2024 ~ TEO DEGAS' REVIEWS

12/28/2024

SuckUK Tin Food Truck Lunch Box

I love tin boxes for everything: for tea, pulses, sewing, crafts, office supplies, stationery, makeup or for any storage purpose. I find them more sustainable and durable than plastic, and way prettier. I didn't buy this box for my lunches at all, but to store some small items. SuckUp has the coolest looking boxes out there.

I've had this fancy tin lunch box in my Amazon wish-list for over 3 years because, although I love the design, the price has been ridiculously high (max of $60 and minimum of $40). Yet, patience paid off, and the box was finally sold during a flash sale at a fair $23, which is the lowest price I've ever seen it. "Seasons came and changed the time". The huntress was ready. "Bang Bang, I shot you down." After the flash sale the box went up to $48. "Bang Bang, you hit the ground." I thought I deserved a tiara or something.

The box is good-quality tin and the design is gorgeous, with all the details of the food truck printed; even the bottom is printed. The box is really spacious, more than the product page photos make you think. Would your lunch fit in? I think if you don't put the drink inside, yes. Perhaps a sandwich or two with some small chocolate bars an one or two small pieces of fruit. Yet, you can use the box for myriad other storage purposes.

The door opens like a food truck's does, upwards. But, right there, there is an issue. The latch and locking system are badly designed or just defective because, when the tin is unlocked, the cover protrudes up and does not rest down properly at all (see my photos). Even when it's locked, the door does not rest down completely. To close the door, you have to push the latch down and, at the same time, push the door cover inwards. This is not that practical, quite annoying and it does not always work. At this stage, ain't sure whether this is a design fault or just part of a faulty batch. "Bang Bang, that awful sound."

The handle is less sturdy than other tin's handles I own and it does not stand erect or can be tucked away inside the upper latches.

Furthermore, I was expecting the product to come in a fancy package to match the fancy price and branding. However, it arrived inside a generic brown box. A repurposed return? "Bang Bang, I hit the ground."

Now the big questions.

> Did the box disappoint me upon arrival? Yes, for the reasons mentioned above. "And 'till this day sometimes I cry."

> Did I think it was worth the waiting time? Perhaps not. Bang, Bang.

> Do I think that the usual high price is justified? Totally NOT. Bang, Bang. The price I paid for it is fair and what I think the product should be sold for.

> Do I recommend the purchase? Yes, if the locking system worked and the price was less than $25. If you fancy it, check it out in a offline shop so that you can verify that the latch is working properly

"Now he's gone. I don't know why." He has been returned, that's why.

(NB/ My Amazon review is obviously less Bang-Bangy for obvious reasons).

Stabilo Woody 18 Assorted Colours with Sharpener and Paint Brush

I've been dying to get my hands on one these sets for years. They're quite expensive, but I got this half price on Prime Day. The set contains 18 beautiful bright colours, an XL sharpener (which is great to have as these pencils aren't standard size by any means) and a good quality brush.

Stabilo Woody pencils used to be cheap, as they were a product created for children. This was until artists noticed their quality and versatility; then, prices rose to match artists' pockets. They are non-toxic and can be used on paper, cardboard and glass.

The pencils are chunky, have velvety great-quality pigments and are water soluble. They are a hybrid between watercolour pencils, crayons and oil pastels. This set has a great selection of vibrant colours, two metallics, and three neutrals, which is more than I need. They work wonderfully as watercolours, and they dissolve and spread uniformly. Besides, the colours keep their vibrancy once dry.

As per my photo, all the pencils in my set have their lead point deformed. The points look like a volcanic outburst. It's a bit annoying as I wanted the point to be pointy obviously. The set seems to be part of a faulty batch, and this might explain the price reduction. For a second, I thought that the set might be forfeited, but after using the pencils I'm sure they're genuine due to their pigment quality and workability.

It was not crystal clear to me from the packaging whether these pencils are lightfast or not. After some online browsing, I've found that some of the colours are and others aren't. The lightfastness rating is shown as a number of stars on the pencil barrel after the colour number. This being the case, I'm inclined to use them in sketches and art journaling not as much on anything that I might consider precious. If you work on mixed media, you'll need to seal the colours with matte/gloss medium so that they don't smudge when applying a layer of any other material on top of them. UV varnishes also improve the life of any paint.

The pencils original box is great for shipping as the wallet holds the pencils tight. After an intercontinental trip, they arrived in perfect conditions, not damaged or scratched as I feared. At the same time, the wallet is bulky, not really storage-friendly, so I've binned it and put the set in a small fabric pouch.

This is such a cool idea. Initially designed to hang up children's drawings, I bought it to store and display some of my small artwork at home. It has a storage back, behind elastic bands where you can store several A4 items. It comes with 4 different types of passpartout, which are ideals to display paintings with narrower or wider margins; besides, they make great viewfinders. The magnetic 'buttons' clip on/off easily and keep everything secure. I can display the frame horizontally or vertically, or hang it from the wall, all of which makes the frame very versatile. The cover is real semi-glossy glass, which makes everything looks great and it isn't too glare-ish.

Having said that, I want to pinpoint a few let-downs. The first one is the fact that the hinges are really visible and chunky, so this rests finesse to the display, and makes the frame unfit for main areas. Yet, it's alright my studio or in a child's room The second let-down is that getting the items behind the elastic bands is something tricky, because they tightly fit the storage space but, due to the elastic bands acting as resistance, getting the paper out without damaging the edges can be tricky. Needless to say, this might not be relevant if you store not valuable stuff. Finally, the coating is not good quality paint and not thick enough, so I can already see that the edges show some tiny imperfections.

I bought this heavily discounted but I think that the average price is a bit too high for some of the flaws mentioned. Ikea's frames are way cheaper and better quality; yet, they aren't the same versatile design.

This set of spoons looks as fabulous in real life as in the photo. They are great for my large containers of loose tea, sugar, coffee and chocolate. They are a bit bigger than expected for a spoon that is described as small and mini in the product info page. As you can see in my photo, they are as long as an average teaspoon. They are deeper than the metallic spoon on the photo, so the quantity you get is almost the same or a tiny bit less. In that regard, I was disappointed as I expected this to be a mini spoon not an almost average teaspoon. Now, this is not a spoon that I would use and wash every day due to the use I give them, but I've washed them by hand and it I didn't notice any decolourisation or scratching. In short, a lovely set of wooden average teaspoons that can be used for different purposes, but not mini by any means.

These batteries are perfect for the many small led tea-lights and battery-operated Xmas figurines and decor elements that I own. Price is unbeatable if compared with most brands producing this type of batteries. This two-package is just perfect for my Christmas needs and the batteries work perfectly.

I got this to have in my office drawers. These are terrific cheap all-purpose scissors. For the price you don't get the best quality of materials, but the blades are still made of stainless. This pair is not for professional purposes but great for most office and school purposes. I find the handle size perfect for my small hands and the overall length good for most purposes. They are very light due to the handle being made of cheap plastic. They have a 2-year guarantee, which is impressive for a $4 pair.

I don't get the brand bragging about this pair being made of 60% recycled materials. Really, if you have to brag about anything, brag about having your products made of 100% recycled. That would impress me.

I've had two types of needled bottles before getting this set, the original expensive brand and a generic brand. However, this Expesumas set is my favourite by far. These little bottles are fit for both glue and paint, but I only use them with fluid/flow acrylic paint, for which they are great.

The bottles are good quality plastic with three indications of ml levels. Each bottle comes with a luer-lock cap (connector cap) where to insert the needle tips, a cap for this lock, plus the 4 different needle tips sizes (3 items for each size).

I use the connector cap as a controlling dispenser to use small quantities of fluid acrylic paint; this allows me to do this without leakage and without blocking the pout. This saves me product as many of the flow acrylics I own squirt out of the tub on their own, wasting product and even staining my hands and clothes. So these bottles are awesome to store those paints, dispense them properly and prevent spillage. Filling them with paint is also great because the only thing you have to do is unscrew the lock cap and them screw it back.

One of the main issues with other needle bottles I've used in the past is that the acrylic paint/ink tends to dry inside the needle, clog it, and eventually ruin the whole cap system, which ends either in wasting the bottle or having to pay for new caps. However, these needle bottles' locking system is great. These needles are easy to "plug"/"unplug" and easy to clean, so you only plug them when needed.

Good value for money, as well. I've already bought two sets.

This screen protector is designed for Oppo Find X5, which isn't my phone, but the size 6.7in matched my Oppo A98's so I purchased it as it was good priced.

The package contains two items. I always worry when I get two for one because 1/ it might indicate that the product is bad quality and will break/deteriorate soon or 2/ the item is difficult to position and you might need to try the first one to perfectly use the second one. The latter was my case. The package also comes with a dust cleaner and a positioner.

There is a video on how to properly position the protector on the product description page. I should have watched the video, but I didn't. As a result, I got bubbles galore, some of them impossible to remove. Then, I had to use the spare protector. Sometimes less is more -- I want one screen protector that's easy to adhere and doesn't create bubbles without having to watch any video.

The protector is responsive to touch, but the second item also lasted little time as its edges were bumping against my phone's rubber case, and it ended coming off on its own when taking it out of my handbag. Perhaps the protector would have had no issues if used with Oppo Find X5, but anyway, it did not work for me.

This is part of the Dahlia Daze tea set sky-blue line, which is sold by the piece. This can be used as a try to hold the matching milk jug and the sugar bowl or as a serving plater for small petit-fours, or cheese & crackers, or small cookies and chocolates, or just for a cup of tea and a piece of cake. In that regard, it's very versatile. I'm visually driven, so I tend to put my food on dinnerware where the colours of the food stand out over the plate where they're place, that is, where both the food and the plate style create a visually appealing combination. And this is, to me, the major flaw of the tray. The gorgeous design visually overwhelms anything you put on it. Besides, unlike most of the brand's china, this line and tray are not dishwasher or microwave safe.

Generic Artist Viewfinder

This is a generic viewfinder or view-catcher made of great quality plastic, as good as the original but at a fraction of the price. Viewfinders are great for open-air painting to frame the image you want to paint, or to select the best composition by framing the view and moving the finder around till the composition is of of your liking. The holes allow to isolate colours on the paper and on the view being captured. The viewfinder can also be used on small to medium sketches to single out areas to find the best composition. One of those tools that every artist needs.

Myer.com.au (online retailer)

I buy often from Myer online, especially during big sales as the prices are really good. I regularly check my wish-list to check the pricing of items I fancy or need to know when a product is heavily discounted or not. Overall, I have a great experience with the online retailer. They tend to dispatch quickly, and they incentivise reviews by entering you into a draw for a cash prize. I like the website organisation and quality of information and photos. I use the wish list all the time, but ain't a fan of not being able to create more for different categories or products.

In the past, I've bought items from them before Christmas within the Christmas cutout date and they've always fulfilled them quickly and arrived in time. I did the same this year. I bought two items on the same order on 11 December (it seems that something happened on the day because of the pile of negative reviews related to that date). I received one item within 4 days. The other one, from one of the labels they partner with and have shops within Myer's shops, was intended for a friend's birthday present before Christmas but, after ten natural days the product has not even reached AuPost. So they cannot blame them for the delay. Worst thing is that Myer does not take responsibility because it is only 7 business days. "Only"... just for a inner-state dispatch.

I called CS. The first CS lady I talked to was not really helpful, not able to listen or do anything; she says "I really get it but we cannot refund you because the parcel is on its way". No, it is not on its way, it has not started its way yet after 16 natural days. She hung up on me as soon as I said I wanted to lodge a complaint. I called again. this time to complaints, and the second guy was lovely and genuinely checked things. As the parcel comes from a supplier, and it is within the business day time bracket, they cannot refund it yet, but it it was before the Christmas period cutout period set by Myer. So the guy said that he messaged the supplier requesting cancellation, but it's up to the supplier, who can take up to 3 business days to reply, meaning after Christmas.

I buy online because I work FT and it is a hassle for me to go anywhere on public transport. If they had provided some sort of refund or credit or actually informed me that there was a delay in posting the parcel at the due time, I would have bought a gift for my friend already.

I won't buy from Myer suppliers before Christmas ever again, because Myer washes their hands if any problem occurs, but they are the ones I'm buying from, not the supplier. There are delays because it's pre-Christmas. Well, lovelies, organise yourself better and put the Christmas cutout date earlier, you know. Have better logistics and better CSOs who don't hang up on customers who are talking respectfully to them just because they mention the word complaint.

PS/ It's 27 Dec and my parcel has not been sent yet and no reply from the supplier.

PS/ It's 2 Jan and the parcel has not been dispatched or I have not received notification of any sort. I raised an incident with Paypal, but Myer has not replied whatsoever, so I'll be complaining.

PS/ It's 11 Jan, a month since purchase. I put a claim against Myer on with Paypal, to which they have not responded, reacted or cared about. Paypal CS has been supportive and, if they return the money, I'll shut up. But, if they don't, I will go to Consumers Affairs and lodge a proper complaint.

Maxwell & Williams Teas & C's (Silk Road Aqua) Side Plate 19.5cm

Designed by New-Zealander ceramist Gabby Malpas, this is a gorgeous side plate that I find perfect for breakfast or cake. The design is a mix of modern romantic dinnerware with a hint of those nonna's plates that we all love. I prefer the white background version, but this blue one is still very pretty. Great quality porcelain, that I usually wash by hand; however, it is dishwasher safe. It is also microwave safe, but I haven't used it in the latter. This is part of a tea set with an equally stunning teacup and saucer, but I bought this separately at reduced price. Perfect of gifting as it comes in a pretty and sturdy box. Good value for money, at least when I bought it.

Stamperia paper pads and collections are always a favourite among world-wide crafters and collagers due to their beautiful design elements, the fantastic paper, and the excellent printing quality. This Forest collection (designed by Cristina Radovan) is utterly gorgeous. It has a fairy-tale or fable flair with gorgeous colours.The many elements included are perfect for so many different kinds of craft or collage projects, for art spreads or just to make your own greeting cards. Therefore, the pad is really versatile.

The sentiments in this pad are multi-lingual, something I love, but that might disappoint people if you are just speak English.

The advantage of the double-sided pads, besides being cheaper, is that you have more elements to use, as each side of the sheet has different printing elements. The downside is that you might love both sides but will have to sacrifice one or the other when you use one.

I bought this pad very discounted during Prime Day week, but all Stamperia pads are always pricey.

Stamperia International paper pads, this included, are gorgeous. The imagery, the paper thickness and the printing quality are always paramount. The Klimt collection (designed by Sara Alcobendas) is beautiful and really evokes Klimt's work and spirit.

This pad contains abstracts patterns, figures, and written decorative sentiments all of which are versatile pieces that can be easily incorporated into many different craft and collage projects; they're also perfect for art journal spreads. Each sheet has different printing elements on each side.

This is the second item I buy from this collection and I've noticed that the printing tonality is different from the previous pad I bought. This one is way darker and more brownish, not the golden vibe that the other had, which is what is shown in the product page. For a second I thought it might not be legit, but the quality of the paper and detailed printing is Stamperia's.

The advantage of the double-sided pads (beyond being cheaper than then single sided) is that you have more elements to use. The downside is that you might love both sides of a sheet but when you use one of htem you lose something at the back or front that you might love.

I bought this pad very discounted during one of the Prime Day promotions, but Stamperia pads are always pricey.

This is the first time I use this product. I really like the creaminess of this mask and how well detangles my hair with a small amount of product.

I haven't used as a leave-in conditioner so I cannot comment on that. I've used it both as a conditioning mask (shampoo, rinse, applied mask, left on for 3 minutes, detangled, washed out) and as a deep treatment mask (dried my hair after rinsing shampoo, applied a thick layer, left it on for 10 minutes and then washed out) and the results have been great on my hair, which looked nourished and shiny afterwards. I was fearing that I might need to use a lot of product as I have long wavy hair, but it was not the case. I like the creamy neutral scent, which I think is perfect for any gender.

If I compare this mask with my preferred usual hair mask from another brand, this matches the results I get from the latter. Although I bought this Maui's heavily discounted during a flash sale, I don't think I would want to pay its standard price when my other mask does the same job at a cheaper price. Having said that, I will definitely buy it again if I get it discounted.

Ustiya Clear TPU Four Corners Protective Case for Oppo A38 & A18

Nothing fancy about this case, just a silicone clear 'glove' that fits perfectly my Oppo A18. I love this clear case as it not only economic but it really protects the phone without masking its original features. The protruding corners are really great and improve handling and secure grip, preventing the phone from slipping off. So far, so good.

I've bought almost every variety of Red Rod Deli chips, seasonal, famous chef, usual varieties and anything they product. I love the brand and everything they do, but this plain variety is the one I always return to because it's the one with less preservatives, less additives and the 'healthy' variety if you want. They taste of what they're supposed to taste, have the right amount of crunch and of salt, and they are plain delicious. Just potatoes, salt, oil and some preservatives (which seem to be unavoidable these days).This pack is great for two people to munch on, to fill in a bowl if you have visitors or just for yourself to snack two or three times. I bought this heavily discounted and that made my day.

McAfee Total Protection 3 Devices

I've tried most antivirus protection software out there, and McAfee Total Protection is my favourite due to the seamless unnoticeable working in the background and the many features it comes packed with, VPN included. I don't always buy it because it can be pricey, but I bought this kit in one of the Prime glorious days at nearly half price.

The product was sent from UK, so when I tried to activate the card I found the following, "This product is available for several regions", and then a drop-down menu with UK and Ireland as the only two options. I panicked for a sec thinking that it might be valid just in those countries, but it is not. I clicked "continue" and the process of activation was super easy and superfast. Installation on my household mobiles was also easy breezy.

McAFee has been in the antivirus market for a long time, but, unlike Norton, has learned how to evolve, improve and make things easier, including an excellent VPN service at no extra cost, offering value for money with the VPN being really good.

The main downside is the fact that soon after you are happy that you aren't getting any self-promo within the program, they;ll start popping up prompting you to upgrade and pay extra for device tuning services or extra features that are not really cheap. However, I paid little for this software and it does a great job.

Oshhni Enamel Austronaut Pin

This is a very cute and funny pin perfect to put on a school/travel backpack or just to wear on a casual tshirt or jacket. I see this more for children than for adults, and it's fit for both girls and boys as long as the child likes astronomy and the outer space. I bought this pin for my nephew and he loved it. The closure is not the safest, so I fear that might easily get loose and lost. Mind -- The product size showing on the product pages photos is incorrect, as the pin is way smaller.

This is a large (or larger than average) pop-up card made of good quality cardboard and printed in really beautiful bright colours. It looks as good as in the photo. It has a stand-alone note to write the greeting message if you don't want to ruin the card. I used the white spaces to write my message, but you might not want to do the same. I consider this perfect for male and female as long as they've shown interest in aviation, rockets, flying etc.

Dilmah Infusions Green Rooibos with Coconut and Mango, 40 Grams

This is a healthy tisane made of green rooibos (not the usual red variety) and not suitable for milk tea. The ingredients are mostly tea, 5% mango and 5% coconut; nothing else. This tea smells delicious and has a sweet-ish taste but no sugar in it. The flavour is equally yummy and satisfying. I cannot distinguish the coconut flavour at all. The aroma and flavour are more peach than mango to me. Nevertheless, a delicious flavoursome tisane with no caffeine. The teabag material is great quality.

I use this set of bowls all the time mostly as side dishes, to store small quantities of leftovers, and also to serve fruit, ice-cream and deserts. Beautiful porcelain and motifs perfect for everyday use but still fun and beautiful. The set comes beautifully packed, so it's perfect for gifting.These ceramic bowls are microwave and dishwasher safe.

My only complaint is that the blue colour in the photos and the colour of my set is completely different. The one in the photos is a light Mediterranean kinda blue. The one I got is more an Indigo blue; still beautiful but not as much as the one in the product page photos.

Canson Montval 300gsm/140lb Cold-Pressed Watercolour-Paper Wired Pad (20 sheets, 5.5x8.5in)

I love Canson watercolour paper pads as they're always very decent quality, affordable and perfect to use as sketchbooks. I've been using this pad often, and the paper quality is good for mixed media, which is what I bought it for. I haven't used it with watercolours yet; mostly with acrylics paint, acrylic inks, crayons, pens, Posca ad Pitt Pen markers and it stands most things beautifully even without previous gesso priming. I love the pages micro-perforation as it allows me to use them as stand-alone sheets, or keep them as a pad.

On the flip side, this Montval series is more like a student pad, so worse paper quality than other Canson pads I own and also re the quality of the front and back covers, which is quite bad. Besides, the paper doesn't handle rubbing well, and sometimes the paper sands off if not primed. That being the case, now I gesso the pages that I intend to rub or scratch. I would not use this pad paper for professional purposes.

For the rest a good affordable study or student watercolour pad with decent quality paper.

I bought this medium-size pencil wrap just to store some stand-alone pencils and markers. The canvas quality is stupendous;, sturdy, and better than another wrap I own. The printed design is cool and vibrant and very good quality printing; I'd say that the motif is genderless. This wrap rolls well despite the canvas thickness and it can be stored vertically. I love these wraps as they protect the pencils tips, can be stored vertically, something I usually do to maximize storage space, and are perfect for travelling. Good value for money, too!

Double D Sugar-Free Choco Drops 70 g

These lollies are really nice, and taste similar to what a sugar lolly would taste. However, the taste is not really chocolaty or does not remind me of chocolate either except for the colour. It reminds me more of the sugar-free version of Werthers Original flavour. The sweetener use in this candy is laxative, so there is a limit to the number of these I consume in a day. For the rest nice lollies.

This is my preferred silver marker among the ones I own. I don't lime most of my acrylic silver markers. However, this one won me over for many reasons. The metallic silver colour is really noticeable and the colour it should be, not too dark not too clear, just a beautiful silver tone. Also, the ink flows effortlessly and cleanly. The marker draws crisp neat lines, which makes it perfect for highlights or accents on any acrylic paint if the pieces are dry; Otherwise, it would smudge and the nib would get ruined. The marker is made of good quality material and the to cap fastens well.Well priced, too.

Ain't sure about the pigment lightfastness but the information I've found online seems to indicate that is more so than other types of markers. It is not a waterproof marker I would say but it gets fixed using a fixative once it has completely dried.

This is such a great value-for-money set. The two colours pen-looking mechanical pencils came in two gorgeous colours. They hold medium-thickness lead (7m), something I love as it's allows for very smooth and velvety writing. The pack comes with a refillable leads tub and a replacement erasers tube so these are kept tidy and safe. The pencils are very plastic looking but also very light. Nothing I would use to impress anyone, but just what I needed.

Very nice brand of chips. Just chips and salt, nothing else added. They are crunchy but not as crunchy as other brands. I don't like chips that are too salty, but, to me, these reduced-salt is a bit too reduced. For me, they would have needed of a tiny bit of more salt to be tastier. For the rest, lovely chips.

This jug is part of the Dahlia Daze blue background porcelain tea set. The whole collection is gorgeous and very arty, like a materialised watercolour in your hands. The set pieces are sold individually.

This jug is one of my fav pieces. It's not just the beauty of it as it looks like a hand-painted watercolour. It is also that it is very practical for me, something I use almost every day. I love having small milk jugs or creamers beside my tea pot or coffee pot. The piece comes is a gorgeously designed beautiful good-quality box, perfect for gifting.

The main downside is that, unlike most of Maxwell & Williams porcelain products, this one is not dishwasher or microwave safe, the latter I guess because of the gilded motifs. I love hand-washing, and that's not a problem, but not being microwave safe it's just annoying because it forces me to warm the milk in another container and then pour it into this. Just senseless.

This sugar bowl is part of the Dahlia Daze blue background collection. Although very artistic. it has no designer or artist name attached to it. It's part of a tea set, but each piece is sold individually.

This is a beautiful piece regarding colours, design and shape. The golden accents enhance the watercolour-like floral design. The shape and size of the bowl makes it perfect for either its original purpose as a sugar container or, as I do, as storage bowl to keep small chocolate pieces, cookies and other sweet treats. I see this also as a perfect trinket box. It comes in a gorgeously designed beautiful box, perfect for gifting.

The main downside of the this piece is that, unlike most of Maxwell & Williams porcelain, this one is not dishwasher safe, the latter I guess because of the gilded motifs. On the other hand, the need to use the dishwasher is nothing needed to do often with this sort of container.

Elephtree Fish-Shaped Pencil Case

I bought this super-cute fabric pouch heavily discounted on a Prime Day. I just wanted something light to put it several some of my left over markers. The pouch design is playful and original; the colours are muted, close to pastels, and perfectly captured by the product page photos. I was able to store 9 average markers and 2 size-5M Posca markers. There is still room for two or three fine ones, a small eraser or a small sharpener.

I would use this for a getaway trip for either some markers/pens/pencils or small items of makeup. Despite the photos showing large items of makeup in the product page, this pouch would not hold anything large and round, mostly linear pencil-like items and small eye-shadow or lipstick containers.

Both the outer and the inner lining are made of plain fabric, no canvas or a strong material. That being the case they aren't liquid or spill proof; the material can be easily stained outside and, destroyed if any of the markers leaked inside. Also, the pouch has limited capacity as the fish tail is just decorative and does not hold anything, and the fish mouth has limited storage space.

Shary Freeze Dried Strawberry Crisps 20 g, Small

This mini bag of strawberry crisps is just a great snack with no artificial ingredients added at all. Just dried frozen crunchy flavoursome whole strawberry pieces with a bit of sugar added. Just a bit, not overly sweet and it's also low calories. I would have loved the product au natural without sugar added to be honest. The description page fails to mention that the product has 3% sugar cane, as per my photo, which is important to know for diabetics or people with high sugar levels in blood. For the rest a natural healthy (or healthier than most) snack. A bit pricey for what it is.

Amscan Plastic Rectangular Tablecover, Frosty White

I wanted something simple and inexpensive to protect my work table from paint splashes and stains, so this seemed befitting.The tablecloth is XL size, so I decided to use it double to add an extra layer of protection.

I was re-arranging my stuff on the table after placing the cover, and it got damaged by bare friction. I am very conscious about my plastic footprint. I don't have a problem with plastic as long as it's durable and good quality, but this is is neither. The material is paper thin and terrible quality. More like one-use cloth for parties and functions and something temporary on my table until I buy a good quality cover. It got torn and broken on the first day of use.

I guess you get what you pay for.

EYmann Jar, Bottle and Can Opener

The product I got doesn't look like stainless steel but more like a chrome-like metal product. Definitely not the refined product you see in the product page pictures. It opens beer bottles well. It also opens jars, but you have to be careful not to put your finger under the black slider. I have tried it with cans, and I find it unnecessary unless you have some problem with your fingers or not enough strength. In all honesty, it takes me less effort open a jar or a can with my own hands. I needed it mostly for beer can opener than anything but the price is low so the other features might come handy in the future.

I've been replacing my old side and breakfast dishes and I bought this one because it has a perfect size and the Greek vibe motif print. It's made of porcelain but has a very rustic look. I liked more the photo than the product in real life. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

This is a healthy organic clean delicate tisane that doesn't taste of any of the particular ingredients listed on the packaging. It does not taste or smell of cinnamon at all, even though the tea is sold as Cinnamon Tea and the packaging says it has 35% of cinnamon in it. So this is a tisane with some cinnamon in it not cinnamon tea. Also, the scent and flavour of this tea are totally lost and the tisane tastes more like a chamomile than of anything else, but there is no chamomile in it.

I won't buy this again. I will stick to my Celestial Cinnamon and Apple Tea, which is more expensive but one teabag brews two mugs of tea and tastes and smells of cinnamon. This one of example why tisanes should be called tisanes unless the majority of the ingredient in a tea bag is the product mentioned on the packaging.

I confess that I had a favourable bias towards toasted/roasted fava beans (broadbeans) because I grew up in the Mediterranean where this has always been around.

This is one of my favourite healthy snacks. Unlike many other healthy packaged stuff that I've tried, this snack is actually terrific regarding flavour, crunchiness and health ratings. Too many healthy snacks are tasteless, have too much sweetener, or still have sugar in them, or are not pure ingredients. Instead, this is a yummy crunchy flavoursome snack that is all natural, has no sugar, no gluten, no fats, vegan and, to top it all, it's made in Oz. Best thing, it's tastes great. I've also noticed that when I am hungry at work and have one of these mini bags as snack, it curves down my appetite for good.

I love this packaging with individual bags, as it's perfect to control portion size and to carry around in my small handbag, or to put in my lunch box or stock it in my office drawers.

NUTRA Gycemia Tea -- WTF Shopping Moment: Yes. Perhaps. No. Who knows

This product is sold as a tea to help control blood sugar by using plants traditionally known for that purpose: bitter melon, cinnamon and fenugreek. This explains the name Glycemia and, I guess, the high price. The brand is crystal clear about what they offer and their Amazon product page has great clear photos showing ingredients and preparation instructions. That's great.

Now, if you sell something marketed as Glycemia, as something to help me with any health-related issue, I expect the company to have some kind of scientific backup for their claims. Obviously they don't. And here it comes the irony: this tea is sold to assist you with you sugar levels, right? However, one of box sides clearly states the following, "This product is not designed to prevent, treat or cure any disease or medical condition." Sweet. Pun intended. So it does not help with anything. No issue, sell it as a herbal tea, not as a tea to assist with your sugar levels. But... there is more. The box printed text also says "Please seek medical advice before drinking this tea if you are on prescribed medication, suffer from high blood pressure or are pregnant." So it seems that the tea has some sort of medicinal properties that might have an interaction with medication. Like if you're taking this tea most likely you're taking tablets to control your sugar levels; otherwise, you would be drinking Early Grey. So it has some sort of medicinal properties, because if it had none, the latter comment would be unnecessary. What the heck?

My head is spinning in all directions. It reads like the company wants you to assume whatever you want to assume and they cover all sides so that you cannot sue them or any assumption that they might have contributed to create. Just ridiculous and brilliant at the same time.

If the price was average or the amount of bags in the packet many, I wouldn't mind the marketing crappola. However, these tea bags are sold at an above-average herbal tea price (like double) and with a promise of whatever you want to believe. Thank you gosh they're not selling religious books.

For the rest this is a pleasant herbal tisane, with subtle but distinctive flavour and a hint of bitterness that I love.

I was lured by the discounted priced and the hyaluronic acid in it. I know this product is widely used in face creams and serums and the results are noticeable skin wise. I don't exactly how this is achieved on the hair as hair is follicle not skin, though.

I don't get what the packaging means by "plumping". Like volumising? Thickening? My hair was a volumised after using it as it was before. My hair is wavy and thick, so perhaps people with fine sparse hair might have a different experience and results.

I don't particularly like the scent, the jelly like texture, the colouring added to it, or the fact that I had to use a lot of product to untangle my long hair and it does not untangle as well as other masks from other brand that I use. It didn't feel it was as nourishing either, not even compared to other varieties from the same brand and price range.

On the other hand, my hair looked very shiny and healthy looking after use, and the price tag is really good.

Not my fav hair mask, but a good one when I'm on a budget.

Maxwell & Williams Teas & C's Silk Road Coupe Plate 19.5cm Gift Boxed

I gifted this to myself to use as breakfast plate. The design is by Kiwi-Australian ceramist Gabby Malpas.The photo doesn't do it justice. The design is a mix of modern romantic dinnerware with a hint of those nonna's plates that we all love. Just beautiful. It's made of good quality porcelain and washes well under the tap. However, is dishwasher and microwave safe. I find this size perfect for desert and for breakfast. I use it for the latter, to place toasts, hash browns, cooked eggs and other breakky goodies. This is part of a tea set with an equally stunning teacup and saucer, but I bought this separately at reduced price. Good value for money.

I was disappointed with the flavour of these jellies, having tried other Double D varieties from the same brand. These jellies are quite chewy, something I love, and are made with stevia not sugar. However, the flavour is lacking in all of flavours in the bag. Why?! I won't buy them again.

Montana MXA324048 Acrylic Marker 2Mm Fine, Empty Marker

This is a very good quality refillable marker. This marker is easy to fill in/refill and has a metallic ball inside to prevent ink thickening. It is lightweight and the ink is easy to pump out. I used a mini funnel to fill in the marker and it worked perfectly. If I didn't have this funnel, I would have used a syringe. The bullet point works neatly and is very similar to Posca's.

Montana ink is great but also expensive, so I'm happy being able to use other acrylic inks that are less expensive and as good. Refillable markers are a need for me as I feel self-conscious about binning good-quality plastic empty markers. So I love that I can use this over and over.

A bit pricey for an empty marker, but happy to have it.

Double D Sugar Free Cola Bottles 90 g

They are chewy and the cola flavour is just lovely. They're made with Stevia instead of sugar, but they taste great. In fact, they're addictive. These gummies have a somewhat odd smell. Just a warning, despite being made of natural ingredients, the maltitol is laxative; so, if you have a bag of these on your own, you'll get diarrhoea guaranteed. Or perhaps you'd like to have a bag of these if you are constipated. It depends how you see the bottle, half empty or half full. For the rest, great sugar-free lollies and snack but to be consumed in moderation.

Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick (Make It Happen)

This is a twisty crayon lipstick in an intense flattering rich. I love the pencil concept as application and outlining are precise using minimum product. It has a matte velvety texture on the lips and dries very quickly so I don't have the feeling of having any lipstick on. It does not last as much as the long lasting lipstick by the same brand, which last me all day long even after eating. This one does not last after eating but it lasts more than other lipsticks I own.

Spiral-Bound 140lb/300gsm Cold-pressed Watercolour paper pad (26.5x26.5 cm, 20 sheet)

This large-ish pad is not only affordable and good looking but, most importantly, it has a terrific smooth watercolour paper. I've used it with Posca pens, collage, acrylic paints, water soluble materials, and stands most media without any gesso layer. Needless to say, I gesso the pages when I want to make sure that I can rub or lightly scratch the surface of my paintings. Acrylic inks will bleed if the pages are not gessoed.

I've tried many watercolour pads and art journals as sketchbook, and this one is at the top of my list due to its quality and price. The only downside is the fact that I cannot open the spiral rings, which is a bit of an annoyance as I'd like to do that to work on each sheet individually without worrying about how to protect the pad from staining. Yet, I've found my way, and this is still a great sketchbook pad for watercolour, water-soluble media and acrylic paints of different viscosity.

This is a large pop-up beautiful card, that sits flat in the envelope but becomes 3D and stands upright on its 'vase' when unfolded. It unfolds easily and fully with no effort. It is very cheery and girly. I consider this perfect for any sort of celebration e.g. I can use it for birthdays, mother's day, and to congratulate coworkers at my workplace, where plants are not allowed. It comes with a stand-alone beautiful note to write your message so the bouquet is not ruined. Even the envelope is beautiful. The size is about 8x8in.

Generic Bottle & Can Opener (5.8x2.1cm)

II grew up with this kind of can opener, and having used anything that has come out in the market, this is still my preferred type of can opener as it occupies no space in my kitchen drawers and it's easy to operate. It is two for one, as one edge is he can opener and the other is a bottle opener.

I didn't notice the dimensions when I ordered the item, so I was disappointed when I got the product and noticed that it is too small for my small hands. It looks like made for children or as a pocket tool. Easy to carry for camping, excursions, travelling and general use at home. Average metal, not stainless steel, but I was not expecting this for the price. It would have been great if it was a bit larger.

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