Nuthatch waiting turn for Suet Nuggets |
In this photo a female Downy is getting the last bits of the nuggets out of the feeder. Below is a male Downy enjoying the nuggets in the wintertime.
Nuthatch waiting turn for Suet Nuggets |
With the winter holidays fast approaching, many of us are starting to think about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas gifts for teachers, friends, family and other loved ones. Gloves are traditional and practical gifts, but not always exciting. A gift-worthy pair needs something special, such as a pretty color or luxury materials, to make the recipient's eyes light up when they unwrap their present.
The long lambskin leather touchscreen gloves I bought myself a couple of years ago are beautifully made, have a soft, plush lining, look and feel much more expensive than they are and keep my hands and arms toasty warm during the cold winter months.
I'm sharing my in-depth product review of these yummy, extra-long, warm winter gloves that would make a luxurious and surprisingly affordable gift idea for the women on your holiday shopping list.
Beautiful VIKIDEER long leather lambskin gloves with a soft, warm, plush lining that are also touchscreen compatible to work with your mobile phone, tablet or Kindle |
Here in New England, winters are long, snowy and bitter cold. Even when I lived in New York City, I always purchased warm winter gloves that extended several inches above my wrist. However, once I moved to the Boston area I found that they weren't long enough to protect my forearms from the bite of the arctic winter wind, which forced its way inside my coat sleeves every time I bent my arms to take something out of my purse, such as a tissue or bus fare, or use my phone.
I have always had a weakness for high-quality, cashmere-lined lambskin leather gloves. I had several pairs, purchased when I still lived in Manhattan and long before I got my first mobile phone, that were still in great shape. However, in addition to not being long enough, they also weren't touchscreen compatible. So, when I used public transportation to get from our house in the suburbs into Boston and back, every time I wanted to check the status of the bus I was waiting for, listen to my audiobook, check my email, text or phone messages, call a taxi, etc., I had to remove my right glove and expose my hand to the freezing cold.
I tried a pair of long, knitted cashmere gloves similar to, but a bit shorter than, these long cashmere blend touchscreen gloves. Although they were long enough to protect my forearms when I bent my elbows and allowed me to keep my hands covered while using my phone, they weren't warm enough for my needs.
Eventually, however, I found my current pair of well made, very warm, long leather gloves with touchscreen compatible fingertips. Jackpot!
Here are some of the reasons I recommend these excellent quality, surprisingly affordable VIKIDEER lined, long, warm leather gloves for yourself or as a gift.
These feel deliciously smooth, soft and luxurious from the moment you take them out of the box.
The silky soft, plush polyester fleece lining of these winter gloves keeps hands toasty warm |
The genuine leather shell, silky soft polyester plush lining and windproof, close stitching keep even my temperature-sensitive hands toasty warm during our cold, snowy, windy New England winters.
I bought these luxurious leather gloves in the three-quarter length (15.5" long), which covers most of my forearms, so when I bend my arms there's no gap where skin is exposed to the cold or wind. These warm winter gloves are also available in a longer elbow length (19.6" long).
Even when I bend or raise my arms, my forearms stay warm covered by these long winter gloves |
Both the 15.5-inch and 19.6-inch lengths are available in Black, Brown, Champagne (which I would call tan or saddle brown) and Red. I bought the 15.5-inch long gloves in the rich, dark chocolate brown to go with my faux fur-lined microsuede hooded coat. I'm also planning to buy a black pair to go with my nearly ankle-length, black, hooded down coat, which I wear on the coldest days.
The materials and workmanship make them durable and wear resistant. The lambskin leather also becomes even softer and more supple with wear and gradually conforms to the shape of your hands over time.
After wearing mine frequently throughout two frigid Massachusetts winters, the leather as well as the fleece lining and stitching have all held up beautifully.
These may look like traditional, high quality, warm leather gloves, but there is a hidden feature (probably conductive thread stitching or fabric between the lambskin leather shell and the soft, cozy plush lining) that also makes these touchscreen gloves. I love being able to use my mobile phone, tablet or Kindle while I'm on the go without having to remove my gloves (especially since it is harder to put a long glove back on while wearing a long-sleeved winter coat).
These are sold in small, medium, large, extra-large and extra-extra large sizes rather than numerical glove sizes. I ordered the medium, which equaltes to my usual glove size 7, and found that the fit is true to size. At the time of this post's publication, 88% of Amazon buyers who rated the fit of these gloves also said they fit true to size.
Here is a size guide to help you choose the best fit for yourself or your gift recipient:
Small (6.5)
Medium (7)
Large (7.5)
X-Large (8)
XX-Large (8.5)
These beautiful, warm winter gloves arrive in an elegant tissue-lined gift box with gold embossing, ready for holiday gift giving. Just add wrapping paper and a bow!
These plush lined, genuine lambskin leather gloves look, feel and last like pairs that cost much more. The gift box is a lovely, unexpected bonus.
You won't find more elegant, luxurious, well made and affordable gifts for women for less than $37 for these 15.5-inch, three-quarter-length lambskin leather gloves. Even the longer, 19.6-inch elbow-length gloves cost less than $40.
They would make excellent Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas gifts as well as birthday or Valentine's Day gifts that the lucky recipients will enjoy and appreciate for many years to come.
These high-quality warm winter gloves are as practical as they are pretty. If yours don't have touchscreen compatible fingertips or you're tired of having cold hands in the winter, consider treating yourself to a pair of these beautiful, long-lasting, affordable, long leather gloves. You deserve to have warm hands this winter, too!
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Christmas Wreath Storage Containers Reviewed |
Halloween is over and that means the Holidays are now in full swing. It's time to think about getting all of those Thanksgiving and then, Christmas decorations out of storage.
Soon Fran and I will have our basement floor lined with the dozen or so totes where we store all of our decorations.
Call us old-fashioned, but we really don't decorate for Christmas until Thanksgiving is over.
It seems that the retail stores begin earlier every year. Our Wal-Mart store had Christmas decorations out before Halloween.
We decorate all of our windows and doors with wreaths. We have several different sizes of wreaths, from 24-inches to 36-inches. Our Christmas wreaths are one item that doesn't seem to store very well in totes.
Every year when the Holidays are over and it's time to pack it all up, I found myself battling to store the wreaths in plastic bags.
A couple of years ago I finally broke down and bought these handy Christmas wreath storage containers. Now it is so easy to get them out and store them every year. No more fighting pulling them out, and putting them back in plastic bags.
These wreath storage containers are made with tear-resistant plastic, and feature heavy-duty sturdy handles, with dual zippers and a card slot.
They are large enough to also fit garland and string lights on top of the wreaths for easy storage. These containers come in different sizes to easily store and protect all of your seasonal wreaths.
Zober 2-Pack Christmas Wreath Storage Bag 36Buy Now
We bought the Kudd.ly hoodie brand which I would recommend, but there are many different companies selling them now. So it is best to see what is available to you and what is important to you.
These hooded blankets are really great. They are generously oversized and have a hood and arms with plenty of room. The length for an adult, clearly depending on height, is generally mid thigh to around knee length or a bit longer.
You simply pop it over your head and it is a massive cosy, warm cover-up. This means that it is easy to relax on the sofa with it on and also you can easily move around the house while wearing it and keep warm, unlike a blanket that slips off or trips you up.
Our Kudd.ly is made of plush soft polyester on the outside and sherpa lined and thus very warm and soft to wear. The hood goes right over my head so plenty big enough if you find you need that extra warmth.
We mainly wear them first thing in the morning when having our breakfast and coffee and in the evenings once we settle down to watch a film or read or go on the internet. I do wear it when I am working from home though probably not for a work Zoom Call although I have come close when I forgot I was wearing it!!
Once it gets much colder in winter I can see us wearing them during the day when we are at home.
Ours is one size fits most people. Most of the hooded blankets I have seen are one size fits most. They are not designed to be form-fitting or even neat fit but rather a great big oversized cuddly wearable blanket.
As an example, It fits both me at 5 foot 8 inches tall and my 6 foot 2 inches, tall husband, with room to spare and is plenty big enough in all measurements.
If you are buying a different brand it is just best to check how big it is and how it fits.
Many brands also do children's sizes so best to check what is the most suitable for your child.
Our Kudd.ly hooded blanket is fully washable on a gentle cycle. To dry either hang to dry outside on a washing line or inside over an airer or a gentle tumble dry. It has washed and dried beautifully.
Personally, I think you need at least two each, so one to wear and one in the wash. Once you have one you never want to be without it for a minute!
They make wonderfully thoughtful gifts and the only decision really is whether it's a child or adult size and which color to buy and will suit everyone from older children to elderly people in the family!
Any gender can and do wear these hoodies, it is just a choice of which colour and design!
You have no worries about what size the buy as this garment does fit most people.
I do think especially for winter Birthdays and for Christmas gifts these wearable oversized hoodies are a very thoughtful and fun gift. As it is so huge it also really feels like a substantial gift and can be tried on straight away.
Different brands do vary in price and quality so do check out before you buy.
As for negatives I really cannot find any. I just wish I had bought them for us and for gifts years ago.
If you want to feel toasty warm from head to toe in the colder months, consider buying a Warm Wearable Oversized Hoodie Blanket and also Women's Warm Winter Sherpa Lined Pants reviewed by Sylvestermouse Cynthia.
I have had aprons on my wishlist for many years. But they are just one of those things that don't seem like a necessity - until I slop tomato sauce on a favorite shirt. Because I don't spend as much time in the kitchen as some people do, aprons definitely felt like a splurge. Now that I own two aprons, I'm not sure why I waited so long! I did need them. I chose two different styles and I am very pleased with both.
The Apron: I have wanted a crossover apron for years. I prefer to slip something on and off over my head as opposed to messing with ties. The aprons in this shop caught my eye because of the retro style (I think it was the edging that made me think of older style aprons) and the beautiful choices in prints. The word calico always makes me happy.
The apron I chose was a cute, light colored, calico floral print with contrasting edging. I chose the style with the sections edged, giving the apron a somewhat geometric shape. The shop offers styles without so much edging. But the contrast on the apron I chose caught my eye.
The online description is:
"This old fashioned Grandma full apron has subtle coral and blue flowers on a pale yellow background that has a tiny dot. It's trimmed in a dark green bias. The apron design is an 1940's vintage style to complete the look."
The apron is handmade. The material is cotton. It is machine washable.
The Shop: Sally Hill is listed as the owner of TheFortiesRevisited. The shop is located in Worthington, Ohio, US.
The store lists a variety of items including: full aprons, half aprons, clothes pin bags, smocks/cobbler aprons, children's aprons, and mother/daughter matching aprons. There is a large selection of premade items but if you don't see what you want special orders are accepted. Do you remember rick rack? She even offers aprons with rick rack! She also offers a wide variety of holiday prints. I had a hard time choosing which print I wanted because there were so many I liked.
The Mexican Apron by Orozocosshop
The Apron: While I went to Etsy to shop for a long, crossover apron, these Mexican aprons took me back in time to a neighborhood I lived in years ago. Many of the older Mexican women wore aprons in this style. I remember one abuela in particular who wore similar aprons every day. In fact, I'm not sure if I ever saw her without her apron.
I purchased the black and white check pattern apron because it was more my style than some of the floral embroidered styles offered on Etsy. Honestly, since it reminded me of that sweet woman it was an emotional purchase rather than a purchase with a plan of using the apron regularly. But, I now wear this apron daily!
The online description is:
"A Mexican style two pocket apron made of lightweight check fabric poly/cotton with bias decoration, opened at the bottom back. Four pleats in front and four at the back. 30 inches long from the shoulder."
The apron is handmade. The material is cotton. I did not see that it is listed as machine washable but I am sure it is. However, I will hand-wash it because the material is a bit more thin and I already hand-wash many items.
The Shop: Gabriela is listed as the owner of the Ozorocosshop. The shop is located in Chicago, IL, US.
These aprons are different and I like each for different reasons. The crossover apron is a thicker material so it will likely last longer. The Mexican apron is made from thinner cotton and will likely wear out sooner. BUT it will be more comfortable in the summer months. The Mexican apron is more full coverage around my torso and protects my entire shirt while the crossover apron is longer and protects most of my jeans.
Frankly, the aprons have more similarities than you might expect. Both aprons have generous pockets (I've collected the chicken eggs using those pockets!). And both aprons are very easy to get on and off by slipping them over my head; the crossover with it's straps and wide open backside and the Mexican apron with the very long slit in the back (I apologize that I could not get a good photo of the backside of that apron but if you look closely you can see the slit in the photo).
Now I know when I drop things with liquids, splash, or cook and splatter that my clothes are protected. Both aprons make me very happy and I'm pleased with these two purchases.
Today I’m delighted to share my review of a new-to-me beauty discovery, Bausch + Lomb LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops.
I inherited my dad's very sensitive, easily irritated eyes. The whites have gradually developed increasing redness over time, especially when my eyes are tired or after I have applied eye makeup. The redness in the whites of our eyes not only detracts from their appearance but also makes us look older and more tired.
My mom suffered from dry macular degeneration that left her legally blind, so I'm extremely careful about what I put in my eyes. Until recently, I limited myself to occasional use of sterile, single-use saline eye drops when my eyes ache. However, I recently learned about LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops from Bausch + Lomb from a knowledgeable and trustworthy YouTube beauty influencer I follow, Sheri from Graceful Beauty and decided to give them a try. (I highly recommend subscribing to Sheri's Graceful Beauty YouTube channel.)
I have been absolutely amazed and delighted by the remarkable difference one drop in each eye makes after just 60 seconds. My eyes instantly look whiter, brighter, refreshed and much more youthful!
Read on to check out my before-and-after photos!
These unretouched close-up comparison photos of my eyes were taken just one minute apart, before and after I applied one drop of Bausch + Lomb LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops to each eye. |
LUMIFY redness reliever eye drops are a brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.025% from Bausch + Lomb, the makers of the Ocuvite Eye Vitamin and Mineral Supplement that I have been taking for many years on the advice of my opthalmologist. They're a brand I know and trust.
Here's what I love about the LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops:
My eyes immediately before applying one drop of LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops to each eye; as you can see, the red lines and the redness in the inner corners make them look older and more tired. |
Review of DampRid - Yes or No? |
We don't have a dehumidifier in our basement.
We weren't in the mood to make that purchase yet.
We knew we had to do something with that typically musty smell you get in the basement, and I had seen commercials for a product called "DampRid."
So, of course, off I went to investigate.
Basically, DampRid is a hanging moisture absorber that helps to rid a space of humidity and, thus, odors.
You can use it just about anywhere; closets, basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, storage, garages, boats, RVs, and more.
They're designed to last approximately 60 days. However, they lasted at least 90 days in my basement.
How Does Damp Rid Work?
It comes with 3 hanging moisture-absorbent packets per box.
Yes, it has a hanger hook on each one, so it's easy to hang anywhere.
Essentially it's a dehumidifier that doesn't need electricity.
The top half of the bag has scented (or unscented) absorbent crystals, and the bottom has an empty bag that will slowly fill with water as the moisture is pulled from the air.
How I Used DampRid
I took the three hanging bags and put them in three different spots in our basement.
Then, I forgot about it.
After going to check it months later, I noticed that the bottom bag for each had, in fact, filled with water it drew from the air.
I figured it would work, but I was still surprised to see the water there - yep, it indeed worked.
Did It Make Our Basement Smell Better?
Yes, DampRid did, in fact, get rid of the stinky/musty smell in our basement.
Just be aware that when you first hang the product up, the scented crystals are quite strong, but the scent does fade.
I like the strong smell, but others with sensitivities may not.
If you're sensitive to smells, they do offer a fragrance-free product.
Would I Recommend DampRid?
Heck yes!
In fact, I bought a second box of three hanging packets and put them in the basement again.
Our basement absolutely smells better, and humidity is being drawn out.
Obviously, it's not as good as an electric dehumidifier, but I'm happy with this product.
I don't want something else to plug in to drive up our hydro bill! So, this product serves the purpose.
Granted, I have to keep replacing it every 90 days or so, but I'm willing to do that.
I'm actually considering another box for my closets.
If you're ok with scented products, go ahead and give this one a try. However, they do offer a scent-free product.
Five stars.
You can find it on Amazon here.
Are you interested in knowing how to increase your bone density, increase your circulation and generally feel better than you do right now? How about something that will help with weight loss, muscle toning and increased metabolism or help with balance! Keep on reading.....
Maybe I'm dating myself, but I want to know: How many of you remember the old vibrating belt massagers/exercisers that almost every woman swore by in the 1950's and 60's?
They would stand with a belt that went around the hips and turn on the machine that would then shake them up for 10 to 20 minutes or more. They were touted as the perfect way to get in shape/stay in shape/and get rid of cellulite for that perfect figure.
Well for years that seemed to be something that women did to keep themselves feeling better about their own looks (or to keep their husbands happy). Today we are not so inclined to do this for anyone other than ourselves.
Vibration Plates or Full Body Vibration (FBV) are one of the newest fitness trends and this one seems to have many health benefits as well. Vibration Plates or Platforms are easy to use, don't take a lot of time and the benefits seem to be almost instant. Even these little ones seem to be benefitting from a ride on the vibration plates.
Now in all seriousness, Vibration Plates are a wonderful way to exercise without having to stress your body beyond what is your normal. Even age is not a barrier to using this platform. What is important is that we do things to make our bodies work and feel better for ourselves and in turn our families will benefit when we are at our best.
Many doctors are on board with the benefits that these Plates will have on the body. They consider that with the vibrations our bodies are being toned as the muscles react to being activated by the movements. Doctors claim that Blood circulation is increased, lymphatic systems drain better and bone density is increased too. Fitness instructors also seem to love these machines as well.
We purchased one after reading about increased circulation benefits especially for someone with Peripheral Neuropathy! This is a condition that my other half has and his abilities to walk are becoming much more difficult. This condition makes it hard for him to feel his feet as there is very little nerve sensations in both his hands and feet. We were looking for something that would help him keep his sensations in his feet or even increase his nerve reaction. Circulation is a big part of this condition. So we are happy that this Vibrating Platform/Plate, is recommended as part of that process.
It seems that many Doctors, Physiotherapists, Fitness Trainers and Athletes are all using this new tool to recover, recuperate, exercise and strengthen their bodies. As you can see in the You Tube below this Doctor explains how these Vibration Platforms work. Now I'm not a medical doctor and before you buy something like this, you should talk to your own health care professional or do your own research.
There are many different types and manufacturers of these Vibration Plates and the prices range from $100.00 to many hundreds. I would highly recommend that you speak to your health care professional or a fitness trainer and get some recommendations for your own specific needs. You can even go to some gyms and try them out before you decide to buy one for yourself.
We purchased this one as it came recommended by friends and other family members. It suits our needs and was not too expensive. Both my husband and I use it for the health benefits and so far it is working well for both of us.
While we are making the most of this new fitness/health trend, you should check it out and see if it fits into your own lifestyle and see if you would benefit from using this type of physical activity.
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