And we're back!

Wow, things have been rough the last few years! Things have changed so much in my life in the last few years. My husband was injured at work and left permanently disabled so he can't work anymore. He has struggled to adjust to not being able to do everything he used to but he is finding ways to cope and get around his disability. My oldest son is attending a specialized resiential school for children with developmental disabilities following a couple of very rough years at home and school that resulted in him being removed from school. Now he is in a specialized environment and he is truly thriving, he has made so much progress on so many things and he is so happy. The staff all love him as well and he really enjoys helping out when he can. My youngest is in school now as well and he tried out Boy Scouts, but unfortunately it is very bigoted so he is no longer participating. Instead we o plenty of outoor exploring and learning together as a family. He really enjoys helping out around the farm, especially with the animals. He also loves going to school and showing off what he has learned. He misses his big brother and loves to video chat with him as well as go visit him. I have enrolled in college again to get a degree in environmental science and it is difficult but fun. I am also spending more time exercising every day and making sure to find time for creative hobbies daily as well. I do spend less time playing video games now, but I still play them when I have a little free time. My dad and sister moved out of our house in 2020 but came back in summer 2022 when their house burned down. My brother's house burned down at the time as well (they lived on the same property in seperate homes) but he was able to get his own apartment. My dad spent some time in the burn unit at the hospital because he tried to put the fire out himself. After he was released from the hospital he and my sister, who is now his full time caregiver, came to stay with us while they tried to find a place to stay. They finally got an apartment at the end of the year and moved out. Their new apartment is pretty small, but they are happy with it especially with not being woken early in the morning by a small but loud child.

Sinocare Blood Pressure Cuff

The Sinocare digital blood pressure cuff is an easy to use, affordable, and accurate home blood pressure monitor. It has a very loud voice with which it loudly and cheerfully instructs you on using the cuff and then after the reading is complete it anounces you systolic and diastolic pressures. It is so easy to use my three year old can do it! It also includes a display that shows you if your blood pressure numbers fall into the high or normal ranges.



This blood pressure cuff is accurate and easy to use. Get one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0829SHMZW
#sinocareofficial #sinocare_inc #bloodpressuremonitor #upperarm #digital

Thought Catapulter

The Thought Catapulter is an interesting little product which is supposeed to help the user with postitive affirmations and personal growth. It includes a cute little pouch in turquoise/blue or watermelon/pink, a little magnet, a set of "Abundance" themed affirmation cars, a set of blank affirmation cards for you to fill in yourself, an elastic band to tie the pouch to you if you don't have pockets, and instructions on how to use it to get the best results.

I don't believe in this kind of thing. I don't believe that a magnet and positive affirmations will bring anything to you. I do believe that positive thinking by itself helps net positive outcomes simply because it reduces stress and boosts overall health and mood, and that can lead to better outcomes in life.

So, do these work as intended? No, probably not. But there's no harm to using them and they may help boost your mood.



The Thought Catapulter is a tool designed to help you manifest positive thoughts and get good outcomes. It's a little woo-ish but not harmful. Get one at https://www.thought-catapulter.com

Queen of Hearts Edible Cake Decoration mix + bonus cake fail

We received a free sample of Queen of Hearts Edible Cake Decoration mix from Quality Sprinkles to use in decorating a baked good. After much consideration we decided, inadvisably, to bake a cake. You see, we are not cake bakers. My culinary training involved baking pies, pastries, and cookies, not cakes. I am not great at cake making, but we gave it a go anyway. We found a generic chocolate cake recipe online and followed it, then after our failed attempt at removing the cake from the pan, we frosted it and added some of our pretty sprinkles sample on top. The sprinkles are really pretty and they taste good, too. The Queen of Hearts assortment is perfect for Valentine's day, birthdays, anniversaries, or car games. They also would work great for decorating desserts for an Alice in Wonderland themed event. There are many more varieties on the (Quality Sprinkles website for any event or holiday you can imagine. There are assortments for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, and more. You can get individual colors, perfect for wedding or birthday party treat decorating. You can get the Queen of Heart mix at https://www.qualitysprinkles.com/collections/combination/products/queen-of-hearts-edible-cake-decoration-mix-gluten-gmo-nut-dairy-soy-free-1



Chocolate Fail Cake 2 cups sugar 1.75 cups flour .75 cup cocoa powder 1.5 tsp baking powder 1.5 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 eggs 1 cup milk .5 cup oil 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup hot water Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix. Add hot water and stir until fully mixed. Pour batter into two 9" round pans or one 8x13 rectangular pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Multi Device Charging station

My household has a LOT of tech/devices. Cell phones, tablets, game consoles/portables, fitness/smart watches, and more. And, with all of that tech comes a lot of cords scattered everywhere. So I really looked forward to having the chance to try this multi-device charging station. The charging device has two wireless/qi charging stations and four USB ports for plugging in cords for other devices. It comes with one micro-USB cord, one USB type C cord, and two lightning cords. We have been using this charging station for about three weeks, and it seems to be working great so far. We can charge three smart phones and a fitness watch on the charging cords as well as one phone on the wireless charger simultaneously and it works great. All of the device charge quickly and fully.


The perfect solution for homes with a lot of devices. Also great for keeping phones out of bedrooms. Get one at https://amzn.to/2OiHcfP

BODYMATE Compression Brace for Hip

Our dad is sixty-four years old and has recently started having trouble with his right hip, and after a fall down the stairs (don't worry, he walked away uninjured!) his hip pain has been worse. Doctors have confirmed that nothing is broken or cracked, but he is still having pain. So when we got the opportunity to try out this BODYMATE Compression Brace for free, we jumped at the chance. It took a little work to convince our dad to try the brace, as he never had any success with knee braces treating his knee pain, but once he gave it a try he found it to be pretty comfortable. He did not notice much by way of pain relief, but he is able to walk farther/longer before needing a break so it seems to be doing something. The brace is a little difficult to put on and it may take a few tries to get it figured out, but once you do figure it out putting it on is a task that can be done without assistance.

Get one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6DX569.

VIM & VIGR Women's Cotton 15-20 mmHg Compression Socks

I have tried compression socks in the past, both cheap and more expensive versions and I have found that they do seem to help ease leg pain for me. I wear them when running especially, and my legs seem to recover faster after a run when I've worn them. So, with that in mind I was excited to try out these VIM & VIGR compression socks to see how they measure up. Sizing is really easy and they fit quite well and provide just the right amount of compression. I also love the different designs they come in. I've worn these socks when running or going on long walks to help ease leg pain and speed recovery. I plan on buying more pairs of these socks so I can have a nice, fresh pair to wear for my workouts every day. They are also nice to wear to combat leg swelling if traveling or sitting for a long time.

#EnergizeYourLegs with these pretty and comfy compression socks from VIM&VIGR. They come in a variety of nice designs. Check out their newest offering at https://vimvigr.com/collections/new/products/womens-arcade-stripe-white-red-cotton

Belmint Shiatsu Pillow Massager

I got this massage pillow for my husband, but because of a previous neck injury he sustained, he is unable to use it. So instead I decided I would give it a try myself and it is pretty nice, I must say. It provides nice, steady pressure right on the sides of the neck as long as you have it placed on a solid surface. It does have a cable to use it in the car as well in the home or office. It would be perfect to de-stress on a long, tedious commute. It has a strap to attach it to your car's headrest so you can use it on the go. It can be a little unpleasant if you don't get positioned right for your needs, but not too bad. It also lights up, but I'm not sure what the point of that is but it certainly was amusing to my toddler. He loved pointing out the red light up balls inside the pillow and telling everyone about them. But, all in all, this is a great massage pillow that would make a perfect gift for friends, family, coworkers, even your boss if you have a little sucking up you would like to do.

If you need a nice neck and should massage, check this one out at https://www.walmart.com/ip/Belmint-Shiatsu-Pillow-Massager-with-Heat-for-Back-Neck-and-Shoulders/501552481

Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager Seat Cushion

I got this Shaitsu back and neck massager thinking my husband might enjoy it, but boy was I wrong. My husband was the first to try this massage seat out and he thought it was torturous. So next we had my dad try it out, since he was visiting, and he thought it was torture as well. So I was a little unsure about trying it out myself because I didn't want to be tortures. But after a while I decided to give it a try, and it wasn't that bad at all. It was actually quite a nice massage, in my opinion. I did not like the vibration part, or the heat, but the massage was nice. Then my sister gave it a try, and she thought it tickled. It really is a pretty nice massage seat for anyone who wants a back massage. In the end we gave it to my father in law because he enjoys shiatsu massage.



If you enjoy shiatsu massage you can get one of these at https://www.walmart.com/ip/Belmint-Massaging-Seat-Cushion-with-Shiatsu-Deep-Kneading-Vibrating-Rolling-Heat-Equipped-with-6-Customizable-Massaging-Programs/768105799

Pure Velvet Extracts - Premium Deer Antler Supplement

I have been around deer a lot, growing up in a rural area and all that. I have deer antlers around my house, as do most people I know. However, the idea of using deer antlers as a supplement never crossed my mind but it turns out to be a pretty common practice in eastern "medicine." So it's woo-woo kind of stuff. Does that mean it's complete BS? No, not necessarily. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any legitimate research showing any of the purported benefits to be true. Though I also didn't find anything that suggested it to be unsafe, so there is that at least. I have my doubts as antlers are in fact just bones like any other bone. So they may have some nice minerals in them, but I don't see how those would lead to some of the purported benefits of this product. Now, to be fair, the company that manufactures this products does not make as many health benefit claims of their product as I have seen on other, similar products.

I have spoken to my physician and been given the green light to try this product, so I have been taking it for about a week now and I will report back with any benefits I notice. So far I haven't seen anything, but we shall see.

Pure Velvet antler extract is bbn purported to help with building muscle and burning fat . Not much science to back it up, but it seems to be relatively safe. Check it out at https://www.purevelvetextracts.com/
And remember, always consult with you physician before using any supplement.

Vitamin C Facial Cleanser

I have very dry, very sensitive skin and as a result, I often break out in hives or rashes when trying new skincare products so I am always very cautious about what I put on my skin. I am also pretty new to skincare in general, so I am still in the process of determining which products are the right ones for my skin. So, based on the purported benefits of Vitamin C in facial skincare products, I decided I would give this product a try. So I have now been using this product for a few weeks now and while I have not noticed any significant change in my skin, it does work well for cleansing and more importantly, the cleanser does not leave my skin feeling dry, itchy, and tight after washing. The cleanser has a light scent to it that is reminiscent of potpourri. The smell is mild and not bothersome. I do like the product and will continue to use it.

This cleanser works and doesn't cause me skin irritation. Get it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QZPBY58 #simplifiedskin #sponsored

Organic Oil Blend Moisturizer

I have really dry, sensitive skin so I am always on the lookout for moisturizing products that provide intense moisture while also not irritating my skin. I like to try out new products, as well, since I am still pretty new to skincare. I never used to bother with trying to properly care for my skin as no one taught me how to do it or why. So now that I have learned the reasons for and benefits of proper skin care (ie, using actual facial products for washing and moisturizing) I am still trying to find the right combination of products that works well for my skin. I have found that many products irritate my skin, others don't provide enough moisture, and some make my skin oily and cause breakouts. This product, even though it is actually made of oils, does not seem to leave my skin oily or cause any breakouts. It does, of course, feel oily as I am putting it on, but it is easily rubbed in and absorbed into my skin leaving behind soft, moisturized skin without oily residue. The only complaint I have is that the product has a very distinct "medical" smell to it. Almost like insulin.



This moisturizer has an odd, almost medical smell, but it is very moisturizing. Get it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B12KCGC

ASD Reading review

We received a free one-year premium membership to ASDReading.com to try it and review. As the name implies, ASDReading.com is a website designed to help children on the autism spectrum learn to read. It also teaches typing skills, which is a nice bonus. I thought this program would be great to try with Zach as he is still not reading, or at least I don't think he is. It's hard to tell sometimes with a non-verbal child. The lessons are broken down into little, bitesized games perfect for kids who have trouble focusing. Zach has a lot of trouble sitting down and focusing on things, especially during summer break as things get considerably more unstructured in the summer. That said, I did try, and have my sister try, to get Zach to sit down and play the games. He would sit for a while and watch, but he wouldn't interact and when we tried to encourage him to interact he would often get agitated and want to leave the room. We will continue to work with Zach using this program, and hopefully we will get more success as we progress and this becomes part of his routine. I think this would work great for most autistic kids once theyt grow accustomed to it being part of the routine. I think for Zach and other kids like him, this program would be best implemented in the more structured setting of a classroom and I will be mentioning it to the teachers at his school this year.



A great program for helping autistic children learn to read. Check it out at https://www.asdreading.com

For children not on the autism spectrum, ASDReading.com has a sister site called Reading Kingdom which uses a similar style of games to teach reading skills.

Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol

I'm a big fan of junk food, especially sweet things. Cakes, muffins, donuts, cookies, they're all delicious. But, I'm also very conscious about my dental health. I have never had a cavity and I plan to keep it that way! So, of course, I brush and floss my teeth every day but any additional little tricks that may help my teeth are always appreciated. I have for a long time now used a toothpaste that contains both fluoride and xylitol and it has worked great for me and my kids. I knew that xylitol was a natural sweetener that is good for your teeth, but I never realized you could buy bags of it to use in cooking and baking. So, I was really excited at the opportunity to test and review a free full-size sample of Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol. It looks pretty much identical to regular granulated sugar and tastes similar. Since my usual baking consists of making massive quantities of food I didn't have enough xylitol for one of my usual recipes, so I had to scale down a bit. First, I made a nice yellow cake. It was delicious, tasted just as good as a cake made with traditional sugar. I also made a small batch of muffins after which there wasn't enough xylitol to make another recipe. The muffins were chocolate chocolate chip muffins, and they were fantastic! And now that my xylitol stash is mostly depleted I will be ordering more.

If you would like to try Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol and make some delicious sweets that are healthier for your teeth, you can buy it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PUSODZ0. #morningpepxylitol

TriNova Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish

I received a free full size sample of this TriNova Stainless Steel Cleaner to try and review.
I don't have a lot of stainless steel in my home right now, as my appliances are mostly not stainless steel. I do, however, have a stainless steel washing machine and of course a stainless steel sink. I also have a few stainless steel pots and a tea kettle. I have noticed that often my sink, especially, seems to always look dingy no matter how often I clean it. So I figured I would give this polish a try, maybe it would make my stainless steel items look nicer. So I started with my sink right after washing the dishes to see how well this cleaner and polish would work. There was some residue on the sink from dishes, so I thought it would be a good first test for the product. The product worked pretty good for getting the sink clean, though I didn't bother putting enough elbow grease in to get it to shine because it's a sink. It doesn't need to shine. I also used the cleaner/polish to clean my stainless steel tea kettle after it got some grease splatter on it from cooking. It worked great at cutting through the grease on the kettle and left it nice and shiny as it was when it was new. It's a pretty effective product for cleaning and shining stainless steel. The only downside I found to it was that it has an odd smell, but it isn't too overpowering so I can live with it.

Before

After

Evening Primrose oil

I'm really not big into essential oils, mostly because of the fact that most essential oils sellers are scammers that happily lie to peddle their wares. Now, that said, I do recognize that there are some legitamate usese for essential oils, the most common being as an air freshener. This particular oil also touts istelf as helping with "Nourish, soften, smoth and radiant skin," treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, blackheads, dry skin, and nail infections, protecting and healing skin, curing cuts, burns, and rashes, anti-aging, and as a hair treatment. None of these claims are researched by independant sources however there is anecdotal evidence that the claims may be true, so take them with a grain of salt. I would not recommend putting the oil on any rashes cus or burns unless advised to do so by your physician. If you are going to use the oil on your skin it should be diluted into lotion or serum first to avoid causing irritation. It is also important to try using the product on a small patch of skin first to check for reactions. Personally ,I'm using this only for the air freshening properties. It has a nice smell, not as floral as I expected, but it is nice. You can purchase it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q3LRFJW.

100% Luxe Bamboo Sheet Set

I got this lovely, soft new bamboo sheet set from Linenly, an Australian company. I was surprised at how quickly the sheets arrived at my home in the US, considering how slow international shipping can sometimes be. Anyway, on to the important stuff!

So, upon receiving the sheets, I opened the package and took them out to inspect them. The fabric is really sturdy and strong, a nice high-quality product, but it's also soft and the sheets have a bit of weight, making them ideal for snuggling into. The sheets come in a nice variety of colors so everyone can find something for their own style. Some of the colors are slightly muted while others are bolder, which makes it easier to find a color that matches your bedroom decor.

Being made of bamboo, these sheets also tout antimicrobial features which helps prevent the sheets from developing bad odors.

Qualia Focus Nootropics

I received a free sample of Qualia Focus Nootropics to try and review. I had heard the term nootropics in the past, but never really looked into what it was, but after getting this to try I looked more into nootropics and according to Wikipedia nootropics are "drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals." Okay, sounds like a good idea, right? So the next step I took was contacting my doctor to have her check the ingredients to be sure none of them are contraindicated for me, personally as well as to see whether she had heard of any research into the efficacy of any of the ingredients. The answer was yes, there is some research into some of the ingredients, but not enough research yet. That said, I decided to give this a try after getting the all clear from my doctor since there is some anecdotal evidence that it is beneficial. The serving size is 5 tablets daily, but I chose to start with just one in case I experienced any side effects. After a couple days with no side effects I added another pill daily until I got to the recommended five daily. So after about a week of taking the recommended five pills a day, I did notice that I was having an easier time focusing on tasks, an issue I had previously been struggling with.



You can get it at http://bit.ly/QualiaInfluencers
Always speak with your physician before trying any supplements!

#neurohacker #neurohackercollective #neurohackersrevolution #neurohacking #qualia #nootropics #biohacking #biohackingsecrets #biohackingsuccess #focus #clarity #cognitive #cognitivescience #collectiveconsciousness #consciousculture #subconsciousmind #consciouscommunity #cosmicconsciousness #neurohackersrevolution #nootropicstack #smartdrugs #healthybrain #wellnesswarrior #holisticliving #cognitiveenhancement #mindenhancement #optimalwellness #sponsored http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HCTXLDM

RevivLash Lash & Brow Stimulating Serum

Everyone in my family has naturally thick and/or bushy eyebrows and long, thick eyelashes. Everyone, that is, except for me. Now, I am lucky to have the long and thick eyelashes that run in my family, but my eyebrows are thin and sparse. In fact, on of my eyebrows acutally has a missing patch and it has been like that for as long as I can remember. It has always bothered me to have such thin eyebrows because it looks weird. I'm not good with make-up so I can't use that to cheat myself to full eyebrows and microblading just isn't going to happen. So when I was given a chance to test this eyebrow and lash serum I though it was the perfect opportunity for me. Now, I did not use this product on my eyelashes because my eyelashes are already long and thick as I previously mentioned and also because I am incapable of putting anything on my eyelashes without stabbing myself in the eye in the process. So I have only been using this product on my eyebrows and only for about two weeks now. I must say that I have noticed increasing thickness/fullness of my eyebrows, and the missing patch has grown in some hair so it is considerably less noticeable now. This stuff has been working for me and it hasn't irritated my skin in any way, so I will continue to use it and hopefully I will end up with full, thick brows like the rest of my family.

This #revivlash lash and brow serum seems to have given me thicker eyebrows. #revivserums #sponsored https://revivserums.com/products/lash-brow-stimulating-serum

Maginon WLR-753 External WiFi Extender

I received this Maginon WLR-753 External WiFi Extender for free to test and review. We were looking around for a good quality wifi extender because, for some weird reason, out wifi fails to reach the back rooms in our house. I am not sure why the wifi will not reach, it's not beyond the maximum range of our router but there is no signal in the back anyway. I assume it has something to do with the thicker walls at the back of the house (those walls are all 1 foot thick and heavily insulated). So this wifi range extender is a perfect product for us to try out! When I got it I glanced at the instructions and plugged it in. Then I actually read the instructions, because otherwise I never would have figured out how to set it up. It is really easy to set up, you can do so wirelessly or through wired connections. The range extender can also serve as a wifi router if you are in need of one. It seems to work pretty well, we now have wifi at the back of the house.



A nice easy to set up wifi range extender. Get one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF8B7T7

Official Money Guide for Couples

I received a free copy of the book "Official Money Guide for Couples" to read and review. The first thing I noticed about this book is that it is more geared towards new couples, but the advice and activities in it are also good for couples who have been together for a while, especially if those couples haven't yet had the financial talk. The book has sections on a variety of important financial topics such as debt, credit, income, investing, home ownership, insurance, and identity theft protection. There are also some fun little activities at the end of the book to aid in your financial conversations with your significant other. The book is short--only 72 pages including the index--yet it still manages to be quite thorough. The information included is useful and well thought out. It is presented in an easy to understand and easy to use manner that makes financial discussions easier. Every couple should have this book and read it together.

A great book with simple activities to help couples figure out their finances together. Get it at http://www.moneysavvy.com/assembled/omgp.html #moneysavvy #omgforcouples

Men's Slim-Fit Windowpane Suit

I got this nice Verno men's slim-fit windowpane 2 piece suit for my husband to wear when he needs a suit. Unfortunately, the suit is too big for him so it won't work for that. I am certain, however, that I can find someone in the family that is the right size for this suit. The suit is made of high quality materials and the stitching work is good, but they didn't take the time to make sure that thepattern on the fabric matched up where the sleeves and pockets are attached which is generally considered to be a sign of low-quality craftsmanship. It does make the suit look a little less sleek, but it is still a good choice for ocassional use. The windowpane style is currently popular, though I am not personally a fan of it.

This #verno suit is a nice, quality suit at a decent price. Get one at https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-cm-verno-men-s-slim-fit-windowpane-suits-2-piece-4

Maginon QC-5S Quadcopter Drone

This is my first drone. I have always kind of wanted one, but not enough to really buy one. I know nothing about drones and I did not want to buy one without knowing what to look for nor did I have the time to seek out information to help make the right decision. So I was happy to get this drone to test. I figured it would operate like the RC airplanes and helicopters I am used to, which it sort of does but it is also a lot easier to get the hang of than any RC airplane/helicopter I have ever owned or operated. I was really excited when this drone arrived at my house and I first saw it. I showed it to my husband right away because he has been wanting a drone way more than I have, so I planned on giving this to him. And since the drone was intended for him he got to try it out first as I waited (not at all) patiently for my turn. Because the drone didn't come with a manual or instruction book we had to figure it out on our own while trying to find the manual online. We flew it around a little outside until the battery went dead, which didn't take long but we hadn't bothered fully charging it before we started. When fully charged the battery lasts quite a long time, though I didn't track how long. This drone is really the perfect beginner's drone because it is easy to learn and master even without the manual.

A fun little drone, perfect for beginners. Get one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDWZNWC

JettMe

JettMe is a website offering a useful service for budding social media influencers. It's an interesting website, for $97 you can get a "shout-out" on their homepage with links to your social media platforms. The "shout-out" they provide is just your Youtube channel name, your Youtube channel profile photo, and link to your Youtube channel, Instagram page, Facebook profile/page, and twitter account. They also have a live subscriber count feature on their page that allows you to enter the name of any Youtube channel and see a live update of the current subscriber count. It's a pretty interesting tool to mess around with and enter the names of channels you follow. I had never heard of this company prior to being offered a free "shout-out" in exchange for posting about their service, which makes me wonder how much benefit it provides. Of course, I don't pay much attention to social media marketing, so I may just be out of the loop. I could also be that the service is new and that's why I haven't heard of it. Either way, I am going to give it a try and after I do I will come back and provide an update about what it did for me. In the meantime, check it out if you're trying to grow you social media reach.

If you are looking to grow your social media following, check out JettMe at https://jett.me.

MatchaDNA Certified Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder

I love tea. I love all forms of tea. So whenever I have the opportunity to try a new kind of tea I take it. There are some tea varieties I end up not liking as much (or at all in some cases, I'm looking at you Rooibos!), but usually, I like most teas I try. So when I was given a chance to try this Matcha green tea, of course, I went for it. To me green tea smells like grass hay, I'm not sure if anyone else notices that smell or not, but it is unmistakable to me. That's a bit worrisome because I am allergic to grass hay, but I have never had any trouble drinking green tea so it's okay. Anyway, I was really expecting this to be just a small canister of tea to try out and boy was I surprised when I opened the box! I should have known it was going to be a big canister because it was clearly labeled as one pound of Matcha powder, but my brain didn't register that part until I actually opened the box and saw the canister. After marveling at the giant tub of tea I had just received I proceeded to smell it because I smell everything I get. I'm weird that way. It smelled like all green tea does, so my next step was to go ahead and make a cup of tea. I like Matcha powder for its ease of use. There's no steeping time required, which means it doesn't take as long to get ready, so it's perfect for busy mornings. I like this matcha tea, it's pretty good. I'll be buying more when I use all this up, although that might take a while.

This is a lot of tea, and it pretty good too. Get some at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077572GG8

Investing Quick Start Guide

This book is a great read for anyone interested in getting into investing and anyone who is just starting out in investing. The author provides a lot of quality investment advice in easy to understand terms without being condescending. I have read many books on investing in my life time, and they always seem to be written in a manner that is either quite condescending to the reader or in terms that a true beginner may not understand. This book manages to avoid both of those pitfalls and create a useful and helpful tome of investing knowledge and advise in a way that is easliy accessible to people at all levels of their investing journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get started investing.

This book is great for beginning investors. Get it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945051868

Jadience Stress Relief Soak

I received this Jadience Stress Relieving Soak to test and review. Upon receiving the package with this item, the first thing I did was open it up and smell it. I am really sensitive to smells, and some smells make me feel ill (headaches, nausea, etc) so I always worry about new products. Well, I was pleasantly surprised with the smell, it has a nice sort of savory smell that reminds me of autumn and winter cooking. It does require a lot of the product, you are supposed to use about half of the bottle per bath so a bottle of it doesn't last very long. It does seem to help a bit with stress because a nice relaxing bath makes everything better. I think this product is a perfect gift for anyone in your life who has a lot of stress to deal with (so, basically everyone). It's a perfect gift any time of the year. If you through in a nice book and a good bottle of wine you might just become your giftee's new favorite person!

This is nice for a soothing bath. Get it at https://naturalskinrx.com/products/stress-relieving-soak

Dog, Cat, Horse Sore Muscle Pain Relief Spray

This pain relief spray works for cats, dogs, horses, and rabbits. I though my sister's dog and cat could benefit from this product because they are both getting old and having issues with arthritis. There are some ingredients in the spray that worry me as they are not necessarily a good choice for animals. One of those ingredients is "natural lavender scent" which is concerning because lavender is not safe for cats. The other ingredients seem to be mostly okay, though I'm not sure how effective they would be at relieving pain. It isn't really harmful, but there's no proof that it provides any actual benefits. It seems like an okay product to try for your pet if you have a pet experiencing muscle pain. Always speak with your vet before trying any supplements or products on your pet.

This spray is great pain relief for dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits. Get it at https://naturalskinrx.com/products/pet-muscle-joint-relief-spray

Matcha Green Tea Scrub

So, when I first opened the box this Matcha Green Tea Scrub I wasn't sure what to expect. The outer packaging is really nice and pretty with a vibrantly colored butterfly on it. It's definitely a good package design that will draw your eye to it on a store shelf. That outer butterfly canister removes to show a simple clear container full of almost sparkly green scrub. The outer canister is cardboard so it is biodegradable, always a nice bonus! There is a tamper-proof seal on the inner canister, which was a bit difficult to remove. The scrub itself has a slightly floral smell to it, but it's not to strong. It isn't goopy or wet, it's pretty much dry like a big tub of salt. It's easy to use, you just scoop a little out and rub it on your skin. It's not too gritty, so it doesn't cause irritation, but it is gritty enough to gently exfoliate your skin and leave it feeling soft and fresh. It's a nice product, great for aynone looking for a body scrub.

A rather interesting green tea body scrub. Get it at https://amzn.to/2Jf1HJg #MatchaScrub #Fleurdextase #MatchaScrubFleurdextase

White House in a Gray City

White House in a Gray City is the story of a boy who was sent by his overwhelmed mother to live in an orphanage in Pre-War Poland. The orphanage was the run by the famous Janusz Korczak (real name Henryk Goldszmit), a children's author and educator. The author of White House in a Gray City is Itzchak Belfer, who also has a children's book about his Janusz Korczak. This book is the story of Itzchak Belfer's life in pre-war Poland, including his time in the orphanage. The book follows the journey of Itzchak Belfer from his early days in an orphanage, through his travels to escape Nazi forces during the war, to his attempt to find his home. The story is full of sorrow and suffering but ends on a happier note. The book includes mention of the early days of the founding of the state of Israel, though it does seem to leave out or gloss over some of the more unpleasant facts of that era.

You can pick up a copy of White House in a Gray City at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078RJZWSN

LEKEYE Bathtub Drain Hair Catcher

Everyone knows the woes of a clogged drain. It can totally ruin what should have been a perfectly pleasant shower. There's nothing worse than having filthy water back up on you while you are trying to get clean. One of the major causes of clogged drains, in my house anyway, is hair. I have long, thick, coarse hair that seems to get left behind everywhere I go in vast quantities. So we often have to unclog our bathtub drain because of the massive balls of hair that build up surprisingly often. So we are always on the lookout for new devices to catch the hair before it gets down into the drain and clogs up the system. This drain catcher looks like a great device for that purpose. Unfortunately, it won't fit our bathtub drain. I thought this one would be the right size, but I was sadly mistaken. So now I'm going to pass it off to my sister to see if anyone in the family could use it.

This little contraption catches hair so it doesn't plug up your pipes. Get one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FQ8P63T

Stackable Shoe Storage Box

You can never have too many storage boxes. I keep these on hand for storing my jewelry making supplies in and my other craft stuff or any thing I don't want to get dusty. One thing I like about the shoe boxes is they are stack able but at the same time small enough to fit little places that other wise are no good for storing things in. I gave some of these to my dad. He's a gun smith and likes reloading his own ammo and these are perfect for storing brass and gun parts in, as well as some of his key chain collection, and they help him to be better organized. Some thing he really needed since he had things pilled and stuffed under tables in such a way he could not see what he had. These are also great for small kids toys like legos, cars, or other small toys kids like to scatter all over the floor. Good for holding small items while traveling too, and keeping pet food in when your on the go. I like these ones better then some I have bought in the past because they are a bit thicker plastic and don't crack and break as easily as some others do. I also like that the lids fit good, snap down tight and stay on. Get a set here https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-cm-stackable-shoe-storage-box-or-storage-bins-6-quart-12-pack

Tibetan Singing Bowl Set

Tibetan singing bowls are a great meditation tool and they're also a fun little instrument to play around with. They sound really nice and the sound lasts for a while as it slowly fades out in a nice, soothing manner. I don't do a lot of meditation because I get bored and distracted so it's hard to focus and my mind always wanders. Everyone says that having a mantra can help, but for me it really doesn't work. This bowl does help me keep focused though, because the sound is nice and soothing and very easy to focus on allowing me, and maybe other easily distractable people, to easily hone in on it and remain focused on the sounds. It's also a pretty and interesting piece of decor for your home, so there's no need to try and find somewhere to store it when not in use.

Very nice singing bowl set. Get one here https://www.amazon.com/TANTRA-SOUNDS-Tibetan-Singing-Bowl-Set/dp/B074H9M63J/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537447192&sr=8-1&keywords=tantra+sound+bowl&dpID=51zUnmjJxJL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

TANTRA SOUNDS Zafu Yoga Meditation Bolster Pillow Cushion

This meditation pillow is perfect for anybody who enjoys meditation or anybody who is trying to get into meditation. It can also be used during yoga or other methods of exercise. Plus, it makes a nice cat bed! My cat loves it, she has officially declared it as her new sleeping spot and gets somewhat grumpy when she is removed from the pillow. It is a nice, comfortable pillow. It is also pretty small and compact, so it does not take up too much room, which is really important if you live in a small place like I do. I have found a lot of interesting things you can do with this cushion, as well. It is helpful for doing elevated push ups, you can put it behind your back when leaning on a solid or otherwise unpleasant surface. It is, all in all, a great little cushion for all of your yoga and meditation needs!

This meditation pillow also makes a good cat bed. Get one here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076CHQ4KP