Not Your Grandma's Vaseline!

I received a small .25 oz container (trial size) of Vaseline lip therapy from the Amazon Vine Program. It's a great travel size if you want to take it to the beach, purse or an office desk drawer. The cocoa butter fragrance reminds me of an island getaway.  It's deeply fragrant and reminds me of tropical summers by the sea. I expected the petroleum undertones that I was used to but there was none of that.
My husband said it makes my lips very kissable. (His too, I might add) but he normally uses nothing and found it slightly greasy but that seemed to fade fairly quickly. (It might have been all the kissing.)
It's still the rich creamy Vaseline product I remember. It came in a plastic container with a plastic lid that snap seals.  The brown label is distinctly different and eye catching. This isn't your grandma's Vaseline. I'm going to make sure heading into winter, that I have this awesome product on hand to prevent chapped lips.

I'm recommending to everyone who has lips! Five stars.

Fits Like a Glove

 Ladies, are you as tired as I am ...
that most oven mitts are big enough for a linebacker to shove his hand into? I got my cherry red women’s fitted Kitchen Grips mitt from Amazon Vine Program. I love the color and it’s easy to slip on and fits very well, not too tight. Other colors are blueberry, lime, bubblegum and patterns currently available were Carnival and Circus.

I am not a big baker and part of the reason is that I don’t have oven mitts that really fit. One size does not fit all. Standard oven mitts feel enormous and when I’m trying to pick up something blistering hot, it needs to prevent my hand from burning and allow me to pull it from the oven without risk of dropping it. If this mitt had been around at the time it would have been in Betty Crocker’s Kitchen.
Kitchen Grips comes in three sizes down to a size that fits me. Not only that, the raised nub textured exterior is non-slip, insulated to resist heat to 500degrees (260 C) with an extendable cuff which is great for outdoor grilling. The mitt is also stain resistant, dish washer safe if you wash it in the top rack.

This fall I plan to be in the kitchen a lot more, making delicious meals for my husband and friends. I love this mitt! It's a great gift idea for a bride, a graduate or the cook/baker in your life. I give it five stars and will be telling every cook or baker about it.

Belkin Folio Case

Belkin UltraThin Folio Case for Acer Tablet 10.1in (Midnight Black) I have a number of Belkin products and for the most part like them all. When I ordered this Ultra Thin Folio Casethrough the Amazon Vine Program, I hoped it would be just what I was looking for. I’m a big fan of skype and enjoy keeping up with loved ones. What sold me on the Belkin cover, was the free standing adjustability factor. You absolutely will not have to worry about your Iconia falling out of this case, which means guaranteed protection against scratches. It’s not bulky, but also doesn’t feel like one of their sleeker designs. It’s well sewn and very durable and I like the texture of the case but would like it a few shades darker, but it’s growing on me. It appears to be more grey than black. It is a case designed only for the Acer Iconia, not a power cord, stylus lint-free cloth or any extras. I give it four our of five stars.

Into the Darkest Corner: A Five Star Winner

Into The Darkest Corner is one of the most heart stopping books I have read this summer. It’s filled with enough hair raising excitement and enough unexpected turns that you can't see what's going to happen next, just like it was for Cathy Bailey.
We follow Cathy has ritualized going the closing and locking of her doors, checking them and rechecking them, not once, not twice, but as many times as it takes for her to feel  at peace that they have been properly checked. Haynes offers a unique window into the life of a woman suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it affects life in the short and longer term.

Initially, the dual story line threw me, but after a few chapters I caught on, as Cathy's past paralleled her current life.This witty, well written novel from author Elizabeth Haynes is an Amazon Best seller in the UK and stands to be one here as well. Her portrayal of Lee Brightman is breath-taking and horrifying, how insidiously he invades every aspect of her life and covers himself in the process.

This story will have you on the edge of your seat much of the time while reading it and wondering about the characters, long after you finish the book. I give it five stars. It is a work of true genius.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Amazon Vine Program, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Water Myth

By now, you're among the millions of people drinking bottled water. If you aren't you may be among those, like myself, who filter their own water. It's a well-known fact that most of us don't drink as much water as we should. The reasons vary, but what it comes down to is taste.I like starting out with a certain amount and making sure it's gone by a certain time of day.
I like the 1.5 liter bottle because it's sturdy enough to hold and drink from when full and doesn't feel as though it will collapse like some bottles do. I got Essentia from the Amazon Vine program. I began drinking it and thought it was very nice. It tasted like water.
I decided a true test would be to compare it against the water I usually drink. Brita filtered water. The difference in taste was startling. I gave my fiance two glasses of water. One we usually drink and Essentia. He couldn't get over the taste and texture difference. I thought all water was smooth, but really, comparatively, this is smoother. Noticeably silky.
The difference was remarkable. Our filtered water didn't taste nearly as clean or as smooth as Essentia. I liked it a lot and the infusion of Electrolytes is a plus. I didn't feel a lift, or more energized per se, but while at work, my staying power and focus seemed more enhanced. I really need to rethink my water. As I suspected, they are not all created equal. I highly recommend this to anyone who drinks filtered or bottled water. If you don't believe me, I double dog dare you to compare it to what you are already drinking and let me know what you think.