As you know by now, I love tea. Black, Green, White, Red, herbal, I love it all. Even that weird savory tea that tastes like soup without the calories. So when I got the chance at a deep discount, of course I jumped on it. I have children-induced insomnia, so I still don't sleep, but it's a valuable part of my bedtime routine now! This tea is not the typical herbal tasting bedtime tea. It has a prominent orange flavor, but not orange oil flavor, which is usually more bitter and sharp. It's a very relaxing blend. I like to have a cup white I fill out my bullet journal for the next day, and wrap up the current day before I go to bed. Get yours here: http://amzn.to/2cn4Zu0
I got this at a discount in exchange for an honest review.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
We need to talk about something that no one seems to talk about.
It's something near and dear to the health and comfort of our husbands, sons, even our brothers technically but sorry Bro, you're on your own in this department.
I'm talking about underwear.
As someone who usually ends up buying the men's underwear (and not wearing it) for my household, I just grab the biggest, cheapest bulk pack of colors that don't offend me and of a quality that also doesn't offend me. Style? Boxer briefs. OBVIOUSLY.
Enter Cariloha. You might remember them from the amazing bath sheet I reviewed. They do bamboo. They do bamboo very, very well.
These boxer briefs are no exception. Dare I say, they are the most comfortable boxer briefs I've ever bought. Not for myself, but if I had the foresight I'd have got a pair without the fly opening for myself. (Then again I'm eyeing those fitted capris on their site for running, which I apparently do now.)
They are breathable, super soft bamboo so they wash well, the color is beautiful and doesn't get that white halo that cotton and other fabrics can get. Bamboo also discourages bacterial/microbial growth, so if stink is an issue, these may help out a lot.
In fact, they are so comfortable that my husband actually changed into them to relax in a robe and these undies at the end of a long day. They are great, Check out Cariloha on their website and on Amazon. I'm seriously thinking of getting those capris as a reward for either hitting a weight goal or finishing this Arbonne cleanse thing. Hmmm......
I received a discount in exchange for an honest review.
Hello!!
So I was offered a discount (or free product) in exchange for an honest review of this Wine Eccentric Wine Aerating Pourer.http://amzn.to/24W1hso
I make wine. I drink wine. I still sort of hesitate to say I "love" wine, because then I'm given wines that I don't like at all.
Like most white wines. And most roses. I do like many/most/practically all red wine though, so aeration is a part of my real life.
Sadly, so is losing, leaving behind and breaking aerators.
This aerator comes in a very nice case that makes it appropriate for gift-giving for the person in your life who is into wine (or maybe just always serves it in less than ideal conditions).
Also, it works. It made this weird chicken rose palatable to me, where as normally I'd prefer to be sober.
(Yes I finished the bottle before sitting down to write this review. Also, it's 13% which is high for wine. Don't judge me.)
In all seriousness, this little aerator is very fancy looking, it's "food grade" acrylic, but it sparkles like glass. It makes every pour more satisfying, since it looks, sounds, and tastes better. The design of the spout also helps keep the wine off of your tablecloth (or table. Or your kid's Minnie Mouse placemat, whatever).
There's not much more I can say about it, it looks great and does it's job. Anything less and I'd be unsatisfied; anything more and I'd be concerned. (Seriously, what else would you want an aerator to do??)
All in all, five out of five stars!
That's all I have to say, but if you want to check out the video (I might have done the voice over right after drinking the wine....) you can check it out over on my YouTube page here.
Finding quality bath towels that combine luxury softness and bacterial resistance into one amazing towel can be hard to come by, especially at an affordable price. Our earth-friendly bamboo towels are just the answer. They are luxuriously plush, hypoallergenic and snag resistant. Made from a blend of renewable bamboo and cotton, Cariloha towels are perfect for home, gym, car, pool or spa.
• Dimensions: 40" x 70" • Extra-smooth, slightly twisted bamboo yarn is loomed perfectly to 600 grams per square meter and features an infusion of special silicon softener, resulting in an even softer, finer hand for increased bamboo-soft comfort. • Cariloha bamboo towel are optimized for softness, weight and plushness - not too thin and not too thick - just right.
I agree!
It arrived quickly (even without Prime shipping) and I was surprised by how massive it is! At a whopping 40" x 60", this bath sheet is big enough for even the tall folks out there. In fact, my husband tried to claim it as soon as he felt it.
For me, it's like being a little kid again, back when the towel wrapped around twice. Only it's better, because this towel is soft, absorbent, and hypoallergenic.
When I say soft, I mean it is ridiculously soft.
It's made from viscose from bamboo, which is often used as a silk substitute since it has a similar drape, softness and sheen. (It even burns similarly if you're a fiber fanatic like me and haven't yet had to tell silk from fake silk.) It's also made from Turkish-combed cotton which is deliciously soft and amazingly absorbent itself.
Fiber content doesn't directly correlate to the quality and feel of the fiber or the finished product, but this towel is better than what even I hoped for from the blend.
It's got a silky sheen without special care instructions, it's super plush without being "fuzzy", and it's super absorbent without that bad microfiber texture on naked skin.
The color I got is Shoreline Grey which is a gorgeous shade of my favorite color (seriously, I've joked before that my closet is 50 shades of grey jersey). The color is gorgeous and rich and a little shiny (yes I know I've already mentioned the sheen).
One or two of these would be a great gift for a graduation, a wedding, or a new baby. This massive, plush bath sheet screams "luxury" while also whispering "easy care". It would also be a great gift for yourself.
I received a discounted price in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links (Amazon affiliate links only)
Like many moms, I'm a big fan of skin care. Anything that can reverse the signs of children written all over my skin is a great thing in my book.
So, when I was offered Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum to review, I jumped on the chance.
I forgot to take a good before and after shot for this, but honestly, I care very little if it actually has dramatic visual results.
This stuff makes my skin feel amazing.
AMAZING. Softer than my toddler's skin. Granted, she gets scaly skin sometimes, but I stand by what I said.
It is a white lotion type serum in an amber glass pump bottle. It smells distinctly of natural rose (it has damask rose oil), so if you hate that smell- you won't like the smell of this.
It takes 2 pumps to cover my face and neck and my skin felt instantly softer. I did have the beginnings of a breakout, which vanished after using it.
I recommend using it on clean skin (the directions also state this) for best results and enjoying the process of rubbing it on. It feels like such a luxury and it smells wonderful. It's a very relaxing thing to do right before bed and improves the skin.
If you'd like to check it out for yourself, find it here on Amazon.
I received this product free or at a discount in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
If you follow my YouTube channel, you've probably seen my admission that I don't usually have much to correct in the eye area. (My first Ipsy bag was all about eye area corrections, and I was NOT into it.)
However, I'm in a sort of sleep regression with my kids right now, so between not sleeping and not hydrating, I'm actually getting some circles and baggage right now.
So, I got the chance to review this for free
The packaging looks very clinical, which is it's own kind of cute. It also has a clear expiration date and ingredients list, and a red seal threaded on that you have to unscrew the cap to remove. A lot of cosmetics and skin care products creep me out because they have none of these things.
It feels nice, smells like nothing, and I didn't have any adverse effects. It takes a very small amount for both eyes, and the small tip makes it easy to dispense such a small amount.
The only thing I don't like about it is that on my skin, there is kind of a slight sticky feeling that I also get from some sheet face mask products. However, after a few days (and no more sleep) I did get some improvement. Again, I don't have much to improve, so I'm not a great measure of magical results. But my eye area did improve. This is about 3 days difference, no makeup, first thing in the morning, in my bathroom light. I was too tired to pay attention to getting the same angle, which I usually try to do with before and afters but those bags could not be concealed by a face tilt anyway.
I also used it on a "fine line" I have next to my mouth that appears whenever I'm tired, dehydrated, etc. and it vanished.
I do like it better than the other eye creams I've tried, including the one I got in my Ipsy bag, which I did eventually try when I was having a rough week and felt warm but didn't really make a difference.
If there is a variation that exists, I have tried it. Dandelion chai, vanilla chai, pumpkin chai, rooibos chai, Oprah chai. You name it and tack "chai" at the end, I've tried it.
So when I was given the opportunity to try this green, loose-leaf chai at a serious discount in exchange for a review, I was IN.
I know that for the most part, I've been lucky in that most of the things I've gotten to review have been really great. I mean, stretch marks magic oil, The Stone Bearers book, the coffee pourover thing, and an AMAZING bamboo bath sheet which I will blog about soon.
I don't write posts on everything I review, but they almost always end up on my Instagram page, along with my cosplay and makeup attempts.
So, here's a little bit of the description on Amazon:
PREMIUM SPICED ORGANIC MASALA CHAI TEA: Our delicious Indian Masala Chai Green Tea is grown and harvested in the pristine mountains of India. This organic and pure Darjeeling loose-leaf tea combines potent Indian spices to create a healthy tea designed to promote calmness, reduce stress and leave you feeling amazing. Unlike other Masala Chai mixes, powders or concentrates, our pure tea is made using the finest ingredients to create a potent blend of tea with health promoting antioxidants.
POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANTS AND HEALTH BENEFITS: Masala Chai Loose Leaf Tea has been used for centuries in Ayruvedic medicine to help maintain dental health, relieve stress, improve sleep and to detoxify the body by flushing out toxins. Our Masala Chai tea is chock full of health promoting antioxidants that help cleanse your body and improve your health. Enjoy a delicious cup of our Masala Chai tea to help regain your energy and vitality
DELICIOUS TASTING PURE DARJEELING TEA: As soon as you open up our Loose Leaf Masala Chai tea, you will notice a fresh and aromatic smell. You can brew our organic Masala Chai loose leaf tea or put it in a reusable K Cup. The spiced green tea is 100% Pure Organic Darjeeling Tea with rare Indian spices and safe to drink on a daily basis. We manufacture our tea in small quantity in order to ensure freshness, quality and aroma.
Sounded good to me! So I ordered it, it arrived in 2 days with Prime shipping and I immediately had to try some out.
I have found my new favorite chai.
In addition to quick shipping and great packaging, the bag itself is resealable. So no tea tin or ziplock baggies required! (Unlike Teavana teas that cost $50 an ounce and come in a paper bag.... Yes, I'm slightly exaggerating the prices...)
The tea smells and looks great, and it works nicely in a tea ball with looser mesh or the kind with holes instead of mesh without falling out into the cup. (Unlike Teavana tea, and also Adagio and many other loose leaf brands.) Any chance to use my floating flower tea balls makes my tea happier!
It tastes amazing! The spices are well blended, they are strong without being overdone, unbalanced or waxy (unlike Teavanna's chai teas, which have some kind of weird waxy feel/taste to me. Not that it stops me from enjoying them completely).
Most bagged chai varieties I've tried are weak. Stash, which makes lovely teas has a vanilla chai that is ridiculously bland. I combined it with a plain dandelion tea to enhance the flavor. Same with Tazo, I enjoy most of their tea but without additions, the chai varieties I've tried fall flat.
I was a little hesitant about the green tea base, but this is absolutely my favorite chai.
When I drink chai at home, I don't add milk or sugar (I typically don't do this with any tea or coffee, because I've got other things to do in the mornings. Like deal with toddlers.) Speaking of which, the only thing that I think is worth mentioning is that since this is a green tea base, it will get bitter faster than black tea would. I've been distracted and come back to bitter tea a couple of times. If I was smarter, I'd set a timer, but I usually drink it in the morning when I'm too tired for logic.
Overall, this is my new favorite morning beverage. I love this chai. And the price is pretty darn good, too. If you'd like to get some yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.
I know that I swung a lot of hate at Teavanna in this post, but I do really like Teavanna. my favorites are the Samurai chai/Maharaja Chai Oolong blend, the Youthberry blend and their almond something or other tea. When I was pregnant I tried basically every rooibos and herbal tea they had.
As my husband says, we're "beverage people" and if you like your chai to tell you what's in it and when it was made, to be strong enough to handle milk and sugar or not, and to stay inside your manatea or flower or people tea balls, or your fancy ceramic infuser cup, this is a great candidate. And the price is great! When I run out, I'll replace it with their chai sampler pack and see if this one remains my favorite.
I received this product for free or at a discount in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. This post contains affiliate links.
If you follow me on social media (you should), then you've probably seen me rant about how essential oils aren't magic. They don't cure cancer, or autism, or MS, though you will easily find someone who believes they do and companies who will exploit that.
I do believe that they can HELP with SOME ailments, and I think that mood disorders or a regular bad mood is probably one of the easiest things to help with essential oils.
So when I was offered a bottle of this anti-anxiety/anti-depression Tranquility blend from Phytopia USA, I had to try it.
I have clinical/chemical/major depression, and currently I do what I can to manage it without meds. That already includes things that smell good. (My favorite EO blend for mood is Frankincense and Lime and I mix it myself.) I'm sure you already know that smell and mood can work together in your brain and you probably can think of some smells that can help or hurt your own mood.
The bottle arrives in a faux velvet/faux plush bag with a silver ribbon and a silver logo. It would make a great gift for someone who could use some tranquility in their life.
It has a dropper cap, and i'm not sure if that's better or worse than NOT having the dropper cap, but if I decide I hate the dropper, it will come out easily enough.
The essential oils are already in a carrier oil blend and don't require further dilution. The formula glides on easily and doesn't remain greasy on the skin.
I've used it during some calm moods and some really... rough... moods.
Does it help? Yes. Would something else help just as well? Maybe. Self-massage, or getting someone else to indulge you with a massage, is a great way to help your mood. I've mostly used it on myself, but I did also get my husband to rub it into my shoulders one night while watching TV. He is quick to notice and complain if something smells bad, feels greasy, or has basically any characteristic worth complaining about. This oil didn't get any complaints.
The smell is a pleasant, warm smell, different from the usual "calming" scents like lavender that you can find in everything or "anti-depression" scents like citrus smells. It is a blend of sweet orange (which is different from "regular" orange), geranium, vanilla, and rose maroc in the carrier oil blend. So if you're familiar with any of those smells, you will have an idea of what this oil is like.
The company also doesn't claim to heal or cure anything that would raise red flags in my mind, and they also make the "Stretch Mark Remover" oil that I wrote a review on (and also made a video about).
I did get this product free in exchange for an honest review.
Have you tried this blend? Do you have a favorite anti-stress blend? Let me know here, on YouTube or on social media (Twitter and Instagram, @feralorchid) I'd love to review it!
The awkward product reviews are coming out in full force tonight!
Deodorant...
Hopefully you wear it in some form, but you probably also know that some forms aren't great for your health. If you feel like you're forced to choose between cancer or stinking to high heaven, you've probably looked into natural deodorants.
I have tried a few and sadly, most don't work for me. Tom's doesn't work and it smells the way my BO smells anyway... so... gross. Crystal brand deodorant works for me in rock form, but who wants to rub a wet rock in their armpit every day? The spray and wipe versions aren't as effective for me. Also the rock will start to smell bad if you don't make sure your skin is CLEAN before applying it every time. Not exactly convenient.
Enter Skin 2 Spirit with their all natural SEA SPRAY deodorant. It boasts magnesium chloride from the Dead Sea as well as skin softening and soothing agents like aloe, witch hazel and essential oils.
The product page reads like one of those sketchy products that don't work and it boasts some other benefits of magnesium (like leg cramps and migraines) but I'm only going to focus on it's effectiveness as a deodorant.
Before I even get into whether it works or not- topical magnesium. For some people, it's a great way to take in magnesium, and if you are deficient, things like insomnia, restless legs and migraines can be a symptom. For OTHER people, like me, topical magnesium is a great way to feel like you've just set yourself on fire or are getting some chemical burns.
I was a little afraid to try this product. The label even warns that slight stinging might occur the first few uses, but will go away after that.
It didn't REALLY sting. The first time I tried it, I felt a very slight stinging akin to applying any deodorant right after shaving. A slight discomfort, but nothing like the fires of magnesium lotions or baths. It also only lasted a minute or less before it went away completely.
I've worn it while working out. I smelled fine. I've worn it all day. I smelled fine. I've been using it for a couple weeks and with the exception of one day when it was unusually hot and I didn't let it dry before pulling my shirt on and moving all over the place, I haven't had any problems at all. It's a great choice for an every day deodorant!
Make sure you use it on clean skin (if you already stink, it won't do much for you) and make sure you let it dry before you start rubbing your armpits (it only takes a few seconds).
As far as convenience, effectiveness and price, this is the best natural deodorant I've tried so far. The bottle is about $12 right now, but in 2 weeks I've barely made a dent in it.
I received a discount in exchange for an honest review.
Do you have a favorite natural deodorant? Have you tried this one? Let me know in the comments or on social media! (Instagram and Twitter: @feralorchid) And check out the video review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sF5fWick7to
In case you don't know, I like coffee... tea.... alcohol... water... as my husband said at the tea party, "We're beverage people."
So when I got the chance to try some adorable tea before anyone else could, I had to do it!
As a writer, the literary themed tea foils speak to my soul. As a person with taste buds, the quality of the tea itself also speaks to me.
I got two flavors to try-
Shakespearmint, organic spearmint
and
Agatha ChrisTea, Earl Grey
Both are delicious and wonderful, the mint is pure mint so if you don't like mint- you won't like it... The Earl Grey is less aggressively bergamot than a lot of Earl Grey tea I've tried, so I like it a lot more. But if you like to feel like you're dousing your tongue with perfume, you might not like it.
I would recommend using HOT water for both and enjoying while reading something a little dramatic and silly.
If you're interested in getting some for yourself, you can check out the Kickstarter page for The Tea Book, and get some Collect Teables for pledging.
I received some samples of tea for free in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not affiliated with The Tea Book or Collect Teables and I don't get anything if you pledge to their Kickstarter.
As you probably know by now (or at least can glean from context), I have kids. 3 of them. I grew them in my belly and because of that, I have these things known as stretch marks.
Mine aren't the conventional "tiger stripe" type stretch marks, but if I stretch my saggy mommy-belly skin, I have silver striped between the oddly distributed fat cells.
I don't love the way it looks. I think most people don't love the look. I haven't really tried much to change it, but when I was offered a free bottle in exchange for an honest review, I had to give it a shot.
I was EXPECTING that it would be kind of like rubbing any oil in, no real difference but it feels like I'm loving my body for all its hard work... or that I'd have to remind myself that essential oils aren't magic. I didn't even take a true "before" picture because I thought it would take a while to see results and I didn't really want to take a picture of my belly skin.
What HAPPENED was that 10 minutes after I applied it the first time, I had to do a double take. It made a difference. The lumpy fat cells were a little more even, there weren't any gaping pores (hair follicle holes? I don't know what they were), and the whole thing was a little more... better looking. Naturally I thought it was a result of irritating, inflaming ingredients puffing up my cells to make it look smoother (like a cellulite cream would do). So I marveled at it, showered, and was surprised when it maintained the new, smoother appearance.
It's not magic. It's oil.
That didn't stop me from feeling like I just waved a magic wand over myself. I used it again the next day, and the results were MUCH more subtle, but there were results again.
The third time I used it was about a week later, and I finally took a before and after shot.
These were taken about 1-3 minutes apart, same room, same lights, I tried to get the same angle and everything but I didn't use anything but my phone. Anyway you can see the difference for yourself.
Is it magic? No. Does it work on angry red tiger stripes? I don't have those, so I can't say for sure.
Would it make a thoughtful gift for someone expecting a baby and worried about stretch marks, or someone who has stretch marks looking for something to try that isn't "sucks, bro"? Yes.
It comes in a faux velvet/faux plush bag with a silver logo and a silver ribbon, and the glass bottle is wrapped in bubble wrap and shrink wrap. The bottle comes with a dropper cap and it only takes 6-10 drops for my whole belly.
I'll come back and do an update (make sure you subscribe and comment to rush the process along) after a few other people give it a try, so we can see some variety in skin types and stretch mark types. I was really impressed with this oil.
If you want to try it for yourself, find it here: http://amzn.to/20cH5je
I received this product free in exchange for an honest review.
If you've tried it, or want to see me try something else like it, make sure you comment, subscribe, tweet me, etc. etc. etc. and let me know what you think!
Last night, I went to a tea party. It was supposed to be the World's Largest Tea Tasting, and it almost didn't happen.
My husband and I got in on the Media list (in exchange for this post and some other honest coverage of the event).
A photo posted by Shantea Gauthier (@feralorchid) on
In the California Science Center, under the hanging spaceships and satellites, hundreds of guests gathered to drink tea, eat desserts and listen to music at a massive zero waste tea tasting party.
Upon arrival, guests were given a tote bag, the contents of which seemed to vary, but all received some bags of tea. Some also got photo albums or stickers. (Let me know what you got if you went!) Some VIP guests also got a special edition mug. (And I'm super jealous.)
A photo posted by Shantea Gauthier (@feralorchid) on
Guests also got raffle tickets, though looking at the Twitter feed, it seems like many people were confused what to do with them. Add to that, either people didn't hear the numbers or weren't present for the raffle, poor Danny Lobell called out many, many numbers before finding winners of the Tea Book prizes, and we were one of the winners!
A photo posted by Shantea Gauthier (@feralorchid) on
The event was to celebrate the launch of the Tea Book Kickstarter, and now that I have one I can can actually tell you about it. It's a very cute, coffee table-worthy, faux leather covered tea binder. The cover is wonderful- beautifully designed and very well made. The interior is kind of like a trading card binder, but for tea bags! The interior doesn't look like it's better made than a trading card binder, but it did survive my destructomatic toddlers trying to cram tea bags into the pockets! I cleared out an entire shelf in my cupboard, tucking the bags from half empty boxes of tea into the Tea Book. It's also easy to move out of reach of toddlers who love tearing open all the tea bags onto the bathroom floor... Anyway...
The dessert table ran out before I got to it about 2 hours into the 3 hour event ("unlimited" was advertised, so I'm not surprised that they ran out quickly!) and nothing was gluten free (with the exception of fresh strawberries) so I didn't miss anything, though my husband pointed out that we should have grabbed dessert before jumping into the tea line. There were food trucks outside for those who wanted real food.
Other than dessert running out and a couple of other organizational quirks, I didn't even notice the technical problems. There were some empty tables, which was a little awkward but not alarming. The guests seemed to be making their own order and going through the tasting line in a refreshingly respectful way.
The setups were lovely, the teas were great, and there were free games, temporary tattoos and face painting! Chari Pere, cartoonist and artist of the adorable CollectTeables foil packets had a table where guests could purchase prints or have their own caricature tea cup drawn by her.
A photo posted by Shantea Gauthier (@feralorchid) on
I'm still working on the whole... doing anything like a journalist... thing, so I talked to her, but it was mostly about cosplay and upcoming cons.
Danny Lobell, stand up comedian and podcaster, was the voice of the event. I didn't catch his standup act at the event and I'm not actually familiar with his comedy or podcasts, but his style on the stage as MC was not what you'd expect at a tea party! Maybe the kind of thing you'd expect (and accept) at an event in a bar, not so much at an event with fancy dresses, Mad Hatters and sitars. I didn't get any good recordings, but he transitioned between "train wreck" and "smooth host" more times than I could count.
We had a lot of fun, though the event was a lot smaller than we'd expected!
It wasn't until the event was wrapping up that I learned why. Noah Bleich, co-founder and creator of the Tea Book stopped to chat for a minute and shared some of the struggles with us. The entire event was put together in only three weeks! To top off that level of stress and chaotic planning, Devan Shah, CEO of Chado and Waterfall Tea companies passed away the night before the event. Because of the tragedy, almost half of the teas that were supposed to be represented at the event either withdrew or almost withdrew completely.
I also later learned that there was a problem with a circuit that blew out thanks to all of the water heaters, so the water wasn't even hot in time for the event to begin.
The musical guests were all good as far as I'm concerned. The rock band when we first arrived was so loud that we had to shout to hear each other speak, but that level of volume didn't last long and toward the end of the event were a sitar band, and a string quartet that played the event to a close.
A photo posted by Shantea Gauthier (@feralorchid) on
The event was meant to be a celebration of the launch of The Tea Book on Kickstarter, but there was a whisper of a rumor that there might be a repeat next year. Whether the point of it will be to celebrate The Tea Book's success or to make up for the shortcomings of the party this year, I hope that it does get a second chance!
Did you go? Would you go if they did it again next year? What would you like to see at this type of event?
This post does NOT contain affiliate links, and I received no compensation beyond free admission (I even paid for my own parking). My experience was great, but I'm aware there were some issues (like any first time event is bound to have) and not everyone felt the same way.
If you'd like to see some giveaways here or on YouTube and Facebook- sign up for email updates, subscribe to my channel on YouTube, "Like" one of my Facebook pages (Feral cosplay or author page), Follow on Twitter or Instagram, and interact! Let me know what you'd like to see reviewed/unboxed/etc.
I got a discount on this sweet coffee dripper in exchange for an honest review, and honest i will be!
(image links to Amazon)
I made a video, but here's the rundown-
It arrives with no literature at all. No instructions. Turns out, it's both super simple and a matter of preference.
You set it on your mug, pour your grounds directly into the cone (no paper filters required) and then pour your water over it. Easy peasy. I even double brewed and it tasted just as good. BOOM! Double waste avoidance!
I was worried about cleaning it, for some reason I have a special kind of hatred for cleaning mesh- and cleaning COFFEE out of mesh? Sounded horrible, but it's really not. Dump, rinse, wipe, rinse, done. It's probably a good idea to give it a quick pat to dry it off since it is steel, and I haven't met a stainless steel yet that won't eventually rust if mistreated.
If you're looking to reduce waste and cleanup (and you only have one or 2 cups to make on an average morning) I highly recommend this thing!
I'm minimalist and I hate dishes, so avoiding packs of filters and the multiple dishes caused by other types of coffee makers is a huge plus.
It's also a lot quicker than using a countertop coffee maker. Mine takes a while to heat up the water and drip it over the beans. My microwave takes a minute or two to heat up enough water for coffee.
I don't recommend it if you've got a house full of people to make coffee for, if you like ridiculously wide mugs or if you go through a pot per sitting.
If, like me, you like to have a cup at a time and don't want to bother with a bunch of extra steps, this is PERFECT.
Here's the link to the video, so you can see it in action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNuwWuZxN54
As I said, I did receive a discount in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own, and this post contains affiliate links.
Do you have one of these pour-over things? Would you use one? Am I ridiculous for being confused how to use it?
As you may or may not know, my first book review was almost my last.
And then Future Publishing House reached out about The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens. It wasn't released yet and it's not free (EXCEPT on Kindle Unlimited). Plus, it sounds GOOD!!
Here's the official description:
Fifteen-year-old Ashira just received the worst coming-of-age prophecy imaginable.
After years dreaming of oceans, princes, and fairies, she expected the diviner to speak the words that would finally whisk her away from her ordinary desert village. Instead Ashira hears, “you will live a life of no renown.”
Ready to choose her own fate, she discovers a djinni’s bottle and starts making wishes. When the djinni proves uncooperative and annoying, Ashira sets out to the great city of magicians to learn magic and free herself from an uneventful life as a potter's daughter.
But there is another prophecy being whispered in the shadows. It is said that among the great magicians, there is a demon on the rise with the power to destroy the world. The djinni might be Ashira’s only chance to become someone important, or he just might be the very demon that triggered the dark prophecy. With the world on the brink of destruction, can Ashira fight her fate and stop the forces that threaten to upset the balance of the universe?
Turning a comfy old trope on its head? I'm in!!
Instead of trying to avoid her "god of the universe" destiny, Ashira is trying to avoid a boring one. I think a lot more of us can relate to that kind of prophecy, am I right?
Anyway, I often have trouble getting into a book since I frequently have other things to do (like a YouTube channel, books that I'm writing and kids) that gnaw at me whenever I try to relax.
However, this book pulled me in right away. From the beginning, the tone is set, the fantasy element is apparent and I can't help but love a djinni in an ale bottle. If you're the kind of person who seeks diversity, it's also worth noting that the cover art does depict a dark-haired, dark-skinned girl in a sari. Not magical robes. It's a sari. Unlike a lot of authors who try really hard to recreate areas that are "foreign" or tries really hard to blend the known and the "other", Stevens pulls it off well.
It is written as a familiar place, (even though it's nothing like my own home) and Ashira feels like a relatable 15-year old. She is just a touch introverted and a splash angsty without being a caricature and she's sassy enough without being ridiculous. I have a special place in my heart for characters who act like people- I'm sure I'm not the only one.
There are a lot of forces at play throughout the novel and the development of relationships and the plot is very well done.
I did receive an ARC copy which had a few typo-level mistakes and there are a few stylistic things that I don't LOVE, but they don't take away from the fact that this is a very good story- very well told.
It's a great quick read with a wonderful world to find yourself in. I'm a firm believer that every book doesn't need to be The Great American Novel (Stevens is from Utah), but it should leave you with something and it should make you feel some things along the way. I really enjoyed the development of the story and the characters and the world is great!
There was nothing offensive or cringe-worthy (to me) which happens a lot when people try to take parts of a culture and inject it into fantasy.
All that to say, I recommend it for the YA audience and for adults who want something a little easier to digest than really heavy fantasy novels. This would be great on a plane or in the bath or in a park- if you're a fairly quick reader it won't take you too long.
This is great for a debut novel from an Indie author- while many of them exist, they can be hard to find.
What about you? Do you have any favorite new Indie releases? Have you read The Stone Bearers? Did I leave my review too vague? If you'd like to learn more or read other reviews, click the cover image to go to the Amazon page!
Disclaimer: In case it wasn't clear- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I use affiliate links on my site whenever I can. However, all opinions reflected are my own. Sorry, folks. My opinion cannot be bought.
Welcome, friends, to my first book review!!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And honest I shall be!
The Book: The Sorcery Code: Book 1 by Dima Zales
I listened to some of this book and read some of it. From the first few seconds into the audio version, I regretted that decision.
The narrator sounds like she would be amazing for children's books. I can imagine her reading Charlotte's Web and it would be amazing.
Listening to that voice talk about the naked woman and hearing the man who created her trying to fight his attraction makes it feel creepy. I want to say, "Gross!!! She's a newborn, dude! No!"
The narrator is good, but not for this book. Listen to a sample and see for yourself if you love audio books, like me.
Onto the actual book-
The description reads thus:
From a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author comes a captivating tale of intrigue, love, and danger in a world where sorcery is entwined with science . . .
Once a respected member of the Sorcerer Council and now an outcast, Blaise has spent the last year of his life working on a special magical object. The goal is to allow anyone to do magic, not just the sorcerer elite. The outcome of his quest is unlike anything he could’ve ever imagined – because, instead of an object, he creates Her.
She is Gala, and she is anything but inanimate. Born in the Spell Realm, she is beautiful and highly intelligent – and nobody knows what she’s capable of. She will do anything to experience the world . . . even leave the man she is beginning to fall for.
Augusta, a powerful sorceress and Blaise’s former fiancée, sees Blaise’s deed as the ultimate hubris and Gala as an abomination that must be destroyed. In her quest to save the human race, Augusta will forge new alliances, becoming tangled in a web of intrigue that stretches further than any of them suspect. She may even have to turn to her new lover Barson, a ruthless warrior who might have an agenda of his own . . .
That about sums it up. It opens up with a PERFECT NAKED WOMAN on a workshop floor. Blaise is trying not to be attracted to the "object" he created to make magic accessible to all.
Despite the grossness of making a "perfect" woman shaped object to hold some sort of information (oh hi 80's sci fi movies, and hi anime tropes), the magic system seems really interesting. Plus I said I'd review it, so there's that.
Blaise dwells a lot on how he intended to make a magical object. But an intelligent one. An intelligent magical object. Like a talking mirror or something.
He isn't particularly bad at magic, so I don't know why he didn't actually TRY to make something more specific, like a talking mirror...
Moving past that trope, we slam right into another. He dresses Gala in his ex-fiancee's clothes because as we all know, women only come in one size anyway.
Turns out, the ex is still alive (I don't read descriptions when I'm not paying for the book... so I didn't know that.) and she's with someone else now.
I love a good trope. I love a good cliche. I love a lot of the things that you're "not supposed to do" in a book these days. I don't mind that everyone is beautiful and perfect and heart-breakingly handsome. I don't mind that the "object" loves her creator and somehow knows some things and has no knowledge whatsoever of other things.
I honestly couldn't care about any of the characters. I think I liked Augusta best because she seemed like she was going to be a little crafty and maybe even a little mean.
The things that happen in the book should be really interesting, but it really seems like a cheesy romance novel. I was promised an action packed sci-fi fantasy epic adventure. This book didn't deliver. I've read books about knitting circles with more compelling characters. I cared more about whether they had enough yarn to finish a sweater than I cared if any of these characters achieved their goals.
The choreography of the characters is really awkward. At one point, Blaise "pulls a drop from a drawer as he hands it to Gala". There are a lot of moments like this, where the sentence doesn't work. You can't do those things at the same time. It looks okay if you don't pay too much attention. The battle scenes leave a lot to be desired, too. There is no actual sense of urgency, danger, or setting.
I am kind of bummed that my first book review is so negative. But with so many options out there in the science fiction, fantasy and even romance genres, I can't recommend it. And that makes me sad, because the idea of a sorcery "code" that only the sorcerer elite have in depth knowledge of is incredibly interesting to me.
If you're looking for something to breeze through and maybe a few moments of "hm, that sounds neat", by all means dive in. The book is free and maybe my review will lower your expectations so much that you absolutely love it.
Personally, I have too many demands on my time to pick up the next one. And I really have to wonder about the editorial reviews that say the book pulls you into non-stop action. Even most of the five star customer reviews admit that it starts off slow as everything is being explained.
I honestly didn't feel anything but the desire for it to get better, to pull me into this very interesting word. Instead I got a bland love story between an object and a handsome guy.
Two Stars and a toast to Audible's return policy.
Thanks for joining me on my first book review, I'll see you again soon!
(image links to Amazon)
