Years ago dryer balls were being hocked on television as the greatest thing to improve dryer performance since God made wind. These hard plastic balls had nubs all over them and the claim was that they would help dry your clothes and make them soft while helping control static cling, all without the use of chemicals. It was supposed to save you money as well. I and millions of others ordered these gems, threw them in the dryer, and got as annoyed as hell as we listened to them thump around like three pairs of tennis shoes were in there as well as the load to dry. I couldn't stand it. I put the dryer balls on a shelf and never use them. They are just too loud and I worried about damage to my dryer and clothing.
Recently I have been hearing about an all natural dryer ball option made of wool. Wool would certainly be quieter than hard plastic and, I assume, gentler on clothing. They supposedly will help control static as well. Now I have always found wool to be a static-ridden material, so I am not thinking it will really control the static thing, but I don't really worry too much about static. I just use a tightly wadded ball of aluminum foil in the dryer to take care of that issue. So, the real issue is two-fold: 1) do the dryer balls actually help shorten the drying time of the load and 2) do they really help reduce wrinkling too.
This year I think I found a perfect gift for both my son and my boyfriend! Remember when I reviewed the MicroTouch One™ (if not, go check it out since it is awesome!)? Well, here is another great item to go along with that. It is the MicroTouch Switchblade™. I received one in advance to give it a review to see if I like it before I ordered the rest. I, after all, don't want to give a gift that I am unsure of. I am definitely not disappointed.
First off, let me just tell you that this thing is versatile! It has a micro end for grooming tight areas such as noses and ears, then it has a larger trimmer on the other side for bigger areas. Whichever side is not in use is stored behind a protective piece that slides back and forth. MicroTouch Switchblade™ is comfortable in the hand and not too heavy. The precision trimmer (the smaller end) easily trims the nose, ears, eyebrows, neckline, and sideburns. The full size groomer tackles chest, back, arms, legs, and those "other" parts we like to groom.
It comes as a set that has four guards to use to adjust the amount of hair you remove. For example you can choose the best length for your sideburns versus the best length for the hair in your eyebrows, and completely remove hair on your ears. MicroTouch Switchblade™ is brilliant!
The blades are stainless steel and made in Germany, which makes me think they will last a long, long time. The blades trimmed without issue, like a knife through hot butter, the blades eradicated hair with ease. Did I mention the LED light? Yes, that's right, a little light helps in those dark crevices and areas where shadows cause missed hairs. Another great thing I noticed is that unlike traditional clippers, you don't have to take this one apart and oil its parts. It requires no fancy maintenance. The unit runs on 2 AAA size batteries. I have used it for over 2 weeks now without any reduction in power.
Let me recap what I liked about the MicroTouch Switchblade™ :
Stainless Steel German engineered blades
Four sizes of guards to help with consistent hair length
Micro precision end and a full size grooming end help you manscape from head to toe
Built in light
Gentle and easy to use. Lightweight too!
Convenient size with built in slider to protect blades.
2 AAA batteries power the unit
This is one of the best Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, or birthday gifts for a guy I have come across in a long time. Right now I see they are offering a special deal at the website, www.GetSwitchblad.com which includes a grooming kit. At just $19.99 for this all-in-one head to toe groomer, this is a very economical and thoughtful gift for all the men on your shopping list. Save yourself the frustration of fighting others on Black Friday and order one online or, if you live for the challenge of shopping during the season or don't want to pay shipping, you can find the MicroTouch Switchblade™ at CVS, Walgreens, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and/or Walgreens.
Happy Holiday Shopping Season!
Karin Copperwood and Rancho No Dinero received one or more the products mentions above for fee for evaluation purposes, received compensation to write this post, and/or is an affiliate of one or more of the products reviewed on this site. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
For years I have sought the perfect razor to shave my gams (those are your legs for those of you born after 1920). I have tried every kind of disposable razor known to man and was even dumb enough to buy one of those electric wet or dry lady shavers that never worked. In the early 1990's I jumped on the bandwagon and bought an Epilady. Ya, I screamed the first time I used it and never used it again. I am not into torture. Razor burn, pain, and nicks are the bane of my shaving existence, and I continue on my quest for the perfect razor. I was offered a chance to review MicroTouch One™ which has recently come on the market and jumped at the chance. I have to admit, I am pleasantly surprised.
The MicroTouch One™ is the modern version of the classic safety razor. It is a beautiful thing to look at and to hold. It is solid brass and plated in chrome. Shiny and solid, it has some weight to it, which after years of using disposable razors, is actually quite pleasant. If you have never used a razor where you just replace the blades, here is how it works: You twist the bottom of the handle and the top will open like a "butterfly" exposing the place where you place the blade. You use the razor until you feel that you are not getting as close a shave as you would like and then you simply replace the blade. Blades are super thin steel and VERY sharp.
You shave just as you do with a disposable razor, keeping a 45 degree angle, using shaving cream or soap, and then you open the razor and rinse it before storing. The shave is smooth and you don't need 3 to 5 blades to make it happen as some disposables advertise. However, the best part? Blades are super cheap to replace (under $3 for 25) AND are a green alternative as we are not filling up our landfill with more plastic.
The cost of the MicroTouch One™ is, you guessed it, $19.99, but it comes with 24 blades. I was paying $8 for three disposables, which comes to over $2.66 per razor. That means the initial cost, which includes the beautiful reusable shaver itself, saves me over $1.83 (if you count one blade as one disposable razor) per razor. The best part is that replacement blades, which can be found wherever shaving products are sold, are super cheap! I poked around on Amazon and found replacement blades at 3 cents per blade! That means your razors from now on are 3 cents! Whoot!
I am quite pleased overall with this razor. It did take some getting used to, but now that I have used it a couple of times I am very happy. My gams are smooth and both my pocket book and the landfills are happy. Win-win! MicroTouch One™ has been rated one of the top-three grooming brands in the country by Nielson Report for 52 weeks! That right there is quite an endorsement.
If you are interested in a MicroTouch One™, which comes in a nice case with two-dozen blades, you can go to www.ONERazor.com to order. Here's to a smoother you!
Karin Copperwood and Rancho No Dinero received one or more the products mentions above for fee for evaluation purposes, received compensation to write this post, and/or is an affiliate of one or more of the products reviewed on this site. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Check out this adorable hat! It is a Flipeez Huggy Monkey. You squeeze the blue bulb (enclosed in some gloriously soft and fuzzy fabric) and the arms of the monkey open up like it wants a hug. Really stinkin' cute, but practical at the same time! The inside is lined with super soft fleece and the outside is knit. The eyes and nose features are felt. The lining is secured to the outside of the hat with a blanket stitch and the tubing that allows the arms to move is hidden in all the softness. The entire hat is of great quality and very warm since it covers the ears. This hat is one size fits all and we have had a great time with everyone in my family trying it on.
Ironically, we were at Walgreens in West Seattle last night and found a display that had the Twitchy Kitty, Playfull Puppy, Peek-a-Boo Monster, and the Huggy Monkey. There are seven different hats total, including an Curious Owl, Rascally Rabbit, and Ranger Raccoon, which we haven't seen in person yet (I will be ordering a Curious Owl and a Ranger Racoon as gifts this year). We sat and played with each of the different kinds and were cracking up that the kitty tail goes up and down in the back and the puppy ears were adorable flopping up and down. Lily decided the monkey is still her favorite (see the pictures as she won't go anywhere without it now) and lots of folks on our flight to Seattle on Saturday were asking where they could buy one.
I have a feeling that lots of these will be found under holiday trees and wrapped in pretty packages this winter! Each hat is $19.95 and can be ordered online at www.flipeez.com. I also found them at Walgreens and have seen them advertised at Toys-R-Us. I would call to see if your local discount store carries them before driving on a hunt. Who wouldn't love to get one of these this holiday season?
Karin Copperwood and Rancho No Dinero received one or more the
products mentions above for fee for evaluation purposes, received compensation
to write this post, and/or is an affiliate of one or more of the products reviewed
on this site. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am
disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part
255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Many of my readers know that I love, love, love my local 99 Cent Store. I enjoy finding bargains for just a buck that I might otherwise pay quite a bit more for. E-Z Fuse Tape is a fabulous example of a great find! Everyone should have a roll or 3 on hand and at just a buck, well just about everyone can.
