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: 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: Waterpoof Ear Plugs for Swimming by Banaware

 

These waterproof earplugs are good for swimming or even taking showers; they are helpful whenever you want to prevent water from entering your ears. I easily get ear infections, so I have tried different varieties of earplugs, and these earplugs seal the ears better than others. They are made of very soft silicone, so they practically stick to my ears.

The earplugs come with a variety of ear tips to fit different people. They are attached to a silicone cord, so losing the earplugs would be pretty hard.

The earplugs come with a ventilated silicone case, so you can stuff them into the case while wet!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Review of Waterpoof Ear Plugs for Swimming by Banaware

Product review: Dry Ice for Coolers, Dry Ice Packs by We4Life

 

 This product comes as ten flat sheets of dry ice, each sheet has 12 cells that are partially filled with powdered dry ice.  You must soak the sheets in water and place them in the freezer for 8 hours.  

The thickness of the cells expands as soon as you soak the sheets.   The instructions  say that a couple of minutes of soaking results in thin, flexible sheets, 5-7 minutes of soaking generates fuller, less flexible cells.  However, my cells immediately blew up to be very large and thick.  I was never able to get thin pliable  cells, even if I soaked them for less than a minute. These packs last longer than ice.  We used them to bring food to a picnic a few hours away from when we purchased the food, and the packs did a good job.  The food stayed cold for over 8 hours in 95 °F heat.  Note that the packs stay inflated once they get soaks.  The packs sweat as they cool.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Dry Ice for Coolers, Dry Ice Packs by We4Life

Product review: Muse Garden Hummingbird Feeder for Hand-blown Glass Outdoors

 

Muse Garden feeder hummingbird feeder is a hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder that holds 27 ounces of sugar syrup.  It looks pretty, and hummingbirds like the syrup.  We purchased several of them and placed them on a different side of the yard.  The birds found them quickly and go through 27 ounces in each feeder a week.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Review of Muse Garden Hummingbird Feeder for Outdoors

Product review: Dry Ice for Coolers, Dry Ice Packs by We4Life

 This product comes as ten flat sheets of dry ice, each sheet has 12 cells that are partially filled with powdered dry ice.  You must soak the sheets in water and place them in the freezer for 8 hours.  

The thickness of the cells expands as soon as you soak the sheets.   The instructions  say that a couple of minutes of soaking results in thin, flexible sheets, 5-7 minutes of soaking generates fuller, less flexible cells.  However, my cells immediately blew up to be very large and thick.  I was never able to get thin pliable  cells, even if I soaked them for less than a minute. These packs last longer than ice.  We used them to bring food to a picnic a few hours away from when we purchased the food, and the packs did a good job.  The food stayed cold for over 8 hours in 95 °F heat.  Note that the packs stay inflated once they get soaks.  The packs sweat as they cool.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Dry Ice for Coolers, Dry Ice Packs by We4Life

Product review: KUNELL PAPO Soil Test Kit for Moisture, pH level, light

 

The most important part of the review first: This probe helped find that the  soil in my garden is too acid, and I need to lime it.  Is the probe perfect? No.  Details below.

This mechanical meter allows you to switch between testing moisture, light, and PH balance. It has a built-in battery, which cannot be changed. The switch is cumbersome to use; the dial is hard to see when you insert it straight down. After having trouble seeing the values, I found that it was best to insert the probes at an angle, so the dial faces up.

To test the soil, you need to insert the probe two to four inches and leave it in the soil for 10 minutes according to the instructions.  However, I found that the value does not change after a few seconds. Before I bought the probe, I thought I would permanently leave it on the ground, but the instructions said that you must remove the probe after the test and clean it.

A pH of 6.5 is ideal for growing vegetables; the range from pH 6.0 to 7.0 is acceptable for vegetables. If the soil pH level is below 5.5 or above 7.5, soil treatment or modification often is necessary. Acid soil is 3.5-8 pH level, Alkaline soil is 7-8 pH level. For low pH level (below 5.5), one needs to apply lime to soil.  I am using chicken poop pellets, which work similar to lime.

I noticed that pH level value changed after I watered the plants. Water has a neutral pH level, so it temporarily raises the soil's pH level. As you see in the attached video,  the tester showed that my soil was too acidic, and I needed to apply lime.  You can also see how watering temporary improved the pH level.

Settings:

Acid soil is 3.5-8 pH level
Alkaline soil is 7-8 pH level

Moisture level dry 1-3
Moisture level normal 4-7
Moisture level wet 8-10

Light level low 0-200 Lux
Light level low+ 200-500 Lux
Light level normal 500-1000 Lux
Light level high 1000-2000 Lux

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

Review of KUNELL PAPO Soil Test Kit for Moisture

Product review: HUMILABS Dehumidifier 1500 Sq. 67.5 oz

 

Humilabs unit is a nice-looking white humidifier with a capacity of 67.5 oz.
It is 10 inches tall, 8.5 inches wide, and 18 inches tall.
It weighs 23 pounds, which is much easier to handle than my old humidifier, which weighs 80 pounds.  Humilabs dehumidifier has wheels that allow me to move it around easily.

The electric cord is 5 feet long, and it has a regular three-prong plug.

Humilabs humidifier is very quiet, so it is a good fit for a bedroom or study, not just a basement.  Its capacity is not huge, 2 liters, which is 67.5 oz, but it comes with a tube that can be used for auto-drainage if you have an outlet for the water.

I like that the water tank comes with a cover, which helps not spill water when I need to drain the tank manually.  When the tank is full, the humidifier stops to prevent spills.

This weekend we had a humid day where I could judge how the dehumidifier worked, and I could tell it made in difference in about two hours.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★
 

Product review: Voltkore Leaf & Snow Blower, Cordless Leaf Blower 3.5lbs

 

I was attracted to this blower because it is cordless and light, so I can get to the areas that are not all that close to the house where I can plug in the electric cord.

Voltkore Leaf Blower was easy to put together, and it was reasonably light (about 3.5 pounds). However, its air power is rather weak. It is significantly weaker than my plug-on leaf blower/mulcher. It has trouble getting leaves out between coming up flowers and stuck in the bush. It could blow leaves that just lay on top of the grass.

One of the batteries does seem to fit the charger. After using it, when I attempt to plug it into the charger, the charger never turns red to indicate it is charging. The second battery starts by turning the charger red then turns green.  Note that my video is taken with the good battery.

On the positive side, because it blows weakly it is much more quiet than my plug-in leaf blower.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆  

Product review: Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Broad Spectrum SPF 50

 I have used Coppertone sunscreen for many years and have always been pleased with the results.
★ Positives:
Sunscreen protects well, stays on well, and does not leave a white cast on my skin.

★ Negatives:
The sunscreen is not unscented; the cap arrived broken. The broken pieces were inside the package, so better protection was needed. I am afraid it will dry out before the end of the summer, as the sunscreen is exposed to air.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Solar Animal Repeller, Animal Deterrent with Motion Sensor: no effect on cirtters!

 My goal was to keep away squirrels and rabbits. The repeller did not seem to have any effect on them. Our cats were not bothered by the unit. They initially sniffed the unit, as they do with every new thing they see, and then just began ignoring it.

The repellent is 4.25" tall and 4" wide. It comes with a removable pole. It can be charged by plugging into a USB power or via a solar charger on top of the unit. You need to use a small button on the bottom to turn on and control the unit. You need to push the button repeatedly to cycle through the unit's modes. I found it very difficult to tell which mode the unit was in; there is no good feedback on its mode. I could not get any sounds or flashing to happen when I waved my hands. I was able to turn the unit on because a dim red light began blinking (although documentation does not explain the meaning of the blinking).

According to documentation, the motion detector works in 3 feet radius. I could not make it produce noise or flashing. I think the ultrasound is working because, assuming the slow dim red blink indicates it is doing something.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: GOLETIO Balcony Deck Hanging Table

 

 The table has some imperfections, but overall it works well for me.

I hoped the adjustments on this table would allow me to use it on either the wood railing or the wrought iron railing, but unfortunately, the wrought iron railing is too narrow, and the brackets do not adjust to that width.  It worked fine on the 3" wood railing; however, the two brackets appear slightly different in width.  On the widest setting, one fits perfectly, and another one is a little too snug.  When I removed the table, I saw that it scraped the wood on one side but not the other.  I move the table, and again the left side is snug no matter where I place the table.

I was able to put the table together without any tools in under one minute.  The table is made out of heavy-duty black plastic, and the brackets are metal with a black finish.  One of the metal brackets had a scrape that exposed the raw metal. It will need to cover the scratch with Rustoleum, so it does not rust.  Fortunately, the black finish allows me to fix it without making the paint too obvious.

The convenience of the table is very good, especially on a small deck.

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: Will & Fox Wet Bag for Swimsuit, Swim Diaper and Wet Clothes

 

I filled the bag with a cup of water, and it held the water, no leaks.  I was pleased with how waterproof this bag is.  It is sized 15.5" x 12.5".

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Gazeled Clip On Fan, 10000mAh Battery

 

This fan is almost 8" across, and it can move 360 degrees in two directions, so I can aim it at any angle I want. It has a large clip that can serve as a stand, the clip opens up to 2" wide, and holds well. I can mount it in many places; I like clipping it to a shelf, so it blows at me while working at my desk.  

The fan has three speeds: low, medium, and high. The fan is very quiet on the low setting, and the noise gets a little louder with increased airflow. It is surprisingly powerful on the high setting. I have several clip fans, and by comparison, it blows stronger than any of them.

This fan has a built-in battery and can charge with either mini USB or Type C USB cords. It can run plugged or on a battery.

The fan is made out of heavy-duty plastic (the fan cage and the stand). The fan is steady on its base and makes no clanking noises.  This fan is a terrific clip fan for anywhere in the house, but I think it is too big for a stroller.

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: 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: GreenPig Solutions 60 Accelarator Compost Accelerator

I am using this accelerator in the tumbling large Envirocycle composter. I am not sure this accelerator made any difference compared to just adding a gallon of water on a regular basis.  I did not see the super-fast breakdown I was hoping for.

This package contains 12 packets.  Instructions say to dissolve each packet in 1 to 2 gallons of water.  The packets are sealed (i.e. you cannot split them in half) and dissolve in water.  The mixture needs to be used within 15 minutes to keep bacteria alive.  Instructions recommend using the liquid weekly or when a large amount of the new material was added to the compost pile.

The description states that 12 packets treat 108 cubic feet. One packet treats 9 cubic feet.  1 cubic foot is 7.5 gallons. This means one packet treats 67.5 gallons. The large Envirocycle that I use is 35 gallons, this means one packet is more than enough to treat its content.  In fact, I wish I could split each packet in half to make it more cost-effective. 

To manufacture: I would have preferred a non-dissolvable bag with a zip closure so I can control how much I use for each treatment. 

concentrate

Product review: Plantskydd Animal Repellent - Repels Deer, Rabbits

The good:
1. It appears to repel rabbits and deer
2. It can be used on edible crops

The bad:
1. The spray leaves very unsightly red bloodstains on the plants, which eventually turn black and still unsightly
2. The Plantskydd seems to have damaged my young tomatoes and cucumber plants (many of them wilted right where the blood spots were, the leaves that did not have spray did not wilt).  The plants on the deck, which I did not spray did not wilt. Strawberries were fine and did not react badly to the spray.
3. Flowers did not wilt, but I did not like how the leaves looked after the application
4. The spray mechanism leaks when I spray.  The first time I used it my hands were covered in blood-colored liquid.  I did not expect it.  I just stood there staring on my bloody hand, it looked like I stabbed someone.  From there on I learned to wear old garden gloves which are now quite stained.
5. Amazon description does not state it, but on the Plantskydd web site under "How should I store" it states "Ready-to-use Liquid—use within 3 months of opening."  So if you buy it in the spring, you need to use it that summer or it will go bad.
6. Requires care after each usage.  From To Plantskydd web site: to prevent sprayer from clogging after each use, you need to remove the sprayer, flush with water, and replace lid with original cap.

Bottom line: after a few initial applications I was reluctant to use the spray on any plants other than strawberries. However, now that the strawberries have fruits the instructions said to stop spraying...  so the spray was used for a short period of time with mixed results.  I will not be able to use the entire bottle before it goes bad.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Ortho Deer B Gon Deer and Rabbit Repellent Concentrate

The bottle contains 32 oz of the concentrate solution.  The instructions call for 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water.  The mixed solution has a pleasant (to me) cinnamon odor, but it seems to keep critters away.  I use Chapin 2000 Garden Sprayer to spread it, and the solution works well without gumming up the sprayer.

I have a problem with rabbits, deers, and groundhogs eating the flowers just as they about to open.  After applying Deer B Gone for the first time in several years I am able to enjoy the flowers in the spring.  The instructions say to apply every 30 days or if you see new nibbles.  To be safe I have been applying once a week for the last three weeks.

Be aware that this spray should not be used on edible plants or vegetables according to the instructions.  It is only for decorative plants.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★