Review This Reviews!

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Summertime and the Reading is Easy ~ A Book Review

Summertime is a great time to catch up on reading material that has been stacking up and this past week I found myself in need of an easy read while waiting for x-rays to be done in the hospital waiting room.

As luck would have it I happened to download a book called The Waiting Room by Joan S. Peck, that I was waiting to read. I did not quite expect to be reading it while I was doing my own waiting in the Waiting Room, but that is exactly what happened.

As I am writing this review for you, I am nursing a broken shoulder! That is making my life a little more difficult than Allison's, Bella's and Marianne's.

These three women met while undergoing their yearly Mammograms. Every woman knows how wonderful these tests are (not) and how they can bring you to your lowest common denominator! But it's a great way for three very diffferent women to meet. Allison the most outgoing of the three asks the other two if they would like to go out for a coffee after their mammograms are done.

Bella and Marianne had not made any other plans for that day, so going out for a nice brew after a stressful test seemed like a great idea.

For the first little while these three are testing the waters of friendship. They are learning a little bit about each other and after a few awkward moments, laughter is sounding around the table.

Each of these women knew that they had found something that they needed from each other. Nothing was more important than having someone to share life's moments (good ones and bad) with. Someone who understood what life was like from a woman's perspective. Who knows, this could be the start of a great friendship.

After that first girl's coffee date, they all decide that they will do this again in a weeks time. After all, they would be meeting back at the Waiting Room to get the results of their mammograms.

The Waiting Room is a lovely book that I'm sure many women could immediately relate to. There are crazy things happening in each of their lives and a good observation from an outside party is sometimes what is needed so badly. These three become sounding boards for each other and yes, they become the best of friends.

I really enjoyed this book as a summertime read, it's not heavy in details that you need to remember to make sense of the story line, but there are details in there that I'm sure most women could understand and have an opinion about.

Sit back, grab a good cup of coffee or lemonade and open this book. You will find yourself transported to another time in your life when you wish you had a really great friend to share your problems with, while finding solutions that work for everyone.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

HAPPY SUMMERTIME READING

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, August 22, 2023

Reviewing The Myrtlewood Mysteries Omnibus

After her grandmother passed away a series of events led Rosemary Thorn and her teenage daughter Athena to the delightful village of Myrtlewood in Cornwall. As things started happening they ended up being unable to leave the town under police orders. By the time they were allowed to leave, they had both realised that Myrtlewood was home.

Now Myrtlewood is no ordinary West Country village, its inhabitants are magical from members of the Fae world to witches, vampires, shapeshifters and even a werewolf. It seems that Rosemary's bad memory is in part due to the fact that her late grandmother bound her magic and now that she's deceased it's time for Rosemary to both learn to grow and master her magical abilities as a powerful witch.

Reviewing Myrtlewood Mystereis Omnibus by Iris Beaglehole

Image by Lou16 using Canva

They also discover that her daughter Athena is part witch and part Fae through her deadbeat dad (who ends up being something completely different).

I really enjoyed the humour with a dollop of magic in this book and the idea of a self-cleaning house and a refrigerator that re-stocks itself is one that has me putting my hands up to move to Myrtewood and become a witch!

I don't want to give away too much but I decided to read book 1 (I didn't know there was an omnibus so I got the books separately but as I have Kindle Unlimited (KU) I wasn't worried, if you don't have KU then you really should purchase as an omnibus), four days later and I am part way through the fourth book in the series.

If you're unsure whether you want to read a paranormal/supernatural book then let me assure you the biggest thing about this book is the characters. It's a lovely cast of people and the author herself wrote it as a Gilmore Girls style of book with a magical bent. Instead of all of the festivities that Stars Hollow celebrated in the Gilmore Girls you get introduced to a lot of old English festivities. There's also a character (his name is Ferg and I think he's great) who refers to Saturday as Saturn's Day as he doesn't want to disrespect the gods by using the short version!

There's some romance, but the books are G-rated. This is refreshing as I have delved into a couple of series in this genre and they both have had a lot of sexual content which didn't add to the storylines at all.

Each book in this omnibus is based on a different festival and they each pick up where the other one finished.

The first book, Accidental Magic, is based on the Imbolc festival. You may have heard of this by the name of Saint Brigid's Day, Saint Brigid is actually Myrtlewood's saint and does make an appearance in the third book to talk to her grandfather Belenus.

The second book, Experimental Magic, is based on Ostara otherwise known as the Spring Equinox. This is a time when the veil between worlds is the thinnest which is why we also get a peek into the Fae realm.

The third book, Combustible Magic, is based on the Beltane festival complete with fire sprites and the god Belenus making an appearance.

Have you read any of these books by Iris Bealehole and if so what did you think of them?

Enjoy a cup of tea while you read the delightful Myrtlewood Mysteries

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Monday, August 21, 2023

Reviewing iLIDS - Mason Jar Lids (Not for Canning Use)

I have used iLIDS for Mason Jars for several years now and have noticed that when I go to the cupboard for a drink container, I am reaching for a glass jar and an iLID the vast majority of the time. I find that making my drinks in a jar is cost-saving, environmentally friendlier, and visually pleasing.

iLIDS Mason Jar Drink Lids

Mason jars are a glass jar that are most known for canning. Households over the generations have depended on these jars for food storage. The jars are durable and withstand boiling temperatures in the canner, are dishwasher safe, and store food in the refrigerator after opening. While I have not tried it myself, I am aware that some people use their jars in the freezer.

Many kitchens, including mine, have a supply of these jars. So it is not a stretch to begin using jars for drinks and the storage of drinks. I began making teas and ice coffee in the jars, then pouring the drinks into a glass. Before too long, I discovered iLIDS drink lids and began drinking right from the jar. Insulated steel tumblers have many benefits, but I have found that I prefer the versatility of canning jars with iLIDS.

iLIDS drinking lids come in many colors. The underside has a gasket which creates a good seal when screwed on to the jar and helps prevent the lid from becoming hard to unscrew. The drinking lid has a sliding closure to protect your drink from unwanted items. When the slider is opened, you can drink directly from the lid or insert a straw.

Note: the slider is not sealed and will allow a small spill when the jar is knocked over. It is not leak-proof.

While quart jars are large and bulky, I find that my liquid intake is higher when using a quart jar. I can visually see how much (or how little) I've drank. Glass jars are not insulated. But I find that I enjoy the visual aspect of infused waters or iced coffee.

Quart jars and iLIDS are perfect for making sun tea. When finished steeping, the jar and lid can move to the refrigerator and be used for storing and pouring out one glass at a time. Or, once chilled, insert a straw and voila a super-sized ice tea for those hot days.

iLIDS come in wide mouth and regular mouth sizes. I prefer the wide mouth because it's so much easier to drop in ice cubes or fruit. I have also found that these lids fit on many of the spaghetti jars that can be purchased at the grocery. The taller, thinner Classico jars are a great size for drink jars.

While preparing to write this review, I have learned that in addition to the drink lids with the sliding opening, iLIDS offer storage lids and sports drink lids!

I began using jars for drinks around the time I began making my own iced coffee to reduce the cost of buying my daily ice coffee at a drive-thru. I also prefer to reduce trash waste by avoiding the use of single-serving items (such as Kcups) when I can.

To recap:

downside of iLIDS and Mason Jars for drinks

not insulated
bulky; they don't fit in car cup carriers
glass is breakable (although I've not broken one yet)

upside of iLIDS and Mason Jars for drinks

easy to screw on and off jars
wide mouth and regular mouth size
visually pleasing; for iced drinks, fruit-infused drinks, and coffees
monitor liquid intake; can see how much you've drank (or still need to drink)
making sun tea
resistant to staining (I'm not sure how but my oldest iLIDS have zero tea, coffee, or berry juice stains)
reduces costs of buying drinks outside the home and reducing waste of single serving drinks
many colors to choose from
different styles of iLIDS to choose from (drink, storage, and sports drink)

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Sunday, August 20, 2023

Dorm Room Essentials: 15 Must-Have Items for Your Home Away from Home

So you're getting ready to step into the world of dorm living – an adventure full of new experiences, late-night study sessions, and lasting friendships.

Creating your own little haven within those four walls is both exciting and a bit challenging. My personal situation was a bit different; my roommate and I shared an apartment. However, much of what's listed here was included and necessary in my own list of essentials.

To help you get started on the right foot, I've put together a list of the top 15 items that can make your dorm room feel like your own cozy slice of home.

15 Must-Have Dorm Essentials to Consider:

Bedding: Your bed isn't just a place to crash; it's your refuge. Trust me, investing in soft sheets that feel like a cloud, a comforter that wraps you up in warmth, and pillows that perfectly hug your head can make all the difference after a long day. Another item that is available today that wasn't used back in my day is a privacy tent for beds. If you're sharing your space with someone else, you can check them out here.
Storage Solutions: Dorm rooms? Yeah, they're cozy. And by cozy, I mean limited in space. You'll want to become best friends with under-bed storage containers, wall shelves, and clever organizers. They magically expand your room, creating space you didn't even know you had. Think vertically, think under the bed!
Oh, and you have to check out this nifty item! It's a bed-skirt organizer, so cool!
Mini Fridge and Microwave: Late-night snacks or impromptu tea parties, a mini fridge, and a microwave combo have your back. It's a savior when your stomach rumbles and your study partner needs that ramen fix.
Desk Essentials: Your desk is where academic magic happens. Having a good desk lamp for late-night study sessions is a game-changer. Organizers for your pens, pencils, and highlighters keep chaos at bay.
Technology: Let's face it – you'll practically be living on your laptop. Make sure it's your trusty sidekick. Chargers and power strips are your lifelines in this digital age.
Decorative Items: Pictures, posters, and wall art turn your dorm from "generic space" to "your space." These personal touches are like visual hugs from home.
Personal Care Items: A shower caddy is your shower-time superhero, corralling your shampoo and soap. And shower shoes? They're your feet's best friends.
Laundry Supplies: Laundromat adventures are a rite of passage. A laundry basket that doesn't double as an arm workout is essential. Don't forget the detergent and a stash of quarters (if needed) - it may just be a card you have to fill up with money online - maybe Mom and Dad will be doing that for you?
Cooking Essentials: If you're feeling culinary, some basic cooking gear can be a game-changer. A simple stir-fry or microwave-friendly recipes are sanity savers when cafeteria food just won't cut it.
Clothing and Closet Organizers: A closet can turn into Narnia with the right hangers and organizers. Keep your wardrobe tidy and accessible. No more digging through a mountain of clothes!
Study and Lounge Seating: Not every study session happens at your desk. A bean bag or floor cushion can be your "chill spot" for those group discussions or solo reading escapes.
Rugs: Let's admit it – dorm floors can be cold. A rug not only warms up the room but also adds a splash of color to your space. Choose one that matches your vibe.
Fan or Space Heater: Depending on your dorm's climate (and quirks), a fan or heater can be your climate control buddy. They're like roommates that actually listen to your temperature preferences.
Trash and Recycling Bins: Keeping things neat is easier when you've got designated spots for trash and recycling. It's a small touch that makes a big difference. Here's a compact garbage/recycle bin that works for smaller spaces.
Whiteboard or Corkboard: Organize your life with a whiteboard or corkboard. Pin up reminders, motivational quotes, and pictures of your pals. It's your personal command center.

There you have it! Have a successful, fun, and productive school year! Enjoy every moment; I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times, but it goes by fast.

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Saturday, August 19, 2023

Summertime Toys for Tots

A Toy Review of Summer-themed Toys

Little boy playing with toys in a sandbox

From observation of children at play, it is easy to see that kids love to imitate the grown-ups in their lives. Thus, it is easy to see why toy manufacturers create toys that replicate a small version of the full-sized items adults use in their daily lives.

In the summer, two of the things parents and other adults plan and do are picnics and backyard grilling. To that end, I thought it would be fun to find some mini versions of these summer-themed items.

My Little Picnic Playset

For the tiniest of tots, this 5-piece playset in plush is perfect for babies and small children. The fun and friendly play food, including buttered toast, soft toy cherries, a rattling avocado and a toy grape juice that makes a sound, fit inside a cute soft picnic basket that baby can carry around.

Manufactured by Baby Gund, a leader in excellent children's toys, this play set will keep baby engaged in sensory play while encouraging exploration and helping develop their dexterity.

So when mom & dad are setting up the picnic table for a family picnic, the youngest family member can enjoy being included with their very own soft picnic playset.

My Little Picnic Playset is available on Amazon right here.

BBQ Grill Playset

One of the cutest toys I've seen in years, this BBQ Grill for kid's play is perfect for 'little cooks' who want to copy dad doing his backyard or camping grilling.

This particular BBQ grill is interactive, bringing realistic features to a child's grilling experience. There is realistic smoke and sound functions for fun pretend play. This 18-piece set comes with grilling utensils and plates, plus a variety of food items. To add to the realistic look, the food changes color as it switches from 'raw' to 'cooked'.

A fun toy grill that sparks a love for cooking and outdoor fun for a complete pretend play experience.

BBQ Grill Playset by Play-Act is available here on Amazon

Summary

So, for a fun summertime playtime for your children, check out these picnic and BBQ grill playsets. Children really enjoy doing just what the adults around them do. It's more than playtime; it's a learning experience.