ERB 19375 Americana Cap Style Hard Hat

ERB 19375 Americana Cap Style Hard Hat with Slide Lock

I bought this OSHA compliant ERB Hard Hat so I could cut down the branches of my tree more safely. It has a Standard Slide-Lock suspension and fit is easy to adjust by sliding the plastic strap through the guide tabs. There is cushioning along the brow of the hat for comfort.

The hard had is lightweight but looks tough and durable. It’s pretty; but I also bought the hot pink version and I think the hot pink is prettier.

Overall, a great find for me. I can do the job in style with full protection.

Suncast QE20 Quick Edge

Suncast QE20 Quick Edge

The Suncast QE20 Quick Edge comes in a little box in short sections that have to be joined together. From the photo, I thought it came in a roll. Just pound each piece in with a mallet. Some parts of my yard are very hard, so pounding with a mallet made the tops a little frayed and I had to just leave it higher on the ground than I’d like. Most of the time, things went smoothly.

It’s prettier than the previous edging I had and it’s easy enough for someone like me who’s not into hard labor. I’m buying two more boxes to finish off my project.

UPDATE: I just bought my fourth and final box. The project went smoothly. I found that it was easiest for me to stick the edging on a hard surface (I used a big rock) and pound a good length of it together with a mallet. Then, I use a manual edger similar to Radius Garden Steel Edger to mark the path I need the edging to go. I place the edging into that path and tap a little. This was especially helpful when making hard turns.

Satechi Touch USB LED Lamp

Satechi Touch USB LED Lamp

What a cute idea. This little USB LED Lamp doesn’t have a base. You have to provide your own bottle or vase or other similar container. It should have a mouth that’s between 5/8 to 1 ½ inches wide at at least 5 inches tall. Just balance the shade on top and you have your own lamp. Change it up, make it from plastic bottles, glass bottles, vases. It can get funky. I made one with a vase and it’s adorable.

You’ll need a USB outlet to power this. If you don’t have a computer ready, you can use a power bank or a USB wall adapter. The cord is long enough to reach from my night stand to the floor but not much farther. Make sure the USB port is nearby.

Touch the lamp to turn it on. Touch it again to turn it off. It gives off enough light to see but not enough to read by. It’s lightweight, compact, plastic (won’t break), easy to pack, great for students.

This product was provided for review by Satechi.

Wire Rake Scooper for Grass

Wire Rake Scooper for Grass

My dog pretty much only does her business on grass, so when I need to go clean up my backyard, this wire rake scooper is perfect. The prongs get right under droppings and the scoop shape keeps them all secured until I dump them all in the trash bin. Yes, I scoop up multiple piles before emptying.

It’s very easy to use. I don’t have to bend over. Even my kids will clean up after the dog for me. I like it.

2-Inch 5 times Power Necklace Magnifier with 36-Inch Silver Chain

SE MG2016S 2-Inch 5 times Power Necklace Magnifier with 36-Inch Silver Chain

A friend of mine was wearing this necklace magnifier at work. We need to read tiny inscriptions and they do provide large, handheld magnifying glasses there, but when I saw how much better her little necklace magnifier worked, I had to get one of my own. It’s wonderful. I can see so much better.

This thing is made of glass, which is what makes it work so well. The necklace keeps the magnifier within easy reach. I like it so much, if it ever broke or got scratched up, I’d buy another one.

Advantage Once-A-Month Topical Flea Treatment for Cats

Advantage Once-A-Month Topical Flea Treatment for Cats

I’m so happy to see I could buy Advantage through Amazon. I thought I could only buy it through my vet.

I’ve used Advantage for my previous cat and for my current cat. My previous cat did not like Advantage at all. She’d try to lick it off. If I put it on her too low, she’d be able to get at it and her mouth would foam up. Apparently, this was not unusual, since the people at the vet’s told me about the foaming mouth when I reported it to them. They didn’t think it was too harmful. To prevent the foaming mouth, make sure to place it where they can’t get to it, higher up on their head. My current cat doesn’t seem to mind it so much.

Easy to use, and the scent isn’t bad compared to other brands. Not too greasy once it’s fully dispersed over the fur. No fleas so far. This is my preferred flea product for my cats.

Advantage II for Dogs

This review was originally posted November 13, 2010.

Advantage II for Dogs

I have tried other topical flea treatments for my dog and have never been as satisfied as I am with Advantage. Other treatments were either not as effective or were very smelly or greasy. Advantage has a mild scent and doesn’t make the coat look dirty. It also cures flea problems quickly and effectively prevents an outbreak. I never have a flea problem when we use Advantage.

Advantage is easy to use. Just place it on her back. The only thing I have to remember is not to wash the dog for a few days before and a few days after applying. At least that’s what they always tell me at the vet’s office.

I admit my dog is never happy to have it on. She walks around in circles looking miserable for the first few hours, and then she either feels better or gives up. Fleas make her feel worse, so she’ll just have to deal with the occasional dose of Advantage.

Black & Decker LP1000 Alligator Lopper

Black & Decker LP1000 Alligator Lopper 4.5 Amp Electric Chain Saw

I bought the Alligator Lopper because I need to cut larger branches than my pruner could handle, but I was afraid of the regular chain saws.

There were several concerns I had when I ordered the Alligator Lopper. First, the weight. I am a woman with weaker than average arms and I was afraid I’d have trouble handling this lopper. No problem there. It turns out to be much lighter than I expected.

Second, the mechanics. I wasn’t sure if a lot of tinkering would be necessary. Basically, all I need to do before operating it is tighten the chain with the included wrench (loosen some bolts, it tightens automatically, tighten the bolts) and then add some bar and chain oil (not included).

My last concern was whether the cutting action would be too powerful for my arms to handle. Well, so far, so good. I can do it! I cut a bin full of branches this morning and am just waiting for it to be emptied so I can cut some more. My forearms and hands are a little tired from working muscles I have not worked much before. Other than that, it was quite easy.

I like the safety features. The chain is covered and I need both hands on separate triggers to turn on the lopper. An accident from dropping the lopper onto a body part would seem less likely to happen than with a standard chain saw.

This was a good investment for me. My trees are going to look a lot nicer when I’m done with them.

Platinum Pets Star Wars 3/4-Inch Nylon Collar, Chewbacca Design

Platinum Pets Star Wars 3/4-Inch Nylon Collar, Chewbacca Design

The Platinum Pets Chewbacca collar is a very nice, well-made collar. It’s lightweight with a plastic buckle, a metal D-ring, a plastic slide buckle for size adjustment, and a plastic loop to prevent the size from slipping.

Everything you see on it is printed on, from the stitching to the metal rivets to the metal plate stamped “Chewie My Co-Pilot.” It matches the Chewbacca leash perfectly. I like it.