What is a Toy Story movie without toys? It’s just a story. The toys are what make the franchise popular and they have all become part of our lexicon and pop culture.

The latest film in the franchise, Toy Story 5, unites the toys and adds new ones to the group.  

Young and old fans of the toys most likely have at least one product in their homes. Whether it is a book, a doll, an action figure, or figurines, these items bring the fun and emotions of the films to everyday lives. Let’s face it, toys are fun at any age.

Andy was the original owner of many of the toys that have become part of our world. Among his toys are:

• Buzz Lightyear
• Woody
• Bullseye
• Jessie
• Rex
• Mr. Potato Head
• Mrs. Potato Head
• Slinky Dog
• Hamm
• Three Aliens

As fans know, he always proudly wrote his name on the bottom of his beloved toys. 

When he went off to college, Andy gave his friends, aka toys, to Bonnie. They then joined her group of toys:

• Dolly
• Mr. Pricklepants
• Trixie
• Buttercup
• Peas-in-a-pod
• Totoro

And later Forky was added as well as Knifey, aka Karen. And now there are new toys in the group:

• Lilypad
• Atlas
• Snappy
• Smarty Pants

Whether you like Andy or Bonnie (personally I think she has the best imagination of the two!), there are plenty of items that let you relive the wonder and fun of the stories.

From Andy

Andy’s beloved cowgirl Jessie is front and center in the new movie. She’s a rootin’ tootin’ gal with spirit, spunk, and empathy for Andy, Bonnie, and all the toys.

The plush Jessie is adorable. She has her red hair braided in a ponytail and wears her trademark red cowboy hat. Her chaps protect her legs and her outfit is exactly what she wears in the films.

Jessie’s right foot has Andy’s name printed on the bottom of her boot. She’s the real deal.

If you’re looking for a big plush doll, this isn’t it. She is thin but nevertheless very cuddly. Jessie is 17 inches from head to toe. She does not stand on her own, but can sit and be posed.

Her face will bring a smile to everyone. Her giant smile is exactly what is needed on a dreary day or a time when things are not going well. All you have to do is look at Jessie to brighten up your day. 

 

From Bonnie

Bonnie’s Trixie is her beloved dinosaur. Trixie loves being Bonnie’s dinosaur. She was the focus of the short film Toy Story: Land that Time Forgot. Although those short films are not intended to be in the timeline of the film franchise, viewers came to know and love Trixie in this story.

Plush Trixie is soft with a scalelike design imprinted on her body. She stands five inches high and her body length is about 14 ½ inches long from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail.

Trixie is a triceratops.  Her frill (the crown-like shield around her head) has felt details. Trixie is a sky blue color with purple accents. Her tusk and horns are soft ivory color.

This sweet little girl has a wide open mouth ready for a kiss. She’s absolutely adorable.

Toy Story 5

Toy Story 5 introduces several new toys. Lilypad is the impetus for the storyline. This frog-shaped electronic tablet brings a whole new world to Bonnie. 

Tech – low and high – are part of Toy Story 5, and Atlas, Snappy, and Smarty Pants are part of that. This “Tech Trio” are old-school tech, not high-tech like Lilypad.

Snappy is a digital camera.  Atlas is a talking GPS. He’s just a big hippo head. And Smarty Pants is an old-school potty training toy that looks like a roll of toilet paper with a cute face and buttons to press. 

The Figurine Set is comprised of seven little figurines that can be set up together or individually. There is Woody sporting his new poncho, Buzz ready to leap to eternity and beyond, Forky looking quizzical as always, Jessie posed as the polite cowgirl she is, Bullseye ready to ride, Lilypad eager to show off her abilities, and the Tech Trio. 

This new set comes in an open front box resembling a kid’s bedroom. It is the perfect gift for anyone who loves the franchise, and especially the newest film.  And collectors will appreciate the display in which they are placed.

Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and Forky are rubbery allowing them to be a little flexible.  

Due to the small sizes – the smallest is Forky at two inches high, this set is for ages 3 and up. 

Much more

There are plenty more plush characters at the Disney Store.  And there are talking toys and other items. They are sure to bring fun to any room. Bedtime stories are more magical and imaginative with the characters, whether reenacting scenes from the movie or creating new stories.

Disney always comes through when it comes to fun merch to keep the magic, enjoyment, entertainment, and love of the stories alive. Check out all the items at the Disney Store website.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 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 is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

 

The Pro Dock from ZAGG turns any area into a comfortable workspace – even a kitchen table! Working on a laptops or tablets is much easier and expandable.

The Pro Dock comes with a sturdy stand. It doesn’t weigh too much but it is definitely not light as a feather. The stand includes an integrated USB-C cord to easily attach to an iPad or other device. It also has a power box to plug into an electrical outlet to keep your device charged.

The stand itself can be positioned in two ways. In the original position the laptop or tablet is angled. A magnetic adjustment positions the device in an upright position. Having the two angles and heights allows the user to position the screen in just the right location.

There are several ports on the base of the stand to plug in headphones, SD Cards, USB devices. A Satellite Hub adds additional ports. When the hub is plugged into the stand, the stand and hub together add 10 ports, making it a true work station for gaming, streaming, or working. All together they include 3 USB-C ports, 2 HDMI ports, 1 Audio Jack, 2 USB-A ports, 1 Ethernet port, and an SD Card Reader. Practically a port for every need.

The Satellite Hub is equipped with sticking strips to be able to secure it to a wall, under a desk, or wherever. Personally, I prefer not to attach it any specific place to be able to make the station truly portable. But for people who work mainly in one area, this is a handy feature as it helps keep the area as clutter free as possible when attached under a desk. This way all the cords are below the desktop.

All the plugs to connect the stand, satellite hub, the power box, and the laptop or tablet are included. The only thing missing is the actual laptop or tablet and the external devices. 

This Pro Dock makes a great graduation gift and a nice gift for students going off to college. It is sturdy, expands the abilities of laptops and tablets, and easy to use. There is absolutely no learning curve with this work station. Just plug in the cords and it’s ready to use. 

Do I love mine? You bet I do.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and all aspects of entertainment. In her career spanning over 30 years she has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites.

Note: This unit was sent to me for an honest review with no expectations.

 

The Shark Matrix Clean Robot Vacuum has literally been a game changer for me. Vacuuming is not the hardest task when it comes to cleaning the house, however it does take time. The Shark Matrix Clean Robot Vacuum has freed up my days and my floors are dust and dirt free.

This self-emptying robot is easy to use. Just press the button and the first time out it maps the house. It does take a little while for it to learn the layout, but once it does that, it really becomes part of the family, not literally of course.

Press the “clean” button and a little tune announces it is ready to take off and get the job done. When it has filled its capacity it takes itself back to its dock, empties the load, and sets off again to continue vacuuming the house. If you want it to stop, simply press the “dock” button on the top and it takes itself back “home.”

How well does it work? That’s the main thing people want to know. For me it works wonderfully. It easily rolls across the wood floor, the tile floors in the bathrooms, and even onto the little rugs.

The vacuum can be voice activated and controlled by a smart phone. And, if there are areas of the house you do not want it to access, you can set it to leave those areas out of its routine. For instance, we have a walk-in shower that we do not want it to access. So, this little guy simply passes it by.

The suction is great.  This unit will easily suck up hair, crumbs, or other pieces of dirt. On the average, the base does not need to be emptied for 50-60 days, depending on how much dirt is there. I tend to use the vacuum two to three times a week, so sometimes it needs to be emptied sooner.

Cleaning the vacuum is also easy. Hair sometimes gets tangled in the roller. In that case, simply open the back and remove the roller. Pull out the hair or thread, or whatever is tangled in there, and replace the roller. Cleaning the rest of the unit is also just a matter of opening the bottom and cleaning the areas to keep the vacuum in top shape. And, if you happen to forget to clean it, don’t worry. It will remind you. Yes, this vacuum talks to you. 

There are some vacuums that also include mops, however I chose the vacuum only. 

Do I recommend this vacuum? Absolutely. It is well worth the price. And, look around. You can often find discounts on this model and other Shark robot vacuums. 

 
About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw has been reviewing products and writing about travel and entertainment for 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites.

In today’s world of tech and stress, sometimes little things help make life just a bit easier. Here are two of those items from the folks at ZAGG.

Desk Mat with Wireless Charging

The MagSafe compatible Desk Mat with wireless charging from ZAGG makes a desk neater, less cluttered, and convenient. The integrated USB-C cord transforms this from just a desk mat into a convenient apparatus.

At 27 ½ inches long and 12 inches wide, this mat fits keyboards, keypads, mice and other devices. The wireless charging declutters desks, negating the need for an additional wireless charging pad or stands. 

Because it is wireless charging, there’s no need to plug in  iPods to charge them. Simply place the wireless charging holder on the mat and continue with whatever you’re doing. No additional cords are necessary to recharge your devices.

The mat itself is non-slip and includes two grooves near the top to hold a pen, stylus, writing utensils, etc. The two grooves make it easy for both right and left handed users to have their tools handy. And when placed in the grooves, they won’t roll away. 

For those looking to declutter their desk while at the same time being able to charge their Qi-enabled devices, this might be just what is needed.

The mat comes rolled in a protective tube. The mat is soft to the touch with the maximum speed of 10W for wireless charging. It’s not super fast charging, but it is charging, nonetheless. Unfortunately, the only color it comes in at the moment is black.

Mophie Universal Belt Clip

The Mophie Universal Belt Clip keeps your phone secure and safely attached to a belt. The unit is adjustable with a spring loaded holder to fit almost any size phone.

Switching the phone from vertical to horizontal is just a matter of clicking the holder. This can be accomplished while the unit remains safely attached to a belt. Phones can be adjusted to several angles for the user’s preference.

While it is primarily used for belts (that’s in the name), it can be secured on purses, pant waists, pockets, and other areas where it can snugly clip on.  Personally, I don’t wear a belt when I go for a walk, so I just clip this onto the waistband of my pants and off I go. 

The soft area holding the phone won’t scratch or mar the device. And the clip itself is very strong and sturdy.

If you’re tired of holding your phone and want a safe and secure way to keep it with you, check out the mophie universal belt clip. 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw has been writing about products, entertainment, and travel for over 35 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as various Internet websites.

The folks at ZAGG are always coming up with items to make life easier. Another useful item is their 6-Port Media Hub. This portable unit is for tablets and other USB-C enabled devices, providing a handy stand as well as ports for various card readers and an audio jack for headphones.

Not only does this unit have ports for users to play their videos on their tablets (remember, iPads do not have any ports other than the USB-C), there are easy-to-touch buttons for Play/Pause, Forward, and Backward. These buttons make adjusting the videos easy. No longer does the user have to touch the tablet to pause/play, etc.

The integrated stand is useful even if videos are not being played. It keeps tablets firmly upright – vertically or horizontally. Just open the “door” and set the tablet in the channel, which is lined with a soft textile to keep the edge of the tablet from being scratched.

Besides the audio jack, the 6 ports are for HDMI, USB-C PD, USB-A, SD card reader, and micro SD reader. Basically, this unit has whatever plugs/ports you need to view your video on a iPad or Android tablet.

The attached USB-C connecter from the hub to the tablet easily stores inside the unit. It does not have to be carried separately. It’s all-in-one.

When initially connected to a tablet, select “headphones” when prompted. This allows the unit the connectivity to the speaker. That’s all there is to it.  Viewing online content or, when a card is inserted, the tablet is a media center.

The bottom line is, this gives users an easy way to view media. Lightweight and compact, with a variety of uses, the 6-Port Media Hub is probably just what tablet users are looking for when it comes to listening and viewing content.  It expands the capability of a tablet, giving users flexibility to use various sources.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw has been writing about products, entertainment, and travel for over 35 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as various Internet websites.

Note: This unit was sent to me for an honest review with no expectations.

Images are from the author as well as courtesy ZAGG

 

For those of us who have grown up with home movies – now called home videos – we know how far technology has come from the old hand-held eight millimeter cameras. The grainy and shaky home movies that captured our childhoods and family vacations are windows to our past. Today’s generation capture videos on the ubiquitous smart phones. The images are cleaner and sharper than in the past. But now enter the gimbal. The gimbal is a marvel in that it allows for smooth movement when filming objects. Even when they are traveling at high speeds. The latest version of DJI’s Osmo Mobile is great for families. 

With spring break, Easter gatherings, summer vacations, Thanksgiving family get togethers, and holiday parties as well as family reunions and birthday parties, capturing videos for future memories is easier than ever. The Osmo Mobile 6 is compact and very light weight. It comes with an easy-to-snap-on magnetic clip that attaches to the gimbal. It also comes with a tripod and extension rod. And to make things just a little easier, there is a travel pouch to keep it all safe when in a suitcase, car, or drawer. 

The first thing to do if you get the Osmo Mobile 6 is to charge it with the accompanying USB cord. Once that’s done, the rest is a snap – literally. The tripod screws onto the base, the arm twists up, and the phone (now clipped to the magnet) snaps on. Voila. The gimbal comes alive. It aligns itself automatically. 

So, what does it do? Of course you can simply hold your phone in your hand and press the record button to capture videos, but the gimbal adds a lot more. Its main function is to stabilize the phone so it doesn’t shake when you move. It gives you smooth videos automatically. But this little gadget does much more. 

Perhaps one of my favorite things when it comes to this unit, is switching from portrait to landscape with just a double click of a button. Another useful easy-to-use side wheel lets you zoom in for a closer look. And the Osmo Mobile 6 has an “active tracking” feature so if you’re taking a video of little Johnny hitting the ball then running to first base, the device can stick with him during this feat of amazement. It tracks his movement and smoothly follows him around the bases. And when little Susie gives her presentation at the science fair, capturing it all is easy. Simply make sure the gimbal is facing her and start recording. You won’t have to watch it all through the phone. You can watch it through your eyes while the gimbal is recording it for posterity.

Click the link  to watch how the Osmo Mobile 6 changes quickly from Portrait to Landscape with just a push of a button. Osmo Mobile 6 view change

With the extension rod, it’s much easier to video over people’s heads. Those of us who are not six feet tall understand that little dilemma. 

There is a joystick that lets the user move the phone around while it’s on the unit. This is actually another of my favorite aspects of the Osmo Mobile 6. And, yet another button switches the camera from front to back so recording selfies is a breeze. Not only can you record yourself, but you can also move around at the same time and the video will still be smooth and clear. With just a click of a button users can start and stop the recording or take a still photo.

There is more to this little unit than all of this but these aspects are probably the most important for families who want a small, easy, reliable gimbal to save precious memories. The fact that it is light weight is a plus. And the tripod makes it easy to take group photos or group videos without having to miss out on the fun..

The one caveat is there is a slight learning curve to the Osmo Mobile 6. This little unit packs a lot into its uses with different modes and a variety of features. Getting the basics for family use is not too hard. I recommend adjusting to this unit then watching the beginners guides on YouTube, besides the one from DJI. Different YouTubers highlight different uses so it would behoove new users to learn from them and decide what features will be most useful for their own needs. 

Now when I watch my old family videos (which have been transferred onto DVDs), I see how far technology has come. The grainy and bouncy videos are precious to me and my family. These videos recorded our past. This new generation can record their family events in a completely different way – one without all the shakes and the blurry pictures. And in 20 years when it’s time to watch Johnny’s 10th birthday party, well, the video will be much better than those of the past. 

Gimbals are the updated devices for recording family memories. The Osmo Mobile 6 is small, lightweight, easy to handle, and has a variety of useful features besides the main use of stabilization. 

Note: DJI sent me the Osmo Mobile 6 for review. They wanted an honest opinion for family use.  And there you have it. 

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.

Valentine’s Day celebrates love and joy. This year make it even sweeter with the Cinematic Love: Nostalgic Celebration of Treats from Sugar Plum Chocolates. It’s a fun – and delicious – way to spend the evening with your sweetie with these sweets (and savories).

The box in itself is fun. It looks like an old-time movie ticket. But when you slide out the inside, wow, you are in for a treat.

There is a bag of caramel corn drizzled with chocolate. Can you say, “delicious?” Yep. It’s a great snack to munch on while watching a favorite Valentine’s Day movie. 

Besides the caramel corn there are four graham cracker sandwiches filled with peanut butter and covered with milk chocolate. Another delectable treat.

There is also a little bag of milk chocolate pretzel balls. Pretzels and chocolate make a great combination!

For those who want a little sour, a bag of sour cherry balls and a bag of sour pucker lips fit the bill. And to top off the collection is a bag of little champagne bubble candies.

Okay, so here’s a great idea for this year’s February 14th evening. Select a memorable movie (it does not have to be a romantic one, but that helps), open this celebration of treats, and cuddle up for the evening. Who says you have to go out to enjoy the night?

Some favorite films that might be worth exploring are An Affair to Remember, When Harry Met Sally, and You’ve Got Mail. If you’re not in the mood for a romantic story, it is just as memorable to watch Star Wars. Whatever you select, the Nostalgic Celebration of Treats will definitely add to the enjoyment.

And why not get the box to have on hand when guests come over or for any time a bit of sweetness is called for? After all, even though it comes out for Valentine’s Day, it is just as delicious every other day. 

The box is available at the Sugar Plum website and will be available for Valentine’s Day at the Macys and Goldbelly websites.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry, products and travel for over 35 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites.

The Sugar Plum Chocolates Cinematic Love: Nostalgic Celebration of Treats was sent to me with no expectations.