Product Review: Blue Sky 2020 Monthly Wall Calendar

 

This is a good spiral-bound wall calendar with oversized blocks that allow you to easily write down appointments, workouts, or whatever you need to keep track of on a daily basis (as long as you are not looking to write a novel on the calendar). 

It is not really good for a desk calendar, although you could use it as one. But it is reasonably priced, and good if you are not interested in, or do not feel the need for, a calendar that has a bunch of pictures.

Product Review: Gya Labs Pure Vanilla Essential Oil

 

I love the scent of Vanilla essential oil but it is (at least in my area) hard to find in regular stores at a reasonable price. I mostly use it in my body wash to give it a vanilla "accent" scent. I just use enough (about 5 drops) to give it a bit of a vanilla scent without it being overpowering. So for my purposes, it works well.

Product Review: New Replacement Remote Control for Toshiba Blu-ray DVD Player

 

I got this when I thought the remote for my player died, and it was the exact same remote for the Toshiba BDK players, but it did not work on mine.  The original remote stopped working, despite the player itself being able to turn on and load discs. This one was not able to turn on or control the player either, so there is a chance that there was an issue with the player itself. The player was never dropped and I made sure the IR sensor was not obstructed, and there was no response to anything from the remote. So I ended up returning the remote and recycling the player.

Product Review: VicTsing 2.4G Wireless Mouse Wireless Optical Laptop Mouse

 

It is a very good, inexpensive, wireless mouse. It takes one AA battery, which is not included. A nice touch is that the wireless sensor that plugs into the computer also plugs into the base of the mouse, so if you use the mouse on multiple computers, you can transport the two together easily without losing the sensor. There are buttons on the side to allow you to page backward and forward in browser pages in one click, which is a nice touch. I definitely recommend it if you want a wireless mouse, and do not want to spend a ton of money for one or do not have a need for a special ergonomic mouse.

Product Review: Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 3ft High Speed with Ethernet 22.28Gbps HDMI 2.0b Cable

 

This is a great inexpensive high-speed HDMI cable. If you do not have a 4k UHD player you do not really need this kind, but if you do, then it will give you a great picture and sound without breaking the bank. Just keep in mind this is a 3-foot cable, so you will need to keep your player relatively close to the TV, projector, or receiver you are plugging this into. But, if you are looking for a high-speed cable, this is a good, inexpensive option.

Supplement Review: Adrenal Support & Cortisol Manager

 

This is a cortisol control supplement that is supposed to help control stress and promote relaxation. If it works for you, it is good to be able to get it through subscribe and save on Amazon. I did not notice any difference while using it though, regardless of whether I took it in the morning, early evening, or right before bed.

App Review: Tubi

 

Tubi is a free streaming service that is a rival to services like Netflix and Hulu. This means you will have to sit through commercials that will randomly pop up during a movie (they do seem to be keyed to natural ad breaks for most of the TV shows, however), and the content is more on the B or C list level. The good thing is that movies are not censored, so you will not have to watch the TV versions of movies. There are some older A-list movies that get sprinkled in, and there are some TV series that they have (such as the reboot of V that aired a handful of years ago now) that I have not seen on other services. 

It is easy to navigate the various categories, and the content does cycle through (there is a category for leaving soon) if you want to watch things that will not be on the service much longer. It is a good option for cord-cutters, especially if you do not want to subscribe to all the paid services out there.

Product Review: Jergens Natural Glow 3-Day Self Tanner for Medium to Deep Skin Tone

 

This is a tanning lotion by Jegens. It does not have an overpowering scent, and provides a gradual darkening, without giving a "fake bake"/orange look. It dries pretty quickly so you are not left feeling slimy after you put it on, and it is pretty good at moisturizing. It is not a huge bottle, just 10 fl Oz, so you may go through it pretty quickly depending on how much you use.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 55

Day 55 was the last day of Phase 2 in 645, which meant doing the cardio workout again. The routine is the same, seven moves back to back, and all are moves that have been done during the program (or slight variations on them). This time they only did three rounds and then a longer cooldown stretch at the end. My cardio is still not great, but it is getting better so the program was challenging. The seal jacks and the plank walkouts definitely wore me out in this workout.

App Review: CBS News

 

This app allows you to watch either archived/on-demand news clips and stories or watch a live feed of CBS News. During the times when some news program is regularly airing on CBS, such as during the evening news or Sunday morning, you can watch it live. On the off-peak times, the "live" feed are top stories that get played on a loop. So, if you just had it playing in the background, the stories are going to be recycled. It does cut in for breaking news or newsworthy press conferences though. So how much of a recycled feel you will get can vary depending on the particular day's news. As others have said, the Fire Stick version can be glitchy. Content-wise, however, it is good, and it does not require a subscription to CBS All Access (now Paramount+) to use it.

Supplement Review: Nutrivein Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules

 

Some people swear by Apple Cider Vinegar to help with anything from weight loss to digestive health. I did not really see any kind of benefit from using it. The capsules are easy to swallow but do have a bit of a vinegar aftertaste if you do not keep drinking water or whatever you use to swallow it after you get them down. If you are one of those people who can swallow pills without water, I would not recommend it for these.

Food Review: Frito Lay Fun-Times Mix

 

This is a good variety of frito-lay vending machine snacks, for much cheaper than you will pay to buy them from a vending machine (if you were to do so every day). You get a couple of varieties of  Doritos, Cheetos, sun chips, sour cream and onion chips, pretzels, and white cheddar popcorn. And, it is available on subscribe and save on Amazon, so you can automatically reorder at whatever interval works for you. This is a good way to snack without overdoing it (assuming you do not eat multiple bags at a time).

Product Review: ACT Restoring Mouthwash

 

It is a smaller bottle of ACT restoring mouthwash. It is good for traveling or taking to an office to use after lunch. It is not overpowering, nor does it burn like some mouthwashes do, because it does not have any alcohol. It is nice to have available as a subscribe and save item on Amazon, because, at least for me, it is easy to run out of because I am not always thinking about picking it up when I go to the store.

Product Review: OneBlade Refills

 

This is a three-pack of refill blades for the Norelco OneBlade. I have very sensitive skin and have tried nearly every razor and blade type imaginable (at least it seems that way) trying to find one that works without giving me ingrown hairs and razor burn. Of everything I have tried, these are by far the best. I love that you can use them wet with shaving cream, or dry. While I still get some razor bumps after shaving, I get far less with these blades than with others I have used. You need the OneBlade unit to use these, so keep that in mind. But I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: Amazon Basic Disinfecting Wipes

 

These are Amazon brand cleaning wipes that are pretty much identical to the name-brand wipes (and more heavy-duty than other off-brand wipes) that you can get at a grocery store or one of the club stores for a comparable cost (or less in some cases). These are the kinds of items that I personally tend to forget to pick up while I am out shopping, so having these available on subscribe and save is very handy. They are definitely worth the pickup.

Product Review: Graphique Marilyn Monroe Wall Calendar - 16-Month 2020 Calendar

 

This 2020 calendar has a great mix of Marilyn Monroe's well-known, iconic shots, such as her dress blowing up over the street grate from the Seven Year Itch promotional shots (although a side view as opposed to the straight-on shot that is the most famous one) with other lesser-known pictures. There are some pictures that even if you get a calendar featuring Marilyn every year, as I do, may still be new to you. 

The calendar has a mix of black and white and color photographs. They are mostly modeling/posed pictures but a few are more candid, behind-the-scenes pictures (to the extent that any of her pictures were not staged). It has all the major US, and some international holidays listed. Definitely worth picking up.

Product Review: Clearasil Acne Control 5in1 Daily Facial Cleansing Pads

 

You get a decent amount of pads (90) for the price, and thankfully they do not sting when you use them as the pads did years ago. They are also available as a subscribe and save item on Amazon which is nice to have so you can have it set to deliver on a consistent basis.

Product Review: Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion

 

This is a large bottle of lotion, so you get a lot for your money. I tend to use it a couple of times per day at my office. It is not actively scented and any natural scent it does have dissipates after a few minutes (if that). It is available as a subscribe and save item on Amazon which I have set to send every six months. If you are one that has issues with dry skin, I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: WELIKERA 12V 100W Cordless Handheld Vacuum

 

This is good for picking up things like when a bunch of cereal falls on the floor, or a plant tips over and you want to get the dirt up. However, it does not have the suction power to be effective on things like stairs and high-traffic areas where dirt may be ground into the carpet or pet hair which may be embedded in the carpet. Basically, it is good to pick up quick surface spills, but that is it.

Product Review: Clorox Spray 2-Pack and Sponges

 

This is a good cleaning product, and the extra sponges that you get with it are an added bonus. The only drawback is that you get one spray head that you have to remove from one bottle when it is empty and put on the second bottle. And, you may (like I did) get a spray head that is defective (the one that came with mine requires me to tip the bottle at a weird angle to get anything to come out and drips all over my hand). It would have been much better if both bottles just had the spray head attached like would be the case if you were to buy it in the store. Aside from that, however, it is a very good cleaner which is great to have as a subscribe-and-save item on Amazon so you can have them delivered at whatever interval works for you..

Product Review: Zout Laundry Stain Remover

 

This is an inexpensive stain remover, that works well to get stains out of clothing, even ones that are dried in. It is more affordable than some of the more well-known name-brand stain removers and it is nice to have as a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can reorder it however regularly you need it. The only thing I do not like about it is that it pours out of the bottle very fast. It would be better with a cap that allows you to control how much comes out more effectively. That aside, it works very well.

Product Review: Febreze Air Freshener and Odor Eliminator Spray, Linen & Sky and Hawaiian Aloha Scents

 

This is a pack of four Fabreeze air fresheners. The Hawaiian Aloha scent is great, and the Linen & Sky scent is okay. They last a decent amount of time, but I like that you can get them auto-delivered through subscribe-and-save on Amazon and have them delivered on a schedule because they are not always something you will remember to grab when out shopping.

Product Review: Hommp 8 Gallon Medium Trash Bags

 

I am not a huge fan of the bright multi-colors, but they fit mid-size cans (such as small cans you would use in a bathroom or bedroom) and are sturdy. And, on Amazon, you can get them on subscribe and save to have them auto-delivered as often as you need (although I think for most people a pack of three should last at least a few months (if not more) so you will probably not need them monthly).

Product Review: WONER Hair Clippers Cordless Rechargeable Hair Trimmers

 

I have used this since 2019 and still have no complaints. It does have several attachments so you can use it without buzzing off all your (or another person's hair). If you do not use an attachment it will basically take you down to stubble. I like the fact that you can remove and clean the blade, unlike some other clippers (especially the inexpensive ones), and eventually replace them if you so desire. 

It takes a couple of hours to charge and seems to hold the charge well. I used it once, and then again a month or so later, and did not have to charge it at all before using it the second time. I definitely recommend it as an inexpensive pair of clippers, especially for those who want to buzz their own hair without paying a salon to do it.

Product Review: MCombo Electric Power Lift Recliner Chair

 

I bought this for my mom when her old recliner broke. She was having trouble getting out of chairs as she gets older, so wanted a power recliner that would help with getting up. This comes in two large boxes, one with the back/headrest and one of the arms, and the other with the base and the other arm. The box with the base is somewhat heavy (in the neighborhood of 88 pounds) and the other one is very light. The chair itself is very easy to put together. The arms and back just slide into place. The instructions are a little light when it comes to describing how to connect the power components, but it is pretty easy to figure out by looking. There is a power pack that connects to a cord under the chair that then plugs into the wall. That powers the chair itself through the remote (which also connects to a cord under the chair). Then there is a separate power pack that will power the two USB ports in the right side panel of the chair. All in all, it takes about 10-15 minutes to put together.

It is fairly comfortable, although not as comfortable as some of the more plush recliners out there. The only drawback is that using the remote is the only way to get the leg rest up and down. You cannot put it down manually, which makes getting out of the chair quickly a bit difficult, especially if you are fully reclined,a nd could get you stuck if the power goes out or the remote accidentally gets unplugged. That said, for a mid-range priced power recliner it is a very good value. I definitely recommend it.