Revel Home’s Monarch I 30” Swivel Bar Stool with Wood Accent

I’ve gotten to test and try a lot of things over the years, but a piece of furniture is a first, and it’s a pretty nifty first! Revel has a winner with their Monarch 30″ Swivel Bar Stool. With “Old Steel” and real wood accents, it’s got style and panache to spare.

With a “knotted” steel back topped with real solid wood, a comfortable, plush “distressed” leather seat, a full 360 degree swivel and a footrest, it’s got all the features you could want. Revel Home even included a set of soft felt feet in case you have delicate flooring that requires a soft touch. The swivel is smooth and doesn’t bind at all. The steel construction is good, even if the brown, almost antique bronze-colored powder coating has nicks and damage that the factory thought covering with flat black paint was sufficient, and it looks awful. Thankfully it’s not too prevalent and mostly in places one wouldn’t think to look, but it’s there. Assembly was a breeze and took about 20 minutes, and Hubby did it by himself too.  I would recommend a thread locker like blue Loctite when assembling, because there were no lock washers and sometimes the bolts will work themselves loose over time. The style goes with almost any decor, and it’s rock-solid when fully assembled.

The one drawback I see here is the price. At $124.99, it’s markedly more expensive than similar items on places like Amazon, Target, Lowes and Home Depot, and that’s not even shopping the big furniture retailers like Wayfair and others. I still recommend it for the quality and ease of assembly, and the build quality is top notch, but be aware you’re paying a premium price for the product.

Connect with Revel Home via Design Values:

• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Revel. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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New York Biology: UltraLASH Eyelash Growth Serum #Review #NewYorkBiology #LashesForDays

I have tried many lash serums in the past and it was mostly for enhancement purposes, since thankfully my lashes are still kicking! Before I was a coconut oil user but a few times coconut oil ended up in my eye and especially at night when you are trying to wind down to go to bed, a burning eye is not exactly pleasant. I was then seeing a TV screen or computer one blurry until the next day, so I have opted for serums that condition and nourish my lashes. The great part about these serums, is their dual job duties. You can also use it on your eyebrows in case you over plucked or just have thinning eyebrows. I found myself using them to fix my boo-boos, when I left myself a spot or shortened them a little too much on the edge. These serums came to the rescue but I quickly found out they are not all made equally.

 

 

Retail Price Point: On Amazon, the serum retails for $21.50 and shipping is free for Prime members.

 

 

Ingredients (as listed on website): 
Aqua (Water), Glycerine, Hydrolyed Starch Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Pentapeptide-17, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Malus Domestica (Apple) Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Mannitol, Panthenol (D), Glutamic Acid (L), Xanthan Gum, Lecithin 1, 2- Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride Disodium Succinate, Tropolone, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid.

 

 

Verdict:

New York Biology was kind enough to send me a bottle of their UltraLASH growth serum to try. The serum has a nice brush applicator that is easy to control and holds just enough of the solution to apply as needed. A couple strokes is all that I needed to get full coverage. It’s easy to get in areas from the corners to where the eyebrows may be thicker, like the center area of where my brow arches. I tested the product for about two weeks and while the serum conditioned my eye brows nicely, I did find it darkened them a little so I think this came from the hairs getting a little more conditioning. My brows did not over grow but they definitely improved in condition, sort of like when you use a new conditioner on your hair and your hair appears healthier and improving both in texture and looks. That is pretty much the effect I accomplished here. I was happy with the results and because application is a once a day requirement, I just applied the product at night and it never interfered with my make-up, or did it irritate my skin. I know this serum is geared first towards lashes, but I am satisfied so far how my lashes are doing on their own, so I opted to just focus on my eyebrows. That is what is great about the New York Biology UltraLash serum, you can use is both on your upper lashes and/or brows!

 

Connect with New York Biology at:

• Online (Amazon Link) 
• Facebook
• Instagram (@NEWYORKBIOLOGY)
• #NewYorkBiology, #LashSERUM, #UltraLash, #Lashes, #LashesForDays

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from New York Biology. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Raccoon Brand Lifestyle Clothing

I’ve got a new friend, lately, a creature of the night, if you will. It’s a raccoon. He’s a sweet little thing that comes around every night looking for yummers. And I know feeding wildlife is a no-no, but sometimes you’ve got to break the rules.

See, Raccoon Brand knows this too and kitted me out with a cool Raccoon Brand t-shirt that I wear when I’m out with Sir Charles. Yes, my raccoon friend has been knighted. Deal with it. He also believes in breaking the rules sometimes, and you can tell this by his most distinguishing feature: He has no tail. None. Nada. No ringed caboose for this little critter. Someone chose to live by his own rules. We found him one night crawling up one of our palm trees, raiding the food Hubby would leave for his squirrels. And that’s when he melted my heart with his little tail-less butt. So rather than have him tearing up the hill and stealing from Hubby’s little squirrels, I put out a small plate with some food. We’ve had peace in the yard since.

Raccoon brand’s t-shirt is a screen-printed American Apparel black t-shirt with a quality multi-color screen print and the face of my adorable friend staring right back at me. It fit’s nicely, and looks cool, and no doubt when I wear it out I get to tell people about Sir Charles (or “…’ol chuck” as Hubby calls him. Twerp). And I drop a mention of Raccoon Brand and their entire nifty line. There’s all kinds of lifestyle clothing to be found on their website, from t-shirts, to tank tops, to sweatshiets, hats and beanies, and so much more, and since they were cool enough to send me this shirt, I thought I’d be cool enough to share their site and products with you. Why don’y you give their site a look-see and see if you want to be a creature of the night, like me and Sir Charles?

Connect with Raccoon Brand:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On YouTube
• On Pinterest

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Raccoon Brand. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Burei Men’s “Big Face” Quartz Watch with Black Leather Dial

 

We’re no stranger to Burei watches in this house, and this one here is another winner, but more sleek and uncomplicated than the watches Hubby is used to. Suitable for dressing up or down, I think this Burei watch is fantastic.

Made from 316L stainless steel and sporting a brushed black electroplate, this almost 43mm watch also has a scratch-resistant mineral crystal and a genuine calfskin 18mm band. The leather is soft and pliable and made from a single piece of leather. The push in knurled crown allows you to easily adjust the time and date, and the indices are coated with a bright, powerful lume, with traditional hourmarkers as well as minute markers and a ticking second hand. There’s a bright copper threading on the band that is much more copper-colored than the image on Amazon would lead you to believe. And while the watch is water resistant to 50 meters, the calfskin band won’t fare too well being submerged, but the occasional splash is just fine. The precision Japanese quartz keeps excellent time with no noticeable loss after a couple of weeks of regular wear.

The quality you get from Burei is second to none for the price, and is backed bu Burei’s stellar warranty of 30 days money back guarantee for any reason, 12 months replacement or full refund for quality issues and 24 months maintenance for any quality issues. I don’t know of a single watchmaker in this price range that even comes close to a warranty like this. Burei even includes a ready-made gift package with bag, box, and pillow presentation with warranty card.

There are many choices out there for value-priced watches, but none that, for my money, match the quality of Burei.

Connect with Burei:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Amazon
• Buy your own right here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Burei. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Creative Scents’ Vintage White Shatter-Proof Bathroom Accessories

I know all too well the heartbreak of having a really nice set of bathroom accessories that match, pull the room together, and were a great price, and one broke. Or chipped. Or shattered beyond repair. I’d completely sworn off these sets until I found this Creative Scents set. These are nice enough to put in the guest bathroom. Yeah, that nice.

Made from injection-molded resin and painted and finished to mimic much more expensive glass sets in every way, I at first even thought I ‘d been mistakenly shipped a glass set. The paint details are amazing, and they have a real heft to them that speaks to the quality. And no more chips or shatters!! I mean, if you threw them down hard, yeah, you’d probably break them, but no more panicked terror when you brush up against the glass toothbrush holder and watch it wobble, with a split-second decision to try to grab it before it falls or hope it rights it’s own ship.

For $39.99, you get four durable and elegant looking bathroom accessories, and Whizzhome’s commitment to customer satisfaction. And while my set was a gorgeous vintage white color and design, there are 6 other patterns/colors to choose from, and shipped 2 day with Prime. I can’t wait to put up my new set in my redesigned bathroom. What, you didn’t think I’d put something this nice in my old bathroom, did you?

 

Connect with Wizzhome:

• Online
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from WizzHome.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Smooth Viking Hair Styling Clay

Hubby hass been rocking the “high and tight” hair style for quite some time, and one of the things that became indispensable for his hair style is a good pomade. And while the Smooth Viking Clay is a good product, it didn’t suit his needs.

Back when he was a young’n, Hubby used a product called “Three Flowers”. It was petroleum jelly based, smelled awful, was nearly impossible to get out of his hair and was greasy. As he grew up, he moved to more hair-friendly (and everything-else-friendly) products that wouldn’t be so bad for his hair, scalp, and anything it came in contact with. Currently he uses a Redken product, and has for about 5 years. He’s a creature of habit and wants extreme hold without shine or a greasy feel. Smooth Viking came in close to his current Redken. The Smooth Viking has decent hold, not the “extreme” hold Hubby wants, and there is minimal shine, not a full matte finish. It does stay pliable and doesn’t have a greasy hand feel if one were to run their fingers through their hair after. There is a slight scent to the product that isn’t unpleasant but Hubby didn’t much care for. It had a good amount of hold throughout the day as well.

In the end, it’s a very decent product. Being that he’s a creature of habit and doesn’t take well to change, I would chalk Hubby’s missives about the product as a picky consumer more than failings of the product, but in the end he did end up sticking with his old Redken product, because he felt the hold was superior and the product has a truly matte finish.

Connect with Smooth Viking:

• Online 
• On Facebook
• On Instagram
• On Amazon
• Buy some right here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Smooth Viking. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Rorabacks “Premium” 45mm Rotary Cutter

Since rediscovering my “crafty” nature, I’ve found there’s a world of tools and accessories that passed me by in the many moons that I was away. One of them, that has become nigh indispensable, is my Rotary cutter. And anyone who’s come to rely on a tool knows, you can never have too many of them lying around for the if/when one fails. I’m please to say the Rorabacks cutter should do nicely for most folks.

Made from injection-molded plastic, with a rubberized “no-slip” grip, the Rorabacks cutter fit nicely in my hand, and the ergonomics felt good. The blade release slide was placed well, and can be reached easily without having to constantly adjust one’s grip. It’s large enough to get a sure hole on, but no so large to cause had fatigue with long or large products. The standard 45mm blade is sharp and cuts almost everything I threw at it with just one pass. The blade also has a coating of titanium (though it lacked the usual tell-tale gold-ish tint that most titanium coated blades have) should help with edge retention and keep the cutter sharp. It also accepts the plethora of “notched” 45mm blades for replacements. The price is decent (I not the lowest) for the quality and Rorabacks has a “replacement or refund” offer of indeterminate length, so they should stand behind their products.

There’s a few caveats here, though. The blade has a fair amount of “wobble”, which could lead to losing your line on precise cuts, and anyone who’s worked with rotary cutters knows, once it wanders off that line, running it back can lead to disaster. Next is the blade cover. While the blade safely and securely retracts back to avoid any accidents, I tend to put a thin coat of machine oil on my blade when it will stored for a prolonged period of time (Thanks to Hubby’s almost obsessive oiling of his tools, it rubbed off on me). Putting the cover on is a great way to keep the oil from staining things in my craft box. But putting the cover on and off means your fingers come in contact with the cutting edge of the blade to seat the cover properly, and that can lead to cuts. Lastly, and it’s a common grip of mine, is that the Rorabacks Rotary Cutter is more expensive that the industry-leading Fiskars. Like them or hate them, they set the bar here (and elsewhere) for quality and reputation. and while it’s only a dollar or so, I can’t understand why you would be charging more than the one everyone knows and loves to get your foot in the door? And everyone knows every Fiskars product is guaranteed for life, no problems or questions asked. I can’t see ever recommending Rorabacks over Fiskers for those reasons alone. It’s a good tool and functions well but for the reasons stated above I would rank this item about a 3 & 1/2 star, rounded up to 4 because you can’t give 1/2’s on Amazon.

Connect with Rorabacks:

• On Amazon
• On Facebook

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Rorabacks. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

BDB: Billion Dollar Brows, Brows on Point Micro-Pencils in all 4 shades #Review #BillionDollarBrows #BDB

 

Billion Dollar Brows has been a guest on this site before and even though it’s my go-to brow product, which I found to be already a huge hit (only brow product I use now), they found a new way to make it better. The original formula requires a brush application that only takes a minute to apply. For those days you want to skip the brush and get this…..have waterproof results, BDB came out with the Brows on Point Micropencils. You have 4 shades to choose from too:

Brows on Point Micropencils by BDB

• Blonde
• Light Brown
• Taupe
• Raven

 

The Micrpencils by BDB feature a super fine point, so you can control application. You can apply the product by creating simple strokes and adding simulated hairs with just one easy swatch. The micropencil may be slim but not wimpy. No crumbling or breakage upon application, just smooth coverage that can be customized by using several of the colors BDB features. You can add highlights and get a more natural look that again I remind you, is Summer proof ready. You won’t lose your brows if you go swimming or in the sweltering heat.

Retail Price Point: Each micropencil in any color, costs just $16 via the website.

Verdict:
I love waterproof products but some come with more cons than pros. Many tend to dehydrate or stress the skin and especially if they are long wearing. I was a little concerned about the formulation and if I made an error upon applying. My worries really went away when the pencils arrived. I just did a swatch test (on my hand) to see how they worked and felt. Upon applying to the skin, I quickly noticed the formula is lightweight and does not feel waxy. You have a smooth feeling when the pencil meets your skin but remains hydrated and still full of color/tint. I just did not feel it when it was just applied to my hand! I then decided to just go for the brows, since I was already make-up free when the pencils arrived that evening. The last thing I wanted was losing hairs because the pencil is a little rough or just plain mean to my brows. These products are suppose to define and augment our brows, not stress them upon application and wear, to when it comes to removal. I did one brow in just under a minute being a new user of the product. I played and applied the color Raven towards the center of the arch, with Taupe and Light Brown through out both ends of the brow. Amazing! Just amazing how kind these new micropencils from BDB are. I did not lose any hairs, the formula is just smooth like a good eye liner would be and no pulling of the skin when applying. Smooth like butter and blend-able. I then thought if these pencils are so great on the brows, could they work as a eye liner that would be waterproof and smudge proof for the eye? I went for it! I applied the Light Brown to my eyes and then went to make dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening. Play time was over 😦 I wear the BDB for the rest of the night and even forget I had applied any. Yes, that is how natural and lightweight the BDB formulas feel! I go to wash my face in the shower with soap after being there about 15 minutes showering, and only then that I recall and see in my hands the product coming off. I then remembered I had been walking around with done-up brows and eyes. No residue or did I have to apply more face wash to remove the product. Your brows won’t budge and I will be using these pencils as eye liners too! Why not because they worked and I love products that can work as a double duty/multi-tasker. Thank you BDB for making another product that I love and will now be using these this Summer and not just on pool days, but when I just want gorgeous brows with zero worry about them smudging or melting!

Connect with bdb and start 2016 with gorgeous brows at:

• On-line
• Product Link
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• YouTube
• #bdbrows #billiondollarbrows #bdb

I received the above product(s) free of charge from BDB.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

GikPal’s “Army Green” 350lb Paracord Bracelet w/ Firestarter and Whistle

 

A while back I got to try out a paracord bracelet from another manufacturer, and while I was mostly happy with it, I thought when a new one came up it would be a chance to see if they’re still as nifty and handy as I remember. The answer is a qualified “yes!”.

In fact, this one had some features I liked a lot more, and a couple I liked less. To start, it’s significantly smaller around than the last one I tired, which means it’s probably better suited as a keychain for hubby, but still too large for my wrist, and it can’t be adjusted. The magnesium fire stick is completely enclosed in the clasp and is much easier to strike than the last one I tried, and getting a spark took very little effort. The included “scraper” is small, but being completely enclosed in the end of the clasp makes getting a sure grip easy. In a pinch it can also be used to cut small things (like paracord!) but it’s really far to small to be useful for much else. This GikPal paracord bracelet includes an emergency whistle in the clasp that does tend to poke a bit if worn for a while, but is loud and should be able to heard over quite a long distance. This bracelet used 350lb paracord versus the usual 550lb, but unless you find yourself in and extreme survival situation (and I hope you never do!), then you should be find. It still splits apart like the other types of paracord, so it should be just as useful, just keep in mind the differences in weight tolerance.

Over all, it’s a decent value for $7.99 and I’d recommend it if for nothing else than to throw in the glove box of your car and pray you never, ever actually need it. But if you do, it’s there and could maybe one day save your life. And if not, you have a neat looking bracelet you can wear, with a whistle to annoy your significant other or friends in the car!

Connect with GikPal:

• On Amazon
• Buy yours right here!

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from GikPal. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

BUREI® Watch Company’s BM-7006-51E Date Chronograph Men’s Watch

There are a few things that I’ve come to expect from budget watch brands. Hollow steel links in the bands. Cheap glass for the crystal. Flimsy hardware. Poor construction and function. But when a watch comes into my home with a high-polished solid stainless steel with a push-button hidden deployant clasp, precision Japanese quartz movement, full functioning chronograph, full water resistance and a sapphire crystal for $68.99?!? Are you kidding me? Burei has got to be insane to be selling that much for that little!

Any yet, they are indeed offering their quality watches at that price, and after speaking to them a few times I’m reasonably certain they’re not nuts, but just nuts for quality and value. I thought the Burei BM-7006-51E Chronograph looked nice on the page when I ordered, but I wasn’t prepared for how amazing it looked and fit in person. It’s a little bit dressy, and also a little bit sporty, so it can fit almost any occasion and style. And while the bracelet is sold 316L stainless steel polished to a flawless mirror finish, it’s not heavy or bulky, but instead sleek and understated, but also refined at the same time. The pushers for the chronograph function are smooth and actuate easily, the interior of the bezel has indices for precise countdowns, the face is an easy to read joy with minute markers and standard numeric markers at the hours, with a small date window between 4 and 5 o’clock. The case is 42mm, which is in the butter zone for Hubby (42-44mm) for size, and the 20mm band looks perfect on the wrist, not too skinny but not so large as to be obnoxious. The push-in crown is simple to use, and the scratch resistant sapphire crystal is such a nice touch and usually reserved for much more expensive timepieces, and rarely used on anything under $100. It’s water resistant to 30M as well, with a screw-down case back that makes replacing the battery a breeze. There’s the usual Burei attention to detail with the swirls on the clasp, the knurling on the crown, and sizing arrows on the inside of the band. There’s also the usual Burei bells and whistles, with the gift box and bag, the warranty card outlining the stellar Burei 30-day, 1-Year and 2-Year warranty times, as well as a easy to read instruction manual should you have any issues. And as if there wasn’t enough value added here, Burei gives you a watch sizing tool to make customizing your Burei watch a breeze, at no additional cost. The customer service is quick to respond to any and all issues (usually a 24 hour turnaround time), and they ship free next or same day with Amazon prime.

There’s a lot of cheap, poorly made watches out there, and if you’re like Hubby and I, we tended to sort on price and say that anything under “X” amount is not going to be made well or made to last. And Burei went and turned our world on it’s head by stuffing so much quality into so sharp a package and all the while charging a pittance. At this price these quality timepieces are suitable for holiday gifts, birthday gifts, graduation gifts, or “Just Because” gifts, and they’ll think you spent hundreds of dollars. I’m so thankful for the chance to try Burei watches and I’m glad to spread the word, because their name, to me, is now synonymous with Quality. You can’t go wrong with Burei. And Hubby can’t wait for his next one!

Connect with Burei:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Amazon
• Buy your own right here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Burei. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

As an aside, Burei has been amazing to me, and I think the rep I’ve been working with wanted to go above and beyond, and since I was reviewing men’s watches for Hubby, thought I should get a little gift as well, and included an adorable little hair clip for me. That’s the kind of awesome Burei is. I’m happy o support them and recommend them to everyone I can.