Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set

I got these steak knives to test and review.

I don't eat steak, personally, but my husband and kids do, so steak knives are an important tool around our house. We actually didn't have a full set of them before, which is pretty surprising considering steak is one of my husband's favorite foods. So I went ahead and picked this set up because the price was reasonable and the reviews were good. The first thing I did upon receiving them was to see how far the blades would bend to the side. That's always the first thing I do with any new knife or set of knives. I also like to test sharpness by cutting something right away, as well. In this case, I first cut an apple because I had no steak available It easily cut the apple. Then I cut a tomato, and these knives were able to cut the tomato without smashing it, which is a wonderful benefit. When I finally got around to cooking a steak to try the knives on I meant to take a demonstration video, but I forgot. But anyway, the knives easily cut steak as well as other meats. They are good quality and affordably priced. The knives have a simple design that will match well with most flatware. I recommend this knife set to anyone looking for more steak knives.

RORAIMA Instant Portable Cat Tent Review

I got a RORAIMA Instant Portable Cat Tent for my kitty. She likes to be outside but since she's about 20 years old and people let their dogs wander free I don't leave her out unattended. I worry she'll wander too far and a dog will get after her. She likes to wander and I was constantly having to chase her down to keep her close. Now that I have this cat tent I don't have to hover over her. I just set it up and stick her in it and I know where she is so I can do some gardening while she enjoys some fresh air. The tent is bigger then I expected but that's good. It gives her space to move around and I can put toy's in it with her and she still has plenty of room to play. She loves her tent too.

I love the easy setup and the fact it folds up so small. You just pull it out unfold the legs and snap the tensioner down and done. Taking it down is as easy as putting it up, just pull the tensioner up and fold the legs back up. It comes with 4 metal stakes to hold it down, a shade cover, and a carry bag. The two zipper flap doors are convenient. You can put kitty in from either side.

Speed and Stamina Resistance Parachute

I got this Speed and Stamina Resistance Parachute to review.

It may be hard to believe this, but I used to be a runner. Many people don't believe that because I'm fat, but prior to my knee injury, I was an avid runner. I enjoyed running, and I always felt the urge to run whenever I saw someone else running. I actually still have that impulse, though now it's difficult because of my injury. I was never a professional runner, I never completed any 5ks, 10ks, halves, or marathons. I ran marathon distances and sometimes more, but I never even considered signing up for a marathon. I've been trying to get back into shape in hopes that I can take up running again and maybe actually run some marathons in the future. It's been slow going because of my knee, but I'm not giving up hope. So I got this resistance parachute to help with my training. And it's fun to use, though it does look pretty goofy running down the road with a bright yellow parachute behind you but who cares what people think, right? While I haven't been using this parachute for very long I can say that it does actually help. I know this from past experience and also simple science. If you're interested in improving your running this parachute would be a great tool to help. And it's fun to play with in the wind, too.

Tabkoe Bento Lunch Box

I got this Tabkoe Bento Lunch Box to review and use for all my travel lunching needs.

Summertime is travel time for my household. Without a summer school program locally, we have to travel quite a long way to get Zach his speech and occupational therapy. And all that traveling gets expensive, especially if you have to buy all your lunches while you're out. So I try to make lunches ahead of time to take with us on any travel to appointments. It can be difficult coming up with meal ideas, but that's a post for another time. Anyway, Zach already has a nice lunch box that he uses for school and it's perfectly suitable for travel meals as well, so this lunch box is for me. I like that is has a nice and simple, minimalist look to it. It's also nice that the box has three compartments, or more accurately two compartments and one compartment divider. It includes a nice little set of flatware to use, a knife, fork, and spoon. The utensils are made of sturdy plastic and they seem to hold up pretty well to regular use. The whole thing can be put in the dishwasher and it does just fine. All in all, it is a nice, cute little lunch box.


#TabkoeLunchBox

Satin Sheet Set

I got this Satin Sheet Set to review.

I've never owned satin sheets before, but I have heard many people brag about them so when I saw this deal I figured I should invest in my first set of satin sheets and see if they can live up to the hype. We just recently got a new mattress and new pillows, so I figured new sheets were the next logical step. I chose the gold color because I didn't like how the other colors looked. When I got the sheet set the first thing I noticed is how they look almost plush in the right light, which was interesting. The sheets have a very nice sheen to them, they definately look luxe and expensive. The sheets are very soft. I really like them, though my husband is a bit on the fence about them. Because the sheets are satin they are "slippery," for lack of a better word. Satin sheets are recommended because they decrease signs of aging such as wrinkles because they don't snag the skin, they also don't snag hair so long haired folks like myself can benefit from them because they help prevent big knots and tangles in your hair. When I put the sheets on the bed I saw that the fitted sheet has deep pockets, so it is loose on our mattress because we have athin mattress, but that means this sheets set will work with those who have thicker or pillow top mattresses as well. The pillow cases that came with my queen size set fit our king size pillows, which was a nice bonus. The sheets are well made and pretty. My husband isn't a big fan because his pillow keeps sliding out from under him and he has to chase it around the bed, which normally wouldn't be an issue but because of his injury it causes him a lot of pain and makes it hard to sleep. We'll see how he likes the sheets when his injury is healed.

Lunch Box Set with Lids

I received this Lunch Box Set with Lids to review.

I need these bowls. I hate making unhealthy junk for my family for dinner, but as a working mom I sometimes haven't got time to cook something healthy at night. So I bought this set with the intent of making meals ahead of time to be prepared for those days when I can't prepare a healthy meal from scratch. These bowls are pretty big, they have plenty of room for all of your food and even to put little extras on top. I love that they are freezer safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe. That's very nice and really convenient. I chose to get the three slot option so that I could more easily prep properly balanced meals, though I think the single slot option would be nice for all in one meals, but for now I will stick with the 3 slot variety and plan to add some others of different varieties in the future. I think these are a great investment for anyone interested in meal prep and healthy eating. I'm going to need more though, as this set just doesn't have enough bowls for a family of four in my opinion. I would love to have at least a month's worth of meals prepped and ready.

Conversations about Evaluation

I received a free copy of the ebook Conversations about Evaluation to review.

This book is really boring, but then again the subject matter it deals with is really boring. This book presents the subject matter slightly more palatable to the masses. It's still not the kind of book one reads for fun, but if you're interested in learning more about how evaluation works at all levels or if you're involved in some evaluation/review process on any front (evaluator or evaluatee), this book would be useful for you to help get a better understanding of the process. As a mid-level manager I have been both evaluator and evaluatee at work, and sometimes it gets interesting. In fact, I have been evaluator and evaluatee at the same time after my direct supervisor quit and put me in charge of all evaluations for my office, my own included. My trainee was quite amused at my jokingly creating a false persona to be the recipient of my evaluation. I did a very comedic routine of switching from chair to chair and changing my hair while evaluating myself. Some of the stuff in this book probably could have helped me take the evaluation process more seriously and even do better at my evaluations. But, it's too late now my eval days are all in the past. I think this book is pretty good for anyone interested in learning about the evaluation process.

AMOSTING Building Blocks Set

I received this AMOSTING Building Blocks Set to review.

When I take the kids to the doctor's office they have a set of blocks like these and my kids always love to play with them. Both boys gravitate to these specific blocks above all other toys in the office. These things are like magnets to both of my boys, so I was trying to find some to get for home when I came across this set. I was happy to find a good sized set at a decent price and placed my order. The set doesn't contain any of the large cubes, which are a favorite of my boys, but it does have a lot of interesting variety. There are wheels and weird decorative parts that I don't really know what to call them. The whell peices are pretty small and not safe for young kids, in my opinion, but the larger blocks are good for all ages as long as there is parental supervision involved. I was dissapointed to see that the set didn't include one special type of block featured in the booklet included with the set. But, beyond that, it's a good set at a good price and I would recommend them to anyone looking for blocks for their kids (or themselves) to play with. Just be warned, these hurt about 100x worse than a Lego when stepped on!

BeLive PreNatal Vitamins

I received these BeLive PreNatal Vitamins to review.

Okay, so I'm not pregnant at this time and have no intention of being pregnant any time soon. I am, however, still breastfeeding and my doctor, like many other doctors, recommend continuing prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding. So, I keep taking prenatals and they are usually huge pills that leave a horrible aftertaste. So I went ahead and tried these because they're gummies, so hopefully they would taste good, right? Well, they taste pretty good, I'm happy to report. They taste a bit weird, but not bad weird. So I've been using them for a while and they taste okay and haven't caused me any issues. They ahve a pretty good balance of vitamins in them, though they may not be ideal for all people because some women will require different amounts of vitamins based on diet and other lifestyle factors. You do have to take three gummies a day, which is fine because I actually look forward to taking these so I don't forget them, but it means a bottle doesn't last very long. Also, because they are gummies, it's best to store them somewhere cool, I keep mine in the fridge so they don't melt together into a big glob of gummy vitamin goop. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant and want a good tasting gummy vitamin, give these a try as long as your doctor says they're okay for you. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Moon Burn Apple Cider Vinegar with Garcinia Cambogia Weight Loss Pills

I received these Moon Burn Apple Cider Vinegar with Garcinia Cambogia Weight Loss Pills to review.

I'm trying to lose weight, but I'm also still breastfeeding so I can't currently take any supplements like this. That said, I thought I would go ahead and get this so I could talk to my doctor to see if it is safe to use. I figure, if it's safe and possibly effetive I would have some ready to use once my baby is weaned. So, I spoke to my doctor who said these are safe for me to use after my baby is weaned. So, I looked into the ingredients to find out if there's any science backing it up. And, like most supplements, the answer is no. There isn't any science backing up the claims behind these ingredients, but that doesn't mean they don't work necessarily, just that there hasn't been any proof yet. I doubt that any proof will be found any time soon. So, it's not likely this product will have any effect beyond placebo effect, so I wouldn't recommend it. Always remember to speak with your doctor before trying any supplements.

Kitchen Utensils Set

I received this Kitchen Utensils Set to review.

As a wife and mom of two boys I do a LOT of cooking. Seriously, sometimes it feels like I never stop cooking. And while cooking I have ruined, broken, and flat out destroyed a lot of kitchen utensils. I use only steel and cast iron cookware so I can use metal utensils because I have better luck with them. They don't melt as easily. So, I figured I would give these ones a try. I'm disappointed that the full 10 piece set was sold out because I wanted to get it, but the three-piece set had the utensils I most needed so it will do for now. So, I started using these as soon as they arrived to see how they would stand up. I was worried because the utensils have a handle that is a separate piece instead of being a single cohesive unit. I've always had better luck with utensils that are a single unit, but I gave these a try and was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy they are. Even when I pressed them down hard they withstood the pressure with no trouble whatsoever. These are good quality utensils at a reasonable price. I recommend them to anyone needing new utensils.

Meal Prep Bento Lunch Box Review

Kitchen Utensil Set review

I got this 3 pieces plastic kitchen utensil set because I have some nonstick pans and didn't have anything but metal utensils. I use almost exclusively nonstick cookware and I hate when I scratch it because I have the wrong kind of utensils. I'm not very happy that the set is only spoons but the larger set was sold out, so this was the best one I could get. Be warned though, do not to use them with cast iron cookware. I used a plastic spatula once when I was making pancakes in a cast iron frying pan. Everything was going just fine until I went to flip a pancake and the spatula melted in seconds, completely ruining it and my pancake. I hate little bits of melted black plastic on my pancakes and my frying pan, what a mess! Needless to say, I had to get a new one and I never made that mistake again. They are pretty well made. So far they seem very sturdy and not likely to break so far. The spoons are kind of big which I like since one scoop will fill your soup bowl. The large size can be a bit of a downfall, especially on the slotted spoon. Because they are solid plastic/nylon they might melt if left in a hot pot for too long.

Buy your own at https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-cm-kitchen-utensils-set-nylon-1-2-3-or-9-piece

Lutein Sugar Free Eye Health Gummies

I received this these Lutein Sugar Free Eye Health Gummies to review.

My dad has some degeneration in his eyes resulting in vision impairment. His eye doctor has recommended him to take vitamins containing lutein as it may help prevent further degeneration until they are able to preform the surgery to correct his eyes. Since my dad is also diabetic this being sugar free was a great additional benefit for him. So we decided to give these vitamins a try. We first checked with all of his medical team to insure there would be no dangerous interactions with his current medications nor contraindications for his medical conditions. After getting the all-clear from the doctors he started taking these vitamins daily. The vitamins don't have that weird vitamin smell that so many other vitamins do, and they taste pretty good. We can't say for sure if they're doing much to help, but they aren't doing any harm and the doctors have confirmed that this product is safe and may be beneficial so my dad will keep on taking them to see if there is any benefit for him.

Always remember to ask your doctor before you start taking any kind of supplement.

Silver Laptop Stand

I received this Silver laptop Stand to review.

This is not the style of laptop I would normally buy. I usually buy laptop stands that have built-in fans to increase cooling capabilities, but since I was offered this one for free to try I decided to give it a shot. So, this is a simple aluminum stand, nothing special to it. But it is a great product nonetheless. Because it is aluminum it acts like an external heatsink, drawing the heat out to be more easily dispersed by the air flowing around the stand. The stand also lifts the laptop up quite a bit making it easier to maintain correct posture, a very important thing for people who work at a computer a lot. I like to use mine somewhat as a shelf, as well. It gives me more space on my desk as well as the benefits I already mentioned. It's a nice, clean looking item, it is light to move around easily when necessary. I think this is my new favorite laptop stand of the three that I own. I will keep using this one for as long as I continue to use laptops.

Listen to Your Soul and Heal Your Body of Chronic Disease

I received a free copy of the world's stupidest ebook, Listen to Your Soul and Heal Your Body of Chronic Disease to review.

Oh. My. God. The bullshit is strong with this one. Where to begin? Well, how about the fact that the author claims to have hada laundry list of "incurable" chronic diseases, all of which are completely curable with proper treatment. She distrusts doctors and seems to think they are all quacks. This book seems to be the work of a hypochondriac who thought she had a laundry list of diseases that reads like a medical textbook, which doctors couldn't cure (because they probably weren't even real) and she managed to "cure" herself with her magical unicorn thoughts! This book is like a wet-dream of the anti-vax, anti-medicine, anti-healthy, anti-science crowd. This book makes me very angry, honestly, because there are actual, chronic, DEADLY diseases that run in my family and this kind of absolute horse crap is incredibly dangerous to people with real, actual medical problems. The author of this book is a revolting, horrific person praying on the weak, sick, and desperate people who want help for the chronic conditions they are suffering from. The author wanted to make a quick buck by scamming the sick, and with a book like this she might just succeed. This book should be recalled, the author should publicly apologizse, and all copies of the book should be destroyed. Truly a disgusting book by a truly disgusting person. Do not buy this book.

KISSPAT Pendant Tassel Necklace

Ireceived this KISSPAT Pendant Tassel Necklace to review

I got this to see the quality of the items for gift giving. I wasn't very impressed when I first opened it, it's plain and kind of boring. I do like the blue electro-plated quartz focal, it is a little small but still it's pretty. I don't like the length of the tassel, the necklace already has a long chain and the tassel makes the overall length too long for my liking.

The necklace is of average quality for costume jewelry. The plating should last for some time if it's not worn every day. The plating on the stone is good, it catchs the light and reflects a consistant and even range of color.

One downfall to this necklace is the jump ring used to conect the focal to the chain. It allows the chain to slide through the ring and will wear the plating off of a small section of the chain in a very short time if you play with it. The chain tassel isn't conected very securelly, if it were to get cought on something or pulled it would come right off.

For a piece of costume jewelry it's what I would expect. It has some design flaws but it's still eye catching. If you treat it like a peace of jewelry is meant to be it will last a long time. It will make a great gift for some one who likes long necklaces.

Journey to Water's Heart

I recieved a free copy of the ebook Journey to Water's Heart to review.

I honestly didn't have high hopes for this book, honestly. The reviews weren't great so that had me worried off the bat and the introduction is bland, boring, and terribly written. The first few chapters aren't that great either, they're in desperate need of an editor. There are so many spelling and grammar errors in this book it drove me nuts! But, the story is, for the most part, pretty good. It's slow to start but once it gets going it's a pretty enjoyable young adult fantasy novel. To call it an "epic" fantasy novel is laughable. At best, this is a passable fantasy novel from a writer who has potential but lacks refinement of her craft. The book is seriously overpriced especially when considering the quality. This book reads like the rough draft of a potentially great story. The elements are there, the potential is there, but it needs polishing. All that said, this book isn't horrible, and if you can pick it up at a large enough discount-say, $0.99, it wouldn't be a bad purchase.

PetTastic Adjustable Dog Collar

I got this PetTastic Adjustable Dog Collar because my dog needed a new collar. I tried to get a picture of him wearing it but he wouldn't hold still longe enough.

I'm not fond of plastic buckles on a collar, my dog has broken quite a few in his years. I doubt if he could break one now since he's about 15 now. Besides that this one seems to be fairly stout. The fabric is soft and yet still strong. Overall it is a good collar for any dog. This color comes in a variety of sizes and styles with different color pallets to choose from. If you don't like this particular style there are many others to choose from on their Amazon store.

#petantastic #dogsofinstagram #dog #petstagram #pets #puppy #animal #doglover #instadog #dogstagram #collar #cute #picpets #adorable #photooftheday #followme

Israel - Island of Success

I received a free copy of the ebook Israel - Island of Success toreview.

This is an intriguing book about Israel and how Israel has managed to succeed despite difficulties and setbacks. Of course, this book is written form a pro-Israel perspective so it ignores the skeletons in Israel's closet, such as the brutal murder of Palestinian civilians (children included) and British and American soldiers by the immigrants who came to Palestine in the 1940s and 1950s to found the nation of Israel. It was actually really difficult for me to read this book considering the current state of affairs in Israel and Gaza. But, I digress. I did my best to read this book with an open mind and a neutral opinion. The authors give their opinion as to how and why Israel has managed to succeed and thrive thus far against all the odds. According to the authors Israel's success comes down to the optimism of its people. I think that's a little naive. I'm sure the stubborn optimism of Israelis is partly responsible for Israel's continued growth and success, but let's be honest here, foreign aide had a lot to do with Israel getting to where it is now and continues to have a lot to do with keeping Israel on its path toward future greatness.

The Folly of Life

I received a free copy of the ebook The Folly of Life to review.

This book is... weird. Not necessarily bad weird, but weird nonetheless. It's not a story, it's just a collection of individual quotes that are somewhat related to one another and divided into categories. The book is described as being something to make you laugh and cry, but it made me do neither. Some of the quotes included are amusing, but none are enough to make me laugh, and certainly not to make me cry. It was an interesting read, but very short with only a very few quotes in it anyway. It really isn't worth the price, even when on sale. It reads like a novice stand up comic's notes. I'm not a fan and I don't recommend it. I really have nothing else to say about this book, however, if I don't add some more words as filler this post will be rejected by the system of the website where I get my free products from so I'll just have to add some filler down here. Let me reiterate, this book isn't worth the price. It is at best mildly amusing, but mostly it is just boring.

Serial Termination

I received a free copy of the ebook Serial Termination to review

A new serial killer mystery, hmm? Well, that's always fun. So, this book starts off at a pretty good clip, a soldier finds a dead body in a bag on a busy road. We quickly move from the scene to the police station where the detectives get to work. It doesn't take long for the personal drama to make an appearance and quickly take over the story. This book is supposed to be a serial murder mystery/suspense with some romance included, but to me, it seemed more like a romance with some serial killer mystery thrown in. I don't like romance in my novels, it never seems realistic and that annoys me greatly. The book is alright when you get past the romantic plotlines, but I would strongly prefer if there were no romance to overlook. I just don't like romance in my novels and it seems impossible to read a suspense novel that isn't at least 50% romance anymore.

Three Minutes of Eternity

I recevvied a free copy of the ebook Three Minutes of Eternity to review.

This is a novel about Eurovision, a singing competition of European nations that apparently includes Israel, which is not a European nation. I never really knew much about Eurovision because it falls far outside the sphere of my interests. I would honestly rather have teeth pulled without Novocain than watch a singing competition, they're so incredibly boring. The author is a middle-aged man who was involved in Eurovision in the past and seems to have written this book to try and reclaim his lost youth. He even refers to himself as a 16-year-old in a 40-year-old's body in his author bio on Amazon. Not sure why anyone would be so proud of immaturity, but okay. Anyway, about the book. So there are some books that draw you in and make you want to keep reading, they make reading a great pleasure. Then there are books that make reading a chore, books that make you want to gauge your own eyes out with rusty sporks just to get out of reading them. This book is the latter for me. It's just really boring. There's some promise of big action in the beginning but the author never makes good on that promise. Instead, it is drab and dull with a little bit of action and some romance which do nothing to improve the readability.

Leave Me Alone

I recieved a free copy of the ebook Leave Me Alone to review.

This is a really interesting book, it is written by a psychologist who works with people who are morbidly obese. She tells the stories of some of her patients and their experiences as obese people from their perspectives. This book is an important read for anyone who loves an obese person because it will help you to better understand where they are coming from. It's a really engrossing read as well and draws you in. It's impossible not to feel for the people in this book, many of whom are being mistreated and even abused by their own family members because of their weight, a heartbreaking reality I know all too well. As a child, I was not overweight at all, but my mother often treated me as though I was. She constantly told me how fat and disgusting I was (among other insults she hurled at me) while remarking on how thin my sister was. When I got out of the army I began to gain weight and the criticisms only got worse, the rest of my family started joining in on the shaming and criticisms. It never helped, only made me hate myself, my life, and my family. I never had a psychologist to talk to, but reading the stories in this book makes me glad the author exists to help people, especially children and teens, who are dealing with these issues. This book is great and I recommend it to anyone who is overweight or has overweight relatives or friends. Actually, I think everyone should read it because it might help the fat shamers to understand that overweight and obese people are people too and they have wants, needs, and feelings just like everyone else.

Vegetarian Weight Loss

I received a free copy of the ebook Vegetarian Weight Loss to review.

This is a pretty good book for anyone interested in trying a vegetarian diet or anyone looking to lose weight who is open to going vegetarian even if only temporarily. Though be warned, if you try a vegetarian diet temporarily you may find yourself permanently a vegetarian as you may end up feeling much better as a vegetarian that you won't want to go back to your meat-eating ways. The book is pretty good, it's mostly recipes including some bonus recipes from other books the author has published. There is also some good information about transitioning to a vegetarian diet, getting enough nutrients on a vegetarian diet, and just some good general information. I do have a couple of complaints, though. The first is all the smoothie recipes. Granted, that is mostly a personal complaint as I don't like smoothies but it is important to remember that smoothies aren't really all that healthy. The second complaint is a bit different, it is about the author claiming that food should not be microwaved because it will destroy the nutritional value of the food. That is blatantly false information. People used to believe that somehow microwaves broke down nutrients in food be now know that not only is this false, the opposite is actually true: microwaves, due to their shorter cooking times, can actually help keep the nutrients in food better intact than other cooking methods. I truly believe the author should retract that false information instead of continuing to spread such lies.

The Science of Freedom

I recieved a free copy of the ebook The Science of Freedom to review.

This book starts out with an analysis of Descartes' philosophy, the famous "I think therefore I am" that we've all heard many times. It was very interesting to read the author's interpretation of Descartes' philosophy. The author's philosophy on free will is pretty interesting, as well. This book explores some complex ideas but puts them in easy to understand terms so that the book is accesible to all. There are some eye opening and thought provoking ideas in this book. It's a good read for anyone with an interest in philosophy or even psychology. The author cites scinetific research in the work in reference to some of the ideas he presents. There is also some theology involved, as it is nearly impossible to discuss philosophy without bringing in theology and spirituality to at least some extent, especially considering many people get their life philiosophy at least partly from their religion. I think this is a very interesting book, worth reading at least once, though probably more than once to make sure you get the full thing. I read through it once, pretty quickly (Pro-tip: speed reading is a kill everyone should have!) and when I have the opportunity I plan to read through again, looking more in depth into the relevant research of certain parts of the book.

Memory Improvement

I received this ebook Memory Improvement to review. It appears to have been removed from Amazon, the product url is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CS1BBJ.

I had high hopes for this book until I saw the author's name. I've read many books by this "George Pain" person, which I believe is one of many pen names that are all used by the same person, and none of them are very good. They, like the other books from this publisher, are written by someone who appears to be ignorant of their subject matter. See, all of these books, this one included, appear to be just someone rewording something they read without even attempting to comprehend the information first. I really and truly was hoping this book would have important information in it, because improving memory is a good thing for everyone. But, like this author's other books, it was not informative. This book is not worth buying as there is no information in it. There's really nothing else to say about this book, just don't buy it even if it becomes available again.

#memory

Clean Eating

I received a free copy of the ebook Clean Eating to review. This book is no longer available on Amazon, but may eventually be available again at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4AKXYS.

I thought this book would be great for me-I'm trying to lose weight, and I have had some success with clean eating in the past. So I was pretty excited to read this book, that is, until I actually started reading it. It's just a very bare bones menu plan with recipes for each meal and snack listed. The recipes aren't terrible, but they're nothing to write home about. I've seen very similar recipes on websites like allrecipes which is free to use. I wouldn't buy this book, it's a waste of money. I can't help but wonder if it was removed from Amazon for that reason as this authors other books are also lackluster at best. There's really nothing else to say about this book. It's not good, not worth the money, and now not available. So, even if it was available I wouldn't buy it or recommend it. There are free recipes available online and free clean eating programs.

#cleaneating

Amazon Fire TV

I received a free copy of the ebook Amazon Fire TV to review, this is ebook is a very basic guide to the Amazon Fire TV. The book appears to have been removed from Amazon, but was previously available, and may be available again in the future, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3VN19G.

This book is a very basic guide to the Amazon Fire TV box. It has no information about the Fire TV stick other than a comparison of the box to the stick. The book also compares the Fire TV to other streaming TV devices such as Roku, Chromecast, and AppleTV. I can't stress enough that this book is incredibly basic. It is comparable to the free product manuals that come with the products when you buy them. There is nothing in this book that makes it worth paying for. This book is simply an aftermarket instruction manual/product guide, and not even a good one at that. There's nothing in this book that can't be found either in the user manual for the Fire TV or on the internet for free.I would say don't buy this book, but since the Amazon listing was removed you can't anyway. On the off chance the book is re-listed don't buy it, it's a waste of money.

#amazon

Lawn Tractor Cover

I received this Lawn Tractor Cover to review.

We have a nice lawn tractor, but in order to keep it from getting rusty, we have to keep it undercover somehow. So, we have a lawn tractor parked in the carport taking up space that should be occupied by a car. We do have a small shed area where the lawn tractor is kept during the winter, but it's open on one side so it's not great protection. Well, with this new lawn tractor cover we have a solution to the problem. I'm not saying this cover alone will keep the lawn tractor safe from winter weather, but it will help protect it better. The cover will help during the summer to keep the lawn tractor dry during the rain, keep it covered when not in use so birds don't poop on it, and keep cats from scratching up the seat. In the winter the cover will keep the lawn tractor protected from drifting snow. The cover is waterproof and very heavy duty. It tucks around the lawn tractor nicely and easily, and it has a tag on the front inside that says "front" to make it even easier to put on.

How to Be Our Own Psychologists

I received a free advanced copy of the ebook How to Be Our Own Psychologists to review.

Before reading a book I always like to check out the listing for the book and the author. Well, I was a little confused to see a book with psychology in the title listed in the "religion and spirituality" category. Psychology is a science, albeit a soft science, and religion is the opposite of science. I don't mean that to be offensive, but it is true. Religion is based on faith without evidence, science is based on evidence without faith. As I started to read the book I understood why it was in the religion category, this book is about spirituality, not psychology. It is a book for religious people. Specifically religious people who are having difficulty in their lives. I honestly don't see any benefit to this book for anyone, though. It doesn't offer any kind of useful advice or information for any situation, it's just one person's interpretation of their religion.

Michelle

I received a free advanced copy of the ebook Michelle to review.

This book was yet another case of a book that just couldn't catch my attention. The chapters were long, flowery and lyrical in prose but lacking in substance. This book reminds me of those "Mary Sue" litmus tests that used to be all over the internet for fan fiction writers. You know the ones, they were meant to help novice writers not make their characters into Mary Sues or overly perfect characters. I remember the mention from those lists, and also from creative writing classes in college, that the use of overly poetic flowery writing is usually a way to mask poor narrative ability. And that seems like the case in this book. I just couldn't get interested in this book. There was a lot of flowy prose, but I just didn't feel any substance, no connection to the characters. At no point did I care about what would happen to the characters or what had happened to them. I just wanted to put the book down and look for something better to read.

Pebbles: Insightful Stories for a Meaningful Life

I received a free advanced copy of the ebook Pebbles: Insightful Stories for a Meaningful Life to review.

This book is a simple collection of short stories from the author's life. It's basically a collection of mini-memoirs combined together to create a larger memoir. The stories are placed in the book in random order so that the reader can choose to read in any order instead of needing to read from beginning to end. The stories are all very nice little stories, good to read though I don't know if they're necessarily insightful, I suppose that's a matter of opinion. I enjoy books of short stories from time to time because they allow me to read just a single story without being left on a cliffhanger. This book has a lot of nice stories that I think most people would enjoy reading. I recommend this book to anyone who likes short stories. Not much else I can say about this book if you like short stories you should check it out. It's also a good choice for anyone who likes memoirs.

Dina - Surviving Undercover

I received a free advanced copy of the ebook Dina - Surviving Undercoverto review.

This book is more my style-nonfiction. And to make it even better, it's history, too. I love history, it's fascinating, at least when you venture past the truncated version of history learned in school. This book is the story of a Jewish woman who was living in Poland at the outset of World War II, which is a pretty common subject matter for stories of the World War II era. So, you may be thinking "It's just another Holocaust survivor story, why should I read this one?" Well, yes, there are a lot of Holocaust survivor stories but they are all unique and completely different. This story isn't about surviving the Holocaust, it's about a woman's life. This is her life story and includes her arduous journey through a turbulent and treacherous time in history. This book is the author's own account, with editing done by her son-in-law, of surviving World War II alone. It is an amazing story of an amazing woman and her will to survive even the toughest of times. This book is truly inspirational. A must-read for everyone.

Wild Prey

I received a free advance copy of the ebook Wild Prey to review

This book was really boring to me. At no point did the story feel compelling or draw me in. The characters seemed bland and boring. Reading this book was a chore. I wanted to stop reading after the first chapter. And then the second. And the third... In fact, after every chapter, I wanted to stop reading. I just didn't feel drawn into the story. I couldn't be bothered to care about the characters or what was going on with them or what might become of them. The book is technically fine, the author has a good grasp of grammar and linguistics, but the storyline is just really boring. I can't think of a single type of person that this book would appeal too, though I'm sure some people will enjoy it. I'm sure to the target audience it's a great book, but I just truly didn't feel drawn into the story at all, not at any point in the book. It just dragged on and on and on. I really can't think of anything else to write on this. I didn't like the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I was barely able to finish reading it, and the only reason I did finish was so that I could provide an honest review.

The Emerald Circle

I received a free advanced copy of the ebook The Emerald Circle to review.

This is definitely not the kind of book I would normally read. It's nonfiction, a thriller. But not just any thriller, a paranormal thriller. I'm not into fiction as a rule, and I honestly can't stand paranormal books! That said, this book does have an intriguing story and it is pretty well written. It jumps around a little in the beginning and makes you feel like you've picked up the second book in a series but over time it starts to clear things up. I was really enjoying this book up until the paranormal stuff started showing up. Don't get me wrong, it's well written, but I really don't like paranormal fiction. I read the whole book and it's well written throughout but it just isn't my cup of tea. It's a good book for fans of the paranormal fiction category or fans of mystery/thriller genres that don't mind a little paranormal action. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the paranormal.

Mom, What is Love? children's book

I received a free copy of the children's ebook Mom, What is Love? to review.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from this book as there are many different kinds of love, but I figure this would be dedicated to parent-child love. I was quite surprised when reading it, the book is a cute little work that talks about many different kinds of love and aspects of love. There are some reviews of this book that complain because it includes themes of materialism, divorce, and death which apparently in some people's eyes are inappropriate for children. I disagree with that because children are naturally materialistic and selfish until we teach them not to be so acknowledging materialism is not at all inappropriate for children in my opinion. Divorce is not inappropriate for children because people do get divorced and every child will encounter divorced people at some point in their lives and there is no harm in knowing about the concept of divorce. Death is a topic that frightens most adults but it isn't inappropriate for children when correctly handled, and the mention of death in this book is perfectly suitable for children. The entire book reads like someone simply followed a young child around and wrote down his or her inner musings and published it. It is a great book for kids because it puts things into a child's perspective.

Vegan Chocolate Cooking

I received this Vegan Chocolate Cooking ebook to review. The product WAS available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H54UR4C, but it appears to have been removed from Amazon for unknown reasons.

Another recipe book by the sanctimonious vegan. Look, I get it, and the author is right: veganism is better for the environment and animals, and even the people eating the vegan diet but is the introduction to a vegan cookbook really the place to try and recruit vegans? First of all, most people who are buying this book (or were buying it, I should say, as it is no longer available) are already vegan or vegetarians. What I'm saying is, stop preaching to the choir. Second, most meat eaters actually do know where meat comes from and they're okay with it, so the attempts to convert them with complaints about the animals dying isn't going to work. Seriously, this author has (or had) a lot of vegan cookbooks on Amazon, though there are only two left now for some weird reason, and all of them I've read so far include a spiel trying to convert meat eaters in the introduction to the book. It's really annoying.

Okay, anyway, on to the book itself. It's a book of chocolate recipes that are vegan friendly. And this time, they actually ARE vegan! No more honey. Well, that's not completely true, one recipe does say that you can use honey if you want, but a little improvement is still an improvement, right? Some of the recipes do look pretty good. Although I'm not sure how much that matters as you can no longer get the book. I am very curious as to what happened that this book and many others from this author (and publisher) seem to have vanished from Amazon. Are they going to be made available again or are they gone forever? I guess only time will tell. Well, if it does ever come back I think it's an okay book, but I wouldn't pay more than $0.99 for it as that's all it's worth in my opinion.

#vegan

Travel Sleep Mask

I received this Travel Sleep Mask to review.

I've never really understood the need for sleep masks, I can sleep just fine in any lighting situation. Hell, I can sleep just about anywhere in any situation. I've actually slept through an earthquake, in fact. It was a small earthquake, but it still counts. My eldest son, Zach, on the other hand, cannot sleep if there is any light at all. Even the smallest amount of light will keep him up (or wake him if he's already asleep) which is a problem because it's impossible to keep all light out of a room. So, I decided to give this sleep mask a try and see if it will help Zach sleep. Since Zach has sensory issues, it is going to take a while to get him used wearing it. Currently, he'll let me put it on him, but he pulls it down around his neck to wear like a scarf. The mask is really soft, which I think will be helpful in getting Zach to wear it. I did give the mask a try myself just to see what it's like, but it made me feel disoriented to be in such complete darkness. It closes with Velcro on the back so it can be adjusted to fit most people. It is designed to be a travel mask and I think it would be great for traveling because you can just strap around your neck and go then when you're ready to sleep all you have to do is pull it over your eyes, no more digging through your luggage to find a sleep mask!

Diamond Painting Kit Review

I got a diamond painting kit to try out and I love it.

The kit comes with everthing you need, a sticky canvas with a symbol and color coded printed graff,  rhinestones, a tool to grab the rhinestones, wax for the tool, a pair of tweezers, and a tray to hold the rhinestones. One thing I really like about the kit is it comes with more then enough rhinestones so if your like me and have a tendancy to drop thing you should have plenty to finish the picture with anyway. I have been working on my kit for a few days now, I meant to take some progress pictures but I forgot to. I should be done in 2 or 3 more days and I will take a picture and show the finished item. This is not a fast craft but once you get going its easy to loose track of time.

RANDEMFY 4 pack massage balls

I recieved this RANDEMFY 4 pack massage balls to review.

I didn't get these to really use as massage balls, because I'm not into foam rolling so I couldn't imagine using one of these for massage would be pleasant. And I was right, I found it incredibly unpleasant and painful to use these for massaging sore muscles. My husband was going to try them on his injured shoulder but decided not to after hearing me complain about how painful they are. I actually compared these to similar products that my mother in law got from her physical therapist and these ones are rock hard compared to the ones used by physical therapists, which seems like a bad idea. So, anyway, we won't be using these massage balls for their intended use, but instead as a sensory toy for the kids. Zach is autistic and needs sensory toys and these style balls are one of his favorite sensory textures. Scott also likes to play with textures like this, so I will probably let him have one and give the other three to Zach. I do like the colors, they are very bright and vibrant.

Kllarmant Nightlight for Kids

I received this Kllarmant Nightlight for Kids to review.

I got this light not as a nightlight for the boys but as a toy. See, a nightlight doesn't work for Zach as the presence any light at all keeps him awake and Scott just doesn't need a nightlight so I'm not going to use one unless he decides he needs it. The light is kind of a cute little star making a weird face. It lights up just by tapping it, though it doesn't always respond to your taps and sometimes it lights up without being touched at all. If you squeeze it, it deflates but doesn't light up. It has different colored light and the option to cycle through the different colors automatically, though the cycling function seems to be defective. It stays on some colors for a long time and barely any time on others. It also seems to stop cycling colors after a while. There is an on/off button on the bottom next to the charging port. I like that it charges using a standard micro USB charger, no need for another cord cluttering up my desk. It looks pretty safe, no small parts or removable pieces. I have noticed that it never seems to turn off on its own, you have to shut it off yourself which I think is a design flaw. It should shut off on its own after a while, in my opinion. It's a cute toy, I would definitely buy it as a gift for kids in my family and friend circle.

Gypsy Blood by Jeff Gunhus

I received a free copy of the book Gypsy Blood by Jeff Gunhus to review.

This is the second novel I've read from Jeff Gunhus, and I must say it doesn't disappoint. After reading Gunhus's Ressurection America I was really looking forward to reading more from the author and I wasn't disappointed when I started this novel. Right from the start, I was drawn in by the characters and the dialogue. Gunhus is great at painting a scene without all the unnecessary "filler" that plagues many novels. The story is great, it's easy to get invested in the characters and their individual stories. This is another case of a can't put it down novel. The characters feel real, their actions are completely believable and fit with what we know about the characters. I will definitely be picking up Gunhus's other novels to read, and eagerly awaiting his future novels. I think I officially have a new favorite author. I recommend this book to everyone, even if it doesn't seem like your usual fair (it certainly wasn't mine!), it's well worth the read.

#gypsyblood

Statistics EBook

I received a free copy of this Statistics EBook to review.

I love math, it's always been my favorite subject. I was always interested in taking the more advanced math classes, including statistics. It's been a long time since I took a statistics class and I figured this book might make a good refresher. I was a little uncertain based on the fact that the book is very short-only 66 pages. So, I went into the reading of this book not expecting too much out of it, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book may be short, but it is a pretty good refresher for those who already know about statistics and statistical analysis. This book would be a bit too much for people who are new to statistics but for those who already know about statistics, it's an okay refresher. I've read a few other books by this author and most of them seem quite lacking in information or understanding from the author, but this book is clearly written by someone who knows statistics. I would say that statistics must be the authors educational and perhaps career focus. This book is pretty good, though I would have like to see more information in it.

#statistics

Resume Writing EBook

I received a free copy of this Resume Writing EBook to review.

I hate writing resumes, I've never been good at it and so I just avoid it whenever I can. That means I've skipped applying for a few jobs that seemed interesting all to avoid needing a resume. Since I don't plan on staying in my current job due to the unreasonable commute I have (200 miles one way!), a resume writing book would be very helpful for me. So, I read through this expecting some good and helpful information, but I was seriously let down. First of all, this isn't a book as much as it is a pamphlet. And it's VERY basic. I mean, high school live skills class basic. In fact, everything in this book is exactly what I was taught in a high school business class as a sophmore. In fact, I even heard my teacher's voice in my head as I was reading it, it was almost like someone transcribed it from my high school class! I wouldn't recommend this book because there is nothing in it that is new or useful information for anyone who has applied for a job or even thought about applying for a job.

#career

Dash Diet for Beginners

I recieved a free copy of this ebook Dash Diet for Beginners to review.

I don't have high blood pressure, in fact my blood pressure is low-normal so DASH diet is out for me. But high blood pressure does run in my family, so a book like this was a good investment for me because so many members of my family need this diet or something similar. This book is pretty basic, as evident by the "for beginners" in the title. It's basically just a meal plan with recipes. While I don't have high blood pressure and therefore don't need a DASH diet, some of these recipes do look pretty good and I think I will be trying them out. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in trying out the DASH diet, however I must implore that you speak to your doctor before trying any diet. It do think it would be nice to have some more information about the diet included, but as it sets it isn't a bad book.

#dash

100% Pure Forskolin Diet Pills

I received this 100% Pure Forskolin Diet Pills to review.

I like to know the science behind how and why products work. Forskolin is marketed as a diet pill, which immediately makes me skeptical. No diet pill has ever been shown to work in the past, so why would this one be any different? So I looked into the science behind Forskolin and, as I had expected, the results weren't promising. Forskolin has been shown to be ineffective as a weight loss drug. So this is a supplement marketed for weight loss that doesn't actually help people lose weight, what a complete waste of money, right? Well, maybe not, because the same studies that show that Forskolin doesn't cause weight loss also shows that it does boost testosterone and, by association, improve muscle mass. So you won't lose any weight, but you will lose fat and gain muscle. More muscle means higher basal metabolic rate (BMR). Higher BMR means faster calorie burn while at rest, which leads to weight loss. So, while it won't actually cause a direct or immediate weight loss it may cause a minor weight loss over the long term. Forskolin has also shown some benefit in reducing asthma and increasing bone mass, though more studies will need to be done to confirm those results. I spoke to my doctor about this supplement and was advised against using it because of the lack of studies showing the safety and efficacy of the pill. So, would I buy it? No, not until more research has been done. I don't recommend this product because it hasn't been tested well enough or shown to be effective. If you do wish to try this product make sure to speak with your primary care provider first to ensure there are no contraindications that make this supplement dangerous for you.

The Dinner Salad Cookbook

I received a free copy of the ebook The Dinner Salad Cookbook to review.

I'm not a salad person, I find salads to be pretty bland and boring as a food. My husband does like salads, though, so I figured this book would be useful in helping me add some variety to our dinner repertoire. I didn't plan on making these salads for myself because, as I said, I don't like salad. This book has more than just recipes, it has a nice list of staples to keep on hand for making these salads. Some of the salads in this book actually look pretty good so I will have to try them out for myself. I think this book of salads is going to give me more meal variety but also a list of quick, easy go-to meals for those days when I forget to start dinner on time and end up trying to throw something together last minute which usually results in less than healthy meals. I will have to modifiy some of these salads as they contain ingredients my household members don't like (such as kale, that most evil of vegetables) but that shouldn't be too hard.