Commercial Interruption

From time to time, companies contact me with an irresistible offer: they’ll send me a product if I’ll review it on my blog. Being unable to resist free stuff, I almost always say yes. And so, I have a few things to mention today. (My opinions are my own . . . the only compensation I received was the product involved.)

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The people at Brighter Minds Media, Inc. sent two DVD games. The first, Brain Quest, is aimed at children ages 8-10. My son is 9, so he tried out the game a few weeks ago during one of those boring summer afternoons when he and his buddy couldn’t think of a thing to do. They spent a good forty-five minutes answering questions. The game has over 500 questions in all.

I played it this afternoon, just so I could tell you about it. The main problem I had with this game was that I couldn’t figure out how to navigate from game to game. Supposedly there are different “mini-action” games, but I couldn’t find them. All I could do was answer questions . . . and once I picked the answer, it seemed to take FOREVER for the voice on the screen to confirm that I was right (and once or twice, wrong–shocking, but true). I tend to be an impatient game player (and thus watching game shows on television really annoys me).

I’m not sure that my son will ever play this game again willingly . . . I can see how it might be a good resource in a school setting or in a homeschool setting, but for a child accustomed to the quick pace of video games and the instant-gratificatoin of computer games, this game seems sluggish. Educationally, fun . . . purely in terms of game playing? I hate to say it, but slow.

However, I love Brain Quest for what it’s attempting to do (educate and entertain) and so, despite my son’s lack of interest in playing in more than once, I give this game two thumbs up. Maybe he’ll try it again and like it and maybe my daughter will like it when she’s older.

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The second game sent was Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor. This game is labeled for ages 10 to adult. I popped it into the DVD player and started a game, but found myself confused and annoyed with the slow response of the game to my instructions. (You play the game by using the arrow keys on your DVD remote control.) Furthermore, I tend to hate mysteries and have never read Nancy Drew, so I was at a distinct disadvantage. This game is all about finding clues and figuring out mysteries, two things I fail at as a general rule. (Nancy, it’s not you, it’s me.)

I haven’t had my 14-year old boys play this game . . . and they might be able to succeed where I only grew frustrated. An older child or one who loves Nancy Drew would likely be a fan of this game. And I do appreciate that this game is made to be played on a DVD player–no computer or video game system necessary. It has options for one or two players and different levels of difficulty, so I’d think it would have some lasting value. (Don’t you hate games or toys that are used up in one or two playings?)

Oh, and the Nancy Drew game also comes with a CD so you can play a game on your computer, too.

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The fine folks at Skin MD Natural sent me a bottle of their lotion, which is a “shielding lotion” for face, hands and body. I’ve used it on my (extremely dry) hands, but apparently not enough. (“Regeneration is fully realized within a few days,” the back of the bottle says.) I forget to put it on, as I am accustomed to lathering my hands with lotion only at night. (I wash my hands frequently during the day and am forever washing the lotion off . . . plus, I can’t stand that greasy feeling.)

And Skin MD Natural sort of solves those problems (if only I could get used to using it during daylight hours). It does not feel greasy and it immediately absorbs into your hands. According to the website:

“Shielding lotion is a lotion that forms a protective barrier on the skin and keeps out irritants and chemicals. It also allows the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. It is a big advantage that shielding lotions are light and go on without a greasy mess, ” says Dr. Brian Zogg, a dermatologist in Albert Lea, MN

Now, I have to point out that this lotion is rather pricey, so I cannot wholeheartedly endorse it. Maybe if I used it more and my hands turned all satiny, I would be more enthused, but so far, my sporadic use of this hasn’t made much difference in the condition of my hands. I am going to give it another shot, though, and use it frequently because how much would I love having soft hands instead of fingertips that snag sweaters?

(My favorite lotion is Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, which costs about ten bucks at Costco for a giant tub that lasts for months.) Hey, I have to tell you the truth, right?

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Finally, I have to tell you about a product that I bought with my own money. So far, I love it . . . the Glade Wisp candle (no flame involved!). It cost me about four dollars (I had a four dollar off coupon, so it was half-price, about). You insert the fragrance bottle and then from time to time, it puffs out a little cloud of fragrance. It’s battery-operated, so safer than a candle, yet at night, you can turn it on so it looks like a flickering flame. The insert claims this will last for up to 45 days, which would be awesome. I love the sight of candles as the darkness falls earlier this time of year.

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Okay, one more. A long time ago, I received two “Fairy Chronicles” books in the mail. One is Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams and the other is Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins. According to the back of one of the books, “Fairies are fixers, working to protect Mother Nature from all manner of magical menace. Each adventure in The Fairy Chronicles features a different fairy, each unique like real girls, with their own talents, wand and fairy mentor.”

I think I would have loved these books when I was a girl. I was all about miniature, imaginary worlds . . . I once married Tom Thumb to Thumbelina in a short-story I wrote. I have paged through these books and I keep thinking I’m going to make time to read them, but at the rate I’m going, I’ll be an old woman in my nursing-home room before I get around to it. So, I’m mentioning them to you now, here. Check them out if you have a child who is interested in fairies. They are getting good reviews on Amazon.

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And now, finally, I can stop fretting over whether I have reviewed all the products I promised to review. (Now, if someone would just send a Dyson or perhaps an iPod, I’d be all set.)