LK Baby’s “Heavy Duty Collapsible Trunk Organizer

If you’re like me you need to make more than a few stops to get groceries. Like, sometime 5 or 6 stops. All in different cities. And the one thing that gets Hubby’s goat more than anything are the “nickle-and-dime tactics” of markets that want you to pay for a bag. So thankfully, LK Baby offered us another car trunk organizer that has made our shopping trips a lot less frustrating.

See, we both get when a city has decided to ban plastic grocery bags. The reasoning is specious at best and the results are marginal, but hey, it’s pure profit for everyone involved (except the consumer). And charging for paper bags? When they’re made from the cardboard boxes they get their products delivered in? Give me a break! So I’m sure I’m not the only person who had things rolling around in the trunk or back seat because you’ve gotten tired of everyone having their hand in your pocket. And Starling’s is a lifesaver, because their organizer is big, spacious, sturdy and oh-so-helpful getting stuff from the truck to the house. It’s well-built and strong enough that we stuffed all our Costco purchases in it, and could easily carry everything in with no fear of dropping anything or the organizer being strained. It’s covered in water resistant nylon fabric, which means cold things sweating, or light spills, are not a problem. The bottom is unfortunately not rubberized, unlike the Starling’s version I previously tested, and the carry handles on the sides are strong and sturdy. You can customize the divider inside, or only open up half to minimize the space it takes up. I’m in love. And the dividers have done a fantastic job of keeping cold, warm, and non-food items all away from one another. There’s room in the pockets for more stuff, on all sides, and should one feel the need, you could store everything you’d need for any roadside emergency in Starling’s organizer, with room to spare. and when you’re done with it, it folds right back up, nice and flat and takes up practically no space at all.

We’ve bought cheap-o organizers for the car and truck before. They always fell apart, broke down, or weren’t made to last and got tossed. But for only $19.99, you get a rock-solid trunk organizer that holds way more than you’d think, and does more than you can imagine.

Connect with LK Baby:

• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from LK Baby. 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.

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Starling’s Heavy-Duty Trunk Organizer (With Bonus Sun Shade!)

 

If you’re like me you need to make more than a few stops to get groceries. Like, sometime 5 or 6 stops. All in different cities. And the one thing that gets Hubby’s goat more than anything are the “nickle-and-dime tactics” of markets that want you to pay for a bag. So thankfully, Starling’s offered us a car trunk organizer that has made our shopping trips a little less frustrating.

 

See, we both get when a city has decided to ban plastic grocery bags. The reasoning is specious at best and the results are marginal, but hey, it’s pure profit for everyone involved (except the consumer). And charging for paper bags? When they’re made from the cardboard boxes they get their products delivered in? Give me a break! So I’m sure I’m not the only person who had things rolling around in the trunk or back seat because you’ve gotten tired of everyone having their hand in your pocket. And Starling’s is a lifesaver, because their organizer is big, spacious, sturdy and oh-so-helpful getting stuff from the truck to the house. It’s well-built and strong enough that we stuffed all our Costco purchases in it, and could easily carry everything in with no fear of dropping anything or the organizer being strained. It’s covered in water resistant nylon fabric, which means cold things sweating, or light spills, are not a problem.The bottom is rubberized to minimize sliding around, and the carry handles on the sides are strong and sturdy. You can customize the divider inside, or only open up half to minimize the space it takes up. I’m in love. And the dividers have done a fantastic job of keeping cold, warm, and non-food items all away from one another. There’s room in the pockets for more stuff, on all sides, and should one feel the need, you could store everything you’d need for any roadside emergency in Starling’s organizer, with room to spare. and when you’re done with it, it folds right back up, nice and flat and takes up practically no space at all. Starling’s even included a sun visor for the front windshield at no extra charge.

We’ve bought cheap-o organizers for the car and truck before. They always fell apart, broke down, or weren’t made to last and got tossed. But for only $27.99, you get a rock-solid trunk organizer that holds way more than you’d think, and does more than you can imagine, and a 100% lifetime warranty? Uh, yes please! This product is a steal and when we get our new car, I know what the very first accessory we’re buying for it is: A Starling’s Trunk Organizer!

Connect with Starling’s:

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• Get your own right here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Starling’s. 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.

First Secure Roadside Emergency Preparedness Kit

It’s always in the back of your mind: I hope nothing happens to me on the road today. Especially in Southern California, with it’s cornucopia of, let’s call them “challenged” drivers, you feel like you’re taking your life in your hands every time you hit the road. And while we haven’t had a major incident in over 30 years, it doesn’t mean one couldn’t happen to us. But if it does, we feel a little more secure with First Secure’s Premium Roadside Emergency Kit.

Packed to the gills with almost every conceivable thing one would need in a minor (or maybe moderate) roadside emergency, it’s 90 pieces of peace of mind all in a zip-up travel case. And while the piece count is made up of many multiples like multiple zip ties and a 48-item First Aid kit, it still has plenty of stuff you always hope you never need but feel better knowing you have them. A couple of the items are things you should immediately replace with better, stronger items, such as the gloves, headlamp and multi-tool, and the compressor is nice in a pinch but could take some serious time to fully inflate tires on anything but a mid-size vehicle. But it’s still nice to know those things are there in a pinch. And some items are absolutely indispensable and I’m ashamed I didn’t have them in the truck before I got this kit, like the roadside triangle, the tow strap, first aid kit and the bungee cords. The only item I have a major problem with is the jumper cables. While the heavy, 6-gauge braided copper wiring seem more than adequate, the flimsy plastic handles/covers tend to slide off or just plain break apart, leaving your bare hand grabbing a live wire. It’s dangerous and should be redesigned immediately. I replaced them with some other jumper cables with more secure handles on the leads. Aside from that the kit includes:

• (1) 6 Gauge 300 Amp 10 Foot Jumper Cable
• 250 PSI DC (Cigarette Lighter) Portable Air Compressor
• 11 Ft. 10,000 Pound Capacity Tow Rope
• 1 Reflective Warning Triangle
• Multi-Tool Unit with 9 Tools, including Knife and Screwdrivers
• 1 Roll Black Electrical Tape
• 2 Bungie Cords
• 20 Cable Ties
• 1 Pair of Work Gloves
• Headlamp with Batteries
• 8 Piece Tire Repair Kit

48 Piece First Aid Kit includes:

6 Povidone-Iodine Prep Pads, 6 Alcohol Pads, 2 Antiseptic Cleansing Wipes, 10 Regular Size Adhesive Bandages, 3 Cotton Sponges, 1 Bandage Triangular, 2 Rolls PBT Bandage, 1 Roll Medical Tape, 10 Cotton Swabs, 1 Pair Gloves, 1 Pair Scissors, 5 Safety Pins,plus 1 Storage Case

 

At $59.95, it’s a touch over priced, especially considering that almost half of the item count of the entire kit are in the first aid kit. I would also like to see a basic flashlight and some road flares, but as it stands it’s a pretty decent kit. There’s also something to be said about the peace of mind one gets knowing that you’re covered in a great many different types of roadside emergencies. Hard to put a price on that.

Connect with First Secure:

• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from First Secure. 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.

 

Gurin’s DHMD-210 Electric Compact Dehumidifier

While I’m always thankful we have our home, there are times I want to strangle the builder for the dumb, lazy ways things were done or built. Like our master bath. Code for our area is such that if there is an exterior window, there’s no need for an exhaust fan. What that means is several times a year I’m forced to wipe the walls down with bleach, and repaint a lot more often that I should. That is, until Gurin offered me their DHMD-210 Compact Dehumidifier to take for a test drive. Bless their hearts!

Using Peltier Technology (which is a fancy way of saying thermoelectric cooling, whereby heat flux is created where two different metals meet), in place of a compressor, this machine manages to be both quiet and suprememly efficient at the same time. And it is indeed whisper quiet, so much so that at times I’ve forgotten it was running. I run it during and after our showers, and in that short time, it manages to collect almost a third of it’s 16 oz. liquid capacity. Draining it is a breeze, too, by just pulling out the reservoir and draining it into the nearest houseplant (this is California, after all. Every drop of water is treated like the One Ring…precious). You could also use this Gurin Dehumidifier in laundry rooms, kitchens, and smaller rooms, too, but for a large bathroom or large room, I’d definitely move up to their Gurin DHMD-310 mid-size unit at least. The fit and finish of the unit is flawless, it’s packaged well with clear, concise instructions, and is a much more energy efficient unit than any ceiling vent would have been. This unit not only reduces mold and mildew, but circulates the air, getting rid of that damp, musty smell some rooms can get. And did I mention it’s just plain cute? Kind of looks like a Star Wars robot sitting on the shelf there.

This unit works well, looks neat, and is so useful I can’t believe I didn’t get one before now. Think of all the time and money (not to mention brain cells) I’d have saved from not having to use so much paint and bleach! Gurin did us a real solid offering us this DHMD-210, and it’s my extreme pleasure to recommend it to everyone very highly. At $44.95, it’s money well spent, and will pay for itself, at least in this house, within 6 months time. Get yours today!

Connect with Gurin Products:

• Online
• See Gurin’s family of products here!
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On Amazon
• Get your own here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Gurin Products.  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.

AlphaShades Car Windshield Sunshade Review

 

Summer can be awesome. Fun in the sun, the pool, trips to exotic locales. But one thing that has always sucked about the summer (or. really, any time in California) is a hot, stifling car with nuclear-hot seats thanks to the sun. Everything gets hot, bleached out, and brittle. Thank heavens for AlphaShades and their car windshield sunshade. No more burned backsides, or scalding steering wheels for me!

See, the heat is pretty bad. We all know how ridiculously hot a vehicle’s cabin gets in the sun. It’s now quite easily 20 degrees cooler now with my AlphaShades Sunshade. That translates into more gas savings, as I don’t have to start the truck and then crank the A/C while it idles and make the cabin suitable for humans. It means less wear and tear on the vehicle too. But that’s just a fraction of the savings.

See, UV light destroys almost everything, eventually. Intense all day exposure makes cloth seats bleach out and prone to tears, drys and cracks natural leather, and will cause vinyl to almost fall apart. Not to mention what it does to steering wheels (Hot! Hot! Hot!), gear shift knobs, door panels…You get the idea. With AlphaShades you’re golden. And I’m not talking about the color your palms turn having to make a left out of the parking lot without a sunshade.

“But I don’t have the room in my car for this huge shade!” says you. “But it folds down to 1/10 it’s size with a couple of twists!” says I. It even comes with a little sleeve to keep it safely tucked away behind the seat, under the seat, or on the floor, and an elastic strap so it doesn’t pop open mid-drive and wreak havoc. The best part? it’s 100% satisfaction guaranteed. I’ll quote their Amazon listing here, because I couldn’t say it better: “No Questions Asked, 100% Money Back, Lifetime Guarantee”. Boom. No worries about it falling apart, tearing, or popping a seam. You’re covered. Literally and figuratively. One issue I do have is that this shade is nearly twice as expensive as competitors on Amazon, and they’re all made of the same nylon/polyester material, and of similar (if not the same) size, 59″ x 31″(approx.). So I’ll let my readers decide if the “Lifetime Guarantee” is worth the extra coin.

Connect with AlphaShades:

• Online
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from AlphaShades.  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.

Federico’s Car Care Microfiber Wash Mitt (2-Pack)

In California, we don’t get to wash our cars much anymore. Regardless of your opinions about the drought and it’s causes, severity, or tenure…that ship sailed and we’re here, in a drought. You might imagine the bittersweet surprise when Federico’s Car Care sent me a pair of chenille microfiber wash mitts to compliment the microfiber polish cloths 5 pack I reviewed right here not too long ago. So let’s fill a bucket of soapy water and get right too it, shall we?

On a hot but not too sunny day in SoCal I filled a bucket with soapy water and set to work. It grabbed and held the sudsy water and cleaned the old truck like a dream! When I was done I washed and rinsed it and set it out to dry in the sun, and when it dried gave it a shake to find the nap of the chenille was just as fluffy and plush as when it was new! Nice! It’s also 100% machine washable, too.

Microfiber is a natural fit for a car wash mitt, with it being extra absorbent and it’s tendency to wick up dirt and grime and keep it away from your paint. It purports to be soft and lint free, and at first, it very much was. By then end of our truck wash, little bitty orange fibers were clearly visible on the silver-grey paint. Truthfully, almost any cloth will leave some small bit of lint, but the bright orange color is going to make even the smallest fibers stand out. A minor knock on and otherwise great product!

What I liked was it was plush and well made enough that it seems it could be used for quite a while before needing replacement. But, instead of hanging on to one (Remember, you get 2 to a box!) the other could easily be used to buff off wax or polish, or even for quick detailing sprays and kept in a trunk, console or glove box! Because it covers the entire hand, front and back, there’s no worries about jewelry or nails scratching that oh-so-important clear coat, either! Want to use it dry as a duster inside the car? The fine nap of the fabric will grab and hold dust too! And like all Federico’s Car Care products, they’re backed with a 90-day, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can rest assured they will stand behind their products! And at $9.99 (shipped free via Amazon Prime), it’s tough to beat the value!

Connect with Federico’s Car Care:

• On the web
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Federico’s Car Care.  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.

 

Microfiber MultiPurpose Cleaning Cloth Review #MicrofiberTowels5pack

Everyone needs to clean things. Some of us clean more than others, and some of us are so nit-picky about our cleaning that it takes a lot longer than it (probably) should. I fall into that last category. Lint, streaks, smudges, schmutz…they drive me bonkers. I was offered a 5-pack of microfiber cleaning towels from Federico’s Care Care to try out and review. So you better believe I was ALL over that.

Microfiber towels are a godsend. Back when I was younger, it was Windex and paper towels. I could go through a roll of paper towels just cleaning one room. And despite my somewhat (some have said **cough** hubby **cough**) unhealthy attention to detail, there was always lint. Streaks. Smudges. I ran myself ragged trying to eliminate them all. The whole time, all I needed was some microfiber. These towels from Federico’s Car Care are 100% lint free, machine washable, reusable cotton. Streaks are a thing of the past in my mirrors. My TV screen is sharp and clean. My high-gloss electronics now laugh at smudges and fingerprints. These 16″ x 12″ towels are also perfect for car detailing, furniture polishing, and keeping your touch-screen devices as sparkly as the day you opened them.

The only negative I can see is that at $9.99 for a five-pack, it’s a little steep. Amazon is chock-a-block full of micofiber cleaning cloth packs at much less. I did get these for free to review, but I would have to imagine that if asked to pay for them, I might have looked elsewhere due to the cost. They are quality towels, and they don’t bleed in the wash, come clean after, and keep things clean and lint free, so in the end you have to decide if they’re worth the extra cost. To that end Federico’s Car Care offers a 30-day, Money-back 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so it’s a low risk proposition to give them a shot for yourself.

Connect with Federico’s Car Care:

• On the web
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Federico’s Car Care.  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.

NorthOne: Digital Tire Pressure Gauge Review #NorthONE

 

 

Some things in life we tend to take for granted. The sun will rise every morning. The water will come on when you turn the knob, and your tires will have air in them, because that’s how you left them. Yet one of those things is not always an either/or situation. Tires need a specific air pressure to work their best, and most of us rarely check that pressure because we look and see the tires aren’t flat, and that’s good enough in a rush. Guess what? Good enough isn’t.

See, I have an SUV (sue me, this was from before that was a bad thing). Tires can be VERY expensive for our girl. Nearly $200 each. When you spend that kind of money, you want them to last. So when NorthONE offered me a Digital Tire Pressure Gauge, I thought to myself, hmm…you mean I can check my tires’ pressure without that silly stick thing, Hubby’s fancy compressor gauge, and not break a nail or get dirty? Uh, yes please!!

NorthONE’s gauge is 15 kinds of nifty too. Back-lit readout. Bright LED light on the nozzle. 4 different types of readout (PSI, Bar, kPa, & kg/cm). Auto off. Lightweight. Batteries are included! Yessss! With a grippy plasticized case, and a big loop on the back for a lanyard, this little Tire Gauge is my new best road buddy. One button operation and no more guessing if the little stick is in the right place, or between numbers. It reads quickly, and is as accurate as Hubby’s aforementioned big, lunky calibrated compressor gauge. Someone’s gonna be jealous!

Retail Price Point: $12.78 via Amazon

 

If I had one gripe, it’s that while the batteries are included (thanks again for that, by the way), it’s not too easy to replace them. Which means this little guy I’ve come to like so much is meant to be disposable. Booooo! Luckily, Hubby was able to open him up and see that NorthONE’s digital Tire Gauge uses 3 LR44 batteries, which are cheap and easy to find. So while it not be terribly easy to replace, it’s also incredibly worthwhile.

This one is a must-buy! Your tires cost you a bundle, sometimes hundreds of dollars, and NorthONE’s tire gauge is only $12.99. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there’s nothing to lose here. Except your old stick gauge. Good riddance!

Connect with NorthOne at:

• On-line
• Amazon
• #NorthOne

 

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from NorthOne (52nd Street Trading LLC).  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.