Product Review: Jxstarkid Kitty Jacket

Madison loves cats and I could not resist reviewing this product for her.

The entire jacket, except for the bottom and the bottom of the sleeves are covered in colorful kittens. 

It is soft and she loves wearing it so much that she would not take it off and kept meowing.

The price depends on the size ordered; Madison's jacket was $17.99, but the larger sizes are $19.99. 

I bought the smallest size which is approximately equal to a 3T or 4T. It is a little big but she will definitely grow into it.

Madison loves her new cat jacket from #jxstarkid. It's soft and warm. #cat #catsweater #kitty #madison #baby #cute

A video posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Oct 15, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT

Find it here: JXStarKid Kitty Jacket

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

Product Review: Guitar Capo from ONME

John has been talking about playing his guitar more so I wanted to review these as a gift to him. ONME sent me a set of two.

Guitar Capos shorten the length of a guitar's strings and raise the pitch; it makes it easier for musicians to play songs in a different key. While there are variations, these capos use a spring to clamp down.

The two capos are identical except for the color; one is black and the other is silver.

They both have soft rubber where they come into contact with the string and the set of two would be awesome for people who have multiple fretted instruments.

These are faster than the capos that you have to twist to tighten and seem like they are a good deal for the price.

Find them here: ONME Guitar Capos, Set of 2

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

Product Review: Massaging Flip Flops from Bumpers

I recently received a pair of Bumpers Massaging Flip Flops.

Thanks to being on my feet all day either at work or chasing after Madison, my feet seem like they always hurt. I decided to try these flip flops to see if their claims were valid.

I have been trying them for about a week now and I am still at the "uncomfortable" stage of wearing them, I wear them for about fifteen minutes as suggested, but the first day I could only stand about five minutes. While they are still not something I could walk around for hours in, they are getting better. 

I will definitely update on the Bumpers situation in the future.

In the meantime, for those interested they have men's, women's, and children's Bumpers flip flops. There are a variety of colors and they seem well made so far.

The bumps help keep your feet ventilated and they are made with recycled rubber.

My only other complaint as of now is that the instructions read as if they were written using Google Translate.

I am going to wait a little longer before deciding to recommend this product or not.

I recently received a pair of flip flops from Bumpers. They are supposed to massage your feet as you walk. The company suggests working your way up to wearing them for long periods of time because they can hurt at first. As of right now I'm still at the uncomfortable stage but I'm hoping that it changes because they're really cute. #lifeisbetterinflipflops #bumpers

A photo posted by Jessica Scheetz (@ispelledjssicawrong) on Oct 5, 2016 at 6:38pm PDT

Find them here: Women's Bumpers, Men's Bumpers, and Kid's Bumpers

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

Product Review: Honey Land Honeycomb

I applied to this promotion thinking it was most likely going to be too popular for me to have a chance of trying it, but I was approved!

This product is about 12.6 oz of honey still in the honeycomb. It is a bit pricier than the honeycomb from other sellers, most likely a result of it being advertised as "pure raw unfiltered honeycomb" as well as it being kosher without pesticides, chemicals or pollutants.* 

Let us not forget "vegetarian" in the title as well; it seems to me like they wanted to pack in as many buzzwords as possible.

In order for honey to be considered organic the area the bees gather honey from has to be free of pesticides, as well as a few other stipulations.*

The container arrived in a small cardboard box with the plastic container holding the honeycomb inside. This plastic container had a strip of tape around it to keep the honey contained.

As for the taste, the company says you can cut off a piece and swallow the honey, there was also a lot of honey that was no longer contained in the honeycomb pooled on the bottom that I was able to scoop out to let Madison try.

It definitely tastes better than the honey I have purchased at the store, but the almost $30 price tag is a little daunting.

The honey is sweet and the honeycomb makes for an interesting delivery system.

Find it here: Honeycomb from Honey Land

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

* Information courtesy of the product's Amazon.com listing

** Information found on the David Suzuki Foundation website

Product Review: US Art Supply Light Box

I really wanted to try this Light Box from US Art Supply after seeing the potential for art projects for myself and family members.

This light box is fairly lightweight despite its large size. Measuring 42 x 29 x 2.4 inches; it weighs in at 19.4 pounds. 

It could be used for tracing, stenciling, sketching, drawing, quilting, and more. The surface area is accommodating for big projects like quilting.

I really like the ease of changing the settings. It is kind of like the touch screen of a phone where you just tap on the power button or hold it down.

This product is easy to use and would be a great piece of equipment for aspiring artists.

The cost is a little off-putting, but the lights should last up to 50,000 hours and the surface would last equally as long if it is taken care of properly, plus there's a warranty. I am looking forward to using this and letting other people come over and work on their own projects.

I would recommend that children be supervised with this product, since it is potentially dangerous if it were broken.

Find it here: US Art Supply Light Table

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

Product Review: Cooling Base Layer Tank Top from Homaste

John works in a hot factory so I thought that this shirt from Homaste would be beneficial to him.

Unfortunately, despite my going by the size measurements on the chart, the shirt still fit him awkwardly.

I had him try it on and the holes for his arms seem as if they are a little too small, he has lost weight so I went with the large, it was long enough, but the shape is strange.

I looked for care instructions and there were not any, so I washed in cold and put them through the dryer on the timed setting with other clothes to see how it would hold up. The seams did not fray and the material is still cool to the touch.

It is not a flattering top to be worn alone in my opinion, but as an undershirt it is fine.

Find it here: Homaste Shirt

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.

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: 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.

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. 

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: 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.

Product Review: DreamSky Digital Clock

Clock Screen, Madison's
shoe for scale

Timer

I really like this clock, however the instructions were a different story due to all of the errors.

The clock has an alarm, temperature reading, and timer function. They are all pretty easy to set using a two button system. The back light comes on when the clock is rotated and rotating it allows you to access the various functions.

The overall design is simple, you use the SET and ADJ button to change the date and time as well as to set the alarm or timer.

The screen is 3.2 inches by 2.9 inches and the display is clear from all angles, there is not any blurring. 

This clock only runs on batteries, which I am not necessarily thrilled about but it would be great for using as a kitchen timer, a clock for workouts, reading, and more.

It is important to note that this alarm clock does not have a snooze option, you rotate the clock to turn the alarm off and it will go off again the next day.   

The instructions have several errors, it appears that the writer was not an English speaker; when you are trying to cater to an American market clear instructions are important. An example of this is the feedback card in the box. "We are always looking for ways to improve ,You spoken, we will listen ." The errors are relatively minor but it is distracting when you are trying to figure out the product. 

Alarm

Temperature

Clock with backlight

Back

Try it yourself here: DreamSky Alarm Clock

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

Product Review: Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil from UpNature

This product is affordable but knowing what I know now, I have higher expectations for my essential oils.

This essential oil comes in a 4 oz sized bottle with a dropper. I still like this system and it was packaged well so I have not complaints here.

The only issue I have with this product is that it smells a little off. I have tried a few higher quality essential oils and now I am able to discern a certain after smell that other less expensive essential oils have.

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oils have several uses, like most other essential oils. According to a few different websites, it can reduce some symptoms of mental illnesses like nervousness, it is a natural pain reliever, and more.

If you do not mind the scent these essential oils are great for budgets or for the less discerning essential oils consumer. If you mix it with other essential oils in a diffuser the essential oil after-odor is less noticeable.

Find it here: UpNature Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil

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

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.