KUWAN LED DESK LAMP

KUWAN LED Desk Lamp

I have been needing a lamp for my desk and I was able to try this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When I first opened the package I was surprised at the size and the way it was packaged. My thought "Well, this is cool." The cord is very short so I was wondering how I would charge it with the USB port as my hard drive is on the floor. I moved the hard drive to the desk top and then discovered the plug, haha. You can charge the lamp with the USB port or in a wall outlet. It is very important to charge this product for at least 6 hours before use. I immediately plugged it in and let it charge.

I fell asleep that night so it actually received more than a 6 hour charge.

I have been using this lamp for the last several days and I love it. The wattage is 5 watts and emits enough light so that you can see effectively with a  cool brightness. I was amazed that this was 5 watts because it seems like more.  There is a slight indentation on the base of the lamp that allows you to turn it on and off. It does not take very much pressure to turn it off at all.

This lamp stands about 15 inches high when the neck is straight up. The neck is bendable so you can adjust it to fit your needs. This was a huge plus for me as I like to control the lighting at my desk.

In ending I have to say this lamp has been a great help to me and it works great. It is very lightweight and allows me to transfer it to where I need it without worrying about cords getting in the way.

Specifications: Mix power: 5w
Color: pure white
Style: modern and portable
Material: high quality ABS plastic
Light temperature: 5500-6500k
Battery Input: 3.7v/700 mAh
Brightness range: 2-200 LUX(30cm distance)
Power Source: built-in battery charges with USB charging cord(included)
Free adjustable: 360 degrees and up and down adjustment
Product Dimension: base approx 14X12.5cm head approx 12.5x 7.5cm high approx 43cm

Features:
Stepless Brightness Adjustment: the adjustment of the brightness is smooth, no preset brightness limit.
Long Lasting Battery: last 3+ hours in brightest and 12 hours in dimmer after charging full.
Eye Protection & Eco-friendly: with Non-toxic silicon material, it is suitable for kids, adults, and senior.
360 Degree Rotation: gooseneck adjustment, so you can bend the lamp to your particular need.

Package includes:
1x LED Table Lamp
1x USB Cord
1x User Manual(English)

"HOPE UNFOLDING" Becky Thompson

 I get it, Momma. I totally get it.
 Every day you wake up and try your very best. You love, give, and pour out your life for the ones who call you Momma. But no matter how much you offer, there are still days you feel as though you come up short. You worry, Am I loving these babies enough? Is this ever going to get easier? Why does it seem like I am the only one who cannot balance it all?

WOW, I have never connected with a book like I did this one. I did not want to put it down. I spent every second mesmerized with her experiences and her reflections.
I was raised in church for the first few years of my life. I do not remember a lot of those years as I was so young. But they instilled in me a belief in God and faith. I married very young and had babies very young. I was not prepared to have children. Kids should not have kids, period.

Now my babies are all grown up and I am raising my grandson. I have been in his life since the day he was born. My daughter lived with me off and on and then I got custody of him when he was three.
Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water and this book is exactly what I needed. It is so hard doing it a second time around. You do not want to make the mistakes you made when you were younger and raising babies. Sometimes you do not know who to turn to. Sometimes your friends can not be there for you. So who do you turn to? Who can you depend on to help lighten your load?

The author talks about her own experiences and explains through scripture how God loves us and how he wants us to turn it all over to him. To depend on him entirely. This books gives mothers hope that the hard times are only fleeting moments in our lives and that there are great things in store for us. At the end of each chapter there are questions a prayer and a statement. There are also a few lines so that you can write whatever you want down. I opted to save this part of the book for my second read. Yes, I am going to read it again.

This book is beautifully written and packaged. I loved hearing of her life experiences with her children and how she overcame the hardships. I think my favorite part of the entire book was the IHOP  experience. Can you imagine that happening to you? I do not think that has ever happened to me but I have a lot of other similar stories. Once I got started I did not want it to end. I did not want to put it down. But being a mother, you have to fold the page over to fix the little one some lunch. Or to fold the laundry. I was soon able to get back to the book after the chaos that is my life calmed down.

In ending, this book is a great inspiration to all mothers. Whether they are first time mommies or experienced. This book is also great for us grandmothers. I enjoyed this book so much and think it would make an excellent gift to anyone with children or grandchildren. Sometimes us grandparents need inspiration to.

I had forgotten how brave I was going to be. Or how firm I would be concerning what was best for my baby and my family, whatever society's judgmental opinions might be. But you know, right there in the middle of IHOP, society didn't seem like some distant hypothetical group. Society seemed like the folks in the next booth eating French toast and getting their coffee refilled.


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:

MODELING CLAY AND PLAYDOUGH RECIPES

AIR HARDENING MODELING CLAY

2 cups baking soda
1 cup cornstarch
1.5 cups cold water
(makes about 2 pounds - the recipe can be halved).

Baking soda and cornstarch make a smooth, pliable play clay that can be colored with everyday food coloring - or left white and painted once it hardens. When you have made your model, leave it to air dry - turning every 12 hours or so.

Place ingredients in a pan and stir until smooth. Set the pan over a medium heat and stir until boiling. Stir out any lumps and cook until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Turn out onto a plate and cover with a damp, well-wrung kitchen towel - let cool. Dust a work surface with cornstarch and knead until pliable.

BAKING CLAY

4 cups plain/all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 teaspoon powdered alum (optional)
1.5 cups water

Mix ingredients in a bowl.

This clay bakes best if the ornaments are not too thick - about 1/2 inch is best.

Bake your ornaments on an ungreased baking tray for 30 minutes then turn and bake them for another 90 minutes until they are hard and dry (keep an eye on them so they don't burn). You need a low oven temperature - about 250 degrees F or 120 degrees C. When they are cool you can smooth them with fine sandpaper before decorating and varnishing.

NO COOK PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

2 cups of plain/all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 cup cold water
1 tbsp oil (vegetable oil is fine - baby oil smells lovely).

Drop the ingredients into a plastic bag and seal. Let the children knead them together inside the bag - then tip it out for modeling fun.

HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH

2 cups plain all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 cups of water

Put all dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add water, oil and color. cook slowly and stir all the time. As it gets hot it will begin to thicken up. Knead on a floured surface.

Alternatively, microwave on high for up to 6 minutes. Remove frequently and stir. Knead on a floured surface.

TAKEN FROM http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/how-to-make-clay.html

SLIME

2 cups cornstarch

1 cup warm water

food coloring

Stir the cornstarch into the warm water, a little at a time until all of the starch has been added. The reason for using warm water instead of room temperature water is because this makes it easier to mix the slime without getting any clumps. You can add a little more starch if you want a thicker slime. Add a small amount of water if you want a runnier slime. Also, the consistency of the slime is affected by temperature. Warm slime will flow more readily than cool or refrigerated slime.

Add food coloring to achieve the desired color.

EASY FINGER PAINT RECIPE

EASY FINGER PAINT RECIPE

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• pinch of salt (optional)
• extra water
• Food coloring  

Directions

1. Pour flour and water into a pot.
2. Stir the ingredients over medium heat until it comes together like smooth, thick paste. The mixture will be lumpy along the way, but it all comes together.
3. When it starts to pull away from the pot, remove from the heat.
4. Add a pinch of salt. This helps keep the paint from spoiling if you don’t use it right away.
5. To reach the desired consistency, slowly add cold water to the mixture. I added about 1/4 cup water to our paint. 
6. Divide the paint into bowls.
7. Squeeze food coloring  into the flour mixture until you reach the desired color.
8. Store in a covered container in the fridge if you’re not planning to use this right away. It will keep indefinitely.

Ecological Lead-Free Crystal Glasses For People That Enjoy Wine! ROD WINE

I am a newbie when it comes to wine and glasses. I bought my first bottle of red wine a few months ago. I had no idea that there were different sizes and shapes for the different types of wine. I just knew that I needed something to help me relax at night so that I could sleep. I didn't realize that I would enjoy it so much. I did not realize that I would want to learn more, until I was able to try these great wine glasses. I was able to snag my first set and then soon realized there were others to be had as well. It took me about a week to snag them all. But I was very happy that I managed it.

ECOLOGICAL LEAD-FREE CRYSTAL GLASSES FOR PEOPLE THAT ENJOY WINE!

RÖD Wine glasses are heavier because of the material and thickness of the glass.
All of their products are made from lead-free crystal and are restaurant grade.
This makes the glasses stronger and more durable.

The glasses are made of lead-free crystal called crystalline. This is a process that increase the durability of crystal glass without the led component. Instead of led they use sodium-potassium which is a lot more environment friendly. The production of the glasses use electrical smelting that further decrease the impact.

All of RÖD Wines glasses are dishwasher safe and/or can be hand-washed. Make sure you put the glasses on the top shelf in the washer, use the stemware rack if available. Avoid the glasses touching other items in the washer to prevent scratching. For hand wash use detergent and hot water. Rinse thoroughly to remove any residual detergent that can influence the wine taste and dry with a lint free towel.

This information was taken from the ROD WINE website. For more information please follow the link.

I tried the red wine glass first and loved the experience. I love the quality of these glasses. These remind me of stemware that can be found in upscale restaurants. They are a little heavy but feel more durable than regular stemware. Please pardon the el'cheapo bottle of wine pictured. That was my first bottle ever purchased and I did not want to splurge on something I might not like. Each 3 set package of stemware comes in a nice box that will make these an awesome gift no matter the occasion.

I had the same experience with the white wine stemware. Very elegant yet durable. All of the sets that I obtained came in a package of three glasses. I am not sure why as most of the people I know party in sets of four or more. But that is okay. That does not affect my review at all.

Have you ever owned a set of champagne stemware but didn't have champagne to put in the glass? Well, that was me, haha. Putting anything other than champagne in this glass felt wrong. But I did it anyway and got through it. Again, very elegant and serviceable stemware that I have fallen in love with. I now have a problem however. I do not have an adequate display for my stemware. I must go shopping.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM AMAZON and you can purchase these from the link above.

DURABLE & BEAUTIFUL - We want sturdy glasses that can withstand everyday use. Thanks to the unique material these are as close to unbreakable and shatterproof as they can be. Made of the highest quality, crafted in one of the most renowned glass regions in the world - Bohemia, Czech Republic. Our products are of Restaurant Grade, made from Lead Free Crystal, and tempered to withstand a lot of cheering. We deliver a beautiful, sexy and timeless design with our glasses, as well as for the boxes.

SAFETY & ECO - Our glasses are dishwasher safe. You have probably owned cheaper wine glasses before and got disappointed when you found them in pieces in the dishwasher. This will not happen with our products, thanks to the genuine quality. We want to lessen the impact on the environment, and all of our products are made of lead-free crystal, called crystalline. They are produced in a modern factory, in an ecological process, that restricts and recycles water, and runs on green electricity.

GREAT AS A GIFT - ROD Wine glasses come in beautifully designed and innovative boxes. The containers are made for reuse and storing. This gift is perfect for anniversaries, weddings and housewarmings. Amaze your friends, family and coworkers with our decorative pieces. Surprise someone special with this elegant case for a birthday, Christmas, New Years or Mothers and Fathers day. Maybe as a romantic present to your wife/husband on Valentines. Really, anyone who loves wine will appreciate it!

SHAPE & EXPERIENCE - Wine is our love and passion. That's why our Red Wine glasses are created to aerate and keep the aroma in the glass. Fine red wine is meant to be enjoyed in stemmed glasses and not in tumblers, goblets, cups and stemless glassware. Why? Because the temperature is critical to get the best experience. Our products are inspired by classic European design, made to enhances your wine experience, to get mediocre wines to taste good, and great wines to taste amazing. Glass Matters!

WHY BUY FROM US - There are very few companies that satisfies the real importance when it comes to drinking wine as we do. We highlight the wines natural flavors, provide superior quality, and our products are a treat for the eye when it comes to our box, glasses, and reusable container for storing. We also want to spread the love of wine. That is why you will get Wine Wisdom, a 180 pages e-book with all the information you need about wine for beginners and enthusiasts alike, with every purchase.

So, in ending I have to say that I love my new stemware. For someone that is new to stemware and wine I think I made an excellent choice in trying these. This product is something that I will treasure always. I am also glad that I looked up their website which is within this review. There was so much information on the site for newbies just like me. I now feel more informed and I am ready to dive right in. I received these products for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Amily Shen's "WONDERLAND" A coloring book

I have never owned an adult coloring book but I have wanted to give it a try. I had previously bought coloring pencils but had never gotten around to actually buying the books. I had seen a few in store but nothing had really grabbed my attention. Then, I came across this coloring book. It caught my attention immediately so I thought, "Why not?"

I grew up reading "Alice in Wonderland" and loved the book. I also watched every movie that came out. I am not saying I am an expert but I know a little about Alice and the White Rabbit. I could also read the book over and over again.

This book is inspired by Alice's Adventures and is told in the first person narrative. I love how it covers the story as well as lets you color the pages. It also gives you options to draw. For example, there is a page with 2 butterflies and it say's "Give them some more beautiful butterfly friends." So you draw your own. On another page in the book you are asked to write the names of your friends whom you are inviting to the party. So you feel as if you are interacting with the book. It is like you are helping to create the book and I find that interesting and fun. Also included within the pages are puzzles that you complete by finding the answers throughout the book.

This coloring book may not be for everyone. But If you grew up enjoying the classics, love whimsical books and love to read then you will enjoy this coloring book. My neighbor commented that she thought it would be for little girls. Yes, this would make an excellent gift for your child that loves to color and if they have not read "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", then it would be a great introduction to a timeless classic.

The only problem I had with this book is that it is just gorgeous and I do not want to write in it, haha. But then again, there is a part of me that wants to make my pictures as pretty as I can. I am very happy with this coloring book. I fell in love with it as soon as I opened my package and I love the way the story unfolds within the gorgeous pages.

If you would like more information you can find it on Amazon

I received this book compliments of Blogging for Books for my honest review and all opinions are my own.

Beach Towel / Sports towel by Mister Alfresco

I was very excited to try this beach towel/sports towel by Mister Alfresco. These are not your average towels at all. If you are familiar with foutas then that will give you an idea of what these towels are like. These are half towel and half Turkish Pestemal towels. One side is cotton that is very soft. The other side is bamboo that makes it very absorbent and allows it to dry quickly.

Made from 70% cotton and 30% eco-friendly bamboo this towel is similar to a microfiber towel and feels very natural. The product description says that it absorbs odors and that it would make a great dog towel but I would never use these on my dog even though he lives indoors. I think they are to nice for that. But if you like to spoil your pooch then that is up to you of course.

These are machine washable: Wash on a warm/cool cycle and then tumble dry on your coolest setting. I used cold water and then I hung it out to dry the first time I washed it. It did great and did not snag. I was concerned about the French knots bunching together but this did not become an issue when I followed the instructions for the second wash. I just made sure that I used my lowest temperature setting which is air dry. It took about 15 minutes to dry. I did not wash or dry this towel with any other item. I wanted to make sure I had no issues with the product and I didn't. Please follow the instructions when it comes to washing these. I believe that high temps would alter the state of these towels in the worst way. I washed a cashmere sweater once and placed it in the dryer. Needless to say, my Barbie rocked her new sweater.

These towels are very large 35.5 x 67 inches. They can be used for the beach (my favorite), as a travel towel, camping towel, yoga towel or anything you might like.

I believe my favorite thing about these towels is that they are very compact when folded. These fit very nicely in my day pack or beach bag without the extra bulk of a regular towel. This allows me to carry more items when going to the lake or community center pool.

I would seriously love to have a complete set of these towels. They have colors that match my color scheme in my bathroom and would give my bathroom a nice warm feel. They come in a vast array of colors:

Blue Candy Stripe

Candy Floss Pink

Gray Pebble White Black

Lagoon Blue

Pebble White Black

Sport Blue

Sport Red

Sunshine Orange

In ending I have to say that I love these towels. They add a touch of elegance to my tiny little bathroom. They are super soft and dry quickly. They can be used for anything and everything. These towels are Made in Turkey. I find that appropriate as I refer to this towel as my "Turkish Bath Towel". If you would like more information or would like to place an order you can do so here,

MISTER ALFRESCO

You can also follow them on all your social media platforms.

TWITTER: @MISTER_ALFRESCO

WWW.FACEBOOK/MISTERALFRESCO

PINTEREST: MISTER ALFRESCO

YOUTUBE: MISTER ALFRESCO

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Habor Super Bright 20 LED Solar Powered Motion Sensor Light

I was very excited when I was chosen to review this solar powered light. I have never really used solar energy at all, except for a clock. I had no idea what I was missing. Not only was this product easy to mount, it uses no batteries. I save money by using this product and that makes me so very happy.

This product came with the Solar Sensor Wall Light, mounting kit and instructions. I tested the product first to make sure it worked by placing my hand over the solar panel in a dark room, success. I then chose the area in which to mount. We have a steep set of steps in front of our apartment that has no lighting at all. This would be the perfect place for my light. It was very easy to mount except I do not have a drill, oops my bad hehehe. A drill is very important and I have filed that information away for future shopping trips. I made sure to mount this product in the morning so it would receive at least 8 hours of full sun in which to charge.

As night fell I decided to check it out and proceeded outside. As soon as my body was adjacent to the light it came on. It was dim but I was able to see. As I got closer it got really bright. I was thinking to myself "Wow, this is so awesome". I played with it a little by going behind the light, it dimmed. I moved in front of it again and it brightened. It seems I forgot myself and spent at least 15 minutes playing with my new toy.

My neighbors and I love our new gadget and we are enjoying the fact that we can see to climb our steps. You guys must check this product out. If you are looking for a security light this one is awesome. You can find it on Amazon.

Smart motion sensor With PIR motion sensor and light sensor, it will auto turn on dim light mode when in darkness or at night, and auto turn off when in daytime or bright area. It will enter into bright light mode and stay for 30s when sensing motion and then turn to dim light to save energy. Energy Saving Install the light where the panel can get full sunlight and turn the switch on. It will turn the light on automatically at night and be off during the day. High Brightness With 20pcs SMT LED, the solar wall light is very bright. The total brightness is up to 400 lumens. Please NOTE 1. The performance of the solar light depends on the geographical location, weather conditions and seasons. 2. Please fully charge the device before first use. Specification Color: Black Solar Panel: 5.5V; 0.75W; monocrystalline silicon Battery: 3.7V; 2200mah; 18650 lithium battery Light Source: 20pcs LED bulbs LED Power: 2W Charging Time: 8h sunshine Working Duration: approximately 12 hours Bright Light Mode Delay: 30s Material: ABS, PC Sensing Method: Light & Infrared of human body Sensor Sensing Distance: 3-5m Sensing Angle: 120° IP Grade: IP65 Brightness: 400lm Warranty Every product includes a 45 days money back & 18-month worry-free guarantee!
Product information above was taken from Amazon.
I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Room For Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer

In 1936 Neva Gaines Shilling spent much of her life raising her two children, running the mercantile and waiting for her husband to return to her each month. But this time he will not be returning. This time there will not be the usual presents. This time fate will deliver a blow that without the help of faith, love and perseverance she might not be able to handle.

I loved this book. I was able to identify with each of the characters and I felt as if I was experiencing Neva's troubles first hand. I did not like Arthur Randall at all and would have preferred a different ending but the book was still great. I felt really bad for the children's experiences in this book. This book made me realize that our children are affected by our actions. Even the smallest of actions can have a negative impact on our children. This book was a thrill to read and I hope to read more of Kim Vogel Sawyers work.

You can find her on facebook here KIM VOGEL SAWYER

I received this book for free for review.

VALENTIA SKIN DETOXIFYING CLAY MASK

Starting May 16th and running until June 1st, 2016 you can us code REFRESH35  to save 35% off Valentia's entire line. But 1 product or buy them all and save on the products you love most. Do not forget these are natural and organic ingredients, they are also vegan, cruelty-free and Made In The USA. I will send all of my subscribers a reminder on the 16th of this month. Mark your calendars and head over to save at Valentia.

Backstory

The Roman Goddess of healing, Valentia, relied on nature’s gifts to heal the citizens of Umbria. Whether matriarchs seeking to maintain their youthful look or farmers seeking help for sun damaged skin, Valentia used berries, herbs, barks and other natural ingredients. We also rely on all natural ingredients due to their protective, preventative and corrective powers.

Just like our namesake, Valentia Skin Care products have been formulated with natural and organic cosmetic ingredients that will repair and protect the skin.

After performing extensive research into what skin care customers find most important, we found an overwhelming demand for skin care that is natural, free of toxins and paraben-free. Natural ingredients with an organic base have proven most effective at repairing skin damaged by sun or wind, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, and reversing the effects of oxidative stress on the skin.

Taken from Valentia website

http://www.valentia.com/pages/about-us

Valentia is a company and brand that I have come to love. Not only do their products look elegant but they have given me the feeling that I am in a spa environment anytime I use them. Now who doesn't love to go to a spa?

I am always trying new skin care products as I have been looking for the right products for my skin. I have tried a lot of different brands and types with no luck. I needed a good clay mask to help exfoliate and reduce my pore size. In comes Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask.

This mask removes excess dirt and oil from your skin. Kaolin Clay helps pull dirt and oil to the surface. Hibiscus and Cranberry Fibers provide skin exfoliation leaving your skin smoother and softer. Valentia's new mask is designed to help reverse and clear away skin damage giving you healthier, firmer and stronger skin.

There are both short term and long term effects of using this product. With short term use you will see a drawing out of dirt, oil and other impurities. An improvement in skin tone and texture as well as smoother and refreshed skin.
With long term use you will see your pores greatly reduced. Your skin will become firmer and more strengthened as well as clearer with less breakouts.

When I received Valentia's Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask I was excited to try it. This was a product that I desperately needed but was unaware of at the time. I opened the container and was amazed at the scent. You can smell the cranberries and hibiscus and it is a very pleasant scent. It is more of a fruity scent than anything. The two work very well together.

The texture is what you expect with a slight twist. This is clay so you get the clay texture with the cranberry and hibiscus fibers. Those fibers will come into play when you start to remove the mask. There is a slight sheen to the clay but that provides moisture and I feel it is very important to applying this mask.

I applied the mask and it is not really thick. It looks thick in the container but once you start applying it thins out a little. The packaging says to apply generously so I did. I waited for it to dry. It took about 7 minutes but I left it on for 30. I then proceeded to remove the mask with a cloth and very warm water. I prefer water as warm as I can stand because it opens up your pores and allows them to be cleaned. Remember those fibers I was talking about? When you are removing the mask make sure you work it in a circular motion. Those fibers are going to help you exfoliate. This will clean those pores and remove dead skin cells.

I opted not to use any other products while testing this product. My face has not dried out at all. I did experience a slight burning sensation when I first applied the mask. It only lasted a minute and then stopped. I did not experience this with my second application at all. My pores are shrinking in size and my face appears clearer. My skin is smoother and feels a lot firmer.

I have to say that I am impressed with this product. I have tried many masks. They just did not work for me and left my face very dry. This product does not leave my skin dry. It is very pleasant to use as I love the scent and my skin feels so refreshed after use. My pores are shrinking and I absolutely love this product.

You can follow Valentia on Instagram.

You can also follow Valentia on Facebook.

Perhaps you might like to check out their website? Valentia Website 

Ingredients

Kaolin Clay: Clay minerals draw impurities, improve skin tone, and tighten pores for smoother firmer skin.

Plant Stem Cells: Naturally decreases the level of pro-aging toxins and works to soother the skin, reduce redness, and improve evenness.

Spirulina: A botanical stimulant full of vitamins that hydrates the skins surface and contributes to tissue regeneration of the skin.

CoQ10:  Lessens the appearance of wrinkles by reducing free radical damage and stimulating health collagen production.

Hibiscus & Cranberry Fibers: Both lend their anti-aging properties to firm and reinforce the skin, helping to reduce the creation of new wrinkles.

Sponsored by Brandbacker