Schick® Hydro 5 Review
Santana
Thanks to Crowdtap and especially Schick® for allowing me to sample their new Schick® Hydro 5 razor!

So, you may be wondering - what's a Schick® Hydro 5?! Well, it's a few simple things.
  1. A razor
  2. From Schick®
  3. With 5 blades
Now that those simple things are out of the way, here's a pretty picture of it!

Amazing, right? So - how does this razor perform compared to other razors? This razor replaced my Gillete Fusion Pro-Glide razor, which I had been using for nearly a year. There's a few differences between the razors, as will be explained below. Although I really enjoyed my Gillete razor, I can see the Schick® Hydro 5 razor becoming my new favorite.

The two major differences between a Gillete razor and a Schick®  razor are...
  1. With the Schick® Hydro 5 razor, there are 5 blades instead of the more common 4. The Gillete razor that was replaced by the Hyrdo 5 only had 4 blades.
  2. Very different build - the Hydro 5 disposable razor actually feels like, well, a disposable razor. While the Gillete razor I previously owned did not - this may be difficult to get used to if you decide to make the switch. The Hydro 5 has a very plastic feel, which allows for more movement but at the cost of a great deal of sturdiness. I have not had any issues with the Hydro 5 razor, but it simply feels a bit cheap.
So depending on what you're looking for, the Hydro 5 may not be your first choice - but from experience the razor, although rather flimsy feeling, does hold up well.  The five razor blades allow for a very close shave, and (amazingly) as of having the razor for nearly a month, I have yet to cut myself.



From the Crowdtap Review Questions:

What was your favorite part about shaving with the Schick Hydro 5 Disposable?
My favorite part about shaving with the Schick Hydro 5 razor was the closeness of the shave. Featuring five blades, the closeness of the shave was rather surprising and a stark difference from the previous razor used, which only had four.

Would you buy this product in the future? Why or why not?

I would certainly buy the refill packs in the future. If I found that the product was not meeting my expectations when it comes to durability, I would buy the non-disposable version and hope it would be a better fit. If the non-disposable versions were much more durable, then I would buy the Hydro 5 product without a doubt.

Did you use the flip trimmer feature on the razor? Did you find it helpful, why or why not?

I did use it, and found it to be VERY handy. I will certainly advise people of this feature if they are trying to decide between razors. I found it to be very useful because of how easy it is to "switch" between the modes.

What was the general consensus from your friends? Did they enjoy the razor and would they be willing to buy it in the future?

The general consensus from friends was that it was a good razor with a close shave, but rather flimsy feeling. They stated that they would buy it, but most likely only if they had coupons or if they felt that they could get over the plastic feel of the razor.

Finish the sentence: "My shave with the Schick Hydro 5 Disposable razor was..."

…like shaving with the harp of an angel if the harp of an angel was an awesome disposable razor.


The Schick Hydro 5 Razor System can be found at many locations such as Walgreens, Walmart, Target, and Publix to name a few, and the cost typically runs around $10 to $12 dollars for the razor and two blade refills. Refills can be easily purchased for about $12 as well, for four blade packages. I would suspect that each blade package would last between a month and four months, depending on how often you use it. View all locations where you can purchase the Hydro 5 here.

The Schick® Hydro 5 also comes as an electric "power" razor, for those looking for that type. You can view the entire Hydro line at the Schick website here!

The Wall Street Journal recently did an article about the Schick razor line, mentioning the Hydro 5 razor. You can view their article here or simply continue scrolling down to see what they said.

"It is a rare man who is pleased with his shave, or shaves happily. And whether they learned how to shave from their fathers or a YouTube video, their technique tends to be far from perfect, executives at shaving-products companies and dermatologists say.

Gillette observes about 80 men shaving every weekday morning at its shave-technology center in Reading, England, and has concluded that men's top complaint is "not getting a close enough shave," says Kristina Vanoosthuyze, senior scientist at the Procter & Gamble Co. shaving brand.

This despite the fact that shaving products, including razors and creams, have gotten increasingly sophisticated to help men get sleeker cheeks and avoid irritants like nicks and razor bumps. Schick's new Hydro 5 Power Select razor, for example, includes a flip-top trimmer the brand says is designed to get at tricky areas such as under the nose and sideburns. Gillette launched a clear shaving gel earlier this year, Fusion ProGlide Clear Shave Gel, so men can "see where to shave and edge accurately," its packaging boasts.




Sales of men's razors and blades world-wide are expected to hit nearly $13 billion this year, up from $12.8 billion in 2011, according to market-research firm Euromonitor International. Consumers are expected to spend $2.77 billion on pre-shave products and about $1.23 billion on after-shave products this year.

Some of the discomfort and frustration from shaving is inherent in the act itself: You are taking a sharp object to your face after all. It is time, a range of experts say, for men to rethink their morning routine. Here, they separate the finer points of shaving from the myths.

More Blades Equal a Better Shave

In general, yes, say shaving experts. Five blades is the current gold standard among razor makers, engaged in a blade arms race.

But blade design may be as important as blade count. Bic's Hybrid 4 razor has four blades which are "flexible," and designed to reduce nicks and tugging. "You think of a car, each wheel can absorb the shock of a bump in the road independent of every wheel," says Ed Dougherty, category president of global stationery and shaver for BIC Group. The design is intended to reduce nicks and tugging, he says. Gillette's battery-operated Fusion ProGlide five-blade razor features thinner, finer blades the brand says glide through hair with less tug and pull, plus a micro comb that guides stubble to the blades and a trimming blade with anti-clogging rinse slots.

The battery-powered Hydro 5 Power Select razor from Schick, which is owned by Energizer Holdings Inc., features variable speed vibrations and five blades that have "skin guards" over each blade. "The skin guards prevent skin from getting jammed in between those blades," says Patrick Kane, senior brand manager of Schick Hydro. 


Water Temperature Matters


It does. splash hot water over the face or, if there is time, wrap a towel soaked with hot water around the face. Hot water softens the keratin, a protein, within the hair shaft "so your razor will cut the hair more effortlessly," says Christopher Harmon, a dermatologist in Birmingham, Ala. 


Shave in the Shower


Yes. The hot water and the steam help soften the beard. For men who like to shave in the shower, Nivea For Men has a series of 3-in-1 products which contain a shower gel, moisturizing shampoo and a foaming shaving gel. Introduced this year, its Relax product contains more moisturizing ingredients than earlier versions. "Get more done in the shower," a tagline for Nivea's 3-in-1 series says.


A Pre-Shave Routine Is a Waste


An elaborate pre-shave routine may not be necessary for every skin type. But dermatologists say a surprising number of men don't even wash their face, which removes dirt and oil and results in a better shave, before putting on shaving cream. Kiehl's, an upscale cosmetics brand, launched a combination shave gel and face cleanser this summer called Facial Fuel Sky Flyin' Foaming Multi-Gel after hearing from men who didn't want to do multiple steps, says Kiehl's president, Chris Salgardo. The gel also contains a form of ginseng, to minimize redness and irritation after shaving, he says.

It's Worth Reading the Label


Yes. Creams and gels with aloe may be effective at soothing sensitive skin if they contain enough of it, says Susan Taylor, a Philadelphia-based dermatologist. Edge's Sensitive Skin with aloe is its top-selling shave gel. Men should avoid shaving creams with alcohol, which can dry skin. And, "there is no evidence that topical vitamins are effective, except perhaps some forms of vitamin A," Dr. Taylor says.


A Brush Is Best


It depends upon whom you ask. Israel Leon, a master barber with Gillette's Art of Shaving, which operates salons and has a line of products, recommends applying shave cream with a lather brush, as the brush's bristles can coax out the facial hairs more effectively than hands, leading to a closer shave.

Moisturize Before Shaving


Some dermatologists and barbers recommend moisturizing the face before shaving, to soften hair and avoid irritating the skin. Most men "don't take time to prepare their skin," says Karen Grant, global industry analyst for beauty at market researcher NPD Group. "They're not aware they're causing irritation." Only 25% of 8,794 men NPD Group surveyed last year used skin-care products. 


Toss Blades Every Week


Most shaving experts say to rely on how the blade feels rather than the calendar. If a razor seems to be tugging at hairs, swap out the blade.


Go With the Grain


Yes, but then go against the grain for a closer shave, say many shaving experts. John E. Wolf Jr., chairman of the department of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, says while a man may get a closer shave shaving against the grain, the trade-off is "you're more likely to get ingrown hairs or irritation," since this is more likely to tug at the skin, leading to ingrown hairs. Many men have the best luck shaving with the grain for some areas of the face, and against it for others.
 
There's a Cure for Nicks


There isn't, unfortunately. Affixing a small wad of tissue, as many men have discovered, isn't much help. And it looks silly. Instead, apply pressure to the nick with a finger for three to five minutes. If it won't stop bleeding, try an ice cube. Clinique's Post-Shave Healer for men is intended to soothe the skin as well as any nicks. Some men use products called alum blocks or styptic pencils, which contain aluminum sulfates, natural astringents that help stop bleeding from small cuts.

Ingrown Hairs Are Inevitable


Not so. New products and strategies can help avoid and treat these inflamed areas, usually more of a problem for men of color and men with curly facial hair. To prevent them, shave with the grain, use a face cleanser and shaving gels that contain moisturizer and don't pull the skin taut while shaving, says Andrew Alexis, director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. He recommends a topical vitamin A cream (a retinoid) at night to exfoliate, making it less likely hairs will get embedded in the skin.

Rather than tweezing ingrown hairs, Dr. Alexis recommends using a wash cloth before shaving in "a circular motion to gently dislodge the superficially embedded hairs."


The Razors' Edges

Different types of razors can give a different quality of shave. It mostly comes down to personal preference, say dermatologists.

•Straight Razors
Often used in barbershops or male grooming salons, these razors are generally considered the sharpest. While they tend to offer a superior shave, they also demand more time and money.

•Double-Edge Safety Razors
This style has a metal handle and permanent head that holds double-edge razor blades, meaning both edges of the blade are sharp. Close shaving can generally be achieved with fewer strokes.

•Multi-blade Cartridge Razors
These are among the most popular of razors, with a replaceable plastic cartridge usually holding three to five blades. The shave generally won't be as close as with a double-edge safety razor but better than one with a disposable razor.

•Disposable Razors
Made of plastic with non-removable razor blades that tend to dull fast, these are designed for convenience. The blades tend to not be as sharp as non-disposables, so the shave may not be as close."

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Pet Supermarket & Friskies Party Mix Mystery Shop Review
Santana
I was given the opportunity through a mystery shop company to go to a Pet Supermarket location and purchase a product - in this case, Friskies Beachside Crunch Party Mix, and return with my findings. Although I cannot give the details such as the location or personnel I interacted with, I will be reviewing the product and store in general.

For anybody who may be starting up in the Secret Shopper / Mystery Shopping business, or is interested in starting, the following is a similar format to the type of things you will have to pay attention to! If you're wondering "what is mystery shopping?" then, simply put, it is basically when you go into a retail store, restaurant, or even a place such as a theme park, and you gauge employee helpfulness and overall efficiency. There are a great deal of scams out there, and it is important to keep your wits about you to avoid losing your money. It is a good idea to research a company before starting into a MS company, working online can expose you to many more financial risks then a physical job could.

Pet Supermarket-
I went to the Pet Supermarket location for the first time and was rather surprised at how friendly the personnel were, being very quick to ask if I needed any assistance. The employee I spoke with was extremely kind and able to give me advice on what cat treats and cat food they would recommend. Going through the options they had, the employee picked some different options of cat treats and food and began going through the ingredients list, saying what would benefit my cat and what would not. They seemed very on top of cleaning the location, as I was unable to spot any papers or trash lying around.

The prices seemed slightly high, however, I do not think that they were very high compared to other locations. Cat treats ranged around $3 per container/bag, and the cat foods that were recommended were around $15 per bag.

Now, my cat actually has health problems so $15 a bag is just a drop in the bucket, seeing as we pay around $40 per bag currently. It would be nice to switch him off of the prescription cat food, but I would rather pay extra and know my cat is safe than try to save some money.

Overall, I would highly recommend going to a Pet Supermarket for any pet needs. The associates - at the location I went to at least, seemed extremely knowledgeable and passionate about animals, the location was extremely clean, and the visit in general made me want to go back to the location if I ever needed anything more.

Friskies Beachside Crunch Party Mix-

 The Friskies Beachside Crunch Party Mix is a flavor explosion (okay, maybe not - I wouldn't know) of shrimp, crab, and tuna flavors made specifically for adult cats. At a price between $2 and $4 depending on the size of a packet, it's a quick and easy way to get cat treats for your furry friend.

However, I'm pretty sure this is exactly the same as the "big" bags of food that they sell for a few dollars more. Now, I'm pretty sure this is how all cat food companies put out their treats - simply putting their already made cat food into a smaller container and chopping the price a little.

But I digress, this bag of treats seems like a real hit with my giant beast of a cat. I haven't ever seen him deny these treats, so for a somewhat picky cat, it's really great not having to throw them away if he doesn't eat them. If you'd like to check out the ingredients list and see if this product is suitable for your little nuisance, check out the link above to go directly to the Friskies web page for this product!
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The Boston Bombings: Carlos Arredondo, A Shining Knight
Santana
A quick blurb here; I am just wanting to say how proud I am of all the brave individuals who were there at the Boston marathon bombing. I can not even imagine how frightening it must have been to have a happy event turn deadly so quickly. As a family member of Carlos Arredondo, the "Man with the cowboy hat," I have heard how scary everything was and I can only hope for full recoveries for all the injured.

May those that passed rest in peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

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Old Spice Hawkridge Deoderent, Body Wash, & Body Spray Review
Santana
I received the Old Spice Hawkridge products line about three months ago, and they have strongly kept their place in my bathroom scent routine to this day. Being only $4.00 at Walmart and Target, they make for an extremely great, long lasting scent. The body spray is extremely strong and should only be used with caution, but the body wash and deodorant are much calmer. There are multiple versions of the products, so make sure you check which one you get. Cheers!

Now, down to a little more detail.

The Hawkridge products line is a part of the brand new Old Spice wild scent collection, also featuring Wolfthorn and Foxcrest.


Body Wash:
Old Spice Wild Collection Hawkridge Body Wash has been crafted with natural ingredients in mind to leave you smelling and feeling great all over. Prepare to be kissed on the beak of man power. When your body flesh is covered in Hawkridge body wash, there is nothing for women to do but smell the tingly freedom song of a raptor lullaby and accept that science cannot explain the feeling in their hearts.

Deodorant:
When your body flesh is covered in Hawkridge Body Spray, there is nothing for women to do but smell the tingly freedom song of a raptor lullaby and accept that science cannot explain the feeling in their hearts. For a scent experience as rich and complex as a gilded Rube Goldberg machine, try the Hawkridge collection in its entirety: Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant, Deodorant, Body Wash, and Body Spray. 

Body Spray:
When your body flesh is covered in Hawkridge Deodorant, there is nothing for women to do but smell the tingly freedom song of a raptor lullaby and accept that science cannot explain the feeling in their hearts. For a scent experience as rich and complex as a gilded Rube Goldberg machine, try the Hawkridge collection in its entirety: Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant, Deodorant, Body Wash, and Body Spray. 

  • Leaves you smelling and feeling great all over
  • For guys with swift minds
  • Prepare to be kissed on the beak of man power
  • Hawkridge effortlessly soars in the sky with confidence and sophistication.

The body wash is quite nice, but has the negative effect of being rather overpowering. A little dab is all you need to make your entire body, and bathroom, smell like you bathed in an entire bottle.

I've tried a variety of Axe, Dove, and Degree deodorants - but none of them have kept their place as long as the Old Spice deodorant has. After three months, the stick has surprisingly not run out quite yet. I suspect it will soon enough, but until then it's still going strong.

With the body spray, however, this product ends up being an emergency "make me smell different" spray only. One quick spray literally anywhere on your body will cause you to radiate Old Spice. If you've ever thought Axe spray can be overpowering, just try this one out for size!

The line of products is a really strong one, and to my surprise has not gotten old in any way. I would not recommend the body spray; however, the deodorant and body wash (when used in moderation) can make for an incredibly great bathroom line.


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New posts coming soon - Old Spice Review & How to make money online
Santana
All throughout this week I will be working on two exciting reviews / projects to release.

The first is for the Old Spice Hawkridge products line including the Body Wash, Body Spray, and Deodorant. I've had the products for a couple months now so I'm excited to finally do a review on them!

The second will be not necessarily a review, but rather a PSA on how you can easily make money online through Crowdtap, even with their recent changes! This blog will show you how you can make extra money in your free time quickly and easily through product testing and giving your opinion on popular products.

Until then, check out some of my other blogs and have a great day!

Reviews
Pet Supermarket & Friskies Party Mix Mystery Shop Review
Crowdtap Hotel Transylvania Monster Bowl Review & Party
Quality VS Price and Time of Five Guys
Crowdtap - Zicam® Rapid Melts® Review
Crowdtap: Healthy Choice Baked Entrées Sample and Share Review
The Secret World Crowdtap Party & Review
McCormick Grill Mates® 4th of July Party
Old Spicie Harkridge Deoderent, Body Wash, & Body Spray 

Store Complaints & Troubles
Wal-Mart Coupon Troubles
 
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Crowdtap Hotel Transylvania Monster Bowl Review & Party
Santana
Hotel Transylvania is a quirky animated movie, out on DVD and Blu-Ray January 29th, mainly directed toward kids and families with younger aged children. Hotel Transylvania features a huge cast of popular and famous stars, such as Cee-Lo Green, Kevin James, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler, and more!


The plot of Hotel Transylvania is a good one for an animated children's movie, but anybody old enough to have hair on their chest may end up easily bored. NOTE: Plot summary incoming! If you would rather not know the plot before watching the movie, skip the italicized text.

In the aftermath of the death of his wife Martha (Jackie Sandler), Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) designs and builds a massive five-star hotel in which to raise his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez). Famous monsters such as Frank (Kevin James) and his wife Eunice (Fran Drescher), Wayne and Wanda Werewolf (Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon) and their massive immediate family, Griffin the Invisible Man (David Spade), and Murray the Mummy (Cee Lo Green) often come to stay at the hotel which is completely human free and safe for monsters.

On her 118th birthday, Dracula allows his daughter to leave the castle in order to explore the human world, but he sets up an elaborate plan using his zombie bellhops disguised as humans to make them seem intimidating and frighten her home. The plan works, but the zombies inadvertently lure a human; 21-year-old Jonathan (Andy Samberg) to the hotel. Dracula frantically disguises him as a Flesh Golem and passes him off as Johnnystein, a distant cousin of Frank's right arm. Johnny soon encounters Mavis and the two 'Zing'; a form of magical attraction. Unable to get Johnny out of the hotel without notice, Drac quickly improvises that Johnny is a party planner, brought in to bring a fresher approach to his own traditional and boring parties. Johnny quickly becomes a hit to the other monsters, especially Mavis, and even begins to gain Dracula's respect. He tells Johnny the reason they hate humans was for the death of his wife at the hands of an angry mob shortly after Mavis was born, and is surprised at his understanding and knowledge of the lore.

Johnny attempts to leave after his confession, but is brought back by Mavis. After showing her the beauty of a sunrise, she is re-inspired to give humans another chance. Meanwhile, Quasimodo (John Lovitz) learns that Johnny is a human and kidnaps him in order to cook him but Dracula intervenes and magically freezes Quasimodo to keep him from telling anyone that he is a human. The party is a great success, but when Mavis kisses Johnny, Dracula is sent over the edge and in his outburst confesses to deceiving Mavis with the town. Quasimodo, still frozen, bursts in and The Fly (Chris Parnell) translates his frozen language that reveals Johnny's humanity, but Mavis is undeterred by her attraction and wants to be with Johnny, even though he is human. But Johnny rejects her out of respect for her father and leaves the hotel.

Discovering that Mavis and Johnny shared a Zing, Dracula manages to convince the monsters, who are now trying to leave the hotel, to help him find and reunite them and they learn he is bound on a flight out of Transylvania soon. They head to the airport and encounter a Monster Festival along the way, instead of being frightened by the real monsters appearing, they instead help Dracula by providing him shelter from the sunlight so he can get to the airport quickly only to see Johnny's plane taking off. He takes the risk and gives chase, burning in the sunlight. After getting Johnny's attention, Dracula makes his way to the front of the plane, using his mind-controlling power to control the pilot (Brian Stack) to help him apologize for his actions. Johnny accepts Dracula's apology and Drac manipulates the pilot to return to the Transylvanian airport for a refuel and Dracula returns Johnny to Mavis, who confesses that their Zing was mutual and the two kiss, making Dracula realize his little girl is all grown up and can make her own decisions.

The film ends with Dracula and his friends being shown in traditional animation (in the style of Genndy Tartakovsky's cartoons) during the credits, as well as a few paintings of Johnny and Mavis on their travels together.

Hotel Transylvania currently has a 43% on RottenTomatoes.com, 47% on MetaCritic.com, with a 6.8 user score with personal, non professional reviews. But we don't care about snooty critics!



In the end, Hotel Transylvania is a great movie if you have younger people to watch it. It is not really the kind of movie to go on a hot teenage date with, but is most certainly not a bad choice if you did! The choice characters that voice these lively individuals may seem like a wild choice, but it works out really well. I had never even heard of Cee Lo Green outside of a few songs, so to find him in a movie - which was easy to recognize his voice - was pretty entertaining. You then have other actors and actresses such as Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, David Spade, Fran Drescher... it felt like going back to the 90's with some of these characters!

The animation in this movie seems to get hated on quite a bit, but I found it to be really quite good for what it is. They aren't trying to beat Avatar in terms of how it flows, so I think it's quite wrong for most critics to downplay them on account of such. Both the animation and movie itself remind me quite a lot of the Adventure Time show, so if you have watched that and enjoyed it before, you may enjoy Hotel Transylvania as well!

The overall response of my guests towards the Hotel Transylvania was well taken, but some of the guests did get bored with it. The younger kids loved the movie for sure, it was just the teenagers and older crowd that got bored a little easy with the animation style and clean humor.

If you are really on the edge of whether to get the DVD or Blu-Ray disk or not, give the trailer a watch. As with most movies, the trailer is a really good example of the plot, characters, type of humor, and animation.



Because I was given Hotel Transylvania, through Crowdtap,com, to have a party with, (literally!) I was also given other items to watch and go over. Our party was, as the title suggests, Hotel Transylvania Monster Bowl! We had the party on Super Bowl Sunday. More details of the party and other included activities will be below!

GOODNIGHT MR. FOOT EXCLUSIVE MINI-MOVIE
Goodnight Mr. Foot is an animated short based on the movie, featuring Bigfoot! Taking place before the events in Hotel Transylvania, the short stars Bigfoot, whose rest in Hotel Transylvania is being constantly disturbed by an overly enthusiastic witch maid. It is a funny little short and is available on the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of the movie! You may be able to check it out online, and if so, I would definitely recommend it! It's a very cute mini-movie!

Supplemental Questions!
Boy, that sounds weird. Let's try that again.

Bonus Questions!
1. Mavis makes the cutest little sad bat face to her dad Dracula. Does your little one have a look that just makes you want to do whatever they say? Are there other moments in HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA that were directly relatable to your life?
Definitely! I think everybody has that special somebody who can melt their heart and do their bidding with a quick glance of puppy dog eyes. Or in this case, a "sad little bat face."

There's also that time when a parent realizes their child has fallen in love, and of course, doesn't like that.

Something I just noticed, "bat face" sounds insulting. I am now extremely entertained.

2. Dracula throws an awesome 118th birthday party for Mavis. Were there elements of her party that you wish you could have for your own birthday party or your child’s party? Would you love a monster band, dancing mummies or a travel around the world theme?
 I'd love to have my own monster band! By the end of the night everybody had turned into dancing mummies, so we had that covered! A traveling around the world theme sounds like a fantastic idea as well. I'm sure there are a lot of ideas one could find online that have that sort of theme!

3. Both Mavis & Dracula have some awesome vampire powers. For example, they can both turn into bats. Which one of their powers do you wish you could have? Or is there another monster FROM THE FILM who has a power you wish you could have?
I'd love to turn into a bat, or crawl on walls like Mavis. I can think of oh so many uses...

Strictly legal uses, of course!

Most of the time.

Hotel Transylvania Themed Recipes!

Scream Cheese Taco Dip
When you’re not cheering for your team during the Super Bowl, this dip recipe
will surely have you screaming for more!

INGREDIENTS:
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
1 (16 oz.) carton sour cream
1 can bean dip
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:
Soften cream cheese, then add sour cream gradually mixing with mixer. Add bean
dip and taco seasoning. Beat on low speed until well mixed. Put in casserole dish
and top with Cheddar cheese. Cover the casserole and heat in oven at 325 degrees
for 30-45 MINUTES, until heated through. Serve with DORITOS & FRITOS.

What I think about the Scream Cheese Taco Dip: It's yummy! However, if you want to make this yourself, unless you have a REALLY big party or a group of teenagers, you don't need so much! The two packages of cream cheese is a pretty good starting example of how big a dish this makes. It is very good though, I would love to hear about any other dishes like this.

GREEN SLUDGE PUNCH!
This GREEN SLUDGE PUNCH recipe is Dracula’s favorite drink to unwind with
after a long day, aside from, you know, blood. Green Sludge is a great combination
of sour and sweet. Serve in monster themed cups for an added bonus!

INGREDIENTS:
2 (12 fluid ounces) cans frozen limeade concentrate
2 (12 fluid ounces) cans frozen lemonade concentrate
2 (2 liters) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 quarts lime sherbert

INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large pot, combine limeade, lemonade & lemon-lime soda. Mix in lime sherbert
just before serving.

What I think about the Green Sludge Punch: I think... I've made this before! I never used concentrate before, but it worked pretty well in this recipe. Again, unless you're preparing an army for battle, need to fend off a hundred teenagers, or want to impress the president with your punch making skills, you don't need so much. There are a lot of varieties to this recipe; you can likely get off with simply using lemon-lime soda and sherbert.

In our party pack we received valentines day cards, coloring book pages, a calender, and door hangers! I thought these were all really cute; we put a "Party In Progress" door hanger on the front door to our house during the party! I printed out some copies of the calender and gave them out to the kids who attended.

Seeing as this was a Superbowl / Monster Bowl party, we watched the movie and then the Super Bowl right afterward! I planned on writing about how I felt regarding the Superbowl outcome, but remembering how the 49ers failed when they were so close at the two minute mark... well, I think it is best for my sanity that I not mention it all.

The half-time show was pretty good, though! Pretty risque with Beyonce, but we've had worse things bouncing around on live TV before.

However, we did have a bunch of food and drinks! I invited fifteen of my close family and friends, and it was really nice to spend all day with everybody we don't always get a chance to see often. Along with the regular Superbowl snacks, of which we had over twenty bags of chips, we all also enjoyed the Taco Dip and Punch! Watching Hotel Transylvania for some clean humor and then straight into Superbowl screaming not long after was pretty hilarious in itself. Everybody had a blast, and like the characters of Hotel Transylvania, we'll remember it forever!

I would like to thank Crowdtap and the fine people who made Hotel Transylvania for allowing us to watch the movie, enjoy the extra items and ideas, and all-in-all have a great time.

Picture above is by Tumblr user Mimulii, check their page out!
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FREE Staples photo paper, pencils, and more!
Santana
Today I'll be heading into Staples to get the following offers, all FREE!

Staples Photo Supreme 8.5" x 11" Paper (Limit 2, $15 each)
Staples 8.5" x 11" Multipurpose Paper Ream. (Limit 1, $6.99)
BIC-Matic Grip 0.7" Mechanical Pencils 5/pack (Limit 1, $4.99)
Colored Earbuds (Limit 1, $3.99 value)

You do not need to print anything out for the Photo Supreme paper or the BIC-Matic Mechanical Pencils, but you will need to print out a coupon for the Staples Multipurpose Paper. Go here to print it out!


There is also a deal where you can get a 5 ream case of the Staples Copy Paper for $4.99! BUT... there is actually a way to get this 100% FREE!

Go here, to the Staples Coupon Center, and print off the coupon that says...
FREE after Rewards and with coupon.
Staples® 8.5" x 11" copy paper, 5-ream case.


Then, when you go in to get your 5-ream case, after using the coupon, you will get 100% back in rewards!

For the free Colored Earbuds, either check in your paper or pick up the flier in the store to find the coupon for free earbuds with a $25 purchase. Since I plan on getting the Photo Paper, it's already enough to cover the purchase and get the earbuds for free! The Mechanical Pencils and Multipurpose Paper will just be extra free things for me to get and use in the classroom!

If you're wondering how these rebates work, go over here to read more about them. You can submit all your info online or mail them in You’ll receive your rebates within 4-6 weeks after submitting them. The Staples Rewards deals are a little different, but basically the same! Instead of submitting the rebates, it will automatically do so and you will get your money back the next month! You can then use your Rewards money to buy more Easy Rebate items, and you'll still get ALL of your money back!
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Free After Rebate South Beach Smoke e-cigarette Deluxe Starter Kit
Santana
A little bit different from my usual blog, but I figure there may be some people out there who want to kick their smoking habit by trying Electronic Cigarettes. If this sounds like you, then I would suggest you try this offer! I tried the Victory E-Cigarretes offer a couple months ago, and after the hassle that went on with that I don't think I'll be trying this offer. However, if you were not able to get the Victory offer a few months ago, this seems like a great deal - seeing as it's free!

"The South Beach Smoke e-cigarette is a revolutionary, innovative electric cigarette smoking device which offers the smoking community a healthier smoking alternative to the traditional tobacco cigarettes.  With no offensive second-hand smoke, the South Beach Smoke electric cigarettes offer a safer, healthier environment to both you and the non-smoking community. Simply put, there is no longer a need for anyone to breathe the unwanted, dangerous second-hand smoke produced by traditional tobacco cigarettes.  Many people have successfully used electronic cigarettes to quit smoking."

The offer is valid for the South Beach Smoke e-cigarette Deluxe Starter Kit, which is a $59.99 Value.

The Deluxe Starter Kit includes:
1 Standard Battery - NEW SuperMAX Battery
1 Extra-Capacity Battery - NEW SuperMAX Battery
1 Portable Wall Charger
5 Large Nicotine Cartridges/Atomizers – Equals 7-8 Packs of Cigarettes (Choice of Flavor & Strength).

"Flavors" are available in traditional tobacco flavor / Menthol, Chocolate, Vanilla, Cherry, Peppermint, Pina Colada or Peach.

You must purchase it by March 31, 2013. (I almost put 2012 here! Silly me.) Once you have purchased it, send the rebate form in within 60 days of your purchase to get your money back!

Rebate form is found here!

This deal actually seems a lot better than the Victory deal, they certainly have a lot more "wild" flavors. When I tried the Victory deal I requested their Vanilla flavor, but got "Regular" instead, so that was a disappointment. The good thing about the Victory deal was that you didn't have to pay the $50 or $60 at first, only paying a penny in all. But, then they had the issues of not knowing what they were doing, and ended up charging everyone who did the 1 penny offer for a recurring payment of somewhere between $30 and $50. (NOTE: If you received a recurring payment from Victory, call them and they will fix it instantly. I had to do this myself, although it took about half an hour of being on hold to reach somebody, I did eventually get through. Do not assume that you have to pay it!)

I have not personally tried these guys out; I would recommend doing some review scouring for this product and seeing if it is interesting enough for you to spend your time on.

Good luck!
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Quality VS Price and Time of Five Guys
Santana
I must say, I really like Five Guys. But is the quality of their food really worth the price hike VS another restaurant such as Burger King? Being honest, one hamburger from Five Guys costs exactly the same as one LARGE pizza from Little Caesars. Now, I don't know about you, but an entire pizza will last me a lot longer than one hamburger.

However, I must also admit, Five Guys make really good burgers and fries. To compare Five Guys to a place like Burger King or McDonald's seems like sin. Five Guys is a mouth full of meat (he he) while McDonald's is the cheap cuts that might subdue the hunger of an eight year old.

Let's compare!

McDonald's

Five Guys



There is a wee bit of a difference.

From the Five Guys website FAQ's
"Five Guys uses 80/20 ground chuck-high quality ground beef containing only steer and heifer meat, which does not include any cow meat or fatty trimmings. We do not use ammoniated procedures to treat our ground beef. This means that there is NO "pink slime" in our burgers. Our beef comes from the percentage of companies that do NOT use these methods."

Unfortunately, I was not able to find McDonald's information on the type of meat they use, only that they recently stopped using "pink slime" in their foods. That is reassuring.

On the other hand, as I pointed out, one hamburger from Five Guys can buy me an entire large pizza from Little Caesars! I could also buy five double cheeseburgers from McDonald's for the same price...

That would likely give me a heart attack, though, so I think I will avoid doing that.

I recently stepped into a local Five Guys the other day after donating blood platelets, wanting to get a quick bite to bring home and rest. I ordered a hamburger and some Cajun fries, because I just love Cajun fries, it isn't often that you get some variety. That is one thing you cannot buy at McDonald's!

There was only one other couple in the restaurant, yet it still took almost 15 minutes to make my hamburger. That seems quite a while when you are thinking in terms of "fast food." One thing about me is that I am extremely patient, though, so I did not mind that much. Moreover, trying to rush might have made my arm explode or something.

When I got home, however, my fries weren't Cajun! Darn! The hamburger was a little soggy as well, but seeing as it took twenty minutes to get home, that is most likely my fault.

I really enjoy Five Guys, but when they cost $5 or more for one burger, plus $4 to $5 for fries, it is to be expected that they put a little rush into getting it out timely and correctly. I have been to a few different Five Guys locations, and they all seem to be about the same in terms of price and time.

If you really want to stretch your dollar at Five Guys, consider buying a discount/used gift card online. From a quick browse, I found some for 7% off, so if you can plan a few days in advance, you can be able to save a few bucks.

I think Five Guys is high for what they serve, but I also think what they serve is a lot better than other fast food items you can get elsewhere. In the end, fast food is fast food, you pay that little extra for what you believe to be good food and the convenience of not having to cook and dirty your own dishes.
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Wal-Mart Coupon Troubles
Santana



I'll start this off by saying that I am a very proud couponer. I am not an extreme couponer like you see on TLC with a thousand items and even more coupons, getting hundreds of dollars of items for less than I can make in an entire day, but I make it my best effort to get the best deal I can and use my money wisely. 

I have noticed many problems about the way stores handle coupons. Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, CVS – every single one has had their highs and lows regarding coupons. Typically, when a cashier flat up refuses to accept a coupon, all it takes is a "may I speak with your manager?" to light a fire under them and get them to go through with the coupon. It is almost as if these cashiers do not want you to save money, because they cannot figure it out themselves...

Alternatively, maybe it has to do with their genuinely dreadful training, in both customer interaction and their own stores coupon policy. Now, I completely understand a cashier being hesitant or reading through the coupons carefully, but it is absolutely the most annoying factor when they decide to hound you, asking you a million questions, only to deny your coupon with no resolution.

I think many of these stores need to take a good, hard look at what these managers are teaching their cashiers. However, as I will explain in the event that happened to me a couple months ago, sometimes even the managers are as clueless as the cashiers are.

This issue is from about two months ago where I went into my local store, only to be denied use of my coupon because it was "fake." Obviously, I would never use a fake coupon, and I shame anyone who does, but the cashier - and even the "manager" denied me using my coupon because they believed it to be fake. Why did they believe it to be fake? Because it was printed online. The store will remain unnamed, so that they do not get flooded with bad complaints in an attempt for people to reach the same conclusion that I did, however, if you have a problem with your store - write or call corporate! I hope that it will not take others nearly as long as it did for me to reach a conclusion.

I printed off my coupon from the manufacturer website, for a very nice Lindt/Lindor candy, and went to the Wal-Mart store excited to use it! However, when I got to the cashier, I was met with a barrage of questions. She began asking me "what's this for?" while holding coupon AND the item... when I responded that it was for Lindt/Lindor candy she rudely snapped back "well you ain't telling me if it like 20% off 30% off what!" I was slightly taken aback, the best I could do was stare, try to point at the item and coupon, and hope she discovered the ability to read in the next few moments.

Of course, that did not happen. So here is the first problem; why do I need to explain what a coupon is for, when it clearly says on the coupon and is grouped with the item? I always put my coupons with the items they go with; it is not as if I just throw them all around at random, in an effort to manically annoy my cashiers... Here we also see the problem in cashier to customer interaction. This cashier should not have snappily raised her voice to me trying to get me to say what the coupon was for - that she was holding. Again, this coupon was printed from the manufacturer website and very clearly says "MANUFACTURER COUPON." Are cashiers not being trained to read the coupons?

 The cashier then abandons her register – which I am fairly sure that is a bad thing to do mid-transaction - and walks over to another cashier, and who asserted herself as a manager. This person who came up has the "worst attitude of the day" pinned across her face, and without even looking at the coupon, told me that it was "fake/illegitimate." Why, I asked? Because it was printed online, said the woman. Seeing as I am the one who printed it, from the manufacturer website, I know for a fact that the coupon is legit. I asserted that the coupon was real, and was met with a barrage of comments over and over again that it was not real, and, because I have nothing better to do, were clearly trying to use a fake coupon to cheat them.

 Being inept at customer service is one thing, not reading the coupon is another, but asserting that I am trying to cheat them with a fake coupon? Absolutely ridiculous. I found myself, once again, standing there without words. Coupons are fake because they are printed online? Does this woman not know how many coupons Wal-Mart has online?

This continued for a few more minutes, and I found myself slowly losing hope of walking out with the item I wanted. After a few more minutes of this manager stonewalling me, I gave up. I paid for my other items, and left the store without my product.

I later emailed the manufacturer of the coupon and product, telling them about the problem raised by the cashiers, and trying to confirm whether I was in the wrong. Here is the response I received.
"At Lindt & Sprüngli, we truly value your comments and inquiries, and we appreciate the time in which you’ve taken to contact us.  We have tremendous pride, tradition, and time honored values behind the manufacturing of our premium chocolate products, and we are forever committed to providing our consumers with the highest quality chocolate experience.
 
Many major retailers around the U.S. will accept this coupon offering, however, policies do vary.  Unfortunately, we do not control nor have any influence with any of these retailers and the policies that they choose to enact."
So there we go! Comforted that I am not a blundering idiot, I emailed Wal-Mart Customer Support about the problems I experienced with the cashiers along with the response I received from the manufacturer about the legitimacy of the coupon in question.

Here is the response I received from Wal-Mart.

"Walmart Stores can accept coupons that are available on the internet for customers to print from their home computers.  The following are guidelines for the stores for accepting internet coupons:

- The coupon should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon".
- There should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer
- The coupon should have a scan-able bar code.
- The coupon should have an expiration date.
- We do accept buy one get one free (BOGO) coupons.
- We do not accept " Free " internet coupons or those that require no purchase
- We do not accept digital coupons that are accessed from a smart phone from sites such as GeoQpons
- Coupon is acceptable in black and white or color but the coupon cannot be a photocopy.
- The limit is one coupon per item, per Customer.
- No duplications

A Salaried Manager can refuse to accept a coupon if it does not meet any or all of these guidelines.

Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care

For further correspondence regarding this issue, please reply to this email."

And so, reply I did! I repeated that the coupon was legitimate, that I knew and had read the coupon rules for their store, and then I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Two months later, remembering the issue again as I received the same cashier and was played twenty questions yet again, it lit the fuel under me to delve into Wal-Mart not caring about their customer. That cashier ran away yet again to ask somebody about the coupon I had, for a completely different product this time, where she then left her register unattended for at least 30 seconds yet again, but she ran the coupon and all was good. Funny thing was, this coupon was not even an online coupon; it was one I received in the mail.

I emailed Wal-Mart customer support yet again, asking them why it had been two months without a response - this time being clear that I believed Wal-Mart is being neglectful and not caring about customers like myself.

Two days later... my phone rings! It's a manager of the local store! He asked me basic questions about the product I was trying to use it for, and a gist of what happened. Great! He asked me for a code from the receipt, but seeing as I don't keep two month old receipts in my back pocket, all I had to go off was the email I sent two months prior, which included the terminal and reference numbers. He said that he would go back to review the video cameras, and call me back in half an hour.

To say that I was happy that a manager was finally paying attention would be an understatement.

Half an hour later I receive a call again, saying that he could not figure the problem out, but then said, "so uh how about I just give you a twenty dollar gift card and you can buy whatever you want."

Well, okay. A little uncaring about the issue now, but at least something will come from the problem. The manager gives me a time that I can come in to get it, and I come in the following day to talk with him. Or, so I thought. Instead, I waited in the Customer Service area for half an hour while the guy was on the phone, and then he left and forgot about me. I had told him who I was and that I was there to meet him, but he left after his phone call anyway. Wonderful. A girl who worked the Customer Service area called him back a few minutes later, and I finally received my gift card.

So what is the moral of this story? Well, it is a little skewed - but I want people to know that complaining to companies CAN get action! Sometimes a company might just ignore you, as they did with me for a couple months, but persistence and not being afraid to explain how you feel about the issue will go far. Do I think Wal-Mart will do anything about the cashier or problem manager? No, unfortunately, I do not. But I can keep it in my mind that if other people receive the same attitudes, and complaints start to pile up, eventually somebody will step in and get the retraining they desperately need.

Furthermore, to be honest, it is more of an issue about convenience. Why would I shop at Wal-Mart, who will give me such trouble over a coupon, when I can go to Target a few miles down and have no problem at all? In my experiences, Target is typically a cleaner place with nicer staff anyway! So, again, this all comes down to convenience. If I can save time by going to Wal-Mart, I will go to Wal-Mart. However, I think retailers are starting to realize that convenience of location does not go nearly as far as convenience of being able to actually get what I want out of a shopping trip.

For the moment I shop at Wal-Mart. Down the road? If I continue to have problems with anti-coupon cashiers, I expect that Target will be getting my business instead.

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