The Scarlet Sentiment: 2016

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Midori Spring Organic Culinary Matcha

For a while now, I have been wanting to try matcha but I am not too keen on all flavors of hot tea. When I heard of the culinary matcha, it sounded ideal for me to try. Midori Spring Matcha is not only USDA organic and kosher certified, it is also gluten free, GMO free and does not contain any pesticides, soy or wheat of any kind. What did I have to lose?

I began by adding the green tea powder into my morning smoothie and was surprised that it did not alter the color or the taste of it greatly. The change I could detect was the increased energy. At first I only added 1/2 teaspoon and even at that small amount, I could tell a difference in my energy level. Now, I have worked my way up to a teaspoon and I still do not feel jittery and it does not bother my stomach.

This matcha should be refrigerated after opening! That is something that I did not read until the day after I opened mine, so I wanted to mention that here.

The company's web site, Midori Spring, has recipes and tips that I can't wait to try!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

HerbalGenix Berberine Supplement

HerbalGenix Berberine Supplement is a single supplement that claims to Lower Cholesterol (LDL and triglyceride levels) and improve Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose Levels, Cardiovascular Health, Mental and Brain Health and increase weight/fat loss. The supplement is NON-GMO and is Gluten Free. The supplement is an antioxidant.

What the heck is Berberine? According to WebMD, it is a chemical found in several plants including European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.

How does ©HerbalGenix Berberine claim it

works?

It targets a very basic regulator of metabolism present in all animals and plants called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Increased AMPK activity will:
• Stimulate the uptake of glucose into the cells
• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Reduce glucose production in the liver
• Slow the release of free fatty acids, which lowers lipid levels and prevents harmful fat deposition
• Boost fat burning in the mitochondria
• Stimulate the release of nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that relaxes the arteries, increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure

The product arrived in perfect condition. The bottle is a one month supply. The capsules resemble typical herbal capsules and the dosage is 2 per day. I took both capsules with my breakfast and they were tasteless, they did not upset my stomach and there was no noticeable aftertaste.

Today is the 25th day I have been taking the supplement and I have not repeated my bloodwork to check my levels yet as research shows it normally takes 3 months to show results. My energy level is increasing, so I plan to repurchase the product for my own personal 3 month trail and see what results I get.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

Control Your Clutter! e-book by Theresa Smith

Control Your Clutter!: You don't have to get rid of EVERYTHING! Even hoarders will succeed with this method! Kindle Edition by Theresa Smith. This e-book is available for free with KindleUnlimited or it can be purchased for $2.99.

Amused by the tag line "Even hoarders will succeed with this method," this book caught my attention. Appealing to the lowest common denominator works - just look at how many "For Dummies" books sell! The kiddo clutter and chaos has been getting to me lately, so I am down for anything that will "help me reclaim a a calm, stress-free life."

The book is easy to read and easy to understand. The first concept breaks items into into a need or a want. Ask yourself how frequently you use the item, if you already own something else that will serve that same purpose and do you have room for the item. Frequently used needs find a place in your home and infrequently used needs are stored. Wants find a home or are donated, sold, or tossed. Kept items that are not used within six months need to go. Items not used in a year definitely need to go.

There is a system to figure out how many beautiful things you love that you can keep and under what display conditions. The books covers how to store things and how to organize and maintain the storage inventory. Specific rooms cleaning and organizing strategies are also discussed.

The e-book is a quick read. The author also provides this link to their blog for additional information. You can connect with her here on Instagram.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Niubity Sync & Charge USB Cable

This cable is exactly as described. A great, and less expensive, replacement for the Apple lightning charge and sync cable that comes standard (and it is the same color and length).

This cable is Apple certified and charged all our iPhone and iPad devices (iPhone 6, iPhone 6Plus, iPad mini2) without the dreaded "unauthorized accessory" error.

The connector is the same size as Apple's as well, so there are no conflicts with any of our protective cases.
You can order yours here!

AMAZON

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 19, 2016 at 7:06pm PDT

Family Glue 100 Dice Party Pack

Family Glue 100 Dice Party Pack is a set of 10 different colors of 10 different sets of rounded 16mm acrylic dice per color. The set comes with a nice black velvet dice bag for storing the dice or transporting the dice. The product comes with everything you need to play Tenzi, Liars Dice, Yahtzee, Farkle, Bunco and or teach math.

At the risk of sounding like Bubba Gump talking about shrimp about these dice, the variety of dice offer so many different gaming opportunities. This set would be great for game night, family night, family reunions or anywhere that you need gaming options for a crowd. It would also be great for teaching opportunities. If your house is like mine, it is also nice to have extras encase pieces go missing so that there are not any game stoppers too. Everyone likes options and this set definitely offers them.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 19, 2016 at 10:32am PDT

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 19, 2016 at 11:57am PDT

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Reach Cables Charging Cord for iPhone 6, iPhone 5, iPad Air, Mini and iPod - 10 Feet

We tested the Reach Cable Charging Cord on the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone6 Plus and iPad mini 2 all using Otterbox Defender series cases.

The Apple 3 Lightning to USB Cable that comes standard with Apple products is just too short. Life is too short for the inconvenience of short charging cables. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Reach Cables Charging Cord’s 10 foot length is just perfect. The additional length enables me to plugin almost anywhere and still comfortably access my device while it is charging. I can lay on my bed while using my phone during its charging time without leaning over the side of the bed and stretching cord (not to mention stretching my back). When traveling in the family car, I can plug the cord in the front and the kids in the very back seat can use it without issue.

The charging cord works well and charges at a rate around 1% per minute. There was not the dreaded " unsupported accessory" error. The lightning connector is a big larger than some cords and it did not fit in the iPhone 5 Otterbox Defender case but fit in all other Otterbox Defender cases. The cord did charge the iPhone 5 device without the case (which I never encourage anyone for which I am financially responsible for to remove their case).

All around this is a convenient, quality cord at a great value.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Demyly Kitchen Premium Tool Set

This great all-in-one set provides everything you need for great grilling. Included in the set are two red grill gloves, a red spatula, red tipped tongs and black barbecue claws.
All of the items are non-toxic BPA-free food grade silicone. These products are of a higher quality and are all a thicker grade than the standard. All of the items are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
The spatula is a medium sized standard spatula and made of high quality food grade silicone. It is nice and stiff/firm and that makes it easy to get items to and from the grill.

My favorite feature about the tongs is the easy to use locking pin. It is such an amazing help whenever the tongs are resting or being stored.

The claws are very light weight and that makes shredding meat easy.

A non slip surface covers both sides of the gloves. My hands fit comfortably into the gloves with enough room to feel comfortable but not too much room that I am afraid I might drop something. My boyfriend has larger hands and he was able to get his hands into these gloves but they were snug. In addition to wearing these gloves to grill, I have been using them when I fry food, open jars or mix cocktails in a metal cocktail shaker as well.

This would be a great going off to college, first apartment, housewarming, wedding or Fathers Day present.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 4, 2016 at 6:36pm PST

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

TropiCooland Cocktail Shaker

2 for 1 - This set includes both the 25 ounces cocktail shaker and a 1 ounce / half ounce jigger. Currently I have another cocktail shaker set that I have had for about 15 years. That shaker is only 24 ounces and it came with a 1 1/2 ounce/ half ounce jigger. Now, I feel like I have more variety and faster mixing options while entertaining.

This set is easy to use to make easy to drink cocktails and thankfully the set is easy to clean and is dish washer safe. Who wants to hand wash anything after mixing drinks? The lid fits perfectly over the outside of the shaker and stays secure and does not leak. My other sets top fits inside the shaker so there is a rim that is difficult to clean. Both the strainer and the top to the strainer stay on securely.

The shaker does get cold while mixing drinks, so I would recommend wrapping it up in a hand towel or using a silicon glove while mixing.

With the TropiCooland cocktail shaker, you will be making cocktails like Tom Cruise in Cocktails in no time!

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 10, 2016 at 5:25am PST

Purifyou Set of 3 Premium Pacifier Cases

Not long ago, I had little ones and wanted a product like this one to keep track of pacifiers and to help keep them sanitary. Because there was not anything like this available on the market, I kicked it old school and just used a paper towel folded up in a ziplock bag.

This set I purchased as a gift for a friend that just had a baby. How perfect is this product be for a new mom?

The case opens easily and it closes by securely snaps shut. The little hook easily attaches to the outside of the diaper bag so the entire contents of the diaper bag does not have to be dumped out to find the pacifier. It could also attach onto a stroller bar or purse as well.

We tested out several different styles of newborn sized pacifiers and they all fit perfectly.

These cases are simple to use and simple to clean.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

I am going to #review these #Purifyou #pacifier #cases with new moma @evelynembry15 's help! #baby #babygirl

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 11, 2016 at 3:15pm PST

PURGGO Car Air Purifier/Freshener - Fragrance Free Odor Eliminator

Maybe I am just light green and not really green. I prefer using green or natural products when they work well and or/are safer. The reality is that I also drive a family car and transport children to sporting events on a regular basis, so I need a highly functional and safe car air freshener.

What convinced me that this thing is absolutely AMAZING is one of the darling children left Chinese food in the car overnight. I cleaned the car out the next morning as soon as I found it but the car smelled like we were take-out delivery drivers. But, by the time I left work in the afternoon, there was not even a hint of teriyaki stench left in the car. So, that's me sold on this product.

The product arrived quickly and the packaging was eco-friendly. The product was very easy to install and it lasts a year.

I like the fact that it is fragrance free as sometimes overpowering air fresheners or fragrance can give me a headache. I have tried using essential oil diffusers designed for the car and so far, I have not found one that works effectively.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

Monday, March 14, 2016

KewlKit MFi Certified Lightning Cable

In our house, one of the things that works well to be able to identify whose electronic accessories belong to whom is to whenever possible purchase them by preferred color choice. That is one of the things that I like most about this lightning cable is that it is available in pink, blue yellow, black and green. We have tried labeling cables with Sharpies but that labeling can sometimes be intentionally removed (not that my darling angles would do such a thing just to win an argument). We have also tried attaching cable ties for tags or various kinds of decorative tape or colored electrical tape. It just seems that in our house, if it is a colored cable, there is not much of an argument to be made and I like that level of peace. So, I am all about some color options when it comes to lightning cables!

The other big features are that cable is Apple MFi Certified which means that it is guaranteed to charge your device or sync your device. The connector guaranteed to be compatible with any lightning receiver device and is more durable than other connectors that are not certified. This cable is rated at a 2.4A for a faster charging time.

This connector fit correctly into all of our Otterbox defender cases. We have those cases for all of our Apple products. We tested this cable specifically on the iPhone 4, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6Plus, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3.

The only thing that would make this cable more convenient would be if it came in six feet and ten foot lengths as well.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

Just received this #kewlkit lighting charging cable for #review. We can NEVER have enough to of these at my house!

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 3, 2016 at 4:57pm PST

Selfiesteem's Hot Pink Selfie Stick

I am not personally into taking selfies. Usies with my friends and family yes, but rarely do I take an actual selfie and definitely do not perform this task enough to warrant the purchase of a stick. However, I know these short people who are selfie experts and they have a high regard for selfie sticks. They also have a strong Dubsmash and Musical.ly game also. Therefore, to make the short people happy, I have now purchased three selfie sticks.

The first selfie stick did not survive long enough for me to even remember what it was that I bought it was so dysfunctional. The second selfie stick I purchased, it was selected by an eight year old because it glows in the dark. Now, I do not know the integrity of the glowing in the dark feature for selfie sticks, but it does indeed glow in the dark. It did not, however, automatically take photos when the cord was plugged into the headphone jack so the snapping of the photo remained manual. This hot pink selfie stick is our third selfie stick and I think this is the one that will be around awhile.

The first noteworthy thing about this selfie stick was the quality and functionality that immediately set it apart from the selfie sticks that had darkened our door. It had instructions in English, not just drawn images, and even troubleshooting instructions that were easy to read. We did not need the troubleshooting instructions for this stick because its functionality was truly plug-and-play. However, we used the troubleshooting instructions provided to get the glow in the dark stick working properly!

My FAVORITE feature is that the stick will securely hold an iPhone 6s

with an Otterbox Defender series case or an iPhone 6/Plus Otterbox Defender series case. It is always those brief times when the devices are taken out of these amazing, yet bulky, cases to work with incompatible accessories that end up costing me repair or replacement cost for the device itself. The stick reliably and consistently works with the iPhones we have and their Otterboxes, so I would assume the stick would work well with other cases.

You can order yours here!

AMAZON

@holland_brooks_05 #iphonesia using her #pinkselfiestick by #selfiesteem. Review coming to @thescarletsentiment #blog #instagood #instaphoto #iphonegraphy

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 13, 2016 at 6:59pm PDT

Friday, March 11, 2016

Baby Pacifier Holder

When I saw my friend’s infant having a hard time keeping her pacifier in her mouth, I knew the baby, and definitely the new mommy, needed a pacifier holder plush toy. I ordered this product as a gift for them both. When my kids were little, WubbaNub products were the only option available. I was incredibly surprised at the quality, durability and practicality of this product when it arrived and wished that we had one back in the day.

There are a couple of features about this product I really like. One, is that the baby-safe Velcro strap allows you to change out the pacifiers! That makes cleaning BOTH the pacifier and the plush toy a lot easier. It allows for different pacifiers to be tried out to fit the individual preferences of the baby. It also allows for the pacifiers to be changed out as the pacifiers show signs of wear-and-tear or the size of the pacifier needs to be increased with the age of the child.

The other thing I really like about this toy is that IT SQUEAKS! How fun is that? That is also very handy for getting the baby's attention to snap a photo.

I will be ordering another one of these for a gift soon.

You can order yours here!

Amazon

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 11, 2016 at 12:13pm PST

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

La Deessa Peptide Eye Serum

As a ginger with sensitive skin, when a product works for me, I am hooked instantly. When I tried the La Deessa Vitamin C Serum without experiencing any sensitivity issues, I was excited to try more products from their skincare line. La Deessa products delivered again with their Peptide Eye Serum as well.

The pump is always an issue for me because I cannot stand paying a lot of money for a product only to not be able to get it out of the bottle! This pump is of a good quality and is easy to use without issue. It provides the right amount of serum to apply to both eyes.

When the product is applied, I experience a cool and soothing sensation. The product dries quickly and absorbs into the skin. The product has no noticeable fragrance just a faint clean scent that disappears why dry. There was no discomfort, redness or irritation around my skin or eyes, not even at the corners of my eyes.

I feel more confident using healthy, clean, and pure skincare products with ingredients that enrich and nourish my skin.

You can order yours here!

Amazon

#ladessabeauty #review @thescarletsentiment This Vitamin C Serum is a #gingers best friend! Loved it so I ordered the Peptide Eye Serum too!

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Feb 26, 2016 at 2:15pm PST

RumblePAK mat

The RumblePAK mat is a large, lightweight indoor/outdoor mat. The 5 ft x 5 ft mat can easily seat a family of four or accommodate two people lying down. One side has a very sturdy material that is waterproof and tear resistant and the other side has more of a cloth texture. The mat is very easy to wipe clean. The mat would also be easily recognizable at a festival as it has a large logo printed on the edge.

I would not describe it as a blanket as it is not soft or plush. If I were in a hurry, the ground conditions were wet or walking a long distance to my destination, I would use this mat alone. If I had more time to set up, had a short walk and could carry more weight or would be spending hours at my destination, I would lay a blanket on top of the mat for added comfort.

Transportation and storage of the mat are very simple as the mat so lightweight. The mat opens up easily. It is easy to fold up and roll up as well. The Velcro section is large and actually holds the mat together nicely. There is a carry handle on the mat. You could carry the mat by the handle or use the handle to connect a hook and attach it to a backpack, stroller or wagon, etc.

My plan is to store this mat in the car to have on-hand at all times. We are an active outdoors family and attend lots of concerts and sporting events. Also, I will use it as added protection to my cargo area when transporting plants and gardening supplies.

You can order yours here!

Amazon

Grab your #rumblePAKmat and go! Review coming soon

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 5, 2016 at 6:16pm PST

The perfect picnic spot - with the #rumblepakmat

A photo posted by The Scarlet Sentiment (@thescarletsentiment) on Mar 6, 2016 at 5:37pm PST