The Measure of a Good Cup Set

The OXO measuring cups arrived and I couldn't wait to try them! They are wonderful! My last set was a little inexpensive set that matched all the kitchen utensils. I was happy enough until the measurement stamps on them started to wear off. I don't keep my cups in a set, but separated in case I need to other things with them or leave them in, say, coffee. These are on a ring, but with the handle design it lets you pull them off easily and also put them back on the ring with no fuss.

These are thick stainless steel and can be used to warm small amounts of things like butter, or dissolve Monk fruit granules in vinegar for sushi on the stove. I like the super grip handles. The toughest thing my set will ever have to scoop will be rice. The handles didn't bend at all. I can see where they could, but I don't see the point in torturing a good set of measuring cups. (They aren't really scoops, after all. That's a different design altogether.)

I love them! If they sit on the counter, they don't fall over until they are filled. They stay put. I am placing these on my list of top things to have in a kitchen. I'm going to brag about them and make sure that if any brides-to-be don't have a set of these, they will get them! These get five stars from me.

Earphones With Her in Mind

Subjekt HPM-21BL HerPhones Petite Earphones with Microphone Designed for Small Ears I couldn't wait to get these ear buds. For quite a few years, I couldn't get earbuds to fit well in my ears. They would press in easy enough, but after a while, my ears began to throb. It never occurred to me, until I saw these, that they made ANYTHING smaller. I am so happy about Subjekt HPM-21BL HerPhones! The normal casing on the bud itself is approximately 9mm, while these are 8mm and the speaker is the same.

It sounded like my music was closer and had better quality. Best of all, no aching ears! After running through a couple dozen pairs of buds over the past 4 years, I've finally found the ones I love. I give these five stars. Thank you Subjekt! P.S. These might also be appropriate for kids, given the size of the ear gels.

Use Nexcare First

I used the Nexcare Waterproof bandages for the first time today. One of my jobs keep my hands in dishwater for a good twenty minutes, if not longer. I expected this bandage to peel after five minutes. But it didn't! It lasted through three sessions of 20 minute dish washing and was only beginning to peel at the one corner.

 I dried my hands and the adhesive resealed. I like that they are invisible and no one noticed I had it on. These are going in my first aid kit. I will also be looking to see what other sizes they have. This is great if you have swimmers with nicks and cuts that need protection. Never once did the dishwater touch my wound.

WR 333 Great Ambient Weather Radio

A day in the park in Mackstown.

Our family has several of these type radios. I received the Ambient Weather WR-333 Emergency Solar Hand Crank Weather Alert Radio, Flashlight, Smart Phone Charger a few days ago and what I noticed first of all is the rugged construction. The rounded reinforced corners, a built in, rigid handle that sports a quick release clip allowing the user to attach to belt loop, low hanging branch or tent ceiling. (Other units have a cord handle.)

The face has a digital read out which illuminates if you are in the dark trying to used it. The booklet explains clearly how to set the clock, with optional military time setting. The WR333 picks up even the weakest local station in our city. The speaker didn't really need any amplification, and came in nice and sharp considering the size, with no tinny sound. With the MODE button you can switch between FM, AM and WB (Weather Band and WB Alert) which, as usual sounds bizarre and robotic and repeats after a time. The station tuners are up and down arrow buttons which make tuning a bit tedious. The volume controls are plus and minus buttons.
The solar panel on the top of the unit is 10 to 15% bigger than the ones on comparable units. Along this panel is the telescoping antenna. A push button control works the 3 led lights for a really bright flashlight. The crank handle flips out of a notch as another mode of charging. Under the crank handle is a compartment which houses 3 triple A batteries and the rechargeable lithium. Other units have the access panel tightened down with a screw (which I've never attempted to open to see what's in there since it doesn't come with the micro-screwdriver) but this one has as teeny slot to stick in a fingernail to pry it up. My husband wasn't able to do it but I was with a little effort. The slot is so thin a dime doesn't fit either.
A half-inch wide dust protector covers 3 ports; a DC/in, USB and headphone (which worked great). It is also where you find the switch when you want to change from lithium to alkaline batteries. I had trouble using the GOAL ZERO speaker with this unit, which became so staticky that the station was drowned out. Possibly, because the solar charger was in use? I have several other types of travel speakers that worked fine, again the sound of the unit on its own was really impressive. The radio is a little bulkier due to its heavy duty appearance and larger solar panel. Instructions say it will charge a smartphone, but can't say to what extent because of variable power loads. It charged my text phone up 2 bars in under half an hour and I talked on it for 25 minutes. Ambient Weather WR-333 Emergency Solar Hand Crank Weather Alert Radio, Flashlight, Smart Phone Charger would be a great addition to any emergency kit, road trip gear, or camping provisions. You could take it boating or on vacation, but it isn't waterproof. I give this five stars.

Thule Perspektiv

Thule Perspectiv Action Sports Camera Case TPGP 101 is a small roll-top stash compartment, with a crush-proof padded camera compartment including divider system, flip down organization for SD cards and batteries and 9-hook closure. It also contains the high visibility lining material in the crush proof compartment. The zipper pulls and rugged but sleek construction is still all Thule.
 
The 9-hook closure didn't seem to be the best idea, fortunately the top of the bag is Velcro sealed. I love that Thule isn't afraid to make good use of it. Of all the things I've seen designed by Thule, this was about to be my least favorite. I was confused by the concept. And it bugged me.
I spent a bit of time trying to figure out why THULE went with the 9-clip instead of quick release. Why they chose a roll top instead of something to sling over your shoulder, or both of them for that matter. Then it came to me, this is a camera bag you can wear on your upper arm! The crush proof case on the exterior makes sense, the 9-clip stays secured so long as you pull the tension to fit your arm. If you rig it right, you
can be pulling your camera out of it with no danger of dumping it or your batteries. Obviously you wouldn't want to over fill the roll top compartment. I got excited about this, because under the right circumstances, it means hands free hiking, skiing or whatever adrenaline pumping activity one chooses with quick and easy access to camera gear when that next great shot arrives. Brilliant!

Hellman's Mayo with Olive Oil

Hellman's Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil actually appealed to me. When my husband found out his cholesterol was edging higher, the culprit was easy to pinpoint. We don't eat a lot of meat but we enjoy a good bit of tuna and egg salad and several veggie dips that make use of mayonnaise.

 I love olive oil and the health benefits are a bonus. I made two batches of tuna salad, one with our regular brand and one with Hellman's Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil. They were identical in every way. I tasted them and made notes then ran a blind experiment. My husband tried them both.

He picked out the Hellman's right away. We both noticed that it doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the food you mix it with, instead it lets those foods stand out more. What I wanted to see is how it held up. I've used one olive oil mayo product that broke down and became oily.

This held up just as I expected it would. The flavor of the mayonnaise on its own is very mild. The easy use container is great, and works better if you store it in the fridge up-side down. If you are health conscious, love olive oil and are trying to watch your cholesterol, I recommend this product.

Sleep on Tap with Dream Water

The trouble with sleeplessness, is by the time you figure out you need something, it may be too late to take anything for it. Most products require 8 hours to enjoy their full benefit. I occasionally have sleepless nights. I usually know it at 3 or 4 a.m.

We first heard about this on our return trip from Seattle, Washington. We were taking the red-eye home after a wedding reception. We had  Sunday to recover and hit the ground running at work on Monday. No time for jet lag. The gift shop at one airport was passing these out as a sample if you bought one item in their kiosk. My husband and I each bought something, and agreed to take these when we got home at 10 am. Our plan was to sleep all day anyway. We drank them at 10:30 and went to bed. We didn't sleep the whole day, we rose long enough to eat and have a drink and go back to bed. We were very refreshed on Monday, but I wanted to give Dream Water a much better try than overcoming jet lag.

I admit, we are not in the habit of taking sleep products, and we are not on medications that affect our sleep. Usually we are positively impacted by products like this. I recommend the whole 2.5 oz bottle if you are certainly anticipating a big event the next day: new job, taking a test, giving a speech.

Dream Water Snoozeberry Sleep Aid is tasty and fast acting. My husband and I sometimes have very busy schedules and as a result, we find shutting our minds off almost impossible. With Dream Water Snoozeberry Sleep Aid we can drink a partial bottle if we have half a night left to go and get to sleep. Dream Water Snoozeberry Sleep Aid offers refreshing sleep with out any medication hang-over.

Portable Lamp

My husband and I live in a tiny little place and the last thing we want is clutter. When we determined that he needed a bedside lamp , the hunt was on for something that fit in with our eclectic tastes: Art Deco, Seaside Motif and Modern art. 
 When Amazon Vine Program sent it, he squinted at me. 
 "I don't know." he said. 

 We hiked the lamp up the stairs and set it in the room. The shade reminds me of white sharkskin and the metal of the lamp feels heavy. I for one like the undulating lines of the pole and the simple, weighted base is wide enough to set rings, or a watch, and fit easily on the top of a corner bookcase with out overwhelming the entire corner. 

With a 60 watt bulb, it added the right splash of illumination and for us, it's just right for a reading lamp. It fit in with our decor perfectly and he couldn't stop raving about it.

Feed Your Head With MagMind

MagMind has helped me at work in maintaining focus, a sense of calm even in the middle of stressful situations. I notice that when I take it, my nighttime sleep is much deeper and it's easier for me to go back to sleep should I wake.

 I work in an environment where information is tossed around all day, and I feel better able to keep up with others in the office and that multitasking seems easier. It is recommended to take two a day, and on the days that I have obligations that run into the evening, I took the second one around dinner time and again, noticed enhanced focus with out feeling over tired. It helps me maintain a sense of well-being. 

Even though it is a little pricey, we intend to continue taking this product because I personally find it so effective. ADDENDUM: Interestingly, my dreams are also more varied and vivid. After taking this product for several weeks, my husband and I both noticed a different quality to our dreams. A decided left turn, but it hasn't been unpleasant, just notable.

Reading "Brilliance" is like standing on a railway platform and being snatched from it by a runaway train. The book pulls you through every page and doesn't let go until the very end. A breathless ride. Marcus Sakey is astounding. Almost 500 pages of heart-stopping action. Put this on your list of summer's must-read.



I received this book free from the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for my honest opinion.

Look into Lutein

I received my Jarrow Formulas Lutein from the Amazon Vine Program. I spend the better part of a day staring at a computer screen topped off with reading in the evening. Recently I noticed that when I looked up, I wasn't able to see clearly. Also, I found that reading small type was impossible with out assistance. It was as though my field of vision was pixelating. I wear glasses as I have astigmatism in both eyes, but even my glasses were of no help.

 When I saw Jarrow Formulas Lutein, I wanted to give it a try. The soft gels are football shaped and go down easily. There is no unpleasant after taste. With 60 softgels a bottle, I feel it's a good value. At first I didn't notice any change at all.

In the meantime, I shifted to less computer time. After only a few weeks, my eyes do not fatigue as easily, and I can read the small type on this bottles label without much effort. If you suffer from eyestrain you may want to check into this product. I certainly appreciate the difference it made for me.

The Godfather's Daughter

THE GODFATHER'S DAUGHTER by Rita Gigante with Natasha Stoynoff is not another mobster tale. Interestingly, this story picks up where I left off reading The Valachi Papers in the Genovese family, just as Vincent "The Chin" Gigante rises through the ranks to become the Godfather. One of his youngest children, Rita, tells what life was like as a child in the home of one of the most powerful men in New York City.
Her engaging tale is not at all what I would have expected, and seems to be a life filled with heart-sickening surprises. Among her earliest questions was, "What does my dad do for a living?" A question that went largely unasked and unanswered until she was well into her teens. Her own personal evolution was of interest to me as I watched how she went from not being able to speak in truth about the reality of her world to anyone, sometimes because she didn't know, or because of the" unspoken rule" don't ask questions.

I found the family dynamic interesting because, while my family was not connected, they were Catholic as was Gigante's family and there were other parallels I could appreciate. The judgmental attitude of the Catholic church, and living a lifestyle that goes against the grain. I Think it is commendable that Rita Gigante was strong and brave enough not only to pursue her own truth despite brutal beatings, family denials and threats, but that she found her own healing as a result. Although the author and I are far apart on many of her beliefs and ideas, it took a lot of guts to stand up for what she believes, right wrong or otherwise.

 I really don't know what to think of this book. It went in directions that seemed completely unreal to me. I am not comfortable recommending this to anyone. There are f-bombs and other profanities, and toward the end, the author moves into rather sensitive areas about her own sexual identity. I'll give it four stars for just being gutsy. The book on the whole was a relatively quick read for me, and if you are interested in Mafia tales, you might enjoy this unusual one.

 This book was given to me by the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for my opinion.

Primula French Press

I had originally ordered this press at Christmas time and it arrived in less than optimal condition (see original review link below)
Amazon pulled the review, as they should have, because the review mainly covered the shopping aspect and not the product.
I contacted the company directly and pleaded with them to please consider sending me a new unit. They promptly did so, not requiring the original damaged unit to be returned.
Then I dropped the ball. I enjoyed it a few times, put it on a shelf and failed to review it at all.

This week, when our morning coffee was too thin, I said I had a solution. I pulled out the Primula French press and added a few heaping tablespoons of coffee, and poured our still hot pot of weak coffee over the grounds.
I let it steep for about 4 minutes, letting the plunger rest above the floating grounds. At the end of that time,  I depressed the plunger and poured morning coffee. It took less time than re-brewing another pot from scratch. After I woke up, it occurred to me that I hadn't posted the review!

The Primula French Press is easy to use. As with any French Press, you will find some fine grounds in the bottom of your cup. The sturdy construction and thick glass carafe means you will enjoy this product for many years. The stainless steel filter and parts are easy to clean. The handle is large enough for a man's hands for easy pouring. The attractive black plastic frame fits with our decor and the lid has an easy pouring side and to keep the coffee hot a little longer, you can turn the lid to prevent heat loss.

I don't mind leaving it on the table. It makes six cups of coffee or tea. We like the Lady Grey loose leaf and couldn't be happier with the results. I give this item five stars and applaud the customer service department for their fast response.

Expand Your Gardening Season with Cobra

Spring is just around the corner in my neck of the woods and I've already begun dreaming of crisp lettuce, fresh herbs and juicy tomatoes. I got CobraCo Window Planter13 Expandable Window Planter to begin my seedlings long before the last frost. It fits in the standard 4 inch deep window sill and expands up to 24 inches long. The weathered wooden boxes are about 2 and a half inches deep and lined with plastic inserts to keep water from ruining the wood, or dripping on your sill. I'm planning an indoor lettuce garden this year where I can keep a close eye on it. (Take that, you bad rabbits!) And I can also start my tomatoes in it at the same time. CobraCo Window Planter13 Expandable Window Planter is perfect for indoor gardeners and seed starters!