Category Archives: Reviews

Boca Ball Review

Boca Ball Review and Giveaway

I often mention that bloggers get many unique opportunities thrown their way, and a recent delivery I received exemplifies this fact perfectly. More often than not the post office leaves keys in the smaller box for the larger delivery boxes. This particular day I did not think much of the small key for the larger box scenario, since it is a common occurrence as a blogger.

As I opened the mail box I was expecting a square or rectangle box, and what I discovered was in fact a round colorful ball.

I received a handmade ball from Boca Ball, and I can tell you it brightened my day!

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Avery Easy Align Self-Laminating ID Labels Review

Avery Easy Align Self-Laminating ID Labels Review and Giveaway

I am an organizer at heart. I love the thought that everything has its place and when I acquire more of something, it also has a home. Many times I put things in boxes, but then I forget to label what is in the box, and then I end up with 3 boxes of the same type items. This frustrates me to no end, and I have yet to find a solution that I am happy with. I have tried paper labels, and I find that over time they not only peel off but they start to look dirty. I have long wished that I could wipe the surface of the label and keep it adhered to the surface.

I am excited to say I might have found a solution to this organizing plight – the Avery Easy Align Self-Laminating ID Labels.

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Sun Bum Hair Care Review

Sun Bum Shampoo and Conditioner Review and Giveaway

Sometimes it is easy to forget how lucky I am. I was lucky to grow up less than 5 miles from the beach, and now as a homeowner I live a mere 1/4 mile from one of the most world renowned beaches in the United States.

The ocean is a vast and quite the mystery. The mystery being an answer to a question that is always being asked. On breezy days we can smell the saltwater coming off the ocean and feel the ocean breeze. My neighbors are all a decade or younger than my husband and I, and spend their days as mermen and mermaids. Despite this age divide we have one common thread, our mutual respect for the ocean.

As a kid that grew up so close to the ocean, I often had sun bleached hair that tended towards white the early part of life. As I have gotten older, I take much better care of my hair, but I still worry about sun damage and those relentless UV rays. I rarely use additional product and I let my hair air dry, but it really starts with my shampoo and conditioner. I recently received a bottle of Sun Bum Shampoo and Conditioner.

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Cat Lady Box Monthly Subscription Review: January 2016

Cat Lady Box Monthly Subscription Review and Giveaway – January 2016

Jason and I love our cats, there is no denying this. If you were to pick up either of our phones there are more cat photos than human photos.

Our cats are these big personalities packed in little bodies. Murfee has a personality that mirrors my personality and Maggee mirrors Jason. Jason can roll with the punches, and is always calm and that describes our Maggee perfectly. Murfee is always on alert and jumps when he hears a loud noise – just like his human momma.

We have a lot of fun around here dissecting their personalities and comparing them to each of us and wondering what we are accurate about and what is just dreaming. We think they know their names, but really they know their tones, but I swear when they come up to us, they are conveying pure love. I am proud to be a cat mom to these two awesome little creatures, and tell them so each day.

This months Cat Lady Box was an ode to the “cat lady”. Each month the box is wonderfully put together and is “absolutely pawsome”. I say it every month and each month I mean it, each month it is just as good as the previous month, (see previous reviews here). The box exterior continues with the new box design and looked different then the previous printed and stamped versions. I loved being greeted by the black tissue paper and sticker, as I unfurled my package I was filled with excitement!

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Zero Water Ready Pour Review

Zero Water: 12-Cup Ready Pour Review

It is funny how you can live with a person for years and each day still learn something about them. I recently had this happen with Jason and water. As long as I have known him he has drank a bunch of water, but usually we have it filtered. We recently began purchasing 16 ounce bottles of water and, as it turns out my water drinker is not much of a bottle water drinker.

As it turns out he much prefers the filtered version from a water pitcher. As for me, as long as I have a version of water in the house I am happy. Jason tends to drink a lot more water than me, and when he is sick he triples his water intake. We have been talking about getting a water pitcher with a filter. We have limited space in our refrigerator so the more capacity and less space was a reason for our selectiveness.

We have been reading reviews (yes, even reviewers read reviews) and were beginning to close in on a decision that made both of us happy and met our stringent requirements. I have said before that being a review blogger and timing often coincide, and this is one of those times. I received an offer to review Zero Water’s 12 cup Ready Pour filter, and thought this might be the answer to our wish list.

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Coloring Flower Mandalas Review

Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation Review and Giveaway

Growing up in California I have been lucky enough to have sun and flowers around me nearly year round. I live close to a flower field, and lucky for us, it is on our regular drive most days. When the flowers are in bloom it is a beautiful and breath-taking and a miracle of nature. The colors range from reds, to oranges, blues, purples and my favorite – the yellows. I will admit that the flowers do get my attention and sometimes can lose me in thought.

With the growing trend of adult coloring books I love to see a flower and mandalas themed book. The book entitled Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation by Wendy Piersall takes the combination of flowers and mandalas and makes them one gorgeous image!

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Pet Gift Box: Cat Subscription Box – January 2016 Review

Pet Gift Box – Cat – Subscription Box – January 2016 Review

There is no denying that we are a football home. From our San Diego Charger themed decorations to what team we root for. I never imagined that I would care much about football much less about what the result of the Super Bowl turns out to be. The big news for San Diego fans is that despite much concern, many comments and discussions to the contrary, the Chargers will be in San Diego for the 2016 season. This came as a collective exhale from the cities residents, and while 2016 is figured out, the future is still up in air for the Chargers.

Since I was in San Diego, the NFL Owners was shown and updated – this put me on edge until the end. The unintended result was that the stress i was feeling was passed on to the cats. I did not realize the undo stress they were also feeling while i was on edge. It got me thinking that despite my excitement, at times the yelling “touchdown” and the screaming about an interception can cause animals undo stress due to not knowing if the yelling is at them or the box in front of them.

Despite the momentary fear that I might put in the cats, I am still a yelling proud San Diego Fan. In this months PetGiftBox they celebrate that pigskin tradition that is celebrated over 16 Sunday’s a year.

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Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs Review

Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs: 300 Natural Recipes for Luxurious Soaks Review and Giveaway

About 4 years ago Jason and I bought our first home! We live in what we call our “shrinky dink” house – which is a quite appropriate. The reason for the name is imagine a house with an upper deck and a big front porch and all the indoor living areas as per typical of a house. Now imagine shrinking the house into a quarter of its intended size and you have our home.

We have all the modern conveniences, short of a bathtub. I never imagined I would miss the bathtub as much as I do, but honestly it is missed deeply. Since I lost that one luxury of life, I now spoil my friends that do have a bathtub with assorted bath bombs and soaks.

I have wanted to find a master book that has natural remedies and natural scents to cure the ails of getting older. When I received Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs: 300 Natural Recipes for Luxurious Soaks by Kate Bello I was excited.

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Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription – January 2016 Review

Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription – January 2016 Review

Since I live in San Diego each year we have the geek universe descend upon us in the form of the yearly Comic Convention or Comic-Con as San Diegan’s call it. I was lucky enough to be able to attend “Con” back in the early 90’s when it was more comic book driven, and less big budget.

I think back on these early days, and I realize how far i have come in my geek evolution. Back in the early 90’s the big budget movies were the only ones that I really cared about. Now I appreciate the art, the cinema and story behind some of the smaller movies. I also now realize the talent and effort involved in creating the comics. Also back in those early days, the role-playing world was represented which worked well for me since my friends were role-players.

I have mentioned in the past that I am a nostalgic person. I often I wish I could travel back and watch and attend that first “Con” with the knowledge I have today. Each month I get my education expanded when I receive the monthly Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription Box celebrates those cartoon days. I was eager to open this months box and as with previous months I was eager to see what the box contained and I was not disappointed.

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Culinary Corner Review

Culinary Corner: Spatula, Silicone Mat and Ice Ball Review and Giveaway

I readily admit that I am not much of a meal chef, but I am a baker. When I was a teenager my best friends and I would always make cookies late at night. I am not sure where or when this tradition started, but it stayed throughout our high school career.

Sadly those days are about 25 years behind me, but what is not behind me is my love of baking. I love baking so much that each year during the holidays I volunteer to make the bread that will be broken at our table. I know that sounds a little over dramatic for bread, but it is important to put love and care into the foods that we share.

An important element in cooking is the utensils that are used and the care taken combining and cooking the ingredients. I love to try new products and since I am still beginning to build my collection I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to review a couple of Culinary Corner’s products.

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