14 years and counting

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Cutting the cord is easier then you might think. For us it started out as a way to save a big chunk of change per month. After a while we didn't miss it at all. Then came streaming TV, and our lives opened up to not just DVD's but movies, shows, and then most recently to shows that were shown on TV that we can get for free the day after. Not to mention HD Antenna's which bring free broadcasting channels to you in crystal clear form. Except for when there is a storm then you just find another channel. FREE never sounded so good. 

Honestly our children's wishlist's went down by a mile when we cut the cord which was money savings we hadn't thought of until we saw the difference in our budget. Sometimes one change can really make a big difference in your life and this is one we are glad we made.

When we moved to our current home we looked at the prices of TV services and they are just too costly and most of the channels we wouldn't even watch. With Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player we are able to watch movies, shows, live TV, YouTube, and even photos streaming on all of our devices. It is simply awesome.

So easy to connect with High-speed wireless connectivity. Built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi connects to the Internet through your wireless home network (wireless router required and sold separately). Compatible with your existing HDTV. Easily connects to high-definition televisions with HDMI connectivity.

We never do this but now you can. Stream from your phone to TV. Just plug Chromecast into the HDMI port on your TV and to power and stream your favorite entertainment right from your phone with just a tap. Watch shows, listen to playlists, and more. And while streaming, you can still use your phone as you normally do. Works with the streaming apps you know and love.

Enjoy TV shows, movies, videos, songs, games, sports and more from over 2000 apps like Netflix, YouTube, YouTube TV, and HBO NOW. Find more at g.co/chromecast¹

Start streaming with just your voice. Just say what you want to watch from compatible apps and control your TV hands-free, with Chromecast and Google Home working seamlessly together.² Simply say things like“Ok Google, play Stranger Things from Netflix on my living room TV.” ¹

¹ Subscriptions are required to view some content. 

² Google Home, Chromecast, and compatible content required to cast to a TV using Google Home.

Web-based services and content require high-speed Internet service. Some services may require a subscription.

Don't Delay check out the Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player today and upgrade your TV for less. Expand your home entertainment without buying a new TV. It's so affordable you can get one for every TV in the house.

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Dinotrux Supercharged Season 2

Looking for a action packed Dino inspired show for your little ones? Why not check out DreamWorks Dinotrux Supercharged Season 1 and also Season 2 which premiers tomorrow Friday March 23rd on Netflix.

Check out the trailer below to see if it fits with your family.

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with TeamClick. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.

Back to School with Netflix

I waited a bit longer to post my post because my kids didn't start school until after Labor Day so I thought it only fitting to post this for the Northern Part of America to coincide with our first day of school.

My girls are all into Project Mc2 which started on August 7th having gobbled up all of the episodes and are awaiting more. What Netflix has to say about Project Mc2 Project Mc² is a fresh take on the typical tween girl show you’re probably familiar with. The series has S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) organically woven throughout the storyline, making it fun and breaking the stereotype that being smart, funny, stylish and capable are mutually exclusive. Project Mc² reflects today’s tweens in a relatable way, giving girls four empowered female leads to look up to.

And the offspring of favorite fairytale characters in Ever After High's new Way Too Wonderland adventure (debuting Aug. 14) empower kids to write their own life stories. Whether Royal or Rebel, your actions, behaviors and choices are your own to make.

Netflix Original: Ever After High: Way Too Wonderland Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius How the State Got Their Shapes Odd Squad

Get the little ones ready for new experiences with shows like the Netflix original Dinotrux from DreamWorks, premiering Aug. 14 -- prehistoric hybrid dinosaur-construction vehicles team-up to use their different skills to solve problems and show that even the most uncommon of duos, like Ty-Rux and Revvit, can form friendships of a lifetime.

They can also go anywhere and be anything by letting their imaginations soar on a Reading Rainbow journey, now available to stream.

Reading Rainbow Magic School Bus The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!

Movies and Shows that remind  MarksvilleandMe of school.

Ferris bueller's day off
Summer School
Sesame Street
Dazed and Confused
Matilda
A Little Princess

What are you favorite back to school movies or shows?

What MarksvilleandMe has been watching lately.

We were really busy in August between personal issues, several deaths in our family as well as a close friends dieing, on top of the regular getting ready for back to school and college stuff. 

For us school starts in the morning matter of fact it is now 3:28 AM the morning of. I have a few calls to make after the children get on the bus and then it will probably be a very busy day for both myself and my girls for the first day back. 

Along with some of the above suggestions from Netflix, we watched these movies and shows in August. Project Mc2, Spooksville, Hart of Dixie, Z Nation, Bitten, That 70's Show, Supernatural, Richie Rich, Monster Squad, and a whole host of others. We have a big family with lots of shows they like to watch so we divvy it up. Since the kids were out playing most days they only had evenings and mornings to catch up on their shows, but most of the time they put it on watched a few minutes, and were out the door. Only very few did they watch all the way through, but that will change as the weather gets cooler, more days inside, with hot cocoa, snuggled under a blanket, enjoying a movie together as family. 

#StreamTeam

Disclosure: MarksvilleandMe is a part of Netflix Stream Team receiving free streaming service and other gifts throughout the year in exchange for us blogging about Netflix and Netflix streaming services.

You will need HDMI cables for New Game Consoles

If you have a flat screen TV, new game console, or even if you want better cables for your computer or laptop then you might want to look into HDMI Cables. These HDMI cables from Aleratec are also gold plated which I have heard keeps a better connection for your products. 

Easy to change out with your existing cables if you are just updating your HDMI, or setting up a new tech product.

You can see our video review on Youtube here. 

You can purchase the Aleratec HDMI Cables on Amazon.

You can find out more about Aleratec on :

Website

Google+

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

#AleratecHDMI

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Alertec. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Create Your Own Destiny

When I think of creating your own destiny I am reminded lately of my older children making their way in the world, with their own lives, spouses, children, and for my next oldest making plans to go to college. Something she has to decide for herself no matter how hard the choice is. 

She is finding that being an adult although sometimes fun can also come with lots of decisions she is not sure she is ready for. She isn't sure she wants to be what she has wanted to be for the rest of her life. Mind you with this particular daughter has always done things the way she would like things to be, she isn't like every other teenager out there. 

She wants to change the world, she loves listening to music from the 60's, putting together her own wardrobe by borrowing from mine and hers to make her own style. She loves to sing, act, make food, try new things, and is always willing to learn something new. 

She was asked for college who her role model was and her answer was that she does not have one, she paves her own path, she wants everyone to know they can be who they are all of the time and being like someone else is just holding yourself back from being the best you, you can really be. 

This reminds me a lot of my essays for college. I am very proud of her and a little more then excited to see what my children will create for their own destinies. 

Create Your Own Destiny.

MarksvilleandMe are making are way through all three of the titles below. 

1. Ever After High (2/6) 2. Mako Mermaids (2/13) 3. Richie Rich (2/20) Personally I have not watched any of the below titles but my girls or my grand daughter might have on their account. Someday, I will... For your little kids: 1. Build and fix things: Handy Manny 2. Make a discovery: Sid the Science Kid 3. Walk on the moon: Justin Time: Blast off!: S1E13 4. Explore the ocean: Octonauts Below you will find some movies suggested by Netflix but again I have not sen any of them but I am interested in FameHigh, I am assuming it is something like the movie or show Fame.  For your big kids: 1. Make sweet treats: Cupcake Wars 2. Get into show biz: Fame High 3. Represent Team USA: The Gabby Douglas Story 4. Master the kitchen: Chopped Except for Wahlburgers I haven't seen any of the movies or show below.  And for teens and parents: 1. Get the corner office: Undercover Boss 2. Travel the world: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown 3. Walk the red carpet: Liz & Dick 4. Run my own restaurant: Wahlburgers I love the fun idea that Netflix has this month, one which I have never made but very interested in doing in the near future. A Vision Board, should be interesting to see what the kids come up with compared to us adults. Vision Board To keep the kids chasing their dreams, map out those big ideas on a DIY vision board. Cut inspirational words out of magazines, print photos of favorite characters or add your own knick-knacks and trinkets. Learn how to make your own here. Now when I think of movies about creating your own destiny I think about Back to the Future, The Philadelphia Experiment, The Time Machine (1953), Butterfly Effect, The Terminator, Looper, or pretty much any other time movie you can think of because I think everyone at some time in their lives would like to go back and change at least one thing in their lives which would change if not re-create their destiny.  #StreamTeam Disclosure: MarksvilleandMe is a part of Netflix Stream Team receiving free streaming service and other gifts through out the year in exchange for us blogging about Netflix and Netflix streaming services.