Product review: JBU by Jambu Women's Mavis Comfortable Flats

 

This weekend I took a trip to a large shoe store that carries Spring Step L'Artiste shoes, because I wanted to try them on before buying. Before I even got to the Spring Step L'Artiste section, I saw these JBU by Jambu Women's Mavis flats. They looked super comfortable, so I decided to try them on.

I loved them right away, and even though I had come to the store to try a different brand, I ended up buying these as well. I see that Amazon has a better price than what I paid at the store, but I guess I can think of the difference as a surcharge for being able to try them on first. I wear size 7.5, and they were true to size.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★    

Review of JBU by Jambu Women's Mavis 

Product review: Google Pixel 11 Pro XL - first impressions - photo camera software with AI

 

This weekend was my first chance to play with my new phone, a Pixel 11 Pro XL which Google just released. One of its notable features is the AI built into the camera and photo software.
One place where you can really see the AI at work is with extreme zoom, where camera shake and distance can make a photo fuzzy. For example, the photo of the dog was taken at 30x zoom. You can see how much sharper the AI-enhanced version is.
Another example is the color of the bench and sunlit tree. The AI-corrected version is much closer to how the scene actually looked to my eye than the photo without the correction. 

Other aspects of the phone performed well. The phone calls are clear, the battery held the charge reasonably well during a long weekend of taking photos.

So far I like it a lot!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Pixel 11 Pro XL

Product review: Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit case for the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Case (2026)

 This listing combines multiple different cases made by Spigen. I am reviewing the clear Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit case for the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Case (2026). The phone arrived yesterday, and I have had one day of using the case in various situations.

I have been buying Spigen cases for my Pixel cellphones for many years, and they usually fit like a glove. This one fits well too, with no gaps between the case and the phone edge.

All openings are in the right places, and the case works well with a wireless charger. The case extends about 1 mm above the screen and above the Pixel 11 Pro XL camera, which extends quite a bit from the back of the phone.

My previous phone was the Pixel 9 Pro XL (2024), and in my photos I include the old Spigen case and the new one. You can see that the old case did yellow around the edges, although it was not very noticeable while it was on the phone. But my video shows how these clear cases age in just two years.

Overall, happy with the case.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit for Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Case (2026)

Product review: OOFOS OOriginal Recovery Sandal

 

Terrific! I own multiple OOFOS sandals; they are my favorite for hot days. They give my feet excellent arch support and my heel problems became nonexistent. I wound up buying grey because the black color was sold out. I like the grey color better than I expected. The soles get visibly dirty, but they wash up really nicely.

I purchased size 8 sandal, I normally wear size 7.5 shoes. Size 8 was perfect. In the past I bought size 7, and it was too tight on the top.


You can find these sandals on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

 

Product review: Giannetti Artisans Chocolate Covered Italian Lemon Peels

 

I usually like the mix of chocolate with lemon, so I expected to love this candy.

The problem for me was the lemon. Instead of tasting tart and bright, it tasted mostly sweet with a little bitterness. Some of the chocolate coating had also come off, and in those spots the lemon pieces was dry and hard.

I was still able to eat them, but they were not what I was hoping for. The package also felt small for the price. I could not rate it higher than a three-star candy.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Giannetti Artisans Chocolate Covered Italian Lemon Peels

Product review: Candied Lemon Slices Covered in Dark Chocolate

 

I love chocolate, and I love tart flavors. I thought the combination of two flavors I love would be terrific.

However, I did not like this as much as I expected. The lemon was very sweet and slightly bitter, with no real tartness. On the pieces where the chocolate had fallen off, the lemon underneath was very dried out.

Overall, this was disappointing, but it was still edible. The amount of candy was small for the price. So for me, this is a three-star rating.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Candied Lemon Slices Covered in Dark Chocolate

Product review: OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon, Soup Spoon

 

I bought an OXO soup spoon to replace an old, well-used wooden spoon. The OXO spoon looked nice, but I discovered that I did not like how it felt once I began using it. It had a very rough finish, which I felt on my lips when I tasted sauce or soup. The OXO soup spoons are made out of beech wood with a natural finish, but they have a rough factory finish that is not smooth or polished, like high end or well-used spoons.

With some elbow grease, I turned this disappointing spoon into a great spoon that is a pleasure to use. I started by sanding it with 400-grit sandpaper. I could see how it took off a lot of rough tiny pieces that landed on my work table. Then I switched to 1000-grit sandpaper, sanding with the grain, not across it. After about 10-15 minutes of polishing, I washed it and let it dry. The water raised the grain a bit, and I took advantage of this to sand it again with 1000-grit sandpaper. After another 10-15 minutes of sanding, I saw the wood acquired a shine. It began feeling smooth and pleasant to touch. It had a polished feel. After wiping off the dust, I applied a thin layer of mineral oil wood conditioner that I use on my cutting boards, Poppyella Sunshine food-safe wood balm. After an overnight rest, I buffed the spoon with a cotton cloth. Now, it feels like a different spoon, nice and polished. I am grateful that the OXO spoon had a natural finish that could be fixed with a little bit of elbow grease.

Review of Oxo Soup Spoon

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Alfalfa Seeds – Non-GMO Organic Sprout for Growing, Resealable Bag, Homegrown Sprouting Seeds

 

 

I bought this bag of alfalfa seeds for my home sprout-growing kit. I have grown three batches so far, and the seeds have been doing great. I do not see any seeds that have not germinated.

I use one tablespoon of seeds and follow the instructions I found on the internet for growing sprouts: one overnight soak, followed by three days of twice-a-day rinsing while keeping the jar covered, followed by 2-3 days of keeping the jar uncovered but out of direct sun, with twice-a-day rinsing.

Once the sprouts are ready, I dry them and store them in the refrigerator in a covered plastic box lined with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. They remain fresh and crisp for a week.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Nature Jims Alfalfa Seeds  

Product review: Seed Sprouting Jar Kit. Jars with 316 Stainless Steel Lids, Drip Tray and Stand (video review)

 

I have been using this kit for about a month and have harvested 3 sprout crops. I selected 316 steel because it stands up to rust best, and I also wanted a kit with blackout sleeves.

I purchased the alfalfa seeds separately. I use one tablespoon of seeds and follow the instructions I found on the internet for growing sprouts: one overnight soak, followed by three days of twice-a-day rinsing while keeping the jar covered, followed by 2-3 days of keeping the jar uncovered but out of direct sun, with twice-a-day rinsing.

Once the sprouts are ready, I dry them and store them in the refrigerator in a covered plastic box lined with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. They remain fresh and crisp for a week.

I found that I actually do not need two jars. I use one jar and start growing the next batch when I know I am close to finishing the previous batch.

Everything fits and works perfectly. I have only one minor complaint: the neoprene sleeve has a smell, which I can still smell a month later despite washing the sleeves several times.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of SBMKK Seed Sprouting Jar Kit

Product review: Women’s Silk Socks Liners 100% silk. Listed small size is wrong!

 

I decided to splurge on silk socks and carefully selected these because they were marked for small feet, size 3 to 7, and were labeled as having a high silk content. I wear size 7.5 shoes and hate loose socks that bunch up, so the sizing was important to me.

Unfortunately, the socks I received are definitely not sized 3 to 7. As you can see in the photo, they are at least an inch longer than my foot. They are not comfortable for regular wear because the extra length bunches up.

The only way I can use them is as night socks. They are light and do not make my feet sweat when it is hot, so they are usable for that purpose. But they are not what I expected based on the listed size.

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

Review of Women’s Silk Sock Liners by A Touch of silk

Product review: FALKE womens Tk5 Short Women Socks, thin wool socks

 

This is my first experience with FALKE socks, but it will not be the last. I wear size 7.5 shoes and got the 6.5-7.5 sock size. They fit perfectly: snug, but not too tight or too small.

These are super comfortable socks for warm weather. Ruby 8830 is a beautiful deep color. I am very happy with this purchase.

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

Review of FALKE womens Tk5 Short Women Socks 

Product review: Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 60

 

I like that this sunblock goes on invisible and gives me SPF 60 protection. I also like that it is unscented.

It is pretty pricey, since $17 is for a very small bottle, just 1.7 oz. The small size is a plus when I need to take it with me because it easily fits into my purse.

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

Review of Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum  

Product review: Scotch Wrinkle-Free Glue Sticks, 2 Pac

 

 

I am using this glue stick on paper. It works as expected: holds well and is easy to apply. It is exactly what I expected.

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

Review of Scotch glue stick  

Product review: Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress Topper w/Luxury Cover - Soft - 3 Inch - Sleep on Latex

 I purchased the soft 3" Sleep On Latex topper with the luxury cotton cover to go on top of a brand new 100% latex mattress. The mattress had been rated medium firm and felt comfortable in the store, but turned out to be a bit too firm once we started sleeping on it. The topper softened the surface nicely without changing the overall feel of latex that I like—supportive and springy, rather than the sinking sensation of memory foam. It's soft enough to make the bed more comfortable, yet still easy to roll over and get out of bed.

Queen-size 3" topper weighs 34 pounds, so it is pretty heavy. The cotton cover makes it a bit easier to move around, which is needed for rotating it.

The luxury cotton cover is the same one they sell separately for $90. It zips all the way around, and the fabric on the bottom is different from the top. Even though it is different, it does not have a non-slip surface like some toppers I've had in the past, but the weight of the topper seems to keep it from sliding around.

It arrived compressed and wrapped in plastic film. The plastic film doesn't need to be cut open, so there's no risk of damaging the topper, just unwrapped. Once opened, it had no odor and expanded quickly to about 2" thickness. Overnight it reached the advertised 3" thickness.

Overall, the topper is comfortable and solved the problem of my too-firm mattress.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress Topper w/Luxury Cover 3 inch soft

Product review: Kitchen Aid Blender Repair Kit - Coupler replacement

 

My trusty KitchenAid blender was still running strong, but the coupler on the base had worn out and crumbled. Instead of buying a new blender, I found a replacement kit that came with two couplers and a thin wrench. This kit worked perfectly!

To replace the part, I first had to remove the old coupler. I used the skinny wrench included in the kit to hold the old coupler in place and I used a 10-inch pipe wrench to grip the metal base and turned it clockwise to loosen and remove it. The channel lock wrench did not open wide enough to do the job, but the pipe wrench made it much easier.

Installing the new coupler was a breeze. I placed the new part on the post and turned it counter-clockwise to tighten it. I used the pipe wrench to finish tightening, but was careful not to over-tighten. My blender is now working like new!

9704230 Blender Coupler with Spanner Kit Replacement Parts Compatible with KitchenAid KSB5WH KSB5 KSB3 Driver available on Amazon for under $8!
You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★



Review of Kitchen Aid Blender Repair Kit

Product review: Bosane Waterproof Queen Mattress Protector Breathable Cooling 3D Air Fabric Mattress Cover

 

I like:

1. The elastic goes all the way to the edge of the skirt and tightens well around my 8" mattress.  It even works well with just a 4" topper. I put the protector and sheet just on the topper, not both the mattress and topper, since it’s easier with our deep platform bed. The strong elastic still tightened well around the topper despite the long skirt.

2. The textured top feels nice. I like it more than the terry-cloth ones I’ve used before. The fabric is 38% Bamboo Rayon and 62% Polyester.

3. It’s completely waterproof. I tested it by pouring 1 cup of water on it, and nothing got through.

4. I machine-washed it in cold water and dried it on a cool setting (122℉) per stated instructions.

5. There’s no crinkling noise when I move on it.

6. It had no smell when I opened the box.

7. It is priced competitively when I examined many different options.

I do not like:

Nothing so far. I’ll post updates if anything changes.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Bosane Waterproof Queen Mattress Protector

Product review: Ergonomic Lower Back Support, Office Chair Cushion, Posture Corrector, Mesh, Black by Mind Reader

 

While wandering around Rockport, Mass, I spotted four chairs with these mesh back supports and a sign saying, "Sit, relax your back." I gave one a try, and wow, it felt amazing! I grabbed my phone, used the "Lens" feature to figure out what they were, and ended up on the Amazon page that sold them.

I just got my set of back supports, and they're just as comfortable as they were on that first try. The box comes with four supports: two pairs tied together, each pair in a separate plastic bag. I initially thought I only got two supports, but I quickly realized that the two were just nestled into each other, and I got all four, as stated in the description.

These supports have a wider and narrower side, so you get two different angles to play with. Some chairs feel better one way, others the opposite, depending on the backrest's angle. It's super handy for switching between chairs and keeping that comfortable vibe wherever I sit!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Mind Reader Ergonomic Lower Back Support

Product review: LSK Metal Sunglasses Organizer, round organizer, fits 16 sunglasses

 

The sunglasses stand lived up to my expectations. It holds 12 to 16 pairs, depending on their width, and has been a great space-saver compared to laying my sunglasses flat. I like matching the color of my sunglasses to my outfits, and this stand keeps them organized and accessible.

Putting it together was simple, just screwing in two screws, and I was glad to find an extra screw included in the package (just in case). I noticed that rotating the stand loosens the screws, which makes it wobble. Instead, I lift and turn the whole stand by hand, which keeps it stable. This stand works well for organizing my sunglasses collection.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of LSK Metal Sunglasses Organizer

Product review: Abalone Seashell Sunglasses with Wood Frame Shades by ANDWOOD

 

These sunglasses are attractive, lightweight, comfortable, and reasonably priced. I like them! They are not made of real wood or abalone, though. They are made of plastic with a wood-colored finish and an abalone-look veneer. Given the price and other comments I read before the purchase, I wasn’t surprised. I bought them for the look, not the materials, so I’m happy with them overall since they met my expectations. They arrived well-packaged, with a case and a box. No scratches on the eyeglasses, no blemishes on the frame. A hard eyeglasses case, a cloth case, and a cleaning cloth are also included.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of ANDWOOD Wood Sunglasses

Product review: Danco 88693P Silicone Lubricant for fixing leaking toilet valve

 

I purchased this lubricant to address an issue with a one-year-old toilet that doesn't refill automatically and requires a tap to start the refilling process. Research suggested that cleaning and greasing the valve could fix the problem. The lubricant worked initially, resolving the issue for about 10 flushes, but the fix was not as long-lasting as I had hoped. The tube contains enough grease for multiple applications.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Danco 88693P Silicone Lubricant