Product review: Flexible Curling Rods Hair Flexi Rods

During COVID-19 my formerly short wavey hair grew into curls.  Surprise! I liked the look and I decided to keep the new do. I thought curling rods will help me have more defined curls. I expected it to work, the hair wants to be in curls on its own!  Turns out this is not so.  My hair looks less curly with the rods.  Keeping curling rods in the shortest hair in the front is somewhat hard as sometimes they fall out.  A few times I wore a hair drying cap and that helped to keep them on my head through the entire drying period.  Unfortunately, the hair looks less curly after drying with the rods.

This set includes 5 blue rods, 5 yellow rods, 5 purple rods, 5 orange rods, 9 pink rods, 9 red rods, 9 green rods.

Bottom line: the curling rods did not work for me at all.  I decided not to return these rods even though I can't use them because I can use them in my garden. These rods are basically identical (just thicker) to the garden plastic-coated wire ties that I use to train cucumbers up a trellis.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Kashi GO Cinnamon Crisp Breakfast Cereal / home grocery delivery during COVID-19

I love this cereal!  Not too sweet, just the right amount of cinnamon (not too much, but you can taste it).  It is crunchy and retains its texture in milk.  At $11.96 for four boxes very reasonably priced, no pandemic pricing here!  This will be a repeat item for me.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Lithuanian Rye Bread "Kaimska Duona" / grocery home delivery

"Kaimska Duona" is dense rye bread with a slight caraway flavor.  It comes unsliced.  It is fragrant and tasty.  Good bread. Despite two-day mail delivery, it tasted fresh.

The cost of the bread $5.99.  The shipping cost is $15.75 for two-day shipping from New York to New England, so one needs to make a fair amount of shopping to make it worth it.


You can find it on RussianTable.com by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MEGNYA Orthotic Flip Flops for Women

I have been working at home for several months due to COVID and basically lived in my old Tevas around the clock.  They were old and worn on especially one the outer sides and I began having heel and back pain. 

First, I purchased Vionic orthotic sole sandals,  They have very high arches and after three weeks they fixed my back and heel pain, but introduce arch pain because of the high hard arches built into each sandal.

I decided that I need to vary my footwear throughout the day like did when I used to drive to work rather than work from home. Megnya orthotic flip flops are one of the sandals I purchased for this purpose.

They have very soft cushioned sole. The arch support is there but it is light and soft and not pronounced. I feel uncomfortable in totally flat shoes without arch support.  Since my foot feels so comfortable I know the arch support is there.  Walking in this shoe is like warking on memory foam - my foot sinks a little with every step. It is very comfortable. The sole also absorbs sweat well.  Vionic flip flops feel a bit slippery on a very hot day when my feet are sweating.  This is not the case with these flip flops.

These sandals are true to size.  I normally wear size 7.5, I ordered size 8 and they are pretty much perfect: the back is just right, and there is a bit of room near the big toe.

Frankly, they exceeded my expectations for comfort, especially after Vionic flip flops which felt like a medical device (i.e. very helpful but somewhat painful).

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Vionic Women's Tide Sequins Toe Post Sandals - Ladies Flip Flop Sandals with Concealed Orthotic Arch Support

These sandals are my first Vionic sandals.  I purchased them based on the comments about good arch support.  They are not as comfortable as I hoped, but they have a number of important positives as well. 

I have been working at home for several months due to COVID and basically lived in my old Tevas around the clock.  They were old and worn on especially one the outer sides and I began having heel and back pain.  I decided I needed thong sandals with good arch support.  Now I have been wearing Vionic sandals for three weeks.  My heel pain and back pain are gone! (Great!!!). However, now I have arch pain. Vionic arch supports are too high for me and I can't wear them all day long because the arches start to really hurt. I hoped I would get used to the high arch support over several weeks, but I have not.

The second minor issue is that my feet feel more sweaty in these thongs then they did in Teva sandals.  Somehow the smooth plastic sole absorbs less sweet, or perhaps just feels more slippery that the textured Teva's finish.

The fact that these sandals fixed my back and heel pain is a big deal. I purchased another set of sandals and I think I have to mix what I wear through the day so I have the benefits of strong arch support without putting too much stress on my arches all day long.

These sandals are true to size.  I normally wear size 7.5, I ordered size 8 and they are just a little large.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Elegant Life Food Storage Containers Jar Set

Elegant Life Jar set is four jar glass set. The jars have attractive lids that appear to be bamboo although the description does not say that lids are m6767ade out of wood. 

The four jars are the following sizes:
67.6 oz (2 liters)
54 oz (1.6 liters)
40.6 oz (1.2 liters)
23.5 oz (0.7 liters)

I love glass containers as it is easy to see what is stored in them.  I always run a water test on all containers I buy. These containers are not all water/airtight. As you see in the attached video three out of four contains drip a little they have water and turned upside down.  This test helps me know how to use the containers as I have plenty of needs some require water tightness while others do not.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Thai Peanut Rice Noodle Bowl

I bought a couple of boxes of Simply Asia and Thai Kitchen noodles to get me through limited shopping during COVID-19.  I have to say that I was disappointed in all of them: good noodles but the sauces and mix-ins were not good. Sesame Teriyaki was the best tasting of the disappointing noodles I have tried.  Unlike other products, the stock photo is reflective of what you get.  You get only noodles, sauce, and a small packet of dehydrated vegetables. It tastes better if you can add your own fresh vegetables and herbs.  The sauce is not spicy. This package contains one serving, 420 calories.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: DeveSouth 7.8" Fishing Pliers Multi-Tool Aviation Aluminum

The DeveSouth pliers have a really good feeling in my hand.  They have a comfortable handle, and they feel strong and lightweight.  They are made out of  Aviation Aluminum and weigh 5.7 oz.  Aluminum is corrosion-resistant.

The cutting jaws are quote shard, I had no trouble cutting through a metal wire.  No problem removing split rings, treble hooks, and j hooks.

Carrying case with a belt loop is included with the plyers, and I also really liked the coiled lanyard so I drop and lose them.

I thought this tool is really well made.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★

Product review: Elegant Life Reusable Insulated Lunch Bag

This lunch bag is 9" tall, 8.5" wide, and 8.5"long.  This bag fits four glass containers sized 6.9" x 5.2" x 2.5" (22 oz capacity) and even has room to add an apple or a soda bottle.
The bag also has a side pocket for a bottle and a pocket on the front where I tuck the strap when it is not in use.

I like that it comes with a strap because when I take it to work I also need a hand for my computer bag and a free hand to open the door.

The bag feels sturdy and it exceeded my expectations for roominess. I am very pleased with it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: 10'' LED Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand Phone Holder Ring Light

This is a tabletop LED ring with a phone holder that places the phone in the middle of the right light.  The ring light produces either warm (yellow) or cold (blueish white) light.  It is quite bright and lights without shadows. The light has a controller that controls not only color but also the brightness of the light.

The LED light runs on USB power which means it can run from an external power battery.  I like this feature because this set up does not require an electrical outlet.  The package also includes a remote which triggers the camera app to take photos.

The phone holder is a little stiff and takes a bit of force to open when to insert the phone. I was able to use it with two phones: one is 3" wide the second one is  2 3/4" wide.  The holder has a gooseneck that can be bent and aimed as needed. The ring light sits on the ball head that is flexible in how it is positioned as well. 

Overall, I thought it was very nice and flexible lighting right.  It can be used for selfies or for any other tabletop photography.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Simply Asia Sesame Teriyaki Noodle Bowl - disappointing

I bought a couple of boxes of Simply Asia and Thai Kitchen noodles to get me through limited shopping during COVID-19.  I have to say that I was disappointed in all of them: good noodles but the sauces and mix-ins were not good. Sesame Teriyaki was the best tasting of the disappointing noodles I have tried.  Unlike other products, the stock photo is reflective of what you get.  You get only noodles, sauce, and a small packet of dehydrated vegetables. It tastes better if you can add your own fresh vegetables and herbs.  The sauce is not spicy. This package contains one serving, 420 calories.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing Conditioner

This 13 oz of conditioner has a nice light scent, and I like how it feels in my hair.  My naturally curly hair has more defined curls using it. So overall, I like it.

This bottle is short and wide.  I liked it enough to buy a bottle for my mother, who did not like it because she found it hard to use. It has no pump. It is made out of hard plastic and as mentioned earlier is winder than a typical shampoo/conditioner.  My mother has some arthritis in her hands and she was not able to squeeze it to get the conditioner out.  Something to keep in mind if you are shopping for it.

Strengthening hair is slow-acting, after 2 weeks of usage I do not see significant difference looking at the drain.  I am hopeful that I will see better results with time, in the meantime, I like how it feels and smells.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Flopping drying cap, Evolve Frizz-Free Hair Drying Tee Cap

I use a hair drying cap for "flopping" - i.e. drying my naturally curly hair in a way that preserves the curls. The cap accordions them together and they look better than if they dry stretched out falling down.  The cap slows down the drying.  My main goal is not drying but to get well-defined curls. Before putting on the cap, I pat my hair with a bath towel to remove excessive wetness.  After that, my hair is wet but not dripping.

This cap is made out of t-shirt material, you make it fit the shape and size of your head by twisting the tail of the cap and then folding it up.  Finally, you secure the loop on the end of the cap to the button on the front of the cap.  You can choose to put the button on the front or the back depending on how you want your hair to dry. For me, it looks better if the button is in the front as it lets the hair fall around my face.  If you look at the photos I attached you can see that when you twist the cap it forms a V-shape, whereas the other side of the cap forms an even line.

Before I purchased this cap, I used a towel around my head to do the same job. The cap stays on my head tighter and better.  I do not sleep in a cap because I find it to be too hot to wear in the summer. 

The cap works well for both long and short hair.  Your long hair goes into the tail of the cap.  With my short hair, the tail is just fabric.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SZILBZ Beard Care Kit for Men Grooming

COVID-19 brought more beards into the family!  I got this kit for a cousin whose new beard looked a bit shaggy, so I thought this grooming kit might be something he would enjoy. The kit includes beard oil, beard brush, beard comb, beard balm, beard shampoo, and beard scissors.

The comb is made out of wood and has dense and sparse sides. The brush is made out of natural boar bristles. Its bristles have a lot of resiliency and should be good for spreading oil into the beard.  The stainless steel scissors are very sharp and operate smoothly.

I thought this kit has a thoughtful collection of things that looked and felt well made.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Butter with Orange Blossom & Pistachio

Burt's Bees pink grapefruit is my favorite lip balm, so I decided to try the tin with lip butter because orange and pistachio sounded like an interesting flavor.  The tin with butter provides more moisturizer then a tube.  I spread it with my finger (note the finger needs to be wiped out as there is some greasy feeling left on the finger after application).


Burt's Bees lip butter has a slight orange flavor, it is very subtle. The content is soft enough to make it easy to spread, but not too soft that is smeared too much balm on the lips.


INGREDIENTS

Ingredients: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, C10-18 triglycerides, polyhydroxystearic acid, glycerin, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl stearate, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, theobroma grandiflorum seed butter, aroma [flavor]*, hydrogenated castor oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cera alba [beeswax], pistacia vera seed oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower extract, citrus limon (lemon) fruit extract, hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, rebaudioside A, citric acid, citral, citrolnellol, geraniol, limonene, linalool *aroma naturel / natural flavor



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: ILEBYGO 14 LED Vanity Mirror Lights

This kit consists of 14 LED lights with light control.  The light control has a USB connector. These lights are designed to go around a mirror but their use is not limited to just the vanity mirror. I needed a bright light in a closet where I keep paperwork. Regular stick-on lights are not bright enough to let me read the small print on 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.  The lights are very bright on the bright setting.  This set of lights comes with double-sided sticky tape. It attaches well to the mirror and even a wood shelf that I have in my closet. The set includes 30 stickers for 14 bulbs, so it is possible to reposition them.  The sticker goo is removable with a Goo-be-gone product.

The lights are LED lights inside a round dome.  The domes are made out of milky white plastic.  Note that the domes are not removable. If the light burns out you cannot replace just the light.  However, I have been using LED lights for me years and have not had a LED light burn out on me, so it is not something I am worried about.

The lights come with a controller that can be turned on and off with just a push of a button, and two brightness controls to increase and decrease brightness.  I liked that I don't have to click many times to go from off to on.

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

These lights have many uses  -  form vanity mirror to lightening closets or any dark corner that is not well lit.  Their brightness exceeded my expectations.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies Raspberry Chocolate / Amazon groceries / Home delivery of proceries during COVID-19

This is the first time I tried Milano cookies with raspberry chocolate flavor. I did not care for it, it tasted artificial to me. I am still a fan of the plain chocolate Milano cookies but will not be buying this version again.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Laptop Power Bank, RYOKO 27000mAh Portable Power Charger with AC 85W Output

Ryoko battery has a large capacity of 27000 mAh in a very compact form. Its size is Size 6.2" x 4.8" x 1.3" and weighs 26 oz.

The battery can be recharged either by AC power or by USB C power.  The AC input 26 Watts (13V x 2Am), the USB max capacity is higher at 45W, however it depends on whether you have an adapter capable of 45W  and I don't.  So for me, using AC is the fastest way to recharge this battery. Note that the AC adapter is included in the package.

The power pack has two USB outputs (I use it for my camera), one USB-C Output (I use it for my phone), and one AC output (I use it for my laptop).  The front of the battery has a button to switch from AC power to DC power (used by USB). Plugging in a device into USB port immediately turns on DC power. However, in order to activate the AC port, you need to press the AC button and hold it down for a few seconds. AC port is active when you see a green light next to the AC outlet.  You can see how this works in my video.

I try to never discharge the battery fully so preserve its longevity, yet I still I can recharge my laptop twice and my phone six times.

This is a good capacity external battery and it is very helpful when I lose power or travel.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: LIDAK Massager Gun, Rechargeable Electric Body Massager, Precussion Therapy

I injured my shoulder a few months back, and due to COVID-19 stopped going to physical therapy sessions.  I was able to continue to do the exercises on my own, but I was missing the massaging of the shoulder the therapist was doing.  I was looking for something that could help me massage my own shoulder and decided to try this massage gun.

The massage gun works by providing vibration therapy.  It changes how the muscles communicate with the brain and this provides short term pain relief, it creates a break in a pain cycle.

LIDAK massager looks like a drill with attachments, however, unlike the drills I own it is very quiet.  You can hear it working in my video.

LIDAK massage gun comes with six heads.  The documentation that comes with the product is super brief and not helpful.  It does not explain what each head is for. Fortunately, the Amazon description does include a once sentence for each head, and additional research about various massage guns brought further clarification.

The round ball head is for the large group muscles.
The bullet head is for deep tissue massage, this head gives the precision of application.
The dome head is for relaxation, can be used on any body part.  The dome head is not hard, its top is flexible.
The fork massage head is for massaging the spine, working your back requires help of another person.
The concave head is for soft tissue massage.
The flat head is for muscle plasticity, it can be used on any muscle group.

The package includes an AC adapter.  When the massage gun is charging the adapter plug has a red light. When it is fully charged the light changes to green.

In theory, the battery is in the massage gun is replaceable.  There is a lease button above the handle. Massage gun replacement batteries are not available on Amazon yet.  According to Google search, the battery should last 3-5 years.

Overall, I like how it works. Massage gun provided me similar relief to a massage therapist, the pain is gone briefly. It is convenient to use, I can use it while watching TV because its noise level is low.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SZILBZ Hair Dryer Brush Hot Air Brush

SZILBZ Hair Dryer Brush comes in two pieces, the brush and the handle that generates hot air. This design allows me to use it both as a hairbrush and as a regular hairdryer with the brush removed. The hairbrush works well to straighten out my curls. The handle provides airflow, which feels to be similar to a hairdryer with a diffuser, especially on a low setting. This double usage was a surprise I did not expect.

The length of the brush is 6.3 inch with the diameter is 2.2 inches. The total length is 15 inches which including handle. Its weight is 14.20 oz.

To connect the brush and the handle, align notches on the top and bottom part and then twist to the lock position (marked with a pictogram of a closed lock).

Voltage: AC 110V, 50/60Hz.
Power: 1000W

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Cantu Sturdy Double Lift Pick for curly hair

Due to COVID-19 my normally wavy short hair cut grew into 3a-type curls. I decided to keep the hair longer with curls but noticed that I no longer can use a comb because it breaks-up the curls.  I decided to see if a pick would help me add a bit of volume when the hair gets matted down at night.  This Cantu pick does a nice job. I start at the root of the hair and do NOT extend it all the way to the roots to keep the curls. 

The size and the shape of the pick were not totally clear from the Amazon description, so here are the additional details:
The entire pick is 6.75" long, the teeth are 2.6". 
The double teeth form an elongated "O" shape, I have included a photo of the pick in profile. 
The pick is made out of heavy-duty plastic, the teeth of the pick are rounded and not sharp, no problems if they touch the scalp.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

I was not able to cut my hair for three months and after a period of very unsightly hairdos one day, I looked in a mirror and realized that I no longer need a hair because my hair began curling, got shorter, and looked good.  According to the hair types charts, I have a 3a hair type (I included a graphic illustrating the hair type). 3a type hair forms loose curls from the root to the end of the hair (i.e. not waves, and not tight curls).

I bought OGX curling defining cream to enhance the appearance of the curls.  I never used a product like this before and was not quite sure what to expect.  It did not make a huge difference for me but I think there is a bit more clumping of curls.

After cream dried some hairs did cling together more but felt a little stiff.  If I combed my hair, I lost the curls and the hair looked messy and unmanaged.  I can get the curls back by wetting the hair. I get the best results if I apply the cream to wet hair (after I towel dry it), then let the hair try naturally, and then run my fingers through the hair to break up the stiff-looking curls.

Update: I found that if I use a drying cap my curls look more defined because the cap accordions the curls as they dry so they keep their shape.  In my video you can see results of both air drying without a cap and with a cap.  There is a visible difference.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆