PRODUCT REVIEW: Seagate Expansion ST910004EXA101-RK External Portable Hard Drive - 1TB, 5,400RPM, USB 2.0

We have been in need of a hard drive for a LOONG time.  We have a ton of music on our computer, not to mention pictures and other files.  I do regularly clean out the pictures and put them on disks so that they don’t get lost, but still – the music is there taking up all kinds of space.  We have been discussing buying an external hard drive for over a year.  When we got some extra money for Christmas, my husband and I both agreed that it was time.  The plan was to get the hard drive, move all files that are not program files over, and have our laptop reformatted.  Part 2 has yet to take place yet, but I am so thankful that we now are out of the danger zone on our laptops memory at the very least.

 

I did some online shopping for the hard drive, which naturally – when you are looking for any kind of computer anything, you are going to end up at TigerDirect.com.  It was there that I found the cheapest Terabyte external hard drive.  I also did a little bit of reading online reviews on this particular hard drive, and came up with mixed results.  Some people loved it, others hated.  I have the feeling that despite searching for the specific hard drive, the results were mixed, because there were many reviews that stated that this hard drive was big and bulky.  That is not the case with the hard drive we received.  Another complaint was that the power cord didn’t stay in very well – once again, this is NOT an issue.  The cord fit perfectly!  I plugged it into the computer, the computer recognized it for what it was.  I had the option to install a trial of some software, which I did not do.  I took the files I wanted to move – and moved them.  And that was all she wrote. 

 

The hard drive is small, sleek, and fills its purpose in our lives.  I feel like it was the best move I made since actually buying the laptop in the first place!  I'd say TigerDirect is a reliable source for computer hardware and software.  Their customer service is great, and prices are very competitive!

5-Pack Premium Reusable LCD Screen Protector for iPhone

Quick Product Review: 5-Pack Premium Reusable LCD Screen Protector with Lint Cleaning Cloth for Apple iPhone 3G 8GB 16 GB

 

I saw this deal on another blog, that I wish I could remember so I could give them credit, and just had to take a chance that this wasn’t one of those “too good to be true,” or “you get what you paid for,” which for me was nothing.  After processing the order – I had just enough money left on a gift certificate that I got these screen protectors for free.

 

Hello WONDERFUL deal!  While I’m always cleaning off the screen (due to oils from my skin) this happens with even the best screen protector I had.  This probably isn’t absolute top of the line best screen protector for iPhone, but it is very, very comparable.  Very easy to use, and clear as a bell when brand new!  And talk about an awesome deal, especially when I normally see these for around $20!  Take advantage while you still can!

Product Review: Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin

I received the following product as a result of being a BzzAgent.  They send me products and I get to talk about them!!  No other compensation was given or offered, and all opinions are my own!

 

I have to say that this is my favorite Bzzagent campaign to date. I have been shopping around for both a cleanser and a moisturizer for quite some time, and to be honest, when I think “Burt’s Bees” my mind immediately jumps to chapstick mostly, so checking out their moisturizer would never have even cross my mind. Burt’s Bees sent a beautiful and elaborate set up (pictured) including Facial Cleanser, Moisturizer, free samples to pass out, coupons and a pamphlet of information.

It has only been a couple days since my package of Burt's Bees Natural Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer arrived, but so far so good. First of all, the facial cleanser does not dry my face out at all. Even when I failed to put on the moisturizer, I didn’t have that dry “just washed my face” feel. When washing, the cleanser does not really suds up like most facial cleanser do, which can be a little disconcerting at first, but really it isn’t an issue. I have had other cleansers for sensitive skin that also do not suds up much. Burt’s Bees is, by far, my favorite cleanser thus far – I like how smooth and gentle it feels on my skin, and best of all I love the way it smells. It’s a very light cotton-y smell about it. The moisturizer, likewise, feels just as smooth and gentle as the facial cleanser while applying. It does not leave my skin feeling wet or greasy – not even after a full day of work (and a yoga class). The moisturizer also has a very pleasant scent.

Finally, there is just something about knowing that you are using an all natural product that makes you feel like you’re doing something right. I glanced at the ingredients for the facial wash, and while I may not have known exactly what the products were, or how they were obtained, they were at least recognizable. I feel like Burt’s Bees goes out of their way to make sure you know exactly what is in your products, even offering a little further explanation when maybe an ingredient might sound unfamiliar. They use recycled material in their packaging and never use animal testing. You can check out their “Commitment to Natural Products” here.

Product Review: Tonka TX Ricochet Trickster

I received the following product as a result of being a BzzAgent.  They send me products and I get to talk about them!!  No other compensation was given or offered, and all opinions are my own!

We received the Tonka TX Ricochet Trickster almost a week ago now, and what a fun toy! For starters, the kids were just excited to get something in the mail that was for them. I’m always getting this or that, but rarely do they ever receive anything, much less a toy. So opening the package was a bit of a big deal to them! The next thing was getting the toy out and running. Unfortunately, while the toy did come with the rechargeable battery, in the car portion, it did not come with the 4 AA batteries required to run the remote control. We had just used the last of our batteries in a Wii remote, so the fun was delayed until I could get into the store. It was further delayed by the fact that the car needed to be charged after the batteries were in place..more groans and whines from the kid section on that one.

Once the Trickster was up and running the fun was immediate. This toy is FAST! I had though, at first, I might try and get an action video to post but between my small kitchen and the table, chairs, kids, and the fastness of this toy – I couldn’t really get a good video either. Which is a good thing. The kids like the fastness. They liked running it into walls and chair legs, and of course…the cat. I thought the cat would also enjoy the toy, chasing it around the kitchen or something equally as fun, but in typical cat fashion – if you think he’s going to like something, most likely he’s just going to watch it with mild disdain. Oh well, a 3 out of 4 satisfaction rate isn’t all that bad!

I do think this toy would be great fun for kids this Christmas holiday, probably great for ages 5 – 9 or 10ish. It IS a remote control car, but please, do not underestimate the female interest. We have two girls, and both of them love to play with this toy!

Good points:

• It seems durable. It’s typical toy plastic, but the controls are a little different from the average remote control, more compact and no big long wire hanging out of the top waiting to be kinked, bent, broken, etc. This toy will do well in a toy box – while most remote control cars need to be kept separate from regular toys so they don’t break. * This is a big bonus for us, because the kids rooms don’t really have those “extra” places, and toys either end up making the room look messy, or the toy ends up broken.
• It is FAST! I already mentioned this, but for some reason kids really like fast things. We haven’t run the battery down just yet, but I’m sure it will slow down as it does, but for now it’s great fun.
• Easy to figure out. It took only a few minutes to figure out how to use the controls, but thankfully kids are smart, and once it was learned it was easy…assuming they are holding the controller right-side-up that is. It is very easy to flip it around.

Some downsides:

•  Like most remote control vehicles – this runs best on tile. Carpeted areas are no fun!
• Batteries are not really included, plus you need to charge the car as well – no instant gratification regardless if you buy the batteries at the same time. If purchasing for Christmas, I would recommend getting it prepped and ready to go prior to wrapping it!

The Monday's - #1

It seems as though I always do something silly in my sleep-exhausted Monday state.  Today was actually an exception, as I got out of bed and to work without mishap.  I did have to leave early to get my kids from school today, and when I picked them up I asked them, "how was work today?"  But that was more of a slip of the tongue than a Mondayism. 

In the past I've done everything from trying to use coffee to seap my tea bag, or dump my left-over cereal milk in the trash.  I also usually go to the gym on Monday, and I've done everything from forget my dress shoes, to going into the shower room, taking a full shower and realizing I forgot atowel after the shower was completely done. 

So here you have it...what I hope will be a weekly post - the Monday's.

Crafty Mama - Finn Hat

I WAS going to make this for Christmas, but since I needed to make sure it fit, and they saw me working on it, I went ahead and gave it to Elijah already.  It's a Finn Hat from Adventure Time.

I used this free crochet pattern, and adapted it to suit my needs!

And so you can see what I was attempting to do, here is a picture of Finn.  The hardest part are the ears/horns/whatever the heck they are.  Location and size.  I probably should have went a little larger on the size, but it's too late now.

Quickie Product Review: Love-Scent

So I signed up to receive a free sample from Love-Scent.com who knows how long ago.  I don't even remember doing it.  Anyway, the sample arrived in the mail yesterday...and let me tell you, I'm a bit disappointed that I just got one! :)  I put it on, and at first was skeptical.  I could smell a faint scent on my skin, but nothing much.  However, as the night progressed my husband commented on how good I smelled multiple times.  I never revealed my secret, but just basked in the attention.  I think I just might go buy some more!!

A little bit from their website:

Human Sex Pheromones are natural chemical scents the body produces in order to attract others. Animal Sex Pheromones are well documented in the animal kingdom as the force that controls all social behavior, including mating. Scientists are now finding that human behavior is also heavily influenced by Human Pheromones, the ultimate invisible social magnets. By intensifying the sex pheromones that already occur naturally, you will experience not only a boost in confidence, but also increased sex appeal. Human pheromones also work wonders in business affairs by giving you the extra edge you need to make a good impression.

You can also find Love-Scent on Facebook...go like them, and try them...it just might be worth it!