Blogcritics Author: Alyse Wax

Book Review: Casual Elegant Knits - Classy Designs for Men and Women by Faina Goberstein and Dawn Leeseman

Alyse Wax — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:18:02 EDT

Surprisingly stylish, semi-simple knits for men and women.
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting much from Casual Elegant Knits: Classy Designs for Men and Women by Fania Goberstein and Dawn Leeseman. It’s not one of those fancy, neo-knitting books that are all the rage right now. It doesn’t have a “hook” like lingerie-inspired knits, or knits by top fashion designers....

Book Review: Cable Confidence - A Guide to Textured Knitting by Sara Louise Harper

Alyse Wax — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:36:16 EDT

A great guide for knitting complex cable patterns.
Cable Confidence by Sara Louise Harper is all about cables. Nothing more, nothing less. Subtitled "A Guide to Textured Knitting," the focus, pure and simple, is cabling. All the patterns featured in this book are pretty basic, straight-sided pull-overs with a handful of scarves, hats, and cardigans. However, the intricate cable designs are...

Behind the Scenes at Celebrity Circus

Alyse Wax — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:48:58 EDT

Celebrity Circus offers grace and elegance, not elephants and clowns.
Ah, summer TV. Light, frothy, and fun. Topping the listings this season is Celebrity Circus, a Cirque du Soleil-style competition which pits celebrities against one another -- and daunting acrobatics. Hosted by Joey Fatone from 'N Sync, and judged by a panel of professional gymnasts and circus performers, Celebrity Circus makes you think that...

Product Review: Focolate Chocolate Syrup Aphrodisiac

Alyse Wax — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:40:16 EDT

A bottle of Hershey's Syrup is more of a turn on than this stuff.
I don't really buy into this herbal supplements fad. I am sure that there are some that work, and I know some people swear by them. I have heard that people take herbs as opposed to traditional medicines because they don't want "chemicals" in their body. Remember, you are more likely to have an allergic reaction to something natural than...

Food Review: Club Gourmet

Alyse Wax — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:35:46 EDT

The Zone Diet goes gourmet.
The Zone Diet is so last week. The new kid on the block? Club Gourmet.Club Gourmet is an all organic, all gourmet diet plan. Each morning, a cooler with a day's worth of food (breakfast, lunch, savory snack, dinner, and sweet snack) is delivered to your porch. All the food is freshly prepared, using organic and locally grown food. They...

Book Review: Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall

Alyse Wax — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:15:00 EDT

About as unbiased look into the FLDS as one could possibly find.
This book deals with the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the extremely conservative sect of Mormonism that has recently been in the national news with the raid on a Texas FLDS camp. Mainstream Mormonism is not a factor in this book. All references and opinions in this review are strictly based on the FLDS as presented in these...

Book Review: Signature Scarves by Nicky Epstein

Alyse Wax — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:42:39 EDT

Scarves - they're not just for beginners anymore.
Scarves are a staple of any knitter’s diet. Every knitter’s first project is a scarf. Oftentimes, their second and third projects are scarves. They are simple, a great way to learn basic knits and purls, and when you are done, you can wear it. But scarves don’t just have to be boring garter stitch affairs. They can be wild, crazy,...

Book Review: Knit So Fine - Designs with Skinny Yarn by Myers, Grutzeck, and Sulcoski

Alyse Wax — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:46:23 EDT

Skinny yarns make for beautiful knits.
Knit So Fine: Designs with Skinny Yarn, written by Lisa R. Myers, Laura Grutzeck, and Carol Sulcoski, is a knitting book dedicated to patterns knit with skinny yarns – in this book, anything finer than a worsted weight. Knitting with lightweight yarns have many advantages. They have a better fit, a nicer drape, and a more streamlined look....

Book Review: Inspired to Knit - Creating Exquisite Handknits by Michele Rose Orne

Alyse Wax — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:27:07 EDT

Beautiful, feminine, and intricate designs for the advanced knitter.
Knitwear designer Michele Rose Orne brings us an imaginative collection of knitting patterns, entitled Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits. This book contains 21 patterns, divided up by season. The idea behind the book is to help knitters explore their creativity, and draw inspiration for design from everything around them. Along with...

Book Review: Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

Alyse Wax — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:47:29 EDT

An out-to-pasture porn priestess may get perilously up-close and personal at her last hurrah. A fun summer read, tawdry and twisted, but not Palahniuk's best.
Yay! A new Chuck Palahniuk novel! Personally, I can’t get enough of Palahniuk. His latest novel Snuff is certainly not his best, but it is an enjoyable read.Cassie Wright is an aging porn queen. She is ready for her last hurrah, in the form of the world’s largest gang bang – 600 men. Some are there because they are huge fans; some...