I'm a full-time mummy

This post is a bit overdue as I received the music album details over a month ago and have only got the time to take a listen to it recently. Anywho, Amanda of Lafamos PR and Branding contacted me (after I did Darius Lux's music album review) and gave me a couple more music album links of their artists for me to review. So without further ado, here goes my review:

Excerpts from Levi Kreis's official bio:

"Released on May 5, 2009, and welcomed worldwide, Where I Belong has brought international radio attention, television appearances, headlining performances, and enthusiastic reviews for what is Levi’s most congruent album to date.  Levi's first single "Nothing At All" debuted on FX's Sons of Anarchy and delivered a  #1 video for MTVMusic.com, #1 for 8 weeks on The Logo Channel, and aired on Vh1.com, HBO Zone, and Macy's department stores nationwide."

Levi Kreis released his debut album One of the Ones in 2005, following an appearance on NBC’s hit reality show The Apprentice with Donald Trump and an exclusive CD premiere on XM Radio.  Songs from his debut CD have been featured on The Apprentice, Days Of Our Lives, and The Young And The Restless.  His sophomore CD, The Gospel According To Levi, garnered more television and film placement and a video for the single “We’re Okay” which held the #1 position for nine weeks on The Logo Channel.  With nearly 400 appearances to date, Levi has shared the stage with Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Melissa Etheridge, Collective Soul, and opened for Cyndi Lauper at Wrigley Field. In fall of 2007, Levi took a break from touring to become the original cast member in the new rock and roll hit musical Million Dollar Quartet. 

These days, there is a lot going on at one time for one man: In addition to gearing up for his second single and video release for "Gonna Be Alright," Levi continues to work audiences into a frenzy with his Tony Award-winning portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet, currently playing on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre.  "

* ALBUM COVER - Nice album cover, love the way he lies and had his right hand resting on his forehead. He is a good looking guy, here's a couple more pictures from his bio page for you to drool on:

Drool, drool?

Don't quite like the curls tho'

* SONGS - I love "Nothing At All" - it's a really awesome song he got here! It has a nice lyric and a catchy tune to it. You can click on the "Nothing At All" song title to take a listen to it on Youtube. And did I mentioned he wrote most of the songs himself? Talented huh?

I also like the "Stained Glass Window" which also has a nice dance-along tune to it as well.

* ABOUT THE ARTIST - The moment I heard Kreis's voice, the first thing that came on my mind is, his voice is a cross between Ronan Keating and Michael Buble, both are favorite artists of mine, only that Kreis's voice is a bit edgier in the sense that he had this rock throaty voice.

In summary, I'd recommend this album for those who wants to groove along to some upbeat and catchy rock tunes.

You can get the album from iTunes, CDBaby.com and so on.

You can find out more about Levi Kreis from his official site at http://www.levikreis.com/

I would like to give a note of thanks to Amanda (for the password and lyrics) for this wonderful opportunity to review this awesome album!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the authorised password to download the 12-tracks album in MP3 format to assist my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

I came across a cookbook which was available for review on netGalley and decided to request it. The book is called: "FINE COOKING APPETIZERS".

Title: Fine Cooking Appetizers - 200 Recipes for Small Bites with Big Flavor
Publisher:  The Taunton Press
ISBN: 9781600853302
Paperback: 256 pages (194 full-color photographs)
Dimension: 8 7/8 x 10 7/8  in.

Description from the product page:
"From simple to sophisticated, the 200 recipes in Fine Cooking Appetizers will get any party started. This latest collection of recipes from Fine Cooking features the best starters and small bites for any occasion, from holiday party to weeknight noshing. Like each issue of Fine Cooking, the delicious recipes are accompanied by time-saving tips, step-by-step techniques, and handy kitchen advice. In addition, fun cocktails, party menus, and entertaining tips will make this the only guide you need for year-round celebrations and get-togethers."

For more info on the author, you can check out the www.FineCooking.com website.

I was attracted to the cute cover, and the prospect of finding yummylicious appetizer recipes are exciting! 

The appetizers are segregated into 6 categories:
* Quick & Simple
* Passed & Plated
* Spread & Scooped
* Sliced & Served
* Stuffed & Skewered
* Sips & Sweets

The few recipes which caught my attention (and bookmarked of course!) because of their simplicity and easy to get ingredients are: Saucy Grilled Chicken Wings, Cheese Sables, Mini Potato Latkes,Garlic Roasted Shrimp Cocktail (very appetizing picture!), Crispy potatoes with tangy tomato sauce,  Tiny Twice Baked Potatoes , Mini Savory Clafoutis, and so on.

I love it that this book came with additional tips for the reader such as guide in buying corn, to butterfly shrimp, and so on. And I totally love the recipe on basic tart dough (I've been looking for one that is simple and easy to do for a while!).

The only thing I'd like to improve on with this book is that the pictures for the recipes be sorted or shown accordingly, as some picture came before the recipe, some after, which gets confusing at times.

If you are often entertaining guests at home and is looking for more creative ideas to spice up your appetizers, do consider getting this book! For me, I'd like to give one of these recipes I've bookmarked a try one of this days!

You can purchase this book from Taunton Press website or from Amazon .

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a galley proof of the book via my association with netGalley as a reviewer in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

I had the good fortune of reviewing a newly released book by David Erik Nelson called: "Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids"

Title: Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids
Author: David Erik Nelson
Publisher:  No Starch Press
ISBN: 9781593272593
Paperback: 360 pages
Dimension: 9.2 x 7 x 1 inches

David Erik Nelson is a freelance writer and former high school teacher. His fiction has been nominated for a Nebula award and has appeared in Asimov's, The Best of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, and the forthcoming Steampunk Reloaded anthology. He developed the projects in this book at an alternative school, with plenty of feedback from his students. He is a contributor to the "Ask the Giant Squid" advice column at Poor Mojo's Almanac(k), a weekly online literary journal. You can also check out the author at his personal blog at: http://www.davideriknelson.com/sbsb/

The cover is a bit geeky for me but its title sounds excitingly dangerous and fun! Step-by-step books with illustrations, instructions and a book that comes with 24 quirky DIY projects that we can try on have always caught my fancy.

The book divides itself into 3 parts: Kid Stuff wherein the skills taught include basic sewing, carpentry, and electronics: Electro-Skiffe Band, which is an all music projects and requires slightly more advanced carpentry and soldering skills and The Locomotivated which is dedicated to flying and projectile toys.

Some of the projects, however, are too advanced for me, especially those under the Electro-Skiffe Band part. For example, the “x-Ray Talking Drum” project requires tools and supplies which are much more difficult for me to obtain, such as a large X–ray and a miter box.

I do love the fact that the projects in this book are designed to cost $10 or less and include kid-friendly crafts such as my favorites which are “The Sock Squid”, “Cardboard Boomerangs” and “FedEx Kites”, all of which are made of products which can be found in our home and does not costs much at all!

This book is a good choice for parents or teachers who would like to try their hands on craft-works which do not costs much and at the same time wants to learn useful skills in sewing, carpentry, electronics, and soldering.

You can get this book from Amazon, o'Reilly and even from the publisher website itself, which is No Starch Press.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a copy of the book by the publisher (No Starch Press) via my association with BookPleasures in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"