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: 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

Book Review: If You Were Me and Lived in... Middle Ages by Carole P. Roman

I have loved reading previous books by Carole P. Roman to Madison, but If You Were Me and Lived in... [the] Middle Ages falls short, in my opinion.

I would like to note that errors in the pronunciation guides, title, and other locations in the book have been fixed according to the author. These will not be taken into consideration in my review as a result.

Summary

The If You Were Me and Lived in... series by Carole P. Roman utilizes facts from the time periods that are entwined with the life a child might have lived as they tell their stories. This book is no exception to this formula.

This book discusses how different people would live based off of their family status, for example peasants versus the daughter or son of a knight. The food, homes, and more are discussed in the book.

Review

I enjoy all of the information that is provided in this book, but the majority of said facts feel as if they are just listed instead of being truly incorporated into the story.

Additionally, while I enjoyed most of the images from illustrator Mateya Arkova, some of them come across as very murky. I wish that I could have clearly seen what was being described by Roman in a few cases. 

I would recommend Carole P. Roman's other books in the series over this one in particular because they were better overall.

Find it here: If You Were Me and Lived in... [the] Middle Ages

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

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.