Danish Dough Whisk Review

Until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of a Danish dough whisk. I do enjoy making homemade bread, and while I LOVE my stand mixer with it’s dough hook attachment, I’m always up for checking out new gadgets. And there are some things that I normally would prefer a wooden spoon over the mixer anyway.
I tried the dough whisk on 2 different recipes so I could get a good feel for how it works. I used it on a loaf of bread first. The wooden handle is sturdy and comfortable to hold onto. The metal part is also quite sturdy and the wires didn’t bend or wiggle while I was using it. The dough whisk blended my ingredients very well. Once the dough was blended I still needed to knead by hand, of course but the dough whisk was a big help in my opinion and worked better than the wooden spoon that I may have used otherwise.

We also tried the dough whisk on a batch of cookies. I was able to mix the cookie dough using the Danish dough whisk the entire time and never had to resort to an electric mixer. Another thing I love about the Danish dough whisk is that it is super easy to clean. The wires aren’t tight together so I didn’t have the problem of dough getting stuck in between them. I would suggest rinsing it right away before the dough hardens. But that’s something you should be doing anyway.

I received the large size but I may be going back and ordering the smaller size as well. I think this is a great product and it will be getting plenty of use in my kitchen. I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review and. as always, all opinions are my own. If you would like to purchase one for yourself or as a gift, they are only $8.95 on Amazon! Awesome price in my opinion. You can find it at the following(affiliate) link.

Danish Dough Whisk Large 13.5 Dutch Style Stainless Steel with Wooden Handle

Lovely Lashes Eyelash Curler Review

I recently had the opportunity to review this Lovely Lashes eyelash curler. I’ll be honest, I don’t often curl my lashes and I haven’t owned an eyelash curler since before m daughter was born(she’s 5 yrs old now.) I don’t really wear much makeup at all really. I do, however know how to use one since the used to be part of my routine so I figured I’d give it a try. I tried taking pictures, but as you’ll see, the camera on my phone is not great so they aren’t the best quality. But hopefully you’ll get the idea somewhat.

When using an eyelash curler, the first step(at least what I do) is to apply a light coat of mascara. The first picture is right after mascara, BEFORE I use the curler. As you can see(maybe) My lashes aren’t super long so mascara is one of the few things in my makeup bag that I use about every day.

Mascara is done so it’s time to put the curler to use. Simply open it up and clamp it down on your lashes near the root. Hold it down for 15-30 seconds. This can be tricky for some depending on your eye shape and the shape of your curler. Be careful not to pinch your eyelid. Ouch! Chances are, it won’t happen, but just something to be aware of. The first time I used one of these, I think I was maybe 11 or 12 and I “borrowed” my mom’s without asking for guidance first and I clamped down too close and too hard because I was completely clueless. oops. I’ve heard of some people using a blow dryer on it’s lowest setting for a few seconds at this point but I never have. Just throwing that out there.

Let up on the clamp after 15-30 seconds and your eyelashes should have some curl to them. If you aren’t happy with it you can apply a little more mascara and repeat the process if you’d like(I didn’t…too lazy. Lol) Also, make sure to keep the curler pad clean. The mascara will build up and get yucky if you don’t. Here is what mine looked like when I was done. It wasn’t a huge change and was more noticeable in person than in the picture.

Overall I’m happy with the product as it was easy to use, I think it worked, and it was comfortable for me. It seems to be designed well, I’ve had some curlers in the past where the pad was slipping all over the place or it didn’t fit my eye, but I think this one was a good fit.
I received the Lovely Lashes eyelash curly at a large discount for my honest review. All opinions are my own. If you would like to try one for yourself you can get it from Amazon at the following(affiliate) link:

Lovely Lashes Eyelash Curler By Izy Trends – Creates The Perfect Curls For All Eyelashes Every Time – The Best Eyelash Curler – Comes With 1 Extra Silicone Refill Pad.

SalsaCrazy Habanero Bloody Mary Mix Review

I was recently presented with an opportunity to review this bloody mary mix by SalsaCrazy. Yes, THAT SalsaCrazy. The same company that brought you those awesome dance instruction dvds. While typically bloody mary is not my favorite adult drink, I enjoy one every now and then so I figured I would give it a try. Bloody Mary’s are really easy to make. Just add some vodka to the mix, throw in a celery stick for garnish and you’re all set.
This particular mix has a wonderful flavor but it is not for everyone. It is HOT. Like seriously hot. If you like the heat then you’ll love it. The bottle says the heat level is a 9 out of 10 and they aren’t kidding. The heat was a bit too much for me but my husband was able to finish it for me. He thought it was quite hot as well but he is tougher than I am. I am looking forward to trying it in some recipes for chili or maybe use it as a marinade.
If you think you can handle the heat and want to try it for yourself you can get it from Amazon at the following(affiliate) link.

SalsaCrazy Habanero Bloody Mary Mix – Dominate the Dance Floor by SalsaCrazy, 25 Fl. Oz.

Set of 2 16oz BPA-Free Double-Wall Mugs Review

I received these 2 stainless steel mugs last week. The are from the same company as the water bottles that I loved so much(francois et mimi) so I was optimistic. As it turns out, I was right to be. First things first, did it keep my drink hot? Yes! I love a hot beverage, especially this time of year. Whether it’s tea or coffee, I’m game. I typically am not able to chug it down very quickly and end up sipping throughout the day so m drinks tend to get cold well before I’m ready to finish them. I poured some hot tea into this mug to see what it can do. I actually left it sit for a while to test it out and came back later while the kids were napping. I swear to you, 2 and 1/2 hours after I poured my tea it was still hot…not warm….HOT! And it stayed hot for quite some time afterwards. I was able to sip on my tea throughout the entire day and it never got cold. It definitely passes the heat test.

Due to the double walled, stainless steel design of the mug, while it kept the drink pretty hot, the outside of the cup stayed cool. If you are someone who likes to wrap your hands around the outside of your mug to keep them warm while you drink, then this probably wouldn’t be your best option. Personally, I go back and forth. If I’m sitting at home having a cup of coffee in the morning that I intend to finish within 30 minutes or so before m daughter gets up and the other kiddo arrive, I like a fat warm mug. And I have a few for that purpose. But for the most part, I want something that stays cool on the outside so the kids don’t burn themselves if they grab it and that keeps my drink hot in case I don’t get to it right away.

Another great feature of this mug is the lid. It’s easily screwed on and off with an o-ring around the rim that makes a great seal and it has a leak proof, flip-top stopper. And it really is leak proof. I tested this out by shaking it a few times and flipping it upside down(with a house full of children, you want something that won’t spill). Not a single drop spilled out. There was no leakage coming from the lid(or anywhere else for that matter) at all.

I also like the fact that the are stainless steel which means BPA free. This is a must for me, especially for hot drinks. A few other things to note, it fits perfectly in my cars cup holder, the handle is great and comfortable to hold onto, and it’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. It can be found on Amazon at the following(affiliate) link:

Set of 2 16oz BPA-Free Double-Wall Stainless Steel (18/8) Vacuum Insulated Travel To-go Mugs with Comfort Handle

Skinology Beauty Solutions – 100% Organic Argan Oil review

Until this past week I had never tried Argan oil. But after looking it up and seeing the multitude of possible uses, I decided to give it a try. When I opened the bottle, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It wasn’t a bad smell really, it just wasn’t what I had expected. It has a kind of smoky fragrance and it’s stronger than I would have though. My husband thinks I’m crazy. He doesn’t think it’s very strong and he really likes the way it smells. But like I said, it’s not bad. It was just unexpected.

My skin tends to be on the dry side, especially in the winter months, so the first way I chose to use it was as a facial moisturizer. I just put a small amount in the palm of my hands and massaged it onto my face and neck. I haven’t been using it long enough to know if there are long term results are not but I can say that it made my skin feel wonderful. It moisturized without having a greasy effect. I think this may become part of my nightly routine.

As well as having dry skin, my hair tends to dry out a bit in the winter. This leads to a duller appearance and I also get a lot of “flyaways.” I decided to try it on my hair after a shower. After the first use my hair felt greasy. I then remembered that a pretty small amount on my face went a long way and I thought that maybe I had just used too much. So I tried it again the next day with a smaller amount and sure enough it worked out much better. My hair was shiny, my flyaways were tamed, and it didn’t look or feel greasy at all. I was much happier with the second result.

I haven’t used the Argan oil for anything else yet but I am excited to try different things. I think next I will use it on my hands. This time of year my fingernails get a bit brittle and my cuticles are in TERRIBLE shape so I’m hoping this will help. I can’t wait to see if it works.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. As always, my opinions are my own. That being said, I’m pretty confident that I will be replenishing my supply when this bottle is gone. If you would like to purchase some for yourself it is available on Amazon at the following(affiliate) link:

Argan Oil – 100% Pure Natural USDA Organic

Dance Lessons Starter Kit(4dvd) Review

Some of you may remember last week I did a review on “Learn to Dance Salsa” by Salsa Crazy. Well, this same company also has a 4 dvd set called “Dance Lessons Starter Kit” that they sent me to review as well. If you read my previous post then you already know how much I enjoyed the Salsa dvd. The Salsa disc included in this set is the exact same video, but, of course, this set includes 3 additional dances: Swing, Merengue and Bachata.

The other dvds are set up pretty much the same way as the Salsa dvd(you can read that review here: http://lazyhomemaker.com/2015/02/09/review-of-beginning-salsa-dance-volume-1-by-salsacrazy/ )
The good: The dances are explained in a way that is very easy to follow along with(if I could do it then anyone could). They have a few extras aside from the dance lessons including dance room etiquette and history of the dances, which I love. They are fun! Really they are. I have never been a dancer but this set made me want to keep going and it has me looking for local events and clubs to try them out in “real life” and anyone that knows me will understand that this is huge as I am most definitely not a public dancer.
The bad: I’m honestly having trouble coming up with something negative to say. If I had to pick something I could mention that the production value won’t be winning any awards, but that really isn’t a problem. It’s an instructional video, not an action movie.
If you are interested in purchasing the Dance Lessons Starter Kit you can find it on Amazon for only $24.95 as of the time of this post. The link is here: http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Lessons-Starter-Kit-Merengue/dp/B00S7155KY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I was given this set for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Retseliney, Premium Spiralizer Bundle – Vegetable Review

I was recently chosen to review a Retseliney, Premium Spiralizer bundle. I had been wanting to try a dish with zoodles(zucchini noodles) for some time so this was a perfect opportunity. The spiralizer was really easy to use. You just place the vegetable into the end and twist like you are sharpening a pencil. Simple. Even my 5 year old can use it(with supervision of course.)

It has 2 ends with different sized blades so you can have your “noodles” either thicker or thinner. It’s made from high quality plastic and stainless steel blades. This is not a flimsy design and I expect it to last for quite some time. It also came with a cleaning brush that made clean up quick and easy. The cap has these spikes on it to grip the end of the vegetable that helps to reduce waste and make it easier on your fingers.

Zucchini noodles are great but you can also use it for potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, or countless other veggies. I have several kitchen gadgets that get pushed back into a corner and never see the light of day but I don’t think this will be one of them. I can see the spiralizer making a regular appearance in m kitchen. Other extras in the bundle include a small recipe booklet and a jar opener.

The Retseliney, Premium Spiralizer Bundle can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/Retseliney-Premium-Spiralizer-Bundle-Vegetable/dp/B00P8EJMJ8/ref=sr_1_36?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1423172401&sr=1-36&keywords=spiralizer

I was sent this product for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Set of 2 20oz Double wall bottles review

Earlier this week I received a set of stainless steel water bottles free of charge for review. My daughter had a soccer clinic to go to Monday night so I took that opportunity to try them out so I filled one of the bottles up with water, threw in a couple of ice cubes, tossed it into our bag, and ran out the door. When we got to the gym it occurred to me that the bottle was literally upside down in the bag with my wallet, Sylvia’s t-shirt, and everything else so I panicked a little bit, expecting the contents of our tote to be soaked. When I pulled the bottle out, however, I was happy to see that nothing was wet. The bottle didn’t leak at all and there was no condensation on the outside either.
I had also noticed that for a double-wall stainless steel container, it was surprisingly light weight. My daughter’s practice lasts for almost 2 hours and the water stayed ice cold the whole time(I know it’s February but this we were inside a heated gymnasium.)
The next day I figured I may as well use it again so I made some iced tea and filled it up for myself along with a few ice cubes. After about 6 hours I noticed that my tea was still cold and there were still ice cubes inside the bottle. It had stayed that cold for most of the day. I was done drinking it at that point so I’m not entirely sure how long they would’ve lasted but I am curious to find out.
A few more things to note: The bottle fits nicely inside the cupholder of my car, it’s about the same circumference as typical soda cans, bottles, and travel mugs. They have a soft rubber mouthpiece that I found quite comfortable. They are BPA free which is always a plus. They are vacuum sealed and even if you leave the top flipped open, it will not leak.
I fell in love with these bottles and I can see myself using them quite often and I definitely recommend them. You can purchase them through amazon, here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b00t1vktpk

As per FTC guidelines: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my HONEST review and, as always, all of my opinions are my own.

Half-assed Health e-book review and giveaway

I was emailed an e-book copy of “Half-assed Health” by John “Bones” Rodriguez for free in exchange for my honest review. As always, my opinions are my own.

The good: He had some good advice in the book. Many things were common sense but we could all use some reminders every once in a while. He wrote the book in a conversational manner, which some people don’t care for but I think it makes it an easy read. I loved his section advising that the goal isn’t to stress over the “best” way to do things but to make sure you are choosing foods and habits that are “better” than you were before. He goes into greater detail of course, but you get the point.
The not so good: While I liked the conversational style of his writing, I think it could’ve been done better. I felt that in some places he spent too much time repeating himself and going on and on about the topic at hand long after the point was made. It also seemed a bit obvious that the book wasn’t proofread and/or edited very well, if at all. There were some words out of place, punctuation was off in places and a misspelled word here and there. But the information was still there, and as I said, he does give some good advice.
All in all I would say that it might be worth a look. He has it listed on Amazon for $4.99 as of the time of this post. I would be ok paying that amount for it but the list price of $9.99 would be a stretch considering it’s well under 100 pages and feels a bit more like a magazine article than a book. If you do want to check it out then you can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Half-Assed-Health-WITHOUT-Starving-Suffering-ebook/dp/B00E0NO10S/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 or for more information on the author and his other works you can visit his website http://www.halfassedhealth.com

Entering the giveaway is easy! Just follow me on Instagram here: http://instagram.com/chancefam/ and on twitter here: https://twitter.com/HiLazyHomemaker and then comment below with your Instagram profile link and your twitter ID so I can verify. Winner will be chosen randomly on 2/23/15 at 2:00pm

#1 Probiotic Review

 

I love probiotics. I was making my own water kefir for a time but my poor grains didn’t survive. I’ll try again when the weather warms a bit. I also have recently started a kombucha scoby but that takes several weeks to be ready. I’ll be sure to post about both of those projects later on(even if the fail) But in the meantime, This company sent me 2 free bottles of their probiotic supplement to try so I could write an honest review. So, as always, my opinions are my own.

I’m skeptical of supplements in general, especially in light of the recent news about many of them not being what they claim. And when it comes to herbs, I much prefer the actual fresh or dried herb brewed into a tea or made into a tincture. So even with my doubts, I was willing to give this a try. Since I stopped drinking kefir every day, my digestive system has suffered. Every day I would get stabbing pains in my gut and bad cramping. I started taking Advanced probiotic by Number One Nutrition which can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGSDWH8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It’s easy to take, just 2 pills a day with a light meal and one bottle lasts an entire month The company also offers a money back guarantee and will refund your money, no questions asked, if you are unhappy with the product. After taking Advanced Probiotic for a week I realized that the stabbing pain in my gut was gone, and it had been gone for several days. I also had been chewing on tums every day for acid reflux and I haven’t touched them since starting these. I think it’s safe to say that Advanced Probiotic is doing it’s job and I plan to get more for myself after my current bottle is gone.