Future Sound Lab Heavy Bass Earphones

This is a nice pair of earphones for the price point.

The sound quality is decent to good (depending on your preferences.. sound clarity is a very subjective issue), sound isolating, with decent bass.

I especially love the flat, tangle-free cord.

With the 3 different sized silicon tips they will fit any sized ear.

Another bonus is the right-angled jack ... which makes it lie more flush to the device ... a big plus when you want to put your device in a smallish bag or whatever and you don't have room for another 3/4 of an inch of "headroom" where the jack goes into the device.

All in all I really like these as a straight-forward pair of headphones for listening to my music.

I received these at a discounted price in exchange for a fair and honest review ... all opinions and experiences are my own.

Snug Plug n Play Kids Headphones for Children

Nice pair of headphones for the price .... Currently at $11.45, these are a great starter pair of headphones for your kids. Yes, the sound isn't brilliant (especially if you are an audiophile) . Yes,

You can purchase these here"
http://bit.ly/SnugKidsHeadphones

they are not built to be super sturdy.... they are made of plastic, not metal. What do you expect for the price?

Yet, for trips, school work, or when your kids have different games/entertainment on their devices, these headphones will do the job just fine. They are adjustable for growing heads, have nice soft earpieces, and come in 4 fun colors. I know my granddaughter is going to LOVE these for her trips with her mommy and her grandparents!

Compatible with iPod, iPhone, iPad, PSP, LeapPad, Nintendo DS and all other electronic devices with a standard headphone jack. The thick cable keeps it from tangling easily and has a 3.5mm jack. 

I received theses in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Alpha Griller Cooking Thermometer

You can purchase this item here:
http://bit.ly/AlphaGrillersTherm

My last cooking thermometer was one of the old, dial types, and I certainly wasn't unhappy with it but it finally died recently and I needed a replacement for it. So when I got a chance to review this more modern version, I was delighted.

I have to say I'm really impressed. For one thing, it has a battery protection feature that keeps it from turning on if the probe isn't unlocked from the folded position... which means that it won't be dead when I go to use it because some other utensil managed to press on the "on" button and run it down. I've had other digital devices that have had this happen so I'm glad that this one has this feature.

This thermometer is simple and intuitive to use. There are 3 buttons - C/F Temp, on/off, and a "Hold" button that holds the temp reading on the display so you can remove it to read it ... which is very useful when grilling or in darker situations as well as for those of us who, er, need readers in bad light, LOL. The display is large enough to read easily without my glasses in normal light. 

There's a basic chart of temps for cooking right on the device as well as a more extensive chart that you can keep on your wall for all your cooking needs, which is awesome to me because I'm always having to refer to my cookbooks for the right temps when I cook various types of meat.

I am excited to have this in my utensil drawer.... because I know I will be using it a LOT in the near future!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own

RSG Kitchen Utensil Set

I've been wanting to replace the Utensil set that I've had for awhile... they sit in a really heavy knife holder block that just isn't doing it for me or my kitchen now. This set by RSG Kitchenware is perfect for my needs. The set is colorful and fun, and the holder doesn't take up a lot of space.

This set of 6 utensils and holder comes with cute colorful handles (in Pink, Green, Aqua Blue, Orange and Yellow) with stainless steel cores and large food grade nylon heads.Included is a slotted spatula and a standard spatula, a flattish, slotted spoon and a regular serving spoon, a soup ladel and a spaghetti server. The utensils are also nicely balanced and solid but not heavy. They are heat resistant up to 485 °F / 250 °C , dishwasher safe and are 100% FDA

grade, and BPA free.

These are perfect for the modern, colorful kitchen!

I received these in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own.

You can purchase this item here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011J9HORW

Ultimate Paracord Survival Kit Bracelet

Available at the link below:
http://bit.ly/ParacordSurvivalBracelet

I live at the end of a dead end road at the foot of the Catskills and I love hiking the local mountains. Those two things have made me aware for the need of a simple but effective back-up system in case something happens. We have ice storms here that could cause me to be stranded, possibly without electricity, in mid-winter and hiking always carries the risk of either becoming lost or injured and unable to get to a safe haven in any kind of weather. So I have been looking for things that are easy to use, and preferably don't take up a lot of room (I live in an apartment) that might be useful in an emergency situation.

This Paracord Bracelet is an excellent addition to my Emergency Stash Pack. Lightweight, compact, and wearable, it's got a large number of items that would make survival easier in an emergency situation.

Below are the contents of the bracelet.... all items are contained in a plastic tube

• 1 x 12' length of nylon paracord cordage
• 1 x Snelled 3/0 offset kale hook with 20" leader line
• 1 x Snelled #2 offset kale hook with 20" leader line
• 2 x 1 1/8 inch line swivels
• 1 x 30 ft length 10lb test fishing line
• 2 x 1/2 inch foam bobbers
• 2 x 3/8 inch egg sinkers
• 1 x 2 1/4 inch ferrocerium fire starter rod
• 1 x 2 inch diameter serrated fire striker
• 1 x Dried grass tinder bundle
• 1 x 9 square inch Alcohol pad
• 2 x 1 3/4 inch safety pins
• 1 x Compass (select models)
Instruction manual included

When I ordered I didn't realize there was a Large and Small (PINK!) option to account for the difference in sizing between men and woman so I ordered the larger one. It's actually far to big for me but I could still just have this attached to a carabiner clip on my pack or stuffed in a pocket. That was my own fault but it's something to be aware of when ordering for a woman or someone with a smaller wrist.

I didn't take anything out of the bracelet but I was able to turn the ring around to strike the serrated flint piece (that doubles as part of the clasp) and I can say it EASILY made sparks. That to me was one of the more important aspects that I wanted this for: emergency fire starter. So that alone is a great thing and I wouldn't even have to undo the bracelet just to make a fire.

I hope I never need to use this, but it's comforting to know I have this ... just in case :)

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Two Meows Cat Litter Mat is the Cat's Meow!

I have a 2 cat household (one is a longer haired cat too), and one large litter box for the two of them... ideally I'd have one each but I live in an apartment so there's no place for a second pan. So I have had a lot of litter in that area ... every day I am sweeping up litter at least once a day. One of the cats tends to pee outside the box (right beside the box) about once a week (no matter how clean I keep the litter). So I have to deal with clean-up and disinfecting on a regular basis.


I put this mat in place and my first impression is that it's the perfect size for me and my needs. In my space if it was bigger I'd have to step on it as I entered the bathroom. I quickly noticed that it does slow down the litter tracking pretty substantially. And while it hasn't stopped the cat that pees outside the box, the clean-up is a lot easier as it traps the pee and I can take it outside and rinse it off and spray it with disinfectant ... Just a little while on the fence and it's dry and ready to use again.

No more crying over spilled litter ... this mat is the cat's meow!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Reusable Wine Bottle Toppers

When you are single, you often throw away part of a bottle of wine simply because you didn't get around to finishing it before the oxygenation caused it to go sour. And for Hard Apple Ciders

You can purchase these items here
http://bit.ly/WineStoppers4

like me who are on a diet, opening a bottle often means really wrecking your carb and calorie counts. So when I heard about these stoppers, I jumped to try them out.

They are PERFECT for my situation... now I can open a bottle of Hard Cider, drink half, and put the other half in the fridge for tomorrow. I get to have my cider, and drink it too! And the same will go for opening a bottle of wine (My go-to winter drink!). I also love the idea of having these at parties where bottles may get knocked over ... keep it on the bottle between pours/sips and if it tips over, you lose nothing!

Eco Friendly 100% Food Grade Silicone. Dishwasher Safe and Reusable. These are the perfect alternative to trying to ram the cork back in your wine bottle.

I know we are nowhere close to Christmas but I DO know I will be back to get some of these closer to that time for stocking stuffers because I know a lot of people who will love them!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

KOVOT Condiment Tray

This tray is a must have for anyone who throws or attends parties, get togethers, pot lucks, or any other event where people bring food to share. As a dance event organizer, I supply healthy snacks for

You can purchase this item here
http://bit.ly/CondimentTray

my attendees. Until now it's been a matter of using whatever containers I have available... and of course there's no way to keep things cool. This KOVOT Condiment Tray is the perfect container for my needs.

First, it's SOLID. It's made of good thick acrylic that will withstand being carried and moved and overfilled. There's plenty of room for enough ice to last through most parties, and the individual containers hold plenty of fruits, veggies, or other items. And I love, Love. LOVE the hinged lid which keeps bugs and other flying debris out of the food.

I can't wait to use this at my next dance event ... and any other time I have friends and family over!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Portable Survival Water Filter

You can purchase this here at
http://bit.ly/SurvivalWaterFilter

I've recently taken up hiking in the beautiful Catskills, and I'm really happy to have this to add to my pack.

Now, I'm a day-hiker at the moment, but i had an experience awhile back (on a first date, no less) where I stumbled, fell, and hit my head on a rock hard enough to call for stitches when i eventually ended up in the hospital ER. What struck me (besides the rock) was that my date, a so called really experienced hiker, didn't have ONE thing in his pack that might have been useful if I had not been able to get up and walk out (and I was pretty stunned... a little harder and I would have been stuck there while he went for help). So once I decided to seriously take up hiking, I figured I better start to collect some basic items to keep with me in case of emergency. And when I got the opportunity to review this item, I jumped at it.

The most important thing to have when you hike is water. But you can't tell whether the water you find is potable or not, even if it *looks* clean. And when you are lost that could be a fatal

mistake. Carrying one of these little gadgets can be the difference between hiking out or not, especially on a hot day.

And then there's those times that a storm comes through and knocks out all the electric in your area. It's not unheard up for some areas to be without power for at least a week, and even for some people to have no way to get out (thanks to downed trees) for days or weeks. So keeping one of these in your home could make the wait to be rescued easier if you haven't managed to get to the store beforehand to stock up.

this filter is lightweight, easy to pack, and chemical free. And with a 396 gallon filtration capability, it should last most people

as long as they need to get rescued.

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review... all opinions are my own.

Kuuk Drum Grater

I already have one drum grater ... but what I drew me to this grater is the suction cup bottom.

You can purchase this item here:
http://bit.ly/KuukDrumGrater

The hand held drum grater is great for small amounts or when you want to grate something directly over your food. But if you have any quantity of grating to do, it get's real old real quick.

Step in the Kuuk Grater. With 2 barrels, you have the choice of large or fine sizes for all your grating needs, and thanks to the suction cup which holds it firmly on the countertop, you can grate away with a lot less energy than you would use with a handheld. And of course save money ... never mind how much better it is than the bags of grated cheese which has fillers to keep the pieces from sticking together. What's not to love about that?

It's easy to assemble and disassemble and cleaning is the same as it would be for a hand-held grater .... it's dishwasher safe as well.

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Handy dandy cap light

When this arrived I wondered how such a light weight little hat clip could give enough light to be useful... well, after adding the 3 AAA batteries I found out just how powerful this little gadget is.
This is so perfect for people who hate to take their baseball cap off ... it fits snugly on the cap and provides tons of light. It's small enough to slip in your pocket or handbag or to keep in your glove compartment for roadside emergencies.

Perfect for camping, late evening runs, working in dark corners, festivals, and so many other applications. I was thinking about giving this to my daughter (as she goes camping a lot) but I may well keep this for myself!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are mine alone.

Knife Sharpening System

I've been needing to get a knife sharpener for awhile so when I got a chance to review this one, I jumped at it.

To purchase, go HERE:
http://bit.ly/SystemKnifeSharpener

One thing I LOVE about this sharpener that my previous ones didn't have is the extremely strong suction cup to hold it in place, making it much safer than many similar sharpeners to work with. It was easy to use ... 3-5 swipes through and Bingo, your knifes have a better edge.

One thing they didn't include is instructions about which way to face the sharpener. At first I thought the name should be towards me but then I saw the numbers on the other side, indicating which one to do 1st (left/coarse side) and

then the 2nd (right/fine) ... it makes sense when you have done it the once but it might be nice to have a photo in the direction for anyone who is new to kitchen life or anyone who can't read.

Otherwise this is a great little gadget and I'm happy to have it in my kitchen so I can keep my paring knives and others sharp.

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Midori Spring Ceremonial EMERALD Matcha

A few months back I did a review for Midori Spring's Ceremonial GOLD Matcha ... recently I was given the opportunity to review their newest addition to the line, Ceremonial EMERALD Matcha.

To purchase this product, go to
http://bit.ly/MidoriGreenTea

If you are on a budget, but you still want top quality drinking Matcha, this is a GREAT alternative. First, you get a 100g tin ... over 3x the amount in the Gold option. And while it's not quite as "clean" tasting, of all the Matcha's I've reviewed (and this is the 4th) this option is an admirable 2nd place to my favorite (the GOLD option here). This is NOT culinary grade (which is very different .. much "earthier" in flavor) ...the leaves are still the "first flush", but to clarify, this is what they say at the Midori Amazon Site

Gold Class is harvested from the purest, and darkest tencha leaves. Hence, this product is more expensive and rare. Emerald Class, is produced from 'good' to 'average' quality tencha leaves which are more abundant. Emerald class is still great quality matcha for first time drinkers, and chefs without the high cost.

I have to say, I'm not a Matcha Snob (YET) so this option is more than good enough for me... but who knows, as I keep drinking it, I may have to resort to buying another tin of the Gold tea for special occasions! :)

** I received this product in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and experiences are mine alone. **

Selfie Stick with Bluetooth by *Vivaselfie*

You can purchase this item here
http://bit.ly/Vivaselfie

This is the second selfie stick that I've been sent to review. I really liked the other one because it's so simple to use and it easily holds my Note 3.

This Selfie Stick is just as much fun and just as simple to charge and connect via Bluetooth ... the one big bonus with this one is that they give you TWO different sized Cellphone holders, which would be great for people with smaller phones or multiple phones. When fully collapsed it's small enough to easily fit in a medium sized purse or backpack. Fully opened, you get about 40" of extension to your arm. A small button on the easy grip handle makes it simple to snap photos without wires via the

Using the stick to get
a photo of another
product that I was reviewing

bluetooth feature.

The stick is Compatible with IOS 4.0 and Android 3.0 System or Above. Charge time is 1 hr or less.  A 180 Degree Rotation Of The Phone Mount allows for different camera angles and the length allows you to fit all your friends into the frame, and to reach over the heads of people in front of you to get the shot.

This is a fun little gadget that will not only make your get-togethers more fun, but it would make a great present for pretty much any of your selfie-obsessed friends!

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are mine alone.

Pure Care Natural Soapberry Dish Soap

Finally! A dish soap alternative to the standard options!

Pure Cares' Soap Berry Dish soap is a pleasant smelling, natural alternative to the chemical laden soaps that stock the shelves at your local supermarket. Soap Berries or Soap Nuts are a fruit that has been used for centuries for cleaning while also being known for their healing properties for many skin conditions. What is really great is that Pure Care also added Aloe Vera to the mix, making this soap even gentler on your skin. Sulfate & phosphate free, with no dyes or artificial fragrances, you won't find another soap with ingredients that are as easy on the skin as this one.

But does it work?

In a word, yes. The soap is thinner than most soap you are used to, and the bubbles are not as "stiff", but what matters is that it cleaned everything that I used it on ... from glasses (that were squeaky,sparkly clean afterwards) to greasy pots and pans, everything came out just as clean as the Mrs Meyers soap that I usually use. I believe I used a bit more soap due to this being thinner to start, but that's a small price if you are looking for a dish soap alternative that is natural and/or easy on your skin.

I received this in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.