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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

November Already, Birds Know It's Going to Get Cold! ~ A Product Review

Well that happened really fast I think! November seems to have jumped on me with a swiftness that I was not expecting! But, I guess I should have taken better notice of the subtle hints that Mother Nature had been sending my way before today!

Hints like the hundreds of Canadian Geese fattening themselves up before their long flight into the warmer climates. I wasn't looking because I was enjoying the beautiful summer that we had this year. Even today, I find it hard to believe that it is November! We had a balmy day of 23 degrees Celsius. For us Northerners, this is a remarkable warmth for this time of year.

The older I get, the more I like that winter seems to be taking it's time to get to us.

Having confessed that I'm good with the warm weather, I know that one day soon I will wake up to find that winter has indeed found me.

To that end, I am preparing to feed the birds that don't make that long trip to warmer places. Birds need our help in the winter months when finding seed heads becomes a task, especially when they are hidden under the snow.

Before I go any further, I'm going to ask you to take this seriously. If you start to feed the birds, please don't stop half way through the winter. Those birds who find you in November will be looking for food right through till the first dandelions appear in March or April.

Feeding the birds in the winter is a commitment you make to those little feather friends that will undoubtedly show up at your feeders. Quitting half way through the winter will cause them hardship as they will be desperately looking for a new source of food.

Don't give up on them and they will give you lots of joy throughout the long cold winter months.

Even little chickadees are a joy to see in the wintertime.

So let's get some good seeds, suet and a nice feeder so that the birds can make your backyard their choice for good eats!

Back in 2014, I wrote about feeding the birds and looking back at that Review, I know that what I'm telling you here is the same advice that I gave back then.

A great suet recipe comes from Birds and Blooms!

1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup lard

2 cups quick cooking oats

2 cups bird seed mix

1 cup of yellow cornmeal

1 cup of flour

Melt the peanut butter and lard slowly over low heat and then pour it into the dry ingredients. Mix well and let cool on a parchment covered baking dish(es) and let cool. Cut into size to fit your suet holder and you are done.

The most important thing for the birds in the winter months is that their food should be high in fats. They need it for energy to fly and to keep themselves warm.

One other way to guarantee that the birds will come is to have a ready supply of water for them as well. One of our reviewers is a "nature-buff" and she suggests that a heated water dish is a must have and I agree completely! Check our Mary Beth's review right here!

Birds are some of the littlest joys that we have flitting in and out of our lives. Can I suggest you give feeding the birds a try for one year and see how much joy they will bring to your day! It might even be the start of a whole new hobby!

Now for all you Non-Techy types, if you are interested in reading more, just click on the words you see in blue writing and you will find all kinds of great information to help you become the best bird friend ever.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Train Conductor, Railroad Crossing Gift Ideas

I actually made this railroad crossing design as a special request. It recently sold again, so I figure that there are others who would appreciate this as well.

It features a conductor standing near a set of train tracks that are pictured in back of him. The request I received was to make it a retirement card, though it can be used for birthdays, railroad accomplishments, and more.

I did some research on YouTube, and found out that the Conductor does quite a few jobs, including deciding when the train is to move and which way it is to go. They manage the the overall operation which may also include doing computer work as far as scheduling is concerned, and what may or may not need to be done on the excursion. Per AI, conductors also manage the crew, passengers, and or cargo.

A conductor that moves up, will become an engineer. The engineer operates and drives the locomotive.

These postcards can be used to let the Conductor that you know, that they have done a great job.

Personalized Railroad Conductor Postcards
by CherylsArt

My husband and I took a scenic train ride years ago. The Conductor on that train participated in removing a tree from the tracks that had come down since their previous trip. This Conductor was also quite sociable as compared to the conductors we saw on Amtrack. This is nothing negative about Amtrack, it's just that there was a different type of experience between the two different types of trains.

This poster looks like a great choice for small scenic train rides, to give guests directions to the depot, station. The arrow on the poster can be manipulated to point in a different direction. It is designed using a triangle and a line.

Custom Railroad Crossing Conductor Posters
by CherylsArt

The train Conductor who works on a scenic type of train, might also appreciate a personalized tshirt so that guests can easily know what to call him. If you need a design made for women train conductors, let me know in a comment below.

Personalized Railroad Crossing Tshirts
by CherylsArt

Have you been on train rides before? Which type of trains have you been on?

If you would like to see more train conductor products, including mugs, tshirts, and more, you can view what is currently available here: https://www.zazzle.com/collections/railroad_crossing_collection-119249638391014273

I have purchased various cards and tshirts from Zazzle, and all have turned out great. The materials have been of good quality, and the printing and colors have been excellent.

Thank you for your visit, and please do share this post with any train fans that you may know.

Cheryl Paton

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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Cement Yard Decor of Frogs

I had originally written about my various painted yard decor; they consisted of cement items that were solid, one that wasn't solid, and a rock. If you'd like to see that first, you can check that out here: Yard Decorations, Rock and Cement Yard Decor

Since then, I have painted colorful bunny rabbits, a blue meditating frog, and most recently, I purchased a solid cement figurine of three frogs to paint.

I looked around at several stores before finding the frogs figurine at Rural King. It is a pretty good size, quite heavy, and is rough textured. I was not looking forward to applying sealer, painting it, and then coating it; besides my time, it would be way too much wear and tear on my brushes.

So I checked out the label on the Patio Paint from DecoArt, that I had on hand. It said that it seals itself, and they did not mention doing any sealer prep work. Yay! So I went for it. I did mainly one coat of paint, other than where I added some highlights and or darker shades to added interest.

I think it looks pretty cool. My daughter commented that they were wearing toes socks. It does indeed look like they are. I have been wearing brightly colored toe socks myself lately.

Anyway, I was real impressed with basically the one coat coverage without using any additional sealant for prep or varnish at the end. We shall see how well they hold up.

The bottle says to wait 72 hours before putting the painted work outside. I will probably set them out at the end of the week and see how well they do. We're into autumn now and winter will be coming soon. I will keep an eye on them and add an update sometime in the spring.

If you are interested in checking out the paint that I used for this project, you can view it here on Amazon: Patio Paint by DecoArt. This one is an assortment pack of 18 of two ounce bottles.

If I do any more projects that I'm going to place outdoors, I would definitely check out getting the assortment pack. They are quite reasonably priced and include a variety of colors. I wish I had had some yellow on hand for the frog project!

I would recommend checking out your local garden centers for any cement decor that you might want to paint. They do have a quite a bit of weight to them and might not hold up in shipping very well. After I got my frogs figurine home from the store, I noticed a couple of toes were missing. I didn't want to return it. That was the last frogs one and it was my favorite of the ones available. Fall is actually kind of late in the season to find these figurines, so not as many to choose from. However, they were at a much better price than if I had gotten this in the spring.

Hope you enjoyed this and found some helpful tips.

Cheryl Paton

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Monday, October 26, 2026

The Five Pound Gummy Bear Review

Are you asking if you read the title correctly? Five pounds? A five pound gummy bear? Yes, five pounds. This is a gummy bear sure to make any celebration memorable. And whose life isn't really complete without at least one party with the five pound gummy as its' conversation gummy. (Yes it is a true edible gummy.)

Gummy Bears are the third most popular candy in the U.S. and many fans seem to have a fondness for certain colors and flavors.

Friend to kids, foe to the dental work, gummy bears remain extremely popular
Gummy Bear Flavors

Not every Gummy is created equal. And the color of the bear does not necessarily equal what your taste buds 'think'.

In the United States, five flavors and colors by the original Haribo are:

Orange flavor = orange color

Strawberry flavor = green color

Pineapple flavor = colorless

Lemon flavor = yellow color

Raspberry flavor = red color

Haribro Gummy Bear System

I had no idea there was a 'system'! The Haribo system can be used by other manufacturers, but they do tend to change things up by changing colors and adding flavors. Gummie aficionados probably have their favorite brand and flavors memorized. Those who like sour flavored gummies will notice the sour gummies tend to be larger and flatter due to the ingredients necessary to produce the sour taste.

History Of The Gummy Bear

Originally called dancing bears
The senior Riegel founded the candymaker in the 1920s
Haribo is the initials of Hans Riegel and Bonn, Germany
Gummies are produced in a machine called the starch mugul
The gummy bear got a redo in 2007, a smile was introduced as the expression
What Is The Cost and Where to Find the Five Pound Gummy Bear

A five pound gummy bear is available online retail approximately $35.00. The five pounder is alleged to equal 1400 regular sized gummy bears.

Surprise your favorite gummy bear lover with a Five Pound Gummy Bear gift this year and they will be sure to remember you fondly!

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Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Wispy Valentine Heart Card and Gift

This wispy Valentine Heart design is a great choice for Valentine's Day; though it is also a great choice for anytime you want to express your love to your sweetheart, whether it be for their birthday, wedding day, etc. The Lover's Mugs set can also make a lovely gift for newlyweds.

I used a variety of colors of acrylic paint that I intertwined on top of each other, and then pulled wisps of colors outwards using a stylus. I like the design and think that the colorful wisps can signify that there are many different shades of love.

Wispy Red Heart Valentines Day Cards
by CherylsArt

The message on the front of the greeting card says, I love you. The template on the back of the card has a placeholder for a name, along with the message, will you be my Valentine. The text fields can easily be customized with your message, where you can also express the occasion, it is for. It can also be turned into a proposal card, even if it's not Valentine's Day.

There are six paper options to choose from on Zazzle, including double thick and pearlescent. If you go to the product page, you can click on Compare Papers, to check out the details on the various paper types.

Wispy Red Heart Valentines Day Cards
by CherylsArt

A matching or coordinating sticker can be added to the envelope for a more romantic or meaningful addition. There are a variety of sticker shapes to choose from on Zazzle, including heart shaped stickers. You can choose from matte or glossy for the finish.

I love you, red wispy heart stickers
by CherylsArt

The wispy heart mug set is a great gift for newly weds, or can be given from the significant other to the other significant other. The mugs that I have ordered from Zazzle, look and feel great. They are smooth to the touch and the print looks great.

Mr. and Mrs. Wispy Red Heart Mugs, His Her's
by CherylsArt

If you would like this design to be printed on any other product that is available on Zazzle, let me know in a comment below. There is also the option to click on any of the above links for a product page, and scroll down and select the option to transfer the design to another product. Zazzle usually shows somewhat related products.

To view the current options that I’ve already designed, you can check them out here: Wispy Red Heart Valentine Wedding Collection. Although I originally called it a Valentine Collection, you can use it anytime, including for weddings.

Cheryl Paton

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Friday, October 16, 2026

Kong Wubba Halloween Bat for Dogs Reviewed

Some toys are just too cute! I bought this Kong Wubba bat for our Labrador retriever, Watson. He loves Wubbas and the bat seemed like the perfect Halloween gift. Of course, I gave it to him weeks before Halloween. He immediately started carrying it around as his favorite new toy. He even "flew" the bat around the backyard so it could get a good look at it's new home.

The Wubba bat is absolutely adorable with it's big smile and silver wings. Like other Wubba toys, it has the long floppy tails that make it easy for a pup to catch and carry. It also has the squeaker in the round "head" which seems to bring great joy to Watson as he bites down on the Wubba.

Watson's Bat Wubba is black and orange, as shown in the photos. However, the bat Wubbas on Amazon are black and purple. Either set of colors are awesome!

Watson and His Wubba

KONG Wubba Bat Toy

KONG Halloween Wubba Bat Small 2 Pack Check PriceThe black and purple colors of the bat that is available on Amazon are perfect for Halloween or anytime of the year!

The silver wings on all of the bats make them glisten in the sun when our dog is running through the yard with the bat in his mouth. The reflective wings also make this Wubba easier to find.

The rugged reinforced nylon exterior is durable and great for dogs chewing, biting, and playtime.

Wubba's are always fun toys for the toss-and-catch game between people and pets.

This Wubba's height is 9.5 inches and has a 7" wide wingspan.

Pet Related Reviews

Kong Wubba Halloween Bat for Dogs written by:

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Thursday, October 15, 2026

Cavatelli Maker Review Make Homemade Pasta Easy

Cavatelli is a traditional Italian pasta with a small rolled shape. You can find cavatelli at your local grocery store, but you can also make them at home.

This cavatelli maker has been in our family for years. My mother gave this to Fran and me shortly after we were married. We have been married for 54 years, and I don't know how long she had it before giving it to us. I guess this simple kitchen tool will outlive us all.

We make our homemade cavatelli with three simple ingredients. You can find the recipe here on my blog: Homemade Cavatelli.

Here is a plate of our homemade cavatelli made fresh with our cavatelli maker. I remember my grandmother making these all by hand. She would shape every single one with a simple roll of her finger. The cavatelli maker makes this process much easier.

Here is a short video of our grandson Tyler cranking out the cavatelli.

We always make several batches at one time so we can freeze them for later. Check out our recipe above for ingredients and instructions for making these with the cavatelli maker.

The cavatelli maker is easy to clean and store. Just rinse it with warm water until the rollers and blade are clean.

Amazon has a nice selection of cavatelli makers.

O'Creme Wooden Roller Cavatelli Pasta Maker – Original Italian Pasta Roller Machine – Non-Stick Coating Wooden Rollers Gnocchi Maker Pasta Attachment – Easy to Clean and Precision Cut

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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Hallmark's Alive and Talking Pumpkin

There are some really interesting products being made for Halloween and I cannot believe I missed this one. It is Hallmark's motion activated Halloween Alive and Talkin' Pumpkin'. He measures 11 inches high by 7 inches wide, features a number of different Halloween-theme faces and, when you pass him by, he'll make a comment like:

"Is that a mask? Please tell me it's a mask!"

"Have a nice fright!"

"Hope Your Halloween is Delightful."

"Ever since the carving, I just have this empty feeling inside..."

If you have seen the animated pumpkin up close and personal, be sure to let us know what you think. Meanwhile, I'm hoping I run into one out there in the real world.

As it turns out, this fun jack-o-lantern was made in 2013 and has been discontinued. However, you can still find Hallmark's Alive and Talking Pumpkin here on eBay.

Happy Hauntings!
Boo-renda

Quick Links:

Pumpkin-Themed Halloween Gifts for You and Your Kids.

Vintage Play-Doh Count Creepy Head Dracula Set Reviewed.

Discover the When Witches Go Riding Halloween Poem.

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Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Custom Family Photo Calendars

Many times I have made designs that people can purchase on a variety of products, but sometimes I make templates on products that people can add their own photo personalization to, such as these custom family photo calendars.

There are currently three layouts to choose from in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle. This first one is great for smaller photos that people would like to have a frame around the photo. Each page has a frame of sorts on it to showcase each photo. This calendar begins with a green circle frame for January, a pink circle frame for February, and a blue circle frame for March, followed by square black frame for April, a blue textured look rectangle frame for May, and then the pattern repeats up through November. The month of December has a colorful miniature Christmas balls frame that is a rectangle frame.

You can choose from three sizes, small, medium, and large, for this calendar. And also whether you prefer a long single page for each month, or a two page option that folds between the image and the month.

You can also pick from various styles/designs for your calendar part, such as colorful seasons, large numbers, modern bubbles, and more. It's a fun way to personalize each calendar even more. There's also a selection of wire binder colors to choose from.

Personalized Add Your Own Photos DIY Calendars
by CherylsArt

This next calendar option has a template placeholder where the border color around each photo acts as the frame. Each photo will fit into a rectangle shape, that almost takes up the full picture part of the page. If the product page shows an edit button, you can select that and choose a background color, if you want the pages to have a different border color other than white.

The same custom options that are mentioned for the above calendar also applies to this one.

Add Photo Custom Printed Calendars Any Year
by CherylsArt

This last option features a rectangle picture template, without any border space. The image will print to the edge.

Add Photo Create Make Your Own Calendar for 20xx
by CherylsArt

Whichever calendar option(s) you choose, be sure to select the appropriate year that you want, and edit any text templates. When I upload my photos or images, I make them around 12 inches in diameter and a DPI (dots per inch) or 300. They don't need to be any certain shape.

All of the above calendars also have the option to choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 month options. You will also select the start date and end date for each calendar that you order.

There are 21 language and culture styles to choose from too!

Calendars make great Christmas gifts, especially when there are a number of special photos that you want to share from throughout the year! If you want to mark off birthdays, anniversaries, school events, etc., then use the Calendar Grid Transparency to mark your dates off.

I have ordered a calendar from Zazzle and it turned out very well. The printing was great and it has a nice smooth finish.

Have you ever ordered a personalized photo calendar before? Thank you for considering CherylsArt on Zazzle for your personalized calendars.

Cheryl Paton

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Friday, October 9, 2026

Halloween Vampire Costume for Dogs Reviewed

halloween vampire costume capes for dogs

This will be our first Halloween with our baby dog, Watson, so of course, he needs a special costume. The vampire cape seemed like the perfect choice for him since each member of our family has a vampire cape. Plus, even sweet, non-biting dogs like Watson have canine teeth that look like vampire fangs.

The vampire cape I selected for Watson has really pretty trim that is "fancier" and more detailed than any that is on our human capes. It is quite lovely. The cape is black with a red lining, which is exactly like our family capes. The red lining makes an excellent background color for Watson's gorgeous black fur.

I can hardly wait until the trick-or-treaters to come to our door on Halloween. We will let Watson sit inside the glass front door as our greeter. However, we will not let him out for them to pet this year. Since he is only a year old, he gets pretty excited to meet and greet guests. He still needs a few years to mature before he will be ready to interact, but he can clearly serve inside the door as "sentinel" this year.

Halloween Vampire Cape Costume for Dogs

Halloween Dog Vampire CostumeCheck PriceI purchased a large size cape for Watson. As you can see in his photo in the introduction, the cape is not as long as it looks on the German Shepherd in the photo on the right. Frankly, I'm not sure the product photo on the right is a real photo of a dog actually wearing the cape, but the large cape we received for Watson is the perfect size for him. He is not likely to be tripping on it or getting tangled in it if he takes off running in the backyard.

There are also leg straps on each side of the cape. We are not using them. Watson is too active to have straps around the top of his legs. However, if he was going to sit still, they would be good for holding the cape in place.

One important thing to note, I was surprised at the quality of the fabric on this pet costume. It is not flimsy and doesn't look or feel like it will be easy to tear. It is also a soft, silky type of material, not one that will be itchy for baby dog to wear. That makes this pet costume more desirable than most since they often use inferior fabric on dog costumes.

Watson is also actually wearing his cape in the introduction photo above!

Here is a side picture of Watson in his cape. You can see how far down his back the cape really goes. Of course, you can also see he adores his daddy!

Watson is an Adult English Labrador Retriever

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

I Walk, the Story Continues

In the last blog I wrote, before this one, I wrote about how I came up with a step log sheet to keep track of my steps. Here I'll share some of the ways I tried to increase those steps and or to get more benefit out of them.

Besides walking, I was working out along with various videos on YouTube, especially with the channel, Improved Health. However, I was wanting to do something more for my body, and something different. I started seeing videos about rebounding.

A rebounder is like a mini trampoline. However, there are different types; one with springs (mini trampoline), and one with bungee cords (rebounder). The ones with springs give a firmer resistance and tend to be noisier, the one with bungee cords gives more bounce and tend to be quieter. Years ago, I had one with springs. This time I purchased one with bungee cords. Not only is it quieter, it's also more fun and easier on joints!

When I started using my new rebounder, I tried to do too much too soon. It not only got old from being more than strenuous than I bargained for, it wasn't so pleasant having to move it from spot to spot, as I did not have a designated spot that didn't require moving it. So it sat quite a bit more than I wanted it to sit. However, I did eventually come up with a spot in a bedroom, where it could stay put. Voila! I started using it on a regular basis. I started out more gradually this time, using it 2 -5 minutes at a time with minimalist moves. That worked much better and it became fun. I looked forward to using it and continue to use it and usually use it for 5 - 10 minutes at a time now.

I usually feel more energized after using the rebounder, and especially like using it along with listening to peppy music.

Update: A safety tip for using the rebounder, is that using it with bare feet or wearing enclosed shoes, is best. It is definitely best not to use it just wearing socks.

You can check out the model that I purchased on Amazon: JumpSport Rebounder 39". I got mine in the mid-range, price wise, which is still a good quality rebounder. Rebounders come in different weight limits, whatever brand you might want, check the weight limits.

Over time, I do have hopes of my abs becoming more toned, but good ol' me, wanting to get it done, I wanted something more to get it done sooner!

I started hearing about weighted vests and rucking. The general meaning for rucking, is walking with weights. More specifically, the weight is normally positioned on the back, and can be done in a backpack. This is a takeoff from how troops are trained in the military.

Testing out rucking with a weighted backpack is recommended to see if a weighted vest or a specialty rucking backpack is for you. I found a padded backpack that I had purchased years ago for a vacation trip, and used that. It was probably around a pound in weight on its' own, and I added around five pounds to it.

On my next trip to our local fitness center, I wore my weighted backpack and did twenty laps with it around the inside track. Woah. I really felt it the next day. Yeah, too much, too soon! I think I've learned this lesson this time, lol.

I went ahead and ordered a weighted vest, one that is adjustable. The vest has a basic weight of six pounds, and you can add additional one pound weights to it, up to six more pounds total. It would take about a week to arrive.

In the meantime, I wore my weighted backpack and reduced my trips around the indoor track to five. Yeah, that works! It's a lot better than starting at 20.

The weighted vest arrived and it works so much better than my makeshift backpack. It is easier to adjust to my body. There are specialty weighted backpacks that can be purchased, that even come with a belt strap, for more fine tuning on the adjustment.

For now, I am happy with my weighted vest. I did add one of the additional weights to the back, to give more weight distribution to the back. I had watched videos where it was recommended for better posture, to have more of the weight on the back, and also closer to mid back, and not at the lumbar or upper spine region.

I have noticed that I'm more conscious of how I'm sitting when at a restaurant, and am usually find myself sitting up straighter now.

You can check out the one I ordered, on Amazon: U shaped weighted vest. It is 6-12 pounds. You can get pretty good weighted vests that are below $30-$60, and go up from there.

So now I have several options for walking. I can do different things to help my overall body strength, tone, stability, and stamina. I think it comes down to - I like variety. By the way, both rebounding and wearing a weighted vest are good additions for improving cardio.

How about you? Do you like variety or do you like one basic thing and sticking to that?

Here is my original post about the walking step log: https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2026/09/i-walk-tshirts-and-bottle-labels.html

Cheryl Paton

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Friday, October 2, 2026

Small Automatic Sensor Touchless Lidded Trash Can Reviewed

I like having a garbage can in each bathroom, but I don't want one that takes up a lot of room. Our half bath is small and has only the area on each side of the toilet for anything extra. I already have my toilet paper holder storage stand on one side, which leaves only the other side for a small garbage can.

I had several concerns when I started looking for a garbage can for our half bathroom. It needed to be small and it definitely needed to have a lid. Our baby dog, Watson, thinks any "box" needs to be investigated. An open garbage can is an open invitation for him to inspect.

A Kleenex is one of Watson's favorite finds. He also thinks toilet paper rolls are fun toys. I don't really mind him having either as long as they are clean, but a used Kleenex should be off limits to our baby dog. I also want him protected from Q-tips or the plastic wrappers on bottles, like mouthwash.

Unfortunately, like most people, we also have flies that come in when an exterior door is opened. They are always drawn to smells or damp paper towels. Having a lidded trash can traps trash odors and dampness inside the can so it doesn't draw flies.

Therefore, a lid is essential.

Automatic Touchless Garbage Can

KOEYLE 2 Pack 2.2 Gallon Automatic Touchless Garbage Can, Small Motion Sensor Smart Trash Can, Slim Waterproof Trash Bin for Bedroom, Bathroom, Office, Living Room, WhiteAs I previously noted, this is a small trash can, therefore it fits perfectly between the wall and the toilet.

The touchless lid has a motion sensor and opens automatically so germs are not transferred on or off your hands. Since you don't need to touch the lid to open or close it, the lid itself stays cleaner. My husband frequently comes into the house with dirty hands from working on the cars or in the backyard. He can toss paper towels directly in the trash can without touching it and then wash his hands.

I like the ability to toss Q-tips, cleaning wipes, tissues, cotton balls, product wrappers, mouthwash cups, etc. in the trashcan without having to have a free hand to open the lid. As with all trash can lids, it prevents odor from spreading outside of the can.

Battery (2 AA batteries) Operated Sensor Lid
Opens when Motion Detected
Closes when No Motion is Detected for 5 seconds
2.2 Gallon
Uses Small Interior Trash Bags
Interior Trash Bag Retention Ring to Hold Trash Bag in place
Waterproof & Moisture Resistant
9.3" L x 6" W x 12.6" H
Available in White or Black

This touchless trash can will also open manually. Simply press the up arrow button to open. After use, just press the down arrow button to close the lid. This is a fabulous feature for replacing the trash bag or activities like clipping nails over the bin.

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Disney's Halloween Trick or Treat Jack-O-Lantern by Jim Shore

Disney at Halloween? I have never had the opportunity to be at a Disney Park during Halloween though I have visited at other times of the year. However, I would really, really love the opportunity to see Walt Disney World or Disneyland when Disney waves a magic wand and casts a spell over the theme parks transforming them into not-so-scary destinations for one of the most important nights of the year!

Shown here is a Halloween-themed piece from Disney from 2014 that features Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. It is from Jim Shore's Disney Traditions Collection and it is a trick or treat themed jack-o-lantern that lights up. I love that no candle is required because it contains a light that goes on and off at the flick of a switch.

Originally, I believe that you could buy this figurine by visiting Disney Parks. However, it is retired now and to find this fun Disney-themed Halloween collectible, you will have to turn to resellers like the ones here on eBay.

Boo-renda

More Reading:

Disney's Halloween Treat Reviewed.

Under Wraps: A Disney Channel Original and a Hallmark Movie

What is Summerween?

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

I walk, Tshirts and Bottle Labels

This fun and simple design, says, I walk, with the a in the word walk, represented by two feet walking. It is for those who choose to walk more and or are trying to. It's for those who choose to increase their number of steps in a day, for those who perhaps choose to join in with others who also choose to walk more, for an event or not, in addition to their normal steps of going shopping, doing chores, etc.

When I first decided to start walking more, I started keeping track on a blank calendar form. After several months of doing that, I decided I wanted to be able to see all my steps readily on one chart, without having to flip through months. I came up with my Steps Log, that I wrote about here: https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2025/09/reviewing-my-steps-log-poster-from.html

When I switched to the whole year Steps Log, I added up the columns and averaged them over the number of the days that were in that month. I easily saw that I averaged in the 3,000's steps per day. Then I started getting closer to the 4,000 range, and this month, I moved up in to the 5,000 step range, on average, over the course of the month.

Cool! I could see that keeping track, and figuring out the averages, was paying off.

Another thing I noticed was that on the days that I went substantially over my goal amount, in the next day or two it seemed that I would end up having more of a rest day where I was under my goal; but not by as much. So overall my step numbers were climbing.

I could see that a walk tshirt could be used as a reward and or as an incentive. Here is what I designed.

I walk, two feet walking, tshirts
by CherylsArt

The tshirts can be ordered on styles for kids to adults, in a variety of styles and colors. The tshirts that I have ordered from Zazzle, have all turned out great.

Some other things that I found out from the many different YouTube videos that I watched, is that 10,000 or 20,000 are not necessarily the goal. At least not for me. One of the studies a video talked about was that walkers saw more benefits if they walked an average of 4,400 - 4,500 steps daily. And that the benefits dropped off and leveled out at around 7,500 steps per day. So I'm glad to be in the 4,500 step range for my daily average.

For those who are arranging a walking event, the I walk water bottles can be a great way to help get the word out for future walking events. They can be easily customized with the Event Name, under the I walk design.

I walk, custom Event Name Water Bottle Labels
by CherylsArt

This design can easily be transferred to other products on Zazzle. You can also leave a request if you want me to design something for you.

Recently, I started walking while wearing a backpack with some weight in the back This does take some adjustment! You can read the continuation of my walking story here. https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2026/10/i-walk-story-continues.html

Until next time, happy walking. Let me know in a comment below if you are taking steps to increase your steps!

Cheryl Paton

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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Cute Tuxedo Cat Birthday Collection

Here you'll find cute black and white tuxedo cat birthday invitations, paper plates, napkins, and more.

This design was inspired by my own darling tuxedo cat that I had years ago. She was such a sweetie. I never made her wear a party hat; that was an added addition on the photo, only. : )

Both the cat and the party hat were painted by me. The party hat is decorated with balloons.

These fun birthday items can be for kid's parties to adults too. They're purr-fect for cat lovers of all ages.

Here is the two sided invitation, with the invitation details printed on the back. They are easy to customize on the template form. All of the cards that I have purchased from Zazzle have turned out great, with great color resolution.

Cute Cat Party Hat Birthday Party Invitations
by CherylsArt

For when the party is started, you'll have all the matching supplies to choose from, including paper plates, napkins, paper cups, and tuxedo cat party hats too! Here is the pretty and cute napkin design.

Cute Cat Party Hat Happy Birthday Napkins
by CherylsArt

The birthday person can enjoy unwrapping the cute tuxedo cat wrapping paper as well. There is also ribbon with this matching design too. You can choose from 1.5" and 3" wide, 2, 6 and 10 yard lengths, and from satin and grosgrain ribbon. I have found that the wrapping paper from Zazzle is on the heavier side, heavier than most wrapping paper that you would purchase at a store.

Cute Tuxedo Birthday Cat Wrapping Paper
by CherylsArt

If you need a doormat for the kiddos to wipe their feet, we have that covered as well. These can also serve as a sign that goes right in front of the door. Per Zazzle, these mats resist fading and can be rinsed off with a hose. They are made for indoor use as well as covered outdoor areas. The backing provides a non-slip grip. As of this writing, there were no reviews just yet.

There is also a lovely cute cat guestbook that is part of this collection. I designed the guestbook in the 9" by 6" size, though there are larger sizes to choose from. I also chose the blank white paper for inside the guestbook. Guests can sign their names, and or draw a picture! You can also choose from lined white paper for the interior, or solid black for the interior. That would be a fun choice for those supplying colorful writing instruments that show up well on black.

There are also matching Thank you cards, that can be edited to use the child's own basic thank you words. There are lines for the child to write in the name of the person that they are thanking, and another line for the child writing the card, to sign on. It's a great way to have them express their thanks, and to write at least part of the cards by hand.

You can see all the wonderful choices in the collection link below, to design your wonderful party!

Cute Tuxedo Cat Birthday Collection
by CherylsArt

If you are interested in some fun and colorful birthday scrapbook paper for kids to make collages, either on the guestbook pages, or on separate paper, be sure to check out this paperback of birthday scrapbook paper at Amazon. The paper is not perforated but can be cut out from the paperback.

All the best to you in you birthday party planning.

Cheryl Paton

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Friday, September 18, 2026

Halloween Milk-Bone Spooky Biscuits Flavored Dog Treats Reviewed

It has become a tradition in our home to gift our precious dog with holiday milk-bones. He loves all milk-bones, including the puppy sized milk-bone treats. Even though he is slightly over a year old, we are letting him finish off the small sized puppy milk-bone biscuits.

With Halloween approaching, I actually searched for the Halloween holiday Milk-Bone biscuits so stores didn't sell out before I got them for him. I purchased 3 boxes. When the box arrived, Watson, our baby dog, attacked the box. Clearly, he smelled the Milk-Bone treats through the shipping box. He was extremely excited for me to get the box open quickly so he could start his feast. He sought out his favorite shape. I don't know if he chose the ghost because of the shape, smell, flavor, or color, but the ghost is his favorite of the spooky treats.

There are 4 different spooky biscuits in the box: Ghost, Pumpkin, Monster, & Bat. Totally appropriate Halloween treats for the canine member of the family!

Milk-Bone Halloween Spooky Biscuit Treats

Milk-Bone Spooky Biscuits, Halloween Dog Treats, 24 Oz. PailCheck PriceWatson loves the taste, smell and crunch of Milk-Bone treats. I limit treats to 2 at a time. Baby Dog would eat the whole box if I would let him. I think we all have our favorite foods that we would keep eating until it's gone.

The box contains 24 ounces of spooky dog treats. That is approximately 150 treats.

Like the Easter Milk-Bones, the Milk-Bones Spooky Biscuits come in a lightweight pail with a handle. The pail lid clips shut to maintain freshness. The picture on the pail features a golden retriever wearing a witch hat and is absolutely adorable.

12 Vitamins & Minerals
Reduces Tartar on Teeth
Helps Freshen Breath
Limited Edition 24 oz Pail
Happy Halloween Treats!

More Holiday Milk-Bone Treats Reviewed

Holiday Milk-Bone Biscuits for Christmas
The Christmas Milk-Bones are fabulous & come in a beautiful collectible tin. They include Christmas tree shaped treats, stocking shaped biscuits, and regular bone shaped Milk-Bones.

Easter Milk-Bone Biscuits
The East Milk-bones come in a easy open & close pail with a lid that snaps shut. Shapes include bunnies, chicks and bones that are absolutely fabulous for a doggy "biscuit" hunt!