Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Coaster by Lorena Bathey

I read Coaster by Lorena Bathey, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson. I received a paperback version of the book.

The book is about a bomb exploding at an amusement park, in which 8 people are killed on the coaster. The book started out with the park, being peaceful, silent, and not open yet. A man was watching the park from above, waiting for disaster to ensue. He was prepared to watch, with a beer, lawn chair, and binoculars. He is wearing camouflage. He also used an automatic detonator so he wouldn't have to push anything and just watch.

The first family to enter the park was Rachael, husband Mitch, daughter, and son. You also have a set of teenagers, girls, waiting in line, ahead of Rachael and Mitch. The book progresses into a brief bio of some more of the park's guests and employees. Some of the mentioned guests was on the ride at the same time, when the bomb went off (p. 37). Death. 22 injured, 14 dead. The 8 people, who was on the coaster, plus 6 more, who was trampled in the aftermath.  Powerful scene. One minute, people were excited. Some were scared to ride the new coaster, and in the next, explosion and death. The bomber was ecstatic, exhilarated, and happy the explosion had gone off without a hitch.  The ride mechanic may take the fall for the accident, since he did the walk through before the park opened. Then, you go into the grief the families feel and the mechanic trying to get good representation.

The book was a good read. It was also hard to read.  I have read Lorena's books before, but this one was from a different cloth. I loved the X. I loved House on Plunkett Street. I loved Coaster.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Power of the Word Book Review (Tomoson)

I read The Power of the Word, The island of empathy, in exchange for review from Tomoson. The book was written by Suzy Liebermann and published by Happy Language Kids, LLC. This book is part of the Hugo the Happy Starfish series.This post does contain affiliate images

My Review:

I love Hugo The Happy Starfish. His books teach kids about friendship, happiness, and various emotions. The books are a quick read and my kids love the books. The book is about Hugo, who wants to travel to the real world., but ran into trouble. As soon as he touched the surface of the water, a bunch of arrows started flying at him. The arrows did not hurt and Hugo still felt welcomed. But, he learned he was not in the real world, but the island of empathy. The premise was words can feel like arrows. If they are good words, then they can not hurt you. On the other hand, if the words are bad, then they can sting and hurt. The book teaches kids (and adults) to watch their tongue. Once the words leave the surface of your mouth, you can not take them back. The damage is already done. The book  also teaches about empathy. According to the book, empathy is remembering that you should not do anything to others, that you wouldn't want them to do to you. I liked reading the book. 

The book is currently 5.99 on Amazon.







I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Work from Home for low income families book review (Tomoson)

I read Work from Home for Low income families, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson.The book was written by Lia Burres.  The book was sponsored by A little bit of everything Book reviews. I received a Smashwords code for the book.

The first thing the book teaches is to set goals. What do you want to accomplish by working from home? I started the blog to vent about the kids, but it later progressed into product reviews, book reviews, sponsored posts, and giveaways. Maybe you have young kids at home and can't work. Maybe you have a health issue. Maybe you dislike a traditional 9 to 5 job.

There are many reasons for wanting to work from home and many companies to choose from. You may want to have a niche or be generic. You can become an affiliate or a freelance writer. You may want to do reviews or focus just on giveaways. You may want to sell your products on a website.

Chapter 1 focuses on product reviews. You need to create a blog, whether free or paid. I use blogger, but I am working adding Perfect Chaos on WordPress as well. I also have Go Daddy but need to pay for a domain.

You also need to build your social media presence (Facebook, Pinterest, Vine, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Instagram, Klout, Google Plus, Facebook Fan Page, for example). I am on all of these. I would recommend signing up for Twitter, Pinterest, Klout, Google Plus, and develop a fan page to start with. I did not realize the power of social media until I was denied for campaigns because I did not have enough followers or a high enough Klout or Sverve score, especially when it was for a book or something, which doesn't cost much. Another way to build up your presence is to help other bloggers promote their campaigns. For example, you may promote a giveaway or retweet a tweet. You also can do a follow for follow. They will follow you on social media, in exchange for you following them. Keep in mind, there are limits on how many people you can follow a day on certain site. I been in Twitter Jail before. I went on a mass following spree within a few hours. Do not do this. Follow a few at a time.

Next, you need to sign up for some product review sites. I love Tomoson, US Family Guide, Business to Blogger, Bloggerdise, BzzAgent, Smiley 360, Moms Meet, Mom Central, Influenster, etc. Each site hosts different product reviews.  Each product review is hosted by a different company, which has different requirements. Read the requirements carefully to see if you and your blog are a fit. If you met most of the qualifications, I say apply anyway. Some sites let you give a reason on why you want to participate in the campaign. Tomoson lets you give four reasons a company should select you if you are denied.

You also have to consider that some campaigns will be paid and some will be unpaid. Tomoson lets you review a product in exchange for an honest review, but you can get paid on Brandbacker, Blog Dash, and Sverve. I do both paid and unpaid reviews.

The book also gives embedded links for social media, in addition to product review sites. Most of the sites listed  in the book, I am on. I did sign up for a few new ones as well.

Chapter 2 discusses book reviews. I started doing book reviews in October 2012. I love Bethany House, Library Thing, Tyndale House, Blogging for Books, Book Sneeze, Kregel Book Tours, in addition to a bunch of others. You may need a blog to review books. Some sites just want a review to Goodreads, Amazon, Shelfari, and Librarything. These are the main sites I post reviews to. You also may have authors or companies directly contacting you to review a book.

Now, before I go any further, you will need to decide what genres of books you will like to read and what genres, you do not want to read. If you like Science Fiction and Romance, review them. If you like erotica, review them. Do not review a book you don't feel comfortable with. I don't review erotica. I don't review anything with vampires and zombies.

You will need a reader to read the books, whether online or offline. I have Kindle for PC, Adobe Digital Editions, A kindle, Sony Reader for PC, Google Drive, and Kindle for Android. I read books on all the devices. You can always request a physical book on some sites as well. Not every book will be available in the format you will like. You will need to post each review by the deadline.

Finally the book discusses other aspects of working from home, such as drop shipping, affiliate companies, traffic exchanges, link exchanges, and building an online store. The book also discusses building a website and banners. The book ends in my favorite topic: finding free stuff online. The book provides a list of links to get free things. I am on more than half of those sites.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mighty Handle Review (Bloggy Moms)

I reviewed the Mighty Handle  , in exchange for review from Bloggy Moms. This post does contain affiliate images.

The Mighty Handle provides a way to carry grocery bags or dry cleaning, without all the extra weight and hassle. Each handle can carry up to 50 lbs. I liked the Mighty Handle and wanted to review it.

IMG_20130815_133027.jpgI thought of those days back in Atlanta, when I went to Krogers and had to carry all those bags from the store, across the parking lot, to the bus stop. Then, wait on the bus, carry bags on the bus, sit down, head home, pick up bags again, walk to the house or apartment, without breaking a single bag, while taking a lot of breaks lol. The grocery store was about an hour from home, via the bus, but 10 minutes by car. Took two busses to get to the grocery store, which made the trip longer.

The handle can eliminate strain on hands and wrists. The handle also protects bags from getting damaged.

I tried out the mighty handle a few weeks ago. My child had a dr appointment. Krogers is across the street from the doctor. We usually walk to Krogers to get a quick snack, while waiting on my mother to pick us up. I had a few bags and used the mighty handle. It was nice.

IMG_20130815_133052.jpgWhile I was waiting, I struck up a conversation with a street vendor outside of Krogers. She had a lot more bags than I did and had to ride the bus back home and work. I gave her the mighty handle as a gift. I will be ordering another set. I quickly took pictures of her using the handle with my groceries. The handles held three bags of groceries with no strain on my or her wrists.


The Mighty Handle is 9.99 on Amazon currently. You get two handles. If you are a prime member, you can get the handles within two days.

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Monday, September 2, 2013

ELEV8 Pre-Workout Powder Product Review (Tomoson)

I Reviewed ELEV8, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson. I received a sample of Wild Blueberry

What is ELEV8?

ELEV8 is a pre-workout powder for women  The powder can help you train, tone, and improve shape. It also can help fat loss, energy levels, and fatigue. Next, the product can help endurance and intensity.

I wanted to try ELEV8 to see what it tasted like. I also wanted to see the benefits of the product and how it would affect my workouts. I been reading workout blogs and noticed people have been taking protein powders, whey powders, and other supplements to aid workouts. Sometimes I get tired during the workouts or my knees start to feel pain. This is expected since I only been working out regularly since June. Body is still getting used to exercise :-). I also have increased weights with each month. In July, I had 2 lb weights. In August, I had 5 lb weights. For September, I bought 10 lb weights. I figured if I can pick up a 23 lb baby, I can pick up 2, 10 lb weights. It is a challenge. I may move to finally buying Kettle Bells next month.

The powder is added to your water, 15 to 30 minutes before a workout. I wasn't sure how much to use. The package I had was 30 servings. The package says add 1/2 scoop, but not sure how much a scoop was (tablespoons, teaspoons, a few shakes). I added a few shakes into my water and drunk it pre-workout. I assume the scoop is more for the jar of ELEV8, compared to the sample package.

The powder is creatine and beta-alanine free. It also contains no sugar and low carbs. The powder is 10 calories for the package I received, in addition to no sugar, but it has 3 total carbs. The powder also contains Vitamin C, Thiamine, and Niacin.

I do not like the taste of the wild blueberry. It has a medicine taste to me, but you can tell it has a blueberry scent to it as well. I did go to the website and they offer mango pineapple and pink lemonade, both are out of stock right now. I may buy the mango pineapple. The product is 49.99 for a 22 oz jar. I would recommend keeping the powder up high, away from the kiddies. My kids are used to me adding Mio, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, Dasani, Vitamin Splash, and other liquid and powder enhancers to my water. Kalen, the two year old, has drunk a whole bottle of mio before, without the water. yay me, not to mention how many powder sticks, I have found with teeth marks in it lol.

I will do a video review, once the kiddies to go bed. I workout after midnight, when kids are sleep, so I can move and exercise in peace and quiet.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Revolt Fitness Week 9

The August Uprising is finished. My weight and inches ballooned up and down this month. I do need to find a better way to use the calipers, maybe something voice activated, if it exists.






























Calipers (mm)Measurements (inches)
Weight (lbs)Bicep (back of armTricep (front of arm)SuperIliac (belly)Subscap (back)NeckHipsThighsCalvesChestWaistBody Fat percentage
Week 11633030403114.75402716373840.83
Week 215714.754022.5153737.5
Week 3155.8144122153736
Week 4156.4144121153735
Week 5151.6144123153632
Week 61532430303414412215.53634.533.43
Week 7156.2222822321440.52315373333
Week 8160202820311441.52215.53636.537.12
Week 915721262030144121153635.536.85

I lost 3 lbs from week 8 to 9. I also lost inches in triceps and subscap (back fat). Next, I lost inches in the hips, thighs, and calves. Finally, I dropped in body fat percentages. 

Me in the size 10 jeans again. They fit amazing. still have work to do so they will be less tighter.

Valerie Coleman The forbidden secrets of the goody box Book Review and Blog Tour (Write Now Virtual Tours)




I read The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box, by Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, in exchange for review from Write Now Virtual Tours. This post does contain affiliate links.  I received a paperback copy of the book. I wanted to read the book because the description was interesting. Some aspects of the book could apply to Celibacy Diaries

The book is about Debra, who has been in a string of bad relationships. She jumps in the bed too quickly. At the beginning of the book, Debra is in a "relationship" with Vincent. She is like a sugar mama to me. They have different beliefs in God, but she wants to marry him. She also spends a lot of money on him. As she leaves church, she decides to accept his proposal, but catches him in a bed with a "friend". A "friend" she only been on a few girly dates with. Not a real friend. Eventually, she moves on to another man, who only dates her long enough to get her in the bed, only to never be heard from again. To me, she gives her all to men, who are not worth her all. 

The book also discusses Debra's two friends, Rachel and Sherry. Rachel is in the perceived ideal relationship with Brian, but the relationship has problems. Rachel brought their company out of scandal. She also runs around being superwoman, while he does, what seems to be nothing. One thing, which stood out, was Rachel feels that she can handle her marriage is because of her office husband. She seems to confide in him more than her husband. 

Sherry, is in a relationship, with Dwight, but not much is known about Dwight. She had to change her behavior and attitude to make room for Dwight. Sherry used a relationship guru to work on her. She recommends Dr. Reed to help Debra out in her funk. 

One passage, which stood out was the first meeting with Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed told her that men, think of women as a walking vagina, aka the goody box. The Dr is going to help her navigate the forbidden secrets of the goody box. Dr. Reed also said that women give away the goodies, without too much thought, then wonder why men quickly leave after getting it (p. 80). Some men will say or do anything to get into the goody box and then leave after accomplishing the mission. The heart is not involved in the beginning as much as the penis is.

Yet, Debra does think with her vagina first. When Dr. Reed asks Debra to create a list of characteristics she wants in a mate, Debra lists sex first before God. God did not come in until the end. Having a relationship without God as the foundation will result in disaster. The list got longer after she calls Rachel and Rachel definitely has a business mindset.


One way to see if a man wants you or wants sex is to withhold sex. Do not have sex with a man right away. Of course, you do have men, who are willing to wait and still leave, but I digress. Celibacy is a wonderful thing. Back to the book, Dr. Reed also says the goody box has magnetic field, which draws men in. If you give in too quickly to sex, you may not get him emotionally attached to you. Of course

This reminds me of an conversation I had with a former sex partner back in 2005 or 2006. He was only a convenient sex partner, since he stayed within 10 to 15 minutes from me. One day, I was having an issue with the soon-to-be-ex-husband. I am separated. I decided to vent quickly to this man. He told me that he isn't interested in all that. He does not want to know about my problems or issues. He just wanted sex. Even though, he made this comment, which upset me, I still had sex with him. The comment changed my attitude and behavior towards men. I was more closed off. I did not want to share anything with them. If all I am is sex, then I should not get emotionally involved.

Other things I liked in the book:

  1. Dr. Reed said to know what you want before getting into a relationship (p. 82)
  2. If something isn't working, then change how you handle the situation. Doing the same things over and over again is insane. 
  3. Write a list of characteristics or traits you want in a relationship. Be specific, not vague, not generic. Then, provide the why each trait is important. Also list if the trait is a deal breaker or not. For example, Dr. Reed said, if you want a man, who loves God. Does that mean he attends church weekly or just major holidays? Is he actively involved in several ministries or just acknowledges a superior being exists? (p. 84). 

Excerpt (copied from media kit)

Chapter 1

For the Love of Vincent

Sunday-morning service stirred Debra Hampton’s heart. The poignant message convinced her to resolve a matter that had her torn for almost a year. She had been undecided about whether to marry her live-in boyfriend, Vincent. He didn’t share her religious beliefs and refused to go with her to church, but she knew that he was the best man for her.

He laughed at her silly antics, talked with her about her ambitions and encouraged her to greatness. He made her the focal point of his life and involved her in every decision no matter how minute. But it was his touch that held her hostage, kept her toying with God’s love by giving herself to a man who was not her husband. With her head bowed to hide the free-flowing tears, she exited the church without speaking to anyone. 

She sat in her Mercedes S550, took a moment to freshen her makeup, expelled a sigh of relief. She looked to Heaven through the panorama sunroof, smiled, closed her eyes, gave thanks. The decision to accept Vincent’s proposal resonated; filled her with peace as she trusted the Lord with her soul mate.
The thirty-minute drive from the inner-city church to her suburban home gave her ample time to reflect upon the life they would build together: three children, business partnership and unlimited mind-blowing sex. The rush of blood to her southern bell—the name her mother called her vagina when she was a child—gave her pause. Fortunately, she was stopped at a red light. She clicked through the Sirius Satellite stations and then opted to enjoy tunes Vincent had downloaded to her iPod a few nights prior.

As she turned into Creekwood Estates—a lavish community north of Dayton—she admired the mansion-sized homes set hundreds of feet from the street. Manicured lawns featured rows of exotic trees, shrubbery and blooming flowers. Cobblestone driveways boasted luxury cars and backyards had customized gym sets or in-ground pools. Her stucco and brick palatial home was small in comparison to those of her neighbors, but it was big enough for her family-to-be. She loved the side-entry, three-car garage because it camouflaged the unpacked moving boxes from passersby. She parked in the usual spot—closest to the mudroom door—and then she smiled wide. “He’s home.” 

Debra grabbed her purse and Bible and then jaunted into the house. She placed her belongings on the granite countertop, careful not to make noise. Since the television wasn’t locked on a sporting event, Vincent had to be resting in the master suite. A 3,500-square-foot home and he preferred the family room and bedroom. She slipped off her stilettos, tiptoed up the stairs. Her heart beat faster with each step. She wiped her palms together to dry the sweaty moisture, pressed her ear to the door. His subtle snores seeped through. She giggled and then covered her mouth to halt the escape of more laughter.

She opened the door, peeked in, swung it wide. “Vincent! What the devil?” “Debra, what are you doing here?” After a quick dismount, he rummaged the floor for his Fruit of the Looms. “When’d you get home?” “Who is this woman and why is she in my bed?” She ran to the side of the bed, towered
over her betrayer. Breath stalled in her throat, eyes widened. “Catherine!” Catherine—the first person to welcome Debra to the neighborhood—reached for her clothes, scurried to dress. Debra lunged at her, snatched her by the ponytail, drew back her fist. Just as she connected with Catherine’s right jaw, Vincent grabbed Debra around the waist, pulled her away. She flailed her arms, kicked at his shins, head-butted him in the mouth. When he released her, she pursued Catherine who was halfway down the stairs, underwear in tow.

About the author: (copy was provided from the media kit. )

Valerie J. Lewis Coleman has helped women find relational fulfillment by identifying the four types of male hunters, avoiding seventy percent of men who only want the goody box and winning the heart of Mr. Right-For-You. She explains how she overcame struggles and offers proven techniques to help you get off the crazy cycle of relational demise in her novel The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box! 

Visit TheGoodyBoxBook.com for the sequel, prequel and upcoming events! The bestselling author of Blended Families An Anthology, Valerie has helped thousands of families navigate the challenges of child support, visitation, discipline and more. With over twenty years of experience in family and relationships, she has given advice on varying issues including baby-momma drama, defiant children and disapproving in-laws. On her journey to assist others with building strong families, she shares her testimony and provides practical tools to help you stop the stepfamily madness in your home!

Join the mailing list to receive a free e-book. One person will receive a Smashwords code to download the book.

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Tour Schedule

Buying the book:

The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box is 4.99 on Amazon (Kindle) and the paperback is 13.46 You also can order the book on Smashwords and through the website. The Smashwords version is 4.99. 


Estes Park Promotion (US Family Guide) sponsored promotion

This post was sponsored by Estes Park as part of the US Family Guide Bloggers Program.

Estes Park is located in Colorado. I decided to write the blog post coming from the perspective of what I can do as a family with my kids. I am always looking for places, which can be accommodating to special needs kids. I will write another review after I visit.

First, You have the  Picnic In The Park  Picnic in the Park offers quality food, with eco-friendly packaging, and reusable meal outing items, such as picnic baskets. The menu includes deli-style and picnic style foods. Some of which include baked beans and rotisserie chicken. The restaurant also has wood-fired pizza  and sub sandwiches. I also loved the Caprese Bread, Caprese Salad,  and the Garbage Salad. Finally, the Bread pudding looked good. You can check out the menu on the website.

I also liked the Marina,which offers boat rentals, fishing, and bike rentals, in addition to a trail.

Another feature I liked was the Aerial Tram, which is reasonably priced for myself, the kids, and a few other cheap relatives. It's too late for me to visit the Aerial Tram, but for other folks, the season ends tomorrow.

Next, I liked Ride A Kart.  which offers family friendly activities. I liked the train and the extreme bungee jumping trampoline.

Then, I liked Green Jeep Tours.  I liked the Photo Safari Tour, which includes a 7 day pass to the National park. This tour is available from May to October.




BunnyPrints Giveaway

Blog with Mom and Mommy's Favorite Things are super excited to bring your this wonderful giveaway!

Perfect Chaos is helping promote Blog with Mom and Mommy's favorite Things, Bunny Prints Giveaway. Information and Entry form is provided below. Perfect Chaos is not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

Bunny Prints is a wonderful site that offers items like Baby Shower invitations, Birthday invitations, Return Address Labels, Thank you cards and so much more. 


Themes on the site cover many events- baby showers, birthdays, baptisms and more. Add that unique touch to your party planning with matching invitations and thank you cards. Themed parties are easy to plan-just pick a theme that matches the honoree.


They also carry Personalized Party Favors to round out your chosen theme. Use these favors not only as gifts for your guests, but also as part of your tablescapes. Round stickers can be used as napkin wrapper seals. Mini-candy wrappers can be used as fillings for centerpiece pots, etc. The large candy wrappers can be hung in a variety of ways to enhance your decor. Guests will be thrilled to take home their Personalized Candy Wrappers so make sure you order enough for everyone. They are certain to leave a yummy impression. 

This football theme will prove to be a true winner. If your mom-to-be is expecting a future grid iron star, her bridal shower will be a snap to plan and a real kick for all those who attend. With football season upon us, this theme is perfect for a fall boy baby shower. 



(Note from Perfect Chaos: I love stationary. I love address labels. When I find some for free online, I sign up to receive more. I like this giveaway because it gives people a chance to win a prize from Bunny Prints). The giveaway rules and form is provided below. 
Giveaway Rules:
  • Giveaway will run from 9/2-9/23
  • Opened to entrants 18 and older in the U.S.
  • All entries must be in the form below and all mandatory entries must be completed.
  • Winner will be chosen through Giveaway Tools and will be contacted via email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. ALL ENTRIES WILL BE VERIFIED.
Mommy's Favorite Things is acting as an advertisement for the sponsor and is not responsible for the prize. Prize will be given by BunnyPrints.com. This event is brought to you by Mommy's Favorite Things and Blog with Mom through Advertising with Bloggers! If you are interested in sponsoring an event like this, please contact Advertise with Bloggers

Welcome to the ABCs with Elly: Language Learning Software Giveaway (Miss Frugal Mommy) (Blogger promotion).


http://missfrugalmommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/abcs-button.jpg Perfect Chaos is helping promote Miss Frugal Mommy's ABCs with Elly, Language Learning Software Giveaway. More information is provided below, in addition to the rafflecopter entry form. Perfect Chaos is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Copy was provided by Miss Frugal Mommy. 

Welcome to the ABC’s with Elly: Language Learning Software Giveaway

&
Sponsored by Chatterfun Media

 

What is ABC's With Elly?

“ABC’s with Elly is an exciting format for children to experience global language for the first time. Your child will explore ABC’s in sign language or discover numbers and words in English, German, French or Spanish. With over 1000 words, ABC’s with Elly will open your child’s eyes and ears to a new world. Created by early childhood professionals, ABC’s with Elly is the number one introduction to foreign language for home and school.”
Learning Outcomes:
1) Develop an appreciation and understanding of foreign language and global culture.
2) Formulate a first impression and begin developing a student opinion to languages.
3) Increase language competencies and overall vocabulary while developing fundamental skills in basic words, letters and numbers.
4) Build enthusiasm to pursue additional language instruction and global exploration.
5) Experience a fun and rewarding learning environment.
To learn more about this great language learning software, visit Miss Frugal Mommy's review where you can also discover a very generous 25% off coupon code!
Now for the exciting part! One winner will receive their very own ABC’s with Elly: Language Learning Software!
Enter to win in the rafflecopter below, all entries will be verified.
This giveaway is open to anyone with the following
System Requirements:
Intel Pentium III 600MHz or higher
Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8
284 MB of available disk space
Good Luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway