Product Review: Circuit Maze from Think Fun

This product would make a great gift for your children or younger siblings.

Circuit Maze is a game where the objective is to complete the circuit and make the beacons light up along the way. 

The box includes the game grid, 60 challenge cards with solutions, 17 game tokens, and the instruction manual. 

The 60 challenge cards include the basic setup and pictures of what needs to be added to the grid. The solution on the back includes a picture also. I love that the player can work their way up through the beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert puzzles.

The 17 game tokens include a variety of shapes and beacons that allow you to complete the tasks.

I definitely recommend reading the instructions with your child so they do not accidentally create a short circuit.

This game is so much fun that I almost kept it for myself. I would highly suggest following the recommended age requirement of 8 years and older.


Find it here: Circuit Maze from Think Fun

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

Product Review: KakoLee's Reusable Produce Bags

I have been trying to lessen the amount of disposable and plastic items that we use at home and this is a big step.

I am simultaneously trying to introduce even more fruits and vegetables into our diets. This product comes in a set of six with four different sizes. The sizes are 14" x 18", 12" x 15", 10" x 12", and 8" x 10".

The sizes are color coded blue is the largest, red, green, and yellow is the smallest. They all have a drawstring closure to keep fruit from falling out.

The mesh is really small so you do not have to worry about fruit or veggies making a mess in the back of your car or on the way into the kitchen.

Based on the Amazon listing, these bags are just under $2.50 each and it is worth the cost if you are wanting to minimize your plastic consumption. 

These could also be used for small toys, dirty clothes when you are on a trip, or just about anything else you could think of- there are several possibilities.

Find it here: KakoLee Reusable Produce Bags

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

Book Review: The After House by Michael Phillip Cash

I have currently read a few of Michael Phillip Cash's books: The After House, The History Major, The Flip, and Monsterland. 

Each boasts enough merit to warrant its own review despite my receiving a couple of them as bonus books. I have not finished Pokergeist yet but that will be posted within the next couple weeks also.

In order to adequately review The After House some details pertinent to the plot are revealed, potential spoilers are ahead. If you wish to avoid this skip ahead until the summary ends.

Summary

Remy Galway moved into the house formerly belonging to Eli Gaspar after a failed marriage. Eli was a whaler before his death. He causes some trouble for Remy and her daughter Olivia initially. This results in guilt on his end. 

He ultimately decides to help her when her yoga studio is vandalized and she is nearly killed driving home. Strangely, she never lists anyone as the potential culprit, which was quite obvious in my opinion.

Along the way, she meets Hugh after her mom pesters him into asking her on a date- with good intentions.

Review

Instead of being a ghost story like I expected from the book's summary it essentially becomes a romance with a little danger thrown in when it starts to get dull.

I enjoy Michael Phillip Cash's descriptions throughout the book. I know little about ships and whaling but you do not need to know much to follow the flashback styled sequences.

I am a big fan of the occasional terrible yet funny joke, but using the same joke several times just became annoying.

This was not Cash's best work in my opinion.

Find it here: The After House

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

Product Review: GikBay's S Hooks

I have gardening tools, clothes, and a few other items that I wanted to hang out of Madison's reach but did not have the means to do it so they were up on a shelf.

These hooks seem pretty durable for their size and they are small enough that they fit through the handles of various items.

I like that these are affordable and that they come in three sizes, I received the smallest size. They are also available in a set with five of each size.

Find them here: S Hooks from GikBay

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

Product Review: Phytopia USA's Essential Oils for Muscle Soreness & Pain Relief

This therapeutic grade essential oil blend is ready to place directly onto your skin.

As an added bonus, Phytopia USA's Pain Away Essential Oil Blend would make a great gift because the bottle is packaged well. 

I really liked that this product is approved by the FDA. The ingredients are also organic but I am not picky about that. The dosage instructions say to use up to 5 ml for adults and up to 1 ml for children.

The main ingredients are Menthol and Balsam Peru Oil. I had never heard of the Balsam Peru Oil, but upon further inspection it is used in several medicinal products.

I have used the product for aching joints and muscles after gardening without an issue. The Menthol and Balsam Peru Oil have a sweet, cooling scent and it is pretty strong especially for the amount I used.

Please check the ingredients list on Amazon if you are considering purchasing it.


Find it here: Pytopica USA's Pain Away Essential Oil Blend

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

Book Review: Monsterland by Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash has written a slew of young adult novels. 

Monsterland follows a pack of wolves, a coven of vampires, a zombie, and a few awkward teenagers who get tickets to the theme park that allows them to interact with the monsters.

Wyatt, Melvin, and Howard are the awkward teens who find themselves lucky- or unlucky- enough to procure tickets. Wyatt likes this girl named Jade who is with Nolan, the stereotypical jock and jerk, who drags Jade around.

The Monsterland opening boasts several celebrities and world leaders all in the same place, which just spells potential disaster.

Naturally, things go wrong and chaos ensues.

As with any other young adult novel there are parts that I found cheesy and predictable. However, Michael Phillip Cash's descriptions are normally enticing and beneficial to the book as a whole. I wish that the main characters would have developed a little more.

#Monsterland is a young adult novel about a theme park that allows Wyatt, Melvin, and Howard- and thousands of others- to interact with real monsters. What could go wrong?

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Jun 23, 2016 at 1:53pm PDT

Find it here: Monsterland

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

Book Review: Being a Captain is Hard Work by Carole P. Roman

Captain No Beard is at it again in Being a Captain is Hard Work by Carole P. Roman.

This book features illustrations by Bonnie Lemaire, a freelance illustrator, which are full of bright colors and dynamic characters.

Captain No Beard is enjoying ordering around the Flying Dragon's crew and he thinks that he is always right so he refuses to listen to the crew. Polly, Fribbet, Mongo, Hallie, Cayla, and Zachary are going with Captain No Beard to Dew Rite Volcano but can they make it under his instruction?

Captain No Beard's stubborn ways almost lead to a crew member getting injured and the ship getting wrecked in a storm before he finally realizes that the crew is trying to help him and learns an important lesson. Even the wisest leader has to listen.

I really liked the message and that this can be incorporated into school science lessons. In the book, they are arguing about different kinds of clouds: cumulus which are "puffy" and stratocumulus which mean there is a chance of precipitation.

I also received Carole P. Roman's Captain No Beard as a bonus book and I will be reviewing it separately (please see the image for the book covers).

There is a reason that Roman's Captain No Beard series is award-winning, the messages are relatable for children and her writing is exceptional.

Find it here: Being a Captain is Hard Work

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

Product Review: Yumi Nibbler

This travel bikini trimmer is a good idea in theory, but in practice it leaves a lot to be desired.

 I have tried the trimmer on three different areas: my legs, arms, and eyebrows.

When I tried it on my legs it did not get any hair at all but it did pull the hair painfully; when I used it on my arms it got some hair after several passes but definitely did not do an acceptable job- it missed a lot despite going over it many times.

Trying it to trim my eyebrows with the trimmer was the least productive, it just exuded a burning smell without trimming hair.

I would not recommend this product.


Try it yourself here: Yumi Nibbler

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

Product Review: Floral High Waist Skirt from CHIC.U

I was thrilled when this skirt fit exactly as described. I was a little less thrilled when I had an issue with the zipper.

CHIC.U's skirt comes to my knees and fits around my waist without being too tight. I ordered a medium which is my normal clothing size.

The zipper frequently gets stuck despite nothing blocking it. The skirt is not too tight so this is not the cause either.

There are three color options available: red, purple, and blue. Currently the blue patterned skirt is on sale for less that $13, almost half the price of the other colors.

There were several small strings on the skirt when I took it out of the package and I had to cut a couple off.

The fabric is easy to iron and it is pretty comfortable too. 

There are pros and cons to this skirt but I like it. I am just hoping the zipper is more durable than it has seemed so far.

Find it here: CHIC.U Floral High Waisted Skirt

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

Product Review: Apex Gardening Set

1st half

2nd half

If you have a small garden or are having trouble with arthritis these tools are able to get the job done while being significantly lighter than their counterparts.

This set comes with four tools: a transplanter with gradation marks, a cultivator, shears, and a trowel.

These are made from a light aluminum with long handles. For these reasons, I believe they would be great for people with arthritis or just general joint pain.

There were a few issues but they do not change the usability of the set; they were mostly cosmetic. The set arrived a little dirty, the trowel does not come smoothly to a point there are a few sharp corners, the shears needed to be sharpened, and the transplanter's gradation marks are not completely visible.

None of these problems render any part of the set unusable.

Find it here: Apex Long-Handled Gardening Set

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

Product Review: US Art Supply's Stretched Canvas

This set includes six separately wrapped stretched canvases.

If you do not want to spend too much money for practicing or you have a child who wants to try different forms of art these canvases are perfect.

Each canvas in the set of six is wrapped separately so you do not have to worry about them sticking together when in the package.

Although US Art Supply is the seller, I would like to note that they are not made in the USA .

The canvases are stapled in the back and the corners are smoothly folded over and secure.

I used solely US Art Supply's products on the painting to the left, this includes acrylic paint, the canvas, and paint brushes.

Find them here: US Art Supply's 6 Pack Stretched Canvas

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

Product Review: Cocktail Shaker from Bar Brat

You do not have to drink alcohol to enjoy this kitchen gadget.

I received this product which includes a three piece cocktail shaker and a jigger with a 1 oz and 1.5 oz option. 

The three pieces allow you to place ice cubes, mint, liquids, and more in the shaker. You then place the straining lid and regular lid on before shaking the contents. 

I really like how snugly the pieces fit together and the BB logo looks classy, especially since the pieces all match.
You definitely do not have to use this for alcohol based drinks. It holds 24 oz so I like adding a lot of ice, freshly brewed tea, and mint.

I really liked the strainer because it prevented tea leaves and mint leaves from getting out and into the glass.


The product seems sturdy enough and I have not had any problems with it being hard to clean so far.

 Overall, it has made a great addition to our kitchen.

Their website: Bar Brat Cocktail Shaker

Find it on Amazon: Cocktail Shaker from Bar Brat

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