Product Review: US Art Supply 15 Piece Multi-Purpose Brush Set

**Disclaimer: I received this item for free for the purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.**

I received a pack of 15 brushes of assorted sizes and bristles to review. I had really wanted to try these with at least two different mediums -watercolor and acrylic- but unfortunately could only do so with watercolor. 

Here is a quick picture of a semi-finished test of the brushes (#2 and #8). You can see it actually being painted in the linked video at the end of this post. 

One very nice feature of the brushes is that they are long, even the short handled set, and therefore keep your hand out of the way of your painting. I don't know all the different applications of each of the bristle/brush types but there are a nice assortment. 

11 Short Handle Brushes:
- Pony Round: #1, #2, #3, #4 & #5
- Bristle Round: #1, #3 & #5
- Bristle Flat: 1/2"
- Pony Flat: 1/4" & 1/2"

4 Long Handle Brushes
- Pony Round: #2
- Pony Flat: #4
- Bristle Flat: #4 & #8

Purchase at Amazon- $6.96

While I was painting with these in the video, hairs from the bristles on both brushes I used started to come out. This is a problem that's been encountered before with inexpensive brushes so I wasn't terribly surprised. I still think these are good for beginners (which I am).

Here's the video link. https://youtu.be/adCYRQW6va8

Product Review: Premium Masala Green Chai Tea- Organic, Loose leaf

***Disclaimer: I received the following product for free for the purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Premium Masala Green Chai Tea- Organic, Loose leaf

Purchase at Amazon for $10.95 at the time of this posting

My thoughts:

It is very aromatic loose leaf tea. Being a chai tea I did expect it to brew darker, however this is based entirely on my experience with chai tea from coffee chains and not home steeped chai. Also, this is a green tea, which I would expect to have a lighter color overall. 

Since this is a green tea, the caffeine content is lower also than black tea. A regular chai, which is usually black tea, is 1/3 as caffeinated as coffee*. Green tea generally has less caffeine than black tea. Good to know. 

*I found conflicting data on the internet about the caffeine content in teas. Green tea for instance is said to have varying levels of caffeine depending on how it is steeped, and how long. 

I received one bag containing 3.53 oz (100g) of Darjeeling Green Tea, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Clove. The bag directions state using 1 tsp of loose leaf tea in a cup of 90-100*C/194-212*F (so just about boiling) water, and to steep for 2-5 minutes. I didn't think this was a lot for a cup but I do think it is for a 6 oz cup, not necessarily a 10 oz coffee mug. When the correct temperature water is used, and the correct steep time, the tea is definitely a green tea with a nice touch of spice. When the tea is steeped longer than stated it becomes a very strong tea that I found hard to drink. 

Thinking back on that last bit, if I had added some cream to the tea at that point, it probably would have cut the sharpness and been very enjoyable. That's something to try next time. 

I do like the tea. I don't necessarily like loose leaf teas however because, as you can see in the photo of my cup, the strainer I have lets out bits of the leaves. The smell of this tea alone makes me like it. The lingering spice after taking a drink keeps me drinking and enjoying it.

If you go to the amazon link above, you'll see more about this particular tea but I'll share some here:

This is a pure Darjeeling tea, grown and harvested in small batches in the mountains of India. It contains Indian spices of cardamom, cinnamon, and clove. Each batch is packaged in a zippered double air sealed bag within a short time of harvesting to ensure freshness. You can find more information about the origin, date of picking, tea type, and preparation instructions on the bag. The tea itself, along with the spices are touted to be full of anti-oxidants. The tea also is helpful for relaxing and reducing stress. This aromatic loose tea can be used straight in a cup or even in a reusable K Cup. 

Product Review: Cell Phone Clip Bracket with Desktop Stand

***I received the following product at a discount for the purpose of an honest review. See Disclosures/Policies***

I actually am simply embedding the video review I did of this but will include some other information I forgot to mention in the video.



The packaging of this is very simple and I thought it was broke when I opened the plastic bag. It's not broken; it is just not assembled! The coil is very stiff on the bracket so you'll need to be sure of your positioning *before* putting the phone into the holder {or before pressing record!} so that it is where you want it. It moves a little after putting the phone into the bracket also. Just a little.

I mostly wanted this be able to record with my phone without holding onto it and this will do that perfectly. Also I really like the desktop holder so that I can prop up my phone next to me- I usually have it off to the side, screen up, but still miss when a call or text comes in and the phone is on silent. This will help it be more visible.

Those are my thoughts on this item.

**At the time of posting, this item is actually unavailable at the amazon link. Not sure when it will be available- or if it will be.**

Product Review: Dog/Cat Brush Grooming Glove with Collapsible Bowl

***Disclaimer: I received the following products for free for the express purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Dog/Cat Brush Grooming Glove with Collapsible Pet Bowl

Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017WZ6CDE

My thoughts:
My cat has a strange love/hate relationship with combs and brushes. She also sheds enough that we try to keep her combed/brushed to keep it down. This glove is a good way to fool the cat into letting us brush her! My son has better luck than I do (but he is on better terms with the cat in general). You can see from my photo at the start of this post that the cat tried to continuously get away from me, and then bit the the glove... Normally she lies still and even will roll over on her back to allow her belly to be brushed.

The hair isn't too difficult to get off of the glove either but it seemed to me if you don't get it wet, you have to wait for a bit to accumulate to ball it up to remove it.

Finally, the stitching on the glove I received was not excellent and had stray stitches that got caught on the brush portion. Nothing major, just a little annoyance.

The box came with a collapsible bowl that would be good for traveling. Since we don't generally take the cat when we travel, I figured it would be a good at home water dish. It doesn't have a nylon/plastic smell that I assumed it would, and so the water smells fresh. I like the little heart on the handle of the bowl. It's a cute little touch.

Also, there is an ebook you can get from the website by following the instructions on the flyer that comes in the box. I didn't get the ebook so I cannot say what it contains or how it is.

I thought it a reasonable price for both the glove and dish.

Product Review: US Art Supply Manga/Marker Paper

***Disclaimer: I received the following items for free for the sole purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PGA8RRM (Manga-Marker Paper Pad)

My thoughts
This pad of paper I had wanted to give to my kids who like to draw manga style. But I will admit that this would not work for either of them. I really am not sure if I'm just using the wrong writing utensils (it says it is for ink pens, permanent markers, and all pencils). Every marker I used smeared. I tried give them adequate time to dry but it didn't seem to matter. All smeared.

This is a nice white paper- not the color you see here!
My lighting must have been inadequate.

My son is a lefty and has a difficult time already with smearing and smudging. My daughter is a bit of a perfectionist so I would imagine she would do better but I think this would be a cause of frustration for her.

The paper is semi glossy on both sides but more so on the front drawing surface. It is very smooth. The size of the paper is 9x12, with 24 sheets to the pad. It is suited for markers with a 60# weight, and doesn't absorb the ink so that it doesn't bleed through. But this semi gloss, slick surface seems to prevent adequate drying.

It is good for use with pencils. It is very very smooth.

I really cannot say if this is something that is good or not! honestly thought it would be a good fit for what my kids like to do but it turns out that this would just make the illustrations messy. Overall I'm not really happy with my experience with the paper. 

Product Review: US Art Supply Calligraphic Practice Pad

***Disclaimer: I received the following items for free for the sole purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PGBVNM2 (Calligraphic Practice Pad)

My thoughts:

I have wanted to try my hand at calligraphy for awhile, and have attempted to do it freehand. I had really wanted to use my ink and metal nibs to review this paper but unfortunately I cannot locate the pen for my nibs. I had to settle with using brush pens instead. 

Since I haven't done calligraphy before I looked up videos and tutorials online on how to hold the pen and the paper. With this having a slanted grid already, I think it makes it a bit easier to work with the paper. I'm not 100% sure of that because I don't know how others do it well. 

I need to practice more. 

Although it looks yellow, or cream, the paper is indeed a nice white. The grid is a dark gray so you can see the lines easily enough but they don't overtake the page. The pad of paper is landscape as opposed to portrait (so it is longer wide than tall). I think this is beneficial for practicing writing of any king, but perhaps more for calligraphy where you seem to need more width. It is 12x9 with 50 sheets lined on one side. The backing is a thick cardboard for sturdiness so you could use it without a table. I didn't because I need all the stability I can get! 

The paper didn't stay in the pad exceptionally well after I used it a little. I think this is both a positive and a negative. It is easy to tear out used pages but also I wonder if they would fall out on their own after awhile. 

The thickness of the paper feels about like printer paper, and it didn't bleed through with my brush pens but I think if I were to use my nib with ink, it might go through a little. 

Overall, I like the Calligraphic Practice Paper Pad from US Art Supply. It is simple but easy to use for practice. The paper is good for the price also.

Product Review: CoQ10, NutriONN

***Disclaimer: I received the following item for free for the sole purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

From Mayo Clinic: "CoQ10 has been studied for use as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage. CoQ10 has been used in combination with other antioxidants. Early study suggests that it may have antioxidant benefits in people with heart disease. More information is needed on the potential benefits of CoQ10 alone."

The label on this bottle states:

"Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that is made in the human body. CoQ10 is needed for basic cell function. CoQ10 levels decrease with age and certain diseases. Some prescription drugs may also lower CoQ10 levels. CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking CoQ10 supplements. CoQ10 supports heart function and promotes energy production in cells. CoQ10 can also provide benefits to people with high blood pressure.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or mitigate any disease."

Purchase from this link: http://www.amazon.com/CoQ10-200mg-Double-Strength-Capsules/dp/B00I3J71EI/keywords=coq10

List price: $69.99 (but at the time of this posting, it is on sale for $35.95)

These contain 120 capsules containing 200mg Coenzyme Q-10 (Ubiquinone), along with Cellulose (Vegetable Capsule), Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide. The label states there are "Zero Artificial Ingredients," they are "100% Natural," and "Made in the USA." That last part, Made in the USA, hadn't caught my attention when I agreed to review these, but looking closer, they are distributed out of Portland, OR, my 'home' state!

My thoughts:

CoQ10 is a supplement I had long been meaning to add to my regime but the cost is often prohibitive. When this was offered for review, I quickly applied to be a reviewer. The bottle I received contains a 4-month supply; perfect to see how this will affect me. 

I have just started taking the recommended dosage of one 200mg capsule per day, with a fat-containing meal. The capsules are an average size, but they are orange. Unlike many of the vitamins and supplements I've tried, these do not have a disagreeable scent. They really don't smell like much of anything; if any, it's almost a citrus smell.

Why did I want to try this supplement? The list on the front label of the bottle pretty much sums up the areas I hope to have benefited: 

• Hearth Health (I've had racing heart and palpitations for quite a few years- these had all but gone away when I started eating the THM way; now they come and go)
• Antioxidant
• Energy and Stamina (really, who doesn't need that?)
• Cognitive Awareness (my memory and general ability to do mental tasks has sometimes had me a little worried; it's like there is a disconnect somewhere)
• Healthy Blood Pressure (my mother and grandmother had problems with blood pressure)

So far this is working just fine. In terms of results, I don't think that the short amount of time I've had it and taken it will accurately portray the benefits. For now this is what I can tell you about this product. I am happy with it and will continue to take these- and if results are positive, I will buy another bottle.

Product Review: Lunch Boxes by Orgalif

I received a set of 5 Orgalif Bento Lunch Box Containers for the purpose of this honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.

These are made from BPA free food grade plastic with separate compartments for different parts of a meal. I suppose these would be really good for portion control. They remind me of the microwave dinner trays I used to buy the kids when they were little, with the chicken nuggets in the large section, mac & cheese or applesauce in another, and a cookie or brownie in the last little section. 

A small 1/2 cup of applesauce, that hasn't been opened, will fit perfectly in the 3/4 cup spot. The measurements of the boxes: Large section-2 1/2 Cups, Smaller section-3/4 cup, Smallest section-1/2 cup. Inside of the largest compartment is approx. 4.5" x 5" Inch and 1.75" deep. Overall, each container is 9.4" x 6.1" x 2" inches.

I thought it worked really great for salad container, to keep the items separate until lunch time. In the empty section I did put a hardboiled egg. 

My only complaint about these is that they are NOT leak-proof! They do state this in the Amazon listing. The lids come off easily, so you cannot put liquids in these. You might notice the red item in the second photo above. That is a little cup of French salad dressing inside a ziplock bag to prevent it from spilling out. But it works just fine for dry or slightly moist foods. I'd say if you need to put a liquid, or very moist food in this, put it in a sandwich bag first. Or even a smaller container to be put inside of this. 

I do like these containers although I am very much not a fan of plastic. The ease of use is one reason I like them. The colorful lids is another. I can now easily pack my husbands lunch without many varied sized containers. It fits perfect in his little cooler bag. I could even stack a few in there if we were going on a road trip or out for a day-long errand. My daughter is really into making bento lunches and she is sure these will work perfect for that!

Product Review: ThinkFun Stratos Spheres

Woohoo!! Games. We love games here. I'd show you our collection of board games and my bordering-on-too-many decks of cards collected from just about anywhere that sells/gives cards, but this is about the newest one we have been introduced to. 

This one here is from #ThinkFun and it's super easy but not as easy as you might at first think. I have yet to win. 

Stratos Spheres™

2-Player Strategy Game

It’s the classic 4-in-a-row game without the restrictions of the 2-D board. In fact, there’s no board at all because you build the game as you go. Using 3-dimensional spheres, carefully strategize and get four in a row in any dimension to WIN!

Age: 8 and Up

Players: 2 Player

MSRP: $9.99

Purchase at Amazon: http://www.thinkfun.com/products/stratos-spheres/

**Disclaimer: I received this product for free for the purpose of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.**

Product Review: White Chalk Markers & Labels

Recently I've signed up with a company to do some reviews. Usually there are book reviews on this blog, but I figured a few product reviews would be fun as well. They will follow the same Disclosure/Policies that all my other reviews follow.

I got the first one just today.

White Chalk Markers by Chalko

The set included four white chalk markers and eight black 'chalkboard' labels. I store a lot of food stuffs in jars and generally rely on my own memory to be able to tell what is in the jar. In this house, I do most of the cooking anyway! But I have been tempted by those chalkboard labels at the store. Now I have some :) 

The labels are made of a nylon/plastic material that are easily repositioned on the jars. I didn't try them on any other surface but glass as that's all I have at the moment that I store things in that need labels. I would imagine they would work on ceramic surfaces as well. 

The markers are the shake and press the tip type of markers. When I tried them at first they were stubborn and wouldn't dispense with their ink! Eventually they did but the first use was very watery. I let it dry a bit and then wiped it off. You can see in the image below how that worked for me. I rewrote the contents and it looks much better.  

Here's how the ink looks on the label after its been used a few times. 

It might be a little silly but I'm super happy to have these labels! I've been looking at them in others' photos of their food storage, and even been tempted a few times {put it in my cart once or twice} at the store. I have nothing to compare them to. I really like them. 

On the product page, one of the uses for the markers is to leave notes on windows or mirrors, so naturally I had to give it a try. I've used dry erase markers {see the white board in the background} on the glass of our doors but I like these markers much more! The clean off of the glass super easy, too. 

It's been awhile since I've done a product review so if I've forgotten any bit of info that you'd like, leave me a comment below {comments are moderated so you won't see it right away}. 

Disclaimer: I received this item for free for the express purpose of an honest review. I do not have to give positive reviews, just honest. See my Disclosure/Policies. 

Real Salt {Product Review- Redmond}

Salt is the spice of life. Is that how the saying goes? I'm not a big salt fan; give me herbs and spices. That was before I tried Real Salt. 

Let's just get this bit out of the way:

***Disclaimer: I was given a box o' stuff from Redmond for review. They were super generous! I will be posting reviews for awhile about this 'box', I'm sure!  This post is about the Real Salt products I received. All images, unless specified, are from Redmond's website. See Disclosure/Policies for more on how I 'do business' around here ;).*** 

Redmond gave me more salt than I imagined I would ever need, let alone use. See website for current prices.

Real Salt, Fine Salt, 10 oz -retail $4.92 (pictured above)

Real Salt, Organic Garlic Salt, 4. 75 oz -retail $4.92 (pictured below)

Real Salt, Organic Onion Salt, 4.75 oz -retail $4.92

Real Salt, Organic Season Salt, 4.75 oz -retail $4.92

Is your salt real? That's the question! 

I do have to put in another little disclaimer here- I've yet to actually get to try the Season Salt. My dear hubby took it to work and hasn't brought it home, even after I've asked...repeatedly. But I am absolutely positive that that one is delicious. How can I possibly say that? I've tried the others. On the labels of these salts it says to take the 'taste test'. Try Real Salt, just a little taste. Savor it. It tastes like...salt. Yep. Now, taste table salt that you buy in those cardboard canisters. You know, the ones that are a dollar or less. Just a small taste. Yuck! {In case that's the only word you see in this review- it is in regards to regular, store-bought salt.}

I am so not even close to joking the difference there is in taste. The table salt tastes like chemicals. Real Salt is delicious! Now, I don't think it is so yummy that I get my spoon out and eat it that way. Um, no. But I have put it on and in everything that calls for salt. Where I used to think, 'nah, I don't really need the salt in this', I put it in now! I put these salts on my eggs in the morning, in my homemade mocha, in my homemade pizza crust dough (especially like the garlic salt for that), a small pinch in my oatmeal, and on anything that calls for some 'spicing up'. Chicken, fish, red meat, bean soup, etc. 

Now I will forever sing the praises of this Real Salt. Forever. 

I must say however that as much as I like it, it seems we have to use more of it to get a good 'salt'. My dear hubby explained it as underwhelming. It's good but it just requires more than we are used to using. It's a totally different salt experience. Oh, just one more little thing that I would say is more of a con than pro is that those little 'trace minerals' are sometimes not so little, and they don't dissolve. Meaning: sometimes there are rocks in my food. No one else in the family seems to be bothered by it. I've gotten mostly used to it. Mostly.

My dear husband asked me if there is a benefit to using Real Salt over regular 'store bought' salt. Well... Real Salt does not have iodide but it does have:

• Calcium
• Potassium
• Sulphur
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Phosphorus
• Iodine
• Manganese
• Copper
• Zinc

Here's the Real Salt Story:

Long ago in what is now Central Utah, Native Americans found a mineral-rich salt deposit from an ancient sea when they saw deer eating the soil. In 1959, Milo and Lamar Bosshardt were struggling to keep their family farm afloat when they discovered that this salt deposit extended beneath their land. They began selling the salt to local farmers for their animals and heard reports the farmers were using the salt to season their own food. People insisted that this "real" salt be made available for everyday use, and the brand was born.
Today we still bring Real Salt to you in its natural state -without additives, chemicals, or heat processing of any kind. Real Salt's unique pinkish appearance and flecks of color come from more than 60 naturally occurring trace minerals. The result is a delicate "sweet salt" flavor that you may not have experienced before.

The Real Salt contains just that...real salt. The other flavors, garlic and onion, only have real salt and organic garlic and onion, respectively. The season salt contains Real Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Corriander, Organic Mustard, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Paprika, Organic Celery Seed, Organic Tumeric, & Organic Parsley. {I really want my husband to bring it home!}

Real Salt is offered in quite a few different size options. Need a lot of salt? You can buy 25# bags! Need just a little to take with you? They have as small as 6 grams! Lots of options at the site to find what you need. 

Have questions or comments about Real Salt? Contact Redmond Trading online or call (800) 367-7258. 

Follow Real Salt on Facebook, and on Twitter.

In case you didn't catch it early on: I fully recommend Real Salt!   

Review & Giveaway: Printcopia Canvas Print {8x10}

Have you ever considered having a photo to canvas made? Are you worried that it won't turn out as lovely as the photo?

Or maybe the real trouble is choosing a photo.

I have often seen canvas photo prints and have always loved them. Well, I was given the opportunity to review Printcopia's service to make one of my very own! The toughest part was indeed choosing the print. While at Printcopia's site, it didn't really help me decide which photo to have turned into a canvas print, it did make the whole process extremely easy and enjoyable.

I won't get into too much about the website itself because it is very self explanatory (imho) but will tell you about the canvas print I received. 

On a wall just the perfect size.

I was offered an 8x10 canvas and that is part of the reason I had difficulty deciding the image to use. In the end I went with a photograph I had taken of the lambs ear in my backyard. It has been edited with a photo editing program and a verse added.

The quality of my original photograph was not the highest; good but it could have been better. It had been edited down to a smaller size at some point along its journey. You cannot tell that on the canvas print. The print is clear and crisp. All the editing I had done on the image shows up wonderfully on this print. {And the typo is completely and totally my own doing. ahem}

I chose the mirror wrap at 3/4". 

It is beautiful. I love it.

The frame is sturdy and the canvas is not too tight nor loose on the frame. It comes with a standard wall hanger but you do have the option of a canvas stand for an additional cost. 

The retail value of my canvas print is $56.78 {at the time of my posting it is being offered for $42.58!}. Shipping took 3 days after it was printed. The order was placed July 4, 2013, and this lovely wall addition arrived July 18, 2013! I think that is a good production/shipping time-frame. It did come in a box that was not adequate for its size; the box was huge. The canvas print however was secure inside. 

So how do you like my canvas? Do you have a photo that you would like to have turned into a canvas print? Head over to Printcopia and get started! They have a lot of size options.

Or...here's your chance to win an 8x10 canvas print of your own! 
Each entrant will also receive a 60% off coupon to use at Princopia.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed item, for free, for the purpose of this review from Printcopia. No compensation was given for this post. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***