Book Review: Ninja Foodi: The Pressure Cooker that Crisps: Complete Cookbook for Beginners: Your Expert Guide to Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Dehydrate, and More by Kenzie Swanhart

Ninja Foodi: The Pressure Cooker that Crisps: Complete Cookbook for Beginners: Your Expert Guide to Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Dehydrate, and More by Kenzie Swanhart  

Available September 25, 2018

We do not have a Ninja Foodi at McClendon Villa. When we were sent a review copy of Ninja Foodi: The Pressure Cooker that Crisps: Complete Cookbook for Beginners: Your Expert Guide to Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Dehydrate, and More by Kenzie Swanhart, we had to evaluate it based on the question, “Are these instructions easy enough for David, who has very limited skills in the kitchen, to follow?”

The answer to that question is a resounding, yes. These recipes are clear and easy to follow. They have enough detail to tell first-time users of the Ninja Foodi how to use it and what attachments to use to make each dish.

These easy to understand recipes list all the ingredients needed, prep time, different cook times and temperatures, detailed instructions along with serving information regarding serving size, calories, etc.

If we had a Ninja Foodi, we would take it into the kitchen of McClendon Villa and demonstrate. Perhaps we will get one soon.

We were sent a complimentary review copy of Ninja Foodi: The Pressure Cooker that Crisps from the publisher. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.



Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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Product Review: Drain Snake, LEShop Drain Auger, Great Drain Clog Remover Use For Plumbing Snake Pipe Cleaner/Sewer/Bathtub Drain/Kitchen Sink Cleaner

Drain Snake, LEShop Drain Auger, Great Drain Clog Remover Use For Plumbing Snake Pipe Cleaner/Sewer/Bathtub Drain/Kitchen Sink Cleaner

Who wants to call a plumber every time you have a clogged drain? We found the Drain Snake by LEShop to be a handy tool.

It is a lot better than your old drain snake. You remember, the ones that were everywhere in your utility room, until you needed it.

Most of the snake coils into the handle. When you need some of the snake, you pull it out of the handle, tighten the screw and then thread the snake into the clogged drain. After you reach the clog, hold on to one handle while turning the top handle.

This is so easy to use you will wonder why you ever needed a plumber in the first place.

We give the Drain Snake by LEShop all five stars. We think you will, too.  



Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Product Review: Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

We were given a free sample of this cruelty-free Tea Tree Oil Shampoo by Maple Holistics to try and see what we thought.

We are impressed. It has a pleasant smell, although it may be a little strong for those with serious breathing issues.

It works really well and has a mild tingly sensation. This was not overpowering. We think anyone looking for a great cruelty-free shampoo should try this tea tree oil shampoo.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, 8 OZ
https://www.mapleholistics.com/products/hair-care/shampoo/natural-tea-tree-oil-shampoo/

Free product samples
https://www.mapleholistics.com/free-sample/

We were sent a sample of this product. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.


Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Product Review: Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner with 4GB SD card and USB Adapter with EasyStitch and StoryScans Talking Images Software

 

Product Review: Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner with 4GB SD card and USB 

Adapter with EasyStitch and StoryScans Talking Images Software

Have you ever gone to visit your grandmother and noticed that one-of-a-kind picture of Aunt Eula Mae hanging on her wall?  You would love to have a copy of that picture.

The problem is that picture is one-of-a-kind.  It has been in that frame, pressed up to the glass, for over half a century.  

You could beg Grandma to let you take that picture with you to get a copy made.  If she did relent, she would worry the whole time the picture is off the wall. And, what if something were to happen to it while it was out of Grandma’s sight?  

If you try to take the picture out of the frame so that you could get a clear shot of it, chances are very good that you will ruin the picture. Grandma would be devastated.

You could whip out the cellphone and make a bad, grainy snapshot of it. We’ve all seen those. They usually come out with all sorts of glare and you really can’t tell what the image is when you copy a picture that way.

Or, you could break out your handy Flip-Pal mobile scanner and scan it while it is still hanging on the wall. How great is that?

All you have to do is take a series of overlapping scans and the software does the rest. It stitches the pictures using a program called EasyStitch.

It stores it on an SD card.  You can then take the SD card to a local photo outlet, pop it in their automated photo kiosk and out comes a near perfect copy of Aunt Eula Mae.

You could even load it into your computer via an SD card port or the USB adapter that is included.  That way you can share it online with your family and friends.  

You could also send it off to one of those discount printing services that makes your digital image into great enlargements, mouse pads, or whatever.

One really great feature is the StoryScans software.  Using this, you can record Grandma’s story of Aunt Eula Mae, in Grandma’s own voice.  This is a treasure that cannot have a price put on it.

The Flip-Pal mobile scanner is so easy to use even this old redneck can do it.  If I can do it, you can do it.  You don’t have to be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to use this thing. Just click, scan, and enjoy. It is that simple.

You can save photos, your grand-kids’ artwork off their mama and daddy’s refrigerator, or even off the wall at their school when you go for open house. All the other grandparents will want to know where you got your Flip-Pal mobile scanner and how easy it is to use.

The Flip-Pal mobile scanner is a must have for any genealogist.  With it, you can scan documents you find at the library or at a relative’s house (with permission, of course).

You may even find yourself scanning pictures you have laying around your own house so you can archive them and back them up on your computer.

You will find the Flip-Pal mobile scanner to be the go to tool at the library when doing genealogy research. You find an interesting picture, use the Flip-Pal mobile scanner.  You locate an old military record, the Flip-Pal mobile scanner can scan it.  You don’t have to worry about damaging the original document.  It can stay in its frame or in the scrapbook, etc.

Do you remember those magnetic photo albums from back in the 70s?  You can scan pictures from one of those without having to take the picture out of the album.  This works great when dealing with newspaper articles (like obituaries) that have been saved in an old photo album.

We did a test to check for color fidelity, comparing the iPhone 5s and the Flip-Pal mobile scanner. The Flip-Pal mobile scanner won. The color was truer to the color in the photograph on the scan than on the picture taken with the iPhone. The iPhone made the photo more warm-toned than it actually is. The baby is yellower and the carrier cover has pinkish tones in the iPhone photo. Here are the test images.

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner scan of picture in album (600 dpi):

iPhone 5s picture of picture in album (72 dpi):

We love our Flip-Pal mobile scanner.  It is worth many times the suggested retail price.  You will love yours and you will find it so easy to use that you will tell all your friends.

It is lightweight, too, so easy to carry.  You can get optional tote bags or just pop it in a large purse.

You will want to always have your Flip-Pal mobile scanner with you wherever you go because you will find all sorts of opportunities to use yours once you have it.

You can find more information on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and their other products here.


Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Product Review: 7 PCS Dog Toys Set

7 PCS Dog Toys Set,for Small & Medium & Large Dogs and Puppies, Includes Ball, Cotton Rope Toy, Chew Squeaky Toys and Training Toy

Sold by: Ieva Mall

We got this 7 Piece set of dog toys for our grand-dogger. Petra. She loves it.  The only problem is the hamburger toy is a little bit too large for her small mouth. Everything else is fine.

Petra could tear up an anvil with a rubber hammer.  She is rough on toys.  She seems to love the chicken leg.  

We think these toys will give her lots of enjoyment.  We give it all five stars. It is an excellent set of toys.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Product Review: Dr. Plotka’s Mouthwatchers Toothbrush

Dr. Plotka’s Mouthwatchers Toothbrush

We were sent three samples of Dr. Plotka’s Mouthwatchers Toothbrush to try in order to see how we liked them. Before we tried them, our thoughts were, “A toothbrush is a toothbrush.” This isn’t entirely true.

We tried them and found them to be an excellent tool for cleaning our teeth. The bristles really get between the teeth well and make for a great cleaning aid.

We give Dr. Plotka’s Mouthwatchers Toothbrush all five stars and think you will, too.

We were sent 3 complimentary samples of this product.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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App Review: The Universe App

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to create a web page? Then you need to check out the Universe app!

The Universe app is a really simple way to set up a web page quickly, using your iPhone, iPod, or iPad.  I am a bit technically challenged on some things, so it took me more than the minute advertised, but only a little more.  I can't blame the app for that. 

My Universe Page

I am sure that there are many ways to configure a web page with this app, but I just created a basic page with a profile picture, icons for email, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, as well as link icons for two of my blogs. You can resize the icons by pinching them, but I can't seem to expand the size of the profile picture.  All of these things are added to the page via a grid layout, which works for the "Monk-ish" side of me.  UPDATE:  I tried again and was able to successfully enlarge the profile photo. It was just a matter or rearranging the other squares in the grid. 

You can choose to purchase a custom domain, but I stayed with the Universe provided URL. I can put this URL into my Instagram profile, making it easier for my followers to find my other online hangouts.

It is totally free unless you choose to purchase the custom domain. You can't beat that. :)

If you want a quick and easy way to have a presence online, try the Universe app. You will be glad that you did.

You can find the app here:   http://apple.co/Universe

Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Movie Review: Believe

Believe

We were sent a copy of the new DVD Believe so that we might review it. Our blogs are all Christian-based and we judge everything by our fundamental/Charismatic Christian values.

This story shows a man who has been, for the most part, what some would call “Realistic”.  He does not believe in miracles.

As this man, Matthew Peyton, faces the possible loss of his business,  it appears that the whole town, with few exceptions, is against him.

Overall, this is a wonderful story.  The audience is left guessing at what would happen next and exactly what miracles could happen.

We give Believe four stars on our scale of zero stars to five.  There are just a few reasons that the movie, which is supposed to be a Christian-based movie, does not deserve all five stars.

We would love to give this movie all five stars but we cannot.  The first reason is that Sharon, the mother of the little boy, CJ, is supposed to be a strong Christian, and yet she wears a shirt that is cut too low to be considered modest.

Since Sharon is supposed to be a Bible-reading Christian, she should know about the scriptures which instruct us to dress modestly. The doctor in the story is perhaps dressed immodestly at times, too.  However, she never claims to be a Christian.

Of course, it could be pointed out that the doctor gave Sharon the clothing and so she did not have control over what she was given.  As Christians, we are supposed to adorn ourselves properly.  That is hard for a woman to do in this world where one cannot find conservative clothing any more.

Then, the movie itself can be confusing at times.  There are flashbacks and flash-forwards and visions of things that are hard to follow.  We really cannot be sure if we are supposed to be in the present, past, or even future.

With these visions, we cannot be sure if they really ever happened or are just things that someone is seeing.

One vision shows a character blaming a factory fire on the little boy, C. J. and then accusing Matthew of arson.  So, did he tell police that C. J. did it or not?

The movie would be better if one could always tell whether it is the past, present, future, or imagination, but overall, the message is clear: Hold onto your faith. Believe. There IS hope, no matter what you’re going through.




Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Book Review: Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn

Healing is a Choice is about healing the hurts of our past and present thereby leading us into our futures stronger and better able to deal with the hurts that are inevitable. Ten choices are given to aid us on the path of healing as well as ten lies that are obstacles to our happiness. The workbook section gives questions for us to ponder that are also suitable for small group discussions.

I think that this is a very helpful book. I do not blindly accept guidance from anyone. I question everything and this book offered me plenty of opportunities for questioning. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, which hurt can become when it has been a part of your life for so long. I argue an issue until I see a valid reason to accept the suggestions given. Mr. Arterburn gave me plenty to consider, such as moving forward involves risks. He lays down the challenge to risk hurt to find healing. His reasoning is sound and backed up by scripture. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling to let go of the past and hoping for a brighter future.

BookSneeze (http://BookSneeze®.com) has provided me with a complimentary copy of Healing is a Choice in exchange for a review. However, all reviews written by me are my honest opinion, regardless of compensation.

Review: Close Enough to Hear God Breathe by Greg Paul

The purpose of this book is to help us realize that we can have a more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father than we currently have. The relationship with Him is meant to be a close, personal relationship just as it should be with our earthly father. We are His children, created in His image, and are important to Him.

This book’s title was very intriguing. Who wouldn’t want to be so close that they could hear, and even feel, the breath of Heavenly Father?

Mr. Paul shares stories of his own experiences as a father. It was nice to be privy to some of the “light bulb” moments that he has experienced along the way, such as when he realized how much his son was like him.

However, I was not fully able to get into this book. The frequent repetition of the words “breath” and “breathe”, while calming to some, is stressful to me. The book did not bring good feelings to me or inspire me. It felt empty and insincere. I am not saying that Mr. Paul didn’t mean every word that he wrote; I’m just saying that I didn’t feel any real passion as I was reading.

Realizing that not everyone reacts to things of a religious nature in the same way and that we’re all at different places in our walk with Him, I would still recommend this book to others because it may well be just the perfect book that makes it click for someone else.

BookSneeze (http://BookSneeze®.com) has provided me with a complimentary copy of Close Enough to Hear God Breathe in exchange for a review. However, all reviews written by me are my honest opinion, regardless of compensation.

Review: Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, this book was given to me for free by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

If you’re looking for feel good, make it all go away right now, instruction, this is not the book for you. For a little book, it packs a powerful punch. Anger, greed, guilt, and jealousy are emotions that can really do damage to one’s heart. This heart is most likely already hurting and doesn’t know which way to turn or how to funnel the energy involved.

Andy Stanley, the son of Dr. Charles Stanley, goes through each of these four emotions and explains what he feels are the reasons behind them and how to work through and conquer them before they conquer us. Overall, his advice is sound. However, I did not agree with all of his ideas. His answer to one “arguing” with his thoughts is that these are the areas where Heavenly Father is convicting us that we need to work. While I have a good deal of experience with being convicted of things by the Holy Spirit and know that this can come about in some of the strangest ways, this came across to me as Stanley putting his own ideas in the mouth of the Father, implying that arguing with him is the same as arguing with God.

If you’re looking for a book to help you get over or through the type of jealousy that comes about because of wandering eyes, the section on jealousy will likely be of no help. It mainly speaks of the type of jealousy that is at play when a person has a better car, better job, better house, etc., than you do. He also goes on to imply that lust is normal and created by God. In my opinion, desire for one’s spouse is what Heavenly Father created and lust is the term for desire that travels beyond the marriage bed. Desire for one’s spouse is a positive; lust is a negative. Lust is desire manipulated by the devil and turned into something that it should not be.

This book, along with the included study guide, will make you take a long, hard look at the negative emotions, why you have them, and offer you ideas regarding how to deal with them. Even though I disagreed with some of it, it has been a help to me, if only to make me think about the hard things. I would recommend it for others that are struggling to have a healthy heart.

Review: One Call Away by Brenda Warner

One Call Away shares with us the story of tragedy and triumph, of how faith, no matter the circumstances, can carry us through to a life of joy. We are witness to the growing faith of Brenda, who has suffered at times unfathomable heartache, but does not succumb to despair. She holds onto her faith that Heavenly Father will take care of it, no matter what the “it” is. It is the story of a survivor.

While there are real differences between Brenda’s personality and my own (I was never one of the “pretty ones” or self-confident), there are also very deep heart things that we have in common. She is fiercely protective of her children and fought through and beyond the gloomy outlook the doctors gave for her injured son. She shows that a mother’s love and faith can win against their diagnoses. I have found that to be true in my own life. Just because a doctor says they can’t, doesn’t mean they never will.

She has dealt with justifiable issues of jealousy and insecurity. In spite of past hurts, she has learned to cope with the predatory fans that come along with the fame of her NFL husband. Because of her faith through the hurts in her life, she has emerged a stronger woman and uses that strength to help others to build stronger, faith-filled lives.

This book was well written, but some parts were emotionally difficult to read. Some were difficult because I have been there and others, because I fear the time that I will have to face similar circumstances. However, I would recommend this book to others trying to cope with hardships in their own lives.

One Call Away shows us that we are not alone. No matter what we are going through, someone else has been there, too. The upsets in our lives serve a purpose that may be unseen to us now, but somehow they work for the greater good in the end. We must hold onto our faith.

BookSneeze (http://BookSneeze®.com) has provided me with a complimentary copy of One Call Away in exchange for a review. However, all reviews written by me are my honest opinion, regardless of compensation.

Review: Complete Skin Care on Facebook

The Complete Skin Care Facebook shopping site begins with a landing page at: Complete Skin Care on Facebook . Once you “Like” the page, the other pages of the site become available to you.

The site is easy to navigate with drop-down menus and a search box to help you find a narrower selection of items from which to choose. It has a nicely done, easy to manage layout. The item links take you from the Facebook page to their main website where you can order the products using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.

It is easy to share individual products with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many other social networking sites.

There are a nearly two thousand skin care and beauty products represented on this site, from eye shadows to lip plumpers to tweezers to wrinkle treatments. There are various brands and price points to suit any budget.

According to Facebook users that have posted on Complete Skin Care’s wall, they have very fast shipping and wonderful customer service. Incentives that they have had in the recent past are free items with certain purchases as well as coupon codes granting discounts on purchases.

Complete Skin Care’s information page tells their hours of business, the URL to their main site, as well as their phone number. There are no events listed as yet on their Events page.

If you’re looking for a site with a multitude of choices, this is one to visit. Please head on over to Complete Skin Care on Facebook.


NOTICE: In order to comply with FTC regulations, I am informing you that this is a paid review. However, I will always give my honest opinion in my reviews, regardless of the compensation.

Review: Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont

Stained Glass Hearts: Seeing Life from a Broken Perspectiveis about seeing our lives from a different perspective. The message that it conveys is that life often gets in the way of our plans but, if we keep our eyes on Him, His Light will show us the beauty that waits on the other side of the not-so-beautiful. We cannot just sit back and hope that the good will come to us on its own; we have to get up and do something. We need to reach for what we want by reaching first for Him.

Stained Glass Hearts was an inspirational book that made me laugh, while at the same time caused me to ponder some very deep matters of the heart. Clairmont reiterates the truth that being grateful in all things will lead one to a life of joy and this is an area in which I need constant reminding. It also made me cry and when a book does that, I am hooked. This book is a smooth, easy read that made me want to read other books by this author. I would recommend this book to anyone that wishes to take their life in a new direction, one of peace and joy and reliance on Him.

BookSneeze (http://BookSneeze®.com) has provided me with a complimentary copy of Stained Glass Hearts in exchange for a review. However, all reviews written by me are my honest opinion, regardless of compensation.