Saturday, July 25, 2015

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.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

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.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

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.

Monday, July 6, 2015

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.

FD Premium Collapsible Travel Dog/Pet Bowls (Set of 3)

If you travel with your pet, these bowls will be a great addition to your travel and camping gear.


You can purchase these bowls here:
http://bit.ly/TravelDogBowls
Lightweight, BPA Free, and easy to pack, your pet will thank you for having something along on those hot, humid days to give them an easy way to get their drinking water. And with 3 different colored bowls, you have plenty for other pets, or one for water and one for food...

OR

ONE FOR YOU!

I have a similar set of bowls that were given to me because I am a Swing Dancer and I go to a lot of conventions. In order to keep expenses down I usually have some of my own home made food with me and a small rice cooker to heat it in. Half the time I forgot my paper bowls for my meals, so a friend gave me a set like this and let me tell you, it's one of my all time favorite gifts! So if you don't know what to do with all 3 (because you
bought them to have one or two for your pet), well, keep one packed in YOUR bag for an easy way to have your cereal or salad on the run.

These are dishwasher safe and easy to clean by hand too.


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

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Jökel Unbreakable Stemless Silicone Wine Glasses

Do you like to camp? Go to festivals? Tailgate? Picnic? Hike? Bar-B-Que? Throw Pool Parties? Boating? Or are you just a klutz???

You can purchase this item here
http://bit.ly/JokelReview
 Well then, these wine "glasses" are for you! Perfect for so many situations.... especially where you may be concerned about the possibility of the glass being dropped and broken, or where you don't want to deal with carrying out the bottle and trying to carry a glass in or out without it getting broken. These glasses are "squishable" yet a little more substantial than other similar wineglasses that I have reviewed.

Unbreakable **** Stylish *** Perfect Size & Shape *** Portable ***Lightweight *** Easily Washable *** Heat and Cold Tolerant *** Eco-Friendly

****NOTE**** When you first get the glasses you will want to air them out for a few days as they have a bit of a plastic smell, but that will go after a little while... then wash with regular dish washing
liquid and you are ready to party!

Summer fun just got even better. I can't wait to discover how many situations I can use these for ,.... because I'm sure that the list at the top is just the beginning :)

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

Sunsella Bento Style Plastic Lunch Boxes

Love these little boxes! I'm in the process of trying to re-work my diet/meal planning (as a post-
You can order this item here:
http://bit.ly/SunsellaBentoBoxes
menopausal woman, I'm having the challenges of hormonal weight gain) and these boxes are perfect for meal planning, especially mid-day meals when I'm normally not at home. I can put a salad, some nuts, and some fruit or salad dressing in the 3 sections and Bingo! Healthy mid-day lunch instead of the Grab-and-go meal at some fast food joint.

NOTE: They state right up front that they are NOT leakproof. They are BPA, phthalate and lead free, Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.

The only problem is, I'm also an avid "Organizer" ... not OCD... but I love finding new ways to organize my clutter and I can see sooo many uses for these boxes in places like my bathroom (I have TONS of hair clips and ties), my office (paper clips, board tacks, etc) and even the kitchen! So I may well be buying another set to
tidy up one of those areas too!

I received these at a discounted price in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are mine alone!