The Path Within - Book ~~~REVIEW~~~

When I started Rose Colored Raindrops, my primary intended focus was to be on the subject of Mental Health.  While I do intend on introducing certain topics focused on a variety of Mental Health topics, as well as my own struggles with depression I have faced, partially as a result of life's circumstances, but also in part due to hormonal changes in my 40's, I have re-directed my focus to product reviews.  In fact, reviewing a variety of products and services has been the activity that has helped me focus on my strengths and win the struggle against sometimes seemingly uncontrollable emotions. Recently, I received the opportunity to review a book called "The Path Wthin," which focuses on many of the mental health challenges I've faced over recent years, and of course, accepting the offer to read and review it for free in exchange for my honest review was a no-brainer.

Having gone from a confident, grounded, secure adult to a completely different person upon reaching my 40's, I looked forward to the opportunity to explore The Path Within.  I was well into the book when, sadly, I misplaced it while traveling a couple of weeks ago.  Nevertheless, I got to a point in the book where I was able to take a deep look into my life, my self, and determine certain actions and behaviors which have led me to my recent depressive state.  The activities are designed to lead the reader to a level of self-reflection that is incredibly therapeutic.  Even though I didn't get the opportunity to finish the book, I was able to experience enough to see why it has received an abundance of rave-reviews.  I recommend this to anyone else who may be facing their own struggles.

Skinny Jane Weight Loss Products ~~~REVIEW~~~

I don't know about you, but as of recently, my weight is completely out of control.  Admittedly, my scale has been on a roller coaster ride throughout the vast majority of my adult years, seeing it's fair share of highs and lows.  However, until I hit my 20's the second time, I NEVER had a problem losing anything I have gained.  Suddenly, however, the word "challenge" took on a brand new meaning when it comes to the battle of the bulge.  One of the biggest challenges I've faced recently, is trying to determine which diet aids work vs. those that are complete gimmicks.  After all, from supplements to shakes, ab crushers to butt blasters, in this day and age, there's virtually hundreds, no maybe thousands, of options!  

The one option I've been wanting to try, however, is so expensive, that I'd actually lose weight starving myself just to afford to pay for it.  Perhaps you've heard of it, though I won't call it out by name.  It touts the abilities of a delicious shake, allegedly packed with tons of beneficial nutrients, designed to help you lose weight and keep it off.  I actually don't doubt it's abilities, as I've known several people who have had an abundance of success with the program.  However, I just can't bring myself to shell out over $100 for nothing but a monthly supply of the product, nothing else.  

Much to my delight, I recently received the opportunity to try a similar product at a discount in exchange for my honest opinions.  It's called Skinny Blend, by Skinny Jane, which works very similarly to the product I mentioned previously, though at a much lower price.  In conjunction with the Skinny Blend shake, I also received the opportunity to try Skinny Burn, a supplement in capsule form, packed with 9 different beneficial ingredients designed to speed up metabolism and boost energy, as well as the safe and effective cleansing product, Skinny Cleanse, which aids in the fat-burning process.  

Skinny Blend Weight Loss Shake - The Skinny Blend Weight Loss Shake comes in 5 different flavors:  Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, Strawberry, and Cookies 'n' Cream.  Personally, I enjoy Vanilla, so I decided to play it safe and selected Vanilla as my flavor of choice.  To say the shake is delicious is an understatement.  The vanilla flavor in the shake is so prominent that I forgot that it had less than 1 gram of sugar and packed full of protein and other ingredients designed to aide in the weight-loss process.  

Skinny Burn - I was initially hesitant to try the Skinny Burn supplements, in fear that they would leave me feeling jittery.  Much to my surprise, however, they sped up my metabolism, helped to burn fat, and reduced my cravings for unhealthy, high-fat, sugary foods without speeding up my heartbeat and/or making me feel nervous and jittery. While remembering the importance of taking my supplements with water was a bit of a challenge, I found it beneficial, as it aided in keeping me hydrated, and eventually reduced my cravings for caffeine, as it eventually became the replacement.

Skinny Cleanse - I've heard a lot about the benefits of a cleanse lately, so I looked forward to trying the Skinny Cleanse capsules.  While I can't say I know exactly how much they contributed to the process, I can say that my body felt significantly healthier by the end of the cleansing period.  Once again, drinking 64 oz. of water started off to be a bit of a challenge, but once I got used to it, I saw and experienced the benefits!

The results?  While I feel that I certainly could have lost more weight using the Skinny Jane products, I can definitely see their benefits.  I admittedly had a difficult time weaning myself off of my favorite highly caffeinated, high-sugar, high-calorie soda.  With that said, had I stopped cold-turkey, or spent more time preparing in advance, I feel that I would have reaped more rewards of the Skinny Jane products.  Nevertheless, I did lose several pounds while following the program, and more importantly, felt abundantly healthier and more energetic.  The taste alone encourages me to continue using the products until I've achieved my weight-loss goals!!

Life Tire Gauge ~~~REVIEW and GIVEAWAY~~~

As a mother of a young adult (although she'll always be my "baby" girl), I am always concerned about the safety of my daughter when she is out and about in her vehicle.  From low tires to car accident, numerous things can happen while traveling.  Mountain Crest Products, however, has taken all of the possibilities into consideration when it comes to the spectacular design of their Life Tire Gauge, perfect for a variety of scenarios.

When I first received the opportunity to receive the Life Tire Gauge for free in exchange for my honest review, I was excited to keep this product for myself.  However, as soon as I received it and took note of all of it's valuable tools, I knew that I would have to give it to my child.  This tire gauge does so much more than just provide a nice, clear, illuminated display, it provides a myriad of tools that could prove to be valuable,  perhaps even life-saving, in some cases.  Packed inside the hand-held tool, you'll find a safety hammer, phillips screwdriver, led flashlight, seatbelt cutter, pliers, tire-thread measuring tool, and more.

Ok, so I'm the person who worries about things that may be impossible, or have a high probability of NOT happening.  Nevertheless, things DO happen, and I'm all about being "proactive" (or, that's my defense).  Take, for instance, the possibility of sliding off of an icy road into a retention pond.  Admittedly, I've never known anyone who that's happened to, but I've read plenty of news stories about such tragic situations.  Knowing exactly how to save yourself in a sinking car is definitely a priority in escaping such a situation, and this Life Tire Gauge, equipped with a window-breaking tool may prove to be extremely helpful in a situation like this.

A more common situation that most of us have probably encountered is losing, or dropping, something in the car at night.  While most cars are equipped with interior lights, they normally don't provide enough illumination to find something that might drop onto the floorboard of the car, or under the seats.  The led flashlight that is attached to this tool may prove to be amazingly helpful in situations like this, providing more than enough illumination to see clearly under the seats of your car, or perhaps even help to read a set of handwritten directions in the dark when trying to find an address.

The possibilities of this tool are actually endless, and to top it off, it does a superb job in measuring the pressure of your tires, of course, which is the primary function that it's designed to accomplish. While Amazon Prime members can order this valuable tool for under $30.00, Mountain Crest Products has given me the opportunity to award one of these spectacular tools to one of my readers. Will it be you?  Maybe so, but first, you have to enter through the Rafflecopter below!!  Good Luck!!!

*This post contains at least one affiliate link.
*Contest open to U.S. only. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Small Bamboo Cutting Board and Serving Tray ~~~REVIEW~~~

As you may recall me previously mentioning, I am the proud owner of 9 different cutting boards of varying shapes and sizes.  While my large cutting boards are reserved for tasks like cutting pork roast, whole chickens, lots of vegetables (we do have a large family, after all), and other big jobs, I don't like to dirty them up for smaller jobs that only need a little bit of space.  With that said, when I received the opportunity to review Practico Kitchen's Small Bamboo Cutting Board and Serving Tray with Juice Groove for free in exchange for my honest review, I was happy to oblige.

To begin, this little board is adorable.  Aesthetics aside, however, how it works is what matters, right? I found this cutting board to be beyond perfection.  It is the perfect size for slicing and serving cheese, cutting tomatoes, slicing potatoes, and other small cutting jobs.  It's made of bamboo, like my favorite large cutting board, which is known for it's long-lasting qualities, and is heavy and durable. The deep groove around the edges is fantastic for catching liquid, and keeping it from spilling onto my counter top.  When I'm finished using it, I don't have to stress about where I'm going to store it, as it is so small, it slides easily into a drawer until I'm ready to use it again!

HealthyWiser pH Test Strips ~~~Review~~~

I never really considered testing my pH levels until I started hearing rumors about the growing popularity of the Alkaline Diet, made popular this year following claims from celebrities like Kelly Ripa and Elle Macpherson, proclaiming it's amazing life-changing results. Actually, before hearing about the Alkaline Diet, I honestly thought pH was only something tested in pool water!!

What is pH? Well, I could go into the long, drawn out, scientific explanation of pH that neither I nor many others completely understand, but I'll keep it basic in regard to what it relates to. pH (which stands for potential hydrogen) in the human body relates to the balance of acid/alkaline/oxygen in the blood. The bottom line, is that it's important to keep a healthy balance in order to maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of certain conditions like bone degeneration, arthritis, nerve conditions, etc. The ideal pH level for the human body is 7.0.

According to the instructions that accompanied my HealthyWiser pH strips, mornings are an ideal time to check pH balance. You can test using urine or saliva. Urine just seemed more of a "normal" way to test as far as I was concerned, so I took that route. My pH levels were ridiculously high, maxing out at the top of the scale. With that said, it encouraged me to look more into the Alkaline Diet, or other ways to create a healthy pH balance within my body, which, hopefully will result in feeling more healthy, less lethargic, and more productive.

I'm still in the exploration phase when it comes to learning about efforts I can make to create healthy pH levels, but I wouldn't be this far if not for the results provided by these strips. I'm very glad that I've received the opportunity to review these for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Digital Tire Pressure Gauge ~~REVIEW~~

I was probably in my early 20's (the first time) when it became apparent that I should ALWAYS keep a tire gauge in my car...ALWAYS.  At one point, I found myself with a flat on a weekly basis, no joke!  There have even been a couple of times when I blew two tires at the same time.  Now, one would think that either a) I'm a horrible driver, or b) someone enjoys tampering with my vehicle, however, neither is true.  Luckily, through the years, my habit of blowing tires has decreased dramatically.  Nevertheless, I still always keep a tire gauge handy.


The tire gauge I have used over the years is one that my grandfather gave me many years ago.  It's just a little gadget that, when placed against the valve stem, will show me the psi.  It's not digital, and personally, though I've been using it for years, I find it a little difficult to read.  Recently, I decided to give up my manual tire-pressure gauge for a digital version.  I have purchased products from Federico's before, so I knew that their digital tire gauge w/lcd display would be just want I was looking for.

Sure enough, it's perfect.  It provides a clear, accurate reading on an illuminated display.  It also has a lighted tip, which makes it much easier to check my tire pressure in the dark.   It's a perfect size, which fits conveniently into my glove compartment when not in use.  The best part is the price, which is affordable enough that nobody really has a reason not to own one of these handy gadgets.

Phone Mount and 3-Port USB Car Charger ***REVIEW***

If you're anything like me, you never have a safe place to put your phone while you're in the car.  I have a little space above my ashtray where I can place things, such as a phone.  However, it never fails, every time I put my phone in there, it randomly slides out as if it has a mind of it's own.  One time, it slid out while someone was adjusting the passenger side seat, and just happened to land in the perfect spot as the seat was coming forward, and... well... that was the end of that cell phone.  Aside from the issue of needing safe storage from my phone, I often find myself with an even bigger problem.  As a family of 5 with various electronic communication devices, we are ALWAYS fighting over the charger.  If we even come up with enough chargers to charge all devices, we can never find enough outlets to plug into.

Lucky for us, the Gxpro 3-port Car Charger and Cell Phone Holder Mount which I received for free in exchange for my honest review was the answer to BOTH of my problems.  The charger, which comes with three charging ports stopped the fighting before it started on a recent road trip, as there are enough ports to charge multiple devices at the same time.  The magnetic car made this package even better.  Initially, I was worried that the mount would be too weak to hold my phone.  However, it held up really well, even on the bumpiest of roads.  The prongs for th emount, however, are a little thick and cracked a small piece of plastic off of the air vent when I attempted to attach it.  Giving benefit of the doubt that I may have pushed a little too hard, I was satisfied overall with the product.

Midori Spring Matcha ****Review*****

If any type of tea is complicated, it's Matcha.  Decided which matcha to drink can be a time-consuming process to those who don't recognize the differences.  After all, your choices range from the different grades: ceremonial, premium and ingredient, to the different types: Koicha and Usucha.  For the sake of this review and the product I received for free in exchange for my honest opinions, we're going to discuss the Ceremonial grade of Matcha today.

Ceremonial grade Matcha, such as the Midori Spring Organic version, is a special treat to those living outside of Japan, as it is often difficult to obtain.  Ceremonial grade Matcha is the highest grade, and often equates to the highest quality and often times, the highest priced.  Midori Spring, however, can be easily ordered through Amazon, and delivers a tasteful, high-quality Matcha at a reasonable price.

I actually love the strong smell of Matcha.  the Midori Spring Organic version was a little stronger than other Matcha's I've tried in the past, but just as delightful, to say the least.  Quite a bit stronger than the other Matcha's I've experienced previously, it admittedly took a few moments to get used to it, but once I did, I was completely satisfied.

I've actually replaced my morning soda with Matcha, and have experienced many positive benefits.  I've found myself having increased energy levels, less stress, and brighter moods.  In fact, the positive benefits have been so fabulous, it's remained a part of my morning routine for several months, though this was my first experience with Matcha from this company.

The company has delivered superb service since I became their customer.  They've checked in on me several times via e-mail just to ensure I was a fully satisfied customer.  I found this very impressive, as a company who sells a product in a competitive marketplace has plenty of reasons to fear their business might be snagged by a competitor.  As far as I'm concerned, however, the over-and-above customer service efforts from this company has sealed the deal in regard to where my loyalties lie.

TrueSol Colon Detox REVIEW

Hello my precious rosy rain-droplings!  I'm going to keep this review extra short and sweet, as it's late and I have a million things to do before turning in for the night.  Before I get into the review of this product, I know that colon cleansing comes in many forms, and this is the first I've tried.  With that said, I'd love to hear from you.  Have you ever tried a colon cleanse, and if so... what method did you use (juice cleanse, supplements, etc) and how successful was it for you?  I would love to hear in the comments below.

I recently had the opportunity to try TrueSol Nutrition's Colon Detox supplements for free in exchange for my honest review.  I was admittedly a little hesitant, but after receiving the opportunity, I decided to give it a shot.  I have never tried a colon cleanse in any form in the past.  However, I've heard quite a bit about the benefits of doing so.  Once I hit 20 the second time (which you may have noticed my references in the past, as my 20's are just a never-ending cycle... or at least, will end in 20-something), I finally understood what everyone was talking about in my younger years when I stayed out all hours of the night, and ate like there was no tomorrow.  I would often hear the phrase, "that WILL catch up with you one day."  All I can really say is yes, many middle-of-the-night pizza, burrito's, and white castles later, I do... I completely understand.  Ridding my body of all of the toxins of years of abuse was much-needed, and colon cleanse really did the trick, and then some.  I've recently tried several different weight-loss remedies/supplements to no avail.  However, after using the colon cleanse, I dropped several pounds.  While it's true the effectiveness/necessity of colon cleanses has been a debatable topic among many medical professionals, one truly won't recognize the significant change that results from doing so, until they try a product like this.  Well worth it!

LG G4 Tempered Glass Screen Protector *REVIEW and GIVEAWAY*

My story is a common one, actually. It goes a little something like this...

• Girl gets fancy-schmancy smartphone. 
• Girl drops fancy-schmancy smartphone, in the toilet. 
• Fancy-schmancy smartphone is now a fancy-schmancy paperweight that smells like soap and sanitizer. 
• Girl decides she's probably not quite ready for a fancy-schmancy cell phone, or the bill that comes along with it, so girl goes back to boring old flip phone. 

****Fast-forward to a year, or two, later....

• Girl decides she needs fancy-schmancy smartphone back in her life. 
• Girl finds great deal and snags herself a new fancy-schmancy smartphone. 
• One week later, girl's husband drops fancy-schmancy smartphone and fancy-schmancy smartphone imprint can still be seen on back of girl's husband's head. 
• Girl decides it's not worth the money to replace, as cellphone carrier insurance plans are now not insurance plans as we once knew them, but only discount plans in case you drop, drown, or destroy your fancy-schmancy cellphone. With that said, girl decides to forego fancy-shmancy replacement phone. 

 ****Fast-forward to the next year....

• Girl saves up some extra money and decides she'll try fancy-schmancy smartphone yet again.
• Girl gets an awesome new LG G3 and loves it.
• One week later, girl puts awesome new LG G3 in her lap on her way to work.
• Girl needs caffeine in order to complete the drive.
• Girl gets out of vehicle, forgetting that awesome new LG G3 is in lap.
• Girl hears *SMACK* on ground
• R.I.P. awesome new LG G3
• Girl is over it.  

Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imagesbywestfall/5093910979/">greg westfall.</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY</a>

****Fast-forward to a few months later....

• Girl finds spectacular deal on awesome(r) LG G4.  
• Carrier agrees to buy out old contract and the formerly known as awesome LG G3 phone, even though it's demolished.
• Girl is now the proud owner of a spectacularly awesome LG G4 with awesome features, like a 16 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, 32 GB memory, 4G technology, long-lasting battery and more.  
• Girl gets offer to try Loroc'e LG G4 Tempered Glass Screen Protector at a huge discount in exchange for an honest review. 
• It's a no-brainer, girl gladly accepts offer.
• Girl orders her new screen protector from Amazon, receives it, applies it perfectly by following the easy-to-read guide which accompanies the product.
• Girl has dropped her spectacularly awesome LG G4 multiple times since receiving.
• Girl's spectacularly awesome LG G4 has been saved from harm multiple times as a result of the Loroc'e LG G4 Tempered Glass Screen Protector. 
• Girl has learned her lesson.

Has this ever happened to you?  Chances are, you've dropped your cell phone at least once, and may or may not had the misfortune of destroying it as a result.  I'm glad to announce, however, that you, too, can experience the LG G4 Screen Protector at the BEST discount ever.... FREE!  That's right, I've been given the opportunity to share this wonderful product with 3 of my readers!  Don't be "that girl" (or guy)... Take the opportunity to enter the rafflecopter below and protect your precious phone!

*Open to U.S. only


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love It! Stainless Steel Tweezers ~~~REVIEW~~~

I was recently invited to try the Love It! Stainless Steel Precision Tweezer Kit for free in exchange for my honest review.  On the day I received my new tweezer kit, I was preparing to go out with a few friends for my birthday.  Occasions such as this are normally the only times I paint my fingernails and toenails, color my hair, pluck my eyebrows and apply fake eyelashes.  With that said, my kit came at the perfect time!  I had actually purchased a set of fake eyelashes earlier that day, and the tweezers that came with them were impossible to use.  They were way to think and difficult to apply the lashes in the right place.  My tweezer set, however, came with a small, pointed set of tweezers that worked perfectly to hold my lashes as I placed them carefully along the base of my lash line.  The pointed tweezers will definitely get the most use as far as I'm concerned, but the other two, with larger tips will come in handy for a variety of tasks.

Sunsella Vegetable Steamer ~~REVIEW~~

Every year, I vow to learn how to garden.  I would love to grow my own fresh veggies (especially juicy, delicious tomatoes) as well as bright, colorful blooming flowers.  Every year, however, I fail. With that said, I once again, did not achieve my goal in 2015.  Nevertheless, there's always next year.  This year, however, my neighbor decided to come to my door and introduce herself, along with a huge gift from her garden.  She brought a big bag filled with cucumbers and tomatoes.  She also brought a bag full of long beans.  

Prior to this, I had actually never heard of long beans.  As I searched for ways to cook them, I learned they can also be referred to as "snake beans" and "asparagus beans".  I'll stick with "long beans"; Chinese long beans to be exact.  Lucky for me, she brought them over just in time, as I had just received my Sunsella Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer that I recently received the opportunity to try for free in exchange for my honest review.  What a perfect way to put it to use!  While I still really didn't know how to cook them, there was no time like the present to learn!

If you've never tried long beans, you're missing out on quite a treat.  They have a delicious flavor, with or without a lot of seasoning.  We love heavy seasonings in my home, so needless to say, we used them.  However, I tried the long beans prior to seasoning and was quite amazed by their taste.  They cooked up quickly in my new vegetable steamer, which conveniently, is designed to fit inside a variety of different sized pots. When I removed them after about 10 to 15 minutes of steaming, my veggies were perfectly cooked and again, amazingly delicious!  When I was done with my steamer, I was able to throw it into a drawer until I use it again, as it collapses to the size of a small bowl for easy storage.  

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Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter ~~REVIEW~~

I was only 36 years old when I had a heart attack.  Overall, I was the epitome of good health.  Slightly overweight at the time, but no health issues to speak of.  My blood pressure was consistently a perfect 120/80, No high/low cholesterol issues, no chronic illnesses, and I rarely fell sick as a result of a cough, cold, etc.

At the time I had the heart attack, my job was about an hour commute from my home.  With a work schedule beginning at 7:00 in the morning and ending anywhere between 7:00 and 9:00 in the evening and 4 kids to take care of at home, I didn't get too much sleep.  However, in my opinion, I didn't need much.  On the morning of the heart attack, I woke up to a strange, and oddly painful sensation in the upper half of my arm.  Soon after, I began experiencing terrible stomach cramps.  In fact, I didn't feel pains nearly as bad when I went into labor with any of my 4 children.  Convinced it would pass, however, I continued getting ready for work.  As I drove to work on that very cold morning in November, I realized that my arm, which was now slightly numb, was not warming up as the rest of my body adjusted to the 80 degree heat pouring out of the vents in my car.  I placed my cold hand in front of one of the vents, and while I could "feel" the heat, it wasn't really warming up my hand at all.  I felt this was strange, but kept driving.  By the time I arrived at work, I felt much better.  However, one of my co-workers suggested I just stop in at a hospital or clinic and get checked out.  If it weren't for the fact that my job was physically demanding, I probably would have ignored his advice.  However, my job site that day happened to be located just across the street from a hospital, so I decided to pop in so that I could receive confirmation (and a large bill) that I was just stressing myself out, but ok.  When the doctor walked into the room and explained I had experienced a heart attack, likely as a result of a lack of oxygen to my heart, I burst into tears (thinking the worst, of course...).  Lucky for me, it was one of those fluke things that happens to about 1% of those struck with a heart attack (a statistic that fits me well), and there was no lasting damage, nor did I have any health concerns that require long-term maintenance.  Nevertheless, it opened my eyes to the many steps I can take to prevent something worse should I ever experience this again.

One of the items I have recently had the opportunity to review free in exchange for my honest review was Easy @ Home's Fingertip Pulse Oximeter.  While having one of these may not have changed the circumstances that morning, it could a) provided important cues and clues leading up to the event, and/or b) saved my life had I decided to be stubborn and not check the situation out further (which is really classic "me"... I just happened to listen to that inner voice that morning).  

I was sincerely impressed with this pulse oximeter, which depicts high-quality design, and came with a nice carrying case with a neck/wrist cord attached.  The led display is extremely clear, accurate, and easy-to-read.  It comes with two AAA batteries and has a power-save function that will automatically shut it off if not receiving a signal within 5 seconds.

If you're not sure how a pulse oximeter may be able to benefit you, you may be interested in checking out these suggested uses of pulse oximeters as suggested by Healthcare4Home.

*This post may contain affiliate link(s)

Bait and Switch - Book ~~REVIEW~~

Are you ready to get lost in a new book? What is you're favorite type to book to read? If you're answer to the first question was "yes," and the second revolves around anything that might be full of drama, suspense and emotion to the most realistic degree, then "Bait and Switch: Life with a Two-Faced Narcissist" by Lisa Carlson is a must-read.

Lisa's story is one that thousands of women may be able to relate to. It tells a story of a woman madly in love, only to find she didn't marry the same man she fell in love with. It dives deep into the reality of a relationship with a classic narcissist. Readers who have experienced such abuse will surely find themselves emotionally attached to each and every scenario as it unfolds, while those who haven't will gain a new understanding of the severity of such relationships. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll find yourself ridden with rage at times, and finally, you'll celebrate as Lisa finds herself on a new path, free from the captivity of abuse.

I just had a conversation this evening about this book with a good friend, which led me to completing this review. My friend wanted to borrow my copy, but I love it so much, I don't want to part ways with it, so I'm actually buying her a copy of her own!! :)  I received my copy free in exchange for my honest review.  *This post contains affiliate link(s)

Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer ****REVIEW****

I recently received my Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer for free in exchange for my honest review. We are a family who rarely eats out, and cooks at home 99 percent of the time. With that said, without a thermometer, food can easily end up under-cooked, over-cooked, or spoiled. The first thing I noticed about the thermometer after it arrived was that it is very lightweight. My first thought was, "This thing is NOT going to work." I can admit when I'm wrong... and I was wrong. It actually works great! While I would enjoy an illuminated display (as one's eyes just aren't as great at age 22 the second time around), the display is large and easy-to-read. The speed of the results is amazing. I was able to get an accurate reading within seconds! The fact that the probe can be folded into the base when not in use makes it really easy to store the thermometer. Furthermore, it can easily be stored in the box that it came in, which can easily slide into a drawer or small space. For those (like me) who really don't know what temperature different meats should be, there is also a handy temperature guide that accompanies the thermometer, which I now have affixed to my fridge. This thermometer is definitely a great value, and would also make a great gift for the upcoming holidays, should you know someone who spends an abundance of time in their kitchen!

*This post contains affiliate link(s)

Extra Large Bamboo Wooden Cutting Board REVIEW

I have 9 different cutting boards.  I have one for fruits, one for veggies, a board especially for seafood and a separate board for chicken, and one for beef.  My favorite cutting board(s), however, have always been my extra-large wooden cutting boards.  Sadly, the first two wooden boards I purchased split in half soon after buying them.  I didn't do anything specific to cause them to break, but they just weren't that durable.  Soon after losing my last wooden cutting as a result of splitting in half, I received the opportunity to review an
Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board at a discount from Alton Bay Bamboo.

I was really impressed with this cutting board.  The first thing I noticed was how heavy it was.  I could instantly tell that I would get so much more longevity out of this board than the ones I have owned in the past.  I don't expect this board to split any time soon.  This board also has a nice-sized groove embedded into the outer edges of the board, designed to catch any liquids before they run off of the board.

Cleaning my wooden cutting board is easy.  In addition to wiping it down with a warm, soapy cloth and rinsing with water, I like to scrub it with a fresh lemon and course sea salt mixture, which will keep it fresh.

Kick Mat Back Seat Protector ~~~REVIEW~~~

At one point in time, I vowed to buy nothing "new" until my children up.  Why?  Because it seemed as if everything I bought was quickly destroyed within a very short time frame.  Not that they do it intentionally, but kids have a way of making messes.  While many messes can be cleaned up, there are some that might leave more permanent, or harder-to-repair damage.

Throughout my journey as a parent, I have only bought one "brand new" vehicle.  With 4 small children at the time, it seemed as if I spent more time worrying about trash in the doors, smudges on the windows, scratches on the paint and foot prints on the backs of the seat than I did actually enjoying my nice ride.  After that experience, I decided I wouldn't buy "new" again for a very, long time.  It just wasn't worth the stress and worry.  If only I had discovered the "Kick Mat Back Seat Protector" back then.  

While it won't clean up trash or smudges, or clean up trash or repair scratches, this set of 2 seat protectors will protect the backs of your seat from the damage often caused by little feet.  These extra large seat protectors are easy to install over the headrest of nearly any vehicle.  They are super durable, and best of all, easy to clean up when they get dirty, unlike the backs of many cloth-covered seats.  

I have enjoyed the rides with my children so much more since receiving these kick mats, knowing that when they may get a little rambunctious during a ride, their feet won't be destroying the backs of my seats.  In fact, I have found these so convenient, that I've decided to order a couple for a couple of my friends with small children and nice cars as gifts for the holidays this year.  I received my set of seat protectors free in exchange for my honest review.  

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