Product Review: U.S. Art Supply's 9 x 12 Heavyweight Watercolor Pad

Images created using US Art Supply's paper and brushes as well
as Irsah's watercolor pencils, please credit me if using the images.

US Art Supply Brushes

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                                             U.S. Art Supply's Watercolor Pad

I have not painted for years, but received the opportunity to try U.S. Art Supply's Watercolor Pad.

My first impression was that the paper was thick enough to hold the water without tearing or wrinkling too much. If you use too much water it does bend a little, but you can easily solve this issue by placing a book on it after it dries.

I did have a bit of a problem with the paper bunching up if I had to go over sections again with more water, but I do not know if that was an issue caused by the paper itself.

I allowed Madison to paint using this paper and a set of brushes and it was durable enough to withstand her toddler technique. 

I would recommend this watercolor pad to beginners or people who would like a low cost option when allowing their kids to paint.

Find it here: US Art Supply Watercolor Pad

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Book Review: Forest Secrets: A Magical Mystery Novel by Laurie Woodward

I have been a fan of mystery novels for as long as I can remember so I could not pass up the opportunity to read and review Forest Secrets.

Daisy Castillo is an 11 year old who ventures into the forest and discovers a young tree-human hybrid and endeavors to help her find her family. During this journey, Daisy and her new friends uncover a villainous plan to annihilate the forest. She channels her inner sleuth to brave the danger resulting from greed and save the forest's magical creatures.

I like the message of the book, Laurie Woodward's background in education shines through in this novel. Daisy Castillo develops well as a character and, through her, children can learn the importance of protecting the environment.

This book also faces an adult issue that children are unfortunately forced to face: separation of parents. I believe Woodward makes a sensitive subject easy to understand for the intended age group.

Find it here: Forest Secrets: A Magical Mystery Novel

I received the book for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Essential Oil for Anxiety and Stress Relief from Phytopia

Anything that reduces stress or has a calming effect is a winner in my book.

Phytopia's Tranquility Essential Oil is a blend of "Vanilla, Orange Sweet, Rose Maroc, Geranium China, Olive Virgin, Sunflower oil, Evening Primrose oil, and Jojoba oil." 1

Thanks to the carrier oils already being mixed into the product you can apply it straight out of the bottle.

I really liked the smell of this product, the vanilla and orange scent are perfect together and the two that I can smell the most clearly. The act of massaging it into your skin is relaxing enough, but the oil mixture itself helps too.

Find it here: Tranquility Essential Oil- Phytopia

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

1 Ingredient list, courtesy of their Amazon.com listing

Product Review: Ski Hat by CacheAlaska

Madison is slowly outgrowing her old winter clothes, including her hats.

I originally planned on wearing the hat myself, but Madison looked too cute for me to refuse giving it to her. It is warm and cute, plus there is an additional lining that keeps your ears warm. 

They come in five different colors: blue, light blue, merlot, purple, and white. They are fitted so they are small enough to fit in a decent sized purse or pocket.

Find one here: CacheAlaska Ski Hat

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Premium Masala Green Chai Tea-Organic, Loose leaf

After receiving a tea infuser, I wanted to branch out with different kinds of tea.

This particular kind has spices for a great flavor. I still add sugar to it, but it still has a unique blend.

There is some caffeine in the tea, which is not on the label, but that is not a problem for most. The manufacturers boast health benefits like relieving stress, improving sleep, and regaining energy. 

I think that just having a cup of tea is relaxing in itself.

I like the size of the bag for the price, it is just under $11 and the bag makes approximately 50 cups. 

Try it here:  Premium Masala Green Chai Tea-Organic

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own. 

Book Review: Caretaker (Book 1) and Guardians (Book 2) by Josi Russell

I was approved to read Guardians, but wanted to read Caretaker as well so I could give the book the best review possible.

Please consider this your possible spoiler alert if you would like to read the books, I will not give away any major plot points, but will be including a summary.

Caretaker

Floating through space, Ethan Bryant is the Caretaker of humans who are in a sleep state on their way to a planet called Minea. His future with his wife was stolen when the original Caretaker died tragically and the computer locked him out of his stasis chamber. He has 50 years until they reach their destination with no one else awake on the Ship 12-22.

When Ethan is settled into his routine for five years, he is surprised when the computer wakes up one of the passengers, an engineer who discovers they are far off course and the ship's 4000 passengers are in danger.


Overall, I liked Caretaker; Russell's take on the language she created was refreshing, her descriptions were fantastic, and the characters were well-developed. Her take on how isolation changes a person was interesting and I liked how she portrayed their coping with loneliness.

Guardians

Minea is portrayed as "the place to be" on Earth but the passengers of Ship 12-22 arrived to find that it did not live up to the infomercials. Most of those who arrived work in the dangerous Yyinum mines, but they are barely surviving.

Thanks to Ethan stepping up as Caretaker in Book 1, he is appointed the role of Governor when he arrives at Minea so his family is relatively comfortable. Unfortunately, he is not in a position to help the poor as much as he and his wife Aria would like. 

There is an accident when Ethan goes on a trip to survey Minea's mountains and Aria has to decide if she will save him or focus on finding a cure for the strange illness that is sweeping across the planet.

Guardians could be read as a standalone book if desired, but I actually liked Caretaker more than the second installment. This book is still fast-paced, well-written, and interesting but it did not hold my interest quite as well as the first because I felt as if there were far too many coincidences throughout Guardians.

Find Book 1 here: Caretaker
Find Book 2 here: Guardians

I received the books for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Bamboo Cutlery Organizer KD Organizers

My old cutlery organizer was beat up and the new butter knives kept sliding out so it was time for a change.

This organizer is roomy without taking up too much space. It could be use to hold tools, makeup, or just to organize a junk or desk drawer.

I would not recommend this product if you put your dishes away without thoroughly drying them because I do not know how well it would hold up to the abuse.

I really like how much room each compartment has because I was able to fit my nice, shorter knives into one of the slots. Plus, I do not have to worry about it getting bent like my old metal one.

If this one is not big enough to meet your needs, KD Organizers has similar products with more slots as well as one that expands.

#bamboocutleryorganizer

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 23, 2016 at 2:41pm PST

Find it here: KD Organizers 5-slot

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Clove Leaf Essential Oil from First Botany Cosmeceuticals

Based off what research I have done Clove Leaf Essential Oil and essential oils made from the stems are not desirable as clove bud essential oils because it can cause skin irritation.

However, the essential oil's smell is not as strong either, which makes it great for using in a diffuser. I combine this oil with an orange essential oil when I diffuse it.

If you are going to use this on your skin there are carrier oils that you can mix it with to minimize the chances of irritation. 

The product arrived intact and without leaking because it was packaged well, the dropper was well-protected.

Find it here: Clove Leaf Essential Oil from First Botany Cosmeceuticals

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Book Review: Nurtured and Nuzzled/Criados y Acariciados

I took four years of Spanish in high school, but I want to be able to expose Madison to Spanish early.

Nurtured and Nuzzled/Criados y Acariciados is perfect for English speaking parents to learn with their children as well as Spanish speaking parents who already know both or are trying to learn English.

The phrases are short and the pictures are bright and colorful with a variety of animals. All the animals are loving the babies and it is great for the intended age group.

Find it here: Nurtured and Nuzzled/Criados y Acariciados

I received the book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Book Review: 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math by Marc Zev, Kevin B. Segal, and Nathan Levy

Every class has one of those students, the one who asks when they are going to use math "in real life."

101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math should be in every math teachers arsenal for this reason alone.

The NSTA, National Science Teachers Association, recommends this book for good reason: the examples are challenging enough to maintain interest, the hints do not give away too much information, and the answers are explained clearly. The back of the book lists References for conversions, equations, formulas, and it ends with a glossary.

The book is recommended for those between 10 and 14 but I could see it being practical for other ages if someone has struggled with math.

I received the book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil courtesy of Nichole Kersey

I have been loving trying different brands of essential oils, in only a short time I have learned so much about them.

This essential oil, according to their website, is safe for internal use; this is something for which I have been looking. I received a small sample of the product and love using it in the diffuser and for headaches.

I think this oil smells stronger than some of the other oils I have tried, so those who favor a stronger scent should try it.

The #younglivingforlife peppermint #essentialoil is good for minor headaches and diffusing. I only wish the sample had been bigger!

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 19, 2016 at 7:29pm PST

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Find it here: Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil

Book Review: The Cancer Olympics by Robin McGee

Dr. Robin McGee was the victim of a medical incompetence nightmare. How did so many doctors miss her cancer?

The first thing I noticed about The Cancer Olympics was how much I adored McGee's writing style. Her descriptions are fantastic and sometimes even humorous, which is demanding considering the sensitive subject matter. 

After reading the first few chapters I could not help but be infuriated by how she was treated as a patient. I wanted to cheer when she found doctors that took her seriously.

Dr. Robin McGee was a clinical psychiatrist when she received her diagnosis and this allows her to provide more insights into her feelings during the cancer treatment process. The entire time reading I was just hoping for good news, would she go into remission?

In my opinion, McGee succeeded in adding humor into her book because she knew when to be serious. She covered the good and bad times equally and did both well. 

Find it here: The Cancer Olympics

I received the book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Book Review: Waging War on Cancer by Robert S. Byars

Waging War on Cancer: Dr. Pettit's Lifelong Quest to Find Cures is told beautifully. This is the kind of book that, despite his accomplishments, could have flopped if not told in an engaging way.

Dr. Pettit is a humble man despite his marvelous research that has allowed so many people diagnosed with cancer to become survivors. Dr. Pettit dedicated his life to the research and could have easily perished in the process of searching the globe for natural substances with anticancer properties.

Despite all of his accomplishments, his career was not without setbacks: loved ones perished, funds for the search were not always easy to come by, and he was even doubted by his peers.

Many of the compounds that he and his teams discovered are still in use today, which I find fascinating. Dr. Robert S. Byars conducted interviews of Dr. Pettit and compiled them in chronological order so it is easy to follow. Byars did a wonderful job of making me feel as if Dr. Pettit were telling the story directly to me.

I love when authors give me a personal message in their book or on a sheet of paper inside and Byars did both. I genuinely enjoy that he took the time to engage me as a reader on the next level.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has had their life touched by cancer, it is a great read.

Find it here: Waging War on Cancer
The authors website: www.robertsbyars.com#

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Think Fun Yoga Spinner

Staying active can be a hard during the winter months, I believe this product makes it easy for parents and children to exercise and have fun.

The spinner itself holds the cards and the instructions and everything appears to be well made. The illustrations are cute and it also has written directions on the yoga poses.


I believe this product is a great alternative to generic board games and you do not even realize that you are exercising.

The #thinkfun yoga spinner is a great way to stay active during the winter. It makes yoga fun for children and adults. I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 14, 2016 at 7:59pm PST

Find it here: Yoga Spinner

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Sorcery Code by Dima Zales

The Sorcery Code grabbed my attention immediately with Blaise, an accomplished sorcerer coming face to face with a woman that he appears to have created by accident.

This woman, Gala possesses a childlike innocence, and it soon becomes apparent that her origin allows her a steep learning curve. Unfortunately, Blaise is forced to send her away to keep her safe, but she quickly gets herself in increasing amounts of trouble. His outcast status begins to change when Gala and Blaise have an immediate attraction, but his ex-fiancée, Augusta, deems Gala an immediate threat and an atrocity that needs to be destroyed.

This book has an amazing start but I found certain aspects to be slightly predictable and the characters did not develop as much as I would have liked to see in a fantasy novel.

My favorite part was the unconventional take on magic, users have to write out a code that is then interpreted by a magical object. If there is even a small error, then the magic fails which can be catastrophic.

The book is, overall, interesting and I would recommend it to anyone seeking a different take on fantasy.

I received the book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: SamutNote Handmade Notebook

I like how versatile this notebook is, it could be used for drawing or journaling and it is small enough that it could fit in a purse.

I took a close look after receiving the product and the binding appears to be strong, the ribbon is secure, and the fabric is flush against the hard cover. Overall, it is well made.

The pages are an off-white color and it is unlined which I like for just jotting information down or doodling. I have been using mine to take notes while reading so I can review books more easily. I really like how many fabric colors are available, as of now there are 34 different fabric types: solid colors, abstract designs, and even Christmas themed.

I think the product is cute and functional.

The #samutnote notebook is functional, handmade, cute, and perfect for drawing or writing. The fabric is cute and the binding is secure. I use mine for taking notes on books that I'm reviewing. I received the product in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 12, 2016 at 8:16pm PST

You can find it here: SamutNote Notebook

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

I really like that this product does not irritate my skin like other similar products that I have tried.

It smells great and seems to work better for Madison too. The formula has natural ingredients and is petroleum free. 

If I used it again, I would definitely opt for a less messy formula, they have the product in tubes so applying the product is easier.

It is a little pricey but it helps makes colds more comfortable, especially for children.





You can find it here: Zim's Advanced Vapor Rub

We conveniently all have colds, so it was the perfect time to try #MaxVaporRub. It has natural ingredients and smells great. I like that it's petroleum free and doesn't feel sticky on our skin.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:24am PST

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Smart Weigh Digital Scale

I really like this scale, it is simple to use and easy to clean.

It has a few features that forged my opinion: four sensors, an easy tare system, automatic calibration, an easy to read display.

The sensors increase the accuracy of the scale and the tare system makes it easy to weigh children or pets. It is beyond easy to use, if I move it to a new place all I have to do is step on and back off so it can automatically calibrate itself. The display is backlit and the numbers are big so it is easy to read.

I have not tried it but you can also switch between pounds and kilograms.

The top is completely smooth- no buttons to worry about or clean around, I would recommend this product if you are looking for a new scale.

I really like the #smartweigh bathroom scale. It's easy to clean and use. Plus it masks it easy to weigh babies or pets.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 10, 2016 at 8:09pm PST

Find it here: Smart Weigh Scale

I received the product in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Dr.Meter® Moisture Meter

I have a confession: I do not have a green thumb. 

I am hoping to start growing some of our own food on our balcony next year and wanted to be sure that they will survive. Again, my thumbs are far from green.

Madison loves tomatoes so I wanted to be able to grow our own. I received the Dr. Meter® Moisture to make this possible.

It works immediately and it seems to be accurate. I would recommend it for those new to gardening and those who have been doing it for awhile. I noticed in the reviews that several people were surprised that their plants have not been receiving an adequate amount of water for years. 

Find a meter here: Dr. Meter Moisture Meter

I received the product for free in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Got Me Tipsy "My Therapy" Wine Glass

If there is something sassy and snarky, you can bet I will like it.

This glass is really sturdy, which I love.

The only thing that I was not crazy about was the price. It seems a little expensive for just the one glass, but I do not judge if it is worth it to you.

The base is large enough that you do not have to worry about it tipping over and the wine glass is made of quality materials, I have not had any problem with the letters coming off.

I would recommend this as a clever gift for a wine-lover friend or yourself.

Is it blasphemous to drink margaritas out of a wine glass? I hope not because I love the #GotMeTipsy #mytherapy glass. It's funny, sturdy, and sassy. It is a pretty big glass and the base is proportionate so I don't have to worry about it tipping over.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Feb 10, 2016 at 7:28pm PST

Find it here: My Therapy Wine Glass


I received a free product in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Brilliant Chef's 12 Cup Silicone Muffin Pan & Cupcake Baking Pan Complete Bundle

This set includes a rubber spatula, paper cups, the muffin/cupcake pan, and a pastry brush.

I normally use the pastry brush for spreading garlic and butter on biscuits because I rarely make cupcakes. The silicone muffin pan is a lot easier to clean than a traditional muffin pan and the muffins pop out with or without the paper liner. 

I did notice that the 6 that I did not use the paper on did not rise as high, but other than that they were equivalent to those with the liners.

My only critique is that I would have liked the pan to be a little less flexible on the top.

I would recommend this set to anyone who likes baking.

Find the set here: Silicone Muffin Pan

I received the set in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Product Review: Iviur Nature essential oils TOP 6 set

I was still working on accumulating a basic set of essential oils when I happened across this set.

The six essential oils included are eucalyptus, lavender, sweet orange, lemongrass, peppermint, and tea tree, which makes this a fairly basic set for all essential oil users.

Unlike some oils, these do not have an unpleasant odor after they fade, but they do fade more quickly than some of the more expensive oils that I own.

I believe these would make a great gift set to anyone trying oils out for the first time. I use them in our diffusers at night and they work well for this purpose.

Try them here: Iviur Nature Aromatherapy Oils Set

I received a free product in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.