Sleeve Stars elbow sleeve

I received this Sleeve Stars Premium Elbow Sleeve free in exchange for an honest review.

I actually got this for my sister because she broke her elbow 13 years ago. She doesn't believe that it's been thirteen years since it happened, but I know that it has. The story behind how she broke her elbow is actually pretty funny. She had just gotten a new puppy and she was walking around carrying him at my dad's old body shop when she tripped forward and almost fell on the puppy. So, to avoid injuring her new puppy she put her elbow out to break her fall and instead she broke her elbow. I wasn't there when it happened, but I did get to hear about it many time afterwards. It was actually a few days before anyone believed it was broken so she didn't get it set right away and it ended up healing wrong. So now her elbow is pretty messed up and she sometimes uses elbow compression to help with it.

So anyway, on to the review! Okay, so I ordered the smallest sized elbow sleeve they had and it was actually still a bit too big for her to wear but she's really small so that's not surprising. As for comfort level, she said it was pretty comfortable and easy to forget that it's on. It didn't have the weird smell some similar items have either. Though the sleeve was a little to loose on her upper arm it didn't seem to slide down or move around on its own even when being very active.

Handmade Chocolate Ebook review

I received a free copy of the ebook Handmade Chocolate in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE chocolate. It's my favorite food. If I could I would eat chocolate everyday. So of course I jumped at the opportunity for a free ebook full of chocolate recipes. The book isn't all that good, though. It needs to be edited by a professional. All books should be professionally edited prior to publishing, even ebooks. One recipe in the book uses the measurement "spoons" multiple times. Not teaspoons, not tablespoons, just spoons. That is not a valid measurement at all. I have a lot of spoons and they are all different sizes. That's a pretty big error to overlook, in my opinion. Another editing error is mixing units. Some measurements are in metric units and some in imperial units. That doesn't make any sense, choose either metric or imperial and stick with it.

Now, on to the recipes themselves. There aren't very many in this book, which is fine if you're buying it at the ebook price but if you're paying the full prices for the print edition it is definitely overpriced. Recipes similar to the ones in this book are widely available online, and they stick to one unit of measurements which makes it much easier to follow them.

But what about the most important part? How do the chocolates actually taste when made? Well, the answer is they're okay. Of course, the quality of the chocolates will depend on the quality of ingredients you use. So using quality ingredients is a must. Compared to other similar recipes available online the chocolates from this book are no better or worse.

B-Complex with B-12 Tablets

I received this B-Complex with B-12 Tablets for free in exchange for an honest review.

Vitamin supplements are a great product for people who don't eat a properly balanced diet, and I've been doing very poorly at healthy eating of late so I figured I might as well add some more vitamin boost to my day. I'm still breastfeeding my baby, so I'm still taking my prenatals which meant I had to verify that the combination would not result in over dosing on any one vitamin. After verifying that the combo was safe I also checked to make sure there were no ingredients in the b complex that were contraindicated for breastfeeding and got an all clear on the safety front. As for efficacy, I can't be completely certain of that because I haven't had them long enough to know but they seem to help a bit. The last two weeks or so have been very stressful and difficult for me and the rest of my family. I haven't had any more energy than usual since I started taking the b complex but I haven't had any less energy either, which is saying something considering that I haven't been able to get much sleep recently. So I will go ahead and say that I believe the vitamins are helping at least a little.

The issue I take with this product is that they use such a large bottle for such a small quantity of pills. I realize that is sort of an industry standard practice, but it's really deceptive. Yes, if a consumer reads the bottle they know how many pills/doses are in it, but we also know that not everyone reads the bottle that thoroughly before making a purchase and having the bottle be so unreasonably large simply seems like a tactic to dupe rushed customers.

As for the actual vitamins. Well, they smell terrible, but that's not too uncommon with vitamins. And they leave a bad taste in my mouth but that's pretty much standard for vitamins, in my experience. The pills are small which makes them easy to swallow, always a nice bonus when it comes to pills.

So, would I buy these pills myself? I'm not sure. On the one hand, the pills are small and easy to swallow, which is a boon for anyone who hates taking pills (like me). On the other hand, I'm am greatly annoyed by the deceptive size of the pill bottle and a part of me believes that companies that try to swindle customers like this should be avoided. But is that annoyance enough to completely steer me away from this brand? I'm going to have to say that no, it is not enough to dissuade me from using this brand. It is annoying but not harmful, and the price is still reasonable for the amount of doses you receive. So, yes, I would buy this product. And if you, dear readers, are in need of a vitamin B supplement I would recommend it to you as well.

Raising Boy by Design review

I received a free copy of the book Raising Boys By Design in exchange for an honest review. You can buy the book at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. As of the writing of this review Amazon has the lowest price for the book.

Well, let's start off with a little disclaimer here: This is a religious book and I am not a religious person. Now, that doesn't mean I can't provide an honest review. So, now on to the review!

The first thing about this book that really struck me was chapter 2 because of the horrendously ignorant and terrible advice the authors give in chapter 2. You see, at the end of chapter 2 the authors discuss "brain disorders" which they specify means autism, ADD/ADHD, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, and male-oriented depression. That's all fine and well, but then they go on to state that except in "extreme" cases these conditions should never be diagnosed in children under 7 years of age. WTF!? As the mother of an autistic son this pisses me off more than words can explain. Early diagnosis gives you and your child more time to find services they may need to succeed in life. Early diagnosis also gives you more time to learn how to effectively advocate for your child and teach them to advocate for themselves. The world is a very ableist place and it can take some time to learn how to navigate the ups and downs of disability advocacy and to put together a team of educators and medical professionals who actually want to help your child succeed rather than marginalize and silence them. If you love your child do not put off getting them an evaluation or diagnosis just because some ignorant authors think you should. The authors of this book should feel extremely ashamed of themselves for providing such truly horrendous advice to parents.

On the topic of disability in this book, another thing the authors do terribly wrong in this book is associate autism with violence. Now, it is true that autistic kids can be aggressive if their needs are not being met and/or they are being mistreated by their caregivers (which is very common, unfortunately). The reality is that autistic people are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Trying to associate autistic children with aggressive and violent behavior directly contributes to the murder and abuse of autistic children at the hands of caregivers. The authors of this book are contributing to the murder of children by making this false association. And the idea of not diagnosing depression when it first becomes apparent is part of the reason teen and pre-teen suicide rates are going up. The disgusting and ignorant ideas the authors have regarding disability in boys made it very difficult for me to read the rest of this book.

I did my best to read the rest of the book, even though the ableism in chapter 2 made me angry and showed clearly that the authors are ignorant about raising children. All I really got from the rest of the book is a bunch of gender stereotypes. It seems these authors really think that gender stereotypes should be enforced because of "god." There is one chapter supposedly about sexuality, but it's really just about puberty.

All in all, this is not a good book. If you're looking for a book that reinforces gender stereotypes and intermixes bible quotes this book is what you're after. If, however, you are looking a book with advice on how to successfully raise a well adjusted and healthy boy who won't become an inmate, look elsewhere because this book isn't it.

Neutralyze Moderate To Severe Acne Treatment Kit review

I received the Neutralyze Moderate To Severe Acne Treatment Kit (30 Day) for free in exchange for an honest review. You can receive 25% off this or any other product in the Neutralyze store with code 25REVIVE.

As an adult who still experiences breakouts I thought this would be a good product for me to sample. I do have very dry and sensitive skin so I'm pretty cautious about what products I put on my skin, especially my face. The Neutralyze products were to harsh for my skin causing me to break out worse than usual so I couldn't continue using them. I tried letting Zach use it, since he's just now starting to have acne issues and his skin isn't dry or sensitive like mine. He needs to be reminded to wash his face and I have to assist with the other two steps but it does seem to be cutting down on his breakouts even though he isn't using it as regularly as is recommended on the box.So it does work pretty good, and I would imagine it works even better when used 2x daily as recommended.

I like that the products don't have weird or bad odors, although the serum does have a pretty noticeable alcohol smell but it's not as bad as some of the products I have tried in the past. It also feels nice on your skin, though as I mentioned it did dry out my skin afterwards causing me to need more moisturizer than usual. The company is pretty quick to get back to customers if you need to contact them for any reason, which as a customer I always appreciate.

I would definitely recommend this brand's products to friends and family, as well as any other acne sufferers looking for relief. It obviously isn't as strong as prescription acne treatments, but it is effective for moderate acne. I think this product is perfect for acne sufferers with oily skin.

Sleeve Stars Premium Knee Sleeve Support review

I received this Sleeve Stars Premium Knee Sleeve Support for free in exchange for an honest review.



As everyone who knows me (or who has read the blog) knows, I was in the army when I was younger and I received a medical discharge because of an injury. My knee was injured requiring me to undergo physical therapy and wear a brace on my knee-which I still need to this day. So when I saw an opportunity to sample a knee support I jumped at the chance. Most of the knee braces or supports I have bought in the past have been ineffective and/or uncomfortable so I can honestly say I didn't have high hopes. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the product on though. It is actually comfortable to wear and it does provide the support my knee needs. My knee pain was dramatically reduced when wearing the knee sleeve and I didn't have any instances of my knee buckling while wearing the sleeve either. It was also really nice to find that the sleeve doesn't have a strong odor. Some knee support products I've used in the past have a weird smell to them. Price wise, this sleeve is priced about average compared to similar products and I would say in my experience that it works better than most similarly priced products. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who needs a knee support sleeve.

#sleevestars

ComfiLife cushion review

I received the ComfiLife Premium Comfort Seat Cushion at a discount in exchange for an honest review.

I got this cushion for my husband. He is a truck driver and has back pain sometimes from the seat in the truck he drives. We have tried other similar cushions to no avail, but this one has been great at providing my husband with comfort when he's driving. The cushion is nice quality and very comfortable to sit on, it helps ease back and hip pain. It stays on the seat easily. I strongly recommend this cushion for anyone with back or hip pain as well as anyone who has a job that involves sitting for long periods of time. I will have to get another one of these cushions because the one we had has been lost

I'm supposed to add more pictures, such as of the item in use, but as I said the item was lost due to a bad car accident. I do plan to get another of these cushions for my husband if or when he is permitted to return to work. When that happens I will be able to update this post with more photos. #comfilife #comfilifecushion #seatcushion #coccyxcushion #coccyxpillow #coccyx #coccyxpain #office #officechaircushion #carseatcushion #driver #drivercushion #wheelchair #wheelchaircushion #backpain #backpainrelief #sciatica #sciaticarelief #pregnancy #pregnancypillow #hippain

KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract

I received this Ashwaghanda supplement for free in exchange for my honest review.

So I got this product for my husband because it was being marketed as a stress relief product when I requested to sample it, but on the manufacturers site it is marketed as a weight loss drug. There is no safety information on the product such as side effects (manufacturer claim there are none) or contraindicated medications and conditions. Here are a few contraindications to ashwaghanda: pregnancy, breast feeding, diabetes, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, autoimmune disorders, and thyroid disorders. It is also not safe to use prior to surgery. It does have some potential uses including decreasing anxiety, lowering cholesterol, improving of impulse control for children with ADHD, improving sperm quality in infertile men,improving arthritis symptoms, and improving Parkinson's symptoms. However, there is not anywhere near enough scientific data to back up any of the supposed benefits the manufacturer claims this product has. I would strongly recommend against this product because it is unproven and because the manufacturer utilizes predatory practices in trying to peddle this product. Buyer beware!

Tools4Wisdom Yearly Planner review

I recieved the Tools4Wisdom 2018 Planner at a discount in exchange for my honest review.

I really love journals and planners. I like having a dedicated place to write down my thoughts, goals, and plans. I like the layout of this planner, it has areas for goals and notes at the beginning but also has adequate space for writing goals in each monthly section. The paper is nice, high quality paper and the cover is sturdy and very well created, it has a nice feel to it. The geometric design on the cover is nice, though the calligraphy is a bit wonky in my opinion. They have a variety of cover designs, all very nice. I'll probably buy one for next year.
I will definitely use this book, it will be very helpful keeping my thoughts and goals organized. It's nice to keep everything in one place, it makes it much easier to keep track of everything. I think I will get another one for next year, too.

This is a good planner for people who like to keep everything in one place. It's well constructed and looks nice, the price is a little higher than some similar products but it is made of high quality materials.

Low Carb cookbook review

I received a free copy of the ebook The Low Carb Cookbook & Weight Loss Plan: 21 Days to Cut Carbs and Burn Fat with a Ketogenic Diet for free in exchange for an honest review.

I was interested in this book because I'm trying to lose some stubborn weight and I've had success using low carb diets in the past. The book did not live up to my expectations, however. It has some definite flaws, among them recommending unhealthy foods such as butter and coconut oil, which the author incorrectly refers to as healthy fats. IT also fails to mention any of the many, many dangers associated with sticking to a ketogenic diet long term. The book does have some nice recipes, but most of them could be found easily online for free. I would not recommend this book to anyone because it has to many flaws and not enough to redeem it. If the price point were lower it might be worth investing in for the recipes and meal plan, but at the list price it is not worth it.

I really want to mention that there are some very real dangers to the ketogenic diet. My son has epilepsy and the keto diet is one method of treating epilepsy, but it is the LAST choice after trying all possible drug combos and brain surgery. That's right, the keto diet is so dangerous that brain surgery is considered a safer option. Let that sink in: Brain surgery is safer than a ketogenic diet.

Urban organic gardener March box

I got my second box from UOG. I actually got it on the 8th but I have been working and didn't have the time to show what I got.

This month I got bush beans, sweet peas, nasturtium mix, chives, and a hummingbird and butterfly wildflower mix, plus soil pods and epsom salt.

I started some tomatos, cucumbers, and peppers from last months box and there doing good. The tomatos and cucumbers need repotted, only one pod with peppers has sprouted but I'll give the other two a bit more time and see if they come up.

Wild Alaskan Salmon oil review

I received Terramax Pro Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for free in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this product would be interesting to try since it is supposed to help with joint health as well as skin/coat health. The product also claims to aid in relieving some allergies.

I put this product in my dog's food as well as my cats' food. Well, the cats are technically "feral" cats not ours, but they're completely tame and let me hold them so I consider them to be mine. Anyway, I haven't noticed any difference in my dogs coat, maybe it's a little shinier but I can't tell honestly. The cats on the other hand are noticeably shinier at least when they're not busy rolling in the dirt, that is. I have also noticed that the older cat seems to have a little more spring in her step. I have already suggested this product for my sister's pets and would recommend it to anyone else who wants to improve their pets health and coat. I should warn though, that after opening the bottle you may end up with a little leaking that leaves the bottle pretty gross to touch.

Blusmart WiFi Mini Smart Plug review

I received the Blusmart 2 Pack WiFi Smart Plug at a discount in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Smart home devices are a lot of fun, right? Who doesn't love the idea of being able to operate your home remotely or program basic functions? So with that in mind I decided I would love to try this product out. I had a few ideas on what to do with the plugs, but none really panned out. I first tried the obvious-using the plugs to turn on lights. And they work just fine for that task, but I found the app to be very clunky and it just made turning on a light more work than it needs to be. Next, I tried using the plugs to turn on a heater in the back room when needed. And again, it works but the app is so clunky it makes it too much extra work to preform a simple task. The last idea I had was a really dumb one on my part- turning my wifi router on remotely. I know, that was a dumb idea. I have no excuses, it was just a stupid plan on my part. I always turn my wifi off when I leave the house so I thought I could use this to turn it back on before I get home, and then I realized that won't work for obvious reasons. Of course, the fact that I turn my wifi off when I'm not at home means the plugs are pretty useless for me in general. The plugs are also much more expensive than similar products. So, I can't recommend this product.

Mermaid tail blanket review

I received the Senmar Mermaid Tail Blanket at a discount in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own honest opinions.

I've been kind of interested in mermaid tail blankets since I first saw one. They look pretty cool, and I thought Zach would really love one because it would create a snug environment for him. Zach really loves snuggling up in confined spaces and burrowing under blankets. This is actually pretty common for sensory seeking autistic people.

So, with all that said, lets get to the review! The item is available on Amazon for a current price of $13.99 or two for $19.99. For such a low price I was expecting the quality would be pretty low, but I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the product. It uses high quality yarn and is very well crafted. It seems to stand up well to tugging and there are no loose strands on it anywhere. I can't say for sure how well it will stand up over a longer time period, but I will try to remember and update this review in a few months. I'm not fond of the color personally, but that's because I don't like the color blue. It's a soft blue with a little purple mixed in. The colors do go together well though. It is not one size fits all and was a bit tight on me, so it won't work for some people. Zach does seem to enjoy snuggling in it, so it works great for its intended purpose. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a novelty blanket.

You can view my video review on Youtube here.