Review of Xyron/Teresa Collins Adhesive Kit

My rating: 2/5 stars


This adhesive kit contains six different adhesives by Xyron, and are labeled as "acid free" and "non toxic". The kit comes housed in a pretty, pale pink box with the Teresa Collins logo in black on the front. It is made of sturdy cardboard, is about 7" x 7" and 2" deep, and stays closed with a strong magnetic flap. It contains individual compartments for each piece, but these are just paper inserts and can be removed so that the box can be reused.

The kit contains:

-189 adhesive foam squares. These are 1/4 inch thick, which is frankly too thick for scrapbook use and for most card-making. I cannot fathom why so many were included.

-1 adhesive eraser. I have not used this, so I don't know if it works. There are no instructions included for how best to use it, but I assume it is supposed to be used like a regular eraser, to remove adhesive from paper.

-20 feet of transparent tape, in a sturdy, pink, plastic tape runner. An average roll of transparent tape contains around 37 feet, so I don't expect this would last very long. It is referred to as "disposable", so I am assuming that tape refills are not available.

-29 feet of double-sided tape in a heavy paper dispenser with a metal serrated cutter. Again, when compared to other brands of double sided tape (which contain around 33 feet), I don't expect that this tape would last long for the average paper-crafter.

-10 feet of one-inch sticker tape in a sturdy, pink, plastic container with a metal serrated cutter. This, too, has no directions for use. It is also referred to as "disposable", so again, I assume no refills are available.

-.75 oz bottle of clear-hold adhesive for embellishments. This is half the size of other brands of embellishment glue. I have not used it yet, so I cannot attest to it's hold.

Bottom line: The presentation of the product, in the lovely pink box, is the kit's best feature. At the current price of $25 for this set, it is extremely overpriced (even considering the addition of the reusable box) for the small amount of product it contains.

I received this product from the Amazon Vine program in return for an honest review.

Amazing! (Review of our new Push Reel Mower)

Sometimes technological advances are not an improvement!

Review of the Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower With T-Style Handle And Heat Treated Blades
5/5 stars

I can not give this mower enough praise!

After years of battling with gas-powered mowers (our latest, new John Deere, was no different), we decided to concede the struggle and replace it.  Looking at "electric" mowers, we were disappointed to see that they wouldn't be as much of an improvement as we'd hoped.

Then we began to look at push reel mowers.  I had always been fascinated by them and wanted to try one for many reason, not the least being that it was human powered.  After some research, we bought this model and it was one of the best decisions we've made as homeowners!

This mower is easy to push and pull, and doesn't put strain on my troublesome back.  In fact, I find it much easier to control that a gas-powered mower.  I don't have to pull back on it to keep it under control, and it responds to a moderate amount of arm power.  I can go as slow or as fast as I want to go, unlike a gas mower where I am forced to keep up with it.

The quietness of this mower is fantastic.  It makes a pleasant noise, as the scissors snip.  It doesn't disturb the wildlife in my yard and trees or give me a headache.

I was surprised at just how good a job it does at cutting grass.  The cut lawn looks good and is even.  I have seen complaints that it doesn't cut long grass well.  Our grass was long, but I had no difficulty in cutting it.  Long weeds with thicker stems, however, are more difficult to cut.  It is prone to push them down instead of cutting them.  That is not a problem with us, though, as there are few weeds and they can be trimmed with clippers if need be.  I would advise, if that will be a problem, that the lawn be mowed closely one last time with a gas mower.  For us, though, it was not a problem.

I have also seen complaints about this push mower becoming jammed.  That is true: it does get jammed when run over rocks or if it gets a limb caught in the blades.  It is easy to fix, though, by jiggling it from side to side.  As I don't regularly run over rocks or limbs, this to is not a problem. Frankly, that small problem is better than having rocks and limbs thrown out the side of a gas mower.  (My husband still bears the scar of being hit by a rock out of the gas mower.)

There will certainly be people who try a reel mower and don't like it, because it is not a gas mower.  For me though,  the lack of noise and gas fumes, the ease of control and the good cut make cutting the grass with this reel mower a pleasant task.

Caveat Emptor: Reviewing the HP Officejet 4620

A review of the Hewlett Packard Officejet 4620 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax

Oh, how I wish I had read reviews before I purchased this printer.

The installation began with not being able to connect to my wireless network. This wouldn't have been a deal-breaker entirely, because though we had wanted a wireless printer it wasn't essential. However, the cable given to connect the printer to the computer was extremely short (about two feet long) and as such, made it impossible to connect from any position on the desk.

The installation attempt ended with the paper jamming on every attempt. My husband, a former copier repairman, spent an hour trying to find the reason, but to no avail. Every piece of paper (20 weight office-quality copier paper) that was fed through it jammed trying to feed through.

I've already sent it back, now, and I swear I will never buy another Hewlett Packard product!

(And now, of course, I still need a new wireless printer/scanner combo.  Anyone have a good recommendation?)

False Economy: a Review of Great Value Water Filters

I have used a Brita for about twenty years now.  We have two going all the time in our house (one in the fridge and one on the counter) and these filters make a discernible difference in the taste and quality of our well water.

I tend to stretch out replacing the filters longer than I should, though, because, well. . . the price!  Even with coupons, Brita filters are not cheap!  I don't know what they are priced around the country, but I generally pay about $16 for three filters.

So, you can imagine my excitement when, on going to purchase Brita replacement filters, I saw that Walmart had their own, priced at three filters for under $10!  As one who is I not averse to using generic brand products, whether it be food or other goods, I thought it was going to be a true blessing.

Boy, was I wrong.

The filters did fit our classic pitcher just as they should; no problem there.

However, that was pretty much where the comparison ended.

The first filter I put in the fridge pitcher didn't actually filter the water.  I don't mean that it let impurities get through. . . it didn't even let the water get through!  The water stayed up in the well and wouldn't trickle down.  I tried taking it out and putting it back in.  I tried gently shaking it.  I tried the initial soaking again.  Eventually,  I threw it away.

Okay, so now I've got two filters for $10 now.  Still a slightly better deal than the Brita though, and I assumed it was a fluke.

The second filter I put in the fridge pitcher seemed to work.  Good deal.

Then the counter pitcher stopped filtering, and did the same thing as the first fridge filter. This time though, it would sometimes drain and sometimes not.

By that time, the second fridge pitcher was beginning to act up as well, so, I just threw them both in the trash and bought a pack of Brita filters.

Which means that my experiment with Great Value filters eventually cost me about $8.60 a filter.

Buyer beware; don't make my mistake!

Note: This is my opinion.  If you disagree, write your own review.

Further note: I've been accused of being in the employ of Brita.  I am not, nor are any of my family or friends.

GoPicnic Meals Reviewed

The GoPicnic idea is fabulous!  Each variety is around 400 calories (no more than 500, some as low as 300), contains protein, fruit and a treat, and comes in a cute box that opens to look like a picnic table--with a Sudoku puzzle printed on it to feed the brain as well.  They contain no MSG, HFCS or trans fat and have gluten free, vegan and kosher varieties.  In fact, they are a healthy, gluten free alternative to child favorites like "Lunchables".  GoPicnic meals are also great to have in the car for emergencies or to take when travelling.  

One problem I have with the GoPicnic meals, is that not all items have individual nutrition labels with ingredients, calories, carbs, etc.  While I trust them to be gluten free, there are still times when I would like to know more details about what I am eating.





Review of "Turkey Pepperoni and Cheese" Meal

This meal contains:

0.8 ounces of Bridgeford turkey pepperoni --  This pepperoni, while greasier than other brands I have tried, is also much tastier than the others.  I enjoyed it and would buy it separately if it were available in my grocery store.

1 small bag of Crunchmaster multi-seed crackers --  I am a long time fan of these crackers, and highly recommend them.  They are not like flour crackers, but are strong flavored, crisp bites of various seeds.

0.75 ounces of Copper Cowbell Asiago Gourmet Cheese Spread -- This is a very mild spread that is overpowered when eaten with both the crackers and pepperoni.  It has a very good flavor, though, and I enjoyed it by itself with the crackers.  GoPicnic included a small, wooden spreader to spread the cheese, but I dipped my crackers like one would chips.

1 package of Sweet Perry Orchards Tangy Tango Cranberries & Pineapple: This mix has an excellent flavor and made a nice sweet-tart addition to the meal.

1 small Brown & Haley Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee: This was extremely tasty; it has a buttery, crunchy center covered with chocolate and then with almond pieces.  It was a lovely finish.

This meal contains 300 calories, 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of dietary fiber.  I have found this meal to be be very satisfying on several occasions and plan to buy more.  5/5 stars

Review of the "Turkey Stick and Crunch" Meal:

Each "turkey stick and crunch" meal is 300 calories, 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. It contains the following items:

1 Old Wisconsin hardwood-smoked turkey snack stick -- This is a 0.5 oz soft meat stick in a collagen casing, with a rather mild taste.  The texture is a bit off-putting, but the flavor is fine.

1 small bag of barbecue flavored Popchips -- Popchips have a wonderful flavor, and are low in fat when compared to other chips.  I prefer the plain ones, myself, but this flavor is sweet, slightly spicy and very pleasant.

1 bag of Mambo fruit and seed mix:  This is a peanut free mix, that contains pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried apples, raisins and a few small chocolate chips.  It has a very good flavor and is a satisfying mix.

1 fruit snack by Sweet Perry Orchards: This is a peel-apart fruit snack, made from 100% fruit (apple puree and juice, mango juice and pineapple juice).  It is almost too sweet, but has a good fruit flavor and a good texture.

1 Professor Zim Zam's Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with rice crisps:  This candy is waxy, with very small, unsweetened, puffed rice crisps sprinkled on the top.  It is very dark, and lightly sweet.  I was not impressed with it.

Overall, this particular meal, while having a total of 8 protein, felt like a bunch of snacks thrown together.  It did not present itself as a meal, and I did not feel satisfied after eating it (unlike the "turkey pepperoni and cheese" meal, for instance).  There were too many sweet foods, and not enough foods that felt like, well, food.  I would recommend that GoPicnic eliminate the less-than-satisfactory candy and replace it with another turkey stick.  The fruit snack would do perfectly well as a dessert item, and would make the meal more filling.

Over all, GoPicnic meals are a fantastic idea, but this one isn't up to standard.  I would recommend the "turkey pepperoni and cheese" meal as an alternative.  3/5 stars

I recieved 6 pack boxes of each of these meals from the Amazon Vine program in return for my honest review.