7/29/2023

Amazon Basics Eyelet Hole Punch Plier with 100-piece Eyelets

This is a good-value-for-money sturdy basic eyelet punch plier with 100 golden-like small eyelets. It is easy to use and I've had no issues with the included eyelets and with others I had at home. Actually, the end result was more polished with the ones I had at home, I think because they're less taller. But the golden eyelets included in the package are lovely, as per my photo. I find that using the plier with thick paper requires some strength on my part, so ain't sure if I would be able to use it with leather or stronger materials.  
 
On the other hand, the plier is quite heavy to me and my hands (despite it being labelled as 'lightweight in the product page). Besides, it only allows me to place eyelets at 2 cms or less from the paper/material border. This is more than enough for most purposes, but it's frustrating to me as I wanted to place eyelets in my artwork in places that aren't that width, and that's not possible.

Timex Women's Weekender 31mm Watch

This is my third Timex Weekender. I bought this brand and line because I've had years of awesome experience with these watches and I know what to expect; also because I wanted to replace my first weekender, which, after years, isn't working that well.  
 
As per my photo, this Weekender is targeted to women and it's slightly smaller than my previous Weekender. It looks perfect on my small wrist, not too big, not too small, and I can read the time without squinting. For the rest the watch some features I love:
 
The blue band is made of threaded nylon. I love the blue tone as it gives it an elegant look, even though this is a sport every-day watch. The best thing about this band is that is fully washable with water and hand soap, dries quickly and the color doesn't ran out.
 
The button battery lasts for a long time and is a standard battery so I can buy it  anywhere.
 
The afterglow feature is wonderful when I wake up in the middle of the night as it allows me to check and see the time perfectly.  
 
I can wash my dishes or deal with water without worrying about a water splash damaging my watch. I would not be swimming with it, but if I forgot to remove it, it is 30m water resistant. 

The instructions leaflet comes in different languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch, Japanese, Mandarin and Russian,
 
Good value for money overall and I love it.
 
DOWNSIDES
> You'll notice that the battery is running out because the time starts to get imprecise. Said differently, the battery doesn't have a capacitor that holds the power consistently, so when the battery is low, it affects the time reading.
> The same can be said of the after-dark glow. You'll notice that the battery is low because the glow barely lights up. 
>  Packaging is poor and the methacrylate holder is not the best; the quality of the plastic is good but not the design. The cardboard box is bad quality and arrived in a bad condition.
> The multi-lingual booklet of instructions is wrapped up tightly around the watch holder and it is written in tiny-winy font size, so I need to use a magnifying lens to read it.  

 

7/26/2023

English Tea Shop Gift Pack Your Wellness Collection Light Blue 36 Sachets, 54 g

I'll be honest, I bought this tea pack because I love the tin box and I wanted to add it to my collection of ETS tins at home. The illustrations and overall quality of the tin are just beautiful and I use this one to store craft materials. It's not just that I wanted to have the tin, I knew beforehand that I would get good-quality organic herbal-blend tisane teas. The varieties in this pack didn't disappoint me. They are beautiful light enjoyable clean teas with no caffeine, so I drink them in the evening without a worry; now that's Winter I drink these teas instead of water as they are hot, healthy and taste good. The labeling information on the tin and the way it's displayed are excellent, something I don't take for granted. 

Vegeta Chicken Stock Powder 200 gms

This is a staple in my kitchen pantry. There are many reasons for it. The first is that this is large good-value jar with plenty of product in it. The second is that the flavor is good so it lifts all the dishes I add it to; it has a good amount of salt (even if the jar says 'reduced') so I don't add salt to my dishes if I'm using this stock powder. The third is that, as it is powder, not cubes, I can add the right amount of product without wasting anything.  Fourth, the inner foil-lining keeps the product fresh and aromatic for a long time and the jar lasts me for months. Fifth and last, it has no MSG.
 
DOWNSIDES
Barely any chicken in it (1%). It's mostly veggies, spices, fats and oils, as per the list of ingredients on the jar back. Also it is sold as 'no added flavours' but the list of ingredients shows 'flavour (chicken)' so what does this mean?
 
It tends to solidify after using a wet spoon or after a long time of no use, but the 'caking' is easily broken down with a fork.
 
The jar small lettering is barely legible due to the lack of contrast between the lettering and the yellow background so I use a magnifying glass to read anything written in it.
 
MIND
I don't use to drink it, just as a cooking condiment, so I cannot comment on the taste as a drinkable broth.

Friinder Pen Pencil Telescopic Holder Pen Holder Bag (Pink)

This is such a cute telescopic pen holder. I love the Kawaii pink style design; it brings out the child in me. It has plenty or room inside. I have put many markers and pencils inside and there is still room for more. The holder is plastic-lined inside, which prevents leaking from possible ink spills. The outer part is sturdy canvas and it stands upright easily. The design is really good as the straw part in the design helps me pull the pouch up easily while the two lower tabs help me to pull the pouch down. The zip is good quality. as well. This holder is a bit taller than other similar pen holders I own, so I can put some of my longer pencils and markers inside. Not my Tombows (see my photo) if I want to zip the pouch. As it is made of canvas, I don't put it on my table when using acrylics as it can be stained easily.

Unbranded Telescopic Pouch Pen Holder (White& Black Grid)

For the rest, a great good-looking pen holder. The only downside is that it's slightly shorter than most telescopic pen holders I own, so my longest new pencils or my dual Tombow markers won't fit in if I want to zip the pouch. Also, there is no tab to pull up tab to help bring the upper pouch up. I love this pen holder. It has a very elegant gender-neutral style that I love.  Most importantly, it holds a lot of pens, pencils and markers inside, as per my photos. It's plastic-lined inside, so the outer fabric won't get stained if there is ink spillage. The outer part is made of sturdy canvas so it stands upright without a problem.  It has a good-quality zip, too.

7/23/2023

Yellow-Price Wearable Blanket with Zipper Oversized Hoodie

This oversized hoodie is the comfiest item of clothing I've bought this year. I really love wearing it because of its plush tact, warmth and how light feels on. I thought it would not be as warm as it is due to the lightness of the materials it's made of, but it is. 
 
The size is really huge and I think it can fit most adults. The sleeves cuff around the wrists holding the excess sleeve length that can be expected from an oversized item. This is important as I tend to do the dishes or cook with this robe on and the cuffing prevents my sleeves to get fully stained or fully soaked; I still have to be careful as the excess material is still there.  
 
The hood part of the hoodie is also a bliss to wear, something I do when it's really cold at room temperature and my heater obviously doesn't reach my head. I especially love the feeling around my ears when I have it on.

I like the discreet neutral color, which doesn't stand out (for the wrong reasons) when I go out to get the rubbish out, for example. Also, it doesn't feel like a pajama or child-like as other oversized winter hoodies. 

I bought this one at a discounted price and that's an added bonus.
 
This has become a winter essential for me and I wear it all day long when at home. I have noticed that, since I started using this hoodie, I switch my heater way less, which makes me happy because that's power and money I'm saving. 
 
DOWNSIDES
Some of the inner fleece started coming off almost immediately and I worry that it'll  come off once I put it in the washing machine. I will update this review and rating after my first wash if needed. 
 
Also, the zip came unsewn on the upper part after barely any use and, not even a month after purchase, the zip head got broken for no reason. So, not the best craftsmanship or quality.  

UPDATE 14/04/2023
I've washed the hoodie in the washing machine, everyday sort of setting, high speed spinning, and it washed well and, despite my initial fears, no fleece came off.