NeatReceipt Scanner Product Review

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Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

neatreceipts scanner I was so tired of all the clutter around my house and I was looking for a better way to get organized.  I was always losing important papers, receipts, etc.  I have a drawer that is overflowing with receipts but they aren’t organized in any way so if I need a particular receipt it takes forever to find it.  And it wasn’t just receipts, it was important papers, mail, etc., too.  I was wasting so much time looking for things that should have been easy to find.  Time is precious to a busy mother so I knew I had to find a solution.  That’s when I found the NeatReceipt scanner.
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The NeatReceipt scanner is more than just a scanner, it is a digital filing system.  You start by installing the software that comes with the NeatReceipt scanner.  Once installed you can set up folders within the software for every member of your family, different categories and types of documents you will be storing, etc.  In my filing cabinet I initially set up a folder for each of my family members and also a folder for receipts so we can keep track of our spending.  Now that I have been using NeatReceipt for a while I have added more folders as I have needed them.  For example, my daughter was bitten by our neighbor’s dog.  I created a folder for all the medical forms, bills, hospital reports, etc. so I can have it all in one place.  I have also created folders for recipes, holidays, and so much more.  The NeatReceipt is AMAZING and I am not sure how we lived without it.
You can scan on the go, too.  The NeatReceipt doesn’t require a power outlet to work.  Simply attach it to your computer’s USB and you’re ready to scan no matter where you are.  It is slim, lightweight, and fits easily in your bag, laptop case, etc.

neat receipt
You have the choice of scanning items as receipts, documents, or contacts, or you can have the NeatReceipt auto-select what type of item you are scanning.  When you scan receipts, the NeatReceipt reads and adds the information for you such as vendor, category, date, payment type, and more.  You can also manually add the information as well.  The NeatReceipt also fills in your contact’s
information for you when scanning business cards as well.
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When you scan a receipt, documents, etc. you can then view your entire receipt or zoom to see specific parts which makes using the NeatReceipt very easy.
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You can search all of your documents for key words, phrases, etc., not just the titles.  This is great when you know a word that would be found in the document but you aren’t sure what the title is.  I was able to search for blankets I purchased by using the word fleece because I knew that they were fleece blankets.  I wasn’t sure what store I had purchased them from but NeatReceipt was able to find the correct receipt for me.
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Trying to figure out where your money is going?  With the NeatReceipt software you can create custom reports.
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Like collecting recipes and crafts?  You an import pictures of recipes, crafts, ideas, etc. and store them in your folders.  I often find crafts and recipes that I like in magazines.  I try to save them but I lose the magazine, forget which month I saw them in, etc.  With NeatReceipt I can scan in pages from magazines to easily save, store, and organize all the great recipes, crafts, ideas, etc. that I find.
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You can also save things you find on the internet as .pdf files and import them into your folders.  For example, I found some great recipes I liked on a website so I saved the web page as a .pdf file and imported in into my recipes folder.  Easy peasy!
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Another favorite use for our NeatReceipt is scanning all of our daughters’ assignments as soon as they walk in the door from school.  No more missing assignment sheets.  I don’t scan things that are due the next day if I know that my girls aren’t taking the sheets anywhere but for long term assignments, things that aren’t due for a few days, project instruction sheets, etc. I scan, scan, scan.  Now my girls can’t say they can’t do their homework because they don’t know where it is or what they have to do.  NO MORE EXCUSES!!!
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And of course you can scan your children’s art work if it is 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller.  You just have to be careful with artwork that has crayons on it because it can gunk up the rollers of the scanner.  I scanned my daughter’s picture that had a lot of crayon on it and the documents I scanned right after had a line down them.  It was easy to remedy though by using the cleaning sheets that come with the scanner.

Neat brings scanned documents to life, using Intelligent Text Recognition technology to read and understand key information, then automatically organizing what it sees. The resulting digital files are useful and usable – easy to find, easy to access, and easy to share.

Neat reads and extracts the information from whatever you scan. Receipts become digital records with vendors and amounts, business cards become digital contacts, and documents become fully keyword searchable.

Create tax or expense reports with your receipt data, or export to Excel®, Quicken®, or TurboTax®. Sync your contacts with Outlook® or Address Book. Find what you need with a keyword, and organize it however you like.

NeatDesk comes with a free 30-day trial of NeatCloud, which allows you to sync and back up your Neat files, and access them anywhere with your browser or mobile device.*

*Available for iOS devices and Android phones.

SCANNER SPECS:

  • Lightweight, portable scanner

  • Scans in color, greyscale, or B&W CIS

  • 600 dpi maximum resolution

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) + Intelligent Text Recognition (ITR)

  • Speed: approximately 3-4 receipts per minute

  • Scanning Range: 1” x 1” to 8.5” x 30”

  • Scanner Dimensions: 10.8”W x 1.6”D x 1.3”H

  • Weight: 10.6 oz

  • USB powered, no external power supply needed

  • Factory calibrated

  • Image capture support for scanning into other imaging applications

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Dressfirst.com Review

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You can save tons of money shopping online. Not to mention it’s so easy and convenient to do. Probably one of the best deals you can grab online is a wedding dress. Sounds crazy right? Trusting what you see online with the most important dress of your life, and praying for the best. It doesn’t have to be a scary as it sounds. You just have to be patient and easy going and everything will be perfect.
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Dress First has such a beautiful selection of wedding dresses. No matter your style they have a dress for you. I was in complete awe looking at their beautiful collection. Destination weddings, ball gown style, or mermaid they have it. Even if you aren’t quite sure what you are looking for they can help. On the left hand side of their site they have their categories organized and super easy to follow. If you find a dress you love but want to continue look, just hover over the dress and a little heart will appear. Click it and save it to your favorites. Super easy!

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Looking for amazing dresses for your bridal party? Dress First has those too! Hundreds of styles and tons of colors to choose from. I am sure you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.  Make sure you always set a budget and stick to it. When using Dressfirst.com that should be no problem. You can set a price range and they only show you dresses you can afford.

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Already have the perfect dress, but need everything else? Guess what! Dressfirst.com has that also. Wedding favors, personalized cake toppers, flower baskets…. the list is endless. They even have a $5 section. Score!!

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If there is no wedding in your future Dress First offers beautiful gowns and dresses for special occasions. I would LOVE to have the blue dress pictured above. Now I just need to find somewhere to go… In the mean time I will continue to drool over the wonderful gowns Dress First has to offer. Plus I forgot to mention all dresses are made to order. Get your dresses made exactly the way you want. Check out the site and let us know which dress is your favorite. Happy shopping!

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No More Dog Food or Water On My Floor Thanks To The Neater Feeder- Review and Giveaway

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Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.
neater feeder

As you have probably read, we adopted, Cooper, a lab mix puppy last month.  He was 16 pounds and 3 months old when we adopted him.  He is now 4 months old and about 27 pounds and growing every day.  We originally purchased plastic food and water bowls for him but as active of a puppy as he is sometimes, other times he is just plain lazy and likes to lay down when he eats.  This isn’t very good for his digestion but keeping him standing up to eat was getting difficult.  Someone told me about The Neater Feeder and I knew we had to try it.  The Neater Feeder is a feeding system that comes in various sizes and can be used for both cats and dogs.

I contacted The Neater Feeder and they sent me a large Neater Feeder for dogs.  It is a little big for Cooper now but he can eat and drink from it and he will grow into it.  We also received the optional extender legs to add to the unit when he gets even bigger.  What makes the Neater Feeder different from other feeding bowls is that it is designed to contain the food and water messes that pets can make.  The bottom of the Neater Feeder is a reservoir that holds any water that gets sloshed around and spilled so it doesn’t end up on your floor.  The top has high sidewalls so food and water stay inside and keep your walls clean.  When your pet or even you knock into your Neater Feeder and spill some of the water, it simply drains down the grate in the front of the unit and gets collected in the bottom reservoir.  If any food gets spilled when the unit gets bumped, it stays right on top so your pet can still eat it without it ending up on your floor.  It really lives up to the name Neater Feeder.  It is easy to clean and because the bottom holds more than one spilled bowl of water, you can empty it at your leisure which saves you time.  Now I don’t have to constantly clean my floor around Cooper’s food and water.  I am going to buy a mat to put under the Neater Feeder but only because Cooper slobbers when he drinks but no product can contain a puppy’s slobber when he drinks and then runs away with his mouth open.  LOL
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There are 4 different size Neater Feeders from the cat version to the large dog version.  Ordering the right size for your pet is easy by checking out the Neater Feeder size chart.  Cooper is much more comfortable eating standing up and not having to bend down too low for his food.  We have 3 cats and I am thinking about getting a few more Neater Feeders for them.  They are always knocking their food on the floor and tracking it all over our bedroom.  The Neater Feeder will really help with that, too.  If you have a dog or cat I highly recommend this product.  Cooper gives it 4 paws up and we’ve already shown it off and recommended it to several of our dog owning friends.

Here you can watch the Neater Feeder in action:

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The Neater Feeder Website

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Kiss Tornado 360° Hairdryer and Kiss Silicone Styler Flat Iron Product Review

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Kiss Flat Iron and Hairdryer

I’m a busy mom with stick straight hair so I usually just wash it, blow dry my bangs,  and I am out the door.  I just don’t have time to blow dry it completely like I would like.  Plus I have fibromyalgia so holding a hairdryer and moving my wrist back and forth can be painful some days.  I was excited to learn about the revolutionary Kiss Tornado 360° dryer with a Patent-Pending 360° degree Rotating Air Booster.  It saves time by drying hair faster with even heat distribution.  This results in reduced spot damage.  It also has Ceramic Tourmaline Technology which allows for longer-lasting frizz-free results.  It has 2 speeds and 3 temperature setting plus a cold shot button to set your style.
Kiss turbo 306 hair dryer
My girls love sitting and having their hair dried after their shower but with 2 daughters with long hair it can be time consuming every night.  The Kiss Tornado 360° dryer is lightweight and cuts our hair drying time because the tornado rotating attachment moves hair around, blowing warm air in between hair sections drying an area up to 4 times larger than conventional dryers.  It eliminates the need to shake the dryer which helps save me from wrist pain.  I have my girls flip their heads upside down and dry most of their hair that way because the dryer helps dry it quickly that way.  Then towards the end I have them flip their head over and I finish drying their hair.  It also comes with a bonus air concentrator for conventional, concentrated styling.  The only thing I would change about the hair dryer is that while it does have a loop on the end to hang it, I don’t like to hang my hair dryers so I wish it had a retractable cord instead.  Kiss Tornado 360° dryer can be found at select Walmart stores nationwide.

kiss flat iron
We were also sent the Kiss Silicone Styler, a 1-inch flat iron with Ceramic Tourmaline and Silicone Technology.  I have stick straight hair but my daughters have a little of their daddy’s curls to their hair.  While her hair isn’t very curly, my 9 year old has been begging me to straighten her hair so she was excited when we received the Kiss Silicone Styler.  I will admit that I don’t have much of a basis for comparison with this styler and other traditional flat irons since I have never had to use a flat iron on my hair and like I said, I’m lazy when it comes to my hair.  But I can tell you that the Kiss Silicone Styler was easy to use.  It has a dial to set the proper heat setting for your type of hair which is great so I wasn’t worried using it on my daughters hair.  It might not seem like a big difference in the before and after picture but to a 9 year old it is a world of difference.  It definitely made her hair smoother and shinier.  The styler heats up in about 60 seconds which is great when you have a 9 year old who wants everything done YESTERDAY.  It has two conditioning silicone bars embedded on both ceramic plates to minimize heat damage by cushioning hair and sealing the hair cuticle to retain moisture.  It glided very smoothly and evenly as I moved it down my daughter’s hair.  It has a swivel cord which made styling easier.  I know it is possible to use a flat iron type styler to make curls but I haven’t tried yet.  I plan on watching some YouTube videos to learn how and then you just might see a video of me curling my hair.

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Dropcam HD WiFi Video Camera Product Review and Giveaway

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Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

drop cam

 

Looking for a way to monitor your baby, home, business, or pets?  Look no further than the Dropcam HD WiFi Video Monitor.  The Dropcam is super easy to use and has lots of great features.  Out of the box it takes about 60 seconds to set up.  Simply plug it in and then use your computer, tablet, or smartphone to set up an account and easily connect to your camera.  You can mount the camera to a wall or simply set it on a table or other surface and point it where you want it to monitor.  Then simply log into your account from your device and viola- you can see everything going on.

We first used our DropCam to monitor our new puppy, Cooper, when we left him home for a while.  He was in his crate but it was fun to watch him move around in there.  You can set the camera to notify you if various events happen such as movement or sound.  When we left the camera on Cooper my husband had it set to notify him any time the camera detected movement so every time Cooper woke up and moved around my hubby was sent an e-mail.  If you were monitoring an empty house or business you could have it set to notify you if there is any movement or sound so if someone enters or there is a loud noise, you will be notified.

There are so many great features of the DropCam.  You can not only view the videos live but if you sign up for their service you can record and save videos.  Imagine being able to see your baby any time you want from any of your devices, catching them doing something cute because of course they are always doing something cute, and being able to back it up and record it.  Sometimes it is so hard to capture those special moments like when they roll over for the first time, etc. but with the DropCam, you can record it all.  There is also a 2 way talk back feature that allows you to speak through your device’s microphone to the camera and anyone in the room with the camera will be able to hear you and speak back to you.  You can also listen in on the room with the camera without turning on your microphone so you can hear if your baby is crying or what is going on in the room.

Imagine leaving your children home with a babysitter and being able to see and hear what is going on at home while you are away.  What great peace of mind!  Or what about leaving your older children home alone.  Now you can see what they are doing when you are not home.  The camera features night vision technology so you can see the room even in the dark.

If you subscribe to the premium monitoring service you can record your videos 24/7 to the cloud for easy retrieval.   The only thing that we didn’t like about the Dropcam is that when the camera is on and recording, you can’t delete the videos yourself.  They are all saved to the cloud and you have to contact Dropcam to delete your videos for you.  I personally don’t like that our videos, while private on the cloud, are out there and I don’t have control over deleting them.  Sometimes you forget that the camera is on and you walk into a room wearing  nothing but a t-shirt and undies, ahem, yes, that’s what I did.  And we have to contact Dropcam if we want that video deleted.  Even if the video is secure, I don’t like putting my family so out there when I don’t have control to delete the videos.  But my hubby was told that they are changing that feature and you will soon be able to delete your own video.  When that happens, the Dropcam will be perfect.

We don’t really need to watch our puppy while he is in his crate so I found a new use for our Dropcam.  My daughters have a Jack and Jill style bathroom that connects their bedrooms from the inside.  At bedtime they have a tendency to sneak back and forth into each other’s rooms and bother each other.  They each blame the other one and because the connection between their rooms is their bathroom that they share and they can go back and forth between rooms through the bathroom without going in the hallway, we never know who is telling the truth.  My older daughter says that my younger daughter is going in her room and bothering her at bedtime and my younger daughter says the same thing about her older sister.  Last night I decided to put the Dropcam in the bathroom that they share (not the toilet part, just the sink area) and I can watch to see which of my daughters is sneaking into her sister’s room.  Last night both girls stayed put in their own beds.  PHEW!  The camera is working.  It is also good because we have a two story house and sometimes when I call up to my daughters to come down for dinner, come to help me, etc. I know they hear me but they pretend that they don’t.  I hate having to yell upstairs to them and going up and down the stairs a million times is tiring.  With the Dropcam in between their bedrooms I can now turn on the 2 way talk feature and they can hear me right from my computer, smartphone, or tablet.  No more yelling upstairs and no more children saying “I didn’t hear you.  I didn’t know you were calling me.”

You don’t need to have a baby to need a Dropcam.   The Dropcam can be unplugged and moved into another room at any time, making it very versatile.  I have fibromyalgia and there are days when just getting out of bed is hard.  I can set the Dropcam up downstairs and see what my girls are doing while I am upstairs resting, cleaning my room, folding laundry, or anything else in my room.  I am going to Denver next month without my family, but I will be able to see them and talk to them through the Dropcam from wherever I am.

If you want to send the link for someone else to view your Dropcam, you can do that, too.  Now Grandma and Grandpa can check in and watch your little one in action.  Just simply e-mail them the link.  You can also set your Dropcam up so anyone can view your feed.  Obviously you wouldn’t want to do this if you were focusing the camera on your baby, but what about your dog that is giving birth to puppies?  My friend’s dog had puppies and she was able to share the experience with everyone on the internet.  It was an amazing sight to see.  I am not sure what type of camera she used but you can do this with the Dropcam, too.  There are a bunch of live cameras you can watch on the Dropcam website so check it out.  My hubby would like to purchase a few more Dropcams to put around our house as a security system against intruders.  There is nothing like peace of mind knowing that your family, home, business, and pets are safe.


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Shark® Sonic Duo™ Cleaning System Carpet & Hard Floor Cleaner Product Review

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Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.
shark sonic duo

It’s not often that my daughters ask beg me to let them help me clean.  Actually it has never happened until I was sent a Shark Sonic Duo Floor Cleaning System.  It glides so effortlessly across my tile floors as the pads scrub my tiles that it almost seems like it is floating.  Both of my daughters (7 and 9 years old) can easily glide it all over my floor and as our video shows, my 9 year old was even able to use only one finger to move it!  The Shark Sonic Duo Floor Cleaning System is great for both hard floor surfaces and carpets.  You need to vacuum your floor first and you’re ready for the Shark Sonic Duo.  It comes with 2 separate types of cleaning solutions and cleaning pads.  It comes with a green bottle of hard floor cleaning concentrate, 2 green scrubbing pads for tile, and a green capped bottle to mix the concentrate into with water and attach to the machine.  It also comes with a purple bottle of carpet cleaning concentrate, a spray bottle of carpet spot cleaning solution, 2 purple scrubbing pads for carpet, and a purple capped bottle to mix the concentrate into the water and attach to the machine.  I love that it is such a no brainer because of the color coding.

Right out of the box it was very easy to set up and get started.  I just had to measure the cleaning concentrate and water in the bottle that attaches to the machine.  There are lines on the inside of the bottle to show you exactly how much of each to put in.  Then simply turn the bottle upside-down in the machine, plug it in, and you’re ready to clean.  There are 2 different cleaning settings on the Shark Duo, one for cleaning hard floors and one for cleaning carpet.  I love that there is nothing complicated about this machine.  I am a busy mom and I don’t have time for complicated.  The Shark Duo cleans my tiles very well and it doesn’t leave them wet which is important to me.  With 3 cats, 2 kids, and a new puppy, I don’t want to have to tell my family they can’t come downstairs because the floor is wet.  That is not a problem with this machine.  The pads are washable so you don’t have to worry about running out of pads.  Just throw the dirty one in the wash and since they give you two of each type, you still have another one to use for the next time.  Another feature that I like is that is turns itself off when you put it in the upright position.  This way if the phone rings or you need to turn it off quickly you don’t have to fumble for the switch, you just stand it up.

The Shark Sonic Duo is also great on carpet.  We only have carpet on our stairs but once I vacuumed the stairs, I ran the Shark Sonic Duo over the steps and I was amazed at all the dirt it removed that I didn’t even realize was on my steps.  This machine is great for whatever floor surfaces you have at home.  And who knows, maybe your kids will be like mine and actually BEG to help you clean your floors.  A mom can get used to this!
shark duoShark® Sonic Cleaning Technology scrubs your floors and carpets 1,000 times per minute. That’s over 16 powerful scrubs every second! Sonic cleaning removes the stuck-on dirt on your floors and your carpets, but requires almost zero effort on your part thanks to AIRGLIDE MANEUVERABILITY. It’s never been easier or faster to get your floors and carpets truly clean!
For more info on the Shark Sonic Duo check out their website.

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Highlights Hidden Pictures Club

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of the magazine mentioned below along with several other Highlights magazine samples at the Highlights breakfast event I attended while at BlogHer13.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

Did you ever go to the doctor’s office as a child and get excited when you saw a Highlights magazine sitting there in the waiting room just waiting to be read?  And how great was your excitement when you realized that the puzzles hadn’t been completed yet?!?!  SCORE!  Most of us have childhood memories reading Highlights magazines either at home or somewhere else.  I personally loved the hidden pictures the best.  What was your favorite part?

Now that I have my own children, I have made Highlights a part of their childhoods, too.  We subscribe to the regular Highlights magazine as well as the Puzzlemania magazine by Highlights.  My girls love getting mail and I love that these magazines keep their brains working without electronics.  They are great for in the car, while waiting at restaurants, and of course they are still great for the wait at doctors’ offices.
eagle eye hidden pictures collage 3

I am excited that Highlights has made my favorite part into its own magazine called Highlights Hidden Pictures Club which will be available in September.  It has 2 age levels, Let’s Play for ages 3-6 years old and Eagle-Eye for ages 6+.  We received a copy of Eagle-Eye to review because my girls are over 6 years old.  My girls love that it has lots of hidden pictures to find but there is so much more inside.  This edition has a page that lets children create their own dialogue for the characters, a hidden words page, and one of my favorite pages is a page that has children create their own hidden picture by drawing an object (a boomerang in this edition) and then turning it into a picture of something else to “hide it”.  I love that this activity gets kids thinking outside the box and using their creativity.

Eagle Eye Hidden Pictures Collage 2
There are also pages that teach several words in other languages, a page that has word families, recipes, stickers, pages to color, a crossword puzzle, and so much more.  The pages are all visually and mentally stimulating for children.  As a parent I love that this magazine is full of so many different types of activities to keep my girls thinking outside the box and using their brains.
Eagle Eye Hidden Pictures Collage

Check out the new free app from Highlights, Highlights Hopscotch! With Hopscotch, you’ll find fun videos, interactive comics, easy recipes, children’s audio stories, crafts and free digital Highlights™ magazines that will keep your youngsters entertained for hours.

 

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USI Electric’s Carbon Monoxide & Natural Gas Alarm Product Review

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Disclosure: I received 2 products listed below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

A few weeks ago I posted about trying to get USI Electric’s Carbon Monoxide & Natural Gas Alarm on the shelves at Walmart.  Thank you to all who voted.  The winning products will be announced in late September.  I will let you know when I find out the results.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm
I was sent 2  USI Electric’s Carbon Monoxide & Natural Gas Alarms to review.  They are smaller than other carbon monoxide alarms I have seen so I like that they don’t take up much room on the outlet.  They are basically “plug and play”.  There are 2 charts in the instructions that give recommended placement depending on how many levels your home has.  Once you decide placement, simply plug the alarm in and it is ready to go.   There are 2 buttons on the front of the unit.  Press the TEST/CO SILENCE button to test the unit.  You will hear 1 beep, a one second pause, and then 4 loud horn sounds.  Then press the PEAK/RESET button for 10 seconds to reset the unit.  This simple test should be done weekly to make sure the unit is working properly.  That’s it.  Easy peasy!  If you don’t already have carbon monoxide and natural gas alarms in your home, please get them to protect yourself and your family!

Most of us have smoke detectors in our homes but did you know that isn’t enough?  Carbon Monoxide and natural gas leaks are silent killers.  When it comes to carbon monoxide and natural gas leaks, earlier detection and warnings can give you the few seconds you need to survive a deadly fate.

The leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S., carbon monoxide leaks can lead to long-term physical and emotional distress.

What is carbon monoxide poisoning and what should I look for?

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Carbon monoxide is undetected by humans or animals and can be fatal, causing death within minutes.

Why is a carbon monoxide detector so important?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), all people and animals are at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Certain groups — unborn babies, infants, the elderly and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems — are more susceptible to its effects. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Why is a natural gas detector so important?

Why is a natural gas detector so important? A detector is crucial to protecting your home and neighborhood from explosive natural gas. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the odorant that is added to that colorless and odorless natural gas used in homes can lose its odor. This problem is called “odorant fade” and may cause a leak in a home to be undetectable through the sense of smell.

Universal Security Instruments 2-in-1 Carbon Monoxide & Natural Gas Alarm

Universal Security Instruments has launched a new cost-effective and compact plug-in carbon monoxide and natural gas alarm with smart technology to help protect families and save lives.

  • The new compact design alarm is the smallest available. No bigger than your average smart phone, the 2-in-1 alarm covers only one electrical outlet and has one sensor to accurately detect carbon monoxide and natural gas exposure in the home.

  • The Universal Security dual-sensing carbon monoxide and natural gas plug-in alarm with smart technology is generally immune from nuisance alarms caused by common household chemicals and cleaners.

  • The dual-sensing gas alarm is available at a similar cost to the carbon monoxide only alarms and creates a compelling value for families looking to purchase these life-saving devices.

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Bacon, Bacon, Bacon…..For Dessert! Chocolate Covered Bacon and Maple Bacon Milkshake #goodcookcom #goodcookkitchenexprt

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Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

As a member of the Good Cook bloggers I took part in the Stuffed Burger competition and received a cast iron grill as part of the stuffed burger kit to create my recipe.  I have always wanted a grill pan so I was excited to be a part of this event.  Now that I have a grill pan I was even more excited when the next event was announced- BACON!  Who doesn’t love bacon, right?  I received a Good Cook Bacon Press to use with my cast iron grill pan to create my bacon masterpiece.  Bacon presses are great to keep bacon flat while cooking so it doesn’t curl up but they are also great for making a panini sandwich, flat iron steak, and lots more.  Keep any eye out for more recipes featuring my grill pan and grill press coming soon.

bacon bacon bacon
For my bacon recipe I tried to come up with something different.  I love a good BLT sandwich but that seemed too obvious.   I considered making a breakfast sandwich with bacon but again that didn’t seem creative enough.  That’s when I decided to make two different desserts with bacon- Chocolate Covered Bacon and a Maple Bacon Milkshake.  These recipes aren’t for the faint of heart but a true bacon lover will appreciate the sweet and smokey flavors in these recipes.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Bacon
chocolate covered bacon collage
Ingredients:
1/2 pound of bacon
1 cup dark chocolate
1 cup milk chocolate
1/2 cup white chocolate

Cook bacon in grill pan with grill press.  Keep flipping until done on each side.
(Try not to set off the smoke alarm like I did.  True story!  I set my smoke alarm off tonight cooking bacon!)
Drain bacon on paper towel and allow bacon to cool.
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Melt chocolate over a double boiler or in a bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute 15 seconds at 70% power.  Stir until smooth.
Dip each piece of bacon in chocolate until completely covered.  Allow excess to drip back into bowl.
Place chocolate covered bacon on covered cookie sheet.
Dip fork into white chocolate and drizzle over already dipped bacon pieces.
Cool in refrigerator until chocolate is hardened.
Store in refrigerator.
Enjoy!
Chocolate Covered Bacon

Maple Bacon Milkshake

maple bacon milkshake collage
Ingredients:
(Makes 2 servings)
4 slices of bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 Tablespoons REAL Maple Syrup
4 cups Vanilla ice cream
1 cup of milk

Spread brown sugar on a plate and dip each piece of bacon in it covering all sides.
Cook bacon in grill pan with grill press.  Keep flipping until done on each side.
NOTE~ The bacon will not get quite as crispy as regular bacon because it will have a candied glaze from the caramelized brown sugar.
Drain on paper towel and set bacon aside to cool.
When bacon is cooled, cut it into small pieces using kitchen shears.
Reserve enough bacon to crumble on the top of each milkshake to garnish.
In blender blend ice cream, milk, maple syrup, and bacon pieces until well blended.
Pour maple syrup down sides of 2 glasses and swirl around for garnish if desired.
Pour milkshake into 2 glasses.
Garnish with reserved bacon crumbles.
Enjoy right away!
maple bacon milkshake

Want your own Good Cook Burger Tools including the grill pan and bacon press?
Go to GoodCook.com and use code BaconLovers to get 25% off your order.

 

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Protect Your Pets For Less With PetArmor #TICKFREEFALL @PetArmor

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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

 Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PetArmor as part of a Mom It Forward Blogger Network campaign.  I also received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review but all opinions are 100% my own.

 We’ve had 3 cats for a while now.  They are 100% indoor cats so when money got tight we decided to not use flea and tick prevention on them.  We figured that since they didn’t go outside, they would be safe.  Of course we were in denial because we could track those insects in but that’s a whole other story.  When we adopted our puppy, Cooper, a few weeks ago we realized that it would probably be a good idea to start using prevention on our cats, too, in case any insects hitch a ride in on Cooper.  I was given a box of 3 pipettes of PetArmor for cats as part of a Mom It Forward Blogger Network campaign and I have been pleased with the results.  It is very easy to apply PetArmor.  Simply snap off the top of the pipette, separate your dog or cat’s fur between the shoulder blades and administer the contents of the entire pipette directly to your pet’s skin and allow to dry.  One pipette will protect your pet for an entire month even after baths or showers.
PetArmor
PetArmor contains the same #1 veterinarian recommended active ingredient Fipronil found in Frontline brand products, provides the same protection against adult fleas and ticks, but is available for significantly less.  With 4 four legged family members in our house now it is important for us to protect our pets in the most cost effective way.  That’s why I am glad I can purchase PetArmor at my local store while I am purchasing groceries and other items.  I don’t have to worry about making a trip to our vet and I can save money at the same time.

We live in South Florida where it is warm almost all year round but many people who live in colder climates think that there isn’t a risk of  bloodsuckers like ticks, fleas and mosquitos during the fall months.   Many do not realize that these bugs stick around well into the cooler fall season.  In fact, ticks such as the American Dog Tick and the Deer Tick are more active during the transition into fall.  And of course fleas also survive happily in a nice warm home.  Dogs and cats need year round protection from these insects.  Fleas and Ticks are dangerous to both pets and humans.  Ticks carry deadly diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  The adult stage deer tick actually begins its feeding activity about the time of first frost (or early October throughout its range) and it will latch onto any larger host (from a cat to a human) any day that the temperature is near or above freezing.  Adult female deer ticks and the Blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme Disease.   The adult stages of the Blacklegged tick begin to become active as the season changes from summer to fall.

PetArmor provides effective flea and tick protection for both dogs and cats. It kills the four major types of ticks including those that carry Lyme disease.  For more information about products that can protect your pet from fleas and ticks this fall visit petarmor.com. You can learn more about ticks on TickEncounter.org.

Get social with PetArmor:
PetArmor Website 
PetArmor on Facebook 
PetArmor on Twitter

 

 

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