After receiving three boxes, I am finally ready to write my Universal Yums review! As you may have guessed from the title, I give it five stars. So far, we have received Ukraine, Germany, and most recently, Spain. Although I only liked one snack out of the six in my Spanish box, I’ve been super…
Tag: Review
The Very Good Butchers Review: A Big Box of (Plant-Based) Meat
We just ordered our second Big Box of (Plant-Based) Meat, and we finally decided to write The Very Good Butchers review! I first discovered this Plant-Based Butchery a year ago in a Facebook ad. It said, ‘we butcher beans.’ I was intrigued by the products but intimidated by the price. But I finally bit the bullet and…
Stealth Core Trainer Review: $125 Plankster Game Exercise
After months of seeing the Plankster in social media ads, I finally bought it! You can buy it on Amazon for $149 (#affiliate.) I found it discounted for $99; however, with tax and shipping/handling, it amounted to $125. Although I already have a lot of gym equipment, I wanted this because it turns exercise into a game….
Vimco Wellness – Charcoal Lemonade: Delicious, Cheap, Only 5 Calories
Vimco Wellness lemonade seems too good to be true. It costs $15 for 20 servings and it only has 5 calories per serving. Well, the black Charcoal, green Matcha Lemonades, and orange Focus Lemonades only have 5. The blue Probiotic Lemonade has 15 but it is absolutely delicious plus the difference of 10 calories really…
Two Blind Brothers: About Our $28 Purchase & The Company
Two Blind Brothers is one of the fastest-growing cause-based companies in the United States, if not worldwide. During the holiday season, we finally decided to see what all the hype was about. We purchased the cheapest blind gift on their website to start off with. The concept behind the store is that you are shopping…
MaxiClimber XL Vertical Climber: A Cardio Revolution
We got our MaxiClimber XL Vertical Climber (#affiliate) a few days ago. Assembly took about 30 minutes and was not a pain in our butts. The machine, however, was a pain in our butts, legs, arms, core and then some. Just as it’s supposed to be! My dreams of getting this machine and spending 30…
The Other Mother by Carol Goodman: Book Review
The Other Mother by Carol Goodman was recommended to me by a friend who shares my love for thrillers – the darker, the better. This was my first book by Carol Goodman, but I already have more books by her on the way. The Other Mother was different, it was a unique story full of…
Forever Wick Candles Review: Which Diamond Did We Get?
Forever Wick Candles seem like a crazy concept at first glance. You pay $50+ for a candle and hope to get a $12,000 diamond? That’s one way to think about it, but the concept behind Forever Wick Candles is much more romantic. Imagine your significant other gifting you a candle. You burn it during dates,…
The Shadows by Alex North: Book Review
The Shadows by Alex North is my second book by this author. I had my eye on both The Shadows and The Whisper Man for ages so I bought both at once. I was absolutely floored by The Whisper Man, you can read my review of it here. The moment I finished it, I picked…
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee: Caffeine With Benefits
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee is the perfect way to step up your caffeine routine. Four Sigmatic creates more than just coffee, but today I will be focusing on jitter liquid because it’s Monday morning and I need a cup (or five.) But I’m getting ahead of myself. In this article I will tell you about…
Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik: Book Review
I bought Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik the moment I finished The River at Night. I wouldn’t have picked either book out in a bookstore, despite their pretty covers, because they are not in my preferred genre. It came to my bookshelf via a water-themed book lot that included some of my favorite psychological…
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn: Book Review
The Woman in the Window is a great book that I remember clear as day a year after reading. A reader friend just read it and was raving about it and it made my own love for the book resurface. Let me start by saying that this is a WEIRD book. But that’s what I…
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens: Book Review
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens was my third book by the author. My first book by Chevy Stevens was Those Girls and I found it too graphic for my tastes. Next I read Still Missing, which was still disturbing but not enough to turn me off. I ended up buying a whole bunch…
Tayola Flush Mount LED Ceiling Light: Affordable, Bright & Minimalist
The Tayola Flush Mount LED Ceiling Light (#affiliate) was something that I did little research on. We moved into a new house with some weird looking ceiling lights. In fact, the previous owners took their pretty ones and hung up some mismatched, ugly lights that didn’t even provide much light. We bought two beautiful chandeliers…
Atlas Coffee Club: $14 Subscription to Taste the World
I discovered Atlas Coffee Club in a Facebook ad. I am not a huge fan of monthly subscriptions because sometimes it becomes too much. However, one 12 oz bag of a new coffee to try every month is just the right amount. I have received two bags from Atlas Coffee Club and recently got a…
The Meeting Place Coffee Gift Basket: Review
This past weekend I got the sweetest (literally) gift ever! I was expecting one of the many Amazon purchases that seem to be never-ending due to our recent move. Instead of a boring yet necessary household item, I opened up a box that smelled like coffee and sugar! There was a sweet personalized message, three…
Qwerkywriter: Typewriter-Style Bluetooth Keyboard
I don’t know many writers who don’t dream of typing out their thoughts on an typewriter. These romantic ideas are not always practical and I experienced this first hand. Now, I’m ready to sell my pretty but rusty typwriter that weighs as much as a bag of bricks. Thanks to Qwerkywriter, I can have the…
Grove Collaborative – Cleaning Products & Free Gift Set
Grove Collaborative is basically a subscription of natural household and personal care products. For those averted to subscriptions, you can also buy individual products on their website. Or, if you’re subscribed, you can add or remove products as needed – plus you can pause your subscription if you don’t use up all your products in…
Thermal Label Printers Save Money, Time & the Environment
Thermal Label Printers have been on my radar for quite some time. But I was hesitant to get one for my growing Etsy business. Why? I wanted my store to be as eco-friendly as possible and the $168 printer that I was considering seemed like it would create a lot of plastic waste. Yes, I…
99 Monthly Subscriptions You Don’t Need but Probably Want
Monthly subscriptions are everywhere these days and available for just about anything. Somehow over the past few years, companies realized a great money maker. Give people a free box or a discount on something cool, then hope you can no longer imagine life without receiving it regularly. Some monthly subscriptions make perfect sense, like coffee,…
Bones Coffee Company: Their 5 Best Flavors
Bones Coffee Company calls themselves the world’s freshest small batch coffee, and I completely agree. After seeing their ads for months, I finally decided to order some and I couldn’t decide on just 5, so I got 10! They have a crazy selection of flavors with beautiful art, plus they offer free shipping on orders…
Next to Nowhere Creamery: RI’s Best Ice Cream
Next to Nowhere Creamery has delicious ice cream. Isaac and I discovered it on the way back from a hike at Step Stone Falls. As a Rhode Island native, Isaac had obviously heard of the Middle of Nowhere Diner but I was incredibly amused by the well-fitting name. I wasn’t hungry enough to stuff myself…
NUGGS 2.0: Vegan Chicken Nugget Review & Comparison
A year ago I tried an older version of NUGGS. I wanted to love them, but my honest opinion was that they tasted like cardboard. The only thing was, I prepared them without any oil in the air-fryer, so that could have been a big reason I hated them so much. So when I got…
Word Genius: Daily Vocab Expander
Word Genius sends me an email or two every day. I waste a lot of time clearing spam and emails that I once thought I’d want to subscribe to. However, I always open and enjoy my emails from Word Genius. You can subscribe to get a word a day and I feel like I have…
Fingerprinted Hearts by Amy Spitzfaden: Book Review
Fingerprinted Hearts by Amy Spitzfaden is an amazing book that has a little bit of everything. Love, friendship, family bonds and, of course, strong inspiring female characters. This was my second novel by Amy Spitzfaden and I really enjoyed it. I binge books and have read at least 150 since I have read Fingerprinted Hearts….
The Cabin by Natasha Preston: Book Review
The Cabin by Natasha Preston was a much anticipated read for me. I skipped seven books on my “read next” list after I loved The Cellar so much. Maybe I set the bar too high or I wasn’t in the right mood, but I really didn’t like this book. One of the things I hated…
The Dinner by Herman Koch: Book Review
Reading The Dinner by Herman Koch was an interesting literary as well as culinary experience. It was a unique read because the entire story took place over one dinner. The entire book is even split into courses: aperitif, appetizer, main course, dessert and digestif. The story itself is different and unexpected from anything else I…
What My Sister Knew by Nina Laurin: Book Review
What My Sister Knew by Nina Laurin is the third book I read by this author. The Starter Wife and Girl Last Seen were both great reads and this book was no different. This story had two timelines. One where Andrea is a teenager and another where she is an adult. Andrea’s twin brother Eli…
The Breakdown by B.A. Paris: Book Review
The Breakdown by B.A. Paris is my second book by the author of one of the most disturbing books I’ve read. Behind Closed Doors was an intense book full of darkness and twists. I expected no less from The Breakdown. It wasn’t quite as crazy but I may have set the bar too high. It…
I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney: Book Review
This was another book that I discovered by accident when buying a lot of books. I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney is a book about an actress with a mysterious past. It took me a while to get into but the twists kept me reading and wondering! Alice Feeney is known for her…
The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin: Book Review
I discovered The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin purely coincidentally. It was abandoned along with with another book near a trashcan on a rainy day. Shame on whoever left it there, but one person’s trash is another’s treasure! Girl Last Seen was a great book and the moment I finished it, I ordered The Starter…
8 Books That I Will Read & Review Next
I have always loved to read but I have phases when I binge books like it’s my job (if only.) Currently, I’m reading I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney and I plan on finishing it tonight. After that, there are three books that I have already reviewed. They are scheduled for posting in…
Dropps: Eco-Friendly Detergent and a Naked CEO
Detergent pods get a bad rep cause some of the less intelligent individuals in our society confuse them with candy. Fortunately, not everyone watches pod-eating videos. People like me prefer to watch naked CEOs advertising awesome products in a fun and memorable way. I didn’t order Dropps right after watching the following ad and I…
TENVIS: Best Wireless Home Camera Review
Do you have a dog that you want to keep an eye on when you’re not home, or a kid who likes to play in a different room than you work in? There are many reasons why one may want to have a camera in their home. While I bought mine to spy on my…
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry: Book Review
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry revolves around one of my favorite topics ever: CULTS! Well, just one cult. But you get the point. I read When She Returned right after reading The Perfect Child by the same author. When I say right after I mean I literally read the last sentence of one book…
10 Wine Drinking Essentials on a Budget
Drinking wine is one of my favorite hobbies. I used to be more of a beer girl, but it turns out that I prefer my beer on tap, especially in Prague, Czech Republic. So the quarantine threw me through a bit of a ringer until I decided to find a wine I loved. What started…
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman: Book Review
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman was another book that came in my set of water-themed hardcover psychological thrillers. If you read as much as I do, I highly recommend checking out book lots on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. You don’t always find what you are looking for, but you might just discover something…
The Never List by Koethi Zan: Book Review
I read The Never List last year when I was binge reading psychological thrillers like my life depended on it. Some of the stories I read have blurred in my memory. Others disappeared completely. Earlier this year, I picked out an interesting looking book from my extensive library. I was a few pages in before…
Virtual Brew Run 5k: Shirt, Glass & Medal for $25
Run before beer and you’re in the clear! That is my personal motto for this Virtual Brew Run. This run, like the ones I previously wrote about, is a virtual run that can be done at one’s own pace. While the other races that I have mentioned only include a medal in the base price,…
Best Rowing Machine: MaxKare Magnetic Rowing Machine for $246 Review
I received my MaxKare Magnetic Rowing Machine about a week ago and my entire body has been sore ever since. Since I didn’t act fast enough when the quarantine hit, I waited for almost a month to receive it. It seems like everyone had the same thought process – can’t go to the gym, let’s…
Noom Was Not for Me, but It Could Be for You!
I signed up for a free trial of Noom six weeks ago and I wrote about my first impressions here. Since then I decided to cancel my subscription but stayed on because I was offered a $20/month deal instead of the original $159 for 5 months. Today, after four days of avoiding the app, I…
Apothic Red Blend: My Favorite Wine
I do not consider myself picky when it comes to wine. In my early 20s I was happy drinking $2 bottles of wine in Prague. A few years later, I was paying ten times more in Shanghai for fake imported wine that could not have been worse. Suddenly, I found myself tolerating most wines but…
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: Book Review
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson is an f-bomb filled self-help book that presents a counterintuitive approach to living a good life. I picked up this book after reading Brendon Burchard’s High Performing Habits. The two books couldn’t be more different, but there were a few similarities. In particular, both…
Owning a Tesla – Expectations vs. Reality
Do you have a Tesla? Thinking about buying one? If you are, please use my referral code, we’ll both get 1,000 free supercharger miles! Owning a Tesla has been quite the experience – here are my expectations vs. what I experienced in reality after a year of owning this wonderful car. Was it Expensive? This…
Nuggs: Vegan Chicken Nugget Review
Nuggs are a very popular vegan chicken nugget that’s advertised all over the internet. I actually bought some to try because of the fun ads and great price. Their tag line is “don’t be a chicken” which I found absolutely hilarious. Sadly, if prepared in a healthier oil-free way, these Nuggs tasted about as good…
MyFitnessPal: Weight Management App
I have been using MyFitnessPal on and off since 2016. It is a fitness tracking app that lets you log your progress. This includes the food you eat, the exercise you do and so much more. The basic app is completely free although the paid app has some features worth the investment. When I first…
Trader Joe’s Vegan Protein Patties
Move over Beyond Burger, Trader Joe’s Protein Patties are the best alternative meat product out there. These vegan patties only have 260 calories and 26 grams of protein and five grams of fiber. These are by no means a healthy food that should be consumed regularly. But they are delicious and a great treat for…
Grounds & Hounds: Good Cause Coffee Subscription
Grounds & Hounds is an amazing coffee subscription that donates a percentage of their profits to help dogs. The subscription starts at $13.99 + $2 shipping and can be fully customized to suit your needs. The company also sells coffee normally with no subscription needed. They have a wide selection of delicious products. “20% of…
Gudetama the Lazy Egg 101
I discovered Gudetama when I lived in Shanghai, China. One day on the subway I saw someone with a backpack that was covered in images of a sad-looking egg with a juicy butt. I was immediately intrigued and started Googling. Turns out this lazy egg is a sibling of Hello Kitty and he is popular…
Gansett Cruises: Morning Narrated Mimosa Cruise
A great way to learn more about Newport, Rhode Island is on a cruise. There are many companies that offer tours in the area. You can pick from dinner cruises, sunset sails and child-friendly tours with live lobsters. The full list of tours is available here. I highly recommend checking out the Gansett Cruises, in…
Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery: Review
I went to a wine tasting at Leyden Farm in July 2019 and finally got to writing about it! Until recently, these tastings were available for as little as $13 for two people on GroupOn. This includes two wine glasses with the logo and I still use mine to this day! Isaac, obviously, broke his…
Back to the Roots: Grow Your Own Food Kits
Yesterday I wrote an article about starting a garden. But not everyone has the time or space to grow their own food. It is quite the time commitment and can cost a lot to get started. We spent several hundred dollars on the soil and raised garden beds alone! This is where Back to the…
Elmhurst 1925: Delicious Alternative Milks
Before I cut dairy out of my life, I was obsessed with cheese. However, I was never one of those people who enjoyed a glass of cows milk and I could barely stomach yogurt. This changed when I switched to a plant-based diet. Today, I’ll sneak over to the fridge to sip on some almond…
DoodyCalls: Pet Waste Removal Service
DoodyCalls is a service that looks amazing but one that I haven’t been able to try out for myself. I was really impressed with their ads, Facebook comment responses and customer service. This is why I want to share it with you without trying it out first hand. DoodyCalls is basically the Waggle of dog…
Poo-Pourri: Spray Before You Go
This week on my blog, the theme appears to be poop. Two days ago, you got to read about TUSHY, an eco-friendly and affordable bidet attachment. Tomorrow, you can read all about DoodyCalls, a service that picks up your dog’s poop for you. Today, you can read about Poo-Pourri, an evolutionary toilet spray that traps…
TUSHY over Toilet Paper: Affordable Bidet Attachment
We live in an interesting time when many people in the world are hoarding toiler paper. Do they have chronic diarrhea? Are they building toilet paper castles and singing, “the poop never bothered me anyway?” We’ll never know. But we do know that there are better alternatives to toilet paper. TUSHY is an amazing and…
Khoo Restaurant: Emergency Take-Out Sushi
Recently I wrote about my favorite sushi spot, Ye Express. We eat there every time we get paid for our traditional pay day sushi! In the past month we went overboard and ate away our COVID-19 depression here. To our absolute horror, when dining in was banned in Rhode Island, Ye Express shut down completely!…
Oakland Beach: My Favorite Spot in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is known for its popular white sand beaches that draw crowds from all over the country. One beach that is less known, and thus not as busy, is Oakland Beach! It is quite small and the actual beach isn’t particularly special. However, this beach is home to Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House with an amazing…
Tile to the Rescue: Hidden Keys & Wallets Beware
It happens to the best of us – it’s five minutes after you’re supposed to leave for work, you’re all ready to go, coat on, bag packed, dogs fed… but where are the damn keys? Come to think of it, where’s your wallet? Ugh, this happens every day. On the kitchen counter? No… Dining room…
Camp Bow Wow: Doggy Daycare & Boarding
Dogs make our daily life so much better. However, travel can get complicated and expensive. Especially if you’re the spontaneous trip taker type. One option is to take you dog with you and find a pet friendly hotel. This isn’t always possible or convenient. This is why I’d like to recommend Camp Bow Wow, an…
10 Home Office Buys to Make Work From Home Better
I have been working from home for 10 months now and have done so in the past. Personally, I hate it. However, it is the best option for me at this time so I have embraced it. It took me a while to create the perfect set-up that helps me feel comfortable, more focused and…
Ye Express: My Go-To Sushi Spot in West Warwick, RI
Ye Express is a great sushi place located on Main Street in West Warwick, Rhode Island. They have a great staff that is always friendly, and the owner knew our order by heart after our third visit. Ye Express has a great combination of American Chinese food, Japanese sushi and Western alcohol – they also…
Free Coffee in NYC: Pret A Manger
In case you were wondering, yes, they do have pumpkin spice lattes that can be vegan or not! There’s nothing basic about enjoying some pumpkin spice in the fall time! *glares at haters*
Why You Should Order Pet Supplies from Chewy.com
This past week, I was picking out a new food for Smiley on Chewy.com because I wanted something with fewer ingredients. Amazon had it for $10 cheaper, but here is why I chose to buy it from Chewy…
Nowadays: Pet-Friendly Bar
Their already great beer prices are even more exciting during their 2-for-1 happy hour which runs from 5pm to 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays. It only works for select beers, but where else in NYC can you get a draft beer for $3?
Singapore Infinity Pool: Hotel Jen Orchardgateway (Video)
We did a lot of research before our trip to Singapore to figure out the best place to stay and enjoy an infinity pool: Hotel Jen Orchardgateway won hands down! Find out why…
Tonsai Bay in Summer and in Winter – When to Visit Thailand?
My wife Olena and I may be two of the only people on Earth who have ever visited Tonsai Bay in Krabi, Thailand in both Winter and Summer. The first trip was a magical ten days full of perfect weather, daily excursions, and lots of swimming and lounging in the sun. Though it probably shouldn’t have, the atmosphere of our second venture to Tonsai really caught us off guard…
Cheap $5/Person/Night Airbnb in Ubud, Bali 2018
Please excuse the clickbait title of this blog post, there is no single cheap Airbnb in Ubud! In fact, most Airbnbs and Guest Houses have a similar price that will take your breath away. On average, a room (or in this case, mini-house) that can sleep four people in two double beds costs $15 per night for three people. At this particular place, it included a free breakfast (eggs, pancakes and/or fruit) and a steaming cup of coffee!
DOHA Cafe Review: Da Lat, Vietnam
The cafe has lots of seating across three floors, although the top one wasn’t being air-conditioned when I was there. However, the view of the Xuan Huong lake and Lam Vien square was worth it. They have a great selection of drinks including coffees, teas and juices. Although the prices are relatively steep for Vietnam, it’s still affordable on a Western budget. We didn’t get a chance to try any of their food although we were definitely tempted by their cakes and pastries.
Topside Cafe 2018: Block Island, Rhode Island
Topside Cafe is a great place to grab a coffee or enjoy a meal while waiting for the ferry. It has great prices, vegan as well as meat options and their coffee is absolutely delicious! We visited on a cold winter day and enjoyed their vegan smoothie bowl while my father-in-law munched on his pulled…
Crazy House, Da Lat, Vietnam 2017
The name of this place, the Crazy House, is no exaggeration. We got lost soon after entering since there are dozens of rooms on various floors with several ways to travel between them. You will find bizarre animal statues and beautiful views of the city – this might be one of the highest points in…
Da Lat Backpackers Hostel Review
We had very high expectations for this hostel because of all the raving reviews and we were not disappointed! My husband and I booked this hostel last minute after having problems with a different hostel. The staff were helpful and welcoming even before we arrived! Although we had originally planned on only spending two full…
Flying with Germanwings – Budget Travel in Europe
When I decided to spend a few days of my summer vacation visiting my friend in Germany, I knew there were several different options for getting there: by car, bus or train. Looking for the cheapest one I stumbled upon Germanwings, a German airline offering roundtrip tickets for 1,500 CZK.
Flying with Germanwings – Europe Travel
When I decided to spend a few days of my summer vacation visiting my friend in Germany, I knew there were several different options for getting there: by car, bus or train. Looking for the cheapest one I stumbled upon Germanwings, a German airline offering roundtrip tickets for 1,500 CZK.
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