Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Esky Retractable Dog Leash



I received the Esky Retractable Dog Leash through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Extends up to 13ft 
  • Works for large dogs up to 45Ibs and smaller
  • Ergonomic Handle 
  • Braking and recoil system
  • Nylon tape 
The Esky Retractable Dog Leash is the first retractable dog leash I've used that is made with a nylon tape rather than a thinner cord. I had expected the dog leash to be heavier than the other ones I have at home due to the different style of rope. The dog leash is about the same weight, if not lighter, than my other retractable dog leashes. The smaller handled dog leashes weighed about the same as the Esky leash. The Esky leash happens to be lighter than my bigger handled dog leashes, even though the Esky leash is similar in size. 

The ergonomic handle on the Esky dog leash is wider and very comfortable to hold. It feels natural and almost weightless in my hands. It makes walking and controlling the dog easy. 

The braking and recoil system is easy to use. Pressing the button allows you to stop the dog. Pushing the lock in place while pressing the button locks the leash in place. Unlocking the leash doesn't allow the dogs to room free automatically. It holds the rope in the locked position until part of the rope feels slack or goes back into the leash, and then the rope will be unlocked and able to extend to it's full length again.

The length is about 13 ft long. It allows the pet to room free or stay close to you.

Beyond the ergonomic handle, my next favorite thing about this leash is the rope or nylon tape. My youngest dog has the habit of trying to bite the cords or ropes of her leashes or the other dog's leashes. I always worry that she might hurt her teeth or jaw by doing so with how hard and small that rope is. The nylon tape feels much softer and has more give if my dog tries to bite it and pull on the rope. 

The leash is durable and comfortable to use. The rope feels very smooth when going out of the leash.

Note: This leash was tested on two small/toy sized breeds (about 5-8 Ibs each). Larger pet owners may have a different experience with this leash. 

Pros:
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic handle
- Locking and braking system
- Smooth rope
- Durable 

Cons:
- When rope is rolling up, it doesn't always go all the way in the first try

Check out this leash on Amazon

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Wax Flameless CAndles


 

I received the Real Wax Battery-Powered Flameless Candles by Ohuhu through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Each candle takes 3 AAAs (not included)
  • Remote control works up to 20 ft (battery for remote included)
  • 2 Lighting modes
  • 12 Different colors 
  • Size of candles: 3", 4", and 5" 
The Ohuhu Wax Flameless Candles are very fun to use as decor pieces or to add a little light to a dark room or area. 

The candles feel like they're made out of wax, which they are. The feel of the candles is very slick and leaves a slight oily or wax type feeling on your hands when you touch them. The wax candles can get dirty easily. The sizes of the candle help give a variation in appearance and makes the candles look well if they are together or separated. 

The battery compartments are at the bottom of the candles. Each compartment was easy to open and close. The candles all took 3 AAA batteries each. That's a lot of batteries, which is probably my biggest issue or disappointment with the product. Most of the batteries go in fine. I had 2-3 of them that got stuck on the edge or spring that I had to push down more than the others. It made me slightly worried that I'd break the springs or battery compartment, but it held up well. Be careful when sitting down the candles. If they are knocked over or put down too heavily, the battery compartment does pop open. It's an easy fix. 

The on/off switch is also on the bottom of the candle. The switch is easy to turn on or off. If you switch on one candle, then hit the "multi-color" on the remote and wait a bit before turning on the next candle and hitting the same button, you're able to have each candle going at a separate color when it's changing. You can also make two the same and one different. It just depends on when you turn them on and hit the "multi color" button.

There's 12 different colors on the candles. These colors include red, green, navy blue, orange, lime, light blue, beige, sky blue, lilac, blue, light pink, and purple. The colors are fun and help create a mod or atmosphere. 

The remote includes 2 different color modes. Hitting the "mode" button allows you to switch between the modes. The modes include a solid color or a flashing candle. The flashing happens with a few quick flashes and then a slow one. It's not as quick as a strobe, so it's not as likely to give a headache if you watch the flashing candles too much. At times, one, two, or all three candles with be a flashing candle. To change it, just hit the "mode" button a few times. If you hit the "mode" button when the candle is on the dim side of the flashing candle, it will make the candle stay at that dim mode at a solid color, so you're able to change the brightness by clicking "mode" to turn the flashing candle on, and hit the "mode" button again to stop the candle on the desired brightness level. (Once you click multi-color, the brightness will go back to the default setting.

The candles also include a timer. There's a 4 and a 8 hour timers. It's great for nightlight for kids. The longer you have the candles on, the more energy it'll take to use them. 

The light in the candle is small. It doesn't really give off heat or get hot while it's on, even if the candle has been on for hours. 

Pros:
- Colorful
- Works with many decors
- Nightlight for children
- Light doesn't get warm
- Several modes and colors

Cons:
- Takes 9 batteries total
- Wax gets dirty easily

Check out these candle on Amazon.

Monday, September 28, 2015

A Pet for Christmas Review & Giveaway


NEW RELEASE...

Dedication 
To those who still suffer the wounds of war. 

 >>><<< 

Kelly Kennedy thought her life was finally on track. Engaged to the man of her dreams and with a baby on the way, she reassures her five-year-old daughter, Bree, that the father she picked for Christmas still loves her.

Unfortunately, war veteran Tyler Manning has been away most of the year. Recovering from PTSD isn’t easy. Rather than worry Kelly, Tyler spends his time traveling to Afghanistan to work at a children's charity he founded.

Kelly decides to distract Bree with promises of a pet for Christmas. When Tyler is taken hostage by terrorists, she finds it hard to convince Bree that they will truly be a family in time for Christmas.

A Pet for Christmas is a sequel A Father for Christmas. While it can be read as a standalone, you'll get more of the relationship aspect between Kelly, Tyler, and Bree by reading A Father for Christmas first.
Available to buy from...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo    iBooks   GPlay

***REVIEW***
A Pet for Christmas by Rachelle Ayala is an emotional ride. There are moments it made me tear up or fear for the main characters. It's a sequel to A Father for Christmas, which is where one meets Kelly, Tyler, and Bree.  
Kelly has been a single mother of Bree for many years. She's not one who willing and quickly admits when she needs help. She's too independent for her own good. Getting used to depending on someone else is hard for her. She's not the greatest at vocalizing her needs to Tyler, who she claims to be her fiance to her family, when her pregnancy starts to get rocky. 
Tyler had once been a homeless veteran. With his new career, Tyler's focus is getting spread out far and thin. His traveling and PTSD from the war is causing insecurities for Kelly and Tyler in their relationship.  
Bree is one an absolute adorable little girl. Her honesty and innocent questions kept making me laugh. She's a very determined and persistent child. With a little brother on the way, Bree is starting to feel left out. She wants her real father around, not just Tyler. If she can't get her real father, she's willing to settle for a pet of her choice. As time goes on, Bree grows to find what's more important to her, a puppy, her real father, or Tyler.
When Tyler's work get attacked in Afghanistan, I feared for him. I couldn't imagine what Kelly and Bree was going through with not hearing news about his whereabouts for the longest time.  
The story kept my interest the entire time. The whole time I wanted to know how Tyler handles becoming a hostage and how Kelly handles not having him near. I kept wanting the best for them and for them to get past their insecurities with their relationship if they were to be reunited. 

"Heartwarming story of hope and second chances.” - Ruth Davis on Book 1, A Father for Christmas

"Absolutely breathtaking love story." - Amber McCallister on Book 1, A Father for Christmas

Also Available
A Father for Christmas (A Veteran’s Christmas Book 1)

Dedication

To all the veterans who gave so much.

 >>><<<

Single mother Kelly Kennedy can't afford lavish gifts for her four-year-old daughter, Bree. Homeless veteran Tyler Manning doesn't believe he deserves a Merry Christmas.

When Bree asks Santa for a father and picks Tyler, both Tyler and Kelly vow to keep Bree from being hurt while fighting their feelings for each other.

Tyler struggles with frightening flashbacks that scare Kelly. Meanwhile, Kelly's criminal past threatens her chance for happiness. Tyler and Kelly must believe in the power of love to give Bree her best Christmas ever.

Available to buy from...

***REVIEW***
The characters in this story had very interesting pasts. 
Kelly Kennedy is a single mother who used to work on Wall Street. A bad trade made her lose everything but her family. She had to spend time in jail, which has changed part of her outlook on life. Once out, she did her best to make ends meet and raise her daughter, Bree, well with the help of her mother and sister. 
Bree happens to be Kelly's daughter. Conceived by artificial insemination. Bree didn't know her family was missing anything until she went to school. She started to notice she didn't have a father like everyone else. She asked Santa for a father for Christmas. That same day, Bree got lost and ran into Tyler Manning. 
Tyler Manning was to be a football star, but he gave all that up to serve his country like his father had. He seen terrible things that happened during the war. He suffers lucid flashbacks of those times. He's a hero in the eyes of the public, but a killer in his own eyes. He gives what ever money he makes to the orphaned children of the war, trying to make amends for what happened over there. 
Tyler overhears Bree telling Santa that she wants a father for Christmas. He finds it amusing that Bree and secretly, Kelly, want a father for Christmas. Bree got separated from her mother at the mall, and Bree finds Tyler underneath the big Christmas tree like Santa said her father would be. Kelly finds Tyler with Bree, and she thinks he's trying to kidnap her daughter. 
They got off on a rough start, but they keep running into each other after the incident at the mall. With the help of Kelly's mother and Bree, Tyler and Kelly get to know each other. Their relationship begins to grow, yet both of them keep pushing the other away for different reasons. 
The characters were well done, but the story line had parts missing towards the end. When Tyler runs, Kelly goes to find him, but parts of the journey for them both are left out. It made the story a bit choppy and didn't flow as well as the rest of the story did.

About the author
Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling Asian American author of dramatic romantic suspense and humorous, sexy contemporary romances. Her heroines are feisty and her heroes hot. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope. 

Rachelle is the founder of an online writing group, Romance in a Month, an active member of the California Writer’s Club, Fremont Chapter, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe. She is a very happy woman and lives in California with her husband. She has won awards in multicultural and historical romance.

Find the author on the following pages....
Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads  Amazon Author Page

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Quicklids Silicone Tongs



I received the Quicklids Silicone Stainless Steel Salad Tongs through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Heat resistant 
  • Non-stick
  • Ergonomic handle
The Quicklids Silicone Salad Tongs is made with a nice quality stainless steel that won't bend or break during use. The silicone helps keep germs and bacteria from harboring as much as normal plastic tongs. 

The silicone ends or tips of the tongs do not bend. They also do not come off. I tried pulling on them to pull them apart, but they hold up very well. The silicone ends are designed to help serve up salad easily with it's fork and spoon shape. It works well to grab a scoop of salad. Works better than normal tongs. 

The tongs have a pull ring lock that helps lock the tongs in the closed position for easier storing. It takes up less room this way. Pushing the ring lock in opens up the tongs. The tongs opens up in less than a 45 degree angle. It's wide enough to help stir and grab a serving of salad. 


The silicone pieces on the handle has an indent for the thumb and index finger, which makes for an ergonomic hold. The handle is comfortable to hold and provides a good level of control of the tongs. 

The silicone piece on the handles can be taken off for cleaning if any dressing or food gets beneath the silicone. 

Cleaning the tongs is simple and easy. Using soap and water works. The tongs is also dishwasher safe. 

Check out these salad tongs on Amazon


 __________


I received the Quicklids Silicone and Stainless Steel Flipper Tongs through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Heat resistant
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Non-stick
The Quicklids Silicone Flipper Tongs is made with a nice quality stainless steel that doesn't bend near the handles. The silicone helps keep germs and bacteria from growing or harboring compared to normal plastic tongs. 

The silicone ends or tips of the flipper tongs works similar to a flipper on one side and a tong on the other side. It allows you to grab a hold of food items, such as meat, and use it to either flip or move the item around. The flipper end is able to bend and be flexible. Both silicone ends do not come out of the tongs. I tried pulling on them, and they hold up very well. 

The tongs have a pull ring lock that helps lock the tongs in the closed position for easier storing. It takes up less room this way. Pushing the ring lock in opens up the tongs. The tongs opens up in less than a 45 degree angle. It's wide enough to get underneath any meat or food items.
The silicone pieces on the handle has an indent for the thumb and index finger, which makes for an ergonomic hold. The handle is comfortable to hold and provides a good level of control of the tongs. 

The silicone piece on the handles can be taken off for cleaning if any BBQ, grease, or food gets beneath the silicone. 

Cleaning the tongs is simple and easy. Using soap and water works. The tongs is also dishwasher safe. 
Check out these flipper tongs on Amazon.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Heavy Duty Silicone Tongs



I received the Ultimate Premium Heavy Duty Silicone Tongs through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • 2 Pack (One 12", one 9")
  • Works to hang and dry towels 
  • Silicone tongs has a non-slip design
  • Temperature resistant from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 480 degrees Fahrenheit 
  • Made with extra thick 1.00 mm stainless steel
  • Ergonomic grip
  • Ring pull lock
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Flexible tips
The BoomerzBest Heavy Duty Silicone Tongs are a very nice two pack set of tongs. The tong set comes with a 12" and a 9" pair of tongs. Both are made with a great quality stainless steel that won't bend on the handle. The stainless steel under the silicone covering the tips of the tongs does bend and is flexible. It's thick enough that it doesn't break with bending.

The tongs are easy to store with the pull ring lock. Pushing the lock in allows the tongs to open and be used. The tongs open less than a 45 degree angle. It's enough space to pick up large items, yet keep excellent control and grip on the tongs. To lock the tongs closed, simply pull out the ring lock. Having the tongs locked closed can also be used to hang up and dry towels or washcloths if needed. 

The handles have a silicone piece on both sides. There's a slight indent for one's thumb and index finger. It makes for a ergonomic grip that's comfortable to hold and use. 

The product description states that there are no removable parts where bacteria can grow. That part of the description is not true because the silicone tips can be removed. If the silicone tips are pressed down all the way, there shouldn't be enough room for bacteria to get in between and grow. If the silicone tips are pulled off slightly and then slid back on with food getting stuck to the stainless steel underneath the silicone during the cooking process, bacteria could grow. There's not a lot of room between the stainless steel and the silicone, so bacteria shouldn't get in between with normal or basic usage. If there is ever a concern or if you're dealing with really messy food, you can slide the silicone cover off the tips to clean the tongs in all areas. 
The silicone on the handles can also come off. There's little tabs that the silicone goes into to connect the stainless steel handle and the silicone pieces. If the tongs get dropped into really messy food, such as BBQ, where sauce or food gets onto the handle, the silicone can be removed to ensure that all parts of the tongs are clean and no food got underneath. 

These tongs are easy to wash by using soap and water or by placing them into the dishwasher. They are dishwasher safe. 

Pros:
- Ergonomic grip
- Flexible tips
- Ring pull lock
- Dishwasher safe

Cons:
- Description is off about "no removable parts" 

Check out these tongs on Amazon

Friday, September 25, 2015

Rechargeable LED Desk Lamp



I received the OxyLED T22 USB Rechargeable LED Desk Lamp with Clamp through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Non-flickering
  • Anti-glare
  • Single touch sensor
  • Flexible rubberized gooseneck 
  • 3 brightness levels
  • Built-in battery charges with USB port 
  • Power consumption: 3W
  • Color temperature: 5500K
  • Charging time: 2 hours
  • Battery capacity: 650 mAh
  • Runtime: 1.5 hours (high), 3 hours (mid), 6 hours (low)
The first thing I noticed when taking the light out of the box was how fragile the plastic part of the lamp, near the light, is. There's a piece is extremely thin and can be wiggled. If someone adjust the lamp or picks up the lamp near this area, it's likely to snap.

The rubberized gooseneck is very flexible. The neck of the lamp can be bent into all sorts of angles. The rubberized neck doesn't feel like it'd break as easily as the light portion. It feels more durable.

The clamp doesn't open very wide. It opens about an inch. It holds tightly the surface it gets clamped to. There's little pads to help make the grip non-slip and to keep the clamp from scratching the surface it's clamped to.

The charging port is on one of the sides of the clamp. The charging USB cord does come with the product. The cord wiggles a bit in the charging port on the lamp, but it does stay together. The lamp takes about two hours to charge. There's a red light near the charging port that indicates that it's charging. The lamp can be on while it's charging.

The single-touch sensor is also on the clamp. The main area to touch is a small box. That area allows you to turn on the light and change the brightness levels. There are three levels: high, med, and low. Each level will take a different amount of energy and affect the length of how long the lamp can stay on without being recharged.

If this lamp wasn't so fragile near the light, it'd be a very nice desk lamp.

Pros:
- Bright
- Can change brightness level 
- Rechargeable 
- Can stand or clamped on a surface 
- 1 year replacement warranty 

Cons:
- Easily breakable (Plastic near the light is very fragile) 

Check out more about this product on Amazon

Bright Dimmable Tap Night Light



I received the Bright Dimmable LED Tap Night Light through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Dimmable
  • Tap light
  • Bright
  • Powered by 3 AAAs batteries (not included)
  • LED light 
  • Runtime can be between 60 hrs to 1000 hrs depending on battery life. 
  • Size: 3.5" x 1.2"
  • 3M tape on back
My niece and nephew are major chickens when it comes to the dark. When ever they stay the night, someone in the house always has to leave a night light on for them. I figured this bright tap night light might help.

When I put batteries into the tap light, I was blinded. Holy brightness. I didn't expect it to turn on so quickly just from being having put the batteries in, but I must have been touching the light just right that it made it turn on. 

The directions that came with the light was on a sticker attached to the light. They seemed simple enough until I tried to follow them. Turning on the light was easy. It took me several days to figure out how the light could be dimmable. 

To turn on the light, the directions recommend to touch the light on front (the side with the "OxyLED" logo) with two fingers. That works, but using one finger will also turn it on. 

To dim the light, hold a finger on that front part of the light. You can use one finger or two. The light should begin to dim or brighten depending on the level it's set at. The light will remember the last brightness level it was set to before it was turned off. 

To turn off the light is more tricky. The light seems to get stuck between wanting to dim the light or turn off. At times, using two fingers work to turn off the light by tapping it. Sometimes I have to double tap the light with either one or two fingers. Other times, I have to press and hold my fingers to it for a short time and then tap the light. 

The light does work well to brighten up a room. Medium to small sized rooms work best with this night light if you want it to brighten up a large portion of the room. The light works well in bigger rooms if you want to light up a certain section. 


Pros:
- Bright
- Long lasting
- Dimmable
- Lightweight

Cons:
- Poor instructions
- Can be difficult to turn off 

Check out this light on Amazon.