Petco Adjustable Mesh Harness for Dogs

I have a poodle named Daisie who has a larger wardrobe than most people. She is very small weighing in at about 6 lbs. Her size has made it difficult to find a harness that fits her well. I found the Petco Adjustable Mesh Harness for Dogs at the Petco store and liked how it had several areas of adjustment. There are slide-and-lock tabs that are located at the shoulder are and a strap slide that adjusts around the chest. I feel like the adjustments are great for her size. I have used harnesses in the past that do not have these adjusting options, which has left a gap in her chest area. There is a padded piece that is sewn in right under the mussel and the rest is constructed out of breathable mesh material. Daisie has worn hers during the hot months and has been fine, but the material is a little thick and so that should be considered if your dog gets overheated easily.

The adjustments allow for us to place the harness under or over her sweaters. The slides-and- lock tabs have been a bit of a challenge because they sometimes get wedged on the fabric making it hard to slide. I have got into the habit of setting them where I want them and slipping it over her head. This is not ideal but I like the way it fits her so I live with it. I also think that someone with limited hand dexterity may find the slide-and –lock difficult because they are small especially on the smaller sizes.  There are quite a few color options available with patterns and without, which makes it fun when buying new ones. It is important to me that Daisie wears a secure harness while maintaining a high level of comfort and I believe this harness accomplishes that. She has several in different colors and wears one of them on a daily basis.

 

Waring Pro WPM25 Professional Popcorn Maker

I purchased the Waring Pro WPM25 Professional Popcorn Maker and I am pleased with my decision. I decided to bag the bagged microwave popcorn for a more natural option and the search began. Waring Pro attracted my attention with its fun design concept and the fact that that it used a kettle to pop the popcorn allowing me to control the type of oil that is used.

The machine has a very attractive fun design that works well in a game or theater room. It replicates an old time popcorn popper but in a small usable form. It operates off of a 300-watt system, which brings the kettle to a high heat and the built in stirring mechanism helps the kernels to pop evenly. The pivoting kettle allows me to put the oil and popcorn in without too much effort. The entire unit is small enough to fit in a variety of areas measuring 11x11 1/2x17 inches and is heavy enough to be stable but light enough to move around if necessary. The clear Plexiglas material allows people to view the popping action as it is happening.  The popped corn spills over the sides and into the plastic serving tray at the bottom. The tray is removable and can be used as a serving bowl, which really appealed to me. Anything that saves an extra dish to wash is a win, win in my book.

There are a few things to consider before buying the Waring Pro WPM25 such as the Plexiglas. It is lighter than glass but a bit harder to clean and it can scratch easily. I wipe it down right after each use with a soft cloth using warm soapy water to help discourage oil build up. The small kettle unplugs from the unit and is removable, but it is hard to get my hand in there to wipe it out. It pops enough popcorn in one setting for two people, which means for a large group several sessions would be needed. There is often some un-popped kernels after the batch is complete but really not that many.

I really enjoy the Waring Pro WPM25 and use it nearly once a week. It is fast convenient and fun, which makes popcorn the go to snack at our house. I love the fun design of the machine and how the popcorn comes out fluffy and full of flavor each and every time. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a good way to pop popcorn.

Preserve Cutlery Reuse Forever Utensils

There are many people out there who do not like the feel of metal in their mouth when they eat, and I am one of them. This is what took me on a search for utensils that I could use without cringing each time I ate. They needed to be reusable, durable, and BPA–free because I wanted to use them on a daily basis. I began trying a few different kinds but they were either shaped funny or had a rough feel to them. I saw the Preserve Cutlery Reuse Forever pack of utensils on a website and was intrigued by the description.  They are made of 100% recycled BPA-free materials and manufactured in the United States. This sounded like something I would be willing to try so I ordered them right away. They were green, which I thought was a little strange, but I could live with that if I liked the product.

They arrived and I was pleasantly surprised at how they felt in my hand. They weighed less than ordinary metal ones but they still had a good feel. The utensils were the appropriate size and they had a smooth texture, which would also make them easy to wash. The fact that they are dishwasher safe was a point in their favor. The true test came when I used them and found out that they were quite durable and, happy day, no awkward metal feel in my mouth. The fork tines were long and worked well on different kinds of food. I was even able to cut through softer food items with the sides of the fork. There was a little give but it still got the job done. I have since used a sharp knife while using one of the forks to stabilize and cut into the fork. Luckily, I do not do that very often and so I can overlook it. I have been very pleased with this product and use them on a daily basis. The green color worked out great because it matches my set of dishes and glassware. These utensils are very affordable and are worth trying even if metal in your mouth is not a problem.

Review of Kindle Paperwhite

I received the kindle paperwhite as a gift a few months ago and I LOVE it. I am a very avid reader who was very picky about what I was looking for in an e-reader. Some things that I was looking for included a light, a low glare screen, and an easy interface. There are not very many e-readers on the market that offer a built in light, so that was the biggest hurdle. It came down to a few choices. Mainly it was between the Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight and the Kindle Paperwhite . The only other options were tablets such as the Apple iPad Mini or Kindle Fire HD . I eliminated the tablets due to the fact that I wanted a device that was solely for reading and that would serve me best in that capacity. The tablets are hard to read in sunlight due to a reflective screen and their back lights are not as customizable as I would have liked. This leads to eye fatigue while reading in the dark. That left me with the NOOK Touch with GlowLight and the Kindle Paperwhite . After doing extensive research on both devices, I opted for the Kindle . It was supposed to have more advanced features than the NOOK . Once I had decided on the Kindle , I told people that it was what I wanted and lo and behold I received it as a gift for my birthday.

The first thing I noticed when I received it is how small and lightweight it is. It weighs hardly anything and is very easy to hold. I could probably use a slightly larger screen but the small size makes it very portable. The next thing I noticed is its sleek black exterior which is very pleasing to the eye. In the box is the Kindle and a micro usb cable. It does not come with a charging cord. I can see this being a negative because you have to charge it somehow and a wall charger is much more convenient than charging it on the computer all the time. I happened to have a device that used the same micro usb, so I am able to charge it with that but it would be nice to have a designated charging cable just for it. The device I got is an ad-free device. This cost a little bit more (about $50) but I think it is definitely worth it. I would hate to have ads on it every time I use it, so for me this is a must. However, the ads don’t affect the performance, they are just irritating.

Turning on the device, I found the interface to be easy to use. It opens up to a screen that houses all your book titles. It also has some recommendations at the bottom from Amazon. It seemed clear and concise but the recommendations irritated me a little. I turned them off in the settings, which was really easy to do. The next thing I played with was the light. It tells you to use a higher light setting in bright light and a lower light setting in dark rooms. This seemed a little anti-intuitive to me because I thought you would want more light in a dark room. However, after using it I have found that there recommendations are accurate. In a well it room, I use a light setting of 10-15. In a dark room, I use a light setting of around 3. Now, at first 3 seems really dim but as your eyes adjust, it is plenty of light and doesn’t cause your eyes to fatigue as quickly as a bright light would. When reading the reviews, I found where people said that there are some faint black shadows on the bottom of the screen caused by the way it is lit. This is true. There are some black shadows on the bottom of the screen. They are fairly noticeable if you are looking for them but do not bother me at all. When reading, I do not even notice them and they do not bother me in the slightest.

I got the Kindle with wifi but no 3G. I went this route because I heard the 3G was very slow and unreliable. Plus, I wasn’t too worried about accessing the internet away from a wifi area. The Kindle Paperwhite does have an “experimental browser” for searching the web. I have used this a few times and found it to be a nice bonus feature. I can get on to websites like manybooks.net and download free e-books directly onto the Kindle . I can also check my email, which is handy. Obviously, this web browser is not capable of a lot. It will not search the web like a tablet pc but it can be a nice feature.

The battery life on the Kindle Paperwhite is said to be 8 weeks. In my experience, it doesn’t quite reach that. I think the 8 weeks is based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 10. I read more than a half hour per day (more like 1 to 2 hours) and vary my light settings depending on where I am. I also am not very good about turning my wireless off. I find that I have to charge it about every 2 weeks. This does not bother me at all and I am sure I could make the battery last longer if I took precautions but charging it every 2 weeks does not seem like a big deal to me. Also, it fully charges very quickly. I would say it can go from nearly empty to charged in 2 hours (this is just a guesstimate), which doesn’t seem bad. All in all, I love my Kindle and am very happy with it.

 

LitterMaid Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box LM 980 Mega

I purchased the LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box excited to not have to clean the box. I was not disappointed.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE HAPPY!!

The celebration began.

The LitterMaid is amazing, and my cats have loved it. I have used it with three cats, and now use it with one. It has worked well both ways.

Three cats definitely worked it harder, but the results were still good. Having just one cat has been a breeze for it.

The unit is larger than some boxes so you need to make sure that you have a space picked out for it.

The measurements are:

17.7x9.8x28 inches

My one cat weighed almost 25lbs. He was a beautiful boy who loved the LitterMaid. His girth filled the box, but he made it work. So even though it is recommended for cats 15lbs or less it can fit a larger cat.

There is some tracking of the litter, but that is pretty consistent with any litter box. LitterMaid has tried to minimize the tracking litter problem by providing a carpeted ramp which does help the problem. However, the ramp does make the total measurements of the box even larger. Something to consider, but you do not have to install the ramp. You can put a piece of all weather carpet down in its place. Use an all weather piece of carpet so it can easily be washed off if need be. You know, crap happens.

The LitterMaid comes with some starter waste receptacles. I have found that the receptacles can be reused. In fact it is possible to use plastic grocery bags set into the receptacle and then you just have to lift out the bag and put in a clean one. This saves some money on receptacle buying and really does work well. You can buy new receptacles at just about any store that carries pet supplies.

Only premium hard clumping litter will work in the LitterMaid. Trust me I have tried some other litter and it was not a success. I use Scoop Away Complete Performance and it works great.

LitterMaid suggests using:

Littermaid Premium Clumping Cat Litter

World's Best 00558 Cat Litter, Clumping Formula, 34 Pounds (Packaging Varies)
Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter, Unscented, 20-Pounds

Fresh Step Premium Scoopable Clumping Cat Litter Multiple Cat Strength

Ever Clean Multiple Cat Premium Clumping Cat Litter

Just remember that there is no way around this one, use the right litter for the job.

The LitterMaid comes with and AC adapter and takes batteries as a backup power supply. I am not sure why you really need a backup power supply, but it is there if you have action when your power goes off.

It also came with a scoop and rake cleaner. I thought it odd that they would include a scoop when I had no intention of ever scooping again. Apparently there are times when you need to move the litter around or just give the box a good cleaning. I do on occasion have to use the rake cleaner, which is a little brush, because debris can get stuck between the rake prongs. This really doesn’t happen very often, but it is nice to have the brush just in case.

The automatic rake can seem a little frightening; however, it has a safety feature where it will stop if it comes into contact with anything. The motion sensors allow your cat plenty of time to get in, get business done and get out. No problem there.

LitterMaid suggests acclimating your cat and I do think some cats may be a little startled when it goes off. However, they love a clean box so they will appreciate that.

It is not the quietest think in the world so you might have to acclimate yourself to the sound. I have it in my bedroom and I do not even notice it going off. Frankly, I do not remember it ever being a problem for me, but it does make noise.

LitterMaid Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box  Lm980 Mega Product Features:

Designed for Multi cat households under 15 pounds.

Extra high walls to keep waste inside the box and off the floor

Removable automatic rake for easy cleaning

Motion sensors that activate cleaning cycle, safety bar to stop rake in case of blockage

Dual Power Option that runs on current or 8 D batteries

The sun does shine, and the cats do go, even in the LitterMaid.

You will be loved too if you give your cat a LitterMaid Litter Box.

Conair Pro Moda-Groom Pet Clipper

Poodles can start out looking like this, (keep reading to see how it turns out)

I bought this clipper on sale because I was in desperate need of a clipper because my poodle looked like a gorilla baby.

The Conair Pro Moda-Groom II 2 speed was on sale so I thought I would give it a go because the price was right.

 I am a groomer by trade and own several Oster clippers. I wanted a clipper that the blades were compatible with my Oster. The blade is also compatible with the Andis, and Wahl detachable clippers.

This clipper comes in red or pink with a bag, which I also found to be very nice.  The bag has several zippered sections with pockets to put all the essential grooming needs in, and keep them organized. As a groomer it is essential to have the proper tools handy at all times. Grooming supplies are expensive, so always keep your tools in good repair. Protect your investment I always say.

 I felt like the clipper did a great job, it is not as heavy duty as my Oster clippers, but when grooming small breeds it is plenty powerful. It has two speeds, but often times I only need to use the low speed for it to work well.

These clippers are also light weight and small enough that the strain on your hand is minimal. When grooming multiple dogs in a day the strain can become painful. Try to minimize that strain by exercising your hand between groomings, stress balls are a great way to accomplish this. 

My only complaint is that the on/off and speed switch is located on the palm section of the handle where it is easy to bump when grooming, resulting in it turning up or off. This is not a deal breaker and I would recommend these clippers, in fact I liked them well enough that I bought two.

The cord was long enough to give me moving around room and I like to move around, especially when it comes to grooming wiggly little poodles.

Product Description

* High-torque permanent magnetic rotary motor clipper (picture shown above is red, but only pink available)

* Ideal for body and face cutting on all coat types

* Delivers 3200 strokes per minute

* Ergonomic, lightweight, low-maintenance clipper

* Durable ceramic Detachable blades system (interchangeable with Oster, Andis, Wahl blades) with cryogenic ceramic technology stays over 50% cooler and sharper longer than conventional blades

* 4 Comb attachments (1/4", 1/8", 3/8", 1/2")

* Comes with #10 (Leaves hair 1/16", 1.6mm) detachable blade

* 10' Power Cord

* Comes in its own attractive carrying bag for easy portability

and end up looking like this! 

POODLE PERFECTION!!

Acer Aspire 5534 Laptop

I bought an Acer Aspire 5534 Laptop about 3 years ago for a REALLY cheap price at Walmart. I was in desperate need of a laptop and this was one I could get into for an affordable price. Here are the specs of the laptop.

• AMD Athlon" 64 X2 dual-core processor L310, 1.2GHz Per Processor
• 4GB DDR2 memory / 250GB hard drive
• 15.6" high-definition LED backlit widescreen display
• SuperMulti double-layer DVD drive / Wireless Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition
• Cases and Expandability
• Weight: 6 pounds

Okay, I knew it was a cheap laptop so I wasn't expecting much. However, I LOVE IT!! Now I don’t do anything super fancy with it. I mainly surf the web and do things on Microsoft office. However, I do have some more complicated photo editing software downloaded on it and it handles everything really well. Now I am one of those people that can’t stand a slow computer, it drives me crazy. The Aspire 5534 may not be the fastest, but it is fast enough for me to do everything I want it to do. Three years later and the laptop is still fast and still working great. I also love that it comes with a keyboard that includes the number pad. Just a small thing but it is really nice. The only problem with it is the CD/DVD drive is a little flimsy. I also didn’t like that I had to buy Microsoft Office separately but I think that is somewhat standard in laptop purchases so I wasn’t surprised.

All in all, I would recommend this laptop to anyone. It is a good affordable laptop that will work for anyone looking to do basic tasks.