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.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Melkco Herman Series Book Style PU Leather Case With 3 card slot by Melkco

The Good News and the Bad News

The Good News:

-This is a beautiful case, made of soft PU leather. 

-It is well-stitched.

The Bad News (and the most important news for Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus owners):

- It does not fit the phone! 

I tried and I tried and I tried and I cannot get my phone to fit into the plastic mold that holds the phone inside the case.

I have three other phone cases for this phone and all three of them snap right on. I pushed, I pulled and I just tried to force my phone to fit and it just won't.

Cases in this product line for other phones seem to fit, but the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus case does not.

I was sent this case for free in exchange for an honest review. I tried to contact the person who sent me this phone case to find out if there was some sort of manufacturing glitch and if they were willing to send me another one that actually fit. My e-mail was ignored for more than a month.

I rate this case 1 star out of 5.

This product can be found on Amazon.com here: Melkco Herman Series Book Style Phone Case.

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.

Hippih Men's Roman Quartz Wrist Watch with Stainless Steel Case Leather Band

Hippih sells these entry level watches that look much nicer than the price suggests. 

The classic Roman numerals are easy-to-read. There is a second hand and a little window that shows the date.

The band is black PU leather and it is adjustable. The watch is water-resistant but not waterproof.

This watch would be a great gift for someone, especially if you are on a budget. It comes in a nice presentation box so it looks a lot more expensive than it really is.

I rate this watch 5 stars out of 5.

This watch cost $9.99 at the time of this review. Check here for current pricing: Hippih Men's Roman Numeral Wrist Watch.

Note: I received a free watch so that I could evaluate it and write a review. 

Hippih 10" Silent Quartz Decorative Wall Clock with Glass Cover

I have had the pleasure of having multiple Hippih clocks offered to me for review and they have all been great. So when a vendor came to me and offered this clock for free in exchange for an honest review I knew it would be a great clock. And I was right.

This clock has a very simple, easy-to-read face - white with black numbers. The simple design would be great for an office. It is a 10 inch clock, which means it is smaller than some office clocks.

The clock comes with a battery and a special hook to hang the clock with. The clock keeps great time, which is, of course, the most important thing.

I rate this clock 5 stars out of 5.

As of the date of the writing of this review, this clock cost $12.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to check current pricing: Hippih 10" Silent Quartz Decorative Wall Clock with Glass Cover.

3Cworld Multifunction Kitchen Shears/Scissors - Heavy Duty (Take Apart) Kitchen Tool (Green and Gray)

This is a serious pair of kitchen shears or scissors.

Positives:

-Insanely sharp.

-Both sides of the scissor blades are sharp for different kinds of cutting.

-The scissors can be easily taken apart. That's great for cleaning but it also means that the sharpened "backs" of the scissor blades can be used as knives.

-It has a nutcracker feature. I can't imagine why I would need that but it's better to have it than not have it.

-Rubberized handles provide a little cushion for the hands as well as making them anti-slip.

-The backs of the handles have a flathead screwdriver head and a bottle opener.

-These scissors are so strong that the seller claims that they will cut through bone. 

-Includes a matching sheath with a strong magnet so you can attach it to your refrigerator. The magnet is very strong. This pair of scissors does not move.

Negatives:

-Sometimes the screwdriver head and bottle opener get in the way. It takes a while to re-learn how not to run them into things.

Neither positive nor negative - the instructions. The box is covered with printed instructions in what may well be some of most amusing and confusing translations of the English ever printed. For example: "after cutting and pasting, scissors and good, don't play with scissors to play. Cut out of things to clean up. Make it a habit to clean and tidy" and "set multiple functions, the parties meet the ingredientsManage demand."

But, I didn't get these scissors for the wonderful language on the box. I got them to be a useful tool in the kitchen and they certainly are that.

I rate these scissors 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free set of shears so that I could write an honest review. We have used for almost 9 months and we love them.

As of the time of this review, these shears cost $7.95 on Amazon. Click here to check on current pricing: 3Cworld Multifunction Kitchen Shears/Scissors - Heavy Duty.

AUKEY Surge Protector 6-Port 30W/6A USB Charger with 8 Outlets Power Strip & 5ft Cord

This is the surge protector of your dreams.

It comes with 8 traditional 3-prong plugs and 6 USB charger plugs and a five foot long cord. It can also be mounted on a wall.

I have been using this surge protector for about two months, including taking it with me for a week long hospital stay. It was fantastic for charging my computer, my phone, my Fitbit and powering the devices my family came with when they spent the afternoon.

I have since moved it to my bedroom where it powers everything around my nightstand, including charging my phone, my Kindle and all kinds of other devices that are charged with a USB cord as well as powering a clock and a light.

It would also be great for a desk - you could easily power your computer but not fill up its USB ports with all your little devices.

I rate this surge protector 5 stars out of 5.

NOTE: I received a free surge protector so that I could evaluate it and write an honest review. This one is a keeper, for sure.

At the time of this review this surge protector was listed at $29.99 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: AUKEY Surge Protector.

Hippih 12" Silent Wooden Wall Clock

I have three Hippih wall clocks and two Hippih watches and they all keep great time. I've had this one for several weeks and it has kept perfect time.

The unfinished wood finish won't match all rooms but it would look great in a cabin or a "man cave" with a lot of wood finish.

The numbers are painted on a glass face, the hands move behind the glass.

The clock comes with a AA battery and a custom hook to hang on the wall. The hook has four little nails in it and it is practically guaranteed to stick you as you unpack the clock.

I rate this clock 5 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, the Hippih 12" Wooden Clock cost $29.99. Click here to check current pricing.

Note: I received a free wall clock so that I could make an honest, informed review. This is a great clock.

Charger for Fitbit Alta, AFUNTA Replacement Charger for Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker with Reset Button (3ft)

If you have a Fitbit Alta, this replacement charger may be worth investing in. The charger that comes with the Fitbit Alta is perfectly good, but it has a short cord, which can be problematic.

This replacement charger (not an official charger from Fitbit) has a 3 foot long cord, works every bit as well as the original charger. I am totally happy with it.

Note: I received this charger at no cost so that I could write an honest review.

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.

Aprince 4.72 inch Universal Shower Head 7-Settings

I'm no plumber but changing my regular shower head to this handheld shower head was very, very easy. All it takes is a shower hose, a shower head mount, plumbers tape and a pair of pliers. This is truly a DIY project. It took me about 20 minutes from start to finish, including get out everything and clean up.

I changed out a traditional shower head that had been up for at least 18 years. There are seven settings with this new head, ranging from sort of a wide hard mist to more of a narrow hard stream. I am sure you will be able to find one that you'll like for everyday use.

This shower head does not include the materials to convert your regular shower to a handheld shower. You need a mount it to the wall with or wall mount or to a piece that goes where your old shower head used to be. You also need a shower hose. I was able to get both of these at the local big box hardware store for about $15. The seller of this shower head offers a deal for these items with the purchase of the shower head on Amazon.com.

I rate this shower head 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a sample shower head so that I could test it out and write an honest review. I've been using this shower head for about a month and it is great.

This shower head cost $15.99 on Amazon.com at the time of this review. Click here to check on current pricing: Aprince 4.72 inch Universal Shower Head 7-Settings.

Aidonger Unisex Vintage Canvas and Leather Casual Backpack

I teach in a large, urban high school. Every day, I see the value of a spacious, durable backpack as my students lag a big pile of books, a laptop, a binder, notebooks and more from classroom to classroom because they never get a chance to go to their lockers during the day.

This backpack is made of heavy duty canvas with a liner on the inside. There are two large pockets on the inside - the main pocket and a spacious padded computer sleeve. You can stuff a lot into this backpack. There are also two small pockets sewn into the lining.

The backpack does not have a zipper, instead it is cinched shut and covered by a flap. Not having a zipper isn't necessarily a bad thing. Every year I see kids ruin a lot of nice backpacks by simply stuffing too many things into the backpack and ruining the zipper. 

The flap has faux buckles on leather straps. Rather than actually buckling shut, the straps use magnets to keep it closed There are also three exterior pockets - two on the sides and one in the back. All are closed by the same type of magnets that hold the flap in place. At first i was not impressed by the magnets but they are actually a whole lot stronger than they look. 

The straps can be lengthened out quite very far. Usually, I have to let a backpack's straps all of the way and then make minor adjustments to tighten things up. This backpack required a lot of tightening (easy to do - just pull the strap) and would be a great backpack for people with big shoulders. 

The straps are very comfortable and there is a loop to hang the backpack on a hook or as an alternative way to carry it. 

We've used this backpack at our house all summer because it has been sitting out to be tested. We love it.

The backpack comes in five colors: coffee, black, army green, grey and khaki.

I rate this backpack 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free or heavily discounted backpack in exchange for an honest review. This really is a great backpack.

As of the time of this review, this backpack cost $32.98 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Aidonger Vintage canvas and leather backpack.

Digital Coin Bank Savings Jar by DE - Automatic Coin Counter Totals all U.S. Coins including Dollars and Half Dollars - Original Style, Clear Jar

This bank looks like a mason jar with grey lid. This jar is not glass, but a plastic jar. It's not a particularly thick jar, somewhere between a 5 gallon jug that you put on a water cooler and a milk jug.

The lid has a spring-loaded sliding bar across the coin slot. The lid measures how far the sliding bar moves and that measurement tells the lid what coin it is. A LCD screen next to the slot keeps track of the coins and adds up the total. If you want to skip this step but still keep a running total, there is a process to do that. Also, you can remove coins and subtract that amount from the running total.

The jars come in different colors (clear, camo, blue, pink, purple, glow-in-the-dark) and two additional shapes (football and pig).

The counter needs two AAA batteries to work. The batteries are not included.

My review:

I found that the sliding bar was more than a little tough to move and the lid was inconsistent. I put $1.43 cents in the bank and my total ended up being $2.23. I put in 5 quarters and had problems with 2 of them. The bar resisted so much that the coin went in partially - enough to register that it was a quarter - and then came back out again. I don't know how the other coins were measured to come up to $2.23 but clearly this lid had to be used very carefully in order to count correctly. I would not recommend this for younger children.

In short, this is a cute concept but not quite there yet.

I rate this 2 stars out of 5.

At the time of this review, this bank cost $17.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to check for current pricing: Digital Coin Bank.

Note: I received a free sample of a digital coin bank so that I could write an honest review. 

LETO A19 6W LED Dimmable Filament Edison Style Light Bulb,UL Listed,60W Equivalent, Soft White 2700k ,E26 Base 1-Pack

This is an LED bulb in as simple a format as it can come. This bulb will fit in any standard light fixture so you can make that move from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs with no muss and no fuss.

The manufacturer claims that this bulb should work 27,000 hours and includes a 3 year warranty.

This bulb uses just 6 watts to create the light that a traditional 60 watt bulb uses.

The bulb does not shine with that ultra-white glow that most LEDs do. This bulb is tinted to shine with the same glow as a traditional bulb. It is dimmable but I do not have a dimmer switch so I do not know how well it dims.

It comes on instantly with no flicker.

This bulb comes in a single pack or a 3-pack. The average price per bulb is slightly less in the 3-pack.

At the time of this review this bulb cost $11.97 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: LETO A19 6W LED Dimmable Filament Edison Style Light Bulb.

I rate this bulb 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received this bulb for free or at a substantial discount so that I could try it out in my own home and see how it works and write an honest review. This bulb is at work right now in my kids' bedroom.

SMADZ SL31 Waterproof Antique Solar Wall Light 2 LEDs

In this package you get one light and an instruction page that is mostly pictures. It came with some charge in it. I installed it late in the afternoon and it was working that same evening.

Installation is easy. I picked a wooden fence in my side yard and within a minute of starting to screw in the first screw I was already starting to pack up my stuff. It literally took me more time to gather everything than it took to install it. I had to provide my own screws.

Once it gets dark, 2 LED lights turn on and burn for about 8 hours, assuming that the unit gets a good dose of sunlight. 

Now, keep in mind that one of these will not light up your backyard. There are just 2 LED lights here. But, it does provide a bit of light where you might need it. This would be especially good on decks, stairs, along sidewalks and places like that. A whole series of them along a deck or a sidewalk would be attractive.

A bonus feature is that the rechargeable batteries in this unit are designed to be removed and replaced once they fail.

Update: 18 months later and this light is still working as great as the day it was installed.

I rate this solar light 5 stars out of 5.

This product cost $9.59 on Amazon.com at the time of this review. Check here for current pricing: SMADZ SL31 Waterproof Antique Solar Wall Light 2 LEDs

Note: I was sent a free solar light so that I could write an honest review. I am very pleased. 

In-Ear Stereo Headphone with Mic Remote Control (Black) by Comsoon

Long Term Review

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 not good for the long-term well-being of a set of ear buds, these earbuds by Comsoon are 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 off and on for the last two months to listen to a variety of sound such as music, streaming video, and audiobooks. They have a rich sound. The music does not sound tinny and puny like a bad set of earbuds can sound. Entry level personal headsets have gotten so much better in the last few years and this set demonstrates that well.

The phone feature is excellent as well.  I have not used the headset's phone features (the buttons on the little box on the wire). When I use a set of headphones to talk on my phone I always use the phone itself rather than the headset features to interact (meaning I answer using the phone and hang up using the phone, etc.) because I just find it easier than blindly pushing buttons on a device hanging around my neck. When I have used the phone feature on this set of headphones I have asked the person I was calling how I sounded. They were surprised that I was speaking through a set of headphones - they sounded that good.

These are extremely light weight and very comfortable. There are two ways to wear these ear buds. One is the traditional way - just stick them in your ear. But, these ear buds also come with an adapter so that you can wear them in an environment where a there something might tug on the cord and they won't pull out of your ear, like if you are cleaning out the garage. The adapters are very easy to add and remove from the cord and they make the wire go up over your ear so that a tug on the cord will pull on the top of your ear and not pull the ear bud out of your ear. The adapters are very comfortable and very flexible.

The set also comes with little clip so that you can clip it to the front of your shirt to prevent a little tug from pulling the whole set out of your ears.

The cord is coated with plastic that has a little grip to it. It serves to make it fairly hard to tangle. It's not impossible to tangle these ear buds, but it rarely happens and when it does, it's not bad.

The package comes with one plug and play set of ear buds and four different sizes of ear tips. The set comes with a hard plastic case that would make a fantastic carry case except for that it is unhinged. I put a rubber band around it and have used it as a carry case.

Three colors are available: black, gold and silver. Only the ear buds themselves are different colors - not the wires or the controller

At the time of this review this headset cost $9.99 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: In-Ear Stereo Headphone with Mic Remote Control (Black) by Comsoon.

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 six weeks 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.

Caden K1 Triangle Shoulder Camera Bag (Khaki) by Mystery

This is a very good camera bag. It has four pockets on the outside and a cavernous interior. The interior can be rearranged as needed with three velcro panels or walls that stick to the interior and each other. There are also two pockets that could hold SD cards, two pockets that could hold batteries or a small notebook and a pencil holder.

Each pocket is protected by a big parachute clip so it would be pretty hard for enterprising pickpockets to get into your bag in an airport or amusement park line.

The padding is thick, the velcro pads are super sticky. I would not be afraid to stick my camera in this bag and toss it in the back of my car. I wouldn't throw it off a cliff, but this bag is more than enough for normal wear and tear on a camera.

There is a shoulder strap that adjusts easily and can go from hand bag length to full purse length. There is also a waist or chest strap. The waist/chest strap could also be used to slide over a luggage handle. 

Lastly, the bag has a little raincoat to cover the area that would be exposed if you were wearing the camera bag during a rainstorm. It is kept on with elastic and a little strap that clips around the shoulder strap so you don't lose the little raincoat.

This bag does not need to be restricted to cameras. On a long trip, this would be a great bag to put your phone, your passport and anything else you want to be kept near you.

I rate this camera bag 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free camera bag so that I could write an honest review.

As of the time of this review this bag cost $22.85 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: Caden K1 Triangle Shoulder Camera Bag by Mystery.

1/2 inch Ratchet Wrench with 5° Movement and Polished, Hardened Steel from Jaeger

So, what we have here is your standard, flat, ratchet box wrench. This tool is well-balanced and very attractive. There are no visible imperfections.

I was going to write some sort of review explaining why a ratcheting box wrench is better than a regular wrench but I decided that the customer for this product is a tool nut and tool nuts already know that.

The wrench works great. Some ratchet wrenches have a little lever to flip to change the direction. You need to flip this ratchet wrench over to do that. No big deal.

On the Amazon website, the manufacturer states that this wrench is a first step to a line of ratchet wrenches.

I rate this wrench 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I was offered a free sample of this wrench in order to create an honest review. I said, "Heck, yeah! Free tools!" But, seriously, this is a nice wrench.

At the time of this review, this wrench cost $9.99 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: 1/2 inch ratchet wrench by Jaeger.

Micro USB Cable (6.6ft, 3.3ft, 1ft) - 5 Pack by Aukey

Micro USB cables. 5 years ago I had one just one cable - it charged my 2nd generation Kindle. Now, I am charging all sorts of stuff all over the place with them - fans, desk lamps, Bluetooth headsets and, of course, phones and tablets. They have gone from a curiosity to a necessity.

Sadly, the ones provided by the manufacturers to charge Bluetooth headsets or portable speakers are often very flimsy and in my household we have had a half dozen or more fail in the last two or three months. Plus, the cords provided by the manufacturers are not very long and sometimes they don't even allow you to transfer data to your phone or tablet - they just charge and then they die an early death.

Left to right: 1 two meter cord (6.6 feet), 2 one meter cords
(3.3 feet) and two 0.3 meter cords (1 foot)

There are five cords in this package: 1 two meter cord (6.6 feet), 2 one meter cords (3.3 feet) and two 0.3 meter cords (1 foot). They are an excellent choice to replace your dead cords. Not only do they charge, they transfer data.

This variety pack allows you to put different lengths of cord where they are needed. The longest ones allow a passenger to do thing like use a smart phone to consult Google maps in the car while it is charging (Try that on one of those little cords that came with a Bluetooth headset!).

I rate this product 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free set of these cords so that I could evaluate them in order to write a review. 

As of the time of this review this multi-pack set cost $12.99 on Amazon. Click here to check current pricing: Micro USB Cable (6.6ft, 3.3ft, 1ft) - 5 Pack by Aukey

Multi Port 26W 5V/5.1A compact triple 3 Port USB Car Charger with smart multiple output by JAWEKE

It's a car charger! (Yawn)

Yeah, I know - car chargers are everywhere and everyone has one. Or two. Or three.

What's so special about this one?

1) There are three plugs. I don't know about your family, but this charger is actually not enough to charge all of my kids' devices at one time. But, it's a good place to start.

2) It is a little known fact that iPhones and just about all tablets of every kind (even Android-based tablets) need a more powerful charge (2.4 Amp) than Android phones and devices like Bluetooth headphones do. I have a Kindle that charges pretty quickly when given the correct charge but it tops out at about 60% when placed on the lower level of charge. This charger has a port that is designed for those devices that need the 2.4 Amp charge. It is encircled with a label that states it is "2.4A" and, more importantly, it's internal parts are a different color (blue) than the other ports (white) so it is super easy to identify.

You have to provide your own cords, but you probably have a ton of those around the house.

I rate this charger 5 stars out of 5. 

Note: I received a free sample of this charger so that I would be able to write an honest review. My kids have been using it in the back of my mini-van and they like it a lot.

At the time of this review, this car charger cost $10.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to check current pricing: Multi Port 26W 5V/5.1A compact triple 3 Port USB Car Charger with smart multiple output by JAWEKE.

Bright Solar Power Outdoor LED Light No Tools Required Peel and Stick Motion Activated (8 LED) by JIAYIDA

The light and the box it came in.

In this package you get one light, one screw, one drywall anchor, two pieces of heavy duty two-sided tape (each is about 1 square inch) and a little key to turn on the unit. It came with some charge in it. I installed it late in the afternoon and it was working that same evening.

Installation was easy. I picked a spot beside my garage door and screwed it into place through my vinyl siding with my power drill. The hardest part was prepping the two sided tape I used to attach the lower part of the back of the device to the wayll.

Once it gets dark, the light turns on in low power mode. It looks like 2 LED light come on at that level (it's hard to tell without setting off the motion detector). If it detects motion, all of the LED lights come on (There are 8) and really brighten things up.

We park a car alongside the garage and this light lights up when a car pulls up and makes it a little easier to walk into the house.

I rate this solar light 5 stars out of 5.

This product cost $15.00 on Amazon.com at the time of this review. Check here for current pricing: Bright Solar Power Outdoor LED Light No Tools Required Peel and Stick Motion Activitated (8 LED)

Note: I was sent a free solar light so that I could write an honest review.

Atech PAE001 Sweatproof Bluetooth Stereo Headset (black) by PowerLead

The Altech PAE001 Sweatproof Bluetooth Stereo Headset by PowerLead comes with a USB cord to plug into a charger or a computer. It is sort of a hybrid headset - similar to the LG horseshoe shaped headsets but not really that bit or elaborate. When you are not using the headset, you can rest this set on the back of your neck fairly safely - not as well as the LG headset but still it sits there for a while.

The instruction book has no graphics and the text is pretty small so you have to squint a little to read it. The English is clearly written and easy to understand, although it is obvious that it was not written by a native speaker of English.

The Altech PAE001 Sweatproof Bluetooth Stereo Headset by PowerLead synced very easily with my Samsung Galaxy 6. When I have gone back and re-paired it with my phone it is surprisingly quick. 

The sound is very good. It is not the best stereo sound I have ever heard - but this is not a top end head set that can set you back hundreds of dollars, either. Considering the price and the convenience of Bluetooth it is a good deal.

This set of Bluetooth earphones has excellent range. I had no problem going 20-25 feet from my phone with no skipping out.

The device comes with a good built-in phone.  I did not use the headset's phone features (the buttons on the headset). When I use Bluetooth to talk on my phone I always use the phone itself rather than the headset features to interact (meaning I answer using the phone and hang up using the phone, etc.) because I just find it easier than blindly pushing buttons.

Note: the earbuds on this device are in the "conch" style - like iPhone and Samsung earphones. Normally, I have trouble with that style and I assume that I am not the only one. I was able to work these in pretty well, however.

Note: I received a free sample of this set of ear buds in exchange for an honest review.

I rate these earbuds 5 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, the Altech PAE001 Sweatproof Bluetooth Stereo Headset by PowerLead cost $29.99. Check for current pricing on Amazon.com here: Atech PAE001 Sweatproof Bluetooth Stereo Headset by PowerLead

Handheld Portable Battery Powered Fan (Black) by Yesorno

So, this product is absolutely brilliant in its simplicity. 

This is a little fan, the type that are plugged into the USB port of a computer so that you can keep cool while are in your cubicle plugging away at your TPS reports.

But, wouldn't it be cool to take that fan anywhere? Sure it would. So, replace the USB plug on the computer with the a hardwired portable charger battery and you've got it. I literally have this same-sized lightweight battery in my little collection. The beauty of it is that the battery becomes the handle to hold the fan.

The fan has a dial to set the fan speed. It will work 2 hours at full speed and 6 hours at the slowest speed. It charges in about 4 or 5 hours. The fan can run while it is charging.

The device comes with a USB cord and a wire clip that I sort of can figure out how to use.  

The fan comes in four different colors: black, blue, green and pink.

I rate this fan 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I was sent a free fan in exchange for an honest review.

As of the time of this review this fan cost $13.99 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: Handheld portable fan by Yesorno.
******EDIT********* July 7, 2016


After about a week of using this fan the on/off dial quit working so the device was left on all of the time. No problem, I thought. I will plug it in when I need it and let it die. Great. But now I notice that the battery dies minutes after I unplug it, which means even if the on/off dial worked correctly, this fan would only work when it was plugged in, making this "portable" fan definitely not portable.

I now rate this fan 2 stars out of 5. It is still usable as a fan but not nearly as useful as it was promised to be.

D-shaped Aluminum Screw Carabiner with Key Ring -- Assorted Colors (Set of 6) by AGPtek

The green one is screwed into the "locked" position.
The black one is "unlocked".

Typically, my wife and i put our keys on a carabiner. She likes to hook hers over a loop on her purse, I sometimes like to put mine on a belt loop.

Well, I'd like to hook them on a belt loop but I am afraid that I am going to lose them by bumping into something and popping open the carabiner for just a second. These carabiners directly address that issue by including a little screw to lock the carabiner shut. This is pretty similar to the system that some of the real carabiners that mountain climbers use to safely lock themselves in.

By the way, just to make it clear, there is a warning on these carabiners to never use these to climb with. They are completely made out of an aluminium alloy but they are clearly not to be used that way. I don't know who would try that, but you are warned - so be careful!

Each carabiner comes with a key ring as well. The product description says that it comes in assorted colors. My set's colors were: orange, green, electric blue, black, pink and red.

These would be great on a hike to securely attach a water bottle or a light to a backpack. Or, if you're just going to hang out with some friends you could still use one of these to attach a Bluetooth speaker to that backpack.

I rate these carabiners 5 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, this set of 6 carbiners cost $8.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to check for current pricing: D-shaped Aluminum Screw Carabiner with Key Ring -- Assorted Colors (Set of 6) by AGPtek

Refresh Windshield Wiper Blade-20" and 21" (Pack of 1)

My car, a PT Cruiser, is one of those weird ones that can take two different sizes of windshield wiper at the same time - a 20 inch and a 21 inch wiper.

Installation was very easy. In less than 5 minutes I installed both blades.

This windshield wiper is different than the ones I took off. The new wipers don't have a visible metal superstructure that holds the wiper blades in place. Instead, the blades themselves have a natural bend that molds itself to the windshield when they are lowered into place.

How do they work? Excellent. I've had mine on my car for about 5 months and they've seen snow, ice, rain, heat and they are fantastic. I am absolutely pleased with them.

These wipers only work on "J hook" wiper arms. Please use Amazon's search feature to determine what will work on your vehicle.
I rate these wipers 5 stars out of 5. 

Note: I received a free set of wipers in exchange for an honest review.

At the time of this review these wipers cost $11.00 and $12.60. Click here to check for current pricing: 20 inch and 21 inch.

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.