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.

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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!

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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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