Product review: Herb Guru Herbal Fruit Drink 12 Pack ,10 oz Bottles, Caffeine Free

 The drink tastes like lightly (very lightly) flavored tea. I would describe it as lightly flavored water. I would NOT describe it as a fruit drink; it has no fruit flavor.  I liked that it was only 15 calories.
 
I have to admit that the drink has grown on me.  The first taste made me think it was too lightly flavored, but I began enjoying the flavor's lightness and drank several bottles without consuming too much sugar when it was sweltering.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Product review: Vitamin D3 Gummies by Go Healthy- Vegetarian Adult 2000 IU

 

The flavor of this chew is delicious; I also liked that it comes in 2000 IU gummies to control how much I take a day. I see many 5000 IU D3 gummies, but my doctor told me not to take that much as having too much calcium in your blood can become toxic over time.  She told me to cap my intake at 4000 IU to avoid hypercalcemia, a condition in which too much calcium builds up in the blood.

The bottle contains 60 gummies; with my goal of taking 4000 IU a day, it will last 30 days, 0.50 cents a day.  This is not the cheapest D3 gummy with 1000 IU doses out there, but I like its flavor.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Product review: Pee Pro Disposable Sanitary Urination Funnel for Women

 

 Does it work?  Yes. But it does take some practice to find the proper position and angle to avoid drips and getting your clothing wet. Try practicing in the shower before taking it on the road.  Cardboard falls apart quickly, so it does not stay glued together and stiff for a long time.

The device comes without good instruction on how to fold and position it.  Another reason to practice at home first.  Make sure told fold the seam; otherwise, it leaks immediately. One side is longer, and one side is shorter. The best position is with the long side up.  

Women's underwear is not designed to be used with such a device, so you have to drop your garments and risk exposure, but it is less noticeable than squatting. It works very well in a messy porta-potty where exposure is not a problem.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.  

 

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Awsum Snacks Chia seeds Cereal for Breakfast

 

This cereal has no flavor; it is just fiber. I like adding General Mills Cheerios to various cereals to reduce the overall sweetness.  I thought I could use this cereal in a similar way; I thought it would work to reduce the overall sweetness without affecting the overall flavor.  Unfortunately, I find the mouthfeel a bit unpleasant.  It seems to stick to the roof of my mouth in a way I imagine styrofoam would.

I like trying new food, so I am glad I tried it, but I don't think it will go on my repeat list.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Sun Hats Beach Hats Wide Brim Hats UV UPF 50+ Foldable Packable Straw for Women Natural Sraw color

 This is a very pretty sun visor that came with a crease in the center, which made it fit poorly and look bad. I fixed it by ironing the visor on the steam setting.

The visor closes with a Velcro strip and is easy to adjust for different head sizes. The bow in the back is decorative; it has no function.

After ironing it and fixing how it looks, I am very happy with it. Lesson: do not fold it; store it opened flat if you have to put in your luggage.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Vessgra Bath Pillow, Ergonomic Bathtub Spa Pillow

 I have a bad back and take hot baths almost every day to relax my muscles.  This pillow is a repeat purchase for me for this bath pillow design.  The best feature of these pillows is the hook that allows the pillow to dry after each use. This means the pillow never gets moldy or smelly.  This pillow has good suction cups with tabs which allow me to disengage them quickly.

I purchased the previous pillow in 2016, and the only issue with it that it became discolored on the side away from the hook from age.  I think the grey color will hide discoloration well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.
 

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SILUKER 50-Count Compressed Facial Sponges for Daily Cleansing and Gentle Exfoliating

 

 These sponges come compressed, so they take up very little space when they are not used. When you put them in water, they expand (permanently) and become soft.  They are pretty soft, so they don't give as much exfoliation as face towels, but they are nice for removing makeup and sponging face cleaner.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: L'Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum

 I developed some faint sunspots on the left side of my face (guessing from sun exposure while driving my car). I have very fair skin and got the  0.5-2 Very Light. It gives ok coverage on the sunspots without looking that I have make-up on, but I don't like the applicator. It is a very messy to use.

It would have been nice if it also had sunscreen. I want to apply it before sunscreen, but I can't really do that before applying sunscreen after it removes the tint.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Grill Cover Small BBQ Cover, 30inch Round Kettle Grill Cover 420D Heavy Duty Waterproof Oxford Fabric Barbecue Cover

 

 

This grill cover is made out of thick material - the top is black, the inside is silver.  The fabric is 420D polyester Oxford.  I  checked how it handles rain, and the material is waterproof.  The description also states that it is designed to withstand winter weather. I did not have a chance to test that out yet, but the material feels sturdy enough to hold up to winter weather, snow, and ice.

The top of the cover has a handle for easy removal. The bottom has ties with alligator clips to hook the legs, so the cover stays on during windy weather.  I can also tighten the bottom with string synch.

The grill cover comes with a storage bag.  It is generously sized, and I was able to fit the cover in the bag after I used it. Another small feature that I found helpful is that the bag has a loop for hanging, so I can neatly store the cover nearby when it is not in use.

Bottom line: sturdy, well-made grill cover.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: 50 Pack LUCIFER Face Mask, 4-Ply Mask Protection KF94 Face Cover, Space-theme face mask

 

This package of KF94 disposable face masks contains that are individually wrapped. They have five colorful designs, ten of each.  The masks have a nose clip and passed a water test.  My water test: I fill the mask with water and check if it is wet on the outside after 1 minute. If it stays try, it means it keeps my spittle inside the mask and keeps other's people spittle away from me.

This mask has a different shape from all the other masks I have purchased over the last year and a half; it is shaped like a paper boat.  It works pretty well; it fits close to my cheeks and covers a large area from cheekbone to cheekbone.

The only minor negative is that the mask out of the package has a bit of a scent to it. However, the scent goes away after about an hour in the fresh air.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.  

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆
 

Product review: Orthland Photo Studio LightBox Lightbox 16"

 

I have an old collapsible 16" lightbox and rarely use it because it is so hard to collapse (it is one of those wireframes that you need to twist just right to fold).  By comparison, this lightbox is so easy to put together. All I need to do is use snaps to lock the box into shape and the slide lights and light shades into the holes in the frame.  It takes 3 minutes to put together and 2 minutes to disassemble.  The lightbox comes with both black and white backgrounds, two light panels, and a light diffuser.  There is a controller that allows me to change the brightness of the light.

The box comes with a nice canvas case that allows storing the box neatly.  The package includes a detailed manual that shows how to put the box together.  However, I did not need to consult it; the assembly is evident and straightforward.

I hope the attached video demonstrates how to set it up and how it works.  It works well!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: AOKLANT Pet Food Can Cover, the Universal Silicone can lid

 

Even though this can cover is a perfect fit for can food cans, we learned that we couldn't use them because the cats refuse to eat the food that was in the refrigerator. They love the same food when it is freshly opened. We tried warming in the microwave and leaving it sitting on the kitchen table; somehow, they know it is not fresh and refuse to eat it.

I found that these covers do work with other containers (human food) - like soup cans, tuna cans, tea tins.  Those are not as useful - we rarely eat half a can of soup.  Note that these covers do not work with yogurt containers because their edges are too thick.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: MJIYA Magnifying Glass with Light, MJIYA LED Illuminated Magnifier with 3X 45X High Magnification

 

This magnifying glass is helpful to me to read the small print on product labels or labels with low contrast.  The Mag glass has two lenses: 3X is large and easy to use, and 45X is a small lens that is hard to use but sometimes helpful in looking at a small area in great detail.  I mostly use the 3X.  The magnifying glass has two small LED lights for the 3X lens and one small LES light for the 45X lens.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Re:Claim Liquid Laundry Detergent

 This laundry detergent comes in a small bottle (only 17 oz); it claims to be enough for ten loads - we will see. If I can get ten loads of it, it will be $1.50 per load, fairly expensive.

On the positive side, it works well, and I like how it smells. Not your typical Tide/All detergent artificial scent, it is more natural and mild.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Organic Onion Granules by CARMEL ORGANICS Store

 I always have dried onion on hand in the kitchen for emergencies. The granules are very tiny, so they provide no texture when cooked. I prefer slightly larger onion chunks. However, the flavor of the granules is fine.  I do not like pouches as a packaging option, the zipper at the tops often comes underdone, making the product go bad faster, and if it falls on its side, it creates a mess. I had to move it to a container with a lid.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Battery-powered Lpotds Shower Brush Cleaning Brush

 

The motor on this shower brush is too feeble for the job.  When I press the brush against my skin, even lightly, it stops rotating.  It runs on three AA batteries.  The battery compartment did not look very well water proved. Well, at least batteries will not generate the current strong enough to cause harm if it malfunctions.

The stock shows several heads that are not included in the package.  For example, a silicone massage head is not included.  Foamed fur brush included in my package looks different; it has no bristles.

The handle is shorter than all my other bath brushes, and it has no curve to comfortably reach the back.

Disappointing brush in many respects.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

 

Product review: arex Premium Commode Liners 24 Pack

 The bags bit a variety of toilet shapes; the power does a reasonable job absorbing liquid. I did not expect it to absorb the smell, and it does not.

What I did not like is that the bags shed powder outside. As I stretched the bag out on my desk to take a photo of the clean bag, the table became covered with the powder.  Now I know to hold the bag over the toilet as I unwrap it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆