Starlette Galleria’s Engagement Rings – review

If you are looking for an alternate ring to wear on a cruise, to a ballgame, or just to enjoy without worrying about it being lost or stolen, look no further. Starlette Galleria has some great stand-ins for your expensive rings.

 

Founded by Olivia Starling, these hypoallergenic rings are great for engagements, weddings, and everyday. I have no compunction about replacing my wedding ring with a CZ alternative when traveling, and this one I just received is sparkling and beautiful.

Yes, I did receive this complimentary ring from the company to review should I feel it is worthy of my readers purchasing. And yes, I do love it.

 

The rings feature simulated diamonds (AAA CZ) set in 925 Sterling Silver and plated in either rhodium or 14k gold. This means they look more expensive that they are and they won’t tarnish. It bothers me when I want to wear a ring and it is tarnished. Who wants to polish their jewelry all the time? Plus, the rings won’t turn your finger green.

Losing one of these Starlette rings won’t bring on a lot of regret, although I still would not want to lose it. The jewelry is only a tiny fraction of the price compared to high end jewelry.

With the price of gold these days, it is out-of-reach for many people. Even if you can afford that beautiful ring you have had your eye on for the past year, the Starlette rings will add some sparkle to your jewelry collection. And switching off from one design to another is fun and affordable.

 

Out of the group of complimentary rings I was offered, I selected the Eliza. It is a dainty yet substantial two-piece set. The center stone is not too large. I wanted something believable. And the set can be worn either as one single ring or a double, with a thin band nesting into the main ring.

 

There are many selections as well as price points. Maybe the kids would like to pull their money and order a sparkling ring for Mother’s Day,  a birthday, or the holidays. Wow. What an amazing present to open.

It is worth checking out the line of rings from Starlette Galleria. They have other jewelry too.

 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

 

 

 

Bluejay Electric Bikes – review

Bluejay E-bikes has just introduced their second model – Bluejay Sport to go along with the Premier Edition model. These bikes are comfortable and very attractive.

The company invited me on a media ride to get acquainted with these bikes and I did enjoy the ride. I rode the Premier Edition with is a step-through model making it easier for those of us with, let’s just say knee problems. The new Sport model was designed for more off-road rides, although it is still a good city bike.

The battery on these bikes supplies a good push even when it is set to the lowest level. When the level is increased (which I did when going up a hill) the motor makes uphill peddling a breeze. The motor kicks in as soon as the pedal is engaged, so there is no awkward starting point. As they explained to me before I began my ride, it’s like having someone giving the bike a little assist – similar to when you learned to ride. I remember those days. My dad would run alongside my bike holding on until he thought I was capable of riding by myself. It worked, and the motor on the Bluejay works too, to make that takeoff and ride fun and easy.

The seat was very comfortable as were the handle grips. The information is displayed on an easy-to-read screen, and with the 75-mile battery life, this is one bike that can easily go several days when out for little jaunts.

 

Okay, let’s get down to the best part – the colors! Haha.  The colors are beautiful. The Sport model has some attractive matte colors and the Premier model has shiny paint. No matter which color you like, these are the best looking e-bikes I have ever seen.

Families will enjoy the easy-to-attach child seat as well as the comfy child buggy. These are not made specifically by Bluejay but are available for these bikes. You can even double up with a child seat on the rear of the bike and tow the buggy. Taking your family out for a ride in the park, by the beach, or just around the neighborhood is easier now with E-bikes. And for those peddling, well, let’s just say the ride got a lot smoother and less demanding.

 

I could get into more specifics about the Bluejay but it’s better if you check them out for yourself. To find a retailer near you to get detailed information, purchase or test drive, check here.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Doctor Plotka’s Mouthwatchers

Oral hygiene is important. If you’re like me you usually have a toothbrush with you when you’re going to be out all day. But when it comes down to it, are the travel toothbrushes safe and clean? Doctor Plotka’s is an all-in-one foldable toothbrush that easily fits into a pocket, gym bag, purse, or backpack.

These foldable toothbrushes (invented by a dentist) are infused with silver to eliminate 99% of bacteria on the bristles, according to the website. The bristles are also positioned to clean at the gums and between teeth. They’re not floss but they do clean well. The bristles are thin to reach between teeth and into crevices. The company sent me some samples and I like the fact that they are antimicrobial.

If you work in an office and drink coffee, tea, soda, or snack at your desk, it is a good idea to keep a toothbrush handy. Brushing after drinking helps with oral hygiene. And it’s always a good idea to brush after lunch. This handy little toothbrush easily stores in a desk drawer without having to keep a separate pouch for it.

And teens in school definitely need to have a toothbrush in their lockers. For students with braces it is a must. When your mouth is fresh and clean you feel fresh and clean.

Long plane rides are another time when this foldable toothbrush comes in handy. With the tiny travel size toothpastes, the two items take up almost no space.

For travel, work, school, or whenever, this is a handy item. It’s never too young to start an oral hygiene habit. Keeping teeth clean and healthy is much easier – and way less expensive – than dealing with oral problems later in life.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Three Wishes for Cinderella’ is a different take on the popular tale

In a twist on the fairy tale we all know and love, Three Wishes for Cinderella is a Norwegian version starring Scandinavian pop star Astrid S. The story has many of the same elements as the familiar tale, yet there are plenty of differences.

Cinderella lives as a servant to her stepmother. In this version the orphan has only one stepsister, and this spoiled girl is not as evil as those we have known in past versions. Cinderella is a sweet, kind hearted young woman who enjoys spending time with her animal friends.

One day while riding her horse, she comes upon a man. She chastises him about the evils of hunting and killing animals for no reason other than sport. The two hit it off and they enjoy some time together in the snow. Then Cinderella learns his identity. He is the prince. She leaves him in the snow and heads home.

The prince in this story is definitely more immature than past princes. He does not want to meet a perspective future wife at the ball, and lets his parents know how he feels.  He also has a habit of running away from his life. He’s not princely in the least.

While preparing her stepmother and stepsister for the ball, Cinderella yearns to go too. Unfortunately for those of us who love the fairy godmother from the past, there is no such character in this story. Instead, Cinderella obtains three magic acorns. These are the catalysts for her ball gown and other miracles in her life. 

The ball is pretty much the same as the ones we are used to, and yes, there is a lost shoe. But after that part things are completely different. Cinderella ultimately finds her courage and strength to stand on her own and defy her stepmother. And in the end, yes, there is a happy ending for the prince and Cinderella but only after she uses her archery skills to save a life or two. 

Fans of Frozen will notice the similarity between the castle in this movie and the one in Arendelle.  Viewers might even expect Elsa and Anna to come dancing across the bridge. And there is a little bit of Merida (Brave) in Cinderella when it comes to her archery expertise. 

This entire story takes place in the beautiful snowy Nordic winter, so grab a cup of hot chocolate and make yourself comfortable when you pop in this disc or watch the digital version.  

Three Wishes for Cinderella is from Shout! Studios and is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. The film is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge is going to stream on Prime



Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge invites America’s best bakers to step into the world of Dr. Seuss. From classically trained pastry chefs, to self-taught cake artists, 9 teams of two bakers will compete for a grand prize of $50,000. From The Grinch to The Cat in the Hat, these bakers will use their limitless imaginations to craft jaw-dropping creations inspired by beloved Dr. Seuss characters. Hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley, in each episode bakers will be given a challenge based around Seuss characters and stories, and their towering creations will be judged by Clarice Lam and Joshua John Russell based on taste, creativity, and storytelling.

Watch this fun baking challenge beginning December 13, 2022 on Prime Video and Amazon Freevee.

‘Batwheels’ comes to HBO Max and Cartoonito

 

They are a team of incredible crimefighters who have banded together to oppose evil, combat crime and clean up the streets of Gotham City.  They are…okay, they’re NOT Batman and Robin.  They’re the Batwheels – an awesome group of sentient super-powered crime-fighting vehicles defending Gotham City alongside Batman, Robin and Batgirl.

Having just been created by the Batcomputer, our heroes are essentially kids with little to no life experience.  Led by Bam (The Batmobile), the Batwheels – Bibi (The Batgirl Cycle), Redbird (Robin’s Sports Car), (Batwing the Batwing Jet Plane), and Buff (The Bat Truck) – must navigate the growing pains of being a newly formed super team as well as the growing pains that come with just being a kid.  This relatable and aspirational series will follow the journey of this dynamic team as they thrill and entertain with their heroic adventures as well as demonstrate to kids the value of self-confidence, friendship and teamwork.

Batwheels hits the streets – or I should say the TV screens – October 17, 2022. Vroom vroom.

‘Disenchanted’ is coming to Disney+


It has been 15 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.

Disenchanted begins streaming on Disney+ November 24, 2022.

‘Abomindable and the Invisible City’ now streaming on HULU and Peacock

He’s back. That adorable yeti is filled with love and caring once again.

Abominable and The Invisible City is a comedy adventure series that continues the wild and wooly fun of DreamWorks Animation’s Abominable. Through Everest the yeti, Yi, Jin, and Peng know that there’s a whole magical world out there, and now it’s even closer than they think! When they discover that their surroundings are teeming with magical creatures in need of their help, the kids will set out on extraordinary and heartfelt adventures throughout their city and beyond.

There’s much to love in this show, and everyone will be wishing they had a plush Yeti to hug as they watch. He’s cute, cuddly, and sweet. And there will be more to love with the 10 episodes in this delightful series for the entire family. It streams on HULU and Peacock.

Images courtesy DreamWorks

‘Oni: Thunder God’s Tale on Netflix

In a world filled with the oddball gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, one of the creature’s free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to fight to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching threat of the gods’ mysterious enemies, the “Oni”?

Oni: Thunder God’s Tale 4-episode series drops on Netflix October 21, 2022.
 

Oni: Thunder God’s Tale website

‘Wednesday’ is coming soon

Wednesday is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Wednesday drops November 23, 2022 on Netflix.

Wednesday website