Product Review: Katazoom Wall Decal

Since we’ve moved, I’ve known that I wanted to add some sort of decal to the ceiling over my bed. It’s at an angle and kind of awkward – but I knew it would be perfect for a wall decal.  So I was super excited when Katazoom offered me a wall decal to review!  I picked out the “Dream Wall Decal” for $19.99 that was 22″7″.  Some decals you can choose larger sizes (this one you couldn’t) and all the decals you can choose what color you wanted.  I opted to stick with the black that was displayed because I thought it would be the best contrast on the white ceiling.

The order came very quickly and then it was time to put it on the wall!  We grabbed a level, measured out the wall so that it would be centered and were ready to go.  First we stuck up the whole decal with some painters tape and used the level to make sure it was level.  Then we used painter’s tape to make “hinges” on the top of the decal once it was in place.  Then you flip the decal up and peel the back paper off.  Carefully, we flipped the decal back down and used a credit card to transfer it from the transfer paper to the ceiling.  Once we thought it was rubbed down, slowly we peeled the transfer paper off.  This has to be done slowly in case you didn’t rub down a section enough, then you can flip it back down and rub it down some more without it being totally twisted out of place.

Overall, the whole process took about 20 minutes and was very easy to do! I am quite pleased with the outcome.

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Before!

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Positioning and making sure everything is level

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The “hinge” of tape

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Finished product


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After!

I received a free wall decal from the website in order to try it out and write this review. I was not otherwise compensated. All thoughts and opinions in this post are 100% mine.

Book Review: The HBO Effect

hboWhile I have never had HBO in my life, I am fully aware of their impact on things.  HBO is a bit of a pioneer when it comes to television and programming and this book explains that.  And it all started with a Christmas Ornament!  I am glad that the majority of the HBO shows are now either on DVD or in syndication because this book definitely got me interested in watching them or re-watching them – but more to see how they are put together than for their content.  The series finale of The Sopranos is still one of the most talked about finales ever.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

 

About the Book

No advertisers to please, no censors to placate, no commercial interruptions every eleven minutes, demanding cliffhangers to draw viewers back after the commercial breaks: HBO has re-written the rules of television; and the result has been nothing short of a cultural ground shift. The HBO Effect details how the fingerprints of HBO are all over contemporary film and television. Their capability to focus on smaller markets made shows like Sex and the City, The Sopranos, The Wire, and even the more recent True Blood, trigger shows on basic cable networks to follow suit. HBO pioneered the use of HDTV and the widescreen format, production and distribution deals leading to market presence, and the promotion of greater diversity on T.V.(discussing issues of class and race).
The HBO Effect examines this rich and unique history for clues to its remarkable impact upon television and popular culture. It’s time to take a wide-angle look at HBO as a producer of American culture.

Year in Review – 2013

Most expensive show:

This is kind of a trick question.  The Hanson Jamaica trip was probably most expensive but we never did figure out what it technically cost removing the room fees.
Next expensive would be NKOTB VIP which was $550… but like $450 of that was just for the VIP perks.
Most expensive non VIP was P!nk which was $129 (and we weren’t even lower level!)
But then I paid $180 for One Direction but that was not face…
But that would be the most expensive tix of the bunch.

Least (not free) expensive show:
Action Item at the Heirloom Arts Theater was $24
Free shows:
Maroon 5, Action Item(x2), Hanson (x4), Locksley, Kris Allen, NKOTB, Ryan Cabrera, Harry Connick Jr, Midnight Red, Recycled Percussion, Casey James

# artists seen: 137
# unique artists seen: 49
# shows seen in CT:   26
# of shows out of state: 31

Show farthest away:  The Wanted / Hanson / Recycled Percussion / Boyz II Men in Vegas. (Though I guess technically The Wanted because they were the first I saw?)
Closest show:  Aaron Carter at the Fairfield Theater
$$ spent on tickets:  $4380.48
Miles traveled: 20,313.5

Top 6 shows of the year?
Hanson iHeartRadio New York, NY
Hanson Pittsburgh, PA
Hanson Jamaica
P!NK
NKOTB night 2
Maroon 5
(in no particular order)

Total number of shows in 2013? 57

First show of the year?
Kris Allen at Ridgefield Playhouse

First show with actual tickets:
Kris Allen

Last show of the year?
Stephen Kellogg

Most surprising show?
P!nk

Most disappointing?
2 words. Aaron. Carter.

Farthest traveled?
Vegas

States attended shows in?
Connecticut, Jamaica (not a state, but yeah),  New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Nevada

Venue most visited?
Mohegan Sun Arena – 5 times

Worst injury?
Fortunately nothing. I did fall on my butt a couple times but that’s to be expected.

Most expensive ticket?
I’ve gone over this above lol It’s very complicated math.

Band seen the most?
Hanson 20 times (i think 20.)

Best new discovery?
Midnight Red

Bands seen this year that also broke up this year?
oh. this question.

Honor Society & Jonas Brothers

Friends made at shows?
Jillian, Jen, Nina, Katie & probably more I am forgetting! (sorry!)

Band members met?
Oh here we go… Kris Allen, Hanson, Action Item, Tyrone Wells, Honor Society, 98 Degrees, NKOTB, Wanya from BIIM, The Script, Midnight Red, The Wanted, Recycled Percussion, Casey James, Backstreet Boys

Best souvenir from a show?
hmm probably the 98* commemorative ticket? that thing is so damn shiny… (and i have no idea how i’ll scrap it) and a couple setlists

Longest time in line?
As far as shows go – I don’t think I waited all that long for anything.  But I did have to stand for approx 2.5 hours waiting to meet the Backstreet Boys

Shows seen from the barricade [front row]–
Locksley, Action Item House Party (if that counts lol), Hanson, NKOTB, Recycled Percussion (sort of)

Most shows in one month?
June – 9

Most shows in one week?
tie – January 10-14 and September 23-27 (September would be 21-27 if Rock Of Ages counts!)

Biggest crowd?
I think there was supposed to be like 20,000 people at iHeart Radio Village.  Next biggest probably Mixtape Festival or One Direction.

Any drunk encounters?
Probably but none that seem notable right now.. There was a tone deaf girl behind me at Stephen Kellogg but I can not confirm or deny if she was drunk.

Top 5 best 2013 concert moments:
Hanson on the Beach in Jamaica
P!NK flying around pretty much her whole show and still singing live
Meeting NKOTB
Meeting 98 Degrees
Meeting Backstreet Boys
(am I cheating?)

Top 5 worst 2013 concert moments:
Seeing Honor Society for the last time – even though at the time I didn’t know it was the last and/or missing their last show because I was in Vegas
Seeing Locksley and realizing that all the songs I knew they totally reworked
Rain during Hanson in Delaware / Mixtape Festival
The a-hole at Irving Plaza who managed to ruin not 1, but 2 Hanson shows for us
Aaron Carter calling me out for not jumping. I can’t!!

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