Review: Comfy Solutions Down Alternative Pillows

These pillows are quite frankly, the best I’ve slept on in a long time.

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Well, I just woke up from what has to have been the best nap I’ve had in a long, long time. Bottom line, the pillows you choose make or break a good nap and I’ve learned that the hard way. Unfortunately, if I would have realized it a lot sooner, I would have purchased these pillows on my own instead of at a discount in exchange for an honest review. When I get an item for review I never guarantee a positive review and will only post as such if I honestly feel the product meets my standards and the overall product description. I wanted to write the disclaimer first to explain to you how dead serious I am about these pillows.

For what I received today; two shrink-wrapped compressed pillows, I am wildly impressed. The pillows were wrapped up and boxed in an allergen reducing fashion and one that made for easy shipping. I loved this. It screams of a company that cares about their products. When I opened the box I thought, “how could there possibly be two pillows in here” but they quickly expanded into fluffy bundles of soft down alternative. Now, I love the scrunchability of down pillows, but I don’t like the feathers and the fact that down pillows make me itch. These pillows are marketed as firm, but they are really soft compared to the “rocks” I had been sleeping on. As a side sleeper, I love scrunching up my pillows, but the cheap ones from Walmart or even Kohl’s would lose their shape and take on a dense texture. These pillows are easily scrunched up, but fluff back up and smooth out nicely. They went right back to their original state.

Overall, I am looking into purchasing more of these hypoallergenic pillows and I will not be handing one of them over to my boyfriend as I had originally promised. I may be mean, but they are too nice to share. Two of them together make the perfect resting place for my head and I woke up feeling refreshed. I actually did not want to get out of bed I was so comfortable, and that hasn’t happened in a long time. I am looking forward to many more soothing and restful nights with these pillows. Sweet dreams!

Please Note: I received this deeply discounted product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Pratico Stainless Steel Cups

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These stainless steel cups were a huge hit with my boyfriend. He loves using them for smoothies and ice cold sodas. They keep the drinks colder for longer, like cans would, minus the actual can. It turns out that he prefers the metal construction, but cans of soda can get expensive when there is no sales going on. I wanted to review these in a last ditch effort to keep him from wasting a ton of money on canned soda when bottles were cheaper.

These stainless steel cups have become “his cups” for at home use and he uses them for every beverage he consumes. I like that it came in a two pack, but would have ultimately preferred a four pack. Either way, they are well constructed, durable, and worth the investment. These cups will be around for a long, long time. In the time span that he’s been using them and with hard use, they have not dented or scratched in the least. I like that there is a lip on the outside of the cup. These would be perfect for camping as I remember having similar, less durable cups in my days as a girl scout.

If you have the extra room in your gear, these cups are well worth every penny. They are a little on the small side for his at home use, but it is still a pretty standard size. They are currently being sold as a five pack, so they will set you back a little bit more than the two pack would have for me, but I think five is a more reasonable quantity for these cups.

Please Note: I received this complimentary product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Review: RTGS LED Micro String Lights

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These LED lights are bright and I loved all the colors they came in. They are a little on the expensive side, but they are waterproof and have timers built in so you can use them outside and at night. The battery compartment takes three AA batteries, so these pack a serious punch. I received four colors (blue, pink, green, and red) and they all look super nice when lighting up my purple glass vase with some silk flowers in it.

These will be perfect for the holiday season, when I am looking at purchasing a tiny tree and want to have some sort of lights on it. These fairy lights fit into vases and bowls and look very nice in many different applications. The battery compartment, as it takes three AA batteries is a little too large to fit in my vase, but the attaching cord is long enough to hide behind the vase and still have all of the string lights inside. Maybe a good twelve inches of extra cording from the battery pack to the first light. The batter pack has a hole in it for hanging and these would look very nice back lighting a picture or frame on a wall.

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I was a little concerned about the wires being durable because they are so thin, but they seem fairly durable. As an added bonus, the seller on Amazon has a wide variety of colors and lengths for all their string lights. They look lovely and are great for craft projects.

Please Note: I received these complimentary products in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Sentey X360 Amplitude Earbuds

I originally ordered these earphones for myself when the opportunity to try them out came up. However, I decided that they should really go to my boyfriend as he needed a new pair of earphones. When they arrived, he immediately wandered off to the bedroom with them to watch a movie and try them out. These earphones are much, much louder than his previous pairs. He had been using poor quality Walmart earbuds, or a pair that I had gotten for free, and they always wind up destroyed and he’s then dishing out another ten dollars for another crappy pair in stores. He is always using earphones on the go and at home. He likes earphones with built in mics so he can answer calls on the go as well. He says these earbuds have “good bass, no distortion, good volume, and a comfy fit.” When I tried these earbuds myself, I have to agree that it does have great bass and a very crisp sound for percussion and sound effects.

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These earphones do not appear to have a gold plated jack like the box states, but the jack’s housing is larger than typical and looks pretty strong. It fits into his phone with the case on securely, but it wouldn’t fit into mine with my phone case on. It seems these earbuds work with certain cases and not others. The earphone piece itself isn’t as bulky or stick out as far as other earphones we’ve tried, and my boyfriend is very, very picky about this kind of quality. We did our usual test to see if I could detect any sound when he used them. While they were much louder to me and I heard sound loudly (the volume was turned all the way up), he couldn’t hear anything I said, so while other people can hear them, the user can’t hear any outside noise. To him, that is the true mark of a good quality set of earphones.
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These earphones are definitely worth the price; especially with the built in mic. My boyfriend was often paying a similar price for earphones, without the mic, at gas stations, when he needed a fast replacement. I would buy these again.

Please Note: I received this deeply discounted product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Magnesium Ease

According to WebMD, magnesium, responsible for regulating many functions of the human body, is fairly easy to come by. However, the standard American diet yields poor rates of mineral and vitamin absorption through diet alone. Magnesium also affects the inflammatory fighting response of the body, which lowers the risk of major chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. It can help prevent high blood pressure in those with prehypertension and prevents complications in pregnancy. So why doesn’t magnesium get more credit? Severe magnesium deficiencies are rare, but it is still possible to feel the effects of lowered magnesium levels.

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Magnesium Ease is the easiest form of magnesium delivery that I have found yet. I soak in epsom salt baths regularly, but find the effectiveness of this treatment requires a lot of repeated bathings. I use Magnesium Ease in between salt baths to keep my inflammatory responses down. However, it does sting quite a bit on dry or irritated skin as the magnesium chloride battles the bacteria, though only temporary. My problematic skin, from acne to psoriasis, is not as inflamed or irritated with magnesium treatments. The palms of my hands are actually almost back to looking normal.

My blood pressure has also dropped quite dramatically and rapidly; at least 10-20 points on the systolic and 10 points on the diastolic. My blood pressure, which I have to take medication for, was stuck in the prehypertension stages for years. Now I am delighted to report that it is back in the normal, healthy range. My blood pressure has been stabilized solely due to topical magnesium; I have not changed any other part of my routine, diet, or weight. My anxiety has been greatly lessened, again without change to any existing routine factors. And no more headaches or body aches! I had been battling chronic migraines, headaches, and body aches for the last four months and I am happy to report that they have been greatly diminished or even nonexistent. I used this product after hauling several bundles of newspaper and mailer inserts into and out of the back of a delivery van, something which usually has me crying in pain after I’m finished. I was able to get right to sleep and, when I woke up, I wasn’t in any pain. It was quite remarkable to me.

I am in awe over how effective this product has been for me. I’ve gotten my life back and I feel so much better than where I was a few months ago. I am sleeping better and am happier with each passing day. I also like that this topical form of magnesium is pretty safe and, while is doesn’t beat a diet rich in magnesium, even a few sprays can make a difference.This topical form absorbs quickly, provided the layer is thin enough, and I like the spray application. You can feel the textural difference of this spray against your skin, it applies like water, but is ever so slightly slick or even sticky while drying. This bottle will last me a long time and, if you’re looking for convenience without the time consuming bathing, I think the price you pay for this product is well worth it. I would certainly purchase it again when I run out.

Please Note: I received this deeply discounted product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Oleavine Therapeutic Soap

Whatever you do, don’t get this Oleavine Therapeutic Soap in your eyes. Like I did. The first time I opened the bottle. Unless you want to hiss “oh, no, dear God; it burns!” But in all seriousness, I love the refreshing tingle of the tea tree oil and neem oil against my skin. This soap is packed full of delightful natural oils and has a unique medicinal quality to it.

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After a hard night of work, in the heat of Summer, it’s easy to feel all sweaty and gross. Upon the first use, I found that my skin had the feeling of being cleansed, but not really moisturized. I would recommend applying an all-natural moisturizing lotion after using this soap. It did a great job keeping me fresh and smelling great throughout the night, until I could get in another shower or bath. It doesn’t lather like a chemical laden soap, but it does produce a decent amount of lather, regardless. It is more like a liquid rather than the gel form other body washes take. I didn’t really use it solely as a foot soak because I bathe pretty frequently, but it’s good at treating foot odors and dry, itchy skin as well.  I wish I could show you the transformation of my hands with the combination of natural products that I’ve been using, but sadly, I didn’t get before and after photos. Let’s just say that my biggest problem area, my hands, have ceased to be a problem. I feel confident again.

Here are some of the perks of this product:

  • Natural & Organic Ingredients
  • No Synthetic Fragrances
  • Preservative Free
  • Paraben Free
  • Sulfate Free

I liked the dark green bottle. It made me feel like the company cares about their products to take the time to package them well. It is no secret that dark bottles, which don’t let light through, protect the efficacy of natural essential oils. This soap is also sold on Amazon, if you want to check out their listing. Right now, they only have mint scented, but both eucalyptus and lavender options are coming soon, so keep an eye out for them. The sales price isn’t too bad; still a little high for my tastes, but for what you get, I would buy it again. I am most interested in the lavender scent coming out soon. It comes in a 12-ounce bottle, which doesn’t seem like much, but a little bit goes a long way.

Please Note: I received this complimentary product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Eye Snug Sleep Mask Set

Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day is easily the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with in a long time. My nerves were shot because I was riddled with bouts of insomnia. I was irritable and angry; seemingly for no reason at all.Turns out is was a lack of sleep, and I knew I had to do something. It was either expensive black out shades or a sleep mask. I opted for a sleep mask because I still like sunlight coming through the window, however, finding the right one was proving to be a challenge. I have tried at least half a dozen sleep options, from prescription medications and melatonin supplements, to sleep masks, and even covering my head with a blanket or pillow. It all ended badly; especially the junky sleep masks and prescription medications. And don’t even get me started on the blanket wrapped around my head. Melatonin did nothing and I discontinued it because the sunlight disrupted its effectiveness. Needless to say, I had run out of options and I was exhausted. That’s when I spotted this campaign and said, what the heck, there’s nothing left to lose.

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This is, hands-down, the best sleep mask I’ve ever had; and it even comes in a two pack! I fell in love with its contoured shape and adjustable, velcro head band. The portion of the mask that covers your eyes has pockets allowing for REM movement and is padded, allowing next to no light though it. These pockets, as far as I’m concerned, are the best feature! I don’t like face masks that are too tight and I don’t like things pressing against my eyelids as I’m trying to sleep. I can open my eyes completely with this mask on and not have anything pressing against them or brushing at my eyelashes. The bridge of the nose pad is also contoured and allows for no light seepage. Huzzah! Finally, a solution that blocked out the sunlight completely so my body could shut down properly.

As an added perk, it comes in a two pack, with ear plugs, so you can sleep anywhere; anytime. I haven’t decided if I will keep the second one to myself or give it away. There is a new coworker of my boyfriend’s who just recently switched from a day schedule and I am thinking about giving it to him. Last night, he said he got three hours of sleep before the sunlight woke him and then he was wide awake the rest of the day and felt exhausted that night. Seeing as how I’ve been there, way too recently I might add, I am seriously considering sharing. I can easily recommend these eye masks to anyone suffering through sleepless days and difficult, overnight shifts. And they are at a great price, as well. On sale, they are well worth the money you’ll save on supplements, prescriptions, and junky, flat eye masks.

Please Note: I received this complimentary product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Woodlands Tungsten Camo Ring

My first impression of Antler Rings’ Tungsten Hideaway Woodlands Camo Ring was that it was a very heavy and well made piece. The colors are bright, the resin looks great, and it arrived in perfect condition. Like the other rings I have received, it arrived in a little plastic bag and I would have been even more delighted if it had arrived in a nice little cardboard box. However, any photos of this ring really do not do it justice; it is a really nice piece of jewelry.

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This is a better make of their camo rings as opposed to the surgical steel ones. The price reflects the difference. The metal is shinier and it looks better. The resin and metal haven’t scratched with light use. It fits his finger well and looks great. It sits like a men’s ring and I don’t think I would have purchased it for myself, because it is thicker and heavier than what I’m used to, but it can be used as a women’s ring. I think that, should I purchase another ring from this company, that I will opt for a ring made of tungsten carbide steel, like this one, but with a smaller band. The edges are beveled and the camo pattern has a good balance of colors and details. Their camo patterns are encased in resin, making it waterproof and this was an all-around decent product for my boyfriend, who likes rustic, forest themed items.

I would wait until this ring goes on sale, as I have seen it at times. It is a good deal made even better at a discounted price.

Please Note: I received this deeply discounted product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: 3-in-1 Veggie Spiralizer by Kuuk

When it comes to kitchen gadgetry, everyone knows I am a big fan. Anything to make working in the kitchen fun and efficient is right up my alley. When I was accepted to review this Kuuk 3-in-1 Veggie Spiralizer, I already had a few ideas of what to make with it, but I wasn’t aware of just how much you can do with it and the variety of veggies (and even fruits) it can shred, chip, and spiralize. Make apple ribbons for a fun decoration, or potato spirals for curly fries or potato chips, or even cucumber chips for a delicious, cold summer salad! There is so much you can do with this handy machine!

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I am simply stunned by what a couple cuts on the veggie can do before spiralizing. You don’t even have to cut into the veggie very far before you place it in the device and start slicing. The blades are sharp enough to go through any veggie or fruit you can think of that is firm enough to go through it! So far, I’ve used this gadget on potatoes and I was so completely thrilled when I found out that the thickness of the blade allows for slicing potatoes that would be perfect for potato chips! I remember back to my teenage years, when my mom would bake homemade potato chips in the oven. Those delicious bits of salty, satisfying goodness were a healthy, non-fat laden snack the whole family could enjoy. As an adult, I can make my own potato chips to enjoy with my family.2015-07-23 17.05.48

2015-07-23 17.11.40I wish there was a blade attachment kit sold separately so that I could get more blade options. I’d like to see a greater range of spiral options. While the potato ribbons are satisfying, they aren’t exactly thick enough for curly fries, in my opinion. The shredders work great, though I did have a problem with the chipper jamming up a bit. If I chipped a potato in a slower fashion and applied a bit more pressure, the blades worked better and didn’t jam up. I attribute this issue to user error and I am still thrilled to have this gadget in my culinary arsenal.

For the current price of $19.95, it is an incredible deal for what you get. I’m sure most other machines like this would cost so much more in stores. It really is amazing and I’ve seen competitor’s similar products on Amazon go for much more than this.

Please Note: I received this complimentary product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Lift Care Lemon 5X Extra-Strength Essential Oil

Essential oil has been an interest of mine for years. The scents have been relaxing, energizing, or even cleansing. I remember first discovering essential oils with my mom’s encouragement and aid, in high school. Aromatherapy has proven itself time and time again as a way to improve my concentration, get rid of headaches, and improve my overall mood. A world without essential oils is a world I really don’t want to be in.

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This extra-strength lemon oil from Lift Care is a perfect addition to my sparse, but growing collection of essential and carrier oils. It smells true to form because of its cold-pressed state. It is a clean, savory, and enjoyable fragrance that is very powerful if not diluted properly. My first experiment after receiving this oil, was to add it to my diffuser along with Lavender oil. One drop was all it took to get plenty of that lemon scent mixed in; and I’m so glad I added it. It is a clean fragrance, akin to some really expensive candles I’ve had. I love the combination of lemon and lavender for it’s fresh and relaxing scent. (Please Note: not all diffusers are compatible with citrus essential oils because it breaks down the plastic.) This oil smells strong, but when diluted, it mellows out and smells even more like fresh lemons. This oil is made from fresh lemon rinds, after all.

This lemon oil will be the perfect additive cleaning agent when I scrub the shower with baking soda and vinegar. With all its added antibacterial/disinfectant properties, I have read that it can also be used as an astringent or toner, but I am concerned about applying this oil directly to my face because I have very sensitive skin that doesn’t agree with all essential oils. However, a very diluted formula might be in the works at some point in the near future.  If used topically, sun exposure should be avoided because it can cause burns. For now, I am quite content to experiment with this oil in aromatherapy and will be making a clarifying room spray in the days to come. The scent is energizing and makes me feel content.

This product is an exceedingly great value at $12.00 on Amazon at the moment! All it takes is a little bit of the product to get extra-strength benefits. I could easily see myself purchasing this product in the future from their page. It arrived on time and well packaged; exactly how I like all of my orders. Also, the eye dropper comes separately and the bottle is sealed with an actual cap, which is nice considering most essential oils are usually strong enough to erode the finger pinch of the droppers.

Please Note: I received this complimentary product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.