In 1991 Disney’s animated feature film Beauty and the Beast quickly became an audience favorite among all ages. On March 17, 2017 the live-action version of the Disney classic hits theaters. All the characters we have loved for 26 years are back, albeit just a little different.

To celebrate this new film the Disney Store has two great tea sets – one for kids and one for adults, each designed with the live-action film in mind.

The Enchanted Objects Tea Set ($24.95) is for ages 3 and up and includes Mrs. Potts, Chip, and one other cup along with two teaspoons, saucers, and a sugar bowl with lid.

This enchanted set is made of plastic so it is not meant to be used with real tea. It is meant to be played with at a pretend tea party. Two BFFs, a girl and her favorite stuffed animal or doll, or a mother and child can have fun with this set.

Not only does it encourage imagination and play with the adorable objects, but also, as the name implies, there are some “enchanted” features about the items. First, Mrs. Potts’ eyes close when she is tilted. And second, Chip wobbles on his saucer. So, with Mrs. Potts opening and closing her eyes and little wobbly Chip, a lot of fun play is in store for a child’s tea party.

The Limited Edition Fine China Tea Set can definitely be used for real tea parties. Included in this set are Mrs. Potts, Chip, two additional teacups and four saucers. Having tea with this set is a memorable experience.

Because it is usable, it is an entertaining way to enjoy an afternoon with friends. Invite over your gal pals for tea and cake. Or, for special mother/daughter time, bring out this set to enjoy with your child.

It comes in a special box for gift giving. Perhaps for Mothers Day? With the edition limited to 2000 units, it is something you cannot wait to purchase. It sells for $249.95.

Many people collect tea sets. This is wonderful item someone who collects sets and also loves the story of Belle and the Beast. And let’s face it, that’s pretty much most of us.

So whether you are looking for a play tea set for a child or an exquisite fine china tea set for an adult, these two fit the bill.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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, from Sourced Media Books.

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Zagg is a unique company created out of ingenuity and necessity. When the founder, Phillip Chipping, wanted to find a way to protect his new watch from scratches and chips, he discovered a film the military used to protect their helicopter blades. Well, if it was good enough for the military, it was good enough for him. He founded a company that produced lightweight shields to protect all our devices: iPhones, iPads, iPods. The company is now Zagg and this company produces an array of products to keep our devices safe as well as help users get the most convenience out of all our expensive devices.

First of all, they have several Invisible Shields for various products, made out of a variety of elements. Their newest is called the “Sapphire Defense” and is applied easily to your iPhone to keep the screen safe. Why sapphire? Jewelry aficionados know that sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness. This Invisible Shield is smudge resistant and easy to apply, leaving your screen with the clarity that all users demand. There is no distortion. Once applied, the screen is clear, resists smudges, and absorbs impacts that would damage it without the protection.

This Sapphire Defense Invisible Shield protects your screen from shattering 7 times more than without it. The sapphire infused crystals make all the difference in this product. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but in this case, girls and boys alike will agree sapphires are number one.

The Sapphire Defense is not currently available for the iPad Pro 12.9 inch so you’ll have to wait just a little longer. In the meantime, if you purchase one of these new large iPad Pros, protect it with the Invisible Shield Glass. This is good protection for this device repelling skin oils and keeping the screen clear and safe.

If you do have an iPad Pro 12.9 inch, so far the largest on the market, you’ll discover this is like a laptop without all the ports and some of the convenience. However that is easily fixed with Zagg’s Slim Book. The Slim Book is a combination keyboard, case, and stand.

Using the iPad Pro 12.9 inch without an additional keyboard is fine for some circumstances, but the keyboard on the screen takes up valuable screen real estate. And it’s not as easy to use for those of us who are used to typing on keys. This keyboard uses Bluetooth technology so there are no wires connecting it to your tablet. Just pair it with your device and you’re ready to start typing on real keys. The entire keyboard is convenient and comfortable for your palms to rest and your fingers to reach the keys.

Another great aspect of this keyboard is the keys are backlit. So when you are in a dark ballroom listening to a lecture and want to type notes, just press a button and a soft colors light backlights the keys. I have found this aspect extremely handy, not only in ballrooms, but in other situations as well.

The Slim Book also serves as a case to keep your tablet safe. Line up your tablet and click it into the case. Now, if you have your Invisible Screen on and your tablet secured in the case, you can feel comfortable knowing you have a safe tablet to carry as is. However, there is more.

The case now can connect to your keyboard. To pair the keyboard to your device, simply make sure your Bluetooth is turned on, press the fn button on the keyboard and either 1, 2, or 3. Your device will automatically find the keyboard and a blue light will flash telling you you’re all set. Now, if you want to pair your iPhone or another device to the keyboard, repeat this process (using a different number.) How cool is that? You can have several devices paired to use the keyboard. The easy Quick Start guide will help you set everything up in just a minute or two, including instructing you how to use the backlight and other options.

There is more to this Slim Book. With the hinges that connect the case to the keyboard, you have the ability to angle the screen to suit your needs. And, hold onto your hats, you can turn it around to “book mode” so you can read without the keyboard in your way. And the “video mode” lets you also view your screen without the keyboard in front of the screen. This is courtesy of the magnetic hinge that lets users flip the case.

If you get the idea that I am excited about this product, you are correct. I have been using it and it is amazing. It turns your iPad into a laptop, and it’s easily convertible to various modes. And when you just want to carry your screen without the keyboard, just pop it off. It’s that easy.

The Slim Book for iPad Pro 12.9 inch sells for $139.99. The Invisible Shield Glass for iPhone 6/6s Plus sells for $34.99. The Invisible Shield Sapphire Defense for iPhones sells for $49.99. The Invisible Shield Glass for iPad Pro 12.9 inch sells for $64.99.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

If you’re thinking about buying a new mattress, the MyPillow Mattress Topper might be the way to go instead of purchasing a completely new mattress. This high-density foam topper could save you thousands of dollars on a new mattress.

The MyPillow Mattress Topper is three inches thick. That’s a lot of foam. It supports your body with what they call “zero gravity” so the foam cradles your entire body. Pressure points are caressed.

With their “ThermaPhase Gel Technology,” the topper is meant to keep your body at the right temperature all year long. There is a removable cover that comes with the topper so it’s easily washable. The topper is made from CertiPure-US flexible polyurethane foam. With the attached straps, it is easy to place on top of your existing mattress and won’t shift or move during the night.

This is a nice little – or not so little if you select the king size – product for campers, camping, and those mostly-uncomfortable RV beds.

I tried this topper and although I love my regular air mattress, this added additional support. This is exactly what I would want in an RV. Those mattresses are quite uncomfortable, but when you purchase an RV you really don’t have any choice. You get what it comes with. But now with this MyPillow Mattress Topper, you can make your RV as comfortable as your home bed.

And this is something that college students will embrace. Dorm beds are awful. I remember mine. If I had this mattress topper when I went to college, my nights would have been much more comfortable.

With the 60-day money-back guarantee, there is no reason not to try this topper. And it comes with a five-year warranty.

Families might get extra benefit from this topper by putting it in minivans or station wagons. That way your child has a comfortable mattress for long road trips.

The company says this product is portable; however if you do get the king size, remember it is large so in my experience that size is really not portable. However the smaller sizes could easily be transported from one place to another.

My suggestion is to try the MyPillow Mattress Topper if you want to save money and not purchase a brand new mattress. Also, I highly suggest this for college students.

The MyPillow Mattress Topper is available in sizes Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, RV Queen, King, and California King. Check their website for prices and promo codes.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Have you heard that beer is good for your hair? When I was young my mom often poured beer on my hair after shampooing. Sounds strange, but for generations beer has been used to get shiny hair. BROO is a company with three different versions of beer-infused shampoos and conditioners.

If you have thin or fine hair, try the “Pop your Top” BROO shampoo and conditioner. For dry or damaged hair, there is the “Drench your Do” and for an invigorating experience they have “Feel the Buzz.” Each one is safe for color treated hair, so you don’t have to worry about it taking the color out of your hair.

So, why beer? First of all, it contains B vitamins and minerals. It’s protein-rich. Beer nourishes your hair however you won’t smell any alcohol in the products. Don’t worry about getting pulled over for driving intoxicated because you smell like beer!

According to Brad and Sarah, the founders of BROO Craft Beer Hair, the first ingredient in each of their products is beer because it “has all the amazing B vitamins, minerals and proteins that make hair strong, shiny and healthy.” As soon as I heard about this company I thought about my mom drenching my long hair with beer. She was right. And both Brad and Sarah’s moms rinsed their hair with beer too.

I tried the “Feel the Buzz” Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s not flowery or sweet smelling, but it does make your scalp tingle. And, as I expected (and hoped it would do), my hair is shiny and healthy looking.

They use pure ingredients that moisturize, cleanse, and put a shine in your hair. Your hair will be clean and soft. The products are pH balanced, and –yay – they are made in the USA! Plus, they are vegan, so you know they are created with the utmost care and purest ingredients, free of dyes, parabens, and other things you don’t understand but know can’t be good for you!

BROO is a product that lives up to the hype. Beer is good for your hair. Mom knew best!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Soccer is a favorite sport among youngsters. It’s been around for thousands of years in one form or another. Although it has been played a little differently in various cultures through history, it remains a popular sport around the world. One father has created a new technology that promises improvement in players’ accuracy and power when kicking the ball.

“After watching my daughters and their teammates continually hit the ball with their toes in practice, I went out to look for some kind of device that could help train them to instead kick on the top of their shoes,” said Joe Briganti, SockIt founder and CEO. “I didn’t find anything in stores and saw this as a great opportunity to show my daughters a little about business and how to make an idea a reality.”

This little device is made from industrial strength thermal plastic rubber and fits onto cleats. When the player kicks the ball correctly, six LED-powered lights light up. A replaceable lithium battery powers this device, which helps players gain confidence and accuracy while still having fun.

The SockIt is for ages 5-12 and is one-size-fits-all. Besides helping youngsters improve their kicking skills, it is fun to wear and withstands all the impact little legs deliver. And once one child wears it, the entire team will be asking for their own.

What is admirable about the company is that for every SockIt sold the company will donate a portion of the revenue to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. And the company has donated products and set up soccer scholarships for underprivileged kids to help pay their fees. No sport is free. With fees to join leagues as well as equipment, the costs add up.

This wearable device is something that will soon be seen everywhere. Helping kids with their skills while doing it in a fun way is a unique thing. By wearing the SockIt, kids will learn, in their own way, how to adjust their kicks in order to get the best outcome and power. They can practice by themselves because the SockIt will let them know when they have done it correctly. When it lights up it’s like saying “good job!”

The SockIt comes in four colors: orange, blue, yellow, and magenta. It lists for $19.95. Simply strap it onto your child’s cleats and they’re ready to go.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter