Writing in True UGLee Fashion

Anyone who knows me (and now everyone who doesn't) understands my unique obsession and appreciation for office supplies, and more specifically, PENS! I am a hoarder when it comes to pens, and I have to admit that I have been embarrassed a time or two by the lengths that I have gone to try a new pen, and even the frequency of the office supply store visits. I literally have people who bring me pens from health fairs, expos and trips because they are aware of my deranged obsession. It is typically around the back-to-school time that my fascination kicks into high gear because everywhere I go, there they are. In my quest for the optimal writing instrument, I have only been able to find a couple of pens that are worthy enough for a subsequent purchase.

There is so much that goes into my "science" of buying a new pen. First and foremost, as with most things in life, is appearance. If the pen is too "plain" for me, I'm not interested. I don't need anything fancy, but I must admit that colors, designs and interesting features have drawn me to a pen (or several). Second, and this tends to be the most important feature, how does the pen write? The thing that makes this difficult is that not all pens are on display for you to try out before you buy (but they should be!). I love a smooth, continuous, boldly performing pen. I don't have time for inconsistent ink flow, time for ink to dry or special "care" that a writing utensil needs. I truly prefer ball point pens over gel pens of any kind because I have yet to experience a gel pen that delivers as smoothly as the traditional ball point without the mess.

Luckily, I was recently chosen through Tomoson to try the UGLee Pen for free for the purpose of review! This pen can be described as an ergonomic pen which comes in a unique design providing comfort and support for your everyday writing needs. Whether you are simply writing your grocery list, are a child learning to write, or experience difficulty with writing due to complications such as arthritis or carpal tunnel, the UGLee Pen is perfect for you!

My 3 UGLee pens

While they are called UGLee, they truly are not that hideous. As you can see, it has a nice "grip" that runs the majority of it's length. Aside from providing a hint of sparkle, this is probably the most unique part of this pen. My 8 year old son says it best when he says "I love using this pen because of the squishy part". It has a very cushion-esque feel, and most certainly makes writing that much more enjoyable. I found myself wishing that I had known about these pens during my high school and ESPECIALLY my college years. I'm pretty sure I will have a callus on the side of my middle finger for the rest of my life, and I'm even more certain that this pen could have prevented it. I'm very thankful that I received 3 of them because the other members of my household decided that they too would like their very own Uglee Pen. Each of us loves the "squishy" grip, and how that transforms the experience of writing. Paired with the smooth, bold writing, it is truly a pen lover's dream come true. Below is a writing comparison I did with the traditional stick pen, and then the UGLee Pen. As you can see, the UGLee Pen has a bolder delivery that is consistent throughout and has the added bonus of being cushion-y, and fun to use. These definitely pass my "pen test", and can be immediately added to my list of subsequently purchased pens; a new favorite throughout the entire household, for sure!

Stick pen vs. UGLee Pen

If you are interested in getting your hands on these pens (and you really should be!), you can choose from a variety of barrel colors (i.e. red, pink, white, yellow, green, blue, gray), and ink refills in black, blue or red. To get a better look, check them out here (I am really digging the blue ones-they are so sharp!). Plus, there is a satisfaction guarantee! What do you have to lose?

I give the UGLee pen 10 stars:

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Be sure to stay on-top of news and promotions by following the UGLee Pen on Facebook and Twitter!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Geeked Out With EEME

Now that my son is 8 years old, I am convinced that he is ready to move out. He has such a strong, leading personality and can be very independent. He has always been the kind of kid that does things in his own time with no help from us. Potty training went like this: It was one week before he turned 3, he asked to go to the bathroom on the toilet, he has never looked back. Literally, since that time he has maybe had a handful of accidents, and it required nothing on my part. Learning to ride a bike without training wheels went like this: He had a bike in the backyard, walked it to the top of the little hill and rode it down. There was no holding the seat and letting go, nothing crazy and memorable to write down in the baby book - it just happened. It is hard to face the fact that at some point our babies won't need us anymore. Don't get me wrong, he isn't tall enough (or interested enough) to do his own laundry, so clearly he has to live with me forever, right? This being said, I do try to find things for him and I to do together to make an attempt at keeping our bond strong, and his fervor for learning fed. Enter in my latest review through Mosaic Reviews, and my son's new "toy": EEME's Project Genius Light!

Disassembled Project Genius Light

Assembled Project Genius Light 

Most of you are looking at this, and wondering what it is. It is best explained directly from the EEME site:

EEME's monthly hands-on project kits teach kids about electronics. Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only guide the kids in assembling the project but also to teach the concepts applied.

EEME was born when the founder, Jack Pien, was dissatisfied with the availability of educational toys on the market for his own son. He wanted hands-on projects that promoted learning as well as critical thinking. Project Genius Light is the first "project" in the series. EEME offers a monthly subscription which starts at $18.95/month where your child (recommended for ages 7-12) will be sent a small box whose contents will complete a project to help them understand the fundamentals of electronics. On-line you can access the free curricula which contains step-by-step instructional videos to walk your child (and you too) through assembling their project while teaching them the vocabulary and concepts for which they will use.

Ready to roll!!!!

My son and I truly enjoyed our trial with EEME and the Project Genius Light. Throughout the entire experience, he kept saying "this is so awesome, this is so awesome". I am not at all very proficient in electricity, so it was a learning experience for me too! When our light finally lit up (that is a story in and of itself), I think we were both through the roof. Who knew a little LED lighting up could cause so much pleasure? I guess it really is the small things....

I know it is dark, but that is our light!!!!!

We have so many favorites when it comes to EEME, one, being the instructional videos. They provide step-by-step instructions (there are 22 mini videos for the Project Genius Light project, totaling about 45 minutes) which use the exact materials you are provided with. Your child can start and stop at their own pace, and it even mentions in the video if there is something important that parents should step in and help with. Additionally, the critical points of the video (i.e. where to connect the resistors and wires to the breadboard or diagrams) are all noted in the sidebar so you have a quick reference guide without needing to refer back to a specific section of the video. There are also mini quizzes scattered between the videos, providing a way to make sure your child is understanding what they are learning, while also giving them a sense of accomplishment and understanding. My son was definitely pleased with himself when he would get the questions right, and it showed me that he truly was picking up on the new concepts he was learning. On top of that, I witnessed the whole critical thinking process. As a parent, I believe this is one of the most rewarding feelings; you actually get to be a part of their learning. I listened as my son talked about different scenarios - moving wires and resistors around - and making hypotheses about what would happen if he did.    

Deep in thought...

Also worth mentioning is the customer service. As I mentioned before, getting our light to come on was not as simple as following the instructional videos. Luckily, there is a section on the sidebar for questions, comments or issues you experience while working on your project. I have to say that I received a quick response that remedied the issue immediately, and it needs to be said that it was on a weekend, and a holiday weekend at that! In this day and age you can't PAY for that kind of customer service. I was, and still am, so truly thankful for EEME's level of customer care.

We found out a week or so before school started that my son would be doing a unit on electricity this year. He is beyond thrilled to bring in his project and show his class what he got to do at home. I love having the sense that we are ahead of the game when it comes to the material they cover in school. My son loves to take that "teacher" role in the classroom and assist others. Having projects like the ones provided by EEME help him to feel comfortable enough with the topic to help the others in his class that may struggle with their understanding of the material.  

Overall, I give EEME and Project Genius Light 10 stars, and highly recommend them:

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Be sure to follow EEME on all of their social media outlets as well, where they host sweepstakes and contests (there are some going on right now!):

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Tumblr
• Pinterest

And lastly, when you subscribe right now, you too can get the Project Genius kit for free! Go here to subscribe by September 16th to get the special child(ren) in your life on their way to creating memories while also learning the ins and outs of electronics.

Check out the other rave reviews here

Review for the Ozeri WeightMaster Digital Bathroom Scale with MICROBAN® Antimicrobial Product Protection

Try and say that ten times fast! It might take you a little while...

I have a love-hate relationship with scales, and not for the reason that most people do. See, I suffer from underweightedness (that is a medical term, right?), so I am always looking at the scale and hoping it goes up- Opposite of what most people are hoping, I am sure. I am like a little kid hoping and praying every year before the dreaded physical exam at the Pediatrician's office that they have grown a few inches and weigh a bit more. Now, I don't want the numbers to go up indefinitely, however, I could stand to gain a good 10-15 pounds. Don't take this the wrong way either - I eat more than you would expect, I have just been blessed/cursed (depending on who you are) with a highly efficient and quick metabolism. That being said, we have been minus a scale in my house for..... I think years now? It has been on my list of things to get, but apparently hasn't made it into my cart yet. Luckily, I recently received one for free to review through Tomoson! That's right, that title at the top of this post that you most likely skipped over is my very new scale - The Ozeri WeightMaster Digital Bathroom Scale with MICROBAN® Antimicrobial Product Protection!

And there she is!

I think when you don't own a scale for a while, you lose your appreciation of them. You forget how convenient it is to check your weight out of curiosity, or how fun it is to see how much you weigh when you first wake up in the morning versus after breakfast versus after a big meal versus at the end of the day before you go to bed (everyone does that right?). On top of that, I am pretty sure that my children are IN LOVE with the new scale. The fact that the display lights up blue is not only convenient for those early morning (or late night) weight checks, but they also intrigue my 15 month old for longer than any toy she owns. My 8 year old is also always aware of his current weight, and was just as excited as I was when the scale arrived.

There are so many things I love about this scale! First and foremost, I love it's sleek design! It is definitely more attractive than any other scale I have owned, making me content leaving it out in the open. I remember always having the plain colored, white box looking scale that had the fixated red arrow on it - you step on it and the numbers quickly circle around until it hits your weight. Seems so out-of-date in this fast-paced world - no one has time to wait for those numbers to stop wiggling. I am a huge fan of the blue light, and how simple it makes reading the already large display. I also feel confident in the read-out because this little piece of updated technology calibrates itself! That way, if you move from the polished hallway hardwoods to the super-hard tiled bathroom, you will get the same reading. Additionally, all you have to do is step onto the scale in order to turn it on. No messing around with buttons and switches - you step on, the light turns on, your weight is determined, you step off, 10 seconds later it automatically turns off. I also love the fact that it comes with a 1 year warranty. That always provides a sense of security. And, check out how thin it is:

So modern!

So, aside from doing all those scale-ish things that scales do, my Ozeri WeightMaster Digital Bathroom Scale has MICROBAN® Antimicrobial Product Protection! What is that, you ask? If you are anything like me when it comes to germs you better hold tight to your disinfecting wipe and get your credit card ready... MICROBAN® Antimicrobial Product Protection is, just as it sounds, a built-in bacteria protector for the scale. Luckily, I only have to worry about the people in my house and their feet, but even still, you don't always want your feet touching surfaces with the same feet as other people - who knows where their feet have been? With the MICROBAN® Antimicrobial Product Protection, the scale provides protection from the growth and spread of odor and stain causing bacteria which, in turn, provides the highest level of cleanliness for the lifetime of the scale. And let's face it, a scale can't be any cleaner than the ground itself, right? This is probably one of my favorite features because it adds convenience to my life without adding maintenance (aside from battery changes every so often). This feature is what makes this scale different from others on the market, and even more of a reason for you to get your very own. Speaking of... you can purchase your own germ-busting scale right from Amazon! If you are interested in the entire line of Ozeri products, you can learn more on their website.

I have been using this scale now for over a month, and I can confidently give it 10 stars:

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Rockin' Nails Courtesy of SinfulShine™ with Gel Tech™

I have a slight obsession with nail polish. I don't know if it is full blown addiction because I don't necessarily have anything to compare it to, but lets just say, I could potentially start my own nail salon. While that may be slightly embarrassing to admit, it goes without saying that you can never have too many polishes - and if you are anything like me, you change your polish on the regular to match your outfits, mood or just because you want to see what that color looks like "on". In my experience, I have good luck with the higher end "salon" brands in terms of longevity, ease of application, and color selection. Have you seen some of them? They literally have a color for every shade imaginable and the catchy names they come up with are pure entertainment. In reality, I can't afford to support my nail polish addiction with these high end brands. I could have probably paid my children's way through college if I cashed all those bottles in. Lucky for me, and you too (because why would you want to spend close to $10 per bottle?), the SinfulColors™ brand has introduced their new collection: SinfulShine™ with Gel Tech™ which claims that it is "5x shinier than a patent leather shoe". There is nothing that compares to an at-home manicure that shines the same way a spa manicure does, aside from the price tag on it. This collection is available at Walgreens where you can fill your cart (or basket - however you roll) because these gems only cost $2.99 per bottle!

They even get their own display!

I was lucky enough to get to try one of these little bottles of shine for free for review purposes through Influenster, and it lived up to all of the claims! I think most nail polish connoisseurs are afraid of "cheap" polish because of the seemingly inevitable chipping, peeling and dullness after only a day or two. Having a bad experience makes it worth the higher price tag when it means you don't have to deal with these frustrations. After conquering the task of painting your nails without a child sticking their finger in it to see if it is dry, or the dog laying down on your perfectly pedicured toes, the last thing you need to worry about is how terrible it looks in a matter of minutes. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the  SinfulShine™ with Gel Tech™ polish. I received the shade "Alfresco", which is a periwinkle-ish color (all of you Moms with little kids just pictured that little cat from Blue's Clues), and while it was a color I would have never ventured out and bought for myself, after wearing it, it has become one of my favorite colors. It holds true that you cannot judge a polish by it's color (in the bottle). Plus, I rocked this color for over a week with no chipping, or wearing around the tip and edges of my nails! This is an accomplishment in and of itself because I constantly have my hands in the sink cleaning dishes, scrubbing the stains out of laundry, peeling stickers from places they shouldn't be.... you get it, I abuse my nails. Here is a picture of my polish on day 6:

FAB-U-LOUS

You read that correctly, day 6! It went on smooth and even, and I only used two coats to achieve this coverage. I had no problem with it being watery or "see-through" (you know how some polishes cover thinly and you can see your nail line under them? - that is "see through", very technical, I know). Plus, the staying-power of this polish rivals with none other that I have encountered. I change my polish weekly; I sported this polish for 8 days, and it still looked like day one. I found that this polish dries quickly, making it easy to give yourself a quick mani or pedi (or both - you over-achiever!) before heading out the door. Plus, it comes in 32 amazing shades from subtle nudes, to girly pinks and even a yellow (I really want to try the yellow-I've never done yellow polish before)! For only $2.99, now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and try the colors you always wanted to, but never wanted to break the bank over. Plus, your nails will shine like you put a nice thick coat of shellac on them, making it even more convincing to strangers that you just came from the salon. I give this polish 10 stars, and urge you to get to your nearest Walgreens to pick up your favorite shade(s):

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Follow SinfulColors™ on Facebook and Twitter to keep up-to-date with all of their innovative products, or visit their website to try on all of their colors (with their virtual tool), view all of their collections, and even get some nail art tutorials! 

Disclosure: I received this product for free from Influenster for testing and review purposes. All of the opinions stated here are my own. 

THERA°PEARL Children's Pals - Keepin' it Cool (or Hot)

In the world of children, "boo-boos" happen daily. Between stubbing toes while attempting early morning coordination to falling down repeatedly while learning to walk, you are bound to encounter bumps and bruises constantly once your child is on the move. Your job, as a parent, is to cushion those falls with words of encouragement and love. If not, you look like a bad parent, or one that is trying to raise their child to be the next Terminator. Most parents choose to go for the soothing option, and that being said, there are SOOOOOOO many products on the market to help with that. How do you choose? Do you make your own Boo-Boo Bunny at home to hold ice on those bumps and bruises? Do you buy the tackle box sized first aid kit? Or do you take the middle ground and buy something a little less homemade and a lot less dramatic? This is probably answered by the number child you are on too. If it is your first child, you most likely bought the tackle box filled with an entire lifetime's worth of band-aids and ointments, gauze rolls and defibrillators. If it is your sixth child you stopped reading after the second sentence of this post, and if you are somewhere in between, you are waiting to hear what the "middle ground" is. And here it is: THERA°PEARL Children's Pals!!!!

Ribbit the Frog

Buddy the Puppy

Pearl the Pig

Ping the Panda

How adorable are those little guys (or gals)?!?! They retail for ONLY $5.99!!!!

I got to try a THERA°PEARL Children's Pal for review purposes through Tomoson, and let me tell you, they are great! For inquiring minds, I got Ribbit the Frog, but it was hard to choose jut one. First of all, they are kid-friendly because they are so fun! Have you ever noticed that the second a child gets hurt they immediately become skeptical of every little thing - What are you putting on me? A band-aid. Will it hurt? No, it never has before. Why do we have to do that? Because we don't want your cut to get infected. No, I don't want that! And so on.... It can become quite the battle just to apply some Neosporin and a band-aid to a simple scrape. With these little hot/cold packs, you don't get that kind of interrogation. They are made with little beads inside of them which makes them unique from most products on the market that serve it's same purpose. This in and of itself makes it appealing to children of any age. They can squish them and move them around, and they are brightly colored inside the see-through casing so they can watch themselves manipulate the little beads. One of my favorite things about these little packs is the fact that they can be used HOT or COLD. This takes their versatility to a whole new level, as most products can only do one of the two. What I love even more than that is the fact that independent lab tests have suggested that they contain no heavy metals, no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or BPAs (Bisphenol A), making them safe, hypoallergenic and reusable. Plus, they will not leak or drip or tear (unless abused, that is), making them that more reliable. With so much controversy over what is safe for our children, it makes product choices much easier when they leave out these questionable ingredients and make higher quality products. Plus, these cuties won the "Parent Tested Parent Approved" (PTPA) award for quality and appeal! 

I give the THERA°PEARL Children's Pals 10 stars!

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You can find more information about THERA°PEARL and the products they offer here. Be sure to show some support for them by "liking" them on Facebook, following them on Twitter, checking them out on Pinterest, and adding them to your circles on google+. 

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Summer Unplugged - Get Your Bowl On!

My son has a Summer birthday.... Right smack dab in the middle of Summer. Anyone who has a "Summer baby" knows what a great deal of time is spent planning a party while trying to juggle the kids being home 24/7, weekend barbecues, family vacations, and a few fun activities to keep the kids occupied. We enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors, but because of the ever-fluctuating weather here in the great state of New York, we never know what we are going to get. It is almost impossible to plan outings because if anything is set in stone, one of two things WILL happen: 1) It will pour - not rain, not sprinkle- it will monsoon! or 2) It will be so humid, that leaving the house to go anywhere that doesn't have air conditioning is a death sentence. You are better off making last minute plans and being entirely flexible-two characteristics I would never use to describe myself. 

For the kiddies

We are fortunate enough to have an AMF Bowling Center (or five) in our area, and even more grateful for their Summer Unplugged Program. What is that you ask? Well, in an effort to keep kids from driving their parents insane active, and combat the bi-polar weather here, AMF Bowling Centers has made bowling the obvious solution to any Summer problem. Too hot and muggy? Bored of the same old routine? Register your kids (age 15 and younger) here to bowl 2 games for free, each and every day, from May 13, 2013 to September 2, 2013, anytime from open to 8 PM. On top of that, you can register up to 6 children per account. If you have more than 6 children, you must be crazy register them under another e-mail address to accommodate your brood. Because I am not the trickster-type, I will disclose the fact that you will need to pay to rent bowling shoes for each participating child. That being said, it is a small price to pay for the memories that will be made. Have you ever seen the face of a child who has bowled their first strike? Beat their older sibling? Accidentally throw the ball down the wrong lane?

For the adults

For all of the parents, grandparents, babysitters, nannies, or just adults in general... AMF Bowling Centers has thought of you too! For the one time cost of $34.95 you can purchase the Summer Pass, which allows you to bowl 2 games per day from May 13, 2013 to September 2, 2013. Additionally, you can include up to 3 guests (16 years of age and older) per visit to the bowling alley. Again, the cost of rental shoes is not configured into this price, but do the math... For almost 4 months of bowling, and up to 8 games per day (if you completely utilize your guest allowance), you could have your pass paid for in just a couple of visits! Go here to register today and get the most for your Summer bowling adventures.

Astonishingly enough, this deal gets better! New, this Summer, is the "Stay and Play"  option. If you are a Summer Unplugged or Summer Pass subscriber, and 2 games is too few for your satisfaction, you can bowl your little heart out for only $1.49 per game over your daily 2. Plus, AMF Centers have made this a hassle-free process. You sign up once and you are good to go! No coupons, no emails, no printing, etc... Walk yourself into your nearest AMF alley and present your membership card (which you will receive on your first visit after signing up), or simply give them your name so they can look you up - that is all that stands between you and a fun, comfortable afternoon of bowling! Simple enough, right? What are you waiting for? Sign up here for your very own Summer Pass, or the Summer Unplugged program for those special kids in your life.

To find your nearest AMF Bowling Center click here - With over 250 centers, you are sure to find one near you!

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in this post are my own.

Summer Reading Part II - Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau

Have you ever read a book, and regardless of the fact that the main question was answered, you want it to continue? That is where I am right now.... I recently finished Crime and Passion by Chantel Rhondeau, and I want more! Lucky for me, I have a small library's worth of cheap and/or free books on my handy-dandy Kindle app. Which, is another thing worth mentioning.... I have only recently gotten on board with this whole digital reading thing. I tend to prefer to physically hold my book and turn the pages between my fingers, but that is becoming less popular apparently. I still love to have a good paperback, but I have definitely enjoyed the simplicity of reading on my phone. I can read while feeding the baby, laying in bed at night (without a light), and while walking the dog.... Ok, not quite while walking the dog, but you get the point. There is this guy who walks around the neighborhood reading a book-like literally, his nose is in a book....How has he not been hit by a car? And should he get some kind of prize for 1-not getting hit by a car and 2- working out his mind and body at the same time? Definitely more ambitious than myself, but I digress.... I may not have walked the dog while reading, but I certainly did test my multitasking capabilities while reading Crime and Passion because I couldn't put it down!

I LOVED this book. I am typically the play-it-safe kind of reader. You know, the one who finds an author, reads each and every one of their books, and when they run out searches the New York Times Bestseller list or Oprah's Book Club reads to find another author to stalk read. I am grateful that I have been able to read some authors that I otherwise would not have (from sites such as Tomoson); the author of my latest review, Chantel Rhondeau, being one of them!

I think that the title of this book fits it perfectly. If I had to describe this book in two words, I am pretty sure that CRIME and PASSION would be the two that I would choose. It starts out on the beach of a small ocean side town, where the town newbie, and dog walker (Madeline) finds the dead body of a local child and wife beater, and also gets a glimpse of the possible murderer fleeing the scene. The responding officer (Donovan) is a well-known player, and I'm not talking football. In a thrilling story line, you find out that Donovan has strong feelings about men who abuse women and children (making him a possible suspect), an even stronger interest in Madeline, and a tattered past. While they work together to solve the mystery of who killed this man, they learn a lot about one another, and the lengths they will go to persevere and stand-up for what is right. A murder, mixed with some love and conflict is the perfect recipe for a romantic thriller!

I enjoyed that this book was told from both Madeline's and Donovan's perspectives. I appreciate when an author can do that and have it remain cohesive. It is so intriguing to get into the heads of the characters individually versus experiencing it all from one point of view. The text was very easy to read as well. I found myself breezing through chapters without even realizing it. The characters are very personable and believable; easy to relate to. If I was not the parent of two young children I may have finished this book in just a day or two, however it probably only took me four or five days total.  

If this sounds like your genre of choice, or you like to read any and everything, you can grab yourself a (digital or print) copy on Amazon, and I highly recommend you do. I give this book 10 stars!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.