Reviews by Nicky

Project Of The Month Club

2010-02-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Project of the Month Club was created based on the theory that spending family time together, doing different projects, and crafts will help children, and families become closer. When you sign up with the club you will receive different projects based on your request, weekly, bi weekly or monthly. Giving you something different to do with your kids each time.

Pros

It is refreshing to see a company take interest in family bonding and creative projects, this site will help eliminate those awkward weekends when the kids are bored and you aren’t sure what to do. Send them outside, or venture out to the park. With these different fun and educational projects you and the kids will be watching the mail for your next big family project. This eliminates the pressure of you finding something to entertain your family, and you get to enjoy your time with your kids more.

Cons

The cost is a little on the high side, as you really don’t know what it is you will be getting right away, and when it breaks down, you are spending about $30 per project. When you could go online, or to the library and come up with your own fun family projects. And you may not always get projects that your child are ready for, or interested in.

Overall

The idea of getting different fun family projects in the mail, is a great theory, but when you get to a point where you are spending $35 to $135 for family fun, at home, you have to wonder is this something you could create or plan on your own? If you have a busy lifestyle and this fits your needs, than great. If not, Browse the site, get some ideas and see if its something you can do on your own, if not give the membership a shot.

Hello Kitty Diamonique Necklace

2010-02-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

The new Hello Kitty Diamonique necklace is very pretty, and available online. Most your girls would love to get this as a gift for Christmas, or maybe for their Birthday. Making it accessible online makes it more convenient than going to the jewelry store and finding something that every other young girl will be wearing as well.

Pros

The necklace is very cute and remnant of Hello Kitty memorabilia, and is something that every young girl would love to get and show off. With all of the shiny sparkles and fun Hello Kitty faces this is a great and unique gift idea for your daughter, niece or granddaughter. This is a great gift to give your daughter, who keeps wanting to borrow your expensive jewelry. Give her something of her own to match “mommy's” pretty jewelry. Teach her responsibility of taking care of nice things.

Cons

The one thing that really stands out about the Hello Kitty faux diamond necklace is the price. There are not too many parents out there that are going to want to spend over $89 on a necklace for a young child. This is a rather expensive gift that could so easily be lost or broken. Also if it does happen to be broken do you have to mail it back in to be repaired or replaced?

Overall

This is a really nice gift idea, for a young girl maybe over the age of 10 or so. The downfall is how long your preteen will wear a Hello Kitty necklace. At that kind of a price you want to be sure that this is something that wont be thrown into the jewelry box, or toy bin after 6 months of wearing it. If you are able to afford such an expensive gift for a young child, this would be a great gift, but maybe not the most practical.

My Secret Circle

2010-02-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

My Secret Circle is offering a safe haven for young girls to go and chat with their friends. My secret circle is a place for 'real life' girl friends that are young and in their preteens to talk, chat hang out and play games online in a safe environment.

Pros

Whenever there is a safe place for young girls to hang out, play online and have a feeling of independence that is a good thing. This site offers some great self esteem skills, and a safe place for girls to talk, play games, gossip with each-other and create their own 'club' in a safe and parent observant atmosphere without invading their daughters space. A great idea.

Cons

Everything has its marketing tools, and with this site there is no exception. Along with the neat private site for the girls to hang out in, and place for parents to monitor, there is also the slight issue of paying for the website, and for the 'keys' that will need to be purchased to be able to access the site. With the keys there are also codes and headsets. Each site can have several different 'accessories' for the girls to use on their new girls only site. The bad thing is what happens when one of those girls cannot afford to be a part of the new club?

Overall

This site is a wonderful idea, and its great to see that there are people out there willing to create sites for kids to play online safely, and there is nothing better out there right now for the girls to use. It's great for parents to have a feeling of safety and be able to monitor and 'care-take' their sites. This is a great idea, and should be recommended for boys and different age groups, bringing more safe online havens for our children.

Fashion Playtes

2010-02-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Fashion Playtes is an online retailer of clothes for girls, but it's not just any clothing retailer. Fashion Playtes allows girls to design their own clothes and it is really easy. First you choose your garment: t-shirt dress, short sleeve tee, long sleeve tee, hoodie, skirt, leggings, denim jacket, quilted vest, poncho, ribbon belt, winter hat, scarf, handwarmers, headband, or a sack pack. Plus, Fashion Playtes is always adding new clothes.

After you have chosen your garment you can then add designs, flowers, ribbons, and more to add to your clothing choice. There are many designs to choose from. A gift certificate would make a great gift for any little fashionista.

MomAgenda Desktop Planner

2010-01-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

If you are a busy mom with busy kids the MomAgenda Desktop Planner can help you organize your life. It has monthly views and weekly views with 17 months for the school year. In the weekly views there is space for up to four kids. You can add your little ones' names and what they have planned for the day. You can also add what will be for dinner to help you organize dinner time with your family.

Nina Restieri greets you in the beginning of the agenda she created with an introduction, how to use the book, her favorite websites, online resources, toll free numbers, and a list of the holidays for the next 4 years. There are pages for movies, books, music, fashion, restaurants, and wines. You can create a nutrition and fitness plan and gift records. Keep track of your entertaining resources, parties, vacation ideas, and even plan out your vacations.

A momEssentials insert at the back of this agenda book helps you remember addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, medical information for you and your family, phone numbers, and website account information.

I love the idea of having an agenda book created like this. I like the 17 month agenda for the school year.I also like that it comes with two built in ribbons to help keep your place.

I think the MomAgenda is best for busy moms with busy kids.

Price: $42.00
Colors: Fuchsia, Lime, Chocolate, Royal Blue, True Purple, and Tangerine
Can be personalized with a custom inscription

Purple Drink

2009-12-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

This is one ten ounce bottle packed full of antioxidants. The packaging is wonderfully colorful and vivid - it is, well, purple.

I, like Homer Simpson, thought...Mmmmm...Purple!

Purple has seven antioxidants in it, as well as acai juice, black cherry juice, pomegranate juice, black currant juice, apple juice, purple plum juice, cranberry juice, blueberry juice, and Vitamin C.

It has to be chilled first before drinking. I recommend leaving it in the fridge overnight before drinking it if it is warm, and then adding some ice cubes to it.

I was excited to try it, because I enjoy being healthy. I exercise on a regular basis in Tae Kwon Do class and I try my best to eat right. I should take a daily multi-vitamin...SHOULD, but I don't. So, any extra help I can get from foods and drinks I will try it.

At first smell and taste it reminded me of a bitter tasting wine. It doesn't taste like a good tasting wine, either. It is bitter, sour and is not something I would buy again. It tastes very bitter and sour. The aftertaste is the worst part. However, you can get some great recipes for The Purple Drink on their website.

My husband blended one ten ounce bottle of Purple with a banana and two cups of ice, and the kids actually liked it. So, maybe there are some recipes out there that can make this Purple drink more tasty!

I give the health benefits an A+
The taste fails. It just needs some flavor!

I must say that the team at Purple has done an outstanding job with marketing and promoting this powerful beverage. Purple has been all over the news on television and online. You can even find this drink at most GNC stores. Purple has also been features in many consumer publications, trade publications and business publications.

Antioxidants can greatly effect your health in a positive way. Antioxidants can help the body get rid of nasty free radicals that come around when we make not so healthy choices such as drinking or smoking. Free radicals attack our bodies when we get sick, when we don’t get enough sleep, when we are feeling stressed or anxious, and when we simply age. The antioxidants in Purple can help your body restore and rejuvenate. Antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cancer and heart disease.

If you dare to try it you can order it at www.drinkpurple.com

Pokemon and Liquaphite

2009-12-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

Pokemon has some awesome back to school items for kids. Pokemon is a cartoon that became extremely popular when they created Pokemon trading and playing cards. It became a game that kids all over the world could play. If you know a kid from ages 0 to twelve they probably know what Pokemon is and would love some of these back to school items. My two daughters squealed with excitement when they saw them!

Pokemon Portfolios –

These are regular folders with bright and colorful Pokemon images on the front of four different characters. It has two inside pockets. The Pokemon portfolios sell for about one dollar each at Rite Aid or Meijer and Ralphs.

Pokemon Themebooks –

These super cute notebooks have Pokemon images on the front cover. They each have seventy pages and come in four different styles. They sell for about three dollars at Rite Aid, Target and Meijer and Ralphs.

Pokemon Mechanical Pencils –

There are three mechanical pencils in each package with different designs and styles. It also comes with twelve pieces of extra lead for them. These sell for about three dollars at Longs.

Pokemon Wooden Pencils –

Five Pokemon pencils come in these packages and they are all number two pencils. There are different styles on each pencil and they sell for about three dollars each at Rite Aid, Longs and Meijer.

Pokemon Pencils with Toppers –

These Pokemon pencils with toppers are very cute! Each pencil has a one inch Pokemon topper and you can get your favorite Pokemon character as a pencil topper. These sell for about two dollars at Kmart and Wal-Mart.

All of these Pokemon back to school items are super colorful and bright, which makes them so likeable.

Go get your own Pokemon stuff at http://www.amazon.com/Pokemon-Diamond-Pearl-Packs-Folders/dp/B001BYY45Q/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_3_img?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001BTOBI6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0EMTDF9X5QBTP0TZA9V0

Liquaphite

Another back to school must have are these Liquaphite pencils. They do not break like ordinary pencils and they never have to be sharpened. No more interruptions from pencils that need to be sharpened or interruptions from pencils that break. They write more like pens than pencils, and that is my favorite part. It is even number two pencil equivalent. There are Ultra sharp Liquaphite wood pencils, Arc Liquaphite Rubber Barrel Mechanical Pencils, ML70 Liquaphite Mechanical pencils, Radius Liquaphite Mechanical pencils, and LE2 Liquaphite Mechanical pencils. They are all stylish, colorful, affordable, and functional. You have to try one for yourself to appreciate the ingenuity of it all!

Go get your own at http://www.pentech.net/pentech-mechanical.php

My Hold Right Pencil

2009-12-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Writing is an essential part of my life and I stress teaching my children how to write well. My daughters love to read and write and are old enough now to understand how to use a pencil. I forgot how difficult it could be to teach a young toddler how to hold a pencil properly. When I worked in a day care we had special large crayons for the toddlers so it would be easier for them to hold. I thought it would only delay them in learning how to hold a pencil the proper way.

About The My Hold Right Pencil –

The My Hold Right Pencil is really nice. It shows small children how to hold a pencil properly in a fun and easy way. It comes with bright stickers, a poem and a poster to help the toddlers remember how to use the My Hold Right Pencil and how to hold a pencil properly. It is really easy for a toddler to grip the My Hold Right Pencil so she can focus on learning how to write.

What the My Hold Right Pencil Comes With –

The My Hold Right Pencil comes with finger stickers, a poster, a pencil sharpener, and three special pencils. The pencils are pyramid shaped with three distinct sides to make gripping it easier for small fingers. One side is red, the other is yellow, and the third side is green. The dot like stickers come in red, green and yellow too. When your baby is ready to learn colors she can learn how to hold a pencil. You can teach your toddler how to write holding a pencil with the help of the My Hold Right Pencil. You can also get classroom packages that come with about twenty four pencils and a larger poster for the kids. You can also buy a refill pack when you need to that has twelve pencils – no stickers or posters, just the pencils.

How to Use the My Hold Right Pencil –

Place the red sticker on your child’s thumb, the yellow sticker on your child’s index finger, and the green sticker on your child’s middle finger. Show your child how to match the colors of the stickers to the colors on the pencil and they will be instantly holding a pencil properly!

The classroom pack comes with twenty four pencils, five hundred stickers, a poster, and one sharpener. It is reasonable priced at $27.30

The 3-Count Hangtab Box comes with three pencils, stickers, a poster, and a sharpener. It is reasonably priced at $5.79

Minimus Sports Aid Kit

2009-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Minimus is “the world’s leading online store exclusively offering travel size and individual size items”.

Remarkable Travel Sized Business –

That is pretty damn cool. Minimus specializes in everything that is travel sized, and they make some awesome travel sized kits. Their products include pharmacy, beverages, food, and personal care. They are great for any travel, office, home, for the car, and more. Although I do not travel much, these products are really great. As a mom, I can say that these products are seriously awesome. I love the immense selection of travel sized products. I do not like sending my kids to school with a full package of Wet Ones, a full package of tissues, or a full sized bottle of Purell Hand Sanitizer. I have found out the hard way that they take advantage of that responsibility and play with all of it. By the end of the day it is all used up and wasted. I love to be able to send them with a travel sized pack of everything. It all fits nicely in their backpacks, and I do not have to worry about them playing with it and wasting the product.

All right, now that I have that out of my system, let’s move on to the product I was sent by Minimus to review

The Minimus Sports Aid Kit –

This is one of those kits I was telling you about earlier in this review. I chose to write a review on the company itself before getting to the product, because I think it is a great company. It cannot be confused, has a unique name, and specializes in one thing: travel sized products. I admire that.

My Initial Reaction –

The sports aid kit is one of the kits Minimus has put together for coaches. I must say that I was impressed with this product even before it arrived. I love that it comes with a good starter pack of travel sized first aid kit supplies. I love the bright red colored bag it comes in. It is an overall wonderful product.

The Contents –

Of course everything that the sports aid kit is travel sized. It is a great starter package of medical supplies. I do like that everything is in its own plastic package. I can see that this was well thought through about which products to include. The Minimus Sports Aid Kit includes cold packs, hot packs, medicated patches, Neosporin ointment, sunblock, wooden tongue blades, Band-Aid package, surgical tape, gauze pads, eye pads, antiseptic towel, hand sanitizer, lip ointment, heat relief tablets, aspirin, splint, and insect sting relief wipe. With all of these supplies you might assume that you would be carrying around a huge bag, and you would be wrong! I am amazed at how much they fit into this bag.

The Bag –

This is my favorite part. I like that it comes with a good, varied starter pack of first aid supplies. The bag is a nice, bright red color so it can be easily recognized in even a small emergency. It has two grab handles on the top. It has plenty of zippered pockets to hold everything you need.

The Minimus Website –

I do always check out the website of the products I review, but I have never thought that I should review them. Unfortunately, I do feel the need to say something about the Minimus website. I find that it is horribly disorganized. It is difficult to navigate and find what you are looking for, unless you want to spend more time than necessary to find what you want. I think the products could be organized and categorized better.

Minimus: awesome products in need of a better website!

Mark-My-Time Digital Bookmarks

2009-11-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

It is amazing what moms and dads can create when they get creative and innovative when faced with a problem or an inconvenience.

Maureen Farinella developed the Mark My Time bookmark to help her daughter keep track of her reading every day for school and to help motivate her to read. Since her daughter read for a few minutes at all different times of the day it was difficult to keep track of her reading and how much reading she was doing every day. So, Maureen created a product that fits easily into a book and stored reading time.

How the Mark My Time digital bookmark works –

The Mark My Time digital bookmark can be started and stopped to track reading time and deleted at the end of the day for the next day’s reading times. It is actually a bookmark that can be fit into a book to hold the page, as well as time the reading.

Awards –

· Mark My Time digital bookmark was the Best New Product of 2004 by BookExpo America

· Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award

Mark My Time Digital Bookmark Features –

It comes in a variety of colors including lime, turquoise and plum. The digital clock at the top of the thin bookmark runs on a watch battery that can be replaced as necessary. It is not just used for timing reading. It can be used for timing music practices, math homework, meetings, cooking, exercising, and homework times. The Mark My Time digital bookmark is versatile.

More Mark My Time Digital Bookmark features –

If your child reads all at one time in the day you can use the countdown timer. Set it for how long your child needs to read and it will beep when the time is up. Your child should no longer constantly ask how much more time they have to read for. They will just wait for the beeping sound from their colorful and bright digital bookmark.

There is even a Mark My Time digital bookmark specifically designed for tracking music practice times and it fits right on a music sheet. It even has a metronome tick tock sound to help you keep time. These wonderful little products can be found at bookstores, wholesale stores and drug chains. Keep track of reading times and music practice times with these cool bookmarks!

The Mark My Time digital bookmark sells for $8.95

Dot Mine

2009-11-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

There is something that I do every day no matter what – make lists. I recently learned that it may be due to being a Virgo, because it is one of the character traits of a Virgo. Whatever it is from I have been making lists of everything for as long as I can remember.

Making lists helps me keep my hectic life organized, and more importantly helps me remember everything I need to!

Life Time Mine Review

The Life Time Mine is a fantastic planner that begins on September and continues through January – seventeen months. It has various layouts to make everyone happy – monthly layouts, weekly layouts, weekly schedule, master schedule, personal roadmap, life page, and work page. I use the weekly layouts to keep track of my daily work schedule and what needs to get done each day. The personal road map is where you can map out your goals and how you will accomplish them. I keep my business cards in the slot on this inside cover and some papers from my business networking groups in the back pocket. It keeps me on track for work.

Time Mine Review

The Time Mine is my ultimate favorite because it is compact and I can keep it open to today’s page because it is spiral bound. The time mine also runs seventeen months from August to December. It has a monthly layout, a weekly layout, notes, record of classes, class schedule, holidays, thoughts, mailing address pages, email address pages, and yearly calendars. This is something I will be using for years to come. I use the monthly layout for appointments, school field trips and deadlines. I use the weekly layout for daily tasks that need to be completed in order to meet my deadlines. The yearly calendars I use for longer writing projects I have. I use the class schedule for my personal daily schedule to keep my self-discipline in check! I take the time mine book with me everywhere I go – in my office, in my living room, grocery shopping, school field trips – everywhere. I think it should also have a pocket to hold papers and a slot for business cards and it would be just perfect.

Dot Mine has a variety of planners that will suit anyone: students, moms, dads, and professionals. Mine work well for both being a mom and a professional. Each planner comes with a choice of cover designs. They are functional, stylish and affordable…ridiculously affordable at less than $20 per planner.

Lice MD Lice and Egg Treatment

2009-11-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

The new school year has started and lice infestations are just a part of that. While schools have gotten better at immediately sending infested kids home and sending notifications home to parents warning them to look out for lice, it can still happen to you and your kids. And if it does, you need an effective treatment that will zap all of those little bugs away for good.

What is Lice?

Lice are terrible little bugs that infest hair and make homes on our heads feeding from our blood. The first sign of having lice is itching the head too much. How much is too much? Trust me, you will know when you have lice because you will just be itching like crazy. The itch is most severe in the back of the neck and behind the ears.

Time to Watch out For Lice –

With the new school year starting it is something for all families to prepare for, because it happens a lot. There are about six to twelve million cases of head lice each year. It can be hard to tell because a lot of people treat it at home without needing to visit the doctors or the hospital.

My Experience with Lice –

Last year my two girls and I got lice. There were in tears every time I had to treat them because the chemicals in the treatments would sting their scalps, and the chemicals would get into the air and it would smell so bad. It was almost unbearable. I didn't know there were other treatments out there. The entire experience was horrible. We all went through three treatments before we finally got rid of it.

Head Lice Tips –

Getting rid of lice in the home can be difficult because they will get into your carpets, sheets, furniture, and anything else they can. The best thing to do is have someone help you and give the children the treatments while you machine wash everything that can be machine washed. Vacuum all rugs in the home. Remove bed sheets and wash them. I even recommend sweeping and mopping the floors. This will take about a day’s worth of cleaning and sterilizing, but it is worth it because you shouldn’t have to do it again.

Lice MD Lice and Egg Treatment –

Thankfully, there is now a pesticide free lice and egg treatment and it usually only takes one treatment to get rid of the lice. Lice MD Lice and Egg Treatment has no odor and no pesticides - that means no stinging sensation or bad smells. There are no pesticides, no harsh chemicals, no dyes, and no perfumes. It is gentle on your head but tough on the lice!

No more crying kids, no smell and no stinging! I like that. It is also really affordable at $14.49 suggested retail price. Stock up today so you are ready!

Soda Stream from Soda Club

2009-11-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

Out of the box this product looks pretty intimidating. I saw the Co2 Canister and thought "someone call NASA please". I wonder what makes us qualified to try to work such equipment. Then I looked at the directions and it came clear that this product was made for home use by almost anyone.

So Easy to Use –

Out of the box we took the unit, Co2 Canister, and the various bottles of soda flavors. I opened up the back of the unit and inserted the Co2 Canister (after removing its white plastic cover) and screwed that into its receptor. I filled the water bottle up to its fill line out of the tap and screwed that into the front receptor. Should I press the button? Well, after much thought I did and what do you know - just as the directions say the device makes a buzzing noise. After three paused shots that seemed all too easy I took the bottle off and viola - soda water! It took a maximum of 4 minutes to create and I was pretty amazed at the ease of use. I felt pretty silly for being in so worried about it. Once I got the water completed we poured in a cap of flavoring (slowly). Then I put that cap back on and gently mixed it. The concoction was now root beer soda! I repeated the process again and created the orange soda. Once again it was as easy as one, two, three.

Tastes Awesome –

The kids loved watching it get made, but I think they enjoyed the taste testing even more! The bottom line is this product does what it says with ease and has a tasty outcome that anyone can enjoy. I cannot help but to think back to those old black and white movies with everyone gathered around the guy with the soda bottle making drinks for everyone. This is one of those products I wonder why no one thought of it before now.

Make soda water, lemon-lime soda water, or any flavor of soda – diet or regular.

For the price of $94.99, why not pick one up and try it out yourself?

Go get your own

Sushi Pack

2009-11-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

The creators of the Sushi Pack really created some unique products. There are a variety of Sushi Pack products available and each one is more adorable than the first. There are five characters in the Sushi Pack: Ikuramaki shoots sticky salmon balls, Wasabipow throws fireballs of hot wasabi mustard, Kanimaki has pincher for ears, Maguromaki has intense concentration and focus, and, last but not least, Takomaki who shoots multi colored ink. It is not all about these really creative and colorful products for children – you can check out your local TV listings for when you can watch The Sushi Pack cartoon! Your kids can enjoy the Sushi Pack merchandise and watch the cartoons!

Tin Lunch Box -
Measuring 7" by 8.5" this tin lunch box has an action picture of the five Sushi Pack characters.

Spiral Notebook -

This is not just a notebook. It is perfect for journaling, homework or note taking with its elastic that wraps around the front to keep it closed and secure. The Sushi Pack is on the front. The small charm that comes with this spiral notebook is a cute touch.

Boxed Magnets -

These boxed magnets are perfect for school lockers, refrigerators, your office, or anywhere they will stick! They are creatively shaped like sushi. On one side is the Sushi Pack logo, while the other side has a face of a character.

Assorted Notebooks -
These are hard cover note pads with one character on each. There are five different ones to choose from.

Assorted Keychains -
There is one keychain for each Sushi Pack character and they are a great accessory for backpacks, laptop bags, jeans, or, of course, keys.

Canvas Art -
This is a stylish and colorful artwork that makes any kid's room look fantastic.

Kani Backpack -
The Kani Backpack is adorable. The small, pink backpack is perfect for a child in a day care, in pre-school or in Kindergarten. It would be great for sleepovers, too. The stuck out tongue of Kani is a great touch.

Plush -
There are fifteen inch plushes that are extremely huggable.

All of the Sushi Pack products are a hit with kids. They are very colorful, soft and creative. I especially like how the sushi shapes are incorporated into all of the products they have made. These are some truly unique products that would be a hit with any kid. The Sushi Pack merchandise will make a great gift for any child!

The Atomic Wall Clock by RadioShack

2009-11-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

The Atomic Wall Clock by RadioShack is essential, especially for someone like myself whose eyesight is not what it used to be. The large display is easy to read. It is thin and super sleek, which makes it great to hang just about anywhere. I love that it does not stick out too far and cause an eyesore. It looks good on the wall and can blend right in to your already determined home decor. I used one simple hook to hang it up and I was done. It was incredibly easy.

Here are some more features of the Atomic Wall Clock -

· Indoor Thermometer With Choice Of Celsius Or Fahrenheit

· No Need To Reset The Time Two Times A Year During Daylight Savings Times

· The Atomic Wall Clock Sets Itself Automatically

· Large Time Display

· Shows The Calendar Date And The Day Of The Week

· It Even Has The Seconds!

· Takes Two AA Batteries And Lasts A Long Time

· Also Comes with an Easy to Read and Use Owner’s Manual

This Atomic Wall Clock from RadioShack makes a great gift for just about anyone, especially those people who are really hard to buy for! Everyone uses a clock, and this one has some awesome features that anyone would enjoy. Sick of changing your clock twice a year for the daylight savings time? Don’t, because you do not need to with this clock. Plus, it is so slim it can look great in even the smallest of homes or rooms. It would make a great gift for that teen getting ready to go to college, because it would fit nicely in a dorm room. It goes with any home décor because the color is neutral. So, if you are stuck on a couple of gift ideas this holiday season check out the Atomic Wall Clock from RadioShack for an affordable, unique gift that will ease your anxieties about those difficult ones.

You may also be able to buy one in a local RadioShack store as well. The employees at RadioShack are usually very helpful and informative. They can help you find one with ease. The Atomic Wall Clock from RadioShack is your choice for an affordable gift!

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

2009-11-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard has been specifically designed to provide optimized positioning to help minimize the strain and stress of typing on a keyboard. The "gull wing" design puts the keys in a better position, which creates a more natural typing position for the fingers, hands and arms.

About the Company

This keyboard is manufactured by Microsoft, a leader in computer hardware and software products.

About the Product

This ergonomic keyboard has been designed to help reduce the risk of carpal tunnel injury, by featuring a design that puts the user's fingers in closer proximity to the keys. This encourages a more natural and comfortable typing position, and reduces the amount of reach and unnecessary motion that standard keyboards require. The keyboard's design has been found to encourage better wrist and arm alignment, and includes an optional palm rest for a 7-degree reverse slope. It also features easy to access forward and back buttons, located at the bottom center of the keyboard, My Favorites keys, enhanced F keys, and customizable hot keys.

The Good

This keyboard has unique features that, although they might take a little getting used to, are quite comfortable. The fact that your hands are positioned in such a way that the forefingers are higher than the little fingers puts the wrists in a more natural position. The customizable and quick-launch buttons are handy, as is the zoom button. It is a keyboard with a good solid feel to it, and the faux leather palm rest is comfortable.

The Bad

The front tilt plate that raises the palm rest and puts the keys at a downward slope can be difficult for some to get used to (however, it is removable). They keyboard has the tactile feel of a laptop keyboard, which makes it quiet, but some people might not like the softer "squishy" touch. Because of the fact that the keys at the center of the curve have been elongated, touch typists might have some initial problems getting used to the keys. This is a USB-only keyboard, and you can't use a PS/2 adaptor with it.

The Bottom Line

This keyboard is a good choice for those who frequently use a computer, as it will help reduce the amount of stress placed on the fingers, hands and wrists. The overall design is ergonomically friendly, and it doesn't take long to get used to the feel and arrangement. The price is reasonable, and it is a good replacement keyboard that almost anyone would enjoy using.

Product Information

The retail list price for this keyboard is $64.95 and you can get it at CableOrganizer.com

Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 (D1T-00002)

2009-11-19T08:15:00.000-08:00

The Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 makes an ideal replacement for a standard mouse, due to the fact that it is a good, solid-feeling mouse with a lot of handy features, at a good price.

About the Company

This mouse is manufactured by Microsoft, a leader in computer hardware and software products.

About the Product

The Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 features high definition optical technology, an ergonomically friendly design, and four buttons that can be programmed to provide easy and quick access to whatever a person uses most often. It has been designed to provide for easy scrolling in all four directions, and it has an ambidextrous design that makes it equally easy to use with either the right or left hand. It also provides a magnifier which allows you to zoom in at a 5X magnification on a small area that surrounds your cursor.

The Good

This mouse is well-built, and is comfortable to use. The price is quite good, especially for the level of quality and number of features, as compared to many other optical mice in this price range. The scroll wheel is large, and the overall size of the mouse and buttons are a good fit for an average sized hand. The four-way scroll wheel is extremely handy, allowing for left and right scrolling in addition to the usual vertical scrolling. The 5X zoom feature is nice for certain types of usages, and because the buttons are customizable, it makes it easy to access whatever you use most often. It's also designed to be used by either the right or left hand.

The Bad

The scroll wheel has a free scrolling action instead of the usual "click gradations" that most scroll wheels have, which can take some getting used to. The IntelliPoint software, which is necessary for customizing the mouse, doesn't seem to work with all applications, and as a result, sometimes the scroll button doesn't work for every application. It can also take more pressure to click than many people are used to, especially in regards to the middle click. There are many buttons on this mouse, but not all of them seem useful.

The Bottom Line

For those who are looking for comfortable, well-built optical mouse at a good price, this is a good choice. It has many features that are not available in comparably priced models, and is a good value for the wide array of convenient features that this mouse boasts. Overall, this mouse is a good replacement for any mouse that you might currently be using.

Product Information

The retail list price for this mouse is $24.95 and you can get it at CableOrganizer.com

Trovato Office-in-a-Box: Office Starter Package

2009-11-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Trovato Office-in-a-Box comes with a desk, a desk hutch, and a rolling storage ottoman.
The Trovato Office-in-a-Box from OfficeMax is a perfect starter package for someone starting a new home business. This type of desk works well as a writing desk or a computer desk.

Great Storage for a Small Desk

The desk hutch has storage with five cubbies for holding just about anything. Three small square cubbies can hold Post-Its, pens, paper clips, a stapler, and decorations. One of those three cubbies has a small drawer to hide away objects for safe keeping. Two longer cubbies are perfect for holding papers, bills, magazines, and folders. The top of the desk hutch is also a great place to store office supplies. The desk and desk hutch come in an expresso finish for a smooth, rich and stylish look. It's a well created, durable desk and hutch that is scratch and stain resistant.

Rolling Ottoman with More Storage

The rolling storage ottoman comes with two bars to go inside to make it work as a file box, as well as a foot rest, seat and storage for optimal organization. The wheels make it easy to move around. The top is soft with red material for a beautiful contrast with the espresso finish on the rest of the ottoman, and of course, on the desk.

Assembly is Difficult

The Trovato Office-in-a-Box is a simple yet effective product that gets the job done with style. The only con to this product is the directions for assembly. The directions have only images- no written directions. This does not clearly show which side of each piece should be on the outside or inside, making it difficult to put together correctly. If one piece is put together incorrectly the marks from the screws will be visible.

Most desks have a non-finished side that clearly shows that the non-finished side will be on the inside, out of sight. However, the Trovato Office-in-a-Box does not have any non-finished sides. The screws also show up on the outside back of the desk, so the only way to hide that is to put the desk up against a wall. That leaves other options closed.

The Bottom Line

The Trovato Office-in-a-Box is a wonderfully designed product with substantial storage space. It is classy and modern and will look great in a home office or a dorm room.

Price: $149.99

Dimensions:

Desk: 36" W X 23-1/2" D X 30-3/4" H

Hutch: 32-7/8" W X 9-1/4" D X 6-3/4" H Stool: 18-1/2" W X 15-3/8" D X 18-7/8" H

Available at OfficeMax

TuneUp Utilities 2009

2009-11-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a good utility package to keep your computer running efficiently, TuneUp Utilities 2009 provides a good set of tools. Whether you have a specific computer problem you are trying to solve, or just have a need for ongoing maintenance and optimization, this product has just what you need.

About the Company

TuneUp was started originally when TuneUp 97 was created by the company's founders as Germany's first Window's optimization package. TuneUp has since expanded internationally, and is available in English, German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian and Polish around the world.

About the Product

TuneUp Utilities 2009 is a suite of computer optimization utilities and tools that help you keep your computer in top working order. These utilities include tools for performance optimization, freeing up disk space, cleaning and customizing the Windows operating system, managing the Windows start-up process, and other maintenance tools such as the detection and repair of file errors. There are also a number of handy utilities such as an undelete tool to recover files that were unintentionally deleted, and the ability to completely remove data from your PC.

The Good

The utilities included in TuneUp Utilities 2009 are simple to use, and work quickly to solve common computer maintenance issues. There are also a number of handy add-on programs that aren't often included in utility packages. The tools are powerful, well-organized, and the built-in help manual is complete and useful, with the complete manual available online in PDF format. Using this suite of utilities, it's easy to keep a PC in optimal operational condition, as well as repair any problems that might occur.

The Bad

As compared to other similar utilities, TuneUp Utilities is more expensive. The user interface can also be a little difficult to use in some sections of the utilities. It also doesn't include some of the diagnostic tools that competing utilities have bundled in their products.

The Bottom Line

TuneUp Utilities 2009 is easy to use, and includes a suite of utilities and tools to optimize computer system performance. The utilities are divided into six categories, making it simple to find just the tools you need for a specific type of task. It is easy to install, and the utilities run quickly and effectively. In spite of the fact that the price is higher than shareware utilities and similar utility packages, TuneUp Utilities 2009 also contains a variety of useful add-on tools that many others don't include. Overall, this product does what it is intended to do simply and easily, and is a good set of tools for almost any computer user.

Product Information

TuneUp Utilities 2009 costs $24.49, and can be used on up to three PCs. Volume pricing is also available upon request for educational and government institutions and businesses.

Serif Software PagePlus X4

2009-11-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for an easy-to-use and effective desktop publishing package, PagePlus X4 from Serif Software is the perfect solution. Not only does this software package provide features that are comparable to many high-end desktop publishing packages, it's available at a much more affordable price.

About the Company

Serif was founded in 1987 with a mission to create value-priced alternatives to popular high-end publishing, design and graphics packages. They have developed a number of software packages that allow users to achieve professional results easily, and for a good price. In addition to PagePlus, their software offering also include packages such as PhotoPlus, DrawPlus, MoviePlus, WebPlus, PanoramaPlus, and Digital Scrapbook Artist.

About the Product

The X4 version of PagePlus is a fairly significant upgrade from the previous version. There have been enhancements added that allow extra drawing capabilities, as well as photo editing features. These both help to make PagePlus a more useful, without the need to use other software packages for graphics needs. There have also been improvements made in the popular LogoStudio tool, as well as overall improvements that were made in regards to text handling and document importing functionality. Overall, PagePlus X4 is now easier and more productive to use.

The Good

PagePlus X4 provides a lot of advanced features for the small price. If you are looking for a good desktop publishing package for home use or for a small business, PagePlus X4 would be a good fit. It provides plenty of templates which make it easy to create newsletters, Web sites, business cards, cards and other types of desktop publishing projects.

The Bad

The product does have a few unusual quirks, such some unusual terminology that can be confusing to a newcomer to the application. For example, it uses the term "Flash" to refer to a collection of shapes within the application, and not Adobe Flash elements. The speed for importing graphics into a document over a network is also somewhat slow, which can be overcome by first copying the graphics to your local computer before inserting them into your documents.

The Bottom Line

The new version provides even more features and flexibility, making this software package well worth the price. Those who have used previous versions of PagePlus will enjoy the new image handling and editing functionality, as well as the improvements in text handling and other document features. For the price, it's hard to beat PagePlus X4, as it provides a number of features that are comparable to much more expensive desktop publishing packages.

Product Information

Serif Software PagePlus X4 is available from Serif for $99. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP 32 bit, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.

Sanctuary Power Charging Station and Desk Valet

2009-11-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

Everyone who has multiple electronic devices such as cell phones and PDAs has the same problem... too many cords and chargers to keep track of. One innovative and elegant solution to this problem is the Sanctuary Power Charging Station and Desk Valet, which makes organizing and charging these types of devices a breeze.

About the Company

BlueLounge was founded as a multi-discipline design studio, and manufactures a number of innovative products that are designed to simply solve everyday issues, such as recharging electronic devices, organizing electronic cords, and protecting computer equipment from some of the hazards of everyday use. Their products are simple and yet elegant solutions that make you wonder how you ever got along without them.

About the Product

The Sanctuary is a combination charging station and desk organizer that you can use to charge almost anything. It is compatible with over 1,500 devices, and eliminates the need for multiple plugs and adapters. It utilizes just one A/C adaptor, but since it has 12 built-in connectors, it lets you charge several devices at the same time. It also has a USB connection for even more device compatibility. It's compact 9" x 9" size takes up very little desk space, and its available in black and white.

The Good

The Sanctuary uses both desk space and electrical outlet space very efficiently, and supports an amazing number of different devices. It is a well designed and compact device, and keeps things looking tidy because everything stays hidden under the foam platform. Because everything is connected, it reduces the problem of losing a specific connector or cord.

The Bad

The Sanctuary is not compatible with everything, so before you buy, you should check the list to make sure your device is on it, it’s a bit pricey. There are so many different connectors that they do tend to get tangled a bit under the platform. If you have more than one device that uses the same style of connector, you won't be able to charge them at the same time.

The Bottom Line

The Sanctuary is very useful, and greatly simplifies the often complex task of keeping a person's myriad of electronic devices charged. If your multiple devices are all on The Sanctuary's compatibility list, it can be a good buy, especially if you don’t have more than one of the same device to charge at the same time.

Product Information

The standard black or white model costs $129.95, and there is a deluxe dark wood model available for $149.95. If your device isn't compatible with The Sanctuary and you need to purchase additional connectors, there are six different ones available, at a cost of $5.95 each. You can get it at CableOrganizer.com

Russell + Hazel's Signature Three Ring Binder, Single Subject Notebook, Signature Paper Pockets, To Do Adhesive Notes, Collator

2009-11-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for an alternative to the boring, everyday styles of home and office paper products, you will want to check out the chic designs offered by Russell+Hazel. Their full product line of notebooks, file folders, binders and more are not just high in quality, but make a true fashion statement.

About the Company

Russell+Hazel was launched in 2003 with a mission to provide fresh new choices for everyday office items such as binders, file folders, and sticky notes. The design headquarters is in Minneapolis, MN, which is also the location of the only Russell+Hazel store. Russell+Hazel is now part of the Gartner family of brands, and provides a collection of innovative and stylish products for home and office use.

About the Product

The Russell+Hazel product line is quite extensive, but includes some basic items that have wide appeal to almost everybody. For example, their Signature Three Ring Binder includes a dry-erase interior, book linen spine, and a sturdy rubber band for secure closure. Their Single Subject Notebook includes a heavy-duty cover, twin-loop wire binding, and no-mess perforation on the college-ruled paper. Russell+Hazel Paper Pockets are extremely handy, and snap into a binder to hold loose papers and notes. Their pads of To-Do notes are generously sized, providing space to enter and check off your daily agenda. To keep everything organized and handy on your desk, the collapsible metal Collator is invaluable.

The Good

All of the Russell+Hazel products are well-design, attractive and useful for staying organized. The products are durable, and add some welcome color and style to the office environment. There are paper products to suit every need, as well as innovative accessories and storage solutions. The designs are fresh and stylish, and can almost make going to work seem fun.

The Bad

For those who are used to purchasing office supplies such as binders and folders at discount stores, the prices might seem somewhat high.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for stylish, well-designed office accessories and paper products, Russell+Hazel is a good choice. Their styles are innovative and are updated each spring and fall with new collections. Although the prices are higher than what you would find in discount and office supply stores, so is the quality of the products. They also offer a wide variety of gift items that almost anyone would appreciate receiving.

Product Information

The product line is extensive, and includes items such as their Signature Three-Ring Binder for $24.00, Single Subject Notebook for $18.00, a set of five Signature Paper Pockets for $14.00, a set of three pads of To-Do Adhesive Notes for $10.00, and a handy collapsible Collator for $30.00

Mabel's Labels

2009-11-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for an ingenious, quick and attractive way to label your baby or toddler's gear, Mabel's Labels are just what you need. These labels stick or iron onto toys, bottles, clothing and more, and are a cute and efficient way to personalize and label almost anything

About the Company
Mabel's Labels was founded in 2002 in Hamilton, Ontario by four moms, who between them have eleven children. Their innovative and original designs have a loyal customer base, and as a result their company has experienced rapid growth.

About the Product
The Mable's Labels product line is quite extensive, and includes labeling options for a wide variety of items. There are labels designed for baby and toddler items, as well as for adults. These labels adhere in different fashions, such as stick-on labels for items such as baby bottles and toys, as well as for scrapbook supply bins, spice canisters, and curbside trash cans. There are also iron-on and stick on clothing labels, including labels for shoes and school bag metal tags. For those who have many labeling needs, Mabel's Labels also come in handy label combo sets.

The Good
There are a variety of types of labels available, which makes it easy to find just the right type of label for whatever you need to personalize. These labels stay put, and are durable, colorful and fun. Kids love the cute designs on the labels, and parents will love how it keeps items personalized and easy to recognize. In addition to children's labels, there are a number of label styles geared towards adult needs as well.

The Bad
Other than the difficulty in deciding which labels to get, there's not much of a down side to any of the Mabel's Labels products. If a child is extremely handy and manually dexterous, they might be able to peel off an occasional label, but even this is not usually a problem.

The Bottom Line
Mabel's Labels are an extremely handy and innovative product that moms will love. The labels designed for children are colorful and fun, and are durable and stay put. The labels designed for adults, such as the Crafters Pack, Bin Labels and Canister Labels and Skinny-Mini Spice Labels are perfect for grown-up organizing and labeling needs. All of Mabel's Labels are practical, innovative, and just plain fun to use.

Product Information
Mabel's Labels come in a number of different styles, including Sticky Labels priced at $18.50 for a pack of 45 labels, smaller Skinny-Minis labels priced at $18.50 for a pack of 80 labels, Iron-Ons clothing labels priced at $21.00 for a pack of 50 labels, and Tag-Mates peel and stick clothing tag labels at $21.00 for a pack of 75 labels.

Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse Arm

2009-11-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

If you spend long hours each day using a computer, you will appreciate this product. The Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse Arm by Ziotek lets you position your keyboard and mouse in whatever position is most comfortable for you. Even more importantly, you can easily reposition it several times throughout the day if desired, to reduce repetitive stress.

About the Company

Ziotek manufactures a number of innovative items that are designed to work with technology equipment. They specialize in items such as cables and adapters, computer and office accessories, as well as other technology-focused products.

About the Product

The Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse Arm enables you to position your keyboard and mouse in whatever position is most comfortable for you. It attaches to the underside of your computer desk surface, and is adjustable with the touch of a lever, and slides under your desk when not in use. It not only lets you adjust the extension of the keyboard and mouse tray, but also the angle, since the arm can tilt up 30 degrees and down 15 degrees. It can accommodate a wide variety of keyboards and the mouse support is adjustable for right or left-hand usage. Its wide range of adjustability helps to reduce a person's risk of repetitive stress and makes computer work much more comfortable.

The Good

Because this device is so adjustable, it's easy to find a position that makes using your mouse and keyboard more comfortable. The fact that it slides completely under the desk is handy, especially when you need to perform other activities at your desk. Its steel construction is sturdy, and provides a good steady surface for your keyboard and mouse.

The Bad

Although this device is very adjustable, it seems just a little awkward to have the mouse on a separate support. For those who are used to having a keyboard tray that supports both the mouse and the mouse side by side, it can take a bit of getting used to.

The Bottom Line

The adjustability alone makes this product worth the price. For those who spend a lot of hours at a computer every day, the ability to adjust the height and angle of the keyboard and mouse is invaluable, and really helps to reduce stress and discomfort. The price is comparable with other keyboard and mouse trays, while adding more adjustability than many other models.

Product Information

This product can usually be found for around $110 at CableOrganizer.com

Bamboo Utensil Set from ECOBAGS

2009-11-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

One of the problems with convenience and fast-food restaurants is the wastefulness of the throw-away plates and utensils. The Bamboo Utensil Set from ECOBAGS can be a perfect solution, allowing you to always have your own handy set of eating utensils with you wherever you go.

About the Company

Eco-Bags Products, Inc. started their business in 1989 with a mission to produce quality bags that fit a reusable way of life that embraces recycling and using renewable resources. They have since expanded their product line to include many other environmentally friendly and responsible products.

About the Product

The To-Go Ware Repeat Bamboo Utensil set is a portable set of eating utensils that includes a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks. They are enclosed in a handy colorful utensil holder that is made from recycled PET plastic, which helps keep these plastic beverage bottles out of our landfills. There is a handy carabiner on the back of the holder that lets you clip it on and easily carry these utensils. Made from sustainably harvested bamboo, this set of eating utensils not only attractive and handy, but also environmentally responsible. You have a choice of five attractive holder colors to choose from: Agave, Beet, Pumpkin, Avocado and Black.

The Good

This is an extremely handy set, and is a good replacement for throw-away plastic utensils when you eat out. The bamboo utensils don't absorb flavors, and are pleasant utensils to eat with. They are safe to use on non-stick surfaces, safe for food use, and are heat and stain resistant. The fact that the holder can be clipped on makes it easy to carry these handy utensils wherever you travel. Because the carrying case comes in multiple colors, it makes it easy for each family member to keep track of their own utensil set.

The Bad

Because the PET carrying case simply has a flip-over cover, it doesn't seal the eating utensils from dirt and debris, which can be a problem in situations such as hiking and traveling outdoors. Additionally, since the carrier is soft, it won't provide the eating utensils with much support if they are bent in transport.

The Bottom Line

For those who are looking for a handy set of portable utensils, this product is a good solution. They are an attractive and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable utensils, and are reasonably priced.

Product Information

The retail price for one set of utensils is $11.95. However, when purchasing five or more sets directly from ECOBAGS, the price is $10.95 each.