wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
NERF Rival Kronos Xviii-500
Age: 14+ Bullet type: Round ball Shot type: Holds five, single shot, pump action reload after each shot. I've tried a fair few Nerf blasters now, both cheaper and the more extravagant options and I have to say, that this one is definitely at the... +
Age: 14+
Bullet type: Round ball
Shot type: Holds five, single shot, pump action reload after each shot.
I've tried a fair few Nerf blasters now, both cheaper and the more extravagant options and I have to say, that this one is definitely at the bottom of the stack for me. While Nerf is definitely aware of its popularity with adults now and I, admittedly, have quite weak muscles and wrists, this was just far too difficult to prime and load for me. I literally, had to tuck it under my arm to have the strength to pull it back and load it. Even then, I felt quite a bit of discomfort after doing it even twice.
It's so difficult and stiff to pull back, in fact, that I couldn't figure out how to load it because I was sure it couldn't be pulled back further, yet the loading section was still 'closed' because it wasn't pulled back far enough. If you're having a similar problem and after opening the door the loading chamber is still 'blocked' it likely means you haven't pulled it back far enough either.
Throw in the fact that you have to do this every single time before you can fire again and for me, it's just far too difficult. Reloading this 5 or 6 times, a grown man already starts to feel the strain on his arm and wrist muscles. Simply put, it's not fun. While the idea of 'pumping it' like a shotgun seems fun in theory, in practice it's just tedious.
I do love that it comes with the red and blue 'flag' strips so you can be on different teams, but frankly, the Kronos isn't really a great weapon for Nerf fights simply because of the reload priming required. You can only really fire it once and then you have to prime it, leaving yourself undefended while your friend 'murders' you with an auto-loading nerf gun.
I do prefer the high impact round 'sphere' bullets and this gun IS powerful and does shoot quite far with good aim. So it's a pretty good option for Nerf target practice or some kind of accuracy competition, but mostly I feel the Nerf rifles do everything better, though they are a higher cost.
What I'm saying is, it's cheap and accessible for beginner adults, but I wouldn't personally buy this model.
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Enchantimals Preena Penguin Doll & Playset
While I absolutely love the idea behind this set and the design, the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I own another Enchantimals playset and while the quality was not top notch on that either, this one is just a little too low for me. I love the... +
While I absolutely love the idea behind this set and the design, the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I own another Enchantimals playset and while the quality was not top notch on that either, this one is just a little too low for me. I love the idea of a 'vehicle' that can appeal to little girls or those who want a less masculine car, but I can't really recommend it until they take their Quality assurance more seriously.
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Quality
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Here are some of my complaints related to quality:
- The front of the van is 'taped up' in transit and because it's tape and part of the design is a sticker, when you pull the tape off, part of the sticker also can be ripped off, making it look cheap and used as soon as you get it.
- It's difficult to stand Preena up in position as there is only one peg, rather than two for the feet. As a result, she frequently falls over and isn't easy to place. This is frustrating for older children who want to pose her and do things 'properly'. She also doesn't fit properly in the driver's seat of the van and as a result, falls over a lot.
- Plastic tabs in her hair attaching her headband are basically impossible to cut down tightly, meaning you'll always have small, sharp plastic poking up, unless you're willing to risk cutting her hair.
- The hair is really low quality and sits weird (this is common in these playsets and a minor complaint).
- Scuffs that can't be wiped off or cleaned were seen in several parts of the playset I got, making it seem low quality.
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Setup and Ease of Use
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Not impossible or difficult to setup, but in the realm of frustration, it's about a middle score. It's really annoying having to cut all the 'elastic' ties around every part of the playset, all of which are wrapped so tight that it's always a worry that you'll nick/scratch or damage the actual figurines. It'd be nice if manufacturers left a small gap to fit the scissors in.
You'll want to leave around 15 - 30 mins to get this set-up for your kids. Once you have everything 'detached' from the box, it's smooth sailing to pop the few pieces together.
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Features
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For ages 4+ - Does not require batteries.
Other than the visual and imaginative components, this doesn't really do much. It would be cute if they had a crank to turn the ice cream cone on top or something, but it's pretty much just a doll-house/vehicle with no fancy features. Jayla the penguin does have a mystery plastic piece on her back (sort of like a broken ring) that neither me nor my little testers could figure out.
Visually, if you ignore the lack of quality (kids will, but as an adult who bought it, it might annoy you) it's really nice. There are a lot of super cute little choices, like the different 'ears' on the ice cream cones and a 'fish pop' for Jayla the penguin. The van runs smoothly and makes a great addition to the other Enchantimals sets, for example you can have the ice cream truck visit one of the playhouses.
Unfortunately there isn't a lot of pegs to put dolls, only one, so it's difficult to have multiple dolls in the truck serving ice cream. I do wish they'd add more pegs and options for posing. Dolls and animals can both sit on the included stools and the ice creams have handles to hook onto the hands. I think the spoon is a really cute addition.
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Summary
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Overall, my little testers mostly used this as a vehicle, driving it around and bashing it into things (should we be worried that they insist on commiting vehicular homicide and play-acting doctor after?), but the older girls didn't like how difficult it was to pose and the doll falls over a lot. I personally, was frustrated by the quality to cost ratio, but would still recommend it on a sale.
Things they got right:
- Cute designs that appeal to those who like pretty and cute things.
- Integrates well to the rest of the playsets.
- Cones and accessories can be held easily by dolls.
- No batteries required.
- Using truck as a 'vehicle' is very fun.
Things that won't suit everybody:
- Has quality issues with scuffs and damage caused by packaging choices (see details above)
- Needs more pegs, doll falls over too easily.
- Hard to unpack without causing damage.
- Not many interactable parts, mostly imaginative.
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Mega Bloks Take-Along Builder
Great toy, with a lot of genius elements. What it really boils down to is it's sturdy, bright, has many ways to play and is also portable. If your kids are anything like my little testers, they'll also enjoy dumping all the of the Mega Bloks and... +
Great toy, with a lot of genius elements. What it really boils down to is it's sturdy, bright, has many ways to play and is also portable. If your kids are anything like my little testers, they'll also enjoy dumping all the of the Mega Bloks and using the case to carry their dolls and other toys around and even older kids like to pretend to be air stewards and pilots.
I think this is the perfect amount of blocks for younger kids to give them a degree of customisation and imagination without overwhelming them. Perfect size and amount for little hands.
One thing I immediately started using this for, is its transportable abilities. Because it's so small, it's a great toy for bringing out with you, or to a friend's house or public place, to keep the kids busy, that's easy to clean and can be packed up easily at the end of your time there. I also think the stickers are a really cute touch (adults should apply) though I'm not sure younger kids even notice them.
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Pampers Aqua Pure Sensitive Baby Wipes
Probably the best wipes I've tried to date. No, they aren't 'flushable', but if you read my other reviews, you'll know that Flushable is a planet-destroying myth that is causing huge problems to our sewage systems. So I personally am glad to see... +
Probably the best wipes I've tried to date. No, they aren't 'flushable', but if you read my other reviews, you'll know that Flushable is a planet-destroying myth that is causing huge problems to our sewage systems. So I personally am glad to see Pampers not fall into that trap. These should go in your diaper pail or trash.
Ok, so what makes these wipes so wonderful? They are very durable and strong, to the degree that I can't imagine my fingers ever going through them and ending up in...well, you know.
They are a great size, not too big and not too small, perfect for wiping messes and more. I also love that they are free of alcohol and lots of other nasties, like fragrance. It's a pet-hate of mine when stuff for sensitive skin has fragrance. Despite the lack of fragrance these don't smell bad or weird like some wipes I've tried.
They also have the perfect amount of wetness and don't dry out too quickly or leave too much wetness behind. Most importantly, they don't just have a 'sticker' closing, but an actual plastic cap, so they'll actually stay close and won't dry out.
I have only one very minor complaint which is that when the package is quite full, pulling out a wipe takes the second wipe out really far, and in order to close it then becomes tricky, as the closure area is very small and the wipe can sometimes be too big to close it over on. I don't think this will be an issue once it's more empty, but I'd love to see Pampers increase the size of the plastic closure to be a little bigger.
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Infinity War Titan Hero Power FX Iron Spider toy
Really good toy, I've tested a lot of toys from cheap to more expensive and considering the price, this is frankly on par with some $80 toys I've tested so I'm really impressed with it. While it's listed as ages 4+, given the pointed spider legs on... +
Really good toy, I've tested a lot of toys from cheap to more expensive and considering the price, this is frankly on par with some $80 toys I've tested so I'm really impressed with it. While it's listed as ages 4+, given the pointed spider legs on the pack, which some have correctly said is an eye-poking hazard, I'd recommend this for kids a little older.
The quality is actually good to the degree that this is also a great 'action figure' for older collectors or people who want a cool Spidey display item. He's also quite photogenic.
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Setup and Ease of Use
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Very easy to setup. While those who are gifting it should be aware that it's attached with those annoying little plastic clamps (and one part is glued one and must be torn away) and therefore cannot be setup and put back in the box, it's so easy to setup that it won't take you more than ten minutes. It also comes with demo batteries, so you can test if it's working right away before unboxing it.
Unlike some toys I've unpacked, the plastic restraints are not pinned too tight, so you can easily snip them away and it's very easy to get setup. You only have to pop on the 'backpack' and 'spider legs' both of which are ludicrously easy to attach.
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Features
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Voice: He has a good number of phrases, probably around 6+ and while I don't think it's Tom Holland's voice, it's still a good sounding Spider-man voice with a good range of phrases and some sound effects. You can 'hold' the Avengers button for a combo phrase and 'webbing' sound, but it only gives one option, as opposed to repeatedly pressing the button which gives several.
The voice is also not too loud (nightmare for parents) or too quiet to understand, it's just right.
He's posable to a degree. The legs go sideways to an almost 'doing the splits' degree, but not quite all the way, it does allow him to kick though. They can go up high, but not be bent backwards and are not bendable at the knees. The arms are not bendable at the elbows, but rotate on a 360 degree joint. The head can be turned very slightly, but is extremely stiff and doesn't bend much.
He does have a tendency to become back heavy when the pack is on and the legs might need to be bent 'forward' a little to make him stand steadily. He's super sturdy and won't break easily with rough play.
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Campbells Chunky Chicken with Rice Soup
When it comes to taste and texture, this soup is awesome. It has plenty of stuff in it and really is 'chunky'. Often with pre-made food like this, there isn't a lot of meat or bits, but this is packed full, meaning you can easily eat it without... +
When it comes to taste and texture, this soup is awesome. It has plenty of stuff in it and really is 'chunky'. Often with pre-made food like this, there isn't a lot of meat or bits, but this is packed full, meaning you can easily eat it without bread for lunch and still be full. It's really very moreish, with soft (like when you slow cook it) chicken, veggies and rice.
My only complaint would be the salt, though I understand it's for taste and also to preserve it, I feel the sodium content is waaaaay too high. These kinds of hidden sodiums are really the worst danger to people as if you don't check labels you don't even realise. While it's not a problem that's unique to Campbells, I also hate that labels only show a 'portion' of the soup in nutrition info. It should be for the whole can. So the nutritional information all needs to be more than doubled. For example, for the whole can, the values would be:
Calories - 237.6
Fat - 5.4 grams
Cholesterol - 32.4 mg
Sodium - 1663.2 mg
Carbohydrates - 36.72 g
of which sugars 6.48 g
Protein 12.96 g
As a result of the hugely high salt level (69.12% of your daily value) I've taken off a star, even though taste-wise the soup is very good and filling.
I also really like that it's very easy to make, like ridiculously easy. You literally just have to heat it up via Microwave or stove, making it ideal for lunches.
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Cocomii Tank Armor LG G5 Case
While this case is a little cheaper looking than it looks in the (pretty awesome) promo photos, that's to be expected at the price. Bought this as a gift for my partner and he's really happy with it. One important thing to note that I overlooked (it... +
While this case is a little cheaper looking than it looks in the (pretty awesome) promo photos, that's to be expected at the price. Bought this as a gift for my partner and he's really happy with it. One important thing to note that I overlooked (it does say it, I just missed it somehow) is this case has a built-in screen protector. So like, the front is clear hard plastic instead of a cut-out that reveals the screen. I stupidly bought a screen protector at the same time, but you don't need one.
My partner really likes the kickstand on this case as he watches a lot of videos on his phone. He also likes the rubber 'feet' that lift the case slightly and stop it from getting scratched. This case is a bit bulky for me, but at the end of the day, he loves it and it does exactly what it says.
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Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo
This is interesting for me, because normally I love Herbal Essence shampoos, but I really didn't like this one. I have naturally wavy hair and I felt it left my hair limp and flat looking, but at the same time a lot of the hairs were sticking... +
This is interesting for me, because normally I love Herbal Essence shampoos, but I really didn't like this one. I have naturally wavy hair and I felt it left my hair limp and flat looking, but at the same time a lot of the hairs were sticking straight up too (I have short hair). On top of that, my hair was greasy and oily by the next day, normally I wash it every other day, so wash, skip, wash, but with this it was greasy the day after washing it initially.
So overall, I just wasn't a fan of it.
One positive thing I can say is, as usual, the smell was great, not too strong and fresh and fruity. For whatever reason, this shampoo just didn't sit well with my hair.
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Garnier Express Retouch Dark Brown
While this is not a totally perfect product, I will say it is hands-down the best product to do this that I've tried. I've previously tried a spray-brand of root cover and the experience was terrible and it stained my clothes. This is neat, applies... +
While this is not a totally perfect product, I will say it is hands-down the best product to do this that I've tried. I've previously tried a spray-brand of root cover and the experience was terrible and it stained my clothes. This is neat, applies well and has very few downsides, so let's talk through them now.
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Application
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Super simple, shake while upside down, sit right way up, open and apply. It's essentially 'sponging' the colour onto your hair. If you have shorter hair, it can be tricky to avoid getting it on skin, but if you do you simply need to wipe it quickly with a damp cloth or cotton pad and it will remove before it dries.
Just apply it to your hair, leave for 3 minutes (5 to be safe) and then brush through.
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Effectiveness
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It actually works really, really well. I have dark brown hair and my roots are threaded with grey and white. While it takes a little more application to cover the pure white hairs it does an amazing job on the grey ones. White hairs will shimmer a little more and will start to show through faster, but the grey's remain covered until you wash your hair.
Most important for me, it's not messy. When using a spray, it dripped all over my clothes, with this, it never goes anywhere but the sponge and is very easy to control. Furthermore, once it's dry, it's totally dry. That means if somebody touches your hair, it doesn't transfer to their fingers. When it does come off a little (if you rub it really hard), it's dark powder like flakes (like dust) rather than liquid stain.
Wearing it, it makes your hair a tiny bit stiff, it sort of feels like wearing extremely light-hold hairspray, but feels natural compared to other products like this I've tried. The colour is spot on and matches my dark brown hair perfectly.
It's very natural looking and probably the only problem I have with it is that after washing my hair, my hair still feels a little stiff and if I pick at the roots, I can still see a bit of the product there, so I wish it washed out a little easier.
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Summary
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Overall, it's the best product I've tried for covering roots, while it's not perfect, if I needed a product for this I'd definitely go with this one again.
Things they got right:
- Super simple to apply.
- Doesn't drip or stain clothes (and easy to wash off of face if you make a mistake)
- Covers grey perfectly and white pretty good.
- Dries completely and can be touched without staining.
- Doesn't make hair super stiff (feels like wearing a light hold hairspray)
- Colour fits dark brown perfectly
Things that won't suit everybody:
- Doesn't wash out easily (some remained even after washing).
- Instructions are only written on the box and not on the bottle (but it's pretty simple at least)
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Revlon ColorStay Makeup - Combination/Oily Skin
This is not my favourite foundation, but overall I liked it and think it (mostly) delivered on what it promised. My two favourite things about it are the included SPF and the shade. Technically, we're supposed to wear SPF everyday to protect our... +
This is not my favourite foundation, but overall I liked it and think it (mostly) delivered on what it promised. My two favourite things about it are the included SPF and the shade. Technically, we're supposed to wear SPF everyday to protect our skin, even when it's not sunny, but I rarely do, so having a low SPF added means that my skin is protected all year round and I'm a big fan of that.
The shade is spot on. I'm ghost-pale and often the palest shade in a collection (ivory) is too dark and often too yellow-hued to suit my skin. I have cool undertones in my skin and this is the perfect shade, not too dark or too 'golden'.
This is a medium-coverage foundation, but I was a little disappointed as I felt it covered flaws more at the rate of a 'light' foundation, but still felt heavy and thick like a medium-coverage. I prefer the light feeling and fluidity of a light foundation if it isn't going to cover more. It still did a good job covering the flaws, but I'd expect more from a medium coverage. I found it was quite thick and hard to blend compared to a light coverage foundation.
I do have problems with my skin (which is combination and I wouldn't consider dry) suddenly showing up 'peely' parts after applying foundation. Some foundations are really bad with this, and some not so much and I found this was in the middle. Exfoliating beforehand definitely helps with this, but I think the thickness of this foundation definitely showed up some of the poor skin quality. It was still a step-up from many other foundations I've tried though.
Despite some things I disliked, overall I'm happy with this foundation, although I prefer a lighter coverage in general, I felt the staying power and colour where both pretty good in this and I like the addition of SPF.
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