Product Review: TECHEF 12 Inch Stir Fry Pan

I tend to avoid spending too much on my cookware, but this is worth the splurge for me. I would definitely try more of their cookware.

This Pan has a stainless steel handle, and the base has aluminium and stainless steel so it is supposed to work with induction stoves. I have used it with our gas stoves without issue.

The interior is coated three times in a teflon coating and the outside is coated twice so it is easy to clean.

I have used it several times in the couple weeks that I have had it and I prefer it over my other pans now, however there are a couple cons. 

First, it is pretty heavy, weighing in at almost three pounds. Second, it does not come with a lid; the company sells it separately.

It is supposed to be able to withstand metal cooking utensils and scouring pads. However, I have never had the need to scrub the pan, it all comes off easily.
I really like that it comes with a lifetime warranty. I would love to try more of their products.

Find it here: TECHEF 12 Inch Stir Fry Pan

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

Product Review: L&N Kitchen's Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

John accidentally sent my last set through the garbage disposal so it was time for a new set, especially since one of them went missing.

There are six spoons: 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/8 tsp, 3/4 tsp, 1 tsp, and 1 Tbs. They also have the metric units on each spoon.

The three larger spoons are rectangular and the three smaller spoons are more rounded. This makes it easier to get them in and out of spice containers.

Each spoon is pretty heavy and they seem durable so far. The ring that holds them is the only part of the product that I have had a problem with– it does not seem as durable as the rest of the set.


Find them here: L&N Kitchen's Measuring Spoons

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

Product Review: Vitapura's Stainless Steel Loose Leaf Tea Infusers

As much as I love tea and like this product, I intend to gift these.

This set of Two Loose Leaf Tea Infusers from Vitapura are made with stainless steel.

The little mesh bowl section has the lid screwed onto it which keeps all of the tea contained. The lid has larger holes and is hooked to a chain; the end of the chain has a larger hook that grips onto the mug that you are using.

This product seems sturdy after a few uses, however because of the small pieces on the chain, I would not put them in the dishwasher— despite them being dishwasher safe.

The holes are smaller than similar products that I have seen. Additionally, the product is simple with no intricate designs. 

One of the tea infusers had a lid that was a little harder to get on but other than that I have not had any issues with the product.

Find them here: Vitapura Infuser

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

Book Review: Rising Tide: Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson

I am a big fan of horror movies and cannot get enough of a good vampire story.

Summary

Rising Tide: Dark Innocence is centered on Maura "Mink" DeLuca a teenage girl who is admittedly a bit of an outcast. She finds herself the victim of a cruel prank orchestrated by some of her classmates early in the book. Thankfully, her new friend Ron was close by to save her. 

They fall for each other quickly, much to her dismay as her mother is relocating them to Canada. Caelyn gives little explanation for her decision and the deadline for their move is set. 

Maura spends all of her spare time with Ron, going so far as to skip school to spend more time with him. This almost gets her hurt by a man at a party that she goes to with Ron. He encounters Maura drinking the blood of the boy and Caelyn swoops in to clean up the mess. 

Ron and Caelyn discover Maura exhibiting strange behaviors a few times and they just decide not to talk about it. Maura brings up several concerns about her health: her teeth have changed, she is craving blood, and other bizarre symptoms that scream "vampire!" to the reader. Caelyn, however, continues to brush off Maura's concerns.

Eventually, they complete the move and Maura's new Canadian friend helps her decipher her mother's strange behavior leading to a highly predictable ending for this reader.

Review

Over the course of the book I found myself smiling a couple times because certain parts struck me as funny and other times I wanted to scream at Maura for being an idiot. 

She spends what time she is not with Ron trying to go to her doctor trying to figure out what is causing her strange symptoms. She finally gets an explanation and refuses to acknowledge it. 

Over the entire course of the book I found Caelyn to be an inept mother. Instead of ignoring Maura she could have offered several explanations. She only becomes a halfway decent parent after Maura begins noticing a transformation in herself. Her being "heartbroken" by Maura's father does not cut it as an explanation for me.

Additionally, everyone avoiding talking about Maura's quickly developing "condition" just seemed like a cop-out. There were several instances where it just seemed like it was there to make the story longer.

There were a couple parts of the story that did not feel complete, I would be interested in seeing if these were resolved in the next book.

Find it here: Rising Tide: Dark Innocence

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

Product Review: Knitting Needles Set with Case from Knitter's Choice

I have always wanted to learn how to knit and I have heard that wooden knitting needles are easier to use for beginners.

This held true in my experience.

This set includes two of each size: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 15.

All of the needles are 14 inches long and they have a little round piece of wood on the end. The points are sharp enough to knit easily but not sharp enough where children would have an issue with using them.

The needles are made with bamboo so they are light and the case makes it easy to keep them all together.

I did have a few issues with this set and, for the price, this is regrettable. Some of the needles were slightly askew, most of the larger ones are fine but it is noticeable.

Additionally, I received only one of the size 4 and three of the size 5 instead. This is mildly disappointing for me considering how much it cost it should not be an issue. Also, the case had a couple holes through the first layer of canvas fabric, as if the needles were accidentally put through it.

Despite these issues, the set is okay for myself as a beginner and I will continue using it. I may move up to a metal set when I get faster.

I used #KnittersChoice #knittingneedles when I taught myself how to knit last week. I believe they would be better for beginners because the bamboo helps grip the yarn. #inspiringcrafters

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Jul 19, 2016 at 6:48pm PDT

Find it here: Knitter's Choice Knitting Needles Set

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

Product Review: Control Gel from Curl Friends

I have been trying to find a product that would tame my crazy and frizzy hair.

This Control Gel from Curl Friends is part of a hair care system designed for curly hair. It is supposed to keep excess moisture at bay as well as keeping it frizz free. 

The gel is less viscous than traditional hair gels and does not make hair crunchy feeling or sticky, instead curly hair is "soft, smooth, and shiny" according to Curl Friends. 

I have been using this product for about two weeks and noticed that it felt a little softer and less frizzy after the first use.

However, despite using it for two weeks there is not much of a difference. I still have to use other products to control frizz, including a coconut-based hair oil. This product is too expensive for it to just work halfway.

#CurlFriends Control Gel is supposed to keep frizz at bay and make hair softer. It works reasonably well but not as well as I would like it to for the price.

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Jul 19, 2016 at 6:42pm PDT

Find it here: Curl Friends Control Gel

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

Product Review: Purrfect Timing Clock from Infinity Instruments

If you do not immediately think of me when you see this clock we cannot be friends, sorry.

This clock is 14 inches in diameter with a golden colored hour and minute hand. 

The main feature is definitely the cat for me though. Unfortunately, the tail does not move but you have the option of using the clock with or without it.

 I may be a little biased as a crazy cat lady, but I think it is the greatest clock ever. I have had it on our wall with the tail attached, I like that it is a little "different."

The cat itself looks realistic and has a collar with the company's name on the tag. The numbers are clear and I have not had any issues with the clock going through batteries any faster than the one we have in the kitchen.

The tail has a hook on the end that grasps onto a little ledge on the back of the clock. It uses one AA battery that is not included with the product.

I believe this would make a great gift for the "crazy cat person" in your life.


Find it here: Purrfect Timing Clock

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

Product Review: Foldable Storage Containers from B&C Home Goods

Storage solutions that you find in the store are not always the most affordable options, these bins are about 3.67 each.

They come collapsed and you expand them and place the bottoms in, these are essentially a little stiff pieces of cardboard that are covered in fabric that matches the rest of the bins.

This material is a light gray color that seems to be reasonably mess resistant. 

The sides without the handles collapse in when the bin is not in use. 

I have one bin holding some binders and papers and another holding miscellaneous items in the kitchen. Conveniently, the bins fit right above the kitchen cabinets. I imagine they would also fit on shelves made for similar bins.

I recommend these as an affordable option for storage. 

Find them here: Storage Containers from B&C Home Goods

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

Product Review: Muscle Therapy Bath Bombs Gift Set from Glow by Daye

I love bath bombs, every brand is different and have something unique to offer.

These bath bombs have two distinct differences from the last set that I tried.

First, they take a lot longer to dissolve. Most bath bombs literally fizzle out within a minute, but this one was still dissolving about five minutes after I put it in the tub.

Second, Glow by Daye includes a little bag of aper silk in each gift set.

When I asked the company about this they described aper silk as "an added bonus to your bath and skin. It is strings of dissolvable silk paper that dissolve when placed under the running water and slowly dissolves over time when placed in the tub with you. It is meant to give your skin that extra layer of moisture and leaves your skin feeling that much softer." I used a small amount with the first bath bomb and these pieces dissolved quickly, making me wish that there were more pieces.

The set of six includes some organic ingredients and essential oils: Weekend Bliss with lavender and rosemary, Chill Pill with milk, Summer Glow with strawberry, Sweet Somethings with rose, Refresh Button with vanilla, and Life Detox with cherry blossom.

I have tried the Chill Pill bath bomb with a little bit of aper silk, my skin felt a little softer as a result and the smell is potent enough to remain on your skin without being overpowering. In addition, the bath bomb taking a little longer to dissolve seems to draw out how long the scent lasts when you are bathing- which is a definite bonus for me.

This set is a little more expensive than similar sets but if you are looking for organic or non-GMO ingredients this product has these. Personally, I would rather give these as a gift instead of purchasing them for myself. They are packaged well for gift giving and seem to use high quality ingredients.

Find it here: Bath Bombs from Glow by Daye

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

Product Review: FiveFourTen Yoga Mat

I was looking for a reward for myself when I completed my workout goal and this was the perfect product.

This yoga mat is beyond better than the first one that I owned.

It is 100% biodegradable and a tree is planted for each yoga mat purchased through the company.

The company also states that there are no chemicals in their yoga mats or Ozone depleting substances.

The rubber material leads to an enhanced grip so I do not think I could slide if I tried. My previous yoga mat slid around on the carpet but this product grips on both sides. 

It is also really absorbent so you do not have to worry about intense workouts making the mat slippery. 

I have noticed that I am able to workout longer because the mat is more comfortable than my old yoga mat, I could never go back.

This product is the same size and thickness of a standard yoga mat but I noticed a difference immediately.

It is a little pricey so I would recommend this product only to those who will use it regularly.

Find it here: FiveFourTen Yoga Mat

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

US Art Supply's 53 Piece Children's Art Set

US Art Supply's 53 Piece Children's Art Set has markers, color changing markers, pens, a ruler, a mechanical pencil, colored pencils, highlighters an eraser, and oil pastels.

The highlighters are dual sided where the pen is on the other side. The mechanical pencil has pencil lead to go with it and a large eraser as well.

There are two kinds of markers, one is a standard set and the other has two colors when used with the white color changing marker.

This set is inexpensive but some of the products are not the highest quality. The lids on the pens are a little loose and the oil pastels are not very vibrant.


This set would be good for children who are rough with their coloring or too young to warrant more expensive sets.


Find it here: US Art Supply's 53 Piece Set

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

Product Review: Caffinity

I have been looking for a product that would help Johnathon during days where he did not get the best quality sleep the night before.

Caffinity has 290 mg of caffeine that is in an extended release capsule for taking before your workout or on days where you can use a boost or there are various other supplements offered by Nexira. 

Unfortunately, I am too caffeine-sensitive for this product so John was the (willing) guinea pig. 

There were a couple days that he told me he would not have been able to function without it because of low quality sleep, no naps needed. 

The only thing I do not necessarily care for is the gimmicky descriptions of the product, sure they are funny but they do not really tell you much about the product like a clear description would; it just sounds like someone trying to use fancy jargon when they do not really know what they are talking about.

These include Vasogen XT as the main culprit, it offers a "Vein splitting pump performance" according to the packaging.

With products that have flavors like Hawaiian Pump and Tigers Blood, the experience is bound to be more eventful than your usual cup of coffee.

Find it here: Caffinity

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

Battlefield Earth Giveaway

Enter to win a free copy of Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard!

"SCIENCE FICTION NYT BEST SELLER: WILL HUMANKIND SURVIVE THIS ALIEN INVASION? 

Battlefield Earth is a science fiction saga of adventure, daring and courage, when man is an endangered species and the future survival of what's left of the human race is at stake.

In the year 3000 AD, man has been savagely ruled for a thousand years by evil aliens:nine-foot high, gas-breathing monters from the planet Psychlo.

One of the Psychlos, the villainous Terl, enslaves a man-creature and forces him to mine Earth gold. Terl’s plan: to teleport the gold to Psychlo, where he can then return wealthy and powerful. 

From this dystopian landscape, a slave emerges —Jonnie Goodboy Tyler. As a member of the dwindling community of only 35,000 human survivors, Jonnie has plans to free mankind from alien tyranny—and cause the ultimate destruction of the Psychlo empire. 

Is Jonnie’s fight to save humanity from these gigantic and technologically superior monsters a losing battle? Or will humans regain the Earth once more?

This 21st Century Edition features: 
• 50 page of the author’s never-before-published handwritten notes. 
• An exclusive author interview, Hubbard's last media interview. 
• Cover art by legendary Frank Frazetta. 

Experience the epic adventure that changed the shape of science fiction forever." *

This book has received 1,894 reviews earning Battlefield Earth a 4.4 star rating. I will be reviewing it within the next couple weeks and a giveaway will be active during this time.

Interact with this post or my future Facebook and Twitter posts to be entered to win and a winner will be chosen at random.

Cannot wait? It is available for Kindle app users for only $0.99 for a short time.

I will update with the winner of the paperback copy here, on Twitter, and on Facebook. It is important to note that my family members are not eligible to win, sorry!

I hope to see many entries.

Jessica

* Battlefield Earth summary courtesy of the Amazon book listing 

Book Review: Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash

I have read a handful of Michael Phillip Cash's books and this is my favorite so far.

Summary

Oliver "Clutch" Henderson has a couple relatives who were legendary poker players and is not too bad himself, he managed to make it to the final game in The International Series of Poker. He finds himself facing a rookie, Adam "The Ant" Antonowski. 

The Ant manages to thwart Clutch right before Clutch bites the dust, making this his last chance to prove his grandfather Buster was wrong about him and win the tournament... or is it?

Telly and Gretchen are struggling to make ends meet and she encourages him to follow his dreams with his only real experience being from reading Henderson's books.

Telly's luck keeps getting worse and inadvertently ties fates with Clutch. Clutch is determined to bracelet that is awarded to the victor of the tournament through Telly who is reluctant from the start.

Review

Cash did a really good job of creating unlikable characters: The Ant, Buster, Jenny (Clutch's wife), and Rob Couts were terrible but they came across as slightly stereotypical. I liked most of the book but the interactions between Clutch and Telly killed the vibe for me.

Additionally, the ending became beyond cheesy approximately halfway through. After the main plot twist I started to lose some interest.

It is a decent read even if you do not know much about poker. It is clear from the game descriptions that Cash has a love for the game; I just wish an equal amount of effort would have gone into the ending.

In addition to the book I also received a poker chip on a key chain and a deck of cards with the book's title on them which I thought was a nice touch.



Find it here: Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash

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

Product Review: Microfiber Towels from Rallt

I was a little skeptical when I first tried these microfiber towels from Rallt.

 I have never used a product like this before so I did not know what to expect. They have made me a believer. Realistically, I cannot see our regular towels being phased out but these definitely have their perks.


Both of the towels are beyond soft so they would be great for using on sensitive skin. They are also less than half the weight and one eighth of the size of a regular towel. 

This makes it ideal for camping, a gym bag, a diaper bag, or for having it one in the car.


They come with a case for each towel and each towel has a loop that can be unbuttoned if needed.

I tried the larger towel at the beach on the Fourth of July and did not have any problems, it absorbed water and dried quickly without taking up much room.


Find it here: Microfiber Towels

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

Product Review: If You Were Me and Lived in... Colonial America by Carole P. Roman

If You Were Me and Lived in... Colonial America teaches children about the first settlers while being fun and educational.

Roman's interest in history and different cultures makes this children's book that much more interesting. It covers names, religion from an educational perspective, their clothing, Thanksgiving, chores, games, school, and the hardships the settlers faced.

The end of the book has a list of people who were vital influences on Colonial America and some background information on them, including William Penn, Captain John Smith, Pocahontas, and Myles Standish.

The glossary is reasonably well done; it covers different terms while having a pronunciation guide so children are using terms correctly. Some of the definitions could be a little bit better though.

This book would tie in with history lessons for elementary school students.

Carole P. Roman's If You Were Me and Lived in... series has covered Ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy, and Elizabethan England. This is the first of the series that Madison and I have read and I would read the others based off of our experience.

Madison loves the pictures, they are pretty simple but very colorful. There were a couple illustrations that seemed pixelated and at least one typo in the book itself. Normally Roman's books do not have any issues so it is notable in this instance.

Find it here: If You Were Me and Lived in... Colonial America

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