Product review: Rainbow Reusable Flexible Gel Ice Pack & Wrap with Elastic Velcro Strap (Hot and Cold)

I use cold packs for headaches and back pain. This pack comes with a sleeve with a strap that holds the pack in place.  The strap is 23" long (end to end), which is just enough to wrap around my head. It also works for me around my arms and legs if I ever would need that. It is not long enough to strap around my waste for back pain, I have to use other methods for holding it up there (press against the back of the seat, use the pant's belt and so forth).

Before using Rainbow packs my most commonly used cold pack was "Ace Reusable Cold Compress".  I like it for two reasons - it remains flexible when cold so I can shape it as needed. Ace cold pack does not sweat as it warms up.



Rainbow pack also remains flexible after it is frozen, it does not sweatas it cools.  The sleeve and strap works exceptionally well.  This is now my preferred ice pack for headaches.



The pack stays cold for about 20 minutes, and then needs to be kept in the freezer for 2 hours to provide the next 20 minute treatment.  This is by design and also true of for ACE packs.  My refrigerator has a large assortment of ice pack, so I can swap out the new ones while the recently used ones chill.



This pack also works as hot pack by heating it in the microwave between 60 and 40 seconds depending on the power of your microwave.



I keep the pack in the sleeve when it is the freezer.  I have two reasons for this.  First, it is easier to manipulate into the sleeve when it is not cold.  Second, the plastic material feels a little less durable than the material used in Ace Cold pack and I keep it in the sleeve in the refrigerator to minimize the stress of taking it our and putting into the sleeve.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: EasyAcc 6 Inch USB Mini Desktop Metal Blades Cooling Fan

I like the air flow that this fan creates.  It can be rotated up and down easily (full range of motion). To move the airflow side to side you need to move the fan itself. It has two settings on/off (there is no low and high air flow).

 

My favorite feature of this fan is that it runs from USB power and  I can run it from an external battery which makes it totally portable. It also can work when the power is out. I live an area with a lot of trees and during storms we lose power at least a few times each year. When power is out the fans that can run on external batteries provide some much needed ventilation. The USB cord is 42" long.



The fan is small but generate a pretty good air flow for its size. The fan is quiet but not totally silent I can hear a slight hum of the motor. The sound it generate is white noise and is easy to ignore, so far it makes no no creaking or clanking sounds.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product: iMate TP-06 Indoor Digital Thermometer and Humidity Meter

This thermometer is 2 3/8" wide in size. It has back light for when it is dark.  I compared it with my other calibrated thermometer and the temperature and humidity matches.  It runs on one CR2032 3V cell battery (which is included in the package) 



Initially I had trouble changing the temperature display from Celsius to Fahrenheit.  The thermometer comes without documentation, but the package states that it shows temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit so I knew there was a way.  The back of the thermometer has one button, however pressing it did not change the temperature display.  Eventually, I decided not to just press, but press and hold counting to 10 and then then the temperature display changed to Fahrenheit!



I like the mounting system of this thermometer.  The back of the unit is magnetic and so you can mount it directly to something metal.  If you need to mount it on something that is not metal, then you can use the disk that is included in the package.  The disk has sticky tape on one side and metal plate on the other.  So you can create a match of metal anywhere you want to post this thermometer.



Overall, I am quite pleased with it. It is small, it has a nice clear display, and it is accurate.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Outdoor Solar Powered Motion Sensor Lights MOKOQI

Garden light with this style in two flavors: one flavor is a two mode light and the second flavor is a three mode light. In the two mode flavor the lights are "on" when motion is detected (in the dark) and "off" otherwise. In the three mode flavor the lights are dimly "on" all the time when it is dark, and get brighter when motion is detected and "off"  during day light.



I have a strong preference for on/off two mode flavor because they last longer. When the light is dimly on all the time it totally exhausts the battery before the night is over.  Mokoqi is this type of light - it has two modes which means it uses the battery very efficiently.



I live in New England where not every day is sunny, and even sunny days often not sunny continuously, so the light does not get fully recharged every day. The two mode garden lights work better.



A pet peeve I have about these solar lights that they have a logo on the front rather than on the back.  I like combinig the lights along our long fence, and when each one has a different logo they look mis-matched. I hope the manufacture will consider moving the logo to the back as the logo detracts from the overall appearance of the light.



So how bright is this light? To give a numeric measurement of brightness I use a lux meter which measures light intensity. For comparison I take a measurement of 60 watt bulb (since we all have a good feel for how bright those bulbs are) and measurement of this light from the same distance.



~~ At 19" a 60 watt fluorescent bulb registers 613 lux

~~ This light in bright mode registers 277 lux



The light generated by this light is not as bright as a 60 watt bulb, but it is within the range of other similar sized solar lights. It gives enough light to light the area a few feet away.



The light has a hole at the top and comes with mounting hardware. I mounting it on the fence using the hole and this is the second reason why I like this design, it allows a mounting without having to use a screw, I can use tie wraps.



To activate the light for the very first time you need to push a button on the front. The package include a pin that makes this activation very easy.  The light detected me approaching from any direction (135 degrees) from about 6 feet away. After the movement stopped it turns off.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Aicok 8-Inch Chef Kitchen Knife

Don't let the low price scare you away (it was under $10 when I got it). This is a nice knife!  The handle has a nice shape I am finding it very comfortable to hold.  It is sharp, cuts well and is easy to handle. It has a nice feel overall, and it is light weight (7.15 oz), relatively light for its size.

 This knife had been used for every day cooking for almost two weeks. It remained sharp, I do not see any imperfections or dents.  I am quite pleased with it.  In attached video you can see the knife in action.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: EugeneGreen Brand LED Plant Grow Light 12W

I have tested a number of grow lights in a controlled experiment - planting the cucumber seeds to grow in a pot placed in a sunny window vs under the same size pot placed under a grow lamp.



To test the effectiveness of this grow light we planted several identical pots with cucumber sprouts. The first set of pots was left to to grow near a sunny window inside and another pot was left in an area which does not get direct sunlight and was left under a grow light. The grow light was on a timer for 14 hours a day (off at night).



The attached video is a video diary of the two plants with photos taken every day for 11 days. As you see at the end of 11 days the plants under the grow light is shorter and and has more leaves, the plant in the window is taller (stretching towards the light) and has a couple less leaves. Shorter leafier plants are generally better then the taller skinnier ones.



EugeneGreen 12W Grow light fits into a regular bulb fixture. It has 3 blue and 9 red LED lights to simulate sunlight. The light weight 9.15 oz and is 5.5" long, and 4.75" wide. The light feels well made. The finish of the bulb looks neat, and when I shake it nothing rattles.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Halovie Bathtub Pillow with Strong Large Suction Cups

I have a bad back and hot baths are really helpful for my condition. Prior to this pillow I used inflatable pillows. Unlike my other pillows this is not an inflatable pillow, this is foam pillow.  The foam is pretty firm and it is not a memory foam.  It is generously sized 11.5" x 15" x 2". The back of the pillow has 7 suctions cups, they hold well. I find it quite comfortable. 

The only down side of the foam pillow compared to inflatable pillow that foam pillow cannot be folded away for storage.  However, for me this is not an issue. I always keep inflatable pillow inflated so I don't have to re-inflate them every time I need them.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: OsoCozyUnbleached Prefold Cloth Diapers

I originally purchased these diapers for their original intention, but found them to be too thin for that purpose.  I also did not like that they ball up after washing rather than lay flat like microfiber diaper inserts.  To make they lay flat I need to iron them. When flat they are sized 2" x 6" x 2".



I was about to write a negative review when I read a review by another reviewer who re-purposed them to work as a re-usable wet cleaning pads for a Swiffer mop.  Indeed, they fits well.  The width of each diaper is just right to be tucked into the back of the mop, the thin sides fit as well as the disposable pads, and the middle section which is slightly thicker hold water or cleaning solution without making the floors too wet.  I re-wet it with a spray bottle when it dries out so I don't have to remove it after it is already dirty. 

Well, so it least I did not waste my money on it.  Thanks to those who shared these cleaning tip  - this is reviews at their best! Sharing "work arounds" as well as problems and kudos.



You can find these diapers on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆