Vitchelo

The Fitness Tracker with Heart Rate Monitor by Vitchelo was sent to me for testing and review.

I am not impressed.

I have tried really hard to find something good about this product, so I will start with the positives. The band has a new (at least to me) type of closure where the hole in the band slips over a peg and then the rest of the band is tucked under. I really like this because there is nothing flapping around and it gives a neat appearance.

It was simple to set up and connect to my phone. For the first 20 hours I would get notifications on it when someone sent a text or was calling me. It would have been nice if the notification would have scrolled so I could read the entire name.

There really are too many negatives to list so I'll hit the highlights. Check my blog for a  more in depth take on the negatives www.howtoburnwater.blogspot.com

The blood pressure is not constant but must be turned on and off using the app. The instructions are not that easy to understand and need to be retranslated with a native English speaker. The app shows the steps but is not a positive reinforcement. The map function, which is kind of cool, has Eastern characters on it which make it difficult to read in English. It would be nice to be able to choose which language is shown. Lastly, the notifications I was receiving stopped coming and I have no idea how to fix it.

It is a simple band which should be good for anyone who is not tech savvy. However, in order to access many of the functions you must have a smart phone with the app. And the app has been shown as one that drains my battery. I would not suggest this.

#ProductReview of a GPS Tracker

I have been working on moving and my #productreview assignments have been put on the back burner until today.

Let's talk about a disappointing product called a real time GPS tracker from a company called Circq or Circo. It is difficult to determine which it is. You can find it here, but I don't suggest it.

First off it needs a SIM card to work. The company suggested I get a free one through FreedomPop, which was pretty easy. Just make sure that you are prepared to wait a few weeks for it to arrive and that you change your service within 30 days so you don't end up paying $30 or more per SIM card. Side note, the customer service from FreedomPop was fabulous! Secondly, it did not work once the SIM card was inserted. The instructions seem to be pretty good but I could never get the tracker to connect to anything. Lastly it is a bit of a bulky item and it needs to be charged. This is not something you can add to your keys or your bag and then ignore for years. I do not know how long the battery lasts, but I just don't see it as convenient.
. I'm not sure what other kinds of GPS trackers are available. but ok. You can find the tracker

How's #GERmanikure Tools?

Read the title of this post out loud for a cheesy joke. Get it?

Okay, now that that is over let's get on to the #ProductReview. I was sent the matte Finox stainless steel cuticle scissors at a discount or free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. And I honestly like them.

The scissors come with a nice cover to keep them safe and keep clumsy hands safe from them. The edges are all rounded which makes the grip and use of them quite comfortable. The brushed stainless steel is a nice touch and the finish does not show fingerprints. The blades are quite sharp and tight which makes getting a close snip very easy. Even with the tight blades the motion is smooth. You can see it on my YouTube post here.

All together I like the quality and the feel of the cuticle scissors and have liked the results after using them. This is something I would recommend. You can find them here. #GERmanikure #toolsforlife #nochildlabor #ecofriendly 

Battlefield Earth for the 21st Century

#BattlefieldEarth by L Ron Hubbard new edition for the 21st Century was sent to me for a #ProductReview and a giveaway! Unfortunately I don't have the money to ship it anywhere so the giveaway will be open to residents of the Treasure Valley in Idaho.

So this edition has expanded content, author interview and author notes. I also received the 44 disc audio version with over 65 voice actors and an entire score. Score is right!!!

The cover art was created for this version and it lives up to the reputation of the book. The colors used give a realistic feel while still showing the fansasy aspect. Basically it looks like it could happen.

I feel like a pratt so far with some of my coments, but I actually can't figure out how else to explain my initial thoughts on this book and the attention to details.

The book opens with a character saying, "Man is an endangered species." What a powerful sentence! The scene unfolds from there and offers insight into the backstory of a few of the characters as well as familial ties. I expect back story to be kind of dry yet necessary. With this book I was pleased to find that I was into the story from the very first and did not get bored by how the information was presented.

So far I'm impressed and can't wait to finish it! You can see my initial reaction to the book and the cds I received on my YouTube channel. You can find the book here.

It is March 11, have you started planning for your laser christmas lights?

It is March 11, have you started planning for your laser christmas lights?  

I was given one at a discount or free in exchange for an honest and unbiased #ProductReview. I really wanted to get video of the laser dots bouncing off the snow as it fell outside my house, but either I was ill or Husband was almost every time it snowed this past winter. So, I did what anyone would do...I used the time inbetween patron counts at a local movie theatre to plug it in and create a video review.

The remote is a bit hokey but it works. The plug has a nice reinforcement in the form of a cylinder screw. The light was quite powerful and very pretty. Be forewarned, this is a true LASER and can cause damage to eyes if someone looks directly in it while it is on. Don't do that.

It comes with a heavy-duty metal spike upon which you are supposed to mount it, but I could not figure out how to mount it.

You can find the laser light here http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Laser-Lights-Waterproof-Starry/dp/B01IDGK2UU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=christmas+laser+lights

Writers of the Future 33

Husband saw me reading a real book (ie. not one on my phone or tablet) last week and asked what I was doing. I said I had a #ProductReview and he thought it was so weird that it was a book. A book is a product, right? Anyway, turned out to be the Writers of the Future, vol 33 that I was reading and I had a really nice and quiet evening.

I'm So Excited! Writers of the Future 33 just arrived for a #ProductReview You can find it here https://t.co/k9ej1iEvn1 pic.twitter.com/UzHtJQ1iKk

— chefkate (@chefkate) February 28, 2017

So anyway, I have read about half of the stories so far. I loved the one sentence overview page that
accurately portrayed most of the stories I have read. There was only one so far that I just could not get into, the first one. The one sentence was interesting, but the story just jumped back and forth way too much for me to follow.

The most uniquely written story, so far, is the one that is based upon the cover illustration. Normally a story is written and then the illustration is created, or the illustration and story are created together. However the writing, the emotion portrayed and the complete storyline in such a short amount of pages that was written based on one beautiful piece of art is really my favorite in the book.

As with all anthologies there will be styles that do not call to everyone, but I do think that everyone should be able to find several that call to them. This is unique, in my opinion, because Science Fiction is such a varied genre. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the couch that night and look forward to another sometime soon.

I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I liked it a lot.

Probiotc for Women

I have been pleased by the #islandsmiracle Ultra 30 Women's #probiotics so far. As always, I did receive this product at a discount or free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The bottle says it is "designed especially for women" because it has something that is supposed to "prommote vaginal health". Of course since it is a dietary supplement and not a medication, none of the claims have been evaluated by the FDA. And I have no medical background. This is all opinion based on what I have experienced.

Very excited to get this #islandsmiracle #probiotics in the mail today. Got them for a #ProductReview but I am in need. Have been dealing with intestinal upset and I'm hopeful this will get me back on track. Check it out here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E4HELNG

A post shared by Kate Jensen (@thechefkate) on Mar 1, 2017 at 5:16pm PST

What I like:
-contains strains of good bacteria of which I am aware
-uses time-release capsules to get the bacteria through the stomach acid and to the intestines
-contains enzymes of which I am familiar

What I don't like:
-instructions say to start with two capsules and if you have a bad reaction to back off to one. I am starting with one and increasing if needed.
-uses vegetarian capsules which contain carbs yet no carb numbers
-says it does not contain rice (in the x-free statement) yet the capsule is made with rice flour!!!

So far the pros (for me) outweigh the cons because I don't have to worry about rice or the (hopefully) negligible carbs from it. However I did just lose respect for the company a bit because to tout that it does not contain rice when the capsule it is in is made from rice is just wrong, confusing and potentially harmful if someone with a rice allergy is not vigilant.

I did start by taking one capsule on Friday which also happened to be the first day that I was sick with a virus that Husband still has. However I did notice that my bowels were not as affected by the virus as I would have expected. I am just now well enough to take my second capsule today and will update this blog post if something significant happens.

You can find this probiotic here.

Mami Wata has Much Wow Customer Service!

The MAMI WATA Tea & Fruit Infusion Pitcher comes with a Free Ice Ball Maker and a Free Infused Water Recipe Ebook. Check out a quick video of the ice ball mold.

The MAMI WATA Tea & Fruit Infusion Pitcher I was sent for a #ProductReview comes with this upgraded ice ball mold. I love the tops that go into the holes! You can find this pitcher here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JRMTOGM

A post shared by Kate Jensen (@thechefkate) on Feb 20, 2017 at 9:43pm PST

The recipe book had some thought put into it and I was quite pleased with the quality of the recipes. I really liked the not-so-common-sense tips they offered such as only soaking the fruit and veg for a few hours to get the infusion and then removing them so the water will stay good longer.

You can see the unboxing of the pitcher set on my YouTube channel. I do have to preface the video with the fact that I broke the sliding lid as I was first playing with it. I emailed the seller and almost immediately received a response. I was sent a new pitcher and the customer service was above and beyond. I would suggest this pitcher just based on the customer service I received.

I like what I have experienced so far. I do need to double check on the temperature limit of the water because I would love to be able to make fresh herb tea using the micro pore infuser insert.

I received this product at a discount or free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Magic for Eyes

#MagicGel sent me their Premium Blephartist Eye Mask at a discount or free for a #ProductReview. I absolutely love the idea and they did a good job with the execution.

The set comes with the eye mask, two gel inserts which can be heated or cooled (by follwing the instructions) and an S-hook to hang the masks after washing. As soon as I saw that the manufacturer was focused on keeping the gel inserts clean, I immediately felt comfortable with the quality of the product.

You can see in my Instagram video, the mask has a velcro secured opening at the top. This allows for the gel insert to be placed correctly and secured.

The mask itself can be used without the insert as just a standard sleeping mask. I thought it was quite comfortable and it did not bother my sleep.

Altogether I think this is a well made, nicely designed product that I would buy again for myself or even as a gift for a stressed out friend.