Ellington Home Quilted Mattress Pad & Protector

Get this great product here: Ellington Home Quilted Mattress Pad & Protector

I was in need of a new mattress pad for our master bedroom bed, so I was happy to try out this Ellington Home extra soft mattress pad.  The pad comes in a nice zippered-closure plastic case and I like that there is a sample of the material on a hangtag so I can feel how nice the fabric is before even opening it up.  There is a waterproof layer with a bit of a plasticy feel that goes up against the mattress and the other side is a soft quilted fabric that gives a bit of extra cushion to the mattress.  Having the waterproof layer as part of the pad is a big plus to me, because it means that my expensive mattress is protected from staining from sweat or even if one of our cats chooses to throw up while on our bed (not ideal, but any cat owner knows it’s a possibility!). I really like that this mattress pad is hypoallergenic, forming a barrier across which dust mites and other allergens cannot pass. My husband and I both have fairly severe seasonal and dust allergies, so I’m always looking for good ways to cut down on our allergen exposure and this is a really nice way to limit this exposure while we sleep.

I was quite pleased with how easy the pad is to get on our fairly deep queen sized mattress.  The elastic portion that stretches over the side of the mattress has plenty of stretch and material – it would have easily even fit on a deeper mattress!  With the soft padded portion on top, I cannot feel anything from the plasticy layer when I’m lying on my bed at night (some mattress protectors I’ve found that the waterproof portion can have an uncomfortable texture) – I just feel my comfortable foam mattress, which is exactly what I want.  The stitching and fabric seem to be good quality and quite durable and I’m looking forward to using this for a long time to come.

 

I’m very glad that I was able to order this as a free promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier by Hometek

Get this great product here: Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier by Hometek

During the winters here in the Northeast, the frigid air gets so dry that I find that our whole family has trouble breathing and keeping their skin from chapping, but using a humidifier at night helps make this so much better.  I was looking around for a new humidifier when I came across this Hometek product and I was really intrigued by the design.  The clear pink plastic is really quite pretty, and a totally different look than other humidifiers I’ve used in the past.  While I was concerned that the 2.2 L tank might not have enough water to keep going through the whole night, it turns out my fears were totally unfounded – it goes all night long and is still producing a nice steady stream of cool water mist in the morning!  I’m finding that I actually really like having a smaller humidifier (as compared to some big name brand ones I’ve used previously).  This is small enough that I can put it up on my nightstand, rather than cluttering up the floor next to the bed, and having to refill it every day or two helps make sure that the water isn’t getting stagnant and kind of forces me to rinse it out a bit, so that dirt and such doesn’t build up like it can in larger capacity versions. 

Probably the best thing about the Hometek humidifier, though, is how totally whisper quiet it is!  My husband is very sensitive to low level noises while he’s trying to sleep, so we’ve had issues over the years with some humidifier models being too loud for him.  This one is amazingly silent – I really don’t hear it at all, and it doesn’t affect his sleep patterns at all!

I also really like that the plastic “cap” piece at the top where the mist comes out can be rotated around to any direction.  It has an angled head so that the water mist all pushes towards one direction.  This is really nice so that without having to move the entire humidifier, I can make sure that the mist is pointed directly towards where we are sleeping.

Overall, I’m really pleased with this and expect to use it for a long time to come!

I’m very glad that I was able to order this as a free promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Mycestro, the Wearable Gesture Based Mouse

For more product info, check out this page: http://goo.gl/5Iqk7o

Get this great product here: Mycestro, the Wearable Gesture Based Mouse

Want to enter to win a Mycestro yourself?  Go here to check it out – good luck!
I’ve been dealing with a lot of discomfort and difficulties in my hands and arms on and off for several years and was looking around for alternative mousing devices when I saw the Mycestro. I was really intrigued by the unique design and thought this might be useful since it would use a very different kind of muscle movement than a normal mouse or trackball (and changing up the muscles used can help to prevent repetitive stress injury issues). Now that I’ve had a chance to use this for a while, I’m really impressed and can tell that a lot of thought went into the design and materials used for the Mycestro.

The device itself is quite simple visually. There is a loop on the back made from a flexible material that can easily be belt to mold to the shape and size of my finger so it stays in place securely. I should mention that the Mycestro is specifically designed to be used on either the right or left hand (I have the right hand model) – since the thumb needs to be in contact with the buttons to make it work, it is not reversible (although if they could figure out a way to make it symmetrical for future models, that would be awesome!). There are 3 buttons, which correspond to left click, right click, and double click. On the back of the device is a micro USB port – all I have to do is plug in a micro USB cord (one is included with the Mycestro) and it charges up easily. Another suggestion I would make is that it would be great to have an actual on/off switch or button so that it is not always “on” and draining battery power, even when not in use. The other thing included with the product is a USB dongle which is what connects the Mycestro to my computer, just as you’d expect with a standard wireless mouse or keyboard.

There is definitely a learning curve to using the Mycestro and I would suggest giving yourself some time to get used to how the motion of your hand corresponds to the motion of the cursor. I had an issue where the cursor kept drifting to the right when I wasn’t moving my hand at all. I contacted the seller and they quickly directed me to a document that showed how to recalibrate the device, which immediately solved the issue. Once it was calibrated properly, I quickly figured out how to move the cursor around. Moving my hand slowly causes short, fine movements, while quick hand motions make the cursor move further across the screen. I should mention that the cursor ONLY moves when my thumb is in contact with some part of the buttons. It takes some practice to touch the button area without accidentally clicking the mouse!

It seems at first like it may be awkward to fully use my computer, including the keyboard, with the Mycestro, but in reality it works quite well. The Mycestro is extremely lightweight (only according to my kitchen scale) and covers a small portion of one finger, so it actually is quite possible to use my keyboard normally with it on, although it may take a bit of getting used to and experimenting with exactly where on the finger is best to position the Mycestro.

All in all I’m really happy with this and like having an alternative to the trackpad on my laptop that is less stressful on my hands!

I’m very glad that I was able to order this as a free promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Caring Corners By Hamptons Baby Co.

Get this great product here: Caring Corners By Hamptons Baby Co.

These Caring Corners corner guards by Hampton Baby Company have solved a safety issue that we’ve been dealing with in our house for a long time!  The corner of our kitchen counter passthrough area is quite hard and sharply pointed and this portion of the counter is at a perfect height for our kids (5 and 7) to accidentally hit their heads if they aren’t paying close attention.  We’ve tried a number of different things over time, including getting desperate and taping a cloth over the corner, which of course is not the most attractive.  The Caring Corners are a perfect solution here and they look great too!  The product has three sides, all made of a clear “bubble” like cushiony material.  All I had to do was peel off the three adhesive strips and press the Caring Corner onto the kitchen counter.  I love that I can see the pattern of our countertop through the product – you really hardly even notice them if you’re not looking for it.  Now I know that my kids will be protected if they accidentally bump against the counter!

I’m very glad that I was able to order this at a promotional discount in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Brooklyn Beans Roastery Bold Variety K-Cup Pack

Get Brooklyn Beans Roastery’s coffees here!

Having now tried all four types in the Brooklyn Beans Roastery Bold Variety Pack K-cups, I am really impressed with the quality and flavor of these intense brews.  The pack includes 10 each of French Roast, Cyclone, Espress-O, and Fuhgeddaboutit.  I use K-cups primarily at work, where I have access to a Keurig machine that is available for my department.  I really enjoy the flavor of a good cup of coffee and won’t just drink bad coffee for the caffeine boost.  The K-cups that my work provides are ok, but not the greatest and I often find that I need to add sugar to cut the bitterness.  With every one of the Brooklyn Beans coffees, I am able to enjoy the coffee just on its own unless I’m specifically in the mood for some sweetness, because the roasts are incredibly smooth with no harsh or bitter notes.  I should also mention that these all worked very smoothly with the Keurig machine, fitting in and brewing just as I would expect any other K-cup I’ve tried before.

Let me give my thoughts now about each of the dark roast varieties:

French Roast: This gives a beautiful deep sienna colored cup of coffee with a slightly woodsy aroma.  The woodsy and smoky character definitely comes through in the flavor, but is moderate enough that it is not at all bitter.  It is easy to drink and gives me the boost in the morning that I’m looking for.

Cyclone: The Cyclone brew is a deep, silky brown.  It has some nice woodsy notes and somehow makes me feel like I should be sitting around a campfire!  It has a very nice smooth flavor – a bit more intense I think than the French Roast.

Fughgeddaboutit: First of all I just have to say that I love the name of this coffee – so clever and funny!  This intensely concentrated black coffee has a wonderful bold flavor, yet is still smooth enough to drink on its own.  I enjoyed this one as well with a tiny splash of vanilla creamer.

Express-O:  I think this may be my favorite of the four if I had to choose.  The aroma is fantastic – it really smells like I’m walking into a nice coffee shop where a barista is expertly preparing espresso drinks.  I wouldn’t expect such an intensely deep dark brew to taste so smooth, but really I love just sipping this on its own.  It’s a great treat for a break from work in the afternoon.

All in all it is clear that Brooklyn Beans takes care to use high quality ingredients and methods to deliver a really great cup of coffee!

I’m very glad that I was able to receive this as a free promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser by Emmi’s Essentials with GIVEAWAY

Get this great product here: Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser with Multi-colored Lights by Emmi’s Essential

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I’ve really been enjoying using essential oils since I started building up my personal collection over the last couple months.  They are great to use right on my skin for certain uses, but to really spread those great aromas throughout my home, a diffuser is the best tool.  This Emmi’s Essential diffuser is really a great quality product.  I’m really impressed with how high volume the stream of mist is that comes out of this diffuser instantly when I press the button to turn it on.  Having that fast flow with good power behind it means that the scents are nicely spread around my bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.  I like that they included volume measurements right on the side of the water reservoir, so I can easily tell how much water I’ve put in and when it is at max capacity.  The built in timer is a great feature as well – other diffusers I have just keep going until they run to empty, but I like with this that I can just set it to go for just a half hour if I’m using it as I fall asleep or if I just want to help get rid of some unpleasant scents somewhere in my house.  The colored lights are so much fun and I like that I can use the lights even without the mist being on.  Pressing the light button once starts a beautiful cycle through every color in the rainbow.  When I press it again, it “freezes” on whatever color it currently is on, then a third press turns off the light completely.  It is very easy to use and very sturdily made, so I know that I’ll be using this for a long time to come.  I’m very happy that I was able to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

You can enter to win one of these great Diffusers!  Giveaway is open until May 5!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Living Beatitudes Essential Oil Set

Get this great product here: Living Beatitudes Essential Oil Set

Over just the last couple months I’ve been starting to build up a personal collection of essential oils, and I love using them for everything from stress reduction to healing properties to just making a room smell good.  This set from Living Beatitudes is such a nice addition to the ones I already have.  First of all, it comes in such a lovely box with a protective foam insert inside to keep each bottle safe.  It looks so nice – it would make a fantastic gift!  Inside are four 10 mL bottles: orange oil, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, and pine oil.

I appreciate that all of the bottles have the European style dropper inserts so that its easy to just get out a small amount and I don’t waste these precious oils.  The inside of the box lid also gives really nice descriptions with suggested uses for each oil.  So enough about the box and the bottles…how about what’s inside?  These oils are clearly really great quality.  The scents are so concentrated that a drop or two really goes a long way.

The orange oil smells amazing – like a freshly squeezed orange!  It’s great to help perk up my senses on a tired day or when I’m feeling stressed.  I like a small dab on my wrist or using it in a diffuser.  It also can be used for cleaning, since citrus oils are awesome at degreasing, but I happen to have a larger bottle of lemon oil, so I’ll probably just use the lemon for that purpose.

Eucalyptus is one of my favorite essential oils.  It makes me think back to college – there were ancient eucalyptus trees on campus and when I had a bad cold I would grab some of the fallen leaves, crush them in my hands, and breathe in the aroma.  The essential oil is a lot easier and less messy – no dried leaf crumbs everywhere!  It really is amazing at clearing up my sinuses during cold and flu season or when my allergies are acting up. I also find it awesome for stress relief.  This Living Beatitudes product smells exactly like a real eucalyptus leaf – it’s perfect!

I was really curious for the lemongrass oil.  I love lots of Asian cuisines that use lemongrass, but I wasn’t sure what the aroma is of lemongrass on its own.  It’s hard to exactly explain, but it is wonderfully citrusy and woodsy at the same time.  It is so nice also in my diffuser blended with orange or lemon oil to amp up the citrus note.  I haven’t had a chance to try this for medicinal purposes yet, but am really impressed with the range of things it can be used for, including such things as joint pain, acne, and even to keep insects at bay.

The last one in the set is pine oil.  I can definitely attest that this is concentrated, pure pine oil.  For me, it’s not favorite though because I happen to be allergic to pine and some other tree species!  I still took a small whiff of this and ended up with a small headache – totally my fault!  My husband smelled it as well (a bit more deeply than I was willing to) and further verified that the smell is very authentic.

This whole thing is a great set for experienced essential oils or those looking to get started with a personal collection.  I’m so happy that I was able to order this at a discount in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Toddler Caterpillar Clogs and GIVEAWAY by Clogstrom

Get this great product here: Toddler Caterpillar Clogs Unisex Shoes by Clogstrom

Kids certainly get all the cutest clothes and accessories, and these adorable caterpillar clogs from Clogstrom are no exception. I was so excited when my pair showed up in the mail. The colors are just as vibrant as I hoped from the photos in the Amazon listing. As you can see, I have the green and black striped version (although I must say that picking out a color option with my 4 year old son was quite a challenge since there are so many great choices!). I love the little antennae that stick up in front – such a great, fun detail!

The material seems very sturdy and good quality, with a nice cushioned feel that seems like it would be quite comfortable. I love how easy it is to slip these on and off – anyone with young children knows how stressful it can be getting ready to leave the house, so shoes that are easy to deal with are always a huge plus in my book! I really appreciate that there is the strap which can rotate freely to the most convenient position. For my son, it’s best to have a strap in the back to help hold his foot in, but if your child prefers an open back, the strap can easily rotate forward and blend in with the front part of the caterpillar.

I have the size 8, which seems to fit my son nicely. He has been wearing a size 8.5 sneaker, so there is definitely a bit of extra “wiggle room” in the toe area, which is great for growing kids. Hopefully he won’t keep growing quite TOO fast so he can enjoy these for the whole summer! They are great for walking around outside on the sidewalk or grass and I know they’ll be perfect for our trips to the beach over the summer. I only wish that they came in even larger sizes, as my daughter (wearing a size 11 currently) would love them as well! I’m very happy (and so is my son!) that I was able to receive these as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Would you like to win a pair of these adorable clogs for your favorite little one?  You can choose from any of the colors shown below, and sizes from Little Kid’s 4 to 8.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Bubble Therapy Pure and Natural Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body wash, 3 in 1 by Sweetsation

Get this great product here: Bubble Therapy Pure and Natural Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body wash, 3 in 1 by Sweetsation

For the last few years, I’ve made a really concerted effort to use natural personal care products for myself and my kids whenever possible, especially ones that are free of chemicals like parabens and phthalates that have been shown to possibly disrupt the body’s hormone system. There are a lot of natural bath wash/shampoo products for kids, but I’ve struggled to find good bubble baths that we like, so I was excited to find this Sweetsation product to try. I love the scent of it – it’s not overly strong and doesn’t aggravate my seasonal allergies at all, but has a very pleasant, slightly sweet fragrance. I also really like that it includes calendula, which I’m familiar with from some lotions and healing balms. I felt extra happy using this on my daughter who had scraped her hip badly on the playground, since I knew that the calendula could only be good to help her skin. I really like that the bottle is flat on the top, so I can easily turn it upside down on the counter as it starts to run low to make it easier to get the product out. The only downside to this is that there is no cap to help measure it out when using as bubble bath, but I found that a few good sized squirts did a good job of getting some nice suds in the tub for my kids to both enjoy! My kids loved the bubbles and got clean at the same time – what more can Mom ask? I’m very glad that I had the chance to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

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