wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
CHAMPS 'Horizon Collection' Luggage Set
I love Champs luggage. Every one I try is fantastic quality and has brilliant looks and this one is no exception! I adore the shimmery purple exterior, checkered interior and numerous features. It expands, it locks (TSA locks mean they won’t bust... +
I love Champs luggage. Every one I try is fantastic quality and has brilliant looks and this one is no exception! I adore the shimmery purple exterior, checkered interior and numerous features. It expands, it locks (TSA locks mean they won’t bust your case opening it to check for smuggling) and it looks fantastic doing it.
Like other Champs suitcases I’ve tried, the wheels are smooth like butter and the handle extends easily and simply. The zips are super smooth, never catch and open and close like a dream. Every part of it I examine is the quality I’d expect at this price point and every time I use it, I’m shocked by how effective and brilliant it is.
If it sounds like I’m gushing, it’s because I am. Champs is hands down the best luggage I’ve ever used.
The only downside with the hard case like this, is that you don’t get any ‘easy access’ storage on the front and back. They have fabric suitcases if you prefer, but I like the added protection of these hardside suitcases.
The small ‘carry-on’ size doesn’t expand, but does come with a see-through toiletries or ‘essentials’ bag.
If you have a tight budget and travel a lot, try and get these on sale because they are truly fantastic. They have a luxury feel and quality that I’ve never seen in cheaper suitcases and I’m really happy with them (as you can probably tell!)
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Spa Luxetique hand cream Gift Set
I’ve used Spa Luxetique Soaps in the past and what always stands out is the beauty of their gift packaging. Spa Luxetique’s Hand Cream Gift Set, in the same vein, has lovely packaging. You can send this directly to someone or buy it and gift it... +
I’ve used Spa Luxetique Soaps in the past and what always stands out is the beauty of their gift packaging. Spa Luxetique’s Hand Cream Gift Set, in the same vein, has lovely packaging. You can send this directly to someone or buy it and gift it as is. It looks nice enough to be a sweet and thoughtful gift.
If you want to get more bang for your buck, you can divide up the soaps and hand creams for a bunch of individual gifts to people who you normally wouldn’t get big gifts for. They are also great stocking stuffers or extra pressies. Put one with a pair of socks or gloves and you have a cute gift!
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Effectiveness
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When it comes to effectiveness, both the hand lotions and the bar soaps do a good job, but it depends on what you want in a lotion or soap. The Spa Luxetique hand creams come in six different scents, with two bottles of each. The bottles are 30ml each, they are not tiny, but not large sized either; on the upper side of small.
The texture of the lotion really appealed to me. It’s a medium consistency, not too runny or thick, but it absorbs very quickly and easily and spreads well. It doesn’t feel sticky, but quite velvety. It’s good for regular skin, but might not be strong enough to tackle extremely dry skin. I have normal skin and found my hands were softer and more moisturised when using the Spa Luxetique hand creams.
The scent of these hand creams don’t wallop you about the face, they have a subtle yet pleasant scent. If you prefer a punchy, strong scent, you won’t love these. For fans of gentle scent, it’s a great lotion. I believe it is an artificial scent. Here’s what each one smells like:
Rose: Smells a lot like Turkish Delight (Rose flavoured sweets), with a more realistic Rose scent that isn’t overly perfumed.
Lavender: This has a nice Lavender scent. While Lavender is not my favourite, this smells more like real lavender (though I’m sure there’s added perfume, just like big brands) and isn’t overly sweet.
Almond: My least favourite in the pack. It wasn’t unpleasant, just quite faint and didn’t have an identifiable smell like the others.
Cherry Blossom: A lovely sweet, floral scent. Perfect for those who like a girly scent, but also very calming for some reason.
Green Tea: A little dull for my tastes. I expected zesty and zingy, but it’s a bit leafy and light.
Ocean: Always my favourite. Smells like ‘ocean’ scent usually does. Fresh and watery smelling, if that makes sense.
Vanilla: A subtle vanilla smell. Vanilla sometimes gives me a headache, but this one doesn’t.
The Spa Luxetique 3-in-1 Bar soaps can be used as a soap, shampoo bar or bubble bath. I find they are too drying on my hair to use them as a shampoo bar full time (a problem with shampoo bars that aren’t extremely hydrating), but I enjoy using them in the bath, so I don’t have to bring multiple bottles with me. The soaps come in nice little boxes and are always vacuum sealed.
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Quality
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The quality is great here. They have a mid-end feel, but they definitely feel pricier than they are. That’s another thing that makes them great gift options. The box and design of the bottles are all very cute, while still looking professional. There wasn’t any spillage or leaking.
The only part that feels a little low quality is the sticky stuff holding the bottles into the packaging. You can take those off if you desire, before gifting it, it’s not a big issue.
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Value
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At $26.99 (at time of review) the Spa Luxetique Hand Cream Gift Set is an absolute bargain! Whether you plan to use it yourself, or give it to someone else you get a great looking set of effective hand creams with a range of scents and two soaps. The hand creams are perfect for travel and can even be used individually as small gifts.
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Summary
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The Hand Cream set is exactly the quality I expected from my past experiences with Spa Luxetique. It’s a great gift and there’s some fantastic smells in there.
Pros:
+ Range of scents.
+ Highly suitable for gifting.
+ Pretty Packaging.
+ Lovely scents.
+ Great consistency, spreadability and feel on the hand creams.
+ Great value.
Cons:
- Might not like all scents.
- Bar soap can be drying on hair or skin for some people.
Recommended: Absolutely! I would be thrilled to receive this as a present!
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St. Ives® Watermelon Glowing Oil-Free Face Moisturizer
Listen, the fact is that this cream is FAR too strongly fragranced. I do have a strong nose, but I don't have scent aversion. It's rare that there's a cream I can't use. However I couldn't use this past one time because it was just too strongly... +
Listen, the fact is that this cream is FAR too strongly fragranced. I do have a strong nose, but I don't have scent aversion. It's rare that there's a cream I can't use. However I couldn't use this past one time because it was just too strongly scented. It has an awful saccharine, fake watermelon smell that had me gagging.
It's a shame, as the product seems good. It doesn't feel sticky, dries quickly and has a comfortable gel-cream format. My skin immediately felt softer. If they released a scent-free option I'd be all over it, but I just feel like the scent is way overdone here.
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Earth's Own - Oat Milk Barista Edition
Plant-based milk alternatives have exploded in popularity in the last few years, with things like rice milk and almond milk being much easier to find than before. Recently oat milk has become very popular in my house, replacing cow’s milk in... +
Plant-based milk alternatives have exploded in popularity in the last few years, with things like rice milk and almond milk being much easier to find than before. Recently oat milk has become very popular in my house, replacing cow’s milk in almost all situations for my partner. This 12 pack of oat milk is great value for your money and comes with the added “Barista Edition” as a bonus as well.
The Barista Edition refers to the fact that this milk will not split when you steam it to create a foam for coffee. I also found that simply shaking the carton vigorously caused it to foam up nicely in a pinch. Adding hot oat milk foam is a great addition to your morning coffee, but even without foaming oat milk is a great compliment to things like coffee or cereal. Oat milk has a slightly thicker, richer flavour and texture compared to cow’s milk which really enhances the flavour of foods. Some people are also happy to drink it out of a glass, but my partner finds that it’s best used to add it to other foods and drinks.
If you’re curious about the taste of oat milk, it’s hard to describe because it’s a very neutral flavour but it has a distinct taste or feel to it compared to cow’s milk. It’s not thick like cream, but it does seem thicker than 3% milk. Unlike some milk alternatives (coconut milk for example) there’s no risk of oat milk overwhelming the flavour of what you’re eating, so it adds to the food or drink rather than changing the taste of it.
The benefits to the environment are another good reason to try oat milk, as growing the oats necessary to make the same amount of milk produces MUCH less greenhouse gases, uses less land, and consumes much less water.
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KFISI Moon Lamp
The KFISI Magnetic Levitation Moon Lamp looks like it would be stunning and while it had the same coolness factor as the other KFISI lamp I tried, it had some really disappointing parts. In the end, quality and functionality really let this moon... +
The KFISI Magnetic Levitation Moon Lamp looks like it would be stunning and while it had the same coolness factor as the other KFISI lamp I tried, it had some really disappointing parts. In the end, quality and functionality really let this moon light down.
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Effectiveness
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One of the biggest flaws this lamp has it it’s functionality. This Levitating Moon Lamp is a nightmare to levitate! While I was able to get it to levitate in less than ten tries the first time, later times I tried upwards of 40 times without success. I think most people who bought it wouldn’t try that hard and would simply send it back. The rounded bottom makes it near impossible to balance it. If you do manage to balance it, touching it to try and make it rotate, or sometimes even pressing the power switch, is enough to make it come crashing down!
I also really struggled to get the lamp to do any of its ‘alternate’ modes. I tried tapping, pressing and holding the power button, to no avail. The included instruction manual has imperfect english that doesn’t make it clear how to dim or change the light and as a result, I was unable to do that. Frequently the light would go out for no reason.
It’s not a particularly effective light either. The KFISI magnetic moon lamp is more of a show piece and would only really work as a nightlight. Since it’s not suitable for kids, that means it’s not a functional light piece.
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Quality
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The quality of the moon lamp is abysmal. Like...I was shocked. Comparing it to the sale listing, the photoshopped moon pictures are not in anyway what you’ll receive. First of all, the moon lamp is quite small. The levitation height is also much lower than the other KFISI lamp. More importantly, it’s 3D printed and has visible ridges, frankly looking quite ugly in the light.
When lit, in the dark, the lamp does look much better, but it’s still not anything close to what is advertised. In the darkness you can see the ridges and shadows of the moon, but they don’t have a high contrast. There is also a very visible line around the moon where the panel has been taken off (presumably to insert the magnets) and then re-attached.
The light falls when unplugged, so you’ll need to re-levitate it if you don’t want it plugged in all the time. After a gazillion attempts to levitate it after unplugging, I actually gave up. At this point I noticed the metal plate in the base was lifting up. The quality just isn’t here, especially given the high price point.
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Value
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At $99.98 (at current time of review) the KFISI Magnetic Levitation Moon Lamp is insanity personified. Paying a premium price for a shoddy product is bad enough, but the fact that the pictures and description on the sale listing mislead you about it’s quality, is especially bitter.
I would pay $20 for someone to erase this experience from my memory, but I certainly wouldn’t pay $100 to repeat it.
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Summary
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The KFISI Magnetic Levitation Moon Lamp has terrible quality, awful functionality and a questionable marketing strategy. While it looks cool in the dark when you’re able to get it to work, those times are few and far between.
Pros:
+ Cool idea.
Cons:
- Near Impossible to levitate. Seems to happen at random with no rhyme or reason.
- Bad quality. Metal plate starting to separate after a handful of uses. Light goes on and off for no reason.
- Poor functionality. Not very bright, only looks good in the dark.
- Advertising is misleading and not accurate to what you receive.
- Couldn’t figure out the other lighting modes. Made worse by poor english in instructions.
Recommended: NO, step away from the light. STEP AWAY FROM THE LIGHT! Do yourself a favour and just don’t buy it.
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Signstek Lighting LED 5X Dimmable Magnifying Lamp
I’ve been a crafter for a long time and I recently got into felting in a BIG WAY, so I was thrilled to get the chance to try one of these. Since I wear glasses and am only getting older and more mole-like with each passing day, I often struggle... +
I’ve been a crafter for a long time and I recently got into felting in a BIG WAY, so I was thrilled to get the chance to try one of these. Since I wear glasses and am only getting older and more mole-like with each passing day, I often struggle with the detailed tasks associated with crafting or even DIY repair jobs on small, fiddly items.
This Magnifying lamp makes that so much easier, I couldn’t be more thrilled! The quality is great and it delivers on exactly what it promises.
There are two things that potential buyers should consider. It has a relatively short cord that ends in a USB plug. This might be confusing for less tech-savvy older folks (for example if Grandma wants it for her embroidery!). For me, I just plug it into a power bank, which makes it more portable, but not everyone has one of those.
Something that did affect me is the clamp mechanism. While it’s a fairly basic one it doesn’t work well on sloped or angle table edges. On top of that any table which has a square frame close to the edge will likely not be a candidate as well. For example, I have several desks which have the metal frame attached close to the ‘lip’ of the desk and it can’t go in far enough to grip steadily on those.
I was still able to find a table to attach it to and most people will be fine, but it did reduce my options a bit and was worth mentioning.
Though I still think it’s fantastic the one thing that bothered me was the lack of a bag. Most items these days have useless bags, but this one actually needs one and doesn’t have it! The glass could easily get scratched in storage. Since I have cats, I can’t leave it out, so I ended up putting it in my closet with a pillowcase over it until I can sew a cover. It’s really strange that it doesn’t
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MUZITY Porcelain Salt Bowl with Lid
I've never used a salt bowl before as I usually use a shaker, but this is actually incredibly handy for salting food whilst cooking. A shaker is so tricky to measure whereas here I can take a spoon (or less) and it's easier to add. It can also be... +
I've never used a salt bowl before as I usually use a shaker, but this is actually incredibly handy for salting food whilst cooking. A shaker is so tricky to measure whereas here I can take a spoon (or less) and it's easier to add. It can also be used as a sugar bowl for those who drink a lot of coffee or tea with sugar.
It has a simple, clean design that is quite classic and wouldn't look out of place at a hotel breakfast buffet. The size is pretty large (not comically so!) so it doesn't need to be refilled as often, which is nice. Both the spoon and the bowl are thick, good quality porcelain that doesn't have any flaws. There are no scratchy edges, sharp sections or flaws on mine. The glaze is even and nice.
Considering the low price ($16.99 at time of review) I'm actually super impressed. This is a well-made piece that's really functional, even if it's a bit simple looking for my personal tastes.
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LAZLUVU Rose Gold Plated ring
I wouldn't use it for an engagement ring, but it really is a surprisingly pretty ring. The size (ten) is accurate and I think the larger design is great for plus size women like me as it doesn't overwhelm the finger. Ladies with smaller fingers... +
I wouldn't use it for an engagement ring, but it really is a surprisingly pretty ring. The size (ten) is accurate and I think the larger design is great for plus size women like me as it doesn't overwhelm the finger. Ladies with smaller fingers might find it's a big large for their slim fingers.
There's a lot of sparkle here, but despite that it's definitely suitable to wear as a daily fashion ring. It makes a statement and is a fun piece to wear. The middle stone has a more matte appearance and the ring looks just as displayed in the photo.
For gifting purposes, it comes only in a simple suede bag, so you'll want a nice box to gift it in. I was a bit surprised at this price point that it doesn't come in a box, as $20 (Current price) is a mid-range costume jewellery price, not crazy cheap but not expensive.
Overall, I think it's very pretty and would wear it, even though I prefer silver!
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Sivio Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket
Sivio’s Weighted Blanket for Adults is - like all weighted blankets - not going to be right for everyone, but it’s a good quality blanket that’s ideal for winter. Right now there’s a lot of buzz surrounding weighted blankets and this is... +
Sivio’s Weighted Blanket for Adults is - like all weighted blankets - not going to be right for everyone, but it’s a good quality blanket that’s ideal for winter. Right now there’s a lot of buzz surrounding weighted blankets and this is probably the third weighted blanket I’ve tried. Weighted blankets are designed to keep you calm and help you enter a deeper sleep. They are popular for adults, teens and also for those on the Autism spectrum. A weighted blanket can help diffuse stressful meltdowns and keep them sleeping longer and more peacefully. While I can’t comment on that aspect, I can say that it’s important to think about whether you might benefit from one, before trying it.
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Effectiveness
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The most important thing to note here is that the Sivio Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket is not ideal in summer. The warm, fuzzy lining and minky top side are far too hot during the hotter months. I’d recommend it more for Fall and Winter, but if you have a crazy AC system you might be able to use it year round.
At this weight, it’s designed for folks around 150lbs and those who are heavier may need a more weighty blanket to see the benefit. When lying on top of it you can feel the ceramic beads inside, but they are barely felt with the blanket on top of you. You can also slip a thin quilt between you and the blanket if the feeling bothers you.
The soft sherpa style fleece lining is super cozy and comfortable, not scratchy in the slightest. The minky top is likewise extremely soft and smooth, with a lovely grey look that will fit most room schemes.
Size-wise, the Sivio Adult Weighted Blanket is designed for a queen size bed. Like all Weighted Blankets it will not fit the whole bed, or curve around your whole body super well (depending on your size). This is part of the design, it will sit flat on top of you. Again, you can put a quilt underneath if you need to be wrapped a little.
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Quality
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The quality of the Sivio Weighted Blanket is simply fantastic. There were no flaws, weird smells, problems or issues with the blanket I received. It came vacuum sealed tightly and was ready for use immediately, though it did fluff up a little after being deflated.
When I compare it to an expensive brand name blanket such as Nirvana Weighted Blanket I actually found it more comfortable, though again it’s only suitable for colder weather.
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Value
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The current price point of $119.99 (at time of review, could change) is extremely fair. It’s on par with what others are sold at and cheaper than some brands. Considering the good quality of this blanket, I feel that’s a fair price. It is a big chunk of money, depending on your budget, so make sure you have a plan for what to do if it turns out weighted blankets just aren’t for you!
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Summary
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Sivio’s Sherpa Fleece Weighted Adult Blanket is good quality at a reasonable price, but the warmth of the materials makes it only suitable for Winter or Fall. During those times it’s sure to be super cozy! You can also crank the AC and snuggle on the sofa with it.
Pros:
Good quality.
Fair Price.
Warm, soft, cozy sherpa fleece and minky.
Can help sleep and other ailments.
No issues with stitching, smell or other flaws.
Cons:
- Fabric is very warm in summer or spring.
Recommended: Yes, if you’ve been looking for a good weighted blanket I would recommend the Sivio’s Weighted Blanket for winter or fall. You could buy an all-season one, but it won’t be as cozy in winter.
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Lwind LED Photo Clip String Light
I’m always looking for cute home additions and had hoped the Lwind LED Photo Clip String Lights might jazz up my new home. While there was a lot to like about them, they definitely have their flaws, most of which are caused by the cheap quality. I... +
I’m always looking for cute home additions and had hoped the Lwind LED Photo Clip String Lights might jazz up my new home. While there was a lot to like about them, they definitely have their flaws, most of which are caused by the cheap quality. I can’t imagine they’re any worse than most other lights like this on the market, but they aren’t as nice as I’d envisioned in my head.
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Effectiveness
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The biggest thing I disliked about them was that the wires/clips seemed to twist to the side slightly. While some sat flat, some of them turned a bit and left the photos sitting diagonally. Depending on the look you want, these could be your ideal clip string lights, but I wanted them flat as shown in the product photos.
Other than that they worked fine. The Lwind LED photo clips are lit from behind by an LED and I had no issues with it running through batteries or becoming hot. It does take 3xAA batteries which is quite a lot. It can be set to flash or stay static. I prefer cool lighting to these warm-hued lights.
They do like quite cute hanging up, especially in the dark and they would make a good addition to a pegboard or bulletin board.
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Quality
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The quality of these photo string lights was not top-notch, but simply ok. While overall it was fine, it did have a strong plastic smell. The lights are glued into the photo clip casing (presumably with hot glue) and one of them had come loose. However, when popped back in it stayed put unless pulled, so it wasn’t a massive issue. It’s clear though, that they are pretty cheaply made.
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Value
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At $19.99 (current price) I feel the Lwind LED Photo Clip String Lights are a tad overpriced. When considering the quality and effectiveness, I would expect them to cost about $12.
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Summary
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Lwind LED Photo Clip String Lights don’t have the highest quality, given their price, but they do look cute and could be a good option for some folks.
Pros:
Cute look.
Ability to hang photos.
Good for bulletin or peg boards.
Battery powered.
Cons:
- Clips twist and display some photos at an angle.
- Warm light is not my preference.
- Cheap quality for the price.
Recommended: If you have a pretty tight budget, no, but if you like the look and take into account what I say, they could be right for you.
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