Yellow Mountain Imports Royal 48 European Wood Chess Set Review!

In my journey as a new teacher, I've had a lot of successes and failures. From projects to classroom management to keeping a class pet...I've done it all. I'll spare you the details of the ups and downs and just get to it: I can't stand when my fails come at the expense of my budget. Whether it's buying too much of something, or getting supplies that are NOT good quality (I had to throw away 100 pencils one year because they were AWFUL and wouldn't sharpen no matter how we tried!), I hate to fail in that department because at that point, it's about the school's budget and our funding. I know it seems small, but that weighs on me, because I know how hard it can be to get materials!

That being said, when I can REVIEW a product for my classroom, I jump on the opportunity. This way, I can test something, form a solid opinion, and decide if it's best for my classroom/worth our budget money. I've tested pencils, markers, chalk, sketchbooks, and everything else I can get. But today, I'm introducing not only my favorite classroom review item, but my favorite item PERIOD that I've received to test. My Elementary Gifted and Talented students got to test out this set (since they are our school's chess team) and they LOVED it. They were in complete awe at the detail and quality of the chess set.

ToysNGamesEtc on Amazon produces a 48 piece wooden chess set. I didn't know what to expect upon being approved for this set, but I had a suspicion that it would be on the smaller side since wooden chest sets are more expensive to make than the flat, rubber mat ones. When the set arrived and I unboxed it, I literally had my breath taken away. Even at it being made out of wood, I didn't expect it to be NEARLY as nice! I noticed first that the box was about half the size that I expected it to be. Sliding it out of the box revealed that it folded in half and acted as it's own storage for the pieces.

The detail on the board is excellent! Even the outer edges (the side that would face you, not on the surface) are intricately detailed. The latches that hold the board shut in it's storage position are detailed, sturdy, and beautiful.

Upon opening the board, I noticed that the pieces were delightfully unlike any other chess pieces I've seen before. They are very obviously hand carved, from nice, solid wood. They are smooth, without any flaws or splinters. They fit perfectly into the storage spaces and their bottoms are covered in felt. This allows the pieces to glide easily across the board.

My favorite detail (other than the edge of the board) is the fact that the King and Queen pieces have accents of the opposite color on them. This ties the scheme of the board together, as does the burning of the letters and numbers around the perimeter of the board into the white squares.

The pieces are VERY beautiful and I can't believe that this set is so affordable. I love the fact that this set is handmade (in Poland) without using child labor. It seems to be extra messed up that companies would force children to work tirelessly and dangerously over something that another child would carelessly play with. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that with this set!

 I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have! Do you have favorite games? If so, have you looked into a handmade version of the set?

Hango Lunch Bag Set Has Quality "In the Bag"!

Much of my product reviewing arises from one of those things: necessity or convenience. Sometimes, these things overlap with novelty. I love trying new things, so when offered a product sample that I can use in daily life for free, I jump at it! The Hango Lunch Bag Set was no exception! I was very excited about this promotion because it gave me the opportunity to really get up close and personal with the product and form a thorough opinion of it! To keep it easy to read, I'm listing my top three favorite features of the lunch bag set! 

#1: Quality. These lunch bags aren't the cheap, easy to tear ones that you remember from your childhood. You know...the ones made of barely-there plastic or nylon. These bags are durable, heavy, almost canvas-like material that is resilient to injury. The stitching on the edges and on the handle is even, thick, and neat. All of the edges are neatly tucked into seams, which are stitched up. No fraying here! The zipper operates smoothly and doesn't get caught up. It is black, so it blends nicely with the fabric of the bag. When you open the bag, you see metallic, silver material. This is to better insulate the bag...either hot or cold. And it works! This bag looks basic, but it can't be beat if you're looking for a bag to last for years! 

#2: Simplicity of Design: As mentioned previously, the bag is very basic looking. It's black with a brown handle and tan stitching on the handle. The Hango logo is on the front, bottom right corner and is very smart looking. It's nothing fancy, because it doesn't have to be. It's fantastic quality and that speaks volumes. Black matches everything! The bags come with a cotton gift bag similar to what you would get with a pair of Toms. It's a nice, simple touch, but it adds a lot of class! 

#3. Price. For a low price, you get two lunch bags of different sizes! The smaller one is the one that I prefer, as I barely take anything! My husband uses the larger one. We both have lunch bags that will last for years and years, and both of them have a value of $25! Finding a lunch bag that will truly last a long time and not wear down for that price is awesome. But then to have two! Great!  

Overall, I really enjoy the convenience of having a durable lunch bag! I'm especially happy to have one that goes with everything! 

D-Knight Magicbox Bluetooth Speaker Review!

Sometimes I'm selected to review a product that I didn't know that I needed in my life. I accept the offer to receive it for free thinking "Sure. What the heck. I'll find a use for it." and then I end up LOVING it and using it every day. In the instance of D-Knight Magicbox Bluetooth Speaker, I'm HOOKED!

I love things that I can jump immedately into using without having to read the instructions. The description of the product included "Bluetooth", so I figured I'd be fine if I turned the speaker on and turned the Bluetooth on my phone on. Instantly, I was able to pair the two, and a chime let me know that the connection was solid.

After I had the basics down (thanks to my Amazon Prime Music app), I explored the buttons. There's a button to connect the phone to the speaker, a button to skip forward and backwards through a playlist, and a pause/play button.

On the side, there's a slot for a memory card, an auxiliary input, a power switch, and a mini USB port for charging. The speaker came with a cord that allows it to be charged and it charges QUICKLY. I've gotten hours of use out of just half an hour of charging.

I placed this speaker in my car because the sound quality is so much better than my sound system. My car's stereo isn't old (it's 2014), but this speaker is just so clear and LOUD that it's hard to beat. The distortion doesn't happen until a surprisingly high volume.

The speaker itself is sharp looking! The plastic (or metal? I can't tell) mesh is black, and the top and bottom are non-skid silicone. The buttons are silicone as well.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this speaker! It's so awesome that it's definitely on the list of things that would be a great gift for anyone! I highly recommend it if you're looking for a louder way to play your music or an alternative to your car stereo. It's a fantastic gift for the music lover in your life!

A Powerful Trio for Skincare! + Dermarolling Facts

I'm pretty sure it's mandatory for me to start freaking out about my skin now. If I could, I would go back to my 12-22 year old self, slap her, and tell her that she's committing MURDER on her skin by sleeping in makeup!! If I hadn't done that for TEN YEARS, I can imagine how glowing, beautiful, and youthful my skin would look. Unfortunately, I was STUPID. YES, STUPID. If you're reading this, and you SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP...STOP! Stop being STUPID!

Ok...rant over.

But seriously...it's really bad for your skin and you shouldn't do it.

So where does one begin when wanting to undo the damage?

Through research, I've found a few solutions. One of them, dermarolling, sounds really crazy at first, but I SWEAR by it now that Petunia Skincare has provided me with a dermaroller to use for review purposes.

In my research, I found that there are several different options for someone looking to begin dermarolling. First, you have to consider your tool. The longer needles penetrate deeper and stimulate the skin on a deeper level. The shorter needles are for daily use (.25 length and below) and help your skincare products absorb better.

What does dermarolling do, though? The idea behind dermarolling is to damage your skin, but in a helpful way. The surgical needles on the head of the roller puncture the skin. This activates your body's need to heal, which sends healing collagen through all of the microchannels rather than scar-forming collagen (like you would expect for bigger wounds). New collagen and elastin forms. Why it works this way isn't 100% understood yet, but clinical studies show that firming fibers increase by at least 200% with regular use. These micro-punctures allow your product to go deeper under the skin, which allows them to be more effective in their results.

Now...it's important to remember that you are inflicting damage, on some level, to your skin. Obviously, this isn't an every day thing unless you have the proper sized needle. I wouldn't recommend it EVERY day, anyway, as it leaves you feeling a little sunburned.

There's a photo floating around the internet of Kim Kardashian with a bloody face after dermarolling. Remember...she's at a dermatologists' office and has very specific areas that she wants "lifted". Obviously, you won't do something that extreme at home. Dermarolling from home doesn't involve major needles or blood. If someone tells you that you CAN use a huge needle at home...run away. FAR away, because you will end up ruining your face!

Because the skin is damaged and then healing collagen is sent to your skin to heal it, dermarolling is ideal for acne scars and discoloration. Basically, you're replacing what's there with something better. I did notice an immediate difference in coloration! I was excited about that, as someone who has very mild scarring. I would love to see the results of someone who had heavy scarring!

Here is a breakdown of the problems and needle sizes you would need:

Sun Damaged or Aging Skin: 1.0-1.5
Loose Skin: 1.5
Fine Wrinkles 1.0-1.5
Individual Deep Wrinkles: Large, Single Use Needle
Absorption of Skincare Products: .3 on face .5 on body
Uneven Pigmentation or Acne Spots: .5-1.0 (DO NOT USE ON MOLES)

Another point that I should bring up is that dermarolling works on necks and bodies. I have seen, in my research, several women using it for their stretchmarks. It helps to make them not as deep and pigmented.

My experience with dermarolling was fantastic. I received the 1.0 size for review purposes, and with my research, I sadly saw that I can only use it once per month. I was addicted from the first time! The roller doesn't FEEL like needles. It's pokey, but I would never guess that it's puncturing the skin. The needles are very sharp, easy to clean, and painless. The handle is very high quality and durable, it is a hard plastic. I'm no scientist, but I would say that this plastic is non-porous so that it doesn't absorb bacteria and dirt.

It was painless. However, when I finished rolling my skin (you roll all over with four to five strokes in each direction) and applied my Petunia Skincare Anti-Aging Serum, I felt a bit of a sting. My skin was pretty red, also, but it faded within an hour or so (so do it on a weekend!).

My skin was softer that it's ever been in my entire life!! And when the redness faded, my skin GLOWED! The anti-aging skin serum that I used with my dermaroller was the PERFECT cherry on top. My skin was soft before applying it...but after....wow! Even when I'm not dermarolling, the serum leaves my skin feeling refreshed (not greasy at all! A concern of mine because I have greasy skin), bright, and even.

In addition, I tried the eye serum. The aspect of this serum that impressed me the most was the lifting quality. The area around my eye felt hydrated and tighter. This helped with my BAGS! As someone who is very sensitive to scent, I appreciated that it was scentless. It's hard to use a product that goes on your face that has an irritating scent! The eye serum has a gel-like quality that makes it easy to control in application. It cools and soothes on contact.

Overall, I've been very impressed by Petunia Skincare's products. The packaging is very professional looking and the products are quality. I love the way my skin looks, and I feel that my treatment of my skin is on the mend! Who knows! I may get back to looking the way I SHOULD have if I hadn't abused my skin over the years!

Livewire Beauty Eyelash Curler Leaves Lashes...ELECTRIFIED!

Ok...we've all seen the horror story pictures of eyelash curlers with EYELASHES STUCK IN THEM! THAT was enough for my stomach to turn and for me to say NOPE to the concept of the eyelash curler. I can't tell you how many of these awful images I've seen. I considered putting one or two in this post...but I'm trying to turn you on to the idea of Livewire's Eyelash Curler...not completely put you off. Plus...the thought of looking at those images again makes me absolutely nauseatingly sick. So...we'll pass. You're welcome.

Needless to say, when my best friend Renea told me that I NEEDED a pair, I kind of fought it for a while. I wasn't interested in having my eyelashes ripped out in bulk by being stuck in a tool that I would most likely have to pull off of my face myself. However...my logic was that if she had been using a 20 year old pair that had worked fine....and she said that Livewire's curlers were amazing...I'd trust her. Do you hear that Renea?!? I trust you with my eyelashes!!

I applied to test Livewire's pair, and was sent a promotion code for a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well...here it is! The fantastic thing about reviewing products is that, even if I don't like it, I can't be punished for giving a negative review. Luckily, I don't have to with this tool!

The very first thing I noticed was that the curlers fit comfortably in my hand. I have larger hands, and it's often hard to handle short handled brushes and other tools. Even with a squishy silicone-like (rubber?) cushion inside, my fingers fit the handles perfectly.

Then, moment of truth. You can bet I was nervous! After applying my mascara, I raised the eyelash curler to my lashes, squeezed gently, and let go. And guess what? I still had my eyelashes! Talk about relief! The movement and motion of the curler was extremely fluid and the rubber inside of the curler (where your lashes go) was very smooth. It didn't take a hard push to curl my lashes, and I liked that. It definitely makes me more comfortable in using it.

Overall, the design is sleek and the metal absolutely shines. It's a beautiful tool, and it yields fantastic results.

What's something that you've tried that you were afraid of? Did you end up with positive or negative results?

Kitty Paradise in Toy Form!

Recently, I was selected to review a cat toy from the company Petoyo. I was EXTREMELY excited to try it out because we rescue, foster, and adopt out cats. We are always looking for suggestions to make to our new cat parents or "gifts" that we can include to see our babies on their way to their new home.

Now...keep in mind. I AM a crazy cat lady. When you read what unfolds in the following review, you may think that my cats never get toys. That is NOT the case! :) Every time I buy food, I pick up a few toys here and there. They typically range from little plastic bell-balls to crinkle toys to small teddy bears. Occasionally, I will pick up a larger, more interactive toy like the Petoyo Birds Flying Feather Cat Teaser. Well...needless to say, they typically prefer the small toys that they can carry around in their mouths over the "fishing" style toys.

From the minute the toy came out of the box, the cats were ALL over it. I'm not exaggerating. They played HARD! I figured that I could have a day or so to test it before I took my videos/pictures, but I was wrong. For 24 hours all 12 of them took their turns. Honestly, I'm amazed at the durability of the toy! They jumped, hunted, chased, and chewed on the feathers. Not ONE feather fell out, despite the toy being pulled in all directions and chewed on. I'm in total disbelief!

MOO, our Black and White Piebald, was the one who ended the joy (or began it in another way?) by chewing the string. Now, there's a clump of feathers with a small string attached that the cats STILL play with. Seriously?! Fun from the afterlife?? What an amazing value as far as cat toys go! All 14 of us have to say...this toy deserves a 5/5 paw prints! The quality is amazing, the feathers are durable, and they had SO MUCH FUN!

Definitely a MUST purchase for any cat lover or feline friend in your life! I would highly suggest this for cats who haven't gotten up and EXERCISED in some time! I guarantee that this toy will appeal to young and old and all personality types alike! Not only that, but it's a neat way to bond with your kitties! Be careful, though! Watch your hands! They will love it so much that they lose their little minds! 

Until next time, guys!