Thursday, October 29, 2015

Self Inflating Air Pillow



I received the Self Inflating Air Pillow by Free Rein Outdoor Products through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Easy to use
  • Durable
  • Easy storage 
  • Air amount is adjustable 
Free Rein Outdoor Product's Self Inflating Air Pillow is great for the outdoors, camping, hiking, or for traveling. The pillow is easy to use and is quite durable.

The pillow comes in a nice storage bag that keeps the pillow rolled up when it's deflated. It doesn't take up a lot of room. The bag could fit into a backpack with plenty of room to spare. This makes taking the inflating pillow with you a breeze.

The pillow is made out of nice durable material. The green color is bright, but it makes it easy to spot if the pillow is laying in the grass. The material isn't rough. It's soft and comfortable to touch. My dogs were able to walk on the pillow with their claws and not pop a hole into the pillow. This makes it great for the outdoors because sticks, stones, or other sharp or rough objects won't damage the pillow. The material also feels like it'd be easy to wash using soap and water and wiping off the pillow. 

The pillow is very easy to use. The twist nozzel is in one of the upper corners of the pillow. It's easy to turn and has the pillow inflating in seconds. To put more air into the pillow, simply blow into the nozzle to fill up the pillow to your desired amount. I usually like my pillow to be more filled with air and it only takes a few breaths to get it to where I like it. 

Deflating the pillow or adjusting the amount when it's in use is very similar. Just unscrew the nozzle and let some air out. If you're going to store the pillow, roll up the pillow from the opposite end of the nozzle when it's open to deflate the pillow completely. Otherwise air will still be in the pillow and not fully get out. The more deflated you make the pillow when storing it, the less room it takes up. 

Pros:
- Easy to use
- Easy to store
- Adjustable air amount
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable 
- Doesn't take up much room

Cons:
- On smooth surfaces, it does move around if you wiggle too much

Check out this pillow on Amazon

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Touched to the Soul eBook


I received the Touch to the Soul ebook by Elsa Winckler through a promotion.

Book Description:
Zoe Sutherland can't stand the pushy, arrogant architect Dale Cavallo. He was just too damn sure of himself, too handsome, too…everything. Maneuvered into working as the interior decorator on his latest project, a glamorous new hotel, Zoe can't keep her mind on the job. And worse, the strange man won't give her access to the hotel's floor plans. How is she supposed to finish the design when she doesn't have the plans? And when the obnoxious man distracts her with every smoldering look, every touch...

Dale has one goal: get rid of the pesky interior designer. Since he's been forced into close proximity with the beautiful Zoe, everything's gone downhill. And to make matters worse, she's only out to further her own career—and he's not about to give her the hotel's plans so she can steal his ideas. He needs to get her out of his system, and sleeping with her seems like the best way to do that. When it comes to women, he's found the best way to handle them is to love 'em and leave 'em. But something strange is happening...because after a night of loving Zoe, he's finding it harder than ever to leave…

Book Review:
The Touch to the Soul book was a cute romance fiction story. There were moments that the story was predictable and other times I wanted to know more and see how the characters would behave.

I love that the character Zoe would stand up for herself. She's a spitfire and passionate. I could tell she was dedicated and proud of her company and the work that she does. At times though, Zoe's insecurities would get in the way. When her father left the family when she was a child, she internalized the issue. She felt that it was her fault he left. If only she was better... If her father couldn't love and stay with her, no one would. Those thoughts were only confirmed when her boyfriend from college had cheated on her. Now she'd rather leave men before they left her.

Dale is very serious about his work. He has trust issues due to a past romance using him and his talent for their own gain. Dale and his brothers work together with their hotels. The brothers banter all the time, which is quite amusing. Due to one brother marrying Zoe's sister, the brother suggested to use Zoe's company to help do the interior decor of the hotel. Dale doesn't like the idea because he's usually done the interior designs. Now forced to work together, could they put their past insecurities and trust issues to deal with the heat between them, stay focused on work, or will it all be too much?

Other than the main characters, this book left me wondering one thing... what kind of trouble has Heather, Zoe's sister, gotten herself into that caused someone to attack Zoe while they were visiting one of the hotels on the island?

Check out this ebook on Amazon.

Ohuhu Christmas Stocking



I received the 18-inch Christmas Stocking Felt Applique Kit by Ohuhu through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • 3-D design
  • Plaid border with fabric hanging hoop
Ohuhu's Christmas Stocking has a cute 3D design that show two snowmen playing in the snow. It's a fun festive decoration.

The fabric of the stocking isn't the softest. Parts of the stocking is softer than others. The stocking doesn't have the nicest feel when you touch it. The fabric on the inside of the stocking feels cheap. The fabric on the backside of the stocking tends to gather fuzz, dust, hair, and threads.

The snowmen are the cutest part of this stocking. The nose is the only non-fabric part of the stocking. They're made of plastic. The glue holding the snowmen on and together isn't the greatest. The glue won't hold if it's pulled and yanked on hard. 

If one would get this stocking, I'd recommend using it as only part of the decor or decorations and keep it up and away from pets or kids. 

Pros:
- Cute design
- Fabric hanging hoop

Cons:
- Fabric isn't nice to touch
- 3D design isn't durable (glue doesn't hold the greatest)
- Backside of stocking gathers dust, hair, fuzz, etc. 

Check out what others have said on Amazon

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Oliver & Kline Boxed Grater



 I received the Oliver & Kline Boxed Grater through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • 4 in 1 Food shredder, grater, & zester
  • Comes with plastic storage bowl and lid
  • Ergonomically designed
  • Stainless steel
  • Works for garlic, potatoes, parmesan, cheeses, butter, breads, bananas, carrots, and many more
The Boxed Grater is a very nice, durable and handy grater, shredder, and zester mixed into one. It works great for garlic, potatoes, breads, frozen bananas, onions, ginger, lemons, and more. I mainly used it for cheeses, frozen butter, and carrots. 

The handle at the top of the grater makes holding onto this kitchen gadget easy. The handle is comfortable to hold and has a large enough space for your hand. 

The grater has four different types of blades to do the shredding, zesting, and grating. Each of the different sides are sharp, so I would recommend not allowing children to use this product without supervision. With proper use, the sides shouldn't do any harm. The sharpness allows you to shred or grate different types of foods easily. 

Each side is a different shape. This could change the texture, shape, and amount of food you shred or grate. 


There is a plastic bowl and lid that comes hiding in the boxed grater. The bowl and lid fit perfectly. It allows you to take up less room by storing the two items together.

The bowl allows you to store any excess shredded, zested, or grated food. The boxed grater can sit on top of the bowl and have the bowl catch the shreds or grated food. Just be careful when holding the boxed grater onto the bowl because the bowl can make the grater a bit unsteady when it's in use.

Cleaning the grater can be easy using soap and water. It only gets tough if you have food stuck towards the top of the boxed grater. If you can't fit your hand up there, just try grating/shredding food lower on the grater.

Pros:
- Sharp blades/edges to grate
- Nice handle
- 4 different blade/sides
- Comes with bowl and lid

Cons:
- Boxed grater can be unsteady when it's on the bowl

Check out this grater on Amazon

Monday, October 26, 2015

Flexible Polar Blue LED Rope



I received the 5 Foot Flexible Polar Blue LED Rope through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • 5 feet long 
  • Includes 3 mounting rails & 6 screws 
  • Voltage: 120V
The Flexible Polar Blue LED Rope light is a nice ambient background light. 

The light is heavier than I had expected it to be. I expected something of lesser quality. I'm very pleased to see how heavy duty and well made the LED rope light is. The pvc material the rope light is made out of is thick and sturdy. The cord of the light is also thick and durable. It's not something that will easily break. The cords are well protected.

The entire light lite up. There was no spot with any issues. The light is a sky blue that's very bright. It's not a light that I'd have sitting out in sight because of how bright it is. It made my eyes hurt, even with the other lights in the room on. 

It is a great light to have under or behind furniture, such as a bed, bar, desk, etc. Some place where it can be hidden, yet still be bright enough to help light up an area of the room, to create a mood or setting, or just for decor. 

The only thing I wish that was different with this light is that there'd be an on/off switch. Unplugging the light and plugging it back in can be a pain if the light is plugged into a difficult to reach location. 

Pros:
- Bright 
- Durable
- Long cord

Cons:
- No on/off switch

Check out this light on Amazon


Sunday, October 25, 2015

Stainless Steel Tumbler Cup



I received the 16 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler Cup through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Thick walled 
  • Durable walls for hot or cold drinks
  • Safely rounded end on straw
  • Screw on lid seals tight
The 16 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler Cup works well for either hot or cold drinks. The tumbler cup will keep hot drinks, such as hot chocolate, at hot or warm temperature depending on how long it's been in the cup and what temp you had it at. 

It keeps cold drinks cold. It won't keep cold drinks cold all day, but it will for at least an hour or two. Condensation does get on the outside of the cup, but it isn't too much where it makes it difficult to the hold the cup.

The stainless steel cup is easy to wash using soap and water. 


 The lid seals on very tight. There is a clear, rubber seal on the outer ring of the lid that helps keep the cup from spilling or leaking. It's made to keep from spilling. Although, if the cup is tipped upside down, with or without the straw in it, liquid can get out of that hole for the straw or out of the straw itself.

If the cup is knocked over onto it's side, usually, liquid does not come out of the tumbler cup. The seal on the lid protects it from leaking.

The lid does take effort to try to get it off with how tight it seals.

If you're putting on the lid, make sure you hear it do a "pop" type sound when you press it down. The sound is made with the lid is completed sealed onto the cup.

The straw has a little notice on the that's on one of the sides of the straw. This notice is there to be on the inside of the cup. It keeps the straw from getting pulled out of the cup or falling out.

The steel straw is rounded for safety reasons. It helps keep anyone from getting cut by the straw. The straw could still harm someone if they accidentally knock it on their tooth very hard, like while driving or walking.

Other than that, the only issue I have with this tumbler cup is that the straw makes an awful sound when it touches the bottom of the tumbler cup. I don't like the scratching sound.

Pros:
- Keeps hot drinks hot
- Keeps cold drinks cold
- Durable
- Lid seals on tight

Cons:
- Scratching noise when the straw rubs or touches the tumbler cup
- Steel straw could damage a tooth (if one is not careful) 

Check out this product on Amazon

Miss Landson Makeup Remover



I received the Miss Landson(tm) Makeup Remover through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Made with microfiber
  • Removes makeup with water
  • Machine washable
  • Chemical free
  • Soft
  • High water absorption 
I wasn't sure how well the Makeup Remover from Miss Landson would work. I've tried using washcloths, which is what this reminded me of before I started using it. The washcloths didn't work to get all my makeup off, so I was questionable of how well the Miss Landson cloth would work.

When the cloth came, I could tell right away that it was made of different material. It was so soft! It reminded me of my fuzzy blankets on my bed. I love how soft it is. 

The material of the cloth is made with microfiber. It's very absorbent when it comes to water. 

With this cloth, I was able to get off my foundation quickly without using any other type of soap, face wash, or makeup remover. The eye makeup was the more difficult part, which I don't wear a lot of or wear often. I usually just wear mascara or eye shadow on a rare occasion. It took longer and more effort to get this makeup off using just this cloth and water. 

For me, since I normally only wear foundation, this cloth works great. For those who wear eye makeup on a regular basis, this makeup cloth might not be the only makeup removing solution you'd want. 

The cloth is machine washable, so it's very easy to clean. 

Pros:
- Easy to clean (machine washable)
- Just uses water
- Gets foundation off quickly
- Very soft

Cons:
- Difficult to get eye makeup off with just water and the cloth

Check out this cloth on Amazon

In-Ear Headphones



I received the Fast Jewelry In-Ear Headphones through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Double damping system for a more pure balanced sound
  • Kevlar fiber cable
  • Volume controls compatible with most android phones (Not iOS devices)
The In-Ear Headphones came in a great container that helps protect the headphones when stored or during shipping. Several different sized earbuds came with the headphones at the bottom of the container. The earbuds do help isolate and cancel out any outside sounds. 

The headphones have a thin, fiber like cord. The cord does table easily. It tangles and warps around where the ear pieces separate. It's annoying to deal with, but the cord is flexible and helps protect the wires inside. 

The ear pieces do not list which one is for the right or left ear. They are made to go in separate ears with the way the sound or music is balanced. I could tell the difference right away when I first put them in because I had the earbuds in the wrong ears. I had to switch them quickly before it gave me a headache. 

The sounds fairly balanced when they're in the right ear. The sounds is mostly clear, depending on the songs. I listen to a variety of genres and tried these headphones. Each sounds a bit different. The sound sounds further away or distanced compared to some other headphones I've tried or use. The bass is odd. For some songs, the bass is good if you have the volume up around the medium range. When the volume is down, the bass sounds distorted, quiet, or just really far away. If the volume is up high, sound is distorted and crackles at times. It's not studio quality sound for the headphones. 

For an avid music listen, I wouldn't recommend these headphones. For someone who listens to music occasionally, then these headphones may be okay. 

The speak controls work for both Android and iOS devices. The volume controls only worked on my Android phone. They did not work on any of my iOS devices. 

Pros:
- Packaging 
- Various sized earbuds
- Volume control (for Android) 

Cons:
- Not deep range sound
- Music sounds far away (distant)
- If volume is loud, sound crackles and gets distorted. 
- If volume is quiet, sound is distant and hard to hear, even in a quiet room. 
- Earpieces not marked for which ear (Balance between earbuds are not equal)
- Cord tangles 

Check out what others have to say on Amazon

Saturday, October 24, 2015

OxyLED Bottle Light



I received the OxyLED Bottle Light through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Shaped like a cork
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
  • Twist on/off light 
  • 20 minute charge time
  • Works for 3 hours
The OxyLED Bottle Light is a bright and cute cork shaped LED light. It works great to use empty wine or liquor bottles to help illuminate a small room or area of a room. 

The set comes with two bottle lights. The lights are easy to turn on and off. Twisting the clear plastic tip of the cork shaped light allows you to turn the light on and off. The white piece of the light does not move. The LED light is very bright. Used with an empty bottle, it can light up a small room, such as a bedroom or bathroom. It can be used as a nightlight, part of decor, or just for fun. 

On the cork like portion of the light, the cork lid can come off. Inside is the USB port to charge the light. The light only takes about 20 minutes to full charge. It last for 3 hours or less depending on the charge amount. The cork part is covering the plastic piece of the lid. The cork covering can pick or fall off if one is not careful with it. 

The cork light fits in many of the wine bottle and liquor bottle openings. The cork piece usually catches it to keep the light from falling in. If that piece is pressed down too far, it could cause the light to get stuck and make it difficult to get it back out in one piece. 

Pros:
- Bright
- Rechargeable battery

Cons:
- Cork covering can fall off
- USB port lid comes off easily (can get lost)

Check out this bottle light on Amazon

Awakenings Ebook Review



I received the Awakenings E-Book by J.E. Shannon through a promotion. 

Book Description:
Evie Shepard’s nightmare begins when she finds herself buried alive, with no idea how she got that way. As she struggles to remember what happened to her, she begins to notice changes about herself. Her senses are heightened, her movements are quicker, she is incredibly strong….her heartbeat has stopped. It’s then she makes a disturbing discovery. She wasn’t buried alive. She was murdered. Somehow she has come back… And she wants revenge
Review:
I've read a lot of different paranormal books before, but this creature, this thing that Evie had come back from the dead as is something I haven't read about before. This paranormal creature that I was unfamiliar with fascinated me.

The way the book started out with Evie being buried alive drew me in right away and freaked me out a bit. The way it was written made me feel like it was happening to me. I'm not one who likes small spaces, so the thought of buried underground with little room to move and trying to dig a way out creeped me out. I wanted to know more right away about what was going on with Evie and why she was in the ground.

Evie didn't remember a lot of what happened to her or her family, but she did remember her name. That's probably what saved her when Patty saw her on the side of the road. Instead of going to the authorities, Patty took Evie to her son, Ethan. Ethan's a private investigator working on the case that overlaps with what happened to Evie. Evie may have the answers that Ethan needs to find what he's looking for. Lots of obstacles came in the way for Evie and Ethan to get the answers they're looking for. Ethan needed to crack down on the human trafficking. Evie needed to find her sister. Some of these obstacles were predictable, others were not.

The characters in this story is what made me like it so much. Evie is a strong willed teenager who is determined to protect and find the ones' she loves, such as her sister. Ethan has been trained in his youth that helps him with his private investigator work. Bo is Ethan's partner. Bo's fun loving and very humorous. I loved reading Bo's and Evie's banter. Other characters along the way are quite quirky.

I truly enjoyed reading this novel. I really hope this is a beginning of a series because I want more. I really want to know what happens between Evie and Ethan in the future.

Check out this ebook on J.E. Shannon's website on Amazon

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Stickerless Rubiks Cube



I received the Ohuhu 3 x 3 x 3 Stickerless Speed/Rubiks Cube through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Solid color
  • Fluent rotation 
  • Easy to grip 
The Ohuhu Stickerless Rubiks Cube is smaller than I had expected it to be. It's a nice sized rubiks cube. It's big enough that it's easy to grip, yet small enough that it'd be a great travel size. For those who like puzzles, this can be a challenging way to spend downtime. Whether it's for waiting on someone or something or those long car rides, the rubiks cube can help pass the time.

This rubiks cube is very easy to move and rotatoe. It moves fairly smoothly, unless you start pulling the sides out away from the rest of the rubiks cube. 

I really like that this cube is stickerless. I remember growing up getting frustrated with rubiks cubes and peeling off the stickers and putting them back on when I couldn't get the rubiks cube to move the way I want it to. 

Apparently, not much has changed. I'm still not a person good at trying to do the rubiks cube normally. I did learn that I have more fun taking it apart and putting it back together, so the colors all match. This rubiks cube is easy to take apart and rebuild. The material of the rubiks cube is abrasion resistant. When I was putting it back together, the pieces rubbing together didn't scratch each other or leave any marks on one another. The color stays on well.

The colors are bring and vibrant. The orange and red look similar when in bad lighting. 

Pros:
- Stickerless
- Size
- Easy to break down and rebuild 

Cons: 
- Orange and red look similar in bad lighting 

Check out this cube on Amazon

Baby Nook Tent





I received the Baby Nook Pop Up Shade Tent by ModFamily through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Great for outdoor use
  • Easy to pop up
  • Bag includes shoulder strap for easy carry
  • Self inflatable and removable mat
  • Lightweight 
  • Fiberglass poles
  • Flexible
  • Durable
  • 4 mesh openings for ventilation
The Baby Nook Pop Up Shade Tent is great for outdoor use or providing a play area indoors. It helps protect a child from the sun and keeps them from being on the ground or in the dirt. 

The Baby Nook works for babies, toddlers, and young children. Even small pets, such as dogs or cats, may end up liking the Baby Nook. My one dog refuses to get out of it when it's popped up. She thinks it's her new bed.

The Baby Nook comes in a storage bag that makes it easy to carry around with the shoulder strap or have the nook take up very little room. It's a good size to have stored in a vehicle or camper for when traveling.

The instructions are clear and easy to read. There's pictures to help indicate how to pop it up or close the nook. Although the nook claims it's hassle free, getting the nook down in size to fit into the storage back is a struggle. It takes me several tries to break down the nook when I have it popped up.

The Baby Nook has a dual sided zipper for the openings. If a young child gets closed up into the nook, they can get opened again if they know how to work a zipper. There's a mesh/screen layer and a solid fabric layer to the door. Either one can be opened or closed at a given time. The mesh helps provide air ventilation, but if it's too sunny, the outer layer can be closed to provide more shading.

There are windows on the two sides next to the door to help provide ventiliation in the baby nook if it's closed up. It allows fresh air to circulate and get through the tent like nook. The flaps do have ties to keep them rolled up and out of the way. There was a few less threads in the window areas with their covers.
The mat for the nook can be removed, deflated, and folded up to be stored. The mat is easy to get into the baby nook. Twisting the nozzle open allows the mat to self-inflate. It's not as cushiony as a blow up mattress or other self-inflating mattresses, but this mat still provides cushion and keeps a child off the hard ground. It makes them playing, laying, or rolling around in the baby nook safer.

The mat is durable, just like the tent part of the nook is. My dog was able to go into the nook with her sharp puppy claws and do no damage, even when she tried scratching at the nook's sides.

The only problem I noticed with the mat is that it came dirty. It looked like someone had stepped on it. It didn't take much to clean the mat off. Washing it down with soap and water did the trick. It was quick and easy to dry as well.

Pros:
- Helps provide shading
- Good ventilation 
- Dual-sided zipper 
- Lightweight
- Self-inflating mat
- Pops up easily 
- Easy to clean
- Durable

Cons:
- Loose threads around windows with the covers/screens
- Pain to get broke down or closed back into storage back
- Mat arrived dirty (but it was easy to clean)

 Check out this Baby Nook on Amazon or on ModFamily's website