Product review: Du Cote du Parc Hand Painted Serving Tray

My mother is not feeling well and spending a lot of time in bed.  The beautiful serving tray from De Cote du Parc is brightening her meal times. She loves the beautiful design, and I love that the glass surface is very easy to clean up if something gets spilled.

The tray is 15" by 11", and the sides are 3" high.  The tray's top surface is glass and it is decorated with reverse hand paintings.  The bottom surface is black felt.  The tray feels substantial (its weight is just under 3.5 pounds) and it stays well on the bed serving table we are using for meals.

During reverse glass painting the artist applies paint on the side of the glass that is facing away from the person.  The small details are painted first, and the background last. I found the video that shows the entire process on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXdPNgRQ3o&t=54s.  The pretty trays are sold on Etsy and Amazon.

Once we no longer using the tray for serving meals, it is pretty enough to serve snacks during a party.

You can find this tray on Amazon by following this link.

You can find this tray on Etsy by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Prodcut review: Refresh Relieva Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops

I have been using regular Refresh drops for years, they are my life-saver.  When I saw a new version of Refresh drops at local CVS - Relieve - I had to try them.  They are pricey (just under $20 dollar) but CVS 40% coupon made it less painful.

I like the drops themselves, but the packaging is terrible. It is very hard to use. I have to press very hard and wait a long time without blinking my eye so the drop does not fall on my eyelashes.  I am not going to buy them again!

Another annoying thing is that you have to waste several drops to "prime" the package. At the $20 price, I don't want to waste any drops to priming!

Refresh, why?  Why is it so hard to use?  Did you test it?
You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: ASprink 12mm / 0.47" Label Tape Compatible Brother Label Maker TZe-231

 

ASprink tapes work well in my Brother PT-D210 P-Touch. I like having a combination of colors so I can color code my stuff.  This has pastel purple, blue, and pink along with the white and the clear tape. I have not had any issues with jamming. Note:  The tape had a blue insert that told me to tighten the tape counterclockwise before use.

The adhesive backing has a slit in the middle just like the original Brother label tape, this slit makes removing the adhesive backing very easy, I just need to start from the split.

Bottom line: works well, good choice of colors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Du Cote du Parc Hand Painted Decorative Garbage bin trash can

I love having unique handmade items around the house. I adapted an attractive hand-painted paper basket to be a practical and attractive bedroom trash bin.  The paper basket has a beautiful design and matches the colors of the silk Persian rug in the bedroom.  It is made by the process called reverse painting on glass (i.e. the small details are painted first, and the background last). I found the video that shows the entire process of creating reverse paintings on YouTube  To my delight these unique creations are sold on Etsy and Amazon.

The paper basket is even more beautiful in person than in the photos.  One small issue I ran into is that the basket does not take a liner to protect its inside.  I was able to resolve this issue by fining the liner that was just the right size to wrap around the top lip of the basket.  This way I don't worry that I am going to stain the pretty trashbin.

This is such a pretty addition to our bedroom.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

You can find it on Etsy by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: ASprink 7 Day Pill Box Pillbox Cases Organizers

ASprink pill organizer has the best closure mechanism among a fairly large number of pillboxes I have owned.  To open each compartment you need to press a lever that releases the cover.  It opens easily when you press, but does not open when you just shake it or press on the cover.

I was looking for a new pill organizer is because the old one I have been using became too small to hold all the pills I need to take. The size of each compartment is not clearly marked, so I will start with size.

The inside dimensions of each compartment are:
1 3/4" long x 1 38" wide x 13/16" deep


The outside dimensions of the entire pillbox (7 compartments):
8 3/4" long x 2 1/4" wide x 7/8" high


I also measured how many pills of the common size I was able to fit into each compartment.  I decided to use a 600mg Calcium pill as my measure since it is a fairly standard pill that many people take. I can fit thirteen 600mg Calcium pills in one compartment and still be able to close it.  This should give you an idea of how many of your own pills could fit by comparing your pills to the Calcium pills.  See photo for reference of the Calcium pill size if you are not familiar with them.

Summary:

1. The best clothing mechanism I have seen, it holds very well

2. Very roomy

3. Each lid is clearly marked with a day of the week


This has become my favorite ill box because its clothing mechanism is so secure.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Roof Melt, 60 Tablets (Roof Melt did not work, alternative solution did)

Roof Melt did not work, alternative solution did

I have an on-going ice damn problem, which I tried solving in a number of ways.  One attempt was using Roofmelt tables.  Which requires one to deposit the tablets on top of the ice damn area.

I tried and tried, but could not get the pucks to the roof not to mention some specific spot on the roof by throwing. I did not dare to get on a ladder since the snowbanks were taller than me.

I found a solution that worked for me. I took a nylon stocking, filled it with calcium chloride to form a sausage about 4" long. To make it easier to fill the stocking I took a 16 oz yogurt container and cut out its bottom. This made a nice sturdy funnel which kept the top of the stocking wide open for pouring the calcium chloride.

Note that bigger is not better! On my first try, I tried making 8-9" sausage, but it made the sock too heavy to stay on the steep roof, and it slid off.

To deposit the stocking to the roof  I used an extension pole used for a roof rake. I replaced the big rake with a small brush so it would be easier to hoist it up to the level of the roof of my dormer where my major ice dam is located.

My first few attempts were to fold the sock over the brush and dump it on the roof. But that did not work as either the stocking fell before it reached the desired spot, or I could not disengage the brush without knocking the sock down.

Finally, the solution that worked was using the pole and the brush as a lever. I put the thread attached to the sock over the brush, then raised the brush to the roof positioning it where I wanted the sock to be located. The stocking meanwhile was laying on the ground. Then, using the brush as my lever, I pulled on the thread to raise the stocking to the roof. This worked very well the first time I tried!

My second problem area was the steep lower roof. I could not get the stocking to stay on the lower roof as it has a very steep angle, so I suspended a stocking with ice melt on a thread from a window. I hope it will melt a channel in the ice dam.

The first day:

The next day: you can saw the channel

The second photo was taken the next day which shows the channel built by the salt stock. This happened overnight. I could see the trapped water coming out of the channel.

I also wanted to make a note that the nylon gets stuck to the ice. When I tried repositioning one of the socks it would not budge. The gravity makes it drops when the salt melts the ice around it, but reposition the sock to another spot turned out to impossible because it is stuck to the ice, and pulling it might tear the stocking dropping all the salt at once rather than via slow release.


You can Roof Melt on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Decorative Hand Painted Tissue Holder Hand Made Glass Box

I love having unique handmade items around the house. This tissue box with a striking design is made by the process called reverse painting on glass (i.e. the small details are painted first, and the background last). I found the video that shows the entire process on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXdPNgRQ3o&t=54s.  To my delight, these unique creations are sold on Etsy and Amazon.

The box is even more beautiful in person than in the photos.  My initial thought was to put the Kleenex tissue box inside the glass box.  However,  I ran into a problem.  The Klenex box is 12mm wide and 22.5mm long.  The glass box is 11.5 mm wide so the widths of the paper box does not fit by 5mm which is approximately 1/4 of an inch.  However, there is a solution that works well.  I took the tissues out of the Kleenex box and put them directly at the bottom of the glass box.  This works perfectly - each Kleenex tissue pulls out the next sheet in this box just like they do in the paper tissue box.

This is such a pretty addition to our bedroom.


You can find the tissue box on Amazon by following this link.

You can find the tissue box on Etsy by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Fyrcomft Broom Holder Organizer Metal Mop Hanger

This mop wall organizer is more attractive than the other mop holders I have because it is all metal (stainless steel) constructions rather than plastic.  The only plastic parts are the rollers that hold the mop handles.

Another feature that I like is that the holder has nice long hooks that extend about an inch out.

The broom holder handles are not universal.  They have some flexibility in the width of handles they can hold, but some thinner mops drop down a bit and until they held up by the thicker handles.  If you have unusually wide or unusually thin handles, this holder may not work as well as universal holders.  For standard handles, the holder works exceptionally well, the hooks are excellent, and it looks attractive.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MOOSOO Vacuum Cleaner Corded Stick Vacuum

Moosoo corded vacuum cleaner is best for tile, hardwood floor, and any other smooth surface.  It works okay on my silk rug with a very shop nap, but it does not as well on the rug with a higher nap.  This is because this vacuum does not have a rotation brush. It has a strong vacuum opening and it has a non-rotating retractable brush which helps dislodge dirt.

It comes with a very long cord so I can reach every spot in any specific room without unplugging.  The handle of the vac adjusts from 19" to 31".  It weighs under 3 pounds (2.8 pounds) and has a slim cleaning head.  The cleaning head is slim because the motor and the dust bin are located at the top of the handle.  This design is great for getting into narrow places, but the drawback is that you can't leave the vacuum free-standing (it is top-heavy).  Not a big deal, but different.  Cleaning the dust bin with this design is a little harder. The manual recommends removing the attachments before emptying the dust bin.  After a few uses, I found a way to do it without removing the brush by putting a small trash bag over the entire dust bin and then working through the bag to open and release the dust.  This is a time-saving trick for me. 

The package comes with a spare filter and several attachments which you can see in the attached photo.  I can easily convert it to a handheld vac that works with attachments included in the package.

Pretty nice vac, I use it in the basement and workroom and does a very good job.


This is a replacement filter for D600 on Amazon by following this link.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Bottom Buddy Toilet Tissue Wiping Aid Personal Hygiene Wand

I needed one of these gizmos after back surgery when I could not bend or twist. I have been very pleased to discover the tool of this kind as it solved one of the annoying problems due to the lack of mobility in my back. This design was the first one I tried and since then I have tried several different aids. This particular gadget does not work well in the back because the ball of toilet tissue is too thick to get into the crevices.

I found that another "Bottom Buddy" workes better, it is called Ideaworks Long Reach Comfort Wipe. The main difference is that it is slimmer, and it works just like a hand, without having a big mop at the end of the wand.


Ali Julia review

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 17Kpa

This is my second cordless stick vacuum. I love cordless vacs, they are so much easier to use and let me clean faster without having to move the cord out of the way and unplug and replug as I clean around the house. Cordless works great on the stairs.

My first cordless vac had the motor on the bottom.  Moosoo cordless has the motor and the dust bin at the top.  A big advantage of this design is that the cleaning head is slimmer and I can get under the refrigerator and dishwasher which I could not do with the old vac. The disadvantage of the bin and the motor at the top is the vac is less stable.  For example, I cannot just let it stand on its own, I have to lean it against a wall if I have to leave it.  Not a big deal, but different.  Cleaning the dust bin with this design is a little harder. The manual recommends removing the attachments before emptying the dust bin.  After a few uses, I found a way to do it without removing the brush by putting a small trash bag over the entire dust bin and then working through the bag to open and release the dust.  This is a time-saving trick for me.

The vac has very strong suction, good battery life (I can do the entire house on one charge), and a good number of useful attachments.  For example, I can convert the stick vac to a handheld vac.  I also can attach a hose and use for my vacuum storage bag, as I just switched from winter to summer stuff in the storage bags.

Overall, an excellent vacuum makes my cleaning jobs easier.

You can find replacement filters for this vac on Amazon by following this link.

You can find replacement battery for this vac on Amazon by following this link.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Endicott Stripe Yarn-Dyed Flannel Duvet Cover from The Company Store

After buying a disappointing low-quality flannel duvet on Amazon, I decided to buy a duvet from The Company Store.  The  Company Store which specializes in high-end bedding.  A few years back I bought a down comforter and two sets of sheets which were excellent. The flannel duvet was exactly what I hoped for: very soft and a very nice design. They frequently run 30% sales and with the discount the prices are quite reasonable.  The specific design you see in the photos is called Endicott Stripe.
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I got full-size flannel duvet cover for a quilt which 84" by 84".  I was concerned that since the listed size was 84"x90" the flannel might shrink and be too small for the quilt.  I contacted support and they told me that the duvet cover is actually 86" x 92" to allow for shrinkage. I measure it when it arrived and after washing it. The size was exactly as described by the support person. It was 86" wide when unwashed and shrunk to 84" after washing and became the absolutely perfect fit for the quilt.

The duvet is very soft, and the design is pretty. The design/color is the same on both sides of the duvet cover. It makes me feel good every time I get into bed.


You can find sheets, duvets, towels on The Company Store web site. If you use this link to order you will get a $50 off friends and family discount.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MOOSOO Handheld Vacuum 12KPa Cordless and Lightweight

12Kpa MOOSOO handheld vacuum exceeded my expectations.  I was replaced Black and Decker PHV 1810 Handheld vac whose battery died after a couple of years of use.  This vacuum is significantly lighter but has more sucking power.  It comes with a narrow and long crevice tool that fits nicely in the grooves of my sliding deck doors, which Black and Decker PHV 1810 could not do because its crevice tool was a little thicker than the grooves.

My deck doors need constant attention because I have a problem with ladybug invasions. MOOSOO handles this problem like a champ.

In addition to the crevice tool, it also has a retractable brush that works quite well in the car dislodge small stones stuck in the car's rug.  The motor has two speeds.

The vac runs on a 2500mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The longest I used the vac on one charge so far has been 20 mins. It takes 5 hrs to recharge the battery. I fully charge it after use and then keep disconnected.

It comes with a HEPA filter with a stainless steel mesh cover that goes over the filter.  It can be washed to minimize the number of new filters I will need.  I found that replacement filters are being sold on Amazon (current price is 10.99 for three filters):

You can find replacement filters for this vac on Amazon by following this link.

Note that the battery is not replaceable.

 
The vacuum is super light. As you see in one of the photos it weighs 1 pound and 1 oz on my digital scale.  Lightweight and strong suction are its best features.


You can find this handheld vac on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: DELANNA Flannel Reversible Duvet Cover Set 100% Cotton 1 Duvet Cover

I was disappointed in the quality of this duvet cover.  Only one side is flannel (the blue), the striped side is jersey type material. The striped side is quite thin and cheap looking.  The duvet cover and pillowcases had a huge number of loose threads, a clear indication of poor quality. The color is not set at the factory, as the instructions told me to launder it with vinegar.  After examining the quality of fabric and construction, I returned it.  Very disappointing as I liked the colors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Balm, Strawberry,

Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit is my favorite lip balm, so when I saw Burt's Bees Strawberry in a local CVS store (a flavor I have not tried before) I was excited to give it a try.

Burt's Bees Strawberry lip balm is colorless moisturizing lip balm, and it combines a pleasant flavor and longevity.  The strawberry flavor is subtle, not like earing a candy, but just a hint of the strawberry flavor.

The balm is soft enough to make it easy to spread, but not too soft that is smeared too much balm on the lips.

Amazon description does not include a complete list of ingredients, but I found the full ingredients list on the Burt Bees site:
helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, beeswax, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, fragrance*, lanolin, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, tocopherol, rebaudioside A, glycine soja (soybean) oil *natural fragrance

Ali Julia review

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★