Tag Archives: product reviews

Fat-Bottomed Curls, You Make the Rocking World Go Round


We open on a desperate, despondent, disheveled woman. Her hair is long … limp … and utterly lifeless. Her hair is so straight that it could be mistaken for uncooked spaghetti. Or serve as a carpenter’s level. Or used to draw blueprints of skyscrapers. (You get where I’m going with this, right?)

Desperate, despondent, disheveled woman: “Oh … why, why, WHY must I be cursed with this straight hair? Day in and day out, nothing but pin straight hair just dragging me down. I need some variety!”

Enter me, waving a new-fangled hair device in the woman’s face.

Me: “Hey, chin up, Marcia Brady. I’ve got the solution. Have you ever heard of the InstaWave curling iron by Kiss?”

DDDW: “The InstaWave curling iron by Kiss?”

Me: “Yes, the InstaWave curling iron by Kiss, the revolutionary, fully automatic hair tool that instantly creates beautiful, long-lasting curls with ease.”

DDDW: “What?!!? Aww, come on. Curls that are beautiful AND long-lasting? No way.”

Me: “Yes way! Check out this video.”

DDDW: “Wow. She looks awesome. But I bet she’s a professional hair stylist. What about ordinary schleps … like you and me?”

Me: (laughing condescendingly) “Funny you should ask. Because I’m not just an endorser of the InstaWave. I’m also a client.”

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Want to win your own InstaWave curling iron? Well, of course you do. My friend Mel and I are giving one away to one of our lucky readers. And, with so many ways to score an entry, that lucky reader could easily be YOU!

Click HERE to enter!

Hurry! The contest closes on October 15, 2014.

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

Hey! Stop staring at my teeth. My eyes are up here!


And why exactly is everyone staring at my teeth these days? Easy. Because I was recently contacted by the customer-oriented good people at Smile Brilliant to conduct a product review of their high-end tooth bleaching system. Spoiler: I loved it.


Raise your hand if you’ve ever spent any alone time in the bathroom bearing your teeth at your own reflection in the mirror and wishing you had a whiter smile. To those of you sitting on your hands, I think you’re lying. Everyone wants whiter teeth. And everyone needs whiter teeth. Unless, of course, you played a paleontologist on TV in the 90s.

But enough of my tomfoolery. Let me tell you about Smile Brilliant. That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?

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When their company rep first contacted me, I was over the moon. Like I said before, who doesn’t want whiter teeth? So I accepted the job and was immediately sent a product reviewer starter kit.

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The kit contained everything I needed to take professional, dentist-quality impressions of my upper and lower teeth (as well as the gels I would be using with my custom trays once I received them). I got to work immediately.

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To make the impressions …

  1. Open one BASE paste and one CATALYST paste.
  2. Blend together.
  3. Press into mold and insert in mouth immediately.

(How great do I look here, by the way? … Hello? Christmas card!)

Notice how my hands are super blurry in that middle picture? That’s because you have to MOVE FAST. Once the pastes are combined, they waste no time hardening. Herein lies the reason that you get three sets of the stuff with your starter kit (see picture above). Because some people are spastic and will mess up the first batch by working too slowly.

How did *I* do, you ask? Well, let’s just say all six of my paste containers were empty after I made my impressions. (Sometimes I’m surprised I can dress myself in the morning.) Anyway, here’s what I sent over to Smile Brilliant in their convenient, postage-paid packaging.

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And here’s what I got back only days later.

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Before opening any of the gel packages, I tried on my new mouth trays. And they fit perfectly. (I wonder if Smile Brilliant makes jeans.) And, with that, I was ready to start illuminating my smile.

To whiten your teeth …

  1. Apply desensitizing gel (if you choose to purchase it) along inner front rim of both trays and wear for 20-60 minutes. 
  2. Apply bleaching gel in the same way and wear for 20 minutes to 3 hours. 

I’m a compulsive overachiever so I maxed out both times and completed the full process three days in a row. And I honestly saw improvement as early as the first day. From there, I whitened every other day until I hit the two week mark (for a total of nine treatments). And that was it. That was all I needed. Unless I want my teeth to glow under a black light. (see Ross Geller above)

Personally, I think my before and after pictures speak for themseLVES.

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Seriously, they look AMAZING, don’t they?

#conceited

#sheisSOfullofherself

#whiteteethcantfixlaughlines

#heymicheleyouneedabetterlipliner


Jealous?

Tired of hearing about MY experience?

Wish you could throw a bucket of indelible purple grape juice directly at my glistening teeth?

You needn’t stew in your own filthy envy anymore.  Because I’m giving away a gift certificate to Smile Brilliant for $119.95 right here to one lucky, yellow-toothed winner! That’s enough to get everything you need to make your own custom trays plus three syringes of bleaching gel (each good for three uses).

Click HERE to win.

You have until September 9, 2014 to enter.


Okay, let’s recap everything. Shall we?

  1. I LOVE this product and literally noticed a difference after one use.
  2. When making your dental impressions, work fast and have a napkin handy for, well, drool. Did I mention that earlier? (sigh)
  3. Remember that just because you can wear the bleach-filled dental trays for three straight hours doesn’t mean you should wear them for three straight hours. This stuff is the real deal and overkill can result in a little gum tenderness.
  4. Enter the contest, fools. White teeth could be yours by the end of the month!

The ODNT Product Review Procedure:

  • Sometimes I say no … because I am not interested in the product or I don’t think it’s a good fit for me or this blog.
  • Sometimes I say yes … but determine, upon usage, that the product is a fail. So I inform the company and offer the option to part ways rather than receive the bad press. This offer is always accepted.
  • Sometimes I say yes … and I try the product and LOVE it. So I write my review. And you can rest assured that every word, every picture and every video is 100% true.

Because MamaKat asked me to talk about something I learned last month.What’s mine? Home tooth whitening products aren’t all snake oil. This stuff really works!

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

At last, it’s here! My THIRD blog post about toilets!


It all started innocently enough. I was scrolling through my daily writing gigs when I came across one by Henkel, a worldwide business leader in the areas of home and beauty care based in Düsseldorf, Germany. (I should point out for clarity that the overeating, chocolate aficionado from the original Willy Wonka movie, Augustus Gloop, hails from the fictitious town of Düsselheim. I’d hate for you to lose the same kind of precious time that I did when researching that detail this week.)

Anyway … Henkel posted a job opportunity asking writers to create a 200 word post promoting their Flush to Paradise project and video below.

Unfortunately, I didn’t meet their “minimum qualifications.” Which, of course, prompted me to write a letter. I’m not sure I’ll ever hear back from them. But I hope they’re reading now because, meine deutschen freunde, I want you to know this. *I* can promote a toilet project as well or better than any fancy-pants 50 sverve.com scorer. Any. Day. Of. The. Week.

Why don’t you try me and see for yourself? Or at least reply to the email I just sent to half of your upper management.


Hi, new friends at Henkel.

I’m writing about a new opportunity your company just listed on sverve.com, a website designed to match up companies and online writers/bloggers for paid promotional jobs. (Hopefully) your listing can be viewed here … http://www.sverve.com/user/campaign/1394553189683/

Here’s my problem. Your minimum requirements for participation call for a sverve applicant score of 50 or higher. I’m still new to sverve … and growing … so my score presently stands at 33. But I’m not new to blogging. I’ve been hosting my website for more than two years now and have attended the last two international BlogHer conventions (NYC & Chicago) featuring thousands and thousands of bloggers from all over the world. I was even named a Top 25 Funny Mom by  CircleOfMoms.com, a website boasting more than 6 million readers worldwide.

My point … and I DO have one (totally stole that from Ellen DeGeneres, but it’s okay because we’re both from New Orleans) is that I don’t think I should be excluded from your campaign. To date, I’ve written plenty of promotional posts and product reviews. And I always like put an interesting, personal spin on them so people will actually read and be engaged in what I write. That’s better for you AND for me.

Here are just a few samples. (I’ve got more if you’re interested. Or even still reading. Please still be reading.)

1. Ryobi Generator … https://olddognewtits.com/2013/10/08/talking-bout-my-generator/

2. Kiss Hairdryer … https://olddognewtits.com/2013/10/18/kiss-bad-hair-days-goodbye/

3. FoodSaver … https://olddognewtits.com/2013/10/11/save-anything-not-to-be-confused-with-the-80s-john-cusack-movie/

4. Soda Stream … https://olddognewtits.com/2013/09/24/bubble-bubble-no-toil-no-trouble/

5. Monster Headphones … https://olddognewtits.com/2013/08/17/what-do-i-have-to-do-to-get-you-in-a-pair-of-monsterinspiration-headphones-today/

But the most important reason you should include me is because of my dedication and years of experience both in toilet usage AND maintenance. I’ve been potty trained for literally decades now and consider myself somewhat of an expert in this area. Plus I’ve potty trained two kids. And cleaned my toilets I’d estimate an average of 847,624 times in my lifetime. Oh, and I’ve actually written two (TWO, HENKEL!) posts completely revolving around my toilet. One was even published in the New Orleans Picayune newspaper. (How many people can make that claim?)

They can be viewed here.

1. A Letter of Farewell to My Old Toilet … https://olddognewtits.com/2012/04/03/a-letter-of-farewell-to-my-old-toilet/

2. The Toilet Story (“inspired” by Hurricane Katrina) … https://olddognewtits.com/2012/08/28/the-toilet-story-inspired-by-hurricane-katrina/

So (beware, toilet puns approaching) all I ask is that you don’t flush away the opportunity for us to make a splash. I’ve got lots of ideas in the think tank. So let’s plunge in to this one together. We’re number 1! (Using number 2 here just seemed too gross, plus I was shooting for the top.)

Goodbye for now. I’ll be sitting by computer until you respond so please don’t take too long. My kids are bound to get hungry at some point.

Thanks,

Michele Robert Poche


Sometimes I fear I’m just helping the FBI build a thick case on me that will, one day, land me in a padded room. Although the privacy and in-room food delivery doesn’t sound half bad actually.

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Rafiki, George and even King Louie have Nothing on these Modern Monkeys


Once upon a time …

there was a little girl named Vivien. And Vivien had a mother who loved her very much. Vivien’s mother wrote a blog called … well, this is a fairy tale so we’ll just call it ODNT. And, on ODNT, Vivien’s mother wrote about all kinds of interesting people doing all kinds of crazy things in all kinds of far away places. But what Vivien liked best about ODNT were the product reviews. Because sometimes, when she was very, very lucky, the product her mother was sent to review was something unmistakably and truly magnificent. Something that she could keep for her very own.

One day, as Vivien was toiling through her daily homework, she heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll get it,” she said running to the door, completely unaware of the surprise that awaited her on the other side. Opening the door, Vivien saw a brown box. It was big enough to fit a basketball inside of it but, when she lifted it, she was shocked to discover it didn’t weigh any more than a loaf of bread. “Mama … Mama!” she called out. “You got another package.” Vivien placed the box on the table by her mother and turned to walk away.

Vivien’s mother smiled knowingly. She knew that Vivien had no idea what was inside. She knew that this time Vivien would be so excited that she might actually want to write the review herself. “Well,” she said to Vivien. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

Vivien’s mouth fell open. “What?” she said. “But YOUR name is on it. What is it, Mama?” Her eyes were simultaneously confused and excited. “Only one way to find out,” answered her mother, who wore a sly grin on her face as she pushed the box toward Vivien.

Vivien tore into the box like a child on Christmas morning.

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“Oh, my gosh!!! Sock monkeys! They are sooo cute! I love them both soooo much! Thank you, Mama.”

“I’m glad you like them,” said her mother happily. “But they’re not from me.” Vivien looked up, again confused but still ecstatically clinging to her new stunningly stylish simians. “They were sent here from a company called Patch Products. All the way from Planet Sock Monkey.”

Vivien laughed. “Is there really a place called Planet Sock Monkey, Mama?” she asked her mother. “Well, I’m not sure,” teased her mother. “But I’ll bet if there is, your two new friends, Star Harmonkey and Magenta Beetsch, are two of the coolest monkeys there.”

“I don’t know, Mama,” Vivien interrupted … politely, of course. “What do you mean?” asked her mother. “Well,” Vivien explained, “it looks like there are a whole bunch of crazy monkeys living on that planet. Besides mine, I see a pirate … and a zombie … and a rapper … and even a cute, little nerd!”

Mother and daughter laughed in unison.

“So I wonder why they sent us these two monkeys,” said Vivien’s mother. And she began examining the two adorable creatures. “Oh, that’s easy, Mama,” explained Vivien. “Really?” said her mother quizzically, looking up from her meticulous monkey inspection.

“You see,” said Vivien, “Star Harmonkey is a sweet girl who loves to sing and perform for people. And it says she has a sparkling personality.” Vivien’s mother nodded. “And Magenta Beetsch is a kooky girl who loves music and being a little different from everybody else. And she likes to make her hair weird colors.”

“I think I see what you’re getting at, Vivien,” her mother smiled. “They’re US!!” Vivien shouted. “Awesome!” she squealed, grabbing Magenta and turning to her mother. “I’m going to call this one Magommy. Because she reminds me of YOU, Mama.”

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“Wow. So the monkey and I are, like, Bennifer? Okay.” Vivien’s mom, laughed under her breath. “Benni-who???” Vivien asked. “Oh, nothing. It’s a grown-up joke,” her mother answered. And Vivien went back to playing with her tweenage perfection presents.

“Well,” her mother sighed, “I guess I need to start writing these reviews.” And she sat down at her laptop, fingers poised over the keyboard. “Know what, Mama?” Vivien said, hugging her monkeys and looking deeply into their expressive little eyes, “I think you already did!”

The End


Want to win one of these trendsetting little friends for the little monkey in your life? Mel and I are each giving one away right here. Our two lucky winners will get to choose from the six limited edition friends listed above. (More monkeys are coming soon to Planet Sock Monkey.)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Entries will be accepted until the end of Monday, November 11, 2013.

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Kiss Bad Hair Days Goodbye (aka The Blog Post Where I Sing)


Mel and I met a lot of great people at the BlogHer13 Expo in Chicago last summer. And one of the biggest exhibitors there had to be Kiss Products. Their friendly experts passed the hours styling hair, sculpting nails and elongating lashes. You were guaranteed to walk out of the booth looking better than you walked in.

They make so many different products (see for yourself) that Mel and I are writing two reviews for them. Last time, we talked about their home gel manicure kit but this time we’re talking about hair dryers … specifically the Kiss Tornado 360. (Read to the end for a special surprise. Two special surprises actually. One of which might just have you moved to tears … delightfully entertained … laughing in shock at my idiocy.)

Now, I’ll admit. When I first received my review product, I had no idea what a unique hair tool I held in my hands.  Yes, it’s sleek. Yes, it’s powerful. Of course, lots of hair dryers can make those claims. Right? Right. But they don’t all offer this next feature.

Here’s where the whole 360 thing comes in. In Suuuuperrrr Sloooo-Moooo.

In addition to the standard concentration attachment, the Kiss Tornado 360 also comes with a patented rotating air nozzle attachment. To quote their website, “The rotating air booster creates spiral airflow movement that evenly distributes heat and prevents the risk of spot heat damage.” You know what that means, right? It means you’ll never again burn yourself (or your child) by lingering too long in one spot. So it protects your scalp and your hair from heat damage. (Somewhere my daughter just let out a huge cheer.)

And there are lots of other great features about the Kiss Tornado 360:

  • 3 heat settings
  • 2 speed settings
  • A cool shot button
  • Ceramic tourmaline technology reduces frizz & enhances shine
  • Thanks to the 360 feature, it dries hair three times faster because it covers an area four times larger leaving you more time to read quality blogs like AccordingToMags.com &  OldDogNewTits.com.

Honestly, my daughter and I love the Kiss hair dryer so much that I was inspired to put it to song. So I dusted off my guitar and got to work. Wanna hear? (I’m just going to assume you are all nodding in enthusiastic unison.) Remember, I love my show tunes. Here goes …

Alright, fine. Maybe you’re laughing at me. But I bet you still want your own Kiss Tornado 360 hair dryer. And Mel and I can make that happen. Right here. Right now. Beacause we’re giving away two hair dryers to two lucky winner. All you have to do is click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO WIN

Please note that, by simply clicking the ‘Tweet the Giveaway’ option,  you can earn TEN ENTRIES A DAY for this promotion. The contest ends on Thursday, October 24, 2013.

Good luck, guys!

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That Suburban Momma

“Save Anything” (Not to be confused with the 80s John Cusack movie)


I love food. All kinds. (Remember I’m from New Orleans.) And the idea of wasting it always upsets me. I’m the person who makes her family eat the leftovers. The one who crafts creative “recipes” with the odds and ends of the refrigerator and pantry. Who’s even been known to wrap up the remaining slab of the canned cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. Sure, I’m frugal …. but I also LOVE FOOD! And I think it all should get the chance to fulfill its destiny and be eaten.

Enter the FoodSaver 2244, the “market leader in the vacuum packaging category in the housewares industry.” Mel and I are lucky enough to be reviewing this killer kitchen tool today. It couldn’t be any easier to use, by the way. Which is why this video of me using it is only 22 seconds. You’ve got 22 seconds, right?

Too busy to watch the video? (Liar.) Fine, here’s how it works:

  1. Place food in bag.*
  2. Insert open end into FoodSaver, close and lock.
  3. Press “vacuum seal.”

*When using rolls, cut to size needed for food plus three extra inches, insert open end and press “seal” to create a custom bag then follow above steps.

There are lots of longer, incredibly detailed videos on YouTube about using all of the different FoodSaver models. And if you ever find yourself struggling with insomnia, I highly recommend looking them up. Mine’s not going to win any Academy Awards either. But again, it’s only 22 seconds. Because that’s the actual time I needed to demonstrate saving that avocado’s life. (I know. I’m a hero.)

Other cool stuff about the FoodSaver:

  • All of their products are sold on FoodSaver.com but many can also be found at local stores like Target.
  • The system comes with a vacuum tube that works with its airtight containers.
  • Their bags and containers have been proven to save food five times longer than the tired methods I’ve been using for years.
  • It’s easy to take in and out of the cabinet for quick use because it’s compact and lightweight.
  • By eliminating the money spent on wasted food and offering the ability to buy in bulk confidently, FoodSaver can save the average family up to $2700 a year! (My family would love to save $2700 a year. What would we buy with that money? A quick Google search yielded “$2700 robot bartender.” Game on.)
  • The money you save using a FoodSaver enables you to buy a robot bartender. (Duh.)

Seriously, I see me getting right to work with this machine. Just think of all the delicious foods I could save! Everything from mango and pineapple to chicken and shrimp to pastas and soups. OMG, and the cheese! Great Caesar’s Ghost, the cheese! Gouda, Danish Bleu, Formaggio di Capra, Robiola Bosina … there’s so much to save … and so little time!!! (Actually, there’s plenty of time. Because, as I just demonstrated above, it only takes 22 seconds per save.) BUT I REALLY NEED TO GET STARTED …. NOW!!!

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What? You guys know I’m kidding. It’s Herve, for Pete’s sake!


All in all, it’s a great product. And, like I said in the title, I really think it could “Save Anything.” Which reminds me, I did actually make one FoodSaver video for you guys. But it’s nothing like the others on YouTube. I’m a child of the 80s. And these are my references.

Forget Peter Gabriel. If I were wooing a new friend today, I’d totally bring my FoodSaver.


Wanna win a little something personal from Mel and me? Well, sure you do. We love you guys for reading. Which is why Mel and I are each going to make a little something special in our kitchens and send it to you … FoodSaver’d, of course. We’ll be taking entries through Thursday, October  17, 2013.

CLICK HERE TO WIN


Good luck, guys. Until next time, I’ll be saving the world. One avocado at a time!

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Talking ‘Bout My G-G-Generator


It’s not often that I write a product review that has my dad and Dave so jazzed. I knew they would be. Which is why I was so excited when I first told them we were getting an outdoor generator. From Ryobi. They thought I was kidding. “Seriously? You’re getting a generator?? In the middle of hurricane season???” I didn’t think you could actually earn “street cred” with your father and your spouse but, thanks to Ryobi, I think I’m just a little bit cooler in their eyes now.

And speaking of coolness, don’t you hate when the power goes out at your house and you’re left sitting there like an idiot sweating in the dark with no lighting, no television and, most importantly, no frozen snacks? Me, too. But that won’t be happening at my house anymore.

We literally just dodged Tropical Storm Karen last weekend. I was actually a little afraid we’d be test driving our new machine for real. Here in New Orleans, these weather-related power outages are pretty commonplace six months out of every year. Hurricane Katrina aside, even smaller storms like Gustav (2008) and Isaac (2012) knocked out my power for nearly a week. (Seriously, I wrote this post last year during an extended power outage. About wanting a generator!) Because people with generators are usually very popular in this part of the world during hurricane season. (Maybe I’ll get crowned power outage queen this year, you guys!)

But enough of my tomfoolery. Let’s take a look my new Ryobi RYi2200 generator, shall we?


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1. It’s SMALL, especially considering the power it generates. (Cute kid not included.)

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2. It’s LIGHTWEIGHT. (Remember, I am pathetically weak.) That means, lots of two-men jobs can now be handled by just one (wo-)man.

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3. It’s ridiculously PORTABLE. (In case you ever need to run it through a crowded airport.)

Compact size, light weight and portability. All very nice features in a generator. Because, unlike me, not everyone is using them in the middle of natural disasters. Generators are also great for camping, tailgating, remote construction and all kinds of other outdoor activities. (Should I be concerned that my stupid brain goes immediately to a backyard space walk?)

The Ryobi RYi2200 offers all kinds of great features:

  • Quiet Operation (You can talk over it without yelling.)
  • Clean Power (So it’s safe for sensitive electronics.)
  • Fuel Efficient (The auto idle mode allows it to run longer when less power is needed.)
  • Parallel-Kit Capable (Hook two units together for twice the power.)
  • Warning Indicators (So there’ll be no oil shortages or overloads on your watch.)
  • Three-Year Warranty
Q: But, Michele, what can I power with a Ryobi RYi2200?
 .
A: With 2200 starting watts and 1800 running watts, the generator has the power to run all of these smaller things simultaneously.

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OR a choice of larger ones individually, such as a microwave, a computer monitor, a refrigerator or a radiant heater. The generator even comes with a small set of cables that enable you to charge a car battery.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s see this machine in action. Once you add the oil and gas, it’s easy to start. I tried it several times and it never took me more than a few spastic yanks I decided not to share on film pulls.

It’s simple to power the things you really need.

As well as the ones you really want. (Notice the blender is louder than the  generator.)


Oh, and I can’t write a review about a generator without including this bit of information. “USING A GENERATOR INDOORS CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES.” That’s written right on the box. As with all generators, please remember to operate your machine outside in a fully-ventilated area and run extension cords into your home to power whatever you need.

So, if you’re looking for a way to power your home, your car or just some of your stuff outside of a standard electrical setting, I’d absolutely recommend the Ryobi RYi2200. And, if you need more convincing, there are lots of other video product reviews (with dudes in them) on YouTube saying the same. Or you can just visit their website by clicking here.

As a thank you for reading today, Mel (who just reviewed a  Ryobi power washer) and I want to offer you a chance to win another great Ryobi product. So, we’re giving away TWO collapsible Ryobi lawn & leaf bags* … just in time for fall! They’re perfect for collecting debris, leaves and other trash or can be used for sports equipment or even laundry. (What? I know a family with eight kids!)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

*If this item is unavailable at time of order, another product of similar value with be substituted. Contest ends Monday, October 14, 2013.

Good luck, you guys! 

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Bubble, Bubble … No Toil, No Trouble


Fine. I took a few liberties with that infamous Shakespearian line but I did it all in the name of commerce. And soda. So I don’t think he would have minded.

Remember BlogHer13, the conference Mel and I attended in Chicago last July? Well, one of the many great companies we met there at the Expo was SodaStream USA. And thank goodness for that. In the weeks following the conference, we reached out to one of their incredibly cool reps (yes, I realize that sounds buttkissish, but I actually mean it!) about doing a joint product review and giveaway on our blogs … and SodaStream said YES! I immediately had visions of my kids carrying me around on their shoulders for weeks. We were getting a home soda machine!

So you can imagine how difficult it was for me to contain myself when that big box arrived on my doorstep. And I knew their homework and extracurriculars wouldn’t allow us to open it (and give it the proper pageantry) until the weekend. I nearly exploded. Much like a well-carbonated bottle of SodaStream when shaken. But I’m getting ahead of myself here.

When Saturday morning rolled around, Dave and I could hardly control our excitement. So we grabbed the big box and ran into the kitchen so we could surprise the kids.

“SODA FOR BREAKFAST!!!”

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We all immediately began tearing through the box and checking out all the flavors inside. (You were very generous, SodaStream. Thanks.) Setting up the machine took literally two minutes. The shipping box was huge because of all the flavor bottles but the machine itself is no bigger than a standard coffee maker. Actually, it’s lighter and smaller than mine in every direction except height. And it doesn’t even plug into the wall. So moving it in and out of a cabinet is no big deal if you don’t want another appliance on your counter.

The kids each picked a favorite flavor: Cola for Dean and Root Beer for Vivien. Dave made both back to back in less than three minutes. And that included clean up and drinking time! They all liked the cola. (I’m going on record as saying I liked it better than “the real thing” but I’m purely a diet soda drinker.) They also loved the root beer. Even my parents, who conveniently stopped by during the taste test, loved it. They said it tastes like old-fashioned root beer, like New Orleans’ own Barq’s brand. There’s no higher praise for root beer in these parts.

When everybody finally backed away from the machine, I tried the Crystal Light Fruit Punch. It was good (“tastes just like Kool-Aid!” says Vivien) and it makes me really look forward to trying some of the other diet flavors like Diet Cranberry Raspberry, Diet Cola with Lime and Diet Green Tea Pomegranate Peach. Seriously, there are over 60 flavors of cola, tea, lemonade, punch, energy drink, flavored water, etc. Or you can omit the flavor and just make your own sparkling water at home. Personally, I’m looking forward to making a little rum punch or maybe a white sangria sometime soon with the Sparking Orange Pineapple. (Who’s with me?)

And speaking of all their flavors, I took this next part about their Sodamix brand right off their website. “Regular Sodamix flavors contain less sugar, calories, carbohydrates and sodium than national drink brands. Regular flavors contain no high-fructose corn syrup, and are sweetened with a blend of sugar and sucralose. Diet Sodamix flavors contain no sugar, no aspartame and are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener. Sparkling Naturals are sweetened exclusively with cane sugar.” The flavor bottles sold at SodaStreamUSA.com and retail locations like Target cost about $5-7 per unit and they make 50 servings each. (That’s 10 to 14 cents a glass, no calculators needed.) And, at the end of that flavor bottle, ONE 16.9 oz. container will go into my recycle bin, instead of FIFTY 7.5 oz. cans. You get the idea, right?

Still not convinced? How about this 15 second demonstration video my adorable daughter made of herself using the machine? It’s just THAT easy.

Click HERE to view.


So, let’s recap the SodaStream benefits.

  1. No more flat soda.

  2. Better ingredients.

  3. Less expensive.

  4. More Earth-friendly.

  5. SOOO easy!

Seriously … WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING THERE?!!?

Wait, what? You expect me to just GIVE ONE AWAY? That’s insane. It’s crazy really. Because Mel and I are actually going to give TWO away! (Say thank you to SodaStream, everybody!) Each of the prize packages includes the following items:

  • Fountain Jet – winner’s choice of black/silver, red/silver or white
  • 1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years
  • Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda
  • Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors
  • 3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

CLICK HERE for a chance to win your own SodaStream! 

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Good luck, everyone. Share the love and tell your friends.

We’ll announce the winners* after the contest closes on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

*Winner needs a continental US shipping address. Sorry, Greenland. 😦

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What do I have to do to get you in a pair of #MonsterInspiration headphones today?


Picture it. A Bacchanalian afterparty. Two women, stunningly outfitted in White Cloud toilet paper hats, both still giddy about being selected to interview the glamorously hilarious Wendi-McLendon Covey of Bridesmaids.

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Hell, yeah, I’m bragging. Wouldn’t you?!!?

And then it got even better. Thanks to Monster Products. They were there exhibiting their newest headphone model – Monster Inspiration. Color me excited. Way excited. Mel and I wasted no time trying them on and testing them out right there in the middle of the raucous event. What better place to test their noise cancellation abilities, right? Of course right.

“What song do you want to hear?” the friendly Monster rep asked me. “Um … “ I mumble, scrolling through her many selections, “How about this one?”

“You don’t have to be rich to be my girl …. you don’t have to be cool to rule my world … Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with … I just want your extra time and your ….. Kiss.”

I felt like Julia Roberts in her famously cute hot tub scene in Pretty Woman. Except all I had to do for the headphones is write this review. Which, honestly, writes itself. After all, these things are the Cadillac of musical headgear. Especially considering I’ve been slumming it with ear buds all these years. (Who knew?) We were truly so impressed with their sound as well as their durability. When I say they’re exactly what you look for in a quality headphone, I’m not exaggerating. Not one bit. (Note to readers: I will never misrepresent myself on this blog. You have my word on that one. In fact, I just turned down an incredible review opportunity last week because I was displeased with their product. And that’s all I’m saying.)

Oh, and they invited us to take pictures with them. Lots of pictures. And then share them on our many platforms of social media. (insert pause to pretend I’m shy) “Well … okay. If that’s what you really want, Monster Products. I’ll do it. But only because you asked so nicely.”

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I know what you’re thinking. There’s a word for girls like me. And I like to think it’s …. savvy. (Although I would also have accepted cheese-loving.)

I texted Dave one of my pictures and then broke the news. He was over the moon. It’s not easy to get this man over the moon, you guys.

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We cradled them as though they were babies, delivered them to our hotel room and played with them for the rest of the trip. We absolutely hated having to put them away for our flights home.

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And of course, once I actually got here, everyone took a turn checking them out.

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To borrow from my girl Julia Roberts again … Big thumbs up, Monster Inspiration. Big. HUGE. From everyone in this house. And that boy in the top right corner who owns a pair of your biggest competitors … well, he was pretty freakin’ jealous of impressed with his mom. Thanks for giving me the props. Not only do they enrich my music experience, but they also up my dwindling coolness quotient. It’s a scientific fact. I even conducted an experiment with them right here on ODNT.


Want to win your very own Monster Headphones? Well, of course you do!

Mel and I are EACH giving away a pair of Monster NTune Candy headphones. Perfect for Back-to-School, Back-to-Work or even Back-the-Hell-Off-This-is-My-Me-Time!

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They come in an assortment of bright, bold colors. With a flexible headband, they’ll stand up in any backpack, suitcase, briefcase or fanny pack. (That’s how cool they are. You can wear a fanny pack and still look awesome!) Plus, the quality of the Monster sound is unparalleled. It’s no wonder this line is called NCredible. Just click the Rafflecopter link below by August 23rd. There are lots of ways to enter. You’ll see. Good luck!

Click here to enter the Monster Headphones Giveaway.


But that’s not all!

YOU:  But, Michele, you don’t seriously expect me to wait to see if I win the headphones, do you? DO YOU? I want my own pair. I want my own pair of Monster headphones NOW!!!

ME:  Geez. Calm down there, Veruca. I’ve got great news for you, too. But you have to act by the end of the month. Check the box below. Can you do that? CAN YOU? 

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