Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

Star Wars is always a good idea in my family.  The coffee cup Darth Vader I'm not your father joke never gets old.  This wall covering is easily removable if it does get old but the Star Wars fans in this family run from 8 to 71 years in age so this will be a hit for years to come.  Good readily recognizable graphics ·                         Easy to apply - just peel and stick ·                         Applies to any smooth surface ·                         Removable and repositionable with no sticky residue If reviewing a product, it may have been received free of charge. That will NEVER have a bearing on my...

I blogged on this on July 10, 2016.   The battery worked fine for over a year.  Today I noticed the phone was warm and I popped the cover to find this battery swollen.  It looked just like the Samsung battery it replaced.  I don't know if it is an inherent flaw in the S4 or if the battery is defective.  I do know that the RAVPower website has not warranty information  on the battery.  So buyer BEWARE this may not be the product for you and BEWARE of a company that doesn't have clear warranty information on their web site. RAVPower 2800mah Samsung Galaxy S4 Replacement Battery for I9500, I9505, Sgh-m919 (T-mobile), Sch-i545 (Verizon), Sgh-i337 (At&t), Sph-l720 (Sprint), with NFC [Not for Galaxy S4 Active or S4 Mini] This battery is charging well and is a great replacement for the faulty batteries that came in the Samsung S4.   After my phone shut down and I opened the case to see the severely bulged battery, I googled the...

This set has a nice range of colors.  The metal tin also is a nice feature as it keeps the pencils in one place and decreases the need for re-sharpening.   The only thing the set fails to do is improve my drawing skills. ·                         Explore the world of art! Faber castell grip sketch pencils with a soft-grip zone allows for comfortable writing ·                         The lead is break-resistant and easy-to-sharpen ·                         Includes 2 grip sketch pencils and a sharpener ·                   ...

I love this type of storage.  The fabric seems durable and the size is good for a variety of things.  Much nice looking than the shoe boxes they replaced.  The glittery pineapples are a bit much but then who sees them in the closet. From the vendor: Non-woven Imported FITS INTO CUBE ORGANIZER - Storage bin measures 11x11x11", the perfect size for most cube organizers STURDY CONSTRUCTION - Non-woven fabric storage bins have cardboard sides and a removable bottom to give shape and add structure while still allowing bins to fold flat when not in use ALWAYS TRENDY & STYLISH - These bins are available in fun, trendy and adorable styles and colors, a perfect addition to a nursery, home office, craft room, or use as a laundry hamper, adds a splash of color to any room while also being functional ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTION FOR THE HOME - Find a place for knick knacks, children's' toys, magazines, craft supplies, and more with these sturdy, everyday bins that can b...

Phone snaps in on the right of the photo. This works great!  I plugged it into my power port (the port formerly  known as the cigarette lighter port) and it worked immediately.  I then took the power port adapter off and plugged it into my car USB and Viola! It worked there as well.  So while I was tinkering I tried it on my desktop USB and my desktop did not like it but I tried it on my laptop USB extender and it worked just fine.  So not only does it give me a wireless charging option in the car it gives me a backup wireless charger for the desk.   My only  concern is that the vent clip was very difficult to get on the vent.  Once on the vent, it was very sturdy feeling but it was not easy to get on.  I may not use it on the vent and might just stick it in the glove box and charge there.  Regardless that small shortcoming does not detract from the versatility of this charger.  (I was going to photo it with my phone...

I got this today.  I can’t remember being more excited about a toy in ages.  This isn’t really a toy as much as a major learning experience.  The kit provides you with enough parts and directions to build three different robots.  Not having finished one yet I cant’s swear but it appears that you can then take off on your own and design your own robot.  STEM is getting a great deal of overwork for the 2017 holiday season.  This kit really does stretch the mind though.  The ability to create code to control your robot is mind blowing.  You can use your Apple or Android devices to program and control your robot.  I’m sure that Wall-E  had some impact on their design.  Since I loved that movie, this just rings my bell. From the vendor: Wall-E ·                  Build your own DIY robot with 5 smooth motion robotic servos, 1 infrared sensor, 2 ...

I’ve written a lot about K’NEX over the last 6 months.   Frankly when K’NEX first came out I was not a fan.   Ho w could anyone think they could replace Legos? However I have been won over.   They are not a replacement, they are in addition   to Legos.   My grand kids have both and they enjoy both.   K”NEX has made a big push in the STEM education arena.   I laud that as they supply good manuals and plenty of imaginative suggestions for their kits.   This particular kit is not STEM centric but it supplies a whopping 750 pieces to further fuel the imagination. My grand kids love these. K’NEX claims they are willing to replace broken or lost parts, just call them.  I called at 2:45 PM on a Friday afternoon and was on hold for 5 minutes before I hung up.  It’s possible they actually do respond to phone calls but I can’t verify that and I am unwilling to sit on hold to discover the answer.  In that aspect K’NEX is as disappo...

I am fond of toys that diminish stereotypes. The character of Wonder Woman was the first female super hero that I can recall.  I loved the movie and like that my grand daughters have a super hero to admire.  This is a great set with a serious number of pieces.  My youngest (now a father) always said the more pieces the better!  Way to go Lego! ·                         Features a foldout palace, opening tubes to hold lego dc super hero girls characters, powering station, planning room, vanity cabinet, weapons cabinet, a kryptomite creation section. ·                         Includes 3 mini-doll figures: wonder woman, eclipso and the flash, plus 3 orange kryptomite figures. ·        ...