bookreeader

Our home got a teeny bit smarter this Christmas when I got an Echo Dot and started calling upon Alexa for music, weather, measurements, timers and all kinds of fun things. I really wanted to add more devices, and use Alexa to control tasks around the house, but I didn't really know where to start, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on gadgets that I may not be able to use. Thanks to the fabulous folks at # Tryazon , I got to try the Smart Geeni tools from # MerkuryInnovations ,  to add three cool new Smart devices to my home, and link them to my Echo Dot! In return for my reviews, I received: Merkury Innovations Smart WiFi 720P Camera Merkury Innovations A19 Smart Light Bulb, 60W   Merkury Innovations Smart Plug   I figured that the Smart Light Bulb would be the easiest to set up and use, so I started with it. I was right - the directions are simple, and I had the bulb responding to my commands via the Geeni app in no time. It sets up the same way as the o...

I had a great opportunity to put one of my New Year's Resolutions to work this week when I got the opportunity through Tomoson Reviews to purchase Sterlite  Stackable Shoe Storage Boxes through Groupon. Now I had no excuse not to get more organized, and to put clutter in its place, with a dozen clear shoeboxes! I first tackled the coat closet, where hats, gloves and scarves were in a jumbled mess, always falling out when I tried to look for one. Now, with gloves in one box, hats and scarves in others, I can find just what I need in a hurry, and they stay neat and tidy on the shelf! Since the boxes snap shut tightly, I can pull them down to look inside, without the contents emptying all over the floor! Next, I managed to corral all of the dog's treats and meds, which were kept in three different places in the kitchen, and put them into one neat box! The Sterlite box can now sit on the pantry shelf, and all of our spoiled little dog's treats are in one place, han...

Thanks again to Tomoson reviews, I was selected to receive and review a wonderful starter set of embroidery materials! (Ordered from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDLD3JP) The set came in a sorter/storage box,  so that the threads and tools can be stored in perfect order, and all is easy to see and to access. Such a clever way to keep things neat! There were 100 different colored skeins of high-quality, lovely, soft and shiny embroidery floss - and they are numbered accurately to relate to the most expensive flosses in the craft store, so they can be used in any pattern. Sometimes I found cheaper floss that was not labeled, so I could not use it with any pattern that I found, as I had no idea what numbers related to which colors! The description of the product listed metallic threads as well, but these are not included. Instead, there are ten white (B5200) and ten black (310) skeins, and a roll of tape for labeling. Although the metal threads would have been ...

With all of the green beans still coming from our garden, I really, really am having fun with this new SARKI Vacuum Sealer.  I got it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DCQSB37 and have been reading the manual and learning the controls since I got back from vacation to find the bean plants covered with beans!! In the box, I found the sealer, a very helpful instruction manual, five 8"x11.8"  vacuum sealer bags, one 8"x79" vacuum sealer bag roll and an air suction hose that can be used with the vacuum canister (sold separately). I like that the machine also fits other brands of vacuum sealer bags and rolls, up to 12" in width, so I should have no trouble finding replacements. The machine itself is pretty straight-forward; I can choose to seal, or to vacuum and seal a bag, and I can select moist or dry contents, and gentle or regular vacuum. The gentle setting would be better for foods that are delicate, or crush easily, like berries, perhaps.  ...

Our little Kenzie is a strange blend of Border Collie and Blue Heeler, and she has both medium and long fur.  While most of her is covered in medium-length, soft and silky fur, her butt is long, fluffy and usually tangled. And her tail is a plume of long fur!   Now, she hates being brushed, but she sheds like crazy, so we have to brush her as often as we can, and outside if we can!  Mostly it's easy to get the loose fur off, but her backside and back legs are a problem, as she really doesn't like them to be brushed. Consequently, they get matted, are full of loose fur, and look bushy! We just got  a  EIGENHEIM DOG BRUSH DEMATTING COMB, which looks like a rake with sharp tines. I can't say that Kenzie likes being brushed with it any better than her last brush, but it doesn't take much to remove tangles and mats with the Dematting comb! I bought it here:  https://www.amazon.com/Grooming-Dematting-Undercoat-Remove-Tangles/dp/B07GJ8SS8T  ...

Okay, so this is totally going to spoil a Christmas surprise for someone! My son got interested in sous vide cookery last year, and his Christmas gifts consisted of the sous vide immersion cooker and a vacuum sealer. He loves using them, and swears that he cooks restaurant-quality meals now!  I was surprised by how easily he cooked meats to perfection, and he explained and demonstrated at great lengths how the immersion cooking keeps the food at a constant perfect temperature, and he can monitor his creations over wifi while watching the game in the next room!! But, he was using clips to keep his vacuum bags immersed in the hot water - food tends to float, and he needed total immersion to keep temperatures optimal.  So, when I had the chance to try these Sous Vide Weights from TheStayIns, I knew that he would be pleased! The weights are small, unlike racks, which can also be used, but which are hard to find in the right size, hard to store and bulky to use. I fo...

People who know me know that I like my Apple devices! I have an Apple watch, iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook....I like all of my devices to play together! But having so many toys means that one or more is always in need of a charge, and let's just say that charging cords tend to disappear  around my house! I was very happy with my purchase from US Gift Giant of a  Zinc Alloy Fast Charging Cable, through the Tomoson review site.  ( https://usgiftgiant.com/zinc-alloy-fast-charging-cable-for-iphone-ipad-quick-charging-premium-quality-data-transfer-and-charging-cable-for-iphone-ipad-unique-design-fast-charging-cable-for-iphone-ipad/?ctk=273770b1-010e-4da8-a5cd-004539e6bdd5 ) Right away, I was impressed by the  sturdiness of the cord; it appears to be about a third thicker than my old standard charging cords. And the plugs at either end are well-connected, not wimpy. Many of my charging cords fray near the plug, and it looks like this one will stand up to daily use bet...