Product review: BLUMBODY Cold Gel Eye Mask, Silky Satin Sleep Mask

This package contains a combo set of satin mask to keep light out of eyes and a cold mask to cool area around the masks, which I find helpful when I have a migraine.  The satin mask has a pocket to slip in the cold mask, so you can wear it either directly or with a silky protection if your skin is very sensitive.

The satin mask feels very soft and silky, very luxurious and pleasant.  The cold mask has a (removable) elastic band that keeps it on your head. Unlike Ace bandages the cold mask is put in the refrigerator, not freezer. I tried putting it in freezer and it does not get damaged but gets very stiff and too cold to touch.  When it comes out of refrigerator it has a pleasant temperature but only stays cool for about 10 minutes.  In addition to the two masks the package include a silky carrying bag, so the mask stays clean and dust free while it is not in use.

This is a nice package, I planning to buy another one as a present for my mother. 

YOu can locate these earbuds on Amazon

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: TV LED Light Strip JACKYLED 6.6Ft 60Leds LED TV Backlight Strip

This is my second backlight strip. These strips have a lot of uses. The first one I use around the computer monitor and above the keyboard tray, so I can see the keyboard in the dark.  This strip I am using around the back of the TV. It is 6.6 feet long (60 LEDs).  I plugged into the the USB port on my TV so the LEDs go on automatically when TV is turned on and turn off as I turn off the TV.  The strip remembers the color I selected. I prefer the white light (it actually light blue color).

The strip has a control which allows me to select the color as well as to turn the strip on and off manually. It also has a "demo" mode which changes the colors.  The strip has a large variety of color options (19 options).

Configuring the strip was easy.  The main trick is to plug in the strip to its extension cord in the correct orientation.  The pins go in either way, if you do it wrong the strip will not light up. Tip: the LED lights and the control lettering should face the same way.  A long press on the on/off key turns off the lights on the strip manually when I want to override the automatic on/off coordinated with the TV.

The strip never gets hot, the on/off key is totally cool, the lights are barely warm and the strip stays at that temperature for many hours.  Overall, a nice backlight strip.

YOu can locate this strip on Amazon


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MobiFren Flex-L Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds High Definition LDAC/Apt-X Sound

MobiFren Flex-L earbuds sound great!  I thought the sound was excellent at all ranges, strong base, pleasing middle and high notes, clear through the entire range.  They feel very comfortable in my ears. The earbuds are magnetic, they snap together when I am not using it so I can hang them around my neck (and not worry about dropping them) when I am talking to somebody.

The Bluetooth reception is solid within 15 feet.  If I leave my phone and walk away for more 15 feet meet I start hearing a bit of cracking. If I go a bit further I lose the Bluetooth connection with the phone.

I liked that the charging is done by a regular micro USB cable, not a proprietary cable.  The package comes with a carrying pouch.

Pairing with my phone was easy. I needed to hold the power on button for 4 seconds (middle button) and my phone detected a new Bluetooth device called ?.

The ear buds can be controlled by MobiFren_SM app, which is available for download from Google Playstore (there is also a version for Apple phones). The app is not as good as the ear buds themselves. The app has some extras such step counter and remote control for the camera, but the user interface is not great - busy screen, not intuitive, small controls that are hard to use while exercising.  The measurements are in kg rather then pounds, so the program is not cutomized for American market.

Overall, very comfortable fit, good sound, app is not as good as the eard buds themselves.  They come in attractive box and would make a nice impression as a gift.

You can locate these earbuds on Amazon


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: First Alert CO605 Plug Battery Backup CO Alarm

My old FirstAlert plug-in alarm died 7 years after the initial installation. It was supposed to last 5 years so I got my money worth.  I read some reviews that folks got an alarm which was manufactured many months before the purchase.  This is significant because the expiration date is based on manufactured date not the date when they alarm is deployed.  I purchased this alarm mid May and the manufactured date on the back was March 2019.  I thought two months old alarm was fairly reasonable.

What I did not realize is that this unit has no display of any kind (not even a light), you can't easily tell that the unit is plugged in. Only in the darkness I can see red glow on the front of the unit. The unit communicates everything via beeps -  ok, alarm, end of life. This is not as good as my previous alarm which had an LED display.

This is a plug in unit with a backup 9V battery (one battery is included). To activate the backup battery one has to press the test button after installing the battery.  The unit has to be plugged in low, i.e. close the floor  (unlike the smoke alarm) and a regular wall outlet is at a good height.  The unit is large but most of the bulk is below, so in a double outlet you can still use the top outlet when the alarm is plugged in the bottom outlet.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Magnivision Foster Grant purple Elana women’s reading glasses

I needed a pair of reading glasses in a hurry and I picked a pair of Elana Foster Grants in a local CVS. When I checked the price on Amazon for exactly the same pair the price was almost 10 dollars cheaper. If I was not in hurry this Amazon definitely would have been my choice.

As far as the glasses go, they fit well, the power is accurate, the glass is clear and I see as well in them as a more expensive prescription reading glasses.

I needed a pair of reading glasses in a hurry and I picked a pair of Elana Foster Grants in a local CVS. When I checked the price on Amazon for exactly the same pair the price was almost 10 dollars cheaper. If I was not in hurry this Amazon definitely would have been my choice.

As far as the glasses go, they fit well, the power is accurate, the glass is clear and I see as well in them as a more expensive prescription reading glasses.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

5 stars also reflect the Amazon price compared to the CVS pharmacy.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Large leak-proof lunch box with Leaf design

This bag turned out to be a bit bigger then I expected and a bit bigger than Amazon description:
11.25" long direction along the base x 6.5" wide i.e. short direction around the base  x 8" tall (from the bottom to the handles).  It has short handles and no shoulder strap.

I use it to carry lunch and sometimes dinner to work.  I used to carry my old lunch bag in the backpack along with  my computer, but this bag is too big to fit into the backpack with the zipper up, so I carry it as a separate bag.  To keep my hands free I added a camera strap by tying it to the handles, this way I can carry the bag over my shoulder.

This bag fits three 7" x 5" containers stacked on top of each other, with a 16 oz round container on its side next to them.  It also fits as 12 oz of soda standing upright if the bottle is placed in the middle portion of the bag.

The bag is foil-lined.  The foil does not really keep the food warmer than a cloth bag, but the foil is easy to clean with a wet sponge.

The bag has a side pocket on the outside.  I thought the bag looks pretty.  I also liked that that it looks different from all the other lunch bags in the office, no confusing it with someone else's lunch bag.  Its size does generate some chuckles, people suggested I get wheels for it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: FootGlide by BodyGlide Foot Anti Blister Balm

For years I suffered with blisters on my pinky toes when I walk for more than 30 minutes. I tried various remedies which did not work until I found Glide. Even orthopedic shoes did not fully cure the issue. But Glide did. I put a little bit between my toes, smooth it out with a finger, and I can walk all day without any ill effects.  Recently BodyGlide introduced FootGlide which works just as well.  I buy which ever one is cheaper when I need a new one.

Glide does not feel greasy or slippery, it just works. My skin feels softer too. My blister covered pinkie toes now look smooth and pretty like baby toes! One large bottle lasts a long time (more than a year of daily use).
I use the smaller 0.45 oz bottle when I travel. I don't leave the house without applying BodyGlide to my toes, it is now part of the routine like applying deodorant.

If you have a problem with blisters on your feet, I highly recommend it!

You can find FootGlide on Amazon by following this link.


You can find BodyGlide on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Windows 10: The Ultimate Beginners Guide by Max Greene

Very short book. Most of the content is comparing Windows 10 to Windows 8 and improvements that appear in Windows 10. The text reads like it came from Microsoft marketing department rather then a user with practical knowledge and experience.

This book certainly should not be be called "ultimate" guide. It has very little usable information - a few tips here and there, very few screen shots, very few how tos, no work arounds for common problems. Searching the internet brought me more helpful information.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. 

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Bayco Glass Meal Prep Containers, [6 Pack, 22oz ]

I was looking to replace 25 oz square Glad plastic containers for taking lunch (and sometimes dinner) to work.  I could not find the square glass containers of 25 oz size but these containers are 22 oz and are pretty close to what I was looking for.

Through reading reviews of various glass lunch boxes I learned that the weak points of these containers are the vents which begin to leak not long after being put to use, so I was looking for covers without vents.  Finally, I was looking for a good price per container.  They were $19.99 when I bought them, so $3.33 per container - not too bad.  Although they are 4 bucks cheaper as I write this review and I am a little annoyed. I should have used Amazon price tracker site camelcamelcamel site to make sure I am not getting the highest historical price.

I need to be able to fit two containers in my lunch bag, so the size with the lids on was very  important to me.  I was not sure how the measurements in the product description were taken.

Measurements with the lids on: 5.25" width x 7" length x 2.5" height.  Two containers fit into a lunch bag sized 6"W x 8.5"L x 6.5"H.

The package arrived well packaged in foam for each container. None of the containers were damaged, the lids close well, the containers are leak proof.  I am pretty pleased with the purchase.  Note that the instructions say not to put lids into the microwave.  I have kept them out of the microwave and the containers continue to be leak free.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Genie mop pads for tile floor

This is a review of a new design of mop and scrub pads for Swiffer Sweeper. In the set I got two pads have a small brush attached to the center of the pad as well as 12 high quality wet cloths.  The brush pads best for cleaning the grout lines on tile floors (do not use on wood as it may scratch the surface).  The little brush gets into those grout lines to dig out the dirt.

The pads fit both old and new (slighter wider) Swiffer Sweeter.  The brush pads are packaged dry and are moistened before use.  One of the way to moisten them is to press them into the package of wet pads that are part of the package. The brush pads dislocates the dirt in the grouts very well, however because of the angle the brush put only the edge of the pad in touch with the floor, the mop does not pick up all the dirt after the pass with the brush alone.  This problem is resolved by using the wet pads that come in the same package for a second sweep.  This I use either wet pad or a regular swiffer dry pad as a follow up to pick up the dirt the brush pushed out from the grout lines.

So I think this is a clever concept.

Ali Julia review

Product review: LED Vanity Mirror Lights Kit by Qison / Closet Lights

    

  

This kit consists of 10 lights with a light control on a USB connector.  These lights are designed to go around a mirror but I needed bright lights to light a closet where I keep various paperwork. Regular stick-on lights are not bright enough to read small print of the paperwork so I was looking for a set of bright light that can run from a power bank since I don't have a power outlet in the closet.  These lights are just perfect.  They are very bright and they run from a USB power source.  They come with double sided sticky tape that I could attach to the bottom of high shelf in the closet.

These lights are LED lights. The round balls are made out of milky white plastic.  The lights come with two sheets of double sided sticky tape circles. It was helpful to have an extra sheet of circles as some pads were less sticky then others and a few times I needed to use two pads to find a perfect sticky pad.

The lights come with a controller which can be turned on and off with just a push of a button. In addition the controller has two brightness controls to increase and decrease brightness.  I liked that I don't have to click many times to turn the lights on, and brightness control is separate.

The length of the cords:
- from the clicker to the USB connector is 59 inches
- from the clicker to the first light is 31 inches
- the cords between the lights are 10 inches

These lights have many more uses than just mirror lights, their brightness and flexibility of positioning exceeded my expectations.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Preserve Your Family Pictures: How To Save Photo Heirlooms for Future Generations by Amber Richards

I got this book to help restoring some of the old pictures I inherited from a relative that passed away. This "book" is very light on content. You will find the same information at no cost by searching the internet. There is no special knowledge or insight, just common knowledge and filler material.

The book has various formatting issues, sometimes the whole paragraphs appear in title font, sometimes titles are the last line on the page. There is 2 and 3 lines between each paragraph through the book. Not sure if it was a typographical error and just a way to increase the number of pages. This is not a high quality work.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Cavepop All Occasion Greeting Cards Box Set Assortment

The Cavepop cards are made out of high quality paper and are blank on the inside.  The designs are attractive and what I would call minimalistic.  Some cards have just the writing on the front, like 'thank you' or 'happy birthday', others simple drawings. I thought they were just right to give to co-workers (male or female) as they are not too cutsie yet attractive.  The all occasions collection includes 6 thank you cards, 9 birthday cards, 2 wedding cards, 8 general cards with no clear occasion, 2 congratulations cards, 3 sympathy cards and a few others. You can see them all in my video. High quality paper stock and modern look - just right to make someone you know feel special.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Chez JuJu Ceramic Owl Succulent Planter

I was looking for small plants to put on my office window.  These tiny ceramic planters are just right for a window sill. The stock photos show them with plants but the listing is for empty planters, you supply the dirt and plants yourself.  The ceramic pots are well made, ceramic, have a large draining opening covered with a draining grid so that the dirt does not fall out.

The tiny pots are 2.3 inches tall and 2.8 inches wide. 

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: ColorCoral Keyboard Cleaning Gel

I have been using clay to detail my car for years. When I saw a similar product for my key board, I was excited. I like the feel of the old mechanical keyboards so I am using a very old Dell Quiet Key keyboard. It works and feels great but become quite dirty through all the years of faithful surface.

The cleaning gel is used for cleaning uneven surfaces like keyboard keys.  It is made out of gel which is does not stick to the hands and has a very very light lemon scent.  To use it I press the gel gently to the keyboard and it lift the dirt and dust as the grime clings to the gel. It can be used a couple of times until it turns dirty and no longer picks up the dirt. Water or cleaning solution is not used. 

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Applique Patterns by Donna Koepp

I did not find the content compelling. This book has a collection of mostly out-dated holiday patterns (trees, angels, snowman, poinsettia, folky birdhouses, stars, hearts). I did not think any of them were pretty, current or trendy. The applique have very simple forms and are aimed at the true beginners.

For Kindle users the patterns in the book are too small to be useful, but the author provides a web address where the usable patterns came be downloaded.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆