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

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

Link: CLICK HERE

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

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

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Product Review: The Fineway Synthetic Black Leather Wallet and Clutch

I like simplistic and classic designs because I do not like changing purses or wallets often. This Synthetic Black Leather wallet by Fineway meets the demand of simplicity with a classic design while also being compact, organized, and encompassing a great deal of utility.
I found the wallet to be soft, well made, and also able to hold a great deal in a compact space, which I like because I want organization and nothing bulky.
The wallet features 18 pockets for cards, two open pockets and one zipped pocket for change and loose items.  Everything a woman needs in a wallet.
I like its small size and its sleek design, but if you like wild colors, the wallet is available in a variety of colors. 
What is more...the wallet is affordable.

Only $12.99 on amazon

Very classic looking in black

I also did a youtube video on the wallet, to illustrate the compact and well made features better.

Product: Fineway Leather Synthetic Black Compact Wallet

Price: $12.99 with Free Shipping

GET IT HERE

This has been a product review. The makers of the wallet provided a sample of the wallet in exchange for my honest and unbiased review of the product, I was not paid for this review. 

Product Review: The Philonext Bike Lock Cable with LED light

We all live in a world where the safety of our belongings are not promised when left unattended and thus we need things to secure that safety. I bike for exercise purposes, but I also do not want to worry if I decide to walk or do other things, thus needing to leave my bike unattended. What I needed was a strong, easy to use, and reliable bike lock and I found one. 

As you can see the lock cable is thick and strong, the package also comes with a mount for your bike if you  need to do so and it is also easy to install with simple screws. 

The combination is very easy to set. All you have to do is turn the dial on the inside of the lock, set your combination, and then turn it back to its original location to set the lock.... its great. 

Simple instructions on how to use the lock are on the back of the package. 

Simple and sturdy is the way to go with this product. In addition, the small button on the front of the bike lock enables you to light up the combination screen, thus providing an added safety feature if you have to lock or unlock your bike in the dark.

The Lock is inexpensive, durable, and easy to use.

Check out my video!

You can get this great lock for less than 20 dollars on Amazon.

Product: Philonext Bike Lock Cable with LED light

Price: $17.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime customers

GET IT HERE

This was an unbiased and honest review of a product I received at a discount in exchange for testing and reviewing, I was not paid for this review. 

An Affordable and Very Useful High-Quality Lavender Oil

Majestic Pure Lavender Essential Oil Product Review

This is therapeutic grade oil that comes in a 4 oz bottle

Lavender is one of my most favorite fragrances. It is floral, medicinal, clean, and also reminds me of a breezy spring day. I grow two types of lavender in my personal garden and use it in cooking, cleaning, as well as personal care. I always have Lavender Oil on hand to add to oil burners, add to cleaning products, or to create body creams and soaks because of the relaxing and fresh fragrance lavender provides.

Some oils can be super expensive and so if you are going to buy oil to use in your home, you want something affordable and effective.  The Majestic Pure Lavender Oil works very well. The concentration is perfect and it is affordable. Only a few drops to an oil burner will last for hours.  You can also add drops to your cleaners to add a great smell to your home. I apply a few drops to my air filters in my home and it really creates a brisk and fresh scent that lasts for up to a week...with only a few drops. 

For personal use, you can mix the essential oil to coconut oil and add a few drops to your bath each day to have a relaxing soak that provides a soothing end to a stressful day.

The bottle also includes a variety of uses for the oil, which I recommend them all.
#MPLavenderoil

Great uses for the oil

If you are looking for an inexpensive but pure and potent Lavender Essential Oil, this will do the job.

Their page on amazon also has instructional videos that guide you through a variety of uses for your oil, so I encourage you to check it out.

Price: $14.95 with free two day shipping for all amazon.com Prime membership holders.

Get it HERE

This is an honest and unbiased review of the Majestic Pure Lavender Essential Oil. The folks at Majestic Pure have provided a sample of the lavender oil in exchange for my honest and unbiased review of the product, I was not paid for this product test. 

Review of the Urban Active Running Belt

The Urban Active Running Belt

If you are looking for a running belt that works well, has a multi-functional dimension, and a see through screen on the front of the belt so you can access your Iphone 6 or 6 Plus. I am going to feature here the running belt I have been using over the past week.

The Urban Active Running Belt has a number of wonderful features that makes your running/outside experience easier.

1. The belt is comfortable, padded, and adjustable.  At the same time the belt proves to be snug and does not sag. The belt itself is wide and provides a great deal of stability. The front portion of the belt is padded and meshed against your clothing/skin so it is comfortable, breathes, and does not soak your belongings.

2. The plastic locks on the belt are secure and functional, well made.

3. There are a number of pockets on the belt that enable the running or outdoor enthusiast to keep multiple items with them while enjoying said activities. There is a front pocket that has a sealed enclosure that features a clear plastic front, perfect for your phone's touch screen so you can enjoy music and use your fitness apps while running or working outside. There is a second pocket on the inside of the belt that zips up, which is a good place for keys sunblock, lip balm, and other running items. Moreover there are two small pockets on each side of the major compartment that would be good for keys, jewelry, or other items. 

4. The belt is well put together and of immaculate quality, meaning you will not need to replace it quickly.  What makes that better, it is affordable, at $14.95.

Finally the belt comes with two freebies...

some adjustable shoes strings for running shoes and an ebook on running in an urban environment. 

Here is a link to the youtube video I did on the belt:

CLICK HERE

#urbanbelt is an awesome running belt and I use it for other outside activities as well. HTTPS://www.amz.one/p/runningbelt

A photo posted by Shonda Wilson (@lucindawst) on Jun 13, 2016 at 4:56am PDT

So to get this belt you can go to Amazon
So  the Running belt is $14.95 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members.
The Link is HERE

Valentia Even Glow Serum Review

Thank goodness for Summer right? I have some free time on my hands and the ability to spend it with this awesome little toddler who wants to go from the moment he wakes up until he falls into bed exhausted every night. This makes me feel young, but the added time in the sun does not make my skin look young!

Now I take all of the proper precautions...sunscreen, an overwhelmingly attractive outdoor hat (you know you want one) and some skin rituals that keep my face feeling soft and smooth without adding to the fine lines that appear as we all get a bit older. 

Today I am going to talk about the Valentia Even Glow Serum which has a 20% Vitamin C boost. The Valentia Serum claims to 
Even Skin Tone
Increase Glow and Radiance
Absorb Rapidly
Boost Collagen Production
And
Reduce Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Did it do the job?

First... let me say that this serum was a delight to actually put on. I LOVE the smell, fresh oranges... it is fantastic.  On top of that the serum goes on lightly, absorbs quickly, and does not leave a problematic residue like some serums leave. I used this with my morning routine after a shower so I applied the serum right after getting out.  Within a minute or two my skin was dry, tight, and softer.  I was also able to apply my moisturizer without any problems. 
Moreover, I have sensitive skin and this vitamin C serum DID NOT agitate it...that's right, my super sensitive skin was able to absorb this serum without any problems...yay!

I think a Serum like Valentia is a major bonus addition to a summer skincare process, especially if you are going to spend a lot of time outside and you worry about skin safety.  I think it refreshed my skin and left it feeling soft and amazing.

The Serum 1.18 Fl Oz

A great scent and good thickness without being sticky

Now How does it work???

Pre-application, dry and very noticed cracked skin.

Do not use a ton here...

I used a small amount on the hand.

How about Results????

After one  use you see a difference...less lines, softer looking and fuller skin.

I found the valentia serum to be pleasant, quick absorbing, and functional.  I think this is a good serum and a great addition to anyone's skincare. 

Product: Valentia Even Glow Serum Vitamin C 20%

Price: $25.00 with free two day shipping for anyone who has Amazon Prime.

Get it here: VALENTIA SERUM

This was an honest and unbiased review of a product. The Maker of this product offered a sample of the serum in exchange for a product test and an honest and unbiased review, I was not paid for this review.