I was recently approached by a Scentsy director to write a review of Scentsy products on my site. I was happy to reply that not only would I love to do a review but there was no need to send me the actual product because my home is already filled with the sweet smells of Scentsy. Plus, I get to promote a giveaway for my readers and I think this is one you will really enjoy

I live in Idaho, just a few miles from the Scentsy headquarters, so I’m very much aware of what Scentsy. I have several friends who are Scentsy consultants and it’s easy for me to get supplies when I need them. However, I’ve come to discover that many people living in other areas haven’t heard about this fantastic concept. I’m going to do my best to explain but if you want to see what it’s all about check out Nicole Garton’s website. She’s the Scentsy director who is sponsoring the giveaway. Scentsy products are sold through consultants, either online or through parties. I’ve attended parties but I do the majority of my ordering online.

There are two key parts to a Scentsy system – the warmer and the scented wax bars. A warmer is a ceramic container that contains a low-watt lightbulb. The top of the warmer is shaped like a basin and this is where you put the scented wax. The lightbulb warms the basin, melting the wax. When the wax is melted it releases a scent. You get the benefits of a scented candle without the open flame, soot, etc. I’m a big fan of Scentsy because it’s safe around children. Last week I had my warmer on the counter and my eldest daughter leaned over and knocked it over. I’ll admit that I wasn’t the happiest mom when I saw the wax had spilled on the counter, her sister’s bottles AND my husband’s old iPhone. (This should teach us to keep the kitchen counter clutter free!) But when the wax had cooled it was surprisingly easy to clean up and there was no permanent damage.

So what type of Scentsy products do I have in my house? I have one large Scentsy warmer that I use in my kitchen/dining area and I have several of the plug-in warmers in my bathroom. The plug-in warmers are my favorite because they are small and take up no space on the counter. They are fantastic in bathrooms. I also have some of the car candles and the room spray. The room spray is very effective. We’ve learned the hard way that one spray is plenty but two is too much. In case you’d like to know my favorite scent is Clean Linen. Hands down. When I use that scent my house smells like I’ve been doing laundry and I love the smell of fresh laundry. Especially laundry that I didn’t have to actually do.

Now for the giveaway….Nicole is giving away a Scentsy System which consists of a full sized warmer and three Scentsy bars. The winner will receive the warmer and scents of their choice. To enter I’d like you to leave me a comment below ad just out of curiousity let me know if you’ve heard of Scentsy before this review. I’m going to run the contest through Sunday, August 22nd. That evening I’ll use random.org to choose a winner. Good luck everyone and thank you Nicole! Be sure to visit her website so you can drool over the delicious descriptions of the different scents.

I was recently asked to try out the Zen2 collection of ringtones from the company iRingPro. I was intrigued by the ringtone’s description – sophisticated, subtle tones. I liked the sound of subtle tones. Since I upgraded my phone I have been using the default Marimba ringtone for all my calls. It works and it gets my attention but it’s a bit boring. I’m not a big fan of many of the other ringtones that come with the iPhone. Old Phone is okay, Strum and Xylophone work and I have used Trill but most of the tones just annoy me. I think Robot, Sci-Fi and Pinball are my least favorite of all. Don’t even get me started on Duck or Bark. My husband uses those tones for his morning alarm and they are not pleasant sounds to wake up to. As you can see I’m eager to try out some new tones. I’m even more eager to sneak some new tones onto my husband’s phone.

Once I received the Zen2 file all I had to do was unzip the file, drag it onto the iTunes folder on my Mac and then sync my phone. It was extremely easy. The collection features ringtones that are long and ringtones that are short. The long ringtones have an extended silence between the rings and the short have a more conventional pause. It’s easy to tell which is which because the file names contain either the word short or long. There are also ringtones that are “Active Grade” and those which are “Meeting Grade”. Active Grade tones have the letters “ag” at the beginning of their name and are appropriate for when you need a louder ring. Meeting Grade are noted with “mg” and are better suited for quieter locations. I think it’s fantastic that you can easily choose a ringtone to suit your surroundings.

I was very pleased with the actual sounds of the Zen2 ringtones. They’re accurately called subtle, there’s nothing loud or in your face about these rings. They’ve got a grown up feel to them and are most definitely not going to annoy anyone who is listening to your ringing phone.

The Zen2 collection costs $9.95 and contains 54 audio files. There are 27 ringtones with conventional pauses (short) and 27 duplicate ringtones with the longer silence (long).

iRingPro also sells two additional ringtone collections: Origin and Tek. Each collection costs $9.95 but if you purchase all three you’ll receive $5.00 off the total price. Additional information can be found at www.iringpro.com.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the Zen2 collection for review purposes.

Several weeks ago I received a product sample for the Wrapsol Ultra for the iPhone 4. I was trying out another case at the time so I asked my husband to give this one a trial run. The Wrapsol is a protective, clear film that will wrap around your iPhone and it retails online for $29.95. It comes in five separate pieces, one for the front of your iPhone, one for the back, two for the sides and a small piece for the top of your phone. The pieces are designed for the iPhone 4 and cut to fit it’s curves and buttons, etc. My husband has had the Wrapsol on his iPhone for about two weeks and here is what he thinks so far.

• The Wrapsol is clear so it doesn’t detract from or hide the iPhone’s sleek look.
• When he originally put the Wrapsol on his phone there were bubbles in the film that he couldn’t work out. These eventually went away on their own which made him happy.
• He had no trouble applying the front and the back pieces on the phone but he grew impatient and gave up on the sides.
• Because the sides weren’t covered we can’t say for certain whether or not the Wrapsol will help with the iPhone’s infamous antennae/reception issue.
• My husband says the screen feels like it has more “friction” when he taps on it but it hasn’t detracted from the phone’s usability at all.
• He feels like the Wrapsol would really protect his iPhone if he were to drop it flat on it’s screen. The literature states that it provides shock absorption up to six feet but we’re not testing that claim. I’ll believe the engineers on that one!
• A microfiber cleaning towel comes included with the product.

I asked my husband if he’d recommend the Wrapsol to a friend. Personally, he wasn’t too keen on the process of applying the film because he didn’t enjoy positioning the pieces around the button holes. His preference is for a more substantial case that’s easier to slip on and off. But he says that if you want a case that’s absolutely minimal and you really want to preserve the look of the iPhone the Wrapsol would be for you.

Wrapsol Ultra for iPhone 4

$29.95

Disclosure: I received a free Wrapsol for review purposes.

‘ve been asked to review the FlowerVest, a case for the iPhone 4 from Agent18. The case came in the mail about two weeks ago and has been on my phone every since. It’s made from thick silicon and it gave my iPhone a good amount of bulk. When the case is on the phone the screen is visible, as are the camera, headphone jack, speakers, dock connector and —-. Everything else is covered so the sleek design of the iPhone is lost. Personally, this doesn’t bother me, I like it when my iPhone is in a case and doesn’t feel like it’s going to slip out of my hands at any moment. True to it’s name the back of the FlowerVest features a flower. I have the turquoise case and the flower is made out of white silicon. I love the contrast between the two colors and my girls have both told me it’s a “cute case”. A pink case is also available and that one has an orange flower. The FlowerVest also came with a small metal stand for my iPhone. The phone can rest in the stand when you are watching videos.

I was thrilled (thrilled!!) to find that the FlowerVest has solved the reception/dropped calls problemthat I’ve been having with the iPhone 4. Since I’ve had it on my phone I haven’t lost a single call. My iPhone is actually working like a phone again. Overall I’ve been pleased with the FlowerVest. It’s fun and not flimsy at all. It has been doing a great job protecting my iPhone and my phone calls. Thank you Agent18!

FlowerVests are also available for iPads.

Visit the Agent18 website and see their products for yourself.

I received a free FlowerVest for review purposes.

I was recently sent a Phone Poncho to try on my iPhone 3G. The Poncho is a silicone case that covers everything on the phone except for the screen. It encases the headphone jack, buttons, dock connector and speakers. The Poncho is designed to keep your iPhone protected from water damage. When I received my Poncho it slid right onto my phone and it did indeed cover everything but the screen. I wasn’t about to put my phone through a water submersion test or anything like that but from the case’s fit it seemed like the various phone openings would be protected from things like light rain and splashes of pool water. The case is designed so that you can still use the phone to make and receive calls. However, you won’t be able to use your headphones or dock your phone while it’s wearing the Poncho. It’s meant to be a temporary case for when you’re out in weather or going to be around water.

If you have a minute you can check out the story behind the creation of the Poncho. It involved an iPhone, a toilet bowl and a voided warranty. The Phone Poncho is one of those products that was created because someone had a need for a solution and luckily we can all now benefit from their creativity! I was pleased with the Poncho’s quality and although I no longer use my 3G as my phone my kids do use it as an iPod Touch. The Poncho is great insurance that they’re not going to find a way to get water up inside the phone.

The Phone Poncho site also has some helpful tips on how to treat your phone if it does come in contact with water. You can read those tips here.

Phone Ponchos cost $10 and they are having a “buy one get one” sale through August 15th.

I was sent two extra Phone Ponchos that I’d like to give away to two readers. The Poncho will work on an iPhone 3/3GS. If you have one of those phones and you’d like to win a Poncho please leave me a comment. I’ll randomly select two winners on Friday, July 30th.

Disclosure: I received a free Phone Poncho for review purposes.

I was recently asked to review a website for children, www.wiglingtonandwenks.com. It’s a virtual world that lets children travel around the world, meet historical figures and play games. Anyone can play on the website for free or you can become a member. Membership costs $5.99 a month and lets you access special features and locations within the virtual world. I’ve been known to hop on Webkinz and play games to earn Kinz cash for my children but I’m not well versed in navigating through virtual worlds. For this review I turned to my 10 year old daughter. I set her loose on Wiglington and Wenks for a few days and then asked for her thoughts.

Wiglington & Wenks Review by Miss E

On the website there is an evil Count who has stolen magic maps. The magic maps let the map bearer travel through space and time but he created a magic portal and famous people were sucked into it. They were put into different times and places than what they’re used to and they forgot their memories. Your job in the game is to find the lost people and help them regain their memories. You can travel to Big Ben, Madagascar, the Great Barrier Reef and other places. You’ll also have special gadgets to help you but I haven’t figured out how to use those. Wherever you go there is a guide who gives you information about where you are and what you need to do. You can visit the cinema and watch movies about the histories of the Count, Wiglington and Wenks. If you join the squad you’ll have special quests for tracking the count. I liked being on the squad and looking for clues.

It’s very easy to navigate through the website. Other websites are slow when there are a lot of people on them but here my character always walked fast and the site didn’t feel slow. My favorite place to visit is Madagascar because I earned points on two games and earned a certificate so I could adopt pets when I travel. What I didn’t like about the site was that the games are hard to play when I don’t use a mouse. I also ran out of money fast and I’m not sure how to make more. I don’t think you can earn money by playing the games. I’m still exploring the website and having fun!

Thanks for the review Miss E! From what I’ve read online members receive virtual currency every month so she needs to hold out a little longer to find money in her account. What I like about www.wiglingtonandwenks.com is the educational side to it and that it provides exposure for historical figures and locations around the world. If my children are going to be playing in a virtual world I’d prefer it’s one where they’re learning something!

The director of Wiglington and Wenks Worldwide has given me 5 one month memberships to give away. Anyone can try out the website for free but if you’re interested in trying out the membership perks please leave me a comment. Five winners will be randomly selected the evening of July 18th.

The good folks at Sesame Workshop recently sent me two of their new Video USB Flash drives to try out. I never thought that a USB drive could be considered “cute” but the ones that arrived in my mailbox certainly were. Why? Because these USBs are shaped like a Sesame Street character’s face. You separate the two parts to put the drive into your USB slot and then it looks like your Sesame friend is peeking out of the side of your computer. As I type this Grover is looking up at me from the side of my laptop.  The two USB halves are connected by a stretchy cord so you won’t lose any pieces. The USB drives come installed with a full length Sesame Street video. The videos vary depending on which character you choose.  The drive also has room for for storage, the description says up to 400 photos or songs.

I liked the Sesame Street USB drives for several reasons. First, as my seven year old would say, they’re “stinking cute”. Second, you’re getting a video in addition to a USB drive, fun and functional. Lastly, they’re kid friendly. The character part of the drive is made from a soft, rubbery material that seems anything but breakable. The packaging says they’re waterproof and break proof but I didn’t feel like putting those features to the test. Sure I could have let my baby suck on the drive to test the waterproof part but then I’d have to eventually take it away which would result in a meltdown.

Now do kids really need a USB drive? My 5th grader has had to take a flash drive to school at least half a dozen times this year for various projects. My other kids will be there soon but for now they’re happy with the video part of this device.  If I have to send a drive to school then I’d rather send something like this. I think it’s less likely to get lost in a backpack or cubby than the small black drive we’ve been sending. Which has been lost and then found. Twice. Plus there’s the Sesame Street factor and I don’t care how old you are, Muppety things are always fun.

Seller: Sesame Street/ATP

Disclosure: I was given this product for review purposes.

A new product has been brought to my attention, it’s called iAngle and it’s billed as a pocket iPhone/iPod Touch stand with an earphone cord manager. You can see a picture of it in action here, it retails for $9.99. I haven’t tried out the iAngle or even seen one in person but it sounded like an intriguing product. Has anyone out there tried it or have a favorite iPhone stand?

I was recently asked to try out texthook, a holder for your phone that’s designed to attach to your stroller handlebars, your treadmill, your bicycle, etc. Basically, it holds your phone so your hands are free. The holder will rotate 180 degrees so you can swivel the phone around to see it from another angle. I have a stroller…and a treadmill…but I was excited to try texthook out somewhere else – on a grocery store cart.

Saturday I went and did my big bi-monthly shopping trip at Walmart and Costco. I only had the baby with me but it was Saturday so that’s about as bad as having all four kids with me on a weekday. I find Saturday shopping intense and not preferred. I loaded me grocery list into Grocery IQ (the app I’ve bee using the most lately for grocery lists) and then strapped the texthook to the shopping cart. I wasn’t quite sure how it’d work because the handlebar on the carts at Costco and Walmart aren’t perfectly round. The texthook fits on top of the handlebar and then you attack it with velcro, wrapping around the bar until it’s on their nice and snug. It should stand upright but because of the funny shape of the handlebar it actually lay back towards the child seat. This turned out to be a better set up for me because it was a nice angle for viewing and tapping on my list. I made sure everything was strapped down and off we went to fight through the crowds. I have to say that it was wonderful not having to carry my phone. Normally it’d be in my hand or pocket or set right on top of the groceries. I know, that’s just asking for someone to walk off with it. When I want to use it I’ve got to pick it up and then put it back. When it was attached to the handlebar it was right in front of me and I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t worried about anyone taking it either. Lying back it wasn’t very noticeable and I don’t think someone would have time to undo the Velcro before I noticed what was going on. What I didn’t like about this setup was when I got a phone call in the store I couldn’t get to my phone. I don’t have a Bluetooth headset so I’ve actually got to talk into my phone when I want to talk on the phone. If I’d had a headset this wouldn’t even be an issue. I know that I need to get one for the car but I don’t want to use it in the store and look like a crazy lady wandering talking to myself. Some people can pull this off. I have enough other things about me (four kids, one with reflux, ‘nuff said) that scream “crazy lady”, I hesitate to add one more.

I also tried the texthook out on my stroller and my treadmill and it fit and worked there just fine. Personally, I’m not sure when I’d use it on my stroller. I don’t take my stroller shopping and when I take my phone with me for a run I’m only using it for emergency purposes. But if you’re a stroller shopper and need access to an app or want your phone around but not in the way this holder would be good for that. With my treadmill I can see myself attaching texthook to it if I had a Bluetooth that would allow me to listen to my music. I wouldn’t be taking phone calls, no one wants to listen to my panting and gasping as I catch my breath. But music is essential. If the texthook could rotate into landscape mode I could also see myself using it to hold my phone while I watched a movie. But it doesn’t do that, at least not yet. Maybe that will come with future models.

Overall, I was surprised and pleased with texthook and it’s usefulness. I wasn’t worried about it falling off and it’s easy to get the iPhone in and out.  I am absolutely going to continue using it on my grocery shopping trips. It is one more thing to have to bring with me to the store but being able to use my grocery apps and have both hands free to wrangle kids makes up for the extra item in the diaper bag. 

*texthook is compatible with many other phones besides the iPhone.

Texthook retails for $25.99 and is available at amazon.com. You can visit the texthook website to check availability at local stores.

For more information visit www.thetexthook.com

Disclosure: I received a free texthook for review purposes.

This post is more than a little overdue but here goes. For Christmas Santa Claus brought me a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. What I had asked for was Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD. That made it under the tree too but when I opened up the ice cream maker I decided that Santa has a wicked sense of humor.

The ice cream maker is fantastic and it couldn’t be easier to use. It comes with a freezer bowl that you store in your freezer. Then when you want homemade ice cream you pull out the bowl, mix up the ingredients and set the bowl down onto the ice cream maker’s base. There is a paddle that you set down inside the bowl and a cover that goes over all of it. After you’ve done all that it’s just a matter of turning the machine on. There’s no rock salt and ice to mess with and the machine is noisy but not so much that you want to chuck it outside. The best part for me? Homemade ice cream doesn’t come in a container that’s covered in nutritional information so  I can eat it without guilt. We’ve also used it to make more than just ice cream. I’ve put soda in the freezer bowl and turned it into a yummy slushie. Last week I made homemade cherry slurpees that were pretty darn tasty.

Santa also included Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book. The recipes are easy to follow and yummy and they’ve included their most popular flavors along with some extra treats. Our favorite recipes so far? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. The homemade versions taste great and it costs a lot less to make up a homemade quart than to buy a pint in the store.