Product review: L'Artiste by Spring Step Women's Libora Flat - cute but no arch support

 

I had my eye on these L'Artiste by Spring Step shoes for a while, but I was afraid to buy them without trying them on first. This weekend I took a trip to a large shoe store that carries Spring Step L'Artiste shoes.

The Lebora flats were cute, and the size 7.5 fit my 7.5 foot perfectly, but they did not have the same good arch support as the L'Artiste by Spring Step Chino clogs. Even though I liked how Lebora flats looked, I left them behind because I wanted more support.

The Chino clogs were the winner and came home with me. They looked good and had a great arch support.

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

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆    

Review of L'Artiste by Spring Step Women's Libora Flat  

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: 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: 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

Product review: ACT Concrete Cleaner, Treating stains on the basement floor with bio-cleaner microbes : before and after video

 

I purchased ACT to treat a stained area of my basement cement floor. When the product arrived, I was surprised by the size of the container. It was much smaller than I had expected. Unlike the large container shown in the stock video, my container was only 3 inches tall. Additionally, the powder inside was grey, matching the color of my cement floor, rather than the white color depicted in the video. Despite my initial concerns, the contents were sufficient to treat my stained area, which measured 5 feet long by 3 feet wide, in two separate 3-week applications.

The stain on my basement floor had a messy origin. It started when a container of cleaning solution I had stored deteriorated and spilled onto the cement. In an attempt to clean it up, I used a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, but this only worsened the situation by spreading the stain further across the floor. I’ve attached a video that shows the stain before and after the treatment. Note that the "before" photo on January 26, 2025 shows the dry floor even though the stain makes it appear dark in color.

My process:  First, I sprinkled the powder over the stained 5-by-3-foot area. Then, I activated it by lightly misting it with water using a spray bottle. The instructions didn’t specify only one mist to activate the microbes, but I decided to spray the floor with water every day. I noticed that the powder dried out very quickly after each misting, and I thought misting it every day might help the microbes  stay active and work more effectively. I continued this daily misting routine for three weeks. At the end of the first three-week period, I removed the powder and washed the floor with water. The stain had improved somewhat, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with the results.

I decided to repeat the process. I applied a fresh layer of the powder to the same 5-by-3-foot area, activated it with water, and resumed misting it daily for another three weeks. After this second round, I removed the powder and washed the floor again. I took an "after" photo on March 12, 2025, which I’m including in the video. The results show a significant improvement in the appearance of the cement floor. While it’s not perfectly restored to its original state, the stain is much less noticeable compared to the "before" photo and the attached video.

In summary, despite the surprisingly small 3-inch container, the product proved sufficient for two 3-week treatments of my 15-square-foot stained basement floor. My daily misting routine, though not part of the official instructions, may have contributed to the positiv outcome. The floor now looks much better, even if it’s not flawless.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of ACT Concrete Cleaner

Product review: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover Rust Remover

 

 I had initially hoped to use this cleaner on my basement cement floor and even posted a question about it on the product listing. The seller responded quickly, though their answer was somewhat vague. Upon receiving the cleaner, I realized my intended use wasn’t suitable. The product specifies it’s designed for surfaces like Corian, shower doors, granite, windshields, aluminum, porcelain, stone, windows, fiberglass, grills, tombstones, glass surfaces, hard vinyl, stove tops, copperware, and stainless steel. However, the instructions clearly state it should not be used on Plexiglas, plastics, or glossy automotive paint. For best results, they recommend using an oscillating buffer or a Bio-Cleaner microfiber towel.

The cleaner itself is a thick, green liquid with a fairly strong scent. I ended up testing it on a sink with rust and hard water stains, and it did an excellent job removing both.


Review of Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Winco Stainless Steel Round Egg Ring for eggs and pancakes

 

The ring is made out of stainless steel and has no non-stick covering (I am avoiding non-stick cookware due to the release of toxic fumes). I oil the pan inside the ring and the sides of the ring with a brush, and it works pretty well - minimal leaking and no sticking. The only problem I had was that it cut through the paper envelope it was mailed in and got bent (both the handle and the circle became an oval). I decided I could live with the bending imperfections, but I wish it were mailed in a box instead. It should have been obvious that sharp metal objects would not get along with a paper envelope.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Winco Round Egg Ring

Product review: Slofunife Pinwheels - Step-by-step slow-mo video of pinwheel assembly

 

These spinners are visually appealing and add a decorative touch to my garden. I installed them with the intention of deterring rabbits from my vegetables.

I used to see the rabbit family continuously through the day, While I haven't observed any rabbits on the first day after installation, it is too early to determine their effectiveness definitively. If they stops avoiding them, they still look pretty.


Assembly was straightforward after understanding the initial step, which involved attaching the leaves to the yellow clips for subsequent threading through the plastic arm.

The spinwheels are pretty sturdy; the sticks, however, are not. They are made out of plastic straws, and some were loose-fitting. Two out of twelve too were loose. I had to make them shorter by throwing out the loose parts.




Review of Slofunife Reflective Pinwheels
 

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

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Electric Ear Dryer for Swimmer’s Ear by Tilcare - Ear Air Dryer (video product review)

 

I like:
- Good idea: warm ear flows into the ear and dries it
- Helps with drying out the ears
- Comes with three tips, so it can be used by multiple people
- Comes with a carrying case

I do not like:
- Starts and ends with a loud beep. I need to remebmer to turn it on and turn it off when it is not near th ear.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Review of Electric Ear Dryer for Swimmer’s Ear by Tilcare

Product review: Immortalitea White Mulberry Leaf Tea in tea bags

 

 Mulberry leaf tea has a flavor reminiscent of green tea, with a slightly earthy and bitter taste. The tea is packed into a foil-lined zip lock bag. The tea bags are triangular pyramids, but the material has a plasticky feel. I am not sure if they will compost fast. I like putting used tea bags into my composter, and I have had trouble with bags with this feel before (i.e., they did not compose in one season, which is what I need to use my compost in the garden each spring. They do compost eventually, just not as fast as I need ).

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Immortalitea White Mulberry Leaf Tea

Product review: Coffee Roasting Kit by OurHands

 

The OurHands package includes six small bags, 1.7 oz each, of raw green coffee beans.
It includes 6 different raw coffee beans:
1. Old Brown Java from Indonesia (woodsy notes)
2. Columbus Excelso from Columbia (caramel notes)
3. Brazil Santos from Brazil (nutty notes)
4. Ethiopia Djimma from Ethiopia (berry notes)
5. Mysore Plantation from India (clove notes)
6. Yellow Bourbon from Brazil (chocolate and caramel notes)

The kit includes a de-chaffer (to remove the dried skin of the bean), a cotton bag, and a coffee color chart.
You need to provide an oven, baking tray, and spoons.

You can control the level of roast: 2 minutes for light, 4 minutes for medium (stirring every 2 minutes), and 6 minutes for dark roast (stirring every 2 minutes). The beans are ready to use in 24 hours, as they need 24 hours to degas.

Purchased September 2023, expires August 2025.

The total amount of coffee in the package is 10.2 oz, so it is expensive compared to other options for raw coffee that average about $8 a pound. However, it is a nice gift for a coffee lover to try roasting your own for the first time!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Product review: OImaster Teal Laptop Stand for Desk Laptop Holder Riser

 

The OImaster Stand is well-designed for travel. It is lightweight and works for laptops, tablets, and phones.

The stand is made of plastic parts that fold and turn to make different configurations. It does not have industrial strength, but it is sufficient to hold a light laptop and any type of tablet or smartphone.

It fits laptops and tables of 10 to 17 inches and any size smartphone. In my photos, you see Pixel 6Pro, a relatively large phone.

The stand is 10.3 X 2.8 X 1.7 inches, weighing 10.6 oz.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of OImaster Teal Laptop Stand for Desk Laptop 

Product review: SmartHeart Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor (video review)

 

 The blood pressure monitor fits arms from 8.6" to 16.5". The latching mechanism works well; latching the cuff with one hand is easy. I find it easier to work than Omitron. The results seem to match close the results that my doctor gets in the office. The measurements are not exactly the same, but they are close enough. If I take multiple measurements one after another, the measurements stay within 10 points of each other. This is not perfect, but not too bad.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of SmartHeart Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor

Food review: HelloFresh food service review

 

HelloFresh delivers a box with all ingredients needed to cook the recipe. You still need to cook, but I don't need to shop. You don't get to pick the ingredients, but the ingredients I received were of good quality. I selected three dishes for 2 (a total of 6 servings). Without a promotion, your cost is $70 and $6 shipping. Too much for what you get, in my opinion. However, with various promotions, you can get the price to be reasonable. I consider $5 per serving to be reasonable.

I was impressed with the packaging. HelloFresh was brought to me by a local delivery (not one of the big guys), they followed my instructions, and the package arrived on time. The box was insulated, and the bottom had a block of large ice covering the entire bottom of the box.

I ordered three proteins beef, pork, and chicken. Each came as a 4 oz package. The vegetable was fresh. The sauces were flavorful. Each meal came with a detailed recipe that was fairly easy to follow.

So the bottom line is that this approach is more expensive than shopping yourself; you still do the cooking. However, it is more convenient, especially for the less confident cooks.

Ali Julia review

Review of Hello Fresh

Product review: THANKYOU FARMER Rice Pure Cream In Ampoule 1.75 fl.oz

 

This is a lightly scented extract that comes with an applicator. It might be fragrance-free, but it does have a slight scent. I prefer totally unscented products.

It is described as "cream" in the title, but it really is a serum; it is liquid.

It is absorbed well, and my skin feels moisturized. I do not see visual changes in the appearance of wrinkles, but the skin feels moisturized. I sometimes get dry spots that itch, and this rice extract significantly reduces itching.

The solution comes in a transparent glass bottle; I prefer dark glass to provide protection from light and make solutions last longer.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of THANKYOU FARMER Rice Pure 2-IN-1 Cream

Product review: LE SECRET Wispy Bangs Hair Clip Air Bangs with Temples Hairpieces Clip In Bangs Real Human Hair

 The good:
1. Real human hair makes a huge difference. If the color matches, they don't look like a hairpiece
2. Because this is natural hair and was sent on a roll, they have a pleasing light curl to them. They do not hang straight down like synthetic hair
3. They clip in securely
4. The length of the bangs is good

The not-so-good:
1. This is a very thin hairpiece. A little more hair, especially on the side bangs, would have made it better.
2. The side bangs, because there are so sparse, don't look right, and I think I will trim them even with the rest of the bangs

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of LE SECRET Wispy Bangs Hair Clip Air Bangs

Product review: Mistgre Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster (similar to Magic Eraiser)

 

This is an excellent sponge. It feels spongy and almost sticky; it grabs onto dirt and does a good job cleaning even without spraying with cleanser; I just wet it with water and squeeze it dry. It feels and works similarly to the Magic Eraser sponge but lasts longer than Magic Eraser. It is not just for dusting; it can handle real dirt.

The first thing I tried was cleaning the refrigerator door, which I tried cleaning before but never got it to look like it did when it was new. This sponge did it!

It also works well on mirrors, but I need to run a paper towel over the mirror to remove streaks.

However, this sponge does not work on narrow grooves of the sliding door's tracks.  The sponge grooves are not deep enough to reach the bottom of slider tracks, where the dirt collects.  I cut a 1/4 slice of the sponge to work the wider slider openings, but the most narrow slides are still too narrow, and I need to use a narrow brush to clean them.

I still like the brush, but just be aware that it is not the solution for slider doors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Mistgre Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster

Product review: Fikoksol Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster (similar to Magic Eraiser)

 

This is an excellent sponge. It feels spongy and almost sticky; it grabs onto dirt and does a good job cleaning even without spraying with cleanser; I just wet it with water and squeeze it dry. It feels and works similarly to the Magic Eraser sponge but lasts longer than Magic Eraser. It is not just for dusting; it can handle real dirt.

The first thing I tried was cleaning the refrigerator door, which I tried cleaning before but never got it to look like it did when it was new. This sponge did it!

It also works well on mirrors, but I need to run a paper towel over the mirror to remove streaks. Very pleased with this sponge; I just ordered a set of four additional ones for future use.

However, this sponge does not work on narrow sliders of the sliding door's tracks.  The grooves are not deep enough to reach the bottom of sliders, where the dirt collects.  I cut a 1/4 slice of the sponge to work the wider slider openings, but the most narrow slides are still too thin, and I need to use a narrow brush to clean them.

I still like the brush, but just be aware that it is not the solution for slider doors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Fikoksol Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster
 

Product review: iMethod Angled Eyebrow Brush & Eyebrow Spoolie Brush

 The iMethod brush is dense and stiff. It does a good job and gives me a lot of control over the brush strokes. The flat brush end is fine; however, I find it less useful than the spiral brush. I always try to note down the pluses and minuses of the products I review. The only downside with this brush is that at the current price of 10 dollars, it is about twice as expensive as other similar brushes sold on Amazon.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Review of iMethod Angled Eyebrow Brush & Eyebrow Spoolie Brush