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: 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: 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: 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

Product review: Gardzen 7 Gallon Grow Bags, Aeration Fabric Pots with Handles

 

I've been using grow bags for my tomatoes and cucumbers for about six years now. They work very well, draining well even during the wettest summers. While my neighbors struggled with poor tomato growth due to excessive rains two years ago, my plants thrived. I use a drip irrigation system to water them, so dryness hasn’t been an issue either.

One lesson I’ve learned is to steer clear of grow bags with canvas handles, as they tear after a single season outdoors. Instead, I choose bags with handles made from the same material as the bag itself. These have proven durable, lasting for years without breaking down. That’s why I opted for these particular bags.


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

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Gardzen 7 Gallon Grow Bags

Product review: Worx Zipsnip Cordless Electric Scissors Cardboard Cutter Plastic Cutter

 

I chose the Worx electric cutter for several reasons:

    1: I watched several comparison reviews that showed the Worx cutter requiring less effort to cut than other brands. Its strong motor significantly reduces the force needed for smooth cutting.
    2: Blade Quality: Worx is a well-known brand that offers replacement blades. The high-quality, sharp blades make cutting take less effort.
    3: Unlike some cutters with rounded guides, the Worx features a flat guide at the bottom. This allows me to rest the cutter on a cutting mat and slide the cardboard into it, producing straight, accurate cuts. While it’s possible to hold the Worx cutter in the air, I find this less secure and prone to cut lines that curve.
    4. Reasonably lightweight: The cutter weighs 14.65 oz; I find it easy to handle, even during extended use.
    5: The cutter comes with a spare blade, a carrying case, and a charger. However, the charger uses a proprietary round connector with an 8W output, which is less convenient than a universal USB-C port used by some other cutters. However, this is a minor drawback.
    6: The handle is comfortable to hold. To operate, you must press both a lock-out switch and a trigger switch simultaneously, preventing accidental activation. As someone with smaller hands, I can’t reach the lock-out switch with my thumb while holding the trigger. Instead, I hold the cutter with my right hand, pressing the trigger at the bottom of the cutter, and use a finger on my left hand to briefly press the lock-out switch to start. Once the cutter is activated, I don’t need to hold the lock-out switch. This was not clear to me from reading the instructions before purchase, and I worried a bit about how exactly it would work. It turns out that this extra button push is not a problem.

The cutter needed to be charged before first use. It took four hours for the red charging indicator to turn green.

I purchased this cutter to break down cardboard boxes for my composter. It glides through cardboard effortlessly, like cutting through butter. I used to use regular manual scissors. Let me tell you, this is a lot easier.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★

Review of Worx Zipsnip Cordless Electric Scissors

Product review: Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss, Dentist-Designed Oral Care

 

My dental hygienist recommended Cocofloss, and I was amazed by its performance. After using my regular Glide floss, I tried this product and was shocked to see it remove significantly more plaque, even when I thought I'd already done a thorough job with Glide floss. I'm now a convert.

This floss is marketed as "expandable" floss. I thought it should be called "contractable" instead because it actually contracts to slip between my tightly spaced teeth without threading. Then it hugs the teeth closely, providing a superior clean compared to Glide.

However, not everything is rosy. The floss is expensive, and while it comes in a large container, the spool itself is only one inch in diameter, containing 33 yards (1,188 inches). I use 15 inches per session and floss twice daily, totaling 30 inches a day. This means one spool lasts approximately 39 days.

I was also disappointed by the flavor. I chose the orange option, expecting a citrus taste, but the floss is essentially flavorless, the only thing that is orange is the color. This wasn't a dealbreaker, as I'm fine with unflavored floss, but it was not what I expected.

Despite the cost and lack of flavor surprise, the exceptional cleaning power makes this floss worth repurchasing. It's now a staple in my dental routine.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss

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: Super PDR Adhesive Remover Tool

 

This product is very similar to a hair dryer, just smaller. It blows hot air to warm up glue, making it easier to remove attached items like stickers or other adhesives. However, it leaves behind a layer of glue residue. The package includes three wipers to help remove the leftover glue, but this isn’t enough. Often, I still need to use a product like Goo Gone to fully clean the surface. This raises the question: why use this tool at all when I could just use Goo Gone from the start? As shown in the attached video, it works to some extent, but the limitation of leaving glue behind reduces its usefulness.

Ali Julia review

Review of Super PDR Adhesive Remover Tool 


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids, 32 oz, 4 pack

 

I’ve been using these containers for two months now, and they’ve proven to be highly effective. Their square shape makes them ideal for efficient storage in the freezer, maximizing space with ease. The 32-ounce capacity is perfect for my needs, and the set of four containers is just right for storing leftover soup from my Dutch oven. I love that they’re made of glass. It feels safe for food storage, lets me see what’s inside at a glance, and allows me to reheat the soup directly in the container.

Ali Julia review of Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids

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