RAVE: Starburst FaveReds

Ever since I was a kid I've been a huge fan of Starbust fruit chews. As the name indicates, these little candy bites are bursting with yummy sweetness.

For years I have been saying that Starbust should make a package of purely pink and red flavors (strawberry and cherry) as they are by far the superior flavors.

Well apparently others have been thinking this same thing because recently I came across a package of what Starburst is calling "FaveReds." When I first saw this I jumped for joy - most literally, clapping my hands and the whole bit. Because really, how great is it that I don't have to waste the orange ones anymore.

Though I was initially under the impression that the package contained only the red and pink varieties, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoy the fruit punch and watermelon flavors just as much.

So naturally, this has become my latest candy obsession - picking up a pack every place I see one. In fact, I started my day with two delicious candies this morning on my drive in to work that I forgot were in my car (they were slightly hardened due to the cold, but the flavor remained).

It's a wonder how I don't have a mouth full of cavities.

Next time you're in the mood for a sweet candy treat, I highly recommend the new FaveReds from Starburst. Yummy!

RAVE: Diet Dr. Pepper

Before I get into today's Rave, I'd like to point out that yes, I'm aware that I haven't had any Rants lately here in the blogosphere, mostly that has to do with the fact that I haven't been overly displeased with anything as of late.

Until I have a true reason to bitch and moan about a company, product, or service, I'm going to continue raving about those people, places, and things that bring a smile to my face. After all, there's no reason to complain, just for the sake of hearing my own voice.

Let's get on with the show, shall we?

________________________________________________

For as long as I can remember, Dr. Pepper has been one of my favorite sodas. Growing up, my father wasn't supposed to drink dark colas (read: Coke or Pepsi for those who may not be aware) because they're not so gentle on your stomach.

To break the monotony of drinking only Sprite or ginger ale, my dad turned to Dr. Pepper, since it's not technically a "cola."

From a young age I was hooked. But then I gave up all soda for about 5 years of my existence - that is, until I moved to Texas, where I noticed that Dr. Pepper is in ALL the fountain machines.

Not only that, they actually have DIET Dr. Pepper in the fountain machines. Yummy.

As a girl who doesn't like to drink empty calories, this appealed to me very much. And yes, Diet Dr. Pepper does taste like regular Dr. Pepper. I even find it to be a little more refreshing.

Now the other day, the BF and I were walking through the store and came upon Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry. I immediately thought, "there's no way this can be good. The soda already has so many different flavors in it." But we walked out with a 2-liter, prepared to give it a whirl.

To my surprise, this drink was fantastic! In fact, we went and bought a 12-pack of cans last night, and I'm currently enjoying one of those cans as I type this.

It's incredibly smooth with a distinct cherry flavor that's not overpowering by any means.

There's not much more I can say about it other than you MUST try this one yourself. I've also seen that they have a Chocolate Covered Cherry flavor as well. I may have to get around to trying that one out in the future.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Danny Boys

For the past year one of my favorite West side (Cleveland) restaurants has been Danny Boy's in Rocky River.

With it's cozy atmosphere and Frank Sinatra theme, it sits quietly along Lake Ave., awaiting locals and regulars who enjoy the expansive menu.

Between the incredible pizza, unique sandwiches and to-die-for bread that accompanies every salad, Danny Boys has some of the best comfort food I've experienced in Cleveland.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of their pizza. The cheese and sauce combination they use is mouth watering and the crust is quite tasty. But I've yet to be dissatisfied by any of their dinners. If you're hungry, I recommend a pasta dish - a gigantic portion that comes with salad and yummy bread. Those dinners usually end up stretching well into meals for the next week.

The atmosphere is very chill. Upon walking in you can immediately tell it's a family-run operation. There are tables with chess and checker boards where you can play while you wait to be seated. The waitstaff wear shirts with quirky slogans and the sandwiches are named for famous people and mobsters.

And let me tell you what, the price is right! A dinner for two is always under $30 bucks.

If you're in and around the near West side, or want to make a trip for some fantastic grub, I highly recommend Danny Boys. It's definitely worth it!

Price: $$ (beyond reasonable for the portion size)

Menu Selection: **** (when I'm not getting pizza it takes me forever to decide!)

Taste: **** (yummy!)

Service: *** (sometimes it's a little slow, but my soda is almost always full!)

Atmosphere: **** (chill)

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Chocolate Peanut Butter Chex Mix

It seems that food manufacturers have been listening to my cravings as of late: anything with the chocolate/peanut butter combination.

What's better than these two sweet treats together?

How about a little added salt?

As I was perusing the convenience shop for some something chocolate, these chocolate peanut butter Chex caught my eye. Naturally, I had to purchase them.

Let me just say, the bag didn't last long. And no, I didn't share.

Chex Mix has always been one of my favorite snacks. It's healthier than chips and has a great crunch - I'm all about texture. I've been known to stock up on all sorts of flavors of Chex Mix when it's on sale. Yummy!

This Chex variety had the consistency of puppy chow (you know, that chocolatey, powdered sugar mix you used to take in for 1st grade snack time), and the peanuts had a nice little glaze on them.

My only beef is that the pretzels were not chocolate coated. But if you ate them in a handful with the Chex pieces, it was the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Next time you're looking for a treat, and your sweet tooth is battling your salt craving, check out this little treat.

You won't be disappointed.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Lure Bistro

To break up the monotony of the week, my boyfriend and I decided to head to the East side for some sushi.

Well, I was the one who "headed" to the East side, as he lives over there, but that's not the point.

He knew of a quaint little sushi bar in Willoughby that knocked my socks off.

Lure Bistro is one of those great date places. It's got an open, yet fairly private atmosphere with a modern decor. The bar area is separate from the dining area, which was a huge plus.

As we dined, I couldn't help but compare the restaurant with Sushi Rock - one of my favorite sushi places in Cleveland.

The atmosphere couldn't have been different, which is a positive in my book. I love sushi rock, but sometimes it's just too loud and crowded.

The service was quick and friendly. Our drinks were always filled - another huge plus. This girl doesn't like to go thirsty.

We were presented with amazing bread and butter that we were told was mixed with Geauga County maple syrup - yummy!

Of course, the sushi was fantastic! A specialty roll called the FireMouth was by far the best that we ordered - lots of flavors and textures, and just enough spice.

Even the bathrooms were fully stocked with any needs a woman might have while dining out. Of course, I can only speak for the women's restroom, sorry guys, but I'm sure there were toiletries available for y'all, too.

Price wasn't bad, either. For sushi, it was moderately priced. Can't complain about that.

Here's a snapshot of the overall Lure experience:

Price: $$-$$$ (moderate for sushi)

Menu Selection: **** (a great variety of unique sushi rolls)

Taste: **** (yummy!)

Service: ****

Atmosphere: **** (quaint and modern)

If you find yourself with a sushi craving over in Willoughby, OH. or are just looking for a great date venue, Lure is your place.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Parallax

Photos courtsey of Kyleroth's Flickr Photostream.

When I first moved to Cleveland from Dallas almost three years ago I was worried about finding a decent restaurant to quench my regular sushi cravings. This was, of course, before I realized just how many great restaurants this city has to offer!

So almost immediately I began my search for the best sushi in town. A former co-worker took me to Parallax in Tremont and I immediately knew that their sushi would be hard to beat. Between the creative combinations in the sushi appetizers, the fresh nigiri and amazing specialty rolls (I highly recommend the spicy scallop roll, you won't find anything like it elsewhere), I was in love.

(Mmm...spicy scallop roll.)

To this day, Parallax remains one of my favorite restaurants in Cleveland. Though I haven't tried anything aside from sushi and the occasional splurge on dessert, I can guarantee their other entrees are phenomenal!

The atmosphere is more laid back than you might expect at first glance. The dim lighting and clean, crisp appearance might seem stuffy, but you'll quickly see that everyone there is relaxed and enjoying the company and conversations around them.

It isn't often that I make it out there, unfortunately. It is a little on the pricey side, but totally worth the splurge. And you can't beat the service! Water is always filled, there's a never-ending supply of bread and oil, and the wait staff checks in just enough to keep you happy, but not so much that it becomes annoying.

Today a good friend and I headed out for a mid-week dinner to celebrate her new job. Unfotunately, she's moving to the East Coast, so we decided to hit up one of our favorites one last time. Dinner included a yellowtail sushi appetizer with jalepeno and mango - YUM - and a variety of nigiri sushi and a salmon specialty roll.

We left full but not over stuffed, and perfectly satisfied.

I suggest, the next time you're in the mood for good sushi, take a trip out to the quaint neighborhoods in Tremont and try out Parallax. You won't be disappointed.

Price: $$$-$$$$ (sushi prices aren't bad)

Menu Selection: **** (a little of everything and a continuously changing menu)

Taste: **** (yummy!)

Service: **** (perfection)

Atmosphere: **** (dressy yet laid-back)

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Bolthouse Farms

Yeah, I know I had planned on taking a break, but did you really think I'd be able to stop talking for that long? C'mon now!

What I really want to do is RAVE today about a product that I have recently fallen in love with.

Now let me just say, as a girl who watches what she eats, my fruit juice of choice for the past months has been the Naked brand.

But in the past month I discovered a line of juices and smoothies that far surpass anything I've ever tasted: Bolthouse Farms.

My first experience was with the Green Goodness variety. I was given a taste by a friend who said "don't look at it, just drink it."

Being the adventurous type, I dove right in and LOVED what I tasted - kiwi, apple....pure yumminess. Of course, then I had to look at it. As you'd probably expect by the name, it was green. Almost looked like pureed broccoli. But trust me, it tastes way better.

Since, I've tried a number of their fruit juice varieties and loved them all.

Most recently I was introduced to the Vanilla Chai Tea flavor. It's a perfect treat in the morning, and so good for you.

What can I say, I'm hooked on this brand of juice.

I get mine at Giant Eagle in the refrigerated section near the produce. If you're looking for a healthy brand of fruit juice and smoothies, hands down Bolthouse Farms makes the best around.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Sunset Bar and Grill

Let me start by apologizing for being MIA this week. Between all my travels and more changes in my life (shocker) I've been pretty tied up. If you want to read about my incredible skydiving weekend, check out SkydiveChick.com. My other blog. 

For now, it's onto the review.

________________________________________________

So yesterday I found it a good day to head out for a mid-week break. This included dinner and drinks out on the East side of Cleveland.

As a West-sider who didn't grow up in Cleveland, I have no qualms with going to the East side to visit friends. None. I've met people who have serious issues with this. Something I'll never quite understand I guess.

Anywhositis...this trip took me to Fairport Harbor. We walked through a quaint neighborhood to get to Sunset Bar & Grill. 

Situated right on the lake, we had a great view of sunset - or what was left of it by that time - and the coastline heading West. 

We split some amazing mussels, my crab cakes were perfect, and I even got to taste Manhattan Clam Chowder for the first time. It was so yummy!

The drinks and service were just as good as the food. We even got free shots of what they were calling Blow Pops, which was a concoction including Apple Pucker and Bubble Gum Vodka - though I'm sure there was more in the mix.

Believe it or not, Bubble flavored vodka is pretty good. It smells and tastes like Big League Chew...c'mon, you remember that stuff from the 80s, right?

The night was capped off with a leisurely stroll back through the Fairport Harbor neighborhoods and a few fun scenes from Point Break.

Here's a snapshot of my experience with Sunset Bar & Grill:

Price: $$-$$$ (some of the dishes seemed over priced, some under priced)

Menu Selection: *** (mostly seafood)

Taste: **** (for Cleveland, I was beyond impressed with the freshness) 

Service: ***

Atmosphere: **** (it was beautiful. reminded me of san francisco)

So if you find yourself on the far East side of Cleveland in the near future, I highly recommend Sunset as a place to relax on the patio. Hurry, before it gets too cold to enjoy the sunset outdoors.

Cheers!

-A

Financial rave and rant

Today's review is two-fold. One RAVE and one RANT. 

Both of them have more to do with customer service than anything else. 

Given my delicate financial state at the moment - who isn't in one, really - these issues came at a highly appropriate time.

Let's start with the rant to get this out of the way.

RANT - PayPal.

I recently found a very gently used skydiving rig. This is something that I stumbled across after searching for weeks. It's perfect, and fits amazing. So, I bought it.

This, my friends, is a massive purchase. But one that's well worth it.

Luckily, the girl I bought it from allowed me to use PayPal so I could charge it. Well, I thought I was lucky.

After a number of issues getting this to go through on the site, I called PayPal customer service to some assistance. This is where the real problems began. 

The rep. was not only incredible rude, but completely unable to help. I wasted 20 minutes on the phone with a person who essentially told me that I'm an idiot and that there's nothing she could do.

Just how I wanted to start my morning.

Where I was truly lucky, is that the girl on the other end of the payment allowed me to pay through her dropzone and avoid PayPal altogether. 

Thanks for nothing, PayPal.

Now, onto something more positive.

RAVE - American Express.

This past week has been intense when it comes to travel. I went from Cleveland to NYC back to Cleveland, to Michigan that same day then to Lexington, back to Michigan and now I'm finally back in Cleveland. 

Get all that? Whew!

Within the last hour I was in Lexington for a client meeting, I went to lunch with a colleague and left my credit card at the restaurant. Oops.

Naturally, I got on the phone while driving, didn't have an account number, credit card number, anything. 

Within 5 minutes the lovely man on the phone was able to confirm my account, cancel my card, and have a new one shipped out that arrived at my office about 20 minutes after I did today.

Talk about some bad ass customer service!

Needless to say, when it comes to my finances, AmEx made my day, even after PayPal did their best to ruin it. 

Maybe AmEx could pay their reps to train those over at PayPal - certainly they could use it.

Cheers!

-A 

RAVE: Continental Airlines

Today marks the beginning of another trip to New York City on business. It's not uncommon that I come to The Big Apple every month or two for client meetings or internal needs that require my presence in our Midtown office.

I do enjoy these visits, though sometimes the travel can be a hassle. Between the early morning flights I'm typically booked on, the cab ride from LaGuardia in traffic that has a tendency to make me queasy, and trekking to and from the hotel, travel itself can be exhausting.

Recently, these trips have had one rather large bright spot: Continental Airlines.

As much as I'm not a fan of commercial flying - after all, I prefer to jump out at altitude, rather than land with the plane - this is by far my choice airline when I must.

Flying out of Cleveland Hopkins, it's not uncommon to be placed on a CA flight as this airport is a hub. However, I've taken this trip on numerous other airlines and have been thoroughly disappointed.

Continental has some of the best customer service around. They are always friendly, always accommodating; unlike some other airlines. In fact, I once had to write a letter to American Airlines for the extremely rude service I received after being kicked off a flight due to fog. The flight still went, but I wasn't on it. But that's a story for another time.

In the last few months I've flown Continental on a number of trips, all of them fantastic. Even when we had weather delays the staff was always on top of updates for those of us waiting.

And I have to say, it's nice that on long flights like the one I recently took to LA and back, you still get dinner and a movie. The food is pretty decent, too!

So if you have a choice, in the coming weeks or months, choose to take your trip with Continental Airlines. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Cheers!

-A

Weekend demos and new commitments

This weekend was filled with driving and skydiving. But for anyone who's actually interested in that, you can head over here to SkydiveChick.com - my other blog - to read about those adventures.

I've even written a short review on Aerodyne and the Pilot canopy that I got to demo in their Icon rig. I'm a huge advocate, to say the least.

Anywhoosits, what I'd really like to talk about on this beautiful Monday (yes, I'm highly caffeinated, what of it?) is photography.

For those of you who have followed me for a while now, you may recall how I used to have a weekly column called Photography Friday. It was a fun little way for me to show off my latest shots and I've even sold y'all some prints that was!

But with this little skydiving hobby of mine, photography has taken an unfortunate backseat these past few months. Well guess what, I'm making it a point to bring that back - both to the blog and on Twitter.

If you follow me on Twitter - if you don't, what are you waiting for?? - you may have noticed a couple tweets for Photo of the Day. This is something I will be continuing to do daily. 

It's a nice little tribute to some of the amazing photographers who put themselves out there on Flickr. So when I see something I like, it becomes the photo of the day. Pretty nifty, eh?

Of course, I'll do my best to bring back Photography Friday as well. It'll keep me on my toes with my picture taking, too.

And yes, I did say new commitments. Plural.

I recently decided to re-commit myself to something that's slipped lately. I'm coming back to strict vegetarianism. 

The last few weekends I've cheated on this diet, and honestly, I've felt like complete crap after doing so. My body isn't used to this. It's time to reconnect with why I started this in the first place and stick with it. For good.

What are some of your recent commitments?

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Dinner and a movie

Last night I headed out to Crocker Park in Westlake for a little dinner and a movie action.

I was craving the avocado egg rolls at the Cheesecake Factory so that's where the first stop took us. 

Naturally, I didn't finish my meal - seriously, if you've ever eaten there, you probably haven't finished anything either - but you can't leave there without having cheesecake, right?

I went with the standard here again, the Chocolate Oreo Mudslide...mmmm. But before we placed that order, our server discussed the current dessert specials. 

In discussing their newest cheesecake options, she asked me if I was a vegetarian.

Me: (a little shocked) Yes, I am!

Server: I thought so. You ordered a vegetarian appetizer and asked for your salad without chicken. So, you'll want to stay away from any of the cheesecakes that say "original," they're made with beef fat.

Something I didn't know before! I left there feeling pretty pleased with the service - a quick, hearty meal with a server that went above and beyond in my book.

Then it was on to see (500) Days of Summer. Now, I'm not usually one for sappy, romantic movies, but this looked pretty entertaining. As a Sundance Film I couldn't resist quirky factor. And I really do love Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

I did think it was going to be funnier, but it was a compelling story that had a similar back-and-forth effect to Memento. 

Highly recommended!

What are some good movies that you've seen lately?

Cheers!

-A

3-day Detox

As many of you who follow me on Twitter may already know, I'm a fan of the detox diet. More specifically, the 3-day fruit and juice detox.

Now you might be thinking, why on Earth would someone eat only fruit for three whole days? Well let me tell you - after a simple detox like this one, words can't even begin to describe how much better I feel.

Personally, this detox works wonders:

• I have more energy, even first thing in the morning.
• Cravings for salty, fatty foods is nearly gone.
• I'm better hydrated without even trying (constant water intake from eating alone)
• 3-5 pounds of permanent weight loss
• My mood boosts 10-fold

Those are just a few of the reasons I detox.

Add in a little exercise you'll feel even better - and sleep better too.

Now, before you get all crazy on me about messing up my body chemistry and not eating enough protein and all that, let me say this (about to preach, sorry).

The human body was not made to eat and digest meat (note our flat teeth and long intestines). Our ancestors lived off what they could gather from berries and fruit and nuts. Natural foods. Sure, they hunted, but who's to say they all consumed the meat, anyway?

Stepping down from my soapbox now.

Besides, how can you really say that consuming fresh, organic fruit for a few days is bad for you? With increased nutrients and water intake your body is probably thanking you. I know mine is.

I used to do just juice and water, but found that my energy was extremely low and I was beyond irritable. Consuming raw fruit keeps your body working, digesting. After a while, you don't even think about the cheeseburger or Chinese buffet you normally visit at lunch.

This is my take on the 3-day detox. If you don't like it, don't do it.

But if you do, and if you can make it past the cravings of day 1, it's easy sailing from there.

I highly recommend a detox every now and again (once every 6 months or so) just to reset your palate and start fresh, without those nasty cravings. There are a number of available guides you can find, just by Googling. I make my own plan based on what works for me. But I'm sure you can find one that will suit you, too.

All this coming from a girl who loves to eat more than almost anything. If I can do it, anyone can.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Seafood in West Cleveland

Yesterday, the SO decided for his birthday dinner that he wanted to try Salmon Dave's in Rocky River. 

This is something we'd been meaning to try but had yet to get around to - mainly because of the price.

But, if you go into the meal expecting to spend $30+ a plate, you won't be disappointed when the food arrives at your table.

Upon entering we were welcomed with friendly smiles from the hostess and manager, then seated promptly. The decor was cool, it was clearly upscale with white table cloths, but the atmosphere was rather relaxed. Walls were decorated with moose heads and large chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Our server arrived promptly, was friendly throughout the night, but didn't interrupt our conversations (aka, my yacking on about God knows what). He kept our water glasses full too, which is saying something. We don't find that very often. As the SO says, we aren't properly hydrated in most restaurants.

I haven't had service like this in quite some time!

For starters, he went with the Lobster Bisque that everyone at his work was raving about. I passed on the soup initially, as I tend to fill up rather quickly. But one taste of the SOs and I was flagging down our server to order a cup of my own.

It was quite rich, and the SO ended up helping me finish it after he polished off his bowl, but it was by far the best bisque I've ever eaten.

Then it was on to the bruschetta. This girl likes to have a little Italian flare in every meal!

The bread was yummy, and the tomatoes were so fresh I couldn't get enough of them. I wasn't thrilled with the goat cheese fondue that was included on the side, it didn't have much flavor. But, what did I really expect from a seafood restaurant, anyway?

For the main course I really wanted to get crab and lobster, but I could hear my wallet screaming at me as I looked at the menu. So I went with the pretzel-crusted salmon.

Now, let me say this before I proceed. I'm a girl who likes my fish raw. I could eat sushi every day and be a happy girl, so cooked seafood isn't something I typically eat.

But, even with that, this was one of the best pieces of salmon I've ever eaten. It was thick and flavorful. The pretzel crust added just enough texture without taking away from the flavor of the fish.

Served on a bed of green beans and chopped potatoes, I highly recommend this dish.

The SO got shrimp and scallops that I didn't have a chance to taste before my stomach called it quits, but based on the moaning across the table it must have been pretty good.

We passed on dessert to come home and head to bed early.

Given the price and the portion size, next time we go there, we'll probably get soup and split a crab or lobster platter.

Oh yes, there will be a next time.

Here's a snapshot on Salmon Dave's:

Price: $$$$ (about $30 a plate)

Menu Selection: **** (wasn't expecting so much to choose from)

Taste: *** 

Service: ***** 

Atmosphere: **** 

So if you find yourself in West Cleveland and have a craving for seafood, head over to Salmon Dave's in Rocky River, you won't be disappointed.

Cheers!

-A

The Ugly Truth

This weekend the SO and I decided to see a movie - since it was too windy for him to golf and me to skydive.

I'm kidding. We really do like each other.

Anyhow, we decided to see The Ugly Truth since we both like Katherine Heigl - though I'm sure for very different reasons.

We were both expecting it to be quite funny, which, for the most part is true. But as you can probably imagine, it was a little too predictable. 

I won't spoil it for those who have yet to see it, but what you think is going to happen from the beginning, does.

Then again, what romantic comedy doesn't, right?

What I liked most about it is that it goes beyond the male/female stereotypes. This is not a longer version of Everybody Loves Raymond.

There are events that occur in the movie that everyone can relate to because it's happened to you before. At one point in the movie the SO and I both turned to each other and laughed.

Needless to say, it's a cute, funny movie, but definitely not one you need to spend 10 bucks to see in the theater. Save that money for the G.I Joe release - can't beat the action on the big screen.

This critic gives the movie three stars: a decently funny romantic comedy.

Cheers!

-A

EA Sports Active

As many of you may recall, I decided a while back to man up and take the 30-day challenge on EA Sports Active for Nintendo Wii.

Saturday will officially mark the 30 days since I began the challenge. And no, I will not have completed the workouts by this time. I'll be going about three days over - due to soreness and rests because of skydiving and such.

Anyhow, I think I still have some pretty good insight into the program that I'd like to share with y'all today.

As expected, there is some good, some bad and even a few surprises in the following review.

Has anyone else tried this? How does it compare with say, Wii Fit? As a non-Wii Fit user, I'm intrigued. Maybe one day I'll try it out and do a head to head comparison...

Until then, here's my review on the first 30 days using EA Sports Active for the Wii.

Raves:

• It's harder than you might think, and really gets your heart pumping.
• You can choose your level of intensity depending on how you feel that day.
• You can create an avatar that looks like you.
• It doesn't track your weight. This is good for those of us not trying to lose pounds, but more to shape up. 
• It really focuses on your legs - something I've always needed help with.

Rants:

• The resistance band doesn't do enough for my arms.
• It's very sensitive to movement - if you're shaking from the intensity of the workout it'll make you redo it.
• No matter how well you perform, your "trainer" tells you that you could be doing better. These must be canned, automatic responses.
• Even when you choose to listen to all types of music, the songs repeat frequently.
• Often the trainer tells you to set your own pace, then a minute later tells you to wait for the ding sound to switch positions. MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

Surprises:

• You sweat, a LOT. (+)
• There's a journal section that allows you to track other activities and lifestyle choices. It provides basic advice on how to make better choices. (+)
• Trophies are earned for milestones - positive reinforcement and an additional challenge to earn all the awards. (+)
• Goal setting options are very basic and don't provide much detail on progress. (-)

I'd really love to try out Wii Fit to see how it compares. In the past month I've seen a few changes in my body, but it's hard to tell if it's been from that or my other activities.

For instance, my arms have toned up, but I have a feeling steering a parachute every weekend helps with that.

Bottom line - I recommend this product. It's a great at-home option that's sure to make you sweat and get your heart rate up. And it's surprisingly challenging. 

Sure, you may look funny running in place as your avatar travels around the track, but it beats the smell of a sweaty gym any day.

Cheers!

-A

That's quite the fantasy

Before you proceed, one thing to note is that this is in fact NOT a rant. It's purely an observation that I find highly interesting. It provides a little insight into the male mind. It's rather entertaining, really. Enjoy!

(Haha, I don't actually believe this, but it's F-ing hilarious!)

I'd like to talk candidly for a minute about a little thing called fantasy football.

Now ladies, for those who are unaware, fantasy football is more than just a game to the people who participate - it's a sport in and of itself.

I used to think fantasy football was for all those short or gangly, unathletic men out there who could never make the cut in high school and this was the closest they'd ever get to real football. But the more I've been around it, the more involved it really is.

Let me just say, before I proceed, that I'm a lover of sports. I really am. I look forward to football season to see how my Spartans are going to be this year, and just try to pry me away from the TV during March Madness. What can I say, I love me some college sports.

And I've always been a huge fan of hockey, what with the Redwings being an institution. But I've never really been able to get into pro football. Maybe it's because I grew up with the Lions in my back yard, I dunno. The only time I have comfortably sat down to watch a game is on Thanksgiving - a family tradition.

Though I do give myself quite a bit of credit for watching so many Brown's games with the SO last year.

Anyhow - this fantasy stuff is quite the ordeal from what I've seen. Prior to the start of the season there's a draft day where everyone gets together to draft the players they want onto their fantasy team. Personally, I think it's a reason to get together and drink and talk about football, but anyway...

In order to be fully prepared there's LOTS of preparation that goes into making the best strategic picks - we're talking full out research here folks. Sports Illustrated even has an issue dedicated to this fantasy stuff.

Don't even get me started on the number of e-mails about this stuff. I swear it's like they sit at their computer (or iPhone) all day just waiting for the next message about one of the leagues they're in. Yes ladies, most guys are in multiple leagues!

From there it's non-stop obsession throughout the season - not only watching and cheering on your favorite team - sometimes while on the phone with friends who are watching the same game to analyze every play, but watching every single game to make sure all your players do well and don't get injured.

That's a shit ton of football.

According to the SO, it's only Saturday (college), Sunday, Monday in the beginning of the season, then Thursday gets added, then Tuesday...or whatever, you get the idea.

Needless to say, ladies, if you don't participate in these leagues - if you're not from Ohio or Texas you probably don't, but you'd be surprised how many do in these super football states - you get lots of free time in the fall.

Or maybe you'll get drug to the couch for every game and to hear all about how his team is doing.

Personally, I'll be spending my extra free time flying through the sky, making it back just in time to catch the last five minutes. I do like a good ending!

What's your experience with fantasy football - or other fantasy sports?

Cheers!

-A

Deja Vu

Have any of y'all seen the new Palm Pre commercial out there? The one where the woman with the procelin skin is talking about a juggler.

You know, this one.

Am I the only one that finds this commercial a little creepy?

At first, I thought it was a cool idea for an ad. It grabs your attention and somehow manages to hold it while you wait to see what's going to happen. It's different than all the other ADD commercials out there that jump around from frame to frame, making quick cuts to hold our attention.

But the more I see it the more that woman gives me the willies.

Her skin is so perfect it looks plastic. Did she just jump out of a painting or something?

And that voice is just a little too perfect too. It's like she's trying to put me into a trance.

I can't decide if I love it or hate it. Either way, when it comes on, I just can't look away.

Thoughts?

Cheers!

-A

Apple a Day

(What I imagine the following interaction would have looked like face-to-face.)

Okay, before I get into an actual review here, I have a personal rant. That's allowed, see my tagline. 

I thought sleep would help refresh my emotional tie to this, but it didn't. I'm still pissed.

So yesterday was busy. Work was crazy, I have some administrative stuff I'm taking care of in my life at the moment, and Twitter was suffering. But in the afternoon I finally had time to settle in and share some valuable info with my followers (valuable being subjective, of course).

I won't share with you the gruesome details of the exchange, but I posted something that one of my doucheface followers didn't agree with. That's fine, it's my opinion, you are certainly entitled to yours.

HOWEVER...

I don't feel he was entitled to speak to me the way he did; a man I've never met before. He was elitist and acted as though he was a better human being than I - given that he called me a moron, childish, and pathetic, all in a single Tweets. That's saying a lot in 140 characters my friend.

This was even after I controlled my ego and sent him an apology Tweet for any confusion I may have caused with my previous update.

Not only that, after his last direct message where he was clearly fuming, he immediately unfollows and blocks me on Twitter.

Who's being childish again?

Anyhow, at least I don't have to worry about him anymore...

Okay, I feel better. Thanks for listening. On with the show.

.....................................................................

I have to admit that I'm an Apple junkie. No, not the red (or green) crunchy variety, but Apple as in Mac, iPhone and iPod.

It's gotten to a point where I just have to admit to myself that I'm a junkie. I've done things like drop $2 grand on a new MacBook within 5 hours of thinking, "hey, that might be a good idea," and replacing my iPod purely because I walked by the Apple store and saw a pretty purple

one I liked.

I even paid $200 to get out of my Alltel plan so I could dump the BlackBerry for an iPhone. And of course, I eagerly awaited the latest software update so I could be one of the first to make the switch.

Yes, I may have a sickness.

But of course, these products do not come without their issues. We're all aware that Apple has serious battery problems. Though I have to admit, my iPhone battery lasts way longer than the one in my BlackBerry Pearl did, especially when I am using it as a phone.

So in keeping with the negative trend, here are some things that irk me about the Apple products on my shelf.

iPhone:

• The latest software upgrade is screwing with my passcode. Because I use the device for my work e-mail, I have a passcode to get into my phone. Now, every 24 hours, it's asking me to change that code. No one knows why or how to fix it. Damn.
• The battery life, as I've already covered, is something to be desired. But it charges quick, so that's a bonus.
• Why isn't there a flash available for the camera? C'mon, BlackBerry even does it!
• Shazam: let me preface this by saying I LOVE this app. But why does it take so long to load prior to tagging? Hurry up, the song's almost over!

MacBook:

• Again with the battery - I've already had mine replaced once because it completely died. It's only a year old!
• Internet connection speed - sometimes it takes this beast two minutes to connect to my wireless. What gives?
• Overall speed - I used to be impressed, but lately it's been running really slow, and pictures on Facebook and Flickr sometimes never even load.

MacBook Pro:

• I love this computer, it's for work, but parallels are a bitch to use.

iPod:

• There needs to be a function that allows you to shuffle a playlist, not just all the songs you've uploaded. Sometimes I want to listen to the upbeat songs in my running playlist, but in a different order, without having to skip over the songs from my mellow playlist.

Of course, I must admit that the battery in my iPod still works swimmingly and I've had it almost a year now. GASP!

If you have any recommendations for my issues above, please let me know!

So tell me dear readers, are you a Mac, or a PC? And why?

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Dante Lucci Salon

Yesterday was unlike any day I've had in months. It was hectic, and stressful, and whirlwind.

Between work, planning a long weekend that includes driving home to Michigan for my dad and big brother's birthdays, stopping in Tecumseh for a skydive at a new drop zone, then coming back for a typical Sunday at my home drop zone, I've been dealing with some personal stresses that I won't burden you with.

Hey Alexa, maybe I will take you up on that wine offer...

All that stress and worry seemed to disappear as soon as I stepped into Dante Lucci Salon in Rocky River.

*Photo courtesey of Dante Lucci Salon.

This has been my main salon since I moved to Cleveland. They have lots of professionals on staff and they use really gentle products - Bumble and Bumble. This girl's hair is just too sensitive for harsh Aveda bleach. 

And you have to admit, the decor is just so freakin' cute! If you're a Westsider, this is definitely a salon to check out.

I met with a new stylist yesterday as I was in desperate need of a cut and color - now!

Shari went the extra mile for me. She took the time to analyze the current state of my hair, and recommended I go in a slightly different direction than what'd I'd originally come in with.

So instead of adding in more damaging highlights, she simply added some lowlights and used a gloss all over. She finished with a trim to clean up my layers and split ends and we were all set.

My hair finally looks even and healthy!

(Ignore the less-than-excited smile, I'm still working on my first cup of coffee).

There was also a girl there who was new to the salon and watching for a couple days. She did my shampoo and blow dry - and was amazing. If you want the most relaxing shampoo of your life, go to Dante Lucci and ask for Gretchen. I was in heaven!

Here's what my hair looked like before - blonder and longer.

(Yes, I know I'm wearing the same jacket. Give me a break.)

Of course, once I walked out feeling great with my new hair, the whirlwind continued as I went and picked up the SO who was stranded downtown - long story - and acted as his chauffeur for the night.

I'm making it a point to hold my head high and not let today get the best of me. But if you see me after work toting a bottle of wine in each hand you'll know the day won.

Cheers!

-A