Books, History, Food, Politics, and Life

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

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.










Monday, June 20, 2016

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

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. 



Sunday, June 19, 2016

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


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. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

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. 






Monday, June 13, 2016

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:




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


Friday, June 10, 2016

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. 






Tuesday, June 7, 2016

An Affordable Shadow Palette

I have found over the past year that I wear makeup less. This probably has to do with the fact that I spend most of my time trying to manage a toddler...
That being said....
There are nights I want to put a bit of makeup on and have a nice evening out and so I looked for a neutral eye shadow palette that was both versatile and inexpensive and I found it....


w7's In The Buff: Lightly Toasted provides a variety of color, great quality, and an inexpensive alternative to higher end shadow collections.
I can apply this shadow before going out and it remains fresh for hours. The color options are varied while also providing a good nude base. I do not do loud colors a lot, but that does not mean I do not want a bit of choice and this collection, as you can see, goes from very light to very dark with matte and sheer options.
The brush is a dual end applicator that includes a traditional brush and a sponge end. I found this very helpful depending on the look I wanted.
I paid under eight dollars for this palette and I cannot be happier.

If you want a palette for yourself:  GET IT HERE

This was an unsolicited review of an item I purchased at full price.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Product Review: The 15x9 Bamboo Cutting Board by Naturelle Living

Today we are going to be looking at a very vital kitchen utensil that every house should have.
A good quality and reliable cutting board is something that any home cook should not ever go without and some can be problematic and expensive.

Today I am going to look at a well made and affordable alternative to more expensive varieties.

Item:

Naturelle Living's 15x9 Bamboo Cutting Board

Price: $14.99 with free two-day shipping for all amazon prime customers.

GET IT HERE

 Here is my Review:

I found the board to be sturdy, durable, well-made, and perfect for almost every cutting job. The dug in wells around the boarder of the board ensure that each kitchen task will be mess free and nothing will escape the board and spill onto counters, this is a GREAT addition.



This was a product test. The item reviewed was provided at no cost by the maker in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.