There is a boatload of so-called T-Blade clippers available on Amazon. The secret is that a very large fraction of these is made by a handful of manufacturers. Some carry different names in the listing, but they are mostly just a small number of different models with moderate cosmetic differences.

The good news is that they are mostly quite decent. They feature 0-gapped (or close) heads, a Li-Ion battery, a cutting head that can be rinsed in water to clean (although you should not submerge the body of the clipper), and a small number of cheap length guides you can snap on.

The only significant differences among most of these different listings are:

1) The charge level readout. The best ones provide an LCD display of the percentage charge left. The cheap ones do not.
2) Some provide a collar that can protect the shaft going to the T-blade. This can either be a plastic collar that snaps on, or, in some cases, an extension of the metal body around that area (hiding the shaft)
3) A ceramic cutting blade. This is unusual, but a few offer a premium ceramic cutting blade
4) The pattern/design of the body

That's pretty much it. Any descriptions or reviews that try to suggest other differences are usually mistaken.

This particular set of clippers is branded as Kezu & Lar T-98

Specifics of this kit:

** Rechargeable Cordless T-Blade clippers
** NO LCD readout/charge level indicator
** Plastic collar ring to protect the rotating shaft
** Beautiful orange-colored metal handle--good ergonomics
** Three detachable length guides, all black
** Charging cable
** Cleaning brush
** Clipper oil
** Simple, attractive design
** 1800 mAh rechargeable battery (huge for this segment)
** Retail box suitable for gifting

Clipper operation is trivial: There's an on/off on the bottom of the handle. That's it. The clippers work well. The clipper feels comfortable in the hand. Charging of the clippers is via a standard USB-C port on the bottom of the clippers. I like that a lot better than the non-standard power connectors on some clippers.

The heads are 0-gapped. This makes it possible to trim right down to skin level, which is valuable for clippers of this type.

My main complaint here is the lack of a charge level indicator. The battery is more than ample for days of use at home, but it would still be nice to have an indication that the clippers are getting low on charge.

The clippers feel very good in the hand, with the all-metal handle providing good stabilizing heft. The shape and thickness are both very nice.

The 1800 mAh battery (per the manufacturer) is far larger than many of the batteries found in T-blade clippers, which is also a plus.

On the whole, I like these clippers a lot. Only wish there was an LCD readout of charge level. But in terms of ergonomics, battery size, and the 0-gapped heads, these are winners. Add to that the very unusual and very pretty burnt orange color. These would make a nice gift.


This sound machine is truly impressive with the wide variety of sounds it makes. The instruction manual is detailed and accurate regarding which sounds are there, and in what order, something I don't often find with a sound machine and which I most definitely appreciate. There are six different categories of sound: ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response, which theoretically stimulates tingling skin and euphoria), Animals, Life, Babies, Nature, and Combination Scene. ASMR includes such unusual sound machine noises as eating potato chips and drinking water, as well as some music selections. The Animals category includes a cicada, pigeon, seagull croak, two different sets of birdsongs, frogs croaking, and crickets. Life includes flipping through a book, a campfire, drinking coffee, keyboard sounds, a train, and a ticking clock. Babies includes two music box selections, two songs being sung, a heartbeat, a lullaby, and ringing. Nature includes dripping water, two different wind sounds, two wave sounds, two thunderstorm sounds, a waterfall, and two rain sounds. Combination Scene includes soft background music (called leisure time), an urban street, a suburban pond, ocean waves, a seashore with playing children with waves and seagulls, an aircraft terminal, a coffee shop, a thunderstorm, sounds in the forest, a farmyard, muffled voices in a library, and something called life force which sounds like blood running though a vein as heard through a stethoscope. There is also a light that can be set at "breathing" (changing intensity), low, medium, and high. There is also a digital readout telling the temperature and the humidity at that location, be it indoors or outdoors. (The instructions do say not to use this sound machine in a high temperature environment, though). There is a timer button (the picture of a clock) with options of 20, 40, or 60 minutes, or continuous playback. There is also a volume button. Press and hold to increase the volume to the desired level, press and hold again to decrease the volume.  On it's own, the sound machine will play each sound one at a time through all the categories. Press the button with bars on it to change from category to category, and the button with musical notes on it to change from sound to sound within the category. If I find one I want to keep listening to, I can press the lock button to keep it set on that sound. It will remember the last sound played when it is next turned on. The sound machine has a battery, and charges via USB cord. The USB-micro USB cord is included, but not a USB to DC adapter. As you can probably tell, I really like this sound machine and all its many features. The original list price was $59.99, but it is currently marked down to $19.99. I think this is an incredibly good deal at this price.


This product is nothing short of amazing.  A couple months after my son had started kindergarten (3 years ago), he began waking up in the middle of the night screaming. Blood-curdling screams, the "make a parent's heart jump out of their chest and race to your child's room" kind. Then he would just cry and moan while I held him. This would last about 15-30 minutes but he would still be mostly asleep and I couldn't even get him to actually wake up enough to communicate what was wrong. And then the next day he wouldn't remember it, he knew he'd been crying but didn't know why. The only thing I could think of at the time was that he was having nightmares. Finally one night he actually spoke and said "it hurts", and he was holding his leg.  That's all I could get out of him but it was enough. I googled "kids leg pain only at night" learned about kids growing pains and how magnesium can help. First I bought 2 different kinds of  chewable magnesium tablets but they didn't seem to help much. And he didn't like the taste at all.  More research led me to this liquid form.  I was hesitant to buy it at first, as it seemed pretty expensive.  But I found one bottle lasts a LONG time.  I give him one dropper fill (1ml) up to the line, mixed in a little grape juice so he could handle the taste. Other juices didn't work- only grape juice.  It was a little bitter but he got used to it.  Once in the morning and once before bed, just to get his magnesium levels up. After a couple months I dropped down to just once a day.  The effects were immediate.  He did wake up the next 2 nights after he started taking it, but with only crying instead of screaming, which was a very welcome change.  Being woken up night after night by your child screaming is not a fun experience as a parent.  By the 3rd night he only whimpered a few times but didn't cry.  And that was it, no more waking up screaming after that.  He is now in 3rd grade and has had only one episode of growing pains recently and that was when I stopped giving him his grape juice every day.  I blame Covid for that, lol.  Now his little brother is in kindergarten this year as well, and while his growing pains have not been nearly as severe, he did start to complain about his legs hurting 2 weeks ago, so that is what prompted me to write this review.  At least his pains were during the day and he was able to tell me what was going on.  I started him on the grape juice & magnesium regime and got the same result as I had gotten with his brother. After a couple days the pain was gone.  Both of them are still eating me out of house and home like little Hobbits with their second breakfasts and Elevenses, but at least they are pain free now.


This is a nice little set,Each bottle is 4 ounces and they came in a cute mesh bag with streamers in it and a ribbon tied around the top! The scents are amazing,The Dragons blood is my favorite,Says you can spray on skin however one of them had burned when it made contact with my skin ,please use caution if you have sensitive skin! These sprays are definitely worth the purchase and overall make you feel like they have done exactly what they are supposed to do! After cleansing my house from back to front with chinese floor wash,Another product from Art of the root mixed in a bucket of water with banishing insense and evil be gone and spellbraker ,I topped my ritual off with a shower and Uncrossing body wash ,Then I sprayed all 3 sprays on myself and throughout my home,I can definitely see a difference in my environment and feel the difference in my body, The body wash has a relaxing smell and leaves you feeling calm,The sprays have a nice smell as well and leave you feeling positive and protected! I'm definitely happy with my purchase and I do believe they work and do exactly what they are intended to do,I not only spray myself but I also spray throughout my home on a daily basis,I sprayed all my widow seals and my door ways as well as my front and back door,I spray my shoes and any other item I am using for a overall feeling of protection, Anything new That I bring into my home I spray it down,Feels like my environment is fully protected!,If you feel overwhelmed use the sprays it will give you a calming feeling,I do believe that these sprays as well as other Art of the root items work well and do exactly what they are intended to do,I am very satisfied with my purchases and will definitely be ordering more products! No more negative energy, Feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and my environment feels clean and happy! My home feels protected from anything negative as well as I do too! I wish that Art of the root sold more combinations of the sprays ! Fast shipping they came before the expected due date, Nicely priced just wish shipping was per order not per item as that gets expensive if you order multiple items,Other then the shipping I am 100% happy with each item I have ordered through Art of the root,Every item so far has worked exactly as stated , Definitely worth the positive feeling that these sprays bring ,No more negative feeling or negative energy! My house,My body has been completely freed of all negative energy,No more black clouds or weight on my shoulders! A big thank you to Art of the root for having such amazing products that do exactly what they are intended to do! If your looking for a house cleansing,A body and mind cleansing the Art of the root is your store to go too! They have amazing products that not only smell good but actually work and do what they are intended to do,I feel that with the combinations I purchased,My body ,My home feels uplifting,All negative energy is gone! Feel a sense of protection and calmness! Will definitely be purchasing more items!


While surfing the web one Sunday afternoon I came across ‘Nootropics Supplement for Memory, Focus, Clarity Enhancement - Boosts Cognition, Brain Function & Concentration - With DMAE, Bacopa, Acetyl L Tyrosine, & Huperzine A - 60 Capsules’. Claiming to be a brain booster I thought to myself, sure it is as I haven’t had much luck with other products in that regard. The product was on sale and the price was especially good so I decided why not, I’ll give it a try, the worst it can do is flare my IBD for a short time which is not a high price to pay for a product that could potentially be a long term winner.  I was receiving the product at a discount in exchange for an honest review so I clicked through the buying process and sure enough the Amazon Prime delivery van dropped the box at my door in two days flat.

When I opened the package I had a good look at the proprietary blend of ingredients which included;
“DMAE Bitartrate, L Glutamine, Glutamic Acid, Green Tea Extract, Bacopa Extract, Choline, Inositol, N Acetyl L Tyrosine, Bilberry Fruit Extract, GABA, Grape Seed Extract, Grape Fruit Seed Extract, Olive Leaf, Cinnamon Bark Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Boron, DHA, Vanadyl Sulfate, Phosphatidylserine, Huperzine A, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid Pure, Biotin, Vitamin B5, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenomethionine, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Potassium”.

Reading the list over I saw many of the ingredients listed are of plants and minerals which I have had an interest in for many years now. The issues I have found with these is getting them in the proper quantities to effect a positive influence. Hoping for the best I decided to take a half dose, just one single pill, as my system seems to be prone to reacting poorly from ingesting new things as well as prone to being overly sensitive to excessive quantities. I must say I was amazed at how quickly I felt the influence. Within a half hour or so, I was not only clearly focused, I was also highly energized, without jitters. I found myself driven in ways that aren’t typical for me without having taken a supplement specifically for such a thing so there is no doubt in my mind that this product not only works but works quite well.
I realize this review is a bit lengthy however if you have read any my other reviews you will see that is not my typical practice, this is also testimony as to how much like this product. I would not hesitate to recommend it anyone, especially those with IDB and ADD.


Wow! I am amazed at the relief from my neck and shoulder tension, which has been a constant for me for 12 years! I am in my 40s, and take no prescriptions, and have no severe issues. I originally found Dr. Dean's website about three years ago and started taking Magnesium Glycinate pills on her recommendation, as it does not cause a laxitave effect. I took it originally because I read it could help with dizziness.  After reading more of Dr Dean's information, and her book The Magnesium Miracle, I bought this ReMag and LOVE it!  It helps absorb Vit D, so if you supplement with that, you should be taking Mag, it relieves dizziness, and  I am sleeping very soundly through the night, (I used to have a few nights per week where I would wake up at 3 or 4am, and couldn't fall back to sleep for 1-2 hours). Now I am feeling completely rested in the morning,  which I haven't felt in a few years, and completely unexpectedly, the headaches I have had for years from muscle tension in my neck and back and shoulders is gone! Like really gone!

 I knew Mg was good for relaxing muscles, but I had NO idea it would get rid of the knots. I had been going to a massage therapist ea month  for 7+ years, but now I go to one less often.

I cannot say enough how wonderful this product is. I have been starting excercising again at a gym with weights. I have been taking the higher dose for two weeks now, and will update here in a few months. I just wish more doctors, health blogs, or therapists would shout this everywhere. If you suffer from neck tension and knots, insomnia, axiety, dizziness, try this! My symptoms seemed minor, and just normal signs of getting a little older, but I really feel it was a Mg deficiency, even though I eat healthy, am not overweight, never smoke, nor drink heavily.
The taste of ReMag is odd. But I put 1/2 tsp in a small glass with 2-3 oz juice, swallow that, then drink a glass of water. And it is just fine.

Dr. Dean is really on to something and I am so grateful she persists in her work. I am reading her book, and I don't agree with everything, but I believe she has a lot of great information and is doing the right thing in questioning traditional medicine. You have to be an advocate for your own health and read as much as you can about any medicine or supplement.

****Update- I have been taking this for over a year now and am still so happy with it! It keeps the tension headaches and muscle aches to a minimum. I take 1 1/2 tsp/ day. Usually at night. It is a terrible taste, but I just use a dropper, under my tongue and take a glass of water afterwards. Not a problem at all.


Like so many others, I started off the new year with a resolution to lose some extra pounds and improve my level of fitness.  Determined that I would actually follow through this year, I looked for ways of making the process more interesting and more fun.  I enjoy technology, so I added some new apps to my phone, shopped for gadgets that would help to measure my progress, and looked for other ways to maintain motivation.

I already had a very good (and accurate) beam scale, just like the ones that you used to see in every doctor's office, but the idea of wirelessly recording and tracking my weight loss, especially since I was already a user of a Fitbit One, was very appealing. Anyway, I ordered the Aria Smart Scale, and a couple of days later, Amazon delivered it.

Setup was very simple with my iPad, and within a few minutes of opening the box, I was up and running. Very cool -- I thought I was all set.  I moved the old beam scale down to the basement where I have a couple of pieces of exercise equipment, and installed the Aria scale in its place in the master bathroom.

Stepping onto the Aria, I got a reading that was about a half a pound less than my previous day's weight on the old scale, so I thought GREAT, I'm making progress, and the Aria seems to know what its doing.  The next day, back onto the Aria, and damn, how could I have gained two pounds overnight?  I stepped on again, and now I was only 0.4 pounds over the previous day's weight.  Further attempts provided even more disparate results.  What am I doing wrong?

I went to the Fitbit website to check for some tips on ways to improve accuracy, read the FAQ's, and noted that the scale is supposed to be accurate within +/- 2.0 pounds, which in my estimation, isn't very helpful when you're trying to lose weight.  Nevertheless, I followed all the website suggestions -- none of which improved the accuracy of the scale. (NB: I never pay any attention to the body fat reading -- which seems to vary widely, each time you step onto the scale)

Today, I weighed myself 5 times in the space of an hour.  I didn't eat or drink anything between weigh-ins, I wasn't engaged in any strenuous activity -- and I ended up with a different reading each time that I stepped on to the Aria scale.  While this might be acceptable if you simply want a general indication of your weight -- when you're watching every calorie you put in your mouth, when you're exercising regularly and working hard to reach a goal -- a half pound one way or the other is serious business.  It's very discouraging when one day your scale says you're making progress, then the next day, slaps you down by recording a weight that you thought you'd left behind 3 or 4 days earlier. I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect a scale to be consistent!

Needless to say, the Aria and my old (and accurate) beam scale will be swapping places.

If you're on a weight loss regimen -- I would NOT recommend the Aria Smart scale!


Pay close attention to this review before you purchase this.  This will be long but will be accurate to help you not go through what we went through.

We had to buy parts from Home Depot (and we looked at Lowe’s too) and replace a lot of parts that would not work from its own product/box. We spent around $60 on parts for this. I wanted to send it back but was on a time crunch.
The reviews and Q’s and A’s about installation are WRONG. This product is easy to install but hard at the same time. I will explain why.

Installation- when it comes to your drain line, the drain line itself would not screw on to what’s known as the bowl portion of it. So we had to buy a new bowl and a new drain line. The water line is a 3/8’s.  Your source if installing in your laundry room comes from a 3/4, then you have to buy an elbow that reduces it down to 3/8. No big deal. We knew this before purchasing. But what we didn’t know is this product is made in China. What does that mean for you installing?  Their 3/8 is not the same as ours. So u have to purchase more parts to convert over to our 3/8’s. Well why buy another if their 3/8’s can attached to ours? It can attach but it will not be correctly attached and will start to leak. Water will follow the least past of resistance meaning as it is forced from the incoming line it is constantly pushing to flow out and it will start to slowly leak which will lead up to a bigger leak and if you install this behind your wall, you will have a leak and who knows how long it will be prior to actually seeing your leak. Your water bill will indicate a leak but until you see the water coming down the ceiling or on your floor, it can stay within your wall structure and joints/beams. So you have to make sure to purchase one that thoroughly screws on when installing and make sure you use Teflon tape. So you install the drain lines, install the incoming water lines. Is that it?  Yes. From this point you can turn on your water line with minimum pressure and test it one side at a time. Checking for leaks. If everything is good then you are good to go.
This is by far the worst product I have ever purchased on Amazon. The only way I would give this a better review is if the company itself gave me a refund for what I had to spend at Home Depot for their parts that would not screw on/work. Even if they did, I still would not give it a 5 because it wld not be right to the next person wanting to buy this.
I highly recommend you looking into an American built one for the sake of saving you money because every house and everything sold at Lowe’s and Home Depot will work together through that. If you don’t purchase you have to buy a couple adapters per line. A new line, and hopefully your drain line fits to the bowl that goes under your sink. So overall the most important pieces for this did not work.


So back in late November I developed a stye on my lower lid. I treated it like normal. (Cleaned it daily, applied warm compresses.) Normally for me these clear up in a week or so, but this one did not. The head went away but the stye turned hard and was somewhat painful by the end of December I went to my eye Dr. He said the stye had turned into a chalazion and that more than likely I would have to have it cut out. He gave me a heavy dose of antibiotics to take along with an expensive eye drop Azasite ($60 after insurance). I was also to continue to do hot compresses 3 times a day. He said if by the end of January if there was no improvement he would schedule the removal 😬 (He seemed very sure that surgery would be my outcome). By January 23rd I had not noticed any improvement at all.... the chalazion hurt when I cleaned it or pressed on it in any way. I ran across this product and placed my order...after all what did I have to lose right?!? I received the product quickly by the afternoon of the 26th I did my first application which was when I took the first picture (top). I continued my hot compresses as well ( also taking fish oil tablets by this point as well). By the second day my chalazion felt really like it was going to explode so I took this to mean there was  definitely something happening within my chalazion. It was very sore when I rubbed in the oil that afternoon even more so than before. By the next day the size had a noticeable improvement and all scoreness was gone. I could literally press very firmly with a q-tip and have no pain (3 days in using this product) . I am at day 4 now (2 pic bottom).  I definitely feel I am on my way to getting rid of this. I will continue using this product til it clears up and possibly some after to make sure. I will update as to my outcome and how long my process took. But for now I can say it is not an overnight fix but it seems to work and I wish I had used this in the beginning because I feel like it would not have drug out this long. I recommend this to anyone who wants to  avoid surgery.
*** Update Day 5****
Woke up this morning to a head that has appeared on the chalazion!! This is a great sign☺ (pic 3)
***Update day 6****
The chalazion had two heads that had appeared yesterday this morning one popped after applying a hot compress the other popped while I was applying the oil to my lid. I am seriously impressed with this product!! I am not going to take a photo today. There is still some redness but the hard bump in completely gone!!! I will wait til tomorrow to take the photo and update on where I am. Amazing!!!! So happy to avoid surgery 😁😁😁


I've been swing dancing Tuesday nights at a 1930s social club where [[ASIN:B00002060M Stompy Jones]] plays every week.  It isn't as loud as a rock concert, but after three hours of music I've been going home with ears ringing and sometimes ringing in the morning.  I wore DownBeats this week!

Unsurprisingly: no ringing in the ears.
Surprisingly: I think (just maybe) it was easier to hear my dance partner talking than without.  I usually have to ask girls to repeat themselves endlessly.  (The only problem was I had to remember to talk loudly because it brings everything down to a normal level and are comfortable enough to forget about.)

* Visibility: Obviously not invisible.  I'm not sure how visible they are, but no one commented on them in low light of the venue.  Definitely not visible to someone in front of you.
* Frequency attenuation: Seems very even across spectrum (listening to voices and acoustic instruments).  But surely not enough protection for spending three days at a music festival.  Also perfect for motorcycling or driving in convertible (cuts down wind noise just enough).  I tried wearing them to the grocery store; it was pleasant as background noise fades away, but missed a few words when talking to the checkout clerk.
* Comfort: Very comfortable at the point where they are sealed and working correctly.  If you push them in quite a bit further (to where they are probably barely visible) they get a lot less comfortable.  They are a tiny bit adjustable--You can leave them a little loose and they will dampen sound some, but not fall out!  The stem doesn't stick out far enough to interfere with motorcycle helmet--and I just tried laying on pillow and that is perfectly comfortable too.
* Practical: Easy to insert and not difficult to remove (I can't figure out why other reviewers want tweezers to pull these out); washable plastic; key-chain container is helpful and better thought-out than most ear-plug containers.
* Size: I occasionally use ear plugs that are too big and uncomfortable; I've never used any too small.  I can imagine these could be too big for small ears; the core of these is a hard plastic shaft that doesn't taper down.

Favorite feature: short stem = discrete and can use while sleeping or under motorcycle helmet.

I'm totally delighted with the product, and although it seems like you should get two pairs for your $14 (or maybe a half-off coupon for another pair), the quality makes them a very reasonable price.  But expensive enough I'm hoping that the soft plastic eartip piece is durable enough to last a couple years.

** Update.  I've been using these a couple times a week for nearly a year.  The ear plugs are holding up well.  The key chain case occasionally unscrews in your pocket, but obviously not a big deal.  I will concede that for riding my motorcycle, I prefer a pair of MSA Tri-Seal Ear Plugs which fit further in your ear and have three flanges, features which prevent them from backing out (these occasionally get loose and have to stop and take off helmet to reinsert...).


This is a cross-review of Samsara's Lyme and Biofilm formulas: After reading others' reviews, I debated whether or not to go the "liquid" route for medication, which is what these herbal powder formulas become when adding water or another liquid of choice. Liquid medications and I usually do not get along. At 53-yo I still have to hold my nose and chug 'em down to get it over with quickly.

I gave careful consideration to the comments about the taste because of the heavy concentration of Stevia. I use Stevia and I know what it means to use too much. Long story short, the cost of antibiotics on my body and pocketbook far outweigh the costs of gagging on liquids or the possibility of Stevia overkill. The plus side to purchasing the Samsara Lyme and Biofilm herbals is that I recently read Stevia is proving to be a Lyme bacteria killer. I decided to go for broke, so to speak.

First, I tried the two formulas with Keifer thinking the sour/salty flavor would tone down the sweetness of the Stevia. It's okaaaay, but nooooot great. Didn't do that again. Next, I tried it with 100% juice - cran-raspberry and that still didn't float my boat (at all).  Didn't do that again either. Then, the bells went off! (You already know that Lyme Disease causes cognition issues... slow thinking, right?)

I am a decaf (unsweetened) iced tea drinker. Wow .. that was a game changer! I held my nose at first, but discovered it really wasn't necessary. Drinking it this way reminded me of buying (won't mention brand name) bottled teas at a convenience store; not really tea IMHO, but they work if you are thirsty enough. Same incentive in this case, but replace the incentive outcome with "if you desperately want to get well again the natural way".

I didn't go full out according to Samsara's recommended dosing; rather, I followed the same LLMD treatment protocol (M, W, F 1st week of 4-week cycle) as if I was taking the prescribed antibiotics. I had very mild- to almost unnoticeable herxing which was "mildly tired, but still didn't have to go back to bed" the day after dosing.

The founder's story of being a Lyme patient really was the number one factor in deciding to go this route. To me, that is credibility enough. Plus, judging by the success I've had thus far, I'm pretty sure I am headed in the right direction with having taken this route. Incidentally, I started with the 2 oz package to be on the safe side, and now I can safely say I will move up to the more economical 8 oz. bag with my next purchase. Blessings to you on your road to recovery!


I purchased a number of different LED lights to compare, including this 10.5W Philips LED. It seems like almost every LED light has some limitations and works better in certain scenarios than others. I personally found this little light to be quite versatile though. Its main limitations are:

1) It cannot be used with a dimmer. Most of my lights are not on dimmer switches anyway, so this wasn't a significant limitation for me.

2) It is somewhat directional, as it directs more light away from the base and somewhat less light to the sides (though it's not as directional as some other LEDs I have tried). One thing to be mindful of is that it may look a little funny in certain scenarios (e.g. when inside of a globe fixture that you want illuminated evenly in all directions). In those types of scenarios, it may be better to go with a light like the [[ASIN:B00APTS03K Philips 424382 11-Watt A19 LED Household Soft White Light Bulb, Dimmable]] (which is a light that has neither of these limitations).

With those limitations stated, there are many things I do like about this little light.

1) It puts out a lot of light - supposedly equivalent to a 60W light bulb, though I think it looks brighter.

2) It's small and doesn't put out much heat. Many LED bulbs that I purchased are somewhat large and put out lots of heat. This is the smallest light of the 5 types that I bought and actually slightly smaller than a standard incandescent bulb.

3) It's quite efficient at 10.5W, and it has a good Color Rendering Index (rated at 80).

4) It comes on instantly when you turn on the light switch. Half the LEDs that I've purchased have about a 1/2 second delay when you turn on the light switch (which makes me second guess whether I hit the right switch sometimes), but not this one.

5) It has a 6 year warranty. Some other LED brands have much shorter warranties. If I'm paying this much for a light bulb, I want a good warranty.

6) For an LED light, it's pretty reasonably priced at this time.

Some final thoughts: This light bulb has a color temperature rating of 3000K. Incandescent bulbs are around 2700K. So, this light will look a little "whiter" than a standard incandescent bulb. Whether you like or dislike this is largely a matter of preference. I generally like the color.

I have one of these bulbs mounted pointing upward in a lamp fixture that directs light towards the ceiling in a room with tan-colored walls. Items in this room and skin tones look natural to me. I have another bulb mounted pointing downward in a ceiling globe in a room with baby blue walls. I feel like skin tones in this room look a little off to me. That's my subjective opinion though.

I generally like this light and will find uses for it in many fixtures in my house.


I've had my LadyComp (actually have the BabyComp version) since 2007. I initially liked it but I've grown disillusioned with it over time. My cycles are quite irregular and while it can be used if you don't have regular cycles, it really isn't practical. I never get any green days after day 6 of my period until after I ovulate, which could be as late as day 25-30 of my cycle. Even though in all this time I've never, ever, ovulated anywhere near day 14 it still seems to take the ultra conservative approach and give me red days after my period.

The interface is not intuitive and I often find myself having to consult the manual because I forget how to enter data. The user manual is not well written and does not explain a lot of the data the machine records. For example it records "planning hits". What in the heck is that? No idea b/c it isn't explained anywhere.

Also, it is very, very expensive if you need to replace parts. I have an old version of the user manual which said you can choose to leave the unit plugged in or unplugged. Turns out that leaving it plugged in all the time drains the battery - and the new version of the manual tells you not to leave it plugged in all the time. Also, the new version states you should recharge the unit monthly when it is not in use. My version of the user manual did not say that. So, I left it alone after my daughter was born and when I was ready to use it again when she was about a year old the battery was completely dead. You have to send it to Canada to be replaced for about $50. It came back and then it turned out that my power supply plug no longer worked. That was about another $50 to replace. Supposedly they can retrieve your historic data off the machine when you send it in in for repair, but they could not get any data off of my machine. Now I think my thermometer is going bad because my temps are very erratic, but I've decided it's just not worth it to put any more money into this contraption. On the plus side, RaxMedical customer service is very good and can often help you troubleshoot remotely.

I got pregnant with my daughter (planned) on a yellow day. I'd already been using it for over a year by that point but it was still trying to interpret my cycles. It might work great if you have predictable cycles but it does not with irregular ones.

To me it is really just an overpriced thermometer. It's nice that it stores your information, making it easier to chart on paper when it is convenient for you instead of needing to record your temperature right away after you wake up. But, it's just not worth the price when you can chart for free on Fertility Friend.

PS, I accidentally discovered a feature that is not mentioned in the user manual. If you press the + button on the right hand side repeatedly about 20 times it eventually goes back to temperature taking mode and you can take a second temperature for the day.


I didn't know what a bunion was before until I had it, and it was a very painful experience trying to walk.  If you look up the cause to bunions, you will find that there are different theories.  Some people think it is the result of a tight shoe and others think its genetics.  Either way they concluded that it deals with the big toe leaning toward the second toe rather then pointing straight ahead as it should.  Because of this, the bones are thrown out of alignment producing the bunion you may have forming around your big toe's joint.

From my personal experience of dealing with a painful 2 week bunion, you will definitely need a toe separator, proper doses of ibuprofen for swelling, and an ice pack to also keep down the swelling on your bunion.  This toe separator will probably be the most important thing you will need to correct the problem.  It will help align your toe into its proper place which should prevent an even worse bunion from continuing to swell around your big toe's joint.

This product from my personal experience has a huge advantage over those you may find at Walmart.  The first thing I like about this product is that it is very comfortable.  The material used isn't a hard plastic or a very tight product.  This toe separator is made of a gel like substance that can stretch out over your toes without the fear of it tearing in your hands.  If you go to your local Walmart they have some similar products but they are made of a bandage material and are very tight and very difficult and painful to put on.  You may also find other products that have to wrap around your foot to keep your toe separated.  Although they do the job, you can not walk around with it on!  That is why I simply love this product.  It is so simple that it allows you to continue walking around without having to remove it.  It is also nice that they give you two different products both with an extra toe separator.  All in all a great product, good to keep with your medical supplies because bunions can always come back.  I did receive this product for free for my honest and unbiased review.

I would also like to point out, in case you never had a bunion before, it is important to place ice on the bunion to bring down the swelling.  I would also suggest taking ibuprofen and following the dosage shown on the label to help with pain and swelling. My bunion was so painful that I could not place any pressure on my foot or walk.  It was not until I used a toe separator, took medication, and placed ice on the swelling did I start feeling relief to walk again.  However, when I stop taking ibuprofen the swelling would come back and I would find myself unable to place pressure on my foot.  I had to keep the toe separator on my foot for a few days before I no longer needed it, but you will definitely see the difference in your bunion.  You may have a different level of pain then I did so it is ultimately up to you how you would like to handle the situation.  I would only like to suggest that you definitely get a toe separator to align your toe to prevent the bunion from getting worse.  I hope my review has been helpful and hope your bunion is resolved quicker then mine!


The cervical neck traction device is a solution I have hoped for over the course of two decades.

I have degenerative joint and disk disease.  I have already had two cervical neck fusion surgeries and am trying to delay yet another one.  I am frequently in severe pain but refuse to take pain pills as I want to keep my wits about me.  For the past two months, I have been getting acupuncture and aggressive massage to help reduce the pain and to again allow me to look to my left direction.

I have told my wife for years now that I wished I had some sort of home traction machine.  Over those years, I would sit on the floor Indian styled and she would lift from under my jaw in an attempt to remove some of the pressure.  I also have an inversion table.  Recently I was on that table and wearing my motorcycle helmet to provide some targeted stretching but with little benefit.

I want to note how pleased I am with this device.  I have used it repeatedly over the past week to give it a thorough testing.  The results are wonderful.  To go from extreme pain one moment to little or no pain 15 minutes later is great.  Moreover, that pain relief often last for a day.

It does take one or two times using this device to get used to wearing it.  I have a thick football player type of neck, so this device initially had a tendency to ride up my neck muscles.  However, I now learned to first slightly snug pump the device up and then hold it down and back under my neck while it inflated the device to very firm.  Once it was inflated, I made an effort to further stretch my neck back and over the top edges of the device.  I wear this device no more than 15 minutes a day, usually while watching TV.

The device has two long straps that go across the neck opening and velcros to the opposite side.  I keep the lower strap loose enough that it does not touch my throat.  The upper strap firmly snugs up under my chin and jaws.  The only down side is that it does take a lot of pumping to inflate the device.  I generally inflate it half way, close the pump wheel, and rest for a few seconds.  The balance of the inflation can be made with the pump wheel barely open so you do not have to fight too much with air trying to escape.

This device has answered my dream.  I am very pleased with the results and with the sturdiness of this product, I expect it to provide relief for years to come.  I now hope to delay another surgery for several years.

Before I purchase any product, I read the reviews written by others in order to help form my opinion.  I now wish to pay it forward to future shoppers who may be considering this product by writing this product assessment.  I received a discount on this product in exchange for an honest review.  No amount of discount is worth my integrity so I will call it as I see it.


[[VIDEOID:1dc83ecd3872ce00d0a3b44c0afffc9]] DISCLOSURE: I received this product at a discount to test and review.

I spent way more for this than I typically do to review a product, but I had to have it. I love having my feet massaged. I've had Swedish massage, acupressure, deep tissue, reflexology, and I've even been Rolfed. I even had a friend once who would give me a foot massage in exchange for fresh pineapple. I made sure I always had one around when he visited. (This massager is better than he was.)

This is an odd machine. It resembles a bumper car and even has its own headlight. It provides the following functions from which to choose:

Self-Timer (10, 20, 30 minutes)
Shiatsu (On/Off)
Program mode (P1, P2)
Pressure (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
Heating (H1, H2)

There are really only two functions: 1) round knobs under your feet that move back and forth; 2) air bags similar to BP cuffs above your feet that inflate (and then deflate) and put pressure to the top of your feet which also serves to push your feet harder against the moving knobs. Most of the actions occurs to the front half of your feet with the heels getting little action. What's odd is that there appear to be six knobs around the heel (two rows of three knobs), but only the center knob of each row moves. It would have been much better if all six knobs moved.

The heating function doesn't work that well. I think that's where this massager really needs attention. And the program modes don't excite me much. They seem the same and aren't as good as turning on Shiatsu and air pressure.

The foot sockets have liners that can be unzipped and removed for cleaning. The bottom of the unit has two indents you can slide your fingers into to pick this up to move. The cord is somewhat thin and short.

Overall, the massage feels really good. I've been able to get the air pressure up to only F3, and that was after I used this for a few days. Too much air pressure pushing your feet against the knobs can be painful if you're not ready for it, but there is a button to release the air if you get uncomfortable. I've also found that I can slide my size 10 feet around a little inside for different effect. I also like to put them in at an angle so that knobs can massage the outer side of my foot. Yum. I wish the heater worked better, and I really wish there was a compartment built into this to hold the power cord/transformer so I didn't have to carry it around separate from the massager.

If you work on your feet, you're going to love coming home and slipping them into this unit. You don't have to beg anyone for relief. This is an expensive toy, but if you can afford it, go for it.


This is a bag of chocolate sweets, each containing a bit of BC30 probiotics. BC30 is short for GanedenBC30® (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), a patented strain of Bacillus bacteria. The bacteria forms endospores, giving the spores a tough outer shell that can survive extreme conditions. This is the basis for the claim that the probiotics in this product survive stomach acids better than many other forms of probiotics. Other ingredients in the product are: dark chocolate (chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), maltodextrin, soybean oil, confectioner's glaze (shellac, coconut and canola oil), acacia gum, and corn syrup; thus, this product should not be consumed by people with soy allergies or gum sensitivities. According to the package, one nugget constitutes one serving, and contains 30 calories, with 1.5 g fat, 2 g sugar, and 0.36 mg iron. The package is a foil bag that includes a plastic zip for reclosure (the plastic zip on my bag malfunctioned from the start).

I was quite impressed with the taste of these little chocolate nuggets. If you let them melt in your mouth, they compare to middle-of-the-road chocolate truffles, such as Lindt. There is certainly no indication from the flavor that this is supposed to be a nutraceutical. I tried taking one a day for a month. I didn't notice any differences in my digestive tract or immune system during the month. But then, I also eat a bowl of natto (fermented soy) every day, which contains additional probiotics. What I did notice when I first started taking these chocolate nuggets was chocolate-indigestion after each dose. I'm sensitive to dark chocolate, which tends to give me gastroparesis if the chocolate is strong enough. So yes, there is plenty of actual chocolate in these nuggets. Fortunately, after about a week, my belly adjusted to the daily dose of dark chocolate, and I was able to eat the rest of the nuggets without problems. In any case, if chocolate tends to give you indigestion, gastric reflux, or gastroparesis, this is not the right probiotic product for you. Also, if you have control issues--if you open a bag of chocolates or cookies and can't stop eating until the bag is empty, this product is not for you. What's going to happen if you eat the whole bag? Nothing-- GanedenBC30® has been thoroughly tested for safety, but at $0.52 and 30 calories per nugget, you're going to wish you hadn't brought them into the house. Better to stick to another probiotic formulation that is easier to take just one of.

Overall, this is an easy way to incorporate probiotics into your daily routine. Just be aware that these nuggets contain real dark chocolate, and may be habit forming.


The bottle of Sun’n’Fun Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for Kids that Sweetsation Therapy sent us was 3.3 oz and the scent was chocolate.  Yes, there was a lovely scent that wasn’t too strong.  It was a nice light chocolate aroma that my littlest one just loved.  She said yummy every time we put it on her.  My other kids and I really like the smell too.  This Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for Kids is a light brownish color and goes on very lightly.  There is no greasy feeling and it does absorb very quickly.  Even though it absorbs quickly I still think it’s a good idea to apply it 15-30 minutes before sun exposure.  That is just my personal preference and what I have found works best for my kids.
Since this SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for Kids is water resistant it makes it nice for the kids to play in the water without worrying it’s going to run and irritate the kids eyes.  I use SPF 30 sunscreens when we are in a more shaded area or when we aren’t going to be in the sun for very long or during the harmful sun hours
When we will be out in direct sun for many hours or I know it’s not possible to avoid the harmful times of 10 Am to 2 PM I will always go towards a higher SPF.
The level of SPF in this sunscreen is very good for every day use.  I’ve noticed we’re able to enjoy our park time with no sunburns when we get home.  There is no funny white film on our skin and its mess free.  I love that there is no oily residue.  I love how Sweetsation Therapy makes a wonderful mineral sunscreen for kids that is safe and provides all the antioxidants us parents need and want in our children’s sunscreen.  There are no harmful chemicals and I feel 100% safe using it with my precious little ones.  I find sunscreens that contain Zinc work the best, especially in this Hawaiian Sun.
One of my sons has sensitive skin, when using the Sun’n’Fun Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for Kids he had absolutely no reaction, rashes or itching.  It worked very nicely for him.
This is a great sunscreen that works very well and is made of fabulous ingredients we all want for our children.  It’s made so kids will enjoy having it put on and won’t fight having to have it reapplied.  It’s sold at a reasonable price.  The size seems a little small at first, but it’s made with such quality ingredients that you don’t need as much as other sunscreens on the market.  I felt this smaller bottle lasted as long as bottles double its size.
Without a doubt I can say as a mother and as a pediatric nurse one of the most important and preventative things we can do for our children and teach our children is the importance of sunscreen.  No matter if you tan, burn or barely go out in the sun.  Sunscreen protection is needed.  Just an ounce of prevention now can save us and our loved ones horrible consequences.  Remember, if in doubt use sunscreen.  I received this product at a discount for only my honest opinion.


What an incredible bargain these are!!  I have several pairs of Oster A5's, and top of the line Andis shears... all of them significantly more expensive than these...but these by far seem to be the more substantial, and expensive of the bunch. (If I didn't know the sales prices or brands.)

Starting with the great molded case, the two extra replaceable motor brushes, and the tools and oil that it comes with.

I ordered this to use primarily on my dog, (Based on some great reviews of Arksen's other shears being used on canines) due to his often getting thick mats, that are difficult on the Oster's and Andis's.  The blades get really hot and uncomfortable against his skin, and I have to keep switching from one to the other.  I ordered these when my dog was overdue for his spring cut..and boy was he matted.  I was anxiously waiting to clip him until these arrived. So right after these arrived, I got right to it.

I must say, these cut right through mats like crazy...a huge improvement... however, I personally wouldn't buy these as your only set of shears for use on a dog.  These are some BIG...POWERFUL...and loud shears, with some huge blades.  I also wouldn't use these on a dog if you don't know what you are doing... you wouldn't want to nick your dog's skin with these...as they are big teeth, with a tremendously powerful motor.  I must admit, I was pretty nervous, and only used these when I got to the thicker mats, in areas that I could be careful to not get any skin into the teeth.
Also, know that they are not designed for a "finished" smooth, look to the fur.  Plan to either go back over with other shears to "even out" the cut marks, or use when you don't mind a bit more of a rougher look. :-)  They are also big/heavy, so a bit awkward to handle easily.  If you consider yourself to be "dainty" at all...these probably aren't for you.  (If you remember "Tim the Tool-man Taylor... well he would have LOVED these shears!! I can hear him grunting right now as I imagine him holding these monsters! :-)

Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the power, quality, and design of these, as well as the value that they represent for sure!!  I am convinced that those with larger animals will be even happier with them, and I am thrilled to have them for those tough spots, that can take so long with other shears.

**I purchased these at a discount in exchange for my promise to provide my 100% honest and impartial review, which I promise I am giving here.  (This does not keep me from giving 1, 2, or 3 star reviews or full praise as warranted.)  Let me know if you have any questions at all.


UPDATE 12/23/15:
After using these for a while, I've decided that they almost tie for my favorite pair of ear plugs.  Definitely worth the reasonable price!  The only reason they aren't my "most favorite" pair is that I bought the Alpine MusicSafe ear plugs after writing the original review.  The Alpines are probably my favorite overall plugs, because they have different filters that you can change out to fine tune the volume reduction.  But the DownBeats are VERY similar to the Alpines, so if you don't want to spend as much, get the DownBeats.  You won't be disappointed.

*************
ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I have these, as well as Etymotic ER20 ear plugs, Erasers Musicians plugs, and I've also used standard foam ear plugs.  These are my favorite of all. Here are the details...

FIT: These are made of a soft plastic, much like the material of the Etys.  They have 2 flanges compared to the Etys 3, and they seem to seal in the ear well without going too deeply into the ear canal.  They are by far the easiest ear plugs to insert that I have ever owned.  They're also easy to remove, even though the stem doesn't stick out very far from your ear.  In comparison, my #1 complaint with the Etys is fit/comfort.  The Etys are extremely uncomfortable; they feel like they're poking too far into my ear canal and my ears get sore after wearing them for only a few minutes.  The stems stick out too far and make them easy to bump and dislodge from my ears.  The Earasers fall somewhere in between DownBeats and Etys for comfort.  They don't hurt like the Etys, but they're made of a harder material, so they don't seem to seal as well. I've tried both the small and medium sized Earasers, with similar results from both.

SOUND QUALITY:
The DownBeats sound pretty good to my ear.  They lower the sound enough to make it comfortable to listen.  They do muffle the sound somewhat, but not as badly as standard foam ear plugs.  To my ears, the Etys also muffle the sound, and at the same time they don't lower the volume enough for me.  The Earasers seem to have the most clear sound of the three, but the volume is not lowered enough...I just don't feel that they are protecting my hearing. Some of my problems with the Earasers and Etys not lowering the volume enough may be my own fault.  Maybe I'm not getting them inserted properly, but if it's that much trouble to get them inserted properly, they're not the solution for me.

So far DownBeats are my favorite plugs.  The slightly muffled sound is really the only thing that I'm not 100% happy with on the DownBeats. I plan to try Alpine MusicSafe plugs at some point, just to see if they sound clearer, so I'll update my review with comparison to those as well.


This table is excellent.

I bought this table for multiple uses.  For the most part, we don't need a medical bed table per se, but we do benefit from it.
Personally, I've only been in the hospital for births, so really only positive expereinces.  The 2 things I've always missed when coming home are the adjustable bed, and the super handy overbed tables.

This is why I purchased the table.  It's handy. I've used it to work on my computer in bed, study and write notes.  Sometimes it's nice to be able to snuggle with a chld while helping them them with a lesson.  In the past, I've used lap desks, and they work, but you can't more, iwhen you do mov you have to reconfigure the lab desk and re-stabalize it.  Wiht a wiggly kid, that can be nearly impossible.

The pverbed table is perfect, it rolls under the bedframe so that you can positition the table where you need it.

WE LOVE it.  My husband already wants one for his side of the bed too..  (yes he gets to borrow mine)

The table itself is very sturdy.  It lists a 40 pound limit.  I've not tried to test that, but it feels like it would handle fine.
It was not hard to assemble.  There are 6 screws to hold the main mount to the table.
The caster wheels simple push in - just make sure the locking wheels are on the long pols side so that they are outside the bed, but under it if you want to lock them.)
Then there is a screw that needs to be removed to allow the height adjustment to work, and then a very small one to put in it's place.

The height adjust works flawlessly.  It goes up quite high.  Our bed is pretty high to begin with so I was a little concerned, but it does lift high enough for our bed.

The table moves smoothly on the caster wheels. I would trust having food or a drink on it and moving it around.  It's does not bounce or shake as it's moved.  We do have low carpet in our bedroom as well and it rolls just fine with good stability.

The only minor issue I had with the table - 1 of the 6 pre-drilled holes for the screws that attach to the table was not drilled right.  For now, I installed 5 screws - the missing one is not on a corner, which makes it less of a concern).  When he has time I will let my husband install the last screw. It's plenty stable though, without it.

I would love to use this table in my living-room, but unfortunately at the moment out couches are very very low to the ground and this could not fit under them.  I've never seen any type of table that has a small enough base to slide under these couches.  This is in no way a reflection of this product, it's not intended to work under any couch and ours is especially low to the ground.  I just love the table enough that I wish I could use it there too.

If one of us did need to spend an extended period of time in bed, this would be an invaluable tool.  I can't recommend it enough for anyone that it's essentially bed ridden or mostly immobile.


Completed 15 distillations last three weeks-no issues

BASICS:
· I Distill about two gallons monthly
· Appears good quality -item as described. So far- worth money
· No warranty -then again the price is hard to beat.
· Arrived FedEx Ground in five days using their $3 shipping
· No damage to outer package
· Packaging cushion Styrofoam top and bottom - none side
· Contains solid anti-scale compound but no extra filters
· Unit is supplement to eight-year old Kenmore (still operating has loose "ON" button last four years but still operates flawlessly.) -except for cosmetic differences has same dimensions and operation.

ASSEMBLY simple - one minute.

INSTRUCTIONS are brief for a basic unit (bottom reservoir, top head condensor/fan.)
Instructions reminds me of German Chinese with about dozen run-on words; e.g.,
"Thiswillpreventin uriesfromscaldingwaterandprolong." Images on page 4 shows basic assembly.
A bit of overkill is "Rinse and wipe out tank everyday"
The image shows location of filter but not how to replace them. Carefully squeeze the filter holder and rock it out. Reverse once new filter installed. I don't use filters that often.

OPERATION:
· Connect in order listed in instructions.
· I never fill to capacity - usually inch below mark may be reason Kenmore has lasted eight years plus.
· Use hot tap water and distilled water first appears in about 10 minutes.
· Be certain to wipe off any water on white outside immediatety. Only let water touch the inside.
· Slide bottom reservoir outlet nozzle into metal notched cover placed over  plastic pitcher.
· Start Button labeled as "ON"
· Keep ON depressed one second and unit starts. Unit hesitates to restart for subsequent operation until it cools
· Be certain fan operating when red light/heating occurs.
· The pitcher is about 1/4 inch short - use cover from dessert whipped topping to elevate then slide into distiller notch.

CLEANING
· To avoid lots of cleaning, observe where on pitcher the water level is when unit shuts off - in future, when level approaches that, pull out power plug. This will leave small amount of water in bottom and not bake residue into reservoir.
· Follow the instruction: "Calcifcationandscalewillbuilduponbottomofthetankandshouldbe" as scale does build up on all these units (including the higher priced ones).
· You don't need to start unit to clean, simply use hot tap water and occasionally swirl the reservoir to remove scale high on inside wall. Wipe with cloth inside.
· I recommend sprinkling a small amount of crystals in couple ounces water after each day's distillation to flake off scale.
· Amazon, Lowe's, HomeDepot stock the descaler.
· Make certain to thoroughly rinse tank -even if some scale remains - to remove trace of corrosive material. Avoid breathing off gases.


This is the second stevia product I have ever used.  The first brand had a bitter taste, so I used it only in coffee, but never in tea.  Also, that other brand clumped horribly in lukewarm or cold beverages.  Still, it was the best that I could find, so I continued to use it for about 2 years.

In contrast Stevita Supreme is not bitter, so I can use it in tea.  Also, I am also able to use it in cool beverages with almost no clumping, but you do have to remember to stir the liquid just before adding the Stevia, rather than just pouring it in any which way.  Don't put the Stevia in the glass and then pour the liquid in on top, or it will clump a bit (although nowhere near as horribly as the last brand I bought).

It does have an aftertaste in the same way that Equal or other non-sugar sweeteners do.  If you are annoyed by those types of non-sugar tastes, you will be annoyed by this too.  That said, it does not have a taste WORSE than (or stronger than) Equal or other such sweeteners.  Just different.

In any event, I am trying to keep my glycemic index/load down, so any aftertaste is something I am willing to live with, rather than forgo sweetness entirely.  Bottom line is, if you want the taste of sugar, you'll need to buy sugar.  If you have reasons for avoiding sugar, as I do, I think you will find this to be a very welcome replacement.

Incidentally, one packet is exceptionally sweet-- much sweeter than an equivalent-sized packet of Equal. (The product description says 1 packet is equal to 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, which seems accurate.) As a result I seem to have bought too much-- I'll need only half the volume of sweetener packs that I thought.  This makes it a great bargain, but do remember to factor this in before you buy.

For me, now about 75 packs into a 2,000 pack box and 1,925 to go, the issue has been how to keep the extra packs away from humidity.  I finally put them in some extra-large air-tight Mason-type home-canning jars.  Hopefully this will do the trick.

[Edit to add:  1) I bought these in January 2010.  Now, almost 2 full years later (late October 2011), they have stayed impressively un-clumped, and that is true for both the ones I kept in the large mason jars and some others I simply stuffed into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and kept in the closet.  Tokyo is extremely humid so I have to say they stood up extremely well.  2) I totally overbought for the volume I actually use, so I ended up giving a large amount to a local elderly care home.  If you're tempted by the price-per-pack but aren't sure if you'll really use ALL of them, one option is to donate any leftovers to your local elderly care home/PTA/church/etc.]


Besides Tangy Tangerine having a lot of synthetic vitamins in it, this is what I found most disturbing...
Ingredients... ALL CAPS

NATURAL FLAVORS - or basically any combination of molecules a chemist can derive from 'natural' sources to make their food taste or look a certain way.
[...]
SUCRALOSE - (NaturalNews) -Sucralose is a chlorinated organic compound, a chemical group which includes several compounds known to be harmful to animals and plants and which has been linked to birth defects and other prenatal conditions.
[...]

POTASSIUM BENZOATE - (NaturalNews) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has known for almost 15 years that potassium benzoate and sodium benzoate react with ascorbic acid to form benzenes.

[...]

VITAMIN C (as ascorbic acid)

  (NaturalNews) One of the most highly processed and publicized vitamins is Vitamin C. The synthetic form of Vitamin C is `ascorbic acid.` However, ascorbic acid is not really vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire complex that is known as Vitamin C.

[...]

VITAMIN K (as phytonadione) - (NaturalNews) K1, 2, or synthetic 3? They don't say.
[...]
VITAMIN B-6 30 mg 1500% (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) (synthetic)
(NaturalNews) [...]

Hydrochloride - When you see anything hydrochloride, such as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride or Thiamin Hydrochloride, those are chemical forms of B vitamins that companies add to their products to be able to claim higher RDA values of vitamins. But these are synthetic, chemical forms of vitamins, not real vitamins from foods or plants.
([...])

Vitamin B-12 (as cyanocobalamin) (synthetic)
Vitamin B-12 warning: Avoid cyanocobalamin, take only methylcobalamin

[...]
  (NaturalNews) Cyanocobalamin is a cheap, synthetic chemical made in a laboratory. It's virtually impossible for you to find this form in nature. Low-end vitamin manufacturers use it because it can be bought in bulk and added to products with claims that they "contain vitamin B-12!" What they don't tell you is that the vitamin is bound to a toxic, poisonous cyanide molecule.

Other ingredients...

MALTODEXTRIN - Natural MSG is known as L-glutamic acid, an amino acid that is found in plants and animals and is harmless. If it says, maltodextrin, barley malt, whey protein, soy protein isolate (or words to that nature), IT IS MSG.

Learn more:[...]

You will not see this Tangy Tangerine product being pushed on Mike Adams Natural Health web site. With all the wonderful whole food organic supplements available this one, in my estimation is one of the poorest choices. Wouldn't it be better to spend your money on certified organic foods. You can not substitute a poor diet with just supplements.


**Update: Added two stars since my weight on a digital fitness scale in a medical facility and my weight at home were the same within a .25 of a pound.**

After reading the reviews I was expecting a lot of problems but there really were none. I'm giving 3 stars because I have only had the scale for 3 days. We all know electronics can work for the first week/month/year and then freak out.

Setting it up was much easier than the reviews lead me to believe. Before starting set up I changed my generic WiFi network names so they didn't have any dashes since reviewers said that was a problem. I set my 2.4 GHz network to b/g/n since Aria only works with b, which is so silly because b is ancient. I did the set-up over my iPad and there were 0 problems. It didn't stall, there was no need to reset anything or remove batteries, I proceeded from step to step until the scale was ready to go. The whole process took about 2-4 minutes.

I put the scale on the linoleum by my front door since I live in a tiny apartment that doesn't have hardwood or tile. I did a few trials and the weight/BF readings seemed both accurate and consistent. There was a little variance (+/- 2 lbs) when I moved the scale to the kitchen, so I decided to leave it by the door and not move it.

I've been trying to lose weight for 2-2.5 weeks and my weight was about 7 pounds less than my previous recorded weight in a medical facility. The real test of the scale is when I'll be weighed again this week. If I show a 5-7 lb weight loss there I will add stars. If I don't show that range of weight loss I will buy a piece of heavy tile to put the scale on to see if I can get a better reading.

I accidentally discovered a way to get my weight down by 20 lbs by repositioning my feet towards the outer edge of the scale. So I make sure to stand with my feet mostly together, toes near the dial, when weighing myself. From what I understand the Aria goes for accuracy above consistency (ie it's not programmed to show you your last recorded weight if your new weight is within a certain range) so it may be more sensitive to positioning.

Since I'm trying to see drops by 5-10-20 lbs, 1-2 lb variance is not that important to me. If it's important to you buy a physician's balance beam scale that uses counterweight. They are only $20-50 more than this scale here on Amazon. I didn't get one because I don't have room to keep it. Counterweight scales are usually found in gyms as well so if your weight seems wrong pop into your gym and weigh yourself to check. These are the scales people usually say are "heavy" which is a dysphemism for "more accurate than my electronic scale at home."

Of course half the fun is that it works with my Zip and the FitBit dashboard so I can use it to set goals and monitor my progress. I've had no problem with my data syncing. Adding multiple users takes a few minutes and you can do it from the app or the Dashboard.


A few days ago, my wife and I purchased the Fitbit Aria as a tool to track our weight loss and to maintain our weight once we achieved our goals.  We were on the fence about whether to purchase the Withings or the Aria.  After a bit or research, we decided on the Aria for 2 reasons: first, the Aria was $30 cheaper and secondly, many of the reviews comparing the 2 scales preferred the Aria.  The scale is fantastic.  It integrates very well with the fitbit web site (setting up an account is free), it looks good, and it is pretty accurate (with 10 weigh-ins on both the Aria and the scale that I was using at the gym, the Aria is consistently less than a ½ pound off of the gym scale).  The scale also determines your percent body fat as well as your BMI (once you create an account on the website, you enter age, height, etc.).  I can't speak to the accuracy of the body fat calculation because I have never had that calculated.  It does fluctuate from time to time even though my weight may not (after doing a little research, I found that your percent body fat can change depending on how much water you have been drinking).

I want to address an issue that I saw brought up in a few consumer reviews (an issue that I was worried about initially because I found the reviews after I had ordered the scale).  A few of the reviews that I read mentioned that the set up of the scale was difficult.  One of the reviews was written by an "IT guy" and he mentioned that the software set up for the scale was not written correctly (not quite sure how he knew that!).  Anyway, I am pretty computer illiterate and I found the setup to be about as simple as it could be.  The only issue that I had (and I probably should not call it an issue) was the initial linking of the scale to my wireless network.  I had the scale in the same room as my computer and router and it would not link.  I assumed that would have been close enough!  After 2 unsuccessful attempts, I look at the instructions again and saw that the scale needed to be placed on a flat surface next to router.  I placed the scale on the table right next to the router and it synced the next attempt.  Once we synced the scale, we moved it into the bathroom and have had no issues.

Setting up additional users is also a breeze by simply sending them an invite to the scale via their fitbit account email address.  The information between multiple users can either be private or shared, depending on how that fitbit account is configured.

I don't usually write product reviews unless I find the product exceptional, and I found the Aria to be exceptional!  Although the price point is a bit high, I would recommend this product to anyone who was on a weight loss journey or just wanted to maintain a healthy lifestyle!


Let me preface this my saying this is how my concert experience usually ends up: We arrive early so my wife can be right up front so she can be there when the main act comes on stage (rock/metal concerts). By the time the opening act is done everything sounds sort of muffled, almost has a digital feel to it.. By the time the final band is playing it's all just a mess of sounds and muffled everything. Once we leave the venue is when I can hear the truly bad tinnitus and the ride home consist of having to turn the radio up to double volume and even then I can barely hear the treble or anything but a ringing and the bass of the music. This tinnitus and muffled hearing will make sleeping that night nearly impossible and will stay with me for at LEAST 2 years.

Finally being tired of this and knowing one day my hearing may never come back, I read the reviews and gave these DownBeats a chance and I am blown away. Normally I can not stand stand earbuds that go into the ear so I was worried about earplugs in general. Surprisingly, I had no issues with these earplugs; they didn't feel unnatural and didn't annoy me when they were in. What really got me with these was how I kept feeling like I didn't have them in properly as I could still hear everything around me, converse normally with my wife between acts, and the music seemed as loud as it normally does but that's where they're magnificent. The ONLY way I knew these were in was when i spoke, I sounded much louder than I normally would to myself. I also loved how they're practically invisible unless you know to look for them. Another thing that steered me away from the standard "orange foam" earplugs was how dorky some people look with them in. I was much less self-conscious with these things in.

Many aspects of the concert still seemed rather loud to the point where I kept checking to make sure these were inserted properly and they always were. There were even parts of the concert that were still overwhelmingly loud. By the time the final act came on I could hear perfectly fine; no discernible ringing, no muffled sounds, and no "digitizing" of background noises. It wasn't until we left the venue, got in the car, and I removed the earplugs that I was truly amazed: I had minimal to no tinnitus. The radio was at the normal volume it always is and I almost couldn't believe I just went through a concert that felt as "loud as normal" with no perceivable side effects.

How these things manage to keep volume levels at perceptibly normal levels and yet still protect your hearing is truly a marvel. I chuckled when the instructions said "it's science!" but it's true; these things are nothing short of miraculous and I deeply thank whatever scientist(s) made it their life's work to create these things.I no longer have to worry about going deaf before I hit 35.


Disclaimer, I have bought no other musician's earplugs, so I don't have a point of comparison for my "sound quality/noise cancellation/value" ratings. I just think these earplugs work well enough for my situation, and considering that it's probably the cheapest option on Amazon, I would recommend it.

I work at a restaurant and use these every day to protect my hearing from clanking plates, metal pans and breaking glass.

Clarity of sound is not perfect, higher end gets muted or even nearly unnoticable. With these on, I can't hear my car's right/left blinker unless I really concentrate. But the high end muting has its advantages, like for example, the loudest thing at my workplace by far is a recycle bin full of ~20lbs glass, being emptied into a chest-height container. The glass breaking noise is all high end. So these earplugs are perfect for me!

If you're using this for playing music, a word to violinists, a lot of sound travels from the chinrest of the violin through your jaw, completely bypassing these earplugs. So if you're in an orchestra playing violin like I was, the sounds of your own playing will drown out every other sound, making playing in the ensemble more difficult. Literally an unsolvable problem though, not a problem with this product.

As for verbal communication, I'm hearing just about as well as everyone without earplugs. Loud environments aren't great for verbal communication in the first place, literally everyone is mishearing things just as you are.

After about a year of use, my earplugs turned a pretty gross yellow color, but they're still perfectly usable, and these earplugs are so unnoticable that no one notices until you point them out. I bought a second pair recently however, to be prepared for the day when I lose this first pair or if they somehow become unusable.

Speaking of losing these though, they might be easy to lose. if you casually screw the case too loose, the case slowly unscrews in your pocket and you've got a pair of earplugs in your pocket ready to fall out. Miraculously even after maybe 10 times of the screw becoming undone in my pocket over the course of a year, I have not lost this pair yet. So maybe this worry is unwarranted. It's not at all a problem with case build quality though, the case's build quality is excellent and the screw-on lid to the case has stayed strong even after a year.

What didn't last for me though, is the little keychain at the top that attaches to your keychain. Mine broke after about 3 months of use, after a violent incident of accidentally kneeing my key ring into my car. As seen in my picture, it's been long replaced with a spare key ring. It was a HELLISH time trying to put that key ring on, as the top of the carrying case's lid is very thick and not very suited for threaded inside a key ring.

They're good! and hella cheaper than the other choices Amazon gives you!


I have been using the Sacro Wedgy for about two weeks now.  I have been experiencing sacral/hip problems for about two years.  I have worked with yoga, other stretching, consulted a chiropractor and other doctors, and bought an inversion table.  All provided relief to some degree, but for some reason never could alleviate the problem, yet x-rays and examinations were not showing any significant problems (welcome to the msyteries of back/hip pain).

Within two days of using this simple device, I was able to isolate the cause of my back problem.  I sat on the sacro wedgy for a day in my office chair and felt everything in my pelvis/hip relax, the pain disappeared.  I was very happy...then I got in my car to go visit some clients and run some errands.  It felt like someboy stuck a hot knife into my lower back and twisted it by the end of the day.  Bingo!  When I was in my 20's I had an old pickup truck that caused sciatica, which vanished within a week of my replacing that vehicle.  However, this wasn't sciatica, and the link was immediately apparent and the car is only 2 years old...the pieces started to fall together.

It was my car seat that was causing my problem. My car is a small compact car, and I never noticed any overt discomfort from it, but I made some adjustments to it, and used the sacro wedgy until I started feeling relief.  For the first time in two years, I am 95% pain free and improving.

My recommendation to people looking at this product is to read the instructions very carefully and really feel with your body where it should be placed.  It takes a little experimentation to get it right, and I am sure it changes for each person in question.  I have found it more effective to actually sit on it on my sofa, office chair, and elsewhere than the the lying down application, although that helps too.

Next, check all your regular seating against the results.  If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with tight psoas and iliacus and/or sacral tenderness (do a search on these), then this thing will help you, but what I found most amazing is how quickly it helped me identify the culprit (car seat) and how subtle that problem was.  Yet, it was able to put a severe kink in my life for quite some time.

I have a lot of experience with martial arts, body work, etc., and had tried several paths to relief, I am very aware of my body.  So, you might want to speak with a good specialist who can help you with the use of this if you don't have a good sense for your own body.  If you use it wrong, it will hurt and could make things worse.  However, with proper use it could really help.

I don't think this device will help people too much with middle and upper spine issues, but I could be wrong, the back is a complex and wonderful thing.  So, good luck, I hope this review helps people with the sacro wedgy and possibly opens up some ideas for people to find relief.


I'm a long-time user of the [[ASIN:B0044DEESS Etymotic ER20 attenuators]]. I have both sizes of Etys, and I just bought some of these DownBeats.

Here's my comparison.

The DownBeats come in a robust aluminum case. They don't rattle inside (there's a plastic liner), and the base doesn't unscrew and fall off the lid. It does clank on my keys, so I wrapped it in tape. It's easy to get the plugs out of the case.

The Etys come in a rubbery plastic squeeze-case. Also fine on a keychain, but a little more bulky, lighter, and a lot less noisy. The rubbery case gets dirty and beat up over time. It can be difficult to get the plugs out.

The DownBeats are shorter -- only two flanges against the Etys three, and a stubby stem. That makes them smaller and less noticeable from the front -- the stem doesn't poke out from your ears. But the stems of the Etys are clear, while the DBs are white; from the side the Etys are less noticeable for that reason.

The shortness is an advantage under a helmet, hat, or laying against a pillow, but it slightly works against the DBs when inserting and removing. Only slightly, though.

Now, on to comfort and fit.

The flanges on the DBs are as fat as the large Etys. If you have small-to-medium ears, that might affect how well they fit.

To me, with mid-to-large ears, both the white (large) Etys and the DBs are noticeable in the ear -- there's a constant gentle feeling of pressure when inserted. It's not bothersome, but you do notice it when compared to the smaller Etys.

The Etys go deeper into the ear, and have a longer stem. That makes them less comfortable than the DBs. The comfort distinction is exaggerated if you're moving your ears or wearing something on your head -- the stem moves and applies pressure inside the ear canal.

By contrast, the smaller blue Etys are slightly more comfortable than the DBs, but only if you stay still and don't move your face!

Sound-wise: all three are good, and to most ears there won't be a difference in attenuation or sound quality. Fit is the most important factor to how these perform for you.

Comparing back-to-back with good over-the-ear headphones is too close to call regarding quality: it would be dishonest to make a judgment. The DBs seem to attenuate slightly more than the blue Etys, which makes sense -- the blue Etys are probably a tiny bit too small for my ears. The DBs seem to have a more even attenuation curve, blocking heavy basslines a little better than the Etys.

In conclusion: I'm carrying and wearing the DBs. I find them more comfortable, I prefer the way they sound, and I value the small improvement in attenuation.

If you have small ears, have trouble inserting or removing earplugs, or want a soft case, you might prefer the Etymotic ER20s. If you find deep earplugs uncomfortable, need a lower-profile appearance, or want a hard case, go for the DBs. If you're stuck between the two, the DownBeats are a good choice.


When my 6 year old son suddenly had a vision change from 15/20 to 60/20 within 5 months, I started doing extensive research on eye issues in growing children.  The rate of change in the eyes of a developing child before the age of 15 is very dramatic.  After 15 year of age, the eyes' rate of change slow down.  That means a child subjecting his/her eyes to accommodation (i.e. reading at close range or proximity) will develop myopia faster at 6 years of age than at 15 years of age.

Within the 5 months time in which my son's eyes changed from 15/20 to 60/20, he had read approximately 250 books.  His eye exam with an opthamologist showed that he had myopia with no other eye problems or issues. The opthamologist prescribed glasses for him to see things in the distance.  I, however, did not want him to have glasses yet.  I reasoned that if the eyes can change so drastically for the worse in such a short period of time, the eyes can also improve (as long as accommodation - changes in the eyes for close range work - had not yet become permanent.)

I began to change the way my son read and did close range work.  Following any prolong close range work, my son would take 10 - 15 minutes breaks where he read small letters from across the room.  I bought the Ott-Lite bookstand where my son would read books from 1.5 arm lengths away.  I bought the Ott-Lite bookstand because it had an adjustable back which could be changed to accommodate my son's height.  This was very useful since different chair and table heights often placed my son's vision at different angles (with respect to the book)which could then be easily corrected by tilting the bookstand backward or forward to varying degrees. The Ott-Lite also had built in lights which helped to illuminate the book he was reading in areas where lighting was poor.  My son was also able to double the bookstand as a writing table at times.  And I liked the fact that one can increase the width of the bookstand by pulling out the sides.  To fit taller books, we just moved the light fixture back.  It is true that sometiems the bottom lines of a book are blocked because the book sits deeply into the bookstand.  However, my son easily solved the problem by placing two jenga blocks where the book sits in the bookstand to move the bottom page higher up for viewing.  In addition, we like thattThe bookstand is made of strong plastic and does not feel flimsy.  It can withstand the abuse and use by a 6 year old.

It has been about three months since my son has been diagnosed with myopia which requires glasses.  We recently took him to see the same opthamologist for his follow-up eye exam.  My son's vision is now at 40/20 in one eye and 30/20 in the other eye.  The opthamologist said, "At this point, I would not prescribed glasses for him.  It seems his eyes have improved."

We plan on continuing our son with proper reading posture and using the Ott-Lite bookstand to obtain our goals.


I've used foil shavers for years to "clean up" in between shaves with standard razors.  Since I also sport the Bruce Willis/Cpt Picard shaved head look, I have a ton of real-estate to cover and, since the "hermit mountain man" look doesn't fit well with my corporate job, I pretty much have to use an electric so I'm clean shaven without the pain and irritation of shaving with a razor everyday.

I've never used a Rotary shaver before this one so I can't compare it to anything else.  However, since my facial hair grows so fast, I've always bought the top of the line foil shavers because I figured if they cost so much, they've got to last, travel well, and do a pretty decent job of cleaning up before a meeting.  For me, price equalled quality.

So, I'm on the hunt for a new electric and I came across the DynaBliss 3D.  I'd always wanted to try out a rotary but, with the money I'd spend on one of the high-end models, I was always hesitant because of the nagging,"what if I hate it?"  However, for less than a quarter of what I'd spent on just one of the "high-end" foils, I figured who cares if I hate it. I'd just regift it if it was awful.

Well, I'd gone about three days without a shave when this arrived and I was literally itching (stupid stubble) to try this thing out.  Then I remembered I'd need to charge it first and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it came FULLY charged!

The quality of this razor is immediately evident when you get it out of the package.  For less than $40.00, I was expecting a cheap, light razor but it actually feels substantial and is amazingly ergonomic.  As for the performance, quite frankly I was shocked!  Definitely have to use a different circular motion to this versus a foil but it was easy to get used to because of the design.  The rotary heads flex and pivot just as described and, even with my longer and super course stubble, I got a MUCH closer shave than I ever did with my overpriced foils; especially around my chin and neck.

Due to a couple of brain surgeries (brain cancer), I have a LARGE scar on the right side of my head that's always been hit or miss with electrics.  The DynaBliss 3D handled my whole head and face (including that scar) like a champ!  Seriously, I'm a true believer in rotary shavers now!

That whole shave took me down to about 90% power (it took a while to get used to the rotary motion versus a foil).  I plugged it in (with a standard micro-USB cable: BRILLIANT!) and it took less than five minutes to get back to 100% charge.  This thing is ridiculously well made with an amazing battery!

Long story short, I couldn't be happier and plan on getting another one just to keep in my travel bag for business trips!


When I first opened the dog grooming set, I was skeptical. Even thought everything was nicely packaged.  It came with three attachments and is battery operated.  It also came with a brush to clean the attachments. It also came with a cord to charge. First I charged the trimmer for twenty four hours.  The batteries were powerful enough though.  I am not a professional groomer although I have groomed Doodles and Maltese multiple times. 74 The trimmers worked very nicely with our Maltese. And are great for that in between grooming appointments.  I used the trimmers around my doodles faces and they worked well. Not as good as the professional clippers that we have. Doodles have more coarse hair then our Maltese.  I  am afraid to try to use the clippers to do a full shave because the last I want to do is burn out the clippers. Heavy duty clippers ( professional) should only be used for a full shave. I bought these with the intentions of cutting around their eyes, beards, and in between their toes. 176 The trimmers work perfect for these areas. Again, I am not a professional groomer, and I am not used to cutting or filing down our dogs nails. Luckily we have dogs who loved to be groomed and pampered, so our dogs will just sit on the couch with their paws on a towel in my lap while I filed their nails. Again the filing tool worked great for our little Maltese. As for the Doodles it seemed to take way longer and did not seem powerful enough. After filing my dog Thias nails for ten minutes on one paw, I really could not notice too much of a difference between the filed paw and not filed paw . I would personally recommend this product to anyone who has furry animals for maintaining their animals nails or for small trims.  The attachments are extremely easy to take off and put on. The package it small enough that it is great for traveling or compact storage.  The product is extremely easy to clean. 346 If you are afraid to file or trim your dogs nails because you are afraid of hurting them by filing the nails too short then the filing attachment will work perfectly for you. I personally would  start to feel nauseous while trying to file or trim our doggies nails but with this attachment it is impossible to file the nails too short. 409 The little grips on the side of the tool make it safer to trim without your hands slipping and then you end up with a chunk of fur missing. I do feel that the batteries worked way stronger then the charged system. The trimmers also were not as loud as other clippers that we have and have used in the past.  Our professional clippers are so loud that they scare our Maltese and we are not able to calm him down enough to even let the clippers get near him. The sound freaks him out so much. With these clippers the sound is so soft or low that he doesn’t even stress out.


Short and sweet:

Used Nutrakey's Innoflex for nearly 2 years prior to switching to this product, Flex Pro ES. This product works great and I'm extremely glad I switched to it.

Quick background:
-I'm 29 years old, about 192-194 lbs. at 6'1" and roughly 9-10 percent bodyfat. I've been weight training consistently since High School when I was playing football at 14 years old. I currently train 6 days per week, in the form two short workouts per day, overall focusing on losing some extra bodyfat (down to 6-8 percent bodyfat). My supplements are limited to a multi vitamin, whey protein, vitamin D and a greens powdered drink mix.

Positives:
-High value: Inexpensive and lasts 2 months when taken per instructions.
-Unique ingredients: Eggshell membrane ? Used joint and tendon boosting supplements for a decade and never heard of doing anything with egg shells other than throwing them in my compost pile. Others may consider the use of "unusual" ingredients a negative thing (see "Unique ingredients" below). I also like the exclusion of glucosamine and chondroiton. Heard some negatives to those ingredients and they're seemingly in every joint/tendon supplement.
-Effectiveness: ingredients work well together and they work fast.
-Ease-of-use: one medium sized pill once per day in the morning.

Negatives:
-Taste: in the perfect world, Flex Pro ES would be a delicious chewable. In comparison to my old joint/tendon supplement, Innoflex by Nutrakey, I didn't like that Innoflex was a drink mix I had to remember to pull out of the cupboard and pour with some water multiple times every day.
-Unique ingredients: listed "Unique ingredients" as a positive above but using unusual/unheard of ingredients in a supplement can be a risky downside.

Effectiveness explained:
-When I switched from Nutrakey's Innoflex to Flex Pro ES, I waited two weeks before officially switching. During the time "off" from using a joint/tendon supplement, my joints started to dry out again (right knee, right elbow). Within about 10 days of starting Flex Pro ES, I noticed a substantial change, mostly the complete cessation of the constant chronic achey knees. The occasional discomfort was still present through 3 weeks and by one month in, I no longer noticed any unusual joint or tendon pain. Those pains would only occur if training intensity was excessive (lifting heavy too often, adding too much high impact conditioning such as running, trying leg movements I don't commonly use such as the reverse lunge).

In summary, Flex Pro ES is a great product for anyone experiencing common achey joints. When I discovered Innoflex by Nutrakey years ago, I thought I found the Holy Grail for joint/tendon supplements and subsequently used it for over 2 years. That has been "one-upped" now by Flex Pro ES and I just ordered my second bottle and will continue to use it. Hopefully, though, the price will stay $26.77 as Flex Pro ES becomes more popular.


I'm really glad I purchased this! It saves a lot of money and time!

Shipping: I receive my item super fast!! Within 4 dayss

Product: Overall, I received that was described. All safe and package well. Enough supplies for 80+ eyelash lifts!

Application: The same day I received it I tried it out instantly and I love the results!! My lash and naturally curly and healthy now.
Step 1: Make sure eyes are clean and dry. Prepare your tools even the ones that aren't included. Q-tips, warm water and any type of make-up remover.
Step 2: Use the Sticky Perm Rod or Silicone Pad S,M,L. I used the Large Silicone Pad, then applied glue to the smooth side to stick to my eyelid, make sure it's as close to your lash line as possible. The glue can get a bit tricky but just be patient, once the Silicone Pad is secure apply glue on to the other side and begin the lifting motions in section with either the long white tool or the little black brush. Brush, apply more glue, repeat that till your lash are fully glued to the Pad and notice the glue is starting to build up. Then begin to separate clumped sections with the white tool.
Step 3: After you secure all your lashes on the Pad or Rod take Formula A. Apply evenly with the green felt tool and let it sit for 12-10 minutes. Make sure you have the under eye Cotton Pad applied while using the Formulas because they do sting a bit.
Step 4: Once the time is up take the warm water and Q-Tips and begin removing slowly Formula A, in upward motions starting from the roots to the tip of your lashes. Just make sure you don't complete remove the glue though.
Step 5: Now apply Formula B evenly with a new green felt tool and let it sit for 10 minutes. And repeat the product removal step once the time is up. After every Formula removal make sure you just have glue remaining, no extra product, you don't want to mix them.
Step 6: Formula C! It's has a consistency of an oil so you can apply it with the black brush, apply small doses because it does help separate and move lashes a little easier. Let this sit for 5 minutes and repeat the removal process.
Step 7: Just like Formula C, Formula D has the same oil base consistency, apply this one for 5 minutes.
Step 8: OPTIONAL: apply Growth Mascara for 5 minutes.
Step 9: It's time for cleaning up finally. Water will not change lashes so you'll be fine. I lifted my Silicone Pad and slowing became cleaning my eye with warm water and Coconut Oil, I use that as a make up remover. It will lift the glue instantly and nourish your lashes. I did my first eye with a benefit make up remover and it took longer to remove, the Coconut Oil was most effective!

After you have one eye down repeat these steps!

The picture only shows one of my eyes done