getupkid144
Member Since: June 6, 2016Reviews
NOMA Advanced Custom Female Plugs 10
While I didn't end up needing these plugs, I can see some situations arising for people where they may need to look for this sort of thing, so it's very handy to have them available and sold as part of the coordinating Nova Advanced set. I will note... +
While I didn't end up needing these plugs, I can see some situations arising for people where they may need to look for this sort of thing, so it's very handy to have them available and sold as part of the coordinating Nova Advanced set. I will note that the package contains 10 of these plugs, which is a bit excessive, so I would have preferred to maybe have seen these sold in bulk - it would make a lot more sense to quickly pick up 1, 2, or however many you need from a bulk bin. It took a bit of muscle for me to remove the end caps on these plugs, but when you look behind them, the mechanism makes total sense. Described as a "vampire" style of application, the plugs have two sharp metal "fangs" which dig into and connect to the main wire. You then just slip the back casing on and no one's the wiser. It makes it super easy to change ends from male to female when you find yourself holding the short end of the stick - honestly, a very innovative solution to the problem. -
NOMA Advanced Custom Replacement Bulbs C9 LED 25 Warm White
These bulbs are a fantastic option for those looking to customize their outdoor holiday light display. These can be mixed/matched with the other bulb options in the Noma Advanced Custom LED line and share the same great features: they're... +
These bulbs are a fantastic option for those looking to customize their outdoor holiday light display. These can be mixed/matched with the other bulb options in the Noma Advanced Custom LED line and share the same great features: they're shatter-resistant, weather-resistant, use a total of 1.2W per 25 bulbs, carry a 2-year warranty, and lastly support the constant-lit technology that the entire line boasts. This means that if one bulb burns out, the entire string doesn't go out with it! Everything else will remain lit. While I'm not a huge fan of warm white (I find that it makes my white home look a little too yellow-ed. The super-white snow in contrast to my home already does that, so these warm lights tend to exacerbate the problem). However for those who are into the aesthetic of a warm white light on a Christmas night, these definitely hit the mark. -
NOMA Advanced Custom Bulk Wire 25'
This is an essential product to have in the mix if you're planning on doing some holiday decorating. Our home is quite tall and requires a lot of extra length to get our lighting set-up to an electrical plug. This extension cord is 25 feet long, so... +
This is an essential product to have in the mix if you're planning on doing some holiday decorating. Our home is quite tall and requires a lot of extra length to get our lighting set-up to an electrical plug. This extension cord is 25 feet long, so we only need 1-2 of these to make it down from the along the roof-line. These are very easy to connect to one another and to the light strings, and come with one male and one female end. I also really like the flat nature of the male end that plugs into the outlet - it makes for a nice snug fit and doesn't protrude in a bulky kind of way. The cord is made of a very durable PVC that feels like it will hold up well to outdoor interference (extreme weather, critters, etc.). -
NOMA Advanced Custom Lights C9 LED 50
This C9 Stringer Set can take on a total of 50 bulbs, but can thankfully also be connected to other string sets of the same variety, in case you need to increase the length. The total length is 61 feet and it can take a total wattage of 60W, which... +
This C9 Stringer Set can take on a total of 50 bulbs, but can thankfully also be connected to other string sets of the same variety, in case you need to increase the length. The total length is 61 feet and it can take a total wattage of 60W, which is MORE than enough if using the complementary Noma Advanced LEDs (which use only 1.2W per 25 bulbs). Like all the other products in this line, this comes with a two year warranty and works together with the matching bulbs to ensure that the string set remains lit even if one of the lights burns out. I really appreciated the thick gauge of the wiring. We've previously had issues with squirrels and other animals chewing through our outdoor lighting, but haven't seen any issues with this (I can only assume due to its thickness). The only downside is that I wish this came with the matching weather seals included. It's unlikely people are using a string set this heavy-duty in their house, so it only makes sense to include a weather-proofing seal on each bulb socket. -
NOMA Advanced Custom Weather Seal 25
These weather seals are a must-have if you're planning on hanging your string lights outdoors. They provide a tight fit between the light bulbs and the actual strand. This helps ensure that moisture from the outdoors isn't getting into the lights. I... +
These weather seals are a must-have if you're planning on hanging your string lights outdoors. They provide a tight fit between the light bulbs and the actual strand. This helps ensure that moisture from the outdoors isn't getting into the lights. I do wish that the actual string sets came with these, as most people are using these sorts of heavy-gauge lights outdoors and will need to pick this up separately. There would've been no harm in including them with the strings, just in case. As it stands, this set is a little pricy for just 25 of these seals. If you're planning on decorating an entire home, you'll need quite a number of these packs and I wouldn't do without them. They're made of a solid rubber and are designed to match the string sets in the same dark green colour, so they're virtually unnoticeable. The quality seems good enough that they'll last you through at least a few seasons. -
NOMA Advanced Custom Replacement Bulbs C9 LED 25 Pure White
These bulbs are my favourite of all the different Noma varieties. I really like a cool white look and these are perfect for achieving that look, which looks amazing against the night sky and with snow all around. These are made of shatter-resistant... +
These bulbs are my favourite of all the different Noma varieties. I really like a cool white look and these are perfect for achieving that look, which looks amazing against the night sky and with snow all around. These are made of shatter-resistant and weather-resistant glass, rather than plastic, and have an etched crystalline pattern to them. They're very easy to screw into the string base and use very little energy (only 1.2W for the entire 25 bulbs). Best of all, if one of these bulbs goes out, the system is designed to keep the rest of the strand lit. -
NOMA Advanced Custom Replacement Bulbs C9 LED 25 Multi Color
These are a great option for anyone looking for coloured bulbs to use in their display. I originally assumed these must have been made of plastic, but they are indeed glass and shatter-resistant at that. Their individual wattage is so minimal that... +
These are a great option for anyone looking for coloured bulbs to use in their display. I originally assumed these must have been made of plastic, but they are indeed glass and shatter-resistant at that. Their individual wattage is so minimal that this 25-pack of lights uses a total of only 1.2 W. They also come with a great two-year warranty, which is handy since I'm always wary of these sorts of bulb lights and their longevity, particularly since they're being used outdoors in all kinds of weather. So far these have held up well in wet weather. Another nice feature that's becoming more common these days is the "constant-lit" technology, which means that even if one bulb burns out, the remainder of the string will still stay lit. Gone are the days of trying to find the one faulty bulb that keeps blowing out the lights. -
AVEENO® Tone + Texture Renewing Body Scrub
I love a good body scrub - something about the rough feeling of the scrub against my skin really makes me feel like the job is getting done. However, as we've learned in recent years, physical exfoliants in the forms that we had previously been... +
I love a good body scrub - something about the rough feeling of the scrub against my skin really makes me feel like the job is getting done. However, as we've learned in recent years, physical exfoliants in the forms that we had previously been using can actually be harmful and cause microtears in our skin. Enter chemical exfoliants. However, the difficulty with using these has been the harshness of some ingredients on sensitive skin. This body scrub from Aveeno relies on PHA exfoliants: polyhydroxy acids. PHAs are ideal for sensitive skin, while still touting the benefits of helping slough off skin and promoting cellular turnover. This didn't aggravate my husband's eczema one bit, which both physical and chemical (AHA and BHA) exfoliants tend to do. Also a huge perk with using this, particularly since it's going all over your body, is that it doesn't increase sun sensitivity in the same way as other acids (especially AHAs). So you can feel free to use as much as you like without fear of it making you more vulnerable to the sun's rays.
This formula is fragrance-free and it holds true to that. It has the signature trace of other Aveeno fragrance-free products - there's something there, but it isn't quite a fragrance as much as just the natural ingredients just...existing.
The ingredients list is also another area where this shines for me. I try to avoid using products with too many chemical ingredients. The listing on this is so brief and so simple. Among its star ingredients are glycerin, niacinamide, and oat flour. It's free of any "soaps" (sulfates), parabens, dyes and fragrances. And if you, like me, enjoy the tactile feel of physical exfoliants, this does still contain some teeny tiny granules (I couldn't pinpoint exactly which of the remaining ingredients), but they're soft and dissolve easily, so as to not damage your skin.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review.
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Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Anti-Aging Serum
This is vastly different from other serums I’ve used in the past. While others have been more watery, the consistency of this is creamier and dare I say thicker, more akin to a classic facial moisturizer. Notwithstanding this, it absorbed into my... +
This is vastly different from other serums I’ve used in the past. While others have been more watery, the consistency of this is creamier and dare I say thicker, more akin to a classic facial moisturizer. Notwithstanding this, it absorbed into my skin so quickly upon application and is hardly noticeable. It didn’t leave my face feeling sticky to the touch or greasy whatsoever; instead it leaves behind a comfortably moisturized feeling. I know this is just a serum and is meant to be followed up with a more nourishing facial cream, but I honestly don’t know if my skin needs it – that's how good of a job this is doing. I have no hesitation resting my head/face on a pillow or changing clothes immediately after applying this. It’s really that shocking how well and quickly it absorbed. Application is really simple – there's an interesting twist on a pump mechanism, which dispenses hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ferulic acid all at once, from three different “chambers”, each with its own exit-hole in the applicator (looks like a trio of holes). This way the ingredients are stored separately for stability, but seamlessly combine in your hand when it’s time for application.
The scent is very light, a little floral (some may say a bit more mature), but doesn’t particularly bother me. I could see how those who are more sensitive to fragrance might take issue with it. I personally don’t mind a little bit of scent to my creams, as it ups the luxe feeling of it. Speaking of luxe, the packaging of this serum is very nice, but it is plastic, which is a little surprising given the price point. At the end of the day, I care more about its contents than its packaging though, so I’m willing to forgive this, but glass would have been a much more welcome vessel, again considering how much a full-size bottle retails for. I do love that this was made in France – European skincare (and cosmetics) are fantastic and really take care/pride in the ingredients that are being used.
After using this for around 10 days, I’ve noticed my skin looks visibly plumper, something that I’ve never been able to really see with other facial products. My usually overly-dry skin (which creates a lot of fine lines) finally looks healthy, which in turn is giving me more of a glow than normal. The laugh lines around my mouth are less pronounced and my ever-present forehead and frown lines are absolutely softened to the point that they’re nearly gone. For reference, I’m in my mid-30s, so I do think that a lot of these lines are also the product of being underhydrated, which this serum absolutely addressed.
If I’m looking to seriously repair my skin, I would turn to this again. The only thing giving me pause is the price point, but given the results, I could see myself occasionally returning to this.
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Orbeez Mixin’ Slime Set
This kit is a must-have for any kid who’s into slime. This elevates the generic slime experience to the next level, introducing Orbeez (water sensory beads) into the mix. The kit comes with over 2500 already grown Orbeez. I had previously only... +
This kit is a must-have for any kid who’s into slime. This elevates the generic slime experience to the next level, introducing Orbeez (water sensory beads) into the mix. The kit comes with over 2500 already grown Orbeez. I had previously only been around kids using the Orbeez seed kits (they’re small “seed” balls that need to be put in water to grow larger), so this was an interesting experience to already have grown Orbeez to use. Within these 2500 Orbeez, there’s also a lot of variety; you have glow in the dark ones, shimmery glitter balls, marbled, rainbow, and micro sized. You also get a number of neat accessories for play: a “crusher”, an injector tube and scoop, a mixing dome, and pull hooks. This is to help create your slime + Orbeez concoctions. The slime included comes in both clear and blue colours and I didn’t notice any staining from the latter. It’s also worth noting that Orbeez likewise do not leave stains. In any event, the kit is housed in a case whose blue base serves as “slime station”, so you’re not running all these experiments directly on any household surfaces. Be warned that the slime was incredibly sticky, so definitely keep it away from any dusty areas or spots where it can pick up debris. The amount of slime included was okay – for two kids it was a decent amount for an afternoon of play, but I don’t know how this will stretch out in the long run. I also found that everything in this set was really well-hydrated. Nothing was dried out (and in the case of Orbeez, you can revive them using water) and everything seemed incredibly “fresh”. The biggest hit was the ability to “inject” Orbeez into the slime – it was like making your own stress ball – and my nieces especially loved doing this with the glow in the dark Orbeez.
My nieces had a blast trying out countless combinations of Orbeez and slime. I may have dipped my hand in there on a couple of occasions - the tactile feel of Orbeez is unparalleled. If you’re looking to destress, water beads provide a gentle squish with a cooling sensation that can lower even the most stressed person’s blood pressure ;)! After playing around with this I took a deeper dive and discovered that there’s an Orbeez spa set, which is designed to roll feet around in....I’m sold!
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