Bounce by Mohu Review - Give Me The Juice

I'm a person who loves technology and gadgets.  You may have possibly read Leaf by Mohu Review- Best HDTV Antenna, and I absolutely love my Leaf .  My new gadget is another from Mohu as well called the Bounce.  It is a neat little WiFi enhancer.  On the packaging they claim "3x extra juice for your WiFi".  When you pull the device out of the box it's kind of an egg shaped hunk of plastic looking thing.  On first glance I can not help but wonder if this plastic thingamabob is actually going to do anything, however after the luck that I had with the Leaf antenna I wasn't too skeptical.

Just slide the Bounce onto an antenna!

The way this nifty gadget works... well I can't tell you exactly how it works, that is a mystery hidden within it's egg shaped walls.  But, to install the device to boost your WiFi just slide it right over one of your router's external antennas, and wahlah!  It works!  Simple = Awesome!

I have both a pc and a laptop.  In all honesty I prefer using the pc most of the time.  One of the reasons being that since the pc is jacked directly into the router with a wire it loads things much more quickly than the laptop.  I'm the typical impatient person that prefers instant gratification when it has anything to do with waiting on stuff to happen on the internet.  Buffering is a royal pain in the butt!  So of course one of the first things I tested was going to my bedroom where I would typically use the laptop and firing up the web, which loaded pretty much instantly.  Never has that happened before.  Then I went to watch a video online that I had tried watching on the laptop before and remembered being irritated by the lag time and there was absolutely no lag and the video played right away.  Woohoo!

I do not really use my laptop outside, but my phone is Wifi capable and I do not get much signal in the dog park next to my apartment, so I decided to go and check that out.  In this photo I'm standing in front of the wall where my router and Bounce are located about 4 feet behind me, and if you squint your eyes and look for the arrow I inserted you can see the brown picnic table in the distance.  That's where I spend my time while Balue is having his park time.  Usually I get 1 white bar with WiFi at that table, I now get 3 green bars, and 4 is the most that would be on my phone.  So 3 out of 4 green bars, when before I had no green isn't too shabby!

I do have other electronics in my home that run on WiFi and it does seem that everything is running more smoothly since I slipped this nifty little guy onto my router's antenna.  If your WiFi is needing a boost and your router has an external antenna I suggest giving it a shot.  It is an American made product and you can purchase it on Amazon for only $25!!!  And it is eligible Super Saver or Amazon Prime shipping.

Mohu is quickly becoming a favorite brand, and I'm currently awaiting their new Leaf Plus Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna to come in the mail, so expect to hear from me fairly soon on how that works out.

Have you tried the Bounce and seen a difference?

Much Love!


Oh hey! It's Friday, WiFi just got better and David Bowie is forever sexy... LETS DANCE!




Let's Dance (Single Version) Only 99 Cents!

Jealousy Consumes

I've been thinking about how jealousy can consume a person, and sometimes they may not even realize it. Being consumed by jealousy does not just apply to the person who is a jealous lover that flips anytime anyone even looks in the direction of their partner.  There are many forms of jealousy.

I spent my early 20's being jealous a lot, because my life wasn't what I really wanted, and sometimes I didn't even realize that was my problem.  Sometimes it affected my mood and attitude and how I treated people. As I've gotten older and especially since I've had to restart my life, losing everything and being humbled, twice, it's brought a lot into perspective. If I dwelled on everything that I'm not, and what I do not have all of the time I would be a very miserable and stressed person.  Instead I make the choice to be positive, because I've built up a life more than once, and I can do it again and again.

I feel that jealousy in a lot of situations is a choice.  You can chose to be happy for those around you who may have the things you want or are able to do the things that you want and make it a goal to eventually be there.  Unfortunately I see too many people watching what they seem to think is everyone else around them just has it easy, or whatever their thoughts may be, and even though their life isn't absolutely horrible, they still have this constant woe is me attitude because they do not have everything they want in life right at this very moment. 

I've worked to develop a personal awareness to be in self control of jealousy.  A lot of people talk to me about their lives.  And I love that they do.  I'm always willing to be a bouncing board for people to throw their thoughts and emotions and feelings at, because everyone needs someone in their life that they can do that with.  However being a person who experiences an onslaught of expression from other people regarding their personal feelings and life experiences, I tend to absorb and learn from them as well.  I have had people in my life who  are in that constant woe is me state.  I usually find them draining and eventually our friendship tends to fizzle after awhile, I get burned out on constant negativity.  I didn't always, in my younger years I absorbed the negativity and instead of learning from it and doing what I could to avoid being that way I would be constantly pessimistic and depressed and emotional.  I wasn't getting everything I wanted and here were other people who weren't either and everyone who was, well they were jerks.  Right?  No. 

Oh the joys of getting older.  This is a reason I enjoy getting older, I always tell people the older I get the less I feel like a dumbass.  I knew nothing when I was a young adult but I thought I knew everything.  At one point I decided I never wanted to be that pathetic person who was constantly jealous and depressed.  It is hard to keep respect for someone who is that way.

I find it particularly sad when I watch people I know who express their constant or very often state of near depression and/or jealousy over life actually intentionally trying to make people jealous of them.  Any kind of satisfaction they may get from other people being jealous of them is only temporary.  I try to be a very observant person in these matters, I may not always notice a new hair cut but a lot of times I will be able to pick up on a person’s intent when they are actually trying to provoke me into green eyed monster mode.  And I will admit that it is a guilty pleasure to see their taunting turn into frustration when I do not give them the satisfaction of my jealousy. 

I’ve also found that it seems the people who express the most jealousy also seem to express feelings of entitlement to things.  I do not think that they realize it.  I guess for myself since I come from very humble roots, I’ve never been spoiled, and know that nothing in life is just handed to you, or feel that it shouldn’t be anyways, that it is hard for me to relate to people when they come across as that person who thinks it is just their right or something to have everything they want.  It’s just an odd thing for me to be able to process.

And just a brief statement on being jealous that other people have the person you want.  Stop it.  There are plenty of wonderful people in the world and making yourself miserable over one is just silly.  And if they are cheating on their current partner with you but they won't completely leave them for you, do you really think anyone who cheats is worth having for the long haul?

Do not get me wrong.  There are times I will get jealous.  Like when Natalie Portman is all up on my future boyfriend Thor.  That’s just some bs right there.  HA  I jest.  But in some situations it is a natural feeling.  However it is not natural to constantly be jealous and/or try to make others jealous of you.  Consumed with jealousy.

If you are struggling with jealousy issues like I did in my younger life then start working on them today.  You will find your life is much less stressful and depressing and start feeling much more self confident.  We may not get everything we want in life.  Sometimes we are better off not getting the things that we want.  And the things that we do get will come to us with patience and working at our goals.  Anything good in life can be much more appreciated if we get it through working for it.  Or if your problem is waiting on love or some other non-material thing, the same rule can apply;  anything good in life can be much more appreciated if we get it through being patient and waiting for when it is truly right for you.

Much love!

Apparently I Am A Slacker

How the heck has 3 months flown by since the last time I wrote a blog?  I seriously was intending to take just a short break, however I obviously was caught up in doing a whole lot of nothing! 

I've gotten a new gadget I will be reviewing within the next couple of days that is very cool.  Any kind of technology that is affordable and improves the quality of life is ok with me. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in the near future I will be adopting a new little dog, because my big dog, Balue, needs a pet.  What?  Don't your pets have pets?

I decided to go on some dates after my year of dating break, and I decided that I hate dating.  More and more I see why arranged marriages make sense.  Now if someone could arrange for me to be with Thor that would be greatly appreciated.

I've cooked a bunch of super yummy stuff lately, and thought as I was doing it "I should be blogging this" but lacked the heart to feel like taking photos of the process.  But trust me there's been some good stuff going into my belly.

See, obviously a whole lot of nothing going on here.  Which I'm assuming it's better that I haven't mindlessly written about nothing daily for 3 months straight, like some kind of blog writing zombie who feeds on wasting your brain cells instead of actually feasting on your brain cells. NOM NOM NOM

Ok so now that you've gotten this far and finally realized this was a complete waste of your time, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!

Much Love!


In light of I obviously like to disappear for months at a time I thought I would share with you this cute little Pintrest find....

And for wasting your time here's a song I love....

Dirty Love

There's this super goofy movie, that for some reason amuses me, it's definitely not for the weak at heart or anyone easily offended by... well anything, but it's just I don't know over the top so cheesy it's good.  It's called Dirty Love.  Jenny McCarthy is in search of her soul mate basically and all kinds of madness ensues.  She keeps meeting all the wrong men.  Does that sound familiar?  I know that I know that tune quite well.  At one point as she's sitting on the filthy floor of a jail cell in tears she sees this poem on the wall and it just kind of makes sense for anyone who's been in bad relationship after bad relationship. Most people thought the movie was just awful, and really it was, but still I enjoyed it because it was an over exaggerated version of my life.  Well not really, but kind of.  ;)

So here is the poem, maybe it'll make some sense to you.

The hardest love to learn is that which is dark
The kind that causes the most pain
It is up to the soul to look past that dirty love
and regain the beauty that illuminated so bright before...
PURE LOVE


So many people are in search of that "Pure Love".  One day hopefully we will have the love for us.  In the mean time be good to yourself and love yourself.  If you cannot love yourself alone how can you truly love someone else?

Much love!  And good luck in your search!

Better Get To Livin'

I had never heard this song before but just ran across the video and found the song so great I had to share.  Who doesn't love Dolly Parton?  Such a good message.  Enjoy!

Much Love!

Law of Attraction

You have possibly heard of the Law of Attraction,  I will not sit here and try to explain it in depth or act like I know everything there is to know about it.  But I do believe if you focus on positive things in your life then positive things will happen.  I hear so many people talk about Murphy's Law and see my friends post about it almost daily.  I know in my past I was always so worried about how bad things were and how much worse things would get.  I was allowing negativity in my life.  In a sense inviting Murphy's Law to manifest.  Over the recent years I've been refocusing my thought because I know life can get better if I work for it and if I allow it to.  If you have never heard of the Law of Attraction it's some interesting stuff that in your spare time would be something worth reading about.  If anything life just feels better focusing on positive things and inviting them into your life instead of allowing negativity to take hold.  I say all this because someone emailed me this picture today, actually it was kind of almost divine intervention because I was super tired and feeling quite pessimistic about something and they didn't even have a clue, so when I saw it I had to stop and refocus myself.  I've lived through some crazy bad stuff in my life, but I've made it through it.  Grown from it, learned from it.  Life is good and always getting better!  I believe the Law of Attraction is much more powerful than Murphy's Law, if you focus on negativity you attract negativity, however if you focus on the positive then you will attract positivity... it sounds simple right?  So why not try!  Just thinking and wishing for something doesn't mean stuff will happen if you do not take steps to make it happen, there is no Fairy God Mother out there granting our wishes.  It would be nice, however a good start to changing your life is to stop being negative and start being positive.

I see this little quote here and there throughout my daily life and it's a good point to focus on... "If anything can go well it will."

Much Love!

Leaf by Mohu Review - Best HDTV Antenna

Since I've been living alone one way I've found to cut my monthly bill costs is not pay for satellite or cable television.  And I do not miss it, mostly I do not miss those insane bills!  Between local television and things like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and internet tv there is plenty for me to watch.

Since analog television went extinct and we are left with digital television, aka DTV, I was frustrated with the reception of the signal I was receiving with DTV.  Between not getting local stations and then the few I was getting constantly digitizing and me having to do everything I could think of to get reception back... I decided I was fed up and there had to be a better antenna than the one I had with the big huge rods sticking to the sky and the stupid round pointless thing in the middle.  I had enough of cutting the power off to things and turning it back on, adjusting rods and changing channels.  I was spending more time just trying to keep a signal than I was watching the show.  Despite over the past year what I was experiencing with DTV, I still wasn't so frustrated that I was willing to pay huge bills every month to watch tv!!!


So began my reading of reviews, and more reviews, and even more reviews.  I wasn't sure how much I was going to be willing to pay for an antenna but I was seriously looking at reviews for everything from the cheap stuff to the ones into hundreds of dollars.  It had to be an indoor antenna since I live in an apartment.  I finally found it on Amazon.com, yes I know I refer to Amazon a lot but I am an avid shopper of Amazon and I find my best deals there and I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't shop there myself!  So what did I find on Amazon?  It's called the Leaf HDTV Antenna made by Mohu.  It is a paper thin indoor antenna and it is made in the USA.  It also has a black side or a white side so you can fit it in with your color scheme, or you can put in a window or behind some furniture, or I saw pictures where people just taped it to the back of the tv.  There is a super thin ring of plastic around it that they have provided if you'd like to secure it with push pins instead of tape.

I read dozens and dozens of reviews about it on and off of Amazon.  There are over 700 customer reviews on Amazon, actually that is what caught my attention because I believe it had the most reviews of any of them that I saw there.  It of course had mixed reviews as expected.  Some people live in areas where they really just aren't going to have much luck no matter what they use.  However in over 700 reviews less than 100 were 2 stars and under, 5 stars being max.

So I decided to give it a try!  I ordered it on Sunday and it arrived today on Friday via USPS mail.  The I opened it up and it resembled not much more than a piece of laminated paper with a wire attached.  I had it delivered to my office and had said to my coworker as I was showing her my new technology discovery, she has a love of technology like I do, that I was going to be pissed if I got home and it ended up just being a piece of plastic that didn't do anything!

I get home I take it out of the packaging, take the old crazy bulky antenna and toss it to the ground triumphantly now that I wouldn't have to look at the eyesore anymore, and hoping that this Leaf actually worked!  Oh no did I break the eyesore?  Well if I did it doesn't matter because the Leaf works beautifully!  When I first hooked it up there was no change in the channels and everything was still digitizing and I was like dang it!  Noooo!  Then I thought to go into my tv menu and have it re-tune the channels doing an auto-scan and my tv who is much smarter than I automatically tells me as soon as it starts the scan that it detects a new antenna and will be rewriting all the previous saved channels.  Why do I love technology?  That's why I love technology!  I'm thinking maybe this is why others had issues with the Leaf is because they didn't take the time to go into the menu and have it reset and wait on the tv to re-auto-tune the channels.

I checked with TV Guide online and looked at what the actual local broadcast area channels were for me and I now receive all but one with the Leaf!  From what I understand some areas have lots more channels available to them, and some people assume that since it was so widely broadcasted when the switch was made that it was going to be better because there would be so many more channels now, however that does not mean that they are all actually broadcasted in your area.  I suggest going to TV Guide putting in your zip and seeing what available to you.  Also the other exciting part, besides more channels, is the tv has been on for 7 hours and not once has it digitized!  I'm so excited over this more than anything because the digitizing was bad.  It would do it every few minutes before and sometimes I'd fully lose service for hours at a time. I would get so frustrated with the digitizing I'd just switch to watching a movie or tv show on Amazon Prime or Netflix! 

I know I've only had this thing for a few hours and it's working beautifully now and maybe I'm jumping the gun on writing this this long review, however I just couldn't wait to share this new discovery of mine with you.  And since I had read so many reviews where people had them for several months or over a year and they worked great I feel confident in telling you about this now!  But I promise if I have a problem in the near future I'll definitely make an update and let you know.

If you are frugal like me and prefer to not pay some corporation your hard earned dollars just to subscribe their overpriced service to watch television and are sick of only having 3 channels that you can barely watch anyways then I suggest try out the Leaf!

OH WAIT!!  I forgot one of the best parts!  This miracle antenna only cost me $37.59 and it was free shipping!  What what!  Yep that's right!

Ok Balue is sick of me giving you guys so much attention and is now laying here pawing at me and would love for me to spend some time snuggled up with him watching our perfectly clear awesome television picture.

Much Love! Have a wonderful weekend!

UPDATE: 5/1/12 - Antenna still works awesome!  No digitizing in months.  LOVE IT!

Plum District Savings for Women

So I discovered this totally awesome new website tonight much like Groupon and Living Social, except it's completely geared towards women!  I love it!!  It's called Plum District.  If you sign up now you get a $5 credit! 

I'm so ecstatic I found the site today because in less than five hours this totally awesome deal ends to receive a $130 credit for only $30 towards hair tools or hair extensions on the NuMe website.  I spent the evening reading tons of customer reviews not only on the NuMe website but on other sites as well, as well as watching youtube vids of people trying their products.  The tools seem pricey but to me if they actually work and last then they are worth it!  You get what you pay for!  AND not to mention with $130 credit for paying only $30 at Plum District you've now paid the same price for an expensive superior tool for the price of something cheap!  AND IT GET'S BETTER.... Can you tell I'm excited?  Since I signed up tonight I got a $5 credit on my Plum D account, and I found a coupon code for another 10% off if you use a visa to pay.  SO I paid $22 for $130 credit!!  OH M GEE!  Oh yes I just said that.  I love saving money and awesome deals!

Now I'm going to head over now and buy this totally rad Wet to Dry flat iron they have on the site.  I have curly hair and I haven't met a flat iron yet that really does it's job.  Plus it's such a hassle to blow dry then flat iron I usually just sport the curls.  So I'm excited to be able to flat iron my hair from wet!  I see they have it at RRP $350, sale price $145, so I just paid $37 for a $350 professional grade flat iron!

Ok ok I'll stop so you can snag the deal.  You have less than 5 hours to get it so do it!!  Click here for the $130 Credit at NuMe!

If you missed that deal I'm sure Plum District has many more super deals ahead for us, as well as the great deals they already have listed now.  Start saving money ladies!

Click here to go to the Plum District site and sign up and receive your automatic $5 credit.

MUCH LOVE!  And happy saving!

Best Box Brownie Mix

This evening I experienced the best boxed brownies ever.  Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix is superior awesomeness.  I've always loved their little candies being the chocolate phene that I am, but the brownies.... holy cow!  Not only is it dark chocolate mix, but there's chocolate chips in the mix making these gooey super awesome... really I need to stop before I drool on my desk.

I would love to visit the Ghirardelli factory some day.  If you want some fun facts for next time you are having some water cooler chocolate chat visit the Ghirardelli Difference page to see what makes them so special!

If you want to wow some people without going through the work of making some kind of insanely intense homemade brownie batter take the easy route and give these a try!  You will be in looove!  If your local stores do not sell them click here to buy Ghirardelli brownie mixes at Amazon.com.
 

I'm in love.
Why don't I marry them then?
Well I would if I could, I'm pretty sure our relationship has been consummated.

Much Love and chocolate!
 

Homemade Strawberry Syrup

I woke up this past Saturday thinking I wanted pancakes.  However I did not have any syrup and I always wondered how it would taste homemade so I proceeded to read about 6000 recipes. I got the jist that the bulk of them used one part brown sugar, one part white sugar and one part water.  I had all of those things and some strawberries I needed to use up.  Swwwweeet! 

And sweet it was.  I had mixed the strawberries that I strained out of the syrup into the pancake batter and that was actually my mistake when it came to sweetness.  I rarely come across anything that is too sweet for my sweet tooth and the basically candied strawberry pancakes were it.  The next day I decided to give it a second try since I had leftover syrup and without the candied strawberries in the batter it was great.

The syrup had a fun pink tint to it due to the strawberries, however I'm not as handy with a camera as I am with a skillet.  The strawberry flavor was a nice light tone and not overpowering.  However if you'd like super strawberry flavor use more.  You can also use other berries, fruits, butter, maple or other extracts, only brown sugar, dark brown sugar instead of light, or only white sugar and other variations if you'd like a different flavor. 

I know what you are thinking "STOP JABBERING and get to the recipe!"  Your wish is my command....

Ingredients:

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar

1 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Water

1 Cup Sliced Strawberries

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1 Large sauce pan, it needs boiling room.

Directions:

Put strawberries and brown sugar in sauce pan.

 

Over medium heat slowly stir in the water and stir constantly until brown sugar is dissolved about 1-2 minutes. The mixture will just be starting to get warm.

Slowly pour in white sugar while stirring and constantly stir until the white sugar is dissolved.

Turn heat to high bringing mixture to a boil for 2 minutes while constantly stirring.  

(Do not stop stirring at this point or it WILL overflow.  

If it starts to bubble too close to the top just lift off the burner 

for a few seconds until it pipes back down.)

Turn heat to medium low.

Add vanilla and stir.

 

Simmer for 15-25 minutes stirring often. I did it for 25, the longer the thicker it will be the shorter the thinner it will be.

Strain into a bowl.  Figure out something yummy to do with the strained fruit.

Use a funnel to transfer the syrup from the bowl to a mason jar or some other kind of containing/pouring device that will be convenient to transfer your super yummy syrup to your pancakes, waffles and other culinary awesomeness creations.

The syrup will keep for a few weeks in the refrigerator.  

Reheat in the microwave at 50% power until it's the desired temperature.

 

Text all of your friends and brag about what a domestic goddess you are because you just made homemade syrup and none of those store brands have anything on you.

Mmmmmmm!

 

Who would have thought homemade syrup was actually this easy?

I hope you not only enjoy eating it but enjoy making it!



Much love and super yumminess!

Be My Valentine or Here's Some Great Songs

Happy Valentine's day!  Do not have a valentine?  Take a moment to reflect on how much you love yourself today.  =D

My first love will always be music.  Here's a few of my favorite love songs, there are so many it was really hard to stop! 

MUCH LOVE!!

The Best - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon for only 99 cents!

Up Where We Belong - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon for only 99 cents!

Save The Best For Last - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Baby, I Love Your Way - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Be Without You - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

You're The First, The Last, My Everything - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Secret Love - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Leather And Lace - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Never Tear Us Apart - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Iris - Download the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Happy Together - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Halo - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon!

Countdown - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon!

Love On Top - Buy the MP3 at Amazon now!

Yes I just posted 3 Beyonce songs, and I could have posted more, what can I say, the woman loves love. =)

Hopelessly Devoted To You - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 69 cents!

I had to...

You're The One That I Want - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

I Melt With You - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 69 cents!

Your Song - Buy this MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Kiss From A Rose - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 69 cents!

Underneath It All - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

Time After Time - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon!

We Belong Together - But the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

I Got You Babe - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

You're The Inspiration (LP Version) - Buy the MP3 now at Amazon only 99 cents!

I'm ending with Meatloaf. His music is epic!

I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) - Buy the MP3 at at Amazon now only 99 cents!