rows of 12" teal ceramic tiles down the center.
The tile makes an ideal table top in that it is easy to clean. No worries of water rings from plants if used as a plant stand, just wipe away drips. All tiles are in excellent condition. There is a very small chip on one side teak rail as photographed. Marked Gangso made in Denmark.


The Visit Trailer - Palm Springs International ShortFest from Fara Pasarell on Vimeo.
Saturday September 28th at 11:30 a.m.
FARA PASARELL (Director / Writer / Editor) Fara hails from Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from Princeton University, she followed her passion to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Her directorial debut film CALL WAITING premiered at the Palm Springs Int'l ShortFest. She then went on to hone her craft of Directing at UCLA Extension, where she graduated with a Directing Certificate in September of 2012. Her thesis film, THE VISIT (2012), is a drama filmed on location in Marina Del Rey, CA.
ALISON KATHLEEN KELLY (Producer) Alison was born and raised in Kent, England. In 2010 she was a Quarter-finalist in the Bluecat Screenwriting Competition for her feature screenplay BODY. Alison moved to Los Angeles in 2011. She graduated in 2012 with her Certificate in Directing from UCLA Extension. She is now focusing on writing and producing feature films. JOSH GIBSON (Director of Photography) In his hometown of Peoria, Illinois, Josh studied theatre and television production at Illinois Central College. In 2006 Josh graduated with a BA in Cinematography from Columbia College Chicago. Josh was recently the DP for, SAHAYA INTERNATIONAL, a short documentary narrated by Jeremy Irons.


How does the Removal Tool work?
While loading up Internet, if you find a sponsored homepage with clickable links and advertisements instead of your Chrome browser, you have probably become a victim of one such harmful application. The new application removal utility from Chrome will be on the lookout for the modifications being made to the browser without your authorization.
Google has claimed that the tool can scan and then remove software that causes unexpected problems to the browser. After downloading and installing the tool successfully, the user needs to launch the program to trigger the scanning process. Even if no malicious application is found, the tool will provide the users with an option of resetting their browser settings when it is loaded up initially.
Although this is not a replacement for an antivirus program, it is considered a convenient way to prevent browser hijacks.


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Update from 2021 Legislative Session
by VPA | Feb 17, 2022 | Advocacy | 0 comments
PSYPACT (H.391): Our advocates in Montpelier are in communication with the lead sponsor for PSYPACT, Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky (P – Chitt), although the bill was not taken up this year. Our advocates report there is a good chance of progress next session because mental health in general is getting more and more attention as COVID-19 leaves mental health practices/agencies overwhelmed. People are likely to travel more and more so practicing across state lines is important. Finally, NASW is working on their own interstate compact and this favors all interstate compact efforts.
Prescribing Privileges for Psychologists with Advance Training (H.392): Our advocates have been meeting regularly to pursue RxP through a "sunrise review," which involves a comprehensive assessment of the legislation, considering whether it is in the public's best interest without threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. We believe the bill will be taken up for testimony in 2022, possibly with a favorable recommendation from the Office of Professional Regulation. We will need assistance from VPA Board and our members to reach out to key legislative leaders during the summer and fall to create a groundswell of support in advance of January 2022.
Gainwell Technologies: Provider Management Module Master Class Webinar
Medicaid Banner: Rate Increase for Division of Substance Use Program Preferred Providers
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont: Request for Updated Information
988 is Coming to Vermont
Updated Reconsider Request Forms

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Rockdale är en ort (village) i Will County i Illinois. Vid 2010 års folkräkning hade Rockdale 1 976 invånare.

Källor

Orter i Illinois
Will County


The PodCamp Pittsburgh Community is a loosely-organized group which provides informal education and information about social media to individuals, businesses, educators, artists and non-profits in Pittsburgh and nearby areas.
We provide leading edge information as a service to the community. We hold fun, informative events. Our members have unmatched local expertise in social media. No one else in this area provides anything similar. We are a great way to network in this area.


The crew at the National Weather Service in Birmingham has made dramatic strides over the past five years in leveraging science in their warning decision process to reduce false alarms. The results have been dramatic.
Under the leadership of Science and Operations Officer (SOO) Kevin Laws, the forecasters at BMX have been used data from past events to help them decide when to pull the trigger on a warning in a marginal event.
A few quick points about yesterday.
1) Probably about as close as you want to get in terms of applying the proper analysis to what is happening in the real world. I have become very leery as of late when it comes to SPC's mesoanalysis page. I don't know if something has changed, but it has struggled mightily over the past several events in our area. I was out of pocket yesterday afternoon, so I don't know if that statement applies to yesterday. Ex. The previous event (early Sunday morning squall line) had around ~100 Joules of CAPE ahead of the line – meanwhile, we launched a balloon at 430am ahead of the line which showed ~800 Joules. Obviously, that is a significant difference. Same thing applied to the event previous to that one (Jemison tornado). I will continue to watch this disturbing trend since we rely heavily on the data to make warning decisions.
2) Yesterday's event probably came down to one thing, the shear and in particular the shear vectors. Most of the low level vectors were veered around to the southwest, and while you can obviously get rather robust mesocyclones in that particular environment, it is difficult to maintain that down to the ground level. I tend to think of it as the RFD's are out of balance as they try and sweep along the southern periphery of the parent storm. Looking at radar, it is fairly easy to pick that out (see image one). Note how the hook(s) of the storm is oriented. See image 2, while a majority of our tornadoes occur with backed winds, it is not unheard of that we also get them with winds >180 degrees.
3) While point 2 is valid, you have to use it in the proper context. Can you get tornadoes with southwest surface winds? Absolutely you can. In fact, we will have to investigate the damage east of Jasper later today – and obviously many of the videos showing the various wall and funnel clouds were very close to touching down. A few things to consider would be the local shear effects (could you get local wind maximum from a more backed region that escapes the mesoanalysis?), lower cloud bases (it is much easier to get a very low cloud bases to stretch downward), and storm motion is a big one in these types of environments (the more the supercells tend to deviate or right-turn, the shear angle increases and storm relative inflow becomes much more favorable for tornadogenesis).
With that said, I believe the forecasters made good warning decisions yesterday by applying the proper analysis to the situation. In years past, we possibly would have issued many tornado warnings to cover these storms, with very little to show for it, proving once again that applying the meteorology within the context of the radar analysis can yield good results.
Please let me know if anyone saw it differently or have any additional thoughts!


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Grumpy (Disney)
Easily irritated, Grumpy lives out his days with sour disposition.
A cockeyed pessimist, Grumpy would say he's just realistic - especially about "wimmin!" The other dwarfs and Snow White ignore his negative attitude, sensing that there's warmth beneath his crusty exterior. Though he does his best to hide his affection, even Grumpy is soon captivated by Snow White's charm.
He remains annoyed at having to stand and pose, often turning his back away from the viewer then folding his arms and refusing to play along. In response to a continued and persistent viewer, Grumpy will stick out his tongue and move away. Contrary to the other dwarfs, he is reluctant to imitate and will only pretend to engage in interaction.
"Collaboration came first [in the relationship with Disney]. They had seen the Ruffled artworks and I think they were amused, and impressed at how I made the birds come alive. The birds are playful, charming and silly but they also display their own unique, individual characteristics. So Disney said that every now and then they like to allow artists to work directly with Disney's property and the reference they gave me was actually Hirst's Mickey and Minnie spot painting. And, basically, was I interested. So it was an easy one to answer. I was absolutely delighted at the prospect of doing this. And by then I had created two pieces for them, using their characters, which are obviously the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Mickey and Minnie artworks. And in doing so, I have become the only digital artist exhibiting in museums and exhibitions who is allowed to use Disney's classic characters. And it's something I take very seriously; I'm actually delighted with it. I feel it is very important to treat the characters with the utmost fidelity and I believe that my role as the artist is to respect where the characters come from but then to redefine them in a new story, a new narrative: something that pays homage to the incredible talent of Walt Disney who created these characters almost a century ago, but which also portrays a new storyline.
If you take the Mickey and Minnie artwork, it is absolutely loaded with symbolism. And part of that was a response to the fact that Mickey and Minnie are unique characters within the Disney family because they are permitted to recognise the world around them. Mickey and Minnie can understand the difference between London and New York. In the way they're depicted in the films that Disney produced Mickey can even role-play, he can put on a costume, so there's something incredibly liberating about these characters." - Dominic Harris
Extract from interview with Dominic Harris by Simon Quintero.
Code, electronics, computer, display screen, 3D sensor, metal, acrylic
Produced with the support of the Walt Disney Company.
Dwarf Dimensions:
680 (W) x 680 (H) x 150 (D) mm
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Full Series
Snow White (Disney)
Doc (Disney)
Happy (Disney)
Sleepy (Disney)
Bashful (Disney)
Sneezy (Disney)
Dopey (Disney)
Mickey & Minnie: An Interactive Diptych


"Changing lives through health and fitness" is the core philosophy behind Club 360, a full-service fitness center offering top-of-the-line personal training, physiotherapy, fitness classes, kids classes, sports massage, boxing, kickboxing, and more. From morning to night, seven days a week, work out under the personalized direction of exceptionally trained staff with decades of experience and the desire to make you a better you.
We are here to help you improve your quality of life in a positive and caring environment. No fads or gimmicks. At Club 360, we use evidence-based practises for you to best achieve your health and fitness goals.


Garage doors provide the ultimate security to your favorite cars. If you are fond of your car, you would do anything to keep them safe, right? So, why aren't you paying attention to that garage door that has not been functioning properly for the last few weeks? You have to push and shove every now and then to make it work. That is not the way to use a garage door. It will become non-functional sooner or later. But before that happens and your car becomes vulnerable to theft and robbery, make sure that you get in touch with a garage door repair company that will fix the door in a flash. At DoorSmithBC LLC, we do that exact thing that was just talked about.
Repairing garage doors is our passion. We have been doing this for a long time now and our office at British Columbia, Canada has become one of the most popular in recent times. Repairing a garage door requires time, effort, and skill. The technicians at DoorSmithBC LLC are so well-experienced that they will fix the door on the same day that you contact us. We understand that you can become insecure about your car as soon as there is something wrong with the garage door. That is the reason why you should contact us immediately whenever the door is not opening or functioning like before.
Searching online to Find Me A Garage Door Repair Near Me will give you a lot of results but if you want someone who is operating in British Columbia, Canada, there is no other company that will provide you with a better service than DoorSmithBC LLC. Our range of garage door repair services is the widest that you will ever come across. Starting from being the leading commercial garage door repair company to offering complete garage door replacements for residential garages to fixing garage doors of every kind, we will become your first choice whenever you find something wrong with the garage door.
Garage door repairs can vary from just a simple replacement of the door spring to something as vast as replacing the door completely. We are experts at both. What sets us apart in British Columbia, Canada is our same day service. You can get in touch with us while trying to Find Me A Garage Door Repair Near Me and once we send a technician at your property, you can be assured that the door will be fixed by the end of the day. We believe that it is our duty to provide quick service because we don't want you to go through the tension of losing your car.
Apart from providing a wide range of garage door repair services, we have also made sure that the quality of our services is always high. So, we send technicians who are equipped with the latest tools and machines of the trade. This helps them to diagnose the problem of the door quickly and fix it in a flash. Since we have a lot of experience in this field, we prefer not to waste any time to get the door back into operation quickly. There are mobile vans throughout British Columbia, Canada so that they can reach your property right after you call.
Another reason why we have become the leading garage door repair company in British Columbia, Canada is that we are open 24 x 7. Our dedication to providing you a functional garage door has given us the zeal to work nonstop through the day, week, and year. We understand how urgent it can be to fix a garage door, especially if it is at the dead of night. You can call us on (778) 927 2950 and inform about the problem that your garage door is facing. We will check your location and send a technician who is nearest to your property.
DoorSmithBC LLC has and will always be the company that provides a sigh of relief to people who have damaged garage doors. So, whenever you want to Find Me A Garage Door Repair Near Me, do not hesitate to call us because once our technician gives a visit, your garage door will have no more problem at all.


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Robinhood to pay $65 million fine to settle SEC charges of misleading customers
by Reuters | Dec 17, 2020 | Business, Economy, US
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Popular online brokerage Robinhood has agreed to pay a $65 million fine to settle charges that it misled customers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Thursday.
The day before, a Massachusetts securities regulator accused https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-massachusetts-robinhood/massachusetts-regulator-accuses-robinhood-of-failing-to-protect-investors-idUKKBN28Q22J the firm of engaging in aggressive tactics to attract inexperienced investors and failing to prevent outages on its trading platform.
The SEC charged the company with failing to inform customers about payments it received from trading firms to route customer orders through them, a move that resulted in customers paying higher prices to execute trades.
Between 2015 and late 2018, the SEC said, Robinhood made misleading statements and omissions on its website in response to customer questions about its largest revenue source.
"When describing how it made money … one of Robinhood's selling points to customers was that trading was 'commission free,' but due in large part to its unusually high payment for order flow rates, Robinhood customers' orders were executed at prices that were inferior to other brokers' prices," the SEC found.
In aggregate that deprived customers of $34.1 million even after taking into account the savings from not paying a commission.
The California-based firm made these statements amid a period of rapid growth, the regulator added.
"There are many new companies seeking to harness the power of technology to provide alternative ways for people to invest their money," added Erin Schneider, who leads SEC's San Francisco regional office.
"But innovation does not negate responsibility under the federal securities laws."
The financial technology startup, which has been credited with helping popularize trading among millennials, neither admitted nor denied guilt, while agreeing to pay the penalty.
Robinhood also agreed to retain an independent consultant to review its policies and procedures relating to customer communications, payment for order flow and best execution of customer orders.
"The settlement relates to historical practices that do not reflect Robinhood today," the company's chief legal officer, Dan Gallagher, said in a statement.
"We recognize the responsibility that comes with having helped millions of investors make their first investments, and we're committed to continuing to evolve Robinhood as we grow to meet our customers' needs."
(Reporting by Katanga Johnson and Pete Schroeder; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Steve Orlofsky)


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Q: Visual basic to open a folder with the window in a specific location? A task I frequently need to accomplish is opening two folders and moving specific files from one to another. The file names are random enough that I can't effectively automate this.
Currently I need to click the button to open one folder, reposition it on one side of the screen, click the button to open the second folder, reposition it on the other side of the screen, and move the files.
Is there a way, when sending the command to open a window, that I can specify the dimensions or location of the window it opens? Thus I could make one button to open both folders, with one on each side of the screen.
All computers that use this system will have two monitors, so a command of "Maximize this window to monitor 1" and "Maximize this window to monitor 2" would also work.
Current code I use
If Len(Dir(CurrentProject.path & "\" & "RecordFiles" & "\" & ID, vbDirectory)) = 0 Then
   MkDir CurrentProject.path & "\" & "RecordFiles" & "\" & ID
End If
Dim path As String
path = CurrentProject.path & "\" & "RecordFiles" & "\" & ID & "\"
Shell "cmd /C start """" /max """ & path & """", vbHide

A: Simplified description of a tool I developed and am using daily as a solution for similar task: On a spreadsheet in A3 path to start folder, in B3 destination folder. Right click in first row lists all file names below A3, which are currently in that path.  Right Click in corresponding cell below B3 moves files A3 to B3 and moves on to next file in next row, giving a preview by opening File Explorer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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A Seleção de Futebol da Escânia é a equipe que representa a Terra da Escânia, uma região no sul da Suécia, em competições de futebol. A seleção não é afiliada à FIFA ou a UEFA, e, por isso, não pode disputar a Copa do Mundo ou a Eurocopa. A equipe, entretanto é filiada à CONIFA.

História

A Federação de Futebol da Escânia foi fundada em 2010. Em 2011, a federação se tornou membro da NF-Board e, posteriormente, da CONIFA.

Referências

Seleções nacionais e oficiais europeias não filiadas à FIFA