Meet Lulu!

Meet Lulu is a magical coloring book that includes a stylus crayon for your iPad or Android tablet app (download of the app is free).

Here's how Meet Lulu is different than most other coloring books for kids: you can color on the pages or you can scan the pages into the app and color on your tablet device.

I tested this out with my 4 year old daughter. She looked the pictures and was really excited to have a special crayon that she could use on my iPad. Each page has a QR barcode that you can scan in the app to bring up that page, but it was kind of unnecessary because the app has the whole collection of coloring books listed and the pages easily displayed for the child to choose to color.

The stylus crayon worked, but not the way I wished. It has a rubbery tip and I wish it would slide along my iPad screen a little better, but my daughter didn't notice or care. The worst part is that my daughter decided to put the crayon in her mouth and bit it on the tip so it does not work pretty much at all anymore. However, the app works just fine without the crayon stylus and she still has the coloring book to use real crayons on.

The illustrations in the book were very adorable and my daughter thought they were so cool to color. It's really ideal for traveling or in the car because my child can color without needing any crayons--just her finger and my tablet.

I didn't see an option to save your progress on a page and come back to finish coloring it, but my daughter was a big hog of my iPad so I can't be sure that there isn't one somehow.

Great app and lots of fun for both of us. Neat idea!

Get yours here

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Professional Cocktail Muddler Bar Tool Review + Giveaway

My husband's favorite mixed drink is probably an old-fashioned, or at least his version of it, so he likes to muddle up a couple cherries in the bottom of his glass before adding the other ingredients. I have seen him do this (and laughed) with a spoon for years. It always seemed ineffective to me, so when I was approached to try and review the Professional Cocktail Muddler Bar Tool from BTIPSY, I was excited to surprise him.

The muddler bar tool is made of stainless steel and super easy to clean and it has a 3 year extended warranty. The actual end of the muddler is a rubber-like material so it isn't noisy while muddling in a glass or bowl and there is very little chance of damaging your dinnerware by using it.

So how did it work? Well my husband would like to add his own opinions:

"The husband here.

I would like to add that the muddler has a wide base (where you place it in the glass while muddling), so there doesn't have to be a lot of gyrating.

I think that places it above usual muddlers. No motioning around with your wrist. You just place a few cherries (or whatever ingredient) on the bottom of the glass, press the muddler down and twist it a few times.

Voila! A great mixture without a lot of work. Very convenient."

So there you have it, definitely better than a spoon.

You can buy it here,

 

but wouldn't it better to win one!?

Enter my giveaway below! Ends 10/23/14


a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

California Kitchenware Butterfield Silicone Cupcake Molds Review

Have you ever tried silicone cupcake molds? I am in lots of co-ops that often run buys for them, but I have never been brave enough to try them. I had a silicone bread pan once, but it was the WORST to clean so I was afraid the cupcake molds would be the same--that kept me from ordering any.

Until California Kitchenware contacted me about trying their silicone cupcake molds found here. Since I have a four year old with a mouth full of sweet teeth, cupcakes are a frequent flyer in my house so it was just a matter of the occasion to arise to try them. That day was today and I was oddly excited about making a cupcake mess in my kitchen that would allow me to try these adorable molds.

First of all, they are shipped in a plastic container that would probably be useful to keep for storing them (mine was stolen and mostly eaten by my one year old). Secondly I have to mention the colors--these molds came in a set of 12, which had 4 blue, 4 yellow and 4 pink (my daughter says its purple so it could go either way). The colors are very vibrant and bright! My daughter was excited to bake in such pretty colored molds.

Instantly I was in major like with these molds. My biggest peeve of paper cupcake molds are that they don't really stay down in the pan until they have some cupcake mix to weigh it down. Since the silicone molds keep their shape, they fit into my cupcake pan perfectly.

I prepared on pan of silicone molds and one pan of paper liners (I'm making marble swirl cupcakes):

All the cupcakes were done at the same time, but I think they silicone molds cooled a little faster for some reason (they were definitely hot to the touch out of the oven though--I checked). I was most excited to see the difference between the cupcake after you peeled away the mold and liner.

The cupcakes baked in the silicone seemed to hold the moisture a bit better so they are just a bit softer and fluffier. Also, the difference of the amount of cupcake remaining on the liner/mold was drastic. Aside from cupcake mixture I dripped on the edge of the mold, there are almost no cupcake stuck to the mold, but the usual amount stuck to the paper liner.

Both sets up cupcakes were delicious, but the cupcakes baked in silicone were prettier looking, more consistent in size and shape and easier to peel. A plus is that silicone is reusable, so less waste for the environment!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ice Pop Mold Maker Review

My daughter is a Popsicle fiend! Seriously, she wants Popsicle after Popsicle from the moment she wakes up until the time she finally closes her eyes at the end of the day. Aside from the fact that they lack all nutritional value, my biggest complaint is how messy they can be (and if there is a mess to be made, my daughter finds a way to make it--she is only 3 afterall).

While searching for an easy solution (I lack all creativity in every aspect of life), I stumbled upon a new company looking for bloggers to try their product and give honest reviews. That company is BeeSili and they offered me Silicone Ice Pop Mold Container to test on my Popsicle loving kiddo.

I used them in a sort of unconventional way (reminder: I am not crafty at all) by opening the flimsy plastic containers of ice pops and poring them into these ice pop molds. I did one set by pouring the unfrozen liquid Popsicle into the ice molds. They froze quickly and were super easy to push them up and break them into pieces because of the very flexible silicone that the molds are made of.

My other set was done after the popsicles were already frozen in the plastic sleeves that they came in. I just opened the plastic and smooshed the frozen popsicle into the mold. The kind of popsicles I had were not quiet the same size as the molds so I had to force the extra in the mold, or have leftover popsicle in the plastic still.

Some tips for use from BeeSili's amazon listing:

*6 ice pop molds stand up in a cup or glass for easy filling
*Each mold holds 3.3 oz or about 1/3 cup
*Leave 1" at top for expansion when frozen
*Run warm/hot water over sides of frozen pop to loosen for easy push up
*Fill pops: left over smoothie mix, juice, jello, yogurt, pudding, coconut, almond or chocolate milk with berries, left over baby food, leftover sauces & more!
*Adults Only: Margarita, pina colada, daiquiri mixes, jello shots & more!
*Pets: On the go, travel snack keeper for your pet's treats
*Keep snacks fresh: Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, granola, veggies, candy
*Travel: Snacks, vitamins, Q tips, cotton balls, gum, mints

My favorite part of this product has nothing to do with this product, but the company behind it. These silicone products were created to fund a project that benefits soldiers with PTSD. More information can be found here: www.brainbodybalance.com I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keomi Skincare Handmade Soap Review

I have never tried handmade soap before so I was excited to see how Keomi Skincare's Handmade Soap could match up against the big store brands of bar soap.

You can find it for sale here in Sea Breeze, Luscious Lavender, Green Tea Goddess or Golden Crow for $8.97 per bar. You can also order samples for free on their website, just pay shipping and handling. There are also multi-packs you can order on Amazon.

I loved the decorative paper the soap was wrapped in and shipping was very quick directly from the Keomi location.

The bar was not very thick, about a half an inch, but I have used it many times already and have not noticed it reduced in size at all so I think it lasts longer than normal thick bar soaps you can buy in the store.

The scent was very nice, although I would have probably picked a different one myself, and I loved that the bar had little pieces of something inside to give it a very unique texture.

The ingredients are all organic so there should be no skin sensitivity issues. From their Amazon listing, the ingredients are: Saponified Oils of Pure Olive, Palm Kernel, Avocado, Grape Seed, Coconut, Cocoa Butter; Dead Sea Salt & Dead Sea Clay, Seaweed, Scented with a Blend of Lavender Oakmoss & Fir.

For the best results, I would follow the directions provided for storing and use:
Store open soap in a dry place, out of the stream of water, and on a draining soap dish. Don't let soap sit in a dish or container that is bowl shaped, or that allows water to pool in the bottom. Avoid those indentations built in some showers as "soap dishes" as they rarely drain properly. When using soap for body cleansing, longevity improves if you avoid rubbing the bar directly on the body. Instead, use hands, washcloth or other bathing instrument to apply. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

iArrow Sports Armband for iPhone

My latest product we have tried in our house was the iArrow Sports Armband for iPhone 5 series found here.

I was very excited to see that armband came with a screen protector and a black hard case to use with the armband itself. 

Installation

My husband and I have iPhone 5c's and despite us both trying a couple times, we could not get our phones to fit and stay in the provided black hard case. I think the iPhone 5/5S would fit more easily because it does not have the rounded design of the 5c, but I don't have access to a phone like that try. 

Despite not fitting in the included case, the screen protector fit on iPhone 5c nicely and was easy to apply. I personally think a screen protector is a must-have for all iPhones so it was nice that this was included with the armband.

The holder for the phone (not the case I mentioned above) and the actual armband are two separate pieces. I wish they had sent assembly instructions, simply because I put them together backwards the first time. Once I realized how the armband strap had to adhere to itself, the way to thread it through the holder was pretty obvious and easy to do. 

Ease of use 

My husband took his phone out on a 2 mile run using this armband and his iPhone in just the holder (since the case did not fit) and said he had no issues. It didn't fall out, though it does not clip in firmly like it would if you had the case on it so it would likely dislodge and/damage your phone in a fall. 

His music did not skip or do anything unusual. His headphones stayed connected easily and his MapMyRun app preformed in the usual way.

*

Design/quality

I like the sleek matte black design of the iArrow armband. It is comfortable and lightweight but seems to be able to take some damage instead of your phone in case of a fall. 

The armband itself is a nice material that would not collect sweat and moisture so we haven't had any issues with it smelling or needing any more washing than usual (we haven't washed it in the week we have been using it). 

Adjustment is super easy--my 3 year old likes to wear it and can adjust the strap herself. But it's made of very stout Velcro that holds together well. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mega Mesh Premium Magnetic Screen Door Review

I was sent the Mega Mesh Screen Door by Easy Install (found here). I have been wanting one of these since I first heard of them last summer, but I have not been willing to shell out out the money for fear that it wouldn't fit my doorway at my old house.

I decided to install it on the outside of my kitchen door that leads to my garage since my family uses that door to go into our backyard so it is the main source of my pets coming and going and the main cause of the bugs in my house--which I can't stand!

Installation

READ THE FULL INSTRUCTION PAGE BEFORE STARTING! All products tell you to do this, but this is one that you really need to know what to do ahead of time. The mistake I made was I did not originally hang the top middle about 5mm higher than the sides. If you don't hang the middle higher, the magnetic in the center strips will not meet the right way and the screen will not close effortless when you walk through it.

I started the installation using just the adhesive tape on the back of the velcro strips for installation. It seems to stick to my clean doorway well-at first. But within 20 minutes it had fallen in more than one place twice. It could have been because of the heat of summer in my garage so it may be enough for installation inside the home where the temperature is more controlled.

Thankfully, the manufacturer's thought of this possible issue and included tacks for more durable and permanent installation. I kind of thought they would be push tacks, but I need to use as hammer to get them into my door frame, but they are still small and discrete so I didn't mind putting them in.

Once I had the tacks in place, I have had not issues with it falling or coming out of place in the three weeks since I installed it.

What I think

I like how easy it is to walk through the screen and how effortless it closes behind you. It even closes just fine when my toddler walks through it. An added bonus? My dogs think it is a door so they have not tried to walk through it without someone holding it open for them. I like that feature because then they are not inside when they are not wanted inside.

The downside? The first weekend I had this installed I noticed this hole/rip in the screen. It is most likely due to something my dogs did, but being a product that is advertised for easy pet use, I am pretty sad that it so easily tore. This whole is plenty big enough for bugs to get into my house so it does directly change the effectiveness of the screen. I have not contacted the company about this yet and I will update after I have heard back from them regarding this.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Stainless Steel Garlic Press Reviews

I had two different companies send me their garlic presses for review: Orblue and bru joy. I have combined their reviews into one post because of the similarities of the reviews and products. 

Orblue stainless steel propressor

I was sent this garlic press from Orblue to try and review. On Amazon they have the following benefits listed:

1. ENJOY THE IRONCLAD 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE - I am so confident you're going to love your Propresser Garlic Press I'm offering it with an ironclad guarantee. If you have ANY problems with your Propresser Garlic Press FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE PRODUCT simply let me know and I will refund every penny of your purchase plus ship you another brand new kitchen gadget FREE of charge.

2. QUALITY YOU CAN COUNT ON - Unlike many of the garlic pressers on the market that are made from cheap zinc alloy, your Propresser Garlic Press is fashioned from 100% stainless steel. It won't rust, won't weaken at the joint, and won't break. We've meticulously designed this cooking gadget to serve you for years and decades to come. 

3. DESIGNED WITH EASE OF USE IN MIND - Hold the Propresser Garlic Press in your hand. Note the thickness of the handles and how comfortably your fingers wrap around them. With a clove of garlic nestled in the basket the handles are the ideal distance apart to maximize leverage. Gently squeeze the handles together. You'll be delighted at how easily, how effortlessly your Propresser Garlic Press produces perfectly minced garlic. 

4. CLEANUP IS A BREEZE - Now you can enjoy the flavor and health benefits of garlic instantly without the hassle of messy cleanup. Simply flip up the Propresser Garlic Press's basket, rinse it under your faucet, and you're done! 

5. A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO YOUR KITCHEN - When you first remove the Propresser Garlic Press from its box marvel at the way light dances over the stainless steel handles and glides over the curves of its ergonomic design. This is no mere cooking utensil - this is a handsome complement to your kitchen's décor.

What I think
The garlic press is very well made with stainless steel, smooth lines and easy to hold handle. The place for the fresh garlic to go is the right size for most cloves of garlic and pressure to mince the garlic evenly.

I like their promise to refund AND replace the garlic press for the life of the product. I have not had to test that guarantee yet, thankfully, but my communication with the company has already been easy, pleasant and convenient.

Bru Joy stainless steel garlic press

Link is the garlic press I was sent from bru joy. 

Bru joy's amazon listing has the following benefits under the description section:

1. Saves you money. Made of unbreakable, heavy duty stainless steel from head to toe, Bru Joy garlic press is the last garlic press you ever need to buy!
2. Saves you time: Producing juicy garlic mince in seconds. Bru Joy Garlic Press is extremely simple to use.
3. Easy to clean Not only dishwasher-safe, best part is that the mince head flicks open for easy skins-removal.
4. No more smelly hands - you don't need to peel garlic anymore!
5. The end of bland cooking. Add hassle free fresh garlic to your meals everyday!

What I think

I have to be honest, I can't tell a difference between this and the Orblue propressor--aside from the name branding. These products are the same size, weight, color, shape, design, everything. So like I said for the previous garlic press, it works great! I liked how evenly it presses the garlic and the minimal amount of effort it requires. 

The one thing that made this bru joy product stand out from the Orblue one would be the fact that it came with a cleaning brush. Which has been VERY useful in cleaning and I would say for that fact alone, bru joy wins :)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Where Is My Home? eBook Review

Layout
The first thing I will note about this book is that it is not formatted to read/view on an iPad in the horizontal way, like this:

But in the vertical position, the book looks great:

Note: When I turned my iPad back to horizontal after it had been vertical, the page layout was easier to read, but still not as aesthetically pleasing as it is in the vertical orientation.

My thoughts on the storyline

Very cute story about a little boy who accidentally gets away from his home while chasing a butterfly. This book kind of reminded me of "Are You My Mother?" and had a really adorable progression from one adventure to the next.

My thoughts on the writing
I am unsure exactly who this book is made for so I have a couple opinions on this.

If the book is written for parents who are reading to their kids who are not yet of reading age, then the book is well written to get as many words on each page so there is a photo to go with each page.

My concern becomes if this book is designed for early readers to read aloud with their parents or teachers, then there are several improvements to be made. Firstly, the book includes many large blocks of text without line breaks. These can be very hard to follow and for little readers to not lose their place while reading to themselves or out loud. Any time the speaker changes, a new line should start. I would not suggest any more than one or two sentences per "paragraph" (I say this as a mom to a four-year-old).

Secondly for little readers, the language may be a little bit too advanced in some places. I think the author got a little caught up in writing correctly, but forgot the rule of simplicity with it comes to children's books.

My last complaint would be the typos throughout the book. Most of them are punctuation errors, but they are distracting for me as a parent.

Overall, very cute story and my daughter enjoyed listening to me read it aloud to her. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Raw Organic Unfiltered Shea Butter Review & Giveaway

I made a DIY face cream with my Shea Butter I was sent from Beauty by Shea/Hydracentials. There are so many more things I want to try to make with this so I plan to update as I try out the other things I want to make from scratch with my raw, unfiltered shea butter.

So here's my face cream recipe:
ONE tablespoon coconut oil
THREE tablespoons shea butter
2-3 drops of tea tree oil

Just mix the three ingredients together and blend with the back of a spoon to make a frosting like consistency and apply to your face!

So what did I think? Well it was a little hard to mix together for me, but mostly because I had kids running around and screaming while I tried to do it. But the three things did blend well. It went on my face really well and I did not have to use very much.

It did make my skin super oily at first and I was scared I would break out of just have greasy looking skin. But I went to sleep with it on, as instructed, and my skin felt AH-MAZ-ING in the morning. Seriously! I don't think you need to do this every night, though it wouldn't hurt your skin I'm sure, but my skin still feels very soft and smooth about a week later (and I have used no other moisturizers on my face since).

Look for more homemade beauty product recipes soon!



 a Rafflecopter giveaway I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Bru Joy Manual Can Opener Review

Bru Joy sent me their manual stainless steal can opener to try for review (along with two other products I will be reviewing soon) and I am so glad they did.

About this can opener (According to their Amazon listing)
*** Requires Minimal Efforts*** Thanks to its ultra-sharp cutting disc blades, ergonomic handles and extra-large turning knob, you will open any cans like a piece of cake, even if you have arthritis or weak hand strength! 
***Saves You Time*** Opening cans in seconds, Bru Joy Can Opener is extremely simple to use and easy to clean – just rinse the cutting discs in running water then put the opener in dishwasher! 
***Saves You Money*** Made of unbreakable, heavy duty stainless steel from head to toe, Bru Joy can opener will never break and is the only can opener you ever need to buy. 
*** Protects You*** Ultra-precise cutting drive leaves a smooth edge which means the opened can will not hurt you! 
Features: 
1) Made of top quality 18/10 stainless steel – heavy duty and will not break – even suitable for commercial/restaurant use 
2) Ultra-sharp cutting disc blades – it requires minimum grip strength – leaves smooth edge for extra safety 
3) Sleekly packed in a gift box, this gorgeous deluxe stainless steel can opener serves a perfect wedding/bridal shower/birthday gift!

How I tested it
I opened cans with it, duh! OK, OK Just kidding!
I used this can opener in place of my then-current can opener for all my can opening needs. I opened cans that were small like tuna, medium sized cans like soups and large cans like spaghetti sauce. I also opened cans that were new and some that were older and a bit more worn, dented or rusty.

My thoughts
This seriously is the EASIEST use can opener I have ever used. Seriously. My almost 4 year old can (and did) open a can with it (I am very bummed I missed getting it on video). It takes less effort than normal to clamp down onto the can and start the opening process and it takes NO EFFORT to turn the handle. The handle is made of black strudy plastic and it is wide and shaped just right for your hand so you don't have to worry about your hand slipping or getting hurt or tired from turning. I have early onset mild arthritis in my wrists so an easy to use can opener is really important to me. This can opener from Bru Joy definitely made the cut and I am so thankful they sent me this to try.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Oleavine beauty professional Konjac Sponge infused with Activated Charcoal Review

I was so excited to try this Konjac Sponge infused with activated charcoal because I have heard lots of really wonderful things about them from many different sources.

The directions say that you can use this sponge without any chemicals or with facial cleanser of my choice. I decided to try it both ways.

First time I used it in the shower without any cleansers. I just simply wet the sponge thoroughly and rubbed it all over my face. Wow! The sponge got so soft really fast and felt very smooth on my skin. The best part? My skin felt like I had just used a scrub or microdermabrasion on it, but I used absolutely nothing! I have pretty dry and sort of flaky-ish skin on my nose most of the time. The above mentioned cleansers work to remove it pretty well for a few days, but this Konjac Sponge was the first non-chemical thing I have found to take care of that problem area as well. The sponge dried really quickly so I don't have to worry about it being slimy or moldy or anything.

I also tried this with my favorite acne facial cleanser as well. I was worried that the gel would ruin the sponge or that the sponge would absorb the gel to prevent me from getting the acne fighting powers of the gel. That was definitely not something I should worry about! My face got the smooth, clean result I am used to with my acne gel but also super soft and even MORE SMOOTH from using the Konjac Sponge.

I simply cannot imagine not having this sponge in my bathroom. It is a new beauty must-have for me.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.