Far From Reality

Owari No Seraph

English - Seraph of the End

Season - 1 of 2 

Genre -Fantasy/Action/Paranormal 

Episodes - 12 

Rated - R (Violence/Profanity)

One day, a mysterious virus appeared on Earth which killed every infected human over the age of 13. At the same time, vampires emerged from the world's dark recesses and enslaved mankind. Enter Hyakuya Yuuichirou, a young boy, who along with the rest of the children from his orphanage, are treated as livestock by the vampires. Even in captivity, Yuuichirou dreams big. He dreams of killing vampires. He dreams of killing them all.

REVIEW

Vampires, demonic weapons, blood everywhere.. Whats not to like? Take into account some light shonen ai and a rather cliche cast and you have an alright anime that starts to get better towards the end rather than amazing all throughout, good thing there is a season two! 

Yuuichirou (or Yuu) is a man on a mission: to destroy all vampires for destroying his family and killing his best friend Mikaela (Mika) here is the cliche; he is just so... Straight minded. Just kill vamps and nothing else, no friends or happiness or anything, just fight and kill. This makes him a bit one note and i ended up liking other characters more. Sure, he grows but its very slowly. 

Shinoa is another cliche. She is a lavender haired scythe bearer who teaches Yuu and the others of the demon weapons and generally kicks butt. She is quirky but can also be serious. She makes fun of Yuu and that just screams "love interest" its so tropy that it hurts but i still enjoyed her character. Plus, Big. Ass. Scythe. 

The other characters are not as rounded as i would like and i really would have liked to learn more about them. I liked yoichi and mitsuba and wanted to know more. I new wanted to also delve more into Mikas story. 

The artwork is clean and beautiful. Action scenes are wonderfully bloody as you would want with vampires and while there is no romance per say there are peeks of it and it is a nice pace (i dislike super romance fluff). The music is upbeat and the sound effects match well. Overall the anime is fair and i think if you loke vampires and action youll like this, just dont expect a whole lot of depth. 

Excersize Swiss/Yoga Ball 

Sold By - NDN Line 

Product Type - Health/Fitness 

Price - $10.99 

Where to Buy - Amazon

Exercises abs, back, gluts, hips, arms, and other muscles. Available in 3 sizes, 55 CM, 65 CM and 75 CM

REVIEW

First thing of note is this does NOT come with a pump. Either you need to already have one, get one, or use your own body air. I chose the latter and it was not too bad since I recieved the small size, if you go bigger id suggest a pump. 

When blown up it is this beautiful purple and white marbeled ball. Every ball is different because of this effect, no two will look thr same and I really like this unique idea. 

The ball is sturdy and thick but not uncomfortable. It is easy to sit on and I could really focus on my core without wobbling all over the place. It is still a challenge but i wont be falling off all the time. It comes with extra pins to hold the air in which is nice and if you want to you can take the air out to store it, it folds up very small and compact. 

Note - I have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review.

Chomps Beef Snack Sticks

Price - Varies depending on box size

Where to Buy - GoChomps.com

Chomps Snack Sticks are new healthy snacks that recently hit the market and has quickly become quite popular in the Gluten Free, Paleo and Crossfit communities.  They use only the best 100% Grass-Fed Beef and the sticks are cured naturally.  Chomps are free of synthetic nitrates, nitrites and MSG. They're shelf stable for a whole year and the only natural preservative used is celery juice!  Best of all, they taste amazing!  

REVIEW

I was sent three flavours: Ptifibal, Crankin Cran and Hoppin Jalepeno for review and I was quite impressed with the flavour and quality of these.

They are not greasy like slim jims are and you dont taste the "health" of them, they just taste like delicious beef snack sticks! Thry are bigger than i would have thought, about as long as my forearm and as thick as my pointer finger. They are very meaty and i loved the flavours. Jalepeno being my favorite.

It was not super spicy and you could actually see the green jalepenos inside of it. Original was my next favorite and it tasted pretty peppery which i love and was seasoned well Crankin Cran was the odd one. I think they were going for a spicy sweet flavour but it just kind of missed, it tasted strange, not bad but not something i would get again.

All in all these are terrific on the go or anytime snacks that are kid friendly, diet friendly and paleo friendly. 

Note - I have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review

4 in 1 Chrome Showerhead with Hand Shower

Maker - HotelSpa

Product Type - Bath Accessory

Price -  Varies by zipcode

Where to Buy - Lowes

Patented 3 way diverter with anti-swivel nut allows each showerhead to be used individually or both together

Choose from 30 full and combined water flow patterns

Both showerheads have 6 settings and a 4-in chrome face

High power precision SpiralFlo dial design

Settings of each showerhead include: Power rain, Pulsating Massage, Hydrating Mist, Rain/Massage, Rain/Mist and water saving Economy Rain

5-ft super flexible stainless-steel hose with conical brass nuts for easy hand tightening

3 zone click lever dial with rub clean jets

Angle adjustable overhead bracket

Tool free installation

REVIEW

The HotelSpa 4 in 1 showerhead with handle ahower is really fun to have. I installed it quickly and the instructions where easy to understand. There was no need for tools or overly complicated directions and it took only minutes to set up. 

The water pressure on this is medium, not hard and not soft. Its less than what i was used to but it gets the job done well. The handle part is great for washing my dog and it extends far. However I did have to change out my handle head to one i was previously using because the one that came with this did not sit in the holder well and it tended to fall out when even touched lightly. 

I like that you can switch from showerhead to handle to both with a quick flick of a switch. You can also.change the water settings from misty to normal to even what i call "laser mode" quickly to suit different needs. I highly enjoy this showerhead/handle combo and its exceptional quality and looks. 

Note - i have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review

Reference ID: pmc5c4964936fdfdadeb91ff66160afd23

Phi Naturals is an Amazon seller that specializes in health items. From sleep aids, muscle relief cream and more, Phi Nsturals has you covered. They have excellent customer service as well. I was given two items in exchange for my honest review. 

Collagen Suppliment Powder (10,000mg)

I very much need collagen for my nails and hair but taking a bunch of pills gets tiresome.and i tend to forget them, i do however drink a lot of coffee so this is nice to dump into that.

I use one tablespoon to 8oz of coffee and creamer. The powder does not dissolve quickly but i use my magic bullet to speed things up. This has a sour taste to it but its not bad once covered up with other flavors. You will notice it but its not wholly unpleasant.

My nails have become a bit harder and do not break so quickly. My hair feels softer if not thicker or fuller. This takes time to work but it does eventually. If you can figure out a way around the taste and remember to take it your good.

Natural Sleep Aid

I have a heck of a time falling asleep. I have tried everything from oils to reading, exersize and even heavy duty pills. Nothing has worked so i decided to try these and wasnt expecting much.

These DID work...to a degree. I took two a half hour before bed and nothing. An hour later i was starting to yawn and get a bit sleepy so i called it a night. I fell asleep quicker than i ever have. Unfortunatly, i did not stay asleep.and an hour later i was uo and about again. The next night: same. The next: same.

So i guess if you need to fall asleep these are great, but if you have trouble staying asleep i would skip these, they dont help for that.

Check out Pi Naturals HERE

GoPets is a small Amazon.com store that sells essential pet (dog and cat) products that are high quality and useful for everday care. From nail clippers to brushes GoPets knows pets and what works for your furry friend.

I was given three items for review. I had already owned thier Small Nail Clippers and loved them so I had high hopes for thier other products for my Panda pup.

MY REVIEWS

Pin and Bristle brush 

I have used slicker brushs with metal pins before and i THOUGHT this was like thay and i was worried, those hurt even me. However the metal on this is capped with tiny round balls that ease the feel of the metal.and it is very soft to the head and skin. It is not uncomfortable at all and Panda likes it. The bristle part is very soft and helps keep dirt off of her coat and smooths everything out. The handle to this is a gel material and is cool to feel and touch, they thought about human comfort as well! This is a great brush and I am very pleased with it overall. It works and is safe for short and long hair.

Travel Bowl 

We do not travel that much but this is just genius. The bowl unzipps and has two compartments (conveniently labled) for food and water. I have tested the water part and it is leak proof, nothing got out. It zips back into its small size.once your done and it can easily fit i. A purse or camping bag. Finicky dogs may find eating out of it odd since it does make a little noise when sticking snouts into it (Panda jumped a little but the tempting treat was too much for her not to try again) i tried this also on my unstable bed and it did not tip over so a camp ground would be perfect as well as a flat floor. This is a camping/hiking pups dream and if you have a puppy backpack they can carry it themselves!

Dematting Comb 

I will admit, this scared me. It looks torturous! Two sides with curved blades? Creepy. However, the blades are not sharp and this is easy to grip so no slipping out of your hands. The blades actually grab onto the matt and gently pull it apart and detangle it. You can use this also to hold onto the matt if you just want to snip it out instead. This comb works for short and long hair and i found it best to gently do it in short pulls instead of trying to drag and tug it through the matt. Panda did not like this as much as the brush but i found it great for her fuzzy tail.which tends to matt easily. 

All in all panda was a happy and well groomed puppy with all the GoPets items she obtained and I will be sure to keep up the grooming since these items do not hurt her, are effective, and fun to use.

Note - i have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review

SpookyEyes Contacts offers a large selection of FX and normal contacts for your cosplay, halloween, or daily needs. Thry offer reasonable prices and always free shipping. The shipping time is about a week or two but they are worth the wait! They even have complete kits available. 

Check out the site here: SPOOKEYES.COM

MY REVIEW

I chose the Manson contacts which are white with a black rim. They were packaged wonderfully and even came with a holder case for them. I was impressed with the brightness of them and how well they read even in the packaging.

Getting them in was a little tough as i havnt used contacts in years but a little perserverence paid off and they were in. These showed up extremely well and covered my grey eyes completely. 

These are also the most comfortable contacts I have had the pleasure of wearing. They are soft and cloud like on my eyes and where it usually takes me 30 minutes to stop crying and blinking this time i took mere minutes. Spookyeyes really delivers fun, function, and comfort! I love these and I plan to get more pairs.

Note - i have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review.

Re-Kan!

Episodes - 13

Genre - Paranormal/School/Comedy

Air Date - 3.4.3015 - 26..6.2015

Amami Hibiki is a girl who can see ghosts and other supernatural phenomena in her surroundings. The stories follow her daily life with both her friends and the otherworldly.

REVIEW

Story - the story of Re-Kan! Is fairly light hearted. You have Amami who can see ghosts all around her, as her mother also could before she died, and tends to get into some hairy situations because of it. Her friends are there to bail her out and it led to some laugh out loud moments.

Is it a great storyline? No, its rather cliche and overdone but it is very charming in its ways and i quite enjoyed it.


Characters - what Re-Kan! Lacks in story it makes up for in diverse characters. Amami is the shy, sweet type that usually gets on my nerves but with her it worked. She was always helpful and that led to some of the more tear jerker moments.

The other main human character is Inoue. Inoue is your typical tsundere character. She acts tough and stand-offish to Amami but she really values thier friendship, so much at times it bordered on shoujo-ai. The relationship between these two is fun, funny, sweet and frustrating. I wanted so much MORE! I want the soft shy sweet Amami and Inoue to develope a strong bond.

The other human characters are well rounded. Theres the hardcore ex gangster Esume, the paranormal bloggist Uehara who uses Amamis ghost familiars for her popular posts, the occult fanatic Ogawa and the only guy in the bunch: Yamada. They all have thier roles and help Amami out when she needs it. While Yamada fit the stereotypical "guy who just cant get a date" role he really had me chuckling and i generally liked him. They all add charm and all have thier moments to shine.


Ghosts - The ghosts in this anime vary in personality and age. From very young and cute (above) to a samurai, a gal ghost (think valley girl) and a cat(?).. Actually i do not know if the cat is a ghost or not but i guess he is, either way he is completely pervy!

The ghost comprise the other half of the show. After all, its what the anime is about! They are all funny or tragic in thier own ways and some i really, really liked.  The main two are the samurai and the gal ghost and i liked that, they intereacted with each other well as a witty pair. The ghosts help (or hinder) Amami and Co along the way. I would have liked to know.more backstories on some of them as one of the episodes had me bawling like a little girl.


Art Style and Sound - Closing out my review is the art anf sound. The art is very pretty and lends to the story well. The large eyes of Amami show her innocence while the blank eyes of the samurai ghost show his tragedy. Lines are clean and everything is bright and in place. The style simply fits.

The opening and ending songs are upbeat and playful. They are catchy and the animations cheerful. I loved the opening more than the ending but they both fit the happy go lucky style of the show.

Conclusion - Re-kan! Is not an anime everyone will enjoy. I honestly almost stopped watching it but it drew me in because of such good characterization. I wanted to see what would happen to Amami and by the end i was glad i continued as the last few episodes really tugged at my heart.

All That Followed

Author - Gabriel Urza

Genre - Fiction

Pages - 272

It's 2004 in Muriga, a quiet town in Spain's northern Basque Country, a place with more secrets than inhabitants. Five years have passed since the kidnapping and murder of a young local politician--a family man and father--and the town's rhythms have almost returned to normal. But in the aftermath of the Atocha train bombings in Madrid, an act of terrorism that rocked a nation and a world, the townspeople want a reckoning of Muriga's own troubled past: Everyone knows who pulled the trigger five years ago, but is the young man now behind bars the only one to blame?

All That Followed peels away the layers of a crime complicated by history, love, and betrayal. The accounts of three townspeople in particular--the councilman's beautiful young widow, the teenage radical now in jail for the crime, and an aging American teacher hiding a traumatic past of his own--hold the key to what really happened. And for these three, it's finally time to confront what they can find of the truth.

REVIEW

This was based on a true story, which would have been nice if it were, say, interesting.

Its not a bad book for those who enjoy the genre but for me it was a bit of a bore. I read the entire thing in a month which is VERY slow for me since it just did not hold my attention.

The world built up by the author was a nice, quaint town in Spain but thats really all there was. Description wise i wished for more. The characters were alright. The story switched between three of them: The american Joni, his friend Mariana and the prisoner Iker. 

I enjoyed Marianas story the most and found it the only interesting and redeeming part of the book. Joni and Iker had thier moments but mostly fell flat to me. It may be because I like fantasy and Urban Paranormal more but I just kept wishing something exciting would happen.

All that followed was not a book for me but it shouldnt be written off if you like the genre of Fiction/Contemporary or even a bit of a mystery.

Note - I have recieved this item in exchange for an honest review.