wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
Levana Oma Sense Portable Baby Breathing Movement Monitor
I think this is a cleverly designed monitor that really goes out of its way to prevent false alarms and put parents’ minds at ease. There’s still some room for improvement, but it’s mostly minor. One thing that really annoyed me was that if... +
I think this is a cleverly designed monitor that really goes out of its way to prevent false alarms and put parents’ minds at ease. There’s still some room for improvement, but it’s mostly minor. One thing that really annoyed me was that if you don’t use a specific branded Panasonic battery, it voids your warranty. While it’s a minor issue, I really don’t approve of that kind of forcing people to buy a certain brand of battery. For that reason and the other minor problems, I did remove a star.
It works really well, though placement is key. You have to make sure it’s only used when baby is still (no car seats or cribs with vibration etc) and it must be placed above the belly button. If you’re getting a false alarm, pay attention to your placement. First, the alarm will attempt to ‘stimulate’ baby into moving through vibration and if it still doesn’t detect movement or breathing, it will set off the ‘emergency’ alarm.
I don’t mind that it doesn’t text to my phone (the device is self-contained), but I do think the emergency alarm could be a lot louder. Heavy sleepers or those with big houses, could easily miss it. That being said, if you have a noise-activated baby monitor (something most paranoid parents will have), it wouldn’t be an issue at all.
The other thing that might cause a problem for some people, is that it won’t work with all clothing types. It can be clipped onto a diaper, button up romper, or used on the pants waistband, but if you have a zip up romper or a one-piece that fastens at the back, for example, it won’t be able to be used. If you know you’re planning to have a device like this, it might be worth planning baby’s pajamas around the idea that you need to clip this above the belly button.
I was impressed by how small the device was. It looks bigger than it is, in the product photos. It’s really lightweight and didn’t cause any distress. I like that it comes with two batteries, but do wish it was rechargeable, given the price point. The buttons are well designed and easy to press, yet still stiff enough that they won’t accidentally be activated.
In conjunction with a noise-activated baby monitor, I think this is a great way to give yourself peace of mind, but make sure to follow the instructions well, especially if you’re getting false readings, as I found this to be very accurate.
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Viewstar Waterproof Bamboo Mattress Protector
The wording can be a little confusing on this, in terms of what’s waterproof and what’s not, so let me clarify. This will 100 percent protect your mattress, however, the protector sheet itself is not fully waterproof. There’s a layer of PUL... +
The wording can be a little confusing on this, in terms of what’s waterproof and what’s not, so let me clarify. This will 100 percent protect your mattress, however, the protector sheet itself is not fully waterproof. There’s a layer of PUL backing which prevents liquid seeping through into your mattress, but if you spill something or your child wets the bed, you will still have to wash this protector. Still, keeping your mattress from being affected is a big bonus! The top non-PUL soft side (the part that faces up) is also surprisingly water-resistant. The majority of the spill will bead up on top and only a big or forceful spill, will get absorbed. Neither will be able to touch the mattress, it really delivers on that promise.
The only reason I’m removing a star is I don’t like the sides of the protector. They are a really stretchy spandex type mesh material that feels odd and actually makes the mattress protector a bit big for my bed. However, I must praise the top material again, it’s so soft. So even though this is a bit big for my bed and wrinkles, the top is so soft that I don’t feel it at all and it feels for more cushy to sleep on than my mattress alone.
I do feel it’s really comfy and other than my dislike for the side material (a personal preference) I would definitely recommend it.
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Angelcare Baby Monitor (Ac527) with Video and breathing Sensor Pad
I love the idea of the sensor pad (really helps to put your mind at ease) and the sensor pad really worked well, but I was so disappointed in the actual monitor and camera. I’ve used the sensor pad before with a nursery unit (not the camera and... +
I love the idea of the sensor pad (really helps to put your mind at ease) and the sensor pad really worked well, but I was so disappointed in the actual monitor and camera. I’ve used the sensor pad before with a nursery unit (not the camera and pad) and found it to be really good, so I’d recommend that, but not in this set alongside the monitor.
I’ve used a few different baby monitors at this stage and I sadly have to say that this is the worst. The first thing I noticed immediately upon turning on was that it wouldn’t read my touches. I had to use my thumb and actually leave it on the screen for a few minutes to get it to read and even then it was spotty. When you have a newborn or toddler in the house, stress is high and I was honestly tempted to just smash the stupid pad into pieces. Trying to work it was incredibly frustrating.
However, even if the touchscreen worked perfectly (and it was far from perfect) this is not a user-friendly machine. All the icons are confusing and you need to look at the manual to figure out what most of them mean. Similarly, the ‘error’ symbols are also confusing and need looking up. Imagine this thing blaring at you while you try to flip pages and find what’s wrong, if that sounds like something you want...well then this delivers.
Considering the cost, I also find the screen is pretty low resolution. I will say that the night vision works well on it and it switches without issues. However, it’s lacking a lot of features that I’d expect at this price point. For example, the camera is plug-in, not wireless. You also can’t pan the camera at all or connect your phone to the monitor. There’s no way to record or take a screenshot and no mobile app at all. You also can’t speak to baby through the monitor, the voice is one way only.
I just found it was really lacking in features and those it did have were very low-end. It completely lacked any form of user-friendliness and the touch screen was beyond bad. For those reasons, I could not recommend this unit.
However, the sensor pad itself is great and you can buy it alone, so I would recommend that.
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Cuisinel Cast Iron Round Griddle 10.5"
Like the other Cuisinel stuff I’ve tried, this is great quality and while it comes pre-seasoned, they do recommend seasoning it before use. That’s because the more you season it, the more non-stick it will become, so extra seasoning is never a... +
Like the other Cuisinel stuff I’ve tried, this is great quality and while it comes pre-seasoned, they do recommend seasoning it before use. That’s because the more you season it, the more non-stick it will become, so extra seasoning is never a bad thing. However, you can use it right off the bat, if you so choose.
This large flat griddle style pan is perfect for pancakes, crepes and eggs, though really you could cook anything on it. It’s great value, considering it comes with a silicone handle as well. It’s a good size for general household use, not too big and not too small. While I love a frying pan for certain things, this flat griddle also has a place in our house.
Since using cast iron, I’ve really been thrilled with how well it cooks and happy that I’m getting extra iron in my diet!
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Purina Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats Crunch Chicken, Liver & Turkey Flavours
My cats go mad for the filled treats a little more than these, but these are more crunchy and help clean the teeth more, as well as being very low calorie. One thing I didn’t like is I felt like a lot of the treats were not formed properly and... +
My cats go mad for the filled treats a little more than these, but these are more crunchy and help clean the teeth more, as well as being very low calorie.
One thing I didn’t like is I felt like a lot of the treats were not formed properly and were really small. I like that they have different shapes and sizes, but they seemed a bit broken up and didn’t really match what was on the packet.
So I wouldn’t buy them again for that reason. They are so small that I have to kind of put a little bundle out, I can’t hand-feed them easily. Whereas if they matched the packet correctly I would buy them. My cats did like the flavour, I just think better quality control is needed!
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Terra by Battat – Bunny Hutch
I really like a lot of Battat toys and while this one might have a few less pieces than the big multi-packs, the quality is really lovely. You get the hutch, two rabbits, a bowl and a carrot. The rabbits are very detailed (lots of fur lines) and... +
I really like a lot of Battat toys and while this one might have a few less pieces than the big multi-packs, the quality is really lovely.
You get the hutch, two rabbits, a bowl and a carrot. The rabbits are very detailed (lots of fur lines) and perfectly painted. The bowl is perfectly shaped and the carrot is also painted lovely, though it could use some more lines to have more of a carrot texture.
The hutch is really the bulk of what makes up the value of this set. It’s a lovely little thing, that kids have a lot of fun playing with. It opens on three areas (two ramps and a gate) and makes a lovely little home for the buns.
A great gift for any child who has or loves bunnies, or just as part of a larger ‘animal’ collection.
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Purina – Fancy Feast – Creamy Delights
We feed our boys (and girl) wet food twice a week to help prevent urinary problems (to which males are prone). Like all cats, they go a bit crazy when the tins come out. They love wet food and this is no exception! While the pate style looks gross... +
We feed our boys (and girl) wet food twice a week to help prevent urinary problems (to which males are prone). Like all cats, they go a bit crazy when the tins come out. They love wet food and this is no exception!
While the pate style looks gross to me, it’s actually a great option. Since one of my boys is prone to licking the jelly and ignoring the meat, the pate style means he eats it properly since it’s broken up instead of in chunks. It’s also a good option for cats with dental problems (mine is starting to get problems).
I’m not so much a fan of the ‘touch of milk’ since cats are lactose intolerant. Given the lack of digestive problems, I have to assume the milk is so tiny as to be insignificant. However, since it’s the ‘fat’ crystals that cats respond to in milk and cream, there’s really no reason to add milk to food; I feel it’s a bit of a gimmick.
This is 12 of the smaller sized cans in a variety of flavours. My cats love it, but it is the smaller cans, so maybe not the best option if you’re feeding solely wet.
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DEERFAMY Wider Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
We actually really liked this camping pad. As a caveat, I would say that ‘inflating’ perhaps gives the wrong impression. This mat does inflate a little, but it’s not really an air mattress or inflated largely like some of the other ones sold... +
We actually really liked this camping pad. As a caveat, I would say that ‘inflating’ perhaps gives the wrong impression. This mat does inflate a little, but it’s not really an air mattress or inflated largely like some of the other ones sold. It’s more of thin camping pad, with some air around it to add a little extra cushion. If you look at the photos in the listing, you can see that it’s not supposed to be hugely inflated or thick.
So this is really better for someone who doesn’t need a ton of comfort and just wants something lightweight and easy to transport, to take the edge off the hard ground. It’s also good for at home sleepovers where you need some padding on an un-comfy couch or floor. We’ve used it on the floor so far, but haven’t gone camping yet.
Because it doesn’t inflate hugely, it can be a bit difficult to tell, but it’s far less wrinkled when fully inflated. I think it’s designed to inflate less to avoid the strain in your spine from a spongy air-inflated mattress, which could be handy if you take long camping trips.
I did really like the buttons on it, so you can attach extra for couples or families to sleep side by side. The material seems durable and touch and inflating it is as simple as opening the nozzle and closing it again after; no huffing and puffing or pump required.
Overall, this is a sturdy, thin camping mat, which is best for those who want a lightweight roll, no pump required, but don’t need a crazy level of comfort. It takes the edge off a hard floor or ground, but isn’t for people who need a thick, cushy mattress. It comes with a drawstring storage bag and two elastics to tie it into a camping 'roll', good for backpacking.
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COVERGIRL - Easy Breezy Brow Fill + Define Brow Pencil - Soft Brown
This eyebrow pencil is shockingly bad. The first thing I usually do when testing pencils is draw on the back of my hand. I couldn’t even get it to make a visible mark and when I tried pushing it harder, the lead would snap. When applying it to my... +
This eyebrow pencil is shockingly bad. The first thing I usually do when testing pencils is draw on the back of my hand. I couldn’t even get it to make a visible mark and when I tried pushing it harder, the lead would snap. When applying it to my brows it was barely there and I think only the hair made it apply a little more than trying on my hand.
It’s a lot more yellow, ochre hued than shown online and actually looks more like the ‘soft blonde’ colour.
The only good thing I can say it that the sharpener works well, but I can’t think of any reason to buy it. I guess it might work for someone who wants a hard to apply, extremely subtle pencil in a yellowish brown.
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CoverGirl CG Smoothers Concealer
I still feel like this was a tad dark for me, but not so dark that it showed up badly on my skin. It also lacks the orange hue I’ve been seeing in a lot of face products lately. So basically, it’s pretty accurate to the colour shown and works... +
I still feel like this was a tad dark for me, but not so dark that it showed up badly on my skin. It also lacks the orange hue I’ve been seeing in a lot of face products lately. So basically, it’s pretty accurate to the colour shown and works well for pale skin.
A lot of concealer sticks are so dry and uncomfortable on the skin, this is not the case here. It does feel a bit ‘draggy’ when trying to apply directly from the stick, so I’d recommend using a brush to apply and blend. I found it blended very easily and didn’t dry out my skin or show up the flaws. It hid my pores and under-eye flaws very well and also worked good at hiding zits.
I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skin, as it has a dewy, more ‘wet’ finish than a matte product, but for combination skin (like mine), normal or dry skin it works really well. At this price point, I was pretty impressed and would buy it again in a lighter colour!
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