Category Archives: Reviews

Kitty Shack Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Interact Marketing for Kitty Shack. This post may have affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Kitty Shack Review

Anyone who is a regular reader of our review will know that we love our cats, Maggee and Murfee. Our house is very cat friendly with high up places to sleep, down low places to sleep, toys in many corners and many things dangle for them to bat at.

I am always looking for a soft thing to put on the floor to add to their comfort. I have tried cat beds that you get at the local pet stores, and they become toy holders. I have tried a homemade thick quilted bed, as well as a fleece dog bed with no interest from them whatsoever. So when I received the Kitty Shack I was not very hopeful.

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Nielsen-Massey Vanillas – Vanilla Extract Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. This post may have affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas – Vanilla Extract Review and Giveaway

When I was a teenager one of my favorite things to do was bake. I would always invite one of my two best friends over to my house, and that is where they would stay. My friends would come home with me on a Friday afternoon and go to school with me Monday mornings. I grew up an only child, so this gave me a feeling that I had two sisters. During the weekend it was inevitable that we would bake cookies or a cake – it was constant. I have gotten older I no longer have those weekend long slumber parties (do doubt a relief to Jason). The other thing I no longer do it bake every weekend. This lack of baking is not because I do not enjoy it, but more that life gets in the way.

These days the only baking that gets done is the occasional cookies – which usually involved assistance from Jason. There is an exception to this and that time is approaching – the holidays! Each year I bake an assortment of breads for our family and friends to enjoy. This year I am moving on from my generic vanilla I normally use.

I recently received a 2 ounce bottle of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla by Nielson-Massey Vanillas. This vanilla is Non-GMO, Kosher, gluten-free, all-natural and allergen free. This is a pure vanilla extract that is made using their proprietary cold extraction technique. The cold extraction technique that is used draws out the over 300 flavor compounds, while preserving the vanilla. This pure extract is available in 2 oz., 4 oz., 8 oz., and an industrial size 32 oz bottles.

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Earnest Eats Review

Earnest Eats Review and Giveaway

As I review blogger I get items for review in a variety of ways that range from press releases to simple pitches from companies. While these are the most common ways I acquire my review items, there is another way.

One night Jason and I were sitting around watching Food Network, as we often do. A new show came on called Food Fortunes and one of the companies featured was Earnest Eats. The gave the panel a sample of their hot and fit cereal. The product looked so good on television that I decided to reach out for a sample.

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Smead Office Supplies Review

Smead – Redrope Tuff File Pocket and 3-in-1 SuperTab Section Folder Review

I have always loved the idea of organization and office supplies. When I was young my idea of a fun time was sorting items into colors, or themes and then placing them for display. When I got older I discovered the world of office supplies and was amazed that there were entire stores dedicated to this.

My father worked from home while I was growing up, so the need for organization and the utilization of office supplies were essential. The most difficult part was when the file folders tore and no longer served their function in life. The files that I had to reorganize were thick and not strong enough for the amount of paper work contained in them.

When I recently received the Smead Redrope TUFF File Pockets and the 3-in-1 SuperTab Section Folder. I remembered those frustrating days of reorganization.

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Savannah Bee Company Review

Savannah Bee Company Review and Giveaway

I am a fan of honey- the best is when at the bottom of hot tea the hunk of honey! My father swears by Manuka honey from everything from scratches to burns. Jason and I are much more skeptical and tend to buck against fads and the like, which honey tends to fall into. The reality is that once I began looking at all the things that honey can be used for, I am left wondering if there is anything that honey can NOT do?

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Crafting with Wood Pallets Review

Crafting with Wood Pallets Review and Giveaway

If you are anything like me, you have not given wood pallets much more then a passing thought. When I brought this topic up to Jason he almost laughed while confirming that yes, in fact he knew about pallets and they were more then a passing thought in his world.

When Jason was younger, apparently much younger, he would rally his friends together and they would go to a secluded area known as Spooks Canyon. Now remember this was in the day BEFORE cell phones, email and mass messaging so this really was a feat when anywhere from 50-100 people would show up. In a secluded area the need for fire sustainment is essential and since Jason had a truck he was the official wood pallet collector. Over the years he estimates that he had gathered and used close to 1,000 pallets if not more.

Naturally when I recently received the new book by Becky Lamb entitled “Crafting with Wood Pallets: Projects for Rustic Furniture, Decor, Art, Gifts and More” I remembered the stories of Jason’s pallet collection days. While different and much more usable then Jason’s use of pallets, this new book shows the reader over 25 different ideas to re-purpose a wood pallet.

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My Paper Pumpkin October 2015 Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of My Paper Pumpkin/Stamping Up, but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

My Paper Pumpkin October 2015 Kit Review and Giveaway

I have mentioned that I have been personally affected by breast cancer, as most of us have. The moment that you discover somebody you love has breast cancer, is a life changing moment. The life change effects not only the cancer patient but everybody around them.

Jason had his own life changing moment approximately 2 months after we began dating. Jason and I were driving and he received a call from a fellow family member telling him that another close family member had been diagnosed with stage 4 Breast Cancer. Ahead of him was a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of worries – all the while balancing a new relationship and falling in love – a conflict of emotions to say the least.

Due to Jason’s close connection to the breast cancer cause and due to my connection to breast cancer, we support the many breast cancer organizations and awareness agencies. So it goes without saying that I was thrilled with this months My Paper Pumpkin box.

The first thing that I noticed was that the box was not its typical red color, but a bright pink! On the opening flap was the Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon and the words “Together we make a difference”. Also included in this months box was a flyer stating that for every subscriber they donated $1.00 and an additional $1.00 if this was your first month receiving the monthly box to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation,

I had the chance to review My Paper Pumpkin’s kit box’s previous months box (click here). I was excited to be given the chance to review this months box as well. The box for October was called “Blissful Bouquet”.

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Zotos Professional 180PRO Review

Zotos Professional 180PRO Review and Giveaway

I have been lucky, overall, with my hair over the years. Despite my constant drastic coloring changes and my near constant perming when I was young, my hair looks good today. I am lucky that a “hair” over 40 my hair looks good.

The one major complaint that I have is I have always had a problem with frizz. When I was young I mistakenly brushed my hair with a perm (I will pause for you to imagine that), and I believed once I stopped that foolish practice I would no longer suffer from frizz. Since I am all about the honesty, I will say that it looked as though I stuck my finger in a light socket!

Since I still have frizzy hair most days, I am constantly looking for something that will keep the shine but remove the frizz. I was recently sent a new combination system that might just help the frizz – Zotos Professionals Smooth + Soft Recovery Discovery Kit.

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Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription – October 2015 Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of GeekFuel.com. This post may have affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription – October 2015 Review

Back in 1985 I was a mere 10 years old, but I knew who Michael J. Fox was and knew that he had a movie coming out – Back to the Future. I saw this movie about a year after release (remember back then movies took a while to come out on VHS). I feel instantly in love with this and the excitement I felt when I saw there would be a 2nd, was something I had never experienced before.

I remember seeing Back To The Future 2 in the theater. I remember wondering if 2015 would really be what they imagined it to be (remember that it was 30 years in the future). I doubted we would have flying cars, but could see a dynamic newspaper that changed headlines as the event was unfolding. I also knew that they would have retro restaurants that were throw backs to the 1980’s.

Needless to say I am excited that the date Marty and Doc traveled to is approaching and this was included in this months Geek Fuel Monthly Subscription Box. If you are looking for a wide range of geek items, the monthly subscription box from Geek Fuel. When I received the October 2015 themed box and as I usually have been in previous months, I was eager to see what it contained. It had been announced that there would be an Officially Licensed product in the October box. Included in this months box was the following:

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Hand-Lettering for Everyone: A Creative Workbook Review

Hand-Lettering for Everyone: A Creative Workbook Review and Giveaway

Anyone who has read my reviews in the past knows that I am not only a Scrapbooker and card maker but I am a big believer in the art of handwritten cards and invitations. As time passes I notice more and more how younger generations rely on computers and phones as ways of communication. The alternative to this is handwriting and handwritten notes and invitations. I have also noticed a trend that penmanship of the younger generations is lacking while typing skill are increasing. There is an entire art of handwriting and the options within are as endless as they are creative.

It appears as though I am not the only person that feels this way. I recently received the new book by Cristina Vanko titled “Hand-Lettering for Everyone: A Creative Workbook“. This new book has over 220 pages of exercises to get you thinking creatively about your hand-lettering.

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