Turtle Beach Ear Force X12 Gaming Headset Giveaway

Hey there.  Time for another giveaway!  I figured that some of your are probably still using the stock Xbox 360 head sets or simply don't have a gaming headset for your gaming needs.  No worries, friends.  I got you guys covered.  I've been focusing on giving away games and movies that I forgot that people like other stuff too.  That's the main reason why I'm moving to gaming books and other gaming related items.  Anytways, now for the giveaway.  This one is for the gamer that need a headset!  This time around, I'm giving away a Turtle Beach Ear Force X12 Gaming Headset!  How awesome is that?! Here are the details on the X12s:

Organization has Never Been Easier with a Brother P Touch Labeler

Hey there.  Wow... what a month it's been!  I started off this month with a project in mind:  get that garage all sorted out and organized.  I made mention how the garage is in total shambles!  How can it not be?  With 4 active kids constantly going in and out and placing their stuff all over the place it's a definitely a challenge to keep it all in order.  I used the Brother P Touch Labeler as my guide to get things in order.  Everything from bins to shelves were laveled and organized.  In the end, organization is a lot better and a lot easier.  It's still not 100% where I would like it be, but I think that's because it's just going to take the family some time to getting used to putting things where they belong!  lol  So, here are some of my thoughts of the Brother P Touch Labeler!

BassBoomz Provides Exceptional Sound in a Small Speaker

Hey there.  I love me a good set of earbuds.  When I go to the gym, I take none other than my silver BassBuds.  If you don't have a clue what BassBuds are, you need to read this post.  In short, they are an awesome set of headphones.  So awesome, in fact, that I just recently received a second set of BassBuds.  I receive a blue set from the Fashion Collection.  If you are in need of some headphones that will provide you an exceptional listening experience, you should definitely check out some BassBuds!  Now, BassBuds are awesome for an individual listening experience.  They are perfect for the single listener, but what if you have a group with you and you want to share in on the listening experience?  Enter, the BassBoomz speaker!

Southwest Airlines Vacations Deals, Here We Come

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Southwest Airlines Vacations for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there.  It's time for us to get away.  Time for us to get away from work, time for us to get away from the errands, and time for us to get away from the kids.  lol  Don't get me wrong, being a parent is awesome and all, but the wife and I rarely have time to ourselves.  We usually get that time during our marriage anniversary and we usually go to Las Vegas to have a few drinks, visit a few dance floors, catch a few shows, and just get away from it all.  It's also a great way to rekindle our romance.  It's a week's vacation that we look forward to every year.  We usually drive to Las Vegas, but I think this year, it's going to be different.  I think we're going to fly there and I'm looking to score on an awesome deal from Southwest Vacations!  But not just any deal, it's a Southwest Las Vegas Vacations deals!

What I'm Playing... Pushmo

Hey there.  This weekend, I had the pleasure of hanging out with Donkey Kong at the LA Zoo.  I haven't had a chance to post about it just yet, but that post should go live within the next day or so.  While there, I got to play Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D for the Nintendo 3DS.  It's a great game, by the way, but while I was playing, it got me thinking of some of the other titles that I have on the 3DS.  Specifically, titles that I have received from the Nintendo eShop.  That place is a gold mine for great games!  The lastest one that I received?  Pushmo!!!!

A Trip to Aruba Would Be Perfect for Our HoneyMoon

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love the scenic views that Aruba has to offer!

Hey there.  I owe my wife a honeymoon getaway.  When we got married, we both worked but we didn't make to much money.  I couldn't afford to get her the wedding ring that she deserved, I couldn't get her the lavish wedding ceremony that she deserved, and I couldn't get her the honeymoon getaway that she deserved.  Next year, it will be our 10 year anniversary and I plan on making up for some of those things.  We're better off financialy, now, than we were before and we are we plan to renew our vows and have a wedding ceremony with friends and family.  I also want to plan that honeymoon trip that we didn't get to enjoy the first time around.  We orignally had our heart set on a Hawaiian honeymoon but a trip to Aruba sounds pretty tempting right now!

Memorial Day Respect

Don't forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.  RESPECT!

Make a Name for Yourself with CelebStir

Hey there.  I have my favorite musical artists.  I also have my own favorite celebrities that I troll on Twitter and on Facebook.  While online, I try to look up some new music or new events or activities that my favorite artists are participating in, but you know what I have a noticed?  It's usually fans, such as myself, that are the ones that are posting about our favorite artists!  Whether it be pictures or events, we, the fans, upload some pretty awesome stuff online.  The problem that I have is that I need to go to several fan forums or websites to get all the best stuff.  Well... not anymore!  You MUST check out, CelebStir!

Staying Up Late to Play Games has it's Advantages

LMAO!  I laugh because I see the wife and I in this comic strip.

Anker 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub Review

Hey there. Speed, speed, speed. Now a days, everything needs to be fast. Our computers need to be fast, our internet connection needs to be fast, and our data transfers need to be fast. Computer processors are now smaller and faster, fiber optic internet cables are bring the online world at blazing fast speed, and the USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) ports is the top of the line for faster data transfer speeds. Many computers and laptops of today are equipped with at least one 3.0 USB port. But what if you need more than that? There are many USB 3.0 hubs out there that promise you efficiency and speed, but the Anker 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub delivers on every level! Our good friends at Anker have provided me with a 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub to try out and let me tell you, it does not disappoint!

I Need Tips for Camping Trips

Hey there.  Would you believe that I have never gone camping before?  Like... EVER!  I didn't go on camping trips with school mates, I didn't go to summer camp as a child, I haven't even gone as an adult!  That's about to change, though.  The wife and I have been talking about taking the family on a camping trip. There are plenty of camping grounds in Southern California and I think it's time for me and the family to get reaquianted with the great outdoors.  I love being outside and being able to sleep under the stars in tents sounds like a great time to me.  The problem?  I've never been to any overnight camps so I'm going to need a little bit of help.

Donkey Kong Country Invades the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens this Memorial Day Weekend

Hey there!  Who has any plans for this Memorial Day Weekend?  Many of us will be firing up the grill and having outdoor BBQ and others will venture off to the beach or other main attraction.  It's almost as if Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of Summer.  My plans for this weekend is to take the family to the LA Zoo!  It's been awhile since we last visited the zoo so I think it'll be a great time to check it out.  Our young one is now 3 so he's old enough to enjoy checking out the animals.  Who knows, maybe he'll enjoy spotting lions, snakes, alligatots, Donkey Kong.  Wait... What?!?!  DONKEY KONG?!  YUP!!!  This Memorial Day weekend, Nintendo has partnered up with the LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens to host an event!  How awesome is that?!  The event is taking place in the Campo Gorilla Reserve to commemorate the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the Nintendo 3DS on May 24th, 2013.

Thoughts On... the Xbox One

Introducing... the Xbox One!

Hey there.  It's here!  The big unveiling of the next gen Xbox console.  It's not Xbox Durango, it's not Xbox Infinity.  It's Xbox One!  I'm sure many of you reading this have already checked some, if not all of the 2 hour presentation earlier today.  I'm not going to get into the specifics.  There are plenty of websites with people way smarter than me that will break down the Xbox One specs for you.  I'm an average Joe that loves games.  I have some curiosities about the Xbox One and I have a few thoughts that came to mind while checking out the presentation.  So here are my thoughts on the Xbox One reveal.

Buying Metallman a Beer #2

Thank you, Shane Dickson, for buying Metallman a beer!  CHEERS!

Hey there.  Time to honor another awesome fan that took the time to contribute to Metallman's Reverie!  The beer chosen?  A Paulaner Hefe-Weizen Natural Wheat beer!  Thank you, Shane Dickson!  Shane is also known as the OregonSlacker and he loves himself some gaming!  Make sure to check out his facebook page and check out the pictures he has of some of the gaming competitions that he's taken part in and take a glance at his pretty awesome gaming PC!  Thanks for the support, my friend!

A Young Man and Summertime Sports

His first of what I hope is many sporting events for the boy!

Hey there.  The weather is getting warmer and it's time to get the kids outside and have them play some sports!  I'm glad to see that the kids are FINALLY beginning to show more interest in sports.  Especially my oldest.  He's an athletic guy and I've been waiting for him to decide that he is ready to start playing.  I don't want to be one of those overbearing parents that dictate their kid's hobbies.  I let him be and when he's ready, he's ready.  He can play baseball, football, and basketball and he seems more suited for baseball or basketball.  Come to think of it... he can even do track too!  He's expressed much interest in running as well!  Almost forgot about that one!  lol  I say that the boy (14 yrs) will do in anything that he puts his mind in.  I'm sure that once he's in high school, he'll make that final decision, but until now, we'll play basketball and we'll go out and throw the baseball around.  We end up throwing the baseball more than anything else, actually, and I think he's beginning to find his sport.

Bioshock Ultimate Rapture Edition Winner

Congrats, Christina!

Hey there.  Check out this awesome picture that I recently received from the Bioshock Ultimate Rapture Edition winner, Christina!  She can't wait til she gets to pop this baby into her Xbox 360 and get started on exploring the dystopian world of Rapture!  But it looks like her son jumped in and snatched it away from mom so it's looks like our winner, Christina will have to wait until he goes to bed!!!  lol

Whiteflash Jewelry is Perfect for Anniversary Gifts

Hey there.  Next year, the wife and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary.  Yup.  10 blissful years.  We plan on renewing our vows and hope to have a wedding where all of our friends and family can attend.  Our last wedding was pretty small and we would like to have a pretty big party this time around.  Anyways, 10 years is a pretty big milestone.  That's a whole decade!  Aside from renewing our vows, I would like to get my wife the gift of diamonds.  I don't think I'll opt to get a bigger ring, since I think she already has a pretty big ring, but I am thinking of getting her a diamond pendant or some diamond studs.  I don't want to get just any diamonds, though.  I want to get top quality diamonds.  Something I know is special and will WOW her.  I need some Whiteflash contact diamonds!  Or I should say, CONFLICT FREE diamonds!

Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi Fortune Cookies

I LOVE Yoshi's reaction!  LMAO!!!

Save Over 10% on ZigReetrek TR Shoes Now

The wife and I stop for a pic while hiking

Hey there.  The wife and I recently took up hiking as a means to get fit outside of the gym.  We've gone to the Turnbull Canyon Hiking trails on more than a few occasions and it's something that we simply love.  The one thing that we don't love?  Our footing.  We both have "sports" shoes that we wear when we go hiking but we don't have as great traction when climbing up those steep hills.  The last thing we want is to lose our footing and come tumbling down.  That's why we've started looking for proper outdoor running shoes and the Reebok ZigReetrek TR running shoes seem to the ones that are right up our alley.

Time to Tackle Organization with a Brother P Touch Labeler

Hey there.  It's time to tackle the garage.  Spring cleaning season is in full effect and Summer is just around the corner.  That means that stuff needs to be cleaned and organized because once Summer rolls around, everyone is going to be looking for their Summer stuff.  Whether that be the slip and slide, summer toys, the cooler, or the beach chairs.  Our Summers in Southern California are usually spent at the beach and, though it's one great time for the family, getting all of our stuff ready for the trip never is.  "Mom, where is my football!"  "Dad, I can't find the cooler!"  "Mommy, where is my water gun?!"  If you're a parent, you know the drill.  Nobody can find anything when it's time to go.  But you know what?  That's not going to happen this year.  We're prepared.  Well... at least we're going to be.  Thanks to our good friends at Mom Central, we have obtained Brother P Touch Labeler!  I know it's not a miracle worker, but it's going to make our lives a lot easier!  Let me explain.

Zombie Response Authority Los Angeles Tank Top Winner

Hey there.  Check out this awesome pic of "Glow Bug", the winner of the Zombie Response Authority swag giveaway!  Looking pretty good, Glow Bug!  She opted for the women's tank top and I say that was a wise choice.

What I'm Playing... Magnetic by Nature

Hey there.  I know I haven't posted a What I'm Playing post in quite awhile.  To be quite honest, I've been stuck playing Bioshock Infinite (read my thoughts on the game here) for the past couple of weeks and I don't see myself stopping until I earn most of the achievements!  lol  I've gotten through the game, but I've spent quite a bit of time I'm battlimg my way through 1999 mode.  Anyways, in between my bouts with the HandyMan and Sirens, I'll jump on the Xbox Live Marketplace and play an indie game or two.  The most recent one I've gotten?  Magnetic by Nature.

Buying Metallman a Beer #1

Thank you, Christina Bandy, for buying Metallman a beer!  CHEERS!!!

Hey there! I've started a fundraiser!  When I first started the fundraiser, I figured that it would be a great way to ask friends and family to donate to the website.  The deal is that if you buy Metallman a beer, I would have a beer (or a cup of joe if you prefer) in your honor, post a picture, and give you a shout out as a way of saying thanks for supporting Metallman's Reverie, AND provide you with a link to your Twitter or FB Page if you wish.  I intended the beer thing to be only available for my birthday, but eh... I decided to keep it going number the posts to keep tabs on how many people have donated.  Hopefully, I'll have a good turnout and I'll have many people donating to the site.  And today, we honor the first contributor!  So here's to you, CHRISTINA BANDY, for being awesome enough to be the first to buy Metallman a beer!  Make sure you guys stop by her facebook and twitter feeds let her know how awesome she is for being a part of the "Buy a Beer" campaign!  Thanks!

Enter to Win The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia OR The Art of Bioshock Infinite

WIN THIS!!!

Hey there! It's time for another giveaway!  We had quite a bit of success of the "choosing of the prize" that I decided we're going to have another one in similar fashion.  The last giveaway allowed the winner to choose between 2 prizes, a game or a book, and ultimately, the winner chose the game.  But... there were many entries asking for the book so this time around, the winner WILL win a book.  Which book, you ask?  Well... How about The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia OR The Art of Bioshock Infinite!

The Appeal of a Classic Car and Retro Gaming

You can't beat an 8 bit classic!

Hey there. You know, I got to thinking today about what the appeal of a classic car is. Considering that today's technology has been implemented into most of today's modern cars, I don't understand why someone would want to own a car with no power steering or one that still has a cassette player.  I simply just did not understand that... that is, until today.  As I was browsing through Facebook and checking out some of the fan pages that I frequent, I noticed that I have a lot of retro gaming fan sites on my list.  Retro gaming... my passion of games from years past is huge.  I love the 8 bit classics from Nintendo.  I grew up with them.  They are embedded in my memory and those experiences have molded me into what I am today.  Is my love for retro gaming similar to that of a car enthusiast's love for classic cars?  I think it's a fair comparison.

Happy Birthday Metallman!

Hey there. Today is my birthday! After doing the math, I discovered that today I turn 31. lol Yeah, I don't really keep track of how old I am. I don't see a need for it. My wife is usually the one that tells me, and others, how old I am. Anyways, I've been away from the blogging scene for about 2 weeks now. I needed to clear my head for a bit. I have many thoughts and ideas that I want to implement in my life and career and need to sort that out before I can focus on my writing. I think I've gotten it straightend out now.