Chai tea is a flavored black tea made from a blend of the sweet & savory spice flavors of cinnamon, cardamon, clovers and ginger.
In India it is a cherished beverage thought to bring peace of mind and to preserve health.
I was first introduced to Chai tea by my darling daughter-in-law who grew up in South Korea where she learned her love of tea.
Chai Tea by Twinings
Image Source: Wednesday Elf
While there are a number of brands on the market producing Chai Tea, the only one I’ve tried (to date) and the one featured in this review, is by Twinings - a well-known British marketer of tea and other beverages since the early 1700s. I am quite sure Chai tea by other brands is equally as good, but I am very pleased with the taste of the Twinings Chai tea blended with delicious spices. The multiple health benefits of Chai Tea is also nice to know.
Twinings calls their Chai Tea a delicious wellbeing drink that tastes great and will do you good.
How to Brew Chai Tea
I do not like strong coffee, so for years, whenever I made tea with tea bags, I only put the bag in the water for a short amount of time, worried the drink would become too strong. I did not realize, until I (finally) tried it, what a difference ‘steeping’ your tea makes in the taste.
Image Source: Pixabay
Chai Tea is good hot or iced. The brewing instructions on the Twinings package of Chai Tea are as follows:
For Hot Tea: pour boiling water over the tea bag and steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bag. Enjoy!
For Iced Tea: Fill half a pitcher with boiling water. Steep 4 tea bags for 3 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add ice to desired strength.
For a single glass of iced tea, use one tea bag in a heat resistant glass.
Summary
Happiness is finding a delicious new (to me) tea drink I really love. Give Twinings Chai Tea a try today and see if you don’t agree.
*Twinings Chai Tea Review written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
For years we have been told by doctors and other professionals that exercise
is important and becomes more important as we age.
There are many ways to keep ourselves healthy and one of the most important
after eating well and drinking lots of water, is to walk! There should not
be a day that goes by where you don't walk for at least 10 minutes.
This exercise is completely available to everyone!
But as we age, even taking a walk can be a source of anxiety. All you
need to do is fall once and the fear is entrenched.
So let's do the walking safely, so that a fall is not what happens
ever.
When we are younger, our bodies react better to outside stimulus.
Looking up at birds, trees, planes and things around us is not a
problem. But once you are over 65, our bodies don't react the same
way.
We can and should focus on our steps. Putting one foot in front of
the other and having a
good pair of shoes on will make walking so much safer for older individuals. Our eyes
and bodies need to be focused on the job at hand.
Walking should be the ultimate easy way to stay fit, so could I suggest
that after making the choice to walk for fitness, you then make sure you
have a good pair of walking shoes.
I like
athletic type shoes
for my walking as the soles are well padded and the treads on the bottom are
deep, giving me great traction in all kinds of weather. Puddles should not
stop us from getting those walking minutes in. If the weather is
inclement then let's take our walking inside at a shopping mall. Many malls
now have walking clubs that are available to anyone, or you can just go
there and do your walk on your own.
If you need a little extra help,
Nordic Walking Poles
are a great addition and add a little extra stability and balance. My
other half and I have these
Fit Life Walking Poles and we use them often. They are light weight and yet sturdy.
The difference it makes when walking is amazing. I would never have
thought that holding onto these poles would make such a difference in my
gait and the ability to walk even further than I thought possible. But
they really do help a lot!
Now that summer is on it's way out, it's time to make a new fitness
challenge ours. Let's all start by taking a nice walk in the autumn
air to enjoy the change in weather as well as the beautiful changes in
nature.
Make your walk a daily habit and I bet you will be pleased with the results
in both your physical health as well as your mental
health.
In closing I just want to say that I am not a doctor, and the health
benefits of walking are something that I have personally felt after
committing to walking daily.
Check with your own physician to make sure that this is a good fit for
you!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I have crocheted for many decades but only recently have begun purchasing natural fiber yarns (wool and alpaca) for my projects. I was very excited to find the Fair Isle colorway by Lion Brand and have crocheted a hat that I'm very pleased with. My project ideas for this specific yarn is already a long list.
Isn't Fair Isle Just the Name of a Colorway?
Yes and no. It is the name of this Lion Brand skein because it is a self-striping or self-pooling skein of yarn intended to create patterns that appear similar to the original style of Fair Isle - but without using two strands of yarn at a time while knitting. I chose the Fair Isle (self-striping) skein in the colorway Pink Mushroom. There are other color choices in the Fair Isle style of yarn.
Historically, Fair Isle is a knitting technique that is worked holding two strands of yarn, separately, at a time. The technique results in colors that create repeated shapes across the work. These shapes often are "OXO" shapes or simple geometric shapes. It was named Fair Isle after one of the Shetland Islands and reportedly became more popular after the Prince of Wales wore a Fair Isle sweater. I have always admired these designs but hadn't known previously that it was a specific knitting technique.
Wool Ease Fair Isle Yarn by Lion Brand
The Wool Ease Fair Isle yarn is meant to pool into patterns. This happens much more easily when knitting since the shapes are better formed in the "v" stitches that occur in knitting. Unfortunately, I have not yet learned how to knit. But I still loved the colors offered in these skeins. And I'm looking to make more projects with natural fibers and that have the thicker, "wool" appearance. I bought one skein, worked up a hat, and immediately ordered more skeins.
Specifics:
80% Acrylic, 20% wool blend
weight size 4 (worsted)
5.3 oz/348 yd
machine wash gentle, tumble dry low
Size 8 knitting needles/size J crochet hook
This Wool Ease yarn is a great way to start using a natural fiber blend, but isn't as expensive as a full natural fiber skein. And because it is a blend, it does not have to be handwashed.
I was attracted to the colorways. Many variegated yarns are extremely bold and bright colors. I know that bright colors are the preferred choice of many people. But I prefer subdued colors. The Wool Ease Fair Isle offers the gentle colors that I like.
I crocheted a hat, knowing that I would not get the exact patterns that someone knitting would achieve. But I was focused on the gentle colors. I was very pleasantly surprised when my hat turned out with pleasing stripes and flecks. And bonus, I have enough yarn in this skein to make another 1 - 2 hats!
As I was creating my hat, I was excitedly listing all of the projects that would be beautiful in this yarn; mittens, fingerless gloves, scarves, stuffed animals (wouldn't bunnies and elephants be beautiful in this color?!). This yarn is not as soft as the Eddie Bauer Wool-Paca yarn I recently purchased. But that's okay. While the Wool Ease Fair Isle is not as soft, it is not itchy due to amount of acrylic yarn in the blend. It is very thick and "cushiony".
The skein labels picture a finished project with repeating shapes. It states, "to create projects pictured here, visit Lionbrand.com. With an internet search, you can also find reviews of this yarn, some projects, and examples of Fair Isle projects using 2 strands of yarn instead of the ease of using this one strand of Wool Ease.
I often buy my yarn online at Joann Fabric and Crafts now that I don't live near any good yarn stores. I take advantage of their really good sales.
If you prefer Amazon Prime due to saving the shipping costs, just do a search for "Yarn" and many options pop up; including Lion Brand yarn.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates is an animated preschool child’s television series that was produced by Disney Junior and aired between the years of 2011 and 2016. The storyline took inspiration from Walt Disney and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan story. It tells tales of the three main pirate characters - Jake, Izzy, Cubby - and of a parrot named Skully who together search for treasure and find themselves competing with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Sharky and Bones.
SERIES TRAILER
Here’s a peek at the show:
SHOW SUCCESS
The show was successful with the little boy audience it was aimed at and Common Sense Media says, “The program is full of good social messages about solving problems, being a good friend and appreciating individuality. It also includes basic academic skills like counting and sorting and involves kids with music and humor.”
SHOW TOYS
There was a high demand for toys for the series and in 2013, Play-Doh issued the play set shown here for fans of the show aged 3 and up. It is perfect for pirate-themed creative play whether it is inspired from the program Jake and the Never Land Pirates or from your child’s imagination.
SET CONTENTS
The set comes complete with two stamps, a press in the form of a canon, a treasure chest shaper, a crocodile cutter and three containers of Play-Doh. Please be aware that retired sets have old Play-Doh in them and you may have to replace the modelling compound, which is easily and affordably done at your local toy store.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR SET
There was also another set for this series, a Toys R Us exclusive, called Pirate Ship. However, both of these sets have long been discontinued, which makes them somewhat hard to find. I recommend searching for Play-Doh's Jake and the Never Land sets here on eBay.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
When my daughter was younger we had quite a selection of Baby Einstein videos and I would play her one a day, they were amazing. Now that said daughter has a baby of her own we introduced him to Baby Einstein via YouTube and he loves it.
I decided to get him a couple of toys featured in the video he likes, but then I saw the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes and it has become one of his favourites (tying with the Baby Einstein star).
When he has tummy time he loves looking at it as it's playing music and as he's about to teeth he really likes pushing the rings into his mouth and biting down on them. When we take him in the car it is a really handy toy to have as it's easy for him to hold and as he brings it up to his face he (accidently) turns the music on himself.
For reference, my grandson was 5 months old when we introduced this toy, and he has been playing with it for a few weeks. I see it says from 3 months, but I'm not sure that he would've enjoyed it so much at 3 months, maybe from 4.5 months.
There's a total of 10 different melodies that play with Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes and the toy lights up in time to the music when it plays which my grandson is mesmerised by. One of the things I love about the melodies that Baby Einstein uses is that they are based on classical music like Beethoven, Bach and Mozart along with traditional rhymes.
It requires 2 AA batteries and can also be turned off when baby's not playing with it. It also has two volume levels.
It's recommended that you wipe it clean with a damp cloth and mild soap, but we just use a disinfectant wipe after our grandson has left for the day.
This gets a big thumbs up from baby, Nanny & Grandad - I think mum and dad might invest in one for when he's at home as well.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Admittedly I was skeptical. Lily's Toaster Grills removed my skepticism that a grilled cheese sandwich could be frozen successfully!
Taste
The Toaster Grill tasted very very close to the old school type of grilled cheese we find in area Deli's or Coney Islands. American Cheese and white bread where the cheese is melted (but not too much), the bread is toasted (but not too much) and the consistency is just perfect to dip into a cup of tomato soup.
This is not, repeat not, the gourmet grilled cheese on Artisan bread with three types of cheeses. Those are indeed wonderful as well, but the Toaster Grill is not in that lane nor does it advertise to be.
Convenient Comfort Food
So convenient and so incredibly easy to make. Simply put the Toaster Grill in the microwave for 30 seconds then into the toaster for one round of toasting. I understand the worry that the sandwich may leak cheese in the toaster; but I have not found that to happen.
But wait, how hard it is to cook a grilled cheese? That can be subjective indeed. The Toaster Grill is very convenient which is one of its' best features and in about one minute a consistent grilled cheese is delivered.
Where To Purchase?
The American Cheese Toaster Grills are available in my urban area at brand name grocery stores and Costco. The Costco packaging is in bulk and less costly than the grocery store.
Recommendation
I have not met a grilled cheese fan yet who does not agree the Toaster Grills are the closest frozen equivalent to a fresh grilled cheese sandwich.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
No I'm not talking about just a little forgetfulness! Everyone has those moments and they are perfectly normal! They happen to everyone at some point in their day. What I'm talking about is a process of the aging population and something that may affect more people now than ever before.
We are living longer and we are staying in better health for the most part.
But and here is the BIG BUT, even if we look after ourselves physically, there are changes that happen in our bodies whether we like them or not.
Many of you know that I have an elderly mom (93) and that up until this past year, she has been fairly healthy and strong. That changed quite dramatically this past winter when she fell ill with a bacterial infection. Once she was in hospital, it didn't take long before she also had the flu and pneumonia!
This started a quick downward spiral that she has not been able to shake off. Fast Forward to today and we are now in a situation where she is in a Long Term Care Facility and no longer able to look after herself. Her mind is no longer all "there". She sometimes lives in the present, but more often lives in the past. Alzheimer's is the name and it's not pretty!
But, we make and take our moments while we can. Last week we celebrated her birthday and thankfully my family was able to make it out to enjoy an afternoon with her.
She was having a "good" day, meaning that she was in the present and when she saw all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she remained with us for the whole afternoon.
What a joy it was to have everyone make her feel so special! She was able to talk with everyone and they all had some fond memories to share with her. A blessing for me as I was concerned that she might not be having a good day.
Now we are going to build on that memory so that she has something wonderful to fixate on, rather than some memories of days gone by that are not so nice. She has gone through much in her life and some of it was not pleasant. With her mind, the way it is now, we have to change what she sees as memories and the best way to do that is to have those new beautiful memories right there in front of her on a daily basis.
No she cannot handle new technology, so we use the tools that we have. Pictures in picture frames that she can hold. If need be right up to her nose. Then she stares at the faces smiling back at her and she does remember. Oh she might not remember everything that happened during her party, but she does remember that they are family and they came out just for her! After all she's in the center of the picture.
If you have someone you love that is struggling with their memory, might I suggest that a beautiful picture frame, filled with the loving faces of family, be one gift that will keep on giving pleasure for many months to come.
This is the frame that I will purchase. I like it because it is magnetic (pictures can be swapped out easily), It has a base that is wide enough to stand on it's own. There isn't a lot of "extras" to take her mind off the picture. And with the width of the frame, it stands up on it's own. It's also easy for her to handle if she wants a closer look. You can even make it double sided so you get twice the bang for your buck! What more could you ask for?
When you have to deal with a disease like Alzheimer's, you need to use all the tools possible to make every day a great day! I hope this helps anyone who is facing this diagnosis with their loved ones.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I've crocheted for decades and have usually used acrylic yarns. I have always wanted to use natural fiber yarns (wool or alpaca) but had been hesitant due to the high prices of the natural fiber yarns. And I don't like how some natural fibers yarns are more scratchy than soft. I didn't want to spend extra money for a yarn that I didn't want to touch. I have recently purchased and begun using Eddie Bauer Wool Paca yarn and couldn't be more thrilled. This yarn is super soft and works up wonderfully.
Eddie Bauer Wool Paca Yarn
Eddie Bauer Wool Paca Yarn is a blend of 80% extra fine Merino superwash and 20% Alpaca. It is a 3 weight yarn (thinner/lighter than worsteds weight yarn). The skeins are 277 yd and 3.5 oz (small/lighter than worsted weight yarn skeins).
At the time I ordered, there were 16 colors to choose from. And there were 9 5-star reviews.
The description of the yarn on the Joann site describes the yarn as:
soft, luxurious, and warm
machine-wash safe
perfect weight for baby items and women's garments
the merino base helps create accessories and garments with warmth and sophistication
My Project
I decided to give this Wool Paca Yarn a try when I found it on sale on the Joann site. I chose 2 different colors: Scarlet and Alaska Gold. I hope to learn how to crochet a cable-stitch with the Alaska Gold color. I completed a beanie with stitches that I'm familiar with as a test-run with the Scarlet color.
For this first hat, I used the Bag-O-Day Knotting Around Beanie video tutorial. As an intermediate crocheter, Crystal is SUPER easy to follow. I feel that she goes slowly enough, and had her camera set closely enough, that this is a great tutorial for beginners also.
I was concerned about ordering my first wool/alpaca blend online. I haven't always been a tactile shopper - wanting to touch everything before I purchase it. When I lived in a metro area, I was blessed to have several, very large and well-stocked, yarn and fiber stores near my apartment. Now that I live in a rural area, I do not have this luxury. I have to mail order most all of my yarns. I was extremely hesitant to order this new yarn and expected it to be scratchy and not pass my touch-test.
This Eddie Bauer is very soft! As I was crocheting the hat, I was already thinking about making scarves, sweaters, baby blankets and maybe stuffed animals. I'm already wondering if I can find a pattern for crocheted plush bunnies that I used years ago.
Related Links:
When brick and mortar stores are not an option, Joann.com is a great place to order your crochet supplies. Be sure to watch for their sales.
If you prefer to shop Amazon for your yarns, you can begin your search for wool alpaca yarns here.
I also used my Nelsonwood crochet hook with this hat. You can see my review of my first Nelsonwood hook here!
Our Review This contributor, Wednesday Elf, is a talented crochet artist. You can see her most recent article related to crafts and crochet here.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I'm sure you've heard about the wonders of collagen as everywhere you look there seems to be a collagen supplement available these days! I'm here to talk to you about the collagen builder I take daily and absolutely love. First though, what is collagen? Let's have a look in more detail.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the main component of connective tissue in our body (and in other mammals). Amino acids (aka the building blocks of protein) are bound together to form a triple helix known as a collagen helix. This collagen helix is mostly found in connective tissue, in other words cartilage, bones, tendons, ligaments and skin.
Collagen has the ability (depending on the degree of mineralization) to appear to be really rigid, like in bones, or really compliant (like skin). As a side note were you ever told about gelatin being great for your nails?
My nan told me that if I ate a cube of jelly every day (in the UK jelly wasn't sold in crystals, but in highly concentrated gelatinous blocks that dissolved in hot water to make the jelly dessert that's known as jello in the US) I would have strong nails. I stopped biting my nails at 12 or 13 (to prove a point!) and started taking a cube of jelly a day as someone told me I'd never have strong nails because I'd bitten them for so long. My nails grew long and strong and as I loved eating the jelly I just continued to have a cube a day until I moved to New Zealand where they only sold the crystals.
Why am I telling you about my young nails? Well gelatin is actually collagen that has been treated with heat. My nan was very ahead of her time!
Of course these days the science has been developed even more as they have identified a number of different types of collagen, in fact there are 28 types of human collagen in the body. I'm not going to delve into the science much more as I'm not a scientist and some of the information I've read goes completely over my head!
Do I Need a Collagen Supplement?
Your body produces collagen itself, but as you age it produces less and the collagen is also lower in quality. This is why as you age you get wrinkles and fine lines, your hair gets thinner, you may experience joint pain, more gastrointestinal problems or problems with blood flow.
Most collagen products are marketed toward improving your skin, hair and nails, but you will find a lot of discussions on various forums about using them for some auto-immune diseases with some antidotal success.
How to Choose Which Collagen to Take?
There are so many different collagen's on the market that once you've decided you want to try collagen how do you choose?
Here's my reasoning - you need Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C to produce collagen so why not take a collagen builder that produces these two ingredients because your body will make the collagen it needs. Most collagen supplements on the market come from animals which means that your body has to digest and breakdown that collagen and then turn it into the collagen it needs.
Please note that I am not a scientist, nutritionist or doctor so these are just my opinions and what I think makes sense of what I have read. I do like to read up and look after my health as I have an auto-immune disease which I can control without medication.
Reviewing Skin Elixir Collagen Builder by Arbonne
I chose to try this product which comes in a sachet that you add to water, it is a lovely acai flavour which a lot of people enjoy just by itself. Personally, I add it to my Greens drink every morning.
This product's key ingredients are Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C to help build collagen along with botanicals to help provide antioxidant protection and to keep the skin noursihed. It also contains Biotin to help support and maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.
It is promoted to help your skin, hair and nails and in my case my hairdresser commented after a few months that my hair was getting thicker (being in my 50s this was the opposite of what most women would be experiencing!). At the time that I first started to take this supplement I was also getting my nails done once a month - I was started to need them done every three weeks as my nails were growing faster.
The reason that I have continued to take this supplement for a few years though is because of what happened when I stopped taking it. I decided that I didn't need it one month and a couple of weeks in I was noticing a stiffness in my joints and I then experienced a small flare-up (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis). I ordered some more of the skin elixir and will not go without it for any longer than one day.
No testing has been done on it's effects on joints, it is only recommended for skin, hair and nails, but I share my experience in case it helps anyone. You can purchase a 30-day supply of Arbonne's Skin Elixir Collagen Builder here and see how your body reacts, when you do please come back and let me know how you've found it.
This is a vegan supplement (collagen is not vegan, but this is a collagen builder).
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
For Fran's birthday this year, our daughter got her a Seasonlife turntable
record player. It is something Fran has wanted for a long time. We have a
huge collection of vinyl records that have been in storage for years, and now, we are enjoying them again.
In an age where digital music dominates, there's something uniquely
satisfying about listening to vinyl records. We are old enough to remember
when vinyl records were all we had for music besides the radio.
Let's look back at how we listened to music over the years. After
vinyl records came the 8-track tape players, cassette players, CDs, and digital downloads. I believe vinyl records are making a comeback. Our
18-year-old grandson Bobby, has a turntable and has started his own
collection of vinyl records.
Features of our Seasonlife Turntable:
3-Speed Operation, It can play at 33 1/3, and 45 RPM a wide range of vinyl
records.
Built-in Speakers: The turntable has integrated stereo speakers, providing a decent listening sound quality.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Bluetooth capability lets you stream wirelessly from your smartphone or other devices.
Auto-Stop Function: This feature stops the turntable when the record ends,
protecting your vinyl, and ensuring the needle doesn't wear down.
Our Seasonlife turntable delivers a warm rich sound and is easy to set up.
We are now enjoying those wonderful sounds of the 70's along with some new
vinyls we have purchased.
This Seasonlife Record Player is a perfect choice, whether you're looking
to start or expand your vinyl collection, without breaking the bank.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Intrigued by Robovacs? I was hesitant to purchase a robovac as the units can
be expensive particularly if the vacuums did not perform as promised. The Eufy
robovac is an affordable brand that definitely delivered as promised. It is a
very nice addition to the cleaning collection of tools and a purchase I
recommend.
How Does The Eufy Clean?
The Eufy did a very good job on carpet, rugs and hardwood floors. I did not
notice any difference between what the upright vac would pick up and the Eufy.
Changing the storage container will quickly show how much dust is collected
from the hardwoods.
One feature I frequently use is the spot cleaning setting where the Eufy
cleans in a circle about two feet in radius from where the unit is started.
This is a handy feature when one section of carpet or area of a rug needs
extra attention. I particularly used this setting when cleaning up tracked in
salt during winter.
Finding "Home"
For a smart vac the Enfy is not the smartest robovac in the closet when
finding its' home base. If the vac is guided by remote to the room the
charging station is located then the vac can find its' way home. Unknown if
the vac operates the same way in every home? It's more of a very slight
inconvenience.
The vacuum also did a great job at avoiding pieces of furniture and detecting
doors or entering and exiting through doors. The one object I found the Eufy
could not detect well were electrical cords; I'd advise either monitoring the
vacuum or lifting up electrical cords in a home office.
Maintenance
What type of maintenance is required? There are two necessary maintenance
tasks and each are located on the bottom of the unit.
A roller brush will work less effectively when hair is wrapped around the
brush hindering the brush to work well. This is the same as a regular vacuum
to clean or remove the brush.
The second area is a small storage area for what is actually picked up by the
unit. This fills fairly quickly and usually needs emptying per use. The
storage container is very easy to remove, empty and then reinstall.
Remote Control
This is a very easy what you see is what you get remote. On the rear of the
remote is a legend to the six remote settings. Very easy to operate.
The Charging Station
The charging station definitely needs to brace itself against a solid
background whether it be a door, wall or piece off furniture. There does need
to be a little clearance around the charging station due to the way the Eufy
finds the station and will lock itself into the station to charge.
No Tools
The vac does not have any tools as one may be used to with other vacuums such
as dust, crevice or extension tools.
Sound
I found the unit very quiet. In an adjacent room I could hear a faint hum the
majority of the run of the vaccum.
Price Point
I found the Eufy a good value for its' price point. Advertised in the budget
category of robovacs, I found the vacuum worked very well. If vacuuming is a
chore then the Eufy can help lighten the chore load at at a price
significantly more affordable than a few of its' competitors.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Sometimes when cooking for a crowd you need some additional cooking space.
We find this especially true when our kids and grandchildren are visiting.
Fran bought this Bella Essentials electric griddle to help solve this
problem. This griddle is a versatile, user-friendly kitchen appliance
designed to make cooking a breeze.
Bella Electric Griddle Design and Quality:
This griddle is a sleek, modern design with a non-stick cooking surface
that ensures easy food release and easy, cleanup.
The 10 x 16 cooking
surface is large enough to prepare multiple items simultaneously, making it
ideal for a large family breakfast. The griddle features a sturdy base with
non-slip feet for stability.
Key Features:
Non-Stick Coating: Even foods like pancakes and eggs slide off
easily.
Adjustable Temperature Control: With a temperature range of up to
400 degrees, the adjustable control dial allows precise cooking for a
variety of dishes.
Drip Tray: The removable drip tray collects excess grease and makes
for easy cleanup.
Cool-Touch Handles: The heat-resistant handles ensure safe handling
during and after cooking.
Even Heating: The griddle heats up quickly and distributes heat
evenly preventing hot spots to ensure consistent results.
Pros:
The Non-Stick Cooking Surface
Even Heating
Adjustable Temperature
Removable Drip Tray
Cons:
The cord length is a bit short which may limit placement options in some
kitchens
Due to the size, finding a storage space in smaller kitchens can be a
challenge.
We have a space on our counter with an outlet easily accessible, and we
have a shelf in our basement for storage.
So, for us, the pros outweigh the
cons. The Bella griddle is a helpful kitchen appliance when cooking for a
crowd in our house.
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I have just recently received my first handcrafted ergonomic crochet hooks from Nelsonwood and I'm so excited to show them to you. Nelsonwood crochet hooks are handmade, primarily wooden, hooks that are as much pieces of art as they are functional tools for crochet. No two Nelsonwood items could ever be identical, so every hook is a custom artpiece that only you possess. They feel so velvety smooth that I just want to pet mine, like a calming fidget. Do you think I'm being dramatic? I would have thought so too had I read this prior to touching and seeing my first Nelsonwood hooks.
Crochet is a fiber art in which items are made using yarn and a hook. Crocheted items can be functional (hats, socks, blankets), unique art pieces and heirlooms (doilies, christening gowns), or fun (shaped pillows, amigurumi, stuffed animals, and costumes).
I enjoy crochet very much and am astounded at some of the intricate art I see crocheters producing. I am a moderately skilled crocheter but my retirement dream is to spend plenty of time sitting on the deck and learning to crochet intricate doily tablecloths, mosaic blankets, and beautiful wearables.
Many crocheters have their favorite brand or style of crochet hooks (and yarns, but that's an entirely different maze of rabbit holes to go down). I recently saw a crochet youtube tutorial in which the artist showed her Nelsoonwood hook. I was so astounded by how beautiful it was that I went directly to the website. It wasn't long after that I ordered my first Nelsoonwood hook.
Nelsonwood
Bryan Tyler Nelson is the Texas wood artist of Nelsonwood. He handcrafts beautiful wooden items with a focus on bowls and crochet hooks. And the selection of woods and base/body parts seems endless.
You choose the components to each hook you order at Nelsonwood.
Hook. Most importantly to me, you are able to choose a wooden hook or a metal hook. My favorite hook over the years has been the Boye brand. So I select that option and the size hook.
Base (body). This is the largest part of the hook. Where you hand holds onto. You can choose one of the many woods listed (with a vast variety of colors and grains) or you can choose one of the AlumiLite designs. AlumiLite is a "Proprietary Casting Urethane". It is very strong, stronger than Acrylic and will not break or chip.
Exotic Wood Ends. Whether you choose a wooden or AlumiLite base, you will then choose an exatic wood for the ends (for example, the far end of the hook and the piece between the base and the metal crochet hook on my custom Nelsonwood hook.)
My next order will be a hook with the AlumiLite base. There are so many options. There are some styles that have feathers or dried flowers inside. With the clear AlumiLite, it looks like they are floating.
All handcrafted items, that aren't created first then are "ready to ship" take slightly longer to receive after ordering. The site states that it typically takes between 4-5 weeks for the hook to be created and shipped. That is reasonable for a custom, handmade item. I feel that mine arrived in the 3 to 4 week time frame. (Frankly, I only usually check my post office box weekly. And my Nelsonwood hooks arrived a week sooner than I had anticipated).
As I can begin to see retirement age approaching, my hands seem to be retiring before the rest of me. I find myself wondering if days filled with working with my hands/fingers will be a realistic goal. This is the primary reason I hurried to order this ergonomic hook option. I also would like to be able to surround myself with a few nice, possibly heirloom, items here and there.
I did find the ordering page a bit confusing. Part of that was 1) I rarely read directions and just try to race through and 2) there are so many options that I had a very hard time making decisions. The good news is that Bryan has included a step-by-step "how to order" page that was extremely helpful (once I chose to look at directions!)
These hooks are pricey. I am not at all saying they are over-priced. Like all handmade items and works of art, the price is higher than mass-produced items. In fact, for what they are, the Nelsonwood custom crochet hooks are very reasonably priced. A younger me would not have been able to pay this price. Fortunately, the older me is able to splurge on some gifts to me. And, is it really a splurge if the ergonomic shape will help me continue crochet well into my retirement?
I tend to use only a range of 4 hook sizes; F, G, H, and I. So I have plans to buy Nelsonwood hooks in those four sizes. And the next will be one of those gorgeous AlumiLite bases. Probably one with the combination of flowers and fathers.
Personal Thoughts About Stereotypes
I'm rattling on about being an older woman and am looking forward to crocheting during my retirement. That is me personally. In no way do I want to continue the myth that crochet is a hobby that is only for old ladies.
There are many males (adult and younger) who are passionate about crochet and who are extremely talented. I am so very thankful for these folks who are sharing their passion and talent on social media.
I have worked with at-risk and special needs children for decades. I often offer crochet as a way for these children to have a hobby, develop skills (physical and emotional), have an outlet for their amazing creativity and so on. Unfortunately, over the decades, most males and many young female children were hesitant to try; citing "that's for old women".
I am thrilled that so many people, of such a wide range of age, gender, race, and culture are sharing their crochet passion with others. And am especially thrilled that males are showing their talent on social media.
Thank you for that.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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