ARTICLE – When my son was in kindergarten and first grade, he struggled mightily with pencil grip. The spongy nubs his school district provided to help with this problem just never seemed to do the trick for him. After consulting with his teachers and doing my own research, we ordered wishbone-shaped writing utensils that forced […]
Child struggling with pencil grip or handwriting? Try a wishbone Read More
NEWS – I never thought my gadget-obsessed teen would get excited about an old-school portable radio. But here we are. When my son first went to sleep-away camp in the hills of Brown County, Indiana, he asked for a battery-operated radio to listen to while fishing or just chilling in his hammock after a busy
Portable radio that even teenagers like Read More
NEWS – As we continue to work from home, there’s been one consistent challenge: Our dogs. They might be sweet and silent for hours, but as soon as that conference call starts, they suddenly need to bark at every squirrel, bird or leaf that passes by the window. Or they absolutely must chase each other
Slow feeder keeps dogs quiet and occupied…at least, for a while Read More
REVIEW – Imalent flashlights pack a very bright punch in very small packages. What is it? We reviewed two small flashlights from Imalent. The LD70 is branded as a powerful keychain, with an impressive 4,000 lumens. At just a bit larger, the MS03 fits in your palm with room to spare and packs an incredible
Imalent LD70 and MS03 flashlight review Read More
NEWS – My son goes to a rustic camp each summer. The first year, he took note from the experienced camp counselors: Trade your bunk for a hammock. After that, he’s been on a quest for the best hammock so he can sleep under stars swinging from two trees, instead of on a bunk bed
Simple hammock from Decathlon is “perfect” Read More
NEWS – I was a bit shocked my husband wanted to spend more than 30 bucks on a swivel for our tree swing. But it was a good move, just ask the neighbor kids or any of my sons’ buddies. With 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon and 479 ratings, I was expecting high
AusKit Swing Swivel makes an awesome tree swing Read More
NEWS – I wrote about the Jackbox Party Pack on Feb. 5. And again on April 16. Because I’m a big fan of these quirky, online party games. But more importantly, because they’ve been a lifeline during quarantine and social distancing, as we’ve hosted virtual games nights with far-flung family members, old friends from all
Want to play Jackbox with a younger crowd? Get Party Pack 2. Read More
ARTICLE – I wrote about the Jackbox Party Pack on Feb. 5. Never did I imagine two months later this quirky trivia game package would be a lifeline to friends and family during a pandemic. But here we are. Longing for some company beyond our four walls, and especially missing our extended family over the
Jackbox offers quirky, fun games you can play remotely Read More
REVIEW – Senstroke connected drumsticks lets drummers play, record and learn from anywhere. What is it? These drumsticks have sensors that allow you to rock out, even during a global pandemic and quarantine. Using the Senstroke app and your connected device, you can customize your virtual drum kit. There are even foot pedal sensors to
Senstroke electronic drum set review Read More
NEWS – The first time we tried walking our two dogs together, it could have been a YouTube hit if anyone was filming. It was crazy, with two leashes and two dogs, accompanied by three humans trying to wrangle them, constantly tangled up and tripping over each other. Bummed that I may never be able
Double leash is handy for two-dog families but not all pups Read More
REVIEW – The Voiz AiRadio Duo isn’t your typical speaker. It’s classy, high quality and meant to stay in one place. What is it? The VR-80 AiRadio Duo smart speaker pairs with a variety of streaming services, Alexa and it’s own app. In addition to playing music, you can use it with Alexa to set
Voiz AiRadio Duo smart Bluetooth speaker review Read More
NEWS – We got our Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner and Upright Shampooer when we adopted our first dog four years ago. It was extremely helpful then, and since we recently added another puppy to our family, it’s been getting a ton of use lately. For only $129, on sale right now on Amazon,
New puppy? Get a Hoover Power Scrub carpet shampooer Read More
NEWS – When we brought home our cute little rescue dog, I was flummoxed when she tore her own collar right off. I thought it might have been a fluke. Until she did it a second time with a brand new collar. There’s nothing scarier than living near a busy street with a dog who
Pup likes to pull? Hamilton can help. Read More
NEWS – When I was in college in the late ‘90s, my friends and I enjoyed the You Don’t Know Jack computer-based trivia games. These days, the same folks are still at it with the modernized Jackbox Games. After hearing some promising reviews, we got the Jackbox Party Pack 3 for Nintendo Switch for $24.99.
Don’t know Jack? Try Party Pack anyway. Read More
REVIEW – The Amarey A980 robotic vacuum works well and is intuitive to use. But be cautious if you plan to take advantage of the scheduling feature. What is it? This robotic vacuum is easy to set up. It does a good job cleaning, avoiding getting stuck and alerting you to any issues. Unfortunately, the
Amarey A980 robot vacuum review Read More
REVIEW – Do you have hundreds of photos on your phone that you don’t know what to do with? The Epson Expression XP-8600 photo printer lets you make professional-looking prints and photo gifts at home for a reasonable price. What is it? The photo printer connects to your phone, computer, SD card or USB thumb
Epson Expression XP-8600 photo printer review Read More
REVIEW – GameSir’s VX2 AimSwitch is a light-up gaming keyboard and mouse combination that can be used on multiple platforms to enhance your gaming experience. What is it? This gaming extension offers lots of fun possibilities to ramp up your enjoyment while playing XBox, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch or your PC. It’s backlight with nearly
Gamesir VX2 Aimswitch and F4 Falcon gaming controller review Read More
REVIEW – The Exway X1 Pro-Riot belt-driven electric skateboard appeals to adrenaline junkies and commuters alike, covering 8+ miles on a single charge and zooming with speeds up to 29 miles per hour. What is it? This electric skateboard has a longboard design, with weather-resistant features and extra-large wheels. It’s controlled with a handheld remote
Exway Pro-Riot electric skateboard review Read More
NEWS – A year ago, I set a goal to incorporate more weights and toning into my workout routine. And while my friends invested in gym memberships and/or paid online exercise programs, I opted for free workouts from Fitness Blender. Best of all, unlike most of my New Year’s resolutions, this one is still going
Fitness Blender: One New Years resolution I actually kept Read More
NEWS – This time of year, I spend a great deal of time breaking down boxes and hauling them to the Recycling Center. I also clean a lot of closets to make room for Christmas gifts and attempt to declutter, which means hauling unused clothing and household items to local charities. Give Back Box knows
Give Back Box does just that Read More