Books, History, Food, Politics, and Life

Books, History, Food, Politics, and Life
Things through a different light...

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Review: Fleece Lined Wool Blend Beanie

It was around 100 degrees today in Georgia with about sixty percent humidity, so unfortunately I am not thinking of ways to keep myself warm in cold weather....
On the other hand, I have Strep Throat, and with the air conditioner on in the house... I am freezing so I though I would try out this fleece and wool beanie by CacheAlaska. 





1. It is super warm... I mean Super warm... it feels great and the wool/ acrylic blend is super soft and not scratchy at all. 

2. As you can see it has a plain and classic style, I like this because it means I can wear it with anything during the winter months when fashion takes second fiddle to being warm.

3. It has an amazingly soft and useful fleece ring on the inside to provide more comfort, snugness, and some extra warmth.




The fleece by far is my favorite feature, it is super soft and of high quality, which means it will not fall apart easy and I imagine it will get more and more comfortable as you break it in. As you can see from the photo as well, the stitching is very precise and solid...this is not a flimsy product, and it can be washed in a washing machine.

That being said...it is wool, I would not put it in the dryer unless you wanted it to shrink.

Now I have a small head, so this hat was a bit large for me, but folding it made it fit perfect and I could always dry it to shrink it up.

Overall for 19.99 with free two day prime shipping on Amazon, I think this is a great addition to your winter wardrobe or... a really nice and cozy gift for a friend or relative.

I also think it could easily be worn by a man or a woman.

This was a product review, I received this item at a discount in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 

If you would like to get your own awesome beanie in a variety of fun and classic colors CLICK HERE


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

The AYL Tactical LED Flashlight Review

I love the outdoors...I wish I could go camping and things of that nature more, but with a job, a toddler, a husband, and a full-time PhD program, who has time.... but when I do go out, I found the folks at AYL know how to make gear that proves to be quite useful in any situation.


According to their Amazon Page, The AYL Flashlight has the following features:

  • VERSATILE 4-in-1 TELESCOPING BODY - Lightweight and compact, this flashlight AYL TC80 offers an extendable/retractable body for precision lighting coverage.
  • SUPERIOR LOW LIGHT VISION - Ultra-bright front LED bulbs provide 300+ feet of direct illumination and a 180-degree COB cone when extended.
  • HANDS-FREE MANUVERABILITY - A powerful magnetic base lets you attach your pocket flashlight to any metal surface giving you full vision in tight spots
  • OUTDOOR DURABILITY - This high power LED flashlight is made with aircraft-grade anodized aluminum that's both water and shock resistant.
  • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - Each battery powered flashlight is backed by superior customer service, a promise for quality and a Limited Lifetime Guarantee.

Are you in love yet.... Here is my Review:
By The way... I loved it.
I have sung the praises of the folks at AYL before, I have a bluetooth speaker, some wireless earbuds, and now this flashlight from them. They just continue to put out high quality and inexpensive items that last, are durable, and do the job. This flashlight is relatively small, about an inch longer than smartphone, but it is weighted, has some awesome features, and really lights up with relatively little effort. The light itself has multiple functions, you can adjust the scope of the LED light at the top and open the middle with little effort by extension and have a nice little spotlight that works excellently. I could see this working great for lighting up a tent while camping or using the spotlight when having a roadside emergency. I love the flashlight has a magnetic base, so you can keep hold of it while doing work in odd situations. The flashlight is small but strong, and thus it has some weight to it, nothing overly problematic, but you can tell this is a strong metal that will not break down easily. The flashlight is water resistant, but not proof, but I think that should probably do the trick if you get stuck in the rain or something of that nature.  I like that this flashlight is small enough to fit into a purse, but powerful enough to light over 100 ft if necessary. The light need four AAA batteries to work, and they are not included. Like always, the AYL flashlight comes in a nice little khaki gift box and looks nice for gift purposes...great for a dad, brother, or grandfather special event or for anyone who likes to work and play outdoors. For less than 22.00, this is a really nice buy.

This is my new go-to flashlight, that I will have to hide from the toddler to keep it safe.
IF you want your own....and you should because AYL just makes awesome inexpensive items.... Here is how you get it.

What: 

AYL TC80 4-in-1 LED Flashlight CREE - Tactical Emergency Nightlight with Telescoping Body and Magnetized Base - Water Resistant Spotlight for Work, Auto, Camping, Garage, Emergency - Battery Powered


Price: $20.99 with free two-day shipping for all amazon Prime customers


This was a product review. The folks at AYL provided this flashlight at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 


Tuesday, August 16, 2016

AYL Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds

I have yet to find the perfect pair of wireless earbuds, the problem usually arrives with the fact that by  nature, they have to be a bit more bulky than other earbuds and the weight and size tend to bother me. I own other products by AYL and love their wireless bluetooth waterproof speaker, so I thought if anyone made a pair that would satisfy me, they would. 
First, the Pros:
Lightweight cord
The volume control on the side
three size adjustable buds to fit any ear
smaller outer ear attachments, which means that people like myself, with smaller ears, do not struggle to keep the buds in their ears.
The charge time is also quite fast. In two hours I got a full charge and was able to do yardwork and go running, which took about three hours without problems and plenty of charge leftover for other activities. 
The blue tooth pairing is also pretty easy.

The Cons:
The wireless headphones are still bulky and the ear additions are bothersome to me. I just do not like the weight of any of the bluetooth wireless earbuds because my ears are small and having extra bulk means they will come out of the box easier, which is a problem in my opinion.
That being said, it is more of a personal problem and I found the headphones overall to provide ample use and sound great. 

The earbuds come with different sizes for your ears, a custom usb cord for charging, and a nice little faux-leather bag. The display box it comes in is also a nice plain cardboard that holds the product in place, while also providing a nice box for gifting, this would be really nice for the runners in your family.

I received this item at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 

Here is the product information if you are interested in the AYL headphones:

What: AYL AX1 Sport Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
Price: $29.99 with free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime customers
Link:  VISIT HERE

Hope you get as much great use out of them as I have!


GarDspro Garden Hose Nozzle Review

Today I am looking at a garden hose nozzle by GarDspro. It is a nine setting nozzle that sells for a little under twelve dollars on Amazon, which is pretty inexpensive. The nozzle also has a water pressure dial on the back of the nozzle which allows you to manage the amount of water coming out of the nozzle at any given time. 


As you can see here, the nozzle is not super small, it is a nice sized nozzle that has a lot of space on its output area to accomodate the nine settings the nozzle comes with. What I liked about the nozzle is each setting is different enough to be used in different settings.
The different sprays are as follows"
Jet
Full
Cone
Center
Straight
Flat
Soaker
Angle 
Mist

The Jet, Flat, and Angle settings are great for cleaning purposes and I found the Soaker, Center, and Mist settings wonderful for gardening.  Each setting is distinct, so you are not getting an advertised product that just has 9 similar settings.

In addition, I found that the handle and grip on this nozzle was great....
First, the nozzle has this foam-like soft addition to the handle which keeps it cool out in the sun and I find that useful in the summer heat. Second, the construction of the nozzle is top quality, it does not feel loose or frail in my hand...its not overly light.
The water pressure dial in the back works great, and ensures that just enough water comes out if I want it too, I can also set it to a certain pressure of water and walk away to do something else while I prop the nozzle up and get plants watered. 

Overall a really nice product for under twelve dollars.

Name: 

Top Rated Garden Hose Nozzle by gardspo, best 9 settings hose nozzle that fits USA standard garden hose


Price: $11.97 with free two-day shipping on amazon.com for prime members

Get it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F25BYFM/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0


Monday, August 8, 2016

Review of the Mitaki LED Lantern

I love antiques and I would love to have a house filled with gaslights and old lace, but I do not think my modern need for electricity and the internet goes with it. 
So what do you do.... well I found this adorable little lantern that looks like a classic copper gaslight, but it is actually a battery powered adjustable LED light that runs on four AA batteries and only costs $11.95.


Look at this thing, I love it!!!
Usually when I get things to test out at a discount I talk about how functional they are and if they work...but I really love this and am so glad to add it to my office decor and on top of that, think of all its uses in cosplay or at Halloween. 

For $11.95 Amazon Prime members can get this with free two-day shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LD6GEWI/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_4

I am also going to include a video of me using the lamp so you can see the bright LED lantern and how it adjusts.



Saturday, July 23, 2016

Review: CNAAN Shea Butter Vanilla Patchouli Lavender

Did I find a proper way to say goodbye to the horrors of dry and scratchy summer skin???
Will this body butter actually appease someone who loathes lotion and really dislikes anything that is sticky or leaves a residue?
Does it actually smell like a mixture of vanilla, patchouli, and lavender....
Or is this another lotion/ cream that I buy and never use again....




Summer brings especially daunting challenges for people who want soft skin, but spend a great deal of time outside like I do. I do not particularly like body lotions and things along that line because they are greasy and do not absorb well. I decided to try this shea body butter instead of a traditional lotion to see if I could get added moisture without grease and containing sufficient absorbing power. What I found when I tried this butter was it was super thick...butter is the right description. That being said, it goes on rather easily without sticking and it absorbs quickly into the skin leaving no greasy residue and a soft and silky feeling on my skin. The lavender, vanilla, and patchouli mixture produces a really relaxing, warm, and pleasant smell that I adore. I really wish I could buy body spray or even a shower cleanser in this fragrance, it is that wonderful and one of the major draws of this product. Finally, this body butter is not a torrid collection of bad chemicals.... it is parabens and paraffin free, which means you get a soft and silky result more naturally. Overall I found the butter to be a great rescue for dry summer skin, still a bit thick for my likings, but I understand that the thickness is part of its appeal. 
This was an honest and unbiased review in exchange for receiving the body butter at a discounted price. 

For the price.... less than fifteen dollars, its really useful.

Item:
Shea Body Butter Enriched with Coconut Oil & Organic Shea Butter - Vanilla Patchouli Lavender - No Parabens, No Paraffins, No Sls/ Sles CNAAN - Made By Nature

Price: $13.99 with free two-day shipping for all amazon prime customers. 

GET IT HERE




Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Product Review: Lift Care Essential Oils Super Vitamin C+ Serum

I am thirty-nine years old now and no longer able to ignore the tiny signs of aging that have begun to pop up daily. For years, I have attempted to take care of my skin, but with oily and sensitive skin, a great many of the moisturizers out there just truly weigh my skin down and make the wrinkles I do have seem more noticeable and my skin droops in ways that I am not happy with. I have looked for new ways to keep my skin tight, youthful, and healthy without using something that essentially just sits on my skin and does nothing. I read a few other blogs talking about the usefulness of oils and serums, things that the skins absorbs at a faster rate and thus does not leave your skin heavy with product. One member of my family recommended serums that included Vitamin C and so I began to look. Today I am going to talk about my experience with a Super Vitamin C+ Serum released by Lift Care Essential Oils, I used it for about two weeks and had pretty positive results.


Item: Lift Care Essential Oils Super Vitamin C+ Serum
Where to find it: Amazon
Price:  $14.95 with free two-day shipping for all Amazon Prime subscribers
Link to Product: HERE




I found the serum to be smooth, quick absorbing, and not sticky... things I really worried about when trying the serum.  I  loathe things that linger on the skin and also things that make my skin feel sticky....who wants to walk through the summer heat with sticky skin all morning, not me.  This stuff goes on quick, absorbs without an issue and leaves no residue except a nice and fresh scent. I found my skin felt tighter and looked younger after application and truly think that adding a serum to my routine would be super beneficial.

I also found that having a serum that is filled with natural ingredients and organic ones made me feel more comfortable and less worried about harmful chemicals.

I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.


Thursday, July 14, 2016

PainAway Essential Oil Review

As someone who experiences joint pain on a daily basis because of my over decade struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have often tried things that do not deliver on really helping the pain, that being said... sometimes massage oils and other types of home remedies do help temporarily relieve tension after a long day at work or after a run.




The PainAway essential oil from Phytopia's Clinical Collection is 99% organic and is a mix of natural essential oils that help relieve pain and tension which include lemon, lavender, and citronella.  This results in a great smelling and effective massage oil.

and it comes in a lovely package.

PainAway Essential Massage Oil is 1.69oz for $39.99 with free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime customers. 
GET IT HERE

Lovely scent, wonderful packaging, here is my detailed review.



As I said in the video, I found the massage oil great for temporary relief after a day at work or exercise, it is not something that I would recommend as a treatment, but as an addition to your pain routine....something that smells wonderful, feels cool and tingly, and relaxes you while you try to deal with daily aches and pains.
I also really think this should be pushed as a gift item, the packaging is so lovely and of high quality...time and effort was put into this and I think anyone would find a gift like this wonderful.  Maybe for a bride to be, a mother to be, or even someone recovering after an illness. 

So relaxing and pretty...with a lovely scent. 


This was a product test, I received this item at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 

Monday, July 11, 2016

Review: AYL Bluetooth All Weather Sports Speaker

Ok, let's face it... the speaker on your phone sucks and sometimes you want something louder than a whisper. This is my constant problem... when I am outdoors, when I am running, when I am cleaning the house and streaming on my phone or ipad I want a louder and durable speaker. The AYL Speaker is great for all of those things and what I love about it is how sturdy and strong it is. It is not super light because it is ready to take damage and it is water resistant, and it has an arm strap if you want to take it running, but for me it was too heavy for that.  
The speaker comes with an easy to use button interface on the top that is water resistant and easy to use, not like some one button speakers that are too weak.
Also, I think the plug for the AC adapter and the plug for the USB are great so you can charge and use at the same time.

I also found the price to be super pleasing. 

38.99 for something so easy to use and durable.

Another aspect I really like is the fact that it has a super long charge.  When I charged it for a few hours, I got an all day charge without issue and was able to stream, listen to music, do whatever I want for just a few hours of charging, awesome!

You can get the AYL speaker at Amazon.com
It is $38.99 with free Prime two-day shipping.
GET IT HERE


This was an unbias, honest, and not paid review of an item I received at a discounted price in exchange for testing and review. I was not paid for this review.


Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Product Review: The Bright Outdoors Bike Light

Bicycle Safety includes looking out for yourself in every situation, even if you are going to use your bike at night. 
For this... a durable and reliable bike light is a MUST.

Today I am looking at a USB recharging and multi-use bike light by the folks at Bright Outdoors.

This Bike Light comes with a bonus taillight and head torch band, making the lights more useful than just one single function and enabling the biker to cater the bike light to their own personal routine. 

The Lights are USB chargeable. 
They use LED power
They are water resistant
and they have a multitude of brightness modes to fit your needs.
six to be exact....
These lights are very simple to use and install, they have easy to use attachments that can snugly fit on a bike and be removed with ease, thus you do not have to worry about fumbling with a hard to use attachment in order to get the right bike light at the time of need.

All you have to do is...
Plug in your light via USB and charge them.
Attach the silicone straps to the location on the bicycle that you want to use.
To start using the main light you use the red button to choose between functions and then hold down the red button to turn the light off.
If you want to use the light as a head torch you simply attach it to the head apparatus and go.
The silicone straps are sturdy and snug, ensuring that you have a tight fit that will not move during vigorous runs.

The Light beams with 200 lumens and will last up to six hours on a two hour charge.

The Bright Outdoors Bike Light only costs $14.95 with free two-day shipping for all amazon Prime customers.
Get it HERE



I received this bike light at a discounted price in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion, I was not paid for this review.