JVC Wireless Earbud Soft Gumy Wireless Earbud, Violet (HAFX9BTV) by JVC

I've been using these Bluetooth earbuds for 2 months. Generally speaking, I use them to listen to audiobooks, but I have used them to listen to music as well.

These earbuds connect very easily. In my house I was able to get more than 20 feet away from my phone and still be connected. Outside, the range was less - but that has been my experience with every set of Bluetooth headphones. 

They are perfect for spoken voice. They are not bad for music, just not great. They are what you would expect for a set of Bluetooth earbuds.

The manufacturer claims that they take 2.5 hours to fully charge and will work for 5 hours. In my experience that seems about right.

They are very comfortable in the ears and do come with different sized tips for different sized ears. That is pretty standard for ear buds. 

They do not come with any sort of case. I re-used an old case and carried them in it. I would recommend a case rather than just sticking them in your pocket and fishing them back out.

The set comes with a microphone so you can answer the phone without having to shut down the Bluetooth. The microphone is okay, but not great. Good for a short conversation but that's about it.

I rate this Bluetooth earbuds 4 stars out of 5 and they can be found on Amazon.com here: JVC Wireless Earbud Soft Gumy Wireless Earbud, Violet (HAFX9BTV).

Note: I was sent a free set of these earbuds as a part of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.

POLY and BARK EVA TASK CHAIR in VEGAN LEATHER, GREY by Poly and Bark

When assembled, this entry level office chair is really much nicer than the typical entry level office chair. The "vegan leather" is very soft and smooth. The padding in the chair is very comfortable and the chair travels up and down very smoothly and easily. However, the chair does not tilt back at all - it is at a 90 degree angle and not going anywhere. So, if you like a tilt to the back of your chair you will not want this chair. 

On the whole, this chair was very easy to put together until I got to the last step. After I spread out the parts I timed how long it would take to actually build the chair. After 20 minutes I was all done except for attaching the back of the chair. 

Same bolt - different view

The cross threaded bolt

But, finishing the job took another 25 minutes because of the size of the base plate that attaches the seat to the post. The plate is simply too large because it looks like it was designed to fit on more than one chair. It doesn't really fit this chair because it partially blocks the arm that holds the chair back so that 2 of the screws don't align properly. 

All secured

I have included two pictures of the problem.
To fix the problem, I took off the base plate and slid it as far from the where the arm that holds the chair back attaches and reattached it. Both chair back screws did fit - but both are certainly cross-threaded because I couldn't get them into the holes at the correct perpendicular angle. I had a very hard time getting the last screw in. It is most certainly not coming back out again. Having to re-attach the base plate and then fighting with the screws added an extra 20 minutes to what should have been a 25 minute build time.

I rate this chair 4 stars out of 5. I am taking off a star because of the unnecessarily difficult build. 

This chair can be found on Amazon.com here: POLY and BARK EVA TASK CHAIR in VEGAN LEATHER, GREY.

Note: I received a sample chair through the Amazon Vine program so that I could write an honest review.

Hisense RS09DR1SS 2.7 cu. ft. Single Door Compact Refrigerator, Silver by Hisense

This is the type of refrigerator that I would call a "dorm" refrigerator because it's they type I had in college nearly 30 years ago. Actually, it's nicer than the one I had 30 years ago because I had one of the 1.7 cubic foot cube freezer. This fridge is 2.7 cubic feet.

This fridge is really designed for holding drinks and leftovers. There is a freezer that I have never tried out because, in my experience, the freezers in these types of refrigerators don't really freeze things - they just keep them colder. I have used this refrigerator for more than 6 months in my garage and it has maintained a steady temperature in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

The door is reversible, meaning you can change it so it opens to the left rather than the default of opening to the right. It is not very heavy so it can easily move into a dorm or an office.

The only complaint that I have with the fridge is the shelving on the door. I am not fond of the can holding contraption because I keep the fridge on the floor and it is really hard to work when you have to bend over. If it were on a table it might be easy to use, I suppose. and there is a lot of wasted space next to it.

I rate this fridge 4 stars out of 5.

This refrigerator can be found on Amazon.com here: Hisense RS09DR1SS 2.7 cu. ft. Single Door Compact Refrigerator, Silver.

Note: I received one of these refrigerators as part of the Amazon Vine Program so that I could write an honest review.

Sunex 30080 3/8-Inch Drive 80-Tooth Low Profile Chrome Ratchet with Teardrop Handle by Sunex

Confession time. I am not really a tool guy. This doesn't mean that I don't have just all of the tools that most guys have, it just means that I don't go in for the top-of-the-line tools. 

Priced at $32.77, this is by far the most expensive ratchet that I own. It probably costs more than both of the very basic metric and standard sets that I own - put together.

So, I took this ratchet to my father for his opinion. He worked in appliance repair for more than 30 years and knows his hand tools.

Here are his comments:

-Nice ratcheting action (the manufacturer is very proud of this - the ratchet has 80 teeth which means you don't have to move the ratchet handle much to get a new angle on things).

-He liked the fact that the handle has a fat part for you to hold in your hand - it's a simple touch but it makes it easier to use over the long haul (my cheap ratchets do not have a "fat" handle).

-He also liked the fact that the handle does not have grips in the handle. Over the long haul those grips start to hurt your hand. 

No eject button

-He did not like the fact that it does not have an eject button in the head to kick off the socket. If you use the finest sockets on the market, this might not be an issue, but...see my comments in the 2nd paragraph.

So, I rate this ratchet 4 stars out of 5 because of the eject button.

This ratchet can be found on Amazon.com here: Sunex 30080 3/8-Inch Drive 80-Tooth Low Profile Chrome Ratchet with Teardrop Handle.

Note: I received one of these ratchets as part of the Amazon Vine Program so that I could write an honest review.

FORE® Evolution Ear Buds with Built-In Microphone (Transparent Red) by FORE

The FORE Evolution is an entry-level set of wired ear buds. The red speakers are distinctive as is the fact that you can remove them from the wire. I have no idea why you would want to do that, though.

The FORE Evolution with all that it comes with: the ear buds,
the case and the extra ear bud tips.

The sound is good but not amazing. I listened to audiobooks and streaming music on the Chromebook and my phone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the audio and they are certainly not a bad set of headphones (I own a bad set that are my emergency back up set - these are very good in comparison) - they are just not an amazing set of ear buds. But, then again, they don't cost a ton, either.

They come with a nice little case and two extra ear bud tips.

These ear buds come with a built-in microphone so you can use speak on your phone with them. This is a pretty common thing to add nowadays. When I use them with my phone I am told that I sound slightly worse than if I were using the speaker phone mode on my phone. Not horrible, but I wouldn't recommend having a long conversation while using them.

The only real issue that I have with these ear buds, besides the so-so microphone is the way you have to put them on. They are designed to loop the wire over your ears so that if they get tugged on the wire doesn't just pull the ear bud out of your ear. They do accomplish that goal but it does take some practice to get used to putting them on. You have to put the correct ear bud in the correct ear and they only go in a certain way. Once you learn the trick, it's not that hard but it does take some practice. 

Note: I received a free set of these ear buds in exchange for an honest review. I think these will become my new backup ear buds.

When this review was written, these ear buds cost $15.99 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: FORE Evolution Ear Buds.

Wired Earbuds with Microphone,Tangle Free Flat Cord Stereo in Ear Headphones with Mic Bass by AIKONSOUND

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

These wired earbuds by AIKONSOUND are a solid entry at the entry level. There is nothing particularly fancy about them except that the flat cord is pretty much tangle free like the manufacturer promises and gold and black color scheme is striking.

These headphones will not compete in a head-to-head with pricey big-named earbuds, but then again you're not shelling out big bucks for this set either. If you lose them or leave them behind in the gym, it's not such a big deal.

Music sounds good, but not great, on these earbuds. Certainly there is nothing to complain about, but also nothing to brag about. I also listened to audiobooks with these earbuds and I thought they were excellent for voice audio.

I used the microphone feature on the headset as a phone and found that it worked quite well. I was told by the people I spoke to that I sounded better than when I am on my speakerphone and almost as good as when I am talking on the phone normally. I did not use any of the buttons on the microphone when I called. I hate all of those tiny buttons so I just my phone's screen to answer. 

The earbuds come with no instructions and no replacement ear tips, which are typically included. The case it comes is striking, but would be impractical to re-use.

Bottom line, great price, better than entry-level headphones you'll get for the same price in a big box store but not fancy. Workaday headphones, for sure.

I rate these headphones 4 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free set of these earbuds in exchange for an honest review. I have been using them for about a month with my phone and two different Chromebooks. I listened to music, audiobooks and watched streaming video with them while assessing them.

As of the date of this review, these earbuds cost $9.58 on Amazon.com. Click here to check out current pricing: AIKONSOUND Tangle Free Wired Earbuds.

Blusmart Bluetooth Headphones V4.1 Wireless Sport Stereo Noise Canceling and Hands Free Headset with Microphone - Black

The Blusmart Bluetooth Headphones are an entry level set, coming in at the time of this review at $9.99 on Amazon (check here for current pricing).

The package comes with a charging cord, two extra earpieces and one extra set of ear anchors. There is an extensive instruction book that is easy to understand but clearly not written by a native speaker of English.

My family tested this headset extensively over the last 6 weeks. We used when walking the dog and working around the house. We listened to music and audiobooks and found it to do a workman-like job. The performance is not particularly exceptional, but it is not bad either. Very middle-of-the-road.

We connected it to three different model Samsung phones and a Chromebook. The only time we had difficulty pairing was with the Chromebook but that is pretty normal for the Chromebook - it generally has a hard time finding new devices.

I used the device as a phone and found its microphone to be very sensitive. It works great if you are in a quiet environment, but people I talked to could hear when I was doing things like shuffling through papers and said that it sounded as though I were wadding them up instead. I cannot imagine that this would work well in a car or another loud environment. I did not use features of the headset to make calls, I typically just connect it and use the phone normally so that I don't have to fumble around with the headset. 

For the price, this is a great headset. I rate it 4 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free sample of this headset so that I could write a fair review.

18 LED Desk Lamp by BlueFire

One Issue Prevents this Otherwise Excellent Lamp from Getting 5 Stars

You might question the need for a little desk lamp like this one. After all, you probably already have lighting at your desk and you can see just fine. I know I did, but I don't any more.

This lamp would be completely inadequate for a home desk. It is too small, it isn't tall enough, it would have to sit in the middle of your work space to be of any use.

But, I have found this kind of lamp to be a must for my desk anyway. There are times when you just need a whole lot of light in a little area and that's when I grab this light to show me what I have been missing, especially now that I am getting a little older and I have to use reading glasses to look at the tiny print that come with those little "How to..." guides that come with so many products nowadays.

If you live in a dorm room (or something like that) this lamp would be fantastic. You can light a small space and not bother your roommate when he or she is trying to sleep.

Pros:

-This lamp is not wired. It is rechargeable and each charge lasts up to 10 hours. You can leave it plugged in and use it like a regular lamp or you can take it right where you need the light.

-The strength of the light is adjustable - just slide your finger along the slider to make it brighter or darker. Or, just tap where you think you might want it.

-The base is heavy enough to keep the lamp upright no matter how far you stretch out the gooseneck lamp.

Cons:

The only con is the charging cord. It is a fairly long USB cord (which is cool - it makes it much easier to charge when you can just plug it into your computer) with a non-standard end. A lot of electronics use the Android micro-USB to re-charge their batteries and that is great because then you don't have to keep track of a special cord. You can re-charge your phone, your Kindle, your Bluetooth headset, your wireless speaker and your desk lamp with the exact same cord. But this lamp requires you to keep this extra cord around just for this lamp.

Because of the cord issue, I rate this otherwise excellent lamp 4 stars out of 5.

When this review was written this desk lamp cost $18.99 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: 18 LED Desk Lamp by BlueFire.

Note: I received a complimentary lamp in exchange for an honest review.

AUKEY Wired In-Ear Headphones Moving-Coil Headset

As a general rule, I like wired headphones better than Bluetooth headphones. They sound a little better and they are much easier to set up (they don't have to be paired, etc.).

These AUKEY wired headphones have a different type of cord. They are a type of braided plastic and pretty much stay tangle free as well as have a unique, eye-catching look. The cord is very long - long enough that I could put my phone in the pocket of my shorts and not have the cord tug the earphones out of my ear.

They also have a unique style of earpiece. You have to run the wire up and over your ear to get the earpiece in your ear. Once you screw it in your ear just right it sounds pretty good. I found that I have to spend entirely too long to get it to fit for my tastes. You remember what I said about it taking too long to pair Bluetooth headphones? I feel the same way about headphones that have to go into my ear in a certain special way.

The headphones come with two extra sets of ear tips so you can adjust them to fit your particular ears, an instruction book, a two year warranty. It also comes with a case which I think is important for the long term health of your earphones. The case will stop them from getting tangled around stuff in your pocket or your backpack and getting torn up. 

So, how do they sound? Quite good. I have no absolutely no complaints about the sound. I have used them to listen to music and to audiobooks and they make quality sound.

I rate these headphones 4 stars out of 5.

At the time of this review these headphones cost $19.99. Click here for current pricing: AUKEY Wired In-Ear Headphones Moving-Coil Headset.

Note: I received a free set of headphones in order to make an honest review. I will be keeping these for my teenage daughter who has a way of wearing out headphones.

Edifier P220 In-Ear Headset with Microphone - Black

I teach high school and all day long I see students wad up their ear buds and shove them in their pocket. Later, they reach into their pocket and fish out some part of the earbuds and then yank them out. They also let the ear buds bounce along the ground behind them while they are walking around staring at their text messages. Knowing that this is fairly typical behavior and this behavior is not very good for the long-term well-being of a set of ear buds, the Edifier P220 is an affordable alternative to most name brand sets.

Most importantly, these ear buds produce quality music. No matter how affordable, I would have to count down if the performance was not there. This is not a case of "These headphones produce good music considering how affordable they are." No, they produce good music. Period.

I have been using them for the last month or so to listen to a variety of sound such as music, streaming video, and audiobooks. They have a rich sound. The bass is strong, but not overwhelming. The highs are strong, but the music does not sound tinny. They can easily get loud enough to completely drown out the outside world if you choose to do so. Entry level personal headsets have gotten so much better in the last few years and this set demonstrates that well.

These are extremely light weight and very comfortable.

The earphones feature a microphone option so listeners who are streaming over their phones can answer the phone and use the headset as a "hands free" option. My experience with the microphone was a mixed bag. I could hear the people I was talking to perfectly but my voice was muffled. Understandable, but not comfortable for the person I was talking to, no matter how I maneuvered the microphone.

The package comes with one plug and play set of ear buds and three different sizes of ear tips.

I rate these headphones 4 out of 5 stars. I took off a point for the poor quality of the phone unit.

At the time of this review this headset cost $22.90 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Edifier P220.

Note: I received a free set of these ear buds in order to make a fair and honest review after testing them out. In this case I used them for a month and will gladly save them back for one of my own children to use after they destroy a set of ear buds with the behaviors I described above in the first paragraph.

Floating Pencil Cup Desk Organizer (black) by TLTrading

Normally, I review consumer tech on this blog. I also state that I review gadgets and gizmos. This pencil cup is none of that. It is just a cute and clever pencil cup. A novelty item but I like it and since a lot of the stuff that I review ends up on a desk I decided to include this doodad.

It comes in two pieces in a box. Assembly takes about 1 second. If it is not immediately obvious to you how to assemble it, there are picture directions on the side of the box.

It will hold about 20 pencils but I don't think that this pencil holder will last long if you jam it full. It is a novelty item. Put 3 or 4 pencils in it. If you go to recruitment fairs or the like it would be a great place to put giveaway pencils. 

Note: I was given a free pencil cup in exchange for an honest review.

I rate this pencil cup 4 stars out of 5. It could be sturdier, but that is not it's main purpose. It's designed to be a cute gag that is sort of useful and it fulfills that brilliantly.

At the time of this review this pencil cup cost $6.99. Click here for current pricing: Floating Pencil Cup Desk Organizer.

Bluetooth Sport Headset with FM Radio, Microphone (Orange) by AIKONSOUND

As a rule, I am not a fan of the bigger over the head type of headphones. Although the sound is always awesome, eventually the weight of the headphones themselves becomes an issue or they phones themselves start to hurt my ears and the top of my head.. Not the inside of my ears - the outside part, where the headphones are sitting and rubbing. I don't know if it's because they pinch too tight (I have a large head) or what - but they start to hurt.

This set of headphones by AIKONSOUND solves all three of these problems. It is very lightweight and it does not hurt my ears or the top of my head.

But, do they work well?

Absolutely. This is a fine set of headphones.

The Bluetooth pairs easily with my Samsung Galaxy 3 and my wife's Galaxy 4. Very easy - we didn't even bother to check the instructions.

Pros:

-Comfortable fit;

-Easily pairs with Bluetooth;

-The buttons are all easy to operate;

-Comes with an optional wired feature. If you have a wire with two male ends you can plug the headphones into a non-Bluetooth device. The headphones DO NOT come with a wire;

-The headphones also come with a mini-USB cord that you can plug into your computer to charge the device;

-The headphones come with an FM radio that sounds very good.

-Most importantly, the music sounds great, even when turned up very loud! Voice also sounds great (I listen to audiobooks).

Cons:

The set includes a telephone feature so you can answer the phone while wearing them without having to undo all of the Bluetooth connections. The phone feature sounds horrible;

-When you turn on the earphones there is a heavily accented voice that is speaking English. I don't know how many times I have heard her voice and I simply cannot make out the entire sentence she is saying. I guess it doesn't really matter since I pair it just fine without the device coaching me but still...

-The instruction manual is written in broken English. Read it with a sense of humor and always remember that the "blue dictator light" is the "blue indicator light"! 

Note: I received a set of these headphones for review purposes in exchange for an honest review.

I rate this set of headphones 4 stars out of 5.

This set of headphones cost $26.99 at the time of this review. Click here for current pricing: Bluetooth Sport Headset with FM Radio, Microphone (Orange) by AIKONSOUND.

Vomach Headphone with In-Line Microphone, Noise-Isolating Anti-Tangle Flat Wire, 47.25 Inch (1.2M) long cord (Sleek Black)

A great set of headphones. 

I bet your kids are bugging you about headphones on a pretty regular basis. They listen to them non-stop and they pretty much treat them like garbage. They drag them on the ground, they wad them up and shove them in their pockets. They jerk them back out of their pockets by the first piece they grab. It's not pretty.

Photo by DWD.

But it gets a lot prettier when those headphones cost you only $9.99.

For $9.99 you get a pretty good deal:

#1) Non-tangling cord. Seriously, this cord doesn't get tangled.

#2) Turn your phone into a hands-free device. The phone setting on these headphones is excellent.

#3) Dependability. Take care of these headphones and they'll take care of you. My daughter has been using these headphones for nearly two months after I used them off and on for nearly another month. She stores them in an old protective case when they are not being used, which is pretty rare. She almost always has at least one earbud in an ear.

But, it is not all perfect.

The reason that my daughter even has the headphones is the fact that I cannot get the "conch" design earbuds in my ear no matter how I try. It's not just these particular earbuds - it's the style - they just don't fit into my ears. I figure I am not the only one with this problem so I deducted a point.

I rate these earbuds 4 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, these earbuds cost $9.99 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: Vomach headphones.

Note: I received a set of these earbuds at a substantial discount so that I could write an unbiased review.

EMIE Memo 8000mAh Compact Silicone Cover External Battery with Smart LED Indicator (Black and Green)

Extra battery power for cell phones and tablets is a hot new market since batteries never seem to last long enough, especially if you are a heavy user of apps or Instagram or the like. If you can't leave your phone plugged into a computer or into a car's electrical socket than you could easily run out of power before your day is done.

The EMIE Memo 8000mAh external battery fits this bill perfectly. 

The box and what comes in it: Battery, micro-USB cord
and the instruction manual.

I charged my battery up and then let it sit for a couple of weeks.  My Samsung Galaxy 3 (Yes, I am still using a SG3) was nearly dead and the Lomui battery quickly charged it to 100%. And, the next day I did it again and it charged it almost all of the way again (90%) before dying. To me, that replicates what most people will do - charge it and leave it in a backpack and forget about it for weeks at a time. Good news - it will do just that.

This battery is designed to be about the size of a smart phone and weighs just a little more than one. It easily fits in anywhere a smart phone fits - jacket pockets, internal backpack sleeves, etc. - until it is needed. 

It has an instruction book with a lot of very good pictures and also a lot of very bad English that manages to get its point across anyway.

This battery comes in nine different color/decoration combinations and has a more powerful battery level (10000mAh).

Pros:

-Holds its charge and is good for about two charges of a smart phone

-Anti-slip coating all around the body so it won't slide off inclined surfaces like school desks or car dashboards easily.

-Sized like a smart phone so it stores in the same places that you would store a smart phone.

-Least importantly, but always nice - this is a good-looking device.

Cons:

-It does tell you what the charge level is but it rather than a traditional design to tell you the charge level it features a color code system that works only so long as you remember the color code system. Shake the battery and a light on the end lights up red (70-100%), blue (30-70%) and green (0-30%). To me, those colors are counter-intuitive. Red should be "Stop! Re-charge this thing!" and green should be "You can go - this thing is all charged up!"

I rate this product 4 stars out of 5. Very good but that charge indicator system needs some work.

This battery cost $23.99 on Amazon.com at the time of this review. Check here for current pricing: EMIE Memo 8000mAh Compact Silicone Cover External Battery with Smart LED Indicator (Black and Green).

Foxnovo® Selfie Stick, Self-Portrait Monopod [Battery Free] (sky blue)

If you have ever wanted to take a group selfie or just wanted to get you and a whole lot of the background in a selfie, a selfie stick is the thing you want. This particular selfie stick stretches out to 33 inches (almost 36 inches if you count the phone clamp) - that doesn't sound like much but it can really add a lot to your picture. There are selfie sticks that extend longer but not many are as easy to fold up and store away as this one. 

The set up is easy. Your phone locks into a sturdy spring-loaded clamp on the end of the stick. Large devices such as a tablet will not fit into this clamp. 

The camera can swivel left and right and up and down and so you can pick the best angle and then tighten everything down. The extension works like an old-fashioned radio or TV antenna and it is very sturdy. 

This selfie stick folds up into a very tidy package. While I was on a recent trip I was able to fold it up and stick it in my pocket and carry it around comfortably. At one point I forgot it was in the front pocket of my shorts and thought I had left it behind in a gift shop!

This stick comes in two colors: Sky blue and black.

On a newer Apple phone the white cord plugs into the earphone plug and makes the camera snap pictures. Now you can take pictures with a button in the handle of the selfie stick. Aim it at yourself or maybe turn on the video and get some cool video footage of a concert (no heads in the way!).

But, if you have an Android or another operating system you will have trouble. The manufacturer promises in the instructions (written on the side of the box) that it will work with Samsung Galaxy 4 and above after it downloads an app. I have a Galaxy 3 so I just used the 5 second delay feature and held the stick up and took my picture. It worked just as well and I was pleased with the results.

I rate this selfie stick 4 stars out of 5.

At the time of this review this selfie stick cost $8.99 on Amazon. Click here to check current pricing:  Foxnovo® Selfie Stick (Sky Blue).

Note: I received a sample stick for free so that I could review it and write an honest review.

Smart Weigh High Precision Digital Milligram Scale, with Case, Tweezers, Calibration Weights, by Smart Weigh

This scale comes in a very nice black semi-hard sided foam-lined case with two 20 gram weights that are designed to calibrate the scale. It requires 4 AAA

batteries, which are included. The case even includes a space to carry AAA batteries so that you can remove them from the scale for storage. This would protect the scale just in case one of the batteries would start to leak. The case also includes a set a tweezers (and a place to store them). There is a set of instructions in an expandable mesh pocket in the top of the case.

The scale is very easy to operate but I did have a hard time getting it to measure 20 grams as 20.000 grams. I kept getting a weight of 20.002 and 20.004 grams which, in the scheme of things is pretty darn close, but it is still slightly off. It started off a little farther than that but I kept on re-calibrating the tare weight and eventually it got that

close. It could be that the weights themselves are off by that little bit - I wouldn't know because I don't have any other scale that will weigh as precise as this one.

It has a flip-down cover to protect the item that is being weighed. 

The scale measures in grams, ounces, carats, troy ounces, pennyweight and grains.

I rate this scale 4 stars out of 5. It is weighing off that little bit - very, very close but no cigar. If you can live with being off that little bit, this whole package is very nice. The scale feels solid, the case is impressive. It all looks like it was designed for somebody that knows what they are doing.

Note: I received a free scale from Smart Weigh so that I could look at it and try it out in order to write an honest review. 

At the time of this review, this scale cost $49.99 on Amazon. Click here for current pricing: Smart Weigh High Precision Digital Milligram Scale, with Case

BestFire® Land Rover Evoque High Quality Bass Desktop Speaker (Black)

So, you want to rock out with a little style? Regular speakers are for boring people and you want something that stands out?


This speaker just may do it for you then.

Modeled after the Land Rover Evoque crossover SUV, this little speaker is also a true toy car. It's wheels do roll and it is sharp looking. 

When you charge it, this car's rear lights turn on. When you play it, the front and rear lights go on. 

The speaker can be played with a 3.5 mm line-in or using the Aux in plug (an over-sized mini-USB). The speaker is powered by rechargeable batteries that can easily be removed and replaced when they start to fail. The speaker can be played while it is charging but I found that it makes a slight hissing sound when you do. 

The speaker comes with the 3.5 mm line-in cord and a separate cord to charge the battery.

This little speaker does make quite a bit of noise for its size. It would be great for a home office, not so great to rock out a frat party. 

The speaker measures about 7.5 inches long, about 3.5 inches wide and about 3 inches tall. It comes in three colors: red, black and gold.

The speaker has an built-in FM radio butI could not get it to change stations. 

I rate this speaker 4 stars out of 5. I was bothered that I could not get the FM radio receiver to work correctly.

Note: I received a free speaker for testing purposes in exchange for an honest review.

As of the time of this review, this speaker cost $18.66 on Amazon. Click here to check current pricing: BestFire® Land Rover Evoque High Quality Bass Desktop Speaker (Black)

Ipow Foldable Selfie Stick

  Easy to take along - even fits in your pocket!

If you have ever wanted to take a group selfie or just wanted to get you and a whole lot of the background in a selfie, a selfie stick is the thing you want. This particular selfie stick stretches out to 39 inches - that doesn't sound like much but it can really add a lot to your picture.

The set up is easy. Your phone locks into a sturdy spring-loaded clamp on the end of the stick. Large devices such as a tablet will not fit into this clamp. 

The camera can swivel left and right and up and down and so you can pick the best angle and then tighten everything down. The extension works like an old-fashioned radio or TV antenna and it is very sturdy. 

Everything that comes in the box.

This selfie stick folds up into a very tidy package. You could easily fold it up and stick it away in a backpack or even in your front pocket if you are wearing shorts or khaki style pants. 

On a newer Apple phone the white cord plugs into the earphone plug and makes the camera snap pictures. Now you can take pictures with a button in the handle of the selfie stick. Aim it at yourself or maybe turn on the video and stick your camera up into your very scary attic.

But, if you have an Android or another operating system you will have trouble. The manufacturer promises in the instruction booklet that it will work with Samsung Galaxy 4 and above after it downloads an app. I have a Galaxy 3 so I just used the 5 second delay feature and held the stick up and took my picture. It worked just as well and I was pleased with the results.

I rate this selfie stick 4 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review this selfie stick cost $8.98 on Amazon. You can click here to check on current pricing: .Ipow Foldable Selfie stick

Note: I was sent a selfie stick for review purposes so that I could write an informed review.

Flatworld® Manual Open & Close Light Vinyl Umbrella

Small, convenient umbrellas come in all sorts of sizes and weights. This umbrella is built to be as lightweight as possible. We took it to the four Disney World kingdoms with us over the course of a week because the weather reports forecast rain every afternoon. My nine-year-old carried a small, lightweight backpack and we tucked this inside of the backpack for her precisely because this umbrella is so lightweight. While we were at Epcot we got nailed by a very strong thunderstorm and this umbrella performed quite well for her.

The umbrella and the odd case. The umbrella comes with a purely
decorative, whimsical cloth flower sewn to it. Right after I took this picture
 I cut the flower off with a knife. I am not that whimsical.

When I say that this umbrella is lightweight, I mean that it weighs less than any umbrella that I have ever used. It is not intended to be an everyday umbrella so if you live in London or Seattle this would not be your best option. I carry it in my car and would not hesitate to toss it in a backpack if I were going out and rain was likely.

The umbrella comes with an odd case that I like like the longer I have it. Many umbrellas have a sleeve that you slide on it to protect it. But, if you use the umbrella and then slide the sleeve on it the sleeve gets all wet and it's hard to put the umbrella away because everything around it gets wet. This case feels like it is made out of the carpet that you find in automobile trunks. After the rains at Epcot we just shook off the umbrella and stuck it back in the case and nothing got wet in her backpack.

This umbrella is pricey when compared to other small travel umbrellas but, rest assured, it does work and is ultra-lightweight. The umbrella comes in two colors: pink and black.

This umbrella cost $29.99 on Amazon at the time of this review. Click here to check for current pricing: Flatworld® 3 Folding Manual Open & Close Umbrella.


Note: I received a free umbrella in exchange for an honest review.

Audiosharp AS1206 Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 Lightweight Sweatproof Headsets

  A Hybrid Bluetooth Set

The traditional Bluetooth headset is that in one ear set that people use to talk on the phone. But, almost all Bluetooth stereo sets have a phone feature as well. But, what if you want to talk on the phone and drive your car at the same time with one of those stereo headphones? If you put both speakers in your ears you really can't hear what's going on when you drive, but if you just leave one headphone in then the other one is dangling around.

This most distinguishing feature is that the connecting cable between the two is detachable so that you can use one of the earphones and use it as a single earpiece. Re-connect the cable and you have stereo headphone set. Note: because of this feature, both earpieces have to be charged separately but the set comes with a dual plugged USB charger cord to get that done.

The attached ear hooks swivel and are actually very comfortable. On the whole, this set feels well-built.

The music quality is pretty typical of what you get in a Bluetooth set. Everything is clear and sounds good, just not exceptional. 

The phone quality is just so-so. I called my mom and she said I sounded a "little fuzzy", but completely understandable.

This headset comes in three different colors: black, red and white.

I rate this headset 4 stars out of 5.

As of the writing of this review, this headset cost $29.99 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: Audiosharp AS1206 Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 (White)